Private Lenders-Hard Money Lenders - Do's and Don'ts

photo credit: Karen Eliot

Information about how to deal with hard money lenders / private lenders and how the process works with them is quite inadequate on the internet. For this article, I will only use the term private lender, but it can mean either or.

Not many people know how the process works, and not many people even know such lenders exist.

This article will focus on what to do, and what not to do, when dealing with private lenders.

Private lenders have very simple lending criteria:

1) Around 65%-75% of the value of the property.
2) No income or credit checks.
3) Money available in fast time frames.
4) High interest rates; 10-15% is the norm.

What NOT To Do:

1) Contact these lenders if you are leveraged more than 75% of the value of your property. If your property is worth 100 000$ and you owe 70-75000 already on your property, it is a complete waste of time to contact these lenders. They lend on the equity of your property.
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Are Bad Credit Business Loans Hard To Get?

photo credit: World Economic Forum

Trying to run your own business enterprise, calls for numerous fiscal challenges. High leverage, fiscal losses, low net worth, bad credit record, or no credit record in the least could impact your ability to qualify for a commercial loan. Whether you are facing a leveraged buyout, restructuring, or a turnaround position, there's a poor credit business loan out there for you that guarantees the viability of your business enterprise.

Even if you're a budding Bill Gates, your business concern battles to make ends meet, within the 1st 2 years of inception. Tenured businesses may likewise battle just every bit easily when the times are hard. A business enterprise relies strongly on the economic system and additional outside factors. When those factors are experiencing a depression, it filters down to the business; thereby impacting or challenging the business's credit.
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What Do You Expect From Your Coffee Shop?

You can walk down any high street and almost every tenth shop is some sort of eating place or coffee shop. They spring up here there and everywhere, don't they?

And the good ones are always busy.

So, when was the last time you visited a high street coffee shop?

In the last hour?

Yesterday?

Last week?

Last month?

Did you sit in on one of those comfy loungers or grab a quick take-a-way on your way to work?

Or maybe you have never visited a coffee shop and simply happy with the free vending machine at work.

Over the last 10 years coffee shops are one of the fastest growing retailers.

More and more are being established.

I know in my local town whenever a shop closes, it often re-opens as a coffee franchise. Starbucks, Costa Coffee, Tchibo, Nero...there are many to choose from.

And no matter how many there are in each town, you always have to queue. So many people are now finding the time and money to have a coffee with friends. Relax a bit, have a good gossip and simply enjoy each other's company.
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Loan Workouts, Part 3 - Call To Action

photo credit: gilesclement

It's 7:00 AM. Someone needs a wakeup call. It is still early, but getting late.

These are tough times, no doubt about it. But just as investors, lenders and developers deluded themselves over the past several years into believing the good times were here to stay - so, too, are they misreading the future now.

NEWSFLASH! This market will hit bottom. This market will turn. The credit freeze will thaw. The commercial real estate market will rise again.

The question is: How are we going to position ourselves for the balance of this economic cycle?

Certainly, to get to the other side we have to survive the downside. But, really, we need to look past the ground immediately in front of us. We need to raise our eyes to the economic horizon to see where we are headed, then plan to get to there, and move beyond it.
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Wine Business

photo credit: MulsanneInvent a trendy idea: the wine club

Forget the old course to taste the wine. Today to thoroughly enjoy the taste, is real club. The Baglioni Wine Club in Milan is a new point of reference for those who want to deepen the culture of wine. "Themed events, a comparison with other enthusiasts, the constant support of a sommelier: these are the salient points.

Registration is free and comes on line. The events are monthly and are paid (on average 60 70 euro per person ) "says Elisa Camossi, who handles the business operations of the club. "We started in the summer of 2007. To date we have two branches of the Baglioni hotel in Milan and Rome. Our members are 2500, 700-800 of them at our events.
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12 Job Interview Tips to Help You Ace Your Next Interview!

So you've written and re-written your resume and cover letter countless times...you've used every trick in the book to make your resume and cover letter stand out. You've finally sent them out to get your dream job and low and behold all that hard work has finally paid off...the phone rings and you get that call you've been waiting for...you have been asked to interview for the job of your dreams.

Congratulations...now don't mess it up!


It's important that all that hard work to get the interview doesn't go waste...the last thing you want to do is blow it on the interview.

Here are 12 job interview tips to help you get that job of your dreams...


1. Never be late for a job interview. Not only will arriving late not go over too well with your interviewer, but you should give yourself time to relax and gather your thoughts before the interview actually starts.
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Essential Interview Skills - Tips to Help You Get That Job Offer!

Interview skills are one of the most important pieces in the finding a job puzzle. If you don't capture the attention of the interviewers, it is very unlikely that you will be able to land a job with the company.

One of the most important interview skills is the ability to remain calm in an uncomfortable situation. This is a skill that is basically learned through experience. If you are on your way to your first interview, it is normal to be nervous. The more you do it, the easier it will become for you.

There are a few things you can do to prepare yourself for an interview. It is well known that in many interviews you will encounter the exact same questions.

Many times you will be asked what your greatest accomplishments and failures were in your past job. Who was your best boss and why? Why do you want to work for this company? These are some questions that you will undoubtedly be asked in interviews over and over.
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You Can Find a Good Job in a Bad Economy

Employers are always on the lookout for college students who stand out in some way. However, when times are tough, college students should consider some additional ways to make themselves more visible and attractive to prospective employers.

When fewer employers have jobs to offer, good students should be prepared to employ methods that may not be necessary when jobs are plentiful. Here are a few examples of what you can do.

Your Reputation - Good or bad, your reputation precedes you. However, it should be obvious that you will increase your chances for employment when you have an outstanding reputation. Generally, this means that you work hard, are trustworthy, friendly, well liked, positive, honest, stand up for what is right and get things done well. Others want to associate with you because you treat everyone with respect and are there for them when people need you. Also, people look up to you because you accept responsibility, perform well and achieve superior results. Do you need to work on your reputation?

"Begin somewhere; you cannot build a reputation on what you intend to do." -- Liz Smith
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Class of 2009 - Five Tips For Getting Hired in a Bad Economy

For the Class of 2009, it's not turning out to be a happy new year for career planning. The Labor Department's latest report reveals the U.S. unemployment rate is the worst it's been in over 16 years at 7.2%: the highest rate since 1993. In 2008, an astounding 2.6 million jobs were lost with 73% of those jobs disappearing in the last four months of 2008. And with more than 11 million Americans out of work right now, college seniors are fretting about their own impending job searches.

There is good reason to be nervous about the current job market. In fact you would be silly not to be worried. But if you're a college senior who is planning to graduate this spring, here are six tips to make your job search a little less stressful.

1. Become an intern
If you haven't yet completed an internship, apply for one immediately. Not all internships are full-time. Companies that offer unpaid internships may be willing to allow you to work part-time or have more flexible arrangements that won't interfere with your school schedule. And be creative about approaching a company for an internship opportunity.
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How to Survive the Bad Economy When You Are Jobless

With the current economic slump and the number of companies folding, life can be hard. And if you are one of the few who have suddenly lost their jobs, the season will be monstrous on you. After all, finding a new one will be hard as jobs will be hard to come by. Companies right now will be cutting down on additional expenses and that may include the hiring of new people. Besides, if production and sales are down, why should they hire new people? But with no job and no money, can you still survive the bad economy?

Yes you can. Actually, when you are determined you can certainly ride the wave for a while. Just pray that everything will be better soon. For now, learn a little bit of caution in your spending and know the art of reusing and recycling. Doing this will help you a lot in saving up for the coming lean months especially if you do not find a job soon. Here are some tips on how to do that. Hopefully, these tips will help tide you over for the next couple of months.
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Job Search Tips - How to Land More Interviews in a Bad Economy

Do you know you can increase your job interviews in a bad economy? Does this statement sound absurd? Truly it is not.

Most people will fall into the temptation of holding on to the job they have (even if they are not really happy with it) rather than venture out into a poor economy...thinking it will garner them little result or create unnecessary risk.

You and I both know it's easy to let fear paralyze our actions...sacrificing what we really want when we don't think we can achieve our aim. However, let me share with you five tips to help you understand how you can start moving forward and achieving your goals now instead of later (and land more interviews in the process):
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Does Your Job Fit You? Why a Good Job Fit is Important in a Bad Economy

How do you know if your job is a fit? There are numerous career assessments that match your personality, interests, values and aptitudes with the right job for you.

These tests are great for determining career fit.

But what about job fit? Jobs change. People change.

When is the last time you took an inventory of your job to see how well it fits you?

Take this Quiz to help you decide if your job is still a fit.

1. Do you feel appreciated and valued?

Many employees don't. In fact, this is the most often cited complaint among professionals today. The employer may not share your point of view and, if asked, might exclaim, "Of course, we value you highly!"

But if valuing you just means adding more to your plate, then it can be incredibly difficult to feel appreciated. You are more likely feel overworked, perhaps even close to burnout.

2. Are you given choice in important things?
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Recession Proof Business - Good Jobs in a Bad Economy

During the beginning of the first quarter of 2009 things don't look too promising for our economy. More and more businesses are downsizing, because of slow business return, or are anticipating a significant loss of revenue. With the media and public attention on all of the businesses that are cutting their work staff, more companies are following the same trend. There are so many people that are currently unemployed and are looking for the good jobs in a bad economy.

You may ask yourself, "What are the good jobs in a bad economy?" "Are there any recession proof businesses out there?" The answer to those questions is sure there are. However, you have to find the right business out there, where you will have job security. Here are a few fields, or businesses that always do well no matter how bad the economy is. Some of these include, but are not limited to the medical field, law enforcement, teachers, insurance companies, customer support, and online businesses.
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Hunting Jobs in a Recession - Tips For Landing a Job in a Bad Economy

If you have gotten weary searching for a job and you think that there is no hope for finding employment, don't despair. There are some tips for job hunting that can put you ahead of the competition in your job search.

Tips for hunting jobs in a recession:

-- Be specific about the kind of job you want. Make a list of exactly what you can do and how you can use your skills.

-- Dress professionally. It shows you are serious about employment. Don't wear flashy clothes or jewelry. Be neat, clean and well-groomed. Wear the clothes similar to those worn by people who do the kind of work for which you are applying.

-- Update your resume. Always keep a list of references, work and school history, addresses, telephone numbers, and other important information.

-- Use family, friends and associates as resources for leads on jobs. Sometimes it is not what you know, but who you know.

-- Consult a legitimate private employment-placement agency.
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Restaurant Trends For 2009

The restaurant industry is one of the industries impacted the most by the bad economy. The reason is simple - restaurant face rising costs, while consumers looking to save money cut out discretionary spending. Fuel costs make all prices go up especially food, which must be transported to restaurants, and when trying to trim the budgets, many consumers start cooking at home to save money. Restaurants will need to get pretty creative to entice patrons to part with their cash. Here is a look at some restaurant trends you can expect to see next year.

Locally Grown Food

Expect to see more locally grown food next year. With recent scares from tainted food, especially the salmonella incident which mistakenly fingered tomatoes as the culprit, restaurants will need to be extra careful with the food it serves its diners. After all, even though they do not know if they bought tainted food, if it makes a customer sick that customer will always remember them as the restaurant that gave them food poisoning. More restaurants will end up sourcing their food from local farms and Farmers Markets to ensure fresh ingredients.

More Pasta Please

Pasta is one of the most inexpensive menu items for a restaurant to make. For the most part, sauce ingredients are cheap, so restaurants can get away with charging $15 for an entree that probably only cost them $1. And they can get away with hardly putting any meat in the dish as patrons fill up quickly on pasta.
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