An Introduction to Real Estate Trainers: Preparing and Leveling-Up In the Real Estate Business Niche

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There is a plethora of real estate trainers online that you can choose from, if you would like to explore the possibility of having a future in this market. To prepare you, it is important to have the right education so that you will pass the state licensure examination and be able to professionally practice as a realtor. If you are already a licensed realtor, in some states, you will be required to undergo continuing education as a prerequisite for the renewal of your license. Some realtors wish to take additional classes or subjects so that they will be updated and have an edge in the business.

1- Types of Real Estate Trainers

There are two categories of real estate trainers, and they are the onsite program and online program. To put it simply, the onsite program requires students to report to school for them to be able to have the training, while the online program will only provide students a training module so that they can learn online and within the comforts of their homes. For many who are juggling work and family, they choose the online training program so that they can do their studies at a comfortable and convenient pace and save lots of money too. There are online programs that cost not more than $100-$500 today.

2- Basic Courses

Real estate trainers provide basic courses such as the principles and practice of this business, federal and state laws, finance and economics, appraisal of properties, mortgage loan and lending and property management. If you were able to take courses in business law, accounting and economics, they can be credited and used as a replacement to related subjects in the online program.

3- Accreditation

Choose only those who are certified or accredited by your state and regulating board. Most states will only honor training certificates given by accredited trainers. Also, the accreditation will give you the guarantee that you will only be receiving quality training that meets or even exceeds the standards. Also, accreditation means that trainers are qualified and very competent, and there is a mechanism for accountability if unfortunate things happen.

4- Feedback

Visit review sites to get background information about the experiences of those who availed of the services of the trainers you are interested in. Only make a go for those who have a four-star rating and above. It will also be very helpful to check your local Better Business Bureau for scam reports and costumer complaints against the real estate trainers you are interested in.

Planning for Disaster: Remember Your Pet

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As thousands of families struggled with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, many of them were also missing pets. Many people have plans to deal with emergencies for themselves, but fail to make arrangements for the animal members of their family. Whether it’s a small emergency such as a house fire, or a large emergency like a tornado, hurricane, flood or manmade disaster, advanced planning always gives the best chance of keeping all of your family members safe.

Preparation

Start by talking with your family about what you will do in various situations. Responses to localized emergencies like fires, small storms and power outages will likely differ from emergency plans for large scale emergencies such as hurricanes, tornadoes and manmade attacks. Plan evacuation routes to designated meeting points.

These will vary based on the situation. If dealing with flooding, you’ll want to take refuge in the highest room location in your home. For a tornado, you’ll want to take family and pets to the lowest level of your home. If dealing with a chemical or airborne emergency, the Red Cross advises families to go to an interior room without windows that is above ground level (in the case of a chemical threat, an above-ground location is preferable because some chemicals are heavier than air, and may seep into basements even if the windows are closed).

All pets should have collars and tags with easily visible identification. ID tags should have your pet’s name, your phone number and important medical information. If possible, list a mobile phone number. If you’re not at home when danger strikes, calls may not reach you at a home phone.

For local emergencies, it is important to display an animal rescue sign or sticker so that responders know that there are pets in your home. Your rescue sign should contain the types and names of pets in your house, as well as veterinarian name and contact information. Use your best judgment about placing additional contact information on the sign. While you want to give emergency officials enough information to safely rescue you pets, you must be cautious not to expose information which might be abused by solicitors or passers by.

Finally, make copies of contact, evacuation route and emergency plan information for all members of your family. Store them in Ziploc style waterproof bags so that they will stay dry in case of flooding or water damage.

Where to Go

After you take care of basic preparation, you should agree on two meeting places: one near your home for emergencies such as fires, and another outside of your immediate neighborhood if you must evacuate your home. Similarly, it’s wise to designate two emergency contacts. The first should be in your neighborhood, the second should be out of town. During large scale disasters it can often be easier to reach people who are not in your immediate area. Make sure all of your family members memorize both phone numbers.

If it is necessary to leave your home, you may not be able to bring your pet to rescue facilities with your family. To prevent permanent separation, identify a boarding kennel or shelter in your immediate area that provides emergency care or foster care for pets. Outside of your area, have the name and number of hotels, friends or relatives that will accept your pets. By having these numbers and arrangements in place, you will be able to reunite with your pets even if you are not able to return to your home.

Making an Emergency Pack

It’s easy to prepare an emergency pack for you and your pet. Each pack should contain 3 days worth of supplies. Supplies should be stored in a backpack as close to an exit as possible.

For each member of your family, your pack should include:

  • Batteries
  • Battery powered flashlight
  • Battery powered radio
  • Blanket
  • 3-5 days worth of water
  • Energy bars, canned nutrition shakes or other food which does not require cooking or refrigeration
  • Baby wipes
  • Breathing mask
  • Plastic sheeting
  • Duct tape
  • First Aid Kit and guide book
  • Light stick
  • Spray paint
  • Whistle or air horn
  • 3-5 day supply of Tylenol or Aspirin, as well as any prescription medication
  • Recent photos if family members become separatedYour pet’s supply kit should include:
  • Easy open canned or dry food. If packing dry food, you may wish to store it in large Ziploc style plastic bags. For birds, a small, tupperware container is recommended
  • Bottled water supply for your pet
  • Disposable litter trays
  • Pet feeding dishes
  • Extra leash
  • Photocopies of medical records
  • 3-5 day supply of any medicine your pet requires
  • Litter or paper toweling
  • A traveling bag or sturdy carrier, ideally one for each pet
  • Recent photos of your pets if you become separated

    Remember to change food, water and medicine every three to six months to maintain freshness and effectiveness.

    Disasters, whether small, large, natural or manmade can be terrifying. By having a solid plan in place, emergency contacts and disaster packs ready to go, you can give your entire family the best chance of surviving together.

    • Debt Consolidation Loans With Bad Credit: Factors to Consider

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    There is no question that the financial tone in society is changing. Many people lived their days with credit cards only and as a result, too many people are strapped with so much debt that they cannot make their monthly payments responsibly. This creates even more problems as failure to make timely payments on credit cards and other loans creates bad credit scores and the inability to get additional loans to help out. In such a case, a debt consolidation loan would make a huge difference. But can you get a debt consolidation loan with bad credit? The answer is yes.

    Consolidation Is the Right Choice

    When you find that making your minimum monthly payments on credit cards, auto loans and student loans has become a juggling act, the idea of getting a debt consolidation loan is certainly appealing. Basically, by applying for a personal loan you can turn all of these payments into one. Therefore, you only have to mark one day on the calendar each month to make your payment and need not worry about forgetting. In addition, you may be able to get a lower interest rate than most credit cards offer.

    Bad Credit and Personal Loans

    With bad credit, the process of finding a debt consolidation loan is certainly more difficult that it is for those with good credit scores. However, it is not impossible. The difference is that you will need to use different lenders and other factors to ensure your success in finding the debt consolidation loan you need.

    Remember, bad credit is a barrier, but it is still passable. Make sure that you are honest with lenders regarding your bad credit history and your goals for improving your financial outlook with a debt consolidation loan.

    Finding a Lender

    There are several lenders who work online and specialize in extending loans to those with bad credit. Finding a debt consolidation loan with bad credit, therefore, is as easy as turning on your computer and doing a simple web search. You will be directed to dozens of lenders who work with people whose credit scores prevent them from using the services of traditional financial houses. Make sure that you contact several of these lenders for quotes in order to find the one who offers the best deal.

    Other Ways to Get Your Loan

    Because of your bad credit, debt consolidation loans (personal loans) will not be as easy to find, even through private lenders. You will need to have additional qualifications that show the lender you are able to repay the loan amount responsibly. Among the most important of these qualifications is a good job with sufficient income. Make sure to have pay stubs available that show a work history of at least six months and an income level that clearly supports your loan repayment along with your other expenses such as rent/mortgage, insurance, food, etc.

    You may also consider drawing up a detailed budget that shows your lender that you have thought through the implications of your debt consolidation loan and how you plan to use this money to improve your credit score over time.

    Make the Changes Now

    Getting a debt consolidation loan with bad credit is an excellent strategy to improve your overall credit score over time. The benefits of this loan can help you to make payments on time and get your finances on track in the future.

    Lifestyle Employment

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    Yes this means exactly what you think it means: a career that is based around your lifestyle instead of a lifestyle that is based around your career! So many of us have an ideal lifestyle whether it includes living in a new country every week, sitting outside with a good book every afternoon or spending as much time as possible with our families. These are the things that we love to do and for so long they have had to come second to our jobs, which many of us don’t enjoy at all.

    The idea behind lifestyle employment is creating a job that enables you to live the life you’ve always dreamed of having; the one you likely thought wouldn’t be possible until retirement. Now, because of the ever growing internet business world, you can make that dream life come true long before you have grandchildren.

    Starting an online business is easy, rewarding and affordable. This isn’t to say that it doesn’t take some hard work to get it up and running, but once you do, it will afford you the income and time to live the life you want. Because the internet operates on an international level the opportunities to make a healthy living are endless. You can do something you’re passionate about; something you truly believe in. This will make the work you do more fun and energizing. When you work for yourself you’re only working towards your own goals and putting money in your own pocket so you will always be motivated to succeed.

    In the past running your own business could actually be limiting because you’d have to be there to make sure things ran smoothly and that your customers were happy, but that’s not the case online. When you run an internet business you can operate from anywhere in the world that has an internet connection. There are also a number of applications that can be used now to run things on autopilot for the majority of the time so you don’t personally have to place orders or register and checkout each customer from your site.

    Living the lifestyle you dream of is about obtaining freedom in your career while still generating a significant income. The internet makes it possible to have a job that you’re passionate about and gives you the freedom to do the other things that make you happiest.

    What Are the Laws For Shipping Wine Between States?

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    Laws on shipping wine among states vary. Complete understanding of individual laws on the shipment of wine for each state is almost impossible since newer laws are made each year replacing the older laws. Supreme Court decisions also play a major role in how the laws on shipment of wine are interpreted. What is clear is that shipping wine between two states can be heavily looked down upon by some states.

    It all began when the Twenty-First Amendment to the United States Constitution repealed the Eighteenth Amendment, which mandated Prohibition on a national scale. It was a botched national experiment attempting to eradicate the consumption of alcoholic beverages. The repeal of prohibition ushered in an age where each state was awarded control over its own alcohol shipments from one state to another. Many states completely outlawed alcohol shipments both into and out of the state, irrespective of the age of both the one who shipped it and the one who receives it. Other states passed laws restricting shipments and created barriers to shipping without a license.

    Presently, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin offer reciprocal status for the shipment of alcohol — meaning you can ship wine between these states without any red-tape. This is good if you live in these states and quite unfortunate if you don’t.

    Other states including Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Wyoming offer restrictive status – meaning it may not be illegal per se. But if you break the law by shipping too many bottles, or ship too often, then it is considered illegal.

    Finally, there are the states that are highly restrictive. Arkansas, Delaware, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Utah make shipping alcoholic beverages in between these states illegal in certain instances. These states have antiquated laws that are hold-overs from the prohibition days.

    If you are selling your wine collection across state lines, look for a wine buyer who knows these laws better than you do. And don’t just take their word for it. See for yourself how your state, and your buyer’s state, view alcohol shipments. The following is a wonderful location to view the laws of both your state, and the state to which you are shipping:

    http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004/alcohol-policy.htm

    Fortunately, due to the internet and changing views on shipping wine, the laws are quickly changing to make it easier for individuals to ship. Contact your trusted wine buyer or alcohol buyer to find the most recent laws.

    How To Start A Real Estate Investment Club

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    Investing in real estate can be very profitable if done correctly. However, it can be daunting for someone who knows little about real estate investment or has little capital to invest. Just as there are investment clubs for stocks there are also investment clubs for those who want to invest in real estate. The purpose of a real estate investment club is to get a group together who can pool their resources and knowledge to invest in real estate.

    The internet is a good place to research and learn about real estate investment clubs. Most clubs online ultimately want you to join and may not provide enough information until after a commitment is made. While most of these are legitimate you should research them before you make any type of commitment. You can attend meetings for other clubs to get a feel on how they operate. It’s helpful to have some first hand knowledge about real estate investment clubs before opting to start your own.

    Be familiar with the relevant laws of your state before starting a real estate investment club. You and your group will need to know how real estate transactions are handled so you won’t lose money on your deals. It’s always helpful to find at least one member who understands these laws. In fact, members who have specialized knowledge such as accounting, law, finance and real estate can be beneficial for the group.

    Many real estate investment clubs hold regular meetings, at least once a month. These meetings are used to make key decisions for the group. The group can elect officers such as president, vice president, treasurer and secretary to preside over meetings and manage the club. Additionally, you can form committees that perform special tasks such as scouting out potential property investments. Meetings can be held in person or as teleconference over the internet if many members are not local.

    Monthly correspondence in the form of a newsletter can be sent out to members to keep them up to date on current events as well as when the next meeting will take place. It’s good to invite professionals such as real estate planners, realtors and brokers, financial planners and tax specialists to speak at meetings to share their experiences and educate the group members.

    Deciding how much money to invest can be tricky. It is often best to start out small and work your way up to larger investments. The more members you have the less money each will need to invest. On the other hand, the more members you have the harder it would be to come to unanimous decisions. When starting a real estate investment club, write up bylaws that everyone agrees to. Be sure to include how decisions will be made and what power the president has, if any, to resolve disputes or override decisions.

    Free Insurance Quotes For Cars – Where to Get the Best

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    Free insurance quotes for cars can help guide you through the process of selecting the type of coverage needed for your car or vehicle. They can put you in touch with different insurance companies that are offering you their best rates. And remember, it’s all free.

    You can get a lower rate insurance policy secured within a short period of time. If you are patient enough to fill out simple form where in you can receive different quotes on all types of car insurance policies for free and this happen mostly online. Easy and convenient to access and you own your time and day you want to have your free insurance quotes for cars.

    There are some insurance companies who give free quotes for cars that are different from other auto insurance, they give you the term, the premium rates and what coverage or policy they have on that kind of car insurance rates.

    Other free insurance quotes for cars offered 24 hours quotes at any time and any day where in you are available and that happens mostly through the internet. Other free quotes give plus to some coverage and services are included at no extra charge but to certain injury coverage.

    So it is important to read carefully the policy and conditions they have when they offer you free insurance quotes for cars. Remember, words are deceitful and one should be wise enough to know regarding car insurance quotes. One thing more, your budget is also important when you purchase car insurance.

    Some sites in the internet says, FREE Quotes but one should sign up first before you can have a free quotes for car insurance. Well, not all websites in the internet have good reputation insurance companies so one must be careful because even in the internet, there are still frauds.

    In filling out free insurance quotes to find the lower rates, there are also other ways where you can achieve lower or cheaper premium rates by raising your deductible within your desired budget and also having a good clean history driving records.

    It is not only with free quotes where you can achieve lower rates premium but through your history records in driving, payment, and other records they want to ask from you. As long as you have a good clean history driving records, up to date in payment that is one where they base their discounts.

    It is easy to receive and easy to register online. By providing basic information, you can receive several online free insurance quotes. You can see the policy through the website of car insurance where you give your basic information and you can make any adjustment to your policy you like.

    As soon as you can receive several free insurance quotes for cars, start comparing and make decision on which insurance company offers you the best deal of car insurance but be sure also that the company have a good record with good reputation, reliable and have serve people for a long period of time.

    Steps on how to have free insurance quotes for car online:

    • Browse and search insurance companies that offer free insurance quotes for cars then choose which companies you want to have the free quotes.
    • Most free car insurance quotes, require basic information to generate an accurate car insurance quote. Once you have provided the necessary information they need, then you can step to their signing process.
    • In their free quotes for car insurance, that includes the monthly policy term with the rate but that can be adjusted based on the amount of the coverage you would like to purchase.
    • Online free quotes for cars hand you the coverage term, rates or price and option to decide which one that is best for you to purchase.