A short sale is a transaction that occurs when the loans against a property are greater than what the property can be sold for. It is a way for homeowners to avoid foreclosure on their homes and still be able to pay off their loan by settling with lender.
Advantages
The seller:-
In control of the sale, bank just needs to approve it.
Knows who is buying his home.
Will be away from the social stigma; foreclosure.
The home sale will be handled like any other home sale.
Exits the mortgage liability without facing bankruptcy.
On the other hand the buyer gets the home at a reduced price. And the lender accepts to a loss it considers minimal without going through a foreclosure.
Disadvantages
Short sale often lowers your credit score by as much as 200 points which can be overcome more quickly than a foreclosure, especially if you manage to retain one or two credit cards and keep them current.
The process can be complicated and can take longer than the parties would like. It is so important for a homeowner to contact a short sale expert when they are aware that they are in trouble to get the process started.
A Realtor can help homeowners by working with their lenders to negotiate a lower payoff amount in order to price their homes below competition and get it sold. Also he can market your home to attract buyers and oversee the entire sales process.
How to Find a Short Sale Specialist?
1- Search for agents with the CDPE designation on the site http://www.cdpe.com/
2- Call the local agents you find who specialize in short sales. Ask them about their strategy on setting the right price.
3- Request a list of past clients of the agent you are interviewing. Call these clients and ask them about the service they received.
If you are like most people, you lose stuff. And if you are like me, you lose stuff at the worst possible moment. That is why I bought a travel money belt when I recently when on vacation because I knew if anyone would lose their valuables, I would be the one.
I want to show you some of the best deals I found on money belts while I was looking on Amazon.com.
The most popular travel money belt anywhere online is this Rick Steves Silk Money Belt. Of course, Rick Steves is the host of the widely watched television series Rick Steves’ Europe. Rick has written more than 30 renowned books about European travel, so if he comes out with a travel item, you would do well to pay attention.
One of the things he stresses on his series is to always pack light. That is why this travel belt is made of light yet very durable spun silk. This particular belt can be worn around your waist (under your shirt or pants for even more ant-theft protection) or around your neck. The elastic strap and the neck cord adjust very well to your body type, and it is very easy to clip on and off. It is moisture proof so that your contents stay protected if you get wet, and it is has two highly concealed zipper compartments for your valuables.
As I mentioned earlier, this Rick Steves travel money belt is the most popular one online. On Amazon, it has more than 130 customer reviews, and they average out to give this product a 4-star rating. Customers say that the silk is much more comfortable than the polyester so many manufacturers use. And this will actually fit people of all sizes whether small or large. One customer wore this during their entire vacation to Costa Rica during the rainy season, and they just raved about how dry it kept the valuables. Whether you need a secure place to keep cash, credit cards, or passports, this travel money belt serves the purpose extremely well.
Oh, yeah. Let’s talk about the price a little bit. You can purchase this product online for around $10. That’s right! Just $10! Now tell me, how much hassle would it be to lose your most valuable possessions in a foreign country? I can’t imagine it would be quite distressing, and you certainly don’t want to find out the hard way. So don’t take a chance. Get a travel belt that can keep you and your possessions safe and secure.
Another great travel money belt you should look at is this Eagle Creek Deluxe Security Belt. Now this travel belt is a bit larger and heavy-duty than the Rick Steves’ product, but it serves its function very well. It uses Softseam Construction which makes it very comfortable against the skin, and it has a moisture barrier to keep your valuables dry. It also comes with two concealed pockets, and the elastic waist band allows it to fit snugly and securely around your body.
Customers write about how comfortable this travel money belt is. One person said they wore it 24 hours a day for more than 2 months during their European vacation. You know it has to comfortable if someone is going to wear it that long!
Overwhelmed by hosting options? No need to worry! Even if you have web hosting experience, you still may wonder about the advantages and disadvantages of certain hosting options. For instance, it used to be common for every web site address to have its own, dedicated IP address. With the plethora of web sites being produced, dedicated IP addresses are no longer the norm and now hosting providers not only offer the option, but usually charge more for this option.
IP Address Basics: Each computer has its own numeric address. You may have noticed this, but dismissed it as computer “mumbo-jumbo.” The IP address looks somewhat like a social security number, but with dots separating the number sets, for example 201.167.0.142. Before deciding to choose a dedicated or shared IP address for your website, it’s important to understand the difference.
Shared IP Address: When you sign-up with a web host, your website will most likely be hosted on a shared IP address. Multiple websites can be hosted on one IP address and it costs hosting companies less to run business this way. But just because it is cost effective for hosting companies does not mean that it is disadvantageous for the customer.
Dedicated IP Address: The dedicated IP address is also called a static IP. What this means is that a website domain is hosted on its own IP address, no sharing. There are advantages to having an IP address for each domain that you have, but these advantages are not necessarily a requirement for everyone.
If you are planning to host a large or a secure e-commerce web site you will want a dedicated IP address. But what if this doesn’t describe you? How do you decide?
Benefits of a Dedicated IP Address: If you want your own SSL certificate, you will need a dedicated IP address. A SSL certificate will let you accept credit cards online. Some hosting providers offer an SSL certificate that is shared with other IP addresses, which will allow you to accept credit cards online. If you choose to use the provided SSL certificate, there is no need to have a dedicated IP address. Now, whether you decide to have your own SSL certificate or use one provided by the hosting company is a decision you will need to make.
If you plan to use Anonymous FTP, it may be required to have a dedicated IP address. Anonymous FTP is when a computer allows anyone using the FTP software permission to access a designated directory for files. It is called Anonymous FTP since the user signs in under the name “anonymous” You will need to check with your hosting company if you plan to use this service since some providers require a dedicated IP address in order to run the software.
All hosting companies have a domain name server. But, if you are considering becoming a hosting reseller or wish to have your own name server, you will need a dedicated IP address.
If you are realizing that you need a dedicated IP address and already have your site hosted on a shared IP address, you are not necessarily “stuck.” Many hosting companies offer the option to upgrade or move to a dedicated IP. Most companies will charge extra for this service, but not necessarily all. Your site may be down and unavailable while the changes take place, but this will vary by hosting company and should not be too inconvenient.
If you have yet to contract with a hosting provider, it may be best to look not just at what services you need now, but will need for the future. Hopefully your business or service will become tremendously successful! But with success, comes the need to expand and upgrade. When you first started your site, a shared IP address may have been ample, but now that the visitors are coming in droves, you may need to upgrade to a dedicated IP.
There are criteria to consider before you decide to whether to choose a shared or dedicated IP address. For most web masters, a shared IP address is good enough. But, if you plan to host an e-commerce site or want your own SSL certificate and more hosting control, it is worth looking into a dedicated IP.
1. Pay by Credit Card if Possible
Most credit card companies do, by convention, shoulder the responsibility if the travel agent you book with goes out of business. In the United Kingdom, under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, the credit card issuer and trader are equally liable for purchases of £100 – £30, 000.
Some companies, though, because of the location where they operate, are not able to process credit cards. They may be an excellent, reliable company but merely by the fact of being based in Peru, are unable to take payments by credit card.
In this case, what do you do?
2. Take out Travel Insurance
Everyone should take out travel insurance in addition to that offered by their credit card company. For emergency health care, theft and unexpected events of all kind, it always makes sense to take out travel insurance. Most policies offer cover against ‘financial default’ ie if your travel agent goes bankrupt or stops trading in any way. In order to be covered for this, however, you should take out your policy at the time you pay your vacation deposit. Often, you will only be covered for financial default if you take out your insurance within 15-30 days of paying your vacation deposit. Certainly you should get your insurance BEFORE you make your final payment.
3. Check where the company is registered
Who would you rather book with? A travel agency with offices in Ecuador but registered somewhere in Central America, or one registered in the USA?
Best of all, is a company based in the United Kingdom. All UK travel agents have to take out insurance protecting customers if the company has financial difficulties.
4. Check what the travel association memberships mean
Travel Agencies are very keen to show you what associations they are members of. But what to those memberships actually mean?
ASTA: Members adhere to a code of conduct. Members do not need to show any financial information or pay bonding to ensure security for travelers. If your travel agency goes out of business, there is little ASTA can do besides cancel the agency’s membership of ASTA.
ABTA: Members have to adhere to a code of conduct. Financial information of the agency has to be disclosed and / or members are required to have bonding as security to passengers in case the agency gets into difficulties.
ATOL: For travel agencies who sell airline tickets. Also requires members to submit to certain financial criteria covering passengers if the agency or ticket issuer gets into financial difficulties.
There are plenty of excellent agencies operating on the ground, in the places you want to visit; and it makes good sense to use their local contact and knowledge – just make sure that when you do, you are money smart and keep your vacation money safe!
The Tanzanian currency is the Shilling it cannot be imported into the country and so it is necessary to bring foreign currency with you on safari. US$ Dollars are the best currency to take to Tanzania with the Euro or GB Pounds coming in second and third. US$ Dollars are bar far the safest option with larger notes US$50 and US$100 offering a better rate of exchange. The lower denominations are not popular with the US$1 being difficult to get rid of except as a tip. If you intend to pay for a safari with cash then pay in large dominations to avoid a possible penalty.
Travellers checks are accepted by banks and bureaus, they attract a lower rate of exchange and can be a bit of a hassle; it is better to keep them to a minimum or to avoid them totally. Credit cards [Master and Visa] are more widely accepted now than they were in five years ago. However, if you wish to draw cash against a credit card then try to do this from the banks as many hotels with change heavy commission for the privilege. More importantly let your bank know where and when you travel otherwise you may hit problems once you start using your card in Tanzania.
Visas are available in advance from Tanzanian Embassies or they can be obtained on arrival at border posts or airports. There is a departure tax for Tanzania if you leave by air but this should be included in the price of your ticket.
It can be expensive to fly into Kilimanjaro airport especially in high season. It is usually a cheaper option to fly into Nairobi airport and transfer countries via the bus-shuttles that travel to Arusha via the Namanga border post. At Nairobi airport purchase a transit visa this costs US$20 and will last between five and seven days. All visas obtained on arrival in Kenya and Tanzania must be paid in US Dollars and in cash. Have the correct amount ready. The Tanzania holiday visa costs vary according to nationality.
The shuttles are 25 seat coaster buses that travel from Central Nairobi to Arusha town and then off to Moshi Town which is nestled against Kilimanjaro.
The shuttle bus companies are Riverside, Davanu, Bobbies and Impala. The price should be about US$ 25 per person and an extra US$10 to Moshi. They will all pick up and drop off passengers at city centre hotels in Nairobi or Arusha – by special arrangement. They all set off from Parkside hotel in Nairobi and end at Mount Meru Hotel in Arusha.
The shuttle from Nairobi can be taken either from the city centre or from the airport. If you have a late arrival then an overnight in Nairobi will be necessary. It is best to overnight at the Parkside Hotel in Nairobi as it is clean and inexpensive – no more that US$20 per person. All the shuttles for Tanzania leave from outside this hotel.
The journey should take about five hours including Immigration and Customs at the border post town of Namanga. The driver will show you where to go to get the necessary stamps for your passport. The shuttle will give out immigration cards for you to fill in whilst you travel. To do this in advance will save time at the border post – remember to travel with a pen to save on unnecessary stress.
If you travel in the midst of high season – mid July to October I would advise you to make all your bookings for accommodation and safaris in advance. All other months and especially low season [March through to the end of June] it is possible to arrive in Tanzania and Zanzibar and shop around for cheap accommodation and bargain safaris.
Arusha Tourist Board Office is on Boma Road and they can advise where to start your search for a safari. The office has a small notice board on the left hand-side wall with special offers displayed by reputable tour operators. The tourist Board offers a safer bet to start a search for a bargain safari. Be warned that as you enter and leave the Tourist Board the Safari Street hawkers will hassle you and try to sell a safari. Remember all that glitters is not gold so beware making deals on the street, however good the sales pitch. Be good natured but firm and do not be tempted by offers that sound to good to be true, because that what they are…
Travelling from Arusha to Zanzibar the cheap way is by bus to Dar es Salaam and then high speed ferry from Dar to Stone Town. Scandinavia, Royal or Dar Express have luxury coaches [about US$18 to US$25 per person] these three companies offer the best and safest road transport to Dar es Salaam. To travel from Arusha to Stone Town in one day means an early departure 6.30 to 7h30 getting to Dar by 14h30.
There are many cheaper alternatives to travel to Dar es Salaam – US$6 to US$10. The two best companies being Amazon or Fresh Coaches as they travel at a slower speed and have fewer seats squashed inside. The fast coaches are not safe and should be avoided at all costs.
The last ferry to Zanzibar departs about 16h30. There is an overnight ferry but this is from Zanzibar into Dar only – it is slow but cheap.