What Your Bank Doesn't Want You to Know . . .: . . .about Where to Invest Your Money
What Your Bank Doesn't Want You to Know . . .: . . .about Where to Invest Your Money
Overview
Invest Safely and Still "Beat the Street"Recently I was reading the weekend edition of USA today and came across a financial advice article written by one of their contributing editors.In it, the author gives advice on where to put your savings in order to earn a higher return than the meager 1% to 2% you’d get from a savings account. Admittedly, that’s more difficult to do at a time when the Federal Reserve is slashing short-term interest rates. I was amused however to discover that the other safe investment choices would not help the consumer fare much better. The list of "choices" consisted of:· Money Market Mutual Funds, current average yield: 2.7%· Certificates of Deposit, current average yield: 2.95%· The Series I Savings Bonds, current average yield: 4.4%· Short-term bond funds, current average yield: 7.95%When looking into investment returns, the average consumer does not realize that there safe options other than CDs and Mutual funds. Admittedly, they are not options that would immediately come to mind. They are however options that have come to the minds of your bank, your insurance company and maybe even your investment company.As a member of the general investing public, you may not think twice about where banks and other financial institutions actually invest their own money. But if you do think about it, you will realize that they need to make investments that yield a much higher rate of return than they pay out in order for them to pay you interest or dividends on your investments. You may be really surprised to learn just how much more they do earn.Banks and other financial institutions have been investing for decades in what are called Tax Lien Certificates or TLCs for short. What are TLCs? Basically, they are first priority liens on real estate. County Governments across the country sell these TLCs at public auction on a regular basis. To understand more fully what that means, we need to step back for a minute and talk about real property tax collection. Virtually all of the states across the United States have given County and Municipal governments the power to assess and collect a tax on real property as a method of collecting money to run the business of government and to enable them to provide needed services. Counties create tax Liens across the United States as the result of non-payment of real estate taxes. Local government needs its real property tax revenue to run the business of government so they sell either a lien on the real estate (at much higher than market interest rates) or the real estate itself to collect the back taxes.Banks and other institutional investors know about these TLCs and have enjoyed high yield returns on their money for decades. They are able to do so by using the capital provided by the small investor, such as you and I. In exchange for the use of that capital, they pay the small investor interest rates that are a fraction of their own return. Their returns on TLCs can be 12%, 16%, 18% or more. And it is an investment that is secured by a first priority lien on the real estate upon which the taxes are currently in default.Unless the property owner wants to risk losing the property altogether, they must pay the back taxes along with statutory interest and penalties in order to have the lien removed. This money is remitted to the County, which in turn remits your money to you the investor. The County thus levies the lien and collects the money from the property owner before releasing it. As an investor, you can’t get much more simplicity and safety than that.So, why haven’t you heard about TLCs? How can you "cut out the middleman" so to speak and obtain those high rates for yourself? There is no real secret to safely obtaining these types of yields, if you know where to look. While each state has its own statutes relating to delinquent tax collection, some general information holds true across the country. Some states, in order to enable the counties to collect delinquent taxes allow for the sale of TLC’s bearing a high rate of return. Others allow the counties to sell the property outright. This would be called a Tax Deed Sale, Tax Foreclosure sale or some other similar name. While Deed sales can be even more lucrative, they are the subject of another article.Focusing on TLCs and the high rate of return they offer, it is relatively easy to obtain information about sales. They are all public auctions and are advertised in the legal notices in you local newspaper. Yes, those very notices that most of us ignore can be a goldmine for the average investor. The notices of sale are normally published a number of weeks before the sale. You can also call your tax collector and ask if they conduct Tax Lien sales and when they are scheduled in your county. They can also provide you with a copy of the rules of the sale. Some even have prepared brochures outlining the statute, how it works and listing FAQs.In short, just by asking, you can obtain the information that you need to successfully buy TLCs. In short, you can cut out the middleman and invest the way your bank does. Then sit back and laugh at "choices" that include 2 and 3% interest rates.Description
Condition Guidelines
Books - New and Used
The following guidelines apply to books:
- New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
Shipping & Delivery
Shipping Fees
- Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
- Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
- No additional fees and charges.
Delivery Times
The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.
Estimated delivery times:
- Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times.
Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.).
If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
Returns & Refunds
You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
Overview
Invest Safely and Still "Beat the Street"Recently I was reading the weekend edition of USA today and came across a financial advice article written by one of their contributing editors.In it, the author gives advice on where to put your savings in order to earn a higher return than the meager 1% to 2% you’d get from a savings account. Admittedly, that’s more difficult to do at a time when the Federal Reserve is slashing short-term interest rates. I was amused however to discover that the other safe investment choices would not help the consumer fare much better. The list of "choices" consisted of:· Money Market Mutual Funds, current average yield: 2.7%· Certificates of Deposit, current average yield: 2.95%· The Series I Savings Bonds, current average yield: 4.4%· Short-term bond funds, current average yield: 7.95%When looking into investment returns, the average consumer does not realize that there safe options other than CDs and Mutual funds. Admittedly, they are not options that would immediately come to mind. They are however options that have come to the minds of your bank, your insurance company and maybe even your investment company.As a member of the general investing public, you may not think twice about where banks and other financial institutions actually invest their own money. But if you do think about it, you will realize that they need to make investments that yield a much higher rate of return than they pay out in order for them to pay you interest or dividends on your investments. You may be really surprised to learn just how much more they do earn.Banks and other financial institutions have been investing for decades in what are called Tax Lien Certificates or TLCs for short. What are TLCs? Basically, they are first priority liens on real estate. County Governments across the country sell these TLCs at public auction on a regular basis. To understand more fully what that means, we need to step back for a minute and talk about real property tax collection. Virtually all of the states across the United States have given County and Municipal governments the power to assess and collect a tax on real property as a method of collecting money to run the business of government and to enable them to provide needed services. Counties create tax Liens across the United States as the result of non-payment of real estate taxes. Local government needs its real property tax revenue to run the business of government so they sell either a lien on the real estate (at much higher than market interest rates) or the real estate itself to collect the back taxes.Banks and other institutional investors know about these TLCs and have enjoyed high yield returns on their money for decades. They are able to do so by using the capital provided by the small investor, such as you and I. In exchange for the use of that capital, they pay the small investor interest rates that are a fraction of their own return. Their returns on TLCs can be 12%, 16%, 18% or more. And it is an investment that is secured by a first priority lien on the real estate upon which the taxes are currently in default.Unless the property owner wants to risk losing the property altogether, they must pay the back taxes along with statutory interest and penalties in order to have the lien removed. This money is remitted to the County, which in turn remits your money to you the investor. The County thus levies the lien and collects the money from the property owner before releasing it. As an investor, you can’t get much more simplicity and safety than that.So, why haven’t you heard about TLCs? How can you "cut out the middleman" so to speak and obtain those high rates for yourself? There is no real secret to safely obtaining these types of yields, if you know where to look. While each state has its own statutes relating to delinquent tax collection, some general information holds true across the country. Some states, in order to enable the counties to collect delinquent taxes allow for the sale of TLC’s bearing a high rate of return. Others allow the counties to sell the property outright. This would be called a Tax Deed Sale, Tax Foreclosure sale or some other similar name. While Deed sales can be even more lucrative, they are the subject of another article.Focusing on TLCs and the high rate of return they offer, it is relatively easy to obtain information about sales. They are all public auctions and are advertised in the legal notices in you local newspaper. Yes, those very notices that most of us ignore can be a goldmine for the average investor. The notices of sale are normally published a number of weeks before the sale. You can also call your tax collector and ask if they conduct Tax Lien sales and when they are scheduled in your county. They can also provide you with a copy of the rules of the sale. Some even have prepared brochures outlining the statute, how it works and listing FAQs.In short, just by asking, you can obtain the information that you need to successfully buy TLCs. In short, you can cut out the middleman and invest the way your bank does. Then sit back and laugh at "choices" that include 2 and 3% interest rates.Description
Condition Guidelines
Books - New and Used
The following guidelines apply to books:
- New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
Shipping & Delivery
Shipping Fees
- Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
- Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
- No additional fees and charges.
Delivery Times
The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.
Estimated delivery times:
- Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times.
Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.).
If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
Returns & Refunds
You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
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