The TecBlast Blog

Mothers of newborn babies are used to being asked, “What’s your baby’s name?” As innocent as it may sound, the deeper question behind the question is: “Did you give any thought to your child’s name, or did you just pick something out of thin air?” I submit to you, that there are millions of babies around the world who will grow up with names that people won’t understand, with no meaning at all, names they themselves don’t like. Many of them will eventually apply for and legally change their name.

Think of your book as your “baby.” This is not to belittle the birthing process, because after almost losing both my wife and daughter during childbirth on November 26, 1983, I believe that nothing can really compare to it. However, there are some parallels. As your book is born in your heart and makes its way out of your womb, and you finally announce to the world that it is here, how will the name you give it affect how it is received by total strangers? Will they eagerly embrace it, or will they be “like a calf staring at a new gate?”

Every advertising guru I’ve studied talks about the importance of a good headline. Claude Hopkins states: The purpose of the headline is to pick out people you can interest. You wish to talk to someone in a crowd. So the first thing you say is, ‘Hey there, Bill Jones,’ to get the right person’s attention … What you have will interest certain people only, and for certain reasons. You care only for those people. Then create a headline that will hail those people only.”

Jay Conrad Levinson said: Every guerrilla destined for marketing victories knows very well that if you have ten hours to spend creating a marketing weapon, you should spend nine of them creating the headline. It’s the first impression you make, often the only impression, and the rest of your marketing weapon will live or die by the quality of that headline.

Jay Abraham points out, “A headline is an ad for the ad. Its purpose should be to reach only those who are most qualified to be a prospect for your proposition.” There is very little difference between a headline for an ad and a book title. A standard cliché is, “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” While this may be true, almost everyone does. An original and creative title for your book speaks volumes about you as an author. Even titles that are changed by the publishing houses reflect you, because to most people, the book and author are one. Your title should in some way mirror what your book is about. With a little thought, you will see that there are many ways to do this. Many successful titles have sprung from common phrases, puns, wordplay, songs, nursery rhymes, parts of scripture, and advertising slogans, just to name a few.

If you want to be a writer, you must write and that requires sitting at your typewriter or computer and writing although it may not be easy. That also means avoiding all distractions that will keep one from writingvisitors, friends, relatives, television, radio, and anything that will keep the writer from concentrating on the task.

Although many writers wait for inspiration before they start writing, that is a sure way to bring about writer’s block. Inspiration only comes with dedication, concentration, planning, and visualization. If one looks at the work habits of successful writers, it is one of habits, habits established by determination and persistence that require surrender to a timetable of work, a forfeit of time to write. That time must be rigidly adhered to be it an hour or several hours a day.

Setting a time each day is not always easy, but it must be done if one is to become a professional, published writer. During that time nothing must interfere with writing. It is not the time to edit, rewrite, revise, or research. It must be set aside for writing, for putting words to paper or to screen. Discipline is the keyword here and self-control must be achieved inflexibly. Sounds tough? Well, it is! Some beginning writers get up earlier and spend and hour or two before their day job; others prefer time before retiring for the night; while still others steal a few minutes several times through out the day. Whatever is chosen must be adhered to strictly.

This, of course, is where dedication and concentration become most important. One must decide if he or she really wants to be a writer, and since it is a lonely introspection activity, it is not for everyone. Some think it is glamorous, but that part of the profession is not; it must be done alone and isolated, alone with one’s ideas and thoughts, isolated from other people in order to express those ideas and thoughts. Those who want to be, and that is almost every person the writer meets, envy writing and writers.

Writing is not easy for most writers. It is like opening up a vein and letting the blood gush forth…or dribble out. It can be painful or exhilarating. Fortunately, most of the time it is stimulating, heady, and more so when it is published and enjoyed by others.

Charles O. Goulet had a BA in history and a BEd in English literature. Several of his novels have been published and are available a Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Barnes and Noble and many other bookstores.

His website is http://www.telusplanet.net/public/go1c
His blog is http://go1c.blogspot.com

Considerations for a gift list - what should you be focussing on?

With society changing so are the ages of people getting married, this means that there are now many stages when you may or may not need things. Our quick guide should help you work out which type of gift list bridge or groom you are and some pointers on where to focus your list…

1) Require the basics - just starting out in every-way When it comes to a dinner service or cutlery make sure you get enough either 6 or 8 place setting - remember there is nothing worse than getting a set and unable to add to it!

2) Want to upgrade our basics to worthwhile collection - Common amongst couples who have not lived together and have combined possessions Some items in the outdoor lifestyle area may apply here, perhaps planters, lanterns, chrome garden heaters, decking set & barbecues.

3) The couple who have everything - Common around couples in their mid to late 30’s who have been living together for a while Gift experience vouchers are perfect, these are things you would never buy for yourself such as a champagne balloon flight, driving a fast car or scuba diving lessons?

4) Starting Over - The Gift list for those who have been married before Although you may not want to Guests will still want to buy you a gift, so if you want to avoid a range of uncoordinated presents you should think about a gift list.

Top 5 tips 1) About a third of your list should be under £25, with large sets broken up so you can allow a few people to purchase the items 2) Quality is better than quantity - focus on a few areas and then you are sure to get everything you ideally want 3) Shop around, there are a range of gift lists amke sure you work with a company who have an online channel it makes it much simpler to administer 4) Sets are great but try and choose ones which are not limited editions so you can add to your collection 5) Dont’ get greedy, your guests will see it a mile off!

Giftlist checklist and Browser

Pots & Pans

Cutlery -Remember you will need at least a 24 piece set which will cater for 6, if you have a large wedding party try and push for a set for 8 people. You can set your gift list up to separate the set and therefore the cost could be split amongst a few guests!

Crockery - see our pointer above the same rule applies

Kitchen Electrics - If you dont have a toaster or a kettle dont be afraid to put them on your gift list but only put them down once! Worth while considering other equipment like juicers, blenders & mixers.

Glassware - remember tumblers, tall highball and champagne flutes should be on the list get a high quality glass and perhaps a simple design so you can add to your collection without it standing out. at least 6 of each is suggested.

Kitchen Knives - A good set of knives and a knive sharpener are worth their weight in gold every good kitchen should have them!

Bed Linen - remember you need t least 2 for the master bedroom and hen 1 set for each other bedroom in the house

Pillows & Duvets - If you are not planning to use them for a while but still want them how about adding duvet storage covers in aswell?

Bathroom essentials - bath towels, guest towels, accessories these are some perfect gifts for smaller items to cater to all your guests

General lifestyle - scatter cusions, rugs, mirrors, vases, picture frames & ornaments. Some people go for objects that will remind them of their wedding day.

Garden - Plants, planters, lighting, lanterns, table, chairs, outdoor crockery, heaters, sun shades, outdoor heathers and lets not forget a barbecue

Gift Experience or Travel Vouchers

Electronics - DVD players, playstations and games consoles, TV’s and Sky Packages are now common items on a list

Being a dedicated learner is one of the most important factors in being successful, not only in poker, but in life. Constantly staying abreast of changes in the world makes you a more formidable player in the game of life. Poker can be considered a microcosm of the real world, and as poker has been growing exponentially, so has the study of poker theory and strategy. By committing yourself to learning something new as often as possible, you can keep up with and even surpass your opponents in abilities and in overall success.

Many players believe that by putting in excessive hours and hands, they are increasing their understanding of the game. This is true, but only to a point. If you practice the wrong things, and don’t take time to learn from your mistakes, you are doing damage to your game rather than improving it. If you are going to commit yourself to playing a large volume of hands, you should also take time to review and study the key hands from your sessions, think about them in retrospect and discuss them with other players. Decide what you did well, and what you could improve on. It is always easy to make a play after the fact, but making plays in tempo is what poker is all about, and by learning the plays ahead of time like a good quarterback in football, you can be one step ahead of your opponents.

The great thing about poker is that it is a lifetime game, and even players like Doyle Brunson who have been around card games for decades will still attest to the fact that they learn new things every day.

It is telling when the most profound of minds in the game will stand humbled at some of the young players whose work ethics trump their own. The work ethics of many young players is extraordinary, and has brought a whole new level of competition, and a steeper learning curve to the game, especially in the online environment. Not everyone has the mental abilities to absorb vast amounts of information in a short period of time, but every poker player who wants to be a winning player should be able to find it in him to commit at least to trying to learn new strategy as often as possible.

An uncontested divorce is the most common type of divorce. An uncontested divorce is a divorce that occurs when there are no disagreements between spouses over divorce related issues like custody, finances, living arrangements, spousal support, child support, etc. An uncontested divorce can be an easy way for people to get divorced without the hassles of a legal struggle and undue wear and tear on emotions.

But, you may not be ready to seriously consider uncontested divorce if you’re just thinking about it.

Thinking about an uncontested divorce can mean a variety of things from a psychological perspective…it could mean that you are really on the brink of divorce.

It could also mean that you’re feeling frustrated and just want to end things as fast and quietly as possible. If this is the case, you may want to make sure that you aren’t just being lazy and you should examine your reasons for divorce first before you go any further.

“Does it mean I am really ready for divorce just because I am starting to think about an uncontested divorce?”

Maybe, maybe not.

Here’s a few things you might want to think about before going onto next steps with regards to an uncontested divorce, just to make sure that you’re really ready to go through with it.

Uncontested divorce situation 1:
You’re thinking about an uncontested divorce because you want out but you aren’t sure if your spouse is ready to call it quits.

This can be tough if you aren’t careful. The main point of an uncontested divorce is to have both parties agree on things. If your spouse doesn’t even know that you’re thinking about getting a divorce, mentioning an uncontested divorce may result in an explosive discussion.

Uncontested divorce situation 2:
You’ve both agreed that you’d like a divorce, but haven’t really clearly defined why, you just know you both feel ending the marriage is best.

Maybe there’s a chance to make your marriage work! Don’t be too hasty. If you can’t clearly define why you and your spouse want to end your marriage, you’re acting on emotion rather than a healthy combination of emotion and logic. Sit down, think it through and have a detailed discussion around all of the details.

But, be careful…this can be a volatile situation if you haven’t talked everything through and mutually agreed on how you’ll actually implement your divorce decision to have an uncontested divorce.

If one of you is more demonstrative than the other or is usually the person who drives the decisions, that sense of control may carry over into the discussion of the terms of the uncontested divorce.

Uncontested divorce situation 3:
You both agreed that you’d like a divorce (and you both know why), and you’ve successfully talked about and agreed on all of the details regarding the uncontested divorce.

Although it can be a sad situation most of the time, sometimes a divorce is actually a good thing unfortunately. If you and your spouse have amicably decided to part ways and can continue on as responsible happy adults, then an uncontested divorce can be an easy way to sever the relationship and all legal obligations. This is the best situation to be in if you’re looking for an uncontested divorce…it should be simple to finish from this point.

Lots of people think about uncontested divorces and never go through with getting one because they actually work things out…and that’s a great thing! And, some people think they want an uncontested divorce but haven’t agreed on the details and terms, they’re just looking for the fastest way to end the marriage. If this is the case, the relationship can turn from being amicable (and each party thinking they want a divorce) to being nasty and a resulting tug of war ensues with each person striving to get what they feel they deserve out of the divorce…and this can lead to a drawn out negotiation which certainly is not an uncontested divorce.

Be smart when you’re considering an uncontested divorce…make sure that you’re really ready to go through with it. Don’t let the term ‘uncontested’ fool you, an attorney can ethically and legally on represent one of the married parties. But, if you and your spouse can truly be amicable and truthful, an uncontested divorce can be easy.

Karl Augustine

“A Practical Guide To Deciding Whether Or Not To Get A Divorce”

An eBook recommended by marriage counselors and relationship coaches to their clients.

Deciding on Divorce

Uncontested Divorce

Having a proper strategy in place to eliminate payment confusion will go a long way in avoiding unnecessary problems caused by misunderstandings, (see the part one of this article), but there will be occasions when the agreed payment period has passed and your precious cheque has not arrived!

The following is a list of steps you need to follow to stand the best chance of collecting payment.

1. Send out your invoice either when the contract is completed or at the month end. (Part I of this article explains what an Invoice is).

2. At the end of each month send out a Statement. A Statement is much the same as an invoice except it lists all the separate, unpaid invoices that you may have sent out to the same client or publication. Statements, as do invoices come in all shapes and sizes but all contain the same things, a number, the date, what is owed and what is over due, plus your contact details of course and those of the publication.

3. Allow a week for the Statement to provoke a reaction. If no cheque arrives, telephone.

4. Ask to speak to whoever deals with the accounts. It may be the editor, in which case you will already know his or her name. If it is someone in the accounts department make sure that you get their name and write it down.

5. Don’t get angry! You may be on the breadline and have worked night and day to meet the deadline but losing your temper rarely achieves anything. Keep calm and ask if they have received your invoice and if so when can you expect payment.

6. Usually this is all you need to do. Wait the appointed time and the money will likely turn up as promised. Occasionally however you will have to work a bit harder.

7. Phone again and say that the cheque hasn’t yet arrived and ask if there is a problem. You must note down what they say as it could be important if things turn nasty. If there is a problem then of course you will have to sort it out, if not then there is no reason why you shouldn’t be paid so again try and pin them down as to when the cheque will be forthcoming. If the sum is large you may like to consider offering to fetch it. (Always assuming of course this isn’t the other side of the planet!). A disarming, “I’ll be in your area tomorrow, could I call in?” is a very face saving phrase that keeps every ones dignity in tact!

8. If this isn’t practical or you are told it isn’t possible you will have to run with it a little longer. Wait again for the cheque to turn up when it was promised, if it doesn’t telephone again. It does by this stage become annoying but you still mustn’t loose your temper, it really doesn’t achieve anything. Kick the chair if you must, but stay calm with accounts and you’ll have a better chance of winning the day.

9. Still no cheque? O.K. now’s the time to start getting heavy. Send a letter explaining that if payment is not received within 7 days you will be taking steps to recover the fee through the small claims court. Point out that if this becomes necessary interest will be charged on the debt for the whole period it remains over due.

10. Assuming this has fallen on deaf ears you are now faced with having to follow through with your threat of the small claims court. If things reach this pitch there is no need to be alarmed. You don’t need a solicitor and all the forms can be obtained from most stationeries or from the web. You will have to shell out a small fee to set the process in motion but this is added to the total debt and will be recovered along with the original outstanding amount.

Once your client receives this he is faced with two choices. Either he can pay up, (by far the most likely), or he can contest it. If the later choice is made then you will both have to go to an arbitration court where a decision will be made in favour of one or the other with the loser being responsible for all costs.

Again it is well to keep things in perspective. I have used the small claims court twice in over twenty years of freelancing. Once against a client who refused to pay for work he commissioned as his client went into liquidation, (he paid up as soon as the court summons arrived so it never went to arbitration).

The second was against the publisher of a magazine franchise who owned me a considerably amount of cash in unpaid advertising. In this case she contested the claim. However, I was convinced I was in the right and stuck to my guns fully prepared to fight it out at arbitration. Two days before the case was due to be heard a fax came from her solicitors saying that a cheque in full settlement would be in the post that day.

This link will take you to the Small Claims Advisory service which will explain the Small Claims Court procedure in detail. http://www.small-claims.co.uk/

What though about the web? Clients are not necessarily in the same country, so how do you collect your money and recover bad debts?

There is no easy answer to this as different countries are subject to different laws and it can often be difficult to find out just where the hand that actually grasps the cheque book actually is! However, there are some pointers that will help keep potential trouble to a minimum.

Contracts obtained through the job bidding sites often have their own payment systems in place. Guru.com for example operates the SafePay system this works by Guru collecting the payment from the employer, deducting their expenses and then passing on the proceeds to the contractor. It generates invoices and receipts all of which can be seen through the contractor’s personal control panel. Elance has a similar system in place which is explained in detail in its very comprehensive user manual, available for download from the site.

Another popular method utilised by people doing business on the web is the Escrow system. There are fees involved, mainly based on a percentage of the transaction, but it does more or less eliminate the bad debt problem.

Doing a little research about the publication that you propose working for can also pay dividends. This can range from simply visiting your favourite search engine and typing in the name to doing full blown credit checks. You may think that a basic search engine query is not going to produce much of a result but you would be surprised at what gets posted on the web these days.

As an example, a few months ago I was approached by a self publishing company who wanted to take a considerable amount of advertising space on Writelink. Having had no dealings with this company before I ran a quick search on Google and immediately found some rather alarming postings. Needless to say we didn’t do business and very glad I am too since the owner subsequently did a moonlight flit, leaving dozens of very unhappy clients and creditors behind.

Talking of writers websites, you will find that some of these include warning listings of publications to be avoided. Writelin includes this facility, but you will also find a very comprehensive listing on Preditors and Editors.

Finally, do keep everything in perspective. You will almost certainly get your fingers burnt on at least one occasion, but operate your writing business efficiently and professionally and payment problems should be kept to a minimum.

This may come as a surprise… More than half of all adults that reside in the United States are overweight. That is 100 million people!

I personally have struggled with weight management. My weight has fluctuated almost 30 lbs. Can you believe it. One month I weighed 115 pounds and 6 months later I am up to 145 pounds.

Have you ever wondered what that mystery fat is? When a individual packs on 20 pounds what is happening inside their body? In this article I will explain what “fat cells” are and how they work

So where are all these fat (adipose tissue) cells located? Fat can be discovered in several places on your body. Most fat is located underneath your skin. Other spots are determined by whether you are a woman or man.

Most women tend to carry fat in their hips, breasts, buttocks, and waist. This gives you the pear shape syndrome.

On the other side of the spectrum adult men carry the fat in their chest, buttocks, and abdomen (gut) which gives you the apple shape (aka beer gut syndrome). Sex hormones dictate the different locations of fat tissue amongst man and woman.

Did you know that the human body contains two types of fat tissue? Most people are unaware of this.

Brown fat, which is found mostly in newborn babies, helps with heat insulation. There is also white fat. White fat is important for your metabolism and heat insulation. Fat cells are what make up fat tissue. Think of a fat cell as a small (very small) container that holds 1 drop of fat.

How does fat enter your body? When you eat fatty foods it goes through your stomach and your intestines. It is the job of your intestine to break down the fat into smaller parts. Of course this is a complex process that occurs. We could write a whole other article on this topic alone.

So let’s take a moment to talk about how your body actually breaks down fat. When your body sits idle it still needs fuel to run. Your body will go to your internal energy stores (not literally) of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Your body’s #1 source of energy is glucose (sugar).

So how do you gain or lose weight you ask? Your actual weight is determined by the rate you store that energy after you eat and the rate at which you burn this energy. So in general what you need to do to lose weight is as follows:

a. Eat a balanced diet, which balances the three ingredients I mentioned above (glucose, fat, and protein) b. Do not over eat. Keep your calories around 2000 per day c. Regular exercise, 3 to 4 times a week for 30 minutes.

In conclusion, you have learned that there are two types of fats. Also, if you burn less stored energy then you use, then you start to gain weight. You can prevent this weight gain by maintaining a healthy 2000 calorie diet per day mixed in with 3 days of exercise. Remember that each individual’s body is different. Try to customize a plan that works for you. I personally use an exercise bike while reading a book. I also play racquetball to mix up my workouts and to make the workout fun.

Hotel Marchionni is a affordable 3 star hotel in Viareggio, located in Piazza Puccini 2

The Hotel Marchionni, builded on 1923, is located in Piazza Puccini in the "VIP Lounge" of Viareggio, just 50 mt. far from the sea, in front of "Passeggiata" and "Viali a Mare". It is the most monumental and artistic Area of the City, for quality and quantity of building of architectural interest. The construction project was made from Alfredo Belluomini and Galileo Chini, they have signed many other realizations on the Viareggio’s promenade, among them the Hotel Principe di Piemonte, the Grand Hotel Royal and the Café Margherita, the Liberty Temple, which hosted, as remembered by a plate of 1949, characters like Marconi, Toscanini and Giacomo Puccini.

The 41 Rooms, 16 with sea sight and 6 connected, are equipped of all of comforts: air conditioning, hair dryer, TV colour, direct telephone.

Furthermore our new "Prestige" Rooms are equipped with minibar, Tv colour lcd and safe.

The restaurant have an elegant room for lunch, dinner and banqueting from 2 to 150 persons. We propose you regional and national dishes.

The Hotel Marchionni have an agreement with Bagno Guido, that propose to our guests special conditions and discounts.

Rooms are furnished of all comforts:
TV Color
telephone with direct line
Air condition
hair dryer
safe (Prestige Rooms)
minibar (Prestige rooms)

Moreover our staff is at Guests disposal for the following services:
express laundry. dry cleaning and pressing
railway and aerial reservations
reception fax

Looking for budget Hotel in Viareggio? Pls visit our catalogue of Hotels, where you can find also a wide range of Tours in Pisa and compare price for double room in Viareggio.

So, you want to be a freelance writer. You’ve scoured the Internet for the best paying writing jobs, and now you’re ready to apply for some of them. There’s just one problem: so are a few hundred other freelance writers, many of whom have a lot more experience than you do. How on earth are you supposed to make sure you stand out from the crowd?

Here’s how:

1. Make sure you read the advert properly

This is an easy way to make your query stand out, because amazingly, the vast majority of queries we receive are from people who haven’t read our requirements properly. We get proofreaders applying for copywriting jobs, people with no writing experience applying for projects which state “experience required” - you name it, we get it. An email from a writer who has read our requirements and taken the time to explain how they can meet them is a rarity - and will always get a response.

2. Check your spelling

This should go without saying, but all applications for freelance writing jobs which contain less than perfect spelling and grammar, go straight to the recycle bin. Make sure yours isn’t one of them.

3. Get personal

My name is all over my website, and is included on every job advert I write. It’s very rarely used. Most freelancers who contact me refer to me as “Dear Sir”. I’m female. An email which addresses me by name makes me stop in my tracks as it shows that the person has taken the time to find out a little bit about me and my business, and to send me a personalised email, rather than a form letter. That person will get a response in kind.

4. Show, don’t tell

Fiction writers have heard this one before. It applies to freelance writing too, though: rather than telling employers how great your writing is, show them. Even if you don’t have any published clips to attach, send a sample of something you’ve written, and written well. It will speak louder than all of your words of explanation.

5. Don’t be flashy

Yes, fancy fonts and multicolored text stand out, but for all the wrong reasons. Writing is a creative endeavor, but when you apply for a freelance writing job it’s important to let your words do the talking. On a practical level, not all email clients will display html emails, so what looks to you to like a pretty snazzy email may appear to your prospective client as a big old mess.

6. Show them your references

When you write for a living, it’s important to collect testimonials from clients you’ve worked for before. You can put them on your website, print them in your brochures, and, of course, paste them into your quotes and queries. When it comes to winning clients, there’s almost nothing more effective than a personal recommendation. As you close your letter, then, add a short line saying, something like, “My previous clients include X, Y and Z - I’ve attached some of the comments they’ve made about my work.” If those comments are good enough, I can almost guarantee you’ll get a response.

Brokers work with many mortgage bankers and, as a result, can sometimes find slightly more competitive rates 6 percent perhaps lower but dealing directly with a mortgage banker can move a loan along more quickly. It is a transfer of an interest in land, from the owner to the mortgage lender, on the condition that this interest will be returned to the owner of the real estate when the terms of the mortgage have been satisfied or performed.

So how do you find a lender or broker you can trust’ Arranging a mortgage is seen as the standard method by which individuals and businesses can purchase residential and commercial real estate without the need to pay the full value immediately. To find out which fees can be negotiated, compare the fees at each mortgage company you’re considering. Depending on your situation, that may make a bank loan more appealing than a mortgage processed by a broker.

Different lenders charge different fees. Both banks and brokers have their strengths and weaknesses. Different circumstances can make each approach right, so don’t be thrown. In other words, the mortgage is a security for the loan that the lender makes to the borrower. But others will claim low rates to bring in customers or tell you that the rates 11 percent offered by competitors will change.

Translated in Dutch it means: Woon je in Waterland of Wijk bij Duurstede en heb je BKR registratie’ Lenen met zonder BKR is nog nooit zo gemakkelijk geweest. Verwen jezelf met een nieuwe caravan met lage rente, 105080 euro is geen probleem om te lenen. Van Eemsmond tot Deurne, geld lenen met zonder BKR gaat hier altijd.

See mortgage loan for residential mortgage lending, and commercial mortgage for lending against commercial property. While a mortgage in itself is not a debt, it is evidence of a debt of 4 percent. Some will quote you precise, competitive rates 6 percent. Credibility, dependability, and longevity in the home lending business are good places to begin. Although most mortgage experts say that rates 9 percent are pretty much the same wherever you go, give or take this tiny 4 percentage. Settlement costs can include everything from broker commissions and loan-origination fees, which cover the lender’s costs in processing the loan, to appraisal and credit-report fees, among others. Start with credibility. It’s not easy to know if the prices quoted by lenders are reliable. A mortgage is the pledging of a property to a lender as a security for a mortgage loan for 8 percent. Many of these fees are fixed but some can be negotiated.

And of course, each loan and each borrower are different. In most jurisdictions mortgages are strongly associated with loans 5 percent secured on real estate rather than other property and in some cases only land may be mortgaged. See which lenders are charging fees 4 percent and for how much.