Making the Fresh Start Presentation

So you are out and running your route and have found a homeowner home who wants to listen to a Fresh Start Presentation (FSP). Remember the Fresh Start Presentation is the Homeowner Options slide show that you have. It goes through the advantages and disadvantages of the seven (7) options available to the financially distressed homeowner. They are as follows:
1)Sell on the Open Market
2)Refinance the home
3)Restructure the mortgage
4)File bankruptcy
5)Borrow from friends and family
6)Let it go to foreclosure
7)Sell to an investor

Whether you have scheduled an appointment or have just knocked the door the opportunity to make the presentation will lead to money for you. So what is the best way to make the presentation? Do you start with the overview and then go through each option? Do you ask some preliminary questions and get to the homeowners present position or do you just get to the price we will pay for the home and leave it at that?

The answer depends upon the homeowner and your preparation for your visit with the homeowner. Remember ?Information is power and the key to a successful negotiation and purchase of your next home or investment property?. So if you have failed to prepare for your meeting with the homeowner your chances of success are diminished. We try to gather information for you and put it in the notes. Some information can be gathered by going over the pricing of the home when you have a scheduled appointment. The rest of the information will come from the homeowners? needs and wants and honest eyes.

What follows are typical situations you will run into in the field and what assumptions you should make if you run into these types of situations. They are 1) Research indicates that the home is on the market. 2) Home is vacant; 3) Homeowner just came out of Bankruptcy.

Home on the Market

What assumptions can we make if the home is placed on the market?
1) We know that they are willing to leave the home and move on with their lives.

2) The Homeowners have cut the emotional attachment to the home.
3) They have either eliminated or exhausted the following options: refinance, restructure and borrowing from friends and relatives.
From this we can make the following conclusion: The homeowner is left with the bankruptcy option and selling on the open market or to us. Here is a note from a locator regarding a house that is on the market.

Visited 8/12/06; 1PM. Met HO in driveway. HO's are divorced and selling the property. Home vacant. Property is listed with Briarwood Realty. Presented the Fresh Start Program to HO's. Interior of the home is broom swept condition already. Good condition. Husband was ready to give release, wife not willing to give release today. Wife indicated that she would like to take a few days and to talk with the bank on Monday. We agreed to contact each other on Tuesday 8/15/06. I left contact info with them and received their contact info as well. Will take complete set of photos when I get the release. Both HO's confirm that they have equity in the property.

Now what part of the FSP would you pitch to get the release? How do you begin the process? If I knew the number they had placed on the house, I would talk about market time, home inspections and the possibility of an unsavory investor tying them up until it is too late and purchasing at the auction.

If I did not know the market number I would ask for the price and how long it has been sitting on the market.

This type of presentation should begin with a back-up plan or safety net plan. It should inform the homeowners that we could possibly purchase the property in a quick fashion and net them some money for their fresh start. We would do this by making a deal with the listing broker to continue to list the property after we purchased it. Saving the homeowners the cost of the broker. We could also inform them that they would not have the carrying costs, insurance, taxes, and foreclosure costs that are currently stacking up on the property. All of this may add up to a less stressful conveyance than waiting out a slow market. If you are fairly new at locating just use the making the offer to the homeowner chart to walk you through the offer: This chart is located on the resource page of the website.

When a home is on the market it is fairly difficult to get a homeowner to agree to sell the property to an investor. Reasons are that some mortgage broker has told them that they can sell their home for a number we will not pay. Only time and an auction date will usually make this homeowner come around. A smart locator will make the pitch for the backup plan and wait until it is close to the auction to return for a final opportunity to purchase the property. In the meantime just call the homeowner every week or ten days to check in on their situation. This will allow you to have a continuing dialogue and build some type of relationship with the homeowner.

HOME IS VACANT

What assumptions can we make if the home is vacant?

1) We know that they are willing to leave the home and move on with their lives (they already have).
2) The Homeowners have cut the emotional attachment to the home.
3) That the house is costing the homeowner carrying costs each and every day. We can stop the bleeding by purchasing the home.
4) Homeowner should be happy to unload the property.

Here is a note of a recent vacant home visit:

Visited 8/12/06; 3:15PM. HO not home. Left into letter in the door with personal note. Spoke with the neighbor to get an update on this property. Mailbox is full. Shrubs and vines have overgrown the yard and cover the primary entrance to the house. Lawn has not been mowed in months. Neighbor says that the owner is a great person. He seems to think that the owner has another residence in Marshfield. This property had been up for sale. The HO has been trying to sell it for almost 2 years. He believes that the last listing was $249K. He also has been in the house and said that a lot of work has been done on the inside. Driveway is not paved. Otherwise, nice neighborhood. Dead end street with playground for children. This property is on the quiet end of the street directly across from the playground, corner lot. Looks like a good investment. We will need to track this person down.

Once the homeowner is found the pitch would be straight to the sale of the property to our company. There is little need to go through the rest of the options with this homeowner. It would simply be straight to the sale of the property. Again, this particular note tells us that he had it on the market for 249,000 dollars for two years or so. So we could easily tell him that the price of the property is too high and substitute it for the price that we would sell the property at. (see your manager or the index for the price). Next, I would use the Homeowner chart again to go through the price we could offer on the house and why. Once you as a locator get familiar with the costs associated with a home you can forego using the chart.

This vacant property purchase should be fairly easy once we have tracked down the homeowner. There is no emotional attachment, in fact the homeowner should be relieved to get rid of the property. I would stay on your manager to find these owners and provide you with the means to make a deal.

JUST OUT OF BANKRUPTCY OR IN BANKRUPTCY BUT IS LIQUIDATING THE PROPERTY TO PAY FOR THE PLAN.

What assumptions can we make if the home just came out of bankruptcy?

1) We know that they are finished with most of the options. They can file bankruptcy again but it will not help them.
2) The Homeowners can try to refinance but the cost of the mortgage will be astronomical.
3) That the homeowner has tried everything to save the home and failed.

Here the homeowners have been through the entire process. They have borrowed money from friends and relative, tried to restructure, and refinance the home as well as save it in bankruptcy plan by forcing a payment plan on the bank. Nothing has worked. You need to allow the homeowner a way out with dignity if possible. That may come from you just purchasing the property and giving them enough to begin renting.

They only have two real options left: 1) sell on the open market or sell to us. Your job is to explain to them the problem of selling on the open market with only weeks to go to the auction is not a viable option. The real option is trying to get some equity out by selling to us.

This type of purchase has to be performed with surgical precision. You have homeowners who are emotionally drained from the process of trying to save the home. They trust nobody including the lawyer who took them into bankruptcy and feel like everyone has screwed them. If you are empathetic now would be the time to show it.

Here is a note on a property where this happened.
7/31 note: Relief from stay of auction granted.
11/05 note: In chapter 13 now. He isn't interested in hearing our option as the thought of selling his home makes him cringe. He did agree with me that selling is better than losing to auction. He has the auction stayed for some time now. Let?s keep an eye on his bankruptcy. This is a good home.

From the note the locator has been watching this house since early November 2005. Long time to check in on the property, but it is getting ready to payoff. The new note indicates that the bank has now received the right to foreclose upon the property. It is usually the step before the bankruptcy being dismissed.

The locator will now need to go out to the home and listen to the story of the bankruptcy and convince this homeowner that it is best to sell the home instead of losing it to the bank. This homeowner really does not want to sell the house in fact he would rather stay in the house. With that in mind it is going to be a tough sell.

Again, this pitch should be a straight up number crunching pitch going through the items on the chart. Remember you are going to have to deal with the emotional tie to this house. From the note it is quite evident that this particular homeowner has this tie. When I make the pitch I usually talk about the house as sticks and bricks which is not really a home. The home is his family and the memories which they get to bring with them to the new house they will be occupying. If you can get through the emotional you will purchase the house.

good hunting
http://frontgateconsulting.com/

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Loan Officer Training: The Truth About Realtor Marketing

Why can't I get more loans from realtors? Why are realtors so difficult to work with? Nearly every loan officer has asked him/herself one of these questions at some point. Unfortunately, while there are plenty of companies that claim to offer solutions, many of these so called solutions turn out to be nothing more than the same information you have seen a thousand times before.

Thankfully, this article is not the same old information repackaged to look new. In fact, my goal in writing this article is to open up the eyes of as many originators as I can to the truth about marketing to realtors.

With this being such a broad topic, it is difficult to find a good starting point. I finally decided to begin with a discussion about why realtors act the way they do. I decided on this as a starting point because of the fact that so many loan officers seem to complain about the attitude they seem to encounter when marketing to realtors. Here are the most common complaints I hear in regards to agents:

*Realtors are too hard to work with

*Realtors already have loan officer relationships

*Realtors stick their nose in my business

*Realtors expect too much

*I can't deal with the condescending attitude

These are just a few of the many complaints I have heard from loan officers around the country. If you're reading this article then I'm sure you have some of these complaints as well. Perhaps you contacted a few realtors yourself only to be greeted with a negative tone and attitude? If so, then now it is time to find some answers.

Answers, We have some!

In order for us to understand why we are treated the way we are when attempting to build realtor relationships, we need to experience exactly what agents experience. We can do this by looking at the past few years.

In the last few years market conditions have been favorable enough to allow just about anyone with decent sales skills to enter the field and earn a very comfortable living. This continued long enough for mortgage companies to resign themselves to hiring just about anyone with a breath and a pulse just to keep up with the demand for refinances.

While this may have worked out well for those doing the hiring, it wreaked havoc on the reputation of those who are in this business for the long haul. Even under the best of conditions loan officer education tends to leave the student thirsty for proper education, so you can imagine the depth of training that is offered when speed is the primary focus.

Let's go a little deeper into this scenario and fast forward to our current market condition. As interest rates have moved upward and the easy deals have dried up, many of these loan officers who have survived on nothing more than refinances for the past year or two are now receiving a wake up call. With the easy business gown, many of these originators have either exited the business or attempted to replace the refinance income with purchase business.

It doesn't take much of an imagination for you to visualize the outcome of this scenario. Thousands of desperate loan officers who have never originated a purchase transaction before can easily create a negative image of our profession. In fact a recent survey was conducted to rate the level of consumer confidence in various professions. The results showed that consumer trust in loan officers was only slightly higher than the profession of used car salesman. What does that tell you?

Now imagine that you are a real estate agent and your paycheck depended on this group of individuals. Imagine how often these agents have been hit up for business by desperate loan officers.

In fact, you don't even have to imagine as we have some figures for you. After conducting a survey with over 100 local real estate agents (Midwest) we found that the average realtor is contacted for business by loan officers an average of 35 times per week! Think about that for a moment.

Whenever you begin to wonder why a realtor is somewhat short with you on the phone, remind yourself that this could be the 35th time this agent has been contacted this week. To be fair, I do need to clarify that this number of 35 contacts per week does include direct mail and email as well. However this does not include all of the other affiliates who are also looking for business such as title reps, real estate attorneys and appraisers.

If you were to stop and consider the implications of this information, you would realize that this means that each month, the average realtor is receiving around 140 messages that are intended to ask for business in one way or another.

That's a lot of marketing chatter to filter through! If this agent has been in business for even one year, this means that he/she has listened to thousands of messages from other loan officers and has probably heard just about every beat around the bush approach and promise you could imagine.

How long do you think it would take for you to build up a wall of sales resistance in a similar situation? Just think about the way we treat telemarketers if they call and interrupt dinner a few times in one night? Are we eager to hear their sales message, or do we blow them off? Perhaps we even join the Do Not Call list to actively protect ourselves from hearing these sales messages. Are you beginning to see how agents must feel?

One other thing to keep in mind is that throughout these thirty five contacts per week the number 1 most common pitch heard by these agents is I'm here to help you build your business. or I have leads to share with you. A close second is We have great service and great products.

If everyone else is using this approach, what do you think happens when you do too? You are brushed off as just another loan officer who over-promises and under-delivers just like everyone else.

This is definitely not the first impression we want to make with agents. As if this weren't bad enough we also cannot forget about the loan officers who are willing to do or say anything to get a loan. These are the people who are giving us a bad name in the industry and destroy our credibility. Just about every real estate agent has worked one time too many with a loan officer who caused major problems throughout the purchase process through lack of communication, and underhanded tactics.

With all of this going on, it's time for us to stand up and take responsibility for our current situation. If we are using techniques and scripts that make us appear to be just like every other loan officer out there, is it any wonder that we keep hearing the same objections over and over again?

Once we take responsibility for this situation, we are free to do something about it. The great thing about this process is that once we minimize this problem, we minimize others as well. For instance, have you ever worked hard to get an appointment with a real estate agent, work hard to impress him/her during the meeting, only to hang your head in frustration as the agent promises to give you business, but never delivers?

The solution to this problem is just about the same as the solution to the first problem. See, both of these attitude patterns are caused by either a lack of trust or a lack of credibility, or we simply have not demonstrated enough value to justify the agent taking the risk of using a new loan officer.

Whenever a real estate agent uses a new and untested loan officer you need to realize that not only are they risking an unpleasant process, but also their entire paycheck, credibility and potential for referrals. If an agent sends a client to you and things go wrong, the finger of blame is pointing at both you and the agent.

Now that we have seen some of the causes of the problems we face when working with realtors, we want to discuss the solution. In the name of keeping this article relatively short and free of fluff, I have created a second article dedicated to offering solutions to the problems discussed here.

You are only moments away from receiving part 2 of this series. To receive the solution to the problems discussed here, simply forward your request to averagejoelo@hotmail.com. You will receive part two shortly. Have you signed up to participate in my free marketing training calls? Why not sign up for our next call when requesting this article? Space is limited so RSVP early!

Average Joe L.O. provides marketing solutions that are designed with the 'average' loan officer in mind. If you are tired of the hype, and are looking for real world solutions to generating more business feel free to take advantage of our free articles,videos and audio downloads at http://www.averagejoelo.com

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North Carolina Mountain Real Estate

The mountain region of North Carolina is the northwest part of the state and it boasts of such serene town as Asheville, Robbinsville, Waynesville, Jefferson, Franklin, Jonesville, North Jackson County, Burke County Bryson City, Hendersonville and Hayesville. The greatest charm of owning a house in the mountain region of North Carolina is that these mountains are at an altitude of 6000 feet above sea level, which makes them a cool and absolutely picturesque place to live in.

In this silent area of North Carolina, real estate is consists of luxurious residential homes, horse ranches, huge farms and commercial business property. There are single homes such as bungalows and villas available, as well as condominiums and apartments. Though there is less housing in mountainous North Carolina than other regions, there is still a great demand for it. The prices of these properties can be quite high.

Vacation organizers own a large amount of the real estate property in North Carolina. The mountain regions of North Carolina offer several features that are desired by people wanting to go on a vacation. The prime attractions are the climate and the 800-mile long trail up the mountain -- a favorite of bicyclists. Millions of dollars have been invested in the business of providing vacations.

It is very difficult to get hold of real estate property in the mountainous region of North Carolina. People whom have no intentions of selling own most of the property.

Real estate agents in the mountain region of North Carolina need to be affiliated with the North Carolina Association of Realtors. This body supervises the sale and purchase of real estate properties within the state of North Carolina.

North Carolina Real Estate provides detailed information on North Carolina Real Estate, Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate, Raleigh North Carolina Real Estate, North Carolina Mountain Real Estate and more. North Carolina Real Estate is affiliated with Connecticut Commercial Real Estate.

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Why the Republic of Panama?

WHY PANAMA?

Panama is more than just a Canal?it is definitely way much more! The Republic of Panama is a cosmopolitan metropolis with a great biodiversity of nature where you can find a mix between tranquility and a well developed city.

In fact, Panama is a paradise to invest, to enjoy, to shop, a paradise of service, of friendly people, with seven ethnic Indian groups that still conserve their millenary traditions, with a Canal serving the world in between two oceans, a Canal considered to be the eight wonder of the world, with a variety of the most famous international chains of hotels, convention centers and a sustainable ecology in development, Panama is this and way much more!

Panama is considered to be in the 3rd position for ?best place to retire in the world?; The Republic of Panama is also considered to be the best place to live outside the United Estates. This is according to the renowned ?International Living? magazine and experts that promote the life style of US citizens retired in foreign countries. The ?American Association of Retired Persons? a magazine for retired people, has also considered Boquete and Chiriqu? in the Republic of Panama to be one of the four best places to have a home outside home. This rating was given after ten key indicators that included security, beauty, costs, climate, political stability and others.

Everything is relatively close and accessible in the Republic of Panama ?Center of the World and heart of the Universe? counting with direct flights from the United Estates, Europe, Asia and Latin-American, with more than 150 private banks, business centers where you can buy or sell any type of product at the best international prices. Panama is a commercial empire!

The Free Trade Zone (Colon City) in the Republic of Panama is the second most important trade center of the World after Hong Kong. This position is given since Panama has the best route or shortest from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean to move global trade. For these reasons, the Republic of Panama offers a great variety of Malls (Multiplaza, Multicentro, Los Pueblos and others) and duty free shopping centers with an excellent relation between quality and price where you will be able to experience the best shopping of your life!

INVESTING IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA:

When you buy in the Republic of Panama, you will find more amenities than in other retiring heavens such as Costa Rica, the costs are simply lower as well as crime rates. In the Republic of Panama you will find less bureaucracy and less interference with the local authorities when is about investing.

The Republic of Panama is one of the most globalize countries in Latin America. Panama is also a member of the (OMC) which stands for ?Organizaci?n Mundial de Comercio? or ?World?s Commerce Organization?, it is also part of the (ALCA) ?Area de Libre Comercio de Las Americas? or ?Free Trade Sector of the Americas? in which the Republic had the privilege to be the convention center for 2 years in a row (2001 & 2003) and has already started negotiations to be part of the (MERCOSUR) and (APEC).

You would not require special permits or inscriptions previous to your investment in the Republic of Panama. The Law of Stability of Investment (1998) protects all foreign investors from any change on taxes, the 10 year labor laws and other costs after an investment has been registered.

The Republic of Panama has proportioned various ways to incentive foreign investors which include;

* A US dollar based economy.

* Low inflation rates without risk of currency changes

* Total absence of exchange controllers

* Same treatment to foreigners and locals

* One of the most flexible countries in the world

* No restriction to foreign owned corporations

* No restriction to fusions, acquisitions or corporations of shared risk

* An existing Free Trade Zone

* A large percentage of bilingual labor force

* The Republic of Panama is nominated #1 in the region for low cost of living and low operational cost from the Tripartite Committee which consists of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic Commission (ECLAC), the American Estates Organization (OAS) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The Republic of Panama is totally covered by the OPIC, MIGA, IDB and other multilateral entities.

The Politic Risk Service (PRS) named the Republic of Panama to be one of the three countries in the hemisphere with best qualifications for investment.

These are just some of the reasons why Panama is the best place for your businesses and investment.

COST OF LIVING IN PANAMA

The Republic of Panama has costs of a third world country in a first world country. Panama Real Estate cost can be 1/10 of values in the United States and the cost of living is about ? to all mayor cities in the US. Below is a quick list of mayor living cost as reference, in many cases retirees can Sell their present Living properties, buy one better in Panama for ? of the cost and live a better Life Style for many years with the ? of their sale, with change.

Estimated Monthly Fixed Costs in US dollars:

Electricity in Panama $80.00

Water in Panama (Very Safe to Drink-The Best in Latin America) $20.00

Phone Bills in Panama (Includes Monthly Fee and Estimated Usage) $50.00

Living Maid in Panama (If you can afford it its highly recommended) $150.00

Cell Phone cost in Panama $50.00

Condo Maintenance Fee in Panama $150.00

Internet Service in Panama (Residential) $20.00

Cable TV Service in Panama $50.00

Gasoline in Panama (2.35 per Gallon ? Estimate) $50.00

Groceries in Panama (Monthly for Family of 4) $400.00

Fire Insurance in Panama (Building) $150.00

Health Insurance in Panama (Basic Coverage for Family of 4) $150.00

Car Insurance in Panama (Based on a $25,000 Auto) $35.00

Private School Fees in Panama (per kid) $130.00 -$500.00

Additional Expenses

Private School Tuition in Panama $300.00

General Medicine in Panama $35.00

Dentist in Panama consultancy $35.00

Gymnasium monthly fees in Panama $45.00

Dinner at a luxury restaurant in Panama (2 pax) $50.00-$80.00

Movie theater fees in Panama $3.50

Taxi fees in Panama $1.50

Tax (ITBM) in Panama 5%

SECURITY IN PANAMA

The Republic of Panama is the safest country in Central and South America. It counts the highest qualifications on security for tourists according to the Pinkerton Intelligence Agency, is a warm, economic, comfortable and adventurous place to retire, invest and live how you have always dream of.

CLIMATE IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

The Republic of Panama counts with the ideal geographical position and atmospheric conditions. Here in Panama, you can find the perfect climate for al tastes, sunny, tropical, warm exotic beaches and over 1,200 islands that surround us. At the same time you can enjoy a fresh climate at the high lands of Chiriqu?, El Valle, Boquete or Cerro Azul among the most popular spots at a few hours from Panama City.

It is very important to mention that in the Republic of Panama there are no hurricanes, active volcanoes or earthquakes because of its privileged geographical position.

The Republic of Panama counts with to climatic stages ?Dry? (December-April) and ?Green? (April-December) seasons. The Green season its know for the drastic changes of sun light and tropical rain that makes the country ?Green?.

The temperature in the Republic of Panama during the year is 27? C y 16?C-25?C in the valleys and mountains. The north winds refresh us during ?dry? season. The tropical rains are usually in between 5 to 45 minutes while the sky partially opens and lets the sun rays penetrate or country.

GENERAL INFORMATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

?Panama seems to be apart from Central America sustained by its canal, banks and a free trade zone? The Economist.

GEOGRAPHY IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

The republic of Panama occupies 75,990 km2 with 9 provinces: Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Colce, Veraguas, Darien, Colon, Los Santos, San Blas and Herrera. Up north the Panamanian coastline borders the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific on the Southern coast of our Isthmus at only 1hr from each other. On the west side of the Republic of Panama is Costa Rica and Colombia on the East Side.

POPULATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

The Republic of Panama has 2,839,177 million habitants (July, 2001). It is a mix of ethnicities from different origins; Spanish conquerors, blacks and indigenous groups. Panama is a place where all cultures collide.

RELIGION IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

The Republic of Panama has the following religious statistics; Catholics: 85% ; Christians: 12%; Orthodox: 3% ?Hindus, Muslim and Buddhists? All cultural groups practice their religion freely in the Republic of Panama.

LANGUAGE IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

Spanish is the official language in the Republic of Panama. However, English is used frequently by Panamanians and businesses in the Republic of Panama.

POLITICAL SYSTEM IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

The Republic of Panama has a stable democratic political system who actually promotes the foreign investment. Panama is an independent nation that counts with a wide legal frame which supports the national security for Panamanians and foreigners. Panama?s actual president is Mr. Martin Torrijos.

CURRENCY IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

Since 1904, the Republic of Panama uses the Balboa as its currency. The Balboa is equivalent to the US dollar which circulates in the Republic of Panama as well. The Republic of Panama has maintained the lowest inflation rates in the hemisphere (2%) in the last 40 years. Traveler checks, credit card or debit cards can be used to makes payments in the Republic of Panama.

BANKING CENTER

Panama City counts with over 150 international and local banks offering a modern legislation on IBC?s (International Business Corporations), Private Interest Foundations, high interest rates on certificates of deposit and more! Banks such as Citibank, HSBC, BNP/Paribas and Dresdner are some of the ones you will find in the Republic of Panama.

TIME IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

The official time of the Republic of Panama is the same as the East Coast of the United Estates which is (GMT-5).

ELECTRIC POWER IN PANAMA

The electric power in the Republic of Panama goes at 110w-60hz and 220w.

TELEPHONE SERVICE IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

Internet, phone lines and cell-phone services are excellent. You can make or receive international phone calls in Panama City. The country code for the Republic of Panama is 507.

TRANSPORTATION SERVICES IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

Because of having an excellent geographical position and one of the most important routes in the world for international trade, ?The Panama Canal?, our country is one of the most important spots for logistics on transportation and cargo services in the world.

The Republic of Panama counts with modern ports on the Atlantic Coast as well as the Pacific Coast. Our ports are connected with a Panamanian Rail Way. We count with excellent roads, national and international airports in which all are capable of processing cargo.

The Republic of Panama offers one of the most important maritime systems of commercial routs in the world.The public transportation cost in Panama City is of less than 25cents of a US dollar; taxis fees in Panama City starts from $1.00 USD per passenger, in case of an extra passenger you should add a 25% or 25cents per dollar.

You can reach any province of the Republic of Panama thru de Albrook bus terminal or by contacting a local tour operator. We suggest a private tour services such as the fist private tour service in the Republic of Panama. (www.panamaprivatetours.com).

An example of the price for a bus ticket to David, Chiriqu? is of $10.60. However, this may take long hours and a few stops to eat, etc. In order for you to travel comfortable we suggest a local tour operator as mentioned above.

DRIVERS LICENCE IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

Any driver?s license is valid in the Republic of Panama for 90 days. However, you should always carry your passport in case you get stopped by a police officer. The minimum age required to obtain a drivers license in the Republic of Panama is of 18 years of age.

MEDICINE AND MEDICAL SERVICES IN REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

The Republic of Panama offers medical services that are top rated like in the United Estates and other countries. Panamanian medical top standards include the public and private service as well. You can find a wide range of hospitals, pharmacies, laboratories, ambulance services; insurance companies that are just a part of a complete medical service system and medical specialties that are found in Panama and Central America. In Panama you will also find a large number of medical professionals; surgeons, medics, paramedics, nurses with vast experience that will confirm the best medical assistance for you and your family.

The Panamanian health center ?Ministerio de Salud?, is the institution in charged of determining and conducting health politics in the Republic of Panama.

EDUCATIONAL SERVICES IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

Private and public schools in Panama are supervised under the Panamanian Minister of Education. Panamanian school systems are organized under primary and secondary ?high school? levels which are six years each. University degrees are also offered in the Republic of Panama. There are also a few US universities such as Louiville and Florida State University. The Republic of Panama has over 20 different universities.

Monthly fees for School Trasnportation in the Republic of Panama: US$ 35.00

TOURSISTIC DESTINATIONS IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

The Republic of Panama is ?affordable tourism? For many, Panama is the today?s best country for ecotourism. The unique geographical position that Panama has ?a bridge connecting two continents? gives the opportunity to enjoy fascinating primitive tropical rain forests and a biodiversity that counts with over 944 bird species. This is more than in the United Estates and Canada together!

It is convenient to know, that all this nature is accessible at only 1 hour from Panama City. Panama?s National Parks are vast with almost 5 million acres in size; this makes 25% of Panama?s total size. Panama has plenty unexplored virgin forests and for those who have, there is a local saying: while in other countries you see 20 tourists observing one bird specie, in Panama you find one tourist observing 20 species.

Panamanian National Parks that we recommend you to visit:

1. Altos de Campana Natural Park

2. La Amistad Nacional Park

3. Marino Isla Bastimentos Nacional Park

4. Cerro Hoya Nacional Park

5. Isla Coiba Nacional Park

6. Chagres National Park

7. Dari?n National Park

8. El Cop? National Park

9. Camino De Cruces National Park

10. Metropolitano National Park

11. Portobelo National Park

12. Sarigua National Park

13. Soberan?a National Park

14. Volc?n Bar? National Park

We cannot leave our beautiful beaches behind! Panama has over 1,200 islands and 2,400km of coast including the Pacific and Atlantic coast together. There is a wide range of beaches to pick from starting from all inclusive resorts to fascinating getaways. Both coasts in the Republic of Panama are separated by only 55 miles, this means that you could snorkel on the Atlantic coast in the morning and bathe in the Pacific after.

Many international experts are impressed by the world class adventure that river navigation offers in the Republic of Panama. This includes kayaks, tubes, rafts and motorized river boats. Panama has river sites where you could find 20 rapids in one afternoon. Canoe excursions, excursions, rappelling and surfing offers similar experiences to anyone looking for extreme adventures.

The Republic of Panama is characterized by its fishing. Even from Pre-Hispanic times, the rumors were that Panama had abundance of fish in its coasts and that ?Panama? meant abundance of fish in local Indian dialect.

There are many options for fishing in the Republic of Panama. The most fascinating aspect is that you could fish at a short distance the following styles; fly fishing, trout or big game fishing at Pi?as Bay. We recommend www.panamaprivatetours.com as the most comfortable and private option to travel in the Republic of Panama.

HOW TO GET INTO THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

The following lists of countries do not require a visa to get into the Republic of Panama:

Germany, Hungary, Argentina, Israel, Austria, Italy, Chile, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Pollony, El Salvador, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom, Finland, Greece, France, Singapore, Guatemala, Switzerland, Honduras, Uruguay, Holland, Luxemburg, Belgica, Bolivia.

Countries that require a visa to access the Republic of Panama: Chad, Chipre, Egypt, ilipines, Peru, Dominican Republic, Thailand, Ecuador.

Countries that can get into the Republic of Panama using a tourist card: Antigua / Barbuda, Aruba, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, South Korea, Curacao, United Estates, Vatican, Granada, Greece, Guyana, Isladia, Jamaica, Japan, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Norway, New Zealand, Paraguay, Samoa, San Cristobal / Nevis, San Marino, Saint Vincent, Santa Lucia, Sao Tome, Sweden, Suriname, Taiwan, Trinidad / Tobago and Venezuela.

The remaining nationalities require authorization and visas to access the Republic of Panama.

Estamped Visa: You can get a stamped visa at Panamanian Consulates in your country.

Authorized Visa: The authorized visa can be obtained at Panamanian consulates in your county with direct authorization from Migration in the Republic of Panama as well as an authorization from the Panamanian Security Council.

Tourist Card: This card can be purchased for $5.00 USD and is sold at travel agencies or airlines. Every tourist must have a valid passport except US citizens that would only need to present a valid ID.

HOW TO SEND YOUR PET INTO THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

The following list of requierements are for the pet lovers who wish to bring thei own domestic animals into the Republic of Panama.

- The first step to bring a pet into the Republic of Panama is to get a hold of a health and rabies certificate given by a veterinary. Both documents must get stamped by the Panamanian Consulate.

- Three (3) days before the animal?s arrival, you must present an application to the Department of prevention and control of Zoonosis. The document must include the general information of the animal; age, sex, color, name, etc. The flight number, airline, owner?s information must be given as well. This application must specify the duration of the animal; permanent or temporary.

- You must pay the amount of $130.00 USD in concept of quarantine to the National Bank of Panama. This branch is located in the International Airport.

- Alter presenting the National Bank?s receipt to the department of quarantine, you will be free to enjoy your pet?s company in the Republic of Panama.

As a matter of fact, the Republic of Panama is one of the 5 countries with out rabies!

For more information please log in www.panamahotproperties.com or contact us at info@panamahotproperties.com

WWW.PANAMAHOTPROPERTIES.COM

INFO@PANAMAHOTPROPERTIES.COM

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A $2 Guide to Miami Real Estate Investment

What could a $2 bill get you? Big Mac, large fries and Coke. Or, perhaps a pack of Players filter cigarettes. On quick notice, not much. But an article I came across online which cost me $2 on subscription, saved me from real estate investment catastrophe I could have willingly and voluntarily willed upon myself, due to sheer ignorance and reluctance to be coached by those who have gone before me, in what everyone perceived as the only way to financial glory - Real Estate Investments.

The article was concise, it could just pass up as an ordinary high school essay, but I subscribed to it because it had on its title what I urgently needed - a guide to Miami real estate investing.

What I got was a guide, all right, but it was not written by real estate gurus, rather by someone like me who flanked even harder than I imagined to make myself.

What's $2 anyway, so I read on.

The words hit me like an upper cut with a twin jab on the torso. It still sounded like an ordinary high school essay but the tips are workable, sincere and practical. In fact, I never thought real estate investing in Miami could get THAT simple. The scholarly materials I had, suddenly paled in comparison. For one, my $2 article didn't tell me I will succeed, it simply pointed the way for me not to go bankrupt!

Here are the rules - for free:

RULE NO. 1 - Partner with a Pro.

If you have decided to build a lucrative income through Miami Real Estate investments, affiliate only with Miami's most trustworthy Real Estate Brokers. There is more than a dozen to choose from. Take your best pick based on their past experiences and level of market dominance.

Partnering with a trustworthy broker saves you years of learning the basics, and ward off errors that often come with inexperience.

RULE NO. 2 - Back off early when you are not fully ready.

Miami Real Estate investment may be fast-paced, and properties don't sleep too long, but there are occasions they could also slow down. This is the real nature of real estate investment in Miami and anywhere else. The proverbial hotcake selling isn't always easy. Real Estate is not a liquid investment. Your money could sleep a while, longer than your expectations. Without sufficient capital reserve, it is unwise to go into real estate investing.

When you have assessed your financial capacity and found out that you are not ready - step out. Knowing your limitations will save you the shirt on your back, as well as the roof over your head.

RULE NO. 3 - Master the WHAT, WHERE and HOW of Miami Real Estate

Investing.

What to buy will determine largely your failure or success in real estate investing. As a rule of thumb among successful real estate investors, the purchase of a low-cost property, made to wait for the right time to be sold for a profit, promises higher yield.

Where to look is almost as crucial as what to buy. Develop a keener sense of prospecting locations that have a good chance to appreciate in the coming years. Observe fads, as well as trends. These dictate behavioral patterns of individuals that can affect their choices of investment properties.

How to recoup investment in a shorter duration of time will determine the kind of progress you will have in real estate investing, as it will define the level of your maturity to manage investments in the long term.

Research on various trends and approaches. In Miami today, preconstruction investment has sent out a fever-pitch enthusiasm among investors looking for partially-developed or yet to be developed investments in promising locations. They make a small down payment to put a hold on that property even before construction begins. As soon as construction is completed they resell the property right away for a tidy profit.

You can develop expertise on managing preconstruction investments, or flipping real estate properties. This is where this $2 article created millionaires out of ordinary individuals.

RULE NO. 4 -- Decide where you will build expertise and focus on it.

Does lease/rent option appeal to you? Would you sell wholesale or retail?

What are your interests, educational preparation, present assets and personality profile that create a fit to available investment options. Decide on a single investment strategy, and build on it.

Don't fret if you are a newbie in real estate investments. Bigtime achievers also took the first steps you are about to take. Their success could be yours, too if you follow the four (4) simple rules outlined above. These rules were carved from the experiences of those who went ahead and succeeded.

But as experiences are comparable to fashion, don't get stuck with them for a long time. Instead, continue to observe and learn new trends. Investing in Miami Real Estate is fast-paced, the trick to keep up with it is to know where it is heading, get there before your competitors do, and cash in the advantage.

Christiene Socorro C. Villanueva

Miami Real Estate

Christiene Socorro C. Villanueva - http://www.floridarealtyfinder.com

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The Dirty Little Secret About The Do Not Call List

The Do Not Call List has changed the way real estate agents can and will do business forever. After all, 76% of US adults have added their name to the list. The dirty little secret...it does not matter! The Do Not Call List does not mean that you can't still get solid qualified leads. There are a lot of real estate trainers out there claiming to have the answers, a sure fire way to beat The List and the next be all, end all real estate marketing program to have people beating down your doors to do business with you. The ads for these programs usually include a lot of hype and testimonials by agents who have increased their business by 200% and then at the end hit you with the big price tag. But where are the real numbers and hard facts behind the hype? Who really knows if those programs are going to lead you to the path of success? I certainly don't. But here is what I do know.The biggest obstacle to a real estate agents next commission, and their long term success, is finding qualified leads. You know that if you could just get the leads, you could close the deals. But most agents are at a loss once they exhaust their list of family, friends and sphere of influence. And with 3 out of 4 prospects off limits, cold calling becomes more like walking a mine field than trying to drum up business. That is why the turn-over rate for new agents in real estate is over 50% per year So how do the successful 50% find qualified leads? Well for one thing they do not passively look for leads, they actively generate them. Many successful agents have turned to toll free number call capture technology to generate leads without the risk of an $11,000 fine. When you look at the numbers, it is easy to see why it works.83% Of Americans Want Recorded InformationAccording to a Gallup Poll, 83% of Americans would rather call for recorded information before speaking to a salesperson. Give the public what they want. A toll free number call capture system allows real estate agents to offer free recorded information about properties, free reports for buyers and sellers or any other information they would like to make available to their prospects. Once the potential clients call in, their name, address and phone number are captured for the agent to follow up on. Since the prospect called into the toll free number to request information, the agent is free to call them back for up to 3 months (unless the consumer requests not to be called.)32.7% Will Buy or List Within 30-60 DaysA survey of over 25,000 prospects who called for recorded information showed 32.7% of them bought or listed a property within 30-60 days after calling. An additional 42.1% acted within twelve months. I have not heard of any other form of marketing that can tout those kinds of numbers of quality leads. A toll free number call capture system generates quality, actionable leads. And the best part? They called you. Agents who have these kinds of quality leads, calling them 24/7, could care less about the Do Not Call List.74% Will Do Business With YOU.According to NAR, 74% of the people that complete a real estate transaction do so with the FIRST agent they talked to. That being the case, it is in an agent's best interest to make sure they are the first ones to reach the prospect. A call capture system makes this easy to do. Once the potential client calls in, all the information is available to the agent; name, address, phone number, and in the better systems, even what information extension they called in on. With that kind of information at their fingertips, an agent is empowered with everything that they need to get back to the consumer in a timely fashion and with confidence.Everyone in the real estate industry knows that the Do Not Call List has completely changed the way agents do business. But some have found that by using call capture technology, they can generate even more quality leads than they ever did with cold calling. The technology gives consumers what they want by allowing them to call in for free recorded information and generates quality, actionable leads that agents can follow up on quickly and with confidence. And in spite of the Do Not Call List, agents are finding it actually easier to do business using call capture. If you want to know how that is possible, just look at the numbers and then check out call capture technology for yourself.

Brandi Cummings is a leading telecommunications consultant specializing in 800 number call capture technology for real estate professionals. Learn more secrets and tips on how to make a call capture system work for you at www.realtyone800.com.

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Weights & Measures in Japan

Like every nation on Earth except Liberia, Myanmar and the United States, Japan relies on the metric system for most of its weights and measures. While you may be used to the antiquated and difficult British Imperial system used in the U.S., the fact is that anyone who can add, subtract, multiply and divide by tens will have a very easy time with weight conversion the "metric way." Weight conversion charts that can fit into your purse or wallet are easy to get and fairly inexpensive; alternatively, you may prefer a weight conversion calculator, which can be purchased from many sources for around $50 or so. In any case, anyone who is considering a journey to Japan will do well to have access to weight conversion table in order to facilitate metric weight conversion tasks. A Short History of Weights and Measures If you find the old style system of pounds and ounces confusing, the one thing you can say about it is that such weight conversions are at least consistent. In the old days, weights and measures were based on arbitrary factors that were not at all consistent. Biblical scholars will recall such units as the "cubit" or the "talent." The former was equivalent to the distance between a man's elbow and the tip of his middle finger; the latter was a measure that was equal to the volume of an amphora, the size of which could vary from one region of the Mediterranean to another. The inconsistencies and difficulties involved with these types of weight conversions should be obvious.

Although more complicated than the metric system, the old Japanese shakkan-ho standard of weights and measures - still used in the sake (rice wine) manufacturing industry - is remarkably consistent. The base unit is known as sho, which is the standard size for a bottle of sake - just short of two liters, which a weight conversion chart or weight conversion calculator will show you is roughly equivalent to half a gallon. Buying Food and Drink in Japan Whereas food and drink in the US is sold in pounds and ounces, grocers in Japan deal in grams, kilograms and liters for all measurements other than sake. A kilogram is equal to 2.2 U.S. pounds, and a gram is 1/1000th of this amount. Understanding this will make your weight conversion tasks much easier, whether or not you have a weight conversion calculator or a metric conversion chart with you. Susan Slobac is an avid supporter of extended learning. She is active in helping educators with an interest in teaching internationally, and her experience includes development of metric weight conversion curriculum. By Susan Slobac

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Weight Conversion Scales

Weights and measures refer to legal units of measurement in different countries. The science of developing universally accepted weights and measures is called as metrology. The institution that implements the S.I. unit of measurement worldwide is The Bureau International Des Poids et measures (BIPM). The SI unit of weight is the Kilo Gram (KG). The other conversion measures used in the world to measure weight are Carats, Grains, Grams, Ounces, Pounds, Slugs, stones, and Tons. The Kilogram is the basic unit of mass. It is the mass of an international prototype in the form of a platinum-iridium cylinder kept at Sevres in France. It is now the only a basic unit still defines in terms of a material object and also the only one with a pre-fix, kilo already attached.

The U.S system of measurement is very similar to that of the U.K. Weight is measured in the following way- 437.5 grams=1 ounce 16 ounces= 1 pound 14 pounds=1stone 100 pounds=1 hundred weight (cwt) 20 cwt = 1 ton (2000 pounds) The conversion scale is as follows: Kilogram= Carats X .0002 Grain X .000 064 Gram X .001 Ounce X 0.028 Pounds X 0.453 Slugs X 14.593 Stones X 6.350 Tons X 1016.046 Tonnes X 1000 Conversion weight scales are adept at calculating the various values of a single weight reading in different weight measures. This helps in international, universal as well as precise readings of weight measures for various purposes including commercial, medical, sports and other uses. The grain was the earliest unit of mass and was used to weigh silver and gold. The Pound was derived from The Mina used in early civilizations. Smaller unit was the Shekel and a larger unit the Talent. The Carat is a unit for measuring gemstones that had its origin in the Carob seed and was later standardized at 0.2 gram. When weighing of goods began, units of mass based on volume of grain or water were developed. The stone, Quarter and ton were large units used in Britain. But today only stone is used to measure Personal body weight. Today the market has many scales that have the function of weight conversion. Digital scales are available that can make readings for ounce, carats, grams, and pounds and are equivalent to several weighing machines rolled into one. An Acculab Vicon Digital Balance for instance weighs in oz., Lb, dwt, grains, Newton’s, carats, Taels plus user defined units. By Eric Morris

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Perform Instant Weight Conversions (Weight Conversion in Japan)

It is in many ways a shame that the USA has refused to join the rest of the industrial world in adopting the metric system - because compared to the antiquated and often confusing British Imperial system, which even the British have given up. The USA still clings stubbornly to the old system of pounds and ounces, which means if you're planning to go to Japan, you need to learn something about weight conversion in grams and kilograms. Back In The Day... Of course, at one time, every region - and even many villages - had their own system of weights and measures. Conversion weight might be different depending on whether you were on a given side of a river. For over 12 centuries, the Japanese used the shakkan-hM system. Unlike some systems -which were based on the weight of the ruling king's (fill in the blank) or some such thing. In 1854, Commodore Matthew Perry of the U.S. Navy turned his ships' guns on Tokyo and forced the Tokugawa Shogunate to open Japan - which had been isolated and off-limits to foreigners for centuries - to international trade. Japan's medieval society was abruptly yanked into the Industrial Age. The historical consequences were profound; events issuing from this action reached a tragic climax almost 90 years later with the raid on Pearl Harbor and the bloody three-and-a-half year war in the Pacific that followed.

Powers of Ten In light of such historic events, Japan's adoption of the metric system in 1924 seems almost trivial, although this too was a consequence of Commodore Perry's opening of the country. However, it means you'll need to know something about weight conversion if you're not going to have problems shopping on the Ginza. One option is to use a weight conversion chart. These are often available on the Internet from any one of several websites and can be downloaded and printed for no more than the cost of the paper and toner. Such a weight conversion table can be kept in your pocket for handy reference. An alternative to weight conversion charts is a weight conversion calculator. This is essentially a basic everyday calculator that includes metric conversion functions, such as weight conversion. Such a device can be purchased online or at a specialty electronics store for around $50. If you are not particularly talented mathematically (like most of us) and don't deal well with weight conversion formulas (which are another option), then using such a calculator for weight conversion problems may be the way to go. By Wayne Hemrick

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