| Real estate agents 'preying on battlers'
From what I can see, this is an organisation who is just going out trying to buy properties cheaply and using the internet to access vendors and offering them cheap deals," he said. "They're saying there are no agents' costs. Of course there are no agents' costs because there are no agents involved." The New South Wales Fair Trading Department has issued a warning about the online firms. NSW Fair Trading Minister says the practice is not illegal but there there are several things people struggling with their mortgages should do. "If you're under mortgage stress, make sure that if you're going to sell your home, however you're going to sell it, get a proper evaluation," she said. "Go to your lender and let them know the sort of trouble that you're in and get some financial counselling advice." Homeowners are advised to contact their local fair trading or consumer affairs department for detailed information about how to find a licensed real estate agent.
On Native Ground
There is still no sovereign government worthy of the name in Iraq and civil war is raging unabated. That's probably why the phrases "popular wartime President" and "George W. Bush" are no longer heard in the same sentence. Three years ago, President Bush's overall approval rating was nearing 90 percent. Today, it stands at around 35 percent. The popularity that the President enjoyed has vanished. Polling done by Survey USA in March showed only three states - Utah, Wyoming and Alabama - where Mr. Bush's approval rating was above 50 percent. Three other states - Nebraska, Oklahoma and Mississippi - have the President at higher than 45 percent, but less than 50 percent. Every other state rated Mr. Bush at 45 percent or less, with 17 states checking in at or below 35 percent approval.
Foreclosures, tax liens risky as investment alternatives
Worried about stocks, some investors are putting their retirement money into something they're convinced will be plentiful in 2008: foreclosures and tax liens.
Using self-directed individual retirement accounts, investors are buying depressed real estate, making loans to private companies and buying up tax lien certificates on properties, which give the investors a government-determined yield that the homeowner pays to release the lien. If the homeowner doesn't do that within a prescribed time period, the investor receives the property.
A handful of firms specialize in helping clients make alternative investments in their IRAs, but industry players say it's still a tiny fraction of the overall IRA market.
.
Bill seeks more aid for poorer schools
In anticipation of the unveiling of Gov. Eliot Spitzer's proposed budget this week, state Sen. John A. DeFrancisco said Sunday he will sponsor a bill that, he says, will ensure fair funding for all school districts. The bill introduces the Statewide School Finance Consortium's plan to correct inequities in funding caused by the current "patchwork school aid formula," which enriches wealthy districts and short-changes poor ones, said DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse. He was joined in a news conference at Solvay High School by several representatives of the local education community. "This is not an easy battle," DeFrancisco said. "Obviously, the haves throughout the state will not want to redistribute the funds to the have-nots." School funding has been a source of squabbling among state politicians for years.
Automated Parking Garage Solutions Hold Key To Urban Development
Quincy, Massachusetts ----July 8....... The recent spike in oil prices and growing concern for the environment has sparked renewed interest in mixed-use urban development. Today's leading urban planners and downtown developers are rethinking their allegiance to single-use zoning practices and focusing on building communities in order to create neighborhoods in which people can live, socialize, shop, and perhaps even work - all within a comfortable walking distance. While large suburban yards were recently the sought-after American ideal, today, high gas and petrol prices make living close to friends, neighbors, social activities, and public transportation more attractive than suburban scrawl. High-density living naturally reduces household gasoline usage without crimping personal freedom or creating feelings of undue sacrifice.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady speaks at team rally without walking ...
He had no overcoat but kept his hands in his pockets in the subfreezing temperatures while others spoke. Then he made some brief remarks.
Were going down there for one reason, he said. Thats to bring a title back to Foxborough.
After the rally that lasted about an hour, players boarded the yellow buses lined up outside the stadium with a sign on each: GOOD LUCK PATRIOTS.
Brady waved to the crowd with his left hand and carried a travel bag in his right as he walked beside backup quarterback Matt Cassel. They went about 30 yards from the last bus in line before they boarded the second as fans cheered. .
Low prices, high risk: A Wal-Mart patron faces fire like a leader
You can yell back, "You're on your own!" and bolt for the exits. You can mosey on over for a look-see, knowing you'll be shooed outside the minute the firefighters arrive. Or, you can grab a fire extinguisher and pitch in to put out the flames. Modesto's Christie Sipes took the latter option last week when fire broke out in the menswear section of the Ceres Wal-Mart. She'd been in the store that night, Jan. 21, browsing at the jewelry counter when the blaze began at about 10 p.m. "A manager came running over and had the employee in the jewelry department call Code Red over the intercom," Sipes said. "I knew what that meant, plain and simple. Fire." Sipes, 40, is a student in the Emergency Medical Technician program at Modesto Junior College.
CMS wins AAU state
The Cleveland Middle wrestling team recently won the AAU state championship. TuesS3 In a field of the top eight teams in the state, Cleveland came out on top with wins over Knoxville Karns (70-16), Kingsport (65-22), McCallie (64-17) and avenging an earlier loss by defeating the Sharpshooters of Nashville, 48-32. Lake Forest also participated in the tournament, finishing sixth.
.
|
