Pontiac G6 Introduces New Body Styles for 2006

Produced by General Motors, Pontiac is a marque of automobiles that has been sold in the United States, Canada, and Mexico since the year 1926 making it around eighty years - one of the longest brands to stay in the market. Looking at the General Motors line up, the Pontiac is a mid-level brand that features a more sporting, and performance-driving experience for a reasonable price. It also adds up a youthful feel to its advertising. In its history, it was introduced by GM as a lower-priced version of their Oakland Motor Car line.

In terms of its logo, the Pontiac logo was originally meant to represent an Indian, the Native American, arrow-head. One of the earliest slangs for this brand was to call it an Indian, which at present is still used by a couple hot rodders and enthusiasts. And one of the remarkable vehicles that bear this logo is the 2006 Pontiac G6 - a 2 or 4-door sports car, family sedan or sports sedan that can take up to five passengers. Made available in seven trims, this vehicle ranges from the 1 SV to the GTP sedan. It has a gas mileage of 23 mpg if you are looking at city driving, or 34 mpg if it means driving on the highway. It has a 4-speed automatic transmission.

Introduced in 2005, the Pontiac G6 was made to be seen as an all-new vehicle. And for sure, additional improvements have been done in to live up to its name. Two additional body styles joining the original sedan is the biggest change done to the Pontiac G6 for this year. Late last year, a two-door coupe made its way to the market, and this year 2006, a two-door convertible will be rolling off the highways. The Pontiac G6's convertible top is a two-piece clamshell design that drops cleanly into the trunk when lowered. Also added in is a new performance-oriented GTP trim level that includes a 240-horsepower V6, an available six-speed manual transmission, 18-inch wheels, and standard stability control. Also included in the list of changes done to this model are a standard power driver's seat, a new front-passenger detection system for airbag deployment, and a new three-spoke steering wheel design.

Auto Parts Discount gives owners a great collection of Pontiac parts like mirrors, catalytic converters, headlights, floor mats, and starters. Unlike other online stores, Auto Parts Discount gives each and every client excellent customer service and the finest quality Pontiac parts that only a Pontiac deserves.

For the 2006 Pontiac G6, advantages include three different body styles to choose from, a roomy interior, interesting features like the sedan's panoramic sunroof, and comfortable front seats. However, on the other hand, objections to this model includes the electric steering offers little feel for the road, lack of attention to details, unrefined suspension, and a nose-heavy handling. Standard features for the Pontiac G6 comprises of a trunk anti-trap device, front power vented disc and rear power 270-mm solid disc brakes, an AM/FM radio with seek/scan and 6 speakers, and a CD player. Options are side head curtain airbags and front side airbags, 4-wheel anti-lock brakes, and an AM/FM radio with in-dash 6-disc CD changer.

About the Author

Joe Thompson is the owner of a successful auto body shop in Ferndale, California. This 48 year old is also a prolific writer, contributing automotive related articles to various publications.

Custom Car Seat Covers and Car Seat Warranties

Everyone wants to pamper their little one. It doesn't matter that the baby won't know or that your toddler could care less. As a parent, especially the first time around, we want and buy everything for our child. This includes fancy bedroom linens that in hindsight we spent WAY to much money on, an over the top wall mural that the child will grow out of by their 2nd birthday and countless other useless ecessities. As a parent I did all of these things. But when it came to practicality, I balked at the price and reasoned with myself why I did not need such an expensive item. Then I came up with said item, out of necessity of course, and cannot understand why everyone is not jumping through hoops to claim it. Well, the reason has come to my attention; warranties. It is all about what a manufacturer says in their manual. Now, don't get me wrong, I completely understand why warranties are in place and that they need to be followed. I also realize that what a manufacturer says voids the warranty is not necessarily in the best interest of anyone but themselves. For example, a child car seat.

The manufacturer says that putting ANY item that did not come with the seat voids the warranty. which is a total of 1 year (tell me who gets a new car seat every year just to keep the warranty?). So I want to know, what are all these accessories for children's car seats doing on the market. Right off the bat I can name head rests, seat warmer covers, shoulder straps, body positioners...the list can go on for miles. So why is it that a car seat cover is so controversial? It works the same as the manufacturers cover, just cuter more fashionable and fun. It interferes no more than any of the above mentioned items yet it gets parents in a tizzy. I think that people need to lighten up. Most of the items made for kids are by moms, who always have the best for children, yours and theirs, in mind.

By Jen Pines

The truth about affiliate programs and how to make money on the net!

Have you ever wondered how to make money sitting at home or even keeping your job while you build a residual income on the internet? You may be struggling to make a living and wanting to find a way of building a residual income for yourself on the internet.

Have you ever wondered how to make money sitting at home or even keeping your job while you build a residual income on the internet? You may be struggling to make a living and wanting to find a way of building a residual income for yourself on the internet.

I found the biggest challenge in joining the affiliate marketing scene on the web was the isolation I experienced. Am I doing this correctly? was the constant question I asked of myself.
Like you, maybe, when I was starting off, I wasn't sure if my affiliate links were properly set, I continually worried about whether the search engines would rank me high enough to get traffic. Waiting for indexing was agonizing at times!!!!!
Someone with a successful online business, who would have talked to me about their experience in establishing their affiliate networks would have been worth their weight in $$$$$. I would have appreciated a mentor!!!
You can talk to us, we have done the homework for you and sorted out the best affiliate programs on the web today.
You will have seen all the hype about how to earn enormous amounts of money on the Internet. Most of these people have never earned a dollar online!! All they are trying to do is sell you a gimmick that has no substance. It wont earn you a dollar either.
If you are fed up and are ready to hear some truth about the internet and affiliate marketing read on.
Have you ever heard anyone say theres no money to be made by promoting affiliate programs? NOT TRUE. They have either not tried it themselves, or are keeping the secret, not wanting you to share in the wealth.
The truth is you can make money online by promoting affiliate programs. A lot of people have been able to leave their jobs and make a fantastic living just by promoting other peoples products.
Look at this list, just a small sample of BIG brand name companies that use affiliate programs to promote their products online

• Amazon.com
• Barnes & Noble
• Dell
• Discover Card
• Dollar Rent-a-Car
• eBay
• Eddie Bauer
• Gateway
• Gap
• KMart
• New York Times
• NBC
• Old Navy
• Patagonia
• PayLess Shoes
• PetSmart
• SONY
• Sports Authority
• Staples
• TimeLife
• USA Today
• Verizon Wireless
• Weight Watchers

Read this and consider again the value of affiliate programs!!!

Commission Junction, Linkshare and BeFree have been built solely to administer online merchants' affiliate programs. We can tell you, form experience, that any company trying to do business on the web WITHOUT an affiliate program nowadays, is going to have a tough time..
The first step in making money online is to get your products! Making money online is not any different from making money anywhere. You need to have in demand, high quality products to sell and an effective method for marketing those products.
Finding top quality products to sell is easy. All you have to do is join a reputable affiliate program and resell other peoples products for profit. You can make money online as an affiliate every time someone visits your website and clicks on a link to learn more about one of the products
Here's how it works: When someone visits your website and clicks on a product link, they will be redirected to a new sales page and have the opportunity to purchase the product. Just for providing the link to the product from your site, you will earn a generous commission every time a sale is made.
In fact, all the actual selling, follow-up, product delivery and customer satisfaction issues will be handled for you automatically. Your ONLY job is to promote the website I setup for you (I'll show you how do that... In fact it's really easy!) and cash your checks each month. It really is that simple.
Many people earn a full-time income working from home as an affiliate and many can earn over $10000.00 per year in this business.
To make that happen, you absolutely must choose affiliate programs that pay generous commissions for top quality products that are in high demand!
You can have a professionally designed website 100 % ready to take orders right now! Your new website will be designed to sell products from 5 of the MOST respected, MOST reliable and HIGHEST PAYING affiliate programs in the world.
Empowerism
SFI
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These affiliate programs include international moneymaking ventures like Empowerism who provides a powerful and proven system to take a one-time $25 investment and turn it into $2,000.00 over and over again!
You cant lose with all this support and expertise at your fingertips!!
Click here http://www.pluginforprofit.com/pips.html and get your new website today. Guaranteed residual income for the rest of your life!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I am a small business owner in New Zealand

Miami Real Estate

Miami is considered the largest urbanized city in the state of Florida. With the metropolitan area surrounded by the Miami River, Biscayne Bay, the Everglades, and the Atlantic Ocean, Miami a great place for residential homes and recreation areas.

Types of Miami Real Estate

With the ever increasing demand for Miami real estate, properties both existing and new are readily available. You can choose from affordable homes to luxurious mansions, condos, lofts, apartment buildings and even pre-construction buildings. Whether it be for residence or commercial properties such as hotels, restaurants, offices or other income properties, you can find something that will suit your taste. Properties range from $650,000 to millions of dollars, and surely you can find something that will suit your budget. Properties are available in Miami Beach, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, Brickell, Surfside, Bal Harbor, Key Biscayne, Aventura, Fisher Island, downtown Miami, Lincoln Road, and more.

Guidelines

Wherever you may want to find a property in Miami, you can find a realtor who can help you purchase that piece of Miami real estate that is right for you. He or she can present you with photographs, videos, or virtual tours of the properties available. Your realtor can find a property that will match your budget. He will also guide you through local taxes and mortgage rates. And be sure to seek the services of a member of the National Association of Realtors who will strictly uphold the Code of Ethics of the association.

Amenities

What contributes to the beauty of Miami real estate is the richness of the cultural diversity that exists in this city. Aside from the local Americans, the city hosts a rich population of Latin Americans and people that reside in the Caribbean. Miami also has a healthy number of tourists, not to mention many celebrities who call Miami their home. The city has at least two prestigious universities - University of Miami and Nova Southeastern University - and hosts athletic teams such as the Miami Dolphins, the Florida Marlins, and the Miami Heat.

Miami Real Estate provides detailed information on Miami Real Estate, Miami Waterfront Real Estate, Miami Beach Real Estate, Miami Luxury Real Estate and more. Miami Real Estate is affiliated with Downtown San Diego Real Estate.

Home Ownership Ownership Societies and Home Equity Considered

One of the greatest things that a society or civilization can have is buy-in from its citizenry. Perhaps you might call this a sense of nationalism that comes from owning a piece of America. Home ownership helps boost the value of ownership societies and yet even though more Americans own homes now then have ever in the history of our nation we also have a problem where the home equity value is less on a percentage per house than it has ever been also.

We know from the last real estate crash that when home equity becomes negative that more and more people walk away from their homes and then they are disenchanted with our society, civilization and even capitalism itself. This is unfortunate although it also shows a sense of irresponsibility on the part of those people who dug their own grave of debt. Nevertheless in the blame game world of human civilizations and societies people who have hardships of life usually try to blame someone else for them.

So what started out to be a great advancement in the concept an ownership society in the United States of America looks like it is slowly losing some of its steam and actually might end up causing a little bit of a problem in the future. The Federal Reserve says that the housing market collapse is not as bad as people portray it and this is relatively true however, it is something we need to watch in the future.

If people walk away from their loans this can cause a problem in the banking system and American citizens are already in too much debt with short-term loans and credit cards. An ownership society is a great idea and we should commend our leadership for working towards that noble goal, but at the same time we must be very careful that we talk about ownership we are not just talking about debt; rather actual ownership.

Owning a piece of America should not be owning an overwhelming responsibility of stress to make payments on something that is not his worth as much as the loan value. Please consider this in 2006.

Lance Winslow, a retired entrepreneur, adventurer, modern day philosopher and perpetual tourist.

Discount Laptop Cases

Laptops and notebook computers are made of tough material but are prone to scratches and other problems if handled in a rough manner. It is suggested to protect the laptop or the notebook with a durable portable laptop case, a backpack or a bag. Portable laptop cases can facilitate to easily carry the laptop easily.



Laptop bags come in a wide variety of colors and shells. Most popular is the hard shell aluminum as well as the soft shell nylon briefcase styles. Laptop backpacks selection is an excellent choice for students with room for the laptop computer, as well as schoolwork. Carrying cases equipped with separate pockets for accessories such as wireless and network cards and security cables are also available.



Laptop cases are durable and are available in many shapes, style and sizes. All portable laptop cases are can protect the laptop or the notebook computer from damage. Laptop cases can be top load, V-load and laptop bags.



The important thing to consider while shopping for a laptop case is its usage. Laptops might be used for school or for work. Some people need the case to carry laptop along with its accessories while traveling. For this kind of usage, laptop cases with separate pockets are available to make finding things easier. Students might require cases that can also contain their schoolwork. Backpacks are the most convenient for this kind of usage. The backpacks also come with a number of pockets to keep the laptop surface from being scratched.

Educational Toys How They Evolved

The modern day busy parent tries to compensate for his or her lack of time for his or her children by investing a great deal on education. Thus, it is not a surprise how many of such parents move mountains just to provide their kids entertaining products that not only encourage play, but also instill discovery and learning.

Makers of toys worldwide recognize this growing trend and are, consequently, coming up with new and improved lines of children's educational toys and games almost every month. What was once limited only to specialty toy and game shops, educational toys and games are now a staple in every children's oriented stores around the world, even at general mass retailers, like Wal-Mart and K-Mart.

Statistics show that the sales of toys and games have declined over the years. However, educational toys have been on the rise, as more parents opt to purchase products that would give them the most value for their money, as compared to, say, buying Bratz dolls and Hot Wheels.

The record for educational toys was broken in the Holiday season of the year 2000, when toy maker LeapFrog's LeapPad Learning System electronic reading toy became the bestselling children's game of the time, helping the company boost its sales by a whopping 120 per cent!

LeapFrog's success paved the way for other major and small toy makers to come up with educational toys of their own. Jakks Pacific, under its Child Guidance brand, released its own line of children's educational toys and games following a deal with Baby Genius. Hasbro released its Baby Einstein line and unveiled its preschool units, namely the Baby Einstein Company and Playskool. These new toys encouraged children to dabble in art, music, different foreign and local languages, and even poetry.

The strong demand for educational toys and games for children has urged major retailers, like Toys R Us, to allocate shelves upon shelves for these kinds of toys. And because more and more households are transforming into two-income families, it is likely that the demand will grow further as parents seek products that would try to fill their absence during their children's formative learning years.

With the rise in demand, it won't be a surprise when the price tag that comes with these educational toys and games will also decrease as the years pass. Right now, these kinds of toys are still a little expensive (though it hasn't stopped most parents from buying them). In the future, due to the overwhelming interest, educational toys and games will be accessible to everyone.

About the Author:

Low Jeremy maintains http://Educational-Toys.ArticlesForReprint.com. This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

Handicapping Baseball Totals

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Party Ideas

 



Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Party IdeasSubmitted By: Cynthia Marcano  

A perfect combination of martial arts, actiNinja adventure and cute turtles, these characters are the perfect basis for a boy's birthday party. Most little boys I know love at least one, if not all of the characteristics of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Incorporating all of those traits into a birthday party is sure to turn into some sure fire fun.

The Teenage Mutant Ninj Turtles are best known for their martial arts, their love of pizza, sewers and for screaming Cowabunga!!!!!. This translates into a supereasy birthday party to put together.

Party Decorations

With Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles party supplies readily available, you may opt to take the simpler or less expensive route. Using basic colors and supplies can achieve that goal. I suggest using a combination or green and blue or green and brown.

To make this party scream Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, we need some signature decor. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Manhole Covers Wall Decor - Cut out large circles out of posterboard or cardboard. Try to make them at least 24 inches in diameter. Use either silver or grey colored posterboard super easypewter grey. Now cut circles 1 inch smaller than the original circles. Use black posterboard or paint these circles black. Paste the black circle on top of the grey circle. Cut out strips the length of the diameter of the circles by about 1 inch in width. Over lap the strips one by one making a plaid design. Paste the completed plaid design over the circles. Trim where necessary. Your manhole cover is now complete and can be hung on your wall or on the floor.

2. Ninja Stars - What's a ninja without ninja stars? Using a six point star cut out the shape on silver/grey posterboard.

3. Graffiti Brick Wall - Using faux brick wall paper and spray paint this is easy to replicate and perfectly legal. For authenticity, use sevcral colors of spray paint. Add the birthday boy's name and party guests to the faux brick wall paper. hposter boardraffiticreator.net/ has several styles of font that you may try to replicate if you are shooting for a very authentic look. Once dry hang on a wall.

4. Hang up posters or enlarge clipart and hang poster board

The turtles LOVE pizza so add empty pizza boxes all over.

Party Games

Since this is a ninja based birthday party, chances are there will be some martial arts replicating going on. The best poster board someone with an accidental black eye is to keep the ninja's in training occupied. These party games should help.

Pin the Mask on the Turtle - the same concept as pin the tail on the donkey.
Free Printable Available Soon

Find the Manhole Cover - the TMNT are always looking for a route back to the sewer. Make several small manhole covers and hide around the party area. The one who finds the most escape routes (manhole covers) is the winner.

Ninja Star Practice - Don't panic these are not real ninja stars. Using paper ninja stars (see decorations above) designate a specific area as the target. Whoever comes closest to the target area is the winner.

Find The Pizza - using the same emptposter boardes, hide a fake pizza (clipart cutout) to one of the boxes. Have the party gamers search for the pizza. Whoever finds it first is the winner.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Training Camp - (recommended for older children). If you have the roseveralors or the weather permits, have the party goers compete or participate in a traing course. Events can include jumping, running, kicking and flipping. To make it a competition just rate who did each category the fastest or highest. This should be a supervised party game. To make it extra special, have the children wear green and place eyes masks (in the TMNT colors) on them. You will have your own swarm of ninja turtles.

Party Menu

Pizza - duh!

Lime Green Jello - (Ooze)

Lime Green colored Kool-Aid or juice.

About the Author:

Cynthia Marcano is the webmaster for http://www.boysbirthdaypartyplanner.com. Find party theme ideas, decorating tips and menu ideas for Spiderman, Go Diego Go, Sports themed and other boy's birthday party favorites.

Article Tags: party, ninja, turtles

Overseas Property Investment This Area Continues To Soar In Value!

Do you want to invest in overseas property but are worried about the risk?

In that case, you will be interested in the region below where property speculators have been making solid gains of 30 ? 100% annually for several years and prices look set to move far higher.

The region is:

Central Pacific Coast Costa Rica.

Were not talking about an area that could take off but has taken off for overseas property investment.

More gains are coming and we will give you the reasons in a bit.

Lets look at the gains first at if you want a second home a villa a condo or a retirement home in the sun gains here are fantastic.

For instance buyers who purchased $30,000 of property in the town of popular town of Jaco, 15 years ago are now worth more than $750,000.

Another example of great gains can be seen are at Marriot Corporation Los Suenos Resort, they pre sold condos of 2000 square feet for $250,000. The following year they sold more at $350,000.

Now this years top end units are being sold at $450,000 to $850,000 and there is not enough supply to meet demand.

So why will this area make more gains?

There are several reasons:

1. It?s an established community with huge foreign investment and this inspires confidence for more people to come.

Its not an area that may take off it has and with all areas that do, property booms can last for decades and this one looks set to go a lot further.

2. The area has easy access from the airport, superb beaches and beautiful national parks and is an area with great scenery,surfing and fishing.

3. Facilities, infrastructure and property are of a very high standard in an area popular with both foreigners and locals, the proof of a boom area.

4. Costa Rica remains the premier destination for US and many foreign buyers.

While in a different country, the large expat community and the great facilities make it a place people feel at home in, despite being in a foreign country.

More gains coming

Now the above area is getting record investment and more people from overseas are coming and this means prices will continue to rise.

Not an area that may take off it has!

Unlike many central American countries it has a track record and the investment coming in reflects the appeal of Costa Rica and the preferred destination of the central pacific coast.

If you want a great area to purchase an overseas property in then Central Pacific cost Costa Rica offers you a solid investment and a great location

More FREE info

On investing in property and land in the area outlined above and suburb beach front plots with great capital appreciation potential then visit: http://www.costaricalandlots.com

Gold Italian Charms

Italian Charms come in tens of thousands of designs and can symbolize almost anything in the world such as colleges, buildings, monuments, places, food, animals, cartoons, sports, phrases- even birthday cakes and decorations! The charms usually made of gold or gold plating, can be interchanged to make a new charm everyday. These links are easy enough to interchange and offer versatility to the wearer. Charms are the most popular jewelry items for gifting and small, elegant purchases for self.

Gold Italian Charms originated in Italy and are usually made out of two base metals, such as copper or iron, plated with 18 K gold and enamel. Nothing looks classier than gold, and a gold plated Italian Charm can catch one's eye like no other piece of jewelry. Quality gold Italian charm manufacturers and exporters offer thousands of pieces, each better than the other, with seasonal and festive discounts for bulk and retail customers. All gold Italian charms are made from high quality stainless steel, which is later painted with gold enamel, then decorated with semiprecious gems such as garnets and lapis. This gold enamel gives the charm a very beautiful and sparkling appearance. Shining stainless steel and gold make an absolutely breathtaking contrast. In the gold category of Italian charms, the ones most in demand are symbols of the zodiac, letters of the various alphabets of the world, animals and hearts, sports and hobbies, apart from an ever widening range of designs, modified every day to suit customer demands.

The more exclusive gold Italian Charms are made of white gold, which is comparatively costlier and rarer, but can be bought from a reputed retailer who may have a host of Christmas charms, 14-karat gold charms, bracelet charms, and crown charms. For those wanting to be different from the rest, this white gold Italian charm might well be a rare choice when it comes to charms, but if looking for love, this is one jewelry gift few are known to resist.

Italian Charms provides detailed information on Italian Charms, Custom Italian Charms, Italian Bracelet Charms, Wholesale Italian Charms and more. Italian Charms is affiliated with Fallen Angels.

Real Estate Agents Evolution of The Shark

Or survival of the most dishonest

Real Estate agents are regarded poorly by the general public. To be fair, there are many conditions that impact on a real estate agent. These impacts can either spit them straight out of the industry or have them evolve into sharks. In many cases it becomes survival of the most dishonest.

Now before all the trustworthy hard working real estate agents groan and moan, about another person giving their industry a hard time, please read on. I believe it is the system in many cases that is broken, and it is that system which shapes many a real estate agent into that predatory shark.

Firstly, becoming a real estate agent isn?t difficult. Most states within Australia have a real estate institute where you can complete a course in under a week. (I completed my course by distance learning in one night and I am no mental giant. The before mentioned groaning agents are really agreeing with me now!)

In the US you can complete a course online and be accredited. All it costs is $99 US.

We are talking a very easy entry point to become a real estate agent.

Now that you are a real estate agent ? with your suitable qualifications, you expect people to trust you with their single most expensive asset, typically their home! Sounds a little bit out of whack right from the start doesn?t it?

Now from an external point of view, real estate looks like a pot of gold. Commission rates of between 2.5% to 3.0% to sell a house. A property worth $500,000 represents a commission of approximately $12,500 to $15,000.

?WOW, I should be able to do one of them each week and earn $650,000 per year. Finally an industry that pays me what I am worth.?

And thus the evolutionary cycle begins. You have an easy entry and the prospect of a huge amount of money. Sounds damn perfect. In fact so perfect it attracts a huge amount of willing entrants with that simple view. Most may I say have the full intention of doing real estate far better than what they have experienced when dealing with real estate agents themselves. Ahhh the noblest of intentions.

The problem is, it attracts far too many people.

Now we have a vast amount of agents all vying for that property sale. The industry cannot support all the agents that are working within it. People rush to enter this industry and there simply is not enough property sales or money to go around.

Now we have the 2nd most critical issue in the evolutionary cycle from person with best intentions to shark real estate agent. COMMISSION ONLY.

Most agents are on commission only. This means they only get paid when they make a sale.

Any agent competing against a vast number of agents for any one property sale, if they don?t say the right things, they won?t get the job. Which means they don?t get paid. It means agents learn to say what ever it takes to get that property listed for sale and then whatever it takes to get it sold. It ?s the only way they get paid. It?s survival of the most dishonest, because many times, potential buyers and sellers really don?t want to hear the truth.

Yes, I can hear Jack Nicholson bellow out to all buyers and sellers??You can?t handle the truth?

Typically agents will say the property is worth more to the owners. This way they will have those owners sign up with them. Because most owners like to think their property is worth more. It?s a simple human trait called greed. (Michael Douglas just stepped in and added his line ?Greed is Good?)

But for the real estate agent it?s a simple numbers game. The more properties they have for sale the better the chances they will make a sale and therefore get paid.

Guess what comes next? Agents learn that it is far easier to sell something cheap. Everyone wants to buy a bargain so the agent pursues a process of marketing the property with such clich?s as ?marriage bust up?, ?owner desperate?. ?bank instructs to sell? and ?owner wants all offers?. They are simply aimed at attracting the most buyers with the lure ? BARGAIN BUYING. Now the poor owner at this stage is horrified at this approach, but the agent convinces them it is the way to attract the most interest. They should know - they completed a course within a week!

Conditioning follows, stage 3 in the evolutionary process. The agent will now try to get the owner to accept less for their property. The buyers won?t offer more ? because they are the bargain hunters, so the agent tells the owner with all sincerity ? this is all the market will offer. Cheap is easy to sell. The faster an agent can convince an owner to accept less the faster they get paid. This is largely the whole auction process. Auctions are designed by agents to get paid as fast as possible.

The sad thing about most of this is that the larger franchise groups have corporate training which promotes these processes as the best way to get a result for their clients. Many an agent is brainwashed with corporate training that simply focuses on evolution of the shark.

Now whilst all these activities are occurring, we have the 4th issue in the evolutionary process. VALUE FOR MONEY.

Buyers and sellers assess the agents? activities. Most buyers and sellers will have at least one unhappy experience with a real estate agent to describe. Yet they both know the agent is paid handsomely.

The owner has the added grief of being very aware, that they pay for the advertising, the sign, the internet, the brochure, which will attract the buyer that they then have to pay for again. Yes, that is exactly what occurs. Sounds quite stupid when you say it like that! The agent may throw it around they can organise a better sign or get a cheaper ad etc, but usually the owner is required to pay. They have training for this process as well. It?s called Vendor Paid Advertising.

Lets not even talk about agents suggesting they have better negotiation skills. They do, it has been finely honed by corporate training to get the owner to accept less and pay for all the advertising.

So, with all these processes in mind, the general public are very dubious about the honesty and integrity of any agent they deal with. The agents counter this with expressions such as ?Buyers are Liars? and ?Vendors are Benders?.

And the evolution is finished. You have a shark or you have someone leaving the industry. Survival of the most dishonest, well it would make for a funny reality tv show.

Da dum, Da Dum, Da Dum, I think I hear the agents circling my home right now.

Michael Eroz Property Analyst www.zeroagents.com.au

Great Gifts for Young Grads From PreK to Middle School

So your son or daughter has finally graduated middle school and is about to take that huge, nerve-wracking, terrifying but exhilarating step into high school. You can remember that feeling with almost perfect clarity, right? The fear, the excitement, the nervousness of the unknown ? it was almost too much to bear!

What kind of gift do you give to commemorate such an event? Or a graduation from kindergarten to elementary school for that matter?

Buying gifts for younger grads can be a fun experience if you're willing to get creative. Whether you go with something educational, commemorative, or just something fun, there are plenty of great gifts out there that any kid would love to have.

If you want to go the educational route, then dictionaries are always a good choice (they do make dictionaries geared towards younger readers as well). You can also buy encyclopedia software for homework, a globe that will tell them all about the country they're pointing at with a special stylus, or any number of cool kits that will allow them to uncover fossils, peer under microscopes, or mine for jewels. Remember, to a kid the world is still a relatively new place, so anything that will allow to them to see or experience something new will be well-received.

You can also think about putting together a few different gifts. Perhaps a bunch of school supplies (but the really fun ones that you usually wouldn't spend extra on). Themed pens, pencils, notebooks, pencil cases, etc. could all be put into a brand new backpack or messenger bag. PDA's or planners would also be good for the older elementary or middle school graduate.

Think about getting your grad a new desk if he or she doesn't already have one. It might get them excited to start doing all the homework they're going to be getting!

If you'd rather go with something a bit more fun and whimsical, the world's your oyster. What you choose is obviously going to depend on the age of the graduate, but here are a few fun ideas.

Why not give the new graduate their own camcorder? Of course, this is only good for the older graduate (can you imagine how long a camcorder would last with a 6 year-old?), but it will allow them to start recording memories of their life and their friends. The videos will no doubt be treasured keepsakes after high school graduation.

If you'd like to take them on a special day trip, you could both go to the local aquarium or zoo, hit the special hands-on museum, and try lunch in a new restaurant you think your graduate would enjoy. It would be a whole day of fun for your child, and would make him or her feel like king or queen for a day.

If you're able to get away for a weekend and want to do something really special, why not take a train trip somewhere new? Sleeping overnight on a train would be very exciting to any child, and it would be a memory he would never forget! And don't forget to take those photos ? they're good for a lifetime.

By putting a little time and energy into a graduation gift for the younger child, you have the opportunity to give them something truly special.

Copyright (c) 2007 Pat Brill

Pat Brill is co-founder of http://www.SilkBow.com which supports Busy Moms with free gift ideas and helpful tips to meet the challenges of motherhood. She is also co-founder of http://www.WellnessArticles.net , a directory of articles covering many areas of wellness. You can reach Pat at pat@SilkBow.com.

Back To School With Newly Empowered Student Laptops

Some new offerings for Intel and Nvidia will put more punch in your new student laptop. See why going back to school with one of these empowered laptops will turn a few heads...

Copyright (c) 2008 Titus Hoskins

Within the last several months we have seen some major developments in laptop technology that will greatly increase the usefulness of laptops for college students. Both Intel and Nvidia have introduced new products which will improve laptop performance immensely.

New Intel Centrino 2 Platforms

First, Intel has introduced its next generation processors which uses 45nm technology with hafnium-infused circuitry. These new Intel Montevina Centrino 2 Platforms offer greater performance and better energy efficiency.

For example, Intel's new X9100, a 3.06GHz 45nm dual-core mobile processor uses 1066MHz FSB and has 6MB L2 cache - more than enough power or performance for the most demanding tasks students can throw at it.

New Nvidia High-End Graphics Cards

Second, Nvidia has released new mobile cards in its series 9 product line which will greatly impove the performance of laptops.

Nvidia which is considered one of the top Graphics Card makers in the world has announced it is introducing five more high-end Cards: GeForce 9700M GT, 9700M GTS, 9800M GTS, 9800M GT and the 9800M GTX.

These cards will have DirectX 10 graphics, Hybrid SLI support and will sport the new PureVideo HD video processing which is compliant with MXM 3.0 Graphics module specs. These are top-notch cards with the 9800M GTX sporting a whopping 128 Processing Cores.

These GPUs will no doubt put some more added punch in the latest gaming laptops but they will also improve the performance level of student laptops especially for those college students who major in computer programming, media or video, graphic design or architecture... we tend to forget, top-level graphics is not always used for gaming. Parents take note!

What To Look For When Buying A Student College Laptop

If you're buying a student laptop for yourself or for a son or daughter there are certain things you should consider before plunging down your hard earn cash. Just some things you should look for in a high quality student laptop.

1. Sturdy

You must have a laptop which is sturdy and tough in order to survive in the sometimes harsh student environment. Make sure your chosen laptop can take all that punishment - you might even consider a ruggedized notebook.

2. Portable

Many students go for a small compact laptop which can be neatly tucked under the arm or in a backpack. Long battery life is also important if you're going to be taking your laptop to all your classes. Also make sure it has all the necessary wireless connections so that the Internet is available wherever you go.

3. Performance

As we have just read above, laptops are becoming more powerful and offer greater performance than ever before. You should have no problem finding a student laptop that will meet all your computer or multi-tasking needs. However, a prudent laptop buyer should always check the type of Processor (CPU), how much RAM, Hard Drive size and the OS (Operating System) of any laptop you choose to buy.

4. Cheap Laptops

Lets face it, for most students, money is often very limited so buying a high quality, yet economical laptop is a must. Fortunately, laptop prices have been steadily dropping so finding a laptop you can afford should not be a problem. You can also consider a used or refurbished laptop.

5. Theft and Security

One of your top concerns should be theft and security when buying a student laptop. You can now get many security measures such as fingerprint entry - some now even have face recognition software as seen in the new Lenovo laptops. You can also invest in a good Laptop cable lock which will keep your laptop a little more secure. Plus, you can also check out Anti-Theft software such as LoJack which can track and locate your stolen laptop thru the IP address once it's used to access the web.

So if you're in the market for a student laptop just keep some of these points in mind when you're shopping around for that special laptop. Also remember to look for all that new mobile technology which will greatly improve the performance level of your next student laptop.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


For more information on Buying Notebooks and Laptops at Bargain Prices Click Here: www.bizwaremagic.com/cheaplaptops.htm
Or here: www.bizwaremagic.com/notebookforstudents.htm2008 Titus Hoskins. This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

How Do Restrictive Covenants Affect the Buyers of Homes for Sale?

Restrictive covenants (also called deed covenants) have been affecting buyers of real estate for as long as property has been transferring ownership. Such covenants are a condition of sale for real property, placed on the buyer by the seller or passed on from previous owners. By purchasing the property, the buyer agrees to abide by these restrictions on the use of the property.

Restrictive covenants are especially important to buyers of homes for sale; since they, like zoning laws, restrict how you may use your own property. Where city officials enforce public zoning laws, private parties enforce restrictive covenants ? generally a homeowners association or individuals who are affected by violations.

Restrictive homes for sale covenants protect the value of the home, itself, as well as the properties surrounding it. Some homes for sale covenants protect the people who live in close proximity to the property, such as other condominium or townhouse owners.

In earlier and not so charitable times, such covenants restricted to whom you could sell your home. Upscale areas of a city wanted to keep their neighborhoods free of particular races or ethnic groups. In the ?50s and ?60s, such covenants were deemed unconstitutional by the 5th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, as well as unlawful by federal and state statutes.

Now, such homes for sale covenants are imposed to maintain a certain character and appearance of the neighborhood. Some examples are not being able to erect a chain link fence around your home, satellite dishes must be out-of-sight (a hard thing to do, if they are to function properly), you cannot park recreational vehicles at your home, or you cannot pitch a tent in your backyard for your children. Some homes for sale covenants are very restrictive ? for example, you cannot leave your trashcan in the street for more than one hour after trash pickup. Some homes for sale covenants dictate the maximum length of your grass or the exterior color of your home. Some control such mundane things as what type of pet you can own (if any), and during which hours of the day you can vacuum your carpets.

Violations of homes for sale covenants have serious consequences. You may be fined for most offenses; however, costly lawsuits have occurred from unresolved violations.

It is not the seller?s responsibility to alert a buyer to restrictive covenants on homes for sale. The restrictive covenants generally are on file with the county in which the homes for sale is located. During the purchase process, a title search or abstract update should expose and highlight any covenants for the buyer and his/her real estate attorney to review before the purchase of the homes for sale.

Unfortunately, this process does not occur until after a homes for sale buyer has made an offer. That means a buyer always should check for restrictive covenants BEFORE making an offer on a homes for sale, or AT LEAST make the offer subject to review and acceptance of all covenants.

John Harris is an expert researcher and writer on real estate topics such as economics, credit improvement tips, home selling advice and home buying preparations. For more on San Diego Homes for Sale visit http://www.twtrealestate.com

Online Real Estate Courses

Buying a home is a major decision because it involves choosing a place where you will live for a number of years. This decision also has major implications on your financial status because of the usually high cost of homes and the loan applications that accompany such purchases.

Due to the enormity of the decision of purchasing a piece of property, most buyers solicit the help of real estate agents. Real estate agents are persons licensed by the government of a certain jurisdiction to handle real estate sales. Usually, real estate agents are under the employ of real estate brokers who can be either individuals or companies that have overall responsibility for the actions of real estate agents. There are also instances when real estate agents use the services of real estate appraisers to help them determine the market value of a home that is put up for sale.

Getting a License

Given the delicate and complex nature of real estate transactions, it is important that buyers get the right information so that they are properly guided in their decisions. Real estate agents, brokers, and appraisers need to have an understanding of the market and the technical aspect of real estate. To be able to get a level of competence in real estate, these persons need to take courses on the different aspect of real estate and take a licensing exam so that they can be certified by the state as persons who can handle real estate transactions.

Traditionally, people who wish to become agents, brokers, and appraisers enroll in institutions that offer courses on real estate subjects and take the subsequent exams for licensing afterwards. However, it is now possible for people who to take these courses in the comfort of their own homes because online courses are available on the Internet.

Online Courses

A search on the Internet can lead to you to a large number of online schools that offer real estate courses. Under this set-up, students enroll online, receive their materials through e-mail and they take exams online. These online courses promise that taking these courses is the same as or even better than the traditional way because students do not have to deal with the problems of traveling and face to face communication with instructors. These courses also offer review lessons on how the students can improve their chances in the licensing exams given by the government. Apart from being more convenient, these online courses also offer potential agents more opportunities since real estate courses on the different states are also offered. Given this new development, people who wish to be agents can now also avail of the benefits that the Internet offers.

Real Estate Courses provides detailed information on Online Real Estate Courses, Real Estate Agent Courses, Real Estate Appraisal Courses, Real Estate Broker Courses and more. Real Estate Courses is affiliated with Phoenix Real Estate Schools.

Residential Steel Buildings

Residential steel buildings are becoming more popular in the construction industry. Different parts of a residential building are manufactured in a factory. Steel is the raw material used to make the skeleton of the building. Advantages of residential steel buildings are low building cost, durability and less time consumption.

You can suggest the basic design of the home and select the type of roof, interior wall, and number of doors and windows. Any other individual enrichment of the building can also be suggested at the time of designing. After accepting the plans, different accessories such as beams, posts, girders, roof panels and nuts and bolts are produced at the factory. The foundation of residential steel buildings is made of concrete. The factory made parts are transported to the proposed site and bolted together to make an attractive steel house. Adequate insulation, ventilation, wiring, interior and exterior finishing and plumbing are also done for residential steel buildings. The exterior of these buildings can be made more attractive by brick, stucco or wood.

Drainage requirements and local zoning laws are to be satisfied for the legal approvement of each project. A rigid frame style is preferred for residential steel buildings. Steel framework with flat steel panels for roofs and walls is used in this style. Doors and windows can be placed in any wall and the size of the building may also be expanded if needed. Other optional accessories in residential steel buildings are gutters and downspouts to clear off water, double pane glass and insulated doors.

The cost of a typical residential steel building ranges from $16 to $20 per sq ft. Building materials, transportation, foundation and construction are included in this price. Exterior brick finishing or complex designing can be priced around $40 per sq ft. You can buy residential steel buildings from general contractors and brokers who are linked with different factories. Manufacturers also sell component parts directly to their customers. It is always desirable to buy genuine components from a renowned dealer for perfect construction and service. Warranty for almost thirty years is also given for residential steel buildings.

Steel Buildings provides detailed information on Steel Buildings, Commercial Steel Buildings, Pre-Fabricated Steel Buildings, Steel Storage Buildings and more. Steel Buildings is affiliated with Metal Building Kits.

Expecting A Baby? Top Trends In Nursery Decor For 2007

Are You Missing the Boat? Get Onboard With Call Capture

The real estate industry is one of the most competitive around. Agents can't afford to be in the dark about what their competitors are doing to generate leads and get more listings. Traditionally cold calling, door knocking, sitting open houses and direct mail were the most popular ways to generate leads. Of course, one can't forget sphere of influence and family and friends for referrals. If these methods of prospecting are working for you, that's great. But these brut force prospecting techniques take a lot of time and may not generate enough leads for you to have a constant stream of people ready to do business with you. Some agents have found a way to do just that. And once they follow up on those leads, they are able to get more listings using the same system that captured the lead in the first place. Here's how they are doing it.

By using automated call capture systems, agents are able to generate leads 24 hours a day 7 days a week. They are doing this by offering quality information to people looking to buy or sell their home. It is that simple. For most people, buying and selling a home is confusing, stressful and maybe even a little scary. Most people will likely feel like they are drowning in an ocean of things that they do not know or understand. By offering free reports on their call capture system such as ?10 Questions You Must Absolutely, Positively Get Answered Before Selling Your Home? and ?The 4 Most Important Things You Should Know Before Buying a Home?, agents can present themselves as an expert willing to help. Savvy real estate agents offer these kinds of reports in ads, on sign riders, postcards and even on the back of their business cards. When the buyer or seller calls the toll free number call capture system to receive their free report, their name, address and phone number are all captured for the agent to follow up on. Once the agent has a face to face appointment with the prospect looking to sell their home, their call capture system also helps to make sure they leave that appointment with the listing.

One of the hardest parts of being a successful real estate agent is differentiating yourself from the rest of the pack. When an agent using a call capture system shows up for their listing presentation, they are going to be able to show the prospective clients how he or she is not just like all the other fish in the sea. Before going to the listing presentation, the agent will record the information about the home into one of their call capture system extensions and also load a listing flyer or floor plan of their home. Once at the potential client's home, the agent tells them that they will be offering free-24/7-recorded information on their home. The agent then directs the homeowners to go ahead and call the toll free number with the extension for their home. They are impressed with the recorded information and the ability to have a faxed listing flyer with even more information automatically sent to them. The homeowner can even press a key to speak to the agent and when the agent's phone rings right then and there, they feel confident that the agent is going to be ready and available to speak to potential buyers. More often than not, that agent is going to leave that appointment with a new listing.

There are tried and true lead generation tools that real estate agents use like cold calling, door knocking, sitting open houses and direct mail. And now there is also call capture. Agents all over the country are finding call capture to be a great lead generation tool as well as a great hook for getting new listings. If you are not using call capture in your business, you will want to check it out for yourself. This is one boat you don't want to miss.

Brandi Cummings is a leading telecommunications consultant specializing in 800 number call capture technology for real estate professionals. Learn more secrets and tips on how to make a call capture system work for you at http://www.realtyone800.com.

Using the Market Conditions to help in the Fresh Start Presentation

The real estate market like any other asset class is in a constant state of motion. Property values are either going up, down or are stabilized at all times. We know this just by reading the newspapers, watching television and listening to neighbor?s gossip about their asset (the home). Not very scientific way of figuring out a market, but probably as good as if not better than most because it gets to the emotion of the homeowner in trouble. If the homeowner believes it is a sellers market he/she will absolutely try to sell or refinance before listening to you. If it is a buyers market then you are a welcomed guest if you can put money in their pocket for this dog of an asset they purchased long ago. If it is a stagnant or equal market well then the homeowner will be unsure of the value because the newspapers will be onto another subject. There are three types of markets in real estate. They are 1) the Sellers Market; 2) Buyers market; 3) a stagnant market where prices remain constant.

The definition of the Sellers Market, Buyers Market and Market in equilibrium is a look back model that uses two figures to determine a label for which market you are in. They are market time and inventory.

Market Time Defined

Market time is defined by the amount of days that a property in the location stays on the market. For example in a Sellers Market average sales time will be under sixty (60) days. Equal Market average sales time will be under one hundred (100) days. For a Buyers market average sale time will be over 100 days.

Inventory defined

Inventory is simply the amount of houses on the market divided by the average amount of sales typical for that area per month. Sellers Market would be less than three (3) months inventory on hand in a given area. Equal Market would be between three months and six months of inventory on hand. Buyers Market would be having inventory over six months on hand.

SELLERS MARKET FSP

A sellers market is a market where a property will sell within sixty days of being introduced to the market. This market also has a low inventory of properties on the market. This would be defined as anything less than three months inventory in your specific area. Another indication of a sellers market is that the price of the product begins to appreciate until it finally is out of the reach of the buyers causing the market to cool down.

This market can be prolonged by certain financial products such as the interest only loan, negative amortization type of loan, graduate payment loan and of course the variable rate loan. All of which we have seen in both Philadelphia and Massachusetts.

Based upon all of the factors going against the back up plan we offer it is a hard position to find the deals that we need during this type of market and as purchasers we are forced to purchase at auction as well as going to the properties and trying to purchase pre-foreclosure.

Locator in Hot Sellers Market

The locator in a hot market has a hard presentation. Every homeowner feels that they can get market price and that is more than we can pay. This happens because local neighborhood gossip, newspapers in the area saying how much property has risen year over year or month over month. Homeowners are saturated with information about how valuable their real estate is worth.

Next the homeowner is targeted with lending offers to refinance because the value of the home has skyrocketed- use your homes as an ATM machine to pull out some equity and live for a few more years.

Both the low market time and low inventory time cause our business of purchasing properties to be very frustrating. The homeowners are aware that they can sell a home relatively fast even quicker than an auction can be had.

It Makes for a hard market to purchase properties prior to the auction. It is what we call our recession. It allows a homeowner to choose from a group of choices. Essentially we are a back up plan or safety net. In this type of market we need to price correctly and purchase at the last minute from homeowners who have tried everything else.

Buyers Market FSP

A buyers market is defined by sales of properties taking takes over 100 days to sell. The Inventory in this market will stack up to well over six months worth of sales. The homeowner in this situation has only a few options. Financing companies say that they can refinance but usually can not due to the falling value of the appraisal on the home. Remember the newspapers are littered with information regarding the fall of the real estate market. It is the fear of the day for most local newspapers.

Here are a few local articles

?Sellers Frustrated With Real Estate Market
Home Sales Down In Bay State
POSTED: 6:05 pm EDT August 15, 2006
UPDATED: 7:37 pm EDT August 15, 2006

WALPOLE, Mass. -- Quarterly home sales are down in a widespread area of Massachusetts, but prices are only down slightly.

Copyright 2006 by TheBostonChannel.com?

?Market unease: Home prices fall 3.5%
Weakening demand leads to largest decline in Mass. in 13 years
By Kimberly Blanton, Globe Staff August 24, 2006
Home prices in Massachusetts fell 3.5 percent in July, the largest decline in 13 years, as the slowdown in the real estate market finally led sellers to cut their prices.?

?July home sales plunge 27%

The Lowell Sun

Massachusetts single-family home sales plunged almost 27 percent in July, the largest year-over-year monthly drop in more than 11 years, according to a report released today by The Warren Group of Boston. ?

?Buyer?s market: Housing sales dip, prices may follow
By Ben Aaronson/ Staff Writer
Thursday, August 24, 2006 - Updated: 09:08 AM EST

You can?t drive through town without seeing a For Sale or Open House sign and they represent a statewide trend.

According to a recent report by the Massachusetts Association of Realtors, home sales statewide fell nearly 11 percent in the second quarter (April to June), marking the fifth consecutive quarter that activity has declined from the same period the pervious year. Housing inventories are at an all-time high and homes are staying on the market longer, the report found. ?

Locator in Buyers Market

The locator in a buyer market has a much easier presentation. Every homeowner has undergone the conditioning of the newspapers, local gossip etc. that the sky is falling rapidly and that their investment is no longer worth what it was one year ago.

This advertisement of the fall of real estate prices and the end of the price appreciation stops the appraisers? from appraising the properties correctly. Instead of using the standard comparable. The appraiser checks a box and states that property pricing are declining and begins to cover himself/herself with lower and lower values for the property. This causes the banks to tighten up on underwriting guidelines making it harder to refinance their way out of the foreclosure.

Without the refinance the homeowner either has to do one of the following:

1) Restructure the mortgage causing higher payments. Problem with a restructure is that it costs more monthly for a short period of time. Usually very hard for the homeowner to come up with the money.

2) Sell on the open market. Problem is that market time has risen to the point where the foreclosure process is faster than the tie they have to sell the property.

3) File for bankruptcy. This normally costs $2,500 for the lawyer, filing fees and 10% of the plan debt to the trustee. It also has a 75% failure rate.

Consequently our FSP becomes a very viable option for the homeowner.

We are in this market now so find your local newspaper articles and put them in your book to show the homeowners what is happening out there. Make your presentation and then close the deal.

The locators biggest problem during this time is the manager (Investor) has more trouble pricing the properties because of the downward spiral of the market.

Market In Equilibrium:

An even market is when a property is sold within 61-100 days of listing. Inventory is usually six months or less. This is the market that is the easiest to procure deals. It allows the investor to feel warm and fuzzy knowing almost to the penny that the property he/she is purchasing is worth what they think that it is worth.

The Newspapers simply go on to another story and leave the real estate market alone or have articles stating that the market is stable.

Locator in Equilibrium

The locator in a stable market has the best of all worlds. Prices are staying steady keeping the manager happy and all is quiet regarding real estate in the newspapers.

Again it is an easy presentation. The homeowner has seen his equity disappear and no longer knows what the value of the real estate is and just wants to get out from the obligation.

The homeowner is left with one of the three options of a down market:

1) Restructure the mortgage causing higher payments. Problem with a restructure is that it costs more monthly for a short period of time. Usually very hard for the homeowner to come up with the money.

2) Sell on the open market. Problem is that market time has risen to the point where the foreclosure process is faster than the tie they have to sell the property.

3) File for bankruptcy. This normally costs $2,500 for the lawyer, filing fees and 10% of the plan debt to the trustee. It also has a 75% failure rate.

Consequently our FSP becomes a very viable option for the homeowner.

So what does this all have to do with the Fresh Start Presentation (FSP)? Remember the Fresh Start Presentation is the Homeowner Options slide show that you have. It goes through the advantages and disadvantages of the seven (7) options available to the financially distressed homeowner.

They are as follows:
1)Sell on the Open Market
2)Refinance the home
3)Restructure the mortgage
4)File bankruptcy
5)Borrow from friends and family
6)Let it go to foreclosure
7)Sell to an investor

Well each type of market has different advantages and disadvantages to the locator.

Use the newspapers to translate into a selling benefit during your FSP. We need to educate the homeowner that we are in a period where houses do not sell for last years prices but that they are actually going down in price each and every day. Time as usual is the enemy of a homeowner in this situation.

A good locator that wants to maximize his sales would do the following:

1)Read the local newspaper where your route is and cut out the articles that will help get the homeowner off the price they thought it was worth. Copy the article and give it to the homeowner when talking about the price.
2)While he/she is reading the article tell the homeowner that the property may be worth 3,4,5,6,7% less by the time they actually move out, the property is repainted and put on the market by the company.
3) This risk is for our company to worry about unless the homeowner decides to try to sell it on his own.

Good Hunting
http://frontgateconsulting.com/

http://frontgateconsulting.com/

Real Estate Lead Generators Business Building Ideas Are All Around You

When I first got licensed to sell real estate I was about as clueless as they come, but what I lacked in knowledge and ability I made up for in desire to learn and willingness to learn. So, I went to school after finishing real estate school.

No, not a school with a sit down classroom, but school in the sense that I started asking questions of veteran agents and watching what they did and said. I turned off my mouth after a while and opened up my eyes and ears and learned more doing that than I did while getting licensed.

For example, I learned that Real Estate Lead Generators abound, and everyday I was presented with opportunities that had I not been tuned in to pay attention to would have gone overlooked.

Here's a case in point with respect to business cards. I don't remember exactly how many business cards came with my first order, but I vaguely remember it being 500-1,000 cards. A year later I still had most of them. It was the craziest thing that I could have done!

Think about it! Instead of making it a point to give them away as fast as I could I was actually rationing them out like I didn't want to unload them.

Don't make that mistake! Business cards are great real estate lead generators and should be given out as freely as you would a glass of water to a thirsty person. And that's just what real estate prospects are. Thirsty to make real estate transactions with real estate agents sharp enough to recognize the opportunities.

Admittedly, I wasn't too sharp back then, but as I got smarter I realized the value of handing 3-4 business cards to everybody I came in contact with-and I mean everybody; my kids teachers, my doctor, your doctor, the school crossing card, my mechanic, dentist, etc.

And then there were the scores of counter tops that I encountered everyday. Grocery store counters, dry laundry counters, fast food pickup counters, counters where I paid the cable bill, bought computer stuff, book counters, etc.

Oh, and less I forget I must have passed by hundreds of billboards without placing one business card, real estate flyer or anything else on it. My stomach still knots up when I think of all the money those wasted opportunities cost me.

But like I said, I'm a lot smarter now (okay, so maybe I'm just older) and can pass on some pearls of wisdom to you so that you can avoid some of the mistakes I made. For example, some other real estate generating ideas include:

Real Estate Leads from Contractor and Home Builder Shows.

Real Estate Contractor and Home Building shows are becoming extremely popular among folks who are looking to build their home or are considering having one custom-built themselves. Getting Real Estate Leads from them is a great a strategy that's easy to implement.

Real Estate Closing Gifts; Small Gifts That Lead To More Referrals and Sales.

Many Real Estate Agents think of real estate closing gifts as something that should be given to the home buyer by his or her close family and friends. The gift serves as an accolade for the person's accomplishment. You can design them yourself if you're the creative type, or simply go out and buy one from your local shopping mall.

Free Website Content; Using Free Content To Generate Leads.

Everything you need to know to build a realtor web site and generate leads is available on the Internet, much of it free to little cost-including website content! In fact, some of the best real estate information I've read has been free, and although locating quality free content for publication and turning them into HTML to publish on your web site each week involves a great deal of time and effort it can be worth the effort.

I could go on and on, but it all comes back to the notion that real estate lead generating ideas are around us all day, everyday. If you pay attention to them you can work them to your advantage, but if you impose your will with them you can dominate your market like no other agent in your community.

Visit Real Estate Lead Generators for more information about Real Estate Lead Generators.

Costa Rican Commercial Real Estate Developments Are Hot!

Costa Rica developments are gaining in popularity and demand. Investors are pouring a lot of money into this small country.

But why Costa Rica?

Because Costa Rica's blend of beauty and business culture is attracting a growing number of travelers and international businesses to this Caribbean area.

Since the late 1970's, Costa Rica has been luring tourists to its lush rainforests and exotic beaches. A pioneer of eco-tourism, the country, wedged between the Pacific Ocean on the west and the Caribbean on the east, is primarily known for its amazing biodiversity that includes an astonishing array of flowers, birds, butterflies, and other creatures. In more recent years, however, the country has also become an attractive destination for scores of foreign companies. In the case of Costa Rica, perched between two of the world's largest markets (North and South America), there's a highly developed tourist industry and a growing expatriate community.

Enticed by Costa Rica's low costs, highly educated and often bilingual workforce, political stability (the country abolished its army in 1949), attractive tax incentives, pleasant climate, and one of the highest standards of living in Latin America, Costa Rica has become a growing haven for companies & business travelers. And this has led to the influx of Costa Rica developments.

Coffee Anyone?

Perhaps one of the most famous enterprises to come out of Costa Rica is Caf? Britt. Steve Aronson, who is from New York, founded the company in 1985. Caf? Britt is Costa Rica's leading exporter of gourmet coffee, with estimated sales of $39.1 million. Also, large U.S. companies such as Intel, Microsoft, and Hewlett-Packard have come to Costa Rica, investing hundreds of millions of dollars.

The widespread interest and success of these companies has sparked a need for more upscale hotel and entertainment facilities, as well as residential communities.

Costa Rican Law

Also, unlike many Latin American countries, it isn't necessary to have a Costa Rican citizen as a business partner and foreigners have the same absolute right to own real property, as do citizens. This is a strong reason why Costa Rica developments have become so popular. Many countries have restrictions on foreign ownership of real estate but not Costa Rica. In Costa Rica, everyone, nationals or non-nationals have the same legal rights, which are protected by their Constitution and reflected in their laws. Even so, most developers & companies hire Costa Rican attorneys to help them navigate the system

The legal system in Costa Rica is based in the so-called civil law system, which is derived through the Spanish Civil Code with roots in the Napoleonic Code. All titled property in Costa Rica is registered in the National Registry. Almost all legal liens and encumbrances will also be on file in the Registry.

What?s Not To Love?

With all of these positives and not too many negatives, developers are flocking to this tiny country. They are developing hotels, condos and housing communities. In some parts of the country, you almost feel like you?re in the U.S. or Canada because of all the expatriates. If you?re looking for a dynamic market, then Costa Rica is for you!

Visit http://www.all-about-commercial-mortgages.com to learn more about commercial properties and commercial financing. Educate yourself before buying that commercial property!

Patti Porter is a Commercial Mortgage Broker specializing in income producing properties.

Activities for Toddlers Simple and Inexpensive Ways to Enjoy Life with Your Little One

Marketing to Realtors: Create a Power Position in Your Marketing Efforts

Every day a real estate agent receives several marketing attempts from loan officers. In fact, this information comes in a steady, unrelenting stream. It is no wonder agents have become adept at tuning out the static of these marketing attempts.

Your challenge is to find a way to differentiate yourself from all the buzz of other loan officers. You do so by establishing your marketing position.

Your marketing position is what defines your business. Take a moment to browse your competition websites. Does their marketing position look identical to yours? If it were not for their logo on the top of the page, could it basically be your website?

If the answer is yes, your marketing position is too close to that of your competition. You are competing with them for a place in your prospects mind, and chances are you are not winning the battle for first place.

Take a look at your business and what can you offer that nobody else is doing? If you feel stymied by how you could possible differentiate yourself from your competition, think about a couple of examples of businesses that have done a remarkable job of creating a marketing position.

Federal Express is a great example. They started a business with a position no other shipper occupied. They advertised was when it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight, they were there to do it.

Dominoes Pizza started their business by emphasizing that they would delivery a pizza within 30 minutes of the order, or the pizza was free.

Southwest Airlines have marketed themselves as the low-fare airline.

What special skill or niche could you develop and use in your marketing materials and what can you use to set yourself apart from your competition? When your services are similar to another loan officer, real estate agents will look for ways to differentiate.

The more your services are scrutinized for differences, the more important it is to give details about how you are different. You need to accentuate those details.

Prices and rates are not necessarily the kind of difference that gets you noticed. In fact, most often it merely gets you into a bidding war. You should instead find an unexplored niche and specialize your services around it.

You can develop a unique niche within a product line like HUD, ARMs or Jumbo Loan expert.

You can develop a niche around details of the process for example, loan approvals within an hour (or less), loans that close 5 days ahead of COE, daily email updates to agents.

You can position yourself around gender, ethnicity, geography or another demographic, specializing in exclusively serving the Hispanic community, single professionals, Town & Country Ranch, etc.

Spend some time thinking about what makes you and your business unique and then market to that position.

Jeff Nelson helps loan officers increase loan originations by attracting quality relationships with real estate agents from the development of customized relationship-building strategies.

Click here to get a free copy of the Marketing Planning Guide, a 20-page workbook designed to help you outline a strategy to become an Agent Magnet.

Visit us at http://www.loan-officer-marketing.com

What Should I Look For When I Purchase A New Home?

Good question! It?s a good idea to think about what you should look for when you purchase a new home before you actually sign on the dotted line and pay. Buying a new home can be a rewarding experience if you do it right. Just make sure you protect yourself from any surprises down the line. You want to know some of the ways you can? Well, you may want to consider these tips before purchasing your new home:

1) Make sure you select a reputable builder when you purchase your new home! Do your research on the builder to find out about their past work. You can find out the type of work a builder has previously done by getting the names of the home communities established by the builder. Go to those particular communities and ask some of the homeowners if they have had any problems with that particular builder. You can also ask the homeowners what they like about their home builder.

2) Consider getting a home inspection done on your new home by hiring your own independent home inspector. You can find a certified home inspector via the American Society of Home Inspectors(ASHI) www.ashi.org. If the builder of the new home you?re considering to purchase won?t allow an inspection, then you may want to consider moving on to another home builder that will allow you to do this.

3) Investigate and research any easements that may be on the property you?re considering to purchase. This will save you headaches later on! Make sure the easements don?t affect your enjoyment of your property in the future.

4) Consider having a real estate attorney look over the real estate documents for your new home purchase. Especially your closing purchase documents before you sign them at closing.

5) Purchase title insurance! This will protect you when you purchase your home. Title insurance will provide you with protection if someone challenges you about being the property owner of your new home.

6) You may want to consider not purchasing your first new home in a new community that has been developed. Why should you do this you say? Well, for one thing, it?s a test run and all of the kinks may not be worked out yet. You may get stuck with a lemon! It might be better for you to wait until the builder has developed more communities in order for you to consider making a new home purchase.

7) Find out how long it will take you to travel from your home to work. Can you deal with your commute? If so, that?s great! If not, this may end your quest with that particular builder to purchase a new home with them.

Well, get the idea why it?s so important to think about certain things before you consider a new home purchase? Good, then start looking for your new home now with these tips and information to assist you when you?re in the process of considering making your new home purchase.

Nocita Carter is a writer and web designer that creates websites providing informative tips on various subject matter including personal finance tips on your personal finances at http://www.personal-finance-tips-for-you.com ; dating tips at http://www.mydating-tips.com and your choice of ebooks at http://www.ebook-corner-for-you.com

Outsourcing Is It For My Business?

Modern Baby Essentials Finding the Perfect Gift For Stylish Parents

Find tips on buying those super stylish parents-to-be in your life, the perfect gift.? From fancy strollers to the latest in modern high chairs-you're sure to find an idea for a great gift that both parents and baby will adore.

Choosing just the right gift for new parents can be tricky. Do you get something practical or something fun? Well-why not get the stylish new parents on your list something that's both fun and practical?

• Baby Carriers: There are many options available in the way of stylish baby carriers. The EuroTote by Lillebaby, an off the shoulder-style baby carrier features a removable top and interchangeable covers, allowing for easy regulation of the child's temperature. The Active Baby Carrier from Baby Bjorn is worn across the chest and features plenty of head and neck support for baby, as well as lumbar support for Mom or Dad. Gender neutral colors as well as a sleek and sporty design are perfect for both parents.
  
• Strollers: Today's selection of modern strollers has a number of bells and whistles allowing for the ultimate in customized comfort for baby. Check out the award-winning Xplory Stroller from Stokke, the only stroller that elevates your child closer to you! If it's impressive list of safety features and available accessories aren't enough, celebrity Moms-Angelina Jolie & Courtney Cox-Arquette have been seen wheeling around their precious little ones in this stylish stroller. The Buzz Three Wheel Stroller from Quinny features a futuristic design which, combined with an impressive list of safety features make this all-terrain stroller a must have for actress Rachel Weisz.
  
• High Chairs: Modern high chairs are all the rage and the Svan High Chair is a perfect example. This modern high chair grows with the child, allowing you to remove pieces until it becomes a chair right at the table. It's sleek design fits into any home from contemporary to classical style and its compact size makes it also ideal for smaller eating spaces. For the ultimate in modern high chairs, check out the Fresco High Chair by Bloom. Featuring include multiple grow-with-child modes and two stylish upholstery options, this 3-in-1 (resting, feeding, and play) chair is perfect for any home.
  
• Modern Nursery Furniture: Why not help decorate the nursery with some modern nursery furniture? Modern cribs, modern changing tables, modern dressers-there are many options to choose from. Modern nursery furniture is sure to make a style statement in any home. With brands like Oeuf, Stokke, Bugaboo and more, you're sure to find the perfect gift. You can even find coordinating modern crib bedding, area rugs, wall decoration and more. Shopping for new parents has never been this much fun!
  
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Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Jamie Sward has a BA in Journalism from Indiana University. As an expert in Modern Decor and Nursery Furniture, he is dedicated to sharing his expertise with customers on All Modern Baby, a website dedicated to modern nursery furniture, decor and other top-of-the-line products designed to be both functional and stylish.

Jogging Stroller For New Moms and Dads

IPOD Eco System

Technology is no longer stand alone innovations. When Apple releases IPOD variations or innovations, it energizes many different corporations. They design and market accessories like cases, rechargers, car adaptors, docking stations and more.



It is like a tango as and when Apple introduces temptations many satellite industries gear up to simultaneously make available for the consumer accessories. In fact analysis by NPD group reveals that for every US$3 million spent on IPODS a minimum of US$ 1 million is spent on accessories.



A whole chain has been created. There are accessory makers, designers, advertisers, marketing gurus, and retailers. And for most, accessories fill the till better than the IPODs themselves as profit margins are greater. It is not a one way street where satellite industries reap all the goodies. With racks filled with add-ons for IPODS, marketing campaigns, reviews, and demos Apple benefits by the creation of the ?ultimate? image of greatness. The eco system creates a hype placing Apples IPOD as the ?coolest? ever.



The range is huge, from simple cases priced from US$10-US$200 to speakers, transmitters, docking stations, baby strollers with a specialized slot for the IPOD, a belt with a buckle designed as an IPOD holder. For those with money to spend there are massage chairs with an IPOD holder in the armrest, customized speakers with glowing tubes and see through panels, as well as boom boxes.



As far as businesses are concerned it is a complete phenomenon with one small product leading to the creation of a whole industry or world. Unlike past successes like superman or Barbie dolls or the success of Disney land Apple has refrained from offering ?complete? packages themselves. The accessory manufacturing remains small.



The business model or plan until now was not the creation of a single entity or exclusive partnership but an open system where many industries can vie for a slice of the Apple ?gold dust?. But the balance is shifting and Apple is offering options like ?Made for IPOD? logos in return for a royalty.



IPOD has not just inspired accessories but changes in simple things like clocks with snooze mechanisms. Now such clocks have been modified so that they can be easily paired with the IPOD. Then there are headphones, ear phones, beach bags, as well as clothes with IPOD pockets. Now in 2006 cars will be sold with IPOD facilities. The IPOD world seems to expand and there are no signs of slowing down at all.



The IPOD ecosystem is fast growing and is a multibillion dollar industry world wide. No one would have dreamed that a simple no frills digital player would spawn entrepreneurs world wide and since the ?Bata? module the Apple IPOD has taken the center stage to create a business model where along with Apple thousand others taste sweet success.

All About Peg Perego