Reduce Foreclosure Risk ? Hire a Structural Engineer

By Mary Smith

Structural engineers are an important resource for those who wish to buy foreclosed property with confidence. Homes in foreclosure often have maintenance and repair problems that have been neglected for years. In some cases the problems have become severe and threaten the entire structure. These problems may be visible and obvious or they may be hidden and show very few clues.

Sellers in Florida are obligated to disclose problems that are not obvious, especially if they could affect the value of the property. Foreclosed homes however, are usually owned by a bank. Banks don?t usually visit these homes, so they have no knowledge of such problems. As a result they sell the properties ?as is.? In such cases home inspectors and structural engineers can help.

Structural engineers are experts in understanding the structure of buildings. They understand how the foundation, walls, beams and other structural members work together to form a strong structure. During a structural inspection they will examine each of these members to look for deterioration, or deformation or structural weakness that could affect the building.

What?s the difference between a structural engineer and a professional home inspector? A home inspector is qualified to carefully examine a home and the systems it contains, such as electrical, plumbing, etc. Their job is to describe what is visible. Only a structural engineer is qualified to diagnose a structural problem, and recommend solutions.

Most smart home buyers will hire a home inspector before they purchase any home. Foreclosed homes that have been vacant for several years are even more of a risk. They can uncover potential problems that might cost considerable time and money in the future. Knowing about these issues ahead of the purchase allows the necessary price negotiation to cover repairs or replacement.

When inspecting a foreclosed property for the first time, examine the property and structure carefully. Consider the services of a structural engineer if any of the following are found: cracks in the foundation or walls, binding of doors or windows, floors that slope in one direction, walls that lean, or porches that slope toward the house.

Some may consider the purchase of a foreclosed home a risky affair. The risks can be minimized however, through the use of a home inspector and a structural engineer. These professionals can mitigate the risks and help both investors and home buyers achieve peace of mind and make a safe investment. - 23199

About the Author:

Florida Engineering Solutions offers experienced structural engineers that have worked on a wide variety of projects across the southeastern US. Their design team understands that construction projects are time sensitive and require quick turnaround. FES can provide the structural engineering support and services needed to complete your project on time. Mary Smith is a freelance writer.

Types Of Foreclosure Scams

By Doc Schmyz

Home foreclosure is becoming a far more common problem. Often it originates from one missed payment which soon spirals out of control. Before you know it you have missed three or four payments and the mortgage lender or bank wants you to pay everything you owe all at once, right then and there. This sounds like a very difficult feat and many are lead to believe that they have no other choice. When the homeowners realize that they have made a grave mistake they resort to anything they can to get out of a tight situation.

Foreclosure scams are very common as much as the problem itself. Since most homeowners believe that they have little or no choice they fall for these traps, which of course make their situation much worse than it was. Not only is the stress of the foreclosure an issue, but then the fallout from the scam starts...and brings additional stress.

The people who work these scams advertise online, publish advertisements in the local newspaper, distribute flyers, and call houses which are included on the foreclosure list. They call themselves "mortgage consultants/real estate investment planners" who offer foreclosure services or advertise with "We buy houses" signs.

Then most common scams:

Bankruptcy/ Foreclosure Scam

The promise here is that the house will be saved. This is how the scam goes...They will either ask for the homeowner to pay their mortgage directly to them, hand over their deed and pay rent, or obtain refinancing. of course they don't do ANYTHING to fulfill the other end of the bargain, they don't contact your lender or obtain refinancing for you. They keep all the money and file bankruptcy without your knowledge. Only to use a diffirent name and do the scam agian on some other poor soul looking for help.

Since the homeowner is not aware that bankruptcy has been filed, they fail to participate in the case. The case is dismissed and the house continues onto foreclosure. Apart from loosing money and your home, you will also have a bankruptcy on your record.

"Skimming" or also called Equity skimming

The scammer poses as a buyer. They then promise the homeowner to pay the mortgage or given them a sum of money once the property has been sold. The operator then convinces the homeowner to sign over the deed and move out. The homeowner can stay but they have to pay rent. If they opt to move out the operator lets a third party rent the property. The scam operator of course does not pay the mortgage and lets the mortgage lender foreclose all the while stemming off questions from the original home owner about where they are in the "process."

In the event the house has equity, the scam operator sells the property and pays off the debt. (And of course keeps the equity that the homeowner could have had if they sold it.)

Should you find yourself facing ANY of the above mentioned situations....contact a local mortgage office and ask them if they have ever heard of a "program" like the one you would be offered...if they say no....call the local police and ask for the consumer fraud division. - 23199

About the Author:

Doc Schmyz has invested all over the US. His free website shares Real estate investing information for all over the US. Findreal estate information by state

Six Factors To Consider When Searching For A Currency Exchange Dealer

By Richard Henry

Choosing the correct folks to help you could potentially be your ticket to success in Forex Trading. As such, you must make sure you hire an adviser that is deserving of every penny you pay him, and more. You see, a Forex adviser is the person who will trade in your place, and whether you benefit or not, you will have to compensate him, in the form of a commission. So, if you do not want to squander money, it is critical for you to find the ideal broker.

Following are 6 factors to look into:

1. Check their history. You will see if a broker is capable or not by looking at his record. If he is making a great deal of money, it means that he is a capable broker.

2. Investigate. A little background check would not hurt. This could save you a lot of capital because it keeps you away from deceiving brokers. You can make inquiries from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission or CFTC, or the Futures Commission Merchant or FCM. You should also make darn certain he is a member of the NFA, or the National Futures Association. If you find his records doubtful, then look somewhere else.

3. Consider his deposit requirements. Though there is in fact no need for a deposit to start trading, numerous Forex brokers call for it as a means of safety for themselves in case they will not be paid by the investor. Nevertheless, the deposit should not be too costly; the usual asking price is $200-$500.

4. Obtain trustworthy and successful software. Your agent ought to be able to tell you about the function of software as a tool in trading. You can employ a demo account, which allows you to try out the software prior to buying it.

5. Think about the use of currency pairs. This is something a first-rate broker should do, employ an ample array of currency pairs. Short list a broker that uses the currency pairs you favor, as every one has a distinctive pattern.

6. They should have customer support. Trading is very energetic, and at any given time, you will need the assistance of your broker. You do not want to awaken him in the middle of the night solely to trade. It would be very convenient for the both of you if your broker has a helpdesk you can reach, 24/7. Of course, having excellent customer service is just as important.

Ere you enter the world of Forex Trading, you need to go over these factors and see to it that you will be competent to tackle these in your hunt for a good broker. Foreign Exchange (Forex) Markets is only a place where traders can exchange a currency for a new currency. It is a place where currencies can be bought and sold briskly in real-time.

Well-known banks, great multi-national companies, local governments and other financial institutions exploit the Forex Market as a medium for exchange.

What makes the Forex Market so popular?

Seeing as currency trading, involves sizeable amounts of funds, many are attracted to the Forex Market owing to the return they could make in one solo winning trade. Lots of traders or companies earned millions in just one trade, that is why its impossible not to draw in new prospective traders who are disposed to imperil their money in exchange for possible proceeds.

Distinctiveness of Forex Markets

Forex Markets differ due to the following reasons:

a. Forex Market attracts traders from global markets, so the number of trades are huge.

b. Currencies have the capability to be bought and sold promptly, without moving from the company itself, hence saving priceless loss in time and money.

c. Accessible in every minute of the day (except on Saturdays and Sundays).

d. With the Forex Market, it does not matter where you are located on the planet. There are no geographical restrictions.

Forex Terminology

Here are some of the expressions generally used in the forex markets:

1. RATE - selling price of a currency.

2. BID OR SELL PRICE - the amount which traders can vend currencies.

3. ASK, BUY OR OFFER PRICE - the amount which traders may buy currencies.

4. SPREAD - the bid price minus the ask price.

5. TRANSACTION COST - the amount charge to you when you make transactions in the Forex Market. It is regularly the ask price minus the bid price.

The difference between the Forex Market and the Stock Exchange Market? The Stock Market trades in stocks, the Forex Market trades in currencies. Both markets involves buying and selling, the only difference is that with the Stock Market, rules are rigorously followed. This is to inhibit companies from monopolizing stocks. That is why the Stock Market is highly regulated and has a strict environment when compared to the Forex Market which has no such rules and regulations.

How to start trading in the Forex Market?

The best thing to do to start trading in the Forex Market is to do research and to talk to an investment company or stock broker that specializes in this market. It is crucial for you to know what kind of Forex Trading they do before you invest your cash. Go to the one that has a excellent background and to whom you could trust your cash.

The income can be really extreme but continually remember that Forex Markets change continually and it is really very risky to invest There. You could net a lot today and lose everything tomorrow. So know when is a great time to buy and sell your currencies.

The best advice is that you must play your money smart, think really hard before making very important decisions and be very well informed, that is the basis to success in very nearly any trade or profession. - 23199

About the Author:

Submitted by Richard Henry Author of this article. To learn more about topics as Forex an Currency Trading visit the web site at 6 Factors when Seeking A Forex Broker or 6 Factors when looking for A Forex Broker NOTE article shown above may be circulated freely on web sites, so long as ALL article content and author information remain UNCHANGED.

EUR/USD Currency Pair

By Ahmad Hassam

EUR/USD is the most liquid and the most popular currency pair among the forex traders. Trading currencies can be exciting and lucrative. Its a great market because of the way politics affect the trends. Elections, strikes, and sudden developments, both good and bad, can lead to significant trading profits if you stand ready to trade the euro is a convenient currency because it encompasses the policies and the economic activity and political environment of a volatile but predictable part of the world: Europe. EUR/USD is the most heavily traded currency pair in the global currency markets at the moment.

Inflation is not good for any economy. Most central banks fight inflation by increasing or decreasing interest rates in the markets. In the United States, where the free-market approach and a usually vigilant Federal Reserve make more frequent adjustments on interest rates. France, Italy, and Germany, the largest members of the European Union (EU), normally operate under high budget deficits and tend to keep their interest rates more stable.

The general tendency of the Fed is to make the dollar trend for very long periods of time in one general direction. Aside from the technical analysis, here are some general tendencies of the euro on which you need to keep tabs:

- The European Central Bank is almost fanatical about inflation, given Germanys history of hyperinflation in the first half of the 20th century and the repercussions of that period, namely the rise of Hitler. That means that the European Central Bank raises interest rates more easily than it lowers them.

2) The US and the EU are two major trading partners. This gives EUR/USD currency pair very interesting characteristics. EUR/USD pair is affected by what is happening politically and economically both in Europe and the US. The European Central Banks actions become important when all other factors are equal, meaning politics are equally stable or unstable in the United States and Europe, and the two economies are growing. For example, if the U.S. economy is slowing down, money slowly starts to drift away from the dollar. In the past that meant money would move toward the Japanese yen; however, because the market knows that Japans central bank will sell yen, the default currency when the dollar weakens is often now the euro. USD is inversely correlated to the gold prices. All these facts should be taken into consideration while forming your bias about a particular currency pair.

- The flip side is that the market often sells the euro during political problems in the region, especially when the European economy is slowing and the economy in the United Kingdom (UK), which often moves along with the U.S. economy, is showing signs of strength.

As a word of caution, its okay to form an opinion and have some expectations, but the final and only truth that should make you trade is what the charts are showing you. As usual, you want to closely monitor major currencies and the cross rates. The direction that counts is the one in which the market is heading.

It is always best to choose only two or three currency pairs and become a specialist in them. Two currency pairs that I would recommend for you are the EUR/USD and the GBP/USD. Both these currency pairs are highly liquid and very popular among the currency traders. Fundamental analysis can help you determine the strong/weak currency pair. Use fundamental analysis to determine if USD is expected to lose value and EUR is expected to gain more strength that means that the currency pair EUR/USD is perfectly timed for swing trading. Use technical analysis to make the entry and exit decision. Combining fundamental analysis with the technical analysis can give you the edge as a forex trader. Sometimes there is a fundamental shift in the direction of a currency pair. As long as you are not following a currency pair like EUR/USD on the daily basis, you wont be able to understand what is happening. - 23199

About the Author:

Mr. Ahmad Hassam has done Masters from Harvard University. He is interested in day trading stocks and currencies. Try These 1500 Pips A Day Forex Signals From Heaven. Know Forex Rebellion!

Investing In Foreclosed Properties

By Bill Xysillion

Foreclosed properties are a fantastic opportunity for investors to attract a lot of capital. Foreclosed properties repeatedly sell at significant discounts; which affords buyers an straightforward opportunity to start building a profit. Because foreclosed homes are often highly discounted, they can be purchased and sold with a large profit Homes that are facing, or have gone into, foreclosure frequently simply meet the investing goals of both the long and short term investor and repeatedly present a huge return on investment.

Profiting From Foreclosure.

Plainly stated, a foreclosed property is one that has been repossessed by the lender for non-disbursement of the mortgage. Since the majority mortgages are collateralized by the actual property, a dwelling that has gone through foreclosure has re-claimed by the bank. There are a lot of things that occur all through this progression, and depending on which status the residence is located, the procedure can actually take numerous months. As a consequence of the difficulty of the process as well as the length and the cost for both the bank and homeowner, there exists and chance for investors to arbitrate and help both parties in the circumstances.

All through the period previous to a home is officially reposessed by the bank, the real estate investor could have an occasion to jump in. This period, repeatedly referred to as preforeclosure, is when the bank has provided the homeowner through legal papers (referred to as a notice of default and Lis Pending) and is aggressively pursuing the repossession of the land. All through this time, the homeowners are in the situation that they are no longer making payments to the bank and at jeopardy of losing their credit rating, their residence, and even their dignity. Throughout these periods, an investor may choose to intercede and buy the dwelling at a discounted rate from the homeowner. Depending on the situation, the investor may be able to purchase the home for less than is to be paid on it (short sale) which presents a noteworthy prospect.

As mentioned previously, the preforeclosure procedure can last many months. In spite of this, if an agreement is not met between the bank and house holder or a potential investor, the process ends with the bank placing the dwelling up for community public sale.

The last step in a foreclosed habitat is when the regional sheriff comes to provide the eviction notice and paste the public sale notice on the front door. At that point forward, the dwelling is officially foreclosed.

Although it is much more competitive, when a dwelling is foreclosed upon, it can be bought at a discount at community public sale. During these auctions there are certainly deals to be had. However, it is important to realize that if the least amount bid is not met, the bank that owns the land may opt to get it back. Also, at municipal auction, you are competing with a number of added investors so you could not get as good quality of a deal as you would have previously. All in all though, investing in foreclosed homes can be a large way to profit. - 23199

About the Author:

Brian Nelso specializes in serving property investors find GRAR discounted sales and fsbo deals.? Visit us now for your free copy of our award winning real estate software