Feng Shui Life – Clearing Your Clutter With A Yard Sale By: Laurie J. Raphael As you may already know, the first step to obtaining a feng shui life is to rid your home and yourself of all the stale and dead energy around you by getting rid of all the clutter. One really good way to do that is by having a yard sale. There are many great reasons for having a yard sale. Some people have yard sales before they move so they don't have to pack and ship belongings they aren't using. Sometimes they are updating the look of their home and sell their old belongings to make money and room for the new ones.
Sometimes your children just grow like weeds and rapidly outgrow both their clothes and their toys. It could also simply be the desire to purge all those items you've held onto for so long, thinking you'd find a use for them but never did. No matter what your reason, having a yard sale is a relatively easy goal to achieve and requires just a few hours of preparation and a few more hours actually selling your wares. You'll reap both financial and emotional rewards from it. Getting rid of the clutter is your first step towards attaining a feng shui life. Decide on a date for your yard sale.
Visit your local liquor store for boxes or use heavy duty garbage bags to put the items for your sale into. Start by surveying the items you have. When you are going through your house, you will need to be brutally honest with yourself. If you haven't used it, don't like it, don't see yourself using it or don't know of anyone personally who could benefit from it, then it's a yard sale item. Sort through every dresser and kitchen drawer, every clothes and linen closet, every cupboard and toy box you have in your house. Don't forget your basement, attic, pantry, entertainment center, buffet and outdoor tool shed as well. Get your family involved so that if an item belongs to one of them you won’t be making the decision for them. Get their input before placing an item in your yard sale box. Regardless of the time it takes to sort through all your items, make the commitment to stick with it and remind yourself on a continual basis the monetary profit and emotional relief you'll feel once your clutter has been cleared from your home.
Once the sale is over, make another commitment to yourself not to bring the unsold items back into your home. Make arrangements with your local charity thrift store to donate the items. Most will be happy to make arrangements to pick up large donations. If you don’t have a local charity who will pick up the items just use my method and put a big “FREE” sign out at the end of the day. You will not believe how fast those items will disappear and it will save you a trip to the second hand store or from being tempted to bring the items back into the house. Once it's all said and done, you'll have a few extra dollars in your pocket, and can breathe an emotional sigh of relief that the clutter that's been weighing you down for so long has been purged from your home. Renew your commitment to remain organized and to combat the clutter on a continual basis.
About The Author Laurie J. Raphael Visit my Alternative Medicine website featuring Feng Shui life and Herbal Remedy Medicines, Chinese Herbal Medicine and much more: http://www.AlternativeMedicineBasics.com Sign up for my Newsletter at: altmedbasics@getresponse.com
Friday, March 21, 2008
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Think & Grow Rich
All wealth is a product of mind. Some economists will try to convince you that wealth comes from productivity. Many people believe that wealth is a matter of ownership or the accumulation of possessions. They are blind to the truth. They see only effects, not causes.
It is ideas that produce wealth. The process of creating anything, including wealth, begins with the idealization, the conceptualization, the visualization. Everything that follows is simply the implementation of the original thought. Everyone has the capacity to think and to choose what and how to think. Therefore, everyone can be wealthy.
The great thing is that ideas are free. You don't have to exchange or pay anything to have an idea. The problem most people have is that they don't have any original ideas. Of course, it is possible to refine someone else's idea or to find a better way to implement someone else's idea and thereby create wealth. That is actually what most people do. But why not just come up with your own concept. After all, ideas are free. Yours for the asking. No cost.
Hold onto that thought. Something you can produce with no visible effort, something you can have an endless supply of, something that you can have for free, can make you wealthy. Just one simple idea.
Hey, why don't we create an online flea market?
Zap. eBay. A multi-billion dollar company.
Hey, why don't we create a 24-hour international TV news channel?
Zap. CNN.
Hey, why don't we create a better delivery system than the post office?
Zap. FedEx.
Hey, why don't we create a personal computer?
Zap. Apple Computer.
The experts at IBM laughed at the two Steves. "Who would want a computer in their home? You guys are nuts." Now IBM's business relies on the sale of PCs. And the world is a different place. What would your life be like without a personal computer?
His college professor gave Fred Smith a 'C' on his paper proposing the need for a guaranteed overnight delivery service. Now even the post office copies Fred's FedEx concept. Fred is wealthy. The prof is still not. Not wealthy and not thinking correctly. Thinks A ideas are C value.
Ted Turner knew nothing about TV. His business was outdoor advertising. Billboards. Now, the major TV networks copy little old upstart TBS. And now it is CNN/Time Warner/AOL.
Ideas. How great they are compared to tangible things. Here's why. If I have clay pots and you have apple pies, I can trade you a clay pot for an apple pie, but then I'd have one less clay pot and you'd have one less apple pie. But if I have an idea and you have an idea, I can trade you my idea for your idea and now we both have two ideas. Not only that, two ideas often act synergistically to make a third idea and maybe even a fourth or a fifth idea as well.
Tangible things do not grow when exchanged. They merely change hands. Ideas change the world. Tangible things do not create wealth. They are the effects of wealth creation. Ideas are the cause of wealth creation. Had any good or original ideas recently? You are equally as capable of having them as any one else. Ok, maybe you don't know how to think original thoughts. Improved upon anybody else's ideas lately? At least you can do that. No? The find a good idea and implement it. Copy. Mimic. Do the same thing.
Michael Dell did not invent the personal computer. DHL is merely copying FedEx. The boys at Google did not invent Internet search engines. They just built a better one. It was someone else's original idea.
I did not invent eBooks. Online marketing was not my original idea. I took my ideas, added the ideas of others and presto, a wealth creation business.
Yes, you can think and grow rich. I know. I have the proof. That's what I do. So can you. Go ahead; I dare you. Think. Idealize. Imagine. What if...
Why don't we create a...
© Leslie Fieger. All rights reserved worldwide.
Leslie is the author of The DELFIN Knowledge System Trilogy: The Initiation, The Journey and The Quest plus many more success publications. He also the co-author of The End of the World with Hugh Jeffries and Alexandra's DragonFire with his daughter Ashley. Subscribe to his free and ad-free eZine at http://www.ProsperityParadigm.com or http://www.LeslieFieger.com
Reprinting and republishing of this article is granted only with the above credit included. Permission to reprint or republish does not waive any copyright.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Reason for many foreclosures
Foreclosure statistics from 2006 show some frightening trends in the numbers of foreclosures and loan defaults. Foreclosures appear to be up nearly 40% from 2005, and almost 75% from the first three months of last year. Americans are anxious in recent months to take on mortgages and real estate prices are rising fairly rapidly and dramatically. Housing has doubled in many cases, in both cost and in value.Americans appear to be willing to go completely in debt to own a home, and are not always borrowing wisely.
Many will borrow vast sums to own a home they are ill able to afford or pay for, purchasing using such tools as interest only loans, which give them the right to make payments of interest only for the first several years, then balloon to include more than the interest. When first time buyers are being faced with not being able to own a home for a time, many are choosing more risky means of gaining access to that home, among them, such loans as interest only.Banks and financial institutions are looking for ways to continue lending, particularly in light of the rising market values and their hopes that the market values will continue to rise rather than level off or fall. Each financial institution wants a piece of the action, and so they make the risky loans.The problem with that is, that home prices are not guaranteed to continue on the upsurge, and buyers and borrowers are going to be faced, eventually with that shock when the actual payments begin. After the five year interest only aspect of the loan, the payments could raise as much as 30 to 50%, and many borrowers will be ill equipped financially to deal with that.
They will then be prime targets for default or foreclosure, being unable to meet the newer raised payments. Most will adopt another strategy. Prior to the costs and payments rising, they will hope to refinance their payments at the end of the interest only time period, and shop for new financiers. Many, who are unable to find one, will be enmeshed in payments they cannot afford, or party to a foreclosure action.The reason for many foreclosures is high risk borrowing by those who absolutely cannot afford the payments on the home they choose, yet choose to purchase it anyway and to find a risky way to afford the mortgage. Research and realistic thinking will serve to prevent many foreclosures, making you one less statistic to be reported.."
Many will borrow vast sums to own a home they are ill able to afford or pay for, purchasing using such tools as interest only loans, which give them the right to make payments of interest only for the first several years, then balloon to include more than the interest. When first time buyers are being faced with not being able to own a home for a time, many are choosing more risky means of gaining access to that home, among them, such loans as interest only.Banks and financial institutions are looking for ways to continue lending, particularly in light of the rising market values and their hopes that the market values will continue to rise rather than level off or fall. Each financial institution wants a piece of the action, and so they make the risky loans.The problem with that is, that home prices are not guaranteed to continue on the upsurge, and buyers and borrowers are going to be faced, eventually with that shock when the actual payments begin. After the five year interest only aspect of the loan, the payments could raise as much as 30 to 50%, and many borrowers will be ill equipped financially to deal with that.
They will then be prime targets for default or foreclosure, being unable to meet the newer raised payments. Most will adopt another strategy. Prior to the costs and payments rising, they will hope to refinance their payments at the end of the interest only time period, and shop for new financiers. Many, who are unable to find one, will be enmeshed in payments they cannot afford, or party to a foreclosure action.The reason for many foreclosures is high risk borrowing by those who absolutely cannot afford the payments on the home they choose, yet choose to purchase it anyway and to find a risky way to afford the mortgage. Research and realistic thinking will serve to prevent many foreclosures, making you one less statistic to be reported.."
Sell your home prior to the foreclosure
Many people find themselves in circumstances they had never planned to be in. Losing a job or a spouses income due to death or divorce leaves them scrambling to pay the mortgage or other bills on their own. They then find themselves scrambling also to find a way to prevent a foreclosure on their homes. This is new territory and can be a very stressful time due to the fact of having a foreclosure on their home or automobile. This does not make you the bad guy, or even a deadbeat, as many financial institutions appear to think. It merely makes you a victim of a set of circumstances currently touching the lives of many thousands of people daily. When you receive that first foreclosure intent notice then that is the time to act on it. Do not become paralyzed by the circumstances, and in fact, do nothing.This is the worst possible reaction to what is already a bad situation.
There are options to avoid foreclosure and to save your credit and equity, if you act rapidly enough to take advantage of them.One of the options would be to contact an investor who you know to be interested in properties in your area. There are lists of such investors readily available on the internet or at your local library or realtor. There are lists of people who are ready and willing to purchase your home and work to help you prevent a blot on your credit record which will last for many years to come. While it isn't always the best solution, or the one which pleases everyone, it is one way in which you may prevent a foreclosure on your home and work toward the purchase of another one.
Contact them and see if an arrangement might be made to sell your home prior to the foreclosure, or in what is called the pre foreclosure period, when you retain the most rights toward the home.Additionally there are a multitude of foreclosure assistance groups both offline and online who are waiting to aid you with this situation. Take advantage of and research all of your options prior to using one, but do use one or the other of them. It is in no ones best interests to see your home repossessed. The banks do not desire to have to deal with this, and you have no real desire to lose your investment. Everyone loses in a foreclosure so take the steps to avoid it.
There are options to avoid foreclosure and to save your credit and equity, if you act rapidly enough to take advantage of them.One of the options would be to contact an investor who you know to be interested in properties in your area. There are lists of such investors readily available on the internet or at your local library or realtor. There are lists of people who are ready and willing to purchase your home and work to help you prevent a blot on your credit record which will last for many years to come. While it isn't always the best solution, or the one which pleases everyone, it is one way in which you may prevent a foreclosure on your home and work toward the purchase of another one.
Contact them and see if an arrangement might be made to sell your home prior to the foreclosure, or in what is called the pre foreclosure period, when you retain the most rights toward the home.Additionally there are a multitude of foreclosure assistance groups both offline and online who are waiting to aid you with this situation. Take advantage of and research all of your options prior to using one, but do use one or the other of them. It is in no ones best interests to see your home repossessed. The banks do not desire to have to deal with this, and you have no real desire to lose your investment. Everyone loses in a foreclosure so take the steps to avoid it.
Most people know this about foreclosures
Most people know about foreclosures, or at least have heard of them, but aren't certain what they really are, or actually entail. We all hope that we won't find ourselves encapsulated in such a procedure and for most of us that is a reality. We will not, be involved in a foreclosure, however we should know something about how the process works in the event that we might want to take advantage of it, or prevent one.A foreclosure, as most of you know, is the result of a borrower getting behind in the payments for his or her home, and as a result, steps are taken to return the home to the possession of the financial institution or lender.
The communications involved and the actions taken typically follow a specific timeline, much as any other transaction.After fifteen days, in most cases the borrower/s will receive a phone call from the lender asking what happened with the payment and when they may expect to be paid the due amount on the mortgage.Also as early as 15 days from the due date of the mortgages a late payment will be assessed and added to the payment due. As early as forty five days, the lender may send letters to the borrower stating that the terms of the mortgage have been breached and the borrower is now in default. Traditionally at this point the borrower is given a time span, usually 30 days to correct the default and bring the payments current, or to make other arrangement, such as a deferment of payment.
Usually at 90 days past due, the mortgage company or financial institution will hire a local attorney, who begins foreclosure proceedings. At about day 120 the sale proceeds. Certain requirements are necessary in each state or province. Some necessitate that the foreclosure must be judicial, that is presided over by a judge. These may take up to 9 months to accomplish a sale.In some states however judicial intervention is not necessary, and those states may find their homes sold in as little as two months. Until the actual sale of the property, the borrower has the right of redemption, that is to say he or she may pay what is due, plus costs and recoup the home. Once the home is sold they have no further rights, and no way to prevent the loss of good credit or equity in the home.
The communications involved and the actions taken typically follow a specific timeline, much as any other transaction.After fifteen days, in most cases the borrower/s will receive a phone call from the lender asking what happened with the payment and when they may expect to be paid the due amount on the mortgage.Also as early as 15 days from the due date of the mortgages a late payment will be assessed and added to the payment due. As early as forty five days, the lender may send letters to the borrower stating that the terms of the mortgage have been breached and the borrower is now in default. Traditionally at this point the borrower is given a time span, usually 30 days to correct the default and bring the payments current, or to make other arrangement, such as a deferment of payment.
Usually at 90 days past due, the mortgage company or financial institution will hire a local attorney, who begins foreclosure proceedings. At about day 120 the sale proceeds. Certain requirements are necessary in each state or province. Some necessitate that the foreclosure must be judicial, that is presided over by a judge. These may take up to 9 months to accomplish a sale.In some states however judicial intervention is not necessary, and those states may find their homes sold in as little as two months. Until the actual sale of the property, the borrower has the right of redemption, that is to say he or she may pay what is due, plus costs and recoup the home. Once the home is sold they have no further rights, and no way to prevent the loss of good credit or equity in the home.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Internet listing of mortgage properties
Top mortgage foreclosures are listings online of properties in each state or area that are the most desirable to purchase. These listings are made available through many different ways and at many differing costs to internet users. There are software's available to the purchaser which when bought and a small monthly fee paid in addition to the cost of the software will organize and update the listings daily so that you are in a constant loop of other investors who are searching and researching the same properties with a view to a purchase.These are time and labor savers and may have the added advantage of making you the first to hear of or view a property in which you have an interest. Local realtors and investors will have lists which you may avail yourself of for a certain cost.
Most popular are the internet listing of mortgage properties, which you may purchase for various sums online. These will offer you a limited time to view the properties. In many cases you may not download the information to your own computer and this is one drawback of the purchase of this kind of program, although there are also many advantages. These types of databases are frequently updated, meaning that those new properties will be added, while those which have been sold will not appear there. This will give you access to their database of foreclosure and pre-foreclosure properties for a given amount of time, usually done on a monthly basis. You may purchase the right to view images, bid on homes, or even make an appointment to visit one of the foreclosures, dependent on the kind of service that you join.Some are less than complete and you should in fact scan several before choosing to join one, much as you would research any product that you used for work prior to buying it and finding that it does not meet your needs.
Most of these services are complete, however given the new listings of sites cropping up each day, assure yourself also that what you have purchased will be available to you tomorrow.. Research and find how long this particular web site has been in business and what their volume of user is, prior to buying it for a lengthy period of time.If you are a new investor who is looking to purchase foreclosure or pre-foreclosure properties, the best way in which to access those listings is to use the power of your computer and join one of the many popular foreclosure listing services.
Most popular are the internet listing of mortgage properties, which you may purchase for various sums online. These will offer you a limited time to view the properties. In many cases you may not download the information to your own computer and this is one drawback of the purchase of this kind of program, although there are also many advantages. These types of databases are frequently updated, meaning that those new properties will be added, while those which have been sold will not appear there. This will give you access to their database of foreclosure and pre-foreclosure properties for a given amount of time, usually done on a monthly basis. You may purchase the right to view images, bid on homes, or even make an appointment to visit one of the foreclosures, dependent on the kind of service that you join.Some are less than complete and you should in fact scan several before choosing to join one, much as you would research any product that you used for work prior to buying it and finding that it does not meet your needs.
Most of these services are complete, however given the new listings of sites cropping up each day, assure yourself also that what you have purchased will be available to you tomorrow.. Research and find how long this particular web site has been in business and what their volume of user is, prior to buying it for a lengthy period of time.If you are a new investor who is looking to purchase foreclosure or pre-foreclosure properties, the best way in which to access those listings is to use the power of your computer and join one of the many popular foreclosure listing services.
Foreclosure laws
Losing ones home to a foreclosure can often be halted or stopped, but time is usually the most important factor in whether or not this can happen. There are legal teams available at many law offices, which specialize in this type law practice. They will negotiate with your financial institution to avoid or stop further action on your foreclosure and get your finances back on the right road to help you avoid this pitfall in the future.Some foreclosure legal teams will also work with other creditors so that you have extra time to pay these fees and payments, offering you the chance to put your funding where it most needs to be currently, and permit you to pay mortgages, late fees and accrued costs in an effort to save the equity you have built up in your home.
A foreclosure team is something that most people will find necessary if the situation should arise that you truly are sued for the foreclosure. In this event an attorney is a good investment.Many of these attorneys will offer special fees, or permit you to pay the fees over time, to prevent you from going further into debt at the present time. As a general rule, 90 percent of those who apply for a new financier or lending institution are usually turned down for that refinancing loan. Many, if not most, are not notified of the turndown until it's nearly past the last chance to save their home from the foreclosure.
Even if you are approved interest rates will be a great deal higher than those you paid previously and you are pressured by the company and your circumstance into accepting what might prior to now have been unacceptable. Many times the fees and loans will be five or six times what you paid previously, which are sometimes handed to you at the very last moment of closing.Legal teams are able to inform you objectively whether or not a refinancing of the home will be beneficial to you, and if not, to contact your lender in an effort to assist you in putting off the foreclosure until alternative funding is found. If you are in doubt as to what course to take, take it to a specialist. See a member of a legal team who is cognizant of what you are going through, and what it will take to help you.
A foreclosure team is something that most people will find necessary if the situation should arise that you truly are sued for the foreclosure. In this event an attorney is a good investment.Many of these attorneys will offer special fees, or permit you to pay the fees over time, to prevent you from going further into debt at the present time. As a general rule, 90 percent of those who apply for a new financier or lending institution are usually turned down for that refinancing loan. Many, if not most, are not notified of the turndown until it's nearly past the last chance to save their home from the foreclosure.
Even if you are approved interest rates will be a great deal higher than those you paid previously and you are pressured by the company and your circumstance into accepting what might prior to now have been unacceptable. Many times the fees and loans will be five or six times what you paid previously, which are sometimes handed to you at the very last moment of closing.Legal teams are able to inform you objectively whether or not a refinancing of the home will be beneficial to you, and if not, to contact your lender in an effort to assist you in putting off the foreclosure until alternative funding is found. If you are in doubt as to what course to take, take it to a specialist. See a member of a legal team who is cognizant of what you are going through, and what it will take to help you.
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