Real Estate Investing Begins a New Era with Web 2.0 Techniques …
In this day and age it is pretty much a given that you want to be online.  read more…

Glittering Glass Houses « World Of Glasses
He considered and designed his house as a center piece of a large estate. Johnson House includes solid-brick guest house, Lake Pavilion and galleries to display Johnson’s extensive collection of paintings and sculptures. …  read more…

Burma is the abode of natural beauty
In Burma you can visit the Intha people living in the surroundings of Inle Lake. They are the inhabitant of the place. The meaning of their name is the ’sons of the lake’. The houses in the village are made of wooden and bamboo located …  read more…

From Google Blog Search

Kissimmee – The Fourth Fastest Growing City
Vacation fun abounds in the city of Kissimmee (pronounced Ka sim’ mee) which is rich in culture and beauty located in Central Florida. The city is central to many of the theme parks as close…  read more…

Swiss Watches Online Have Increased in Popularity
As with any product that is available to consumers, the most popular way to research and obtain the object of your desire is to use the World Wide Web. Swiss watches have been the world leader in luxu…  read more…

The National Zoo of Malaysia: A Fun-Filled Educational Experience
Located in the state of Selangor 13 km to the northeast of Kuala Lumpur, the National Zoo is within a few minutes drive from the busy capital. Originally constructed in a virgin forest surrounding a n…  read more…

From GoArticles.com

Biltmore Lake Smart Home Offers Comfort and Amenities

Contact Rob Roland, 828-337-1300. This smart house has it all: long range views, stream, movie theater, Miele oven and Sub Zero Fridge, 1000 bottle wine cellar, large laundry, Brazilian teak floors, great back yard for family with stone fire pit. Many more amenities in a prestigious gated community with a 62 acre lake.

Powered by Revver

Open Question: My life is falling apart, hitting rock bottom should I or shouldn’t I?
I quit a 17.00 hr. job last year in June & let my 10 yr. old go to his dads out of state. He was giving me a hard time & ADHD & Impulsivity. I miss him and love him so much. Now have depression & anxiety, working part time, can’t find full time, can’t afford my apartment, my engine went on my car, my friend wants me to move in w/ her husband, he is 81 she is 47, she has bi-polar / manic, doesn’t take her meds and always wants my klonipin, she also gives klonipin to her husband, she walks around w/ her top off and I told her to QUIT doing that, it is rude and disrespectful but yet she is a born again christian & wants me to say the salvation prayer. They have a beautiful house on a lake, I won’t have to pay bills, just help out around the house which I love to do, but I don’t have a car. So much on my plate. Visited my son last month & my X was a pure jerk!! Can’t go anywhere else, my mom has pack rat syndrome. How can I level out my life again? Can’t find a good job & I have a great resume. I feel like my whole life is caving in. My therapist stood me up, don’t hear from her, this is the 3rd time she did this to me!! Yikes. What to do?

  read more…

Open Question: Question for JW’s only, please.?
Hi all,

My question for tonight is,

How do you personally picture your resurrected loved ones returning to you in the Paradise.

I dream a lot at night when i’m sleeping and i often have the same dream, that i am in the Paradise and i am by a lake, not 100% sure what i am doing there. but then i hear a voice calling me “sweets, hunny, darling” I turn around and scream and cry…It is my husband, who has been resurrected. I fall to the floor crying and he approaches me, giving me comfort. I hug him so tightly but then hit him for leaving me in this cruel system without him.

I also have another dream where he gets down on one knee and proposes to me again and i cry and say “we are not allowed to get married because you died” and he says “no we can” …………then i awaken crying!

…My inlaws and I often sit and try and imagine the Paradise as it is a great comfort for us at the moment.

We try and guess how we think, my husband (and there son) will return to us and if Jah will give him the inner feeling that time has past, when they see us will it be weird for them to see us older etc..

We sometimes imagine the brothers putting up a list of all the ones that will get resurrected on particular days. And we will get food, housing prepared for such ones.

It’s so exciting to think about it! Would love to read your comments, would be very encouraging for me at the moment.

What are your thoughts? Do you invision a particular way in which you will see your loved one?

All my love! XXX
Reo, XXX is for 3 big hugs.
All your comments have brought tears to my eyes.

Flower: I know what you mean about the singing…tonight at the meeting we sang “The Victory Song” and it sent shivers down my spine. I hope we will be singing this song all together very soon.

  read more…

Open Question: Ballet- 4 hours long… will I lose the will to live?
Its my first wedding anniversary this weekend and I’ve bought tickets to see Swan Lake at the London Royal Opera House.

I’ve never been to the ballet before, and I’m told the Mariinsky Ballet is the best in the world… but 4 hours of men in tights? I had no idea how long it was- what have I let myself in for?

I’m sure my wife will be over the moon and thats what’s important, but are there any guys out there who have been? Is it brutal?

Any tips on how to survive that don’t involve the consumption of copious amounts of valium, I must stay awake for this!

  read more…

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

 We found Koda a few houses away, down the lake a bit. He’s fine, just a bit tired. I’m so grateful he’s home!
Posted by gail via Twitter  

 >>FREE Queen size pillowtop mattress<< (Fieldstone Drive, Crystal Lake)
Posted by sameerb via craigslist | free stuff in chicago  

 Aunt sent a picture of her car-turned-motorboat. Empty lot a few houses down is a lake.
Posted by sda via FriendFeed  

 back in Vancouver after excellent camping. Saw pit houses and learned about Little Shuswap Lake Indian Band http://alturl.com/uw2o
Posted by mainwriter via Twitter  

 At the cottage this Sat and Sun. No tv, internet or cell…but better bring em just incase I can pickup WiFi. Lake houses won’t have WPA
Posted by kevinbourgeois via Twitter  

 Giant Gas-Powered Vortex Cannon Destroying Shed Filmed at 1300fps [Cannons]
Posted by klandwehr via Tech news  

 Giant Gas-Powered Vortex Cannon Destroying Shed Filmed at 1300fps [Cannons]
Posted by petrbuben via Gizmodo  

 WANTED: Cats / Kittens for our Farm (Princeton/Lucas/Allen/McKinney)
Posted by dallaslistings via craigslist | all community in dallas / fort worth  

Recently Being Discussed on FriendFeed

Technorati Tags: lake houses

If you’re looking for strategies to earn money with no need to punch a time clock or be in thrall to your business, residual earnings are the way to go. With residual earnings you put in some work setting up a business system which can run without your day to day guidance and sit back and watch the checks roll in.

Most people in this world depend on a salary and boss to earn a crust. In order to stop being a wage slave, you’ll have to set up your own business. The difficulty is that many entrepreneurs trade one kind of slavery for another, as they end up spending every waking minute working on their business. That’s’s not freedom!

Think of residual earnings like an actor’s, writer’s or musician’s royalties. They create a piece of work, receive payment for it and whenever it is getting sold in the future they get a taste of the profits. Many an one-hit-wonder is living just fine off of their royalties.

For those among us who are not insanely good looking or gifted in the humanities the trick is to line up a business that can run by itself, with the help of outsourced staff or minimal direction from you.

The drop-shipping industry is based on the power of residual earnings. Folk find a wholesaler of a product, publicize that product and then sell it for a profit. They send their orders to the supplier who then ships directly to the customer. Correctly set up with the right outsourced staff, all the business owner has to do is get the business set up and check in periodically.

The net also makes allowance for you to make this type of living. By simply building a domain and monetizing it through sales or advertising you’ll continue to earn income so long as you own the site.

The strongest way to insure residual earnings for life is through real estate investment. For a nominal investment in the property and performing any rehab that needs to be done, you can lease out home or commercial real estate so long as you live. Barring a natural disaster or nuclear war your building will be standing long after you are gone. Not only will you receive income for the rest of your life, but so will your heirs.

For people who do not feel like dealing with renters there is a full host of pro management companies that may oversee the property and make sure you get your money. Of course you will have to be willing to accept a touch less earnings in this position but it frees you from needing to deal with your renters.

It’s everyone’s dream to live the good life. We would like to be in a position to spend time with our friends and family and pursue our hobbies and interests all while being financially secure. The power of property investing and other hands off companies offers you the ability to have it all thru residual earnings.

Technorati Tags: business, commercial real estate investing, finance, financial freedom, financial independence, passive income, Real Estate, Real Estate investing, residual earnings, wealth

They say that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Although home foreclosure can be considered a tragedy it can also be a blessing for others. Gas prices are not the only ones that continue to rise. Residential properties are also expensive. Their prices also vary from one place to another. Due to this other people take advantage of foreclosure auctions.

Repossessed homes can be great for those who simply cannot afford a new house. These houses are sold for a fraction of their real price when sold in the real estate market. Other people can also take advantage of these houses to be able to make their own investments since they are sold by mortgage lenders at a low price.

If you buy a foreclosed home be prepared to have to do some repairs. This can be for any number of reasons…but plan on having to repair something. Often some of these houses have also been abandoned by their previous homeowners and mortgage lenders have no choice but to get rid of them as soon as they can.

Do your homework

Before you buy, you need to make sure that you’re going to get a good deal. The biggest part of the deal is adding up all the expenses to see if it is indeed the deal you thought it was.You may have to do a little bit of research first to be able to see how much you will have to spend in buying and repairing the property.

If you are short on cash, you can get a loan. ( in some cases you can get an assumable loan) Talk first to loan officer or mortgage broker to see if you are qualified. If you are qualified gather the information you need.

You will be able to find several lists of foreclosure homes or homes for auction on the internet. In some cases a list will also be published in local newspapers. Use the contact information listed in the ad to find out about seeing the property.(In some states this is NOT an option)

Review your budget. What are you willing to pay for the foreclosed house along with the repairs? If you’re planning to “flip” or sell the house,ask your agent to get you comps for the “after repair value”. If you’re planning to rent it, calculate the monthly rate and compare it to prices in the local paper for the same type of property.

Once all the research and calculations have been done place a good bid on the property. After you have purchased the house have it inspected and appraised. Then look for a title company to research the history of the house. When you’re satisfied with your repossessed house you can now start the repairs or live in it.

Technorati Tags: forclosure, foreclosured real estate, Investing, investor, money, Real Estate, Real Estate investing, retirement, retirement investing, wealth

One of the main things that a home inspector will look at during a home inspection is the foundation. Here is some information on what the home inspector when examining the foundation.

Initially, the inspector will need to find out what type of foundation the home has. There are three different types of foundations – basement, crawl space, and concrete slab. The foundations are different and each are inspected differently.

When inspecting the basement, the inspector is limited in what can be inspected depending on if the basement has been finished. One of the main things the inspector is looking for is moisture intrusion from the ground. Evidence of moisture would be visible in the form of staining on the concrete or carpet and cupping or curling of the hardwood flooring.

There are other items the inspector will examine while in the basement. These items include any exposed wood framing, electrical components, plumbing pipes and fixtures, and any systems like the water heater or the heating and cooling system if present.

If there is at least 18 inches of headroom, the inspector will evaluate the crawl space. If for some reason, such as height restrictions, the inspector can not access all or part of the crawl space it will be noted in the inspection report.

When inspecting the under the home the inspector will be looking at the piers and the foundation walls for stability and any cracking. The inspector will look to see if there is any insect damage to the exposed wood framing. Also, the inspector will look to see if the dryer vents to the exterior, if there are enough wall vents, if the ground is wet from condensation or a plumbing leak, the condition of the HVAC ductwork, and if there is insulation present between the floor joists.

If the home has a concrete slab the inspector will be limited in what can be inspected if the flooring has been installed. But there are still some signs that problems may exist. Much like the basement is staining visible on the concrete or carpeting or is the hardwood cupping or curling at the seams. On the outside, the inspector will look to see if the slab is cracked and is the ground graded away from the foundation.

Closing Comments

Many times the foundation installed is dependent on the grade of the land and soil type. It is not uncommon for a home to have two foundation types on a sloped lot. If the slope is steep enough the home may have all three foundations installed on a home.

Technorati Tags: business, foundation, home, house, inspection, land, property, Real Estate

For establishing their business many real estate agents use the Internet. Online social marketing can be done with the power tool called blogs. Blog pinging has also become well used as it has many benefits. Ping is generically a push mechanism based on XML-RPC through which any weblog notifies or informs a server that its data or content has been updated. Hence for essential notification you can use the method of blog pinging.

On using blog pinging, a signal of XML-RPC will be delivered to either one or sometimes more “ping servers”. Now a list is produced of blogs having new and updated material. Many tools of blog authoring can ping multiple servers every time you create a new blog post or update an existing one.

If you wish to utilize blog pinging for enhancing your real estate social marketing advertising, you will find many options that can help you achieve this. There are many open ping servers that allow other web services to gain a subscription of a blog list that have pinged them recently. Search engines of blogs can also produce new results instantly by polling those blogs that have been newly updated.

Other than open ping servers, blog pinging also includes the usage of proprietary ping servers. These servers usually collect information and data only for their individual and personal applications and is activated mainly by a bulk of famous search engines.

The difference between open and proprietary ping servers is that the latter possesses their own applications for subscription, and is under no compulsion to share their ping information with the rest of the servers. And since their obtained data is not shared, a number of different servers need to be pinged for achieving the targeted publicity for your business. To use blog pinging in these cases, you can opt for services such as the admired and trustworthy Ping-O-Matic which helps you to ping numerous proprietary ping servers.

Google’s latest announcement that the pinging service of Google Blog Search is ready to accept pings from all blogs has made the process of blog pinging even more helpful. To confirm that your new posts get featured on Google’s Blog Search results, pinging them whenever you create and post a new blog is necessary. There are two techniques to do this.

The first and foremost technique of blog pinging is Manual Ping. It is sort of a direct technique and you need to visit http://blogsearch.google.com/ping and make an entry of the URL of your real estate blogs whenever they are updated. The next technique is Automatic Ping. In this case, Wordpress will ping Google automatically whenever your blog is updated. http://blogsearch.google.com/ping/ needs to be added to the box of your Update Services in the administration area of Wordpress.

Therefore blog pinging can be a useful method when implemented properly. You can use blog pinging to establish your online presence in the business of real estate and property dealings. With this all your clients will know if you are updating the list of properties with addition or deletion.

Technorati Tags: marketing for realtors, marketing realtor site web, Real Estate, real estate email marketing, real estate internet marketing, real estate marketing, realtor email marketing, realtor internet marketing, realtor marketing, realtor marketing products, realtors marketing

There is a new market that investors have to learn to stay competitive in this market and that’s the internet. More specifically it is Web 2.0 and social networking.

Ever since the first wave of internet companies most folks have been reluctant to invest too much time into any particular internet strategy. Having a free email service and online faxes are probably the two concepts that have stuck with us until now.

The new technologies have put the power back into the hands of the individual. Although big companies have booming voices backed by millions of dollars in advertising, people tend to believe the individual that reviews a product or service over the huge advertising campaign. And with large corporate entities defrauding the public on the stock exchange, who can blame them?

So what precisely is Web 2.0?

If you are like most people, Web 2.0 is this foggy new concept that leaves you with more questions than answers. In simplest form it is a broad concept that covers all of the websites that are bringing the new technology to market. These new sites allow a greater manipulation and distribution of content than ever before.

This means we now have the power to communicate much more efficiently than previously possible. Newly created content can be transferred to viewers more easily than we could have dreamed of just a few years ago. With a few clicks of the mouse you can bring in content from other authors daily without any further work on your part. Same goes for photos, videos and articles.

Many, many strategies and sites fit the Web 2.0 description but the basic necessities are creating a personal blog and having profiles on the various social networks like MySpace, Facebook and Real-Estate-Investing.com. You can also do social bookmarking, article writing like the one you are reading now, download mobile phone applications and so much more.

How can one use Web 2.0 strategies when doing real estate investing? One obvious way is the sheer amount of people you will be able to contact. If you have good things to say, you will be surprised how many people will pick up your blog and post it directly on their website.

Establishing yourself as an expert in your market will bring tons of opportunities your way. At the end of the day, more exposure means more money. The nice think about web 2.0 is it levels the playing field once again. If you are working the internet side of things harder than your competition, you stand a pretty good chance at moving ahead of them.

One of the nicest things about online networking and Web 2.0 is that it really does not take any money. This has brought to the surface experts that before we may have never heard as they bang away at their keyboards in the late of night. Free however, does not mean “no time”. You will have to spend a few minutes every day or at least a few hours per week getting the word out there.

Spend a few months creating content for your websites and I’m sure you will become more efficient and find it to be no trouble at all. Best of all, once you create the content one time it remains on the internet for years to come. Careful though, this can be a double-edged sword. Make sure you are comfortable with the entire world reading whatever you write.

Since the real estate bubble burst people have been searching for a new way to approach the market. While deals and cash to buy them are not wholly plentiful right now, take this time to build your reputation for the next roller coaster market climb.

Technorati Tags: foreclosure houses, money real estate investing, Real Estate, Real Estate investing, real estate investing guide, real estate investing tips, web 2.0, work at home

Section 8 housing for rent is a social program run by HUD which helps low income families unable to afford regular housing. Other people that can qualify for section 8 housing for rent are students and seniors.

Not everyone can live in section 8 housing for rent though. You have to go to HUDs website and look up the requirements for qualification. Your income must be considered low income.

The next step is to fill out the section 8 housing for rent application. You can find this form at the HUD housing agency. Bring along personal information and tax returns to proof your income.

Some resources you might want to use for finding section 8 housing for rent are the rental house magazines you find at supermarkets or next to bus stops. These magazines can give you a good idea of the section 8 housing for rent available in the area, especially if you are new in town.

Once you decide to go check out the section 8 housing for rent, you should take some notes. This can be a big help later when you need to review your notes and figure out which section 8 housing for rent you like.

Chat with the current renter of the section 8 housing for rent and gauge how they enjoy living there. Ask them if landlord fixes things immediately and whether the landlord respects the tenant.

When going through and looking at the inside of the section 8 housing for rent, point out all the problems and have it recorded. Tell the landlord to get it fixed before you rent the place.

Protect your property by buying renters insurance. This is a very inexpensive insurance that insures your things against theft.

Technorati Tags: finance, home, HUD subsidized housing, low income housing, Real Estate, rent house, section 8 housing for rent

Real Estate Social Marketing has become the money-giving engine. At present, social marketing has become popularized due to its easiest way of sharing information with friends and others from all around the world. Thanks to social marketing that has joined its soft hands to real estate business. This outstanding service is not blossoming in the world give people opportunities to advertise their deals online.

The use of Social Marketing can be a superb idea for your real estate business. People will feel closeness as if they know you individually from a long time and you can promote your business worldwide. The old fashioned method of promoting your real estate business on classified pages of newspaper, is now outdated and Real Estate Social Marketing has come up like a perfect alternative to all these methods.

Real Estate Social marketing has proved itself as one of the most liked tool. The importance of social marketing pooled with real estate can create extraordinary consequence and the paybacks are exceptional. This online movement is a perfect progression to aid the real estate industry for your assets. This technique can accumulate plenty of your precious time throughout buying and selling of your property.

Presently, online marketing like social marketing is playing a vital role to promote your business, products and services instantly. With Real Estate Social Marketing you can start up with a blog, wikis and other virtual world techniques. Walk to any cyber caf? or ask anyone about social marketing and all of them will say -we are already in it?. Look how effectively it is influencing people globally. Social marketing is now the know word and making people crazy about it. It has been found that above 110 million visitors are using social networking sites to promote something or the other and also for other personal means.

Try to update your social marketing sites with some good and unique contents, so that crawlers and spiders feel lucky about it. Social marketing is a vast subject and getting experienced in it has lots of outcome. Real Estate Social Marketing can be a superb idea if don’t correctly. Sticking to the old fashion way of promoting your deals are not so worth and it would be better to select online social marketing. This tool is the perfect online method that can make you boom.

Due to the vastness of social marketing, many industries are getting real marketing importance. That’s the whole reason for the inclination of real estate sector towards social marketing. This enticing method has brought real estate professionals to try social marketing in full force. Well, before starting real estate social marketing you need to know the intricate side of this online trend. If you know some basic rules concerned to real estate social marketing then the job for you will get easy. This technique will provide you real money, traffic and high ranking in search engines. People those are looking for home to buy or sell can visit your social networking site and can stay in touch with you. So, now it’s your turn to spread your wings to fly in the Real Estate Social marketing method and get huge benefits.

Technorati Tags: marketing for realtors, marketing realtor site web, Real Estate, real estate email marketing, real estate internet marketing, real estate marketing, realtor email marketing, realtor internet marketing, realtor marketing, realtor marketing products, realtors marketing

Success is in your mind, if you think it will happen then most likely it is going to happen. While making an investment in an apartment might seem to be a little bit difficult, and possibly a little frightening, it’s really much more stable and predictable than investing in a single planning. So long as you plan it all out, it’s going to turn out just fine.

You’ll have to do some research because there is a lot of information you will be lacking at the beginning which you will need to make any sort of informed investment. You must absolutely NOT speak to any brokers during your first week because you simply do not have enough information to carry on an intelligent conversation with them, and most likely they will look down on you.

You might find some place that looks great but don’t make your investment just yet. Find a map of that area online and put it on your board. The next step is to get as many push pins as you possibly can.

Find some properties that are being sold there, perhaps fifteen to twenty, and then find them on the map that you printed out. You’ll be able to track where everyone is moving to, and where they are moving away from. You need to take all statistics into account, such as crime rates, levels of income, etc. Make sure you write all of this down as you find it out.

You are now in your second week, and you know quite a bit. This means that you can carry on an intelligent conversation with a broker, and they will recognize that you know what’s going on in the market. This being the case, they will treat you with a lot more respect than they treat most other people who come in without the first clue of what’s going on.

To be successful in apartment investment, you need to keep current on the market. Know what is going on, keep tabs on the stats and watch for new properties to spring up. This does not have to coat you a dime and can be accomplished through many completely free resources.

There are several publications out there that are dedicated to investing in apartments. If you just do a Google search for free apartment investing magazines, you will see them in the results. There are also many web sources for this info as well, so do not shy away from the doing your research. The web is your apartment investment friend.

If you really want to make this work, then be persistent in what you do and take it slow. So long as you have all the right info, you should be find because you will be able to carry on an intelligent conversation with any broker and get all the best deals.

Technorati Tags: apartment investing, apartment investment, business, Education, family, finance, home, invest in apartment, investment, multifamily, multifamily investing, multifamily investment, real eastate, Real Estate

Here are some tips on buying a foreclosed property.

The first rule is market value. Is that foreclosed property that you want to buy really below the market value? is it really a good deal?

Here is an example what I am talking about. Lets say the foreclosed home is priced sixty thousand dollars below the current market price. That might sound like a great deal. It might take over one hundred thousand dollars to get it back in shape. You will want to get an inspection on the home.

If the property does need repairs, get some bids from some contractors. Make sure you get a least 3 bids on it to give you a good idea what its going to cost you. After you get the bids double it.

It almost always cost more than you think its going to cost.Make sure you have enough money in reserve if you are buying as an investment.

You need you watch out for the unexpected cost. You may want to have the property for rent when you are done fixing it. It may take a little time before the property is available for rent, Or it may even take some time for the property to get rented. You will need enough money for this.

Another way to get in to trouble is to have the rent you are getting just to be enough to cover the mortgage payment. If you have ever owned a home you know their are many cost besides just the mortgage payment.

It might seem like being very cautious but it is not. Their are a lot of things that are going to need to be payed for. Your fence could blow over in high winds. Or maybe you have a problem and the basement floods with water. if you are not planing for this you will come up short when it does happen.

If you just bought a home and it has been winterized in a cold climate. All most all the time you are going to have a busted pipe. Even if you get it inspected and they say everything is OK.

It may only cost a few hundred dollars to get it fixed. But it is really nice to have that extra money for when problems do arise you do not have to stress out about it. you have the money saved up.

Just don’t get the water turned on and not be their for a few weeks because you will have some major problems if that is the case. Make sure you inspect everything when they turn the water on

Technorati Tags: business, Colorado Mortgage, Education, home, Investing, Real Estate