What if mortgage re-financing were simplified? What if there were not so many pages in the legal agreements? What if you did not need a paralegal to understand it all? What if you really understood all that stuff you were signing?

What if you had time to read it all before the next Federal Reserve Rate hike next quarter? What if mortgage brokers had and easier set of paperwork so they could help more people re-finance?

What if the closing costs, fees and interest rate issues were easy to calculate to compare for consumers? What if you did not need to take level II college classes to mathematically calculate these things?

What if the average citizen did not spend 40% of their income toward their house payments and could save more money for college and not have to use those credit cards so much?

What happens if they keep raising rates and too many people had variable rates because they did not understand the problems associated and actual costs when rates rise very high?

What happens when the foreclosure rates increase because too many people had variable re-finances? What happens when too many foreclosed houses are for sale and cause decreased prices in housing market?

What happens when all those people who took equity out of their homes during a recent re-finance to pay off short-term credit card debt and then find out that their houses are worth less than their loan obligation? Will this also cause a cascading effect of more walk-aways and forclosures?

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Here is an interesting quotation from Stephen Walsh.

“We’re building up and tearing down, in everything we do. Are you on the construction gang or the wrecking crew?

Think about this statement and how it applies to you. Some have a difficult time in their lives as they have self defeating behaviors that continue to keep themselves stuck. As children, if we were raised in unhealthy families, we often learned ways of coping that worked while we were children. Eventually these coping strategies lose their power and affect as adults. Then, we often find ourselves in a state of crisis.

Are you helping or hindering yourself?

Imagine yourself with a beautiful bouquet of balloons walking into a room filled with many people. You want to share these balloons with others. Do you walk into a room filled with people holding hatpin’s? Or, do you walk into the room filled with smiling and friendly people?

Think about it! Sometimes professional help is needed to wade through the problems and crisis areas. There are many qualified counselors out there in every state. So take a chance.

Karlynn Baker is originally from California but moved to Arizona to receive her Master of Science Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling with a speciality in addictions. She owns The Employee Assistance Program of Tucson, Inc. helping contracted employees with mental health concerns. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor for the state of Arizona, and a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. She also shares a positive message every morning on KSAZ 580 AM. She enjoys life with her husband, David, her three daughters, and adorable grandsons.

When you need a mortgage — either because you are buying, refinancing, taking out equity or getting into investment real estate, you need a good mortgage professional. Now, you may be tempted to go to your local savings and loan, as they may promise lower fees or zero costs. Meanwhile, in virtually every case, banks can’t compete with mortgage professionals on the two most important things — interest rates and service.

Also, the banker who promises very low closing costs will probably be making his money on a higher rate, and he’ll likely try to sell you on discounting that higher rate, by paying a percentage of the loan amount. This is a common tactic bank loan officers use, and it is a very poor strategy in almost every case for you to buy a rate.

Finally, bank loan officers can’t come close to the service of a good, honest mortgage professional. When dealing with a bank, you have to go to them, you have to close your loan where they tell you to close, you can only get your interest rate locked in when you’ve jumped through all of their hoops (mortgage professionals can lock your rate the day you call, over the telephone).

Mortgage professionals are in the service business. Unlike bankers, mortgage professionals need you, because they work strictly on commission. So, they will do everything possible to make you happy, because they want your referrals, and they want you to come back every time you do a loan.
Good Mortgage professionals will treat you like you are their only customer. They give you their personal cell phone numbers and tell you to call them anytime of day. They meet you anywhere – home, work, your favorite coffee shop or restaurant, or any other place you designate. They go the extra yard to close your loan.

I once helped an elderly gentleman, on a fixed income, who needed to get cash from his house, in order to fix a dilapidated roof. He had 14 liens against his home, which made nearly impossible to refinance. I worked for a month, getting all of these items cleared. I even dealt with a bank collector, and got him to take thousands less for an old debt, just so we could close the loan and the man could stop the rain from coming into his home. Almost every bank loan officer would have sent this man away, because they don’t want to do this much work.

So, remember, you need a mortgage professional, when getting any kind of home or refinance loan. Be sure you get the best.

Mark Barnes is the author of the new novel, The League, the first work of fiction, based on fantasy football. He is also an investment real estate and home loan finance expert. Learn more about his suspense thriller at http://www.sportsnovels.com Get his free mortgage finance course at http://www.winningthemortgagegame.com

When examining the different asset classes, real estate is generally far less volatile than shares and real estate tends to be the haven that investors flock to when other asset classes are suffering.

It is true to say that investment properties can have many benefits in terms of building long-term wealth, but we must never forget that this wealth is not guaranteed!

Following the global real estate boom of the late 1980’s many investors learnt this hard lesson when they found their properties were worth far less than they had actually paid for them and the bottom seemingly fell out of the over-inflated market. The bottom did not truly fall out of the market however as all real estate retained value; the real estate market simply experienced an overdue rebalance and has gone on to build from this point of stability.

Since the booming 80’s ’sensible’ investments in real estate have still offered major attractions and advantages, and it is back to real estate that investors have turned in recent years.

With real estate prices in some countries soaring, and first time buyers struggling to get onto the first rung of the real estate ladder, many people are looking further a field for investment property opportunities.

A recent report in the UK highlighted a 130% rise in the value of farmland since the 1990’s for example – fuelled entirely by a new breed of non-farming buyers. With bricks and mortar real estate prices in the UK now so exorbitant, these non-farming buyers are looking for alternatives for their money.

They may be unable to afford real-estate investments and unwilling to risk their cash on the ever volatile stock market and so they are buying up fields and pastures to get in on the real estate investment game!

Others interested in property investment have been examining the real estate markets around the globe for value for money, return on investment, potential for growth and development, rental market opportunities and basic stability. With current research showing that up to one in eight Britons intend to purchase an overseas real estate within the next five years you can see that overseas real estate investment is very big business.

Relatively newly discovered property markets are opening up or expanding in countries such as North Cyprus, South Africa and Bulgaria for example – where potential buyers are afforded incredible value for money when it comes to real estate. The real estate market in countries such as these has been artificially restricted through the threat of war or political instability, and now with their recent history showing that they are stable countries with strong economies and populated and governed by those with a first world perspective, property investors are finding markets rich in diversity and potential.

Dubai is another country offering interesting real estate investment opportunities. Since May 2002 when the crown prince of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoom issued a decree allowing foreigners the right to buy freehold real estate there, the real estate market has exploded!

Properties available in Dubai range from modest one bedroom flats to freehold exclusive islands! And property there still offers very good value for money – furthermore the tax and business advantages in Dubai are very appealing and so real estate investment in Dubai is enjoying a buoyant upward trend.

And then there are the ‘old’ favourites – France, Florida and Spain for example are all countries with a long history of investment real estate appeal – especially for Britons and Northern European residents looking to escape the weather and invest in a home in the sun. Whether you are looking to secure a home for holidays, your retirement or you are looking for a long term investment opportunity these countries still offer the investor potential for real estate growth.

When it comes to considering real estate as an investment vehicle it is a tried and tested method used for attempting to secure long term gains – but as with any investment, gains, returns and security of investment are not guaranteed. Whether real estate investment is right for you and matches your circumstances and attitude to risk is something that you need to consider.

Rhiannon Williamson is an experienced publisher who has produced articles for leading travel and tourism guides and financial magazines. Her specialist knowledge about both travel and finance gives her site Shelter Offshore the unique ability to literally cover every single aspect of moving & living abroad – including the often less discussed offshore tax advantages that can be available when leaving our homeland.

I’ve taught the concepts of Design Psychology for many years, and I know how much it can empower a person, and allow them to create a fabulous home that sustains their emotions. Since it’s based on science, I know that Design Psychology is effective at turning plain spaces into happy places.

I discovered Design Psychology in 1985, when my husband and I purchased an 1878 Queen Anne Victorian and began a major renovation. After tearing everything out of the kitchen, we rebuilt the entire space, using concepts I’d learned while studying interior design. But when the project was complete, the feeling of the space was all wrong, so I began a fifteen-year search to learn about how design details influence our emotions.

Although I know a number of interior designers, Design Psychology differs from “traditional” interior design in that it acknowledges how our senses can profoundly react to many other factors besides those of basic interior design. The concepts of Design Psychology address elements of the human psyche that interior design doesn’t take into consideration.

Design Psychology also differs from the ancient practice of Feng Shui, although the two concepts are totally compatible. There’s no reason at all that homeowners can’t use both the techniques of Feng Shui and Design Psychology to enhance their homes. But after years of study, I have come to believe that Design Psychology is superior to Feng Shui, in large part because Feng Shui is based on superstition, while Design Psychology draws its concepts from science.

Through the use of Design Psychology, my husband and I have bought and sold 27 houses, to date. We begin by creating an overall design plan, based on our target market and selling season. Then, by using particular colors, patterns, props, and staging methods, we’re able to sell our homes quickly, and for thousands of dollars more than our competition.

Our senses react to the design choices we make, so choosing the wrong colors or patterns in wallpaper, fabric, or paint can negatively impact our senses. Design Psychology works, and if you’ll just take a little extra time to avoid making design mistakes, you’ll save MONEY and sell your home more quickly, both of which will have a significant effect on your bottom line when your sign the closing papers!

(c) Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

Professor Jeanette Fisher, author of Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars, Joy to the Home, and other books teaches Real Estate Investing and Design Psychology. For more articles, tips, reports, newsletters, and sales flyer template, see http://www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.com/pages/5/index.htm

This year’s Detroit Tigers own baseball’s highest winning percentage, at least at this point in the season, with about a third of the games in the record book.

At first, you might read this and say, well, so what? Somebody has to be on top, right?

But the Tigers are a franchise that hasn’t been competitive for DECADES. Comparatively, the famously losing Cubs have been in the fast lane, while Detroit has been asleep at the wheel.

What happened, enabling this squad to reverse its fortunes?

They made some smart moves, one of which was bringing Jim Leyland out of managerial retirement. Additionally, they weren’t afraid to obtain quality talent through trades, taking on alleged “attitude cases” and misfits along the way, who still had fire in the belly and proven skills.

But really, the lesson of the Tigers that we can all take to heart is this one:

They simply grew sick and tired of losing and they resolved to change the pattern.

Jim Leyland kicked his team in the rear side with an early season press conference in which he chastised them for their lackluster play, indicating it wouldn’t be acceptable to him or to the fans.

And from that point to this one, they’ve been on fire.

Take the hint, if you’ve been experiencing more than your share of rejection and disappointments.

Don’t tolerate them, anymore, and you’ll quickly find the road back to success!

It’s very easy to overlook health insurance while planning an education. In general, the majority of students don’t think about medical insurance. When you are in your teens you will typically believe that you will be alive forever so naturally you’ll not suffer from an illness. Unluckily, this is rarely the case however fit a person may be. Suitable student medical insurance is not merely a good idea, it is indeed an essential. Individuals who are covered by a parent’s medical insurance are more often than not covered up until their twenty third birthday. For students who do not currently have cover on a family plan, an essential part of planning for school will be finding an inexpensive medical insurance plan. What is essential in an insurance plan designed for college students? Deductibles: It is a yearly payment made before your health benefits start, similar to an auto insurance policy. For example, should your deductible be $500, you must to pay that sum prior to getting any payment from the plan. So what is a co-pay? When you have paid your deductible, normally for every doctor’s visit, medication, and procedure you’ll have to contribute a portion of the cost. This, in a nutshell, is co-pay. Exactly what does your insurance pay for? Many plans do include Health Maintenance Organization and Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA). This usually means certain specialists may be omitted from your list of health professionals or not be covered by your medical insurance plan. Most plans will provide a directory of approved providers, so look at that before selecting a health policy for students.

Catastrophic coverage: Restrictions are commonplace in medical insurance aimed at college students in particular concerning catastrophic illness, and for most health insurance for college students, the cover is usually significantly less than a standard insurance plan. What about the restrictions? Student health coverage policies commonly include limitations. Be sure to read over your insurance policy and find out what your insurance policy includes.

Keep any health insurance documents close to hand everywhere. Illnesses are not only not possible to predict, but they are most likely to happen when you do not expect them. Ensure you are conversant with the parameters specific to your inexpensive college health plan even should you be covered by your family insurance plan.

So you’ve seen every episode of High Stakes Poker and the World Poker Tour. You can likely recite the outcome of every event, not to mention every hand, and the new broadcasts of the World Series of Poker are already another year away.

Poker on TV can become much like an addiction of any other sort. You want to watch more hands, more people playing them, and more often. In its best way, it’s a great method to learn by watching more experienced casino players act: seeing what they’d do in a situation you have yourself been in and therefore improving your game as a result.

When all those shows, then have been digested, there is a world of poker entertainment viewing waiting online at most any hour. Many of these poker pros, and several others not yet well known, or simply high rollers with no intent of becoming known, spend a great deal of time online playing pots with each other, in an open forum where anyone can sit down and watch.

So, when you are bored waiting for hands or for an online poker tournament to start, or don’t feel like playing yourself but don’t feel like watching the poker reruns, consider the wide open world of online poker as your own personal poker YouTube. It’s a great way to kill a little time, and see poker on a hand to hand basis, unediting, real.

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Drug examination has grown into a common problem across the world. Some parties do drug exams on freshly employed people or existing employees to reassure a drug-free environment at work.

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Follow a few simple guidelines, and marketing your own home can be easy. And it will save you thousands.

The recent property boom has a lot of people thinking of selling. Unfortunately, the costs of selling can really eat into your profit. There’s nothing we can do about stamp duty, but one cost we can avoid is real estate agent fees. By selling your house yourself rather than paying a real estate agent, you can save you around $20,000 on a $500,000 sale.

So what’s involved in a do-it-yourself sale? The two main ingredients are time and advertising. A quality ad and a couple of hours each week fielding phone calls and managing inspections can mean the difference between a healthy profit and disappointment.

Many people are intimidated by the marketing aspect of selling their home. But there’s really not that much to it. You just need to write a description of your property, organise photography, and place an ad. Simple!

Perhaps the most important thing to remember when organising your own sale is you’re not selling a building – you’re selling a home and a lifestyle. Here are 10 Tricks of the trade to get you started…

1) Jot down your favourite spots in the house and what you like to do in them.

2) List your favourite local restaurants, cafes, and beaches – especially those in walking distance.

3) Note any pleasant fragrances – plants like jasmine and gardenia, or evening sea breezes.

4) Mention your favourite spot for a morning coffee, an afternoon snooze, or an evening wine.

5) Write about 150 words.

6) Don’t include cars, garbage bins, or the road in your photos.

7) Tidy your house and remove any clutter before taking inside shots.

Capture colour both inside and out, but keep it simple.

9) Take digital photos and save to CD so you won’t need a bureau for scanning and production.

10) Invest in a prominent newspaper ad and make use of the Internet.

Even if you don’t feel up to the challenge of creating a masterpiece ad, you can employ the services of a professional for far less than the cost of a real estate agent. A professional copywriter will write an engaging description for as little as $250. Professional photographers do real estate all the time. Neville Prosser (http://www.nevilleprosser.com.au) can give you all the captivating photos you need for just $330. You can get a glossy 1/8 page ad in the Central Coast Express Advocate for $628 or a page ad $2514. And to advertise online at Domain.com.au will only cost you $165 for a full month.

Whether you do all the creative work yourself or employ a professional, you’ll still save thousands. What’s more, with great advertising, you’ll interest more potential buyers and maybe even sell your house for more.

The most important thing to remember at every step along the way is… Average advertising conveys a building. Quality advertising conveys a home.

* Glenn Murray is a website copywriter, SEO copywriter, and article submission and article PR specialist. He is a director of article PR company Article PR and also of copywriting studio Divine Write. He can be contacted on Sydney +612 4334 6222 or at glenn@divinewrite.com. Visit www.DivineWrite.com or www.ArticlePR.com for further details, more FREE articles, or to download his FREE SEO e-book.