When you chose to sell your home privately (without the help of a real estate agent), most likely it’s because you wanted to save some money. A research shows that selling a home privately can save as much as $9000 during the home selling process. Don’t let this fact sway you, though. A qualified real estate agent costs a lot because they have experience in the market and is more likely to give you a more secure price of your home. An agent also wins in network; being able to reach people who’s looking for a house, or can help selling one.
Selling a home privately will also affect the marketing process. If you sell your home without the help of an agent, it’s not likely that you’ll have access to Multiple Listing Services – a database full of house listings given out to homebuyers. You might need to get the buyers in some other way, like holding an open house or putting an advertisement on local newspaper.
Furthermore, when a buyer sees that you are selling your home privately, they will offer a lower price, because they knew you’re already saving money from not hiring an agent.
On the other hand, it is understandable that some people can not trust other people to sell their home. Selling your home privately means being in total control of the transaction. You know that you will always be available for questions or home showings. Whenever you made a mistake, it’s yours and only yours to blame (trust me, a mistake that costs you nothing would still feel better than an expensive one).
When you’re sure that selling your home privately is the way to go, there are some extra preparations you need to do. Take extra measures in preparing your house. Remember that you’ll be competing with professional agents and their clients’ houses – make sure you have a chance to stand out! Find websites that provides a “selling by owner” kit. Get as maximum exposure as possible
You also need to get educated in legal requirements and contract making. This will take some time, so get help from an attorney and start researching way behind your selling date.
Selling a home privately is a tricky business. Some say that you’re able to sell your own house if you have three free hours every day of the week. With a little bit of work, you’ll manage to put that much-needed money to better use.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Selling your home yourself
Nowadays, a lot of people are doing business in the real estate area. One of the businesses is buying and selling house. The Real estate agent who will take charge of his or her services for about 2-6% home often takes this buying and selling home activity. People usually sell the home with the help of real estate agent because they want their home to be sold fast. Maybe you will think that you want to sell your home by yourself in order to save more money into your account because the money will not be cut down to the third party such as real estate agent.
Selling your home by yourself is not a difficult task to do if you know how to sell your house by yourself with a good strategy and know the steps to sell your house immediately. But, selling your home yourself demand lots of your time. Why is that? Because you have to do more survey on price and more work to “clean up” your house before the selling process.
Selling your home yourself is as easy as 1,2,3 and you will see that you can also sell your home yourself. Before you start to sell, you have to set your mind that you can sell your home by yourself.
If you already set your mind, the next steps can be lot more easily. First thing that you have to do is “clean up” your house and make your house looks spacious. Every buyer always searches for a clean, neat, tidy, and spacious home. You have to make your home look great and attractive. You can start by identify your home defects and make some extra work to do to your home such as cut the grass, remove all clutter, scoring your home from top to bottom, makes some little improvement even if that seem unimportant to you such as planting flowers, fixing broken tiles, trimming tree, and make sure that your home smells good, and other repairments and improvements here and there.
After you “prepare” your home, you should also set a reasonable price in selling your home. You do not want to set the price too little or over estimate that will reduce your potential buyers. You can find information about the price of the home, that similar to your home, in newspapers, advertisements, or you could ask some professionals advices to price your home.
The last step to do is to market your home. Selling your home by yourself can be an interesting work to do but can also make you frustrated if your home is not sold for the time that you have predicted. If your marketing strategy is good, you will have your home sold only by weeks. You can start by making a good advertisement on your house appearance and add your ads into a newspaper or magazine that has a particular field in buying or selling house.
You can also make an open house. Open house is an attractive ways to attract buyers. And do not forget to make flyers of your house so that the buyers can bring your home brochure with them.
Selling your home by yourself is not a difficult task to do if you know how to sell your house by yourself with a good strategy and know the steps to sell your house immediately. But, selling your home yourself demand lots of your time. Why is that? Because you have to do more survey on price and more work to “clean up” your house before the selling process.
Selling your home yourself is as easy as 1,2,3 and you will see that you can also sell your home yourself. Before you start to sell, you have to set your mind that you can sell your home by yourself.
If you already set your mind, the next steps can be lot more easily. First thing that you have to do is “clean up” your house and make your house looks spacious. Every buyer always searches for a clean, neat, tidy, and spacious home. You have to make your home look great and attractive. You can start by identify your home defects and make some extra work to do to your home such as cut the grass, remove all clutter, scoring your home from top to bottom, makes some little improvement even if that seem unimportant to you such as planting flowers, fixing broken tiles, trimming tree, and make sure that your home smells good, and other repairments and improvements here and there.
After you “prepare” your home, you should also set a reasonable price in selling your home. You do not want to set the price too little or over estimate that will reduce your potential buyers. You can find information about the price of the home, that similar to your home, in newspapers, advertisements, or you could ask some professionals advices to price your home.
The last step to do is to market your home. Selling your home by yourself can be an interesting work to do but can also make you frustrated if your home is not sold for the time that you have predicted. If your marketing strategy is good, you will have your home sold only by weeks. You can start by making a good advertisement on your house appearance and add your ads into a newspaper or magazine that has a particular field in buying or selling house.
You can also make an open house. Open house is an attractive ways to attract buyers. And do not forget to make flyers of your house so that the buyers can bring your home brochure with them.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Flipping Properties
If you want to maximize your profits off of a property, then the way to do it is to flip properties. Flipping properties is a term that is commonly used in real estate. It is where someone will walk into a property, put in some small changes, and resell the property for more profit. If you want to invest little and make more, then this is a great way to get into the real estate business.
Usually, you will begin flipping a property by finding a home that is under priced for the current real estate market. These are usually called 'fixer upper' homes and are available all the time on the market. Any type of foreclosure, home at an auction, or home that has been neglected can be bought for a lower price. Flipping properties will most likely be done by dealers or retailers, but it is possible for anyone to take part in the art of flipping properties.
After you have found a home that needs some fixing, you will buy it like you would any other home. Usually, you will be liable for going through the mortgage process and will sign a deed of trust for the property. When you do this, you will want to make sure that you do it as a business instead of an individual. As soon as the paper work is done, you can move into the home, make some changes, and put it back on the market for a higher price.
Renovating and reselling is the major art behind flipping properties. If you want to stay ahead in the market and begin to profit, then understanding the basics of this and how to work as a business with real estate is one of the potential ways to make a living. There are several who have worked with real estate and flipping properties that have had the ability to make a large amount of money off of the investments.
Usually, you will begin flipping a property by finding a home that is under priced for the current real estate market. These are usually called 'fixer upper' homes and are available all the time on the market. Any type of foreclosure, home at an auction, or home that has been neglected can be bought for a lower price. Flipping properties will most likely be done by dealers or retailers, but it is possible for anyone to take part in the art of flipping properties.
After you have found a home that needs some fixing, you will buy it like you would any other home. Usually, you will be liable for going through the mortgage process and will sign a deed of trust for the property. When you do this, you will want to make sure that you do it as a business instead of an individual. As soon as the paper work is done, you can move into the home, make some changes, and put it back on the market for a higher price.
Renovating and reselling is the major art behind flipping properties. If you want to stay ahead in the market and begin to profit, then understanding the basics of this and how to work as a business with real estate is one of the potential ways to make a living. There are several who have worked with real estate and flipping properties that have had the ability to make a large amount of money off of the investments.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Choosing your First Home
If you are ready to move out of your apartment, there is no time better than now. Beginning to search for your first home is an important step to having the ability to build better finances and to live in a place that is comfortable. If you are considering a new home, there are specific things that you will want to know before jumping in with both feet.
Before you even begin to look at homes, make sure that you conduct your own investigation. This will mean that you should find the going rates, how much other owners are paying every month, and what you can or can't afford. You will also want to see what types of houses are going and what they are going for. If you know the basics of what is available, it will be easier for you to get exactly what you want. You should also consider things such as your credit rating and your pay check. You don't want to walk into something that is over your head or start to look for something, only to find out that you won't be able to move in.
From here, it is all a matter of getting involved with the right people. One of the most important decisions that you can make is to find the right real estate agent. This will make a large difference in the type of deal that you get as well as what type of home and mortgage you end up with. Real estate agents have the ability to do investigations for you and find something that is best for you. You will also want to make sure that there are connections with home inspectors and the right lenders. Without the right people set in place, there will be problems with getting the best deal with your new home.
After you begin to look with your real estate agent, make sure that you begin to understand the terms that are being given to you. Loan terms, terms about the market, and other real estate jargon. will often times be spoken about. If you don't know what something is, look it up right away or ask. Getting into a first home is a large step from an apartment, making it important that you understand what you are getting into.
The process of finding a new home can be challenging and fun. Making sure that you open the front door instead of having to crawl through the back can help you to get exactly what you want. By learning the ropes from the very beginning, you can be certain to get what you want, only to move up from there.
Before you even begin to look at homes, make sure that you conduct your own investigation. This will mean that you should find the going rates, how much other owners are paying every month, and what you can or can't afford. You will also want to see what types of houses are going and what they are going for. If you know the basics of what is available, it will be easier for you to get exactly what you want. You should also consider things such as your credit rating and your pay check. You don't want to walk into something that is over your head or start to look for something, only to find out that you won't be able to move in.
From here, it is all a matter of getting involved with the right people. One of the most important decisions that you can make is to find the right real estate agent. This will make a large difference in the type of deal that you get as well as what type of home and mortgage you end up with. Real estate agents have the ability to do investigations for you and find something that is best for you. You will also want to make sure that there are connections with home inspectors and the right lenders. Without the right people set in place, there will be problems with getting the best deal with your new home.
After you begin to look with your real estate agent, make sure that you begin to understand the terms that are being given to you. Loan terms, terms about the market, and other real estate jargon. will often times be spoken about. If you don't know what something is, look it up right away or ask. Getting into a first home is a large step from an apartment, making it important that you understand what you are getting into.
The process of finding a new home can be challenging and fun. Making sure that you open the front door instead of having to crawl through the back can help you to get exactly what you want. By learning the ropes from the very beginning, you can be certain to get what you want, only to move up from there.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
A Secret to Real Estate Profits – Follow The Builder
As the real estate market cools, the profit potential of home ownership has cooled as well. Here’s a strategy called “follow the builder.”
It is relatively easy to make a profit when you sell your home if the market is rising sharply like it has been in most of the country for the last three years. It becomes more difficult when a hot market slows down. It’s very difficult to make a profit on the sale of your home when prices are falling.
Is there a way to be relatively sure you’ll make a profit when you sell your home? There is under all but the most negative market conditions. In fact, I’ve seen young, energetic couples use this maneuver multiple times when they don’t even need to move.
Follow That Builder
In many areas of the country, there are builders who build hundreds of houses each year within a fifty mile radius of each other. They build entire communities or are one of three to five builders who build entire communities around big employment centers. This present you with an important opportunity.
New Community
Builders will typically sell first phases of communities for significantly less than later phases. On one hand, they need to get the cash flow moving. On the other, it is harder to sell at high prices because the community typically consists of dirt lots and construction equipment. Put the hands together and you have a great profit opportunity.
The idea is to get in on the first phase of the build out. You will purchase the home at a discount, which gives you built in equity. As the community is built up, you sell the home for a profit at a higher price. While you’re doing this, you keep tabs on the builders projects and find another location where you can do the same thing.
You’ll end up living in each house for a year or more and picking up nice profits along the way. The only real downside is you have to move repeatedly.
Tax Consequences
I’ve seen this work well for a number of people who have done it more than once. However, you need to be aware that generating profit this way can have tax consequences. You need to discuss your plans (including projected timing and profit potential) with your tax professional so that you are prepared to deal with any tax consequences.
It is relatively easy to make a profit when you sell your home if the market is rising sharply like it has been in most of the country for the last three years. It becomes more difficult when a hot market slows down. It’s very difficult to make a profit on the sale of your home when prices are falling.
Is there a way to be relatively sure you’ll make a profit when you sell your home? There is under all but the most negative market conditions. In fact, I’ve seen young, energetic couples use this maneuver multiple times when they don’t even need to move.
Follow That Builder
In many areas of the country, there are builders who build hundreds of houses each year within a fifty mile radius of each other. They build entire communities or are one of three to five builders who build entire communities around big employment centers. This present you with an important opportunity.
New Community
Builders will typically sell first phases of communities for significantly less than later phases. On one hand, they need to get the cash flow moving. On the other, it is harder to sell at high prices because the community typically consists of dirt lots and construction equipment. Put the hands together and you have a great profit opportunity.
The idea is to get in on the first phase of the build out. You will purchase the home at a discount, which gives you built in equity. As the community is built up, you sell the home for a profit at a higher price. While you’re doing this, you keep tabs on the builders projects and find another location where you can do the same thing.
You’ll end up living in each house for a year or more and picking up nice profits along the way. The only real downside is you have to move repeatedly.
Tax Consequences
I’ve seen this work well for a number of people who have done it more than once. However, you need to be aware that generating profit this way can have tax consequences. You need to discuss your plans (including projected timing and profit potential) with your tax professional so that you are prepared to deal with any tax consequences.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
5 Ground Rules for Home Buying Success
There are few purchases in life that carry the financial and psychological weight of buying a home. Whether you are buying your first home, moving up to your dream home, or downsizing your home and your life after the kids have gone, it is important to understand the ground rules for success in the world of buying a home.
Making the wrong decision in buying a home can have devastating and long lasting effects, while making a wise decision in home buying can greatly enhance the overall value of the investment. It is necessary to learn all you can about the world of home buying and mortgages before setting out to purchase the home of your dreams.
While there are plenty of web sites designed to help first time homeowners learn all they can, most financial experts say that there is no substitute for the good old one-on-one learning. Fortunately, most mortgage lenders, home inspectors and real estate agents will be able to provide this kind of one-on-one learning.
When buying a home it is often best to use a systematic approach as this is often the best way to be sure that all decisions are based on information and reason, not on impulse or emotion. Buying a home can be an emotional process, nevertheless it is imperative to keep your emotions under control and not let them cloud your judgment.
There are five basic ground rules when it comes to buying a home and shopping smart, and they are:
#1 – Get your financing before you get your home
There are few things in life as disappointing as losing out on the home of your dreams due to not being able to secure funding. While the desire to get out there are search for that great home is understandable, it is vital to line up the financing you will need before you start shopping for a home.
Getting the financing ahead of time has a number of important advantages, including knowing how much you can buy and gaining more respect from the listing agents. By knowing how much home you can afford before you shop you will avoid wasting your time looking at unaffordable properties, and the listing agent will be more than willing to show you the homes in your price range.
It is also important to take a good look at the various types of mortgage on the market before getting started in the home buying process. These days, mortgages come in far more choices than the typical 15 or 30 year. For that reason, potential home buyers need to understand how each type of mortgage works, and to gauge which mortgage is the best choice for their needs.
#2 – Look at the community, not just the home
It is a good idea to look at the entire community, instead of focusing on a single home. This can be a particularly important thing to consider for those moving to a new metropolitan area, as these buyers will be unfamiliar with the local climate and lifestyle. It is crucial to determine the areas of town that are most desirable, and to consider things like distance from work and local shopping opportunities.
We have all heard that location is the key consideration when it comes to real estate, and that is certainly the case. Buying a house in the wrong area can be a big mistake, and it is important to choose the location as well as the home. Potential buyers can learn a great deal about the nature of the various neighborhoods simply by driving around town, as well as by talking to other residents.
#3 – Be fair with your first offer
Trying to lowball a seller on the first offer can backfire, as can paying too much. It is important to carefully evaluate the local market, and to compare the asking price of the home with what similar houses in the neighborhood have sold for.
Comparing the sales of comparable homes, what are known as "comps" in the industry, is one of the best ways to determine what is fair, and to make sure that you neither overpay or underbid on the property.
#4 – Always get a home inspection
Always investigate the home for any possible defects before making an offer. Compared to the cost of the average home, the price of a quality home inspection is virtually negligible. Hence, get a good home inspection done before you buy.
To find the best home inspector, it is a good idea to seek out word of mouth referrals as many of the best home inspectors rely on word of mouth advertising.
#5 – Do not alienate the sellers of the home
Many real estate deals have fallen apart due to the personal animosity of the buyer and the seller. It is important to avoid alienating the seller of the home during the process, and to avoid nitpicking every little detail during the sale.
Keeping the good will of the seller will help the transaction go smoothly, and it will provide the best environment for seller and buyer alike.
Making the wrong decision in buying a home can have devastating and long lasting effects, while making a wise decision in home buying can greatly enhance the overall value of the investment. It is necessary to learn all you can about the world of home buying and mortgages before setting out to purchase the home of your dreams.
While there are plenty of web sites designed to help first time homeowners learn all they can, most financial experts say that there is no substitute for the good old one-on-one learning. Fortunately, most mortgage lenders, home inspectors and real estate agents will be able to provide this kind of one-on-one learning.
When buying a home it is often best to use a systematic approach as this is often the best way to be sure that all decisions are based on information and reason, not on impulse or emotion. Buying a home can be an emotional process, nevertheless it is imperative to keep your emotions under control and not let them cloud your judgment.
There are five basic ground rules when it comes to buying a home and shopping smart, and they are:
#1 – Get your financing before you get your home
There are few things in life as disappointing as losing out on the home of your dreams due to not being able to secure funding. While the desire to get out there are search for that great home is understandable, it is vital to line up the financing you will need before you start shopping for a home.
Getting the financing ahead of time has a number of important advantages, including knowing how much you can buy and gaining more respect from the listing agents. By knowing how much home you can afford before you shop you will avoid wasting your time looking at unaffordable properties, and the listing agent will be more than willing to show you the homes in your price range.
It is also important to take a good look at the various types of mortgage on the market before getting started in the home buying process. These days, mortgages come in far more choices than the typical 15 or 30 year. For that reason, potential home buyers need to understand how each type of mortgage works, and to gauge which mortgage is the best choice for their needs.
#2 – Look at the community, not just the home
It is a good idea to look at the entire community, instead of focusing on a single home. This can be a particularly important thing to consider for those moving to a new metropolitan area, as these buyers will be unfamiliar with the local climate and lifestyle. It is crucial to determine the areas of town that are most desirable, and to consider things like distance from work and local shopping opportunities.
We have all heard that location is the key consideration when it comes to real estate, and that is certainly the case. Buying a house in the wrong area can be a big mistake, and it is important to choose the location as well as the home. Potential buyers can learn a great deal about the nature of the various neighborhoods simply by driving around town, as well as by talking to other residents.
#3 – Be fair with your first offer
Trying to lowball a seller on the first offer can backfire, as can paying too much. It is important to carefully evaluate the local market, and to compare the asking price of the home with what similar houses in the neighborhood have sold for.
Comparing the sales of comparable homes, what are known as "comps" in the industry, is one of the best ways to determine what is fair, and to make sure that you neither overpay or underbid on the property.
#4 – Always get a home inspection
Always investigate the home for any possible defects before making an offer. Compared to the cost of the average home, the price of a quality home inspection is virtually negligible. Hence, get a good home inspection done before you buy.
To find the best home inspector, it is a good idea to seek out word of mouth referrals as many of the best home inspectors rely on word of mouth advertising.
#5 – Do not alienate the sellers of the home
Many real estate deals have fallen apart due to the personal animosity of the buyer and the seller. It is important to avoid alienating the seller of the home during the process, and to avoid nitpicking every little detail during the sale.
Keeping the good will of the seller will help the transaction go smoothly, and it will provide the best environment for seller and buyer alike.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
5 Features to Look for when Choosing a Property Rental Service
If you're thinking of using a property rental service for your Spain holiday rental or apartment for rent, there are some key features you should look for before making a commitment. You'll want the best possible service while also earning maximum profits for your vacation rental. Here are five major features every property rental service should offer.
1. Excellent Customer Service
Your guests will remember you by the service they receive during their stay at your villa rental, apartment or vacation rental. The property rental service you choose should offer excellent customer service and be able to provide testimonials from satisfied property owners. Your guests should arrive to a clean villa, home or apartment.
If renting for a vacation, golf holiday or some other Spain holiday, each guest should receive a welcome packet including directions to the rental property as well as helpful information about the surrounding area. If you have an apartment for rent, tenants should be treated well. Rental payment collection, service maintenance and assistance with local utility and phone set-ups should be provided with friendliness and thoroughness.
2. Cleaning Management
A property rental service should provide reliable cleaning management. You might live too far away to handle cleaning or manage a maid service. If you live in England or the U.S., but your vacation rental or apartment for rent is located in Fuengirola, Mijas, Puerto Banus, or Elviria of Spain, then you'll need a property rental service that will handle cleaning with care. For holiday rentals and villa rentals, cleaning must be provided between each guests' stay and sometimes during the week of a stay as well. For vacation homes and villas, the lawn must be maintained as well. Be sure this is included with your service.
3. Key Holding, Inventory, and Detailed Necessities
You may not be able to handle local errands for your vacation rental or apartment for rent. Therefore, the property rental service should be entrusted with these tasks. Some necessities to keep the rental property operating legally include key holding, insurance, property tax and levies, building permits or licensing, bank account management, phone and utility set up and billing, etc.
Another area of importance is inventory. The furniture and other valuables in your apartment or villa rental must be kept on an inventory list and checked physically each time a guest departs. If you live in another country but own rental property in an area of Spain such as Costa del Sol, Marbella, Benalmadena or any other area, then obviously you're going to need someone locally who can check your inventory for you. Choose a property rental service that provides these types of services to eliminate worries while you're away.
4. Building Refurbishing and Major Repairs
Another feature to look for in a property rental service is whether or not they provide building refurbishing services and major repairs. The benefit of this is the provider will already have contacts to do the jobs needed. You won't have to spend endless hours trying to find a dependable contractor or handyman.
5. Promoting Your Apartment or Spain Holiday Rental
Check to be sure the property rental service will promote your apartment for rent or Spain holiday rental. Promotions will increase your number of rentals and profits each year. A property rental service may handle your advertising in local, national and international venues. If they have a website, they may promote your holiday rentals at the site. If you own a vacation rental near golf courses, then make sure they will advertise your rental from the angle of "golf holidays."
Keep these features in mind during your search for a property rental service. By choosing a service with great features, you'll have peace of mind knowing that your holiday rental or apartment for rent is in good hands!
1. Excellent Customer Service
Your guests will remember you by the service they receive during their stay at your villa rental, apartment or vacation rental. The property rental service you choose should offer excellent customer service and be able to provide testimonials from satisfied property owners. Your guests should arrive to a clean villa, home or apartment.
If renting for a vacation, golf holiday or some other Spain holiday, each guest should receive a welcome packet including directions to the rental property as well as helpful information about the surrounding area. If you have an apartment for rent, tenants should be treated well. Rental payment collection, service maintenance and assistance with local utility and phone set-ups should be provided with friendliness and thoroughness.
2. Cleaning Management
A property rental service should provide reliable cleaning management. You might live too far away to handle cleaning or manage a maid service. If you live in England or the U.S., but your vacation rental or apartment for rent is located in Fuengirola, Mijas, Puerto Banus, or Elviria of Spain, then you'll need a property rental service that will handle cleaning with care. For holiday rentals and villa rentals, cleaning must be provided between each guests' stay and sometimes during the week of a stay as well. For vacation homes and villas, the lawn must be maintained as well. Be sure this is included with your service.
3. Key Holding, Inventory, and Detailed Necessities
You may not be able to handle local errands for your vacation rental or apartment for rent. Therefore, the property rental service should be entrusted with these tasks. Some necessities to keep the rental property operating legally include key holding, insurance, property tax and levies, building permits or licensing, bank account management, phone and utility set up and billing, etc.
Another area of importance is inventory. The furniture and other valuables in your apartment or villa rental must be kept on an inventory list and checked physically each time a guest departs. If you live in another country but own rental property in an area of Spain such as Costa del Sol, Marbella, Benalmadena or any other area, then obviously you're going to need someone locally who can check your inventory for you. Choose a property rental service that provides these types of services to eliminate worries while you're away.
4. Building Refurbishing and Major Repairs
Another feature to look for in a property rental service is whether or not they provide building refurbishing services and major repairs. The benefit of this is the provider will already have contacts to do the jobs needed. You won't have to spend endless hours trying to find a dependable contractor or handyman.
5. Promoting Your Apartment or Spain Holiday Rental
Check to be sure the property rental service will promote your apartment for rent or Spain holiday rental. Promotions will increase your number of rentals and profits each year. A property rental service may handle your advertising in local, national and international venues. If they have a website, they may promote your holiday rentals at the site. If you own a vacation rental near golf courses, then make sure they will advertise your rental from the angle of "golf holidays."
Keep these features in mind during your search for a property rental service. By choosing a service with great features, you'll have peace of mind knowing that your holiday rental or apartment for rent is in good hands!
Saturday, May 30, 2009
5 Things You Should Know Before You Flip A Property
1. Money is made at the buy, not the sell of your flip. When flipping a house your money is made at the purchase not at the sell of the house. So, many times people buy a house with the intensions of making a huge profit only to find out that they could not make any money after all the renovations because the purchased price of the house was to high. When you purchase your property you need to be sure that you buy the house with enough money to make renovations, have carrying cost, and add about 5 $6,000. Now, cost is at $147,000, and that is if everything goes as planned. Profit is under 10,000 dollars. The mistake was made at the purchase at the home, not the sell.
2. Get an inspection on the home - Get a complete inspection done on your property. By, spending a few hundred dollars on this expense you can save thousands in problems that you cannot see. Foundation, Pest, Wood Rot, Etc... By, getting a full inspection you can rest assured that you know every thing that is wrong with the property before its to late. In the contact for the house you need to make sure that you have 7 days to have a inspection preformed, and if the inspection finds problems that are going to cost more money that you are willing to spend you can get out of the contract with no penalties.
3. Don't do the work yourself: - Get a contractor or several sub-contractors and have the work done quickly. You need to have you house flipped ASAP, so that you can get it on the market and get it sold. When I started flipping my brother and me did a house together, and we did all the construction. I had a construction background and figured it would save thousands, but it took us over 4 months to get the work done that a contractor could have had the work done in a month. But, we trying to save money on our flip did all the work on our time off and after work, and it just took to long. On our 2'nd flip we used contractors for almost everything and had the house completely flipped with a new roof, new air conditioning, new hardwood, and much more in only 3 weeks. We did not have to spend all our time working on the property and were able to spend that time looking for the next deal. This is how you get rich in real estate.
4. Place the property 1 to 2 percent below market value: If you are wanting to flip real estate and make money the object is to buy and sell the property as quickly as possible, so that you can move on to the next house. If you purchase a house and try to sell it at top dollar to make and extra couple of thousand dollars on your flip, and end up holding it for 6 months you are loosing money. Get the house on the market at a price that is going to blow the competition away, and you will sell it no matter what the market conditions. On our second house the market for selling house went down do to the housing market as a whole, and the tightening of the loans across America. We were told that you could not sell a property in this market, but we went ahead anyway and flipped our house. After 3 weeks on the market we had 3 people wanting to buy the house. Why, because we offered it at such a great deal that people wanted to jump on it. That is what you have to do especially if the market is slow.
5. Use a real estate agent - Do not try to sell you house on your own. Harness the power of a real estate agent and the power of the MLS system. When you do a FSBO you are depending on people driving by your house and seeing you sign, with a real estate agent you have some one actively marketing you house to get it sold. Once again this will free up more time for you to look for more great deals. If you want to help the process I have found that craigslist and listing you house in google adwords help to, but I use these tools with the help of a agent to make sure I have all my bases covered.
I hope this article has been helpful with the basics needs of flipping a house. If you will study and learn you will make money. But, do your homework before you purchase a house, and make sure that you can pull a profit on your deal. Then, make it happen!
2. Get an inspection on the home - Get a complete inspection done on your property. By, spending a few hundred dollars on this expense you can save thousands in problems that you cannot see. Foundation, Pest, Wood Rot, Etc... By, getting a full inspection you can rest assured that you know every thing that is wrong with the property before its to late. In the contact for the house you need to make sure that you have 7 days to have a inspection preformed, and if the inspection finds problems that are going to cost more money that you are willing to spend you can get out of the contract with no penalties.
3. Don't do the work yourself: - Get a contractor or several sub-contractors and have the work done quickly. You need to have you house flipped ASAP, so that you can get it on the market and get it sold. When I started flipping my brother and me did a house together, and we did all the construction. I had a construction background and figured it would save thousands, but it took us over 4 months to get the work done that a contractor could have had the work done in a month. But, we trying to save money on our flip did all the work on our time off and after work, and it just took to long. On our 2'nd flip we used contractors for almost everything and had the house completely flipped with a new roof, new air conditioning, new hardwood, and much more in only 3 weeks. We did not have to spend all our time working on the property and were able to spend that time looking for the next deal. This is how you get rich in real estate.
4. Place the property 1 to 2 percent below market value: If you are wanting to flip real estate and make money the object is to buy and sell the property as quickly as possible, so that you can move on to the next house. If you purchase a house and try to sell it at top dollar to make and extra couple of thousand dollars on your flip, and end up holding it for 6 months you are loosing money. Get the house on the market at a price that is going to blow the competition away, and you will sell it no matter what the market conditions. On our second house the market for selling house went down do to the housing market as a whole, and the tightening of the loans across America. We were told that you could not sell a property in this market, but we went ahead anyway and flipped our house. After 3 weeks on the market we had 3 people wanting to buy the house. Why, because we offered it at such a great deal that people wanted to jump on it. That is what you have to do especially if the market is slow.
5. Use a real estate agent - Do not try to sell you house on your own. Harness the power of a real estate agent and the power of the MLS system. When you do a FSBO you are depending on people driving by your house and seeing you sign, with a real estate agent you have some one actively marketing you house to get it sold. Once again this will free up more time for you to look for more great deals. If you want to help the process I have found that craigslist and listing you house in google adwords help to, but I use these tools with the help of a agent to make sure I have all my bases covered.
I hope this article has been helpful with the basics needs of flipping a house. If you will study and learn you will make money. But, do your homework before you purchase a house, and make sure that you can pull a profit on your deal. Then, make it happen!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
10 Steps to a Successful Urban Redevelopment Project
You’ve got a project with exceptional architecture, you’ve completed months of review and modification, your design team is sure this project will get significant notoriety, yet after hours of going back and forth in City Council meetings, they ask you to cut the project in half, increase the setbacks, or just drop the project altogether.
Does this sound familiar?
Developing commercial and residential projects in urban areas require special care. While some urban areas are on the verge of new developments, misunderstanding and community opposition can block even the best designs.
You can reduce risks by taking a thoughtful approach to the process. Some residents and politicians demand programs be based on trust, openness, and consensus building. This should not mean you compromise your design. Executing these ten important steps can result in strong design and a smooth process.
Consensus doesn’t mean that everyone agrees, it’s more about showing respect for different opinions, developing relationships, and identifying shared goals to establish positive public opinion so the project will gain community and government acceptance. It’s important to nurture supporters and expose the extremists.
The following 10 points should be addressed:
1) Create the vision. It’s about design, not density. Establish a vision early by connecting it to local settings and looking for ways to build partnerships. Good design attracts people.
2) Know your market. Do the homework necessary to understand the competition and the market forces that influence a project.
3) Understand the issues. All communities have a set of unique characteristics and issues that guide their decisions. It’s essential to have a good understanding of the marketplace, environment, regional influences, and financial aspects. There is no single solution.
4) Get the public benefit. Make the benefit for the city & community clear.
5) Pay attention to everyone who has a stake in the project. Have small discussion groups to get their feedback.
6) Establish trust. Do this by sharing knowledge and listening carefully. Be honest, encourage participation from everyone, stay neutral and pursue win-win goals.
7) Inform decision makers. Meet one-on-one and provide solutions to educate decision makers.
8) Use the media. Take the high road and keep the message simple. Talk about helping the community.
9) Use the unique. Incorporate the area’s physical social and historical environment into the design.
10) Be patient . Listen carefully, provide guidance, establish credibility, and let the process grow.
By using these ten points, several revitalization plans have been completed in the face of strong initial community resistance. Guided by strong visions which have been established by working with city programs launched to solicit feedback and educate everyone have had a profound effect in the success of revitalization efforts.
Implementing major public and private improvements can convert old spaces into lively gathering places for community activity.
Does this sound familiar?
Developing commercial and residential projects in urban areas require special care. While some urban areas are on the verge of new developments, misunderstanding and community opposition can block even the best designs.
You can reduce risks by taking a thoughtful approach to the process. Some residents and politicians demand programs be based on trust, openness, and consensus building. This should not mean you compromise your design. Executing these ten important steps can result in strong design and a smooth process.
Consensus doesn’t mean that everyone agrees, it’s more about showing respect for different opinions, developing relationships, and identifying shared goals to establish positive public opinion so the project will gain community and government acceptance. It’s important to nurture supporters and expose the extremists.
The following 10 points should be addressed:
1) Create the vision. It’s about design, not density. Establish a vision early by connecting it to local settings and looking for ways to build partnerships. Good design attracts people.
2) Know your market. Do the homework necessary to understand the competition and the market forces that influence a project.
3) Understand the issues. All communities have a set of unique characteristics and issues that guide their decisions. It’s essential to have a good understanding of the marketplace, environment, regional influences, and financial aspects. There is no single solution.
4) Get the public benefit. Make the benefit for the city & community clear.
5) Pay attention to everyone who has a stake in the project. Have small discussion groups to get their feedback.
6) Establish trust. Do this by sharing knowledge and listening carefully. Be honest, encourage participation from everyone, stay neutral and pursue win-win goals.
7) Inform decision makers. Meet one-on-one and provide solutions to educate decision makers.
8) Use the media. Take the high road and keep the message simple. Talk about helping the community.
9) Use the unique. Incorporate the area’s physical social and historical environment into the design.
10) Be patient . Listen carefully, provide guidance, establish credibility, and let the process grow.
By using these ten points, several revitalization plans have been completed in the face of strong initial community resistance. Guided by strong visions which have been established by working with city programs launched to solicit feedback and educate everyone have had a profound effect in the success of revitalization efforts.
Implementing major public and private improvements can convert old spaces into lively gathering places for community activity.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
“Renting Back” After Your Home Is Sold
Sometimes it’s helpful to sell your home before you really want to move. This often happens when you are having a new home built, but aren’t sure of the completion date. Is there any way you can sell your home so you’re sure of the funds available for the new purchase, but continue to live in your old home until construction of the new one is complete. Yes, there is with the renting back strategy.
Enter the Lease-Back or Rent-Back Agreement
The particulars of this strategy vary from state to state, but in the strong seller’s market we’re experiencing, buyers will often agree to let the seller stay in the home for a period of time as long as rent is paid. In a competitive situation, the buyer willing to do this will often have the winning bid even though there is another offer as high as his.
The agreement covering the situation states the length of time the seller will remain. It can be done with a specific date named or wording that allows the seller to remain up to a specific date with the possibility of her moving sooner. The amount can be a fixed figure paid out of the proceeds of settlement or a monthly amount, or a daily amount. It is usually, but not always, tied to the amount of the mortgage payment under the buyer’s new loan. Sometimes there is a deposit against damage, sometimes not. There is usually a clause saying the seller will hold the buyer harmless for any damage to himself or his property which occurs after the sale is consummated and before the seller moves.
The attorney who draws up your contract offer can create such an agreement. If you’re using online forms, you should be able to find one for this situation. If you’re working with a real estate broker, he or she can handle it for you.
An Example
I’ve recently seen a very pleasant example of this idea in action. An elderly widow contracted to have a one level condo unit built in a new community which provides all exterior maintenance. She had had hip replacement surgery and wanted to get away from the drawbacks of the home in which she’d reared her children. The home was large, had stairs and was located on a large, partially wooded lot with many mature perennials and shrubs. Both the home and garden were beautiful, but high maintenance.
Her contract to purchase required a series of deposits and a firm indication as to her source of funds well before settlement on her new condo. The widow put her home on the market. A young couple with two sons was very anxious to buy it. The situation was competitive. They made the widow an offer. She countered their original offer. She did not raise their offer price, which was slightly below her asking price. She did not believe the young couple would qualify for a larger loan. Instead, she did something rather creative.
The widow countered with a proposal that she “rent back” for a period of “up to” a certain date (a date beyond her scheduled competition date on the condo) in exchange for a modest flat sum to be paid to the buyer at settlement. The total rent back period was less than two months. The flat fee was less than the amount of the new mortgage payment for the buyers. However, since they made no payment on their new mortgage the first month, it wasn’t too far out of line. The couple really wanted the home, so they accepted the counter offer.
Another win, win situation was created. The widow only had to move one time and the young couple got a house they probably wouldn’t have in a straight bidding war. If you find yourself in a situation similar to either the widow or the young couple, perhaps you can work out a similar solution.
Enter the Lease-Back or Rent-Back Agreement
The particulars of this strategy vary from state to state, but in the strong seller’s market we’re experiencing, buyers will often agree to let the seller stay in the home for a period of time as long as rent is paid. In a competitive situation, the buyer willing to do this will often have the winning bid even though there is another offer as high as his.
The agreement covering the situation states the length of time the seller will remain. It can be done with a specific date named or wording that allows the seller to remain up to a specific date with the possibility of her moving sooner. The amount can be a fixed figure paid out of the proceeds of settlement or a monthly amount, or a daily amount. It is usually, but not always, tied to the amount of the mortgage payment under the buyer’s new loan. Sometimes there is a deposit against damage, sometimes not. There is usually a clause saying the seller will hold the buyer harmless for any damage to himself or his property which occurs after the sale is consummated and before the seller moves.
The attorney who draws up your contract offer can create such an agreement. If you’re using online forms, you should be able to find one for this situation. If you’re working with a real estate broker, he or she can handle it for you.
An Example
I’ve recently seen a very pleasant example of this idea in action. An elderly widow contracted to have a one level condo unit built in a new community which provides all exterior maintenance. She had had hip replacement surgery and wanted to get away from the drawbacks of the home in which she’d reared her children. The home was large, had stairs and was located on a large, partially wooded lot with many mature perennials and shrubs. Both the home and garden were beautiful, but high maintenance.
Her contract to purchase required a series of deposits and a firm indication as to her source of funds well before settlement on her new condo. The widow put her home on the market. A young couple with two sons was very anxious to buy it. The situation was competitive. They made the widow an offer. She countered their original offer. She did not raise their offer price, which was slightly below her asking price. She did not believe the young couple would qualify for a larger loan. Instead, she did something rather creative.
The widow countered with a proposal that she “rent back” for a period of “up to” a certain date (a date beyond her scheduled competition date on the condo) in exchange for a modest flat sum to be paid to the buyer at settlement. The total rent back period was less than two months. The flat fee was less than the amount of the new mortgage payment for the buyers. However, since they made no payment on their new mortgage the first month, it wasn’t too far out of line. The couple really wanted the home, so they accepted the counter offer.
Another win, win situation was created. The widow only had to move one time and the young couple got a house they probably wouldn’t have in a straight bidding war. If you find yourself in a situation similar to either the widow or the young couple, perhaps you can work out a similar solution.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
7 Reasons to Buy Land for Sale in Arkansas
When it comes to deciding where to buy land for sale, Arkansas probably isn't the first place that comes to mind. However, there are a number of reasons why you should buy land in what Arkansans call The Natural State. Here are seven:
1. The property is undervalued. Experts agree that the pricing of land for sale in Arkansas is about two decades behind other parts of the country. In other words, you can get much more land for your money. In fact, a quarter acre of real estate can cost as little as $7,000. Whether for investments or for future home sites, Arkansas has unbeatable bargains.
2. The property taxes are low. Arkansas may have the lowest property taxes in the nation, with undeveloped land often having annual property taxes of less than twenty-five dollars.
3. The state has unparalleled natural beauty. With an eastern border along the Mississippi River, and encompassing the Ozark Plateau, the Ouachita Mountains, and the Boston Mountains, the state has rich forests, fertile plains, and an abundance of both mountains and valleys.
Because it doesn't have a dense population, there are many parts of Arkansas that are pristine, and miles away from factories and freeways. The land for sale is often in the midst of hardwood forests, with abundant wildlife and birds. The air is clean and fresh, bringing a welcome relief to people who move their from more densely populated areas.
4. The climate is mild. Arkansas definitely has four seasons, but winters are mild enough that people can enjoy pastimes like golf all year long. Although it's not far from the Gulf of Mexico, it is far enough away from the coastline to be safe from hurricanes.
5. There are budding private communities. There are some landowners in Arkansas who have had the foresight to plan for future private communities. In anticipation of the waves of Baby Boomers who will retire in the next two decades, the landowners are planning affordable and coveted golf communities that include rivers, private lakes, marinas, recreation centers, nature trails, and more. Buying land in one of these areas is certain to be a sound financial decision.
6. The landowners are often unique. Unlike many other areas in the country, many areas of Arkansas have land for sale by owner (or FSBO). Buying directly from the owner can cut out the high costs of a middleman. Even when a landowner has help, he or she typically uses someone local who has years of experience as an owner or seller of private building lots in Arkansas.
7. The financing is affordable. Because the land for sale is inexpensive, and because much of it is FSBO, owners often do their own financing. This means low, fixed interest rates and no credit checks. In other words, you don't have to go through a mortgage approval process. Instead, you can make a small payment each month and, at the end of the loan term, receive the deed to your property.
Buying undiscovered, pristine land for sale in Arkansas is a smart move, whether you plan to build a home and retire there or simply want to make sound investments.
1. The property is undervalued. Experts agree that the pricing of land for sale in Arkansas is about two decades behind other parts of the country. In other words, you can get much more land for your money. In fact, a quarter acre of real estate can cost as little as $7,000. Whether for investments or for future home sites, Arkansas has unbeatable bargains.
2. The property taxes are low. Arkansas may have the lowest property taxes in the nation, with undeveloped land often having annual property taxes of less than twenty-five dollars.
3. The state has unparalleled natural beauty. With an eastern border along the Mississippi River, and encompassing the Ozark Plateau, the Ouachita Mountains, and the Boston Mountains, the state has rich forests, fertile plains, and an abundance of both mountains and valleys.
Because it doesn't have a dense population, there are many parts of Arkansas that are pristine, and miles away from factories and freeways. The land for sale is often in the midst of hardwood forests, with abundant wildlife and birds. The air is clean and fresh, bringing a welcome relief to people who move their from more densely populated areas.
4. The climate is mild. Arkansas definitely has four seasons, but winters are mild enough that people can enjoy pastimes like golf all year long. Although it's not far from the Gulf of Mexico, it is far enough away from the coastline to be safe from hurricanes.
5. There are budding private communities. There are some landowners in Arkansas who have had the foresight to plan for future private communities. In anticipation of the waves of Baby Boomers who will retire in the next two decades, the landowners are planning affordable and coveted golf communities that include rivers, private lakes, marinas, recreation centers, nature trails, and more. Buying land in one of these areas is certain to be a sound financial decision.
6. The landowners are often unique. Unlike many other areas in the country, many areas of Arkansas have land for sale by owner (or FSBO). Buying directly from the owner can cut out the high costs of a middleman. Even when a landowner has help, he or she typically uses someone local who has years of experience as an owner or seller of private building lots in Arkansas.
7. The financing is affordable. Because the land for sale is inexpensive, and because much of it is FSBO, owners often do their own financing. This means low, fixed interest rates and no credit checks. In other words, you don't have to go through a mortgage approval process. Instead, you can make a small payment each month and, at the end of the loan term, receive the deed to your property.
Buying undiscovered, pristine land for sale in Arkansas is a smart move, whether you plan to build a home and retire there or simply want to make sound investments.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Options for Improvement with Refinancing
You have the house, you have the loan, and you have everything set in place. You know that it feels great to have a place to call home. However, there is something that is not fitting quite right. Maybe your home feels like it needs more investment or maybe you want to find a different way to approach your loan. If you are looking at options for improvement, refinancing is the way to turn.
Refinancing is a step that you can take if you want to put in a little extra investment to your home. Whether it is to feel more comfortable or to get more out of your investment when you sell, refinancing is a great option for building up your home investment. Not only will it be good for you to invest more and get more in return, but it can also help you to build credit from the investment.
Usually, refinancing will begin with you applying for a second loan or mortgage. Home equity loans are one way to help with refinancing your home. There are also lines of credit and other considerations that you can make in order to get some extra money into your home. The advantage of this is that when you go to sell your home, you will be able to value the price higher than it would have been with just the regular loan.
If you are deciding on whether to refinance your home, you will want to consider several parts of the refinancing. First, you will want to make sure that you are not taking your home out of the market. You can determine this by researching to see what the market value of the area is and how this relates to your home. If you are using a refinancing loan in order to consolidate bills or improve your credit, make sure that your finances are stable enough to allow you to pay off the refinancing loan.
If you begin to refinance at the right time and with the right idea in mind, you can benefit off of a second mortgage and with some home improvement. Polishing the floors and removing the old to put in the new can be beneficial not only for your check book, but also for your future.
Refinancing is a step that you can take if you want to put in a little extra investment to your home. Whether it is to feel more comfortable or to get more out of your investment when you sell, refinancing is a great option for building up your home investment. Not only will it be good for you to invest more and get more in return, but it can also help you to build credit from the investment.
Usually, refinancing will begin with you applying for a second loan or mortgage. Home equity loans are one way to help with refinancing your home. There are also lines of credit and other considerations that you can make in order to get some extra money into your home. The advantage of this is that when you go to sell your home, you will be able to value the price higher than it would have been with just the regular loan.
If you are deciding on whether to refinance your home, you will want to consider several parts of the refinancing. First, you will want to make sure that you are not taking your home out of the market. You can determine this by researching to see what the market value of the area is and how this relates to your home. If you are using a refinancing loan in order to consolidate bills or improve your credit, make sure that your finances are stable enough to allow you to pay off the refinancing loan.
If you begin to refinance at the right time and with the right idea in mind, you can benefit off of a second mortgage and with some home improvement. Polishing the floors and removing the old to put in the new can be beneficial not only for your check book, but also for your future.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Knowing When Your Ready To Buy
All across the United States, there are millions of people looking to a buy home - either now or in the future. Over the last few years, lower interest rates have come along, making it more affordable than ever to buy a home. When most people stop and give it some thought - buying a home makes a lot more sense than renting a home or an apartment.
In order to buy a house, you’ll need to start saving your money and have enough for the closing costs and a down payment. Your down payment will normally need to be around 15% of the price or the value of the property - whichever is lower. To be on the safe side, you should always try to have 20% to put down. If you aren’t able to put 20% down, you’ll need to buy some private mortgage insurance, which will cost you more in terms of your monthly payment.
In most cases, the closing costs will run you around 5% of the property price. Before you purchase the home, you should always get an estimate. An estimate won’t be the exact price, although it will be really close. You should always plan to save up a bit more money than you need, just to be on the safe side. It’s always best to have more than enough than not enough.
You’ll know your ready to buy a home when you know exactly how much you can afford, and you’re willing to stick with your plan. When you buy a home and get your monthly mortgage payment, it shouldn’t be any more than 25% of your total monthly income. Although there are lenders out there who will say that you can afford to pay more, you should never let them talk you into doing so - but stick to your budget instead.
Keep in mind that there is always more money involved with a home other than the mortgage payment. You also have to pay for utilities, homeowners insurance, property taxes, and maintenance. Owning and caring for a home requires a lot of responsibility. If you’ve never owned a home before, it can take a bit of time to get used to.
Before you fill out any applications, you should always look over your credit report and check for any errors. Although you may think you don’t, you can easily get an error on your credit report and not even realize it. If you have an error on your credit report, it can cost you a lot of money in interest rates. An error will decrease your credit score, which will put you in a higher interest bracket and ultimately cost you a lot more money in the end. Therefore, you should always know your credit before you approach a lender.
If you check your credit report early enough, you may leave yourself enough time to fix any problems and get your credit back on track. Rebuilding credit can take time though, sometimes even years. You should always plan ahead - and give yourself plenty of time to fix your credit.
Buying a home will require a bit of commitment on your behalf. You should always strive to get the best possible deals, which means knowing your credit and where you stand. This way, you can get the best interest rates. You don’t want to buy a home with bad credit, simply because you’ll pay a lot more money for the home. If you take the time to fix any credit problems and save up some money - you’ll be able to get a much better home for your money.
In order to buy a house, you’ll need to start saving your money and have enough for the closing costs and a down payment. Your down payment will normally need to be around 15% of the price or the value of the property - whichever is lower. To be on the safe side, you should always try to have 20% to put down. If you aren’t able to put 20% down, you’ll need to buy some private mortgage insurance, which will cost you more in terms of your monthly payment.
In most cases, the closing costs will run you around 5% of the property price. Before you purchase the home, you should always get an estimate. An estimate won’t be the exact price, although it will be really close. You should always plan to save up a bit more money than you need, just to be on the safe side. It’s always best to have more than enough than not enough.
You’ll know your ready to buy a home when you know exactly how much you can afford, and you’re willing to stick with your plan. When you buy a home and get your monthly mortgage payment, it shouldn’t be any more than 25% of your total monthly income. Although there are lenders out there who will say that you can afford to pay more, you should never let them talk you into doing so - but stick to your budget instead.
Keep in mind that there is always more money involved with a home other than the mortgage payment. You also have to pay for utilities, homeowners insurance, property taxes, and maintenance. Owning and caring for a home requires a lot of responsibility. If you’ve never owned a home before, it can take a bit of time to get used to.
Before you fill out any applications, you should always look over your credit report and check for any errors. Although you may think you don’t, you can easily get an error on your credit report and not even realize it. If you have an error on your credit report, it can cost you a lot of money in interest rates. An error will decrease your credit score, which will put you in a higher interest bracket and ultimately cost you a lot more money in the end. Therefore, you should always know your credit before you approach a lender.
If you check your credit report early enough, you may leave yourself enough time to fix any problems and get your credit back on track. Rebuilding credit can take time though, sometimes even years. You should always plan ahead - and give yourself plenty of time to fix your credit.
Buying a home will require a bit of commitment on your behalf. You should always strive to get the best possible deals, which means knowing your credit and where you stand. This way, you can get the best interest rates. You don’t want to buy a home with bad credit, simply because you’ll pay a lot more money for the home. If you take the time to fix any credit problems and save up some money - you’ll be able to get a much better home for your money.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Investing In Real Estate
When you are first starting out with investing in houses, you should always look for ugly or bad houses that need a lot of work. These homes are much cheaper to purchase, although they will take some work to improve. You should start out by looking for houses that need some work, such as clean up, painting, and in some cases new carpet. You don’t want to buy something too run down, as it could cost a fortune to repair.
If you think of yourself as a handyman and feel that you can do the repairs yourself, you can save a lot of money. On the other hand, if you need to hire someone, you should always make sure that the individual or company that you hire is qualified to do the repairs. If you aren’t comfortable with doing any of the repairs, you should inquire about a subcontractor or company that will do it for a reasonable price, or perhaps a share of the money once you have resold the house.
If the house you are thinking to purchase and resell has any type of structural problems, you should always get an estimate from a reliable contractor before you make the purchase. If you decide to stay in the business, you’ll learn a lot more over the years, although you should always hire a contractor when you first start out. Once you get all of the estimates together, you can make that final decision on how much of an offer you want to put down on the property.
After you have a team together and successfully renovated and resold several homes, you’ll begin to feel quite a bit more confident with buying homes that need repairs. All it takes is time and practice - and you’ll be buying homes that the average investor wouldn’t think twice about. This can be a huge advantage when you are looking for homes to buy and resell, as there will be less competition to worry about. You’ll also be able to get a lower price when buying the home, simply because you can use the cost of the repairs to your advantage.
Once you are able to do repairs on homes, including structural problems, you’ll have a huge advantage in the market. You’ll be able to buy virtually any home, including those that other investors choose to ignore. Doing so can be very profitable for you, especially if the house is in a well known and well desired neighborhood. After you have done the repairs, you can resell the home for a much higher price than you paid to acquire the home.
When you start looking for houses that you can repair and resale, you should always take your time and buy the right homes. You won’t have the money, time, experience, or support to buy the bigger houses at first, which means you won’t have any room for mistakes. Once you have purchased and resold a few smaller homes, you’ll eventually be able to work your way up to the bigger homes - which is where the big profits will come into play.
Always keep in mind that when you first start out, you’ll need to take things slow. You can expect profits to come overnight, as it will take you some time to learn. Once you have been at it a few years and have several houses to your credit, you’ll be ready to tackle anything. At that point - you’ll make a lot of money in a career that is truly exciting.
If you think of yourself as a handyman and feel that you can do the repairs yourself, you can save a lot of money. On the other hand, if you need to hire someone, you should always make sure that the individual or company that you hire is qualified to do the repairs. If you aren’t comfortable with doing any of the repairs, you should inquire about a subcontractor or company that will do it for a reasonable price, or perhaps a share of the money once you have resold the house.
If the house you are thinking to purchase and resell has any type of structural problems, you should always get an estimate from a reliable contractor before you make the purchase. If you decide to stay in the business, you’ll learn a lot more over the years, although you should always hire a contractor when you first start out. Once you get all of the estimates together, you can make that final decision on how much of an offer you want to put down on the property.
After you have a team together and successfully renovated and resold several homes, you’ll begin to feel quite a bit more confident with buying homes that need repairs. All it takes is time and practice - and you’ll be buying homes that the average investor wouldn’t think twice about. This can be a huge advantage when you are looking for homes to buy and resell, as there will be less competition to worry about. You’ll also be able to get a lower price when buying the home, simply because you can use the cost of the repairs to your advantage.
Once you are able to do repairs on homes, including structural problems, you’ll have a huge advantage in the market. You’ll be able to buy virtually any home, including those that other investors choose to ignore. Doing so can be very profitable for you, especially if the house is in a well known and well desired neighborhood. After you have done the repairs, you can resell the home for a much higher price than you paid to acquire the home.
When you start looking for houses that you can repair and resale, you should always take your time and buy the right homes. You won’t have the money, time, experience, or support to buy the bigger houses at first, which means you won’t have any room for mistakes. Once you have purchased and resold a few smaller homes, you’ll eventually be able to work your way up to the bigger homes - which is where the big profits will come into play.
Always keep in mind that when you first start out, you’ll need to take things slow. You can expect profits to come overnight, as it will take you some time to learn. Once you have been at it a few years and have several houses to your credit, you’ll be ready to tackle anything. At that point - you’ll make a lot of money in a career that is truly exciting.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Examining the Power of Curb Appeal
With so many potential buyers viewing property on the Internet, first impressions are essential. If your house doesn't stand out the next listing is only a click away. A great exterior will not only stop a surfer, it will get a drive-by buyer through your front door. Don't underestimate the power of curb appeal! The front of your house is its calling card, and it's up to you to make sure it's giving the right number.
First take care of the obvious: Poor exterior maintenance will have potential buyers wondering what else you didn't keep up. Clean moss off the roof and plants out of gutters; wash the windows and pressure wash dirty decks or siding. Clear weeds growing from the front walk. Take care of the details. If your driveway has faded, it's time to re-seal it. Fill the cracks in your sidewalk. Trim back unruly bushes, mow the lawn and add mulch to tidy up garden beds. Put away tools and other yard clutter - the property should look well taken care of.
Spruce up your front entrance. You may want to change your front door for something more eye-catching, perhaps engraved wood or one with decorative glasswork. Changing the door's hardware can also help it stand out. The doorknob and knocker should be polished. Placing planters near the front door can add a pleasing visual as well as contributing fragrance to further the sensory experience. A front doormat can also be welcoming touch.
Changes that cost more can also increase the selling price. If you can afford to paint the house, look for examples of eye-catching color combinations in design magazines, online and in your city. If you can't afford to paint the whole building, just do the trim and shutters. Adding window boxes can also brighten the exterior.
Landscaping is another opportunity to increase the value of your property. You could hire a professional, but just adding a few shrubs and flowering bushes should do the trick. A well placed bench can help potential buyers imagine themselves sitting in their new garden.
You can ensure potential buyers notice your home just by giving the exterior a little extra attention. Remember, your traffic and often your selling price will increase with your home's curb appeal.
First take care of the obvious: Poor exterior maintenance will have potential buyers wondering what else you didn't keep up. Clean moss off the roof and plants out of gutters; wash the windows and pressure wash dirty decks or siding. Clear weeds growing from the front walk. Take care of the details. If your driveway has faded, it's time to re-seal it. Fill the cracks in your sidewalk. Trim back unruly bushes, mow the lawn and add mulch to tidy up garden beds. Put away tools and other yard clutter - the property should look well taken care of.
Spruce up your front entrance. You may want to change your front door for something more eye-catching, perhaps engraved wood or one with decorative glasswork. Changing the door's hardware can also help it stand out. The doorknob and knocker should be polished. Placing planters near the front door can add a pleasing visual as well as contributing fragrance to further the sensory experience. A front doormat can also be welcoming touch.
Changes that cost more can also increase the selling price. If you can afford to paint the house, look for examples of eye-catching color combinations in design magazines, online and in your city. If you can't afford to paint the whole building, just do the trim and shutters. Adding window boxes can also brighten the exterior.
Landscaping is another opportunity to increase the value of your property. You could hire a professional, but just adding a few shrubs and flowering bushes should do the trick. A well placed bench can help potential buyers imagine themselves sitting in their new garden.
You can ensure potential buyers notice your home just by giving the exterior a little extra attention. Remember, your traffic and often your selling price will increase with your home's curb appeal.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Determine The Listing Price
When it comes to buying a home, most potential buyers will use the listing price to as the number one factor to determine the homes that they look at. Even though you and a realtor may determine the asking price, the buyer will determine the selling price. If the price is too high, most buyers won’t give it a second thought - which is why you want to determine the listing price carefully.
If you set the correct price, you’ll notice a much faster sale. Setting the right listing price will also attract more potential buyers to your property as well. You’ll also notice an increase in response from realtors, and receive more calls about the property. The listing price is very important - and it can ultimately determine whether or not you sale your property.
A home can be overpriced due to several reasons. Overpricing is something you want to avoid, as buyers tend to steer clear of homes that have been overpriced. Normally, this happens when a buyer asks a lot more than the home is worth or valued at. Some buyers ask a lot more than the value of the home due to location. Although the location is very important, most potential buyers won’t give the home a second look if they think the price is too high - and more importantly out of their price range.
When you put your home up for sale, most activity will happen within the first couple of weeks. If you put the right price on your home, you’ll notice immediate interest. There are always buyers looking for homes in their price range, waiting for new homes to be listed or homes to be reduced in price. Buyers who are waiting to purchase may miss seeing your home completely if the price is too high.
To determine the listing price of your home, you should always have it appraised before you put it on the market. This way, you’ll know the full value of your home. You can sell it for market value or go a little under, although you should never attempt to go way over the value. In doing so, you’ll miss out on a lot of potential buyers. The home market is very competitive these days, which is why you want your home to draw as much interest as possible.
Keep in mind that realtors really have no control at all over the real estate market, only the plan behind marketing. Realtors don’t determine the asking price - the seller does. You can ask a realtor for advice, although you are the decider of your listing price. If you do things right and take each thing step by step, you’ll set the listing price in the right area and have no problems selling your property.
If you set the correct price, you’ll notice a much faster sale. Setting the right listing price will also attract more potential buyers to your property as well. You’ll also notice an increase in response from realtors, and receive more calls about the property. The listing price is very important - and it can ultimately determine whether or not you sale your property.
A home can be overpriced due to several reasons. Overpricing is something you want to avoid, as buyers tend to steer clear of homes that have been overpriced. Normally, this happens when a buyer asks a lot more than the home is worth or valued at. Some buyers ask a lot more than the value of the home due to location. Although the location is very important, most potential buyers won’t give the home a second look if they think the price is too high - and more importantly out of their price range.
When you put your home up for sale, most activity will happen within the first couple of weeks. If you put the right price on your home, you’ll notice immediate interest. There are always buyers looking for homes in their price range, waiting for new homes to be listed or homes to be reduced in price. Buyers who are waiting to purchase may miss seeing your home completely if the price is too high.
To determine the listing price of your home, you should always have it appraised before you put it on the market. This way, you’ll know the full value of your home. You can sell it for market value or go a little under, although you should never attempt to go way over the value. In doing so, you’ll miss out on a lot of potential buyers. The home market is very competitive these days, which is why you want your home to draw as much interest as possible.
Keep in mind that realtors really have no control at all over the real estate market, only the plan behind marketing. Realtors don’t determine the asking price - the seller does. You can ask a realtor for advice, although you are the decider of your listing price. If you do things right and take each thing step by step, you’ll set the listing price in the right area and have no problems selling your property.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Gated Communities: A Safe Bet
Many of the new property developments on Coast Rica's beautiful "Gold Coast" are gated communities. These are an ideal choice for investment, especially if you aren't planning on living in your property all year round.
Owning land in absentia can pose some unique issues in Costa Rica, where squatter laws give an individual some rights to land if the legitimate owner has allowed them to reside there for over a year. This doesn't mean that you've given them consent to live on your land – it simply means that you haven't kicked them off. Squatters look for uninhabited land and set up residence, sometimes planting a few crops, and hope to remain undiscovered long enough to make a claim.
There are many ways to avoid this headache – you can have someone local check on your property, employ a caretaker (and keep good records so that they can't claim squatter status), or visit your property every three months. If squatters are discovered within 90 days the police are required to remove them from your property. To have them removed after a year, the legal landowner must go through a lawsuit which is an expense (and headache) that most people would rather avoid, and in some cases they could even lose ownership of their land.
An easy way to avoid this is to buy property in a gated community. This option ensures that your home is watched when you are not in town as well as having additional benefits. Gated communities are generally a more secure option than striking out alone, especially in areas that are big tourist destinations. Costa Rica is a very safe country: violent crime rates are much lower here than in other countries but petty offenses such as theft and property crime are not uncommon, especially in traveler-dense areas. Many condo developments and gated communities offer an entry system and private security included in the residents' fees, and your neighbors offer many sets of eyes to keep watch over your place.
Most of these developments offer infrastructure that is well above the national average, with underground electricity, great roads and community areas, and some even offer their own water systems and shopping areas.
The other advantage of owning in a gated community is that you can easily enter a property management arrangement, turning your empty home into a money making venture that pays for itself when you aren't around. The Guanacaste area has become an increasingly popular resort destination because of its warm weather, amazing beaches and general beauty. There's no doubt that a smart investment in this area will pay dividends and gated communities are a safe bet!
Owning land in absentia can pose some unique issues in Costa Rica, where squatter laws give an individual some rights to land if the legitimate owner has allowed them to reside there for over a year. This doesn't mean that you've given them consent to live on your land – it simply means that you haven't kicked them off. Squatters look for uninhabited land and set up residence, sometimes planting a few crops, and hope to remain undiscovered long enough to make a claim.
There are many ways to avoid this headache – you can have someone local check on your property, employ a caretaker (and keep good records so that they can't claim squatter status), or visit your property every three months. If squatters are discovered within 90 days the police are required to remove them from your property. To have them removed after a year, the legal landowner must go through a lawsuit which is an expense (and headache) that most people would rather avoid, and in some cases they could even lose ownership of their land.
An easy way to avoid this is to buy property in a gated community. This option ensures that your home is watched when you are not in town as well as having additional benefits. Gated communities are generally a more secure option than striking out alone, especially in areas that are big tourist destinations. Costa Rica is a very safe country: violent crime rates are much lower here than in other countries but petty offenses such as theft and property crime are not uncommon, especially in traveler-dense areas. Many condo developments and gated communities offer an entry system and private security included in the residents' fees, and your neighbors offer many sets of eyes to keep watch over your place.
Most of these developments offer infrastructure that is well above the national average, with underground electricity, great roads and community areas, and some even offer their own water systems and shopping areas.
The other advantage of owning in a gated community is that you can easily enter a property management arrangement, turning your empty home into a money making venture that pays for itself when you aren't around. The Guanacaste area has become an increasingly popular resort destination because of its warm weather, amazing beaches and general beauty. There's no doubt that a smart investment in this area will pay dividends and gated communities are a safe bet!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Evaluating the Offer for Your Home
People work tirelessly to generate interest in a home they are trying to sell. Once they get an offer, however, they often are not sure how to evaluate it.
Evaluating the Offer for Your Home
You have read every book under the sun. You have read more internet articles than you can imagine. You have cleaned up your home, made repairs and put out your marketing. At this point, you feel like you are an expert in the process. Suddenly, you get an offer on the property. Now what?
The first thing to do is relax. Do not make the mistake of rushing to evaluate it. An offer is just that – an offer. It has contingencies and all kinds of little quarks in it. Although you have lived in the home for a lengthy period of time, you need to realize you are now in a business transaction. Once you have caught your breath, it is time to consider the offer.
The first issue is always the offered purchase price. The price will never be what you are asking for in the listing. It will be below the number, perhaps shockingly lower. At this point, you may feel the urge to pick up the phone and give the buyer a piece of your mind. Don’t! This is a business transaction. The buyer is merely throwing out a bit of bait to see if you are going to bite. If you do, they get a great deal. If you do not, they will evaluate any counter offer you make. If you do not counter, they can always submit a higher offer. Remember, this is a business transaction, not an affront to your pride!
A second issue concerns items in the home the buyer may want included in the sell. I have seen brawls break out over a lamp that would make a biker blush. Maybe that lamp is an heirloom that you can’t part with, but it probably is not. Only you can decide how valuable it is and whether it is worth losing the sale, but try to be objective and coherent when making the decision. Yes, it has been a loyal lamp, but really now…
After this, you need to evaluate any additional costs associated with the offer. The buyer may want allowances for painting and so on. It is usually fairly easy to bypass your emotions on this one, but you need to make some basic financial calculations. Take the offered price and subtract all costs for the transactions. One you have the net revenue figure, compare it to the bottom line number you decided on when you first decided to sell. This will tell you if it is an offer you should accept.
Homeowners often get so focused on the selling process, that they are caught off guard when an offer actually rolls in. Stick to your guns on your bottom line and you should be fine.
Evaluating the Offer for Your Home
You have read every book under the sun. You have read more internet articles than you can imagine. You have cleaned up your home, made repairs and put out your marketing. At this point, you feel like you are an expert in the process. Suddenly, you get an offer on the property. Now what?
The first thing to do is relax. Do not make the mistake of rushing to evaluate it. An offer is just that – an offer. It has contingencies and all kinds of little quarks in it. Although you have lived in the home for a lengthy period of time, you need to realize you are now in a business transaction. Once you have caught your breath, it is time to consider the offer.
The first issue is always the offered purchase price. The price will never be what you are asking for in the listing. It will be below the number, perhaps shockingly lower. At this point, you may feel the urge to pick up the phone and give the buyer a piece of your mind. Don’t! This is a business transaction. The buyer is merely throwing out a bit of bait to see if you are going to bite. If you do, they get a great deal. If you do not, they will evaluate any counter offer you make. If you do not counter, they can always submit a higher offer. Remember, this is a business transaction, not an affront to your pride!
A second issue concerns items in the home the buyer may want included in the sell. I have seen brawls break out over a lamp that would make a biker blush. Maybe that lamp is an heirloom that you can’t part with, but it probably is not. Only you can decide how valuable it is and whether it is worth losing the sale, but try to be objective and coherent when making the decision. Yes, it has been a loyal lamp, but really now…
After this, you need to evaluate any additional costs associated with the offer. The buyer may want allowances for painting and so on. It is usually fairly easy to bypass your emotions on this one, but you need to make some basic financial calculations. Take the offered price and subtract all costs for the transactions. One you have the net revenue figure, compare it to the bottom line number you decided on when you first decided to sell. This will tell you if it is an offer you should accept.
Homeowners often get so focused on the selling process, that they are caught off guard when an offer actually rolls in. Stick to your guns on your bottom line and you should be fine.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Buying a Home – Dealing With Lender Letters
Most people who set out to buy a home, be it house, townhouse, condo, apartment, or mansion on a hill, know they need to have a lender letter in hand saying they are qualified for a loan. What most “civilians” (people not in the real estate business) don’t realize is how much the value of a lender letter varies.
Let’s look at some of the general ways a lender letter varies, which sort you want, and how to present it to a seller to put you in the best possible position to buy that seller’s property. If you’re working with a broker, he or she will coach you in these matters. If you’re shopping on your own, and especially if you’re looking at FSBOs (for sale by owner properties), you need to know this stuff.
Lender letters come in two general types, pre-qualification letters and pre-approval letters. The bold print on the page may call it one thing, and when the letter is read, it actually proves to be the other, so pay attention. A pre-qualification letter is weaker than a pre-approval letter.
Pre-Qualification Letter
The weakest pre-qualification letter basically says that “if everything the borrower has told me is correct, he/she is eligible to borrow $XXXXXX.” All you really have here is the buyer’s word paraphrased by a lender. Unfortunately, there is an old adage in real estate that “buyers are liars”. This is well known, so presenting this type of a letter tells a seller you are not in a very strong position with the lender.
A stronger version says “I have looked at an ‘in file’ credit report, and based on that and what the borrower has told me, he/she is eligible to borrow $XXXXXX.” This is still not great, but it is a step in the right direction.
Pre-Approval Letter
The pre-approval letter says “I have checked this person’s credit reports, seen all necessary substantiating materials relative to income…assets…etc., and my firm is committed to making a loan subject only to receiving a copy of a contract to purchase and the property’s appraisal for the contract price or higher.” The letter may not say it, but it is also subject to the underwriting process that includes looking at updated credit information. Regardless, this letter carries a lot of power and sellers will be very happy to see you.
A Word to the Wise
The above discussion of lender letters brings up something you should be keenly aware of as a buyer. Your credit must not change in any substantial way between the time you first apply for a loan and the time you go to settlement on your new home.
If you’re buying waterfront property, do not go out and buy a boat until after you’ve closed on the property. I once saw someone make this mistake and almost lose the property purchase because of it. He had to quickly find a new lender and accept a higher interest rate to keep the deal from going south.
If you’re moving from a small condo to a larger place, there’s the temptation to run right out and buy more furniture for your new quarters. Fine. Just wait until after you’re the proud new owner.
If you are serious about buying a home, a lender letter is a key part of your negotiating ammunition. To save yourself a lot of aggravation during escrow, get a pre-approval letter before you go house hunting.
Let’s look at some of the general ways a lender letter varies, which sort you want, and how to present it to a seller to put you in the best possible position to buy that seller’s property. If you’re working with a broker, he or she will coach you in these matters. If you’re shopping on your own, and especially if you’re looking at FSBOs (for sale by owner properties), you need to know this stuff.
Lender letters come in two general types, pre-qualification letters and pre-approval letters. The bold print on the page may call it one thing, and when the letter is read, it actually proves to be the other, so pay attention. A pre-qualification letter is weaker than a pre-approval letter.
Pre-Qualification Letter
The weakest pre-qualification letter basically says that “if everything the borrower has told me is correct, he/she is eligible to borrow $XXXXXX.” All you really have here is the buyer’s word paraphrased by a lender. Unfortunately, there is an old adage in real estate that “buyers are liars”. This is well known, so presenting this type of a letter tells a seller you are not in a very strong position with the lender.
A stronger version says “I have looked at an ‘in file’ credit report, and based on that and what the borrower has told me, he/she is eligible to borrow $XXXXXX.” This is still not great, but it is a step in the right direction.
Pre-Approval Letter
The pre-approval letter says “I have checked this person’s credit reports, seen all necessary substantiating materials relative to income…assets…etc., and my firm is committed to making a loan subject only to receiving a copy of a contract to purchase and the property’s appraisal for the contract price or higher.” The letter may not say it, but it is also subject to the underwriting process that includes looking at updated credit information. Regardless, this letter carries a lot of power and sellers will be very happy to see you.
A Word to the Wise
The above discussion of lender letters brings up something you should be keenly aware of as a buyer. Your credit must not change in any substantial way between the time you first apply for a loan and the time you go to settlement on your new home.
If you’re buying waterfront property, do not go out and buy a boat until after you’ve closed on the property. I once saw someone make this mistake and almost lose the property purchase because of it. He had to quickly find a new lender and accept a higher interest rate to keep the deal from going south.
If you’re moving from a small condo to a larger place, there’s the temptation to run right out and buy more furniture for your new quarters. Fine. Just wait until after you’re the proud new owner.
If you are serious about buying a home, a lender letter is a key part of your negotiating ammunition. To save yourself a lot of aggravation during escrow, get a pre-approval letter before you go house hunting.
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