Whats The Difference Between A Credit Card And A Store Card
November 30, 2008
Would you like to save 10% on your purchase today by filling out an application for our store credit card?
The line is often delivered with a winning smile by the cashier at the till of your favorite high street clothing or accessory shop. The idea of credit cards originated with store cards - merchants extending credit to good customers who could be counted on to pay off their purchases over time. While today’s general purpose cards are derived and descended from that original idea, store cards today are a particular subset with some considerable differences and limitations. Confusing the issue further are cashback and reward offers that give you special advantages at particular merchants’ shops. They’re a peculiar hybrid that can serve you well, if you pay attention to which cards you hold in your wallet and which you use at various merchants.
Store Cards vs. Credit Cards
1. Credit cards are accepted at many different merchants, including shops, travel agencies, airlines and many service shops. This gives you the freedom to shop for the lowest prices you can find among many different merchants.
2. Store cards are only accepted at one particular merchant, though they’re usually welcome at any branch store run by the merchant. You’re confined to the selection of products carried by that merchant at the prices offered by that merchant.
3. Credit cards usually carry a considerably lower APR on purchases than store cards. They typically offer starting rates as high as 29% APR - which is often the highest rate on a general use options, reserved for those that have built up penalties for late payments.
4. Cashback options give you a percentage of your cash back each time you use them. Some cashback cards offer a higher percentage when you use them at the shops of ‘member merchants’, but can still be used at any shop that accepts the imprint on the card. Store cards seldom give cash back, and can’t be used in any other store.
5. Reward credit cards operate a good deal like cashback cards, but rather than giving you cash back on your purchases - which amounts to a discount on the price - they reward you with points that can be used to ‘buy’ other merchandise. Generally, you can’t shop regular merchants with your reward points. Instead, you redeem them from the merchant company for merchandise that’s offered by their ‘reward partners’. The cards themselves, though, can be used anywhere that accepts them.
6. An interesting new twist on reward options are those that allow you to redeem your accrued reward points for gift vouchers that can be spent at any merchant that accepts their credit card. It’s another step away from the limitations imposed by stores and ‘membership only’ merchants.
7. Membership credit clubs may look like credit cards - but they’re much closer to store cards. Generally, you’re required to pay a membership fee in order to shop from a catalog of merchandise offered by the credit club. They’re not credit cards and can’t be used like one.
Generally speaking, credit cards, especially cashback credit cards and reward credit cards, offer far more value than store cards. Be careful though, there are differences that will make one a better choice for you than another. If you’re considering a cashback option, take the time to compare credit cards to be sure you’re getting the right one for all of your needs.
Jon Francis has been involved with finance for many years! With an in-depth knowledge of the credit card UK market help helps others get the best from a credit card.
Internet Mortgage Leads, Why Aren They Working
November 30, 2008
When it comes to Internet mortgage leads, mortgage companies and sales people have to ask what will really generate more and better clients. The advent of the Internet has of course changed the way business is done all over the globe. It is a matter of perspective and sometimes flat out results that show whether that change has actually been for the better.
A good lead for a potential client is a very valuable thing for mortgage lenders. Without them, a lending company can pretty much count on closing up shop. While there is a need for both lenders and clients to successfully make contact with each other, they often miss each other like ships passing in the night.
Buying Internet mortgage leads from those companies that play the middleman and bring lenders and clients together can seem like quite a blessing. This is commonly done on the Internet, the scenario consisting of potential clients entering information for lenders to compete over. This is the source of many non-exclusive generated leads.
It is a scenario that can work well for the consumer but not so well for the lender. These non-exclusive leads are not only generally picked over, a large majority of these consumers are only trying to get a basic idea of what is available to them. More often than not, Internet generated leads actually lead nowhere.
The leads are sold to lenders in bulk and often turn out to be rehashed information from months earlier. Because consumers tend to shop around, the information can frequently be the same lead on a different form. These non-exclusive leads often do more harm than good in the long run.
When it comes to large financial decisions, people want to feel good about the choices they make. They don’t want to be pressured but they do want to be well informed before they decide to get serious. The Internet is a venue that allows this, which is why less than five percent of Internet leads become actual sales.
The point of being in business is to make a profit and losing money by paying for Internet mortgage leads that have no return can put a serious kink in the works. Although one generated lead can wipe out a years worth of fees, sitting around and waiting for it to happen is generally not the best course of action. Taking a proactive stance and opting for more reliable results is always a best bet.
Exclusive mortgage leads are always going to be more lucrative. Instead of several brokers tromping through the aged data and information of a lead, lenders have an opportunity to deal with a potential client one on one. The exclusive lead is a better opportunity to successfully make a sale and close a deal.
Moreover, in this day and age when putting out personal information on the Internet has become an iffy thing to do, finding mortgage leads through telemarketing allows consumers to actually talk to a live person. This makes the potential lead more comfortable and more information can be gathered than on a simple form found on the Internet. The closing rate for transactions carried out in this manner is much higher than that of Internet leads.
Compared to Internet mortgage leads, the exclusive leads of telemarketing have a higher closing rate, doing away with the problem of not getting a return on lead fees. Plus, unlike leads from Internet shoppers, telemarketing leads have obtained extensive information from clients ready to make serious decisions. All this leads to a much more reliable source of potential customers and clients.
While Internet mortgage leads are not all that exclusive, Vertical Measures is a lead generation company that specializes in developing high quality, telemarketing mortgage leads for mortgage brokers in the US. Visit http://www.VerticalMeasuresLeads.com or call toll free 866-566-6100.
Can You Afford To Retire
November 29, 2008
Looking to make investments for retirement always seems to be something that you think I’ll do it in another few years. However, anyone thinking in this way couldn’t be more wrong. It is vital that these days you start to think about that rainy day whilst still in your twenties and thirties because everyday you put it off could mean you have to work longer, and who really wants to work until they are in their seventies?
The way our country is today things do look pretty bleak for the future. The government is more involved with making money available to go to war than keeping the social security system in a healthy state. For many retirement seems to be fading into the distances - more of a maybe than a reality. So it is down to you as an individual whether you purchase IRS’s or put your money towards the purchase of gold coins to safeguard your future, it is something that has to be done.
Really, I am not qualified to give you advice about investing for retirement. No one simply writing an article can explain to you what plan is right for your long term financial needs. The best way to learn how to invest for retirement is to talk to a qualified financial consultant. That way, you will get the opinions of an expert, custom tailored for your needs and your financial situation. Honestly, although everyone needs to think about investing for retirement, not everyone needs to go about it in just the same way, and so having a plan that is correctly made to fit your needs is the only sure way of doing it.
The best thing about investing for retirement today is that it will eliminate years of worry. Not planning for retirement is not going to make the problem go away, and the chances are that you will be concerned about the future whether or not you have an investment plan. If you can begin investing for retirement sooner, then that will be one more thing that you can get off of your mind, and cease to worry about. Your independent financial expert will be able to advise you on your individual circumstances and have it all taken care of for you, then you will be able to sit back and watch your savings grow at a steady and useful rate. There is nothing better than that.
Discover more articles discussing retirement and senior living at http://seniorstips.com
Day Trading Your Way To Success
November 29, 2008
If you are interested in day trading you first need to know what it is all about and to understand the basics of day trading. For starters, a day trader is a person who is very active in the stock market and makes several trades a day in an attempt to make quick gains by buying and selling stocks in a short time span.
As the market is never the same day to day, no one particular day trading strategy will work each time. To be successful, you first need to understand how the market works and get a feel for the market.
This includes recognizing the stocks’ basic trend, the long and short setups, when to enter a trade, and where to place stops. Another very important basic is how to protect your profits and minimize losses.
Once you have learned the basics and are ready to try your first day trade, here are some tips and guidelines you should keep in mind that is essential to your success as a day trader.
Being a day trader requires a lot of time and practice before you get used to the everyday volatility in the market. Do not expect to become an expert day trader overnight. No matter how many books you have read or day traders you have watched, that will not make you an immediate expert.
There are day trading websites that simulate trading. Practice with their trading platform first before trying out the real thing. It could save you a lot of money and you will learn the ropes faster this way.
If you are ready for real live trading, do not be scared by the thought of losing money. There are ways to minimize your loss such as with stop orders.
If you lose money, do not worry, as some loss is to be expected. Just remember, with increased experience and sensitivity to the market, you will start turning a profit soon.
If you profit large sums of money, stop trading. Do not gamble it away by trying to gain even larger profits. You can always trade another day.
Sometimes the market will not perform as you expected. When you encounter this situation, it is best that you do not trade at all.
Once you gain more experience in day trading, you may be able to predict the direction of a stock price. However, try not to pick top stocks or bottom stocks. This is one of the most common mistakes of a beginner.
If you cannot predict where the market is heading, it is best if you stand aside and wait, or you can always go home and trade again another day.
It is a good idea to record all of your day trading results. This way you can learn what works and what does not, and be more effective in trading.
Observe good traders. Look at how and when they sell or buy. Generally, good day traders often buy on bad news and sell on good news.
Beginners often get emotional in their trades. Avoid this at all cost, stay emotionally detached and professional.
Learn to trust your instincts. Relying too much on analysis may mean letting a few good trades slip away from you.
As you gain experience, you will see that different day trading strategies are required on different days and required on different stocks. Be flexible.
Bad day traders often focus on too many stocks that are not manageable and often lose track on where each stock is heading. It is wise to limit your stocks in manageable numbers.
With patience and practice, you can be successful in day trading, and as your experience grows so do your profits. Everyday you can learn new day trading strategies in the market, which you can use to your advantage.
For a more in-depth look at day trading drop by Susan’s site at Day Trading Strategy. Susan also enjoys writing on a variety of topics at Health and Fitness Hub.
The Biggest Lie Ever Told About Wealth
November 29, 2008
Why is it that 90% of the population find it so difficult to become rich? It is because all of us have been told the greatest lie of all, the lie that has been keeping us from becoming rich. Before you can ever become wealthy, you must first discover the truth about wealth and remove the wool that has been pulled over your eyes for way too long.
Let me start off by asking you to do a simple exercise. I would like you to close your eyes and picture a millionaire in your mind. Picture the clothes the person is wearing, the car he drives, how he spends his money, how he spends his day and how he dines. Go ahead and do this NOW before you go onto the next paragraph.
Well, what picture came into your mind?
If you are like most people, you would have pictured a millionaire as someone who wears the latest, branded clothes, who drives the newest luxury car model, who spends lavishly, who dines in fine restaurants and spends on the priciest, choicest dishes and most superb wines.
You may have imagined someone who is relaxing in a cushy leather upholstered armchair in his mansion or yacht, puffing on his Havana cigar. Why is this so?
It’s because of the way we have been brainwashed by television and movies to think this is the way millionaires live and spend their money. It is precisely these beliefs and habits that actually keep us from becoming wealthy!
The truth is that very few self-made millionaires live this way. In fact, the only ones who do live this indolent, self-indulgent lifestyle are the minority of millionaires who either inherited all their wealth or who made their money through sports or entertainment.
And all of them usually have one thing in common. They inevitably end up losing everything within ten years. Their wealth is only temporary. Look at Mike Tyson, Michael Jackson, Bobby Brown and a whole list of other celebrities who made hundreds of millions within their careers. They are either all broke or heavily in debt today.
In the New York Times Best-Selling book ‘The Millionaire Next Door’, Thomas J. Stanley interviewed 300 self-made American millionaires to find out how they think, how they earn their money and how they spend their wealth. What he discovered was a shocking revelation that made his book an instant best-seller.
It was discovered that many people who had high paying jobs, drove the latest luxury cars and wore the latest designer clothes and who appeared to be have millions to spend, were usually broke with a low personal net worth. Most of these professionals and senior executives of multi-national companies were what he termed ‘Under Accumulators of Wealth (UAW)’.
In contrast, those who were actual millionaires (that is those with a net worth of over US$1 million) lived very frugally and well below their means. Eighty-percent of them were born poor or from middle class families.
They wore inexpensive suits and never bought a watch that cost more than S$500. Most of them drove secondhand cars, never bought the latest models of vehicles and they usually invested a minimum of 20% of their income in the stock market or private businesses. He termed these people ‘Prodigious Accumulators of Wealth (PAW)’.
So if creating a million dollar fortune is what you’re aiming for, do what the actual millionaires do and you will accumulate wealth faster than the big spenders ever do.
Adam Khoo is an entrepreneur, best-selling author and a self-made millionaire by the age of 26. Discover his million dollar secrets and claim your FREE audio CD program ‘7 Steps To Financial Freedom’ here.
Bigger Not Always Better Large Banks Vs Small Banks
November 29, 2008
What are you looking for in a bank? Are you more concerned about having extensive access to your account at all times or is your experiences with those that work in the bank every day? Depending upon how you answer that question and others, will go a long way in determining whether you would be happier with a large bank or a small one. Naturally, there are very clear-cut differences between larger financial institutions with multiple branches across the state or country and the small local bank that may have only one location in the county.
There are several factors that should be considered when it comes to a comparison between these two different types of institutions. None of them is more important than what kind of service you as the potential customer prefer. The best way to illuminate the differences is to compare the pros and cons of each one and let you, the customer, decide where you would be more comfortable doing business.
One of the biggest advantages of the large bank is sheer coverage. There are often multiple branches not only in a town or city but even across the country. Consequently, with so many locations spread out across a broad area, it is more likely that you will also have better ATM coverage provided by that banking network. You will not have to worry about paying extra services charges to make use of the ATM. Another advantage of bigger banks is the fact that even if you have to relocate, you will not have to transfer bank accounts and account numbers. This is a big plus for renters and those who have to move to a different city for business reasons.
Some of the cons of bigger banks only become obvious when you deal with them over time. Naturally, unlike a smaller bank, you are less likely to have that personal touch, and interaction with certain tellers and other bank employees. Bigger banks have large departments and customer service representatives handling issues sometimes from all over the country, depending upon the size of the institution. Another disadvantage is the fact there are typically far more fees associated with bigger banks and their practices than you will find in smaller banks. Personal service may take a backseat to other affairs when dealing with bureaucracy in the bank setting. (You are less likely to get assistance with loans and small business services in the larger bank setting.)
What are the advantages of the small bank? First of all, you have genuine personal attention and a stronger connection between bank worker and customer. In the smaller bank setting, you will be able to get assistance with loans. It is not uncommon to speak directly with the person in charge of approving a loan whereas in a larger bank setting you would never have access to someone in that executive capacity. Smaller banks are apt to work with their customers especially in cases with overdrawn accounts, account mistakes, etc. Of course, the common disadvantages have much to do with mobility of account and access to ATMs. With the former, if you have to move you may have to change bank accounts entirely since a branch may not exist in your new locations. With the latter, there are less ATMs associated with your bank so you will have to pay those extra fees for using another bank’s ATM.
Certainly, there may be other differences not mentioned here, but those highlighted should suffice to show you some of the obvious differences between these two kinds of banks. The only question is, “Which one would you rather use?”
Peter Kenny is a writer for The Thrifty Scot, please visit us at Compare Remortgages and Home Equity Loan Visit Banks Set To Announce Record Profits
Detecting Early Credit Problems
November 28, 2008
Keeping yourself trouble free with your credit requires a close eye on your credit report and asking yourself some difficult questions. Sometimes it is harder to be honest with yourself than with a stranger. In order for you to stave off credit problems, you must be brutally honest with yourself.
Getting into financial trouble is easier than ever nowadays. Credit card companies are competing harder than ever for your business. People are getting and carrying more credit cards. Just a few years ago most people only carried one maybe two credit cards. Now, it’s not unusual for someone to have eight or nine cards on them.
With so many cards on your person, it’s real easy to get into trouble. To keep yourself out of trouble you need to sit down and evaluate your credit situation. Do you really need that many cards? If you think you are in or heading for financial trouble, ask yourself:
1. When you buy groceries is your credit card the only way you can pay?
2. Are you borrowing money to make payments on existing loans?
3. Are you being charged late fees on your bills month after month? (Don’t have to be consecutive months)
4. Do you have a hard time deciding which bills to pay?
5. Are your credit cards at the limit most or all the time?
6. Can you only afford to pay the minimum each month?
7. Have you deferred going to the doctor or some other important appointment because you couldn’t afford it?
8. Do you spend 20% or more of your net income on credit card bills?
9. Do you have a second job or a lot of overtime to pay your basic expenses?
Answer yes to any of these and you are either heading into or already in financial trouble. Chances are that you or someone you know is now or have been in this situation. Although it may seem difficult to get out of this kind of trouble, it’s not impossible. You have to recognize that you are in trouble and learn to cope. Then start looking for a way to stabilize and restore your credit.
There are several options open to you. Talk to your creditors and try to work out a payment plan that you both can agree on. Try to get them to waive your fees and/or lower your interest rate. If you can’t do that or think you need help you can hire a credit counseling organization.
The last thing you can do is file for bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is not to be taken lightly as it can stay on your credit record for 10 years. This should be your very last option. Make absolutely sure you have exhausted all your options before you consider bankruptcy.
Copyright 2007 Robert Hughes
You have permission to publish this article free of charge in your e-zine, newsletter, ebook, print publication or on your website ONLY if it remains unchanged and you include the copyright and author information (Resource Box) at the end. You may not use this article in any unsolicited commercial email (spam).
Robert Hughes received his degree in Accounting in 1979. Since that time he has helped several different companies grow. He is the owner and CEO of Hughes Network Marketing, LLC, which owns and operates several websites one of which is: http://www.getyourcreditrepaired.com
The High Cost Of A Poor Credit Rating
November 28, 2008
Is your credit rating good or poor? If you’ve recently been turned down for a credit card, store card or loan, it could be because you’ve paid off everything so perfectly that you have no credit history. But it’s more likely to be because your credit rating is poor. And this means it could be difficult to get credit at a price you find attractive.
What Makes A Poor Credit Rating?
Applications for credit are scored using criteria on the application form. For example, home owners score higher than renters and it’s useful to be on the electoral roll. People tend to get a poor credit rating if:
- They have defaulted on payments in the past;
- They have been made bankrupt;
- They have paid bills late (arrears);
- They have had County Court Judgements (CCJs) against them
Bankruptcies and CCJs stay on a credit file for six years, and it is hardest to get credit if these are the problem.
Banks, credit card companies and store card issuers also look at people’s credit report. This is a file maintained by a credit reference agency detailing people’s applications and approvals for credit, borrowings, payment record and electoral roll entry. Equifax and Experian are two of the biggest and best known credit reference agencies and are used by most of the lenders. Over time, a credit report can become quite large, with details of every payment made or missed for every credit card and loan.
How Will A Poor Credit Rating Affect You?
A poor credit rating can mean that a person is turned down for credit. At the very least, it makes it difficult to get a loan, credit card, store card or mortgage. Even if people manage to get these products, they rarely benefit from the same low rates and incentive offers as other credit card applicants. Instead, they may have to pay a higher interest rate, either permanently, or until they show a good record of payments on the credit card or loan.
To give an example, a person with an excellent credit rating could borrow money at an interest rate of under 6% (depending on the loan amount and the particular deal). A person with a poor credit rating might have an interest rate of well over 25%.
Loan Options For People With Poor Credit Ratings
People with poor credit ratings have the option of having a secured loan. This means that if they default their house can be seized to ensure that the lender is paid. For credit cards they could have a card with a high interest rate. There is also the option of a prepaid credit card. This is similar to a prepaid mobile phone card. The card holder tops the card up with money and can spend that amount in places where a credit card is needed.
How To Improve Your Credit Rating
Improving your credit rating can be simple. Make sure you are listed on the electoral roll and pay your bills on time. Finally, get a copy of your credit file from Experian or Equifax to make sure the details are correct. That way you won’t pay the price for someone else’s bad credit history.
Joseph Kenny writes for the, Personal Loan Store and offer more information on bad credit loans available on site.
Visit Today: http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk/
Surging Inflation Impacts Upon Consumer Finances
November 27, 2008
Earlier this week the publication of a new study suggested that the British public is experiencing much greater financial pressure than the government figures indicate.
According to statistics released by the Motley Fool, some nine out of ten consumers believe that the cost of living is rising by 7.3 per cent - about three times higher than the official number of 2.5 per cent. Overall, two out of three believe their personal inflation lies between four and nine per cent, with one in five people claiming is stands between ten and 15 per cent.
Meanwhile, those in Scotland suggested that inflation currently stands at 6.3 per cent - a fall from the 7.5 per cent noted in January. On the other hand, Northern Ireland consumers could be facing a particular increase in difficulties with their day-to-day finances as they claim to face an inflation rate of 8.1 per cent - the highest figure noted in the country and up by 0.4 percentage points from six months ago.
David Kuo, head of personal finance for the firm, said: “Older people, especially those who rely on retirement income, are some of the worst affected. Furthermore, people relying on the basic state pension, which will only rise in line with government inflation figures, may feel the pinch even more. Inflation is sometimes called the hidden risk because it quietly chips away at the buying power of the pound in our pockets. But it’s hard to disguise a chip when it becomes a chunk.”
Consequently he suggested that inflation is not “whittling away” consumers’ income as official figures suggest but rather is leading towards a significant rise in debt problems. “For one in five people, the buying power of the pound in their pockets is being eroded at over twice this rate,” Mr Kuo claimed.
Consumers aged 58 and over claimed inflation rates currently stand at 7.1 per cent, which could see these people particularly facing debt problems. Meanwhile, those between 42 and 49-years-old claimed the highest rises in living costs at 7.6 per cent. However, although young people were said to have been the least affected, they claimed living costs had risen to 6.9 per cent a rise of a full percentage point since January.
But, in a challenge to the Motley Fool figures, research from Birmingham Midshires’ Life 2 campaign has indicated that those over the age of 55 see themselves are being financially comfortable. Some 19 per cent of those in the group claim they can afford the social life they want, with one in ten reported to be “totally satisfied” they can afford to indulge themselves.
However, only one in 50 of 18 to 24-year-olds were said to hold this level of satisfaction. The study from the financial services firm also indicated that just over half (55 per cent) of consumers aged above 55 with both a state and personal pension account say that they are confident that they can afford day-to-day expenses in later life, the largest proportion recorded among any working group. Meanwhile, this figure was said to have fallen to 15 per cent for Britons with just a state pension.
Jason Robinson, director of savings operations for Birmingham Midshires said: “The over - 55s are facing enormous change in their lives and many may be apprehensive about their retirement.”The director added: “It’s great news that many people can look forward to financial and social freedom in later life - but, of course, the more money they have coming in from pensions and savings the more enjoyable retirement will be.”
However, with inflation rates higher than officials figures and the government announcing yesterday that interest rates are rise to 5.75 per cent consumers of all ages could find their day-to-day finances squeezed.
Abbi Rouse writes for 1 stop finance shop where visitors can apply for UK debt consolidation loans and also focuses on cheap personal loans and bad credit secured loans for UK residents.
Real Estate Investing Avoid Buying a Unique Home in Preforeclosure Even From a Nice Family
November 27, 2008
Early in my career as a real estate investor, I got a call from a really nice family about to lose their home to foreclosure. Located in the suburbs, the house looked pretty much like every other house in the middle-income neighborhood on the outside. On the inside, though, the house was very unusual.
You see, the husband and wife were theater majors in college and they remodeled the lower level of their home to look like the set of a movie. The home gym looked like the set of Million Dollar Baby. The playroom looked like the set of Home Alone. And the home theater (with seating for six and a big screen TV) was painted entirely black, floor, walls, and ceiling.
The parents home-schooled all four children, so the lower level also housed a study room with computers and desks. The two-car garage was fully carpeted because the youngest children liked to play there during the day.
The house was a full time home, school, gym and theater for this family. The parents thought they would live there forever - or at least until the last of their children moved away. But sadly, they missed a couple of mortgage payments and found it impossible to catch up. They called me in hopes of selling their house fast so they could save their credit.
When I did my due diligence, I learned that homes in this neighborhood did not stay on the market long. Close to the public schools, it was a quiet neighborhood with lots of green space. Add to that: the neighborhood homeowners association often held potluck dinners and street parties and were the envy of the surrounding community.
What could be better? I thought. A great one-of-a-kind house in a great neighborhood at a great price.
I bought the house with about 20% equity, no money out of my pocket, and cash back at closing. I immediately put the house on the market. At the time I thought the uniqueness of the property would be a great selling point. I thought it would stand out as “one of a kind” and families would fight to live there.
Boy, was I wrong.
Most people who looked at the house thought the unique features of the lower level were just plain weird.
I marketed the house specifically to families with children who I thought would love the spacious gym, the play room, the home theater, and the study rooms as much as the family who had put so much of their personal stamp on them. But no one else seemed to see the beauty of it.
Only the strangeness of it.
The house sat on the market five months without a decent offer. I watched my profit dwindle drastically over six months while paying holding costs, utilities, and lawn care.
Then I made a hard decision. I hired a remodeler to transform the lower level into an ordinary looking basement with smooth white walls, dropped ceilings and beige carpet. I watched even more of my profit evaporate.
But I quickly found a buyer.
Lesson to be learned: Three bedroom, two bath, bread-and-butter houses are the best investment properties for a reason. Everyone can imagine living in an ordinary house. Not everyone can see themselves living in a really unique one.
