The Bitch is Back! UK News Review
July 9th, 2008 by ForeclosuresinArizonaqiabaddthis_pub = ‘articlecity’; addthis_logo = ‘http://www.articlecity.com/images/addthis.png’;addthis_logo_background = ‘ffffff’;addthis_logo_color = ‘000000′;addthis_brand = ‘ArticleCity.com’;addthis_options = ‘email, favorites, delicious, digg, facebook, fark, furl, google, live, myweb, myspace, newsvine, reddit, slashdot, stumbleupon, technorati, twitter, more’;
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Just when you thought it was safe to scratch your XXXX in public - I’m back! And what a notable time you’ve had whilst I’ve been away, haven’t you?
I see Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett was named as Britain’s most powerful woman, and the 29th most powerful woman in the world by the business magazine Forbes in its third annual list. Cherie Blair seems to have dropped right out of the running.
In a mouth to mouth contest Margaret was always expected to beat Cherie, wasn’t she? Although Cherie may know how to lay down the law, Margaret is really the one who knows how to get her teeth into an argument, isn’t she? And I’m betting she comes far cheaper too!
And during my absence Pop star Boy George has enjoyed cleaning the streets of Manhattan as his five-day community service punishment for wasting police time over there. I’m wondering: did he find an irony in every coke can he had to pick up?
George, who is reported as saying, “I think people didn’t expect me to actually work, but that’s what I came here for. And it’s turned into a good experience,” has also been attributed with telling us: “”The media has this image of me as this big faggot sitting on cushions all day eating grapes.” - No! Really? Surely not? - and for also going on to say: “But I’m a real person - I have a Hoover, I don’t have a cleaner. So the idea that I can’t pick up a broom and shovel is ridiculous.”
Well, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see if Hoover bother to make anything out of that last statement. Not a cleaner, indeed! Poor George - he does seem to like putting a foot in his mouth, doesn’t he? Whoops! There go those innuendos again! Never mind, we still loves you, darling!
Talking of things in mouths: what fell out of another person’s mouth live on air is an entirely different matter. In a faux pas far greater than what any mention of the combined weights of the Weather Girls might produce, during an outside broadcast for ITV’s Central News at Stoke’s Trentham Gardens, Joanne Malin informed her television audience that it was “p***ing it down”.
Apologising for her first serious gaffe in more than eight years, Joanne, who had meant to say: “tipping it down”, is reported as saying, “To be on the safe side, next time it rains I am going to call it precipitation.”
Careful now, sweetie pie! In your neck of the woods everybody understands exactly what “p***ing it down” means - start firing “precipitation” at them and they may think you’re being rude!
Perhaps a precipitation was responsible for what recently washed up around the shores of Rhos on Sea and Shell Island - ambergris! Now, if you haven’t met this before, it is quite simply: whale vomit - the puke of a mammal! And, as if to prove how stupid humankind can be, it has started a bit of a gold rush. Ambergris is used in the production of perfume. With this waxy substance secreted by the sperm whale fetching more than £10 a gram, a find can be worth as much as £2,000.
Never mind the thought of it, we splash it all over us to become attractive to (most often) the opposite sex. Oh, Yuk! Knowing this, perfumes and after-shaves will never be the same for some of us - we shall hereafter be looking out for the lumps. If I should see so much as one piece of a carrot . . . ! I have never completely gotten over discovering red food colouring, cochineal, is made from Mexican insects. Oh dear! I wonder how much human puke is worth? I seem to have found some!
There must be a fascination with animal excretions in Wales. Creative Paper Wales, a company in Snowdonia, has won a £20,000 Millennium Award for making greetings cards and gifts out of sheep droppings. As a sheep only digests 50% of what it eats, Welshmen are now running around the mountains with pooper scoopers collecting the animals’ excrement. This is then sterilised in pressure cookers, washed, and the undigested fibres reclaimed. We’re told the company’s plant at Aberllefenni, near Machynlleth, will be able to produce one to two tonnes of paper a year - and that this will be used in a range of stationery and gift products.
What? Dearest, I love you so much I bought you some crap? No! Am I missing something here? They are actually washing sheep sh*t to reclaim some vegetable fibre? So why don’t they just harvest some of the vegetation the sheep eat? It would grow back again; it’s eco-friendly to do that. I guess sheep and the Welsh go back a long, long way. Ours is not to reason why . . .
And, if we’re getting stereotypical, I guess I must mention how amused I was to notice the Irish Times reporting on the world mobile phone throwing championships in Savonlinna, Finland. The winner, of course, received a new phone. How apt!
Do you think humankind will ever see the twenty-second century? Or will we all be totally insane by then?
In an “Insanity rules - okay?” exercise, and as further proof that legal restraint is needed over our councils, Alan Joyce, from Poole in Dorset, was sent a fixed penalty notice telling him to pay a fine of £75.00 within 14 days or else face court action. His offence? A council officer had reason to believe he was “dripping his cigarette” whilst driving his car. In other words: a council officer thought he was littering the town by flicking his cigarette ash out of his car window.
We are talking a small amount of cigarette ash here - something which within seconds would require a team of forensic scientists to find it. More bird feathers and - let’s face it again! - crap would litter those streets in a day than cigarette ash would in a month of Sundays! I have to ask: what about the thousands of people suffering from androgenetic alopecia - a common cause of hair loss - and of whom some must undoubtedly visit Poole every year? Are they forever to live in fear of being prosecuted should they choose to visit Poole? Do they need to wear a head covering in the town to avoid prosecution? Whilst cigarette ash will disappear within seconds, hair can survive intact for centuries! Poole council - get a life!
Another council battling it out to be known as the most stupid can be found in Bristol. Health and safety officials at Bristol City Council say mats outside doors could hamper escape routes and so they have sent each one of their 32,000 tenants a letter demanding that they remove any outside mats. They claim outside doormats pose a “tripping risk”. I’m beginning to wonder who might be doing the tripping here!
There are few councils, and especially their Health and Safety Departments, that could ever be attributed with having an abundance of common sense. On leaving most buildings one would invariably have to step down onto any outside mat - a deliberate procedure and one not normally in accordance with tripping up. If one were prone to tripping up on a mat, it would more likely be within the home. So what next? No bath mats, rugs or unfitted floor coverings allowed inside people’s homes?
And how are we supposed to view those red mats and runners thrown down for dignitaries outside our public buildings - places where by law nothing must be allowed to hamper a mass exit in an emergency? They must be equally as dangerous - perhaps even more so, as they often cover steps unsecured. Under this ruling, they too must be banned. So, should she in some moment of mad abandon decide on visiting Bristol, I don’t envy any council official having to tell the Queen: “There’s no red carpet for you, M’am. We consider you might be stupid enough to fall over it!”
Annus horribilis she has had. Anus horribilis could yet be to come - for like many, the Queen knows how to kick butt when she has to!
I suspect the cost of producing and posting those 32,000 letters would have been better spent on maintaining even footpaths in Bristol. People are likely to be tripping up and injuring themselves on uneven walkways on an almost daily basis, not just “perhaps” if there is an emergency! Like most towns and cities Bristol will have some serious issues that need addressing - a few outside doormats is not one of them, or something on which to fritter the local taxpayers’ money.
Finally, I see a controversial new play about Princess Diana, and one in which the Queen is shown giving a Nazi salute, has opened in Germany and it has been a sell-out success. The German artist responsible, Christoph Schlingensief, is now planning to bring the play, Kaprow City, to the London Fart Fair - sorry, the London Frieze Art Fair - in October. We’re told a film version is already being made, with the London filming being done in secret in case the British people should over react.
Princes William and Harry are said to be “distraught” at the thought of a new play being based around the tragic death of their mother, and I’m guessing the Queen being shown giving a Nazi salute won’t go down too well with the royals either, or with many British people!
Don’t let anyone ever try to tell me again that the 1975 Fawlty Towers episode, The Germans, is politically incorrect!
John Cleese, as Basil Fawlty after a knock on the head, takes the German guests’ orders as: “two egg mayonnaise, a prawn Goebbels, a Hermann Goering and four Colditz salads.”
Basil Fawlty: Is something wrong?
German Guest: Will you please stop talking about the war?
Basil Fawlty: Me? You started it.
German Guest: We did not!
Basil Fawlty: Yes, you did, you invaded Poland.
John Cleese, co-writer with fellow star Connie Booth, has always maintained this episode ridiculed a certain type of Briton’s refusal to forget the Second World War, and did not actually poke fun at the Germans - it was a generalisation. However I’m wondering what Christoph Schlingensief’s efforts are all about when he tells us, “Diana is considered a saint in England and everyone turns into a nervous wreck as soon as you mention her name. I am very interested in what happened in the hour of her death, it fills me with artistic inspiration.”
The film seems as if it will be so much more personal. I do hope Christoph’s “artistic inspiration” doesn’t translate into “artistic license” on such a delicate subject matter!
See you next week . . .
“The Bitch!” 15/09/06.
Michael Knell
The Pocket Watch: Sophisticated And Functional
July 9th, 2008 by ForeclosuresinArizonaqiabaddthis_pub = ‘articlecity’; addthis_logo = ‘http://www.articlecity.com/images/addthis.png’;addthis_logo_background = ‘ffffff’;addthis_logo_color = ‘000000′;addthis_brand = ‘ArticleCity.com’;addthis_options = ‘email, favorites, delicious, digg, facebook, fark, furl, google, live, myweb, myspace, newsvine, reddit, slashdot, stumbleupon, technorati, twitter, more’;
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A pocket watch is a sophisticated yet functional piece of jewelry. It allows the owner the opportunity to discreetly check the time along with adding a certain flair to any outfit that it is paired with. Women certainly enjoy seeing an attractive man glancing at his pocket watch while wearing a crisp business suit.
Most men will remember seeing a pocket watch in the hand of their grandfather or father. There was a time when men did not even consider wearing a wrist watch. Those were saved for the delicate arms of women, while men choose the solid look of a gold or silver pocket watch.
Today you can still find antique pocket watches in many different places. These are the preferred choice of not only collectors but also men who want to incorporate a piece of history into their wardrobes. Many jewelry dealers have one or two for sale. If you do decide to purchase an antique one ensure that it is in running order.
You can also purchase newer versions of this standard favorite. These are popular with the younger set as they fashion them onto a gold or silver chain and leave them dangling out of their jeans or trouser pockets. In this case you will not often see the youngster looking at the watch, they consider it much more a fashion accessory and most of us are familiar with how unimportant time is to a teenager.
A pocket watch makes an ideal gift for any man. For the groom it is a lovely gift from his bride to be. This is especially true if the back of the watch is engraved with the names of the happy couple along with their wedding date. If the groom already owns a pocket watch he might want to consider giving them as gifts to his attendants. Again he may consider engraving the individuals name and the date of the wedding on the back.
Retirement is an important and very exciting time in the life of any man. Giving him a pocket watch is a special gesture. It not only shows him that you wish to commemorate his special day but it also shows him that his time is now his own. He will cherish it as a reminder of all of the years he worked to reach this point in his life.
A young man might also enjoy receiving one for a birthday gift. When a child is just learning to tell time they might find wearing a watch a bit uncomfortable. When you give a small boy an inexpensive pocket watch it shows him that you believe that he is old enough to take care of it. It also encourages him to check the time often.
Bill Urell
Features In Barbeque Grilles Shopping
June 29th, 2008 by ForeclosuresinArizonaqiabThere is a lot of guesswork involved when you are shopping and considering all of the features in barbeque grills shopping that are available through Internet shopping websites and brick and mortar buildings located in any city in the United States. People have specific cooking styles and can be very particular about how they cook their barbeque.
Some of the features in barbeque grilles shopping offer two burners to the left and right of the major grilling area. This feature allows families to cook vegetables and barbequed beans on a schedule that will match the time when barbeque pork or beef is ready to be removed from the fire. These burner features in barbeque grills can be found in 4 burners too. Everything you can think of can be finished at the same time.
Other features in barbeque grills shopping might be heating source. Some barbeque grills feature propane gas, and others have natural gas adapters you can use. There are charcoal grills in many sizes that can add true charcoal taste to the meat while it is on the grill. Propane gas will sear the food appropriately but rarely offers real charcoal flavor. It is flavor more closely resembles burnt edges more than full cooked flavor.
Another of the likeable features in barbeque grills shopping can be found in the size of barbeque grill that a person is shopping for. Some of these barbeque grills have a cooking surface of 42 inches, and include a built-in rotisserie too. For single families, smaller features in barbeque grills are desired.
A small family will find greater enjoyment in an easy-to-light barbeque grill model than one that takes a lot of elaborate preparation, such as filling with charcoal, applying lighter fluids to the coals, and having to wait patiently while the coals turn to an even red ember suitable for cooking. These extra flammable items are not generally favored by families who have small children in the home.
People that have large kitchens and want to improve their resale value, find features in barbeque grills shopping that are built-in to the kitchen counters, or walls as a very desirable item. These built-in grills are a true favorite to people that do a lot of entertaining in their home. These built-in grills will generally have a built-in exhaust system too, and those features in barbeque grills will make a good resale point when the home is placed on the housing market.
For people that want serious features in barbeque grills shopping that they want to put in their homes, a serious shopper might find independent smoker trays, and grill surfaces that are made specifically for pork and beef on one side quite acceptable, and more refined grill surfaces on the other that are perfect for fish and vegetable cooking as an added bonus.
Elaborate features in barbeque grills shopping might include a integrated halogen light for cooking at night. The 50 pound rotisserie might seem a bit excessive but if you cook large turkeys then this features might be considered the norm for your household. Some people use the surface coating features in barbeque grills to dress up the outside cooking area of their home. Pretty stainless steel is a better choice to look at than black smut filled, brick cooking pits by a long shot.
Peter Gilbert writes about http://www.barbequegrillsale.com/
The Language of Credit Cards
June 29th, 2008 by ForeclosuresinArizonaqiabLike most Americans, you probably have at least one credit card if not more. Each time you approach the cash register, you may find yourself reaching in your wallet for that slab of plastic. You might even call it a reflex. In this day and age, credit has become a normality in our daily lives.
Practically every store accepts credit cards and many vendors prefer credit cards over personal checks. Banking online has never been easier with instantaneous pending transactions available just seconds after your card is swiped. However, charging through credit is not all fun and games, especially when it’s due date time. Many fall into the trap of only making the minimum payment each month, falling into even deeper debt.
One problem eager spenders face is signing up for a credit card they feel has low rates and three months down the road, are hindered by rising APR percentages. What exactly is an APR percentage? Believe it or not, some people get into credit card debt because they don’t understand the basics of credit card lingo.
Make Sure You’re Aware of the Following before choosing a credit card:
• APR: Annual Percentage Rate or the rate of interest you’ll have to pay if you have a balance carryover, transfer balances from another card or take out a cash advance.
• There are such things as penalty APR’s, where your percentage increases if you make late payments.
• Introductory APR’s-Your APR percentage rate is bound to rise after a select introductory time span.
• Tiered APR’s-Depending on amount spent, different percentages will be applied.
• What is a grace period? The amount of time you have to fully pay your bill without being charged.
• Minimum finance charges-If you spend less than the minimum finance charge, you will be charged the minimum amount required.
• Annual fee-Some cards charge you monthly; Some quarterly or yearly-This is a fee just for holding that credit card.
Some credit card companies offer fixed APR credit cards, or cards whose percentages don’t change. If they do change, the company is required to notify their customers before making the switch. Cards that have variable rates can change at times, so cardholders should monitor their percentages.
6StarReviews.com reported that one fixed APR card, Pulaski Bank Gold Visa, even offers cardholders special incentives such as free auto rental & travel insurance, as well as free emergency services. Those who like stability and who may not have the best credit history may want to choose from one of several options of fixed APR credit cards.
Copyright (c) 2007 Kelly Liyakasa 6StarReviews
Kelly Liyakasa is a writer for http://6StarReviews.com. Kelly Staller is site manager at 6StarReviews.com, a site dedicated to giving YOU, the consumer, the best product and service reviews around. If you like saving time and money by having someone else review leading sites and products, then visit us on the web at: http://6starreviews.com.
Panama Mortgage Investor Program
June 29th, 2008 by ForeclosuresinArizonaqiabIntroduction - Panama is a wonderful place for real estate investors. Panama is the number one retirement haven in the world. Panama is the number one tax haven in the world. Panama has the world’s second largest duty free-zone, Hong Kong being the world’s largest duty free zone. Panama is a city of about 9 square miles and has 135 real estate projects under construction in and around the city and another 50 or so projects not yet started. Now comes the Panama Canal expansion which will involve lots or workers and expenditures well into the billions of dollars. Panama real estate is in the early years of a boom cycle with steeply rising prices.
Why Mortgages? - Because it is a secure way to realize a generous return on your investment. With real estate appreciation going the way it has been in the last two years your investment outlook is encouraging to say the least.
How does it work? - We legally represent you the lender as your law firm in Panama. You use an offshore (outside of Panama) Corporation and bank account in a tax haven country to avoid any Panama taxation issues on the interest income generated from the loan payments as well as avoiding any taxation in the jurisdiction the corporation and bank are located. If the loan payments are sent to a bank offshore to Panama there would be no Panama taxation. A bearer share corporation in a tax haven out of Panama can be used to cover the transaction with anonymity or one could receive the funds into a personal bank account if they were not interested in anonymity. Only prime properties purchased at below market rates would be considered. The LTV would never exceed 75% and would be calculated against two appraisals from recognized appraisers. The borrower would be acquiring the real estate so these would be purchase money instruments, not refinancing, not construction, not land loans and not against commercial property, just residential property. The borrower would be using an anonymous Panama Bearer Share Corporation to acquire the real estate. The underwriting of the loan would be strictly against the property only. There would be no credit reports and no financial information on the borrowers to protect their privacy. The bearer share corporation that is buying the real estate would pledge the stock certificates of the corporation to the lender which essentially gives the lender the control over the real estate contractually in the event of a default. This would avoid normal foreclosure procedures. The contract between borrower and lender would stipulate that in the event three consecutive payments were not made, you the lender would have control of the property and would be able to sell it. The exact terms are negotiable. The borrower would not have a rental agreement. You can control how many consecutive payments would need to be missed but the borrower has to agree to the terms as well so they must be acceptable to both sides. We can arrange for a company to service the loan or you can do so yourself, there really isn’t very much to do. In the event of a missed payment or default we can represent you as your law firm and inquire of the borrower, proceed to recover your investment, etc. We could arrange for annual inspections, etc. We can use several strategies to effectively maintain your privacy and anonymity as a lender.
Details - Of course the rate of return is going to be an important consideration. You could figure on a rate of at least 1 ½ % over the 5 year CD rate in a substantial Panama Bank. The rate is generally going to be fixed but a variable could be negotiated, depends on the borrower. The term of the loan can be 5 to 15 years. A 5 year interest only loan is popular. There are sixty payments, 59 payments are interest only on the entire principal and the 60th payment is a balloon payment for the principal. This means at the end of the five years the borrower must pay off the note, refinance, sell or roll the mortgage over if you are willing. On the other hand you could do a 15 year fully amortized mortgage. Prepayment penalties can be negotiated. If the properties are owner occupied or not will vary on a case by case basis. Borrowers will provide adequate property insurance made out in favor of the corporation owning the property. The borrowers often live in several countries and move around throughout the year. Generally the borrowers will not be Panama citizens, thus the borrowers will not be appearing in any Panama credit reports. Panamanians can get 90% financing from conventional lenders with terms extending out to 25 years depending on how old they are. Non-Panamanians have a hard time financing real estate in Panama especially if they are older and retired. Lenders will often ask them to post life insurance and require very large down payments like up to 40%. Owner financing in Panama is something rarely ever encountered. Property values will be at least $200,000 so the loan amount would be $150,000 as a minimum. It is difficult to find prime properties for less than this amount. We have no maximum value. Penthouses in the newer projects run in excess of one million dollars and are often 7,000 sq. ft. in size occupying a whole floor. Many single family homes are over 7,000 sq. ft. If we are dealing with a loan amount in excess of one million dollars one could generally expect a slightly higher interest rate.
Investors - Please contact us for further details.
Ronald Edwards is a researcher, with years of experience in finances and real estate.
The UFO Lawyer
June 28th, 2008 by ForeclosuresinArizonaqiabIf you thought UFO sightings only belonged in science fiction movies and late night TV, and that believers existed on the fringe of society, think again. It is a little known fact that for over thirty years UFO investigations and contact with ETs have been debated even in our respected US courtrooms.
Peter Gersten, AKA the UFO lawyer, is a maverick who for the last twenty years has been blazing a trail for those who have experienced frightening and unexplainable events, by giving them a voice in a society where they have been previously shunned. The founding director of CAUS (Citizens Against UFO Secrecy), Gersten is opposed to keeping UFO information from the American public. Lacking the sensationalism of other publicized court cases, the success of CAUS is not generally known, except among UFO researchers. It may come as a surprise to know that Gersten, representing Ground Saucer Watch, won his first UFO-related case in 1977 against the CIA, which resulted in the release of over 900 pages of UFO-related documents. Even more interesting is the fact that 57 documents were allowed to be withheld, claiming national security considerations. Since that day, Gersten has challenged this claim, forming CAUS and bringing even more relevant issues into the spotlight by bringing them into the courtroom.
CAUS is a non-profit organization dedicated to ending the secrecy that is associated with UFO and ET contact. Targeted projects include the release of information from the government, the investigation into UFO phenomenon and the appropriate collection and dispersal of information.
Gersten and the people involved in CAUS are so dedicated that services are offered pro bono to eye witnesses or individuals who possess physical or other genuine evidence. As would be expected in any lawyer-client relationship, confidentiality is guaranteed.
One might ask how someone becomes a UFO lawyer. Not surprisingly, there is no field specific to this practice. To date, Gersten is the only attorney to successfully sue the government for UFO documents. He trained and practiced as a traditional lawyer for years before finding his niche and committing himself to these projects. Before he became the UFO lawyer, he practiced criminal law in New York for 25 years. He now practices law in Arizona, where he currently is a trial attorney with the Navajo County Public Defenders Office. Maybe in the near to distant future, as more information is released and the public becomes more aware of UFO phenomenon, there will be a greater call for lawyers in this field, and firms may be established for that end. Until then, interested persons would certainly be wise to study science and technology, as well as the traditional courses required for a JD.
Copyright 2006 Francesca Black
Francesca Black a long time science fiction buff, manages content for UFO Gifts http://www.ufo-gifts.com and Science Fiction Corner http://www.science-fiction-corner.com.
Tips For Insuring A Second Home
June 28th, 2008 by ForeclosuresinArizonaqiabIf you are lucky enough to own a second home in which you spend the weekends or holidays, then you will of course need to take out home contents insurance to cover the possessions within it just as you do your main home. However when it comes to insuring a holiday home it is of course more expensive, this is due to the fact that for a large amount of time the home is not being lived in and so is deemed as a bigger risk. However there are steps you can take to lower the amount that you have to pay for your premium.
The biggest reason why it costs more to insure a second home is the fact that you are not residing in it and as such for a large part of the time it is standing empty, which means there is more chance of it getting broken into. Steps you can take to remedy this and to bring down the premium include fitting the latest security features to the home. The better protected the property is, then the lower the risk and the cheaper the premium.
Installing the latest alarms which are listed with many insurers can go a long way to making sure your property is secure to the standard listed with insurers.
Other security features which can lower your home contents insurance include installing smoke detectors; doors and window alarms and locks; and making sure your property is totally enclosed by fencing. Insurers believe that the security in and around your home make a 30% difference between it being targeted by thieves and not bring targeted.
If your second home is in a neighborhood watch area or you have a house sitter or at least someone who can check on your property on a daily basis then this too can reduce the quote for the insurance on your second home.
When looking for insurance for your holiday home then the best way to purchase it is by doing so via a specialist broker. This will allow you to get the best quote for your circumstances.
Companies do vary in what they offer and especially in what is included or not in the policy for the amount that you are asked to pay
David Thomson is Chief Executive of BestDealInsurance (http://www.bestdealinsurance.co.uk) an independent specialist broker dedicated to providing their clients with the best deal on their home, motor and life insurance.
Different Types Of Swimming Pool Covers
June 27th, 2008 by ForeclosuresinArizonaqiabIn the United States, a huge number of people possess swimming pools. A swimming pool provides fun and excitement; however, it can also be dangerous. It only takes several seconds for a kid to drown. To prevent this from taking place, you should use a swimming pool cover.
In addition to protecting your swimming pool, covers have other good uses as well. If you buy a solar powered pool cover, you will keep your water warm from the heat of the sun as well as protect your pool. If you want the best in protection, you can use hard top swimming pool covers that are very sturdy.
If you live in a warm climate area, all you need is a basic plastic cover for your pool, which will keep it clean and protected. These covers will keep dust, dirt, and leaves out of your pool. Depending on what needs you have and where you live, the cover you must get will vary.
Pool covers come in several different choices, such as net, mesh, vinyl, etc. Mesh pool covers are very popular, because they provide a tight fitting barrier which helps to keep your pool free of debris, reduce maintenance and evaporation, and keep your pool from unauthorized access.
Vinyl pool covers offer a remarkable source of security. These pool covers operate via key, and help to keep debris out of your pool. They are also fantastic for insulating and retaining heat, together with reducing any loss of chemicals. Vinyl is an extremely popular type of pool cover, being used by hundreds of thousands of people.
Regardless of what type of pool cover you choose, it will do very much in protecting your swimming pool. They are not expensive, yet they can help in preventing a child from accidental drowning.
From in ground pools to above ground pools, a swimming pool cover is a must have accessory. Before you purchase a swimming pool cover you should first look at the package and make sure that it will work with your swimming pool.
Alex Fir shares a wealth of information on his website Swimming Pool Covers. To read more about this popular pool accessory go to http://www.swimmingpoolsguide.info/
Over The Counter Tax Certificate Investing
June 27th, 2008 by ForeclosuresinArizonaqiabTax lien certificates can make a great investment. If you are not familiar with tax lien certificates, then see my article entitled “An Introduction To Tax Lien Certificates.”
Many people want to invest in tax lien certificates but stop themselves because they think that they need to go to the live auction to do it. Yes, it’s entirely true. The most common place to invest in tax lien certificates is at the live annual auction. The auction varies by state and even county, so check with your local county tax collector to see when they have their auction.
Can I let you in on a little secret? I have been investing in tax liens for several years now and have NEVER been to a live auction. How can that be, you ask? Easy! I invest in Over The Counter certificates (OTC).
So, what is an OTC certificate and how can you profit from it? An Over The Counter certificate is one that did not sell at the live auction. In many states, when the certificate does not sell, it is “struck off” to the county. The county simply has a list in their office and you just call them up and get it. Then, you do some research, pick out the ones you want and get the lien without any traveling or hassles.
Just because you can buy tax certificates Over The Counter, should you? Well, maybe and maybe not. Remember that in most cases, Over The Counter certificates are liens that did not sell at the regular tax sale. So, there are some precautions that you should take to make sure that you are getting a good deal.
First of all, start with counties that have websites. Luckily, nowadays it is very easy to find a county with a good property research website. Then, you simply enter the parcel number into the website and it will tell you what is there, and how much it’s worth. Ideally, you want to find properties that have a structure already on them, but it’s not always easy to find.
Next, you need to see the total taxes due from all years and compare that to the tax valuation. The reason you need to know this is that in the event of a foreclosure, you will need to pay off all the back taxes. The worst thing is to find out that there are more due in back taxes than the property is worth.
Once, you find that out, then copy down the legal description and call the local Realtor. Tell them that you are planning on investing in a certain property and may eventually need their services to resell it. I have never had a Realtor not give me an honest opinion of an area. Many times, they tell me NOT TO BUY there and that’s ok too. It’s better to find out now than to find out when it’s too late.
And there you have it! With proper planning, you too can be an armchair investor.
Carlos Scarpero is an experienced real estate investor who specializes in tax liens and deeds. Visit his tax lien and deed blog at http://www.scarpero.com/real_estate.
How to Lose Your Home: The Cost of Poor Advice When Facing a Foreclosure
June 23rd, 2008 by ForeclosuresinArizonaqiabNJFRB Website: Free Foreclosure Help New Jersey
In February 2006, Jennifer and Roger Roberson found themselves unable to make their mortgage payments after Roger, a 37 year old father of two, lost his job as a technician for a major high-tech firm in New Jersey.
They received notice from their lender that the foreclosure process was being initiated on their home. Desperate for help, they conducted a brief internet search on how to stop foreclosure. After spotting an advertisement, they hired a “foreclosure specialist” to renegotiate a new payment plan with their lender. Assured that their case would be handled, they quickly handed over all the documents that were requested of them, and took a small sigh of relief.
“He told me everything would be just fine, that I would have no problems getting a new payment plan, especially since we knew Roger was already hired for another position,” said Jennifer.
A few months later, they received notice that their house had been sold at a sheriff’s sale.
The Promise of Peace of Mind
Unfortunately these unsavory bottom feeding real estate operations can be quickly established, and just as quickly disappear. Many of these businesses will use tactics such as:
Promise “no risk” solutions - more of a salesman than a specialist, these people will sell you more on stress relief than an actual solution. Real specialists will walk your through your situation step-by-step, and provide you with what options really do exist, including accepting foreclosure.
Bait and switch - they will advertise a low-cost fee then inflate the fees, or they may charge a flat-fee, only to proceed with foreclosure with or without the customer’s knowledge.
Charge you to buy your home - a “foreclosure specialist” in Virginia charged a homeowner $3,500 to purchase their house and rent it back to them.
“Flip” your home - a Colorado attorney was recently cited for reselling his clients foreclosed properties, making as much as $50,000 a transaction.
“It’s really a shame,” says J.M., a foreclosure attorney in New Jersey (who wished to remain anonymous). “These people are facing the worst of times, and these predators are sharks looking for nothing more than a quick buck at the expense of their fellow man.”
The “Do it Yourself” Solution
Yes, you can speak to your lender directly to renegotiate a plan. In fact, it’s advised that you keep an open line of communication with them if you do receive a notice of foreclosure. Compiling your personal finances, providing proof of hardship, and stating your intentions on how you will get your finances in order are all important steps.
But “the problem isn’t you,” says J.M., “the problem is who you get on the other end of the phone. Most people who are picking up at the lending company aren’t trained or given the incentive to take you by the hand.”
Finding the person who can say “yes” to you can be extremely difficult. This is where hiring a specialist makes sense.
How to Find a Real Specialist
The answer is not so simple. But like anything else, if it’s too good to be true, chances are it probably is. Things to look for in a specialist are:
References - ask them how many foreclosures they have negotiated, and if they have any references to validate this.
Trade associations - there are legal and lending organizations that provide approved foreclosure specialists
Word of mouth - ask around, nothing beats a trusted reference from a close friend or family.
Take Action & Be Aware
The most important thing for you to do is be aware of your options, and know what to expect from a foreclosure specialist. Grand promises, abnormally low prices, and lack of references are all red flags when searching for an advisor.
Kim Michaels