An 8 percent drop in Marco Island’s 2010 property values will intensify the city council’s search for savings as it draws up the fiscal 2012 budget.
The total taxable amount of property on Marco in 2010 declined by 8.21 percent, from $8.2 billion to $7.5 billion, compared to 2009, said Abe Skinner, Collier County property tax appraiser.
Collier officials blamed the economy for the drop, but also emphasized a silver lining: Property values had plunged 12.2 percent in 2009 from 2008.
Marco Realtors, meanwhile, see a silver lining in the just-released property value figures. They believe sales and prices are on the way back up.
Property taxes are calculated based on the previous year’s property values. Local governments factor in property values to tax rates they charge residents.
City Manager James Riviere said he was disappointed when he saw the preliminary property values report from Skinner’s office.
“I’m not a betting man, but I would have guessed that it (property values) would have been flat,” said Riviere. “It (the decline) just means that we here in the city will scramble again this year to keep taxes level for the citizens.
“I guess we’ll try to do that trick again.”
City Councilman Larry Magel expected property values to fall by 9 or 10 percent.
“The challenge for us — the budget committee and city council — is to react to the decreased property values, but at the same time keeping our city services at a level that supports the requirements of the city,” Magel said. “It’s going to be another difficult year.”
Collier County property values overall declined an average of 5.08 percent last year, with the county’s total taxable value standing at $58.3 billion, down from $61.4 billion in 2009, according to Skinner, who released the figures last week.
Naples property values declined by 2.67 percent to $14.5 billion in 2010.
“I think that things are leveling off, but we aren’t back to pluses yet,” Skinner said.
Skinner said the figures are preliminary, and state law required their release by last Wednesday or earlier.
Skinner said final figures will be released July 1.
— News-Press staff writer Denes Husty III contributed to this story.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Top 6 reasons why a short sale is beneficial:
My company Champion real Estate Solutions, LLC has been concentrating on short sales since 2005. We have saved so many families from foreclosure and have some of the most highly trained professionals working with us to process these transactions. My team is available to answer all questions for FREE. I often hold FREE short sale seminars to the public so we can speak one on one. Feel free to ask me when the next available seminar will take place and how you can attend!!
The top 6 reasons why a short sale is beneficial is:
·There is absolutely no cost associated with processing your short sale when you work with Champion Real Estate Solutions.
·The term “short sale” isn’t reflected on a credit report. It is usually stated: “settled for less than amount owed” – This usually results in a 50-100 point hit based on our past short sale customer feedback.
·You potentially can purchase a home in 24 month or less assuming you keep your credit up, have steady employment and down payment. We can also assist you with repairing your credit after the short sale process.
·You have a higher chance of a waiver of deficiency judgment in writing on the short sale approval letter when you work with Champion real Estate Solutions.
·A short sale transacts very similar to a traditional sale with a set closing date, usually 30 days from issued the approval letter.
· You eliminate a bad asset and move on with your life.
Understand all of your options today. Feel free to visit our website at www.CRESnow.com
The top 6 reasons why a short sale is beneficial is:
·There is absolutely no cost associated with processing your short sale when you work with Champion Real Estate Solutions.
·The term “short sale” isn’t reflected on a credit report. It is usually stated: “settled for less than amount owed” – This usually results in a 50-100 point hit based on our past short sale customer feedback.
·You potentially can purchase a home in 24 month or less assuming you keep your credit up, have steady employment and down payment. We can also assist you with repairing your credit after the short sale process.
·You have a higher chance of a waiver of deficiency judgment in writing on the short sale approval letter when you work with Champion real Estate Solutions.
·A short sale transacts very similar to a traditional sale with a set closing date, usually 30 days from issued the approval letter.
· You eliminate a bad asset and move on with your life.
Understand all of your options today. Feel free to visit our website at www.CRESnow.com
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Changes in Processing Bank Foreclosed Homes Set to Cost Lenders a Lot
The processing of bank foreclosed homes in the U.S. is set for a major revamp. Recent reports revealed that banks have been given until the middle of June 2011 by regulators to develop plans that will polish their foreclosure procedures and mortgage servicing processes, while an additional two months were provided to implement these plans.
The demand for change was prompted by allegations that emerged last year that a big number of properties under residential and commercial foreclosure listings were processed using faulty documents and signed by robo-signers. The changes that were recently demanded by regulators will reportedly cost banks around $1.1 billion, a cost that is related to order of consent, while yearly expenses are estimated to be around $35 million.
Aside from instructions to iron out lenders' procedures, federal regulators, along with government-sponsored enterprises Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, also presented plans that will promote successful loan modifications in the country. The move, analysts reported, is meant to control the continuous increase in the number of repossessed houses and foreclosed fixer upper properties for sale that are hammering the prices of residential properties all around the country. Under the loan modification plan, mortgage servicers will be required to approach homeowners earlier and more often than before following the initial delay in mortgage payment.
Moreover, mortgage firms will also be required to pay higher fees to servicers and satisfy certain benchmarks and timelines covering the processing of bank foreclosed homes and loan modification actions. Regulators have also demanded that banks provide a single contact point for borrowers to avoid getting them passed from one employee to another, a usual occurrence during the height of the foreclosure crisis which resulted in confusion and in most cases, outright foreclosures for a big number of homeowners.
Another change that is being required from banks is the addition of more employees who have enough knowledge when it comes to dealing with foreclosures and house repossessions for sale. According to some housing experts, most of the errors committed during the housing industry crisis were due to shortage of staff among banks and mortgage servicing firms. This shortage was also part of the reason why a lot of institutions opted to use robo-signers, analysts further added.
Regulators are hoping that the changes will make it easier for both banks and homeowners to deal with foreclosure issues. They also expect improved practices to result in fewer bank foreclosed homes and repossessed properties in all areas of the country.
The demand for change was prompted by allegations that emerged last year that a big number of properties under residential and commercial foreclosure listings were processed using faulty documents and signed by robo-signers. The changes that were recently demanded by regulators will reportedly cost banks around $1.1 billion, a cost that is related to order of consent, while yearly expenses are estimated to be around $35 million.
Aside from instructions to iron out lenders' procedures, federal regulators, along with government-sponsored enterprises Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, also presented plans that will promote successful loan modifications in the country. The move, analysts reported, is meant to control the continuous increase in the number of repossessed houses and foreclosed fixer upper properties for sale that are hammering the prices of residential properties all around the country. Under the loan modification plan, mortgage servicers will be required to approach homeowners earlier and more often than before following the initial delay in mortgage payment.
Moreover, mortgage firms will also be required to pay higher fees to servicers and satisfy certain benchmarks and timelines covering the processing of bank foreclosed homes and loan modification actions. Regulators have also demanded that banks provide a single contact point for borrowers to avoid getting them passed from one employee to another, a usual occurrence during the height of the foreclosure crisis which resulted in confusion and in most cases, outright foreclosures for a big number of homeowners.
Another change that is being required from banks is the addition of more employees who have enough knowledge when it comes to dealing with foreclosures and house repossessions for sale. According to some housing experts, most of the errors committed during the housing industry crisis were due to shortage of staff among banks and mortgage servicing firms. This shortage was also part of the reason why a lot of institutions opted to use robo-signers, analysts further added.
Regulators are hoping that the changes will make it easier for both banks and homeowners to deal with foreclosure issues. They also expect improved practices to result in fewer bank foreclosed homes and repossessed properties in all areas of the country.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Low Mortgage Rates Fail to Spur Interest in Foreclosure Listings
Despite low mortgage rates, traditional homebuyers are still reluctant to purchase residences, even low-priced ones under foreclosure listings. Although cash buyers and investors are taking advantage of the low prices of distressed properties, housing sales still failed to gain traction, with sales of existing dwellings and housing starts continuing to decline.
Housing analysts are hoping that further drops in mortgage rates during the third week of March will encourage more buyers to purchase single and multi family foreclosures and non-foreclosed dwellings. Rates for fixed mortgages declined during the week, while the 15-year mortgage declined from 4.15% to 3.97% in the third week of March, the first time in a full quarter that rates for such loans have gone below 4%.
According to housing market analysts, buyers of new homes and repo houses for sale are set to benefit from low mortgage rates in the coming weeks. They stated that rates are influenced by U.S. Treasury bonds which have declined following the disaster in Japan. Meanwhile, the rate for 30-year fixed loans also plummeted, dropping to 4.76% from 4.88% the week before. In November of last year, fixed loan rates recorded their lowest levels at 4.17% in 40 years. Analysts are expecting rates to remain low as Treasury bonds continue to drop.
However, most housing industry analysts are reluctant to predict that the drop in mortgage rates will encourage more purchasing activities in the non-foreclosed home market and in foreclosure listings since it has failed to do so in the past. Even during times when rates are starting to go down and prices of homes are plummeting, buyers were reluctant to enter the market and new home builders continue to suffer from weak demand.
The home building market took the worst of the impact of tepid demand, with housing starts also suffering from competition posed by low-priced distressed property for sale and foreclosures. In February, house construction activities declined to their lowest points in nearly two years, while home building permits dropped to a 50-year low. Homebuilders have stated that the recent drop in mortgage rates is unlikely to improve demand for new homes.
They stated that high supplies of foreclosure listings and restrictions in the lending market are preventing people from purchasing new residential properties. In addition, builders believe that the massive declines in property values are scaring people off from home buying, while majority just simply do not have the means to purchase due to unemployment.
www.eforeclosuremagazine.com
Housing analysts are hoping that further drops in mortgage rates during the third week of March will encourage more buyers to purchase single and multi family foreclosures and non-foreclosed dwellings. Rates for fixed mortgages declined during the week, while the 15-year mortgage declined from 4.15% to 3.97% in the third week of March, the first time in a full quarter that rates for such loans have gone below 4%.
According to housing market analysts, buyers of new homes and repo houses for sale are set to benefit from low mortgage rates in the coming weeks. They stated that rates are influenced by U.S. Treasury bonds which have declined following the disaster in Japan. Meanwhile, the rate for 30-year fixed loans also plummeted, dropping to 4.76% from 4.88% the week before. In November of last year, fixed loan rates recorded their lowest levels at 4.17% in 40 years. Analysts are expecting rates to remain low as Treasury bonds continue to drop.
However, most housing industry analysts are reluctant to predict that the drop in mortgage rates will encourage more purchasing activities in the non-foreclosed home market and in foreclosure listings since it has failed to do so in the past. Even during times when rates are starting to go down and prices of homes are plummeting, buyers were reluctant to enter the market and new home builders continue to suffer from weak demand.
The home building market took the worst of the impact of tepid demand, with housing starts also suffering from competition posed by low-priced distressed property for sale and foreclosures. In February, house construction activities declined to their lowest points in nearly two years, while home building permits dropped to a 50-year low. Homebuilders have stated that the recent drop in mortgage rates is unlikely to improve demand for new homes.
They stated that high supplies of foreclosure listings and restrictions in the lending market are preventing people from purchasing new residential properties. In addition, builders believe that the massive declines in property values are scaring people off from home buying, while majority just simply do not have the means to purchase due to unemployment.
www.eforeclosuremagazine.com
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Owners of Foreclosure Homes For Sale Contributing to Economy
Foreclosure homes for sale in various areas of the U.S. do not automatically get sold and their owners are not immediately turned out of their homes. On average, American homeowners are said to stay in their distressed houses for 18 months before they get evicted or their homes get sold as foreclosures. Within those months, majority of them do not bother paying their mortgages.
Housing industry analysts stated that a single family home or a townhouse for sale takes a long time to get sold at the current condition of the real estate market, leaving owners free to occupy these houses without payment for more than a year. This, in itself, sounds negative, but some economists claimed that this is actually benefiting the overall economy of the country.
According to them, empty and unsold bank owned houses do not do much for the economy, but a distressed home with occupants does have its benefits. Homeowners who have decided to stop paying mortgages and are staying in their distressed homes are usually able to rebuild their finances and spend the money that they would have used to pay their mortgages on other things. Consequently, this improves consumer spending all over the U.S. Consumer spending, economists explain, accounts for around 70% of the nation's economy and is the most important factor behind an economic recovery.
Economists also reported that the amount of extra income generated by the owners of foreclosure homes for sale who have stopped paying their loans and are currently staying in their unsold houses can reach up to $50 billion within 2011. This amount, they asserted, can provide consumer spending with a boost equal to 50% of the savings that can be generated from the payroll withholding cuts formulated in the bipartisan tax plan.
With a lot of homeowners living in their distressed homes free of rent, analysts stated that consumer spending can increase by around 2.8% this year. Moreover, the strategy is allowing a lot of homeowners to fix their financial situations and rebuild their credit records, which could help them purchase another home in the future. Deciding not to pay mortgages sounds bad, but some economists admit that it does help some homeowners save money and pay their other debts.
Economists stated that some live-in owners of foreclosure homes for sale have stopped paying their mortgages simply because they are unable to do so. Some have lost jobs, while others are facing financial emergencies. For others, particularly those with negative equity, the decision was consciously made.
www.eforeclosuremagazine.com
Housing industry analysts stated that a single family home or a townhouse for sale takes a long time to get sold at the current condition of the real estate market, leaving owners free to occupy these houses without payment for more than a year. This, in itself, sounds negative, but some economists claimed that this is actually benefiting the overall economy of the country.
According to them, empty and unsold bank owned houses do not do much for the economy, but a distressed home with occupants does have its benefits. Homeowners who have decided to stop paying mortgages and are staying in their distressed homes are usually able to rebuild their finances and spend the money that they would have used to pay their mortgages on other things. Consequently, this improves consumer spending all over the U.S. Consumer spending, economists explain, accounts for around 70% of the nation's economy and is the most important factor behind an economic recovery.
Economists also reported that the amount of extra income generated by the owners of foreclosure homes for sale who have stopped paying their loans and are currently staying in their unsold houses can reach up to $50 billion within 2011. This amount, they asserted, can provide consumer spending with a boost equal to 50% of the savings that can be generated from the payroll withholding cuts formulated in the bipartisan tax plan.
With a lot of homeowners living in their distressed homes free of rent, analysts stated that consumer spending can increase by around 2.8% this year. Moreover, the strategy is allowing a lot of homeowners to fix their financial situations and rebuild their credit records, which could help them purchase another home in the future. Deciding not to pay mortgages sounds bad, but some economists admit that it does help some homeowners save money and pay their other debts.
Economists stated that some live-in owners of foreclosure homes for sale have stopped paying their mortgages simply because they are unable to do so. Some have lost jobs, while others are facing financial emergencies. For others, particularly those with negative equity, the decision was consciously made.
www.eforeclosuremagazine.com
Monday, May 2, 2011
The Most Valuable Question You Can Ask
As you begin to take action toward the fulfillment of your goals and dreams, you must realize that not every action will be perfect.
Not every action will produce the desired result. Not every action will work.
Making mistakes, getting it almost right, and experimenting to see what happens are all part of the process of eventually getting it right. Thomas Edison is reported to have tried over 2,000 different experiments that failed before he finally got the light bulb to work. He once told a reporter that, from his perspective, he had never failed at all. Inventing the light bulb was just a 2,000-step process. If you can adopt that attitude, then you can be free to take an action, notice what result you get, and then adjust your next actions based on the feedback you have received.
Ready, Fire, Aim!
Don't be afraid to just jump in and get started moving toward your goals. As long as you pay attention to the feedback you receive, you will make progress. Just getting into the game and starting allows you to correct and refine your actions.
Remember, the longest journey begins with the first step!!
Not every action will produce the desired result. Not every action will work.
Making mistakes, getting it almost right, and experimenting to see what happens are all part of the process of eventually getting it right. Thomas Edison is reported to have tried over 2,000 different experiments that failed before he finally got the light bulb to work. He once told a reporter that, from his perspective, he had never failed at all. Inventing the light bulb was just a 2,000-step process. If you can adopt that attitude, then you can be free to take an action, notice what result you get, and then adjust your next actions based on the feedback you have received.
Ready, Fire, Aim!
Don't be afraid to just jump in and get started moving toward your goals. As long as you pay attention to the feedback you receive, you will make progress. Just getting into the game and starting allows you to correct and refine your actions.
Remember, the longest journey begins with the first step!!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Earn the Respect of Others
The Most Important Measure of Success
Being respected by others is very important to each of us. A survey done by the Gallup organization found that the most prominent living Americans rated the respect of others as the most important measure of success in life. They worked very hard to earn the respect of their parents, the respect of their spouses and children, the respect of their peers and colleagues, and the respect of mankind at large.
Why You Respect Yourself
It seems that we truly respect ourselves only when we feel that we are respected by others, and we will go to great lengths to earn and keep that respect. When we feel that someone respects us for who we are and what we have accomplished, we tend to be more open to that person's influence.
Two Things You Can Do
We can do two things to put ourselves in a position to be respected by others. The first is to develop our knowledge of our field. The more people perceive you know about your subject, the more they will respect you. The highest-paid people in almost every field are those who know more than the average people. They are recognized as experts, and they develop what is called "expert power." Because of their superior knowledge, they are looked up to and listened to, and they are much more capable of influencing others to act in a particular way than they would be if their knowledge level were just average.
Develop Your Expertise
Another way to put ourselves in a position of being respected by others is to develop your expertise. Expertise is closely tied to knowledge, but it is a little different. Expertise is the ability to do, the ability to perform well in your chosen field. Men and women with expertise are those who practice over and over in whatever they do until they become known far and wide as the very best in their field.
Action Exercises
First, study your field in detail. Dedicate at least one hour per day to reading, listening to audio programs, studying to become more and more knowledgeable about what you do.
Second, continually upgrade your knowledge and skills in your field. Identify your weakest important skill and go to work on that.Knowledge and know-how are the keys to the 21st century.
Being respected by others is very important to each of us. A survey done by the Gallup organization found that the most prominent living Americans rated the respect of others as the most important measure of success in life. They worked very hard to earn the respect of their parents, the respect of their spouses and children, the respect of their peers and colleagues, and the respect of mankind at large.
Why You Respect Yourself
It seems that we truly respect ourselves only when we feel that we are respected by others, and we will go to great lengths to earn and keep that respect. When we feel that someone respects us for who we are and what we have accomplished, we tend to be more open to that person's influence.
Two Things You Can Do
We can do two things to put ourselves in a position to be respected by others. The first is to develop our knowledge of our field. The more people perceive you know about your subject, the more they will respect you. The highest-paid people in almost every field are those who know more than the average people. They are recognized as experts, and they develop what is called "expert power." Because of their superior knowledge, they are looked up to and listened to, and they are much more capable of influencing others to act in a particular way than they would be if their knowledge level were just average.
Develop Your Expertise
Another way to put ourselves in a position of being respected by others is to develop your expertise. Expertise is closely tied to knowledge, but it is a little different. Expertise is the ability to do, the ability to perform well in your chosen field. Men and women with expertise are those who practice over and over in whatever they do until they become known far and wide as the very best in their field.
Action Exercises
First, study your field in detail. Dedicate at least one hour per day to reading, listening to audio programs, studying to become more and more knowledgeable about what you do.
Second, continually upgrade your knowledge and skills in your field. Identify your weakest important skill and go to work on that.Knowledge and know-how are the keys to the 21st century.
Weaknesses and Mistakes
Don't argue about other people's weaknesses and mistakes. Don't argue about your own weaknesses and mistakes. When you make a mistake remember that it is OK. the only acceptable behavior is to admit it, correct it, and learn from that mistake immediately.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Take Time Out for Mental Digestion
How can you get support for your ideas more easily than ever before?
I am fortunate enough to live in paradise. I am surrounded by vacationers of all kinds along with retirees .... and where I live they have all been very successful in their careers. The other day a retired executive gave me an old pamphlet he had carried with him throughout his career. It was entitled, "Take Time Out for Mental Digestion."
He told me that this little pamphlet had been one of the most helpful things he had ever read in his business life. he was a former high level executive of a very well known and respected company.
The message of this pamphlet was simple. It said that people always resist new ideas and new courses of action, even if the ideas are good for them. However, if they have an opportunity to think about them for a few days, very often they will come around to the new way of thinking with both agreement and enthusiasm.
The pamphlet said that an individual needs about 72 hours to absorb a new idea. Effective executives are those who present their ideas in very casual way, rather than as a decision or a fact engraved in stone. They present their thoughts as ideas for consideration. Effective executives encourage the other person to take the new idea or new way of doing things and think about it for a few days. They say that "we can discuss this later" and they just leave the idea with the other person.
I thought about this for some time and have come to the conclusion that this is a remarkable piece of advice and a very important insight to communicating effectively with others.
People Will Resist Change
It is normal and natural for people to resist change of any kind, even and including a change that they will benefit from. So, allow them to take time out for mental digestion. Present your new idea in a low keyed, non-threatening way and just encourage the individual to think about it for a while and then discuss it later.
Present Ideas As Possibilities
Many people are continually frustrated by trying to get their ideas, which you may think through and think, of course, are wonderful, accepted by your seniors and your co-workers.
When you start taking time out for mental digestion and just present ideas as possibilities, you will be astonished at how much more readily people will turn around and come to see the validity of the ideas. Also, if you present an idea with too much enthusiasm, you trigger natural resistance which soon becomes ego-based, irrespective of the validity of the ideas.
Present Ideas in a Low-Keyed Manner
On the other hand, if you present your ideas in a low-keyed manner and just leave them for consideration, people can come around to accepting them in their own time and embracing your new ideas without any loss of face or without any ego problems.
The next time you have a great idea, mention it casually and ask other people what they think about it. Give people time to digest the idea, even if they are totally opposed to it at the beginning.
Action Exercises
First, think your ideas through on paper before you present them to others. Expect natural resistance. When you do present your ideas, do it in a low keyed, almost indifferent manner so that it stirs up no resistance.
Second, expect your ideas to be rejected initially. When this happens, simply ask open ended questions to get feedback and then present your ideas again at a later time in a different form. It is amazing how effective this strategy will be.
To your success
I am fortunate enough to live in paradise. I am surrounded by vacationers of all kinds along with retirees .... and where I live they have all been very successful in their careers. The other day a retired executive gave me an old pamphlet he had carried with him throughout his career. It was entitled, "Take Time Out for Mental Digestion."
He told me that this little pamphlet had been one of the most helpful things he had ever read in his business life. he was a former high level executive of a very well known and respected company.
The message of this pamphlet was simple. It said that people always resist new ideas and new courses of action, even if the ideas are good for them. However, if they have an opportunity to think about them for a few days, very often they will come around to the new way of thinking with both agreement and enthusiasm.
The pamphlet said that an individual needs about 72 hours to absorb a new idea. Effective executives are those who present their ideas in very casual way, rather than as a decision or a fact engraved in stone. They present their thoughts as ideas for consideration. Effective executives encourage the other person to take the new idea or new way of doing things and think about it for a few days. They say that "we can discuss this later" and they just leave the idea with the other person.
I thought about this for some time and have come to the conclusion that this is a remarkable piece of advice and a very important insight to communicating effectively with others.
People Will Resist Change
It is normal and natural for people to resist change of any kind, even and including a change that they will benefit from. So, allow them to take time out for mental digestion. Present your new idea in a low keyed, non-threatening way and just encourage the individual to think about it for a while and then discuss it later.
Present Ideas As Possibilities
Many people are continually frustrated by trying to get their ideas, which you may think through and think, of course, are wonderful, accepted by your seniors and your co-workers.
When you start taking time out for mental digestion and just present ideas as possibilities, you will be astonished at how much more readily people will turn around and come to see the validity of the ideas. Also, if you present an idea with too much enthusiasm, you trigger natural resistance which soon becomes ego-based, irrespective of the validity of the ideas.
Present Ideas in a Low-Keyed Manner
On the other hand, if you present your ideas in a low-keyed manner and just leave them for consideration, people can come around to accepting them in their own time and embracing your new ideas without any loss of face or without any ego problems.
The next time you have a great idea, mention it casually and ask other people what they think about it. Give people time to digest the idea, even if they are totally opposed to it at the beginning.
Action Exercises
First, think your ideas through on paper before you present them to others. Expect natural resistance. When you do present your ideas, do it in a low keyed, almost indifferent manner so that it stirs up no resistance.
Second, expect your ideas to be rejected initially. When this happens, simply ask open ended questions to get feedback and then present your ideas again at a later time in a different form. It is amazing how effective this strategy will be.
To your success
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Self Confidence
You probably already know that the most successful people in the world pocess incredible levels of self-confidence. These people have accomplished great levels of success and happiness in their lives and seem to be unstoppable in everything that they do.
The fact is that when you develop unshakable self-confidence your whole world will change for the better.
Self confidence will give you the confidence to take whatever steps necessary to make more money and enjoy a higher standard of living. You'll be more powerful and persuasive with other people. And you'll be more popular and likable.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
How can you make a big dream come true?
You need to have one secret element, and when you have that secret element, nothing will get in your way. That element is an intense desire! You must desire something with all of your heart to go after it and manifest it. Often the difference between those who achieve something and those who do not, is the element of desire. When you have a burning desire for something you ignite a fire within you that attracts with an incredible force. The law of attraction is magnetically drawn to that intense fire element in you, and it responds by gathering all universal forces to make your dream come true.
Very often we ask for things because we think our life will be better with those things, but inside of us we do not have an immense desire for those things. When you don't feel that immense desire within you, you are receiving guidance telling you that this is not something you really want. That is why it is so important to get clear on what it is that you really want with all of your heart, because what you really want with all of your heart is the very desire that you can manifest quickly.
When your heart is on fire with desire you will attract the right things to do, you will find visualizing so easy, and you will find it is effortless to think positive thoughts of your desire. You will attract all the qualities you need, such as strength, courage, belief, persistence, faith, and a powerful will. An intense desire lights up your being, producing a magnetic force that enables the law of attraction to cut through every physical obstacle for you and make your dream come true.
Go for your dreams! Don't cheat yourself in your life with petty desires because you don't think you can live your dream. THE DREAM inside you is the one thing that you have the greatest power to create, because you have an immense desire for it. Find the dream inside you - and make it come true!
Very often we ask for things because we think our life will be better with those things, but inside of us we do not have an immense desire for those things. When you don't feel that immense desire within you, you are receiving guidance telling you that this is not something you really want. That is why it is so important to get clear on what it is that you really want with all of your heart, because what you really want with all of your heart is the very desire that you can manifest quickly.
When your heart is on fire with desire you will attract the right things to do, you will find visualizing so easy, and you will find it is effortless to think positive thoughts of your desire. You will attract all the qualities you need, such as strength, courage, belief, persistence, faith, and a powerful will. An intense desire lights up your being, producing a magnetic force that enables the law of attraction to cut through every physical obstacle for you and make your dream come true.
Go for your dreams! Don't cheat yourself in your life with petty desires because you don't think you can live your dream. THE DREAM inside you is the one thing that you have the greatest power to create, because you have an immense desire for it. Find the dream inside you - and make it come true!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Turn any problem into your success!
Problems come up all the time in business and in life. How you handle these problems determine your success ratio. Being able to address the problematic situation and decide on a course of action will play a large part in your success in life and business.
Do you know the best way to handle your problems? Many people do not. Many people view problems as a form of bad luck. The reality is that life is not always easy or fair. Life happens.
How you succeed in business and life depends NOT on what problems you get, but what YOU do about the problems that arise. How you handle your problems is what defines who you are.
Handle the problems that come up immediately. Putting them off only makes them worst or harder to deal with. Address the problem and decide what your best coarse of action will be and act on it. Should your first solution not work, simply cross it off of your list of possible solutions and move to the next course of action. Eventually you will find the solution that will work best for your situation. It is OK to not find the correct solution on the first try, this will help you learn and expand your knowledge. The point is to not give up or allow yourself to feel beaten or at a loss.
Remember that everyone has problems in their lives. No one persons problems are any greater or worst than someone else's. Problems are usually relevant to a persons life and although they may seem uninportant to you, they may be a heavy burden for someone else.
Do you know the best way to handle your problems? Many people do not. Many people view problems as a form of bad luck. The reality is that life is not always easy or fair. Life happens.
How you succeed in business and life depends NOT on what problems you get, but what YOU do about the problems that arise. How you handle your problems is what defines who you are.
Handle the problems that come up immediately. Putting them off only makes them worst or harder to deal with. Address the problem and decide what your best coarse of action will be and act on it. Should your first solution not work, simply cross it off of your list of possible solutions and move to the next course of action. Eventually you will find the solution that will work best for your situation. It is OK to not find the correct solution on the first try, this will help you learn and expand your knowledge. The point is to not give up or allow yourself to feel beaten or at a loss.
Remember that everyone has problems in their lives. No one persons problems are any greater or worst than someone else's. Problems are usually relevant to a persons life and although they may seem uninportant to you, they may be a heavy burden for someone else.
Monday, January 17, 2011
LLC or CORPORATION?
Many who are looking to start a new business want to know whether to form a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or a Corporation (s Corp or C Corp). They want to know which one is best, which one will save them money, which one will give them the best tax breaks, which one will give them the best assest protection and which one will make them money.
The answer depends on what kind of business it is and how the business owner would like to arrange his/her tax liabilities and the other realities that come with business ownership and operation.We can start our discussion by looking at a partnership. This is a common form of business arrangement because it doesn’t take a whole lot of paperwork to arrange, and is often formed inadvertently due to lack of proper filing or even ignorance. A partnership is nothing more than a voluntary association between two or more people who agree to collectively own and operate a business. Each partner is proportionally responsible for all of the profits, losses, liabilities, and other happenings of the business. It is simple to arrange, but offers little in the way of protection from personal liability for the individual partners.This is why corporations and LLCs are beneficial: they offer differing levels of protection against personal liability.
Corporations
Corporations are an excellent way to protect owners against personal liability for losses and taxes, because they function as separate legal entities. More than just a legal entity, corporations are recognized as legal persons that can own property, file taxes, sue, be sued, sign contracts, and exist apart from its owners. This is beneficial for the owners of a corporation because all liabilities are applied to the corporation itself and are not passed on to the individual owners.The owners of a corporation are those who own shares of the corporation. Since a corporation pays taxes on its profits as though it were a person and is individually liable for losses, the shareholders are protected against these things. However, when the profits are passed on to the shareholders in the form of dividends, the individual stockholders are responsible to pay taxes on these. This is both a benefit because the corporation is responsible for its own profits and losses, and a detriment because taxes are paid twice (once by the corporation for profits and once by the shareholder for dividends).Corporations offer huge benefits because of liability protection, but this comes at a certain price. The price is the observance of corporate formalities. These formalities include holding annual meetings, keeping minutes of meetings, submitting annual reports, appointing directors and officers, and issuing stock. These formalities must be observed regardless of the number of shareholders. If not, then the “corporate veil” could be pierced and the shareholders could be found personally liable for the corporation’s debts.
Limited Liability Company
An LLC fits somewhere between a partnership and a corporation. It offers liability protection similar to a corporation, but has operational and tax advantages similar to a partnership. Generally, the owners of an LLC, which are referred to as members, are not liable for the debts or obligations of the company. This offers a level of liability protection similar to a corporation. However, the members are responsible for the profits and losses of the LLC since they pass straight through to them in a similar manner to partnerships. Another benefit to LLCs, beyond the liability protection, is the ease of maintenance. There are fewer paperwork filing and record keeping requirements. For example, LLCs do not need to keep minutes of meetings or file annual reports. There is also the ability for LLC owners to decide how they wish to allocate their profits and losses unlike the allocation of dividends based on share ownership for corporations.The way an LLC is taxed can get tricky depending on the state where it is formed since some states recognize LLCs as sole-proprietorships or partnerships. Still other states allow an LLC to choose how it is taxed which offers some flexibility. The flexibility and state specific rules for taxation can be both a benefit and a detriment to choosing this business form.
Conclusion
Both corporations and LLCs offer liability protection and ways of arranging profits and losses that can be more beneficial than plain partnerships. In making the decision as to which would best suit a business’s needs, some factors need to be weighed such as whether stock will be issued publicly, how tax liability will be dealt with, and how much organizational maintenance is manageable.Each state has its own laws governing these business formations and there can be subtleties in how they are formed and how they function. It is recommended to seek the advice of an attorney or accountant for specific questions about a business formation and how it could affect a new business owner.
The answer depends on what kind of business it is and how the business owner would like to arrange his/her tax liabilities and the other realities that come with business ownership and operation.We can start our discussion by looking at a partnership. This is a common form of business arrangement because it doesn’t take a whole lot of paperwork to arrange, and is often formed inadvertently due to lack of proper filing or even ignorance. A partnership is nothing more than a voluntary association between two or more people who agree to collectively own and operate a business. Each partner is proportionally responsible for all of the profits, losses, liabilities, and other happenings of the business. It is simple to arrange, but offers little in the way of protection from personal liability for the individual partners.This is why corporations and LLCs are beneficial: they offer differing levels of protection against personal liability.
Corporations
Corporations are an excellent way to protect owners against personal liability for losses and taxes, because they function as separate legal entities. More than just a legal entity, corporations are recognized as legal persons that can own property, file taxes, sue, be sued, sign contracts, and exist apart from its owners. This is beneficial for the owners of a corporation because all liabilities are applied to the corporation itself and are not passed on to the individual owners.The owners of a corporation are those who own shares of the corporation. Since a corporation pays taxes on its profits as though it were a person and is individually liable for losses, the shareholders are protected against these things. However, when the profits are passed on to the shareholders in the form of dividends, the individual stockholders are responsible to pay taxes on these. This is both a benefit because the corporation is responsible for its own profits and losses, and a detriment because taxes are paid twice (once by the corporation for profits and once by the shareholder for dividends).Corporations offer huge benefits because of liability protection, but this comes at a certain price. The price is the observance of corporate formalities. These formalities include holding annual meetings, keeping minutes of meetings, submitting annual reports, appointing directors and officers, and issuing stock. These formalities must be observed regardless of the number of shareholders. If not, then the “corporate veil” could be pierced and the shareholders could be found personally liable for the corporation’s debts.
Limited Liability Company
An LLC fits somewhere between a partnership and a corporation. It offers liability protection similar to a corporation, but has operational and tax advantages similar to a partnership. Generally, the owners of an LLC, which are referred to as members, are not liable for the debts or obligations of the company. This offers a level of liability protection similar to a corporation. However, the members are responsible for the profits and losses of the LLC since they pass straight through to them in a similar manner to partnerships. Another benefit to LLCs, beyond the liability protection, is the ease of maintenance. There are fewer paperwork filing and record keeping requirements. For example, LLCs do not need to keep minutes of meetings or file annual reports. There is also the ability for LLC owners to decide how they wish to allocate their profits and losses unlike the allocation of dividends based on share ownership for corporations.The way an LLC is taxed can get tricky depending on the state where it is formed since some states recognize LLCs as sole-proprietorships or partnerships. Still other states allow an LLC to choose how it is taxed which offers some flexibility. The flexibility and state specific rules for taxation can be both a benefit and a detriment to choosing this business form.
Conclusion
Both corporations and LLCs offer liability protection and ways of arranging profits and losses that can be more beneficial than plain partnerships. In making the decision as to which would best suit a business’s needs, some factors need to be weighed such as whether stock will be issued publicly, how tax liability will be dealt with, and how much organizational maintenance is manageable.Each state has its own laws governing these business formations and there can be subtleties in how they are formed and how they function. It is recommended to seek the advice of an attorney or accountant for specific questions about a business formation and how it could affect a new business owner.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Successful Mindset = Successful Business
Setting Goals Is Where True Success Begins; Achieving Those Goals Is Where Success Happens! Setting Goals without Achieving Those Goals Equal’s Failure.
There are key factors to effective goal setting which will give you the mindset needed to be successful.
Vision:
I am sure you have heard the word vision time and time again; but without knowing the importance of having a compelling vision; what a vision actually is and how it should be used you will be stuck in the beginning stages without moving forward towards success.
If you do not know where you want to be… How will you ever get there???
Vision incorporates the aspirations of what outcomes are hoped for. An entrepreneur’s definition of success can go well beyond profit maximization to include a whole range of other factors, including employment in the community, ability to create balance with family responsibilities, bringing a needed service or product to the market, or creating a certain work environment for employees that is not available in other businesses.
Initially a clear and compelling vision is critical to keep you focused. We often get tempted to pursue more opportunities than we can effectively handle. It is also an essential part of attracting employees, investors, suppliers and customers.
As your business grows, your vision becomes a compass to guide decision making both from a strategic and from an ethical perspective. It helps create order and meaning out of the chaos that so often part of a growing venture.
Personal Passion:
Think about what really gets you fired up, what drives your dreams. Your passions need to be able to get behind your list of goals and fuel the fire that makes you ACT.
Passion is a powerful emotion, such as love, joy, hatred, or anger.When it comes to your life’s work what do you want to pursue? What do you want to do? In order to succeed in small business, and in all areas of your life, you need to follow your bliss, love what you do and live your Passion. The basic premise is fairly simple. Think of the whole thing as cyclical: if you love what you do, then it’s not really “work” and your productivity, job and personal satisfaction will go hand in hand. You will look forward to your day instead of the typical dread of the daily grind. If you are brave and take a risk, and accept your challenges ahead with passion and enthusiasm, then you are able to create new ideas and imaginative solutions for your problems.
Part of living your passion and having “boundless enthusiasm” is being the best person you can be. Striving each day to learn something new, even if it means learning from past mistakes, is something you can do every day. Perhaps one of the best ways to live your passion is to start today and develop an insatiable appetite for learning. Become a lifelong student. Stop by your favorite local bookstore or library and familiarize yourself with the business section.
Start small and browse through the vast array of business publications, magazines and newspapers. The best part is you don’t even have to buy anything (at first). The only limits are your own imagination. Simply put, “knowledge is power.” The more you know, the more you are able to apply that knowledge to your business.Think of all the innovative thinkers, did they stop learning? Your own personal journey is just beginning.
Ego:
Check Your Ego at the Door!You do not need arrogance, defensiveness, or a desperate need for approval in your quest for entrepreneurial success, as these behaviors can only shut down dialogue, opportunities and decisions.
You may be brilliant, but you need to realize that you do not know everything; in fact, no one does. Hence, you may need collaboration and inputs from other people, which you can only maximize if you set your ego aside.
Honesty:
Your vision, passion and gifts that exist within you will carry you toward your goals; as Shakespeare wrote “To thine own self be true.”Be Brutally Honest when setting your goals; know your strengths and weaknesses. Don’t pretend to have skills or talents that simply do not exist within you.
Achievable Goal Setting:
Set Goals that are YOURS to Achieve.Make sure the goals you set are literally “Your Goals.” It does not seem possible for you to be passionate about someone else’s goals. For you to achieve the goals you have set before you, you must believe deep within yourself that the goals you are working toward will take your life where you want to go. Don’t take on goals for yourself that were designed by someone else. Look at your life and your vision then set goals that you will walk through fire to achieve.
Action:
Live a Life of Action! Remember to spend less time on setting your goals and more time on Acting on them. If you have a tendency to get stuck in the “planning” stage of goal setting, then start with setting smaller achievable goals each day that you make a priority to reach before the end of each day. If your goal is to host three home parties a week then set a goal that is yours to achieve within each day.
Can you Make someone book a home party? Of course not, but YOU can take the action (make 10 calls a day, everyday), that means you are taking this goal seriously and investing yourself in the process of reaching that goal.
There are key factors to effective goal setting which will give you the mindset needed to be successful.
Vision:
I am sure you have heard the word vision time and time again; but without knowing the importance of having a compelling vision; what a vision actually is and how it should be used you will be stuck in the beginning stages without moving forward towards success.
If you do not know where you want to be… How will you ever get there???
Vision incorporates the aspirations of what outcomes are hoped for. An entrepreneur’s definition of success can go well beyond profit maximization to include a whole range of other factors, including employment in the community, ability to create balance with family responsibilities, bringing a needed service or product to the market, or creating a certain work environment for employees that is not available in other businesses.
Initially a clear and compelling vision is critical to keep you focused. We often get tempted to pursue more opportunities than we can effectively handle. It is also an essential part of attracting employees, investors, suppliers and customers.
As your business grows, your vision becomes a compass to guide decision making both from a strategic and from an ethical perspective. It helps create order and meaning out of the chaos that so often part of a growing venture.
Personal Passion:
Think about what really gets you fired up, what drives your dreams. Your passions need to be able to get behind your list of goals and fuel the fire that makes you ACT.
Passion is a powerful emotion, such as love, joy, hatred, or anger.When it comes to your life’s work what do you want to pursue? What do you want to do? In order to succeed in small business, and in all areas of your life, you need to follow your bliss, love what you do and live your Passion. The basic premise is fairly simple. Think of the whole thing as cyclical: if you love what you do, then it’s not really “work” and your productivity, job and personal satisfaction will go hand in hand. You will look forward to your day instead of the typical dread of the daily grind. If you are brave and take a risk, and accept your challenges ahead with passion and enthusiasm, then you are able to create new ideas and imaginative solutions for your problems.
Part of living your passion and having “boundless enthusiasm” is being the best person you can be. Striving each day to learn something new, even if it means learning from past mistakes, is something you can do every day. Perhaps one of the best ways to live your passion is to start today and develop an insatiable appetite for learning. Become a lifelong student. Stop by your favorite local bookstore or library and familiarize yourself with the business section.
Start small and browse through the vast array of business publications, magazines and newspapers. The best part is you don’t even have to buy anything (at first). The only limits are your own imagination. Simply put, “knowledge is power.” The more you know, the more you are able to apply that knowledge to your business.Think of all the innovative thinkers, did they stop learning? Your own personal journey is just beginning.
Ego:
Check Your Ego at the Door!You do not need arrogance, defensiveness, or a desperate need for approval in your quest for entrepreneurial success, as these behaviors can only shut down dialogue, opportunities and decisions.
You may be brilliant, but you need to realize that you do not know everything; in fact, no one does. Hence, you may need collaboration and inputs from other people, which you can only maximize if you set your ego aside.
Honesty:
Your vision, passion and gifts that exist within you will carry you toward your goals; as Shakespeare wrote “To thine own self be true.”Be Brutally Honest when setting your goals; know your strengths and weaknesses. Don’t pretend to have skills or talents that simply do not exist within you.
Achievable Goal Setting:
Set Goals that are YOURS to Achieve.Make sure the goals you set are literally “Your Goals.” It does not seem possible for you to be passionate about someone else’s goals. For you to achieve the goals you have set before you, you must believe deep within yourself that the goals you are working toward will take your life where you want to go. Don’t take on goals for yourself that were designed by someone else. Look at your life and your vision then set goals that you will walk through fire to achieve.
Action:
Live a Life of Action! Remember to spend less time on setting your goals and more time on Acting on them. If you have a tendency to get stuck in the “planning” stage of goal setting, then start with setting smaller achievable goals each day that you make a priority to reach before the end of each day. If your goal is to host three home parties a week then set a goal that is yours to achieve within each day.
Can you Make someone book a home party? Of course not, but YOU can take the action (make 10 calls a day, everyday), that means you are taking this goal seriously and investing yourself in the process of reaching that goal.
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