investment information: 2011

vineri, 12 august 2011

IS THE BEST RETIREMENT BUSINESS RIGHT FOR YOU? by: Ann Evans

According to the Coin Laundry Association, laundry centers and coin laundries average a powerful 20 to 30% return on investment. A successful laundry owner offers 6 powerful insights on why you too can and should achieve great financial rewards with part- time effort. Are you ready to join the ranks of the many successful entrepreneurs like Dan King who are "cleaning-up" in today's commercial laundry industry?
With stock market fluctuations and an uncertain economy, many Americans have a difficult time finding investments that can survive recessions and economic downturns. However, the commercial laundry business with its 20 to 30% ROI is almost recession proof. In fact both Dun and Bradstreet and the SBA have cited it as one of the 10 top safest business investments one can make. Believe it or not, that’s just one of the many powerful reasons so many retirees are looking to invest in their own laundry stores. The fact is that coin laundries and vended laundries are one of the most advantageous part-time and retirement businesses that exist.
AN OWNER LISTS THE BENEFITS
According to Dan King, owner of several coin laundries in Southern California, “I highly recommend investing in this industry – it has worked wonderfully well for me and it can for you. Before I invested I considered 6 major benefits that Laundry Center ownership offered and that no other investment provided."

1. First, I didn’t have to give up my regular job. I found that Coin Laundries basically run themselves, which was great for me because I was looking for an absentee manager situation. The fact is they require just a couple of hours a week and are so easy to operate that basically anyone, anywhere can own one or more.

2. I also liked the fact that this is a ‘turn-key’ business, where you don’t need staff on the premises. You can set your laundry to stay open 24 hours a day, or you can have an automatic door-locking system on a timer set to open and close when you choose. I personally keep my laundry stores open full-time and that works well for my customers and for me.

3. Another benefit is that you can own a laundry near your home or further away. They thrive in every state of the union. Coin laundries can be placed in virtually all neighborhood shopping centers and perform exceptionally well in renter-occupied, densely populated, lower-income areas. Your average customer will be the estimated 89 million people who live in rental housing, which is the fastest-growing housing segment in the nation.

4. Even better, this is an “All Cash” business with no inventory and no accounts receivables. You can expect a high return on investment, liquidity, tax benefits, and fast growing equity. Whatever your cash down payment is at the time of purchase, you can typically expect to get back within seven years, or sooner. Like buying a house, equity builds and you ultimately can expect a substantial profit.

5. Once set up, I found that coin laundries paid off like a “cash machine” week in and week out. Let’s face it: people will always need to wash their clothes, which is why laundry centers thrive in periods of both growth and recession. In fact, when times are slow and homeownership decreases, the self-service laundry market thrives as more people are unable to afford to repair, replace or purchase new washers and dryers, or as they move to apartment housing with poor or nonexistent laundry facilities.

6. Finally, I loved the fact that I could purchase an existing coin laundry to fit my budget, available investment dollars and personal requirements. Coin laundries generally require between 1,500 and 5,000 square feet of retail space, depending on the market size. Most laundries occupy retail space that is rented on a long-term lease of 10 years to 25 years, including option periods. The cost of buying a vended laundry can range from less than $50,000 to more than one million dollars, depending on size, age and net income.

Bottom line, Dan King is one of many successful entrepreneurs in our dynamic industry. In fact, there are over 35,000 coin- and card-operated laundries in the United States, generating more than $3.5 billion in annual revenue and these numbers are growing! Millions of families use laundries every day. But most people don’t realize that those same laundries offer even better ways to “clean up” than with water, soap and bleach. With the primary customer representing the fastest growing segment in the nation -- the laundry business is amazingly stable, and dependably profitable. After all, families need clean towels and sheets whether the stock market is up or down. They need clean clothes in summer and winter, on vacation or working, whether they’re newborns, teenagers or retired.

About the author:
About the author:
Ilene Fudim is a nationally recognized expert in the coin operated laundry industry and a contributing editor to the Laundry Center MarketWatch newsletter. She has been instrumental in helping launch many successful coin laundry businesses. For more information and a free copy of the Laundry Center MarketWatch newsletter, visit the site at: laundrycenter.info or call toll free 1-877-45-Laundry.

Make Money With No Investment -Starting From Scratch by: Jack Reynolds

In the begining it's a tentative situation. Your first few deals are small potatoes. To make money with no investment is not entirley accurate. Everyone has access to something. Some small amount that will be allocated for wealth building. I think back to when I was starting from scratch and at the time my cynical attitude made it painful, but looking back I remember the experience fondly.

It's challenging to make money with no investment capital but when you are starting from scratch you have nothing to lose. With your back to the wall, you can go forward confidently in the knowledge that you literally have little to lose.

Curiously, all great wealth once began from scratch. To make money with no investment capital is exactly the situation you need to be in if you want to succeed and get that first million under your belt.

You see, it's not how much you started with that counts. It's not how much you have made that counts. What matters is the system. HOW you do it. If that is based on sound principles then you will never fear poverty again.

I could make money with no investment capital if you dropped me in any free City on the planet. I guarantee you within a few months I'd be living well (providing I spoke the language).

Starting from scratch, the first thing I would do is find a market. No money, but I have my self. I can offer a service. As soon as I make a few hundred dollars saved, I would begin applying the principles of opportunity investment. I would trade up and up until I had borrowing capacity.

I would use the leverage that borrowing allows me to manufacture obscene compounding returns in real estate and large ticket items like used trucks and yachts. I would work until I was comfortable, then start spending on myself.

You are in a better situation than my scenario. You have friends, contacts, and knowledge of your town. You have experiences and intimate perceptions of the existing markets in your home town. All you need is the knowledge to make it happen.

To make money from scratch with no investment capital is easy. Don't be fooled into thinking your situation is hopeless. You need knowledge, tools, and skills. It's time you took a real shot at your first million, believe me the second and third will be easy.

"The pain of discipline is less then the pain of regret" -- Martin Thomas

Copyright2005 Opportunity Investor.com

About the author:
Jack Reynolds enjoys offering valuable insights about wealth creation. If you want to discover how to build your own money machine and you dont have much money to start with then follow this link

Venture Capital Negotiating Issues by: Dave Lavinsky

When companies enter into negotiations with venture capital firms, there are several issues which need to be defined and agreed upon. This article describes the key issues.

Valuation. Valuation is the most prominent negotiating issues. Valuation is the price of the company in which the venture capitalist invests. Valuation determines what percent of the company the investor is buying for their capital.

Timing of the Investment. Many investors will commit a large amount of capital, but will contribute that capital to the companies in installments. Often, these installments are only made when pre-designated milestones are met.

Vesting of Founders' Stock. Like capital, investors often prefer that stock is given to company founders and key employees in installments. This is known as vesting.

Modifying the Management Team. Some investors insist that additional or substitute management employees be hired subsequent to their investment. This gives investors additional security that the company will execute on its business model. An important issue to negotiate with regards to modifying the management team is the amount of stock or options that will be issued to new management team members, as this will dilute the holdings of the founders.

Employment Agreements with Key Founders. Venture capitalists typically do not want companies to have employment agreements that limit the circumstances under which employees can be fired and/or set compensation and benefits levels that are too high. Other key employment agreement issues to be negotiated with venture capitalists include restrictions on post-employment activities and employee severance payments on termination.

Company Proprietary Rights. If the company has an important product with intellectual property (IP), investors will want to ensure that the company, and not a company employee, owns the IP. In addition, investors will want to ensure that new inventions be assigned to the company. To this end, investors may negotiate that all employees must sign Confidentiality and Inventions Assignment Agreements.

Exit Strategy. Investors are very focused on how they will “cash out” of their investment. In this regard, they will negotiate regarding registration rights (both demand and piggyback); rights to participate in any sale of stock by the founders (co-sale rights); and possibly a right to force the company to redeem their stock under certain conditions.

Lock-Up Rights. Venture capitalists may require a lock-up period at the term sheet stage. The “lock-up period” is typically a 30-60 day period where the investors have the exclusive right, but not the obligation, to make the investment. Investors typically conduct due diligence during this time without fear that other investors will pre-empt their opportunity to invest in the company.

Each of these issues are critical when raising venture capital, since the outcome can significantly impact the success of the venture and the wealth potential of the company founders and management team. Because venture capitalists are very knowledgeable regarding these issues, and have great skill in negotiating on them, companies who are raising venture capital should seek advisors who also have this experience and expertise.

About the author:
GT Business Plans has developed over 200 business plans for clients that have collectively raised over $750 million in financing, launched numerous new product and service lines and gained competitive advantage and market share. GT Business Plans is the sister site of GT Venture Capital

Online business is a real business like all other off-line ones, do it, seriously. by: heshuo

Yes, online business is a kind of business, not scam. How to be serious about it? Own your own domain name and website. Just image that you can gain a free website site from internet, yes, you can do that. But, you need an independent domain, not just sub-domain. You are the boss of your business, like, www.yourbusiness.com, instead of www.otherdomain.com/yourbusiness.com. You can see, which one is more formal and commercial?

Now days everybody surfs internet. For people, even many people, they treat online business as a redundant thing. They just want to earn some extra money from it. They don’t want to do the necessary investment for it. Getting a free website, post some ads, telling their friends that they will earn some money, blablabla… After excitement, they could not get what they expected, then they say that online business are full of shit, scam. We can say that online business is not good for them. They also can safe their time for other interesting things. Facts show that online business is a business, do it properly and consistently, you will get it. And your independent website site is your ID card in the home business world. Be serious to your business means you need to do this investment for that.

Domain name is your online name. Can you see how valuable it is for those successful domain names, which bring them huge online traffics, like, yahoo.com, google.com, Microsoft.com, … These names stand for credibility, reputation.

You can choose whatever name you want, but the basic rule is that, be catchy and easy, related to your business is also better. And the main task for you is to publish your website to increase its traffic as much as you can, using different ways, free ways, and/or paid ways.

Don’t be shocked that even some big business guys own more than ten different websites. Think about that, how huge the traffic for them? Now we just need to start from one website, do it. Don’t think too much.

Also that you can own a formal email address instead of free email ones, like, yourname@yourdomain.com. Sounds good, isn’t it?

If you don’t have your website now, get one today. You can go to:
http://www.Host4Profit.com/cgi-bin/home.cgi?63138
Just start now.

About the author:

Make Money Online With A Simple & Proven Formula Others Are Using Now To Earn Multiple Streams Of Residual Income: Follow 3 Easy Steps And I'll Personally Build A Money Making Website Just For You That's 100% Ready To Pull In Massive Residual Profits!

NanotechnologyInvestment.com Exclusive Interview with Nanosys Inc. “Company Develops Small Tech with Big Vision” by: dawn van zant

NanotechnologyInvestment.com Exclusive Interview with Nanosys Inc. “Company Develops Small Tech with Big Vision”

POINT ROBERTS, Wash., November 10, 2004 - NanotechnologyInvestment.com, a global research portal for the nanotechnology investment community is pleased to present an exclusive interview with the Chairman of nanotechnology leader Nanosys Inc. The interview gives investor and industry insight into a company that is recognized for multiple awards, an extensive patent portfolio, leading scientists, and exceptional industry partners. Founded in 2001, Nanosys has fast-tracked to become one of the most talked about companies in the sector.

NanotechnologyInvestment.com does not make recommendations, but offers a unique information portal to investors to research news, articles, and recent research.

Lawrence Bock, Executive Chairman of the Board and Peter Garcia, CFO, Nanosys Inc.
From the interview:

“When we grow these structures, we are integrating a lot of functional complexity into these structures as we grow them, so they’re no longer materials, they now become devices. So, for example, we can engineer things like high performance transistors, LEDs, solar cells, and so forth into these nanostructures as we grow them.” says Mr. Bock.

Which means that within two years, a commercial application should be available that will allow a roof to be turned into a solar panel with the application of a coated roofing material
Asked about how his company has moved to the forefront of the field so quickly, he replied:

“Most of the Companies in the Nano field right now are either “nano-pretenders” who have nothing to do with nanotechnology, or they’re in sort of what I would characterise as the nano-powders world, where they’re making heterogeneous sorts of powders which really address what I would call low value opportunities.”

Click here for the complete Audio Interview:
http://www.investorideas.com/Forums/Media/Nano/NanoInterview.mp3

About Nanosys:
Nanosys, Inc. is a leader in the development of nano-based products utilizing high performance inorganic nanostructures. Nanosys has built one of the broadest technology platforms in the industry with more than 250 patents and patent applications covering fundamental areas of nanotechnology. Based in Palo Alto, Calif. and privately held, Nanosys collaborates with industry leaders including Dupont, Intel, Matsushita Electric Works and SAIC to develop revolutionary products for computing, optoelectronics, communications, energy, defense and the life and physical sciences.

For a current list of Nanotech stocks:
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To be added to the list of stocks please email news@investorideas.com with your company information.

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Disclaimer: ECON Investor Relations Inc is the owner of this domain. ECON is a privately owned corporate communications company specializing in: investor relations, media relations, and research on public companies and industry sectors; for the investment community. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any specific products or securities. All investments involve risk. Past performance does not guarantee future results, therefor investigate before you invest! Although we attempt to research thoroughly, we offer no guarantees as to the accuracy of any information presented. We encourage all investors to use our sites only as a resource to further their own research. The site is compensated by its "Featured Companies, as outlined in our on-line disclaimer at www.InvestorIdeas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp
Interested Investors and Companies Contact:

Dawn Van Zant / Trevor Ruehs
Toll free: 800-665-0411
dvanzant@investorideas.com, truehs@investorideas.com

About the author:
NanotechnologyInvestment.com does not make recommendations, but offers a unique information portal to investors to research news, articles, and recent research.

Make Money With No Investment -Starting From Scratch by: Jack Reynolds

Investment Property Part I: How Not to Become a Slumlord by: Cameron Brown

Welcome to the first part of a two part series about getting into the investment property business.

After riding the ups and downs of the stock roller coaster for a while, an increasing number of investors are looking into property investment as a more stable alternative. With hot markets in many parts of the United States, the time may be ripe for you to get into this potentially lucrative trade. I would suggest, however, that you keep reading before you jump on the first property you find. You just might find something in this article that will keep you from breaking the bank and your back.

The hope of any investor is to build long-term wealth; this is a fairly straightforward principle and probably the reason you’re reading this article. There are however, some rules to play by in the property investment game if you don’t want to end up taking a shotgun with you every time rent needs to be collected. I’m talking about how to avoid becoming a ‘slumlord’.

In order to best relate the rules of being a successful landlord, let me share a story experienced by some extended family members. It’s a great example of what NOT to do if you want to get the most out of your investment property. After the story we’ll see what rules and lessons we can learn. Names have been changed to protect the identity of the innocent.

Ben bought a beater single-family investment property in a very bad area and he his two sons, Josh and Nathan, all got busy. They put in hardwood floors-don't want to have to replace carpet every time you have turn over, right? And then they thought they'd use really good paint-don't want have to repaint every time, right? And then they decided to splurge on good cabinetry and bathroom fixtures-a happy renter is a good renter, right? And to top it off, they put in nice towels on nice racks that said, "We are Family." Renters would appreciate that, right?

Right.

The first family to move in removed the bedroom and cupboard doors for firewood, tore out the nice bathroom fixtures and sold them at the swap meet, and fired small caliber rounds through the new hardwood floors. Ben discovered this when he received a call that the roof was leaking and he should, "Get your *** down here and fix it!" He patiently tried to explain that roofs do that when you pull shingles for kindling. Other wonderful visits ensued, prompted by similar calls.

It only took eight months to get them out of the house; turns out that tenant rights as outlined by the county enumerate more rights than the rest of us enjoy collectively. As the family moved out he noticed that mom and the two older boys all sported matching shirts stitched with "We are Family." The rest carried various pieces of the house.

Ben, Josh, and Nathan began to rebuild the house, finding all sorts of interesting changes to its structure. Nothing really serious other than a supporting beam was chain-sawed out (apparently more firewood), tile pried up in one bathroom-no clear reason why, gang signs scratched into all the glass and mirrors that weren't broken and other little surprises. While crawling under the house to repair bullet holes in a leaking plastic sewer pipe, Nathan found a bong and a bag a weed. I guess if you're stoned you tend to misplace things.

While helping restring some crawl space electrical wire-later found strung in the closet for hangers-Josh found a rusted out .32 caliber handgun. Somehow the tenants had managed to pry bricks out of the chimney, which Ben needed to replace in order to meet code. Apparently someone had driven an M1A1 Abrams up the driveway; there was no other way to explain the huge cracks in a driveway that had remained perfect for 20 years.

What can we learn from this horrific, yet unfortunately true story?

Rule 1
Location, Location, Location. Ok, so this might seem a little cliché, but it’s a fact that the location of your investment property will determine the kinds of tenants you will attract, and how much rent you can fairly charge. Remember, at some point in time in the future it may become necessary for you and your family to live there; what kind of neighborhood do you want to be in?

Rule 2
Don’t go overboard when you’re fixing up an investment property. You ought to expect reasonable wear and tear. Keep in mind that ‘reasonable wear and tear’ means something entirely different to a person whose renting than it does to an owner. And for goodness sake forget the, “We are Family” hand towels!

Rule 3
Know how to make basic repairs. Luckily for Ben and sons they had quite a bit of experience in various construction trades. Otherwise they may have lost even more money than they did through hiring out help. Knowing how to fix electrical wiring, repair drains, and replace windows will save you quite a bit of money down the road.

Rule 4
Screen your tenants as if they were moving in to live with you. This may be the most important step to avoid becoming a slumlord. Ask for and check references. Call previous landlords and ask questions like, “Did they pay rent on time? How was the condition of the house/apartment when they left? Did they ever disturb neighbors with loud music or yelling matches? How often would you have to make special trips for untimely repairs?” Being as informed as possible about who you rent to will make a huge difference in the profitability of your investment property.

Rule 5
Know your rights as a landlord. Be familiar with the eviction process in order to avoid long, drawn out disputes with tenants. Most states and counties provide online information about tenant and landlord rights.

Don’t repeat the mistakes made by Ben and his sons. Granted, getting into the investment property business takes hard work and you’ll have to put up with things you normally wouldn’t put up with. At the same time there are steps you can take to limit your liability while preventing yourself from becoming a ‘slumlord’.

In the next portion of this two-part article we will be discussing some of the financial aspects you should be familiar with in order to find the best deal possible on your first investment property.

About the author:

About the Author
Cameron Brown is a client account specialist with – More Visitors. More Buyers. More Revenue. For information on apartment financing, visit

Industrial Income Property Financing: Part 3 of 3 by: Cameron Brown

Welcome to the third and final segment of a three-part series about income property. In this segment we will be discussing financing options for industrial income properties as well as the upside (and downside) of owning this type of property.

Financial Concerns

Of the three types of income property, industrial property requires the greatest degree of technical expertise and experience. Likewise, financing the acquisition of an industrial income property can be, at best, very risky without adequate planning and know-how.

The first thing to consider is what kind of industrial application the building will be used for. Not all lenders will fund the purchase of all types of industrial income property types. For example, funding the purchase of industrial real estate to be used for petroleum refining is a risky investment for many lenders. Make sure your lender is able to support your income property goals.

LTV rates for most industrial income property loans run at a maximum of 75%, so plan on having a nice pile of investment capital on hand. Industrial loan interest rates can also be a little higher than for other income property types-usually between 5.6% and 7.5%. The 20-year term that comes with most industrial income property loans is fairly typical.

Managerial Concerns

Because of the nature of manufacturing facilities, liability becomes much more important than in residential or commercial income properties. Securing the proper type and amount of insurance can help mitigate much of the risk you will take on after you lease your industrial facility.

While industrial income property comes with certain risks and challenges, it lacks to a large extent, the oft-times inconvenient nature of residential income property management. Don’t expect any late night calls concerning overflowing toilets or broken stoves. Much of the time, the company leasing your property is obligated under contract to handle typical repairs and maintenance to the facility or equipment.

Unlike commercial and (especially) residential tenants, industrial tenants usually intend to lease your facility indefinitely, or until they either liquidate or their operations outgrow your building. This is good news because you are virtually guaranteed cash inflow for the duration of your income property investment.

Conclusion

In the final analysis, investing in industrial income property requires a lot more time, money, and prior experience than it’s commercial or residential counterparts. For investors with the right skills and financial backing, however, the payout can be much more rewarding than any other income property investment.

About the author:
Cameron Brown is an internet marketer specializing in investment property. For more information about residential income property, please visit Security National Capital.

HomebuilderStocks.com – Exclusive Industry Interview: John F. Kasprzak, Jr., Managing Director, BB&T Capital Markets by: dawn van zant

HomebuilderStocks.com – Exclusive Industry Interview: John F. Kasprzak, Jr., Managing Director, BB&T Capital Markets
POINT ROBERTS, WA. October 28, 2004 - www.HomebuilderStocks.com, a global investment news and research portal covering the homebuilder sector, is pleased to feature an exclusive interview with John F. Kasprzak, Jr., Managing Director, BB&T Capital Markets, who discusses the peril that investors face when basing investing decisions on a forecast of interest rates.
HomebuilderStocks.com provides investors with news, information, public company profiles, and developing trends in the homebuilder sector. The site does not make stock recommendations but offers a unique free information portal for investors to explore news, articles, and recent research. The site is currently compensated by featured company International Barrier Technology Inc. (IBTGF: OTCBB; IBH: TSXV).
Our current list of public companies in the sector includes: Beazer Homes USA, Inc., Brookfield Homes, Centex, Inc., Home Depot, Homestore, Inc., KB Home, Lennar Corporation, Lowe’s, Monterey Homes, Orleans Homebuilders, Inc., Pulte Homes and numerous others. For the complete list, click here: http://www.HomebuilderStocks.com/Companies/HomebuilderStocks/HomebuilderStockList.asp

Interview Excerpt:
HomebuilderStocks.com: Do you anticipate rising interest rates to affect the housing sector?
Mr. Kasprzak:
This is an interesting question because the consensus view has been that interest rates would rise this year, perhaps by a lot, and that housing would slow, perhaps by a lot. This has not occurred and underscores the peril that investors face when basing investing decisions, particularly on homebuilding stocks, on a forecast of interest rates. We believe interest rates would have to rise by 200-300 basis points to alter the housing market but the market would adjust. Housing demand is fundamentally driven by population growth and demographic trends, not interest rates, and these trends are unmistakably positive in our view.
HBS:
Is there any grouping within the sector that will outperform the rest?
Mr. Kasprzak:
While we have been generally bullish on the housing sector and homebuilding stocks due to their attractive valuations, we have liked the luxury sector quite a bit. Demographic trends really dovetail nicely with rising demand in the luxury sector. The baby boom generation is getting older and earning more money, and their is a huge intergenerational transfer of wealth occurring that bodes well for demand in the luxury area.
___________________________________________
ABOUT JOHN KASPRZAK:
John F. Kasprzak, Jr., managing director, BB&T Capital Markets, joined Equity Research in 1997. His industry focus includes companies engaged in building materials and home building. Kasprzak was named in the 2000 Wall Street Journal Best on the Street Analyst Survey (including number one in estimate accuracy) as well as the inaugural Street.com All-Star Analyst Survey. He has also been included in the Reuters Survey of Mid to Smaller Company Investment Research on three separate occasions.

Disclaimer:
BB&T Capital Markets has received compensation for investment banking services from WCI Communities, Inc. in the last 12 months.
BB&T Capital Markets expects to receive or intends to seek compensation for investment banking services from WCI Communities, Inc. in the next three months. An affiliate of BB&T Capital Markets received compensation from WCI Communities, Inc. for products or services other than investment banking services during the past 12 months.
Full Interview: www.HomebuilderStocks.com/Companies/HomebuilderStocks/Articles/BB&T_Capital_Markets.asp
Featured Company: International Barrier Technology Inc. (IBTGF: OTCBB; IBH: TSXV) develops, manufactures, and markets proprietary fire resistant building materials branded as Blazeguard. Barrier’s award-winning Blazeguard wood panels use a patented, non-toxic, non-combustible coating with an extraordinary capability: it releases water in the heat of fire. The panels exceed “model” building code requirements in every targeted fire test and application, and are unique in combining properties that increase panel strength and minimize environmental and human impact. Blazeguard provides Barrier’s customers a premium material choice meeting an increasingly challenging combination of requirements in residential and commercial building construction. Blazeguard customers include four of the five top homebuilders! www.intlbarrier.com
Disclaimer: www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp
Nothing on the site should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any specific products or securities. All investments involve risk. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investigate before you invest. Although we attempt to research thoroughly, there are no guarantees in accuracy. We encourage all investors to use our research as a resource only, but to further their own research on all featured companies, industry research and articles featured.
HomebuilderStocks.com/ECON is compensated by Featured Company IBH via a fee of $8000 and stock options of up to 110,000 shares exercisable at $0.80 and currently has a remainder of 25,000 options at 0.25 not exercised.

SOURCE: ECON Investor Relations Inc., which owns the domain www.HomebuilderStocks.com.
For more information contact:
Dawn Van Zant / Trevor Ruehs
Toll free: 800-665-0411
Email: dvanzant@investorideas.com or truehs@investorideas.com

About the author:
HomebuilderStocks.com provides investors with news, information, public company profiles, and developing trends in the homebuilder sector. The site does not make stock recommendations but offers a unique free information portal for investors to explore news, articles, and recent research.

Going Broke Committing To Your Job? A Home-Based Business Is The Answer by: Eugene Byers

As the price of gas hovers around $3 per gallon in many states, people everywhere are starting to wonder about their future. It doesn't help that oil industry analysts are predicting gas prices will remain high for months and maybe for years.

Suddenly, commuting to your job is looking like a major investment that's already a big hit on your budget.

Maybe it's time for you to finally start a serious home-based business. Don't panic. Starting a business at home doesn't need to take a big investment. It can be done cheaply, basically coming out of the grocery money. And you don't need more training or education, because some firms offer very simple, well thought out, automated systems for you to use.

Expect to hear anywhere from a helpful part-time income of a few hundred dollars per month to an impressive full-time income that would rival the earnings of many corporate CEO's.

Here's what to look for when choosing a home-based business:

* Find something that really sounds exciting to you. Success in business is often based strictly on your enthusiasm for what you're selling. If you truly enjoy the product, you'll sell a whole lot more.

* Don't let anyone tell you Network Marketing (or MLM) is a bad thing. Big corporate media reports often portray MLM in a bad light, but that's only because most reporters have very little experience working outside the corporation. The truth is MLM has hit it's own pace since the advent of the Internet. Many top companies are earning hundreds of millions of dollars each year, with thousands of happy members. These companies enjoy unprecedented low overhead and little to no debt.

* Look for a home-based opportunity that comes with all the training and support you'll need to get started. Nothing can be more detrimental to your business than getting all set up, then finding out there is no one to help you figure out what to do next. Look for opportunities that have online assistance, telephone help, or get you connected with other more experienced members.

Finally, don't put off the business you can start today. As the months go by and prices get even higher, more and more people will be looking for their own home based business to supplement or replace their income. Get started now to be at the top of this exciting movement.

About the author:
Euguene Byers has studied many home-based business opportunities. He offers the best of the bunch at Get instant info on this business that lets you earn cash and 24K Gold Bullion: Reach Eugene at high_impact4u@yahoo.com

Forex Trading Online - 7 Reasons You Should! by: Keith Thompson Copyright 2005 Keith Thompson

Forex trading online is a fast way to use your investment capital to it's fullest. The Forex markets offer distinct advantages to the small and large traders alike, making Forex currency trading in many ways preferable to other markets such as stocks, options or traditional futures. Here are seven reasons why you'll want to look into Forex Trading online.

1 - Forex is the largest market.
Forex trading volume of more than 1.9 billion, more than 3 times larger than the equities market and more than 5 times bigger than futures, give Forex traders nearly unlimited liquidity and flexibility.

2 - Forex never sleeps!
You can execute forex trading online 24/7, from 7AM New Zealand time on Monday morning, to 5PM New York time on Friday evening. No waiting for markets to open: they're open all night! This makes Forex trading online a very attractive component that fits easily into your day (or night!)

3 - No Bulls or Bears!
Because Forex trading online involves the buying of one currency while simultaneously selling another, you have an equal opportunity for profit no matter which direction the currency is headed. Another advantage is that there are only around 14 pairs of currencies to trade, as opposed to many thousands of stocks, options and futures.

4 - Forex Trading online offers great leverage!
You can make the most of your investment resources with Forex trading online. Some brokers offer 200:1 margin ratios in your trading accounts. Mini-FX accounts, which can typically be opened with only $200-300, offer 0.5% margin, meaning that $50 in trading capital can control a 10,000 unit currency position. This is why people are flocking to Forex trading online as a way to highly leverage their investments.

5 - Forex prices are predictable.
Currency prices, though volatile, tend to create and follow trends, allowing the technically trained Forex trader to spot and take advantage of many entry and exit points.

6 - Forex trading online is commission free!
That's right! No commissions, no exchange fees or any other hidden fees. This is a very transparent market, and you'll find it very easy to research the currencies and the countries involved. Forex brokers make a small percentage of the bid/ask spread, and that's it. No longer any need to compute commissions and fees when executing a trade.

7 - Forex trading online is instant!
The FX market is astoundingly fast! Your orders are executed, filled and confirmed usually within 1-2 seconds. Since this is all done electronically with no humans involved, there is little to slow it down!

Forex trading online can get you where you want to go quicker and more profitably than any other form of trading. Check it out and see what Forex trading online can do for you!

About the author:
Keith Thompson is the webmaster of a site focusing on the latest Forex news and resources.

Forex Trading: Great Opportunity or Scam? by: Steve Pickering

A lot of interest has been generated recently in FOREX trading, hailed by some as the great new investment opportunity. There are even companies running TV infomercials, offering sure fire systems that will bring massive profits in an easy fashion.

So what is forex? Is it something new? The exchange of currencies is said by some to be the world's second oldest profession and as long as there have been two sovereign states that have issued their own currencies, there has been foreign exchange as a facilitator for trade.

Forex, as foreign exchange has been abbreviated to, has been conducted for centuries and has become a global market with a daily turnover according to a recent Bank for International Settlements survey of $1.9 trillion (billion, billion) per day. Essentially it is a global market place with no physical exchange building where all claims on foreign currencies are settled - between governments, corporations, investors and speculators among others. Banks have traditionally been the middlemen who provide the liquidity to this gigantic market, which incidentally is traded on an almost continuous 24-hour basis.

Then came the Internet and suddenly it became possible for everyone to get a piece of the speculative action. Brokers sprouted up with their electronic trading platforms and high 'leverage'. Essentially the brokers lend clients funds to speculate with, 100:1 or in some cases up to 400:1 ratio, or leverage. This means that $10,000 can 'control' up to $4,000,000 in the market. This is far higher than is possible in the stock market.

Many people have been attracted to the possibilities of earning fast profits from forex. There are often sharp movements that can turn your $10,000 to $20,000 in a matter of minutes. You can also get wiped out, but the lure of a fast buck has turned would-be speculators into out-and-out gamblers.
The Internet has also made it possible for the individual to obtain so-called 'charts', that allow them to do 'technical analysis' on their own PCs. The theory is that price movement patterns repeat themselves, so if you have a system of analysis, you can predict a future move in the market.

This may well be the case, but it does not address the problems of the psychology of trading - the fear and greed that drives many to irrational behaviour. People are often taken in by the seller of a system, often paying $5,000 for a piece of software that shows a green light to buy and a red light to sell. However, they don't tell you how to manage your money.

So speculators lose. It has been estimated that 90% of new investors in forex lose their capital in the first year - an appalling figure. What can one do to avoid being a victim? Well, forex is a business like any other business and planning is required. It is also a profession and as such, adequate training is necessary so that you understand fully what forex trading is all about.

Many are prepared to invest thousands in forex trading without really knowing what it is all about. Just think if franchises were offered in a major hamburger chain without the franchisees having a clue how to run a restaurant or even make the burgers. The failure rate would also probably be 90%!
As with all investing, it is all a matter of risk and reward. Investing in Government securities is considered low risk, therefore they carry the lowest return. Increase the risk (the probability of loss on the investment), the higher an investor is rewarded in terms of return. An individual trading forex decides his own level of risk, which should dictate the level of reward. However, in the hands of an inexperienced trader, the two factors are impossible to reconcile, meaning in stark terms that traders cannot control the risk or the reward levels.

People attracted to forex trading often have an unrealistic expectation of what can be earned. To start with an investment of $5,000 and expect to be making $100,000 a year after the first year is unrealistic. It is not impossible; then again, neither is winning the lottery.
If the parameters for trading are laid down and adhered to combined with knowledge of forex trading, success is possible. It does not take much in the way of 'enhanced' returns to be able to double an investment. 26% per annum is required to double your investment within 3 years.

Who is going to teach you? There are some very good courses available, but these will only give you the theory, in itself very important. The ideal way is to have a mentor, or guide to show you the way.
Getting mentored is a wise move because it makes it possible to draw on the experience of a veteran expert and avoid making the common mistakes that cause the unwary to suffer catastrophic losses. After a while under guidance, a forex trader will gain the experience

The bottom line is that forex is not in itself a scam. There are for sure scam artists who prey on individuals' greed as there are in any other business. If it is approached in a sensible and realistic manner and the trader is prepared to work hard, forex can provide a good living both financially and materially.

About the author:
Steve Pickering is founder and owner of Forex Trader Mentor and has been engaged in the forex markets since 1971.

Find Investment Properties - 10 Ways by: Steve Gillman

If you really want the best deals in investment properties, you have to increase your odds by finding more deals. Who is more likely to get a cheap apartment building, an investor that looks through the MLS listings and calls it a day, or the one that uses ten resources? Here are the ten:

1. Talk. Let people know you are looking and sometimes the properties will come to you. There are a lot of owners out there who want to sell, but haven't yet listed their property.

2. Use the internet. Go to a search engine and enter the type of real estate you are looking for, along with the city you want to invest in. You never know what you might find.

3. Drive around looking for "For Sale By Owner" signs. Owners often don't want to pay to keep the ad in the paper every week, so you won't see all properties there.

4. Find abandoned properties. That's a pretty clear sign that the owner doesn't want to deal with the property. He might sell cheap.

5. Find old "For Rent" ads. Call if they are a few weeks old. Landlords are often ready to sell, especially if the haven't yet rented the units out.

6. Talk to bankers. You might get a foreclosed-on investment property cheaper if you buy it before they list it with a real estate agent.

7. Offer someone a finder's fee. There are people that always seem to hear about the good deals. Have such people coming to you.

8. Eviction notices. If your local papers publish eviction notices, or if you can get the information at the courthouse, it can be useful. A landlord who just went through the procees of evicting tenants is a likely seller.

9. Old FSBO ads. If you call on two-month-old "For sale By Owner" ads, and they haven't sold, they may be ready to deal. Owners often give up the effort, but still would love to sell. Help them out!

10. Put an ad in the paper. "Looking for investment properties to buy," might be sufficient to generate a few calls.

About the author:
Steve Gillman has invested in real estate for years. To learn more, and to see a photo of a beautiful house he and his wife bought for $17,500, visit