Monastery turned into Hotel - England

When I went to visit England last October, I stayed at an old monastery that had been converted into a hotel by a Canadian hotel company.  The place was a beautiful renovation throughout.  Once had to of course get used to long hallways and stairs, as this classic old castle-like building had no elevators.  The grounds were peaceful and green with life.  I enjoyed shaking off my jet lag walking around the grounds on my first day there.  Here is are a few photos of this grand old building, and the surrounding area.

Classic English Phone Booth

I took a trip to England last October, and during my stay there I took a trip into London with some friends.  We of course walked through the rain to Buckingham Palace, and toured some of the gift shops and opted out of a private tour of the Queen's horse stables.  London is quite the place to take in the architecture, and scenery.  I also had to take the opportunity to pose in front of a classic English phone booth.  These red icons are the traditional symbol one comes to connect with England.

Jumping into a phone booth in London - October 2012

Water Towers & War of the Worlds

Do you ever look at a water tower and think of the old classic movies 'War of the Worlds' or some other black and white early science fiction film that depicted alien invaders with large bubble-like ships and dangling legs?  Even the new re-make of the War of the Worlds movie a few years ago carried this theme.  Sometimes I look at water towers and think, was this on the designers mind when the made it?  Or was original inspiration for the ships designed in the movie taken from the water towers?

Land Contract Homes for Investors

In December of 2012, I published a book entitled 'Understanding Land contract Homes: In Pursuit of the American Dream' which was made available as an eBook in the Kindle format on Amazon. This book covers the basics of the subject for both buyer and seller, and it is one that is designed to raise awareness and understanding of the subject as a whole.

The book that I wrote to follow the first is entitled: Land Contract Homes for Investors.  This second book is for a select target audience of the investor market, and how they can apply the use of Land Contracts as a positive return on their investment dollars, and at the same time help people become home owners.

Land contract homes are a form of seller financing, and they have been around for quite some time in use. Knowing the current market like I do, it is good time for investors to realize the potential of this type of method to sell a home.  I have tried to cover all the advantages, as well as depict the disadvantages of this in this second book.
I also cover issues like capital gains, how to screen an applicant, how to market a home, etc. It addresses what records are important to keep, how to handle default should it ever occur, and I even go into selling established Land Contracts to new investors.  I have tried to make this a useful guide for all investors, and help them understand ways that they can use this to out perform other conventional investments such as stocks and bonds.

Memories of Spring

When you are in January, and the winter months lie ahead, with bitterness and cold weather, it is hard to remember there is an end.  At some point, there is an end. 

Perhaps it is being at the farthest point in the year from the prior season that invokes this feeling?  Every year around this time, usually as January nears to a close, and February comes along I yearn for Spring and even Summer, but think it will never come.  Some may say I am wishing too early, and I should just endure.  What is there trouble with wanting to see flowers springing from the trees and plants on the ground?  What is so charming about the bitter wind, ice and snow that compels one to just endure? 

Do you ever reach that point in winter where you feel chilled to the bones? That the cold has gotten to you so completely that you feel you may never fully thaw out?  Being originally from Arizona and not from the Northern climate like Michigan, I sometimes feel I never feel fully thawed out until I go visit the desert in July. Perhaps that makes me crazy. 

However, with all that being said, I like to post reminders of Spring.  To share what is eventually to come.  Give someone who is stuck in the dull monotony of winter like myself something to look forward to...

The Leila Arboretum in Spring, Battle Creek, Michigan USA.

Land Contract Homes in Michigan

As a Realtor I frequently get asked about Land Contract Homes in Michigan.  Land Contracts are a form of seller financing, and they do require a down payment.  The advantages are that one does not necessarily have to go through a lengthy underwriting process in order to complete the deal, as long as both parties can agree to terms.

There are a lot of aspects to Land Contracts in Michigan which each side should learn about and take into consideration.  I spent some time in the last few months writing a book to cover some of the essential parts to this subject that everyone seeking to utilize this type of financing should learn.  I published the book recently as an eBook, and the title is: Understanding Land Contract Homes: In Pursuit of the American Dream. 

I have always been of the idea that it is best to share the knowledge one has learned over the years with others whenever possible.  This book is a way to do just that.  So many prospective buyers want to become home owners, and have problems with their credit and need time to recover.  Utilizing a Land contract in Michigan is one way to do this, as it allows you to get into a home, and recover.  

In my book, I align the subject of Land Contracts to that of a bridge from a shaky credit situation to a stable one where you can re-finance and get into a lower interest conventional mortgage.  This is the best way to really look at the use of this tool of seller financing. 

So if you are not yet into reading eBooks, I encourage you to get one.  A basic reader will cost just $70 and you can download my book for just $2.99 on Smashwords.  You can also get free reader apps for your cell phone and other handheld devices, and buy the book and read it that way.  It is well worth the investment, and I hope you will gain a new understanding on how these work and how you can achieve your dreams of home ownership.

Welcome to 2013... Your New Year!

Now that 2013 has finally arrived, what are you going to do with it?  What are your goals going to be?  will it be to become a home owner?  An entrepreneur? An adventurer?  All three?  Did you take some time to write down your plans, and set a few dreams to follow along that pathway into the future?

If you have not done so, I suggest that you do that immediately today!  Grab your pencil, grab your pen!  Grab your iPad, or laptop!  Write down some goals to achieve this year, and start on that pathway into your future with some direction!  Welcome to your New Year in 2013!