19 Februari 2010

Is Buy to Let an Effective Investment Vehicle?

Buy to let as with any other property investment has the potential to be a very effective investment vehicle in my opinion, the secret is to be able to do it in the correct way so that this investment does not end up costing you money.

When one is looking to use buy to let as an investment vehicle, there are a couple of things which you should keep in mind when making your investment decisions, these things could make the difference between a well functioning finance investment and an utter disaster. Here are a few pointers which I hope will help you make the correct financial decisions and truly aid you to become financially free so that you can enjoy the fruits of living a life full of abundance.

1. Invest in yourself - Before you make any type of financial investment decision when it comes to buy to let options, be sure that you are following the correct advice and that you do not need to change your strategy every time the market changes.

2. Do the maths - Be sure that you are using effective systems and formulas when it comes to making your decisions. If you are not able to calculate the value of your investment and the effect it will have on your finances in the worst case scenario, then you are not doing this properly.

3. Be sure to know the target market - Before you buy the property be sure to do adequate investigation into who your target market is, and what they will see as being a fit amount to pay for the rental of the property.

4. Look for the best deal - Always look around so as to be able to determine where you can get the best deal to finance your investment.

5. Always allow for the bad times - Find ways to be able to determine what the effect of worst case scenarios such as vacant property or bad financial times will have on your investment, if you are able to do this effectively then there will be no reason why buy to let properties should put any strain on your financial portfolio.

These are but a few of the pointers which I feel will help you to make the correct and financially sound decisions when it comes to buy to let property investment, if you take them into account you will be on a far more safe road into the world of property investment as a investment vehicle than if you were ignorant to them.

As I always say, please take the time to invest in yourself before you begin to make substantial finance investment for your future.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hannes_Dreyer

Publishing Choices For Writers - Self-Publishing Print on Demand (Part Three)

Print on Demand is an attractive and viable option for authors if they are willing to put up with the negative factors discussed in other articles in this series. However, prior to jumping in, an author needs to take some specific steps to find the best Print on Demand company for their needs.

Options include Print On Demand companies that do the printing and nothing else, providing no support for the author. Other POD companies may provide some publishing services, but may not have the quality control over what gets put out on the market. If that is true and there is no quality control, then an author who has a great book may get lumped into the stack with those authors who just want to see their name in print. This is a serious consideration for authors who are aiming for the New York Times bestseller list.

Newer, actual publishing companies, may now offer Print On Demand as an option for printing, thereby offering all publishing services to authors in addition to the POD option for printing. However, once again, an author needs to do their homework. Some publishing services which are "vanity" services may be more interested in getting money from the author than in helping an author put out a good product, even if they offer Print on Demand printing.

Assuming an author has their work already edited, a cover already selected and are happy with their manuscript, then just getting a few copies of their book printed will dictate going just with a POD printing company. However, assuming an author needs work on their manuscript and does not know how their book will sell, the key would be to find a publishing company which has built a reputation of caring about what is published and who offers Print on Demand as an printing option. Then an author can get the best of both worlds- publishing by a reputable company who will work with their book and yet not be saddled with books that never sell. But, no matter what, authors need to do thorough homework when investigating the quality of these companies.

It is important to understand that one option is not necessarily better than another, but is rather just that, an option. Each writer will have their own needs and any of the above choices may be a perfect fit depending on those needs. But taking the time to investigate the quality of a company, no matter which choice they make, will give assurance to a writer that their work will be the best it can be while satisfying whatever needs they have.

Print On Demand is just one option under the self-publishing umbrella. In other articles, I will discuss other options for authors to get their work out into the public.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Candace_C._Davenport

Personal Bank Loans - The Setbacks

Many consumers have experienced a time when they need to take out a loan. The most obvious choice when you need a loan is personal bank loan. It's quite normal to immediately go to your own bank in order to ask for a loan. However, many people do not realize they can go to any bank in order to apply for a loan. The reason is because you want to get the cheapest interest rate on the money you borrow. The only way to find out if your bank is offering you the cheapest rate is if you compare rates. You have to get the rates on offer from a variety of banks. It is not a sure thing that your bank is going to offer you the lowest rates.

Personal bank loans could be small loans or very large loans. It is important that you are able to calculate how much money you will pay the bank in interest rates. It is also very important for you to understand that you must pay the money back on a specified date each and every month. If you are late with your payment you will be penalized. Even if you are one hour late you will be penalized. You will have to pay a higher interest rate than the original. Every time you are late the interest rate of personal bank loan will be pushed up. If you are not absolutely certain that you can make your payments on time every month then be prepared to pay back more. If the interest rate is pushed higher and higher it is going to take you longer and longer to repay your loan.

Personal bank loans can be a big help when you are in need. If you want to simplify your quest for interest rates then use an online site that provides quotes of this nature. It only takes minutes to have a list of interest rates to compare.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dana_M._Kilstein