Financing Collectibles for Fun and Profit

With the advent of the internet and especially auction services like those provided by Yahoo and E-bay, serious collectors have much larger arenas in which to buy and sell their wares. This provides the opportunity for quick discovery of hard-to-find items that previously might have taken years to find.

Depending upon the rarity of the collectible and the owner's awareness of its value, prices may range up to thousands of dollars for something of true quality in above average condition. However, there are still bargains being found everyday. A lot of things are being sold for a fraction of their true values simply because the owner wants to free up some space or rid themselves of what they perceive to be unnecessary clutter.

Savvy collectors know, not only the true values of the items that they collect, but also where and how to sell them for a profit. Unfortunately, if the item available costs more than available cash, the opportunity of a lifetime can remain unrealized. The question is: how to prevent this opportunity from being lost forever.

The answer is financing.

To finance something is to make up the difference between cash on hand and the purchase price. Depending upon the price of the item and the time it can take to liquidate it, you may have some options. If you only need a few dollars until pay day, you may be able to borrow short-term money from a relative or friend. If you need a few hundred, you might consider a cash advance on a credit card; especially if the item can be sold before the bill comes due. If you need a few thousand, neither your friends nor your credit card may be willing to accommodate you. You may want to consider a HELOC.

HELOC stands for Home Equity Line of Credit. It is an inexpensive means of borrowing money by accessing equity that you may have in your home. When you have a HELOC you can get money immediately. Interest is reasonable because it is tied to the Prime rate. Payments are low because they are interest only.

Many homeowners find that HELOC rates are considerably lower than the rates of the credit cards, personal loans and second mortgages. However, unlike credit cards and personal loans, the interest paid on a HELOC is often tax deductible (consult your tax advisor).

Given the previously described scenario, having a HELOC would allow you to write a check for items that may cost thousands of dollars. Conceivably, you could turn around and sell them, pay-off the HELOC and make a profit before your first payment becomes due.

If you would like to turn your hobby into something more serious and graduate from seller to "Power Seller" or from hobbiest to entrepreneur, a lack of cash may not be an obstacle. A HELOC could be the key to your success.

Copyright © 2005 Robert E. Jones, Jr.

Robert E. Jones is a Mortgage Loan Officer with years of experience helping homeowners manage their debt.

He is also known as "Mr. HELOC".

Robert has an established reputation as a creative problem solver. He specializes in helping homeowners use their equity and credit to achieve their personal and financial goals and overcome difficult situations.

If you have questions about HELOCs or creative financing, you can contact him by visiting http://www.mrheloc.com

In The News:
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.newsvirginian.com/wnv/news/local/article/from_wall_street_to_main_street/29280/cid=1256320384ei=qULwSNXdF4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNHGrDyHO51lKUjDvHPtsURpRGxNTQimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=toxvPKtCLjEJimgurl=media.newsvirginian.com/newsvirginian/img-story/images/uploads/10-11_meltdown_2.jpg width=80 height=53 alt= border=1brfont size=-2News Virginian/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.suntimes.com/business/currency/1213468,CST-FIN-wallet10special.articlecid=1256320384ei=qULwSNXdF4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNGntAQd-j3BCdMYRxrLx7p0jq8WxwExperts: Steer clear of stocks if college, retirement are near/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fChicago Sun-Times,nbsp;United Statesnbsp;-/font nobr21 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1b.../b the child is a newborn, if it#39;s consistent with the parents#39; risk tolerance, said Manny Schiffres, executive editor of Kiplinger#39;s bPersonal Finance/b. b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D1hnqKnevsC4cid=1256320384ei=qULwSNXdF4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNHi74UAZbeJkTaenhMcmo4D4EaHCwVideo: Stocks Fluctuate After Fed Corporate Debt Plan/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrAssociatedPress/nobr/fontobject width=448 height=356param name=movie value=http://www.youtube.com/v/1hnqKnevsC4/paramparam name=wmode value=transparent/paramembed src=http://www.youtube.com/v/1hnqKnevsC4type=application/x-shockwave-flashwmode=transparentwidth=448height=356/embed/objectbr/fontfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/7536/cid=1256320384ei=qULwSNXdF4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNET0dAM_mf6xXhCApbUblYCbN5MmwIs this Capitalism’s End of Days?/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrPolitical Affairs Magazine/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.finfacts.ie/irishfinancenews/article_1014937.shtmlcid=1256320384ei=qULwSNXdF4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNEkZIwgyK83Gi6PqRY6ypPluVVaMwThursday Newspaper Review - Irish Business News and International b.../b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrFinFacts Ireland/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_10655630cid=1256320384ei=qULwSNXdF4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNFGKJRjrIguAbA5op2xifsADYQtiwnobrDenver Post/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272623067.shtmlcid=1256320384ei=qULwSNXdF4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNFK92SRMbIn-Xyu53wYTJkOMLnWUwnobrNational Ledger/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1256320384hl=ennobrall 1,875 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://blogs.wsj.com/wallet/2008/10/10/whats-a-market-crash/%3Fmod%3Dgooglenews_wsjcid=1256248233ei=qULwSNXdF4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNE5bGSIzgA9HqhP6jmQW9Rg0AEa8wimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=YB8Ap0U3znMJimgurl=s.wsj.net/media/crash_art_200h_20081010112956.jpg width=80 height=60 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Wall Street Journal Blogs/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://blogs.wsj.com/wallet/2008/10/10/whats-a-market-crash/%3Fmod%3Dgooglenews_wsjcid=1256248233ei=qULwSNXdF4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNE5bGSIzgA9HqhP6jmQW9Rg0AEa8wThe Wallet covers the latest bpersonal finance/b and investing news b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fWall Street Journal Blogs,nbsp;NYnbsp;-/font nobr11 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Language and semantics have been a huge part of the market tumble/fall/plunge/collapse and now the term “crash” is beginngin to appear. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-10/10/content_7093040.htmcid=1256362445ei=qULwSNXdF4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNFWkN8ggXr132tkvvKfy8vtYNboJwimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=IqRTpaf18WoJimgurl=www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20081010/0013729e45180a58d30c09.jpg width=80 height=38 alt= border=1brfont size=-2China Daily/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.thebostonpilot.com/article.asp%3FID%3D7032cid=1256362445ei=qULwSNXdF4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNEyGf92QG_mp2IVd6OxaSgvJSTx1gCatholic financier answers questions on bpersonal finance/b, ’bailout’/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fThe Pilot,nbsp;MAnbsp;-/font nobr18 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1b.../b questions about bpersonal finance/b and the recently enacted federal quot;bailoutquot; or quot;rescuequot; bill. Where#39;s the safest place now to keep money? b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D7vEEspTIs6wcid=1256362445ei=qULwSNXdF4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNG2pazxvzbGP6QDffM1uPoKdFQqXgVideo: US Stocks Extend Huge Losses/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrAssociatedPress/nobr/fontobject width=448 height=356param name=movie value=http://www.youtube.com/v/7vEEspTIs6w/paramparam name=wmode value=transparent/paramembed src=http://www.youtube.com/v/7vEEspTIs6wtype=application/x-shockwave-flashwmode=transparentwidth=448height=356/embed/objectbr/fontfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/oct2008/glec-o11.shtmlcid=1256362445ei=qULwSNXdF4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNGJm3kxOSdiO7M8L9dCu_OUoSbpigWorst week for global markets since 1929/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrWorld Socialist Web Site/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-10-09-voa77.cfmcid=1256362445ei=qULwSNXdF4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNHrRd1GmKAAz-VHP0uYMdKNjqO1VAWomen#39;s Investment Club in California Plans to Weather Stormy Markets/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrVoice of America/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.kansascity.com/438/story/835095.htmlcid=1256362445ei=qULwSNXdF4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNHEDR7tJ2ZxZxlW5ozzWz5VKSM9UQnobrKansas City Star/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gosAsCQ19KzabZ4GfDK7sqa1FpRAD93MHG6O0cid=1256362445ei=qULwSNXdF4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNHLCcDdquzCTAFKD-oaAywuCmMQ0QnobrThe Associated Press/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1256362445hl=ennobrall 2,180 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://blogs.wsj.com/wallet/2008/10/10/loose-change-101008/%3Fmod%3Dgooglenews_wsjcid=0ei=qULwSNXdF4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNEqd09QavXJpVCPvXFkVEKb3XRCnwimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=0f7VLav-BfoJimgurl=s.wsj.net/media/realtor_art_257_20081009133145.jpg width=80 height=60 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Wall Street Journal Blogs/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://blogs.wsj.com/wallet/2008/10/10/loose-change-101008/%3Fmod%3Dgooglenews_wsjcid=0ei=qULwSNXdF4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNEqd09QavXJpVCPvXFkVEKb3XRCnwThe Wallet covers the latest bpersonal finance/b and investing news b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fWall Street Journal Blogs,nbsp;NYnbsp;-/font nobr16 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1A bpersonal finance/b blogger took it for a test drive. [StopBuyingCrap] -Vampire electronics might be the moneysuck that you’re not aware is actually sucking. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/10/10/ap5536768.htmlcid=1256145734ei=qULwSNXdF4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNFKQN7saTLvDRuW0wXUgjeYhyJISwFor Boy Scouts, preparation includes finances/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fForbes,nbsp;NYnbsp;-/font nobr13 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The purpose of the badge isn#39;t to transform scouts into investment whizzes, but to get them acquainted with the fundamentals of bpersonal finance/b. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm%3FStoryID%3D81264cid=1256196409ei=qULwSNXdF4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNHsiSofDgp5l6G2GBqAUeGzneheSQFCC professor publishes book to teach college students bpersonal/b b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fFrederick News Post (subscription),nbsp;MDnbsp;-/font nobr23 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1He has worked for a credit card company and as an economist since then, and he shares his knowledge of bpersonal finance/b with young adults. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.fool.co.uk/news/your-money/2008/10/10/googles-top-financial-products.aspxcid=0ei=qULwSNXdF4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNFyeMsJJjbb42oy05Gx3PgwKgYdywGoogle#39;s Top bFinancial/b Products/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMotley Fool UK,nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobrOct 9, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Another that Google found was bPersonal Finance/b for Dummies. Next, Google found bfinancial/b software, which has helped many Fools to budget better, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.investors.com/editorial/IBDArticles.asp%3Fartsec%3D19%26issue%3D20081010cid=0ei=qULwSNXdF4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNEEvSqqQv2WD0-ttQWr-yuU37uzZAMutual Funds amp; bPersonal Finance/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fInvestor's Business Daily (subscription)nbsp;-/font nobr5 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1BY DONALD JAY KORN When autos go on sale, more people tend to want to buy. The same with clothing and TV sets and soft drinks. But when stock prices fall, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/add-up-all-our-housing/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BCB9FBC2F-265D-414B-BEB4-62490B6DE4F8%257D%26dist%3Dmsr_3cid=0ei=qULwSNXdF4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNG69B6NnsMzf6fTUzPLQfet3o65RgMore bPersonal Finance/b Daily stories/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobrOct 9, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1I sold my house last year to avoid the crash, and decided not to purchase another home due to property taxes alone. Here in California property taxes are b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2008/10/03/DI2008100302245.htmlcid=0ei=qULwSNXdF4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNHxa2B_RkycaJfS818o5RRLCwU8YAWashington Post bPersonal Finance/b Columnist/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fWashington Post,nbsp;United Statesnbsp;-/font nobrOct 9, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1b.../b responsibility with your spouse or loved one, Post bpersonal finance/b columnist Michelle Singletary offers her advice and answers your tough questions. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
personal finance - Google News


Wind Chimes and more...

Windchimes for great gifts!

Portfolio Planning can Lead to Irreconcilable Differences

The judge had to ask the question, and we had... Read More

10 Tips to Make Sure Your Financial Budget Will Succeed

You've analyzed your past expenses, put them into spreadsheets, loaded... Read More

Make or Break Your Retirement!

The Prudential has dubbed those who refuse to leave home... Read More

10 Steps to Take if You Are a Victim of Identity Theft

There have been an estimated 9.9 million victims on America... Read More

Government Grants - Beware of Scams

As the saying goes: "Buyer Beware". If you see ads... Read More

10 Quick And Cheap Ways To Cut Your Heating Bill

When you received an energy (heating) bill last winter, were... Read More

Reduce College Debt with Scholarships

Six Scholarship judges were sitting around an oval table. Forms... Read More

Top 10 Ways Managing Your Money Is Just Like Riding a Bike

An avid cyclist and bike racing fan, I sit transfixed... Read More

Saving Dimes Can Go a Long Way

On the other hand, there are those people who are... Read More

Saving Money - The Magic 20 Percent

Saving money is not easy and is made more difficult... Read More

How You Feel Affects How You Shop & How Much You Spend

Have you ever stopped to think about how your "mood"... Read More

Bank On It: Places to Hide and Invest Money

Today I passed a thermometer at a bank that read... Read More

Dramatically Improve Your Stock Trading Success

Get Access to Realistic profitable strategies & discover the mindset... Read More

Developing a budget? Watch out for Those Budget-Bursting Gremlins

If you've developed a household budget to get your spending... Read More

Take Control and Master Your Kitchen

Those who keep a watchful eye on where their money... Read More

How To Survive The Grocery Shopping Blues

If you are the normal consumer, then you've probably experienced... Read More

How To Get Ahead On A Low Income

Do you struggle from week to week trying to make... Read More

Money Saving Tips. Maximize Savings on Everyday Items!

Frugal living is more than a lifestyle. It's a passion.... Read More

Budgeting Before Buying

With interest rates being at an all-time low, I can... Read More

Saving Money On Gasoline For Your Automobile

The gas that we fill our tanks with every week... Read More

Car Donations and Used Car Donations

Car donations and used car donations are the way many... Read More

Affording a Home

Can you really afford a house? If so, how much... Read More

Understanding and Controlling Your Finances

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to... Read More

Vesting and Your 401(k)

Do you have a 401(k) retirement account? Are you vested... Read More

Budgets And Eating - Can They Co-Exist?

Whatever your reason for having a tight budget, the truth... Read More