Did you know that many local governments have grants that are not publicized? Some communities have funding set aside, but they don’t publicize it. Often, the only way to find out about available funding is to call or visit your government offices, find the resident grant expert, and inquire about available programs. The best example of this is someone from my own office who wanted a grant to help her with a down payment on a new house.

Most of us want to live in the kind of world where other people have the same good character traits as we do. We expect honesty, mutual respect, and ethics. There are lots of people who live up to these standards, but some who will fall short. Especially in business and real estate dealings, it’s smart to have cordial, professional working relationships, but to also protect your own interests at the same time.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Community Development Block Grant Program. The Community Development Block Grant program was enacted into law as part of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. The Community Development Block Grant Program’s main purpose is to provide decent, safe and sanitary housing, a suitable living environment, and economic opportunities to low- and moderate-income people. To this day, the Community Development Block Grant Program remains the principal source of revenue for localities to utilize in devising flexible solutions to prevent physical, economic, and social deterioration in lower-income neighborhoods and communities throughout the nation.

Each of us is just one person, and sometimes we can feel powerless against giant institutions, especially bodies of government. After all, they’re notorious for being bureaucratic and staffed by uncaring workers who take pleasure in thwarting citizens, right? The politicians are no better, promising everything to get elected, then forgetting about us little people once they’re in.

Native Americans historically have had lower rates of home ownership and business ownership than the overall population of the United States. Finding the funding to buy a house or start a business can be tough, especially in times of tighter lending standards. In response to this, the federal government has made government money available through various programs. To address the issue of low rates of home ownerships,

There’s a saying that originated in old Hollywood in the 1930s: “Be Nice to People on Your Way Up. You’ll Meet ‘Em On Your Way Down.” You know what? That’s great advice for business and real estate investing too, and when you’re looking to get a grant. From the very beginning, in every transaction, it’s to your benefit to treat others with kindness and respect. Of course, that’s just the right

If you are having difficulty deciding whether or not to hire a grant writer, below are some pros and cons that can help you decide what is right for you. One advantage of hiring a writer to assist you with putting together your proposal is that it can mean faster results. The basic job of a grant writer is to complete your work based on your financial strategy in a timely manner.

FIRST-home buyers are rushing to beat changes in subsidies aimed at encouraging them into the market. Real estate agents, mortgage brokers and conveyancers are seeing increased interest since the State Government announced it would dump the $7000 first-home buyer government grant for established homes.

One of the popular uses of government funding is acquiring real estate. Many of my students have used government funding programs to buy their first home or upgrade their existing residence. Others still are real estate investors, either with some experience or just getting started. No matter whether you’re a novice or a seasoned investor, there are four basic principles of real estate that you can put to work to catapult your success

I get a lot of questions about government grant proposals, and I’ve reviewed a fair number of them. I’ve seen some instances where people want to make a grand political statement as part of their government grant request or making the basis of their funding request kind of a pushback against some public policy that they don’t agree with.

Most people purchase real estate in hopes of earning wealth from their purchase, just as they would with any other investment asset. However, real estate is unique in that it has four distinct components of investment return. Essentially, here are the four ways you can make money as a result of real estate ownership:

– Appreciation in value
– Cash flows
– Income tax benefits
– Mortgage principal pay down

It’s important to note that just because there are several components of returns, that does not mean you will earn money on real estate investments. Many people lose money due to insufficient research and analysis, as well as through unmitigated risk issues. Do your homework before investing in real estate.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently awarded nearly $10.5 million in grants designed to protect children and other vulnerable groups from health hazards in their homes. This grant funding highlights the link between housing and health and develops cost effective methods for mitigating residential hazards. HUD’s grants are being awarded to academic and non-profit research institutions studying new methods to recognize and control residential health and safety hazards such as asthma triggers, bed bugs, mold, and radon.

The key to receiving grant funding is the grant proposal. The grant proposal is the way that you tell the grant funder who you are, show that you’re worthy of grant funding, and describe how you plan to carry out the activities required to get the grant funding. Grant proposal is a catch-all term, but there actually are several types of proposals.

If you’re an American who pays taxes, at tax time and throughout the year, you need to be aware of what may trigger audits from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). First, though, be aware that in general, your chances of being audited are only about 1.5% if you’re just an average taxpayer. There are, however, some so-called “red flags” that may increase the odds that you’ll be picked for an audit.