Finance Roll

Pay Cash for Your Car

Before buying your car, you should check online. See if the manufacturer of the brand you wish to purchase from is offering any special financing rates. In some cases, you may find that they are offering rates as low as zero percent. If this is not the case, anyone with enough money should pay for their car in cash. This eliminates expensive finance charges and fees as well as monthly payments. During shaky economic times, buying a car with cash helps hedge drivers against financial reversals. Drivers that own their cars outright don't have to fear repossession should they lose their ability to make payments.

Secure Financing in Advance

Prospective auto buyers should arrange financing before they shop. This way, customers can focus their shopping only on cars they know they can afford. Many times, banks, credit unions and other financial institutions may offer their customers better auto loan rates than the dealer-affiliated finance companies. Customers who have already secured financing can even challenge the dealer to offer better terms.

Make a Big Down Payment

Cars differ from houses in that depreciation quickly erodes the value of a car. This puts many buyers in the difficult position of owing more than the value of their car. Car owners who are "upside down" cannot sell their car for enough money to pay off their loan. A large down payment combats the effect of interest rates and depreciation so car buyers who so desire can get out of their loan. Some advisors suggest that car buyers should put at least 20 percent down on their car. Besides controlling the effects of depreciation, large down payments can also result in smaller monthly payments and short term loans.

Buy a Used Car

Used cars already have depreciated, so buyers don't face the same risk of going upside down with a car loan. Buyers will find that they save a lot of money even by choosing a car that is only one or two years old. Used car buyers can also save money on car taxes and insurance.

Use Cash for Upgrades and Fees

Dealers like rolling extended warranties and other goodies into the loan and will sometimes build these into the first payment quote. Buying these adds little to no value to the vehicle. They inflate the loan and can easily turn a loan upside down. Decide if you really need these extras. If you do, new car buyers can help control their financing expenses by paying for upgrades and optional features with cash. Similarly, buyers who pay for taxes, documentation fees and other costs up front will help buyers keep a healthy financial situation.

Get a Short Loan

As cars became more expensive, automakers created loans with longer terms to give buyers a chance to buy. Longer terms mean drivers pay more in interest and can easily become upside down. When buying a car, shoppers should only look at cars they can buy with short-term loans. In most cases, buyers should only accept loans that last 36 months or less.

In today's market, many car manufactures subsidize or guarantee the value of the car on a lease when it goes back to the dealer. This means a lower payment for you and, for some, a good deal. If you don't drive many miles and trade in your car every few years, a lease may make sense for you. Here the trick is to do all the same things you do when you buy the car: negotiate both the price and the interest rate, not just the payment.

The financial decisions car buyers make should minimize the size and duration of a loan while always keeping the outstanding balance lower than the value of the car. Now do your homework and then go shopping.

If you are buying a car after bankruptcy, here are a few suggestions that could help:

First, you want to make sure you've done everything you can
to increase your credit score. Once you've done that you're ready to start shopping for your car!

Here's a question for you: Is it better to get outside financing or get financing through the dealership when you are buying a car after bankruptcy. The answer is... drum roll please... it depends!

It's worthwhile to apply for outside financing when buying a car
after bankruptcy. But make sure you do it through the right lender. If you don't, you could end up paying $100s or $1,000s more in extra interest. If you even get approved at all.

Now let's assume you've done your homework. You found the
car you like, you know how much that make and model sells for, and you know how much your trade in is worth. It's time to visit the dealership...

Let's say you find the specific car you want to buy. Now you're going to need to negotiate the price.

If you lined up outside financing, then you're in a good
position from a negotiating standpoint. But what if you could
not get outside financing for a car after bankruptcy? What if
you need to depend on the dealership to get you financed when
buying the car after bankruptcy?

Many people think that since they had a bankruptcy they are
at the mercy of the car dealership in this situation. THIS
SIMPLY IS NOT TRUE!

Let me share a little secret with you: If the dealership has
run your credit report and they start negotiating with you,
then they're pretty sure they can finance you. After all, do you really think they would waste their time negotiating a price with someone they did not think they could finance? Of course not!

Here's where things get interesting. How many times a year does the dealership negotiate with buyers? Probably hundreds of times a year at a decent sized dealership. Now what about you - how many times do you negotiate for a car? If you are like most people, it's probably once every so many years.

Most people will thoroughly research the price of the car
they want to buy. If it's new they'll take time to find out the dealership's cost and, if they have one, the value of their trade in.

...and they'll go back and forth with the dealership for two or
three hours until everyone agrees on the numbers and a sale takes place.

Chances are the buyer still may have left a pile of money on the table - and didn't even know it. The reason the buyer probably left money on the table is that they more than likely made two critical mistakes without even being aware of it. One mistake was that they didn't negotiate all five parts of the sale separately. The price of the car is just one part.

On that note, another step you will want to take is to improve your car buying skills. How? Visit websites that provide car buying tips. Another way is to pick up a good book on how to buy a car - you can find quite a few of them out there. Unfortunately, I have not run across any that provide specific information on buying a car after bankruptcy. However, After Bankruptcy Credit Solutions does cover this topic in detail - so the information is out there.

Other than a home, buying a car is one of the bigger purchases
you're going to make. You need to AVOID any mistakes that can
cost you up to $100s or $1,000s of dollars in extra interest. In other words, you simply can't afford not to get things right when you're buying a car after bankruptcy.

This article covered some steps you can take which could help when buying a car after bankruptcy. Put them to use and they could save you from making some expensive mistakes!

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Copyright © 2006 Innovative Solutions Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.

DISCLAIMER:

This information is designed to provide only a general overview
of the subject matter herein.

This information is provided with the understanding that neither
the publisher nor author is engaged in rendering legal,
accounting or other professional advice. If legal or other
expert assistance is required, the services of a professional
should be sought.

Neither the publisher nor author shall be liable for any loss or
damages, including but not limited to special, consequential,
incidental or other damages, caused by the information contained
herein.

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An avid cyclist and bike racing fan, I sit transfixed during the many hours of Tour de France coverage every July when the race rolls around. This year, during some of the less-than-scintillating early miles of the sprint stages, my mind wandered a bit, and it occurred to me that there are some interesting parallels between winning the Tour de France and winning at personal finance.

Having watched Lance Armstrong pull off the win for 7 years in a row, I've compiled this list of the Top 10 Ways Managing Your Money Is Just Like Riding a Bike:

1. If you take safety precautions (e.g. helmet/emergency fund), you'll feel a whole lot more relaxed and confident on the journey.

2. The better prepared you are, the greater your chances of succeeding. It's important to learn from the past, but you must also scout out the road ahead and evolve with the constantly changing environment.

3. Crashes happen. The actions of other participants, bystanders, and the media can sometimes distract you from your goal. If you expect the unexpected and are able to respond with a level head, you'll be better off.

4. If you take too many unnecessary risks, you might end up out of the race, and sometimes it can take quite a while to recover.

5. But you'll probably have to take at least some calculated risks to come out ahead. For example, you might improve your performance by using cutting edge products, e.g. ultra-light wheels for big uphill climbs or, in the financial world, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs.) But you also make some tradeoffs, e.g. less stability going downhill or, with HSAs, penalties if you withdraw the money for something besides health care.

6. There will be rainy days, and there most certainly will be ups and downs. The one who weathers the tough days the best usually comes out ahead in the end.

7. You don't have to come out on top ("beat the market," so to speak) every day - or any particular day, for that matter - to win the overall race, the race that really matters.

8. You can go a lot farther if the team you surround yourself with has skills, experience, a well-defined goal, and the right motivation.

9. Even if you start at a huge disadvantage, you can emerge victorious if you have the right attitude, understand the rules of the game, and persist despite setbacks.

10. A little bit of luck never hurts!

So the next time you're in doubt as to which road to take on your personal financial journey, consider looking to the peloton for guidance and inspiration. Whether your goal is a yellow jersey on the Champs-Elysées in July or a secure retirement, there's a surprising amount to learn from watching a bunch of bike racers circumnavigate France. Congratulations, Lance!

In the foregoing illustrations, the presence of a passive investor was a key to being able to capture large portions of equity in a relatively short period of time. The investor provided all the cash but, in the end, the transaction generated yields far in excess of those available in any other competing investment opportunity of comparable ease and safety. The stock market has been moving up and down for months as investors wait to see how the inflation picture shapes up. None of these can produce investment yields like those in the foregoing examples.

For many years I've been more investor than entrepreneur, but I see myself as a sort of venture capitalist who takes a large profit in return for sharing some of the risk with an entrepreneur. The amount of profit depends upon the particular transaction. When I have financed those who buy houses to fix up and resell and others who have developed mobile home lots, I've been able to earn around 20% per year on my invested cash. I've also financed those who attend foreclosure sales to buy houses for resale with roughly similar yields. I do no work. My role is that merely of a lender who lends money on a shared appreciation mortgage (S.A.M.) loan.

A lender usually gives up the benefits of amortization, appreciation, tax-shelter, and leverage in exchange for high cash flow returns. By keeping money invested in relatively short-term propositions, he is able to roll funds over and over, and thereby generate high yields. Except for mobile homes, I've rarely seen a house that would produce net cash flow yields that compare with those that private financiers can command. This is particularly true when conventional financing dries up. Builders, fixers, land developers, dealers are heavily dependent upon the availability of financing to stay in business, and they're willing to pay high short-term interest rates to get it. When credit is tight, this is a fertile field of opportunity to those who followed my advice and sold some of their houses over the past few years and who are now looking for ways to invest their cash.

The big buggaboo of the lending business are those who become overextended and who file for bankruptcy protection. This can be a worrisome situation that robs the investor of a lot of time and money. There are several reasonable steps that a person can take to reduce credit default and bankruptcy risks.

1. Act like a banker. Lend only to those with high F.I.C.O. scores who have plenty of collateral that you would like to own. When you lend to them, don't let them borrow more than they can repay. You won't be able to get as high a yield, but if safety is a priority, this is a prudent way to get higher returns.

2. Don't make loans! Instead of lending money to those involved in risky ventures, buy something else that they own at a discounted price. Instead of receiving regular payments which could cripple their cash flow, let them buy their property back at some point in the future. If they go broke, you've avoided the need to foreclose; or the need to file a motion in a bankruptcy proceeding. On the other hand, if they're successful, the price at which they buy back their property can be increased in order to capture an agreed upon share of their profits.

3. Instead of buying another property as above, buy the property that a dealer wants to resell. Give him an Option to buy it from you at a price based upon risk factors and the time of repayment. This avoids potential usury problems, since you only deal with 3rd parties when buying, and they need not buy the property back from you. Obviously, you'll want to buy at a very attractive price which will enable you to sell out to someone else if the entrepreneur fails to buy the property from you. This is particularly wise when dealing with builders and developers.

4. Provide a secondary market for sellers' mortgage Notes. By buying them at a deep discount to value, you can build in a margin of safety and some liquidity, since you can re-sell them at a point in the future if need be. If State law allows it, give sellers an Option to buy back their notes to create a specified yield.

Refinancing your mortgage can save you a lot of money if done correctly. There are a number of costly mistakes homeowners make when refinancing that result in significantly overpaying for the new loan. Rolling your closing costs into your mortgage can be one such mistake. Here is mortgage refinance information and tips you need to consider before rolling closing costs in with the balance of your new mortgage loan.

Mortgage Refinance Information: Financing Your Closing Costs

If you are a homeowner without the necessary down payment to purchase your home, you can finance this amount with an 80/20 or piggyback loan. If you are using this type of financing to purchase your home, chances are you do not have cash on hand for the necessary closing costs. Many lenders offer the option of rolling these closing costs into your new mortgage balance. This is also true for homeonwers refinancing their mortgage loans.

Mortgage Refinance Information: Why You Might Not Want to Pay Closing Costs for the Next Thirty Years

When you roll your closing costs in with the loan principle, the mortgage lender will charge you a higher interest rate for the financing. This higher rate, along with the additional principle could raise your monthly payment amount by as much as $100. Over a period of just five years you will overpay $6,000 to the lender, just to save $3,000 at closing. Any advantage you gain from refinancing the mortgage evaporates the moment you agree to finance your closing costs.

Additional Mortgage Refinance Information

You can get more mortgage refinance information, including other costly mistakes to avoid by registering for a free mortgage guidebook.

The success of any dry cleaning and laundry business depends mainly on its equipment. The modern sophisticated equipments provide faster and efficient cleaning services. Any outdated equipment takes away from the quality of cleaning service provided by the laundry. Hence it is essential to acquire new sophisticated, even though they are expensive. Hence many laundry owners look for dry cleaning and laundry equipment financing.

The use of washers is inevitable in a commercial laundry. They save time and effort. They can handle large load capacity. They come with or without dryers. Hence they are expensive and many laundry owners find it wise to go for dry cleaning and laundry equipment financing to acquire them.

Dryers can be bought separately. There are various types of dryers like gas dryers, stackable dryers, electric dryers, portable dryers and so on. The laundry owner can select any type that suits his business needs. The cost of dryers is high and smart buyers look for financing dryers.

Pressing machine is essential for any laundry business. The machine helps to provide high pressure in the garments. It has safety controls. It is perfect for pressing uniforms, jeans, gowns and other dress materials. It offers fast and smooth operation. However, the safety features and sophisticated nature of pressing machine adds to its basic cost. Hence it is advisable to look for dry cleaning and laundry equipment financing to acquire this equipment. .

Steamers are yet important equipment in a commercial laundry. They are ideal for steaming wrinkles out of garments. They also comprise of removable steam brushes. They have easy roll casters for mobility. They can handle one gallon capacity of garments. Hence they are vitally important in a laundry to offer quality customer service. Since they are quite pricey, it is advisable to seek dry cleaning and laundry equipment financing to acquire this equipment.

Steam boilers help generate steam for cloth pressing in a laundry. There are two main types of steam boilers. They are electric steam boiler and gas\diesel steam boiler. The laundry owner can select any type that is ideal for his business. However both the types can be expensive and so many laundry owners look for dry cleaning and laundry equipment financing to acquire them.

Commercial laundry also requires powerful air compressors. Air compressors are quite pricey and so financing is essential to acquire them. They offer valuable services in a laundry or dry cleaning center.

There are some genuine financing companies that have experience in dealing with laundry and dry cleaning equipment financing. They provide financial assistance to the laundry owners at low interest rates. They do not call for any cumbersome procedures to get the loan amount. A simple online application form is enough to get fast approval of desired amount. However the financing company provides the amount directly to the vendor specified by the laundry owner. Direct payment to the applicant is normally avoided by such financing companies.

The laundry and dry cleaning equipment needs to be sophisticated and modern to satisfy the needs of the customer. Any old equipment can affect the quality of service. Hence seeking the help of financing companies to acquire the essential equipment is often desirable.

So you're considering refinancing your mortgage... probably a wise idea considering the low, low mortgage rates that exist in the market right now.  However, if you're like a lot of people, a big part of the motivation to refinance revolves around saving money.  Not only because everyone likes to save money, but because with the way things have been going lately, there seems to be a whole lot less of it going around.  This may be particularly true in your personal financial world.

If this is the case with you, and you find yourself strapped for cash and wanting to get on a lower rate to help your cash flow issues, you're going to have to think about what you want to do regarding closing costs on your new loan. 

In case you weren't aware, all those fees you paid for your current mortgage, you're going to have to pay again on this new refinance loan.  Are you prepared to pay those fees? 

One thing to keep in mind is that not ALL the money needed to close a loan are real expenses.  For example, money for your tax escrow account is money that you need to pay one way or the other no matter what (remember, it's one of the two things in life you can't get out of; taxes.  The other one is death). 

So while you will need to have money available to create a new escrow account, you will get a refund of essentially that exact same amount of money from your existing account, so it's basically a wash.  The point is though, you'll need to have that money available when you come to the closing table.

One option that many people like to consider is rolling all expenses - fees (which are non-recurring expenses) as well as recurring expenses such as taxes and insurance - into the total amount of the loan.

This way you don't need to come to the table with any money at all, plus you'll still get that nice escrow refund in the mail in a few weeks.

While this was a very popular option in the past, it's not so easy to do these days.  The main reason is that the value of many homes have dropped so much that there just isn't enough equity remaining to be able to have that cushion to just 'roll stuff in'. 

In fact, many homeowners I know are currently unable to take advantage of a Dallas refinance at all simply because they are so upside down on their mortgage.  In other words, they owe considerably more on their mortgage than what an appraiser will assess their home to be worth.  This is a real problem.

So before you get too excited about jumping on the refi band-wagon, take some time to consider the costs and whether you'll be able to come up with that money up front, or whether you have enough equity in your home currently to allow it to be rolled in to the total amount of the mortgage.

Lately, I've been exposed to financial education about how we can better manage our financial resources. First, I got the chance to learn from my Christian community, CFC-FFL Singapore on one our Covenant Recollection on Financial Stewardship with Carlos Cammayo as the speaker. I want to start sharing these very powerful passage from the bible (mine is New International Version) Luke 21: 1-4 The Widow's Offering (more popularly know as The Story of Widow's Mite) 1 As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts in the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. (Greek two lepta) 3 "I tell you the truth," he said,"this poor widow has put in more that all the others. 4 All these people give their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."  The lesson is about the enduring value of faith. Her modest gift of two mites represented all that she had compared to the pretentious contributions of the wealthy. I must admit that for me this is a hard act to follow or perhaps my faith is that small compared to her.

There are 3 basic ways we can make use of our finances in the Lord:

1. Almsgiving - making voluntary contributions to aid the poor like giving money, food, clothes, goods or other needs.  Proverbs 19:17 - He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done.

2. Resource sharing - an example given was a brother who voluntarily share his car for fetching a guest or a couple who make use of their home for teaching and gathering purposes.

3. Tithing - by definition, tithe is a tenth part of ones annual income contributed voluntarily or due as a tax, especially for the support of the clergy or church. In other words, tithing is giving 10% of our income for the Lord's work.

a) Scriptural basis: Malachi 3:7-10 7 Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty. "But you ask, 'How are we to return?' 8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse-the whole nation of you-because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."

So we are robbing God if we do not tithe yet everything is own by God. We owe God whatever we presently have and what we will have in the future. Psalms 24:1 says1 The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.

b.) Tithing is a measure of our spiritual growth - it is a measure of our conversion of being self-less. It conditions our heart and mind to be generous, to think in the mindset of abundance and not on the scarcity mentality. Be a happy giver or a go-giver.

c.) The proper perspective - tithing is God's way of giving us the privilege of being His co-workers. We give tithe to support God's work to develop/train leaders, the resource to create a new heaven for new disciples. Focus not so much on the 10% we give, but on the 90% we keep for ourselves.

Lastly, within those times I had an opportunity to connect with another set of friends to play Robert Kiyosaki's Cashflow 101 board game.The first objective is to be able to get out of the rat race by exceeding your total expenses with your passive income (cashflow you get from your investments in real estate, stocks/dividends, and other business). There was an instant where I landed on the charity spot whereby you have an option to give 10% of your total income in exchange for the use of 2 dices instead of one. You will have this option on each of your next 3 turns. I managed to roll a higher total of number and this prompted me to get 2 paychecks in just a single turn. So my point is that even with just a game, the rewards of giving in this case 10% charity provided me unexpectedly twice my salary. I was actually the first one to get out of the rat race because of the other strategies that I have done with my investments.

For our reflection, 1. do you understand that everything belongs to God and you are just a steward? 2. How do you see yourself in terms of the measures of spiritual growth?

Credit card debt is the worst kind of debt because it builds very quickly, but it goes down slowly. Beside carrying highest interest rate among all other debts, credit card debt rolls up quickly with many other forms of finance charges such as late fees, over limit charges and so on. It is the number-one kind of debt discharged in bankruptcy. You should do your best to prevent yourself being trapped into credit card debt and the best prevention is abstinence.

There are some points to consider if you really want to knock down your credit card debt:

1. Pay close attention to your interest rates

Doing some micro-manage on your credit card debt by transferring the credit card balance to the card with lower interest rate can save you some interest while helping you to get rid of it faster as you can pay more toward the principal. Always be on the lookout for a better rate, pay close attention to the terms and conditions to ensure the interest rate still remain lower than your current cards before you decide to transfer the balance to the card. Some balance-transfer packages offered by the bank have extreme low interest rate during the first few months and the interest rate will jump high once the promotion period is over.

2. Don't be afraid to talk to the credit card compan

Many people are afraid to talk to the people from the credit card companies especially with the debt collectors, because it can be harassing and unpleasant. But, by letting the credit card companies know that you have no money to pay them right now, some companies may give you some waivers by lowering your monthly payments for a time or work out a special payment arrangement with you. So, it can't hurt to ask. What a lot of consumers don't realize is that you can sometimes get a better interest rate simply by calling the credit card company and asking for it.

3. Keep making the same total payment

If you total credit card payments are $500 per month, keep paying this amount even you have paid off a few of your credit cards. Apply the extra money to the credit card with the highest interest rate, and just keep going on with the same total payments every month until all the debt is paid.

4. Get professional help if needed

If you find that you have difficulties to pay your debt, or the total monthly minimum payment of your credit cards is beyond your financial affordability and you are unable to handle it, then you may need to get professional help. There are many organizations such as credit counseling service that can provide help to those who are facing serious debt problem. Don't afraid or shy to get help, the earlier you face your debt problem and get the necessary help, the more options available for you to get rid of it.

Summary

Credit card debt is the worst kind of debt that you can't afford to delay it, address it as earlier as possible so that you have more options to get rid of it.

Together, my partner and I have wholesaled a combined 450 Deals over the last 7 years. And the majority of these deals were funded either one of two different ways and they are:

1.) CASH ONLY DEALS. Where the Investor/Buyer brought all CASH to the closing to purchase the property. My FAVORITE type of buyer (cash is king:))!

2.) HARD MONEY (Private funding). H*ard Money is "private money" meaning, there are no traditional institutional banking guidelines associated with the money. The money comes from private individuals who lend their own money directly to the wholesale buyer. The money is termed "HAR*D MONEY" because the point (4-10 points per deal) are high, and the interest rates are High (12- 20 %) and the term averages of ONLY 12 months! Now that's some HARD DANG money!

Hard money has some pretty "harsh" terms, but also has it's benefits! Here are a few of the GREAT benefits of using hard m*oney as a real estate investor:

* Your deal is usually a true "NO MONEY DOWN" deal! You can't beat that! Ha*rd money lenders can lend you your:

a.) purchase price

b.) repairs costs

c.) all of your closing costs

And roll it all into one mortgage. Also, Hard M*oney Lenders do not require you to put the typical 10% to 20% down on the property you are purchasing (conventional banks do!)

* Hard mon*ey lenders will usually lend on any property regardless of its current condition, whereas most conventional lenders (Banks) will not!

* These Lender do not report to the Credit agencies! So your debt to income ratio is NEVER effected regardless of how many hard money loans you currently have open! This means you can do multiple deals at once using different hard money.

* A lot of These lenders will even give you 3-6 months after closing on the property before you need to make your 1st mortgage payment to them. This gives you time to repair the property and rent it or sell it before your 1st payment ever comes due! This really lowers traditional "holding costs" tremendously!

So as you can see, this type of Money has been specifically designed to accommodate the special needs of the real estate investor. Even though the money has "hard" terms, it works so well for real estate investors. Typically, most investors who borrow hard money only stay in the loan for an average of just 6 months, before either refinancing-out, or reselling the property in question.

We as the Real Estate Wholesaler, NEVER own anything long term. The longest we EVER own is a few hours during a "double closing" more on "double closings" some other time). And if we are "assigning contracts" we NEVER own at all.

So, we never have to "Qualify for financing". When a deal is structured with a Hard Money Lender, and a "double closing is going to get the deal done, the same Hard Money loan being used for the deal, will close both sides of the transaction (between You and the Original Seller AND You and your Investor/Buyer). So, only your Investor/Buyer needs to qualify with the Hard Money Lender for the deal! This is because your Investor/Buyer is the "end user" of the money and is the one guaranteeing the loan, NOT YOU! Case Dismissed!

More Free FAQ Video about wholesaling houses here? http://www.wholesalersmarts.com

If you have been hearing about the financial benefits of solar and wondering if it could benefit you, this information should help.

A solar system installed on your property can reduce or eliminate your electric bill. Installing solar energy panels can benefit consumers regardless how small or large their bill may be. Instead of paying the electric company, you are paying for your own solar powered electric plant which can provide a return on your investment in 4-9 years.

They say that in life, timing is everything, and that is certainly true in regards to solar. If you live in California, the following are some of the current incentives now being offered:

Tax Credit - The Federal Government provides a 30% Solar Investment Tax Credit. Not just a tax deduction but a tax credit and there is no cap on the amount.

Rebates - The California Solar Initiative offers a rebate. Currently, the residential rebate reduces the net cost of a solar system approximately 20%. Rebates for commercial, new construction, non-profits, and other entities are even higher. These rebates are on a tier system, which means these rates drop as they are used on a first come, first serve basis. So if you are thinking about going solar, putting it off may cost you money in the form of a lower rebate.

Financing - The City and County of San Diego are rolling out programs which provide financing. The financing covers the cost of installing a solar PV array and can be repaid over 20 years.

If your electric bill is $200 or more each month, you may be able to save more each month than the monthly costs of installing the system and have it paid off in less than 10 years. The paperwork can be a little daunting, so it is recommended that you seek out a reputable home remodeler or solar installer who will assist you in filling out and filing the necessary paperwork.

Any existing business enterprise necessitates a dependable steady flow of finances with the intention to maintain its engines in motion. Meeting the payroll, shopping for fresh devices, launching fresh organisation stores, increasing the supply, creating absolutely new products and expert services, or just having the capability to pay back credit card debt are definitely some of the circumstances that will necessitate cash. Working capital could be described as a solid indication of a business' economic wellness; a good cashflow permits nearly every commercial enterprise to fulfill its fiscal commitments, no matter if they are short term or long-term. A detailed investigation which centers on receivables and payable, and also on fixed assets and at times even on existing products can really help examine the capital stream of a business, and in addition find out means by which to slash the charges while not spend as much at a business level.

Lacking the capability to compensate the short-run accounts is without doubt a recipe to disaster and will also trigger economic ruin; in addition to this, your firm's commercial credit score can be damaged permanently, and this will keep your corporation from getting solid business loans for several days.

A firm that won't have a strong cash flow, often due to the fact that it was struck by the economical crisis or due to the fact its cash is tied up in its account receivables, could use business financing or factoring to get out of danger. The capital that's obtained in this way is normally utilized to pay off short-run debts, to get more merchandise, to produce new products and expert services, etc.

Working capital loans provide a financing shot that will energize your organization's development, preserving and growing its profits, as well as making it possible for the business owners to make investments that may otherwise be outside their reach. These lending options are available in two flavours: secured loans and unsecured working capital loans. With secured working capital loans, the business owner will use an asset, be it a home, stock, business shares, stock certificates, etc as a guarantee, when with unsecured loans, the company owner will not be forced to use any kind of particular guarantees.

Numerous financing businesses offer working capital loans these days; nevertheless, if your cash is tied up in your accounts receivable you should certainly employ invoice factoring, which is a beneficial method to take advantage of money if your company has a lot of debts rolling in, but your consumers just pay you after 30 days or much more. Getting working capital by using invoice factoring will allow your firm to put an end to overdue payouts and undesirable business credit reports, at a service charge rate that's typically in the 1... 3% spectrum.

Oh boy! Now we are on a hot topic. Who runs the financial world besides who we would consider the 3%-ers? Everyone knows that 3% of the population earns 97% of the income available to make. Why? Because they are doers. Understand, however, that they don't run as much as we think they do. THE BIG THREE are: 1. the Government 2. the Banks 3. the Insurance industry
My job as an investor, in this market or any market for that matter, is to figure out how to be a part of THE BIG THREE. I think it is a process of elimination. How likely is it that the average real estate investor becomes a government official or at least puts themselves in a position to write policy? Not very. How likely is it that the average real estate investor starts an insurance agency or franchises an Allstate office like my uncle did back in Maryland? Again not likely.
Drum Roll Please.................

By process of elimination the only position available in THE BIG THREE is to be a bank. Why is it likely? Because, if you are an active real estate investor, you have access to masses of cash and credit from your private investors, your credit partners, and your colleagues. Believe it! You can be the bank. No more sulking about the points you pay on this loan and that loan. All you need to do is put yourself in position to do the same things the banks do and it is all perfectly legal.

1. Line up Your Private Money

If you are not actively soliciting private money and you call yourself a real estate investor, HA.
You have to have private money to fund the deals you want to hold. Why would you use your own money or credit when you can use someone else's. Send out solicitations to your friends, co-workers, and family. They call that the Warm List. You will be surprised about who will be interested in what you have to offer. Just let everyone know that you can give them a return between 9% and 12% on their private monetary investments and all of the funds will be secured by Real Estate. They will love that because most people have their money sitting in banks and in non-performing investments, losing to inflation and taxes. Show them that there is a better way. We are going to call these people LENDERS.

2. Set up Your Private Money Division

Our title attorney calls this the Loan LLC. You can set up an LLC specifically to handle the private money transactions of the lenders you solicited above. The attorney will also be able to set up the paperwork, notes, options, terms, and any other specifics to your private money needs. You tell them what you want, pay, and they will take care of the rest. The idea here is that when you solicit private funds, you never touch the money personally. It always goes into title/escrow and it is disbursed according to the terms of the deal. Now you are ready to roll.

3. Too Hot for TV

Everybody knows an investor who needs hard money. EVERYBODY knows an investor that needs hard money. Well guess who is a hard money lender now? You that's who. Use the private monies you borrow at 9% and loan at 5 points and 12-14% for 6 month terms. Turn the private funds 3 times in 24 months and watch your pockets get FATTER!! If I'm lying...I'm flying. Now you are the bank and you control your own income. Analyze the deals as if it were your own and if it makes sense loan on it and collect.

As you can see the Lender loans to you and your Loan LLC lends to the borrower. What great things you can accomplish as a professional middle man. If you turn more you make more. It is plain and simple. The hard money division of your real estate investment business is NOW OPEN. You can thank me later or sign up for "the what and the how" real estate investing program in Dallas, Texas where I teach all of these strategies for creating wealth. So, I encourage you to take action on this one my fellow investors.

Blessings to your Real Estate Investment Successes,

The answer to that question is yes. Most lenders treat manufactured and mobile homes much the same as a conventionally built house and are willing to work with anyone who already owns or is thinking of buying a manufactured home. There are quite a few reasons why you might be interested in doing a refinance of your manufactured home; getting a lower interest rate and monthly payment, consolidating debt, paying for college or even purchasing a car.

When you refinance your manufactured home you are basically using your new loan to pay off your current loan, with hopefully better terms that will save you money. The main thing to look for with this type of loan is a lower interest rate which in turn will lower your monthly payment, freeing up more money for other things you may want to do. If you can easily afford the monthly payments you are currently making then refinancing to a lower interest rate will allow you to shorten the length of your loan and pay it off sooner.

Most financing for manufactured and mobile homes is available if it is located in a mobile home park or on private land. Because these types of dwellings are different then a standard stick-built home the laws and regulations concerning the financing of them will differ from state to state. Knowledgeable lenders will be able to help with the details when it comes to these types of loans.

The closing costs for refinancing a mortgage are the same as when you purchased your original mortgage. You will have the option the pay them up front or roll them into the mortgage to keep out of pocket expenses at a minimum. This is a good option if you do not have the money to cover the closing costs but do be aware that it will add to the amount of the loan and you will be paying interest on any additional fees and costs that are rolled into the loan.

Much like you can do when refinancing a traditional home mortgage you can also buy down your interest rate by purchasing points on a refinance of a manufactured home. Points are an additional fee that you pay up front to the lender. The amount of each point is dependent on the amount of the loan. In most cases one point is valued at one percent of the total loan amount. If your loan is $100,000 then each point or percentage point you move the interest rate down would cost $1,000. Before buying down your interest rate with points it is important to make sure that you plan on owning your home for a long enough period of time to recoup your investment in points.

Refinancing a manufactured home is quite similar to that of a traditional home. There may be a few differences but for the most part the process is the same. Any good lender will point out any differences and should be willing to help guide you through the process.

"So what differentiates a winning financial vibration from on that is a loser?" This question was posed to me by a client who felt that his luck had run out. He was in a pinnacle of change and though he had the natural skills for making money, he was in a phase of transition and was probably reacting to the changes in his life.

Pinnacles play a major roll in the main path of our life path. They are the major tests you experience during a phases. These tests take place whether you're prepared or not. The phases are accurate and represent significant changes. Pinnacles represent a crossroad in which you must make a decision regarding your direction.

Pinnacles are found on your birth path. Your day of birth, Month and Year of birth configures your four Pinnacles. The numbers of your pinnacle represent the opportunities available to you. If your Pinnacle was focused on loneliness and being alone, you might have learned the lesson in your previous Pinnacle; if so you might experience the "7 Pinnacle" through lowered financial outlook and study. A "7 Pinnacle" might not be the best time to go for those major financial deals unless your intellect will be put to the test.

Don't be intimidated by Pinnacles, after all, they can be seen as a measure of your growth and development.

The First Pinnacle is found by adding the digit of the month to the digit of the day.

The Second Pinnacle is found by adding the digit of the day to the digit of the year.

The Third Pinnacle is found by adding the first and second Pinnacles together.

The Fourth Pinnacle is found by adding the digits of the month and the year of birth.

The bottom line is that there are many internal and external numerical influences. You can track them but don't be fooled into thinking that your held back by the numbers; you are merely being tested.

The Money Vibration of Two:

You might be shy about making money on your own if your birth day ads up to a two. You can listen and follow directions very well. You can work well with others and give love and attention without hesitation. Your money works best when earned in smaller amounts over time.

Partnerships tend to pay off later for you and the exercise of patience and perseverance brings big dividends. You have the ability to get what you want without doing it yourself. You gain through association and easily attract people who will help and protect you.

There needs to be balance in your life in order for your to be a success. Your best days of the week are, Monday, followed by Friday. March, May, July, August and October are important months. Take full advantage of days that add up to 2, 11, 29 in any month.

CAREER

Diplomacy, Patience, Rhythm, Sensitivity.

Actor, Artist, bank teller, caterer, collector, computer expert, cook, dancer, diplomat, editor, homemaker, mediator, musician, nutritionist, poet, psychiatrist, sailor, secretary, statistician, or teacher.

When and if you decide to partnerships choose a date adding up to 2, 7, or 6. If possible, avoid January, April, and November and the 8th, 9th, 17th, 18th, 26th, or the 27th.

Lenders will check the past two years of Profit-and-Loss Statements, plus the year-to-date one. They'll examine the current Rent Roll and will inspect the exterior and interior of the property. (At first it's just a visual inspection. If they decide to get serious with the deal, they'll send out their own property inspector.)

The great thing about commercial real estate is that much the lending decision rests on the merits of the property and not on your own financial statement. In addition, they'll want a schedule of real estate owned, and will check your credit history.

The next step will be for the lender to send you a Term Sheet. This is between 5 and 30 pages long, explaining the terms of the deal. It indicates whether the deal is Recourse or Non-recourse. Recourse means you are personally liable for the debt, and non-recourse means you are not. The tradeoff is that non-recourse financing often comes with burdensome prepayment penalties. That's okay if you plan to hold the deal for an extended period.

Tip: Investors usually don't realize that the Term Sheet is negotiable. Even though it comes printed on official letterhead, you don't have to take what they give you.

If your deal is good enough (where did we see that point before?), there will be other lenders who would LOVE to do business with you. If there is something in the Term Sheet that you would like to change, call the lender and start negotiating.

If you're not comfortable negotiating the first time out, then have your attorney do it and listen in on the call. Attorneys who specialize in real estate are well-versed in negotiating Term Sheets.

One key negotiating point is the amount of money that the lender will require up front to start the process. It is likely to be between $7,000 and $25,000. For example, one lender wanted $95,000 from a client of mine and he got it down to $9,000. Part of this up-front money is for the costs that lenders incur at this stage. These include reports from the third parties who are doing the appraisal, the environmental study/ies and the property inspection. Make sure the lender orders the appraisal.

The lender will not start the process until the initial fee is paid and a copy of the Purchase and Sale (P&S) Agreement, signed by both parties, is submitted. Why? Because it's not a deal until both parties sign the P&S Agreement.

Someone at the lender's office now gathers up all these reports from you and the lender's own experts, and sends a package to the lender's underwriting unit. That's where they decide whether to do your deal or not.

It is at this stage that you can improve your chances immensely.

How? By creating your presentation to the underwriter. Of course you will not be in the room when your deal is formally discussed, nor are you likely to meet the underwriter, that's all the more reason to prepare a package that can be in the room, and can do all the talking for you.

The reason behind this is to present your deal in such a way that it answers every question that might be on the underwriter's mind, even before it is asked.

You do this by presenting an overwhelming amount of information about yourself and the deal.

Everyone wants to upgrade into that latest model with all the cool bells and whistles. Unfortunately, many of us are upside down in our current auto loan so trading it is a little more difficult than normal. What does it mean to be upside down in a car loan and how can I overcome it? Here are a few helpful tips to help you overcome it.

Upside Down Car Loan: An upside down car loan is a loan where you owe more on the vehicle than what it is actually worth. To understand if you fall into that category (and you probably do since more than 70% of all consumers are upside down currently), visit a website where you can determine what the actual wholesale value of your vehicle is. Once you determine that, you can compare that to the amount you and find out for yourself if you are indeed upside down.

What to Do with An Upside Down Car Loan: Just because you may find yourself in one of those upside down car loans, all is not lost. There are options available to you using an online lender. Online lenders offer flexibility that allow you to still trade in that vehicle even if you owe more on it than what is worth. Those lenders allow you to roll in that "negative equity" into a new loan. This does not fix the upside issue, but it will allow you to upgrade that collateral to the latest and greatest model.

Can I Ever Not be Upside Down?: Well, the short answer is yes. However, getting out of an upside down car loan and actually building equity can be a difficult one, especially if you like to trade every 18-24 months. The easiest way to build equity is to keep a vehicle long enough that you can pay down more than half of the original loan balance. Hopefully by doing so you will build positive equity so when you go to trade you can actually use that vehicle as positive down payment instead of needing to roll in more negative equity into another loan.

Overcoming being in a upside down car loan can be done. Do not get discouraged. Find a good online lender to work with and they can assist you. You can find more helpful information related to car financing and refinancing along with useful negotiation tips to use with the dealer online at OpenRoad Lending.

Many people throughout the life of online marketing have utilized
the use of Kaizen. As a matter of fact I would venture a guess that
almost all successful businesses in today's markets are using it.
Which leaves one to wonder, what is Kaizen? Well, to put it in a
layman's words it is the practice of continuous improvement; the
fact that we should never be satisfied with what we have, and instead
always press onwards to improve what we have to something better.

This can be utilized in many ways, for example, you might own a home
based business such as a plug-in-profit homepage where the biggest
work load is the advertising campaign. To find new ways to complete
tasks in this process easier and faster can mean that you will be
getting more done and earn a better income, or maybe just have the
time to catch up with some sleep that might be long overdue.

However, it is important to know that Kaizen is something that is
utilized over time and is a never ending process. As time goes by
you have to keep in touch with all new opportunities that comes
flying your way to keep competitive in a way that lets you choose
what to improve in you business. This in itself has the effect of
giving you a competitive edge against all those that ignore this
very easy, but vital step.

Many believe that one can get a successful business by working really
hard in the beginning and then wait for the money to come rolling in.
I would say this is the best way to kill a business and it is also
totally against everything that is Kaizen.

Ok, it is true that the business starts to flourish in the beginning
when the efforts by the owner and/or employee is at its peak, however
once the well deserved payoff from all the work starts to roll in many
sits back and forgets the most important step in any business; too
keep the payoff at it's peak capacity at all times!.

In essence, the theory of Kaizen can be compared to the fable of "the
rabbit and the tortoise"; a rabbit and a tortoise are going to race
each other from one end to the other, the rabbit runs fast and quick
but gets burned out very fast, while the tortoise takes it slow but
keeps his pace and even slowly increasing it at times, and in the end
he gets past the rabbit and wins the race. The quick rabbit that is
all burned out, and lays in the grass beside the road halfway through
the race, thinks for himself, even I, will take it slow and increase
my pace as I go along next time.

In this fable Kaizen is the tortoise and just like the tortoise slowly
improved his pace, so can a business person improve the business that
is being conducted. Since it is better to take it slow and learn on
the way meanwhile you keep improving all aspects of the business, rather
than to rush things through just for the sake of getting it done.

A famous quote that I heard once goes like this "Rome was not built in
a day...but alas...it was built indeed".

When it comes to your finances, you really have a simple decision to make. Do you want to keep going the way you are right now? Or would you rather have money in the bank, retirement in the works and the things you really want?

If you would rather have the money over your current lifestyle, I don't blame you. But how can you get there?

There is one way -- budget. I know you probably automatically think of a miserly person who is a tightwad when you think of frugal living. But it really is the key to getting everything you want out of life. The definition of frugal living is that you get it for less. Not that you don't get it at all. Just that you get it at a lower cost. All too often people assume that budgeting and frugal living are only for poor, low income families. But even the wealthiest companies budget and practice frugality.

So start looking at it in a different way. A budget and frugal living is a business decision that gets you where you want to be. It is simply a way to organize and manage your finances. We often get caught up in wanting more. We want new cars, designer houses and the trendiest clothing. We don't want to seem like we aren't rolling in dough, so we spend our money on the things we think reflect wealth. And above all, we don't want to appear as if we have no money.

But that spending carelessly actually results in having no money. You might feel good temporarily, but one day you will realize that you have no wealth at all. No savings. No investments. No retirement. Only debt and living paycheck to paycheck.

Wealth has nothing to do with how much you make. It is how much you accumulate. Companies that make millions are not wealthy if they spend billions. The same goes for the everyday consumer. A wealthy person saves their money and makes wise financial investments. They budget and spend in a frugal manner. In the long run, their goals are fulfilled. Those that spend on everything they want when they want it aren't left with very much at all. But debt.

So you have to make the decision. Your income doesn't matter. It is how much you spend. It is in your budgeting and frugal living. Ask yourself which you would rather have: that brand new leather furniture or a comfortable retirement? Sometimes you have to make these decisions. However, with wise saving you could have both -- just not right now.

You have to set goals for your family. Do you want to retire? Send your kids to college? Where do you want to be in 10 years? Do you want to lower your bills and reduce your debt? Do you want more time with your family and less time stressing over your financial situation?

Figure out what your priorities and goals are. You have to want to reach these goals before budgeting and financial planning will work for you. Take the time to see how changing your finances could change your life. Then start on the road to successful financial management.

If you think your job may be at risk, it's a good idea to shore up your finances and make sure you're not spending money unnecessarily. Don't assume you'll receive severance if you're laid off; you may not.

The general rule of thumb is that it takes one month for every $10k in salary to find a job (in a weak economy, assume it will take even longer); even with a cushion from severance, it's certainly possible to run out of money before securing your next position.

Take a look at your savings, debt, and monthly expenses. Minimize wherever possible. Skip the daily latte at the coffee shop, and wash the car by hand. Eat meals at home. Put the money you save on expenses into savings.

You should try to have six months of cash in reserve and available at all times. This is another one of those things that you should do as a matter of course. Strange things can happen - and they can happen very quickly. A small technology company ran into financial trouble and was abruptly forced to sell. (Underscore abruptly!) It was less than one month from the day this turn of events was announced until the first employees were let go. The company shut its doors for good just five weeks after that. If these folks didn't have six weeks of cash on hand, they likely weren't going to come up with it in the space of a few weeks.

Avoid dipping into your retirement account for living expenses. This should be a strategy of last resort. Between early withdrawal penalties and state and Federal taxes, you could lose a great deal of money. Of course, you'll also be sacrificing your long-term security.

Alternate options if you need cash:

• Savings accounts
• Money market funds
• Home equity loans (not so easy to secure currently, but still worth a look)

Not only can you get relatively low interest rates, the payments are often tax deductible. However, you should set up an equity line of credit while you are still employed.

While we're on the subject of retirement accounts, if you have a 401(k) with your current company, roll those funds into an IRA to avoid paying a tax penalty. A direct rollover is the best option: in this case, the money goes straight from your former company's account to your IRA without you touching it. It's simple, and you continue to receive tax deferred status on the full amount of money accrued.

These days there are some creative methods for avoiding the need to place a large down payment in order to purchase a home. This is fortunate considering that for many families homeownership would be out of reach were it not for these methods. In the past placing a down payment on a home was commonplace. Recently, as housing prices have risen drastically over the past couple of decades it has become harder and harder to save enough money to put forward a meaningful down payment. Luckily, there are now ways to go about getting 100% home financing. What will work best for you depends on your means and goals.

You may hear advertisements for 100% home mortgage loans. What this usually ends up being is an offer for an 80/20 home mortgage, also known as a "piggyback mortgage". An 80/20 mortgage is actually two mortgages that you get at the same time to finance 100% of the cost of a property. Typically, both loans are handles by the same lender and closing on both happens at the same time.

In an 80/20 mortgage, the 20% part refers to a second mortgage that acts as a down payment on the primary mortgage. This second mortgage can be an equity line of credit or a traditional second mortgage.

Because both mortgage's in an 80/20 situation are secured by your home, you need to be sure that you can afford the payments on both mortgage loans. Where you do end up saving money with an 80/20 loan is that you can avoid paying PMI in these situations. PMI stands for "Private Mortgage Insurance" and it can amount to a hefty monthly payment that can be avoided by placing a large enough down payment, as happens in an 80/20 loan.

It is important to know that even in a 100% financing situation, you will still need to have enough money on hand to cover your closing costs. Most lenders do not allow you to roll the costs involved in closing in to your home mortgage, even in a piggyback loan situation. Because you are closing on two mortgages at the same time, your closing costs for an 80/20 mortgage are generally higher than in a traditional mortgage.

Even though a piggyback mortgage will cost you more, it is still an attractive option for families that have adequate income but little savings. By taking advantage of this method of financing 100% of the cost of your home, you can experience the benefits of homeownership and work towards building equity in a home.

You've got a great idea for an eco vacuum cleaner. Or you need financing for an artsy project like re-cording a ska album, publishing an alternative lifestyle magazine or producing an all 80's film festival. Maybe the film festival project can wait. The point is you might be an entrepreneur, artist, or just a regular person with a great idea and can't get it off the ground because you don't have access to financing.

It used to be that you had to rely on the three F's, friends, family and friends of family. For too many reasons to get into, it always isn't a good idea to go around asking all of your relatives and friends for money. Even if they agree to loan you some money, the added burden might not be worth it in the long run.

Enter crowdfunding, which is another way of leveraging the "crowd" or the three F's and one new S, strangers. You post your project on one of the more than 450 crowdfunding platforms worldwide and you wait for the money to roll in. According to crowdsourcing.org, $1.5 billion was raised in 2011 through crowdfunding.

There are three types of crowdfunding activities that are legal in the U.S. and Canada. Reward-based or using perks is one type of crowdfunding to get sponsors to contribute. For example you would grant certain perks i.e. a free t-shirt, a free version of the video game etc... Then there is donation-based which means if someone likes your idea enough, they just GIVE you some money.

The third type is lending-based crowdfunding which is just borrowing

money from strangers. Equity-based crowdfunding isn't yet legal in the US or Canada because it involves issuing equity, and providing disclosure which would necessitate the involvement of the Securities Exchange Commission and the Canadian provincial securities commissions.

In the US, the JOBS Act, which outlines the specific rules for equity financing was signed into law by President Obama on April 5, 2012. The SEC has 270 days from the enactment date to set forth specific rules and methods to ensure that funding will actually take place. So we're going to find out within the next 6 months exactly how the rules will apply.

But that's not why you're reading this article. You want to know how to raise funds through crowdfunding. This is where your thousands of friends on Face-book and Twitter are going to come in handy. You should tell everyone about your campaign and keep telling them every time you've raised some money. Don't forget they have their own personal network which could contribute to your project.

Write a press release and send it to publications and websites that you think would be interested in your story. They're always looking for an interesting story, so make sure that yours is!

You shouldn't forget to show sponsors how you're going to spend their money and what they should expect in return.

So another year has rolled around again. Resolutions for many are in full force and for others, resolutions are only a reminder of goals gone bad! If you are a resolution maker and happen to be someone who has chosen improved wellness as your goal, these tips may be helpful in creating and jumpstarting your plan. I use these tips with great success when working with clients around their health and wellness goals.

Begin by purchasing a beautiful journal and pen, dedicated to your personal wellness. Writing is an invaluable tool when making changes in your life. Find a comfy chair in a quiet location, pour a favorite drink and start writing your way to wellness for 2009.

1. Consider first what personal wellness means to you. Everyone has their own unique idea. For me it is to feel fit physically, mentally, spiritually and financially. Take a few minutes and reflect on this question before writing your answer

2. What areas do you want to improve? Finances, relationships, work, health, personal growth? Some may have one or two and others can have many. Just write them down without allowing judgment and overwhelm to come into the picture.

3. What goals do you want to reach in these particular areas? When you decide, write them down. Make sure they are realistic and specific. For example, to be out of debt by the end of 2008 or to have lost 10lbs by the end of April. Remember, keep them realistic so you don't get discouraged when you notice you may not meet your timeline. These are only guidelines, however having a specific goal to work towards can be very powerful.

4. Consider the areas you have chosen to concentrate on and determine what has already been working for you. You do not have to reinvent the wheel. If you are satisfied with your progress in a certain area you may only need to maintain it or vary it slightly. For example, if your main relationship is healthy but you want to make more time for it, maybe you just need to focus on choosing a specific time each week or month that will be dedicated to the relationship.

5. What roadblocks in the past have kept you from reaching your goals? Was time a factor? If so, look at what would work better. Your plan has to include activities you enjoy and are able to maintain without too much struggle. If you hate running but love walking, don't force yourself to run. Do what you love, not what you feel you should be doing.

6. After writing down your goals, start to develop a plan to get you there. As a coach, helping a client develop a plan is one of the first steps we take after they have set their goals. For instance, if exercise is something you have chosen, decide what type of activity you will do, as well as how often and for how long. A clear focus can make action so much easier.

7. What are the first action steps that need to be taken in order to carry out your plan? If you have decided to get out of debt, the first action may be to determine the total amount of debt you are carrying. Write them down.

8. Once you have determined what steps need to be taken, review them. Are they small enough so as not to overwhelm you? Be realistic. Taking baby steps toward your goal will increase your chances of achieving it. Remember, small and consistent steps will guarantee success.

9. If possible, work with a partner or group for support. Accountability is a great motivator towards achieving your goals and a partner can make it a lot more fun.

10. Most important...recognize accomplishments daily and make a commitment to improve the quality of your life.

Your level of personal wellness plays a huge part in your happiness, ability to deal with stress and fight disease. I challenge you to grab a pen and start writing your unique plan today. Consider what changes you need to make so your personal mantra can be...I feel ALIVE in 2009!

Article Written by Peggy Porter-The Success Coach for Mom Entrepreneurs.

Christmas is the Western world's biggest holiday celebration and although it only comes around once a year it often has us spending months in advance whilst the after-effects can include a big dent in our bank accounts for weeks afterward. Frugal Christmas shoppers often gather presents throughout the rest of the year in order to spread the cost but perhaps the best advice of all is to save rather than spend so you can go all out when December comes around.

There are lots of ways in which we can make small changes to our everyday lives in order to build up our Christmas savings pot. The first piece of advice for those looking to save is to cut back on your food bills. This doesn't necessarily mean eating less, in fact you could end up eating more! A big expenditure with regard to food is eating out at lunch and dinner time. While the lure of the office canteen or local eateries can prove more mouth watering than a home made roll or salad, you'll actually find it much more economic to prepare your own meals rather then opting for restaurant, café or pre-packaged, shop bought grub.

The second way to add to your Christmas savings pot is to avoid taking the car and opt for public transport, walking and cycling where and when you can. Walking and cycling to work is not only a great way to get fit but is also better for the environment when compared to carbon footprint left by car fumes, especially when the car is only used to transport one person. With petrol prices in a constant state of flux, walking or cycling will save valuable pounds - perhaps even hundreds of pounds over a month long period.

When saving for Christmas, the everyday consumer will find there's plenty of changes that can be made to their personal lives in order to save money but not infringe on the enjoyment of their free time. Instead of splashing out on going to cinema, why not see what the DVD rental store has to offer? Enjoying the great outdoors is another money saver - fresh air and a relaxing walk along the beach rarely costs anything at all.

Finally, another money saving tip is to tighten up your financial outgoings and add to your money saving pot instead. The average UK citizen will have a range of necessary monthly outgoings such as car, life and health insurance as well as phone and energy bills. Take a moment to look online at the many sites offering to compare life insurance or health cover and you could end up saving hundreds of pounds when switching to a plan that not only gives you more for your money but also saves you money in the process. Don't get complacent or apathetic about your finances, tightening up here and there won't make a noticeable difference in the meantime but will when you're able to treat loved ones to a dream Christmas.

Union Finance Minister (Govt. of India) P Chidambaram presented the Union Budget for 2007-08 in Parliament on Wednesday, 28th Feb. 2007.

The Following are the Highlights:

While Chidambaram kept income tax limit unchanged, he increased the threshold limit by Rs 10,000 giving every assessee a relief of Rs 1,000.

Deduction in respect of medical insurance under Section 80 (D) increased to Rs 15,000 and Rs 20,000 for senior citizens.

Exemption limit for women was increased to Rs 145,000 and for senior citizens to Rs 195,000.

Dividend distribution tax raised from 12.5 to 15 per cent.

ESOPs to be brought under FBT.

Expenditure on samples and free distribution items to be exempted from fringe benefit tax.

Additional revenue from direct taxes to yield Rs 3000 crore and indirect taxes revenue neutral.

Tax exemption on aviation turbine fuel sold to turbo prop aircraft extended to all small aircraft less than 40,000 kg.

Withdrawals by central and state governments exempted from Banking Cash Transaction Tax. The limit for individuals and HUF raised from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000.

Two lakh people to benefit out of service tax exemption. Govt to lose Rs 800 crore as a result.

Service tax on Residents Welfare Associations whose members contribute more than Rs 3,000.

Surcharge on Corporate income tax on companies below Rs one crore removed.

Tax free bonds to be issued by state-owned urban local bodies.

Five year tax holiday for two, three, four star hotels and convention centres with a seating capacity of 3,000 in NCT of Delhi, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Gautam

Minimum Alternate Tax being extended.

Benefits of investment in venture capital funds confined to IT, bio-technology, nano-technology, seed research, dairy among some others.

Excise duty on cement reduced from Rs.400 per tonne to Rs.350 per tonne for cement bags sold at Rs.190 per bag at retail market. Those sold above Rs.190 will attract excise duty of Rs.600 per tonne.

Corporate tax: No surcharge for firms with a taxable income of Rs 1 crore (Rs 10 million) or less.

E-governance allocation to be increased from Rs.395 to Rs.719 crore.

Indian investors to be allowed investment in overseas capital markets through mutual funds. Mutual funds to set up Infrastructure Fund schemes.

Any requirement for security of the nation to be provided.

Backward Regions Grant Fund to be raised to Rs 5800 crore.

A high-powered committee report aimed at making Mumbai a world class financial centre submitted.

Public suggestions will be invited.

Rs 50 crore provided to begin work on vocational education mission for which Task Force in Planning Commission is chalking out a strategy.

1,396 Indian Technical Institutes to be upgraded to achieve technical excellence.

An autonomous Debt Management Office in government to be set up.

Government to create one lakh jobs for physically challenged. Government will reimburse the EPF contributions of employers in the case of physically challenged people taken on rolls of the company and included in the PF scheme. A fund of Rs 150 crore to be started which will go up to Rs 450 crore.

An Expert Committee to be set up to study the impact of climate change in India.

Rs 150 crore to be given to Ministry of Youth and Sports for Commonwealth Games and Rs 350 crore to the Delhi Government for the purpose. Rs 50 crore to be provided for the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune.

Rs 100 crore for recognising excellence in the field of agricultural research.

VAT revenues increased by 24.3 per cent in the first nine months of 2006-07.

A national level goods and services tax to be introduced from next fiscal.

Fiscal deficit to be 3.7 per cent in the current year and revenue deficit two per cent.

Fiscal management enabled States consolidate debt to the tune of Rs.1,10,268 crore and 20 states availed of debt waiver to the tune of Rs.8575 crores. The share of States from the revenue expected to touch Rs.1,42,450 crore during 2007-08 as against Rs.1,20,377 crore during 2006-07.

Total expenditure estimated at Rs 6,81,521 crore.

Increase in gross tax revenue by 19.9 per cent, 20 per cent and 27.8 per cent in first three years of UPA government. Intend to keep tax rates moderate.

Peak customs duty rate on non-agricultural items reduced from 12.5 to ten per cent.

All coking coal fully exempted from duty.

Duties on seconds and defective reduced from 20 to ten per cent.

Customs duty on polyster to be reduced from ten per cent to 7.5 per cent.

Fiscal deficit for 2007-08 pegged at 3.3 per cent of GDP at Rs.1,50,948 crore. Revenue deficit at Rs.72,478 crore which will be 1.5 per cent.

Total expenditure during 2006-07 estimated at Rs.6,80,521 crore including Rs.40,000 crore for SBI shares.

Duty on pet food reduced from 30 per cent to 20 per cent.

Duty on sunflower oil to be reduced by 15 per cent.

Duty reduced on watch dials and movements and umbrella parts from 12.5 to five per cent.

Import duty of 15 specified machinery to be reduced from 7.5 per cent to five per cent.

Economy grows 8.6 per cent in third quarter of this fiscal compared to 9.3 per cent in the year-ago period

Three per cent import duty to be levied on private importers of aircraft including helicopters.

No change in general CENVAT rate.

Ad valorem duty on petrol and diesel to be brought down from eight to six per cent.

Export duty on iron ore and concentrate at the rate of Rs.300 per tonne. Export duty on Cromium proposed at Rs 2000 tonne.

Small-scale industries excise duty exemption raised from Rs one crore to Rs 1.5 crore.

Manufacturing sector grows at 10.7 per cent, agriculture at 1.5 per cent during October-December 2006-07.

Excise duty for plywood reduced from 16 per cent to eight per cent.

Food mixes to be fully exempted from excise duty.

Excise duty for plywood reduced from 16 per cent to eight per cent.

Bio-diesel to be fully exempted from excise duty.

Water purification devices, small and big, fully exempted from excise. Specific rates of excise duty on cigarettes increased.

Excise duty on Pan Masala without tobacco as mouth freshners reduced from 66 per cent to 45 per cent.

PAN to be made single identity card for all securities/stocks/MFs related transactions.

Insurance companies to launch a senior citizens scheme in 2007-08.

Defence budget increased to Rs 96,000 crore

Tourism infrastructure to get an allocation of Rs.520 crore as against Rs.423 crore last year.

The ceiling of loans for weaker sections under deferential rate of interest scheme will be raised from Rs 6500 to Rs 15,000 and in housing loan from Rs 5000 to Rs 20,000.

Regulations would be put in place for mortgage guarantee company for housing loans.

Regional Rural Banks, which are willing to take up greater responsibilities, to undertake aggressive branch expansion programme. One RRB branch for each of 80 districts so far uncovered. RRBs to accept NRE and FCNR deposits.

FDI inflows between April and January this fiscal touched $12.5 bn while portfolio investment reached $6.8 billion

Technology Upgration Fund in textiles to continue during the 11th Plan. Rs 911 crore to be provided for this.

Allocation for National Highway Development programme to be stepped up from Rs 9,955 crore to Rs 12,600 crore.

Work on Golden Quadrilateral road project nearly complete. Considerable progress made on North-South, East-West corridor and likely to be completed by 2009.

Northeastern region will get Rs 405 crore for highway development. Road-cum-rail project over Brahmaputra in Bogibil, Assam.

Health insurance cover for weavers to be enlarged to ancillary industries. Allocation increased from Rs 241 crore to Rs 321 crore.

A scheme for modernisation and technological upgradation of choir industry for which Rs 23.55 crore has been earmarked.

Manufacturing growth rate estimated at 11.3 per cent.

9.2 per cent GDP growth rate estimated in 2006-07.

Average growth for last three years is 8.6 per cent.

Saving rate of 32.4 per cent, investment rate of 33.8 per cent will continue.

A number of proposals to perk up agriculture to be announced.

Average inflation in FY'07 to be 5.2-5.4 per cent; govt confident of managing inflation

Bank credit rate grew by 29 per cent during first ten months of 2006-07

Inflation during 2006-07 estimated at between 5.2 and 5.4 per cent against 4.4 per cent during the previous year.

Abhijit Sen report on forward trading to be submitted in two months' time.

Additional irrigation potential of 24 lakh hectares to be implemented, including nine lakh hectares under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme.

Economy in a stronger position than ever before.

15,054 villages have been covered under rural telephony and efforts to be made to complete the target of covering 20,000 villages by 2006-07.

Allocation on Healthcare to increase by 21.9 per cent.

Allocattion for education to be enhanced by 34.2 per cent.

Two lakh more teachers to be employed and five lakh more classrooms to be constructed.

Secondary education allowance to be increased from Rs.1,837 crore to Rs.3,794 crore.

Government committed to fiscal reforms.

Foreign exchange reserves stand at 180 billion dollars.

Allocation under Rajiv Gandhi Drinking Mission stepped up from Rs 4680 crore to Rs 5850 crore.

Government concerned over inflation and would take all steps for moderating it.

Already a number of steps on fiscal, monetary and supply management side have been taken.

Annual target of 15 lakh houses under Bharat Nirmal Programme to be exceeded.

Allocation for National Rural Health Mission stepped up from Rs 8207 crore to Rs 9947 crore.

Gross budgetary support in 2007-08 raised to Rs 2,05,100 crore from 1,72,728 crore in 2006-07. Of this, budgetary support to the Central plan will go up to 1,54,939 crore against 1,72,728 crore.

School dropout rates high. To prevent dropout, a National Means-cum-Merit scholarship to be implemented, with an allocation of Rs 6,000 per child.

Rs 1290 crore to be provided for elimination of polio. Intensive coverage will be undertaken in 20 districts in UP and 10 districts in Bihar. This will be integrated into NRHM.

National AIDS Control Programme to achieve zero level disease.

Measures for significant improvement of health care in rural area.

Allocation for ICDS programme to be increased from Rs 4087 crore to Rs 4761 crore.

30 more districts under NREGA. Additional allocation of Rs.12,000 crore for it.

Rs 800 crore for Sampoorna Gram Rozgar Yojana in districts not covered by NREGA. Swarna Jayanti Swarozgar Yojana allocation increased from Rs 250 crore to Rs 344 crore.

Computerisation of PDS and integrated computerization programme for FCI.

Allocation for schemes only for SCs and STs to be increased to Rs 3271 crore.

Rs 63 crore for share capital for National Minorities Development Finance Corporation following Sachar Committee recommendations.

Allocation for SC/ST scholarships enhanced from Rs.440 crore to Rs.611 crore.

Scholarships programme for minorities students to be of the order of Rs 72 crore for pre-metric, Rs 48 crore for graduate and postgraduate.

Total Budget for the Northeastern region raised from Rs 12,041 crore to Rs 14,365 crore.

New Industrial Policy for the northeastern region to be in place before March 31.

Women's development allocation will be Rs.22,282 crore.

Rs 7,000 crore allocation for better tax administration to be used for social schemes.

Rs 2,25,000 crore farm credit proposed in the new budget. A target of additional 50 lakh farmers to be brought under farm credit.

Farmers' credit likely to reach Rs.1,90,000 crore as against the targeted Rs.1,75,000 crore during 2006-07.

Special Purpose Tea Fund to rejuvenate tea production.

Rs 100 crore allocated for National Rainfed Area Authority.

One hundred per cent subsidy for small farmers and 50 per cent for other farmers for water recharging scheme.

World Bank signed agreement for revival of 5,763 waterbodies in Tamil Nadu. Loan component Rs 2,182 crore. To have a command area of four lakh hectares. Similar agreement with Andhra Pradesh in March for recharge of 2,000 bodies. Command area 2.5 lakh hectares.

Bonds worth Rs 5,000 crore to augment NABARD to be issued.

Death and disability cover for rural landless families to be introduced, known as 'Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana'.

70 lakh households to be covered under a social welfare scheme with LIC and with support from state governments.

50 per cent of the premium at Rs.200 per household to be given by the Centre. Rs.1,000 crore fund to be maintained by LIC for the purpose.

Central public sector enterprises will be given Rs 16,261 crore as equity support and loans of over Rs 2600 crore.

Sources: Times of India; NDTV; StarNews

Is there such a thing as 100% Property Development Finance? The short answer is yes, however it may be useful to define what exactly we mean by property development finance and what we mean by 100% funding. Property development finance is the term used by lenders and brokers to describe the finance products employed to help property developers fund their projects. These projects can range from the simple renovation of a residential dwelling to multi-plot new-build schemes. A property developer can be an individual, partnership or company. Broadly speaking we can split property development in to three categories:

• A property refurbishment project would involve the purchase of a residential dwelling and straight forward refurbishment of the interior. These project usually turn round very quickly as planning permission is not generally needed.
• Property conversion projects would involve more substantial work such as an extension, conversion of an existing property into flats, or some other structural re-modelling. This type of property conversion will almost always involve planning consent, building control and sub-contractors. The developer taking on a conversion project will probably have carried property refurbishment projects in the past.
• Top of the list is the property developer who undertakes new-build schemes. Very often a site will be purchased with either full or outline planning permission. Obviously the time scale for this type of project is much longer and the developer will probably have experience in refurbishment and conversion schemes. Lenders are increasingly insisting on some form or warranty such as the NHBC or Zurich schemes, although architects certificates are still accepted.

The challenge for the property developer is to fund the acquisition of suitable property and have enough working capital left to finance the development work. Historically banks were content to lend around 65% of the purchase price and 65% or so of the build costs. However, these options were usually reserved for experienced developers or individuals with a high net worth. As with every business cash-flow is king, and having substantial amounts of cash tied-up in a property can seriously hinder business growth.

There are now several specialist property development lenders who will consider loans far in excess of the bank solution. Most of the specialist lenders will offer loans of around 70% of the site value and 100% finance for the build costs. It is very important to understand that the development costs are paid in arrears. This means that the developer will fund the works to a pre-agreed stage where upon the lenders appointed representative (usually an independent surveyor) will carry out an inspection.

On receipt of a satisfactory report from the surveyor the funds are released and the next stage of development works can start. This type of funding usually covers "hard costs" only, so professional fees such as planning, architects fees and insurance would be paid from the developers own resources.

True 100% property development finance includes the purchase of the site, the build costs, professional fees and sometimes even interest roll-up. This type of funding is available for refurbishment projects, conversion schemes and new-builds. The developer does not necessarily need a wealth of experience as the lender will monitor and support the project quite closely. The lenders who are willing to consider 100% development funding can usually only be contacted through specialist commercial finance brokers.

To qualify for full funding the project would need to demonstrate a good profit margin and be in a geographical area known to have an buoyant property market. In essence the lender wants to reduce the risk that a loan will be outstanding for long beyond the development phase.

So, in conclusion 100% property development funding does exist, whether the developer is looking for just the build costs or full funding for the whole project. Naturally these higher levels of funding come at a premium in terms of interest rates. However this should be considered against the cost of having all the available capital tied up in a single project. The main benefit for considering 100% property development funding is the ability of look at new projects whilst completing a current project.

One of the biggest threats to a successful construction project is experiencing cash flow issues, or worse still, running out of financial resources before the project is complete. Having to halt the build or renovation means you may struggle to meet time sensitive milestones and will invariably increase the cost of the overall project. Worse still you may even run into losses.

The smart developer will be prepared for unforeseen funding issues that may impede the projects progress and where the required funds are not available may make use of a property development bridging loan.

Whether you are undertaking a residential or commercial development project, a bridging loan is probably the best funding option to keep the project rolling during funding problems to minimise any cost overrun. Property development bridging loans are secured loans, and commercial or residential property or land can be used as collateral. You will normally be able to raise around 75% of the valuation of your collateral.

A big advantage of a bridging loan is they can generally be arranged in a very short time span which is not usually the case with the high street lenders. This can help to avoid project delays. These benefits do come at a premium in terms of interest rates but as this type of loan is a short term solution it may still work out in your advantage if project delays are avoided. Another advantage is that the principal can be repaid after the loan period so you only need to fund the interest whilst you complete your project and then funds from the resale can be used to repay the principal.

To summaries, if your property development project is liable to be delayed as a result of funding problems a property development bridging loan may be a solution well worth considering.

There is a lot of competition in the market place for bridging loans so be sure to choose a lender that does not charge any exit fee, offers daily interest with no hidden or additional costs other than the required fee for the valuation of your collateral and any legal fees.

There are certain factors that come into play with a no closing cost refinance. Sometimes, this can mean that you have no additional expenses when you refinance your mortgage, but it can also mean that you pay a higher interest rate. There are two types of programs that lenders have for a no closing cost refinance. These are a yield spread premium and a roll in your cost program.

With the yield spread offer for a no closing cost refinance, the lender will pay all of the closing costs associated with refinancing your mortgage. You can choose to have only the true costs of the transaction included or the costs of the insurance and taxes added to it. If the taxes and insurance are prepaid, you will get a refund for that amount within 30 days of closing.

Although the interest rate you pay with this program of no closing cost refinance, you can use this method to lower your current interest rate. If you can lower the interest rate on your mortgage by 2 points and still walk away with no out of pocket expenses, this is a very good way to lower your mortgage payments and cut years off the term of the mortgage.

Under the roll in the costs program, you can have a no closing cost refinance if you have equity built up in your home. With this option, all the closing costs are included in the total amount you borrow. The advantage of this method is that you still qualify for the current interest rate. If you intend to remain in the home for at least five years before you sell, this is an affordable option in refinancing. The amount of the closing costs only adds a very small amount to the mortgage total and will play a small part in the amount of your monthly payment.

However, you do need to check around with various lenders because there are some who really mean what they say when they advertise no closing cost refinance. A no cost program should be able to lower your interest rate at absolutely no closing cost to you. Closing costs typically include the cost of getting title searches and credit reports. If you deal with your regular lender and have been making your payments regularly, they won't need to request a credit report. Since the title search was already done when you bought the home, this is already on file, so there is no need for another.

If you have equity built up in your home through the increasing value of real estate or through improvements you made, you might walk away from the no cost closing refinance with money in your pocket to spend as you wish. If you have a FRM that is at least 0.5% above the current interest rate, you can benefit from checking out the possibilities of refinancing your home. If you can afford to pay off a portion of the mortgage when you refinance, it will help you cut years off the term.

Debt consolidation loans are a great way to simplify your finances. You do this by rolling your current debts into just one loan. You can do this in the form of a secured or unsecured loan. A debt consolidation loan will generally reduce your monthly outgoings and ease the stress of dealing with several creditors and juggling multiple monthly repayments.

A debt consolidation loan will increase your total amount of your debt by spreading your repayments over a longer period of time. This should have the effect of easing the pressure on your finances by replacing several monthly repayments with one lower payment.

If you choose a managed debt consolidation loan it can offer a solution to your financial difficulties and provide a way out of the borrowing cycle.

Is a Debt Consolidation Loan suitable for your financial situation?

A debt consolidation loan may be a suitable option for your requirements if you fall into any of the following categories:

1. You are juggling and paying several monthly payments and you want to simplify your debts into one monthly repayment.

2. You are struggling to meet your minimum monthly repayments on your credit cards, store cards and personal loans and would like to reduce the amount of your monthly financial outgoings.

3. You want to reduce the amount of interest you are paying on unsecured forms of borrowing such as overdrafts, credit cards and store cards.

Advantages of a Secured Debt Consolidation Loan include:

1. By providing collateral for the Secured Debt Consolidation Loan you may qualify for more attractive interest rates and loan terms. This is important for sub-prime applicants considered to be high-risk candidates for a loan.

2. You will generally be able to spread your repayments over a longer period of time. This should enable you to keep your monthly payment as affordable as possible.

Disadvantages of a Secured Debt Consolidation Loan include:

1. A longer loan length will generally result in a higher total loan cost; the longer you are repaying a set amount, the more interest you will repay overall.

2. The loan rate offered to you is more likely to be variable. This may make controlling your budget more difficult. Your repayments may increase in the event of a Bank of England base rate rise. If you are late with your loan payments you could be penalised with a rate rise on your loan.

3. If you fail to keep up with your loan repayments you will be risking your collateral, home or car etc, as the lender has the legal right to repossess your collateral, home or car etc , in order to settle your loan. As always you must personally evaluate the risk before taking a secured debt consolidation loan.