How To Harness The Power Of Email For Marketing Success
Spammers have done their best to give email marketing a bad name. However, email is such an all pervasive communication tool that its use as an extremely effective means of building customer relationships and selling products and services remains un-dented. Imagine trying to run your business today without access to email it would be impossible. In fact, surveys have found that the vast majority of internet users site email as their primary reason for using the internet, despite the spammers best efforts.
While were on the subject of spam, heres a quick word to the wise, dont do it!
Its a really effective way of upsetting future clients and associating your company, products and services with dodgy Viagra, porn and scam artists. Most importantly, spam doesnt work. Its as simple as that.
However, opt-in email marketing is exploding because it does work. Companies are lured to it by incredibly low costs and high response rates. Its easy to get started and it puts any organisation, large or small, on a level playing field.
Of course, theres a right way and a wrong way to do anything and the vast majority of email marketers are getting it wrong. The industry is young and those who are doing well are not falling over themselves to share the secrets of their email marketing success with competitors. But there is some good news. Unlike conventional direct marketing pieces, email marketing is both cheap and easy to test and the results can be comparatively easy to collate and analyse.
If thats the case then why do so many of the marketing emails that I receive get just about everything wrong? And why dont the senders ever seem to learn from their mistakes?
Learn from your mistakes
The advantage that email marketing has over pretty much any other type of marketing is its trackability. Instant, live results from your marketing campaign were a marketers dream just a few, short years ago. Now they are a reality but not everyone is taking advantage.
Emailing your database from Outlook or using bulk email sending software is usually a waste of time for both you and the recipient. The main reason being that you get little or no feedback, unless a recipient chooses to email you back. True, you can set up a read receipt in Outlook but that only tells you a very small part of the story. Imagine if you could tell, at a glance, who isnt interested in your services and really doesnt want to hear from you again (dont waste any more of your valuable time on them). Or who opened your email and read it repeatedly (wow, those people must really be interested!) Better still, imagine if they clicked directly through to your website and you knew what link they clicked on (you would know exactly what interested them). Useful stuff like that!
Fortunately all that information is really easy to obtain if you use a good email marketing tool like www.livewirecampaign.co.uk rather than Outlook. There might be a learning curve of a few days but its worth it to make your emails 100% more effective, right?
With this kind of marketing intelligence you can really start to harness the power of email, because email can give you something special instant, live, two-way communication from every address you deliver to. Thats right, every single one. Even emails that bounce back tell you something its likely those addresses are dead and you need to update your database. If you are getting 20% opens and only 22% reads then you know something about your email isnt connecting with your recipients. If it was, they would be reopening the email to re-read it or show it to the boss, so you would be getting a much higher percentage of reads to opens.
With this kind of in-depth information you can begin to learn from what you are getting right and what you are getting wrong. You can begin to mould your campaigns and target your messages. Improve your response rates and follow up on click throughs. In essence, learn from your mistakes and find out what works for you.
To start you on the right track. Here are 5 tried and tested ways of improving the effectiveness of your emails.
1. Keep your subject lines short and to the point. Longer than 40 characters and theyll be cut off by many email clients. Dont use words like OFFER or FREE or exclamation marks for emphasis!!! Youll be relegated to the spam folder.
2. Keep it simple stupid. Dont make your emails too long or try to cram in to many offers. Youve got a second or so to grab your readers attention so keep it concise.
3. Let your readers know what to do next. Put a clear call to action on your email. A link to your website or your telephone number, big and bold.
4. Make it time limited. Putting a deadline on your email has been proven to increase response rates. Make it clear to your recipients that if they snooze they loose!
5. Time it right. Dont send your email at 10oclock on a Monday morning when everyone is manic. Its going to get deleted. Timing is everything so choose a time of day when your recipient will be more receptive.
Pay close attention to just these five rules and I guarantee you will improve your response rates. Good luck and remember the power of email marketing. Customer knowledge!
Anthony Braide is Managing Director of Gencia Media Ltd, makers of
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Six Tips For TARGETING Your Prospects
Would you like to have the webtraffic that the top promotors get? You can buy MLM leads or use a traffic system. I am going to give you a few ways to attract more qualified prospects to your program and tell you ways to help them once they are part of your business.
1. Laser Target Your Potential Prospects
You must target people who want what you are selling. You don't want to sell your program or products to a very general audience. If you are too general, your response rate will be very low and of poor quality. If you are in a health food MLM, you don't want people that are interested in selling cell phones looking at your opportunity, you want people who are interested in selling health food products.
2. Get The Best Bang For Your Buck
Learn how to properly advertise on pay-per-click search engines. Don't be too general - you need specific keywords that apply to what you are offering. If done properly, this is one of the best ways to bring qualified prospects to your site.
3. Test, Test & Test Again
You can always improve on your advertising copy. Different ad copy, with some changes to your ads, can make a big difference to your click through rate. Test many keywords with changes to your ad and see what works best. Promote the ads that receive the most click throughs to get the targeted prospects to your site.
4. Other Options
You know Google is one of the biggest, but they are certainly not the only search engine out there. If you are just starting out or have a limited budget, look at some other options like GoClick and Search-World. There are so many places online that offer pay-per-click advertising that it could make your head spin...but stay focused and just start small with one or two ads.
5. Have A System And A Plan
You would be surprised to realize how many people get into MLM and Network Marketing that just sign up to a program and then sit there and do nothing. So, will it surprise you to find out that the reason they are doing nothing is because they don't have a clear plan of action?
6. Your Website & Follow Up
Your website needs to be your sales page. If you are getting website traffic but no signups, there is a problem with your website design. You need to have a way to "capture" your prospects name and phone number when they come to your site.
When you start getting prospects to your site, make sure you contact them and say something like, " I see you visited my site. I would just like to introduce myself to you and see if you have any questions." This is what will set you apart from everyone else.
How many times have you recieved personal support from your upline? Sure, sometimes you may get lucky, but the majority would say, "Once I got in I was on my own."
For assured success: Make sure you follow up with everyone and make sure they have a plan of action and goals.
Just support your new members like you would like to be treated yourself. You need a "system" that they can follow, and give your new business partners a day by day, step by step plan of action that they can follow. If you do it right, you will have a true MLM system that works. A traffic system will allow you to drive more qualified prospects to your website, assuring that you can make money online instead of wasting your time and money on useless advertising.
James Shutt has been in the network marketing industry since 1990. As an Excel Communications representative, he built a large organization and had a flourishing business until the company went bankrupt.
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Fund Raising is Easier with Small Business Loans
Business without finance is like a fish without water in the desert which cant survive for long. Finance or capital is something which a business requires at every stage to run smoothly. A small deficit of this capital can be the cause of big losses. Small business loans can help you in letting your business run on the right tracks with apt financing at the right time.
Small business loans are the loans for financing the commercial needs of small business. These loans are conveniently available in the loan market and are for variety of business requirements like:
The purchase of real estate to domicile the business
Construction, renovation or leasehold improvements
To purchase the furniture, fixtures, machinery, or the equipment
For the flooring of inventory and for working capital.
Your business plan shows outside small business loan lender what you want to achieve but just as importantly will help you keep your long-term objectives in mind while still dealing with the day-to-day issues of running your own business. So, it is always beneficial to do prepare a business plan before you go for a small business loan.
Being a homeowner or property owner you can place your asset or home as collateral to the lender for getting a secured small business loan. This is preferable when requirement is huge. But collateral-less borrowers are welcomed for small business loans in form of unsecured loans. Also, these loans ensure faster approvals so you dont have to wait too long to get the money. You can borrow from 50000 to 1000000 with secured and from 1000 to 25000 with an unsecured business loans.
You can also get small business loans if you are a bad credit holder but for this you need to do some research among the online loan lenders to get a good deal. These loans can give a boost to your credit score, when you make the repayments for the loan on time.
Online loan websites offers you large number of free online quotes which you can easily compare with the help of comparison tools. Also, there are tools such as debt and repayment calculators, repayment tables and budget planners to help you out. You can select the quote which suits you and apply for the same. You need to mention your personal details, name and nature of business, place of business, loan amount required along with the necessary documents to the lender. You will get the approval quickly after all the formalities have been completed for small business loans to serve your commercial ideas.
Michael T. Brian is the author of this article. He is Masters in Business Administration and expert in finance. He writes about various finance related topics. To find Online Business loans, business start up loans, Secured business loans, unsecured business loans, small business loan, flexible business loans visit
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Bad Credit Real Estate Investing: Stop Dodging The Bullet & Clean The Gun
If I had a dollar for every email I was sent, message board post I have read, or telephone call I have received asking how to invest with bad credit, I would have retired 10 years ago. If most of these individuals would learn some age old truths, it would make their investing lives so much more productive.
The truth of the matter is, there are ways for a wannabe investor to begin investing with bad credit. There is wholesaling, flipping, subject to investing and a host of other guru related theories and techniques. The ultimate thing that will happen though, at one point or another, is that they will run into a wall where credit will be needed. If they really want to take their investing to the next level, they need to be the ones financing the properties and realizing the nice gains. Are there mortgage companies that will lend to poor credit clients? Sure, as an owner occupant. Try getting a 90-100% ltv loan for an investor property with a poor credit score...It just ain't gonna happen kids! Ah yes, but some wise person will point out that they indeed do have a program that will do this. Great! So, what is the interest rate and how many points are rolled into this and can I hear what the closing costs will be? Exactly my point. These loans, if they do exist, would be so expensive, that most all deals would not work using them.
Why not take a proactive approach and get yourself cleaned up creditwise before you attempt to do any investing? Yep, it can be done and yep, it will take some time, but it will make a huge difference in your financial future. By cleaning up your credit first, you will have the time necessary to gain the knowledge and direction that you want to head once you are ready to begin. It will open up a world of opportunities that are now closed off to you due to your credit. Once you make the intelligent decision to restore your credit first, you must then take a closer look at how you should accomplish this.
Let's step back and take a look at the big picture for a minute. Forget all the hype that you hear, both positive and negative, and let's face the facts. There are ways to clean your credit. 90% or more of all credit files have errors and these errors are NOT in your favor. There are also old debts that should drop off due to statue of limitations as far as how long something can be on a report. There are people that had filed a bankruptcy and all of the negative items were not included, there are things listed twice, collection companies that are no longer in business and will not verify the debt. The list goes on and on. The bottom line here is that you need to either learn how to get things removed off of your credit files yourself, or have a competent company that follows the law to the letter, do it for you. Do note that if you are going to do it for yourself, it is much more than sending in letters and waiting for items to magically drop off. You will want to arm yourself with knowledge of the laws: The Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act of 2003, Fair Credit Reporting Act, removal via section 609, the HIPAA and the Fair Debt Collections Practice Act. You will also want to be knowledgeable of what it means to validate a debt, as this is much more than a creditor verifying that they have a debt on record. Validation makes them prove the fact that a debt is owed (used properly, this technique can remove a great deal of items not known to be your debts).
For those individuals that opt to have their credit cleaned by an outside agency, there are a few things that you should consider. Contact the companies and actually interview them. Before you actually begin the questions, see if they are hiding behind the net. Ask them: Will they review your credit reports for free, BEFORE you sign up with them or pay them any money? If they say yes, go on with the following questions:
Do they only send dispute letters to the three credit reporting agencies, or will they dispute directly with creditor, collections agencies and courthouses if necessary? If so, is this at no extra charge?
If they charge a continuous monthly fee, what is their incentive to repair your credit quickly?
How many accounts will they work on at one time?
If you are going to hire a Law Firm, will they be representing you or sending the letters on your behalf?
Do you have to fill out your own disputes on-line?
Do they offer a TRUE 100% money back guarantee?
Do you have 24 hour, 7 day a week access to your account?
Remember...Do not EVER let a credit repair company pull your credit reports for "free"! They do not have a permissible purpose and it will count as an inquiry against you. It will actually LOWER your credit score.
You will be amazed at the amount of so-called professional companies and firms that will fail these questions miserably. Do not give up though. Once you find a company that answers these questions correctly, then guage your comfort level when speaking with them. You will be conversing with them for the next few months, so make sure it's a good fit. You will also want to feel that the company you choose truly has their clients needs as the #1 priority.
Finally, you should remember one main point. There is NO MAGIC BULLET that will clean your credit report overnight. Ask yourself this question: How long have you had bad credit? I would imagine that it has been a year or so if it has been a day. Wouldn't it be crazy to think that it can be erased overnight? It will take some time (3-6 months generally), but it is worth it when done correctly.
Make the right decision, learn a little patience, and get your credit restored before you attempt to enter the real estate game. Take the time to learn what it is you want to gain out of this amazing field, and do it the proper way.
Patrick Zanders is an author, public speaker, and real estate investor.
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A Guide to Buying a Property in the Czech Republic
REAL ESTATE BUYERS GUIDE:
Successfully Shopping for Real Estate in the Czech Republic
Overview
Since gaining its independent, the Czech Republic has experienced a boom in the number of foreign investors who have become active in the real estate market in that country. More and more foreign nationals -- primarily from the EU but also from many other nations around the world -- are becoming involved in the real estate market in the Czech Republic.
Literally thousands of foreign nationals have invested in commercial real estate in the Czech Republic. The government of the Czech Republic has worked to liberalize and streamline the laws in the Czech Republic that deal with foreign ownership of real estate. While there remain some hurdles to foreign ownership of real estate in the Czech Republic, particularly for foreign nationals from non-EU countries, these hurdles hardly are insurmountable today. In addition, there are proposals in the works that will remove many of the barriers and hurdles to foreign ownership of real estate in the Czech Republic within the coming decade. But, again and with that said, any of the hurdles that remain in place today are far from insurmountable.
Investment Real Estate
As has been referenced, since the entry of the Czech Republic, there has been a surge in the number of foreign nationals who have taken to investing in real estate in the Czech Republic. Many of these foreign nationals have tried to take advantage of the economic growth that has been experienced in the Czech Republic in recent years by investing in and by purchasing commercial real estate in that country.
Investment in real estate is occurring not only in the more urban, commercial centers in the Czech Republic but also in some more rural areas of the country as well. The government of the Czech Republic has been intent on decentralizing commercial and industrial interests in the country to help boost the economic prospects and wellbeing in all parts of the country. Thus, many foreign nationals are investing in real estate in what otherwise might be considered remote regions of the nation.
Residential Real Estate - Single Family Dwellings
Within the Czech Republic are many graceful estates with long histories. In recent years, many of these large residences have been put on the market for sale. Many foreign nationals have taken an interest in buying these properties for two reasons. First, these foreign investors have taken to purchasing these properties for use as their own second or holiday residences.
In addition to buying these properties for their personal uses, some foreign nationals are also buying these properties to convert them into inns or bed and breakfasts that are being used in the ever growing tourist trade in the Czech Republic.
Residential Real Estate - Apartments
For many years, apartments have been the primary residences for many people who reside in some of the more major urban areas in the Czech Republic. This trend has not changed significantly in recent years.
Since the entry of the Czech Republic into the European Union, more and more foreign nationals have been spending extended periods of time in the Czech Republic for business purposes. In this regard, many foreign nationals have taken to purchasing apartments in the major urban and commercial centers in the Czech Republic for their own residential purposes while they are in the Czech Republic on business.
A growing number of foreign nationals -- from the EU and from other nations the world over -- are buying apartment units and buildings for investment purposes. These people are in turn renting these units to other people, generally foreign nationals who are in the country for business purposes. Industry analysts maintain that this trend is likely to continue well into the next decade as more and more foreign nationals are spending time in the country for business purposes and reasons.
Vacation Real Estate
Many people who are interested in investing in real estate in the international market are surprised to learn that the vacation real estate market in the Czech Republic is doing booming business in the 21st century. In the past decade, the Czech Republic has become a major stomping and stopping ground for tourists from across Europe and, indeed, from many other countries from around the world.
With the increase in tourism in the Czech Republic since the country gained its independence, there has been a similar increase in the development and remodeling of different properties that are being used by tourists and visitors to the country. For example, a significant number of apartment developments have been constructed with the goal of providing living space to men and women who intend to visit the Czech Republic for extended stays.
In addition to apartments, other vacation properties including hotels and stand alone single family residences are being developed, constructed and remodeled to provide living space for people who are interested in traveling to the Czech Republic for holiday purposes. Foreign nationals are highly involved in this type of real estate development.
Successfully Purchasing Real Estate in the Czech Republic
Specific Steps to Buying Real Property in the Czech Republic
Overall, the process of purchasing real estate in the Czech Republic by a foreign national is a rather simplistic process. There are some additional requirements imposed upon a foreign national when it comes to the purchase of real estate in the Czech Republic at this point in time.
At the present time, the Czech government is working to liberalize and streamline the laws governing the purchase of real estate by a foreign national. Much of this effort is being expended due to the Republics admission into the European Union.
At the present time, a foreign national from the European Union can purchase and own real estate in the Czech Republic directly. Historically, in the Czech Republic, a foreign national from any nation simply could not purchase and own real estate in the Czech Republic directly. In other words, in order to purchase and own real estate in the Czech Republic in days gone by, a person who was a foreign nation needed to establish a limited liability company in the Czech Republic for the purpose of taking title to real estate in the Czech Republic.
In todays Czech Republic, a citizen from one or another of the nations that comprise the EU no longer needs to establish a limited liability company in the Czech Republic to take possession or and title to real estate in the Czech Republic. Instead, a citizen of one or another of the EU member nations can own real estate in the Czech Republic directly.
At the present time, residents and citizens of other countries the world over that are not a part of the EU cannot buy real estate directly in the Czech Republic at this time. With that said, there is determined movement being had on the part of the Czech Republics government to revamp the provisions of the law that prevent direct ownership of real estate by foreign nationals who are not part of the EU. These changes in the law are expected to take effect within the Czech Republic within the coming decade.
In any event, and has been mentioned previously, a foreign national from a non-EU can buy and possess real estate in the Czech Republic after establishing a bona fide limited liability company in the Czech Republic, the limited liability company being the entity that will take title to real estate in the Czech Republic on behalf of the non-EU foreign national.
Once the limited liability company has been established by the non-EU foreign national, in some instances the purchase of real estate in the Czech Republic can be a rather simple two step process. In some instances, the purchase of real estate can be as simple as executing one written contract for the purchase of real estate. Subsequent to the preparation and execution of the contract for the purchase of real estate, in some instances the only other step that must be taken to complete the sale and transfer of ownership in the subject real estate is the filing of a petition regarding the sale and transfer with the Cadastral Registry.
In some instances in the Czech Republic a foreign national will be interested in buying real estate that is in the process of being developed. In other words, the foreign national has an interest in buying real estate that includes a building or structure that is in the process of being constructed or that is slated for construction. The buyer desires to have the construction of the building, the development of the property, be a part of the overall sales transaction. In such a situation, rather than signing a simple contract for the purchase of real estate, the purchaser will execute what is known as a contract for future purchase contract. In other words, the buyer is executing an agreement to enter into a sales contract upon the completion of the construction or development on the subject property in question.
Les Calvert - the Director of
http://www.property-abroad.com often writes articles and information on the overseas property market. Visit their site with useful information and properties for sale in the Czech Republic
http://www.property-abroad.com/czech-republic.
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Commercial Banker Discusses Typical Loan Scenarios for Private Money Deals.
Commercial real estate, private money loans also know as hard money and or bridge loans are becoming more prevalent as borrowers enjoy less red tape, quicker closings and more common sense underwriting than conventional financing provides. Typically though, borrowers still relay on this type of financing as an option when conventional sources are not available.
The increased speed and flexible underwriting comes at a steep price with interest only rates often in the teens, 3- 6 points being the norm and loan terms being relatively short at 12 36 months.
Why would owners pay such high fees/rates? In short, because it makes sense for them based on their current situation. Below are examples of transactions where it made sense for our borrowers or go the hard money route.
Grand Rapids. Small office building that was previously used as the owners business headquarters. The owner wanted to move his business out and convert the property into a multi-tenant building (investment property). To accomplish this he needed to create common areas, alter the entrance and add an elevator to the property. He needed a substantial amount of cash to make these improvements happen.
The problem was four fold: Personal credit was in the 400s, the owner had virtually no liquidity, the owner had no development experience and the year to date, profit & loss and balance sheet showed that his business was losing money. These issues eliminated any type of conventional financing.
The owner knew that the property would be a cash cow, and drastically improve his overall financial position, if he could get the money needed to complete the project. For the lender the deal made sense as well, due primarily to the low loan to value (High equity).
In addition, the exit strategy was simple, after the building was renovated and leased out, the property would stand on its own and qualify for conventional finance base off the new cash flow.
Metro Detroit. Local business that owned six retail buildings and had its loan called (forced balloon) prematurely by its bank. The loan was called primarily because the business had lost money for three years in a row. The bank was nervous the borrower would go out of business. The business was forced to seek alternative financing.
Besides the above, multiple conflicting partners further complicated the matter and made conventional financing that much more difficult to obtain.
However, the properties where in solid condition and had much equity. The borrowers where able to leverage the equity and refinance their existing mortgage and roll in other business debt into the private money loan.
The result was increased cash flow enabling the business to regain profitability even though their rate was much higher than the previous mortgage.
Cleveland. A real estate investor was in the process of purchasing a 40,000 square foot mixed use building. The seller became frustrated and began to doubt the buyers ability to purchase the building as the conventional lender became cautious and dragged the process out. To the buyers shock, the lender pulled out, two weeks before the scheduled close.
The primary issue for the conventional lender was that although the current net operating income could support the proposed loan, the historical (average of the last 3 years) net operating income could not meet the traditional banks Debt Coverage Ratios.
The buyer, fearing that he would lose the property and money he had already put into the deal, used private money to meet the closing schedule. The exit strategy to pay off the private money loan was to simply continue to document the current net operating income and refinance the debt into a conventional loan one year out.
These are typically private money scenarios, others include foreclosures, distressed properties, recent bankruptcies, lack of existing cash flow, partnership buy outs, land contract refinances, need for speed,etc.
Common positive traits that make the loans financeable include loan to values less than 60% and clear exit strategies on how the borrower is going to pay back the private money lender.
Yes, hard money is expensive, but can be a viable option given the right (Or wrong) set of circumstances.
Jeff Rauth is President of Commercial Finance Advisors, Inc. based out of Bloomfield Hills, MI. He specializes in Commercial Real Estate Loans between $100,000 - $5,000,000. Offers unique loan programs such as Commercial 30 Year Fixed, private money loans and 90% non SBA financing. He can be reached at 248 990-7602.
jrauth@cfa-commercial.com www.cfa-commercial.com.
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Advertising Nursery Products On TV - Part 2
It is also advisable for nursery plant advertisers to diversify their ads, so that during a one week, if 20 commercials are scheduled, it is beneficial to alternate four or five entirely different commercials during that period. If, for instance, only a white flowering dogwood commercial is scheduled to run, day after day, the ad will soon become ineffective and unprofitable to continue generating sales over an extended time period. Every item that is advertised will not be successful, and only trial and error will indicate the items that should be rescheduled to advertise during the next season. Nursery plant products are seasonal, and it is crucial to learn, what time of the year TV advertising should be done. Flowering plants should be advertised in the spring and summer when customers are anxious to actively plant. It would resulting in total failure to expect customers to want to buy flowering plants during the fall and winter. The correct advertising time to advertise can only be learned by trial and error, and gaining that knowledge may be too costly for most nursery business to test experimentally.
TV advertising of nursery plants may work great for 3-4 years, but any successful business campaign will attract competitors or onlookers, who may think the nursery business is a rainbow that leads to easy money and success. Mom and pop, backyard gardeners, may start up competitive businesses, who don't advertise on TV, but they may advertise in cheap newspaper ads that competes with sales from the TV nursery advertisers expected sales. These mom and pop operations in the beginning may not draw off significant revenue, but any success on their part will eventually stimulate more backyard operators to enter a crowded marketplace, that is easy to enter and requires only a small investment of inventory from back yard gardeners, and every new competitor who enters the market will ultimately erode a nursery plant market's profitability toward the prospect of doom and business failure.
A more threatening challenge to nursery plant TV advertising is the entry of aggressive competitors, who perceived the success of the nursery plant advertiser as trend setting and extremely profitable. This situation happens invariably, and the promise of new advertisers and increased revenue for the TV station encourages the sales representatives from the TV stations to solicit more business. This makes sense to everyone except to the current nursery, TV,plant advertiser who has spent thousands of dollars by trial and error, learning what kinds of ads to run, when to run the ads; and so his natural and reluctant unwillingness to share his hard earned secrets through years of advertising on TV to new-comer competitors. Because of all the factors that have emerged, the market share of nursery business can become so depleted by fractionation of a market that eventually, it becomes impossible for anyone to profitably continue to advertise nursery products on TV. The greed of the TV sales representative in gaining more revenue by soliciting new nursery advertising accounts from competitors of the loyal nursery plant advertiser, ends in self-destruct for the TV station resulting in zero nursery advertising.
Another more insidious problem that happens over a long period of years of advertising is that the total interest in planting gardens may have been generally over-stimulated and sales of the plants may have actually been dramatically increased overall in the TV coverage area, but wholesale plant growers, a new creation of increased plant demand. begin to appear to supply that increasing market demand. These wholesale growers then expand with a need to create even more nursery competitors in order to survive themselves. This crowding of a plant market of unmanageable nursery competition will eventually lead to a collapse of the industry segments, so that changes of plant supplies will flood plants into a limited, TV sales market area and much product remains unsold. Even drastic cut-price, sales promotions will not work once a market area has been saturated and overun with plants.
Many box stores have expanded during the past decade to add plant sales as an inducement to buy their other nonperishable non-plant items. In many cases these stores have sold plant at cost or below cost from contracted wholesalers, in order to establish their firm presence into the plant market. The box store phenomenon, and the spectacular domination of nursery retail sales has forced the closure, or bankruptcy in some cases, of independent nursery operators. This reduction of competition for the box stores has completely changed the marketing of garden plants, trees and bulbs in the United States.
Shopping for serious gardeners who become bored after buying box store, assembly-line plants, may become able to buy plants with the uniqueness and individual character that independent nurserymen once offered. Is it possible that someday an avid gardener may only be offered plastic flowers and trees to plant in his garden. Sic transit gloria mundi, (and so passes the glory of the world.)
Patrick A. Malcolm, owner of TyTy Nursery, has an M.S. degree in Biochemistry and has owned and operated TyTy Nursery for over three decades.
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Movement, Muscles and Machines
Sport encourages the integration of the whole organism because it is necessary to think as we move and plan ahead. In performing each movement in response to the run of play, we use mechanisms that nature evolved for the purpose of survival in a hostile world. Sport is todays equivalent of the hunting, fighting and avoidance of predators that kept our ancestors alive. The skills developed in our past are essential in todays sport; accuracy, speed, strength and intelligence are all requirements for success.
We have come to believe that the stronger a muscle the better, without a thought to what we actually do with a stronger muscle. I am not advocating we should do nothing, or that all exercise is harmful. The important issue is why we exercise and what is it we hope to achieve? If we want to get fit, ask the question - fit for what? When did you last review your objectives for devoting so much time and effort to its pursuit?
To help achieve optimum performance it is useful to understand the physiology involved so you do not misuse your body. All movement, even of the smallest part, involves the total organism yet many exercise systems fail to recognise the integral nature of human function. Exercises have always been designed to achieve specific improvements for one part of the body in the belief it will benefit the athlete for the particular demands of their sport. My view is that the concentration on individual parts whilst performing these exercises destroys the unity of the organism necessary for good movement.
Getting into shape usually involves a trip to the local gymnasium with its staggering array of equipment. A combination of technology and clever marketing has transformed the dull exercise machine into an essential piece of equipment capable of achieving miracles. Todays machines have made it possible to work individual muscles in isolation - the first-time gym user will often joke they ache in muscles they did not know existed. Unfortunately, in the rush to develop the ultimate range of equipment, I believe a vital factor in human development and movement has been overlooked. That is, no single movement involves either an individual or isolated set of muscles! Machines that work a muscle whilst immobilising or supporting part of the body, encourage unnatural actions never to be repeated outside the gymnasium, sports scientist Dr Mel Siff wrote: -
".it is well known in physiology that the body knows of actions, not muscles, so that it is inappropriate to place any intentional stress on individual muscles rather than on the desired motor patterns."
Even the harmless looking treadmill does not replicate natural activity. Running on a moving surface employs a different combination of muscles when compared with road running. Chuck Wolf, the director of sport science and human performance for the U.S.A. Triathlon National Training Center in Florida acknowledges this problem with the exercise machine saying,
" our love of machines has caused us to lose sight of the way the body functions. Machines are ideal for multiple repetitions of the same movement patterns along a single plane. Unfortunately, that's not how we move."
Too much emphasis is placed on muscle and hence exercises to improve strength at the cost of neglecting the systems that control them. Complex machines are able to analyse the strength of individual muscles in specific movements. However, these machines do not measure the body during natural activity. Problems are then identified with the suspect muscle and exercises prescribed to correct the condition. But what causes the weakness initially? Why is a muscle weak or too tight? A muscle can only do what it is told to do and as we do not have the ability to directly control a muscle we cannot be certain of what we are actually telling it to do. The offending muscle is only performing its function as directed by the controlling mechanisms for which we ultimately carry the responsibility. When the police stop a speeding motorist they prosecute the driver not the car!
This is not to say that gymnasiums are harmful - far from it! It is how we approach the use of a gym's equipment that is vital. They do offer an opportunity to develop body awareness and strength but the temptation is to focus on the specific muscle being exercised whilst ignoring how the whole body can be used. For example, it is common to see people gritting teeth, straining neck muscles and arching their back when using machines to work the biceps. All this unnecessary action is not going to help build the biceps but it will develop poor muscular habits that will affect other activities. If used with the total body in mind these exercises will develop every other muscle appropriately as they are needed to stabilise the frame. So rather than looking to build the abs, biceps and quads separately, be aware of their involvement on every machine.
More recently other gadgets have started to appear on the market that promise to improve balance and proprioception (our ability to sense the position, location and movement of the body and its parts). But do these devices really help to improve performance in your sport? Or do you just acquire a new skill such as balancing on a swiss-ball that may be fun but does nothing to help your game? Bill Hartman, sports scientist and golf coach, writes
So what can you do to improve your golf-specific balance? Play golf. There is not a gadget or exercise which will improve your golf-specific balance like playing golf. Why? Because nothing can duplicate the demands of playing golf other than playing golf. I know, it sounds silly doesnt it. If you look at other athletes in any sport from martial arts to gymnastics to hockey, youll find that they simply perform their sporting skills over and over to acquire their amazing balance skills. They dont rely on silly, useless gadgets. If you were a tightrope walker, would you practice on a wooden beam or stand on a stability ball. Of course not, because it would not duplicate the demands of tightrope walking. The rope has its own feel and sway that nothing else but a tightrope can duplicate. So if you want to improve your golf-specific balance, play golf.
So perhaps to get the best from the gymnasium we should take our time to use the machines with total awareness of the actions involved (avoiding distractions such as the gym TV or listen to music ). And perhaps ask whether the action encouraged by the machine is a 'natural' one. Will I ever be hanging at an angle where I need to perform a sit-up? It may strengthen the abdominals for that movement, but do I need it? How will it benefit my body as a whole?
For further information visit http://www.artofperformance.co.uk
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Pensions Guide: Private Pensions
Its now unlikely that the state pension will be enough to keep you living comfortably when you retire. It provides only basic support, and the government itself is keen to encourage people to save as much as they can to supplement their state pension and give themselves a comfortable income in retirement. Combined with better health in the general population meaning longer life expectancies and dwindling stock market returns over the last decade or so, the so-called pension crisis is a call to action for people to plan their finances carefully and put more and more cash aside to ensure a safe and secure future for themselves.
This article is the second of two guides examining the fundamentals of pensions. The first guide focuses on state pension provision, while this one outlines some of the possibilities for making personal pension arrangements. They are intended for information only and do not constitute financial advice. It is recommended that you speak to a financial advisor for professional advice on planning your finances for retirement.
Saving for the future
There are lots of ways in which you can save for the future savings accounts, stocks and shares and property investment, for example.
However, all of these are subject to tax. Pension schemes are much more tax-efficient as tax relief is given on contributions made and the income they provide during retirement is tax-free. This is why pensions are a common way of saving for retirement.
There are two main types of personal pensions final salary and money purchase. The first can only be provided through occupational schemes, but the second can be purchased privately on an individual basis.
Final salary
Final salary schemes, also known as defined benefit schemes, provide a guaranteed income based on a percentage of salary earned during your final year of work as well as length of service with the company. Its possible to retire on up to two thirds of your final salary.
As it guarantees to provide a certain level of income, its often considered to be the best type of pension scheme available. However, there has been a decline in the number of employers offering final salary schemes in the last few years because of the expense of maintaining them. Falls in the stock market have seen many pension investment funds drop drastically in value, meaning that the employer must make up the difference in order to provide the guaranteed income to the schemes members. Another expense for employers with final salary schemes is the 10% tax levied on dividends, a measure introduced by the government in 1997, which again can have a detrimental impact on the size of pension funds.
Money purchase
With money purchase schemes, also know as defined contribution plans, members make payments into a fund which is then invested into the stock market. On retirement, the accumulated funds are used to buy whats called an annuity, which provides a regular retirement income. The amount youll receive in retirement isnt guaranteed it depends on how well the stock market has performed and on annuity rates at the time that you take out your annuity. Whereas final salary pensions put the burden of risk on the employer, who must make up the amount to a guaranteed level, its the member whos responsible for the risk of a shortfall in money purchase schemes. Members may therefore need to save more cash independently to ensure theyll have a comfortable retirement.
Youll have some flexibility to choose what funds your money is invested in, and your decisions will depend on your attitude to risk.
Higher risk investments can provide much greater potential returns, but at the same time can also make the biggest losses. Safer investments will reduce the risk of losses but will not be likely to yield as big returns as higher risk investments.
Annuities
An annuity is a fixed, regular amount of money paid to someone, usually for the rest of their life, which is purchased using a lump sum from a pension fund, for example. Its invested in the stock market, usually in funds considered to be safe. Annuity rates have plummeted in the last decade, meaning that many people are now expecting lower annuity incomes and are having to change their retirement plans. However, there are various different options when it comes to annuities. Members arent obliged to take out the annuity offered by their own scheme they can use their accumulated pension funds to buy an annuity from any annuity provider on the open market, where they may be able to get a better rate. Its also possible to take up to 25% of the pension fund as a tax-free cash lump sum, leaving the other 75% to purchase an annuity. A third option is to take out a short-term annuity of up to five years to keep your pension invested for a little longer in the hope that it will increase in value to allow you to purchase a better lifetime annuity further down the line. Another way of delaying taking out an annuity is to receive an income directly from your pension fund, keeping it invested in the hope of gaining higher returns to sustain the income received. However, the value of the funds could fall just as easily as they could rise, which may leave you worse off. This option is known as an unsecured pension using income withdrawal. Finally, its possible not to purchase an annuity at all and instead receive an income directly from your pension fund from the age of 75 with an alternative secured pension. Before 2006 it was a legal requirement to purchase an annuity from pension funds by the age of 75, but the law changed to allow people over 75 to receive this type of income instead, although the total amount of income that can be drawn down from it is 70% of a lifetime annuity. Its intended for people who are opposed to purchasing annuities on ethical grounds as a result of their religious beliefs.
Stakeholder schemes
Stakeholder pensions were set up by the government in 2001 with the aim of facilitating access to personal pensions for people whose employers dont run occupational schemes. As with money purchase plans, stakeholder pensions invest in the stock market, bonds and cash savings accounts and accumulate funds which are used to purchase an annuity upon retirement. Theyre designed to be easy to understand, flexible and lower cost than other pension plans. The maximum charge that administrators will be able to charge each year for managing the funds is 1% of the value of the fund, and they cannot charge penalties if members wish to transfer cash in or out or stop contributing. However, theres a limit to the amount that can be invested, so theyre designed for people on low to middle incomes rather than high earners.
Author: Benedict Rohan
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Self Awareness and Confidence: The Bricks and Mortar of Success
The first and best victory is for a man to conquer himself. -Plato
The relationships we have with the world emanates from the relationship we have with ourselves. The doubts, fears and distrusts we have of ourselves project upon the world and become our reality. By conquering the self, overcoming the paradigm of limitation, one will be able to embrace the world for what it is, rather than imposing our characterizations on it. The attributes we wish to see in others we should first see in ourselves. The overused clich be the change you wish to see in the world, is a profound truth that is often heard, but not truly comprehended. Success, is a twenty-four hours per day, seven days a week affair. Whether in the light of day or the darkness of night one should wage a struggle to conquer them.
Without confidence and without heart you have nothing.
-Allen Iverson
If one does not have the courage to believe and fight for ones lifes calling, what does one have? The answer is nothing. There is nothing left, if the battle to achieve mastery over oneself is not waged. Subjected to the tides of popular opinion and the whims of fashion one will be, without the foundation of personal courage. Confidence and heart are the tools in which one utilizes in the manifestation of ones dreams. All a person really has is the legacy in which he/she leaves behind. It is imperative to find the courage to leave your unique impression upon the world.
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Virginia Estates: Hounds, Horses, Farmettes and Luxury
Southeastern Virginia, and specifically the Williamsburg area, is steeped in the history of some of the great land barons of the colonial, revolutionary, and civil war eras. Though the great men and women who once lived in these historic properties are now departed, their estates remain as a legacy to the early American traditions once practiced there. A recent article by VirginiaBusiness.com, revealed a new trend in estate purchasing. Many estate purchasers are relocating from California and the Northeast to Virginia estates so they may live on larger parcels of land with more privacy.
The National Register of Historic Places lists 2,000 state properties in Virginia. Some of these estate properties are in a state of disrepair. A revival in the purchase of Virginia estates may mean that many will be purchased and renovated. Historic Virginia estates and country estates will likely continue to increase in value because of their uniqueness and connection to American history.
Contemporary estate builders and purchasers are also selecting Virginia as a site to showcase their custom built homes, because of its colonial legacy, marriage with American traditions, and ample parcels of land for building modern estates.
Virginia Estate Locations
Farms and estates are plentiful in various places in southeastern and central Virginia including counties that border waterways or are early American landmarks such as: New Kent, Northumberland, Gloucester, Surrey, Isle of Wight, Dinwittie, Sussex, Essex, Richmond, Westmoreland, Caroline, Hanover, Middlesex, Matthews, Orange, King and Queen, and King William. These counties are mostly rural, and remain steeped in old southern lifestyles.
Geographic Locations of Virginia Estates
I am a RE/Max Realtor in Williamsburg, Virginia and I am a buyers agent for estate purchasers. Im in the perfect location to provide this service because, during colonial times, Williamsburg was the capital of Virginia. Many estates were built within a days horse ride of Williamsburg for proximity to the capital. Many traditional Virginia estates are built on the waterfront, because the James, York, Potomac Rivers and their tributaries and Mobjak Bay feed into the Chesapeake Bay with ocean access. Travel and trade in colonial times was mainly by boat and waterways.
Historic Virginia Estates
Some estate properties have fallen into disrepair, and need to be updated and renovated. Other estate properties in Southeastern Virginia have been inhabited for many generations by one family, and are well kept, with mature hardwood forests, formal gardens, equestrian facilities, guest cottages, and more. Some estates, such as the Berkeley Estate outside Richmond, are income producing properties with herds of sheep, actively farmed land, and/or lodging facilities and restaurants.
Land Parcels for Contemporary Luxury Estates in Virginia
For the real estate purchaser who wants to build a contemporary luxury estate in Virginia, West, Southwest and Northwest of Williamsburg are great locations. Here there is ample availability of large parcels of land less than an hours drive to Richmond or Williamsburg. Areas outside of Williamsburg are just beginning to develop, and land parcels will not remain plentiful for too long.
Boating, Golfing, Recreation, Culture, Cuisine and Shopping Near Williamsburg
Williamsburg and the Southeastern Virginia area are filled with some of the finest signature golf courses on the East Coast, including Kingsmill and Fords Colony in Williamsburg. Marinas, boat launches, and waterfront estates with piers are also available here. For recreation, families love Bush Gardens and Water Country USA, Colonial Williamsburg, and Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown battlefields. Cultural events, excellent cuisine, and premier outlet mall shopping are all available in the Williamsburg and Richmond area.
Estate Purchasers Need Representation
Are you searching for a historic or contemporary estate or farmette in Virginia? If so, you need a buyers agent who will represent you in this real estate transaction. Transactions in Virginia are geared towards protecting the seller because the seller pays commission, unless the buyer has a buyers agent agreement with a buyers representative. When searching for a buyers agent, make sure the designation ABR (Accredited Buyers Representative) is beside their name. Acquiring an estate property is a high-end purchase. It is therefore critical that you agent is a certified ABR and has years of experience in the Virginia real estate market. A buyer may check how many years experience an agent has by visiting the Virginia Department of Professional Occupational Regulations (DEPOR). DEPOR will provide information about years of experience in the real estate profession and provide complaints filed against the realtor.
Visit www.voncannonrealestate.com for other related articles about real estate in Virginia.
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How To Make Money With Pro Wealth Solutions
If you are considering joining Pro Wealth Solutions, there are a couple of things you should consider before you start paying $35 for the membership.
Pro Wealth Solutions is a typical MLM business opportunity. Meaning that you sign up, start paying the $35 membership and then you will be paid a commission on whoever you get to sign below you. In essence, you are being paid a portion of your downlines membership money.
Some will classify this as a Pyramid Scam. Though it is a pyramid structure, the word Scam is a little harsh. One definition of scam that is apropos to this situation is to obtain money from somebody by dishonest means. If Pro Wealth Solutions promised to give you access to their resources for a membership fee of X and did not deliver, then that would be a scam. If they promised that you are going to make X amount of money if you pay them and Y amount of membership money, and dont deliver, then THAT would be a scam. Further, if PWS promised to pay you X for each person you sign up and fail to send you a check when your downline is 150 deep, then that would be a scam.
We have yet to see that happen. As a matter of fact, PWS is quite prompt with their payment of earned commissions. We have FULL access to their resources. And as with any business, online or off, they have never guaranteed the amount of money we would be making. So we dont see scam. YET!
I say yet because things can change. But until they do, we will continue to implement what PWS has to offer into our own strategy.
Now, if you have not taken a look at Pro Wealth Solutions, do so now. It is free to evaluate. Of course our mantra: DONT SIGN UP FOR ANYTHING THAT YOU DONT UNDERSTAND. You are just signing up so that you have access to what PWS has to offer.
HOW THE PRO PROFIT TEAM IS USING PWS TO MAKE $1,000s
Pro Wealth Solutions offers several what they term Income Streams. The idea behind these income streams is for the member, in addition to signing people up, to have multiple products to sell which will help you put cash into your pocket while you grow your business. Here are the income streams:
PWSMortgageCo.Com
BetterCreditToday.net
Credit Card Processing
Real Estate Training
And several other training pieces that you are licensed to reproduce and sell in any creative way your little heart desires.
I come from a real estate investment background. So when I saw the Pro Wealth Mortgage Business, it clicked for us. After carefully assessment, and of course extreme due diligence, (I had to speak to whoever was going to be originating the loans, I had to find out the legality of what they were doing, and other loan industry questions like how they handle appraisals, notary issues, origination fees, funding time lines etc.)
The rest was easy! All of our executive members at The Pro Profit Team have since refinanced our homes and investment properties through PWS. The bank that PWS has the relationship with is a publicly traded FDIC insured Bank. Not a mortgage broker. So there are no brokerage fees. I got a better interest rate than I had on a 4-plex that I own and they were able to save me about $800 bucks on my monthly mortgage payment.
Because we are customers, it is truly an easy sell. All of my friends and family are using PWSmortgageCo.com. They are that good!
Our strategy is to present PWSMortgageCo.com to as many people as we can within our community. We have a great strategy that targets hard working class people (like myself). The sell is the most soft sell in the world! It works like this:
Hey Homeowner, Check these guys out. (give them the info) I just recently refinanced my house with the people and they saved me $800. They may be able to save you some money as well!
Or
Hello stranger in the pub I overheard you talking about your home, you should check these guys out, they have some of the best interest rates Ive seen lately.
You wouldnt believe me if I told you how well these two strategies work! I have yet to meet a homeowner who wouldnt like to save money on their mortgage. Here is the phrase that is worth $1,000 almost every time you speak it:
They may or may not be able to save you money. Its definitely worth checking into!
Its that easy! This is not a potion made from some fruit from New Guinea. This is not a super vitamin, this is not set of motivational tapes, this is not protein powder. This is a Mortgage!
EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO BUY A HOME NEEDS A MORTGAGE!
(Unless you are independently wealthy and are paying cash for your home; In which case you dont need a program like Pro Wealth Solutions!)
EVERYONE WHO CURRENTLY HAS A MORTGAGE WOULD LIKE TO SAVE MONEY ON THEIR MONTHLY PAYMENT! GUARENTEED! WITHOUT EXCEPTION!
That is very VERY POWERFUL!
You can take a free tour of the Pro Wealth Solutions Income streams at:
www.Passport2Profits.com
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Understanding Your Credit Score
Most people know that our credit reports have a lot of information about our borrowing history. How credit worthy we are how likely we are to pay off our debts (on time or not) is also looked at as an indicator of how people are likely to behave in other areas. Employers rely on credit reports to see if well be good employees. Landlords pull credit reports to see if well be reliable tenants. Auto insurers rely on credit information when deciding what sort of an insurance risk we are. But for years theres been a piece of the credit report the average consumer has been unable to see.
YOUR CREDIT SCORE
Its called a credit risk score and if you have a credit rating you have one. The scores range from 300 to 850, with a higher score being better than a lower one. Fair Isaac, which is the countrys pre-eminent producer of credit scores, takes information from your credit report, gives different weights to different pieces of that information and how long ago those things occurred, and comes up with a number for you. Then when a lender is trying to decide whether or not to give you a mortgage, for example, or what rate of interest to charge on your loan, the score is one important factor they consider when making a decision.
DO MOST LENDERS USE THESE SCORES?
We know that over 75 percent of home loans are decided with help from as theyre called in the industry FICO (Fair Isaac and Co.) risk scores, and that if you take the 100 largest financial institutions in the country, 70 percent use FICO scores. So theyre definitely a big player in the marketplace.
HOW DO MOST PEOPLE DO?
Not as badly as you might think, considering that bankruptcies are in the headlines so often these days. With the scale ranging from 300 to 850, the average score is about 720.
Below that, you may have problems borrowing. Twenty percent of people score below 620, for example. Since that population includes about half of all people who default on their mortgages, lenders are very wary of extending them credit. The next 20 percent of people score between 620 and 690. A score in this range may not stop you from getting credit, but Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (buyers of mortgages for the secondary market) suggest that lenders probe for more information to understand why theres been a problem before they agree to make a loan. On the high end, anything above 780 is considered elite. Only about one to two percent of consumers score in the 800s.
There are a few factors that make a big difference in your score lets talk about them and how you can make changes in them to improve your score:
-Your bill-paying record (This accounts for 35 percent of your score). We all know to pay bills on time. If you always have, youve done well in this category. If you slip up here and there, it can hurt your score a fair amount. The more recent the slip up, the more it hurts your score.
And, as in all of these categories, a pattern of bad behavior is worse than one mistake. A string of 30-day late payments is worse than one 60-day late. (The way credit scoring works is to compare your habits to those other individuals who have proven to act in a positive or negative way overall. But there are different groups of patterns, so a seasoned user wont be compared to a new user.)
-How much you owe now (30 percent). The scoring companies look at how much you owe relative to how much credit you have available on your credit cards. The closer you are to maxing-out your cards, the lower youll score in this area. But owing nothing doesnt prove your ability to handle credit owing a little bit is better. For example, being at 80 percent of your limit would be viewed as very high and a negative; 60 percent in most cases is detrimental enough. Having your balances at 20 to 30 percent of your maximum is just fine.
-How long youve managed credit (15 percent). This one is interesting. When people are trying to get their credit cards under control, one of the things they do indeed that we advise them to do is to make sure they dont have too many tempting cards in their wallet. But when it comes to your credit score, you may not want to cut up that one card youve had the longest. Then the credit scoring companies lose the ability to see just how long youve been managing credit. It may be better to keep that old card even if its at a high interest rate, use it once a year and pay it off completely rather than cutting it up.
-Mix of credit (10 percent): Its good to show that you can manage different kinds of credit. So having an installment loan (on a home or a car) as well as having a revolving credit account (credit card) is a positive.
-Pursuit of new credit (10 percent): The media often exaggerate how much searching for new credit can hurt you. Thats because, a few years ago, the scorers methodology was changed to reflect the idea that it was OK indeed smart to be shopping around for a loan. So all of your inquiries into a mortgage over a 30-day period now count as one. That said, if you have real credit problems and youre constantly shopping around for new cards or loans, its going to hurt your score. Moderation is key. If youre out looking for credit every month, its a minus. Less fre- quently than that, youll probably be okay.
Now that you have this information, you can use it to your benefit.
When you get your report, you can take it and use it to talk to lenders in a preliminary way. You could talk to a mortgage broker and say, This is my score. How easy will it be for me to get a mortgage? If you buy the FICO score, youll also get a guide explaining how the scores work and the top four factors that contributed to deciding your score. Then, if you need to, you can work on your score before you apply for credit. Give yourself a good six months to get it in shape.
If you go on the Web and search on free credit score, what youll come up with are a number of mortgage lenders and banks who are willing to give it to you. In some cases, you have to actually apply for a loan.
There are other scores that arent FICO scores (even the ones that are legitimate dont have FICOs database). In other cases, providing them with your e-mail address and phone number (so that they can market to you later, one assumes) seems to be sufficient. So if youre willing to give up some personal information, you can get your score for no money. Or you can pay. (Even if youre not up for checking your score, you probably should check your credit report about once a year. If there are problems, you should check all three of the credit bureaus.)
John Prentice is a Credit Expert in the Mortgage Industry, he provides credit score repair information and a credit/finance newsletter at his web site:
http://www.AccelerateMyCredit.com.
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Soft Market + Motivated Seller + 6% Seller Contribution = 5.50% Fixed Rate 30 Year Mortgage Rate Buydown
An anomaly is defined as a deviation from the normal order. At this very moment in many real estate markets in many parts of the country a soft market can lead to opportunities for many buyers.
With many 30 year fixed rate loans with an 80% Loan To Value (LTV) the mortgage program guidelines will allow a seller to pay up to 6% of the buyers closing cost. For example if there is a negotiated sales price of $500,000 with an 80% LTV of $400,000. A seller contribution would be allowed up to 6% on $400,000 mounts up to $24,000. This would need to be a very motivated seller who needs to sell now. Unless a borrower tolerates total gouging on closing costs, this would be a heavy amount. However, a sum of $8,000 to $10,000 or less would handle the closing costs for this property, not including prepaids such as insurance and tax escrows. On the surface, it would seem the difference between $24,000 less say $10,000 would allow $14,000 in additional costs. With todays rates, a one percent (1%) lender discount could buy the rate down from say 6.25% to a rate of 5.5%. Thus, $400,000 x 1% = $4,000.00. A buyer borrower would need to be armed with the facts prior to negotiating a real estate contract so that the seller can determine their bottom line at closing.
For the benefit of the buyer, if they are going to stay in the home for a long-term period then there will be great benefits for the buyer to get a lower rate. Looking at the principal and interest payment for $400,000 at 6.25%, 30-year term the payments then is $2,462.87/month for principal and interest. With the same terms with a rate of 5.5% the payment is $2,271.16/month for principal and interest. That would result in a monthly savings of ($2,462.87- $2,271.16) is $191.71/month in savings versus a 6.25% interest rate.
Example of payment at 6.25% shows $2,462.87/month x 360 months = $886,633.20
Example of payment at 5.50% shows $2,271.16/month x 360 months = $817,617.60
Life Time Mortgage Savings------------- $ 69,015.60
A borrower simply being armed with the information on a rate buy down can enter negotiations that may lend some long term benefits. Six months ago, seller help was just a dream. Today, its a real consideration of any purchase. Will it last forever? No, its an anomaly. Temporary and fleeting. Sobuyers need to get it while they can.
Where are these opportunities to be found? In any area look for vacant homes, on a lock box with some sort of sales pressure. If the lender allows for a 6% seller contribution of the contract price on say an 80% Loan To Value loan then why not go for it. Many of these potential properties can be searched and identified using a Realtor and the local MLS system. Builders who are setting on a huge inventory of homes may be willing to grant major concessions in order to keep the price levels consistent until the home prices firm up. This would be a situation where a borrower would need to determine that the market in that particular subdivision is at a temporary lull and not a trend. Otherwise it would be a case of throwing good money after bad. Working with a Realtor who knows the market will go a long way in avoiding those kinds of pitfalls in builder subdivisions where resale homes are less than the new homes on the market. In that case, the builder is upside down on pricing. This will need to be avoided. What we are talking about here is temporary anomalies that a buyer will want to exploit, like now in the current market. The best evidence of a buyers market is where there are more homes for sale than ready buyers and there is a glut of homes on the market just sitting. A forest of for sale signs.
With lower priced homes with say FHA and VA loans there be an opportunity where the seller in addition to paying all the closing cost and prepaids could pay say 2 points to buy the rate down on a 2-1 Buydown Program. The beauty of this program allows a buyer to buy using a FHA mortgage with as little as a 3% investment and a VA mortgage with zero down. This is a great program of for Debt To Income challenged borrowers who are just squeaking into the property.
If the rate were 6.75% on a mortgage of $205,000 on a thirty-year basis the payment would normally be $1,329.63/month for principal and interest. If the taxes are $300/month, the hazard insurance is $220/month and Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP) of $85.42/month then the total payment is $1,935.05 per month with $1,050 in installment and credit card debt for a total monthly debt load of $2,985.05 including the new housing expense. If the income were $6,395/month the Debt To Income (DTI) ratio would be around 47%. Lets assume, due to credit history and other factors, the underwriter is not willing to accept this level of DTI nor will any Automatic Underwriting system accept it. An alternative would be to consider the 2-1 Buydown Program with the first year interest rate of 6.75% - 2% = 4.75%, the second year would be 6.75%-1%= 5.75% with the third year and beyond 6.75%. With this program the borrower can qualify at the start rate of 4.75%. The principal and interest payment with this start rate is $1,069.38/month or $260.25/month less at the fully loaded rate of 6.75%. The DTI than is 42.60% and the underwriter will sign off on that. The theory is that the borrowers will have two years to cut debts and increase their income and get their ratios in a more satisfactory position.
Whats the point of all this. If the home is selling for $208,200 and the seller is willing to pay up to closing costs and prepaids which would be $208,200 x 6% = $12,492 and the costs add up to say $9,500, why not use the allowable seller contribution to buy down the loan rate. The main benefit is to get the borrowers DTI in line and lower the payment in the early years all funded with the seller contribution. VA loans can go much higher and in certain areas, FHA loans can go a lot higher as well.
This anomaly will not last. It is a buyers market so why not maximize the buyers benefits by applying part of the 6% sellers contribution to buy the loan down and not leave any money at the closing table which can be utilized for the buyers benefit. Negotiation is king.
Dale Rogers
http://www.sellerhelpsbuyer.comhttp://www.brokencredit.comDale Rogers is a thirty-year mortgage veteran and frequent contributor to the Broken Credit Blog. The BCB is a free website created to assist the general public with information about credit repair and responsible mortgage lending.
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A Quick Way to Get Cash- Bad Credit Payday Loan
Finding it difficult to meet to urgent cash need? Bad credit might have hampered several of your financial activities, but it can no more stop you from getting a loan. Now you can get easy and fast money with bad credit payday loans which can get you quick cash for your urgent financial need.
Bad credit payday loans are meant for individuals who need instant money. You might face situations when an unexpected medical bill arises or you might have to pay your phone bill or electricity bill for which you might not arrange for fund from your monthly salary or you might not want to disturb your savings or there could be any other reason why you are unable to meet your urgent cash needs. Payday loans are available to you in a very short time so that you can easily get through emergencies without any debt pressure.
As you get payday loans within a very short time, there is not much documentation and hence no credit check is run by the lender. Thus, in order to avail payday loans all kinds of credit holders including bad credit individuals.
Payday loans are available to you if you fulfill the following conditions:
-You must be a regular employee of any organization or firm
-Your minimum salary should be 1000
-You should have a current checking account
-You should be a UK citizen with above 18 years of age.
In order to avail bad credit payday loans you have to be employed. This is for the one major reason that payday loans are offered against a post-dated check signed by you in and kept with the lender in advance. This check serves as collateral against the loan and has the total amount included which the borrower will have to pay at the repayment term. When the term gets over, the lender automatically gets the loan amount back including other charges.
A bad credit payday loan can get you loans up to an amount of 1500 and with a repayment term of a week to a month. The interest rate depends on the loan amount and the repayment that you choose.
Quick payday loans can be easily availed if you apply online. Online lending gives you an option to go through the websites of several lenders and get a clear picture of loan rates. When you get the idea, you can easily choose and select the best lender according to your requirement and repayment capacity. Online quick payday loans also offer a great deal of benefits to bad credit holders by offering discounts and concessions.
Avail bad credit payday loans and get quick cash within as less as 24 hours. So what are you waiting for, get rid of emergencies and be stress-free.
Tim Kelly is an expert in finance having completed her LLM in Finance (Master of Laws in Finance) from Institute for Law and Finance at Frankfurt University. She is currently working with Bad Credit Payday Loan as a financial advisor. To find bad credit payday loan,bad credit personal payday loan,Online bad credit payday loans,bad credit payday cash loan,advance bad credit payday loan that best site's you need visit
http://www.bad-credit-payday-loan.net.
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MLM Training - 5 Steps to Easily Handle Your Prospects Objections
Have you ever experienced a loss for words when a prospect asks you "Is this one of those pyramids?" or "Is this like Amway or Mary Kay?" Perhaps you said the wrong thing and lost the their attention. Your prospects will always have objections about your MLM business, but with the right MLM training techniquies, you can easily resolve them when you follow these five steps.
This discussion on handling questions and objections only deals with those that come up during an invite call - as in the first time you talk to a prospect and are inviting them to look at your MLM business.
Let's start off with defining what "Handle Questions and Objections" means.
Definition: Handle - to deal with effectively (there are a lot of replies out there, but they don't handle the question or objection)
Definition: Questions - something asked
Definition: Objections - expressed or unexpressed opposition (to be against or resistant to).
The purpose of Handling Questions and Objections is to get the prospect beyond their question(s) and or opposition(s) which are currently stopping them from attaining what they stated they need, want or dont want as it pertains to your network marketing business.
When your prospect doesn't do what you've asked them to do (like listen to a CD or attend an MLM business briefing) he/she has an unresolved question and/or objection. There are two kinds of questions and/or objections:
Expressed - when your prospect expresses a question or objection - be very thankful! It's one you don't have to DIG UP! (Example: My sister tried a network marketing business and she failed.)
Unexpressed - when your prospect withholds their questions or objections. Your job is to locate and remove the unexpressed questions and objections. (Example: Your prospect doesn't show up at a follow up appointment.)
These questions and objections, whether expressed or unexpressed, can stop and ARE stopping your prospect from getting what he/she has stated they want (more money, work from home, etc). So you need to effectively handle these.
I can assure you - if you don't handle the questions and objections now, they will linger in your prospect's mind...even if they still sign up in your network marketing business! It's happened in my business. I sign someone up. We go through all of the MLM training together. My new person seems excited about network marketing. And then all of the sudden, she's no where to be found. Doesn't answer my calls and won't return them. Most times, they disappear because of an unexpressed objection or question I didn't resolve when I first introduced them to my MLM business.
There is a formula for handling questions and objections. The reason a formula is necessary is so you do all the necessary steps to effectively handle the objection. If you just "give the reply," you can miss all the other necessary steps to HANDLE the question or objection and worse - you can upset or give extra strength to their objection. Many, many times I've seen the objection fizzle to nothing just by properly doing the first three steps of the Objections Remedy Formula.
Questions & Objections Remedy Formula
Step 1. Listen completely through the question/objection.
Purpose: So you are sure you get the correct objection and to respect the prospect's right to communicate a full thought without you feeling your thought is more important.
Step 2. Confirm understanding.
Purpose: So that you handle the real objection or question!
Here's an example:
Prospect: Is this sales?
Networker: I want to make sure I fully understand your question. Could you clarify what you mean by "sales?"
Prospect: Would I have to go out and sell products door to door?
Networker: Oh, now I understand. Thank you for clarifying that. Are you looking for this type of sales? (further clarification)
Prospect: Absolutely not.
Step 3. Make the question or objection valid, but don't agree with the objection. Use the same or slightly less intensity.
Definition 1: When you make a question or objection valid, you make it important.
Purpose: You want to make the objection important because it's important to the prospect. Making it important doesn't mean you also have to agree with it. If you agree with it, you will give it extra strength. This is not the desired effect. You want them to know that you heard them and that you understand their concern.
Definition 2: Intensity is the volume and animation you use. Using similar intensity helps you communicate better with your prospect. If your prospect is very animated about something and you sit there like a stump - your level of communication will lessen. Conversely, if you're very animated and your prospect is subdued, the same non-optimum effect occurs.
CORRECT: I completely understand your concern. (Made objection important without agreeing with it)
INCORRECT: I feel (felt) the same way...(This is incorrect because you agreed with objection)
INCORRECT: Oh! I totally agree! I would NEVER go door to door - are you kidding me - that is so below me! (This is incorrect because you agreed with objection and used too much intensity)
Step 4. Handle or facilitate handling Questions and/or Objections.
The purpose of handling questions and objections is to get the prospect past the concerns that stop him/her from getting what they've stated they need and/or want as it pertains to your MLM business. The most effective way to handle objections is to get the prospect to create a solution to their own objections.
CORRECT: In the past there have been people to use the door to door method to find prospects, but there are many ways to locate interested prospects. What methods of prospecting do you feel comfortable with?
Prospect: Well, I wouldn't mind mailing out post cards. I also like running newspaper advertisements.
Networker: Good, both of those can be effective ways to find prospects.
See, the networker is not "handling" the objection; he/she is facilitating the prospect to handle their own objection. The key is to ask questions that lead the prospect to their own solution. If you say it - it can be challenged. If the prospect says it - it must be true!
NOTE: Do not move to the next step "Complete and Return to Previous Inviting Formula Step" until you are certain the objection(s) is handled.
Step 5. Complete and return to previous inviting formula step.
Definition: The "Complete and Return to Previous Step" completes the conversation about the question or objection and moves prospect and networker to the step of the Inviting Formula they were on prior to the question or objection.
Note: The "Inviting Formula" is a series of steps that guide you through an entire conversation with a prospect. The full MLM training on Inviting can be found in a CD series I authored called "Professional Inviter." For quick reference in this article, the Inviting Formula is:
Greet
Qualify
Invite
Handle any Questions/Objections
Close to Action
Follow-up or Follow-through
Example: Thanks for bringing that up. Now that I know a tad bit more about you, tell me, you sound like you've had experience in marketing - is that correct? (Moving prospect and networker back to Qualify step - which is where on the Inviting Formula they where when the Question arose.)
Prospect: Yeah I've been doing it my whole adult life.
Networker: That's great - so you understand that marketing is "how you find the customer?"
Prospect: Absolutely - companies couldn't exist without marketing.
Networker: Since you know that, have you ever thought about marketing for your own business?
It's very important that you get good at using this formula in order to have success in your MLM business. See, when you take the responsibility of prospecting someone and inviting them to join your MLM business team, you are agreeing to become their teammate, a teammate that will help their mate get over the obstacles that stop them from making a lot of money.
If they could have done it on their own...they would have. They need you! They put this "objection" in their way of wealth. You, being a good teammate, help get them beyond this obstacle. The Questions & Objections Remedy Formula I've given you above will accomplish that.
Tim Sales is an MLM Master. Using the skills he developed to build an organization of 56,000 people around the globe, Tim is one of the most respected trainers in the MLM industry. Get instant access to his free training newsletter and conference calls at
http://www.brilliantexchange.com.
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How to Decorate Your Home Like a Professional
Learn how to decorate your home like the professionals by using the furnishings you already own. You can create eye-catching visual appeal and a warm, inviting atmosphere with these designer secrets.
Traditionally, decorators start by deciding on a "decorating style". Popular styles include Traditional, Contemporary and Cottage. There are also geographic themes like Southwest, Oriental and French as well as styles that recreate an era like Victorian or Art Deco.
If you've furnished your home with random pieces that came from a variety of sources, then you probably have the informal Eclectic look. Whether you call it a decorating style or a hodge-podge of furniture finds, Eclectic pieces are a reflection of your individual tastes and almost anything can be used. Simply keep these professional tips in mind.
Proportion: Balance your room by placing large pieces of furniture around your living space. If possible, tall items like bookcases and grandfather clocks should be across from one another to keep the room from looking lop-sided. Then add smaller pieces like tables in the spaces where they will be convenient and attractive. If you have small furnishings or decorator objects, group them in uneven numbers like one, three or five items together.
Color: Nature's colors like white, cream, brown, green and blue are normally neutral in a decorating scheme. Black is grounding and should be saved for small pieces.
Large areas like walls look best with a lighter color. A darker or contrasting color can be used on one wall for a dramatic effect. Beautiful paint makes pictures and decor "pop" out of the background and increases their intensity. Try using warm colors like pink, peach or mauve. Or paint with soothing colors like blue or green. Remember, if you don't like it, you can always paint over it!
Floor coverings may be wood, tile or carpet of the same color or a darker hue than the walls. Area or throw rugs may then be added to add interest, color or texture. Rugs also serve as protection from dirt and scuffs.
Accents: These include small decorator pieces and items of personal interest. Keep collections together in one area to highlight their uniqueness. Very small collections can be placed on a tray or attractively displayed on a table. You may also want to consider using some of your flat items as wall decor, especially if you are limited on space.
Throw pillows make a room feel comfortable. They are an easy and inexpensive way to change color accents. Afghans, throws and quilts thrown casually over a sofa or chair add texture and warmth.
Lighting: Good lighting is the key to your decorating success. Attractive floor lamps with light colored shades provide ambient light for the entire room. Table lamps highlight small decorating objects as well as providing concentrated light for reading, working and study. Shades for small lamps can match your furnishings or be conversation pieces with a different color and style.
If you want a warm and inviting atmosphere that is unique to your home and personality, then the Eclectic look is for you. Have fun with your furnishings and create your own "decorating style" today.
Copyright (c) 2006 Candy Arnold
Candy Arnold began designing home interiors in Dallas, Texas in 1975 where she and her husband built custom homes. A demand for unique furniture and lighting accents led to Candy's interest in Victorian furnishings. She has been sewing and restoring antique and traditional lamp shades ever since. Candy now lives with her family in the Tri-Cities, Washington. If you would like to purchase a lamp shade or have a lamp shade restored, visit
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