Montana Real Estate - Big Sky Home Improvements

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by chrisjames

Almost all homeowners are able to arrange a home improvement loan but some may decide voluntarily, or be forced, to have the loan secured on their home or other valuable possession. Loans that do not require security are quite flexible and even new homeowners can apply. Finance which is used to improve the home is seen as a good investment in the property and even if equity in the property is not required, the loans can be organized for up to 15 years at a time.

There are, however county limits on how much money can be borrowed when it is for no equity finance and a lower limit imposed by the lenders which takes into account the joint income of both owners. Certain facts are researched by the lenders; like the type of property and reasons for the loan but essentially, this type of loan is easy to arrange with only a small amount of documentation to complete.

A secured home improvement loan allows you to access some of the equity in your Montana real estate home, so that you can take out a loan against your property. This type of loan is much quicker to organize and because the house is being used to secure the loan, it benefits from better terms and lower interest rates.

Obviously the amount you are able to borrow using a secured loan will depend on the value of your home. All factors are considered before a final amount is agreed upon and that includes how much is owed on the mortgage, its current value and what other debts the owners may have.

The lenders will assess all this information before furnishing the homeowner with the amount they are prepared to lend them. Most loans are based on a set percentage of the property's value, some lenders will agree to fund up to one hundred and twenty five percent of the valuation.

An equity based loan can be risky if you arrange to lend an amount greater than you can comfortably afford so consider this carefully as you may end up handing your beautiful home over to your creditors. If you have big plans for your property but the home improvement loan isn't really enough to cover all the remodeling costs then use it for necessary maintenance first and see what is left over.

Chris J. James is Big Sky Expert and resides in the Big Sky Country of Montana. He has put together more Free tips to help people with their Montana Real Estate Home Improvements.

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Shattering Real Estate Marketing Nightmares

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by Alan Olson

In a hot market, many sellers may find they have no problems recruiting interest and potential offers. But, when things slow down, it's imperative to be sharp with your marketing skills, to get your property noticed and to entice as many possible buyers as possible. Make sure your agent is internet and marketing savvy and can do their very best to advertise your property and showcase it in its best light.

First off, peruse the photos your agent has uploaded onto the MLS and their own site. As images are the instantaneous equivalent to "a thousand words", you want to know that they are serving to paint a pretty picture.

The photo of the front of the house should be particularly clear and appealing. There should be enough photos of the interior, ideally you'll want to include a shot of at least one bedroom, the kitchen, bathroom and living room, or at at the very least, you'll want to focus on the most attractive rooms in your home. All the photos should be light and bright. You don't want any random shots of house clutter or strange angles that don't communicate anything positive or clear about the space you are selling. The photos should be well cropped and sized. It's a real turn-off to see bloated stretched out photos on a site- and viewers will tend to bounce off quite quickly if they can't get a clear idea of what the house is like, or if it looks unappealing.

Another aspect of marketing is the sort of information that will be accessible on the MLS and on your agent's website. You want to make sure you provide your agent with all the basics about the property including the number of rooms, finished and unfinished square footage, lot size, zoning type, type of heating and any extra heating features, extra structures on the lot such as a woodshed or studio, and the approximate measurements for each of the rooms. Once these basic are covered you and your agent will want to hone in on the tag line that'll illuminate the main selling features of your home and define what makes your home unique. Are there ocean views? Is it on a corner lot? Is there lanes access? Is the community or neighborhood and "up and coming" neighborhood? Is the homes of a particular style? Is there anything special about the landscaping? Hone in on whatever makes your home stand out, and find the right words to sell those features.

Don't underestimate the fact that as much as your marketing should attract buyers, it needs to first and foremost attract selling agents. Agents are more likely to sell a house they've already toured, so you must make sure you draw in agents to preview your home. Make it stand out, by demanding that your marketing is clear, bright, appealing and showcases the unique features of your home.

Another aspect to getting your house out there in the market, is it's availability to be shown. If an agent can't easily get in to show a property, bet your bottom dollar, he/she will quickly move on to the next available property. The game, is really along the lines of, "you snooze, you lose". So be prepared by avoiding the pitfalls that include, having restricted hours for showings, having no lock box on the property, having a 24 hour notice restriction or an appointment only stipulation.

Now make sure you're working to get your property advertised in as many places as possible. Go above and beyond by paying a bit extra for some print advertising in the daily newspapers, in regional real estate magazines, and in any other relevant print publications.

Another hint, is to say yes, to the virtual on-line tours. Some buyers, won't even consider a property unless they can view an on-line tour. The basic requirements for a successful on-line tour are, a minimum two spins and hopefully more if space lends it, and high resolution images that are down loadable, so buyers can print and e-mail them should they desire.

Preset all the visible information buyer's need in your marketing scheme and you won't have to worry about attracting a healthy pool of interest right to your door step.

Alan has over 30 years of experience in the real estate industry, and specializes in Fergus Falls real estate. If you're looking to buy or sell Evansville real estate, see Alan at Century21Vista.com.

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When Booking a Removal Company

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by Dave Deane

When booking a removal company, its important to do so as far in advance of your move date as possible - removal firms who do all of the packing and moving for you expect to be able to come out and assess your belongings, for insurance and van/personell cover.

It's important to de-clutter, or have a guesstimate of how much you'll have de-cluttered before you move so that they can give you an accurate quote. If you overestimate the space you need, you'll not get a refund, and find that space is wasted – especially, if you book a larger van than you require. Too small and you may find that your belongings don't fit, or that you get charged extra. You also might not get to move that day, if they have to unload one van and reload another, or book another transport for your belongings.

Allowing a company to pack your belongings isn't without risk, so before you hire a removal firm be sure to check their credentials and references thoroughly. You'll have items you don't want them to pack - make sure you pack them yourself, or tell them, clearly what you expect them to pack and not pack. Its always good to take an inventory before allowing anyone to come in and pack your belongings - and if you can, take photos.

Most companies provide insurance and are consummate professionals, but some can cause more damage than the cost of hiring them, and its important to have redress when moving belongings. Their insurance should be carefully examined to make sure it covers everything - this will also give you an idea of what they will and won't pack - and what extras (such as mattress covering) they'll provide. Companies can come in and pack your house in as little as two days - so its important to know what to expect and when to expect them. You will want to stay and watch them packing (and possibly pack some of your own things) so make sure to allow for that when planning your move.

Find out everything about Moving and Moving Overseas at Moving Overseas. Mike is the webmaster at DirectoryArticles.com - Article Directory.

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Corner Your Market: A New Angle on Selling the Corner Lot

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by Jason Couillard

The way I see it, there are are two types of people in this world: those who love corner lots and those who hate them. If you are about to sell your corner lot property, understanding what makes these two groups of people tick is an essential first step that will help you market your home and sell it for the best price.

Down on the Corner

Typically, the those who vow they'd never buy a home on a corner lot always cite lack of privacy as the main drawback to living on the edge of two streets. "Strangers will watch you step out of the tub," these folks exclaim. And while I always wonder if they've ever heard of curtains or landscaping when I hear these things, I recognize the truth in what they say. Corner lot homes naturally have twice the number of people looking up at their windows. The corner lot home is twice as visible and exposed to passersby on two streets. Even worse: if you're a gardener, there will be twice as many sneaky people picking twice as many flowers from two of your yards. So who wants it?

Turning the Corner

Fortunately for sellers, people who love corner lots abound in this world and this type of property is generally more expensive for good reason. Three of the primary reasons that corner lots come at a premium price are:

1. They are larger. The benefits of this should be obvious but among them are the fact that your bigger lot will yeild more possibilities for living spaces.


2. Fewer neighbors. This is ironic, but though you have more street front property with a corner lot and supposedly less privacy, you actually have fewer fences to share with nosy neighbors, fewer backyards looking into yours, and fewer windows facing the back of the lot.


3. Increased visibility. Yes, I said it. Privacy is overrated and corner lot lovers know this to be a true fact. Think about it: if you operate any kind of home business, a corner lot is the lot you want.

Good For Business

The world of work has changed dramatically over the past few decades. Sparked by technology, the two income family, and the sincere quest to find a better way to manage family life, we're seeing more home-based businesses, more home-based consultancies and more people who work online from home offices. If the preponderance of cell phones, blackberries and laptops in the coffee shops is any indication, we're in the process of creating one of the most portable workforces of all time. For many of us, this increased portability isn't an opportunity to travel so much as it's a welcome opportunity to finally go home. For the home based business owner, a home on the corner gives them two streets to hang out two shingles, better access for their clients and effortlessly keeps the product or service in the minds of twice as many people.

So if you have a corner lot home to sell, make sure you market it to the corner lot lovers, not the corner lot haters. While this home's increased visibility might send the latter running for cover, it provides a clear selling point for the former that's often overlooked.

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Builders Banking on Pune for Land Banks

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by George Gonigal

Pune, the erstwhile infotech hub, is more in news for its real-estate transactions than it's IT and ITES growth. Pune's property segment has witnesses unprecedented growth because of the booming IT and ITES segment. This caused a surge in the demand of the office, residential and commercial space, one after the other.

This has caused the city to expand beyond limits. This increase in demand of supply of property has prompted the real estate builders to pick up more land banks in the city. Since the heart of the city is choked, almost all major selling/ buying of buying of land banks are happening in the peripheral areas.

Leading national and Pune-based developers are buying land banks that can be built upon or sold in future. Some big corporate houses have also bought significant land banks in Pune. The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) is a close competition to the private developers and the corporate houses. Most of the land in the peripheral areas now belongs to the MSIDC, which allots this land to the SEZs or for setting up of state industrial units.

The prime areas are Baner, Talegaon and Chakan - Chiroli. The areas surrounding Chakan - Chiroli are anyway in demand ever since the site has been identified for airport construction.

Last year, Bangalore-based real estate and infrastructure developer IDEB Projects had expressed its desire to buy 550 acres in Pune. Other significant real-estate developers that have sizeable land chunks in Pune are Lok Housing, Kumar Builders and Sobha Developers among others.

The corporate houses include Infosys, Wipro, TCS and Satyam and Dr Reddy's and Ranbaxy. Even multinationals such as General Electric, Microsoft and Oracle have realised that land bank reserves serve as a tool investment. Companies such as GE, Infosys, Satyam, Intel and Timken have bought land worth Rs 325-330 crore. Recent media reports suggest that over 540 acres of land has been acquired by various corporates in Pune and Mumbai in the last two years.

George Gonigal provides you the best and latest information on Pune Real Estate Builders, if you want to Buy Apartments in Pune. he suggest you log on to magicbricks.com

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Tips to Stress Free Moving

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Moving can be a stressful experience for everyone involved, from family to friends and to even your pets. To cut down on hassle and have a relatively stress free moving experience, there are some helpful tips.

Find out about utilities in advance. If you're renting an apartment, that is usually taken care of, but there may be other considerations like garbage service, Internet and cable and more. If you're moving to a rental house, you'll definitely benefit from arranging for the power to be turned on in advance, as well as water, garbage service, cable or satellite and Internet service. Having these services in place and turned on prior to your first night in the new place will help a lot.

Make a plan for moving. Know ahead of time how you'll be moving, whether with a moving company or doing it yourself. Know what materials you'll need for the job, like boxes, tape and packing supplies or whether your company will provide them for you. Having a plan for the entire process will help streamline the experience and make everything run much more smoothly.

Pack each room individually and label the boxes, indicating what room they will go in once in the new place. This will make the entire process better, from start to finish. Packing each room individually will cut down on the seeming workload and unloading will be much easier if you know where to place each box as it comes off the truck.
Pack early, not late. Start several days before the moving date, leaving only essentials to be packed on the day of the move. Doing this will greatly reduce your stress and help maintain your excitement about the new place.


When packing your boxes, put heavier items in smaller boxes and lighter items in bigger boxes. If you're mixing light and heavy contents, put the heavier items in the bottom. Be careful not to overload your boxes, keep them as light and manageable as possible to help keep yourself injury free.

Stage your boxes in a central location the day before the move. You can use a central hallway or your garage to do this. Having everything in a single location will go a long way towards keeping your stress level down and making the experience a better one.
Load the truck in a logical way, with large, heavy items and boxes on bottom. Stacking your boxes like puzzle pieces will also help the load stay together and make sure nothing falls or slides while in transit. Large items like furniture should be wrapped in blankets to help minimize the potential for damage.

Unload your belongings into the rooms that are indicated by the label. This will keep you from having an enormous pile of boxes right in the way and will make the unpacking process easier if you can go room by room.

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Subletting Your Old Apartment

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by Bill Hinson.

If you're moving and your lease hasn't run out, there can be some pretty stiff penalties. To avoid these fees, the best option is to sublet your apartment to someone else for the duration of the lease.

First, draw up a list of selling points and facts about the apartment. There are several things that will go into this list, but the most common are:

* Amount of rent
* Deposit necessary
* Utility costs
* Apartment specs (# of bedrooms and bathrooms)
* Size of bedrooms
* Duration of sublet
* Roommates
* Sublet location
* Nearby attractions
* Nearby cities/employment areas
* Any other selling point about the apartment

Now that you've got your list, you need an ad to place in the local paper, on community bulletin boards and other places. Make sure you include all the items of the list and make the ad as attractive as possible without being untrue. Once the ad is written, you can post it online through Sublet.com or similar apartment rental listing to make sure that your add is quite visible in online apartment searches . You can also use traditional routes like newspapers.

Now that the ad is posted, you'll have to show the apartment. There may be quite a few interested parties; make sure the apartment is neat and clean and set up showing times as best you can. Take into account your schedule and the potential renter's needs as well. Many people prefer to show the apartment on a single day, with each viewer coming at a specified time.

Make sure you give an accurate depiction of the apartment while showing it. If there are detractions to the apartment, make sure you make everyone aware of them, don't leave them to be found later, this will increase your risk of having a bad experience. Paint a realistic picture of the place, with all the good and bad qualities.

Prepare all the necessary paperwork ahead of time. You should have a copy of your rental agreement, a sublet agreement and any other pertinent paperwork handy during the process in case anyone needs to see it. The sublet agreement comes in handy if you have an interested party that wants to get the ball rolling immediately.

Chances are that you'll have more than one interested party. That means you have to choose between them. Choose a subletter that has commendable references showing that they pay bills on time, don't damage property, annoy the neighbors and anything else you can think of the make the process less painful. Always remember, the lease is in your name, no matter who is living in the apartment, choose a subletter wisely.

About the Author:
ApartmentLinks is an acclaimed apartment rental agency helping customers find an apartment of their dreams.

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Warning: Your Neighbor's Foreclosure Can Cost You Your Home!

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by Bob Nachman

Your neighbor down the street is facing the heartache of foreclosure. You feel bad for them, but really, what does their foreclosure have to do with you?

Experts say that a foreclosed home can have a huge impact not only on property values in the area, but also on the general state of the community at large.

In terms of your own home, its value can be diminished greatly by being located near a foreclosed house. One reason for this is that foreclosures sell for much less than they are worth, thereby reducing the average sale price of homes in the area. Appraisers have a difficult time assessing your own property value if everything around it has been sold at a reduced cost. You could end up losing thousands of dollars when you try to sell if there are properties around that were sold at bargain-basement prices.

Foreclosed homes often end up being unoccupied for a time, sometimes for several months, depending on how depressed the local realty market is. These houses are sometimes left in poor condition and some homeowners even trash their properties before leaving. Others simply board up the house and leave.

Windows that are boarded up or a building in a state of disrepair acts as a beacon to vandals, squatters, and criminals looking for a private place to do business. This brings an unsavory element to the neighborhood and can quickly result in a downslide of the area's safety and desirability.

The more foreclosures that occur in a community mean that more families end up moving away. This leaves local businesses crying out for customers, and can result in them going out of business. Empty, dilapidated houses, bankrupt businesses, and increasing crime can leave the remaining homeowners in the area feeling vulnerable and trapped. Their houses are worth much less than they were only a year ago, and selling may be difficult.

What can you do to prevent this kind of fallout from happening when your neighbor is facing foreclosure? The first step is keeping the vacant property from being overrun by vandals and criminals. If there is garbage in the yard, pick it up. Keep it clean and graffiti-free. Mow the lawn and do your best to keep the property looking lived-in. This is not something you have to do alone. Gather other neighbors in the area and resolve to work together to protect property values and community safety as much as possible.

Why is it up to you to take care of someone else's home? Foreclosed properties are no longer the responsibility of the homeowner. They don't own the house anymore and are therefore not responsible for maintenance. The bank takes over ownership, but has no obligation to keep the property in good repair. Foreclosed homes are sold essentially as-is. Whatever damage happens between the time of foreclosure and the sale of the house is simply deducted from the selling price. Anything you and your neighbors can do to prevent a sizable price reduction will help all of you in terms of your own property values.

In addition, whatever you can do to maintain the appearance of a clean, safe, community will benefit all of you socially as well. If you and your neighbors work together to keep an eye on vacant buildings, your street will not be an easy target for criminals and vagrants.

Take pride in your home, but look out for your neighbors' as well. It could end up saving you a great deal of money in the future, and keep your neighborhood the safe haven that you know and love.

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Halt House Foreclosure

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by Steve M. Bingman

Are you searching the internet looking for a way to halt house foreclosure? If yes, you need to be careful. There are hundreds of websites that claim that they can stop foreclosure. And often, they claim that they can do it within hours or days.

While many websites are legitimate, some are scams run by crooks.

The first thing to look for on a stop foreclosure website is to look at what they say they can do for you. Are they offering to talk with your mortgage lender? Are they wanting to make a loan to you to stop foreclosure? How can they help you?

Be wary of websites that want you to give them information before they will tell you what they can do for you. They may use the information in an attempt to take advantage of you. Or they may sell the information to less than honorable people. To me, if a website has a legitimate method of stopping foreclosure, they will tell you up front what is the method they use. Then they will ask for information that is necessary to use their method to stop foreclosure.

Also, be careful of the method that a website proposes to use to halt house foreclosure.

If the website claims that they can talk with your mortgage lender, realize that you yourself can talk with your mortgage lender. You do not need for someone else to talk to your lender for you. I doubt that they will get any better result that you would. In fact, your lender may feel that if you can pay someone to talk for you, then you can pay your mortgage payments. Also realize that if
your mortgage lender will not talk with you, it will not talk to someone else about you.

If a website claims that they can get you a loan to stop house foreclosure, look at your situation and the terms of the loan. They may make you a loan that actually puts you in a worse position than you are in now.

With all websites, look at their fees. They should tell you up front what are their fees or how their fees are determined. Be sure that you understand what a website is charging you to do whatever it is that they do to stop foreclosure.

Be cautious of websites that make elaborate or extraordinary claims. I have seen one website that claimed that using two words would scare a mortgage lender into stopping foreclosure. I do not know what the two words are (I didn't pay), but I do know that mortgage lenders pay lawyers hundreds of thousands of dollars to protect their legal rights to foreclosure. I doubt that two words would scare them.

Finally, you need to know that there is only one way of stopping foreclosure. That is to pay your mortgage lender. However, you may have several options on how to pay. Check out all options because certain options work in certain situations. Don't lock in on only one option until you have excluded all other options on how to pay your lender to halt house foreclosure.

This article is general information. If you have any questions of any nature concerning stopping foreclosure, talk with a lawyer licensed in your state.

This article may be republished, but the wording must not be changed and the author links must remain active.

Stop! Don't blindly chase any option to stop, avoid, or prevent foreclosure. See what works at Stop Foreclosure - Five Options You Need To Know. And click here for more insights on stop foreclosure.

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Buy and Sell Real Estate Agent Online

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by Richard Brazil

After making the decision to buy or indeed sell a home, selecting a real estate agent is the next big step you will take. In the ever-competitive world of real estate agents and the escalating real estate market, local knowledge and professional acumen is what expected from an agent. They should have knowledge of their chosen region, proven records of accomplishment in the competitive world of real estate. Selecting one agent among so many experts is the most critical decision you will make. Making it easier, you can look for an online real estate agent.

So what is the biggest benefit of hiring a real estate agent online? Before you can answer to this question, you need to consider whether you are a buyer or a seller. If you are buying a home, the biggest benefit of working with an agent is their experience. They not only have the experience of helping you find properties in your desired area, but they also have the experience of negotiating. On the other hand, the service of an agent for a seller includes finding potential buyers, marketing, negotiations, closing procedures and much more.

A recent survey reported that most property buyers now prefer to search property online with online real estate agents. It is less stressful and takes less time. You can find and compare real estate agents, research home values, and view homes for sale online. Here the process is very simple. Simply submit your profile telling whether your house is for sale or you wish to buy one. The online real estate agents will submit their proposals to help you sell or buy a home. Then it will be easier for you to choose one. Your selected agent or broker then help you market your home for sale to get top dollar or help you find homes for sale. This is the best way to be in touch with world's virtual real estate market through online real estate agents.

Richard H. Brazil, Jr. wears many hats; Broker, Agent, Businessman, Mentor... Inventor. Being a part of the Real Estate Industry for 20 years, Brazil has seen technology evolve and grow exponentially over the years. In April 2007 he filed a patent, and founded the American Agent Online Corporation a breakthrough technology that enables customers locate and chat with real estate agents LIVE in Real Time.Click here to check out.

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You Don't Need To Be In Fear Of Foreclosure

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by Chris Simpson

Many people are living in constant fear of losing their home to foreclosure. If this is something to relate to then you really should start to adopt a more positive attitude. One way you can start to do this is to research as much as you can about foreclosure. The more you learn and understand about it you will be more at ease since it will no longer be a topic that you know absolutely nothing about.

Sometimes even the mention of the word "foreclosure" can strike fear into the hearts of many adults. When you are afraid of something it is often tempting to hide away from it. In the case of foreclosure this could mean that you might be tempted to avoid those important phone calls coming in from your mortgage company or ignore their letters. If you start doing things like this then you are more likely to lose your home than if you act sensibily about it.

All this fear really is very unnecessary and just the knowledge that there are things that you can do to prevent foreclosure from happening can be a great comfort. Once you start taking the time to educate yourself and find out more about what foreclosure is all about and what you can do to resolve to problem you will be in a much better position to deal with it if you ever have to.

Many people go through their lives in constant panic, worried that they might not be able to keep on paying their monthly mortgage payments on time. If this sounds like something you can relate to then it might be worth putting off purchasing a new home for the time being. Wait until you are a little more financially secure and will definitely be able to afford it.

Unfortunately nobody can ever accurately predict what will happen in the future that could bring along some financial problems causing them to be late with their mortgage payments. For this reason it is absolutely essential that all home owners think about what they would do if such a situation was ever to arise. If you just live in fear rather than adopting this more positive approach you will not be appropriately prepared should you ever need to be. By making a start right now rather than later you can work towards your goal of having a successful future. One good way to start the ball rolling is to talk to a professional regarding your current financial situation.

Being prepared in advance so that you know exactly what you need to do if something like this ever happens really can make all the difference in the world as to whether you will be able to save your home if you need to. What you should think about is where your priorities lie and what changes you can make in your life now to free up a little more money every month. Remember that foreclosure can happen to anybody when they least expect it and very often it is through no fault of their own.

To find out how to stop foreclosure check out http://www.stopbankforeclosurenow.org

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How to become a mortgage broker in Australia

by Tony Rizk

Why become a mortage broker?



Obtaining mortgage finance for a new home or business can be a daunting experience for many borrowers and it's the professional mortgage broker who can help make this process much less stressful by offering valuable and helpful advice. Choosing a career in mortgage broking can lead to a flexible, well paid future helping individuals and businesses achieve their financial goals.





What qualifications are required?



Basic qualifications required in order to be a mortgage broker in most Australian states include the Certificate IV in Financial Services (Finance/ Mortgage Broking). This course is recognised by the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia (MFAA) and provides ASIC PS 146 compliance which is required in order to give financial product advice.



The Certificate IV course consists of the following topics:



Module 1: Credit Services and Products

Module 2: The Legal and Regulatory Environment

Module 3: Doing Business



After completing the Cert IV course you can continue on to the Diploma in Financial Services which offers more indepth education in related financial subjects.





How is the training delivered?



Mortgage broker training courses must be delivered by a registered training organisation (RTO) and students may be able to select different modes of study depending on the organisation they choose. For example some training providers will provide intensive face to face workshops over a number of days, distance education may also be offered and also online instruction can be provided. These flexible study options make it very easy to complete mortage broker training at a time or place that suits.


Smart Academy provides mortgage broker training including the PS 146 accredited Certificate IV in Financial
Services Finance/Mortgage Broking. Real estate certificate and licence courses plus CPD subjects are also offered for busy property professionals in NSW.

All information is deemed to be correct at the time of writing. Please visit http://www.smartacademy.edu.au to view our course calender. Copyright 2007 Tony Rizk