Your business NEEDS a PLAN!!

Whether you're just starting out, growing your business or seeking outside help, a well-thought-out business plan is the vehicle you need to get you there.

Why do you want a business plan? You already know the obvious reasons, but there are so many other good reasons to create a business plan that many business owners don't know about. So, just for a change, let's take a look at the less obvious reasons first and finish with the ones you probably already know about. Here are 15 reasons why;

15. Set specific objectives for managers. Good management requires setting specific objectives and then tracking and following up. I'm surprised how many existing businesses manage without a plan. How do they establish what's supposed to happen? In truth, you're really just taking a short cut and planning in your head--and good for you if you can do it--but as your business grows you want to organize and plan better, and communicate the priorities better. Be strategic. Develop a plan; don't just wing it.
14. Share your strategy, priorities and specific action points with your spouse, partner or significant other. Your business life goes by so quickly: a rush of answering phone calls, putting out fires, etc. Don't the other people in your business life need to know what's supposed to be happening? Don't you want them to know?
13. Deal with displacement. Displacement is probably by far the most important practical business concept you've never heard of. It goes like this: "Whatever you do is something else you don't do." Displacement lives at the heart of all small-business strategy. At least most people have never heard of it.
12. Decide whether or not to rent new space. Rent is a new obligation, usually a fixed cost. Do your growth prospects and plans justify taking on this increased fixed cost? Shouldn't that be in your business plan?

11. Hire new people. This is another new obligation (a fixed cost) that increases your risk. How will new people help your business grow and prosper? What exactly are they supposed to be doing? The rationale for hiring should be in your business plan.
10. Decide whether you need new assets, how many, and whether to buy or lease them. Use your business plan to help decide what's going to happen in the long term, which should be an important input to the classic make vs. buy. How long will this important purchase last in your plan?
9. Share and explain business objectives with your management team, employees and new hires. Make selected portions of your business plan part of your new employee training.
8. Develop new business alliances. Use your plan to set targets for new alliances, and selected portions of your plan to communicate with those alliances.
7. Deal with professionals. Share selected highlights or your plans with your attorneys and accountants, and, if this is relevant to you, consultants.
6. Sell your business. Usually the business plan is a very important part of selling the business. Help buyers understand what you have, what it's worth and why they want it.
5. Valuation of the business for formal transactions related to divorce, inheritance, estate planning and tax issues. Valuation is the term for establishing how much your business is worth. Usually that takes a business plan, as well as a professional with experience. The plan tells the valuation expert what your business is doing, when, why and how much that will cost and how much it will produce.
4. Create a new business. Use a plan to establish the right steps to starting a new business, including what you need to do, what resources will be required, and what you expect to happen.
3. Seek investment for a business, whether it's a startup or not. Investors need to see a business plan before they decide whether or not to invest. They'll expect the plan to cover all the main points.
2. Back up a business loan application. Like investors, lenders want to see the plan and will expect the plan to cover the main points.
1. Grow your existing business. Establish strategy and allocate resources according to strategic priority

Commands for healing and prosperity

These are power tools for the Christian, scripture quoted as affirmations that when you speak out loud in Jesus' name, you command your body, your finances and even the demons to do what you say.

When you repeat them, reading them over and over, you let the truth of the Word sink deep into your heart, which changes YOU at the deepest level and gives you peace and faith to overcome!

1. Jesus is the Lord of my life.  Sickness and disease have no power over me.  I am forgiven and free from sin and guilt.  I am dead to sin and alive unto righteousness.  (Colossians 1:21,22) 

2.  I am free from unforgiveness and strife.  I forgive others as Christ has forgiven me, for the love of God is shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Ghost.  (Matt. 6:12; Rom. 5:5) 

3.  Jesus bore my sins in His Body on the tree; therefore I am dead to sin and alive unto God and by His stripes I am healed and made whole  (I peter 2:24; Rom. 6:11; 2 Cor. 5:21) 

4.  Jesus bore my sicknesses and carried my pain.  Therefore I give no place to sickness or pain.  For God sent His Word and healed me.  (Psalm 103:20) 

5.  Father, because of Your Word, I am an overcomer.  I overcome the world, the flesh and the devil, by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony.  (I John 4:4, Rev 12:11) 

6.  You have given me abundant life.  I receive that life through Your Word and it flows to every organ of my body bringing healing and health.  (John 10:10, John 6:63) 

7.  Heavenly Father, I attend to Your Word.  I incline my ears to Your sayings.  I will not let them depart from my eyes.  I keep them in the midst of my heart, for they are life and healing to all my flesh.  (Proverbs. 4:20-22)

 8.  As God was with Moses, so is He with me.  My eyes are not dim; neither are my natural forces abated.  Blessed are my eyes for they see, and my ears for they hear.  (Deut. 34:7)

 9.  No evil will befall me, neither shall any plague come near my dwelling.  For You have given your angels charge over me.  They keep me in all my ways.  In my pathway is life, healing and health.  (Psalm 91:10, 11; Prov. 12:28)

 10. Jesus took my infirmities and bore my sicknesses.  Therefore I refuse to allow sickness to dominate my body.  The Life of God flows within me bringing healing to every fiber of my being.  (Matt. 8:17, John 6:63)

 11.  I am redeemed from the curse.  Galatians 3:13 is flowing in my blood stream.  It flows to every cell of my body, restoring life and health.  (Mark 11:23; Luke 17:6) 

12.  The life of I Peter 2:24 is a reality in my flesh, restoring every cell of my body.

 13.  I present my body to God for it is the temple of the LIVING GOD.  God dwells in me and HIS LIFE permeates my SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY so that I am filled with the fullness of God daily.  (Rom. 12:1, 2: John 14:20)

 14.  My body is the temple of the HOLY GHOST.  I make a demand on my body to release the right chemicals.  My body is in perfect chemical balance.  My pancreas secretes the proper amount of insulin for life and health.  (I Cor. 6:19) 

15.  Heavenly Father, through Your Word you have imported Your life to me.  That life restores my body with every breath I breathe and every word I SPEAK.  (John 6:63; Mark 11:23) 

16.  That which God has not planted is dissolved and rooted out of my body in Jesus’ name.  I Peter 2:24 is engrafted into every fiber of my being and I am alive with the life of God.  (Mark 11:23; John 6:63)

 17.  Jesus bore the curse for me; therefore, I forbid growths, tumors or cysts to inhabit my body.  The life of God within me dissolves growths, tumors and cysts, and my strength and health is restored.  (Matt. 16:19; John 14:13; Mark 11:23) 

18.  Growths and tumors have no right to my body.  They are a thing of the past for I am delivered from the authority of darkness.  (Col. 1:13, 14) 

19.  Every organ and tissue of my body functions in the perfection that God created it to function.  I forbid any malfunction in my body in Jesus’ name.  (Gen. 1:28, 31) 

20.  Father, Your Word has become a part of me.  It is flowing in my bloodstream.  It flows to every cell of my body, restoring and transforming my body.  Your Word has become flesh, for You sent Your Word and healed me  (James 1:21; Ps. 107:20; Proverbs 13:3) 

21.  Your Word is manifest in my body, causing growths to disappear.  Arthritis is a thing of the past.  I make a demand on my bones and joints to function properly in Jesus’ Name (Mark 11:23; Matt 17:20)

 22.  Heavenly Father, as I give voice to Your Word, the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus makes me free from the law of sin and death.  And Your Life is energizing every cell of my body.  (Rom. 8:12) 

23.  Arthritis, you must GO!  Sicknesses MUST FLEE!  Tumors can’t exist in me, for the Spirit of God is upon me and the Word of God is within me.  Sickness, fear and oppression have no power over me for God’s Word is my confession.  (Mark 11:23)

 24.  Thank You Father that I have a strong heart.  My heart beats with the rhythm of life.  My blood flows to every cell of my body restoring life and health abundantly.  (Proverbs 12:14; 14:30)

 25.  My blood pressure is 120 over 80.  The life of God flows in my blood and cleanses my arteries of all matter that does not pertain to life.  Mark 11:23)

 26.  My heartbeat is normal.  My heart beats with the rhythm of life, carrying the life of God throughout my body restoring LIFE AND HEALTH ABUNDANTLY.  (John 17:23; Eph. 2:22)

 27.  I have a strong heart.  Every heartbeat floods my body with life and cleanses me of disease and pain.  (Ex. 23:25; Mark 11:23)

 28.  I command my blood cells to destroy every disease germ, bacteria and virus that tries to inhabit my body.  I command every cell of my body to be normal in Jesus’ Name.  (Rom 5:17; Luke 17:6)

 29.  Every cell that does not promote life and health in my body is cut off from it’s life source.  My immune system will not allow tumors, growths, or cysts to live in my body in Jesus’ Name.  (Luke 17:6; Mark 11:23)

 30.  I am redeemed from the curse of the law and my heart beats with the rhythm of life.  The Spirit and Life of God’s Word flows in me cleansing my blood of every disease and impurity.  (Proverbs 4:20-23)

 31.  In Jesus’ Name, my arteries will not shrink or become clogged.  Arteries, you are clean, elastic and function as God created you to function.  (Luke 17:6, Mark 11:23; Isa. 55:11; James 3:2-5)

 32.  The law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death; therefore I will not allow sin, sickness or death to lord it over me.  (Rom. 8:2; Rom. 6:13, 14)

 33.  The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in me, permeating His life through my veins, sending healing throughout my body.  (Rom. 8:11) 

34.  In Jesus’ Name I forbid my body to be deceived in any manner.  Body, you will not be deceived by any virus, bacteria or disease germ, neither will you work against life or health in any way.  Every cell of my body supports life and health.  (Matt 12:25; 35a) 

35.  My immune system grows stronger day by day.  I speak life to my immune system.  I forbid confusion in my immune system.  The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in me and quickens my immune system with the life and wisdom of God, which guards the life and health of my body. 

36.  I speak to the bones and joints of my body.  I call you normal in Jesus’ Name.  My bones and joints will not respond to any disease, for the Spirit Life of I Peter 2:24 permeates every bone and joint of my body with LIFE AND HEALTH. 

37.  Father I make a demand on my bones to produce perfect marrow.  I make a demand on the marrow to produce pure blood that will ward off sickness and disease.  My bones refuse any offense of the curse.  (Proverbs 16:24)

38.  I make a demand on spine and my joints to function perfectly.  There will be no pain or swelling in my spine or joints.  My spine and joints refuse to allow anything that will hurt or destroy their normal function.  (Proverbs 17:22) 

39.  Body, I speak the Word of Faith to you.  I demand that every internal organ perform a perfect work, for you are the temple of the HOLY GHOST, therefore, I charge you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the authority of His Holy Word to be healed and made whole in Jesus’ Name.  (Proverbs 12:18)

 40.  Father, I resist the enemy in every form that he comes against me – I require my body to be strong and healthy, and I enforce it with Your Word.  I reject the curse, and I enforce life in this body.  (James 4:7)

 41.  I will not die, but live and declare the works of God.  (Ps. 118:17)

 42.  You have forgiven all my iniquities; You have healed all my diseases; You have redeemed my life from destruction; You have satisfied my mouth with good things so that my youth is renewed as the eagles.  (Ps. 103:2-5)

 43.  Lord, You have blessed my food and water and have taken sickness away from me.  Therefore I will fulfill the number of my days in health.  (Ex. 23:25, 26)

 44.  I am the body of Christ and Satan has no power over me.  For I overcome evil with good.  (I Cor. 12:27; Rom 12:21) 

45.  I am of God and have overcome him (Satan).  For greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world.  (I John 4:4)

 46.  I will fear no evil for thou art with me Lord, your Word and Your Spirit they comfort me.  (Ps. 23:4)

 47.  I am far from oppression and fear does not come near me.  (Isaiah 54:14)

 48.  No weapon formed against me shall prosper, for my righteousness is of the Lord.  But whatever I do will prosper for I’m like a tree that’s planted by the rivers of water.  (Isaiah 54:17; Ps. 1:3)

 49.  I am delivered from the evils of this present world for it is the will of God.  (Galatians 1:4)

 50.  No evil will befall me, neither shall any plague come near my dwelling.  For the Lord has given His angels charge over me and they keep me in all my ways, and in my pathway is life and there is no death. (Ps 91:10-11; Proverbs 12;28) 

51.  I am a doer of the Word of God and am blessed in my deeds.  I am happy in those things which I do because I am a doer of the Word of God.  (James 1:22) 

52.  I take the shield of faith and I quench every fiery dart that the wicked one brings against me.  (Eph. 6:16)

 53.  Christ has redeemed me from the curse of the law.  Therefore, I forbid any sickness or disease to come upon this body.  Every disease germ and every virus that touches this body dies instantly in the name of Jesus.  Every organ and every tissue of this body functions in the perfection to which God created it to function, and I forbid any malfunction in this body, in the name of Jesus.  (Gal. 3:13; rom. 8:11; Gen 1:31; Matt 16:19)

 54.  I am an overcomer and I overcome by the blood of the lamb and word of my testimony.  (Rev. 12:11)

 55.  I am submitted to God and the devil flees from me because I resist him in the name of Jesus.  (James 4:7)

 56.  The Word of God is forever settled in Heaven.  Therefore, I establish His Word upon this earth.  (Ps 119:89)

57.  Great is the peace of my children for they are taught of the Lord.  (Isaiah 54:13)

 58.  I don’t desire to eat so much I become overweight.  I present my body to God, my body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which dwelleth in me.  I am not my own, I am bought with a price therefore, in the name of Jesus I refuse to overeat.  Body settle down, in the name of Jesus and conform to the Word of God.  I mortify the desires of this body and command it to come into line with the Word of God.  (Rom. 12:1; I Cor. 6:19) 

59.  Christ has redeemed me from the curse of the law.  Christ has redeemed me from poverty.  Christ has redeemed me from sickness.  Christ has redeemed me from spiritual death.  (Gal. 3:123; Deut. 28) 

60.  For poverty He has given me wealth, for sickness He has given me health, for death He has given me eternal life.  (II Cor. 8:9; Is 53:5-6; John 10:10; John 5:24)

 61.  It is true unto me according to the Word of God.  (Ps 119:25)

 62.  I delight myself in the Lord and He gives me the desires of my heart.  (Psalms 37:4)

 63. I have given and it is given unto me good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, men give unto my bosom.  (Luke 6:38)

 64.  With what measure I mete, it is measured unto me.  I sow bountifully, therefore I reap bountifully.  I give cheerfully, and My God has made all grace abound toward me and I have all sufficiency of all things – do abound to all good works.  (II Cor. 9:6-8) 

65.  There is no lack for my God supplies all of my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  (Phil. 4:19)

 66.  The Lord is my shepherd and I DO NOT WANT because Jesus was made poor, that I through His poverty might have abundance.  For He came that I might have life and have it more abundantly.  (Ps 23:1; II Cor. 8:9; John 10:10) 

67.  And I, having received the gift of righteousness do reign as a king in life by – Jesus Christ.  (Rom. 5:17)

 68.  the Lord has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant, and Abraham’s blessings are mine.  (Ps 35:27; Gal 3:14)

 69.  The Spirit of truth abides in me and teaches me all things, and He guides me into all truths.  Therefore I confess I have perfect knowledge of every situation and every circumstance that I come up against.  For I have the wisdom of God.  (John 16:13; James 1:5)

 70.  I trust in the Lord with all my heart, and I lean not unto my own understanding.  (Proverbs 3:5) 

71.  In all my ways I acknowledge Him and He directs my path.  (Proverbs 3:6) 

72.  The Lord will perfect that which concerns me.  (Ps 138:8) 

73.  I let the Word of Christ dwell in me richly in all wisdom. (Col. 3:16)

 74.  I do follow the Good Shepherd and I know His voice and the voice of a stranger I will not follow.  (John 10:4-5)

 75.  Jesus is made unto me wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption.  Therefore I confess I have the wisdom of God and I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.  (I Cor. 1:30; II Cor. 5:21) 

76.  I am filled with the knowledge of the Lord’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.  (Col. 1:9)

 77.  I am a new creation in Christ, I am His workmanship created in Christ Jesus.  Therefore I have the mind of Christ and the wisdom of God is formed within me.  (II Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:10; I Cor. 2:16)

78.  I have put off the old man and have put on the new man, which is renewed in the knowledge after the image of Him that created me.  (Col. 3:10) 

Thinking it is NOT enough-- WE MUST SAY IT WITH OUR MOUTHS AND BELIEVE IT!!

Prosperity Affirmations

  "My income is constantly increasing"

"Abundance is mine"

"I deserve all good in my life and that includes prosperity"

"I am a money magnet, and prosperity of all kinds is drawn to me"

"I know that life is abundant and I accept abundance in my life now"

"My good comes from everywhere and everyone"

"Money flows to me from expected and unexpected sources"

"New opportunities to increase my income open up for me now"

Choosing a Marriage Partner

When Christians are seeking a partner in marriage, it is essential for them to seek the mind and will of God.
There can be no better counsel than what is found in the Word of God. This is where the right guide-lines for our direction can be found.

I got an email asking about praying for a life parter. I think this is not only WONDERFUL it should be imperative!  The email asked: "Is it okay to ask God to send me a special companion to share my life? And how will I know that God has sent this person?"

Yes it is OK and God WANTS us to seek him for big decisions and small decisions! You can ask God for every desire of your heart as long as it is in harmony with his will. He hears all sincere prayers and answers them—not always in the way we want them to be answered, but always in the way that is best for us.

However, to be attracted to and find a healthy, mature adult we need to be a healthy mature adult our self. So the key is learning to pray the right prayer; rather than asking God to send you or lead you to the right partner, you need to ask God first and foremost to help you become the right partner.

So the important way to pray is to ask God to help you grow in maturity and that he will then lead you to a healthy, mature person. Furthermore, to grow in maturity takes strong commitment and hard work on our part. There's no such thing as instant maturity.

To the second part of the question-- "how will I know that God has sent this person?"

I believe that God is not a God of confusion! First, realize that the choice is yours. God will give you wisdom and direction if you truly want it, but he won't make your choices for you. That's your responsibility because God isn't codependent. And how will you know this person and you are right or best for each other? To discover this I urge couples to seek not only God's direction in prayer, but also wise competent Christian counseling where, besides intense counseling, both partners are given psychological tests before they ever say, "I do." This is using your head as well as your heart in one of life's most important and critical decisions.


What are your thoughts?

Wedding Budget Tips

First Things First

Before you start any planning whatsoever, make sure you know your exact budget. It's not fun to make big plans and then have to cancel them because you can't afford them---going into your planning with a specific dollar amount in mind can save you a lot of heartache.

Plan for the Reception When Considering Your Wedding Budget

A typical wedding with fifty guests can cost about $15,000 and that when it has been budgeted. Fifty percent of your wedding costs will be invested in the reception. Receptions are where the couple cut their cake, take their first dance and generally celebrate their nuptials. The venue, food, drinks, music, flowers and photography are all just facets of the reception. So sit down with your lists and get ready to mark all the things you absolutely want to have at your wedding and then pay attention to these rules to trim back the cost.

Stretching your wedding budget

Choose a weeknight to get married at your favorite wedding chapel, church or even destination. Rates are much lower for weekday weddings (and this includes not only the locatin, but also the vendors rates) and you get to enjoy the weekend for your honeymoon.

Think Green!

To save money on your flowers, try using more greenery than blooms in your church arrangments or garlands on archways, trellises, etc. Ferns and vines are both inexpensive and easy to obtain, sometimes for free!

Who Pays for What?

Traditionally, here's who pays for what.

Bride and family pay for church, synagogue, sexton, organist, etc.; bride's dress, veil, accessories, and lingerie; arrangements for church and reception, plus bouquets and corsages for bridesmaids and flower girls; all wedding photos and video; bridesmaids' luncheon; shower; all all professional services, including food, drink, decorations, and music; groom's ring; invitations, announcements, and wedding programs; and transportation of bridal party to and from ceremony and reception.

Groom and family pay for marriage license and officiant's fee; groom's outfit; bride's bouquet and going-away corsage, boutonnieres for men, and corsages for mothers and grandmothers; complete honeymoon; the rehearsal dinner; bachelors' dinner; and both of the bride's rings.

That said, no one really goes by those guidelines anymore. Many couples pay for some of the wedding themselves, or figure out the costs and divide it in half, since it's not fair for one family to carry the bulk of the burden.

Budgeting: Phase II

1) If you are like most people, what you want and what you can afford are two separate things. Get together with your fiance and prioritize. Figure out what are the most important elements of your wedding and put your money there.

2) You will be amazed at how different your ideas are from your groom-to-be's. Get ready for your first lesson in matrimonial bliss . . .compromise!

3) No matter how much you "do-it-yourself," you will probably still have to minimize in a couple of areas. Be prepared for this reality.

Don't Go Overboard

It's not a good idea to go over your budget or go into debt in order to pay off your wedding. Beginning a married life together is a difficult transition as it is, and having a debt because of your wedding only adds to the financial problems.

Mum's the Word

If you *really* need to save money and aren't afraid of a little sneakiness, you can do many things (flowers, banquet halls, etc.) and without mentioning the word 'wedding' can save a bundle. Prices go way up when flowers are 'wedding flowers' as opposed to 'party flowers' or 'reunion flowers.'

Cheap Months to Marry

The rate of couples getting married goes *way* down in the winter. With the exception of December (all those holiday weddings!), November thru March aren't big wedding months---you'll spend less money if you get married during the off-season.

There are HUNDREDS OF SO many more tips!! you can add some too if you know of any!!

To Buy or To Rent??!!

If you are considering buying a house, one of the first decisions you need to make is whether buying a house instead of renting one is the right direction for you. Since owning a home is the "American Dream", many people simply assume that it's always to their advantage to buy a home, and for most, it is. Take a moment to review the following table to see how your situation fits in. Items in the green boxes are advantages and in the red boxes are disadvantages

Advantages of buying a house:

• You will increase your asset, if you buy a house.
• You will have guaranteed appreciation over a time period.
• You will never have to pay monthly rent.
• If you buy a house, you will have a sense of ownership, when you have paid all of your loans, you will be the owner of the house.
• You can easily decorate the home in any way you like and there is no need to take permission from anyone.

Disadvantages of buying a house:

• You will be responsible for any kind of maintenance and you have to take care of it.
• If you want to move to another place, you have to think a lot.
• Property taxes will stand in your way.
• You have to pay the brokers fee, stamp duty, society charges, insurance cost, registration fee etc.

Advantages of renting a house:

• You do not have to worry about maintenance; the property owner will take care of it.
• There is no need to pay any type of property tax.
• If you do not like the area of your house, you can move to another place at any time you want.

Disadvantages of renting a house:

• Property owner can increase the rent whenever he wants to.
• The property owner can send you the notice to vacant the house at any time.
• You have to pay the rent every month and you can never be the owner.
• You cannot decorate it in the way you like

Are you better off renting or buying a home? Three tests can help you decide:
The affordability test

• Can you really afford the loan payments? Ask yourself (and read "8 signs you're ready to buy your first home").
• Are your total debts manageable? Add all monthly payments for the mortgage, property taxes, homeowners insurance and mortgage insurance, plus credit cards, car loan or lease, medical bills, college loans, child support and other debts. Divide the total by your monthly pretax income to get your debt-to-income ratio. MSN Money financial columnist Liz Weston advises keeping it at 36% tops -- ideally, less.
• Can you make the payments? Look up current interest rates, and then use this affordability calculator to find how much you can reasonably spend (not just borrow).
• Do you have the credit? You may have to use more restraint than the bank or the government.

The quick-exit test
You can't assume, as buyers did during the housing bubble, that you'll simply sell when you want out. The big picture includes planning your exit.
A big down payment gives you some protection. The more you contribute, the greater your maneuvering room in case you must exit.
But the standard down payment with the popular Federal Housing Administration mortgage, for example, is 3.5%. On a $150,000 home, that means your only equity, at first, is your $5,250 down payment. The typical cost of a sale is 8% of the purchase price, leaving a quick-exit buyer thousands of dollars in the hole even if the home's value stays the same.

Renting, on the other hand, lets you easily pick up and go, if necessary -- to another city, another neighborhood or a cheaper place, or even back with the folks. At the worst, you lose a deposit.

There are no fees, points or interest payments to get in. Amassing a first and last month's rent, plus a damage deposit, can seem like a lot, but it's cheaper than throwing cash into a short sale, ruining your credit in bankruptcy or foreclosure or, as is happening frequently, getting sued by your lender for walking out on the mortgage.

The 'duh' test
Do you honestly know what you're getting into? Many people apparently don't understand their mortgages. You need to understand not what your salesman or lender tells you about a loan, but what the contract says. Get help from a real-estate lawyer or nonprofit housing counselor, someone who won't profit from your purchase.


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By Marilyn Lewis