Spring is here again and it’s time to put away the dreary winter tones and break out the “happy” colors! The exotic eye appeal of Orange is hot on the menu this summer. It’s an Orange extravaganza, from the sassy bright hue of Orange peel to the deeper, yet somehow sweeter shade of Pumpkin orange. In anticipation of the heat the summer of 2010 will bring, orange designs are everywhere. Try a flaming Tangelo orange in bikini this summer, or compliment your tan with the soft blush of a Tea Rose orange sarong.
Orange compliments any skin tone or complexion, and can add that little touch of Spring to an outfit when added as an accent for example, substitute a Bittersweet orange Cami and belt to your simple gray business suit, or create a relaxed look with Apricot orange sling back sandals with your simple white cotton sundress. You can find Orange discount vouchers for totes, belts, hats and every accessory that your little heart desires in a variety of beautiful orange tones this year. Try the mood lifting color experience of Orange in your interior design plans for the summer. Brighten any room with deep orange throw pillows or space rugs, use your imagination and go crazy with this amazing color before the winter Blues’ come again.

Flipping is not for the weak of heart, the easily bored, the afraid of commitment crowd, or anyone without access to virtually unlimited funds. If you are a first timer doing this, think twice before getting involved unless you have professional experience in some of the building trades: carpentry, plumbing, landscaping, etc.

Understand that you are going to need to get your hands dirty! Whether you like it or not, unless you can pay to have everything done for you, this is the name of the game.

How much cash can you devote to this project? If you have a very limited budget, this will be a problem. You must plan on encountering unexpected problems, and these are usually pretty expensive issues to deal with. If you find the septic tank is leaking and you only have $3,000 left…you have a major problem.

As always in such situations, our real friends are not the financial pundits or the financial press but the raw numbers. So, ignoring the news for the moment, what do the numbers tell us? As the most traded index in the world, let\´s look at the S&P 500. There are many free financial charts on the internet but if you don\´t yet have a favourite then Yahoo Finance has a wide range of charts with the most popular indicators.

When Does a Bear Market End?

Surprisingly, for such widely-quoted terms there are no absolute definitions of what a bear and bull market really are. The closest we get to a practical definition is that a bear market is a drop of over 20% from the most recent high, and conversely, a bull market is a 20% rise from the most recent low. Note that these are relative terms and that the start of the next genuine bull market will still be below the October 2007 highs. Note also that such swings need to be consolidated for the new trend to be established. It is not enough for a market to rise 20% only to then fall back 10%.

A Citizen Owes

Being a citizen of the United States means that all of your income is subject to taxes. It does not matter where you are when you earn that money. And, it does not matter where the person or company is that pays you.

When to File

Citizens who earn foreign income while living in the US have the same filing obligations as a citizen who lives and works in the United States. You must pay any taxes you owe by April 15th if you file by calendar year. If you file by fiscal year, you must pay your taxes 3 months and 15 days after the end of your fiscal year.

The third option is to roll the money in your 401(k) plan into a self-directed IRA plan. This option makes a lot of sense, especially if you currently have a good IRA plan with a brokerage firm or mutual fund company. Rolling the funds into an existing IRA plan is a relatively straightforward process, and the new custodian of the funds will be happy to provide the necessary forms to make the transfer easier.

And in the case of an existing IRA you probably already have a good feel for the performance of the funds. This history can give you a certain comfort level and reassurance that your money will be in good hands.

The first way to locate foreclosed homes is to talk to a local real estate agent. You may have to try several agents until you find one who is familiar with foreclosures. It is best to work with an agent who understands what real estate investors look for in a foreclosure property. It is also a good idea to try to locate the agent who actually lists the properties. Most banks choose one agent in a given area to list all of their foreclosed properties. This agent will know about the listing before anyone else does, giving you a chance to be one of the first buyers to learn about new listings.

The second way to find bank foreclosed homes is to check the bank’s website. Many banks put listings of their foreclosed properties on their website. These properties may be referred to as “REO” or “real estate owned” rather than foreclosures. That is bank terminology for property that was foreclosed and is now owned by the bank. Depending on how the bank’s website is set up, you may be able to search for properties by zip code or browse by state or city. This is one way to find properties that are outside your local area without needing to have real estate contacts in other areas.