Online Poker Strategy Beyond The Basic Rules

Buyer Agents Vs Seller Agents: What's The Difference And Should I Care?

Are you unsure of what type of real estate agent to use when you are selling your home and/or buying a new home? Understanding the function of a real estate agent and what their relationship to you as a seller or buyer is tremendously important. For a first time home buyer or seller you should be aware of some facts, and clear out the cobwebs of confusion on the responsibilities and duties of a real estate agent.

Real estate agents, depending on the state in which you live, may only be allowed to act only as a seller?s or buyer?s agent. In many instances however a real estate agent may take on a dual role of representing both the seller and buyer. This type of agent is known as a dual agent. In other words they have a duty to sell the home for the best possible price for the seller, and at the same time are committed to get the best asking price for a buyer. This can be a somewhat upsetting for many people, but the best defense is being in the know about the legal and moral responsibilities associated with a real estate agent?s dual agency representation, and how you can feel positive about working with them.

In most states real estate agents are legally required to state which party they are working for. Most of the time real estate agents work for the individuals that are selling a home. Make sure to ask, if you are unclear so to alleviate any nervousness on your part. Always presume that any real estate agent is working for a firm that represents both a seller and a buyer, and if you are a buyer, make sure to keep to yourself any information that may affect any deals that are offered for your purchase of a house. Buyer?s agents have a loyalty only to the buyer. This is established by a signing of a contractual agreement between both the agent and the buyer. The buyer should be aware that agents are held to a legal and moral obligation to not reveal any personal facts not only to the home seller, but to the real estate agent. Material disclosure is allowable though about the property, such as any known pest infestations, or problems with the structure itself. A dual agency for a real estate agent is usually understood for them if they represent a buyer; make sure to check into the real estate agent?s status for your own serenity. Nonetheless, contract protection is afforded for anyone that is interested in purchasing a property through an agent that represents a seller?s interest by signing a contract to represent both.

If you are selling your home and you will be searching to buy a home in the same area you need to expect a reasonable amount of service from the real estate agent that represents you. The agent?s goal should be to fully represent your best interests. Your agent needs to clearly inform you if they will require you to sign an exclusive contract. This legally binding contract will require you to work with that agent only. You should always search around for an agent that will allow you to have other realtors working on your behalf to locate a new home for you. All agents should work diligently to help you sell your home by providing comparisons studies of the properties in your area, to handle any inspections or appraisals, and to work with your mortgage lender and in the loan application process. He or she should be more than willing to consider and respect your wishes when scheduling an open house for either other agents or for the general public. Agents should always be courteous about appointment times to meet with you, and should always leave a cell phone in case of unexpected issues surrounding the sale of your home. Your buyer?s agent should clearly explain all aspects of the contract to you. Issues such as contract compensation and their exact fees for selling your home, along with other important details such as how long you must list your home with them should be covered in a written contract. Never take their word for it. Get everything in writing. Be careful, verbal contracts, maybe legally binding.

Buying or selling a home should be a pleasant experience. Selling and buying is a serious decision that can influence your financial and emotional well being for years to come ? consequences of how informed you are will be long lasting, many years after you have left the bargaining table.

Matthew McDonough is a real estate investor and a former real estate agent in New York. He owns property throughout the USA. He wants to share is knowledge and operates the website Inside Real Estate Info

Real Estate Investing: How To Buy Distressed Real Estate During PreForeclosure

When folks find out that I buy houses from distressed homeowners during the preforeclosure stage, they always ask the same question: How do you find them?

My simplest answer is: At the courthouse.

Distressed properties are always easiest to find when a mortgage lender begins the foreclosure process. (The process is triggered when the borrower fails to make a mortgage payment.) Technically speaking this is the preforeclosure stage. The borrower/homeowner has missed one or more payments, the sheriff's sale or public auction is looming on the horizon, and the homeowner realizes he may soon lose his home.

Depending on which state you live in, the lender either records a Notice of Default (NOD) or files a judicial foreclosure lawsuit against the borrower. As soon as the foreclosure is public information, it's relatively easy to find.

So, depending on which property I'm interested in, I either do a search at the county courthouse or I get the information from a legal newspaper that has done the searching for me.

The hardest part is finding a property that has any equity in it. What I'm looking for is a Loan To Value (LTV) of 80% or less. For example, if a property has a market value of $100,000, the homeowner can't owe more than $75,000 -$80,000 on the property.

Why? Because I can't spend more than $75,000 - $80,000 for the property and still make a decent profit. That includes what I pay for the property (principle, interest, taxes, and insurance), my repair costs, and my holding costs. I have been known to pass on a great deal, simply because it was November and I wasn't convinced that the property would sell before summer. I always factor in having to pay the holding costs on a property for at least six months while I remodel or market the house. If the numbers don't work, I walk away.

Sometimes it takes quite a bit of research to find a property that I can make a profit on, but the rewards are worth it.

Now, before you call me a mercenary just because I look for distressed properties to profit on, let me say this: Somebody profits from every foreclosure - and it might as well be you or me.

Some people think it is unethical to benefit from another person's misfortune of losing their home or investment property by buying it from them in the preforeclosure stage. But I disagree. I look at buying preforeclosures as opportunities to help the distressed owners save their credit. When I buy their property, their debt is paid off and they are free to move on with their lives.

Foreclosures and other property distress are caused by divorce, unemployment, death, medical emergency, economic downturn, and any number of personal problems.

Recently, many homeowners bought expensive homes or refinanced to take equity out of their homes when the interest rates dropped. Those that later lost their jobs or had a medical emergency suddenly lost their ability to make mortgage payments. Many of those houses are now coming on the market as foreclosures because their owners haven't been able to sell them.They think of me as their guardian angel when I am able to buy their property prior to the sheriff's sale, save their credit, and pay off their debt.

For the most part, homeowners understand I need to make a profit to stay in business. If they are upside down in their house (meaning, they owe more than the property is worth), and there is no equity in the property, then it is very unlikely that they will be able to sell quickly -- to me or anyone else -- and get out from under their debt.

Wonder How Some Investors Make Millions Buying Foreclosures? Krista Goering has created a Free Guide to Buying Foreclosures and reveals Expert Tips for Getting Super Real Estate Deals. Krista Goering is an attorney, real estate investor, and coach who teaches real estate investing strategies online. Over a two year period, she bought and sold more than $4.5 million of real estate using these strategies. Free Guide to Buying Foreclosures: www.foreclosures-now.info Preforeclosure Website: www.foreclosures-now.com/pre1.html Preforeclosure article: mailto:pre1@foreclosures-now.com .

Consumer Reports Walkers

A walker is a mobile seat and frame that lets babies propel themselves across floors and other level surfaces. The typical age range for walkers is 6 to 15 months--after the baby can sit up unassisted but before the baby is walking.

Some researchers claim that despite their name, walker don't help babies acquire walking skills any faster than babies who don't use them. And many experts have expressed concerns about the safety of walkers: They can fall down stairways; flip over if wheels get snagged; and roll your baby into stoves, heaters, or other indoor dangers. Outdoors, walker can fall over curbs or into swimming pools. Safety gates may help prevent such accidents, but they're no guarantee. Many accidents involving walkers occur despite the presence of safety gates--either because the gates were latched incorrectly or they didn't hold up to the impact of the walker.

A voluntary safety standard was created for walkers in 1997. To comply, a walker must either be too wide to fit through a standard doorway or have safety features such as a rubberized friction strip on the bottom that stops the walker if its wheels drop away at the edge of a step. The number of walker accidents has declined considerably since the safety standard took effect. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics continues to urge banning their manufacture and sale. If you just have to have a walker for your child, the physician group recommends that you choose one that meets the voluntary standard, which was last updated in 2000.

WHAT'S AVAILABLE

The major brands are Baby Trend, Chicco USA, Delta Enterprise, Graco, and Kolcraft. Also called mobile entertainers, walkers come in various shapes--circular, rectangular, square, and even styled like a car. They typically have four to eight wheels. Price range: $30 to $70.

HOW TO CHOOSE

Key differences. Most of the manufacturers that meet the voluntary standard have opted for the friction strip on the base. But this is not a failsafe design. Even a certified model may still pose a safety risk.

Recommendations. Consider safer alternatives such as a stationary activity center. It offers equal or better play value than a walker, and it is far safer. What it lacks, of course, is mobility--a walker's main attraction. If you decide to buy a walker, consider the layout of your home. If you're concerned about keeping your baby in a room with standard doorways, choose a model with an extra-wide base. Even if a walker has a friction strip, consider using it only in a room with no access to stairs leading down.

A walker should be used only on flat, horizontal surfaces. Make sure the area is free of dangling cords and other objects that could cause the walker to tip over. And don't use walkers near sources of heat, such as a stove, or near swimming pools. For proper fit, both of your baby's feet should touch the floor or ground when in the walker. Never let a baby in a walker out of your sight. Examine any toys attached to the walker. Rule of thumb: The toys should be too large to fit through the tube of a toilet-paper roll (about 1 3/4 inches in diameter). Also check for small parts that could break off, and make sure all screws are properly tightened.

Finally, limit the time your baby spends in the walker to about a half-hour at a time. This should give your baby plenty of opportunities to crawl and engage in other physical activities.

Certification. A certification sticker on the walker's frame or packaging indicates that the walker meets the minimum requirements for the voluntary standard of the American Society for Testing and Materials and that its manufacturer participates in the pass/fail certification program administered by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association. Some walkers also are labeled as meeting new ASTM safety standards for steps and stairs, or as meeting new ASTM standards for walkers.

Copyright ? 2002-2006 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.

For the latest information on this and many other products and services, visit www.ConsumerReports.org.

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Finding The Perfect Retirement Location For You

With more and more people paying attention to their physical fitness, and with vast improvements in health care and technology, retirement is increasingly becoming a time of your life to look forward to, a time when you have fewer obligations and more opportunity to do the things you've always dreamed of doing. How you end up spending your retirement depends in large part on where you choose to retire. Your retirement location determines how much you'll be spending, what services are available to you, and what activities you can engage in.

Of course, there is no one perfect retirement spot for everyone. Finding the perfect retirement spot for you depends on what you want. But here are a few suggestions.

Here's to your health The availability of good health care is a significant consideration for the retired population. Here are twelve cities in the country where you'll find a lot of hospitals.

1. Union City, NJ - 736 hospitals within a 30-mile radius
2. Jersey City, NJ - 732
3. North Bergen, NJ - 728
4. New York, NY - 727
5. Passaic, NJ - 720
6. Clifton, NJ - 709
7. Mount Vernon, NY - 706
8. New Rochelle, NY - 704
9. Yonkers, NY - 704
10. Paterson, NJ - 698
11. Bayonne, NJ - 696
12. Newark, NJ - 693

A home of your own

If you want a good bargain on a retirement home (and who doesn't?), check these cities out. They offer the lowest median home sale prices in the country.

1. Reading, PA - $42,850 median home sale price
2. Buffalo, NY - $45,000
3. Niagara Falls, NY - $47,000
4. Camden, NJ - $55,000
5. Youngstown, OH - $55,000
6. Utica, NY - $55,000
7. Flint, MI - $59,000
8. Rochester, NY - $60,000
9. Saginaw, MI - $62,000
10. Dayton, OH - $63,000
11. Pittsburgh, PA - $64,500
12. Syracuse, NY - $64,650

The people in your neighborhood

Cities with a large population of older adults offer retired persons the greatest opportunities for socialization and activity. These twelve cities have a high percentage of residents over 50 years of age.

1. Tamarac, FL - 50.84% of residents are over 50 years old
2. Lake Havasu City, AZ - 47.13%
3. Port Charlotte, FL - 46.97%
4. Prescott, AZ - 46.85%
5. Palm Desert, CA - 46.06%
6. Largo, FL - 45.96%
7. St. Simons Island, GA - 45.88%
8. Spring Hill, FL - 44.67%
9. Surprise, AZ - 44.53%
10. Walnut Creek, CA - 44.22%
11. Port Orange, FL - 42.91%
12. Deerfield Beach, FL - 42.91%

Perfect to a tee

If you love golf and couldn't get enough of it during all those years you were working, you might want to retire in one of these twelve golf-playing cities.

1. Coconut Creek, FL - residents play golf 1.41 times the national average
2. Palm Harbor, CA - 1.39 times
3. Palm Desert, CA - 1.34 times
4. Lake Havasu City, AZ - 1.33 times
5. Woodbury, MN - 1.33 times
6. Yorba Linda, CA - 1.32 times
7. Boca Raton, FL - 1.31 times
8. Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - 1.30 times
9. Greenville, NC - 1.30 times
10. Diamond Bar, CA - 1.29 times
11. Cape Coral, FL - 1.29 times
12. Burke, VA - 1.29 times

Game, set, love

If it's tennis you prefer, here are twelve cities where residents play a lot of the game you love.

1. Bethesda, MD - residents play tennis 1.63 times the national average
2. Greenwich, CT - 1.61 times
3. Davis, CA - 1.61 times
4. Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - 1.61 times
5. Newport Beach, CA - 1.60 times
6. Williamsburg, VA - 1.59 times
7. Laguna Niguel, CA - 1.58 times
8. West Bloomfield Township, MI - 1.57 times
9. McKinney, TX - 1.57 times
10. Asheville, NC - 1.56 times
11. Mission Viejo, CA - 1.55 times
12. Sandy Springs, GA - 1.55 times

Welcome to the club

If you like the idea of belonging to a country club, you might want to retire in one of these twelve cities, where country-club members make up a relatively high percentage of the population.

1. Palm Desert, CA - 2.0% of households belong to a country club
2. Bethesda, MD - 2.0%
3. Greenwich, CT - 1.8%
4. West Bloomfield Township, MI - 1.8%
5. Lower Merion, PA - 1.7%
6. Lake Havasu City, AZ - 1.7%
7. Newport Beach, CA - 1.7%
8. Palo Alto, CA - 1.7%
9. Spring Hill, FL - 1.6%
10. Carmel, IN - 1.6%
11. Burke, VA - 1.6%
12. Prescott, AZ - 1.6%

The groves of academe

Does the idea of well-educated neighbors appeal to you? These cities have a high percentage of residents with graduate degrees.

1. Arlington, VA - 35.7% of residents have graduate degrees
2. Davis, CA - 34.6%
3. Brookline, MA - 32.5%
4. Evanston, IL - 31.2%
5. Bloomington, IN - 31.2%
6. Towson, MD - 31.2%
7. Oak Park, IL - 29.1%
8. Bethesda, MD - 29.1%
9. Alexandria, VA - 29.0%
10. West Hartford, CT - 28.9%
11. College Station, TX - 27.7%
12. Ames, IA - 27.5%
13. Columbia, MO - 27.5%

The key to finding the perfect retirement spot for you is knowing what you want, then learning where you can find it. So check out your options and prepare to have the time of your life.

Lee Dobbins writes for http://retirement.biz-review.com where you can learn more about how to retire in style.

Men?s Formal Dress

Laptop Cases: A Chic Fashion Accessory

For back-to-school or back-to-work, what are the latest trends in technology fashion? A laptop bag, as protection, is a must-have. And having the bag match the style and personality of the laptop owner is just as important to enhance professional image, stylishness, and even flair.

Although laptop briefcases continue to be the most popular style in the laptop bag category, there are three new recent fashion trends, which mean more versatility for the laptop owner:

* Lightweight laptop messenger bags and sleeves for students and people on-the-go
* Laptop bags with matching, removable sleeves
* High-end laptop totes that can be used as a laptop bag or just for an evening out

Students and metropolitan dwellers, for whom moving quickly is a must, are taking advantage of the new trend in light, sleeve-like messenger bags and laptop sleeves with removable shoulder straps. Designers such as Paulpac and Kipling have created very lightly padded messenger bags that won't add extra weight while protecting a laptop. Opt to insert an additional removable sleeve for extra protection, or carry the messenger as a light, everyday bag for anything from books to gym clothes to files. Similarly, many laptop sleeves, which have traditionally been inserted into non-padded bags as added protection, are now available with their own removable shoulder strap for standalone portability. This versatility means a laptop sleeve can protect a laptop inside a regular non-padded bag, or be used by itself, carried over the shoulder to quickly move from one place to another. Key designers offering this solution are Lifepod and Mobile Edge.

Growing in popularity are laptop bags with removable, matching laptop sleeves. The bags have light padding; the matching, removable laptop sleeve is also padded to offer extra protection. It's easy to carry the laptop in the sleeve from location to location, rather than carrying the entire laptop bag. Or the bag can be carried by itself without the sleeve when a laptop is not in tow. Brands such as Kipling, Piquadro, Tucano, Melissa Beth, and Frances & Grace have designed bags specifically for this adaptability.

The laptop brief has been around for a while, and continues to be the most popular style, but what else is there? There has been an increase in high-fashion laptop totes and other styles of bags that not only serve as a laptop bags, but that can stand alone as sophisticated, fashion totes. The designs and fabrics of these accessories are as ornate as any designer handbag, and feature construction of fine leathers and more expensive findings, clasps, and stitching. Brands such as Acme Made, Gina B, Lodis, Athena and Adrienne Vittadini are driving this, allowing ladies to transition from day to evening without changing bags.
About the Author

Raffaella Camera, together with Elaine Sanders, co-founded Kolobags.com, the best place online to <a href=http://www.kolobags.com/uy laptop bags, totes, backpacks, ipod cases, and other functional fashion accessories from today's leading designers.