New Novel Explores an Unusual Phenomenon in a Remote Valley

Author Helga Brendel's weaves an intricate web of mystery, suspense, folklore, romance, danger and excitement in a tale that will rivet readers from beginning to end.

CHAMPION, Alberta (PRWEB) January 10, 2013
Constance, Yukon lies approximately one hundred and fifty miles west of Whitehorse and is a remote predominantly native community accessible only by air. Jackson Jacobs spent most of his life here. It was relatively peaceful until a stranger arrives and shakes up the whole town, bringing new Changes In Constance. In this riveting fictional novel by Helga Brendel, readers can witness mysterious events unfold in a place where nothing is what it seems.
As the senior Royal Canadian Mountain Police (R.C.M.P.) officer, Constable Jackson Jacobs is determined to do whatever it takes to protect his home—even from a ‘crazy white woman’. When the arrival of newcomer Emily Linden sparks the increasingly violent activities of a mysterious presence in the valley, Jackson wants to hold her responsible for them. Emily has been invited to help reorganize the town’s finances though he is against it. Something, however, about Emily, told Jackson that this woman was no stranger to this valley. She had lived in this valley before; in fact, she had always been his greatest ally…
Interwoven with mystery, suspense, folklore, danger and excitement, Changes In Constance is engrossing from beginning to end. Secrets will be revealed while betrayal rears its ugly head and the valley wreaks havoc. Only Jackson holds the key to bringing peace back in Constance. But can he do it in time? Readers will find themselves glued to the pages as they unravel the mystery of Jackson and Emily’s past and how it will affect the present.
For more information on this book, interested parties may log on to http://www.Xlibris.com.
About the Author

Ms Helga Brendel has experienced ‘strange in phenomena’ since she was a child; from out-of-body experiences to seeing the holes or tears in the fabric of reality. She has been endowed with a highly overactive imagination, which caused problems for her since grade school. In her mind, she always lived the adventures of an explorer or pioneer: somebody who was discovering something. She was always driven/ guided by something which she felt was not only greater than herself but which also seemed to protect her from certain unfavorable aspects of life. She has been dubbed ‘Gypsy Wanderer’ as an indication of her ‘instability’. Despite the connotation she is an explorer in the realm of mind. Gypsy Wanderer: Inner Space Explorer.
Changes In Constance * by Helga Brendel

Publication Date: September 29, 2010

Trade Paperback; $19.99; 343pages; 978-1-4535-7010-4

eBook; $9.99; 978-1-4535-7011-1
Members of the media who wish to review this book may request a complimentary paperback copy by contacting the publisher at (888) 795-4274 x. 7879. To purchase copies of the book for resale, please fax Xlibris at (610) 915-0294 or call (888) 795-4274 x. 7879.
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New Novel Follows a Young Deputy’s Struggle in His Quest for Justice

Alfred Patrick’s “Clinch River Justice” is a gripping tale that fans of suspense novels will enjoy.

(PRWEB) January 10, 2013
Author Alfred Patrick, in his newly published book Clinch River Justice, tells a tale about a boy who matures into manhood, falls in love, and begins to find his way in life. Set against the backdrop of the Appalachian Mountains of Southwest Virginia, this intriguing novel then follows how he, as a young deputy, makes his way toward bringing justice to his townspeople.
Charley Scott, an inexperienced but idealistic deputy sheriff, faces a rash of deaths in a normally idyllic, peaceful Appalachian community in the early 1940s. These deaths of neighbors and a beloved family member result when greed, passion, jealousy, hopelessness, or utter disdain for the life or welfare of another human overcomes some residents’ sense of fidelity and of right and wrong. In the young deputy’s endeavors to apprehend killers and in his quest for justice, he learns how difficult that simple concept is to achieve.
Packed with 31 chapters, Clinch River Justice is a pulse-pounding tale that will leave fans of mystery-murder stories hooked from the first page to the last.
For more information on this book, interested parties may log on to http://www.Xlibris.com.
About the Author

Alfred Patrick grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of Southwest Virginia. He earned degrees at Bluefield College, Virginia Tech, and the University of Tennessee. After teaching at high school and collegiate levels in Virginia and Louisiana, he served as professor, department chair, and dean in the College of Business at Eastern Kentucky University, where he retired.
Patrick enjoys reading, traveling, gardening, writing, crossword puzzles, and backpacking. He has completed hiking the Appalachian Trail, the John Muir Trail in California, and trails in other states. He and his wife, Peggy, live in Richmond, Kentucky; they have a daughter, a grandson, and five granddaughters.
Clinch River Justice * by Alfred Patrick

Publication Date: June 21, 2012

Trade Paperback; $19.99; 303 pages; 978-1-4771-1686-9

Trade Hardback; $29.99; 303 pages; 978-1-4771-1687-6

eBook; $3.99; 978-1-4771-1688-3
Members of the media who wish to review this book may request a complimentary paperback copy by contacting the publisher at (888) 795-4274 x. 7879. To purchase copies of the book for resale, please fax Xlibris at (610) 915-0294 or call (888) 795-4274 x. 7879.
For more information on self-publishing or marketing with Xlibris, visit http://www.Xlibris.com. To receive a free publishing guide, please call (888) 795-4274.

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Author Jill Sobieska Retells Hero’s Mythic Marathon Swim in New Dream Picture Book

It is the story of modern-day athlete whose record of swimming from Moorea to Tahiti remains unmatched to this day.

Rarotonga, Cook Islands (PRWEB) January 10, 2013
Jill Sobieska and her picture book story Pa and the Dolphins are deeply imbued with the mana (Tahitian for power) of the doughty Polynesian race, the hardy sea people who live (and dream) in the middle of the great Pacific. Pa, who can trace his ancestry back to sixty-four generations, is undertaking a marathon swim from Moorea to Tahiti, across Te Toparoa Miti (Sea of the Moon).
His father has told him the story of how their people sailed from Avaiki, (mother earth) which people know as Tahiti, to Rarotonga in double-hulled canoes called vakas. Doing the swimming marathon meant a homecoming for Pa because Tahiti is where Pa’s heart and roots are although it had been many generations since his people had lived there.
The night before the race, Pa sleeps deeply and dreamlessly with the perfume of the beloved Tiare Maori flowers in the air. He wakes up to a morning of good omen and therefore takes a memory stone to the place where well-wishers were gathered. He is going to carry the large stone in swimming to Tahiti and challenged anyone to take it back to Moorea on the same spot. This is an old Polynesian custom. Islanders, a French vessel full of tourists and a helicopter with a television crew are there to watch Pa make the distance through the Sea of the Moon.
Lithe and strong, Pa enters the water and becomes a creature of the ocean. His ancestors believe that sympathetic sea creatures are telepathically attuned to humans. This meant that ancestral spirits have returned in the form of sea birds and fish to watch over the people. And so it does in Pa’s case: a big shark suddenly comes up from the bottom and was about to bite him when out of nowhere a hundred dolphins streak like silver bullets to attack the shark and hunt it down into the bottom of the deep.
Pa swims into Papeete harbor where a happier drama awaits. He is welcomed as a true son of Polynesia. It is a grand welcome for a hero. Pa’s stone remains on Tahiti to this day and the people of French Polynesia still remember Pa’s epic swim through the Sea of the Moon.
For more information on this book, log on to http://www.Xlibris.co.nz.
Pa and the Dolphins * by Jill Sobieska

A True Story of Pa, Rarotongan Hero and His Return Journey to Tahiti

Publication Date: August 8, 2012

Picture Book; $44.99; 54 pages; 978-1-4653-5910-0

Picture Book Hardcover; $64.99; 54 pages; 978-1-4653-5911-7
Members of the media who wish to review this book may request a complimentary paperback copy by contacting the publisher at 0800-891-366. To purchase copies of the book for resale, please fax Xlibris at (09) 353-1455 or call 0800-891-366.

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Murray Dixon’s New Book Tells the Exciting Journey of an Adventurous Ferret

New Zealand (PRWEB) January 10, 2013
Dreams have always been a playground for people’s imaginations, wishes, and aspirations. Many a fanciful fantasy that seems improbable in the real world finds their resolution in the realm of dreams. Author Murray Dixon, with the help of David Ogilvie, breathes life into the characters of his picture book for children, Hornsnoggle Ferret and the Pancake Fantasy Land. This is the first of a series of books featuring this loveable ferret.
In this book, Hornsnoggle Ferret is awakened from his peaceful sleep in the middle of the night by the unusual but nonetheless likeable Peek-a-Boo Sam. Sam invites Hornsnoggle with him on an expedition to a place called the Pancake Fantasy Land. Hornsnoggle can’t resist an exciting new adventure, so he accepts.
Children will love the adventures of Hornsnoggle Ferret. He’s the ferret who just can’t say “no” to an adventure, be it in his own backyard, outer space, or a fantasy land full of weird and wonderful friends. Written in an easy-to-read poetry style, every child will love this adventurous ferret, as well as the other interesting characters he meets along the way.
For more information on this book, log on to http://www.Xlibris.co.nz.
About the Author

Murray Dixon spent his career in the world of advertising in Auckland, New Zealand. From a background in retailing, he founded and managed two advertising agencies, retiring in 2007. He wrote his autobiography, and created Hornsnoggle Ferret to share with his grandchildren.
He has been married to wife Fay for 40 years, and has three children and four grandchildren.
About the Illustrator

David Ogilvie is a professional illustrator and concept artist. From a very young age, he has always had a passion for drawing and animation. In 2007, he graduated from the Freelance Animation School with a Diploma in Classical Character Animation. He has thoroughly enjoyed bringing Hornsnoggle Ferret and other characters in this book to life.
He lives with his wife Megan and their two young sons Micah and Daniel on Auckland’s North Shore.
Hornsnoggle Ferret and the Pancake Fantasy Land * by Murray Dixon

Publication Date: December 3, 2011

Picture Book; $34.99; 24 pages; 978-1-4653-0121-5

Picture Book Hardcover; $54.99; 24 pages; 978-1-4653-0122-2
Members of the media who wish to review this book may request a complimentary paperback copy by contacting the publisher at 0800-891-366. To purchase copies of the book for resale, please fax Xlibris at (09) 353-1455 or call 0800-891-366.

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The Benefits Of Buying A Home With Cash

When a 62-year-old financial advisor bought a two-bedroom Manhattan co-op recently, he showed up at the closing with a check for the full $970,000 purchase price. No mortgage? “The money I had in cash was sitting getting 0% interest,’’ explains the man, who asked not to be named. “It made absolutely no sense to borrow.”
There were other benefits as well to buying for cash, he says. He figures he got a “liquidity discount” for being able to close quickly—the asking price had been $1.05 million. And he avoided the hassles and paperwork that come with getting a mortgage these days. At the closing, he gloats, “they spent more time making photocopies than anything, so we sat discussing Broadway plays.”
Similar closing scenes are playing out across the country these days—minus the theater chitchat. Rates for 30-year fixed mortgages are hovering at 4%, and 15-year fixed loans can be had for 3.5% or less, the lowest in more than 50 years. Yet the National Association of Realtors estimates that roughly 30% of U.S. home buyers are now making their purchases 100% in cash, compared with 15% in 2008.
Some cash buyers are foreigners, who have never easily qualified for U.S. mortgages. Some are very-high-net-worth folks who have long favored cash for their multimillion-dollar trophy mansion purchases. The increase in cash buying comes mainly from two other groups: real estate investors, who nowadays rarely qualify for mortgages at all, and older buyers (like the New York financial advisor) who could qualify for mortgages but don’t want to.
In foreclosure-plagued Florida, where prices in some areas are down 55% from the peak, investors and snowbirds bearing cash dominate the market. Charlie Brasington is chief executive of Hoffman Development Group, which since 2008 has been using cash from private investors to buy distressed Tampa- and Palm Beach-area condo buildings from banks. Hoffman fixes the properties up and then sells the units to end users. Brasington reports two-thirds of the roughly 300 units Hoffman has sold so far have gone for cash, as have all eight of the $1 million-plus penthouses it has moved.
“These people probably have $5 million or more, so to take 10% of it out and buy a quality home in Florida and know that you’ve got your stake in the sand, that may be a good investment,” Brasington says. “Your cash is not making money in a CD, that’s for sure, and in the stock market there’s volatility. In real estate, sure, you may have some downward trend still, but there’s not that volatility anymore.”
A sales pitch? Sure. But recent cash buyers make similar points, and signs abound that Florida prices may have bottomed. If you’re considering a cash purchase, here are some pointers.
Cash buyers often get a discount
“Until recently I’d say sellers didn’t care that the buyer was coming in all cash or financed, they just wanted the highest number. Now the game has changed,’’ says Tracie Hamersley, a senior vice president at Citi Habitats, a New York City-based realty firm. “While banks are lending again, it is much more onerous, and there are many hoops to jump through. So someone who can close in cash can in most cases qualify for somewhat of a price discount based on that sureness of a sale.”
That cash-is-king phenomenon is being reported by Realtors across the country. “It’s like all of a sudden having this four-star gold status,” says Karen Bergin of Coldwell Banker Advantage in Overland Park, Kans., who has represented three baby boomer cash buyers so far this year. One of her clients, a couple selling their western Kansas farm to relocate to the Kansas City area, even managed to secure an extended closing period while they awaited a buyer for their farm.
Closing costs are lower with cash
Cash buyers can also save on closing costs. You don’t have to fork over money to pay a bank attorney for the mortgage. This is an expense that can run $750 and up (although it can be wise to retain your own lawyer). You don’t have to put real estate taxes in escrow up front nor pay the estimated $300 to $600 for a mortgage application plus additional thousands in loan origination fees and assorted junk charges. And you aren’t required to cough up $400 to $600 for an appraisal, which mortgage lenders insist upon, or, in a growing number of cases, multiple appraisals. (The multiple appraisal requirement is popping up in foreclosure-riddled areas where nondistressed homes have few sales to be compared against.)
Should you get an appraisal anyway? Most Realtors still strongly recommend one, in addition to a home inspection, to ensure you aren’t overpaying or buying hidden structural problems. But if it’s clear you’ve negotiated a good price, an appraisal may not be an imperative.
Another expense that will drop: title insurance, which offers protection against problems with the chain of ownership and preexisting claims like unpaid property taxes or liens placed by stiffed contractors. On a $600,000 house with a 20% down payment, title charges, which include researching local land records, can easily top $2,000. But roughly one-third of that is for coverage that protects only lenders (which, of course, they mandate you get and pay for). Cash-only buyers don’t have lenders, so there’s an immediate savings right there. Indeed, as a cash buyer, it’s up to you whether you want title insurance at all. Realtors say it’s a prudent add-on.
Getting a mortgage is not guaranteed
No matter how good your credit, if you haven’t gotten a mortgage in a while, you could be in for a shock. Even if your finances pass muster, the lender will likely pull the funding if the required home appraisal doesn’t reach the price you’ve agreed to pay. That’s the biggest issue hampering home sales this year, says Jed Smith, a managing director at the National Association of Realtors, which tracks sales data. (Some Realtors gripe that gun-shy appraisers are low-balling property values.)
The mortgage approval process also takes longer these days—an average of 45 days, up from 30 in 2008, according to online mortgage supermarket LendingTree.
Here’s another factor to be aware of. The maximum size for “conforming” government-backed loans—those carrying the lowest rates with a traditional 20% down payment—was reduced in October. In highest-cost jurisdictions, such as New York City, Bergen County, N.J. and Los Angeles, the maximum is now $625,500, down from $729,750. Most everywhere else the maximum is now $417,000, down from $443,750. Those taking larger nonconforming loans generally must pay a 0.5% higher rate, put 30% down and meet even tougher credit standards.
On the other hand, if you are a cash buyer, all these mortgage difficulties are to your benefit, since they could wipe out other potential bidders who do need a loan. (If you’re paying cash, make a bid that doesn’t have a mortgage contingency—and stress that point to the seller.)
You’re giving up a tax break—now
Interest on up to $1.1 million in mortgage principal originally used to buy, build or improve a first (and second) home is currently tax-deductible.  But if you later borrow against your equity for anything other than home improvements (say, for college tuition) your deduction is far more limited. In that case, interest on only the first $100,000 of home-equity borrowing is deductible, and even that isn’t allowed when you’re calculating whether you owe more under the dreaded alternative minimum tax. (You might be stuck in the AMT if you pay high state and local taxes and earn between $200,000 and $500,000.)
Keep in mind that this is all under current law. There’s been lots of talk in Washington about a tax reform that might lower tax rates while curbing tax breaks, including the mortgage interest deduction.
Even without a mortgage you get two other tax breaks from owning a primary residence. First, when you sell, the initial $500,000 in capital gains profit per couple ($250,000 for a single) isn’t taxed. Second, you’re getting a tax-free economic return on your investment in the form of free rent for all your years of residency.
Cheap money is relative
With rates so low, why not take out a mortgage and use your spare cash to invest? That’s an attractive option, but only if you believe your aftertax return on that investment will be greater than your aftertax cost for the mortgage, says James Maule, a Villanova Law School professor who specializes in taxes. He explains, “It depends on where you think your cash will make the most money or be the safest investment.”
Finally, don’t let the mortgage question obscure the bigger issue. Since you can always rent, is buying a house in the market you’re looking at a good investment? That depends on whether prices have bottomed (or are close to bottom) and how high local rents are.
Remember that New York financial advisor who paid cash for his co-op? Here’s a little insight into how this longtime renter decided the time was finally right to buy.
He figures the apartment he bought would rent for $5,000 a month or $60,000 a year, a 6% yield on his $970,000 investment. But he pays the co-op corporation $2,540 a month, or $30,480 a year, in maintenance charges to cover things like building operating expenses, property taxes and debt service on the building’s own borrowings. If he itemizes he gets to deduct his share of those tax and interest bills. So he reckons he’s still getting a 3% yield on his $970,000 investment, compared with the 2% that U.S. Trea sury bonds are paying.
That assumes no appreciation of the apartment—and he does expect some. After falling roughly 23% from their 2008 peak, Manhattan co-op prices have been showing signs of a revival. Moreover, rents there are rising fast, up 7% in the year through October, according to Citi Habitats.
All in all, a sound use of money he’d otherwise have sitting in cash. Not that he intends to rent out the apartment, mind you. He and his wife plan to enjoy their new home, particularly the five walk-in closets, a coveted amenity in the cramped quarters of Manhattan.

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Rate on 30-year mortgage ticks up to 4 pct.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The average rate on the 30-year mortgage stayed hovered above the record low for a third straight week. But cheap mortgage rates have done little to boost home sales or refinancing.
Freddie Mac said Thursday that the rate on the 30-year loan ticked up to 4 percent from 3.99 percent. Six weeks ago, it dropped to a record low of 3.94 percent, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research.
The average rate on the 15-year fixed mortgage rose to 3.31 percent from 3.30 percent. Six weeks ago, it hit a record low of 3.26 percent.
Rates have been below 5 percent for all but two weeks this year. Yet this year could be the worst for home sales in 14 years.
Mortgage applications fell 10 percent this week from the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.
High unemployment and scant wage gains have made it harder for many people to qualify for loans. Many Americans don't want to sink money into a home that could lose value over the next three to four years. And most homeowners who can afford to refinance already have.
The low rates have caused a modest boom in refinancing, but that benefit might be wearing off. Most people who can afford to refinance have already locked in rates below 5 percent. Refinancing fell 12.2 percent last week, according to the mortgage bankers group.
The average rates don't include extra fees, known as points, which most borrowers must pay to get the lowest rates. One point equals 1 percent of the loan amount.
The average fees for the 30-year and 15-year fixed mortgages were unchanged at 0.7.
The average rate on the five-year adjustable loan fell to 2.97 percent from 2.98 percent. The average rate on the one-year adjustable loan increased to 2.98 percent from 2.95 percent.
The average fees on the five-year and one-year adjustable loans were both unchanged at 0.6.
To calculate average mortgage rates, Freddie Mac surveys lenders across the country Monday through Wednesday of each week.

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Rate on 30-year mortgage ticks up to 4 percent

WASHINGTON (AP) — The average rate on the 30-year mortgage hovered above the record low for a third straight week. But cheap mortgage rates have done little to boost home sales or refinancing.
Freddie Mac said Thursday that the rate on the 30-year loan ticked up to 4 percent from 3.99 percent. Six weeks ago, it dropped to a record low of 3.94 percent, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research.
The average rate on the 15-year fixed mortgage rose to 3.31 percent from 3.30 percent. Six weeks ago, it hit a record low of 3.26 percent.
Rates have been below 5 percent for all but two weeks this year. Yet this year could be the worst for home sales in 14 years.
Mortgage applications fell 10 percent this week from the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.
High unemployment and scant wage gains have made it harder for many people to qualify for loans. Many Americans don't want to sink money into a home that could lose value over the next three to four years. And most homeowners who can afford to refinance already have.
The low rates have caused a modest boom in refinancing, but that benefit might be wearing off. Most people who can afford to refinance have already locked in rates below 5 percent. Refinancing fell 12.2 percent last week, according to the mortgage bankers group.
The average rates don't include extra fees, known as points, which most borrowers must pay to get the lowest rates. One point equals 1 percent of the loan amount.
The average fees for the 30-year and 15-year fixed mortgages were unchanged at 0.7.
The average rate on the five-year adjustable loan fell to 2.97 percent from 2.98 percent. The average rate on the one-year adjustable loan increased to 2.98 percent from 2.95 percent.
The average fees on the five-year and one-year adjustable loans were both unchanged at 0.6.
To calculate average mortgage rates, Freddie Mac surveys lenders across the country Monday through Wednesday of each week.

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Fixed mortgage rates rise above record lows

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fixed mortgage rates rose slightly this week off their record lows. The year ends much like it began, with few people able to take advantage of the best rates in history.
Freddie Mac says the average on the 30-year home loan increased to 3.95 percent from 3.91 percent. Last week's rate was the lowest average on records dating to the 1950s.
The average on the 15-year fixed mortgage rose to 3.24 percent. That's up from 3.21 percent, also a record low.
Rates have been below 5 percent for all but two weeks in 2011. Even so, this year is shaping up to be one of the worst ever for home sales.

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Fixed mortgage rates end year above record lows

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fixed mortgage rates rose slightly this week off their record lows. The year ends much like it began, with few people able to take advantage of the best rates in history.
Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average on the 30-year home loan increased to 3.95 percent from 3.91 percent. Last week's rate was the lowest average on records dating to the 1950s.
The average on the 15-year fixed mortgage rose to 3.24 percent. That's up from 3.21 percent, also a record low.
Rates have been below 5 percent for all but two weeks in 2011. Even so, this year is shaping up to be one of the worst ever for home sales.
Previously occupied homes are selling just slightly ahead of last year's dismal pace. And new-home sales appear headed for their worst year on records going back half a century.
Next year could be better. More than 5 percent of households said this month they plan to purchase a home within the next six months, according to the Conference Board.
Builders are also hopeful that the low rates could boost sales next year. Low mortgage rates were cited as a key reason the National Association of Home Builders survey of builder sentiment rose in December to its highest level in more than a year.
But so far, rates are having no major impact. Mortgage applications have fallen slightly in recent weeks, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.
High unemployment and scant wage gains have made it harder for many people to qualify for loans. Many Americans don't want to sink money into a home that they fear could lose value over the next few years.
To calculate the average rates, Freddie Mac surveys lenders across the country Monday through Wednesday of each week. The average rates don't include extra fees, known as points, which most borrowers must pay to get the lowest rates. One point equals 1 percent of the loan amount.
The average fee for the 30-year loan was unchanged at 0.7; the average on the 15-year fixed mortgage was unchanged at 0.8.
For the five-year adjustable loan, the average rate rose to 2.88 percent from 2.85 percent. The average on the one-year adjustable loan ticked up to 2.78 percent from 2.77 percent.
The average fees on the five- and one-year adjustable-rate loans were unchanged at 0.6.

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Credit score focus of new celeb-backed debit card

NEW YORK (AP) — Personal finance media personality Suze Orman is thinking big. She's the   first out of the gate in the fast-growing prepaid debit card market with a card that aims to help its users build a credit score. It's a gamble that could pay off, if it can help create a way measure the creditworthiness of millions who function outside the traditional financial system.
The latest in a string of celebrities to put their stamp on a prepaid card, Orman will likely avoid the criticism about high fees lobbed at earlier offerings, such as those of hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons and reality show stars the Kardashians. Orman's card costs $3 to obtain, and then just $3 a month, rivaling the hugely popular Walmart MoneyCard.
Although some will question how Orman will recoup the more than $1 million she has invested in the card when charging that little, the real twist isn't the low fee structure. Orman is working with credit reporting agency TransUnion to create a new kind of credit score for users of "The Approved" prepaid MasterCard, one that's based on their spending habits.
Right now, using debit cards — both the prepaid kind and those tied to bank accounts — does not influence an individual's credit score, which is calculated with data related to borrowing. If Orman's experiment is successful, this new type of score could be a game-changer for the estimated 60 million Americans who do most or all of their personal business in cash or with cash alternatives like prepaid cards.
The TV adviser said she approached several companies, urging them to agree to develop such a score, and TransUnion ultimately agreed to gather spending data for 18 to 24 months. It will use that data to try to come up with a formula that works as a way to predict whether the user is a good risk for lenders.
"This is truthfully a work in progress," said Orman.
Banks and other lenders are interested in creating ways to measure how prepaid cards are used, because of the huge market they represent. Consumers loaded an estimated $70.7 billion onto prepaid cards in 2011, up from $2.7 billion in 2005, according to consultancy Mercator Advisory Group.
Mercator projects the market will top $120 billion this year if adoption continues at the same pace.
In general, users can be divided into three groups. The first subset is those caught up in the economy — people who had good credit until it was damaged by events like unemployment or foreclosure. Second are those who have not yet built credit histories, mainly the young and recent immigrants. The third group avoids banks, often because of negative experiences, such as racking up high overdraft fees.
"Wouldn't it be fabulous if, for the first time in history, people are literally rewarded for spending cash, versus penalized, in my opinion, for doing so?" Orman said.
The problem with traditional credit scores from FICO Inc. and its competitors is that they measure how well individuals keep up with their payments, but don't pay any attention to their overall financial health, she said. "Scoring doesn't question where the money is coming from to make payments."
Prepaid cards have already filled some of the void for those who don't use banks, especially because they can be used to receive paychecks via direct deposit. But because they don't contribute to credit scores, the cards can't help users get a mortgage, a car loan or a credit card.
Not having a credit score, or having a low one, also drives up the cost of living in other ways. Lower scores can mean higher car insurance rates, higher rent, difficulty getting a job and paying higher interest rates for any credit available. People with little credit history — known as a "thin file" in the industry — are also the most likely to use alternative services like payday lenders, check cashing stores and bill pay services. These are expensive options when compared with credit cards and banks.
FICO Inc. and other companies use data tied to borrowing to determine a score meant to measure the likelihood an individual will pay back future loans. FICO's 300-to-850 scale is based on an individual's history making payments on loans, the percentage of available credit that is being used and how long the individual has used credit, among other data.
Those with thin credit files have a better chance of having their creditworthiness reflected by FICO's "expansion score," which factors in data like utility bill payments and rent payments. FICO CEO Mark Greene said the expansion scores have shown that the population without traditional scores mirrors to the larger population in terms of credit risk. Other credit score providers are beginning to provide measures based on utility payments and other nontraditional data.
One big difference for developing a prepaid score, however, is that these alternatives still measure how well individuals meet obligations, not how they spend the rest of their income.
"Spending is not actually a great indicator of the thing that we're trying to measure, which is the likelihood you're going to pay your bill," Greene said. "We need to be careful about how we approach that issue."
Another issue a prepaid-linked score must address is the fact that the typical reloadable card is used for just three to four months, said Brian Riley, who analyzes the card market for the consultant The Tower Group.
That timeframe is likely to expand, however, because more users are beginning to have their paychecks deposited to reload prepaid cards. Adding rewards and services, and cutting fees, may also increase customer loyalty.
Orman is adamant that her card will carry only a $3-per-month fee for users who load at least $20 per month onto it. Fees will rise only if the user uses ATMs outside the network it is linked to when withdrawing cash. Consumers who use The Approved Card will also get daily text messages updating their balance, along with one after each purchase, and other free services like ID theft monitoring, credit monitoring and free credit reports from TransUnion.
The media star, whose new show on the Oprah Winfrey Network premieres Monday, said she knows creating the score will be an uphill battle, but believes that if successful, it will help both lenders and borrowers. "You've got to start it somewhere, and this is the beginning of that process.

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Rate on 30-year mortgage drops to record 3.89 pct.

 Fixed mortgage rates fell once again to a record low, offering a great opportunity for those who can afford to buy or refinance homes. But few are able to take advantage of the historic rates.
Freddie Mac said Thursday the average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 3.89 percent. That's below the previous record of 3.91 percent reached three weeks ago.
Records for mortgage rates date back to the 1950s.
The average on the 15-year fixed mortgage ticked down to 3.16 percent. That's down from a record 3.21 percent three weeks ago.
Mortgage rates are lower because they track the yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which fell below 2 percent. They could fall even lower this year if the Fed launches another round of bond purchases, as some economists expect.
Average fixed mortgage rates hovered around 4 percent at the end of 2011. Yet many Americans either can't take advantage of the rates or have already done so.
High unemployment and scant wage gains have made it harder for many people to qualify for loans. Many don't want to sink money into a home that they fear could lose value over the next few years.
Mortgage applications have fallen slightly on a seasonally adjusted basis over the past four weeks, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.
Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac's chief economist, said that until hiring picks up and unemployment drops significantly, the impact of lower mortgage rates will remain muted.
Previously occupied homes are selling just slightly ahead of 2010's dismal pace. New-home sales in 2011 will likely be the worst year on records going back half a century.
Builders hope that the low rates could boost sales next year. Low mortgage rates were cited as a key reason the National Association of Home Builders survey of builder sentiment rose in December to its highest level in more than a year.
But so far, they have had little impact on the depressed housing market.
To calculate the average rates, Freddie Mac surveys lenders across the country Monday through Wednesday of each week. The average rates don't include extra fees, known as points, which most borrowers must pay to get the lowest rates. One point equals 1 percent of the loan amount.
The average fee for the 30-year loan fell to 0.7 from 0.8; the average on the 15-year fixed mortgage was unchanged at 0.8.
For the five-year adjustable loan, the average rate declined to 2.82 percent from 2.86 percent. The average on the one-year adjustable loan fell to 2.76 percent from 2.80 percent.
The average fee on the five-year adjustable loan rose was unchanged at 0.7; the average on the one-year adjustable-rate loan was unchanged at 0.6.

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First Person: What My College Degree Means to Me

Note: This was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Do you have a personal finance story that you'd like to share? Sign up with the Yahoo! Contributor Network to start publishing your own finance articles.
My college degree helped me pursue a successful 30-year career in advertising and public relations. However, it only happened after I realized I had not made the right decision in choosing my college major.
Pursuing The Major Course I Wanted
It all began when I had earned four years of tuition under the GI Bill of Rights by serving in the U.S. Navy. Ever since childhood, I had wanted to be an artist, and that was my chance to enroll as a fine arts freshman at the Philadelphia Museum College of Art (now the University of the Arts).
An Enjoyable Fine Arts Education
Throughout my undergraduate years, I appreciated the challenges and encouragement of the school's excellent teaching staff. My courses consisted of drawing, painting, sculpture and other fine arts classes. Some of my paintings were accepted for exhibition at local galleries. I was graduated with top honors and the degree of bachelor of fine arts.
Then it was time for me to earn a living from what I had learned in four years of college. I made the rounds of the many galleries in Philadelphia and New York selling my art, and had some moderate success. However, the sales were few and far between, and my income wasn't nearly enough to support myself.
Had I Made an Error in Judgment?
After a year, I came to the conclusion that I had chosen a field that, while traditionally attractive, wasn't practical in the reality of today's business world. While I hadn't wasted my four years of fine arts studies, they had not prepared me for the necessity of making a living.
I had several choices. I could go on painting, get some kind of part-time job to pay my bills, and hope I'd eventually become a successful exhibiting artist. The other choice was to go back to college and major in practical business subjects.
Fortunately, an application I'd sent to the University of Pennsylvania earned me a lab assisantship and free tuition at the Annenberg Graduate School of Communications there. I majored in mass communications and public relations, with a minor in graphic arts. After two years, and armed with a much more practical resume, I began another job search.
A Favorable Career Turn
Another fortunate opportunity coincided with earning my Master of Arts in Communications degree. Prudential Financial, Inc. was just establishing an Eastern regional office in a Philadelphia suburban area, and hiring a staff of more than 3,000 employees. I applied for the newly-created position of Public Relations and Advertising Manager, and was hired to direct the 30-person creative staff.
I recently retired after 30 years with Prudential. Today I consider my education choices and experiences may be of value to college students in the same situation I was after earning my bachelor's degree. Looking back, I had not realized then the impracticality of attempting a fine arts path in the real world where income opportunities are very limited.
Business-related degrees are essential in finding practical career promises. I believe my decision to enhance my education goals beyond fine arts to communications offered me those opportunities. For today's students, armed with the right credentials and personal determination, there's no limit to the heights that talent, hard work and ambition can earn for them.

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Tax Deeds Deal Making Book for Real Estate Published Online by Ted Thomas

Tax deeds deal making book is now published online for real estate investors at TedThomas.com. This new book is written for beginners and includes advanced concepts for closing deals on tax deed sales that can help investors to purchase a property for a substantial discount from the market price.

Provo, Utah (PRWEB) December 27, 2012
Ted Thomas has authored a new tax deeds deal making book for real estate investors. This new book explores the concept of the tax deed and how it can be used effectively to purchase real estate. New investors that have an interest in this method of investing in properties could benefit from this information. This new book and video series can be accessed online at http://www.tedthomas.com/step2.
Real estate is one of few investments that men and women make that can appreciate in value annually. Market data has estimated that appreciation is about 8 percent for each year of property ownership. Men and women that purchase property as an investment could benefit from learning about the tax deed investing that is now included in the new book available.
“Local, state and federal taxation legislation has helped to ease the path for investors that purchase deeds,” said Ted Thomas inside of his new book. Taxation for real estate is updated annually at all levels of government to help with budget planning and revenue collection.
The new book includes a companion audio CD and DVD that helps to explain important concepts in greater detail. All of this information has been researched, arranged and used by Ted in his own real estate investments. This book and subsequent discs provides beginners and advanced real estate investors with little known information about tax deeds.
Apart from this new book release, over 30 books have been authored by Ted Thomas during his 25 years of teaching mortgage-free real estate methods. The new web store online at TedThomas.com includes the majority of the available books to help those interested in becoming educated about a range of topics. This new web store can be accessed at this link http://www.tedthomas.com/products.
About Ted Thomas
Ted Thomas is the author of more than 30 educational books and numerous DVDs about alternative forms of real estate investing. This educator and public speaker has used the past 25 years of his life to help others to succeed. Thousands of men and women in the U.S. and some foreign countries have attended Ted's in-person events. The concepts of tax certificates and tax deed sales are methods that Ted Thomas has perfected and studied to ensure that real estate beginners and professionals can learn to use these strategies effectively.

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Vacant Jacksonville, FL Rental Properties Now Added Online at ForRentJacksonville.com

Vacant Jacksonville, FL rental homes are now added online for renters to search at ForRentJacksonville.com. This property management company website is now listing its available properties in North Florida to help renters to find affordable housing quickly.

Jacksonville, Florida (PRWEB) December 27, 2012
The ForRentJacksonville.com website now has vacant Jacksonville, FL rental properties listed to help renters to find an available home. These company owned properties represent the two, three, four and five bedroom homes that are now available for lease in North Florida. These new listings are designed to remove the legwork involved with researching a property and going through the application process. More information can be found at http://www.forrentjacksonville.com.
Bankruptcies, poor credit and past foreclosures could complicate the approval process when someone applies for a mortgage. Banks and other lenders generally require an in-depth overview of personal credit to ensure that the loan amount can be repaid successfully.
Those that have been turned down in the past for a mortgage could find that the new property listings now available online provide easier to obtain occupancy due in part to new changes to the company application process.
The new elimination of the credit check policy with submitted rental applications is one way that the ForRentJacksonville.com website is helping to build more communities in and around Jacksonville. Applicants that do not have perfect credit no longer have to go through the process of credit approval upon submission of a completed application. A single background check for all that plan to live in an available property has taken the place of the credit review process.
The properties that are now offered online are easily accessed using the new search feature added to the company website. Instead of a simple list of property basics, this new search system is helping renters to filter out data that does not apply to a search. This system now makes it possible to search by rental price, bedrooms and other criteria that would normally be completed by a realtor. This new search tool can be accessed at http://www.forrentjacksonville.com/homes-for-rent.
To speed up the rental application process, a new 15-minute or less showings form is now installed on the company website. This form is designed for renters to use before an application is submitted. The basic information that this form requires renters to submit can secure a showing in 15 minutes or less for any available property guaranteed. This new showings system is helping more people to perform a walk through much faster when seeking vacancies.
About For Rent Jacksonville
The For Rent Jacksonville company is a subsidiary of the Peace of Mind Rental Homes company. This North Florida property management firm restructured its business in 2012 and now solely offers properties that are owned outright. This new business move has eliminated third party investors and other owners that complicated the rental process for renters. The For Rent Jacksonville company now provides affordable homes with short and long-term lease agreements for individuals and families. This company was recently named one of the fastest growing companies in Jacksonville.

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GMC Sierra 5.3 Engine Now Discounted Online at RemanufacturedEnginesforSale.com

GMC Sierra 5.3 engine for pickup trucks is now discounted online at RemanufacturedEnginesforSale.com. This price reduction is designed to help dealerships, mechanics and truck owners that purchase these motors for replacement in the GM truck series.

Hartford, Connecticut (PRWEB) December 27, 2012
The RemanufacturedEnginesforSale.com company is now offering a discount online for its GMC Sierra 5.3 engine. This variant of the Vortec series is designed to fit inside of the Silverado and the Sierra pickup truck series. The new online discount is expected to help dealerships, vehicle owners, mechanics and warranty companies that purchase rebuilt motors for installation or for resale. More information can be found online at http://www.remanufacturedenginesforsale.com/gmc-gm/gmc-sierra-engine.
General Motors has one of the leading engine development programs in the world. New manufacturing plants are routintely constructed to help build the next generation variants that will be used in the GM vehicle lineup. The Vortec series and its V8 editions are popular with truck owners and SUV owners that depend on these daily in preowned vehicles. The new discounted engines that have been added online are now available for immediate shipment.
The process of rebuilding an engine has been enhanced since the early 1970s. Mechanics that are trained with technological developments are typically the ones that perform the rebuilding work to recondition a used engine. The mechanic staff at the RemanufacturedEnginesforSale.com company is trained in the GM Vortec technology and recent upgrades have made it possible to offer this engine in the OEM state.
The distribution of engine pricing is an additional element that has been changed on the company website. While toll free telephone number quotes are still provided, a new investment into a website quotation system is designed to help those seeking pricing to obtain it faster. This brand new online price generation system provides immediate pricing for any in stock engine during and after business hours.
The 5.3 engine and its different variants now in stock are in addition to other automaker brands that have been acquired by this company this year. The Dodge, Jeep and Ford series have been added to the online inventory and these motors now come complete with unlimited mileage warranties. This measure was created in the fall of this year to provide an extra layer of protection for buyers that purchase these types.
The news release online of this warranty announcement can be found at this link http://www.prweb.com/releases/remanufactured-dodge/engines-for-sale/prweb9854325.htm.
About Remanufactured Engines for Sale
The Remanufactured Engines for Sale company offers a complete line of rebuilt motors from domestic and foreign automakers online. This company has built its engine department for decades and is one of the leading suppliers to the automotive industry for a replacement engine. New warranty programs and discounted pricing have helped this company to reach new buyers online and offline. The Remanufactured Engines for Sale company is staffed by industry experts that provide the professional knowledge that is required to grow an engine company in the 21st century. As of the year 2012, sales are made from this company in all 50 U.S. states and Canada.

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Reverse Phone Search for Cell Phones Now Added by Phone Detective

Reverse phone search for U.S. based cell phones has been added online by PhoneDetective.com. The online database now includes cell phone numbers to help adults that are verifying or searching for a specific number to receive information about who owns a cell phone number.

San Francisco, California (PRWEB) December 27, 2012
Phone Detective has added a reverse phone search tool for cell phones to its website online. This new tool is meant for adult use and can search almost any U.S. phone records entirely online. The public records that are offered can include phone carrier information, first name, last name and other identifiable information that searchers can use.
The standard Caller ID systems that are offered with an average cell phone offer records that are included in telecom databases. While these resources can contain useful data, those that know how to opt-out of these lists can make a phone number private. This method of privacy control has created the need for a new search system for cell phone numbers online.
The new search tool available from PhoneDetective.com is designed to offer the public records that cannot be found using other sources online. There are now millions of mobile phone records that are included in the new online search system.
Text messaging is one form of communication that users of cellular phones often use apart from making actual calls. A person that receives a text message from an unknown cell number could use the new tool offered online to help locate the owner of the number. This alternative search method is designed to help more people find information that is not accessible through other sources.
A new annual plan is now offered with the reverse phone lookup services. A person that is interested in conducting unlimited searches any day of the year could sign up for the annual plan. This plan offers a complete guarantee of the information that is provided using the searching tool.
About Phone Detective
The Phone Detective company launched online in 2009 and allows immediate access to its public records databases. More than one database is used to provide the most updated information available. This company is one of the first of its kind to offer consumers access to information that was normally reserved for private detectives or search companies. The Phone Detective system provides online access in a secure area for adults that lookup landline or mobile phone numbers to help verify or identify the identity of a user attached to a U.S. phone number.

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Dodge Dakota 5.2 Engine Now Sold Online at RebuiltEngines.co

Dodge Dakota 5.2 engine in Magnum series is now sold online at RebuiltEngines.co. This remanufactured motor is offered at a discount price to installers, mechanics, vehicle owners and other companies that purchase these Chrysler OEM units.

Houston, TX (PRWEB) December 27, 2012
The RebuiltEngines.co company is now selling its Dodge Dakota 5.2 engine online at a discount. This reconditioned motor series is now part of the expanding Chrysler inventory now offered online. The acquisition, rebuilding and new price structure for this engine series is designed to help those that own the Dakota vehicle or that replace motors to save money. More information can be found online at http://www.rebuiltengines.co/dodge-engines/dodge-dakota-52l-engines.
The Chrysler corporation manufactured the Dakota pickup truck from the mid 1980s until 2011. Millions of these vehicles were sold to buyers in the U.S. and Canada and the closure of this brand can make it difficult to find a replacement engine. The inventory addition of this motor online is helping to provide a trusted resource for buyers to use to locate a 5.2 V8 in restored condition.
Mileage is one element that can destroy the reliability of an engine that is not cared for properly. One of the drawbacks that owners of used vehicles face is the wear and tear that is put on the motor block during use. Owners of these vehicles generally have three options to select when a replacement is needed. These motor options are new, used or rebuilt.
The high price of new units and the unreliable nature of used ones has made the remanufactured editions more popular according to research. The technologies that are now used to rebuild motors is one way that the lifespan of use is extended. The RebuiltEngines.co company offers its mechanic expertise during the rebuilding phase to provide a low cost alternative without sacrificing reliability after installs are completed.
The new addition of the 5.2 engine is one way that this company has used this year to expand its operations. The integration of a new 3-year parts warranty has helped restore the customer assurance in reconditioned motors. This new extension now protects the labor and the OEM parts that are exchanged during the building process. Customers that purchase online or offline are now eligible to receive this new warranty contract.
The launch earlier this year of the company website has helped to promote this company to all 50 U.S. states. New pages are now added daily to the company website to ensure customers can find the right replacement. The original news announcement for the launch of the website can be found at http://www.760kfmb.com/story/20238038/rebuilt-engines-for-sale-website-launched-at-rebuiltenginesco.
About Rebuilt Engines Co.
The Rebuilt Engines Co. launched its website in 2012 and has earned its reputation offline selling motors for decades. A technologically advanced facility is where all of the work that is put into each motor is completed to ensure the highest quality standards are offered to customers. A complete inventory of Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler and import units are offered by the Rebuilt Engines Co. Through price discounts and other incentives, this company has been able to expand its operations to reach more buyers that search for replacement units for cars, trucks and SUVs.

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End-of-the-Year Checklist for Divorcing Women

Most women wait until after the holidays to move forward with their divorces --and that’s completely understandable. Many don’t want to disrupt family traditions for their children. Some welcome the distraction offered by the hustle and bustle of the season. And, of course, others want to avoid the discussions that inevitably seem to arise whenever and wherever relatives gather.
Interestingly, though, January is the month when most divorces are filed. Obviously, turning the page towards a New Year inspires a fresh start –and that’s completely understandable, too. If you’re headed in that direction, it makes sense to spend a little time this month planning ahead. You can do so discreetly, and then know that you’ll truly be ready to start the New Year on the right foot.
To help get you begin, here are a few things you can do now to help make the divorce process smoother in 2012:
1. Start collecting financial documents. Watch the mail for year-end statements from banks, credit card companies, etc.  As we outline in our Divorce Financial Checklist, preparing for divorce requires gathering all the relevant documents related to your bank and brokerage accounts, credit cards, mortgages, etc. Once you have collected them, make copies, and take them to a trusted friend/family member, or use a safe deposit box that your husband can’t access.
2. Check your credit report. While you’re gathering your financial records, keep a careful eye on your credit card statements, and if you haven’t already done so, request a copy of your credit report. Once you have the report, monitor your score carefully so you’ll be the first to know if any unusual activity occurs.  (For example, is your husband using your joint credit cards to buy his girlfriend gifts this holiday season?)  See my post, How To Protect Your Credit Score During Your Divorce, for more tips
3. Research divorce professionals in your area. If you want to ensure the best possible outcome for your divorce, take the time to build a qualified divorce team. I recommend you start with these three players: a matrimonial/family law attorney, a divorce financial planner and a therapist/counselor. Spend some time this month researching divorce professionals and create a short list of candidates for each position. Schedule interviews with each top contender in January, and rest easy knowing that by February 2012, you’ll be benefiting from the expert guidance of a top-notch divorce team.
4. Open new accounts in your name. Moving forward as a single woman in 2012 will require that you have a bank account and credit cards in your name. Lay the groundwork now.  Don’t use the bank where you currently have your joint accounts. Go to a different bank and open both a savings and a checking account in your name. You’ll need your own credit card, too, so you should start that process now, as well. New federal regulations are making it harder than ever for women with little or no income to establish credit on their own. You can do it. But, plan accordingly and know that securing credit is going to be more complicated than just filling out an application or making a single phone call.
5. Remain vigilant. Is your husband using the good cheer of the holidays as cover while he dissipates family assets? Be attentive, and if you are concerned at all about financial shenanigans by your husband, you may want to think twice about filing a joint return with him for 2011.
Some women who are considering divorce let the holidays get them down. Don’t be one of them. Use this opportunity to start planning ahead, and you’ll be able to start the New Year confident that you are on the way to a more stable and secure financial future.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jeffrey A. Landers, CDFA™ is a Divorce Financial Strategist™ and the founder of Bedrock Divorce Advisors, LLC (http://www.BedrockDivorce.com), a divorce financial strategy firm that exclusively works with women, who are going through, or might be going through, a financially complicated divorce. He also advises women business owners on what steps they can take now to “divorce-proof” their business in the event of a future divorce. He can be reached at Landers@BedrockDivorce.com.
All articles/blog posts are for informational purposes only, and do not constitute legal advice. If you require legal advice, retain a lawyer licensed in your jurisdiction. The opinions expressed are solely those of the author, who is not an attorney.

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It's Not Too Late: Year-End Tax Moves

Once you’ve reached the last month of the tax year, your options are limited to minimize your income taxes. But there are a few things that could still be done, so don’t give up hope.
For example, you could double up your real estate taxes by prepaying next year’s tax during December. Doing this with, for example, a $3,000 per year real estate tax bill could result in a reduction of tax for the year of $750 if you’re in the 25% bracket. Keep in mind though, that you’ll have forked out this money long before it is actually due in most cases, and for the next year you won’t have this deduction available if you used it in this year.
The same could be done with your charitable contributions - there’s no reason that you can’t make additional contributions to your favorite charities at the end of this year instead of waiting until next year.
You could also send your final estimated state income tax payment due in January of next year during December and claim that payment on this year’s itemized deductions as well.
Prepaying your January mortgage payment will credit that mortgage interest to this year as well, further increasing your itemized deductions.
Other itemized deductions could be “stacked” in one year, such as medical expenses (subject to the 7.5% floor) and miscellaneous deductions (subject to the 2% floor).
It’s important to keep in mind that the moves that you make this year might reduce your tax now - but you might have an adverse impact on next year’s income tax by doing so. It will pay to run the calculations based on what you know about this year’s tax and next year’s tax to make sure that it is in your best interest to do this.
Here’s how it might play out: if you prepaid your next year’s real estate tax during this year, it might reduce your deductions below the Standard Deduction - which could be a good thing. In doing this, you would get to use the Standard Deduction to increase your tax deductions on next year’s return when you specifically reduced your deductions for that year by prepaying the deductible real estate tax in during this year. In this fashion you might be making the most of the standard deduction and your itemized deductions year after year - one year using the “stacked” deductions, the next using the standard deduction.
These prepayment options could have a negative affect if you are subject to the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). Prepaying your state tax, mortgage interest and some medical expenses might trigger or cause an increase in AMT. One tactic that you might consider is selling a taxable investment that has an inherent loss; this is especially useful if you’ve sold another investment at some point in the tax year that has resulted in a taxable gain. Losses can be used to offset those capital gains dollar for dollar, and an additional $3,000 in capital losses can be used to reduce your ordinary income as well.
You can also make up for underpayment of estimated tax by taking a withdrawal from an IRA (especially if you’re over age 59½) and having tax withheld from the withdrawal. This can also be accomplished by having more tax withheld from your paycheck if you’re still working, by filing a new W4. Another significant move you can make includes the Qualified Charitable Distribution from your IRA, 401(k) or 403(b) - allowing you to bypass recognizing that income, including your RMD. This can only be done if you’re at least age 70½ and subject to Required Minimum Distributions. The charity receives a contribution, and you get to lower your year-end balance in your account, therefore reducing your RMD for next year.  For more details on this, you should check out the IRA Owner's Manual.
You can also delay your first RMD (if you reached age 70½ this year) until as late as April 1 of next year, although that will mean you have to take two RMDs next year. But in some circumstances that may be the better option.
You can also make a deductible contribution to your IRA, if you qualify - but you don’t have to do that before the end of the year, you have until April 15 to do that.
This isn’t an exhaustive list of year-end tax moves, just several of the more prominent ones. Hopefully you’ll find what you need here to help with your year-end tax plans.

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Autotask Opens Office in Munich, Germany

Autotask Corporation, the world’s leading provider of hosted IT business management software, today announced the opening of new corporate offices in Munich, Germany. The new home of Autotask GmbH underscores the company’s strong presence in the European marketplace and strategic business decision to localize its product for key geographies throughout the world.

Munich, Germany (PRWEB) December 17, 2012
Autotask Corporation, the world’s leading provider of hosted IT business management software, today announced the opening of new corporate offices in Munich, Germany. The new home of Autotask GmbH underscores the company’s strong presence in the European marketplace and strategic business decision to localize its product for key geographies throughout the world. (Autotask Corporation Announces Major Global Expansion. (press release) September 20, 2011.)
“Since the introduction of Autotask Pro software in German earlier this year, the demand from the IT services sector has been quite remarkable,” said Mark Banfield, Managing Director, International, Autotask. “Establishing an office in Munich not only demonstrates our ongoing commitment to serving the needs of our growing clientele, it enables us to do so quickly and with acute attention to detail.”  
The company’s Munich office will host a variety of professionals including implementation and client support, sales, and sales engineering. Autotask plans to hire additional personnel in the first quarter of 2013 to ensure the success of its rapidly expanding user base.
Autotask Pro is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) business management platform designed and optimized for Value Added Resellers (VARs), Managed Services Providers (MSPs), Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) and other technology solutions providers. Autotask integrates a broad range of critical systems including customer relationship management (CRM), service desk, technician scheduling, project management, billing and reporting, and provides real-time service delivery intelligence to help business owners understand the factors that affect their operations and their profitability.
Fanni Szabo, Autotask Regional Sales Manager – Team Leader, Germany stated, “The increasing demand from IT solution providers for comprehensive business applications that provide clear insight into their business and real-time analytics is driving the adoption of Autotask across Europe. Our presence in Germany allows us to more fully engage with our clients, better understand their requirements, and makes it easier for them to service the thousands of businesses they support.”
Autotask GmbH is located at Elisabethstrasse 91, Munich, Germany 80797. Those interested in learning more about Autotask products and services are encouraged to visit http://www.autotask.com/de or call +49 (0) 89 5908 2376.
About Autotask

Autotask Corporation provides the world's leading hosted IT business management software to streamline and optimize business processes for technology solution providers. The software integrates a broad range of critical business systems, including customer relationship management (CRM), service desk, tech scheduling, project management, billing and reporting, and provides real-time service delivery intelligence to help users understand the factors that drive their business and their profitability.
Autotask is accessible from virtually any computing or mobile device connected to the Internet and features a world-class API that seamlessly integrates with the other systems and tools that providers rely on to run their businesses.

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