By Art Gib
The name “Arkansas,” is derived from the French interpretation of a Quapaw word which means either, “land of the downriver people,” or, “people of the south wind.” Though the name’s French roots should make the pronunciation obvious, there was, believe it or not, intense debate about it between the state’s senators during the nineteenth century. One insisted it should be pronounced the same as Kansas; the other senator, considering the word’s French influence, claimed it should be AR-kan-saw. The latter won out, and in 1881, an act of the state legislature declared its official pronunciation.
In the days before European colonialism, Arkansas was home to a number of Native American nations, including the Quapaw, the Osage, and the Caddo nations. The first known Europeans to step onto the scene came in 1540: Hernando De Soto with a crew of fellow explorers. The Spanish seemed to have neglected or lost the land, however, as it was part of the huge swath of territory sold by Napoleon Bonaparte to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.
The territory was officially organized in July of 1819, with most of its eastern border being naturally marked by the course of the Mississippi River, and the rest of its borders touching six states. But it didn’t enter the Union until almost two decades later; on June 15, 1836, Arkansas was admitted as the twenty-fifth state.
Because Arkansas shares its southwestern border with Texas, the state was able to play a pivotal role in the struggle for Texas’ independence from Mexico. Later, in the Mexican-American War of 1846, the border town of Washington became a key station for supplying and gathering troops. Arkansas’s governor even called upon the men of the state to volunteer to fight in order to create the first Regiment of Arkansas Calvary.
Over the course of the nineteenth century, Arkansas developed a “cotton culture,” like many of its neighbors who benefited from the close proximity to the Mississippi River. After the Civil War and Reconstruction Era, numerous immigrants–Italians, Chinese, Syrians, and so on–found opportunities to work the land. Many of them eventually dispersed from the farms into more urban centers, but in any case, this diversified the population of the state.
The introduction of the railroad made it more feasible to populate seemingly remote areas such as Eureka Springs in Carroll County in the Ozark Mountains. Because of the new ease of travel, it became a prime “tourist destination,” where tourism would not have been viable before. It is considered a very unique and eclectic town, home to artists and novelists, the devoutly religious, the old-fashioned, and the progressive.
Perhaps Eureka Springs serves as a microcosm of the state at large because no matter which way you pronounce it, Arkansas has abundant diversity: of opinions, of tribal history, of struggles, and of people.
For the best in Arkansas real estate, visit Remax Arkansas (http://www.remax-arkansas.com/arkansas-real-estate.aspx) for your property needs. Whether it’s existing homes, new construction, commercial property, or land for sale, they are the leading professionals. Art Gib is a freelance writer.
Getting Repairs When Living In An Apartment Rental
By Christine OKelly
When living in a real estate rental, things will break, either by accident or due to general wear and tear. Since you can’t go back and “unbreak” something, you need to seek repairs. The problem is that in an apartment rental, it is often unclear who is responsible for paying the bill: the renter, the property manager, or the property owner. This article will help you know what to do to get the repairs you need and what to do if the property manager refuses.
Where Exactly Is The Damage?
If the damage is outside of your apartment rental and was not caused by negligence or accident, report it to the property manager for repairs. In this situation, the landlord should pay for the needed repairs. If you, as a renter, caused the damage, you should pay for the repairs, but it depends on your rental agreement. Repairs needed inside of a real estate rental usually follow the same guidelines as repairs needed for the outside of a rental.
How Long Should You Wait For Repairs?
The amount of time appropriate for a property manager to make a repair is dependent upon the type of repair needed. If it is a necessity repair, such as repairs for heating, sewer, or water, it is considered an emergency and should be completed immediately. The property manager is also usually required to pay for any apartment rental cleaning needed due to the mess created by the emergency. If the repair is minor and does not affect a necessity, the landlord has a reasonable amount of time, usually 30 days, to make repairs.
What If The Property Manager Refuses To Make Repairs?
Never hold or refuse to pay your rent. Most people don’t realize it, but this is illegal. You must notify your landlord in person and by mail (certified with a return receipt) so you have proof of notice of the repair in case you have to go to court later. Keep a written 30 day deadline, detailing the daily happenings regarding the progress of the repairs.
If the repairs are not made within 30 days, you can put your rent in a rent escrow account held by the courts as you consult an attorney about the situation. You can ask the courts to release you from the obligations of your rental lease or contract you signed when moving into the apartment rental so you can move to another real estate rental, especially if the breakdown violates the terms of the contract. Many times in a rental contract, a renter has the right to set a limit of 21 days with the option to terminate the rental agreement if the repairs are not made by the 30th day. The best way to know your rights is to consult an attorney.
Most of the issues arising during the repair of a real estate rental usually occur because the parties are not aware of their obligations and rights. If you have a good attitude, are honest, and educated in approaching the situation, you and the property manager can avoid any problems when it comes to making repairs.
Christine O’Kelly writes for Chicago Beal Properties. With 80+ years experience as a property manager and real estate rental company, Beal Property, LLC offers an apartment rental in many of the city’s historic neighborhoods.
Learn About Real Estate Investing - Dispelling The Myths
By Peter Vekselman
Learning about Real Estate requires dispelling the many myths. When you train with a responsible and competent mentor or coach these myths and others will disappear. Here are a few common myths that will help you during your learning curve:
Real estate investing is for the wealthy
This is perhaps the biggest myth out there. There are a wide range of deals to negotiate, from $0 down to thousands of dollars down, which means there are deals all sizes available. What you need to do is research and plan carefully.
Understand that many deals are done by people who work 9-5 jobs everyday. They may not take as great of a risk as someone wealthy, but there are still enough deals to spread around. Success in real estate investing is in your due diligence.
You need experience
You may be envious of the people you see on those infomercials making a fortune in the real estate market, and you probably think it could never happen to you. They must have years of experience. But the truth is that while those people may have been lucky, odds are they’re just savvy investors.
If you learn as much as you can about investing in real estate and plan your next move carefully, you could easily join their ranks. Your mentor or coach will also help you with your comfort level on making your first steps.
You need good credit
Good credit helps, but you don’t need it to make money in real estate. There are so many creative ways to invest in real estate without ever looking at your credit. Again, you must learn your options and do your research
One tip though, work on repairing your credit because it allows you even more options and more power when investing in real estate.
There is too much competition
There are more than enough deals to make everyone wealthy. At any given time there are hundreds of properties for sale in your market for each investor looking for them. Be aware, a majority of people who say they are investors are just sitting on the sidelines waiting for the right deal to fall in their lap. Real investors go out and make deals happen.
It will not work in your area
It works in EVERY area. True, it may work differently in some markets than in others, but there are investors making money in every city, every day of the week. You have to learn your market: the rents, the trends, the local customs, the bankers, the title companies, etc.
It is in your best interest to learn the techniques and adapt them for your market.
There are many myths that keep very capable people from venturing in the world of real estate investing. Myths can actually cost you thousands of dollars if you do not know the truth. Get help from an experienced mentor or coach and learn the real truth as you begin your journey to successful real estate investing.
Peter Vekselman has been successfully investing in real estate since 1996. He has completed over 1000 real estate deals, owned a construction company, been a private lender, and owned a property management
company. To learn more about Peter please visit
http://www.coachingbypeter.com.
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