Balling on a Budget

Balling on a BudgetWe all like to live the lifestyles of the rich and famous. We see images everyday on TV of people living the good life. After you look at your bank account and reality sets in, you realize that you have to get more out of life while making less than you like.

Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Starting a Business
By Carl Agard

article in Sept/Oct 2008 Upscale Magazine

Even in a bad economy, now is a good time to start a business if you are a budding entrepreneur. Uncertainty in the workforce and cuts in salary is making it an easier decision to become your own boss. Nothing is more appealing than the financial independence that you gain by owning your own business.

RECESSION PROOF REAL ESTATE MARKETS

RECESSION PROOF REAL ESTATE MARKETS
WORDS BY CARL AGARD

excerpt from Moves Magazine Summer 2008


Everyday, you hear more bad news about the real estate market. Record highs in foreclosures throughout the country and depreciating values in many markets are causing many consumers to be concerned with the outlook of the housing segment. There are many factors ranging from the sub prime mortgage implosion, to the resulting credit crunch by lenders, to overheated housing markets correcting themselves. This housing “bubble” affected almost every aspect of real estate for the negative; however, there is one segment of real estate that continues to go strong….the ultra luxury high end market.

CREDIT BOOK BY CARL AGARD IN STORES SOON!!!

GETTING THE REAL OUT OF IMPROVING YOUR CREDIT
BY CARL AGARD
WITH BILL GREENWOOD
ADELPHI PUBLISHING & MEDIA GROUP
AVAILABLE NOVEMBER 2008

Learn how to improve your credit score overnight!!! Carl and his credit experts will show you how to read your credit report, how to delete inaccuracies yourself, and how to settle with derogatory accounts. Why pay thousands of dollars to a credit repair company when you can do it yourself. This book will teach you how to stay out of debt forever!!!

IDENTIFYING RISKY INVESTMENT SCAMS

Identifying Risky Investment Scams
Words by Carl Agard
excerpt from Moves Magazine Summer 2008

It can happen to anybody. The lure of making a big return on the money you invested, an opportunity too good to be true, and you must get in now!! It can come from a stranger, or someone you know. It can be a real estate deal, investing in stocks, or partnering in a business venture…but you don’t want to miss out on a potential windfall.

FRANCHISING OPPORTUNITIES IN AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN

FRANCHISING OPPORTUNITIES
By Carl Agard

excerpt from Moves Magazine 2008 Super Bowl Issue

Franchising is a huge and growing part of our nation’s economy. More than 350,000 small businesses are operating as a franchise providing hundreds of thousands of jobs and making trillions of dollars every year. We all know the popular franchises like McDonald’s and Burger King. A famous entrepreneur like Magic Johnson earns millions of dollars per year through his franchised operations such as Starbucks and TGI Fridays.

FINDING GEMS IN THE LUXURY REAL ESTATE MARKET

FINDING GEMS IN THE LUXURY RESIDENTIAL
REAL ESTATE MARKET
by Carl Agard

article in Moves Magazine Winter 2007 Edition

It has been a great run for over a decade, but the real estate market has just changed. The sub prime mortgage collapse has lenders tightening their criteria more than ever. Many areas across the nation are experiencing record highs in foreclosures. What was a frenzied seller’s market has quickly changed into a buyer’s market. The high-end residential real estate market is no different. As interest rates rise, mortgage rates will also, especially those that have an adjustable interest rate. This increase in monthly payment will put pressure on financially exhausted homeowners that are barely making ends meet already. Some will see their monthly payment double.

Pros and Cons of being a Landlord
Pros:

• This career does not require a real estate license. You can be a bona-fide landlord starting with just one rental property. You can hire a property management company to collect your rents and to maintain any repairs that are needed. A management company will usually charge up to 10% of the total rent collected.

WHAT IS A SHORT SALE??!!

Short Sale
A Short Sale is a process during a pre-foreclosure procedure, whereby the bank will accept a lower percentage amount of the face of the loan, as well as deduct the interest and penalties, due to the financial hardship of the homeowner. These houses are generally owned by people who have purchased their home with little, or no money down, or own homes that are in areas that are very slow to appreciate. They are also homes that are distressed to the point of value depreciation, or cannot be compared to other homes in the area because of the disrepair.

BUILDING BUSINESS CREDIT

Craze Magazine 2009

SOME TIPS ON BUILDING BUSINESS CREDIT
By Carl Agard

You can get the perfect business credit score separated from your personal credit score in as little as 120 days. Millionaires are doing this every day. For each of your company, you can have trade lines with different creditors with none of it affecting your FICO score.

With business credit, you can apply and receive accounts for the following:
Store Credit Cards (Lowe’s, Home Depot, Staples, etc)

WE ARE ADDICTED TO CREDIT LIKE CRACK!!!

With the economy in a tailspin and the 700 billion dollar bailout signed into effect, we are starting to see how our well being is very connected to credit from the average consumer, to large corporations like General Motors.