House @ MindSay

well, its been awhile again...I haven't been myself since July-August probably and I didn't feel like writing any.
The Dixie Classic Fair was fun though,but I got very tired that day.. That it how its been . I get so tired doing anything and stomach problems too. I was glad when my Doctor appointment finally arrived over a week ago now. All my blood work came back with great results. No thyroid problems or Liver problems and I'm not perimenopausal either... Cholesterol levels were great as were blood count, etc.. so, Dr. said it sounded like depression. All the stress from this year...Yes, worry is a sin..I don't handle it very well and I give it to God, but I always manage to pull it back..Not what you're supposed to do...so now I'm back on my Zoloft after being off it for well over two years..Starting to feel like me again. Last friday at the West/Reynolds game I had the best time. My friend I haven't seen in a long while, Trace' Cave Cunduff came. and wonders of all we saw John Sherrill too! We haven't seen him in years! Long years! LOL He has not changed a bit! He's still John! haha.. we had a great time picking and carrying on..just like the old days again! I knew I was gonna be okay then..
I can almost pinpoint a time when I really felt lowest...The day we got that Certified letter from our mortgage co..I had to sign for it and my heart sank...I prayed so hard while opening that letter, and called James crying my eyes out...That was hard, as I have written before. I just kept praying though, and I knew God would answer in His time, but I was being honest with Him and asking Him to hurry up. :)  Not what you're supposed to do either, but He knows me and we are all human and live in this imperfect world.
Meanwhile its been getting cooler and having crisp nights. There have been some Indian Summer days though. I was able to not turn our heat on for almost 2 whole weeks.
Then Monday came. I was working at home on Quickbooks trying to get it straight for Biogreen. I get a call and answer it. It's Lynn. She's been helping us deal with our mortgage co..She said"They are sending you a package out Fed Ex and you should get it tomorrow.. Your interest rate dropped to 6.375% and your new payments are like $848.00"... My skin started prickling and I cried... I felt relief wash over me.. She didnt know the rest of the details..we'd find out from the letter.. I stayed home again on Tuesday and worked on Quickbooks again,finishing it....James came home for lunch like he always does...I see the Fed Ex truck back into the driveway... James goes to meet him and signs for the letter... we sit together and open it. I read it...
"James, it says that this is for the next 365 months!"  Oh my! Here come the pricklings again!!! We look at each other.. "So this is the new payment for the rest of the loan?" "Yes!!" Hallaluha!!  after trying 3 times with them to get this Loan Mod, we get it and it's great! we didnt know if it would be just 6 months as most are or a year, but the life of the Loan!! That was such a blessing !!! A burden lifted!! I thanked God all the rest of that day and still am....
another prayer was answered too on Tuesday. Ariana was able to trade her Jeep and her $2500 for a 2002 Saturn! It only had about 75000 miles on it. Her jeep broke down over a week ago and it was a pain trying to get her to College and picked up and to work and me to work.... it was a mess but we did it.. and she had to buy the $84 dollar part and Jeff fixed the jeep for her, but it still needed a battery...she'd go somewhere and have to get a jump to start it... Not good..plus it was eating gas and ate oil like crazy too. She had to put 3 quarts in every two weeks or so.. she did cry though...The jeep was her first car... She didn't really want to give it up, but she knew it was for the best. Now she 'll have a good car when she goes to UNCC in a year or so..
and Morgan. He had to buy a new car too. Late September his old car starting acting up and stalling out on him, so James looked around here and found him a "97 Grand Am with only about 65000 miles on it.. and Morgan could afford it. he just had to borrow $1300 from Grandma to do it and he'll pay her back in Jan. when he gets his financial aid $ again. It cost him $2800.00. Both of the kids cars are white now! That is odd! I wont know who is who until I can see the whole car coming in!! LOL
So many blessings this week..... I am feeling better on my medicine and getting things done now that got neglected over the summer...Whew..now on to the next problem..figuring out how to pay our taxes of $1800.00!!! since we inherited that 7 acres of land, our property taxes went up...big time!! 
We signed the papers from the Mortgage co. and Fed ex'd them back all on the same day...we should hear soon about when payment is due and all that... 
There's still the matter of Christmas too. I told James we could not afford to buy for everyone this year... We will get the small ones something, and try to figure out how and what to do for Morgan and Ariana... I just want us to be together...I don't need one thing! After all what is Christmas all about anyway? -The Birth of our Lord and Saviour!!!! When you realize that, nothing else matters. Enjoy the season of Love!
Thanksgiving coming soon! Time to Thank the Lord for all our blessings! But we should thank Him on a daily basis... He does so much for us..look for the small things and the big things..There's always something! I remind myself of that daily...

There was a house fire in our neighborhood last night.  The house went up in flames, a total loss.  The family wasn’t home at the time.   Their 3 dogs were rescued but their cat remains missing.  The fire started around 5 pm.  My husband smelled the smoke and we obviously heard all the sirens.  He went out to investigate, came back home and reported “the house on the corner is on fire”. 

While I didn’t really know the family, they had just moved in over the summer, from my walks around the neighborhood I knew they had animals.  The cat would sit in the open windows like cats are prone to do and survey his new hood.  The dogs would bark at the door when I walked by with my lab.  My husband reported that” luckily no is home” which I answered with the standard “well, thank god for that, everyone is at least safe”.  Then I remembered the animals.  He had already left the house to go back to the scene of the fire.  I ran after him to ask about the status of the animals.  By this time a crowd of probably 25 neighbors had gathered to watch the blaze.  I found one of the young girls who lived in the house meandering along the sidewalk among the smoke and transfixed neighbors.  She confirmed that all 3 of their dogs were safe and being held in their car.  As she and I watched the action of the fire fighters and police, neighbors returning home from work gathered and the crowd grew. 

We are a fairly small neighborhood which implies familiarity but in actuality we’re a pretty isolated neighborhood.   We’re a diverse neighborhood with a fair amount of Indians, who hang out with their fellow Indians.  A fair amount of Asians, who hang out with their fellow Asians and the rest of us are a mix of black and white.  As I ran back home to close the windows in my house from the thickening smoke, my Indian neighbor next door, who I have never really spoken with, asked about the fire.  We quietly chatted and watched the flames shoot out of the roof over the fences of our adjoining backyards.  The single woman on the other side of my house came out as well and the Indian and I filled her in on the story.  The 3 of us now silently watched the blaze. 

After closing the windows and making sure the now 6 dogs at my house were ok, we took in the families 3 dogs while the fire was being worked and we have 3 of our own, I headed back to the street to find my husband.  By this time, the atmosphere was downright festive.  Albeit in a macabre way.  My son and a neighbor boy were working the scene taking pictures with their cell phones.  The lights from the EMS vehicles and fire trucks created an almost strobe affect on the street as I watched now roughly 60 neighbors take in the action.  As I watched the scene before me I took in the small groups of neighbors clustered relaying to each other what little information they had regarding how the fire started.   Groups of whites, blacks, Indians and Asians.  All together now taking in the neighborhood fire.  The family members of the house on fire were given jackets to ward off the chill as the sun was now setting.  They were offered water.  I thought a stiff drink would have been more appropriate.  A group of us fellow neighbors attempted to console one of the daughters in the family.  Hugs were given, platitudes offered, a warm jacket provided.  It occurred to me after, that I don’t even know that young girls name.  I guess it doesn’t really matter. 

After a time the crowd started to thin.  Neighbors left to go make their dinners, to put small kids to bed, to make phone calls to friends and family and regale them with the story.  My husband came home to check our smoke detectors and GFI loads on our outlets.  He says it was an electrical fire.  He could tell by the smell of the smoke. 

We have now 5 dogs, the family did take the smallest, a min pin, with them to a hotel for the night.  They said they will pick up the other 2 in the morning.  After they find an extended stay for all of them.  We of course told them to not worry about the dogs.  When you have 3 already, really what’s 2 more?  I told them we would keep our eye out for Moonshine (the missing cat).  Maybe he got out when the firefighters were breaking windows.  I really hope.  They informed us that Moonshine is an indoor cat only.  He’s never been outside.  They weren’t hopeful that he would venture out even in the face of impending death.   After they  left, my husband said to me that he didn’t even think to ask their names.  He asked me if I knew their names.  I said no.  I never asked.  

In the light of a sunshiny crisp fall morning the sun shines on the charred remains of the house on the corner.  When I took my kids to school this morning there were already a few neighbors out looking at the house over their morning cups of coffee.  I noticed an elderly Asian woman and a young Indian mother talking together and gesturing at the house.   I smiled to myself.  Feeling guilty for feeling grateful that the house on the corner burned.   I’m sorry for the displaced family but I hope that through this shared experience a bond may have formed in our isolated neighborhood and perhaps we will begin to learn each other’s names. 

Premier Inn, the UK’s largest hotel chain, is popular among international travelers as a budget hotel. But in India, where it will open its first hotel in Bangalore early next month, Premier Inn is pitching itself as a value-for money mid-market brand.

“In India we realized that the consumers’ connotation of a budget hotel means something that might not offer quality. So we decided to term ourselves as value for money mid-market hotel brand,” says Aly Shariff, managing director of Premier Inn, which plans to build 80 hotels across the country for an investment of 300 million pounds.

It’s not an exception, though. As a rule, most international hotel chains are positioning themselves higher than their global equity in India, thanks to the c http://www.propertycafeteria.com/prime-property.aspxountry’s peculiar business model for building and running hotels that just can’t survive here without restaurants and banqueting facilities. For example, Park Inn, an international three-star hotel chain belonging to the US-based Carlson Hotels Worldwide, is branded as four-star hotel in India.

“Mid-market hotels in the western countries do not have elaborate food and beverages options or room service since people tend to be select service hotels. But in India, food and beverages contributes significantly to the overall hotel revenues and so most international mid-market brands tend position themselves as 4 star,” says Ajay Bakaya, executive director of Sarovar Hotels & Resorts that runs Park Inn and Park Plaza hotels in India under a franchisee agreement with Carlson.

In India, where the concept of ‘select service hotels’ does not exist, food and beverages account for about one third of a hotel’s overall revenues, according to industry estimates. Total ancillary services in a 5 star hotel, which also include renting of banquet halls, spas and night clubs, could constitute as much as 45% of a hotel’s business here.

In India, hotels are food and beverages destinations and host weddings unlike the western countries,” says Rajiv Menon, area vice president (India, Pakistan, Malaysia and Maldives) of Marriott International, a US based Hotel Company.

This has forced moderately priced brands like Courtyard by Marriott to offer elaborate in-house dining services, concept restaurants or banqueting services in India, while globally they have elaborate dining options outside the hotels, he says.

Another aspect that’s making hotels to upgrade their positioning is the high real estate costs, says Siddharth Thaker, executive director of hotel consultant HVS India. According to him, real estate costs in India at 35-40% of total project costs is double that of global average. “This leads most international hotel brands to position themselves higher than what they are branded globally so that they can become profitable faster.” This trend, however, can confuse international travelers visiting India and Indians traveling abroad. It can even lead to cannibalization of brands, warns Larry Malarkar, an independent hotel consultant.

Theformerinvestmentportfolio.aspx/">Starwood Hotels regional director expects stricter branding standards in the future as most international hotel chains are now introducing multiple brands in the country. “If international hotel brands do not work towards uniform branding, it could lead to cannibalization of brands,” says Mr Malarkar.

Some hoteliers have started doing that, by realigning hotel brands to position them as per global markets.

For instance, ITC Maurya Sheraton in Delhi was recently rebranded as ITC Maurya-The Luxury Collection as the hotel offered far more facilities than what brand Sheraton offers globally. This made Starwood Hotels and ITC Hotels to rebrand the hotel, an ITC spokeswoman said.

Single-brand chains like Premier Inn may not be too bothered about such confusion, but the Carlsons and Marriott’s may go the Starwood way as India steadily climbs to the top of the world.

Courtesy:- ET dt:- 23-10-2009
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The foreign investment promotion board (FIPB), the apex body that clears foreign capital inflow into the country, has allowed New Delhi-based Capricorn Hospitality Services to seek Rs 576 cr foreign investments worth 49% of its equity. The funds will be used for making downstream investments.

The FIPB has also allowed Hyderabad based Indus Renewable Energy to bring in Rs 500 cr to invest in hydroelectric power projects and Dawnay Day AV India Advisors to infuse a foreign capital of Rs 30 cr to start commodity broking in the country, the finance ministry said in a statement here.

The board approved investments worth Rs 1,360.5 cr on October 9, the ministry said. The board also allowed Monsanto India to undertake business activities involving genetically engineered cells and material.

The board, however, deferred decisions on Jet Airways’ proposal to raise capital from foreign institutional investors and Analjit Singh’s and Asim Ghosh’s proposals to divest part of their stake in Vodafone Essar.

Courtesy:- ET dt:- 23-10-2009

You can invest in property for both immediate rental returns and long-term wealth creation, says Vikas Agarwal

As economic conditions improve globally, the cheer is coming back into the property market. Analysts believe it is a good time for those looking at investing in property, both residential for own use as well as from an investment perspective. Investments in property bring diversification to an investor’s investment portfolio. Historically, it has been proved that a property investment is a lowrisk option with high returns over a long term.

Usually, price volatility is quite low in the property market. Due to the global recession, property prices corrected in the recent past. As the global economic conditions are improving, the demand in the property market has increased. The property prices have begun to show signs of appreciation. Therefore, it is a good time to go in for property.

Investments in property offer short-term returns in terms of rental income and long-term returns in terms of capital gains. Therefore, it is suitable from a short-term as well as long-term perspective. Property adds to the long-term wealth creation goal of an individual. The government also provides income tax exemptions for those invested in residential property.

In general, investments in property require a significant upfront investment. Therefore, it is important to plan well while entering into a property investment. Location and price of the property are the two most important factors that pretty much decide the returns from the propertyinvestment. A property investment in an upcoming area gives the best returns over time.

Here are some options available for investors:

Residential property

Investors who do not have a house of their own should first look at buying a residential property. There are many sops available for investors buying a residential property, especially the first residential property. The government gives an income tax exemption on interest paid against a housing loan, to a maximum of Rs 1.5 lakhs per year. Also, investors can claim a rebate in income tax on the principal repaid, to a maximum of Rs 1 lakh.

The government is planning to increase the limits of these exemptions in the new tax code. In addition to these, attractive housing loan schemes are available in the market and the interest rates on housing loans are lower than the interest rates on other borrowings.

Site

A site is good for those who can keep a regular watch on it. An investment in a site requires relatively more attention at the time of purchase. The percentage returns on sites at good locations is mostly higher than other options. The value of a site in developing areas has appreciated many times over the last few years.

Commercial property

A commercial property is a good investment for those looking at high rental income and capital appreciation over a long run. The price of commercial property is quite high. However, commercial property in a prime location has the potential to earn 10 to 12 percent returns in terms rental income.

Perspective

There are two avenues in property investments - buying a house to live in and an investment for capital appreciation. Buying a house to live in should be done as early as possible as it saves tax, and creates long-term wealth.

An investment for rental returns and capital appreciation should be planned well. It helps in portfolio diversification.

Courtesy:- TOI dt:- 17-10-09