The House of Representatives passed the Expanding America’s Homeownership Act of 2007 and it will most likely be passed by the Senate and signed by the President after some minor adjustments. This is the biggest change that has occurred in the FHA since its inception. If the Chamber has its way, this would actually change FHA’s initial purpose from being an agency formed to help low-income households to one that helps nearly all Americans own and maintain their homes.

Increased FHA Loan Limits

Why am I saying this? The FHA has always been focused on helping poor and low-income areas to be able to buy houses. The new bill now before the Senate proposes increasing loan limits from $200,000 to $350,000 up to $700,000 in areas with high median home prices. I personally don’t know of any low-income people who own $700k homes, except for those people who lied on their loan applications and “claimed” they made $10,000 a month as a janitor at Wal Mart and actually got the loan. Fortunately, Bush has declared that he will not allow this to happen. He intends to keep the purpose of FHA intact. I think the Senate will do the same. Bush plans to keep the FHA loan limit at $417,000 or less. We should see each other very soon.

Elimination of financial audit requirement for brokers

This is the second largest change for FHA. If approved by the House, it would open the door for about 90% of the nation’s mortgage brokers who were previously restricted from becoming an FHA-approved broker (loan agent) due to the cost barrier. Most people don’t realize it, but audited finances can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $20,000 for the average small broker to obtain. FHA-required audited financial statements must be completed by a peer-reviewed CPA and minimum net worth must be $50,000 in accordance with FHA’s strict net worth calculation guidelines. Now, 90% of brokers who did not have the time, money and resources to put together audited financial statements, can submit a bond in lieu of audited financial statements. A bond is obtained through insurance companies and covers the consumer or third party in a transaction and is paid by the mortgage company if it is used by the state to pay a consumer or third party. The new bill proposes a bond between $50,000 and $100,000. Most analysts would agree that something similar to this will be in the amended bill when it passes the Senate.

What will be the effect of this bill

Whether the FHA loan limit increases to $700,000 in some areas or to $417,000, the bill will dramatically change the purpose of FHA. Many people will look to FHA as a place to get a loan that conventional lenders cannot provide. This is possible through FHA initial mortgage insurance that can reduce the risk of higher debt-to-income and loan-to-value ratios. We will also see a big increase in FHA advertising when most mortgage brokers get access to be FHA approved brokers. Unfortunately, the Chamber tends to think that this will be the solution to the current problems in the market. This is a great start, but I think it will take a lot more than this to adjust to all the lies and deception that have occurred in the last 5 years in the mortgage industry.

The credit crunch is real and it has been devastating for commercial real estate owners. Traditional lenders like big banks, Wall Street stockbrokers, Hartford insurance companies, and the financial arms of large multinational corporations (i.e., GMAC) have stopped originating any and all unsecured loans. They can be sold to the government or to the bond market. Government sponsored companies like Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Ginnie Mae, HUD (Housing and Urban Development) and FHA (Federal Housing Administration) are doing the work of the Yeomen by providing as much liquidity as they can, but the bond market has pretty much ceased to function as a provider of capital. There is still a massive shortage of money to lend. Hundreds of billions of good quality deals that should be funded are being turned down.

Desperate commercial real estate investors scramble to find lenders who are actually willing to lend. Borrowers looking for alternative sources of financing are increasingly turning to entities known as private equity firms to obtain the financing they need.

Private equity firms are opportunistic investment companies created to invest the wealth of their backers and investors. They are similar to hedge funds in many ways, but are structured somewhat differently and can often be more flexible and creative in their investment options. Many private equity firms are flush with cash and hungry for good deals. Developers and property owners who have relationships with private equity firms enjoy a reliable source of money for their real estate projects.

Very few private equity firms are established to be exclusively commercial mortgage lenders. Most of them are designed to use sophisticated leveraged buyout strategies to acquire other successful businesses. However, many firms have real estate divisions that make loans and/or take equity positions on good deals they find. These companies typically have a degree of experience in commercial real estate and have a healthy appetite for mortgage debt.

Private equity firms are very opportunistic and seek very high returns. They charge teen interest rates and add several origin points as well. Private loans are not cheap, but they are available to borrowers with attractive offers. Additionally, private equity firms generally lend based on the amount of equity in the collateral property; their loans are not credit driven. Many borrowers with less than perfect credit are surprised to learn that they can still qualify for a stock-based loan from a private equity shop.

Private equity is highly protective of your investment capital; they demand a significant amount of equity in any deal they finance. It is extremely rare for the amount of a private equity loan to exceed 70% of the value of the target property. Most of the loans they make are “bridge” type loans that mature in 12-36 months. Before lending money, they must be sure that the borrower has a viable exit strategy.

With banks and other big lenders out of the picture, private equity is stepping in to take advantage of the huge market for commercial real estate mortgage loans. For borrowers lucky enough to know where to find them and how to approach them, private equity can provide all the funds they need. Borrowers without established relationships with private equity will need to use intermediaries, agents or consultants who have Wall Street experience to obtain the excess.

Hello investor.

OK… let’s see what you’ve done so far.

He sent out his marketing, hopefully on autopilot, but either way, the sellers called him to resolve their issue.

You talked to the salespeople on the phone. You built a report with the decision makers (the sellers), over the phone, showing them empathy with their situation. I also assume that you have gathered all the necessary information, which you need to verify if you want to proceed to the next step, viewing the home and meeting the sellers.

This is where it gets good!

Moving forward, this item will greatly increase your chances (as I personally like to call it) of getting ink or closing the deal (meaning sellers signing on the bottom line).

I always tell investors, you can be the most creative, have the best financing, or be the best in your county at painting the interior of your house…

But, IF YOU CANNOT get the sellers to sign at the bottom of your contract…

Nothing else matters.

That is what this article will focus on, for you to take away.

1. All decision makers must or should be present when you have your home meeting. If both are not present at this time, then you are giving a “1 Leg Toss”… Good luck! Of course, sometimes, there are genuine reasons why you can’t meet with all the decision makers, and then it’s up to you whether you want to move forward or pass. Normally, I will not attend the meeting IF all parties are not present. A word to the wise, you should ask them, up front, if all parties will be present at the meeting, otherwise they will deliberately only have 1 decision maker there, and then it’s very easy to give you a delaying tactic, as to why you can’t sign… They need to discuss it with their partner.

2. You should take a quick 5-10 minute tour of the house. You are looking for the good and bad features of your home. One of the biggest mistakes I see most investors make is that they start beating sellers around the house, thinking they’ll get a better price, because they pointed out every little blemish in their house. You don’t want to embarrass them, that’s the worst reaction you can get. Obviously, you’re taking notes of all the bad things and needed repairs, and it’s possibly a time when you need to bring them into the conversation, but not unless the sellers aren’t realistic about the needed repairs for your home. Also, if you can find any reason to give the sellers a genuine compliment on something, this would be a good time, during your initial tour of your house.

3. Third, they must be LIKED, period. Sounds basic, I know, but “How do you get someone to like you?” In fact, it’s very easy, you need to get them to talk about themselves, which in turn means that you are the one asking the questions about them. Not as a police station interviewer, but as a concerned family member, looking to help them out of their situation, and needs this information to help them. Usually, if you’re asking the right questions and they like you, they won’t shut up… which is what you want.

4. Fourth, they must TRUST YOU. I promise, if they don’t trust you, good night, it’s over, you’re done, stick a fork in you, because it’s not going to happen. You would have a better chance of getting front row tickets to a Madonna concert than having the vendors ready to sign you to a contract. The easiest way to build trust is to not sugar coat everything you tell them, be honest and direct. Many investors have problems with this; tell them up front that if you buy your house, you’ll make a profit… period. You are not there for your good looks, you are there to create a win-win scenario. It also helps, being a REAL PERSON, I mean don’t be afraid to make fun of yourself, put yourself down, always works great.

5. You are a professional, prepare yourself. I will usually carry an agreement folder with me, which has all the necessary documentation (contracts, authorization letters, deeds, land trusts, etc.). Also, I print out my computer research on your house, drafts, and county information retrieved online. I also have a book of testimonials from my past sellers, as well as a picture book of the last 50 homes my team and I have completed. Now, if you’re a new investor and don’t have 50 properties, you can always gather 5 character references from friends, work, family, etc. and put it in a nice folder.

6. Be a consultant; tell them your options, EVEN if you don’t get the business. This is very important, be willing to tell sellers (if you know it in your heart) that YOU are not the best fit for them, and they might be better off taking a different route. Here’s the kicker, the alternative, would be for you to lie to the sellers and unless they’re retarded, they’ll know you’re lying to them anyway, and now you’ve lost all credibility. The funny part is that they will probably still want you to buy their house, even though they can get more money using another option, because you were the ONLY one who was honest with them… people love honesty.

7. Take over the sale and close the deal, BUT DO NOT be a used car salesman. Assuming all goes well; they like you, don’t get swooned by your low offer, and ask you all sorts of buying questions (ie, how soon can we close and who pays closing costs, etc.), now is the time to cancel your contract. (never call it a contract, call it an agreement) and CLOSE THE DEAL. The best way is to simply ask, “If I can afford $XX and close on this date, that tells me we’re ready to move on, right?” And then SHUT UP and let them answer you.

8. BONUS: What happens after you close for their signatures and they don’t sign? No problem, we just have to go back a few steps, because we’re missing something. Most of the time, you have missed 1 of their Hot Buttons (something that is very important to them) and not addressed it. The best way is to ask them directly what is holding them back right now. Listen to them, trust your intuition, does their reason sound genuine? Many people (including me) just want to sleep for one night, because they don’t want to make a hasty and hasty decision. If you’re still confused, let them know, you have a lot of opportunities on your plate, right now, and your offer is only good or open for 1 week, from your meeting, after your deadline expires, your offer is off the table. table. I also like to ask (sellers) that if they’re going to meet with a lot of investors to ask for offers, that they let me try to outbid the best offer, giving me the last chance. Sellers will usually have no problem accepting my request.

In conclusion, using these principles that I mentioned above will make you much more money, because you will be able to close sellers on demand.

Remember, closing the deal is not a bad thing, only people or investors who are afraid to ask for the deal hate closing. More importantly, knowing how to close deals (especially vendors) is one of the most critical attributes you must have to be a millionaire entrepreneur.

If you live in an apartment or condo, you may need to rely on your building’s central cooling system to keep you comfortable during the scorching summer heat. However, if this proves to be inefficient or if you are concerned about rising energy costs, you may need to turn to less efficient cooling methods such as portable or ceiling electric fans to find respite from rising temperatures. Fortunately, portable air conditioners are the perfect portable cooling solution for areas that cannot accommodate traditional window units, such as apartments or even computer server rooms.

Portable air conditioners work similar to traditional window or central air conditioners in that they use the refrigeration cycle and a refrigerant to cool a room or area. However, they are portable, mobile and do not require any type of permanent installation. Instead, they consist of a box-shaped frame that holds both the hot and cold sides of the air conditioner along with an exhaust hose to expel the heat. Water is removed from the air and this condensate is collected in a tray or bucket located inside the unit or, in more advanced models, even self-evaporating.

When shopping for a portable air conditioner, one of the most common terms you’ll see in ads is the BTU rating of a unit. As an acronym for British Thermal Units, BTUs refer to the cooling capacity of a portable air conditioner, and can range from 5,000 BTUs to 18,000 BTUs. The higher the BTU value, the more powerful the air conditioner will be. To get a rough estimate of how many BTUs you’ll need for your room, simply find the square footage of the room and multiply this number by 35.

Keep in mind, however, that while BTUs are one of the most important factors to look for in an air conditioner, keep in mind that many portable AC manufacturers often exaggerate the BTU rating of their units as a way to market their products. Fortunately, in our search for the best portable air conditioners on the market, we found the NewAir AC-1600H to be one of the most powerful portable ACs available.

Take a look:

When we first took the NewAir AC-1600H out of its package, we were very impressed with its design. Its sleek silver finish complemented our 400-square-foot living room decor, and the unit itself weighed about 75 pounds. Caster wheels made maneuvering easy, while the large, easy-to-read LCD display panel with remote control made operation simple and hassle-free.

Cooldown Abilities:

As mentioned above, BTU ratings are one of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a portable AC. The NewAir AC-1600H provided 16,000 BTUs of cooling power, more than many of the units we tested. NewAir recommends that this unit be used in areas of 400 square feet or less, but we found that it may even have the ability to cool slightly larger areas under ideal conditions (64° to 90° F).

Moisture removal:

Using the refrigeration cycle of a portable air conditioner also allows it to remove moisture from the air, making it especially good for humid areas. In addition to cooling, the NewAir AC-1600H portable air conditioner also had the ability to remove up to 80 pints of water per day. Also, because it used advanced auto-evaporation technology, this eliminated the need to empty the water tanks (assuming your climate isn’t too humid).

Multifunctionality:

The NewAir AC-1600H also came with a built-in heater that offered 16,000 BTUs of heating power. Additionally, the inclusion of a 3M Filtrete filter removed dust, pollen, bacteria, and animal dander from the air, while the activated carbon filter was able to absorb odors such as smoke.

Overall, we found the NewAir AC-1600H to be an excellent portable AC that packs many advanced features. Best of all, it offers more BTUs than most portable ACs on the market, and its sleek European design is sure to complement any décor in your home.

One of the biggest concerns for anyone considering bankruptcy is how their credit will be affected by filing. Everyone knows that there is some impact. Most disagree as to the size or duration of the impact. That and how to rebuild are two things I hope to shed some light on in this post.

What if I just smile and bear it?

One question to ask yourself is, “What is going to happen to my credit score if I don’t file bankruptcy?” For many people contemplating bankruptcy, they are already at the point where they cannot pay their ongoing debt obligations. If this is you, your credit score takes a hit with each passing month that you’re not making your monthly payments. To give you an idea, once you’re 30 or 60 days late, your credit score starts to take a hit. If you let a payment get to the point where it’s 90 days late, it will stay on your credit report for up to 7 years and have a significant impact on your score. Having just a couple of these events could be just as damaging or more damaging than filing for bankruptcy in the first place. Because of this, once you recognize that you won’t be able to find a quick way out of the situation, it’s probably best to set the wheels of bankruptcy in motion. The higher your score is before you file, the higher it will be after you file and get discharged.

Debt resolution companies and your credit.

Many people try to do everything possible to avoid bankruptcy, for some people this includes entering into agreements with companies that promise a lower payment by consolidating their debt. These companies come in a variety of flavors. Although that is a topic for another time. What many of them will do is come to an agreement with you where you make a monthly payment to them, then they hold the money until they have enough to make an offer on any particular debt, or they make small monthly payments to everyone. of the creditors at the same time. The problem is that this does not prevent creditors from reporting negatively to the credit bureaus. It also doesn’t necessarily prevent creditors from suing you in state court, getting a judgment, and garnishing your wages. Another problem is that if they settle, it will show up as settled for less than the full amount, which hurts your score. On top of that, if you settle, you’ll probably get a 1099 from the company and probably have to claim the forgiven amount as income on your taxes. That will mean you will have a smaller refund or owe.

How long does it stay on your report and what does that mean to you?

First, if you are in a difficult financial situation and are having trouble paying your rent or making a house payment, this should not be a factor in your decision to apply. That being said, how long it stays on your report and how long the bankruptcy notation negatively affects you are two very different things. If you file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, it will generally stay on your report for 10 years. If you file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, that will stay on your report for 7 years after the case is discharged. Seven to ten years seems like a long time. That’s a long time, but within that seven to ten year period you can still buy cars, houses and get credit. The general rule of thumb is that about two years after a chapter 7 you can get a home loan (sometimes just a year), almost immediately after the case you can get a car loan and credit cards. Not bad, right? You must tread carefully here. Look at the offers you are receiving and only accept the best ones, it will be of no use if you start requesting many cards at the same time, limit yourself to one or two at most. When you can get credit will depend on your income and your credit score. I have seen clients with scores in the 500s before filing a Chapter 7 have scores in the 700s a year after the case was dismissed. On the other hand, I have seen other customers with low scores come back a few years later and they still had low scores. So what’s going on there?

How to improve your score after bankruptcy.

If you do what you did and nothing else has changed, your credit score probably won’t change much. The lowest your score could be is between 300 and 403, depending on the type of FICO score. The highest it can be is around 850, but that also depends on the type of score. If you don’t use credit, your score won’t go anywhere. So what can you do? The first thing I recommend is to go to http://www.annualcreditreport.com and get all three reports for free. This is something you can do once a year. Once you have them, you’ll want to review them, possibly with the help of your attorney, to determine if the credit reporting agencies are correctly reporting your debts as discharged in bankruptcy. If they are inaccurate and refuse to correct errors, you may have remedies through your old bankruptcy case or a cause of action under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Once your report is in order, you can start rebuilding. A good idea is to start with a secured credit card or store brand card. With a secured card, the creditor usually asks you to deposit $300.00 to $500.00 and that becomes your credit limit. There is very little risk to the cardholder because they have the security of their deposit, but the benefit to you is that they will report it to the credit bureaus. If you need a car, a car loan with a reasonable payment is another great way to improve your credit score as long as you can and really make your payments on time. My secret credit score repair weapon is IBR. If you have federal student loans and are low income or living paycheck to paycheck, you should at least consider this program. IBR stands for Income Based Payment, you can apply for it on the following site. https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/understand/plans/income-driven. The great benefit of this plan is that many people who filed for bankruptcy may be eligible for payments of $0.00. If you are eligible and sign up for a payment of $0.00 or any payment, and you are approved, each month that passes that you make that payment (yes, even the zero dollar payment, if you are eligible) is a month that your lender reflected as punctual payment to the credit bureaus. The more on-time payments you have, the better your credit score will be.

Best of luck,

Steven Palmer, Esq.

Licensed in Ohio and Washington

Are you preparing to rent a house? If so, have you thought about what to look for? Do you know what questions to ask your potential new landlord? And lastly, how exactly should you rent that house? These are all good questions that we are going to answer in this article.

What is the most important thing to look for when renting a house? It’s a simple answer and you’ve heard it before: location, location, location. This is not only important when you are buying a home, but also when you are renting.

If you live in one place and have to travel a long distance to get to work, you probably won’t be happy. Or, if you have children and they go to public schools, then you want to make sure you rent a house that is in a good school district. Or, perhaps in your free time you like to spend time fishing. So it’s important to be near a good watering hole. Location, location, location…it’s so important!

Another important factor to consider is cost. Rent and utilities must not exceed 36% of your total income. Renting a good house is important, but don’t let it ruin you financially.

After you’ve found a rental home in a suitable location and at a price you can afford, there are some important questions to ask your potential landlord. Questions like:

1. How long does the landlord plan to rent the house?
2. How long will the current rental rate be guaranteed?
3. Can you estimate how much the next rent increase will be?
4. Are pets allowed? If so, what type of pets and are there any size or weight limitations?
5. Who is responsible for maintaining the landscape?
6. If painting is required, will the landlord provide the labor and materials?
7. Can the landlord provide an estimate of the costs for electricity, gas, sewer and garbage?
8. Can the landlord provide you with any details about the neighbors who live in the area?
9. Is a security deposit required and if so, how much?
10. Does your down payment include the first and last month’s rent or just the first month’s rent?

These are important questions to ask your prospective landlord. Your answers will help you determine your initial investment and your future costs. These answers will also help you decide how cooperative your future landlord can be. Don’t hesitate to ask these questions.

Renting a house is a whole process. Once you have found a home that meets all of your expectations, you must sign a contract with your new landlord. But before you do, the landlord may ask you to fill out an application. Don’t be surprised if the landlord asks you to do this… the information you provide to the landlord will help ensure that you are a suitable tenant.

The landlord must provide you with a contract to sign. If you don’t have one, you can buy one at Office Depot or you can get one from your real estate agent. It is the landlord’s responsibility to provide you with that contract in writing and not to rent a home without that contract.

Once your landlord has provided you with a contract to sign, it’s in your best interest to have someone thoroughly review that contract before you sign it. This person may be a real estate attorney or a close family member who has contract experience. Be sure to review every word of the contract.

Renting a house does not seem complicated, and in reality it is not. Just make sure you cover the above fundamentals and you should be safe. Good luck finding that home you are looking to rent!

Thinking of selling your small business? Are you one of those intrepid entrepreneurs who think they can market, negotiate and close a deal on their own or are you going to take the more logical route of working with a business broker? If sanity prevails and you are going to work with a professional, here are some things to look for in finding the best business broker.

1. Get recent referrals

Ignore all the hype a brokerage firm places in their literature and ask for recent references and then follow up and check them. If you are dealing with a larger business brokerage, get referrals from the broker you will be working with. Big offices will always have newbies and you want to make sure the broker you get knows what he’s doing.

2. Work with certified brokers

Many states require commercial brokers to have a real estate license, but just having that license doesn’t mean the broker necessarily knows anything about buying or selling a business. In fact, a number of real estate agents become “business agents” when the real estate market slows down. What you should be looking for is certification from the Association of Business Brokers International which awards a certificate as a Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) after completing an extensive educational course.

3. Don’t be fooled

If the reason you are considering selling is because you received a letter or email from a broker with the message “We have a buyer for you,” think again. This is one of the most common marketing tactics used in this business. Sure, these brokers probably have people interested in buying a business, but not necessarily yours.

4. Don’t rush into a decision

Selling your business is a big deal and you want to make sure you get it right. In your conversation with brokers, ask if now is a good time to sell. Ask for a valuable opinion. Getting to this can take a bit of time, and if the broker is reputable, he or she may recommend that you not put the business on the market, but instead make suggestions on what to do to improve the value. A broker who makes this suggestion is looking to make both of you more money by making the business more attractive.

5. Choose a brokerage with experience in your industry

Look at the current listings the broker has. Check both the size and types of industries to make sure you have experience in your market. Again, don’t rely on the marketing material, find out the facts yourself.

6. How does the broker market

Ask what the broker’s marketing plans are and ask to see samples. If you simply put an ad in the newspaper or post it on only one website, you probably won’t get the exposure you deserve. Good brokers have networks they can access to find interested and qualified buyers.

7. Avoid service packages

At some point in the sales process, you will need the services of an attorney and a qualified accountant. Your broker will probably offer those services, but in most cases what he or she is doing is subcontracting to someone else. If you have your own attorney and CPA, stick with them. If not, it may be less expensive to find and deal with those professionals directly instead of getting them through the broker.

Finding the best business broker is really not that difficult, it just requires some time and effort on your part. However, getting the best broker makes a big difference in how the experience unfolds and the overall value of the deal.

The use of steel as a construction material has experienced spectacular growth in recent years. Although steel buildings have been used in the commercial and industrial sectors for a long time, they are increasingly gracing the skylines of countries around the world.

The use of metals in construction began in the 18th century with the use of iron columns within the walls. Iron beams and columns became a common feature in large industrial buildings over the years. Since Sir Henry Basserner invented steel in 1855, it has become an integral part of bridges, pipelines, and even skyscrapers. Various difficulties related to the use of wood, such as its cost and the impact its use has on the environment, have contributed to the popularity of steel.

Steel buildings offer many advantages. They are generally built much faster than buildings using other materials; costs are often lower compared to traditional construction methods; they are lighter in weight; they are easier to maintain; and carry a reduced risk of fire. In addition, steel is 66% recyclable, making it a particularly cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to any other construction material. Above all, strength is a great advantage for steel. Steel structures can withstand unfavorable weather conditions such as hurricanes, high winds, heavy snowfall, and even earthquakes. They are also resistant to termites, propagation, cracking, cracking, and rot, increasing durability.

Although steel frame homes are still slightly more expensive than traditional wood buildings, the savings from being more energy efficient and having reduced maintenance make them an attractive alternative. Additionally, they can be given a conventional look by covering them with traditional building materials such as brick, siding, or stucco. There are several benefits, such as lower insurance costs (since the risk of fire is lower), lower assembly and labor costs, and lower material costs due to the pre-cast design. Modern technologies have also influenced the growth of the steel building systems industry as they can be used to improve design and manufacturing.

Steel building products, including steel frames, are made from recycled steel. No less than 28% of steel frames are recycled steel, which can then be recycled in turn. This is better for the environment than wood, as it is estimated that a typical 2,000 square foot home uses wood from around 50 trees. The same house, when built with steel, requires only about six junked cars.

Smart TV evolution

The expectations of our TVs have changed: we now expect our team to do much more than just flip through the TV channels. Consumers have been able to sample a wide range of online content available through TVs, allowing them to watch shows they may have missed through apps like Plus7 and I-View, and “rent” the newest video release directly from the TV from apps like Bigpond TV. Content that we traditionally only accessed on our PC is now available to us through our televisions, Blu-Ray players, and home theater systems, bridging the gap between the Internet and television.

Films

One of the most attractive capabilities of smart TVs is the ability to stream movies over the Internet directly to our big screen. This has revolutionized the way many people access their videos, and the video rental industry is beginning to feel the pinch. In fact, Samsung just announced that it signed a deal with Blockbuster to bring more movies to Samsung devices. Blockbuster’s new streaming service is expected to hit the US and Europe in early 2012 and Australia in September.

Bigpond Movies has been available on Samsung and LG TVs for a couple of years now, and this represents a collection of thousands of new and back catalog titles streaming to your TV over the Internet. No more leaving the house to go to the video store, or racking up late fees for that disc you forgot to return.

Quickflix has previously been available on Sony TVs and Blu-Ray players, and thanks to a recent deal, Samsung has teamed up with Sony to partner with the online DVD subscription service and develop an app that will allow Australian users to stream video content to your Samsung Smart TVs.

Sony is also bringing us its own streaming service, Video on Demand, which offers late-release movies in the option of HD or a cheaper SD version, for those of us who don’t have the fastest internet speeds available or just adjust our wallets.

Consumers are also beginning to use services such as T-box from Telstra and FetchTV, a similar service from Optus, over traditional cable or satellite connections from Foxtel and Austar. This has become a billion dollar industry in Australia, with nothing but growth forecast in the near future.

There are also a plethora of multimedia devices available on the market such as Apple TV, Boxee and WD Live, so we now have the widest choice of Internet content available for us to watch on our TV screens than ever before. Two of the most powerful media hubs have grown out of Sony’s PlayStation and Microsoft’s Xbox, with the latter recently also being able to stream a wide selection of Foxtel channels including movies and sports over the Internet. Both also have movie streaming services available.

Television

Smart connectivity also opens up a lot of options for us when it comes to TV channels. Almost all major TV manufacturers have ABC’s popular I-View app pre-loaded in their menus. ABC iview is an up-to-date service featuring the best of ABC TV. You can watch your favorite shows in full screen at your leisure. Most shows are available to watch for 14 days and new shows are added every day.

Another ever-present app in the arsenal of any Smart TV is PLUS7. Plus7, from Yahoo and Channel 7, offers streaming video of full episodes as seen on Seven, 7mate and other content partners. High-quality full-screen videos are available for immediate streaming. New episodes are added daily and are available up to 28 days after airing. You can pause, fast forward, and rewind shows, and they’re all available to watch on your TV in full screen. PLUS7 also includes an email reminder service so you don’t miss watching shows before they expire. There is also the option to share videos with friends via email and Facebook.

BBC’s iplayer is another video-on-demand service providing access to the bulk of the BBC’s massive television archives, with over 1000 hours available at launch and “hours” of additional footage “added regularly” . Available content includes BBC news, documentaries, entertainment, drama, science and nature, as well as family and kids, music and culture, and comedy and lifestyle. There are also collections of the best BBC exports such as Dr Who, Little Britain, A Bit of Fry and Laurie, Absolutely Fabulous and more.

Bigpond TV is available through LG Smart TVs and Samsung Connected TVs (with Internet on TV functionality). This is also the same service available through Telstra’s T-Box. Bigpond TV is a TV channel streaming service that provides us with channels like AFL TV, NRL TV, Bigpond News, Bigpond Sport and Bigpond music and more. According to a study by the independent telecommunications research company Telsyte, one in ten subscription TV services in Australia is delivered via broadband and they predict that by 2015, one third of all pay TV services will be delivered. through broadband networks.

This is an obvious concern for cable subscription companies Foxtel and Austar. Austar, in particular, has seen a big downturn in its fortunes as it faces increasing competition from cheaper Internet TV rivals like FetchTV, iiNet and Internode, available from as little as $10 a month. With streaming Internet TV content available on Smart TVs, like first-run movies and TV shows, as well as many new free digital channels, compared to a cable subscription starting at $45 a month plus possible box charges, consumers are voting with their wallets in droves.

Music

TV giants Sony and Samsung will have music streaming services available on their Smart TVs, with Samsung’s “Music Hub” launching soon ready to revolutionize the connection between our music and our devices like never before.

Samsung’s Music Hub gives us access to shared music without the need to download and transfer content from one device to another, and the service will be available on Samsung Smart TVs, Samsung Smart Home Theaters and Blu-ray Discs. smart in mid-December. The music center offers owners of Smart TVs, Smart Home Theater and Smart Blu Ray players access to more than 10,000 music videos with the premium subscription.

The technology stores music playlists in a cloud, and music can be accessed from individual devices anywhere in Australia where an internet connection is available. One interesting feature is the “follow me” function, which allows users to start listening to stored music via a mobile phone, before picking up the same playlist when they get home via their TV.

Sony Music Unlimited has been available for a couple of seasons now, on phones, Bravia Smart TVs, PlayStation 3, and Sony PCs and tablets. There are over 10 million songs available on demand, from independent artists to blockbuster superstars. Thousands of new songs are added every week, and you can create and edit an unlimited number of playlists, as well as listen to any song you want as often as you like. There are internet radio channels categorized by genre, era, or mood. You can “Like” or “Dislike” tracks to customize channels to your personal taste, and you also have the ability to create new channels based on your favorite artists.

How smart will smart TVs be this year?

Viewers will be able to control their TV using facial recognition, in addition to voice and gesture controls, and move away from the traditional TV remote, similar to Microsoft’s XBox Kinect. LG and Samsung demonstrated voice and gesture controls on their next-generation TVs at CES 2012.

Samsung’s new 8 series TV, the ES8000, has built-in gesture recognition, via a camera that recognizes hand gestures and prompts you to change channels, adjust volume, move an on-screen cursor, and more.

Samsung and LG introduce voice control to some models in their 2012 lineup. Current LG Smart TV owners may be familiar with the Magic Motion Remote, which allows you to control an on-screen cursor similar to how a Nintendo controller works. Wii. This year will see an update to the Magic Motion remote that now offers voice recognition functionality. A microphone on the remote sends your voice to your Smart TV, allowing the user to search the web, tweet and post on Facebook, all using spoken words.

Panasonic has developed a new “flick” technology and believes it will open up new ways to display content from our mobile devices in perfect picture quality on a Viera TV. This will revolutionize the connectivity between our devices, allowing us to simply “tap” content to remotely stream photos, videos and web pages from Android or Apple products directly to the TV.

Another major feature coming is the ability to upgrade your TV with future features, without the need to buy a new TV. It will basically be in the form of an upgrade slot on the back of the TV and you will be able to purchase upgrade “kits” as they become needed and available.

Google has announced that LG, Sony and Vizio will showcase Google TV devices at CES 2012, with Samsung introducing Google TV later in the year, and Apple is also rumored to make TVs from 37″ to 50″, and reported iTV features, such as Siri-powered controls, iOS app support, AirPlay, iCloud support, and deep iTunes integration.

Sony has announced two Google TV add-on boxes in the form of a Blu-ray player and a network media player. These will ship to the United States and Europe shortly, and other parts of the world can expect to roll out later. Both boxes have a completely new remote control, with a backlit QWERTY keyboard with touchpad. The remote can also function as a universal remote for other devices, while the Blu-ray player also supports voice search.

death of the idiot box

The goal and vision of television manufacturers has advanced far beyond offering us great image quality. The ability to seamlessly link our media, whether on our phones, tablets or computers, with our home televisions has become paramount. A plethora of new content, in the form of apps bursting with movies, TV, and music, is moving us away from the traditional way we consume that content, putting heavy pressure on industries like traditional video and music stores, and cable TV. cable/pay. companies like Foxtel and Austar. What we used to have to leave home, now we have with a wave of the hand. The days of the lost remote control are disappearing fast, in fact, the days of using a remote control are disappearing completely. The idiot box has finally gotten smart!

Real estate investors buying foreclosures are increasingly finding apartment buildings with existing cell tower leases. Cell tower leases can be a foreclosure buyer’s best friend. However, buying foreclosed properties with a cell site lease is not easy, but deals are out there. Even the savvy real estate investor who buys a lot of foreclosures probably isn’t an expert on telecom leasing, and frankly, even real estate investment experts don’t know how to deal with leasing a cell tower when buying a building mortgage.

A cellular antenna lease will be attached to the cell phone tower on virgin land or a cellular antenna will be installed on the rooftop of a commercial or residential property. If the property is in foreclosure and the bank is not yet the receiver, it will be difficult to get the information unless the Owner/Landlord is cooperative and trusts you enough to allow you to see the lease. There really isn’t a way to identify these types of foreclosed properties. These types of deals are very difficult to find and we recommend that you do not waste your time chasing these rainbows. Focus on the low-hanging fruit: residential apartment buildings and bank-owned commercial properties.

It is much easier to search for REOs with existing cell tenants. If the property is owned by the bank, as trustee you must disclose all existing leases encumbering the premises prior to the sale, and it is in your best interest to provide the details of the lease or, if you are lucky… multi-operator leases.

You need to find out the value of the lease. You want to know the lease start date, which is the date they started paying the Owner after cell site approval. You want to know how much rent they pay each month, and what yearly increases the previous owner agreed to, and how many years are left at the end of the lease. The particular cell operator will also determine the value of the cell tower lease on Wall Street.

How can real estate investors find foreclosed properties that have cell phone carriers as tenants?

This is where you need to get creative. Good foreclosure investors have their guide dogs send them offers. Chances are, they never thought of seeking foreclosures with cell tower site leases. Your best bet is to network with your bank’s foreclosure specialist or REO servicer.

All the major banks have buildings on their books with cell site leases that they are not marketing to investors. They’re simply too busy to assemble a database of foreclosed properties with tenants from existing wireless carriers.

Successful real estate investors looking to find these deals should leverage their existing relationships with banks that do business in the territory in which they operate to identify potential businesses that have existing cellular leases and where the bank acts as a recipient. Ask your banker to scan their REO/Foreclosure database for terms like Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, Omnipoint, Cellco, Sprint, Nextel, Alltel, Cingular, AT&T, Metro PCS, Crown, Towerco, SBA or American Tower. If you find a foreclosed property or building with a cell tower lease attached, it can significantly sweeten the deal for you because you can take cash out of the cell lease, often in the six figures, and put it toward a mortgage or buying another. building.

It’s also a very good idea to have a cell tower leasing expert review the terms of your lease, which puts 99% of real estate attorneys at risk.