For many budding ‘homepreneurs’ (home based business entrepreneurs), starting a search for a legitimate and lucrative home based business opportunity can be a very daunting prospect. The terms ‘Pyramid scheme’ and ‘Scam’ strike instant fear into the heart of every would-be home based business owner out there. So given that there are some absolute diamonds in amongst the rocks, and a growing army of people out there who have been able to sift the wheat from the chaff and are now achieving stellar results from the businesses that they are running from the comfort of their own homes, how can you be sure that you will meet with similar success. Is there a simple check-list that will help you decipher the facts from the fiction and get to the results quicker?Whilst it is certainly true that to become a new-wave entrepreneur you do need to be open-minded and a lateral thinker, open to new possibilities and new ways of doing business, you certainly should not be leaving your common-sense – or your morals – at the door when you embark on your search. Finding the right business may take some time, and will certainly require you to do your due diligence. But to help you, I have put together a simple check-list of 5 of the most important things I believe you should take into account when deciding how ‘real’ any business opportunity is and how likely you are to be able to succeed within a reasonable time frame.1) Is the website original or is it just another generic spin-off promoting a company that promises you can ‘get rich in the next 48 hours’? People with a real business to offer will have something real to promote, and most likely the website will give you an insight into who they are and what it was they wanted when they came to the industry. How original (or genuine) do you think the person is who lies behind a generic ‘sign-up’ here website plastered with Ferrari’s and fake cheques?2) Is there a phone number on the website? Can you have a conversation with a real person, who actually cares about what it is you are looking for and can honestly advise you as to whether their company may be able to help? Or are you dealing with an automated system, that assumes you are a moron and tells you that all you need to do is sign-up NOW and then find some other morons who might like to do the same?3) Do you know roughly what it is you are going to be doing? Any business worth its salt should have an ‘About the Business’ section on the website that gives you some idea of what you will be doing or selling.4) What Training & Support is available to you after you have joined? You can have the best business in the world but if there is no-one there to train you when you start, you are going to waste an awful lot of time figuring out the nuts and bolts before you can get out there and start driving.5) Is there a set-up fee? This is a tricky one. Many people, when they first start looking for a business assume that they can get started for free and be a millionaire in 48 hrs. Ask yourself this question: why do Franchises have such a considerable set-up fee? (Answer: because somebody spent an awful lot of time and money figuring out a system that worked and then invested a huge amount into providing training and a solid support structure for each new business owner who starts in business with them). A home based business opportunity is no different. Yes, you can set up your own business and try and figure it all out, but if you are looking for a business that is going to provide a proven structure for you with high-quality training and support, that is going to significantly improve your chances of success, who do you think is going to bear the cost of all that? The company has to make a profit somewhere! You can invest in a proven system up front or you can count the cost of failure later. But business is business. If you start a business for free, what do you think is the value of the training on offer? And just what do think the level of commitment is going to be from a person who invested nothing in themselves to get started?I will leave you with what I think is the final acid test in deciding how confident a business is in itself and its system:DOES THE PRODUCT OR SERVICE COME WITH A MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE? This for me is the real deal clincher. If the company is not prepared to back itself, do you think it is worth backing the company?I hope these tips help you in your search, and I wish you every success in finding the business that is going to drive your dreams forward for you this year.Successful searching!

Do you worry about issues like:o Where do I find an honest company?o How much money will I need?o What investment options are available to me?o How easy is it to buy an overseas property?o What are the implications of the purchase process?o How can I be sure that the company I’m buying from really exists?o How can I be sure that my property will be built?o Even worse, how do I know that the company won’t run off with my money?o How do I know that my property will be legal?o Will I be able to find my way through all the potential language and cultural problems of buying an
overseas property?o Will the company offer me support throughout the buying process?It’s only reasonable to expect that you want answers to these very sensible and pertinent queries even before moving on to consider other important issues such as location and the most suitable type of property.Why is purchasing property overseas a sound investment option?History shows that on average property prices around the world double every 10 years.
Even with the UK property market crash in the early 90′s, values recovered and since then have soared to record levels. Fluctuations are likely to happen as with all investments but property does, over time, seem to recover better than most.Let’s look at the statistics. Research tells us that the average house price in the UK is approximately £180,000 and the interest rate is 5.5%, the highest it’s been for six years.TOP TIP
You must consider your options carefully and research which countries are likely to perform to your desired level and at the same time, negate any potential downturn in property values in
that country.You only have to look at the statistics on the right to see that in the UK, property prices have doubled in just under six years! It’s highly unlikely that this will continue, so looking further afield to other property markets may be a better option to benefit from future price increases elsewhere.Property investment is a long-term commitment, not a short-term solution, but for those who remember that fact, the rewards can be great. With UK property prices at an all-time high, more and more first-timers, unable to afford even a studio flat on the domestic front, are looking to the overseas market as their best chance of getting a foot on the property ladder.
Source: http://www.telegraph.co.ukThese statistics show the increase in UK property prices over the
last 30 years:o 1977: £12,835↑43%o 1979: £18,402↑33%o 1981: £24,543↑11%o 1983: £27,208↑26%o 1985: £34,338↑23%o 1987: £42,283↑46%o 1989: £61,575↓-8%o 1991: £56,417↓-8%o 1993: £51,846↑2%o 1995: £52,835↑9%o 1997: £57,724↑21%o 1999: £69,791↑24%o 2001: £86,855↑43%o 2003: £124,050↑27%o 2005: £158,029↑15%o 2007: £181,574When it comes to considering overseas property, you are by no means alone.
In recent years there has been a 250% increase in the number of Britons buying property abroad solely for investment purposes. (Source: http://www.overseasdigest.com)British families have already invested over £23 billion in overseas property. (Source: [http://www.aplaceinthesunlive.com])Experts predict that by 2020, one-tenth of the current British population will be living and/or working abroad. (Source: http://www.overseasdigest.com)Over 2,400 people register an interest with Vogue Estates every month and more than 10 million searches are performed on the subject of purchasing property overseas
on the internet.More and more British homeowners are using their family home in the UK to fund the mortgage on an overseas property
through equity release. Others are simply using a substantial increase in inheritance funds or savings to get on the overseas property ladder.TOP TIPYou can purchase an overseas property for as little as £20,000-£25,000 and only need to pay a minimum of £2,000 to secure a property today.Where should I be looking?With EU membership ensuring a balanced distribution of economic wealth between countries, many new EU members are set on improving their infrastructure and attracting foreign buyers to piggy back their growth.There is no doubt that being welcomed into the EU fold has caused the property market in countries such as Hungary and Bulgaria to thrive; in Ireland and Spain prices have quadrupled over the last 10-15 years.Experience has shown that developing countries make the best choices for investment and getting in at the ground level maximises your investment returns.Further afield, countries such as Brazil and Morocco have been quick to utilise their tourist markets and develop their property markets at the same time.Thousands are making this first step every month and so can you.TAKE NOTEIt´s important that you contact a company that´willing to answer any questions, no matter how basic or trivial you may think they are. It’s all part of the service commitment to you.TOP TIPShrewd investors don’t wait to buy – they buy and wait.What are my other investment options?
Traditionally investors have looked to the more obvious investment vehicles to provide them with a solid return on their money:1. Stocks and shares – the market is volatile and is extremely
high maintenance.2. Pensions – the state is looking more and more to citizens to
make their own provisions for their old age. Unfortunately the
record of private pension companies has been extremely poor.3. Bonds – on the positive side these are low risk but, as a result
of this, returns are modest and may only just offset the rate
of inflation.4. High interest accounts – perennially popular, but the downside
is that they tie up large chunks of your capital for long periods
of time, meaning it is inaccessible or, at best, only released at
enormous cost.5. Art and antiques – Requires expert knowledge. Your chances
of detecting the first flowering of genius in the next Damien
Hirst are not good.Property is unique in the amount of enjoyment that it can offer its owners and with relatively little maintenance.You can invest purely for capital appreciation or you can rent your property out to make a profit (rental yield) or cover its costs. You could even do both and make time to use it yourself with family and friends. There are many different options at your disposal.Equally, your property investment choice can extend to investing in the quality of your lifestyle.TAKE NOTEProperty millionaires have been created at the rate of more than 58,000 a year since 2001 and by 2010, there will be around three quarters of a million millionaires through rises in property prices. (Source: The Centre for Economics and Business Research)Can buying abroad be easier than buying in the UK?If you choose the right company you can avoid many of the problems that UK homebuyers experience.
Most significantly, you can avoid the banana skin of the housing chain which often collapses, leaving would-be purchasers stressed, angry and, in the worst case scenario, homeless. Since you’ll be the first to buy your overseas home, you won’t encounter this potential pitfall.You also won’t experience the usual horrors of gazumping and sealed bids – the price that is first requested is fixed when you pay your reservation deposit.The amount that you will need to pay to fix the price, secure your property and remove it from the market can be as little as £2,000. The balance can be paid in staged payments throughout construction or via a mortgage on completion.Take a look at the following scenariosWould your UK estate agent offer you the following services?o Carry out surveys and checks of all legal documents on your
behalf prior to purchase?(In the UK you would pay for the services of a surveyor)o Be on hand to answer all your questions and transfer to the
relevant parties any queries that need expert advice?
o Smooth out any problems that might occur, removing the
worry from your shoulders?o Carry out a stringent due diligence process, ensuring that your
chosen property is fully legal and licensed?o Remove the need for you to speak a foreign language?How much money will I need?You don’t need to be a property mogul or Premiership footballer to own an investment property abroad these days.You can secure a property with less than £10,000.
By this, we mean that your reservation deposit and the first payment that you will be required to make 28 days later will be enough to launch you into the overseas property market.Some properties require no further payment until completion, when it is usual to finance the balance with a mortgage or equity release from your UK property.Others request smaller payments at regular intervals.TOP TIP
If you are looking to finance some or all of the purchase price, it is advisable to seek an independent financial advisor before committing yourself to a purchase. Always ensure that you know beforehand how much you can afford.TAKE NOTE
You must have approximately £10,000 in available funds to secure a property. You will then need to think about how to pay the balance on completion.

Lots of people own properties that they rent out or sublet; management companies may own several properties that they rent out to entire cadres of customers, ranging from college students to people starting out their families in two and three bedroom apartments to rental homes. Atlanta Property Management is the best resource for discovering new possibilities.

Atlanta Property Management Technology has altered how property management is done, much the same way it’s altered every other aspect of modern American life. It started out with telephones and the ever so popular Rolodex, and then moved to spreadsheets to keep track of accounting issues. Later, cheap video cameras meant that on site security and premises control became much easier to arrange and coordinate, with video tape records replaced by digital video records and storage.

Now, the spread of pervasive networking, and changes in the fundamental communication parameters of all of these tools have altered the property management landscape again. What used to require sending bills or putting reminder notices in mailboxes has now been turned into automatic systems built off of conventional networking frameworks, and these technology & training options have made managing apartment complexes even less labor intensive.

With a properly arranged networked property management solution, you can have tenants (or board members) automatically notified when meetings are scheduled to take place; automatic funds withdrawals can help you handle the billing side of property management, and you can even use a hosted solution that will integrate the property’s web site with an online database to allow association members to put in requests for maintenance and repair issues.

On top of this, it’s also possible to monitor things like water bills for a series of units in an apartment complex, or unit by unit electricity usage, to see if there are potential problems down the road. There can also be a central, secure, repository for security data, from on site cameras and motion detectors, as well as logs for in-and-out access through a gate for a gated community. It’s not just the billing and record keeping that’s streamlined, but most aspects of property management that have changed dramatically with networked application development.

These even make selling a property easier (and give people buying a property a written ‘paper trail’ of ownership and maintenance done) which allows for fewer things to slip through the gaps on maintenance projects. Even better, the revolution in web distributed applications and data interchange mean that the technology and training side of this equation is minimal. It all builds off of interfaces that everyone’s familiar with, using web sites or cell phone applications; even iPhone applications exist to help with this. The nice part of this is that these applications are built not only to the specifications of management companies for property management, but they also take in the input of home owner associations boards to make sure that it meets all of the requirements of both sets of stake holders.

Every now and again a new form of advertising hits the scene, and in terms of the internet the latest thing getting everyone talking is Facebook advertising. In fact, many internet consultants are saying Facebook advertising may one day be bigger than Google AdWords, and there are now dozens of Facebook advertising courses springing up, each one promising to show you the secrets to using this new advertising medium.

However, even though Facebook is a fairly new medium, the way to use its advertising is actually no different than using any other type of advertising media, because in the end it’s just a different way of doing something that’s been around for a long time. The most important thing about any kind of advertising is your return on investment, and anything else is not worth bothering about. The only type of good advertising is profitable advertising, and that means you need to be spending less than the money coming in. If you’re doing that, the advertising is successful, and you really don’t need to learn anything else.

So how can you make sure your Facebook advertising profitable?

By following the same strategies you use when using any other type of advertising medium, that’s how.

1. Target the right people. No matter which advertising system you use, the advertising will fail if it’s not going in front of the people interested in what you’re selling. It’s always better to have your ad going in front of fewer people who are qualified, instead of going in front of 10 times more people who are not interested in what you’re selling at all. This means targeting people who are likely to buy what you sell. If you run a local store, make sure you target your local geographic area. If you sell fishing gear, put your advertisement in front of people who are interested in fishing. This sounds simple and it is, but many businesses forget this simple principle when they advertise and consequently fail to get a return on investment.

2. Keep an eye on conversions. Once you have people clicking on your ads, you have to make sure they are converting into sales or leads. This means you need to make sure your website pages are built in the correct way, and guide the reader to exactly what you want them to do, either buying something or leaving their contact details so you can get in touch with them later. If you discover you can spend $50 on advertising, but you end up making $200 in sales, the advertising has more than paid for itself. But in order to get to this state you need to make sure your website pages are doing a proper job.

3. Keep on testing all the time. You’ll always find the first time you run ads, your success rate will be fairly low, and it’s really just a case of keep trying different approaches and constantly improving your click-through-rate. Keep on testing one ad against another, stop using the worst one, and then test the best one against a new advertisement. Do this and your ads will constantly improve and you’ll get a higher return on investment.

Facebook advertising can be a great way to bring in qualified leads and make sales, but it will only work if you follow age-old principles of direct response advertising. Simply throwing money at it won’t get you anywhere. You need to constantly test your advertisements, and make sure you’re getting a return on investment, just like you would in order to create any other profitable advertising campaign.