Archive for July, 2010

WOW! Make Deposits and Pay Bills with Your Phone?

This is unbelievable. I had to hit the rewind thing on my TV to do a double take. Check this out.

I saw a commercial last night where folks can use their cell phone to take a photo of a check and deposit it into their bank account.

Next, using your cell phone again, you can take a photo of a check you just wrote or printed to pay a bill and click something on your phone and pay the bill… wow!  Let me repeat, use your cell phone, take a photo of your check, and your cell phone allows you to pay your bill with a photo of your check.

I do not understand the details; however, this is a huge wake up call about where and how technology will be become a very big part of making your business more automated and efficient.

I am very much behind the times, especially when it comes to "online banking." Having been told for years you can use online banking to pay bills, write checks, etc. and your bank will do it for free including printing the check, envelope and postage. This seemed too good to be true until I began receiving payments in the mail from folks using this very same method.

Postage ain’t cheap. This got my attention, and we are gradually working toward utilizing these free resources for our business.

If it seems a little far fetched at the moment, as far as the cell phone camera taking pictures of checks…. just think back a bit, 8 track tapes, fax machines, email, internet, cell phones, blue tooth,.. you get the point… keep your eyes and ears open and always have a sponge-like attitude toward education. Absorb it all. 

NAHB to Sue EPA Over Lead Paint Regulations

 July 8, 2010 – A coalition of housing industry groups joined the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) today in announcing plans to file a lawsuit against the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for removing the "opt-out" provision from its Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting rule.

The Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting rule (LRRP) applies to homes constructed before 1978 when lead paint was banned. Its opt-out provision, which expired July 6, let consumers allow contractors to bypass extra preparation, clean-up and recordkeeping requirements in homes where there were no children under 6 or pregnant women, thus avoiding additional costs.

"Removing the opt-out provision more than doubles the number of homes subject to the regulation," said NAHB Chairman Bob Jones, a home builder and developer in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. "About 79 million homes are affected, even though EPA estimates that only 38 million homes contain lead-based paint. Removing the opt-out provision extends the rule to consumers who need no protection."

The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association and the Window and Door Manufacturers Association joined NAHB in filing the petition for review in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

The group will challenge EPA’s action on the grounds that the agency substantially amended its LRRP regulation without any new scientific data and before the regulation was even put into place on April 22, 2010.

"Even under the original rule, the opt-out provision was not available in homes where small children or pregnant women live," Jones said. "That shows that this change provides no additional protection to the people who are most vulnerable to lead-based paint hazards."

Remodelers’ and other contractors’ estimates of the additional costs associated with the lead-safe work practices average about $2,400, but vary according to the size and type of job. For example, a complete window replacement requires the contractor to install thick vinyl sheeting to surround the work area both inside the home and outdoors – with prep time and material costs adding an estimated $60 to $170 for each window.

"Consumers trying to use rebates and incentive programs to make their homes more energy efficient will likely find those savings eaten up by the costs of the rule’s requirements. Worse, these costs may drive many consumers – even those with small children – to seek uncertified remodelers and other contractors. Others will likely choose to do the work themselves – or not do it at all – to save money. That does nothing to protect the population this rule was designed to safeguard," Jones said    

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How To Survive Without AC

Great Short Video to share with your tenants when the air-conditioning goes ka-bloohey.

 
How To Survive Without Air-Conditioning on Howcast

 

 

PRIVATE Lending on REOs

QUESTION

Dear Mike, I attended last night and already received your followup 24hr.access email. The question I have is did Harry say if I use private lenders money to purchase say a REO,rehab it and use a properly licensed MLO to flip to an end buyer I am still in violation of safe act?  Richard Baffuta 

 

ANSWER

Dear Mike, I attended last night and already received your followup 24hr.access email. 


The question I have is did Harry say 

“if I use private lenders money to purchase say a REO”,
This is in violation of the new laws

odds are, you can find attorney and title companies to do the closing; however, it is still a crime.

 

I agree this is absolutely outrageous, but our objective is to protect your butt, the title companies and the attorneys.

This is so dang serious, attorneys and title companies could lose their license to practice!

rehab it and use a properly licensed MLO to flip to an end buyer I am still in violation of safe act?

 

 

 

Good Luck Richard!

Mike Butler

 
 

 

43 Uses for WD 40

 Good Information received from Walt Sisk! 

I never knew there were so many uses for it. After reading this.

Can You Add to this List?  Just enter your comment below

 
 
  WD-40 uses:
  1.   Protects silver from tarnishing.  
   2.   Removes road tar and grime from cars (and siding)
   3.   Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.  
   4.   Gives floors that ‘just-waxed’ sheen without making them slippery.  
   5..   Keeps flies off cows.  
   6.   Restores and cleans chalkboards.  
   7.   Removes lipstick stains.  
   8..   Loosens stubborn zippers.  
   9.   Untangles jewelry chains.  
   10.   Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.  
   11.   Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.  
   12.   Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing.  
   13.   Removes tomato stains from clothing.  
   14.   Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.  
   15.   Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.  
   16.   Keeps scissors working smoothly. 
   17.   Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes.  
   18.   It removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor!  Use WD-40 for  those nasty tar and scuff marks on flooring.  It doesn’t seem to  harm the finish and you won’t have to scrub nearly as hard to get them off.  Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks.  
   19.   Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly!   Use WD-40!  
   20.   Gives a children’s playground gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.  
   21.   Lubricates gear shift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers…  
   22..   Rids kids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises.  
   23.   Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open..  
   24.   Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.  
   25.   Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers.  
   26.   Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.  
   27.   Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans  
   28.   Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.  
   29.   Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.  
   30.   Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.  
   31.   Removes splattered grease on stove.  
   32.   Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.  
   33.   Lubricates prosthetic limbs.  
   34.   Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).  
   35.   Removes all traces of duct tape.  
   36.   Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain. 
   37.    Florida’s favorite use is: ‘cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers.’ 
   38.   The favorite use in the state of New York , WD-40 protects the Statue of  Liberty from the elements.  
   39.   WD-40 attracts fish.  Spray a little on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time.  Also, it’s a lot cheaper than the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose.  Keep in mind though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing are not allowed in some states.  
   40.   Use it for fire ant bites.  It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch.  
   41.   WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls.  Spray on the mark and wipe with a clean rag.  
   42.   Also, if you’ve discovered that your teenage daughter has washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and rewash.  Presto!  The lipstick is gone!  
   43.   If you sprayed WD-40 on the distributor cap, it would displace the moisture and allow the car to start.  
 
   
What is the main ingredient of WD-40 ?
 
  Before  you read to the end, does anybody know what the main ingredient of WD-40  is?  Don’t lie and don’t cheat.  WD-40.  Who knew; I had a neighbor who bought a new pickup.  I got up very early one Sunday morning and saw that someone had spray painted red all around the sides of this beige truck (for some unknown reason).  I went over, woke him up, and told him the bad news.  He was very upset and was trying to figure out what to do…. probably nothing until Monday morning, since nothing was open.  Another neighbor came out and told him to get his WD-40 and clean it off.  It removed the unwanted paint beautifully and did not harm his paint job that was on the truck.   I’m impressed!  WD-40 who knew?  
‘Water Displacement #40’. 
The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and degreaser to protect missile parts.  WD-40 was created in 1953 by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company.  Its name comes from the project that was to find a ‘water displacement’ compound..  They were successful with the fortieth formulation, thus WD-40.  The Convair bought it in bulk to protect their atlas missile parts.  Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you…  When you read the ‘shower door’ part, try it.  It’s the first thing that has ever cleaned that spotty shower door.  If yours is plastic, it works just as well as glass.   It’s a miracle!  Then try it on your stove top …  Viola!   It’s now shinier than it’s ever been.  You’ll be amazed.   
 
 
 
 
 
P.S.  The basic ingredient is FISH OIL. 

Rental Property & Land Trust

QUESTION:

Hi Mike, When you put a rental property in a trust.

Can you set up a bank account to receive payments and pay expenses or do I have to get an LLC to do this?

I don’t want the bank to ask for the paperwork and see the beneficiaries. 

Thanks 
Maria

 

ANSWER:

Land Trust is a privacy instrument and is the owner of record.

Your beneficial interest, in our language, is the owner and reports the activity on tax returns.

if you use a LLC, you must have a bank account.

 

Mike