Jul 3, 2009

Local man walking across PA - The ReporterNews: Serving North Penn, Indian Valley and neighboring communities

Local man walking across PA - The ReporterNews: Serving North Penn, Indian Valley and neighboring communities

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PA Hero Walk sparkles with 4th of July Concert - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

PA Hero Walk sparkles with 4th of July Concert - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Tom Watt says that helping people feel better is his job.
The Allegheny Township entertainer, who is known nationally for his Jimmy Buffett "Buffettman" Tribute Show, won't be alone Saturday.
A stadium-size lineup of musicians, headlined by the international hitmakers, Little River Band, known for songs such as "Reminiscing," "Lonesome Loser" and "Take It Easy On Me," among others, will join him in trying to do just that.
In fact, "feel good" will be the happy order of the afternoon and evening as the Pennsylvania Hero Walk 4th of July Concert provides a day of music, beginning at 1 p.m., followed by Zambelli fireworks at Valley High Stadium, New Kensington.
"We've been looking forward to this, knowing that some hurting heroes, forgotten veterans, will benefit from our efforts," Watt says. "We are all grateful for the opportunity, grateful to our military."
Proceeds are to go to the Wounded Warrior Project, an organization devoted to helping severely injured soldiers return to civilian life after coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan. They do this by helping them find jobs and aiding their families with support groups.
Concertgoers are asked to bring a nonperishable food item for the Westmoreland and Allegheny County food banks.
This is meant to be a family-friendly celebration at the end of the Philadelphia to New Kensington PA Hero Walk, which concludes that day, says Ron Bouch of Allegheny Township. He is a member of the Kiski Valley Veterans and Patriots Association helping to organize the concert. The walkers are to enter the stadium for the opening ceremonies beginning at noon.
"Being that this concert is on the Fourth of July, we have arranged it so it would be a great day for the whole family to come to," he says.
Admission is free for those 12 and under, and the moonwalk and bungee jump attractions are free. "We will have clowns for the kids, and we are going to have lots of vendors with a great variety of festival foods," Bouch says. There will be a second stage with live bands in the food area.
The entertainment will be nonstop on the football field, he says. Patrons are invited to bring blankets and lawn chairs (but no coolers) if they want to sit on the field. A variety of music will be represented, including rock, pop and country.
The members of Rushhour, all incoming freshman at Kiski Area High School, can't wait to take the stage with their rock sound. "The military does so much for us. It's a great way for us to say 'Thanks,' " says drummer-vocalist Tyler McGuire of Bell Township.
"This is a great way to bring a lot of people together for this most deserving appreciation," adds Richard Gainor of Arnold, a member of the Alle-Kiski-based American Pie, which does oldies from the '50s through the '80s.
Paul Leo of New Kensington, drummer and vocalist in the country band On The Ridge, says he's impressed with the Wounded Warrior Project. "There are so many young men and women who return (from war) with debilitating injuries, whose lives are transformed by it," he says.
"Being part of this just gives you a great feeling," adds Marcie Covey of Allegheny Township, lead female vocalist in the group. She sang the National Anthem in Harrisburg on June 26 at the halfway point of the walk.
Jimmie Ross, leader of Pittsburgh's Jaggerz, agrees.
"The music business has been so good to me and the band over the years. It's a pleasure to finally be able to give back and to help with any veteran," he says. He and his dad are both veterans.
Gary Racan of Greensburg, former lead singer for The Vogues, and now fronting the Studio E variety band, has a special connection with the undertaking.
"I am fortunate to be friends with Jeremy Feldbusch, the national spokesperson of the Wounded Warrior Project," he says. "To help the people who have helped keep our freedom is very satisfying." Racan will end his show by inviting all the veterans to the stage to honor them with "God Bless the USA." to read more on this article go to:
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/valleynewsdispatch/s_631689.html
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Jul 1, 2009

Private Lenders Provide New Options for Borrowers

As I looked into borrowing for a Real Estate purchase, something new was open to me. When I read the following article the astonishing truth was revealed.

As lending standards have become tougher, a rising number of people and businesses are turning to an unlikely source for money: private lenders. In recent years, the practice of borrowing money from private parties was rare, except among those who were unable to qualify for traditional loans. Banks were flush with cash and eager to lend, meaning even people with a tarnished credit history often could find quick sources of cash.

Now, even those with good credit are bypassing banks to borrow money -- despite interest rates that can reach 20% or more, and down payments of 35% or more. These private funds -- which aren't from banks or credit unions -- are being used for everything from second homes to apartment construction. Many borrowers have excellent credit, but they are trying to avoid the added time, scrutiny and uncertainty of a conventional bank loan. Such transactions are "not as publicly available as one might expect," says Ron Phipps, a real-estate broker in Warwick, R.I., "but there is definitely money available."

Arrangements for such loans are equally low-key. While hedge funds and high-net-worth investors are providing cash, it isn't unusual for a private lawyer to get five friends to each throw in $100,000 for a home loan. Wealthy investors, hedge funds and private-equity firms are lending money in pursuit of consistently higher returns. The bear market for stocks may make alternative investments such as this type of lending more attractive. Typically, borrowers hear about private loans from lawyers, mortgage brokers and real-estate agents. Borrowing and lending opportunities are even sometimes posted on Web sites or in newspapers.

For investors, well-structured deals could reap significant returns, because private lenders typically charge much higher closing costs and interest rates than traditional lenders. They also require a much higher loan-to-equity ratio. So if the borrower falls behind, the lender potentially could resell the property at a profit. "For the investors, there's an opportunity," says Scott Haislet, owner of LEC Mortgage in Lafayette, Calif. "But you better know who is in charge and who's making the decisions about the property."

Borrowers "need to make sure they understand the way the loan works," says Allen Fishbein, director of housing for the Consumer Federation of America. Mr. Fishbein recommends that borrowers "seek out independent professional advice before committing themselves."

The tight credit market makes the loans especially appealing to borrowers, who a few years ago might not have considered the option. "In times like these, when money is tight, private money flourishes," Mr. Haislet says. Stricter lending standards make it more difficult for borrowers with good credit scores to get large loans or so-called bridge loans, which someone might use during a construction project.

Even borrowers with excellent credit scores can wait weeks for a loan to be approved. Occasionally, those deals evaporate, leaving builders and home buyers scrambling for cash. That is where private lenders step in. It isn't unusual for these lenders to charge several points and interest rates of 12% or significantly higher. They also typically require borrowers to provide 35% or more of the down payment, so there is ample collateral if anything goes wrong.

Mr. Haislet, who arranges some private loans, warns that "they're not for everyone. If borrowers can find a better alternative, they should take it, but sometimes there are no other alternatives." Mr. Haislet says most of the private loans are for less than five years -- and sometimes only six months, for those doing home-renovation projects who could otherwise not borrow the money. He says his borrowers typically pay 9% to 11%, compared with many current bank rates of less than 7%. The loan-to-value ratios also are much larger.

read more: Jilian Mincer at WSJ

Jun 25, 2009

Get the purpose "Tight"

Get the purpose "Tight" no loose edges, keep it clean cut.
Do you want employees?
Do you really want to be a Millionaire?
Do you want to swing a hammer?
Do you like pushing paper, crunching numbers?
Do you want creative freedom?
Do you need cash flow?
Do you like talking to people?
Do you enjoy cleaning up after others?
Do you worry about deadlines?
Do you like teaching others to do what you do?
Do you want to hold someone's hand as they try new things?
Do you like the feeling of being in charge?
Do you like to advise others on how to do it better?
Do you like being a student?


No catch, just honest sharing. The questions are important to ask yourself to help you reach your goals. I am questioning myself on these very same things, the years are passing quickly.

Feb 18, 2009

Sub 2 Magic will show you how to invest.

I had to drop everything and let you see this real quick...this is awesome!

I came across this site, Mark Evans DM is giving away a complete course called Sub-2 Magic. Here is the link:

Free Sub2Magic Investing Course

This is an awesome course and covers more than I’ve seen with any other on this type of investing. Get it before he starts charging - I did.
Sub 2 Magic will show you how to invest in real estate using the "Subject To" method. Best of all,

Zero Cash Needed
Zero Credit Needed
Zero Experience Needed
For a limited time, this $397 Value, Complete Real Estate Investing Course is Absolutely FREE!
Check it out at:
Free Sub2Magic

Dec 20, 2008

How to Identify a Good Fixer-Upper

Finding good fixer-uppers is a skill which can make you hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in the real estate investing industry! There are lots of ways in which you can improve your cash flow and the amount of time and money that you spend on any given property. Here are some of the ways in which you can find good fixer-upper properties and avoid those common mistakes which keep people from achieving their true potential in the world of real estate investing.

Two of the most important things to start with are the location and the design of the property – a place in a popular area with a solid design is a must if you want to be able to turn the property around quickly. Think about the local transportation and infrastructure and what it would actually be like to live in the area where the property is located. Next, consider the overall picture of the property. Are there any structural issues that could lead to problems down the line? One thing that you certainly do not want to do is to spend time and money working on the foundation or the bones of the property, or pouring money into basic systems, because these aspects of a home do not provide a strong incentive to buy, they are simply expected to be there.

Remember that more often than not you are making the bulk of your profit when you buy – look for the motivated seller who is not even interested in putting the time and money into relatively minor cosmetic changes which could substantially increase the value of the property, and who is willing to sell for a price which is very competitive for the local market. Successful fixer-upper opportunities from motivated sellers will give you the highest levels of profit, so a relatively small amount of time put into researching sellers will save you a lot of time and money in the future.

Finally, arrange your financing for the property in the way which is least expensive to you. Use as little of your own money as possible when you are arranging the purchase of the property and take full advantage of loans and good financial strategies. Don’t lose the money that you are making from locating motivated sellers and excellent fixer-uppers by making mistakes on paper! Follow all of these pieces of advice and you will be able to be a big success in the real estate investing market!

PS I’ve never seen anybody do what Nate is doing and I’m excited to share this with you today...
Happy Investing
To learn more, Identify Good Fixer-Uppers

Nov 24, 2008

How to make an offer.

Making your original offer for a property is one of the hardest parts of the business for people who are starting to get involved in real estate investing, but it doesn’t have to be. There are a number of basic things to consider when you are making an offer, in the real estate investing field or in any other kind of field. Here are some of the ways that you can make sure you are arranging a good deal and how to make an offer on a piece of real estate. First of all, keep in mind that you are likely to go back and forth with offers and counter-offers several times over the course of your negotiations. Many people are timid about making their original offer because they are worried about offending the other party with an offer which is too high or too low. What you have to remember, however, is that this is only a starting point for negotiations. Many people like to start out with an offer which differs from the point that they are truly aiming for by a factor of two.

A rule which is generally followed during negotiations for real estate investing or anything else is to reject the first offer, so do not be worried if your first offer is rejected. That just means that you are ready to start considering the finer details of the real estate investing deal and come up with an offer which is more carefully considered. Another thing to keep in mind when you are making an offer is the way that you phrase it. If you are having trouble making offers for your real estate investing deals, try using the phrase “what if” when you are putting forward an idea. If you use the phrase “what if” you can get a sense of whether or not the other party is interested in your offer without having to make anything formal. That way you can speed through the process of negotiation with better communication and know for sure whether or not the other party is interested in your offer before you make if official.

Follow these tips and you will be able to improve your skills at making an offer for your next real estate investing deal! Remember to be bold when you make your first offer, and be flexible to changes as the process unfolds, and you are sure to do well.
To learn more, Free Offer

Sep 16, 2008

Mark Evans DM - Secrets

The Insider Secrets of the World's Most Successful Real Estate Investors

Discover the shocking truth why 91% of "wannabe" investors fail and how to overcome this obstacle as if it never even existed...starting today, and I'll even give you $3,472 worth of free bonuses to prove it!
Discover how to double your income while also doubling your time off.
Learn how you can go from a $50,000 Fixer-Upper to a $100 Million Dollar Mansion.
Discover the huge pool of deals that you have access to right now and can profit greatly from - all while someone else is doing the work for you.
Discover how you can go from the Corporate World to Real Estate Investor in 1 year or less - all while not risking your own cash or credit.
Learn how a conventional Realtor went from $4 Million per year in sales to $100 Million per year in sales in one one year's time with less work and more time to enjoy life reveals to you how you can do the same.

Aug 28, 2008

Find Your Motivated Seller

Motivated sellers are what everyone involved in real estate investing is looking for; a motivated seller is someone who is very interested in selling their home. As a result, motivated sellers are the people who are the most likely to be flexible when it comes to the terms of the sale and the price point. Many people who deal in real estate investing as a business will not even bother dealing with sellers unless they are motivated sellers. How do you find a motivated seller? You need to immediately look for information on why the person or people in question are selling their real estate. If unexpected plans have come up in a person’s life, such as a transfer at work / change of job, a divorce, or a situation where the owner of the house does not have the time or interest in upkeep of the place any longer, then the seller is more likely to work with you and give you the best terms on the location. Remember that when you are working in the real estate investing sector, the most important thing to do is to manage your time effectively. Look for details in real estate listings which indicate a motivated seller so that you do not leave to check out a property unless you already have a good idea of what to expect. A seller who is not that motivated or uncertain about selling their property will simply lead you around in circles while they try to figure out what they want. During this time you could be making additional deals with people who are truly interested in selling. In addition, sellers who want to get the full retail value of their property will cut into your profits to an extent that it really isn’t worth doing business with them. Look for the right fixer-upper property at a price which is dramatically slashed, or look for the seller who has to move in a hurry and just wants to unload a property to stop making payments on it. Once you make the decision to become involved with a property, that property will be a significant time investment for you until it is sold again, so wait until you have found the perfect property and the perfect seller before you make your deal. With a motivated seller you can maximize your profits and make the best use of your time.

To read more Forclosure Fast Profits

Apr 9, 2008

Taxes and When to Buy...

When working in the real estate industry you should always remember that there are two ways to make a profit – one way is to get more money, and the other is to prevent yourself from losing money. Real estate investing deals which take place around the end of the year might work out better for your tax purposes if their closings are postponed until January, depending on your personal tax situation. Here are some ways to determine whether or not you should arrange to put off your deal for another month or two.

The first thing to do while reviewing the effects that the tax laws will have on your real estate investing is to schedule a meeting with your tax planner. Start by taking a look at your current tax liabilities. If there are deductions you can take which will improve your tax status for this year then that may have an impact on whether you decide to arrange your purchase or sale before or after the thirty first of December. After you know what your current tax status is regarding whether you need further deductions or not, review the specifics of the real estate investing deals you are currently involved in.

Find out which parts of your real estate investing deals are tax deductible and which ones will increase the amount for which the property is valued and thus increase your taxes. The parts of a real estate investing deal which are typically sources of tax deduction are the points, the interest and the property taxes. If you have plenty of deductions already for the current year and you want to get started on next year’s deductions right away, you can save the final closing for the second of January, which is the first business day following the New Year.

Your closing date also determines the span of time over which you will be paying interest on loans, so be sure that you aware of how your loan interest will be calculated and remember that if you are close to the end of the year, your first loan payment may still be within the next tax year. Review the terms of the loan payments and how interest is calculated and find out exactly how the tax is calculated to save money on your real estate investing deals. Time spent improving the tax status of your real estate investing will save you money next April!
Happy Investing, Taxes and When to Buy

Apr 7, 2008

Designed to Capture Views - Small Homes

An economical footprint is further enhanced with an expansive 10' deep partially covered sundeck, promoting a multitude of outdoor activities and capturing the rear view. Window seats in the sitting / dining areas are warmed by the wood stove and encourages cozy indoor moments. The U-shaped kitchen is brightened with a greenhouse window, perfect for plant enthusiasts. The second story art studio boasts a voluminous 13' high sloped ceiling, open to the sitting room below and the outdoors via a covered balcony.





Have you ever thought of Designing your own?

Beach House Plan
Raised up high on pilings, this beach house plan captures both the views and the breeze. A large expanse of decks and porches allows plenty of room to get some sun or sit in the shade with a book. The first floor of the home is the bedroom quarters with three bedrooms and two baths, each with access to the covered porch. The top level of the home plan is the main living area with an enormous open great room, dining area and kitchen. A powder room can be found a few steps down on a landing level. A second master suite enjoys its own private deck as well as a bath with double sinks. Your choice of a recreation room or fifth bedroom can be found on the lower level along with a bath and outdoor shower.
LEGAL NOTICE: The tools, techniques and suggestions made on this site have been designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. Some of these items may be subject to varying laws (regulatory and otherwise) within your local state or government. It is distributed with the understanding that Sail'n Home LLC / Dorothy Buchanan or Patricia Hagaman, are not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. At no time is it the intention of Sail'n Home LLC / Dorothy Buchanan or Patricia Hagaman, to be portrayed as a lawyer or accountant or any other licensed professional. The views expressed here in are as a result of our own experiences and should always be approved by legal counsel and/or an accountant before putting them into use. If legal advice is required, services of a competent, licensed professional should be sought. 2009
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