Benefits of an SBA 7a Loan

Business owners that are considering an SBA 7a loan will enjoy numerous advantages when compared to conventional bank financing.

Higher Leverage - SBA loans typically have down payments that are usually only 10% of the entire project costs. This can greatly lower your overall cash out-of-pocket. Conventional mortgages often have down payments of 20% or more. Conventional mortgages often do not finance the loan costs, where an SBA-guaranteed loan includes the 3rd party costs (appraisal, title, processing, etc.) within the loan.

Longer Terms- 25 year amortization with fixed periods ranging from 3, 5, 7, 10 years and sometimes 25 years is available. Conventional mortgages often have maximum amortization schedules of 15 to 20 years which can make cash flow tight during slow periods. In addition fixed periods rarely exceed 5 years.

No Early Balloon Payment- SBA guaranteed loans are fully-amortizing, meaning that the pays off by the end the amortization period. So the borrower does not have to refinance their loan because of a balloon. Also no payable on demand clause, like most conventional mortgages have.

Below Market Prepayment Penalty- If the term is less than 15 years the borrower does not have a prepay. If the term is more than 15 years than it is a year 3 year prepay, compared to most that are over 5 years. In addition the borrower is allowed to pay up to 25% of the balance without incurring the prepayment penalty. The prepayment penalty is calculated on the amount that is in excess of 25% of the balance, and is 5% in the 1st year, 3% in the second year, and 1% in the third year. Compared to the typical 5% for 5 years or the 5% step down. So, the borrower could actually pay off the entire SBA loan in 3 years and would not have to pay the prepayment penalty.

No Ongoing Debt Service Requirements - Traditional banks often want to monitor a borrowers business financials on a monthly or quarterly basis (after loan closes) to make sure that the businesses cash flows are still sufficient to meet the minimum debt coverage ratios. If the business net income, does not fit the required ratio the bank normally holds the right to call the borrowers loan (Evan if the borrower is current). This monthly monitoring is not normally required on SBA loans.

If a Construction Loan, it's a One-time Close - Meaning that the borrower will only have to close one loan. In contrast, most construction loans are set up as 2 loans - first is the construction piece, than the borrower would need to secure a second loan (take out) to refinance the first. The borrower would normally be required to pay for a second set of 3rd party fees, etc. Without a second closing, the borrower begins the amortization schedule (repayment) after construction is completed. You only have to sign one set of documents, work with only one lender, and attend only one loan closing.

Real Estate Marketing Strategies: The Biggest Mistake Real Estate Agents Make And How You Can Avoid

THE BIG MISTAKE:

"The market is so slow and I don't even know where my next sale is coming from."

How often have you heard someone say that when business is down and the economy is questionable? It seems logical, doesn't it, to tighten your purse strings?

"What! Are you suggesting that I should invest in my business now?"

Even though it seems logical to tighten up and constrict spending, it is actually based on a "scarcity" mindset. In a scarcity mindset you focus on lack in your business, and on lack in outer conditions and the market.

The result is a constriction in the flow of energy to your business. In fact, when you focus your thoughts on lack in your business, you have a problem even before you begin. Hence, THE BIG MISTAKE.

Are you constricting the flow of energy to your business? Here are some signs to watch out for:

1. What are your thoughts? I don't have enough clients My competitors are stealing business I can't succeed in today's market

Here's an example that contains a scarcity mindset:

"There are so many new agents entering the business there isn't enough business to go around. Maybe I should just get a real job."

Have you ever had that thought?

2. What emotions do you experience? Fear Stress Struggle Anxiety Worry

Any of the thoughts above are likely to create the emotions of worry, fear and doubt. You find yourself dwelling in these negative feelings that will prevent you from attracting to your business and the very things you desire, such as more clients and more income. Your thoughts create your reality. Therefore, if you focus on what you don't want, like the lack of money, you'll get more of that.

3. ACTIONS

When you're stuck in a scarcity mindset, not only does it affect your thoughts and feelings, but also your actions. For example, "I was going to take the weekend off, but now I better not. Business is slow and I don't want to miss a call from a prospective client."

Do you see how this is a scarcity mindset? What is the person missing out on? If you said "self-care and self maintenance", then you are right. This is one of the actions that goes by the wayside when you're focusing on scarcity. You're simply afraid that you won't have enough so you ignore the importance of taking care of yourself.

So what is the big mistake?

The big mistake is that you are focusing your thoughts on outward circumstances, like the economy, to determine your mindset. If the economy is down you are down. Stephen Covey calls this the "reactive" mindset. You believe that you are acted upon, rather than being "proactive" and there is a constriction of energy to your business.

When you are proactive, you don't focus on what the economy or the market is doing, you are coming from an internal state of prosperity consciousness. You don't look to outer conditions to determine your state of mind, you determine your own state of mind by your thoughts, emotions and actions. In essence you create the mindset of being the deliberate creator of your life.

The solution:

If the mindset is the problem, then how do you switch to a more positive mindset?

1. Commit to building a "prosperity" mindset

A "prosperity" mindset is not something you are born with, it's not in your genes; it's something that you develop through practice. Think of it as a muscle that you exercise. The more you exercise it, the stronger that muscle becomes.

It's the same with "prosperity" mindset. Successful people have one thing in common - they believe in their own success and their ability to attract money into their life. They look for opportunities and find them... everywhere. Why? Because they had an internal prosperity consciousness and they focused on that state of looking at external conditions.

2. Adopt the beliefs of success

It's easy to adopt a successful mindset - it's just a shift in focus from scarcity to prosperity. The way you make that shift is to have a set of beliefs that are congruent and prosperous thinking. For example, Walt Disney once said, "All of our dreams come true if we have the courage to pursue them."

Here are the beliefs of successful people:

Change is to be embraced because it represents more opportunity for growth and expansion. Determine what you want, and assume you'll get it. Don't worry about the 'how'. There is an answer and solution to every challenge. Discomfort is part of charting the unknown. Obstacles will not stop them from attaining what they want. Money needs to flow in order to grow.

You'll notice that if you practice the beliefs above, you will experience positive emotions that expand the flow of energy to your business.

3. Be clear on what you want

How can the universe give you what you want unless you are clear about what you want? A challenge for you here is to break the "want" barrier. Accept the fact that it is not only appropriate and proper, but critical, for you to want anything, of any kind, to any degree.

The main thing is to be clear about what you want for your business. I hear too many people saying, "I want to be successful" without even knowing what success means to them. I suggest visualizing your ideal professional life in 12 months from today. See yourself doing work you love and noticing approximately how many hours a week you're working. Ask yourself what kind of people you want to be interacting with. Who are your ideal clients? Are they motivated, decisive and respectful of you and your service to them? What is your income in 12 months from today? How much are you making per year or per month?

4. Clear away any opposing beliefs

When you think about your ideal professional life, what beliefs do have that are opposing your vision? Here are some beliefs that I hear on a continual basis when people are honest with me about discussing their blocks to success:

"I like doing my work, I'm just not good at marketing." (Remember, it's only a belief)

"I'm really not smart enough or energetic enough to achieve what I want." (Remember, it's only a belief)

"The real estate market is so tough right now that I can't possibly make the income I was hoping for." (Remember, it's only a belief)

5. Take inspired action not frantic action

What kind of action are you taking? Are you taking action because you're afraid? If you are, your action may be frantic action rather than inspired action.

What is inspired action? Inspired action comes from your intuition and listening to your gut instincts. You follow your heart, you follow your hunches; you don't wait for someone to hand you a formula because there is none.

You will know if you're taking inspired action by the way you feel by the results you are getting. You'll be feeling relaxed and confident and the results that you will be getting will be one or more of the following:

Increased clientele Increased income Increased passion for your work

As a review, remember to avoid THE BIG MISTAKE by being conscious of what you focus on.

Don't let the outer conditions determine your mindset. Keep a mindset of prosperity and practice the beliefs of successful people. Keep remembering to expand the flow of energy to your business, whatever the market is doing.

When times seem tough, it is especially important to stay away from a scarcity mindset. Instead, go within and look for the opportunities for new ways to market yourself from a prosperity mindset.

How to Properly Value a Hunting Lease

Among the considerations hunters make during the various seasons they choose to hunt is whether or not they pay for a hunting lease. If a one is undertaken, valuing it appropriately is an important part of the process. Whether it is for a one-week elk hunt, or a season of goose hunting, several tangible and intangible factors should be considered when valuing a hunting lease.

Comparable leases, abundance of public land, and productivity of the land relative to the game hunted are all tangible considerations. The first step in properly valuing a hunting lease is to do some research and find out what similar leases cost. Be careful to make an "apples to apples" comparison here. The value of a lease for elk hunting on a 500 acre parcel known for monster bull elk, surrounded by over-crowded public land is not the same as the same 500 acre parcel if there is little game on the property and a good mix of public and private land surrounding the parcel. Similarly, one cannot reasonably compare the price per gun rate on a one-day goose lease to a trespass fee associated with a successful bear hunt. Logic and common sense should serve as the metric here when making comparisons. Sound research on comparable options, public land, and average game harvested from the land will serve to guide any hunter in the right direction when looking for a hunting lease.

The primary intangible factor that must be considered when finding a hunting lease is hunter motivation. Motivation and goals may serve to add value to a lease that other hunters may not find. If a hunter has only two or three solid days to hunt, there may be an intangible value to the hunter if private leases are already in place. If a hunter knows the area well, when seasons are busy and when public land is crowded, there may be value in a private lease depending upon when the hunt will take place.

Like any other aspect of a hunting trip, determining the need for a hunting lease and the underlying value of such a lease takes some thought, time, and planning. Taking time to compare options, examining land availability, and researching harvesting trends will provide any hunter with excellent insight into the underlying value of a hunting lease.

Younger Healthier Skin In Just Minutes A Day

Exercise is great for every organ in your body and your skin is no exception. Whether walking, running, biking, taking a class, joining a gym, or using home exercise equipment for as little has 20 minutes a day 3 to 4 times a week you can experience a healthier, younger, more radiant change to your skin in a very short period of time. No matter how young or old you are exercise has been found to have tremendous anti aging benefits for your skin. Exercise improves your skin and defends it against the signs of aging because of the following five very positive physical effects it has on your body.

1. Exercise activates your skin's cell production in the layer of your skin where new skin is formed increasing the production of new cells.

2. Exercise causes perspiration which purifies your body of toxics and increases the production of sebum a fatty substance that is your skin's built in moisturizer. Sebum will help keep your skin from losing water, protect your skin from infection and boost your immune system. Sebum production tends to decline with age but you can maintain a peak supply if your active.

3. Exercise speeds up blood circulation which allows oxygen and vital nutrients to reach your skin more efficiently.

4. Exercise reduces stress. Stress has scientifically been proven to cause premature aging and promote the signs of aging.

5. Exercise can help you sleep more restfully. Sound and restful sleep allows your body to nourish, hydrate, and rejuvenate your skin. When you toss and turn you interrupt this natural process of renewal.

How to Boost Metabolism - 7 Top Tips

Your metabolism is responsible for the energy you have through the day, and the amount of calories and fat you burn. Chances are, if your metabolism is low, you feel sluggish and you carry more pounds than you wish to carry. Although the speed at which your metabolism runs is generally determined by your genetics--thanks so much mom and dad--experts believe you can take control and change this. Following some simple tips and, well, great advice--ahem--you will know how to boost your metabolism and have it flying high in no time. Before you know it your energy levels will be soaring and you can say goodbye to those excess pounds.

1. Drink More Green Tea

For years the benefits of this ancient drink have been touted, primarily because of the antioxidants it contains. However, a recent study published in the Journal of Phytomedicine now shows this miracle drink may also have a positive effect on your metabolism as well. Researchers found that study participants who drank between three and five cups of green tea daily for three months lost 5 percent of their body weight. Nutritionist Rania Batayneh, MPH explains this is because of the plant compound, ECGC, the tea contains. This compound is great convenient tip to know how to boost metabolism, making weight loss easier.

2. Increase Your Caffeine Intake

While most people believe caffeine--especially coffee--is bad for you, it actually benefits you and your metabolism. The Journal of Physiology and Behavior has proven that those who drink coffee have a metabolic rate that is 16 percent higher than those who do not rely on this popular caffeine eye opener to get through their day. Why, you ask? Coffee, or rather its caffeine content, stimulates your central nervous system and increases your heart rate.

3. Exercise at Night

It is no secret that exercising plays a crucial role in knowing how to metabolism, but most people only reserve time during the day for cardio and strength training. It is normal for your metabolic rate to drop by about 15 percent while sleeping. When you participate in a 20 to 30 minute moderate cardio routine before bed, your rate only drops about 5 percent. Take a brisk walk, jog or bike ride.

4. Add Some Ice to Your Drinks

This tip on how boost to metabolism is not as great as say, lifting weights, but every little bit helps. When you drink an ice cold beverage your body temperature automatically drops. Your body must then work harder to warm back up; this process boosts your metabolism.

5. Eat More Dairy

Dairy, mainly milk, dairy and cheese, are calcium rich foods. The calcium stimulates fat cells to break down fat, while boosting your metabolism. Use caution, though, and follow the serving size. Always consume low-or non-fat dairy as well.

6. Add Spices to Your Food

Spices serve more of a purpose than adding flavor to your food; they can also be another great way of how to boost metabolism. They can, in fact, increase it by 50 percent and keep it running high for three hours. Cayenne pepper has a thermogenic effect, burning calories as it heats your body. Cinnamon can increase your metabolism times 20, and you only need 1/4 teaspoon. Add it to your cereal once a day. Turmeric not only boosts your metabolism, but lowers your cholesterol and reduces inflammation. Ginger is yet another spice that has terrific effects on your metabolism. It increases the amount of calories and fat you burn.

7. Eat More Protein

Dr. Mehmet Oz, perhaps one of the most respected weight loss doctors and experts on heart health, states that increasing your protein consumption is imperative when trying to boost your metabolism. He explains that your body burns double the amount of calories when digesting proteins versus digesting carbs. The healthiest sources of protein are boneless, skinless white-meat poultry and fish. The good doctor recommends eating fish twice per week. There is an additional benefit to this. Choosing fish such as salmon, halibut, mackerel and herring are excellent sources of Omega-3 fatty acids. These increase the fat burning enzymes in your body.

Now you have all the hidden secrets to knowing how to boost metabolism and in defeating any genetic predisposition to a slow running metabolism. These secrets are the best methods you can use to boost your metabolism, burn those calories and lose that hidden fat. Or maybe not so hidden fat. Whatever your situation is, you will find these top 7 tips easy to implement, and will be happy you did.

The Top 10 Disastrous Mistakes That Telemarketers Make

The phone rings. Your prospect is busy, but they lift the receiver, secretly hoping for an interesting opportunity to distract themselves from another daily task. As they answer, they hear a brief silence while the auto dialling system finds an available telemarketer to take the call. IF, and only IF you STILL have the prospect on the phone at this point - you must capture their attention, or risk wasting the chance to convert the captive listener.

At this point, 9 out 10 telemarketers make a mistake that lets the potential sale slip through their fingers. By making any one of the following TEN disastrous mistakes, you can squander important sales opportunities.

ONE: Failure to Introduce - You know the old adage 'People Buy From People'. It's vital to connect with the human being at the other end of the telephone, to communicate with them. If you begin your telemarketing call without properly introducing yourself, you will experience a long pause, followed by:

"Sorry! Who are you again?"

Having proven yourself incompetent of even the civilities of a basic conversation and being embarrassed by your mistake, you're unlikely to turn the conversation around and sell the prospect anything at all.

TWO: Failure to Improvise - They say in the Military, that no battle plan outlives first encounter with the enemy. In other words, if you follow your pre-planned strategy, without being prepared to shift and adapt your tactics to your opponent's manoeuvres, you're dead meat.

The same goes for Telemarketing. You need the capacity to go with the flow of the conversation, rather than be restricted by a fixed script. The prospect may challenge you, they may attempt to distract and hinder you, you must be prepared to adjust your strategy and adapt your response likewise.

THREE: Pretending - One of the stupidest mistakes that a telemarketer can possibly make is to pretend to be someone they are not. They sometimes elevate their status or plainly lie about who they are and why they are calling. It may well work initially, you may get past the gatekeeper and you may even connect with the prospect. However, the moment that your prospect finds out the truth, your credibility will crumble and your chances of converting them into a sale will disappear.

FOUR: All Talk - Everyone has experienced the telemarketer that doesn't even wait to hear if you are 'Mr Jones' before they begin force-feeding you their scripted rant. Does that technique EVER work? Telemarketing is not just talking, it's also listening, and it's communicating and connecting with a person. If the first time you give the prospect a chance to speak is after you've spent 30 seconds talking at them, consider the following words as the appropriate response from the prospect:

"No Thanks"

People like to believe that someone actually wants to hear their thoughts and find out how they feel. If you do all the talking, you're simply cutting them out of a conversation that ends with the prospect making the desired decision.

FIVE: Getting Stumped - If you do not know all the possible objections to the prospect taking the desired action, you are not properly prepared to do your job.

Poor Telemarketers learn the top objections, but occasionally, a witty and observant prospect throws an objection or question at you that you've not covered in your weekly sales meetings. The weak telemarketer stumbles; they fumble the call, mumbling a feeble excuse. Another lead wasted. Preparation is everything; you can never do too much homework on the product or service that you are selling.

SIX: Cost Too Soon- A common mistake of the telemarketer is to start discussing price long before the prospect is ready to hear it. The greatest and most insurmountable objection is the cost.

If this topic is proposed too early, without the value being felt by the prospect, without the objections being fully and thoroughly dealt with, then you will scare away your potential sale talking about the cost too soon. It's a matter of timing and it's easy to make a mistake.

SEVEN: Missing the 'Yes' - Another common mistake of the incompetent telemarketer is a failure to engage the prospect in a positive chain of responses, in other words, having them say 'Yes'.

The primary aim of the call is to set up that Yes Chain and make a sale. If you allow the prospect to set up a Chain of No, or you fail to stimulate the prospect to say Yes, you'll struggle when the moment of decision arrives.

EIGHT: Fear of Asking The Big Question - If you've done your job well, if you know your business, you will not fear to ask for the sale. Professional telemarketers reach this point with the confidence of a job done well.

But inexperienced or incompetent telemarketers are often afraid of this moment. That's patently ridiculous, if you've engaged the prospect in a Yes chain, if you've dissolved any objections, if you've helped them to imagine, consider and feel the value, all you need do now is ask.

The weak mistakenly make this part of the telemarketing conversation the most tense, uncomfortable moment for all concerned, seriously diminishing their chances of making the sale with yet another disastrous telemarketing mistake.

NINE: Eating ­- A telephone mouthpiece amplifies any sound that it picks up. This means if the telemarketer is chewing gum or eating, the prospect is treated to an audible irritation, projected straight into the brain through their ear. Not only is this a sign of gross professional incompetence, it's rude. Plus, it's very hard to make a sale with someone you've just irritated.

TEN: Time Wasters - This mistake refers to both the telemarketer and their prospect. Do not waste time on people who cannot buy. If you called a house and a ten-year-old child answered the phone, would you try to sell them something? Of course not! Don't waste your time. Only connect with the decision makers. Otherwise, you'll just be wasting your breath, and making another big mistake.

At Virtual Sales Limited, we ensure that all our staff are highly trained, so that they avoid any of the above mistakes, and represent your company on the telephone in a professional and credible way.