The Dot Com Miner

Current elaborate Global Positioning System measurements taken on the 17-18th August have registered that Mount Blanc numbers 4810.4 meters. Mont Blanc is covered by a heavy ice-cap which has grown by 2.7 m in precisely 2 years furthermore more surprising the amount of the ice has nearly doubled . Leastwise that is according to the experts.

The amount of ice was computed for the initial time in 2004. It was calculated at 14100 cubic meters above 4770 meters. It equaled merely 13900 cubic meters in 2005 possibly ascribable to the heat with plus temp even at 5000 m elevation. Even so the ice cap has nearly doubled up since then and at present numbers 22000 meters cubed.

Chamonix town’s reputable local weather man Fernando Hein said the increase in the size of the ice is one of the perverse outcomes of global warming: Snowfall hasn’t increased overall in the French Alps simply with climate change we are seeing additional warm prevailing westerly winds which bestow rain lower down but in summer this translates to heavy snow that falls higher up than 4000 meters height thus the volume of the ice-cap is rising. Contrast this to the situation in winter when snow crystals are very cold and are transported by the wind and so do not settle down on the top.

Chamonix Mont Blanc is not only famous for Mount Blanc it is also a well renowned ski resort and climbing center with lot’s of ski deals and ski accommodation deals to be found. And at merely 1 hour from Geneva it is perfect for a ski weekend.

When you first start using a mortgage calculator such as Karl Jeacle’s Graphing calculator, you might easily get confused, especially if you are new to the world of buying property. The sliding scales on this calculator aren’t what some people are used to seeing.

Most people are used to typing their numbers into boxes with familiar features. But don’t be dazzled only by the graph, boxes are still available further down the page so that you can use numbers instead of the scales. Using Karl Jeacle’s mortgage calculator against one on a different website can give you different a different feel for what looks like the same set of figures.

It’s all to do with the basic programming that has developed around mortgage calculator. Some mortgage calculators are very basic, they input very simple basic numbers and a few calculations take place in the program behind the scenes on your computer. They give you suggested figures that, although not perhaps 100% accurate, will give an approximate idea of what the property will cost you.

There are other factors that need to be taken into account when a mortgage is computed, such as your age and state of health for example. Many basic mortgage calculators won’t take this into account, but some more sophisticated programs can. These will give a more accurate analysis of the mortgage situation you would face as it will have more information about you personally. The more the mortgage calculator knows about you, and the property, the more detailed and accurate the answers it gives will be.

This is another reason why sliding scales such as Karl Jeacle’s Graphing calculator might not work for some people. Sliding scales are often better for approximation rather than specific numbers. Perhaps 48 instead of 50 is “almost” right, but it’s not going to create the most accurate analysis and the hard figures you need to figure out your budget and finances. The various colors on this mortgage calculator are also a little less clear than straight forward numbers.

So why even mention Karl Jeacle’s mortgage calculator? Even though it won’t give you precise numbers, and no calculator does, the graphics give you a feel for just how much that mortgage is really costing you. You can see for yourself, graphically, how adding a little bit to your monthly mortgage payment makes a large difference down the road.

Using a variety of different mortgage calculators gives you a good overall feel for how a mortgage on a particular property would affect your budget.

But, make sure that you know what their figures are based on. For example, the mortgage calculator may not ask you for a mortgage term, but somewhere on the calculator site there may be a note to say that calculations are based on 30 year mortgages.

The same could be true about interest rates. While some mortgage calculators ask you to input the interest rate, others assume an “approximate” rate. Mortgage calculators linked to specific lenders could take the interest rate automatically from the lenders financial pages so they are the current default rate and not able to be altered even if you have perfect credit.

Use one calculator at first to pin down your basic options and figures. Then test those numbers out on a variety of mortgage calculators to get the best feel for how your new mortgage will affect your finances and change your life.

For More Information on Mortgage Calculators, please visit: www.greatpublications.com/Mortgage%20Calculator%20Clues.htm

Your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is a simple way of calculating how much of your monthly income goes toward debt payments. Lenders use the DTI to determine how much money they can safely loan you toward a home purchase or mortgage refinancing. Everyone knows that their credit score is an important factor in qualifying for a loan. But in reality, the DTI is every bit as important as the credit score.

Lenders usually apply a standard called the “28/36 rule” to your debt-to-income ratio to determine whether you’re loan-worthy. The first number, 28, is the maximum percentage of your gross monthly income that the lender will allow for housing expenses. The total includes payments on the mortgage loan, mortgage insurance, fire insurance, property taxes, and homeowner’s association dues. This is usually called PITI, which stands for principal, interest, taxes, and insurance.

The second number, 36, refers to the maximum percentage of your gross monthly income the lender will allow for housing expenses PLUS recurring debt. When they calculate your recurring debt, they will include credit card payments, child support, car loans, and other obligations that are not short-term.

Let’s say your gross earnings are $4,000 per month. $4,000 times 28% equals $1,120. So that is the maximum PITI, or housing expense, that a typical lender will allow for a conventional mortgage loan. In other words, the 28 figure determines how much house you can afford.

Now, $4,000 times 36% is $1,440. This figure represents the TOTAL debt load that the lender will permit. $1,440 minus $1,120 is $320. So if your monthly obligations on recurring debt exceed $320, the size of the mortgage you’ll qualify for will decrease proportionally. If you are paying $600 per month on recurring debt, for example, instead of $320, your PITI must be reduced to $840 or less. That translates to a much smaller loan and a lot less house.

Bear in mind that your car payment has to come out of that difference between 28% and 36%, so in our example, the car payment must be included in the $320. It doesn’t take much these days to reach a $300/month car payment, even for a modest vehicle, so that doesn’t leave a whole lot of room for other types of debt.

The moral of the story here is that too much debt can ruin your chances to qualify for a home mortgage. Remember, the debt-to-income ratio is something that lenders look at separately from your credit history. That’s because your credit score only reflects your payment history. It’s a measurement of how responsibly you’ve managed your use of credit. But your credit score does not take into account your level of income. That’s why the DTI is treated separately as a critical filter on loan applications. So even if you have a PERFECT payment history, but the mortgage you’ve applied for would cause you to exceed the 36% limit, you’ll still be turned down for the loan.

The 28/36 rule for debt-to-income ratio is a benchmark that has worked well in the mortgage industry for years. Unfortunately, with the recent boom in real estate prices, lenders have been forced to get more “creative” in their lending practices. Whenever you hear the term “creative” in connection with loans or financing, just substitute “riskier” and you’ll have the true picture. Naturally, the extra risk is shifted to the consumer, not the lender.

Mortgages used to be pretty simple to understand: You paid a fixed rate of interest for 30 years, or maybe 15 years. Today, mortgages come in a variety of flavors, such as adjustable-rate, 40-year, interest-only, option-adjustable, or piggyback mortgages, each of which may be structured in a number of ways.

The whole idea behind all these newer types of mortgages is to shoehorn people into qualifying for loans based on their debt-to-income ratio. “It’s all about the payment,” seems to be the prevailing view in the mortgage industry. That’s fine if your payment is fixed for 30 years. But what happens to your adjustable rate mortgage if interest rates rise? Your monthly payment will go up, and you might quickly exceed the safety limit of the old 28/36 rule.

These newer mortgage products are fine as long as interest rates don’t climb too far or too fast, and also as long as real estate prices continue to appreciate at a healthy pace. But make sure you understand the worst-case scenario before taking on one of these complicated loans. The 28/36 rule for debt-to-income has been around so long simply because it works to keep people out of risky loans.

So make sure you understand exactly how far or how fast your loan payment can increase before accepting one of these newer types of mortgages. If your DTI disqualifies you for a conventional 30-year fixed rate mortgage, then you should think twice before squeezing yourself into an adjustable rate mortgage just to keep the payment manageable.

Instead, think in terms of increasing your initial down payment on the property in order to lower the amount you’ll need to finance. It may take you longer to get into your dream home by using this more conservative approach, but that’s certainly better than losing that dream home to foreclosure because increasing monthly payments have driven your debt-to-income ratio sky-high.

Charles J. Phelan has been helping consumers become debt-free without bankruptcy since 1997. A former senior executive with one of the nation’s largest debt settlement firms, he is the author of the Debt Elimination Success Seminar, a five-hour audio-CD course that teaches consumers how to choose between debt program options based on their financial situation. The course focuses on comprehensive instruction in do-it-yourself debt negotiation & settlement designed to save $1,000s. Personal coaching and follow-up support is included. Achieves the same results as professional firms for a tiny fraction of the cost. http://www.zipdebt.com

With current interest rates at a record low, borrowers are debating whether or not it is wise to refinance their home loan. Place yourself in the shoes of a borrower. Typically, if your home loan carries a higher interest rate, you have good credit, and are rarely tardy in paying your bills, refinancing might be an appealing option. As always, however, you must do your homework and research all available options in order to make the correct decision according to your needs.

If you have a second mortgage out on your home, refinancing may not be the best course of action, because there is a good chance you will ultimately be paying more than you would have under the initial home loan. In general, lenders view homes with second mortgages in a rather unfavorable manner.

When applying for home refinance, a low debt-to-income ratio is very important, but not exclusive. A borrower can still find means of gaining a lender’s approval by applying for the loan through a bad credit lending firm, such as California Bad Credit Lenders.

For additional information on hard money loans and bad credit loans, please visit our website at badcreditlender.net.

You may reprint this document as long as all the URL links are intact.

Gregrey Pashby is a writer and contributor for Bad Credit Lender who specialize in bad credit loans and hard money loan information. Bad Credit Lender provides home loan refinance loans, bad credit loans, and hard money loans.

Few of us invest the time and effort into researching and securing the best deal for a mortgage to purchase our home.

For most of us, our house is the single most important and expensive purchase we ever make!

We invest a lot of time and effort into finding the perfect property in the best location and with as many of the features from our wish list as possible, yet, when it comes to finding the best deal for a mortgage, we take what is offered rather than researching and securing the best mortgage for our situation.

When you consider that the average homeowner will pay out more in interest over the lifetime of their mortgage than the home originally cost, you can see why getting yourself the best deal for a mortgage now, could save you tens of thousands of dollars in interest over the 20 30 year term of your home loan.

Your research for the best mortgages or loans and repayment options currently available can be carried out on the internet, thus making the whole process that much more convenient and time efficient for you.

Mortgages are not a “One Size Fits All!”

Mortgages come in many different forms and you need to be aware of the various forms in order to determine which one is the best deal for a mortgage to your unique circumstances.

Basically, mortgages fall into one of the following categories. Lenders will have variations of these basic categories, but armed with this information, you will be able to sort through the choices for just the right package.

Fixed Rate Mortgages:

Loan with an interest rate that remains at a specific rate for the entire term of the mortgage/loan. Approximately 75 per cent of home mortgages are this type. A fixed rate mortgage is often considered the best deal for a mortgage for first time buyers as you can establish a consistent relatively fixed budget of household operating expenses.

ARM’s or Adjustable Rate Mortgages or Variable Rate Mortgages:

A mortgage/loan with an interest rate that adjusts or varies with the changes in rates paid on Treasury Bills or bank Certificates of Deposit. In Canada, the rates vary according to the posted weekly Bank of Canada rates.

To offset the risk associated with an adjustable rate mortgage, some lenders offer various ‘capping’ options. Often, they fix or limit the maximum level to which the interest rate you are subject to can rise for a given period of time. Sometimes they fix the cap per year and sometimes for the lifetime of the mortgage.

Adjustable or variable rate mortgages can be very attractive as usually the rates are considerably lower than for fixed rate mortgages. They are an excellent vehicle for borrowers who are attentive to the rate fluctuations and prepared to ‘lock in’ their mortgage when interest rates start climbing. If you’re constantly watching the money markets, this may be the best deal for a mortgage for you.

Balloon Mortgages:

A mortgage in which the monthly payment is not intended to repay the entire loan. The final payment is a large lump sum of the remaining principal. Balloon mortgages are often only partially amortized and requiring a lump sum repayment at maturity.

It’s popular mortgage in the US for homeowners who aren’t planning to stay in their new home for more than 5 or 7 years. The advantage is that the interest rate is lower than a fixed rate mortgage however, the disadvantage is that if you remain in the home beyond the 5 to 7 year term, you would have to secure a new loan or mortgage to pay off the balloon mortgage.

Jumbo Mortgages or ‘Non-Conforming’ Mortgages:

In the US, Congress has legislated a conforming limit to the amount a mortgage is allowable for funding by Federal National Mortgage Association (a.k.a: Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (a.k.a: Freddie Mac). The 2005 limit is $359,650; $539,475 in Alaska, Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Any loan or mortgage above that conforming limit is considered a Jumbo Mortgage. A Jumbo mortgage/loan allows you to borrow over the conforming limit, but for that privilege, you will incur higher interest rates. There are variations to the Jumbo Mortgage such as the Super Jumbo Mortgage, but I’m sure you get the basic picture.

Canadians have an equivalent referred to as a “High Ratio Mortgage” guaranteed/funded through Canada Mortgage And Housing Corporation (CMHC).

Now that you have identified which type of mortgage might suit you best, you need to consider repayment methods and you basically have two options:

Interest Only:

An interest only payment method can be combined with any type of traditional mortgage. Interest only payment periods almost never run for the entire term of the loan, so prepare to have your payment rise to include both principal and interest once the interest only period ends.

Principal and Interest or Capital & Interest:

Your monthly repayments are divided into an interest payment and a principal or capital repayment. In the early years of the mortgage period most of the
monthly payment is swallowed up in interest but over time the balance reverses and you start to pay off more of the capital or principal borrowed.

So Many Mortgage Lenders … So Many Choices!

There are so many mortgage lenders offering such a variety of loan options that at first it can seem a daunting task trying to determine which lender most suits you and your circumstances and which Lender is offering you the best deal on a mortgage!

It is important to note that as you shop for a mortgage, each lender will perform a credit check prior to committing to the mortgage or loan. Each credit check remains on your credit record and could potentially reduce your credit score and eligibility for a mortgage or loan.

Helen March offers simple House And Home Sense solutions for buying or selling real estate as well as informative articles for home improvement and lifestyle alternatives. Visit her at: http://www.HouseAndHomeSense.com

A brief list of some of the most common Mortgage terms.

Adverse Credit
The term used if the borrower has a poor credit history. This could include previous mortgage or loan arrears, bankruptcy or CCJ’s. Other
terms used to describe an adverse credit mortgage include:

• Bad credit mortgage
• Poor credit mortgage
• Non status mortgage
• Credit impaired mortgage
• No credit mortgage
• Low credit score mortgage

APR (Annual Percentage Rate)
The interest rate reflecting the cost of a mortgage as a yearly rate. The APR provides home buyers with the ability to compare different types of mortgages based on the annual cost of each.

Arrangement Fee

The fee you pay your Lender in return for them providing you with a mortgage. Usually paid on completion or with your application, these fees usually apply when you take out a fixed rate, discount or cashback mortgage.

AST (Assured Shorthold Tenancy)

A form of tenancy that gives the landlord the right to repossess their property after a set amount of time laid out in the tenancy agreement. New tenancies are automatically ASTs unless otherwise stated.

Assured tenancy

The landlord can charge a market rent (the current rate for similar property in that area) and take back the property under certain conditions, as set out in the Housing Acts of 1988 and 1996.

Bridging Loan/Finance
Short term loan to enable the purchase of one property before the sale of another essentially releasing funds that are required for the purchase. You should always consult a professional before considering any bridging
finance as it could be a solution that is worse than the problem.

Brokers Fee
A fee charged by an intermediary or advisor for locating the most appropriate mortgage for the borrower.

Buildings insurance

Insurance you can take out when you buy a property that will cover the
cost of any damage to the house and or contents..

Buy to Let
A mortgage meant for those who wish to purchase a property to rent out to others. The decision on whether you are able to repay this type of mortgage is often based up on the future rental income from the property rather than the personal income of you the borrower.

CCJ (County Court Judgment)
A judgement reached in the County Court generally realted to non payment of a loan, mortgage etc debt in general. If you pay off the debt, the CCJ will be satisfied and a note is put on your records that states this.

Chain

A housing ‘chain’ made up of a number of buyers and sellers, essentially the line of buyers and sellers involved in each house move.

Charge
Any right or interest, especially with a mortgage, to which a freehold or leasehold property may be held. Basically a charge is the claim the lender has on the property until the mortgage or loan is satisfied.

Completion

The term used when the seller and buyer exchange the finances required
to buy a property through their respective solicitors. At exchange of contracts
a deposit, usually 10%, will have been paid. At this point the buyer
becomes legal owner of the property.

Conveyance

The legal process in which ownership of the property is transferred
from the seller to the buyer. Generally undertaken by a solicitor,
or licensed conveyancer.

Early redemption fee

If you decide that you want to sell your property or remortgage then
you will be redeeming you mortgage early. Most lenders charge a penalty fee,
especially during any period of a fixed, capped or discounted rate. Be sure
you are clear about any potential penalties when you are about to take on a mortgage.

Equity and negative equity

The amount of value in a property that isn’t covered by a mortgage - simply take the amount of the mortgage from the valuation to work out the equity. This is where the money you owe on the mortgage is greater than the value of your property.

Exchange of contracts

The contract is a written agreement that lays out the terms between the buyer and the seller. When both parties exchange contracts, usually weeks before completion, the deal becomes legally binding. Often a deposit of around 10%, is paid at this stage.

Fixed Rate

A set interest rate on a mortgage fixed for a period of time. This varies from lender to lender.

Freehold

If you are the property owner outright then your property is freehold.
Most houses are freehold wheres many flats are leasehold, since you are not the
owner of the whole building containing the flats.

Gazumping

If you are in the process of purchasing a property and your offer has
been accepted but the seller gets a better offer, before you complete, and takes
it then, you’ve just been ‘Gazumped’.

Interest Only Mortgage
A mortgage whereby the borrower is only required to pay inerest on the amount borrowed during the mortgage term. It is the borrowers responsibility to ensure that enough funds will exist (either through an investment policyor other means) to repay the full mortgage at the end of the term.

Intermediary
A mortgage broker or advisor who finds the most suitable mortgage for a borrower and arranges the mortgage on their behalf.

Leasehold

If you buy a leasehold property you don’t own the property rather the right to live there for a specified period of time, however much time remains on the lease. The owner of the property is called the freeholder or landlord.

Liability
This relates more to commercial mortgages. With a commercial mortgage liability for the repayment of the loan depends on the legal structure of the business:

A sole trader will be personally liable for the mortgage debt. Personal assets could be seized if the business defaults.

Partners are jointly liable for the debts of the partnership and their personal assets are at risk

With a limited-liability partnership and a limited company, the liability falls firstly on the business rather than on the individual partners and directors. The lender may take a floating charge on business assets in general, rather than simply on the current property being purchased.

The lender may also insist on personal guarantees as a condition of granting the loan, in which case the partners and directors may be held personally liable anyway.

Life insurance

If you have a joint mortgage, life insurance can be acquired that will
see the mortgage paid of should one of you pass on.

LTV (Loan to Value)
The size of the mortgage as a percentage of the value of the property i.e. A £90k mortgage on a house valued at £100k would mean an LTV of 90%.

MIG (Mortgage Indemnity Guarantee)

A one off payment made when you set up a mortgage a kind of insurance policy for the lender. This offers them protection against the
value of the home falling to less than the mortgage. It is generally only charged
to borrowers with a less than 10% deposit, but this can
vary.

Mortgage
A loan to buy a property where the property is used as security against you
paying back the loan.

Mortgagee
The company or organisation that lends you the money.

Mortgagor
The person taking out the mortgage.

Non-Status
Where a lender may not require income details from you or may accept
some previous poor credit history i.e. CCJ’s or previous mortgage arrears.

Payment Holiday
A period during which the borrower makes no mortgage payments.

Regulated tenancy

A legal right to live in your accommodation for a period of time. Your tenancy might be for a set period such as a year (this is known as a fixed term tenancy) or it might roll on a week-to-week or month-to-month basis (this is known as a periodic tenancy).You are a regulated
tenant if you moved in before 15 January 1989, you pay rent to a private landlord
and your landlord does not live in the same building as you.

Remortgage
The taking on of a second mortgage to pay off the first. The most common reasons for doing this are that another mortgage is available at a better rate or that the value of the property has gone up allowing for the opportunity to borrow more money against the property.

Right to Buy
For example, a tenant in a council owned property may purchase the property at a discount depending on length of their tenancy.

Self Certified
Generally when a borrower applies for a mortgage he or she will be asked to provide pay slips or company accounts to prove their income. If it is difficult or inconvenient for you to provide this evidence, you can choose to self-certify your income. This involves signing a declaration which states your income sources and amounts. Lenders will charge you higher rates than average and offer you a more limited range of mortgages if you choose to self-certifyyour income, in general it’s not a good idea to self-certify just to avoid some paperwork.

Stamp Duty

Tax paid by the buyer of a property set at 1% for properties over £60k,
3% for properties over £250k and 4% for properties over £500k.

Structural survey
The most wide ranging check of the structure of a property. This is carried out by professional surveyor and should uncover any defects or faults with the building.

Tenancy

A legal written agreement between a landlord and tenant that sets out
the terms of the rental.

Term
The period of years over which you take the mortgage and repay
it.

Term Assurance
An insurance policy designed to repay the mortgage on the death of the insured person. Level Term Assurance covers a principal sum throughout the policy term and pays out the full amount on death. Reducing Term Assurance is designed to repay the balance outstanding on a repayment type mortgage upon death. Term Assurance may also pay out early on the diagnosis of a terminal illness.

Underwriting
The process of evaluating a loan application to determine the risk involved for the lender. This involves an analysis of the borrower’s creditworthinessand the quality of the property itself.

Unencumbered
Where the property is owned outright and no mortgages or loans are secured
against it.

Valuation
A simple check of the property in order to find out how much it is worth and
whether it is suitable to secure a mortgage against.

Valuation Fee
The fee paid by a borrower to cover the cost of the lender checking that the property is suitable security for the mortgage.

Variable Rate
A type of interest rate the lender can charge. It goes up and down and your repayments change accordingly.

Vendor
The person selling the property.

About the Author
Specialists in Bridging Finance and Commercial Mortgage lending Commercial Lifeline. Independent UK based Commercial Finance brokers.

Feel free to reprint and distribute this article as you like. All that we ask is that you do not make any changes, that this resource text is include, and that the link above is intact.

Passive Infrared Motion Detectors- These detectors are also known as PIR detectors. The technology they utilize is “passive infrared”. The device is mounted on a wall or in the corner of a room. It sends invisible fingers out into the covered area in several layers. The top layer goes the furthest and averages about 60 feet straight ahead and 35 feet on the sides.

The center layer of beams spreads the area about mid way and the bottom layer sweeps the room closest to the detector. These beams individually measure the infrared temperature of what ever they land on and look for a clash of temperature against that point. For example if a beam lands on your couch and knows what temperature it is, when you walk in front of the couch your temperature is different and causes a violation. You would be hard pressed to match the temperature of everything in your home as you walk about and that makes motion detectors hard to compromise.

Passive motion detectors have a microchip in them that will adjust the device for slow and methodical temperature changes. This way as your room warms up and cools down during an armed alarm period, you will not get a false alarm.

Some motion detectors are designed to be mounted in the ceiling and spread a 360-degree cone downward. Some are recessed to replicate an electric outlet and various other combinations are available for the James Bond like clients. Most often the device is an aesthetically pleasing small device that is mounted 5-7 feet high in the corner of a room.

Passive infrared motion detectors will not see through walls or windows as they will consider touching one of them as their final destination and begin calculating the temperature. The beams project forward only and will not bend around corners. If your device is placed where a beam can go into an area with an opened door, it will protect the interior of that area as well. Once the door is closed the beam will terminate on that door.

Motion detectors are not going to protect every square inch of your home or business unless you invest in many of them to accomplish that. Instead you should intelligently place them as an interior trap in an area or areas most likely to be violated by the creep or creeps that want to take your belongings or worst off violate you personally. Usually one placed properly on the main floor and one on the lower level if you have one, will serve as good traps. Stairways are often a good thing to consider when placing the device, due to the fact that you will prevent unauthorized passage from one floor to the next.

(HOT TIP!)
An alarm installer should always place a device where it will best serve the user and achieve the most coverage. Many an installer has elected to forgo this concept so that they can install the device in an area that is easier to get to with the wires. Insist on discussing all placement options with your installer before they place each motion detector. You can bet that your interests will be prioritized when they see your involvement in the decision process.

Dual Technology PIR- Dual means two technologies are used in one device. Both technologies must be violated to cause an alarm. These devices are used in harsh environments such as a garage or sun- room. The first technology is passive infrared and works as explained above. The second technology is most often Doppler and looks for the invisible movement of air. If you walk into a room the air has to move as your body mass pushes it along. The reason you would want a dual technology device is clear when you apply common sense to the desired area of protection. For example let’s say you pull your car in to a cool garage, go in the house and turn the alarm on for the night. Your motion detector that you put in your garage will see a dramatic temperature change as the heat from your engine radiates into the cool air. If you had a duel technology motion detector it would not see the air moving because your car is still, so it will refuse to go into an alarm condition.

Pet Immune Motion detector- This is a wonderful advancement in motion detection that may work for you if your pet free- roams your house while you are away and have your motion detectors on. Before the introduction of this technology the pet owner had to either confine their pets from the protected area or bypass the motion detector rendering it useless unless the pet was out of the home with them. The technology is the same as the regular passive infrared detectors. On the pet immune version there are two sets of beams that are offset from each other. Your pet must hit two pre- assigned beams simultaneously in order to violate the detector. Pets under a certain amount of weight (up to 85 pounds) are not long enough to hit both beams so it does not see them. A human torso is designed much differently as per a weight to length ratio causing them to violate either a horizontal or vertical pair of beams, depending on their favorite burglarizing posture.

On the pet immune detectors the middle and lower span of beams are pet immune but the top layer is not, due to the distance of separation between the farthest-reaching beams. Care must be taken on the placement of these devices restricting the high beams from stairways and high ledges your cat may get up on. (6-7 feet high) A good technician will mask only the beams that hit these trouble spots expanding your coverage options.

Remember that even though your device is technically restricted for use by weight of your pet, two or more small animals will have an opportunity to hit the two proper beams while playing with each other. I do not recommend that you use these devices with two or more pets no matter how small they are, unless one of them is rarely moving about. Also one free flying bird will look like a dinosaur entered the room if it flies close to the detector. (They have yet to design the “Dinosaur Immune Detector”)

If your pets do not fall into the allowances for using a pet immune motion detector then you should consider other options for creating interior traps. The well- designed system protects your perimeter as well as possible and creates interior traps in case the perimeter is circumvented.

Matthew Francis Alarms@expertsknow.com

22 year veteran of the alarm industry
Installer, salesman, licensed alarm company owner, monitoring station designer, promotions and marketing director with one of the worlds largest security dealers. He now works as a consumer advocate, teaching consumers how to buy or get systems for free (without being taken). He is committed to being unbiased.
His web site is http://www.expertsknow.com

Using the Internet as a tool for finding real estate for sale and/or a real estate agent can be a rewarding technique or a frustrating experience. There are hundreds of thousands of real estate agents and brokers who have websites and often thousands in the larger metro areas and many hundreds in the smaller markets. The number of real estate related websites have grown considerably over the past several years with the high volume of real estate sales and new agents entering the business.

Agent Websites - Many real estate agents have their own websites and their usefulness varies with the success and experience of the agents and their webmasters. Most will display the listings from the particular agent (if any) and sometimes will also display other listings that may or may not be listings of the agent. If no listings are displayed, the agent may be a buyer’s agent or has no current listing active. The website may also have a feature to search for active MLS (Multiple Listing Service) listings. The search features can vary widely depending on the website provider/builder. Some websites restrict use to individuals who have registered with the agent and others permit unlimited use without registration. Those agents requiring registration typically use the information provided for follow-up contact either via telephone, mail or email. Other agent websites provide contact forms, chat lines and other means for follow-up communications. The timeliness and quality of responses can vary widely. The attrition rate for agents is high, often over 80% during their first year so many websites may be active but have been abandoned by their owners. Other active agents are remiss in checking for messages and requests go unanswered for days or weeks.

Broker Websites - Most real estate brokers (international, national, regional and local) maintain websites. They normally have property search features by area and often will have individual real estate agent access information. Some may limit the MLS information provided to the listings of the given real estate broker, others will display any active MLS listing within the given area, county, state or country.

Builder/Developer Websites - Most residential real estate builders and developers maintain websites. These websites may be specific to a sub-division being built or generic for the regional and nationwide builders with access to specific cities/states and the sub-divisions being developed. Usefulness varies considerably with many providing detailed information on house designs, available inventory, contact information and site sales office hours.

Real Estate Related Referral Websites - There has been a proliferation of real estate referral websites offering individuals with agent referrals for a given area once they have been provided details of your contact information, whether interested in buying or selling and the specifics on the area and home. Referral real estate websites typically have real estate agents subscribers who pay fees for referrals. These fees may be based on a per lead cost to the agent, a monthly fee to the agent for a specific number of leads or a percentage of the real estate commission paid if the lead culminates in a sale. Typically the only criteria for an agent to utilize these referral services is that the agent is legally licensed to do business in their state.

Real Estate Listing Websites - There are a number of national real estate websites providing limited listing information and varying degrees of specificity in search criteria. Some are more user friendly then others. Some have real estate agent/broker fee paid subscription services to highlight listings and or selected agents/brokers.

http://www.realtor.com - http://www.living.net - http://realestate.yahoo.com

Search Engines - SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is an obsession for most webmasters and real estate agents. Simply stated, real estate agents, brokers, builders and referral companies want to be in the first page or two of search results so that the individual web surfer will be directed to their website. These individuals and firms may be paying significant fees to firms offering first or second page placement on a given search engine. The major search engines such as Google, Yahoo, MSN and hundreds of others use different algorithms to determine how websites get ranked and their order of placement on the results pages. To make it even more interesting/confusing, the big search engines also offer websites owners various sponsorship page positioning on a fee basis albeit they identify the sites as such.

http://www.google.com - http://www.yahoo.com - http://www.msn.com

Tips to Make Your Real Estate Search a Rewarding One!

1. Most major search engines have basic and advanced search options and provide information and directions for using them. Take five extra minutes and learn how to use the advanced functions and you’ll be happy you did!

2. Learn as much as possible about the region, state, city and neighborhood you are interested in to maximize your search results.

3. Be specific in your search criteria. The more general and generic the search, the less pertinent the results will be.

4. All search engines are not alike! Use more than one when conducting a search, as the results will vary greatly.

Once you are seriously considering buying or selling residential real estate direct your search to finding an experienced agent that is responsive and has your best interests in mind. Then have your real estate agent do the digging into the market to present the listings and homes you will be most interested in.

When you are just about to start to play cricket it is not always easy to choose what you must buy. If you go into a sportswear equipment high street shop and ask them what you need, you will in all probability end up getting lots of equipment. With this in mind, it’s reasonable to clearly understand what you may require previous to you going shopping. That way you are considerably more likely to purchase what you need, instead of what the store manager advises you require.

Below, is more or less an inclusive cricket equipment inventory, you don’t have to get all the kit on this list, as numerous organisations will lend you equipment especially at youth level:

Cricket whites, cricket bats, balls, helmets, gloves, batting (wicket keeping) inner gloves, wicket keeping gloves, batting pads, wicket keeping pads, box, chest pad, arm guard, inner thigh pad, cricket boots (bowling boots; batting boots), box (groin guard), stumps and bails.

For the majority of cricket games you will ever play you will need your own set of whites. Cricket whites include white cricket trousers and a cricket shirt. It is important that you get hold of an excellent set of cricket trousers & also a nice white cricket shirt & jumper as it can rapidly turn cold if you are standing out on the pitch for a significantly long time particularly if plan to play in England (the start and end of the cricket season are the coldest).

If you can not rent kit from your club the other most crucial items of equipment are a cricket bat & box. A good cricket bat is crucial if you wish to score many runs and is a very individual piece of equipment, so spend several hours choosing your bat, if possible you would be advised to go to a sports store & try one out before you buy so you know how it feels to play with. When you know what you want you can often buy bats on the World Wide Web significantly cheaper). You need a good box to shield your groin from the ball, as getting hit down below’ is tremendously painful, so investing in a good box before you start is a must - you can’t play cricket without one.

I currently consider the prime areas for pre construction (or off plan) investment to be: Caribbean (Barbados, Bahamas), US mainland (Las Vegas, Orlando), Central America (Belize, Panama) as well as parts of Europe.

Why?

Well, areas need to have specific positive influences, over and above the nearby localities or other countries. Let’s consider a few from my list above.

For example, Barbados continues to be the place where the rich and famous holiday for 4+ months of the year. On a recent visit there (pre rich and famous season!), hotels were already fully booked through to Easter 2007. Then, throw in the Cricket World Cup, and rentals will certainly be strong again. Thus, your income stream is solid. In addition, realtors predict capital growth to be 7-11% per annum for the foreseeable future, and for the island to continue to hold a rare crown of never having seen a house price decrease.

Relaxed lending criteria, a stable economy, direct flights from most key airports, Bajan$ fixed to the US$ and a real shortage of good pre-construction developments right now, and there’s a chance to make some money there.

Thus, Barbados is key for me.

As for Bahamas, I’m actually visiting there as I compose this, sat on Paradise Island. The area around Cable Beach is about to be transformed by a huge investment in an area around 3 of the large hotels. I understand the Caribbean’s largest casino is to be built there.

Anyone who can find the right properties around that area should do well. Unfortunately for my own portfolio, I couldn’t do it during this trip as I leave tomorrow, but will be returning in a few months’ time to look again.

For another, consider Orlando. Many love the area, and many hate it. The key factor for me is the ongoing flood of people moving to the area from colder climates, whether from the Northern states of the USA or from parts of Europe (especially UK). Thus, it has an exceptional quality that other areas of the US (a country for which, as a whole, I foresee falling prices fairly soon, with interest rates having risen so much, many investors on interest only, high loan-to-value deals etc.).

I consider Eastern Europe to carry a high risk factor, as having seen recent price hikes, is now expensive relatively to its stability.

The UK continues to see price stability without any real rises, and expectations are for the status quo to remain for the next year or two.

French leasebacks are always attractive when backed by a solid developer, whereby the investor is guaranteed a 9-18 year rental income, with personal usage allowed. Tax benefits also available.

I like to consider areas that are a little unusual too - take Panama. Not a common choice for property investment, especially from a UK perspective, but in my mind, a good one.

In Panama City, prices are below $100 per sq ft for prime apartments in prime areas. Yielding c. 10% to local renters, with borrowing rates in the high 5%s, and banks that are more and more willing to attract foreign lending, it has a lot going for it.

It is close to one of the most important shipping lanes in the world, which continues to generate steady and significant income for the area. Stick to a reputable developer and the right area, and I am one of a number of people who share the view that Panama is on its way up.

Throw in good retirement benefits and a stable US$ based economy, and Panama City has the right ingredients for me.

I am also positive on certain other areas of South America (Brazil and Argentina), but am still concluding my research into those. I also like South Africa, but with the same caveat.

I will be composing an article on the ins and outs of overseas property financing for my next tome, and look forward to receiving any feedback (positive or negative) on this article.