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Kwame Mainu, a young engineer employed by the Technology Consultancy Centre (TCC) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana, has been assigned temporarily to assist a project at Tamale in the Northern Region. The time is May 1982 and Ghana is enduring a period of exceptional economic hardship under the government of the People’s National Defence Council (PNDC) led by Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings. Food and fuel are scarce, electricity and water supplies are intermittent and all imported goods are virtually unobtainable. The situation is worst in the north. Kwame has been wondering how he can escape from Ghana to greener pastures. Then he meets Sally, a British volunteer also working for the project in Tamale.

One day, after the close of work, Sally asked Kwame if he would like to go with her to buy Guinea fowl for their supper. They walked through the town in the brief half-light of dusk to the central market where several women were roasting portions of Guinea fowl for sale to passers-by. They bought three portions, and some roast plantain to take back to share with Frank, the project manager.

It was now dark and, as usual in Tamale at this time, the power was off, so there were no streetlights. Under these conditions, pedestrians took advantage of the headlights of passing vehicles to light their way. A continual stream of passing traffic can maintain almost constant illumination and make the sidewalks relatively safe. Unfortunately, fuel was in short supply and most vehicles were parked in long queues at the filling stations, waiting for a tanker to arrive from the south. So the passing traffic was intermittent, bringing rare swathes of light followed by long intervals of blackness. The transit of each vehicle allowed a safe path to be gauged over only the next few metres. It was essential to see the path ahead because all pavements were badly broken and some roads had no pavements. Most road edges had deep storm drains that could easily turn a missed step into a broken leg. Walking in the roadway exposed pedestrians to the dual hazards of deep potholes and passing vehicles, including bicycles and even some cars with no lights. Drivers and riders tried to weave a path between the potholes and this led to vehicles swerving without warning. The walk home promised to be less than straightforward.

Frank had lent them his torch but it needed fresh batteries. They enquired in the market at several kiosks selling electrical goods but could find no batteries to buy. So they set out for home in some trepidation. Waiting for each vehicle to pass, they were able to move forward a few metres at a time. It helped their progress that the bad roads slowed the traffic and extended the periods of illumination. When they came to a smoother stretch they could risk walking on further in the darkness with Kwame walking carefully ahead and warning of any obstacles. At one point they were able to cut across an open expanse of grass, trying to keep to the well-trodden path and hoping that no poisonous snakes were lurking nearby. Kwame knew all about night adders that didn’t get out of your way. He didn’t want Sally to learn about them the hard way. Kwame felt responsible for the safety of this frail stranger in his land and was determined to get her home safely. He wondered if she had anticipated this hazardous return when she proposed the expedition. After all, he reasoned, this was almost certainly not the first time she had fetched Frank’s supper.

Although nothing more intimate occurred on the way home than catching Sally once or twice when she stumbled, Kwame felt that the shared experience had created a bond between them. It was then that he realised that Sally might provide the escape route he was seeking. He decided that on his return to Kumasi he would ask for a permanent transfer to Tamale.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Unlike fractional ownership of aircraft and houseboats, fractional owners of a cruise ship can all use the ship simultaneously. There is plenty of room for you and the other owners to live on the ship any time you want, or all the time. You can use it as a full-time residence, and so can the other co-owners.

The first obvious benefit of shared ownership is acquisition cost. There are many cruise ships on the market in all price ranges, sizes, ages, and conditions. There are many smaller and older cruise ships available for less than one million dollars. At the lower end, some smaller cruise ships in fair condition can be acquired for about $250,000. At the highest end, the biggest new mega cruise ships now cost about $500 million to build.

Do the math. If one hundred buyers pool resources in exchange for a percentage of ship ownership, the acquisition cost will be divided by that same number. One percent ownership of a $250,000 cruise ship would cost a mere $2500 for ship acquisition. At the other end of the scale, one percent ownership of a brand new mega cruise ship would cost five million dollars.

There are some other figures that must be tabulated into the total cost of ownership. Acquisition cost is first and foremost. The next figure is the cost to put the ship in service. On an older ship this cost may be higher than the acquisition cost. On the other hand, the cost to put a ship into service can be much lower if you were to get a good deal on a ship that already meets the international standards for ship safety, especially SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea). Maintaining compliance with Chapter II SOLAS 74 amendments is cost prohibitive for some older ships and they are typically scrapped instead of being refurbished at great expense. There is a very important SOLAS implementation date coming up on January 10, 2010. On that date all commercial international ships will be required to be in compliance with the new fire safety codes. The most important new codes deal with the use of combustible materials in the ship. It will be expensive to replace all combustible materials in ships with non-combustible or flame resistant SOLAS compliant materials that meet the new safety standards. This will result in many ships being sold for scrap metal.

The looming SOLAS 2010 implementation date offers both perils and opportunities. The biggest peril is the possibility that the expense to bring a ship into full compliance with international standards will be greater than the value of the ship. However, there is a silver lining in this cloud. This pending SOLAS implementation date has already started to show up as a primary factor in the asking and selling prices of ships on the market today.

SOLAS 2010 also offers a tremendous opportunity for those who may prefer to have a very large houseboat instead of a commercial ship. Ships that are not in compliance with SOLAS 2010 are now selling for a song (inexpensively). A cruise ship can easily be converted into a megayacht with the stroke of a pen. Privately owned yachts, not in commercial service, and not carrying passengers or cargo for hire are exempt from many of the SOLAS requirements. Operating costs are also lower for a private yacht. It cost less to register, flag, and insure a private yacht. Megayachts can be flagged and classified for unlimited service. That means that a megayacht can go practically anywhere you want it to go. There is one major drawback to registering a cruise ship as a private yacht. You cannot use the yacht commercially. This cuts off a potential revenue source.

There are many decent cruise ships for sale at prices of less than one million dollars that would make good private megayachts. For example, take the ‚VERGINA SKY‘ is a ship that I have personally inspected and so I can talk first hand about it. The asking price was $750,000. Here are the specifics of the ship in a nutshell:

Current Name: Vergina Sky

Ship Details: Built: 1971 in Japan – totally rebuilt 1992 in Greece

Dimensions: LOA 97.8m x LBP 82m x beam 14.6m x draft 4.49m Dwt: 500 on 4,49 GT/NT: 4,668 / 1,717

Description: Pielstick 2 x 8400bhp, twin screw, bow thruster, 3 x 500kw generators, 16 knots, 2 saloons, restaurant, 3 bars, casino, duty free shop, disco, swimming pool, 120 cabins for 318 guests. Lying Greece

My Comments after inspecting the ship

This is a well built little ‚Pocket Cruiser.‘ At just over 320′ in length overall, it is a small cruise ship. Many experienced cruise passengers prefer smaller more intimate cruise ships for a variety of reasons. This ship can go places where the big cruise ships cannot reach, such as shallow draft ports and even many rivers. It has an omni-directional bow thruster and can turn on a dime (relatively speaking of course). I have carefully examined this ship from the engine log to the ultrasound hull report. This is a sound and safe little cruise ship. It is also a very fuel efficient and economical ship. My first time on this ship was in the middle of the summer in Greece when it was very hot outside. The ship is fully air conditioned and it was cool and comfortable inside the ship. I checked the engine room to see how many generators were running. I am happy to report that all the electric and air-conditioning requirements can be met by running just one of the three Daihatsu generators. These generators are very economical to operate in terms of fuel consumption and maintenance.

I was able to negotiate with the owner, John Kosmas and get some concessions. I got the price down to $500,000. And at that price, he agreed to bring the ship into compliance with SOLAS 2005 and also to include new paint topside. The ship was fairly well furnished even including bed linen, but the ship had been laid up for years. Its most recent service was in the Mediterranean and Black Seas. Cruise ships that trade exclusively in the Mediterranean and Black Seas tend to have smaller cabins and fewer amenities than the typical cruise ships that frequent the Caribbean. The bottom line is that this ship was an economy model, not a luxury model. When I was inspecting the engine room, I asked for the engine log. When I opened it I noticed all the entries were in Greek. I was able to discern some dates and other data that told me when the ship was last in service, but I could not read the Greek entries so I handed the engine log back to the ship owner, and told him „It’s all Greek to me.“ Being Greek, Mr. Kosmas failed to find the humor in that.

Let’s look at the numbers on this ship. 100% of the acquisition cost would have been $500,000. 1% thus = $5000. One hundred buyers could own one percent each. There are 120 cabins so each co-owner could have a private cabin with 20 cabins left over. However, these cabins are a bit on the small side. Every cabin does have a bath and shower, but the size is just too small to be comfortable for most people, especially if the owners intend to live onboard full time. On a ship this size I would recommend that there be no more than 60 joint owners so each can have two cabins and will have the option of converting those two cabins into a two room suite. To keep the numbers simple lets say that this ship has 50 buyers who each buy 2% of the ship. Buy in cost per owner would then be $10,000. If there were only ten buyers, then the acquisition cost per buyer would be $50,000. $50,000 will not buy much of a house on land, but on this ship it would buy 10% of a ship like the Vergina Sky and twelve cabins that could be converted into a fairly large home.

At the economy end of the scale, a co owner could buy 1% of an economical cruise ship for about $5000. However it is not necessary for all co owners to have equal shares in the ship. Ownership can easily be divided up into 1% increments. If one buyer wanted 5%, then his cost of acquisition would be $25,000. He would be entitled to 5% of the ship’s cabins, and would have five votes on operations and management of the ship, such as itinerary planning.

Before becoming a joint owner, it would be imperative to find other people who have similar goals. I would suggest composing a preliminary DCCR (DECLARATION OF

COVENANTS, CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS). You can do this before you even shop for a ship. Write your version of how you envision the shared ownership of a cruise ship as it should be. Then see if you can find some people who agree with your goals and your DCCR, subject to some revisions and concessions to accommodate other joint owners.

Step One: Determine if you and your family have the desire and financial capability to become joint cruise ship (or megayacht) owners.

Step Two: Find others who agree with your concept for shared ownership of a ship.

Step Three: Shop for a ship. This is the fun part.

Step Four: Buy a ship.

Step Five: Put the ship into service.

Even if you are not rich, you can afford to jointly own a cruise ship. But then comes the next logical question: Why would you or anyone want to live on a cruise ship? Who would this be suitable for?

If you are retired or otherwise have a stable income from a dependable source you probably can afford to be a cruise ship co-owner and live full-time onboard a cruise ship. If you work in a field where you can work from home online, then you too can probably afford to become a co-owner of a cruise ship. Most modern ships have satellite Internet service available 24-7.

Operating a cruise ship is expensive. The expenses include the cost of fuel, labor, maintenance, repairs, spares, food, port charges, insurance, technical management, shore management, registration, and the other costs of operating the ship. At first glance these costs may seem expensive, but in reality the cost of living at sea is actually a bargain considering what you get based upon what you pay. The best value does not always translate to the cheapest price. If the ship is well managed, the management will seek the highest quality goods, services, and labor at the very best global value. If the owners are dissatisfied with either technical or shore management, they replace them.

If there are many other co-owners of the ship to split the operating expenses of the ship, it can be affordable for those with a moderate level of income, such as a retirement check. I do have specific operating cost figures but I won’t bore you with that data. The bottom line is that it would not be prohibitively expensive for a middle-class average person to be able to afford to own a fraction of a cruise ship and be able to afford to live on the cruise ship full-time if they elect to do so.

For comparison purposes it is noteworthy that you have expenses in land based housing too. Those expenses include property taxes, homeowners insurance, maintenance and repairs, yard care, and utilities. Additionally you have transportation costs and of course food costs. Most people also spend money on entertainment too. When these expenses are added up the maintenance fees for living aboard a ship are comparable.

There are actually some savings resulting from living aboard a ship. The ship’s executive chef buys food and kitchen supplies in bulk for the ship and can get better prices than the average shopper. Other savings result from the large freezers and the mobility of the ship giving the food service management the ability to stock up on supplies in countries where prices are low. Some crew and owners may choose to fish for leisure. This can supply some fresh food at even lower costs to the owners. Labor savings are realized when the crew is hired based upon the best global labor rates. The laws of supply and demand drive prices down in some places in the world. Proper ship management can capitalize on these disparities. All the savings would be passed on to the cabin owners resulting in an economical cost of living similar to what you could expect to spend with a conventional home. Ship management should have accounting transparency will all books (financial records) open and available for any owner to inspect. Also ship management should submit all financial records quarterly to an outside auditor for the peace of mind of the owners. Anybody in the chain who spends any of the ship’s operational funds should also be periodically audited. For example, a good way to audit the executive chef would be for one or more of the live-aboard co-owners of the ship to go to the food market district of each port of call and they should try to haggle and get a better price for the same food than the price the executive chef was able to acquire. If the executive chef cannot find better deals than the ship’s co-owners, then the executive chef should be given his walking papers. The executive chef position is a vital position on a cruise ship. This is a position of trust because he will bill the food he buys to the ship. He must never be tempted to accept bribes from vendors or suppliers. Therefore, he should know that he will be routinely audited and any substandard performance will result in termination of his employment.

The biggest value of all onboard cruise ship is in labor costs. The better cruise ships tend to be labor intensive, providing passengers with unrelenting attention and extravagant pampering. The hotel staff on all cruise ships provides the basic services including food preparation and serving, laundry, cabin stewarding, entertainment, casino operation, beauty shop operations, This is one area where I would prefer to not scrimp because of the very good value in these services due to the low cost of international labor. I would prefer to go beyond the level that most cruise ships go in the area of spas. Land based luxury and specialty resort spas are very expensive, but the exact same level of service, professionalism, skill, and treatments can be provided on a cruise ship at extremely low cost. Labor is the key and the primary reason for most of the expense of spas. Labor is a tremendous value on a cruise ship because the cruise ship managers can choose workers from the global marketplace where it is easy to get the best value for the money.

Spas

Spa treatment is customized for each client. Spas commonly offer services such as:

Soothing massage therapies, skin and body treatments drawing from European and Eastern principles, expert hair and nail services, and a full menu of therapeutic treatments utilizing a deep-cleansing facial at the start of the program, as well as a series of detoxification and contouring wraps, lypo-reduction wrap, as well as marine mud and herb wraps. Massage Therapies including: Swedish Massage, Shiatsu Massage, Deep Tissue Treatment, Maternity Massage, Therapeutic Foot Massage (Reflexology), French Hydrotherapy Massage.

The healing therapies include a variety of massages, reflexology, facials, firming and many other body treatments. Plus a wide variety of services and wellness programs specially designed to meet the individual’s needs and desires. A full service salon offers all manner of hair treatments (including a certified colorist), as well as a variety of manicures, pedicures, and ‚facelifts‘ for your hands. Extensive skin care includes: Age Management Therapies including, Glycolic Facial, Anti-Aging Facial Peel, Microdermabrasion; Facials including: Aromaplasty Facial, Teen Facial, Gentleman’s Facial, Nutrisource Facial, Regulating Acne Facial, Vitamin „C“ Skin Renewal Facial; Body Treatments including: Decleor Sauna Mask, French Hydrotherapy Massage, Andromeda Salt Glow, Mummy Mud Mask, Seaweed Body Wrap, Safe Sun Treatment, Herbal Wrap; as well as various hair and nail treatments.

Additionally, spas also can facilitate weight reduction programs, and even administer physical therapy. In short, you can be treated like a king, on the budget of a pauper.

Labor Costs – International competition provides the most value to the ship owners.

On paper it seems to make good sense to man the ship with a Philippine crew. I love the Philippines. I have been there several times. English is still widely spoken and usually spoken quite well. The people are usually friendly and happy to see foreign tourists. A large percentage of ships worldwide are manned by crews from the Philippines. The Philippine government has a pretty good structure and system to facilitate the export of Philippine labor. In spite of how attractive it seems on paper, I would recommend NOT hiring a crew from the Philippines. Philippine workers tend to be envious of others, and especially of everybody else’s wages. They tend to think they are getting the raw end of the deal. It is rare to find a Filipino who is happy with his employment. While I am sure there are many good employees from the Philippines, there are more who are dissatisfied than satisfied with their employment. There seems to be a cultural anomaly in the Philippines where people feel that employers are bad guys. I would hesitate to recommend a crew from the Philippines in spite of the apparent advantages on paper.

My recommendation (for what it is worth)

I do know something about what I am writing about here. I am the former President of Adventure Spa Cruise. My advice is not just uninformed ranting. Back to the point now, the second best manning nation for a ship is India. I highly recommend India for the medical staff and the entire hotel staff, including the spa, and every other position except the deck and engineering. The labor costs in India are very attractive. I would also recommend using an Indian based manning agency. It is best if the ship’s owners do not have to deal with every employee issue or concern. The manning agency takes the pressure off the ship’s management, and their service is very reasonable. Indian employees tend to make better employees than do Filipinos. Indians also speak English, albeit not quite as well as Filipinos. I know Americans tend to get all worked up when someone uses a broad brush to paint an entire ethnicity. I love the people from the Philippines, but as employees they tend to be more problematic than do Indian employees. I realize that this statement is politically incorrect, and these days that might get me thrown in jail. I usually do not worry so much about being politically correct. I call it the way I see I and I let the cards fall where they may, and hope I can stay out of jail for speaking my mind.

All deck and engineering positions should be filled with an all Ukrainian crew. The ship will realize the most value for the money with Ukrainian deck and engineering staff. The Ukraine has a long maritime history and tradition. Maritime training and standards in the Ukraine are among the best in the world. Ukrainian deck and engineering staff are as good as or better than any other, but the cost of their labor is a very good value. The labor for deck officer and engineering staff are governed by international agreements, including STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers).

Putting a cruise ship into service

After acquiring the ship, it will require some more investment to put it into service. At this point the joint owners will need to reach some agreements on many points. The cost of putting a cruise ship into service as a megayacht (very large private yacht) is much less than putting the ship into commercial service. However, if you can afford to buy a ship can easily meet SOLAS 2010 requirements, and can afford to flag and register it as a commercial ship then you can use the ship commercially to produce income and ROI (return on investment).

There are many marketing options for a commercial cruise ship. If the owners use no more than half the cabins, then that will leave sufficient means to produce enough revenue to at least pay for operating costs, and possibly produce a profit above operating costs. I will just briefly touch on some of the options available for marketing cruise ship capacity.

1. Conventional cruises. There is a trade-off here. You can produce revenue by providing conventional cruises. This will require that the ship have an itinerary that suits the commercial cruising market.

2. Freight and cargo. Some cruise ships have enough cargo capacity to produce some revenue by booking freight.

3. Assisted living. A cruise ship is well suited for assisted living, including crew and facilities. The going rate for assisted living in the average city in America is higher than the average cost of a cruise of the same duration.

4. Timeshares. This is an option not available to conventional cruise ship operators but could be facilitated if your co-owners agree to this type of marketing to fill cabins not used by co-owners. I will not go into the figures here, but timeshares tend to be high profit sales. There is a good chance that if the joint owners use no more than half the ship’s cabins for their own personal use, the remaining cabins could easily produce more than the total amount all the joint owners combined have invested.

Ships that would easily meet SOLAS 2010 tend to cost a bit more money to buy up front, and cost more to put into service. So I will give you couple of examples.

The Orient Venus is one of my favorite high-end ships. The specs:

M/V ORIENT VENUS

BUILT: JULY 1990 AT I.H.I.TOKYO

JAPANESE FLAG

JG. NK OCEAN GOING

GRT: 21,884 TONS

DWT: 4,863 TONS ON 6.50 M

LOA x B x D : 174.0×24.0x8.7 M

M/ENG: DIESEL UNITED-12PC2-6V x 2 SETS ,

TWIN SCREW CPP

SPEED: SERVICE ABT21.0 KNOTS / ABT 56.70MT /D

FUEL TANKS CAPA: IFO 1,500.4 M3 /MDO 87.30M3

GENERATOR: 1,600KWxAC450Vx60HZx 3 SETS

ENGINE ROOM M0 SYSTEMS

CRUISING RANGE: ABT 7,000MILE

PASSENGERS: MAX 606 PERSONS

CREW: 120 PERSONS

ABA WOG

DELIVERY: BY ARRANGEMENT

INSPECTION : KOBE.JAPAN

OWNERS PRICE USD 22 MIL net here

My personal assessment of the Orient Venus

It is a late model and beautiful ship. It has many highly desirable attributes for a residential ship. It is a high end luxury cruise ship with an extraordinarily high tonnage to passenger ratio. This is very important for a residential ship. More living room and more space per passenger is far more essential for a residential ship than for a conventional cruise ship. When passengers are only on a ship for a short time, they can tolerate cramped living quarters, but when they live year-round on a ship, the extra space is quite valuable. The owners have been trying to sell this ship for $22,000,000. That may seem like a high price, but when you divide it by the number of cabins (195) the asking price per cabin is $102,564. This price is in line with what you would expect to pay for a condominium. The last word I got from the owners is that they will sell the ship for $18,000,000 now ($92,307 per cabin). The cabins are all „outside“ cabins and are large. The ship can accommodate 606 passengers and a crew of 120, for a total of 726 people.

Several ship brokers have this ship listed. I usually do not talk to ship brokers. I prefer to talk directly with the ship owners. I am in contact with the owners of the Orient Venus. I could probably get this stunningly beautiful ship for less than $15,000,000 today, and get some concessions and extras thrown in to boot.

Another example of a high end ship that would make do well as a commercial cruise ship, plus accommodate a hundred or so full-time live aboard co-owners is the Dream Princess, originally named Song of Norway.

GRT: 22,945

Max Draft: 6.7 M in sea water

Length: 194 M.

Total No. of Cabins: 538

Total No. Of Beds + Berth: 1280

Outside Cabins: 346

Inside Cabins: 192

Cabins size range: SQ. M: 11 -18.

Main Engines: 4 Wartsila Sulzer – 18,000 HP.

Service Speed: 16 Knots.

Public Rooms:

Main Dinning room – „King & I“- about 500 pax.

South Pacific Lounge about 400 pax.

My Fair Lady Lounge about 500 pax.

Bars- 5

Self Service Restaurant on the swimming pool deck

Large Swimming pool

Disco

Casino

Duty Free Shops

Gym

8 passenger decks

extensive outdoor areas

Ship was redecorated / refurbished extensively during 2005.

The asking price on this ship is $31 million USD. Divide the asking price by the number of cabins and the average cost per cabin would be $57,620. Of course some cabins are better than others so co-owners would have to agree of the shared usage before agreeing to the purchase.

I have some bad news for the ship owners and some good news for you. This ship will not sell for the asking price.

Fuel

Ship fuel is cheaper than automobile fuel for a few reasons. There are no road taxes on ship fuel of course and also it is different fuel. Ships main engines usually run on IFO180 or IFO380. Generator engines tend to be more finicky and commonly require diesel (MDO), which is still cheaper than automotive diesel. IFO 180 and 380 costs much less than MDO, usually about half the price. Ships consume a lot of fuel. So fuel cost is a major concern. I have some suggestions. If I were a co-owner of a ship I would be willing to invest a little more in the ship to increase fuel efficiency, and thus lower operating costs. There are many things that can be done to increase fuel efficiency. I would start with hull resistance. There is a new silicone-based paint from International Paints that when applied to the hull reduces amount of resistance in the water sufficiently to result in a 3 to 5% decrease in fuel consumption. A similar coating for the propellers also has been proven to increase fuel efficiency.

In addition to hull and prop coatings, there is an even more promising way to achieve dramatic fuel savings.

There is a company called Kiteship that has developed and produces kites for racing sailboats. These sailing kites do not require a mast. The kites fly high above the vessel, attached by cable and controlled from the vessel. Dave Culp of Kiteship has done a technical feasibility study on fitting a very large kite onto a conventional cruise ship. This would dramatically reduce fuel consumption. It would convert a fuel guzzler to a „green machine.“ This is tantamount to converting a powerboat into a sail boat. The design of a cruise ship limits the amount of sail that a conventional ship can safely accommodate. A cruise ship lacks the ballast of a sail boat. If used in addition to the main engine(s) the kite will increase fuel efficiency. If the kite is used to pull the ship with the main engines shut down the ship’s speed will be reduced substantially. However, in this case, not only would the ship save IFO (main engine fuel) but also save MDO (generator engine fuel). If the kite were pulling the ship unassisted by the ship’s engines, then the propellers could be used to propel the ship’s generators without firing up the diesel generator engines. Even if the ship were traveling very slowly in the water, the propellers would turn in reverse if freed from the main engines. This is a very simple and easy task for the ship’s engineer to accomplish. In other words, the ship can be pulled by the kite, and that motion will push the ship’s propellers providing power to produce electricity and power the air-conditioning without using any fuel. The trade-off is a loss of speed and also some tacking is required, further reducing actual speed. What’s the rush? Why not go for maximum fuel savings? The salient point is that a high flying large kite can pull a cruise ship. If I were a co-owner of a cruise ship I would hope to find like minded co-owners who would be receptive to using such state-of-the-art technologies to save fuel.

There are hundreds of cruise ships on the market but I will just mention one more here. This cruise ship has RO/RO (Roll-On, Roll-Off) capability. This would be very convenient for live aboard owners who want to bring their „toys“ with them. The garage deck will accommodate 6 to 8 trucks, or 60 to 80 cars. That converts to a lot of co-owner toys such as motorhomes, travel trailers, campers, cabin cruisers, ski boats, jet skis, sailboats, houseboats, bass boats, motorcycles, ATVs, cars, and trucks.

Specifications:

650 PASSENGER CRUISE SHIP FOR SALE

VESSEL IS FULLY FITTED WITH SPRINKLERS

SOLAS 2005/2010 FITTED

TWIN SCREW CRUISE

VESSEL DIMENSIONS LOA 137.10 X BREADTH 21.00 X 5.8 METERS DRAFT

BUILT 1981 / POLAND

REBUILT 1991

REBUILT – UPGRADED 1999

REBUILT – RENOVATED – REFURBISHED 2002

CLASS R.S. ICE CLASS L2

GRT 12637

PASSENGERS 650 IN 230 CABINS (BASIS 3 BERTH OCCUPANCY)

ALL CABINS WITH PRIVATE FACILITIES (INCLUDING SUITES AND SEMI SUITES)

9 DECKS

HELICOPTER PAD

MAIN ENGINES SULZER 4 X 4,350 BHP

SPEED ABOUT 17.5 / 15 KNOTS ON ABOUT 45 / 36 M/TONS + 9 TONS DIESEL OIL

BOWTHRUSTER 800 BHP

STABILIZERS

120 TONS PER DAY WATER MAKER

RECEPTION

LOUNGE

RESTAURANT (420 SEATS)

NINE BARS

CASINO

DUTY FREE SHOP

CHILDREN’S PLAY ROOM – TWO DISCOS

TV/MOVIE CORNER

DUTY FREE SHOPS

HAIRDRESSING SHOP

JACUZZI

ONE PASSENGER ELEVATOR

LAUNDRY SPA & HEALTH CLUB

TWO SAUNAS

CLINIC

TWO SWIMMING POOLS (ADULT & CHILDREN)

Cost per cabin based on asking price, $71,739. This ship will sell for less than asking price. It is already SOLAS 2010 compliant. It would cost very little to put into commercial service.

Conclusion

Becoming a co-owner of a cruise ship is not a far fetched idea. It is practical and feasible if you are able to find like minded people who would be willing to share the expenses.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Are you currently building your network marketing business?

If you are reading this article, probably you are a seasoned network builder or someone new in multi-level marketing (MLM) and looking for ideas to create awareness for your business online.

In this article, I will share with you how I use social media tools to create awareness and interest for the product in my business.

As an added advantage, the process also helps my business associate generate leads for her network marketing business.

The tool that I use to grow my MLM business is Facebook Live streaming.

Unforeseen life challenges

On the first weekend of September 2020, I went to my ex-colleague’s wife’s house with the intention of doing a Facebook Live interview with her.

Her name is Sandy C and she has just recently signed up as one of my business associate.

She got into network marketing after seeing my success in the business on Facebook and she also wanted to build an additional income source for herself and her family.

Here’s her story.

Sandy C works in a travel baggage manufacturing company in Kuala Lumpur.

Six month after the first Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia back in March 2020, Sandy’s boss sent out a company wide memo.

The company is in financial trouble and may not be able to meet payroll.

Due to the nationwide lockdown, the travel industry is on standstill.

Since the company makes travel baggage, sales have dropped sharply and the company is not able to sustain itself anymore.

Sandy and all her colleagues were given 2 options.

They can either resign or take a half month compulsory no pay leave and stay employed with the company.

Fearing not able to find another job if she were to resign, Sandy took the second option.

She works only 2 weeks in a month and effectively her income was cut by half.

Because Sandy has a young daughter at home, she was looking for a back up plan for herself and her family.

That was why Sandy reached out to me.

Facebook Live beginner

Sandy joined my network marketing team a few months ago.

When she signed up, she actually bought a few of the company’s product for herself and her daughter.

A couple of weeks ago, I met up with Sandy at her house. She mentioned that she and her daughter have had good experience using the product.

It seems her daughter bout of cough has lessen after she started taking the supplement product.

These are excellent testimonials and I wanted to immediately do a Facebook Live interview with her.

However, Sandy declined saying she is camera shy and she wouldn’t know what to say.

I encouraged her to try and yet she still decline.

I met up with Sandy again recently and I told her I want to do a Facebook Live interview with her.

This time, she agreed.

The reason I wanted to do a Facebook Live interview with Sandy was to help her start to grow her MLM business.

She needs to start telling her friends and family members that she has started a home based business and the best way to do so is via social media which is Facebook.

If you are building a network marketing business, know that Facebook is a very powerful tool you can use to create awareness and also to generate leads.

The best way to make use of Facebook for your business is via Facebook Live.

Knowing how to do Facebook Live is now an essential skill you will need to build a direct selling business.

The question is, where can you learn how to do Facebook Live interview?

The only way to acquire the interview skill on Facebook is to Just Do It!

That was exactly what I wanted to do for Sandy when I met up with her at her home.

I wanted her to come out from her comfort zone and start doing Facebook Live.

During the short interview, Sandy shared her personal experience using the product.

I also asked her about her daughter’s experience and she shared her story sincerely.

For the 1st Facebook Live interview, Sandy did very well.

I am very proud of her.

She has now taken the very first step to overcome her fear.

Hopefully, she’ll grow more confidence and believe in herself that she can build a successful MLM business.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

It is possible to take up Forex as a full time profession. In fact, it is the only home-based business anyone can set up from home with as little as 1500 USD. You will need USD 500 to set yourself up with a laptop and internet connection and 1000 USD to deposit in your forex personal ECN account. In 20 days you will be making more than USD 200 per day with this strategy, but it takes time and patience.

Good charting software that comes with the popular MT4 trading platform that almost every broker offers free along with a trading account is the only tool one needs. Added to this is the knowledge of trading strategies and risk management and one is all set to set up the perfect home based business without any overheads at all.

It is possible to make as much, or as little (whichever way you look at it), as 200 USD per day trading forex with a 1000 USD account.

I’ll let you in on a little secret forex trading strategy of mine:

Trade a 0.5 percent of your deposit in PIP value. This means that one pip should be equal to 0.5 percent of your deposit. So if your deposit is USD 1000, your exposure per pip should be USD 5.

This will leave you with 160 pips to play around with. The chances of the market moving 100 pips in the wrong direction are scarce if you have an eye on the screen while the trade is open.

A good strategy will give you ample warning that the market is going to move further and you can opt out. I suggest you keep a stop loss of 120 pips, believe me you will never need it if you follow this strategy.

Observe a monthly chart. Mark out the highest point and the lowest point the pair reached over a period of 3 months. Observe the most common price the currency pair kept returning to and draw a line through that point. That is your entry point. Go long with 0.2 lots at that point and go short at the same point with 0.2 lots. Your per-pip value will be USD 2 in each trade.

With 160 pips to play around with you don’t have to worry about the margin call. The market will move in both direction and return to the same entry point at some time or the other. You must set up alerts on the MT4 for 10 pips above and 12 pips below the entry price. When the alert sounds, exit the trade.

If the market moves away in either direction you will still make a profitable trade. It will be a matter of time before the market returns to the entry point.

With a 0.2 lot trade and take profit point at 10 pips, you stand to gain 20 USD per trade. You will get at least 4 opportunities to trade in a day. That will make you USD 80 per day. With a consistent trading strategy you will make 1600 USD in 20 days. Use it to increase your per-pip value.

This is one strategy that has worked for me over the last 2 years. Why, should it not work for you? The only thing that could be a problem here is that you need patience and have to be in front of your terminal every day. It will also pay if you increase your deposit and reduce your trade percentage. The lower the better because then you will have more pips to play around with if the market moves against the trade. Remember, the market will return to the entry point, you just have to wait it out without fearing a margin call.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

„In a world of change, the learners shall inherit the earth, while the learned shall find themselves perfectly suited for a world that no longer exists.“ – Eric Hoffer I saw this quote on someone’s Instagram account the other day and it really started to dawn on me, that some people are really going to get left behind. About 3 times a week, I’d take my runs outdoor under the sun at the large park just 3 minutes walk away from where I live, and I’d pass by many old people. Some would be sitting on a bench alone, some congregated in a group at the resting shelters, others have hired help to push their wheel chairs around, or the ones who have a little more spark left in them would be trying their best to get some workout in at the fitness area.

Part of the reason why I started to „force“ myself to put myself „out there“ to do my runs instead of getting comfortable with the treadmill in the gym indoors is because I want to see a preview of a life that’s NEVER going to be mine. Also as a reminder why my health would always be my greatest wealth and asset in life no matter where it takes me. It keeps me motivated and my fuel running. It makes me remember WHY I’m doing „this“ when I feel like cutting my workout routine short and giving up. While I’m huffing and puffing on my third round of sprint, feeling like my heart’s about to explode, I’d turn to look at them, and I’d remember my „Why“.

I’d remind myself, „I don’t want to live a life that looks like that. I’m going to make damn sure that’s never going to be me.“ And I know what it’s like to be physically impaired, along with being mentally and emotionally trapped altogether. Losing my health for 3 whole years was one of the worst crisis but the best gifts I’ve ever gotten in my life. Even though I couldn’t see it right then, but it made me realize just how much privilege I’ve wasted away and taken for granted when I was living in a healthy, thriving body which I can call my „home“.

Now that I have my health back, I’m never losing sight of the luxury for each moment to feel grateful for this limitless potential of a machine that can do so much, and is still going the extra miles for me everyday tirelessly pumping oxygen throughout every cell in my body so I can use it as a vehicle to sculpt my mind and my heart. How to think and feel. How to combine the right thoughts with the right emotions to give it power and breathe life into it. So I can design and create my world on my terms. I got myself obsessively educated with the biochemistry, physiological, and every aspect of what makes a human being alive. Truly alive. Not just „settling“ or „getting by“ or „getting used to it.“

Too many people live a mediocre life as a prisoner of their own body and mind, never once taking the time to study their own user’s manual to allow it to operate at its highest and most optimum function. To ever get the chance to know and experience the power it holds, or just simply being aware what a real gift it truly is to even be alive to be, do, and have anything you can dream up in your mind and have your heart set on achieving it to hold it in your hands. To not be on life support or feeding tube, that is a luxury. That is a privilege. To have that ease of the ability and opportunity to see, hear, smell, taste, and touch everything around us in our inner and outer world.

As we’re ushering into the mid-year in another month really soon, let’s all put in the extra effort to educate ourselves about the all the small changes and simplest things we can do to allow ourselves to become a better self than we were yesterday. It’s not just about getting left behind in technology advancement, but you’re going to start leaving your mind behind and also the awareness of your physical body, if you neglect it long enough. You can’t just rely on popping pills every day to keep yourself „alive“ and a band-aid over the pain.

That’s not living, that’s just „surviving“ and no decent human being should live that way if there was another choice. It seems like a much easier option to just pop a pill to make that headache or migraine go away, but if we don’t get to the root of the problem, it’s never going away. It’s here to stay in no one else’s world but yours, and yours only. Actually, it does affect someone else’s world too when you come in contact with them. So if you truly love the people around you, you’d really make the effort to ensure your (inner) world is a much better place that you can feel is truly worth sharing and rubbing off. How can you expect anyone to enjoy your company if you’re suffering in your own body you’re living in? That’s one way to spark Joy… or „Friction“.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Malta property boom

Residential construction levels and the price of property in Malta boomed between 2003 and 2004, recording price increases of 20.3% and 13.3% respectively, after a 2003 referendum voted in favour of Malta joining the European Union on 1 January 2004.

Located in southern Europe just off the coast of Sicily, properties in Malta, which comprises an archipelago of seven islands, with a population of 400,000 inhabitants, have long appealed to overseas nationals. This is not just because of the Malta’s intense Mediterranean climate, but also owed to the country’s tax-efficient status; Maltese residents enjoy one of the lowest levels of income tax in Europe.

Demand for property in Malta

But international demand for homes in Malta, which primarily comes from the UK and Scandinavia, has waned over the past year or so. This is particularly the case with „British buyers“ largely due to „the fall in the UK pound’s value“ against the euro and Maltese lira, says Paul Hay of Malta Homes. The decline in sterling’s worth has significantly increased the cost of buying property in Malta.

Although property prices have fallen, the downturn has been nowhere near as drastic as most other European markets,“ adds Hay. However, domestic demand for homes in Malta has been „surprisingly resilient“, says James Vassallo, senior manager, Tigne Point property development.

Vassallo continues: „Reduced interest rates have encouraged fence sitters to engage [in housing transactions] and have made those occasional bargains that much more attractive.“

Malta property prices start to stabilise

Although housing values are still falling in some areas, they have already stabilised in other regions, mainly because most Malta property owners are not so highly leveraged through borrowed money, as say those residing in the UK.

Despite the short-term market slowdown, the Malta property sector could find itself flying high in the medium to long-term, buoyed by growing tourism levels and an ever-increasing number of low-budget airlines.

Malta homes flying high

In 2008, EasyJet, Ryanair and Scandinavian Airlines, all either introduced or increased its direct routes from the UK and Sweden to Malta.

Vassallo adds: „The increased air traffic is certainly good for the island especially in these trying times. Malta is strategically placed between the west and east and the growing importance of North Africa. It appeals to businesses looking to relocate to the Med and over the years business travel has constantly grown.“

Rental investment properties in Malta

While there may have been a fall in foreign demand for Malta homes to buy, Hay says that greater tourism levels are increasing the requirements for holiday homes in Malta to rent.

„From a holiday letting point of view, 2009 appears to be looking healthy, when taking into account the global economic situation, says Hay. „In fact Air Malta recorded one of its most successful flight occupancies for the first quarter of 2009 for some years.“

Vassallo says that some of the best rental returns, albeit it at relatively low yields – approximately 4% – an be achieved by buying property in Sliema, property in St Julians, property in Valletta and property in St Paul’s Bay.

However, it is worth nothing that any foreigner wishing to lease their Malta home out, would have to register their property with the Hotel and Catering Establishments Board, and it can only be rented out on a short-term lease agreement.

Furthermore, non-nationals can only purchase a single Malta property, and usually only for owner-occupancy purposes, unless they buy property in a ‚Special Designated Area (SDA)‘ permitting them to buy property in Tigne Point, property in Portomaso, property in Manoel Island, property in Chambray, and property in Cottoenra.

Malta Properties located in a SDA do not face some of the stringent restraints placed on foreigners otherwise wishing to let their Malta homes.

Residency in Malta

One way to overcome the confines placed on overseas nationals is to become a Maltese resident, which would also offer average earners a genuine opportunity to cut their tax bill.

Malta charges no capital gains tax on property sales after three years of ownership, but any local or overseas income brought into Malta is taxable at a rate of up to 35 per cent. However, residents can take advantage of The Maltese Residence Scheme, which charges a flat tax rate of 15 per cent, subject to a minimum tax liability of EUR4,200 (£3,630).

In order to qualify for residency in Malta, Mark Hollingsworth of Hollingsworth International, explains that an individual would have to own assets worth in the region of at least EUR350,000 (£303,000) or earn an annual income of approximately EUR23,500 (£20,400) outside of Malta.

Foreigners moving to Malta have to „remit a minimum of EUR13,950 (£12,00) plus EUR2,300 (£2,000) for each dependent to the [country’s authorities], not engage in any form of business activities in Malta and either purchase or rent property in Malta. A minimum of EUR116,000 (£100,000) would have to be spent on buying a house or EUR69,000 (£60,000) paid for an apartment, otherwise an annual rent of at least EUR4,150 (£3,600) would have to be spent on leasing a home.“

The process of buying Malta property

Anyone who actually goes ahead with a Malta property purchase should find the buying process pretty straightforward. The legal purchasing system in the country presents a relatively safe buying environment.

Deeds are presented upon completion of the property purchase, while the legally binding contracts are presented in English.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Marketing mix refers to the factors that a marketer can manipulate to influence the demand for their product. Some people may think that influencing demand means only increasing demand. This is a mistake because occasions may arise when a marketer will have to act to reduce the demand for their product. When the product is scarce, for example.

Early marketing teachers presented the marketing mix as four elements: Product, Price, Place and Promotion. 4Ps in short. Later thinking held that these 4Ps are good enough for physical goods only and that there was the need to expand the marketing mix to care of services. Thus 3 new Ps were added to the marketing mix, making 7Ps for services. The additional 3 are Physical evidence, Process and People. An attempt will be made to relate the 7Ps of marketing to your e-business.

Product

Without a doubt, product is the most important element of the marketing mix because people buy the benefits or solutions embodied in the product. In your retail store, you could see, touch, smell, even taste a product or hear the sound of a product. But on the world wide web, you cannot do this. As an e-business builder, you are limited to visual and verbal techniques for presenting your offering. You can only show a picture, drawing (static or animated) and describe the features and benefits of your product. And this must be done well.

It is easy for online shoppers to compare prices with a few clicks before they buy. Today there are shopping genies that facilitate this. This increases competitive pressure and implies that e-business builders must not only state their prices clearly but must also relate them to the value their prospective customer will get.

Place

This has to do with location and making products available. On the internet, your store is as far from you as your computer screen. And you are heavily influenced by what you see. Therefore, the e-business builder should have a website that is convincing and professional so that shoppers will be confident to place orders.

Promotion

This appears to be the most talked-about marketing mix element in internet marketing. It is the element that drives traffic (visitors) to the website. And sadly, when some people discuss marketing strategy they refer to promotion only. There are many promotools you can use. They include various types of advertising, press releases, publicity, buying leads, traffic exchanges, SEO techniques, article marketing and blogging. You should be guided by your skills set and budget in choosing your tools.

Physical Evidence

This is closely associated with the place element. Does your website give the impression of reliability and trust? If you would score high here try to include a physical address and other contact means, certification of bodies like BBB and proof that customers‘ payment details are secure.

Process

How easy is it to buy from you? How quickly does your order page load? Do prospects have to answer a ton of questions before or after ordering? How fast is delivery? E-products should be instantaneous. You need to think through some of these issues.

People

You may think that this is not relevant to selling on the internet. Big mistake. What about the attitude and behaviour of customer support staff. Experience with them may be crucial in determining whether you buy or buy again.

Take all these along as you set up your e-business in order to sharpen your competitive edge and win the business game – a robust top line and healthy bottom line.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

I learned options late in life, accidentally, trawling the pages of the ancient magazine Exchange and Mart in 1995. A full page article showed how an options trader could work from home, (actually in bed) using prices from the BBC’s teletext, back in the day. A lot has changed, but options have been around for centuries-pre-dating shares, being used for pricing ships‘ cargoes. In the 1980s options became exchange traded, and fortunes were made. Warren Buffett is a keen options trader, Nassim Taleb was the most prolific. They are not idiots and neither are you if you have read thus far.

Investing is the word we use for a trade that went wrong! Investing is mostly passive and requires you to be right and/or to tuck your stocks away for decades. With markets hitting new highs and valuations stretched, you have to realise the stock market cannot keep going up. If you are happy with paltry dividends and the certainty that your stock will at some point in the future be worth half what it is today, then read no further. QE is no longer on the table and that is all that has separated stocks from realistic valuations.

So what are options all about? In our world we only trade the FTSE100 options. Why? Because the entire index is unlikely to get arrested for fraud/sexual harassment/bogus accounting/toxic products, and all the other nasties that can destroy a company’s rep in a heartbeat. So FTSE is the underlying on which our derivatives are based. Options are the right to buy or sell the underlying (priced by the exchange at £10 per point cash settled) but NOT the obligation. In the same way as insurance companies collect premiums, however, options can be sold. Did you ever see a poor insurance company? When you get it right, selling options can bring you a monthly income stream of a comfortable 2% per month, consistently. Nothing else comes close.

So who are the buyers of options if everybody sells them? Well that is the biggest part of education, and the reason I have traded profitably since 1999. Yes I have had failures, and panics- but I made nice profits in February while the market dropped 10%, despite being a bit dim! I learned about options from an expensive course and from much of the free training on the internet. A while ago I met a like-minded options trader, he runs the website to which I contribute every week, with a real trade, and general tittle tattle about our world. It’s utterly mind-blowing when you start to understand options and the endless combinations, and 20 or more strategies that we use. I love options trading and I want to reach those with a pot of cash who seek income, and a sensible method with risk management, but who don’t know where to start. We are not just about newbies though-there are insights for all. And… we don’t want your money.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Purchasing a home can be a frightful experience. Imagine owning a home for 3 years, all the payments have been made on time and in full. When the fourth year rolls around, your job downsizes leaving you without work and a paycheck. If this is your fear you may be one of the millions of at-risk Americans with a subprime adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM). Which means your interest rates will rise to a much higher percentage later this year. On the other hand, you may be a prime borrower who chose a nontraditional mortgage. You may be up to date at this time on your mortgage but have a fear of company layoffs and expenses rising.

The odds of avoiding foreclosure in Florida are improving. There are now many „We Buy Houses Florida“ companies who specialize in saving homeowners from foreclosure. As well there are new programs for refinancing, governmental solutions, and lenders who are willing to freeze interest rates depending on the mortgage.

1.) How Do I Avoid Foreclosure In Florida? Do Your Homework.

The reason many homeowners end up in unaffordable loans is that they either did understand the terms of the loan or were swindled by loan sharks. „A good portion of the people we see are folks who received loans they should never have gotten in the first place,“ says Phyllis Salowe-Kaye of Citizen Action a large mortgage crisis counseling agency. Are you someone who was uninformed when entering into your mortgage? Now is the time to make sure you do not make that mistake again. For avoiding foreclosure in Florida counseling here is a list provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Many other websites provide free advice for distressed homeowners on their attorney general, banking department or housing finance agency websites.

2.) Contact Your Lender Immediately

If your credit has already gone down the drain, you will lose leveraging power. Also, for those who do not yet have a credit problem, there are new programs for avoiding foreclosure in Florida. Project Lifeline has six major lenders (Bank Of America, Citigroup, Countrywide Financial, JP Morgan Chase, Washington Mutual, and Wells Fargo) who have agreed to suspend the foreclosure process for 30 days for qualified borrowers seeking to keep their homes in the Sunshine State.

3.) Open All Mail From Lenders

Subprime Lenders offer a reset of ARM mortgages through the mail months before the interest rate is scheduled to reset.

4.) Be Patient

„Too many people are trying to resolve the problem with quick takeaway advice,“ says Salowe-Kaye. “ The fastest way to relief from a mortgage is through a „We Buy Houses Florida“ for more information click the link. For those who are willing to wait an eternity for a resolution, William Sanchez of Tampa Bay Community Development Corporation in Clearwater, Florida has advice for you. He reports, „You cannot get this resolved with one phone call.“ Helplines are jammed, it can take an eternity to reach the person servicing your loan, and it’s impossible to know how many homeowners will actually hang on to their homes. Still, „lenders are definitely more willing to work out plans.“ Be prepared to be dogged by experts and options from your lender.

5.) Contact A Free Or Low-Cost Housing-Counselor

For HUD-certified counselors that assist homeowners with avoiding foreclosure in Florida visit the U.S. Department Of Housing and Urban Development.

6.) Get A Qualified Expert To Help You Navigate The Foreclosure Process

Do not stop at a housing-counselor the very next number you should be calling is a foreclosure attorney. Ignore lawyers advertising „quick fixes“ on tv, the internet, or telephone calls. The only quick fix is selling your home fast to a „We Buy Houses Florida“ company. They are the only company you can trust who will give you a free consultation and help you navigate the foreclosure process. To find a lawyer you can trust, contact Legal Services Corp.

If your income level is low enough they will connect you with an affiliated agency. Call the Florida State Bar Association and search for a county bar association for further assistance.

7.) You May Be Eligible For Special Assistance.

The federal FHASecure program may be able to provide a refinance option with a fixed rate for homeowners who have an adjustable-rate mortgage and a good credit rating. Current and former members of the military who have served within the past 90 days may be eligible for the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act offering foreclosure protection.

8.) Bankruptcy Is Not The Easy Way Out

Under the current laws of the State Of Florida, bankruptcy can halt or slow foreclosure. Seek legal advice from a trusted source before proceeding. Bankruptcy judges are not permitted to restructure debt owed on a mortgage covering a primary residence. „Borrowers can file Chapter 13 bankruptcy, which will put a temporary hold on a foreclosure action. The problem is that in order to sustain the Chapter 13 plan, a borrower in a high-cost mortgage has to be able to make payments in the mortgage going forward, and also to pay off a percentage of the arrears and other debts each month,“ says Josh Zinner of the Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project in New York. More so consider that relief programs such as Project Lifeline, are not available to borrowers who have entered bankruptcy.

9.) Keeping The Payments Current Is The Most Important Factor of Avoiding Foreclosure In Florida

Mindy Wright, a housing counselor in Elyria, Ohio, says people often make the mistake of paying off credit cards bills before making their monthly mortgage payment. People do this because credit card companies call them immediately and often use threatening tactics to get the borrower to pay. Banks, however, take a long time to communicate and solely communicate through the mail. Once the borrower receives the notice of default in the mail it is already too late. The borrower now owes interest and late fees on top of the payments past due. Typically lenders will not contact their borrowers until 60 to 90 days have passed. Credit card companies will harass you day and night until the late payment is up to date. Wright advises homeowners to put off the credit card companies and pay their mortgage payment first. „If you don’t pay the credit card bill, it might ruin your credit score, but a foreclosure will impact your credit score far more negatively-plus you won’t have a place to live,“ she says.

10.) Fasten Your Seatbelt.

Rid yourself of luxuries such as cable and Netflix. Doing so will give you bargaining power when sitting down for a negotiation. Being willing to bring any money to the table and willing to cash in assets such as jewelry or a car will play in your favor. „Servicers want to see you make sacrifices. Show some effort,“ says Michael van Zalinger, director of home ownership services for Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago. When talking to the bank be sure to assemble pay stubs, benefit statements, and tax returns.

11.) Familiarize Your Self With Mortgage Workouts Aimed For Avoiding Foreclosure In Florida

The best solution would be to refinance into a long-term mortgage spreading out the late payments over time and raising the interest rate slightly. This option requires good credit and is rarely applicable for the average homeowner in Florida. You also may not be able to afford the fees involved. Alternatives would be a repayment plan or a loan modification.

The first resort that actually pays you would be to sell your house to a „We Buy Houses Florida“ company.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Homeowners, and their real estate agents, are often confronted with many relevant decisions and/ or options. One of those is deciding when staging a home may be called for, and when it is might not be necessary. This is a balancing act, especially when utilizing the skills and expertise of a professional stager, because of the expenses/ costs involved. Therefore, the decision should not be taken lightly, because, for most, their house represents their single largest financial asset. In my over a decade, of being a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson, in New York State, I have witnessed the amazing benefits, quality staging, has delivered, as well as realized, the circumstances, where staging was not worth the expense! This brief article will review 5 reasons, selling a house, might benefit from being staged.

1. Doesn’t show well: The reality is, some houses show far better, than others! Sometimes, the way it already is decorated, works well. Perhaps it only needs a little de – cluttering, or moving around. However, there may be instances, when certain rooms or areas, require a potential buyer to have a little imagination, which might benefit from staging. I once listed a lovely house, and was unable to stage it, initially, because there was a tenant in it. When the tenant moved out, and it was staged, it sold the first weekend!

2. Odd – sized or shaped rooms: Is there something about a particular room, which might make a potential buyer, have difficulty appreciating it? Is the size and/ or shape, a challenge? Then, it’s time to seek, at least some sort of partial staging!

3. Warm – up a space: Does the house have any spaces, which negatively impact, the beauty of the rest of the home? How might this space be transformed from a negative, to a positive, or at worst, neutral scenario? Some areas of a house, just need something, to warm – up, the space!

4. Buyers without imagination: Although wise buyers possess the imagination and talent, to visualize what might be, and prioritize what we refer to, as the bones, of a house, many do not have this quality! Staging is an important tool, to combat buyers without imagination!

5. Attract more buyers: The Realtor has done several Open Houses, and there have been a number of viewings, yet the house, hasn’t sold, and much of the feedback, speaks about some cosmetic feature of the property. Doesn’t it make sense, one might potentiate the possibilities, and attract more buyers, after professional staging!

Home staging is not for every situation, but is often, a valuable tool! Discuss this with your real estate agent.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg