There are houses that you might be overlooking because they are priced significantly out of your range. However, don't discount these properties immediately. With the help of your Realtor®, you might be able to find an overpriced home and make an offer that will be accepted.
Why do sellers overprice homes? Well, it starts out with wanting the most bang for their equity. It's nicer to believe that one's home can sell for $450,000 instead of $350,000. Also, many sellers are ignorant of what makes homes sell for lower or higher. Maybe the house down the street sold for $50,000 more than what one's house is worth, but maybe it has an extra bedroom, remodeled kitchen or finished basement that bumps up the price.
Another reason is unscrupulous behavior on the part of the agent. If the agent can hang a sign outside a property, they are getting extra exposure. They might pull in more deals through people who call about the original house but end up getting shown another. Or, the agent might think that they can get the seller to drop the price to something more reasonable as the weeks go by. (This is an excellent time to note that one should go with the agent who has the knowledge and the honesty to tell you what your house is worth, not the agent who quotes you the highest selling price!)
Back to the overpriced home. Look above your upper price range and see if there are any properties that fit the definition of "overpriced, not-going-anywhere". If your Realtor knows the neighborhood, they should have a good idea of what homes should go for and whether it's worth putting in a lowball offer. Ask about the DOM (days on market) for the area and see which homes exceed this timeline. If you find a property that appeals to you, it's time to look at an offer.
The seller has to be ready to sell if they are going to accept an offer significantly lower than their listing price. There are sellers who, for whatever reason, put their house up for sale but aren't really ready to sell. They are not about to accept the fact that their house just isn't worth what they think it should be. Don't waste your time trying to convince this seller; they will either sell or they won't and, right now, it's on the 'won't' side.
Some sellers get offended by lowball offers. This is not your problem, but there are some things you can do to smooth the way for your offer and avoid rubbing a seller the wrong way. You can tell your agent to go in person to lay the first offer on the table. Information about the recent sales of comparable homes may also help the sellers see that your offer is not an insult but rather a reasonable figure. Be willing to negotiate with people who are open to lowering the price. Sometimes it takes a fair amount of communication to achieve a great end result.
With a little time spent with your Realtor, searching and evaluating homes, you might luck out on an overpriced one. It doesn't hurt to at least see if the sellers are open to negotiation.
For the tools and information needed to succeed in the Saint Paul real estate market, look no further. Saint-Paul-Real-Estate.com offers valuable information on St.Paul neighborhoods and surrounding communities including North End St Paul real estate.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_Barker
Friday, October 10, 2008
Rent Or Sell?
It was a question that once never entered our consciousness - if we wanted to move, of course we would sell up! Now suddenly there are too many variables involved and many of us are asking the question: shall we sell now or shall we rent our house.
Well, one thing is for sure, if you want to buy in a new location, then it is best to - at least - try and sell in the old location so that you can get settled in the new one.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly five and a half thousand Americans are moving every day. Wow! Surely some of them will be moving into your area?
Apart from finding it easier to settle into the new area, another reason to list your home if you are planning to move is this: the area that you will be buying in is experiencing the same housing difficulties as you; therefore so as long as you are selling AND buying you have lost nothing.
This is because selling in a buyer's market means that you may have to settle for a lower price than you hoped for, but buying in the same buyer's market means that you too will be able to negotiate a lower price for your new home.
There are drawbacks to renting your home, although many landlords will not experience them, it is just a question of luck. Luck and careful reference checking! As a renter you are fully aware that you are buying your landlord's home for him/her; the renter has less to lose than you. Another point is that renters do not get tax breaks but home owners do.
One of the biggest single reasons for staying or being a home owner is the tax credit system. Over the years, tax relief will more than balance any loss of equity that you may feel you are taking.
The United States government actually subsidizes you to enable you to pursue the American dream and buy your own home. There are many different types of tax relief that we, as Americans, benefit from.
Both from local taxes and federal taxes there is a choice of tax credits and/or exemption due to mortgage interest payments, homestead exemption, property tax help, private mortgage insurance, capital gains exemption, and points paid on loans.
Many of us save thousands of dollars every year as we levy tax relief against our mortgages, but we forget to add these savings into the formula when we are summing up the advantages or disadvantages of buying a house.
In this 'instant gratification' age, it is almost impossible to believe there will be advantages to home owning in thirty years time when we are older. What are the advantages?
In time, the house will be paid for so there will finally be no mortgage payments and the home may render some equity money via a reverse mortgage for emergency spending money.
However, renters get no emergency spending money and they can never stop paying rent. Unless of course they get notice to leave their home, and as a homeowner, remember, this can never happen to you.
Yes, home ownership may not be the perfect answer, but it beats busking!
PorchLight Real Estate Group combines local market knowledge with cutting edge marketing skills. For more information on Denver CO real estate or to do a search for Arvada real estate, visit us online at PorchLightGroup.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carol_P_Freyer
Well, one thing is for sure, if you want to buy in a new location, then it is best to - at least - try and sell in the old location so that you can get settled in the new one.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly five and a half thousand Americans are moving every day. Wow! Surely some of them will be moving into your area?
Apart from finding it easier to settle into the new area, another reason to list your home if you are planning to move is this: the area that you will be buying in is experiencing the same housing difficulties as you; therefore so as long as you are selling AND buying you have lost nothing.
This is because selling in a buyer's market means that you may have to settle for a lower price than you hoped for, but buying in the same buyer's market means that you too will be able to negotiate a lower price for your new home.
There are drawbacks to renting your home, although many landlords will not experience them, it is just a question of luck. Luck and careful reference checking! As a renter you are fully aware that you are buying your landlord's home for him/her; the renter has less to lose than you. Another point is that renters do not get tax breaks but home owners do.
One of the biggest single reasons for staying or being a home owner is the tax credit system. Over the years, tax relief will more than balance any loss of equity that you may feel you are taking.
The United States government actually subsidizes you to enable you to pursue the American dream and buy your own home. There are many different types of tax relief that we, as Americans, benefit from.
Both from local taxes and federal taxes there is a choice of tax credits and/or exemption due to mortgage interest payments, homestead exemption, property tax help, private mortgage insurance, capital gains exemption, and points paid on loans.
Many of us save thousands of dollars every year as we levy tax relief against our mortgages, but we forget to add these savings into the formula when we are summing up the advantages or disadvantages of buying a house.
In this 'instant gratification' age, it is almost impossible to believe there will be advantages to home owning in thirty years time when we are older. What are the advantages?
In time, the house will be paid for so there will finally be no mortgage payments and the home may render some equity money via a reverse mortgage for emergency spending money.
However, renters get no emergency spending money and they can never stop paying rent. Unless of course they get notice to leave their home, and as a homeowner, remember, this can never happen to you.
Yes, home ownership may not be the perfect answer, but it beats busking!
PorchLight Real Estate Group combines local market knowledge with cutting edge marketing skills. For more information on Denver CO real estate or to do a search for Arvada real estate, visit us online at PorchLightGroup.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carol_P_Freyer
Marble Supply and Construction Providers
Marbles are an important component in real estate construction. Every construction work is imperfect without inclusion of marbles in some most desired portions of buildings. Marble tiles, granite slabs, and other marble components play a very important role in initial decoration of every home, office, residential or commercial property. To get the maximum possible attractive look and feel, one needs to fully utilize the beauty of marbles and other natural stones.
For getting right marble for your construction purposes you need to consult an experienced marble supplier. Not every marble supplier is as experienced as you need. Therefore, before making decision of selecting your marble supplier, take a look at the marble products collection at their store. That will provide you with a fair idea of their reach and expertise in marble product supplies.
Marble suppliers are generally in contact with several marble manufacturers or some of them are marble manufacturer themselves. It's better if you chose a marble manufacturer cum supplier for your all marble needs for construction purposes. It will keep you less worried for timely delivery of marble slabs, granite tiles, and other decorative marble products.
If you do your market research well, you will most probably end up finding a marble manufacturer, supplier as well as a construction consultant providing all kinds of services related to marble products, their installation, and maintenance for a fixed period of time. Marble consultants can help you in choosing the best textured marbles for your flooring needs. Prefer those suppliers who can provide you supplies of all required marble products, so that you don't have to run from one supplier to another supplier in order to get all natural stone products ready to complete timely construction.
Even for interior decoration of your home, office or other commercial properties you need to be in touch with your marble supplier. Your interior designer and marble supplier together can make better home decoration plans. A perfect marble supplier can reduce your interior decoration budget to the minimum by providing you an excellent and magnificent look only by using different color or textured marble collection. By using granite slabs in kitchens and bathrooms you can create a different private ambiance for you inside your home. You can provide a younger environment to the kid's room by using perfect shaded marble tiling and flooring.
All these are just some benefits of contacting an experienced marble supplier. You can even have a better experience by working with them. They can provide you better construction experience only by providing their fruitful suggestions and inputs. So, it's not a bad decision if you have planned to spend some more money on marble products and taking services of a marble construction consultant.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions, bid on your projects, or schedule an appointment to learn more about us. Visit us at: http://www.pacificbedrock.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alexender_Smith
For getting right marble for your construction purposes you need to consult an experienced marble supplier. Not every marble supplier is as experienced as you need. Therefore, before making decision of selecting your marble supplier, take a look at the marble products collection at their store. That will provide you with a fair idea of their reach and expertise in marble product supplies.
Marble suppliers are generally in contact with several marble manufacturers or some of them are marble manufacturer themselves. It's better if you chose a marble manufacturer cum supplier for your all marble needs for construction purposes. It will keep you less worried for timely delivery of marble slabs, granite tiles, and other decorative marble products.
If you do your market research well, you will most probably end up finding a marble manufacturer, supplier as well as a construction consultant providing all kinds of services related to marble products, their installation, and maintenance for a fixed period of time. Marble consultants can help you in choosing the best textured marbles for your flooring needs. Prefer those suppliers who can provide you supplies of all required marble products, so that you don't have to run from one supplier to another supplier in order to get all natural stone products ready to complete timely construction.
Even for interior decoration of your home, office or other commercial properties you need to be in touch with your marble supplier. Your interior designer and marble supplier together can make better home decoration plans. A perfect marble supplier can reduce your interior decoration budget to the minimum by providing you an excellent and magnificent look only by using different color or textured marble collection. By using granite slabs in kitchens and bathrooms you can create a different private ambiance for you inside your home. You can provide a younger environment to the kid's room by using perfect shaded marble tiling and flooring.
All these are just some benefits of contacting an experienced marble supplier. You can even have a better experience by working with them. They can provide you better construction experience only by providing their fruitful suggestions and inputs. So, it's not a bad decision if you have planned to spend some more money on marble products and taking services of a marble construction consultant.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions, bid on your projects, or schedule an appointment to learn more about us. Visit us at: http://www.pacificbedrock.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alexender_Smith
Real Estate in Louisiana - Baton Rouge is a Great Place to Live
Buying real estate in Baton Rouge is a great decision; the town offers some of the best features and amenities of any city in Louisiana. It has a population of about 220,000 people and it is located about 80 miles northwest of New Orleans. It is also the capital of state and home to all the state government buildings as well as the state's largest university, LSU. Buying into the real estate market in this city allows you a chance at life in fast-paced, historic southern city. A realtor could help you find a good estate in the city.
The Neighbors
Because Baton Rouge is the capital city, it is full of young, single professionals. The town's median age is only about 30 years old and only 36 percent of the total population are married. The inhabitants are also fairly well educated with about half having completed some college. However the city gained more children and senior citizens after the nearby 2005 Hurricane Katrina disaster, as people fled the New Orleans area. It has a very healthy mix of diversity compared with the state averages and showcases a variety of cultures.
Only 7.4 percent of the city's residents commute more than 45 minutes to other places for work, and most commuters only drive about 20 minutes to their jobs.
The Highlights
-Baton Rouge is a very temperate city, with weather temperatures ranging from 40 degrees in the winter to about 90 degrees in the summer.
-Homeowners can enjoy nearby sporting events hosted by the local college and professional teams. The LSU Tigers offer a wide variety of sports, and the city is close to the New Orleans Saints (pro football) and the Hornets (pro basketball).
-Baton Rouge has a great zoo with 1800 animals from all around the world.
-The city has plenty of arts and museums. Some of the more well known venues are the Shaw Center for the Arts, the Louisiana Arts and Science Museum, and the Old State Capitol Center for Political and Governmental History.
-Baton Rouge is home to a full-scale amusement park and a water park.
The Real Estate
Real estate in Baton Rouge is a great bargain. The median family income is higher than the state average and home prices are slightly higher too, but they are still extremely affordable compared with the national median home prices. Before Hurricane Katrina, home prices were appreciating at a much higher rate than the national average, and home prices will probably see nice appreciation again in the future after all affects of the Hurricane have all been dealt with. Realtors in the city can help you find a home that is perfect for your needs, whether it be a condo, townhouse, or an existing or brand-new home.
Baton Rouge is a wonderful city with lots of choices available real estate. It has a long, rich history and plenty of arts, sports, and culture. Your realtor can help you spell out your needs and wish list and help you locate the right home in the city for you!
Real Estate in Louisiana Baton Rouge has proved to be a great deal with lots of choices available in real estate. The city has plenty of arts, museum, sports, culture, and history that makes it a much sought after destination. Visit us online at http://www.realestatelouisiana.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Stratton
The Neighbors
Because Baton Rouge is the capital city, it is full of young, single professionals. The town's median age is only about 30 years old and only 36 percent of the total population are married. The inhabitants are also fairly well educated with about half having completed some college. However the city gained more children and senior citizens after the nearby 2005 Hurricane Katrina disaster, as people fled the New Orleans area. It has a very healthy mix of diversity compared with the state averages and showcases a variety of cultures.
Only 7.4 percent of the city's residents commute more than 45 minutes to other places for work, and most commuters only drive about 20 minutes to their jobs.
The Highlights
-Baton Rouge is a very temperate city, with weather temperatures ranging from 40 degrees in the winter to about 90 degrees in the summer.
-Homeowners can enjoy nearby sporting events hosted by the local college and professional teams. The LSU Tigers offer a wide variety of sports, and the city is close to the New Orleans Saints (pro football) and the Hornets (pro basketball).
-Baton Rouge has a great zoo with 1800 animals from all around the world.
-The city has plenty of arts and museums. Some of the more well known venues are the Shaw Center for the Arts, the Louisiana Arts and Science Museum, and the Old State Capitol Center for Political and Governmental History.
-Baton Rouge is home to a full-scale amusement park and a water park.
The Real Estate
Real estate in Baton Rouge is a great bargain. The median family income is higher than the state average and home prices are slightly higher too, but they are still extremely affordable compared with the national median home prices. Before Hurricane Katrina, home prices were appreciating at a much higher rate than the national average, and home prices will probably see nice appreciation again in the future after all affects of the Hurricane have all been dealt with. Realtors in the city can help you find a home that is perfect for your needs, whether it be a condo, townhouse, or an existing or brand-new home.
Baton Rouge is a wonderful city with lots of choices available real estate. It has a long, rich history and plenty of arts, sports, and culture. Your realtor can help you spell out your needs and wish list and help you locate the right home in the city for you!
Real Estate in Louisiana Baton Rouge has proved to be a great deal with lots of choices available in real estate. The city has plenty of arts, museum, sports, culture, and history that makes it a much sought after destination. Visit us online at http://www.realestatelouisiana.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Stratton
Real Estate Buyer Cash Bonus
What is a real estate buyer cash bonus asked one buyer to me the other day. Well how do you explain something that is so revolutionary and yet so simple. A buyer cash bonus, at least the buyer cash bonus that we offer, is based on someone doing work and then getting a split of the pay. I told you it was simple. This is what you do to make money now, huh?
When you are a buyer you have to make the decision on what you want to see, what you want to buy and ultimately what you are going to pay for the house. So, a buyer cash bonus, again how we do it, is rewarded when you help us determine what you want to see in person (closer than a drive-by). We determine how much of our commission we will pay you based on how many homes we take you too. When you narrow the houses down and take us only to houses that you are serious about, we spend less time with you and therefore are willing to give you more of our commission.
After all, we can't make these decisions for you. You ultimately decide what type of home you are looking for and what appeals to you further after you drive through the neighborhood and see the house in person. This process of the buyer doing what they would be doing anyway lessens the amount of time spent with one buyer and allows us to work with more buyers at the same time.
We give our buyers our more advanced tools so that they can search for houses and even be notified of houses immediately as they come on the market or fall into the price range of their customized search. Buyers now back that up by doing their own demographic search and tax search as well as searching comparable properties so that they know all about the house and the neighborhoods they are interested in before they ask us to go along with them to see them in person.
Then, we see the house with the buyer and give them our thoughts. If the buyer wants to proceed to write an offer, that is where we take over as normal. But a funny thing happened along the way to giving our buyers over $3 million in buyer cash bonuses (so far through September 2008), we actually acquired skills far superior to our old ones when it comes to contract negotiation. Because we were doing far more volume, we have far more experience and in real estate, more than any other profession, experience truly equates to talent. So instead of working with 12 clients per year, we are each selling over twice that many houses, because we are freed up to work with more clients. Like anything, what makes you good at what you do is Practice! Practice! Practice!
If you are a seller of real estate, view more marketing tips on my website.
http://www.DuffyRealtyofAtlanta.com
If you are a buyer of real estate, I have a whole website that you must see about buying. This is a FREE website made for you.
http://www.TipsandFormsforBuyers.com
From Rhonda Duffy, Real Estate Broker and National Consumer Advocate
The Real Estate Powerhouse
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rhonda_Duffy
When you are a buyer you have to make the decision on what you want to see, what you want to buy and ultimately what you are going to pay for the house. So, a buyer cash bonus, again how we do it, is rewarded when you help us determine what you want to see in person (closer than a drive-by). We determine how much of our commission we will pay you based on how many homes we take you too. When you narrow the houses down and take us only to houses that you are serious about, we spend less time with you and therefore are willing to give you more of our commission.
After all, we can't make these decisions for you. You ultimately decide what type of home you are looking for and what appeals to you further after you drive through the neighborhood and see the house in person. This process of the buyer doing what they would be doing anyway lessens the amount of time spent with one buyer and allows us to work with more buyers at the same time.
We give our buyers our more advanced tools so that they can search for houses and even be notified of houses immediately as they come on the market or fall into the price range of their customized search. Buyers now back that up by doing their own demographic search and tax search as well as searching comparable properties so that they know all about the house and the neighborhoods they are interested in before they ask us to go along with them to see them in person.
Then, we see the house with the buyer and give them our thoughts. If the buyer wants to proceed to write an offer, that is where we take over as normal. But a funny thing happened along the way to giving our buyers over $3 million in buyer cash bonuses (so far through September 2008), we actually acquired skills far superior to our old ones when it comes to contract negotiation. Because we were doing far more volume, we have far more experience and in real estate, more than any other profession, experience truly equates to talent. So instead of working with 12 clients per year, we are each selling over twice that many houses, because we are freed up to work with more clients. Like anything, what makes you good at what you do is Practice! Practice! Practice!
If you are a seller of real estate, view more marketing tips on my website.
http://www.DuffyRealtyofAtlanta.com
If you are a buyer of real estate, I have a whole website that you must see about buying. This is a FREE website made for you.
http://www.TipsandFormsforBuyers.com
From Rhonda Duffy, Real Estate Broker and National Consumer Advocate
The Real Estate Powerhouse
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rhonda_Duffy
How to Build a Real Estate Business That Lasts
Building a real estate business that lasts should be the primary focus of every real estate business. Otherwise, your business will become more difficult every year, instead of easier. The reason that it becomes more difficult is simply that you are tired of starting at zero every year. Business should become easier every year because of the building block effect. Any business should become easier every year, no matter what the economic climate is.
There are ways to make it easier.
Here are some pointers that I believe must be instituted in a business as soon as you read this no matter how long you have been in that business.
Rule 1 - Every time you give a directive to anyone, whether it is a client, staff member or another agent, it should be written down. It needs to be added to a folder named "How You Communicate with Clients, Staff or Agents". In other words, don't reinvent things every time you communicate. This also allows other people to speak for you.
Rule 2 - Have an office manual, agent manual and client manual. These can be websites or written hard-copy manuals but the point is that every how-to should be a process that someone can read and reference.
Rule 3 - Anything that you write should be written on your computer so that the file can be saved.
Rule 4 - Investigate technology, but if the software or technology has a learning curve it had better be truly needed. Remember that the more complicated that you get, the less people that can use it. This includes your clients.
Rule 5 - Keep your head toward the stars, not in the dirt. If you are in bad times now it is because you have not built a strong functioning business that allows you to stay out of the day-to-day business. The day-to-day business that does not include prospecting and gaining advertising ground will lead you to insanity. As a business owner, you must get out of the day-to-day and hire someone. The real key to any business is prospecting. Period.
So, the bottom line is, the quicker you can clone yourself the better. That way you can give information that you wrote to someone to do a process that you've already created. The sooner you can do this, the sooner you can have a business that thrives with you just keeping your head up and prospecting and going forward.
If you are a seller of real estate, view more marketing tips on my website. http://www.DuffyRealtyofAtlanta.com
From Rhonda Duffy, Real Estate Broker and National Consumer Advocate The Real Estate Powerhouse
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rhonda_Duffy
There are ways to make it easier.
Here are some pointers that I believe must be instituted in a business as soon as you read this no matter how long you have been in that business.
Rule 1 - Every time you give a directive to anyone, whether it is a client, staff member or another agent, it should be written down. It needs to be added to a folder named "How You Communicate with Clients, Staff or Agents". In other words, don't reinvent things every time you communicate. This also allows other people to speak for you.
Rule 2 - Have an office manual, agent manual and client manual. These can be websites or written hard-copy manuals but the point is that every how-to should be a process that someone can read and reference.
Rule 3 - Anything that you write should be written on your computer so that the file can be saved.
Rule 4 - Investigate technology, but if the software or technology has a learning curve it had better be truly needed. Remember that the more complicated that you get, the less people that can use it. This includes your clients.
Rule 5 - Keep your head toward the stars, not in the dirt. If you are in bad times now it is because you have not built a strong functioning business that allows you to stay out of the day-to-day business. The day-to-day business that does not include prospecting and gaining advertising ground will lead you to insanity. As a business owner, you must get out of the day-to-day and hire someone. The real key to any business is prospecting. Period.
So, the bottom line is, the quicker you can clone yourself the better. That way you can give information that you wrote to someone to do a process that you've already created. The sooner you can do this, the sooner you can have a business that thrives with you just keeping your head up and prospecting and going forward.
If you are a seller of real estate, view more marketing tips on my website. http://www.DuffyRealtyofAtlanta.com
From Rhonda Duffy, Real Estate Broker and National Consumer Advocate The Real Estate Powerhouse
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rhonda_Duffy
Real Estate Agents With Common Sense
Someone asked me if I knew any real estate agents with common sense the other day. I thought it was an odd question until they explained that they had never met any. Of course, they said present company excluded, but I knew that they could not mean that because they did not know me yet.
I got to thinking. What does that mean, agents don't have any common sense? I think I have the answer. I think that they mean that agents are using the common way of sales to get sales done.
The first thing that you have to do in sales is prospect. The only way to prospect is to go to where the buyers and sellers are. And, the only ethical place that we can go to gather these prospective clients is on the Internet. Yet, when you look on the Internet, at most agent's performance, you find that the houses they list have horrible photos, no enhancement of the ads or anything else that make them stand out.
Most agent websites, if they even have one, lack content are mainly a business card template saying how great they are. There is no mention of any accomplishments, their track record or anything of substance. It is just a glamour shot, as if that is going to lure a buyer or seller because the person looks nice.
The advertising that most agents do for the homes that they have listed require no effort past putting the house in the MLS. They then rely on the MLS to feed the data to other websites. Their thinking is, "Well we did pound the sign in the yard, etc..."
There is nothing else done on the majority of the advertising plans implemented by traditional agents.
Now, the latest trend is that the listing agent refuses to show the house to any buyers that call that are working with a buyer's agent. And, if they do show the house, they are claiming the entire commission, citing procuring cause. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it the listing agent's job, to open the house to all buyers? And certainly, they shouldn't cop and attitude with any buyer's agent who has a client that wants to see the house. The overall attitude now is that a listing agent can dictate whom they want to work with - but this is not nor shouldn't be the case.
So, to work towards a reputation as agents that is one of ethical common sense, I think that many schools, brokerages and workshops really should focus on how real estate should be sold in the 2000's not in the 1960's. Times have changed and most consumers today know more about how to market their home on places like You Tube, My Space and with Google Ad Words than agents do. And that is scary!
If you are a seller of real estate, view more marketing tips on my website.
http://www.DuffyRealtyofAtlanta.com
If you are a buyer of real estate, I have a whole website that you must see about buying. This is a FREE website made for you.
http://www.TipsandFormsforBuyers.com
From Rhonda Duffy, Real Estate Broker and National Consumer Advocate
The Real Estate Powerhouse
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rhonda_Duffy
I got to thinking. What does that mean, agents don't have any common sense? I think I have the answer. I think that they mean that agents are using the common way of sales to get sales done.
The first thing that you have to do in sales is prospect. The only way to prospect is to go to where the buyers and sellers are. And, the only ethical place that we can go to gather these prospective clients is on the Internet. Yet, when you look on the Internet, at most agent's performance, you find that the houses they list have horrible photos, no enhancement of the ads or anything else that make them stand out.
Most agent websites, if they even have one, lack content are mainly a business card template saying how great they are. There is no mention of any accomplishments, their track record or anything of substance. It is just a glamour shot, as if that is going to lure a buyer or seller because the person looks nice.
The advertising that most agents do for the homes that they have listed require no effort past putting the house in the MLS. They then rely on the MLS to feed the data to other websites. Their thinking is, "Well we did pound the sign in the yard, etc..."
There is nothing else done on the majority of the advertising plans implemented by traditional agents.
Now, the latest trend is that the listing agent refuses to show the house to any buyers that call that are working with a buyer's agent. And, if they do show the house, they are claiming the entire commission, citing procuring cause. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it the listing agent's job, to open the house to all buyers? And certainly, they shouldn't cop and attitude with any buyer's agent who has a client that wants to see the house. The overall attitude now is that a listing agent can dictate whom they want to work with - but this is not nor shouldn't be the case.
So, to work towards a reputation as agents that is one of ethical common sense, I think that many schools, brokerages and workshops really should focus on how real estate should be sold in the 2000's not in the 1960's. Times have changed and most consumers today know more about how to market their home on places like You Tube, My Space and with Google Ad Words than agents do. And that is scary!
If you are a seller of real estate, view more marketing tips on my website.
http://www.DuffyRealtyofAtlanta.com
If you are a buyer of real estate, I have a whole website that you must see about buying. This is a FREE website made for you.
http://www.TipsandFormsforBuyers.com
From Rhonda Duffy, Real Estate Broker and National Consumer Advocate
The Real Estate Powerhouse
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rhonda_Duffy
How to Buy and Sell Property in Peru
Tips for Buying and Selling Property
With the falling dollar, housing is in South American countries, such as Peru, is increasing in demand. Although there's a bit of paperwork involved when buying or selling property, it's well worth it. You can get great value for your money and property has been steadily increasing in value due to the demand.
Buying Property
Before you sign the contract, always go to SUNARP (registros publicos), it's just in front of the Rebagliati hospital, to check out its status. You only pay a few soles.. Make sure there's no mortgage (hipoteca) on the property and the owner doesn't have any legal problems. You'll need a DNI, CE or the permission to sign a contract visa. Once you're ready to buy, go to a notary and they will tell you everything that you need. Be aware that you will need to pay taxes of 2% on the property in addition to the notary fees, which are usually less than 1000USD.
First step, you will have to sign a Minuta (which is a short document saying who's selling and who's buying) Make sure the notary legalizes the signatures.
Second step, you will also have to sign an Escritura (which is the long legal document that explains everything).
Third step, go together to the Municipality and you each will get two copies of a PU (Public property taxes, ex. water, sidewalks, etc) and an HR (Private property taxes, your property) You will have to fill out these forms so that the property legally changes names. You will also have to pay a fee to transfer the names.
Lastly, about payments. Many people prefer a cheque de garantia (we got ours at BCP and they cost 20USD each) We got two cheques, we gave the owner the first one after we signed the Minuta and the second one after we signed the Escritura.
In addition, after you have bought your house you should take out insurance to protect it. Mapfre is pretty cheap and very reliable.
Selling Property
If you want to sell property, you'll basically follow the same steps, except the buyers pay all the notary fees. Taxes for selling are higher. You'll have to pay 3% taxes and depending on your visa status, you'll have to pay up to 30% of the difference on the price you bought the property for and the price you're selling it for. For example, if you buy something for 1000USD and sell it for 2000USD, you'll pay up to 30% on the difference, in this case it's 1000USD. This is paid in SUNAT at the beginning of the following year. So if you bought it in 2008, you'll pay the tax around January or February of 2009. And if you sell less than three years after you bought the property, you'll have to pay a fine at the municipality. Fines vary according to municipality and according to the value of the property.
Sharon de Hinojosa (naturegirl321) has lived and worked (mainly teaching English) in the US, Scotland, Spain, the Czech Republic, China, Korea, and Peru. As well as teaching short-term in Venezuela and Taiwan.
She has created The LA Job List http://www.thelajoblist.blogspot.com which lists schools, institutes and universities in 19 Latin American countries which offer English teaching positions.
Since living in Peru since August 2006, she wrote The Ultimate Peru List http://www.theultimateperulist.blogspot.com With 60 pages it's a comprehensive guide for those living in or moving to Peru.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_De_Hinojosa
With the falling dollar, housing is in South American countries, such as Peru, is increasing in demand. Although there's a bit of paperwork involved when buying or selling property, it's well worth it. You can get great value for your money and property has been steadily increasing in value due to the demand.
Buying Property
Before you sign the contract, always go to SUNARP (registros publicos), it's just in front of the Rebagliati hospital, to check out its status. You only pay a few soles.. Make sure there's no mortgage (hipoteca) on the property and the owner doesn't have any legal problems. You'll need a DNI, CE or the permission to sign a contract visa. Once you're ready to buy, go to a notary and they will tell you everything that you need. Be aware that you will need to pay taxes of 2% on the property in addition to the notary fees, which are usually less than 1000USD.
First step, you will have to sign a Minuta (which is a short document saying who's selling and who's buying) Make sure the notary legalizes the signatures.
Second step, you will also have to sign an Escritura (which is the long legal document that explains everything).
Third step, go together to the Municipality and you each will get two copies of a PU (Public property taxes, ex. water, sidewalks, etc) and an HR (Private property taxes, your property) You will have to fill out these forms so that the property legally changes names. You will also have to pay a fee to transfer the names.
Lastly, about payments. Many people prefer a cheque de garantia (we got ours at BCP and they cost 20USD each) We got two cheques, we gave the owner the first one after we signed the Minuta and the second one after we signed the Escritura.
In addition, after you have bought your house you should take out insurance to protect it. Mapfre is pretty cheap and very reliable.
Selling Property
If you want to sell property, you'll basically follow the same steps, except the buyers pay all the notary fees. Taxes for selling are higher. You'll have to pay 3% taxes and depending on your visa status, you'll have to pay up to 30% of the difference on the price you bought the property for and the price you're selling it for. For example, if you buy something for 1000USD and sell it for 2000USD, you'll pay up to 30% on the difference, in this case it's 1000USD. This is paid in SUNAT at the beginning of the following year. So if you bought it in 2008, you'll pay the tax around January or February of 2009. And if you sell less than three years after you bought the property, you'll have to pay a fine at the municipality. Fines vary according to municipality and according to the value of the property.
Sharon de Hinojosa (naturegirl321) has lived and worked (mainly teaching English) in the US, Scotland, Spain, the Czech Republic, China, Korea, and Peru. As well as teaching short-term in Venezuela and Taiwan.
She has created The LA Job List http://www.thelajoblist.blogspot.com which lists schools, institutes and universities in 19 Latin American countries which offer English teaching positions.
Since living in Peru since August 2006, she wrote The Ultimate Peru List http://www.theultimateperulist.blogspot.com With 60 pages it's a comprehensive guide for those living in or moving to Peru.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_De_Hinojosa
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Real Estate - Possible Next Boom in USA
The next few decades are bound to see some big waves of development which have the potential to turn America's metropolises into mega cities bursting with opportunities at the seams.
How?
Since the past decade, people have been buying plots of desert land in states like Arizona which was witnessing a veritable building boom. Phoenix was one of the cities raring to go. Speculators who took the bet with Phoenix have been laughing all the way to the bank. Today, Phoenix is still going strong with a building boom which has seen more than 500,000 homes being built here alone.
Investors have been buying acres of land for building ranches and farms and many are spread over an area which is probably double the size of Manhattan. Interstate 10, which is presently housing 15,000 farmers, is about to take off in a major way with housing colonies emerging on either side. Brokers here say that the region will be completely transformed into a metropolis comparable to Phoenix itself.
As the population increases, these fast growing areas will represent lucrative business making opportunities. Growth trends are rife already in Oregon and Washington, and it is estimated that by 2030, the cities of Portland and Seattle might just merge and form one big megapolitan area. Atlanta and Raleigh-Durham are two other cities which in the light of things today may also be joined by transportation, banking, and biotech.
While Americans in the southern and western parts are trying to cash in by buying pieces of land in the proposed boom towns, others elsewhere are speculating on parking lots and underutilized land trying to locate the cheapest property which may yield great returns. Companies like Target and Wal-Mart, which will always head towards areas with growth are also looking at speculating on land and creating a whole host of opportunities.
While land everywhere is being eyed with passion, few territories possess the potential to make a profit and create that storm for growth. Arizona offers building worthy land at low prices and given the continuous water supply from underground rivers, aqueducts, and mountains the new inhabitants can all be taken care of.
However it is silly to speculate on land under conditions prevalent in the congested suburban metros like Chicago, Los Angeles or even Washington. Spiraling fuel costs and trying commutes zoning disasters and delays in approvals can be hazardous to the developers. But the latest trend is to hedge bets on parking spaces given that America has 30 per cent more parking lots than it needs, which may be a reason why many developers believe they'll deliver the biggest returns.
A burgeoning Latino immigrant population is also a potentially good bet. At a time like this, one does not need to capitalize on the development boom by just grabbing land. One can also start businesses catering to a burgeoning immigrant Latino population which will soon become the fastest-growing ethnic group and the fastest growing group of buyers of services.
Bob Lipply, the top Real Estate Broker Associate in the Tampa Real Estate area, offers you a unique buying experience. We have helped many families relocate to Florida over the years. We also sell Safety Harbor Real Estate.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Lipply
How?
Since the past decade, people have been buying plots of desert land in states like Arizona which was witnessing a veritable building boom. Phoenix was one of the cities raring to go. Speculators who took the bet with Phoenix have been laughing all the way to the bank. Today, Phoenix is still going strong with a building boom which has seen more than 500,000 homes being built here alone.
Investors have been buying acres of land for building ranches and farms and many are spread over an area which is probably double the size of Manhattan. Interstate 10, which is presently housing 15,000 farmers, is about to take off in a major way with housing colonies emerging on either side. Brokers here say that the region will be completely transformed into a metropolis comparable to Phoenix itself.
As the population increases, these fast growing areas will represent lucrative business making opportunities. Growth trends are rife already in Oregon and Washington, and it is estimated that by 2030, the cities of Portland and Seattle might just merge and form one big megapolitan area. Atlanta and Raleigh-Durham are two other cities which in the light of things today may also be joined by transportation, banking, and biotech.
While Americans in the southern and western parts are trying to cash in by buying pieces of land in the proposed boom towns, others elsewhere are speculating on parking lots and underutilized land trying to locate the cheapest property which may yield great returns. Companies like Target and Wal-Mart, which will always head towards areas with growth are also looking at speculating on land and creating a whole host of opportunities.
While land everywhere is being eyed with passion, few territories possess the potential to make a profit and create that storm for growth. Arizona offers building worthy land at low prices and given the continuous water supply from underground rivers, aqueducts, and mountains the new inhabitants can all be taken care of.
However it is silly to speculate on land under conditions prevalent in the congested suburban metros like Chicago, Los Angeles or even Washington. Spiraling fuel costs and trying commutes zoning disasters and delays in approvals can be hazardous to the developers. But the latest trend is to hedge bets on parking spaces given that America has 30 per cent more parking lots than it needs, which may be a reason why many developers believe they'll deliver the biggest returns.
A burgeoning Latino immigrant population is also a potentially good bet. At a time like this, one does not need to capitalize on the development boom by just grabbing land. One can also start businesses catering to a burgeoning immigrant Latino population which will soon become the fastest-growing ethnic group and the fastest growing group of buyers of services.
Bob Lipply, the top Real Estate Broker Associate in the Tampa Real Estate area, offers you a unique buying experience. We have helped many families relocate to Florida over the years. We also sell Safety Harbor Real Estate.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Lipply
Real Estate Broker
A real estate broker is a person who is a go-between for buyers and sellers of property. They have to seek out the people who wish to sell and the people who wish to buy and then become their broker. Being a real estate broker is a double edged sword. When working with a selling party the broker must find a way for the seller to sell their property for the highest price under the best term. But when a real estate broker is working with a buying party they must find a way for the buyer to purchase a piece of property for the lowest price under the best terms. Most real estate brokers working within the United States are required to have a license before dealing with prospective buyers and sellers.
Below is a list of the services a real estate broker can provide to a buyer or seller of a piece of property:
Comparative Market Analysis
Exposure
Facilitating a purchase
Facilitating a sale
FSBO document preparation
Full residential appraisal
Home selling kits
Hourly consulting
Leasing
Property management
Exchanging property
Auctioning property
Preparing contracts and leases
Not all of these services are available in each and every state within the union and a handful of them come with a fee.
Below is a list of the services provided to a selling party:
Property listing
Paperwork prep
Adding a "For Sale" sign to the property
Advertising the property
Running an Open House for prospective buyers to tour
Negotiating the price
Representing the seller at the closing
To be qualified for a real estate agent's license an interested party must attend an educational course that usually lasts 60 hours or more. At the conclusion of the course the participants take a test and must pass before receiving their license as a real estate agent. The new agent must then use their license with an existing real estate firm before going out on their own. If the real estate agent wishes to become a real estate broker they must take another educational course and pass another test to become a broker. This can only happen after the agent has been an agent for a specified period of time, which usually differs from state to state. A real estate broker can own and/or operate a real estate firm and each branch office of a larger firm is required by law to be managed by a licensed real estate broker.
There are four popular groups within the real estate agent and broker profession. They are the National Association of Realtors, the Realtor Political Action Committee, the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents and the National Association of Real Estate Brokers.
The majority of sales involved in real estate involves a percentage. When a buyer or seller hires a real estate broker or agent to aid them in property movement they usually determine a percentage of the sale to go to the agent or broker beforehand. Most agreements net the agent or broker anywhere between 20 to 35 percent of the final sale.
Best Cities to Live
Raleigh Ranked High For Best City
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brenda_Williams
Below is a list of the services a real estate broker can provide to a buyer or seller of a piece of property:
Comparative Market Analysis
Exposure
Facilitating a purchase
Facilitating a sale
FSBO document preparation
Full residential appraisal
Home selling kits
Hourly consulting
Leasing
Property management
Exchanging property
Auctioning property
Preparing contracts and leases
Not all of these services are available in each and every state within the union and a handful of them come with a fee.
Below is a list of the services provided to a selling party:
Property listing
Paperwork prep
Adding a "For Sale" sign to the property
Advertising the property
Running an Open House for prospective buyers to tour
Negotiating the price
Representing the seller at the closing
To be qualified for a real estate agent's license an interested party must attend an educational course that usually lasts 60 hours or more. At the conclusion of the course the participants take a test and must pass before receiving their license as a real estate agent. The new agent must then use their license with an existing real estate firm before going out on their own. If the real estate agent wishes to become a real estate broker they must take another educational course and pass another test to become a broker. This can only happen after the agent has been an agent for a specified period of time, which usually differs from state to state. A real estate broker can own and/or operate a real estate firm and each branch office of a larger firm is required by law to be managed by a licensed real estate broker.
There are four popular groups within the real estate agent and broker profession. They are the National Association of Realtors, the Realtor Political Action Committee, the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents and the National Association of Real Estate Brokers.
The majority of sales involved in real estate involves a percentage. When a buyer or seller hires a real estate broker or agent to aid them in property movement they usually determine a percentage of the sale to go to the agent or broker beforehand. Most agreements net the agent or broker anywhere between 20 to 35 percent of the final sale.
Best Cities to Live
Raleigh Ranked High For Best City
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brenda_Williams
Fire Island - International Visitors Find Dream Homes
They just want to have their perfect place in the sun; the place where blue waters meet white sandy beaches, the place where International visitors of distinction can have their vacation dreams come true. Where else but on Fire Island, NY can they find what they are looking for in unique luxury vacation homes? Where else can they make a statement that they are part of an elite International set who know what they want and have earned the right to get it.
Fire Island offers a way for these International visitors to satisfy their desires and find the perfect home of their dreams. It hosts a number of small communities or villages nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great South Bay off of Long Island, NY and near to New York City.
Fire Island is the kind of place where you can kick back and really relax. You don't even need a car because almost everything is only a short walk from the beach or fine dining and entertainment.
This vacation treasure on the East Coast of the US offers International Buyers of fine properties the opportunity to take advantage of favorable exchange rates in an economic environment that lends itself to making sound investment decisions, but it's not just about getting a good deal: it's also about finding the vacation home of your dreams. It's an all in one opportunity to get the best of both worlds so that you can feel secure that you are providing yourself and your family with a worthwhile experience of pure and justifiable pleasure.
The people that take up vacation residence on Fire Island tend to stay for years and in some cases from generation to generation because it provides a living experience of unparallel beauty and grace. This is just what International visitors are looking for. This is what many of them search the world for. This is a haven that can provide them with the peace and security that they cherish. This is what fine living is all about. This is the place to be.
*****
Please feel free to use this article as long as credit is given to the resource box.
© Copyright Arthur Levine 2008
Words: 425
Keywords: Fire Island, Homes, International, Buyers, Investment
Take advantage of the opportunity to find the vacation home of your dreams in what is quickly becoming the new Hamptons. We at Fire Island Homes invite you to visit our new International Division: http://www.fihomes.net/Fire_Island_Luxury_Sales.htm
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Arthur_Levine
Fire Island offers a way for these International visitors to satisfy their desires and find the perfect home of their dreams. It hosts a number of small communities or villages nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great South Bay off of Long Island, NY and near to New York City.
Fire Island is the kind of place where you can kick back and really relax. You don't even need a car because almost everything is only a short walk from the beach or fine dining and entertainment.
This vacation treasure on the East Coast of the US offers International Buyers of fine properties the opportunity to take advantage of favorable exchange rates in an economic environment that lends itself to making sound investment decisions, but it's not just about getting a good deal: it's also about finding the vacation home of your dreams. It's an all in one opportunity to get the best of both worlds so that you can feel secure that you are providing yourself and your family with a worthwhile experience of pure and justifiable pleasure.
The people that take up vacation residence on Fire Island tend to stay for years and in some cases from generation to generation because it provides a living experience of unparallel beauty and grace. This is just what International visitors are looking for. This is what many of them search the world for. This is a haven that can provide them with the peace and security that they cherish. This is what fine living is all about. This is the place to be.
*****
Please feel free to use this article as long as credit is given to the resource box.
© Copyright Arthur Levine 2008
Words: 425
Keywords: Fire Island, Homes, International, Buyers, Investment
Take advantage of the opportunity to find the vacation home of your dreams in what is quickly becoming the new Hamptons. We at Fire Island Homes invite you to visit our new International Division: http://www.fihomes.net/Fire_Island_Luxury_Sales.htm
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Arthur_Levine
Monday, September 22, 2008
How to Become a Rich Real Estate Bird Dog
The demand of Real Estate Bird Dog is always huge and you will always be able to make money whether it is good or bad times without giving up your day job! So, how to become a real estate bird dog?
Below are two important steps that you need to follow in order to become a successful real estate bird dog even if you don't have a college degree and never sell properties before.
1) Locate A Real Estate Investor Mentor
Before getting started as a real estate bird dog, you need to find a real estate investor mentor that you would like to work with in your investment interests. Locate a real estate investor who are interested to invest in your targeted area and who are willing to share with you his investment experience.
Having an experienced real estate investor as your mentor will shorten your learning curve and therefore enhance your success.
2) Learn How To General leads For Your Investors
You must learn how to generate leads for your investor in order to earn your finder's fee or your bird dog fee. There are actually various methods of finding real estate investment deals and it is advisable to get your real estate investment mentor to train you in finding deals. If you want to become a successful real estate bird dog, you must be persistent, be communicative when things get tough in particular during the process of finding profitable and suitable deals for your investors. Besides, being creative helps in finding property leads.
In conclusion, to become a real estate bird dog, you have to first locate a real estate mentor to train you in real estate investments and learn how to find profitable deals for your investors.
Wondering whether Real Estate Bird Dog can make money without giving up their day job? Read more at http://www.property-profiler.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Goh
Below are two important steps that you need to follow in order to become a successful real estate bird dog even if you don't have a college degree and never sell properties before.
1) Locate A Real Estate Investor Mentor
Before getting started as a real estate bird dog, you need to find a real estate investor mentor that you would like to work with in your investment interests. Locate a real estate investor who are interested to invest in your targeted area and who are willing to share with you his investment experience.
Having an experienced real estate investor as your mentor will shorten your learning curve and therefore enhance your success.
2) Learn How To General leads For Your Investors
You must learn how to generate leads for your investor in order to earn your finder's fee or your bird dog fee. There are actually various methods of finding real estate investment deals and it is advisable to get your real estate investment mentor to train you in finding deals. If you want to become a successful real estate bird dog, you must be persistent, be communicative when things get tough in particular during the process of finding profitable and suitable deals for your investors. Besides, being creative helps in finding property leads.
In conclusion, to become a real estate bird dog, you have to first locate a real estate mentor to train you in real estate investments and learn how to find profitable deals for your investors.
Wondering whether Real Estate Bird Dog can make money without giving up their day job? Read more at http://www.property-profiler.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Goh
Real Estate Office Management Tips
The assets industry professionals are some of the busiest people of the working community. They deal with clients, prospective clients, and contacts and maintain their records on paper or electronic databases. They have a lot of deadlines to meet in short periods of time and as they have to simultaneously deal with a number of situations at a given time, they can be pretty haphazard in the way they organize things around themselves, which in turn increases the complexity of their work and reduces their efficiency. Following a few real estate office management guidelines will do them good
One of the foremost criteria for enhancing work efficiency is to work in a systematic manner. The first step in this direction is to identify the routine activities and the ones that are done under special circumstances and develop a working methodology independently for each of them. The routine activities should be organized well. The daily input, daily processed information and daily output information stores should be maintained well. The staff handling these data store should be trained on handling them in a formal procedural manner.
The real estate office management staff should design a concrete system to deal with data storing and processing, and following the system should be made mandatory for the relevant staff. This will ensure fast retrieval of data when dealing with clients. A good assets managing firm will always try to take precautions against any special situations that they might encounter. Hence, if electronic databases are being used, then it is always better to be prepared with backups as electronic systems are highly susceptible to viral attacks and technical failures.
A good way to eliminate chaos in the work environment is for the real estate office management firm to make individual job descriptions for all its employees. These job descriptions should be conveyed clearly in writing to them so that they become aware of their individual roles and work accordingly. Assigning a particular job to only one person and not to more people will eliminate confusion. If a job is too huge in quantity or is highly complicated one job can be allotted to more than one person. But in that case, the role that each and every member of the delegation has to play should be conveyed clearly by the team leader.
Real office estate management gurus opine that it is always better to make any modifications and up dates to the databases as and when required rather then take them up as a separate task later on. This error usually happens where paper databases are used as the modifications and up dates have to be done manually. But in the case of electronic data basing this problem is overcome to a large extent as the effects of a change at one point ripples across all the relevant areas of the database automatically.
Lastly, an important criterion of commendable real estate office management is to organize the physical workspace systematically. The tables should be kept neat and tidy. Storing files and paraphernalia should be done in a logical manner so that accessing them does not take a lot of effort and time. A neat, hygienic and organized workspace reflects an efficient working environment. Managing workplaces is an art and it reflects the personality and work efficiency of the people working in that place. It makes the organization efficiency wise trustworthy in the eyes of the clients.
Kamyar Shah writes about different topics including self storage , property management , secret shopping and management consulting issues.
Real Estate Management
Self Storage Content
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kamyar_Shah
One of the foremost criteria for enhancing work efficiency is to work in a systematic manner. The first step in this direction is to identify the routine activities and the ones that are done under special circumstances and develop a working methodology independently for each of them. The routine activities should be organized well. The daily input, daily processed information and daily output information stores should be maintained well. The staff handling these data store should be trained on handling them in a formal procedural manner.
The real estate office management staff should design a concrete system to deal with data storing and processing, and following the system should be made mandatory for the relevant staff. This will ensure fast retrieval of data when dealing with clients. A good assets managing firm will always try to take precautions against any special situations that they might encounter. Hence, if electronic databases are being used, then it is always better to be prepared with backups as electronic systems are highly susceptible to viral attacks and technical failures.
A good way to eliminate chaos in the work environment is for the real estate office management firm to make individual job descriptions for all its employees. These job descriptions should be conveyed clearly in writing to them so that they become aware of their individual roles and work accordingly. Assigning a particular job to only one person and not to more people will eliminate confusion. If a job is too huge in quantity or is highly complicated one job can be allotted to more than one person. But in that case, the role that each and every member of the delegation has to play should be conveyed clearly by the team leader.
Real office estate management gurus opine that it is always better to make any modifications and up dates to the databases as and when required rather then take them up as a separate task later on. This error usually happens where paper databases are used as the modifications and up dates have to be done manually. But in the case of electronic data basing this problem is overcome to a large extent as the effects of a change at one point ripples across all the relevant areas of the database automatically.
Lastly, an important criterion of commendable real estate office management is to organize the physical workspace systematically. The tables should be kept neat and tidy. Storing files and paraphernalia should be done in a logical manner so that accessing them does not take a lot of effort and time. A neat, hygienic and organized workspace reflects an efficient working environment. Managing workplaces is an art and it reflects the personality and work efficiency of the people working in that place. It makes the organization efficiency wise trustworthy in the eyes of the clients.
Kamyar Shah writes about different topics including self storage , property management , secret shopping and management consulting issues.
Real Estate Management
Self Storage Content
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kamyar_Shah
Three Real Estate Myths Busted
Myth Number One: Property prices always rises
The folks always say "Invest in properties". Some actually claim that the rate at which the human population is growing, land is fast becoming a scarce resource, therefore anyone who has properties, wins. Property prices, just like stocks, derivatives, bonds and etc, go through price cycles. There are times when they can appreciate during a bull market and falls like an anchor during the bear market. When property prices fall, it is no joke. This is because they can take years to appreciate back to the initial value at which you have bought it for. Of course, home prices do indeed recover themselves but those who are forced to sell in the bear market can really suffer badly.
Myth Number Two: Buying your house is definitely better than renting
You might think that instead of wasting your money on rent; why not pay those cash for real equities in your own property? Buying a house is not for everybody. It requires you to make a highly informed decision. What happens if you really dislike your neighbors or really dislike your living environment after you have moved in? Are you able to find a buyer that quickly? Will the bank penalize you for making a full redemption at too early a period? You may not be able to move your house as you wished, after reviewing the points. Renting a property is an entirely different story. You can choose to move out immediately if you do not fancy the place. Maybe you are the type who invests in where you stay. If this is the case, you can opt to rent a place while waiting for a property to buy over. Buying a house also requires you maintain prompt monthly payments. On the other hand, if you happened to be slow in sales or business, you can negotiate with the homeowner to defer your payments. Buying a house is not for everyone and ultimately the decision lies with your own personal profile.
Myth Number Three: Refinancing always helps to save money
If your outstanding housing loan amount is pretty small and you have been with a bank for quite a long time. There is a high probability that you are paying more of your principle than your interest. If you decide to refinance at this stage, even if the interest is much lower, you will restructure the monthly payment in such a way that it will tilt towards paying more of interest again. By small, I am saying if your outstanding is less than $100,000.
Zeng Han Jun is the Business Financial Manager of Chan & Partners Consulting Group. He actively contributes articles about business and finance on a weekly basis, so as to share his knowledge with the financial consumers. He specializes in mortgage advisory and business brokering services in Singapore. He has been directly involved and plays a crucial role in marketing and sales of businesses in Singapore. He also provides advice on various kinds of mortgages and construction financing for private individuals.
This article from CPCG is currently being protected by Singapore and International Copyright Laws. However please feel free to republish this article, provided that you include working links to our website: http://www.cpcgonline.com/ and http://www.cpcgonline.blogspot.com/
We appreciate your kind gesture. For any enquiries, please email us at enquiries@cpcgonline.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Zeng_Han_Jun
The folks always say "Invest in properties". Some actually claim that the rate at which the human population is growing, land is fast becoming a scarce resource, therefore anyone who has properties, wins. Property prices, just like stocks, derivatives, bonds and etc, go through price cycles. There are times when they can appreciate during a bull market and falls like an anchor during the bear market. When property prices fall, it is no joke. This is because they can take years to appreciate back to the initial value at which you have bought it for. Of course, home prices do indeed recover themselves but those who are forced to sell in the bear market can really suffer badly.
Myth Number Two: Buying your house is definitely better than renting
You might think that instead of wasting your money on rent; why not pay those cash for real equities in your own property? Buying a house is not for everybody. It requires you to make a highly informed decision. What happens if you really dislike your neighbors or really dislike your living environment after you have moved in? Are you able to find a buyer that quickly? Will the bank penalize you for making a full redemption at too early a period? You may not be able to move your house as you wished, after reviewing the points. Renting a property is an entirely different story. You can choose to move out immediately if you do not fancy the place. Maybe you are the type who invests in where you stay. If this is the case, you can opt to rent a place while waiting for a property to buy over. Buying a house also requires you maintain prompt monthly payments. On the other hand, if you happened to be slow in sales or business, you can negotiate with the homeowner to defer your payments. Buying a house is not for everyone and ultimately the decision lies with your own personal profile.
Myth Number Three: Refinancing always helps to save money
If your outstanding housing loan amount is pretty small and you have been with a bank for quite a long time. There is a high probability that you are paying more of your principle than your interest. If you decide to refinance at this stage, even if the interest is much lower, you will restructure the monthly payment in such a way that it will tilt towards paying more of interest again. By small, I am saying if your outstanding is less than $100,000.
Zeng Han Jun is the Business Financial Manager of Chan & Partners Consulting Group. He actively contributes articles about business and finance on a weekly basis, so as to share his knowledge with the financial consumers. He specializes in mortgage advisory and business brokering services in Singapore. He has been directly involved and plays a crucial role in marketing and sales of businesses in Singapore. He also provides advice on various kinds of mortgages and construction financing for private individuals.
This article from CPCG is currently being protected by Singapore and International Copyright Laws. However please feel free to republish this article, provided that you include working links to our website: http://www.cpcgonline.com/ and http://www.cpcgonline.blogspot.com/
We appreciate your kind gesture. For any enquiries, please email us at enquiries@cpcgonline.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Zeng_Han_Jun
Saturday, September 13, 2008
President Signs New Housing Act to Help 400,000 Homeowners
The president has just signed the Federal Housing and recovery Act of 2008. Legislation that will overhaul the Depression-era FHA and provide mortgage relief for 400,000 homeowners struggling with foreclosure woes.
This bill is also designed to quiet the jitters on Wall Street by offering some financial relief and additional accountability for the troubled, government-sponsored mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
While the bill started with a battle between the White House and the Democrats in Congress, bi-partisan support eventually led the President to withdraw his veto threat. Below are some highlights of this far reaching legislation.
Homeowner Relief Measures (Hope for Homeowners Act of 2008)
The law creates a new program to back FHA-Insured mortgages for debt-laden homeowners. Up to $300 billion will be available through the voluntary program operated by a board consisting of the HUD and treasury secretaries, and a chairman of the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. (FDIC)
In exchange for new mortgages, homeowners will share future appreciation with the FHA. Borrowers must also meet a payment burden test to determine if they can afford a new mortgage.
Banks must agree to relinquish their claims for a payment equal to 85% of the current value of the home.
The homeowner relief program begins Oct. 1st 2008 and ends on Sept. 30th 2011.
New regulator for FHA
The law creates a new, independent regulator called the Federal Housing Finance Agency to govern GSE's (government sponsored enterprises). It will oversee Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks.
The Treasury Department has been granted temporary authority to purchase debt and equity of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac through 2009 to provide financial stability for the mortgage giants.
Modernization of FHA
The law increases the FHA loan limit to 115% of area median home price with a cap at $625,000.
Down payments of 3.5% will be required for any FHA loan
Seller assisted down payment programs (such as Nehemiah) will end October 1st
The FHA mortgage insurance premium will increase to 3%.
The FHA's program for reverse mortgages is expanded with higher mortgage limits.
Tax Credits
Provides new first-time home buyer tax credit which is equivalent to an interest free loan of 10% of the purchase price of the home (up to $7500) to be repaid over the course of 15 years. It will be available through July 2009 for taxpayers who meet adjusted gross income levels.
Rules relating to the Low Income Housing Tax Credit will be simplified and states will see increased housing tax credit in 2008 and 2009 depending upon the size of the state.
Allows a new standard deduction for homeowners who do not itemize on their tax returns.
Other Provisions
The bill lengthens the time a lender must wait before starting foreclosure after a sooldier returns from service (from 3 to 9 months) and also provides returning soldiers with one year of relief from increases in mortgage interest rates.
Enhances mortgage disclosures requirements to require lenders to inform borrowers of the maximum monthly payments possible under their loans.
Provides additional funding for housing counseling and legal services to distressed borrowers.
44 billion will be provided for emergency Community Development Block Grant money to purchase and clean up abandon homes in areas blighted by foreclosures.
Source http://www.banking.senate.gov/public
Ryan R. Wegman your land banking specialist invites you to discover the unknown world of real estate investing where patience and skill far out profit the fast, hurried pace of the find em fund em and flip em world investor world that has recently came crashing down along with our economy. Learn how to roll your IRA into real estate and discover the benefits of long term appreciation, high growth, safe and predictable California real estate. Sign up for your free, no risk, no obligation consultation today: http://www.ryanwegman.com
(c) Copyright - Ryan R.Wegman. All rights Reserved Worldwide.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryan_Wegman
This bill is also designed to quiet the jitters on Wall Street by offering some financial relief and additional accountability for the troubled, government-sponsored mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
While the bill started with a battle between the White House and the Democrats in Congress, bi-partisan support eventually led the President to withdraw his veto threat. Below are some highlights of this far reaching legislation.
Homeowner Relief Measures (Hope for Homeowners Act of 2008)
The law creates a new program to back FHA-Insured mortgages for debt-laden homeowners. Up to $300 billion will be available through the voluntary program operated by a board consisting of the HUD and treasury secretaries, and a chairman of the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. (FDIC)
In exchange for new mortgages, homeowners will share future appreciation with the FHA. Borrowers must also meet a payment burden test to determine if they can afford a new mortgage.
Banks must agree to relinquish their claims for a payment equal to 85% of the current value of the home.
The homeowner relief program begins Oct. 1st 2008 and ends on Sept. 30th 2011.
New regulator for FHA
The law creates a new, independent regulator called the Federal Housing Finance Agency to govern GSE's (government sponsored enterprises). It will oversee Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks.
The Treasury Department has been granted temporary authority to purchase debt and equity of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac through 2009 to provide financial stability for the mortgage giants.
Modernization of FHA
The law increases the FHA loan limit to 115% of area median home price with a cap at $625,000.
Down payments of 3.5% will be required for any FHA loan
Seller assisted down payment programs (such as Nehemiah) will end October 1st
The FHA mortgage insurance premium will increase to 3%.
The FHA's program for reverse mortgages is expanded with higher mortgage limits.
Tax Credits
Provides new first-time home buyer tax credit which is equivalent to an interest free loan of 10% of the purchase price of the home (up to $7500) to be repaid over the course of 15 years. It will be available through July 2009 for taxpayers who meet adjusted gross income levels.
Rules relating to the Low Income Housing Tax Credit will be simplified and states will see increased housing tax credit in 2008 and 2009 depending upon the size of the state.
Allows a new standard deduction for homeowners who do not itemize on their tax returns.
Other Provisions
The bill lengthens the time a lender must wait before starting foreclosure after a sooldier returns from service (from 3 to 9 months) and also provides returning soldiers with one year of relief from increases in mortgage interest rates.
Enhances mortgage disclosures requirements to require lenders to inform borrowers of the maximum monthly payments possible under their loans.
Provides additional funding for housing counseling and legal services to distressed borrowers.
44 billion will be provided for emergency Community Development Block Grant money to purchase and clean up abandon homes in areas blighted by foreclosures.
Source http://www.banking.senate.gov/public
Ryan R. Wegman your land banking specialist invites you to discover the unknown world of real estate investing where patience and skill far out profit the fast, hurried pace of the find em fund em and flip em world investor world that has recently came crashing down along with our economy. Learn how to roll your IRA into real estate and discover the benefits of long term appreciation, high growth, safe and predictable California real estate. Sign up for your free, no risk, no obligation consultation today: http://www.ryanwegman.com
(c) Copyright - Ryan R.Wegman. All rights Reserved Worldwide.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryan_Wegman
Real Estate Fairy Tales and Fiction Vs Just the Facts
Ask 10 different people about the condition of the New York real estate market and you will likely get 10 different answers, ranging the full spectrum from "Awesome" to the ambiguous "Wild" or "Nutty," to the downright bleak "Horrid". Why such a disparity, you ask? And, more importantly, which response is correct? It depends who you ask, and that is the problem.
Too many real estate brokers have fallen into the salesperson trap of "perpetual perfection", meaning, regardless of the cold hard facts, business is always great. It's a tool that all good salespeople know - put a positive spin on things and anything is possible. The problem with this theory when it comes to real estate is, by glossing over the truth, you may be hurting business in the long run.
Sugar coating aside, the real estate market in New York has declined over the past year. And while a positive attitude is always an asset, there is no way to gloss over the fact that short sales are increasing in droves. Some brokers feel that presenting consumers with the brutal truth is depressing, and will further inhibit already leery potential sellers and buyers alike. But what happens when your tale stops spinning?
Eventually, when that overpriced listing doesn't sell, and that mint triple plus home is still on the market after 8 months, the truth comes out: The real estate market in New York is not at its best right now. Times are tough, prices are down, and foreclosures are up - the numbers don't lie. And your customers will figure that out, regardless of what you tell them up front.
But a downturn in the market does not mean all is gloom and doom. There is a reason why they call it a "buyers market" and buyers all over New York should be on their phones and computers snatching up those gems before it's too late. Three years ago, buyers were completely at the mercy of astronomical prices and aggressive sellers. Now, with the situation reversed, those in the market to buy would be foolish to miss out on the chance to cash in on a great deal.
So yeah, the real estate market in New York could be better. Brokers, don't ignore that fact because consumers are quickly catching on. But a slow market is not as grim as it sounds. While it's true that sellers have to be more realistic, competitively priced listings are definitely selling. For buyers, now is the time to act, and to seal those golden deals before the market swings up again, which, as history has shown us, it inevitably will.
The New York Source : Manhattan Real Estate
http://thenewyorksource.com
The New York Source, your #1 place on the web for NYC Real Estate. With more than 15 years of sales experience, Patty Levy enjoys a 90% referral rate not only because of the success she has achieved, but because she truly loves her customers and strives to protect their best interests. Her goal is to make their buying or selling experience an enjoyable and rewarding one. "It's not just another transaction."
Written by Terri Polk at http://NewSunSEO.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terri_Polk
Too many real estate brokers have fallen into the salesperson trap of "perpetual perfection", meaning, regardless of the cold hard facts, business is always great. It's a tool that all good salespeople know - put a positive spin on things and anything is possible. The problem with this theory when it comes to real estate is, by glossing over the truth, you may be hurting business in the long run.
Sugar coating aside, the real estate market in New York has declined over the past year. And while a positive attitude is always an asset, there is no way to gloss over the fact that short sales are increasing in droves. Some brokers feel that presenting consumers with the brutal truth is depressing, and will further inhibit already leery potential sellers and buyers alike. But what happens when your tale stops spinning?
Eventually, when that overpriced listing doesn't sell, and that mint triple plus home is still on the market after 8 months, the truth comes out: The real estate market in New York is not at its best right now. Times are tough, prices are down, and foreclosures are up - the numbers don't lie. And your customers will figure that out, regardless of what you tell them up front.
But a downturn in the market does not mean all is gloom and doom. There is a reason why they call it a "buyers market" and buyers all over New York should be on their phones and computers snatching up those gems before it's too late. Three years ago, buyers were completely at the mercy of astronomical prices and aggressive sellers. Now, with the situation reversed, those in the market to buy would be foolish to miss out on the chance to cash in on a great deal.
So yeah, the real estate market in New York could be better. Brokers, don't ignore that fact because consumers are quickly catching on. But a slow market is not as grim as it sounds. While it's true that sellers have to be more realistic, competitively priced listings are definitely selling. For buyers, now is the time to act, and to seal those golden deals before the market swings up again, which, as history has shown us, it inevitably will.
The New York Source : Manhattan Real Estate
http://thenewyorksource.com
The New York Source, your #1 place on the web for NYC Real Estate. With more than 15 years of sales experience, Patty Levy enjoys a 90% referral rate not only because of the success she has achieved, but because she truly loves her customers and strives to protect their best interests. Her goal is to make their buying or selling experience an enjoyable and rewarding one. "It's not just another transaction."
Written by Terri Polk at http://NewSunSEO.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terri_Polk
Friday, August 29, 2008
Focus Your Way to Real Estate Wealth
Last night, as our dog Bram was drooling over Dave eating crackers and cheese, my Mom said:
If we all could focus on making money like dogs focus on food we would all be millionaires by the time we turned five.
Ok, five years old is a stretch but my Mom is definitely onto something. When you make something your focus, even just for an hour, how much do you accomplish? In this day and age of blackberries and iPhones, very few people focus on any one thing for long. So, think of the power of actually giving your biggest goal one hour of 100% attention every day. What if you focused an hour a day on building real estate wealth?
This means that you would spend one complete hour every single day with the sole goal of building your real estate wealth. What would you do with that hour if you are just starting out? Here are some ideas:
* Before you do anything - figure out what your goals are! How can you focus your way to real estate wealth if you haven't defined what that wealth is, or how you want to achieve it?
* Read a book about real estate investing. There are some great books out there that will help you learn the basics. If you are Canadian, I highly recommend you read Making Money in Real Estate by Douglas Grey.
* Research property values in your target area (and if you don't have a target area, then you should be researching potential areas looking for places where there is going to be some positive changes to the economy or the housing market).
* Research real estate agents and property managers for your target area, and start making calls to find people that you would be comfortable working with.
* Speak to a mortgage broker to get a handle on your financial situation, and what you can qualify for in an investment.
* Visit open houses in your target area.
* Start researching rental rates in your target area by reading newspapers, checking craigslist and other rental websites.
I am sure you can think of so many more things to do to move yourself towards your goal! With an hour a day, you will be surprised and impressed with how far you've come after just one month. But how to find that hour a day?
Here are some of my favourite blog posts along the lines of this subject. Search for them in google and read them for inspiration and motivation!
* Tim Ferriss - one of my favourite blogs - specifically read 4 Hour Work Week Blog: 9 Habits to Stop Now: Once you read this I am pretty sure you will find several ways to get an hour out of your day. For me, it's checking my email MUCH less!
* Rock Your Day - Lots of posts on getting up really early to rock your day. Always great content in this blog. Read: Rock Your Day: Catch Yourself Making Excuses and then do Something About it.
* Early to Rise - Daily newsletter which I have been reading for over four years now. Early to Rise is FULL of great ideas for making money, being healthy and maximizing your potential in whatever you want to do. Read: Early to Rise: 3 Steps to Success.
Anyway - it's now time for me to focus my way to Real Estate Wealth. Or, is it time to take Bram for a walk? I think Bram is telling me it is walk time... well I will focus after I walk the dog...
Free tips and information on investing in Real Estate in Canada at http://www.revnyou.com Get Julie's stories free to your in-box each month by signing up for the Rev N You with Real Estate newsletter, and get a free starter tips guide where you'll learn:
* Three easy ways to make money in real estate (so easy you'll be making money while you sleep!),
* How to buy properties in Canada with limited cash,
* Your property type
* The easiest way to get financing,
* How to select a location and begin the search for your next (or first) property purchase.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julie_A_Broad
If we all could focus on making money like dogs focus on food we would all be millionaires by the time we turned five.
Ok, five years old is a stretch but my Mom is definitely onto something. When you make something your focus, even just for an hour, how much do you accomplish? In this day and age of blackberries and iPhones, very few people focus on any one thing for long. So, think of the power of actually giving your biggest goal one hour of 100% attention every day. What if you focused an hour a day on building real estate wealth?
This means that you would spend one complete hour every single day with the sole goal of building your real estate wealth. What would you do with that hour if you are just starting out? Here are some ideas:
* Before you do anything - figure out what your goals are! How can you focus your way to real estate wealth if you haven't defined what that wealth is, or how you want to achieve it?
* Read a book about real estate investing. There are some great books out there that will help you learn the basics. If you are Canadian, I highly recommend you read Making Money in Real Estate by Douglas Grey.
* Research property values in your target area (and if you don't have a target area, then you should be researching potential areas looking for places where there is going to be some positive changes to the economy or the housing market).
* Research real estate agents and property managers for your target area, and start making calls to find people that you would be comfortable working with.
* Speak to a mortgage broker to get a handle on your financial situation, and what you can qualify for in an investment.
* Visit open houses in your target area.
* Start researching rental rates in your target area by reading newspapers, checking craigslist and other rental websites.
I am sure you can think of so many more things to do to move yourself towards your goal! With an hour a day, you will be surprised and impressed with how far you've come after just one month. But how to find that hour a day?
Here are some of my favourite blog posts along the lines of this subject. Search for them in google and read them for inspiration and motivation!
* Tim Ferriss - one of my favourite blogs - specifically read 4 Hour Work Week Blog: 9 Habits to Stop Now: Once you read this I am pretty sure you will find several ways to get an hour out of your day. For me, it's checking my email MUCH less!
* Rock Your Day - Lots of posts on getting up really early to rock your day. Always great content in this blog. Read: Rock Your Day: Catch Yourself Making Excuses and then do Something About it.
* Early to Rise - Daily newsletter which I have been reading for over four years now. Early to Rise is FULL of great ideas for making money, being healthy and maximizing your potential in whatever you want to do. Read: Early to Rise: 3 Steps to Success.
Anyway - it's now time for me to focus my way to Real Estate Wealth. Or, is it time to take Bram for a walk? I think Bram is telling me it is walk time... well I will focus after I walk the dog...
Free tips and information on investing in Real Estate in Canada at http://www.revnyou.com Get Julie's stories free to your in-box each month by signing up for the Rev N You with Real Estate newsletter, and get a free starter tips guide where you'll learn:
* Three easy ways to make money in real estate (so easy you'll be making money while you sleep!),
* How to buy properties in Canada with limited cash,
* Your property type
* The easiest way to get financing,
* How to select a location and begin the search for your next (or first) property purchase.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julie_A_Broad
How Not to Lose Ten's of Thousands on Your Real Estate Deals
Not Doing One Last Thing Prior to Closing will cost you
The answer to the question, why are inventory checks important, is pretty straightforward. It doesn't take a real estate wizard to realize that reviewing the inventory is a must before putting down one's hard-earned money to buy a property. Yes, I am willing to admit that the process of checking each and every item on the inventory can be highly boring, even frustrating at times. However, I think we both know that there is no denying the significance of carrying out this process efficiently and effectively. After all, you, as the buyer, don't want unpleasant surprises thrown at you later on. So it pays to thorough during inventory checks, than crying over spilled milk later.
The most basic type of inventory inspection you can conduct is a simple visual inspection of the place. Although this will give you an overview of the place, this method doesn't really guarantee efficiency as you aren't really in the position to provide proof if you find something out-of-order later on. Therefore, it is highly advised that you make use of videotapes when conducting your inspection.
The proper procedure for carrying out a recorded inspection starts off by first clearly indicating the date and the time the inspection is commencing. As there are likely to be other third parties with you, you should introduce them at the beginning of the video. Ensure that at least one of the other members is part of the seller's team, thus granting your videotape greater strength.
While making the video, you are bound to be entering and exiting various areas and rooms. Therefore, before you enter each room/area, make sure to announce each location clearly. Providing such a verbal introduction to an area will allow you two-tiered benefits; firstly, this will help you keep track of things in case a problem arises, and secondly, this will ensure further verification for your point of view.
Make sure you clearly indicate and clearly state any problems you may find during the inspection. If an item is found missing, point that out as well. Be thorough in your inspection because you don't want to end up in a dispute about something found missing or damaged later.
Regardless of how cordial or trustworthy the seller may seem, don't, I repeat, don't, under any circumstances, accept the inventory list at face value. I'm not trying to tell you that the seller is out to scam you, although there are many incidents in the papers everyday which prove me otherwise. I am merely trying to inform you that people are prone to making mistakes. Hence, it's always better not to land up in a situation where you have to pay for the mistakes of others. Do the hard work now so that you are able to reap the benefits later for many years to come.
http://www.ira-401k-realestate.com/IYF-Video-Opt-In/
About the Author
John Krol has over forty years of experience in business, marketing, sales, engineering, general management, real estate, and estate planning. He has worked for and with global companies such as IBM, Electronic Data Systems, and Mahindra British Telecom.
John's diverse business experience has given him the opportunity to work in twenty-six different countries spanning three continents. Projects have focused on everything from marketing, sales, distribution, and software training, to international studies and international marketing consulting.
In the last eight years, John has focused on real estate investment. He has comprehensively studied and developed tax-advantaged investing strategies, using IRAs, 401(k)s and 103s, to preserve and create wealth for clients. John has a BS from Brown in Computer Science, an MA through IBM in Industrial Electronics, as well as a PhD in International Trade and Management from the London School of Business. He continues to monitor the everyday changes in laws governing wealth preservation.
http://www.ira-401k-realestate.com/IYF-Video-Opt-In/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Krol
The answer to the question, why are inventory checks important, is pretty straightforward. It doesn't take a real estate wizard to realize that reviewing the inventory is a must before putting down one's hard-earned money to buy a property. Yes, I am willing to admit that the process of checking each and every item on the inventory can be highly boring, even frustrating at times. However, I think we both know that there is no denying the significance of carrying out this process efficiently and effectively. After all, you, as the buyer, don't want unpleasant surprises thrown at you later on. So it pays to thorough during inventory checks, than crying over spilled milk later.
The most basic type of inventory inspection you can conduct is a simple visual inspection of the place. Although this will give you an overview of the place, this method doesn't really guarantee efficiency as you aren't really in the position to provide proof if you find something out-of-order later on. Therefore, it is highly advised that you make use of videotapes when conducting your inspection.
The proper procedure for carrying out a recorded inspection starts off by first clearly indicating the date and the time the inspection is commencing. As there are likely to be other third parties with you, you should introduce them at the beginning of the video. Ensure that at least one of the other members is part of the seller's team, thus granting your videotape greater strength.
While making the video, you are bound to be entering and exiting various areas and rooms. Therefore, before you enter each room/area, make sure to announce each location clearly. Providing such a verbal introduction to an area will allow you two-tiered benefits; firstly, this will help you keep track of things in case a problem arises, and secondly, this will ensure further verification for your point of view.
Make sure you clearly indicate and clearly state any problems you may find during the inspection. If an item is found missing, point that out as well. Be thorough in your inspection because you don't want to end up in a dispute about something found missing or damaged later.
Regardless of how cordial or trustworthy the seller may seem, don't, I repeat, don't, under any circumstances, accept the inventory list at face value. I'm not trying to tell you that the seller is out to scam you, although there are many incidents in the papers everyday which prove me otherwise. I am merely trying to inform you that people are prone to making mistakes. Hence, it's always better not to land up in a situation where you have to pay for the mistakes of others. Do the hard work now so that you are able to reap the benefits later for many years to come.
http://www.ira-401k-realestate.com/IYF-Video-Opt-In/
About the Author
John Krol has over forty years of experience in business, marketing, sales, engineering, general management, real estate, and estate planning. He has worked for and with global companies such as IBM, Electronic Data Systems, and Mahindra British Telecom.
John's diverse business experience has given him the opportunity to work in twenty-six different countries spanning three continents. Projects have focused on everything from marketing, sales, distribution, and software training, to international studies and international marketing consulting.
In the last eight years, John has focused on real estate investment. He has comprehensively studied and developed tax-advantaged investing strategies, using IRAs, 401(k)s and 103s, to preserve and create wealth for clients. John has a BS from Brown in Computer Science, an MA through IBM in Industrial Electronics, as well as a PhD in International Trade and Management from the London School of Business. He continues to monitor the everyday changes in laws governing wealth preservation.
http://www.ira-401k-realestate.com/IYF-Video-Opt-In/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Krol
Become a Successful Real Estate Agent
Current Market
Nowadays, the US economy is facing one of the biggest recessions of all time. The real estate market is in a slump as well. But, like everything, it is not permanent too - there is nothing permanent except change.
Even in this condition, there are many areas where the property business does not have any bad impact as such. Though, now market is a buyer's market, but you can still sell and buy properties and earn a very good profit. It is important to understand that prime location properties are always in demand.
In this cutthroat competition, you have to be alert and act quickly as a good opportunity would not last longer - there are thousands of agents waiting for good opportunities in the market.
What businessman wants?
Every good businessman wants to buy a property at a low price and wants to sell it at a high price. This is the ideal time to buy good properties as their prices are low - a buyer can get very good profits once the recession period is over.
Look around for Properties
Always look around for those properties which are in the market for some time as usually their sellers are tired of waiting and ready to sell them at a negotiated or low price. Don't buy or recommend those properties that require a lot of maintenance work.
Moreover, if a house needs some minor repairs, get it done before calling the potential buyers for visits; always make the house as presentable as possible.
Nevertheless, you can buy or recommend a property that requires some maintenance work - in such cases, you can get the work done on your own in only a few hundred dollar, on the other hand, you can get a good discount from the seller.
Research is Key
Always do research about the neighborhood properties prices; it would help you in calculating the price of the property you are planning to buy. In addition, preference should be given in buying well-to-do neighborhoods. If you buy a property in run-down neighborhood, you might have to bear the loss - don't invest money in the run-down neighborhood.
Keep researching about the home you want to sell. Ask the owner about the history of the home - it might give you some good points that will help you in designing the sales pitch of the home.
Regardless of your working style, whether you are working as a part-time or a full-time real estate agent always try to attend seminar and conventions so that you can gain the knowledge of the current market trends and interact with other agents - you might get some customers over there too.
Make yourself as vocally expressive as possible. You should be a people friendly person. Never brag in front of your customers as it creates a negative effect - people are not mad these days, in fact, they are very well aware of the market.
'House for Sale' board is not ENOUGH
Remember! Only posting a board with the wordings like "House for Sale" does not do the job effectively. Always complete the paper work of the home so that it would not delay the selling process - it would also help you in improving your image as the customers don't want delays.
In the end, we can say that if you follow the aforementioned tips, you will certainly improve your impression among other real estate agents and potential customers; and eventually, you would be able to do more business.
Syed Rehan is associated with AgentCampus.com which provides Real Estate Education.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rehan_Syed
Nowadays, the US economy is facing one of the biggest recessions of all time. The real estate market is in a slump as well. But, like everything, it is not permanent too - there is nothing permanent except change.
Even in this condition, there are many areas where the property business does not have any bad impact as such. Though, now market is a buyer's market, but you can still sell and buy properties and earn a very good profit. It is important to understand that prime location properties are always in demand.
In this cutthroat competition, you have to be alert and act quickly as a good opportunity would not last longer - there are thousands of agents waiting for good opportunities in the market.
What businessman wants?
Every good businessman wants to buy a property at a low price and wants to sell it at a high price. This is the ideal time to buy good properties as their prices are low - a buyer can get very good profits once the recession period is over.
Look around for Properties
Always look around for those properties which are in the market for some time as usually their sellers are tired of waiting and ready to sell them at a negotiated or low price. Don't buy or recommend those properties that require a lot of maintenance work.
Moreover, if a house needs some minor repairs, get it done before calling the potential buyers for visits; always make the house as presentable as possible.
Nevertheless, you can buy or recommend a property that requires some maintenance work - in such cases, you can get the work done on your own in only a few hundred dollar, on the other hand, you can get a good discount from the seller.
Research is Key
Always do research about the neighborhood properties prices; it would help you in calculating the price of the property you are planning to buy. In addition, preference should be given in buying well-to-do neighborhoods. If you buy a property in run-down neighborhood, you might have to bear the loss - don't invest money in the run-down neighborhood.
Keep researching about the home you want to sell. Ask the owner about the history of the home - it might give you some good points that will help you in designing the sales pitch of the home.
Regardless of your working style, whether you are working as a part-time or a full-time real estate agent always try to attend seminar and conventions so that you can gain the knowledge of the current market trends and interact with other agents - you might get some customers over there too.
Make yourself as vocally expressive as possible. You should be a people friendly person. Never brag in front of your customers as it creates a negative effect - people are not mad these days, in fact, they are very well aware of the market.
'House for Sale' board is not ENOUGH
Remember! Only posting a board with the wordings like "House for Sale" does not do the job effectively. Always complete the paper work of the home so that it would not delay the selling process - it would also help you in improving your image as the customers don't want delays.
In the end, we can say that if you follow the aforementioned tips, you will certainly improve your impression among other real estate agents and potential customers; and eventually, you would be able to do more business.
Syed Rehan is associated with AgentCampus.com which provides Real Estate Education.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rehan_Syed
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Celebrities and Their Homes
Celebrities are big spenders in the fashion industry, motor industry and real estate as well. It is not always a success for all of them. Some have created their wealth and have maintained it for a good period, while others have shot to fame and lost the wealth that comes with it within a very short period.
Celebrities and their homes
Zillow, a company that performs rankings on real estate for celebrities, stated that Windermere listed a home in a neighborhood called Leschi for sale. It is to be sold for slightly over one million U.S dollars. Jimi Hendrix is said to have lived in this house.
Katherine Heigl, a star in the Grey's Anatomy series, plans to sell her home which is in Los Angeles for a total sum of about 1.7 million U.S dollars. She had bought this lavish house in the year 2006 for about 1.5 million U.S dollars.
Oprah Winfrey estimated her condo in Fisher Island, Florida, to be two million U.S dollars. Her condominium is not as lavish as would be expected of a house that costs that much, though location also counts when determining its worth.
Kiefer Sutherland's Silver Lake house cost him 4.895 million U.S dollars. He transformed the warehouse and made it his home. His taste and superiority in the Real Estate industry clearly indicates his status in society. Kiefer does his recording in his high quality studio from the comfort of his home.
Sylvester Stallone, a Beverly Hills inhabitant, purchased two mansions in an area called Thousand Oaks. One was estimated at 5.5 million U.S dollars while the other was projected to be 1.7 million U.S dollars.
Cary Grant's Daughter, Jennifer Grant, has her home estimated at 2.195 million U.S dollars. Another celebrity, Angela Bassett put up her French home for sale at a price of 3.8 million U.S dollars. By the time of the sale, the house had depreciated by 1.1 million. Chris O'Donnell, an actor, had his home sold for about 5.3 million U.S dollars. Rachel Zoe also had her house sold for 2.5 million U.S dollars. It was a two-bed roomed apartment situated in the Hollywood Hills.
There are quite a number of celebrities in the entertainment industry who made it big at some point in their lives but ended up bankrupt. Gary Coleman is such an example. This leads to demonstrate the importance of managing ones finances however small or large the income.
Julia Vakulenko is a licensed broker associate with Tampa4U.com Realty. She has one of the hardest working Tampa Real Estate team in Florida specializing in Tampa Condos and also in2Va T
Celebrities and their homes
Zillow, a company that performs rankings on real estate for celebrities, stated that Windermere listed a home in a neighborhood called Leschi for sale. It is to be sold for slightly over one million U.S dollars. Jimi Hendrix is said to have lived in this house.
Katherine Heigl, a star in the Grey's Anatomy series, plans to sell her home which is in Los Angeles for a total sum of about 1.7 million U.S dollars. She had bought this lavish house in the year 2006 for about 1.5 million U.S dollars.
Oprah Winfrey estimated her condo in Fisher Island, Florida, to be two million U.S dollars. Her condominium is not as lavish as would be expected of a house that costs that much, though location also counts when determining its worth.
Kiefer Sutherland's Silver Lake house cost him 4.895 million U.S dollars. He transformed the warehouse and made it his home. His taste and superiority in the Real Estate industry clearly indicates his status in society. Kiefer does his recording in his high quality studio from the comfort of his home.
Sylvester Stallone, a Beverly Hills inhabitant, purchased two mansions in an area called Thousand Oaks. One was estimated at 5.5 million U.S dollars while the other was projected to be 1.7 million U.S dollars.
Cary Grant's Daughter, Jennifer Grant, has her home estimated at 2.195 million U.S dollars. Another celebrity, Angela Bassett put up her French home for sale at a price of 3.8 million U.S dollars. By the time of the sale, the house had depreciated by 1.1 million. Chris O'Donnell, an actor, had his home sold for about 5.3 million U.S dollars. Rachel Zoe also had her house sold for 2.5 million U.S dollars. It was a two-bed roomed apartment situated in the Hollywood Hills.
There are quite a number of celebrities in the entertainment industry who made it big at some point in their lives but ended up bankrupt. Gary Coleman is such an example. This leads to demonstrate the importance of managing ones finances however small or large the income.
Julia Vakulenko is a licensed broker associate with Tampa4U.com Realty. She has one of the hardest working Tampa Real Estate team in Florida specializing in Tampa Condos and also in2Va T
How To Accept - And Love - Your Mobile Home Park Utilities
When you first buy a mobile home park, you are a little terrified of your water and sewer system. "What if it breaks down?" you worry. "Can I afford to fix it?". "Will my tenants get mad and leave if the water goes out for a couple days?".
One of the key things to remember is that each mobile home park's utilities has its own personality. Just like people, all utility systems have their own strengths and weaknesses. The key to living with your utility system is to recognize it's unique "personality" and to accept it for what it is. Here are a few of the different utility systems and their typical strengths and weaknesses:
Metal Water Lines
Burying metal in the ground is not a great idea. Metal rusts. So metal water lines are a time-delayed disaster. But how much time do you have? In some cases, a whole lot. I have seen metal water lines that have virtually no corrosion despite the fact that they're 50 years old. If you think about it, virtually all the water lines you can think of (unless you live in a brand new subdivision in a town that was entirely built in the 1990s) are made of metal. And everything seems to be O.K. Sure PVC is better, but metal can be just fine. And there's nothing you can do about it. Can I sleep at night with metal lines? You bet I can. I have had little trouble with all my metal lines, and I can definitely be proud of them with all their faults.
PVC Water Lines
If you have PVC water lines, you are a very, very fortunate person. There are very few parks out there that have them. They are the best. Nothing else can compete with them. Before you get too excited, make sure that the whole system is PVC. A lot of times, the park owner has retrofitted PVC onto metal lines where they come out of the ground. To have a PVC system, it has to be 100% PVC - below and above the ground.
Clay Tile Sewer
This was the standard design from about 1900 to the 1970s. Most of what you see out there is clay tile. It's basically sewer pipe that is ceramic - it looks like pipe made out of the same stuff as the flower pots at the fancy nursery. And it is really a pretty good system. I have had many clay tile sewer systems, and I was not worried about them when I went to sleep each night. The biggest weakness with clay tile is tree roots. The clay tile pipe does not fit together so tightly that tree roots can't find a way to get into such a terrific water source. So when you have clay tile, you will be doing a lot of rooter roto repair calls. But that's a manageable expense. The other weakness with clay tile is its inability to survive jetting of the lines. When you "jet" a line, you spray extremely high pressured water down the sewer lines to push any debris into the city main line. The high pressure spray can often cause a cracked pipe to cave in. When we discontinued jetting our clay tile lines, we had no further cave-ins.
Cast Iron Sewer Line
These are very rare systems. Of course, they are easy to work with. They don't cave in. They can deteriorate over time, theoretically, but I've never actually seen that happen. We've only had one of these systems, and the only fault it had was a series of "bellies", where the flow was slightly uphill in places to it would not drain properly. You would never lose sleep over a cast iron system.
Thin-Walled Plastic Sewer Line
This is the bad boy of the sewer pipe world. This is the crazy, undependable cousin of real utility lines. This junk will cave in all the time - sometimes in 50 foot segments. Having this type of sewer system is like inviting a mass murderer over as a house sitter. It might be O.K. or it might be a catastrophe. It's like the crazy gun slinger in a spaghetti western who might shoot you or smile at you. Living with that type of uncertainty will drive any sane person nuts. The only thing you can do with this type of system is "tough love"-if it can't work properly, then replace it. And make sure you budget for this eventuality when you buy the park. If I was looking at a park built with this junk, I wouldn't touch it unless I could re-pipe the entire park into PVC, and still have a great return on investment. And that's probably where you are going to end up, either replacing the system at one time or in sections over time. I can't sleep well with this stuff.
PVC Sewer Line
This is the Cadillac of the industry. It is, if properly installed, flawless. Whoever invented this stuff was a genius. I can think of no weakness with PVC. If you have a full PVC sewer system, then you are very lucky indeed.
Conclusion
Like people, water and sewer systems come in all types of shapes and sizes. But that does not mean that certain types are to be avoided or discriminated against. It is possible to accept the type you have, and be happy with it. You just have to understand the character flaws, and work around them.
To view Mobile Home Park Investing articles click here
About the Author:
Dave Reynolds is regarded as one of the leading Manufactured Housing Industry experts. He has purchased over 50 mobile home communities, 100's of mobile homes, and through his Mobile Home Parks website, he has helped thousands of investors buy and sell mobile home parks. Mr. Reynolds has also authored and co-authored some very informative books on investing in Mobile Home and RV parks. He can be reached at 1-800-950-1364 or via email.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Reynolds
One of the key things to remember is that each mobile home park's utilities has its own personality. Just like people, all utility systems have their own strengths and weaknesses. The key to living with your utility system is to recognize it's unique "personality" and to accept it for what it is. Here are a few of the different utility systems and their typical strengths and weaknesses:
Metal Water Lines
Burying metal in the ground is not a great idea. Metal rusts. So metal water lines are a time-delayed disaster. But how much time do you have? In some cases, a whole lot. I have seen metal water lines that have virtually no corrosion despite the fact that they're 50 years old. If you think about it, virtually all the water lines you can think of (unless you live in a brand new subdivision in a town that was entirely built in the 1990s) are made of metal. And everything seems to be O.K. Sure PVC is better, but metal can be just fine. And there's nothing you can do about it. Can I sleep at night with metal lines? You bet I can. I have had little trouble with all my metal lines, and I can definitely be proud of them with all their faults.
PVC Water Lines
If you have PVC water lines, you are a very, very fortunate person. There are very few parks out there that have them. They are the best. Nothing else can compete with them. Before you get too excited, make sure that the whole system is PVC. A lot of times, the park owner has retrofitted PVC onto metal lines where they come out of the ground. To have a PVC system, it has to be 100% PVC - below and above the ground.
Clay Tile Sewer
This was the standard design from about 1900 to the 1970s. Most of what you see out there is clay tile. It's basically sewer pipe that is ceramic - it looks like pipe made out of the same stuff as the flower pots at the fancy nursery. And it is really a pretty good system. I have had many clay tile sewer systems, and I was not worried about them when I went to sleep each night. The biggest weakness with clay tile is tree roots. The clay tile pipe does not fit together so tightly that tree roots can't find a way to get into such a terrific water source. So when you have clay tile, you will be doing a lot of rooter roto repair calls. But that's a manageable expense. The other weakness with clay tile is its inability to survive jetting of the lines. When you "jet" a line, you spray extremely high pressured water down the sewer lines to push any debris into the city main line. The high pressure spray can often cause a cracked pipe to cave in. When we discontinued jetting our clay tile lines, we had no further cave-ins.
Cast Iron Sewer Line
These are very rare systems. Of course, they are easy to work with. They don't cave in. They can deteriorate over time, theoretically, but I've never actually seen that happen. We've only had one of these systems, and the only fault it had was a series of "bellies", where the flow was slightly uphill in places to it would not drain properly. You would never lose sleep over a cast iron system.
Thin-Walled Plastic Sewer Line
This is the bad boy of the sewer pipe world. This is the crazy, undependable cousin of real utility lines. This junk will cave in all the time - sometimes in 50 foot segments. Having this type of sewer system is like inviting a mass murderer over as a house sitter. It might be O.K. or it might be a catastrophe. It's like the crazy gun slinger in a spaghetti western who might shoot you or smile at you. Living with that type of uncertainty will drive any sane person nuts. The only thing you can do with this type of system is "tough love"-if it can't work properly, then replace it. And make sure you budget for this eventuality when you buy the park. If I was looking at a park built with this junk, I wouldn't touch it unless I could re-pipe the entire park into PVC, and still have a great return on investment. And that's probably where you are going to end up, either replacing the system at one time or in sections over time. I can't sleep well with this stuff.
PVC Sewer Line
This is the Cadillac of the industry. It is, if properly installed, flawless. Whoever invented this stuff was a genius. I can think of no weakness with PVC. If you have a full PVC sewer system, then you are very lucky indeed.
Conclusion
Like people, water and sewer systems come in all types of shapes and sizes. But that does not mean that certain types are to be avoided or discriminated against. It is possible to accept the type you have, and be happy with it. You just have to understand the character flaws, and work around them.
To view Mobile Home Park Investing articles click here
About the Author:
Dave Reynolds is regarded as one of the leading Manufactured Housing Industry experts. He has purchased over 50 mobile home communities, 100's of mobile homes, and through his Mobile Home Parks website, he has helped thousands of investors buy and sell mobile home parks. Mr. Reynolds has also authored and co-authored some very informative books on investing in Mobile Home and RV parks. He can be reached at 1-800-950-1364 or via email.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Reynolds
Tramita Real Estate Fund Has Grown 2,342.40% Since Its Inception
Tramita Real Estate Fund is a name for trust. It is the perfect solution for investing in real estate securities. The firm believes in giving strong return potential to its clients. Tramita aims to circumvent the numerous factors that typically affect the traditional financial assets. The boom in the real estate market in the Middle East has opened new avenues for profit making ventures. Tramita believes that real estate securities are a means of achieving meaningful diversification in order to enjoy the benefits that may be associated with it. The real estate in the Middle East offers strong opportunities for making money and Tramita aims at delivering the advantages to its customers keeping in mind the need for protection in a bear market and favorable returns.
Investing in the real estate funds in the Middle East has been made easy by the products offered by Tramita. Tramita Real Estate Fund offers the security of a growing investment with due consideration to its security. Tramita allows you to liquidate your assets within a span of twenty four hours since they are evaluated on a regular basis. The entire process is transparent and easy to understand. Tramita emphasizes on the importance of long term investments since you stand to gain the most out of them. Tramita Real Estate Fund jumped above $150 in 2007, which is nearly 600 percent since the inception in 2002. Also, Tramita Real Estate Fund has grown 2,342.40% since its inception, giving 86.42% returns in year 2007 and average of 62.52% since year 2002. Hence, the Middle East real estate fund is being regarded as the next big offering in the scheme of long term investments.
The boom in the real estate sector in the Middle Eastern countries is predicted to continue for another ten years. Experts are of the opinion that if this region does not face natural calamities in the coming years, this drift will continue to be on the rise for the next decade. Once upon a time, these countries were regarded as mere stretches of sand. Now, it seems to be an area of furious activities. In many of the Gulf countries, the cities have been customized and designed by the respective governments. One good example is the King Abdullah City, which is the largest project that has been initiated with the total expenditure at $26 billion targets the earlier underdeveloped stretches of Saudi Arabian coast lines.
Another good example is Oman that has been redesigned in order to accommodate the two million tourists that visit it each year. The entire real estate development also aims to provide added comforts to its 250,000 permanent residents. Examples of similar such developments are the New Town and Industrial Projects in Bahrain, which are believed to cost over $2.2 billion. These are typically constructed on reclaimed land since a shortage of land is being perceived. The Lusail development project in Qatar that is evaluated at 5 billion is set to hold 200,000 inhabitants.
Perhaps the best known example of the boom in real estate is Dubai. Dubai has many projects valued at a figure close to $200 billion. The demand for real estate in Dubai seems to be on the rise everyday. The American magnate Donald Trump who bought property in Dubai only to reap in the profits recognized this trend in the earlier days. Soon, many other celebrities too, followed suit. The residential, commercial as well as tourist estate suddenly has an increased demand. Not to be left far behind is Abu Dhabi and the adjacent areas. These areas, too are witnessing a rapid real estate boom.
Form above you must be convinced that the Tramita Real Estate Fund is most ideal and beneficial for making investments in the real estate market.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victor_Frantz
Investing in the real estate funds in the Middle East has been made easy by the products offered by Tramita. Tramita Real Estate Fund offers the security of a growing investment with due consideration to its security. Tramita allows you to liquidate your assets within a span of twenty four hours since they are evaluated on a regular basis. The entire process is transparent and easy to understand. Tramita emphasizes on the importance of long term investments since you stand to gain the most out of them. Tramita Real Estate Fund jumped above $150 in 2007, which is nearly 600 percent since the inception in 2002. Also, Tramita Real Estate Fund has grown 2,342.40% since its inception, giving 86.42% returns in year 2007 and average of 62.52% since year 2002. Hence, the Middle East real estate fund is being regarded as the next big offering in the scheme of long term investments.
The boom in the real estate sector in the Middle Eastern countries is predicted to continue for another ten years. Experts are of the opinion that if this region does not face natural calamities in the coming years, this drift will continue to be on the rise for the next decade. Once upon a time, these countries were regarded as mere stretches of sand. Now, it seems to be an area of furious activities. In many of the Gulf countries, the cities have been customized and designed by the respective governments. One good example is the King Abdullah City, which is the largest project that has been initiated with the total expenditure at $26 billion targets the earlier underdeveloped stretches of Saudi Arabian coast lines.
Another good example is Oman that has been redesigned in order to accommodate the two million tourists that visit it each year. The entire real estate development also aims to provide added comforts to its 250,000 permanent residents. Examples of similar such developments are the New Town and Industrial Projects in Bahrain, which are believed to cost over $2.2 billion. These are typically constructed on reclaimed land since a shortage of land is being perceived. The Lusail development project in Qatar that is evaluated at 5 billion is set to hold 200,000 inhabitants.
Perhaps the best known example of the boom in real estate is Dubai. Dubai has many projects valued at a figure close to $200 billion. The demand for real estate in Dubai seems to be on the rise everyday. The American magnate Donald Trump who bought property in Dubai only to reap in the profits recognized this trend in the earlier days. Soon, many other celebrities too, followed suit. The residential, commercial as well as tourist estate suddenly has an increased demand. Not to be left far behind is Abu Dhabi and the adjacent areas. These areas, too are witnessing a rapid real estate boom.
Form above you must be convinced that the Tramita Real Estate Fund is most ideal and beneficial for making investments in the real estate market.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victor_Frantz
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Property Management: Online Payments Can Save You Time and Money
"How Accepting Online Payments Can Save You Time and Money"
Whether you're an active property manager, or you pay someone to handle management tasks for your rental properties, you're investing time and money in juggling a myriad of tenant, property management and maintenance tasks. Just one of these is the collection of, and accounting for, rent payments.
* Issue of rent billing and/or reminders for prompt payment
* Delinquent payment reminders and action items
* Receipt of paper checks and accounting for proper tenant credit
* Preparation of deposit records and bank trips to make deposits
In an article titled Businesses Adopt Online Payments To Improve Cash Flow And Save Time And Money , WorkZ, a site for small business help, cites a Gartner research study on the costs of processing manual payments. The study indicated a cost of $2 to $5 to send a paper bill, and $10 to process a paper check. These numbers are related to a successful billing and on-time payment. As property owners and managers, we regularly experience late rental payments, with the associated costs of reminders and action to bring the tenant into compliance.
An actual property management example was outlined in the WorkZ article, beginning with this statement from the company involved: "Andrew Bloch, CFO and Alan Cusson, IT Manager of The Hamilton Company, Boston, Massachusetts, a large property management company, stated "that we have been looking for a solution where we could send a statement to our many tenants either by email or fax and to allow our tenant to be able to make payment over the Internet. Our company processes a significant number of transactions each month and it is very costly to send out statements. The problem with paper checks is that it takes a lot of time and money to handle them,"
Of course, there is the ability to accept credit cards. However, the costs involved will make a significant dent in profitability. With the various fees involved in accepting cards, costs can be 2% to 4% of rentals. These fees are saved by the direct debit of the tenant's bank account, and immediate deposit into the property management account. The electronic rent collection services offered by Buildium make this happen, and at a very low per-transaction cost. There are no credit card processing fees, and the cost to process a paper check is slashed by more than 80%.
By using an online rental payment system, the tenant gets some advantages as well:
* Ability to track their rental account history online
* They can pay from anywhere, even on vacation or away for business
* They save postage and a trip to the post office or mailbox
* It's convenience in a very busy world
We owners and property managers save time and money by avoiding those trips to the bank to make deposits. Our cash flow improves, as the funds are deposited into our account immediately. The Buildium online payments system takes care of the accounting function as well, automatically crediting the appropriate rental account, as well as monitoring delinquency status and sending reminders.
Whether you own or manage five units or 5000, this is a proven way to improve cash flow, cut administrative costs, and reduce staff workload.
About the Author
Dimitris Georgakopoulos is Vice President of Technology and one of the founders of Buildium LLC, maker of online property management software for landlords, professional property managers, condos and homeowner associations (HOAs) designed to help them operate more easily and with better results. For further details, visit the website, http://www.buildium.com or contact Dimitris direct
Whether you're an active property manager, or you pay someone to handle management tasks for your rental properties, you're investing time and money in juggling a myriad of tenant, property management and maintenance tasks. Just one of these is the collection of, and accounting for, rent payments.
* Issue of rent billing and/or reminders for prompt payment
* Delinquent payment reminders and action items
* Receipt of paper checks and accounting for proper tenant credit
* Preparation of deposit records and bank trips to make deposits
In an article titled Businesses Adopt Online Payments To Improve Cash Flow And Save Time And Money , WorkZ, a site for small business help, cites a Gartner research study on the costs of processing manual payments. The study indicated a cost of $2 to $5 to send a paper bill, and $10 to process a paper check. These numbers are related to a successful billing and on-time payment. As property owners and managers, we regularly experience late rental payments, with the associated costs of reminders and action to bring the tenant into compliance.
An actual property management example was outlined in the WorkZ article, beginning with this statement from the company involved: "Andrew Bloch, CFO and Alan Cusson, IT Manager of The Hamilton Company, Boston, Massachusetts, a large property management company, stated "that we have been looking for a solution where we could send a statement to our many tenants either by email or fax and to allow our tenant to be able to make payment over the Internet. Our company processes a significant number of transactions each month and it is very costly to send out statements. The problem with paper checks is that it takes a lot of time and money to handle them,"
Of course, there is the ability to accept credit cards. However, the costs involved will make a significant dent in profitability. With the various fees involved in accepting cards, costs can be 2% to 4% of rentals. These fees are saved by the direct debit of the tenant's bank account, and immediate deposit into the property management account. The electronic rent collection services offered by Buildium make this happen, and at a very low per-transaction cost. There are no credit card processing fees, and the cost to process a paper check is slashed by more than 80%.
By using an online rental payment system, the tenant gets some advantages as well:
* Ability to track their rental account history online
* They can pay from anywhere, even on vacation or away for business
* They save postage and a trip to the post office or mailbox
* It's convenience in a very busy world
We owners and property managers save time and money by avoiding those trips to the bank to make deposits. Our cash flow improves, as the funds are deposited into our account immediately. The Buildium online payments system takes care of the accounting function as well, automatically crediting the appropriate rental account, as well as monitoring delinquency status and sending reminders.
Whether you own or manage five units or 5000, this is a proven way to improve cash flow, cut administrative costs, and reduce staff workload.
About the Author
Dimitris Georgakopoulos is Vice President of Technology and one of the founders of Buildium LLC, maker of online property management software for landlords, professional property managers, condos and homeowner associations (HOAs) designed to help them operate more easily and with better results. For further details, visit the website, http://www.buildium.com or contact Dimitris direct
Lease Option Real Estate Investing
Lease Option Investing
Exactly what is lease option real estate investing? A lease option is basically a rent-to-own contract for a piece of real estate. The buyer signs an exclusive contract to have buying rights to a property after a given amount of time. When the allotted time expires, the buyer can do one of two things: buy at the price agreed on when the contract was signed, or don't buy the property and forfeit down payment.
To make this easier, let's take a look at this from a buyer's eyes.
Buyer
Why would anyone use a lease option for real estate investing? Try risk management. If you were shopping for a home a few years ago (before the market went bad) but were unclear if the area would be hit by recession, you could use a lease option to pay monthly 'rent' and then wait for the contract to expire. The next step would be to get the property appraised. As a buyer, a lease option means you do NOT have to buy the property.
So when you look at the home appraisal after a few years, you compare the current market value to that of the agreed upon purchase price. If the home is worth more than what you agreed, you can purchase and gain instant equity. But, if the property went down in value, then you can leave the deal with no ties and are only lose the down and monthly payments.
How about some real numbers to see how this works? You sign a lease option to buy a home for 100,000 after a 3 year contract. You put 3% down for the contract as you 'good faith', and agree to pay 100$, above current market rents (this excess going toward a future down payment when the real purchase takes place).
When the contract is over you have the home appraised. Luckily the home went up 10% over the last three years! Suddenly you have exclusive rights to buy the home for 10k below the current market value! Since you already put 3% down and can couple that with 100/month (2400) credited for the purchase, you have a total of 5400 (5.4%) toward the real purchase! Now, 10% of 110000 is 11,000 and you now have 5400+10k in equity for a total of 15400 towards buying this property! So, with 3% down and a little thriftiness you have gained a 15.4% down payment!
Yeah, but if the house went down in value? So the appraisal comes in at 90,000. Ordinarily, since the house went down 10k, you would have to shoulder that loss. But since you purchased a lease option, you get to walk away from the property instantly and with no further commitments. However, you do lose the down payment and the extra 100/month. In otherwords, you lose 5400$. Yes it's a loss. However, if you had bought the home for 100,000, you would be suffering a loss of 10,000 instead of 5400! This is a loss regardless, but you save yourself nearly double the loss by using a lease option.
But how does this benefit the seller?
Seller
During these poor economic times, it's very tough to sell your property since there are many sellers polluting the market and increasing the number of unsold houses. The excessive inventory lowers overall prices. Now, for some reason (personal or financial) you need to sell your property and fast or cover the payments.
Lease options can do both and here is how.
Thanks to the financial education available, many people want to buy a home but do not have the credit or the full down payment needed to buy a home. Seriously, how many people do you personally know that could be identified as one or the other? These people are ready and willing to buy a property but can't get a bank to look in their direction. Hence why a lease option for a low down payment that accepts medium to poor credit has such a strong customer base.
Okay, time for some more real numbers, this time from the seller's perspective. Let's assume you have a home that you paid 200,000 to buy. Then the market plummeted and now your home is worth 190k. You will have a 10,000 loss in combination with realtor fees if you were to sell your house. I doubt this sounds appealing. What about renting it out to cover the payments? Assume local rents for a 3/2 in your area average 1100. This would not cover your approximate $1400 payments. Are you screwed? No.
You jump on craig's list and offer to lease option you home. 'Rent to own this 205k house for as little as 6k down!' Then you detail the extra monthly amount that will go toward the future total down. Notice you asked for MORE than what the property is currently worth. Why? Because those buying the lease option are buying based on an ESTIMATE of what the home will be worth when the contract expires.
Now take a look at the monthly premium. Obviously the regular rents in the area will not cover you payments. So let's break the payments down a bit. Of the $1400, roughly 200 is used to reduce the principle, so you will get it back upon selling. So the1400 is really 1200. That's isn't too far from the1100 regular rent. Since you're doing someone a favor by carrying the contract, asking an extra 100 more should be reasonable. HOWEVER, the buyer will also be paying more to be used as a future down IF they decide to buy. If the buyer does not exercise the option, then you get to keep all the extra money (down and extra monthly payments).
What this means is that your monthly payment would be 1100 plus a 'fee' of 100. In addition, there is the negotiable amount toward the buyer's future down payment. Assume that extra payment is 200/month over the 3 year contract. The buyer could have the mitigated risk purchase of your home IMMEDIATELY for a paltry 6000$ down and modified monthly payments of 1400. Oh, but we aren't finished. That just happens to be the exact same amount you're paying and you have a real bank mortagage!! Hopefully you can see how this could be appealing to potential buyers that are lacking the down payment. And it's all mitigated for risk!
So how does that really benefit you? Well, the buyer agrees to a purchase price that is NOT impacted by the current economic slow down. You adjust the this price as if the property had never lost any value. In other words, you want a 3% annual appreciation on your home so you offer a 1 year purchase price of 200,000+3% or a two year buy price of (200k+3%)+3%. This would be 206k and 212180 respectively.
The 3% is really $6k. But, isn't that the same as the down payment for the option?! So if the buyer does NOT buy the house after 1 year, you STILL get the 3%!! Now, add in the extra monthly 200 and you get another 2400 per year! And if they DO buy the house? You get your 200k+3% anyway! Lease options are a win-win situation.
You get your % regardless of the market value and the buyer gets their purchase mitigated for risk at the same price while getting a potentially substantial gain in equity!
Conclusion:
Lease option real estate investing is a rent-to-own strategy that works through signing a contract for exclusive buyer privileges at the end of the agreed upon time period for an agreed upon amount. This contract can VERY easily work to the benefit of both the buyer and the seller, and allows for property sales at your asking price even in recessed markets.
Lease option real estate investing should definitely be considered by either the investor, the buyer, or both!
About the Author
The korprit zombie is an author for Beginner Investing & Passive Income and an avid enthusiast of entrepreneurial exploration.
Exactly what is lease option real estate investing? A lease option is basically a rent-to-own contract for a piece of real estate. The buyer signs an exclusive contract to have buying rights to a property after a given amount of time. When the allotted time expires, the buyer can do one of two things: buy at the price agreed on when the contract was signed, or don't buy the property and forfeit down payment.
To make this easier, let's take a look at this from a buyer's eyes.
Buyer
Why would anyone use a lease option for real estate investing? Try risk management. If you were shopping for a home a few years ago (before the market went bad) but were unclear if the area would be hit by recession, you could use a lease option to pay monthly 'rent' and then wait for the contract to expire. The next step would be to get the property appraised. As a buyer, a lease option means you do NOT have to buy the property.
So when you look at the home appraisal after a few years, you compare the current market value to that of the agreed upon purchase price. If the home is worth more than what you agreed, you can purchase and gain instant equity. But, if the property went down in value, then you can leave the deal with no ties and are only lose the down and monthly payments.
How about some real numbers to see how this works? You sign a lease option to buy a home for 100,000 after a 3 year contract. You put 3% down for the contract as you 'good faith', and agree to pay 100$, above current market rents (this excess going toward a future down payment when the real purchase takes place).
When the contract is over you have the home appraised. Luckily the home went up 10% over the last three years! Suddenly you have exclusive rights to buy the home for 10k below the current market value! Since you already put 3% down and can couple that with 100/month (2400) credited for the purchase, you have a total of 5400 (5.4%) toward the real purchase! Now, 10% of 110000 is 11,000 and you now have 5400+10k in equity for a total of 15400 towards buying this property! So, with 3% down and a little thriftiness you have gained a 15.4% down payment!
Yeah, but if the house went down in value? So the appraisal comes in at 90,000. Ordinarily, since the house went down 10k, you would have to shoulder that loss. But since you purchased a lease option, you get to walk away from the property instantly and with no further commitments. However, you do lose the down payment and the extra 100/month. In otherwords, you lose 5400$. Yes it's a loss. However, if you had bought the home for 100,000, you would be suffering a loss of 10,000 instead of 5400! This is a loss regardless, but you save yourself nearly double the loss by using a lease option.
But how does this benefit the seller?
Seller
During these poor economic times, it's very tough to sell your property since there are many sellers polluting the market and increasing the number of unsold houses. The excessive inventory lowers overall prices. Now, for some reason (personal or financial) you need to sell your property and fast or cover the payments.
Lease options can do both and here is how.
Thanks to the financial education available, many people want to buy a home but do not have the credit or the full down payment needed to buy a home. Seriously, how many people do you personally know that could be identified as one or the other? These people are ready and willing to buy a property but can't get a bank to look in their direction. Hence why a lease option for a low down payment that accepts medium to poor credit has such a strong customer base.
Okay, time for some more real numbers, this time from the seller's perspective. Let's assume you have a home that you paid 200,000 to buy. Then the market plummeted and now your home is worth 190k. You will have a 10,000 loss in combination with realtor fees if you were to sell your house. I doubt this sounds appealing. What about renting it out to cover the payments? Assume local rents for a 3/2 in your area average 1100. This would not cover your approximate $1400 payments. Are you screwed? No.
You jump on craig's list and offer to lease option you home. 'Rent to own this 205k house for as little as 6k down!' Then you detail the extra monthly amount that will go toward the future total down. Notice you asked for MORE than what the property is currently worth. Why? Because those buying the lease option are buying based on an ESTIMATE of what the home will be worth when the contract expires.
Now take a look at the monthly premium. Obviously the regular rents in the area will not cover you payments. So let's break the payments down a bit. Of the $1400, roughly 200 is used to reduce the principle, so you will get it back upon selling. So the1400 is really 1200. That's isn't too far from the1100 regular rent. Since you're doing someone a favor by carrying the contract, asking an extra 100 more should be reasonable. HOWEVER, the buyer will also be paying more to be used as a future down IF they decide to buy. If the buyer does not exercise the option, then you get to keep all the extra money (down and extra monthly payments).
What this means is that your monthly payment would be 1100 plus a 'fee' of 100. In addition, there is the negotiable amount toward the buyer's future down payment. Assume that extra payment is 200/month over the 3 year contract. The buyer could have the mitigated risk purchase of your home IMMEDIATELY for a paltry 6000$ down and modified monthly payments of 1400. Oh, but we aren't finished. That just happens to be the exact same amount you're paying and you have a real bank mortagage!! Hopefully you can see how this could be appealing to potential buyers that are lacking the down payment. And it's all mitigated for risk!
So how does that really benefit you? Well, the buyer agrees to a purchase price that is NOT impacted by the current economic slow down. You adjust the this price as if the property had never lost any value. In other words, you want a 3% annual appreciation on your home so you offer a 1 year purchase price of 200,000+3% or a two year buy price of (200k+3%)+3%. This would be 206k and 212180 respectively.
The 3% is really $6k. But, isn't that the same as the down payment for the option?! So if the buyer does NOT buy the house after 1 year, you STILL get the 3%!! Now, add in the extra monthly 200 and you get another 2400 per year! And if they DO buy the house? You get your 200k+3% anyway! Lease options are a win-win situation.
You get your % regardless of the market value and the buyer gets their purchase mitigated for risk at the same price while getting a potentially substantial gain in equity!
Conclusion:
Lease option real estate investing is a rent-to-own strategy that works through signing a contract for exclusive buyer privileges at the end of the agreed upon time period for an agreed upon amount. This contract can VERY easily work to the benefit of both the buyer and the seller, and allows for property sales at your asking price even in recessed markets.
Lease option real estate investing should definitely be considered by either the investor, the buyer, or both!
About the Author
The korprit zombie is an author for Beginner Investing & Passive Income and an avid enthusiast of entrepreneurial exploration.
An Easy Way to Save Money on Your Mortgage
You pay the exact same sum on your mortgage each month, but a simple trick that doesn’t change the amount can save you a lot of money. It is a simple but powerful solution that not a lot of people are aware of.
We get paid each two weeks, as a rule. As we all know, things are usually easier at the beginning of these two weeks than at the end. And yet, we basically spend the same amount every week.
But we outlay the bulk of our money early in the period and then struggle at the end. The solution to this problem is to budget your funds in general, but budgeting your home loan payment, the biggest single expense for most people is sure to help the problem.
This simple trick saves thousands of dollars for most people, and will pay off a mortgage more quickly as well. For an $80,000 mortgage that has a 30 year term and a 7% interest rate, this simple trick can save in excess of $25,000.
Merely pay one half of your mortgage at the beginning of the month, and one half later, instead of all at the end. (This is what most people do, in order to make the beginning of the month due date.)
There is no real mystery to this: as you pay your mortgage earlier and earlier, you bring forward the eventual due date of the loan.
Because of this fact, your total interest payments are less.
Because of the way mortgage interest is calculated and paid down, most of your initial mortgage payments are allocated to pay interest, and only a small portion goes to principal. Since you pay so little of the principal, the interest keeps growing. But if you can speed up the amount of remittances, the principal part that is paid starts to rise faster. This will cause an early payoff of your whole mortgage!
Ask your bank if they have a form to make this choice, or just send an extra payment in well marked with your loan number. Alternatively, you can make copies of your payment notification and send them in with the additional payment.
As you can see, without any effect on the total impact on your monthly expenses, you have found the magic recipe for saving tons of interest and paying your mortgage down ahead of time.
About the Author
If you would like to know more about hypothèque visit: taux hypothécaire. You are responsible to verify that the information in the article is valid in your region before using it.
We get paid each two weeks, as a rule. As we all know, things are usually easier at the beginning of these two weeks than at the end. And yet, we basically spend the same amount every week.
But we outlay the bulk of our money early in the period and then struggle at the end. The solution to this problem is to budget your funds in general, but budgeting your home loan payment, the biggest single expense for most people is sure to help the problem.
This simple trick saves thousands of dollars for most people, and will pay off a mortgage more quickly as well. For an $80,000 mortgage that has a 30 year term and a 7% interest rate, this simple trick can save in excess of $25,000.
Merely pay one half of your mortgage at the beginning of the month, and one half later, instead of all at the end. (This is what most people do, in order to make the beginning of the month due date.)
There is no real mystery to this: as you pay your mortgage earlier and earlier, you bring forward the eventual due date of the loan.
Because of this fact, your total interest payments are less.
Because of the way mortgage interest is calculated and paid down, most of your initial mortgage payments are allocated to pay interest, and only a small portion goes to principal. Since you pay so little of the principal, the interest keeps growing. But if you can speed up the amount of remittances, the principal part that is paid starts to rise faster. This will cause an early payoff of your whole mortgage!
Ask your bank if they have a form to make this choice, or just send an extra payment in well marked with your loan number. Alternatively, you can make copies of your payment notification and send them in with the additional payment.
As you can see, without any effect on the total impact on your monthly expenses, you have found the magic recipe for saving tons of interest and paying your mortgage down ahead of time.
About the Author
If you would like to know more about hypothèque visit: taux hypothécaire. You are responsible to verify that the information in the article is valid in your region before using it.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Real Estate Agent - How They Make Money!
Have you ever wondered how your real estate agent gets paid? Sure, there is talk of commission, percentages, fees, closing costs- all of these are broken down at closing. But, what does he actually get? Surprisingly, you do not pay your agent a commission. Only a licensed broker can get paid a commission and he is the one who pays your agent. There are also a number of ways to divvy up the pay. The person who worked so hard to sell or find your house may not be making as much as you think. Here are some of the ways the money makes it to your representative:
A real estate agent works for a licensed broker or brokerage house. When he brings a client to the table, either for buying or selling, an agreement is signed between the client and the brokerage house. Typically when a sale is made, an average of 6% of the sale price is commission for the brokers. It is not always a straight split, but close to half, which goes to the broker representing the seller and the buyer.
Once the commission is divided up between the houses, the brokers then decide how much to pass down to the agent who actually did the leg work. This amount varies depending on experience, time with the company and the productivity level of the representative. A brand new representative may only get thirty percent of the cut where as a seasoned pro that brings in a ton of business, may get half or more of the proceeds.
Another option is that the agent gets all of the commission, but pays a monthly fee to the brokerage house. This is sort of a rent. He gets an office and uses the company name to back his reputation. This is an attractive deal to many representatives, because they pay the same amount every month, no matter how much they make. For new people to the business who have not built up a client list and do not benefit from word-of-mouth yet, the traditional split is usually preferable, because they may not make enough every month to make the set payment.
There are some factors that eat into the final profit made by the brokerage house and the representative. If the house is a franchise, there is a fee that must be paid to them out of every commission. Sometimes referrals come into play as well. If a brokerage house sends a customer to you, they will want a referral fee. There is a percentage that also comes out of the commission.
Typically, this commission is paid by the seller at closing. However, depending on the type of market, this is negotiable. Another negotiable point is how the commission is divided. If you are having a difficult time in selling, because the market is flooded with houses, you may want your representative to offer a bigger cut of the commission to the buyer's representative. This may help close the deal.
So, as you can see, there is more to the payment than simply figuring 6%. After everyone else gets the money, your real estate agent is then paid the amount.
There are some factors to be considered while dividing the profit between the broker and the agent. Asheville NC real estate gives you information on division of commission and finalizing the deal. Visit Preferred Real Estate Center http://www.preferredrealestatecenter.com for details.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Stratton
A real estate agent works for a licensed broker or brokerage house. When he brings a client to the table, either for buying or selling, an agreement is signed between the client and the brokerage house. Typically when a sale is made, an average of 6% of the sale price is commission for the brokers. It is not always a straight split, but close to half, which goes to the broker representing the seller and the buyer.
Once the commission is divided up between the houses, the brokers then decide how much to pass down to the agent who actually did the leg work. This amount varies depending on experience, time with the company and the productivity level of the representative. A brand new representative may only get thirty percent of the cut where as a seasoned pro that brings in a ton of business, may get half or more of the proceeds.
Another option is that the agent gets all of the commission, but pays a monthly fee to the brokerage house. This is sort of a rent. He gets an office and uses the company name to back his reputation. This is an attractive deal to many representatives, because they pay the same amount every month, no matter how much they make. For new people to the business who have not built up a client list and do not benefit from word-of-mouth yet, the traditional split is usually preferable, because they may not make enough every month to make the set payment.
There are some factors that eat into the final profit made by the brokerage house and the representative. If the house is a franchise, there is a fee that must be paid to them out of every commission. Sometimes referrals come into play as well. If a brokerage house sends a customer to you, they will want a referral fee. There is a percentage that also comes out of the commission.
Typically, this commission is paid by the seller at closing. However, depending on the type of market, this is negotiable. Another negotiable point is how the commission is divided. If you are having a difficult time in selling, because the market is flooded with houses, you may want your representative to offer a bigger cut of the commission to the buyer's representative. This may help close the deal.
So, as you can see, there is more to the payment than simply figuring 6%. After everyone else gets the money, your real estate agent is then paid the amount.
There are some factors to be considered while dividing the profit between the broker and the agent. Asheville NC real estate gives you information on division of commission and finalizing the deal. Visit Preferred Real Estate Center http://www.preferredrealestatecenter.com for details.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Stratton
Philadelphia Real Estate - Best Places to Live!
So you have decided to move to Philadelphia, but are not too familiar with the area. You have talked to your family and friends, and everyone seems to point you in different directions. Your head is spinning because you don't want to make any mistakes, and I don't blame you! There are areas to run to, and areas to run away from. I am going to tell you about a few of the best areas in Center City Philadelphia to live in.
You have to consider a few things when deciding on a place to live. The first and most obvious is price. How much are you willing to spend on your dream house, and how much can you actually qualify for? (A pre-approval from a mortgage lender will answer this question)
The second thing to consider is location. Where do you work? Where do you like to spend your free time? What is important to you about location? The first two items go hand in hand with each other, The more desirable the location, the more expensive the house will be.
The third item to consider is safety. Center city has some extremely safe neighborhoods, but nestled between those safe neighborhoods are neighborhoods you want to avoid. Once you have ranked the first three items, you will be able to get into specifics.
According to the Trend MLS 2008 1st quarter economic report, the top 2 most expensive zip codes are as follows:
19103- Average sales price - $564,600. This area is known as Rittenhouse Square, and is known as one of the most prestigious areas in Center City. The boundaries are South of Market, North of Lombard, West of 15th, East of 22nd.
19106- Average sales price - $562,200. This zip code is made up of Old City, which stretches from the Delaware River, south of Vine Street, north of Walnut Street, and east of 7th Street; and Society Hill, which goes from South of Walnut, North of Lombard, West of Delaware, East of 6th.
Rittenhouse Square, Society Hill and Old City are all very desirable areas where value continues to remain steady. These neighborhoods are built out for the most part, and it is difficult to find raw land for a reasonable price in these areas. If location is your top priority, and price will not stand in your way, these areas may be good places to look for a house. There are tons of restaurants and stores, and many nice parks for kids or dogs.
If price is a concern, and you are looking for something with more space and possibly some parking, Graduate Hospital may be a better choice for you. You will have an easier time finding a newer house for a more reasonable price, and parking is not as big of an issue there. The borders of Graduate Hospital are South of Lombard, North of Washington, East of the Schuylkill River, West of Broad, although I caution you about the specific streets you choose.
If you want to find out more information about these areas, or other areas in Philadelphia, please click here.
Noah Ostroff
Licensed PA Realtor
Coldwell Banker Preferred
For more information about Philadelphia Real Estate, please send an email to nostroff@cbpref.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Noah_Ostroff
You have to consider a few things when deciding on a place to live. The first and most obvious is price. How much are you willing to spend on your dream house, and how much can you actually qualify for? (A pre-approval from a mortgage lender will answer this question)
The second thing to consider is location. Where do you work? Where do you like to spend your free time? What is important to you about location? The first two items go hand in hand with each other, The more desirable the location, the more expensive the house will be.
The third item to consider is safety. Center city has some extremely safe neighborhoods, but nestled between those safe neighborhoods are neighborhoods you want to avoid. Once you have ranked the first three items, you will be able to get into specifics.
According to the Trend MLS 2008 1st quarter economic report, the top 2 most expensive zip codes are as follows:
19103- Average sales price - $564,600. This area is known as Rittenhouse Square, and is known as one of the most prestigious areas in Center City. The boundaries are South of Market, North of Lombard, West of 15th, East of 22nd.
19106- Average sales price - $562,200. This zip code is made up of Old City, which stretches from the Delaware River, south of Vine Street, north of Walnut Street, and east of 7th Street; and Society Hill, which goes from South of Walnut, North of Lombard, West of Delaware, East of 6th.
Rittenhouse Square, Society Hill and Old City are all very desirable areas where value continues to remain steady. These neighborhoods are built out for the most part, and it is difficult to find raw land for a reasonable price in these areas. If location is your top priority, and price will not stand in your way, these areas may be good places to look for a house. There are tons of restaurants and stores, and many nice parks for kids or dogs.
If price is a concern, and you are looking for something with more space and possibly some parking, Graduate Hospital may be a better choice for you. You will have an easier time finding a newer house for a more reasonable price, and parking is not as big of an issue there. The borders of Graduate Hospital are South of Lombard, North of Washington, East of the Schuylkill River, West of Broad, although I caution you about the specific streets you choose.
If you want to find out more information about these areas, or other areas in Philadelphia, please click here.
Noah Ostroff
Licensed PA Realtor
Coldwell Banker Preferred
For more information about Philadelphia Real Estate, please send an email to nostroff@cbpref.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Noah_Ostroff
Florida Real Estate and Inflation
A constant motto in my conversations with potential customers is that inflation is a key factor in Real Estate investment. My personal feelings have always been that inflation indexes and calculation have historically been somehow skewed and distorted and that they don't accurately reflect the reality of our currency devaluation throughout the last two decades.
A quick trip to supermarkets and gas stations and a quick look at your property taxes, property insurance bills, the price a new home, will quickly put in doubt the touted 2% or 2,5% annual inflation rates included in official economic data. All signs are that we are heading into a period of high inflation, fed by enormous hikes in oil and food prices.
Real estate is a unique, valuable and tangible asset, which is not always the case with stock market shares, bonds, and other paper investments. World's population is constantly growing; the amount of available land and recourses is not. Unlike a dollar in the bank, its actual value will not shrink with inflation. Real estate will always be needed for residence, commercial, farming and industrial use.
My opinion has always been that, if we follow certain criteria and reasonable principles when acquiring real estate, it will always be, on the long term, the best investment we've ever made. In Florida, this is especially true, since we are one of the fastest growing states in the US, and we are due for a continued migration from of baby boomers from Northern states, Latin Americans, and Europeans. The very high inventory of condos and homes available will be eventually absorbed - and faster than most of us realize. After all, a couple of years of low construction would be enough.
The newspapers, on July 17th, 2008 were talking of a last month inflation percentage in the vicinity of 1% or more. Is that scary? Even though they clarify that it's due to fuel and foods only, while in other items such as clothing, it was actually negative, I am afraid that, in the longer term, food and fuel will reflect on all other components. Not only transportation, heating, energy are affected by fuel prices.
Practically every other item will surely feel the pressure and eventually ride the inflation wave.
It's a fact that once inflation takes off, it is self-feeding and hard to contain. Not that I want to be a fear monger, but I have seen this happen in the past and I have seen banks paying 18% interests on Certificates of deposit!
It is true that inflation can be a blessing for many mortgage borrowers, when their interests are at a fixed rate. Imagine paying during 30 years a mortgage at 6%, when inflation could be in the range of 10 or 15% and new buyers could be paying an 18% fixed rate! Impossible? Not really, it has already happened not so long ago.
That's what, sooner than most believe, real estate is due for a strong recovery. And you better not be too late!
Henry B. Nathan is a Realtor in South Florida.
Please visit my office at Sunny Isles.
I invite you to also visit my website with one of the top real estate database. Great Search Tools will make your search enjoyable and successful.
http://www.condo-southflorida.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Henry_B._Nathan
A quick trip to supermarkets and gas stations and a quick look at your property taxes, property insurance bills, the price a new home, will quickly put in doubt the touted 2% or 2,5% annual inflation rates included in official economic data. All signs are that we are heading into a period of high inflation, fed by enormous hikes in oil and food prices.
Real estate is a unique, valuable and tangible asset, which is not always the case with stock market shares, bonds, and other paper investments. World's population is constantly growing; the amount of available land and recourses is not. Unlike a dollar in the bank, its actual value will not shrink with inflation. Real estate will always be needed for residence, commercial, farming and industrial use.
My opinion has always been that, if we follow certain criteria and reasonable principles when acquiring real estate, it will always be, on the long term, the best investment we've ever made. In Florida, this is especially true, since we are one of the fastest growing states in the US, and we are due for a continued migration from of baby boomers from Northern states, Latin Americans, and Europeans. The very high inventory of condos and homes available will be eventually absorbed - and faster than most of us realize. After all, a couple of years of low construction would be enough.
The newspapers, on July 17th, 2008 were talking of a last month inflation percentage in the vicinity of 1% or more. Is that scary? Even though they clarify that it's due to fuel and foods only, while in other items such as clothing, it was actually negative, I am afraid that, in the longer term, food and fuel will reflect on all other components. Not only transportation, heating, energy are affected by fuel prices.
Practically every other item will surely feel the pressure and eventually ride the inflation wave.
It's a fact that once inflation takes off, it is self-feeding and hard to contain. Not that I want to be a fear monger, but I have seen this happen in the past and I have seen banks paying 18% interests on Certificates of deposit!
It is true that inflation can be a blessing for many mortgage borrowers, when their interests are at a fixed rate. Imagine paying during 30 years a mortgage at 6%, when inflation could be in the range of 10 or 15% and new buyers could be paying an 18% fixed rate! Impossible? Not really, it has already happened not so long ago.
That's what, sooner than most believe, real estate is due for a strong recovery. And you better not be too late!
Henry B. Nathan is a Realtor in South Florida.
Please visit my office at Sunny Isles.
I invite you to also visit my website with one of the top real estate database. Great Search Tools will make your search enjoyable and successful.
http://www.condo-southflorida.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Henry_B._Nathan
Ideas on How to Sell Real Estate to Seniors!
The real estate market is a very competitive business and working with seniors is becoming very competitive as well. In this article we want to talk about ways to sell real estate to seniors and things you should keep in mind when targeting this market.
Seniors are a very large and growing market. People live longer today than they did in the past. They also are more healthy and do not end up in nursing homes or assisted living facilities as quick as they used to.
Another thing about this market is as their kids grow up and leave they outgrow their larger homes. Larger homes can be difficult to keep up and take care of. Large yards may not even be what they want anymore. So you can see there is a definite market here.
Going online is the best way to learn how to sell real street to seniors. The best way to sell them real estate is to advertise specifically to them. There are real estate sites online that are for seniors only.
So you want to make sure that you advertise your real estate to these sites. By keeping your home listed on more sites you have the opportunity that more seniors will be interested in it and see it. You can also visit other places online that seniors hang out. Let them know what you have and see who is interested.
The next best way to sell real estate to seniors is to go to your local real estate companies and talk to them about who you are trying to sell to. They can give you ideas or help you list your home for seniors only. They know what their senior clients are looking for so they can be a big help to you in selling your property to seniors. So take advantage of their help.
Another way is to go to the places that seniors like to be. Print out some fliers and talk to them about your real estate. Let them know everything about it and answer any of their questions. If someone acts more interested than others then you want to spend time with the interested party. Help them as much as you can and even offer to show them the property when they have time.
Best of all, when you are informed in the way that how to sell real estate to seniors works, you can make better decisions on the best course of action to handle your own situation in dealing with this market.
Jeff Schuman invites you to visit his article writer website for 100% copyright articles and multiple article discounts on website and blog articles. Competitive pricing, testimonials, samples! http://article-writer.team-schuman.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Schuman
Seniors are a very large and growing market. People live longer today than they did in the past. They also are more healthy and do not end up in nursing homes or assisted living facilities as quick as they used to.
Another thing about this market is as their kids grow up and leave they outgrow their larger homes. Larger homes can be difficult to keep up and take care of. Large yards may not even be what they want anymore. So you can see there is a definite market here.
Going online is the best way to learn how to sell real street to seniors. The best way to sell them real estate is to advertise specifically to them. There are real estate sites online that are for seniors only.
So you want to make sure that you advertise your real estate to these sites. By keeping your home listed on more sites you have the opportunity that more seniors will be interested in it and see it. You can also visit other places online that seniors hang out. Let them know what you have and see who is interested.
The next best way to sell real estate to seniors is to go to your local real estate companies and talk to them about who you are trying to sell to. They can give you ideas or help you list your home for seniors only. They know what their senior clients are looking for so they can be a big help to you in selling your property to seniors. So take advantage of their help.
Another way is to go to the places that seniors like to be. Print out some fliers and talk to them about your real estate. Let them know everything about it and answer any of their questions. If someone acts more interested than others then you want to spend time with the interested party. Help them as much as you can and even offer to show them the property when they have time.
Best of all, when you are informed in the way that how to sell real estate to seniors works, you can make better decisions on the best course of action to handle your own situation in dealing with this market.
Jeff Schuman invites you to visit his article writer website for 100% copyright articles and multiple article discounts on website and blog articles. Competitive pricing, testimonials, samples! http://article-writer.team-schuman.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Schuman
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
