Positive Attributes of Bridge Loans

Bridge loans are common types of loans used in the domestic, commercial as well as industrial sectors. The loan is usually a short term loan that is taken out pending an approval of a larger loan or closing a transaction hence the proceeds from the main loan or cash gains will be used to offset the short term loan. Typical names for bridge loans include swing loans or caveat loans which range in time periods of between 2 weeks to as long as 3 years. These loans will usually feature higher market interest rates as compared to ordinary loans. Notable benefits of the swing loans include the following:

Real Estate Deposit

Bridge loans are quite common in the real estate sector where a potential buyer will acquire the loan to put as deposit for the house and when the realtor manages to resell the house, the proceeds from the sale are used to offset the loan. Overtime a real estate agent will be able to built credit worthiness and will occasionally use the loans in most of his transactions.

Foreclosure Deals

A homeowner facing financial constraints such as risking losing a property will source for a caveat loan to remodel the house and upon selling the property; he will pay back the loan. The homeowner may also use the loan as a deposit for a cheaper property as he waits for the main property to be sold.

Construction Industry

Developers will also obtain bridge loans during the initial stages of construction when a property is yet to fully takeoff awaiting permit approval. Upon meeting all the requirements, the constructor will acquire a construction loan which will be used to offset the short term loan.

Continuity in Business

A delay in payment will also lead to a business to acquire the short term loan in order for the business to run smoothly as they await the pending payments. A business will also use bridge loans to fund an acquisition while waiting for the final settlements to be drafted and affected. 

How to Generate an Income with Your Smartphone

Economic conditions around the world have made it so that people everywhere have to explore new and simple ways to make an income, sometimes without leaving their home. Fortunately, it’s possible to do just that by picking up your smartphone and downloading a few apps that are specially designed for moneymaking purposes.
High Rate of Usage in the USA and United Kingdom

In June of 2013, the Pew Research Center released the results of a study which found that 56 percent of adults in America now own a smartphone. The rate of popularity is very similar in the United Kingdom. The eMarketer website reported how through the end of 2013, it’s estimated there will be 30.9 million smartphone users there.

Things to Do Before Getting Started

For years, there have been ways to make money through the Internet, ranging from completing surveys to performing website usability tests. Although many of those opportunities are legitimate, it is still necessary to be diligent and conduct adequate research before signing up for a moneymaking opportunity that seems to be a perfect fit. The same is true if you’re ready to make money with your smartphone.

Get started by asking people you trust if they have recommendations of apps to try, and also search for reviews online to get a broader perspective of whether or not something is worthwhile. You may also discover that designers of apps you use for work-related purposes have also produced platforms that make money.

After getting that information, dig deeper to find out more about your phone, such as details of the operating system and functionality. That will make it easier to find ways to make money that match well with the things your phone does best, plus the manner in which you’re comfortable using your device.

Read below to get details about particular moneymaking opportunities that exist. Although the possibilities are not exhaustive, they should give you a firm idea of what’s available and how the options could pad your bank account when money is short.

EasyShift: Earn Money for Things You Do Anyway

In many cases, generating income requires us to do things that are at least slightly inconvenient, or perhaps cumbersome. In contrast, an app called EasyShift seems to live up to the first part of its name by allowing users to make money for things they do regularly like going to the movies, shopping for groceries and ordering a cup of morning coffee. Payouts occur through PayPal after the accuracy of a finished task has been verified by the system. The app is optimized for Apple OS X 6.0 or later, and you can use it on an iPad as well.

CheckPoints: Get Rewarded for Shopping

Shopping at your favorite stores no longer has to only be associated with spending money. Available for both the Android and Apple operating systems, the CheckPoints app encourages you to take your phone on the go, find particular products, and scan them into the system. It’s like a scavenger hunt for smartphone users! In time, it’s possible to earn points that you can eventually redeem for things including gift cards and airline miles.

Ipinion: Benefit from Speaking Your Mind

Many people greatly enjoy taking market research surveys, because they feel they’re a way to provide direct feedback about products used on a daily basis. It can also be especially rewarding to take a survey that tells marketers how to properly introduce a brand-new product to the market. By getting a chance to do that, you have even more potential influence than an early adopter, and could help to shape the future popularity of a product or service.

The Ipinion app works on the Android operating system in conjunction with existing market research panels. If you aren’t already a member of the panels that participate with Ipinion, simply sign up with them and access content directly through the app. You’ll become familiar with a points system where one point is equal to one penny, and you’re eligible to start redeeming them once you’ve accumulated 500 points or more. Some of the things you could earn include cash or gift cards.

The possibilities described above are just a few examples of the dozens of possibilities that exist from moneymaking apps. The ones mentioned here are all free to try, so you have nothing to lose. At a conference in San Francisco this past June, the Apple Corporation announced that there are now more than 900,000 apps in Apple’s App Store. Add apps available for other operating systems to that number and clearly, if you’re willing to put forth a little effort and find apps that make sense with the ways you already use your smartphone, that trustworthy device could help you stay in touch with others and also boost your income.

Andrea Witherspoon works in the marketing division for a business mobile company, www.businessmobiles.co.uk where you can compare mobile plans. You can follow her at @AndreaWTweets.

5 Valuable Collectibles You Didn't Know You Had

As we all know there are lots of cool antiques out there that could be worth a lot of money. Each time we go to our parents’ home or grandparent’s room we just look at all their old stuff and think to ourselves; how much is that worth? 

We see a lot of people take their collectibles and other antiques to pawn shops or sell them on EBay to try and make some extra cash. Sometimes they are getting robbed and don’t know it or they are potentially making bank off something simple they never knew was worth money. If you have seen an episode of “Pawn Stars” you know exactly what I mean. So how can you tell if you have anything worthwhile in your parents’ basement or grandparents’ house? Here are a couple of items that have been a hot commodity lately. 

Musical Instruments

If your Grandpa or Father played a guitar back in his day or was part of a garage band odds are he has a couple instruments lying around the house. You might want to look into them and see if there are any classic or vintage guitars. Some classic Les Pauls and Gibsons have been known to sell well over 20,000 dollars. There are other instruments too like antique player pianos and grand pianos. If you happen to stumble across a player piano that has some old paper music sheets then you might want to get that restored and appraised.

Chest

These are something that most old timers have lying around somewhere in their house. Trunks, chest or anything of the sort that has been hand crafted might just make you singing all the way to the bank, especially if you have a treasure chest lying around the house. Those have been have been known to go for over 100,000 dollars. Move over retirement! 

Rare Money or Coins

This one is kind of simple because we see coin commercials all the time on television. Old money that is no longer in circulation could be worth a lot of money. For example if you have a US quarter that was printed in 1960 the starting price is worth $3-5 dollars. Sometimes you will see companies and restaurants offer free ice cream for coins like this. Let’s be honest though if someone is offering you free ice cream for a special kind of coin, it’s probably worth looking into.

Patches and Pins

If your parents went through a hippie stage or punk stage then there is a good chance that they have some patches or pins lying around the house from “the good ole days.” Take a look at them and see if they are salvageable. If they are near mint condition or better then there is a good chance that they can bring in a pretty penny or two. Odds are it would be worth more than what your parents paid for it. Or you could see if you have any old pins for trading that you might have gotten from Disneyland or other amusement parks. There are a lot of collectors out there that are willing to top notch for something simple like that. However, if you are interested in just getting some fun looking pins or customizable ones you can always check out cheappins.com for more information.

There are many ways to go about selling some of your collectibles or seeing if they are worth anything. You can take a picture of the item then upload it to Google images to see if there are any other results that look similar to it. You can also check out EBay or Amazon for some ideas on what they are going for. Who knows what you can find lying around your house.

Six Essential Functions of Contractor Accounting?

Accountants' Office (Photo credit: RobW_)

In the field of business and accounting, the function of accounting is diverse and holds a very important position in all kinds of business. Accounting is very important in all kinds of business and technology where one sells products as well as services. There are individual companies which have their own accountants at their disposal for managing their finances and accounts whereas there are companies who outsource accountants for doing their job. The role of a contractor accountant is important because an IT contractor deals with calculation of taxes which is an important part of revenue. The arrange information in such a way that offers improved consideration of possessions and legal responsibility. The companies who do not have professional accountants can hire outsourced people for their accounting purpose to keep accounts of their finance and accounts.

Contractor accounting has six major functions. They are as follows.

Help to save a business from financial losses

The services of contractor accounting helps a business from being saved from any kind of financial losses which a big company usually has to face because of feebly handled financial records and records. For that one needs to find an accountant that you can trust so that he can deal with all your finances in a transparent manner. One can also look online for contractor accounts as because there are various firms that offer contract accounting services online.

Helps a company to earn good amount of revenue

A contractor accounting helps a company to earn goo amount of revenue. If the accountant is reliable he can help the company to earn revenue with the help of good deals and transactions. Contractor accountants are knowledgeable and highly professional economic people who can productively manage all the credits as well as debits of the business accounts. They help to keep record of all the monetary inflow as well as outflow, they verify and audit all the balance sheets and provides reports to the finance department of the company, They also help to verify the balance sheet of the company, and the expenses and looses that a company has incurred in the previous months as well as current month. They help in calculation before tax filing.

Helps to manage all kinds of transactions in a systematic manner

Since contractor accounting is well skilled regarding all the accountancy laws and norms, he can help to manage all kinds of transactions in a smooth and systematic manner so that the company can smoothly deal with finance. A team of skilled and professional financial experts hired by the company can help to manage all financial deals smoothly. One can also seek for professional experts over the internet that can be hired on a contractual basis

They carry on their jobs diligently and effortlessly

A hired financial contractor accounting perform their job with absolute enthusiasm as well as obligation. Along with their knowledge and performance skills they also consist of updated and well equipped software’s which help to manage as well as record accounts well. This can be done only with the help of professional online contract accountants from Brookson.

Giving whole statement of accounts accurately and precisely

Contracting accountants can also give you a whole statement of your accounts in a very short span of time.They are available at affordable rates and can be thus hired by companies dealing with huge accounts. Accountants appreciate each feature of account handling and they comprehend how to deal with inadequately managed accounts. Contractor accountants also inform business about the associated payments with taxes as well as other monetary compulsions.

Streamlines the project operations

A good contractor accounting also helps to streamline the operations of a project by maintaining finance as well as the record of a company, thus making workflow smooth and convenient.

Conclusion

These are the various function of a contractor accounting in the world of business.

How to Find The Best Student Loan

Recent News: 

Amid the rise in student loan rates as of July 1st, it has become significantly more difficult to select a student loan that best suits your needs. The day your child receives his or her college acceptance letter is a day filled with joy and celebration, but the impending realization of having to cover the cost is daunting. Thinking about selecting a student loan is intimidating and it’s hard to know where to start. Accompanied by the many options out there, the recent rise in student loan rates has made selecting the best loan for you and your family even more difficult. 

On July 1st, the interest rates on federally subsidized Stafford loans doubled, soaring from 3.4 percent to 6.7 percent after Congress failed to reach a deal. Though lawmakers could potentially pass a bill to undo the damages, Congress has estimated an increase that will cost the average college student an additional $4,000. Currently, democrats have pushed to keep interest on Stafford loans low, believing that this will encourage students get a college education. On the flip side of the coin, Republicans have pushed to linking student loans to financial markets, rather than letting Congress set the federal lending rates. 

Recently, a coalition of Senate democrats and republicans have come to a tentative agreement with President Obama that would appeal the recent spike in interest rates on new federal loans for college students. There is a tentative agreement that will move the student loan rate to a market-based rate. If this new deal is not reached by the start of the upcoming school year, roughly 7.4 million students with federal Stafford loans could end up paying up to $4,000 more in interest rates for a four-year degree. Student Loans FindTheBest: Now more than ever, families are feeling the additional pressure and costs of sending a child to college. It is important to understand that there are resources out there to help families in selecting the best student loans. Here is a resource that will help you search for, compare, and select the best student loan for yourself, your son or your daughter.

Student Loans

It may also help to take a look at specific colleges and student loans by state to gain a better understanding of the market. Let’s start by taking a look at student loans offered in California. If you intend to study in a different state, you can access a specific state directory at the bottom righthand corner of the student loans resource page.

California Student Loans

In addition to the student loan resources above, the college comparison below will help provide you with student loan data for your specific University. It will help provide you with information such as the percent of students who receive student loans, the total amount of student loan aid, the average amount of aid, and similar information involving federal loan aid.

Find Colleges and Universities

Verdict: 

Although the rise in student loan rates may create a stressful transition from high school to college, it is important to understand that there are resources out there to help you overcome this major decision. FindTheBest’s student loan resources will help provide you with expert data and reviews on student loans and will ensure that you find the best possible loan for your family’s needs

Where Can I Find Free Balance Transfer Credit Cards?

Today, I'm going to talk about balance transfer credit cards. And, I feel it's important because I see more and more articles talking about free balance transfer credit cards. 

I can't tell you how many emails I've received asking me where to get free balance transfer credit cards. Just in case you don't have much time to read here, I want to tell you the truth up front...

There is no such thing as a free balance transfer credit card! Allow me to explain...

What Are People Referring To As Free Balance Transfer Credit Cards?

There are 2 things that may cause consumers to want to associate the word free with balance transfer credit cards...

• Promotional Interest Rates – Often times, balance transfer credit cards come with 0% promotional interest rates. The promotional interest rates generally last anywhere from 6 to 18 months and for the most part, the rates are quite harmless. However, 0% interest doesn't ever mean free! It just means no interest.
• No Balance Transfer Fee – A couple years ago it was pretty easy to find a balance transfer credit card that came with 0% promotional interest rates and no fee to transfer. Unfortunately, it's not that easy these days. As a matter of fact, I comb the market often and I haven't found anything in the past year or two that was worth applying for and didn't come with a transfer fee. So, it's my assumption that the no balance transfer fee promotions have come and gone...at least for now!

Let's Get To Reality!

OK, I admit, promotional interest rates are fun and, if I could transfer a balance without paying a transfer, that would be pretty cool too. But, these simple perks don't mean that the credit card is free at all. 

This is the biggest problem with balance transfer credit cards. So many consumers fall under a false misconception that balance transfer credit cards are a magical card that make all of your debts completely free. That's just not true.





Think of it from the lender's point of view. Most of the lenders are publicly traded corporations with stock holders to report to! If not, I can assure you that they aren't in business to lose money! 

If lenders gave you a credit card with any sort of available credit for free, with no interest, annual fee, or any other fee, all the money available on that card would be tied up in you. You, a borrower that they stood absolutely no chance of making money on. If they give that deal to you, they have to give it to others that meet the same qualifications that you do. 

Now, they've got millions of investor dollars tied up in loans they can't make a penny on! That simply won't work.

For the concept of balance transfer credit cards to work, there has to be some way for lenders to report a profit to the stock holders that own them! So...

Where Does That Profit Come From?

That really depends on the lender and offer you are working with. Every balance transfer credit card out there comes with it's own, very unique set of terms and conditions. If you have a credit card, you will pay fees in some way if you carry a balance. 

To be sure of what fees you're going to find yourself paying, it's important that you compare the market and take the time to read the rates and fees section of the terms and conditions for any offer you're interested in.

Final Thoughts

Balance transfer credit cards are usually great offers. However, they aren't designed for everyone as no financial option truly is! That being said, before you ever apply for an offer, make sure to compare the market and find the best one for you. 

Also remember, that there is no such thing as a free balance transfer credit card so, expect to pay fees to carry a balance!