The Nokia company is a worldwide telecoms corporation, concentrating on the fundamental expanding markets of wired & wireless telecommunications. Nokia is now the planets biggest manufacturer of mobile telephones, with a total mobile hand-set market share of more or less 38%. Nokia produces cellular telephones for each main market sector and protocol. The outfit furthermore produces telecoms network appliances for applications, for instance, mobile and fixedline voice telephony, ISDN, broadband access, VOIP and wireless LAN.

Nokia plays an exceptionally big part in the economy of Finland. Nokia is unequivocally the largest Finnish company, making up more or less thirty per cent of the market capitalisation of the Helsinki Stock; a one off status in an industrialized country. It’s an important employer in Finland and various offshoot companies have developed into big businesses as Nokia’s subcontractors.

Nokia added to Finland’s Gross Domestic Product by more than 1 ½ per cent in ninety nine alone. In 2004 the Nokia allotment of the Finland’s Gross Domestic Product was 3½ per cent and accounted for nearly one quarter of exports from Finland in 2003. In 2007, Nokia made turn over which eclipsed the state budget of Finland. This has led some to refer to Finland as “Nokialand.”

Finnish people have ranked Nokia (many times) as the foremost Finnish brand and employer. Nokia mobile phones is known to be the 5 th most valuable global brand in BusinessWeek’s Best Global Brands list of the 20 most venerated firms world wide in Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies.

Nokia’s Mobile Phones division equips the public with mobile voice and data products across a substantial range of mobile devices. The aforementioned department strives to concentrate on chiefly high volume category sales of mobile telephones and devices, with the general public being the most critical customer segment.

Nokia understands that brand, design, ease of use and price are general mobiles most crucial considerations for customers. Nokia’s product catalog includes digital camera phones with super features, e.g., megapixel cameras and MP3 players that temp the mass market.

In the 1st quarter of 06 it sold over 15000000 mp3 mobile phones, which means it is not only the globe’s primary fabricator of cellular phones and digi cameras (as the majority of Nokia’s mobiles have digital cameras, it is also believed that it has recently improved on Kodak in camera making, making it the greatest in the world), it is presently also the primary fabricator of digital audio. It aims to sell 80000000 music enabled phones by the end of 2007, overtaking sales of gadgets such as the iPod from Apple.

Pay-Per-Click (PPC) is the best way to send immediate, targeted
traffic to your website.

Ahhhh, but do you know who your target is? Without a defined
market you are doomed to failure.

How can you define your market? How do you figure out what
questions they are asking and what their problems are?

There are actually several ways of beginning research into a
niche market. Today I’m going to discuss just one - using PPC
advertising and a flycatcher page.

We will assume two things. One - you have a topic but not a
product. Two - you have an advertising budget between $50.00 and
$100.00.

You have decided on a topic. First head over to Clickbank (a
digital affiliate program). You can search through over 10,000
different products there and become an affiliate for any of them.

Check out a product that is similar to one you’d like to
produce. Clickbank has only digital products, which are
immediately downloadable. They have a tutorial program that will
walk you through their site so you can use it to your advantage.

Second, if you can purchase the product for which you will
become an affiliate, do it! It gives you the distinct advantage
of knowing your competitor and knowing the product you are
promoting.

Let me pause here to say that if there are no products in the
market you target, there very well may not be a profitable
market. You may have a great idea but the majority of people in
that market may be looking for freebies. Stay away! Find another
niche and move on. If there is no competition there isn’t a
market.

Third, set up accounts with Google and Yahoo!/Overture for their
PPC programs. Google and Overture/Yahoo have tutorials to help
you with the process. You can begin using Google Adwords
immediately but have a waiting period to be approved with
Overture. With Google you pay as you go and with Overture there
is a significant upfront cost depending upon your monthly budget.

Fourth, set up a landing page for a Google Adwords and Overture
PPC campaign. You’ll need a landing page because of some new
rules Google wrote this past year. Basically, each advertiser
must have a unique website so that the customer doesn’t end up
at the same page after clicking on three different ads.

Your objective is to figure out if selling this product to this
market is profitable. If it is then you can move on to the next
step, which is a flycatcher page.

Fifth, using the same domain and hosting as your landing page
you can develop a flycatcher page to figure out what questions
this target market has and how you can answer them.

A flycatcher page is nothing more than a questionnaire or a way
of asking people their most burning questions about a topic. You
can do this using PPC and using forums and groups. The concept
is the same although the quality of the traffic will be
different.

Using the PPC, and writing an ad that leads people to believe
there is a product on the other end, you have people who are
ready to purchase. Going through forums and groups will get you
questions from people who may be interested in the topic but may
not be ready to purchase.

Use both techniques to get a balanced list of questions on which
to build your product.

Sixth, set up the flycatcher page and PPC campaign. As I implied
in the paragraphs above you should write your PPC ad as if the
people will be sent to a page where they can purchase something.
You are getting traffic who is interested in buying.

On the webpage ask for a name, e-mail and their most burning
question about your target. For instance, you might be
interested in producing an e-book about scrap booking for
profit. The flycatcher page would tell people you are developing
a book about this topic. You want their most burning question
about how to make a profit from scrap booking. You will also
give the people who leave their name, address and question a
fr.ee copy of the e-book.

Seventh, stop the PPC campaign when you have gotten the number
and quality of questions you want. Use that information to write
your e-book and answer their questions.

You have now used a PPC campaign to define your target market
and start your client list!

In today’s jet-setting age everyone seems to be running after something or the other. But as a famous author said, “ Slow down and enjoy life. It’s not only the scenery you miss by going too fast - you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.”

So, all of us must steal some precious moments from our lives and rejuvenate ourselves. What better way of doing so than by availing a holiday? Each one of us harbours a dream of visiting some place in our lifetime. So, why wait! Why not board the next flight to your dream destination?

The obvious answer to that question is everyone cannot afford to go on a vacation. Money poses as a big impediment for most of us. But guess what? There’s good news! You can go on your dream vacation by availing a holiday loan.

A holiday loan can be used to sponsor your dream vacation. Not only can your travel expense, but also everything from shopping and food to lodging can be paid for by means of a holiday loan . A holiday loan can provide you with finance that ranges from 3000 to 25,000 pounds. It is usually availed for about 2 to 5 years. Any holiday loan availed for a period longer than this will only prove expensive, as you will end up paying more.

A holiday loan may be secured or unsecured. Just like secured loans, a secured holiday loan comes with a low rate of interest and necessitates collateral. On the other hand, unsecured holiday loans are meant for non-homeowners who cannot offer collateral. The absence of security makes them an expensive proposition.

However, with competition among lenders getting intense each day, it is not entirely impossible to avail a cheap unsecured holiday loan . You just need to look in the right places. Compare several offers before settling for that one offer which best suits your expectations. But first you need to draw an estimate as to how much your holiday expense is going to come out to be. In order to save up on your expenses, plan out a vacation at a time when lodging and airfares are low.

Now, get ready for a time of fun and frolic!

The author is a business writer specializing in finance and credit products and has written authoritative articles on the finance industry. He has done his masters in Business Administration and is currently assisting Shakespeare Finance as a finance specialist.

For more information visit http://www.longdogfinance.co.uk

Menstruation is the normal, periodic discharge of blood, mucus and cellular debris from the cavity of your uterus. The usual interval for menstruation is 28 days, but that can vary widely and still be considered normal. The duration and amount of menstrual flow can also vary – the typical time period is 4 to 6 days.

Two important cycles are actually happening at the same time: the ovarian cycle and the endometrial cycle. The ovarian cycle provides an egg for fertilization. The endometrial cycle provides a suitable book for implantation of the fertilized egg inside your uterus. Because endometrial changes are regulated by hormones made in your ovaries, the two cycles are intimately related. They work together.

The ovarian cycle produces an egg for fertilization. When you’re born, you have about 2 million eggs inside you. This number decreases to about 400,000 just before you start puberty. What many people don’t realize is the maximum number of eggs you’ll have is present before you are born: a five month old fetus has almost 7 million eggs.

During your ovulation cycle, there’s an approximately three-day window when you’re ovulating. For most women that falls approximately ten to fourteen days after their last period. Ovulation is the critical time for conceiving. There are several ways you can tell when you’re ovulating:

Your cervical mucus changes. Cervical mucus will become very abundant, sticky, and clear as ovulation nears. (It often looks like egg whites, and some people refer to it as “egg white mucus.”) If you get some on your fingers and then stretch your fingers apart, it sometimes will stretch an inch or two before breaking. When stretched between the thumb and forefinger, it will stretch several centimeters before breaking. Cervical mucus provides an idea environment where sperm can live up to three days.

Your estrogen levels may increase during ovulation; for some women it causes their sex drive to increase.

As ovulation approaches, the position and firmness of your cervix will change. The cervix will rise, soften, and the cervical opening will begin to widen in preparation for trying to get pregnant.  This period is sometimes referred to as “SHOW” - Soft, High, Open and Wet.  After this optimal period for conception, your cervix will lower and begin to harden again.  Right before your period, it will feel very hard and pointed.  To learn the proper way to check your cervix and determine how it feels, talk to your doctor.

Premenstrual symptoms are an indicator of approaching vulation.  Symptoms can include breast tenderness, abdominal discomfort and bloating, moodiness, and abdominal cramps or pains.  Every woman is different, so you’ll have to talk to your doctor and learn to identify your own body’s hints that your cycle is gearing up to make a baby.

Your body temperature is another great indicator of ovulation. (Your temperature when you first wake up is called your basal body temperature –your temperature is unaffected by food, drink, activity, etc, so it’s the best time to check it.) Basal body temperature usually ranges between 96.0 to about 98.0 degrees before to ovulation. Hormonal changes caused by ovulation will raise your temperature by 0.5 to 1.5 degrees two to three days after ovulation has occurred. This increase in temperature will remain until your next period. This change in temperature can be measured with a special thermometer designed to read temperatures to .001 degrees.

Another sign of ovulation is an LH surge. (LH surge can only be determined by using a special ovulation testing kit.) The Luteinizing Hormone, or LH, is responsible for stimulating the ovaries into releasing a mature egg. LH is always in your bloodstream in small amounts, but your pituitary gland increases the amount of LH in order to begin your ovulation process. When LH rises it can be detected using urine testing strips or sticks.

You experience “mittelschmerz.” Mittelschmerz is German for “middle pain.”  Some women feel mittelschmerz on one side of their lower abdomens, and the pain can last anywhere from a few minutes to several days. Most women feel a small twinge of pain, while a few experience significant pain – although that’s rare. Doctors have two possible explanations for this pain.  One is that pressure and pain is caused when the egg stretches the membrane of the ovary when it’s released.  Another reason may be because fluid and blood are released when the ovum leaves the ovary.
 
These are some of the clues you can use to determine when you are most likely to be able to conceive. Every woman is different, though, so talk to your doctor, explain what you typically experience during your menstrual cycle, and together you can learn what’s typical for you. Your goal is to make sure you can recognize your particular three-day window and take advantage of it to become pregnant.

Please grab hundreds of Pregnancy Secrets and tips at The Pregnancy Secrets

Worldcopyright Marc Hofkens and Cosblad Publications NV. You can use and publish this article on the condition that you don’t change anything and you add this resource box at any time.

http://www.the-pregnancy-secrets.com

For Pick-up or Mail-order

As the online digital photo revolution evolves we see changes happening so rapidly that it is hard to keep up. We now have the option of uploading our pictures to a professional photo developer who can print crystal clear digital photos. Locations are popping up everywhere that will do this photo printing and are in your area. They are sometimes difficult to find and are sometimes where you would least expect them.

The days of printing from home are over

We have all been disappointed with our personal photo printers and have long since given up printing them ourselves. We have waited for a long time just looking at our photos on computer screens, palm pilots and cell phones. Now with faster internet connections sweeping the country it is easy and fast to upload our photos to a professional developer for processing and printing that is of very high quality.

Easy uploading

By putting your photos on your computer the usual way, with a USB cable or plugging your memory card directly to your computer, you can have your photos ready for uploading. Uploading is simple. from the website where you are doing the uploading you simply browse to the files where all of your photos are saved and select them one by one or as a group depending on the site that will print your photos.

Pick-up at the location is available everywhere

Picking your photos up at the location is available everywhere. The beauty of this is that 1 hour developing has now paved the way for people to want their photos quickly. With many photo processors digital photos can be available for pick-up in less than 1 hour.

If you don’t want to leave the house mail delivery is easy and reliable

For those of you who are pressed for time running to the location to get photos is not an option no matter how fast they are printed and made ready for you. Prints can be mailed to you in a timely manner and is often FREE. This is a great option and the cost is even better. It is like printing your pictures to your mailbox.

To view our list of recommended sources for digital photo printing online, visit this page: Photo Mugs.

Advanced website traffic tactics might sound daunting, but if you make it low cost then you have nothing but a win-win situation. Employ low cost advanced website traffic tactics and you’re in for a huge online success.

What are these low cost advanced website traffic tactics anyway? Surprise yourself by finding out that some of these tactics you can practice without having to spend a cent!

1. Write an article.

You write an article, mention your site, submit it to e-zines and garner traffic from curious visitors. It’s as simple as that. Don’t just stop at one website - post your site anywhere possible! Who knows how many hits this low cost advanced website traffic tactic will bring!

2. Exchange links.

Never underestimate the power of link exchange. This is a low cost advanced website traffic tactic that people tend to overlook. How to find out where to do the link exchange? Easy: type your website’s keywords in a major search engine, visit each and every of the top results and ask for the link exchange.

3. Get involved in forums.

Look for forums highly related to your website and make your presence known. Make online friends and let them know about your website. This is an advanced website traffic tactic that advertises subtly but works effectively. Good thing about this is it doesn’t cost you anything at all!

4. Advanced website traffic needs advanced tools.

The www world is rich with tools that churn out impressive results. Software to try out are those which take care of links and keywords. Once this is taken care of, the rest of this internet marketing job will be easy!

5. Power up with meta tags.

Meta tags are what search engines are looking for so it can include your site in the top results. Putting up meta tags in your HTML code is an advanced website traffic tactic that must not be missed! Low cost you ask? Oh yeah!

6. Direct to directories.

Keep submitting your site to directories like there’s no tomorrow! Just take a look at your website and see if it’s directory-worthy. Web directories don’t waste their time on poorly-done websites.

7. Conduct a survey.

Visit a site similar to yours and announce that you have a survey they can answer. The site and yours reap results so no one’s on the losing end here!

There are sites available that specialize in low cost advanced website traffic tactics. Search for them online and let your site rise to online popularity!

Little Known Minnesota Man Making Six Figures Per Year Online, From the Comfort of Home, Reveals His Top Internet Money-Makers. www.push-button-online-income.com/pbi

PIPER’s Pics TV Show - the hottest national TV Talent showcase on the east coast! films in Orlando, Florida and is currently filming the second season. Talent is coming from all over the country and as far away as Italy. The recent filming on Saturday, October 29th, had so much incredible talent that the day was just not long enough.

Not only was there great talent but actor Michael Winslow (Police Academy…) was an extra surprise for the audience encouraging the entertainers and announcing there is a Police Academy 8 coming soon and left us with a few of his famous “sounds” Also, national recording artist SAMSON who has a new hot release with Joe ready to hit the stores in a few weeks wowed the crowd with his soulful voice. SAMSON most recently could be seen in the play “CHEATERS”. SAMSON has been in lots of plays over the years including hit play “Why do good girls like bad boys”. Currently his hot video “Atmosphere” is being played on all the music video channels and much more.

“PIPER’s Pics” star Legendary Rick James protege ISREAL “is*real” The Pied Piper laid down the funk (E*klec*tic P-Funk) and had the audience dancing to “PIPERSVILLE”, “It’s a party”, “Baby Please’ and wooed the ladies with “G-Spot”!

“PIPER’s Pics” first season winner representing his title “The Duke of Rhymes” Cleve Payne rocked the stage with rap songs “Countrified Poetry” and “So many leaves falling from the trees”.

Phenomenal dancer “Faustus” defied gravity and left the audience mesmerized with his matrix style of popping. You haven’t seen anything until you seen Faustus live in action. Faustus also has a school in New Jersey for up and coming dancers.

DJ OG handled the 1’s and 2’s and kept the high energy in the room on fever pitch between acts.

World reknown phenomenal multimedia artist barbee cain was all over the floor, in the window… looking for the “right” shots. Take a look at her photos and you will see that barbee is anything but average or the norm in all of the types of art she creates.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/barbee/sets/955037/

This was a show not to be missed and for all of the entertainers and the audience this was a house filled with love and respect for each other and all their various talents. This felt more like an old time house party than a showcase. Fortunately for those who missed the live version, the show will be aired on TV soon and available to watch anytime over and over again on numerous websites including

http://www.Csoup.tv.com, http://www.grittv.com

For the full updated listing of showtimes, websites, appearances, photos, or puchase a copy of the shows on DVD go to EKLECTRA Presents Records site - host of “PIPER’s Pics” TV

http://Eklectra.us

There is one filming remaining for second season and that is Saturday, November 26th 12 noon - 5 p.m. at Underground Bluz Metro West (4892 S. Kirkman Road, Orlando, Florida. There is still a few slots left for talent to showcase and seats left to be part of the audience.

PIPER’s Pics is a community show that supports the national and local efforts of Warriors of Lost Children and is a networking and connection resource for all types of businesses.

Sunniej is the President of EKLECTRA Presents Records, Inc. Host, producer and editor of “PIPER’s PICS” - The hottest national TV talent showcase on the east coast! Manager of entertainer extraordinaire ISREAL “Isreal” the Pied Piper. “PIPER’s PICS” showcases singers, dancers, rappers, mimes, models, TV Hosts, comedians, variety acts-all ages -all music genre. Proceeds from this show supports national and local efforts for Warriors of missing children. EKLECTRA believes in giving back and always taking less than we give. Sunniej is editor of a magazine for loss children providing resources, timely information, care and sharing. Sunniej has a very diversified background including coordinating and promoting major events, motivational speaking, hosting, radio personality, film and video production, training, video editing, website development, marketing, writer, artist management, talent scouting and pageant judging. http://eklectra.us/ Watch “PIPER’s PICS” for free on your computer http://www.csouptv.com/

(Chinese Solar Year : 04.02.2006 to 03.02.2007)

Flying Stars or Fei Xing is a powerful form of Feng Shui derived from the famous Xuan Kong Fengshui. It is an Analysis of the Five Elements and Star Combinations (representing certain energy patterns) that occupy every building. Each new year these annual stars change, Qi (energy) shifts happen, bringing good and bad energy with them - thereby producing different effects.

In February 2004 all the Feng Shui Energy Patterns underwent huge transformations to the NewAge of Land Luck called Period 8 Energy Cycles. It means that a large scale evolution of the human race with completely new energy dynamics has started. The significance is that the new, vibrant energies of Period 8 impacts on the buildings differently than before and energies that were previously activated now need to be remedied, in order to reduce any bad effects from the past influences.

The Flying Stars Chart or the 9-Grid Meteor Plan for the Bing-Xu, Year of the Yang Red Fire Dog has been plotted and the effects of their energy patterns are analyzed. The analysis also contains suggested remedies/cures for reducing the impact of negative energy and recommended enhancers for increasing and improving upon the beneficial energy.

For the remedies/enhancers to be effective, they should be cleansed, energised, blessed and programmed not only for the particular individual/family but also for the specific purpose/problem. They should also be placed in the indicated location.

The direction in which your main door lies is very important to any form of Geomancy, including Fengshui & Vaastu. The primary reason for this is that the air currents and energy flow in and flow out through the mouth of the main door. Thus you receive positive energy for the year, if the main door faces a direction of auspicious stars or meteors (powerful energy bodies) and receive negative energy for the year, if the main door faces a direction of evil stars or meteors. In case negative impacts are forecast, you can simply offset the negative energy by installing the recommended remedies there. Any or all of these remedies can be reused for the coming years, the only thing is that they should be repositioned according to the new year.

Please note that the effects may be felt in varying degrees depending upon the exact compass degree of the main door.

ANNUAL FORECAST & REMEDIES FOR FLATS/HOMES/OFFICES/FACTORIES WITH MAIN DOOR FACING NORTH :

A good year for you to enjoy. People of the household, whether in employment or in practice or in business, will flourish. The Wealth Star of Period 8 will bring you good reputation and excellent cashflow. Businessmen can plan properly to convert the incoming cash into assets. Your sphere of influence will expand and consolidate into good name and fame. If you have a budding business person in your home, placing a white ceramic Dog statue will help.

The children of the household could suffer from stomach pains and digestive problems. Do not over strain yourself in work. Try and cut down smoking, liquor, etc. Be forewarned of problems related to blood and kidneys. Be careful to read “between the lines” any document you wish to sign. Avoid taking impulsive decisions. Do not use this area for storage purpose otherwise you may lose some of your wealth luck. Hang a large sized natural, original Chinese Wou-Lou on the inside of the main door, to minimise health related problems. To avoid theft and money loss, install a pair of Chi-Lins or Kuan Kung straight opposite your main door, overlooking it.

This year the Three San Sha Afflictions (also called as the Three Demons or the Three Killings) is residing here. So the potential of making good money will not be realised fully and consistently. Do not install any moving objects like Fish Aquariums or Water Fountains here, this year. But you can place a potted water plant. Do not dig, construct, renovate, redecorate or repair this year near your main door. Do not drill or even drive a nail in this wall. It is also not advisable to sit or sleep for extended periods, near your main door. If you do any of these, you will be inviting betrayals, thefts, accidents, injuries, money loss and other fatal disasters for your family members. If you had already started any of these work last year and would definitely have to continue and complete it in this year, then hang a golden, metal Wou-Lou and a Wind Chyme near the main door.

It is also recommended to place an icon of Kuan Kung or Three Generations Dragon Head Turtle or a pair of Pi-Yau near your main door, facing North, as even opening and closing the door is considered as “violating” the Three Demons. Also remember not to sit with your back facing North when you read, eat, watch TV, operate computer, etc.

Display the “Safety Talisman for 2006” in the North West sector and carry a miniature version of it always.

Door Mat Colour for the Main Door : Red or Yellow (on the outside).

COMMON MINIMUM REMEDY FOR ALL BUILDINGS FOR 2006 :

To minimise damage due to gossiping and rumours, arguments and disputes, avoid the colours green and blue in the center of your home. Do not place any moving water features like fish aquarium or water fountains here. Display 8 red roses without thorns and leaves in the center of your home/office/building and light up a small red coloured bulb which will burn continuously, 24/7. This is applicable for all buildings, irrespective of the direction of the main doors.

This is copyrighted work. Permission is granted to republish (both in electronic media as well as print media) the article in it’s entirety only, including the full bio of the author and his links. All links should be “clickable” hyperlinks. An acknowledgement mail from Republishers will be appreciated.

The Author of this article Sri Janarrdhana Guptha is an Energy Consultant, Vaastu & Fengshui Researcher, Crystal Master and a Clairvoyant Karma Reader. His speciality is in permanent, life-time Remedial Solutions, especially Crystal Energy Fields. His wife Srimathi Kalpana Guptha is also a Psychic Reader. The Energy Couple can be reached through crystalvaastu@yahoo.com
or either of their websites:
http://www.newage-kabbalah-numerology.com or
http://www.crystal-vaastu.com/home.htm.

Janarrdhana Guptha has authored the book titled “Guide to Fengshui Good Luck Symbols”. He writes regularly in leading English & Tamil Magazines from India. More of his articles can be read at his blog : http://www.spaces.msn.com/members/crystal-vaastu/.

When we dig to the core of what we want it will always come to one thing: HAPPINESS.

And how we achieve that special state of being we call happiness?
When we discover and claim our passion, when we recognize and emphasize our strongest points, and we commit to become our best most capable self, we are on our way to happiness.

Is it really important to achieve that deep feeling of satisfaction and happiness? It might be possible we have tried to improve our life to get lasting results without success. However that does not mean we have to let self doubt control our minds and resign our God given right to be really successful and make our life satisfying and happy.

We are not supposed to live hostage of childhood believes and doubts which are tremendously damaging. Those automatic negative thoughts from the past are mostly the cause of what is holding us back in our lives.

Our personal, professional, business life is s reflection of our mindset. That is why we have to reprogram our minds and take control of our automatic negative thoughts. That is why we have to have different approaches if we want different results. That is why we have to develop an approach to increased happiness and personal empowerment that produces powerful, fast, lasting results.

We have to take a fascinating adventure deep into ourselves to get a powerful understanding and appreciation of our brain, unique personality, natural genius, personal strengths, natural talents and TRUE POTENTIAL. And this knowledge truly IS POWER.

There is solid scientific proof that our brains are constantly changing. We have to find a straight way into the core of who we are and into the arms of our greatest strengths. We have to smash through those things which have kept us from experiencing true happiness.

We might have been wrestling with opportunities which challenge us to creating a new business, building a professional practice, powering our leadership or just trying to make a better life and get a happier level of achievement.

It must be great to have the opportunity to grab the empowering forces that will take us to a level o higher awareness and conquer our fears and get on our way to HAPPINESS.

Jose Damaso Ramon

http://my.searchestate.com/_mysite.aspx?f=/mn2312510.htm

Almost everyone knows about FHA mortgages. They are tailor-made for first time homebuyers and others with less than perfect credit or other financial issues. You don’t have to be low income or have bad credit to use FHA, but generally the loan limits prohibit high priced homes.

What you may not know about FHA is that there is a special loan program designed to provide the funds to buy or refinance your home PLUS additional funds to make repairs or improvements.

This FHA mortgage is called the 203K and the K is the operative part of the name. Not every lender participates in the rehab loan program, but the major national lenders do. If the loan officer you contact is unaware, then call the corporate office and ask them to direct you.

The FHA 203K loan program calls for an FHA inspector to go over the house, using the plans you gave him. Before you get to this inspection phase, you should be working with a general contractor who understands how to provide plans and specs for a project. Plans and specifications are standard in the contracting industry for anyone managing a project >$5000, which is the minimum rehab amount for this loan program.

The FHA inspector will decide if the project is feasible, depending on whether there is additional work required to bring the property up to code, and whether or not the property will appraise for enough to make the project “worth it”. FHA is willing to lend based on the after-rehab value and will even stretch that value a little in order to get houses brought up to code.

Once the lender is happy with the valuations, the plans and specs, and the inspector’s report, your loan file will be reviewed by an underwriter specially trained and certified in rehab loans. Your credit and finances do not have to be perfect to be approved, but the creditworthiness and qualifications are similar to a regular FHA loan.

One of the benefits of a 203K is that all costs can be added into the project. The fees, permits, closing costs, etc. are all added up and your downpayment on the purchase is calculated on the total. If you are refinancing instead of purchasing, the amounts are totaled the same way, but you might already have enough equity in the home to avoid coming up with any cash.

What’s next? Once approved, the loan closes and the rehab portion of the money is escrowed by the lender. The contractor submits requests for payment and each phase is inspected. As soon as the work passes the inspection for completion, the contractor is paid. You can not go back to the well for more money, so your initial plan must be a good one. A contingency fund is usually added in during the total project calculation.

This contingency fund can only be used to fund hidden repairs that were not evident during the initial workup. Any remaining funds in the contingency are used to pay down the mortgage at the end of the project.

The FHA 203K mortgage is not a “piece of cake”, but if you do not qualify for low cost money at the local home improvement equity loan bank, then it is very definately worth looking into.

Judi Moore authors Ask The Underwriter at 2rHouse.org and personally answers questions from readers about FHA mortgages and mortgage advice in general.