Business outsourcing is a widely known compelling strategic management option several companies are adopting nowadays. From small to large scale establishments, they have been using it to continually maintain their stable status in today’s overly competitive market. Its emerging power as a business tool is undoubted.
Offshore Outsourcing is a program in which non-core operations are delegated from a company’s internal unit to an overseas external supplier. This set-up enables you to focus on your business core competencies. Companies in various parts of the word deploy this program in the purpose of obtaining better profit margins and decreasing overhead costs.
Through the business outsourcing model, you’ll be relieved of the usual burdens accompanying the implementation of traditional recruitment processes and staff maintenance.
Having an outsourcing company to rely on gives you the benefit of deferment from several human resources related fees such as non productive administrative costs, government taxes, levies, unemployment insurance costs, in-house training expenses, etc.
There would be no further need to worry about the equipments needed before an employee could begin. Every leased employee has their own table, comfortable working area, computer, efficient internet access, and everything they could possibly need. With just a go signal from you, they could begin right away.
Outsourcing offshore gives you an extended resource pool of skilled personnel. Moreover, you can take advantage of the value of less than par foreign currencies. You will only be paying us a fraction of the cost in comparison to the actual charges of using local manpower resources in your area.
This program enables your company to function more efficiently by having all manpower services you need without worrying about manpower related fees.
Employees’ regular in-house trainings and constant progress check are also conducted upon job placement to continually enhance their skills.
Prime Outsourcing, a trustworthy supplier of offshore leased employees and IT related outsourcing services, offers you the best cost and quality edge in today’s overly competitive market. Our company currently has a very stable and credible status in the industry, proving it worthy to invest your money and trust unto.
Our objective is to assist several local and multinational enterprises attain their full potential as well as increase their ability to compete.
Our company has the perfect Asian location- Manila, Philippines- the heart of the largest English speaking country in Asia. With this strategic location, you surely will be encountering no difficulties in communicating with our employees. Our people have excellent English verbal and written skills.
Our services have already been globally proven reliable and easily available. You definitely will experience no difficulties in choosing the best employee that will most certainly suit your needs and meet up with your qualifications. Our company features an integrated team of marketing and IT professionals who understand and practice the latest in Information technology. All of them are college graduates with several years of experience in their respective fields. These individuals exhibit professionalism, high competence, flexibility and dedication to excellence.
We will also take the responsibility of recruiting and sourcing highly qualified applicants, in accordance to the requirements that you had specified, that will comprise your staff overseas.
Every applicant undergoes intensive screening and rigorous training before being absorbed by the company. You will have only the best candidate in the market.
In short, we will be handling almost all of the routine maintenance and development tasks for you. Due to the improved organizational efficiency, you can now give your sole concentration to your company’s strategic growth and development.
We have two types of solutions that you could try, depending on the package that would suit your needs most.
The first one is the “dedicated staff package”. In this set-up, your leased employee will work for you full time- eight hours a day, six days a week, four weeks a month. There would be no need to worry about conflicting schedules since every employee is flexible to your prescribed time frame.
The other one is the “per project package”. Provide us the specific requirements then we’ll do the rest for you. We will be arriving at a fixed price after estimating the amount of time and resources involved in your project. Afterwards, a project plan would be presented to you for your approval.
These service packages are available in reasonably low prices, promising you of enormous savings without sacrificing quality.
Services and solutions offered by the company: •Data entry, processing and conversion •Data capture and image scanning •Forms processing services •Typing and word processing •Web research services •Online research, survey and catalogs •Medical transcription •Documents and record management •Programming •Creative writing •And much more!
Outsourcing human resources to us gives you all the cost, quality, and time advantages that only Prime Outsourcing could provide.
Give us a try and experience our prime quality services. Here at Prime Outsourcing, our primary goal is to provide ultimate customer satisfaction. Feel free to visit our website at: http://www.primeoutsourcing.com/
You absolutely have high dreams for your company, come and make it happen with us!
http://www.primeoutsourcing.com/
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Challenges Indian Offshore Teams Face in Working with Americans
As the foremost “hot spot” for America’s offshoring and offshore outsourcing of technology and business services functions today, India presents an important case study of differences in business culture. In the course of years of giving seminars to both American and Indian teams working together, I have found recurring themes and incidents that point to underlying cross-cultural differences in mindset, values and approach to business interactions.
Once you get past the more obvious mutual adjustment issues of time zones, logistics, work and holiday schedules, accents, names and language (American vs. Indian English), there are five elements of American business culture that pose special challenges for Indian teams interacting with their American counterparts – whether in the ITO, BPO or call center environment.
1. Mindset about Management Hierarchy In American business culture, rank and title aren’t as important as they are in India. Hierarchical forms of behavior are frowned upon. The expectation is that subordinates will speak up, offer suggestions, push back and take initiative rather than just do what they’re told. Decisions tend to be less top-down, authority is more delegated, and managers expect team members to take responsibility and assume ownership of results.
2. Attitudes Towards Appointments and Deadlines For Americans, strict adherence to time commitments is seen as a basic principle of professionalism and courteous behavior. Because everything tends to be strictly scheduled, delays in one appointment or deadline can have a serious ripple effect on a colleague or customer’s other work commitments. The more flexible and open-ended approach to time of Indian business culture can create tensions and unfavorable impressions on American counterparts.
3. Meaning of Agreements and Commitments Americans have a preference for clear, detailed agreements and are uneasy with vague expressions of general commitment. In business interactions, commitments are taken literally and seriously. Failure to follow through on them precisely is viewed as a sign that a person isn’t trustworthy. Indian business culture tends to view agreements more flexibly as intentions and guidelines for future action.
4. Results vs. Process Orientation In Indian business culture, following the rules and implementing correct processes is highly valued, but in American business culture, it’s all about results. There is impatience with individuals who come across as more concerned with following established processes correctly than with achieving the desired goal. Americans don’t like to be told all the procedural reasons why something can’t be or hasn’t been done.
5. Directness — Especially in Addressing Disagreements The American style of communication is characteristically direct, candid and relatively unconcerned with face-saving or the avoidance of conflict. The expectation is that questions will get answered with a clear “yes” or “no,” and that disagreements will be dealt with openly and straightforwardly, in a “tell it like it is” manner. Indians and people from other cultures that tend to avoid conflict and loss of face often find it hard to say “no” or raise problematic issues effectively with their American counterparts.
Cultural awareness and the ability to adapt effectively to another culture’s way of doing things are complex skills – whether you're a programmer in Bangalore or a project leader in Sunnyvale. Everyone tends to take their own cultural ways of doing things for granted and to assume they are self-evident to others.
In recent years, American companies offshoring or outsourcing to India have shown growing awareness of the hidden costs of cross-cultural mismatches in work-related behaviors. They have been willing to invest in general and region-specific cross-cultural training for their onshore employees and those who are asked to travel to India. They have also learned to devise process accommodations to circumvent the negative effects of certain cultural tendencies in their offshore teams.
What these companies seldom undertake to address directly is the need to seriously educate their offshore teams in the fundamentals of American business culture – the attitudes, thought patterns and behavior norms that Americans expect. They’re missing a golden opportunity to improve the productivity and experience of their onshore-offshore teams.
Dr. Karine Schomer is President of Change Management Consulting & Training, LLC, and leads the [CMCT Articles Archive.] (link: http://www.cmct.net/india_practice.html)
Once you get past the more obvious mutual adjustment issues of time zones, logistics, work and holiday schedules, accents, names and language (American vs. Indian English), there are five elements of American business culture that pose special challenges for Indian teams interacting with their American counterparts – whether in the ITO, BPO or call center environment.
1. Mindset about Management Hierarchy In American business culture, rank and title aren’t as important as they are in India. Hierarchical forms of behavior are frowned upon. The expectation is that subordinates will speak up, offer suggestions, push back and take initiative rather than just do what they’re told. Decisions tend to be less top-down, authority is more delegated, and managers expect team members to take responsibility and assume ownership of results.
2. Attitudes Towards Appointments and Deadlines For Americans, strict adherence to time commitments is seen as a basic principle of professionalism and courteous behavior. Because everything tends to be strictly scheduled, delays in one appointment or deadline can have a serious ripple effect on a colleague or customer’s other work commitments. The more flexible and open-ended approach to time of Indian business culture can create tensions and unfavorable impressions on American counterparts.
3. Meaning of Agreements and Commitments Americans have a preference for clear, detailed agreements and are uneasy with vague expressions of general commitment. In business interactions, commitments are taken literally and seriously. Failure to follow through on them precisely is viewed as a sign that a person isn’t trustworthy. Indian business culture tends to view agreements more flexibly as intentions and guidelines for future action.
4. Results vs. Process Orientation In Indian business culture, following the rules and implementing correct processes is highly valued, but in American business culture, it’s all about results. There is impatience with individuals who come across as more concerned with following established processes correctly than with achieving the desired goal. Americans don’t like to be told all the procedural reasons why something can’t be or hasn’t been done.
5. Directness — Especially in Addressing Disagreements The American style of communication is characteristically direct, candid and relatively unconcerned with face-saving or the avoidance of conflict. The expectation is that questions will get answered with a clear “yes” or “no,” and that disagreements will be dealt with openly and straightforwardly, in a “tell it like it is” manner. Indians and people from other cultures that tend to avoid conflict and loss of face often find it hard to say “no” or raise problematic issues effectively with their American counterparts.
Cultural awareness and the ability to adapt effectively to another culture’s way of doing things are complex skills – whether you're a programmer in Bangalore or a project leader in Sunnyvale. Everyone tends to take their own cultural ways of doing things for granted and to assume they are self-evident to others.
In recent years, American companies offshoring or outsourcing to India have shown growing awareness of the hidden costs of cross-cultural mismatches in work-related behaviors. They have been willing to invest in general and region-specific cross-cultural training for their onshore employees and those who are asked to travel to India. They have also learned to devise process accommodations to circumvent the negative effects of certain cultural tendencies in their offshore teams.
What these companies seldom undertake to address directly is the need to seriously educate their offshore teams in the fundamentals of American business culture – the attitudes, thought patterns and behavior norms that Americans expect. They’re missing a golden opportunity to improve the productivity and experience of their onshore-offshore teams.
Dr. Karine Schomer is President of Change Management Consulting & Training, LLC, and leads the [CMCT Articles Archive.] (link: http://www.cmct.net/india_practice.html)
Why is Belize the next big thing in Caribbean real estate?
Belize is quintessentially Caribbean. The sand is soft, the palm trees sway on the gentle breeze and the aquamarine water is so clear that you can see the coral below. Belize, known in travel circles as "Mother Nature's Best Kept Secret", is truly a naturalist's paradise. This tiny country squeezes a tremendous diversity between its borders - not only is Belize the diving and snorkeling capital of the western hemisphere but it also boasts incredible old growth rain forests, rushing rivers, majestic mountains, intricate cave systems and ancient Mayan pyramids. To top it off it is the only English speaking democratic country in Central America, has a benefit-laden retirement program as well as a broad array of tax incentives for property investors.
Timing is everything ... and now is an intelligent time to choose Belize real estate
Right now Belize is an increasingly popular destination for tourists, and this trend bodes well for investors who acquire a foothold now. Belize is the only Central American country to enjoy consistent increases in tourist arrivals since 1998 including over the post 9/11 period. Cruise visits to the country increased by over 50% between 2003 and 2004. Some commentators are predicting that this tiny tropical paradise is destined to be the next Cancun or Costa Maya. Real estate dollars tend to follow leisure and tourism dollars and with tourism growth rates surpassing other counties in the region, the market for Belize property is set to boom.
Belize real estate has flown under the radar for some time being a small country, the word is now getting out but its not too late to make your claim. The opportunities are proven as the early risks have been taken. Furthermore, with baby boomers turning 50 at a rate of three to four million a year, the demographics are set for growth.
Belize and Baby Boomers
Time Magazine recently reported: "Many of the 76 million American boomers are more likely than their parents to consider retiring to a foreign land, because they have traveled more, have higher hopes for retirement, and tend to be more active and adventuresome." The Baby Boomers are looking beyond Florida and the southern states to countries such as Costa Rica, Mexico and Belize. Belize stands out as offering a unique combination of affordable properties and world-class amenities not to mention one of the most attractive retiree benefits package in all of Central America.
What are real estate investors buying?
Although vacant property makes up a large proportion of real estate sales in Belize, recent years have seen a growth in turnkey products for sale. This is particularly the case with condominium units in Ambergris Caye where an increase in construction and sales has been evident for 24 months and is accelerating.
In general terms, the real estate on offer is evolving as end user investors become more sophisticated and expect a higher real estate standard. For example, we are seeing an increase in brand name offerings; franchise products in different locations; amenity based products; products being marketed as ecologically sound ("eco-sell") and technology supported real estate ensuring full connectivity with the internet.
The buyers for turnkey product (as opposed to raw land parcels) in Belize tend to be motivated by the potential for rental income; the attraction of a maintenance free lifestyle (particularly when it comes to condo units) and are drawn to the local cultural infrastructure. Belize also offers real estate investors the affordability factor when compared with turnkey homes and condos in North American, Canadian and European vacation settings as well as elsewhere in the Caribbean. The link with tourism is particularly strong for turnkey product in areas attracting most visitor numbers.
It takes little imagination to see where Belize is heading.
With a stable political democracy, consistent increases in tourist arrivals since 1998, a currency pegged to the US dollar, miles and miles of sandy beaches and the largest barrier reef in the Western hemisphere, Belize promises to be one of the strongest emerging markets in which to invest. The timing is right and Belize is beginning to attract real estate investors attracted by the potential for capital appreciation in the "New Caribbean".
There are no barriers to foreign investment and, as a member of the British Commonwealth, Belize has a legal system based on British law and is the only English speaking country in Central America. In addition, Belize has no capital gains or inheritance taxes and a growing private offshore banking sector. It takes little imagination to see where Belize is heading.
Claudia Gonella, Director Coldwell Banker Belize. For expert insight into the Belize property market visit http://www.coldwellbankerbelize.com
Timing is everything ... and now is an intelligent time to choose Belize real estate
Right now Belize is an increasingly popular destination for tourists, and this trend bodes well for investors who acquire a foothold now. Belize is the only Central American country to enjoy consistent increases in tourist arrivals since 1998 including over the post 9/11 period. Cruise visits to the country increased by over 50% between 2003 and 2004. Some commentators are predicting that this tiny tropical paradise is destined to be the next Cancun or Costa Maya. Real estate dollars tend to follow leisure and tourism dollars and with tourism growth rates surpassing other counties in the region, the market for Belize property is set to boom.
Belize real estate has flown under the radar for some time being a small country, the word is now getting out but its not too late to make your claim. The opportunities are proven as the early risks have been taken. Furthermore, with baby boomers turning 50 at a rate of three to four million a year, the demographics are set for growth.
Belize and Baby Boomers
Time Magazine recently reported: "Many of the 76 million American boomers are more likely than their parents to consider retiring to a foreign land, because they have traveled more, have higher hopes for retirement, and tend to be more active and adventuresome." The Baby Boomers are looking beyond Florida and the southern states to countries such as Costa Rica, Mexico and Belize. Belize stands out as offering a unique combination of affordable properties and world-class amenities not to mention one of the most attractive retiree benefits package in all of Central America.
What are real estate investors buying?
Although vacant property makes up a large proportion of real estate sales in Belize, recent years have seen a growth in turnkey products for sale. This is particularly the case with condominium units in Ambergris Caye where an increase in construction and sales has been evident for 24 months and is accelerating.
In general terms, the real estate on offer is evolving as end user investors become more sophisticated and expect a higher real estate standard. For example, we are seeing an increase in brand name offerings; franchise products in different locations; amenity based products; products being marketed as ecologically sound ("eco-sell") and technology supported real estate ensuring full connectivity with the internet.
The buyers for turnkey product (as opposed to raw land parcels) in Belize tend to be motivated by the potential for rental income; the attraction of a maintenance free lifestyle (particularly when it comes to condo units) and are drawn to the local cultural infrastructure. Belize also offers real estate investors the affordability factor when compared with turnkey homes and condos in North American, Canadian and European vacation settings as well as elsewhere in the Caribbean. The link with tourism is particularly strong for turnkey product in areas attracting most visitor numbers.
It takes little imagination to see where Belize is heading.
With a stable political democracy, consistent increases in tourist arrivals since 1998, a currency pegged to the US dollar, miles and miles of sandy beaches and the largest barrier reef in the Western hemisphere, Belize promises to be one of the strongest emerging markets in which to invest. The timing is right and Belize is beginning to attract real estate investors attracted by the potential for capital appreciation in the "New Caribbean".
There are no barriers to foreign investment and, as a member of the British Commonwealth, Belize has a legal system based on British law and is the only English speaking country in Central America. In addition, Belize has no capital gains or inheritance taxes and a growing private offshore banking sector. It takes little imagination to see where Belize is heading.
Claudia Gonella, Director Coldwell Banker Belize. For expert insight into the Belize property market visit http://www.coldwellbankerbelize.com
Dynamics of Offfshore Software Outsorcing
Offshore Software Outsourcing logic has been finally understood through deep readings by this time. Well it is obvious understanding that the in-house functions could be higher at cost-value for the providers overseas.
Jim John
Offshore Software Outsourcing logic has been finally understood through deep readings by this time. Well it is obvious understanding that the in-house functions could be higher at cost-value for the providers overseas.
So they start outsourcing their services offshore. Let us now practically know how to create a global organization able to operate across multiple time zones and the tricky cultural and linguistic divides. Few owners of the large companies are aware about all the consequences they are to face and keep linguistic balance between the service quality and profits, but outsourcing can turn on you, leading to bigger problems if we are unaware about the knowledge and skills required to be administered in offshore software outsourcing.
There is an off shoring team emerged with the industry of brokers and consultants under one shelter to help and ensure a good fit, helping in managing the relationship and handling problems that arise. Such firms are especially important for growing companies which cannot afford the failure of their outsource projects.
Now, let us take an example of Bharat Shah, a middle-man, with a belief that the small companies cannot take advantage of the global economy as the big ones. He opened his new office and was ready to do business. He was engaged in identifying qualitative employers who can work with him. They get inside the scoop of call centers, transcription service or software programming to know about their business status. With just a few mouse clicks, a US company can track down and can keep a check how the company is progressing in its software project.
John, at US, found the other company Miller run by Mike out there, is ready to send his work overseas as he is aware that outsourcing is a lot cheaper when comparative to in-house work.
But the company does not know how to take the first step towards this. With the help of other references and clients he came to know that if the work be given offshore software outsourcing
India, his work will cost cheap when comparative to employ in his in-house. Within few months he sat with almost 12 vendors and worked with the client to pick up the right one.
For more information please visit: http://software-outsourcing.spaces.live.com
[Offsohre Outsourcing India Blog] (link: http://outsourcing-software-development.150m.com)
Jim John
Offshore Software Outsourcing logic has been finally understood through deep readings by this time. Well it is obvious understanding that the in-house functions could be higher at cost-value for the providers overseas.
So they start outsourcing their services offshore. Let us now practically know how to create a global organization able to operate across multiple time zones and the tricky cultural and linguistic divides. Few owners of the large companies are aware about all the consequences they are to face and keep linguistic balance between the service quality and profits, but outsourcing can turn on you, leading to bigger problems if we are unaware about the knowledge and skills required to be administered in offshore software outsourcing.
There is an off shoring team emerged with the industry of brokers and consultants under one shelter to help and ensure a good fit, helping in managing the relationship and handling problems that arise. Such firms are especially important for growing companies which cannot afford the failure of their outsource projects.
Now, let us take an example of Bharat Shah, a middle-man, with a belief that the small companies cannot take advantage of the global economy as the big ones. He opened his new office and was ready to do business. He was engaged in identifying qualitative employers who can work with him. They get inside the scoop of call centers, transcription service or software programming to know about their business status. With just a few mouse clicks, a US company can track down and can keep a check how the company is progressing in its software project.
John, at US, found the other company Miller run by Mike out there, is ready to send his work overseas as he is aware that outsourcing is a lot cheaper when comparative to in-house work.
But the company does not know how to take the first step towards this. With the help of other references and clients he came to know that if the work be given offshore software outsourcing
India, his work will cost cheap when comparative to employ in his in-house. Within few months he sat with almost 12 vendors and worked with the client to pick up the right one.
For more information please visit: http://software-outsourcing.spaces.live.com
[Offsohre Outsourcing India Blog] (link: http://outsourcing-software-development.150m.com)
Monday, November 19, 2007
Starting A Small Home Business
Dave Fitzgerald
If you are totally satisfied with your work and financial situation, chances are you own your own Home Based Business. If you're not experiencing the freedom and financial security maybe you should be starting a small home business.
It's a fact that only 3% of the population is able to obtain real success. The sad part of this statistic is the fact that 97% of the population will not. But what is even worse is the fact that with some effort, not a huge effort, you can be part of that successful 3%.
One of the easiest and best ways in starting a small home business is to develop it on the
Internet. It is the world's number one source of selling and you should take full advantage of this phenomenon. With this new technology you can have a very successful business working from your home.
Affiliate marketing is an excellent way to earn money while at home. There are virtually no production costs. The product is already developed and proven by the merchant, and all you have to do to find, as many prospects as you can that will bring in the profit for both the merchant and the affiliate.
A business using affiliate marketing is not that hard now with the Internet at your disposable. Starting a small home business is much easier now compared to the days when people have to make use of the telephones and other mediums of information just to get the latest updates on the way their program is coming along.
Another plus of on the affiliate program side is when you are starting a small home business is that you don't have to do any personal selling, carry inventory, ship the product, or handle customer service, which at times can be a real headache.
The key to being a good affiliate is learning the skills of good advertising and promotion techniques. The system involved in affiliate marketing seems easy, but it also takes a lot of diligence and perseverance for one to be able to work the business thoroughly.
Those who want to start a small home business should possess the necessary skills to be able work through the industry with confidence and self-assurance. Still, other factors are needed by one to be able to really break in. Knowledge about the business at hand is very important as it dictates the actions that are to be done by people who are into it.
Dave Fitzgerald writes on business start-ups, Marketing, and various types of advertising. To learn about small business startup go to: http://www.dobetterbusiness.com/cmp02.htm
If you are totally satisfied with your work and financial situation, chances are you own your own Home Based Business. If you're not experiencing the freedom and financial security maybe you should be starting a small home business.
It's a fact that only 3% of the population is able to obtain real success. The sad part of this statistic is the fact that 97% of the population will not. But what is even worse is the fact that with some effort, not a huge effort, you can be part of that successful 3%.
One of the easiest and best ways in starting a small home business is to develop it on the
Internet. It is the world's number one source of selling and you should take full advantage of this phenomenon. With this new technology you can have a very successful business working from your home.
Affiliate marketing is an excellent way to earn money while at home. There are virtually no production costs. The product is already developed and proven by the merchant, and all you have to do to find, as many prospects as you can that will bring in the profit for both the merchant and the affiliate.
A business using affiliate marketing is not that hard now with the Internet at your disposable. Starting a small home business is much easier now compared to the days when people have to make use of the telephones and other mediums of information just to get the latest updates on the way their program is coming along.
Another plus of on the affiliate program side is when you are starting a small home business is that you don't have to do any personal selling, carry inventory, ship the product, or handle customer service, which at times can be a real headache.
The key to being a good affiliate is learning the skills of good advertising and promotion techniques. The system involved in affiliate marketing seems easy, but it also takes a lot of diligence and perseverance for one to be able to work the business thoroughly.
Those who want to start a small home business should possess the necessary skills to be able work through the industry with confidence and self-assurance. Still, other factors are needed by one to be able to really break in. Knowledge about the business at hand is very important as it dictates the actions that are to be done by people who are into it.
Dave Fitzgerald writes on business start-ups, Marketing, and various types of advertising. To learn about small business startup go to: http://www.dobetterbusiness.com/cmp02.htm
Investing In Chicago Properties
By Joe Pinto
Cities around the U.S. are growing at a rapid rate. Along with this growth has come a drastically increased need for quality housing. This need has created a real opportunity for smart investors who know where to put their investing dollars. Home markets like Chicago are a great example. As one of the largest cities in the Nation and the industrial and business center of the mid-west, Chicago is home to over 3 million people and that number is growing. With a thriving economic sector and employment on the rise, Chicago has a need for good reliable and affordable housing options.
There are a few different ways to go about investing money in Chicago real estate. The most traditional of these methods is purchasing rental homes and units or home flipping. With the diverse work force in Chicago there is a great call for both types of properties, and both can bring in some great revenue if done properly.
* Rentals - One of the most traditional methods of investment and a time honored favorite for accruing equity. The trick with rentals is to find the right tenants that will stay in the rental long-term and take good care of the property. Being a landlord can be a tricky undertaking and there is a lot of responsibility associated with the title. Being a good landlord means taking care of your property's and tenant's needs in a timely manner, and making sure that the property is well kept, and in good repair at all times. Tenants should not have to wait for months to have a fixture or appliance repaired. Also, being an attentive landlord will help in acquiring good reliable renters. If you take a real interest in the quality of the lifestyle that your property provides you should attract a higher quality of tenant.
* Flipping - Home flipping is all the rage in America. The basic principle is purchasing a home below it's market value and doing the necessary improvements and upgrades to ensure a profit when re-selling. The ideal time for a home flip is about 3 months from start to finish. If it takes much longer you stand the risk of spending too much money in the interim to make the sale profitable. You will have to take into account the average price of homes in the area in question and the amount you are going to pay for the property. The difference is the maximum amount you can spend on renovations. Of course, if you want to make a profit you will have to come in under that number in terms of total money spent. Planning is the essence of home flipping. If you fail to plan for every eventuality, the flip may not come off properly.
Joe Pinto is a representative of ChicagoHomeEstates.com, the foremost source for [Chicago Home Estates] (link: http://www.chicagohomeestates.com/search/n) has you covered.
Cities around the U.S. are growing at a rapid rate. Along with this growth has come a drastically increased need for quality housing. This need has created a real opportunity for smart investors who know where to put their investing dollars. Home markets like Chicago are a great example. As one of the largest cities in the Nation and the industrial and business center of the mid-west, Chicago is home to over 3 million people and that number is growing. With a thriving economic sector and employment on the rise, Chicago has a need for good reliable and affordable housing options.
There are a few different ways to go about investing money in Chicago real estate. The most traditional of these methods is purchasing rental homes and units or home flipping. With the diverse work force in Chicago there is a great call for both types of properties, and both can bring in some great revenue if done properly.
* Rentals - One of the most traditional methods of investment and a time honored favorite for accruing equity. The trick with rentals is to find the right tenants that will stay in the rental long-term and take good care of the property. Being a landlord can be a tricky undertaking and there is a lot of responsibility associated with the title. Being a good landlord means taking care of your property's and tenant's needs in a timely manner, and making sure that the property is well kept, and in good repair at all times. Tenants should not have to wait for months to have a fixture or appliance repaired. Also, being an attentive landlord will help in acquiring good reliable renters. If you take a real interest in the quality of the lifestyle that your property provides you should attract a higher quality of tenant.
* Flipping - Home flipping is all the rage in America. The basic principle is purchasing a home below it's market value and doing the necessary improvements and upgrades to ensure a profit when re-selling. The ideal time for a home flip is about 3 months from start to finish. If it takes much longer you stand the risk of spending too much money in the interim to make the sale profitable. You will have to take into account the average price of homes in the area in question and the amount you are going to pay for the property. The difference is the maximum amount you can spend on renovations. Of course, if you want to make a profit you will have to come in under that number in terms of total money spent. Planning is the essence of home flipping. If you fail to plan for every eventuality, the flip may not come off properly.
Joe Pinto is a representative of ChicagoHomeEstates.com, the foremost source for [Chicago Home Estates] (link: http://www.chicagohomeestates.com/search/n) has you covered.
Why I Don't Invest in Mutual Funds
At the risk of alienating the investment world, I offer the following observation: Mutual funds are not a particularly profitable way to invest. Let me share with you my biases on this subject.
By Al Jacobs
For more than four decades Ive involved myself in investments, including stocks and bonds, real estate, mortgage lending, and variety of enterprises, some of them hard to describe. However, there is one endeavor that Ive systematically avoided. It is the mutual fund. At the risk of alienating the investment world, I offer the following observation: Mutual funds are not a particularly profitable way to invest. Let me share with you my biases on this subject.
As with most activities, what we get out generally relates to what we put in. Proficiency on the tennis court requires many hours of wielding a racquet. Mastery of an academic subject necessitates study. Similarly, to place your money for favorable return, you must familiarize yourself with the intricacies of each investment. For those of us who make this an active part of our lives, questions must be askedand astutely answered. If we fail to do so, bad things happen.
This brings us to reality. The fact is, a majority of persons are unable or unwilling to analyze investments. There is something in the human psyche that tends to discourage methodical scrutiny. The average individual prefers to broad-brush most subjects while accepting pronouncements. Thus, if a banker or a broker assures that an offering is acceptable, its accepted without deliberation. As implausible as it may seem, this is how most persons conduct their financial lives.
Its from this premise that the most powerful and profitable marketing tool of the securities industry developed. Since formation in 1924 of the first open-end investment company in the United States, known as the mutual fund, its acceptance by the public has grown to become universal. Quite simply, a mutual fund controls a pool of money provided by its shareholders that it invests in a portfolio of securities selected by the funds managers. In recent years they have proliferated like mushrooms, with over fifteen thousand registered funds in existence, and total assets now exceeding $10 trillion. They exist in near-infinite varieties offering almost every conceivable mix of securities. For the potential investor with both limited expertise and assets, this type of investment vehicle seems to meet two important criteria: astute selection of securities and advantageous portfolio diversification. Whatever else you may say about the mutual fund concept, one thing is undeniable: It truly captures the essence of the average citizens disdain for financial involvement. Each participant need only exhibit the astuteness demonstrated by loveable Sergeant Hans Schultz of the 1960s Hogans Heroes TV series, who regularly declared: I see nothing! I hear nothing! I know nothing! And in reality the mutual fund was designed so that only one involvement is required by the investor: contribution of money.
Though in theory the mutual fund meets the intended needs, theory and reality do not always coincide. Before describing my fundamental concerns, let me acknowledge that many mutual funds operate satisfactorily, and that large numbers of investors profited handsomely over recent years. Recognize, however, that these favorable results did not necessarily reflect the skill of the fund managers, but rather the consequence of a period during which the major indices posted their greatest sustained rises in history. There is no particular magic involved.
These funds merely rise and fall with the general fortunes of the market.
When comparing the mutual funds against direct purchase of corporate stocks, the latter provides the better return. The reason is obvious. The additional overhead costs of the mutual fund operation must be superimposed on the investment. And dont imagine that these costs are insignificant. Over the years the industry has devised ways to separate the populace from its money. Most managed funds assess loads, which are commissions charged to the buyers that run as high as 8 percent of the purchase price. Although the conventional recommendation is to avoid the load in preference to the no-load funds, many of the no-load funds incorporate equally objectionable fees. These include redemption fees, often known as "back-end loads," to be paid when the shares are sold. A variation on the redemption fee is a deferred charge when shares are redeemed within a certain number of years, known as a deferred load. Another contrivance approved in 1980 by the Securities and Exchange Commission is known as the 12b-1 plan that permits a fund to confiscate up to 1 percent per year of the fund's assets for marketing purposes. At this rate, a participant in such a no-load fund over ten years contributes 12 percent of the investment in such fees. You may add to the list of undesirables those funds that debit portions of reinvested interest, dividends, and capital gains, known as reinvestment loads, as well as other less than obvious ways some no-load funds separate client from asset.
To be certain, the lowest management fees are those assessed by index funds, which are an assembled collection of securities whose composition mimics that of a particular market index, such as the Dow Jones Industrials or the Standard & Poor's 500. As investment analysis and decision-making is not required of the managers, no justification exists for a substantial fee. However, use of the index fund raises a fundamental question: What justification is there for a mix of securities often selected at random? Its my opinion that the index fund is the logical extension of the know-nothing canon. Not only need the investor disavow knowledge of anything financial, but the same rule pertains to management. An arbitrary set of index funds can then be designed and offered in which there ceases to be any responsibility for performance. Profitability for the fund operators becomes based solely upon the fees that can skimmed from the pot. In this way, the operation of an index fund becomes an exercise in pure marketing.
This gets us to the bottom line. For those of you unwilling to take part in the management of your assets, the mutual fund is your only optioninvestment by default. For others, who aspire to see their fortunes grow, there is a world of opportunity to be embraced.
A. B. Jacobs is a professional investor with four decades of first-hand involvement in intricate business and investment activities.A Skeptics Guide to Prosperity. You may subscribe to his financial Newsletter, "On the Money Trail," at no cost or obligation, by visiting [On the Money Trail] (link: http://www.onthemoneytrail.com)
By Al Jacobs
For more than four decades Ive involved myself in investments, including stocks and bonds, real estate, mortgage lending, and variety of enterprises, some of them hard to describe. However, there is one endeavor that Ive systematically avoided. It is the mutual fund. At the risk of alienating the investment world, I offer the following observation: Mutual funds are not a particularly profitable way to invest. Let me share with you my biases on this subject.
As with most activities, what we get out generally relates to what we put in. Proficiency on the tennis court requires many hours of wielding a racquet. Mastery of an academic subject necessitates study. Similarly, to place your money for favorable return, you must familiarize yourself with the intricacies of each investment. For those of us who make this an active part of our lives, questions must be askedand astutely answered. If we fail to do so, bad things happen.
This brings us to reality. The fact is, a majority of persons are unable or unwilling to analyze investments. There is something in the human psyche that tends to discourage methodical scrutiny. The average individual prefers to broad-brush most subjects while accepting pronouncements. Thus, if a banker or a broker assures that an offering is acceptable, its accepted without deliberation. As implausible as it may seem, this is how most persons conduct their financial lives.
Its from this premise that the most powerful and profitable marketing tool of the securities industry developed. Since formation in 1924 of the first open-end investment company in the United States, known as the mutual fund, its acceptance by the public has grown to become universal. Quite simply, a mutual fund controls a pool of money provided by its shareholders that it invests in a portfolio of securities selected by the funds managers. In recent years they have proliferated like mushrooms, with over fifteen thousand registered funds in existence, and total assets now exceeding $10 trillion. They exist in near-infinite varieties offering almost every conceivable mix of securities. For the potential investor with both limited expertise and assets, this type of investment vehicle seems to meet two important criteria: astute selection of securities and advantageous portfolio diversification. Whatever else you may say about the mutual fund concept, one thing is undeniable: It truly captures the essence of the average citizens disdain for financial involvement. Each participant need only exhibit the astuteness demonstrated by loveable Sergeant Hans Schultz of the 1960s Hogans Heroes TV series, who regularly declared: I see nothing! I hear nothing! I know nothing! And in reality the mutual fund was designed so that only one involvement is required by the investor: contribution of money.
Though in theory the mutual fund meets the intended needs, theory and reality do not always coincide. Before describing my fundamental concerns, let me acknowledge that many mutual funds operate satisfactorily, and that large numbers of investors profited handsomely over recent years. Recognize, however, that these favorable results did not necessarily reflect the skill of the fund managers, but rather the consequence of a period during which the major indices posted their greatest sustained rises in history. There is no particular magic involved.
These funds merely rise and fall with the general fortunes of the market.
When comparing the mutual funds against direct purchase of corporate stocks, the latter provides the better return. The reason is obvious. The additional overhead costs of the mutual fund operation must be superimposed on the investment. And dont imagine that these costs are insignificant. Over the years the industry has devised ways to separate the populace from its money. Most managed funds assess loads, which are commissions charged to the buyers that run as high as 8 percent of the purchase price. Although the conventional recommendation is to avoid the load in preference to the no-load funds, many of the no-load funds incorporate equally objectionable fees. These include redemption fees, often known as "back-end loads," to be paid when the shares are sold. A variation on the redemption fee is a deferred charge when shares are redeemed within a certain number of years, known as a deferred load. Another contrivance approved in 1980 by the Securities and Exchange Commission is known as the 12b-1 plan that permits a fund to confiscate up to 1 percent per year of the fund's assets for marketing purposes. At this rate, a participant in such a no-load fund over ten years contributes 12 percent of the investment in such fees. You may add to the list of undesirables those funds that debit portions of reinvested interest, dividends, and capital gains, known as reinvestment loads, as well as other less than obvious ways some no-load funds separate client from asset.
To be certain, the lowest management fees are those assessed by index funds, which are an assembled collection of securities whose composition mimics that of a particular market index, such as the Dow Jones Industrials or the Standard & Poor's 500. As investment analysis and decision-making is not required of the managers, no justification exists for a substantial fee. However, use of the index fund raises a fundamental question: What justification is there for a mix of securities often selected at random? Its my opinion that the index fund is the logical extension of the know-nothing canon. Not only need the investor disavow knowledge of anything financial, but the same rule pertains to management. An arbitrary set of index funds can then be designed and offered in which there ceases to be any responsibility for performance. Profitability for the fund operators becomes based solely upon the fees that can skimmed from the pot. In this way, the operation of an index fund becomes an exercise in pure marketing.
This gets us to the bottom line. For those of you unwilling to take part in the management of your assets, the mutual fund is your only optioninvestment by default. For others, who aspire to see their fortunes grow, there is a world of opportunity to be embraced.
A. B. Jacobs is a professional investor with four decades of first-hand involvement in intricate business and investment activities.A Skeptics Guide to Prosperity. You may subscribe to his financial Newsletter, "On the Money Trail," at no cost or obligation, by visiting [On the Money Trail] (link: http://www.onthemoneytrail.com)
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