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        <title>Gulf Shores Real Estate  and Orange Beach Real Estate - Alabama Gulf Coast and Mobile Bay</title>
        <link>http://www.gulfshoreslife.com/blog/ono-island-alabama/</link>
        <description>Alabama Gulf Coast Real Estate - Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Ono Island, and Fort Morgan plus the Mobile Bay communities of Point Clear, Fairhope, and Daphne in Baldwin County, Alabama.</description>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.gulfshoreslife.com/blog/closing-a-real-estate-deal.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.gulfshoreslife.com/blog/closing-a-real-estate-deal.html</link>
            <author>info@gulfshoreslife.com (Cal Carter Team Leader)</author>
            <title>Closing a Real Estate Deal!</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
This Is What Closing a Deal Looks Like


Searching for a home can be a very overwhelming and exciting experience. However, some of us, though buying a home can be exciting, find it a very stressful time.  This just another example of why we need to have a professional on our side. Hiring a Realtor can ensure that you have someone looking out for your best interests and who knows the process, as well as the market inside and out.


Every Little Step You Take


Once you are ready to make an offer on a home, you may be wondering: What next? What does this mean? What does that mean? There may be contingencies that have to be met by both parties before a closing can be made final. Closing costs are generally a percentage of your loan amount, but this can vary depending on your specific situation. This would be determined working with your Realtor and a mortgage broker. Here's a list of what's left to be done to close the deal on your new home:



  
An offer with detailed contingencies will need to be drawn up.

  
You'll submit &quot;earnest money&quot; or a deposit.

  
A seller can then choose to accept your offer or provide a counteroffer with contingencies and possible price changes of their own.

  
If you haven't already been pre-approved, you'll need to apply for a loan. (This is usually a good idea to do when you begin your home search so that you may understand how much house you can afford).

  
An appraisal will need to be completed for the home.

  
The home will need to be inspected by a licensed home inspector.

  
And required by your lender you'll need to have a title search performed, buy title insurance, and homeowners insurance.

  
All documents will need to be reviewed to ensure accuracy.

  
Your down payment and closing costs will need to be paid next.

  
And finalizing all documents, and now you own your new home!




Each of the steps listed above involves a varied amount of details. Having a Realtor and mortgage broker working for you can make sure the process is as thorough, quick and as easy as possible. If you need assistance right away, please feel to contact us immediately. We're here to help.


Writing for Waterfront Properties &amp; Club Communities, gives Lisa Lambert the opportunity to help both home buyers and sellers work easily through the real estate process.  Lisa writes for luxury waterfront communities like Admirals Cove in Jupiter, Florida.


&nbsp;


 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Wed, 07 Sep 2011 11:08:26 -0500</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.gulfshoreslife.com/blog/september-2010-newsletter-housing-trends.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.gulfshoreslife.com/blog/september-2010-newsletter-housing-trends.html</link>
            <author>info@gulfshoreslife.com (Cal Carter Team Leader)</author>
            <title>SEPTEMBER - 2010 Newsletter Housing Trends</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 


SEPTEMBER - 2010 Newsletter Housing Trends 

Welcome to the most current Housing Trends eNewsletter. This eNewsletter is specially designed for you, with national and local housing information that you may find useful whether youre in the market for a home, thinking about selling your home, or just interested in homeowner issues in general. 
The Housing Trends eNewsletter contains the latest information from the National Association of REALTORS, the U.S. Census Bureau and Realtor.org reports, videos, key market indicators and real estate sales statistics, a video message by a nationally recognized economist, maps, mortgage rates and calculators, consumer articles, plus local neighborhood information and more. 


&nbsp;

Please  click here to view the SEPTEMBER - 2010 Newsletter Housing Trends eNewsletter.


If you are interested in determining the value of your home, click the Home Evaluator link for a free evaluation report.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:34:32 -0500</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.gulfshoreslife.com/blog/gulfshoreslifecom-team-newsletter-march-30-2010.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.gulfshoreslife.com/blog/gulfshoreslifecom-team-newsletter-march-30-2010.html</link>
            <author>info@gulfshoreslife.com (Cal Carter Team Leader)</author>
            <title>GulfShoresLife.com Team Newsletter March 30, 2010</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 

  News from the GulfShoresLife.com Team




  March 30, 2010
  
  




  In this Issue:




  What's going on
  




  Special Opportunity:
  &nbsp;Great deal on a foreclosed home




  Recommendations &amp; Resources: 
  Free ebook: &quot;Foreclosure
  Home Buying Secrets&quot;




  Feature Article:
  How will we be judged?




  Recommendations &amp; Resources:
  Free teleseminar is a $4 million blueprint for wealth




  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




  &nbsp;




  What's going on:




  Activity is picking up as the spring break crowds arrive. It has been
  unusually cold up until a few days ago and it is great to finally see some
  boats out on the bay. Merchants and restauranteurs are certainly glad to
  see their parking lots filling and we are happy as well in often having
  too many buyers to fit into our schedule. This just reinforces the need
  to plan ahead in scheduling property tours! Another important thing to
  note is that properties that get priced right do not stay on the market
  long - if you see a good value be decisive or watch someone else own the
  property.




  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




  &nbsp;




  Special Opportunity:
  Open House - Check out this GREAT DEAL




  I believe I have just found one the best foreclosure deals on the market
  right now.




  This home offers
  4 BEDS AND 3 1/2 BATHS
  .&nbsp; The home also
  offers a Boat Dock on Cotton Bayou
  and is in great location.




  The best part about the home is that it is priced at just $479,220, which
  is well below value based upon our market study.




  




  Wait, it gets even better, the seller is offering Unemployment Payment
  Protection to buyer at no additional cost:




  We're going to host a special 1-hour open house on Saturday, April 3rd
  at 1:00 PM so that you can stop by and see this home.




  To attend this special open house
  go here and register
  or contact Tammy Harrison our office administrator and she will get the
  word to your buyer specialist so they can give you all the details about
  location and access instructions -
  tammyharrison@gulfshoreslife.com




  Due to the limited access the open house will be limited to the first
  10 registrants.




  If you would like to see this home before the open house, we may be able
  to accommodate you.&nbsp; Call Tammy at 251-978-3172




  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




  &nbsp;




  Recommendations &amp; Resources: 
  Free ebook: &quot;Foreclosure
  Home Buying Secrets&quot;




  Thomas Reahl, former chief economist for the National Association of Realtors
  , a highly respected real estate expert appeared on MSNBC and flatly
  stated that there would be at least 1.2 million foreclosures in the next
  18 months.




  What many watching did not understand was that he was announcing the greatest
  boom period of opportunity for knowledgeable home buyers ever to occur
  in U.S. history.




  The 1.2 million foreclosures represent an enormous inventory &quot;glut&quot; of
  homes that banks and other lenders must sell fast and cheap. Imagine buying
  a perfectly good home in a good neighborhood for as little as 30 cents
  on the dollar.




  My new 100-page booked titled &quot;Foreclosure Home Buying Secrets&quot; has just
  been released and is available without charge.




  You can download this new book right now at:




  www.distressedpropertyvulturefund.com




  In this new book, you'll learn...





    How the foreclosure process works
  


    How to avoid hidden costs
  


    How to identify the best foreclosed homes
  


    How to research foreclosed homes
  


    What
    you need to know about current market trends
  


    What you should do during a declining
    market
  




  To download this new &quot;Foreclosure Home Buying Secrets&quot; book without charge
  right now, go to:




  &nbsp;
  www.distressedpropertyvulturefund.com




  You might be able to find your dream home at an unbelievable price. Download
  this new book now!




  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




  &nbsp;




  Special Report




  How Will We
  Be Judged?




  By Rob Minton




  The passage of the Health Reform Bill in the U.S. House of Representatives&nbsp;on
  Sunday March 21 got me thinking about a quote I've heard a few times. A
  wise man once said &quot;Every society is judged by how it treats its least
  fortunate amongst them.&quot;




  You have to think this is one of the things that spurred lawmakers to
  cast votes in favor of the bill; it paves the way for 32 million Americans
  who don't have health insurance to get it. Some would argue that if a society
  is going to be judged by how it treats its least fortunate, one of the
  things it might do is provide them with&nbsp;access to health care.




  Of course, Americans are deeply divided on the issue. And 25, 50, maybe
  100 years from now, history books will support one of the two sides. They'll
  either say &quot;Some people were actually
  opposed
  to this great thing,&quot; or they'll say &quot;What were they thinking?&quot;




  Hindsight is always 20/20, of course, but as historic as the reform bill
  was -- and as desperate as the president and his party want it to be their
  legacy -- it won't be the sole thing our society is judged upon.




  It's going to shape history, sure, but so are a lot of things that we
  as a society are doing right now.




  America is fighting two wars. It's fighting a horrifically high unemployment
  rate. It's fighting the perception that the Wall St. bankers who fueled
  this recession were undeservedly rescued by the government, which in this
  case might be judged by how it treated the MOST fortunate amongst them.




  We're living in a time when obesity and diet-related health issues are
  a real problem and are not adequately addressed by the same government
  that just passed a trillion-dollar measure aimed at helping poor people
  get healthier.




  We have an aging population that will continue to need our care. We have
  homeowners facing the prospect of losing their homes. We have a mountain
  of debt, both as individuals and as a nation. We have school systems that
  can't afford to provide a high standard of education for our children.




  Look around, and sometimes it's difficult to determine who exactly are&nbsp;the
  &quot;least fortunate.&quot;




  Access to health care for the poor is certainly a noble goal. If we can
  raise millions of dollars for Haiti relief in a matter of weeks, we should
  be able to show compassion for those right here among us that have it worse
  than we do.




  But it's hard to look at how passionate the politicians were over this
  issue and not wonder why they can't be as passionate or as driven&nbsp;about
  the other things that will shape U.S. history at this critical juncture
  in time.




  This bill will provide health care to about 15 percent of the population
  that currently doesn't have it. It was passed despite polls that showed
  more than half of Americans were against it. It took commitment, drive
  and a ton of energy to get it passed.




  What if politicians showed that kind of commitment, drive and energy on
  things that would help EVERYONE prosper?




  Prosperity for everyone -- now THAT would be something a society could
  be proud to be judged upon.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;




  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




  Recommendations &amp; Resources: A
  blueprint for wealth




  The New York Times reported in 2009 that worldwide unemployment could
  
  hit a staggering 50 million by the end of the year. In the U.S., we are
  still dealing with a 10-percent unemployment rate as we begin 2010. The
  job market is still very unsettled. Dennis Blair, the United States director
  of national intelligence told congress the following:
  
  
  &quot;Nearly everybody has been caught by surprise at the speed in which unemployment
  is increasing ...&quot;
  
  
  Layoff announcements came fast and furious throughout 2009 ...
  
  
  Circuit City:&nbsp;&nbsp; 30,000
  
  Citygroup:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 52,000
  
  Pfizer:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
  19,500
  
  Sprint Nextel:&nbsp; 8,000
  
  Caterpiller:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 20,000
  
  




  The list could go on and on, the point being that your job is NOT secure.&nbsp;
  If you do lose your job because of the recession, you'll find yourself
  in a nightmare trying to find a new job. The conditions for finding a new
  job are terrible.
  
  
  You must do something now to combat this vicious cycle. You must eliminate
  
  any and all dependency on your job for income. Be proactive. Don't wait
  for
  
  this ugly unemployment situation to fix itself. It will get worse before
  it gets better.
  
  
  One of the best options is to launching your own &quot;side&quot; business from
  home to begin earning income outside of your job. Believe it or not, some
  small businesses flourish in adverse economic conditions. Your new &quot;side&quot;
  business could be one of them!
  
  
  To find out how to launch your own side business and secure your financial
  
  future, request a special wealth Blueprint report at:




  Wealth Blueprint




  
  When you request this special Wealth Blueprint report, you'll also receive
  
  an audio presentation that you absolutely must listen to before it's too
  
  late.




  Go to:
  Wealth Blueprint




  &nbsp;




  
  Have a great week!
  
  




  Cal Carter




  The GulfShoresLife.com Team




  Keller Williams Alabama Gulf Coast




  www.gulfshoreslife.com

 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:41:39 -0500</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.gulfshoreslife.com/blog/alabama-gulf-coast-and-lake-lanier-real-estate-news.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.gulfshoreslife.com/blog/alabama-gulf-coast-and-lake-lanier-real-estate-news.html</link>
            <author>info@gulfshoreslife.com (Cal Carter Team Leader)</author>
            <title>Alabama Gulf Coast and Lake Lanier Real Estate News</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Shore
to Shore 



Lake Lanier GA and AL Gulf Coast
Real Estate News





December 28, 2009



In this Issue:







The NorthGaLife.com Team: Buyer web traffic  heavy year end buyer traffic as is normal starting
after Christmas day. 



Buyer internet activity should increase through
the year until Fall when school starts back. Those looking to list should be
proactive at this time.&nbsp; Buyers should be
proactive as well with preferred properties.







The GulfShoresLife.com Team: Ditto above  buyers will begin getting off of the fence as Holiday activities end on New Years Day and will have
more time to devote to real estate activity through the winter doldrums.&nbsp; 



Buyers that have spotted bargains should become
motivated to make offers before someone else picks off these bargains with year
end bonus money.



&nbsp;



Special
Report: Exterior remodeling best bang for your buck



Featured
Article: Why your credit score is even more important



Recommended
Resources: Confessions of an underwater homeowner

&nbsp;



The NorthGaLife.com Team



&nbsp;



&ldquo;2009&nbsp; is coming to an
end &nbsp;and buyers are coming out to take
advantage of the great deals in the area. The New Year will only be more
promising as buyers are realizing that now is the time to buy. There are some
great deals for the buyers out there! - Juli Bowman



&nbsp;



Buyer registrations have increased significantly since Lake Lanier
got back to full pool.&nbsp; Low interest
rates and reduced prices will present many opportunities going in to 2010. Many
buyers progressing through the typical &ldquo;just looking&rdquo; period indicates 2010 should
have substantial increases in buyer activity.&rdquo;  Laura Carter



&nbsp;



&ldquo;Im out showing property&rdquo;  Ryan Kowalske



&nbsp;



www.northgalife.com 



&nbsp;



The GulfShoresLife.com Team







&ldquo;The year 2009 saw strong condo sales in Gulf Shores
and Orange Beach.
Recorded sales are over 900 units and including remaining developer
inventory and large auctions, the total number of units sold is at
1,000 plus. &nbsp;The buyers have been motivated by significant price
reductions which have now bottomed out in many developments.&rdquo;  Des Gatti



&nbsp;



&ldquo;Buyer activity has increased significantly as a result of
price reductions in the real estate market in the last quarter of 2009.&nbsp;
Numerous buyers believe the market is at or near the bottom and have decided
that now is the time to buy.&nbsp; They are now taking actions to position for
the future.&nbsp;&nbsp; Also, many buyers have been disappointed to learn that
homes they wanted to see and possibly &quot;offer&quot; on have been sold as a
result of this very active buyers market.&rdquo;&nbsp; - Wayne Walker



&nbsp;



&quot;Didn't get exactly what you wanted for
Christmas?&nbsp; Buy yourself a condo!&quot; &nbsp; LaSha Powell



&nbsp;



&ldquo;Im out with buyers!&rdquo;  Ron Buttarazzi



&nbsp;



&ldquo;Im working on new listings!&rdquo;  Jason Will

&nbsp;

&quot;I'm preparing for multiple showings this week!&quot; - Susan Trawick



&nbsp;



&ldquo;Looking forward to starting the New Year off with a total
redesign of our follow up systems, our focus will be to provide more useful
information on a timely schedule throughout the year and to be there when &ldquo;buyers
are ready to buy&rdquo; and &ldquo;sellers are ready to sell&rdquo;. &nbsp;I am in hopes that we become great providers
of information not only for those that are &ldquo;ready, willing, and able&rdquo;, but also
for those whose plans are further in the future and those who have already
taken action.&rdquo;  Cal Carter &nbsp;



&nbsp;



www.gulfshoreslife.com



&nbsp;





Special Report



&nbsp;





&nbsp;Exterior
Remodeling Best Bang for Your Buck 



The
U.S. National Association of Realtors recently released its annual &ldquo;Remodeling
Cost vs. Value Report,&rdquo; and renovations this past year did not bring the bang
for their buck they did in 2008, according to the report.





The
average remodeling job cost $50,908 in 2009 and added $32,497 to the value of
the home, a ratio of 63.8 percent, according to the report. That was down a bit
from a cost-to-value ratio of 67.3 percent in 2008, when the average project was
$49,866 and the added value was $33,568.





Of
course, these figures are to be taken with a grain of salt. For example, in
some markets rapidly falling home prices can skew the value of homes. And in
some markets, remodeling costs are substantially lower than in other markets. 





In any
event, the report seemed to reveal that in a slower real estate market, such as
the one the U.S.
is experiencing now, curb appeal is best improvement investment a home owner
can make.





On a
national level, eight out of the top 10 projects in terms of costs recouped
were exterior replacement projects that cost less than $14,000, according to
the NARs news release. Said the NAR:





&ldquo;Certain types of door and siding
replacements, as well as wood deck additions all returned more than 80 percent
of project costs upon resale. A steel entry door replacement  a new addition
to this years list  recouped 128.9 percent of costs, followed by upscale
fiber-cement sliding replacements at 83.6 percent. Wood deck additions recouped
80.6 percent of costs.&rdquo;





&ldquo;Once
again, this years Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report highlights the importance
of a homes first impression,&rdquo; said NAR President Vicki Cox Golder, in a
released statement.



&nbsp;



Featured Article



&nbsp;





Why Your Credit Score is Even More
Important 



Fannie
Mae announced this month that it was raising its credit score requirement for
borrowers, even if they have 20 percent as a down payment.





Fannie
Mae is the government-sponsored entity that purchases loans from banks, making
it the leader lenders follow when it comes to home-loan rules. It was announced
that even with a 20-percent down payment, borrowers will now need at least a
620 credit score to qualify for a loan. This is up from a 580 score.





While
it shouldnt come as any surprise that standards are tightening again as banks
try to reign in their risks as mortgage delinquencies continue to rise, this
latest requirement could bog down your efforts to finance a home if youre
already close to buying one.





There
are, however, some ways to bump your credit score by a few points in a
relatively short amount of time:



&nbsp;



Get a copy of your report





Yes,
every article ever written about credit scores tells you to do this. You read
it constantly. Everybody does. But not everybody takes the advice and looks at
their reports frequently enough. You should do this once a year, and if youre looking
to buy a house, do it soon!





Any and
all possible mistakes or issues should be addressed. Write letters, make phone
calls, challenge derogatory information. The time spent is well worth the
effort. Get any mistakes OFF your report!



&nbsp;



Dont open new accounts





If
youre going to apply for a home loan soon, dont apply for another credit card
or open a new retail store account just to save money on your next purchase.
Newer accounts can cost you a few points, score-wise. Wait until after your
home loan is approved. That brings us to the next point &hellip;



&nbsp;



Dont close existing accounts







The age
of your accounts affects your score, as does your ratio of credit used to
credit available. The more credit you have that you are not using, the better.
So even if youre tempted to close that account after youve paid it off;
dont. In fact &hellip;

&nbsp;



Ask for credit increases



Because of that ratio of available credit to credit
used, you can often bump your score by improving that ratio a little bit. One
way, of course, would be to pay down debt you have  reducing the credit used;
thats an obvious route. But the other side of the coin is to increase the
amount of credit available. You can call or write to have your limits
increased. A small increase on every account you have can add a few points to
your scores. 



NOTE: The
caveat to this approach is that while having more available credit than youre
using will help your actual scores, having TOO much credit available could hurt
your chances for qualifying for a home loan because of your debt-to-income
ratio. You want to make sure that all your minimum monthly payments, plus any
other fixed, long-term debt (car, student loans) is equal to less than 31
percent of your monthly gross income.



You probably arent going to be able to go from
Fannie Maes previous standard of 580 to the new 620 in a very short period of
time, but if youre out looking at houses now, it never hurts to bump your
scores by a few points before you have to apply for financing. A better score
helps you get a better interest rate, too, remember.

&nbsp;



Recommended Resources







Confessions
of an Underwater Homeowner 



The media are full with
doom-and-gloom stories about the foreclosure crisis, &ldquo;underwater&rdquo; borrowers and
falling home prices. The headlines are enough to make you wonder why anyone
would want to buy a home.





Of course, its the sensational
headlines that sell. I recently found an article about an underwater homeowner,
and its a pragmatic, honest first-person account of someone who owes more on
their mortgage than their home is worth. The buyer isnt a sub-prime borrower
and doesnt see himself as a victim of predatory lending. This
un-sensationalized look at one familys situation is definite recommended
reading! The article comes from the Wall Street Journal via Yahoo! Finance.





Click
here to read &ldquo;Confessions of an Underwater Homeowner&rdquo;



Have a
great week!
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:28:17 -0600</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.gulfshoreslife.com/blog/gulf-coast-real-estate-news.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.gulfshoreslife.com/blog/gulf-coast-real-estate-news.html</link>
            <author>info@gulfshoreslife.com (Cal Carter Team Leader)</author>
            <title>Gulf Coast Real Estate News</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
 


Shore to
Shore 



Lake Lanier GA and AL Gulf Coast
Real Estate News



&nbsp;



December, 20, 2009



&nbsp;



In this Issue:



The NorthGaLife.com Team World: December activity strong



The GulfShoresLife.com Team World: December activity strong



Special
Report: Are you prepared for survival?



Featured
Article: Focus on investments you control



Recommended
Resources: &ldquo;Confessions of a Real Estate
Mini-Mogul&rdquo;



&nbsp;



The NorthGaLife.com Team world



&nbsp;



The NorthGaLife.com Team is seeing more buyer activity.&nbsp; It seems that the Alabama
Gulf Coast
vacation market locked up much sooner than the Atlanta metro area and also is coming out of
that lockup a little sooner.&nbsp; More than
likely this is the difference in buyer behaviors for primary homes versus
vacation / second home buyers. None the less, the area North of Atlanta offers
many great buying opportunities - a lot of home for the money. 



&nbsp;



Lake Lanier finally came back to full pool during major rain events during the summer,
yet activity is still somewhat slow on the lake market. Many waterfront
opportunities are available in price ranges that simply were not present 2
years ago. 



&nbsp;



www.northgalife.com 



&nbsp;



The GulfShoresLife.com Team world



&nbsp;



The GulfShoresLife.com Team has been quite busy with buyers in December.
The talk in the local real estate world is that many agents are seeing
unexpected activity for December.&nbsp; Prices
have declined considerably in the last 2 years and appear to be leveling.&nbsp; Foreclosures and short sales are still a
substantial portion of the market, but not necessarily the only bargains
around.&nbsp; Dont neglect non-distressed
properties in that these sellers could very well be just as motivated as the
distressed sellers yet may yield a much easier negotiation process and quicker
closing.



&nbsp;



Des reports that he is seeing bargains showing up on the hotlist getting
snapped up quickly on a regular basis by smart buyers that are monitoring and
ready to pull the trigger.&nbsp; These
properties are typically already deeply discounted from the market peaks and
the successful buyers are not successful with further deep discounts in their
offering price.



&nbsp;



Typically buyer search activity picks up substantially the last week of
December.&nbsp; If you are watching a
particular property that is attractively priced, dont wait too long!



&nbsp;



www.gulfshoreslife.com



&nbsp;



&nbsp;



Special Report



&nbsp;



Are You
Prepared for Survival?



&nbsp;



Recently,
I've read a couple of columns that predict the recession is not easing, as some
are saying, but that instead the worst is yet to come.



&nbsp;



I think
that reasoning makes sense in some ways. For example, the fact that gold
continues to rise indicates that investors are betting that inflation will
become an issue, despite what the feds are telling us. It also makes sense that
as our aging population moves wealth from the young to the older people in our
society, the large percentage of &quot;savers&quot; rather than
&quot;spenders&quot; in the U.S.
population will slow any recovery.



&nbsp;



All the
talk of &quot;the worst is yet to come&quot; and the &quot;next financial
disaster&quot; reminded me of a book I read -- &quot;Emergency,&quot; by Neil
Strauss -- earlier this year.



&nbsp;



Now, I
firmly believe there is opportunity to add to wealth during these tough
economic times. Don't get me wrong. But I also believe there are steps we can
take to prepare for the worst, just in case. I am big on backup plans. So amid
talk of the next financial disaster coming, ask yourself:



&nbsp;



Can I
survive a financial disaster?



&nbsp;



In
Neil's book, he details his own story, how he went from fearful of events
largely beyond his control to self-confident in his preparation for such events
-- controlling what he can.



&nbsp;



Instead
of remaining in this fearful state, he decided to prepare himself for what he
feared. I found this to be very educational. Today, many people are worried
about their financial futures.



&nbsp;



However,
they dont seem to be taking any action to prepare themselves. They worry about
their jobs. They worry about their retirement. They worry about having enough
money to pay their bills. They worry about funding their children's college
education. They worry, worry, worry&hellip;.



&nbsp;



I
certainly understand this fear. What I dont understand is the lack of action
to mitigate these challenges. Why dont more people do more to prepare?



&nbsp;



Think
of this in a different way. Lets assume that for some reason some deadly gang
were out to get you and your family. Would you just sit in your home and wait
for them to come crashing through the door? Probably not.



&nbsp;



You
would probably take several precautionary steps to prevent or avoid their
attack. You might get an alarm system. You might get new locks. You might arm
yourself and have the police department watch your home more closely. You might
go on an extended vacation. Hell, you might even move.



&nbsp;



If you
felt this concern for your safety, you would take action, wouldnt you? Well,
how come people dont take the same action when they have the same threats to
their financial well-being?



&nbsp;



I
honestly dont know.



&nbsp;



The
only way to eliminate worry is through preparation. Neil Strauss learned skills
that would help him in the event of a physical crisis. He is now prepared.



&nbsp;



Here
are a few questions you should ponder:



&nbsp;



1. What
skills do you need to survive a financial crisis?



2. What
would you need to be able to do in order to have complete peace of mind over
your financial situation?



3. What
would you do if you lost all of your money tomorrow?



&nbsp;



You
need to ask yourself these tough questions. And come up with answers. I predict
that, like Neil Strauss, doing so and being prepared for the worst will give
you the courage and confidence you need to make your current situation better. 



&nbsp;



&nbsp;



Feature Article



&nbsp;



Focus
on Investments You Control



&nbsp;



Control
is a very, very important part of wealth-building. There are lessons all over
right now about what happens when you don't control your investments. The
Bernie Madoff ponzi scheme and&nbsp;the failing of some 529 college savings
plans are a couple of recent examples of what can happen when you give up control.



&nbsp;



Lets
start out with my definition of control:



&nbsp;



Investing
Control: The ability to influence or impact the future value and net income of
the investment.



&nbsp;



Investing
control is important for almost any type of investment.



For the
stock market, this means controlling a majority of a companys shares. Now,
this is extremely difficult for average people, like you and me. This is why we
should invest a smaller portion of our money into the stock market.



&nbsp;



However,
you could invest and obtain control of smaller, non-public companies. By having
control, you can directly impact the growth, income and expenses of your
investment.



&nbsp;



For
real estate, the best investors want active control over their properties.
Active control can be obtained in partnerships and individual investments
alike. Most people would rather be passive real estate investors. The tiny few
who grow wealthy prefer to be active investors.



&nbsp;



The
majority of families focus their investments into assets they do not control.
This is why they struggle to accumulate &ldquo;real&rdquo; wealth. This is also why many
people will not have enough money accumulated when they retire.



&nbsp;



In
fact, it boggles my mind that most people prefer not to be in control of their
investments. They would much rather have an mutual fund planner, stockbroker or
someone else control their money. &ldquo;Done for you&rdquo; wealth is not available. You
are going to have to do much of it yourself. You do it by controlling assets.



&nbsp;



It is
perfectly fine to invest a small portion of your money into investments you do
not control. But I would be very careful investing large sums of your money
into uncontrollable investments. I have investments into assets that I do not
control. However, these investments represent a small portion of my net worth.
I have control over the assets in which the majority of my money is invested. 



These
same assets also represent the largest portion of my net worth.



&nbsp;



If you
study wealthy people, youll quickly see that they do the exact opposite of
everyone else. They desire, fight for and cherish control. Everyone else
desires, cherishes and pays big money to have no control. Notice the
difference. 



&nbsp;



I
remember&nbsp;reading a biography on Kirk Kerkorian, a billionaire. In every
single investment Kerkorian made, he fought for control. When he didnt have
control over an investment, he&nbsp;quickly divested himself of the investment.
Same goes for Wayne Huzienga, who built three separate billion-dollar companies
(Waste Management, Blockbuster and Republic Industries).



&nbsp;



I
believe most people prefer passive investments because they are easier. Passive
investments allow the investor to invest without having to take any
responsibility. Passive investments do not require the investor to be decisive.
Passive investments do not require the investor get his hands dirty.



&nbsp;



Control
requires that you take responsibility for your investments. Control requires
you to be active. Control requires that you pay attention. Control requires
that you be decisive. Control requires you to roll up your sleeves and get
dirty every once in awhile. Some believe control is risky. I believe lack of
control is risky.



&nbsp;



Once
you have control of your investment, you should work hard to increase its
value. You increase value by increasing its income.



&nbsp;



One of
the most valuable wealth-building skills you can have in life is the ability to
increase the net income of your investments. With this skill, you can literally
write your own ticket.



&nbsp;



For&nbsp;example,
Kerkorian purchased enough stock to control MGM Studios in the late 1960s. By
the early 1970s, he had built the MGM Grand hotel in Las Vegas. This hotel and casino dramatically
impacted the value of MGMs stock. Guess what happened to Kirks wealth? Within
three years, his wealth was in excess of $100 million.



&nbsp;



This is
how powerful control can be. Could Kerkorian have created $100 million&nbsp;if
he wasnt in control? No.



&nbsp;



You
must strive for control over your investments. Control is critical for true
wealth. Dont be lazy. Dont&nbsp;copy the masses and happily turn over control
to your hard earned money. 



&nbsp;



&nbsp;



Recommended Resources



&nbsp;



Confessions
of a Mini Real Estate Mogul



&nbsp;



I highly recommend Jim
Pockrosss book titled &ldquo;Confessions
of a Real Estate Mini-Mogul.&rdquo; In the book, Jim shares his
journey building an apartment-building empire, encompassing more than 270
units. 



&nbsp;



He details his first few
investments, how he raised the funds to acquire each one and the results of the
investment. In addition, he shares stories of challenges with building
inspectors, pit bulls, ghosts and more. 



&nbsp;



Jim started investing in the
1980s when interest rates were in the double-digit range. Sellers were
motivated, and buyers and investors werent interested in real estate. In other
words, it was a down market, somewhat similar to todays real estate market. 



&nbsp;



The properties he acquired
during this time turned out to be enormously profitable for him and his
partners. He bought when others were selling. In many of his investments, he
got partners to help raise funds to buy the property. He also had sellers
finance purchases so he didnt have to qualify for a loan with a lending
institution. Something investors today should consider doing, too!



&nbsp;



If youve ever thought about
real estate investing, or if you just want an entertaining and educational look
at real estate, pick up a copy for yourself.



&nbsp;



&nbsp;



Have a
great week!



&nbsp;



Cal
Carter and The GulfShoresLife.com
 Team
Keller Williams
 Alabama Gulf
 Coast



Fairhope, AL



info@gulfshoreslife.com



www.gulfshoreslife.com



&nbsp;



Laura
Carter and The NorthGaLife.com Team



Keller
Williams Lanier Partners



Gainesville, GA



info@northgalife.com



www.northgalife.com


 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Mon, 21 Dec 2009 07:29:23 -0600</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.gulfshoreslife.com/blog/alabama-real-estate-sales-in-october-show-the-first-positive-year-over-year-results-since-july-2007.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.gulfshoreslife.com/blog/alabama-real-estate-sales-in-october-show-the-first-positive-year-over-year-results-since-july-2007.html</link>
            <author>info@gulfshoreslife.com (Cal Carter Team Leader)</author>
            <title>Alabama Real Estate Sales in October show the first positive year over year results since July 2007</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
This just in from the Alabama Association of Realtors

&nbsp;

October sales represent the first
positive year-over-year (Oct 09 vs Oct 08) % change at
13.4%&nbsp;since July 2007 (37 months) which was 4.5%.



&nbsp;


The last time the month of
October saw a positive % in sales versus a prior (Oct) was in
Oct. 2005 when it was 14.8%.


&nbsp;


Click the link below&nbsp;to&nbsp;see the
stats!


&nbsp;


&nbsp;Alabama
Housing Stats - October 2009
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:36:07 -0600</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.gulfshoreslife.com/blog/how-do-people-end-up-on-gulfshoreslifecom-searching-for-gulf-shores-condos-and-orange-beach-condos.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.gulfshoreslife.com/blog/how-do-people-end-up-on-gulfshoreslifecom-searching-for-gulf-shores-condos-and-orange-beach-condos.html</link>
            <author>info@gulfshoreslife.com (Cal Carter Team Leader)</author>
            <title>How do people end up on GulfShoresLife.com? Searching for Gulf Shores Condos and Orange Beach Condos?</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Most people arrive at our site searching for Gulf Shores Real Estate 


There are many other search terms such as Gulf Shores Condos, Orange Beach Condos, Gulf Shores Alabama Condos, Orange Beach Alabama Condos, Gulf Shores Homes, Orange Beach Homes, Gulf Shores Alabama Homes, and Orange Beach Alabama Homes. However, there are many other ways that people arrive. Here is a very interesting summary of some of the ways people have found this site!



    
        
            
&nbsp;

            
Num

            
Perc.

            
Search Term

        
        
            


            
16

            
3.46%

            
gulf shores real estate

        
        
            


            
13

            
2.81%

            
orange beach condos

        
        
            


            
12

            
2.59%

            
gulf shores condos

        
        
            


            
7

            
1.51%

            
orange beach real estate

        
        
            


            
7

            
1.51%

            
gulf shores alabama condos

        
        
            


            
5

            
1.08%

            
veterans rd gulf shores al

        
        
            


            
5

            
1.08%

            
wyld palms foley al

        
        
            


            
4

            
0.86%

            
ono island lot

        
        
            


            
4

            
0.86%

            
orange beach condos for sale

        
        
            


            
4

            
0.86%

            
orange beach al mls

        
        
            


            
4

            
0.86%

            
condos in gulf shores alabama

        
        
            


            
4

            
0.86%

            
pictures of the beach in gulf shores alabama

        
        
            


            
4

            
0.86%

            
the wharf concerts

        
        
            


            
4

            
0.86%

            
spanish cove lillian al

        
    

 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:21:40 -0500</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.gulfshoreslife.com/blog/exclusive-go-zone-buying-opportunity-in-the-1-growth-market-in-the-country.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.gulfshoreslife.com/blog/exclusive-go-zone-buying-opportunity-in-the-1-growth-market-in-the-country.html</link>
            <author>info@gulfshoreslife.com (Cal Carter Team Leader)</author>
            <title>EXCLUSIVE "GO-ZONE" BUYING OPPORTUNITY IN THE #1 GROWTH MARKET IN THE COUNTRY</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
EXCLUSIVE &quot;GO-ZONE&quot; BUYING OPPORTUNITY IN THE #1 GROWTH MARKET IN THE COUNTRY
Wednesday, September 17th, 6pm PST (9pm EST)


Deal Overview &amp; Conference Call Number:

http://maverickinvestorgroup.com/deals/charmont&nbsp;&nbsp;


(Access is by invitation only. You must RSVP with the discount code: &quot;cal carter&quot;)






Chosen by Personal Real Estate Investor Magazine as an &quot;Investor Pick&quot; to &quot;Generate Above Average Returns&quot;
================================================



    
Pre-Construction Single Family Homes Directly in the Path of Growth 

    
#1 Metropolitan Area for Projected Economic Growth 2008-2012 (Forbes and Moody's) 

    
No Property Taxes For Residents Over 65 (Major Incentive for Retiring Baby Boomers!) 

    
#1 Micropolitan Area for Population Growth 2000-2007 (US Census) 

    
Discounted Prices and Terms Not Available to the Public 

    
Positive Cash Flow Potential 

    
On-Site Property Management Available 

    
Lawn Care for Each Individual Home Included in HOA 

    
Only $5,000 to reserve the night of the call 




Learn about the amazing tax incentives for Real Estate Professionals for Buying Property in the &quot;GO-ZONE&quot; (including a 50% first year bonus depreciation and a 5 year net operating loss carry back). Tune in to find out what YOU need to do to get in on the action!


This is the LAST opportunity to reserve new homes that can be completed before the end of 2008, which is a requirement to qualify for the GO-Zone Tax Benefits that expire at the end of 2008!


Mark Your Calendar for Wednesday, September 17th at 6PM PST (9PM EST)
THERE IS LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE ON THIS CALL.

http://maverickinvestorgroup.com/deals/charmont 


(Access is by Invitation Only. You must use the Discount Code: &quot;cal carter&quot;)







DISCLAIMER: This is not intended to be an offer to sell nor a solicitation of offers to buy real estate in states where registration is required prior to any offer being made or in any other jurisdiction where prohibited by law. Real estate ownership involves risks which buyer assumes. Maverick Investor Group, LLC is referring potential buyers only and is not representing you in any capacity. Do your own due diligence. Read all documents and agreements before signing anything. Maverick Investor Group, LLC does not assume any responsibility for errors and omissions. You should consult with your legal professional or tax advisor regarding any real property transaction.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:54:43 -0500</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.gulfshoreslife.com/blog/breaking-news-on-cal-carter1.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.gulfshoreslife.com/blog/breaking-news-on-cal-carter1.html</link>
            <author>info@gulfshoreslife.com (Cal Carter Team Leader)</author>
            <title>Breaking news on Cal Carter!</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Breaking news on Cal Carter


 
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:41:23 -0500</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.gulfshoreslife.com/blog/financing-solutions-with-david-reed3.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.gulfshoreslife.com/blog/financing-solutions-with-david-reed3.html</link>
            <author>info@gulfshoreslife.com (Cal Carter Team Leader)</author>
            <title>Financing Solutions with David Reed</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 


Financing Solutions with David Reed


Getting a cash gift? Lucky you! 







    
        
            

            


            

        
        
            

            
Visit Reed's Website

            

        
    



Getting a gift in the form of cold, hard cash to buy real estate is a wonderful thing. Gift funds are a common way parents help their kids buy a home, but there are certain requirements to follow to ensure the gift transfer goes smoothly.


What exactly is a cash gift? Technically, it is a transfer of funds from one party to another without any expectation of being paid back. This non-repayment factor is a key element because lenders cant accurately calculate debt ratios if the gift is in fact a loan. How do lenders determine this? The &ldquo;giversâ€ are required to sign an affidavit stating that the funds being given are a gift with no repayment expectations.


Who can give a gift? Gifts can come from family members (parents, siblings or grandparents), non-profit agencies, local or state agencies, churches, domestic partners and trade unions.&nbsp;


The party that furnishes the gift must show an &ldquo;ability to giveâ€, which means they have the money available in an account they own. This is documented by providing account statements showing the funds are available. Finally, it must also be documented that the gift funds were transferred from one party to the next and the lucky recipients (and future home buyers) must provide a bank statement showing the gift was received.


While the need for documentation might sound heavy-handed, the truth is lenders need to take every precaution to make sure that the &ldquo;giftâ€ isnt a &ldquo;loan.â€ So if you know what the lender expects ahead of time, the gift transfer can be seamless. Just remember, financial gifts over a certain limit may have income tax implications, so be sure and consult with an accountant or tax specialist before getting the mortgage process underway. 


One final note to consider. Conventional loans differ from FHA programs in their requirements for reporting gifts to be used toward the purchase of a home. Buyers using conventional financing need to prove that they have at least 5 percent of their own funds in the purchase transaction. However, that requirement is waived if the gift represents more than 20 percent of the purchase price. The FHA loan, on the other hand, merely requires the buyers have at least $500 of their own money at closing, regardless of the amount of the gift.


Written by David Reed, Texas-based mortgage banker with more than 20 years experience 


 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Mon, 04 Aug 2008 08:11:23 -0500</pubDate>
                    </item>
    </channel>
</rss>
