The internet has opened up a whole new world of opportunity. For those of us with an idea and the willingness to work hard, it is a great way to earn a significant amount of income from the comfort of our home. If you are looking for a way to earn money and still enjoy life, here are 10 of the best home based businesses for making money online that you can start today.Best Home Internet Business # 1 – Affiliate MarketingAn affiliate marketer is the internet version of a commissioned sales person. You make money selling products and services for other business owners. As you can imagine, this can be very lucrative and entrepreneurs have been known to make 6 to 7 figures promoting other people’s stuff.Best Home Based Business # 2 – Consulting/CoachingPeople are always looking for ways to improve themselves. Whether it is to have a better business or a better body, someone will pay you to help them get results. This is one of the best home based businesses for people low on funds. If you have the expertise, all you need is a website and you’re ready to make money.Best Online Business #3 – Website FlipperA website flipper is similar to a real estate flipper. They create a website and then sell it to someone else for a profit. You do need to have a bit of technical know-how and a little patience but if you pick a good domain name and get a lot of traffic, you could make a lot of money.Best Home Business # 4 – CraftingOne of the top home based businesses for creative types is to sell crafts online. Consumers love the charm of handmade products. So if you have a knack for crafts, you can turn your hobby into a profitable business doing something you love.Best Home Business # 5 – eBayThis down economy has everyone pinching pennies and many people are turning to online auction sites to find great deals on the things they want. From games to designer clothes to even cars, if you’ve got a product to sell, you can make good money selling it on eBay.Best Home Internet Business #6 – Freelance ServicesBusinesses are downsizing and laying employees off to save money. But since there is still work to be done, many businesses are turning to freelancers to fill in the gaps. Writers, artists, computer technicians; if you have a skill then you can make money with a freelancing business.Best Home Business # 7 – Virtual AssistantA virtual assistant is equivalent to a freelance secretary. You help your clients with a variety of tasks such as answering calls and making travel arrangements. The internet makes it easy to complete the work assigned to you from the comfort of your home and you can pick and choose the projects you want.Best Home Business # 8 – Shop to Earn Shopping PortalThe Shop to Earn Shopping Portal is a group of big name retail stores who pay you to shop. You earn money, in the form of cash back, each time you or someone you refer makes a purchase at the website. The convenience of internet shopping coupled with the ability to make money even when you are not actively working on your business makes this a great home based business for the stay at home parent.Best Home Based Business # 9 – Citizen JournalistMore and more people are turning to the internet for information about what is going on in the world. This home based business is perfect for writers who have a knack for reporting. You make money by generating advertising revenue on a news portal that deals with national news or even just what is happening in the local community.Best Home Business #10 – InfopreneurPeople are starved for information. With the cost of production and the time it takes to get it to the marketplace greatly reduced, it is easier, now more than ever, to publish a book giving readers the information they crave. And with the invention of the Kindle and the Sony Reader, you don’t even have to put your writing in book form to get it in the hands of readers.Choosing one of the 10 best home based businesses to get started with is only the beginning. The real challenge comes in building a successful business. For help with that, you’ll want to seek out experienced entrepreneurs who can give you tips and tools that will get your business off the ground and making money.

Home based business could save you! Changing the course of ones career is frightening. Imagine, from a secure professional life to a home based business promising nothing. You may have become an accidental online entrepreneur and have gone to like it in the process, but you suddenly stop and couldn’t believe that you’re actually doing it. So now is the time to go over and reassess the many benefits it has brought to your life:It saves your travel costsTraveling to and fro can be really stressful. This becomes even worse when you have to move from one transportation mode to another. You may have your own car yet the whooping price of gas would kill your budget in the process. But if you have a home based business, all the traveling and jostling around just to get to work will no longer be a problem. Working at home makes it guilt-free to rouse past your waking hour yet still makes up for the work you’ve missed. It saves your expensive dinesOh, those pricey menus you order under duress, those dear lunch out and steep after work night out! All those have taken a big lump sum off your salary every month. But when you work from home and manage your home based business, it is way easier to save money on your every dine. Working from home lets you have your meal at any time you want without waiting for the boss to say you can and most especially without the need to order from expensive restaurants. It saves your corporate clothesIn order to look the part, most companies require business uniforms. However, not all would give you a clothing allowance just so you can keep up with the company clothing policy. Now, this becomes a big hurdle. However, working from home doesn’t necessitate that you look your best all the time. Since you’re not going to meet people while working online, a pair of jeans, shirt and sometimes your pajamas is more than enough to get you going with your job. It saves you from unwarranted activitiesIf you work in a corporate world there’s no way to refuse extracurricular activities such as a night out, company weekend activities, team building, planning and all sorts of activities outside of your work scope. Hey, these are healthy activities, yet if it requires you to shed some bucks each time you go out, it would be the end of your savings. But if you have a home based business to keep you occupied, it’s easier to say goodbye to these leisure interests. Anyway, you can still do these things after your online work. 5. It’s a saving graceA home based business saves you from all sorts of money-spending temptations, expected and unexpected expenditures and provides you of a back up should your other offline businesses dwindle. It is such a good thing that it only requires few things – your online venture, a computer, good internet connection and YOU. Indeed, you can call it a saving grace!

On a sunny afternoon in Florida, an energetic crowd gathers on the lawn of a high end luxury estate. A loud and eager banter between an auctioneer, a group of bidders and bidder assistants fills the air. For several minutes the auctioneer asks for the next highest bid and the bidders respond. Suddenly the bidders grow silent. The high bidder holds his breath in anticipation of winning the auction. The auctioneer calls for one more bid. In a loud clear voice which rolls over the audience he says, “Fair warning, last chance” the auctioneer pauses, “SOLD!” And in less than 10 minutes another multimillion dollar estate has changed owners.

Successful real estate auctions like the one above are happening all over North America and the Caribbean. Recently real estate auctions have been on the rise, the increase in popularity is partly driven by growing inventories and fading buyer confidence. Properties that were selling in weeks using traditional methods are now languishing on the market unable to attract buyers even as seller’s lower prices. Many say the real estate boom is over but savvy buyers and sellers are profiting from real estate auctions.

Real Estate Auctions Work in Up or Down Markets.

Regardless of trends or market cycles, real estate auctions provide an open and transparent process for buyers and sellers. Properly conducted real estate auctions attract ready and willing buyers and motivate them to act now.

The auction method removes the “wait and see” attitude which serves to further depress real estate values. Buyers are always concerned about overpaying. Buyers gain confidence with their purchases at real estate auctions because they can see what others are willing to pay.

When market demand is high and inventories low, real estate auctions can deliver selling prices well above what a willing seller would have accepted in a negotiated private treaty sale. In good selling climates many property owners using traditional real estate methods; negotiating with one buyer at a time, leave thousands of dollars of equity on the table. During up markets real estate auctions are the best way to establish top market price.

Evaluating Your Real Estate for Auction

Not every property or seller for that matter makes a good candidate for auction. First of all sellers must be ready to sell now and for the current market value. Also a real estate auction will not fix problems caused by a downturn in market value of your property, if you owe more than a willing buyer will pay, be prepared to come to closing with your check book.

Properties that do well in real estate auctions have a high uniqueness factor. Ask your self, “What makes my property different from most others?” Maybe you own a resort property or high end luxury home, commercial properties and land do very well at auction. Real estate auctions thrive on uniqueness. If your property is like everyone else’s, the best thing you can do is offer the most competitive price.

Most importantly sellers must be reasonable about setting a minimum bid. A seller must look at the lowest, most current comps and price below that to generate the interest and urgency necessary for a successful real estate auction. Once the auction begins and qualified bidders start competing against one another you can watch the selling price increase.

Locate a Qualified Real Estate Auctioneer

Start by checking with the National Auctioneers Association, the best real estate auctioneers belong to this organization. These real estate auctioneers are well trained and adhere to a standard of practice and a code of ethics. Many attend the annual International Auctioneers Conference where the latest techniques and innovations in the real estate auction industry are presented.

Find out if the company you are interviewing is a full time real estate auction firm. Many real estate agents are getting auction licenses yet have no experience with the auction method of marketing. Conducting a successful real estate auction is nothing like (private treaty) traditional real estate sales. Go with a real estate auction pro.

You’re probably better of with an auction house that specializes in real estate auctions. There are many qualified auctioneers who have generations of experience selling personal property; furniture, dishes, lawn equipment and the occasional rare painting. Selling real estate at auction is a complex matter that should only be attempted by full time experienced real estate auction professionals.

Commissions and fees may vary, sellers must pay all marketing expenses up front and buyers typically pay 10% of the sales price to the auctioneer of which a share goes to participating real estate agents.

Types of Real Estate Auctions

Auctions are effective because they create a seller’s market. Professionally conducted real estate auctions create urgency, a reason to buy today and competition for the property. Terms and conditions of sale are established ahead of the auction. Real estate auctions will follow one of these three approaches:

Absolute Auction

The property is sold to the highest bidder regardless of price- using this process often returns the highest sale price.

Minimum Bid Auction

Seller agrees to sell at or above a published minimum bid price – this method is useful for internet auctions.

Seller Confirmation or Reserve Auction

With a reserve auction, the seller “reserves” the right to accept or decline any bids usually within 48 hours of the auction. Reserve auctions are used when there is a lien on the property from a lender or a court ordered sale with a minimum selling price.