There is something new that needs to be added to every Mafia Wars Facebook guide. Whether you are brand new and wondering how to play Mafia Wars or you are an old pro, you will definitely want to take advantage of the new Lucky Stash Slot Machine that is being offered in the game at this time. This new feature is there to celebrate the Las Vegas event, since Las Vegas has recently gone live within the game. The great thing about this new slot machine is that there are great prizes to be won. This slot machine is a bit different than your Daily Chance tickets as well. You will find that the prizes get even bigger, depending on how many people are spinning the wheel.
Of course, you may be wondering how the Lucky Stash Slot Machine actually works, which is a great reason to consider checking out a Mafia Wars Facebook guide. Every single day you are given at least one free spin on the slot machine when you login to play. You may also see posts on your Facebook page from your friends. They are mini slot machines. Play them and you may win more free spins on the big slot machine. Of course, once you run out of free spins, you can always use your reward points to take a spin on the machine. You can choose to spin using one credit, two credits, or three credits. Of course, the amount that you can win is going to depend on the amount that you bet in the first place.
If you are wondering how to play Mafia Wars when it comes to this new Lucky Stash Slot Machine, you are probably wondering what that Bonus Meter is all about. As you play on the slot machine, at the top of the machine you will notice that there is a special bonus meter. Each time that you spin the wheel, you will see the meter moves a bit. After 20 spins, the entire meter is full and you are able to click the special yellow Bonus button.
Once you click the button for the bonus, a bonus wheel is going to pop up on your screen. You will notice that it says Loot and RP. The RP stands for Reward Points. This means that when you spin the wheel, you may land on special bonus loot or you may get some reward points as your special bonus.
There are several different loot items that you can win when you spin the wheel and get Loot. One item of loot is the Padded Suit with 45 Defense. Another is the Fugama Kameo with 46 Attack. A Few of the other loot items include Hyrotm Torso Guard, Poison Dart Frog, and the Trio Regency. The reward points that you get from the bonus can vary from 5, to 10, or even 20 reward points.
When you play on the Lucky Stash Slot Machine, if you win anything, usually you will be able to unlock a mini slot machine that you can post on your Facebook wall. This allows your friends to play the machine. As other people play on your own special slot machine, it can end up increasing the chance that you win more free spins on the big slot machine. When you see these on the walls of your friends, make sure you click on them and play to win more free spins for both of you.
If you are trying to find this slot machine, you will find that there is a special icon at the top of the Mafia Wars page. Simply click on the little slot machine icon and it will bring up a new window with the slot machine in it. Then have some fun playing on the machine. After all, you can win 1 reward point, 20, 80, 400, 5000, and even more depending on how the progressive pot goes. If you end up needing more information to use this machine or basic information on how to play Mafia Wars, consider finding a quality Mafia Wars Facebook guide to give you all the information that you need to succeed with this game.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Smokey the Fire Truck Review-2011 Hot Christmas Toy
Mattel has been a leader in creating big toys for little kids with big imaginations and two such toys are Rocky the Robot Truck and Stinky the Garbage Truck. In addition to this growing family, Matchbox came out with Smokey the Fire Truck as their latest release for little boys looking to get a big truck that can transform into a canon-shooting machine.
Matchbox Smokey The Fire Truck isn't your regular toy fire truck with limited features and movements. This fire truck can do a lot of things to entertain your child and in addition, it can also be assembled into a fire truck robot.
Matchbox Smokey the Fire Truck is the third member to join Rocky the Robot Truck and Stinky the Garbage Truck in Mattel's Big Rig Buddies toys. And just like its predecessors, it features a wide array of tricks that would surely entertain a child. Some of the features of Smokey the Fire Truck is that it has all the complete features a fire truck should have such as hoses, ladders, and even a canon that can be loaded up with balls.
One of the most surprising features of Smokey the Fire Truck is that it can actually talk. Don't be fooled by Smokey's strong exterior, which looks just like the exterior of a regular fire truck. Its windshield is actually its eyes, its front grill is its nose, and the bumper is its mouth, which moves and crinkles as it talks. In addition, it also has six big wheels and it can easily be transformed to stand on just four wheels instead to make it a full-fledged cannonball machine.
The real entertainment value of Smokey the Fire Truck lies in its ability to sing, talk, and even dance. Now that's a first for a fire truck. And the best part is its highly sensitive to the child's movements as well. If Smokey the Fire Truck is to be turned over by a child, it will automatically produce shout-out phrases and it will also move its two wheels, which act as its two arms.
Once Smokey the Fire Truck is standing on its four wheels only, it can then start singing and dancing as well. It has a selection of four different songs, which Smokey the Fire Truck sings and dances to in random while moving its two front wheels.
Smokey the Fire Truck does not produce real water, however, it can shoot out water cannons that can be loaded onto its built-in cannonball machine. Smokey will signal your child by saying he's thirsty-that's the cue to load the water cannonballs one at a time before he shoots it out.
Customer Reviews
Parents and children alike are very satisfied with Smokey's performance. One parent even commented that she actually found Smokey's jokes very funny as well and she was just as amazed as her child was with Smokey's features, mainly the fact that it can sing and dance and is equipped with sensors that respond to her child's movements.
Pros:
- Smokey the Fire Truck is more than your average toy fire truck because it can produce lights and sounds.
- Smokey the Fire Truck is truly worth your money because of its high entertainment value-it can sing, dance, exercise, and talk.
- Its interactive features engage a child and help develop your child's speaking and motor skills as well.
- Smokey the Fire Truck can be transformed into a standing position by making it stand on its four wheels instead of the original six, with its other two wheels functioning as its arms.
- Smokey the Fire Truck has sensory features and automatically produces sounds and phrases based on what your child is doing with it such as movement sensors in its tires, which will come to life once it senses your child is near.
- Smokey the Fire Truck already comes with three cannonballs for your child to play with.
- Smokey the Fire Truck also has a sleep mode and it can also produce snoring sounds.
- All lights, movements, and sounds are produced by easy push and play buttons and levers.
- Smokey the Fire Truck can produce over 90 different phrases and sounds including funny and silly jokes to entertain you and your child
Cons:
- Smokey the Fire Truck cannot produce real water.
- If you're looking for a remote-controlled fire truck, Smokey is not for you.
- Smokey the Fire Truck may be too big or heavy for little children
If you're looking for an interactive toy truck for your child then Smokey the Fire Truck is your best bet. You child will be entertained and might just learn a thing or two as well. Smokey the Fire Truck is your all in one toy fire truck and for under , it's the best Christmas gift to give to your child.
Get Smokey the Fire Truck for 17% off on our website at 2011 Hot Christmas toys
Get Smokey the Fire Truck for 17% off on our website at
Matchbox Smokey The Fire Truck isn't your regular toy fire truck with limited features and movements. This fire truck can do a lot of things to entertain your child and in addition, it can also be assembled into a fire truck robot.
Matchbox Smokey the Fire Truck is the third member to join Rocky the Robot Truck and Stinky the Garbage Truck in Mattel's Big Rig Buddies toys. And just like its predecessors, it features a wide array of tricks that would surely entertain a child. Some of the features of Smokey the Fire Truck is that it has all the complete features a fire truck should have such as hoses, ladders, and even a canon that can be loaded up with balls.
One of the most surprising features of Smokey the Fire Truck is that it can actually talk. Don't be fooled by Smokey's strong exterior, which looks just like the exterior of a regular fire truck. Its windshield is actually its eyes, its front grill is its nose, and the bumper is its mouth, which moves and crinkles as it talks. In addition, it also has six big wheels and it can easily be transformed to stand on just four wheels instead to make it a full-fledged cannonball machine.
The real entertainment value of Smokey the Fire Truck lies in its ability to sing, talk, and even dance. Now that's a first for a fire truck. And the best part is its highly sensitive to the child's movements as well. If Smokey the Fire Truck is to be turned over by a child, it will automatically produce shout-out phrases and it will also move its two wheels, which act as its two arms.
Once Smokey the Fire Truck is standing on its four wheels only, it can then start singing and dancing as well. It has a selection of four different songs, which Smokey the Fire Truck sings and dances to in random while moving its two front wheels.
Smokey the Fire Truck does not produce real water, however, it can shoot out water cannons that can be loaded onto its built-in cannonball machine. Smokey will signal your child by saying he's thirsty-that's the cue to load the water cannonballs one at a time before he shoots it out.
Customer Reviews
Parents and children alike are very satisfied with Smokey's performance. One parent even commented that she actually found Smokey's jokes very funny as well and she was just as amazed as her child was with Smokey's features, mainly the fact that it can sing and dance and is equipped with sensors that respond to her child's movements.
Pros:
- Smokey the Fire Truck is more than your average toy fire truck because it can produce lights and sounds.
- Smokey the Fire Truck is truly worth your money because of its high entertainment value-it can sing, dance, exercise, and talk.
- Its interactive features engage a child and help develop your child's speaking and motor skills as well.
- Smokey the Fire Truck can be transformed into a standing position by making it stand on its four wheels instead of the original six, with its other two wheels functioning as its arms.
- Smokey the Fire Truck has sensory features and automatically produces sounds and phrases based on what your child is doing with it such as movement sensors in its tires, which will come to life once it senses your child is near.
- Smokey the Fire Truck already comes with three cannonballs for your child to play with.
- Smokey the Fire Truck also has a sleep mode and it can also produce snoring sounds.
- All lights, movements, and sounds are produced by easy push and play buttons and levers.
- Smokey the Fire Truck can produce over 90 different phrases and sounds including funny and silly jokes to entertain you and your child
Cons:
- Smokey the Fire Truck cannot produce real water.
- If you're looking for a remote-controlled fire truck, Smokey is not for you.
- Smokey the Fire Truck may be too big or heavy for little children
If you're looking for an interactive toy truck for your child then Smokey the Fire Truck is your best bet. You child will be entertained and might just learn a thing or two as well. Smokey the Fire Truck is your all in one toy fire truck and for under , it's the best Christmas gift to give to your child.
Get Smokey the Fire Truck for 17% off on our website at 2011 Hot Christmas toys
Get Smokey the Fire Truck for 17% off on our website at
Monday, November 19, 2012
How Society Works: A Few Critical Elements Summarized
Why do people do what they do? What really explains our behavior? Are those talkshow hosts and columnists really making sense?
The media, not to mention daily conversations, are filled with overly simple explanations of social behavior. Prominent examples include the "follow the money" explanation of why politicians and corporate executives do what they do. Another class of explanations explains everything in terms of reproductive urges. Everything is really about sex. Sex, reproductive urges, and money do explain some of human behavior. Most any economist, psychologist, or sociologist will say that sex and money are not complete and comprehensive explantions of human behavior.
Mass Media Influence - Television, newspapers, radio, magazines, and the World Wide Web condition our perceptions of ourselves and of what's good/bad/problematic in the world. Television and magazines are especially powerful influences on our images of beauty, success, and fitness. This aspect of the media has been so heavily, and accurately, covered by others that there is little point addressing the subject here.
Peer Pressure - People encourage us to do things, or at least plant ideas in our heads
Psychological Drives and Impulses - Emotions, errors in perception or reasoning, and drives for such things as group affiliation, safetly, reproduction, and affection exert strong influences on our behavior.
Free will is clearly constrained by individual psychological makeup and culture.
Biology and Genetics - Biology and genetics are sometimes used interchangeabley, but they are not interchangeable concepts. Genetics refers to inherited traits and the biological material that transmits those characteroistics. Biology encompasses many, many processes that occur in the human body. Biological processes and genetic traits are obviously linked to many physical and mental characteristics. Our phyiscal and mental characteristics certainly influence our lives in many ways. No geneticist would ever defend the general position that anyone with trait X will do Y.
Socialization - This is the process of learning about language, good bahevior, bad behavior, "proper" goals and aspirations, and other cultural information that we need to get along in society. Socialization does not proceed in the same way for people of a particular race, religion, ethnic background, or social class. All of this things influence what we learn.
Much socialization, arguably the most important part, occurs before age18. For a person to make a major change in how they were socialized ("brought up" in popular language) is difficult. The desire for change or the ability to succeed could well be influenced by the same socialization that's now causing a problem.
Family, peer groups, schools, churches, and the mass media are all agents of socialization. We learn about God and morality from church and family and friends. We learn the knowledge and skills deemed important for the individual, with much of the learning taking place in school. The content of the messages we encounter is largely beyond our control as children. Even as adults we can only exercise limited control of our own socialization. Rising
Standards and Expectations - I'm thinking of the rising standards that people feel they must live up to. People think that they need to do much more than their parents did. Parents need an intercom system for the baby, a minivan, a yard for the kids, and a college savings plan. This thinking is healthy for those who sell intercom systems, minivans, and suburban real estate. Parents and the natural environment suffer over things that are not necessary for proper child development, or good for the environment.
The standards for being a a success seem to keep going up and up: "He's 40 but can't afford to live in DuPont Circle (or substitute any expensive neighborhood) and drive an Acura. What a loser!" The standards for being a good provider go up with the proliferation of new, pricey products and services that can supposedly turn parents into good parents.
It should now be clear that social behavior is more than just a matter of biology or genetics or money. There is much more involved than people simply deciding to do this or stop doing that. Social forces that are hard for us to understand combine with psychology, genetics, and biology to influence us. By extension, our schools, churches, families, and governments are all influenced by various social and psychological forces.
The media, not to mention daily conversations, are filled with overly simple explanations of social behavior. Prominent examples include the "follow the money" explanation of why politicians and corporate executives do what they do. Another class of explanations explains everything in terms of reproductive urges. Everything is really about sex. Sex, reproductive urges, and money do explain some of human behavior. Most any economist, psychologist, or sociologist will say that sex and money are not complete and comprehensive explantions of human behavior.
Mass Media Influence - Television, newspapers, radio, magazines, and the World Wide Web condition our perceptions of ourselves and of what's good/bad/problematic in the world. Television and magazines are especially powerful influences on our images of beauty, success, and fitness. This aspect of the media has been so heavily, and accurately, covered by others that there is little point addressing the subject here.
Peer Pressure - People encourage us to do things, or at least plant ideas in our heads
Psychological Drives and Impulses - Emotions, errors in perception or reasoning, and drives for such things as group affiliation, safetly, reproduction, and affection exert strong influences on our behavior.
Free will is clearly constrained by individual psychological makeup and culture.
Biology and Genetics - Biology and genetics are sometimes used interchangeabley, but they are not interchangeable concepts. Genetics refers to inherited traits and the biological material that transmits those characteroistics. Biology encompasses many, many processes that occur in the human body. Biological processes and genetic traits are obviously linked to many physical and mental characteristics. Our phyiscal and mental characteristics certainly influence our lives in many ways. No geneticist would ever defend the general position that anyone with trait X will do Y.
Socialization - This is the process of learning about language, good bahevior, bad behavior, "proper" goals and aspirations, and other cultural information that we need to get along in society. Socialization does not proceed in the same way for people of a particular race, religion, ethnic background, or social class. All of this things influence what we learn.
Much socialization, arguably the most important part, occurs before age18. For a person to make a major change in how they were socialized ("brought up" in popular language) is difficult. The desire for change or the ability to succeed could well be influenced by the same socialization that's now causing a problem.
Family, peer groups, schools, churches, and the mass media are all agents of socialization. We learn about God and morality from church and family and friends. We learn the knowledge and skills deemed important for the individual, with much of the learning taking place in school. The content of the messages we encounter is largely beyond our control as children. Even as adults we can only exercise limited control of our own socialization. Rising
Standards and Expectations - I'm thinking of the rising standards that people feel they must live up to. People think that they need to do much more than their parents did. Parents need an intercom system for the baby, a minivan, a yard for the kids, and a college savings plan. This thinking is healthy for those who sell intercom systems, minivans, and suburban real estate. Parents and the natural environment suffer over things that are not necessary for proper child development, or good for the environment.
The standards for being a a success seem to keep going up and up: "He's 40 but can't afford to live in DuPont Circle (or substitute any expensive neighborhood) and drive an Acura. What a loser!" The standards for being a good provider go up with the proliferation of new, pricey products and services that can supposedly turn parents into good parents.
It should now be clear that social behavior is more than just a matter of biology or genetics or money. There is much more involved than people simply deciding to do this or stop doing that. Social forces that are hard for us to understand combine with psychology, genetics, and biology to influence us. By extension, our schools, churches, families, and governments are all influenced by various social and psychological forces.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Foreclosed Real Estate: Do Distressed Properties Make For Smart Investments?
Foreclosed real estate can be one of the smartest investment decisions you'll ever make. However, it's not quite as easy as the late-night infomercials suggest. Before plunking down your hard earned cash you should educate yourself about the pros and cons of investing in distressed properties. The following tips can help you understand the facts and be prepared for what lies ahead.
When real estate is foreclosed it must first be placed for sale through a foreclosure auction. In order to buy auction property, individuals are required to place a minimum bid equal to the balance due on the mortgage note, along with any accrued interest, tax or creditor liens, attorney fees and other costs associated with the foreclosure process.
In many instances, more money is owed on the home than it is worth. It is rare to find foreclosed real estate that does not have liens attached. Occasionally, the foreclosed homeowner still resides in the home. The liens must be removed and the homeowner evicted before you can take possession of the home. This can be a tedious and sometimes volatile process. Therefore, it's critical to engage in due diligence prior to making an offer on foreclosed real estate sold through auctions.
When foreclosed properties are not sold through auction, they are given back to the bank. At this point, property is referred to as "real estate owned" (REO) or "bank foreclosures." Once the bank retains ownership of the real estate, the mortgage note no longer exists. Oftentimes, the bank negotiates with lien holders to reduce or remove liens attached to the property. The bank will evict persons residing in the foreclosed property, if necessary and may invest in repairs and renovations.
Bank owned real estate may or may not be a smart investment. Engage in due diligence and thoroughly investigate the property prior to making an offer. Start by conducting market research to ensure the price you pay is comparable to other homes in the area. The goal is to purchase REO properties significantly under market value.
When viewing distressed properties take along a note pad, digital or video camera and make note of necessary repairs. Most foreclosed real estate is sold "as is" and this can work in your favor. The more required repairs, the more negotiating power you possess.
Obtain estimates to determine the costs of repairs and renovations. If you plan to do the work yourself, determine the length of time it will take to complete the repairs, along with the cost of materials. Factor the cost of your time and materials into your offer. Just because you conduct the work yourself does not mean you should not include the cost of your time in the proposal.
If you are the handyman type and able to make repairs yourself, investing in distressed properties can be quite profitable. However, if you have to hire contractors to conduct the work for you, it can seriously cut into your profit margin.
Real estate owned foreclosures are purchased directly from the bank. Keep in mind that banks want to obtain the best price possible and keep losses to a minimum. Generally, banks have a Loss Mitigation Department who handles REO properties. Many banks list their foreclosed real estate on their company website. The name and contact information for the loss mitigator is usually posted with the property description.
A lesser known, but more profitable way to invest in foreclosed real estate is to locate private investors who purchase bank portfolios. By purchasing distressed properties in bulk, investors buy at wholesale prices. They then pass along their savings to individuals who purchase the property. Whether for personal residence or investment purposes, it is not uncommon to buy foreclosed homes from investors for 70- to 80-cents on the dollar.
Regardless of the method you choose, foreclosed real estate can be risky. However, if you take time to understand the process and conduct due diligence, you can make a tidy profit by investing in distressed properties.
Receive real estate investing tips from Simon Volkov, a private investor who specializes in foreclosed, bank owned and probate properties. His expertise in distressed properties is far above the rest. For more information visit www.SimonVolkov.com.
Receive free real estate investment tips from Simon Volkov, a private investor who specializes in foreclosed, bank owned and probate properties. His expertise in distressed properties is far above the rest. For more information visit .
When real estate is foreclosed it must first be placed for sale through a foreclosure auction. In order to buy auction property, individuals are required to place a minimum bid equal to the balance due on the mortgage note, along with any accrued interest, tax or creditor liens, attorney fees and other costs associated with the foreclosure process.
In many instances, more money is owed on the home than it is worth. It is rare to find foreclosed real estate that does not have liens attached. Occasionally, the foreclosed homeowner still resides in the home. The liens must be removed and the homeowner evicted before you can take possession of the home. This can be a tedious and sometimes volatile process. Therefore, it's critical to engage in due diligence prior to making an offer on foreclosed real estate sold through auctions.
When foreclosed properties are not sold through auction, they are given back to the bank. At this point, property is referred to as "real estate owned" (REO) or "bank foreclosures." Once the bank retains ownership of the real estate, the mortgage note no longer exists. Oftentimes, the bank negotiates with lien holders to reduce or remove liens attached to the property. The bank will evict persons residing in the foreclosed property, if necessary and may invest in repairs and renovations.
Bank owned real estate may or may not be a smart investment. Engage in due diligence and thoroughly investigate the property prior to making an offer. Start by conducting market research to ensure the price you pay is comparable to other homes in the area. The goal is to purchase REO properties significantly under market value.
When viewing distressed properties take along a note pad, digital or video camera and make note of necessary repairs. Most foreclosed real estate is sold "as is" and this can work in your favor. The more required repairs, the more negotiating power you possess.
Obtain estimates to determine the costs of repairs and renovations. If you plan to do the work yourself, determine the length of time it will take to complete the repairs, along with the cost of materials. Factor the cost of your time and materials into your offer. Just because you conduct the work yourself does not mean you should not include the cost of your time in the proposal.
If you are the handyman type and able to make repairs yourself, investing in distressed properties can be quite profitable. However, if you have to hire contractors to conduct the work for you, it can seriously cut into your profit margin.
Real estate owned foreclosures are purchased directly from the bank. Keep in mind that banks want to obtain the best price possible and keep losses to a minimum. Generally, banks have a Loss Mitigation Department who handles REO properties. Many banks list their foreclosed real estate on their company website. The name and contact information for the loss mitigator is usually posted with the property description.
A lesser known, but more profitable way to invest in foreclosed real estate is to locate private investors who purchase bank portfolios. By purchasing distressed properties in bulk, investors buy at wholesale prices. They then pass along their savings to individuals who purchase the property. Whether for personal residence or investment purposes, it is not uncommon to buy foreclosed homes from investors for 70- to 80-cents on the dollar.
Regardless of the method you choose, foreclosed real estate can be risky. However, if you take time to understand the process and conduct due diligence, you can make a tidy profit by investing in distressed properties.
Receive real estate investing tips from Simon Volkov, a private investor who specializes in foreclosed, bank owned and probate properties. His expertise in distressed properties is far above the rest. For more information visit www.SimonVolkov.com.
Receive free real estate investment tips from Simon Volkov, a private investor who specializes in foreclosed, bank owned and probate properties. His expertise in distressed properties is far above the rest. For more information visit .
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Why Internet Banking Is Popular
Internet banking is a huge step forward in terms of convenience and safety in the banking world. Most banks have website and most of these web sites have areas for online banking customers. Though it cannot take care of every type of transaction for you, it does provide a great deal of ease for tedious tasks that would require you to go to the bank frequently. These sites are safe as long as you keep your information private. It is easy to set up; just follow the prompts on the site.
They will need a few days to confirm the bank account, usually by putting a small amount of money in your account (under a dollar). You will then have to go in person to the bank, prove your identity, find out how much they put in your account, and type the number in online. This is not the same for every bank, but this is the standard practice for many.
Though it is not the same as going to a bank in person (you can do nothing with cash), it is mostly just for easing the tedious monitoring of your account. Instead of waiting for your monthly statement and then trying to balance a month's worth of credits and debits, you can just follow along online every day. It makes balancing your checkbook so much easier, since you get just a couple of transactions within a few days of their occurrence.
Bills can be paid through this site, since most major companies (especially for utilities, credit cards, and cable) have similar online areas for bill payment. In this way, you can pay the bill knowing for certain that you have enough money. You will also never worry about the mail being delayed or lost.
People with many accounts find this is a great relief to see all of them together and transfer money with more ease. You can look back at what has happened in the accounts for the past thirty days. Any longer than that and you will have to go into the bank. Thankfully, since people can check up as often as they like, there is less need for going into the bank to sort out complications.
Since you are capable of viewing your transactions every day, it really increases the chances of fraud reduction. People no longer will forget if they have written a check or not, or find out three weeks later that they have been ripped off. If you see a check of yours was cashed yesterday, you will have a much higher chance of recognizing if it was actually written by you and catching the person who cashed it.
It helps because they photocopy the fronts of the checks and post them online under a check number link. You can see if it is even your hand writing. This is something they would normally have to print out for you at a bank, but here it is all at your fingertips.
There are tons of preferences to suit your needs on these sites. You can even do a stop payment transaction on a check. Read the site's literature to make sure you understand how to avoid fraud and properly use the site.
They will need a few days to confirm the bank account, usually by putting a small amount of money in your account (under a dollar). You will then have to go in person to the bank, prove your identity, find out how much they put in your account, and type the number in online. This is not the same for every bank, but this is the standard practice for many.
Though it is not the same as going to a bank in person (you can do nothing with cash), it is mostly just for easing the tedious monitoring of your account. Instead of waiting for your monthly statement and then trying to balance a month's worth of credits and debits, you can just follow along online every day. It makes balancing your checkbook so much easier, since you get just a couple of transactions within a few days of their occurrence.
Bills can be paid through this site, since most major companies (especially for utilities, credit cards, and cable) have similar online areas for bill payment. In this way, you can pay the bill knowing for certain that you have enough money. You will also never worry about the mail being delayed or lost.
People with many accounts find this is a great relief to see all of them together and transfer money with more ease. You can look back at what has happened in the accounts for the past thirty days. Any longer than that and you will have to go into the bank. Thankfully, since people can check up as often as they like, there is less need for going into the bank to sort out complications.
Since you are capable of viewing your transactions every day, it really increases the chances of fraud reduction. People no longer will forget if they have written a check or not, or find out three weeks later that they have been ripped off. If you see a check of yours was cashed yesterday, you will have a much higher chance of recognizing if it was actually written by you and catching the person who cashed it.
It helps because they photocopy the fronts of the checks and post them online under a check number link. You can see if it is even your hand writing. This is something they would normally have to print out for you at a bank, but here it is all at your fingertips.
There are tons of preferences to suit your needs on these sites. You can even do a stop payment transaction on a check. Read the site's literature to make sure you understand how to avoid fraud and properly use the site.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Get A $10,000 Personal Loan With Bad Credit: It's All About Purpose
Oftentimes, people with bad credit assume that getting a ,000 personal loan is pretty much impossible. With bad credit, they think, no lender will even talk to me. However, what these people fail to realize is the importance of factors other than credit in the assignment of a loan. Though personal loans are inherently more risky than secured loans like home and car loans, borrowers with bad credit can still acquire them if the frame their application in a way in which promotes the reason for getting the loan in the first place rather than their bad credit history. This is the key to securing a ,000 personal loan with bad credit which will be discussed in detail in this article.
The Importance of Purpose
When it comes to lending money, professional lenders are concerned with a number of factors surrounding that money. Though credit is among these factors, it does not exist alone. In addition, the lender wants to know what the borrower intends to do with the money he takes. In the case of a secured loan, like a car loan, the ,000 is obviously going towards the purchase of a vehicle which is most likely needed. However, personal loans are not so closely tied to their purchases and many times lenders fear that those with bad credit intend to use the loan for the wrong reasons.
Basically, a lender wants assurances that the ,000 personal loan they offer to a person with bad credit will be used for a responsible reason. Loans that are taken out to consolidate debt or to pay medical bills qualify as solid loans. However, looking for a ,000 personal loan to finance a vacation is not such a good idea. Especially with bad credit, personal loans need to be used only as a last resort and the reasons for taking it should exhibit your responsibility as a borrower, not the reasons for your bad credit in the first place.
How to Include Purpose in a Loan Application
At first, trying to convince a lender to give you a ,000 personal loan with bad credit based on your application alone may seem impossible. After all, most online applications are pretty straightforward. This is where planning and anticipation come into play. If you fill out an online form and leave it to chance all you are likely to get is rejection. Instead, consider ways to integrate your purpose into your application consideration through a follow-up email or, even better, a phone call. By making your needs known to the lender you become a human that is more likely to receive sympathy rather than just another borrower with bad credit looking for a personal loan.
Using Your Loan
A final factor to consider when looking for a ,000 personal loan is the long term implications of taking on more debt. It is important to understand that, even if you get this loan with bad credit, you will still have to deal with the realities of your financial situation. Personal loans are really only temporary bandages, not long term solutions. Consider talking to a debt specialist about your previous issues that led to your bad credit score in the first place. Also, be aware of your budget though careful spending and accounting which takes both current and future payments into perspective.
By taking the time to assess your situation and assert your desire to spend and borrow responsibly, getting a ,000 personal loan with bad credit is a possibility for you. It is all reliant on how you frame the argument.
The Importance of Purpose
When it comes to lending money, professional lenders are concerned with a number of factors surrounding that money. Though credit is among these factors, it does not exist alone. In addition, the lender wants to know what the borrower intends to do with the money he takes. In the case of a secured loan, like a car loan, the ,000 is obviously going towards the purchase of a vehicle which is most likely needed. However, personal loans are not so closely tied to their purchases and many times lenders fear that those with bad credit intend to use the loan for the wrong reasons.
Basically, a lender wants assurances that the ,000 personal loan they offer to a person with bad credit will be used for a responsible reason. Loans that are taken out to consolidate debt or to pay medical bills qualify as solid loans. However, looking for a ,000 personal loan to finance a vacation is not such a good idea. Especially with bad credit, personal loans need to be used only as a last resort and the reasons for taking it should exhibit your responsibility as a borrower, not the reasons for your bad credit in the first place.
How to Include Purpose in a Loan Application
At first, trying to convince a lender to give you a ,000 personal loan with bad credit based on your application alone may seem impossible. After all, most online applications are pretty straightforward. This is where planning and anticipation come into play. If you fill out an online form and leave it to chance all you are likely to get is rejection. Instead, consider ways to integrate your purpose into your application consideration through a follow-up email or, even better, a phone call. By making your needs known to the lender you become a human that is more likely to receive sympathy rather than just another borrower with bad credit looking for a personal loan.
Using Your Loan
A final factor to consider when looking for a ,000 personal loan is the long term implications of taking on more debt. It is important to understand that, even if you get this loan with bad credit, you will still have to deal with the realities of your financial situation. Personal loans are really only temporary bandages, not long term solutions. Consider talking to a debt specialist about your previous issues that led to your bad credit score in the first place. Also, be aware of your budget though careful spending and accounting which takes both current and future payments into perspective.
By taking the time to assess your situation and assert your desire to spend and borrow responsibly, getting a ,000 personal loan with bad credit is a possibility for you. It is all reliant on how you frame the argument.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Fort Lauderdale Real Estate | Foreclosure Homes Represent 25% of Sales
We have written before about the growing shortage of foreclosure homes for sale in Broward County, along with our experience that clients face growing competition for those homes. We often see clients competing against multiple asking price offers for short sale and foreclosure homes in the Ft Lauderdale area. In fact, there is growing competition for nearly every home that is priced right on the market for right now. Today, the Sun Sentinel confirmed the current real estate statistics, which suggest an optimistic forecast for the Fort Lauderdale Real estate market in 2012.
I recently read an article on the improvements in the real estate market, and the commenter negativity towards this claim amazed me. One such commenter who claimed to be from "Yale," (the people that I know who go to Yale don't go around telling everyone who will listen, but we digress) claimed that real estate agents are less than honest because they're trying to sell real estate. He perseverated on this point in response to other commenters and called the real estate projections bogus due to the less than honest intentions of real estate agents. Not only was this somewhat surprising, it is inaccurate.
There is no one better informed about the current state of the real estate market than real estate agents. Hardworking agents who are experienced and seasoned in listing and selling homes, especially during the recession, are the people who can tell us the most about the state of the real estate market. From the number of leads per day to the average number of contracts per home to the number of days that well priced listings are on the market, the good agents out there can tell us what will happen in the market before the rest of the world knows. They support their families based on real estate activity, and these professionals' livelihood depends upon the health of the real estate market. Therefore, I see no one more qualified to validate the real estate statistics than the front linemen-real estate agents.
Note that I am not talking about the real estate agents who are less than professional, don't return phone calls, or don't seem to know the market. There are poor excuses for professionals in every line of work, and real estate is no exception. You should choose your own agent based upon experience, professionalism, and whether or not you feel comfortable working with that person. Otherwise, don't waste your time with any slack professional.
Now, back to our point about the market. Our claims about the market are in line with the statistics and the Sun Sentinel article this morning, which reports that distressed housing represents about a quarter of real estate sales in the Fort Lauderdale area. This is much less than what it was one year ago, when distressed housing accounted for a whopping 38% of real estate sales. In fact, foreclosures have fallen in Palm Beach County by an amazing 58% since 2010. These are optimistic numbers that lead us to believe that our real estate market in Fort Lauderdale is beginning to recover.
Yes, we said recover. Houses for sale in Fort Lauderdale seem to be selling more quickly (unless the owner prices the home above market value to stave off a short sale or just because he/she doesn't understand the true value of the home), and clients are having to reduce the home price less often. We often see clients having to put in 4-6 contracts before actually having an offer accepted by the bank or the owner. Last year, this simply wasn't the case. Homes for sale in Fort Lauderdale stayed on the market for longer periods of time, and offers were few and far between. Price reductions helped increase traffic, but many clients were forced to short sale their homes anyway. We are seeing fewer clients resort to short sales and more clients getting asking prices for their properties.
Is there a back log of foreclosure homes? Yes, but this isn't a bad thing. We need more homes on the market here-finding a foreclosure home to buy used to be an easy task, but it's not anymore. Our clients are having to look for much longer and compete much more for the foreclosure homes for sale in Fort Lauderdale. We welcome the new (old?) distressed property inventory, and our buyers will, too.
Condos sales in Fort Lauderdale have picked up, but Miami, Tampa, and West Palm Beach have picked up more. We see the same pattern mentioned above with condo sales here, particularly for the waterfront condos in Ft Lauderdale and on Las Olas. If you're in the market for a condo, location seems to moderate the statistics in that area of real estate.
You can read our own article reporting the statistics which support an optimistic real estate forecast for 2012 here. For those of you who laugh, just know that our clients are laughing on their way to the bank.
Mike Benton is an experienced Fort Lauderdale realtor specializing in real estate investment and sales. Find the best distressed properties andhomes for sale in Fort Lauderdale at the best foreclosure website in South Florida.
Mike Benton is an experienced Fort Lauderdale realtor specializing in real estate investment and sales. Find the best distressed properties and homes for sale in Fort Lauderdale at the best foreclosure website in South Florida.
I recently read an article on the improvements in the real estate market, and the commenter negativity towards this claim amazed me. One such commenter who claimed to be from "Yale," (the people that I know who go to Yale don't go around telling everyone who will listen, but we digress) claimed that real estate agents are less than honest because they're trying to sell real estate. He perseverated on this point in response to other commenters and called the real estate projections bogus due to the less than honest intentions of real estate agents. Not only was this somewhat surprising, it is inaccurate.
There is no one better informed about the current state of the real estate market than real estate agents. Hardworking agents who are experienced and seasoned in listing and selling homes, especially during the recession, are the people who can tell us the most about the state of the real estate market. From the number of leads per day to the average number of contracts per home to the number of days that well priced listings are on the market, the good agents out there can tell us what will happen in the market before the rest of the world knows. They support their families based on real estate activity, and these professionals' livelihood depends upon the health of the real estate market. Therefore, I see no one more qualified to validate the real estate statistics than the front linemen-real estate agents.
Note that I am not talking about the real estate agents who are less than professional, don't return phone calls, or don't seem to know the market. There are poor excuses for professionals in every line of work, and real estate is no exception. You should choose your own agent based upon experience, professionalism, and whether or not you feel comfortable working with that person. Otherwise, don't waste your time with any slack professional.
Now, back to our point about the market. Our claims about the market are in line with the statistics and the Sun Sentinel article this morning, which reports that distressed housing represents about a quarter of real estate sales in the Fort Lauderdale area. This is much less than what it was one year ago, when distressed housing accounted for a whopping 38% of real estate sales. In fact, foreclosures have fallen in Palm Beach County by an amazing 58% since 2010. These are optimistic numbers that lead us to believe that our real estate market in Fort Lauderdale is beginning to recover.
Yes, we said recover. Houses for sale in Fort Lauderdale seem to be selling more quickly (unless the owner prices the home above market value to stave off a short sale or just because he/she doesn't understand the true value of the home), and clients are having to reduce the home price less often. We often see clients having to put in 4-6 contracts before actually having an offer accepted by the bank or the owner. Last year, this simply wasn't the case. Homes for sale in Fort Lauderdale stayed on the market for longer periods of time, and offers were few and far between. Price reductions helped increase traffic, but many clients were forced to short sale their homes anyway. We are seeing fewer clients resort to short sales and more clients getting asking prices for their properties.
Is there a back log of foreclosure homes? Yes, but this isn't a bad thing. We need more homes on the market here-finding a foreclosure home to buy used to be an easy task, but it's not anymore. Our clients are having to look for much longer and compete much more for the foreclosure homes for sale in Fort Lauderdale. We welcome the new (old?) distressed property inventory, and our buyers will, too.
Condos sales in Fort Lauderdale have picked up, but Miami, Tampa, and West Palm Beach have picked up more. We see the same pattern mentioned above with condo sales here, particularly for the waterfront condos in Ft Lauderdale and on Las Olas. If you're in the market for a condo, location seems to moderate the statistics in that area of real estate.
You can read our own article reporting the statistics which support an optimistic real estate forecast for 2012 here. For those of you who laugh, just know that our clients are laughing on their way to the bank.
Mike Benton is an experienced Fort Lauderdale realtor specializing in real estate investment and sales. Find the best distressed properties andhomes for sale in Fort Lauderdale at the best foreclosure website in South Florida.
Mike Benton is an experienced Fort Lauderdale realtor specializing in real estate investment and sales. Find the best distressed properties and homes for sale in Fort Lauderdale at the best foreclosure website in South Florida.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)