Archive for the ‘Education’ Category

The Top Secrets About Giving

Sunday, January 17th, 2010

The secret of attaining what one wants has been revealed. It is just the simple act of giving. The basis of this is explained in the background of the classical dictum “Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?” Chicken and the egg, continuously forming the cycle of life and renewing it, is a profound example of giving and getting what one wants: the circle of joy. This idea is fully analyzed in the resonant voice of Masami Sato, the author of the book ONE.

As human beings, most of us have yearnings for different kinds of things. And of course, the fundamental principles of economics tell us that while needs are unlimited, resources are not. This makes us think that the more resources we have, the more yearnings we would be able to satisfy. As such we tend to safeguard our resources. We would then feel that giving away these resources or splitting it between many would lessen the portion that can be used to get what we desire. This is the conventional win-lose strategy that is being played out.

Then, is it true?

What if the answer was “no”? What if it actually contradicts the secret of getting more? What if the secret to get more is simple - by giving more?

You can get something simply by giving. Just like you can have eggs by breeding chickens. Just like that. Natural. Automatic. And it’s an absolutely joyful experience.

First, let us start with a little analogy to explain more.

Chicken and Egg: The Circle of Life

Philosophers have asked this question since the dawn of time, “Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?”

There is a simple answer to this unending doubt. It is that the question is unimportant, since both chicks and eggs are here now. Nevertheless, if one wants a greater effect, one can choose to start somewhere.

Giving and Receiving: the Circle of Joy

What if we asked the question in a different manner? “Which comes first, giving or receiving?”

Again, if we want to have greater results, we can choose to start somewhere. Giving something to others is surely so much easier than trying to get it first!

What happens if we are trying to get it first?

If we want to have something, naturally we try to get it. And we try to hold on to it after getting it. This is very natural to do-it makes sense intellectually.

But the actual result of ‘trying to get’ is mostly not ample and actual long term benefits.

For example, wanting to see others being happy is not about getting the joy from them or controlling them to become happy. It is about how much joy we can give them and share with them. Period.

So where do we start to get what we want?

By starting from the other end of the circle- by giving generously!

When we start giving before we even have what we hope to get - that which we dream of - we are sending out a powerful message to ourselves which tells us, ‘there is enough, and more will come.’ It allows us to sense the joy today - the joy of giving.

We only need to give out the love generously to others. It simply comes back to us. Giving love is the only way to be generously loved. When we acknowledge everyone for the great things they do and the great qualities they have, again it comes back to us. Others acknowledge us because we acknowledge them.

In much the same manner, if we want to have enough of everything in our lives physically, financially, and emotionally, we must share these things in ample measure with others.

Some people may choose to give materially by giving their time. Others would choose to give financially by giving their wealth. Those who give much more (like time, wealth, kindness, affection, principles etc.) have more of all these because it is the balance. And balance is the law of nature.

Just keep in mind the rule of the game

Important rule: never give anything expecting a return.

When we have the conviction that giving has got as its inherent part, ‘getting’ something back, we become upset when do not see the return immediately. We may even feel a slight dissatisfaction towards the receiver of our gift. And surely, nurturing a bad feeling for someone is not a proper thing to do! So we can experience the real happiness of giving when we are doing something with the knowledge that we are doing it only for ourselves - we are doing it for our own happiness!

Losing to win, giving to receive

It may initially feel like we are losing out. Yet at some level we know that getting without giving is not a sustainable life model. And we’ve known that from the very beginning. That’s why tithing has been such a natural part of the lives of many successful people. And they didn’t always do it publicly so it wasn’t done to gain a better reputation. It was just because that was the way it was.

Just take a look around. ‘Simple’ forms of life on the earth do it routinely. The bumblebees fertilize the flowers in return for the honey they take from them and ensure that the flowers bloom profusely. Habitually. That is the rule. They do not do it consciously. That is why they maintain nature’s balance, without even trying.

Giving is just being who we are, it is just like having; not greater or lesser. No difficulty, no conditions attached, just releasing oneself.

The gist of getting more can be summarised into two steps: Give first, and do not hope to get anything in return.

When we let go and give generously, what we want will be delivered to us. Naturally.

Find out more about how Buy1GIVE1 (BOGO) can transform your business using Cause Marketing.

Cautionary Tips For Wearing Perfume

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

Women and Men attract each other in a multitude of ways. They do it by dress, hairstyle and even breath. Some will even use perfume or cologne to enhance the appeal of their scent.

There are a number of fragrances out there. Musk, floral, and citrus are just a few. These are the most popular ones. Lavender, evergreen and vanilla are a few others that do not belong in any of these categories.

Fragrances can be applied in a couple of ways. The most common is spray on, but you can also find some that you dab on, or roll on. There are, however, a few things that need to be taken into consideration when you are planning to wear these scents around others.

Though some people really relish in the scent of these sprays, many more are very sensitive to them. These sensitivities range from the smell in general to a certain type of smell. If someone allergic to the scent of your cologne happens by they are very likely to go into allergy shock.

Common signs that someone is or may be allergic to a scent are headache, hives or itching. It is advised if you are living with roommates or house mates that you ask them ahead of time if they have allergies to scented products. This way you can avoid any possible allergic reactions.

It also best to check the policy at your place of employment. Most facilities do not want you to wear fragrances to the job. The policies are in place to protect other employees from allergic reactions. This is especially true of the health care area of work. If it is allowed, keep it discrete, and stick to a musk, as this does not tend to cause allergic reactions.

Having someone have an allergic response to your scent is not your only worry. Wearing too much of one scent can be bad news too. Using a little bit is pleasant. Using far too much can result in the wrong kind of reaction. Instead of smelling appealing, the smell repulses everyone around you. Before you leave for any social function, have a trusted friend check for overuse. This will insure that your night will go smoothly for the most part.

Perfumes are becoming a popular holiday item. Husbands give it to their wives, boyfriends to their girlfriends. Sometimes a mother will give a favorite fragrance to their daughter to help keep their memory alive when the go away to college or move out. You can see the signs of this popular gift at large department stores. Perfume counters are set up so that customers can try them out. Get a fragrance that your loved one will cherish this season.

They are just as safe as organic alternatives, but they are much safer than manufactured options. Ed Hardy Model If you want to maintain your health discover skin care tips today. Take good care of your skin and it will take good care of you.

10 Rules To Know When Choosing Online Distance Education Colleges

Monday, January 11th, 2010

Accreditation - accreditation is very important because it ensures that an institution meets or exceeds an established set of educational standards. This means that courses from an accredited online distance education college are likely to be transferable to other accredited online or traditional colleges. Your current and prospective employers will look positively at degrees earned from an accredited institution making it easy to earn a promotion or get a new job.

Degree mills and fake colleges - today the internet is flooded with fraud and fake accrediting institutions that give “accreditation” to any willing organization at a fee. Be safe and stay on the look-out for such institutions when you’re choosing your online distance education college. There are always “tell-tale” signs of institutions that are not legitimately accredited. If in doubt, check with the United Stated Department of Education or CHEA to find out if the college you are interested in is accredited.

Does the college and degree program you wish to pursue fit with your long-term goals and career? if you are thinking let’s say, enrolling in an online associate degree program and later hope to earn a bachelors degree (online or campus), find out how likely it is that your associate degree coursework will transfer by looking for a list of colleges which have accept transfer credits.

Class size plays a big role in an online distance education college as it does in a traditional classroom. The smaller the better, thus you should investigate the class size of the institution you wish to join.

Find out if the faculty hold any credentials and if they are qualified to teach the program you want to enroll in. If you can dig further to find out what degrees they hold and if they are experienced in teaching online students, this will save you the distress of finding out later that your instructor is a fellow un-qualified student with no education skills.

Are the administrators, technical staff and faculty responsive if you need help or have questions with your courses? Since every college offers a different form and level of support, make sure you find one that is aligned with your needs and expectations. This will alleviate frustration when you need help during your classes.

Most colleges have their online classes rolling out all the time. This is a great thing and makes learning flexible. As such you should not feel pressured by the admission office or anyone else to start your program right away. You should start only when you feel your mind is set to it. This will ensure you stay motivated and put the effort you need to succeed with your classes.

Verify whether during the course of your program, there are classes that will require residency or if you will be able to complete the entire program online. This will help you prepare in advance.

Most online colleges offer financial aid and tuition assistance. You’ll be pleased to discover how much financial help you have available inform of loans, scholarships, financial aid and other federal loans. Some institutions even have tuition payment plans and employer-reimbursement programs. Find out if your college of interest offers such programs.

Don’t settle for less than quality programs and education when selecting your online distance education program. Unlike there before, when online degree options were severely limited, it is now possible for those willing to spend some time gathering information to find almost exactly the degree program that meets their needs.

Find more online distance education resources and distance learning degrees information.

Have You Thought of Using Private Lenders for Your Real Estate Deals?

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

Have you thought of creative financing?

Alan Cowgill’ interview with me on my Series called “Investing with the Stars” was so exceptional I had to give you the heads up all about it. To see all the expert speakers, go to www.investingwiththestars.net/season3.

One of the strategies I use is Wholesaling houses and this has proven to be a quick money spinner for people in the real estate investing market. People all over are using creative financing to buy properties and then selling them quickly to make a large profit within the space of a couple of days. The great thing about creative financing is that you rarely need to put in a lot of your own money to buy a house, and you can quickly build up your income through wholesaling.

The best way to fund your deals is from private lenders, not the banks! Real estate investing has become a reality for thousands of people with little or no money. Imagine being able to buy a house for little or none of your own money and then selling it on to make a profit. This is exactly what having a private money lenders can do for you. This is a easier way to do real estate investing.

The easiest way to find private lenders, all you need to do is a little bit of research to find people that are willing to lend you money and get a higher percentage than the bank’s will give to them.

Using creative financing, you will have put little money down to purchase the home, and then you sell it on for a higher price and make an instant profit. Wholesaling houses has helped people to make money quickly and easily, and is a great way to start real estate investing. For more information on this go to: www.investingwiththestars.net/alan.htm

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Quick, Effective Hemorrhoid Treatments

Saturday, October 3rd, 2009

Wouldn’t it be nice to never have to suffer from hemorrhoids again? Many people deal with hemorrhoids in their own way and suffer incredibly because they are afraid to say anything due to the embarrassing location that hemorrhoids are. Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the anus area that are caused by too much strain during bowel movements. They can be extremely itchy, painful, or just real annoying. Don’t suffer in silence anymore, take the time to learn about all the different treatments that are out there to treat this condition.

To help with your hemorrhoids, you will want to start by removing the swelling from the affected area. There are many ways to do this, but most people get great results from soaking the area in warm water a few times a day. They either will use a shallow pan of warm water, or shallow water in their bathtub. You can do this a few times a day for ten to fifteen minutes each time. This will give you instant relief. Some people do like to add witch hazel to the water or a very small amount of tea tree oil. These can add some great healing benefits to your soak as well as a little more soothing relief.

When searching for the right herb to bring you instant relief and soothe your hemorrhoids, consider looking for creams that contain witch hazel. Witch hazel is a naturalantiseptic , that is great for cleaning any sore spots you might have. It will also reduce any swelling. Other extracts to look for are butcher’s broom, and horse chestnut, when you are seeking instant relief. Tea tree oil is great for promoting quick healing. Always remember when applying tea oil that it is an oil, and needs to be applied verysparingly.

Once you have worked on the affected area, and gained some relief, you will next want to work on making sure that future outbreaks don’t occur. By looking at your diet closely, you will see that you need to add some more fiber rich foods. This will help you to put less strain on your body during bowelmovements but it will also help you to be healthier in the long run. Fruits such as apples, peaches, and pears are great for adding fiber to your diet. Also adding any leafy vegetables will also help to add more fiber into your diet. Our bodies are all different, so it will take time to play around with your diet, and find the best combination that will work best for your body. You will need to fine tune your diet, to work best with your body.

It’s important to take the time to find out what your body needs. There are many quick and effective methods to treat, cure, relieve, and avoid future outbreaks of hemorrhoids. Find which one will work best for you and your lifestyle.

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Things You Should Know When You Hire An Interior Designer

Saturday, August 15th, 2009

Many have asked me over my years of design practice what they should know when they are ready to hire an Interior Designer. My hope is that after reading my article you will take from this the answer you were searching for.

See to it that you use the 5 questions in this article as a guide.

– Are you looking to hire a designer because you feel you lack the experience when it comes to decorating or designing?

– Have you made home purchases but they are still in the closet or garage because you don’t know what to do with them or where to put anything?

– Are you too busy with work and family and can’t find the time for home projects?

– Do you and your spouse or roommate disagree on design styles when it comes to home or apartment decorating?

– Are you unsure of how to decorate your space in a way that makes your feel comfortable?

Your answers to the questions will help you determine if you should take on the assistance of an Interior Designer. The services of a designer will help you immensely.

Interior Designers are skilled at designing interior spaces and space planning. They also have the expertise on form and function, balance and harmony, color concepts, lighting design, furniture selection and more. Why should you hire an Interior Designer? Simply because you may lack the necessary skills of design and secondly, mistakes will cost you money!

Of course not all Interior Designers are alike each one is uniquely qualified in my opinion, but if you ask five Designers to design an interior space, you will get five different design concepts.

So how do you hire the right Interior Designer? First ask friends or family. Word of mouth is great advertising for any Designer. Perhaps a co-worker has had good experience with a Designer.

A good characteristic to look for in a Designer is confidence in his or her abilities. Also a Designer should respect YOU as a Client and listen to your desires and needs for your design project.

Meet with your Designer before hiring them. Many will advertise their services on personal websites. Most Designers offer free consultations, which is an informal meeting to break the ice and get to know your Designer. Your Designer will use this meeting to get to know you as well and hear what you desire in your interior spaces.

A good characteristic to look for in a Designer is confidence in his or her abilities. Also a Designer should be a good listener to your desires and needs for your design project. State clearly what it is you are hoping for and your Designer will know exactly your personal style.

A good Designer will feel what you feel and understand your true desires it is not about how long a Designer has been practicing, but about being on the “same page” or connecting with your Designer.

Your Designer should connect with you. This “synergy” should exist between Designer and Client. Personalities do matter.

Interior Designers work with a great team of professionals and special vendors that can get the job done right. The consumer does not have this in-depth, privy information that makes the Designer even more valuable.

Referrals may or may not be given by your Designer simply because past Clients are not willing to give out private information about them. General questions may be acceptable like what kind of projects were completed and was the client satisfied with the results.

Interior Designers work with many budgets and at many different price ranges. They usually charge by the hour and at prices as low as $50 dollars an hour to $300 dollars an hour.

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Masonic Symbols Revealed - Freemasonry Books

Friday, July 31st, 2009

Often people become confused as to which Lodges are in fact freemasonry and which are affiliates or off springs. One such lodge is that of the Order of the Eastern Star. This Lodge was formed by Dr. Robert Morris. He was a lawyer from Boston and was not only a Master Mason but was Past Grand Master of Kentucky. The foundation of the Order of the Eastern Star is an offspring of the ?adoptive rite? of the Freemasonry. The teachings are apparently based on the Bible and its goal is charity and benevolence.

This Lodge was initially formed with the intention of it becoming a female Lodge to be a branch off the Freemasonry. This was not acceptable by the Freemason society so it never came to be.

Dr. Morris published a ritual around 1850. Then in 1867, a new ritual off springing from this one was written by Robert Macoy and at the same time, the first Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star was organized. This took place in Michigan.

Interestingly there is some evidence to show that back in 1788 to 1793 there was another organization with this name, however it ceased to exist by 1867.

There are numerous local chapters but they all come under the charter of the Grand Chapters, which are at state level. These Grand Chapters answer to the International Easter Star Temple located in Washington.

Membership eligibility stipulates a candidate must be 18 or older and be a Master Mason in good standing. If the individual is not a Mason then he/she is still allowed to join provided they are a family member of a Master Mason that is in good standing.

The organizational structures of the chapters are?

-a total of 18 officers consisting of both elected and appointed. -two of the offices consist of the Patron and Associate Patron and must be male -Nine offices are filled by female, which includes Matron and Associate Matron -The Officer of the specific chapter is the Worthy Matron Degrees cannot be put into play without the Patron and Associate Patron.

The individual chapters have the authority to decide who can become a member of their chapter. In order to be elected to any of the degrees the votes must be unanimous and there will be no debate. The member must believe in a ?supreme being? just as the regular Freemasons. The initiation is spread out over five degrees then recognized in one ceremony.

Originally this organization was suppose to be one of three degrees with the Queen of the South being the second and the third would have been the Order of the Amaranth.

As we mentioned in order to become a member a candidate must only believe in a ?Supreme Being? yet the degrees are derived from the teachings of the Old and New Testaments. This means although the charter doesn?t state that non-Christians would be disallowed, it would be quite difficult for a non-Christian to belong to the organization because of what its teachings are based on.

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The Story Of The First World Series

Friday, July 10th, 2009

The very first World Series was played in 1903 between the Boston American League club (now the Boston Red Sox) and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Although the very first world series wasn’t played until 1903, there was a previous championship called “The Championship of the United States” and “World’s Championship Series”, which the winners of the National League and American Association had played from 1884 to 1891. The Series ended when the American Association folded in 1891.

Ban Johnson formed the American League in 1901 to try and take advantage of the National League’s cut down from twelve teams down to eight. Ban Johnson and fellow owners raided the senior circuit and signed away many star players. This constant raiding formed the idea of a championship between the National and American Leagues.

The two leagues finally called a truce in the winter of 1902. The following August, Barney Dreyfuss, owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates challenged the Boston American League Club to an eleven game Championship Series but instead agreed to a best-of-nine championship The first three games were played in Boston, the next four in Pittsburgh, and the remaining two in Boston.

Some in-game action saw Sam Leever, pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates injuring his shoulder while trap-shooting. His teammate Deacon Phillippe had to stand in and pitch five complete games for Pittsburgh. He even set a World Series record by striking out ten Boston batters, but that record was later broke again, as Dinneen struck out eleven Pittsburgh batters in Game 2!

The Boston Americans came back behind to win the final four games. The end result for the very first World Series, Boston won the first World Series five games to three, winning the last four.

Barney Dreyfuss, owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates added his share of the gate receipts to the players’ share. This meant that the losing team’s players actually finished with a larger individual share than the winning team.

The very first World Series was a voluntary arrangement between the two clubs, and so a 1904 World Series did not take place.

The success of the first World Series proved the newly formed American League could beat the best of the National League, increasing the demand for future World Series’. And so in 1905, the World Series was made into a formal compulsory annual event.

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Life After Death: I Sense Him Near - But How Do I Know?

Sunday, June 28th, 2009

Afterlife Phil G shares his mailbag to help Lisa from Britain to connect with her father in the Afterlife: “I lost my father, I sense him near, but my thoughts are so mixed up I can’t actually know if it’s his thoughts or mine…”

“Sensing contact with the afterlife doesn’t mean you can easily understand or believe the contact is real or clear, especially if it’s someone very close to you - you need to find a way to verify things the contact is real, and not just imagined.”

I had the same problem and it’s why I developed my simple technique. (Accidentally, as visitors to my website on life after death). Firstly, if you sense him around, then he’s with you. I know some would say that’s being nave, but it’s true and you can prove it yourself.

I assume you’re past the stage of believing in being able to contact the afterlife so I’ll go to knowing the difference between your own words and thoughts, and those of someone who’s ‘talking’ to you from ‘the other side’. The first step, even if you’re aware of a connection, is to relax. Like a very deep meditation.

The tools I make available include: the YouTube video “CoffeeTime”, The Poem “Don’t Grieve” (page 3 on the website), the “ABC of connecting” (on Page 7 of the website), and then of course the Book or Audio guides page. I suggest these because they all contain what I believe is the important steps to getting clarification.

In order to get clear detail or feeling is to make a difference between the thoughts in your head, and the thoughts being PLACED in your head. One key is to not ask for or expect specific thoughts, or ’signs’, but to accept whatever comes through (or not). Maybe you won’t get what you’re expecting, but slowly, you will clearly get things. And it gets easier the more you do this.

The reason you need to relax and let go is so that any random thought can come in. When you are aware of things, and your mind is switched on, you think things through too much, you analyse too much, and that stops the flow of information. It’s like asking someone’s advice, and then thinking your own thoughts and not listening - you won’t hear them, you’ll only hear your own thoughts. You may not get what you want right now, but you’ll get things, and it gets easier.

Lastly, you want to confirm what you got was not just your own thoughts, and my personal suggestion is to ask for something you don’t know, or something you’re forgotten. Something you don’t know can be any random thing. In my wife’s case, the final ‘proof’ she needed to verify I was sharing messages from her father was an image I saw of a round cylinder containing a bunch of pens and pencils, being knocked to the ground. I had not seen her office, did not know she had pens and pencils in a container like that (she doesn’t at home), and she had in fact knocked it off the desk that day.

In my book ‘Soul Matters - you can talk with those you miss’ I talk about my Nanna coming through one evening. (She passed away when I was about 7) She showed me a scone on a plate. I had no idea what this meant, until I heard her voice say “don’t you remember the scones?” - then I remembered. I had asked my mum over and over to make scones like my Nanna (The British make scones much better than Aussies do!) I had completely forgotten that.

So ask those two questions, and trust whatever is brought through will make sense, and verify your connection. You see, it’s not so much as you need to know HOW to connect, but how to clarify what you’re getting, and although the steps I’ve listed do both, in your case, concentrate on those little differences between just ‘feeling he’s near’ and ‘asking for verification’.

I hope this works for you. Tell me how you get on in a few months by using the feedback link on the website (philg.net.au). I’m sure you’ll get the clarity and proof you desire.

Phil G

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Reduce Mellow-Roos Property Taxes

Friday, June 19th, 2009

The Howard Jarvis Administration was the driving force in implementing Proposition 13 which put a cap on property taxes in the state of California. As a result, of Proposition 13 California Homeowners were forced to find new methods to pay for government community improvements in their neighborhoods like roads, schools, parks, etc. The Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act of 1982 was enacted by the State legislature, the Act created Community Facilities Districts (CFD’s) to be put into place as a means of obtaining this crucial neighborhood financing.

The quantity of Mellow-Roos Property Taxes changes from one CFD to another. Normally, an approved formula that applies to the size of the home (square footage or lot size) is utilized to determine the quantity of an individual assessment. Often, the special property tax and assessments do not go above 1% to 1.5% of the market value of new homes. Additionally, the total amount of all annual property taxes usually does not exceed 2% to 2.5% of the residence’s taxable property base value. So if you are able to lower your taxable base value or in other words, your propety taxes you will save a significant amount of money if you have Mellow-Roos Taxes on your home because of the increased percentage in property taxes you pay.

In California many taxpayers in most urban areas have lost in excess of $200,000 in market value on their homes and at the normal rate of 1.25% in property taxes they will save $2,500 per year for every year they keep their residence! Yet, that same taxpayer at a 2% property tax rate because of Mellow-Roos taxes will save over $4,000 every year in property taxes! If you are paying Mellow-Roos and have lost $200,000 since you purchased your home and let’s say you intend to stay in your home for the next 10 years, you will save $40,000! Don’t settle for Proposition 8 the temporary decline in property taxes, its only temporary. Learning to PERMANENTLY lower your taxable base value in California is the key to saving thousands over the course of your home ownership which is disclosed in the California Little Black Book.

Generally Mellow-Roos Property Taxes are applicable to recently built neighborhoods such as sizable Planned Unit Developments (PUD) where there have been numerous houses built in a short period of time and the property taxes are necessary to create city services. Ive seen Planned Unit Developments that had more than 4,000 houses built! So, the county and city governments need to find funds to establish the roads, sewage systems, schools, recreation centers, parks and so much more. Before buying a home with Mellow-Roos property taxes you will be informed in the initial negotiation stages of buying the home and while in escrow that these property taxes apply. You won’t be blind sighted by Mellow-Roos Taxes, it is required that you are notified prior to buying.

About the Author: Valerie Faltas, Property Tax Expert has been involved in all facets of real estate for over ten years including assessments, appraisals, estates and trusts, investing and much more. She is a Certified Property Tax Appraiser, Licensed Residential Appraiser and a member of the International Association of Assessment Officers. As a real estate investor and advisor she is well versed in all aspects of real estate. To contact Valerie Faltas go to her website: www.propertytaxlittleblackbook.com.

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