Leonardo Da Vinci - A Legacy of Immortal Genius

LEONARDO DA VINCI (1452-1519)

Heaven smiled and he was born Da Vinci, Leonardo. The impact and resonance of his contribution to humanity is not measurable in mere mortal terms. Driven by an insatiable thirst for knowledge, his life's work is an awe inspiring synthesis of art, science and technology.

How is it that a figure who lived nearly five centuries ago, continues to fascinate and engage our interest today? With the recent discovery of a studio of a Da Vinci's that had been sealed for centuries and the ongoing debate regarding the true origin of the alleged Da Vinci Code, time again has resurrected and revitalized interest in perhaps the greatest thinker of all time.

Born the illegitimate son of a notary, Leonardo was born in 1452 in a small farmhouse in Anchiano. In 1457 he moved to Vinci where he stayed with his fathers family even though he was never legitimized. At the age of 14 Leonardo moved to Florence to begin an apprenticeship in the workshop of Verrocchio. At the time, Andrea del Verrochio was the most famous artist in Florence. During his tenure with Verrocchio, Leonardo learned the mixing of colors and painted simple parts of paintings. In June, 1472, Leonardo was listed as a member of the Painters Guild of Florence.

The Annunciation

The Annunciation, painted in 1480-1481, now hangs in the Louvre. It is a small painting with a deep and misty landscape with highly detailed flowers in the foreground very typical of Leonardo's style during his time in Florence.

THE LAST SUPPER

By far one of the most famous paintings of all time, the Last Supper was painted between 1495 and 1498 at the Santa Maria delle Grazie Monastery in Milan. This biblical scene, commissioned by the Friars of Saint Dominic is significant for it's incredible composition and the subtle emotional interplay between the apostles. Featuring great dexterity and mastery of the human form, this compelling work is at once a moving testament to Christianity and a marvel of DaVinci's virtuosity and technical finesse as a painter. This painting firmly establishes Leonardo's position as the supreme master artist of the high renaissance. At all times, Christ is the central focus of the scene. This is accomplished by placing Christ in the center of the painting and by placing all of the spatial lines and perspective points within the framework of the painting to draw the viewer to the very center of the tableau. The apostles are in fact supporting characters and each and every figure is majestically formed to frame and enhance the focus on the Christ figure. The years surrounding the period in which the Last Supper was painted were periods of intense anatomical studies for Da Vinci. It is a well known fact that Leonardo dissected cadavers in order to fully understand the complex workings of the muscles and inner workings of the human body. Of huge importance is to understand that the individual apostles are reacting to Christ’s announcement that a traitor is among them. This is the very heart of this timeless, enduring image. The “Pathos” of each figure is brilliantly executed through gestures and reactions that reveal each apostle's individual astonishment, disbelief, and fear. Certainly one of the worlds most widely copied paintings, The Last Supper has greatly deteriorated over the years. This was due to Da Vinci's experimentation with pigments and the natural time-related decay. Initial conservation efforts date back to the early 18th century. The more recent restorations lasted twenty years concluding in June 1999.

MONA LISA DEL GIACONDA

Began in 1503, the Mona Lisa was a commissioned portrait of the Florentine nobleman, Francesco di Bartolommeo di Zanobi de Giocondo's third wife, Lisa di Antonio Maria di Noldo Gjerardini at the age of twenty four. Painted on poplar wood, the iconic imagery of the Mona Lisa is so ingrained into western culture that the enigmatic smile of the mysterious woman is nearly synonymous with art, itself. As with many of da Vinci's works, this painting has a stunning history. The allure and myth of the work Is matched with the technical and artistic virtuosity of the piece. The sublety of the magnificent smile, the richly layered and highly detailed background are hallmarks of a process known as sfumato. Utilizing layers and layers of glazes, the illusion of depth is achieved. This technique, highly developed by the Dutch masters, was adopted and perfected to such a degree by Leonardo that it became a Da Vinci trademark. Another fine example of sfumato is The Virgin of The Rocks (1484) National Gallery, London.

The original Mona Lisa was actually larger than the present 77 x 53 cm. Originally, there were two columns one on each side of the figure which made it much clearer that the young woman is seated on a terrace. Leonardo worked on Mona Lisa for 4 years and kept the painting himself. Some believe that he was simply unable to part with it. Nine years later, arriving in France, the painting was in his baggage, and was sold to King Francis I. Amboise, Fountainbleau, Versailles, Ludwig XIV's collection and the Louvre were all homes to this alluring masterpiece. Napolean removed the painting from the Louvre and hung it in his bedroom. Upon his banishment to Elba, the Mona Lisa was returned to the Louvre.

In 1911, the painting was stolen by an italian art thief. Ironically, two years later, the Mona Lisa resurfaced in Florence, the city of its true origin! Eventually the painting made it's way back to the Louvre. In the 60s and 70's, The Mona Lisa was exhibited in New York, Tokyo and Moscow. Today the masterpiece is in permanent residence in the Louvre and international law prohibits any foreign exhibition.

THE ARTIST AS NATURE'S OBSERVER

In addition to Leonardo's extraodinary contributions to the world of art, his powers of divine intellect led him to explore many other fields of endeavor. The renaissance was the period in which science and art blended together in the search for the purest, logical, and analytical observation of nature. The Homo - Vitruvianus by Da Vinci is a study of proportions with the human figure inscribed in a circle and a square is a superb example of this philosophy and the period's quest for scientific analysis.

Leonardo again placed himself at the forefront of this new age of reason and intellect. His commitment to observation of the human body is unsurpassed and included skeletal and muscle studies, respiratory and digestive systems and the evolution of the fetus within the womb. The collection of Leonardo's anatomical studies consist of roughly two hundred folios and are kept at the Royal Library at Windsor, England. Additionally daVinci's vast study of nature include the action of light, the growth of plants and the flow of water.

THE SYTHESIS OF ART AND TECHNOLOGY

Considering the scope and vision of Leonardo's power of expression and the multitude of interests that inspired and intrigued him, it would be next to impossible to list them all. His spirit of scientific inquiry coupled with a daring and inventive mind allowed him to explore and elaborate on inventions and concepts as varied as engines, gears and pulleys flow mills and irrigational aqueducts. Fascinated with flight, Leonardo carefully observed birds and their wing structures. Applying these deceptively simple principles to mechanics and technology, he made numerous illustrations depicting machines of flight which are in essence the “working plans “ for hang-gliders, planes and helicopters which exist today. This is but one of the many examples of why Leonardo da Vinci is considered an enigma that lived centuries ahead of his time.

AN INVITATION TO FRANCE

In autumn of 1516 Leonardo arrived in Amboise, at the invitation of King Francis I. He lived in the small castle cloux and pursued his hydrological studies. At the age of 67, the great master passed away on May 2, 1519. His health had severely deteriorated and paralysis had taken over the right side of his body. Leonardo da Vinci's remains are in the Chapel of St. Hubert situated within the king castle complex in Amboise, France.

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

Considered the last of Leonardo's verifiable works, this painting is strikingly different from previous visual conceptions of the saint. It is a powerful work in it's subtle simplicity and contains four recurring elements or themes consistent with Da Vinci's other dazzingly poetic paintings: the flowing curly hair defined with incredible precision, the enigmatic smile, peering through deep, dense shadows and perhaps most poignant, a finger pointing to heaven.

PICTURE INFORMATION AND SOURCES

1.) Self Portrait. 1512. Red Chalk on Paper. Biblioteka Reale. Turin, Italy.

2.) The Annunciation. c. 1472-1475. Oil and Tempera on Wood. Uffizi Gallery. Florence, Italy

3.) The Last Supper. 1495-1498. Oil and Tempera on Plaster. Fresco, 460 x 880 cm (15 x 29 ft)
Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, (Refectory). Milan, Italy.

4.) The Last Supper (detail of Jesus) see above.

5.) Mona Lisa. (La Gioconda) 1503-1506. Oil on Wood. Louvre, Paris, France.

6.) The Virgin of the Rocks. 1503-1506. Oil on Wood, 189.5 x 120 cm (6 x 4 ft.)

The National Gallery. London, England

7.) The Proportions of the Human Figure (Vitruvia Man). 1490. Pen, ink and watercolor over metalpoint.
Galleria dell ‘Accademia. Venice, Italy.

8.) Female genitals and foetus in the uterus. 1510-1512. Windsor, Royal Library (RL 1901r: K/P 197v)

9.) Study for flying machine. C.1487-1490 (the so-called “helicopter”) Ms B f. 83v

10.) St. John the Baptist. c.1573-1516. Oil on Wood. Louvre, Paris, France.

WEBSITES AND WEBPAGE RESOURCES:

http://www.kausal.com/leonardo/

http://www.mos.org/leonardo

[http://www.iblibio.org/wm/paint/auth/vinci]

http://www.artchive.com.com/artchive/L/leonardo.html

http://library.thinkquest.org/3044/adv_over.html

[http://www.bbc.uk/science/leonardo/]

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/vasari/.html

[http://www.island-offreedom.com/DAVINCI.HTML]

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES:

Leonardo Da Vinci

By Carlo Pedretti

Published by TAJ Books

Cobham, Surrey

United Kingdom

Renaissance

Great Ages of Man

Time-Life Books

Copyright 1965

Art: Context and Criticism

By John Kissick

Penn State University

Published by Wm.C. Brown Communications, Inc.

Copyright 1993.

This Article Copyright 2005 by John Keaton. All Rights Reserved.

Reinventing Real Estate, Part 1: Online and Empowered Consumers Are Taking Charge and Paying Less

For decades, the real estate world turned in a predictable manner. The roles of buyers, sellers and real estate professionals were fairly well defined and transactions followed a predictable path of yard signs, newspaper ads, open houses and miles of paperwork.

Recently, online and empowered consumers have changed the game. Real estate professionals now face issues similar to the ones that have transformed the retail, personal finance and travel planning industries. As technology advances and new business models evolve, the real estate industry has begun to transform itself from providing traditional, carefully controlled "agent-centric" transactions to new "consumer-centric" practices. The following is a look at some of the recent industry trends and how buyers, sellers and investors can expect to benefit. The "Five Ds" that are driving change in real estate are:

1. Disruption - Over the past 10 years, the Internet has matured into a powerful platform for delivering real estate information, forever changing the interaction between buyers, sellers and real estate professionals.

2. Displacement - The popularity and acceptance of self-service and consumer-direct business models is being felt by real estate professionals, who are striving to develop attractive new offerings for Web-savvy consumers.

3. Demanding consumers - You now have more real estate knowledge, tools and resources at your fingertips than ever before. More savvy consumers tend to be more independent and demanding.

4. Downward pressure - Traditional real estate commissions of 5-6 percent of a property's sales price are facing downward pressure.

5. Developing alternatives - The real estate industry is transforming itself to provide targeted services and exciting new options that add value for consumers.
Disruption

"We are going to see our industry go through dramatic transformation via the Internet and consolidation of agents and companies." - eRealty Times Columnist Dirk Zeller

Some industry observers have adopted Harvard Business School professor Clayton Christensen's term "disruptive technology" to explain recent developments in real estate. Though it's easy to point to the World Wide Web and advancing technology as the main changes in real estate, that's only part of what's shaking things up. Essentially, the real cause of disruption is not just technology, but technology-enabled real estate consumers.

Web-enabled consumers

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), more than 72 percent of homebuyers now begin their home search online. The popularity of online real estate ads surpassed newspaper property listings back in 2001, and the gap is widening. Less than one percent of buyers first learned about the home they purchased on the Internet in 1995, while in 2004, that number passed 20 percent.

According to a California Association of Realtors (CAR) survey, 97 percent of respondents said the Web helped them understand the buying process better and 100 percent said using the Web helped them understand home values better. Web-enabled homebuyers like you are taking a more active role in researching homes and neighborhoods. You also now spend less time with real estate professionals once you have completed your research. Internet homebuyers also used the Web effectively to filter out properties that did not interest them, visiting 6.1 homes on average versus 15.4 for traditional buyers.

Today, you can view photos and detailed information for hundreds of properties in the time it used to take to visit a single one. And the Web provides much more opportunity than simply moving print listings online. The growing availability of residential high-speed Internet connections has boosted the popularity of virtual tours and interactive maps, providing consumers with powerful and flexible visual search tools.

In addition to making home searches easier, automated valuation model (AVM) software is making a big impact in how properties are evaluated. AVMs, which generate valuation estimates by analyzing and comparing property information data, are becoming increasingly sophisticated and accurate. While not considered a substitute for human appraisals, AVMs are gaining popularity because they are inexpensive, easy to use and produce valuation estimates in minutes. Now AVMs, used extensively in electronic mortgage approval processing during the recent refinancing boom, are becoming available on real-estate Websites aimed at consumers. This is a significant development for independent sellers, who often find it challenging to price their properties correctly when selling on their own.

The MLS goes public

"In real estate, MLS data sits at the apex of the change, specifically the MLS information that is pushed to the Internet every minute of the day." - Bradley Inman, Publisher of Inman News

Once an exclusive tool for real estate professionals, the multiple listing service (MLS) has in recent years become a very public platform for real estate listings. The MLS is the nation's most comprehensive database of properties for sale - four out of five homes sold in the United States are listed on the MLS.
MLS properties are available to agents and brokers worldwide, and are now accessible via consumer Web sites such as Realtor.com, WSJ.com, Excite, Netscape, AOL and MSN. MLS listings also appear on local, regional and national brokerage Websites through Internet Data Exchange (IDX) agreements that allow participating Realtors to share listings and display them to consumers. Even though only licensed realtors can list property on the MLS, the system has begun to figure prominently for the $110 billion independent seller (for-sale-by-owner or FSBO) market. About 13 percent of real estate sales are now FSBO, conducted without a broker's assistance.

Type "flat fee MLS" into any major search engine, and you'll see dozens of real estate professionals willing to list your property in the MLS for a fee. If you are willing to pay a commission of 2-3 percent, you can attract the attention of thousands of agents who will show your property to prospective buyers. You can then reduce the cost of the sale to about half a traditional 5-6 percent sales commission, plus the cost of the MLS listing. If you find an independent buyer working without an agent, you could make a sale with no commission at all and pay only an MLS listing flat fee.
Displacement

Currently, about 2.4 million real estate licensees operate nationally, according to the Association of Real Estate License Law officials. The NAR has more than one million members, up from about 760,000 members five years ago. Many real estate professionals and industry observers expect a significant decline in this number because some tasks traditionally performed by agents and brokers can now be done more quickly and easily by Web-enabled consumers.

"Historically the fundamental driver of the real estate industry was the control of information. The real estate agent and the real estate office were the only sources of comprehensive information on which properties were for sale and those who might be interested in buying them. With this control revenues were practically guaranteed.

Moreover, because this exclusive control was akin to a monopoly by virtue of the multiple listing service (MLS) any firm of any size could serve the customer equally well. As a result, the number of real estate companies grew without regard to market efficiencies.

Simply put, the traditional model is too inflexible. Consumers are seriously questioning the value of a real estate agent. They frequently feel that many of the traditional tasks undertaken by the agents are now either no longer required or can be done by the consumer themselves."

- Swanepoel & Tuccillo, Real Estate Confronts Profitability

The quotes above, from a popular report on emerging real estate business models and dwindling profit margins, highlight a number of issues traditional real estate professionals are now facing. And if the real estate industry has grown historically without regard to market efficiencies, the issue has only been compounded since 2001, as new agents signed on in droves, lured by low interest rates and skyrocketing home prices in many areas. It's likely that the number of traditional real estate agents will decline, while new types of real estate jobs will be created to deliver value to Web-savvy customers.

NEXT in Part 2 of 2: - Demanding Consumers, Downward Pressure and Developing Alternatives

Business Insurance - The Best Choice For Owners

Professional liability insurance is a kind of insurance taken out by certain professionals in order to get coverage for claims made against them by customers. The insurance might apply to doctors and in this case it is called Medical Malpractice, or to Public Notaries for whom it is named Errors and Omissions Insurance (E&O). Real estate brokers, appraisers, management consultants, website developers will also contract E&O insurance.

Software developers and technology consultants may benefit of this insurance too. In their case, the insurance covers the failure to perform, financial loss and errors and omissions of the products or services sold. In a single word, this professional indemnity insurance may apply to any business that provides advice or gives a service.

But let's see in what ways professional indemnity insurance will protect your business:

1. For example you made a mistake in the professional services offered to your client out of negligence, or you might have lost or damaged their data and these results in litigation. The insurer may represent you before the court and defend you and in case you become liable for damages, the insurance will cover those costs, limited to your level of coverage.
2. The mistake has been done and you decide to fix it. The insurance will provide you with funds for that, thus avoiding larger claims on the part of the client.
3. If one of your employees steals your client's money, the insurance will cover for the loss incurred.
4. Breach of intellectual property leads to a dispute. When literary and artistic works, inventions, designs and images have been misused, you might find yourself as a professional in a legal dispute which can be stressful and costly. Taking out insurance will cover the cost of the lawsuit.
5. Facing a trial can severely damage your reputation. Being insured and capable to defend yourself will save you and enable you to continue your career.

Looking at the cost of this insurance it has to be noted that it is particularly high for those professions with high risks, but the benefit of the insurance will outweigh the costs. The insurance cost is established on the basis of the percentage of the company's total spending.

The needs differ according to the profession. Maybe it is high time for you to contact a reliable insurance broker and discuss all insurance options possible to offer you real protection in case of trouble with clients. As a professional firm or practice, you have to take out professional indemnity insurance frequently as a compulsory requirement of your company, your client and to protect yourself and your business.

California Real Estate Agents

Consumer purchase power has increased despite inflation. Easy and hassle-free mortgage plans have helped numerous people pay for their own property rather than opt for rented property. This progressive consumer pattern has been a boon for the real estate trade. Services of real estate agents in California could be advantageous to clients when considering the purchase, sale, rental, or lease of a property.

Real estate agents are qualified specialists who are well versed with real estate trading. Agents have in depth knowledge regarding the property they deal with and are well versed with legalities involved in California real estate deals. Real estate agents may be able to satisfy customer queries related to property costs, appraisal, and motive of sale. They are well informed about property sizes, maintenance costs, and legal restrictions.

In order to select an appropriate California real estate agent, clients may approach any of the real estate firms or private brokers in the locality or online. Agents and clients may be able to discuss specific requirements, budgets, and other legalities at meetings or online. California real estate agents can provide information in relation to mortgage types for outright purchases. They may also recommend names of banks and financial institutions that may provide funds upon the presentation of their credentials.

California real estate agents work through a widespread system and may deal in property all over California or in a certain area within a particular city. They act as mediators for buyers, sellers, and rental agencies. Very often, clients do not meet until a property deal is settled upon. Real estate agents are often authorized to negotiate a deal if one party lives outside California. Real estate dealers prefer to hire agents as it helps in increasing the volume of sale. A number of California real estate businesses hire agents as salaried staff. Agents also receive additional payments for deals closed by them. These commissions are paid from service charges paid by clients.

Capture the Secrets of Venice's Art on School Trips

The beauty and uniqueness of Venice has been captured on canvas by some of the world's most renowned artists. From the Renaissance artists to JMW Turner and on to the present day, the city has attracted interest from many. Students on school trips to the city will have a wealth of art to discover.

The Renaissance

The Venetian School dates from 1450 until 1600, and during this time Venice was a powerful republic with a stable economy and strong trading economy. It survived outbreaks of the Black Death and the fall of its main trading partner Constantinople. This all meant that it had the wealth to support an art movement, and the Venetian School was born.

For students walking around Venice during school trips, art abounds, and it just falls to you to see it. It was all about appearances, and the beautiful palaces throughout the city result from the importance of the first impression being as impressive as possible.

Anyone who has visited Venice will have noticed the quality of the light, and the artists of Venice started to look at the relationship between light and colour. The pioneers of the Venetian School came from the Murano glassworker families of Bellini and Vivarini; however, the first big name in Venetian painting was Giorgione, whose important works include The Tempest and Sleeping Venus, which was completed by Titian after the premature death of Giorgione. Titian was inspired by Giorgione and, along with Tintoretto and many artists from other parts of the world, travelled to Venice to continue his legacy. These artists included Albrecht Durer and El Greco.

Titian and Tintoretto are two of the artists whose work is exhibited at the Doges Palace on St Marks Square, at site that should be on the itinerary of any school trips to Venice. The Doges Palace is a collection of small museums housed around a courtyard. Once the home to the Doge and the site of Venice's main prison, the building is an art work in itself with its frescoes, friezes and gilded ceilings. The Doges' apartments contain the work of some of Venice's most esteemed Renaissance artists.

18th Century Art

The 18th century was the beginning of the popularity of landscape painting. Constable, Gainsborough and Turner grasped the opportunity to produce great works of art in this genre, and although Constable and Thomas Gainsborough largely kept their subject matter close to home, JMW Turner looked further afield for grand landscapes to interpret.

Turner and Canaletto most famously captured the 18th century landscape of Venice and their works are largely the reason why, when visiting Venice for the first time on school trips, it may look somehow familiar to students. Canaletto, translated as 'little canal', was born in Venice and his wonderful paintings of the canals and buildings of the city were often sold to Englishmen on their Grand Tour. He later travelled to England and amongst his British landscapes is his depiction of Westminster Bridge. Turner's journey to Venice started in Covent Garden in London, but as a young man he travelled extensively in Europe including many visits to Venice. His ability to capture the unique light of the city is legendary.

It is easy to see, when you witness the views of Venice first-hand, why many artists have been inspired to paint them. The results of their labour will ensure Venice remains alive in your memory long after you leave her to return home.

Commercial Truck Financing

Purchasing a truck is a major financial investment that involves a significant amount of preparation. The decision of how to finance a truck involves several key steps and will require you to do a fair amount of research to prepare for your purchase. Many commercial truck lenders are borrower-friendly even in this economy. Because the commercial truck is valuable collateral, there is little risk of loss for the lender. There are many different types of companies that specialize in industrial equipment or truck financing. It is important to know the details of how these companies operate, so you can find the best possible deal for your needs. To calculate truck financing, you must establish the cost of the truck, decide on how much you will pay as a down payment, explore loan options and make a decision that best fits your personal wants and needs.

Guidelines on Calculating Commercial Truck Financing:

1.) Determine the cost of the truck. You should identify the truck you want to buy and locate a detailer where you can purchase your vehicle. You should shop around to ensure you have the best possible price for the truck you want to buy. Once you have identified where you will purchase the truck, you should negotiate a price. Once you have the price set, you can begin to explore various ways to finance the purchase.

2.) Decide on what kind of down payment you can afford. You should examine your personal finances and establish a cash amount that will be placed directly towards the total cost of the truck. If your truck costs $20,000 and you can make a $5,000 down payment, you will have $15,000 left to finance through a loan from a financial institution.

3.) Examine options.

a. A Loan. As with any type of loan, a bank or financing company will lend you the money to purchase large pieces of equipment or large trucks at a particular interest rate, depending on the institution you are borrowing from or the quality of your credit. If you believe or know you will have steady business once you have your equipment or truck, and therefore will be receiving regular payment for your services, taking out a loan to purchase these items is an excellent idea, because you will be able to pay back the capital group or bank on time and the interest can simply be factored into the fee for each job your company performs. If business is not guaranteed to be steady during the loan period, this option becomes more and more risky.

b. Leasing. Leasing a large piece of equipment or a truck is a better idea if your company is trying to retain capital and spend money in other places. The cost of leasing a truck is much less than buying it and making monthly payments. However, the mileage of the truck comes into play, as does the wear and tear on both the truck and the equipment. It's also considered throwing money down the drain in a way, because at the end of the lease, your company will not own the truck or equipment; it was merely rented for the term of the contract. However, leasing can be ideal if the truck or equipment is only going to be used sparingly for certain jobs each year, in which case it isn't worth buying it.

c. Purchasing. Buying a truck or equipment is a good idea, even though it may be more difficult to finance. This is because you will retain a portion of your investment in the equipment or truck itself when you buy and pay it off over time. This way, though, you can rent the truck out to other companies or people for a fee when you don't need it, earning money that can help you with your payments. However, maintenance and upkeep come into play here, as they become your responsibility. Be sure to get a manufacturer's warranty for at least a few years from whomever sells you the truck or equipment; and make sure whomever you rent the truck or equipment to provides proof of insurance.

4.) Calculate your expenses over time. This calculation can be done very easily by using an online lease calculator, such as the one provided by Cars.com or Edmunds. You will need to input the information you gathered in the previous steps such as the price of the car, the interest rate and the repayment term. This will yield a calculation that will illustrate your total monthly payment, as well as the total cost of financing.

5.) Choose the best option. Once you have identified the pros and cons of the financing options available to you, you must make a decision as to your best option. The best option is usually the least expensive option that best fits your needs. If you decided to take out a loan through a financial institution or an automobile dealer, you must apply for the loan. If you are approved, you can use the funds to purchase the truck. Your payments will begin immediately.

Real Estate Agents and the Internet - How to Buy and Sell Real Estate Today

Then and Now

Ten years ago, a search for real estate would have started in the office of a local real estate agent or by just driving around town. At the agent's office, you would spend an afternoon flipping through pages of active property listings from the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS). After choosing properties of interest, you would spend many weeks touring each property until you found the right one. Finding market data to enable you to assess the asking price would take more time and a lot more driving, and you still might not be able to find all of the information you needed to get really comfortable with a fair market value.

Today, most property searches start on the Internet. A quick keyword search on Google by location will likely get you thousands of results. If you spot a property of interest on a real estate web site, you can typically view photos online and maybe even take a virtual tour. You can then check other Web sites, such as the local county assessor, to get an idea of the property's value, see what the current owner paid for the property, check the real estate taxes, get census data, school information, and even check out what shops are within walking distance-all without leaving your house!

While the resources on the Internet are convenient and helpful, using them properly can be a challenge because of the volume of information and the difficulty in verifying its accuracy. At the time of writing, a search of "Denver real estate" returned 2,670,000 Web sites. Even a neighborhood specific search for real estate can easily return thousands of Web sites. With so many resources online how does an investor effectively use them without getting bogged down or winding up with incomplete or bad information? Believe it or not, understanding how the business of real estate works offline makes it easier to understand online real estate information and strategies.

The Business of Real Estate

Real estate is typically bought and sold either through a licensed real estate agent or directly by the owner. The vast majority is bought and sold through real estate brokers. (We use "agent" and "broker" to refer to the same professional.) This is due to their real estate knowledge and experience and, at least historically, their exclusive access to a database of active properties for sale. Access to this database of property listings provided the most efficient way to search for properties.

The MLS (and CIE)

The database of residential, land, and smaller income producing properties (including some commercial properties) is commonly referred to as a multiple listing service (MLS). In most cases, only properties listed by member real estate agents can be added to an MLS. The primary purpose of an MLS is to enable the member real estate agents to make offers of compensation to other member agents if they find a buyer for a property.

This purposes did not include enabling the direct publishing of the MLS information to the public; times change. Today, most MLS information is directly accessible to the public over the Internet in many different forms.

Commercial property listings are also displayed online but aggregated commercial property information is more elusive. Larger MLSs often operate a commercial information exchange (CIE). A CIE is similar to an MLS but the agents adding the listings to the database are not required to offer any specific type of compensation to the other members. Compensation is negotiated outside the CIE.

In most cases, for-sale-by-owner properties cannot be directly added to an MLS and CIE, which are typically maintained by REALTOR associations. The lack of a managed centralized database can make these properties more difficult to locate. Traditionally, these properties are found by driving around or looking for ads in the local newspaper's real estate listings. A more efficient way to locate for-sale-by-owner properties is to search for a for-sale-by-owner Web site in the geographic area.

What is a REALTOR? Sometimes the terms real estate agent and REALTOR are used interchangeably; however, they are not the same. A REALTOR is a licensed real estate agent who is also a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS. REALTORS are required to comply with a strict code of ethics and conduct.

MLS and CIE property listing information was historically only available in hard copy, and as we mentioned, only directly available to real estate agents members of an MLS or CIE. About ten years ago, this valuable property information started to trickle out to the Internet. This trickle is now a flood!

One reason is that most of the 1 million or so REALTORS have Web sites, and most of those Web sites have varying amounts of the local MLS or CIE property information displayed on them. Another reason is that there are many non-real estate agent Web sites that also offer real estate information, including, for-sale-by-owner sites, foreclosure sites, regional and international listing sites, County assessor sites, and valuation and market information sites. The flood of real estate information to the Internet definitely makes the information more accessible but also more confusing and subject to misunderstanding and misuse.

Real Estate Agents

Despite the flood of real estate information on the Internet, most properties are still sold directly through real estate agents listing properties in the local MLS or CIE. However, those property listings do not stay local anymore. By its nature, the Internet is a global marketplace and local MLS and CIE listings are normally disseminated for display on many different Web sites. For example, many go to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS Web site, http://www.realtor.com, and to the local real estate agent's Web site. In addition, the listing may be displayed on the Web site of a local newspaper. In essence, the Internet is just another form of marketing offered by today's real estate agent, but it has a much broader reach than the old print advertising.

In addition to Internet marketing, listing agents may also help the seller establish a price, hold open houses, keep the seller informed of interested buyers and offers, negotiate the contract and help with closing. When an agent provides all of these services it is referred to as being a full service listing arrangement. While full service listing arrangements are the most common type of listing arrangement, they are not the only option anymore.

Changes in the technology behind the real estate business have caused many agents to change the way they do business. In large part, this is due to the instant access most consumers now have to property listings and other real estate information. In addition, the Internet and other technologies have automated much of the marketing and initial searching process for real estate. For example, consumers can view properties online and make inquires via email. Brokers can use automated programs to send listings to consumers that match their property criteria. So, some agents now limit the services they offer and change their fees accordingly. An agent may offer to advertise the property in the MLS but only provide limited additional services. In the future, some real estate agents may offer services in more of an ala carte fashion.

Because of the volume of real estate information on the Internet, when people hire a real estate agent today they should look at the particular services offered by the agent and the depth of their experience and knowledge in the relevant property sector. It is no longer just about access to property listing information. Buyers and sellers historically found agents by referrals from friends and family. The Internet now provides ways to directly find qualified agents or to research the biography of an agent referred to you offline. One such site, AgentWorld.com, is quickly becoming the LinkedIn or Facebook for real estate agents. On this site an agent can personalize their profile, start a blog, post photos and videos and even create a link to their web site for free. Once unique content is added to their profile page the search engines notice!

Some have argued that the Internet makes REALTORS and the MLS less relevant. We believe this will be false in the long run. It may change the role of the agent but will make knowledgeable, qualified, and professional REALTORS more relevant than ever. In fact, the number of real estate agents has risen significantly in recent years. No wonder, the Internet has made local real estate a global business. Besides, Internet or not, the simple fact remains that the purchase of real property is the largest single purchase most people make in their life (or, for many investors, the largest multiple purchases over a lifetime) and they want expert help. As for the MLS, it remains the most reliable source of real estate listing and sold information available and continues to enable efficient marketing of properties. So, what is the function of all the online real estate information?

Online real estate information is a great research tool for buyers and sellers and a marketing tool for sellers. When used properly, buyers can save time by quickly researching properties and, ultimately, make better investment decisions. Sellers can efficiently research the market and make informed decisions about hiring an agent and marketing their properties online. The next step is to know where to look online for some of the best resources.
Internet Strategies

In the sections that follow, we provide strategies and tips on how to use the Internet to locate properties for sale and research information relevant to your decision to purchase the property. There are many real estate Web sites from which to choose and although we do not mean to endorse any particular Web site, we have found the ones listed here to be good resources in most cases or to be so popular that they need mention. One way to test a Web site's accuracy is to search for information about a property you already own.

Finding Real Estate for Sale

Despite the widely available access to real estate listings, many believe that MLS databases continue to offer the most complete and accurate source of real estate information. Most MLSs now distribute content to other Web sites (primarily operated by real estate agents). An excellent starting point for MLS originated content is the national NAR Web site, realtor.com, which is also the most popular web site for searching real estate listings. Virtually all local and regional MLSs have an agreement with realtor.com to display much of their active listing inventory.

Some local and regional MLS systems also have a publicly accessible Web site. However, to get complete information you will most likely still need to find a qualified local REALTOR. Many local real estate agents will also provide their customers (via email) new listings that are input into the MLS that match their predefined criteria. This can be very helpful to a busy buyer.

There are also many Web sites that display both real estate agent listed and for-sale-by-owner properties. Some of the more popular Web sites include zillow.com and trulia.com. These sites offer other services too. For example, zillow.com is best known for its instantaneous property valuation function and trulia.com for providing historical information. Another source of properties for sale is the state, regional, and local Web sites associated with brokerage companies; for example, remax.com or prudential.com. Search engines like yahoo.com and classified advertising sites like craigslist.com also have a large number of active real estate listings.

One key difference between these sites is how much information you can access anonymously. For example, at trulia.com you can shop anonymously up to a point but then you will need to click through to the agent's Web site for more information. Many new real estate search engines allow you to sift through listings without having to fill out a form. The best strategy is to browse a few of the sites listed above to find geographic areas or price ranges that are interesting. Once you get serious about a property, then that is the time to find a qualified REALTOR of your choice to conduct a complete search in the local MLS.

It also never hurts to search the old-fashioned way by driving through the neighborhoods that interest you. There is no substitute for physically, not virtually, walking the block when you are making a serious investment decision. In this sense, real estate is still a very local business and standing in front of the property can lead to a much different decision than viewing a Web page printout.

Valuing Real Estate

As we mentioned, one of the most popular real estate tools is zillow.com's instant property valuation. Just type in an address and in and you get a property value. It even charts the price ups and downs, and shows the last date sold (including price) and the property taxes. There are other sites that provide similar tools such as housevalues.com and homegain.com. Unfortunately, many people use these estimated values alone to justify sales prices, offers and counteroffers. However, these are only rough estimates based on a formula that incorporates the local county sales information. These estimates can swing wildly over a short period of time and do not appear to always track actual market changes, which are normally more gradual. In addition, these estimates do not automatically take into account property remodels or renovations or other property specific or local changes. This is not to say these sites are not useful. In fact, they are great starting points and can provide a good ball-park value in many cases.

When it comes to getting a more accurate value for a particular property, there are other strategies that are more trustworthy. One is to go directly to your county's Web site. More often than not the county assessor's area of the Web site provides sales and tax information for all properties in the county. If you want to research a particular property or compare sales prices of comparable properties, the local assessor's sites are really helpful. When you visit a county's Web site you are getting information straight from the source. Most counties today publish property information on their Web sites. Many times you cannot only see the price a previous owner paid, but the assessed value, property taxes, and maps. Some county assessors are now adding a market and property valuation tools too.

Given the importance of valuation to investing, we are also going to remind you of the two most important (non-Internet) valuation methods: real estate agents and appraisers. Working with a local REALTOR is an accurate and efficient way to get value information for a property. While one of the primary purposes of the MLS is to market the active property listings of its members, the system also collects sales information for those listings. REALTOR members can pull this sales information and produce comparable market analyses (sometimes called CMAs) that provide an excellent snapshot of a particular property's value for the market in a particular area.

Finally, the most accurate way to value a property is by having a certified appraiser produce an appraisal. An appraiser will typically review both the sold information in the MLS system as well as county information and then analyze the information to produce a valuation for the property based on one or more approved methods of valuation. These methods of valuation can include a comparison of similar properties adjusted for differences between the properties, determine the cost to replace the property, or, with an income producing property, determine a value based on the income generated from the property.

The Neighborhood

There are many ways the Internet can help you get the scoop on a particular neighborhood. For example, census data can be found at census.gov. You can also check out the neighborhood scoop at sites like outside.in or review local blogs. A blog is a Web site where people discuss topics by posting and responding to messages. Start by looking at placeblogger.com and kcnn.org/citymediasites.com for a directory of blogs. Trulia.com has a "Heat Map" that shows how hot or cold each neighborhood is based on prices, sales, or popularity among the sites users.

Schools

When it comes to selling residential property or rental properties that cater to families, the quality of the area school district makes a huge difference. There are many Web sites devoted to school information. Check out greatschools.net or schoolmatters.com. Most local school districts also have their own Web site. These sites contain a variety of information about the public schools and the school district, including its district demographics, test scores, and parent reviews.

Finding the Right Real Estate Agent

A recent addition to the Internet boom in real estate information is Web sites that let real estate agents market their expertise and local knowledge by displaying their professional profiles and socially networking with blogs. You can search to find an agent with a particular expertise, geographic area of specialization, or an agent offering specific services. The web site AgentWorld.com lets users quickly and easily find an agent with the right expertise using keyword searches and clean and simple agent profiles. AgentWorld.com also enables agents to post personalized blogs, photos and videos to help consumers find the best agent for their needs. Plus, many agent profiles include a direct link to the agent's web site where you will likely find the local MLS listings.

Maps and Other Tools

The Internet has made mapping and locating properties much easier. To get an aerial view or satellite image of a property or neighborhood, go to maps.live.com or maps.google.com or visit walkscore.com to see how walk-able a particular property is. These sites can give you an idea of the neighborhood characteristics and the types of entertainment, restaurants, and other facilities that are within walking distance of the property. Maps.Live.com provides a view at an angle so you can see the sides of houses and Maps.Google even gives you a 360 degree street-level view for certain neighborhoods. If you have not tried one of these satellite map Web sites, you really should if only for amusement.

Final Thoughts on Internet Strategies

The Internet is a very effective research and marketing tool for real estate investors but is not a replacement for a knowledgeable experienced real estate professional. The Internet can save you time and money by enabling quick and easy property research and marketing options. Sites like AgentWorld.com also help you efficiently find a REALTOR who fits your buying or selling needs.

Always remember, when it comes to Internet strategies for real estate: More knowledge is better. You need to use the Internet to build your knowledge base on a target property or to find a real estate agent with expertise you need. However, the big caution here is that the Internet should not replace human judgment and perspective, expert advice or physical due diligence-keys to successful investing.

The Importance Of Debt Education Canada

A lot of people from Canada are facing an extraordinary and unusual situation these past months owing to the bad economic situation that has beleaguered the country in historical proportions. Millions of people are facing huge debts from multiple debtors as the economy struggles hard to get back on its feet. And some of them were forced to declare bankruptcy as they are unable to settle their numerous financial obligations. Such declaration will surely hurt people’s credit ratings and will definitely have a long-term impact on a person’s future. And while the debt situation of many Canadians seems to be at an alarming level, some can still be optimistic about being able to deal with the upsetting problems nonetheless.

And there could be reason for such optimism. Canada fortunately has good resources that can provide debt relief through some organizations or institutions with professionals who are expert in working people out of debts. These professionals are able to provide debt education Canada people need in order to avoid ending up in bankruptcy. With the proper information and advice, a lot of people who are in debt will be able to learn the different ways on how they can reduce their spending, plan their budgets and target financial goals towards full settlement of the existing debts. Though this help may come late for people who are already deep in debt, it will still help them in avoiding being in the same circumstances again in the future. Similarly, those who are not in deep debt yet, will be able to pull their reins back to control their spending activities.

For a start, the experts will introduce you to debt education Canada people seem to forget – and that is setting up a plan for your spending activities. This is one part which drives many people into huge credits and debt because they are spending more than their income or what they can financially afford. By focusing your attention on your spending budget, you know exactly what you can only spend every month without sacrificing your budget for the monthly expenses such as insurance payments, car mortgage, rent, tuitions, etc. It is important that all of these regular and repeating monthly payments have their allocation from the income. Hence, if there’s just little money left after paying all the dues, it would mean that you will have no capability to spend on unnecessary stuff.

The financial experts will also tell you that in keeping or determining a budget, you will learn how your financial goals can be achieved. And by keeping track of your financial goals, you are able to maintain a healthy and stress-free financial situation. Most of the people in debt are those who never gave importance on setting a budget and financial goal. If you are targeting something as your goal, you will learn to make the necessary adjustments in your spending, lifestyle, etc. Even if the financial goal is a short-term one, you still get to benefit from it because you are able to achieve it without forfeiting your other financial obligations. You were able to stay on your budget, pay your dues and achieve your goal.

Canadians at this time should take advantage of credit counseling offered by some financial institutions as it will help them learn various practices and ways to determine your financial status, work out a suitable and doable debt repayment plan and target to get out of debt the soonest time possible, as permitted by your financial capability. This way, people will be more informed and guided and will in turn avoid being in terrible and stressful debt situations.

How to Select a Real Estate Agent

The purchase of a home, for the vast majority of individuals, is the single biggest financial decision made in their lives. Clearly, then, it becomes evident that the selection of a real estate agent is a serious consideration which should not be taken lightly. But what factors should be considered in the selection of a real estate agent?

Reputation

Not all real estate agents are the same. Some real estate agents have a reputation for being difficult to work with. For example, an agent that is pushy, argumentative, unprofessional, is late for appointments, or misses deadlines can frustrate the buying process. A real estate agent should have a reputation for getting along well with all parties to a transaction, buyers and sellers included. An agent that takes a lawyer-like approach of zealous advocacy for one side in a real estate transaction cause the other side to walk away from the deal. Communication and "people" skills are important, as well as diplomacy and tact in the event a difficult situation should arise. And clearly, honesty is tantamount.

Communication skills involve more than just communicating information - in fact, the primary test of effective communication skills is the ability to listen. An agent should listen to your needs, consider them, and then use that information to guide you to the neighborhood and home that is perfect for you.

Ascertaing the reputation of a real estate agent requires some detective work. It is wise to ask for references, on both sides of the transaction. Ask about problems that occurred during the process, and how they were handled. Talking to both buyers and sellers about their experience in dealing with a particular agent can provide insight as to how you can expect your real estate experience to unfold.

Geographical Area of Expertise

It is important as well to ensure you are dealing with a real estate agent who is a "local specialist". Many states technically allow licensed real estate agents to participate in real estate transactions anywhere within the state. However, a local specialist will be familiar with local selling practices. For instance, property transfer taxes vary by locale, as do the party responsible for paying them. In some locations, there may be different customs for the division of city and county property transfer taxes. You want to be sure that you are dealing with an agent familiar in local custom so as to avoid paying unnecessary fees.

One idea is to canvass the neighborhoods in which you are considering buying. If you see lots of yard signs for a particular agent in those neighborhoods, it is a good bet that the agent is a local specialist.

A local specialist will also be able to provide you information on schools, recreation, churches and synagogues, shopping and entertainment options in the area.

How to Select a Real Estate Agent

Word of mouth is usually the best and most reliable source of information regarding any particular real estate agent. This type of information is reliable in that it has not been "spun" by the agent and the source of the information has no particular motivation one way or the other, except to relate his or her experiences.

Be sure to interview more than one agent. Prior to conducting an agent interview, make a list of items that are important to you. These items might include proximity to freeways or commuter rail lines, style of home, age of home, proximity to schools, local tax rates, or any other number of items which may or may not be "deal breakers" in your mind. Additionally, you may be interested to find out whether or not the real estate agent has support staff which will assist in the handling of various aspects of transactions. Additionally, making a list of these priorities will assist your agent in finding the perfect home for your family.

Ask the real estate agent you are considering for referrals to other real estate agents for you to interview. An agent that is secure in his or her quality of service and reputation will have no hesitation to provide you with the names of competing agents for you to consider. An agent that provides this information to you is likely an agent with whom you would want to do business.

Other factors to consider are whether or not real estate is the agent's full time career, the number of years of experience the real estate agent has, and any real estate designations possessed by the agent.

About the Author:

Catherine Nguyen was born and raised in Dallas, Texas and is a licensed real estate agent. Ms. Nguyen specializes in Dallas real estate and has a career with Renowned Realty Group - Dallas/Ft. Worth RE/MAX.

Reevaluating the Black Power Movement - From Mayor Richard G Hatcher to President Barack Obama

Though misunderstood and misrepresented by the media and its opponents, the 1960s Black Power movement touched every aspect of American culture, and like the "New Negro" Movement of the 1920s, African Americans came of age, becoming self-determining and racially conscious. Black people- sharecroppers, unionists, welfare and tenants rights organizers, students, intellectuals, poets, musicians and singers and politicians-grounded in the ideology of Black Power, began to organize around controlling their own lives and institutions. The movement pointedly questioned the capacity of America's democracy to extend justice, citizenship and equality of opportunity to African Americans, castigating America for its failure to live up to the principles of democracy.

Unfortunately, the confrontational style and practice the Black Power Movement has obscured its pivotal role in transforming American democracy. Yet, its cultural and political mode of thought and practice- its assertive posture, strong rhetoric and uncompromising critique-permanently altered the political landscape of America as well as the identity of African Americans. At a time when blacks were still referring to themselves as "Negroes", ashamed of being black, of their hair, and their African heritage, the movement for power by black people in 1966 roared on the national stage transforming the consciousness of African Americans. Thus, coined and popularized by Kwame Toure, Black Power captured the spirit and imagination of black people, setting a new national agenda with international ramifications.

To be sure, the Black Power movement imagined the possibilities for black empowerment and American democracy. Its unflinching call for the promotion of black history and black studies; its Pan African impulse; its far-reaching criticism of racism at home and imperialism abroad, expanded the dialogue and parameters of the black freedom struggle. Resultantly, black people began to turn inward, using their cultural strengths to push back against racism and to affirm their own humanity and to embrace an African centric worldview. So far-reaching and so expansive was the tentacles of the Black Power movement that no venue or sector was untouched by its vision and critique. The Black Power salute in the 1968 Olympic by Tommie Smith and John Carlos, for example, was the most overly political statements in the history of the modern Olympic Games. The salute was part of a protest to call attention to the injustices black Americans were facing.

Another sector heavily impacted by ideology and direction of Black Power Movement, was the music industry. The music in the late 1960s began to reflect the influence of the movement- James Brown, Say it Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud, the anthem for the Black Power Movement, Nina Simone, To Be Young Gifted and Black, The Temptations, Message From A Black Man. Besides this, the "Natural", a hair style which evolved into a cultural and political statement for black men and women, and the dashiki, which became the dominant form of dress for African Americans, were representative of the African centric perspective of blacks.

Politically, at both the local and national level, black people started to organize around the three ends of Black Power-self-respect, self-determination, and self-defense. In 1967 the first Black Power Conference was held in Newark. A Black Power Manifesto came out of this conference, condemning "neo-colonialist control" of black populations worldwide and calling for the circulation of a "philosophy of blackness" that would unite and direct the oppressed in common cause. In 1972 Black Power advocates, organized and called for a State of the Union meeting, first National Black Political Convention. Delegates included elected officials and revolutionaries, integrationists and black nationalists, Baptists and Muslims (the widows of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X- Coretta Scott King and Betty Shabazz- both attended). Participants were buoyed by the spirit of possibility, and themes of unity and self-determination.

In a real sense, Black Power ushered in a new black politics. In Dark Days Bright Nights, Peniel Joseph, argues persuasively that the politics of Black Power included a "cultural ethos that redefined black identity by promoting defiantly popular images of racial pride and self-determination." Peniel adds that Black Power "waged a war of attrition to in order to implement Black Studies programs...established independent schools, educations centers, cultural centers, and think tanks...the new black politics featured alliances between elected officials and black nationalist militants, and a cultural movement that used art to expand black consciousness and helped forged an international legacy that viewed African liberation as the crown jewel of a global revolution." Peniel concludes that all of this in turn "planted seeds that partially inspired post-Black Power era anti-apartheid activisms," and that; "If the civil rights worked from the outside-in by paving the way for legal and legislative reforms, Black Power worked in reverse, imbuing the race consciousness and pride within the African American communities upon which much of contemporary black identity is based."

In brief, unlike the Civil Rights Movement, which has had its signal events incorporated into the fabric of America's political and cultural institutions and historical memory through the media and academic historians, the Black Power Movement has been defined by its excesses and demonized by the media and marginalized in history of the 1960s. Yet, failure to recognize the achievements of the Black Power Movement and rescue its legacy serves only to diminish the history of the social justice movement, including civil rights, and the contemporary racial justice movement. To be sure, this Movement made significant accomplishments in transforming African American politic and culture, and in reforming American institutions: laying the groundwork for the Jesse Jackson's candidacy for the Democratic 1984 and 1988 presidential nominations, the election of Ron Brown as the first African American chair of the Democratic National Committee, and the election of Barack Obama, the first African American elected President of the United States of America.

Cash Your Gold With Open Eyes

Did you know that a girl’s best friend is no longer the diamond? Recent studies have shown that girls prefer gadgets to gold and diamonds as gifts. The newer, the better. Those heirloom pieces which you treasured so that someday you’ll pass on to them will probably not be appreciated as much as the grandparents whished. Or, how about those earrings whose pairs have gone into thin air long ago? They are just staying in the jewellery box, right? No one is interested in them, and they’ve become useless shines.

But, wait. One can make use out of them, especially in these times of fluctuating economy. Why not go cash for gold? Gold, when just sitting there, is a dead investment. The more practical way today is to change it into cash, ready to be used anytime. The good news is, the price of gold has gone up 20% since last year.

Gold parties are held periodically in the United States. This is where you can have your gold appraised of its value and exchanged for cash in the spot, if you so wish. There are also companies that offer good prices for your jewelry – you just fill up a form, send the gold with it, then they will send you the money. Your jewelry is insured, and if you are not content with the transaction, they will send you back the item, you return the money to them, and that’s the end of it.

You have to make an informed choice, though, before you plunge in and get cash for gold. First of all, know the karat of your gold. When it says 14k it means your jewelry has 14 parts gold out of 24 parts. It follows that the more percentage of gold there is, the higher its appraisal will be. Secondly, if your assortments of jewelry have many different karat values, they should be weighed differently. So before you go and have them appraised, classify and separate them according to their karat values. Third, it’s always advisable to have some knowledge about your potential buyer. One’s reputation precedes oneself, and this goes for gold buyers, too. Be it an online buyer or a gold party buyer. There are many ways to know them – online, or through acquaintances who have had similar experiences.

The next thing is to verify the current value of gold. There are dealers who count on the fact that you are in a hurry, and will hurry to give you an underestimated value for your item/s. If you will have it changed, by mailing to any dealer, take a photo of your items before you send them. Ask your questions before you send your jewelry to them.

The design of your gold jewelry may also account for its price. Another wise move would be to have it appraised somewhere else, even if it will cost. At least you would know better about your gold.

Now here’s another fact. Gold buyers will only buy your gold at the most, 70% of its original value. Be prepared for this, too, so you have an estimate of how much you will get. Still, selling out unused gold can help for your planned vacation, new furniture or, yes, a new gadget that will make the young ones happy. Then it would be worth it.

Real Estate Software

Earlier, the purchase of real estate was looked upon as acquiring property for residential or commercial use. However, over the years this theory has changed. Today, the real estate market is a booming and profitable industry. It deals with the purchase, sale and lease of property in a much broader context. For an individual, this involves looking for a real estate agent who can help find an appropriate property and a bank that can fund the purchase. For a real estate agent, listing and updating information is difficult if done manually. Therefore, real estate software is used to make the entire process easier.

Real estate software provides automatic updates and reminders. Routine listings allow an agent to maintain accurate reports on all deals. This software helps maintain property lenders' and mortgage brokers' listings. An agent can successfully update changes on available real estate. Properties are categorized according to size and affordability.

Various types of real estate software cater to real estate marketing, sales and follow-up. Real estate software also incorporates presentation applications that allow real estate agents to match properties according to potential customer needs.

Some real estate software offers a complete office and administrative package that simplifies real estate management. It can also record important scheduled meetings and reminders for the successful closing of sales. These self-sufficient and easy-to-use software packages are also available with virtual tour creators. In simple terms, clients can view a potential property through computer videos.

Real estate software separates rental or sale property listings. This information can be easily accessed and updated, depending on inputs by agents. This software is an effective medium for publishing property details online, over a secured network. Real estate software eliminates the need to hire technical personnel to update and manage real estate data. Local real estate agents can gain popularity through online and offline marketing venues made available by real estate software.

Who Do Admire Enough to Want Their Autograph?

I'll go first, because I asked the question. Besides several distant presidents and the likes of Michelangelo, Thomas Edison and Ben Franklin, I am thinking of the more recent past. I doubt if I could ever afford a Shakespeare signature, which is said to be the most rare of any kind. And Jesus never signed anything, to the best of our knowledge. No, I would have to settle for someone else. I'm an artist and gravitate toward certain painters. Over the years, of collecting fine art, I've managed to obtain signed works of everyone from Picasso and Marc Chagall to Leroy Neiman and Peter Max, my most recent. But, let's be more objective. Who is admirable and why would one want their signature or autograph?

We have the right to envy other famous people for what they have accomplished and who they were. We desire a part of them and a signature is something quite personal. If it happens to be on a photo, album, t-shirt, or other specific document, then all the better. It brings us closer to them in a way that allows a cosmic connection, while providing a degree of satisfaction. Which brings me back to the main question.

Some former presidents come to mind. I loved Kennedy until that fateful day in Dallas. Many TV stars were my heroes, like Rod Serling for his writing and anyone on Star Trek, but they were just actors. I loved the Beatles and Billy Joel, for their amazing writing and music. I think highly of any inventor and other creative individuals. In the business world, there is Steve Jobs of Apple, Bill Gates of Microsoft, and Warren Buffet, to name a few movers and shakers that have altered the corporate landscape.

We have our share of prolific writers like Stephen King, Tom Clancy, and Dean Koontz. Yet there are so many to worthy to choose from, where do you begin? Neil Armstrong who was the first to walk on the moon or perhaps Prince Charles, the future King of England? On a personal level, my wife treasures a book signed by Eleanor Roosevelt. I have a personal letter from Salvador's Dali's secretary while he was staying in New York and a signed photo. I also have a photo of Robert Redford taken at an event I attended. But I have someone else in mind on the top of my "most admired" list. He was someone that changed America and arguably, the world. His vision, creativity, and passion was to affect children and families for decades to come. It began with a mouse featured in a movie named Steamboat Willy in 1928 and the rest is history.

Walt Disney made animated movies and redesigned the American theme park. Today there is barely a man, woman, or child on this planet that hasn't seen part of his legacy. Whether it's an image of Mickey Mouse, one of the many Disney-Lands, toys, pictures, or TV shows, his stamp is everywhere. I sought out something special of his that could not be faked or duplicated. Today, I own a check he signed in 1963 out of his Anaheim bank account while he was building Disney World. It was authenticated by Phil Sears, a noted collector and verifier of Disney memorabilia. It makes me smile every time I look at it, just to remember the joy that Walt brought, and still brings, to millions.

I may buy a few other autographs of other influential people, but none will be as special. So, was it worth the expensive and effort? I'll say yes for myself without any regrets. Walt passed away in December of 1966 at the relatively young age of 65. That check is and was part of his legacy because it helped fund his many projects. But enough about my collection.

Who would you love to connect with via a signature or autograph? Who is a hero or heroine to you? What part of their legacy or successes would you like to share by way of a signature? Even if they passed away, you could probably still obtain one like I did. The Internet is a great resource with dozens of legitimate businesses that specialize in that subject. By the way, if you like my articles and have followed my career, I'd be more than happy to send you my signature, although I wouldn't count on it going up in value any time soon.

Commercial Real Estate - Big Profits

Real estate has always been known as the safest of investments.

In fact, real estate investment completed after proper research into and evaluation of the property (to determine actual and future value), can lead to tremendous profit.
This is one reason many people choose real estate investment as their full time job.

Discussions about real estate tend to focus on residential real estate; commercial real estate, except to seasoned investors, typically seems to take a back seat.
However, commercial real estate is also a great option for investing in real estate.

Commercial real estate includes a large variety of property types.
To a majority of people, commercial real estate is only office complexes or factories or industrial units.
However, that is not all of commercial real estate. There is far more to commercial real estate.
Strip malls, health care centers, retail units and warehouse are all good examples of commercial real estate as is vacant land.
Even residential properties like apartments (or any property that consists of more than four residential units) are considered commercial real estate. In fact, such commercial real estate is very much in demand.

So, is commercial real estate really profitable?
Absolutely, in fact if it were not profitable I would not be writing about commercial real estate at all!!
However, with commercial real estate recognizing the opportunity is a bit more difficult when compared to residential real estate.
But commercial real estate profits can be huge (in fact, much bigger than you might realize from a residential real estate transaction of the same size).

There are many reasons to delve into commercial real estate investment.
For example you might purchase to resell after a certain appreciation level has occurred or to generate a substantial income by leasing the property out to retailers or other business types or both.

In fact, commercial real estate development is treated as a preliminary
indicator of the impending growth of the residential real estate market.
Therefore, once you recognize the probability of significant commercial growth within a region (whatever the reason i.e. municipal tax concessions), you should begin to evaluate the potential for appreciation in commercial real estate prices and implement your investment strategy quickly.

Regarding commercial real estate investment strategies it is important that you identify and set investment goals (i.e. immediate income through rental vs later investment income through resale) and that you know what you can afford and how you will effect the purchase.

It would be wise to determine your goals then meet with your banker (or financier(s)) prior to viewing and selecting your commercial real estate.

Also remain open minded and understand that should the right (perfect)
opportunity present itself, your investment strategy might need to be revisited and altered, sometimes considerably.
For example: If you find that commercial real estate, (i.e. land) is available in big chunks which are too expensive for you to buy alone but represents tremendous opportunity, you could look at forming a small investor group (i.e. with friends or family) and buy it together (then split the profits later).

Or in another case (i.e. when a retail boom is expected in a region), though your commercial real estate investment strategy was devised around purchasing vacant land, you might find it more profitable to buy a property such as a strip mall or small plaza that you can lease to retailers or a property that you can convert into a warehouse for the purpose of renting to small businesses.

So in a nutshell, commercial real estate presents a veritable plethora of
investing opportunities, you just need to recognize them and go for it.

About the Author:
Dave Jarvis is a licensed Real Estate Broker in Florida and is Broker and Owner of Realty Concepts, Inc. a Southwest Florida Real Estate Corporation.
If you are interested in Southwest Florida Properties see his website at [http://www.rciflorida.com]

For additional Real Estate information go to: [http://www.realestateseekerusa.com]
For Real Estate Financing information see : [http://www.mortgageseekerusa.com]

Just How Selling An Annuity Works

Whenever you receive compensation in the form of structured payments or settlements, there is the possibility to receive these annuity payments in one single payment. For numerous reasons this could materialize. Maybe you just won the lottery! Conversely, you might have won a settlement for a legal or medical suit in which they have consented to pay you an amount of money for injuries.

In any case, the structured settlement is normally designed with two objectives in mind. The first is that it might be the best way to match your cost outflows. Monthly payments may be chosen to match expenses, if you have received a settlement to cover monthly bills, including any medical costs. The length of the annuity is normally designed to do the very same. It could be a year or several decades based on the expected amount of time for your treatment.

Meant to benefit the company or business who is paying out the annuity and yourself concurrently, annuities ensures you are provided for. A lump sum could possibly total to an amount that might run in the millions. This is a serious cash flow for any company who must always make sure that their expenditures do not exceed their revenue (and lead to bankruptcy). The expense of your monthly annuity could be chosen to match their revenue projections also.

A structured settlement can be quite a valuable thing. Monthly you would receive a check in the specified amount, where money is guaranteed. If it matches your overall health bills, then having the regular income allows you to discount those bills and not include them in your financial plan, if you like. Conversely, some families can face a financial crisis without the resources to get themselves out. They may have a huge expense and no way to get the money to pay it. In order to meet and clear up crisis situation, lots of people who have a structured settlement choose to extract the value out of the annuity at one time. A family will do this by converting the structured settlement to a lump sum payment by an appropriate funding organization.

If you decide to sell annuity settlement payments, you must carefully understand the conversion charges. This begins by comprehending the value of the structured settlement alone. The settlement is created around an interest rate that is stipulated at the time of the negotiation. The federal prime rates are normally what these interest rates are based on and allows for cost of living increases. You annuity would be worth a million dollars if at the time of settlement you agreed to a million dollars but will change later on if the prime interest rate increased. If the prime rate increases or the cost of living reduces, your annuity is definitely worth more than a million dollars. If it has been some period of time, such as a year, since the settlement, then a annuity worth is prorated by the elapsed time in relation to the total annuity time. Talk to a financial analyst or enter your numbers on a website calculator to determine the current worth of your annuity.

Your funding company will offer you somewhat less than the current worth of your structured settlement if you choose to sell the annuity. The difference can vary greatly. The sum could be 90% of the settlement value or significantly less. Be sure to perform this research to select the best conversion rate for your annuity.

Top 10 Tips For a Great Holiday in Spain

UK and worldwide advertising by the Spanish National Tourist Office emphasises the multi-faceted nature of the country. Different regions all offer unique landscapes, lifestyles, cuisine and opportunities for exploration.

Spain is a country of sleepy villages where the siesta is still observed and wonderful meals are served not before 3pm for lunch and 9pm for dinner. This is traditional Spain - and you don't have to travel far from popular resort areas to find it.

But of course, Spain is also the hustle and bustle of the big, modern cities - with international standard hotels, major art centres and museums. Sporting legacies from the Olympic Games of 1992 as well as the fanatically-followed football teams all add to the mix of non-stop attractions for city breaks or multi-centre visits. Of course, Spain also has some of the most dramatic landscapes and seascapes in Europe.

So: here are a set of Top 10 Tips which reflect the best of Spain:

Beaches: From the cosy coves of the Costa Brava to the vast acres of golden sand on the island of Fuerteventura, there is a beach to suit you whether you like a busy resort or a strip of sand near a fishing village.

Nightlife: The Spanish like it long and late and you're more than welcome to join in. Check out a traditional flamenco show or the hottest sounds on the disco island of Ibiza.

Food: Tapas bars have brought Spanish cuisine to many countries, and you will soon discover it is as varied and delicious as anywhere in Europe. Don't forget rice-based paella, Spain's national dish.

Wine: There are wine growing regions all over the country, the best-known being La Rioja in the north. Visit Jerez to see the home of sherry and check out the little known vintages of the Canaries.

Art: Spain has produced world-renowned painters ranging from classical Velazquez to surrealist Picasso. Madrid has some of the finest art museums in the world.

Cities: All the buzz and excitement of Spain comes together in the capital, Madrid; and Barcelona, the Olympics city by the sea. Also look at up-and-coming Seville, Valencia and Palma.

Nature: Spain is home to many national parks, such as the Picos de Europa in the north and Donana in the south. Tenerife has Spain's highest peak, Mount Teide.

History: Did you know the Moorish Arabs ruled Spain for seven centuries, and that their legacy includes the fabulous Alhambra Palace in Granada? You'll find palaces and castles everywhere.

Shopping: Big city stores such as El Corte Ingles rub shoulders with colourful traditional markets. The Canaries are a duty-free zone.

Touring: Hire a car or take your own, and discover the "Real Spain" along the back roads. Touring routes include the White Towns of Andalucia.

There you have it - 10 great reasons for a holiday in Spain - and 10 great reasons to go back for more.

Why You Should Invest in Event Public Liability Insurance

Planning and implementing a successful event can be pretty complicated, not to mention risky. To ensure that none of your organizational efforts will go to waste, you need to invest on a good event public liability insurance policy. This type of security option will give you the help that you need in ensuring that the unfortunate circumstances that will take place during your event will be completely covered. By having this type of insurance policy under your name, you will be able to do a better job in tending to the other aspects of your event, knowing that the possibilities of accidents are all fully covered.

There are basically two types of event public liability insurance policies that you can enlist for: the single event liability policy and the multiple even liability policy. As the names imply, the first type will give you coverage for a certain event, while the latter will give you coverage for more than one. Make sure that you go through the main features and benefits of the two types and choose the one that will better fit your needs. You might have to consult a professional in making the best choice, so see to it that you get the best people on your side.

Majority of the activities that people often want to take part in present them with various forms of risks. As a matter of fact, gathering a certain number of people in a single place for a duration of time is risky enough as it is. Fortunately, a good event liability policy will give you the help that you need in managing these risks. It will be impossible to bring the risk level down to zero but, at least, you will know that you would be able to readily respond to whatever circumstances that may come your way.

You need to gain a thorough understanding of the various terms that will come with professional liability insurance policies in the market, for you to be able to pick out the policy that will suit you best. Make sure that you allocate a certain amount of time in your events planning stage to this certain task, for you to be able to peruse your options appropriately. If you do not think that you have enough knowledge to be able to choose the best policy yourself, then try to get the help of a professional broker.

Real Estate Leads For Realtors

Because real estate prices have dropped quite a bit, the potential commissions that real estate agents and brokers could earn have also dropped. But the drop in commissions can be more than offset by the amount of properties that can be sold. And getting quality real estate leads is one of the keys to making this a reality for real estate professionals. This is because there are so many more properties on the market now than there were before the bubble burst.

The rise in the number of homeowners who are underwater on their mortgages has increased so much that a very large number of them have decided that they cannot afford to stay in their homes. They would rather sell their home and buy a comparable home for a much lower price, and take the loss so that they can improve their cash flow situation by having a lower mortgage payment each month. And since there is no shortage of properties to buy, these people had no problem finding a suitable home for a good price.

And another result of the rise in available properties is that more and more people are becoming first-time homeowners. Since prices on homes are falling, more and more people are able to afford a home for the same amount they are currently paying in rent. So the logical choice for these people is to buy a house rather than continuing to rent.

These factors all lead to one thing - a higher need for real estate agents to help the buying and selling of all of these properties. Therefore, even though prices have fallen, the quantity of available properties, buyers, and sellers has raised which more than makes up for the lower prices in terms of how much a given real estate agent could make in the current real estate market. And as we all know, the more clients a real estate agent has, the more properties they'll sell and the more money they'll make.

The problem comes in when a real estate agent has already gone through their current client list. The best way for them to get more clients is to somehow obtain more real estate leads. Not only do they need more leads, they need high quality leads if they are going to be successful in converting a high number of them into clients who actually follow through on buying and/or selling one or more properties.

So how can you get more real estate leads? There are of course many different ways. These include buying them from an agency that offers them, advertising, subscribing to lead generation websites, developing and keeping current your own real estate website that draws potential

clients to it, and best of all by getting them through your own network. There are undoubtedly other ways of generating real estate leads as well, but these are the most common methods - all of which have proven to work to a certain degree.

One of the easiest ways to get real estate leads is by purchasing them. There are companies whose sole purpose is to find people who want to buy or sell a property. They then sell this information to people who are willing to pay for it. So if you are a real estate agent looking for real estate leads and either don't have the time to find your own, or simply don't want to, then this may be a good option for you.

There are two different major ways to do this. You can purchase the real estate leads from a company as a set of data that you will get in the form of a list or spreadsheet. Then you will need to start sifting through them and using the data available to qualify and categorize them yourself. And after that, it's time to start making calls to find out they are valid leads or not.

The other way of purchasing real estate leads is by subscribing to a real estate lead generator website that will send you much smaller lists of leads on a regular basis. This can be nice because the information is likely to be much more current than buying a single very large list of leads. But this also means that there are fewer to work with so it doesn't give you as much freedom in terms of choosing who to contact first.

Purchasing real estate leads or subscribing to a lead generation website can also be expensive. This can be a very bad thing since the whole intent of buying leads is to find clients, sell properties, and make commissions, if the leads that you buy don't turn into commissions. In that case, not only did you not sell any properties (or many properties), but you wasted money on worthless information, and you wasted time contacting worthless leads when you could have been working on finding good real estate leads instead.

Another way to generate real estate leads is by advertising. If you are a real estate agent, broker, or business person, advertising your services may be a good way to generate real estate leads. This type of lead generation is great because rather than you doing the work to find people who want to buy or sell a property, the tables are turned and they come looking for you instead.

In addition to having people try to find you instead of you trying to find them, there is another benefit to advertising to generate real estate leads. The people who are trying to find you are already definitely interested in buying or selling a property. This means that you don't have to worry about whether they are going to turn out to be qualified leads or not, because they definitely will be.

A similar way to generate real estate leads by advertising which can be even more effective than simply advertising on a billboard or in the paper is by setting up your own real estate website. Websites are surprisingly inexpensive to have hosted, and having one developed for you doesn't have to be expensive either. And if you learn the basics of website development, you'll be able to maintain it by yourself after it's been set up so that you can always keep it current.

The reasons to keep your website current cannot be understated. First, you have to keep it updated with the properties you are trying to sell so that the people who visit your website will have something to look at - and since this list of properties will be changing frequently as your client list grows and changes, you'll need to change your website often to incorporate the new properties and eliminate the ones that are no longer available.

A second reason for keeping your website updated on a regular basis your page rank will grow higher. Search engines use a number of factors to determine how relevant they are to certain keywords, and where to display them in a list of search results. And one of the biggest things that moves a website toward the top of the list is it's page rank, which is greatly affected by how active and how current the website is. So the more often you update your website, the higher its page rank will be, the higher it'll show up in search results related to real estate keywords, and the more visitors you'll get to your site.

Once you get visitors to your site, you'll be getting the exposure you want to potential clients for free. They can stay on your site for as long as they want to and look at as few or as many properties as they want to. And you don't have to do anything in order to help them. In fact there could be thousands of people all on your website at the same time. That is something that you would not likely ever have the opportunity to do in person. This phenomenon is what is known as leverage, and leverage is what can turn a small business into a fortune 500 business in short order when managed correctly.

The best way to do real estate lead generation also happens to be one of the most difficult - at least in the beginning. The method of finding leads is by building a very large network, and using it. This is one of the best ways to get leads because it is one of the most surprisingly effective ways. But unfortunately, it's also one of the more difficult ways to start, and takes a while to yield significant results.

The first thing you'll need to do is to start building your network. And it's not that you just need to start building it, you need to intentionally focus on building your network each end every day, no matter where you are or who you're talking to. This is because for most people, networking does not come naturally.

If you are like most people, you are probably somewhat shy and don't make it a point to intentionally meet and talk to new people on a regular basis. But if you want to build a network, you'll have to do exactly that. This is something that can come as a challenge to say the least, both emotionally and technically, but it is well worth the effort in the long run.

It can be emotionally difficult because a large part of building a large network is dealing with rejection. And if you want to build a large network quickly, you'll have to deal with a lot of rejection each and every day. Too many people, being rejected is taken personally and it ends up wearing them down so that they eventually give up before they gain the benefits that building a large network provides. But if you can learn how to not take rejection personally, you'll succeed where so many others have given up and failed as a result.

And networking to generate real estate leads can be done almost anywhere. When you need to put some gas in your car, park on the other side of the pump from someone who's already there and try to strike up a conversation where you'll be able to tell them that you're in the real estate business and can help them or anyone else they know who may be looking to buy or sell. And if you're really serious about it, you may want to only get $10 or some other small amount of gas at a time so that you'll need to go to the gas station more often and have more opportunities to network.

You can also build your network by meeting new people at any other place. You could talk to someone at the grocery store, library, church, waiting in line at the bank, or anywhere you are around other people for more than a few minutes at a time and starting a conversation wouldn't be too awkward. It can be done anywhere, with just about anyone, at almost any time. And the more dedicated you are to it, the faster you'll be able to grow your network and the better off you'll be in the long run.

Some of the best ways to network are by talking to the people you already know. These are people who are already in your network, and you can use them to help you grow your network even larger. The most obvious way is to simply ask them if they are interested in buying or selling a property in the near future, and to keep you in mind if they are.

But another way to help you grow your network is to ask them who they know that may be interested in buying or selling a property. You are basically asking them for real estate leads using different words. You could ask them for the names and numbers of people who they know who may be interested in buying or selling a property, or you could ask them to give your contact information to the people they have in mind when you ask them that question.

It's a great idea to have business cards with your contact information made up when you're networking. That way you won't have to rely on people's memories which are definitely not the most reliable things when compared to something they can simply read from a card. Cards on the other hand make it so that the person you are giving your contact information to doesn't have to rely on their memory, and it puts forth a more professional image as well which can only benefit you.

Real estate values have taken a dive and one of the results has led to there being many, many more properties on the market now compared to before the economy took a dive in 2008. This means that even though the prices are lower, the higher quantity of properties on the market make it possible to buy and sell more of them and make more money in commissions as a result which will more than make up for the decreased individual property values.

I order to sell more properties you must have more clients. And to get more clients, you need to have more real estate leads. These real estate leads can be generated in a variety of different ways, all of which can be useful to real estate professionals. Having reliable leads will definitely result in more clients, more sales, and more money made in commissions. Purchasing them, advertising for them, or getting them from your network is all great ways go get leads that all have their own strengths and weaknesses. Pick the one that will work best for you, and you'll be on your way to making more money through real estate in less time that you think.