Discovery in Economic Challenging Times

Originally posted 2008-11-29 22:13:42. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

It is interesting when you discover that even in challenging economic times that there are people who can and will find a way to overcome challenges.   I discovered that when you combine like minded people and your own self drive that may things thought impossible becomes possible.  On last night, I attended a Mastermind Meeting.  What is a Mastermind Meeting, you ask?  A mastermind is an alliance that is build from two or more minds the work together for a common goal.  The goal of our goal is to help and encourage each other in growing our business despite the economic downturn.

At the meeting, I learn several things to help do that.  One was developing a vision or mission for your chosen business.

Another was writing your goals down.

However, the most important thing that I learned was something that was restated more than once.  It was believe in yourself.  Believing in yourself is one of the most important ingredients in the formula of success according to the host.

Another key to success is speaking success not negativity into your life.  You’ll heard of the old adage “you are what you eat”, well guess what it is the same for we speak, “we are what we speak.”  So, speak, “Goodness and Goodness will come.”

Forgiving Student Loans is it In the Future

Originally posted 2011-09-15 14:54:48. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

I am always searching for information that I feel is benefical to everyone.  The information I found has to do with the student loans.  There is a petition that has become viral across the web about forgiving student loans.   Check it out

Want a Real Economic Stimulus and Jobs Plan? Forgive Student Loan Debt!

Related articles

• Important Info for Student Loan Borrowers (education.com)
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• Look Before You Leap: Student Loan Shopping Tips (education.com)

Real Estate Investing Is It a Cash Cow or Dud

Originally posted 2011-08-31 12:01:08. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Is real estate investing still a good way to make money?  To answer this question, we will examine what occassional debt  such as credit cards can do to your financial future.

Most people use a credit card like it is a never ending money tree and spend, spend, spend.  If this occurs, you will never achieve wealth.  Here is why.  If that credit card’s interest rate is eighteen percent, you are paying eighteen dollars, for every one hundred dollars you spend.  The latter is an example of “living rich while growing poor.”

The objective in growing rich is to use the concept that the rich use.  It is, use OPM, other people’s money, to become financial free.

The steps are simple.  Reduce consumer debt.  Next, build assets through homeownership, save money, and invest.  Third, borrow against those assets to increase your net worth.

A critical requirement of OPM is that the moeny acquired needs to be used to maintain and/or improve your wealth.  In other words, it is not wise to use your newly acquired funds to purchase stock because the stock may be a higher risk proposition than real estate.

After all, real estate can reduce in value, but it will never be worth zero, unlike stock.  Yes, real estate is always  worth something even if there is no structure on the land.

The land, the dirt, the trees, the air, is all worth something.  So, next time you have some extra money do your homework and consider real estate as your

Types of Ownership Deeds

Originally posted 2008-11-29 13:58:08. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

There are different types of ownership deeds you may receive as a real estate investor.  The types of ownership deeds are general warranty deed, sheriff’s deed, quit claim deed, special warranty deed, tax deed, trustee deed, and certificate of title.

It is important to understand that no matter which ownership deed you receive it is best to have title insurance on it.

Title insurance is a policy that guarantees that the title for the property is clear of liens and/or judgments.  It also guarantees that the owner of the property has the right to sell the property.

The title insurance protects the owner and the new owner from losses that may arise from unknown or undisclosed defects in the pas chain of title.  Unlike most insurance, title insurance is paid in an one time installment at the closing.  This one time fee protects your interest as the new owner and your heirs interest for as long as you own the property.

The title policy is insured by the title company.  The title company will provide legal defense against any and all challenges to the title and reimburse the owner against any losses as a result of hidden or unknown defects in the owner’s rights.

Now, that we understand what the title insurance is.  Let’s examine the different types of ownership deeds.

As an investor, you may come to own your property through a special warranty deed.

Let examine what happens to get you the special warranty deed.  First, there is a sheriff’s deed issued by a judge.  This is issued by a judge to satisfy a judgment or lien.  This takes place in a foreclosure.

Before we get to the sheriff’s deed or special warranty deed, the mortgage company receives a certificate of title after the foreclosure.    This is how the property is conveyed to the mortgage company.  Ater the mortgage company acquires the sherriff’s deed, they must convey a warranty of ownership to the new owner.  The mortgage company does this through a special warranty deed.  Be aware, that a special warranty deed only warrants back to the mortgage company’s ownership not any further.  Remember, until the last payment the mortgage company really owns the property.  You, as the owner, has insurable interest.  Insurable interest is your right or benefit that you have in the property.  Mening as long as the mortgage payment is current your interest is still there.  Once you are late or not able to pay your interest is superceded by the mortgage company.  However, you can still protect your interest in the property if your situation or ablility to pay has now changed for the better visit www.freedomforeclosure.com/taylorbrown to find out how.

Other forms of deeds include a tax deed.  A tax deed is given if the homeowner has not paid their property taxes and someone else pays those taxes for the homeowner. This person receives this document when paying taxes on the behalf of the homeowner at a tax sale.

Still yet, there is another type of deed.  It is a trustee deed.  A trustee deed is used to convey a property out of a trust.

The next type of deed is a quit claim deed.  A quit claim deed is used to release whatever interest the owner has in the proeprty to someone else.

The deed that offers the most protection is the general warranty deed or warranty deed.  This deed warrants against all defects in chain of ownership before or after ownership of the property.

Related Deed Articles

• TaxDeedLists.com Helps Investors Explore Emerging Careers in Property Investments (prweb.com)
• The Statutory Warranty Deed: What You Should Know as the Seller (raincityguide.com)
• Fannie Mae Announces Deed for Lease Program (raincityguide.com)

What is a Land Trust?

Originally posted 2009-01-29 08:00:49. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Changes to Fannie Mae’s Financing Criteria Affect Investors

Recent changes to Fannie Mae’s financing criteria have created a need for investors to reconsider how they take ownership of their new investor property.   Those changes are affecting investors who finance the property in their portfolio and have those properties under the entity, limited liability corporation (LLC). 

Freddie Mac backs many of the conforming loans on the secondary market, so any changes in the rules is very important and should be headline news; hence, this news release. 

 

The changes are as follows:

• Freddie Mac will no longer approve refinance for any property that has been under a limited liability corporation entity for the previous six months. 
• Freddie Mac is limiting the number of properties the investor can have financed to four not ten as in years passed.

 

Land Trust is Answer to Recent Fannie Mae Changes

  

The ownership option that will combat the change to the financing institutions’ criteria changes is taking ownership of the new investment property under a land trust.  What is a land trust?

 

A land trust is a method of real estate ownership in which the trustee has legal title to the property.   The beneficiary, though, has full power to control the property to include disposing of the property and management of the property. 

 

The trustee for the land trust can be an attorney, law firm, or a bank.  Remember, the trustee holds the legal title.  However, whether the trustee is an attorney, law firm, or a bank, those entities can not act without the written consent of the beneficiary who has full power to control the land trust.

 

 

Benefits of Land Trust

 

The land trust is not only the solution to the changes for financing, but the land trust also has great benefits such as:

• Privacy
• Succession
• Litigation
• Probate
• Flexibility
• Financing
• Asset protection

A land trust is considered to be superior to most business entities such as corporations, limited liability corporation, etc because the land trust has the added benefit of privacy.  The land trust does not have to be registered that means there is no public record of the officers, directors, shareholders, or beneficiary.  The trustee must keep the beneficiary and trust records in a secure location, and the trustee can not reveal the information unless subpoena.

 

Along those same lines, it is recommend that at time of purchase that of the new investment purchase for it to be conveyed directly to the trustee to avoid the owner’s name ever being part of public record.   There is other reasons anonymity or privacy is beneficial.  It can prevent unfair price increases on purchasing of property.  For example, when the land was accrued for the Disney World, Walt Disney used a land trust to disguise his intentions for the usage of the land to prevent increases in the price of the land. 

 

Still yet, another advantage to a land trust is asset protection.  The beneficiary is protected from judgments and liens.  The land trust prevents the judgment to automatic be attached to the real estate owned by the investor since the title is not in beneficiary’s name.

 

However, it is important to note that because the investor maintains control of the trust, the control or interest can be subject to creditor’s claim.  To avoid creditor’s claims, the trust needs to be irrevocable not revocable.   

 

The land trust is flexible because it allows for ease of multiple ownership.   Even though there are multiple owners all owner do not have to sign for the acquisition of a new property just the trustee who has written instruction from the owners sign the documents for acquisition of the new investment property. 

 

The land trust does can not be partition when one of the owners’ part, but the parting owner can transfer part of his or her interest in the trust.

 

The best is advantage of the land trust is ease of succession.  If the beneficiary of the land trust passes away, the interest in the trust is simply transfer via the previous written instructions to the trustee.  This eliminates the need for probate and the lengthy and costly process involve with the probate proceeding. 

 

The beneficiary of the land trust can be an individual or an entity, so if you have a limited liability corporation the LLC can be the beneficiary. 

 

The cost of the land trust may vary, but the investor may be charged as little as $100 to open a trust and $75 a year to maintain the trust for an investment property valued at $250,000.

 

Remember, the land trust is a legal document that must be review by an attorney to ensure that all of your interest is address.  If you have a LLC make sure your LLC has instructions in it as well for your beneficiary interest in the land trust. 

 

 

What Does Mortgage APR Indicate?

Originally posted 2009-12-02 05:00:48. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

This post is written by Steven Parker.  Steven Parker is a financial writer and contributor for the last five years.  He specializes in mortgage and real estate industry and has written many articles on mortgage, reverse mortgage, loan modification, foreclosure and many more.

Mortgage APR or Annual Percentage Rate helps you to assess the total cost of the loan in percentage. For instance, if your mortgage attracts a rate of 10%, it means that you will be required to shell out USD$10 for every USD$100 you borrow yearly. Borrowers usually try to get a mortgage loan that has the lowest APR.

Mortgage APR however doesn’t affect your monthly mortgage payments. This is because your monthly mortgage payments take into account the interest rate and not the mortgage APR.

What does mortgage APR include?

The APR includes the following in its calculations-

• Pre-paid interests
• Points
• Underwriting fees
• Loan processing fees etc.
• Fees for preparing documents
• Private mortgage insurance

In addition to the above, under certain circumstances, the following fees may be included too. They are –

• Credit life insurance
• Loan application fee

Fees excluded from APR calculation

The mortgage APR doesn’t take into account the following types of fees in its calculation-

• Appraisal fees
• Notary fees
• Attorney fees
• Transfer taxes
• Fees from Escrow and Title
• Credit Reporting fees
• Recording fees
• Home Inspection fees etc

In other words, the mortgage APR helps you to find out the amount you have to pay as closing cost. It is mandatory as per Federal Truth in Lending Laws that the lender has to disclose the mortgage APR to the borrower.

It is important that you compare the rates from lender to another. You can also compare the Annual Percentage Rate online. It helps you to shop around for the correct deal. It is also important to remember that getting a low mortgage APR doesn’t necessarily mean that you are getting a good deal. Read the fine print before signing the agreement when you opt for a mortgage.

Stimulus Package – Free Web Tools to Make Your Life Easier

Originally posted 2009-04-01 05:17:42. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

There are ten FREE web tools that can make your life better.  Those tools are:

• www.mint.com – This site helps you track your expense because it pulls to a secure site all of your bank information.  This makes it easier to get your taxes information together.
• www.zenbe.com – This site allows you to check all of your email accounts, facebook, and twitter accounts all in one convenience location.
• www.getdropbox.com – This site allows you to back up your email files.
• www.everyscape.com – This site allows you to run a three dimensional view of streets at city level.
• www.inhabitat.com – This site gives tips to homeowners that want to go green.
• www.yelp.com – This site reviews plumbers, doctors, resturants, etc.
• www.billshrink.com - This site discovers if there are any hidden cost on your credit card, cell phone bill, etc.   It also give recommendations for alternatives to the credit card or cell phone that has the hidden cost.
• www.gasbuddy.com – This site helps you find a cheap gas station. 
• www.fotoflexer.com – This site allows you to touch up your photos with different effects and adjust light.
• www.designspongeonline.com – This site allows do-it-yourselfers on a budget that want to redecorate their home. 

These tools can be a stimulus package because it helps you save money.

How to Strengthen your Trading Mindset

How to Strengthen your Trading Mindset

To be able to succeed at trading, you must be fully aware of how to strengthen your trading mindset.

Trying your luck at trading is as good as trying your luck at a card game table in a casino, you take a gamble byt placing your bet on what you consider your aces, try to establish a fallback position by managing your risks and how to play with your cards to make the most out of every possible gambling situation you are in, whether you win or lose.

Here are some common tips on how to strengthen your trading mindset.

Always take full responsibility for your trading decisions.

As a rule of thumb, most investors simply follow the crowd, but successful traders make up their own minds.

Although you should always be open to good advice from other experts, but the final and ultimate decision rests upon you and not with anybody else.

You can always try to focus on the opportunity to learn since there’s plenty of it, but don’t  let it cloud your perspective or determine the choices you make.

Avoid the pitfalls of over-trading.

There are basically two types of over-trading – trading too often and trading too many shares.

If you are trading too often, remind yourself that there’s really no good reason to trade constantly, since extreme over-trading creates stress, produces high commissions but sometimes often leads to losses.

This is so because market forces do not last forever and time has shown various examples of the law of gravity in the trading market- that whatever comes up must go down.

Instead of grabbing every stock that comes along, make sure each trade setup meets the criteria of your trading plan, don’t be too over cocky or too selfish.

To prevent trading too many shares, use a risk calculator to determine the appropriate position size before you click the enter button. It relieves stress to know that the amount at risk for each position you hold is safely proportioned to the size of your entire account, this is asset management at work.

Always go easy on yourself.

There’s a tendency for traders who take responsibilty for their actions to be tough on themselves.

After all, this gives credence to the saying that ‘do not cry over spilled milk.’

This could be a good opportunity for some positive self-criticism, but don’t slam yourself too hard or too often, since even the best traders make mistakes.

When you do, learn from them quickly and then let it go.

Avoid yelling at yourself, as self inflicted psychological damage is tough to overcome, so it’s best to avoid it entirely.

Always think like a winner.

Thinking like a winner turns you into a winner, since the sum of your thoughts has an interesting way of showing up in your life.

Thoughts are like muscles, the ones you use the most will grow to become the strongest. Work on the thoughts you want to develop and focus on them regularly, since it has the tendency to become action, action become habits, and habits determine results.

Always think of success and you are much more to be on your way to success.

Lastly, take every effort to relax.

Even though trading is serious business, the best traders know how to laugh – especially at themselves.

Having fun and enjoying at what you do is a very good motivator to give you focus on making money and earning it on trading.

So know how to strengthen your trading mindset and be on your way to success.

Related articles

• Can (and Should) You Roll a Credit Spread? (community.tradeking.com)
• How to Repair an Iron Condor if Your Stock Moves Against You (community.tradeking.com)

Why should You Use Technical Indicators in the Stock Market?

Why should You Use Technical Indicators in the Stock Market?

For someone who is new in the trading business, it is always a good start to take time to do some research in line with the useful technical indicators. So much more, even the pros still have the same degree of need for them. What they typically do often is that of surfing the Internet for blogs and articles that feature the discussion of the gurus regarding why they believe that their personal choice of indicators are so far the best. While there is no rule saying that you should not believe them, it is always implied that there are times when the presented indicators are often conflicting. To make things worse, people who simply adopt the exact plans of the Internet guys don’t actually succeed.

The Clear Indication

Now here is the catch. The people who call themselves technical indicator gurus are convinced that their businesses work basically because they have already formulated their specific goals and working your way towards success in this line of trade is all about having your personal definite plan. Yes, all that you must do is to pull things together and execute your wisest judgment. You have to be responsible for every single course of action that you take.

The Importance of Technical Indicators

Why is it important to utilize the so-called stock market technical indicators? Can they really help you out as you find your chance in the stock market? Don’t worry because they can definitely do some of the hard work for you. Most of the known technical indicators are able to spot the precise entry and exit points as you venture into trading in the stock market. More so, you can count on them whenever you need help.

Technical Indicators Explained

For every type of business, there are rules and standards for you to adopt. In line with the stock market, the indicators are among those that can aid in inviting more of your luck.

Basically, technical indicators are the mathematical formulas that you must meet. They are furthermore based on the movement of the price. Since many people trust them, experts agree that they are indeed very much precise.

There are several known indicators out there and normally traders make use of one, two, or even more indicators before they execute whatever decision they have in their minds. The thousands of varieties of indicators likewise run on numerous varying formulas too. In fact, you can take a pick from among them. Of course, as mentioned above, gurus have their own bets. They are likely to recommend to you those which they think are working the best. You must know that many of them suggest those indicators that they personally use or else they will not bear that strong amount of conviction. While it is emphasized that you may or may not follow what they say, it will not also hurt if you prefer the first option. After all, they serve as your guide. On the other hand, never limit yourself and your decision with those things that they tell you. You can always find out the indicators that will also work best for you. Talk about experimentation and discovery!

What is so great with the stock market technical indicators is that their being accurate allows you to see the potentials in making money. They express signals that will let you determine the possible risks at hand. All you must do is to load them up via a chart and they will do the rest.

 

Related articles

• The Technical Indicator: Despite rally, technical repairs needed (marketwatch.com)
• The Technical Indicator: S&P, Nasdaq edge atop major resistance (marketwatch.com)
• We’re In a New Bear Market, Says One Technical Indicator (blogs.wsj.com)

Changing Career Might Not be a Bad Idea

6 Top Tips for Finding Recession-Proof Jobs

Recession can be a very stubborn thing.  Once it drops by, it can take a while for it to fade away and disappear.  However, that doesn’t mean that we should simply sit back and let it overcome us.  It can, after all, wreck havoc on our finances and personal lives.  In these tough times, finding a job already seems improbable – just imagine being in the market for jobs that are not affected by recession.  But take heart.  There’s still hope yet.  Here are top 6 tips for finding recession-proof jobs:

Look for jobs in secure industries.
If you’ve read the news by now, trying to get a job in an auto plant is like trying to get on an elevator that’s going down – and you’re trying to go up.  The same is true if you’re trying to get a leg in real estate.

Instead of wasting your time trying to join an industry that’s experiencing some bad times, try to set your sights on industries that have remained stable or are experiencing growths.  These include:

- Health care (nursing, caregiving, special care, medicine, physical therapy and other support manpower)

- Law enforcement

- Information Technology (network administration, software design and development)

- Support Services (customer service, administrative assistance)

- Sales and business development (product management, retail and wholesale)

- Engineering

- Education (teaching, school administration and other related support services)

Boost your resume.

If an employer sees nothing promising or exciting in your resume, they won’t think twice about throwing your piece in the trash bin.  Before you try to hook a recession-proof job, consider revamping your resume right now.  Take a copy of your latest and review it.  If your resume is several months old, there’s a high likelihood that it needs a makeover.

Focus on accomplishments.

A common error among jobhunters is detailing their job descriptions in their resumes.  Although this is helpful in establishing their work experience, it may not always give the prospective employer a good idea of what you can do.  Emphasize on the results that you have produced instead.

Adapt your resume.

Typing out and printing a generic resume is a huge mistake.  Generic is average, which means that you have very little to help you stand out from the crowd.  If you want a recession-proof job, make sure your resume is something that your employers will find attractive.

Consider the industry you’re targeting.  If the job calls for someone who has a strong sales experience, emphasize your sales background.  If the job calls for someone who had been involved directly in marketing and promotions, show your qualifications in these departments.  The more relevant your resume says you are, the better you’ll be at landing a recession-proof job.

Expand your reach.

Other than advertised job vacancies, consider other venues for finding recession-proof jobs.  Look for trade magazines, papers, clubs and associations.  You could also tap your network of professionals in the same field.

Get further education.

In tough times, you ought to arm yourself with tougher credits.  One is by obtaining additional training or education.  Getting certified or expanding your professional qualifications will help make you a more desirable hiree.

Recession-proof jobs are usually the most popular among jobhunters who are probably considering the same strategies as you right now.  It’s likely that for every recession-proof job that is available out there, there are thousands of other jobhunters out to get it.  If you have better qualifications courtesy of better training and experience (in case you’ve had hands-on education or internship), you’ll come out as the best, most capable candidate.

Related articles

• Top 10 Recession-Proof Jobs (zerohedge.com)
• Why Writing Online Is a Recession Proof Job (cash-bandit.com)
• Recession Proof – 10 Hot Careers [Infographic] (famousbloggers.net)

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