Real Estate Prices, Borrowing
Real Estate Prices, Borrowing Constraints and Business Cycles -A Study of the Japanese Economy This file is part of IDEAS , which uses RePEc data [ Papers | Articles | Software | Books | Chapters | Authors | Institutions | JEL Classification | NEP reports | Search | New papers by email | Author registration | Rankings | Volunteers | FAQ | Help! ] Real Estate Prices, Borrowing Constraints and Business Cycles -A Study of the Japanese Economy Author info | Abstract | Publisher info | Download info | Related research | Statistics Author Info Suparna Chakraborty (University of Minnesota & Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis) Additional information is available for the following registered author(s): Suparna Chakraborty Abstract This paper investigates the causes of business cycle fluctuations that Japan experienced over the period 1980 to 2000. To this end, I build a dynamic general equilibrium model with endogenous borrowing constraints where business cycle fluctuations are the result of TFP fluctuations and investment frictions. I identify land tax changes since 1984 as a possible source of investment frictions, the idea being that given a strong preference for debt-financing and widespread use of land as collateral in Japan, land tax changes will cause fluctuations in land price that can potentially affect output and investment by affecting borrowing capacity of firms. Calibrating the model using Japanese data and feeding in observed TFP and land taxes one by one and in unison, I find that TFP and land tax fluctuations can significantly account for observed fluctuations in output, but cannot account for land price fluctuations unless agents expect land tax changes to be permanent. I further identify redistribution of land holding between commercial and residential uses in response to land tax and TFP changes as an important channel through which the effect of these external fluctuations on output gets amplified. Observed data of land use in Japan provides evidence of such redistribution. Download Info To download: If you experience problems downloading a file, check if you have theproper application toview it first. Information about this may be containedin the File-Format links below. In case of further problems read the IDEAS helpfile . Note that these files are not on the IDEASsite. Please be patient as the files may be large. File URL: http://econwpa.wustl.edu:80/eps/mac/papers/0504/0504012.pdf File Format: application/pdf File Function: Download Restriction: no Publisher Info Paper provided by Economics Working Paper Archive EconWPA in its series Macroeconomics with number 0504012. Download reference. The following formats are available: HTML , plain text , BibTeX , RIS , ReDIF Length: 60 pages Date of creation: 06 Apr 2005 Date of revision: Handle: RePEc:wpa:wuwpma:0504012 Keywords: Real estate, borrowing constraint, business cycle, japan Note: Type of Document - pdf; pages: 60 Contact details of provider: Web page: http://econwpa.wustl.edu Order Information: For technical questions: (EconWPA). Related research Other versions of this item: Find related papers by JEL classification: E - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports : NEP-ALL-2005-04-17 (All new papers) NEP-MAC-2005-04-20 (Macroeconomics) NEP-SEA-2005-04-18 (South East Asia) NEP-URE-2005-05-02 (Urban & Real Estate Economics) References listed on IDEAS Please report citation or reference errors to : Carlstrom, Charles T & Fuerst, Timothy S, 1997." Agency Costs, Net Worth, and Business Fluctuations: A Computable General Equilibrium Analysis ," American Economic Review ,American Economic Association, vol. 87(5), pages 893-910. [Downloadable!] Other versions: Charles T. Carlstrom & Timothy S. Fuerst, 1996." Agency costs, net worth, and business fluctuations: a computable general equilibrium analysis ," Working Paper 9602, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. [Downloadable!] Ryo Kato, 2002." Matlab code for the Carlstrom-Fuerst AER (1997) model ," QM&RBC Codes 112, Quantitative Macroeconomics & Real Business Cycles. [Downloadable!] V. V. Chari & Patrick J. Kehoe & Ellen R. McGrattan, 2002." Accounting for the Great Depression ," Working Papers 619, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. [Downloadable!] Other versions: V. V. Chari & Patrick J. Kehoe & Ellen R. McGrattan, 2003." Accounting for the Great Depression ," Quarterly Review ,Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, issue Spr. [Downloadable!] V. V. Chari & Patrick J. Kehoe & Ellen R. McGrattan, 2002." Accounting for the Great Depression ," American Economic Review ,American Economic Association, vol. 92(2), pages 22-27. [Downloadable!] Dekle, Robert & Kletzer, Kenneth, 2003." The Japanese banking crisis and economic growth: Theoretical and empirical implications of deposit guarantees and weak financial regulation ," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies ,Elsevier, vol. 17(3), pages 305-335. [Downloadable!] Other versions: Robert Dekle & Kenneth Kletzer, 2003." The Japanese Banking Crisis and Economic Growth: Theoretical and Empirical Implications of Deposit Guarantees and Weak Financial Regulation ," Santa Cruz Center for International Economics, Working Paper Series 1002, Center for International Economics, UC Santa Cruz. [Downloadable!] Robert Dekle & Kenneth Kletzer, 2003." The Japanese Banking Crisis and Economic Growth: Theoretical and Empirical Implications of Deposit Guarantees and Weak Financial Regulation ," CIRJE F-Series CIRJE-F-225, CIRJE, Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo. [Downloadable!] Bernanke, Ben & Gertler, Mark, 1989." Agency Costs, Net Worth, and Business Fluctuations ," American Economic Review ,American Economic Association, vol. 79(1), pages 14-31. [Downloadable!] Pedro Amaral & James C. MacGee, 2002." The Great Depression in Canada and the United States: A Neoclassical Perspective ," Review of Economic Dynamics ,Academic Press for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 5(1), pages 45-72. [Downloadable!] Other versions: Pedro Amaral & James Macgee, 2002." Data Appendix to The Great Depression in Canada and the United States: A Neoclassical Perspective ," Technical Appendices amaral02, Review of Economic Dynamics. [Downloadable!] Michael D. Bordo & Christopher J. Erceg & Charles L. Evans, 1997." Money, sticky wages, and the great depression ," International Finance Discussion Papers 591, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.). [Downloadable!] Burnside, Craig & Eichenbaum, Martin & Rebelo, Sergio, 1993." Labor Hoarding and the Business Cycle ," Journal of Political Economy ,University of Chicago Press, vol. 101(2), pages 245-73. [Downloadable!] Other versions: Craig Burnside & Martin Eichenbaum & Sergio Rebelo, 1993." Labor Hoarding and the Business Cycle ," NBER Working Papers 3556, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] Michael D. Bordo & Christopher J. Erceg & Charles L. Evans, 1997." Money, sticky wages, and the Great Depression ," Working Paper Series, Macroeconomic Issues WP-97-2, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. [Downloadable!] Ben Bernanke & Mark Gertler, 1987." Financial Fragility and Economic Performance ," NBER Working Papers 2318, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] Other versions: Bernanke, Ben & Gertler, Mark, 1990." Financial Fragility and Economic Performance ," The Quarterly Journal of Economics ,MIT Press, vol. 105(1), pages 87-114. [Downloadable!] Takeo Hoshi & Anil Kashyap, 1999." The Japanese Banking Crisis: Where Did It Come From and How Will It End? ," NBER Working Papers 7250, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] Woo, David, 1999." In Search of "Capital Crunch" - Supply Factors Behind the Credit Slowdown in Japan ," IMF Working Papers 99/3, International Monetary Fund. [Downloadable!] McGrattan, Ellen R., 1996." Solving the stochastic growth model with a finite element method ," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control ,Elsevier, vol. 20(1-3), pages 19-42. [Downloadable!] Other versions: Ellen R. McGrattan, 1993." Solving the stochastic growth model with a finite element method ," Staff Report 164, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. [Downloadable!] Bernanke, B. & Gertler, M., 1995." Inside the Black Box: The Credit Channel of Monetary Policy Transmission ," Working Papers 95-15, C.V. Starr Center for Applied Economics, New York University. Other versions: Ben S. Bernanke & Mark Gertler, 1995." Inside the Black Box: The Credit Channel of Monetary Policy Transmission ," NBER Working Papers 5146, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] Bernanke, Ben S & Gertler, Mark, 1995." Inside the Black Box: The Credit Channel of Monetary Policy Transmission ," Journal of Economic Perspectives ,American Economic Association, vol. 9(4), pages 27-48. [Downloadable!] Harold L. Cole & Lee E. Ohanian, 1999." The Great Depression in the United States from a neoclassical perspective ," Quarterly Review ,Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, issue Win, pages 2-24. [Downloadable!] Backus, David K & Kehoe, Patrick J & Kydland, Finn E, 1992." International Real Business Cycles ," Journal of Political Economy ,University of Chicago Press, vol. 100(4), pages 745-75. [Downloadable!] Other versions: David K. Backus & Patrick J. Kehoe & Finn E. Kydland, 1991." International real business cycles ," Staff Report 146, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. [Downloadable!] Nobuhiro Kiyotaki & John Moore, 1995." Credit Cycles ," NBER Working Papers 5083, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] repec:fip:fedmqr:y:1999:i:wint:p:2-24:n:v.23no.1 is not listed on IDEAS anymore repec:nbr:nberre:1794 is not listed on IDEAS anymore Michael D. Bordo & Christopher J. Erceg & Charles N. Evans, 1997." Money, Sticky Wages, and the Great Depression ," NBER Working Papers 6071, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] Fullreferences Statistics Access and download statistics Did you know? About 450 journals are listed on RePEc . This page was last updated on 2005-12-27. This information is provided to you by IDEAS at UConn Economics using RePEc data
Real Estate Investing, Foreclosures
Real Estate Investing - Facts and Advice About Real Estate Investing You are here: About > Home & Garden > Home Buying / Selling > Investing & Foreclosures Home & Garden Home Buying / Selling Essentials 10 Things Home Buyers Shouldn't Do Best Tips for First Time Home Buyers "Must-Do" Tasks Before You Sell How to Buy a Home, Step by Step For Sale by Owner Advice Articles & Resources How To Buy a Home How To Sell a House Celebrity & Historic Credit Reports & Scores Design & Remodel Home Maintenance Inspections & Appraisals Investing & Foreclosures Modular & Manufactured Mold, Radon, Lead, etc. Mortgage Advice Moving & Relocation Real Estate Careers Real Estate For Sale Vacation Homes Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Home Buying Books Foreclosure Books Mortgage Books Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Home Buying / Selling newsletter! See Online Courses Search Home Buying / Selling > Investing & Foreclosures Real Estate Investing, Foreclosures & Taxes Tools to help you learn about real estate investing. What choices do you have? What's the "best" real estate investment for a beginner? You'll also find information about tax-deferred exchanges and other tax issues. Subtopics 1031 Exchange (6) Investing in Foreclosures @ Capital Gains (6) Investment Strategies (0) Commercial RE (5) Lease Option Ideas (5) Foreclosures (25) Marketing Your Rentals (5) Invest Analysis Software (2) Rental Property Tips (5) Articles & Resources Sort By : Guide Picks | Alphabetical | Recent How To Do a 1031 Tax Deferred Exchange Performing a 1031 tax deferred exchange allows you to defer Capital Gains taxes on real estate bought and sold for investment purposes. Learn how the process works and get the information you need to do a successful 1031 exchange. Acquiring Income Producing Property Here's a multi-page document that offers tips and techniques on just about every aspect of buying and managing rental properties. Buying Investment Property A Realty Times article that outlines a few ways to finance your investment acquisitions. How To Calculate Cash Flow from Rental Properties This document takes you step-by-step through a cash flow calculation. How To Set the Right Rent Tips to help you determine the right rent to charge for your investment properties. Investment Property / Rental Home Calculator This calculator provides an analysis of cash flow and net worth on investment property purchases. Take a look. Property Investment: Single Family Rental Homes Homestore.com explains why single family homes are a popular investment choice. This articles includes information about financing and taxes, and discusses probable scenarios about cash flow. Real Estate Investing HouseClicks offers a great deal of information about different methods you might use to begin investing in real estate. Real Estate Investment Strategies John T. Read's text is helpful for the beginning real estate investor. Short Term or Long Term This information from HouseClicks might help you decide if a short or long term real estate investment is best for your current needs. When Should You Sell Investment Property? Not just about selling, this Realty Times article also contains advice about choosing the right investment. Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About Oprah's Life Vacation Ideas Shop Safely Online VIDEO: Craft Rooms VIDEO: Christmas Traditions What's Hot Coping with Unethical People How To Buy Land Real Estate Appraisal Before You Buy a Log Home Package Home Buying / Selling - GuideReviews Headlines Getting Ready to Sell Your House Guests and lots of activities make it difficult to show... Before You Buy Gas Logs Gas logs are growing in popularity every year, so manufacturers... Pros and Cons of Becoming a Real Estate Agent You've decided you want to become a real estate agent,... Step-by-Step Directions Help You Measure Square Footage Each year, home owners discover that their new home's square...
Buy house in the
The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Business Monday , October 21, 2002, Chandigarh, India THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS 50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS B U S I N E S S Y O U R M O N E Y A GUIDE TO PERSONAL FINANCE REAL ESTATE Buy house in the colony developed by a coloniser I t is a misconception that the group-housing concept to provide affordable housing accommodation to the public at no-profit no-loss basis has failed in this region. Marginal success to the scheme is mainly attributed to the faulty policies of the government. Tips for buyers A word of caution MARKET SCAN Low response to good results D uring this fortnight corporate results announced so far for the quarter ended September 2002 were good and encouraging but the market response was low and unencouraging. Local residents look at an Italian-made "Pagani Zonda C12S" car in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on Saturday. The car will be displayed at an auto show which starts on October 22 in Guangzhou. The car has an approximate value of 4 million Hong Kong Dollars ($500,000). Reuters EARLIER STORIES Disinvestment programme has come to a halt: Shourie October 20, 2002 Wipro net profit inches up 2 pc October 19, 2002 Ranbaxy net profit rockets 79 pc October 18, 2002 Disinvestment of A-I, IA ruled out October 17, 2002 SBI and ICICI among top 100 Asian banks October 16, 2002 Cotton output falls October 15, 2002 Gold does not glitter any more October 14, 2002 Deadlines for polluting firms may be extended October 13, 2002 Hughes Soft clocks 32 pc growth in net October 12, 2002 CHECK-OUT Get expensive items insured before mailing S ending an expensive Divali gift to someone special through speed post? Well, here is a note of warning: if the gift gets lost or damaged during transit, all you are entitled to as compensation is twice the amount of money that you have paid towards speed post charges. PREPARING FOR RETIREMENT Sun Life provides umbrella R isks are an integral part of human life. Events that occur in our daily lives indicate time and again that we must prepare ourselves to deal with these risks in a well-planned manner. One of the important precautionary measures stems from an insurance cover. Aims at building wealth Value for money Retirement benefits Flexi Save Endowment Plan FIIs net buyers in equities Inflation falls REAL ESTATE Buy house in the colony developed by a coloniser R. P. Malhotra I t is a misconception that the group-housing concept to provide affordable housing accommodation to the public at no-profit no-loss basis has failed in this region. Marginal success to the scheme is mainly attributed to the faulty policies of the government. For want of a foolproof process to register only the genuinely deserving members (end consumers) in the housing societies, the most of the members of these societies happen to be the speculators who have invested in the schemes for resale. Even the planners have not taken pains to study the demand factor while planning these housing projects as majority of these flats are of HIG category which are out of reach of the low budget buyers falling in the Rs 5-10 lakh slab. In Chandigarh, too, in the series of amendments to the existing building byelaws recently notified by the administration nothing has been done to the stringent conditions applicable to the transfer of property falling under the low budget category keeping the housing board flats/houses, nor transferable properties allotted on concessional rates and group-housing societies flats still forbidden for resale. Tips for buyers For the buyers intending to have a plot/house in these colonies, it is suggested to opt for only approved colonies. As per provisions of the Punjab Apartment Act any land owner, who wish to sell his property in parts as a residential colony, shall have to get the scheme approved from the local authority i.e., Local town planning Office by giving sample provisions for roads, parks, sewerage and water supply. A set percentage of land up to 35 per cent shall have to be left for these public utility services under this act. A word of caution Apart from this certain unscrupulous developers also illegally sell the land on GFA basis without leaving the prescribed area of land for common utility services thus creating unhealthy and inhabitable conditions for the habitats later on. Whereas plots are available @ Rs 2200 to Rs 2500 per square yard on inner roads and Rs 2500/- to Rs 3000/- per square yard on wider roads in approved colonies as compared to corresponding rate of 500/- and 1800/- per square yard in unapproved colonies. In addition to the deteriorated quality of life in the unapproved /unauthorised colonies there is permanent risk of demolition in case of departmental action. For a better community life the intending purchasers are suggested to constitute small group housing societies having members (as small as a group of ten people even less) from their own working circle. By pooling funds they can bargain with the coloniser for a fixed number of plots in one go and by entrusting the project to a single contractor they can save themselves from the construction hassles besides saving money on wholesale purchases. Sanctioning of loan cases will also be an easy process and the things can be processed on a single table. The buyers interested in going for built up flats/houses are also suggested to form small groups. Besides having a competitive bargain they can ask the developer/builder for their particular requirement for a block of houses/flats. Besides all this the intending buyers are advised to enquire from the promoter of the colony about the arrangements made for the supply of drinking water, provision for sewerage outlet, electric supply, width of roads and size of parks before going for a bargain. While selecting for the location of colony, care should be taken not to go for a location just on the main road, near the railway line and near the sewerage drain to avoid noise and pollution. Preference should be given to a colony having close proximity to the main road a school and a dispensary. Before going for a builders house/flat one must thoroughly study the technical blue prints and brochures of the builder. It is most important to ascertain what the builder is going to offer you in turn of your money. Various fittings, fixtures, facilities and services listed in the brochure may not turn out to be value-added services/items later while taking over the possession of the unit. One must also get conversant about the deceptive terminologies, such as of carpet area, covered area, plinth area and super area, being normally used by the builders. For example carpet area i.e. exact usable area is about 35-40% less than the supper area. Major details such as quality of material to be used type of flooring, type of joinery and quality of timber to be used and kind and variety of paint polish etc must also be ascertained and taken into writing before going for to bargain. Proper and effective arrangements of future maintenance of the area such as is roads sewerage water supply electricity and other civic services of the colony after the same is handed over to the occupiers should also be ensured before striking a deaf. Usually such bargains are struck on self-financing basis i.e., the buyers pay the builder in installments as the construction of the project progress through various stages. It becomes the foremost duty of the buyer to visit and supervise the construction activity of the entire project at different stages so as to ensure proper quality and workmanship. Notwithstanding anything contained in the one-sided agreement to purchase, executed between the buyer and the builder, the buyer is protected under the consumer protection act. Still the purchasers are advised to have an expert opinion before signing any of such agreements. cr MARKET SCAN Low response to good results J.C. Anand D uring this fortnight corporate results announced so far for the quarter ended September 2002 were good and encouraging but the market response was low and unencouraging. According to an analysis made by Business Standard, so far 116 companies have announced their results which indicate a growth of 15.06 per cent in sales and 34.42 per cent rise in net profits. The growth profit margin of these 116 companies has increased from 17.03 per cent to 19.86 per cent during the quarter, yet the Sensex has moved only by 2.41 per cent (71 points) during this quarter. Infosys Technologys second quarter results were higher than the markets expectations. It reported 16.1 per cent rise in software revenue with a net profit higher by 12.01 per cent. EPS is estimated at Rs 141 Rs 144, almost the same as in the first quarter. The company expects to have good growth rate in revenues for the third quarter. HDFC announced a bonus issue of one equity share for every share held and reported 21 per cent rise in net profit for the send quarter. FIIs also increased their holdings in software stock comprising Infosys, Mestak, Digital, Global Profit. Ranbaxys third quarter net profit was higher by 79 per cent. A large part of its sales and profitability came from exports. Hero Honda also reported excellent results for this quarter. Jai Bharat Marutis second quarter results indicate that its net profit has gone up to Rs 65.60 lakhs as against Rs 18.42 lakh for the corresponding period last year. Another good news was the AV Birla Groups announcement to buy Larson & Tubros share at Rs 190 per share from the open market, even though the open offer price was much lower than the market expectation. It is unlikely that the Birla Group will be able to collect the share at this price to push up their stake in the company from 14.9 per cent to about 35 per cent as it had announced its intention at the time of the open up. The UTI and financial institutions are unlikely to accept this offer as it is far lower than the price at which Birla Group had purchased Larson and Tubro shares from Reliance. I am of the view that those investors who hold Larson and Tubro shares should not sell it in the market at the open offer rate for the very fact that Birla Group is interested in acquiring management control of this company pushes up the market rating of this share. Even otherwise, Larson & Tubro is Indias top engineering and cement company in the private sector and its construction business is doing extremely well with a lot of fresh orders from India as well as from foreign countries. Another good news is that the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) indicates a growth rate of 5.7 per cent in the general index, though the growth rate in manufacturing is at 5.9 per cent and in capital goods at 10 per cent. India has also recorded a surplus in its current account for the first time in 24 years. The market response to the good corporate results and other welcome news has only been tepid. This is partially due to the fact that the date traders are anxious to book profit at the earliest. It is also possible that the market does not expect equally good results from those companies which have yet to report their second quarter results. Perhaps the more basic reason is that the market is worried about the state of our economy. Apart from S&Ps rating about the national currency, the drought caused by erratic and deficient monsoon rains this year are bound to depress our GDP growth rate this year. According to CMIEs analysis drought conditions are expected to lower overall agriculture production by 7 per cent. As a result, the real GDP is expected to grow only by 3.1 per cent. According to CMIE the real GDP growth rate has never reached 5 per cent in a year of agriculture decline in the past 30 years. Any long term investment should be made with a time scale of at least 2 to 3 years and this investment should be made only in a weak market. co CHECK-OUT by Pushpa Girimaji Get expensive items insured before mailing S ending an expensive Divali gift to someone special through speed post? Well, here is a note of warning: if the gift gets lost or damaged during transit, all you are entitled to as compensation is twice the amount of money that you have paid towards speed post charges. Even here, the maximum that you can get is Rs 1000! And if you think that you can approach the consumer court for relief , forget it. You will get no help there too. Recently, the apex consumer court examined in detail the liability of the post office in case of delay or non-delivery of postal articles sent by speed post. Its verdict was that the consumer courts cannot go beyond the statutory provisions and grant compensation in excess of what is statutorily fixed. And in case of speed post, since Rule 66B of the Indian Post Office Rules says that in case of loss or damage , the compensation shall be double the amount of the composite speed post charges or Rs 1000, whichever is less, the consumer courts cannot grant compensation beyond this amount, the court said. (In case of delay in delivery, whatever may be the consequence of such delay, you are entitled to only a refund of the Speed Post charge). In its order of September 18, 2002, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal commission examined three different petitions all pertaining to Speed Post service.. In the first petition Head Post Master, Post Office Railway Road, Kurukshetra, Haryana vs Vijay Rattan Aggarwal, the complaint pertained to two bank drafts for the sum of Rs 5 lakh sent by Speed Post on January 18, 1995. The post office, which undertook to deliver it within 24 hours, did not do so, forcing the complainant to obtain duplicate bank drafts on March 7, 1995. Claiming loss of interest and loss in business plus harassment, the complainant sought damages from the post office. The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum awarded Rs 20,000 as compensation, besides interest of 18 per cent on the amount of Rs 5 lakh for one and a half months. When this was upheld by the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, the post office filed a revision petition before the National Commission. In the second case, Union India vs Brahm Dev Upadhyay, the complainant, having passed the preliminary examination for Uttar Pradesh administrative service, sent by Speed Post the necessary papers required for the final examination. They were not delivered on time, as a result of which the complainant could not appear for the final examination. The District Forum awarded Rs 10,000 as damages . When the State Commission affirmed this order, the post office filed a revision petition. In the third case, Varun Garg vs Assistant Post Master, Post Office, the complainant sent an application form for admission to LLB course in Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak by speed post on May 19, 2000. The last date for submission of the application was May 22, but the application was received by the university after this date and was therefore not entertained. The District Forum before which Varun Garg filed a complaint said he was only entitled to a refund of Rs 20 paid towards speed post charges. This was upheld by the State Commission, upon which the complainant filed a revision petition before the apex consumer court. After examining the Indian Post Office Act and the Rules framed therein pertaining to Speed Post, the National Commission said there was no justification for grant of any compensation to the complainants. Said the Commission: Under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, we cannot go beyond the statutory provisions and grant compensation more than what is statutorily fixed. A Consumer Forum is even bound by the terms of the contract howsoever oppressive these may be unless those terms are against public policy, illegal or void. In other words, consumers cannot get compensation commensurate with the loss suffered on account of delay in delivery or loss or damage to the article entrusted for delivery through Speed Post. So if you are sending expensive goods by Speed Post or through a private courier, get it insured. If you are sending important documents for which you cannot take an insurance policy, just keep your fingers crossed and hope that it reaches the addressee on time and in good condition. PREPARING FOR RETIREMENT Sun Life provides umbrella Naveen S. Garewal R isks are an integral part of human life. Events that occur in our daily lives indicate time and again that we must prepare ourselves to deal with these risks in a well-planned manner. One of the important precautionary measures stems from an insurance cover. A life cover cannot prevent any unfortunate happening, but at least it mitigates the financial loss arising out of an unfortunate happening. It provides strength to face the financial loss that may arise from the loss of a bread earner. Life Insurance addresses multiple needs such as protection against disabilities, preparing one to face the unexpected mishaps, besides providing a plan for a retired life. Aims at building wealth Birla Sun Life insurance, a recent entrant into the insurance sector aims at targeting the youth, providing them with a financial plan. The company says that it provides to the youth a right step to build wealth through a systematic process that offers economic security and provides what each of us craves for - peace of mind. Value for money The Birla Sun Life Insurance that offers five products boasts that its products offer investment options, market driven returns, guaranteed values, high surrender values no exit loads beyond five years, free look period, mix and match options, large protection cover, favourable premiums for female clients, tax benefits and automatic premium payment. Birla Sun Life also offers what it calls Riders. Riders are additional benefits that you may buy and add to your policy in a way that it customises the policy according to an individuals needs. These include the accidental death and dismemberment rider, term rider and critical illness rider. Retirement benefits What you get at retirement is directly proportional to what you save. The age when you start saving in an endowment plan can drastically alter the wealth you acquire at retirement. Take a simple case study where Mr. A, aged 30 years with an annual income of Rs 2 lakh (growing 15 per cent annually) started saving 15 per cent annually till retirement age of 60 years. Given a return of 12 per cent and an expected inflation of 6 per cent, he should have a retirement income of Rs 95,000 per month taking the inflation into count. But if he were to wait till age 40 before he started saving (from an income of Rs 3 lakh annual), he would get a pension of only Rs 24,000 per month. Flexi Save Endowment Plan The Flexi Save Plus Endowment Plan has been designed to offer insurance protection; while at the same time provide an opportunity for investment. Birla Sun Life aims at stressing the point that the premium paid over the years helps the savings to grow and thus helps meet expenses like childrens higher studies, their marriages, retirement funding etc The flexi save plus endowment plan is designed to accumulate the savings through regular premium payment for a fixed duration of time or in a single lump sum to realise the long-term goals and protect the family with insurance cover unique features of the Flexi Save Plus Endowment Plan include choice of duration plan, flexibility of premium payment, choice of investment options, automatic premium payment and access to your funds during the plan duration. The Flexi Save Plus Endowment Plan is available to all between age 1 to 65 years wherein the minimum face amount (Sum Assured) is Rs 50,000 for minors and Rs 75,000 for adults. The duration of the plan can be 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 years as per the policy plan or as per maturity age of 60, 65,70 and 80 years. The premium-paying period varies from a single pay to 5,10, 15, 20 years with a paying option of premium payment frequency ranging from annually, semi-annually, quarterly or one-time payment. The policy offers a transparency in surrender values and lets you know the exact amount due in case of pre-mature plan termination. Also the policy tells you before hand the amount due on survival up to maturity, surrender value in the maturity year + the balance in additional holding account. Besides the amount due to nominee in event of death of the life insured is disclosed before hand. Riders on the policy that can be bought at an additional cost include accidental death and dismemberment, term and critical illness. The policy also offers a tax benefits under section 88 Sec 10 (10 D) of the Income Tax Act (To be concluded) FIIs net buyers in equities Mumbai, October 20 The foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net buyers in equities at Rs 56.1 crore ($ 11.5 million) during the trading week ended October 18. The FIIs, however, for the third straight trading week of the month stayed away from the debt market and did not transact a single deal, according to data available with the SEBI here. As per SEBI information, mutual funds netted sales of Rs 165.63 crore in equities and were net buyers to the tune of Rs 394.07 crore in debt instruments. PTI bb Inflation falls New Delhi, October 20 Notwithstanding the domestic oil price hike, inflation declined by another 0.32 per cent to 3.02 per cent for the week ended October 5 even as vegetables became costlier. The hike in vegetable prices was to a great extent contained by fall in the price of foodgrains and fruits, leading to point-to-point Wholesale Price Index (WPI) dip for the third consecutive week from 3.34 per cent in the previous week and the index was 3.18 per cent a year ago. PTI | Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 122 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail |
Texas Land Trusts Top
TPWD: News Release — Nov. 24, 2003/Texas Land Trusts Top 1-Million Mark in Acres Conserved Maincontent Local Navigation print friendly search Regulations Publications Outdoor Learning Kids Game Warden Grants Get Involved Shop FAQ Calendar Español Experience Texas Fishing & Boating State Parks & Destinations Hunting & Wildlife Land & Water Doing Business Home Land & Water Land Private Tltc News Articles Links: What's a Lone Star Land Steward? Preserving Texas's Cultural Heritage Turning Brownfields Green Private Landowners Wildlife/Agricultural Tax Exemption Nov. 24, 2003 Texas Land Trusts Top 1-Million Mark in Acres Conserved AUSTIN, Texas -- Private landowners working with Texas land trusts have now conserved more than 1,307,681 acres of land, according to new statistics from the Texas Land Trust Council. The new acreage total sets another record, an increase from last year’s record total of 995,122 acres, a figure roughly comparable to the size of the entire Texas State Parks system. There are 39 land trusts in Texas. Some are national organizations with active Texas chapters, such as The Nature Conservancy and the Trust for Public Land. But most are regional groups unique to Texas, such as the Katy Prairie Conservancy and the Valley Land Fund. “Land trusts have sometimes been behind-the-scenes players, working quietly but effectively to protect open space and wildlife habitat,” said Robert L. Cook, TPWD executive director. “But today the visibility and conservation role of land trusts in our state is growing. These organizations are increasingly important to private landowners who are looking for help to address our biggest threat to wildlife, which is loss of habitat.” According to the Natural Resource Conservation Service’s 1997 National Resources Inventory, Texas led the nation during the 1990s in converting rural prairies, forests and coastline into shopping centers and houses, farms and factories. Texas loses about 283 square miles of rural open space to development each year. Land trusts join ranchers and other landowners together to combat these threats, and they represent the fastest growing conservation movement today, according to Carolyn Vogel, who works with the Texas Land Trust Council at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “With Texans searching for ways to address conservation at the local level, the number of land trusts has multiplied with 22 new land trusts established in Texas in the past 12 years,” she said. The Protected Lands Inventory Survey asked Texas land trust members about acres conserved in their operating area, conservation methods used, and conservation purposes such as providing wildlife habitat or protecting water quality. Lands conserved include cactus-studded deserts, mile-high mountains, sunny coasts and dense forests. “Today Texas has close to 21 million people,” said John Hamilton, Texas Land Trust Council board president. “In 25 years, the population is expected to grow by 50 percent to more than 30 million people. Our open spaces are under tremendous stress that is only going to multiply.” For a directory of Texas land trusts, plus information about tools such as conservation easements and links to other resources, see the Texas Land Trust Council Web pages ( http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/land/private/tltc/ ). TH 11/24/2003 Contact Us | Help | Accessibility | Media | Site Policies | Complaints | Intranet | State of Texas | TRAILS Search | TexasOnline | Compact with Texans Texas Parks and Wildlife Department , 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744 Toll Free: (800) 792-1112, Austin: (512) 389-4800 Content of this site © Texas Parks and Wildlife Department unless otherwise noted. Last modified: October 12, 2005, 12:46 pm
home equity loans Average
NYS Banking Department-Home Equity Loans Survey Interest Rate Information Home Equity Loans Markets Albany Buffalo Long Island New York Metro Rochester Syracuse Westchester Co, NY Definition of terms used in this survey New York State home equity loans Average Highest Lowest 7.31 8.50 5.50 Albany Institution Telephone Date Rate Fees and Conditions Bank of America, NA 800-299-2265 12/23/05 8.45 .25% disc w/auto debit; $5,000 min Central National Bank 800-449-6842 12/23/05 7.00 .50% disc w/auto debit; $7,500 min Citibank 800-627-3999 12/23/05 7.40 .25% disc w/auto debit; $25,000 min Citizens Bank, N.A. 800-922-9999 12/23/05 6.35 $10,000 min First Niagara Bank 518-270-3200 12/23/05 6.75 .25% disc w/auto debit; $340 fee; $10,000 min HSBC Bank USA 800-975-HSBC 12/23/05 8.38 $10,000 min KeyBank 888-KEY-1234 12/23/05 7.14 Range: 7.14-8.94%; .25% disc w/auto debit; $99 fee; $5,000 min M&T Bank 800-724-2440 12/23/05 7.74 .25% disc w/auto debit; $15,000 min Pioneer Savings Bank 518-274-4800 12/23/05 6.00 $50 fee; $2,500 min TrustCo Bank 518-436-9043 12/23/05 7.00 $5,000 min Buffalo Institution Telephone Date Rate Fees and Conditions Bank of Akron 716-542-5401 12/23/05 6.25 $500 fee; no min Bank of America 800-299-2265 12/23/05 8.45 .25% disc w/auto debit; $5,000 min Chase Bank 800-CHA-SE24 12/23/05 7.75 Range: 7.75-10.45%; .25% disc w/auto debit; $5,000 min Citibank 800-627-3999 12/23/05 7.40 .25% disc w/auto debit; $25,000 min Citizens Bank, N.A. 800-922-9999 12/23/05 6.35 $10,000 min Evans National Bank 716-549-6000 12/23/05 6.50 .25% disc w/auto debit; $7,500 min First Niagara Bank 877-722-9842 12/23/05 6.75 .25% disc w/auto debit; $340 fee; $10,000 min HSBC Bank USA 800-975-HSBC 12/23/05 8.38 $10,000 min KeyBank 888-KEY-1234 12/23/05 7.14 Range: 7.14-8.94%; .25% disc w/auto debit; $99 fee; $5,000 min M&T Bank 800-724-2440 12/23/05 7.74 .25% disc w/auto debit; $15,000 min Long Island Institution Telephone Date Rate Fees and Conditions Astoria Federal S&LA 800-278-6742 12/23/05 7.63 .25% disc w/auto debit; $20 yrly fee; $10,000 min Bank of America 800-299-2265 12/23/05 8.45 .25% disc w/auto debit; $5,000 min Bank of New York 212-495-1784 12/23/05 6.25 $10,000 min Chase Bank 800-CHA-SE24 12/23/05 7.75 Range: 7.75-10.45%; .25% disc w/auto debit; $5,000 min Citibank 800-321-2484 12/23/05 7.40 .25% disc w/auto debit; $25,000 min HSBC Bank USA 800-975-HSBC 12/23/05 8.38 $10,000 min M&T Bank 800-724-2440 12/23/05 7.74 .25% disc w/auto debit; $15,000 min Ridgewood Svgs Bk 718-240-4800 12/23/05 6.00 .50% disc w/auto debit; no min Suffolk County NB of Riverhead 631-208-2222 12/23/05 6.75 $5,000 min Washington Mutual Bank 800-788-7000 12/23/05 8.50 .13% disc w/auto debit; $10,000 min New York Metro Institution Telephone Date Rate Fees and Conditions Astoria Federal S&LA 800-278-6742 12/23/05 7.63 .25% disc w/auto debit; $20 yrly fee; $10,000 min Bank of New York 212-495-1784 12/23/05 6.25 $10,000 min Chase Bank 800-CHA-SE24 12/23/05 7.75 Range: 7.75-10.45%; .25% disc w/auto debit; $5,000 min Citibank 800-321-2484 12/23/05 7.40 .25% disc w/auto debit; $25,000 min HSBC Bank USA 800-975-HSBC 12/23/05 8.38 $10,000 min Independence Community Bank 800-732-3434 12/23/05 6.49 .25% disc w/auto debit; $10,000 min Queens County Svgs Bk 718-268-6801 12/23/05 7.99 Range: 7.99-10.99%; $600-1000 fee; $10,000 min Union State Bank 800-887-8775 12/23/05 6.25 1.50% disc w/auto debit; $100 refundable app. fee; $5,000 min Wachovia Bank, NA 800-922-4684 12/23/05 6.84 Range: 6.84-8.00%; $150 fee; $8,000 min Washington Mutual Bank 800-788-7000 12/23/05 8.50 .13% disc w/auto debit; $10,000 min Rochester Institution Telephone Date Rate Fees and Conditions Bank of America, NA 800-299-2265 12/23/05 8.45 .25% disc w/auto debit; $5,000 min Chase Bank 800-CHA-SE24 12/23/05 7.75 Range: 7.75-10.45%; .25% disc w/auto debit; $5,000 min Citibank 800-627-3999 12/23/05 7.40 .25% disc w/auto debit; $25,000 min Citizens Bank, N.A. 800-922-9999 12/23/05 6.35 $10,000 min Community Bank, N.A. 800-388-4679 12/23/05 5.50 no auto debit offered 25000 min First Niagara Bank 716-434-6621 12/23/05 6.75 .25% disc w/auto debit; $340 fee; $10,000 min Five Star Bank 888-624-2300 12/23/05 5.99 .25% disc w/auto debit; $10,000 min HSBC Bank USA 800-975-HSBC 12/23/05 8.38 $10,000 min KeyBank 888-KEY-1234 12/23/05 7.14 Range: 7.14-8.94%; .25% disc w/auto debit; $99 fee; $5,000 min M&T Bank 800-724-2440 12/23/05 7.74 .25% disc w/auto debit; $15,000 min Syracuse Institution Telephone Date Rate Fees and Conditions Alliance Bank 800-310-6275 12/23/05 6.75 $5,000 min Bank of America, NA 800-299-2265 12/23/05 8.45 .25% disc w/auto debit; $5,000 min Chase Bank 800-CHA-SE24 12/23/05 7.75 Range: 7.75-10.45%; .25% disc w/auto debit; $5,000 min First Niagara Bank 877-722-9842 12/23/05 6.75 .25% disc w/auto debit; $340 fee; $10,000 min HSBC Bank USA 800-975-HSBC 12/23/05 8.38 $10,000 min KeyBank 888-KEY-1234 12/23/05 7.14 Range: 7.14-8.94%; .25% disc w/auto debit; $99 fee; $5,000 min M&T Bank 800-724-2440 12/23/05 7.74 .25% disc w/auto debit; $15,000 min Partners Trust Bank 866-777-8659 12/23/05 6.99 .50% disc w/auto debit; $7,500 min Solvay Bank 315-468-1661 12/23/05 6.37 $2,500 min The Oneida Savings Bank 315-363-2000 12/23/05 6.50 .25% disc w/auto debit; $7,500 min Westchester, Co Institution Telephone Date Rate Fees and Conditions Astoria Federal S&LA 800-278-6742 12/23/05 7.63 .25% disc w/auto debit; $20 yrly fee; $10,000 min Bank of America, NA 800-299-2265 12/23/05 8.45 .25% disc w/auto debit; $5,000 min Bank of New York 212-495-1784 12/23/05 6.25 $10,000 min Chase Bank 800-CHA-SE24 12/23/05 7.75 Range: 7.75-10.45%; .25% disc w/auto debit; $5,000 min Citibank 800-321-2484 12/23/05 7.40 .25% disc w/auto debit; $25,000 min First Niagara Bank 877-722-9842 12/23/05 6.75 .25% disc w/auto debit; $340 fee; $10,000 min HSBC Bank USA 800-975-HSBC 12/23/05 8.38 $10,000 min Union State Bank 800-887-8775 12/23/05 6.25 1.50% disc w/auto debit; $100 refundable app. fee; $5,000 min Wachovia Bank, NA 800-922-4684 12/23/05 6.84 Range: 6.84-8.00%; $150 fee; $8,000 min Washington Mutual Bank 800-788-7000 12/23/05 8.50 .13% disc w/auto debit; $10,000 min Rates are subject to change without notice and may vary from branch to branch. Although the rates reported here have been obtained from the financial institutions themselves, the accuracy of the information cannot be guaranteed by the publisher. 2005: Bankrate.com All rights reserved. | Home | Search | SiteMap | | Interest Rates | | Credit Cards | MortgageRates | Home Equity Lines of Credit | | Home Equity Loans | New Auto Loans | Used Auto Loans | Last Modified Friday, December 23, 2005 FastCounter by bCentral