Tuesday, July 7, 2009

The Stages of Hypnosis

Ancient people and Shamans used trance states in ritualistic activities. Hypnosis, as we call it today, is championed by an Austrian physician called Franz Anton Mesmer who used hypnotic techniques to treat people of blindness, headache, paralysis and joint pain. However, anxieties and addictions are the conditions that are mostly addressed by hypnotic techniques these days.

The Light or Lethargic Stage


There are many three stages of hypnosis. The first stage is called lethargic or light stage. In this stage you will experience sleepiness and dullness feeling very comfortable and relaxed. The hypnotherapist will ask you to visualize past events that you can remember and also the future events. A good example can be a sportsperson is asked to imagine he is winning an event.
The Medium or Hallucinatory Stage
The second stage is called hallucinatory or medium stage in which you will become clearer about your past events and will be asked to forget your past traumas. You will become more responsive to the directions given by your hypnotist. You will be partially susceptible to the posthypnotic suggestions. You will be breathing deeper in this stage.

The Deep or Somnambulistic Stage

The third stage is called deep or somnambulistic stage in which the hypnotist will have complete control over you. You will perform anything suggested by your hypnotist unless the suggestions would not conflict with your learned values and ethics subconsciously. In this stage you will not aware of your surroundings and remember nothing. Sometimes the deep trance can result in amnesia. This will happen particularly if the hypnotist suggests. You will imagine that you never knew the things that you have forgotten.

Hypnotherapy is very effective in reducing the anxiety and fear created by uncomfortable medical procedures. In an operation hypnosis reduces the recovery time and the pain and anxiety that accompany post surgery. Many clinical studies prove that hypnosis reduces the need for medication and improves the physical and mental conditions before an operation. Dentists use hypnosis to control bleeding and gagging. Although hypnosis was considered unscientific in the past, several orthodox psychiatrists and psychologists use hypnosis these days. The British, Canadian and the American medical associations accept the values of hypnosis. However, you should undergo diagnosis from a physician before considering hypnotherapy. Particularly if your problem is psychological, you should get evaluated by a psychiatrist first. Hypnosis may exacerbate your symptoms at times without an accurate diagnosis.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Options Trading – All You Need To Know

In financial terms, options trading is a contract between two parties, which gives the right to the buyer to buy or sell the concerned asset at a future date and at a fixed price. It is called options trading because there is no obligation on the buyer to go through with the transaction. The buyer of an option pays an amount known as a premium to the option seller. The seller of the option is also known as the writer.

Strike Price: This is the fixed price at which the call option can be bought or the put option be sold.

Types of options:

Two types of options trading exist.

 A Call option
 A Put option

The call option gives the buyer the right to buy the underlying asset, whereas the put option gives him the right to sell the asset.

Advantages Of Options Trading

Flexibility: You can use options trading for a variety of strategies. This can be used in conservative as well as high-risk scenarios. They can be tailored to a range of expressions, not jut the price of the stock.
Limited Risk: The risk is only limited to the premium paid on the option. (the exception to this is writing for a security which is not already owned)
Leverage: The investor has a clear leverage since he is not committed to the trade.
Hedging: Options trading also allow the buyers to safeguard their positions from fluctuating prices, when altering the underlying position is not desired.

Disadvantages Of Options Trading

Costs: The cost involved in trading an option is comparatively higher on a percentage basis.

Complexity: Options trading is relatively complex, it requires close scrutiny and observation.

Liquidity: With different strike prices, some of them will suffer from low liquidity, which makes trading difficult

Option Traders

There are two main types of players.

 Risk Seeker (also known as speculator): This is a type of trader who tries to profit from a prediction in the market direction.
 Risk avoider (also known as hedger): This type of trader uses the option market to insure his position against the market moving adversely.

Some Key Terms

1. Option Style: This indicates whether it is possible to do options trading before the expiration date or not. If you have a European option, it cannot be exercised before the expiration date. However, the American option can be exercised anytime during the contract.

2. Option Value: The price of the option comprises the intrinsic value and the extrinsic value. Intrinsic value is the portion that can be realized if the option is exercised. When options trading is done at more than the intrinsic value, it is known as Time Value or Extrinsic Value.

3. Volatility: This provides an estimate of how much a stock can be expected to move over a given time frame.

In options trading, you need not be familiar with the entire market. You can focus on a few of your favorite asset instruments; closely observe the price movements and patterns. You can then plan a strategy to earn from those patterns.

Monday, June 1, 2009

Rehabbing Properties - Buy And Sell V/S Buy And Hold

Rehabbing properties is a great option if you want to build wealth over a long period of time with limited time and limited funds. The quintessential question that arises while rehabbing properties is whether to sell properties or to hold on to them. The actual question that needs to be asked is: Why keep rehab properties? Why not buy and sell and then get paid? The first question that needs to be answered is: How soon do you need the cash? Most short term cash can be generated by selling fresh rehab properties. But you will again give away that money in the form of taxes next year in April. However, if you buy and hold the rehabbed property, you will stand to earn a lot more.

While rehabbing properties, if you buy and hold the rehabbed property, you will also enjoy many benefits like cash flow, tax breaks in future and more cash with future appreciation of rehab properties for sale. A few months after you buy and hold the rehabbed property, you can still put more cash into it, when you refinance the property from your hard money to long term financing. While rehabbing properties, the short answer is that you as an investor will make a lot more money if you buy and hold rather than if you buy and sell. However there is a disadvantage to saving rehab properties for sale. You need to be a landlord and its your decision. This is fine as long as the land lording is done properly.

However, there are also a few reasons why you should not buy and hold as far as rehabbing properties is concerned.

• In case of rehabbing properties it is difficult to "buy right" and also get a positive cash flow. If you buy and hold a property for sale, all it takes is one small thing going wrong to put you back to square one.

• Most of the people invest in rehab properties for sale for income purposes. However, this income comes in very small amounts. In case of rehabbing properties, this money is spent along the way. In a period of 10 years, your net worth will not have increased substantially. But, when you buy and sell at a profit, you get large profits instantly. You can use some of the money obtained from rehabbing properties for your living costs and you can re invest the rest to increase your net worth.

• While rehabbing properties, even seasoned investors are unable to judge the "bottom" in case of a rehab property for sale. You can't even be sure when the cycle has "topped". You will have to be extremely lucky to make a maximum yield on the properties you hold.

When you are rehabbing properties with the buy and sell strategy, you are involved in a lot more properties. You may also find a striking deal that will evidently tell you to buy and hold. Hence, you will also have more hard cash which you can again invest and utilize for rehabbing properties.

Top Ten Credit Mistakes

Credit mistakes are often made by people who lack financial knowledge. Establishing your credit and wisely managing your credit becomes a lot easier when you know how to do it. This way you'll be able to avoid bad credit. You will also feel empowered by taking knowledgeable steps towards good credit. You will also be on your way to purchase real estate and get greater freedom financially. If you plan financing real estate either as a home buyer or as an investor, you can avoid these credit mistakes. This will help you save your credit score and save money in loan costs.

1. Paying Late: Your credit score is based on a few things. It is based on your credit history. It is also based on how you manage your current and past credit obligations.

2. The Feel Good factor: This is one of the credit mistakes most people are emotionally inclined to make. They are called recreational shoppers. These people buy more on spur of the moment than logically. This can often lead to bankruptcy.

3. Close your credit card accounts: This is what you tend to do when you want to resist the temptation to use or abuse your credit cards. But this is a big credit mistake with the FICO scoring system as closing credit card accounts will hurt your credit scores.

4. Teaching your children responsibly: Children are very impressionable. If they see you using your credit excessively and irresponsibly, they will make the same credit mistakes.

5. Applying for many credit cards: If you apply for too many credit cards in a year, or at the same time, can be a big credit mistake as it is easily noticeable to many credit bureaus.

6. Debt Consolidation: You may hire a credit consolidation company to consolidate your credit card debt. This will not make your debt go away! In fact, this may be seen as a write off. It is advisable not to do it unless absolutely necessary.

7. Skip Payments: You can skip payments occasionally. This can happen to anyone. But, this becomes a credit mistake if you are doing it as per your convenience.

8. High Balance: This will definitely affect your credit score. Adding more and more cards is a sure path to bankruptcy. You are better off carrying one credit card and paying it in full. The best thing you can do is not to quit until it is completely paid.

9. Not using your credit card: This is a credit mistake most people make without realizing it. Your credit report reflects on your credit card management. If you have no record, it shows lack of management.

10. Making minimum payment: This is a sure sign you are not managing your card properly. This is a credit mistake which is a personal favorite of credit card companies.

If you can avoid the credit mistakes mentioned above, you should have no credit card debt and it should be all smooth sailing.

Rent To Own - What Is A Lease Option

A rent to own is a type of contract used in residential real estate that is typically held between two parties. One, the tenant (who is also called the lessee), who will occupy a house or an apartment, and the landlord (lessor), who owns the homes for sale. A rent to own house is one of the many ways in which you can buy a house even with bad or no credit. It is addressed differently as lease option, lease purchase, lease to purchase, rent with option to buy and rent to own.

In the duration of a lease option, the tenant will pay credit to the landlord towards the value of the rental to own, and is allowed to occupy the house in exchange for the credit. When the contract ends, the tenant has an option to make an outright purchase of the apartment. Tenants typically obtain the money for this, by way of mortgage.

In this rent to own option, the tenant pays to the landlord, over and above the usual market rent. Excess credit may also be levied to the eventual purchase of the apartment, or towards the down payment in getting a mortgage. This is one of the lease options that work as an automatic savings plan for the tenant.

Things To Know

There are a few differences as far as rent to own and lease option agreements are concerned. It is essential for you to clarify these as these terms are used interchangeably in the rent to own industry. In case of a rent to own option, the buyer will make an agreement with the owner that some or all of the rent money goes toward the down payment of the apartment.

This will happen at a fixed date 2 to 5 years in future. The person paying the rent will then purchase the apartment by using the money that was set apart as down payment. If the tenant does not purchase the rent to own apartment at the end of the lease, then all the money paid by the tenant, in addition to the market rent will be retained by the landlord.

Advantages

The money put in at the beginning is not much in a rent to own option, apart from what is needed for a rental home. This is a nice way to get into an apartment with little or no down payment.

The rent to own option carries lesser risk to a landlord than a mortgage would for a lender. Its easier and cheaper to get the tenants to evict, rather than a foreclosure on a mortgaged property.

Another advantage in a rent to own situation is that the money you end up paying over and above the rent for possession of the house is relatively lower than taking out a loan for it.

As you can see, there are many advantages to a rent to own option, hence it is definitely a sensible one to go in for.

Rent To Own - Home Ownership With No Credit Or Bad Credit

Home ownership with no or bad credit may seem like a distant dream to you. You would think how would you ever be able to own a home with no or bad credit? You think the only solution to get home ownership with no or bad credit maybe to wait until your credit scores improve or you have saved enough money for a substantial down payment.

Good News!

However, there is some good news! Home ownership with no or bad credit is also a possibility! 100% financing is no longer only for those with perfect credit. In fact there are plans which are specially designed for those with bad credit. These are known as bad credit loans.

Few Key Requirements

This means that even if you have bad credit, you can still purchase a home. You may not have to pay a single penny for the down payment! Imagine, you can buy a home within a month, where you thought you may have to work for a long time for credit repair! There are a few requirements however for a 100% bad credit mortgage.

1. You must have a minimum credit score of 580.
2. To get home ownership with no or bad credit you must not have more than one late rent or mortgage payment in the last 12 months.
3. You must have sufficient income. This income must be enough to easily pay your monthly payment credits and mortgage. Your monthly debt must not be more than 45 to 50 percent of your total monthly household income.

If you meet the above requirements, home ownership with no or bad credit is no longer a distant dream to you!

A Few Solutions

There are a few things you can do to get home ownership with no or bad credit.

1. Keep it in your family: You can ask a relative who has a good credit history to buy the home on your behalf. This person will get a good interest rate. This will make your monthly payments mortgage payments more affordable. Once your relative has closed on the house, you need to take over the mortgage payments, the insurance and the taxes. This will get you tax benefits.

2. Rent to own: This is a great option if you do not have enough to buy a home and you want to get home ownership with no or bad credit. In this, you pay the landlord a little more over and above your monthly mortgage payments. With your bad credit history, this is better, cheaper and more effective than a loan.

3. Get the seller to finance: Since you have a bad credit history, you can get the seller to finance your home purchase. This way you can bypass the conventional loan if you have a motivated seller.

Hence, for those of you think your dream of owning a home is over it is not! You too can get home ownership with no or bad credit!

Wholesale Investor - Philadelphia Is A Real Estate Investors Dream Market

There are many reasons why Philadelphia real estate investing is a good idea. Philadelphia is one of the best places for real estate investment. This is one of the oldest cities in the United States. It has a history of immigrants dating back to as early as the 1500's. Even though there are reports about a down turned real estate market, this is the best time for you to get started as a wholesale investor. There are some factors you can consider when you think Philadelphia real estate investing. These are:

 How long do you want to hold on to the property?
 Which are the areas best suited for your situation?
 Your choice: That is whether you want to use your investment property for a "flip", or you want to develop it over a period of time, while renting it out.

Reasons

There are certain reasons why it is ideal for wholesale investors to venture into Philadelphia real estate investing.

 Architecture: You will find such historical architecture only in countries which have a longer history than the United States. These include Chile, Italy and Mexico. However, in the United States itself, not many cities have architecture like this. Real estate investing in Philadelphia is also of aesthetic value as the old buildings show the deep roots America has in history. This makes Philadelphia the birthplace of the history of the United States.

 Convenience: Another advantage for Philadelphia real estate investing is the convenience. Everything is at a vicinity. If you are in the heart of the city, you are close to restaurants, shopping malls, entertainment and a lot more. There are many entertainment options with clubs and bars along Columbus Boulevard, South Street and many other areas.

 The Value: Another reason why Philadelphia real estate investing is a great option is the value it offers. Real estate investing in Philadelphia has been really under priced for many years compared to its neighboring New York. You have many opportunities in Philadelphia real estate investing to buy your dream home anywhere in Philadelphia irrespective of the prices.

Areas of Investment:

For Philadelphia real estate investing there are many developing neighborhoods which you may want to invest in. These are the Art Museum neighborhood. This includes the communities of Franklin Town, Spring Garden, Fairmount, Francisville and Brewerytown.

For many Philadelphia real estate investors, the best neighborhoods are those which are in close proximity to the major medical schools in the city, including the Hahnemann Medical college, the University of Pennsylvania Medicine School, and The Temple University Medical School.

There are many profitable, cash flow opportunities for you as a wholesale investor in Philadelphia. Philadelphia real estate investing can be a highly lucrative option, but it is not risk free. It has all the aspects required for wholesale investors. It is convenience, it has a history, it has arts, architecture. It has entertainment, value and there are many reasons for real estate investing in Philadelphia.