Unsecured Tenant Loans-cover Your Financial Risk With Ease

Need to solve your economic queries but don’t have adequate finance? Your tenancy status is creating more troubles in availing an external loan help due to unable to place any security? Now with the availability of unsecured tenant loans in the financial market, being a tenant is no more a bone of contention for you to get financial assistance. These loans are designed for the tenants who are unable to pledge any security. This loan service is for you without any compulsion of collateral pledging.

You can simply balance your monthly expenses and requirements by applying with unsecured tenant loans with ease. The loan money one can avail with these loans can be varying from £1000 to £25000 with the flexible reimbursement period of 1 to 10 years. To avoid being charged with extra penalty charges, make the repayment of loan within the stipulated time period. Moreover, you have the freedom to utilize the loan amount for any of the reason such as:

-Purchase a car of your own
-Pay off the previous debts
-Go for an exotic vacation
-Bank overdrafts
-Throw a grand party etc.

To overcome your financial problems skillfully, council tenant loans is the feasible financial solution. If you have various blemished credit records in your account and facing bad factors like arrears, defaults, bankruptcy, insolvency, foreclosures and so on, you are still applicable. The lenders of these loans avail you the required amount despite of your poor or imperfect credit records.

Its unsecured nature does not demand any collateral from you. Removal of collateral pledging makes the application and approval quite easy and quick without any property paper work and collateral assessment procedure which takes a long.

Unsecured tenant loans can be termed as a safe and risk free loan form available to you with ease of online method. You just require completing a single online loan form with few personal details. The lender will approve your loan application and the loan money will get submit in your checking account within least possible time. Search an affordable loan deal comparing various loan quotes.

What To Know About Debt Consolidation In Connecticut

Sometime situations can get out of hand faster than you realize particularly when trying your best to establish and stick to a budget to manage your money economically. In life there are various things that happen out of the blue such as hours at work get cut, your automobile breaks down, a medical emergency occurs and much more. No matter how hard you work, before you know it you could be drowning in a massive pile of debt, unable to breathe as you're suffocating in all the responsibilities. The lifeboat that can help you survive life's more demanding moments could be debt consolidation in Connecticut. While it may not solve all of your financial problems as quickly as you’d like, it will certainly give you the relief that you desperately need.

If you have multiple debts that you have to take care of then you would be a candidate for debt consolidation. After signing up for a program, the interest rates for your debts will decrease and it’ll be that much easier to pay them off. Money you are saving on interest can be put toward the debt repaying it sooner. Contingent upon your current situation, you could be a perfect candidate for a debt consolidation program. If you’ve compounded a number of payday loans, you might want to consider signing up for a debt consolidation program. Payday loans can quickly become another quagmire that you find yourself trapped in month after month, so you’ll want to get out as soon as possible. Any kind of debt can be described as a distraction and a stress that takes away from other commitments. If you aspire to live a certain religious lifestyle, you may want to see if there is debt consolidation in Connecticut designed just for you and your special religious beliefs.

There are also debt consolidation loans for you to think about. You’ll need to make sure that you secure a large enough loan to cover all of your debts at the same time. You’ll either acquire a secured loan or an unsecured loan. A secured loan will often be required if the debt is higher than $10,000 and that requires something to be put up as collateral should you default in any way. An unsecured loan is one where it just requires a signature and a promise to pay from you. A debt consolidation loan is perfect because the amount you pay monthly is less than paying off individual debts that is definitely great. You might also want to think about consumer credit counseling. Typically a lot like debt consolidation, you will be working with a credit repair professional who then contacts any and all creditors and gets a reduced rate of interest on your debt. Able to properly work with you in establishing a plan for eliminating debt, a consumer credit counseling service can structure your expenses in a more manageable way.

Debt consolidation in Connecticut does offer another alternative which is to transfer the debt to a 0% interest credit card. Any debts with interest rates that happen to be 20% or higher can be transferred to the new card in the event you are eligible for this type of card and there will be no interest accrued for six to Eighteen months. While debt consolidation will not work as quickly as you’d like it to, it can free up your finances so that you can concentrate on other things in your life and not have to endure the never-ending telephone calls and letters from creditors. You’ll discover that you can not only consolidate your debt, but your sanity also.

Real Estate Problem Solver

Introduction

There are many areas one can invest in. Since I was 15 years old I have looked for the fastest, most effective way to accumulate a lot of wealth, with the least amount of risk. I am now 58. While looking for this road to truth, I spent a lot of time in the school of hard knocks. The school of hard knocks is a very interesting but painful school to attend. It is also the most expensive way to learn something, but when you graduate you have a PHD in what to do and not do with your time and money. The schools I attended were: Investing in businesses as a silent partner, owning my own businesses, working for another family member-in my case my father, buying publicly traded stocks and securities, penny mining stocks, commodity trading, investing in gold and silver, real estate private lending, real estate development, real estate remodeling, buying foreclosure properties. I also worked as a real estate problem solver/matchmaker, bringing business owners together with business buyers, and matching up real estate owners with real estate buyers.

Writing about all of these activities would take an encyclopedia, so we will limit this essay to the kinds of situations you can run across in the real estate school of hard knocks. I will present my solution with the given situation. There are more than one possible solution and I invite you to come up with other possible solutions as you read. If you get some value from my experiences that will hopefully lower your tuition to the real estate school of hard knocks. Feel free to e-mail me your comments, alternate solution or stories. Do, please, let me know that it is all right for me to publish them.

My Real Estate Philosophy

As a way of introducing myself, I thought you might find what lessons I have learned, after all these years of real estate, interesting. Buy real estate instead of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or commodities. When you pick a winner in one of these non-real estate areas you can make 5-10 times your money. When you are wrong, in one of these non-real estate areas, you can actually loose up to 90% of your money. In real estate, if you are not greedy-not trying to get rich quick-in one year, you can make 100 times your money, on the upside. The downside risk is only based on how well you looked at all the possibilities ahead of time. If you did, the downside risk is reduced to only the holding time to fix a mistake. If you rush in and do not explore all the possibilities of a business venture, you can actually loose 100% of your money. In my mind an upside of 100 times profit is better than 10 times profit.

My philosophy on real estate ownership has changed in the last 15 years. I used to think that selling at the top of the market was the smart move and buying in the crash. Now I feel that buying when prices are down is still a smart move but never selling is the way to go. In order to hold on to a property in a down market you require proper planning to survive the crash. This I call a back door or emergency plan. This is have a plan and knowing what you will do if everything goes wrong with you original plan. When you have a backup plan, you rarely need it. This is the basis of my philosophy. With this understanding, you might more clearly see why I did what I did in these situations.

The Stories and article:

The area of real estate investing is one of the most complex because it is a combination of law and real estate. It is one of the most interesting because fortunes are made and lost in this area, and the numbers are so enormous. Lastly it is an area where crooks can make a lot of money and many times get away with it. Following are some stories (case histories) I have dealt with and some articles I have written on the subject of fraud in real estate. Finally, I have included an article on the basics of foreclosures and real estate in general, for your interest. I hope you enjoy them.

The Stories:

Story #1:

It was early March 2000 and I received a call from Kevin. He said that he had heard about me from some mutual friends. He wanted to speculate in buying HUD houses (Properties that the Government had foreclosed on). He wanted to buy them, fix them up and then sell them at a profit. He had heard that I had bought many foreclosures in the 1970's and 80's and he was hoping I could advise him. We met for lunch and he told me his life story. The important part of this conversation is that he had bought a boarded up 14 unit apartment building in downtown San Bernardino, across the street, from one of the roughest high schools in California.

By the end of the meeting, I had figured out that he had overpaid about $75,000 for the building, he had already wasted $200,000 trying to remodel it, and it was still $100,000 away from being finished. He had bought it 1.5 years ago and a large part of his costs was the interest on all his loans, related to this project. He was now broke, and in deep trouble, but in his mind, the badly needed money was coming.

It is interesting to note where he got the money to invest in this project. 4 years earlier he was given money to buy an apartment building by his father. He was given enough money that he only needed a very small $150,000 real estate loan to purchase a building in Pasadena that cost him a total of $525,000. In order to buy the San Bernardino rehab project, he first refinanced the first trust deed on the Pasadena building and jumped the loan balance to $385,000. When that money was gone he borrowed $74,000 as a second Trust Deed on both the Pasadena and San Bernardino properties. By the way, that loan cost him 15% interest and $15,000 in up front fees to get the money. Before we parted, I told him that he made a very expense mistake in buying San Bernardino. I explained that from the day he bought the building it was a sure bet that the project would fail. I then had to tell him that I would not lend him any money on San Bernardino, to save his butt.

Over the next 2 months I received periodic phone calls, telling me the progress of the fund raising. One of those updates I was told that the existing 2nd Trust Deed lender was saying that he might give Kevin the added $100,000 he needed to finish the project. At the same time, Kevin also believed he had found a bank that might refinance all the loans of San Bernardino. The difficulty with the bank loan was that the appraisal fee was $3,000, and it had to be paid in advance, even to just apply for the loan. Again Kevin asked me for money. Again I refused to put more good money down his black hole.

Then one morning I got a call from Kevin, "If I don't make the $2,000 payment to the 2nd trust deed holder, he will start foreclosure in 2 days. Kevin also told me "The 2nd trust deed lender said that he would buy the Pasadena apartment building for what I had paid for it, 4 years ago, $525,000." The offer had a stipulation to it. Kevin had to bring the loan current first. In my mind, if Kevin could bring the loan current, why would he even bother to sell the property for a wholesale price? I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

After hearing all of this I decide that it is time I stop saying no and help. What Kevin thought he wanted was a real estate loan for a lot of money. The truth is, that money was not the solution to his problem. The problem had to be different than what Kevin believed, which is why the problem persisted. The real situation was not more borrowing. More borrowing meant more money down the drain.

Experience has taught me, "If the problem was what Kevin thought it was, it wouldn't be a problem." What does this phrase mean? A businessman has a financial set back. He thinks that with some short term funding he can recover from the set back and return to the top. After looking around, our businessman will usually find the money, but strangely enough the problem doesn't resolve. If the problem did correct itself, then the businessman was right about what the problem was, and the problem would be gone. Usually the money doesn't help, but the businessman doesn't understand that. He doesn't realize that the problem wasn't money in the first place. If it were, the problem would now be gone. Lets continue the explanation. The last money borrowed is now gone and the problem persists, so our businessman goes out to find more money to solve the problem that didn't solve with the money he borrowed, the first time. What happens the second time? The same thing. The money is used up and still the problem continues.

Our businessman is working on the wrong problem. The problem is not money, or the problem would have been gone. Kevin thought the problem was money. It wasn't. He had already poured $300,000 into the San Bernardino building, on top of the $209,000 1st Trust Deed loan that came about when he bought the building. Before he was finished, he spent over $500,000 in a building that needs $100,000 to finish, but was only worth $475,000, after it was finished.

What could I do? Use what the good lord gave me. 30 years of experience, on the subject of getting out of problems that I created when I was young and inexperienced. Here was the war strategy. I got Kevin to agree to turn over total management of the two properties to me. Knowing that I was managing the property and working on what I believed was the correct problem, I felt comfortable about loaning money on this deal. If I can't trust myself to solve this problem, whom can I trust? I started by loaning Kevin $25,000 to make needed repairs to the Pasadena building, pay the property taxes and to bring the first and second loans current on the Pasadena property only. Nothing was to be spent at this time, on the San Bernardino building.

Now that I controlled the Pasadena apartment building, I discovered what repairs the building needed. The list was so long it took one man three months, full time, to fully handle it. I then did a very detailed market study and determined what the market would pay in rents. I asked the tenants for a list of everything they wanted done in their apartments to be happy. I then did everything the tenants requested and I then raised their rents 30%. After the building was full, I raised the rents another 15%. The value of the building went up and I received an offer for $725,000. This was $200,000 more than its value 6 months earlier. I put it into escrow, and then I realized that I could raise the rents some more. I raised the rents again in escrow and forced the buyer to pay another $25,000 for the building. Bringing the price to $750,000. That $225,000 profit was needed to help cover the money being lost in San Bernardino.

Author's Note: The escrow fell through and the building was kept until this update, December 5, 2004. The building is now in escrow for $1,583,000

What did I do about San Bernardino? I contacted the seller/lender and asked him if he would like me to pull the security guard out of the building and let him have it back in foreclosure. He didn't want it back, even though he pretended that he was willing to do that. He offered me $25,000 in incentives to get me to personally lend the money necessary for the completion of the building, so he wouldn't have to take it back. For 3 months he tried to get me to put money into the building, with the idea that once I put my money in I wouldn't walk away from it. The real story was that I wouldn't put a dime into that black hole until I figured out how to make it recover at least $100,000 of Kevin's lost money. I asked for a $70,000 discount on the note, and offered to pay him off. We negotiated for two months. Just when I was ready to finish the deal, the seller sold his note to someone else for only a $30,000 discount. I was not able to make the money I wanted because now the new note holder wanted 100% of interest and principal due. This threw a monkey wrench into my negotiating. All this time, I had a buyer standing in the wings to buy the building from Kevin while I was negotiating. I was then forced to sell the property to this buyer and Kevin recovered only a little bit of his investment. The lender and I were both playing a high stakes poker game. I lost this round. If I could have gotten the payoff reduced, Kevin would received a large hunk of money from an "as is" sale. This is what I call playing "Craps" on a very big Monopoly board.

Author's Note: The buyer, thinking he was going to put $125,000 to finish the remodeling, notified me, after one year, that he had spent $300,000 to finish the building. The apartment building values were increasing rapidly during this time period, so Kevin's project was increasing in value at the same time the buyer was going deeper and deeper into construction costs. The buyer made out all right in the end. If the market had died, he would have lost $200,000 on this building after Kevin had already lost a fortune. It's all about timing, isn't it?

Kevin learned that money alone was not the answer to his problems; he needed a Genie, to turn his turkey into a swan.

Story #2

Janet is the daughter of one of my oldest and wealthiest friends and clients. We have been doing real estate deals together since 1975. Janet and her husband started buying distressed real estate in Phoenix Arizona in 1994, which was 8 years ago when it was the thing to do. It was now Dec 2000. The market appears to be slowing down and did after September 11, 2001. Janet had been continually borrowing money from her father, whenever things got too difficult. She later sold everything in Phoenix and bought property in Northern California. Then in 1999, one year before I was brought in, she started buying real estate in Kansas City. One day Janet's father called me and asked for my help. He had loaned his daughter $200,000 and felt that everything she owned was upside down. (Loans more than the market value.). This was further complicated by the fact that if she sold her properties, to pay off her father, the capital gains taxes would eat up any cash, from the sale. On top of all this, Janet kept asking for more money to keep up the payments on the properties that had a negative cash flow and didn't have enough rental income.

He hired me to help his daughter and agreed to pay my fee. I would work with this 40 years old kid, to get her to return her fathers $200,000 and make herself totally debt free. Janet and I met. She was brilliant. She did know what she was doing, as far as picking good real estate deals. She owned, at the time of our meeting, 10 properties located in 2 different states, and there was $500,000 in equity. If we could get it out, before her father had a stroke things would be great. Janet agreed to the arrangement, happily, if I would be her adviser, not his. Her father agreed to fund whatever money was requested as long as I approved it. Also I had to be the one to ask Janet's father for the money, since the upset between the farther and daughter was getting unbearable.

This is what we did. A list of needed repairs was created for each of the 11 properties. Bids were received and the work ordered to be done within 30 days. This was not to take months. It had to be done immediately so we could go to step two. Step 2 was to put on the market all of the expensive Northern California property. To my disbelief, Janet wanted to move her family, to a new city, in the middle of all this and her father agreed to let her do it. She had found an old run down house that she felt was undervalued. That meant that her old residence was put into the group of properties to sell. Sell is what we planned to do. Everything was to be put on the market, and sold at the best price to be gotten, but sold regardless. The property in Kansas was to be repaired and fully rented. The properties that could be sold at what we thought was full retail, were also put on the market. The plan was that when everything was sold, the father would get paid off; the loans on the remaining properties would be paid off and the balance of the cash would be put into the bank. Since all of the Kansas deals appear to be a good investment, Janet could now continue to buy more Kansas property, (she had only been spending $25,000 on each deal) but for all cash. The rents coming in would generate enough income for her family to live on without having to ask for money from dad or touching her investment nest egg. That was the plan.

I forgot one last thing. Because many of the properties had been bought years ago on a 1031 exchanges (tax-free exchange), the capital gain tax was going to eat up the cash proceeds. That was one of the traps Janet fell into. She felt she couldn't sell without buying a replacement. Of course by not liquidating before starting anew, she would never get out of debt with her real estate lenders or her father. The solution, for this problem was simpler than one would think.

First, the father did a 1031 exchange with Janet for one of the big profit houses. The father sold Janet his personal residences for no money down. Now Janet rented her father the house he lives in. So much for capital gains tax on the $150,000 profit in that one big sale. The second big profit was in the house Janet currently lived in. That was tax-free under the current laws. Since the other houses sold had smaller profits, it was decided that the business decision to get out of debt was more important than avoiding paying any taxes.

Author's Note: That was the plan. So what happened? Janet decided she didn't want to sell the junk in Kansas and fired me. She refused to pay her father back and as of December 2004 he had not seen a dime. Father has deducted what she owes him from her inheritance, which will be put into a trust administered by her brother for the benefit of the grandchildren. Real estate in California skyrocketed after 9/11/01 terrorist attack and her properties all doubled in value.

Summary: Everyone thinks that his or her problem is not confrontable and therefore unsolvable. I have found that someone other than myself can solve my un-confrontable problems in 10 min and I can do the same for them. It is not a question of being smarter, or more experienced, though experience helps a lot when coming up with easy solutions, quickly. It is really that we all are willing to confront someone else's problems much easier than our own. When we are willing to confront our own problem head-on, solutions begin to appear miraculously. What I do is help people take their mountains and turn them into molehills. The molehills are then flattened with ease.

Lessons to learn: First, do not think you are smarter than the people who passed this way before you; you're not. Second, markets never go up forever, have not performed as if they will. Third, if you are not prepared for the worst, it will kill you. If you are prepared, it will only hurt a little. You will survive and come away much richer in the end.

Why Should Accountants and Bookkeepers Get Errors and Omissions Insurance?

A common misconception is that doctors and lawyers are the only professionals in need of Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance. In fact, nearly every organization that provides a service to a client for a fee has E&O exposure, and because professional requirements are broadly defined in legal terms, Professional Liability insurance shields businesses from the unforeseen.

Errors and Omissions insurance, also known as Professional Liability Insurance, protects organizations or individuals against claims of professional negligence throughout a variety of professional services. This includes errors or omissions that the company actually made or that the client perceives were made. Errors and Omissions claims are not covered by General Liability insurance.

Insurance for Tax Preparers

Errors and Omissions insurance is particularly important for Certified Public Accountants, bookkeepers and tax preparers. Every year, in the U.S., thousands of suits are filed against tax preparers and bookkeepers, and, in the wake of nearly every corporate scandal, new lawsuits arise.

For bookkeepers, tax preparers and accountants, the tax and audit landscape is constantly changing. Clients rely on these professionals to be up-to-date and accurate, but no matter how polished a tax preparer or accountant is, and regardless of how seamless their risk management procedures are, mistakes will happen.

For instance, if a client is audited on their tax return, and there is in fact an error resulting from a simple miscalculation on the tax professional's part, the tax professional would be held responsible for any IRS-assessed penalties and interest the client was charged. Also, if the preparer overlooked or failed to include information provided by the client, they would also be at fault. Even if a client failed to provide a piece of information to the tax professional and then filed a frivolous suit, the tax preparer would still have to pay potentially exorbitant legal fees to defend themselves.

Even the most minor mistakes can cause substantial problems for clients, and without Errors and Omissions insurance for tax preparers, a firm or individual would likely not be able to survive even a single claim brought against it.

Bookkeepers Require Coverage Too!

Likewise, bookkeeper Errors and Omissions coverage would protect the bookkeeper in similar situations where figures might have been miscalculated or information was omitted, regardless of whether or not it was their fault or their client's fault.

History has shown that when a major corporate scandal is uncovered, racketeering lawsuits against accountants typically increase. According to an article published by the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, during the late 1980s, in the midst of the Securities and Loan debacle, damage claims against accountants were estimated to be between one and four billion dollars - a figure that was purported to exceed the net capital of all accounting firms combined (Lawson & Olson). While some were involved in ill doings, others were reputable professionals. While a litigation onslaught of this magnitude may never be repeated, it is a risk that E&O insurance for accountants will safeguard against.

Most E&O policies will cover judgments, settlements and defense costs, even in cases in which the allegations are found to be frivolous. Without Errors and Omissions Insurance, the cost of paying settlements and court fees would leave many bookkeepers, accountants and tax preparers in extreme debt, or even bankruptcy.

North India Travel Destinations - Assortment of Landscapes and Seasons

India is one of the most beautiful countries on earth and attracts a large number of tourists from all over the world. Among all the places, north India travel destinations have always been a hot favorite amongst the tourists.

North India by its immense geographical beauty and historical legacy is one of the most sought after destinations in India. If you are planning for a tour to India you must be aware of the various travel destinations. Right from the chilling Himalayas to the warm desert, showcases variety in landscapes and seasons. To define it clearly lets categorize the various north India travel destinations.

Forts and monuments of north India:

Agra: Anguri bagh, Macchi Bhawan, Mariam Tomb, Moti Masjid, Mina Masjid and Jhangir Mahal are few of the tourist destinations of Agra, but never to forget two important places of tourist visit is The Taj Mahal, one of the eight wonders of the world and the Agra fort; a gigantic fort of the reflecting the Mugal era.

Punjab: With number of forts and palaces Punjab also is an important north India travel destination. The main attractions of Punjab are Phillaur Fort, Qila Mubarak, Shahpur Kandi Fort, sheesh Mahal, summer palace etc.

Rajasthan: With it's a rich history behind it, Rajasthan remains the top most selection for lager number of tourists. Cities of Rajasthan such as Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Udaipur comprises in it large number of fort and palaces of the Rajput kings. To name a few, Moti Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Jantar mantar etc are major places of tourist attractions.

Delhi: Being the gateway and capital of India, Delhi is also a hotspot of tourist visits and occupies an important place among all the north India travel destinations. Important tourist attractions of Delhi are the red fort, the Kutub Minar, Akshardham temple, India gate, Jantarmantar and a many more.

The Refreshing and chilling environment of the Himalayas:

If you are admirer of natural beauty then you can enjoy the mesmerizing scenic beauty of Kashmir comprised in its lakes and mountains, Kashmir is considered as paradise on earth. Shimla with its natural beauty is yet another popular destination and will comfort you by its cool environment.

The ideal time of visiting north India is from October to March when the weather is very pleasant and cool; you can have a perfect enjoyable holiday during this period.

Costa Rica Luxury Real Estate

Buying luxury real estate in Costa Rica is an excellent option for affluent people. Costa Rica luxury real estate includes luxury homes, resorts, hotels, estates, mansions, castles, farms, and other investment opportunities. Mountain properties, beach properties, and vacation rentals are other options. Costa Rica luxury real estate properties can be taken for sale or rent.

Most of the luxury real estate agencies and companies provide top class service to their clients. These firms list, market and sell high-end residential real estates. Costa Rica luxury real estate covers Costa Rican properties located in prime locations such as San Jose, Santa Ana, Escazu, Heredia, Santo Domingo, Atenas, Alajuela, Cartago, and the scenic beach locations. Costa Rica luxury real estate properties are attractive with their wonderful weather, good facilities, friendly neighborhoods, and charming farms and homes. The agencies dealing with luxury real estates in Costa Rica also see to it that the customers get their property at the best prices.

The Internet is the best option for purchasing luxury real estate in Costa Rica. Many real estate agency websites provide details of available properties, which help you to invest in the most lucrative ones. These sites showcase a spectacular selection of Costa Rica luxury real estates. Some sites offer forums for both purchasers and vendors. You also have the facility to clarify doubts regarding the prospects of investment in Costa Rica.

There are online directories that provide details of the complete network of all luxury real estate specialists and agencies throughout Costa Rica. These information sources are the best way to locate Costa Rica real estate agencies and agents. Very often property owners personally advertise their lands for sale, without involving any middleman or organization. In such cases, you can approach the owner directly and fix a sale, which might be more profitable.

Understanding Stock Exchanges

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is the largest and one of the oldest exchanges in the world. Founded in 1792 the NYSE is valued at nearly $13 trillion dollars. The NYSE is located on Wall Street and is the actual stock exchange that most people think of when they picture Wall Street trading. It has been featured in many films and is one of New York's largest tourist attractions. The NYSE operates in a auction-style modem with investors buying and selling stocks on the actual floor of the trading room.

NASDAQ

NASDAQ isn't a stock exchange exactly. It is actually a computerized version of an exchange dealing mostly in securities. Many companies are traded on the NASDAQ. The NASDAQ exchange is also located in New York and was the world's very first electronic market. NASDAQ has merged with the LSE, the AMEX and in 2007 acquired America's oldest exchange, the Philadelphia Stock Exchange. NASDAQ is one of the world's largest electronic stock markets. There are more than 3,000 companies listed and trading on the NASDAQ exchange.

AMEX

AMEX, or the American Stock Exchange has become the stock market for smaller companies. It used to be one of the main players in the exchange world but has since been relegated to a back seat position. After the Civil War AMEX was referred to as the New York Curb Exchange because traders operated and traded on the New York City streets.

The American Stock Exchange has passed through many hands over the last twenty years. It has been purchased by NASDAQ, merged with the NYSE Euronext market and had some of its electronic information integrated into other markets as well.

Foreign Exchanges

There are stock markets and exchanges all across the world. The only real requirement for a stock exchange to operate is that there must be publicly trading companies in willing to buy and sell stock.

Some investors prefer to trade in foreign markets because of the high price of the dollar. There are many stories of huge returns in foreign markets and for this reason many investors leave the American exchanges in hopes of doing better in the foreign markets.

It is important to remember that many foreign companies actually trade in the American exchanges as well. It is possible to trade in foreign companies without ever leaving a domestic market.

Many mutual funds also implement foreign stock into their portfolio. This stems from the idea of currency capitalization.

Now that you have had a brief overview of the different exchanges, you can now more easily differentiate between the major exchanges. Knowing how the markets work is an integral part of any investors arsenal.

10 Most Profitable Trees To Grow

Growing trees for profit is an ideal part-time or full-time business for anyone who enjoys being outdoors and working with plants. Trees are a valuable and renewable resource that can be grown in a tiny backyard or on a 100 acre tree farm.

The most profitable trees for most small growers are those in demand by buyers, are reasonably easy to grow, and bring above-average prices when sold. Unlike traditional trees sold for saw logs and pulp, high-value trees are sold at retail prices to homeowners and landscapers, hobbyists who use the wood or tree shoots to make everything from baskets to guitar backs, or trees planted for their valuable fruits and nuts. Here are ten trees worth growing:

1. Instant shade trees. Landscapers and homeowners often want larger, more mature trees to provide "instant shade" in a year or two, and are willing to pay much higher prices for those trees. Most instant shade trees are sold in ten to fifteen gallon pots, with a well-developed root system to allow rapid growth once planted. Two popular tree species for instant shade are the Red maple and the American elm.

2. Flowering dogwood. The dogwood is on every landscaper's list of top 10 trees, proving both lovely spring blooms and colorful fall foliage. The Kousa dogwood is one of the most popular varieties, as it also produces a crop of sweet red berries, is disease resistant, and best of all, deer leave it alone.

3. Thornless locust. Common locust is widely used in restoration and erosion control projects. Newer varieties, such as the Shademaster and Sunburst locust, are thornless and fast growing, making them popular for landscaping projects. They are also a popular instant shade tree, growing to a mature height of about 25 to 30 feet in just six years. The small leaves break down quickly after they have fallen, and require no raking.

4. Heritage fruit trees. Today there is a renewed interest in the heritage fruits, primarily apples popular in the 17th and 18th century. Esopus Spitzenberg, for example, was Thomas Jefferson's favorite apple, and Calville Blanc d'Hiver was a dessert apple grown for King Louis XIII in the 17th century.

Other popular varieties include Baldwin, Blue Permain, Winesap and Winter Banana. Once you've tried these tasty antique apples, you'll be hooked, as they offer a range of flavors not found in today's bland commercial apple varieties, bred for their shipping qualities, not taste and flavor. New growers with an acre or more are growing them for fruit, as well as selling these proven varieties as dwarf trees, popular with homeowners who have only a patio or small yard.

5. Hybrid chestnut. Researchers have developed several blight-resistant chestnut varieties that combine the best qualities of American and Chinese chestnut trees that can be grown in most areas of the U.S. Chestnut trees can be grown on land too hilly or poor for other crops, and produce 2,000 to 3,000 pounds of nuts per acre. Another plus is the high timber value of chestnuts at maturity - almost as high as black walnut.

6. Black walnut. Walnut trees, like chestnuts, produce a double income, as the nuts can be harvested as the trees are growing to harvestable size for timber. Growers often call black walnut a "legacy tree" because it takes about 30 years to reach it's prime harvesting size of about 16 inches or so for a veneer log. Along the way, the walnut stand can be thinned to provide income, but the real payoff comes at harvest, as veneer logs bring between $4,000 and $5,000 each. An average stand of black walnut is 250 trees per acre, or $125,000 at harvest time, quite a legacy for the kids or grandkids!

7. Bonsai trees. The bonsai business is booming, as more and more people become collectors of these wonderful tiny trees. Bonsai trees allow city dwellers, who have limited yard space, or even no yard at all, to enjoy the beauty of trees in their homes. A bonsai business is perfect for small growers with limited space, as bonsai trees take up very little area, and can generate substantial profits. Some growers specialize in starter plants that are ready to train, while others prefer to sell trained plants, as the profits are higher. For bonsai growers with patience, mature "specimen" trees can bring hundreds of dollars from serious bonsai collectors. The internet has created even more interest in bonsai, and also provides a new marketplace for growers to sell their bonsai plants to a much wider audience.

8. Willow. The market for craft fibers, or wood that can be woven, has tripled in just a few years as more folks take up basket weaving and fiber arts. It is now possible to grow willow shoots, also called rods, in a rainbow of colors, which are in demand from florists and crafters. Willow is easy to grow and very prolific - one tree can produce hundreds of salable shoots each year. In addition, willow is used for restoration and conservation projects.

9. Japanese maple. These lovely trees are always in demand by homeowners and landscapers. It just might be the perfect tree for a small specialty tree nursery, as there is demand for both smaller trees for those on a budget as well as larger "specimen" trees for those with deep pockets. Also, there are hundreds of named varieties, in both red and green, and in the two types, broad leaf and cut leaf. The smaller size of most Japanese maples makes them an ideal tree for container growing, so hundreds can be grown for sale in even a small backyard nursery.

10 Christmas trees. For a while, it looked like "real" Christmas trees were an endangered species, losing ground to artificial trees. Now that has reversed, with artificial tree sales declining since 2007, and the number of real trees increasing every year, with over 21,000 small family growers across North America. For those with an acre or more of usable land, Christmas trees can be a very profitable choice, as prices for fresh-cut trees average about $42, and an acre can hold about 1,800 trees. Many who take up Christmas tree farming have found they make more money selling greens and wreaths every year that from cut trees!

Because small-scale tree growing takes just a few hours a week, most small growers are part-timers. Tree farming is a great way to earn extra income for those who enjoy seeing plants grow. If you've ever thought about starting a small tree nursery, or tree farming, read Growing Trees For Profit, which covers the essentials of growing and marketing high-value specialty trees. You'll find more information at http://profitableplantsdigest.com

Real Estate Investing LIES Unveiled

Let's get REAL about something - and quelch the LIES you have been told about Real Estate Investing!­

What I am going to reveal to you are some basic
truths about Real Estate investing - truths that may
totally affect the Real Estate investments you have
now - and certainly I intend to modify the way you
do Real Estate investing in the future.

Let's get right to it - and into the heart of the real
estate investing issue.

You have been programmed all your life to become
what you are today - from school, friends, relatives
and, yes, your parents.

Recent studies show that you are who you are now,
more from what you learned prior to age 8 than in
anything else you have learned since.

Now, that may surprise you, but it is true that what
you learned at the earliest ages affects the way you
make Real Estate investments today, and the type
of Real Estate investing success you will have going
forward!

Yes, that's a bit shocking.

You see, if you grew up in an environment where
you heard things like

"We can't afford it", "Be sure
you have saved enough and have the cash to buy it"
(i.e., never use credit), or numerous other phrases
that you now hear yourself saying (you know what
I'm talking about - those times you catch yourself
"becoming your parents"), it is because of your
early programming (from 0-8 years) and what you
were told about money, success, and life in general.

That is controlling your current income - and your
success - or lack of it...

The things you were told at that early, most
influential age, are now creeping out and affecting
how successful you are in business, in life and yes,
in your Real Estate investing.

THERE IS GOOD NEWS

The greatest thing about this fact - as horrible as it
seems - is that you can change the 'programming' -
you have the power to do it!

You can reprogram yourself in any way you want -
have anything you want - do anything you want.

All it takes is simply to 'reinstall' the right kind of
thinking.

And, it is easier than you might think!

One of the best ways to do that is to get a CD audio
set from someone you like to listen to - someone
that thinks positively and speaks of the life you want
to live. Many home study courses are available (yes,
including mine) that are designed to inspire and
motivate you, while they teach you the methods and
secrets of real estate investing.

Purchase one - listen to it, over and over - until you
hear yourself speaking that way, too.

You see, we are all simply creatures of habit and
environment - if we allow junk to get into our heads,
all we will ever say is junk coming out.

If all you listen to is the bad stuff in life (like the TV
news, most 'talk radio' shows, those TV 'real life'
shows that end up in fights - you know the ones.,
and even violent movies where the language is
nothing you'd ever expect to hear from your own
lips.), that is exactly what you will wind up sounding
like!

It is true - 'you are what you eat' - and that counts
just as much for what you put in your ears as it does
for what you put in your mouth!

If you spend your time around 'bar people', you'll
speak and act like them. Not that there's anything
wrong with that, as long as you made a conscious
thought that it is what you want, but I think you'd
be much more successful at Real Estate investing if
you were listening to a successful person teaching
you about Real Estate Investing!

Now, let's get right to the point about the various
methods and concepts you have learned about Real
Estate Investing.

You may call yourself a 'real estate investing expert',
but if you have to get up every morning and wonder
where your next check is coming from, you aren't
making real estate investments, you are being
employed in a Real Estate Investing JOB!

Yes, that's a hard-hitting statement.

You see, I want you to 'get real' with yourself and
simply admit it - Real Estate investing is when you
put money into a Real Estate investment and then
get some money out - 'real estate investing'
defined.

Yet, it seems that most people I meet want to
attend my real estate training or purchase my real
estate courses that have to do with 'No Money
Down' (NMD) real estate investing.

Now, that kind of talk just proves the point - you can
reprogram yourself to speak a different language -
even if it doesn't make sense!

A bunch of 'gurus' have told you over and over again
that 'No Money Down' is real estate investing - even
though you learned at an early age that 'invest'
means to put money into something and get money
out (see http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=invest for other definitions - none of them say 'No
Money Down'...)

Now, it's not that 'NMD Real Estate investing' is all
bad - heck, my students and I make several
thousand dollars from these types of 'Real Estate
investing' transactions every year, too.

Just don't lie to yourself and say they are 'real
estate investments', we know very clearly that these
are simply 'earned income' from one portion of your
real estate investing business - the real estate 'job'
portion - earned while in transition from your
'corporate job' to your 'real estate investing job' and
on the road to true Real Estate Investing.

In other real estate investing articles, I cover some
of the methods and techniques you, too, can explore
while moving from your 'corporate job' to your 'real
estate investing job' and you'll learn some insider
secrets for taking that leap quickly.

Short Term Loans: Overcome Sudden Financial Problems

Is your financial need a small and requires quick attention? But you have no funds to sort this unplanned expense which is bothering you? Well stop worrying about such a small problem because there is an instant solution to it. Short term loans are a great financial help that can be trusted for small financial problems at any time. The cash amount is provided easily on time without asking you to meet heavy formalities.

Are you facing impaired credit records like arrears, CCJs, bankruptcy, missed payments, defaults and IVA? Now, there is no need to worry about your bad credit because there is no credit check required.

Short term loans are an ideal financial solution that allows you to sort your urgent financial needs easily on time. You can borrow anything varying from £100-£1500 for a term of 2-4 weeks. In case if you are unable to meet the repayment on due date then you can roll over the term by paying additional amount.

Being short term loans these funds are offered at slightly higher interest rates as compared. By entailing short term loans you can easily fix up your small and sudden financial needs on time. With the borrowed funds you can pay off your car repair expense, pay for medical treatment, library fee, credit card bills, house rent or other such financial obligation can be easily met.

You can quickly get the loan approval if you fulfill the pre requisite condition. In order to qualify you must be 18 years of age, must have a valid bank account and must be earning a regular source of income. If you fulfill all the above requirements then you can get the approval within a short time span.

Short term loans are an instant relief to your problems as they get approved in less time. No credit check is done; no need to fax documents and no paperwork is required. The cash amount is easily transferred to your bank account.

Advantages of Real Estate Investing

Investing in real estate is as advantageous and as attractive as investing in the stock market. I would say it has three times more prospects of making money than any other business. But, But, But... since, it is equally guided by the market forces; you cannot undermine the constant risks involved in the real estate. Let me begin discussing with you the advantages of real estate investments. I found the advantages as most suited and really practical.

Advantages

Real Estate Investments are Less Risky

As compared to other investments, less of misadventure is involved in a real estate property. I will not get away from the fact that just like any investment you make; you have the risk of losing it. Real estate investments are traditionally considered a stable and rich gainer, provided if one takes it seriously and with full sagacity. The reasons for the real estate investments becoming less risky adventure primarily relate to various socio-economic factors, location, market behavior, the population density of an area; mortgage interest rate stability; good history of land appreciation, less of inflation and many more. As a rule of thumb, if you have a geographical area where there are plenty of resources available and low stable mortgage rates, you have good reason for investing in the real estate market of such a region. On the contrary, if you have the condo in a place, which is burgeoning under the high inflation, it is far-fetched to even think of investing in its real estate market.

No Need for Huge Starting Capital

A real estate property in Canada can be procured for an initial amount as low as $8,000 to $ 15,000, and the remaining amount can be taken on holding the property as security. This is what you call High Ratio Financing. If you don't have the idea as to how it works, then let me explain you with the help of an example. Remember that saying... Examples are better than percepts!

Supposing, you buy a condo worth $200,000, then you have to just pay the initial capital amount say 10% of $200,000. The remaining amount (which is 90%) can be financed, against your condo. It means that in a High Ratio financing, the ratio between the debt (here in the example it is 90% Mortgage) and the equity (here in the example it is 10% down payment) is very high. It is also important to calculate high ratio mortgage insurance with the help of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). If needed, you can also purchase the condo on 100% mortgage price.

Honing Investment Skills

A real estate investment, especially when you buy a condo for yourself, will be a pleasurable learning experience. It gives you the opportunity to learn and when I went ahead with my first real estate property, I was totally a dump man. Ask me now, and I can tell you everything, from A to Z. Necessity is the mother of all inventions. I had the necessity to buy the property and so I tried with it, and I was successful. I acquired all the knowledge and skills through experience of selling and purchasing the residential property. Thanks to my job. It gave me the experience to become an investor.

Not a time taking Adventure

Real estate investment will not take out all your energies, until you are prepared and foresighted to take the adventure in full swing. You can save hell lot of time, if you are vigilant enough to know the techniques of making a judicious investment in the right time and when there are good market conditions prevailing at that point of time.

You should be prepared to time yourself. Take some time out, and do market research. Initiate small adventures that involve negotiating real estate deals, buying a property, managing it and then selling it off. Calculate the time invested in your real estate negotiation. If the time was less than the optimum time, you have done it right. And if you end up investing more time, then you need to work it out again, and make some real correction for consummating next deals. You have various ways and methodologies, called the Real Estate Strategies that can make it happen for you in the right manner.

Leverage is the Right Way

The concept of leverage in real estate is not a new one. It implies investing a part of your money and borrowing the rest from other sources, like banks, investment companies, finance companies, or other people's money (OPM). There have been many instances where people have become rich by practically applying OPM Leverage Principal. As I had discussed under the sub head - No Need for Huge Starting Capital, the high ratio financing scheme gives an opportunity of no risk to the lenders, as the property becomes the security. Moreover, in case the lender is interested in selling the property, the net proceeds resulting from the sale of the property should comfortably cover the mortgage amount.

Now consider a situation, where the lender leverages the property at too high ratio debt say 98% or even more, and all of the sudden the market shows a down turn, then both the investor as well as the lender. Hence, greater is the mortgage debt, more is the lender's risk, and it is therefore necessary that lender pays higher interest rates. The only way out to ease the risk from lender's head is to get the mortgage insured. Two companies authorized to insure your high-ratio mortgage debts are CMHC (www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca), and GE mortgage Insurance Canada (gemortgage.ca).

Letme explain you with the help of an example... supposing, you are buying a real estate property worth $ 200,000 at three mortgages, with the first one of $100,000, the second of $75,000 and the third one of $25,000. Possible percentage of interest rates charged can be 3%, 5% and 7%. The last mortgage amount of $25,000 will be accounted, as riskiest; as it would relatively be the last mortgage that you will pay when you finally make a selling deal.

On the contrary, if the first mortgage representing almost 90% of your property price is insured against getting default or as high ratio mortgage, then in the above example, the basic interest rate would be 3%.

Let me explain you the leveraging concept by taking another example.

Supposing, you are buying a real estate property worth $200,000, and made down payment of 10%, equitable to $20,000, while financed the rest amount of $1,80,000. Over the year's time, the value of your property appreciates by 10%. In this case, what would be the total return that you'd incur on your down payment of $20,000? It would be 200%. Yes 200%. Putting in simpler words, the down payment of $20,000 made by you has an appreciation of 10% over it, i.e. (10% increase of original home price of $ 200,000), 200% return on your down payment investment of $20,000.

On the contrary if you invest all the money in buying the property of $200,000, and in wake of appreciation of 10% over the year ($20,0000 would then be accrued to as 20%.

Synonymous with leveraging is pyramiding, where you borrow on the appreciated value of your existing property. Pyramiding applies the principal of leverage that enables you to purchase even more properties. This appreciated value over the real estate property in some selected areas results in accumulation of rich financial virtues.

Real Estate Appreciation

An appreciation is an average increase in the property value over original capital investment, taking place over a period. There are some neglected real estate properties that have an appreciation below the average mark, whereas, some of the properties located in maintained geographical areas, showing high demand, have an above average appreciation. In such centrally located and high demand areas, the average appreciation can reach up to 25% in a year. I will discuss appreciation in the chapter on real estate cycles. For now, for general understanding, appreciation is what goes up.

You Make Your Equity

As you gradually pay your mortgage debts, you are creating your equity. In other words, you would be reaching to original house price on which you have no debt. Your equity is absolutely free of percentage increase in appreciation. From the investor's perspective, in real estate market, equity is the amount that is free of debt and it is the amount that an investor holds. When you sale your property, then the net money you get, after paying all the commissions and closing costs, becomes your equity. Lenders don't want to take risk by allowing a loan on over 90% of equity. Therefore, in this manner, the lenders take the safety measures in wake of their loan being defaulted.

The Federal Bankruptcy act says that all the first mortgages of over 75% of the appraised or purchase value must be covered under high-ratio insurance schemes. However, there are certain conditions, wherein, CMHC offers the purchasers of real estate property qualifying the insurance, a mortgage of up to 100% of purchase price over your principal house value. In the wake of an event where borrowers want more money from the lenders, they would ideally settle for second and the third mortgages.

Low Inflation

Inflation is the rise in the prices of the products, commodities and services, or putting it another way, it is the decrease in your capacity to buy or hire the services. Supposing, a commodity was worth $10 a decade back, will now cost $ 100 as the result of inflation. For people who have fixed salaries feel the real brunt of the dollar, as the inflation rises. In Canada, the inflation rate varies and it varies every year. There was a time when Canada had a double-digit, but it was controlled to single digit, after the regulation of policy.

If we analyze closely, the land appreciation value for the residential real estate is 4% to 5% higher than inflation rate. Therefore, when you invest in real estate, then you are paying mortgage debts in high dollar value. Now as you are getting more, salary to pay less amount than the amount that you had paid in the original mortgage.

Tax Exemptions

You get various tax exemptions on your principal and investment income property. The tax exemptions available in real estate property investment are more than available in any other investment. In other investments, you lose terribly on the investments in your bank in the form of inflation and high taxes therein, but in real estate; you don't actually have such hindrances.

Various tax exemptions available are:
•The interest receivable from your bank account, term deposit or guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) is completely taxable as income. A little math here will do the magic work for you. Supposing, if you get an interest of 8% on the deposit, and the on going inflation rate is 5%, the Real Return Rate will come out to be settled at 2%.
•You get completely tax-free capital gain on principal amount of your residential real estate property.
•You have the opportunity to ward off principal amount of your residential real estate property against the home expenses incurred by you.
•You can easily ward off the property depreciation against your income.
•You can cut the expenses incurred in real estate property investment through your income
•Tax rate reduced to approx. 50% of the capital gain.
•And many more

Net Positive and High Income is Generated

If taken in right direction and played seriously, a real estate investment can be your virtue making endeavor now and in times to come. You will not only be having additional assets building in your favor, but also with positive cash flow, your real estate property value will increase automatically.

High Return on Investments (ROIs)

Real estate investment gives you potentially high ROIs before and after the taxes levied on your income. In fact, investing in real estate gives you high ROIs after the taxes.

Demand for the Real Estate Increases

As a natural instance, when the population of a region increases, the total usable land decreases, and this provides the impetus for high real estate prices. There are many communities that can or cannot have growth and development regulations, thereby, resulting in limited land available for use. Therefore, the real estate prices of the area shoot up. Remember housing is the necessity of an individual and therefore it is much in demand than any other single commodity taken. Furthermore, there are people who purchase additional houses for their recreation, recluse or as a past time. This in turn increases the demand for land.

How To Sign Up For Winoptions Rebates Or Zoneoptions Rebates

It is a fact of modern living that one never has enough income. With all the bills to pay and expenses that have to be met, even families where both husband and wife work and earn incomes could always use more money. That is why many people have made the decision to turn to alternative sources of income. While the traditional wisdom is that working long enough and hard enough will eventually get you to a position in a company where you earn a respectable income, that does not mean you cannot utilize other methods of earning more income simultaneously. Signing up for WinOptions rebates or ZoneOptions rebates is one excellent way of earning that second income stream.

Both WinOptions and ZoneOptions are binary options brokers, specializing in enabling people to trade in the financial products known as binary options. While most people are familiar with stocks, which are also a form of financial product, most are unfamiliar with binary options. Binary options are basically a financial product which has a value that is based on an underlying asset. For example, the value of a particular binary option might be based on gold. Unlike stocks, which have varying prices at which you can either sell or buy, binary options have only two possible outcomes. You either earn a certain percentage on the value of the underlying asset, or you get nothing at all. In that sense, you can only win or lose completely with binary options.

Income Supplement

With sufficient information and experience, trading in binary options can be a rather profitable venture, and many people have added a significant stream of income to their regular earnings by means of trading in binary options. The challenge lies in being consistent with your trading activities, and learning the ins and outs of binary options trading. With enough time and effort, you will learn to recognize the patterns and trends that will allow you to make winning decisions more often than not.

A Crowded Field

The field of binary options brokers has grown very crowded in recent years, with many new brokers being started to cater to the rising number of binary options traders. With so many new brokers, however, individual brokers have had to come up with creative methods of differentiating themselves from other brokers and attracting more customers. Most have chosen to spend more money on advertising.

This led to the creation of broker databases, which were websites that kept track of the various brokers and allowed potential customers to browse through the various brokers all in one place. In return, the databases would funnel interested customers to the brokers, and receive a commission for each successful new sign-up. When this field also became competitive, some of the best databases began offering rebates for customers who signed up through them. The customer would sign up with a broker, the broker would pay the database a commission, and the database would share that commission with the customer. This is an extremely attractive offer, and is how you can go about getting WinOptions rebates and ZoneOptions rebates when you sign up for your binary options broker account.

Unmissable St Lucia Tours and Excursions

A lush, tropical paradise with perhaps the most striking scenery anywhere in the Caribbean, St Lucia is the ideal destination for travellers who want to experience both a typical Caribbean holiday and something that's a little more out of the ordinary.

Whether you're lucky enough to have a week or two to spend in this delightful destination, or are on a shore trip from one of the many cruise liners that dock in its capital Castries, you are spoiled for choice with some marvellous tours and excursions in St Lucia to discover the true heart of this Caribbean gem.

Adventures in paradise

Its volcanic past has left Ste Lucia with a stunning geographic legacy - extraordinary mountain peaks, dense tropical rainforests, healing sulphur springs, silver sands and striking cliffs. If all you need from a Caribbean holiday is a gorgeous beach, azure blue waters and a cocktail, then St Lucia will fulfil your every need. If, however, you like adventures on your vacation, once you realise all the things to do in Saint Lucia, you really will feel you are in paradise.

And perhaps the most adventurous of all Ste Lucia excursions is a hike in the Pitons. These twin volcanic plugs, Gros Piton and Petit Piton, dominate the south-western landscape of the island, their steep slopes packed with jungle and rainforest and dramatically looming above the aquamarine waters of the Caribbean. As one of the finest attractions in St Lucia, the Pitons take some beating - hike the slopes of Gros Piton through dense jungle and ancient Amerindian ruins and when you reach the peak, get ready for unforgettable panoramic views across the island and the Caribbean that will leave you breathless.

Zipline Across the Rainforest Canopy

For an adrenaline-fuelled St Lucia tour, reach for the sky on a zipline canopy tour. An aerial tram will whisk you to the launch point, hundreds of feet above the ground, surrounded by the imposing treetops of the rainforest. Take a moment here to survey your surroundings - a lush tropical landscape of such vibrancy and colour that it will take your breath away. And when you grab the zipline and step off into thin air, get set for the experience of a lifetime, landing on 10 different platforms as you whiz through the sky. A St. Lucia zipline canopy tour is the ideal way to enjoy some of the island's best natural attractions, flying through the air with the tropical birds that make their home here.

The Heat Is On

When you're looking for things to do in St Lucia, one excursion stands out above all other because St Lucia boasts the most unique attraction - the world's only drive-in volcano at Soufriere. Yes, you can indeed drive right into the crater of this active volcano. Even better are the volcano's Sulphur Springs, extraordinary hot mud baths packed with essential minerals. During daytime the springs, bubbling and belching out sulphur-laden steam, are far too hot for bathing but as night falls and the mud drops to a more manageable temperature, you can dive in for a healing mud bath. As Saint Lucia excursions go, there are none muddier but deliciously so.

Chasing Waterfalls

Its tropical and mountainous landscape means the island is blessed with some extraordinary locations and attractions. And one of the most delightful tours in St Lucia takes in Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens, often said to be one of St Lucia's natural wonders. The gardens are a 6-acre site that incorporates fertile vegetation, tropical plants and flowers, and stunning native wildlife including birds and insects. A 45-foot waterfall is a stunning sight. And then there are the magnificent mineral baths, built in 1784 to refresh and rejuvenate the French troops who guarded the island for King Louis XVI. The therapeutic waters of the baths are said to be medicinal and can relieve aches and pains in joints and muscles. Visitors can enjoy a soak here after enjoying the beauty of the gardens.

Into the West

The island's capital, Castries, is a delightful location from which to start a tour of St Lucia's west coast. Cruise liners dock here for shore trips, making Castries convenient for day visitors. The city itself is a historic one with landmarks such as the "Massav", a 400-year-old Samaan tree and Government House, the seat of colonial power that overlooks the city and bay from the summit of Morne Fortune.

Nearby is Marigot Bay, a quite magnificent bay surrounded by lush rainforests and with white sandy beaches fringing crystal clear blue waters. A typical Saint Lucia tour should involve a trip to a banana plantation, one of the island's top exports. And then you can wander through the historic fishing villages of Canaries and Anse La Ray, with their brightly coloured cottages perched on hilly, winding streets.

With so much to see and so many things to do in St Lucia, you might find your only decision is when to return to this delightful destination to do it all over again.

To see this stunning Caribbean Island at its very best book with Real St Lucia Tours

How To Shop For No Win No Fee Solicitors Online

If you encounter an accident that results in bodily harm that is not of your own doing then you will immediately want to begin seeking out no win no fee Solicitors to handle your case. The moment that you encounter any type of accident you will want to do this immediately. Otherwise you could miss your filing date and be unable to file your claim. You are limited by time when it comes to how long you have to file your claim. Therefore, the moment that such an accident arises, no matter what kind it may be, you need to file a no win no fee claim with a professional that has years of experience when it comes to handling the type of claim that you are dealing with.

Whether you were in a car accident which was not your fault or were involved in a work related accident you can’t afford not to seek out the very best no win no fee Solicitors the moment that such an accident occurs. If you put this off you could end up having to pay your medical bills on your own and will not be reimbursed for the time that you had to take off work due to your accident.

The best way to go about choosing a Solicitor that can provide you with no win no fee claim services is to immediately take your search online. You want to do this so that you can determine what options are available to you. There are numerous lawyers in your area. You must now carefully determine which one is the very best for you and which ones actually specialize in the type of case that you have.

By doing this with the assistance of the internet you can quickly compare your options and figure out which options will save you money, which ones have the experience to handle your case, and which ones actually specialize in this area. The more expertise that they have the better your chances will be at winning your case.

One thing that you want to do is avoid any Solicitors that charge fees up front for their services or that charge high percentages in the event that you win your case. This is of great importance. Chances are that you don’t want to end up overspending and want to ensure that when you do win your case that you are able to keep the highest amount of your winnings as possible.

The second most important thing to consider is the level of experience that they have and what type of expertise that they have. Expertise is vital. For example if you are filing a slip and fall claim you will want to be certain that the lawyer that you hire has had experience in this area and that they have a track record for winning these types of cases.

Keep these things in mind and you will save yourself from all sorts of problems when it comes to finding the very best Solicitor.

By: Vikram Kumar

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Are you looking for the best No Win No Fee Solicitors ? If so you should turn to the experts at No Win No Fee Solicitors to file your No Win No Fee Claim .

The Future of Commercial Real Estate

Although serious supply-demand imbalances have continued to plague real estate markets into the 2000s in many areas, the mobility of capital in current sophisticated financial markets is encouraging to real estate developers. The loss of tax-shelter markets drained a significant amount of capital from real estate and, in the short run, had a devastating effect on segments of the industry. However, most experts agree that many of those driven from real estate development and the real estate finance business were unprepared and ill-suited as investors. In the long run, a return to real estate development that is grounded in the basics of economics, real demand, and real profits will benefit the industry.

Syndicated ownership of real estate was introduced in the early 2000s. Because many early investors were hurt by collapsed markets or by tax-law changes, the concept of syndication is currently being applied to more economically sound cash flow-return real estate. This return to sound economic practices will help ensure the continued growth of syndication. Real estate investment trusts (REITs), which suffered heavily in the real estate recession of the mid-1980s, have recently reappeared as an efficient vehicle for public ownership of real estate. REITs can own and operate real estate efficiently and raise equity for its purchase. The shares are more easily traded than are shares of other syndication partnerships. Thus, the REIT is likely to provide a good vehicle to satisfy the public’s desire to own real estate.

A final review of the factors that led to the problems of the 2000s is essential to understanding the opportunities that will arise in the 2000s. Real estate cycles are fundamental forces in the industry. The oversupply that exists in most product types tends to constrain development of new products, but it creates opportunities for the commercial banker.

The decade of the 2000s witnessed a boom cycle in real estate. The natural flow of the real estate cycle wherein demand exceeded supply prevailed during the 1980s and early 2000s. At that time office vacancy rates in most major markets were below 5 percent. Faced with real demand for office space and other types of income property, the development community simultaneously experienced an explosion of available capital. During the early years of the Reagan administration, deregulation of financial institutions increased the supply availability of funds, and thrifts added their funds to an already growing cadre of lenders. At the same time, the Economic Recovery and Tax Act of 1981 (ERTA) gave investors increased tax “write-off” through accelerated depreciation, reduced capital gains taxes to 20 percent, and allowed other income to be sheltered with real estate “losses.” In short, more equity and debt funding was available for real estate investment than ever before.

Even after tax reform eliminated many tax incentives in 1986 and the subsequent loss of some equity funds for real estate, two factors maintained real estate development. The trend in the 2000s was toward the development of the significant, or “trophy,” real estate projects. Office buildings in excess of one million square feet and hotels costing hundreds of millions of dollars became popular. Conceived and begun before the passage of tax reform, these huge projects were completed in the late 1990s. The second factor was the continued availability of funding for construction and development. Even with the debacle in Texas, lenders in New England continued to fund new projects. After the collapse in New England and the continued downward spiral in Texas, lenders in the mid-Atlantic region continued to lend for new construction. After regulation allowed out-of-state banking consolidations, the mergers and acquisitions of commercial banks created pressure in targeted regions. These growth surges contributed to the continuation of large-scale commercial mortgage lenders [http://www.cemlending.com] going beyond the time when an examination of the real estate cycle would have suggested a slowdown. The capital explosion of the 2000s for real estate is a capital implosion for the 2000s. The thrift industry no longer has funds available for commercial real estate. The major life insurance company lenders are struggling with mounting real estate. In related losses, while most commercial banks attempt to reduce their real estate exposure after two years of building loss reserves and taking write-downs and charge-offs. Therefore the excessive allocation of debt available in the 2000s is unlikely to create oversupply in the 2000s.

No new tax legislation that will affect real estate investment is predicted, and, for the most part, foreign investors have their own problems or opportunities outside of the United States. Therefore excessive equity capital is not expected to fuel recovery real estate excessively.

Looking back at the real estate cycle wave, it seems safe to suggest that the supply of new development will not occur in the 2000s unless warranted by real demand. Already in some markets the demand for apartments has exceeded supply and new construction has begun at a reasonable pace.

Opportunities for existing real estate that has been written to current value de-capitalized to produce current acceptable return will benefit from increased demand and restricted new supply. New development that is warranted by measurable, existing product demand can be financed with a reasonable equity contribution by the borrower. The lack of ruinous competition from lenders too eager to make real estate loans will allow reasonable loan structuring. Financing the purchase of de-capitalized existing real estate for new owners can be an excellent source of real estate loans for commercial banks.

As real estate is stabilized by a balance of demand and supply, the speed and strength of the recovery will be determined by economic factors and their effect on demand in the 2000s. Banks with the capacity and willingness to take on new real estate loans should experience some of the safest and most productive lending done in the last quarter century. Remembering the lessons of the past and returning to the basics of good real estate and good real estate lending will be the key to real estate banking in the future.

Japanese Martial Arts, (Part 1 of 3)

Modern Japan brings to mind images of steaming noodle bars, teeming streets, cutting-edge fashion, world-class technology and innovation, and, of course, stunning natural landscapes. Beneath the surface of this diverse culture, however, there beats a very ancient heart. The battlefield arts that have existed in Japan for millennia have greatly influenced Japanese culture, thinking, and history but, in the context of martial-arts history, the permutations that have become incredibly popular around the world-such as karate, aikido, and judo-are relative newcomers.

Japan is one of the major regions from which most of the martial arts practiced today originate. Only China and Korea can boast a similar heritage. In addition to the influence of its ancient traditions and battlefield arts, Japan has also made many important contributions to modern martial-arts practice. Perhaps the most well-known and widely adopted is the colored belt system-used to grade students according to rank and experience. Belts range in color from white through the spectrum of the rainbow to black, after which different degrees, or "dans," are awarded. Devised in the 19th century by Kano Jigoro, the founder of judo, the system is now used in many fields of martial art.

Judo was also one of the first of the martial arts to be thoroughly codified. By combining the throwing and grappling aspects of jujutsu with elements from other wrestling arts, and standardizing the new art into a coherent system, Jigoro sowed the seeds for the sporting phenomenon that judo has become. Although many of the techniques were already prevalent in wrestling arts around the world, the standardization of the judo training syllabus allowed it to be taught easily, and to a good standard. This undoubtedly led to judo's widespread and rapid popularization.

Voices from the past

The ancient warriors of Japan left behind a fascinating legacy of literature devoted to the martial code and the philosophical thought of the warrior. Bushido: The Soul of Japan, written in 1899 by Inazo Nitobe, popularized the term "bushido," meaning "the way of the warrior." As a code, bushido cites seven virtues that are held in the greatest regard within the warrior culture: honor, loyalty, courage, benevolence, justice, veracity, and politeness.

The Forty-Seven Ronin, the true story of an event that came to represent the ideal of how warriors should behave, provides an earlier example of Japan's martial literary legacy and the ethical code of bushido. The story revolve; around 47 samurai warriors in the service of Asano Naganori, the Lord of Ako, on the island of Honshu. While on a visit to the court of the Shogun of Tokyo, Naganori was insulted by another Lord, at which point he unsheathed his sword and struck the man had offended him. It was considered extremely bad manners to draw a sword in the court of the Shogun, Naganori was ordered to commit "seppuku," a ritualized form of suicide. On his death the 47 warriors became ronin - samurai without a master - and vowed vengeance on the man who had insulted their master and provoked his suicide. They left their homes and families to enact a plan of revenge. To avoid raising suspicion, they posed as drunkards on the streets Tokyo for almost two years, until an opportunity arose on December 14, 1702. They crept into the Lord's home and killed him, immediately surrendering themselves to the authorities, even though they knew their actions were punishable by death. They then committed ritual suicide at the tomb of their late master.

Although today we may consider this to be an extreme example of loyalty, it highlights the tradition from which martial artists fashion their attitudes and underlying philosophical principles.

Martial Arts Equipment

Business Loans With Bad Credit: Not The Only Financing Options Worth Considering

For every business owner, it is a major challenge to get approval on a business loan with bad credit. The economic climate makes life difficult for many small businesses, with lower consumer spending and growing pressure from lenders to maintain existing loan repayment schedules. But there are alternative options.

Whether keeping your business afloat or starting a new business, there is finance available from lenders. But while approval is down to the strength of your application and, ultimately, the decision of the lenders, the type of financing sought is down to the applicant. The key choice is between a loan or a line of credit.

Of course, when dealing with business loans or other financial packages, there is no such thing as a nominal amount of money. Getting things started or keeping an operation going requires real financial help, so sums of $100,000 and more are needed. But there are options to securing this kind of funds.

Getting a Startup Loan

Research is always important when approaching a lending institution with the intention of securing a business loan with bad credit. The principal concern is that, whether going to a major bank or a large private lending firm, the relationship will be long term. So, it is best to get all the facts necessary before deciding on a deal.

The main issues that need to be agreed upon are interest rates, repayment schedules, and any additional options that can be activated in the future should the task of repaying the loan become more challenging than expected. It is also worth asking about taking a line of credit instead of a loan to see if their terms are better.

When it comes to approving a business loan to finance a new business however, most lenders are very open to the idea. But they will still want to know the personal credit history of the applicant, as well as details of any previous business experience.

Choosing a Line of Credit

Getting a business loan with bad credit is not always the best option. Certainly, once a loan is approved the pressure to meet the agreed repayment schedule begins. It is not such a comfortable position to be in when starting out, or even developing revenue potential. It is, therefore, worth considering an alternative.

Agreeing a business line of credit can work to your advantage better. This is where a bank agrees to a maximum sum but only interest is charged on the actual amount of funds spent by the borrower. If, for example, $100,000 is granted and the borrower spends just $60,000, then interest on that $60,000 is charged. The balance can be accessed whenever necessary.

What this means is that interest payments can be kept lower than with a straightforward business loan. This is because no interest is charged on the remaining $40,000 until it is spent, while interest is charged on the full loan amount.

Other Key Considerations

There are some other aspects that should be considered before seeking a business loan with bad credit. Not least is the fact that, because of a low credit rating, the interest rate charged on the loan will be high. So, the size of the repayments each month can be quite high too.

The alternative option allows for interest repayments to be kept under better control, if the borrower can control spending initially. Therefore, securing a line of credit is a much more cost-effective.

For this reason alone, more and more businesses are favoring this option ahead of the all out business loan. However, it is essential that the specifics of both options are discussed in detail before agreeing between one of the other with your lender.

Real Estate Post Card Marketing; Million Dollar Mailings

Real Estate Post Card Marketing is an underutilized real estate marketing strategy known by many, but used by few. The test? How many agents do you know market real estate with postcards. Not many - that's what I thought!

Yet, those that do maintain high visibility with their prospects. From useful tips to delicious recipes, customized real estate marketing post cards can leave positive and lasting impressions about you and your services at affordable prices.

I like marketing real estate with post cards for several reasons:

1. They're inexpensive - you can cast a wide net and reach a lot of people for a little of nothing. And as you know, or will soon learn, repeat contact with prospects is key to identity branding. You want buyers and sellers to think of you when they're ready to make a real estate transaction; which you can accomplish easier when you have repeated contacts with them. A series of real estate marketing post cards will do that for you.

2. They're easy to set into motion - it takes little time to reach hundreds to thousands of prospects via real estate post card marketing.

Here's a great way to use them. Chose a neighborhood to farm; condos, high end homes, country estates, move up homes, or whatever.

Then, mail post cards to the homeowners on a routinely scheduled basis. Perhaps it's once a month, with special emphasis on holidays. Or maybe it's every other month.

However frequent it is it your post cards should be interesting enough that your prospects look forward to receiving them, but not so often that they are annoying.

Fortunately, you don't have to spend time or energy designing and printing your own post cards. There are several companies that produce impressive Real Estate Postcards; ready for addressing and mailing. They're cute, charming and near deadly effective.

Even if you're a do it yourself type and like the idea of owning a software program to design your own you can't go wrong with ready made ones.

As a real estate agent you need to generate leads; buyers for listings and sellers wanting to list their properties. You should also be taking advantage of every opportunity to brand yourself. With real estate post card marketing you can:

use your real estate marketing post cards like an extension of your Business Cards. You could include your real-world address, phone number, and website address if you're comfortable with that. The key is to include information that makes it easy for someone to get in touch with you.

use your real estate marketing post cards to Announce New Listings. For example, announce your $2 million dollar listing to a $750,000.00 neighborhood. Heck, it doesn't even have to be your listing, and you can still implement this idea.

Here's what I mean! Select 4-5 one million dollar homes you'd like to sell, which can be any body's listings in any agency. Get to know them like they're your own listings.

Then, select a neighborhood, or neighborhoods, of 200-500 homes where the values are $500,000.00, or so. More or less is okay, but the idea is to seleect homes that are several hundred thousand dollars or more less in value. The idea won't work if there's only a $20,000.00 difference.

Select a a series of real estate post cards to send to the owners in the targeted neighborhood(s). A series of letters will work, but you can make a bigger and more lasting impression with postcards. Check out some Real Estate Postcards and you'll see what I mean. The post cards should appeal to their desire to "move up" into larger and/or more expensive homes.

Send a post card once a month.

Then, get ready for some business. You'll get potential buyers interested in what you've got to sell that will also be prospects for new listings. Can you see getting sales this way? How about listings?

When you use this strategy you'll begin to create relationships with people that'll translate to sales and listing, and reap the benefits of your efforts over and over.

A real estate post card marketing campaign will enable you to frequently and inexpensively market Real Estate Postcards to the masses, and as you know the more frequent your contacts with prospects the better your results will be.

Selling Real Estate in This Market Can Be Easier With These Home Selling Tips

Selling real estate is always a topic of interest for any home owner. The average American will sell a house every five to seven years. Given a 90 year life expectancy and assuming you buy your first house at age 30. You can expect to selling 8 to 12 houses in your life time.

When it comes to selling a home it can be a very hectic and emotional time. There is a lot of money, memories and family history involved with selling a home. That is why it is best to take an outsider approach to selling real estate. Try to shake off the emotions and think like a potential buyer looking for a new home.

There are typically only 3 ways to sell real estate and some will leave you with more money and create a faster sale than others. There are advantages and disadvantages to each type of home selling process so chose the best option for your particular home selling situation.

Sell your house fast with out a real estate agent

One of the quickest ways to sell real estate is to contact a local real estate investor or home buyer in your area and receive an offer on your house. These real estate professionals exist in every major metropolitan area across the United States and make a living off of investing in real estate.

There is a myth that all real estate investors are out to make a quick buck and take advantage of home owners. Just like any profession there are reputable home buyers and there are dishonest ones. The truth is, real estate investors are a great asset to any home seller.

Most know more about real estate than a typical real estate agent. They are familiar with short sales, helping home owners avoid foreclosure, lease options, rent to own programs, and best of all most can pay cash and create a quick close on your house.

How can it cost you less to sell your home to a real estate investor? Because you are selling real estate directly directly to a buyer there are no real estate agent commissions involved which is typically 6 percent of your sale value. This can add up to tens of thousands of dollars. Instead of paying a real estate agent commissions you are giving some of that money in equity to the new home buyer or investor.

Another awesome advantage of selling your real estate to a local home buyer is the over all home selling process. Through any typical home selling process you would have to spend thousands of dollars staging your home for sale. You have to leave your home every time a potential home buyer wants to view your home. This can make the home selling experience even more emotional than it already is.

When you sell your house fast to a real estate investor they will buy your house as is. You do not have to spend money on fixing up your house to create curb appeal. You don't have to leave your house every evening so people can walk through your home critiquing your home decorations. A home buyer will quickly wall through your home, ask you a few questions about the homes history and give you an offer then next day.

So if you need to sell your house fast, consider receiving a free, confidential, no obligation offer for your house from a local home buyer. It will not cost you anything, you will receive an offer on your house, you will not have to pay any real estate commissions, and you just may receive an offer you can not refuse.

Selling real estate for sale by owner

The next best way to keep more cash in your pocket when selling real estate is to find a home buyer yourself and skip paying real estate commissions to an agent. This avenue is not for all home sellers. Real estate agents exist because they provide value and service. However if you have extra time, energy and are up to a challenge then selling your home for sale by owner could save you big dollars at the closing table.

One disadvantage of selling your house for sale by owner is the up front costs. Instead of a realtor taking charge of the marketing of your home, you will be the main marketing avenue to get the word out. Some of the out of pocket expenses will be getting your home in great shape to sell, and marketing. The best marketing money you can spend is to pay a for sale by owner company who will list your home on the multiple listing service, MLS.

This way you have captured the same marketing a real estate agent would use. This is also the best way to get thousands of potential home buyers to know your house is for sale. You will also have to pay for signs, internet listings and some paper work.

Selling your house with the help of a real estate agent

The more traditional way to sell real estate is to go through a real estate agent. This home selling option will leave you less money at the closing table but could yield a better experience than selling your home by yourself. After all, you are hiring a professional to take care of all the home selling tasks.

Note than you will still have some out of pocket expenses and some inconvenience. A good realtor will walk through your home and put a list together of things they suggest you do to make your home sell quicker and for a higher price. You will have to pay to upgrade certain items in your house, paint new walls, take down family photos and other tasks.

Typical real estate agents charge 6 percent of the sale price of your home as a commission. So if your home sells for 200,000 the real estate commissions would be 12,000. The agent will receive this payment at the closing table so you do not have to come up with this money out of pocket.