How Web 2.0 Real Estate Marketing Is Changing The Industry

By Alexis Jameson

Web 2.0 real estate marketing is putting a new face on the world of real estate. Web 2.0 is a second internet or a more refined internet, depending on who you ask. The main idea of the Web 2.0 is social networking. Twitter, You Tube and Facebook are familiar applications that compose the Web 2.0.

Not too many years ago, if the average person had a question about the possibility of selling their home, they could go on the internet and find a realtor's website. Find the appropriate place to enter their question and wait for someone to call them back. Many people did not like this way of getting information. One, they had to send their personal information across the internet. And two, now they have a realtor that is trying to pressure them to buy or sell a home.

With Web 2.0 real estate marketing, people can ask all the questions they like and get answers from professional realtors. If someone wants to know what properties are going for in particular area, they can get the information and not be pressured by anyone. They can peruse the ads or videos of homes that are for sale at a time that woks for them.

Web 2.0 real estate marketing is the perfect tool for realtors, as well. Through social networking, real estate advertisement takes on a new and broader life. With a majority of internet users using broadband or DSL, virtual tours can be viewed by mostly everyone and they are a great way to advertise any listing.

With the use of Web 2.0 applications, realtors can stay abreast of marketing trends and current interest rates. If your clients ask you a question that you cannot answer, you can either point them in the right direction or research the answer yourself. By using Facebook, a realtor can link their listings to their home page.

When a home goes on the market and there is an open house, many of the neighbors go through the house out of curiosity. There is just the nature of the business but it is a waste of your time to try and sell a home to someone that is not interested.

There are a lot of less than honest people that are trying to cash in on the Web 2.0 real estate marketing's rising trend. There are many sales pitches out there, offering guaranteed sales leads or a sure fire program that requires little work but yields lost of money. Web 2.0 real estate marketing is a resourceful tool but everything takes a little hard work.

About the Author:

Use social media to easily have an additional 15-20 fresh buyers and sellers per month with simple web 2.0 real estate marketing strategies. Earn $30,000 + per month and create multiple sources of income with this ultimate web 2.0 real estate marketing. Go to http://RealEstateCrusher.com immediately to learn more.

Feel Good about Deciding to Hire a Debt Mediation Company

By Frank Froggatt

One of the reasons why being in debt is such a problem is that most people in debt don't do anything about it until the situation is dire. This is because there is a certain brand associated with being in debt. In past centuries, they actually had a place called debtor's prison where they would stick you if you couldn't pay your debts. It seems that just the idea of it has sunk into the unconscious minds of individuals today. The truth is though, that there isn't any real shame in becoming a client of a debt reduction service.

It Is Not Just You

You're not alone in your situation, or the only person in the country who needs the help of a debt reduction service. The Federal Reserve Board estimates that 40% of all Americans are in debt. Many people question these figures, believing that it is a lot higher than that. Some people, because of the stigma behind owing money, could actually lie on a survey or a questionnaire about what their financial condition really is.

You also aren't alone in having to manage your monstrous monetary mess. That is why you have to be a client of debt reduction services. You will not be alone in the office waiting room, waiting to see your counselor. Chances are that it's going to be completely full of people seeking the help of the debt reduction service. Many of these services have a very low cost, or no cost at all.

You Can Still Keep Your Morals

A lot of people think in today's society that the system needs to be fair and it should demonstrate it by giving good people more money and bad people less. When you think about some of the very rich and very misbehaving people like Donald Trump and Michael Jackson for instance you kind of think it's not fair. Although they alone know their moral behavior, sometimes it sure doesn't seem fair that they are rich and you are looking to be a client of credit card debt reduction services.

This is not how the world works. Money is a force like fire - it goes to those who know how to use fire and to those who don't, it doesn't. Money doesn't make any moral judgments about who it goes to. In history there has been some incredibly good people who didn't have any money like Mother Teresa, or Gandhi for example. These people didn't need or want any money, which was a good thing for them because they didn't have any. Instead of blaming yourself for being "stupid" for getting into debt, congratulate yourself that you are taking action against debt by searching out a debt reduction service. And good luck to you.

About the Author:

There is no need to be ashamed, you simply need to move forward and learn from past mistakes. If you would like to learn about the differences between debt reduction and debt consolidation then take a minute and visit http://www.mydebtconsolidationsite.us

Buy Foreclosures: Learn How to Do It

By William Blake

Foreclosure is a process that allows a lender to be able to recover the amount that they are owed on a defaulted loan by selling or taking ownership of the property securing the loan. The foreclosure process is actually very common and can be incredibly devastating to homeowners.

The foreclosure process ends in one of four possible ways. The loan could be reinstated by the borrower paying off the entire loan during a specific grace period. The property in question could also be sold to a third party before the foreclosure process has been completed. If the foreclosure process has already come to fruition, then the property could be bought at a public auction instead.

The lender whose loan has been defaulted on could also choose to take possession of the property. If they do this, it would traditionally be with the goal of selling it on the market.

Buying Foreclosures: How?

Choosing to buy a foreclosure property can be an excellent way to save a bundle of money on a real estate purchase. Before you start buying any property, however, it would be most advantageous to learn more about how to go about buying a foreclosure. Following some wise steps will help you make sure that everything works out well.

Begin by finding schedules in your area that are going to be foreclosed on. There are two main sources from which you can obtain this information; they are local newspapers and the Internet. It would also be wise to contact some real estate agents in the area and express your desire to purchase a foreclosure property.

The next steps are extremely important parts of the buying process: inspection and investigation. Any foreclosure property that you are thinking about buying should be well inspected by you so that you will be able to figure out its value based on its current condition. You need to determine ownership, investigate any possible liens, and figure out what problems the property might already have.

Foreclosure is often a complicated process, so finding out as much information as possible regarding the laws related to foreclosure in your state would be helpful. Sometimes there is a redemption period during which the previous owners of the property could potentially buy their property back associated with foreclosure, so do not count on making a purchase until it has been made.

About the Author:

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Buying A Foreclosed Property? Inspect It Before Buying.

By Dainan Stephan

You should always inspect a property thoroughly before making an offer. When you're buying reprocess property such an inspection is even more important, since it may be difficult or impossible to insert a clause into the sales contract that will cover repairs. In addition, especially in today's real estate climate, many repossessed homes have sat vacant for extended periods of time and may face a number of problems including vandalism. You will want to know about such conditions before you bid because the condition of the property will affect how much you bid or if you bid at all.

Since you're concerned about what property is worth, even if the home is ideally suited to you, there is no need to bid more than market value. You should instead inspect the property from the viewpoint of an appraiser. This means you want a look at several different factors that affect the properties overall market value. The most logical way to approach this is to start with the more general and move toward the more specific. This also provides the advantage of allowing you to screen out properties without going through an entire analysis. In fact, at the more general levels, if you consider more than one property at a time when inspecting foreclosed properties before buying in this manner.

Let's say that you want to invest locally in and settled on the general area. You should develop some idea of what neighborhoods are the most desirable for the type property you want to own. You should check out the location from the standpoint of how convenient it is to employment centers and other areas of interest. This should be evaluated from the viewpoint of your lifestyle only if you plan to occupy the home and from that of your prospective tenants if you plan to run out the home.

Next you should look at residential quality of the neighborhood as a whole. Is it attractive overall? Are there conveniently located parks or other areas of interest? Are other homes in the area well kept? Even if the home you're considering buying is in excellent condition you must take into account the condition of other homes in the neighborhood.

Finally, you should inspect the foreclosed for repossessed property in itself. It is a good idea to employ A professional home inspector to help you out at this stage. The inspector will generally check out the plumbing, mechanical and electrical components of the home and point out any deficiencies and defects that may reduce the price you're willing to pay or eliminate the home as an option altogether.

Hopefully these tips on how to inspector foreclosed or repossessed property before buying will help you to make a better decision on which property to buy and at what price.

About the Author:

Learn how to understand more about real estate appraisal solutions and how to find what you need to know understand regarding real estate appraisal solution. These tools will help you to make a smart decision regarding purchasing a house .

Buying Mountain Properties In Costa Rica

By Randy Berg

A popular place for owning properties, especially for resorts, is the mountain properties in Costa Rica. The pleasant climate is one of the main reasons why people are investing in properties to convert them into holiday homes and resorts in this country. The scenic beauty and the coastal beaches add to the popularity of this country which is made up of several islands in the Caribbean Sea and also lie in the Pacific Ocean area.

The properties are not invested in for just residential use but also to be made into commercial holiday homes by many of the investors. Mountain properties in Costa Rica are a major attraction as tourist homes which are owned by retired people and turned into holiday homes. This way the retired people make an additional income which helps them to become financially better off than they were before.

Tourists from South and North America and Europe find Costa Rica a great place to visit as the local people who are called Ticos are warm and welcoming. Those who are nearing retirement find this a peaceful and beautiful place to settle down in, and plan on buying mountain properties in Costa Rica. Vacationing here is ideal and appeals to most people because of the low cost and the vast range of opportunities it gives its visitors.

There are five regions created by the three mountain ranges with a completely varied ecology in each area. This along with the dual coastlines is what brings the tourists flocking to this wonderful country. Buying mountain properties in Costa Rica is a profitable investment as it can be used for living in and also as a holiday resort. Those who invest in a property here can make it a money spinner by using it as a holiday home for tourists too.

The economy is good in this nation which is another reason that outsiders prefer to settle here especially after retirement when they have to live on a limited budget. The tourist inflow gives people many opportunities of getting into several businesses and even mountain properties in Costa Rica are converted into holiday homes for these visitors. This provides retired people with a good additional income which they find very useful.

Buying mountain properties in Costa Rica is a profitable venture in more ways than one. The real estate scene is on an upward trend here, and what ever one invests in today is bound to be a lot more expensive a few years down the line. Selling the property when the price escalates will bring in a lot of profit.

The government is steady and also encourages the buying of mountain properties in Costa Rica by people who belong to various other countries. This brings in different cultures into this nation and because of the peaceful atmosphere they all learn to live in harmony. There is hardly any serious crime committed in this nation and the facilities which are provided to the people are also excellent.

About the Author:

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Selecting The Right Real Estate Agent

By Greg Williams

Selecting a real estate agent is the first and most important step when you are looking for making a real estate deal. Selling and buying a property can be a very good experience if you have the right kind of real estate agent. It can also save your time and your hard earned money. Some tips for selecting the right real estate agent are given below:

1. Asking friends/family: While selecting a real estate agent it is best to seek advice from friends and family on local agents as they are well aware of your taste and are able to best advice you on good reputable agents.

2. Multiple Agencies: Interviewing multiple agents and looking into different agencies is a very good way of selecting an agent. The best way is to have alternatives and choose the best agency and agents, keeping in mind their experience and knowledge about their work, networking etc and also ask for references from older clients.

3. Customer Care: Select a real estate agent who is keen in helping out their clients and pay close attention to their needs and wishes. Note that by your frequent interactions and if they answer your phone calls or not and how often are they ready to take out time to meet with you.

4. Price Range: Choose agents that come within your price range. Some agents tend to only work for higher price value clients and want a higher commission too. Select an agent who is within your price range and who would pay close attention to your needs according to your budget.

5. Time Management: You need to work with an agent who can look over properties with you when you are free, so there isn't a time clash between you and your agent.

6. Communication: Select an agent you are most comfortable with. Communication is a vital key while purchasing or selling properties. Choosing an agent you are compatible to, whom you can express concerns and share your opinions freely can result you in a winning purchase.

7. Numerous Services Available: Selecting an agent who can juggle numerous tasks for you, for e.g. who also works with selling the property and knows reputable attorney lawyers to whom he can refer you to, would save you a lot of time and hassle.

8. Negotiating Skills: The agent that you choose should have excellent negotiations skills, as the work of a real estate agent depends on convincing people. An agent with poor negotiation skills will get you no where and loose good deals for bad money.

9. Uses resources: Choose an agent who properly advertises your sale through magazines, newspapers, brochures and internet too. Make sure he uses adequate resources to advertise and make your property's sale be known.

10. Follow your heart: In the end select an agent who has won your trust and with whom you can be friendly, who will respond promptly to your needs, is good in his/her work and has a good experience too and whom your heart wishes to choose.

About the Author:

If you are looking to go to Grand Rapids, you may even find yourself looking for Grand Rapids to move there.

What to Look For in a Realtor

By Tyrel Hough

Whenever you buy or sell real estate, you may be like millions of other people out there, in thinking that you don't need a real estate agent. Most people who buy or sell homes, generally think that a real estate agent is a waste of money. Those who choose to buy a new home, should definitely look into getting an agent.

A lot of real estate agents out there may work with both buyers and sellers, although most specialize in working with either the buyer or the seller. If you are buying a home, make sure that the agent you choose has prior experience of working with buyers and transactions that involve no money down. This way, you can count on your agent to be there when you need him the most - especially if you don't have a down payment.

If you are interviewing a real estate agent and he or she isn't familiar with down payment assistance programs, you shouldn't hire their services. Agents who aren't familiar with these types of programs generally aren't on the level, or they may lack the experience necessary to help you purchase the home of your dreams.

Compiling a quality list of realtor prospects can be as easy as asking a buddy, relatives and mortgage brokers. Mortgage brokers are usually the source of quality real estate agents, they usually have 1 or 2 that they work consistently with which means a solid relationship all around. Also, with the agent and broker having a current relationship, it translates into a more problem free experience.

At the first interview with the realtor you want to ask them about what the commission rate is and how it works. Doing this first means you will then know precisely how much they will make from the successful deal. An agents experience is also another great question to ask.

Home buyers should keep to working with home buying agents. Say you are selling, you will surely want to be positive your agent has worked with sellers. Agents who are committed to either buying or selling homes are solid, this means they don't dabble much in the other areas so they know their area really well.

Finding a real estate agent is an easy task - providing you know what to look for. If you take things one step at a time and carefully make a decision, chances are that you'll end up with an agent who has the experience you want. You should always be careful when you choose, and never rush the process.

Open the phone book and you'll see pages of real estate agents, but getting one that has your thoughts and needs in mind makes it interesting. Some realtors are just in it for the money instead of finding you your dream home, find one that works for you.

About the Author:

Torrey and Tyrel will help you keep up to date and informed about the Kamloops Real Estate market. Visit them online at Kamloops Real Estate for free info.

It Is Smart To Use A Real Estate Agent

By Pete Yarok

If you are trying to sell your house, you should seriously consider using a real estate agent. When you have an agent help you, it will benefit you in every way except for the commission you will have to pay. The commission is probably the #1 reason why some people forgo an agent and try to sell their house on their own even though they are not qualified. Saving money is usually a good idea but in this case it may not be.

Selling a house is tremendously more complicated than selling most other things and because of the dollars involved, you really dont want anything to go wrong. With a real estate agent in charge of the sale and a solid company behind the agent, you can be confident that the sale will go through with the fewest number of hassles. This, for most people, is reason enough to use a real estate agent and pay that commission even though it might seem a bit high.

If you are trying to learn how to sell a house for the first time it can be kind of scary. There is legal paper work that you have to know how to get and how to fill out as well as a lot of other things that will make it difficult. Selling a house yourself will save you money as you won't have to pay a real estate agent but you must ask yourself if it is really worth it. Perhaps it is better to take the safe route and use an agent your first time. If you do this, you can learn everything you can from a professional and then the next time you sell a house you will be better equipped to do it yourself.

Additionally, with the economy and real estate market being so poor right now, this might not be the time to sell your house alone. When you use an agent, you will benefit from their knowledge and years of experience, as they will have a better idea of how to attract potential buyers than you will. Your house will be displayed on their database of houses for sale and there are other advantages that you will get from using them that might result in your house selling sooner. Now, of all times, is the time you should be selling your house with a real estate agent.

Right now there is a buyers market and you will have to do all the things you can think of to get your house sold. Advertising and holding open houses to get as many people in to see it is a good start but in the end it might only be the price that matters. Buyers are so strapped for cash right now and they know they are in the drivers seat. If you dont lower your house enough, there might be nothing you can do to sell it. Whether you use an agent or not, if you have the price too high you will probably have a lot of difficulty making the sale.

About the Author:

Do you want to know more about how to sell a house in a bad neighborhood? If so, please visit my website How To Sell A House Fast to learn more.

How to find a house in Costa Rica

By Randy Berg

The question of "how to find a house in Costa Rica" will need a lot of thinking to be answered; especially of you are an American. Costa Rica has various types of housing which can easily meet the expectations of people who would like to come there and invest in real estate. The prices of real estate in Costa Rica has seen a downtrend during the beginning of recession, however, now it has begun picking up mainly due to the demand.

Costa Rica, with its picturesque landscape, captivating mountains and lovely volcanoes, is now a hot spot for buying property. People from different countries of the world, especially America, come here in dozens in the hope of finding their dream house on this soil. This has especially seen an increase since the time recession started because of the dwindling real estate prices in America.

People who would like to find their house in populated areas would prefer the provinces of San Jose, Heredia, Alajuela and Cartago. These are centrally located provinces and are highly populated. Nearly two thirds of the population is that of the "ticos". People, who like to find beach homes, flock to places like Guanacaste, Puntarenas and Limon which are well known for their spellbinding beaches.

Overseas investors who come to Costa Rica to intend to find their dream nests in this country need to keep a few important points in mind. If care and precaution is not taken while finding the right house in Costa Rica to invest in, it will lead to many issues later which will make you regret your decision. Listed below, you will find a few tips that will come in handy.

Having a "tico" (native Costa Rican) by your side will really prove to be advantageous while finding a house in Costa Rica. You need to ensure that the tico can be trusted up on to get help you make the right choice. It is better if the tico is your friend rather than some stranger on the road.

Once you have a trusted tico by your side and you have chosen the area where you want to buy a house, the next step is to know more about that area. This is because there are some areas in Costa Rica that are not suitable for spending your life because they specialize in criminal activities. To get a better understanding of the area that you have chosen, you and your tico friend should rent out a place there and stay for a few months.

Once you have decided on the area you want to stay and the house you want to purchase, the next step is to find out all the details about the property. Your tico friend will come in really handy now. Both of you have to go to the Public Registry office and find out about the title details of the property. Since all the details there are in Spanish, your tico friend should be able to read and understand it and tell you. If the relevant title documents are not present, it is better not to purchase that property because it can lead to ownership issues later.

After confirming that all the title documents are correct and there is no cause for concern, the next step is to find out and fix on the price for the property. Here again, your Costa Rican friend will come in handy. Most of the Costa Rican property owners work on an assumption that "gringos" have money plants back home and they can afford any price they quote. Hence, if you are looking to buy a property, it is always better to get a "tico" to negotiate a price on your behalf.

Great! Now that you can answer "how to find a house in Costa Rica" better, it is time to proceed with your plans and make that much awaited trip.

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Get Costa Rica Real Estate detailed information for yourself! Interact with us through our forum.

Overseas Property : Learn About French Property

By Helen Simpson

France is a popular spot for owning an estate, whether it is a permanent establishment or vacation home. It is so popular because the it's easy to get to, the weather is incomparable, and the type of lifestyle you want to live is within easy reach. So how exactly can you find french property, and what do you need to know before purchasing?

Research the regions of France for local weather and character, accessibility, prices, countryside and architecture. You can use websites and estate agent brochures to do so as most not only list properties for sale but also offer include regional guides and expert practical and legal advice.

A property fact finding mission is a good idea. Leave one of your weekends open in order to see the sights of your favorite regions and to look at properties. Make sure that you have meetings already set up with estate agents as well as an interpreter, if one is needed, before you go. This will save you time because a list of homes will be prepared and precious time will not be wasted looking at properties that are either out of reach or unsuitable.

Never sign a contract on the spot, even if you have fallen in love with the French property, since there may be a reason that the estate agent is pressuring you into purchasing it. You must first acquire a structural survey and appraisal report. If you get a proper survey done, that might even bring up some problems that will let you negotiate a lower price. A bilingual solicitor specializing in French property can give you advice on contracts, as well as French conveyancing law.

The actual purchase will happen in two steps. Once you have chosen a property and settled for a price, you will probably be asked to sign a primary purchase agreement and be required to provide a deposit, which generally takes up 10% of the buying price.

The contract binds the purchaser to a range of stipulations and regulations. The second stage is signing an acte de vente (deed of sale), when ownership of the property is transferred to you and the full amount of the purchase price is paid.

About the Author:

Learn French: French Phrases

Find Utah Condo Like The Best Real Estate Agents

By Gwen Smith

Really outstanding choices when it comes to condos are the Utah condos that are located in the business region Salt Lake City or Provo. Because flat types are popular nowadays, more and more people choose a condo or loft style unit. One factor is that they don't want to take pleasure in living close to other people while maintaining low profile lifestyle.

Utah has a population of 2.5 million people, a large portion of which live in some of the larger cities that can be found around the state such as Provo, West Valley City and Salt Lake City. These cities can be the perfect place for anyone who is looking for work and the perfect place to find a Utah condo.

If you plan on working in the city but want to live in a Utah condo outside of it, you may want to think about some of the lovely suburbs in Utah . Condos in the suburbs can be perfect for families, providing them with the kind of atmosphere and community that will really feel close and comfortable. Of course there are also those people who are looking for a nice relaxing place to settle down or even retire in Utah.

One advantage of condominiums in Utah is that the area is always or more often above the normal area like a regular house. Another thing is that, they are fully furnished with kitchens, living room, and others. Last but not the lease is that they offer broadband connection, it is really a big advantage especially those who have business.

For some men and women, the completed kitchen is the premium reward of a condominium, in that, they will not have to eat out every meal in a restaurant, allowing the occupant to expend his or her funds on hobbies rather than on restaurant in town. To Boot, condos benefit from maintaining limitations that hold and enhance value, providing control over the blight that plagues some neighborhoods. Major North American cities, including Miami, San Francisco, Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles, Calgary, Vancouver, and Toronto, have a plethora of condo development.

Generally, each unit in the condo is owned individually, this goes the same with hallways and other facilities. They are most of the time owned by tenants.

It is likewise manageable for condos to comprise of single family dwellings so-called "detached condos" where householders do not conserve the exteriors of the dwellings, yards, etc. or "site condos" where the owner has more power and possible ownership (as in a "whole lot" or "lot line" condominium) over the exterior appearance.

These are really preferred by some designed communities. So the question is "What else are you looking for a condo in Utah?" If you are really looking into the real estate in Utah, you can check out the properties and not limit yourself to Salt Lake City and Provo, but also, Layton, Ogden, West Jordan, West Valley, Sandy and other leading locations in Utah.

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Read more on utah condominiums and utah condo information now.

Preparing The Inside Of Your Lakefront Home For Sale

By Hubert Miles

If you are thinking about putting your lakefront home on the market, you may be looking for ways to help your lake home sell faster and for more money. Staging your home is the act of setting your home up so that it looks larger than it may actually be and makes the home more visually appealing to buyers.

It is very effective to stage both the inside and outside of your lakefront home. These are 3 tips to make the interior more appealing:

1. Organize your home. Organizing your home is probably the most important thing you can do. You are planning to move anyway, so why not go ahead and remove the things that you do not need on a daily basis. Remove seasonal clothing, dishes, furniture, and other items that you can live without. This will open the rooms and make them appear larger. These items can be stored in a garage or detached storage building.

2. Organize your cabinets and closets- After you have packed up the dishes and clothing you don't have to have right now, coordinate your remaining dishes and clothing by color and type. Why you ask? Organized cabinets and closets appear larger. Spacious closets and cabinets really help sell a home.

3. Create a show model lake home. After you are done packing up your personal belongings, you can hang pictures of boats or other lake pictures in place of your personal photos. You can also place decorative items like boat ores, signs, and plants in corners or shelves. Place some decorated canisters or fruit in some attractive baskets or glass vases in stead of counter top appliances that you don't need.

Another tip that should not be overlooked is to think of yourself as the potential buyer that is seeing your lakefront home for the very first time. If there are things that you would like changed, it is likely that others will feel the same way. Try to make your home look the best.

You don't have to spend a lot of money to prep your home for sale. What ever you do put into your lake home you'll likely get back by selling the home quickly and for your asking price.

About the Author:

Hubert Miles is the founder of Waterfront Houses USA, an internet marketing service that offers Lakefront Homes For Sale and Lake Homes For Sale available in the US and Canada.

Are You A College Student And Want To Rent An Apartment?

By Crystal Jennings

The most common issue when we talk about going to college is money. College is very costly and some parents will stop their kids from going to college because of it. And aside from tuition fees, there is also the need to rent a space near the school.

One of the most challenging parts when going off to college is being far from home. So, college students do not have a choice but to rent an apartment or stay in a dormitory. And this will add more to the expenses but do not worry because there are several ways to resolve this problem.

The first thing to do is to inquire at the school's financial aid department. Most universities today are already partnering with several apartment owners and some have their own dormitories. This partnership and dormitories always gives discounts to students.

If you really want to cut the rent in half then you might think about getting a roommate. If you have a friend who is going to the same university then sharing a space will reduce rent. But if you really want privacy then you should go for the studio-type apartments which costs less.

Student loans are very popular today in college universities so you should take advantage of this. Though, there are certain requirements to be completed before you qualify for one. Once you qualify, compute all the necessary expenses you are going to spend for one semester then apply for the loan.

Now, if you already have the money to pay for the rent, inspect the apartment for damages. Make sure you understand all that is written in the lease to avoid any problems in the future.

Having to rent an apartment near the school can prove to be financially challenging but it will save you time. And there are many ways to resolve financial problems today especially when going to college.

About the Author:

Are you off to college and looking to lease a space? This can be a difficult task but we are here to give tips on how to look for affordable apartments.

Best Way To Find Costa Rican Real Estate At A Fair Price

By Randy Berg

Lot of people find Costa Rica to be an attractive destination for settling down permanently due to numerous attractions offered here. The number of visitors coming to Costa Rica has increased over the years and more number of people are showing keen interest in purchasing real estate. Many people try to find Costa Rican real estate at a fair price using the services of local real estate agents. Compared to other places, Costa Rica offers lot of discounts to the buyers on real estate properties and guarantees a high return on investment.

Most of the retired people opt for staying permanently in Costa Rica owing to the calm and serene surroundings found across this region. Besides, the affordable prices of real estate along with low cost of living has made Costa Rica the most preferred destination for retired people. The residents in Costa Rica have access to low cost medical facilities with high-class healthcare, which makes it attractive for buyers to purchase properties for settling down in this region. The low tax benefits and flexible government policies have also attracted lot of people to find Costa Rican real estate at a fair price for availing various benefits.

Besides, the pleasant climate and the natural scenic beauty of this region with rich foliage are some of the best features of this region. The country's politically safe and peaceful environment attracts lot of foreigners for making investment in properties across Costa Rica. Those who are looking forward to spending some quiet moments on their vacation find Costa Rica to be the best holiday destination. If you are looking for buying Costa Rican real estate at a fair price, then you can find a range of attractive homes in this region.

Those who are keen on starting business establishments can find some lucrative business opportunities in Costa Rica. Due to the increasing number of tourists coming to this place, there is a good chance for developing commercial projects on this land like hotels and resorts for generating a high revenue. Many people are interested in buying Costa Rican real estate at a fair price with purchase of inexpensive lands, which can be utilized for commercial purposes.

With a well-developed education system, there is an increase in the number of educated people, which has resulted in a skilled workforce. As a result of this, there are more number of qualified people who are capable of working in technical jobs, which has resulted in greater levels of employment. The income levels are also rising high among the middle class people due to enhancement of skills which can be applied to diverse sectors. Besides, there is a huge boost to the economy owing to technology companies setting up their base here. If you are keen on starting a business, then you can find Costa Rican real estate at a fair price.

The presence of good quality transportation systems and well developed infrastructure in Costa Rica has made commuting easier from across different countries. There are plenty of local and international flights operating from this region, which has led to better connectivity to other countries. The number of business travelers to this region has grown considerably over the past few years who are keen on making the best use of Costa Rican land development. People looking for making commercial investment are buying Costa Rican real estate at a fair price to get maximum returns.

This land of Costa Rica has good growth and business potential due to which increasing number of people are investing in different kinds of properties here. If you want to find Costa Rica real estate at a fair price, then you can contact some of the best realtors here.

About the Author:

Let Randy Berg help you find economical properties at Costa Rica Real Estate. Interact with us through our forum.

Residential Architecture for Seattle Home Owners

By Chuck R Stewart

Seattle is one of the many cities in the United States where you can find, terrific and fun things to do, as well as great food, and an inviting atmosphere. Seattle is also one of the many booming places to try to find a home. What makes Seattle an original place from any other city in the United States is its design and them throughout the entire city. Modern feel, look, and theme make the city come to life with outrageous design and intellectual ideas for the future. When speaking about intriguing design, many options come to mind but building and residential design stick out the most. Seattle architect designs really create a completely different view and idea of the city. Residential architects Seattle withholds are great to research and most have great records to follow as well, to ensure that you are getting a great architectural idea.

Seattle homes, in the city, are meant to be similar to New York studio apartments except much more technology. The design of everything within a Seattle styled home is modern in every square inch. Everything also seems to resemble the basic shapes of geometry. These simple and easy to organize shapes really capture the eye with the right color and design in a room.

One thing that really makes a room easy to design especially in a Seattle home is color representation. Having a room one solid and simple color is perfect, but then adding a piece of furniture that is crazy in its color style makes a room stand out and it can really add to the depth and excitement of a room. For example say you've got a room with white silky walls and black furniture and accents. To liven up that type of room, adding a bright red chair, sofa, futon, or couch would be the best thing you can do.

Seattle homes show off a type of style that many people would like to have in their own homes, outside of the city. Making a country side home into a modern place of living is an easy thing to accomplish. You just have to search for the right company who can give you exactly what you are dreaming of for your home. The best way to do that is to make a list of everything that you would like to include in your home and then try to design a layout or plan for all of your ideas. begin with the architecture, then move on to color, function, and shape. reshaping your house into a contemporary paradise is really very simple for the everyday person trying to become an interior designer.

Seattle homes embody what modern and contemporary people dream of when it comes to their sacred family homes. Your home is the center piece of your familys livelihood and it expresses what you are and your style. SO make your home your own and use new ways to make your home all that you hoped it could be. Your home doesn't have to be in the streets of Seattle to be a work of art, but it sure does help.

About the Author:

Chuck R Stewart recently remodeled his vacation home using a Seattle architect . He really enjoys spending time in his home designed with the help of residential architects Seattle.

What to Look for When Shopping for Upper East Side Condominium

By Sid Stetson

There are New York luxury condominiums and then there are New York luxury condominiums. When your hard work and determination finally pay off and its time to start shopping for a new Manhattan condo, you want to be certain that you make the right choice. To assist with your quest in finding the Upper East Side condominium that is perfect for you, weve compiled a list of practical things to look for when shopping for the one that features the Manhattan condo amenities that you want and need. Here are some of the things to look for when shopping for an Upper East Side condominium:

Professional and competent building management " Youre better off selecting a New York condo building that is managed by a professional property management firm as they have a vested interest in making sure that their clients are content and that maintenance is performed properly and in a timely manner. If a condo building is self-managed, personality conflicts and other hassles among the owners have a tendency to interfere with the day-to-day business of managing the building.

Happy residents " Consider attending the condo association meetings of the Upper East Side condo buildings that interest you. Observe how the board addresses owner complaints and speak with a few owners to gauge their happiness with the buildings management. Happy residents are a very good indication of a well-run building.

Condo association bylaws that you can live with " Pay special attention to the condo associations bylaws as they can occasionally include some quirky rules that may cramp your style. Too many condo owners consider bylaws an afterthought and pay little attention to them until they get a warning of some kind from their condo association.

Manhattan condo amenities " New York condo amenities not only extend your living space, they also enrich your quality of life. Examine the shared building amenities as closely as you inspect the condos that interest you as you will be paying for these amenities each month. If they do not meet your expectations, keep looking.

Close proximity to main mass transit routes " This is a huge factor as the further you are from the main lines, the more time you will spend commuting to and from work each day. One of the truly under appreciated luxuries of a New York luxury condo is being steps away from an express bus route or train stop.

Nearby green spaces " New Yorks parks serve as both front and back yards for New York condo owners and we all crave open green spaces for the simple pleasures of being outside on a beautiful day. Being able to stroll to a nearby park instead of hopping on a bus to get there is an under appreciated Manhattan condo amenity.

Check for special assessments " Before closing on your Upper East Side condo, be on the lookout for any special assessments on the property as these can broadside unwary owners and result in a significant additional expense.

Any unresolved violations incurred by the current owner " Look out for any unresolved violations that the current condo owner has failed to remedy. Signing a purchase agreement might transfer any liabilities and expenses of violations from their responsibility to yours.

Any pending litigation against the condo association " Pending litigation against the condo association frequently causes special assessments and hikes in condo association fees. Consider having a real estate attorney look for any pending lawsuits against the building or condo association before signing any documents.

An Upper East Side condo that fits your needs now and for the foreseeable future " This consideration may be listed last but it is certainly not the least of what to look for when shopping for your Upper East Side condo. Too many times, we make decisions based on wants instead of needs. To avoid buyers remorse that you will literally be living with, make sure that the condo meets your needs before addressing your wants in an Upper East Side condominium.

This list of things to look for when shopping for an Upper East Side condominium covers most of the practical aspects to consider and in the course of reading it you have probably added some of your own to the list. To help ensure that a new Manhattan condo is right for you, sit down before shopping and make a list of wants and needs and plan on adding to it over time. Buying property is a major decision and you want to give yourself every opportunity to make the right choice the first time!

About the Author:

Sid Stetson, luxury real estate writer, showcases the very best in Upper East Side condominium developments. If you are in the market for a new Manhattan condo on the Upper East Side, you will find the top New York condo amenities available at 515 E 72 Miraval Living.

Term Life Insurance Alberta: There are Banks Out There Who Are Writing Mortgages

By Debbie F. Longo

Everyone knows that the home loan market is in a mess, but there are still plenty of lenders who are lending.

Many local banks never were involved in the credit mess and are actively originating loans. This is not surprising. The beginning of the mortgage business was really small building and loan associations that funded local expansion with local investments. Of course, they go by different names nowadays, but lenders that focused on their core business and area have for the most part avoided many of the problems in banking.

They are still able to not only make mortgages available, but are even expanding their mortgage portfolios to fill some of the gap created by the big players who have been forced out of the market because of rapid expansion in low quality loans.

Big commercial lenders have cut back dramatically in mortgage lending, but the small community banks are continuing their mission, even if their growth has slowed.

These financial institutions, which include development banks and credit unions and may even be non-profit entities, have been very successful lending to poor risk borrowers because they are involved with the customer. These banks are not just managing, they are thriving.

Take, for example, Shorebank, a small community bank serving that city's poorer community; its delinquency rate is 3.1%, in comparison to a national average of 18.7%. They charge market rates which are higher than those available to prime borrowers, and manage their risk prudently. They do have profit as an objective, but they do not aim for "profit maximization" in the words of Mark Pinsky, the chief of Opportunity Finance Network. Reading between the lines, profit maximizing can be understood to represent the greed that has been one of the foundations of the financial markets' current woes.

For example, Douglas Bystry, of Clearinghouse CDFI, earned a salary in 2007 of $190,000, in comparison to Angelo Mozilo of Countrywide Financial's $22.1million package in 2007. Besides salaries, another example might be business decisions; Shorebank has its headquarters in a renovated building, not a new corporate high rise.

This is a group of lenders who are worlds away from the big lenders, but close to the loans they originate, continuing to service them and therefore keeping in touch with the economic health of their borrowers. Take the program managed by Shorebank that educates its borrowers in energy conservation to save costs, money saved that can contribute to paying the mortgage.

About the Author:

Thank you for reading our article.You may be interested in alberta mortgage rates and don't forget ontario life insurance quotes

Web 2.0 Real Estate Marketing Tricks - Dominate Your Competition

By Dr. Matthew Loop

Every time I see the average real estate professional (realtor, investor, mortgage broker, etc...) using the same dinosaur marketing techniques that their former consultants beat into them, I wonder if they enjoy wasting money and getting crappy results. It's undeniable that this economic recession is making it hard for for many people in many areas of life. In fact, consumers are not responding to the traditional forms of advertising like before. Eric Hoffer once stated, "In times of change, the learners will inherit the earth while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists!" In a nutshell, it comes down to adaptability. If you are not adaptable and continue to fight the current technological marketing trends, your real-estate business is certain to become extinct.

Here's the low-down: Web 2.0 refers to monster social media sites like MySpace, YouTube, Facebook, Squidoo, Digg, and countless others that have dominated the internet and forever changed the way we communicate. Web 2.0 has also transformed advertising, and there are plenty of fresh real estate clients ready for the taking.

It has been my pleasure for over 2 years to instruct realtors, real estate investors, and mortgage brokers on the best methods to get 5-10 calls from prospective clients each and every day without spending a cent on advertising. And this inevitably leads to 10-20 new clients for my students each month. I can teach you and your business to do the same, earning multiple sources of income by successfully utilizing the social networks of Web 2.0. And you'll be accomplishing all of this ahead of the rest.

I chose to consult other realtors, agents, and investors because of my growing reputation and experience as an innovator with amazing results. I've been teaching these people how to reach tremendous abundance by utilizing social media and the incredible power of Web 2.0. With innovative strategies and proven tricks and secrets, you'll see your business expand overnight. And I'll even show you how to leverage on the web to amass unexpected streams of income.

Don't be fooled by the generic versions popping up everywhere you turn trying to emulate my step-by-step video training series. These guys call themselves "gurus", but they offer absolutely no results. They can't even begin to offer the techniques and knowledge that I have to share. I've seen too many young real estate people fall into this trap, and fail miserably. If your consultant doesn't know anything about social media, they don't know anything at all.

I don't mind sounding conceited by saying that I have completely changed the way small businesses take care of their marketing. After my breakthrough, old consultants have taken note and see that their ship is sinking rapidly, and many are without life boats. Don't wait to see your ship sink too! Get caught up with the times, and ride on the wave of the future by following my expert tactics and secrets.

Before I go I'm going to share with you a great strategy to use today when taking the necessary steps to brand yourself and your business on these social media sites. Don't skimp; tell your story in about 6 paragraphs. Talk about your life and obstacles, the paths you've taken, and where your journey has led you today. Think of it as a heartwarming story. How about a title like:"Who is (Your Name)?" When people see and know that you're a real person, they are 10 times more likely to give you their business. What's your motivation, and why are you in the business of helping people? People don't like ads thrown in their face, so make it personal; human.

Furthermore, before you start to invite others to view your profile, be sure you've created a few blogs. Information and videos will keep people fixed to your page as you strategically build your name and credibility in your local community. I go much deeper into the tested and proven dynamics in my 30 step-by-step video training tutorials at the site below. Take heed to these concepts and start to immerse yourself in the quickly growing Web 2.0 phenomenon. If done in the certain way I discovered, you'll have all the real estate business you want and be able to create residual income with little effort.

About the Author:

Find out how to use social networks to easily get around 15-20 fresh buyers and sellers / month with simple Real Estate Marketing strategies. Net $30,000 + / month with this proven social media / SEO video training series. Go to http://RealEstateCrusher.com right now to learn more.

Buy Real Estate With The Help of a Jersey Shore Real Estate Agent

By Vincent R. Thomas

Jersey Shore Realtors are at your services offer you opportunities to find a variety of homes. Each home has been carefully selected and analyzed to ensure that you get homes in various areas including Egg Harbor. Now you can find homes in Galloway or over in Margate as well as New Jersey and the entertainment spot around Atlantic. Northfield homes are available as well. Who cares if you are new to buying homes or an old-timer looking to trade in your home or buy another one? With Jersey Realtors, you get a home of your choice.

Realtors are breaking down the obstacles in the way for owned properties by providing you with solutions to trader your old home in or buy property. Sources in lending are provided at realtor sites in which you can find great deals on ARM loans, buy downs, land and interest only loans or fixed loans. Other options are posted including the blanket and pledged asset, and bonds programs.

Do you have a little money to pay on down payments or do you prefer to pay no money at all. No problem, let realtors at Jersey Shore help you. You can get help to find interest subsidized rates, which provide you with choices to either pay the full amount on interest or installments. Take advantage of funding or pardon loans or limited charges. You can defer installments or make payment arrangements.

No-hassle solutions are offered with tools to find homes at the realtor sites. It is easy to get the home you want by filling out a short form and applying for a home with Jersey Shore Realtors. Once you submit your form, agents will review it and send mails to your email, which contains a list of homes. Be sure to include information to help them find you a home by offering your email address. Tell them how much you can afford on a home, what type of home you want, how many bathes and bedrooms you need, etc. Give them the city and zip code of the area you want to buy a home. The information you supply makes it easy for the realtors to help you find affordable housing.

Real estate, MLR and bank properties are listed in the databases at realtor sites. Get busy so you can find excellent deals on foreclosed properties including condominiums in Jersey. What an amazing offer to invest in.

Not so long ago, real estate sites posted a wide array of new foreclosed listings on the Net. Jersey Shore Realtor companies provide you with ways to find those foreclosed listings that were posted over 3-months. There are more than 250 thousand homes on the foreclosure list. First-time buyers lost their properties due to missed payments and the high-rated loans such as Jumbo and Subprime, which lead them to break. The economy disadvantages did not help since more people lost homes as a result. Those properties are now posted at realtor sites online.

Upon submitting your details and requests, Jersey Shore Realtor will submit emails to your box, which contain property listings. In these listings are low priced properties designed to give bargains to the new homeowners.

Foreclosed property listings have soared due to the slowing in the market. People who lost their home due to nonpayment's, subprime and jumbo loans were limited to refinance options, so now their homes are in the realtor databases.

About the Author:

Looking for real estate help? A Real Estate Agent in the Jersey Shore can help. Contact one today.

Long Distance Movers Online Quotes: The Down-To-Earth Fact!

By Vernita Herewinika

Relocating your residence can often times be a challenge especially when such move involves a long distance move across state lines. After you've decided on your destination, chosen a new residence and secured your new job you'll have to get busy on the nuts and bolts of moving your household. You should be getting a moving quote from a number of national moving companies or coast to coast movers.

There are many cross country moving companies to choose from and the one you finally choose can make a big difference in whether the move will be a good experience or a huge disaster! You should always start by checking cross country movers by reputation and customer feedback.

If you want to find out if a given cross state moving company has any pending complaints, you would have to seek other resources different from the approved literature from the mover. Begin with the your state's BBB office and expand to broader searches online to gauge consumer's reactions dealing with the moving company in question. Many organizations who move state over state will be able to supply a list of references who will speak on their behalf.

Other ways you can find out the real scoop on interstate moving companies is to cruise through forums dedicated to moving experiences. Keep in perspective that some consumers would voice their opinions much stronger when they are not satisfied than when they are happy with the results using a particular moving company. Always consider how a moving company have handled problems in the past with somewhat a judicious look.

When you feel you've identified a few potential interstate moving companies, then it's time to proceed to inquiry about their moving quotes and cost estimates that can help you check their services. Be sure to have a clear inventory of items before you call! Several reputable cross country moving companies can proceed to get you moving quotes and estimates based on a standard scale on furniture, appliances, and electronics.

Please consider the fact that this analysis is just an estimate and not realistic carved on stone yet. During the probing phase, you might forget about your grandmom's armchair not as part of the move, as consequence a reputable interstate moving company would only give you a fair estimates and be more conclusive when your load is put on a certified scale to precisely tell how much your moving costs will be.

Will you want the movers to pack your things or do it yourself? Keep in mind that moving companies have intimate knowledge of the stress put on boxes and furniture and know how to protect them using the appropriate materials and box strengths. Moving company quotes that include the cost of packing and loading your possessions are often not much more than if you would pack your things yourself.

Be sure the quotes you get include insurance and familiarize yourself with the insurance terms. Some moving companies give you the minimum coverage on items that might be quite costly. Your jewelry or any other small item is not covered in its entirety because its weight is not compatible with its value which is what a regular interstate moving company insurance goes by.

When choosing moving companies, it is very important to factor in the insurance offered, because selecting a budget company with an inadequate insurance policy could cost you dearly.

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About the Author:

Don't let moving companies take more of their fair share for your move. Keep up to 35% of your moving budget when you request interstate movers quotes from several D.OT licensed long distance movers. When movers compete, you can get a better deal to have a worry-free moving experience.

5 Insider Secrets By Real Estate Web 2.0 Blog Marketing

By Mark Bradley

The optimization of the Real Estate blog marketing is very rampant these days. Why not? The realization that the world is fast-changing strikes the mind of real estate investors. It has been noted that the Real Estate businesses today have a great need of website providers so that they can deal with the ever-increasing requirements of the website visitors. Information posted in the internet through web pages is currently increasing up to billions so the need to have a ground-breaking web provider is popular.

The significance of these realities is recognized by Wetpaint. It is incessantly launching new and up-to-the-minute features to bring to the visitors and possible market the right kind of website service they are worthy of.

As a principal organizer in the group publishing with more than one million social websites and more than eight million monthly guests, Wetpaint establishes a lead-generating real estate blog marketing website that Real estate proprietors would surely want. Wetpaint has safe, sound and assured methods in the launch of your real estate blog marketing strategies.

The Wetpaint works this way?

Wetpaint can provide you with a myriad ways on how to drive traffic to your real estate blogs. The kind of standard Wetpaint creates is well-publicized. It provides the real estate information to the target market and gives away free reports to draw more visitors that will soon be converted to major leads.

Wetpaint lets your real estate blog stand out from the competition. The presence in the internet of the real estate social marketing advertising is really important in reaching the opportunity to catch the major source of leads. The generation of more leads can build up positive real estate results.

Stand out from the competition. Wetpaint lets your real estate blog stand out from the competition. The presence in the internet of the real estate social marketing advertising is really important in reaching the opportunity to catch the major source of leads. The production of more leads can upsurge optimistic real estate outcome.

Wetpaint provides standard-compliant real- estate marketing blogs. It helps endorse the web-content of your marketing blogs. It makes the blog reports of the real estate more prominent. It has the power to influence more visitors and give them an idea on how to visit your real estate website.

Wetpaint provides standard-compliant real- estate marketing blogs. It helps promote the web-content of your marketing blogs. It makes the blog reports of the real estate more prominent. It has the power to persuade more visitors and give them an idea on how to visit your real estate website.

These are some of the reasons why Wetpaint lets your real estate blog stand out from the rest. The presence in the internet of the real estate social marketing advertising is really important in reaching the opportunity to catch the major foundation of leads. The formation of more leads can increase more constructive real estate outcomes.

Achieving success through real estate blog marketing is now a stone?s throw away with Wetpaint website provider. Create your website now. Its network of collaborative communities is waiting for you! Show and share the successful performance of your real estate business with the help of Wetpaint.

About the Author:

SEE YOURSELF USING the Power of Real Estate Web 2.0 for Yourself? You Get Better leads! More deals! and huge paychecks! Click And Discover The Secrets Power of Real Estate Web 2.0 you now qualify for a $375.99 Real Estate Web 2.0 Custom Blog FREE! Get them now Limited Supply!

Mill Valley, California Offers a Plethora of Prime Educational Opportunities

By David DuPont

Many excellent educational choices " both public and private " are available in the Town of Mill Valley, California, which is one of the most sought-after towns in which to live within affluent Marin County.

Among Public Elementary Schools: The five public elementary schools in Mill Valley include: Old Mill School, 352 Throckmorton Ave., 415 -389-7727; Edna Maguire School, 80 Lomita Dr., 415-389-7733; Strawberry Point School, 117 E. Strawberry Dr., 415-389-7660; Park School, 360 East Blithedale Ave., 415-389- 7735; and Tam Valley School, 350 Bell Lane, 415-389-7731.

There are also four private schools that serve pre-kindergarten or kindergarten to 5th grade students in Mill Valley. Each of them is discussed below. Attendance at the various public elementary and middle schools is determined by where the student lives.

While there is only one public middle school, there are four private schools that serve middle school students. This school and the five public elementary schools above are administered by the Mill Valley School District, 415-389-7700. Public Middle School: The only public middle school in Mill Valley is the Mill Valley Middle School, 425 Sycamore Ave., 415-389-7711.

Private Elementary/Middle Schools: The amazingly varied private elementary, combined with middle school offerings in Mill Valley include Mount Tamalpais School, 100 Harvard Avenue, 415-383-9434; Grades: K-8 and The Ring Mountain Day School, 70 Lomita Drive, Grades: K-8, 415-381-8183. Please note that the preschool campus of Ring Mountain Day is in Tiburon. There are also the Greenwood School, 17 Buena Vista Avenue, 415-388-0495, Grades: K-8; and the Marin Horizon School, 305 Montford Avenue, 415-388-8408, Grades: PK-8, Montessori school.

Public High School: The only public high school in Mill Valley is the Tamalpais High School, 700 Miller Ave., 415-388-3292. The school received the California Distinguished School award in 1999, 2005 and 2009 and has been ranked in the top five percent of American high schools since 2005 by the Washington Post. There are no private high schools within the municipality of Mill Valley.

Among the numerous famous graduates of Tamalpais High are Mario Cipollina, class of 1972, musician (Copperhead, Soundhole, Huey Lewis and the News, Terry and the Pirates); Kathleen Quinlan, class of 1972, actress (American Graffiti, Apollo 13, Oliver Stone's The Doors, Breach); and Courtney Thorne- Smith, class of 1985, actress (Melrose Place, Ally McBeal, According to Jim).

Some of the famous athletes who graduated from Tamalpais High include Art Schallock, class of 1943, MLB pitcher: Yankees (1953 World Series), Orioles; Sam Chapman, class of 1934, (high school & college all star, California Golden Bears; Philadelphia Athletics & Cleveland Indians); and Joe DeMaestri 1946 " MLB shortstop: A's, St. Louis Browns, Chicago White Sox, Yankees, 1957 All Star, 1960 World Series.

Other notable Tamalpais High graduates include Peter Shor, class of 1977, mathematician, MIT, MacArthur Fellow; Montgomery McFate, class of 1984, anthropologist, defense analyst; and Sarah Austin, class of 2004, Manhattan- based Internet personality, and founder of Pop17.

The Mock Trial Team, which placed sixth in the nation at the National High School Mock Trial Championship in Atlanta, Georgia, was one of the entities receiving honors by Tamalpais High School in 2009. Over 2,000 mock trial teams competed and 40 states had championship teams.

About the Author:

David DuPont, a principal with The DuPont Group in Marin County, California, specializes in Marin real estate and Mill Valley homes for high net-worth individuals and families. David is a Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) and brought to market the nation's largest residential real estate transaction in 2005.

Facts You Should Know About Your Home Equity Loan

By Doc Schmyz

Home equity loans can be a great source of cash, especially if you have an immediate need for it. However, before you plunge right into the process of drawing out a loan out of the equity of your property; better study the aspects that involve this loan.

Are you thinking about getting a home equity loan? Home equity loans might be an easy to acquire type of loan, but somehow even a seemingly great deal might turn out to be bad if the process of getting one is not done right. Make sure you understand all the language used in the loan process.

What areas of home equity loan do we need to know? Let us look at the following.

Points

How are you affected by this? Most of these lenders charge a part of the loan for commissions for themselves and for their sub-agents. Actually such points vary from little to exorbitant; it all depends on the company and the type of loan. If you are charged 1 point, this would mean 1 percent of the loan. And so 1 percent of a 100,000 dollar loan is an up front charge of 1000 dollars. Do not worry, there are lenders that do not charge points.

Loan "rate" terms

It it a fixed or variable loan. If it is a fixed loan, then you do not have to worry about external forces such as economic situations directly affecting your interest rate. But on the other hand, if you have variable type of loan, you may actually have an initial good interest rate. Interest rates that go up naturally makes your monthly payments go up too in the process. So what do you want " a home equity loan with interest rate that stays the same all throughout the duration of the loan, or one with the possibility of going up anytime? Understand that more often then not, a variable loan starts out one or two percent lower then a fixed rate. The big question is where does it stop once it starts to adjust?

Pre Payment penalties

Pre payment penalties are a fee that the lender places on you in the event you decide to pay of your loan early. These "pre-pays" can cost several thousand dollars in some cases. The reason for this is that by paying off the loan early, the lender will be missing out on the intrest payments you have agreed to pay over the life of the loan. (these interest payments are normally in the several thousands of dollars)

Late payment penalties

In some cases, while you may have a low interest rate, you may have a clause in the contract for the loan that will increase your interest if your late on a payment. In most cases this can add up to several thousands extra over the life of the loan.

Insurance

One thing you want to check for is if the home equity loan that you are prospecting has insurance costs hidden somewhere, a cost that you definitely do not want. Whenever you get a loan, you can take in corresponding credit insurance. You can have credit life insurance, which takes care of your loan in the event that you die. However, if in the case of home equity loan, if you feel that insurance is just added cost, then by all means avoid the lender that requires you to pay for them.

About the Author:

Doc Schmyz has invested all over the US. His free website shares Real estate investing information for all over the US. Find Real estate investing information by state

Speeding Up With REO

By Angela Kleinertski

REO" stands for "Real Estate Owned" properties. REO properties are known as bank owned residential property, bank REOs, house foreclosures, etc. "REO companies" are businesses that deal exclusively with these investments. Foreclosure has been all over America for the past couple of years.

For the past couple of years, foreclosure has been all over the United States. This trend is expected to continue in the next 2-3 years or even longer. This resulted to Foreclosure Property Investment being an industry.

There is a huge number of homes in various stages of foreclosure. This is the reason why a number of companies and businesses are dedicating their time in the acquisition and resale of foreclosed properties all over the country.

These companies are called REO Asset Management Companies. As foreclosure properties increased in number, most real estate professionals would want to take advantage of bank reo listing.

Selling prices of each house is included in the REO listing provided by the bank. Buying foreclosed properties used to be an informal process but soon change when foreclosure become prevalent all over the country.

Specialized companies began to sweep the country due to the increasing number of properties that banks and lenders would want to get rid off.

These specialized companies deal with "distressed' real estate including bank REO, foreclosed and soon to be foreclosed properties. Several companies consider themselves as "REO Asset Management Companies". However, most of them do not make any money. They lack one or more of the following: experience, funding/cash flow, strong management, relationships with banks and lenders, networks of realtors, contractors and appraisers, etc. Profitable REO companies have all of the mentioned attributes and proven business processes.

About the Author:

Successful Real Estate Gurus share their secrets in REO Investing and offer a comprehensive listing of Bank REO that can make you earn millions in REO.

Save Money On The Home You Own

By Britnee Nguyen

If you're a homeowner, you might be looking into ways to save money on the home you own especially if you're facing foreclosure. To avoid foreclosure or to make some money off of your home, some have chosen to have roommates move in and some choose to do a sale where you hand over your home to the bank and they'll sell it and pay off your equity with the profits. Many have chosen to lease or rent the home they own.

You can move out to a smaller, inexpensive place or move in with family and friends. In the meantime, rent out your home to a reliable tenant who will pay their rent on time. Rental homes in Utah sometimes receive more rent than their homeowners' monthly mortgage payment. That's why it's important to offer the right monthly rental price of your property. If it's too low, you'll lose out on money and if it's too high, then you'll have a harder time to find a tenant willing to pay it. Depending on the location of homes for rent in Utah and the condition and size of it will make up the rental price.

It's pretty easy to find a tenant during this time in our economy. Many are looking to increase their credit score and can do so by renting a home. KeyRenter helps homeowners with their rental homes in Utah to find tenants to occupy them. Choosing the right tenant is an important part of renting your home. If you don't choose a qualified tenant, it will cause you problems in the future such as rent payments on paid on time.

By downsizing while renting out your home, you are able to save money while others are paying your mortgage. While you wait for the housing market to improve to put your home for sale, you are able to accumulate savings for your new home. When using Utah property management they are able to provide the renting experience in a stress-free way.

As a homeowner, renting your home might be something new to you and you're not sure of the technicalities and legal terms of renting. Utah property management's job is to provide you with the tools necessary for homes for rent in Utah to run smoothly. They can show your rental property to interested applicants and answer any questions they may have. They are also in charge of collecting the rent check and dealing with maintenance issues or tenant issues. This saves you a lot of time and money not having to worry about these issues when professionals are working for you to get the issues taken care of.

With KeyRenter, they charge just a $75 flat fee for monthly management in Utah. Compared to other Utah property management companies, this is one of the most inexpensive deals. Other companies charge 8 to 10 percent for managing your property and don't offer a variety of services. The $75 is a better deal if you have a rental property going for more than $750 a month. Saving money on your home can be easy when you choose to rent and downsize to a smaller property.

About the Author:

KeyRenter assists hundreds of Utah homeowners rent their homes. As a Utah property management company, KeyRenter helps with leasing, management, and accounting with rental homes in Utah.

How to Find Foreclosed Homes

By Andre J. Keaton

When you are considering how best to find a good deal in the housing market, or if you're considering purchasing your own first home, foreclosure homes might be the best option, especially if you have limited funds.

Unfortunately, some people have financial difficulties which are devastating and cause them to lose their home. You could benefit from their misfortune by purchase a foreclosure home and earn money on your investment.

Foreclosure properties can be located in many different places. Banks have foreclosure listings, as do government agencies, and of course there are other home lenders who have foreclosure properties. You will have many sources to find these properties, as these lists are frequently updated with new properties.

You can check out several online sites for listings of these foreclosed homes. These listings could also be printed and posted in the offices of the financial institutions or published and distributed to the public.

You can send letters of intention to buy or participate in foreclosure auctions to be able to purchase any one of the homes listed as foreclosed.

The process by which you can acquire foreclosed homes would differ from one state to another. There are also differences by which properties seized by the government, as well as those seized by banking institutions, are handled. It would save you some amount of trouble or potential hassle to get yourself acquainted with these processes before you start to dip into the business of foreclosure investing.

There are a lot of foreclosed properties nowadays and the selling prices on these properties are lower than ever. It is a very good time to get into foreclosure investing today.

Foreclosures are a fantastic way to maximize the return on your disposable income, provided that the process is handled correctly. Instead of watching your hard earned cash evaporate in bad investments, or erode with inflation, when you invest in foreclosed property you will have a huge return on your investment.

About the Author:

Are you considering entering the business of investing in foreclosure homes? Would you like to know more about foreclosure property, REO, foreclosure auctions or other potential investment properties? Discover all the practical information that will make you better in foreclosure investing!

Properties Vary So Choose Wisely

By Ray Walberg

Today's real-estate market is leading many to dream of becoming real-estate tycoons: snapping up properties at low cost and selling them at a profit? Is that a dream you can make reality?

It is possible to make real estate investing a profitable venture, but it will not be easy. If you don't know what you are doing, you could lose your investment - or take years to earn it back.

Before you start checking the real estate listings, think about what you want. Are you planning to invest for the long term or do you want to buy quickly and sell quickly? Do you have the money and time to make necessary repairs and upgrades? Do you want the house across the street or properties in Costa Blanca, Spain?

Another important question to consider is how much risk you can handle. Real estate is an especially risky investment because it takes so much time to realize a profit. To reach that profit you have to spend a lot of money: on the property, taxes, repairs, insurance etc. You also have to spend a lot of time: in repairs and in waiting for the market to cycle to a favorable condition for you.

These are not just theoretical questions. Research how much money you have to invest. Write down how much money you want to have in one year, in five years and in 20 years. Determine whether you want to use your primary home as collateral on your investment. (This will increase the size of the loan for which you will be eligible, but it also means you can lose your home if you cannot make your payments.) You may be more comfortable investing money on a smaller "fixer-upper" property.

Many people are tempted by offers to buy a parcel with no money down. These generally involve high interest rates and closing costs. It's a very risky venture because no matter what happens in the market, you will still have to pay the full amount eventually.

Before you take the plunge, learn everything you can about the real estate market. There are many books and periodicals available to teach you the basics. The internet is also a great source of real estate information. You can learn everything you need to know about contracts, mortgages, insurance, legalities etc. The best investment is one that you have spent some time researching.

Be sure you have access to good legal and financial information before you invest. If you don't know your legal rights and responsibilities you could make a serious mistake that could affect your financial health and future.

Real estate investing is not an easy venture, but with careful research and planning, it is possible to get a very healthy return. Because properties are unique, you can have a real adventure in watching changes in your investment.

About the Author:

Ray Walberg is writing primarily for http://www.alicante-spain.com , an online publication covering information on property prices costa blanca and costa blanca properties. His writings on properties in costa blanca are published on http://www.alicante-spain.com/costa-blanca-property.html .

Buying and Selling Property in Costa Rica

By Randy Berg

Costa Rica is a perfect place for people who like to invest their money on land. Buying and selling property in Costa Rica, now, is a perfect decision. Profit margins are also very high and it is also considered to be very good investments of your land where people will really make good profits.

Here are some tips to buy the paramount land, which will give you huge yields, as the American population of Costa Rica would enhance up to one million by 2010. The prices are going up all the time and it will help a great deal to people to gain some money and earn good returns on this.

Stunning beaches as well as graceful countryside forms some other factor for a craze in buying and selling property in Costa Rica. One can be far away from the hustle and bustle of the city life. Furthermore, comforts and infrastructure in Costa Rica is also very appealing. New motorway on the construction, to blend with big metropolitan cities; new marina to get completed at Quepos, new airport that is under the plan at Orotina, where the direct flights are accessible to United States, are few of the newest development and attraction of Costa Rica.

Apart from these many latest advancements like new motorway, which is in its completion stage and will make easy access to the large metropolitan cities; in the coastal city of Quepos, there is a construction, yet to be completed for a big marina; in Orotina, a new airport has been planned to link flights to US. The connectivity is improving day by day and people are really enjoying this is great deal.

All these have relatively increased the Buying and Selling Property in Costa Rica. The process is easy and people really need to make the investment made in the right way so that nothing goes wrong and people do make good amount of money.

Although the land value seems to max out in all these area, you can also find places, which will fetch you higher yielding in your investment. You need to find many different options before deciding on what suits your needs and requirements as that will help you a great deal and fetch you good profits over a period.

Apart from Americans, other foreigners are also interested in Buying and Selling Property in Costa Rica. Renowned companies like P&G, Microsoft, and Intel tend to invest in Costa Rica. Hence, all these have made developments in infrastructure and land value in Costs Rica. Buying and Selling Property in Costa Rica will definitely add up the great value in the near future.

About the Author:

Let Randy Berg help you find economical properties at Costa Rica Real Estate. Interact with us through our forum.

Why Would Anyone Want to Move to Seattle? Here's Why!

By Chuck R Stewart

One of the most popular cities in the U.S. is tucked up in the northwest corner of Washington State. Close to the Pacific, close to the mountains, and close to Canada, Seattle is not only a good place to visit, but you might want to live there. A great attraction of this city is the Seattle architecture. Residential architects Seattle have created a city of unique neighborhoods unlike the facade in the front/barracks in the back McMansions found in the Midwest. Walls of glass bring the vistas of the Pacific Ocean and the Cascade Mountains into the living rooms of the residents fortunate enough to call this city home.

The splendid architecture of this metropolis hits the eye immediately as the visitor approaches the city by air. Seattle's uniqueness can be seen in her most famous landmark, the Space Needle. The Space Needle was designed with the Stuttgart Tower in Germany in mind by Edward E. Carlson for the 1962 Seattle Worlds Fair. The concept for this fair was Century 21. And here we are in Century 21, and the Space Needle is still a modernistic symbol for a modern city. Still today, it brings in tourists by the thousands. That is, in those times its not closed due to weather conditions.

And while were on the subject of weather, Seattle has a climate as unique as the city itself. If you want to bathe in the hot, dry sun, go to Palm Springs. But if you want a cool, damp climate, and temperate summers, Seattle is the place for you. A normal summer day is in the 70s, and a normal winter day is in the 30s. Seattle's reputation about rain is true. You'll be wet a lot of the time. Average rainfall in Seattle is somewhere close to 37 inches per year. However, this rain is normally no more than a light drizzle. Seattle also has a reputation for gloomy skies. This reputation is cant be denied. Whereas, in the Northeast, when the rain ends, the sky turns blue, in the Northwest, the skies remain gray when the rain stops. Winter is the rainiest time of the year, with the rainy season starting around October 1.

Since the beginning, Seattle has provided a living for its inhabitants in a number of different ways that evolved following the evolution of the country as a whole. In the early days, lumber was the big business. This was followed in the second half of the Nineteenth Century by the Gold Rush of the Far North. Seattle was the major source of supplies for the Gold Rush in Alaska and the Yukon. Throughout this era, gold wasn't the direct source of wealth for Seattlites. It was the salmon and clothing industries. Later, as the Twentieth Century progressedinto the Mid-Twentieth Century, the boom in Seattle was fueled by the aircraft industry and, today, by the software industry.

But, going back to that old saying about all work and no play. Seattle also provides cultural activities that appeal to the entire spectrum of music lovers. At one end are the Seattle Symphony, the opera, and the ballet. At the other end is the grunge music of such artists as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, and Mudhoney.

About the Author:

Chuck R Stewart recently remodeled his vacation home using a Seattle architect. He really enjoys spending time in his home designed with the help of residential architects Seattle.