A growing trend during the current recession is squatters moving into foreclosed homes and living in them rent and mortgage free. Although this seems astonishing, with the inflated real estate bubble not yet completely burst, banks reluctant to recognize losses on such properties, and so many empty homes available, it was a likely result of the collapse.With home builders having built far more properties than could ever have been sold, actual...more
With so many different types of mortgage available, it's difficult to determine the right one for you. Before you start looking at available mortgages, however, it's important to first evaluate your finances, as your financial situation is an important factor that will dictate the type of loan you need, and how much you can afford to borrow.Step One: Evaluating Your FinancesBefore you even think about the type of mortgage you should obtain, it's...more
Success is more than economic gains, titles, and degrees. Planning for success is about mapping out all the aspects of your life. Similar to a map, you need to define the following details: origin, destination, vehicle, backpack, landmarks, and route.Origin: Who you areA map has a starting point. Your origin is who you are right now. Most people when asked to introduce themselves would say, "Hi, I'm Jean and I am a 17-year old, senior highschool student." It does not tell you about who Jean is; it only tells you her present preoccupation. To gain insights about yourself, you need to look closely at your beliefs, values, and principles aside from your economic, professional, cultural, and civil status. Moreover, you can also reflect on your experiences to give you insights on your good and not-so-good traits, skills, knowledge, strengths, and weaknesses. Upon introspection, Jean realized that she was highly motivated, generous, service-oriented, but impatient. Her inclination was in the biological-medical field. Furthermore, she believed that life must serve a purpose, and that wars were destructive to human dignity.Destination: A vision of who you want to be"Who do want to be?"...more
There are always going to be differences within an organisation to just about anything related to the workplace. People will object to their work schedules, job assignments, goals, supervisor instructions, and team positions. They will also come into conflict with fellow workers or bring conflict into the workplace that really started at home due...more
The publishing world is going through a very big change right now. Sadly, most book publishers are choosing to watch the wave from the comforts of the beach rather than getting out there and fighting for a position on the wave. Now is the time for you to get in position, because the wave is coming.Here are just a few signs that the wave is coming:-...more
You find a foreclosed home in your area.What next?There is a sign on the property. Should you call the listing office? Pricing on a foreclosure/REO/ bank-owned property needs to be right.At this stage, you need to find a local realtor who knows the market. The realtor will show you comparable sales to justify your asking price.Never get represented by a seller's agent. They are getting paid by the seller, so they will work for their best interests, not yours!Be aware: These properties are SOLD at a discount, usually 50% to 100% below market price, depending on the home's condition, location and market in your area.If these types of sales are predominant in your market, I would expect a big discount price. Most of these homes are priced with all comparable foreclosures.It seems that most lenders/investors who are selling these homes understand the importance of getting them into move-in condition.The more people that qualify to buy these homes, the higher chance you have to sell them. I have seen a lot of homes with mold, all kinds of fixes needed, and I can already see some issues concerning their appraisal.The role of the appraiser is to get pictures of the house and suggest all...more
Every so often we read that governments are going to crack down on tax havens and offshore bank accounts. The latest threats to do this have come in the wake of the financial crisis and economic recession that began in 2008.However, attacking...more
All salespeople feel it, but no one wants to talk about it: the fear of cold calling. As a sales and business coach, I've often heard the following comments from salespeople I have coached: "I feel like I'm bothering people by calling them.""I think...more
Speedy Credit Repair SolutionsHave you been through a rough patch? Has your credit suffered and your scores fallen to sub-prime levels? You do not have to wait seven years to see your credit scores improve. There are many credit repair strategies you...more
We live in a quick-fix society so it's no wonder that many salespeople look for the magic cure or band-aid solution to increase their sales. However, I believe that success in sales follows a basic set of rules.Fill the pipeline. Many people...more
When you work from home, especially if you work online, you can become disctracted. In this article I will give you 3 tips to help you stay organized, so you can get things done quickly and efficiently. Read on...Benefits - There are many advantages...more
Of all the things we dream of when we are up to our necks in the frenzied pace of a career, the one that's most consistently a high priority is the chance to slow down. To stop running around like a chicken on speed trying to get fifty things done at...more