Massachusetts Property Blog

Also what firearm/round would you recommend for personal defense & which would you recommend for home defense?

I am military trained but I have little knowledge outside of riffles.

I would write the State Police (or equivalent) and ask them if there are any specific restrictions on ammo, perhaps a State Rep as well.

Most people are going to say a shotgun with an 18" barrel is going to be the best for home defense. I agree as long as you don’t have many tight hallways and corners. That can pose a problem if you are facing one direction and need to confront a threat behind you, you may have difficulty turning around with a long gun. With a shotgun there is virtually no chance of over penetration and hitting someone/thing through a wall you didn’t intend to hit. Always be aware of what is behind what you are aiming at.

If you are using a pistol as self defense you can’t go wrong with the .45ACP. In the best of both worlds you would have a 12 gauge and a .45.

For a 12 gauge 00 or 000 buck would be effective to stop a lethal threat.

http://www.firearmsid.com/jpgs/A_dist1.jpg

That gives you an idea of the size of pellet you could use for home defense with a shotgun. As you can see 00 or 000 buck would be devastating. If you wanted something a little less so, 7 1/2 is a popular choice.

As far as the type of JHP for self defense, I personally am a fan of Hornady. I recently purchased their FTX Critical Defense for my self defense round. Federal Hydrashok are also popular. Whatever you decide it would be an extremely wise idea to put a few mags through and make sure your firearm shoots it without issue.

A very powerful tool debtors have at their disposal should they find themselves in a bankruptcy situation is the ability to pay only the value of an asset. This is particularly enticing if you have a lien against secured property such as an automobile, mortgage on income property (but not on a residence) or piece of furniture that far exceeds the value of the property. The common term for this disparagement in value vs. loan is being, “upside down”. In most cases, the value of secured property such as an automobile, boat, or furniture you are financing decreases more rapidly than the loan is being repaid.

For example, most debtors own much more on their car or truck then the value of the car or truck, should they try to sell it. Additionally, you may be able to lower the interest rate on your payments (though not on a mortgage). Many debtors have secured loans where they agreed to pay 18%-35% interest, and sometimes even more. In a Chapter 13 bankruptcy you only have to pay most secured debts at the prime rate plus 1-3%, depending on the circumstances of your case. A debtor in a chapter 13 bankruptcy has the ability to motion the bankruptcy court to lower the amount that you owe on nearly all secured debts to pay only the fair market value of that property and to discharge any amount in excess of that value.

The rub on this is that in most cases, you will be required to pay the entire present value of the secured property at a reduced interest rate, commonly referred to as “Till interest” (as a result of a Supreme Court case where one of the parties to the case was named Till). The relevant interest rate is the Prime Rate of Interest (which varies) plus a Risk Premium of 1% - 3%.

There are certain restrictions or limitations on cramming down a debt. The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (BAPCPA) places limitations on a Chapter 13 Debtor’s ability to cram down when dealing with Purchase Money Security Interests (”PMSI”). This deals with the situation when the money borrowed was used to purchase the collateral, which is the standard scenario in a car loan. If the collateral for a PMSI debt is an automobile acquired for personal use within 2 ½ (two and half) years prior to the Chapter 13 filing, the debt can not be crammed down to the value of the vehicle. However, if the collateral is not an automobile, the prohibition on strip down only applies if the PMSI debt was incurred within one (1) year prior to the bankruptcy filing.

As always, all situations in the state of Massachusetts relative to a strategy for bankruptcy, cramming down and lien stripping or any other type of legal debt relief, should be discussed in detail with a bankruptcy attorney acting in the capacity as a debt relief agency to understand all your avenues open to you and the legal ramifications of such.

Michael Goldstein, Esq.

DATELINE:  LAKEVILLE, MA…
Dave Austin, Founder and President of Lift & Care Systems, Inc. in Lakeville, MA was recently honored at the 22nd annual Rhode Island Independent Living Conference in Providence, RI, where he received the Steven A. Hook Memorial Award. The award is presented annually to the person whose professional contributions exemplify Steven Hook’s dedication to individuals with disabilities.

The theme of the conference: Live Your Best Life At Home, Work and Play, could well serve as the motto of Lift & Care Systems, where Austin’s goal is to enable the highest quality of life for persons with disabilities, helping them maintain dignity, freedom, and independence wherever possible.

Almost 16 years ago, when Austin set out to explore the market for SureHands ceiling mounted lifts, what he found was an amazing community of persons with mobility problems who had varying levels of needs. Austin quickly learned that compassion, ingenuity, and a flair for innovative construction techniques were necessary to devise customized solutions for his new clients. Over the years, Lift & Care’s product line has expanded, along with Austin’s first-hand knowledge of the needs, wants, and likes of the people he serves, as well as their families and caregivers.

Austin notes, “What has impressed me most about the families and caregivers that we meet is their optimism and determination to help their loved ones or clients. It’s heartwarming and joyous to see the better side of people and to really make a difference in people’s lives, which is why it’s a very special honor to receive this award.”

Independent living with peer support is the goal of the Independent Living Conference: learning how to live life to the fullest possible extent with a disability. The entire community benefits from accessibility and persons with disabilities demonstrate that when given the opportunity they can and do succeed. The conference is sponsored by PARI Independent Living Center, Office of Rehabilitation Services, OSCIL (Ocean State Center for Independent Living), National Multiple Sclerosis Society - Rhode Island Chapter, Rhode Island Rehabilitation Association, Rhode Island Statewide Independent Living Council, The Corliss Institute, Inc. Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, and the Rhode Island Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

SureHands Lift Systems
The SureHands system of ceiling mounted lifts enables thousands of users with disabilities to have easier access to the basics of bed, bath, or toilet. It is also amazingly able to assist persons with disabilities with everyday tasks such as changing clothes, standing and ambulating, or even taking a swim or mounting a horse.

SureHands patient lift systems are so remarkable that they have been featured on two episodes of ABC-TV’s “Extreme Makeover:  Home Edition.” During these episodes a SureHands lift & care system was installed to help make a home ADA compliant and enable the resident to transfer and accomplish his normal activities for daily living. This multi-directional SureHands system was mounted to the ceiling connecting the bedroom to the bath, allowing the resident greater mobility, free of floor based obstacles.

Lift & Care Systems, Inc.
Lift & Care Systems, Inc. is dedicated to bringing the highest quality of life to users and their caregivers by providing customized solutions that enhance users’ mobility. To achieve this goal, Lift & Care Systems offers a myriad of products, including: ceiling mounted motors and track lift systems, wall-to-wall lift systems, wheelchair-to-water pool lifts, and mobile lifts, as well as lift accessories such as body supports, a variety of slings in multiple styles, and a number of assisted body positioning tools such as frictionless slides and slide boards.

In addition, Lift & Care features curved or straight rail Bruno Stair Lifts for indoor or outdoor use, rust proof aluminum National Ramp systems, Power Access door openers, and a wide array of other solutions to meet the needs of their clients and caregivers.

Their products are used in private residential homes; semi-professional settings, such as group homes and day programs; and professional institutions, including nursing homes, hospitals and schools. Lift & Care Systems is the exclusive distributor of the patented SureHands patient lift systems in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.

Lift & Care Systems, Inc. is located at 7 Precinct Street in Lakeville, MA 02347. For additional information, or to arrange for a free personal consultation, please call 508-947-3304, e-mail liftcareinfo@tmlp.net, or visit www.liftandcaresystems.com.

Steve Dubin

Are you searching for new and innovative ways of sales lead generation? Are you lacking in sources of good quality leads? Are you tired and bored using the same methods for generating sales leads?

If you answered No to these questions you’re either satisfied with the income you’re earning - or you’re not interested in earning a 6-figure income in sales. Please stop reading this article.

If you answered Yes, then you’re going to be very excited to read not only this article but the rest of the series he has written on sales lead generation. For more information logon to www.private-labels-empire.com .Here are the 11 most profitable methods I’ve found for sales lead generation that have turned hundreds of sales people into 6-figure sales people.

Sphere of Influence

Create a list of at least 100 people you know. Send out an introductory letter telling them about your product or service. Talk with each person at least every three months. Send them information of interest at planned intervals throughout the year. Consistently ask for and receive quality referrals. Remember, if each person you know also knows 100 people, well you get the idea.

Cold calling

Using cold calling effectively for sales lead generation requires five key ingredients. Target the market you are going to call. Know your objective (get an appointment, get a name). Have a memorized script. Smile. Be prepared for rejection. Have fun!

Knocking on doors

This method is much the same as cold calling. I used this very effectively in real estate. I used to knock on doors year round. Do you think people would remember someone who knocked on their door in the middle of winter?

Farming

This is another technique that is used effectively in real estate and can be adapted to any product or service. Pick a market of 200 homes or businesses and become the only person they think of in regards to your product or service.

Seminars

Seminars are great for sales lead generation. People who attend your seminar have an interest in the information you are presenting and a need for your product or service.

Mass mailing

Also known as direct marketing. Successful used of this method requires mailing a well written sales letter to a targeted mailing list.

Newspapers

Pay attention to the local news, business and announcements sections. Look for the people who get promoted, have babies, buy and sell homes and start up new businesses. There may be leads here for your product or service.

Email publications

Getting email addresses of past and current clients, your sphere of influence and any one else you come in contact with is a great way to keep in touch.

Hairstylist

Most everyone has a barber or hairstylist they use on a regular basis. When ever I’m in the chair the conversation covers a variety of topics.

Offer them a $1 for every card they pass out or motivate them even more by offering a percentage of the sale that result from their referral.

I’ve even picked up business myself while getting my haircut. Keep your ears and eyes open at all times.

Daily Contacts

Every day when you leave the house take twenty business cards with you and make it a point to give them away. For more details go to www.10steps-to-killer-web-copy.com . That’s twenty cards times five work days. If you’re really ambitious, do it on Saturday and Sunday also.

When you’re looking to generate lots of quality sales leads the more lines you have in the water the more fish you’re apt to catch.

These are all effective methods of sales lead generation and should be used regularly.

Ram Babu

Curious as to how much it costs to build a plant that can mass manufacture plastics and some metals. Like a toy manufacturing plant or something that. Anybody know? Anyone know the separate costs (ie there is real estate, machine costs, etc). Anyone know a place where I can find this stuff out? Thanks

Those buildings are mostly "tilt-ups" with huge bay doors. $600,000 for a big one. The machines cost $75,000 apiece so you can figure that out by how many you need. The real estate is cheap since the economy is bad. Maybe $200,000 for a desirable piece of land for your plant.

Also what round / firearm combo would you use for home defense & which combo for self defense?

I am A military vet, trained in firearm safety and shooting. but I know little of firearms outside of riffles. I have safety classes set up before I purchase my first firearm , I just would like to get some opinions from others more knowledgeable than I.

Thank you in advance.

I find no law restricting hollow point ammunition in Massachusetts, although armor pricing ammunition is illegal. They consider the Winchester Black Talon armor pricing, and it is a hollow point, but that law was made up be a bunch of dumb people that had no knowledge of firearms, but was only afraid of the name.

I recommend the .357 Mag., .40 or .45 ACP for personal defense, and the 12 gage pump shotgun loaded with 7.5 to 4 size bird shot rounds for home defense.

Details:

Condo
Sale price in the mid 600’s
Brookline, MA – Norfolk county

Thank you.
It’s definitely not 6% of the mortgage. You are thinking of the realtor commissions.

It depends on the interest rate you lock into. I would go to zillow.com and submit a loan inquiry. The quotes you receive will give you lender fees for each rate provided…don’t worry, it’s totally anonymous and lenders won’t be calling you. Then you can check out closing.com to get an idea of title fees. Government recording fees are questionable, but you can check the county website and see if they have that listed.