Articles written by Kathleen Couch - Page 2

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About me - Kathleen Couch

When I joined Helium in November 2006, I had no idea the world it would open up to me. When I was in high school and college I always enjoyed writing assignments. In high school I entered a local essay contest hosted by the Kiwanas, and won. Still, I never

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Home & Garden > Rental Properties Renting out your vacation home for extra income: What to do and expect: 3 of 9
"I'll just buy a condo on the beach, and rent it out for $700 a week. I will be rolling in money." WRONG!Although you can make some rental income on a property. Seldom will you make a huge profit. You may not make any profit at all. There are many factors to consider.1. Make sure you can afford the payments, utilities, insura... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Testimonies: The smallest place I called "home": 3 of 9
"Wow, not a bad job of picking out a place for us to live," I was thinking, when my Airman husband and I pulled up to the little yellow and white house. He had found the place and signed the lease before I arrived in Texas, from Ohio. We would be living there for the next nine months, while he completed school at Sheppard ... More..
Home & Garden > Rental Properties Landlords' use of rent-to-income ratios: unjust?: 1 of 3
A landlord's use of rent to income ratios are unjust if you are the potential tenant, and you really wanted to live in that nice house. A rent to income ratio may be one that uses as a paradigm, the ratio of needing to make in income three times the amount of rent per month. Another model would stipulate a certain percentage ... More..
Home & Garden > Plumbing Repairs How to unclog a drain without chemicals: 1 of 3
STOP! Hold everything! Don't call a plumber until you try this little gadget that can save you hundreds of dollars. Yesterday I had a plumber come to the house to unclog two toilets so they would flush better. One of them I knew a toy had been flushed down. He took them apart, and worked on them, and told me a toy was lodged ... More..
Personal Finance > Real Estate Buying foreclosures: The "flip houses" guide: 3 of 8
Buying low and selling high is the key phrase with real estate purchased for the purpose of flipping. The most important part of that phrase is "buying low". With a foreclosure there are three times a purchase can be made. (1) Pre foreclosure, when, or before the homeowner has been notified by the bank that because they are ... More..
Hobbies & Games > Kids Crafts Personal teacher gifts your child can make: 2 of 5
Your child's teacher will fondly remember a gift made by your child especially for them. These can also be for club leaders, grandparent's, or other adults your child would like to give a gift to.How about a coffee mug? You can get very inexpensive plain white mugs in stoneware, at a discount store. The ones I purchased were ... More..
Personal Finance > Real Estate Buying foreclosures: A guide to auctions: 3 of 7
One hundred seventy five thousand, four hundred is the opening bid required by the lender. Who will give me one seventy five, five. Silence,no bids! Going once,twice,three times. Back to the lender. It took about thirty seconds. No one bid because after the back payments, late charges, and attorney fees are added to the mort... More..
Business > Entrepreneurial Spirit What it takes to be an entrepreneur: 17 of 34
If you are an entrepreneur, you probably already know it. You have been dreaming up ideas, and plans for entrepreneurism since you were a child. Not all of your business plans were followed through with, and many may have been short lived. But if you think back that spirit has always been there. Just for fun, I am going back ... More..
Home & Garden > Buying & Selling Homes Where to look for the best real estate values: 1 of 2
The grass always seems greener on the other side of the fence, or other side of the nation. But the best real estate values may be in your own neighborhood. Search for that real estate value in an area close to you. If you are buying as an investment, there is no substitute for you, even if you choose to have a management co... More..
Home & Garden > Buying & Selling Homes Should you buy a property that has mold?: 5 of 9
Mold..Mold...Mold. It can be the biggest hype, or the biggest threat. Say mold, and it can bring a chill, and heart palpitations to anyone who has a financial investment in real estate. This includes, bankers, sellers, buyers, landlords, and home owners. Why is there more hype now than 30 years ago? Because along with better ... More..