There are many ways of finding a loan. Nowadays many people go online to dig out the crucial details of both lenders and loans. Here, John Mussi takes us through the process:

Researching the options available to you for a loan can be a long task, especially if you don’t take advantage of some of the features available to you on the internet. In addition to simply finding out basic loan information, you can whether certain types of loans are right for you and in the case of some lenders actually apply for your loan directly from the lender’s website.

In order to find out whether researching your loan options online is right for you and to learn how to do your research so as to optimize your experience, here is some information on online loan research options that you might find helpful.

Starting your search
When starting a search for loan information online, you should always use your preferred search engine to find the sites that may provide you with the information that you’re looking for. Use keywords for the type of loan or lender that you want information on, and you should receive several pages worth of results for potential lenders and financial information sites. Generally, the first page of results will offer you the most pertinent results for your search keywords, though some may also appear on the second page.

Of course, if you’re looking for a specific lender, you can search for their website or go directly to it if you have the website URL.

Researching physical lenders
If you’re looking for additional information on physical lenders in your area, you can likely find out about them and the loans that they offer form the lender’s website or from a portal website that has links and information on several different lenders of the same type.

Depending upon how complex the website is, you may be able to find either a large or a smaller amount of information on lender specifics or on certain types of loans. Even for those websites that are primitive and don’t offer much in the way of specific information, you can still find phone numbers and ways to contact customer support and make information requests.

You can also take time to research other methods of finding information, such as service reviews from online newspapers and e-zines as well as “best of” competitions that some communities have to determine which businesses in their area provides the best services.

Finding an online lender
In addition to simply finding information on physical lenders, you can use the internet to find a lender that does their business exclusively online. These lenders tend to offer competitive if not lower interest rates than their physical competitors, in large part due to the reduced overhead of doing their work online.

To find an online lender, you should begin in much the same way as you would begin your search for information on any other lender… utilize your preferred search engine or enter in the URL of an online lender’s website that you’ve seen advertised in newspapers, tabloids, or on the television.

Online lenders usually have large amounts of information on their services available on their website, though if you don’t find the information that you’re looking for then you will also have a variety of contact options available with which to request the information that you want.

When you can’t find the information that you want
It’s important to realize that a website, no matter how complex it may be, might not have the information that you’re looking for. If this is the case, feel free to use a contact form, send an e-mail, or call a provided phone number with your specific questions. That’s what they’re there for… to answer whatever questions you might have.

Our guest author is John Mussi, founder of Direct Online Loans which help homeowners find the best available loans via the www.directonlineloans.co.uk website. The Money Blog has no connections with this website.

Ever thought of making money playing golf? Well, it’s possible, according to today’s guest author, Suzanne Woo. Here she gives us six tips on Golf and Money-making :

Although most of us don’t get the chance to win a million dollars by playing in the final group on Sunday, we can still play golf and make lots of money. Unlike most other sports, golf is the game of business. Men and women across the globe, play the game as both recreation, and as a way of doing business. From pro tours to recreational golfers worldwide, golf is truly an international sport.

As a business golf speaker, consultant, and author, I teach business professionals how they can utilize golf to strengthen their business relationships and increase sales. I discovered the power of business golf while I was a practicing attorney in San Francisco specializing in commercial real estate transactions.

Whether talking with clients, or at a networking event, I always felt the rapport level deepened when the conversation turned to golf. Golfers always seem to enjoy talking about the game, whether it’s their own, or the great shot they saw on television by a tour pro.

Here are six tips on how you can play golf and make money. For those of you who play already, choose one or two and make them a part of your business golf game. If you don’t play yet, I hope they’ll inspire you to take up the game.

Golf & Money-Making Tip #1: Schedule Your Golf!
If you don’t play golf often, or don’t know how to play at all, you’re less likely to obtain the benefits of playing business golf. It’s like the lottery. If you don’t buy a ticket, you’ll never win the jackpot!

One obstacle for many people is that they believe they don’t have time to play. If time is an issue for you, then make it a goal, schedule time in your organizer or PDA for a reasonable number of rounds of golf or practice sessions you want to have per month. Perhaps you want to play a business golf round once a month (when weather permits) and spend 30-45 minutes per week at a driving range.

If you fine-tune your swing during the winter, you’ll be ready for golf in the spring. One way to fit golf into your schedule: put a few irons, your 3-wood, and putter in the trunk of your car. The next time you’re stuck in traffic or have time in between appointments, stop at a local golf course or driving range, and have a practice session. It beats sitting in traffic and getting road rage.

If you don’t play golf yet, winter is the best time to learn how to play. Why? Golf professionals at your local golf course usually have more time for you. During the peak summer days, the professional is in high demand, with lessons scheduled back-to-back, and will be less inclined or unable to spend extra time with you. Ask some golfing friends for referrals to a local golf professional at a covered or indoor driving range. If you take lessons now, you’ll be ready to hit the course when everyone else is ready to play.

It’s also a good time to read about golf, so you can become familiar with the language, etiquette, and rules of the game. For an easy-to-read primer on the game, check out my book, On Course for Business (Wiley). Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced golfer, you’ll find a nugget or two of information that will help you make your business golf rounds more profitable.

Golf and Money-Making Tip #2: Maximize Your Links on the Links
The beauty of a golf round with clients and prospects is it’s five hours of soft selling who you are, your company, and what you know. Each golfer spends only a total of a few minutes actually hitting the ball. The rest of the time is spent talking and getting to know one another’s background, personality, and character in a relaxed atmosphere.

Unlike tennis where you’re across the net from one another, golf allows you to be with your playing partners. Golf also provides better relationship-building opportunities because you’re not hitting a shot for your playing partner to miss. If you’re playing business golf properly, you should be thrilled when your client hits a good shot and plays well.

Play more golf with clients, prospects, and referral sources to build and deepen your business relationships.

Golf & Money-Making Tip #3: Golf Never Lies
When talking to sales teams about playing business golf, I emphasize the importance of playing with proper etiquette and adherence to the rules of golf. As noted in Tip #2, you’re with your client and prospect for about five hours. During that time you and your playing partners have a chance to watch each other in action. They might notice whether you step on a player’s putting line, talk while someone is hitting, or inadvertently cheat in some way.

Playing a round of golf should solidify your business relationships. When speaking to groups, I ask participants how they feel when they play with someone who plays with poor etiquette or cheats during a round of golf. Most of them agree that it’s a turn-off to have to play under those circumstances, and they do so only to maintain the business. Other business golfers, such as financial consultants, who are concerned with a client’s integrity and reasonableness of expectations, have said they won’t do business with that person if they don’t enjoy their round of golf. And, if they cheat, they’ll find another client that they can trust.

To make a positive impression about who you are and the company you work for, play your business golf rounds with proper etiquette and know the basic rules of golf. You don’t want to sabotage your business relationships when you’re trying to solidify them.

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You can make money from a business in two ways : by running it for income, and by selling it. Today we look at the selling option.

This year, some 700,000 American businesses will be sold. Most will be small and mid-sized businesses like yours. If you, too, are thinking of selling, consider these practical steps for making the process go smoothly.

* Determine a Realistic Price Range
* Understand the Tax Consequences
* Prepare for a Sale
* Seek Potential Buyers
* Negotiate Your Deal
* Sign a Sales Agreement
* Plan for the Closing
* File Paperwork With the IRS

Getting the Cash Out of your Business Note
Business notes, known more specifically as seller carryback business notes, are created when the buyer of a business can not or will not pay all cash. Frequently, banks and similar lending institutions are hesitant to loan money to new business owners who have minimal track records and where hard assets make up a small percentage of the total purchase price.

In the case where a buyer cannot obtain a loan, the seller is left with two choices (1) hold off until he/she find a buyer who can pay all cash or (2) carry back a note in order to collect future payments. The first option is often not realistic. In the second case, the seller is hopefully able to at least extract a large down payment to make extra sure that the buyer has some “skin in the game”. However, even then the seller is usually in a position that he prefers not to be in – he has no lump sum of money to either invest in other opportunities or to retire. Unlike a real estate note, where is there is a hard asset that is fairly easy to appraise; the business note is relatively risky to hold.

So, what is a business seller to do when he didn’t want to be in the lending business to start with and now has a need for immediate cash? What many people don’t realize is that the business note can be sold. The former owner can sell all or part of the note to get a lump sum of cash. In this way, both the goals of selling the business and getting the cash out of it are met.

In summary, selling a business note is an excellent way for the former owner of a business to get his cash out of the business. Whether the reason for selling the note is that the seller would have preferred all cash all along, that he now has large debts to pay, or that he has the opportunity to pursue other investments, the sale of a business note is a tool of which you should always be aware.

Our guest author, Afra AmirSanjari, is the Principal for Peacock Capital. Peacock Capital specializes in solving the cash flow challenges of Small/Medium Businesses, Government Vendors and Individuals with innovative financial solutions by providing a network for securing operating capital.

http://www.peacockcapital.com

The Money Blog has no financial holdings in Peacock Capital, nor knowledge of its affairs.

Shopping around for a mortgage in the UK is not as simple as it seems. To begin with, it’s important to understand how mortgages are regulated and sold. There are some things you need to know and consider before you can go out looking for a mortgage.

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) requires lenders to show you a special document called keyfacts. Make sure you read the keyfacts before getting a mortgage or choosing a financial adviser. The keyfacts will help you see the features of the mortgage product, how much it will cost you and also help you understand what service you are being offered. You’ll also be able to use this document to compare mortgage products or services from different lenders.

Also, check that the firm you are dealing with is authorized by the FSA. If they are not authorized you will not have access to complaints procedures and compensation schemes if things go wrong.

Some of the things you should consider when choosing a mortgage lender includes:

* Competitiveness of the lender’s rates,
* Mortgage fees and penalties,
* Customer service and the lender’s reputation.
* Trust (You’ll want a lender you can trust, and a company you can work with effectively since you’ll have to deal with this lender for many years to come.)

Ask your friends or family for recommendations of potential mortgage lenders or brokers. Then contact some of the lenders and discuss your needs with them. Using keyfacts to compare different mortgage packages and services will help you get a better deal. Read expert opinions in national newspapers and magazines. These publications usually publish editorials that rate mortgage and loan deals from various banks and lenders. This information will give you a better idea of what to expect when you start shopping around for a mortgage.

Take time to choose a lender so that you can save money on your mortgage. There are hundreds of mortgage deals available out there so don’t be tempted to settle for the first offer before finding out what deals are available elsewhere. Shopping around for a mortgage will help you to get the best financing deal. If you don’t have the time to do it yourself, you can use the services of a broker or use an internet site that offers a mortgage comparison facility.

Finally, think carefully before securing other debts against your home. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Bwalya Mwaba manages the UK Council’s Directory at http://www.council-right-to-buy-mortgages.org.uk/ and he’s also webmaster for a home loans guide website.

Disclaimer: Information in this post does not constitute financial advice and should not be used as such.