Swiroset.com

Although coal is not used today to heat homes and factories, its use is entirely similar to what it has been for generations: as fuel. Only this time, the coal is used to generate electricity, which is then transmitted through power lines to heat homes and factories, and in ways too many to count. Even in this nuclear age, coal accounts for 49% of all electricity generated in the United States and 40% of world production.

The expenditure of coal to produce electricity is simply a recent development in the history of coal use. From prehistoric times when the first humans discovered that certain black rocks could burn, to the Hopi Indians during the 1300s who used charcoal for cooking, heating and making pottery, to the Industrial Revolution in the 1700s powered by coal and steam engines, the charcoal has been an integral component. part of human development for millennia.

Despite the emergence of new technologies, coal as an energy solution is definitely an attractive proposition for the future, provided that certain steps are taken to clean up processes. Here are some of the pros and cons of coal as an energy solution:

Pros

1. Availability: the greatest benefit that coal has as an energy solution is its existence. In 2006, the United States Energy Information Administration published figures of 930 billion short tons of recoverable coal reserves in the world. Of these, the United States has the maximum share of 27%.

At current levels of extraction and consumption, these should last for more than 130 years. Even considering the increase in consumption rates of around 2-3% per year, the reserves should last for more than half a century. In addition, it is easier to determine its location and extract the mineral using existing technologies than with other energy sources.

2. Price: Coal is one of the cheapest sources of energy available. In addition to its abundance, the method of generating electricity from coal is cheaper than alternatives such as nuclear and hydroelectric power. Although these alternatives may be less expensive in the long run, they require huge upfront investments.

3. Safety: Compared to nuclear energy, thermal energy or electricity generated from coal is considered much safer. Thermal power plant accidents will not cause an incident as extensive as the Chernobyl disaster.

Cons

1. Acid rain: Coal has many impurities, such as sulfur and nitrogen compounds, which are released into the atmosphere when it burns. In combination with water vapor, they cause acid rain that is harmful to plants and animals.

2. Global warming: Coal is a form of carbon that, when burned, produces carbon dioxide (CO2). CO2 is a powerful gas that, when present in the atmosphere, traps the earth’s radiation and heats the earth in a circumstance known as global warming. This has long-term effects on the climate and biodiversity.

Several steps are being taken to address both of these issues. Today, with current technology, it is possible to filter 99% of the minute particles and remove more than 95% of the pollutants from acid rain in coal. “Clean coal” technologies are here to stay.

Buying or selling real estate is probably the most important transaction you will ever make. That is why it is important to choose the best real estate agent to help you achieve this goal. But before hiring the services of a real estate agent, there are important factors to consider.

Many people have the perception that all real estate agents are the same. Some sign with the first come. Unfortunately, they realize later that they should have been more selective before signing a deal. To guide you in choosing the best real estate agent for your needs, here are seven questions to ask your prospective realtor.

1) What is your experience in the real estate sector?

The first thing to ask a real estate agent is how long they have been in the real estate business. It does not mean that you cannot hire the services of newly licensed real estate agents. Just keep in mind that those with years of experience under their belt are probably more informed about what to do, from listing to closing. Aside from the number of years in business, ask them what segment of real estate they focus on: residential, commercial, luxury, etc. Find out if it is primarily a listing agent or a buyers agent (or both). Familiarity with the market is also essential, so ask what geographic areas the agent typically covers. You can even dig deeper by asking if the agent has received any awards for outstanding performance.

2) How many and what types of properties have you listed and sold in the last year?

It is one of the most important questions to ask a real estate agent. The number of properties you have listed and sold in the past year is a valuable indicator of how good a real estate professional is at getting the job done. Note that this question consists of two parts: properties listed and properties sold. Agents can demonstrate their ability to list houses; However, the most important thing is the sales part: the ability to close deals. If they have a lot of properties listed and sold in the last year, it shows that whatever strategy the agent is using is certainly working.

3) What was the average sales price of the properties you sold in the last year?

Asking this will give you an idea in what type of market the agent specializes. Find out if the real estate professional has experience selling properties in your price range. If most of the properties sold are in the low-end market segment, it could take longer for the agent to sell if yours is a high-end home. Although agents can sell any property regardless of the price range, they are likely to be more successful in the market and in the price segments in which they have the most experience.

4) What is your average sale-to-list price ratio?

The sell-to-list price ratio (sometimes called the sell-to-list ratio or list-to-sell ratio) is the final selling price divided by the list price, expressed as a percentage. If it is 100%, it means that the sale price was equal to the list price. You can view this relationship in two ways. A qualified listing agent can negotiate sales prices equal to or close to the list price, and sometimes even higher in a very competitive market. Therefore, ideally, publicly traded agents should have sales relationships to list prices closer to 100%. On the other side of the coin, a good buyer’s agent can often negotiate a lower sale price than the list price. Therefore, the ratio of buyer agents should ideally be less than 99%.

5) What marketing strategies will you use?

Deciding which strategies to use can make the difference between success and failure. A bad marketing strategy will reduce your chances of success. Do your own due diligence by asking how the agent will sell your property. There are many options: staging, open houses, joint marketing, print advertising and, of course, online marketing. Regardless of the approaches used, they must be designed to attract the largest number of qualified potential buyers. High-end properties can often benefit from professional staging as well. In either case, your agent should advise you on how to best prepare the property to make it more attractive to potential buyers.

6) Can you give me some references?

Reputation is important in this line of business. Whether you are buying or selling a property, you should ask for references (previous clients). If possible, call a few and ask about their experiences with the agent. Were they satisfied with the service provided? Also ask if they are related in any way to the agent. A list of references made up of friends or relatives will generally not provide an objective evaluation of the agent’s qualifications.

7) Do you offer any kind of guarantee and will you let me get out of my contract early if I am not satisfied with your service?

You can’t say for sure how things will go, even if you did your due diligence. For this reason, you must make sure that you are prepared for any eventuality. If you sign a contract and later find that you are not satisfied with the service, will the agent allow you to cancel the contract? If things don’t go the way they are supposed to, you should be free to choose another agent who can deliver better results.

As you can see, there are many things to consider when choosing a real estate agent. Finding and interviewing real estate agents can be a laborious and time-consuming task. However, now armed with these seven questions, you are on your way to choosing the best real estate agent for your needs.

Working with an FSBO vendor can be very rewarding, however once we are done with that list, we need and want more FSBO vendors to work. You can convert each FSBO seller into more closed transactions by following several repeatable steps in each and every transaction that will uncover more FSBO sellers and bring you buyers for your other properties.

More FSBO Ads Helping a FSBO Salesperson

Often times, it is a valuable piece of information that is shared with a seller or buyer that puts them on edge when deciding to work with you. One of the most powerful ways to get more FSBO listings very quickly is by taking just 1 FSBO listing. If it works properly, 1 FSBO listing can become 5 or more FSBO listings very quickly.

This can be done by making sure to share the experience with as many people as possible. Some immediate ways to collect FSBO inventory is by taking the following actions:

• Call all your current FSBO prospects and share – That’s right, share with them that you are helping one of “yours”. FSBOs often like to stick together and if they know that you are helping one of “their own” this will allow you to get additional FSBO listings.
• Update your website with the new FSBO listing, whether you have a blog or website let the world know that you are helping a new FSBO seller. Be sure to tell the “story” of how it all happened.
• Get the FSBO vendor to record a “Why did I choose to list” message. Do this as quickly as possible in relation to the FSBO. Preferably, ask them to record it on a system that allows you to put it on the Internet so that even more people can listen to it. At the very least, it should be recorded on a direct line that people can call and listen to.

Unlock the Power of Buying Prospects at FSBO Properties

Buyers are often overlooked as many real estate agents see them as a “hassle,” but the reality is that they are needed to close a real estate transaction. Even if you don’t want to work with buyers, you can always recommend them. In all of your FSBO listings, I would recommend the following to generate more buying leads:

Free Hotline – People love to call these hotlines even today to find out where the technology is so they can hear about the property and what the property details are.

Text-to-phone service: These services are becoming popular and give buyers the ability to send text messages, using their cell phone, to obtain information about a property. This allows buyers to quickly and easily view property details and the agent receives the user’s cell phone number for follow-up.

Of the buying leads you generate, there are at least 1, if not 2, buyers in the group who will buy within 60 days as long as you follow up on them.

FSBO listings can be hard to come by if you don’t follow a system and pattern for success. I recommend that all my agents treat each FSBO like gold and not only to help the FSBO seller, but to find other highly motivated clients that they can help in the next 60 days.

How to assemble your bouncy castle.

First of all, find a suitable place in the areas that you have available, try to find the flattest place possible without a slope greater than 5%. If there are lumps and bumps all over your area or if you are on a hard surface like concrete or gravel, a good quality sheet of dirt is needed to protect the base of the castle. If there is a muddy or oily area, try to cover it with sand or more sheets so that it does not spoil the inflatable and the user’s clothing.

Check the area for possible hazards.

Once you have found a suitable area, it is recommended to sweep the floor, look for items such as broken glass, hard plastic, sharp stones and branches, as they will damage the base of the castle. Another aspect is to look up as there may be hanging trees, bushes, clotheslines and buildings, these can cause damage to the inflatable with constant friction due to movement and contact.

Unpack the bouncy castles.

Take the ground sheet and place it in the identified area, if it’s windy, place your bouncy castle anchors or sandbags at each corner of the ground sheet to hold it in place. Place your inflatable on the floor sheet and unfold it, when placing the castle remember not to pull it with the anchor points as this can damage them. Tie off the air exhaust pipes and leave one open for your blower. Fasten the zippers and tape the velcro flaps down to secure the zipper. Zippers are usually found on the side or back of an inflatable at the base.

Attach the inflatable blower.

At this point, you should have the inflatable lying on the ground with the inflation tube at the back. Insert the blower into the inflation tube, in some inflatable castles there is a strap attached to the inflation tube; Attach the strap with the tie strap at the base of the blower funnel. If the inflatable does not have a strap attached, you need to use a small charging buckle strap to secure the inflation tube.

Extension cords: residual current device plugs and gasoline blowers.

With the extension cords must be fully uncoiled, the wiring should be placed in a tree, bush, or wall lines as far away as possible from the bouncy castle users, to avoid tripping and damaging the cord. Always try to use a waterproof extension cord or cover the junction box with a plastic cover to prevent a sudden shower from wetting the plugs. When the extension cord enters the house, pass it through open windows, this will prevent people from tripping over it or a door from closing on the cord and damaging it. Use residual current device (residual current device) plugs in the house to plug in the extension cord. Press the button on the residual current device circuit breaker to inflate the bouncy castle. When using gasoline blowers, these should be regulated so that the engine is not overcharged, but enough air is injected into the inflatable to give a good bounce.

Securing a bouncy castle.

Each hammock should have anchor points and attached to the anchor point is a section of rope, drive the anchors (large steel pegs) through the rope and into the ground, you may need a 3 pound hammer for this . Make sure they do not stick out of the ground as people will trip over them. If you are on a hard surface you will need sandbags to stabilize the inflatable, another good idea is to get sandbags of very bright colors since people see them better.

Security.

Do not allow children or adults to climb on the bouncy castle while it is inflating and deflating; Keep children away from the back of inflatable power cords, residual current device circuit breakers, and gasoline blowers. Do not use the bouncy castle in very windy days or in wet conditions, if there are some showers, a rain cover should be installed. To do this, completely deflate the bouncy castle before attaching the cover. Safety mats must be used at the entrance to a bouncy castle. If the bouncy castle stops working during use, immediately get everyone out of the inflatable and back in their tracks from step 4, and always check the fuse box on your power source.

Perhaps you are like many small business owners approaching retirement wondering how you are going to get enough money in your 401 (k) to be able to afford to retire. A few years ago you didn’t have this dilemma because your portfolio looked great. But today is a different story. And now with less than 10 years to go until retirement, you may be worrying a little.

Or perhaps, despite your best intentions, you forgot to save a lot, if at all, for your retirement over the years. In the midst of growing her business, she also had to buy a home and office space, send the kids to college, pay for a wedding or two, and possibly even care for elderly parents.

In essence, life got in the way of savings.

Fortunately, there is a solution. Consider starting at 412 (i).

Since most people are not familiar with a 412 (i), this is how it works:

Designed for small business owners with 20 or fewer employees, a 412 (i) is a defined benefit plan that allows you to accumulate significant retirement assets in a short period of time.

For example, if you are 55 and want to retire at age 60 or 65, you could start a 412 (i). By meeting with a qualified pension planner, you will determine what amount of monthly income or lump sum you want upon retirement. Your planner can then structure a 412 (i) that guarantees that you will get that amount on the penny.

How is this possible? The 412 (i) is a fully insured plan, which means you cannot lose the money you deposit. Also, it is guaranteed to provide a certain minimum interest each year. Any money you contribute goes towards a combination of fixed annuities or fixed index annuities, and you can also have life insurance on the plan.

Because your contributions are in fixed accounts and fixed life insurance, your planner can “work out the numbers” based on interest rates and tell you exactly how much you will have when you retire. In fact, you’re also buying life insurance on a pre-tax dollar.

Before you sell out and open a 412 (i) yourself, get the facts about the plan and how best to use it.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE? A 412 (i) is ideal for small business owners in their peak income years. Since the plan allows for significant savings, your business or professional practice must be highly profitable and have a steady stream of income and cash. You should also plan to retire in 10 years or less and seek a significant income tax deduction to offset your high tax liability.

HOW MUCH CAN I CONTRIBUTE? Contributions to your 412 (i) are based on your age and income. The exact amount you can contribute can be as high as $ 350,000 a year, depending on your situation. In general, the older you are, the more you can contribute. If you’re incorporated, you can even contribute more than you make in a year, such as through lottery winnings or inheritances. And every penny you put into your 412 (i) is tax-protected, just like your 401 (k).

WILL I LOSE MONEY? The 412 (i) plan is fully insured. That means it is funded by a combination of life insurance and annuities, or just annuities. Therefore, the guarantees of the 412 (i) plan are derived from the life insurance contracts and / or annuities that finance it and depend on the ability to pay claims of the issuing life insurer. Therefore, you and your planner should choose reputable companies with superior financial strength. In addition to protecting your money from market fluctuations, you are also protected from claims or judgments, such as bankruptcy.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I NEED THE MONEY? The money you contribute to a 412 (i), as well as the interest that accrues, is tax-deferred. When you retire, you can draw a monthly income from your 412 (i) or you can take the available lump sum and roll it into an IRA. All the money you take out as income is taxed at the current tax rate. But the money you transfer to a new IRA is not taxable. You only incur taxes when you actually take the money out for your use.

WHAT ABOUT LEGALITY? Many CPAs are often unfamiliar with 412 (i). Those in the know remember how the plan was abused in the past, so they don’t recommend it today. After the stock market crash in 2000, some planners abused 412 (i) by including more life insurance in the plan than the law allowed. Since then, the IRS has refined how the plan works. A trained pension professional who specializes in defined benefit planning can provide further advice on this.

Bob Falisey, president of Falco Consulting Services, Inc., Los Angeles, California, who has more than 30 years of pension experience recently outlined the progression of 412 (i), “Section 412 (i) of the Internal Revenue Code It has not been well known in the past for various reasons during the Reagan years, taxes were lowered significantly and people were reluctant to use tax-advantaged pensions; during the Clinton years, stock market performance was excellent and equity products that contain risk are not allowed in this plan. Now it is becoming very popular and I see it being used more and more by business owners. “

LOOK AT IT Once small business owners understand the benefits of a 412 (i), they can’t wait to set one up. So, if you’ve seen your retirement portfolio shrink in recent years, or if you were too busy growing your business and neglected to increase your savings, the 412 (i) may be the “second chance” you’ve been waiting for.

One of the most common codes I normally see on a 1997-2001 2.2L 4-cylinder Toyota Camry is a P0401. It is a code that indicates that there is a problem with the EGR system, not necessarily a problem with the EGR valve itself. I hear stories of people getting this code and replacing the EGR valve without doing any tests because they don’t know what to test. They spend unnecessary money and have not fixed the problem yet.

There are three parts that will generally cause this code to appear on your car. Yes, the EGR valve is one of them, but it also has the EGR VSV and the EGR Modulator. The first parts of the inspection will be to verify the operation of the EGR valve by making a vacuum with a vacuum pump. You can get a vacuum pump from an auto parts store for around $ 20 and even rent one from some stores.

Connect the pump to the only vacuum port on your EGR valve. There will be a small hose attached, which you will need to disconnect and install your pump in the same port. With the engine idling, you should be able to pump the vacuum pump to create a vacuum at the EGR valve. The diaphragm inside the EGR valve should rise and kill the car. If your car dies, then your EGR valve and ports are fine. If your car stumbles or doesn’t have any change in the way it works when you’re pulling the vacuum, you likely have a bad EGR valve or clogged port on your intake.

If you think you have a faulty valve, you should remove it from the engine and test it with the same vacuum pump. You should be able to see the diaphragm inside the valve move while applying vacuum. If the diaphragm moves, you may have clogged ports at the inlet and the inlet may need to be cleaned. If it doesn’t move, you need to replace the EGR valve.

However, if your Camry stopped working when you applied that first vacuum then you should start looking for the EGR VSV. I know VS what? It is a small blue solenoid located on the back of the engine block. You will have a pair of vacuum hoses and a small plug attached, everything will be held in there with a 10mm bolt. Remove the VSV and test it by applying power and ground from your car battery (the VSV should not be plugged into the harness during testing). If you hear the VSV clicking when you apply power, then you need to replace the EGR modulator.

The EGR modulator is located to the right of the EGR valve on its intake. It will have multiple vacuum hoses coming out of it and it will slide into a holder. The EGR modulator can be purchased relatively inexpensively from your dealer. There are no easy tests for the modulator. If you replace the modulator and you still have a problem and the light comes back on, you need to replace the EGR VSV, also known as the vacuum switching valve. Sometimes the VSV can have an internal breakdown and still click when you put power and ground to the terminals, but it’s still bad.

So you could be wasting your money just opening a valve. Remember that the only way to fix something is to know the proper testing procedure so that you can come up with a correct solution.

It’s in, and for good reason. I remember doing my first BRRRR strategy in 2004. I bought a house in Arvada, Colorado, with a lot of money to fix and renovate. You wouldn’t believe it; the flip was a flop and i ended up with a problem. I was over budget and was forced to cut back on my rehab. Like way back. I no longer had confidence in the sale price and decided that I would keep that as a rental. It was a nice big house in a desirable area, and I had a rent-to-own tenant in no time. Now to the problem. That damn hard money loan. Fortunately, this was when I was still able to report my income, and since I had good credit, I was approved. I kept that house for over 10 years!

Little did I know at the time, but I just fell for the BRRRR strategy. I bought a property, rehabbed it, rented it, refinanced it, and then repeated the process. I bought that house with no down payment and received a monetary option and positive cash flow. The term BRRRR had yet to be coined, but he knew he was on to something.

The entire Pine Financial team talks about this strategy for a few reasons. First, we can help with the loan to do it, but it also works very well. This is one of the best strategies when it comes to buying property with little or no down payment. Do you want more information about this strategy? I wrote a FREE report here. (See below)

Although this is one of my favorite buying strategies, it is not risk free. Here are three risks when using the BRRRR strategy:

• Different view on value: Outside of all the typical risks of owning a rental, BRRRR’s risks come down to your ability to refinance private money or hard money loan. The easiest way to stumble upon that is if your refinance appraisal is low. In my world, we get an appraisal up front with the appraiser’s opinion of what the property is worth after repairs. Also known as ARV or after repaired value. The key word here is opinion. It is quite possible that another appraiser has a different opinion. This is even more likely if you only do minor repairs. It can be very difficult for an appraiser to understand a large increase in value in a short period of time. Major repairs help with this. Even though you are only rehabbing for rent, you still want to show that you did improve the property to justify the value.

The good news about appraisal when you refinance is that you should let the appraiser in the home. This means that you can meet him or her at the property. I highly recommend that you do so and that you bring your hard money loan appraisal with you, lists of repairs performed, and any up-to-date compensation to support its value. With these documents, we have seen fantastic results, but you must understand that this is always a risk. If the appraisal is low, you may have to cover the difference out of pocket or, in the worst case, sell.

• Initial loan was incorrectly made – I haven’t seen this, but all of our preferred lenders have told me this is common. If you are dealing with someone who does not understand this strategy, it could ruin the initial loan and make it difficult to refinance. Some common mistakes are:

  • What’s It Titled: The best loan right now to refinance is a Fannie Mae loan. They have fantastic 30 year fixed rates and no season titles. Title seasoning just means how long you need to be on the title or own the home before you can refinance it. Many banks or lenders have title seasoning guidelines. Fannie Mae doesn’t. What they do have, however, is a guideline for not lending to an entity. This means that they want you to be the owner of the house personally. It might be possible to waive claiming your entity’s home deed in your personal name, but the loan process is much easier if you purchase in your personal name. Once your loan is in place, it might be a good idea to stop claiming the property in your entity at that time.

  • Sweepstakes – I have heard that some lenders do not hold construction money. When a lender does this, they will get the full loan amount at closing. If the lender loaned money for repairs but did not include it correctly at closing, it will appear that you received a cash refund and the refinancing lender will not make the loan. These are rate and term refinance loans, which means that they will only refinance the debt that was used to purchase the property. If they pay off a loan that was used to put cash in your pocket, it is considered a cash refinance and you will not qualify.

  • Link: It sounds simple, but the link that the lender places in the title is very important. The biggest problem is that, in fact, they place a lien. This should appear in the title search and be disclosed in the closing disclosure, making it clear that your refinance loan is being used to pay off the purchase money debt. The lien should also match the amount on the settlement statement, and it is best not to modify that loan or increase it in any way after you buy the home. Either of these could create a problem separating a rate and term refinance from a cash-out refinance.

• 
  Tight DTI: In 2004 I had a problem with DTI. Debt to income. I was making money, but a lot of that money was not showing up on my taxes. These could be non-refundable deposits that would be reported at a later date, money from the Army to pay for some of my expenses while I was in college, or amortizing or depreciating assets. I also had some roommates who helped me with my bills. If you look at my tax returns and mortgage payments, I would not qualify for the loan. I only qualified because declared income loans were allowed. Since we have no longer established loans, we must be very careful here.

For Pine Financial, we require our client to be pre-approved for refinancing before lending them money IF they plan to refinance. That’s not a requirement for flippers, but we want to help our clients succeed, so we pay attention to this little detail. Once approved, it would be a good idea to do a stress test. What if the rent is $ 100 less per month than you project? What about $ 200?

I hope I did not scare you. The point is not that, it is to stay safe. If you haven’t experienced the BRRRR strategy, it’s hard to understand the power behind it. If I had to give advice, it would be to explore this, but also to understand the risks involved. As a strong money lender, we’ve been involved in several hundred of these specific transactions and we’re happy to help guide you if you need a little help.

https://www.pinefinancialgroup.com/how-to-buy-cash-flowing-real-estate-with-no-down-payment-no-owner-financing/

Plumbing emergencies can happen without warning. If the situation is really not an emergency, you’d be better off scheduling a plumbing service call during regular calling hours, as emergency fees are often priced higher than normal plumbing maintenance fees.

One word of caution: If you have natural or propane gas and you smell gas in your home, turn off the main valve (where the gas enters your home) and call for service immediately.

These are the top five causes of a plumbing emergency. Here are some helpful troubleshooting tips to try before calling for after-hours service.

Without hot?

1.) Check the thermostat. Is it off or rejected?

2.) Check burner switch. Usually located near your oven, it looks like a light switch with a red switch plate. Sometimes this is turned off by mistake.

3.) Check your oil tank. Have you run out of oil?

4.) Check burner reset button. Oil ovens have a red reset button on the burner. Press to restart. If it triggers again, call for service.

5.) Check the circuit breaker panel. Reset tripped breaker only once. If it triggers again, call for service.

There’s no water?

1.) Check the pump circuit breaker on the house panel. Restart once. If it triggers again, you can usually wait until morning to schedule a service call.

2.) Check the pressure tank gauge.

3.) Check your checkbook! Did you pay your water bill?

There is no hot water?

1.) Check all hot water fixtures in the house.

2.) Check the circuit breaker on the house panel.

If you have an electric hot water tank, reset the circuit breaker. If it triggers again, do not restart it. Call for service. If you have a tankless coil water heater and you heat it with oil, follow the “no heat” steps. If you have a gas hot water tank, do not reset the circuit breaker or relight the pilot. Close the gas valve and call for service immediately.

Leaking pipe?

1.) Close the main water valve or the gate valve on that broken pipe.

2.) Call for plumbing repair.

Note: A broken pipe does not necessarily require 24-hour emergency service. However, once an area becomes saturated behind the rock plate or the carpet becomes soggy, mold can settle within 36 hours. Some plumbers provide emergency water extraction services, as well as mold repair and restoration. Don’t ignore a leaky pipe until you can fix it. It can create a much bigger problem the longer you wait!

Clogged drain?

1.) Identify the source of the obstruction. You can find the source by running water in other sinks in the house. If all drains back up, then the source of the clog is in the soil pipe. Call for service to remove it. If it’s the toilet, immerse it. If it’s just a sink drain, check underneath for a clean trap. You can unscrew the plug at the bottom and take out the clog.

2.) If all drains are clogged or if you cannot unclog the trap yourself, call your plumbing service. Do not use plumbing fluids or similar products.

Whether you’re buying or selling a home, choosing the right real estate agent or buyer’s agent is the most important step to take. The process of buying or selling a home is very detailed and difficult. Besides the fact that mistakes can cost a lot of money?

Your assets are at stake and losing through buying or selling is the last thing you want to do. There are many real estate agents around. The ones who are dedicated and stay with you every step of the way, or the ones who turn the job over to other runners.

The areas of expertise to look for are:

· How much education in the real estate area does the agent have?

· How much knowledge does the agent have about the homes in the areas you are looking for?

Do you have a wide variety of homes for sale for you to see?

The title that carries the most education and experience is a real estate broker. The real estate broker has a real estate license, training, and is recognized by the National Association of Realtors. This professional can likely help you with all your home buying or selling needs.

After the real estate broker is the real estate broker. This professional received the real estate license and additional training. It has also received recognition from the National Association of Realtors.

Finally, the real estate agent is a person who has been licensed, however, they may not have the same experience as the more experienced broker.

Most states have minimum requirements to be a real estate agent and this is the cause of some of the problems that are incurred during the transfer of ownership of a home. However, keep in mind that at all levels of this experience there are good agents, real estate brokers, and brokers. Doing a little check can help you find the right one for you.

Most of the time, a real estate agent represents the seller of the home. If you are looking to buy a home, you are looking for a real estate buying agent. This is important because you want to be represented in the best interest of your needs. Not those of the person on the other side of the deal.

When you’re researching the right agent for you, you’ll want to seek the compromise you deserve. There are many agents in the market just as there are many houses to sell. If you don’t get the attention and quick response you deserve, find someone else. They will make a profit on your purchase and should treat you with a reasonable amount of respect and professionalism.

The general rule of thumb is that you want a real estate agent that has been around for a couple of years. With the change in the real estate market as it is, this is why you may have to contact a couple of agents.

You want to start your search by hiring the right real estate representative for you. The house you are looking for will arrive. There are bait and switch agents who specifically use a home within a price range and attractive appearance to the average home buyer and then when they get the call they can tell you it’s sold, but there is another one they have that you will love. too. Keep this in mind so you don’t get caught by a deceptive broker, instead look for the representative, agent or broker who will show you what is available at all levels of purchase and keep your best interest in mind.

No one would deny that 2017 was a banner year for the markets … at the end of the year, all equity indices were close to their all-time highs. Even the WSMSI (Working Capital Model Selected Income Index) had a capital growth number close to 12%.

But, let’s go through the promotional banners on Wall Street and look at the long-term numbers, let’s say this century so far …

You will recall that the period from 1999 to 2009 was dubbed “The Sad Decade” by a Wall Street that just couldn’t cope with the idea that the “crash market” (collectively) might actually roll back for such a long period of time. .

Has the “bull market” that evolved from the dismal decade really produced the kind of gains you’ve been hearing about?

· From 1999 to 2009, the NASDAQ (home to long-standing “FANG” companies) declined by a whopping 34%. From 1999 to 2017, it was the worst performing of all the indices, with an increase of just 71%, or an average of less than 3% compounded, per year. So even the spectacular 160% market value gain since 2009 has not produced a spectacular long-term return.

From 1999 to 2009, the S&P 500 (although less speculative than the NASDAQ in general) lost a terrifying 39% of its value. Recovering faster than the NASDAQ, the S&P has gained roughly 94% in market value over the past 18 years, or an average of less than 4% compounded annually. So there’s not much to celebrate at the S&P either … for the long-term investor.

From 1999 to 2017, the highest-quality content DJIA suffered less than the other indices during the dismal decade, losing less than 1% per year, on average. But its overall 18-year performance of 115% market value growth averaged less than 5% per year. It reflects higher quality content, yes, but overall it is not that impressive.

So what about an income purpose investing approach over the same two time periods?

From 1999 through 2017, a $ 100,000 portfolio of closed-end funds (CEF) of income paying approximately 7% annually, compounded annually, would have increased the capital invested to approximately $ 340,000 by the end of 2017 … a 240% gain. in Working Capital, and almost three times the long-term average profit of the three capital averages.

During the same depressing decade, a $ 100,000 portfolio of income CEF that pays 7%, and is compounded annually, would have increased investment capital by about 111% (10% annually).

Keep in mind that the average yearly profit of about 13% is based on yearly profit reinvestment instead of monthly … so it would actually be even higher. Hmmm, kinda makes you wonder, doesn’t it?

Now some what if:

What if you lived off your income or portfolio growth anytime before mid-2010?

· What if you lived on 4% of your portfolio’s “growth” or “total return” before the end of 1999, how much was left when the rally started in 2010?

What if we don’t get enough more years of double-digit market growth for the stock markets to catch up with the income illustration above?

· What if the market does not produce a “total return” greater than your spending needs forever?

What if your portfolio contained enough income securities to cover your expenses, combined with equities of a higher quality than those contained in the Dow?

What if the stock market corrects again this year?