Assumptions of domestic superiority extend beyond rooting for the home team in the impending Winter Olympics: Most folks think their own country more important than it is, in all areas. Take the economy. Americas the largest economy, so Americans (and most of the world, frankly) tend to assume world growth hinges on the US. But the US is only 23% of the worlds GDPbig, but far from the major determinant of global economic direction. While the US...more
Since the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) assumed power August 30th"?"unseating the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party"?"Japan (the world"??s second largest economy) has been on a bit of a rollercoaster. In recent weeks, Prime Minister Hatoyama and the DPJ"??s campaign promises for change are ringing true"?"and that"??s not necessarily a good thing for the country"??s stock market.This week, Japan"??s Cabinet Office revised last quarter"??s GDP...more
If you are a property developer and in dire need of money, never design a marketing campaign to look like "real estate investor wanted". Though this may seem as a straightforward approach and even be considered as eye-catching, still it does not seem very professional to potential big investors who are usually looking to invest in some very professional developers. In order to create a successful marketing campaign every developer should consider a very subtle yet aggressive approach in order to gain the biggest advantage amongst potential investors. This is why a successful marketing campaign is often considered an art.In order to design a successful marketing campaign to attract the most number of investors every property developer must keep the following factors in mind.Targeted market- though a wide array of investors may seem very attractive but it is highly unstable as investors from wider fields do not flock together and can create very erratic investments in your projects. Having a targeted investor base will provide you with a greater advantage as most of your investors will be of the same profile or at least similar providing the best possible cash flow along with stable...more
The real equation in real estate is price vs. condition. If your home is marketed effectively, (i.e., at least two dozen showings, and it's in the best possible showing condition) you should get a favorable response in 1 to 3 weeks. By "favorable" I mean second showings, requests for additional information, or an actual offerAs a loan officer, your...more
Making an IRA real estate investment is not an easy job, as there are many rules and regulations which could easily get you into trouble with the IRS. According to most of the laws which are in place governing the IRA, using the IRA to buy any kind of property can put you in violation of their terms. This in turn can easily have you paying for...more
As Christians, we know that everything we own really belongs to God. This is mentioned several times in the Bible. For example, Deuteronomy 10:14 reads, "To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it." (NIV)While we may have lots of material possessions right now, they are only temporary. We definitely can't take them with us when we leave this world.We should avoid getting attached to the things of this world because we are only borrowing them. This concept actually didn't hit home for me until my car was stolen several years ago. I had a lot of personal belongings in it that night, and I was devastated when I found them all gone.But I honestly could not tell you half of the things that were in the car. My life has not been significantly changed by not having most of the things that are now gone. Once I understood that these things are only temporary, my mind was at ease.The Lord will take care of youIn Isaiah 55:8-9, the Lord reminds us that His plans are bigger than ours. His plans for us are beyond our comprehension.We should focus on allowing God to be in control of everything, including our money, so that He can work...more
If you want to stop or avoid foreclosure, you need to act fast, as you will not be allotted much time. In reality if you foresee the problem, you need to work out the options and search for the most suitable one. However the mortgage modification...more
Gold is measured in ounce and carats. Ornamental gold usually comes in 22ct, 18ct, 14ct, and even 9ct. Pure gold is rated at 24 carats and meant only for gold bars and sheets. For the making of jewelry a mixture of copper and silver is required along...more
When you need to make extra cash there are some things you may want to do. One of these things is to sell gold jewelry that you may have in your home that you dont use or wear anymore. Selling gold jewelry can help you make fast cash for whatever you...more
With how the economy has been going these days, everyone is struggling with their money situation. There has been many jobs being lost because of how our countries financial situation is sitting. For those who are lucky enough, a second job has been...more
On the sidelines of the 16th World Islamic Banking Conference in Bahrain yesterday the Central Bank of Bahrain and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) have signed an agreement providing a formal basis for supervisory cooperation and mutual...more
The climate of the economy has made many lose their jobs, face pay cuts and endure lay-offs. The problems faced by all are universal. The mortgage payments payable monthly by homeowners has risen out of proportion to a person's capacity to pay....more