Foreclosure Laws - Get Proper Legal Advise If You Are Facing Foreclosure

Foreclosure laws can be very perplexing; foreclosures laws vary from state to state. Sometimes general information may be all that you need to start in the right direction. Make sure that you investigate the laws pertaining to you state or contact a real estate agent or attorney to ensure that you fully understand what you are up against and the amount of time you have to get help.

Foreclosures happen when a borrower defaults on the loan. By filing a “notice of default”, on the property with the local court system where the property is located. Once the courts make a ruling in favor of the lender the property, generally put up for sale at a public auction. However the is a timeline between the filing of the legal paperwork from the lender and the auction sale of the property, this is where the local laws vary. Depending on the state and circumstances, this timeline is from three to twelve months long.

Lenders or the courts will publish an auction ad approximately thirty days prior to the auction. However, before publishing the ad the homeowner is served with a notice about the foreclosure and pending auction sale. As soon as the property sells, the title/deed is given the new owner of the property.

If are facing financial hardship, in default on your mortgage payments you still may have a chance to avoid foreclosure, your chances are better if you have not yet receive a notice of foreclosure. Make sure that you do not ignore the phone calls or letters sent by the mortgage company, talk to them, they are not that bad to deal with. Well, maybe they are but ignoring them will not help your situation with them. Generally, they would rather try to work something out then to pursue the process and expense of a foreclosure.

Hiring someone that fully understands and can advise you on the local foreclosure law may be a wise decision on your behalf. They can be the mediator between you and the lender, and protect your rights as a homeowner; many times, they can assist in preventing a foreclosure as well.

Many sites available offer general information regarding foreclosure law, while most provide general information, make sure that you get proper legal advice from an attorney. Remember banks really would rather not foreclosure on your property, however if given no other option the will. The best approach is to educate yourself, ask question, do some research and most importantly do not just roll over and give up, fight for your home.

Foreclosure Laws - Get Proper Legal Advise If You Are Facing Foreclosure

Unemployment - How Will It Affect The Real Estate Market?

It’s easy to see how and why unemployment levels have an effect on the housing market and other sectors of the economy. To state the obvious, the people without an income and are not economically independent won’t have the money available to buy products and meet monthly bill payments. Those without the available funds are likely to lose their house or not be able to purchase a house in the first place. This adds unoccupied homes to the housing inventory, which will contribute toward a reduction in house prices.

Despite numerous government projects to help stimulate the economy by helping home owners being instigated, a lender is extremely unlikely to negotiate on any loan repayments if the debtor cannot demonstrate how they could afford to pay in the future. This means that foreclosure is extremely likely and a high number of foreclosures are not at all good for the market.

Another, less direct way in which unemployment could have a negative impact on the housing market is through the effect that the unemployed have on the economy. The people without an income have less or no disposable cash to spend, which means that they purchase less from shops and other outlets. This in turn decreases the revenue that’s taken by commerce which could result in redundancies or even business closure. This in turn means that there’s even less money available on the market for things such as home purchase.

On a more localized level, increased crime rates are witnessed in a certain region having high unemployment levels. Any area with high crime rates is less attractive to prospective buyers and therefore the price of the housing is adjusted downwards to make amends for this lower demand.

Even the people who are employed might not be confident about their future in an economy that is seeing rising unemployment figures. Due to this they might choose to wait until a bad economy stabilizes and improves before making any massive purchases, houses included. Another factor could be that in a negative economy individuals expect house prices to decrease, and thus choose to wait until the market levels out so that they can get the best available price.

Those who do have jobs and a disposable income are more likely to maintain and invest in their houses. Home improvements like re-decorating and building extensions would always have a positive impact on the desirability of a home and nearly always push the price up relative to its location. With fewer individuals making such home improvements, or probably even seeing their houses fall into disrepair because of shortage of funds the overall attractiveness of homes, and therefore the amount that a buyer would be ready to pay for them would drop.

With unemployment levels so closely linked with the housing market, it’s usually one thing that is looked at when economists try to forecast housing prospects, and a factor that individuals usually take into consideration before deciding on whether or not to go on with a purchase.

Unemployment - How Will It Affect The Real Estate Market?

Essential Precious Metal Information For Jewelry Shoppers

How does the skyrocketing price of precious metals affect jewelry prices?

Summer is the busiest jewelry season for wedding and anniversary jewelry, and some shoppers may be surprised by sticker shock. Precious metals of gold and platinum are at all time highs, both up nearly 70% over the last 5 years; when the price of raw materials rises, so in turn does the price of goods. Precious metals have risen along with all commodities, including oil which we can relate to and feel in our pocket book each time we fill the tank.

With jewelry it is harder to conceptualize what this means, what is the real impact on fine jewelry prices? It’s all about the purity and weight. The most important fact a shopper needs to know when it comes to jewelry, pricing, and precious metals, is it is all about the purity and the weight. For the jewelry shopper this basic concept is easy to understand, but hard to apply when trying to compare prices. The Internet presents us with so many choices, which is great for the shopper looking for the best deal. The downside of so many choices is the inevitable; they are not all created equal, compelling smart shoppers to get educated. So what do you need to know? First, let’s begin with some important facts about the two key fine jewelry precious metals. Gold Jewelry

1. Gold is measured in units of 24. 24 karat gold is pure gold. How much alloy is mixed with the gold determines its karat weight, and therefore how much you pay. 14 karat gold is 14 parts gold to 10 parts alloy 14 %2B 10 = 24). 18 karat gold is 18 parts gold to 6 parts alloy (18 %2B 6 = 24), and so on up the scale until you reach pure gold at 24 karat.


2. Yellow Gold is alloyed with silver, while White Gold is alloyed with nickel.


3. Other Typical alloying metals mixed with gold and their color visual effects are:

• 24 karat Gold has a stunning visual Gold effect of course


• Mixing Gold with Copper causes a visual Reddening effect


• Mixing Gold with Silver causes a visual Greening effect


• Mixing Gold with Zinc causes a visual Bleaching effect of the gold


• Mixing Gold with Nickel causes a visual Whitening effect


• Mixing Gold with Palladium causes a visual Whitening effect.

Platinum Jewelry

1. Platinum is measured in terms of percentages, 90 and 95 percent being the most common for jewelry. A platinum stamp of PT950 would be 95/1000 parts platinum. The other 5% being an alloy.


2. Platinum is commonly alloyed with another metal such as iridium or ruthenium.


3. Platinum is a much denser metal than gold and is the largest percentage content wise in the piece of jewelry. Therefore jewelry made of platinum is considerably heavier and stronger than its counterpart in gold. Thus more expensive.

Understanding Market Prices

Even though the everyday jewelry shopper may not concern himself with market prices of raw precious metals, understanding how to read and translate the numbers is a good foundation for understanding price variations. On the open market metals are normally traded in ounces, therefore the jewelry shopper needs to know how to convert from ounces (OZ) or the less common penny weights (DWT), to grams, how jewelry weight is generally quoted. The formulas are simple and will come in handy if you need to compare prices. This is especially useful when shopping for wedding bands or other jewelry that has high metal content. Basically, without considering the complexity of alloys and percentages, you can take the market metal trading rate, frequently referred to as “spot”, and convert it to jewelry measurements to calculate the basic raw material cost.

The basic formulas:

1. Ounce to grams: oz. * 31.1


2. Ounce to penny weight: oz * 20


3. Penny weight to grams: DWT * 1.555


4. Penny weight to ounce: DWT / 20


5. Grams to ounce: gram / 31.1


6. Gram to penny weight: gram / 1.555

To calculate the raw metal cost (without accounting for alloys), take the market rate quoted in ounces and convert to the weight measurement you are trying to calculate, then multiply by the stated weight

Example: The current market rate for platinum is $2,000 per ounce. The ring you are interested in is stated to weigh approximately 6 grams in 95% pure platinum. Convert the ounce quote to a price per gram: $2,000 divided by 31.1 = $64.31 is the estimated price per gram. The ring weighs 6 grams in 95% pure platinum. Multiply $64.31 by .95, then by 6. The raw platinum cost at the current market rate is $366.57.

Alternatively you can convert the known gram weight to equivalent ounces, 6 divided by 31.1 = .193. Then multiply .193 by the market rate, $2,000 = $386. $386 at 95 % equals $366.

Bear in mind this is just the raw platinum cost to your jeweler. Double the raw cost as a starting place for a fair price. To give you an idea how rising precious metal prices are affecting jewelry prices all over the world, consider that same ring at 6 grams, with a $850 spot platinum price in 2004, would have cost $164.

The good news is this is a great time for refining old jewelry with high metal content. Depending on when you bought it, you have probably made at least 50% on your investment. If you are a current jewelry shopper, like any other purchase, get educated and buy from trusted sources. Precious metal prices are not likely to come down in the near future, and quality is always a good investment.

*Note: To find current market rates on metal visit kitco.com

Source by Jacqueline Hull

Essential Precious Metal Information For Jewelry Shoppers

HDFC Coops - The Best Deal in New York City Real Estate?

HDFC Coops – The Best Deal in New York City Real Estate

Have you been frustrated with the high prices for apartments in New York City?  Well here’s the good news:  If you have ever wanted to live in New York City at an affordable price, well, look no further.  If you qualify, you may have just found the greatest deal in New York City. 

HDFC Coops, a little know niche market in New York Real Estate, represent the “last great deals” in New York City.  Frequently these cooperative apartments sell for 40%-60% below there comparable regular Coop or Condos for sale.  HDFC’s (which stands for Housing Development  & Finance Corporation) have been around for many years but it is not until the last few years that more and more people are discovering these amazing deals.  They are only available in New York City although there may be other programs in other cities that are similar.

The History of HDFC’s

HDFC coops are city sponsored coop apartments that offer many of the benefits of a regular coop apartment but they also have some restrictions on purchase and they frequently have a “flip tax” upon sale. 

An HDFC coop came to be for one of a couple possible reasons.  They may have been originally a rental building which had been abandoned by an owner or the owner may have owed back taxes or water and therefore lost the building to the city. 

The City then rehabilitated the building, trained the tenants on ownership, set the Coop up financially to be self-sustaining, and then sold the apartments to the existing tenants for $250 each.  Yes, that’s right, $250!

The premise is that rather then the City being a landlord, you have now trained a group of owners who care about their building and their future.  It has been a very successful system. 

Typically over the years these HDFC coops changed hands among friends or relatives for very cheap prices.  In the past several years, some brokers with foresight have realized the value these Coops represent, and upon being marketed more professionally, much higher prices have been realized for the Owners. 

Benefits

This has benefited both the buyer and seller of an HDFC apartment.  A seller now has realized much more money than they ever thought possible and they have a chance to realize their dreams.  Many sellers of HDFC coops have gone on to move to the suburbs and buy a house or take a dream vacation, buy a nicer car, and live a nicer lifestyle.  Remember, the original owners of HDFC coops were there because they typically lived in a run-down neglected building so to get $150,000-as much as $500,000 for one of these apartments which they paid only $250 for is a huge windfall.

The buyer is getting a chance to own a piece of New York City, one of the most expensive real estate markets in the world, for a fraction of the price of regular Coops or Condos.  Very often, HDFC coops sell for $400-$600 per square foot where as coops and condos in New York can sell for $900-$3000 per square foot.  This is clearly a huge difference. 

Don’t think these HDFC’s are in bad neighborhood’s either because many of these are in prime New York City neighborhood’s such as the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Lower East Side, and Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Downside

Does it sound too good to be true?  Well it isn’t too good to be true, but you must qualify to buy.  In many cases, to qualify to buy and HDFC coop, you need to make less than 120% of the areas Median Income.  In 2008, this number was $64,500 for 1 buyer and $73,725 for 2 buyers in a family and $82,950 for 3 buyers in a family.  Alternatively, some buildings, depending on the by-laws of the coop, have income restrictions to buy based on a multiple of the yearly maintenance and utility charges that the apartment has.  In either case, usually the management company and/or the Board of Directors of the coop will look at the adjusted gross income of your previous 2 years tax returns. 

In addition to an income restriction to buy, many HDFC Coop’s have a “flip tax” when you sell.  Typically, this flip tax is calculated as a percentage of the profit that you make.  The profit is defined as the sale price minus the purchase price.  The flip tax could be as low as 5% and can range up to as much as 85% of your profit. 

Clearly you need to take these factors into account and depending on the flip tax the Coop has, the price and value of the apartment may vary greatly. 

Summary

We have seen that an HDFC coop represents a great opportunity to own a piece of the “greatest city in the world” at a fraction of the price of other coops and condos but with that comes some restrictions on purchasing and upon selling you often have to give a portion of your profit back to the coop and/or the city.  

Tips when buying or selling an HDFC Coop

Find a broker who understands the rules and restrictions of HDFC Coops.  There are many intricacies to the process and if a buyer or seller is not qualified properly, you may find yourself wasting a lot of time just to find out you can’t buy or sell the apartment. 

HDFC Coops - The Best Deal in New York City Real Estate?

Miami Real Estate And The Effect Of Hollywood On Sales

Miami is a major city in the state of Florida, which covers 55.27 square miles, and is the seat of Miami-Dade County. This urban enclave is the largest city within the South Florida metropolitan area and the largest metropolitan area in the Southeastern United States with a population of 5.4 million. Miami and its surrounding cities make up the fifth largest urban area in the United States.

The importance of Miami as an international financial and cultural, and real estate giant has elevated Miami to the status of world city. Miami’s cultural and linguistic ties to North, South, and Central America, as well as the Caribbean is well-entrenched, and this city is often times referred to as “The Gateway of the Americas.” Florida’s large Spanish-speaking population and strong economic ties to Latin America also make Miami and the surrounding region an important center of the Hispanic world.

Miami also has enshrined itself among TV and movie buffs, and on a large number of occasions has the city been the set of a wide array of blockbuster television and movie projects. Emmy-award winning drama shows such as CSI: Miami, Nip/Tuck and Dexter all take place in Miami.

The NBC show Good Morning, Miami was fictionally based around the workings of a Miami television station, as well as popular sitcoms The Golden Girls and “Empty Nest,” were also based in outlying Miami Beach. In the 1980s however, one TV show, Miami Vice succeeded in revitalizing the city’s image as the ‘place to be’ for the new generation.

The remake of the new Miami Vice film takes a colder, darker look at the city’s underworld, although laid out in a cool and exciting manner. Video games like Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories also take place in Vice City, which is a fictional city inspired by Miami, and includes some of the area’s architecture and geography.

Miami is also a mecca for Latin television and film production, owing to it’s proximity to the Caribbean and Latin America. As a result, many Spanish-language programs are filmed in the many television production studios, predominantly in Hialeah and Doral. These include game and variety shows, news programs, and telenovelas, as well as daytime talk shows Cristina Saralegui and El Gordo y la Flaca. All these add to the glitzy, seductive and sweetly sinister look most folks would crave of Miami.

Throughout the past decade, Miami has emerged as one of the most vibrant real estate markets in North America. People from overseas have descended into the city and have made an unprecedented revitalization of this long neglected southern jewel. The new dynamism has carried across Biscayne Bay to Miami’s worn-out downtown area, up Biscayne Boulevard, and throughout its historic east side neighborhoods.

Currently, along Miami’s bay front corridor, there are around an estimated 17,000 new luxury high-rise and loft style condominiums being built or awaiting permits. That upswing has been overflowing into the adjacent Miami neighborhoods. The past decade has seen the Miami cityscape changing dramatically.

A large part of these changes have been made just over the past three years, as the city’s skyline is now crowded with a mix of high rises and construction cranes. The city’s real estate market has been extremely dynamic, the main Miami preconstruction condos development areas are, Downtown, Brickell, Edgewater, the Miami River as well as Coral Gables. A large number of older Miami buildings are disappearing to give way to luxury hi-rise buildings.

The city’s commercial real estate market has also been very strong; it is estimated that over 4 million square feet of brand-new retail space will enter the market in the future. A flurry of real estate investments come from Latin America, the north east of the United States and also from Europe, where European investors are banking on the emerging Euro to acquire large pieces of the Miami real estate market.

Definitely, a huge chunk of prospective home buyers and developers see the sleazy, sinister and frenetic appeal of Miami as a huge clout in drawing them to this sunny, South Florida city, and a lot of that could be attributed to the sleazy appeal Hollywood has contributed to Miami’s stature.

Miami Real Estate – http://miamirealestateinc.com

Miami Real Estate And The Effect Of Hollywood On Sales

The Differences Between Investing in Gold and Silver Coins

After collecting coins of various types, you have decided to add some more that are priced higher than the ones you already have. This is the reason why you are trying to find as much information as you can about gold and silver coins. Both types of coins are actually deemed as international commodities that are traded every day.

Reasons for Collecting Gold and Silver Coins

Because both these coins are being traded on a daily basis, the prices of the coins depend on the value of dollars and on certain events that happened throughout the world. You can get updates regarding the quotes of metal on a daily basis at many reputable sites online.

Gold coins are popular because of the metal content and the unique designs that are featured on these. Many collectors seek gold Euro coins because these depict classic elements from countries that include Switzerland, Britain, France and Austria.

There are some collectors who prefer silver coins over gold, but most enthusiasts make sure that they have both. These coins can be availed from different resources that include online stores, coin dealers and at auctions.

Popular Gold and Silver Coins

If you are interested in getting gold and silver coins and you can only allot limited budget for a few pieces, you might as well prefer the kinds that are worth investing on.

For gold coins, you may want to look for the Austrian Philharmonic. This is a series of gold coins that became quite in demand throughout the world from 1992 to 1995. Each coin has 99.99% pure gold content. This was created to give tribute to the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. This sells at around $1300.

You may also want to avail the limited edition Vision of Dubai gold coin. This has 24 karat gold content and this was released by the Dubai Multi Commodities Center in two versions, half ounce and quarter ounce. The design on one side is the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the Palm Jumeirah on the other side.

For silver coins, it is going to be a good investment to get the American Silver Eagle coin. This is one ounce and is quite popular among collectors and investors. On one side, it has the Walking Liberty, which was created by A.A. Weinman and it has the silver eagle on the reverse side. The price range of these coins is fair and it depends on the year that the coin was struck. This was not the first money though that utilized the Walking Liberty design. This was first seen on half dollars that were released from 1916 up to 1947.

Another good investment when it comes to silver coins is the Silver Libertad from Mexico. This is a one ounce coin. This has been struck every year and such act has been going on since 1982. To give you an idea about its price, a version of this coin that was struck in 1985 can be bought for around $20. This also comes in a one kilogram version, in which 3000 uncirculated coins were produced in 2003. The latter is not perceived as rare and hence, a great addition to our collection.

Source by Ed M Smith

The Differences Between Investing in Gold and Silver Coins

Real Estate Negotiations - How Negotiating Skills Make You More Money

Real Estate Negotiations can be one of the most intricate social or business interactions any of us will ever be involved in. Your real estate negotiating skills can make or break a deal. When it comes to real estate negotiations, you’ve got some stiff competition out there, especially when you’re sitting across the table from a savvy investor who has his eye on getting more than he gives. Use these tips to hone your negotiation skills and be ready the next time you’re in the game.

121. Always have an out in case your due diligence is wrong. Subject to Buyer’s Arranging Suitable Financing. Subject to Inspection. Subject to Buyer’s Partner’s Approval. Subject to Independent Analysis of Seller’s Property’s Financial Statement, etc.

122. Here’s one from the famous Ron Legrand: “…if you’re a beginner and worried about the seller finding out you don’t exactly know what you’re doing, don’t sweat it. You don’t have to appear to be an expert. You can try to fake it but, if you’re confronting an intelligent seller, many times they’ll see through you and try to ask you embarrassing questions. So if you’re asked if you’ve ever done this before, use these words: “Well actually, no. This is my first deal after graduating from some rather intense training. I was hoping you’d help me do it right, OK?” Thanks Ron! As far as you, if you’ve read this message on real estate negotiations and read the books recommended, you will definitely be qualified to say this last part about intense training… I give you permission.

123. WRITE A BUSINESS PLAN BEFORE YOU BUY

124. Always know your exit strategy before you go in to a real estate negotiations session. This determines what you need and what you want but don’t need.

125. Never blink first. (This is a metaphor, don’t do the staring game)

126. If there is a “deal breaker” you must get agreement on there’s probably not a great deal, but push for it- you might get it. Real estate negotiations should be fluid and not so rigid that either party MUST get something.

127. Use “they said….” when justifying a reason. THEY who? Who cares…all that matters is that you didn’t say it. THEY did. So you can’t be alone in what you say…it was THEM that said it too. Maybe The Fed Chairman, or the Wall Street Journal or the local news anchor said it.

128. Perception is reality. Control the perception and you control what really IS in negotiations. This is an out-of-the-box negotiation skill but a very powerful one.

129. The optimal temperature for negotiations is 68 degrees. People are most suggestible, open to debate, and flexible in this environment. Don’t ask me how I know that. Sorry, I’ve been sworn to secrecy.

130. Use curiosity to gain attention. People will go to untold lengths to scratch that itch. I could tell you about the government study proving how 77.6% of all people are curious about blank but “Sorry, that’s classified”. That’s one of the sneaky real estate negotiating skills, but not unethical…curiosity has amazing power.

131. Pull the “I’m sorry I can’t get approval for that” routine. Place blame on someone else that you just can’t do that. Then offer to ask “them” again if the person you are negotiating with will do X.

132. Give respect to get respect. Real negotiators know you can’t dictate and you can’t act the fool and expect to reach a mutually beneficial negotiation. Disrespect the other party and they’re more likely to walk away even when you KNOW they need the deal. So be respectful at all times- it is the right thing to do and plus your pocketbook will thank you.

133. If you win a shouting match, chances are you lost the deal. Shouting is NOT a negotiating skill. VERY few times is it advisable to show your anger in a business negotiation (although sometimes this is the very thing that will SEAL the deal, crazily enough).

134. Give people what they want, easier, better, and faster. Why do they need to negotiate with anyone else? The best negotiation tactic sometimes is if you can give them exactly what they want when and how they want it and still come out good…do it and there’s little need for fancy real estate negotiating skills.

135. Let other people know you’re willing (or actively already ARE doing so) to negotiate with another party(ies)…”they offered me X…but…what can YOU do?”

136. There is no room for “EGO” in “nEGOtiations”. Let me spell it out for you: you can be “right” or you can make money…sometimes you have to choose which you want most.

137. Always treat everyone with respect. Even in the midst of a negotiation, take the time to be courteous to all the ancillary players in the game and any bystanders. There is no man from whom you can learn nothing…wow, was that deep or was that deep?

Real Estate Negotiations - How Negotiating Skills Make You More Money

Have You Considered the Benefit of IRA Investing in Real Estate?

Lets face it… most people who own IRAs, 401Ks or other retirement investments, rely on the expertise of a broker or some kind of custodian to manage their funds. Most of these managers don’t offer IRA investing in real estate as and investment vehicle. Most rely on stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc. to make up their portfolio. Then at the end of the year, they may be happy to see that they have made a meager gain, and relieved if they haven’t lost anything.

IRA investing in real estate has made some nice gains for the savvy investor and could make your portfolio grow faster than in any other kind of investment.

When I had to make a choice as to where I should roll my 401K money, I had to rely on the recommendation of friends and family. I didn’t know anything about IRA real estate investing, so I chose a guy that a friend of mine told me about. They had almost 1 million dollars at one point, until the stock market plummeted and they saw their portfolio shrink.

Had they chosen IRA real estate investing, they could have turned their investments into millions.

Even so, they were happy with his performance overall. My wife and I met with the guy, liked his personality and decided to work with him.

Unfortunately, the gains we received were minimal. IRA investing in real estate wasn’t even offered by his firm, so most of my portfolio was a mix if stocks, bonds and mutual funds.

I was already working in real estate and started seeing articles on the internet about IRA real estate investing. People were using their IRAs and 401ks to buy income property, hold it for awhile and then sell it for a profit.

This property, if purchased properly, was giving a 12% or better return just from the rental income. Then when they sold it down the road, any profit was added on and the return on investment went through the roof. IRA investing in real estate was making millionaires.

This was when I saw the light and ventured into IRA real estate investing.

I did some research and found that IRA real estate investing was nothing new. It’s just that most people have never been introduced to the idea of using real estate as a vehicle to make their portfolio grow.

There is approximately 7 trillion dollars invested in retirement funds, but only 3% of those funds invested in real estate.

IRA real estate investing may be the holy grail of sound investments. Historically, real estate has always risen in value. Of course, this rise is quicker in some areas, and slower in others.

But overall, most real estate gains value over time. And the savvy investor can take his or her IRA and make a sound investment, with a predetermined gain. They now can have control over how fast their money grows.

But how do we go about using our IRA for real estate investing?

First of all, IRA investing in real estate is totally accepted by the IRS. You can invest in single family homes, apartment buildings, raw land, and even purchase shares of a limited partnership, land trust, c-corp or LLC. Virtually any kind of retirement fund can be used for the purchase of real estate.

Where do you begin? First of all you have to find a custodian that deals with self directed IRAs.

Once you roll your funds into this self directed IRA, you then can tell the custodian of this fund where you want to invest. They will be able to help you in choosing investments that fall within IRA guidelines.

They will be very familiar with helping their clients with IRA real estate investing and have all the paperwork necessary for a smooth fund transfer and purchase of the property.

You don’t want to be a landlord you say? Many properties are available with property managers in place. IRA investing investing in real estate can be passive and turnkey, if you choose the right people to work with. I didn’t want to be a landlord either, but found a program that is allowing me to see some fantastic gains without the headache of being a landlord.

In conclusion….you don’t have to watch your portfolio shrink every month. IRA real estate investing can be your answer to making a change. You now have a way to take charge of your future and watch your investments grow, with a safe investments and calculable gains.

Have You Considered the Benefit of IRA Investing in Real Estate?

How to Buy Gold Bullion

Gold is a valuable investment because you can be sure that it will grow in the years to come and give you a high return value. It is a form of investment that has been carried out over the years. Currently value of gold is on the rise and in the years to come the rise will be phenomenal. At one time, you could buy only on the form of large 400 ounce gold coins. Now you can buy gold bullion in the form of solid coins and bars.

Purity of gold can be 22 Karats or it can be 24 Karats. However when you buy, the value of the bullion bar is not based on this factor, as it is based on the amount of gold in the bar.

Gold bullion cost depends on factors such as market value, premium and fabrication cost. You can bring down the premium cost, if you buy larger quantities of gold bullion. The cost of one gold bar is 10 troy ounces. Today’s volatile economic conditions demand that we make an investment in to something that is stable and secure. Gold Bullion is the best option here.

Steps

Decide on Purchase Amount. Decide how much of gold you actually want to buy. Check the current market rates for gold. This will give you estimation on how much you have to spend for buying gold.

Get Cash Resources Ready. Set aside cash for buying gold. Gold is purchased through cash and not on credit Arrangements must be made to have necessary cash for purchase.

Buy Larger Quantities. You can find option to buy 1 gram gold or two grams gold, but this is not really an amount worth investing. Always opt for buying large size gold bullion bars as they offer higher value for money spent and also because you pay a lesser margin for them.

Check out Reputable Dealer. There are many dealers who will offer gold bullion, but you must go to a reputable dealer so that the money you invest is spent in buying genuine gold bullion. Dealer reputation can be checked through the number of years they have been trading and their record in dealing. Check for dealer certification before buying. Though many online sites offer gold bullion purchase, it can be unsafe to do this as you are not sure whom you are dealing with.

Get Certificate. If you are planning to sell the gold you buy at a later date, ask for a certificate. A certificate purchase ensures that the gold you buy is indeed genuine.

Secure Gold Storage. Make arrangements for safe storage of the bullion bar. Since gold bullion is highly value, you must have a safety deposit locker where you can place it.

Tip – It is better to buy gold bullion in the form of one ounce gold coins. Not only are they popular amongst gold investors, they are easier to buy as well as sell.

Source by Bruce Sands

How to Buy Gold Bullion

Commercial Property High and Low Cap Rates

Throughout the United States, cap rates for rental properties may range from less than 4 percent up to 12 percent, 14 percent, or higher. Generally, a low cap rate occurs when you value highly desirable properties in good to top neighborhoods. Relatively high cap rates tend to follow less desirable properties in so so neighborhoods. Apartment buildings with condo conversion potential tend to sell with low cap rates. (Remember, a low cap rate translates into a relatively high value, and a high cap rate produces a relatively low value.) If you find that across all types of properties and neighborhoods in your city, cap rates in your area are too low (i.e., prices are too high), search other areas.

High cap rates (lower earnings multiples) may offer lower risk and higher cash-on-cash returns. Stock market investors may see the parallel between cap rates and P/E ratios. If a property sells with a cap rate of .085 (8.5 percent), that figure would represent a P/E multiple of close to 12. Conversely, a stock with a P/E multiple of, say, 14 would show an earnings yield (cap rate) of 7.1 percent (.071). Either way, these similar techniques both try to show the relative valuation of a stream of income. With stocks, a stream of corporate earnings-with real estate, a stream of rental earnings. Likewise, over time these yields will move up or down according to the strength of the economy, the outlook for interest rates, the potential for higher rents, the quality of the income, and various risk factors. No single cap rate can ever represent the “correct” rate.

You must investigate each property submarket. When you buy conservatively, you widen your margin of safety. Yet, you may run across a super property at a relatively high price. Should you automatically reject it? Not necessarily. But before you buy, check, verify, and recheck your

optimistic expectations. Sometimes a “fully valued” property with extraordinary potential will outperform a bargain-priced property with very limited upside. When you buy high, know the risks. Unnoticed perils have brought down many a sure thing. Does your market data on the local

economy, your target tenants, and competing properties (rents, features) truly support your plans to grow the property’s NOI?

Commercial Property High and Low Cap Rates

Are All Real Estate Investors Clueless?

I look at about 20 – 40 properties a day that Students send me by email. At least 5 – 8 of these properties are from listing agents who want to justify a higher price using what I call “Realtor® Speak” – such as room for a pool (add $30,000 to the price of the property), walk to the beach (4 miles), nice neighborhood (all you need is one bad neighbor next door), needs TLC ($100,000 in repairs for a $40,000 property), won’t last (267 DOMs so far and counting), etc. Ask yourself, if it was such a good buy “Why hasn’t it sold?”

In these perspective deals I also get to see the Realtor® email comments back to the Students. They are sometimes derogatory and very un-professional. These are not what a client would expect of a licensed professional but there are people like this in every occupation and we all have encountered them at some time.

One comment that I found interesting recently was from an agent who didn’t have a string of three or four letter “pedigrees” after his name, so I suspect he hadn’t been an agent for very long. His comment to my Student was that the Student was “clueless” and not to waste his time with ridiculous offers. This is not the first time I have heard “clueless” and, “You must have bought a worthless course on real estate investing” so don’t waste my time.

We will call this anonymous agent Lou for lack of a better name. I am sure Lou works very hard for the meager commissions he receives on the deals he completes. If Lou was a very successful agent the likelihood is he wouldn’t have replied at all – an assistant would have been working his emails. I am going out on a limb and assuming that Lou is what the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) calls an average income earner – about $40,000 a year.

No doubt Lou has found out that earning a living as an agent is tough but I don’t believe he fully understands that he is working for peanuts compared to what the clueless investors are making who buy his deals. Lou has to be aware the properties he is selling are being resold for huge profits by these clueless investors. Many of these clueless investors’ profits are likely more than a year’s hard-earned commissions for Lou.

But Lou is a professional who works many hours a day in his office likely while the clueless investors are running around working from home and doing as they please with their time. These clueless investors have taken the big step of faith that they can make money as investors – not knowing that they will be doing clueless things to infuriate Lou by making offers on his listings in a manner that insures they will make a profit larger than Lou will make in commissions.

Life is not fair! One of these clueless Students just came back from his vacation in Venezuela and he quit his day job when he earned 10 times more in his first year in real estate investing than he had been earning annually from his college-degree required job.

To your limitless success!

Are All Real Estate Investors Clueless?

Sell Scrap Gold - Convert it Into Cash Immediately

It has never been this easy to sell scrap gold. Considering the many precious metal buyers available both on and offline, it’s simple for someone to take that old gold from the drawer or jewelry box and turn it into money.

Who doesn’t have an old gold watch or a pair of broken gold earrings just sitting collecting dust? If that you are like most people, you probably have a bunch gold items that are hanging around and you don’t know what they are worth. If you sell scrap gold jewelry it can help you raise the funds for something you could actually use.

The best form to sell scrap gold and extra jewelry is to send it to a precious metals refiner. Precious metals refiners usually offer the best prices for your old precious metals, so it is the easiest method to sell scrap gold. simply get online, find a precious metals refiner and ask them to send you a free gold kit. It’s typically in your mailbox within a few days.

When it arrives get together all the gold and jewelry you want to liquidate. put it in the secure packaging in the kit, and drop it in any mailbox.

Once the refiner gets your gold, they figure out the value then they make you an offer of how much they will pay. You decide whether or not you take the offer or say no thanks and they send back your gold.

If you like what they are offering, you just say OK and they send you the money in the mail.

Source by Stephan X Leblanc

Sell Scrap Gold - Convert it Into Cash Immediately

Review of the Ritz Carlton Boston

The Ritz Carlton Boston Common is one of Boston’s most luxurious of luxury buildings. Built in 2000, The 38-story high rise features 363 luxury residences, many with incredible views of the Boston Common, Downtown Boston, & Boston Harbor. There are 24 hour doormen & concierge services, hotel amenity services, and a state-of-the-art Sports Club L.A. gym.

The Ritz Carlton Millennium Residences are literally in the center of Downtown Boston, within short walking distance to the Back Bay, Beacon Hill, South End, Financial District, Waterfront, Chinatown, Theatre District, & all of Downtown Boston. Indoor garage parking is also available for sale or for rent. 1 bedroom condos in the building usually start around $597,000, and 2 bedroom condos usually start around $900,000. Apartments usually start around $3500 for a 1 bedroom, and 2 bedroom apartments in the development usually start around $4,600.

The Boylston Street Green Line & Park Street Red Line is a short walk away, with easy access to the Longwood Medical area, Mass General Hospital, Cambridge, and all of Boston. Most of the units in the Ritz Carlton Boston Condominiums are ultra modern, and feature granite kitchen countertops, stainless steel appliances, and laundry in the unit. The property is often considered the most prestigious luxury building in Downtown Boston. The property, which is located on Avery Street is often referred to “The New Ritz”.

The “Old Ritz”, which was the oldest Ritz in the country just changed names to the “Taj Hotel”, and is located on Arlington & Newbury Streets overlooking the Public Garden & Commonwealth Avenue.

Review of the Ritz Carlton Boston

Did Real Estate Agents Contribute to the Housing Bubble Burst?

If you were buying or selling a house (or in my case, both) in the last few years, you are familiar with the term ‘housing bubble’. If you are trying to sell a house today, you are most likely feeling the effects of its ‘burst’. But for some reason, when you try to locate a clear definition by doing a Google search (i.e. “define: housing bubble”), the resultant page proudly declares: “No definitions were found for housing bubble.” Can you believe that? American homeowners are feeling the effects of a term that has been used at least since May 31, 2005, when we were warned of its potential collapse on The NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams in a story by Chief Environmental Correspondent, Anne Thompson. The term was broadcast to tens of millions of households in America, remains in common speech, yet in the matrix of the country’s biggest algorithm, there is “no definition”. Wow.

So who, or what, is responsible for the housing bubble? Why did it occur? I did a web search to see what other people were thinking about the subject. I found that people are talking about the housing bubble burst, blaming the lending industry, the Federal Reserve, the government, zoning laws, teacher’s unions, and even the weather. But I found little discussion about what caused the actual housing bubble itself in the first place. And so I ponder…

The first time I heard the term “housing bubble” was from a real estate agent in early 2004 as I inquired about purchasing an investment home. At that time mortgage interest rates were low, mortgage brokers could create special programs to fund mortgages, and much of the real estate around me was being listed at continuously higher prices. Real estate investors were in a house flipping craze and new homebuyers were qualifying for home loans at record rates. The housing market was a real estate agent’s dream. My real estate agent, anxious to make a quick sale, told me that I better not wait too long before I decided whether or not I was going to purchase the property I was interested in. She told me “the housing bubble has been blowing up for a couple of years and it won’t be long before it bursts.” I gave her a slightly confused look as she continued, “If you got in when the getting was good, you invested in property between 2002 and 2003. Investments were cheap to buy and easy to sell. The appraisers are helping us out with home values and the lenders are funding the loans. Homes are being sold at good prices today, but they are not going to hold their value for too much longer. The bubble is bound to burst. All good things must come to an end.”

A real estate agent is the first to introduce me the ‘housing bubble’ term. Is it possible that real estate agents also had some hand in causing the whole housing bubble effect in the first place? When real estate agents sell homes, they are paid a commission. Although the average commission is currently 5%, it is down from 6% which was the average rate from 2002 through 2005. The higher the price of the home that sells, the more the commission that is paid. According to a recent study by Standard and Poors, home prices increased the most between January 2004 and December 2005. Now remember, lenders are lending more money to more people. A 6% commission for a home priced at $249,000 is $14,940. A 6% commission for the same home priced at $279,000 is $16,740. The difference is an additional $1,800. If loan funding is not an obstacle, why wouldn’t real estate agents advise sellers to sell high in order to make more commissions?

If you think about it, real estate agents always advise sellers of listing prices, and most times those listing prices are based on the current state of the lending industry. If agents are noticing that more borrowers are being approved to borrow more money, they are going to encourage sellers to sell high. Of course, they will tell the seller that they can “take advantage of all the equity in the home” by selling high, but in the end, the higher the sales price, the higher the commission. Do you remember between 2003 and 2005 when becoming a real estate agent was a booming career? Now many licensed real estate agents have other “day jobs” because homes are not selling as frequently, or as pricey as they used to. I believe real estate agents definitely contributed to the cause of the housing bubble, and now they too are feeling the effects.

Fortunately, home loan interest rates have returned to low, pre-bubble levels and home prices are not as high as they used to be. It is a good time new homeowners to take advantage of low loan rates coupled with lower home prices. It is also a good time for current homeowners to save money each month, refinance their mortgage, and get a lower rate or better terms. And finally, if your home is valued at a lower price than what you paid for it and you are not ready to move, get your home reassessed. You may be entitled to a reduction in your property taxes based on the new assessment.

Did Real Estate Agents Contribute to the Housing Bubble Burst?

What to Look For When Buying Gold Coins

Given the robust sales of gold coins this year, many people are interested in buying that. If you are planning to buy this coins online, you have to be prepared and know what to look out for. Gold coin buyers can be easily mislead.

What To Look Out For

You can try to see if the gold coin is a fake. Real gold coins usually have a dull shine. If gold is mixed with other metals, it usually has a reddish tint to it. Another thing that you can simply do is to check its weight. A pure gold coin is heavy and having a lighter one might give you a hint that it can possibly be a fake. Another way to test it is to drop the coin and find a ‘ring’ in its sound. Gold has a distinctive ‘ring’ when dropped, so that might be your next clue to find out if it is fake or not. You can also perform a scratch test. The coin is usually scratched to find out if it is just gold plated or if it is actually a mixture of other metals. You have to know what the head (obverse) and tail (reverse) of the coin looks like. You have to be familiar with the size and weight of the piece.

Finding a Seller

You have to make sure that you are buying a this coins from a reputable seller who is selling this coins. If you plan to make the purchase from a company specializing in the dealing of coins, make sure it has been in the business for a long time and that is it has an impeccable reputation. It is a good idea to call their office and discuss your intentions with a representative. This should give you an idea of how the company works and whether it can be trusted. There are several online companies that deal with the buying and selling of coins.

Do keep in mind that a reputable seller who will sell gold coins will always present photos of the two sides of the coins. Use a computer program to enlarge the images and to study them carefully. Pay attention to all the details including the edges of the coin. You should definitely seek professional advice if you cannot determine whether the piece is real.

Source by Winston Jenkins

What to Look For When Buying Gold Coins

How To Buy Montreal Real Estate

According to a survey made on behalf of the Greater Montreal Real Estate Board (GMREB) at the end of 2003, it was reported that an estimated 213,000 households were planning to buy a home in the next five years.

This trend has proven to be correct because during 2004,and onwards, almost 50,000 units of real estate properties were sold through the GMREB MLS system, and almost 28,500 during the first six months of 2005.

According to real estate analysts these numbers match those obtained in the first survey that they conducted in 2001. According to local realtors, the family worth has increased since 2000, as the average price of a property in the Greater Montreal area has increased by 50%, which is a healthy indicator of growth.

Factors That Helped In The Growth Of Montreal’s Real Estate Market

- Interest Rates

Currently interest rates are considerably low, which means easier access to a property. The good news for home borrowers is that in the short-term, there are no indications of a major and significant interest rate increase.

- Increasing Consumer Confidence

The economy has grown by 14% since 2000. The higher the level of confidence, the more consumers invest and buy properties. This has a positive influence on the real estate market.

- More Job Creation

Since 2000, 353,000 jobs have been created, which means that Quebec is in a period of prosperity. When you are employed, you have the means of buying a house.

- Increasing Numbers Of Baby Boomers

Many baby boomers today have reached retirement age. They are at a stage when they sell the family residence in order to buy properties which better meet their needs, and they could either buy a condominium or a cottage.

At the same time, the 25 to 35 year old generation is getting into the real estate market and is actively looking for a property for them to settle down in. The effect is an increasing number of transactions and a growing interest of families in the real estate market.

- Rental Unit Vacancy Rate

The Greater Montréal rental vacancy rate in 2006 stands at 2%. The option left to consider is to buy a house, an apartment or condominium. It is definitely advantageous to trade up from being a renter to a homeowner,thanks to low interest rates and incentive programs such as the Home Buyers Plan (HBP).

How To Buy Property In Montreal

In order to smoothen the process of buying a home in Montreal, start by getting yourself a professional real estate broker. In doing so, they will help you save you time, money, as well as protect your interests. Purchasing a home without a realtor may put you in a situation where you may be taken advantage of.

You may also check out the offices of the Greater Montreal Real Estate Board (GMREB) for assistance in finding accurate info on the local property markets, as well as contacting the offices of the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). Another good way in finding good real estate choices here, is to look at MLS sites, or Multiple Listing Services.

http://www.montrealrealtyfinder.com – Montreal Real Estate

How To Buy Montreal Real Estate

Collecting and Trading Ancient Roman Coins

Coin collecting is becoming increasingly popular as a hobby and a part time business. People collect and trade Roman coins for many different reasons. Some admire the beauty, others like the history surrounding them, and some use it as an investment vehicle. No matter what your reason for collecting ancient Roman coins, it is very exciting to hold a coin which was once held by a Roman Soldier 2000 years earlier!

Many of the most collected Roman coin are the ones which were struck before, during, or just after the death of Jesus Christ. People can correlate the coins back to the Bible such as the Widows Mite which was mentioned in the Bible. Some people collect various coins which depicted their favorite Emperors or coinage from different regions of the Roman Republic. The Romans made their coins out of gold, silver and bronze and some people collect them based on the type of metal used.

In addition to being used for their monetary system, Roman coins were used to celebrate various ideas or to convey a meaning. Some depicted images to celebrate the gods of the time such as the Sun God and River God. Other coins have faces or images of the Rulers and Emperors of the day. Symbols, flowers, snakes, Pegasus, and Medusa were also put on coins. These ancient coins show the views, beliefs and leaders of those times.

Some of the most collectible Roman coins are the ones which were made out of precious metals; Gold (aureus) and Silver (denarius). Many of the Roman Gold Coins had the head of Caesar or another Emperor on it and most were minted or struck at the Constantinople Mint. The Silver Denarius coins were very common and over the years the silver content varied and became debased – much like our modern coinage.

Collecting Roman coins can be started on a limited budget and slowly built into a valuable collection which can then be sold or traded. Some hobbyists buy an assortment of unclean coins and enjoy cleaning and researching them, hoping to find a rare gem. Whether you choose to collect certain rulers, various metals or regional coins, make sure to select roman coins in good condition. Not only is collecting and trading roman coins a profitable hobby, it is also exciting to know that the coin in your hand may have last been used by a Roman Gladiator.

Source by Mark Ralph

Collecting and Trading Ancient Roman Coins

Real Estate Investment Business Plan - Developing a Sound Business Concept

Another thing you should do as part of your business plan and part of your explanation or discussion with private lenders is talk about your management team. Obviously you’re going to talk about your own skill sets, and a lot of that was discussed last month in our credibility kit.

Talk About Your Management Team

Everybody else involved in your team should be addressed. Your team may be full time employees. They may just be your realtor or two if you have any. It may be your insurance agent or mortgage banker. It may be a hard money lender. It could be your title corp or your attorney – all these folks that are involved.

Clearly if you’re going to be doing significant rehabs, you would include your contractor(s). You need to lay out who these people are and what their skill set is.

What I was doing in my kit was I would include their names, addresses, etc. Also allow the private lender to call them as a reference. I would list these people out for a couple of reasons.

One, it demonstrates who your team is and allows your private lender , if they would like, to call them and check up on you. A lot of private lenders are going to want to do that. They will want to call references and talk to some of the individuals in the background.

This part allows them to do that and at same time presents you and your team. Assuming they are good, solid professionals, it should reflect very highly on you that you’ve hired this type of professional.

Have a Mindset

Also, just make sure you have what I call mindset. If there’s been any change, make sure you understand that change happens. We’re clearly seeing that in this environment. Six months to a year ago it was quite different.

You’ve got to be able to talk about today’s environment and what’s going on in today’s news. Stay up on the news. Be able to talk about the news and how it’s going to impact your business.

For example, today our new president and his colleagues have issued a plan that potentially is going to be some kind of joint venture between government and the private sector. They’re going to participate in some sort of mortgage modification plan and supposedly bring the interest rates down on a lot of mortgages for people that are close to foreclosure.

How does this impact you? How does it impact your potential investor? How does it impact your business? Be sure to have some understanding of these concepts and be able to talk about them in a fairly intelligent way.

Keep Up With Current Market News

You really do need to stay caught up on the news and what’s going on in the market. All of these are going to impact the way you interact with that private lender.

When you’re sitting down with them, you’ve got to be able to say you understand the market is changing. You have to be able to say you understand the mortgage market has kind of collapsed. That’s why you’re talking with Mr. Private Lender , because you can’t get a traditional mortgage.

This is an opportunity for him to partake in your business and get a much higher return on his investment on capital compared to what one may get in a CD or money market. “I can offer you 9, 12, 15% compared to the 2 or 3% that you’re getting. It’s almost an advantage for you, Mr. Investor, to partake in this business now.”

A year ago you may not have needed a private lender. Today you probably really do. You can play into the news and make it part of your presentation and business plan in terms of why it makes sense for them to be in your business.

Be aware of what’s going on in the marketplace. Be attuned to it and how it’s going to impact your real estate business.

Real Estate Investment Business Plan - Developing a Sound Business Concept

How To Sit Pretty In A Real Estate Buyer"s Market

It’s a buyer’s market right now. Rates are low, houses are available. There will always be people buying and selling homes. Opportunities abound from which to benefit. But, how do you make sure you’re sitting in the catbird seat when the right opportunity is available to you?

Get your ducks in a row. First things first, review your credit. Now. Word on the street is 79% of all credit reports have errors. Some may be significant enough to prevent you from qualifying for a mortgage. You can pull a free report from each of the three bureaus every twelve months by visiting annualcreditreport.com. If you do see something that looks out of whack, address it immediately. Take your credit report seriously. Treat it with respect because your credit score and history are the most important indicators to be considered when applying for a mortgage.

Start saving money for a down payment. Sure, there are 100% loans still available, especially for the first time homebuyer. However, you are going to save money in the long run if you have a little something to put down. Mortgage insurance, required on loans with less than 20% down, is tiered. You will not pay the same monthly mortgage insurance for a loan with 5% down that you would if you put 10% down. And don’t forget, you still may have to foot prepaid items like taxes, insurance, interest, etc. or a portion of the closing costs.

Make sure you really know what you make and are able to verify it. Also, know your true bank and asset balances. The days of stated income responses from underwriting engines are few and far between. There are exceptions, but who knows if you are one of them at this point? Better safe than sorry.

And here is a great bit of info to keep your credit score high. Try to keep your credit cards to under 25% of the available balance. Not always easy to do. I completely understand. However, if you are unable to pay it down, you may want to see if the creditor will raise your credit limit to tweak your ratios.

Ok, so here is the no-brainer tip. Pay your bills on time. Always avoid paying over 30 days late. Always pay your mortgage first, then sweat the other bills. That one ding on a mortgage payment can completely knock you out of the lending arena.

After addressing the above, consult a good mortgage lender and see where you stand. It’s important to be pre-qualified for a loan before you find a house. It really strengthens your offer when the seller knows you are a serious contender who can obtain financing. You negotiate from a position of strength.

Don’t forget to ask around or use a realtor you know and trust. Just like a lender, the more experienced – the better. Work only with people with whom you “click” that listen to you and work hard for you.

It’s a great time to buy. If you’re so inclined, use these tips and be prepared to take advantage of the current housing climate!

How To Sit Pretty In A Real Estate Buyer"s Market

Why Invest in Gold Bullion?

Why invest in gold bullion? Learn the reasons why you need to invest in gold in order to secure your savings, fight the consequences of inflation and reckless monetary policy, protect yourself against coming bank collapses and ride the current gold bull market all the way to the top.

One of the most popular reasons to invest in gold, especially gold bullion is to “hedge” against inflation. Because the main factor behind increasing inflation rates is the creation of additional currency (sometimes called the printing of money) gold bullion is a way to shield yourself from the effects of this. Every time more money is added to the supply of money, the purchasing power of all the money in the supply decreases because there is more currency chasing the same amount of goods. When you go to the supermarket for some groceries, this inflation is what makes everything get more and more expensive each year. According to official sources inflation is around the 4.2% mark. However, it is really much higher than this as that figure is an average of most goods available for purchase, including ones that tend to decrease in price such as electronics. Because the average person spends more of their money on things that are inflating in price at a greater rate, such as food, fuel, accommodation and education, the true rate of inflation is around the 10-20% mark.

To invest in gold bullion means that the money you have put into that gold is protected from inflation. Because gold is in such limited supply, it’s value cannot be inflated by increasing its supply. However, when the supply of currency such as the US dollar or British pound increases, the value of that gold goes up as well. Therefore, that same gold bullion, adjusted for inflation, is worth a the very minimum, the same amount virtually all the time. Having gold investments, especially in bullion protects you from inflation and stops the purchasing power of your money from being destroyed. That is reason enough for why you should invest in gold bullion.

However, with the demand for gold set to increase from countries such as China, India and Russia, as well as the worsening sub-prime mortgage crisis and a loss of confidence in “paper” money, the price of gold looks set to skyrocket. With gold sitting at just under $1000 an ounce, it is still very good buying. The current gold bull market is very young, and a large number of trusted analysts are predicting that $2000+ per ounce is not unlikely.

Why invest in gold bullion?

To protect you and your family’s money from inflation and ensure that your current level of purchasing power is maintained. Also, with the price of gold set to skyrocket, it looks like a very promising investment that is currently undervalued. What tends to happen with gold is when its price starts to increase rapidly, more and more people pile in and the price shoots further upwards. This phase hasn’t been reached yet, so I would highly recommend that you invest in gold now, before the increases in price make investment more difficult and less rewarding.

Source by Arthur Williamson

Why Invest in Gold Bullion?

Manhattan Remains Stronghold of Nation"s Real Estate Market

As the subprime crisis only gets worse, the nation’s housing market is set to suffer the same ignominious fate as it did in 2007. Last year was the worst year for the national housing market since the Great Depression, and the subprime crisis is beginning to give America’s financial markets a reputation as the world’s chief exporter of recessions. 2008 is expected to be as bad, if not significantly worse.

A number of housing markets, however, have remained strong during this time. That being said, the Manhattan real estate market is the only major market that could still feasibly be characterized as a bull market.

Even here, most of the market has reached a standstill, neither advancing or retreating in a particularly stark way. However, the highest of the high end New York apartment market has continued to push forward, with a number of positive developments and new buildings coming on to the market.

The significant growth in real value of the New York City apartment market is largely thanks to the housing Coops that most free market-loving economists typically deride. Their stringent regulations effectively sheltered the market from the direct impact of the subprime crisis. As such, the rest of the market has held steady, allowing the advances in the high end market to create a significant uptick in the overall value of the Manhattan real estate market.

The statistics showing this large increase in average value during the first quarter of 2008 are not particularly important unto themselves. In the context of Bear Stearns’ collapse, however, they were a surprising piece of positive news that has kept confidence – the life blood of any market – alive and well in the Manhattan Real Estate market.

The rest of the New York City market, however, is not faring as well. While high end markets outside of the borough are doing well, more middle class neighborhoods are feeling the effects of the national economy more acutely. Queens, for instance, saw a 12% year-over-year decline in average prices for the first quarter.

The Bronx and Staten Island, meanwhile, saw smaller declines in average prices.

As the national economy worsens and the rest of the city begins to be pulled down by the national real estate market, the resilience of the Manhattan real estate market will be tested.

Whether or not it passes that resiliency test remains to be seen. If any place can, it’s Manhattan. The result of that test seems to be dependent on the fate of the city’s vaunted financial services industry. If there are more Bear Stearns, no market can hold up against that pressure. If we’ve seen the worst that Wall Street incompetence has to offer, than Manhattan real estate may just be an island of steady value in a sea of turbulent prices.

Manhattan Remains Stronghold of Nation"s Real Estate Market

Business Training - Real Estate Agents, Prospecting-Four Streams of Revenue

OK. Let me first start with the secret, there is not one when it comes to building a Real Estate business. Too often I read articles on the one magic prospecting technique, that if you implement now, will revolutionize your business. Hey, if it’s out there, I’ve yet to find it after twenty years of selling. That being said there are ways to increase your rate of return to make sure you are maximising the available tools and systems out there. The “Four Streams of Revenue” approach is one. Follow the initial four steps, then start to integrate the remaining steps and I can guarantee you will see your business not only survive a changing market but thrive.

1. Identify the forms of prospecting available to you. Sit down and write them out. Take your time. I can easily identify thirty nine in my area.

2. Acknowledge the ones you are good at. Look at the list and be honest with yourself, its OK to brag a little.

3. Check off the ones that you like to do (from step #2). This is the key, which ones are you good at AND you like to do? This is interesting, sometimes you might be good at something, but no enjoy it. If this is the case then do not write it down in this step.

4. Now, pick four (from step #3). Simple. You now have four types of prospecting that are available to you, you’re good at and you enjoy. This is the foundation.

The logic: If your business is coming from four different areas, you don’t have to panic if two of the prospecting methods are not producing or the market changes. With this model the other two will compensate and produce a steady stream of leads and ultimately, sales. Yes it’s that easy, but wait, there’s more. These are the basic steps to start to build the model. Lets go to Def-Con (level) two.

5. Ensure two of the forms of prospecting (from step #4) are warm lead generators. Important, why? Because you always have to look at rate of return. Am I being efficient and effective? Incorporate FSBO’s, Expireds, Farming-both geographic and demographic, PIK (people I know) list, Past clients-repeat and referral, Charity organisations, Sporting clubs, community organisations etc.

6. Make sure one form (from step #4) is cold. This is crucial to ensure you are always getting yourself out there in touch with new buyers and sellers (I refer to this as skimming). Nothing keeps you more grounded in Real Estate than cold prospecting. Focus on Cold doors, Cold calling, Ad calls, Sign calls, Open house etc.

7. Next, make sure the fourth one (from step #4) is adaptable. This one is a little tricky. When I say adaptable, what I mean is some type of prospecting that is unique to your market and could be considered unproven (though not necessary) and easily changed like Shopping carts, bus benches, direct mail, bill boards, joint ventures with affiliates and local businesses etc.

Now. There is logic and twenty years of evolution behind all of these steps. You want to build a prospecting model that has some serious thought put into it. Gone are the days of Glen Gary-Glen Ross (if you are under 35 years old that one will miss you) of begging for the “golden” leads. Today’s Realtor has to be a strategic planner with an understanding of the market past, present and future. Don’t just go out blindly and knock on doors (as I did for my first five years). Think about, plan it. If you don’t you WILL become a victim of the market. I see it all the time and there is always a common denominator, lack of understanding of the business you got into.

So there you have it. When I had this model up and running, it was generating over $30,000,000 worth of sales per year. Simple, yes. Easy, not always. Replicatible, absolutely. Effective, YES!

Business Training - Real Estate Agents, Prospecting-Four Streams of Revenue

Real Estate Marketing Online - The Booklet Strategy

For many years, real estate agents have used free reports to generate interest (and, ideally, a phone call or email) from prospective clients. The report will be something like “Top 10 Home Buying Tips” or “Common Mistakes Made by Home Sellers.” The idea is that a website visitor would be so intrigued by the information offered that he or she would pick up the phone or fire off an email to contact the agent for it.

While this may have worked in the distant past, it no longer does — at least not at a level that justifies the effort. The reasons why are obvious. After all, who would reveal their personal information to request a generic article that can be found all over the Internet?

But while the technique is outdated, real estate agents can still use the concept behind the technique to generate leads from potential clients. Here’s how.

Offer a High-Value Booklet

Let’s take the generic reports offered on so many real estate websites and make them (A) more specific to the audience, (B) more informative and useful, (C) more unique, and (D) more enticing to the audience.

Let’s use an example of Jane Doe, a fictitious real estate agent in San Diego who specializes in short sales to help homeowners avoid foreclosure — a popular topic at the time of this article. Instead of offering some boring report like “10 Home Buying Tips for Beginners,” Jane decides to create a full-fledged booklet for her target audience. It ends up being a 37-page homeowners guide to foreclosure avoidance in her city.

So while it took some work to put together, she now has something to offer that (A) nobody else is offering, (B) is useful and informative, and (C) speaks to her target audience. This will be an enticing free product that could generate a steady stream of leads over time. So now Jane needs to offer the PDF e-booklet from her website.

Enter the Landing Page

In the world of Internet marketing, a landing page is where a person “lands” when visiting a website. So in a certain regard, every page of your website is a landing page, because you never know where somebody will land when they first find your site.

But you can also create specific landing pages for specific purposes. In Jane’s case, she wants to create a landing page that shows a picture of her e-booklet (a “virtual cover,” as its known), while also explaining the value of the item. Of course, Jane should also make it really easy for her visitors to request the booklet, as this will increase the number of leads she derives from the technique.

Jane should include the following elements on her landing page.

• A headline that identifies the audience and subject matter, using straightforward language. This tells impatient readers what the page is about right away.


• An introductory statement to reinforce the headline and expands on the promise made by the headline. It might also include a call-to-action hyperlink.


• A “virtual cover” image to add visual enticement. This technique has proven to increase conversion rates, when compared to a text-only description. A graphic designer may be needed to help with this component.


• The key selling points of this booklet should be featured throughout the copy and also as bullet statements.


• A big graphic button (impossible to miss) that allows the visitor to request the booklet, or fill out the subscription form, or whatever the case may be.


• The copy of the landing page should also be keyword-rich to help with search engine visibility. In Jane’s case, that means it should naturally include “San Diego foreclosure” types of phrases.

Getting Traffic to This Page

Now Jane has a lead generation technique in place. But it won’t do any good until she directs traffic to the page. Traffic + Lead Generation = Leads. If I were Jane, I would use as many techniques as possible to drive traffic to the new landing page. This might include press releases distributed online, press releases sent to local news outlets, electronic newsletters, email marketing, adding a link to her email signature block, pay-per-click marketing, search engine optimization, etc.

The search engine optimization / SEO strategy is especially useful, because it provides lasting benefits. It’s a great way to get a steady amount of qualified traffic to Jane’s e-booklet landing page, which will directly relate to an increase in leads generated.

You Have to Experiment

With any marketing technique, you need to experiment with different versions to see what works best for your audience. The same applies to the lead generation technique outlined above. With this particular technique, Jane might experiment with different booklets, different landing pages, different lead-capture methods, etc.

In the example above, I used the foreclosure-avoidance booklet for the hypothetical real estate agent because it was perfectly suited to her audience. You can take the same strategy and apply it to any number of booklet topics and audiences.

Here are a few that might be worth considering / experimenting with:

• A geographically specific booklet that explained the importance of credit scores and offered tips on boosting one’s credit score before buying. With information on average scores and lending practices in your city or town. Another hot topic.


• A booklet that walked buyers through the mortgage process, with plenty of local information about mortgage lenders, escrow companies, etc. This would be a great opportunity for a joint effort, if you happen to know a mortgage professional.


• A booklet that compiled information on local schools (including hard-to-find information, future plans, etc.). School ratings, teacher-to-student ratios, graduation rates, etc. Great for home buyers with children.


• A booklet that combined all of the above into a relocation guide for the city or town. Great for people moving in from elsewhere.

These are just a few ideas off the top of my head. The best results will come from knowing your audience, offering something unique, and covering hot topics like Jane did with the foreclosure booklet.

Real Estate Marketing Online - The Booklet Strategy

Commercial Real Estate - What is the Present Status?

U.S. Real estate markets are not so-healthy as they were for decades. First the residential property sector was plagued by the foreclosure crisis and is yet to recover from the devastation. Arising out of the foreclosure crisis, there were many cyclic reactions in the financial market. The cash-crunch spread fast to other areas of financial activities – like auto loans; credit card purchases; hotel room occupancy; business revenues in shopping malls; renting office complexes and so on. Commercial new construction projects were either put off or abandoned totally, aggravating unemployment problem etc.

The commercial real estate market is inevitably inter-related with all the above businesses. As such the depletion in business revenues is reflected in foreclosure of commercial properties also. How? For example, if a big hotel losses heavily on revenue by the non-occupancy of its rooms, ultimately financial commitments, including the mortgage repayments get hard-hit. The situation of default in mortgage repayment, consecutively for months, eventually leads to foreclosure and distress sale of the commercial property concerned. Needless to mention a distress sale will bring the market value of the property deep down.

Which branch of commercial properties is most affected? We have come across news reports about the commercial foreclosures – particularly in the hotel sector – the affected hotels of luxury located in the tourist industry hot-spots of Las Vegas in Nevada, Florida, and California etc.

What is strikingly different in residential foreclosures and commercial foreclosures is – when a residential property is foreclosed, the amount in loss of money is about few thousands of dollars, whereas in a commercial foreclosure, the amount involved runs into millions of dollars.

It is for this reason, the lending institutions extending financial supports for commercial property projects are dragging their feet in coming forward to extend new loans. In the situations of default and foreclosure also, they are not rushing into the decision of foreclosure of the property immediately, but consider all possible alternative outlets and compromises with the borrowers.

Obviously, rather than individuals, mostly institutions and LLCs are involved in commercial foreclosures and in dire situations of foreclosures, they tend to select the insolvency route, to escape foreclosures.

In this context, it is pertinent to take into consideration what the experts in the Industry say about the present status of commercial property sector and foreclosures. While the predictions about the future of commercial real estate vary from person to person, there is unanimity among them about the density of the problem of commercial foreclosures, presently.

According to James Lockhart, vice chair of WL Ross & Co. New York, there are a lot of distressed commercial properties facing foreclosures with small commercial banks as of date. The problem institutions holding commercial properties in their business have increased to 775, whereas there were only 50 of them, just a few years back.

The impact of commercial foreclosures has led to closing of financial institutions in huge numbers. Of a total of 8,000 U.S. banks dealing in commercial property finances, already 250 have been closed; 1300 banks have been advised by the regulators, to reduce concentration of Commercial Real Estate property loans; and many of them are expecting closure or taken by stronger competitors.

However, in the Real Estate industry circles, it is reported that in a “Sentiment Survey” conducted among 100 senior real estate personnel by the Real Estate Round Table, during the second quarter of this year, 82% of the participants expressed satisfaction that the commercial real estate market is better than last year.

Commercial Real Estate - What is the Present Status?

Applications of Precious Metal Clay (PMC)

Once heated, the binders burn off, allowing the particles of metal to combine and resulting in a solid metal piece. The most common type of PMC is silver clay, although gold and even bronze clays are available (the gold clay being very expensive).

This remarkable material means that you can create solid silver or gold items of jewellery as easy as using any other form of modelling clay. (Do be aware, however, that there is around a 10-15% shrinkage rate during firing.) The possibilities with PMC are only limited by your imagination.

The surface of PMC accepts impressions extremely well, allowing you to give your pieces texture and patterns. By using patterned rollers or any item that comes to hand such as lace, leaves or even bark, you can create a textured surface in silver or other metals that would be difficult to replicate without the use of specialist equipment. Once the clay has been fired and finished, the pattern will be clearly visible on the surface. This is a perfect way of making interesting and unique beads, for example, or for creating a patterned finding for a broach.

With practice and skill, PMC can be utilised in fine work such as filigree or cloisonné, but do remember that the PMC will shrink during firing, so be sure to allow for this in the initial stages.

One of the easiest pieces of jewellery to make with PMC is a bangle. By simply rolling out the clay, placing your design on the surface and joining the ends, a beautiful silver bracelet can be produced in a very short time. Once the clay has been fired, it can then be polished and finished to produce something that will complement any outfit.

PMC is most often used to produce silver beads, again lending itself perfectly to this application. The blank shapes can be easily produced by hand, or, if you want to add a more complex design, by using a mould. Once the basic form has been made, it is simply a matter of placing a hole through the bead and firing. The temperature for firing PMC has to be carefully monitored though – too low and the binders will not completely burn off, leaving the finished item vulnerable to breaking or crumbling, too high and the metal will blob, leaving you with an ingot and nothing more. The usual firing temperature of PMC is 1500 degrees F, so the use of a kiln, which will enable the user to monitor the temperature closely, is advisable.

PMC has proved to be so popular in jewellery making that a number of guilds and organisations have developed around its use. The PMC Guild has a wealth of information, video clips and project ideas available on its website to help you get started, including tips on how to work with this versatile material and incorporate it into your jewellery making.

Source by A Hunter

Applications of Precious Metal Clay (PMC)

Real Estate Inventory

Real Estate inventory is at an all time high PLUS Interest rates are low. A large number of buyers remain in the market, but their behavior is decidedly cautious. For those of you selling in this market, it’s important to remain patient, to plan for a longer sales cycle, and to avoid overpricing your home. Buyers in the current market will have a variety of choices, and will have the ability to negotiate favorable contract terms. Get expert representation from an agent who will talk straight about the value of a house or the condition of the local market.

With inventory close to all time highs, anemic sales volumes, rising inflation and banks about to unleash a wave of interest rate hikes; inventory is at the highest levels ever seen. Bargain purchasing will be gone when undervalued strong markets snap back to fair value or even earlier when the knowledge becomes commonplace. The values that went up with the rising tide are now going down with the ebbing tide and there isn’t much that sellers can do for the time being. When the market turns, and it will, housing will once again be increasing in value almost everywhere. Real estate has always been a good value and will regain that position again shortly. Property values are rising everyday and the pressure on real estate inventory is always there.

Buyers are anxious to buy, but they want to make intelligent purchases. Buyers are not able to qualify or are unwilling to pay for the mortgage at higher rates. Buyers control the value of the real estate marketplace, not sellers. Buyers, not sellers, determine what the value of a home will be. Buyers return when the risks are accurately priced into the market. The result is a slowdown in sales activity, as the disconnect widens between sellers holding out for high prices and buyers looking for a bargain. But ultimately, more choices for buyers leads to fewer deals being made. Because most buyers in this market are not having to compete against other buyers for the same home, buyers are not having to waive their right to inspections in order to make their offer more attractive. Today, buyers can enjoy more affordable homes, because of the fewer number of investors active in the market.

Real Estate Inventory

San Antonio Realtors Find Unique Ways to Meet Their Clients" Needs

With an aggressive marketing plan to get their listings sold San Antonio realtors have found a way to guide their clients through one of the most challenging real estate markets. Because 85% of all home buyers first start their home search online, realtors have fully embraced the use of marketing online and found ways to leverage the use of the internet to the advantage of their clients.

The San Antonio Board of Realtors’s housing forecast indicates that sales have been down 3.2% compared to a 19% decrease in 2009 closings. Therefore, there’s no question that San Antonio, TX has seen its fair share of the slowdown. However, in spite of the soft market, many realtors have had one of their most successful years yet. With an aggressive marketing plan to get their listings sold they have found new and unique ways to guide their clients through one of the most challenging of real estate markets many of us have ever seen.

As a realtor, feel humbled by any recognition or feedback you receive, but remember it is your clients who should be thanked. They have trusted you as their Real Estate professional to guide them through one of life’s most important decisions. Always appreciate your clients enthusiastic support and trust, their business and their repeated referrals!

Many realtors clients say it best, 75% of their business has come from referrals and repeat clients. They attribute their successes to loyal clientele and the consistent commitment to exceptional customer service standards. A realtor must enjoy creating “clients for life,” and it should be their belief that building lasting friendships with clients are the fruits of their labor. “A satisfied client is not enough. It’s about constantly striving to produce results beyond and out of the ordinary.

“After years in the Real Estate business, a realtor will realize that in order to achieve high levels of success in Real Estate like any business, you must stay current with market trends, constantly seeking further education in your chosen field and most importantly, at all costs, be attentive to your client’s specific needs.”

A realtor must love their job and enjoy the opportunity to work with great people.

San Antonio Realtors Find Unique Ways to Meet Their Clients" Needs