Sunday, November 30, 2008

Oregon Home Buying

Maybe you?re buying your first home in Oregon, or perhaps you?re relocating to Oregon from another state. Either way, it?s important that you educate yourself on Oregon home loans before shopping for a home and mortgage. This article explains what you?ll need to know before buying a home in Oregon:

The median price of a home in Oregon is $152,000, and homes in Oregon have appreciation rates higher than the national average. The rate of job growth in Oregon is among the top five states in the nation. Additionally, mortgage interest rates have recently been lower than the national average, and many Oregon residents have been refinancing their adjustable rate mortgages.

Home prices in Oregon can vary greatly between zip codes. For example, in Portland, Oregon, the median price of a home in the summer of 2005 was $262,000; however, in Beaverton, Oregon, the median price of a home was $187,000.

The Homeowner Education Collaborative of Oregon offers a training course, The ABC?s of Homebuying, to Oregon residents planning to buy a home. This course covers the basic information a homebuyer needs to know about housing decisions, financial preparation, mortgages, shopping for a home, closing your loan, and protecting your investment.

If you?re buying a home in the state of Oregon, you qualify for both federal and state FHA and VA loans. First-time home buyers qualify for Oregon FHA loans with below-market interest rates, and, depending on their income, may also qualify for down payment assistance. The Residential Loan Program offers below-market interest rates to first-time homebuyers with low to moderate incomes, and the Downpayment Assistance Program offers down payment assistance to first-time homebuyers who meet certain income requirements. The income requirements vary from county to county.

Jessica Elliott recommends that you visit Mortgage Lenders Plus.com for more information about Oregon Mortgage Rates and Loans.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

You Can Afford A Home In California

You don?t even have to be a movie star to do it! If you?re willing to take your time to look for the best home for your money, your dream of owing a home in California can become a wonderful reality.

Foreclosures are a terrific opportunity to find a great home at a fraction of the price. Be aware that foreclosed houses often need some minor repairs, because the foreclosing banks sell these houses as-is. Still, the cost of replacing some carpet or repairing a few eyesores is almost always well worth it in the end. Often you?ll be able to sell your repaired foreclosed home for a very nice profit! And if you have a talent for home repair, the savings, and therefore your profit upon resale, is that much greater.

Shop around for the best mortgage you can find. Numerous websites offer the chance to calculate the amount of money you can afford to spend per month on mortgage payments, the type of loan you are likely to be offered with your credit history, and other great planning tools. Other websites actually contact multiple lenders on your behalf to help you find the best deal. These are great resources, so use them!

Finally, know what you?re getting. Make sure you understand the mortgage paperwork and all the terms on it. Double check anything you don?t understand. Whenever possible, have an uninvolved third party review the paperwork before you sign. Finally, sign the forms and enjoy your new California home!

Check Out More Articles:

Qualify Independent Financial Adviser, Do It Yourself Cards Fix Credit Newgoodcredit Com, Online Mortage Loan Articles

Friday, November 28, 2008

Tips to Save You Time and Money When Investing

Here is some valuable and time saving real estate investing tips that will benifit you and most people which you may not be aware of . . .

Everyone?s reason for selling their property is different and the settlement time in which they want (or need) to sell can vary as well.

When a person is selling a property I like to find out what is their level of Motivation to Sell.

What you need to determine is that some vendors are motivated to sell and will look favourably on your offers in order to achieve a quick sale while others have higher and often unrealistic prices that will not be suitable for your investing needs.

What I would suggest is you focus on those who are motivated and spend less time on those who are not. Don?t ever take their rejection of your offer personally,

And please don?t let fear of rejection stop you from making any offers with any types of vendors.

You will quickly find the motivated vendors by making offers, always include a ?subject to? line included in your the offer. (Subject to Finance, Building inspection, etc)

Always treat the vendor as a businesses partner it is merely a transaction between both parties to achieve a satisfactory outcome.

Be polite and respect them, don?t try to burn them. Concentrate on their needs as well. There are always plenty of deals to be had.

If you treat people this way they will be more likely to want to do business with you. Sometimes they will often come back and take another look at your offer if they can?t get their asking price.

Remember there is always more than one way to skin a cat.

http://www.therealestateinvester.com I am an experienced and passionate investor. I buy typical mum and dad type houses that give me cash flow and capital growth. My website offers helpful tips and ideas for any type of investor to help you with your wealth creation. Using my site will help to prevent you falling into the traps the inexperienced investors do.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Real Estate Q & A

Q. My property went into a sixty day escrow. The escrow amount was $3,000.00. Five days prior to closing the buyer's agent notified me that the contract would be cancelled due to the fact that the property did not appraise for the agreed upon value. Is the buyer's escrow forfeited?

A. In any situation, you must first turn to the closing contract itself. You should look for deadlines for certain things to occur, such as appraisals. Did this appraisal occur after the deadline? Were any other terms involving deadlines not met by the buyer? This will give you some insight as to whether or not the escrow monies must be returned. A general rule of thumb is that escrow monies cannot be released without the consent of all parties.

Q. We had a closing date set. I have just been informed that the seller is requesting a delay in the closing date. Do I have legitimate grounds for renogiation of the purchase price?

A. The reasons that a seller may wish to delay closing may vary, from the legitimate to outright procrastination. If you attempt to renegotiate the purchase price, it may be considered as a new offer, which replaces the original offer. This may therefore void the original offer and all terms negotiated pursuant to that offer. The safest way to approach this is to simply ask yourself if you are willing to wait for the property at the originally agreed upon price.

Q. I am purchasing a property. The seller has not found a replacement property, and has requested an extension of the escrow period. If I do not agree to the extension, do I lose appraisal and inspection fees, as well as my deposit?

A. The deposit will likely be refunded less a small cancellation fee. The appraisal and inspection fees will most likely be lost. If you agree to the extension, be sure to place deadlines on the seller, such as a time by which a replacement property must be found.

Q. I decided to purchase a particular home, however I have now changed my mind. How do I go about cancelling the contract?

A. A contract is a legal document which you have made with the seller. Cancellation for certain reasons may be allowed, however cancellation on the sole basis of changing your mind will likely come with ramifications. You should strongly consider these ramifications prior to backing out of the deal. You should consult an attorney regarding your potential liability in this situation. Typically, a contract cannot force parties to a transaction, however you may be responsible for paying damages to the seller. These damages can take many forms, including the lost opportunities that the seller missed as the result of taking his or her home off the market.

Q. I signed a contract to sell my home. Now I have changed my mind and want to keep the property. Must we sell our home?

A. Again, the first thing to do is to look at the legal document itself. Look for contingencies which will allow you to back out of the transaction. The buyer may decide to enforce the contract in court. You should consult an attorney. It would be wise to make the cancellation more palatable to the buyer by compensating him or her for all of their out of pocket expenses, and maybe an additional amount for their time and effort in negotiating the transaction.

Q. I made an offer on a property. The seller came back with a counter offer. May the seller subsequently sell the property to another buyer?

A. Typically, the seller is free to sell the property to the first buyer who accepts an offer. If you have not accepted the counter offer, chances are the seller is free to do as he or she pleases.

Q. Can I negotiate the selling price of a newly-constructed home?

A. You can always negotiate the selling price of any real estate. However, the seller of a newly-constructed home is usually not willing to budge on the price, for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the small profit margin for transactions involving newly constructed homes.

About the Author:

Catherine Nguyen was born and raised in Dallas, Texas and is a licensed real estate agent. Ms. Nguyen specializes in Dallas real estate and has a career with Renowned Realty Group ? Dallas/Ft. Worth RE/MAX.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

North Cyprus: The Last Mediterranean Property Investment Hotspot

If only I'd had the foresight to buy an investment property in Spain, the South of France, Tuscany or in Malta twenty years ago when property prices were so cheap because the desirability of the destination had yet to enjoy exposure...if only...

Many people believe that the world's most beautiful locations are the countries in and around the Mediterranean Sea - think Spain, Malta, Turkey, Egypt, Sardinia, Italy, Morocco and Tunisia. All are nations synonymous with a fantastic climate, a wonderful quality of life, excellent cuisine, friendly and laid back people...naturally enough the Mediterranean countries are the most popular with those looking for a sun drenched holiday, a beautiful place to retire to or the perfect place to buy a property that will go up in value, be easy to rent and easy to resell. But many have already missed the affordability boat.

Properties on the most popular islands in the Mediterranean Sea and in the most desirable locations start from a quarter of a million pounds and go up to tens of millions. So the average property investor, second home seeker or retiree looking for an affordable place in the sun is going to be sadly disappointed then?

That is unless they discover the secret delights of Northern Cyprus?

North Cyprus is the secret and undiscovered third of the island of Cyprus that has been left untouched, unspoiled and unsullied by the greed of the 1970s and 1980s, it has escaped the overdevelopment and mass tourism of the 1990s and it has emerged in the new Millennium as a gem in an otherwise saturated, over priced market.

Properties in Northern Cyprus start from just GBP 60,000 for a duplex apartment in a resort on a championship golf course! North Cyprus truly is the very last Mediterranean property investment hotspot and it will not remain undiscovered for long. While the government are committed to preserving the beauty and culture of the island and determined to prevent it being overdeveloped and sullied, the properties that are being built sympathetically are catching the eye of international property investors, retirees, second homers and those looking to afford to start a brand new and exciting life in the sun.

The number of visitors coming to Cyprus is increasing rapidly; large international developers are discussing many projects from seven star hotels and luxurious resorts to more golf courses, marinas and even a furthering of the higher education establishments that North Cyprus is already famous for. Demand for property for sale and rent is coming from the large student base but more importantly it is coming from retiring Europeans, young families and couples, holiday makers, those needing a second home and even corporate investors.

Northern Cyprus property will not remain so affordable for so long - firstly the demand for property for sale is outstripping current supply and builders cannot keep up with demand, secondly prices are already increasing and finance is being made available privately broadening the numbers of those who will be able to enter the market. As demand soars and supply remains steady and restricted by the government's high standards, prices are rising and are going to keep on rising...making North Cyprus's property market one of the hottest in the world.If only I'd had the foresight to buy an investment property in Spain, the South of France, Tuscany or in Malta twenty years ago when property prices were so cheap because the desirability of the destination had yet to enjoy exposure...if only...

Many people believe that the world's most beautiful locations are the countries in and around the Mediterranean Sea - think Spain, Malta, Turkey, Egypt, Sardinia, Italy, Morocco and Tunisia. All are nations synonymous with a fantastic climate, a wonderful quality of life, excellent cuisine, friendly and laid back people...naturally enough the Mediterranean countries are the most popular with those looking for a sun drenched holiday, a beautiful place to retire to or the perfect place to buy a property that will go up in value, be easy to rent and easy to resell. But many have already missed the affordability boat.

Properties on the most popular islands in the Mediterranean Sea and in the most desirable locations start from a quarter of a million pounds and go up to tens of millions. So the average property investor, second home seeker or retiree looking for an affordable place in the sun is going to be sadly disappointed then?

That is unless they discover the secret delights of Northern Cyprus?

North Cyprus is the secret and undiscovered third of the island of Cyprus that has been left untouched, unspoiled and unsullied by the greed of the 1970s and 1980s, it has escaped the overdevelopment and mass tourism of the 1990s and it has emerged in the new Millennium as a gem in an otherwise saturated, over priced market.

Properties in Northern Cyprus start from just GBP 60,000 for a duplex apartment in a resort on a championship golf course! North Cyprus truly is the very last Mediterranean property investment hotspot and it will not remain undiscovered for long. While the government are committed to preserving the beauty and culture of the island and determined to prevent it being overdeveloped and sullied, the properties that are being built sympathetically are catching the eye of international property investors, retirees, second homers and those looking to afford to start a brand new and exciting life in the sun.

The number of visitors coming to Cyprus is increasing rapidly; large international developers are discussing many projects from seven star hotels and luxurious resorts to more golf courses, marinas and even a furthering of the higher education establishments that North Cyprus is already famous for. Demand for property for sale and rent is coming from the large student base but more importantly it is coming from retiring Europeans, young families and couples, holiday makers, those needing a second home and even corporate investors.

Northern Cyprus property will not remain so affordable for so long - firstly the demand for property for sale is outstripping current supply and builders cannot keep up with demand, secondly prices are already increasing and finance is being made available privately broadening the numbers of those who will be able to enter the market. As demand soars and supply remains steady and restricted by the government's high standards, prices are rising and are going to keep on rising...making North Cyprus's property market one of the hottest in the world.

Rhiannon Williamson writes about real estate investment in emerging markets worldwide and highlights property investment hotspots. To learn more about property for sale in North Cyprus click here.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Why Real Estate Remains A Great Investment

One of the things that I noticed as I started learning about money and investments is that most great, lasting wealth seemed to have been made through real estate investing. Where real estate wasn?t the great driver, such as the Internet and telecommunications booms of the early 90?s, the smartest people redirected cash earned into real estate holdings.

It is still a good idea to use this approach today. No matter what you do for a living, I encourage you to consider getting involved in real estate investing. There are a lot of ways to do it, and we will cover some of them in future articles. For now, let?s examine some of the reasons why real estate works so well for those looking to build long-term wealth.

1.Income. Real estate investing offers you the chance to earn both active and passive income. Unlike your job, where you trade your hours and effort for cash, many real estate investments allow you to leverage capital. Your money makes you more money. Your earnings can actively involve your time and energy (such as managing rental properties) or you can trust others to manage your holdings (REIT?s and some limited partnership structures). Your choice should reflect your goals and lifestyle preferences.

2.Tremendous Tax Benefits. The benefits of owning property can have to do with the write-offs against the rental income. Your costs in marketing your property, cleaning and maintaining it, insuring it, screening tenants, etc. can be deductible. Other deductions typically include insurance payments, taxes, depreciation and interest expenses on any mortgages used to secure the property. While you can?t write off the principal payments on your mortgage, these payments can be figured into your depreciation calculations and benefit you thereby.

3.Asset Appreciation. Another great feature of real property is asset appreciation. That is, the underlying asset that is actively generating income and tax savings for you is also increasing in value and building your net worth. This should work two ways: the principal portion of your payments is reducing your debt and the marketplace is raising the value of the property. For example, market values of homes in my town increased by 9% last year. Some markets routinely see double-digit increases. On average, Houston real estate appreciates by 3-5% annually.

4.Stability. Investing in real assets can shield you from some of the fluctuations that exist in the stock and bond markets. While real estate does have cycles (just like any other asset class), demand for single-family housing - whether for rental or purchase - is fairly consistent. Relative to other investments, its fluctuations aren't as broad. While it may not hit the high highs of tech stocks, for example, it typically doesn't bottom out as dramatically either. This feature can be tremendous in a well-balanced portfolio.

5.Involvement. This is the fun part. Investing in real estate offers you a chance to ?kick the tires? more than virtually any other investment. This can make it a lot of fun. But, it?s not just fun; it?s protection. No one will be closer to the performance of your money than you. And that?s a good thing.

If you need help evaluating opportunities or financing your projects, contact me today. I have a free ?Deal Evaluator? in Microsoft Excel format that I will send you free when you e-mail me. Many real estate investors have found it helpful.

I wish you great success.

Mark Anthony McCray, author of the upcoming books, ?The 31 Rules for Succeeding as a Mortgage Broker? and ?The 31 Rules for Prospering Financially? (http://www.the31rules.com), is the Founder and CEO of Houston, TX based First Capital Mortgage Company (http://www.dealsdone.net). First Capital is a commercial mortgage banking and brokerage firm that has helped its clients leverage millions of dollars in financing for their real estate acquisitions, developments and investments over the years. Write to Mark at mark@dealsdone.net or call 713-267-4040 for more information about the author or First Capital?s services.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Top 10 Critical Mistakes Homebuyers Make and How to Avoid Them (Part One)

1.Using an out-of-town lender.

Getting a mortgage in a timely and hassle-free manner is the ?key that opens the door? to your new home.

Lenders who don?t live in the area you are buying in will not have the contacts needed to process your loan in an efficient and timely manner. Are you aware that if your lender fails to get you your loan on time, that your earnest money deposit may be at risk of being forfeited?

Your best bet is to ask your real estate agent whom they have used before and who they trust.

If it is important to you to use a lender from out-of-state (family member, friend etc.), your best bet is to have your lender refer your business to a local lender. This will help insure that your out-of-state lender receives a referral fee, they don?t violate state mortgage laws, and most importantly you are able to close on the home you want to buy.

Mortgage story: The very first transaction I was involved in after I got my real estate license was a nightmare due to a negligent lender. I was representing a buyer from Las Vegas (I live in St. George, Utah) that insisted on using a Las Vegas lender. Unfortunately the lender would rarely return calls or answer his phone. He failed to close on time. We extended the closing date time and again, and time and again the out-of-state lender failed to have the loan ready. The buyers were frantic and the sellers were angry. Finally eight weeks after we were supposed to close my buyers finally dropped the lousy lender and went with a local lender that I recommended. To my buyer?s amazement, by using the local lender, we closed the transaction 10 days later.

2.Not using a loan approval letter when making an offer on a property.

You?ve found ?The Home? and want to make an offer to buy it. Now anybody can make a full price offer and get it accepted.

What if ?The Home? is priced at $275,000 but you offer $250,000 and say that you will pay for the home by getting a new loan?

The sellers, when presented with your $250,000 offer, know nothing about you except that you seem to think their home is worth less than they feel its worth. At that point they will probably do one of two things. They might reject your offer outright. Or they might counter your offer at close to their asking price. As far as they?re concerned they never considered your original offer to be a ?real? offer.

Do you think that they would have taken your $250,000 offer more seriously if you had said you could pay cash? Of course they would have, after all money talks.

What if you had already received full loan approval from a lender. Not just pre-qualified, or pre-approved (Being pre-approved is kinda like being pre-pregnant), but fully approved for a home loan with a letter from the underwriter to prove it. A letter that is as good as ?cash in the bank?. You?ve become a ?Power Buyer?! You never know, maybe the seller would accept your offer, rather than letting a good buyer get away.

Wow, if your offer was accepted, you just saved $25,000 on the purchase of your home! And all you had to do was meet with the lender before you went house hunting.

3.Buying too much house for your income.

I used to do ?Broker Price Opinions, or BPO? for banks. This is where a bank would contact me to find out the value of a home that they had given a loan on. Often times this ?BPO? was because the homeowner was losing or had lost their home because they could no longer afford the home. What a terribly sad event for that family.

Things happen in life that you might never expect. Don?t unknowingly ?open the door? to future foreclosure and bankruptcy by getting a mortgage that you can ?grow into?. Life rarely works out the way you expect.

One of the best moves I?ve ever made was purchasing my current home. When I bought this home I qualified for a home twice as expensive as the one I bought. Payments on my home rarely cause me stress or concern.

4.Thinking ?short-term?.

Want to really scare me? Tell me you want to buy a home today and that you will want sell it in two, three or four years. Yikes! Talk about wanting to lose money.

Real Estate home values generally rise very slowly in a slow or soft real estate market. In St. George, where I live, our average time between hot markets (when home values rise quickly, usually doubling) is ten years. If you bought $250,000 home in a slow market, in three years it might be worth $265,000. Your cost to sell with commission and other costs would be $18,200. You would lose $8,200 for your short term thinking.

If you have to move within three years of buying a home, it would be better to use the home as a rental for a few years, and sell it when the market will allow you to make a profit. Better yet rent it out until the top of the next hot market, then sell it and potentially make $250,000 profit.

5.Using 1031 exchange money to buy personal property.

Do you really want to risk having the IRS charge you with fraud? Enough said.

This article is continued in Part 2?

About Me:
I have lived in beautiful St. George, Utah since 1998. I have been a real estate agent here (Washington County, Utah) since 1999. I have survived terrible housing markets and thrived in amazing markets (38% home appreciation in St. George in 2005). For more interesting articles, or to sign up for receiving my weekly St. George foreclosures email please visit my website: DonGlasgow.net. I also provide homebuyers with instant access to the Washington County MLS. I have gotten tons of compliments on my website, so make sure and check it out!

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Real Estate Home Study Courses

The Internet is a rich source of information on the available real estate courses offered by various institutions. The firms and institutions that are listed on the Internet offer formal training and review sessions for potential and licensed real estate agents, brokers, and appraisers. Another form of training that agents, brokers and appraisers can avail themselves of consists of home study courses on real estate that are also available on the Internet. Home study includes books and online courses that a student must complete within a six-month time frame. The home study program is designed to help agents, brokers, and appraisers supplement the amount of hours they have to put in their training so that they would qualify for the state exams. Each course usually covers six to eight hours of modules and other forms of tutorials.

Courses

The courses included in this type of training mandatory or required courses in Ethics and Real Estate and in Real Estate Laws. These mandatory subjects are similar to those that are offered in online real estate courses for agents, brokers and appraisers. Elective courses are also included in this type of training where other areas of study on real estate are offered. Some of the elective courses include courses on Home Inspection, Environmental Laws, Real Estate Taxes and Risk Management. It is the aim of these courses to expose the students to other relevant subjects with regard to their profession.

Cost

The average cost of modules for the home study programs that are available vary range from forty dollars for the six hour courses while the average for the eight hour courses is fifty dollars. In availing for these home study courses, students must be very careful since orders are deemed final and the students pay for these courses even if they do not get to finish them.

The convenience and the efficiency that home study programs provide for potential agents, brokers and appraisers, give valuable support for aspiring realtors in their preparations for state exams and their eventual careers in real estate.

Real Estate Courses provides detailed information on Online Real Estate Courses, Real Estate Agent Courses, Real Estate Appraisal Courses, Real Estate Broker Courses and more. Real Estate Courses is affiliated with Phoenix Real Estate Schools.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Real Estate Are Interest Rates Damping the Market?

The Federal Reserve Bank has raised interest rates more than 15 times over the past two years, and Realtors are feeling the pinch. Home sales have slumped all over the nation, and blame is being placed squarely on interest rates.

In June Ben Bernanke, Federal Reserve Chairman said that core prices had increased 2 percent. No one except the Fed seems to think that we are in any danger of runaway inflation. The greater fear is that higher interest rates will lead to loan foreclosures as popular variable rate mortgages written in the past few years are repriced. Real estate agents and lenders are not the only ones affected by rising interest rates. Businesses that depend on borrowing will find their expenses climbing, which will lead to pay cuts, layoffs and pullbacks in operations if interest rates don?t level out.

Many young home buyers have opted for variable rate mortgages, betting that their incomes would increase before the interest rates on their homes. Rising rates will put many young families at risk of losing their homes. Americans place a high value on home ownership, believing it leads to stability in our society.

Some have cast blame on rising rents for fueling inflation, but the truth is, rents have been stagnant for years. Young families normally rent for a few years as they save for their first home, but in the past few years they have borrowed from relatives and used every creative financing trick in order to buy their first home while rates are low. This has left many landlords wringing their hands over empty apartments and rental homes. The predictable result was a lowering of the price of rental housing. Now that home sales have slowed, rental housing is filling up again, and landlords are cautiously making long overdue adjustments to rent.

Actually, inflation is not caused by any industry or market raising its prices. Inflation is a growth of the money supply caused by increased lending. The symptom of inflation is increased prices as too many dollars chase too few goods. The Federal Reserve controls the amount of currency in circulation by raising and lowering interest rates. When interest rates are low, business and consumer demand for loans increases, and banks ?create? new electronic money by making loans.

The Federal Reserve attempts to grow the money supply at a rate matched to the growth of the American economy, so that prices do not increase or decrease.

The current higher interest rates are having a damping effect on real estate sales today, but the low rates of the past are also reaching forward to affect sales today. That is because many buyers bought early to take advantage of low rates while they lasted. If home sales were the only consideration, the Fed would not have raised interest rates this far, this fast.

Real estate agents are optimistic that the current sales slump is just a temporary hiccup that will pass as the market adjusts to current conditions.

Visit http://www.realestatecrosslakeminnesota.com/ for listings of real estate agents in Cross Lake, Minnesota.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Is Now The Time To Buy A Condo

Is now the time to buy a condo?

If you plan on living in it for 2 or more years the answer is yes! After a big condo boom in Tampa, Fl there are now 1,256 condos, townhomes and lofts on the market according to the Tampa MLS. This is just in and around the downtown Tampa area (a 5 mile radius). Prices range from under 100K to 6.3m for a swanky Trump Tower unit with over 6,000 sq ft.

There are also New Construction and Condo Conversions that are not listed in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Sites like http://www.TampaBayLofts.com provide a list of condos, lofts, and townhomes. The site also offers a custom search emailed to you based on your price range, size and location.

So if you are a buyer looking for a good deal what are your options?

Consider a re-sale: Sellers are very motivated to sell and if they purchased 1 or 2 years ago you may be able to negotiate a great price. Since building costs have gone up so have new construction condos. Only owners of re-sales have the ability to sell for what they paid for the unit and guess what? They are selling for little or no profit..........even losing money just to get the financial burden off their back. A Realtor can give you information like how long a property has been on the market and how much they paid.

For instance: A 2/2 condo was listed for 214K, there were about 15 other condos in the same complex all listed for around the same price. This unit had been on the market 124 days. Can you say motivated??? My buyer asked me to find out what the owner paid and offered the exact same price. After negotiations the price was settled on at only 5K more than what they originally paid for the condo in May of 05'.

Things to watch out for when buying new:

How long does the developer have to finish building? Most new construction contracts state that the builder has 2 years to complete construction and close. All builder contracts are written by the builder so be sure to read all the fine print.

Engage a Realtor who knows new construction. Builders compensate Realtors so it won't cost the consumer to have representation. Most Realtors will know where the new projects are located and can show you any of the properties and provide comparable sales data. They can also assist in negotiating pricing and incentives. Newly constructed condos and condo conversions are listed at today's prices so it's best to view all your options before making a decision.

If a builder doesn't meet their contract quota what happens to your new dream condo? Many projects have not realized their quota within the timeframe allocated by the bank for financing. They are now ditching the project and giving back deposits. If you are buying a new condo conversion or new construction find out if they have reached their quota and if they are ready to close.

Rae Catanese Shatto is a Realtor in the Tampa Bay Area who specializes in New Construction, Lofts and Condos. She can be reached at 813-784-7744 or realtyrae@yahoo.com

Thursday, November 20, 2008

1% Realtors: How They Work

Each year, a large number of homeowners make the decision to put their home up for sale. If you are considering selling your home then you have a number of options. You can either sell your home with professional assistance or without it. If you are like most homeowners, you would prefer the professional assistance.

Making the decision to obtain assistance from a realtor is a large decision; however, it is not the only one that you will have to make. Real estate agents in the Los Angeles area are likely to charge different fees. If you are interested in making a profit from the sale of your home, you will have to find a real estate agent that has low fees. To do so you will have to do a little bit of research.

One of the many ways that homeowners find cheap realtors is by price comparison. This comparison is similar to shopping at your favorite retail store. Before deciding on a Los Angeles realtor, you should contact a number of realtors and determine how they charge for their services. Many real estate agents charge a flat fee and other charge commission based on the finial selling price of a home.

As a homeowner, you can select whichever real estate agent you choose to. However, it is important to note that many homeowners have had success working with a realtor who obtains their fees from a percentage of the final selling price of the home they listed. Many homeowners are concerned with the percentage that a realtor will take, but this percentage is preset. That means that you should be able to determine the exact percentage before doing business with a realtor.

In the Los Angeles area, it is possible to find a 1% realtor. 1% realtors are individuals who only charge a 1% commission. If you are looking to make a profit from the sale of your home, a 1% realtor may be your best bet. No matter how much your house sells for, 1% realtors will only take one percent for their fees.

Does a 1% realtor sound too good to be true? Unfortunately, there are many individuals who believe so. The truth is that 1% realtors are completely legitimate. They tend to differ from traditional real estate agents, but their benefits are still unlimited. Instead of dealing with a number of potential buyers who are unsure as to whether or not they want to buy a home, 1% realtors are able to focus their time and money elsewhere.

If you are wondering how your home will get sold without individual showings, you are not alone. Many homeowners are concerned as well. If a showing does occur it is often private or in the form of an open house. An open house enables a large group of people to view your home all at once. In addition to open houses, many realtors allow their potential buyers to privately view your home. This viewing is usually only allowed after they meet certain criteria.

If you are interested in learning more about 1% realtors, you are encouraged to contact one today. After speaking to a 1% realtor, it is likely that you will see the unlimited benefits of using their services.

Brad Horn is a writer for 1 percent realtor where you can find a great 1% Realtor in Los Angeles

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

How to Avoid Foreclosure from Happening to You

Foreclosure is a term many people may have heard of yet are unsure as to what the term means exactly. Foreclosure is something which affects homeowners who have a mortgage or lien on their home and do not own the house outright. There are a few things which homeowners should be aware of with regard to foreclosure in order to prevent this from happening to them.

What Is Foreclosure?

Foreclosure is when a lender who currently holds a mortgage on one?s home can come in and repossess the home due to a number of reasons but mainly for nonpayment of a mortgage. For those individuals whose home is less valuable than their current loan balance, they may also owe a deficiency judgment as a result thereof.

How Do Foreclosures and Deficiency Judgments Affect the Individual?

There are many ways in which foreclosures and/or deficiency judgments can affect an individual. First and foremost, when a home is foreclosed upon that individual loses their living quarters plus any money which they have already paid for the home. When one has a deficiency judgment issued against them they will find that they will owe varying sums of money in order to make up the difference between the value of the home and the outstanding loan on the home. Also, it is important to note that either one of these incidents can affect the credit of an individual and cause a blemish on their credit rating for years to come.

Ways to Prevent Foreclosure

There are a few ways in which homeowners paying mortgages can avoid foreclosure on their beloved home. The first way in which to do so is to pay the mortgage bill on time. This is the primary answer for those who ask how to avoid foreclosure. For those who have difficulty with doing so from time to time, there are other ways to prevent this from occurring.

The homeowner should always address letters from the lender which revolve around late payments. Within these letters the homeowner will find important information that tells the homeowner what to do if they are having trouble making payments. The letter will ultimately include phone numbers and names of contact individuals at the financial institution so that they can discuss their payment issues with a lender representative. It is crucial for the homeowner to speak with the lender and not bury their head in the sand to avoid it. Avoiding a problem such as nonpayment of mortgages will not make it go away and will only make it worse.

Individuals who are having trouble making mortgage payments should also be certain to stay in their homes and not abandon the property in any way. This will only hurt the individual in the long run and make foreclosure even that much more of a possibility.

Lastly, if the home is a HUD home, there are HUD counseling agencies which will aid the homeowner in preventing foreclosure issues from arising. The homeowner should contact HUD authorities to discuss ways in which to keep their home and make payments.

Possible Alternatives to Foreclosure

For those individuals who have trouble making mortgage payments on their home and fear foreclosure, it is important to know about other alternatives which may be recommended besides the dreadful foreclosure. Not all of these alternatives will apply to each and every individual but some may prove to be very handy when all is said and done. The first is called a special forbearance.

The special forbearance is something which may be arranged by the lender whereby the homeowner receives a payment schedule adjustment and may also receive a suspension of payments for a certain period of time. The representative of the lender will discuss options with the homeowner and after reviewing their situation decide if a special forbearance is warranted.

Another alternative to foreclosure is the mortgage modification. A mortgage modification is where the homeowner has the option to extend the loan period or refinance their current loan to get a lower rate and therefore have lower monthly payments. This is a wonderful option for those individuals who do not make enough each month at the moment to currently pay their mortgage.

A partial claim is another alternative for homeowners facing foreclosure to consider. The partial claim is available to those individuals who have HUD loans. With this payment alternative, the Department of Housing and Urban Development would help the homeowner bring their mortgage up to the current balance by paying the money which is overdue. This is a way to help the homeowner get out from under the mounting debt and then try to get them on the right payment schedule.

Some individuals may find that selling their home is the best bet and they can do so by way of a pre-foreclosure sale. This allows the individual to sell their home for an amount less than the total mortgage amount due prior to having it sold via foreclosure sale.

Lastly, one may be able to submit a deed in lieu of foreclosure. Although this still will not prevent the homeowner from losing their house, it will help them in the long run by not having a foreclosure on their credit history.

Summary

Foreclosure is a serious matter for homeowners to face. However, it is important to know that there are ways to prevent foreclosure and alternatives to foreclosure do exist should such a thing be necessary in the end.

Information about Foreclosures in California and other states including tax liens and tax deeds. The Bay area is considered a beautiful and interesting area to live as well as to visit. If you're looking to start your search for Bay Area Real Estate please visit my website

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Tips to Buy Your Dream House

Buying a house is not a child's play even if you have money. You have to pass through hell and heaven before there is a satisfactory deal. It is easier to do business than to buy a house according to your requirement. A common man doesn't even know where to buy a house, from whom to buy or how to arrange extra funds. Here are some valuable tips to make your way somewhat smooth:

1. Understand the Truth

Before you decide to buy a house it is essential that you know the bitter truth. The whole procedure is actual extremely cumbersome and going to give you many sleepless nights. I wish you get one of those few lucky ones who land in a fine deal due to the blessing of God. But, in reality, don't expect it and be ready to face the acid test of your stamina. You definitely have to spare time to explore the sources.

2. Talk to Friends and Relatives

The best way to smoothen your way is to talk friends and relatives opening your heart about your requirements. Many persons want to hide everything till they get the final deal and give a surprise to others. Practically of the deal demands to be on the ground firmly. If your heart is against still go to the homes of your friends and relatives and extract maximum knowledge from them regarding every aspect of properly buying. It will certainly help you a lot.

3. Meet Some Property Brokers to Gain Knowledge

They are an important source to know the ins and outs of the properties. Yes, they are all sugar when you are at their office for a deal and they may hook you for their profits. The best method is to talk to half a dozen property brokers in the beginning just to have knowledge. Take a pledge that you will just talk and gain knowledge without finalising any deal even if it is good. The strategy will help you to gain composure and hit a good deal at the right time.

4. Pick up Newspapers

Open property columns of newspapers and look for the options. Pick up your phone and call to get first-hand knowledge from various dealers of different localities. You will know about the rates and the types of property available in a particular area.

5. What do the Banks Say

Visit some banks to know about their terms of sanctioning a property loan. Don't go after their sweet sales talks. Just get knowledge about their procedures and their requirements -

a) rate of interest

b) filing charges

c) hidden costs

d) down payment

e) monthly installments

f) requirements

g) penalties, etc.

Remember, most of the banks just show you the chocolates they have to offer not the bitter pills they throw on you later. So be cautious know as much as you can.

6. Need of a Bank

You may be having some hard-earned money to invest in property. Never use all of it in a property deal. Take loan from a bank or financial institution. Property loan rates of banks are often low therefore do take a loan and invest the excess money you have in shares or business. As banks also verify the property before sanctioning loan-amount it will be helpful to get a safe property. After loan agreement with a bank you will know how much should be spent to buy your dream house.

7. Other Sources

If you want to save interest then be free from your hesitation and borrow as much interest-free money as you can from your friends and relatives. Once my friend Dr. Raman needed one million and he arranged half the amount from friends and the remaining from a bank. He saved many thousands on interests and invested that in shares. Shrewd way to double your earning.

8. How to Verify the Papers

When you take loan from a bank it will verify the property papers. Still you must take the help of experienced friends or an advocate to verify the papers. What is to be verified?

a) the papers are original

b) the property is registered

c) all the bills (water, electricity, house-tax, cable, telephone etc.) must be paid. Even if the owner didn't pay a paltry amount of a telephone bill you will have difficulty in getting new telephone connection.

d) property is not under any dispute

e) the present owner has no criminal record

9. Say Someone to Accompany You

It is better to ask an experienced friend or relative to always accompany you so that you don't make a mistake. The person may also suggest you some good localities.

10. Is It Necessary to Visit a Police Station?

Check with the nearest police station that the property you are buying is not having any dispute and the owner has no criminal record.

11. What is the Actual Price

Ask from several property brokers, acquaintances in the area about the rate of the property. Also ask the persons residing nearby. You may get some helpful tips from them.

12. Bargaining

Keep a large bundle of notes with you to show the owner at bargaining table. It will lure the owner more when you highlight a few negative points of the property. Try to convince the owner that you are giving more than necessary. If you know that the actual price of a property is ten million start bargaining from 8 and try your best to finalise the deal at 9 million.

Anandrahi

Anandrahi

Trained thousands of persons to get great jobs, improve personality and achieve goals in business.

Best-selling e-Books written by Anandrahi : 1. Think Your Way to Wealth and Power , 2. Billion Dollar Personality, 3. How to Earn a Million Dollars Every Year from one Website (super secrets nobody tells you).

The Writers Online - Submit Articles Earn Money

Biophilic Design Shy Relation of Green Building

Green building is more than just a trend. An often overlooked part of Green building is what is called Biophilic design. The goal of this sub-genre is to bring the outdoors into interior living spaces, either residential or commercial. The introduction and interaction with natural elements for aesthetic and health purposes is beginning to receive wider acceptance as indoor air pollution becomes a growing concern for urban dwellers and suburban ones who live in air-tight energy efficient homes.

Biophilic design injects real or simulated natural components into living and working spaces to promote emotional and physical wellness. Morning sun exposure, water features, natural vistas through window-walls, sky-ceilings, and greenhouse rooms where plants dominate and restore air quality while providing an indoor forest refuge are some common applications of this recent design extension. Biophilic design is based more in a emotional or Zen-like perspective than save-natural-resources Green building. Understanding that nature and natural settings allow humans to relax and is part of our DNA, professors at major universities study ecology and it's effect on our home environments as well as dispositions.

Here are some tips to get a start on Biophilic design in your home.

-Find a room that faces good morning sun and install floor-to-ceiling windows to receive a daily dose of high-powered natural light. Studies show that hospital patients who receive morning sunshine need almost a quarter less pain medication that those with north facing windows.

-Install a sky ceiling in a family or living room. These new ceiling systems mimic full-spectrum light emitted from mid-day skies.

-Place a waterfall or pond with fountain in side a favorite room. Flowing or spraying water adds a relaxing sound to your environment and helps screen out exterior noise pollution.

-Build a green house room with many indoor and outdoor plants, more the better. Put a comfortable chair to use for reading or relaxing in your home garden.

-Use window-walls to allow outdoor vistas in. I have seen homes that installed large glass areas in a well-used room. The increase in natural light and the ability to see from the ground to the sky is welcomed especially in the dark days of winter.

Mark Nash is the author of Fundamentals of Marketing for the Real Estate Professional, Starting & Succeeding in Real Estate, Reaching Out: The Financial Power of Niche Marketing, and 1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home. Mark is a contributing writer for: Realtor (R) Magazine Online, Broker Agent News, Real Estate Executive Magazine, Principal Broker, and Realty Times. He contributes residential real estate analysis to Business Week, CBS The Early Show, CNN, HGTVpro.com, The New York Times, and USA Today. View his books at http://www.1001RealEstateTips.com

Monday, November 17, 2008

New Homebuyers: Have You Considered the Hidden Costs of Owning A Home?

There?s no better feeling than pulling into your driveway ? cutting your lawn ? cooking in your kitchen ? swimming in your pool. After all, owning a home is the ?American dream?.

But the cost of maintaining your home can quickly turn into a nightmare, if you are not prepared.

When you go through the home buying process, you?ll learn all about the mortgage, closing costs, homeowners insurance, down payments, inspection. These are all standard expenses when buying a home.

But what happens after you move in?

Here are 5 ?hidden costs? all first time homebuyers need to consider when planning your budget for your home purchase ? so you don?t end up in a pile of credit card debt:

1) Furnishing your home ? if you?re buying a home that?s bigger than your current residence, make sure to have some money set aside for new furniture. Having lots of rooms is nice. But having empty rooms can get frustrating very quickly.

2) Tools and equipment ? if you?re renting, most (if not all) of the maintenance is done by the landlord. Stocking up on new hardware, lawn equipment, power tools all cost money. And while your first trip to your local home improvement center can be exciting, it can also be very expensive, so be prepared!

3) Replacing broken items ? one of the most unpleasant aspects of owning a home is maintenance. No matter how old or new the house is, things break. And they often break at the wrong times (when money is tightest, right after a big expense, etc)! Fixing a broken lock is relatively simple and inexpensive. Replacing a furnace or roof usually requires an expert, and a big savings account.

4) Fees for services ? if you are hooked up to city water and sewer, there is usually a fee that is not covered by your local property taxes. If you have a well and/or septic tank, these require periodic cleaning and maintenance. You may also have to pay for garbage pickup, recycling, lawn maintenance, snow removal, etc. While most of these are not that expensive, they can add up quickly!

5) Making the house ?yours? ? even if you move into a house that is in great shape, chances are you will want to add your own personal touch. If you move into a house that needs some work, you may have to add lots of personal touches (and lots of paint and accessories). Even if you like ?do-it-yourself? projects, materials cost money.

And don?t underestimate how much time you?ll spending getting ? and keeping ? your house the way you want it.

Don?t be discouraged by all the ?hidden costs? of home ownership. Just make sure you have a budget, and a plan, for making your house your own!

Kris Bickell is the owner of http://www.HouseBuying-Tips.com, a site that helps first time home buyers avoid the costly mistakes that many new homebuyers make. For more tips on buying a house, getting a mortgage, finding a realtor, and getting out of debt, sign up for the free ?How To Avoid These 10 Costly Mistakes When Buying Your First Home? email course at: http://www.HouseBuying-Tips.com/

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Miami Real Estate

Miami is considered the largest urbanized city in the state of Florida. With the metropolitan area surrounded by the Miami River, Biscayne Bay, the Everglades, and the Atlantic Ocean, Miami a great place for residential homes and recreation areas.

Types of Miami Real Estate

With the ever increasing demand for Miami real estate, properties both existing and new are readily available. You can choose from affordable homes to luxurious mansions, condos, lofts, apartment buildings and even pre-construction buildings. Whether it be for residence or commercial properties such as hotels, restaurants, offices or other income properties, you can find something that will suit your taste. Properties range from $650,000 to millions of dollars, and surely you can find something that will suit your budget. Properties are available in Miami Beach, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, Brickell, Surfside, Bal Harbor, Key Biscayne, Aventura, Fisher Island, downtown Miami, Lincoln Road, and more.

Guidelines

Wherever you may want to find a property in Miami, you can find a realtor who can help you purchase that piece of Miami real estate that is right for you. He or she can present you with photographs, videos, or virtual tours of the properties available. Your realtor can find a property that will match your budget. He will also guide you through local taxes and mortgage rates. And be sure to seek the services of a member of the National Association of Realtors who will strictly uphold the Code of Ethics of the association.

Amenities

What contributes to the beauty of Miami real estate is the richness of the cultural diversity that exists in this city. Aside from the local Americans, the city hosts a rich population of Latin Americans and people that reside in the Caribbean. Miami also has a healthy number of tourists, not to mention many celebrities who call Miami their home. The city has at least two prestigious universities - University of Miami and Nova Southeastern University - and hosts athletic teams such as the Miami Dolphins, the Florida Marlins, and the Miami Heat.

Miami Real Estate provides detailed information on Miami Real Estate, Miami Waterfront Real Estate, Miami Beach Real Estate, Miami Luxury Real Estate and more. Miami Real Estate is affiliated with Downtown San Diego Real Estate.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Online Real Estate Listings Are They Reliable?

Nearly everyone shopping for a home these days looks online either before or after contacting a real estate agent. Not only can you search for a home according to your desired price range, number of bedrooms, garage space and location, but you can see color pictures and in some cases videos, and forward them to your friends.

Does this mean that you no longer need a real estate agent to find a home? Well, not exactly. The online listings contain only the ?broker reciprocity? listings. Some brokers elect to not allow their listings to be displayed on other company web sites.

Besides not being complete, the listings on an individual agents?s or broker?s web site may not be up-to-date. It takes time and programming savvy to download the current listings which are only available to realtors. Some agents may do this daily, while others may settle for weekly or sporadic downloads.

Only a real estate agent is able to access the entire Multiple Listing Service. Your agent may also know of properties that are not yet listed, so you are able to increase your search considerably by working with a licensed real estate agent.

You may also receive quite a bit of additional information on listings that you have already browsed online, by getting the listing sheet from your agent. Most of the online databases list only a fraction of the listing information.

If you are looking for lakeshore real estate for instance, you agent is able to search for listings on a specific lake. If you are an investor, your agent can search for listings based on the length of time they have been on the market. He or she can also save these search parameters and recheck them for you as often as you would like.

Visit http://www.realestatecrosslakeminnesota.com/ for information about real estate in Crosslake Minnesota.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Scottsdale Real Estate

The beautiful town of Scottsdale is the fifth largest city in the state of Arizona. Scottsdale is famous for its golf courses and resorts. Apart from this, Scottsdale also has a large number of art galleries, indoor and outdoor theatres, parks, museums, athletic fields, open arenas, grand prix field, polo fields and a center for arts. Quite natural then that many people consider Scottsdale as an ideal place for living and settling down. As a result, Scottsdale has witnessed of recent a booming real estate market. Even though it has a desert terrain, Scottsdale with its warm climate has one of the best living conditions in the state of Arizona.

According to a recent survey, many people relocate to Scottsdale as it ranks high in the list of cities where Americans prefer to invest in real estate property. Consequently, there is a large demand for properties to accommodate the increasing number of new residents every year. Scottsdale is growing fast especially in the northern regions of the city.

Housing communities in Scottsdale are well planned. Houses are constructed with the most modern designs and usually have beautiful mountains as a backdrop. The luxury homes in the north Scottsdale area provide some of the best resort and retirement options.

Although real estate continues to be a booming business in Scottsdale, many real estate professionals have been indicating that it has been showing signs of slowing down of recent. It has been seen that the growth of profits in real estate are not as large as they used to be a few months back. However, this doesn't mean that there is a drastic fall in the prices; just that the increase in prices of real estate is slow as compared to the previous years. A seller in such a market condition is advised to price the property at a reasonable rate. The only visible fall out of the sluggish trend is that the construction of new homes has seen a parallel decline. With the slight fall in potential profit margins, people tend to prefer renting than owning property of their own. In spite of this, property tax still accounts for a large part of the tax money being collected in Scottsdale.

Scottsdale Real Estate provides detailed information on Scottsdale Real Estate, Scottsdale Arizona Real Estate, Scottsdale Arizona Real Estate Agent, Scottsdale Real Estate Agent and more. Scottsdale Real Estate is affiliated with Tucson Residential Real Estate.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Texas Real Estate

Texas is the second largest state in United States next to Alaska in terms of area and California in terms of population. Texas has several metropolises due to its oil industry that contribute to its growth. Several cities have a lot of historic importance and are known for its cultural heritage.

Real estate scenario in Texas has shown an upward trend in many cities. Influx of immigrants from nearby cities and states has increased demand for real estate. Most immigrants prefer to settle down and buy on their own home.

Most cities in Texas offer reasonably priced homes that are affordable to most consumers. Dallas is one of the biggest cities of Texas and has a definite oil influence, which has contributed to growth of real estate in this city. Yet, real estate prices are surprisingly cheap as compared to other big cities. Austin is another good city preferred by many home seekers as an ideal destination for standard living. Real estate prices in this city are increasing rapidly and customers are advised to make an early bid to avoid increase of prices. Houston is another major city in Texas that is growing at a steady rate. San Antonio is a small city, which has now started growing and developing as compared to other established cities.

On an average, a good family home in Dallas is priced at around $ 260000 while that in Austin is approximately $ 200000. A similar home in Houston would cost approximately $ 150000 on an average while that in San Antonio would cost

$ 220000. It is observed that on an average, appreciation of real estate prices is a little over five percent every year. Thus the future of Texas real estate seems to be bright. Prospective customers need to take advantage of such low prices at the earliest to avoid higher rates in future.

The real estate market comprises of various agents and agencies dealing in buying, selling and leasing of accommodation for residential and commercial purposes. It has many professionals such as estate agents, brokers and lawyers that provide their services to individuals that require a home in Texas.

Texas Real Estate provides detailed information on Texas Real Estate, Texas Real Estate Commissions, Austin, Texas Real Estate, Houston, Texas Real Estate and more. Texas Real Estate is affiliated with Houston Real Estate Schools.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Triple Net Lease: Own A Property? Get The Maximum Out Of It

A triple net lease designates the tenant or lessee as being solely responsible for bearing all the costs related to the asset being leased. The landlord and the tenant come to an agreement where the tenant agrees to pay all taxes, insurance and miscellaneous expenses on the property in addition to any normal fees that are expected under the agreement. The concept of Triple Net Lease has been very popular in commercial building leasing because it reduces the owner's need to worry about spending time and money for monitoring property conditions and providing maintenance.

The basic idea of a net-net-net lease is for the lessee to assume responsibility for all property's expenses, both fixed and operating. The concept is well accepted and employed in all traditional sale-leaseback transactions for long-term lease of larger properties. Both the owner and the lessee agree upon a lease document stipulating that the tenant bears the operating responsibility for the property. In recent years the triple net lease has become increasingly popular for leases of smaller properties. While there are many versions, triple net typically includes Taxes, Insurance, and Maintenance (TIM).

In a triple net lease, the rental component is separately identifiable in the lease, making the actual net investment return clear for property owners and investors. Unfortunately there are several pitfalls for the smaller property owner in regards to leaving the insurance of their building to the tenant. The tenant may willfully damage the property in order to claim insurance while experiencing financial troubles. In such a situation the owner will lose all claim to the insurance and has no fall back to claim losses against the tenant.

Most triple net leases require the lessee or tenant to cover costs to maintain the roofing, heating, etc.- practically anything related to the building that can wear out or be damaged during the lease period. If you are in a triple net lease agreement you will be excused of all property taxes and property insurance liabilities. You will be responsible for paying your utilities directly. You can budget your personnel expenses and costs for routine maintenance and secure a quote for a maintenance contract.

There are a number of important issues to be considered before entering into a triple net lease agreement, including cost of capital, future operating performance and relationship with the building. All parties in a triple net lease arrangement need protection against surprise expenses that can occur as the facility ages and components wear, requiring maintenance and eventual replacement. Some owners reduce their risk by establishing a reserve fund into which each tenant makes regular payments. The owner then covers property maintenance costs as needed from this fund. As tenants come and go, the maintenance fund is constantly replenished?with no surprise burdens for a single tenant or for the owner.

A triple-net lease via a 1031 exchange allows the investor to get even higher returns by deferring his/her taxes and thus increasing the overall internal rate of return. Various companies provide you with a quality selection of triple-net leased properties that are ideal for 1031 like-kind exchange investments. It is believed all interests are best served by regular inspections performed by independent professionals with extensive experience and expertise in evaluating and reporting on building conditions.

Christine is an expert Internet marketing professional with years of experience in various industries such as: Business, Finance, Real Estate, Web-Design and many more.
1031 exchange resources

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Real Estate Agents in Minnesota

The state of Minnesota covers approximately 79,610 square miles. It is one of the most naturally beautiful areas in the country. Minnesota is home to more than 15,000 lakes and the ?Iron Range?, a range of low mountains that can be primarily found in the northern part of the state. These natural endowments make Minnesota a great place to build a home. There are several real estate agencies that can make this possible. The following are the most reliable and sought-after real estate agents.

Marcus Bustad and Jane Neumiller-Bustad of Edina Realty look after real estate in St. Paul, Roseville, Minneapolis, Shoreview, Como, Vadnais Heights, Falcon Heights, Midway, St. Anthony Park, New Brighton etc.

The Home Team caters to real estate in St. Paul, Woodbury, Minneapolis, and the Twin Cities area. Stacia Goheen and Keller Williams of Premier Realty handles real estate in Minnesota and Wisconsin, Woodbury, Stillwater, Minneapolis, St. Paul, River Falls, Hudson, White Bear Lake, Oakdale, Cottage Grove etc.

Team Johnson Real Estate Specialists caters to real estate in St. Croix Valley, St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Hudson, Wisconsin. Butzer Realty looks after real estate in Waseca County, Mankato and St. Peter.

Other real estate agents are Craig S. Sindelar, Realtor (New Prague); Chestnut Realty (Belle Plaine, Chaska); RE/MAX Premier: (Mora, Braham, Mille Lacs, Pine Counties); First Realty Bemidji (Blackduck, Bagley, Park Rapids, Cass Lake, Walker); Katherine B. Francis, Counselor Realty, Inc. (St. Croix, White Bear Lake); J. S. Sathers Realty (Duluth); Leech Lake Realty (Walker, Hackensack); Lakes and Leisure Realty (Brainerd, Breezy Point); McDonald Realty (Melrose, Sauk Centre); Luhman Real Estate (Ottertail, Fergus Falls); Messina & Associates, Inc. (Hermantown, Duluth, Proctor, Two Harbors, Esko, Cloquet); Nathan Yates, Coldwell Banker (Maplewood, Oakdale, Roseville, St. Paul, Vadnais Heights); Realty World (Mora , Cambridge) etc.

Minnesota Real Estate provides detailed information on Minnesota Real Estate, Minnesota Real Estate Listings, Minnesota Commercial Real Estate, Real Estate Agents in Minnesota and more. Minnesota Real Estate is affiliated with Sarasota Real Estate Marketing.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Real Estate Agents

When one uses the words ?real estate ?it brings to mind a person whose business is selling land or property. To go a step further, it includes buying, selling or leasing of residential homes, apartments and houses, or office premises, retail outlets?. the list goes on. He finds buyers for sellers and vice versa and in order to conduct this line of business must be in possession of the necessary license or licenses. Once he gains the required experience, he can go on to being a real estate broker or a full service agent. A real estate agent must, as a matter of routine, be one who is presentable in attire, attitude and knowledge of his profession.

When a person decides to sell his property through a particular broker, he gets himself listed with them. A contract is then signed under which the broker represents the listed party, though that does not necessarily mean that he gets the power of attorney. The broker?s job is then to effectively advertise for the said property, ensure that people are aware that such a place is up for sale, and show the prospective buyers around. Many times one broker can represent both buyer and seller. The broker must have sound negotiation and financing skills to ensure that everyone concerned is satisfied with the deal.

Most agents earn a commission on their deals and they can make anywhere from

$10,000 and above depending on the size, location and the selling price of the property. Most real estate agents double up as insurance, securities, commodities, financial and travel agents to boost their income.

A good broker would be one who has a keen eye for securing deals, a valid license holder and one who evokes a feeling of trust in the person interested in contracting him for the job.

Real Estate Agents provides detailed information on Real Estate Agents, Find A Real Estate Agent, Las Vegas Real Estate Agents, Commercial Real Estate Agents and more. Real Estate Agents is affiliated with How To Get A Real Estate License.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Is It Time To Move On: Evaluating Your Tempe Home

Tempe is a community that presents great options for home owners. Because it's a rapidly growing part of the Phoenix metropolitan area there is an interesting mix of homes,older homes and new housing developments.

As much as we'd like to believe we can find the perfect home, there really isn't such a thing. Every home has some flaws, and some have great features. The choice for many buyers is whether to fix the flaws of a home, find another older home that has fewer problems, or move into a new home that has the features they like.

The great thing about Tempe is a community with its own unique culture. Of course that overall feeling is an important part of whether you want to stay in a home. The neighborhood and community are some of the driving factors for keeping home owners in their home and contemplating making renovations or remodel plans.

So what should you consider when it comes time to make the decision about moving to a new home in Tempe or remodeling your existing home? There are several key factors.

Can you afford to remodel? Depending on what type of modifications you are planning, it can be quite expensive. Whether it's remodeling kitchens or baths, you can plan to easily spend tens of thousands of dollars, if not more. If you are planning major remodeling such as adding a family room, building a master bedroom suite, or expanding outwards, you can easily expect to spend close to a hundred thousand dollars. You also have to have a reserve budget for when the project goes over the estimated cost, as it certainly will.

What do love about your current home? Do you love the neighborhood, the schools, or the convenience of where you live? If you do, and you are certain you can't find something you love just as much in another location, then remodeling may make sense for you.

Have you considered what you'll lose or gain by selling? Sometimes you know that if you move to another neighborhood your property will appreciate at a higher level than your previous home. It's a no brainer, your house is an important part of your investment portfolio, then it makes sense to move. Of course, there are costs associated with selling your home and buying another: you can expect to pay 7% of the sales price of your home in fees and closing costs. You also have to consider that you will be stepping back in terms of your mortgage. You will be adding more time to your mortgage repayment, so you'll be paying less principle and more interest.

Tempe has lots of opportunities to find a great home, one that can work for you now and in the future.

Reg Gustin is a senior loan officer with Sun American Mortgage and specializes in helping families and their financial lending needs.

Get a FREE mortgage rate quote from a reputable Arizona mortgage company at http://www.arizona-homes-store.com/arizona-mortgages.html

Search the Arizona MLS at http://www.arizona-homes-store.com/arizona-mls.html

Click here: http://www.arizona-homes-store.com/arizona-real-estate-appreciation-report.htmland get a FREE copy of The Greater Phoenix Area Housing Appreciation Report, as compiled by Arizona State University with your free subscription to his monthly ezine, MARKET NEWS.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

West Austin Apartments

West Austin is a charming neighborhood in Austin, an economically developed business center in central Texas. Set in the backdrop of rivers and hills, it is the perfect place for customary and urban living.

West Austin offers the finest options for residence with a good choice of apartments suitable for all budgets. West Austin apartments are available both for rent and for sale, on a weekly, monthly, or yearly basis. A wide range of apartments including furnished, unfurnished, condos, town homes, and duplexes are available. Apartments with single and double rooms are suitable for students and small families. Larger units with three to four bedrooms are also available. There are contemporary and modern apartments designed to meet varied lifestyles. Corporate, senior, and student housing are also available.

All West Austin apartments have a fully equipped kitchen and a spacious living room. Luxury apartments come with fireplaces, built-in computer desks, and hardwood floors. Amenities include abundant closet space, Berber carpets/cut-pile Berber, built-in wine racks, detached garages, digital cable, state-of-the-art phone systems providing high-speed Internet access, linen and pantry storage, gourmet kitchens with designer custom cabinets, luxurious baths with oval garden tubs, private alarm systems, washer/dryer connections, study niches with phone, cable and electric outlets, and private fenced backyards.

Community amenities feature twenty-four-hour emergency maintenance, clubhouses, bar and entertainment centers, coffee, juice, and bagel bar, controlled access gates, drive-up mail kiosks, resort style pools with Jacuzzis, misters and cabanas, on-site lifestyle coordinators, business centers with free Internet access, copiers, faxes and color printers, large parking areas, fitness centers, and clubs. Many West Austin apartments also boast a picturesque view of lush woods and hilltops. West Austin also provides services in healthcare and education.

Numerous real estate agents and organizations specialize in the sale and rent of apartments in West Austin. Online agents also help you find an apartment in this locality. Some of them offer a service promise, relocation options, and a rent with equity program.

Austin Apartments provides detailed information on Austin Apartment Associations, Austin Apartment Guides, Austin Apartment Locators, Austin Apartment Stores and more. Austin Apartments is affiliated with North Dallas Apartments.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Retiring Abroad Your Lifestyle Choice And The Pitfalls

Retiring Overseas

There is no doubt that living overseas away from the busy lifestyles of the Northern European countries is a good thing. It is beneficial for your health. It allows you to live a more relaxed lifestyle and it provides locally produced food and organic wine that may allow you to live longer. Add to this a beneficial climate change and you have a remedy for an extended and healthier life. However it is not all sunshine and flowers. One of the common misconceptions of retiring abroad is that the lifestyle is cheaper. Well it can be, it appears to be when you move your UK income to a Mediterranean haven and cut your shopping bills in half and find your local taxes are very much cheaper. Fuel for the car is 30% less and virtually any local service is charged in equivalent euros instead of pounds, an immediate 35% saving.

So you say why can?t I save money then by living like that. Well you can but many don?t! Once you settle in and find your feet in the local community it can all start to happen. Whilst in the UK for example good eating was quite expensive for those on a limited budget, now it?s cheap! A menu of the day favoured by retiring folk will cost no more than 10 Euros all in, anywhere in the Mediterranean.

A coffee or two is a very pleasant way of meeting new friends in the local Bar. A drink at lunchtime? Well maybe not when you were working back home but here? It?s easy. You are out shopping and you meet the folks you met yesterday for the first time, shall we have a quick one? It?s hard to refuse when a beer costs a Euro and a good bottle of wine is 5 Euros in a Bar!

So what happens is this. You go out to eat more often than you would at home and you spend the same per week on it as you did when in England. You consume more alcohol than usual but it?s cheap but the budget remains the same. The shopping is cheaper, but because it is, then there is more elasticity for the things you enjoy, smoked salmon, foie gras, tonic and gin, giant prawns, great single estate red wines and cheese to dream about.

The inevitable soon happens, the waistband expands and the blood pressure goes up. Wait a minute I thought I was here for a cheaper and healthier life? Well it?s called living the life. As usual there is a balance to be struck here and to the reader it?s fairly obvious what that has to be. To the retired person already there and stuck in the new routine which of course is highly enjoyable, it can be hard to change.

So take my advice because I have been there, in fact I am still there and thoroughly enjoying it. When I return to the UK on one of those too frequent visits, I am constantly reminded of why I enjoy this Mediterranean lifestyle so much. A beer out with my son in London leaves little change out of 10 pounds. A dinner out for two is always more than fifty pounds. I travel up the A14 leaving a suitable and safe gap from the car in front when as always a local native cuts me up from the inside lane with an illegal manoeuvre. You can see him or her chaffing at the bit in their rush to get home as soon as possible. Life in the fast lane where there is no time to pause for breath. When I turn off for my destination after another 8 miles of similar driving antics I arrive at my destination and park my car in the car park just behind the same young man who was the first to cut me up. He has just parked himself!

Everyone is in a hurry and everyone wants everything delivered today. Too many people on the roads, too many people rushing about in too much of a hurry. Do they really ever get where they really want to be? They say they suffer from stress but they really do not know what stress is really about.

The Manyana lifestyle whether in the Caribbean or the Med has its detractors but once you become used to it there is more time to live and more time to do. The more important deal in life is having a conversation with someone without looking at your watch. Enjoying an inexpensive lunch without the need to rush off somewhere.

Driving home in a leisurely way at your own speed on roads which are never full. Not rushing home to watch your favourite soap. In fact hardly watching TV at all. The lorry driver on the Northern European road who insists on pulling out on a dual carriageway to overtake a colleague who is travelling at one mile an hour less and takes an age to do so, is not doing so in a relaxed manner. He is stressed out and believes he will cut his journey time by this continuous action. Not so, it has been proven that two lorries leaving one destination at the same time, for an average journey of 4-5 hours, will only arrive minutes apart when one driver drives in a relaxed manner compared to the frenetic style of overtaking and rushing to move on displayed by his colleague. What is that all about? If we all drove in a more relaxed way there would be less accidents and less heart attacks.

OK enough of the comparisons, they are all there for all to see but exactly how do you transpose to this new way of life successfully? First of all set a weekly budget. Not for lunching out but just for living without paying your bills. Simply your shopping and supermarket bill and enjoying your new found lifestyle. You set the budget and you stick to it and then you find the best ways to spend that money according to your new priorities. Your bills will take care of themselves as they are much cheaper than the ones you left behind! Also set a budget for the fuel you wish to buy and go to the fuel stop every Monday and put that amount in and that is that.

Next find a way to exercise. This might be swimming or taking the dog for a walk or whatever you wish but at least try and do this every day and if you miss the odd day due to bad weather or receiving visitors so be it.

Try not to succumb to the afternoon nap scenario on a regular basis. Occasionally once a week if life catches you up there is nothing wrong with an afternoon snooze but if you deliberately seek it out on a regular basis you will find you will be soon sleeping your life away. Change your diet and change when you eat. Eat well at lunchtime, this might be your main meal of the day and in the evening you can eat fish or nuts or fruit and cheese and of course tomatoes and salads. Try and eat salads that you actually enjoy there are so many additions such as fish, cheese and fruit all locally produced. Buy your veg at the local markets and stand and observe the locals when in the butcher?s shop. you will be amazed how you can vary and change your diet for the benefit of greater overall health. Eat your sweet stuff in the middle of the day and not in the evening. Start taking yogurt for Breakfast on a regular basis with fruit or even an occasional cooked breakfast. Drink lots of unrefridgerated still water slowly. First thing in the morning at least 2 pints and another pint before bedtime! All of a sudden you don?t suffer from that heartburn problem you always had.

Here there is time for everything and if not today then tomorrow is fine, nothing will change in the meantime, the World continues at its own pace, your blood pressure is healthy, you are eating well drinking moderately and exercising. You feel relaxed and you take excellent decisions and suddenly, you have time for everything and you can do all this on a lesser budget. The problem is you are going to live longer. Will the money run out? Well there has to be something to worry about!

Hugo Raymond

Founder: myPropertyPal.com

www.mypropertypal.com

Thursday, November 6, 2008

The Real Estate Note Partial Purchase: Enjoy a Slice of the 'Profit' Pie!

Want a piece of the ?profit? pie? Then purchase a portion of a note and discover how to achieve a slice of wealth. The private paper industry, also known as the secondary financing market, offers choices and flexibility to give you the freedom to determine whether you prefer to indulge in a ?slice? or the entire ?profit? pie. A portion of a note in the private paper industry is termed ?partial purchase.?

To achieve such wealth, first examine the basics of a note. A note is a written promise to pay the amount stated from the borrower (payor) to the seller (payee). A mortgage deed is a written instrument that generates a lien by utilizing property to secure a debt. A trust deed holds the title to the property in the ?trustee,? often a title company, as security for the loan until the debt is paid off. A cash flow transaction is the purchase of a note in exchange for cash. The note holder will receive a monthly income stream.

To explain in further detail, through a partial purchase the buyer attains a portion of the private mortgage note owned by the seller. The note represents a promise to pay through a course of payments due at a future time. The note offers flexibility since any portion of the note may be bought or sold.

An example of a partial purchase is as follows. Bob holds a note and would like to sell a portion of the note to pay for his child?s tuition. He could sell the note to an investor who would collect the monthly payments for a specific time period and then the note would revert back to Bob, the original note owner, to resume receiving payments. People often sell a note for a variety of reasons. They may need fast cash to pay a tuition, travel to a dream vacation destination, or even to pay a lump sum to the IRS come tax time.

Benefits to Your Investment Include (But Are Not Limited To):

  • Reduced risk
  • Good interest rate
  • Good rate of return
  • Note secured by collateral- the real property
  • Property may continue to appreciate over time

    The ability to buy and sell a portion of a note is a mutually appealing situation. Investing in a partial purchase allows the creation of deals through financial structuring that is in turn beneficial to both parties.

    Maria Fee is a mortgage professional, real estate investor, teacher, and master marketer with more than 20 years of business experience. Maria is the President of REMI KNOX, LLC, a group of investors who purchase real estate notes nationwide. Quoted by the media as an expert, she is continuously recognized for her extraordinary knowledge and real estate investing experience.

    You too can discover hidden secrets to success with real estate notes. To take control of your financial future with proven strategies visit Maria's website at http://www.REMIKNOX.com

    Happy investing!

  • Wednesday, November 5, 2008

    Tampa Real Estate Market Trend

    Tampa is a city that presents variety in the way it offers something for everyone. For sports aficionados, Tampa has professional football, arena football, hockey and baseball teams to go see. For the party lovers, Tampa has Channelside, Seminole Hard Rock and Ybor. With respect to scenery, Tampa offers well kept community parks, beach fronts, and gardens. Entertainment ranges from the sophisticated type found at the Performing Arts Center, to the popular type shown in St. Pete Times Forum, Ford Amphitheater and Tampa Convention Center.

    Generally, Tampa Real Estate market has been seeing trends that are consistent with the Real Estate market all over Florida in the last couple of months. There is an inherent shift from a seller to a buyer’s market. The inventory piles up steadily, thereby lowering sale prices. Tampa is clearly presenting a great deal opportunities for real estate investors. As of July 2006, 510 homes have been sold in Tampa at a median price of $245,000, whereas Florida’s overall median price is $257,800. Hence, Tampa Real Estate is still relatively affordable in comparison with other metropolitan areas around Florida. Comparing with 872 homes sold during the same period in the previous year, a marked decrease of 42% is evident in the number of homes closed. By the end of the month a total of 4413 homes were for sale in Tampa Real Estate. This is even less than 15% of the available homes that were sold last month. The Tampa Real Estate area is clearly becoming a buyers market with several opportunities for real estate investors.

    Tampa Bay Real Estate has been experiencing this year a significant shift from a “red hot sellers market (1 month inventory)” into a more “normal real estate market (6 month inventory),” effectively posing some great oppportunities for buyers and investors. Tampa Bay Real Estate continues to attract a large number of families and professionals as indicated by the boost in sales price from $225,000 to $243,950. Most of this growth took place during the summer and autumn of 2005. In most areas, the prices stabilized and have even, in some cases, started to decline as compared to the end of 2005.

    The number of homes for sale has boosted dramatically over the last few months, The factors the brought about such increase in inventory are investor homes that are flooding the market, home builders offering deep discounts and incentives to keep new home sales moving, and typical summer home sales. Clever buyers look for home sellers who offer buyer incentives. In addition, buyers are making offers that are typically several thousand dollars below the asking price in order to see how willing these sellers are to negotiate. Generally, buyers are being more selective this year than last year because of the relatively greater variety of homes to choose from. The rate at which homes are being listed for sale outpaces the rate of sales approximately 2 to 1.

    The next several months are going to be very favorable for buyers because interest rates are still relatively low, and sellers are showing more than usual flexibility in terms of price negotiations on their real estate properties because sales are slowing down. This trend in the Tampa Real Estate market will probably persist for another six months before the market equilibrates again.

    By Earl Juanico

    Tampa Real Estate

    By Earl Juanico - http://tampa-bay-realestate.line.us

    Tuesday, November 4, 2008

    Offer To Purchase Clauses You Need

    An offer to purchase is a legally binding document, not just a casual negotiating tool. The moment the seller of the real estate signs your offer, you are obligated to live up to its exact language. Since you can write the offer how you want to, why not include the clauses that smart buyers use to protect themselves? You can also use language that will save you money.

    The Offer To Purchase - Important Clauses

    Inspection contingency clauses. You want something like this in every offer to purchase: Offer is contingent upon a home inspection and buyer's approval of the results; inspection to be done at buyer's expense within ten days. You can ask the real estate agent for help with the specific wording. This clause gives you the right to have an inspection done. If anything negative is found, you could refuse to approve of the results, and so get your deposit back. Alternately, you could renegotiate a lower price.

    Earnest money clause. Real estate agents will tell you that a certain amount is necessary for a deposit, but the decision is yours. A small earnest money deposit may be taken seriously, if you include a clause like this: $100 earnest money deposit, to be increased to $2,000 upon acceptance of this offer. Or you can have it increased when all contingencies are met. The reason? Suppose there's an argument about you backing out because the inspector found foundation damage. You won't have your money tied up while this is being resolved.

    Right to assign clause. This one is primarily for investors. Suppose your partner isn't there to sign the offer, or you want to flip the deal to another investor, or you may need to involve a partner for purposes of funding the deal. You need a clause in the offer to purchase that covers this. Including the words and/or assigns after your name on the offer is usually sufficient, but ask the real estate agent what the local custom or language is. This allows you to add another buyer or assign the whole contract to another.

    Closing cost clauses. You can specify that the seller pays for the closing fee, the title insurance, the recording fees, and even the points on your loan. For many sellers the price is the most important thing, and they don't care too about the details. What if they don't want to pay the costs? You at least gave yourself some negotiating points. Now get something for dropping each of the costs you included. This could include a reduced interest rate if the seller is financing part of your purchase.

    Basic financing contingency clause. If the loan doesn't come through, and you can't buy the home, you'll lose your deposit, unless you have something like this in the agreement: Subject to buyer obtaining a firm commitment for suitable financing within ten days. Actually, the language should usually specify what suitable means in terms of interest rate and such.

    Spousal approval clause. This clause can be as simple as Subject to a walk through inspection and approval of home by buyer's wife (or husband or partner - state their name) within two days. If your wife says no to the deal within two days, you can back out and get your deposit back. For the seller to agree to this one you need to keep the time frame as short as you can.

    Some of the above clauses are normal and acceptable to all, while others are likely to annoy the real estate agent. That's okay. The seller has the right to say no to your offer in any case, and you have the right to use these clauses to protect yourself in your offer to purchase.

    Copyright Steve Gillman. Visit his website for: 1. A photo of a beautiful house he and his wife bought for $17,500. 2. A free book on how to save thousands buying your next home. 3. A free real estate investing course. Visit www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com

    Monday, November 3, 2008

    How to Use Real Estate Lists

    If you are planning to purchase a home, you should be on top of your game in order to make a wise investment. There are many crucial elements in this potentially stressful process. You should make sure that you find a home that suits your family's needs. You should also make a prudent investment, so that you can sell the house for profit in the future.

    It would not be wise if you choose a house that depreciates in value. If you want to ensure your home's worth, you have to do some research before any purchase. This may have been difficult 15 years ago, but this has become an easy task because of the Internet. All you have to do is hop on the web, and acquire real estate lists, and check out houses for sale all across the country.

    I started browsing through real estate lists when I was looking for a new home a few years ago. It didn't exactly have to be a new home, but I did want it to be nice. I decided to check out a few houses personally after browsing through a number of valuable real estate lists on the Internet. At that time, I was looking in Salem, Oregon because I found out that houses there were popular.

    Unfortunately, I was unable to find a suitable home after viewing around eight houses in person. I had no choice but to go back to the real estate lists. This was when I found the perfect house. It was a nice three bedroom, two and a half bathroom house situated in an ideal location. I was amazed at how pleasant the neighborhood actually was. With a fully fenced in, half an acre lot, it was really amazing. My wife and I decided to purchase it immediately.

    If you want to acquire real estate lists to help you find a home, simply hop online and pull up Google.com. Punch in the keywords real estate lists and you will be rewarded with a long list of houses for sale ranging from one coast to the other. Nowadays, real estate lists are so simple to come by, even for the average person. Remember to consider the neighborhood, and not solely the home. Also keep in mind that the location and environment are important factors.

    Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Real Estate Lists. Visit our site for more helpful information about Real Estate Lists and other similar topics.

    Sunday, November 2, 2008

    Stop Dreaming and Sell Your House Now

    Any home will sell, given enough time. How much time do you have?

    One of the most frustrating things about selling a home, condo, townhouse during a slow market is trying to price it so that it sells in the amount of time the owner wants to sell it in.

    You don?t want price your property so high that it doesn?t sell.

    Of course you don?t want to price it so low that you unknowingly give money away to your buyer.

    This is a fine line that a property seller ends up walking.

    Here is what I suggest a home seller do to find the best sales price for their home given the amount of time that they have to sell:

    ?Get Three CMA?s:

    Call three real estate agents that have at least two years of real estate sales experience. Tell them you are thinking of selling your property and want to get a CMA (CMA: Comparative Market Analysis). A CMA will be a written estimate of the value of your property based on recently sold properties that are similar to yours. Be sure and let the agents know that you are talking to other real estate agents.

    Between the three values you should be able to get a fairly good idea of what your home might sell for.

    Heads Up:
    There may be other homes in your neighbor that are for sale. Don?t confuse their asking prices for actual home values. Home sellers can ask any price for their home. Values are figured strictly by what similar homes have sold for.

    Heads Up:
    It is fairly likely that one of the agents may have set the CMA value considerably higher than the other two. This may be due to negligence on their part, but it is more likely that they are ?buying the listing?. They set the CMA price high in an effort to get you to list with them. Later they will pressure you to lower your price to where it should have been in the first place. Of course by now they have wasted your time while you waited for your over-priced home to sell. I have seen this over and over again. This is a common ploy. Don?t get taken by this deception.

    ?How long will it take to sell?

    When you have figured out what seems to be a good asking price for your home, you will have a good idea which agent you would like to use to help get your home sold.

    Ask your agent how long other homes like yours have taken to sell. Let?s imagine that the average ?days on the market? (Days on the market: number of days a home takes to sell after it is put up for sale) is 120 days. If you are not in a hurry this may sound just right to you.

    What if you need or want to sell faster than our 120 day example? Let?s say you have a new job that starts in 90 days in a new city. It usually takes 30 days to ?close the sale? (close the sale: sign the final documents transferring title to the buyer), after your home ?goes under contract? (goes under contract: you have a buyer that wants to buy, has signed a sales contract with you, and is in the process of getting a loan). You realize that you need to find your buyer in no more than 60 days after you put it up for sale.

    You are going to have to ask your agent to give you an idea of where to price your home so that it sells (goes under contract) in 90 days. Hopefully they can come up with a fairly good idea of the 90 day sales price.

    What I might do, if I were your agent, is to figure out what the highest selling price you could ask, so that you could sell your home in one day. Then figure out the seven days selling price, a 30 days selling price, and then a 90 days selling price.

    For example:

    ?Let?s say the 120 day sales price for your home is $275,000.

    ?Then given one day to sell your home, you might be able to get $200,000 (30% below market value).

    ?Given a week you could probably sell your home for $225,000 (20% below market value).

    ?30 days sales price: $240,000 (15% below market).

    ?And finally, 60 days sales price: $255,000 (8% below market value).

    ?Priced at $255,000, your home will look like a bargain to a home buyer, and you are more likely to get a faster sale.

    In a slow market you have to be willing to lower your asking price, maybe more than once in order to get your home sold in a timely manner. Be prepared mentally for this possibility and your home selling process will be smoother and faster.

    Don Glasgow is a real estate agent in St. George, Utah. Don has been helping home sellers and homebuyers since 1999. Please visit his website to learn more: http://www.stgeorge-MLS.com , http://www.stgeorge-mls.com/FinancialPeaceofMindArticles.html , http://www.stgeorge-mls.com/foreclosures.html