Texas Land

Bush and the Texas Land Grab Bush and the Texas Land Grab July 16, 2002 By Nicholas D. Kristof Editorial Op-Ed To submit a Letter to the Editor: letters@nytimes.com Democrats and media hounds are baying under the wrong tree. The point in President Bush's business career where he took outrageous shortcuts was not at Harken Energy, but rather when he was grabbing land for a new baseball stadium in Arlington for his Texas Rangers baseball team. Mr. Bush broke no laws. Neither do the overwhelming majority of corporate executives. The cloud over the business world comes not so much from lawbreaking as from avaricious bruising of the public interest. The challenge is not catching criminals but injecting public scrutiny into a culture of cronyism in which executives, accountants, regulators and "independent" board members all ooze empathy for each other. When Asia had its economic crisis in 1997-98, Americans properly trashed its "crony capitalism." But we suffer from the same affliction ourselves, and President Bush will not address the issue seriously because cronyism has been his way of life -- the Bushes call it loyalty. I have a stack of court documents from Arlington that portray the "sordid and shocking tale" of the Rangers stadium, as one lawsuit puts it. Essentially, Mr. Bush and the owners' group he led bullied and misled the city into raising taxes to build a $200 million stadium that in effect would be handed over to the Rangers. As part of the deal, the city would even confiscate land from private owners so that the Rangers owners could engage in real estate speculation. "It was a $200 million transfer to Bush and Rangers owners," complains Jim Runzheimer, an anti-tax campaigner in Arlington. William Eastland, a leading Republican in Arlington, is also outraged, and puts it this way: "You're using public money for a private purpose." Mr. Eastland was a Bush delegate to the Republican National Convention in 2000 but still believes that the Bush group behaved shadily and against the public interest. Local voters overwhelmingly approved the deal, so maybe we shouldn't get so exercised by star-struck local officials giving $200 million to rich baseball owners. But the most unseemly part of the deal was that Mr. Bush and the Rangers' owners conspired with city officials to seize private property that would be handed over to the Bush group. "A group of wealthy and influential people threatened and traded their way into an unprecedented takeover of government power and private property in an awesome display of greed and avarice," charges a lawsuit by the landowners, in what strikes me as a fair recitation of events. Another suit charges that the deal "can only be described as astounding, unprecedented and blatantly illegal." A copy of the secret agreement among Mr. Bush and the other Rangers owners shows that they intended to make money not just by running a baseball club but also by land speculation. For example, one owner found a nice chunk of land and sent a memo suggesting that it "sounds like another condemnation candidate if you want to work the site into your master plan," according to the court documents. Another of the owners' internal memos casts a proprietary gaze on a property and declares: "We plan to condemn this land." For a group of financiers to go around town admiring properties and deciding which to seize through the government power of condemnation so that they can acquire free land and speculate on it is appalling. Even Kazakhstan would blush at such practices. Horace Kelton, for example, owned land that the Rangers wanted. The owners got Arlington to seize it, with the city paying less than $1.50 per square foot even though it had previously paid $10 a square foot for other land nearby. "It was an extremely low price, and that's why we had a court case that lasted seven years," Mr. Kelton recalled. Eventually, his family got $11 a square foot. In fairness, Mr. Bush was simply being a hard-nosed businessman. He did a great job leading the owners' group, and it's hard to take seriously the caricature of him as unintelligent when he led the Rangers so lucratively. Indeed, his $14 million profit on the Rangers financed his entry into politics. But it's also a sordid tale of cronyism, of misuse of power, of cozy backroom money-grubbing -- a more pressing threat to American business than outright criminality. LINK to source

real estate listing in

Costa Rica Real Estate for Sale Quick Finder Exclusive Properties Gated Communities Luxury Rentals Beachfront Properties Ocean View Properties ------------- Beach Properties Farms and Mountain Homes for Sale Investment Opportunities Condos for Sale Vacation Rentals Long Term Rentals ------------- Hotels for Sale Land Development Bars & Restaurants Other Investments ------------- Conversion Table Contact Us Call us 1-888-607-6772 Costa Rica Real Estate Contact Us Christmas and new year rental in Costa Rica available call now 1-888-607-6772 or in Costa Rica 844-54-31 click here! Welcome to Costa Rica...a country of exuberant tropical splendor. A nation of peace and great democratic tradition. Come and experience the best of life! Properties in Costa Rica Real Estate Company is located in San Jose, the capital city of this beautiful country. We are a group of professionals whose main goal is to provide you with clear insight into the meaning of investment and purchasing real estate in Costa Rica. We are a proven resource for Real Estate in Costa Rica. Our expertise covers a wide real estate collection in ideal locations for living, retiring or investing in Costa Rica. Our real estate inventory features a special assortment of: Costa Rica beach properties , upscale residential homes for sale , condos , investment real estate, farms, mountain properties and vacation rentals. We understand that relocating or purchasing a vacation property is not an easy job. Moving to Costa Rica and doing business abroad requires a lot of research and reliance upon the company you may be using. We provide you with trustworthy Costa Rica real estate assistance on every step of this process. Properties in Costa Rica main goal lies in leading you to a successful real estate transaction. We can help you get the Costa Rica real estate property or investment of your dreams. Our real estate listing in the Central Valley combine desirable locations in West and East San Jose such as Escazu, Santa Ana, Rohrmoser , Sabana, Sabanilla, Montes de Oca and Moravia among others. You will also find attractive real estate properties in the Central Valley provinces of Heredia and Alajuela, where locations such as la Garita and la Guacima are very appealing because of their wonderful weather, nearby facilities, very nice neighborhoods, farms and homes. Additionally, we provide you with real estate services in both, the Pacific and Caribbean beaches and coastal regions of Costa Rica. Find your vacation home in the beach and smart investment oportunities close to the ocean. We offer quality real estate for sale in Guanacaste, Puntarenas, Manuel Antonio, Dominical and other special locations outside the Central Valley. Costa Rica is a wonderful, peaceful and stable country, experience life at it's best! We invite you to take a tour of our multiple listing service, browse our up-to-the-minute quality real estate listings, and request any information you may require. Send us an e-mail for a fast response, or just fill out our information request form Find: Gated Communities Luxury Rentals Beachfront Properties Only Ocean View Properties Golf Residences Top Exclusive Properties - - - - - - - - - Vacation Rentals Long Term Rentals - - - - - - - - - Beach Properties Farms and Mountain Home for Sale Investment Opportunities Condos for Sale Conversion Table Contact Us Beach Properties | Mountain Properties | Homes for Sale Investment Opportunities | Condos for Sale | Vacation Rentals | Rentals Top Exclusive Properties | Gated Communities | Luxury Rentals | Beachfront Properties Only Ocean View Properties | Golf Residences | Costa Rica Office Space Our Company | Listings | Info Request | Links | Articles | San Jose Attractions | Photo Gallery | Contact Us List your properties with us | Costa Rica Real Estate | Costa Rica Vacation Rentals CONTACT: Properties in Costa Rica www.propertiesincostarica.com info@propertiesincostarica.com Toll free USA and CANADA: 1-888-607-6772 USA: 1 (516) 869-4565 Costa Rica: + (506) 844-5431 * Fax: + (506) 289-0969 * * from the US & Canada dial 011 first Escazu, Centro Comercial El Cruce, 2nd floor, Suite 25 Across the street from ScotiaBank and next to Pops Postal Address: #SJO 72013, 1601 NW 97th Ave. Doral, Fl 33172-2853 Member of Costa Rica Real Estate Brokers Board Member of Fiabci Member of Costa Rica Chamber of Tourism Member of National Association of Realtors All photographs and texts in this site property of PCR Propiedades de Costa Rica SA (PCR) unless otherwise noted. Copying, reproduction or sending to third parties is allowed only with written consent of PCR Request travel information about Costa Rica Design, marketing and hosting by Amerisol Top Exclusive Properties Gated Communities Luxury Rentals Beachfront Properties Only Ocean View Properties Golf Residences Residential Lots Escazu and West Valley Real Estate Buying property in Costa Rica

Buy Property

Which? bookshop | Buying Property Abroad Skip main navigation | | Sitemap | Help | Contact us Home News About us Campaigns Press Magazines Bookshop Which? Online search box Book categories Food & drink Home & garden Legal advice Personal finance Property Magazines Subscriptions Gift subscriptions Placing an order Ordering online Ordering offline Delivery Safe shopping Bookshop Bookshop Bookshop Buying Property Abroad Jeremy Davies 10.99 (free postage & packaging) For recreation,retirement or investment, buying property abroad has never been morepopular, and over a million Britons now have homes in another country.Unfortunately, buying abroad is fraught with difficulties. Differentcultures, languages, currencies and laws make expert advice essential. BuyingProperty Abroad takes an in-depth look at France, Spain, Portugal,Italy and Florida, as well as considering emerging markets in theMediterranean, the Balkan States and Eastern Europe. The book: outlines the sort of property you are likely to encounter looks at local taxes and how much you'll have to pay examines local law and how this relates to matters such as inheritance, insurance, liability and land searches considers the true cost of holiday homes - including maintenance charges, utility bills and management fees looksat the financial and legal implications of long-term residency, withparticular reference to retirement, taxation and health care. BuyingProperty Abroad can help you realise the dream of owning somewhere inthe sun, while making sure it doesn't turn into a nightmare. Paperback 256pp | Accessibility | Terms & Conditions | Privacy | © Which 2005 Gift subscriptions Buy any Which? magazine subscription as a gift: - Which? magazine | - Computing Which? | - Gardening Which? | - Holiday Which? | Which? magazines Buy Which? magazine subscriptions and binders: Subscriptions | Gift subscriptions | Binders | | Try Which? Online free for 30 days and save £££s. Which? campaigns Our food is killing us. Read how our food campaign is changing things.

Real Estate Broker and

NYS DOS, Real Estate Professional Page NYS Department of State Division of Licensing Services F requently A sked Q uestions Applicants for Real Estate Broker and Salesperson Licensure Do I need to be licensed? Generally, Article 12-A of the Real Property Law provides that anyone who, on behalf of another and for a fee, 1) negotiates a sale, exchange or rental of real property, 2) collects rent, or 3) negotiates a commercial loan secured by a mortgage must be licensed as a real estate broker. What is the difference between a real estate broker and a real estate salesperson? A real estate broker is responsible for the supervision and conduct of the real estate brokerage business. He or she applies for and holds the license on behalf of the brokerage. This person is known as the "representative broker." A real estate salesperson works for and is supervised by the representative broker. The salesperson acts as the representative broker's agent. All listings, although perhaps negotiated by a salesperson, are accepted by the representative broker. How do I become a real estate salesperson or broker? In order to qualify for licensure as a real estate salesperson, an applicant must have satisfactorily completed a 45 hour salesperson qualifying education course in real estate approved by the Secretary of State, and have passed a qualifying examination administered by the Department. In order to qualify for licensure as a real estate broker, an applicant must have at least one year of experience as a licensed real estate salesperson or at least two years of experience in the general real estate field (e.g., buying and selling your own property, managing property owned by your employer), have satisfactorily completed both the qualifying salesperson course of 45 hours and an additional 45 hour real estate broker course as approved by the Secretary of State, and have passed a qualifying examination administered by the Department. Who licenses mortgage brokers? Anyone who negotiates or attempts to negotiate any mortgage loan other than a mortgage loan on residential property, in the state of New York, is required to be licensed as real estate broker, or as a salesperson associated with a real estate broker. This license is issued by the NYS Department of State. To negotiate a mortgage loan on residential property (one to four family building) registration with the New York State Banking Department is required. If I am a real estate management company, do I need a real estate broker's license? That depends on what services you provide. If you collect rent or place tenants in vacant spaces on behalf of your landlord client, the answer is yes. If, on the other hand, your services are strictly maintenance, the answer is no. you are not acting as a fiduciary (not handling another person's money). Whom do I call if I am not sure whether I completed my 22.5 hours of continuing education during my license term? Contact the school(s) you attended. Schools are required by law to maintain course completion records for three years. You may request duplicate certificates from the school(s) in the event you are audited. In order to renew my salesperson license, I completed the 45-hour broker qualifying course. Can I apply the extra 22.5 hours to my next license term? No. The law clearly states that continuing education must be completed within each license term. I could not complete the continuing education, but I wish to renew my license anyway. Can I apply for an extension? Please refer to §177.6 in the real estate law booklet. Extensions will only be granted in bona fide hardship cases. You must submit the following, preferably prior to your license expiration: a written request for the extension, completed renewal form, fee, and original documentation demonstrating your hardship; i.e. , medical documentation. I think I might be exempt, but I am not sure when I originally became licensed. Can you tell me when I was first licensed? No. The Department of State only maintains seven years of real estate records. You may possibly determine your original date of licensure if you know when you completed the salesperson course and how long it took you after completing the course to apply for your license. What happens if I do not complete my continuing education and don't renew my license? If you do not renew your license, you cannot conduct any real estate activities that require a New York State real estate license in accordance with Article 12-A of the Real Property Law. There are no grace periods that allow you to continue working while not licensed. You have two years from the date your license expires to renew your license. If you fail to renew within that period, you will be required to pass the state written examination. No continuing education will be required to repeat the licensing process again. When you submit your new salesperson application, you must include the following: your new examination results, application fee, and a copy of your expired license/pocket card or ORIGINAL proof of completing the salesperson course. If possible, it is better to submit original proof of your salesperson course. If you do not have an original certificate, then call the school where you took the course to request another certificate. If you are applying for your broker's license, you must submit ORIGINAL proof of your 45-hour salesperson course and 45-hour broker course, or a copy of your expired broker's license. How do I obtain a waiver from the 45-hour salesperson or 90-hour broker course requirement? You must submit a written request stating the waiver you are applying for along with ORIGINAL proof of course completion, a detailed outline listing topics and hours, and a course description. We only review prelicensing courses from other states that were completed in a classroom setting. (No home-study/correspondence courses.) The prelicensing salesperson's course must be at least 45 hours of classroom instruction and the broker's course, 90 hours. In addition, if you have graduated with a Master's Degree with a concentration in real estate, you may qualify for a 90-hour waiver of the qualifying courses. Please submit an official transcript with your waiver request. If you are granted a waiver, you will receive the waiver letter, the license application, real estate law booklet, and examination schedules. When you are ready to apply for your license, please submit the ORIGINAL waiver letter with your application, fee, passed examination results, and any other required documents. I have been a real estate licensee for many years. Am I exempt from the continuing education requirements? Article 12A statutorily requires all real estate brokers and salespeople to complete 22½ hours of Department of State approved education within their two-year license period prior to the date of expiration. The law does provide for an exemption from this requirement for a real estate broker who has 15 consecutive years of combined licensure as a salesperson and a broker and who is actively engaged in the real estate business as a real estate broker at the time of renewal, or an admitted NYS attorney. Where do I get more detailed information? You may access pertinent law and regulations, applications and exam schedules from this website. You may also request this or other information by calling a Division of Licensing Services customer service representative at (518) 474-4429 or by writing to: New York State Department of State Division of Licensing Services 84 Holland Avenue Albany, New York 12208-3490 [ NYS Department of State Home Page ] [ Licensing Services Menu ] [ Real Estate Professionals Page ]

Home Loan Bank of

Welcome to the Home Loan Bank of New York ----commented out ------- MEMBER LOGON From the President December 29, 2005 2005: A YEAR OF ACCOMPLISHMENT We have completed a year in which the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York achieved a number of distinct and transforming accomplishments. Completed SEC Registration One of the most significant and transforming of the accomplishments occurred in late August. After three years of preparation and hard work, the registration of the Banks stock under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 was declared effective by the SEC. The Home Loan Bank became one of only two banks in the Home Loan Bank System to satisfy the registration requirements of the SEC within the time frame set by our regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Board. The Home Loan Banks filings with the SEC are available on the SECs EDGAR system, accessed at http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml . If you have not done so, I encourage you to review these reports containing detailed financial and other information about the Bank. Completed Capital Exchange With the completion of the SEC registration process, the Home Loan Bank then proceeded with the implementation of the new Capital Plan. Prior to the opening of business on December 1, outstanding shares of capital stock owned by the Home Loan Bank of New Yorks community member stockholders were automatically exchanged for shares of the Banks new Class B stock. The new Capital Plan was mandated by the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, and more closely ties member capital requirements with advance usage. Improved Financial Results In addition and more importantly, the Home Loan Bank continued to achieve solid financial results in 2005. The Bank manages to a risk/reward profile that generates sustainable and predictable earnings. For example, we continued with a low-risk, tightly controlled, conservative approach to investing in Mortgage-Backed Securities. At the same time, we also remained a member-focused, advances-oriented Home Loan Bank: approximately 75% of the assets of the Bank are in the form of advances to our members. Only a few other Home Loans rival this high percentage. Further, advance demand has remained solid. In November 2005, advances averaged $60.9 billion, down slightly (about $600 million) from October 2005. We ended the month with $61.4 billion in advances on our books. Product innovation has continued in the area of advances. In June, the Bank introduced the Fed Funds Floating Rate Advance, a new adjustable alternative for members. The "Fed Funds Floater" Advance is designed to help fund a portion of members' cash positions. The products rate is tied to the Fed Funds rate and resets daily. The Home Loan Bank also furthered its record of providing a fair return on our members capital investment. In fact, profits improved over 2004 and the Home Loan Bank is now providing among the highest capital investment returns in the Bank System. At the same time, the level of pre-dividend retained earnings increased more than 22% from the 2004 year-end balance to approximately $273 million at the end of November. As we total up the results for the full year, I want to express my personal appreciation to each stockholder for the business you brought to the Bank in 2005. We are here to help our members play a key role in the delivery of housing and community financing. With an outstanding Board of Directors, a solid management team, and a dedicated staff, we have set the course and put in place the plans that have made the FHLBNY an exemplary organization. The Home Loan Bank team is dedicated to providing quality services, and we look forward to maintaining a high level of service in 2006. In closing, we value your relationship with the Home Loan Bank and we are ready to assist you in meeting your commitments to your customers. And we appreciate the opportunity to serve you. All of us at the Home Loan Bank wish you and yours the very best in 2006! Sincerely, Alfred A. DelliBovi President & CEO FHLBNY UPDATES December Edition 4-Year Floating-Rate Advances Priced at 3-Month LIBOR Plus 2 Basis Points! Convertible Advances at FHLBNY Repo Convertible Advance Rates FHLBNY NEWS With the filing of an amendment to its registration statement on Form 10 on August 29, 2005, with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the HLB became an SEC registrant. Federal Home Loan Bank of New York Implements Risk-Based Capital Plan Capital Exchange Information Statement and Capital Plan View the Capital Exchange Webinar Capital Exchange Webinar Slides SITE HIGHLIGHTS 1LINK sm MPF PROGRAM FIRST HOME CLUB sm AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM 2005B ROUND APPLICATION PACKAGE QUICK LINKS B ank Forms Application for an OLOC line Site Best viewed in Internet Explorer 4.0+ browser and at screen resolution of 800x600. General Terms and Conditions of Use | Privacy Policy | Forward-Looking Statements Our friendly lawyers have asked us to tell you that visitors remaining in session with this site IMPLICITLY CONSENT to our General Terms and Conditions of Use and our Privacy Policy, and ACKNOWLEDGE our Cautionary Language Regarding Forward-Looking Statements. Please exit this session if you do not agree with the foregoing. 2005 Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, 101 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10178. All rights reserved .