Extended stay properties operate under several banners, brands and models, but all share the characteristic of offering guests accommodation for five days or more without the usual additional services of a full-service hotel. They generally fall into one of three categories:

• All-suite hotels;
• Apartment hotels or ‘aparthotels’;
• Serviced apartments

The concept of extended stay hotels dates back to 1974 when Marriott opened its first Residence Inn in the US. Since then the extended stay model has achieved strong growth in the US. The commonly-accepted definition of ‘extended stay’ in the US market is a hotel with selfcatering suites where guests stay for five days or more, but which usually does not offer the ancillary services such as bars, restaurants and porterage provided by fullservice hotels.

In the US today, 20 per cent of hotel stays are estimated to be five nights or longer – much of that accounted for by extended stay locations. Customers are mainly business travellers and include employment categories such as construction workers. The healthy growth in the extended stay sector has been driven by the geographical size of the US, and demand among travellers staying away from home for more ‘homely’ and value for money accommodation than the full-service hotel. The trends towards secondments and more flexible use of human capital have further strengthened demand. As the extended stay market has grown and become more sophisticated in the US, it has segmented into budget, mid-tier and upscale offerings.

When should you consider long-term studio suite accommodations?

• Working on an extended project away from home
• Going away on a budget vacation and still prefer to have a kitchen and access to laundry
• Remodeling or buying a home
• Relocating to a new job
• Visiting relatives

What can you look forward to at Extended Stay Hotels ?

All suites come with a fully-equipped kitchen, appliances and linens

Unlimited local phone use, a computer data port and personalized voice mail

Housekeeping and guest laundry facilities

Select properties offer exercise centers and pools.

Wi-Fi high speed Internet access available in every room - chain wide.(possibly)

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When looking for consolidation of private student loans program, first of all one must know all the costs in exchange for the loan borrowed. The most important cost is the fixed cost or likewise known as origination fees. Such costs are supposedly to cover whatever paper works needed in order to process the loan. This fees as the name implies are fixed and so whatever amount of loan that you might borrow, the fees that you need to pay will be the same.

Origination fees are actually a percentage of the total amount of loan. When you are able to acquire low rates of interest for your consolidated student loans, you will however have to deal with higher origination fees.

Because of the current competitive nature of the services on consolidation of private student loans, many lending companies are willing to discount the fixed costs. Some are even afraid not to get loan clients that they completely slash these costs off. This means with just a little more effort in online research, you can actually find a lending company that will change you such costs when availing of their student loan consolidation services.

Imagine the savings that you can enjoy if you obtain a program on consolidation of private student loans with no fees to worry about. Just make sure before you sign a contract with your choice of lender, this clause of non-payment of origination fees is present on the terms and conditions. Great move on lenders to disregard such costs as this entices prospective borrowers to employ their services. On the other, the students further enjoy having less financial responsibility to worry about, which is why they are getting loan consolidation program in the first place.

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A college student knows how expensive it is to stay as one until the time comes when he is finally able to receive his degree. And for some, the only option that they have to take is getting college loans in order to pursue their studies. Tuition fees, books, board and lodging, and other incidental expenses - these are the necessities that one has deal with and pay via many loans in order to maintain good academic standing. However, when the time comes when the repayment of such loans must be faced by the student, he realizes that great burden of doing so. And because of this, student debt consolidation loans can be availed to ease up the financial burden and stress being experienced by the student borrower.


What are student debt consolidation loans? These are the type of loans that are meant to replace the multiple loans initially gotten by the student; it is the consolidation of private student loans as well as government debts. In other words, they are new loans in place of all the burdensome studebt loans that you have obtained during your early years as student. They also help by providing you with a payment plan that are easier and more convenient for you; they can be in a form of smaller, more realistic monthly payments.

Student debt consolidation loans offer smaller payment amount because they have lower rates of interest. With lower rates and payment, you are now given the chance to pay your new debt on time - without fail. Consequently it help you make significant improvement on your credit standing. Of course, as you were able to do away with your previous lenders because of the new loan, it also helps in the improvement of your credit.

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Refinancing is when you apply for a secured loan in order to pay off another different loan secured against the same assets, property etc. If this original loan had a fixed interest rate mortgage which has now declined considerably, then you would like to avail of a new loan at a more favorable interest rate.

When is Refinancing an Option

Typically home refinancing is done when you have a mortgage on your home and apply for a second loan to pay off the first one. While taking the decision to go for the home refinancing option, it is important to first determine whether the amount you save on interests balances the amount of fees payable during refinancing.

Benefits of Home Refinancing

Imagine a scenario where you can have access to extra cash, while simultaneously lowering your monthly mortgage payment. This dream can become a reality through mortgage refinancing.

A house is the largest asset you may ever own. Likewise, your mortgage payment may be the largest expense you'll have in your monthly budget. Wouldn't it be great to use this asset to reduce your monthly payment and put extra cash in your pocket? When you refinance your mortgage, you can take advantage of the equity in your home and enable this to take place.

Lower Refinance Rate, Lower Payments

When you purchased your dream home, the financial environment dictated interest rates. While certain factors, like your credit rating and the amount of the down payment that you were able to afford, influenced your interest rate, the single most important factor was the prevailing rates at that moment. However, interest rates fluctuate. When the Federal Reserve enters a rate-cutting period, the prevailing rates may become significantly lower than when you originally purchased your home.

By refinancing your mortgage when interest rates are lower, you can exchange a higher interest rate for a lower one, which, in turn, will lower your monthly payment.

Shorten the Length of Your Mortgage when Refinancing

Another advantage of home refinancing is that you can shorten the term of your mortgage. Let's say, for example, that you originally had a 30-year mortgage and have been paying it for eight years. Thanks to mortgage refinancing, you can switch to a shorter term of either 10, 15 or 20 years. This can save you thousands of dollars of interest. Also, if the refinance rate is lower, but you maintain the same monthly payment, you will build up equity in your home more quickly, because more of your payment will be going towards principal.

Exchange an Adjustable Rate for a Fixed Refinance Rate

When interest rates are low,adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) are the housing market's darlings. However, as interest rates increase, that adjustable rate may not look as sweet. It's also possible that you opted for an ARM because your financial future was less secure, or you weren't sure how long you'd stay in your home. If, however, you've become financially stable and know that you'll be staying in your home for several years, it may be beneficial to swap that fluctuating adjustable rate for a fixed one. You'll have more security knowing that your monthly payment will remain steady, regardless of the current market environment.

Access to Extra Cash - Cash-out refinancing

One way to put more money in your pocket is to tap into the equity you've built in your home and do a "cash-out" refinancing. In this scenario, you can refinance for an amount higher than your current principal balance and take the extra funds as cash. This can provide money for remodeling your home, paying off high-interest rate bills, or sending your kids to college.

Bye, Bye PMI

If you were unable to make a down payment of 20 percent when you purchased your home, you may have been required to purchase Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI). If your house has appreciated since then, and you've steadily paid down your mortgage, your equity may now be more than 20 percent. If you refinance, you will no longer need PMI.

In many ways, your house is like a cash cow. If you have discipline and knowledge of the benefits of refinancing, you can tap into its milk for years to come.

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Debt consolidation involves taking high-interest balances on a multitude of credit card bills and combining them into a single balance. It can involve a variety of different options, including debt consolidation loans, transferring balances to a zero percent credit card, or a home equity loan or home equity line of credit. Interestingly enough, however, some experts say individuals who take out a home equity loan to pay off credit card debt accumulate similar debt in a two-year period.

The reason for this is simple, accumulating debt is a habit and it is an exceedingly tough habit to break. If your tendency is to overspend, chances are you will continue to do so, even after you've taken out a home equity loan. In addition, if you need debt consolidation, it is likely that you will not qualify for the lowest possible interest rates. Those are reserved for people with the best credit ratings.

Debt Consolidation - What Are The Options?
Having a lot of debt is not uncommon today, and for many, it seems that knowing how to get
out of debt is just about as uncommon, too. If you have a lot of debt and want to find some
relief, there are a number of options that may be available to you.

Still, if you are determined to undergo debt consolidation, there are a few key things you need to know. To begin with, a home equity loan is a fast, simple way to dig yourself out of debt. However, if you have difficulty paying the loan back, you could end up losing your house. In addition, although interest on home equity loans is generally tax deductible, such a tax break could be limited. You may also be tempted to borrow more than you need just because the bank says that you can.

Another possible option is a zero-percent credit card, but you need to be careful about using it. For instance, the zero-percent interest rate may just be an incentive for you to switch cards. At the end of a certain period of time, say 12 months, you'll be back to paying sky-high interest rates. Also, you will only be able to hang onto the low introductory rate as long as you pay your bill on time. If you're late with a single payment, you'll end up paying a much higher interest rate. Additional fees and charges may cause the cost of the credit to soar. In addition, if you end up paying the bare minimum on your credit cards, it will be difficult for you to pay them off any time soon.

What about the conventional debt consolidation loan?
Such a loan can be quite convenient and a real time-saver, enabling you to pay your debt with one single payment each month. You may find that you can get the best rate at a local credit union rather than at a bank. By doing some comparison shopping, you may be able to save quite a bit of money in the long run.

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Homeownership is a large commitment, so the risks associated with homeownership are important to weigh in when deciding whether to become a homeowner now or at some other time in the future.

What are the risks? While every situation is different, here is a list of risks that all homeowners should consider:

• Monthly housing expenses may be more than rental expenses. The amount you commit to paying for housing each month may be more if you're paying a mortgage versus paying rent. In addition to paying for the home itself, you also will be expected to pay for property taxes, insurance and other expenses you probably did not have to pay for while renting. Thus, even if your monthly mortgage payment would be the same amount as your current monthly rent payment, buying a home may be more expensive than continuing to rent.
• You are the landlord. When you commit to owning a home, you become the landlord. That means, if something breaks or needs to be repaired, you pay for it. In addition, you are now responsible for other expenses as part of owning a home, such as paying property taxes, association fees, utility bills, and insurance, the costs of which may increase each year.
• You may need to sell your home to move. If you decide to move, you may need to sell your home. Depending upon market conditions in your neighborhood or state, your home may not sell as quickly as homes in other areas.. In addition, you may need to incur the expense of hiring a real estate agent to assist you in selling your property.
• Property values can remain flat or decline. The value of your home, starting from the price you paid for your property, may remain flat or fall over time. A property can lose its value for a number of reasons, such as changes in the local or national economy, if your home is not well maintained, your neighbors' homes are not well maintained, etc. If and when you decide to sell your home, you may not obtain the same amount you paid for it, and you may owe more than what the property is currently worth. As a result, you may be unable to move or may have to use savings to pay off the difference between the amount you receive from the sale of your home and the balance of your mortgage loan.

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Personally i did not know about equity until i did some research over the internet.Hope it helps you!!please comment:)

Equity is simply the amount of ownership value a homeowner has in the property. Equity is computed by subtracting the total of the unpaid mortgage balance and any outstanding liens or other debts against the property from the property's fair market value.A homeowner's equity increases as he or she pays off the principal balance of the mortgage and/or as the property appreciates in value.When a mortgage and all other debts against the property are paid in full, the homeowner has 100 percent equity in the property.

Equity exists in conjunction with the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio.The LTV ratio is an expression of the value of your property compared to the amount of your loan.You can determine your LTV by dividing your loan amount by your property's value or selling/purchase price, whichever is lower.

For example, let's say you buy a $200,000 home and make a $40,000 down payment with your own money, and cover the remaining $160,000 with a mortgage.Dividing $160,000 by $200,000 gives you a loan-to-value ratio of 80 percent and equity of 20 percent, or $40,000.

If you decide to sell your home at a later date, your equity will be determined based on the fair market value of the home less the amount you still owe on the home. So, continuing with the example above, let's say you live in your home for five years after purchasing it.During that time, you make monthly mortgage payments that reduce the outstanding balance of your mortgage loan by $5,000, from $160,000 to $155,000.In addition, during that five years the value of your house increases, and you are able to sell the house for $220,000.Because you still owe $155,000 on the mortgage, your equity would be determined by subtracting $155,000 from $220,000, which would be $65,000.After you subtract other costs, including the commission paid to a real estate agent to help you sell your home, you could use this equity to make a down payment on your next home.

Conversely, your equity may decrease if the value of your home decreases after you purchase the home.If, for example, instead of increasing to $220,000, the value of the home in the example above decreases to $180,000, your equity would be only $25,000 ($180,000 less $155,000 owed on the mortgage loan).The possibility that your home's value may decrease is discussed below.

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