An industry that continues to grow and shows only a little sign of slowing, the construction industry’s competitive world are in need of construction professionals who are equipped with skills and the know-how to effectively carry out the assigned job. So, if you are planning to choose a career in the field of construction management, might as well take up a program that will help you excel, like the construction project management courses offered in some of the schools. The construction project management courses provide construction professionals practical knowledge and expertise, which are exactly necessary to do your job.

The innovative and timely series of Construction Project Management courses are designed to develop the knowledge base of those working as project managers and project personnel, and to those who show interests to enter the field of construction management, whether for the principal or for service providers like consultants or contractors. The course focuses on basic principles across the breadth of the project management body of knowledge, and covers the key concepts in managing a project right from the start to final close-out.

The topics may include, but not limited to construction accounting, acquisitions, developments, estimation, plan reading, field project management, real estate law, bidding, scheduling, and construction safety. To obtain certificate of completion, students must successfully complete eight intensive courses. However, if you don’t plan to pursue a certificate, you may possibly take individual classes. Additionally, all construction project management courses provide Continuing Education Units or CEUs.

The Core Courses of Construction Project Management Program may include but not limited to:

Construction Accounting – this course reviews accounting theory, providing an understanding of the terminology of accounting. Payroll accounting focuses on workers compensation insurance, cost allocation and control. There is also other subjects that include types of businesses and organizations, lien law, construction cost control, progress payments and sub-contractor invoices, back charges, cash flow and cost of sales.

Financing Real Estate Acquisitions – this course focuses on the nature of development projects, sources of funds, mortgages, payment and construction loan processing, and administration for both portfolio and for the sale projects.

Estimation – this course provides cost estimating with emphasis on quantity survey and pricing.

Plan Reading – this course provides a survey of the fundamentals of Construction Math and plan reading.

Field Project management – this is one of the construction project management courses, which helps you become a successful project manager by learning the basic principles and responsibilities of construction process. You will also learn how to identify and manage the important components of project planning, budgeting and scheduling, resource allocation, legal requirements and ethical considerations, construction safety, and project supervision.

Real Estate Law (Law for Construction) – this law provides an overview of the legal system such as contractor’s license law, contract laws, real estate law, mechanic liens, as well as basic contract principles and responsibilities.

There are few things that are as stressful as buying a home, especially for the first time. There are so many things to consider, such as the size of the home, the location it is in and whether it has a good school district. Many purchasers opt to have a real estate brokerage represent them in the sale. The responsibility of a person licensed to practice real estate is to act as a liaison between the selling and purchasing parties to the transaction. An agreement must be signed by the agency and the purchaser in order for the licensee to represent them during the course of the transaction.

The written agreement between an agent and a client must be clearly detailed, prior to any transaction taking place. This includes the names and addresses of both the purchaser and the company agreeing to represent them. It may also detail such things as the estimated price range of the purchaser as well as any contingencies they may have. For example, one contingency may be that they are already considering a certain home from a person without any agency representation, such as a friend or relative. The agreement would state that if they decide to buy that house or any house that was previously looked at prior to the agency agreement, the agency would not be entitled to any form of compensation.

This can also include the homes that the purchaser has looked at, that had a seller who was represented by an agency, but the purchaser did not have representation at the time of the viewing. This is why it is so important for a buyer to be clear when detailing to a prospective broker or agent, any type of contingencies that they may have. Brokers usually have pre written agency agreements and there are usually several kinds that the buyer can choose from.

The exclusive Right to Represent Buyer/Broker Agency agreement is the one that is typically used to detail the agreement between the buyer and the agent. In this agreement, the purchaser consents to allow the agent to represent them on an exclusive level. It also details the amount of commission the purchaser agrees to pay for the service, as well as the length of time the agent is given to represent them.

The Non Exclusive/Not for Compensation agreement also details what is expected of the agent. In this agreement there is no specification of the amount of commission to be paid and the purchaser retains the right to use more than one agent.

The California home market is one of the most expensive in the nation. California is home to twenty of the top twenty-one most expensive areas in which to buy a home. However, with good planning and money management skills, you can afford to own your own home in this exciting and beautiful state.

First, you need to realistically plan out a budget that you can stick to. Make sure to include money for unexpected bills, entertainment costs, and repair costs into your budget. This way, you will be able to avoid getting a mortgage payment that is more than you can afford.

Secondly, shop around, and be open to different neighborhoods. Look into bank foreclosure sales, and if you are skilled at home repairs, don’t be afraid to buy a home that needs a few things fixed. Minor home repairs can save you thousands of dollars at closing time, and if you are able to make the repairs yourself, the savings are even greater. This can help you afford a better mortgage.

Shop around for the best lender for your mortgage. Many times you can find terrific interest rates when you do a little research. Be prepared to buy with a reasonable down payment, and remember that the more money you can put down at closing time, the better interest rate you will end up with in the end.

Finally, don’t rush into a decision. Buying a home is an important decision that will be with you for years to come. Make sure it’s a decision you can live with happily.

A commercial real estate broker is a person who acts as a link between a buyers and a sellers real estate. This relationship is one of fiduciary responsibility, meaning that it is a relationship based on trust.

The person appointed as the broker, has the responsibility of ensuring that his salespeople handle the transactions according to law. The sales people are known as real estate agents and their responsibilities include representing the seller or the buyer in the transactions and making sure that they get the best possible treatment. The agent representing the seller ensures that the seller receives the highest possible price for the property they are selling, while the agent of the buyer will negotiate for the lowest possible price. The buyer's agent will also try to find properties in the best structural shape that fits within their estimated price range.

In many places, such as the United States, it is mandatory for the broker to have a license to negotiate the sale and purchase of property. The broker can act as either the proprietor of a company or as an agent for another company. There are various ways to get the certification as a broker. One way is by going to school and passing a state test. Another way is to hold a position that automatically allows you to apply for and receive the certification, such being an attorney.

Following 1992, there were brokers from Florida and Colorado that recommended that the professional relationship between the agent and the client should be broken. Instead, they felt that the dealings between the two should be strictly limited to the actual sale and purchase of real estate, without taking the personal interest of the client into consideration. In Florida, the Broward Board of Realtors went so far as suggesting that the brokers and agents merely help the selling and purchasing parties with finalizing the sale, without the bond of trust. The only requirement being that they adhere to both legal and moral standards.

Don't have time to create content for your site? Join the club. Many other real estate agents are in the same predicament. They need web content to increase site visits and boost search engine rankings, but don't have the time to devote to everything else that they need to be doing. So, they use pre-written content.

Everyday real estate prospects are logging onto the Internet looking for information, but are often frustrated with results that are full of sales pitches, but lacking in helpful information. Astute marketers are recognizing this and are and using pre-written real estate web site content and marketing reports to their advantage. Prewritten web content is a growing phenomenon and many agents are changing their marketing fortunes using it.

Whatever you're advertising - your services, listings or whatever - a website with great content is a great way to do it. If you market online long enough you'll discover that the most effective web sites have customized content that site visitors love, and when visitors like them the search engines do, too!

It can take months, and in some instances years to personally write enough web site copy to have an effective, lead generating web site. On the other hand, you can purchase volume content for pennies on the dollar and upload it to your web site in minutes. So, why settle for adding a page 1-2 times a week when you can add hundreds of pages whenever you want to.

Yes, well written, unique content will get you noticed by human visitors and search engine spiders alike. And when prospects visit your informative and helpful site they're more likely to do business with you because of it. And just in case you don't know it, the more web site pages you have the more visitors you'll get, which makes for even more leads.

While most real estate web sites appear to have just a few pages, the more dynamic ones frequently have hundreds of hidden, hard working pages feeding the search engines and directing visitors to them. Everyday you read about the next best thing to grow your business. Whatever you're advertising - your services, listings or whatever - a website is a great way to do it.

Connect with prospects by educating them about the home buying and selling processes. Whatever you're advertising - your services, listings or whatever - a website is a great way to do it. While it might not be right away, or as soon as you'd like, they may eventually they'll contact you for assistance.

An effective web site is integral to your long term success as a real estate agent. A well designed one can drive traffic to your site and by way of the content rich web site pages on it, pages that will be indexed by search engines.

So, stop struggling with what to say and start using prewritten content; content ready to use as letters, web site pages, real estate marketing reports, brochures, flyers, mailers, etc. Use them "as is" or make them uniquely yours in a matter of minutes! In any regard, if you don't have any I encourage you to get some, as they're on of the fastest and most economical ways to add value to your web site and generate more real estate leads.

Green building is more than just a trend. An often overlooked part of Green building is what is called Biophilic design. The goal of this sub-genre is to bring the outdoors into interior living spaces, either residential or commercial. The introduction and interaction with natural elements for aesthetic and health purposes is beginning to receive wider acceptance as indoor air pollution becomes a growing concern for urban dwellers and suburban ones who live in air-tight energy efficient homes.

Biophilic design injects real or simulated natural components into living and working spaces to promote emotional and physical wellness. Morning sun exposure, water features, natural vistas through window-walls, sky-ceilings, and greenhouse rooms where plants dominate and restore air quality while providing an indoor forest refuge are some common applications of this recent design extension. Biophilic design is based more in a emotional or Zen-like perspective than save-natural-resources Green building. Understanding that nature and natural settings allow humans to relax and is part of our DNA, professors at major universities study ecology and it's effect on our home environments as well as dispositions.

Here are some tips to get a start on Biophilic design in your home.

-Find a room that faces good morning sun and install floor-to-ceiling windows to receive a daily dose of high-powered natural light. Studies show that hospital patients who receive morning sunshine need almost a quarter less pain medication that those with north facing windows.

-Install a sky ceiling in a family or living room. These new ceiling systems mimic full-spectrum light emitted from mid-day skies.

-Place a waterfall or pond with fountain in side a favorite room. Flowing or spraying water adds a relaxing sound to your environment and helps screen out exterior noise pollution.

-Build a green house room with many indoor and outdoor plants, more the better. Put a comfortable chair to use for reading or relaxing in your home garden.

-Use window-walls to allow outdoor vistas in. I have seen homes that installed large glass areas in a well-used room. The increase in natural light and the ability to see from the ground to the sky is welcomed especially in the dark days of winter.

Estate agents are there to help people in need of properties for housing, commercial or other purposes. They are there to provide their services that varies from giving advices for properties, making two parties meet up for a deal. They are there to lend a hand to tenants, property sellers and buyers, to landlords etc. They are can provide an interested party with all the technicalities, particulars, prices and everything through their own medium, right at the party's doorstep. It is convenient to involve a middleman when a person wants a property so that he can save his time and energy. These estate agents carry out these services in return of what is known as commission.

The darker side of their business is that while they are offering their services they are filled with greed and they aim at gaining their commissions as much and soon as possible. In trying to achieve this they cause a misbalance in the proper flow of country's economic development.

Many of the agents in greed of earning commission mislead buyers through false information concerning the peculiars about the property. Rental housing acquired with the aid of agents for middleclass people often have them facing a huge financial loss. They end up having a totally contradictory situation to what they had been informed about by the agents. The extra loss is rendered for the commission paid by them. Mental stress plays its own part. They may sell properties already been sold off. The property owners pay agents extra if they manage to fish and convince buyers who are willing to buy their properties at double prices. This is especially a trait that these middlemen possess of convincing their clients and talking them into making deals they would otherwise get at much lower rates. It is more like a trend these days to involve these middlemen to escape and avoid efforts required for buying property whether it involves residential, business, trade or commercial purposes.

The other thing that agents do is they hardly ever let the two parties that he's dealing with meet one another and interact on their own, making their own false statements. Make people believe the buyer or the seller is out of reach and there is no way the can have direct contact with them. Real, professional agents would never turn to such acts but many unemployed people adopt these measures in order to earn easy money and pretend that they are professionals and thus looting innocent people. Estate agents are both a blessing and curse to people in the business world at the same time.

Whether you are updating your current facility, entering a build-to-suit location or looking to build a property, commercial real estate brokerage associates or simply called brokers can help you manage the construction process. From property rehabilitation to inspection, from zoning restrictions to building codes, associates guide you through all necessary steps to ensure your project is completed efficiently and within budget.

Commercial real estate brokerage offices use sales associates who market office buildings, hotels and many other types of commercial real estate for brokers. Commercial real estate brokerage sellers usually specialize in a particular property type such as apartments, retail, office, and hospitality, shopping centers and industrial plants.

In commercial real estate brokerage, a person is required to have a license in order to receive remuneration for services rendered as a real estate broker. Unlicensed activity is illegal, but buyers and sellers acting as principals in the sale or purchase of real estate are not required to be licensed.

Commercial real estate brokerage is a risky business. Brokers are paid in straight commission – cashing out only if they were able to close deals. Brokers negotiate leases for retail, healthcare, high-technology, and other industries that are seeking office and industrial spaces. They represent both landlords looking to market office and industrial space and tenants looking to relocate or expand. They help secure the rights to redevelop the space. They spend some of that time away from the office, touring clients’ conditions and trying to understand their corporate culture and what kind of office or industrial space they need to operate. Brokers’ pay usually depends on market conditions, not years of work experience, said Al Marco, a partner in Joseph Chris Associates, a national recruiting firm in Chicago that specializes in placing commercial real estate brokerage executives.

The risks of the commercial real estate brokerage are certainly offset by financial rewards. A leader in the commercial real estate brokerage industry, Coldwell Banker Commercial® was founded in 1906 after a devastating earthquake in San Francisco.

Some brokers of a commercial real estate brokerage focus on the sale, purchase, lease, and development of commercial-use land properties. Associates specializing in multi-family property transactions are well versed in the unique elements and trends that shape successful multi-family transactions.

Condo Buyers Can Charge Down Payments

Question: This might seem like a crazy question but is it possible to charge a down payment on a credit card? Answer. In an article in The Wall Street Journal, Jane Kim says that American Express is rolling out a plan to allow condominium buyers to charge down payments.

The plan is currently limited to select luxury-condo buyers in New York. American Express is working in partnership with real-estate firm Moinian Group, which has properties in mid-town under construction. But both companies say that this is just the beginning.

Bill Glenn, American Express's head of merchant business, says the move is part of the company's efforts to expand the ways its clients can use its cards.

The companies didn't disclose the terms of the agreement, although Moinian will pay American Express a fee on each transaction. The condo buyer won't be charged an additional fee. American Express says the program is available across all of its cards.

The move comes at a time when more landlords are allowing tenants to pay their rent with plastic. About 15 percent of the rental apartments in the U.S. accept credit-card payments, estimates Matt Golis, chief executive of YapStone Inc.'s RentPayment, a San Francisco processing firm that works with apartment owners and managers to enable acceptance of credit cards.

Most of its new customers this year are offering to pay the costs incurred by offering credit cards as a payment alternative in order to have a competitive advantage over other properties, he says.

Home Prices to Keep Falling National Association of Realtors Says

Question: What are the projections for home prices for the rest of this year? Answer: Home prices are expected to continue on a modest decline for the remainder of the year the seller’s market transitions to a buyer’s market, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) testified today at a Senate committee hearing.

Yet, contrary to some news reports, there is no housing bubble, and the slowdown is actually a good thing for many local economies, NAR president Thomas M. Stevens said at the hearing, titled “The Housing Bubble and Its Implications for the Economy.”

“After five years of outstanding growth, the housing market is undergoing a period of adjustment and becoming more and more of a balanced market between buyers and sellers,” he said.

Many Local Markets Still Going Strong

Question: You have said that the Summit County market has seemed to remain strong. Is the softening of the market specific to just certain areas? Answer: Even with falling demand and increased supply, home prices are still appreciating — although at no where near the double-digit rates of the past few years. While recent developments raise concern, it is important to remember that the housing market varies significantly across the country.

One-third of the country (by population) is still seeing rising home prices, including Alaska, New Mexico, Vermont, and many states in the South, excluding Florida. States that experienced the greatest increases in home prices in recent years are experiencing significantly lower sales. These states include Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, and Virginia.

Also contributing to the cooling housing market is a nearly one-point increase in mortgage rates, speculative investors pulling back, and first-time buyers being priced out of the market. Pressure is being felt in the housing market due to rising mortgage rates. Home buyers have become exhausted financially, which explains why sales have tumbled in higher-priced regions of the country.

Slow Home-Price Growth

Question: What is projected for home sales for the end of this year and into 2007? Answer: The National Association of Realtors (NAR) forecasts a drop in home sales of around 8 percent in 2006, followed by another 2 percent decline in 2007. The forecast takes into account stabilizing mortgage rates and a modest economic expansion. However, a significant shift in interest rates or a change in the economy would alter the forecast.

Slow home-price growth — of less than 3 percent in 2006 and 2007 — also is predicted.

NAR notes that a soft landing is possible under the right circumstances and affordable mortgage financing is an important component in achieving this.

Because the housing market strongly supports the economy and drives consumer spending, it is imperative that the Congress adopt policies that encourage home ownership and make purchasing a home obtainable for the millions of families who desire to own a home. NAR stands ready to work with Congress to continue to open the door to the American dream of home ownership.

Link Between Real Estate Market, Stock Prices Question: Question: Allison, is there a correlation between the real estate slowdown and declining stock prices?

Answer: In an interesting article in Business Week, Peter Coy says that observers are trying to figure that out and reaching many different conclusions.

Merrill Lynch prepared a chart overlaying the Standard & Poor’s 500 stock index with an index of homebuilding activity from the National Association of Home Builders. The chart shows that the S&P goes up one year after the home-building index goes up, and goes down one year after the home-building index goes down.

Tuesday, the National Association of Home Builders reported its monthly sentiment index fell to a 15-year low. That leaves believers in the Merrill Lynch theory certain that stocks aren’t far behind.

Another chart from InvesTech Research correlates changes in private residential construction with recessions. Going back to 1968, it shows that with just one exception — in 1995 — every time there has been a downturn in residential construction, a recession has occurred at the same time or shortly after. Because residential construction has shrunk over the past year, followers of this index are worried.

But there are some optimists. Bob Carey, chief investment officer for First Trust Advisors, says to get ready for a bull market, noting that the stock market is 20 percent to 25 percent undervalued at current levels and should reach full valuation by sometime next year.

Carey says the demand for housing is driven by incomes and jobs, and since corporate profits are extremely strong, the outlook for income and job growth is good. "It's hard to imagine Corporate America doing well and somehow people not doing well on the employment side," he says.

Cool Market Keeps Mortgage Rates Affordable Question: Joyce, what is the relationship between a cooling real estate market and interest rates? Answer: The national average interest rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage was 6.4 percent for this week, down from the previous week’s 6.43 percent, according to Freddie Mac. Last year, the average rate for 30-year, fixed mortgages was 5.8 percent.

“A slowing housing market and signs that inflation is leveling off have helped to lower mortgage rates lately and keep them more affordable,” says Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. “For example, housing starts dropped to a three-year low in August and the Producer Price Index (PPI) fell below market expectations.”

The average rate for 15-year, fixed mortgages was 6.06 percent, compared with 6.11 percent the previous week and 5.37 percent a year ago.

Five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) averaged 6.08 percent, down from the previous week’s 6.1 percent. A year ago, the five-year ARM averaged 5.31 percent.

The average rate for one-year ARMs was 5.54 percent, compared with 5.6 percent a week earlier and 4.48 percent a year ago.

“Going forward, the economy is expected to expand at a somewhat slower rate than it did in the first half of the year," Nothaft says. "This should continue to keep inflation in check, and therefore, mortgage rates low.” Home Repairs That Really Dent Your Wallet Question: Allison, we are having an inspection done on a home that we are buying in Frisco. What do we look for? I would imagine that some home repairs will be beyond my budget. Answer: Some home repairs are known for being far more costly than originally thought, says Mike Kuhn, author of The Pocket Idiot's Guide to Home Inspections.

France is the world's number one tourist destination, and within this country of wondrous natural beauty one of the most-visited regions is the area of southeast France known as Provence.

The classic region of Provence, as named by the Romans, was a huge area that stretched west from the current Italian border near Nice to Marseille at the mouth of the Rhône. Nowadays when we refer to Provence we generally exclude the Mediterranean coast, now called the Côte d'Azur (or Côte Varoise near Saint-Tropez), and think of the area that stretches north of the coast a 150 kilometers or so to the vineyards and rolling countryside, dotted with tiny villages, in the area around Aix-en-Provence and Avignon.

Provence offers a number of unique attractions not only for a tourist but also for those who would like to buy property and settle down here. A Mediterranean climate featuring more than 300 days of sunshine per year is a major drawing card. Whether you enjoy swimming at nearby seaside beaches or hiking in the hills, the climate of Provence offers numerous advantages for those who are physically active and enjoy the out-of-doors. And even with its well-deserved reputation for warm and sunny weather, major ski resorts in the Alps are only a drive of two hours or less from most parts of Provence.

While Provence is best known for its warm-weather attractions, many visitors especially enjoy visiting in the winter, when there are few tourists and the days are bright and sunny with mild temperatures. If you purchase property and take up residence in Provence, you will not have to worry about heavy heating bills in the winter, for even in the coldest month of the year the temperature during the day ranges from 3° to 15° degrees centigrade (37° to 59° Fahrenheit).

Provence is also rich in history. Well before the arrival of Caesar's legions in the first century BC, Greeks and Phoenicians fishermen and traders established villages along the coastline. The region got its name when it became a province of the Roman Empire. Many antiquities from the Roman era remain, as do churches, monasteries and cathedrals dating back to the Middle Ages. Many villages still have their original ramparts constructed in medieval times to ward off invaders.

While it is best known for its countryside attractions, in recent decades Provence has evolved into one of the most sophisticated regions of France, thanks partially to the fact that many Europeans and North Americans rent seasonally or have purchased homes here. Marseille, France's second largest city, is a major port and features world-class boutiques, as do Avignon and Aix-en-Provence, both of which are university towns. Orange, north of Avignon, and Aix are also famous for their summer opera festivals, and Avignon for its world-renowned theatre festival in July. Aix hosted a major Cézanne exhibition in the summer of 2006 that drew visitors from all over the world.

If you fancy life in a small village set in the vineyards for which the region is famous, there are many picturesque localities that beckon in Provence. Travel magazines rhapsodize about the constellation of villages perchés in the Luberon region east of Avignon. Each of these hilltop villages - Gordes, Bonnieux, Lacoste and Roussillon, to name only a few - seems more charming than the last. Equally seductive are the towns and villages of the Alpilles area south of Avignon, among them Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (many of Van Gogh's paintings were created near here), Eygalières and Les Baux-de-Provence. Provençal villages are especially enjoyable to visit when the weekly open-air markets are taking place.

In addition to its beautiful countryside and vivid colors, which drew many of the Impressionist painters here, Provence is also renowned for its herbs and its aromas. In the springtime, take a walk in the countryside and you can breathe in the fragrances of thyme, rosemary and lavender. In the spring the apple and cherry trees are in full bloom. One of the most enjoyable times to visit Provence is in autumn, when the annual grape harvest is underway and the vines are just beginning to take on their fall colors.

During any time of the year you can enjoy the fine food and drink for which France and this region are well known. Restaurants abound everywhere in the region, ranging from sidewalk cafés to family-run village restaurants that routinely offer regional cuisine of a level that would be awarded high marks by restaurant critics in other countries. For fine dining there are numerous Michelin-starred establishments, among them Bistro d'Egaylières at Eygalières, and the famed L'Oustaù de Baumanière at Les Baux-de-Provence.

With all of these attractions it is no wonder that Provence is a must-see destination for anyone who visits France. And for the visitor who is interested in establishing a residence or owning a vacation home in France, Provence should be at the top of locations to consider, both in terms of an enjoyable lifestyle and a sound investment that will appreciate in value.

FHA mortgage loans are alternatives to conventional financing for your home purchase. The FHA (Federal Housing Administration) helps to make low cost home loans available to thousands of new and current homeowners each year. FHA mortgage loans require minimal down payments and the interest rate is typically slightly lower than prevailing conventional rates.

The FHA currently insures more than 800,000 mortgage loans. This agency has helped originate more than 33 million since it was created in 1934 as part of the New Deal. The FHA does not fund the mortgage loans itself. It does insure the lender that it will not incur any loss if the borrower defaults. In this way, lenders are encouraged to make loans to low and middle income borrowers to whom they would not otherwise extend credit.

Buyers of single family homes can put as little as 3% down when obtaining an FHA mortgage loan. Good credit history is not necessary, although is definitely a "+." Income to loan payment, and to total monthly payment, ratio requirements are slightly less stringent than for conventional mortgage loans. The FHA sometimes will also help finance the closing costs. Ask your lender about this. Requirements for this kind of assistance vary widely from locale to locale.

This sounds pretty good, doesn't it? Well, "not so fast..." The FHA requires extensive property inspections that cost the seller lots of time and money. Largely because of this, most sellers will not accept an offer if the buyer intends to obtain FHA-insured financing. The acronym "FHA" unfortunately has acquired bad connotations for many real estate professionals and their clients.

Also, the FHA severely limits how much the lender can charge in fees. The bank cannot lose money because of the FHA insurance. However, it cannot profit as much as when it commits its money to other mortgage loans. Lenders have to be FHA-approved in order to make FHA mortgage loans. Few lenders choose to become FHA-approved.

However, there is a big exception to this circumstance. The FHA serves locales (and, of course, the people who wish to obtain financing for homes in these areas) that would not otherwise be attractive to lenders. Most very large, big city lenders are FHA-approved, and a significant portion of the home loans that they originate are FHA mortgage loans.

If you intend to move into your own home in the country or in an "upper middle class" suburb, the FHA probably won't be of use to you. But perhaps you want to live right in a major metropolitan area with all its amenities close by. If so, and if a large down payment is a problem, an FHA mortgage loan could be a great way for you to finance the purchase of your home.

Las Vegas is one of the best places to invest nowadays. With the transition of Las Vegas from being a gambling capital t an entertainment capital, lot investment opportunities can be found in this City. If you were planning to invest in personal properties in Las Vegas, it would be a good idea to get professional assistance.

Why would somebody need professional assistance in buying personal properties in Las Vegas? Aren’t buying personal properties as simple as going to a store and get the items you want off the shelves? There are many personal properties, which you can simply get from store shelves, but there are also personal properties, which would require studying them carefully before you could be certain that you are going to profit from it. For instances if you are buying financial instruments such as stocks and bonds, you should always get a broker to represent you if you want to get the best value for your money. Remember that stocks and bonds will only become good investments if you invest in the right stocks and bonds. There are many types of stocks and bonds being offered in the Las Vegas market and not all of them are good. If you do not have the right information to help you make an informed decision, you could end up investing in the wrong stocks and bonds and would end up losing money instead of gaining. The services of brokers who are experts in stocks and bonds very important if you don’t want to loss money unnecessarily.

Personal property is a very broad term that encompasses several types of things that a person can own. There is not clear cut definition of personal properties and often times this term is used for any other properties that one can own other than those real estate properties that include land and buildings.

Personal property is a very broad term that encompasses several types of things that a person can own. There is not clear cut definition of personal properties and often times this term is used for any other properties that one can own other than those real estate properties that include land and buildings. Personal properties therefore could mean your car, you bank account, you personal effects, your goods and chattel, the financial instruments you have such as stocks, bonds and the likes. With such a broad definition on personal properties, we could say that there are personal properties, which we could simply acquire by visiting a store, a shop or a mall, and there are personal properties where one would need assistance from agents and brokers in its acquisition.

One would one need a broker or an agent in buying personal properties? Buying personal properties such as financial instruments would require specialized knowledge thus if you want to get the best deals being offered in the market, it would be a good idea to ask help from those people who are knowledgeable. For instance, if you want to invest in mutual funds, which are also considered as a personal property, you would need an agent to explain to you the advantages and the disadvantages of such mutual funds. You will also need the agent to advise you on matters concerning mutual funds which you may not be familiar with. Getting help form brokers and agents in acquiring mutual funds is very important if you want to get the best value for you money. Furthermore, having an agent or a broker to represent you is very convenient and would save you a lot of time and effort.

Have you ever tried investing into certain personal properties in Las Vegas and end losing a large sum of money simply because you invested on something without consulting the experts? Choosing investments is a big challenge so you should not rely too much on your opinion. Yes, you may know a lot of things about certain investment opportunities but there are technical things that you might not easily understand which could lead you to investing in losing propositions. The rule is never rely solely on your own judgment when you are putting in large investments. Even experts would consult others when making big decisions so it is very important that you do not rely too much on your own judgment and hire experts to assist you in making important decisions such as putting up investments in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas is currently experiencing an unpredicted boom that one would be tempted to invest in just about anything that they could find in Vegas especially on personal properties like stocks and bonds. It is all right to invest in stocks and bonds but you should never attempt to invest in stocks and bonds without consulting the experts if you don’t want to lose your hard earned money. There are a number of technical things that you should consider when putting up investment in stocks and bonds that you should make sure that you get the opinions of experts before you put your money in. Consulting the experts would greatly increase your chances of earning from your invest.

Staircases offer style as well as functional appeal to a home. Many home owners and buyers don't always understand staircase options available. Knowing the parts of a staircase, configurations and basic code requirements can help you find the best staircase for your remodeling or new-construction project.

Parts of a staircase. Balusters are the vertical posts that support the handrail. Balustrade include the balusters, handrail and newel posts. The landing is a break in a set of stairs. Newel posts are a vertical support post at the end of a handrail. The riser is the vertical section of a step from one tread to the next and the rounded front edge of the riser that protrudes beyond the stair is the nosing. A tread is the horizontal part of a step and the surface you walk on. The height of the whole staircase is called the total rise. The stringer is the structural foundation that risers and treads are nailed to.

Configurations of staircases. The most common and economical configuration is the straight-run. U and L shaped work for in difficult design situations and take up more square footage because they require a landing. In extremely tight spaces a l shaped winder is used, the winder replaces the landing with triangular steps. The spiral is the last resort for a staircase in tight floor plans, home buyers are not fond of this style.

Residential building code requirements for staircases. Treads are required to be a minimum of ten inches deep, risers must be a maximum of seven and three-quarters tall. The minimum width of a staircase is thirty-six inches and if a landing is used it must be a minimum of three feet by three feet. The three foot square rule also applies to the landing space at the top and bottom of any staircase.

Enjoy more Bricks & Sticks by Mark Nash. Topics include Ceiling options, Interior Lighting and Staircases.


Mark Nash, is a residential real estate author, broker, columnist and writer based in Chicago. His fourth book 1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home received eighteen five star reviews on Amazon.com. His latest book; Real Estate A-Z for Buying & Selling a Home will be published in December 2006. Mark publishes a free monthly ezine for real estate professionals. Agent to Agent features ten articles that offer free reprints for agents

Real estate ads and builders brochures often contain ceiling descriptions other than the standard eight-foot flat types that are found in many homes today. Understanding the options you have, especially when building a new home can create a unique space for your family to enjoy.

Tray: A stepped ceiling, where as the design moves further away from the sidewall, the ceiling continues to rise to a higher flat surface. Common in master bedrooms, living and dining rooms. Tray ceilings add an architectural look. Tray's are typically recessed and require additional framing to support the structure.

Vaulted: Common styles include; angled, barrel and groin. An angled vault is the most typical, one or both sides of a ceiling slope upward towards the peak.Angled vaulted ceilings are popular in most living spaces including sunrooms and master bedrooms. A barrel is distinguished by it's circular shape and add drama to long hallways. and a groin vault is the intersection of two barrel vaults at a right angle. Groin vaults are common in classical Roman architecture, but are seen today in foyers and breakfast rooms.

Exposed Beam: A beam that is structural or non-structural that is not covered with drywall, tin or wood. Styles include; hand-hewn, faux-wood and recycled finished beams that create an old-world feeling. Typically found in living, family, dining and breakfast rooms.

Domed: A round spherical-shaped ceiling that is supported only by it's base. Recessed coves can accommodate uplighting. Found in classical buildings such as state capitals and in colonial-style homes. Domed ceilings can be plaster or pre-cast fiberglass.

Coffered: A boxed wood ceiling composed of twenty-four in squares surrounded by wood beams. Popular in dining rooms and libraries. Common period designs include Arts and Crafts, Georgian and Victorian. Common materials cherry, oak and mahogany.

Cathedral Ceiling: A blend of a double-angled vault with exposed beams.

Dropped Ceiling. The common application for dropping a ceiling below the structure is to cover heating and plumbing supply lines. Also used in renovating spaces where the original ceiling height is not visually pleasing or energy efficient.

Enjoy more Bricks & Sticks by Mark Nash. Topics include Ceiling options, Interior Lighting and Staircases.

© Copyright 2006 Mark Nash

Mark Nash, is a residential real estate author, broker, columnist and writer based in Chicago. His fourth book 1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home received eighteen five star reviews on Amazon.com. His latest book; Real Estate A-Z for Buying & Selling a Home will be published in December 2006. Mark publishes a free monthly ezine for real estate professionals. Agent to Agent features ten articles that offer free reprints for agents, home buyers and sellers through EzineArticles.com . Real estate news and book reviews,