REAL ESTATE

Curb Appeal is Key to Real Estate Investing

2012-02-29T23:41:00.000-08:00

To sell a property for profit, you need to ensure that your property is attractive, and a large part of that is making a first great impression. Make sure that your property makes a great impression from the curb by cleaning, repairing, and using good color contrast.

If you are interested in real estate investing for handsome profits, you need to consider the curb appeal of any property you wish to rent or sell. A big part of the real estate game is buyer and tenant psychology. One thing that researchers have found about tenants and home buyers alike is that emotional response accounts for a great deal of investor success. In other words, the investors who can appeal to a tenant or buyer’s emotions -- and make the tenant or buyer imagine themselves in the property -- has the greatest chances of success. Curb appeal means improving the first impression that your property makes. Studies have shown that when the first impression of a property is positive, it is easier to convince a tenant or buyer to invest.

There are many ways that you can increase the curb appeal of your properties without a great deal of time and money:

1) Clean. A very tidy appearance is paramount to good curb appeal. Therefore, be sure to scrub the sidewalk, flagstones, walkway, windows, and siding. Mow the lawn, rake the leaves, clear the snow, and do everything you can to create the neatest possible appearance. You can do much of this yourself, although you may want to hire professionals or at least rent a high-pressure cleaning system for taking care of the exterior tiles or brickwork of a home. If the sidewalk outside your rental property or home is crumbled and in poor shape, you can generally contact the municipality to fix the problem.

2) Choose great colors. The color of your property goes a long way towards asserting good appeal. In general, you want to consider the colors of the properties around your property. If you are selling a suburban home, for example, located in a lot surrounded by pastel colored homes, you do not want to paint your property a right color. It would stand out too much. The right color blends well with the properties on either side of it. Make sure that the colors are fresh by applying a new coat of paint. Don't forget the colors around the property, either. A bright green lawn or even crisp white snow contrasted with the few pine trees create visual appeal as well. If you're interested in real estate investing, learn which colors to select, or hire a professional to select the right colors for you.

3) Repair. It should go without saying that you should ensure that everything outside is in good working order and looks attractive. This means that any broken walkways, bare patches on the lawn, and rickety shutters should be fixed up at once. You'll find more success in real estate investing if you are selling a property that people want to buy.

Buying Bank Owned Properties (REO)

2012-02-23T07:34:00.000-08:00

Where do most investors turn to when they seek preforeclosure opportunities? Sure, they take a look at free foreclosure listings or even sources of foreclosure listings that they pay for. While these sources may lead to productive and profitable deals, they also require extensive marketing and business promotion in order for an investor to tap into these preforeclosure opportunities.

To Get a Free Foreclosure and short sale Course including how to buy REO Properties, Go here Reo Properties

What other options do investors have? Well, in today’s market, more and more realtors are marketing properties as short sales in the MLS. While these do represent preforeclosure opportunities, I also think that this can be risky for the investor because many real estate agents are pretty new to the foreclosure world (and thus may just be learning what is a short sale) and you are taking a chance that the agent in charge of the deal actually knows what they are doing. Plus, you still have the emotional aspect of the sale, a natural by-product of foreclosures that can complicate deals in some cases.

A significant but often overlooked option available to investors concerns bank foreclosures. This umbrella term includes REO properties and HUD homes but it all ties in with the REO process, the phase of foreclosure that follows the auction and where a lender must then sell the foreclosures in their inventory.

Many investors shy away from REO properties or HUD homes because they feel they have less negotiating power or simply lack the capital to make aggressive offers and play along with the rules that REO lenders stipulate. While I favor preforeclosure and short sales myself, I also have a system in place that allows the machine to run on autopilot, a system that I can also teach you.

My efforts here are to assure you that there are indeed deals to be found within the realm of REO properties. The offer process in many ways is less complicated, there is little to no emotion on the part of the seller (the REO lender), and deals can be completed much more quickly. If that appeals to you, and capital is your primary limitation, then you owe it to yourself to check out my Preforeclosure Cash Flow System and the module within it that covers how to obtain unlimited amounts of capital for your foreclosure business.

In closing, the entirety of the foreclosure process is ripe with deals that are there for the picking. As rigid as REO properties or HUD homes may seem, the REO process is as much as part of foreclosures as the preforeclosure side of the business. Don’t limit your scope, learn from what I have to offer you, and I wish you the very best in success in real estate investing.

To Get a Free Foreclosure and short sale Course including how to buy REO Properties, Go here REO Properties,

Dedicated to Multiplying Your Income,

D.C. Fawcett

The Business Building Coach to the Foreclosure Industry

www.realestateforeclosuresinvesting.com

Attention: Sir/Madam... I'd Like to Scam You

2012-02-20T20:31:00.002-08:00

Many people have heard of the "419" scams. The term "419" comes from the Nigerian penal code section of that designation that deals with fraud. Despite a widespread belief that the people who get taken by these scams are greedy and stupid, many are not so. Many believe they are donating to distressed individuals and/or charities. These scams have spread into real estate as well, targeting house sellers and real estate agents.

The scam usually opens with a bait letter, assuring the recipient that the person contacting them is a) a widow whose husband left her millions that she cannot safely access due to her evil family, b) a high-ranking military official seeking to move money out of the control of their oppressive governmental regime, c) a representative of a mysterious person high up in the government, or d) a person interested in an item that the person is selling or representing.

If the target responds to the letter, the scammer usually replies with thanks and asks for personal information. Often this includes a bank account number, but this is not, as some people think, how the target is scammed. It is used as a gauge to determine if the target is likely to give money in order to pay "processing fees" or other mysterious charges. Scammers will also provide scans of documents that look legitimate. Many can be - stolen from other people or digitally altered. If called on discrepancies, the scammer will blame poor computer equipment.

In nearly all these scams, urgency and confidentiality are emphasized. The scammer doesn't want their victim to seek outside aid or take time to think things over. They are depending on the "get it now or you never will!" feeling to encourage the victim to send the money - usually through Western Union or some other money wire transfer company. Once the money is picked up, the person who sent it has no way to get it back.

An example of a real estate related scam:

You get an unsolicited email from someone claiming to be interested in your house. They will send you a large check, many thousands of dollars over the amount you are asking for the property. They then want you to refund the extra money. Or they say that there are "fees" that the seller must pay in their country. In any case, you have to send the money now, Now, NOW because the person interested in your house needs the money to a) come to America b) pay for their cancer operation or c) take their sick mother to the hospital. Sometimes, if you balk at sending a complete stranger thousands of dollars, they may threaten you with "legal action" or embroider the sob story to the point where their sick mother is suffering from cancer, AIDS, measles and ingrown toenails all at the same time.

Real estate transactions are only one of the targets of scammers. The scammer is not interested in your house; s/he only is interested in the money you can send to finance whatever spurious fees are claimed to be involved with the transaction. Don't send anyone any money or cash checks that are sent to you from an unverified institution or individual. Consult with a real estate professional for advice on how to handle offers via the Internet. Since many people use the Internet to inquire about houses, prices, etc., an email query may be legitimate. Just make sure that the person is legitimate before pursuing a financial transaction.

Zoning in Houston – A Boon or Curse

2012-02-17T21:41:00.001-08:00

Zoning in Houston – A Boon or Curse

As compared to other counties, the number of Houston cheap homes and foreclosures are comparatively less. The county has somehow restricted itself to the sidelines where the national foreclosure crisis is concerned. Houston foreclosure listings are not swelling with new foreclosures every week and the housing prices have been quite stable i.e.: they have not really taken the plunge like in some of the other neighboring counties or even states. In fact, the overall housing prices have remained at a modest level and the only factor ensuring the stability of prices is the easy availability of land.

Houston has a generous abundance of space some of which are protected while others are not. But this is not the only reason! The second reason is the lack of zoning as pointed out by Bill Gilmer, a senior economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas' Houston branch. From the perspective of economy, the zoning laws have worked like a restriction of supply. According to Gilmer, the zoning laws have played an important role in raising the price of constructing a new-home and as a result of the supply restrictions, the price increased.

Due to the increasing housing demand, several states and their cities as well as counties have formulated tight laws on zoning and add to it the limited supply and this has led to a steep and rapid rise in home prices. At the end of the day, the rapidly rising prices snuff out the demand and cause disturbances like the crumbling of the different mortgage markets in different cities. The final result is foreclosure.

Although, there are several Houston bank owned homes in the state of Texas but overall the demand for homes has been met through new home constructions as opposed to rising prices. The immediate effect was that Houston was saved from the severe effects of the real estate bubble burst. The bottom line is that lack of zoning has ensured that there is comparatively less Houston foreclosure homes.

Which Way Are Trends Heading?

2012-02-16T09:20:00.001-08:00

Once you’ve decided that you’re ready to buy a new home, you’ll probably find yourself noticing all sorts of things that might have escaped your attention in the past. Maybe you’ll even take a look at magazines, articles, websites, and TV shows that cover the many aspects of making a home that expresses your personality, your attitudes, and your philosophy of life—and lifestyle. And if you’ve already started touring new homes, there’s a high likelihood that you already have a growing checklist of “must haves” and “maybes” and “definitely nots” going.

If you’re reading this article, chances are you know exactly what we’re talking about. And you’re packed and ready for the journey towards home ownership. So travel along with us as we explore what’s new, what’s growing in popularity, what’s hip and hot, and
what’s up ahead in the not-so-distant future. Consider this article a road map. Keep in mind that it won’t tell you where to head, though. No side streets, off-the-beaten-tracks or cul-de-sacs are shown. But when it comes to making a home your very own, it’s sometimes as much as about how you got there as it is reaching that final destination. Bon Voyage!

Currently, the most popular architectural look for new homes in South Texas is, without a doubt, right out of the Old World. More specifically, it’s the Italianate look of Tuscany and the sunny Mediterranean. With a little bit of Mexico and the Texas Hill Country thrown in for good measure. Which certainly makes a lot of sense, since South and Central Texas and the Rio Grande Valley have a lot in common, climate-wise, with that part of Europe.

What are the signatures of this trendy style in a home? Instead of brick, look for stone and stucco. Preferably done with rustic finishes that have the patina of age—even antiquity. Another element you’ll frequently see is a tile or metal roof—both of which are very sensible for our region. The optimum effect is one of the luxury of handcraftsmanship and things made to last—well, practically forever. Perfect for a more gentle, gracious way of life.

What Makes A "Green" Home?

2012-02-12T07:46:00.000-08:00

While "green" has become quite the buzzword when it comes to home building and design, what exactly it means isn't always clear. There are a few standards for eco-friendly homes, but the term "green" doesn't have a universal definition beyond being a color made by mixing yellow and blue. So how does a consumer know when a home the builder is calling "green" is actually built with an ecological focus, or at least enough of one to justify its price?

Some of the standards for ecologically minded homes include increased insulation. To be really energy efficient, a home should be insulated beyond the minimum local requirements. This includes floor insulation, which in some cases is built right in to the concrete foundation. In addition to the walls, floors and ceilings, windows should also be insulating. Therefore, double paned and/or vinyl windows are becoming the "green" standard.

Energy efficiency should be continued throughout the home. Low water use toilets are a must, and those that have different flush options are extra eco-concious. These options allow you to have a more efficient flush for solid waste, while liquid waste just gets much more conservative flush. Shower heads, washing machines, faucets and dishwashers can also be equipped to limit the water used without compromising function. Air conditioners, refrigerators, heaters and all other appliances within the home should be of the highest standard of energy efficiency. In addition, compact fluorescent lights should be used throughout the home, or replaced by LED lights wherever those are suitable.

Beyond energy efficiency, use of non-toxic, ar at least less-toxic, materials is important in "green" homes. Look for a home with low VOC paints. VOC stands for volatile organic compounds, which are toxins that gas-off from conventional paint. Remember the lighter the pigment, the lower the VOC's, so white or off-white walls are healthier than some of the bolder, trendy colors. This is because it is the paint base that is quality controlled, but it is impossible to take the VOC's out of some pigments.

Another finishing detail that is popular for eco-friendly homes is bamboo or cork flooring. Bamboo is popular because it grows so quickly. It takes about five years to grow bamboo to the right size to make flooring. It is versatile and comes in a variety of styles and colors. Cork is an option because it is sustainable to harvest - removing cork does not damage the cork tree, as it replenishes its cork bark every year anyway. Cork makes a lovely, soft and springy floor surface that is also naturally warmer than many other flooring options.

For our final indoor consideration, eco-friendly homes will use more natural fabrics such as wool and cotton for carpets and window dressings.

Outside the home leaves plenty of room for "green" considerations, too. Xeriscaping is a popular means of landscaping utilizing plants native to the area being built in. These plants are naturally drought-resistant because they are acclimatized to the local environment, needing less watering and maintenance than lawns or beds full of foreign flowers.

Another "green" outdoor trend is utilizing permeable paving stones. These actually absorb water, which then is naturally filtered through the earth and goes back into the ground-water supply. These avoid the toxic run-off that can be caused by water rushing over cement and into drains, carrying oil and exhaust residue straight into the drainage system, which ultimately ends up being a nearby body of water.

If a home you are looking at is being promoted as being "green", don't hesitate to ask the builder about some of these features. If they don't measure up, don't buy it.

The Internet and Home Buying

2012-02-10T07:10:00.001-08:00

There's no doubt about it, the internet is now an intrinsic part in the process of buying and selling homes. The majority of people looking to buy a home search the web for homes for sale in their desired area. Savvy buyers and sellers can compare stock from the comfort of their homes at any time of day or night. But when it comes time to actually buy, there's more to it than just clicking send.

For starters, make sure what you are searching through is worth while. You may enjoy searching through lists of fancy homes, but if you are spending a lot of time daydreaming about houses you can't afford, it is a waste of time. That is fine if what you are after is to kill time, but if you want to find a home, look within your price range.

This brings me to another point: getting pre-approved for a mortgage. It truly is the first step to home buying. It tells you exactly what you can afford, thereby giving you a price range to look within. It also tells sellers you are serious, and prevents losing a home you are interested in, while the sellers accept an offer from someone who's more prepared.

And while you can find homes for sale, and even lots of great buying and selling tips on the internet, nothing beats the knowledge and expertise of a certified real estate agent—a real, live person. There is a lot of legal-talk and small-print involved in real estate sales documents. Do yourself a huge favor and always have a professional, either a real estate lawyer, a Realtor®, or a mortgage broker, have a look over the paperwork of your real estate transaction. Don't rely on the other parties professionals. After all, they work for the other party. You want an experienced professional who is working for you to verify that the contract is fair and legitimate. Even if you don't hire them for their full services, most real estate agents will help you with parts of a transaction for a small fee.

Another thing internet listings are great for is comparative shopping. You might see a great home, but aren't sure if the price is realistic. A few clicks can show you what other homes in the area are selling for, and also what other types of homes are available in the same price range.

If you are searching around on the internet for great listings, look for an agent that is also web savvy. Some agents have very clear, user-friendly, readable, and informative web sites. Then there are those web sites that are just factory filler. You can tell by reading the text if they are trying to appeal to you, or just manipulating search engines to get into the top ten list. If a site doesn't have a person behind it, one with a bio about themselves, and clear listings of what homes they have for sale, then it isn't worth your time.

The key is, no matter what you find on the web, your real estate transaction will happen in real life. So it's best to use the internet as one of many tools in your search for the perfect home.

Tgr asia, Developers of jumeirah private island phuket commence

2012-02-08T09:05:00.000-08:00

HONG KONG (Insert date) - Jumeirah Private Island Phuket, Asia Pacific’s most exclusive development is scheduled for completion in 2009 and set to offer levels of luxury, privacy and security as yet unseen in Asia Pacific. It will also be home to an elite super yacht marina and the private members only Jumeirah Private Island Yacht Club.
The super yacht marina will have 101 berths and will offer true “super yacht” facilities with 24 hour deep water access. The marina will double the number of designated “super yacht” berths in Thailand (thailand property, thailand homes), with 7 slips measuring in excess of 45 metres and an average slip length of over 22 metres.

The marina, located in a protected lagoon on the east coast of the island is surrounded by tropical mangroves, and will be built to top international standards. The marina will include facilities such as helicopter and/or ferry access to and from Phuket, fuel dock with pump out facility, yacht maintenance and repair services and individual berth technology pipes.

The Jumeirah Private Island Phuket Yacht Club (megayachts phuket, islands phuket, mega yachts phuket, phuket islands) is planning to host regattas and black tie functions and will offer a range of facilities; club house, swimming pool, accommodation, formal and informal waterfront dining, business centre and fitness centre.

The benefits of berthing in Phuket (phuket property, real estate phuket) include fuel, crew and dockage costs up to 80 percent cheaper than Europe and no luxury yacht taxes.

TGR contact : Anthony Franklin – Partner, Marketing Director.

Note to editors:

TGR

TGR Group develops and markets award winning luxury hotels and resorts. The management team has over 100 years combined experience working with leading, global construction companies and a successful track record across three continents.

Jumeirah

Jumeirah properties are regarded as amongst the most luxurious and innovative in the world and have won numerous international travel and tourism awards. The rapidly growing Dubai-based luxury international hospitality management group encompasses the world renowned Burj Al Arab, the world’s most luxurious hotel, the multi-award winning Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Madinat Jumeirah and Jumeirah Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa in Dubai, the Jumeirah Carlton Tower and Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel in London and the Jumeirah Essex House on Central Park South in New York.

The Jumeirah Group portfolio also includes Wild Wadi, regarded as one of the premier water parks outside of North America and The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, the region’s only third level academic institution specializing in the hospitality and tourism sectors.

Building on this success, Jumeirah Group became a member of Dubai Holding in 2004, a collection of leading Dubai based businesses and projects, in a step that aims to initiate a new phase of growth and development for the group.

Jumeirah’s ambitious expansion plans to grow its portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts worldwide to 57 by 2011 are well underway with projects currently under development in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Aqaba, Doha, Phuket, Shanghai, Bermuda, Mallorca and London.

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Selling Your Investment Property In A Slow Market

2012-02-07T01:33:00.000-08:00

If the market is slow, you can still sell your property if you make your listings and signs professional and appealing. Make sure that your flyer is intriguing and well put together as well.

Even when the housing is market is slow, you can still be selling your investment property quickly, if you follow a few basic steps:

1) Make sure your listings look great. It's amazing how many listings have fuzzy photographs, unattractive pictures, or little or no description. Make sure that your MLS listings are interesting and really outline the benefits and the attractions of the house. Make sure that the pictures are crisp and reveal the best possible colors and angles. Use Photoshop on your pictures to remove any garbage from the front of the home, any fallen leaves, or any gray skies that happened to be there when you are taking your photo.

2. Make good use of directional signs. If you're having an open house, use directional signs on a main street. If your investment property is a little out of the way, you'll have to use dozens of signs in order to lead people from the nearest main road all the way to the open house. Consider tying balloons to the sign on the road, or use bright colors or large font to make sure that drivers see your sign.

3. Use professional signs. Every hardware store sells pre-made “for sale” signs that allow you to simply write in a phone number. Avoid using these signs. They look cheap and unprofessional. Instead, have your signs professionally made, and make sure that you get a solid metal framed sign that comes with a flyer holder. This allows you to put a small flyer for the property right in the sign. Even when you're not there having an open house, people can drop by and take out a flyer to take home with them.

4. Make your flyer outstanding. Make sure that your flyer is full-color and includes high-resolution photos of the interior of the property. If you want your investment property to sell, make sure that the copy is very interesting and outlines all the benefits of the home. Allow your tenants or potential buyers to really imagine themselves living in the property. Don't be afraid to use adjectives or to invite people to “imagine yourself sitting on the deck of this wonderful Victorian home….” that is the sort of writing and the sort of description that will get people interested. Don't be afraid to let your personality shine through when writing your brochure.

Selling at a Loss: Short Sales Explained

2012-02-06T00:23:00.002-08:00

Sometimes in life we may face situations where it is best to cut your losses and run. If the loss is your home, it is likely that the decision to do this is understandably made almost too late. If you are in the unenviable position of having to sell up and downsize because of escalating costs, an efficient real estate agent can be your best friend.

If your home is now worth less than you owe on it, he/she will be familiar with procedures and will be able to guide you through the differing aspects of negotiating a short sale. The term 'short sale' simply refers to the fact that the current market value of your property is short of the actual figure that you owe on it.

Unfortunately, because of past financial practices that have largely been rectified by now, many thousands of home owners find themselves in this untenable situation. Three quarters of known housing markets in USA have suffered continuing price decreases. These figures are released by Global Insight, who quote that single family house prices have dropped for the third consecutive period in 262 out of 330 markets.

When mortgage rates increase in the same time frame that housing values decrease and world food and gas prices increase, it makes it impossible to live on the originally planned budget. If the only answer is to sell your home, you should be aware that a short sale is different to selling your home under normal conditions.

Usually, the lender may not even know that your home is on the market until your lawyer pays off the mortgage. However, with a short sale, the lender must be in on it from the beginning. There is also more paperwork for you to take care of with a short sale.

For instance, you must give permission, in writing, for the lender/bank to communicate with your real estate agent. An even more complex task is to document all the reasons why you cannot pay the amount that you owe. This is called 'proving hardship' and attached to your letter of explanation will be bank statements, credit card bills, W-2s and any other proofs of inability to pay.

This hardship statement does not absolve a home owner from responsibility for the debt owing - but it may. The attorney or title company that will be handling the paperwork for you can make the approach to your lender for 'forgiveness'. Lenders do not wish to accumulate a mass of homes; they are in the money business. If the short sale route is accepted by your lender, it will save him time and money over the other alternative he has: a foreclosure on the loan.

Foreclosures are very expensive and time consuming for the lender; too many foreclosures on the books can also jeopardize the lender's future loans from being insured. In short: a lender will prefer a short sale and if you are co-operating by offering one - what's in it for you?

A short sale may still affect your credit rating, but if you could come out of it with the debt cleared (or 'forgiven'), you could have a fresh start. If your lender 'forgives' you then a 1099 must be issued so that the amount of the excused debt is documented for you, the seller, to declare to the IRS at tax time.

All liens on the home will have to be released before it can be sold; this includes the lender's lien. If you can work to keep your lender's good will, or at least co-operation, a transaction may run more smoothly.

As in most walks of life, compromise and patience are also invaluable commodities in short sales.

Sell time share property to your advantage

2012-02-02T08:56:00.001-08:00

Sell time share property to your advantage

You will need the proper tools and advertising to sell timeshare property for a quick and easy closing. It can be a daunting task that needs close attention and most oftentimes, professional help.Here are some helpful pointers in selling time share property.

Sell time share property with complete understanding of what you are getting in return. Make sure to understand the terms of sale and guarantees by asking until you do understand them. If your agent is good enough he will do the job but if you are not satisfied, find another one. The more professional advice you get is better for you.

Like any buyers, compare prices of time share similar to the one you are selling. Selling time share property with a competitive price is beneficial for a quick closing. But ensure that you are not pricing it too low or too high. Find out the usual price given by developers and compare it to your desired selling price. This way, you can compromise and sell your time share property easily.

Sell time share property but do not pay unconditional fees. These are fees that are derived by agents from a large percentage of their income from up-front fees.

Selling time share property can be sensitive to price. Investors will always be looking for the right deal that is often priced lower than seller's desired price. If the time share is already older than the other time shares in the market or is less popular during the selling period, this can really affect the pricing.

Check out any nearby activities and take it into consideration. Local tourist business means more money in the pricing scale which in turn is beneficial to you. Also consider if your unit is near a good view. It can either be a swimming pool, beside the seashore or fronting a beautiful mountainside. This means you can price your time share higher.

In selling your time share property, the best option is to post your listing so that potential buyers can find the benefits of your time share offer. However you advertise your offer (online, print media, via direct mail, among others), be reasonable with your asking price. Units when overpriced move rather slowly in the market which is based on location and price.

Getting professional help

If you wish to sell your time share property through the help of a professional or a time share company but without the hassle, find the one that can give you the benefits without much cost. There are time share selling companies that require no commission and gives the owner no hassles and stress in negotiating with a broker. This is because they will do the negotiating and other processes for you. But be sure to give the complete and accurate descriptions, locations and information regarding your unit in allowing agents to sell your time share property for you.

In looking for a professional that can help you sell your time share property, find one that advertise your offer to potential consumers in print like magazines and newspapers, and the internet. A worldwide exposure is preferred since the time share industry has been a worldwide success.

The farthest reaching campaign will be the best venue for you to sell your time share property to qualified buyers in different countries. Professional internet marketing consultants are provided by time share companies to make your website advertising work for you.

You can find professional help that will also aid you through the selling process. There also are excellent resources for you to help you in the title work and helpful time share sale financing.

In selling time share property, be aware that there are time share scams everywhere. You may be duped by these scammers when they offer claims, guarantees and timelines that are unrealistic yet deceiving. Do not agree to anything over the phone or online until you have had the chance to check out the reseller's reputation and experience. Referrals are also good and solid foundations to choosing the right reselling company for you.

At the final stage of selling your time share property, make sure the professional aid you get does not require any additional costs during the closing.

Most importantly, sell time share property with legitimate means. The law will be on your side should anything happen.

Sell time share property to your greatest advantage, make it reliable, easy, legitimate and cost effective. This way you will not only sell time share property quickly but most advantageously as well.

Profit From Your Child's University Move

2012-01-31T20:12:00.000-08:00

With school end approaching, some of us will be spending our summer vacations helping our children to settle into their chosen University town. Arizona State University is located in Arizona's most populous city of Tempe and if you are planning to look for accommodation in this area - you are in luck!

Tempe has an amazing range of places on offer and you can choose from town houses and condos through to family homes and mansions! Instead of paying out rent for your son or daughter, why not make money on buying an investment property? What are the pros and cons - apart from the obvious advantage of having a ready-made manager on hand to supervise the incoming revenue?

There are several factors that are constant for every family sending an offspring to University: (a) you will need to find a place suitable for your child to live in, (b) you need to find one that they will like, but that you can afford. (c) You hope he/she will make their funds last through the semester.

(d) You will not want your child to be so hampered by residential rules that he/she becomes stressed, (e) you will prefer a place near to University to save on transportation, and (f) you hope that fellow renters will not be into drugs, excessive parties or alcohol, etc

Most of these concerns can be eradicated if you buy a modest home and rent it to students - one of them being your child. You will have as much, or as little, control as you feel you need. Many of your worries will disappear into thin air....read on..

For instance (a) you know that your child will have a suitable place to live in, and (b) you will not have to put out money to pay rent as the other rental students will cover your mortgage. (c) You know that they cannot be given notice half way through the semester.

The residential rules (d) can be made to suit your child's preferences; for instance, if he is an early riser then noise will cease at 11p.m. (e) You can choose a place near to the school or at least walking distance of up to 20 minutes (therefore no car is needed with all that expense and worry of it being wrapped around a lamp-post!). Finally (f) you and/or your child will write the rules about parties etc and have the control over tenant's behavior.

Not only is this a worry-free suggestion, but it will actually make you money! You will probably find that you like the idea of having a second property financed for you in this way, and continue with the system long after the degree has been awarded!

Let's get down to a few technicalities, although a good real estate agent will help you with all this. If you have a home already in which you have accrued equity, you can use this as a surety (collateral) for a second home in Tempe. Perhaps you are retired in which case you can use a pension as 'income', or maybe you both work and financing is a doddle!

Your real estate agent can advise you on points to be considered when buying a rental property, practicalities such as suitable layouts, bathroom choices, front and back door positions etc. Sometimes a large bedroom with two windows can be made into two smaller bedrooms if there is also a living room available for residents etc. You can send/email a list of requirements to a local realtor and be the first one to hear of such suitable properties.

Now is a very good time to buy any second home, because of the low mortgage interest rate and also the large choice of homes. It is a buyer's market now, so you can shop around. It is easy to be more practical when you are not choosing a personal home. Having said that, Tempe is a great place to 'winter' in when you become retired, so pick a place you like. Tempe is a fun-loving town with many parks, pools and the large Tempe Town Lake to cool off in during the hot summers.

The fact that your son or daughter is going to move away and go to University need not be viewed upon as a financial drain; it may bring great joy into your lives. You will be financing a second home ready for your retirement! Thank goodness they chose Tempe to study in and not Chicago!

Popular Islands and Beaches of Thailand

2012-01-29T09:14:00.000-08:00

Let’s take an exciting tour of the biggest island in Thailand, Phuket islands. Phuket islands are located in the Andaman Sea. The island is mountainous in the west of the island from the north to the south. About 70% of the phuket islands are covered by forests. Phuket islands and beaches have green tropical vegetation, crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches. Phuket (phuket islands, phuket villas, private islands, beach villas phuket, jumeirah beach villas, luxury villas phuket, marinas phuket) is the world’s most beautiful island with its enthralling natural beauty
Phuket islands are great for diving, sailing & golfing and all kinds of sports & entertainment. This place is very calm and peaceful although it is visited by a large no. of people every year. Any thing you can think of getting from nature, you can get it here. This is a paradise of rejuvenation. You can lie lazily in the sun with a drink of your choice from pool-side bars. You will find picturesque palm trees and other trees and plants nearby beaches (beach villas phuket, jumeirah beach villas, luxury villas phuket, marinas phuket, islands phuket, phuket hotel resorts, phuket property, property in phuket, jumeirah beach villas, real estate companies phuket, real estate phuket).

These beautiful private islands and luxury villas and resorts (phuket islands, phuket villas,private islands, beach villas phuket,jumeirah beach villas ,luxury villas phuket ,marinas phuket ) make it a perfect holiday destination. A few days stay in Phuket islands will give you a lifetime wonderful experience full of fun and enjoyment. There are multiple resorts with 5-star facilities. There are rooms with mini-bar, both cold & hot water shower and private in-room electronic safe.
These Phuket islands (beach villas phuket, jumeirah beach villas, luxury villas phuket , marinas phuket, islands phuket , phuket hotel resorts, phuket property, property in phuket, real estate companies phuket, real estate phuket) have much in store for everybody, be it a young couple or parents with children or 80 year olds. Accommodation facility is also brilliant with many choices and at a great value. One can find his suitability of taste according to budget. Phuket (phuket islands, phuket villas, private islands, beach villas phuket, jumeirah beach villas, luxury villas phuket, marinas phuket) doesn’t disappoint the people who haven’t got big bucks.
Increasing popularity of this island also makes it a preferred place for investment. Real estate Phuket (phuket property, property in phuket, real estate companies’ phuket, real estate phuket, resort developments phuket, Thailand homes, Thailand property, property phuket, homes for sale phuket) is on the rise. More and more people are buying homes and property in Thailand islands. There are many agents and brokers that help you through entire process of selecting the property to all other procedures need to be done. You can even find a list of brokers or local real estate agents (property in phuket, real estate companies’ phuket, real estate phuket, resort developments phuket, Thailand homes, thailand property) on internet. You can do your preliminary enquiries over internet itself before making any final decision.
Whether you own a place in these islands or not, one must view this extraordinary beauty. Phuket’s splendid coastline with its heart winning beaches makes it a heaven.
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Picking Up Orlando Real Estate Bargains

2012-01-29T09:12:00.000-08:00

These days, buyers have the upper hand, even in the surprisingly strong Orlando real estate market. Properties that seemed out of reach are now becoming affordable to buyers lucky enough to have the cash and credit to make their dreams come true. However, they should not test that luck as costly mistakes can easily be made even in buyers' markets where there is a large inventory of property to choose from.

In difficult markets with great price fluctuations it's especially important to enlist the services of an experienced agent or broker. With prices going up and down (mostly down, of course, as of late), it's especially important to have someone on your side who knows exactly what a property is worth, and how well a neighborhood or area will hold up. What may seem like a terrific deal on the Orlando MLS may, in fact, be a property to be avoided. An experienced local real estate agent knows.

One of the great opportunities these days is bank foreclosure sales. These are not easy to find as the good ones get snatched up very quickly. A local realty firm can keep track of foreclosure sales with free computer services. Once signed up, sellers will always have listings with the latest information to aid in the search. With foreclosure sales it is especially important to have a good broker on your side; there is a reason why some property foreclose, some are not properly maintained, and some have incurred damage. A broker can help.

Some buyers think that lower real estate costs in a declining market will make it easier to qualify for a mortgage, but that is not so. Excessive credit and insufficient background checking have been blamed for the mortgage crises, and banks and lenders are now far stricter with their requirements than before. This means more detailed credit checks and more stringent requirements. Again, a good local broker can give you not only a reality check, but also good advice on where to look, what to expect, and how to handle all the paperwork.

Buyers interested in new homes yet to be built also face an interesting situation. Prices are lower there as well, but there are more potential pitfalls. Financially strapped builders and contractors may not be able to complete construction, leaving you with an unfinished home or worse. Once again, the best insurance against horror stories is working with an experienced Orlando area broker who knows not only the local situation, but also has insights into the financial strength of builders and contractors. A preconstruction investigation with a good agent will tell you who you can rely on and who to stay away from.

Orland real estate is an attractive proposition. The area continues to grow in leaps and bounds, and Orlando is one of the most desirable cities to move to. What this means is that buying in Orlando may well be one of the best investments you can make. The great climate will not change, the many natural attractions of the area will not change, and the recession-proof industries in the area soften any recession blows. This is definitely a good time for buyers interested in Orlando.

Mortgage Officer Training vs Short Sale Training

2012-01-27T21:52:00.000-08:00

Many financial and mortgage training institutes offer these mortgage officer training courses which are available in a new pattern. The old pattern followed was considered inefficient by the experts and thus, theses days new and revised pattern of teaching is followed which includes imparting practical knowledge instead of theoretical knowledge. This is managed by showing the students video clips which helps them make their ideas clear about all the things and get to know the actions that they should take at precise conditions. Such video clips give a student the first hand experience of handling various situations. Thus, the revised pattern of these mortgage officer training courses is extremely efficient and to the point.

The mortgage officer training course involves subjects like loan origination, mortgage products, underwritings and appraisals and many such important subjects from the point of view of the mortgage industry. The course also allows the trainees to pick up values like time management, getting and retaining customers, solving problems efficiently and avoiding mistakes. These values are extremely important from the point of view of a mortgage industry career.

Mortgage officer training courses are available live as well as online. The online courses can be used by people who work but wish to learn as well. The online course provides the user some specific time limit to complete a specific part of hi or her work thus teaching them to manage their time. The user may access the website any time he wishes to as they are kept accessible round the clock to their users. The online mortgage officer training program has been developed to match an average learner’s pace. This allows the people who have joined the mortgage officer training course at the speed a comfortable pace, and at the time they want. The online course too contains video clips to provide more practical expertise to the user along with mere theoretical knowledge.

The mortgage officer training course can also be taken by trained mortgage officers in order to brush up their existing knowledge and get some new knowledge. This may help the person in making his or her work more efficient and gain more income. The mortgage officer training course offers a 12 month valid license after the completion of the course. In these 12 months, the trainees may revise the mortgage officer training course by repeating the course.

Short Sale Training

In today’s real estate market, the once lucrative opportunity of being a loan officer or mortgage broker originating loans and refinancing homeowners is no longer so lucrative. The sub prime mortgage meltdown and the mortgage credit crunch has really put a damper on that traditional business model.

What all of the mortgage news sources don’t tell you is that the short sale mortgage business is doing fantastic right now. There are more defaulted mortgages in the marketplace right now than we have ever seen before. The transition from a residential mortgage broker business to a short sale mortgage business is very easy. The mortgage brokers and loan officers that use my short sale mortgage system are making ten times more now per file than they used to make by only originating loans. The opportunity to make big money in real estate short sales is now.

A mortgage loan officer has to know everything about short sales, defaulted mortgages and foreclosure investing. The short sale mortgage business is the best mortgage business opportunity right now in the mortgage market. The traditional mortgage business is not nearly as lucrative as it used to be. The big money in the mortgage business is being made with defaulted mortgages.

You can get started in the Short Sale Business Today with no cash, no credit and no previous experience. Also, there are no licenses needed like there is with a traditional mortgage business. This allows you to get started immediately because you don’t have to prepare for a test or anything like that. You can start making money now and continue learning along the way.

Traditional mortgage loan officer training classes do not cover short sales, defaulted mortgages or foreclosure investing. For years the traditional mortgage broker training or mortgage lending training classes didn’t need to cover foreclosures or preforeclosures. Now that the sub prime mortgage meltdown has created this huge opportunity for us, I have prepared a free online short sale course to show you how to make a fortune with foreclosures and short sales in today’s market.

Once you implement my strategies that you can’t get from any other mortgage loan officer training program, you will be the envy of all of your loan officer friends. What do you think they’re going to say why you’re bringing home $40,000 to $200,000 paydays on your deals and they’re still faring around with the same old lifestyle because they haven’t taken the time to get short sale mortgage training. Those who fail to adapt to our new and improved real estate market will fail to get the results you will see once you start using real estate short sales in your mortgage business.

If you are just now starting mortgage business, you should skip the traditional mortgage business, and start a real estate foreclosures investing business instead. The market is ripe with foreclosures and you should take advantage of the situation while it lasts. My Free Online Mortgage broker training course shows you how to start a mortgage business with a short sale business model. If you already have a mortgage business, you will discover how to leverage your current business relationships by adding short sales as a service you offer to your customers and referral partners.

To get a Free Online Mortgage Officer Training Course in Short Sales, Go here:

Mortgage Officer Training in Short Sales

For more info. go to:
http://realestateforeclosuresinvesting.com/mortgage-broker-training.html

Mortgage Broker Marketing Tips

2012-01-25T08:07:00.000-08:00

After all, what are the formal mortgage broker training, attendance at mortgage seminars, and time and effort that you’ve put in doing for you now? There has to be something else in today’s market. As someone who has had mortgage loan training and who I’m sure pays attention to the news and realizes how many foreclosures are out there right now, aren’t you ready to learn how you can profit from the current real estate economy and, in doing so, earn 10 times what you would make for simply originating a loan?

Now that you’ve completed the Quick Start Guide portion of my online posts, let’s dive into the next series of material, which covers how to effectively market your preforeclosure business . Remember that my entire short sale course for mortgage brokers has nine main subjects that it will cover. So, let’s start by quickly reviewing all of the topics that will be covered over the next several posts.

Types of offers you will be making to motivated sellers

Benefits of a business model that focuses on pre foreclosure

The 3 M’s of Marketing Part I – Your Market

The 3 M’s of Marketing Part II – Your Message

The 3 M’s of Marketing Part III – Your Media

Marketing budgets

Implementing your marketing plan

Trust me when I tell you that your business is only as effective as how you market it. For this reason, the next several posts will be very important to your overall success. Now, let’s go into the heart of this week’s lesson. With any type of real estate investment purchase, there are a number of ways to buy and pre foreclosures are no different. What may differ in helping a client work through the foreclosure process is how they want to proceed. Many sellers see the light and realize that their best option is to sell the home. In this case, there are three primary options for you to work with them to help stop foreclosure:

1) A “subject to” purchase, where you help them remedy their default with the lender and continue making their payments until you can sell the home. Although we will cover how this type of deal is structured, foreclosure laws may vary from state to state so make sure you understand how to best proceed where you live and invest.

2) A real estate short sale purchase, where you help the client negotiate a discounted payoff with the lender

3) A wholesale purchase, where you get a pre foreclosure property under contract with the seller and then assign the contract to another investor for a fee

Every pre foreclosure deal is different and so too should be your decision in how to purchase each deal you come across in your real estate investing business. Sometimes, though, sellers may be in a position to stay in their homes and there are also ways to help them accomplish this. These include :

Helping them work out an arrangement with their lender

Helping them refinance their current loan

Arranging a lease back where they repurchase the home from you at a later date (this strategy is a sensitive one when it comes to state foreclosure laws so be sure you research this one thoroughly before ever doing it!)

With all of these options, there are likely few real estate foreclosures for which you will be unable to at least have some idea how to best pursue a solution. Since you are in the mortgage lending business already, the idea of marketing your services should be something that you are well on top of, again a huge advantage you have over other investors. The mortgage lending business is intimately tied to real estate and puts you in a great position to profit from the booming preforeclosure market. Please take the time to review the action steps and tips from all of my recent posts and make sure you’ve paid attention because we’re going to move onward and forward and I want you to be in an ideal position to act upon what you are learning. Stay tuned, I have so much more to share with you, and all the best to you in success.

D.C. Fawcett

The Short Sale Expert to Mortgage Brokers

For more information Please visit :

http://www.realestateforeclosuresinvesting.com

Looking For A Second Home: Your Destin Fl. Options

2012-01-24T01:23:00.000-08:00

Paradise is what most people call Destin Florida, and that's because it truly is a beautiful place. Destin is a place that epitomizes what people think of when they think of Florida—white sand and turquoise water stretching off into the horizon. If you are looking to make your home in paradise, also known as Destin Florida, then check out the new homes being built in Destin lately.

Ariel Dunes I and II, are new twin condominium tower developments—the tallest in the area—boasting stunning views of the both the Gulf of Mexico and Choctawhatchee Bay. These are truly gorgeous suites, with up to three bedrooms and all with private balconies. The interiors feature high end finishing details such as granite counter tops, high quality stainless appliances and tile flooring, and are designed with elegant high ceilings. Outside, there is a whole series of expansive pools surrounding the two towers, making up over 12,000 sq. ft. of water. As well, Ariel Dunes owns beach-front for use by its owners and renters. Finally, there's a great restaurant on the bottom floor of the first tower, so you don't have to travel far to enjoy a meal or drink out. Whether you are thinking of a vacation rental, or considering a permanent move to Destin, Ariel Dunes will have what you are looking for.

If that doesn't meet your needs, consider Emerald Grande. If you're reading this before August 31, 2008, they have a great summer rates that are 30 percent off their regular rates, plus include free golf and fishing. Facing the Gulf of Mexico, Emerald Grande is a vacation condo that offers rental or ownership options. If you are looking for a second home or a vacation home, Emerald Grande is an excellent choice as there is built-in management services, cleaning and it's all completely furnished, if you desire. No more having to wonder what is happening to your condo when you can't be there! Also, they offer fractional ownership, similar to time-shares, so you can visit the Florida coast during your agreed upon times, knowing you've got all the perks of owning, without the stress of management or rental.

Emerald Grande features a full spa and fitness center. There's a 2,500 sq. ft. outdoor pool in addition to a heated indoor pool, plus hot tubs. There's a restaurant and room service. If you want it, there's even daily housekeeping, so you can relax and enjoy your vacation. If you've got a special event planned, there's a banquet room and facilities that can accommodate weddings or large business meetings. If you've got kids, they've got a seasonal kid's club with special events and activities for the little ones. If relaxing on the beach is your priority, then take advantage of the private boat that takes you to a secluded beach. This resort condominium truly offers you everything you could want in a vacation home.

However, that still might not be what you are after. If a gravity-defying roof-top pool sounds more to your liking, then the beach-front Signature Beach condominiums might be what you are looking for. They have less of a resort eel than Emerald Grande, but still have the amenities you look for in a vacation home. With a competent management company, you know your condo is in good hands when you can't be there.

Whatever your preference, there's a condominium or home in Destin that will suit you. These are just a few of the new developments in Destin—there are also plenty of established condos and homes to choose from. If you want help finding just the right place, contact a qualified Destin real estate agent today.

In Bellevue the Sidewalks are Paved with...Rubber?

2012-01-22T21:39:00.001-08:00

The city of Bellevue has undertaken a project designed to give their streets a little more bounce. Taking cues from cities like Seattle, Olympia and Tacoma, Bellevue city hall launched a pilot project this year that will test the viability of rubber sidewalks in the downtown core.

Starting with a small stretch of sidewalk on NE 10th, just west of 102nd Ave NE, the experimental footpath will help the city evaluate the long term costs and durability of rubber sidewalks as opposed to concrete ones. If the project proves successful, city officials plan to use the rubber pavers in another 700 sidewalk locations throughout the city.

One of the main advantages of the rubber sidewalks is their ability to bend. Though everyone loves a shady, tree lined street - when those gnarly old roots start tearing up the pavement, children trip, wheelchairs get stuck, people sue. When this happens, it's a bit of a showdown: sidewalk vs. tree. Last year, 12 trees lost the battle and had to be cut down. Even when the tree can be spared, if the roots are cut to save the sidewalk the tree can still die. Either way, all the time and money spent on maintenance is costly.

The alternative is to pave the sidewalks with something that can co-exist with the trees, something like rubber that won't crack under pressure. For pedestrians, the rubber is a slightly softer surface to walk on that can put a bit of a spring in the step. Better traction and improved accessibility for people in wheelchairs are other ground-level advantages. But perhaps the most appealing advantage for Bellevue staff and citizens is the fact that the recycled tiles are good for the environment, preserving the trees and turning what would have become landfill into something everyone can be happy about. The rubber sidewalk tiles are made out of recycled tires with about 5 tires compressed into every two inch thick paver.

The rubber sidewalk initiative is just one of many environmentally friendly projects undertaken by the local government in the past year. In an effort to reduce their municipal carbon footprint, Bellevue has also adopted land use patterns that reduce sprawl, sought ways to preserve the city's tree canopy, turned one of their beloved golf courses into a wildlife sanctuary recognized by the Audubon Society and started purchasing hybrid vehicles for the city fleet.

Fractional Ownership - Exit Strategies

2012-01-19T23:01:00.000-08:00

Fractional ownership schemes are marketed using the advantage that fraction valuations are underpinned by the value of real estate. However as soon as real estate is put into a fractional ownership scheme it will no longer be valued in the same way as it would have been as a complete unit.

When is Real Estate Not Valued as Real Estate?

Answer: When it is part of a fractional ownership scheme!

This is not always a bad thing, because resale fractions could (and sometimes have) been valued at more than their fraction of the original real estate value. However a proper exit strategy is required to cope with the possibility that the fractional valuation may be less than the value suggested by the underlying real estate.

Why is Real Estate a Good Long-Term Investment?

Real estate has proved such a reliable investment over the long term (ignoring the last year or so) because:

1. It is "produced" using a scarce/finite resource - land. This has a greater effect in crowded countries like the UK but is true to a greater or lesser extent with all locations.

2. It has an enduring utility value. Everyone needs a place to live. Even properties in typical vacation locations have this utility value, since they can be used by the support staff that are needed to run a resort.

3. Unlike most investments, you can borrow to buy it. This gives the potential benefits (and losses) of investment "gearing".

Why Are Fractional Valuations Different?

If you compare a fractional ownership unit with the above you can see that point 1 is still true, 2 is not (or is much reduced) and 3 is difficult to achieve (perhaps more so with the recent credit problems). The fractional ownership unit will be owned with other people and probably looked after by a management company. Part of the valuation of the fraction will be based on the perceived quality of these external factors. In some circumstances these external factors could push the valuation of the fraction below that suggested by the underlying real estate value. In this case an exit strategy/contract clause is required to safeguard the fraction owners investment.

The Exit Strategy

I would personally advocate a winding-up clause in fractional ownership schemes, to enable re-alignment with the underlying real estate value after a specified number of years(if advantageous). In this case the fractional ownership scheme could only continue if all fraction owners agreed to another period of ownership.

Alternatively it would be possible to specify a clause in the fractional contract that would permit termination of the scheme with the agreement of a specified number of fraction owners.

Either of the two approaches above make sure that the investment interests of fractional owners are protected by the underlying asset value.

Detroit Has Become Greener Amidst Foreclosure Crisis

2012-01-18T23:38:00.000-08:00

Detroit Has Become Greener Amidst Foreclosure Crisis

What would you expect to see in a county that has been hit by some of the worst foreclosure crisis? <a href=”http://www.foreclosuredeals.com/lview.php?st=MI&cn=Wayne&city=Detroit&propType=1”>Detroit foreclosure homes</a> has taken its toll and you are probably thinking that the county is by now devoid of the buzz of activity, and carries a more dark and ghostly appearance. You are wrong! Detroitizens! Are fighting back! And what you will really found there is not rows of ghostly, dilapidated homes but miles and miles of green vegetation with thick undergrowth in some places. Shocked! Stunned! Surprised! Most of the people are when they come across the new Green revolution that has taken over Detroit.

In the last couple of years, Detroit has inherited hundreds of <a href=”http://www.foreclosuredeals.com/detroit/cheap-homes.html”>Detroit cheap homes</a> through rapid foreclosure activities. This has caused homes to lie vacant for months and the plots have become a breeding ground for parasites, shrubs, mosquitoes etc. Just when there was no hope on the far horizon, a nonprofit group came up with an idea: The unused land could be used for growing organic food for those who are needy. The nonprofit group, Urban Farming has gone ahead and taken charge of 20 derelict properties that are mentioned in the Detroit foreclosure listings of Wayne County. Their main aim is to turn these derelict properties into farmlands. Starting from the ground root level, the Urban Farming have started to pulling weeds so that they can lay completely new and fresh topsoil and then plant seeds to enable growth of vegetables and fruits.

The icing on the cake is that the gardens have not been fenced off and so anyone can walk right into the garden and pick any vegetable or fruit for free. Whatever is left off from the produce is then going to be donated to different food banks. This idea is a boon in disguise for several neighborhoods that are reeling under the pressures of <a href=”http://www.foreclosuredeals.com/detroit/bank-owned-homes.html”>Detroit bank owned homes</a>.

Charleston’s Best Places to Grab a Bite to Eat

2012-01-17T23:27:00.000-08:00

The Wreck of the Richard & Charlene
Although settled in an old icehouse, this seafood restaurant has all the warm southern charm it needs. The Wreck of the Richard & Charlene is one of Charleston’s local favorite food establishments. As hurricane Hugo swept through back in 1989, it plowed over the same spot the restaurant now stands. Directly in its path was The Richard & Charlene, a North Atlantic trawler. As the winds and the water did their damage, the trawler was slammed back and forth into the neighboring dock. This restaurant was named in memory of that stormy day. If you want a true southern experience, this is the place to come. To the citizens of Charleston’s, it truly is one of their prized gems.

Gullah Cuisine
Charlotte & Frank are famous for their traditional Gullah cuisine. The food became so popular while they were in the catering business that they decided to open up their own restaurant in 1997. If you are not familiar with the term Gullah, it stems from a unique and rich heritage. The Gullah are African Americans who have settled into the Low Country region of<a href="http://www.charlestonhome.com/areas_of_charleston.html”> Charleston, South Carolina </a> and down into Georgia. When you come to Gullah Cuisine you will find a plethora of good ol’ country food. Collard greens, okra soup, green beans, macaroni, succotash, cabbage, candied yams, barbequed chicken and of course, Charlotte’s famous fried chicken. If you’re looking for Pork Chops, you’re also in for a treat. Once you’ve eaten here, you’ll be coming back for more.

Cru Café
One of a Southerner’s favorite past time is sitting on the front porch enjoying a glass of sweet tea. Why not come to Cru Café and do the same? With both indoor and outdoor porch seating, you can enjoy Charleston’s food at its finest. Cru Café is known for their upscale comfort food and indulging desserts. Renowned Le Cordon Bleu Chef John Zucker opened Cru Café in 2002 and since Charleston has been in love with the place. The café has won multiple awards for their catering crew and is ranked as a top eatery by locals and tourists. Get a little taste of heaven while enjoying downtown Charleston and all it has to offer

Buying a Rural Property – First Steps

2012-01-16T00:03:00.000-08:00

Perhaps for years you've dreamt of owning a place in the country – maybe a small ranch in Colorado, or a private lakefront lot in Minnesota, or maybe your own ski chalet in the Rocky Mountains. Today's low real estate prices combined with great interest rates are making it possible for more people to realize this dream. Before you get out your checkbook, here are some things to consider before taking the plunge.

1. Determine what things are important to you. If you are an avid skier and find yourself spending the equivalent of a mortgage down payment in condo rentals every year, maybe purchasing a property closer to the slopes is just what you need. Keep in mind, however, you won't have the freedom to move around, so choose a location you'll want to return to year after year. If you're only thinking about taking up a new sport or hobby, consider renting for a few seasons to ensure your dream still holds the same appeal once it becomes a reality.

2. What sorts of ties do you have to your current home? Do the kids come to visit on holidays? How will your having a second home affect your family routines?

3. Begin to zero in on the perfect location for your rural home by making a list of all areas that fit. List your favorite sports and past times, desirable weather, geography (do you want mountain living or beachfront), available employment opportunities, ethnic or social conditions, taxes and utilities, and price range.

Next, do some research and determine which states are most compatible with your needs. Try to get your list down to about three favorites.

4. Contact the chamber of commerce and local government agencies for as much information as they will send you and begin compiling a portfolio on each region.

5. If this is not an area you've previously visited, try renting a place for at least a few weeks to get a feel for the place. Another option is to visit some home sitting sites such as HouseCarers.com to check for house sitting opportunities in the area. It's one of the best ways to immerse yourself in an area and feel like part of the community.

6. Once you've planned your visit, contact area realtors and make appointments to tour some houses. Send them a list of the properties you want to view as well as your list of criteria and maximum price range. The agent will undoubtedly include other houses on the tour; and you may find it helpful to take notes and pictures of your favorites as they will all start to blend together after awhile.

7. Revisit your favorite homes, inspecting inside and out, looking for obvious deficiencies such as water stains, leaks, odd smells, leaky faucets, or poor water pressure. Find out the age of the roof, furnace, well and septic (if applicable) and request maintenance records.

8. Once you're ready to submit an offer, make it contingent on a successful home inspection by a professional. Add up any of the big ticket items you may need to repair or update and deduct the costs from the asking price. Note that the seller will be responsible for the cost of the survey, and any other pertinent inspections such as water, soil, structure, etc. You should reserve the right to cancel the deal if any of these inspections produce what you consider an unsatisfactory result.

Selling Your House - $100,000 Pets

2012-01-14T02:50:00.000-08:00

Is your pet worth $100,000? It may be if you don’t make accommodations for it when selling your home.

A Hundred Thousand Dollar Pet?

A house I’d seen with a potential buyer in an attractive neighborhood built around two lakes sold for $100,000 less than was typical for the neighborhood. Do you know what caused it to sell for that much less? A pet. Actually, two pets.

I can hear you thinking, “How can that be? Surely she doesn’t know what she’s talking about this time. How could two pets reduce the sales price of a home by $100,000? Is that even possible?” I understand your skepticism, but it’s true. Let me tell you how I know. When I made the appointment for the potential buyer to look at the house, I wasn’t told about the presence of pets. We arrived at the house, knocked on the door, and when no one answered our knock, I got out my electronic key to open the box containing a key for brokers to use. While I was doing this, we began to hear some loud barking from large dog or dogs inside the house. The buyer said she did not want to go into the house with “dogs on the loose.” I have to admit I wasn’t thrilled with the idea either, so we went on to the next house she was considering.

She asked me if we could see that house the next day sans pets. I called and made arrangements.

The next day we looked at a two story, 5 bedroom, house with a fully finished, walkout basement that supposedly didn’t have pets. It was a nice house, but the whole house smelled strongly of pet odors. The furniture in the basement was shredded – truly not too strong a word to use. I’ve never seen furniture in worse shape. The front of the house was nicely landscaped. The back of the house was a disaster. The door frames and exterior doors were scratched and gnawed. The lawn had beaten paths and patches. There wasn’t a flower or a shrub to be seen. The “buyer” couldn’t get away fast enough.

I later found out the owner of the house had a German Shepherd. The second “dog” was a wolf and shepherd mix. The house stayed on the market longer than typical, the price was reduced several times and the final sales price was $100,000 below what was typical for the neighborhood. Now you tell me, what cost that seller $100,000?

Don’t misunderstand, I know pets are wonderful. Over time my husband and I have enjoyed living with a German Shepherd, two Siamese cats, assorted adopted stray cats, fancy guppies, gold fish, koi, and various sorts of wounded critters our two sons brought home.

Pets enrich your life. They don’t enrich the sales price of your home. Take the right steps though, and they won’t rob you of any of your equity.

Buying a Condo-Who's Running The Show?

2012-01-13T01:05:00.000-08:00

When buying a condo, we are all seduced by the decor, the ambiance, the view, and other visual effects, when we should really be checking something else that is not visual!

The Home Owners Association (HOA) often plays a very nondescript part in the whole process of choosing a condo, - especially for first-time condo buyers. However, the HOA can play a very large part in using up your finances if you hit an unlucky situation after moving in.

In order to avoid a surprise, ask a few pertinent questions about the HOA. One of the important factors would be 'who is running the show?' In a very small condo complex it may be run by residents, but a professional management company is preferable, especially in a condo of any size.

Professional management companies do charge for their services, but they can often save this fee by obtaining lower quotes for repairs, because they will use the same company many times. There is also less chance of the company using their influence on resident votes, so they may be construed as more fair. Finally, it is a business to them, and it the HOA will be run as such, instead of as a part-time rush before each meeting is due!

Always ask to see the rules of the HOA, the financial report, the by-laws and the minutes of the last several meetings. The conditions, covenants and restrictions (CC&Rs) will affect your lifestyle, so make sure they 'fit in' with it.

The financial report will tell you if there are any big increases in the fees coming up, or if there are any 'emergency' fees due soon. This raises the important question, what will happen if there is a big emergency? How is it paid and how much money is in the HOA kitty?

The maintenance reserves will be important; there will hopefully be approximately one third of the gross annual fees charged to all residents in the reserves. A favorable minimum amount would be $4,000 per condo, although is manageable.

Another aspect that the HOA manages is the percentage of rental units allowable. Under 20% is passable, but any more and the re-sale of the condos becomes risky. Renters often do not have the same respect for property or neighbors, so they decrease desireability.Also mortgage companies are aware of this and are reluctant to give out mortgages to high-rental complexes.

Once you have ironed out all these questions, you can consider whether you would like to get a professional inspection done. These inspections include the common areas as well as the condo you are interested in. Once all these precautions are in place, you will feel more secure to go ahead and make an offer.

Boston Plans To Fight Off Foreclosure Crisis

2012-01-11T21:59:00.000-08:00

Boston Plans To Fight Off Foreclosure Crisis

Homeowners are crumbling under the pressure of <a href=”http://www.foreclosuredeals.com/lview.php?st=MA&cn=Suffolk&city=Boston&propType=1”>Boston foreclosure homes</a>. Boston has been facing foreclosure crisis for a couple of years and this is a critical moment for all homeowners in the state. When it looked as if things were going to go out of hand, the Mayor's office stepped in to do their best to control the situation. Patricia Canavan who is an advisor in the Boston Mayor's office is working on a plan and has made an official statement. In the wake of the rise in the number of homes in the Boston foreclosure listings, Canavan believes that the best option is to reclaim neighborhoods that have been left empty due to the ever growing foreclosure crisis. In her speech at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland Community Development Policy Summit in Cleveland, Ohio, She has urged banks, financial institutions and lenders to make efforts for refinancing as many loans as possible so that foreclosures can be stopped.

According to statistical reports taken out by the Boston Mayor’s office, the amount of sub-prime loans taken by people in Boston is quite high and 65% of those loans were taken out by people the minority neighborhoods or who belong to the modest income group. A major part of the 65% is already in foreclosure. Like other parts of the country, the wave of foreclosure has not spared homeowners in Boston as well. In fact, in the last two years, the rate of foreclosure has increased considerably. In 2006 the total number of <a href=”http://www.foreclosuredeals.com/boston/bank-owned-homes.html”>Boston bank owned homes</a> was just 64 while 2007 saw an alarming increase with 704 foreclosed homes and as of date (2008) the number is 774 and counting.

The immediate impact of foreclosures includes homeless families, empty neighborhoods, and increase in crime rate, <a href=”http://www.foreclosuredeals.com/boston/cheap-homes.html”>Boston cheap homes</a>, and others. In order to fight the negative aspects of foreclosure on various communities, the Mayor of Boston, Tom Menino has created a tactical team for foreclosure intervention. The team has weekly meetings so that they can work out an effective neighborhood stabilization program.

Austin Real Estate Now is the Time to Buy!

2012-01-10T07:19:00.000-08:00

If you are thinking of relocating to the state of Texas, it may interest you to know that Austin real estate is a buyers market at this time. As we move into summer Austin real estate generally starts seeing more sales, and that is what we are seeing. With all the issues in the national market and with the subprime mortgage crisis, there was some worry that the Austin real estate market would not heat up in the summer but sales appear to be on the increase. Buyers are seeing much better deals than they saw this time last year.

The economic outlook for Austin generally mirrors the Texas forecast: local job and population growth outperforms the national economy. The Texas Workforce Commission predicts 3.1% job growth and the unemployment rate for December 2007 was estimated at 3.6%, down from 5.1% in the Austin area during October 2006.

Job growth is expected in Austin’s traditional strong employment areas, such as government, education, and health services. Austin is the state capital and seat of Travis County, which makes government a major employer. Austin’s local, state, and federal government employs more than 150,000 workers and that number is expected to increase. With the University of Texas and over twenty other colleges within 30 miles, Austin will need more educators. Austin continues to employ many workers in the leisure and hospitality industry, and large healthcare employers are expected to add workers in the near future. With the high quality of life and the increasing population, Austin should see positive job growth through 2009.

The quality of life and entertainment opportunities are another reason that Austin is a bright and thriving city with a diverse cultural scene. Austin is rich with theaters, live music venues, excellent restaurants and unique shopping centers. Population growth in Austin is driven by the high quality of life in the region, with the area being ranked as a top destination for relocating singles and families.

Buying and selling Austin real estate can be overwhelming so an experienced realtor that will provide you with information, but won't pressure you is advisable. They currently have over 11,000 properties to choose from in the Austin, Texas area.

Appraised Value: The Ups & Downs Of How Much A House Is Worth.

2012-01-08T04:02:00.000-08:00

Determining Fair Market Value is an eternal struggle and major balancing act. That’s because buyers want a house to appraise on the low side—to keep the purchase price down. While sellers want the same house to appraise on the high side—to make the sale price higher. And then you’ve got the owners of the house—who also want the appraisal to be on the low side, in order to keep the property taxes down.

So with all these different agendas and points of view, how is the fair market value of a real estate property actually determined?

Once a year, your county sends all area homeowners official notices that put a dollar value on their property. And property taxes are based on those dollar values. But before those notices get sent out, a long, detailed process usually takes place. First, the land is valued as if it’s vacant—an empty lot, in other words. Then any improvements are described and measured. Improvements consist of the house and any other structures, pools, sheds, garages, and so forth. Next, most counties check the Marshall Valuation Service Cost Guide. It’s a standardized nationwide guide for determining the value of the cost per square foot to build a building that fits the description of the improved property. Next, if the house isn’t brand new, the replacement cost is considered, as well as depreciation; the year the house was constructed and the condition of the property are factors here. Appraisers then must take the critical step of comparing the value of the house with recent selling prices of similar homes in the neighborhood. At this point, the appraisal might stand “as is”—or it might be adjusted upward or downward.

Market Value is a theory, in other words—not an unchanging fact.

In a perfect world, you have to have willing buyer and a willing seller. Neither is under duress. Both are in a position to maximize gain and are trying to do this. But in the real world, things are rarely that simple and equally balanced. Which is why people feel differently about the appraisal value of a house. It really depends how strong their position is as a buyer or seller.

Does the local economy come into it at all? You bet it does.

Ask a successful Realtor about that! He or she will tell you they’ve noticed that the Rio Grande Valley’s fast-growing economy is attracting people from other areas who consider real estate here a bargain. That helps fuel increases in property values.

So—now you know where that Grand Total comes from.

You’re armed with the information you need to make a better house-buying decision. For instance, you can understand how two virtually identical houses that are in two different neighborhoods could be very far apart in price and appraised value. And why your choice of the right house in the right neighborhood could be worth a not-so-small fortune to you right now—and years down the road.

Buying Island Real Estate.

2012-01-06T22:53:00.000-08:00

Is island life for you? Or is having an island getaway for you? Both questions would entail completely different lists of pros and cons. For investment purposes, island homes tend to hold their value, as land is obviously at a premium on an island!

The population of USA has access to many islands, in the Atlantic, the Caribbean, the US Virgin Islands and in the Pacific. If you are planning to buy a second home on an island, you will not need to do the same soul-searching that would be required for a permanent move.

Many families have bought an island cabin as a group purchase, and the weekends and vacations are allotted on a casual 'time share' basis within the family. It is shared in turn for weekend getaways where the children can roam free on weekends and vacations and every now and again they will all plan to show up together! It is a great idea for promoting family unity. It also keeps costs down, as boats, fishing rods, repairs etc can be shared.

However, that is a little different to suddenly deciding to sell everything up and move to an island. To some, that would sound idyllic and to others it may bring on claustrophobia!!

The advantages and pitfalls must differ according to each island's amenities, climate, environment and many other factors, but are there any general island 'rules'?

Most island residents who choose permanency would probably opt for an island with a ferry service. There are times when the sea is too rough for a little row boat, or motor boat, and they do not want to feel isolated. Of course, for many people this isolation is exactly what they DO want!

Sometimes a ferry schedule can mean that when you arrive home late (from a vacation flight) or from the theater you cannot make it home on the ferry. Many islands have a water taxi service that you can pre-book, or some residents will just use their own boat, and others will decide ahead to spend a night in the town's hotel.

One other problem with living on an island is that often you may have to worry where to park your car. Is the island big enough to have a car ferry, or do you need to leave your car each time you go over on a tiny ferry? In the latter case, you will need to negotiate parking near the ferry - although this is often provided for.

Such other inconveniences, like arriving home with no sugar, is really just an accepted part of island life, and easily adjusted to. That's what neighbors are for, and community glue is strong on islands!

No matter what the inconveniences are, to islanders, the peace and the feeling of being 'away from it all' is paramount. If you work off island, it only takes a few short weeks for that feeling of peace to pervade your entire being. It happens the minute you step onto that ferry boat each evening to cross the ocean to your island home.

Perhaps this poem by J. Earnhart and reproduced in the magazine "Island Life", sums it up best

:If ever you've lived on an island
if ever you've lived by the sea;
You'll never return to the mainland
once your spirit has been set free.

If ever you've smelled the ocean
or tasted the salt in the air;
You'll know you've discovered a haven
that is uncommon, precious and rare.

If ever you've seen the whales play
or watched the eagles in flight;
You'll remember, again, why you live here
and why it feels so right.

If ever you've seen the sunset
as the ferry passed the shore;
You've seen the beauty of the island
that will be with you forever more.

If ever you've heard the seagulls
the waves, a foghorn, the winds;
Then you've heard the song of the island
and the peaceful message it sends.

Indeed, if you live on an island
if you're lucky to live by the sea;
You'll never return to the mainland
as your spirit has been set free.

Bicycle Realtors: The Next Generation in Real Estate Marketing?

2012-01-05T23:26:00.000-08:00

They're mean. They're green. And they're going to help you buy your next house. There are a growing number of realtors who are taking green home buying to the next step and using bicycles to show their clients potential places to hang their helmets.

If you're looking for environmentally friendly home resources, a cycling enthusiast or even just someone who is dreading a day in a hot car, driving from house to house, a cycling realtor may be right for you. This group of realtors are not only using an eco-friendly way of connecting you to the right house, they are also aware of the issues facing the environmentally sensitive home buyer. Casually cycling from home to home can be a lot more relaxing than a tense time in the car, and it's healthier for you, too.

In a search for bicycle realtors, you find that most of them aren't just into cycling for the health benefits; they are concerned about their community's environment. They may use a car in bad weather, but they believe that using a bicycle when at all practicable is the ethical choice for today's realtors. Along the way, you'll find that a realtor who bicycles as part of his job is also cognizant of the environmental impact of real estate on the earth. For the person looking to buy a house that is energy-efficient and is less of a burden for the earth to carry, a realtor who believes in bicycles is a good one to consider.

For cycling enthusiasts who have to find a home, the bicycling realtor would be the obvious choice - after all, this person will know what to look for when you say you want safe storage for your $3000 touring bike or even a decent area for your $50 commuter bike. They'll understand when you say that you need a decent workshop with easy-in, easy-out access. And, of course, they'll make sure that you are alerted to available houses situated near cycling trails and designated bicycle routes in the city.

For those who are not die-hard cyclists, the bicycle realtor may still be a good choice. You would be surprised at how much less stressful a house-hunt is if you spend a good part of the day leisurely cycling from one house to the next. Even if you're determined to use the car to get around, that's okay. Just don't be too surprised if your realtor gets there before you on two wheels!

Finding out more: Chris Chopik, the pedaling force behind BicycleRealtor.com is one force behind this campaign, being a both car-free realtor and an environmental activist. The website BicycleRealtor.com is currently taking registrations from realtors who want to market themselves as BicycleRealtors. It is the goal of the website to become a resource for those who are interested in this new breed of real estate agent.

Buying Property in Spain

2012-01-04T06:16:00.000-08:00

Every year many thousands of properties in Spain are sold to foreign investors. What is the attraction? Firstly the country has a great climate and that is particularly appealing to those people living under the grey skies of northern Europe. Getting there is both quick and relatively cheap. A flight from London in the United Kingdom to Malaga on the south coast of Spain takes only a little over two hours. It is possible to get some very cheap flights with either one of the well known budget airlines or by picking up a spare seat on one of the hundreds of charters that fly to Spain every day.

There is a wide selection of property to choose from both in type and numbers. Consideration of the following points will help to narrow the search. Size of the property, the garden and the number of rooms required. People planning to emigrate with children should check out what schooling is available locally. Consider the local health & social services. Choose between a built up area or open countryside. How near is the beach, a town, the shops, the bars and restaurants, public transport, its frequency and what time does it stop in the evening?

Many developers looking to improve their own cash flow will offer property for sale off plan. The potential buyer may be able to view a show home but in many cases they are literally shown a development plan or a scale model. An initial deposit is payable followed by several stage payments. A couple of advantages, if property prices rise between purchase and the completion of the project the buyer will own a property worth more than they have paid for it. Secondly, most developers will allow the buyer some say in style and design of both the inside and outside of the house. The down side is the amount of time buyers will have to wait until the development is completed, often in excess of 12 months. And of course they don't know what they are getting for their money until the property is completed.

The cheapest property available in a finished state is likely to be an apartment. These are often on an urbanizacion or housing estate that will often include other types of property such as townhouses and villas. These small communities will include a pool and landscaped gardens. Some kind of security is often employed either in the shape of guards or CCTV cameras. A community charge is payable to cover these facilities. A word of caution. Many of these properties are let to holidaymakers during the summer months. Some to English people with children. The noise these guys make while on holiday has to be heard to be believed. If it's not the kids during the day it's their drunken parents in the early hours of the morning.

A detached, purpose built villa offers more privacy and seclusion but it will cost more than a comparative property within a community.

Buyers looking for a more of the Spanish experience should look at properties within an established town or village. Many of these properties look small but are surprisingly spacious once inside.

A Finca is a property standing on a plot of land in the countryside. It may be a tumbledown farmhouse or a just completed villa. Many fincas have a good deal of land and this may have fruit orchards or olive groves.

Finding the right property should be no more than a question of looking. Once a decision has been made on the location and the type of property it is time to talk to the estate agent. Make certain this person is registered with the authorities and holds a license. Many estate agents have a background in time share developments so the hard sell can be expected. Any claims made by agents should, wherever possible, be substantiated by an independent source.

Any offers to purchase a property should be made in writing and include the following: The price, how it is to be paid and in what currency. The amount of the deposit, to ensure the property is withdrawn from the market, and when it is to be paid. The completion date. Who is responsible for the payment of which taxes. And a detailed list of what is included in the price, furniture, fixtures and fittings and a proviso that all systems, air conditioning, etc. are in good working order. It is vital that this is done in conjunction with a solicitor. Many English speaking solicitors are to be found throughout Spain. No document provided by an estate agent or others should be signed without a solicitor having prior site of it. This cannot be stressed enough.

When an offer is accepted the solicitor should firstly make a check with the land registry. If all is well a private contract binding both parties to the deal is prepared. Following that is the preparation of the public deeds (Escritura de Compraventa) which must be signed before a Spanish notary. Upon completion the solicitor will fax the title deed to the local land register confirming the identity of the new owner and ensuring that the property cannot be sold a second time.

There are certain charges involved with yearly maintenance of the property and these may include, community fees, electricity, real estate tax, rubbish collection charges, water. If the property generates rental income the owner will be liable
for property income and wealth tax. The estate agent should be able to provide this information.

A mortgage application in Spain is relatively straightforward. The following original documents need to be shown, passport, if employed, the last three months payslips and if self employed, accounts of the last 3 years, an accountant's reference, and tax returns.

A further 10% of the agreed price will have to be found to cover additional fees that include: Legal fees of approximately 1%, Notary and Land Registry Fees of approximately 1%, Title Deed Tax of 0.5%. A Valia tax, payable on any increase in land value may be payable. On a new construction IVA tax is levied at 7%. It is charged at the full rate of 16% for purchases of land. Purchases of used property are subject to a transfer tax and this like the IVA comes in at 7%.

People planning to move to Spain for a period in excess of 6 months must apply for residency. Spanish property owners' who do not have residency should appoint a financial representative and they must be resident in Spain. This can be a lawyer or tax adviser or to save a few Euros a neighbour or friend. It is to this person that all correspondence regarding the property will be sent.

Consider appointing a gestor or legal representative. They will look after all the paperwork and in Spain there's plenty of it to look after. There's that residency to begin with. People planing to work will need a work permit. If opening a business they can assist with the licenses and permits that will be required. They will also advise on the import of pets, cars, furniture and electrical goods. And they can sort out pension payments in Spain.

Become A Commercial Real Estate Negotiation Expert

2012-01-03T19:23:00.000-08:00

In commercial real estate you are constantly going to be using negotiation skills. Your negotiations skills will be put to use, not only in the process of creating an offer and working to get it accepted, but also with your contacts, brokers, buyers, sellers, engineers, and lenders. In any situation where there are more than two interests, you can rest assured that negotiations must take place in order to satisfy everyone's goals.

Many people are afraid of negotiation, usually due to lack of experience. Once you begin practicing your skills, it will get easier for you, and may even become fun! Negotiation is filled with tactics and problem solving that are used to yield the best results for each party. Being a good negotiator is very important to this business.

There are different negotiating styles that work for some people, and not others. For example, some find success with a very strong, even intimidating approach in negotiation. I prefer to use a straight forward approach. I am prepared, informed and persuasive. I am confident, as I have anticipated the questions and concerns the other party may have, and will answer them, as needed. This helps me to clearly and confidently negotiate terms. As a result, closing deals is often easy and fun. It is true that different styles should be used in different situations, so study others who negotiate and develop a style that works best for you!

In commercial real estate, as in most businesses, it is best to yield to an agreement that is win-win, meaning both parties are satisfied with the results at some level. If the strongest concerns of each party are addressed and a solution results, the agreement is of mutual benefit to both parties.

If you are not familiar with negotiation, I suggest that you take a class, purchase a book, or find a seminar that covers the basics of negotiation. There are many generic tips and tactics that will sharpen your negotiation abilities, and make it easier for you to get what it is that you want out of an opportunity.

In commercial real estate, there are specific negotiation tactics that can be written into contracts. Many of these tactics require some creativity and are specific to certain situations. Don't be afraid to get creative; after all, this is where commercial real estate gets really fun! You'll be surprised how you don't have to have everything figured out when you put a property under contract!

In commercial real estate, it is always a good idea to write a letter of intent before actually purchasing a property. In residential real estate, a letter of intent is usually not necessary, but in commercial real estate, I consider it a necessity.

The letter of intent should be clear, concise and not in legal format. It should appeal to the owner as a direct, personal letter, explaining your purchasing intentions with the property. Many people put in terms, closing dates, length of due diligence, and so on in the letter of intent. Negotiation can take place here, without any money being permanently spent by the buyer, or a deal completed. It can open a dialogue between you and the buyer, and start negotiations early in the game without anything being set in stone.

Another tactic that can be written into the letter of intent is known as an option contract. This option contract is a good way to investigate the property; you then have time to begin putting together a deal to make sure it is feasible. You can offer a certain amount of money to tie up the property in order to do some initial research, and not even mention closing a deal yet. This is a great option that can allow you to decide to move on with a property and begin negotiating, or simply move on to the next opportunity in a short amount of time. The option can be as simple as 15 days to do some preliminary work with $15,000 at risk. At the end of the 15 days, you may option for a full due diligence period and continue with the purchasing process.

When negotiating an offer, and you still have some questions left unanswered that will be unveiled during the due diligence, you can always write an item subject to or contingent upon the ability for you to do to the property what you intend. For example, if you are purchasing raw land zoned R-1, single family housing, and the broker mentions that the city would be supportive of rezoning the property commercial, which would greatly increase the return on investment, then you could write in the contract that you will purchase the property if you can get the property rezoned to commercial. This is done often, and works with many different variables that could affect the use of the property.

Writing in contingency clauses can be a great way to protect your interest and make sure that you end up with a property set up properly with a favorable exit strategy.

As we all recognize, seller's have specific needs that need to be met. A buyer may really want to take the opportunity that the property would provide, but realizes that he or she may not be able to satisfy all the needs of the seller up front. A negotiating tactic that would work here would be for the buyer to satisfy the seller's needs in two or more parts.

The buyer could set up two dates to pay the seller- with money in the beginning, and then money at the end of a certain period. This would allow the buyer to take the profit that he made from the property, and give the seller his money. As long as you satisfy the basic, up front needs of the seller, he or she may be willing to accept these terms, and you are on your way to fulfilling another opportunity!

As there are many other negotiating tactics that you will create to satisfy the requirements to make a solid deal, there is a really great tactic that allows you to continue to invest money into commercial real estate without paying taxes on capital gains! This option was made possible through the Internal Revenue Service tax section 10-31, better known as the 10-31 Exchange. This allows for sellers to use the profit from the sale and reinvest it in another commercial property without paying one cent in taxes! Can't get much better than this for investors!

There are investors who are strictly involved in 10-31 exchanges, and it is a great way to keep the cash flow moving from one property to another with the benefit of full profits and no taxes. Sometime this tactic is a great choice and should be added to the contract when it can be optimized.

As you can see, the negotiation tactics in commercial real estate are there to protect your interests and maximize results. Be creative with these negotiations, and always be confident when walking into a deal. Be prepared, informed and persuasive. It is also necessary for you to keep your emotions at bay and your ego out of negotiations. You have to be prepared to walk away from any deal that cannot be made to fit your needs.

Always make an effort to sharpen your negotiating skills, and finely tune the tactics you use to increase your bargaining power. Having a few extra “tricks” up your sleeve will enable you to make a deal in your favor and get the results you want.

Top 10 European Countries for Real Estate Property Investors

2011-12-30T21:44:00.000-08:00

If you’re looking to diversify, broaden or even begin your property portfolio consider Europe for your next investment destination.

Europe is host to such a broad range of countries all offering diverse property opportunities – you have everything from emerging market economies with massive potential for sharp growth rates, well established city based rental markets giving great yields and even residential housing markets offering an investor a slow burn on his capital outlay.

Here’s an overview of the potential on offer in the top ten European countries for real estate property investors right now.

Bulgaria – Bulgaria is in position for EU accession in 2007 and as a result it is receiving massive foreign and domestic investment particularly into infrastructure and construction and the whole country is benefiting from the amount of money being spent on it.

Those who buy now in Bulgaria are buying into the longest projected period of growth and buying before the expected boom that will begin when Bulgaria is officially made an EU Member State. Furthermore they are buying to target the burgeoning tourism market that heads for the beautiful beaches of the Black Sea Coast in the summer and the snow capped mountains of Bulgaria’s ski resorts in the winter.

Croatia – Another country tipped for full EU membership in 2007, Croatia offers property investors commercial and residential property opportunities. The numbers of international business establishing bases in Croatia has increased substantially in the last couple of years and there is demand for the development of light industrial and office space.

Furthermore Croatia has a strong tourism market that offers a real estate investor further opportunity to either target short term rental yields or to buy off plan or develop for resale to the second and holiday home market in Croatia.

Cyprus – There are two real estate economies in Cyprus – you have the well established Republic of Cyprus property market where an investor should seek to target the retiree audience or the tourism market and then in Northern Cyrus you have an emerging economy currently offering massive growth potential.

Property price increases in North Cyprus have consistently been in double digits for the past three years and there are no signs of a slow down in the offing.

Czech Republic – The majority of real estate investors consider Prague the only city worth targeting in the Czech Republic but the country’s other cities like Brno also offer an investor opportunity to purchase residential accommodation for rent to the domestic and expatriate professional population. Property price growth has been fantastic in recent years and rental rates are increasing annually.

Estonia – Real estate investors should target the local market in Estonia and consider looking for opportunities in the capital city of Tallinn. The Estonian economy is growing at a staggering rate which is affording the local people greater purchasing power which in turn is having a direct effect on the property market in Estonia.

Basically as local demand increases so prices can rise and as local purchasing power increases so it can sustain these price rises. A real estate investor can buy into this growth now and should expect the period of growth to be sustainable for at least the medium term.

Hungary – Property investors who targeted Hungary’s capital city of Budapest last year enjoyed up to 15% growth on underlying property prices and these growth rates show no sign of slowing down currently.

There is local and expatriate demand for property to buy and let in Budapest and the local economy is benefiting from foreign direct investment and strengthening. This means that there are long term prospect for growth in Hungary. Furthermore there’s an emerging market within Hungary’s property sector and that is the tourism market which offers an investor a chance to get in on both residential and commercial property ventures targeting this growing market segment.

Latvia – Latvia is benefiting from substantial foreign direct investment which has helped establish the Latvian economy as one of the fastest growing in Europe and Latvians are on target to receive one of the five largest wage increases in the world. All this means that locally the population can afford to spend more on property either in the form of rental rates payable or property prices payable and real estate investors can buy off plan and flip on to the local market upon completion or even buy to let out in the capital city of Riga or in the coastal port towns.

Poland – Having joined the European Union back in 2004 Poland has received massive aid and investment as a result which has improved the country’s infrastructure incredibly and led to a strong period of economic growth.

Many European and international companies have established bases in Warsaw and Krakow and the demand for accommodation in these cities alone has really soared. Real estate investors are targeting Poland because it offers a low risk, high potential property market. Furthermore investor confidence in Poland is high because the Polish government have already proved that they have a strong commitment to maintaining the good economic growth rates that their country is currently enjoying.

Romania – Because Romania has yet to join the EU and align all its governmental, fiscal and constitutional policies with those of Europe it is quite a tricky country for a foreign investor to get in on. However it offers a real estate investor such exciting opportunities – where else in the world can you buy anything and everything from a castle to a factory at such ridiculously low prices.

Those with a strong appetite for paperwork and red tape will make their fortunes from Romania’s property market, but for the rest of us it’s an economy to watch carefully. As the country moves slowly towards EU membership so it will become easier and more attractive for property investors to target.

Turkey – Turkey is on track for EU accession following agreement that it should begin accession talks in 2005. Since that point Turkey’s economy has been granted ‘Market Economy’ status, the country has received billions of dollars of Middle Eastern funds into its property sector and world wide investor interest in Turkey’s property market has exploded.

The majority of opportunities either exist in Istanbul or along Turkey’s southern coastline where hundreds of thousands of tourists flock every year. Prices for property in Turkey are currently incredibly low so with all the positive data and news coming from Turkey recently there is only one way prices are going to go – and that’s up!

There are so many opportunities available to an investor in Europe that those serious about profiting from real estate property should give the continent careful consideration!

Seven Steps to De-Clutter Your Home for Sale

2011-12-30T21:42:00.000-08:00

Your home may be in good condition and well built, yet simple clutter will create a perception of chaos, confusion, and disorder. The purchase decision is an emotional and intellectual response, based on a level of trust in your home. When buyers see clutter, they assume that the home has been neglected, with more to fix than meets the eye. This perception undermines your home's market value.

De-cluttering is an essential part of your preparation, and is virtually cost free. This activity is goes hand in hand with moving. Before you put your home on the market, have a garage sale, throw some things out, and box stuff up. Your move will be easier, and you will create an open, spacious, simplified look that buyers love. If you need support, a local home staging service can work with your furniture and create a whole new look. When it comes to selling your home, less is truly more.

1) Front Yard

De-cluttering starts with your front yard. Make sure the yard is mowed and edged, and remove toys, junk piles, empty flower pots, etc.

An evenly cut yard is pleasing to the eye. Fertilize the grass a month or two ahead.

Overgrown, woody shrubs give an old, tired look. Trim or remove them.

Do not allow shrubs to cover windows. They block light on the interior, and give an appearance of crowding on the exterior.

Coil hoses and place any tools inside the garage.

Find a place to store extra cars or boats - other than the front of your house.

De-clutter flower beds. Mulch is inexpensive (about $2.00 per bag), and does wonders to simplify garden beds, especially in winter when plants are thin. Add flowers on the porch or in beds if weather permits.

Too many flowerpots are distracting - use a few large pots with healthy plants.

Never have empty pots or dead plants sitting around.

Dried wreaths may be used on doors in winter, for a simple focal point.

2) Entry

The buyers' first impression is critical, and shapes their attitude throughout the showing.

Invest in a brand new welcome mat.

Stains, scratches and dirty spots create distractions to the eye, and are a form of clutter. Clean, paint, and eliminate as many of these as possible.

Pay close attention to your front door. Is it dirty, darkened by mildew, or in need of re-finishing?

Fresh paint or stain will make a huge difference.

Consider having your whole house power washed to remove stains, spider webs and other clutter.

The foyer should be clear of shoes, coats, or excess items on the walls.

Create a single focal point in the entry with an attractive table or painting.

3) Living Areas

Rooms should be sparsely furnished to appear larger and lighter.

The garage or an off-site storage room can be used to hold extra pieces of furniture.

Move large pieces of equipment - drums, telescopes, exercise equipment, etc. - to the garage or off-site.

Do not allow furniture to block windows, doorways, or traffic patterns through rooms.

Do not allow wires to cross traffic patterns.

Choose one or two elements as the main points of interest in a room - wood floors, a view, a table or piece of furniture, a nicely made bed, etc.

Too many personal collections and photographs are distracting for buyers.

Buyers must be able to imagine their own family in the home.

A few decorative items or photographs on tables are fine, but reduce these to just a few nice pieces.

Remove hunting trophies. They can be overwhelming in a small room, and may bother some buyers.

Large plants often take up too much space. Allow only a few healthy plants in the house.

Bookshelves add a warm touch to a room, but be sure that they are not overloaded.

Place books so that the backs are even. Lay some books horizontally, and leave open space for art
objects.

Open window blinds and leave on a few lamps for pleasant lighting.

4) Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of the home and plays an important part in attracting the heart of a buyer. This is an active area that usually needs special attention.

Clean, evenly finished cabinetry is a must. Add new paint or stain, if necessary.

Benjamin Moore Paints has a product called "Howard's Restore-a-finish" that works wonders on scratched or worn cabinets.

New cabinet pulls are an inexpensive item that can help tie the room together in terms of colors and finishes.

Remove purely functional items - such as baking pans, small appliances, vitamins, phone books, plastic bags, etc.

Do not have notes or photos on the refrigerator.

Clear the counters completely, then add back a few decorator items.

Choose decorative pieces that contribute to a warm, elegant, organized look.

Some suggestions: Flowers, fruit, cookbooks, wine, bowls, antiques, new dish towels, small designer appliances, etc.

Often the area under the sink needs organizing and cleaning.

Never leave trash containers out in the kitchen.

5) Bathrooms

It is important to de-clutter bathrooms to give them a touch of elegance or romance.

Keep in mind that you will give up some privacy during the marketing period.

Start by removing everything from the counters.

Remove any toilet brushes or cleaners that are visible.

Put items that you use daily - toothbrushes, soaps, razors - in a container, and place the container inside in a cabinet.

Decorate with fresh soaps, flowers, bowls, photos, or designer bath items.

Invest in new towels and fold them carefully.

Never leave medicines, money, x rated magazines, jewelry, guns, or personal possessions of this type on display.

6) Bedrooms

Bedrooms should appear restful and serene. Sparsely furnished is best.

Use your best covers, or invest in new ones if yours are worn.

Clear off bedside tables, and add back just a few books or nice items.

Bedside lamps add a warm ambience for showings.

Remove excess paintings or photos from the walls.

In some cases, old curtains do more harm than good. Take them down and clean the windows for a fresh look.

Children's bedrooms usually need to be simplified. Take down posters and box up toys. Avoid an overcrowded look.

7) Closets

Organize your pantry with everything facing forward. Remove excess food and containers.

Relieve your closets if they are stuffed. Pack items that are not needed.

The laundry room often functions as a spill over room with junk on the shelves. Clear everything out, and have just a few soap boxes visible.

Often sellers have organized their homes to express themselves - their travels, collections, interests, favorite colors and unique tastes. However, when selling a home, the goal is just the opposite. It is to create a clean, simple background that many different buyers would like to move into. Excess items and clutter confuses and distracts buyers during showings. They should not be required to “look past” your possessions. They are there to see if your house fits them, and their emotional level response is a strong factor in their decision. Warm, clean, simple, spacious, well lighted, neutral - and uncluttered - these are the keys to getting the best price for your home.

Sell Your House Online

2011-12-30T05:05:00.000-08:00

Selling a house can be a much implicated process. By keeping track of your progress with this checklist, you can eradicate many of the pitfalls, time delays and aggravations that can erupt at any time during the house selling period. There is a short-term loan program known as a "bridge loan" that can help you cover extra cost you'll have of covering your new mortgage before you've sold your existing home. You may also be able to use a home equity line of credit on your existing property to accomplish the same thing. Essentially you'd borrow against your equity to get the cash for the down payment on the new home.

Bridge loans can be much more costly than home equity loans or lines of credit. They are typically a short term solution to help you during the changeover when you haven’t yet sold your current home but have purchased a new home. Once you close on the new home, do what you can to sell your old home as quickly as possible. Juggling the expenses of two homes at the same time can cause home buyers to panic. Some homeowners get hung up on getting their “price” on the sale and forget that for each month they hold on to their old home, the money they pay for the old home is lost money.

Sell your home fast:

What happens if our home doesn't sell before we buy the next one? I understand we will have two mortgage payments, but is there a program out there that can help create a bridge between two loans? Yes of course there is a short-term loan program known as a "bridge loan" that can help you cover extra cost you'll have of covering your new mortgage before you've sold your existing home.

You can also use a home equity line of credit on your existing property for achieving the same thing. Basically you'd borrow against your neutrality to get the cash for the down payment on the new home. Bridge loans can be much pricier than home equity loans. They are typically a short term solution to help you during the transition when you haven’t yet sold your current home but have purchased a new home. Once you close on the new home, do what you can to sell your old home as quickly as possible.

This is a fast world, where everyone is on the move and wants to do everything quickly. People want fast food, fast travel and even to sell houses quickly. The first thing that has to be done to quicken the sales process is to get the property appraised from a certified appraiser. This is to make sure that you quote the right price when making quotes on the house. Giving the right quote greatly augments the sales proceedings and offering incentives also help curtail the sales cycle. There is a probability that the buyer will get the intimation that you are frantic to sell, but if you do turn to this to hasten the sale proceeds and then try to get you to recognize a bargain-basement price

You could offer show tickets or higher commission to your real estate agent for a speedy sale, a meal at a fine restaurant or some other perk if the property gets sold quickly. There are also those “cash for homes” ads that you find on matchbook covers and late-night TV. Houses sold this way are sold quickly, but they are usually heavily discounted. Making the house easy to get to at all times improves the speed of home selling in a great manner.

There are many agents who are unwilling to show a house that takes 24 hours to get into. You can catch the attention of more buyers to your home with a few low-cost cosmetic steps like cutting the grass, painting drab walls, cleaning up the outside of the house and defrayal up any clutter there is inside the house. It is advisable to do this, as most people like buying homes that appear clean, solid and well maintained you can follow the above process. You could consider hiring a good real estate lawyer to represent you in the sales proceedings to save time in legal procedures.

Selling houses on the web:

We have lot of websites that are designed to help sellers sell their own homes without getting the help of an agent. You can find many of them by simply going to a web search engine like Google or Yahoo and typing “for sale by owner websites” into the search box. To list your home on the web, you have to go through the local representative. Among those some of the local operations are running well, and others appear to be run by clumsy, pushy managers.

The general concept of listing your home for sale by owner on a website goes as follows:
You pay a flat fee to get a web listing. If you want to buy an ad in the websites magazine, it's an extra fee. Some of these FSBO websites offer local classes to teach you the tricks of selling by owner. It also will either give you or sell you signage, listing sheets and other tools you'll need. You can even pay a separate fee that will get your home listed in the local multiple listing service, which is where the vast majority of home buyers go to look for homes that are available.

Unlike a discount broker who might be more involved with your sale, when you sell by owner using a website, you'll be responsible for doing just about everything, including the showings, any negotiation and making sure all the details get done that will enable the house to close. As far as ethics go, I think it's perfectly fine to consult with several top real estate agents in your area about selling your home. You could ask them to prepare a comparative marketing analysis (CMA) for your home, which would tell you how they would market the home and their suggested list price.

While you might then go and list the home yourself, most savvy agents know that just 15 to 20 percent of homeowners are able to sell by owner. The rest wind up using agents - typically the agent they liked best from the initial round of CMAs. Today, more real estate firms are "unbundling" the real estate services they offer, with the hopes of giving sellers exactly what they need at a price they're willing to pay.

Preparing house to sell:

Doing whatever you can to put your house's best face forward is very imperative if you want to get close to your asking price or sell as quickly as possible. Short of spending a lot of money, here are several ideas for making your home show better:

•    Sweep the sidewalk, mow the lawn, prune the bushes, weed the garden and clean debris from the yard.
•    Clean the windows and make sure the paint is not chipped or flaking. If your home was built before 1978, new federal law gives a buyer the right to request a lead inspection.
•    Be sure that the doorbell works.
•    Clean and spruce up all rooms, furnishings, floors, walls and ceilings. It's especially important that the bathroom and kitchen are spotless.
•    Organize closets.
•    Make sure the basic appliances and fixtures work. Get rid of leaky faucets and frayed cords.
•    Make sure the house smells good: from an apple pie, cookies baking or spaghetti sauce simmering on the stove.
•    Hide the kitty litter.
•    Put vases of fresh flowers throughout the house.
•    Having pleasant background music playing in the background also will help set your stage.

How to Set and Achieve Your Goals in Real Estate

2011-12-29T01:25:00.000-08:00

I want to ask you two questions. One, do you have a Will? And two, do you have written goals for the next one, three, five and ten years? If you answered yes to the first question but no to the second, you are planning more for your death than you are while you are here. Think about it. I want to challenge you to start setting some goals, but remember if a goal is not in writing, it is simply a conversation. It must be in writing and it must have a deadline. Here are a few guidelines for setting goals. Oh, by the way... you need a will also.

Goals Must be Specific

I want you to be specific and include details but start rough. When you start rough for example, you want a Mercedes. You do not have to get into the details about what color, what options, that sort of thing, just write it down. Make your list huge, what kind of home do you want, what you want for your family, college education, spend more time, travel, anything you can think of. You can come back later and prioritize them and set them up as to what you want in one month, three months, six months, twelve months, then three, five, ten, twenty, thirty year goals. The more goals you have, the happier you will be, the longer you will live, and the more prosperous you will be.

Goals Must be Believable

Remember this, your goals must be believable, by you, or you will not pay the price. They must be believable, they must be just out of your reach, but you must know you can reach them, if you really strive to do it.

Goals Must be Measurable

You cannot set a goal to be financially independent. There is no way you can measure that. You need to set a goal for the amount of income you want per month, per year, the amount of equity that you want in properties – one, three, five, ten and twenty years. It must be measurable. That way you can break it down to what I call “reduce it to the ridiculous”. If you know you want to earn $100,000 a year, you know that is $8,333 per month. That’s just one deal a month where I live. One of the things I have learned is, successful people set their goals quickly and they make adjustments as they go along. Just like successful people make decisions quickly, they do not vacillate in indecision or what I call sometimes; get mixed up in a funk of negativity.

Goals Must be Congruent

Your goals must also be congruent with your actions. You cannot set a goal to work harder, longer hours AND a goal to spend more time with your family. Those are not congruent. They must be congruent with your actions.

Visualize What You Want

Another good thing that will help you with your goals is to visualize what you want. If you see yourself as already having achieved the goal, you will fake out your mind and your mind sees the goal as already having been achieved. It’s called “fake it till you make it”. I used to do this all of the time. Just take a minute or two each day and think about life as it is with your goals already accomplished. It’s really easy when you get used to it.

Work Your Goals

The next thing you want to do is work your goals, work on the priority that moves you closer to your goals every day.

Number Your Goals

Number your goals in the order of importance. Not only is the goal important but so is the reason. Sure your want a car, but why do you want the car? Sure your want more money, but why do you want money? You want to be able to spend more time with your family, you want to be able to travel, you want to buy a Hummer, and you want to have an ocean front condo or send your children to the best college. Whatever it is, the reason must be there. The reason is more important than the goal itself.

Review, Monitor and Make Adjustments

Another thing you need to do is review, monitor and make adjustments on your goals. You have to be flexible. Some things are not going to happen, you have to face that; but you need to continuously strive to get better every day. If you will work harder on yourself than you do on your job then you will always be growing. Remember that last sentence and write it down as it is worth repeating.

The Goals Must Have a Deadline

As I mentioned first, your goals must have a deadline. A goal without a deadline is just a conversation. When beginning to set your goals, I want you to set your goals in four basic areas:

Financial

You will set goals based on income, equity or net worth and cash flow. All of these are financial goals.

Fitness

This is your health. If you don’t feel good, chances are that you are not working at your maximum capacity. So, I want you to set some fitness goals to stay healthy. Remember “an apple a day”? What if this is right and you are not doing it? Start small though, you don’t try to tackle all of these at once; but you need to be healthy not only for you but for your family as well.

Family

Set family goals. What is an example of a family goal? Maybe you want to take four vacations a year. Maybe you want to visit a new state, three times a year or five times a year. Maybe you want to go see the Grandparents two or three times a year; but maybe not. Anyway, you get the point.

Faith

You need to set some spiritual goals, some faith goals. I am not going to get into a lot of detail about that but that will help you along your way. Remember, if you slip in one area of your goals, you are probably slipping in some other areas. Another thing I want you to think about is the people you associate with. Take a minute and think about this. If you think about your ten closes friends annual salary and divide it by ten, then that is pretty close to what you make. I’m not telling you to get rid of your friends, all I’m saying is whom you associate with, is who you are like, so please keep that in mind. Don’t get rid of your friends, just get some more that are where YOU want to be financially. Most of the people I hang out with now, we all make over $500,000.00 a year. That just blows me away. I never imagined I could make that kind of money…. Well I guess I could, as we are talking about goal setting and visualization aren’t we?

I hope you have enjoyed this article taken from my course called the Ultimate Buying and Selling Machine! that teaches how we buy and sell 5-10 properties a month, never look at them and have them sold in less than 2 hours. For many more articles and a 10 part ecourse on how to create your own Ultimate Buying and Selling Machine! as well as over 50 training audio recordings you can listen to online, download and collect, simply go to www.LarryGoinsFreeOffer.com where you will gain instant access to all of this and 51 Exclusive Editable real estate investing Forms and Documents all FREE! You will also get two FREE real estate investing eBooks, A free Personal Coaching Profile to help you jump start your real estate Investing, FREE Nationwide Wholesale Property Listing Notification, FREE Weekly Training Teleconferences with Different Topic Each Week, FREE subscription to Larry Goins “Almost” Weekly Investing Newsletter, FREE Admission for Two to Investor Palooza 3 Day Training Event, FREE Admission for Two to Larry Goins 3 Day Boot Camp, Plus over 31 Exclusive Articles on real estate Investing and Much More! Just go to www.LarryGoinsFreeOffer.com

Thanks and I look forward to working with you,
Larry Goins

Real Estate Buying And Selling Tips

2011-12-29T01:24:00.000-08:00

In purchasing a property, an interested buyer should consider the time he intends to stay in the place, since selling a house too soon would probably not be a profitable move, especially if there is instability in the market. Make sure that you stick with your price range and to minimize lower depreciation for your house, buy a property that is a little bit cheaper than those in your neighborhood. The added wisdom in this is lesser vulnerability to market volatility, with nearby luxury homes pulling the neighborhood’s price range in times of market boom. It would also be beneficial if you talk to a real estate agent on the market condition of your desired neighborhood.

Ask for special incentives in buying a house, as there are a lot of sellers now and the market is quite saturated. Be very attentive on the financial terms offered by the seller and try to determine any possibility of reducing your transaction costs, such as asking the seller to shoulder the closing cost.

More importantly, always consider the location of the house you wish to purchase. Try to avoid properties near busy streets or places where a lot of people converge at particular times of the day. Choose a house located in a community with viable economy, to ensure your property will still sell a few years down the line. Examine also the local services available, as well as the crime rate. A property near a good school is considered a good find. Do not be discourage if the house is located in a community with higher property tax, as this often translates to better services and infrastructures.

Hire a home inspector to check whether appliances are in good working order, the electrical wirings are all in order, and determine the state of the heating and air conditioning systems. A good home inspector should also scrutinize the exterior of the house, including the roofing. Have the inspector check the plumbing, ventilation and the general foundation of the house.

At the other end of the spectrum, selling your house also entails that you must first formulate a good marketing plan. This includes considering several listing contracts with your real estate agents, who will be the one bringing the clients to your house. Evaluate also your asking price and try to adjust it with the current pricing trends in the local area. Timing is also important as it will do you no good to sell during a market slump. Next, improve your house’s appeal through cleaning, tidying up the yard and even adding a fresh coat of paint. Remember that first impression always makes a big impact on potential buyers. Make sure that you are also familiar with disclosure laws in your area. Lastly, be discriminating in who you allow inside your house. The value of a good real estate agent comes into play here, as it is always good to have somebody around who is quite knowledgeable and can answer questions regarding real estate.

Real Estate Ownership - Condominium or Fee Simple

2011-12-28T07:10:00.000-08:00

Generally, apartment-style buildings are called condos, two-story row houses are known as town homes, and free-standing homes on small lots are referred to as garden homes. Unfortunately, this description creates some confusion about real estate ownership. Apartment, town home, and garden home describe the design or construction of certain homes. The word "condominium" does not refer to a the layout or style of a building. Condominium is a form of ownership of real estate. The form of ownership of real estate cannot be recognized by observing the building design.

Condominium Regime

The legal definition of condominium is: the absolute ownership of a unit based on a legal description of the airspace the unit actually occupies, plus an undivided interest in the ownership of the common elements, which are owned jointly with the other condominium unit owners. Each unit owner of a condominium has individual title to the space inside his unit. The space is sometimes described as beginning with “the paint on the walls.” In addition, each unit owner has an undivided interest in the physical components of the condominium buildings and land.

A popular type of condominium development is the multi-story apartment. In this case, there is no land under each unit. In these developments, the condo association usually handles maintenance of the building exterior and common grounds, while the unit owners maintain the interiors of their units. A condominium association is selected to make decisions about expenditures for repairs, and to handle administrative work related to the common areas. Fees are collected from the unit owners to pay for common maintenance. The association normally holds an insurance policy covering the jointly-owned areas, while individual owners carry insurance for the interior components of their units.

Condo projects may resemble duplexes, town homes, garden homes, or residences on regular lots. In general, the creation of a condo regime allows the developer to get more density approved than would be allowed if he had done single-ownership lots. This is often the reason why the condo regime is chosen instead of a development with single ownership lots. A condominium may be built as two units of a duplex. In this case, the two owners may jointly make decisions concerning maintenance of any common areas. By setting up the units of a duplex as two condos, the owner is able to sell them to two different owners.

Each condominium has rules that are specific to the development, so no assumptions should be made about their requirements. It is important to read the condominium documents carefully before purchasing a condo. The documents specify the maintenance that is covered by the common budget. In one project, the association may handle exterior components, decks, pools, sidewalks and driveways. In another, the individual owners may be responsible for more maintenance of their units, including foundations, roofs, and exterior walls.

If you have questions about the division of labor between the common budget and the individual owners of a condominium, you can present your question to the condo board itself. The board can give you an interpretation of the rules and clarify how the issue has been handled in the past. Another possibility is to ask a real estate attorney to review the documents for you. Realtors, other unit owners, or maintenance workers are not appropriate or reliable sources for the interpretation of condo documents.

The Texas real estate contract for condominiums contains a provision requiring that the buyer be given a copy of the condo documents, with a period of time to review them. During the document-review period, the buyer may terminate the contract without penalty. In addition, a resale certificate is must be provided by the association president or manager. This document provides information on the current budgets, insurance coverage, special assessments, lawsuits and other matters that affect the association.

Fee Simple Ownership

In contrast to the condominium regime, you may own real estate by fee simple. “Fee”, which comes from the word, “fiefdom”, refers to legal rights in land, and “simple” means unconstrained. Fee simple is the most common type of ownership. It is the absolute legal title to real property, including both buildings and land.
In fee simple, there are several different possibilities with regard to your obligations of ownership:

(a) Your property may not be in a subdivision at all. In this case, your deed will not include any subdivision restrictions that control your use of the property. Be aware that there could be some deed restrictions put in place by previous owners. In addition to deed restrictions, you may be governed by city or county ordinances or zoning laws that limit your use of the property.

(b) Your property may be in a subdivision with very few restrictions, no common areas, no architectural control committee, and no mandatory dues. Usually these are older subdivisions.

(c) Your property may be in a subdivision of homes on large lots, or in a town home or garden-home community in which there is a legally created homeowners association. In this case, every homeowner is required to be a member of the association. The association may charge mandatory dues and enforce subdivision rules. A certain level of maintenance may be required of each property owner. For example, you may need association approval of exterior paint colors, fences, or additions to your home.

Like the condominium form of ownership, fee simple ownership does not prescribe how maintenance is handled or how developments are governed. For example, the owners of a town house, with fee simple ownership, may be required to fully maintain their units. Or, the owners' association may cover painting, roofing and yard work for the owners. In subdivisions where there are single family homes on large lots, it is more common for the homeowners association to manage the common grounds, pools and parks, while the individual lot owners fully maintain their own properties.

Understand your ownership rights and obligations

Before buying into a condominium regime or purchasing a fee simple property, you should have a clear understanding of the type of ownership you will have in your property. If you are buying a condominium, it would be wise to read the condo documents carefully and understand how maintenance is divided between the individual owners and the condominium association.

If your ownership is fee simple, with individual ownership of the land, you should review the deed restrictions (if there are any) and understand the restrictions and obligations that apply to your property. In the fee simple form of ownership, there may be mandatory dues to pay for common area maintenance, or, in some cases, the dues may be used for partial maintenance of the individual properties.

If you have a question about your type of ownership or about your obligations as a homeowner, it would be wise to review the title documents with a real estate attorney before proceeding with your purchase. Ask plenty of questions! A clear understanding of your type of ownership, and of your obligations as a homeowner will result in a more satisfying real estate purchase.

United Kingdom Property Investors Are Emerging as The Biggest Market For Philippine Condotels

2011-12-28T07:08:00.001-08:00

Beth Collingz, of PLC International Marketing Networks, Lead Marketing Partner with Pacific Concord Properties Inc., whom have Condo Hotel or ‘Condotel’ developments in the Philippine, and whom specializes in working with international clients in a recent conference with UK Investors held in Cebu, said: Since the Dollar value depreciated and UK Pound Sterling hit 92:1 on the Philippine Peso, my phone has been very busy with buyers from the UK interested in purchasing investment properties and holiday homes here in the Philippines.

A lot of this interest is being driven by relatively cheap market prices in the Philippines compared to Europe, especially UK Housing prices, and easy payment options available for our Condotel Developments, but there are other factors, too. Offshore Property Investors, Foreign baby boomers as well as overseas Filipinos, are looking for ways to maximize their return on investments as they approach retirement, and so are purchasing second homes, particularly Condotel Investments where they can use the Condo for vacations and rent it out through In-House Management when not using the unit thereby gaining rental incomes that on today’s purchase prices, give a projected ROI on their investments of some 8-16% depending upon the mode of payment for the unit

Collingz, who also runs PLC Global Pinoy, an internet based marketing network specializing in Condotel Investments, indicated more than 85% of all sales in Metro Manila were to international clients. These international buyers know it’s a buyer’s market in the Philippines right now - there are a lot of properties available and fewer local buyers, Collingz said. I’m working with clients who are purchasing their second property with me. We also have referrals from many of our prior customers and new clients who have found us through our Web sites, lancastersuites.com and plcglobalpinoy.com which include a special section for international buyers

Another major driving factor in overseas property investments from the United Kingdom is UK Tax Payers taking advantage of tax incentives and Investing their Self-Invested Pension Plan [SIPP] In Philippine Condotel Investment Real Estate for Rental Income and Retirement said Collingz.

A Self Invested Pension Plan [SIPP] is a personal pension plan but with one very significant difference: administration is separate from investment content, giving the plan holder freedom to choose for himself and change the investments within it. The long-awaited rules on what savers can include in their personal pension plans were unveiled in April 2006 by HM Revenue & Customs. The Guidance Notes confirm that the Chancellor is permitting Self Invested Pension Plan [SIPP] holders to invest in hotels such as the Lancaster Brand of Condo Hotels in the Philippines. The only stipulation is that SIPP holders may not stay in their rooms. With more nights available for paying guests, this not surprisingly increases the room owners' returns. It is estimated there are now more than 70,000 plans holding over £14bn.

A year or so ago, few people in the UK realized that they could manage their Pension Plan portfolios themselves, and even fewer knew that they could invest their SIPP retirement money in homes in the sun which now prove to be among the most popular potential investments to include in a SIPP

If you’re considering using your SIPP to invest in real estate, there are some excellent reasons that you should choose Philippine Condotel Investment real estate to drive your retirement portfolio into high profit margins. The Philippines is ideal for this type of investment because a SIPP can establish title to a property in a country whose legal framework recognizes trusts and a SIPP is simply another form of trust.

Investing in foreign real estate is neither as risky nor as tricky as a lot of people would have you believe. While land and housing prices in the U.K. have soared astronomically in the past decade, the world real estate market is a far different story. It’s still possible to buy a preconstruction Condotel suite at Lancaster The Atrium located in Metro Manila, Philippines, for less than GBP £25,000.00

“The beauty of holding property in the Philippines is the low cost of property taxes and maintenance. A GBP £25,000 Condotel suite will only set you back GBP £100 in property taxes per year, and maintenance costs are similarly low. When you add in the tax-protected status of investments made in your SIPP, annual off plan property appreciation and the 8-16% returns through rental income through the Condotel advantage, you have an incredible ROI on a purchase of Philippine Condotel investment real estate enthused Collingz.

With preconstruction property in the Philippines appreciating at some 20% per annum not only do real estate investments look good but the rental income return in the Country is in excess of what many Pension Plans offer for the same or similar investment.

Many new investors are looking to replace failed pension plans and other future saving schemes with a solid investment in Real Estate. Clients are looking for investments that will give them an income for retirement as an alternative to traditional private pension plans that have failed. Most company pension plans are insufficient as are Government Pensions. Bank rates for Savings accounts are at record lows. Savvy investors are now looking for a more solid investment with potential for monthly income. Condotels in the Philippines fit the bill

This potential, high rates of rental returns from Condo Hotel Investments, up to 16% per annum, opens up a huge market not traditionally looked at by Real Estate Agents and Brokers whom all so often run around looking for normal residential profile buyers without looking at the by far bigger picture of investments, investing and retirement. "We’re here to help our clients and advise them of emerging investment opportunities in the Philippines. Self-Invested Pension Plans and Lancaster Condotels, fit this bill exactly; adds Collingz.

Pacific Concord Properties, Inc., Flagship Lancaster Condo Hotel [Manila] development located along Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, is currently one of the hottest Condotel Investments in the Philippines. Lancaster - The Atrium is accepting Reservations for Studio, One, Two & Three Bedroom Suites adopting International Standard Escrow Trust Account Buyer Safe Easy Secure Payment Plans with 6 year interest free payment terms or up to 12 year "In-House" financing available, full condo ownership and minimum monthly maintenance fees, you really should take a moment to look at this Philippine Condotel Investment Opportunity said Collingz.

Colorado Springs Area Real Estate

2011-12-27T15:11:00.000-08:00

Colorado Springs property is some of the best property in the state of Colorado. You should be able to find that perfect mountain property or other great property rather you are buying or renting a home in Colorado Springs. If you are considering a move to another state, you will want to take more than one look at this fantastic area.

When you come to visit the homes and get to know the city, you will realize that Colorado Springs has so much to offer you and that the land is just breath taking. No one ever really gets accustomed to the view it is great. Everyone would be envious of your Colorado estate even if you were on a tight budget just because of what you can see when you look out your windows. Don’t worry about your budget, because there is something for everyone in Colorado Springs. From the small one bedroom homes, to the multiple story condos, townhouses and even five bedroom homes, you can find it all in Colorado Springs.

When it comes to the value of Colorado Springs homes, you will be able to find anything in any price range and with high value. The properties range from $30,000-$4,000,000. Therefore, as for class, Colorado Springs is for anyone, and you can find the house that will fit your budget, your family and your dreams. You should be able to fit right into Colorado Springs no matter what class you are from and you will benefit greatly from the Colorado Spring area.

Colorado Spring realty businesses make sure that they price their homes fairly for both the seller and the buyer so that both parties can be happy with the final sell. That’s why it is so great to buy a home for investment purposes. Investments in the Colorado Springs real estate is a good move because you know that you will be able to buy for the lowest prices and then you can always ask for something higher when you sell it. In fact, most of the time people will purchase a house in Colorado Springs and live there for maybe a couple years or not live there at all but do some upkeep on their investment and sell it for way more than what they bought because the market value increases daily. Colorado Springs land is worth more than almost any other area in the United States.

The tourist attraction and the number of visitors that go to Colorado Springs each year makes sure that the value goes up. For those who know their stuff about real estate, the more the area is visited by tourists and the more attractions that are offered, the better the investment. It’s literally a real estate “hot spring”. The land that for sale in the Colorado Springs area is good to build anything on and can be used for building a home or ranch. A family type of life is what you will experience in this area, where people come to really experience life.

If you are thinking about Colorado Springs relocation, you are on the right track to a good investment. The atmosphere is very friendly and everyone is considered the best type of neighbor. If you are planning on relocating to Colorado Springs you will want to know a little bit of the city’s history. Well it was first found in 1871 and has become the second-largest city in Colorado. Although the city has changed a lot from being a small, Victorian spa to a huge, sophisticated city, Colorado Springs has still managed to keep its small town feel. While every town has a bit of history, you can also find there are many types of developments and houses being built all the time. The economy is strong, and jobs are to be found in this area.

It is also one of the most famous places to vacation. In fact, over six million people visit the area per year. It’s amazing that the town can stay so caring knowing that most people are only coming and going. One of the most famous tourist sites in the world is located only six miles from Colorado Springs. When you move to Colorado Springs, you became part of the town and also a part of the history as many people come to live, fulfill their career, ski, and farm. Practically everyone in the area has gone to Pikes Peak which is a site that you will have to visit when you are visiting or if you are going to live here. Pikes Peak is the gateway to all outdoor adventures found in Colorado. In fact, it is the most commonly visited mountain in the world. Tourists bring money and jobs to this region so if you want to start a business, you can do that in Colorado Springs as well.

Homes that are located in Colorado Springs can be some of the nicest homes in the state, but you should make sure that you get a good realtor in Colorado Springs. This is important because getting the financial details straight can be mind-blowing. A good local Colorado Springs Real estate will show you the best homes in Colorado Springs.

Many times the realtors will show you the Colorado Springs MLS, which contains multiple listings from multiple banks or sellers so that you are able to find your ‘dream hom’-e’ in Colorado Springs. This is an area you will want to live, explore, and raise your family for years to come. Real Estate agents in Colorado Springs are well acquainted with the area and should be able to tell you some tricks to find the best type of foods or where you can save the most money shopping, or where you can find the best nightclubs. They will inform you about the area and of what to expect with your relocation, how much services cost locally and you can find out information if you have any special needs or requirements. You will also be happy to know that your real estate agent will take of you and your every need. They will make sure that you make your transition as smooth as possible and without too many concerns or stressful times. They will try to get you the best deals for property and for any property that you are selling. The Springs is a great place to live because it is family friendly and even works for those who love the single life. Rather you have a family or are as single as they come, you will love the environment and atmosphere of Colorado Springs. Look for a home that you can grow into, one that has three or four bedrooms, so you can build a family, throw parties and have a great time living in Colorado.

Colorado Springs mountain property is some of the best property that you will find. If you live in an area where there are not mountains now, you will be excited about what you will find, see, and what you can do in this region. It is great for those who want to build a ranch or simply just be located out of the city and away from others. Mountain property can also be a great investment because everyone wants to be left alone and escape their work world when they come home. By owning mountain property, you should be able to easily cash in the investment and turn your mountain property into cold hard cash. Most mountain properties do not stay on the market for too long, that’s why you should try to snatch it up before anyone else is given the chance. Even if you are selling property by owner, you will be able to sell the house quickly and be able to invest in more Colorado real estate quickly. Real estate values are going to rise, as properties become more scarce, if you want to move, you can do it all with the help of a real estate agent who will provide you the best information about areas you can live.

Stopping foreclosure phase 2

2011-12-27T15:10:00.000-08:00

Type in stop foreclosure on any search box on the web and you no doubt will query a string of articles that highlight ways you can negotiate with you lenders, restructure you loans, and usually get things worked out. In a perfect world this would always work, in fact in a perfect world you wouldn't have to worry about foreclosure at all.

But as we snap back to reality, those of you who have tried the tips and techniques discussed earlier may have realized that the world is anything but perfect. In my first article I discussed many ways to talk to your lenders, what to ask for and who to talk too. But where do you go after you run into a dead end with you lending institution? Well my friend, it's time to move to Phase 2. If you read my first article you should already be organized as discussed in "avoiding foreclosure phase 1." You should have also already have started putting aside twenty dollars a week for your "just in case" fund; but if you haven't start today!

A report by realtytrac.com stated that in 2005 approx. 846,982 properties when into some form of foreclosure. So I’m pretty sure your house doesn't need to be added to the list. Consider phase 2 the decision phase. I this phase there are some key decisions that Need to be made.

Where are you going to live? What are you going to do? What is the least amount you can take for your
Home.

The rules of engagement for this phase are pretty simple. Talk to your family or whoever is living with you and explain your situation; get input, get feedback then make your final decision. I said it would be simple not easy so if you have been keeping you situation a secret from someone who should know about it it's time to pay the piper.

Once you have had "THE TALK" it's time to shift focus back on stopping your foreclosure. In most cases the foreclosure process takes between 3-7 months but really depends on the laws of your state (which you should research) and the aggressiveness of you lending institution. That being said if you have spent the last month or so trying to come to an agreement with you lenders and the conversation ended with you still in the same situation, then it’s really time to get moving.

Lets me put it this way: if you make it to phase 2 from here on out you are focusing on selling your home by this time its either sell your home, or lay down and let your lender put you out, it's your choice. Since I never go without a fight I'll assume you don't either, so you need to decide what is the least amount you will take for your home. This isn't some pie in the sky number up with; it should be what you owe. That doesn't necessarily mean that this is what we are shooting for, but you need to have an exit strategy in place.

Also, you need to think about arrangements for where you are going to move, even if you never considered moving before, you should have an idea of where you can go after you aren't in your home anymore. Since Phase 2 last anywhere from 2-3 weeks now is the time to get aggressive with the saving you are going to need it, save as much as you can afford to.

Now, with that out of the way we'll move on to the next step

Organization

For those of you who read my first article on stopping foreclosure it's time to bring out your notebook. If you haven’t read my first article you can read the first phase of avoiding foreclosure on my website listed in the bio box at the end of this article.

Getting organized deals with collecting comparables because you need to find out what houses in your area are going for. This is easy to do, just jump in your car or take a walk around you neighborhood. You are looking for realtor signs and "For Sale" or
"FSBO" signs with literature about that particular home attached.

When you get back from your trip with the info you went after you are going to call local realtors in your area and ask them what homes in your area are going for. The realtor will usually have a list in the MLS that has the most recent homes sold in you area and what the selling price was.

Make sure you are comparing apples to apples here. If you have a one story three bedrooms with 1 1/2 baths make sure you find the selling prices of similar homes. FYI if the realtor that you call is any good he or she is going to ask a lot of questions. You don't have to tell them your situation but you do need to humor them a bit. And while you are at it have a little fun,” You deserve it."

After you have your comparables you are going to call your local penny saver and your local news paper. You are collecting classified advertising rates. Many times you local penny saver won’t charge you for listing instead the charge readers for the classifieds. One example of this is the Iwanna, the Iwanna is a local penny saver in my area and they don't charge one cent to
List.

Now that you have all your information, you are going to need to collect some supplies again if you read the first article I told you to save $20.00 a week for the first phase; this is why. Go to your local hardware store and buy 2-3 bundles of simple wooden ground stakes. You can find them at home Depot for about $6.00 a bundle.

Next you will go to an arts supply shop or even Wal-Mart and buy 10-20 sheets of the ugliest bright neon orange or yellow poster board you can find. These sheets should be 2'x3' or as close as you can get to it and should only cost around $2.00. If your wondering why the supplies? Well, they are for the for sale signs. (You didn't think we were going to let the bank
Take your home without a fight did you?)

The reason that you aren't buying those pre-made signs is because everyone is doing that, you want to look different and I have found that a simple homemade handwritten sign gets much better results when you’re trying to move a house fast.

Now it's time to automate because you already have enough to think about. This is another crucial step and shouldn't be avoided. You need to set up a dedicated 24hr hotline to take you incoming call all the details about the line and how to use it will be covered in Phase 3. Just know for now that you are going to need this to take messages for potential buyers when you aren't at home. You can find hotlines for less than 14 dollars all day long with a simple search on Google.

You are also going to want to have a way to display details about you home to shoppers. Since most Americans can't just stop working and many realtor won't touch this time of sale you have to be creative. A blend of a good classified ad with a FSBO website can really work wonders when it comes to collecting leads and scheduling showing times.

This opens up your options and will allow you to have more shoppers and buyers than you could reach otherwise. A service like this should only cost about $59-60 dollars for a 9 month listing. The ideal FSBO website allows shoppers to contact you via email and give you the ability to post pictures of your home on the website. This gives a shopper a better feel for the home than a classified ad would alone. Some FSBO websites actually generate an I.D. number so your buyer can pull up your listing.

Now that you have a list of the tools you need get shopping you should not have to spend more then $200.00 If you think you can't afford it, buy less ground stakes just don't skimp on the Hotline or FSBO website.

In the next article we will put it all together structuring a sale that might even make you some money.

James is the webmaster of two great resources that his readers use to help them stop foreclosure and sell their homes faster

3 Tips to Staging the Outside of Your Home Like a Pro

2011-12-25T00:40:00.001-08:00

Are you considering putting your house up for sale, but not sure where to start? Afraid it will take too long to sell, or that you won’t get the price you want? Think about “staging” your home, or in other words, setting the scene for immediate buyer interest in your property.

To be really effective, you need to look at both the outside and the inside of your home. Here are 3 tips to get you started with the outside of your home:

1. Go stand on the street to see what clients see when driving up to the house. Be aware that any negative impressions they get outside the house (landscaping not maintained or non-existent, peeling paint, etc.) is just going to make them think that the house itself has not been well taken care of. So even if you have spent the time and money to fix up the interior, it would all be wasted if the clients get a bad first impression as they drive up to the house.

2. Next, step outside your front door and close the door; then stand on the stoop and look around for 5 minutes. While the realtor fumbles for keys and tries to figure out how to open the door, the clients are standing behind and looking around. So what are they seeing? Dead plants, old Halloween decorations in the middle of January, cobwebs? Again, not a good first impression!

It’s definitely worth it to take some time and clean it up. Want to go a step further? Try a new coat of paint or some new furniture or accessories.

3. Don’t forget the backyard. While that might not be part of the potential buyers’ first impression experience, you still should make sure it’s in the best condition possible. Pull up weeds, water plants, do some sweeping (if that’s applicable in your case) and maybe even purchase new furniture or accessories (plant pots, bird houses, etc.)

And the biggest tip of all? Imagine yourself as a potential buyer looking at your property for the very first time. What impressions are you getting? Would YOU buy your house? What would you like to see changed before you put an offer on your house?

And don’t worry about spending several thousand dollars to get your house ready to sell – you’ll get it all back when your house sells. Proper staging helps you sell your house in a shorter time and at the price you want.

3 Tips to Staging the Inside of Your Home Like a Pro

2011-12-25T00:39:00.001-08:00

Are you considering putting your house up for sale, but not sure where to start? Afraid it will take too long to sell, or that you won’t get the price you want? Think about “staging” your home, or in other words, setting the scene for immediate buyer interest in your property.

To be really effective, you need to look at both the outside and the inside of your home. Here are 3 tips to get you started with the inside of your home:

1. De-clutter. This is one of the most important things you can do. It might be easier to think of de-cluttering like this – you’re moving anyway, so why not start packing now?

Pack up everything you don’t need and store the boxes out of sight in the garage (or consider temporarily renting a small storage locker).

2. Organize your closets - put similar colors together, pants together, skirts together, shirts together etc. Why? Because it will make the closets look bigger. (Really.) An organized closet appears bigger, and you want your closets to look as spacious as possible.

3. Make your home look like a model. You want to de-personalize as much as possible so potential buyers can imagine themselves and their own belongings occupying the space in your house. That means minimizing – putting away everything you don’t need or use. Clear off kitchen counters as much as possible – stash all those appliances you don’t use, and put miscellaneous small clutter in a few attractive baskets or boxes

And the biggest tip of all? Imagine yourself as a potential buyer looking at your property for the very first time. What impressions are you getting? Would YOU buy your house? What would you like to see changed before you put an offer on your house?

And don’t worry about spending several thousand dollars to get your house ready to sell – you’ll get it all back when your house sells. Proper staging helps you sell your house in a shorter time and at the price you want.

3 Pitfalls to Avoid When Playing in the Real Estate Game

2011-12-24T10:46:00.000-08:00

So you’ve seen your umpteenth infomercial with the guy in his neatly pressed button-upped white T-Shirt grinning ear to ear waving his rock-solid no-money-down rags-to-riches real estate investment course for 3 easy payments of a gazillion dollars (but only if you call now) and now you are thinking, "wow this looks like a great deal, I better get it fast before the special offer expires." You notice how there’s always a special offer? Anyway, I am not saying this guy isn’t telling the truth, however regardless of which course or school of thought you buy into there are several key areas that one must avoid when engaging in any real estate related transaction.

Pitfall Number 1: Don’t Overpay!

The whole point in investing is to find properties that are undervalued. How does one find out what is undervalued versus overvalued? Without getting into technical details, the bottom line is you need experience. Yes much like shopping for anything else, real estate is essentially one of the highest ticket items in the shopping center of life. It’s advisable to stick with one market, perhaps the one closest to you in proximity as a starting off point. Through your experience and asking the right questions, you will eventually have a feel for the pulse of the market you are looking after, and of course identify what is considered a good buy.

Pitfall Number 2: Know the Market

Yes, you are actually going to have to do more work! This part is really common sense though, but executing it where the beauty and the payoff comes in. How do you make money in real estate? The most basic way is to buy low and sell high. So from the first step, you have identified general trends in the value of homes, and are pretty good at spotting undervalued homes. Assuming you acquire that home, you may want to profit from it by selling it off to someone else for a higher price. How can you do this? Well there are many ways. For one, most markets appreciate in value over time so if you want a longer term approach that will work. Making upgrades to the property will automatically raise the price of the home as well. Think in terms of what the market wants, not what you personally want. You aren’t the one buying it; you are trying to sell it to someone else for a higher price than you bought it.

Pitfall Number 3: Know Your Budget

It may be a fine philosophy to go through life on a whim, but real estate is serious business, and thus diligent financial planning and budgeting is critical to your success. Don’t worry you don’t need to be a finance geek, however you need to be disciplined and know your budget from the onset, or you may be finding you are learning that you need to make certain renovations or upgrades, and didn’t anticipate it going over to a certain cost. Think ahead as to what is needed before actually going forth with investing in real estate.

“Try On” Your New Home Before Buying

2011-12-24T10:44:00.001-08:00

It’s commonplace to try on suits, dresses, trousers or shoes before buying them. People instinctively know they need to try on clothes to be sure they fit, feel comfortable and are attractive on them. What about a home? It’s probably the most expensive purchase you’ll ever make. Isn’t it even more important to “try on” a home before you purchase it?

What on earth do I mean? Well, it’s usual to look for a home in places that are convenient to work and schools. Most folks take the daily commute into consideration when shopping for a home. Why not take the daily, weekly, and even monthly activities of family members consciously into account, too?

Case Study

I once helped a young, single woman named Wendy to find and buy her first home. She worked for Geico, was rising very nicely in the company and wanted a home of her own and the tax break home ownership affords. She asked my advice about choosing, and we had a conversation in which I mentioned many of the sorts of things I’ve said here. We made a list of what mattered to her. Then we went shopping. We looked at a lot of houses. After we came out of each one, we had a talk about how it measured up to Wendy’s list.

One of the houses we looked at belonged to the young woman who later became my daughter-in-law. It was brick, all on one level, had a fireplace in the living room, and had patio doors from the master bedroom and dining rooms to an enormous deck with a hot tub. It was beautifully decorated in a sort of “pared down Victorian” style. There was a brass bed, some wicker, lots of healthy house plants, and a few Victorian pieces of furniture that were actually old, family pieces. Silver framed family photos were clustered on top of the piano.

After we emerged from the house, Wendy started down the two steps to the car and then froze in place. She had the oddest expression on her face. I asked what was wrong, and she began to look sheepish and confessed, “That house is so pretty and so nicely decorated, I just enjoyed looking at it and didn’t give any thought to how I’d live in it. I just wanted it.”

We went back inside. Wendy still admired what had been done with the house, but decided it wasn’t right for her.

Knowing what’s important to you can save costly mistakes. The process of “trying on” a house helps you evaluate what’s important. I think you’ll find it’s worth the effort.

“Renting Back” After Your Home Is Sold

2011-12-24T01:30:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it’s helpful to sell your home before you really want to move. This often happens when you are having a new home built, but aren’t sure of the completion date. Is there any way you can sell your home so you’re sure of the funds available for the new purchase, but continue to live in your old home until construction of the new one is complete. Yes, there is with the renting back strategy.

Enter the Lease-Back or Rent-Back Agreement

The particulars of this strategy vary from state to state, but in the strong seller’s market we’re experiencing, buyers will often agree to let the seller stay in the home for a period of time as long as rent is paid. In a competitive situation, the buyer willing to do this will often have the winning bid even though there is another offer as high as his.

The agreement covering the situation states the length of time the seller will remain. It can be done with a specific date named or wording that allows the seller to remain up to a specific date with the possibility of her moving sooner. The amount can be a fixed figure paid out of the proceeds of settlement or a monthly amount, or a daily amount. It is usually, but not always, tied to the amount of the mortgage payment under the buyer’s new loan. Sometimes there is a deposit against damage, sometimes not. There is usually a clause saying the seller will hold the buyer harmless for any damage to himself or his property which occurs after the sale is consummated and before the seller moves.

The attorney who draws up your contract offer can create such an agreement. If you’re using online forms, you should be able to find one for this situation. If you’re working with a real estate broker, he or she can handle it for you.

An Example

I’ve recently seen a very pleasant example of this idea in action. An elderly widow contracted to have a one level condo unit built in a new community which provides all exterior maintenance. She had had hip replacement surgery and wanted to get away from the drawbacks of the home in which she’d reared her children. The home was large, had stairs and was located on a large, partially wooded lot with many mature perennials and shrubs. Both the home and garden were beautiful, but high maintenance.

Her contract to purchase required a series of deposits and a firm indication as to her source of funds well before settlement on her new condo. The widow put her home on the market. A young couple with two sons was very anxious to buy it. The situation was competitive. They made the widow an offer. She countered their original offer. She did not raise their offer price, which was slightly below her asking price. She did not believe the young couple would qualify for a larger loan. Instead, she did something rather creative.

The widow countered with a proposal that she “rent back” for a period of “up to” a certain date (a date beyond her scheduled competition date on the condo) in exchange for a modest flat sum to be paid to the buyer at settlement. The total rent back period was less than two months. The flat fee was less than the amount of the new mortgage payment for the buyers. However, since they made no payment on their new mortgage the first month, it wasn’t too far out of line. The couple really wanted the home, so they accepted the counter offer.

Another win, win situation was created. The widow only had to move one time and the young couple got a house they probably wouldn’t have in a straight bidding war. If you find yourself in a situation similar to either the widow or the young couple, perhaps you can work out a similar solution.

"It's So Easy, Being Green"

2011-12-20T21:26:00.001-08:00

With oil and natural gas prices rocketing, stoking terror of long, cold and and expensive winters, a renewed interest in keeping heating costs under control has has been sparked. Homeowner's have an ignited passion in understanding energy saving methods. If you're in this boat, stuck in cold waters, here are some tips for energy saving tricks of the trade.

If you're living in a home with a furnace that's more than 20 years old, you may have already attempted the "buy a sweater" method of keeping warm. This is certainly one approach, but these days upgrading your home's conditioning system is a much better option, and will bode well for you in the here and now, and in the long term, should you decide sell your home. More and more, homebuyers are looking for homes with energy efficient systems already in place. So, think of these upgrades as a long term investment in the resale value of your home, as well a cost efficient and green alternative to your current conditioning system.

Now, with that old choker of a furnace huffin' and puffin' away, guaranteed it's not as efficient as it could be, no matter what fuel type it uses. The newer gas furnaces are mid-efficiency (78-82%) or high efficiency (89-96%). Although the higher efficiency products can cost up to $1000 more than the mid-efficiency products, extra costs will be re-couped in a couple years, as they will burn less fuel. And, you'll be the greenest frog on the block, sending less harmful emissions out into the atmosphere. "It's so easy being green", murmured Kermit, once he upgraded his furnace.

With oil furnaces, there are again, much more efficient products on the market as of late. But, a oil furnace does need to partner with a good chimney, and so this may be an additional cost to keep in mind

Take note, it's still the case that electric heat is more expensive than oil and gas, although a smart combination of central woodstove heat, supplemented by electric heat can be cost efficient.

Let it Flow: Change Your Filters!

Whether disposable or washable, all forced-air heating/cooling systems use filters. And, these filters need to be maintained and changed. Some filters require monthly changes while other last up to three months, and much depends on the conditions within your home. A dirty filter will restrict air flow and with clogged filters you're blocking heat that would otherwise be keeping you toasty warm. Do yourself a favor and keep on top of the regular changing of your heat filters. This is a pretty easy way to boost your energy efficiency and cut costs.

Pump it up: Install a Heat Pump

Air source heat pumps are the most common and they are generally used with a back-up heating system. In terms of function a heat pump works by extracting heat from the outside and bringing it in, (in heat mode), and by removing heat from the inside of the house and releasing it outside. ( in cooling mode).

The king of heat pumps, though, are ground and watersource, or geothermal. And while the initial investment may be great, the saving will be substantial in the long run. These pumps will use 25-50% less energy than conventional conditioning systems.

At the end of the day, another simple method to help with soaring heat bills, is to keep an eye on the set temperature levels in your house, What is normally described as room temperature is around 68 Fahrenheit (20 degrees celsius). Of course, only you can decide where to set the dial. But, if you'd rather avoid the " put on a sweater" method of winter energy conservation, you might consider investing in an improved conditioning system that'll bring you warmth today, and will be a smart investment in the re-sale value of your home.

Relocation Colorado Springs

2011-12-19T22:37:00.001-08:00

Colorado Springs is a great place to live. You can find a good bit about history, and a wonderful new home, just as you have always dreamed. Find a realtor in Colorado Springs and start looking for your new home now.

When it comes to finding a good realtor agent in Colorado Springs, you will might want to look at several areas like the Internet research engines, internet newspaper, and from any friends or family that you might know in the area. As for the area, you should first know a little bit about the history of the area and get a local introduction. You can find many links to quality agents and real estate right here on these pages.

About the history of Colorado Springs: Colorado Springs was founded in 1871 and is the second-largest city in Colorado. It has changed over the years from a Victorian spa resort to a major city. Colorado Springs has the city life, but still with the small town charm. It has over fifty attractions and many regions. As for the atmosphere that you can find in this region, Colorado Springs is mostly a vacation hot spot. In fact, Colorado Springs draws in more than six million visitors per year and that is a lot of people, but it is also a region that provides many jobs at the same time. One of the regions of Colorado Springs is Pikes Peak. Pikes Peak is known as the “gateway” to all the outdoor adventures of Colorado. It is located about eighty miles south of Denver’s airport and is less than two hours away from the most popular slopes located in Colorado and six miles from downtown Colorado Springs. There are many things to do, all the time in Colorado Springs.

Peaks Peak is one of the number one tourist attractions because there is so much to do. The peak is open all yeah round and 7am-7pm from Memorial Day to Labor day. You will only need reservations for the Cog Railway and the cost practically costs you nothing. To hike the mountain, can take all day. There are so many more things that a person can do at the mountain that is great for all ages. Pikes Peak is the most visited mountain in the world, doesn’t it sound so great to be part of Colorado Springs? The views located at the Summit House shows off the best scenery in Colorado Springs and you will find it all quite exciting. The Summit House is the only restaurant located near Pikes Peak and serves thousands of people each day, if you are near this location you should stop by and take a look for yourself, you will never tire of it.

Many of the realtor agents in the Colorado Springs area have been in business for decades, so you know homes are bought and sold all the time, no matter what type of home you may be dreaming about, you can find it here. The agents in this area care more about introducing others to Colorado and will usually give tips about all the things that is offered in the area. You will also find that the whole town gives off this friendly and homey atmosphere. You can depend on a real estate agent to help you find that dream home.

In fact, many people do decide to move to Colorado Springs because of the atmosphere and simplicity and also because of the beautiful scenery. Colorado Springs is one of the most known areas of Colorado and when people visit the area, many decide to stay. How wouldn’t want to stay considering that Colorado Springs has so much to offer everything rather they are old or young. There are schools, museums, and so much to do, that the entire family will enjoy living in this area.

When Realtor agents in Colorado Springs realize that you are relocating to the area, they will most likely go all out to show you a good time. You will usually be given a map of all the streets, highways, schools, shopping areas, and major landmarks from your realtor and then they will most likely show you the high points of the city. Many will give their customer’s tips on where to get the best food or services. Who knows, maybe once you settle in your new home, you will bring other to the Colorado Springs area, if you want to sell homes as well!

Because there is so much opportunity in the area, eventually a person may want to invest in the city. Colorado Springs is a great investment, rather it be buying a house or running your own business. Many businesses in the area end up making great profits because of the activities that draws in tourist. There is no real off-season when you live in Colorado Springs. When a person checks out the region with their realtor, there is much evidence to the fact that it is a great place to relocate and offers so many opportunities to the average American entrepreneur. With the high amount of traffic and people through out the region, many types of new industry and businesses find it easy to establish and build a business.

When it comes to realtor agents in Colorado Springs, you will want to first figure out what area it is that you want to relocate to and then you can find a realtor quickly. You may want to look in several surrounding areas of Colorado Springs that are just as nice and class as the Springs and yet be close to your job in the city. If you are working out of town, you will find the highways are very accessible and will cut time off your commute.

You can purchase a home that is located exactly where you want because the construction business in the area is continuously growing, but most don’t stay on the market long. That’s why you should make an offer on a home as soon as you find something that you like, so you don’t miss out on something you really want to own. The Colorado Springs area is a good investment because travelers come to Colorado Springs all the time and want to relocate in the area once they have seen just how beautiful the area really is. In fact, don’t be surprised if someday a person rings the doorbell giving you an offer, but that type of thing doesn’t really happen every day, but you know what we mean!

Houses in this area are so hot that everyone wants to live in Colorado Springs. The property may seem a bit expensive, but considering that it could eventually be double or three times worth what you paid, it’s a good investment. Real estate in the Colorado Springs is practically a goldmine, since people travel thousands of miles each year just to go to the slopes or visit the Summit House, located on top of the world’s most visited mountain. Colorado Springs is definitely a place you would want to invest your money in because it is forever changing and expanding. The value of the real estate in this area is only going to climb, as the scenery and the atmosphere is something that a lot of people from around the US are seeking, getting out of the big cities, to smaller, seemingly more rural like areas.

When it comes to the real estate salespeople in the Colorado Springs area, clients find that they are very down to earth and eager to educate their clients on the history of Colorado Springs as well as the area’s diverse offerings. For a family that has different ideas or pictures of the most perfect place to live, Colorado Springs has it all. Just by simply asking your agent about the area, you will become overwhelmed with fun facts and interesting historical stories. It is a nice place for families as well as an enjoyable place for those who are single. You know an area is a great place to live when people travel the entire world just to spend a day there. Colorado Springs is a very safe and dependable place to relocate.

Philippine Property Agent says the Brits are coming!

2011-12-19T22:36:00.001-08:00

Beth Collingz, Overseas Sales Director, PLC International Marketing Networks, whom are the lead marketing partners for the Lancaster Brand of Condotels in the Philippines, said the number of people buying abroad rises by as much as 30 per cent in the autumn months.

We have this trend of seasonal activity in the overseas property market over the last few years especially from UK market. Statistics from UK Estate Agents showed that from 2004 and 2006 the number of British people who owned a second home abroad soared from 550,000 to 800,000. With a further 5.5 million Brits estimated to be wanting to live abroad, UK buyers are increasingly being tempted by the different cultures, lifestyles and often improved standard of living that other countries, including the Philippines, can offer said Collingz

Collingz said historical sales figures show that the number of people buying property in the Philippines has a significant peak in the early autumn as many people use their summer holidays to hunt for their ideal second home. Interest in buying abroad can quickly strengthen after a few weeks back in Europe as the days shorten and the weather takes a turn for the worse. PLC has been anticipating the arrival of the British overseas property buyer in the Philippines and sees the UK market, rather than the US, as the place to sell their Condotel units over the next 6 months. Our PLC Global property portal has already seen increased traffic for September from UK buyers and estate agents who want to buy or market our Lancaster Brand of Condo Hotel suites to a UK audience.

UK Tax Payers are also taking advantage of tax incentives and Investing their Self-Invested Pension Plan [SIPP] In Philippine Condotel Investment Real Estate for Rental Income and Retirement. Collingz explained that the Self Invested Pension Plan [SIPP] is a personal pension plan but with one very significant difference: administration is separate from investment content, giving the plan holder freedom to choose for himself and change the investments within it. The long-awaited rules on what savers can include in their personal pension plans were unveiled in April 2006 by HM Revenue & Customs. The Guidance Notes confirm that the Self Invested Pension Plan [SIPP] allows holders to invest in hotels such as the Lancaster Brand of Condo Hotels in the Philippines. The only stipulation is that SIPP holders may not stay in their rooms. With more nights available for paying guests, this not surprisingly increases the room owners' returns. It is estimated there are now more than 70,000 plans holding over £14bn.

A year or so ago, few people in the UK realized that they could manage their Pension Plan portfolios themselves, and even fewer knew that they could invest their SIPP retirement money in homes in the sun which now prove to be among the most popular potential investments to include in a SIPP

If you’re considering using your SIPP to invest in real estate, there are some excellent reasons that you should choose Philippine Condotel Investment real estate to drive your retirement portfolio into high profit margins. The Philippines is ideal for this type of investment because a SIPP can establish title to a property in a country whose legal framework recognizes trusts and a SIPP is simply another form of trust.

Investing in foreign real estate is neither as risky nor as tricky as a lot of people would have you believe. While land and housing prices in the U.K. have soared astronomically in the past decade, the world real estate market is a far different story. It’s still possible to buy a preconstruction Condotel suite at Lancaster The Atrium located in Metro Manila, Philippines, for less than GBP £25,000.00

Lancaster - The Atrium is a "Full Service" Condominium Hotel offering Studio, One, Two and Three Bedroom Suites for sale. To be completed and ready for turnover from December 2010, and will provide unit owners with premier residential condo units with the option of enrolling their units in the Lancaster Condotel Rental Pool and earn Rental Incomes [at current purchase levels] of some 8-14% ROI per annum as Owner Non-Residents when not using their units through Condotel Management. This makes Lancaster Suites one of the Hottest Investment Opportunities in the Philippines.

The beauty of holding property in the Philippines is the low cost of property taxes and maintenance. A GBP £25,000 Condotel suite may set you back GBP £100 in property taxes per year, and maintenance costs are similarly low. When you add in the tax-protected status of investments made in your IRA, and the 12-16% returns through rental income through the Condotel advantage, you have an incredible ROI on a purchase of Philippine Condotel investment real estate enthused Collingz.

What’s the downside about owning Philippine Condotel Investment real estate as an SIPP investment? You cannot reside at your investment property as long as the SIPP is titled as the owner of the property. The self directed pension plan rules about benefiting personally from your investments are strict - you are not allowed to make use of any property owned by your SIPP, or you risk losing its tax-protected status and worse yet you could face penalties from HM Customs & Excise. You can, however, rent out your SIPP investment for steady income - putting the profits and cash flow into your SIPP, or sell your Philippine Real Estate Investment for immediate profit, as long as those profits remain inside the SIPP.

If you’re looking for an unusual and high earning investment for your SIPP, then take a serious look at owning Philippine Condotel investment real estate. It can help kick your SIPP earnings into high gear. With an impending slowdown of the UK. housing market and failing pension plans, many investors are turning to using their SIPP’s to invest in overseas properties and earn tax-free or tax-deferred income. This creates an outstanding opportunity for by offering self-directed pension plan vehicle to invest in the Lancaster Suites Atrium Tower preconstruction units.

With preconstruction property appreciating at some 20-30% per annum not only does the Real Estate Appreciation look good but the rental income is in excess of what many Pension Plans offer for the same or similar investment.

Beth Collingz says that many new investors are looking to replace failed pension plans and other future saving schemes with a solid investment in Real Estate. Clients are looking for investments that will give them an income for retirement as an alternative to traditional private pension plans that have failed. Most company pension plans are insufficient as are Government Pensions. Bank rates for Savings accounts are at record lows. Savvy investors are now looking for a more solid investment with potential for monthly income. Condotels in the Philippines fit the bill.

This potential, high rates of rental returns from Condotel Investments, currently from 8% up to 14% per annum, opens up a huge market not traditionally looked at by Real Estate Agents and Brokers whom all so often run around looking for normal residential profile buyers without looking at the by far bigger picture of investments, investing and retirement. "We’re here to help our clients, educating our clients and advising them of emerging investment opportunities. Self-Invested Pension Plans and the Lancaster Suites Atrium Condotels, fit this bill exactly; adds Collingz.

Search Engine Marketing for Real Estate

2011-12-18T17:32:00.002-08:00

Last week we demystified Internet marketing and gave a brief overview of its main components – search engine marketing, search engine optimization, and affiliate marketing. This week we're going to look at ways that real estate marketing with a special focus on search engine marketing (SEM) can benefit you – for the real estate professional.

Real estate agents and brokers have been sometimes been unfairly painted as being indifferent to new technologies and business methodologies such as SEM. While it's true that much of your business relies on personal connections and face-to-face communication, real estate agents — like all business savvy professionals know that personal connections only get you so far. And in today's increasingly competitive market, you need to go very far. SEM can help you expand your reach by promoting your business and expanding your sales pipeline across the Internet.

Using search engines has become one of the most popular activities on the Internet, second only to email. But with millions of websites and billions of web pages, potential homebuyers need a tool that can sift through this clutter to find the realtor websites relevant to their search. Thanks mostly to the techniques pioneered by Google, search engines have become remarkably effective at providing results that are highly relevant to the term or phrase the user searches on. But to be relevant, you have to be found.

The importance of being found

You may have great inventory, a fantastic local clientele, and a snazzy new website, but if your business website doesn't show up on the first two pages of Google (or Yahoo, MSN, or Ask Jeeves), you're not getting the exposure you need to remain competitive. Studies have proven what most Internet users know already – people generally do not look past the first two pages of search results. And with over 71% of homebuyers initiating their home search on the Internet (according to the National Association of Realtors), you can't afford to miss out on all of those active buyers.

As we mentioned last week, SEM is a comprehensive marketing strategy that includes search engine optimization (SEO) and sponsored listings. Purchasing sponsored listings is a surefire way to get your website to the top of the results page quickly – without waiting for the results of a comprehensive SEO campaign. Identifying right keywords is crucial for the success of SEO / SEM campaigns (e.g., http://www.homeseekers.com targets Homes for Sale and http://www.thesanguineteam.com/ targets Fort Myers Beach Florida Real Estate as their main keywords. We will dedicate a full newsletter to SEO (and how to rank for the above mentioned keywords) next week, so keep your eyes peeled for that.

But using the major search engines is just a part of an effective SEM strategy. A lead tracking system lets you make more money off of your website with far less work, and an email marketing campaign keeps your prospects and clients up-to-date while positively setting you apart from your competition.

Sponsored (paid) listings

Sponsored, or paid listings are a great way to get fast visibility on the major search engines. Also called pay-per-click, (PPC) sponsored listings are those that show up at the top of search engines such as Google in a blue box or in a column along the right side of the page. These results are clearly labeled "Sponsored listings." The more popular the keyword, the more paid listings come up.

Google AdWords is by far the most popular sponsored listings program, mainly because the Google network is used by 80% of all Internet users. The AdWord program allows you to create your own ads based upon the keywords most relevant to your business. You can also choose to have Google write the ad for you for an extra fee. And not only do you can choose for your ads to show up on the Google results page, they will also show up on sites in the Google Network, such as AOL, EarthLink, Blogger, and HowStuffWorks. When someone clicks on your ad, you pay Google a pre-determined fee.

Here's how AdWords and other programs like it work:

1.You determine what keywords are most relevant to your business (eg, "Brentwood real estate" "Full service mortgage brokerage" "Buy and Hold properties").
2.Decide how much you can spend on the campaign. Once your budget is used up, the campaign will end, or you will increase your budget.
3.Your ads start running within minutes after you submit your billing information. You can easily keep track of your ad performance online to see how certain words are performing against others.

While sponsored listings are the best way to get high rankings quickly, they are no substitute for a thorough SEO campaign. Again, we'll be going into more detail about SEO in next week's FAN.

Lead tracking

While most real estate agents have a website, not all are making money off of them. Sponsored listings and SEO can help attract leads, but to truly get the most out of SEM, you will want to develop a lead tracking system to target the customers and prospects most likely to be interested in your services.

Lead tracking can help your real estate business become stronger by attracting quality leads. Lead tracking brings both short- and long-term benefits to your company – giving you instant access to information about each sales prospect while also helping to streamline and manage the sales process. Lead tracking will help you gain a critical edge on the competition by:

1.Providing better service to prospects and existing customers
2.Improving time management
3.Providing valuable marketing information that improves strategic planning

Lead tracking not only helps you attract more customers, it also tracks your return on investment, so you know exactly how much each lead is worth, how many leads convert into transactions, and your overall return on investment in your advertising dollars.

Fidelity Assets offers a lead tracking solution tailored to the specific needs of those in the real estate business. All leads that are generated from that campaign become your exclusive leads. We do not sell them to anyone else. All leads come directly to you from people who are searching for homes right now to buy and/or sell on the Internet in the areas where you serve.

Condotels Meet Investors’ Business and Leisure Objectives

2011-12-18T02:15:00.000-08:00

What could be better than owning a vacation home and earning rentals when you aren’t using it? Until recently, John Thomas with his Filipina wife from London, UK, owned a traditional vacation home, in Metro Manila, Philippines. But after a year away from the country — they arrived during the summer holidays to find the tenants that were renting the property had run away leaving the property abandoned and his caretaker, whom was no longer to be found, had pocketed the rent — he sold the house and bought two condo hotel units instead.

Now, Mr. Thomas and his family own Condotel Suites in Manila and Cebu, and expect to earn money when the rooms they own are rented out to other guests. Mr. Thomas, his wife April and their seven year-old daughter are planning to spend their 2007 Summer Vacation in their unit at the Lancaster Suites in Manila, Philippines, a 450-unit Condo Hotel built and managed by Pacific Concord Properties Inc under the Lancaster brand of Hotels.

Mr. Thomas says. “If Lancaster rents out the unit during 11 months of the year, I’ll make enough money to take my family on a second trip to the Philippines during the Christmas Holidays and go a long way to covering the mortgage payments”

Expectations like Thomas’s are driving the market for Condotels — condominiums you buy that can be rented out as hotel space — to new heights in the Philippines.

Owners of Lancaster Condotel units can arrange to stay in their units and they share 60% of any rental income. The Lancaster Atrium together with the soon completed Lancaster Suites Manila, one of the hottest real estate investments in the Philippines, will be the hub for Lancaster Condotels. The 42-story Lancaster Suites Manila, scheduled for operations next year, will feature studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom Condotel units, as well as penthouse suites. The units will be available for daily, weekly or monthly rental, Collingz said.

“Lancaster Atrium is going to have a property manager and will be operated as a four-star hotel.” The Condotel development will include the Lancaster mini mall with grocery and convenience stores, retail center, restaurants, business center, a private exclusive members only Businessman’s Club and spa on the site, she said. Prices range around 150 per square foot on up to 250 a square foot. Construction already commenced on the Atrium project, excavations, foundations, sub basements, 5-levels of basement parking and the lower ground floors are already in place. Construction of the superstructure will commence next year for completion from December 2009. Lancaster – The Atrium is also located in Shaw Boulevard, Metro Manila, Philippines, adjacent to the nearly complete Lancaster Suites.

Several new Condotel projects also are in the works on the other side of the country. Collingz said that a major condo hotel project is being considered by the Company with several investors in Cebu, Philippines next year. “We’ve got so many clients requesting for Luxury Condotel Suites in Cebu and other areas in the country,” she said. “It’s like a whole new era of Overseas Investments that are coming up — it’s not something that we’ve typically seen in the past. (These Investors) are all characteristically looking for a five star hotel resort, with all the features of a hotel that can be used for vacations and then rent out the units when not in use”.

There are new and exciting luxury five-star properties or high end developments planned in Cebu Philippines next year that will be sold by invitation only and may start in the 150,000 to 200,000 dollar range, but can go all the way up to 600,000 dollars for 2 bedroom Penthouse suites and 800,000 dollars for a Grand Penthouse. Of course, International gateways from Europe, South East Asian and the United States to Cebu-Mactan International Airport is within 10 minutes and, all units have sea views, beach toys and other lifestyle amenities such as spa and fine dining restaurants and will come fully furnished and finished to the highest European or US standards with fully fitted kitchens, fitted bedroom suites and every unit will be sold including all appliances, split type central unit air-conditioning, plasma TVs’ and state of the art condotel management systems. Units will be significantly larger in size than a typical hotel room yet still a much better value for money investment option than paying 800,000 dollars for a studio suite in maybe Dubai or Panama or a cool million dollars for a condo in Chicago.

The planned high end Lancaster Mactan Resort condotels will be near the new Cebu Convention Center and Cebu International Airport which is key, to good year-round occupancy numbers, she said. The square footage can range from 700 square feet to 1,800 square feet for one and two bedroom suites or more than 3,000 square feet split level penthouse suite. “Why can’t we build, and sell, a - Trump Quality Condotel - in the Philippines and get the same buyers that flock to invest in his lifestyle developments” enthuses Collingz.

A financing solution

Condotels started in the Philippines as well as in the US and Europe in the mid 1980s, but did not become popular until after the Asian Crisis of 1997 made it difficult for hotel developers to obtain conventional financing for new projects. They turned to the condotel concept, pre-selling rooms to individual investors, to raise equity.

In theory, the Condo Hotel meets two objectives — that of the developer to get a project built and that of the buyer whom, like Mr. Thomas, wants a hassle-free place to vacation and the chance to make a little money on the side. Baby boomers are becoming active vacation homebuyers, says Collingz. “If you buy a condo in Manila,” she says, “you’re not likely to use it more than 30 days a year. If you want to rent it out, you’ll have to hire a management company and take your chances.

The attraction of a Lancaster Condo Hotel suite is that you can own a unit in a hotel, enjoy first-class amenities and standards of maintenance, then let the hotel company arrange all rentals for a 40% share of the revenues”

Deciding whether Condo Hotel Suites meet your objectives is not so complicated. Condotels are a little more expensive, costing 10% to 20% more than traditional residential condominiums in most markets because of the nature of the income earning investment potential and generally more amenities and facilities than would be found in most residential condo buildings. Monthly maintenance costs, to pay your share of the hotel’s upkeep, run about $50/month for your 300-square-foot studio unit which is much the same as a typical residential condo. The “Win-Win” clincher is the 12-16% ROI expected through rental returns that residential condominiums will never yield because of the Condotel Rental Pool concept of the development.

Buying a Condotel unit makes you an investor in the hotel industry. Collingz says the Philippine hotel industry is currently hot. Shangri-La, Four Seasons, Marriott and other resort and hotel developers are in build with several new hotels in the country. “We have more heads than beds and the industry should remain healthy for many years to come because we don’t have a lot of new Hotel Condominium projects coming into the market.”
Mr. Thomas says he purchased the least expensive condotel units available in the Philippines. Spending less than $45,000 for his Lancaster Suites Manila studio unit and about $85,000 last November for a one bedroom unit, expected rental revenues from his Lancaster units will more than cover his new 15 year mortgage payments currently being offered by Banco de Oro for the soon to be completed development.

Beth Collingz

Director - PLC International Marketing Networks

3 of the top 9 reasons that the real estate bubble is bursting

2011-12-16T07:00:00.000-08:00

If you own real estate or are thinking of buying real estate then you better pay attention, because this could be the most important message you receive this year regarding real estate and your financial future.

The last five years have seen explosive growth in the real estate market and as a result many people believe that real estate is the safest investment you can make. Well, that is no longer true. Rapidly increasing real estate prices have caused the real estate market to be at price levels never before seen in history when adjusted for inflation! The growing number of people concerned about the real estate bubble means there are less available real estate buyers. Fewer buyers mean that prices are coming down.

On May 4, 2006, Federal Reserve Board Governor Susan Blies stated that "Housing has really sort of peaked". This follows on the heels of the new Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke saying that he was concerned that the "softening" of the real estate market would hurt the economy. And former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan previously described the real estate market as frothy. All of these top financial experts agree that there is already a viable downturn in the market, so clearly there is a need to know the reasons behind this change.

3 of the top 9 reasons that the real estate bubble will burst include:
1. Interest rates are rising - foreclosures are up 72%!
2. First time homebuyers are priced out of the market - the real estate market is a pyramid and the base is crumbling
3. The psychology of the market has changed so that now people are afraid of the bubble bursting - the mania over real estate is over!

The first reason that the real estate bubble is bursting is rising interest rates. Under Alan Greenspan, interest rates were at historic lows from June 2003 to June 2004. These low interest rates allowed people to buy homes that were more expensive then what they could normally afford but at the same monthly cost, essentially creating "free money". However, the time of low interest rates has ended as interest rates have been rising and will continue to rise further. Interest rates must rise to combat inflation, partly due to high gasoline and food costs. Higher interest rates make owning a home more expensive, thus driving existing home values down.

Higher interest rates are also affecting people who bought adjustable mortgages (ARMs). Adjustable mortgages have very low interest rates and low monthly payments for the first two to three years but afterwards the low interest rate disappears and the monthly mortgage payment jumps dramatically. As a result of adjustable mortgage rate resets, home foreclosures for the 1st quarter of 2006 are up 72% over the 1st quarter of 2005.

The foreclosure situation will only worsen as interest rates continue to rise and more adjustable mortgage payments are adjusted to a higher interest rate and higher mortgage payment. Moody's stated that 25% of all outstanding mortgages are coming up for interest rate resets during 2006 and 2007. That is $2 trillion of U.S. mortgage debt! When the payments increase, it will be quite a hit to the pocketbook. A study done by one of the country's largest title insurers concluded that 1.4 million households will face a payment jump of 50% or more once the introductory payment period is over.

The second reason that the real estate bubble is bursting is that new homebuyers are no longer able to buy homes due to high prices and higher interest rates. The real estate market is basically a pyramid scheme and as long as the number of buyers is growing everything is fine. As homes are bought by first time home buyers at the bottom of the pyramid, the new money for that $100,000.00 home goes all the way up the pyramid to the seller and buyer of a $1,000,000.00 home as people sell one home and buy a more expensive home. This double-edged sword of high real estate prices and higher interest rates has priced many new buyers out of the market, and now we are starting to feel the effects on the overall real estate market. Sales are slowing and inventories of homes available for sale are rising quickly. The latest report on the housing market showed new home sales fell 10.5% for February 2006. This is the largest one-month drop in nine years.

The third reason that the real estate bubble is bursting is that the psychology of the real estate market has changed. For the last five years the real estate market has risen dramatically and if you bought real estate you more than likely made money. This positive return for so many investors fueled the market higher as more people saw this and decided to also invest in real estate before they 'missed out'.

The psychology of any bubble market, whether we are talking about the stock market or the real estate market is known as 'herd mentality', where everyone follows the herd. This herd mentality is at the heart of any bubble and it has happened numerous times in the past including during the US stock market bubble of the late 1990's, the Japanese real estate bubble of the 1980's, and even as far back as the US railroad bubble of the 1870's. The herd mentality had completely taken over the real estate market until recently.

The bubble continues to rise as long as there is a "greater fool" to buy at a higher price. As there are less and less "greater fools" available or willing to buy homes, the mania disappears. When the hysteria passes, the excessive inventory that was built during the boom time causes prices to plummet. This is true for all three of the historical bubbles mentioned above and many other historical examples. Also of importance to note is that when all three of these historical bubbles burst the US was thrown into recession.

With the changing in mindset related to the real estate market, investors and speculators are getting scared that they will be left holding real estate that will lose money. As a result, not only are they buying less real estate, but they are simultaneously selling their investment properties as well. This is producing huge numbers of homes available for sale on the market at the same time that record new home construction floods the market. These two increasing supply forces, the increasing supply of existing homes for sale coupled with the increasing supply of new homes for sale will further exacerbate the problem and drive all real estate values down.

A recent survey showed that 7 out of 10 people think the real estate bubble will burst before April 2007. This change in the market psychology from 'must own real estate at any cost' to a healthy concern that real estate is overpriced is causing the end of the real estate market boom.

The aftershock of the bubble bursting will be enormous and it will affect the global economy tremendously. Billionaire investor George Soros has said that in 2007 the US will be in recession and I agree with him. I think we will be in a recession because as the real estate bubble bursts, jobs will be lost, Americans will no longer be able to cash out money from their homes, and the entire economy will slow down dramatically thus leading to recession.

In conclusion, the three reasons the real estate bubble is bursting are higher interest rates; first-time buyers being priced out of the market; and the psychology about the real estate market is changing. The recently published eBook "How To Prosper In The Changing Real Estate Market. Protect Yourself From The Bubble Now!" discusses these items in more detail. For more information visit <a html>www.MyRealEstateBubble.com

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