gman1919,


 Does anyone know how I can find companies that pay about 7%+ dividends? 

  Nobody can tell you or I what companies are going to
do good however, from my experience a good place to start when ""Black Monday"" hit in October 19
of 1987 this indicate how well the companies and
Mutual Funds performed this is a well-over looked
indicator by so-call professionals.

Check into "DRIP" (Dividends Reinvestment Plans) and
No-Loaded Funds vs. Loaded Funds.

 I have heard that REIT are a good place to start?

 In my research,  REIT are not a good place to be, why?
they'll put you and I into loaded funds which means high commissions..when comes to investing you and I must ask ourselves "who's best interest are they looking after"?..Yours or there own?
Factor in all the commissions with loaded funds vs. no-
loaded funds, I enclosed a site for you..look for
SEC CALCULATOR. 

My opinion, homes are not good investment but a quality
of life. Your stocks and mutual funds well and has been proven that it has out performed homes.

Here I enclosed some websites that might help you and her out, again check into performance and commissions
this is very important!!!

SEC cal. is in here:
http://www.100noload.com/

http://www.bloomassetmanagement.com/Advisors/bloomassetmanagement/

Black Monday:
http://broadcast.webpoint.com/wbzl/dow/dow_1987.htm


P.S. Never time the Market your in for a long term!

I hope this helps?
Need more advice let me know

Good luck and fool-on

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