Purchasing Property With No Money Down: My Personal Experience

Have you ever seen those infomercials about buying houses with "No Money Down?" They are really well done. They have all kinds of people offering great testimonials about how they have gotten rich, buying rental properties, with absolutely no money out of their pocket. You see this guy, standing on a street corner, talking to someone, and he says, "I own that one," pointing to a beautiful colonial. "I also own that one next to it, and the one two doors down, and I'll be closing on the one directly across the street from it, next week." He then assures us that he has purchased 17 homes in the last eight or ten months, with zero money down on the properties. Plus, in many cases he's also paid no closing costs.

And, let's not forget, this same guy is grossing tens of thousands of dollars monthly, and his net worth is nearly one million dollars. So, he says.

Now, all of this looks wonderful, so when the person selling the course that will teach you how to do this, at a nifty price of just $297.00, speaks, you are glued to his every word. "Real estate is the safest and fastest way to make money, today," the expert will tell you.

So, can this really be done? Can you purchase houses with no money down? Can you become a landlord in as little as one month's time and start raking in the cash from those rent payments? The answer is an absolute "Yes." It can be done, and I am proof positive, because I've done it. The question you should be asking yourself is not can I buy real estate with no money down, but should I?

You see, this is a question that the guy selling the No Money Down course, with all of his people and their great testimonials hopes you never ask. His advertising and marketing strategy would collapse, if he gave anyone a chance to ask this question, because he would be forced to lie if he answered it.

Rarely is the whole truth anywhere to be found in infomercials, especially when the advertising is about No Money Down real estate programs. The infomercial makes the idea and the program look so easy that any child could handle it. It makes it seem like every American should be doing it, and we'd all be millionaires. But every American is not doing it, and many of the ones who are doing it not only are not getting rich, they are actually going broke. The infomercial won't tell you this. That's why I'm here.

The Truth

Now, let's get started with the truth about buying real estate with no money down and the truth about being a landlord. The first thing you need to know is that they are both very bad ideas. Let me illustrate by using my own experience in these areas. I started buying rental property nearly 10 years ago. The first property I bought was a deal orchestrated by some real estate con artist, who told me I needed just $2,000 to take ownership of this home and, in the process, help out a woman who was about to be foreclosed upon.

In two years, she would clean up her credit, refinance the loan on the house, and I would make $10,000. Sounded good to someone who was quick to buy into anything that returned big dollars in a short time.

This worked for the first year, as the woman paid on time, and I pocketed an extra $100 monthly. Later, though, things began to collapse, as the house began to need repairs, all of which the woman couldn't afford, so I had to pay for them. I put nearly $5,000 into the house in a four-year period. When I was finally able to sell it, I didn't quite make back what I had put into it.

Meanwhile, I was eager to overcome this problem by adding many more. A slick mortgage broker got hooked up with an even slicker real estate prospector, and the two of them convinced me that they had a way I could buy houses rapidly, with absolutely no money out of my pocket. Although my experience will probably be enough to enlighten you to the pitfalls of this model and of being a landlord, let me say that I can't emphasize enough how dangerous buying property with no money down is.

In six months time, I had purchased eight houses - many with loans from the same wholesale lender. These lenders should have been concerned with all of the debt I was building, but they kept approving loans, based on my good credit and rents covering the mortgage payments. One of the biggest problems, which I was not experienced enough to detect, was that most of the rents were just $50 to $100 above the mortgage payment.

"Don't worry," the investor/ hustler would say. "You'll make all your money on volume. We'll get you into 30 or 40 houses, and you'll be pocketing $4,000 to $5,000 every month."

As you might imagine, my mind raced. I was making the huge deposits at that very moment. My bank account was fattening up at breakneck speed.

The Illusion

This is what people who buy houses, using the No Money Down plan envision happening. After all, if you can buy one house with no money down, why not five or ten or fifty? For some reason - the vision of the dollar sign, most likely - I failed to seriously consider the maintenance of these houses, the possibility of missed rent payments, and the chance that renters might actually stop paying, altogether, forcing me to evict them - a time-consuming and extremely costly undertaking.

As you may have already guessed, all of these things happened to me, after I had amassed 26 rental properties. In fact, oftentimes, all of these problems happened in the same month. Now, for awhile (when I had about 10 houses), if one person failed to pay rent, I could cover it with the nine other payments. But when two, three and sometimes even five tenants didn't pay in the same month, it was devastating to my business. I had to go to my business account and pay up to $3,000 at a time in mortgage payments, with no income to cover it. Plus, I had to pay a property management company to get my tenants to pay or to evict them.

Soon, this became the norm, not the exception. There were constant problems at my houses. Unhappy tenants led to poor upkeep of the property and even more maintenance problems. About one year, after I had amassed 26 houses, I was having problems with roughly 10-15 houses and/or tenants each week. I was evicting at least two tenants each month, and approximately four to seven tenants were either behind on rent or not paying at all. Promises were made, payment plans arranged and few, if any, ever followed through.

It didn't take long for me to realize that this was no way to make money in real estate. Consequently, I got rid of these houses as fast as I possibly could. There were plenty of buyers, willing to take over my headaches, because they had the ability to make it work, they believed.

In 10 years of being a landlord, I lost thousands of dollars and likely took some years away from my life with all the stress I had endured. So, whatever you do, avoid the No Money Down Trap. There are much better, still inexpensive ways to make money in real estate.

Learn the best ways at Directlendingsolutions.com

Purchasing Property With No Money Down: My Personal Experience   Purchasing Property With No Money Down: My Personal Experience   

Purchasing Property With No Money Down: My Personal Experience

Have you ever seen those infomercials about buying houses with "No Money Down?" They are really well done. They have all kinds of people offering great testimonials about how they have gotten rich, buying rental properties, with absolutely no money out of their pocket. You see this guy, standing on a street corner, talking to someone, and he says, "I own that one," pointing to a beautiful colonial. "I also own that one next to it, and the one two doors down, and I'll be closing on the one directly across the street from it, next week." He then assures us that he has purchased 17 homes in the last eight or ten months, with zero money down on the properties. Plus, in many cases he's also paid no closing costs.

And, let's not forget, this same guy is grossing tens of thousands of dollars monthly, and his net worth is nearly one million dollars. So, he says.

Now, all of this looks wonderful, so when the person selling the course that will teach you how to do this, at a nifty price of just $297.00, speaks, you are glued to his every word. "Real estate is the safest and fastest way to make money, today," the expert will tell you.

So, can this really be done? Can you purchase houses with no money down? Can you become a landlord in as little as one month's time and start raking in the cash from those rent payments? The answer is an absolute "Yes." It can be done, and I am proof positive, because I've done it. The question you should be asking yourself is not can I buy real estate with no money down, but should I?

You see, this is a question that the guy selling the No Money Down course, with all of his people and their great testimonials hopes you never ask. His advertising and marketing strategy would collapse, if he gave anyone a chance to ask this question, because he would be forced to lie if he answered it.

Rarely is the whole truth anywhere to be found in infomercials, especially when the advertising is about No Money Down real estate programs. The infomercial makes the idea and the program look so easy that any child could handle it. It makes it seem like every American should be doing it, and we'd all be millionaires. But every American is not doing it, and many of the ones who are doing it not only are not getting rich, they are actually going broke. The infomercial won't tell you this. That's why I'm here.

The Truth

Now, let's get started with the truth about buying real estate with no money down and the truth about being a landlord. The first thing you need to know is that they are both very bad ideas. Let me illustrate by using my own experience in these areas. I started buying rental property nearly 10 years ago. The first property I bought was a deal orchestrated by some real estate con artist, who told me I needed just $2,000 to take ownership of this home and, in the process, help out a woman who was about to be foreclosed upon.

In two years, she would clean up her credit, refinance the loan on the house, and I would make $10,000. Sounded good to someone who was quick to buy into anything that returned big dollars in a short time.

This worked for the first year, as the woman paid on time, and I pocketed an extra $100 monthly. Later, though, things began to collapse, as the house began to need repairs, all of which the woman couldn't afford, so I had to pay for them. I put nearly $5,000 into the house in a four-year period. When I was finally able to sell it, I didn't quite make back what I had put into it.

Meanwhile, I was eager to overcome this problem by adding many more. A slick mortgage broker got hooked up with an even slicker real estate prospector, and the two of them convinced me that they had a way I could buy houses rapidly, with absolutely no money out of my pocket. Although my experience will probably be enough to enlighten you to the pitfalls of this model and of being a landlord, let me say that I can't emphasize enough how dangerous buying property with no money down is.

In six months time, I had purchased eight houses - many with loans from the same wholesale lender. These lenders should have been concerned with all of the debt I was building, but they kept approving loans, based on my good credit and rents covering the mortgage payments. One of the biggest problems, which I was not experienced enough to detect, was that most of the rents were just $50 to $100 above the mortgage payment.

"Don't worry," the investor/ hustler would say. "You'll make all your money on volume. We'll get you into 30 or 40 houses, and you'll be pocketing $4,000 to $5,000 every month."

As you might imagine, my mind raced. I was making the huge deposits at that very moment. My bank account was fattening up at breakneck speed.

The Illusion

This is what people who buy houses, using the No Money Down plan envision happening. After all, if you can buy one house with no money down, why not five or ten or fifty? For some reason - the vision of the dollar sign, most likely - I failed to seriously consider the maintenance of these houses, the possibility of missed rent payments, and the chance that renters might actually stop paying, altogether, forcing me to evict them - a time-consuming and extremely costly undertaking.

As you may have already guessed, all of these things happened to me, after I had amassed 26 rental properties. In fact, oftentimes, all of these problems happened in the same month. Now, for awhile (when I had about 10 houses), if one person failed to pay rent, I could cover it with the nine other payments. But when two, three and sometimes even five tenants didn't pay in the same month, it was devastating to my business. I had to go to my business account and pay up to $3,000 at a time in mortgage payments, with no income to cover it. Plus, I had to pay a property management company to get my tenants to pay or to evict them.

Soon, this became the norm, not the exception. There were constant problems at my houses. Unhappy tenants led to poor upkeep of the property and even more maintenance problems. About one year, after I had amassed 26 houses, I was having problems with roughly 10-15 houses and/or tenants each week. I was evicting at least two tenants each month, and approximately four to seven tenants were either behind on rent or not paying at all. Promises were made, payment plans arranged and few, if any, ever followed through.

It didn't take long for me to realize that this was no way to make money in real estate. Consequently, I got rid of these houses as fast as I possibly could. There were plenty of buyers, willing to take over my headaches, because they had the ability to make it work, they believed.

In 10 years of being a landlord, I lost thousands of dollars and likely took some years away from my life with all the stress I had endured. So, whatever you do, avoid the No Money Down Trap. There are much better, still inexpensive ways to make money in real estate.

Learn the best ways at Directlendingsolutions.com

Purchasing Property With No Money Down: My Personal Experience   Purchasing Property With No Money Down: My Personal Experience   

How to Stop Junk Email Using Cactus Spam Filter

There was a time when it was a joy to open up your email program and see which friends had sent you a message. Now it's a task many of us dread, thanks to the rise of spam. These junk emails now account for over 50% of email traffic. There are a number of different ways that you can protect yourself including using anti-spam software. One of the free programs that are available is called Cactus Spam Filter.

Cactus Spam Filter is an easy to use program that can help you cut down on the amount of spam that clutters your inbox. It works by identifying messages that it thinks are spam and changing the email subject line. It tags the subject with a message *Cactus Spam*. This tag can be changed if you want.

You then need to set up a spam folder where all the spam messages will be delivered. It is very simple to set up a rule in your email software so that the tagged messages are automatically sent to this folder. Just set it up so that any messages containing "cactus spam" in the heading are sent to this folder.

As you use the software, it 'learns' the emails that you mark as spam and it becomes more proficient at recognizing junk emails. If you already have a folder of garbage emails then you can immediately start training the software, so this learning process will be even quicker.

If you want to stop junk emails with the minimum of fuss, then Cactus Spam Filter is a product that you should consider. As it is free, you can try it and if it doesn't perform to your liking then you can easily uninstall it. Other free alternatives to Cactus include Mailwasher and Cloudmark Desktop (free trial). If you prefer an all-in-one solution, there are ant-ispam components in Norton and McAfee Internet Security Suites.

What If You Could Get Paid Everytime You Got Spammed in Violation of CAN-SPAM? Would You Do It? Yes   Track Down the Spammer - Search by Email Address   Which Email Client Has the Best Spam Filter?   Take Extra Precautions and Stop Spam   The Scourge of Spam and How to Tackle It   

Free Spam Blocker For Emails

Just think of the time that is wasted every business day going through garbage emails. Even if everyone just spends 10 minutes each day filtering out junk emails, the cost to industry runs into millions of dollars a day. But there are ways that you can fight back against this increasing tide of spam. By using specialist software packages you can prevent these email messages getting through. And many of these programs are free to use. Here are 3 of the best free spam blockers for emails.

Mailwasher

This is a useful piece of software that has been available for several years. The nice thing about this program is you can delete spam email before you even download it. It has the ability to check what emails are ready to be delivered and gives you the option to download them or delete them. For this to work, you will have to turn off the setting in Outlook to automatically check for new messages every few minutes.

The free version gives you most of the capabilities that you need to protect one email address. If you upgrade to the paid version you can protect multiple email addresses and get access to technical support.

Cactus Spam Filter

If you want an easy to use piece of software, then take a look at Cactus Spam Filter. This program is quick to set up and you won't have to spend ages configuring it. Spam messages are tagged by the software by making a change to the subject heading. It is then a simple case of setting up a rule in Outlook (or your email client) to move all messages with this tag to a separate folder. Before deleting the contents of this folder, make a quick check to ensure none of your legitimate emails have got in there by mistake.

Mozilla Thunderbird

A different approach to tackling spam is to use Mozilla Thunderbird as your email client. This is an open source alternative to Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express. It has built in anti-spam capabilities. It also has the capacity to 'learn' to recognize spam. The more you use the program the better it becomes at filtering out junk emails.

With garbage emails becoming more and more of a problem, using an effective filtering system is now a necessity. Free spam blockers provide you with that all-important last line of defense so that you can reclaim your inbox.

What If You Could Get Paid Everytime You Got Spammed in Violation of CAN-SPAM? Would You Do It? Yes   Track Down the Spammer - Search by Email Address   Which Email Client Has the Best Spam Filter?   Take Extra Precautions and Stop Spam   The Scourge of Spam and How to Tackle It   Secret Techniques to Stop Spam That Work Every Time   

Home Improvement: Why You Should Hire Professional House Painters

When you think about the task of painting something, it might strike you as a type of manual labor that, while time intensive, can be done by pretty much anyone. There is a reason that painting is a profession, though, and several reasons why you might want to go with an experienced company to take care of your exterior paint job.

One reason you might want to hire a company is the experience a group might have with setting up, starting, completing, and cleaning up a major painting job. Painting a house can be an extremely messy job that requires a bit of strategy in terms of what gets painted first and how the job is going to progress. If this sounds overwhelming to you, you might want to save yourself the headache and place the task of painting your home in the capable hands of a professional painting service.

Another reason you should consider trusting your house painting job to a pro painting company is the cost of the materials needed to complete the job yourself. If you don't have the tools on hand and you'll have to go out and purchase them, the costs can start to add up. A company that specializes in painting will likely have the required tools needed to complete the job successfully, and if a tool breaks along the way, the company will replace it and keep on going with no extra cost to you.

If your time is valuable to you, that's one more reason to consider outsourcing your paint job to a company with experience in the area. Handling the task yourself might mean using some vacation days to take off work, or needing to complete the job on a weekend when you'd probably much rather be relaxing. By hiring a company to take care of painting your house for you, the job can be completed regardless of where you are or what day it is. And if the weather isn't cooperating, the crew can wait for a nicer day and get right back to work; a luxury you might not have when trying to do the job on your own.

The reasons given are just some of the ones you should consider when thinking about taking on a hefty painting project by yourself. With the personal time you'll spend and the money you might have to spend on tools and supplies, the cost of hiring a professional painting company might be comparative, and help you gain back some of the time you would've lost otherwise.

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Compare Life Insurance Rates To Get The Maximum Advantage

Life insurance is the best possible way to protect your family when you will no longer be with them. That is why people all over the world want to purchase life insurance so that they can secure the future of their family even after their death. However, it is obvious that you need to compare life insurance rates before you obtain the best insurance policy for you and your family. This comparison becomes mandatory because there is a huge competition in the market and there are lots of insurance houses who offer great insurance policies with lots of other benefits for their clients.

In order to compare the rates of life insurance the first thing you need to do is to select some top class insurance companies who offer the best policies and have good reputation in the market. There are numerous insurance companies in the market who claim to be the best. However you have to depend on the market review while choosing the right one for yourself and your family. While going for compare life insurance rates, it would be best to visit their websites, give a thorough look at their offers, the services they render, their privacy policies and find out what exactly they are providing you and your family.

It is advisable to have at least 5 such websites in your hand while you are planning to compare life insurance rates. By applying for a life insurance quote you can get the idea of how much coverage exactly you can get from the insurance and in that way you can judge whether the offer of the company is right for you or you should try some other sites. After getting quotes from all the companies that you have initially selected you can easily compare their offers and choose the most appropriate one for you.

If it makes you too confused to choose the right option for your life insurance then you can hire an expert insurance agent. He or she can help you in obtaining the best insurance for you. Your agent will understand your need and find out the quotes suitable for you provided by various insurance houses and help you to select the best one for you with their experience and knowledge in this field. Their job is to assist you compare life insurance rates of various companies. Their objective is to save your money and of course get you the best coverage deal of the market.

In order to get the best deal of the market you have to spend some time in searching the most reputed websites who offer the top class insurance coverage for their clients. As an insurance company we offer the right coverage for each of our customers after understanding their needs individually. You can compare insurance rates of our company with the other company rates and we are confident that you will find the best deal with us. There are several factors that determine the key benefits of a coverage and our team is ready to help you in all these aspects in order to provide you the best service of the industry.

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Increasing Long Term Care Costs in Naples and Miami

In Florida long term care costs are increasing faster than national costs especially in the Miami and Naples areas.

At present the median annual rate of a nursing home in Florida is $83,950 according to Genworth Financial's 2011 Cost of Care Survey, but residents in Miami are paying out $89,107 every year for a nursing home's semi-private room while the price tag of private rooms reads $96,725.

In Naples, the rates of nursing homes continue to skyrocket, too. Semi-private rooms here would cost $231 or $85,775 per annum while private rooms are at $284 daily or $105,850 annually.

Meanwhile, the assisted living facilities and in-home care in Miami surprisingly have lower rates. Families with loved ones in Miami assisted living centers fork out $2,250 monthly, a big difference from the state's average monthly rate which is $2,663.

Now Floridians who are receiving in-home care pay a home health aide an hourly rate of $21 on the average to assist them with the activities of daily living (ADL) such as eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, continence, and transferring or walking from one point of the house to another.

Home health aides in Miami, on the other hand, charge $19 per hour. Homemaker service, which is another form of long term care (LTC) focused on household chores such as cooking, laundering, housecleaning, and running errands among others, is offered for a lower hourly rate of $18 in Miami as opposed to the state's average $20 per hour.

While Miami tried to make up for its expensive nursing homes, Naples does not seem to be going in that direction and would rather stick to its high LTC rates. In fact, most assisted living facilities in this area charge a whopping monthly rate of $4,600.

On the other hand, the hourly rate of a home health aide in the Naples area begins at $25 while that for homemaker service begins at $23.

Staggering Florida Long Term Care Costs

Without conducting an in-depth research on Florida LTC you'll probably think that the expensive LTC facilities are located somewhere in Tampa, Palm Beach or any other populous area so Naples definitely turned out to be a surprise revelation.

Jacksonville residents also dread the prohibitive cost of care in their area. According to an annual LTC study which was conducted by a group of LTC specialists a private nursing home room in Jacksonville, Florida would cost $241 daily or $89,790 annually.

Just like in other parts of the country the cost of care in Florida is, indeed, increasing but only at a faster rate. Families and individuals who are still active at work are advised to plan for the possibility of acquiring this kind of service in the future.

No one can really tell if he will need LTC someday, but it's better to have a good plan in case you would rather than wait for the day to face high Florida long term care costs head-on and risk losing everything that you've worked so hard to acquire.

Do Partnership Policies Cost More?   5 Myths About Long Term Care   Basic Considerations To Get Lower Long Term Care Insurance Rates   Valuable Long Term Care Planning Details   

Albuquerque Cuisine

While many travelers end up in an Albuquerque hotel either for the world famous Balloon Fiesta, camping, or merely just a one-day business trip, most visitors are happily surprised to experience another great part of Albuquerque, the New Mexican cuisine. Whether you are traveling to different parts of the state or not venturing far away from your Albuquerque airport hotels, you will find the interesting mix of Native American, Spanish and Tex-Mex barbeque influences will add a little extra flavor to your trip. If you are interested in finding more about restaurants, your Albuquerque accommodations will be able to direct you to some of the city's highest rated locations so you can really see what this city has to offer. For those of you who are more adventurous and really like food, be sure to book your hotel in Albuquerque for next summer so you don't miss some of the biggest events for New Mexican cuisine, including the Pork & Brew State BBQ and the Fiery Foods and Barbeque Show.

Are you a fan of barbecue? Well then make sure you have your hotel in Albuquerque booked next summer for the annual Pork & Brew State BBQ Championship. This championship brings together over fifty barbeque teams from New Mexico and all over the country to heat things up and hopefully walk away the barbeque champions. This is an outdoor event held at the Santa Ana Star Center. If you live in New Mexico but it seems like a hike, there are plenty of quality Albuquerque accommodations for you to stay in to make your trip to the championship a little easier. For those avid food lovers who are just interested in some barbeque, there are many affordable Albuquerque airport hotels that will make your short trip as easy as possible, so you can focus on the food. Come out and enjoy the food and fun. And, don't forget your hat and sunscreen at your Albuquerque hotel; it can get hot out there. For more information or to see the 2012 winners then visit the Pork & Brew website at http://www.rioranchonm.org.

Interested in attending the hottest show on earth? Book your Albuquerque accommodations for March so you can attend the 25th Annual National Fiery Foods Show. Every hotel in Albuquerque is full of spicy loving visitors every year to come to the largest and most visited show about spicy foods and barbecue in the world. Held each March in Albuquerque, it features over two hundred exhibitor booths filled with more than a thousand different products. Professionals and visitors come from all over the world and stay in Albuquerque airport hotels, and Albuquerque hotels closer to the venue, because they crave something spicy and they know this is where they will find it. For more information on the 2013 Fiery Foods show, visit them at http://www.fieryfoodsshow.com.

Whether you are staying in Albuquerque airport hotels for business, needing a hotel in Albuquerque because you're passing through to your next destination, or booking your Albuquerque accommodations for your next family vacation, you will not be disappointed by New Mexican cuisine. Though its claim to fame is the sizzle and spice, there is a very exotic and originality in the cuisine that makes people come back for seconds. In addition to some of the most original restaurants in the country, Albuquerque hotels are always packed for some of the food industry's biggest shows.

Explore and Relax During Your Getaway   

Top 3 Beaches of Goa

The beaches of Goa are the most famous tourist hubs in the country. The beauty of the beaches and the beach culture's uniqueness are the USP of the state tourism that attracts travelers in hordes making the beaches are great income generators for the Goa economy. Every beach has its own features and its own attractions and the diversity makes travelers spoilt for choice. The 3 top beaches in Goa are Calangute, Anjuna and Colva. Read on to know more about these beaches and some good Goa hotels nearby.

Calangute - The Calangute beach is the largest and most commercialized beach in Goa with lots of crowds and shacks. The beach is situated some distance from the town and it is often full of foreigners sunbathing. Walk towards the water and you will find the best thing about the beach- water sports. There is a whole range of water activities to try out, from para-sailing to jet skis which are cheap and are great fun. The large number of shacks means that you have several options foe eating and also trying out different items.

Anjuna - Probably the most famous of the Goa beaches is Anjuna beach that is located in North Goa and 11 kilometers from Panjim. A onetime hippie haven, Anjuna still carries their distinct marks even though no more hippies remain. The best time to get to Anjuna is on Wednesdays when the weekly flea market sets up. Wednesdays in Anjuna are nothing short of a celebration plus here in the markets you can find a great number of items ranging from clothing to souvenirs. After shopping relax on the beach or check out the shacks nearby where you will find rows of beach chairs. Rest on the chairs and watch the sunset with some great Anjuna style psychedelic music blaring from the shacks.

Colva - It is among the best and tranquil Goa beaches and is located 6 kilometers from Margao. This exotic beach is relatively less crowded and its beauty is unmatched by the previous ones. There are several hotels, restaurants and shacks near the beach but finding true luxurious Goa hotels are like asking for much. All in all it's an ideal destination to sit back and relax with your family.

Hotel in Goa near Beach

Falcon Resorts is a fine hotel in Goa near the Calangute beach and is some distance away from the International airport. It enjoys wide recommendation from guests for its location and for its service standards. The hotel offers a fine in-house multi cuisine restaurant, a large swimming pool and a health club. The room rates start from Rs.2000. A luxury class hotel near Anjuna is the Vista Do Rio that is best known for its luxurious facilities and its location. The hotel offers a restaurant and bar, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, spa, travel desk and many more. The room rates start from Rs.4000.

Explore and Relax During Your Getaway   

Is Your Authentic Designer Handbag Really Authentic?

So, you have just bought a new designer handbag. Maybe you have had your eye on a Christian Dior Saddle Handbag, or Gucci Jackie-O that you know your friends will drool over . You got a huge discount off of the hefty retail price and you're feeling pretty good about yourself. But now you are wondering- is my designer handbag authentic.

Determining the authenticity on any product can be a little tricky, but if you know the basics, you will be able to spot a fake in just a few seconds.

One of the best ways to ensure your new handbag is authentic is to look at the bag itself. Designer handbags are popular and cost as much as they due because first and for-most they are made from quality materials. Take a good look at the stitching. There should be no loose or missing stitches, the color of the thread should match the main color of the bag and the stitches should be evenly spaced. If the handbag is leather, the logo should be engraved, not just printed on the leather.

Also take a look at the hardware. All of the hardware should match in color and sheen. The hardware should also be free of scratches. Many manufactures, including Gucci, Fendi and Prada, protect their hardware with a removable plastic cover that is to be removed only after it has been purchased. The brand name or logo should be engraved, not embossed or simply printed on the hardware. You can also find the brand name of logo engraved on the strap hardware on Gucci, Fendi, Prada, Chanel.

Inspect the material the bag; lining, hardware and accents are made of. Many handbags are made of different types of leather, from Lambskin, Calfskin, Goatskin and Patent Leather, but it is easy to distinguish if the leather is of a good quality or not. The lining is usually made of a satin material that has a nice shine to it and most designer handbags have the name brand name or logo on the lining. Designers almost always use leather accents, not plastic. Some purses have straps that are specially coated and seem to be artificial. However a quick look at the edge of the strap, usually near a stitched joint, should reveal a leather core.

Is there an authenticity card. An authenticity card is a little card that usually has the manufactures logo embossed on the front and has some information about the product you purchased and sometimes includes a magnetic strip, bar code. Many manufacturers, including Gucci, Prada, Fendi, Kate Spade and Coach, use these cards.

Check for a serial number. Not all manufacturers use serial numbers, but many do. The serial number for Fendi purses can be found on the inside pocket. Simply turn the pocket inside out and there will be a printed number on the fabric or possibly on the leather tag. Gucci includes a small leather tag on the zipper seam of the handbag which includes a serial number.

If you shop wisely, and inspect the bag carefully, you will be able to spot a fake from a mile away.

Sterling Silver Jewelry Fashion Trends for the New Year and Beyond   Sterling Silver Jewelry Fashion Trends for the New Year and Beyond   

7 Ways to Rediscover Your True Passion after Divorce

Going through a divorce is a very challenging time in a person's life. It is hard to adjust to being single again, as well as living "out of the habit" of being married, especially if you have been married for many, many years.

Eventually, you begin to think about dating, but it is suggested that you take your time. Use this precious opportunity to rediscover yourself. Think of this time in your life as an adventure to explore the real you. If you have worked outside the home combined with being a mom and wife for the last ten, fifteen or twenty years, you may have lost yourself along the way. Certainly not on purpose, but as most women try to do it all as "super" moms, many times we put our own wants and needs on hold to keep our families and jobs running smoothly!

Take a deep breath and let's start to rediscover our true passions and say... Will the Real Me Please Stand Up!

1) Treasure Your Gifts Within Realizing we are all born as "gold nuggets" is a hard concept for many women to believe about themselves. Think about how magnificent you really are! Over time, you might have forgotten your unique gifts and are only thinking of what you don't like about yourself or your life. Set a new intention, starting today, to list all of your great qualities and read that list everyday. Keep reading it until you believe it. Examples: beautiful smile, kindness, generosity, loving, caring, intelligent. keep going. Your list is endless, when you start focusing on your great qualities. Allow yourself to see the shining gold within. It's already there!

2) Give Yourself A Break During and after a divorce it is common to have the feeling of grieving, similar to that of the loss of someone. Many women feel the need to stay busy to keep their minds off of this stressful time, such as working overtime or cleaning the house from top to bottom, but let this time also include pampering yourself. For example, barter with a friend or neighbor to watch your children or leave work early to give yourself this needed time. Yes, you do deserve to do something special for yourself. It can be as simple as taking a bath or a walk, going to the mall or reading a book with your favorite cup of tea. Give yourself permission - it's O.K. Remember, the happier you are, the happier your family will be!

3) No regrets! No bitterness! Holding onto regrets and bitterness will only keep your life from moving forward. Is your inner voice working overtime with all the "what ifs" and "if onlys"? This is normal for a period of time, but ask yourself.are these thoughts serving me or helping me feel better? Will thinking about them over and over again change anything? To move your life forward, it is important to acknowledge your feelings and to learn from your past experiences to prepare yourself for the next exciting chapter of your life. Yes, there is life after divorce. Learn to let it go! Just, let it go! A quote from Buddy Hackett, "I never hold a grudge because while I am being angry, the other person is out dancing."

4) Enjoy the Little Things Life after divorce usually means added responsibilities. If you are a single parent or are now the one responsible for the once shared to-do list, how do you handle it all without being totally stressed out? To start, learn to laugh more, especially at yourself. Learn to let things go and not take life so seriously. Lighten-up! Learn to live in the present moment. Living in the present is where all the "good stuff" in life happens. Yesterday is gone forever and tomorrow's worries are tomorrow. Think of it this way, when one is missing this moment in time, one is missing out on one's life.

So how do we live in the present? If you are feeling stressed, immediately leave your thoughts in your head and take off your blinders. (Blinders similar to what a horse would wear, not allowing it to see from side to side). Start to look around you. I mean really look around you. Look closely at everything. Really focus. Use all your senses! For example, if you are with your children observe them. Cherish their smiles. Give them a hug. See the true beauty of who they are and appreciate them for being a part of your life. You will start to feel your stress subside and a feeling of peace sweep over you. To be present, no matter where you are, use all your senses to pull you back into the moment. Take time to appreciate all the beauty that already exists around you. You only have to be present to see it!

5) What Makes Your Heart Sing? What really matters to you? What do you feel is your true purpose in life? If someone asked you that question, how would you answer them?

Why is it so important to be clear on what your life's purpose is? Knowing your purpose, will give you a true sense of who you are and why you were put on this earth. It gives your life direction and helps you make clear and easy decisions concerning that direction. It's your compass! Without a purpose, can your life be compared to a piece of driftwood? Floating endlessly in whichever direction the tide decides to take it and ending up on any beach with no will of its' own. When you live your life based on your purpose you are living in integrity with yourself and are in alignment of who you really are in all aspects of your life - body, mind and spirit. Take this time to focus on what really matters to you. Feel the true passions that exist in your heart and write them down.

6) What Are Your Vibes Saying About You? Are you familiar with the Law of Attraction? Maybe you have heard the expressions, "What you think about, you bring about" or "The more attention you give to something, the more attention it will give to you." When going through a divorce, your emotions can be compared to a roller coaster ride. Use this time to become reconnected to your inner awareness of who you are. Recognize if your feelings are low energy or high energy.

A few examples of low energy are stress, negativity, fear, resentment, or a sense of lack (lack of time or money) and high energy is joy, abundance, happy, positive, love or compassion. If you are having feelings of low energy, how do you make a shift to feel more of the high energy?

First, acknowledge and accept the feelings you are having. Be gentle with yourself! Your goal is to make a shift, but realize you might not be able to go from low to high instantly. Start with baby steps! Repeat step number three and become present! Be thankful for what is working in your life right now. Do something simple like pat your pet, smell a flower or, if you are in the office, take a minute to think of a previous fun time or experience you have had that could bring a smile to your face. Feel the shift you are starting to make in your energy.

Now, to amp up this high-energy feeling, think of another time of joy or something you were passionate about in your life. Keep adding these thoughts to your high-energy feeling and begin to feel great! Does it seem the people or situations around you have changed or is it you who has really changed? So, who has the power to feel their own joy? When you are feeling your high energy, this is the time to take your next inspired action. Enjoy the feeling of accomplishing something with ease and less effort!

7) Be True To Yourself During and even after a divorce, we are often filled with doubts. We question ourselves about what is right, what to do or how we feel. Should I or shouldn't I? It seems difficult to make a decision. Listen to your heart. What feels right? What doesn't feel quite right? If a situation does not feel right, honor your resistance by pausing or waiting. Sometimes waiting is the best thing to do. By waiting you may have allowed the situation to unfold more easily without having to worry! If a decision feels good or right, usually that means you are heading in the right direction. When we listen to our hearts, we are in integrity with ourselves. When we are in integrity with ourselves, we learn to say NO more easily.

Has this ever happened to you? You are asked to be on a committee or to volunteer for something and you say yes, even though you know it will make your schedule even tighter or you really don't want to or have to?

How do you stop this from happening? Next time you are in this situation and you are ready to say yes, yet, find yourself having doubts, try this . STOP! Take a breath or even take a step back (this action will prevent you from saying yes). Pause! Thank the person for thinking of you, but let them know you will have to check your calendar and get back to them. When you do have time to think about it, focus on how you are feeling. Are you excited to volunteer or do you feel some resistance? If in a day or two you are still feeling doubtful, realize the timing might not be right for you. If you are still excited, join the committee and have fun!

Divorce is not easy or fun, but you can make it through this time of your life by realizing you WILL make it! Also, honor yourself and listen to your heart! Your true purpose and passions are waiting to be rediscovered within you! When you have discovered the "gold nugget" you already are, you will start to live your life with more ease and enjoy the feeling of peace. "You are truly free!"

Copyright 2004 Joanie Winberg. All Rights Reserved.

There Is Life After Divorce   

7 Ways to Rediscover Your True Passion after Divorce

Going through a divorce is a very challenging time in a person's life. It is hard to adjust to being single again, as well as living "out of the habit" of being married, especially if you have been married for many, many years.

Eventually, you begin to think about dating, but it is suggested that you take your time. Use this precious opportunity to rediscover yourself. Think of this time in your life as an adventure to explore the real you. If you have worked outside the home combined with being a mom and wife for the last ten, fifteen or twenty years, you may have lost yourself along the way. Certainly not on purpose, but as most women try to do it all as "super" moms, many times we put our own wants and needs on hold to keep our families and jobs running smoothly!

Take a deep breath and let's start to rediscover our true passions and say... Will the Real Me Please Stand Up!

1) Treasure Your Gifts Within Realizing we are all born as "gold nuggets" is a hard concept for many women to believe about themselves. Think about how magnificent you really are! Over time, you might have forgotten your unique gifts and are only thinking of what you don't like about yourself or your life. Set a new intention, starting today, to list all of your great qualities and read that list everyday. Keep reading it until you believe it. Examples: beautiful smile, kindness, generosity, loving, caring, intelligent. keep going. Your list is endless, when you start focusing on your great qualities. Allow yourself to see the shining gold within. It's already there!

2) Give Yourself A Break During and after a divorce it is common to have the feeling of grieving, similar to that of the loss of someone. Many women feel the need to stay busy to keep their minds off of this stressful time, such as working overtime or cleaning the house from top to bottom, but let this time also include pampering yourself. For example, barter with a friend or neighbor to watch your children or leave work early to give yourself this needed time. Yes, you do deserve to do something special for yourself. It can be as simple as taking a bath or a walk, going to the mall or reading a book with your favorite cup of tea. Give yourself permission - it's O.K. Remember, the happier you are, the happier your family will be!

3) No regrets! No bitterness! Holding onto regrets and bitterness will only keep your life from moving forward. Is your inner voice working overtime with all the "what ifs" and "if onlys"? This is normal for a period of time, but ask yourself.are these thoughts serving me or helping me feel better? Will thinking about them over and over again change anything? To move your life forward, it is important to acknowledge your feelings and to learn from your past experiences to prepare yourself for the next exciting chapter of your life. Yes, there is life after divorce. Learn to let it go! Just, let it go! A quote from Buddy Hackett, "I never hold a grudge because while I am being angry, the other person is out dancing."

4) Enjoy the Little Things Life after divorce usually means added responsibilities. If you are a single parent or are now the one responsible for the once shared to-do list, how do you handle it all without being totally stressed out? To start, learn to laugh more, especially at yourself. Learn to let things go and not take life so seriously. Lighten-up! Learn to live in the present moment. Living in the present is where all the "good stuff" in life happens. Yesterday is gone forever and tomorrow's worries are tomorrow. Think of it this way, when one is missing this moment in time, one is missing out on one's life.

So how do we live in the present? If you are feeling stressed, immediately leave your thoughts in your head and take off your blinders. (Blinders similar to what a horse would wear, not allowing it to see from side to side). Start to look around you. I mean really look around you. Look closely at everything. Really focus. Use all your senses! For example, if you are with your children observe them. Cherish their smiles. Give them a hug. See the true beauty of who they are and appreciate them for being a part of your life. You will start to feel your stress subside and a feeling of peace sweep over you. To be present, no matter where you are, use all your senses to pull you back into the moment. Take time to appreciate all the beauty that already exists around you. You only have to be present to see it!

5) What Makes Your Heart Sing? What really matters to you? What do you feel is your true purpose in life? If someone asked you that question, how would you answer them?

Why is it so important to be clear on what your life's purpose is? Knowing your purpose, will give you a true sense of who you are and why you were put on this earth. It gives your life direction and helps you make clear and easy decisions concerning that direction. It's your compass! Without a purpose, can your life be compared to a piece of driftwood? Floating endlessly in whichever direction the tide decides to take it and ending up on any beach with no will of its' own. When you live your life based on your purpose you are living in integrity with yourself and are in alignment of who you really are in all aspects of your life - body, mind and spirit. Take this time to focus on what really matters to you. Feel the true passions that exist in your heart and write them down.

6) What Are Your Vibes Saying About You? Are you familiar with the Law of Attraction? Maybe you have heard the expressions, "What you think about, you bring about" or "The more attention you give to something, the more attention it will give to you." When going through a divorce, your emotions can be compared to a roller coaster ride. Use this time to become reconnected to your inner awareness of who you are. Recognize if your feelings are low energy or high energy.

A few examples of low energy are stress, negativity, fear, resentment, or a sense of lack (lack of time or money) and high energy is joy, abundance, happy, positive, love or compassion. If you are having feelings of low energy, how do you make a shift to feel more of the high energy?

First, acknowledge and accept the feelings you are having. Be gentle with yourself! Your goal is to make a shift, but realize you might not be able to go from low to high instantly. Start with baby steps! Repeat step number three and become present! Be thankful for what is working in your life right now. Do something simple like pat your pet, smell a flower or, if you are in the office, take a minute to think of a previous fun time or experience you have had that could bring a smile to your face. Feel the shift you are starting to make in your energy.

Now, to amp up this high-energy feeling, think of another time of joy or something you were passionate about in your life. Keep adding these thoughts to your high-energy feeling and begin to feel great! Does it seem the people or situations around you have changed or is it you who has really changed? So, who has the power to feel their own joy? When you are feeling your high energy, this is the time to take your next inspired action. Enjoy the feeling of accomplishing something with ease and less effort!

7) Be True To Yourself During and even after a divorce, we are often filled with doubts. We question ourselves about what is right, what to do or how we feel. Should I or shouldn't I? It seems difficult to make a decision. Listen to your heart. What feels right? What doesn't feel quite right? If a situation does not feel right, honor your resistance by pausing or waiting. Sometimes waiting is the best thing to do. By waiting you may have allowed the situation to unfold more easily without having to worry! If a decision feels good or right, usually that means you are heading in the right direction. When we listen to our hearts, we are in integrity with ourselves. When we are in integrity with ourselves, we learn to say NO more easily.

Has this ever happened to you? You are asked to be on a committee or to volunteer for something and you say yes, even though you know it will make your schedule even tighter or you really don't want to or have to?

How do you stop this from happening? Next time you are in this situation and you are ready to say yes, yet, find yourself having doubts, try this . STOP! Take a breath or even take a step back (this action will prevent you from saying yes). Pause! Thank the person for thinking of you, but let them know you will have to check your calendar and get back to them. When you do have time to think about it, focus on how you are feeling. Are you excited to volunteer or do you feel some resistance? If in a day or two you are still feeling doubtful, realize the timing might not be right for you. If you are still excited, join the committee and have fun!

Divorce is not easy or fun, but you can make it through this time of your life by realizing you WILL make it! Also, honor yourself and listen to your heart! Your true purpose and passions are waiting to be rediscovered within you! When you have discovered the "gold nugget" you already are, you will start to live your life with more ease and enjoy the feeling of peace. "You are truly free!"

Copyright 2004 Joanie Winberg. All Rights Reserved.

There Is Life After Divorce   

Garbage in Its Place

There is nothing worse than seeing garbage blowing down the street of your neighborhood, or finding broken shards of glass at the local swimming hole where children play. Wildlife is just as vulnerable to garbage and many have lost their lives after becoming tangled in waste or mistaking garbage for food. It is up to each of us to make an effort to minimize this unsightly, and sometimes hazardous, problem.

Animals, wind and traffic breezes put legs to loose garbage and are able to distribute it great distances from the original source. The first thing that we can do to prevent this is to ensure trashcan and dumpster lids are secure. Metal and plastic trashcans are more preventative than bags - leaving a bag out over night or even for several hours, is an enticing invitation for stray animals to wreak havoc. When taking a load to the dump, be sure that it is securely covered by tightly tying a tarp over the load with some rope or bungee cords.

Carry plastic shopping bags on your walks to clean up litter that you find along the way. Often, people are rewarded for their efforts by the deposits returned from bottles and cans. Those who have noticed your efforts will begin taking up the same habit once they realize the impact it has.

Report any dumping you witness, whether it was done illegally or accidentally - just get the license number and leave the rest to the officials. Also, report any site where garbage has been left by others. These problems can be reported to the local city, highway, public works or conservation office. Ask them to arrange for it to be cleaned up.

By doing these relatively small actions, we prevent contamination and injuries to people or wildlife in the area. When separating recyclable items, we keep a valuable resource out of the landfill. In addition, we maintain a pristine environment for citizens, tourists and wildlife to enjoy. We can all take pride knowing that by keeping garbage in its place, we are making the world just a little better for everyone.

Garbage in Its Place   Garbage in Its Place   Garbage in Its Place   

Garbage in Its Place

There is nothing worse than seeing garbage blowing down the street of your neighborhood, or finding broken shards of glass at the local swimming hole where children play. Wildlife is just as vulnerable to garbage and many have lost their lives after becoming tangled in waste or mistaking garbage for food. It is up to each of us to make an effort to minimize this unsightly, and sometimes hazardous, problem.

Animals, wind and traffic breezes put legs to loose garbage and are able to distribute it great distances from the original source. The first thing that we can do to prevent this is to ensure trashcan and dumpster lids are secure. Metal and plastic trashcans are more preventative than bags - leaving a bag out over night or even for several hours, is an enticing invitation for stray animals to wreak havoc. When taking a load to the dump, be sure that it is securely covered by tightly tying a tarp over the load with some rope or bungee cords.

Carry plastic shopping bags on your walks to clean up litter that you find along the way. Often, people are rewarded for their efforts by the deposits returned from bottles and cans. Those who have noticed your efforts will begin taking up the same habit once they realize the impact it has.

Report any dumping you witness, whether it was done illegally or accidentally - just get the license number and leave the rest to the officials. Also, report any site where garbage has been left by others. These problems can be reported to the local city, highway, public works or conservation office. Ask them to arrange for it to be cleaned up.

By doing these relatively small actions, we prevent contamination and injuries to people or wildlife in the area. When separating recyclable items, we keep a valuable resource out of the landfill. In addition, we maintain a pristine environment for citizens, tourists and wildlife to enjoy. We can all take pride knowing that by keeping garbage in its place, we are making the world just a little better for everyone.

Garbage in Its Place   Garbage in Its Place   Garbage in Its Place   

Garbage in Its Place

There is nothing worse than seeing garbage blowing down the street of your neighborhood, or finding broken shards of glass at the local swimming hole where children play. Wildlife is just as vulnerable to garbage and many have lost their lives after becoming tangled in waste or mistaking garbage for food. It is up to each of us to make an effort to minimize this unsightly, and sometimes hazardous, problem.

Animals, wind and traffic breezes put legs to loose garbage and are able to distribute it great distances from the original source. The first thing that we can do to prevent this is to ensure trashcan and dumpster lids are secure. Metal and plastic trashcans are more preventative than bags - leaving a bag out over night or even for several hours, is an enticing invitation for stray animals to wreak havoc. When taking a load to the dump, be sure that it is securely covered by tightly tying a tarp over the load with some rope or bungee cords.

Carry plastic shopping bags on your walks to clean up litter that you find along the way. Often, people are rewarded for their efforts by the deposits returned from bottles and cans. Those who have noticed your efforts will begin taking up the same habit once they realize the impact it has.

Report any dumping you witness, whether it was done illegally or accidentally - just get the license number and leave the rest to the officials. Also, report any site where garbage has been left by others. These problems can be reported to the local city, highway, public works or conservation office. Ask them to arrange for it to be cleaned up.

By doing these relatively small actions, we prevent contamination and injuries to people or wildlife in the area. When separating recyclable items, we keep a valuable resource out of the landfill. In addition, we maintain a pristine environment for citizens, tourists and wildlife to enjoy. We can all take pride knowing that by keeping garbage in its place, we are making the world just a little better for everyone.

Garbage in Its Place   Garbage in Its Place   Garbage in Its Place