Real Estate Investing - FSBOs vs. Agent Listings?

Many would-be real estate investing professionals face discouragement because of the assumption that acquisitions require deep-pockets. Some even believe the myth that nothing-down purchases are impossible.

The early 1980s era in real estate investing known as the Zero Down Real Estate Movement was initiated by Robert Allen with his best-seller, "Nothing Down." After observing how commercial properties were acquired with no money down, Allen applied 50 techniques from the commercial real estate industry to the residential property marketplace. He was reportedly paid $1 million advance royalties for his publication, and began holding real estate investing conventions across the country.

The Nothing Down era was a startling eye-opener to the public. Very few were aware of Allen's predecessors, like Nick Nickerson, Al Lowry and Mark Haroldsen who wrote books on real estate investing requiring no money. Allen popularized the notion, and it was a strong public draw for his real estate investing seminars.

However, some of Allen's convention speakers were ultimately revealed as "con men," and some bellied up. Robert Allen himself went bankrupt in 1996. The public generally concluded that Allen was probably a fraud, and that real estate investing was impossible without deep-pockets.

The Wall St.Journal got wind of the Nothing Down Real Estate Investing Movement, and interviewed many investors who were using "Zero Money Down" techniques. The business editor of the Wall St.Journal interviewed me repeatedly (and others who knew of my real estate investing), and featured me in an editorial as one of the most successful investors in the nation who had purchased millions of dollars in rental property without any money.

These previous unfolding events are pertinent to the conclusion of how to buy real estate properties with limited funds.

I proved that properties could be acquired without cash (or credit) to the tune of $10 million in real estate investments during my first 4 years. I used a $10 bill in the acquisition of many of my properties.

Purchases from FSBOs (For Sale By Owners) were possible through negotiations with motivated sellers. I bought millions of dollars in real estate properties without cash or credit by learning acquisition skills that required no money down.

On the other hand, real estate properties listed by real estate agents minimally require a down payment that covers the agent's listing fee. These listed properties were no more valuable than the FSBO properties, but the agent fees demanded cash upon acquisition. In the intervening years since the 1980s, I have purchased some agent-listed properties, but my target acquisition continues to be FSBO real estate property from a motivated seller.

How Credit Card Debt Settlement Makes Debt Repayments Easier

Most of us recognize just how damaging credit cards can be when they are not managed properly, worsening financial situations and negating what convenience they might otherwise offer. Clearing the debt can be a daunting task, but adopting a credit card debt settlement plan can ease the strain.

Every year, tens of thousands of Americans find themselves facing huge debts created solely by credit cards. When 4 or 5 different cards are involved, the debt can be $50,000 or more. Along with common personal loans and the cost of keeping a home, clearing existing debts can look impossible.

But a structured card settlement scheme provides a practical framework to work within, helping to make the task to clearing credit card debt that little bit easier.

Debt Settlement Plans Explained

Settling debt is all about negotiating the best possible deal on the actual amount of debt that is owed. A car issuer will agree to a fraction of the actual sum due to them, but is at least guaranteed to get some of their money back. The advantage of a credit card debt settlement for the cardholder is that the debt becomes easier to clear.

Clearing existing debts through a consolidation loan means 100% of the debt repaid, and while this is fine, the fact a larger sum must be borrowed means the loan is more expensive. Also, the cards usually represent only part of what is being cleared, so the savings are not as great as those the settlement plan offers.

Negotiations with the card companies can result in just 50% of the credit card debt being sought. Of course, securing these kinds of reductions is a tricky business, and some careful choices need to be made before negotiations begin.

Getting the Best Deal

The first choice to make is how much a credit card debt settlement scheme is desired. A pretty thick skin is needed when it comes to dealing with card companies, and to start the process, it is necessary to refuse to make any payments. This is to show an inability to pay, thus strengthening your claim for debt reduction.

This move is likely to be followed by threats of impending court action, but understand this is generally an effort to scare people into paying what is owed. Convincing the issuer there is no chance of getting anything is invaluable. Remember, when it comes to clearing existing debts, what is saved can be used elsewhere.

Of course, a key to getting the best reduction in credit card debt is to hire an experienced debt settlement negotiator, and one that is hard-nosed enough to take on the card companies. If the right person is got, then huge reductions can be expected.

Other Terms to Consider

Still, securing the very best credit card debt settlement deal comes down to more than just a good negotiator. The plan needs to start at least 6 months before that step is taken, as that is the minimum period after which a claim of inability to pay can be deemed accepted.

And even if the planning is done perfectly, the whole deal rests on the ability to offer a cash sum in settlement. So, it is essential that a large lump sum is available to clear the debt immediately after the deal is done. This form of clearing existing debts is often referred to as a Now-Or-Never deal.

Finally, remember the deal will also be added to your credit report. It does not have quite the negative influence a bankruptcy ruling has, but clearing credit card debt through a settlement plan means only a fraction of the debt is actually paid. Because officially the debt is never fully repaid, the credit score does not improve.

5 Ways To Reduce Your Electricity Bill Today

Are you trying to reduce your monthly budget? If so, one of the easiest things to cut is your electric bill. Most of us spend more than we need to each month on electricity by wasting electricity. It is easy to see when we are wasting food or spending money on unnecessary purchases, but it is harder to recognize wasted electricity. Read on to learn about five simple ways to reduce your electric bill each month.

1. Unplug Electronics

The first thing that you should do is make sure that you and everyone in your family unplug electronics when you are not using them. Not only do unused electronics that are plugged in drain unnecessary electricity, they generate heat. The heat that these electronic items generate also increases your home's air conditioning needs. Be sure to plug your microwaves, cellphone charges, televisions and other electronic devices into power strips so that you and your family can easily turn these devices on and off when necessary.

2. Switch to CFLs

If you are serious about reducing your monthly electric bill, you will need to switch out your incandescent light bulbs for compact flourescent bulbs, also known as CFLs. Energy.gov points out that 90 percent of the energy used by incandescent lights is actually given off as heat, so your incandescent light bulbs are wasting electricity and your money. In fact, Energy.gov experts state that the average home can save about $50 each year by replacing 15 incandescent light bulbs with more energy efficient CFLs.

3. Use Less Hot Water

Another quick and easy way to reduce your home's electric bill is to use less hot water in your home. This means you should use cold water in place of hot water when necessary, and you should reduce the amount of hot water that you use when it is necessary. For example, you can wash your clothes with cold water instead of wasting electricity to heat water for your clothes washer. There are special laundry detergents that are great to use if you are washing your clothes with cold water. You can reduce the amount of hot water that you use for showering, hand dish washing and hand washing by installing low flow shower heads and water aerators on your spigots. These quick fixes are very inexpensive and will quickly pay for themselves with the amount of water and electricity that you save by installing them.

4. Timing is Everything

Avoid doing activities that generate heat during the day. Save your dishwashing, clothes drying and baking for the evening when your air conditioner will not need to compensate for the excess heat in the home due to these heat-generating appliances. You may see substantial savings by reducing your air conditioning load, and these heat-generating appliances may help you stay warm at night if you save these activities for the evenings.

5. Program Your Thermostat

You should use your programmable thermostat wisely if you have one. Set your programmable thermostat so that it is not wasting electricity on heating or cooling your home when nobody is in it. Set it to reach your desired temperature only when the home is occupied. If you don't have a programmable thermostat, you can save a good deal on your home's heating and cooling costs by testing the temperature settings to find the most conservative settings that will keep you and your family comfortable. For example, try reducing your heating temperature to 68 degrees Fahrenheit rather than 75 degrees, and try to set your cooling temperature to 73 degrees rather than 70 degrees.

Follow these five tips, and you are sure to see savings on your electric bill within 30 days. Once you have mastered these energy-saving tips, you can move on to more advanced techniques to reduce your monthly electric bills.

Tourism in the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (commonly called the United Kingdom or UK) is located in the British Isles off the northwest coast of Europe. The UK has the fifth largest economy in the world and attracts tourists year round. There are four constituent parts, or home nations, to the United Kingdom: *England *Scotland *Northern Ireland *Wales
Cultural Facts about the United Kingdom

The UK became the dominant maritime and industrial power of the 19th century, and contributed tremendously to the development of Western ideas concerning capitalism, democracy, property, literature and science. Many of the world's top universities are located in Great Britain. The English language is known as the "global language" and has spread to nations around the world.

Touring the United Kingdom

The UK offers some of the world's most popular vacation destinations, from historic cities to tranquil ocean views. There are lovely country houses, majestic castles, unique structures and ancient monuments. The reasons so many folks choose the United Kingdom, particularly Great Britain, as their destination are endless!

Castles and Palaces in the United Kingdom

There are many delightful castles in the UK where tourists can take a walk through history and learn about royal families of the past. Tourists can also visit many stately homes. There are hundreds of these in Great Britain that are open to the public. One popular castle is Castle Howard in North Yorkshire. The entrance of the castle is gorgeous and has a dome overhead. The lovely park around the castle makes a visit worthwhile. The Scottish Edinburgh Castle sits on a hill high above the remainder of the city Edinburgh, and offers a view of where some of the bloodiest events of Scottish history took place. The Windsor Castle is known to be the largest inhabited stronghold in the world, and it is also the largest castle in England. Although the castle was severely damaged by a fire in 1992, it has been restored. For garden lovers, the Hever Castle and Gardens in Kent offers an enchanting landscape with a surrounding moat and a drawbridge for protection. Also in Kent is Penshurst Place, a gorgeous country mansion that was once the home of Sir Philip Sydney, an Elizabethan poet of the 1500s. The baroque Blenheim Palace in Woodstock offers visitors a peek at the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchhill.

Charming Gardens in the United Kingdom

The UK is known for its talented gardeners from the past, who each left behind a legacy that is carried on today. At almost every popular tourist attraction, there's a garden to greet the visitor. Botanical gardens are frequent in the United Kingdom, so you can enjoy nature's beauty almost anywhere you go! Below are some of the most popular botanical gardens. Anything from exotic to common flowers and shrubs can be found in the 300-acre Royal Botanic (Kew) Gardens near London. These gardens contain the largest herbarium on earth. The Sissinghurst Castle Garden in Kent has an unusual landscape and attracts many tourists during fall, when colors are vibrant. Stourhead is the most well-known garden in England, and is often called the birthplace of English landscape gardening. It's located near Shaftesbury, on the outskirts of the Greater London area. The garden appeals to tourists with its flowering shrubs, trees and even bridges and temples, which add tremendously to the scenery.

United Kingdom's Museums

Visitors to the UK are able to learn about culture and history by touring one of the country's many museums, with the most popular being in London. The British Museum in London houses the famous Rosetta stone and the Elgin marbles. It's one of the world's greatest museums. The National Gallery in London offers a dazzling collection of Western art, and represents many famous artists, from da Vinci to Picasso! The gallery houses an abundance of Renaissance art pieces. Art lovers can get their fill here while in London. Another great art museum in London is Tate Britain, where some 10,000 works are displayed.

Touring Stonehenge

Stonehenge, England is a very popular attraction that bewilders many visitors with legends and mystical theories dating back to the Dark Ages. It's located near Amesbury in Wiltshire, just 90 miles from London. When in Scotland Tourists who will be visiting Scotland in late fall will find the Scottish Highland Games to be very entertaining! From the Tugs of War and pipers and drummers to the sheep dog demonstrations, these games appeal to adults and children alike. It's a great way to spend a family vacation.

More Fun Things to Do in the United Kingdom

Many tourists enjoy cruising on Lake Windermere, the most famous lake in England. Taking a relaxing drive through the Cotswolds is another way to spend the day. There are rolling hills and lovely stone cottages for a great view, and the area is less than 100 miles west of London. Tourists also enjoy great shopping, play theaters and fine dining. The UK offers interesting places and fun activities to both families and individuals.

Explore the United Kingdom on a Hiking Adventure

With all the hustle and bustle, glitz and dazzle of the United Kingdom, you might be wondering when you'll find time for a great hike. Don't worry, there are many delightful hiking opportunities right around the corner from many of the major tourist areas. Whether your goal is to get some exercise and stay fit during your trip to the UK or just enjoy the outdoors a bit, you can escape to the rolling hills of the Cotswolds or the crashing waves of the Outer Hebrides.

Hiking is Different for Every Region

You'll find breathtaking mountains to the north in the Lake District and in the Pennines. Also, magnificent mountain scenery awaits in the remote regions of Yorkshire Dales and Northumberland. If you're up for a challenging hike, the Peak District offers strenuous climbs to give you a real workout. For a less challenging hike, you might want to try the Shropshire Hills or the Chilterns. There are thousands of miles of English countryside if you're just starting out with hiking. Visit the eastern portions of England where the land flattens to enjoy riverside strolls, see pretty skylines and visit unique villages. For hiking near the city, go south where you can stay in or near London, but still find a peaceful walk on the outskirts. Hiking in the southwest reveals Medieval castles, the beautiful coastlines of Cornwall and Devon, and also the gentler side of the Cotswolds.

Hike from Cocking

A great hike near London begins in the village of Cocking, which is situated at the foot of the South Downs Way. The trail will lead you through the lovely countryside. The stretch from Cocking to the stately home of Uppark passes by ancient Neolithic burial mounds, herds of sheep, deer and forests. This hike is a wonderful way to relax after a busy tour of London.

Hiking at the Lake District National Park

You'll have many hiking options at the Lake District National Park, where high mountains and secluded valleys meet to form an inviting landscape. This is the largest English national park that was established in 1951. There are villages, towns, lakes, dales, fells, beaches and tide pools within the park, giving every visitor a multitude of things to see and do. The park offers challenging hikes as well as relaxing walks, and soothing waterfalls will also greet you occasionally.

A Hike in Wales and Scotland

In North Wales, Snowdonia has the highest mountains in Great Britain and Wales, and offers a great challenge for hikers. Scotland, a region known as "Highlands and Islands", has many dark forests, remote islands, romantic castles and stunning coastlines. Some favorite areas for hikers in Scotland are the Cuillin range in Skye, the Fort William area and the Cairngorms. The United Kingdom is a great place to hike no matter what your experience level. You can take a challenge on the high hills or enjoy a relaxing stroll in the park. Either way, you'll fall in love with the alluring countryside and rolling hills of the UK!

You can find international cell phones and service for the U.K. for your trip from http://www.planetomni.com. Free incoming calls from all countries night and day and calling the states is just US $.08 per minute! They rent and sell phones and satellite phones as well.

Taking Care Of Your Home – Lease Extension

If you love the new place you’ve rented a while ago, then you will probably aim to get a lease extension. This is a legal agreement which needs to be closed with the property’s owner. The terms of agreement should basically stipulate the dates on which the extension will begin and also cease to be effective. The document is set to prolong the original agreement between the two parties involved.

The two parts involved in the lease extension are the landlord and the tenant. The latter has the right to continue renting the property which is on the point to expire. A continuation of the renting contract should be based on a close study of the terms and the offer made. You may keep the same terms and conditions as specified in the original lease.

However, there might be things which you will want to change. The lessor may change some of the terms and conditions regarding terminating the lease agreement, if the leasing period changes from a yearly rental period to a month-to-month basis. Another thing to be carefully considered is whether you want to go on with an additional monthly payment. This could be implemented in the contract in case your home gets a rental increase of a pre-decided percentage of the overall monthly lease.

Please note that a lease extension often requires new documentation. Most people might think that an oral agreement is enough but this is not true. In case one of the parties seeks legal action, an oral agreement will not uphold in court. Also, make sure that both parties have signed the lease extension. The signatures will validate the document in question.

There are many people out there who need to know exactly how much they will spend when extending their lease. If this is your case as well, you should use a lease extension calculator. Such a handy tool can be easily found over the internet. You can use it to get a rough idea of how much your lease extension will sum up to.

Last but not least, you need to understand that extending the lease for the property currently rented requires experience. You need to be sure that you will pay a fair market price for the extension itself. The right person to negotiate with your landlord for this purpose is a solicitor. Don’t hesitate to ask for their help if you want the whole lease extension process to run smoothly.

How To Become A Commercial Real Estate Expert In Your Own Backyard

Many people may not realize you can literally become a commercial real estate insider just by working in your own local community. There is a wealth of opportunity for those who are motivated and wanting to make a difference, not only in their own lives, but in the lives of people in the community as well.

You do not have to travel across the United States or around the world to find money making properties that will financially take care of you for the rest of your life. It simply takes two things in order to become a real estate insider: knowledge of your community's real estate opportunities and a steady increase in your own education.

What makes a real estate insider?

A real estate insider knows the ins and outs of the real estate market in his or her own area of interest. This interest could be in office complexes, strip malls, large apartment complexes, medical buildings, and various other income producing properties The commercial real estate insider recognizes trends, the value of property, changes in values before they happen, all zoning laws and regulations, and infrastructural changes that can drastically affect the values of land on or around the new development.

The commercial real estate insider also knows the city decision makers. He or she knows with whom to speak in order to get information, advice, notice regarding changes in the zoning laws or regulations, and to stay ahead of the real estate market.

How do you become a commercial real estate insider?

To start, you should understand that a large part of commercial real estate is dealing with the officials and decision makers of the city or county because they are the ones who decide zoning and use for every piece of property within the city's or county's boundaries. They plan for future growth, and attempt to create a balance among both residential and commercial properties so that the community does not grow too quickly or become unbalanced.

Due to the fact that the city officials are so important to your ability to develop, renovate, and otherwise do what you want to a property, it is crucial that you get to know these people and create a rapport. You also need to know what is occurring in your community regarding real estate at all times. Zoning often changes; there may be new regulations or codes regarding the zoning, or the intended use could be limited to only a few uses that will hinder your intended project. All these things can greatly affect your dealings with a specific property, and how you pick and choose your opportunities.

A good way to meet these important officials, as well as learn about the real estate market in your community, is to attend zoning and planning meetings at your local Chamber of Commerce or courthouse. It is there that you can meet face to face the people who will influence your future as a commercial real estate insider. Introduce yourself as a real estate investor, and give them your card. Ask intelligent questions regarding real estate in your community.

Eventually, after building a rapport with these influential people, ask if you could meet with them to discuss a certain project, or something in which you could use more information or advice. You should always come to these meetings prepared with your questions typed so you stay on task and topic. Show that you appreciate their time, knowledge and expertise.

It is a great idea to ask for a few more introductions to people they know who may be able to help you. Always send a thank-you note that briefly reviews your discussion, what advice you used and how it will or has helped you. When you show appreciation for their advice, they are more likely to help you in the future, or share information of which others may not be privy. You will begin to make excellent contacts and learn key elements regarding your specific market. This is how you become a commercial real estate insider.

Beyond meeting the people who make the big decisions regarding the use of property in your community, you must know the laws and regulations regarding the various types of zoning. Zoning labels may differ from city to city, as do building criteria, the size of lots, building and fire codes, and limitations. You must study these rules and regulations so you know what you can and cannot do to a property. As these rules and regulations often change, it is important that you listen and take solid notes at all zoning and planning meetings, and other important real estate related meetings you might attend.

Your goal is to know your market inside and out so you can make decisions based on the changes in the market before anyone else even knows they are coming. You do this by recognizing certain points, such as an increase in vacancies of commercial property, or an increase in the median home price, or how the new mall planned to be developed in one year is going to greatly affect the land values around it.

In addition to understanding your own market, you should be reading the newspaper, trade journals, commercial real estate books, attending seminars, and speaking with others in your area who are involved with real estate so that you are constantly increasing your knowledge. It is with this constant training that you will learn strategy, finance, information about private lending, how to find deals, how to present offers, what markets are hot, new opportunities in the area others are not aware of, and many other tools and strategies that will keep you ahead of the rest.

To be a real estate insider, you must always be on your game. Make those contacts. Ask pertinent questions. Learn everything you can about your business, and act on this information. You will find yourself finding opportunities that you did not know existed, and you will become a commercial real estate insider sooner than you would think!

10 Business Building Lessons - From My Dad's Legacy

My knowledge on property construction and management comes from my late father (Elimon Tagwireyi Mapuranga) who was a handyman, an architect and construction manager. My father had not been to university but he single handedly built most of the classrooms and dormitories at the school that his own children attended High School. Of his twenty four children, only one son (David) caught the vision of construction and vocational work and to this day, even with no formal education on construction, David built has his own house in South Africa. I am among the twenty three who became more inclined towards academics. However, as I observed my dad doing his work, even as he built all the houses in my rural homestead, I noticed in greater detail how property management is as important as its construction detail. The advice I received, directly and indirectly is valuable for both a home owner and even one who is renting another person's property. The goal of property management is to ensure the asset you have keep appreciating in value.

1. Build you property with the future in mind - I have watched how the structures my dad put together over thirty years ago still stand strong to this day. He would tell me the amount of cement and other input that would go into the construction process without compromise. I have watched house that have developed major cracks or where walls have actually come down owing to shortcuts by builders. If you are building a temporary shelter then you are exempt from investing in building strong and lasting buildings. If you are going to have someone else build for you then ensure that all the material you provide is used on the building.

Lesson - Businesses are not built just to meet today's need but with generations in mind. Pay attention to all the critical elements of business and not "cut corners".

2. Build according to the plan - every meaningful structure or building has to have a plan. A builder who sets out to build from him/her head is not only dangerous to those who will occupy the building but he/she will always be frustrated by what he/she comes up with. A plan must make sense and it must certainly answer beyond doubt any questions the owner of the house has. Based on the purpose of the building, an architect is able to emphasize parts of the structure that define the purpose of the building. My dad had plans of each dormitory and classroom block. This is how he managed to make them identical. He made simplified diagrams that any builder could interpret. He would say "Son, I know I may not have attained the highest level of education but I appreciate the importance of having a plan. No plan, no building".

Lesson - A business is as strong as the business plan. If it does not make sense on paper, it may not be worth pursuing.

3. The Finishing touches are as crucial as the super structure - It is quite sad that sometimes a lot of investment is put into the super structure, the main pillars, foundation etc such that when the building is complete, there is not enough energy to "touch up" the building and make it look good. Wrong choice of paint, wrong quality of flooring, a shoddy quality of plastering are all reasons why one building would outshine the other even with the design being identical. My dad always emphasized that whilst the start was important, it is the finish that bring a "wow" effect hence the importance of that detail.

Lesson - the things that look insignificant in business are as crucial as the overtly big things. The color scheme of your logo may seem insignificant but it affects a whole lot more than you think.

4. Property Management is about managing risks - Buildings require safeguards from vandalism (theft), flooding and fire. When the building is put together, the thoughts which should be processed and questions seeking answers are "what is the worst thing that could ever bring the building's value down? What are the major threats to the building's value?" I noticed with great interest how my dad always emphasized that every building carry a fire extinguisher, drainage around each building was meticulously put in place to reduce the risk of flooding, To reduce the risk of thefts, every window had burglar bars. The building was put in place with the knowledge that the contents were at risk from intruders right from the onset.

Lesson - Building a business also entails managing the risk of losing it. You should always look at the threats that seek to decimate life out of your business and build the relevant safeguards. It is risky to be in business but there are rewards if one can only step out and do.

5. The garden makes the property even more valuable - My dad always emphasized the fact that the buildings were supposed to leave enough space for proper gardening and landscaping where water features and other garden enhancements would be put. He didn't use to do the landscaping himself but he has an appreciation of it. Whenever I now look at a building, I don't stop on observing the walls and roof strength; I am now cognizant of the way the garden is looked after. When you have neighbors' who throw trash in the garden and leaving grass to grow tall, this actually affects the value of your properties around. When all neighbors look after their gardens including the area that people can see from outside, value is added to the houses.

Lesson - The seemingly small things in business do matter. Your business is probably not known for the big things it does but for the small things you do not do well

6. The way to build the first model is very important to your expansion - Each building is different in the sense that you encounter different soils, different obstacles, different slopes etc. When you are building a series of buildings which are identical, you use lessons from your first building as you duplicate or propagate the buildings. You will know what to avoid. It will actually get better as you build more similar buildings. As the contractor, you have to develop a learning culture such that experiences from one site are recorded as learning points for future projects. All the successes and even failures should be recorded to make the history of building. You will be able to tell a "before" and "after" on the sites you have built.

Lesson - How you build your first business has a bearing on your branch network. Your first project therefore becomes pilot project showing you how identical each of the new branches will be to the prototype created.

7. Consider safety and waste management of each building - The reason shelter is created is for the safety of the occupants. With each brick being laid, the builder must be focusing on the safety of the workers and of the ones to occupy the house in the future. Each building must have a sewerage management system as well as water and other sanitation issues hence it addresses hygiene and health issues as well. Each building has ablution facilities and bathing facilities.

Lesson - You cannot ignore the Safety, Health and Environment issues of your business. In what way is your business taking care of it employees' welfare in this regard as well as that of the beneficiaries (your customers).

8. Make the best building within the budget given - My dad would tell me of the fact that sometimes he would be asked to stretch himself in as far as making excellent buildings even under budgetary constraints and challenges. His approach was to find means and ways of achieving excellence while managing the capital employed by the school effectively. In some instances I remember him having to use a strategy of focusing on one building a time than spread himself too thinly. He would find it hard to run the construction of 4 similar projects at the same time but considered running them in succession.

Lesson - Your excellence in building your business must not be compromised by the capital at hand. Managing costs does not entail compromising on the crucial matters of the business. You can be excellent without over spending. A firm grip on finances is important. Build one branch at a time following the pattern and lessons from the main building.

9. Maintain the buildings as appreciating asset - One thing my dad would do is maintenance of each of the structures that were there. Sometimes it meant bringing a fresh look with another coat of paint. In other instances he would take out pipes that were rusty and put new ones, he would attend to leaking tapes, blocked sewer pipes just to mention a few. The goal was to ensure that each building he had made was always looking new, fresh and valuable. The gardeners would bring different kinds of new flowers to decorate the exterior part of the building. Inside each building all broken glass would be replaced and old doors would be removed and replaced with new ones. You could always feel the school had a fresh valuable look and feel making it exciting and a marvel for parents who sent their children to receive education from there.

Lesson - Your business image is important; you must always re-look at the things that need maintenance or total removal from your business to keep it looking valuable to investors and customers. Your fresh paint can be re-branding which is necessary from time to time to ensure that you appeal to the market as an appreciating, more focused business.

10. Building efficiency relies on the construction procedures and systems - Every process that my dad's team was following was documented. From the proportions of cement to sand for the mortar to painting guidelines. He had a construction booklet, written in not so complicated steps but something that was easy for his team to follow. My dad's literacy was up to "Standard 3" which was almost primary school level and yet he could create and document systems centered on construction and property care. His thinking was that it would be easier to induct a new builder if the systems were in place.

Lesson - A business is as strong as the systems and procedures it creates and relies on.

The Language of Real Estate Investing: Use the "F" Words to Succeed

If you're new to real estate investing, you probably haven't figured it out yet. But you will. It's inevitable. Stick around long enough and you'll discover that successful real estate investors have their own lingo. Yes. Their own language. And if you ever talk to these investors, most of them will quickly resort to certain "F" words to explain their success.

Let me share just a few of these "F" words.

Focus

The all-important concept that keeps you on a clear, purposeful, directed path is focus. We are all focusing on something at every moment. For example, right now you are focusing on this article. How often are we focusing on the wrong thing? The key is to be focusing on the right thing. If you carry a lighted flashlight that is focused up instead of down at your feet, what would be the odds that you would trip in the dark? The odds, I say, would be fairly good. The flashlight is pointing at something; it just might not be pointing at the right thing.

For example, successful real estate rehabbers focus on the process - the rehab process - not the product. The product is a natural outcome of doing the rehab process well. Real estate achievers focus on implementing a duplicatable process to keep their rehab business growing. Non-achievers lack focus and haphazardly rehab the home. If the rehabbed house turns out all right, they credit their lucky stars. If the house is a dud, well, their lucky stars were not aligned just right.

Focus is the act of actually doing those actions that lead to the desired outcomes that you have chosen for yourself. Focus on the right things and you will get the right results.

Fix and Flip

If you are just getting into real estate, fixing and flipping properties is one of the best ways to realize substantial profits without using your own money. You start by searching for motivated sellers with junkers. In other words, find people desperate to sell their house that is in bad condition. Once you acquire the house, you fix it and quickly add value through a systematic rehab process. Then you resell the house quickly for a profit.

Let's suppose you stumble on a property suffering from neglect by its prior owners. You sense that there is a lot of money to be made because you can buy the property well below its market value, make the necessary repairs, and then sell the property.

To successfully implement a 'fix and flip' strategy, you don't need perfect credit, but you must have access to some cash. Preparing a real estate business plan to present to prospective lenders will vastly improve your chances of getting all the money you need to purchase the property including the repairs.

You can use the real estate business plan to provide your potential money lenders with your approach to your rehabbing business. You need to assure them that they'll have a first mortgage on the property that will be secured by the property itself. Most importantly, your lenders need to know that that you'll only purchase deals that are 20 to 30 percent below their after repair value.

After you purchase the property, the average turnaround on a 'fix and flip' property is approximately 90 to 120 days from the date you purchase the property to the date you cash out on the property. This timeframe is based on 30 days to fix it up, 30 to 45 days to sell it on the market, and usually 30 to 45 days to close. This process can be done faster, of course, under the right circumstances. However, the process can also take longer if you don't get the property up to market standards and in selling condition in this time frame.

How many houses do you want to do? How much money do you want to make? Even on a part-time basis, doing a 'fix and flip' several times a year can generate a nice second income. Yes. A second income that can quickly surpass your full time income.

Financial Freedom

Real estate is one of the best and easiest ways to create wealth. More millionaires have made their fortunes in real estate than anything else! Here is what some of the wealthiest Americans have said:

· "Real estate is the basis for all wealth." - Theodore Roosevelt

· "Buying real estate is the best, safest way to become wealthy." - Marshall Fields

· "90% of all millionaires made it through real estate." - Andrew Carnegie

Generally, most individuals that are looking for ways to get ahead financially give some serious thought to real estate investing. And many take the plunge. But why do so many that take the real estate investing plunge fall short of their financial goals?

Well, there are plenty of reasons to go around, but the principal reason centers around unrealistic expectations.

Many new investors are unwilling to pay the price. All worthwhile endeavors require some sustained and focused effort. In other words, some real work.

But many of us are searching for the magic key that will open the "real estate treasure chest" to instant wealth. Is it possible this magic key exists? Honestly, I think I have a better chance of getting my face carved on Mount Rushmore than you have of truly finding that magic key just lying around somewhere.

By now you know that success comes before work only in the dictionary. Sure, it's a cliché, but it's also a profound truth.

There are other "F" words that permeate the vocabularies of successful real estate investors. But if you will make focus, fix and flip, and financial freedom a part of your vocabulary, you will be on your way to reaching your financial goals.

I should know. Seldom a day goes by that I don't use one or all of these "F" words in my business.

How To Find Bad Credit Mortgage Lenders

Bad credit mortgage lenders are in more demand than ever before, yet the there don't seem to be any mortgages available for the millions of people in America who want to buy a home with bad credit.

The Mortgage Lending Crunch

I get it. The economy tanked, wallstreet crumbled, jobs were lost for millions, and a lot of good people like me and you had to choose between paying loan bill on time or putting food on the table for our family. During these rocky times, many were humiliated and kicked out of their home, veritably shutting the door on the American dream of home ownership.

Things are still tough, but if you are one of the lucky few who learned from past financial misteps and have righted your financial situation back to a healthy one, you must be eager to take advantage of record low real estate prices and buy a home again to return to home owner status.

Eager and full of hope you, looking to finance a home you are running into a brick wall trying to find bad credit mortgage lenders for your dream home. Bad credit mortgage lending just ain't what it used to be...

Finding a mortgage lenders willing to work with bad credit people is almost impossible presently. As sub-prime borrowers there are relatively few loans available, and the banks that claim they offer bad credit mortgages are in actuality only loaning out money to 'less than good credit', but true a true bad credit history will be denied outright.

You may have a good paying capacity but the credit markets simply don't have the money to risk on higher risk bad credit loans.

Is All Hope Lost?

I wouldn't recommend giving up your search for a mortgage, so if you wish to tenaciously pursue a mortgage option, I would like to provide you some places to start.

First, begin your search with a mortgage broker who will look for a lender that is willing to offer their money in spite of your credit limitations as a borrower. Mortgage brokers typically will have a stable of lenders that they can shop your mortgage stats to in order to find a good fit.

Generally, as a middle man your mortgage broker will receive be paid a fee equal to a certain percentage of the loan amount. The benefits of using a mortgage broker to look for lenders is that they will do all the leg work for you, presenting your credit details in the hopes of finding a lending institution that can squeeze out an approval for you.

It is important to keep in mind that each mortgage broker can have different lenders that they work with, so just because one broker says they cannot get you a mortgage because of your bad credit, keep trying. Some brokers work with private lenders that can have unique approval requirements for the money they are lending.

Prepare ahead of time for the review that you encounter, as you will only save yourself time. Get yourself a copy of your credit reports from the three bureaus, bring them with you, and bring reference letters and additionally letters explaining the situation behind the bad credit occurrances that brought down your scores.

You do not want multiple banks and brokers pulling your credit over and over as it will only lower your scores further if you acquire too many credit inquiries in a short time. At this point in the game we need every leg up we can to get your mortgage approved.

Additionally, it would not be a bad thing to bring a budget list that indicates the money you receive monthly and your expenses. The stronger a financial picture you can paint, without stretching the truth, can help tip the scales in favor of a bad credit mortgage approval. As you can imagine convincing the pontential mortgage lender evidence of how you can pay the loan will not hurt.

Another option to get a bad credit mortgage lender to approve you is to offer a larger down payment more than the usual 3%, 10% or 20%. This is another mortgage strategy to show the lender the willingness and ability as a borrower to save and pay on your obligation. The increased equity acts as additional security for your loan protecting the mortgage lenders interest in the loan. As an added bonus you will reduce your monthly payments.

Understandably, not everyone has the ability to increase the down payment...

What to do if you cannot get a bad credit mortgage lender to approve your loan?

If you try time and again and feel you have exhausted all your options to get a bad credit mortgage, then it might be time to try creative mortgage alternative home buying strategies.

We have developed a quick guide to getting a mortgage with bad credit that outlines creative mortgage alternatives. Check out our guide on how to buy a house with bad credit to learn more about home buying alternatives to mortgage loans.

A brief run down of your options would be to pursue owner finances or private lenders. If the seller of a home owns the real estate outright, there is almost no end to the flexibility with which you can structure a purchase contract and agreement.

The idea, of course, is to create a win win solution that solves the home sellers need to sell and meets your inability to get a traditional mortgage financed.

The purchase can be arranged in a manner that the seller becomes the bank effectively providing a bad credit mortgage to you on his or her qualification standards whatever they may be. In many cases it could be determined by the steady look in your eye and a handshake.

Additionally, a sad result of the economic down turn is there are a number of desperate sellers that cannot meet the payments of their own mortgage and face foreclosure and eviction. In these cases it is often possible to create what is known as a 'subject to' home purchase.

Essentially, in lieu of your acquiring your own bad credit mortgage, you take over in a manner the mortgage of the current home occupant. It is an advanced home buying technique for bad credit people that your title company can help you structure.

The other option is to wait out the current economic slump and mortgage crunch. If one thing is certain, times, both good and bad are cyclical. With time mortgage lenders pockets will get flush with cash again and they will return to being desperate for borrowers with both good and bad credit. If you continue saving while you wait for their return, you will be more than capable of qualifying for whatever the more flexible bad credit mortgage lender requirements may be.

Which Mortgage Lenders Loan to Bad Credit

It's impossible to know which lenders will offer mortgages to bad credit people, but the following is a review of mortgage lenders most likely to based on what we know today.

Citigroup Mortgages
One of the well-known mortgage lenders is the American-based company Citigroup. This is the first company a borrower with a bad credit history will likely try. They provide adjustable and fixed rates. For a 15-year mortgage, they offer the lowest interest rates. Citigroup is found in 54 countries outside of America. In the past they have helped people with a bad credit borrow mortgage loans.

In the current climate people are using adjustable rate mortgages especially those who have bad debts and are looking for a little short term relief. After they pay off the debts, the idea is to switch to a fixed rate to lock in historically low rates. Quite frankly, with the tumultous financial health of America and the international community, I do not recommned any adjustable rate mortgages presently. The risk of sky rocketing interest is just too great in these unstable times.

Bank of America
Bank of America usually offers a number of subprime bad credit mortgages. Aside from providing home mortgages, they have had a spotty record of helping clients facing financial difficulties and have earned a reputation as a tough lender. Bank of America is the third largest bank in America at the time of this writing.

Wells Fargo
Another mortgage lender is Wells Fargo. They have existed since the stage coach days and they have over 1000 branches in America. As a mortgage lender, Wells Fargo offers a number of online tools that have empowered the borrower. They have a good record of embracing technology to stay with the times and provide you additional benefits as a customer. They also provide loans with a fixed rate and low interest specifically designed for people with a bad credit history. In the past they have offered mortgage loan packages that allow borrowers to purchase a house and to make home improvements at the same time if they want to undergo renovation as simultaneous with their purchase.

Other mortgage lenders include Allied Home Mortgage Capital Corporation, Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., First Magnus Financial Corporation, GMAC Mortgage LLC, Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc., Bank of America Na Charlotte, Ark-la-tex Financial Services LLC, Premiere Mortgage Funding, Inc., First Horizon Home Loan Corporation and American Home Mortgage Corporation, each with their own benefits and negatives.

For further information check out our guide on how to get a mortgage approved with bad credit.

Undoubtedly, with bad credit you must expect any mortgage approvals to have a higher interest rate and service fees. They will also impose additional charges for late payments.

The bad credit mortgage lenders may be scarce today, but the time will come when they will return, and we will be sure to update our site with the mortgage offers as soon as they hit the market.

Enhance Your Company’s Revenue By Using Credit Card Machines

As a business owner, you aspire to implement the best strategies to enhance the profits your business which you normally gain on a regular basis. The easiest and the fastest mode is to enhance the profitability of your company is by making use of the business credit card machines. By the implementation of these devices for your business, you can enhance the revenue of your company. These machines increase the quantity of transactions that your company can easily handle.

There are times, when the customer does not wish to pay in cash or he is not carrying sufficient cash in hand. He may like to pay in other modes of payment. In such a case, if your business is not equipped with a credit card machine system, you will not be able to entertain your customer. You will lose a potential customer as your company does not have a card machine. If you do not want to see yourself caught in such a situation and want to handle every kind of transactions, you require a business credit card device at the earliest.

A credit card system installed in the realm of your company gives you the confidence and the power to have transaction with all the customers and in almost every mode possible. The implementation of this system into your business takes your least possible time and effort. The best part about these machines is that it helps you generate more business. More business means more profits for the company. Now, you are convinced and ready to get the machine installed at your place of work, you should look for the best company that deals in the credit card machines. You should look for the company that offers the best services and the installation of the device in your company. The company you choose should also give after installation services in case you need help with the machine and its functioning. Make a thorough research in the market and compare the services offered by various companies before actually signing a deal with the company of your choice.

The foremost thing to look for is the fees that the company will charge for installing the device in your place of work along with the fee charged on the daily transactions that your business undertakes. The credit card industry is notorious for the hidden costs or fees charged to the person using the card and the device. You should be wary of such companies and should inquire the company of such hidden costs before hiring their services. Although there are many reasons for you to research on the fees charged on your debit and credit card devices, but the key factor is that the applicability of charges on your everyday business transactions should be deducted from the company’s profit. To counter the huge fees that you pay for the usage of the system, you need to increase the price of the articles in your shop.

However, getting a credit card machine installed in your company gives a boost to the financial status of the company. It is certainly one of the easiest and the fastest mode to generate more profits of the company.

Real estate Investment Success Series Tip #5 -3 Ways to Get More Out of the Real Estate Agent if You

Real estate brokers are the greatest asset of small investors since brokers deal with more properties than the individual real estate investor could ever deal with. That said, however real estate agents usually act for the seller so tend to act directly opposite to that of the buyer. In addition, their commission depends on the price that they can sell the property, so the higher the price they sell the more they can earn.

This article acknowledges this and lists four things you can do to get the most out of the real estate agents that you meet when you are shopping for your next real estate investment deal.

Tip #1- Use their knowledge

Most people know that some places have higher rental yields than other similar properties in the same class of real estate. If you are new to an area, you would want to tap on the vast knowledge of the real estate agent's local knowledge. Ask him what areas command a better rental and why. Then ask him to show you those properties. In this way you would get a better return on investment as opposed to him showing you the properties he wants you to see.

Choosing a property in a good area good as it allows you have a maximum upside when the economy turns around. Let the real estate agent know that you are a committed real estate investor and when he knows that you might be a potential return purchaser, he will let you know of any new real estate deals that come his way that might interest you.

Tip #2- Go early to scout out the area

This is a simple tip that most people seem to miss out when looking for a real estate property. If you are the potential buyer, spend some time going to the property in question earlier then the said time and check it out. You want to spend some time observing the neighbourhood and talking to the neighbours so that you can find out all you can about the neighbourhood before you talk to the real estate agent who would try to paint a glowing picture of the area. Look out for things like crime problem, bad neighbours and other things that can turn away potential tenants.

For commercial property real estate investments, you might want to go there a day before so as to scout the area for the purpose of ascertaining walkthrough traffic. The greater the walkthrough traffic the higher your potential rental returns. Its no good purchasing a commercial property in an area that has no visitors since your rental returns would be very low.

Tip #3- Compare stories with other agents

Once you have figured out what type of real estate investment property you are interested in and what area you want, you would want to make appointments with several real estate agents so as to learn more about the potential area that you are acquiring property in. Since real estate agents are competing with each another so you can find out the downside of another agent's proposed property at no charge at all.

In addition to learning the downside of your possible real estate investment, some of these real estate agents can give you valuable information that you can use tell your prospective tenants to rent out your property like for instance proximity to bus stations, the proximity to the subway, low crime rate and secured vehicle parking.

Tip #4- Get an agent that is qualified and in a medium to large agency

In general novice investors should contact a long-established real estate agent that is very familiar with the area that you intend to invest in. The reason is that you want an agent that knows that area very well and knows what properties are on sale and a bargain. The agent will also be able to tell you which areas are good for rental purposes and these areas should be the areas that you should spend your energy on.

Another thing to take note is that your agent should be a medium to large agency so as to gain access to a large database of properties for sale and rental. This would facilitate your search for high rental yielding properties through the agent. A medium to large real estate company would also not fold so easily and leaving you in the lurch while in the midst of a real estate transaction.

In conclusion, real estate agents are a useful part of the real estate investment process but if you mentally know what you want, you can benefit greatly from their years of industry knowledge. Effective real estate investment requires education and massive action on your part.

Houston Real Estate Agents

Houston, Texas has one of the most vibrant real estate profiles in the country because of the huge demand for housing in the area. As a result, there are now a large number of real estate agents who want to get in on the action that the real estate market in Houston provides and evidence to this are the thousands of online leads that a person can get from various search engines. Such is the result of the recognition by real estate agents that advertising online can provide them access to a wider market. However, having a website nowadays does not ensure success in the real estate business given that there are thousands of real estate agents who also have websites. Given this, real estate agents, especially those based in cities like Houston where there is stiff competition among agents, need to make their websites stand out among other websites so that they would get the attention of investors and homebuyers.

One way to make websites stand out

One of the keys in having a high traffic website is being prioritized by search engines when they provide leads to Internet users. Given this, real estate agents that advertise online need to take the necessary steps to help increase their website's search engine visibility. The good news is that there are a number of simple ways that can help real estate agents do so, which includes understanding and applying the concept of search engine optimization or SEO. This is very important because effectively applying SEO can help real estate agents become more visible to buyers and sellers of real estate. Basically, applying SEO involves building a website that is well organized and which has very relevant content. Examples of which include putting relevant phrases that buyers and sellers search for and optimizing titles, text hyperlinks, and headers.

Given the stiff competition among real estate agents in places like Houston, which has a very vibrant real estate profile, real estate agents need to take steps that can help them stand out among their competitors. One way they can do so is to build websites, which can help them gain access to a larger market of real estate sellers and buyers. However, real estate agents also need to make sure that their websites would also stand out among the thousands of websites of other real estate agents, which they can do by applying the concept of search engine optimization or SEO on their website.

Health Insurance Professionals, Companies, and Carriers

Selecting health insurance for a small business is a somewhat complex task, at best. Whichever health insurance program you pick, it must match your company's needs and resources, so it is best to choose a self-employed health insurance professional that can guide you, and provide you the best information to enable you to make the best and most informed decision.

Health insurance professionals are:

Agents work on behalf of the company marketing and selling their products, and are paid commission based on sales.

Brokers are licensed and represent a number of different company's products, usually compensated by the insurance company the sale is placed with. The broker must provide on-going service to clients of the company.

Consultants evaluate group needs, design plans, and recommend the most reasonable company. The consultant is paid through the contract with the employer group. The contract outlines fees and servicing for the company.

When choosing a company or carrier, you should make an informed decision based on the plans offered, the company or carrier's reputation, the agent's reliability (talk to people who use this company), the company's stability, and length of time in business.

The New York State Department of Insurance publishes compliant ranking for health insurance providers that includes records of grievances, appeals for medical necessity, and department complaints which you can access through the following website: http://www.ins.state.ny.us

To find out about the financial stability of the company, ask for a copy of its ratings through A.M. Best & Co, Duff & Phelps, or Standard and Poor's. For additional information, contact the New York State Insurance Department, as they issue the carrier's licenses, and monitor their carrier's operations.

You should also make note that insurers are required by law to disclose information on coverage parameters, utilization, review policies, prior authorization requirements, premiums, cost sharing, payment methods, responsibilities, grievances procedures, how to acquire emergency services, as well as procedures for selecting, changing, or accessing providers.

As the owner of a policy from any health insurance company, you have certain rights. Most insurance contracts now have grievance conditions and clauses built in. This is useful if a provider denies access to a referral or judges, a benefit not covered under the signed policy agreement. The procedure must be outlined in the agreement and must be provided to the policyholder as written notice.

You, as a policyholder, with a built in grievance procedure have the right to complain and have your complaint reviewed.

Time for Reflection, Not Resolutions!

The holiday season has just ended. For weeks our lives have been embroiled in preparations, gift giving, reconnecting with family, neighbors, and friends, and hopefully sharing life's blessings with our extended human community. It has been a season filled with high expectations and deep emotions, ranging from joy to sorrow, togetherness to loneliness.

The aftermath of all this to-do has been days of cleaning and packing things away until next year. As we struggle to get things in order and re-establish our normal routines, it is no wonder that we may feel the need for a vacation from our vacation.

But no sooner do we say goodbye to one year then we are told to jump right into action, setting resolutions for the year to come. And we are warned that these are doomed to failure unless we are firm in our resolve and fully committed to these actions. This makes no sense!

From my experience, New Year's resolutions do not work for four main reasons:
1. They are based upon an external calendar not our internal clock.
2. They arise from society's shoulds not from personal needs.
3. They are based upon something we don't like about our selves or our lives rather than something that inspires and honors us.
4. They address the symptoms not the cause.

In my opinion, we need to do the exact opposite of what is unwisely expected of us. Rather than raising the bar and expelling energies in external pursuits, we need to slow down, breathe deeply, and turn inward. We need to reflect upon who and where we are before we start writing the next chapter.

I love the twist of the familiar saying, "Don't just do something! Stand there!" It is important to give pause and reflect upon our options before we charge ahead. After all, if we don't have a vision of where we want to go, how are we going to get there?

Winter is calling you to retreat into a cozy den for warmth and shelter. Listen to this seasonal wisdom and your instinctual need to slow down. Find an inviting and comfortable place to curl up with your journal and ask yourself some of life's bigger questions. Here are some suggestions to get you started:

First mindfully, close the chapter of 2010:

What are my best memories of 2010? What important lessons did I learn? What unfinished business do I want to complete in the coming year? What chapters do I want to close and leave behind? What do I want to give thanks for as I move forward?

Then open the door to possibility in 2011:

Who is the person I want to be? How can I become more like that person? What gives me the most joy in life? How can I bring more of that joy into my life? What is really most important to me? How can I express that value in my daily life? What legacy do I want to leave? How can I start building that legacy now?

Rather than creating narrow-minded resolutions with too-specific goals, create a vision of where you are going and why. Once you have a clear picture of the landscape of your life, you can begin planning the garden you want to plant in the spring.

Copyright (c) 2011 Karin Marcus

Boston Estate Planning - The Right Way To Avoid Probate

Boston estate planning is an important legal process that helps estate owners or testators build a decent estate portfolio. There are several disadvantages of not having a well drafted will, but there are many advantages and benefits to estate planning. Estate planning can result in a substantial reduction of tax on the estate and also its value. It also helps prevent unintended disbursements of estate wealth and assets to beneficiaries that you wish to avoid. Careful planning with the help of a specialized estate planning lawyer will mitigate any unnecessary taxes. Unplanned estates go into probate and the distribution of wealth is judged by the court.

The goal of a Boston estate planning service will be to make sure that all the testators or the owners financial wishes are met upon their death rather than decided by a court. An attorney will help plan the estate through several legal entities. These include trusts, wills, power of attorney, health care and many more. This is an important part of the process because it helps the beneficiaries of the will to attain the assets rather than the estate going into probate and awaiting the judgment of the court. To begin planning, finding an attorney who is an expert in this is a must.

The first step involved in Boston estate planning is getting all the related documents in order. An estate might have several parties attached to it. It's important to have the information related to bank accounts, insurance plans, inventory lists to household items and debts in order before meeting the lawyer. In case there are any more documents required the lawyer will ask for it. There is no limit to the information that needs to be provided to the lawyer. The more the information, the more it will help the lawyer plan better. However there are a couple of aspects that a testator or the owner must know before hiring a service.

Some Boston estate planning services can charge a huge sum of money. It's better to find out the cost of the estate planning before opting for it. Reducing tax on the estate is important. This is the information which only your Boston will lawyer can provide. This is to make sure that there is no issue with transferring your assets to your beneficiaries after your death. The will lawyer can also provide important information on how often the will needs to be updated. Once you have all this information you can ask your lawyer to begin planning your estate.

People often have certain objects that they wish to leave to the people mentioned in their will. These can be objects of sentimental value. Drafting a will with the help of a Boston trust lawyer should help with such kinds of asset allocations. Avoiding an estate going into probate is one of the main intentions of estate planning. The probate process can be very hurtful to your family as the judge gets to decide how the wealth is distributed as per his discernment. In some cases your family might benefit but there's no guarantee that your family will end up with something.

Want to Be a Successful Real Estate Investor? What You Need to Do

Are you looking to make money through real estate investing? If you are, you are not alone. However, real estate investing is a tricky business. There are some real estate investors who are successful, while others are not. If you are interested in becoming a successful, profitable real estate investor, you will want to make sure that you know exactly what you are doing, when buying real estate investment properties. That is why it is advised that you do your on research or signup to take a real estate investment course or class.

When it comes to taking the time to thoroughly examine real estate investing, there are many hopeful real estate investors who wonder why they should bother. Many assume that buying real estate properties, fixing them up and then renting or selling them isn't a complicated process, but there is more to being a real estate investor than just putting a purchase offer on a property and doing a few repairs. By taking the time to actually learn about real estate investing, you are more likely to become a successful real estate investor.

One of the reasons why research increases your chances of seeing success and profits is because there are many real estate investing tips out there, just waiting to be found and used. What many do not realize that is many real estate investing tips, which include both dos and don'ts, are composed by successful real estate investors; those who have seen profits themselves. Getting your information from a successful, proven real estate investor is your best chance of success. This is because the information or tips that they give you are relevant, as they have often tried them out first hand. For that reason, you may want to look for real estate books or real estate courses that are written or being hosted by successful real estate investors.

Some of the many tips covered in many real estate investing books and real estate investing courses include tips on buying the bests properties, as well as how to make those properties rentable or sellable. As a real estate investor, you have the decision to fix up a purchased property and then resell it or become a landlord. Many real estate courses and books cover both real estate investment approaches, as well as outline the chances of success with each. As a real estate investor, you are your own boss; therefore, you are able to make your own decision, as to what type of investing you would like to do, but seeing information on past investors and their success may give you good ideas; ideas that could help you become a successful real estate investor.

In short, if you are serious about becoming a real estate investor, you will want to take a real estate investment course or purchase a collection of your own real estate investing books. When it comes to becoming a successful real estate investor, research cannot be emphasized on enough.

Getting A Credit Card With Bad Credit: How It Is Possible

the chances of a person with a terrible credit history getting a credit card is considered next to nil. But it is possible to get a credit card with bad credit ratings, and turn your financial troubles around.

It is no secret that these cards can have a detrimental effect on the finances of someone already in financial hot water, but if applicants show themselves to be responsible and reliable, then the score matters little. Getting approval fast might be tricky, even if the waiting time is often only about 48 hours, but there are clear benefits to be enjoyed.

And with credit card companies paying more attention to income than credit history, there is always the chance for those who in the past have been foolish to be approved and be on their way to a better financial future.

Why Get a Credit Card?

It might seem foolish for someone in financial dire straits to apply for a credit card, with bad credit scores suggesting their application would be rejected anyway. But, in fact, lenders recognize that a card is just as viable a route towards financial recovery as a loan.

It comes down to the sense of responsibility the applicant has. Getting approval fast should not be a key factor in their eye, since getting these cards is not about getting a source of funds for a shopping spree. There is potential to take control of existing debt and rebuild credit status.

The fact is that credit card companies are providing consumers with a chance to clear outstanding loan balances and a structured repayment schedule. This means that slowly but surely, debts can be paid, credit ratings rise and the overall financial situations can be improved.

Getting Your Application Approved

Card issuers hesitate in approving applicants seeking a credit card with bad credit. Getting around this problem rests on a few factors, not least identifying the purpose of the card and proving an ability to afford it.

The reality is that getting approval fast is not really part of the deal, with all issuers set to consider such applications carefully. The purpose of the card is important information, with debt consolidation arguably the best motive for seeking one. This is because it shows a constructive attitude towards reigning in debt, rather than having a good time.

Being able to afford the card comes down to the card limit, interest rate charged and the available income that the applicant has. Credit card companies usually provide low limits, perhaps no more than $1,500, so the owner cannot worsen their situation. If there is enough income at hand then even with a high interest rate, everything can stay under control.

Consider a Prepaid Card

VISA is known to over prepaid credit cards that are much more likely to be approved. This is because the balance is paid in advance, so getting a credit card with bad credit is no great matter.

In practical terms, there is no real difference between this kind of card and a regular one. The chief advantage is that, by making a prepayment, getting approval fast is no problem. This basically means that the card is really a debit card, but technically, there is some credit given.

Another option for applicants is to apply for secured credit cards. These are cards that are issued on the back of some item of collateral that can be used as compensation if necessary. Credit card companies like this option because it gives them some protection. But the item is lost if the card is defaulted on.

A Short Overview of a Magnificent City

The full name of the St. Petersburg apparently combines words from three European languages: Catholic Latin, Orthodox Greek and Reformist German. I decided to further educate myself in the city's unparalleled history, so I followed an itinerary proposed by the city government's tourist office, a list that includes the city's proud equestrian monuments.

These monuments are integral parts of the city's magic and embody much of its historical power. In fact, the historical horses in the statues look very fierce and hardly tamed by their very powerful masters. The expressions on the riders faces are slightly more difficult to interpret and more subtle. Nonetheless, the exacting detail and fine craftsmanship let the audience know clearly that these are triumphant leaders.

Great people everywhere seem to be obsessed with their legacy and commission portraits, sculptures, and busts to capture them at their finest hour; such displays of vanity in men does not really surprise me now as the whole city is the magnificent, final proof of what men can accomplish in their limited lifetimes. I suppose that even among the most humble folks, this feeling is the same; before they bid their final adieu, everyone tries to leave a memorable and inspiring legacy to their children, relatives, and everyone else who knew them.

Upon closer inspection with the help of a map, this grand historical city looks very much like a mosaic of little islands; some of these islands are very big while others are so small that we even doubt if they really exist. The islands form a lace of canals connected by dated bridges, which in turn are witnesses to dazed romantic lovers strolling from one island to another.

Constructed at the far edge of the Gulf of Finland, at the mouth of Neva, the city is besieged with the challenges posed by living alongside many bodies of water; flooding and preserving the natural topography are perennial concerns. However, the resulting way of life for its people is undoubtedly part of its allure.

So is St. Petersburg more like its model, Amsterdam, or more like Venice? We can't really compare these cities since the charms, geography, and history of St. Petersburg give it a unique personality. Being an old and powerful imperial capital, its most charming sights are the numerous palaces strategically located beside the rivers. The sights quietly impose their authority over the serene waters and picturesque landscape, where the various residences of the czars battle each other in opulence and magnificence.

The Real Estate Sector

Boom & Bust of Indian Real Estate Sector

Engulfing the period of stagnation, the evolution of Indian real estate sector has been phenomenal, impelled by, growing economy, conducive demographics and liberalized foreign direct investment regime. However, now this unceasing phenomenon of real estate sector has started to exhibit the signs of contraction.

What can be the reasons of such a trend in this sector and what future course it will take? This article tries to find answers to these questions...

Overview of Indian real estate sector

Since 2004-05 Indian reality sector has tremendous growth. Registering a growth rate of, 35 per cent the realty sector is estimated to be worth US$ 15 billion and anticipated to grow at the rate of 30 per cent annually over the next decade, attracting foreign investments worth US$ 30 billion, with a number of IT parks and residential townships being constructed across-India.

The term real estate covers residential housing, commercial offices and trading spaces such as theaters, hotels and restaurants, retail outlets, industrial buildings such as factories and government buildings. Real estate involves purchase sale and development of land, residential and non-residential buildings. The activities of real estate sector embrace the hosing and construction sector also.

The sector accounts for major source of employment generation in the country, being the second largest employer, next to agriculture. The sector has backward and forward linkages with about 250 ancilary industries such as cement, brick,steel, building material etc.

Therefore a unit increase in expenditure of this sector have multiplier effect and capacity to generate income as high as five times.

All-round emergence

In real estate sector major component comprises of housing which accounts for 80% and is growing at the rate of 35%. Remainder consist of commercial segments office, shopping malls, hotels and hospitals.

o Housing units: With the Indian economy surging at the rate of 9 % accompanied by rising incomes levels of middle class, growing nuclear families, low interest rates, modern approach towards homeownership and change in the attitude of young working class in terms of from save and buy to buy and repay having contributed towards soaring housing demand.

Earlier cost of houses used to be in multiple of nearly 20 times the annual income of the buyers, whereas today multiple is less than 4.5 times.

According to 11th five year plan, the housing shortage on 2007 was 24.71 million and total requirement of housing during (2007-2012) will be 26.53 million. The total fund requirement in the urban housing sector for 11th five year plan is estimated to be Rs 361318 crores.
The summary of investment requirements for XI plan is indicated in following table

SCENARIO Investment requirement
Housing shortage at the beginning of the XI plan period 147195.0
New additions to the housing stock during the XI plan period including the additional housing shortage during the plan period 214123.1
Total housing requirement for the plan period 361318.1

o Office premises: rapid growth of Indian economy, simultaneously also have deluging effect on the demand of commercial property to help to meet the needs of business. Growth in commercial office space requirement is led by the burgeoning outsourcing and information technology (IT) industry and organised retail. For example, IT and ITES alone is estimated to require 150 million sqft across urban India by 2010. Similarly, the organised retail industry is likely to require an additional 220 million sqft by 2010.

o Shopping malls: over the past ten years urbanization has upsurge at the CAGR of 2%. With the growth of service sector which has not only pushed up the disposable incomes of urban population but has also become more brand conscious. If we go by numbers Indian retail industry is estimated to be about US $ 350 bn and forecast to be double by 2015.

Thus rosining income levels and changing perception towards branded goods will lead to higher demand for shopping mall space, encompassing strong growth prospects in mall development activities.

o Multiplexes: another growth driver for real-estate sector is growing demand for multiplexes. The higher growth can be witnessed due to following factors:

1. Multiplexes comprises of 250-400 seats per screen as against 800-1000 seats in a single screen theater, which give multiplex owners additional advantage, enabling them to optimize capacity utilization.

2. Apart from these non-ticket revenues like food and beverages and the leasing of excess space to retailer provides excess revenues to theatre developers.

o Hotels/Resorts: as already mentioned above that rising major boom in real estate sector is due to rising incomes of middle class. Therefore with increase in income propensity to spend part of their income on tours and travels is also going up, which in turn leads to higher demand for hotels and resorts across the country. Apart from this India is also emerging as major destination for global tourism in India which is pushing up the demand hotels/resorts.
Path set by the government

The sector gained momentum after going through a decade of stagnation due to initiatives taken by Indian government. The government has introduced many progressive reform measures to unveil the potential of the sector and also to meet increasing demand levels.

o 100% FDI permitted in all reality projects through automatic route.
o In case of integrated townships, the minimum area to be developed has been brought down to 25 acres from 100 acres.
o Urban land ceiling and regulation act has been abolished by large number of states.
o Legislation of special economic zones act.
o Full repatriation of original investment after 3 years.
o 51% FDI allowed in single brand retail outlets and 100 % in cash and carry through the automatic route.

There fore all the above factors can be attributed towards such a phenomenal growth of this sector. With significant growing and investment opportunities emerging in this industry, Indian reality sector turned out to be a potential goldmine for many international investors. Currently, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into the sector are estimated to be between US$ 5 billion and US$ 5.50 billion.

Top most real estate investors in the foray

Investors profile

The two most active segments are high networth individuals and financial institutions. Both these segments are particularly active in commercial real estate. While financial institutions like HDFC and ICICI show high preference for commercial investment,the high net worth individuals show interest in investing in residential as well as commercial properties.

Apart from these, the third most important category is NRI ( non-resident Indians). They mostly invest in residential properties than commercial properties. Emotional attachment to native land could be reasons for their investment. And moreover the necessary documentation and formalities for purchasing immovable properties except agricultural and plantation properties are quite simple. Therefore NRI's are showing greater interest for investing in Indian reality sector.

MAJOR INVESTORS

o Emmar properties, of Dubai one of the largest listed real estate developer in the world has tied up with Delhi based MGF developments to for largest FDI investment in Indian reality sector for mall and other facilities in Gurgaon.

o Dlf India's leading real estate developer and UK 's famous Laing O Rourke (LOR) has joined hands for participation in airport modernization and infrastructure projects.

o A huge investment was made by Vancouver based Royal Indian raj international cooperation in a single real estate project named royal garden city in Bangalore over period of 10 years. The retail value of project was estimated to be around $ 8.9 billion.

o Indiabulls real estate development has entered into agreement with dev property development, a company incorporated in Isle of Man, whereby dev got subscription to new shares and also minority shareholding the company. But in recent developments indiabulls have acquired entire stake in dev property development in a 138 million-pound sterling (10.9 billion ruppees) share-swap deal.

o Apart from this real estate developments opens up opportunity for associated fields like home loans and insurance. A number of global have shown interest in this sector. This include companies like Cesma International from Singapore, American International Group Inc (AIG), High Point Rendel of the UK, Colony Capital and Brack Capital of the US, and Lee Kim Tah Holdings to name a few.
Following are names of some of the companies who have invested in India

International developer Country Investment
(US $ million)
Emmar properties Dubai 500
Ascendas Singapore 350
Salem & ciputra group Indonesia 350
GE commercial finance U.S 63
Tishman Speyer Properties U.S 300

Simultaneously many Indian retailers are entering into international markets through significant investments in foreign markets.

o Embassy group has signed a deal with Serbian government to construct US $ 600 million IT park in Serbia.
o Parsvanath developers is doing a project in Al - Hasan group in Oman
o Puravankara developers are associated with project in Srilanka- a high end residential complex, comprising 100 villas.
o Ansals API tied up with Malaysia's UEM group to form a joint venture company, Ansal-API UEM contracts pvt ltd, which plans to bid for government contracts in Malaysia.
o Kolkata's south city project is working on two projects in Dubai.
On the eve of liberalization as India opens up market to foreign players there is tend to be competitive edge to give quality based performance for costumer satisfaction which will consequently bring in quality technology and transparency in the sector and ultimate winners are buyers of this situation.

However this never ending growth phase of reality sector has been hard hit by the global scenario from the beginning of 2008. Analyst say situation will prevail in near future, and latest buzz for the sector comes as a "slowdown".

Sliding phase of the reality sector

In this present scenario of global slowdown, where stock markets are plunging, interest rates and prices are mounting, the aftermath of this can now also be felt on Indian real estate sector. Overall slowdown in demand can be witnessed all across India which is causing trouble for the major industry players. Correcting property prices and rentals are eroding away the market capitalization of many listed companies like dlf and unitech.

Fundaments behind slowdown...

Propetry prices move because of the basic principle of demand and supply
o when demand is high and supply low prices will go up
o When demand is low and supply high prices will go down.

For example let's assume that somebody has bought a property for Rs X and he is trying to sell the property (say after a year), there can be three options, assumption being that the owner is in need of money and cannot wait for more than 3 months to sell the property.

1. When the property prices are gliding everywhere : now owner will try to add as much premium to the property as possible, in order to book profits, therefore he will wait for 3 months and sell off in last month at the highest bid. Where he ill get total of Rs X + Rs Y.
2. When property prices have stabilized: here owner will not be able to sell at premium and book profits due to market stabilization & since he don't want to sell at a loss, he will try to get same amount he brought the property for. Where he'll get total of Rs X = Rs Y
3. when property prices are going down : owner will try to sell the property at least profit or least cost. Therefore he ill get Rs X-RsY.

Reality deals in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad have shown enormous downfall from October 2007 - March 2008. The downfall had been cushioned by fall in stock markets as it put a stop for wealth creation, which leads to shortage of capital among investors to invest in real estate activities. Apart from this in order to offset their share losses many investors have no choice, but sell their real estate properties.

Other factors which have contributed to this slowdown are raising interest rates leading to higher costs. Due to this almost all the developers are facing serious liquidity crunch and facing difficulties in completing their ongoing projects. Situation seems to be so disastrous that most of the companies have reported 50-70% cash shortfall. The grade A developers which are facing cash crunch include DLF,MGF, Emmar, Shobha developers, Unitech, Omaxe, Parsvnath Developers, Hiranandani Group, Ansal API, BPTP Developers and TDI Group. As a outcome of this liquidity crunch many developers have started slowing down or even stopped construction of projects which are either in their initial stages of development or which would not effect their bottom line in near future.

Also with increasing input costs of steel iron and building material it has become it has become inviable for builders to construct properties at agreed prices. As a result there may be delays in completion of the project leading finical constraints.

At the same time IT industry which accounts for 70% of the total commercial is facing a slowdown. Many residential buyers are waiting for price correction before buying any property, which can effect development plans of the builder.

Aftermath of reality shock to other sectors

Cement industry hit by reality slowdown

The turbulence in the real estate sectors is passing on pains in cement industry also. It is being projected that growth rate of cement industry will drop down to 10% in current fiscal. The reasons behind such a contingency are higher input costs, low market valuations and scaled up capacity which are in turn leading to reduced demand in the industry. High inflation and mounting home loan rates have slowed down the growth flight of real estate sector which accounts for 60% of the total cement demand. The major expansion plans announced by major industries will further add to their misery as low market demand will significantly reduced their capacity utilization.
Setting up new facilities will impart additional capacities of 34 million tone and 45 million tone respectively in 2008-09 & 2009-10. This is likely to bring down capacity utilization in the industry down from current 101% to 82%. Even as it loses power to dictate prices, increased cost of power, fuel and freight will add pressure on input costs.

Ambuja Cements too is trading at a higher discount than previous down cycle, suggesting bottom valuations. However, replacement valuations for Madras Cements and India Cements indicate scope for further downslide when compared to their previous down cycle valuations.
All this has added to stagnation of the cement industry.

Dying reality advertising

The heat of reality ebb is also being felt by the advertising industry. It is being estimated that all major developers such as DLF, omaxe, ansals & parsvnath have decided to cut down on their advertising budget by around 5%. The advertising industry in India is estimated to be around 10,000 crore. This trend can be witnessed due to weakening spirits of potential buyers and real estate companies call it a reality check on their advertising budgets. A report from Adex India, a division of TAM Media Research, shows that the share of real estate advertisements in print media saw a drop of 2 percent during 2007 compared to 2006. According to Adex, the share of real estate advertisement in overall print and TV advertising last year was 4 percent and 1 percent, respectively. It's a known fact that infrastructure and real estate companies are responsible for advertising industry maintaing double didgit growth rate. Therefore its understood that a recent slowdown in iindian reality sector has made things worse for advertising industry. The Adex report indicates that the top 10 advertisers shared an aggregate of 16 percent of overall ad volumes of real estate advertising in print during 2007. The list include names such as DLF Group, Parsvnath, Sahara, HDIL and Omaxe group. However, the real estate had maximum share in South India publications followed by North and West publications with 32% and 26% share, respectively, during 2007.

According to many advertising agencies consultants, this phenomenon is taking a toll as all real estate companies want a national foot print and also these companies are turning into professionals. Therefore they are setting standards when it comes to advertising to sales ratio.

Falling stock markets knock down reality stocks

Reality stocks have been hard hit by uncertainties prevailing in the stock market. The BSE reality index is the worst performer having shed 51% of its 52-week peak reached in reality. The BSE benchmark index has shed 24% since January. The country's largest real estate firm DLF scrip lost 54% while unitech lost 64% from its peak. The scrips of Delhi bases parsvnath and omaxe have lost 68% each since January.

The sector is facing a major downfall in sales volume in most markets of the country. The speculators have exit the market and Mumbai and NCR, the biggest real estate markets in markets are cladding subdued sales. In Gurgaon and Noida, which had seen prices almost treble in four years, sales are down 70%, leading to a price correction of 10-20%.
Lets us have a look how major cities are affected by reality downfall.

Top 4 metros taking the lead - in slowdown

Delhi &NCR

While bears are ruling the stock market, the real estate sector in Delhi & NCR region has started facing departure of speculative investors from the market. According to these developers based in region the selling of flats has become very complicated at the launch stage due to lack of interest from the speculators. Developers attribute this to stability in prices against the past where prices were up surging on monthly basis. The scenario has changed so much in the present year that developers are now facing difficulty in booking flats which may delay their projects and reduce their pricing power for instance a year ago, if 100 flats were being sold in month at launch stage now it has come down 30-40 per month. Till mid 2007 speculators made quick money by booking multiple flats at launch of the project and exiting within few weeks or months. But now due to the stabilization of the property prices little scope is left for speculators to make money in short term. Therefore outcome is their retreat from the sector.

Mumbai

Mumbai real estate market, which witnessed huge increase in prices in recent years, which made the city to enter in the league of world's most expensive cities, is now feeling the heat of slowdown. Property sales that have been growing at a clank of around 20% every year have been plumped by 17% in 2007-08.

Though slowdown news of property market in country's financial capital has been much talked about, but it was first time that figures proved the extent of slowdown. Information about residential and commercial property sales from the stamp duty registration office show almost 12,000 fewer transactions during the last financial year compared to the year before. From April 2007 to March 2008, 62,595 flats were purchased in Mumbai as against 74,555 in 2006-07.
According to reality analyst sales volume can die out further in south as developers persist on holding to their steep prices and buyers anticipate a further fall with current rates beyond reach. They further add that market is on a corrective mode and downward trend is anticipated for another 12 months.

Between 1992-96, the market ran up the same way it did during 2003-07. Post-'96, the volumes dropped by 50%. This time again it is expected to drop substantially though not so steeply. The demand is now extremely sluggish and customers do not want to stick out their necks and transact at prevailing rates.Chennai in past few years we witnessed reality index gaining huge heights on BSE and it also impact could be felt allover India. Amongst them Chennai was no exception. With IT boom in past few years and pumping of money by NRI's have led to prices touching skies. Chennai also witnessed a huge boom property prices over the last few years. However in past few months it has been facing slowdown in growth rate.

Following factors can be attributed to this:
o This is one of the common factor prevailing all over India- rise in home loan interest rates, which has made it extremely difficult for a normal salaried person to be able to afford a house.
o Depreciation of US dollar, which means NRI's who were earlier pumping money into the real estate are now able to get less number of rupees per dollar they earn in US. Therefore many of them have altered their plans for buying house in India.
o The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has imposed stricter norms for apartment construction and penalties for violations are more severe than before.
o Failure of the legal system of chennai to prevent intrusion, forged documents and illegal construction has added to the problem as many NRI'S are hesitating to buy plots in chennai.
o Apart from this tsunami of 2004 has shaken the confidence of many investors to invest in real estate.

However many analyst are quite bullish about this region. Especially in areas like old mahabalipuram, south Chennai etc because of numerous IT/ITES/ electronics/automobile companies are expected to set up their centers in these areas. Once these projects are complete and companies begin operations their, many people would like to live near to such areas and outcome will be boom in residential sector.

Bangalore

As discussed for above cities Bangalore is also dwindling between the similar scenarios. Bangalore seems to be in midst of low demand and supply. This trend is due to myopic developers, due to sudden growth in Bangalore in last few years, lot of builders have caught the opportunity of building residential houses thinking their will be lot of employment, increase in salaries and hence demand for housing. Past few years have been jovial for Bangalore as IT industry was doing well and banking and retail sectors were expanding.

However with this sudden economic slowdown, due to which Indian stocks markets are trembling, interest rates are high, jobs and recruitment put on freeze have led to cessation of investment in local property markets.

According to the developers real-estate industry of Bangalore has experienced a drop of about 15- 20% in transaction volumes. Adding to it grade A developers have faced a dropdown of 50% on monthly levels of booking compared to what they enjoyed in December 2007.

Future outlook

The real estate explosion in Indian real estate is due to by the burgeoning IT and BPO industries. The underlying reason for all these moves is that the Indian real estate is tremendously attractive, because of basic demographics and a supply shortage. Truly Indian real estate is having a dream run for last five years.

However in the current scenario Indian real estate market is going through a phase of correction in prices and there are exaggerated possibilities that these increased prices are likely to come down.
In this scenario hat will be the future course of this sector?

Many analyst are of view that tightening of India's monetary policy, falling demand and growing liquidity concerns could have negative impact on profiles of real estate companies. Slowing down would also aid in the process of exit of some of the weaker entities from the market and increasing the strength of some of the established developers. A prolonged slowdown could also reduce the appetite of private equity.

Its also been projected that large development plans and aggressive land purchases have led to a considerable increase in the financial leverage (debt/EBITDA) of most developers, with the smaller players now being exposed to liquidity pressures for project execution as well as a general slowdown in property sales. Property developers hit by falling sales and liquidity issues would need to reduce list prices to enhance demand, but many still seem to be holding on to the asking price - which, would delay the process of recovering demand and increase the risk of liquidity pressures.
It was being witnessed that before the slowdown phase the projects were being sold without any hook at an extravagant rate. But at present negative impact is highly visible as lot of high end projects are still lying unsold. In such a scenario, there may be blessing in disguise as high profile speculators will be out making way for the actual users.

But here also sector faces trouble as correction in prices has been accompanied by increase in home loan rates by the banks which have led to erosion of purchasing power of middle and upper middle class majority of whom are covered in the category of end users or actual users.
Therefore for future of real estate sector analyst call for a wait and watch method to grab the best opportunity with the hope of reduction in loan rates.