Finance Roll

Some time ago I attended a seminar where participants were told to burn some money; a reasonably-sized amount of money. You should have heard the gnawing and gnashing of teeth in that room! Step right up, folks, and light it on fire. Come on now. It's only money.

Some people, likely less adept at saving than others, actually rushed forward in an attempt to show how money had no hold over them. There was a principle in there somewhere. Not sure what it was.

Others cowered into the corner, refused to take out their wallets, looking for the exits. It does seem reasonable to me to avoid torching cash. After all, you've worked hard for it. Put in years worth of work and put off many luxuries to accumulate what nest egg you have. Burning it would somehow seem to indicate a crack in the psyche.

But what if I told you that many people are geared right up to burn tens of thousands of dollars? Oh, they're not going to march forward to the front of some hotel ballroom and pull out stacks of cash from a briefcase and toss them all onto a controlled, indoor bonfire. Nope. That's dramatic. Their method is much harder to picture, but let's try and create a vivid picture nonetheless.

Imagine a retired widow or widower. Or, perhaps, a senior single person. A person who is finished working, and has been enjoying the fruits of their savings. They have accumulated several hundred thousand dollars in their RRSP, which has since been transferred to a RRIF. They receive income from this RRIF. Let's say it has $400,000 in it.

Like most of us, this person does not want to think about their own demise. Their focus is on their grandchildren, perhaps. Hobbies. The garden. Other things. They are, of course, surprised when they die, and even more surprised when they get a box of popcorn and a front row seat for the posthumous show called 'distribution of your assets'.

Let's go straight to the grand finale, shall we? In this last part of the show, the contents of the person's RRIF are put in an over-sized briefcase, sawed in half, and one half is tossed onto the gigantic bonfire known now as the Canada Revenue Agency. Let me explain...

The proceeds of an RRSP or RRIF can roll, tax-free, to a surviving spouse without any tax consequences. In our example, however, there is no spouse to roll the proceeds to. As a result, the full amount of the RRSP or RRIF comes into income in the year of death. What happens when you get a sudden influx of cash? Say, $400,000 worth of cash? Well, first of all it will put you in the very highest tax bracket. Second, you're taxed. (Hence the idea of just sawing that over-sized briefcase in half and tossing one half on the bonfire.)

Not convinced. Okay, forget the bonfire idea. Instead, half of the briefcase contents, $200,000 in our example, are put into a box, tied up with a nice red ribbon and hand delivered to ... the Prime Minister. Like that better? Hmm.

Well, at least now you know what happens when you die. There's a big fire. There's gnawing and gnashing of teeth. People rushing for exits. And a few, good people, are sitting there calmly because they planned ahead, or had already gone through all of this at some weekend seminar.

Strategies do exist to avoid the erosion (torching) of your assets when you die. Talk to your financial advisor.

So, you've finally decided to put that faith in yourself and you're starting your own business. Perhaps you've got an idea that you've wanted to make into a reality for years, or perhaps you have just stumbled upon an opportunity you truly believe in. either way, the time has come to put your money where your mouth is, but the problem is that you don;t exactly have the money...yet. Applying for a business loan is the most common method of getting financing for your dreams, but though it is tempting to go for one of the many instant cash loans available you need to do your research, educate yourself about what's out there and most importantly, manage to get the right loan product for your needs! Here are a few tips to help you out along the way...

Have a Detailed Business Plan

Like any investment (which is what a bank will be making if they agree to give you a loan), the more information you can provide about it, the safer they will feel putting their faith and their money in you. A bank wants proof that you are able to turn a profit from the business you're proposing, or at the very least make enough money to cover the repayments you'll owe them. The best thing to do is to put together a detailed outline of the way you plan to roll out your business and the steps that you're going to take to achieve your goals. This is a valuable thing to have in any business whether or not financing is involved, because it is a way to stay on track with your objectives and to predict problems, challenges or opportunities that could arise before they do.

Collateral

Ideally you will be able to offset the loan against assets that you already own. Your house, (or the equity therein), your car and any other cash or assets that you have will be taken into consideration. It's crucial that you weigh up your options and consider what you stand to lose should the business fail as well as its long term prospects so that you make wise decisions rather than decisions based on your immediate desire to bring in money.

History

A lot of business loan products will require you to have been in business for some time already. This is why many people feel they have no option other than to go with the easiest fast loan they can get their hands on, because it can seem otherwise impossible to get a foot in the door. The important thing to remember is that anything you borrow will have to be paid back and that you'll have to do so under the conditions of the loan which may or may not be achievable. Always try to remain calm and objective about the decisions you make in this area--the heat of the moment dies off very quickly when the repayments start rolling around, and you don't want to be stuck with a debt you can;t pay back. Always do your research and have a plan---and then a plan B!

Nowadays, it's very expensive to be an American citizen. Prices have been escalating in different ways, such as in heating and gasoline, making everyday living much more expensive than it used to be. In order to go with the flow, it pays to be resourceful and frugal. By cutting back in one section of your budget, you will hopefully have more money to apply to another, to balance your finances. Here are a few ways that can help to cut back on costs.

Buy everyday items you use in bulk

For example, don't buy the measly, little four-pack of toilet paper at the grocery store. Buy the biggest package you can find, which gives you the most paper for the money. Consider both overall price and how much paper is on each roll. Look to see if you can get double or triple rolls in large sized packs for a good price. I buy my paper goods by the case through Amazon.com, and it saves me a lot of money. This works well with paper towels, too. the pick-a-size paper towels bought in bulk last a lot longer than the regular-sized paper towel sheets.

Stocking up on inexpensive but healthy food

Cut out most frozen foods, for example. Frozen TV dinners are quick to eat your budget so avoid them. Some frozen foods make sense, like buying frozen bread dough. It is cheaper to buy three or four unbaked loaves together, than to buy one loaf of bread in the bread section. Forego the fancy styles of bread until finances improve. You can dress up frozen bread dough by rolling it out, brushing it with butter and spreading cinnamon-sugar. Just roll it back up and bake. Voila, you have cinnamon bread. Throw in raisins or pecans for variety.

Buy less convenience foods, and more staples like dry beans, rice, fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, milk and butter (store brand.) For meat, freeze each piece separately, vacuum-sealed to keep the freshness in. Buy food in bulk whenever possible. Forego the nicely packaged pre-made honey butter, mashed potatoes, or other prepared foods. I love convenience like the next guy, but not when these foods aren't hard to make. Mashed potatoes are a good, healthy side dish, and are simple to make. Get a bag of potatoes and make your own, or a baked potato. Fresh and not as pricey as that small dish of the same thing, for a lot more cash. If you love yogurt, buy yogurt starter mix and make your own. King Arthur flour company is one online website where you can buy it.

Eat out less

When times are good, I eat or order out nearly every day. If my finances tighten up, going to restaurants or coffeehouses is the first thing I forego. Prying myself away from Starbucks was the hardest. Just figure how much going there every morning for a Caramel Frappucino costs, every week, of every month? By the end of the year it is a good chunk of money. Go once a week instead, buy the Starbucks brand coffee at the grocery store and brew your own during the rest of the week. You can buy a whole bottle of those fancy syrups (for those who cannot live without flavored lattes) from Starbucks for less than $10. One bottle of syrup lasts awhile. It is a lot more economical than having someone else make your drink for you. It's not exactly the same thing, but in a pinch, it will at least allow you a little splurge without feeling guilty.

If you must eat restaurant food, get the whole meal as a take-out. That saves you from buying pricey mixed drinks, paying gratuities, and buying that fancy dessert you couldn't live without but didn't need. Get the main meal and enjoy it at home. Ok, it's not as fun as eating at the restaurant, but you won't be deprived of that Blooming Onion you were craving, and think of the money you save overall.

Forget fast food completely

Fast food is a nationwide obsession. It's convenient, tastes good and you don't even have to leave your car to get it. Whatever. Get out of this habit, to curb money wasting. You can buy a big bag of frozen hash browns, a jumbo box of pancake mix and a large bottle of syrup for a lot less money every week. If you don't have time in the morning, make it the night before, then throw the meal in the microwave before going to work.

Think of less expensive recreational activities

Instead of going to the movie theater, buying popcorn and expensive tickets in prime time, take in an earlier (and cheaper) matinee. Or, better yet, wait and see the same movie on pay-per-view if you have cable. For those without cable, rent it at Blockbuster later. Maybe the movie won't be "new" when you see it, but you will save a bunch of money.

Call the museum or zoo and see if there's any price discounts for certain days of the week

In my hometown, the zoo had free admission every Monday. If taking a family of five is out of the budget during the weekend, wait until the free day and really enjoy yourself. Avoid the gift shop, because those always attractive items that draw you in and drain your wallet. The art or natural history museums are good places to go, too. Just call first, to see what kind of price cuts you can find.

Cut clothing costs

If you need to buy clothes, avoid any that need to be dry cleaned only. During tough times, shy away from outfits that have special care needs. Go for anything that can be thrown in the washer and dryer. Dry cleaning adds up quickly. If you own items that require it, wear them later when the budget improves, or only on special occaisions.

Use the car less

This is obvious but worth mentioning. Combine trips, so you aren't wasting gas. Avoid long road trips, especially if you have a gas guzzler. If your car don't require high-octane gas, forget about it. Regular works fine. If you live in the city, don't have far to go and taxis are plentiful, use them instead of your car. Where I live, it's cheaper to hire a taxi to drive me around locally, than to use my own car. To save even more money, use public transportation.

These ideas will get you started in thinking of alternatives to your regular money-spending ways. Even if you are saving only a few cents here or there, it all adds up at the end of the month. Every little bit helps. I know it isn't easy, but the goal is to get through a hard financial time. It doesn't have to be this way forever, just momentarily. We're all in this financial crunch together. The lucky ones aren't affected, but the rest of us are. Do your part to help yourself and your family. Hang in there, with patience and a little saving, money problems will hopefully pass quickly.

The monsoon season is here in Phoenix. If you've never experienced a monsoon in the desert, I recommend it highly. Over the last few days we've seen the storm clouds roll in and the rain come pouring down. We can get several inches of rain in just a few hours.

I like to sit on the patio and watch these buckets of rain fall.

Of course when I realized my roof had a leak, the monsoon suddenly lost some of its appeal. I of course quickly called a roofer to fix the small leak. This wasn't my first repair on the house. A short while back I had some work done on my kitchen and a bathroom. Of course I called a plumber. These projects were a bit beyond the skill set of a local handyman.

This got me thinking.

There's lots of specialization in the world these days . . . not just with roofers and plumbers but with everything.

You see it in your doctors, with most having some specialty. You see it in the supermarkets. There's 20 different types of olives, 50 different cheeses, and hundreds of types of wine. Your options are endless, and sometimes a little overwhelming.

I've found in the investing world it's even worse.

Decades ago your only real choices were bonds or stocks. Then Wall Street invented thousands of other securities. Investments like mutual funds, REITs, hedge funds, master limited partnerships, and now ETFs are widely available.

ETFs are my favorite selection out there.

When ETF's first hit the market I started incorporating them into my portfolio. ETFs provide a low cost way to invest in a diversified group of companies. They also give you real time pricing and trade intraday. Many of them also trade options. Some ETF's even let you short the markets.

I'm amazed at how crowded the ETF world is becoming.

The first ETFs were based on broad market indexes like the S&P 500 and the Russell 3000. Now you can buy ETFs that are focused on narrow sub-industries like medical companies working to cure certain diseases. And the expansion continues. Recently one of the big ETF companies started rolling out ETFs mirroring commodities like oil, gold, cotton, cocoa, and livestock just to name a few.

The specialization that's available is amazing. With such a wide variety of ETFS, you can optimize your investment portfolio any way you like.

The more specific the better.

Being able to break investments down into small sub-categories is great. You can buy the industries that are going up - like oil and gas, and avoid the industries that are falling - like banking and retail.

Solar is one of those hot industries that's benefiting from the recent run up in energy prices. Seven years ago you couldn't give away shares in a solar company. Now with oil quickly approaching $150 a barrel, it's seen as the alternative energy godsend.

There are two new ETFs that invest exclusively in the solar industry. First is the Claymore Solar ETF (TAN). The other is Market Vectors Solar Energy ETF (KWT).

Both focus on companies that generate a significant portion of their revenue from solar sales. With oil making new highs every day you'll see more and more focus on energy infrastructure. These stocks will really benefit from higher oil prices.

But there's a problem.

Neither of these funds holds more than 30 companies, making their investment universe quite small. This also adds to their volatility. It's not uncommon to see some of the solar companies fluctuate by 10% or 20% in a day. This can create some incredible volatility in the ETFs.

Recently we've seen this industry volatility to the downside. Both ETFs are off 15% or more. I think this is a great opportunity to take advantage of. We can use this downtrend to pick up these solar ETFs on the cheap.

Solar has a significant place in the future of our energy infrastructure . . . as an investment it will shine regardless of the weather.

An alternative to a regular savings account is a savings certificate, also known as a certificate of deposit (CD) from a bank, savings and loan, brokerage firm or as a share certificate from a credit union. CD's earn money at a higher rate of interest than savings accounts. By signing up for a CD, you agree to leave money with the savings institution or brokerage firm for a specified period of time. Many factors go into deciding on a certificate of deposit. Below are a few guidelines for finding one.

Minimum Deposit Amount

When comparison shopping for a CD, ask, "What is the minimum deposit amount required?" A typical minimum requirement is relatively affordable and required to earn the institution's disclosed interest rate and annual effective yield. However, some savings institutions may require minimum deposit amounts that are much more expensive.

Length of Maturity

Typical maturities for CDs are seven to 31 days, three, six, 18, 24, 30, 36, and 48 months. Some institutions offer flexible maturities, allowing investors to select a CD length that matures precisely on the day they have a need for the money. Typically, the longer the maturity and the larger the dollar amount placed in the CD, the higher the yield.

How Often Compounded and Credited

Compounding generally means that interest is being accrued on earned interest. Crediting interest to the CD may be done annually, semiannually, quarterly, monthly, or daily. Some institutions indicate that interest compounds every day, but that the interest is not credited until quarterly, at maturity, or even when cashed in. Other institutions do not pay accrued interest if an account is closed before the interest is credited.

Penalty for Early Withdrawal

Institutions often advertise a "substantial penalty for early withdrawal." For example, the disclosure statement from one bank revealed a minimum penalty equal to seven days simple interest on a 3-month certificate while another institution imposed a penalty of one month's interest. On a 24-month certificate of deposit, one institution imposed a penalty of seven days simple interest while another imposed a penalty of three months. If the account does not earn enough interest to cover the penalty, the difference is deducted from the principal of the CD.

Method of Interest Payment

Typically, there are four ways you can receive interest that is earned on a CD.

1) leave interest in the account and add to the certificate balance so that the interest earns interest at the same rate of the CD;

2) have the interest mailed quarterly or monthly in the form of a check;

3) have the interest credited to a checking account (in cases 2 and 3, you are not receiving the benefit of interest compounding on interest); and

4) have the interest credited to a savings account, but the earnings are receiving the lower savings account rate rather than the higher CD rate.

Certificate Maturity

Find out the policy of the financial institution when a certificate matures. Is the money rolled over automatically into a new certificate without changing the interest rate? Such action works to your disadvantage if interest rates have increased. Are funds transferred into a lower-paying regular savings account or a checking account if the money is not rolled over? Are the funds renewed at the latest rate? Does the institution provide notification of an upcoming maturity date? Or are you expected to remember it?

Other Services

Do the institutions offer other services as incentive to deposit funds with them? There are a lot of benefits for CD holders, ask around and see what services seem most important to you.

Our college-bound son just bought his first home at 21. He was able to buy a home for forty thousand under the appraised price, get a low interest rate, finance the closing costs, and pay no money down. How could he possibly do this? His credit score is over 700.

You can help your teenager prepare for his or her financial future by establishing a high credit rating. Offer your teenager these three crucial credit tips for a great financial future:

1. Start early. Begin by successfully managing a checking account-- the first credit requirement. Wells Fargo Bank has a program for children to open joint accounts with a parent as young as 13 years of age. For a free individual checking account, Washington Mutual requires a minimum age of 18 or a manager's approval for younger account holders.

2. Apply for a major credit card at 18. It's easier to get a first-class credit card with favorable rates and terms while a student attends college before the age of 22. Why do banks want to open accounts for students who have no credit history or employment? Because lenders know that college graduates in general make more money and also pay their bills on time. Also, most consumers don't like shopping around for credit and tend to keep their credit accounts. Therefore, lenders desire to establish strong relationships with the preferred market early in their credit experience.

This doesn't mean that you as the parent need to co-sign; banks expect parents to help out with the payments when necessary. Just be crystal clear with your child what you expect regarding debt management. The purpose is to teach responsibility and to establish credit--not to go into debt.

3. Manage the credit card account with credit scores in mind. Once the account is opened, encourage your child to use the card for necessities that would be purchased with cash--not luxuries--and to pay the debt before finance charges accrue. However, don't pay the entire balance off each month; let a little roll over at least every two months. Banks don't appreciate accounts paid in full each month. More important, paid accounts don't factor into the credit score as much as an account with a low balance.

Explain to you teenager that the purpose of using a credit card is to establish good credit. To do this, a credit card should never have a balance over 50% of the available credit. The best credit scores have accounts with only 10% of the credit line used.

Setting up a checking account and a credit card account helps your teenager learn about responsible money management, with the bonus of building strong credit to finance a home.

(c) Copyright 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher All rights reserved.

The financial business is adding new terms and neologisms every month due to the increasingly complexity of personal finance and commerce or business relationships. However, for someone that is not familiar with all this jargon it turns very difficult to understand even the basic explanatory brochures or articles explaining common products. To clear some basic concepts, following is a list of common terms used frequently on financial flyers and other pieces of writing.

Collateral, Guarantee, Security

There are two types of loans out there: Secured and unsecured. Unsecured loans are awarded to people without other assurance of repayment than their word (signature) or personal credit. This means that if the borrower fails to repay the loan, the lender has no other means of claiming his money than taking the debtor to court on a long and tedious legal process.

Secured loans on the other side provide the lender with an additional protection. An asset is pledged as guarantee of repayment and in the event of default (lack of repayment), the lender can either repossess the asset or obtain the money owed by forcing its sell on a public auction. The asset pledged as an assurance of repayment is indistinctively referred to as: Collateral, Security or Guarantee.

Provisional Financing, Refinancing, Restructuring, Roll Over Agreement

These terms are often used with different meanings but with the intent of clarifying financial jargon, we suggest the following uses for the terms: Provisional financing refers to a short term loan or line of credit that is used for buying the borrower some time till a more convenient and definite loan can be obtained; Refinancing implies the cancellation of a previous loan with the money obtained from a new one that has different terms (usually lower monthly payments either because of a lower rate or a longer repayment program); Restructuring often implies a series of refinancing agreements that imply more than one debt and more drastically term changes than a simple extension of the repayment program; Finally, a roll over agreement implies the postponement of the loan repayment by obtaining approval for an identical loan with the same lender.

Delinquency, Default, Bad Credit

These terms are often used on articles and flyers about personal financing and non-traditional financing. People that have to face financial difficulties often damage their credit by paying late debts that are due, or missing a payment or missing several consecutive payments. All of these are recorded on the debtors' credit report and hurt their credit stance lowering their score.

The above situations are referred to as delinquencies: paying late or missing payments. Failing to repay the loan (missing several consecutive payments) is known as default and usually leads to the debt being sold to collection agencies that will try to claim the money by different means. Finally, the consequences of default and delinquencies on your credit along with other problems like excessive debt have a negative impact on people's credit which is known as bad credit, poor credit or low credit score.

Principal, Interest, Term

The Principal is the amount of money that is lent by the lender to the borrower and has to be repaid. The Interest is the price of the transaction: This price can be expressed as an overall amount but unless the loan is a short term loan, it is usually expressed as a rate or percentage. The term is the period of time for the loan repayment; it can refer to the overall repayment period including the repayment deadline but it can also refer to the repayment frequency whether you have to make monthly, biweekly or weekly payment.

The truth is, anybody can put a deal together. At it's most basic, it's a simple process of agreeing on terms and then spending a couple of quality hours making sure every i is dotted, and every t is crossed. There's really not a lot of mystery to it...unless, of course, you're looking to do it with no money down. Then it becomes something more than a mystery.

It becomes an art.

There is a variety of ways to accomplish the coveted No Money Down Deal. None are particularly tricky or unusually complicated. Where the art comes in is finding the additional parties required to make these deals work and, more importantly, discerning which No Money Down Technique will work best given the individual situation.

Creative, no money down deals were something of a necessity for me when I was starting my business. I had no money, so I had to figure out creative ways to put deals together using OPM...Other Peoples Money! What I found as my business grew was the techniques remained reasonably constant regardless of size when it came to putting my deals together; the key thing that changed was the number of zeros on the checks! As such, nearly all of my real estate assets have been acquired using one of my 5 Favorite No Money Down Techniques.

Owner Financing

Owner financing is when the current owner agrees to sell you their property and essentially acts as the bank for your transaction. In this scenario, the seller is selling you their property, and they are lending you the money to buy it with! This is one of the greatest techniques to use, especially if you are in a situation where you have absolutely no money, or if you have bad credit history and will have trouble qualifying for a loan.

Owner financing is not that uncommon when dealing with an owner that owns a property free and clear, this is sort of a win-win situation. For you, it's a way to reach a financial agreement that does not entail putting money down. For the seller, it's a way to, in the long run, possibly make more than the sale price off a given property.

I own a 17 acre parcel of prime land in Augusta that I bought with 100% owner financing. I found this property by looking on a map at areas I would be interested in buying land. From there I contacted the listed owner on the tax records. It turned out her father had bought the land 50 years ago. She had inherited it, and owned it free and clear, but was too old to do anything with it. Over the course of a few weeks of negotiation, I developed a relationship with the owner, who happened to be a real estate agent. I agreed to give her the exclusive right to sell anything I did with, or developed on the land, in turn, she carried 100% of the financing for me. It was a perfect win-win situation.

Two-Step Refinance

The secret here is getting your name on the title. Then, you can immediately refinance the property and work the deal with the difference between the appraised value and the actual purchase price.

Step One: Acquire the property with financing from any resource available; a bank loan, private money, credit card, owner financing, etc. The objective here is simply to get on title. If this process is approached correctly, this will be a very short term loan. Typically under 30 days. As such, it may be acceptable to look at a much higher interest rate than you normally would with long term financing.

Step Two: Refinance the property for 80% of Appraised Value. If the property is bought right, 80% of appraised value will cover all acquisition costs, repair costs, holding costs, and some front end profits.

This was the technique I used on my very first deal, before I even knew it was a technique. I found this approach entirely by accident. It was an accident however that was so profitable that I built the foundation of my single family business on this one technique. Not knowing any other direction to go with buying my first investment property, I began networking. I talked with everyone that would listen about my new deal, and my new business. Fairly quickly I was introduced to a small local lender who introduced me immediately to the mortgage arm of her bank. The mortgage lender pre-qualified me to refinance the property as soon as I owned it. With this commitment in place, the small local lender gave me a 100% loan to buy the property. Once I had bought the property and was on title, the mortgage lender began the underwriting process. In under 30 days, I had new financing in place that paid off my loan with the local branch, gave me all my rehab money, and put an additional $11,000 in my pocket at the closing!

In time, I learned there are a plethora of techniques to get on title without getting a bank loan for the first step. Over time, this has saved me thousands and thousands of dollars in loan fees.

Equity Investment Partner

This one is pretty straightforward. You find someone that has the down payment money for your deal and partner with them. They bring the money to the table, you bring the deal. It is again a win-win situation, for without you, the investor has no where to invest their money.

How you split the ownership interest is where the art, the creativity really comes into play. There are as many ways to structure a partnership as there are deals to structure partnerships around. For me, I began by following the KISS principle...Keep It Simple (Insert your favorite S-adjective)...I brought the deal to the table, my partners brought the money. We split everything right down the middle, 50/50. We split cash flow, equity growth, appreciation, everything.

In fact, I still structure some of my partnerships in exactly the same way. In January of 2006, I bought a 232 unit complex in Oklahoma City with 7 other partners. In this deal, I structured the ownership split in the same fashion as with some of my early single family house deals. I brought the deal together and retained 50% of the ownership. My cash investors then split the other 50% proportionately depending on their investment.

Another example of an ownership split; let's say you find an investor willing to put down 20 percent as a down payment. In return, they get 20 percent of the cash flow from the property and, when and if sold, 20 percent of the profits.

Of course, as I mentioned there are literally thousands of options for structuring your equity partnerships. My recommendation is to start simple, then as you gain a greater understanding of how to put your deals together, get creative. Think outside the box and look for that angle that no one else can see on the deal to make maximum profits!
Private Money

Private Money Lenders have cash available from time to time to make collateral based loans. These individuals will typically be much cheaper than the hard money rates and their terms can be much softer as well. Many of these individuals will look to you for what you are willing to pay rather than telling you their requirements. It would not be unusual to get money at 8% to 12% with no points and no pre-payment penalty.

Don't abuse these lenders! If you treat them right, you will have more money pushed at you than you can find good deal to place the money. More than a few investors have promised to pay the interest while the money sat in a bank account waiting for a new deal. This is extremely dangerous. When they didn't find a deal, they used the loan principal to pay the interest. Even worse, the investor feeling the pressure to get the money working, purchased property where the deal was mediocre. Then there was no room for contingencies or mistakes. The investor may have gotten into a property where there was no profit or where there was no resell market. In any case, the investor and lender were stuck. Have any private lenders send their funds directly to the attorney or title company closing the deal. The private lender then gets the note and security instrument back properly executed and filed. This is the best way to protect you both in a business like manner that the lender will respect.

More people than you realize would like to dabble in the real estate market. Many, however, would like to start small. Here's an idea that's good for them and you. By borrowing a down payment from a friend, business acquaintance or relative, you can offer them the thrill of real estate investment - and an eight to twelve percent return on their money - and you are able to enter the deal with no money down. Here's the best part. After a couple of successful deals, you may find that you no longer have to hunt for down payment investors. The quick and notable return on investments will soon have prospective finance rs coming to you.

Hard Money

Hard money lenders are referred to as such because they lend primarily on the hard asset values rather than the credit of the borrower. These lenders are sometimes referred to as collateral-based lenders as well. With a hard money lender you will not have to worry about your credit or how many other loans you have outstanding. Mind you, the money can be expensive. Hard money terms vary by private lender as well as by economic conditions. Today you will find most hard money from about 12% and 3 points up to the 15% and 5-10 points. In addition, there may have a "back end" fee to the lender when the loan is paid off referred to as a prepayment penalty.

Hard money loans can be ideal for borrowers in the following situations:

1. A property can be purchased at a bargain price if it can be closed quickly, requiring immediate financing.

2. To save a property from foreclosure.

3. Poor credit where traditional financing sources are reluctant to lend.

4. Environmental problems with the property where traditional financing sources don't want to lend until the property is cleaned up.

5. Property is not up to standard (significant repairs, possibly high vacancies or does not have enough of a track record to satisfy permanent financing sources). Cash is needed to bring the property to the point where it can qualify for permanent financing.

One of my first mentors once told me you can expect to get either the price or the terms. This is a great alternative when the price is just not right. Often, a No Money Down Deal can be secured when a higher interest rate is offered. The thing to be wary of here is that if the deal doesn't turn out to be the big winner you were looking for, you could find yourself saddled with those rates for some time.

It would be nice if finding private money for your real estate projects were as easy as going to a broker who would match you up with someone who wanted to lend their personal funds. Well, it is not that easy. One of the core differences a successful real estate investor and those that are not successful is persistently taking action. It is just as true here. Finding the money for your first few projects will be one of the hardest aspects of building your business. Persistently take action to find the money for your deals. Just remember that "No Money Down" does not mean free. Investment abhors a vacuum; if you aren't putting up money, you're going to be putting in something just as valuable - sweat (mental or otherwise) and smarts. So roll up your sleeves, and let's go to work!

Many tools are at the disposal of people looking to sell a home. If the buyer is unable to qualify for a conventional loan but has verifiable income and credibility, then a seller should consider alternatives to conventional financing.

Buyers and sellers are going to have to come out of the box of the conventional when it comes to financing in the coming years.

The foreclosure rate for those with sub prime lending is beginning to see a plateau and will soon come to an end.

But, what about the people who are now being affected in a different way?

Maybe you did not have a sub prime loan. Maybe your job was connected to the housing industry. Many jobs were connected to the housing industry, and when the bubble burst it was more like a damn rupturing and flooding this economy with strife.

We are now in a time of change. We have to change the way we earn, spend, and save our money. Change does not just stop there, we have to roll with the new lower economy and learn techniques to keep us advancing.

Now is not the time to stand idly by, thinking you cannot own a home. Now is the time to become creative with home ownership.

Many people still believe in the American Dream of home ownership.

Another technique to use is lease with the option to buy. This is probably one of the more liked techniques by buyers.

With an option, if you are unsure of the house, you can walk away at the end of the option period. For example, you were thinking of buying an older home in a more mature community. You found a seller who plans on moving to another state. The seller agrees to lease their house to you with a minimal option amount of money.

At the end of the lease option period, you decide the community and or the house was not what you were looking for. With a lease option you can either exercise the option to purchase, or walk away with no further obligation.

The seller however would keep the option money and have to look for another buyer, if they decide not to move back into the house.

In this situation no one really loses. The seller does not lose because they keep the option money. The buyer does not lose because they have the flexibility to move without the hassle of selling a home.

Many buyers with a lease option decide to stay in the home. After a few years the home is normally worth more than when the contract was signed. People with lease option find it easier to qualify for conventional financing at the end of the contract period. One factor being the home has more equity, and time is the other factor.

The time period of the lease option would be from three to five years; a person would have time to rectify any negatives on their credit reports.

With our nations current credit crunch, and the tightening of lending requirements it is now time to think outside of the box of the conventional.

The aforementioned techniques in part one and two, are just a couple of ways to sell or buy a house. Both parties need to make sure this is what they wish to do and no one should just trust anyone and let them stay in their home.

Even with owner financing there are still requirements, it is just the requirements are not financial barriers from owning a home.

When you are applying for a car loan or any form of loan for that matter it is always advisable to seek some kind of loan advice before committing to any one company. You can seek independent loan advice from a specialist company who deals with this or you can seek advice from a finance company. The best finance companies should be able to offer you some form of guidance, therefore take advantage of any expert advice offered before making your final decision.

What should you look for when applying for a loan?

When you are applying for a loan you should consider the following:

- How much you can afford to spend on repayments
- How long do you want to borrow the money for?
- Interest rates
- Are you in a stable job?
- Your credit rating
- Do you have the funds for a deposit?
- Do you have all the required documents?
- Have you factored insurance in to the cost?

You should make sure you have thought about and prepared for everything in the above list before applying for a loan. Therefore if you have not considered everything on the list above, your car dealer should be able to help you and guide you through the process.

What do you need to apply for a car loan?

If you are planning on applying for a car loan, then you are going to need to tick everything off the following list.

- Good Credit
- No CCJ's
- Full time stable employment
- Full UK driver's license
- Proof of address (last three to six months)
- Bank statements (last three to six months)
- Three to six months' payslips
- Registered on Electoral roll
- Address information for past five years

If you don't have any of the above then it is a good idea to acquire them, for example if you don't have sufficient bank statements you can order them from your bank branch or over the phone. If you are not registered on the electoral roll contact your local council and register as soon as possible. Check with credit reference agencies such as Experian to make sure your credit file does not have any adverse information on it. If you have adverse information on your file that is an obvious error you can contact the credit reference agency to enquire about having it removed. Any adverse credit will lead you to get declined and multiple failed credit applications reduce your credit score. Therefore make sure your credit is in good standing before making any kind of finance application. Remember; make sure you take on board any loan advice from the company before you sign on the dotted line.

Identifying your Goal

Often a project begins with a vague statement that goes something like this, "I'm going to buy and renovate a house for $100k". By itself there is nothing wrong with the statement. However, what is lost in translation is exactly how this will happen. Stating the known and unknown specifics early in a project's life cycle can help an investor avoid creating a money pit that becomes a drain on any resource that comes within view of the mail box. When creating a project plan for the purchase and renovation of a new project, investors should seek to be as specific about their goals as possible. A more concise statement might look something like this:

"My purchase and renovation project is to purchase a single family home with at least 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms in the Parkview elementary school district. With a purchase budget of $90k and a renovation budget of $40k. The expected completion of renovation will be 90 days from the date of closing."

Creating a statement in this manner begins to clearly set expectations and shape the methods by which you will make your decisions. It will also provide the framework for the criteria you set for vendors who will be doing the work. Naturally, tighter timelines make for more expensive projects. While limited budgets reduce product and labor options. All of these factors will play a part in quality and timeliness of transitioning from an account receivable to an account payable.

The Theory of Setting Goals

Goal setting on an investment project is just as unique as the property being renovated and the person renovating it. These projects are like snowflakes, each one is different. With that said, there are a number of items that can be "scripted". Many investors tend to prefer to purchase properties in the same general vicinity. This strategy works well when dealing with the administrative processes of obtaining permits, working with vendors, and providing a close proximity when managing multiple projects. Additionally, building strong relationships with vendors provides a level of consistency with the work you can expect as well as with pricing for labor. Utilizing these two simple strategies can go a long way to mitigating costs and delays in your project.

Let's say you are a little loose with the dice and you are willing to roll them on a good deal. In this case you can expect a number of variables to invade your project like an army of ants to a picnic. But that's not to say you shouldn't pursue these projects. High risk tends to lead to great rewards. However, it is important to be specific with your goals, but flexible with your implementation. You will need to pay close attention to the cause-effect relationship between unknown risks and known variables.

How you react to these unknown variables early in the project will impact your decisions down the road. Simply put, higher risk ventures require stricter project statements, and should be broken into several projects that can be dependent on each other or run concurrently. For instance, one of the projects of your rehab project may entail managing the administrative processes of permitting, variances and zoning. The remaining projects will be dependent on the results of the administrative process. On the other hand, the projects for repaving the driveway and fencing the yard may run concurrently based on approved permits in the administrative project. Essentially, the key is to take smaller bites of the total project with the big picture in mind.

Choosing your Team

One more major, but brief point in the planning process relates to choosing vendors and partners. First I will start with partners. I've heard all kinds of stories about partnerships and renovation projects going to Hades in a hand basket. When working with partners it cannot be stressed enough that the partnership be in lock-step about the direction of the project. Otherwise it is INSTANTLY (yes, INSTANTLY) doomed. Even if the goal setting and planning process takes more time to complete, it is better to arrive at a consensus BEFORE cutting checks than after. And like Bubba from the movie Forrest Gump, "That's all Imma say about that".

Working with vendors is a much more fluid operation. Taking bids is the most "efficient" way to get rolling on your project. But as the saying goes "you get what you pay for" in many cases, so the cheapest isn't always the best. Since you have built your plan around your stated goals, you have the foundation for stating your constraints to the vendor and providing them with the criteria required in order to call the project a success. We will discuss this subject more later, but suffice it to say that choosing your vendors using expectations and timelines is a much better method than price alone. Remember, each day that your project is delayed results in money out of your pocket. A good vendor will recognize this, they will work within the constraints you set, or provide alternate timelines that you can make informed decisions on.

Recognizing Risk and Constraints

Finally, identifying constraints exposes the hurdles, troughs, bushes, barbed wire, and landmines you will have to negotiate to arrive at a successful project. I mention this last instead of first not due to lack of importance, but to spike an exclamation point into the planning process. Vendor availability, material availability, financial liquidity, and time management all play a role in the feasibility of a project. Recognition and adjustment to these variables will have a strong impact on the success of your project and on the costs associated with it. Utilizing the planning processes previously mentioned will help provide the insight needed to expose the constraints that will cost you money later in your project.

The easiest way to identify and quantify constraints is to list out activities that you as the investor have little or no control over when or how it is completed. For example, required inspections, connections to municipal utilities, availability of materials and labor are all examples of risk that lead to constraints. You should seek to plan contingencies and prepare for delays due to timing with these types of events. Recognizing outside influences that can impact your project will help keep things on track.

This article looks at a few common and not so common options that you may have available to you for bad credit car loans. It's much easier than many imagine to get approved if you have a job with sufficient income and meet some basic criteria.

One very smart way to go...

Do you own a home? One of the smartest ways to get a great bad credit car loan is to take out a home equity loan. The interest rates are much lower than most bad credit car loan companies charge and the interest is also, drum roll please... tax deductible as mortgage interest. This is one creative and advantageous way of getting the money you need for a car with a secure financing option.

One not so smart way to go...

Buy here, pay here places (those dealerships that you see with signs offering to finance anyone) are popping up everywhere. These are usually small local dealers that have high mileage used cars. They offer to finance anyone that walks through the doors usually, that has a down payment (to cover the cost or a portion of the car) and a job. This is akin to purchasing a vehicle from a pawn shop due to the high interest rates and the pricing (they're betting that you don't look at an used car pricing guide). If you're in a bankruptcy or just have credit that's "tore up from the floor up" then this is an option for getting back on your feet (or off of them).

One not so common option some have...

Local banks (credit unions included) are an option for some if you have an open account with them that is in good standing. Even after a bankruptcy, if you've kept your payments current with a local lender that has treated you well (and you've reciprocated with timely payments) then it's a good idea to check with them first before going elsewhere. You may be surprised what knowing someone can do, too!

One way many are choosing these days...

Online companies that specialize in bad credit car loans and helping people find lenders based on their credit situation/obstacles are some of the best places to look. There are many websites that offer this service, yet you have to be cautious in this day and time to make sure that you're dealing with a good, solid and legitimate company.

No matter where you live in the world, it is the nature of the economy of the world today that a number of jobs are transitional. The availability of jobs is never fixed because companies have to evolve in order to move forward from year to year. The economies of various countries have to roll with the demand in order to meet it and thus must tailor their products and services offered to that. As a result, some workers will consent to act on a temporary basis.

Temporary employment can lead to a job in all kinds of industries, temporary finance jobs for example. It may be that some employees stay a week to fulfil a specific role whereas others stay on for months and make work towards turning their temporary finance job into a permanent position. Although temping is not a common thing in the workplace, it has a valid function today.

If you are looking for an entry point into the finance industry then a temporary finance job may be the way to go. Various corporations and companies have a large number of employees and do not want the hassle of going through the recruitment process every day to fulfil the job roles needed. Temporary finance jobs fulfil the roles for them. Agencies are employed to recruit people to fulfil the temporary finance job roles and then the company will choose to hire individuals from the temporary contracts that individuals are given. Having a temporary finance job is just like trying out for the role in effect.

People from all walks of life and educational backgrounds are competing to get a foot in the door of the financial industry via a temporary finance job. Even those with college degrees in accounting and finance are looking at it as an entry route into the industry. You can choose a specific sector of the industry and work your way in from there. The levels of pay vary but it will give you relevant experience that may lead to something much bigger in the future.

There are several ways to find a temporary finance job. Obviously you could check jobs websites and adverts in the local papers. However, joining an agency may actually work out to be your best option when it comes to applying for a temporary finance job. The industry tends to go through specialist agencies in order to find potential long-term candidates. You can often search an agency's website for a temporary finance job if they assign you a password. There is bound to be something on there for you.

It can be extremely difficult to get into the financial industry [http://www.temporaryjobshelp.com/Temporary_Job_Placement_Agency/] today with competition for highflying jobs and careers being as ruthless as it is at the moment. It can be very difficult to get a foot I the door to begin with. A temporary finance job can get that entry for you. The rest is then up to you. If you make the most of your opportunity then who knows where it may lead

It seems that no one in the Berkeley City administration recognizes the massive failings inherent in the Berkeley FIRST solar plan. However well intentioned the plan was to begin with, the solar industry has been changing too rapidly for anyone to have seen the present coming, and B FIRST arrived DOA.

Clearly, for the past years, solar did not pencil out for any user with a bill under $45 dollars a month. Even when switching to Time of Use billing, the federal tax credit of $2,000 on residential systems kept solar out of reach for conservative power users. But almost to the day that Berkeley rolled out the program, the fed signed the new tax credit, and lifted the residential cap. As of January 1st, residential solar installations will be eligible for a 30% tax credit, a difference of up to $10,000 dollars.

What the B FIRST program officials (and surely anyone who actually takes the bait) don't seem to be aware of, is that the federal government will only allow application of the tax credit to one's actual cost basis in the system. Specifically, to avoid "double dipping," systems purchased with municipal bond funding are ineligible for the tax credit.

So, when purchasing one kilowatt of solar for $10,000 (with $1,900 rebated from PG&E), the B FIRST customer will string $8,100 on a 20 loan, at higher than market rates, with no prepayment option, which hits their tax bill every six months. Anyone else will purchase the same $10,000 worth for $8,100, then receive 30% of that ($2,430) in tax credits. If they're smart, they'll pay down their loan to $5,670. On a 4 kW system, that's $32,300 vs. $22,680.

With the loan fixed on their property tax bill, B FIRST customers will NEVER be able to sell their homes, as any intelligent buyer will run the numbers and see that they'll be buried in taxes. Those wishing to simply get the free ride from the city will pay 50% more for it. That is, if they can get it.

The primary problem with the B FIRST program is that the bond finance doesn't get processed until after PG&E has signed off on the system, and can't be assigned to the contractor. This means that the monies don't come through for at least a month after the project is completed, and the client will have to be trusted to fork them over. The solar installer, who typically contracts for 70% of the project costs up front just to pay for the panels, will need to hold the bag on 20-40-60 thousand dollars for two months after the contract signing.

Ain't gonna happen babe.

Either the installer pool for Berkeley will be limited to megacorporatesolar.com, who can afford to wait two months for their dough, or B FIRST clients will need to finance the system themselves, then pay that finance off with the more expensive B FIRST program. I think the intellectual curve of Berkeley citizenry will preclude that.

The great benefit of the B FIRST program is that it kept everyone in Berkeley waiting all year, so that they can now take advantage of the increased federal tax credit. Outside of that, it's Wake up and smell the Peets, Berkeley!

Jambalaya, Cajun hospitality and great music! This is what will greet every student group upon arrival in New Orleans or N'awlins (as the locals lovingly refer to their city). Being ranked #1 in ten categories in Travel & Leisure Magazine's 2009 "America's Favorite Cities" survey, the people of New Orleans really mean what they say..."Les Bon Temps Rouler!" (Let the Good Times Roll!). Perfectly melding French, African, Spanish, and American cultures, the result is a fun city brimming with educational museums, exciting attractions, Cajun/Creole food, incredible music, unique historical sites and, of course, Mardi Gras.

Food

The food, no matter where you go within the city, will certainly stir your taste buds. From scrumptious shrimp and oyster Po-Boy sandwiches, Jambalaya and Crab Chowder, to melt-in-your-mouth Cajun pulled pork, Muffuletta sandwiches, and seafood Gumbo, the Cajun/Creole flavors will surely please your palate. Make sure you don't forget dessert either! The delectable flavors of New Orleans desserts will meet and exceed your sugar cravings. Try a local favorite, Mississippi Mud Pie, a gooey chocolate filling on top of a crumbly chocolate crust served with vanilla ice cream; or try what New Orleans is famous for, Bananas Foster, created at Brennan's Restaurant. Bread Pudding is another favorite and comes in many different flavors including white chocolate, dark chocolate, banana rum sauce and more.

Favorite restaurants include Café du Monde, a New Orleans signature French café. Make sure to stop by the original location at 800 Decatur Street and watch as fresh beignets and French doughnuts are made. The only thing better than watching them being made though is eating them! Another restaurant, touted as the "Total Cajun Experience" is Michaul's Cajun Restaurant, featuring mouthwatering Cajun/Creole food and live Cajun music performed nightly. For a more formal setting, your group will enjoy Copeland's of New Orleans, where one will experience southern cuisine with an eclectic Cajun flair. In addition, student group favorites include Bubba Gump Shrimp, Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville, Hard Rock Café, the Steamboat Natchez Dinner Cruise and the Creole Queen Dinner Jazz Cruise.

Attractions/Museums

The French Quarter's most notable streets, Bourbon and Royal, offer student groups a unique architectural view of 18th century New Orleans. Extending 13 blocks from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue, Bourbon Street is mainly known for its party atmosphere and site of the Mardi Gras Parade. With many unique shops, restaurants and clubs, Bourbon Street is a "can't miss" part of your tour. On Royal Street, iron-laced balconies and outdoor patios adorn the street giving student groups a sense of 18th century architectural design, where more shops and restaurants are located.

One of New Orleans' most famous landmarks in the French Quarter isJackson Square. Called "Place d' Armes" until the early 19th century, it was renamed for the Battle of New Orleans hero Andrew Jackson. Jackson Square is surrounded by historic buildings like the St. Louis Cathedral, many Louisiana State Museums and the Upper Pontalba Apartments, the oldest apartment buildings in the country. Your student group can have their picture taken in front of the bronze statue of Andrew Jackson and his horse. Or, to get a great picture of the entire square, take your group to Washington Artillery Park, which overlooks the entire square.

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis King of France (the St. Louis Cathedral) is the oldest t Catholic cathedral in continual use in the country. The original structure, built in the early 18th century, was unfortunately destroyed in a fire in 1788. Rebuilt in 1794 and again in the 19th century, the church is now one of the most popular landmarks in New Orleans. Your student group can attend a Mass, explore the church or enjoy free classical concerts that occur frequently in the cathedral.

A visit to New Orleans would not be complete without a visit to Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World, where your group can peek behind the curtain and see Mardi Gras in the making. From concept to completion, the artists of Mardi Gras create and build the parade floats for the annual Mardi Gras celebration in both New Orleans and Universal Studios Florida®. This is truly a world of wonder, creativity and pageantry.

New Orleans offers over 40 museums including historical, art, Mardi Gras, family/children's, nature and religious museums. Some of the more popular museums include:

Old U.S. Mint Museum - Built in 1835, the Old U.S. Mint is the only building in America to have served both as a United States and a Confederate Mint. President Andrew Jackson advocated the Mint's establishment in order to help finance development of the nation's western frontier.

Louisiana's Civil War Museum - Louisiana's Civil War Museum is one of the largest repositories of Confederacy-related artifacts and memorabilia in the United States, in addition to being the oldest continuously operating museum in Louisiana.

The National World War II Museum - This museum is a must-see for history lovers and patriots. Designated by the U.S. Congress as the country's official World War II Museum, powerful images and extraordinary artifacts bring to life the American Spirit of courage, teamwork and sacrifice of the young men and women who won the war and changed the world.

New Orleans Museum of Art - The neo-classical, Beaux Arts-style New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) houses a $200 million collection spanning 4,000 years of art history in 46 galleries.

Ogden Museum of Southern Art - This museum is home to the most comprehensive collection of southern art in the world. Showcasing art encompassing 15 southern states and the District of Columbia, the museum celebrates the art, history and culture of the American south. Named an affiliate of The Smithsonian Institution in 2001, it was the first museum in Louisiana to receive this prestigious designation.

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas - Located next to the Mississippi River, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas houses 15,000 sea life creatures, representing nearly 600 species.

Audubon Insectarium - If it walks, crawls or flies, your group will have a good chance to see it on display at the Audubon Insectarium.

Audubon Zoo - The Audubon Zoo is a living outdoor/indoor museum filled with some of the rarest and most beautiful creatures of nature. The Audubon Zoo has 58 acres of animals in their natural habitats. The Zoo consistently ranks among the country's best.

Known as a popular destination for ghost hunters, New Orleans is also famous for its ghost tours, where many above-ground tombs abound. Due to the area's high water table, settlers were unable to bury their loved-one's caskets, so most of the tombs in the city are located above ground. There are many ghost tours you and your student group can tour. Explore one of the 40 cemeteries including the St. Louis Cemetery. Many famous New Orleanians reside in the St. Louis Cemetery including sugar-industry pioneer Etienne Bore, Homer Plessy (of Civil Rights case Plessy v. Ferguson) and Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau. A ghost tour of St. Louis Cemetery will provide your group with a hauntingly good time.

Of special note, a Cajun Pride Swamp Boat Tour is always a highlight for student groups. Experiencing the famous Manchac swamp is a highlight of student group itineraries. The tour takes your group back to the early days of Louisiana swamp and bayou explorations. Your group will see swamp creatures like alligators, snakes, many types of birds as well as the Cajun town of Frenier. This unique journey is one that your student group will always remember.

Music

New Orleans is known by many as the birthplace of Jazz and is an ideal destination to enrich your student performance groups' appreciation for jazz as well as many other types of music. It seems that when you walk through the streets of New Orleans, you constantly hear music. There are many musicians who perform throughout the French Quarter as well as other areas including parks, etc. For example, New Orleans Jazz Historical Park gives groups a chance to learn about the rich music history of New Orleans jazz. There are many free concerts and music workshops offered throughout the year, of which your performance ensembles can be a part of.

The Jazz and Heritage Foundation and French Quarter Festivals, Inc. host many free concerts and festivals throughout the year including Satchmo SummerFest, which celebrates the life of New Orleans-born trumpeter Louis Armstrong, the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Fest, the Congo Square Rhythms Festival, the French Quarter Festival and the Treme Creole Gumbo Festival, among many others.

From April through June, Lafayette Square hosts free concerts from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. Many bands perform many different types of music during the 12-week festival period.

If you are a middle school or high school band, orchestra or choir, performance opportunities are numerous throughout New Orleans. Performance sites include Jackson Square, Riverwalk Marketplace, the Creole Queen Dinner Jazz Cruise, the Steamboat Natchez as well as many local cathedrals. Workshops can also be pre-arranged at Loyola University for band, choral and orchestra ensembles.

On a More Serious Note...

Understanding what New Orleans has been through from the tragic events of Hurricane Katrina can be an important part of your student group travel tour. A visit to the 8th or 9th ward will reveal the ongoing rebuilding efforts and will give your students a chance to volunteer, thus embracing the theme of service. There are many opportunities for student groups to assist in these efforts including volunteering at Second Harvest Food Bank, helping to rebuild schools or paint homes, plus more.

Overall, New Orleans is a fun city with an energy that continually buzzes. New Orleans should be at the top of the list when educators are selecting destinations for their student group trip. With the many exciting attractions, historical museums, delectable food, incredible music opportunities, and rebirth projects, New Orleans will entertain your student group like no other city. The magic in New Orleans runs deep. When you leave, the fun and excitement goes with you.