Greenwich CT Homes For Sale: Beautiful Country

Greenwich CT Homes For Sale: Beautiful Country

Greenwich, Connecticut real estate and desirable places to live are all interlinked. Greenwich was rated 12th in the list of the 100 Best Places to Live in US compiled by Money magazine in 2005. Not only does it have the quaint New England charm that appeals to anyone seeking a quiet and attractive place to live, but it is also within reasonable commuting distance of Manhattan. In fact, tucked into Fairfield county right at the southwest limit of Connecticut, it's the closest that you can get to Manhattan without leaving the state.
It is such a desirable town that a number of financial corporations including hedge funds have simply forsaken the hustle and bustle of New York City and set up their main offices in Greenwich. The 28 miles that separate it from Manhattan give Greenwich the edge over rival Connecticut town Wilton, a little farther away at 55 miles. Greenwich is also twice the size in surface area of Wilton, and logically, within its 50 square miles has twice the amount of real estate.

It is thanks to these strategic advantages that Greenwich real estate, even compared to the rest of Connecticut, is still climbing in value. Prices reflect the trend. Data from 2007 had the lower end of prices for single-family homes starting at $500,000, and going up to a top $12,5 million. As the market has continued to climb since then, these upper and lower limits have adjusted in consequence.

The influx of younger commuters, people that a decade or two ago would have been termed "yuppies" is making the market for sellers stronger and stronger. These newer arrivals are however selective. Their priorities lie with convenient access to shopping and facilities, and integration into neighborhoods of other like-minded people. With this in mind, homes that conform sell before construction has finished.

The Greenwich Post newspaper reports on the real estate market in Greenwich as being "bulletproof" and maintaining its momentum when all around are despondent in the wake of sub prime mortgages, excess of homes for sale on the market and difficulties in obtaining credit. Information on the average price for a single-family home shows a level of around $300,000 in 1983 climbing to close to $3 million in mid-2007. Apart from a plateau from 2002 to 2003 and a sharp leap upwards between 2003 and 2004, the overall trend is stable and resolutely positive.

As a finishing remark, Greenwich is also well supplied with all the amenities that one would expect of such a town. The tone is set by the number of schools with just short of a dozen primary schools and almost as many private schools, not to mention the middle and high schools. As Greenwich is also on the Long Island sound, there is significant variety in the recreational facilities that are both land- and water-based, with beaches and islands to complete the range of choices.

For more information you may also try the Greenwich Chamber of Commerce or a local real estate agent. They can both be essential in learning about the best parts of Greenwich to live.

Discover Luxurious Casey Key Florida Real Estate

Discover Luxurious Casey Key Florida Real Estate

Casey Key Florida is and private barrier island paradise located 25 minutes south of downtown Sarasota. This exclusive island was originally named Chaise's Key when mapped out during the 1850s. It became Casey Key after Captain John Charles Casey, when he was assigned here to re-map the entire area. In the 1920s, a real estate developer briefly changed the name to Treasure Island, but soon-after, the Florida real estate market collapsed and its name reverted back to Casey Key.
For those that can afford the high price, living on Casey Key can provide an amazing living experience like no other. The small number of residents, the secluded and luxurious beach homes and estates and amazing vistas of the beaches and the Gulf of Mexico, make this island a true island paradise. With year around warm temperatures, soft gulf breezes, almost total privacy, quiet, sun soaked beaches all add up to make it a prime real estate investment. Whether you chose to live here part time, full time, vacation or retire, you can experience a new way to relax and enjoy one of the world's most beautiful places.

Casey Key Florida Features

- Secluded & Very Private - Uncrowded - Simple to Extravagant Beach & Bay Homes - Water, Water and more Water - Tropical Landscaping

This island is one of the most prestigious and private of all key islands in the Sarasota area and is located just 15 miles south of Sarasota, Florida. This is an eight mile long barrier island that has become home to some of the most expensive and luxurious homes on the Gulf Coast of Florida. There is a combination of full time residents and seasonal residents from all over the world who are property owners of this prime island real estate bordered by the Gulf of Mexico to the West, and Little Sarasota Bay to the east. Tropical landscaping, balmy breezes, unbelievable waterfront views exist all around the island making it an ideal place to live or to just spend some time relaxing in the sun. This is a private residential area that is hidden away from all of the people and businesses nearby on the mainland making it very desirable for permanent or vacation home ownership and investment. There are only 500 single family homes located on the island, most of which are very upper end expensive, large and sprawling estate style custom homes with much seclusion and privacy.

In addition to great golfing and tennis on the mainland, there are fine restaurants and many shopping options available close-by. On the island, outdoor activities like beach combing, fishing and boating, and kayaking are available. Many of the real estate owners on Casey Key are avid boaters and water sport enthusiasts who are very happy to take advantage of the many beach and boating amenities that the island affords.

The secluded beaches offer a variety of activities for both the residents and tourists. There are many family type outdoor sporting and recreation options on the island and in close-by Sarasota, or one of the other Keys here in the area. The slow pace of the island and low traffic makes it a perfect place to go for a bike ride, walk, or jog.

This is a true island paradise with many upper end custom single family homes and estate properties. The top real estate price tags that these prestigious properties demand are fully justified according to most of the influential homeowners who live here. Current real estate listings start around $1,000,000 and go up as high as $17 Million. Many of these exquisite estates are secret getaways for the rich and famous, who come here to relax in privacy, lay on the private beaches, and witness one of nature's wonderful island retreats.

Commercial Real Estate in CT - Business is Good

Commercial Real Estate in CT - Business is Good

For people considering investment in commercial real estate, Connecticut has options to offer. The economic constitution of the state of Connecticut means that business activity is predominantly built on the service industry (around 40%) with trade taking second place. Heavy industry or manufacturing is relatively small as a percentage of total professional activity. Taking the definition of commercial real estate, Connecticut-style at least, to mean any real estate that is not single family, the opportunities are in office space, retail space, income property, commercial property, investment property and multi-family property, with possibilities in industrial space in line with the information above.
The motivation for investing in commercial real estate can vary from one person to another. It has a certain stability that many find attractive. With the possible exception of retail space that needs to be in well-populated areas, commercial real estate corresponds to much more functional criteria. If the property in question allows a business to function correctly, then in these days of Internet and virtual reality, location per se may be less of an issue. For this reason, fashion and fads have less impact as well.

Connecticut's commercial real estate derives a double benefit. Firstly from the nature of commercial real estate in general, and secondly from the relatively high-income population which has a knock-on effect on the standard of businesses and multi-family properties. Relatively sheltered from the speculation and fraud which has plagued the residential housing market over recent years, commercial real estate has been relatively profitable and safe, if not to say somewhat unexciting. But as values are consistent and return on investment is good, it remains a firm favorite with investors.

The new checks and balances that are being introduced in the residential real estate market will also bring positive benefits to commercial real estate, Connecticut itself not being immune to potential problems in this area. With this tightening of regulations, commercial real estate in Connecticut, although showing more modest returns than stocks and bonds, should remain an investment instrument of choice, because of its stable nature and the multiple possibilities for diversification.

In particular, with the trend of increasing investment value in the office sector of the commercial real estate market, Connecticut as a state will continue to be well-positioned with its strong emphasis on the services sector and in particular for towns such as Greenwich on the financial services sector. Smarter investors may well look for larger properties to rent out to several individual entities to maximize the profit potential for a given investment. While location will still play a part in the investment decision, a full analysis of commercial real estate opportunities in Connecticut must also include an investigation of the zoning laws that are more and more a part of towns such as Greenwich and Wilton, both keen to preserve and safeguard historic architectural heritage.

There are many commercial real estate properties available now at very low prices. And most experts are saying that now's a good time to buy, that the residential market seems to be picking up towards the end of 2009. Usually Commercial Real Estate follows the residential trends.

News Alert: Current Home Loan Interest Rates

News Alert: Current Home Loan Interest Rates

Refinancing at the lowest possible rate of interest is most probably the best way that homeowners can do so as to be able to save a lot of cash each month when it comes to their mortgage loan. Fortunately, it is not impossible to do so with the current home loan interest rates that different mortgage lenders are offering. Nowadays, mortgage lenders are offering a lower than usual rate of interest since the real estate business is taking fall which is an effect of the recession that everyone is experiencing. And so, so as to be able to attract more loaners, lenders opt to lower down their interest rate. And since the search for a low interest rate is not that hard anymore, the only problem that remains is choosing the type of interest rate that will best suit one's situation.
There primarily exist two kinds of rate of interest that is available when it comes to home loan. The first of which is the fixed interest rate while the other is the adjustable interest rate. The fixed rate refers to the interest rate that remains constant over the entire period of the loan. And since the rate of interest does not increase, the monthly payment does not increase as well. Home loans that offer such interest are the 15 years and 30 years mortgage loan. The second type of interest rate which is the adjustable rate refers to the interest rates that change in accordance to the changes that are happening in the real estate market. And since the rate continues to change, the monthly payment for this kind of loan changes as well.

Colorado Mortgage- Home Buying Tips

Colorado Mortgage- Home Buying Tips

Colorado Mortgage has free information on home buying.Are you getting a Colorado Mortgage? What paper work do you need? Did you know there are certain forms that you are required by law to receive. Check with Colorado Mortgage
The first one being a special book for some one that is planning to purchase a home. The information in the book is about first time home buyer within the first 3 days, make sure you have received this information Colorado house loans has more of this information The list of fees you will be paying for this loan, should be in your initial application. Did you know you should receive new paper work if the rate on the forms only changes 1/8 of a percent. Make sure you know your rights and are receiving the proper paper work. When you fill out your application you should all so receive a list of the fees on the loan. This will not be the exact amount, it is just an estimate of what the cost should Did you know you should receive new paper work if the rate on the forms only changes 1/8 of a percent. Make sure you know your rights and are receiving the proper paper work. How can you get a great rate on a mortgage?|Want a great rate? Here are some tips. }There are many places to look to get a great rate on a mortgage. many people are looking toward the Internet now This can give you a lot of options i would all so guest looking for a mortgage broker that is close, or in your home town this may make it a lot easier to transfer all the needed paper work at Boulder Mortgage , it is nice to actually see the person that you are entrusting one of your most valued poss ions with. its nice that you can meet the person that you are trusting your home with. It its one of those huge mortgage company's, are they going to loose your paper work in all the paper work they have floating around?
If you need question answered quick, you can all way run down to your local mortgage broker. Did you know that have change many rules in Colorado for a mortgage broker? They now require the person to be fingerprinted, a background check, pay for bond/errors and Omission insurance, and take a written test
is your mortgage loan locked in? Did you know that a mortgage rate can change up to 3 times a day? The mortgage market can move a lot in a short time.. This will tell you if you are locked in rate or not.. Having this information can save you a lot of money That will Ming no surprise when you are ready to close your loanThe experts at Colorado mortgage can help Even thou you are lock in you could still get a lower rate. Are you working with a mortgage broker? If you are locked in with your local bank, many times they will not let you get a lower rate A mortgage broker can still get you a lower rateThey work with 100 lenders and can easy get a lower rate from on of their other lenders. The person that works for that huge bank does not go threw the same process as the person at Colorado Mortgage Loans.. Visit Colorado Mortgage and get a free guide on mortgages and real estate.

REO Listing Trends: Record Foreclosures, Record Delinquincies

REO Listing Trends: Record Foreclosures, Record Delinquincies

Foreclosure Filings Rise 32% Year-to-Year

REO backdrop will abide to accomplish up a ample allotment of the apartment bazaar for some time to come, anticipation by the latest foreclosure and mortgage data.

In July, foreclosures were up 7% from June - and 32% from July of 2008. 360,000 homes were in some date of the acknowledgment action and on their way to acceptable REO listings. That's one out of every 355 homes in America - and it apparent the third ages out of the endure 5 that a new almanac was set.

While the accepted states led the foreclosure numbers - California, Nevada, Florida and Arizona - there were aswell big all-overs in states that hadn't been experiencing big absence ante - states like Oregon, Minnesota and Kansas. Experts say that's because of the accretion aftereffect of the abandoned numbers.

This brings us to mortgage delinquencies, which hit an best top in the additional division of this year. The amount of mortgage holders who were abaft 60 canicule or added on their payments was up 65% from the additional division of 2008. Almost 6% of homeowners civic are accepting agitation - with Nevada accepting an alarming 13% crime rate.

The acceptable news? As we appear endure month, REO home sales are assuredly demography off - which agency prices accept hit the point area investors are in fact afraid to get in on the accessible deals. That trend absolutely bent blaze in July - with California arch the way with REO sales, just as they led the way civic with the antecedent apartment crash.

To adduce one affecting example, Stockton, the city with the accomplished foreclosure amount in the country, saw its home sales bifold in the additional division - and about 40% of those sales were REO properties. In some cases, there were in fact behest wars on REO homes, according to DataQuick Information Systems.

This is abundant account for REO agents and brokers - abode prices accept assuredly collapsed to a point area REO account is alpha to move in a big way. Ryan Ratcliff, an economist at UCLA, believes that discounts of as abundant as 50 percent will abide able-bodied into 2010.

The added acceptable account is that there's still affluence of REO account to come. Many foreclosure homes that haven't been affairs accept in fact been taken off the bazaar and put up for rent. The result? A lot of abandoned rental homes! Those will assuredly be put aback on the block - and with buyers assuredly reentering the absolute acreage bazaar in seek of deals, they will assuredly accept a attempt at selling.

The Importance of Property Preservation

The Importance of Property Preservation

How Foreclosure Contractors Make the Difference in the REO Marketplace

Knowledgeable absolute acreage experts apperceive that bankrupt backdrop are demography a continued time to assuredly authoritative their way aback on the bazaar - to alteration to REO (Real Acreage Owned) listings. Aback in February, RealtyTrac.com estimated that up to a abominable 70% of foreclosures still weren't on the MLS yet.

One ample acumen for the delay? Because of the access of the amount of foreclosures in contempo months, banks can't accumulate up with processing the alone properties. That agency they sit untended, apart and alone for best periods of time - abrogation these homes accessible to vandalism, blackmail and damage.

That agency that, by the time acreage canning companies are assuredly alleged in, there's added abundant added abundant adjust plan to be done on these homes. The backyard is usually a disaster, the accouterments can charge above aliment and there is apparently adulteration aliment in the refrigerator.

Ideally, the "trash-out" of foreclosures should be able as anon as accessible to ensure these backdrop don't adulterate to a point area the abode becomes alarming and they're clashing for market. The contempo foreclosure moratoriums fabricated that action difficult for abounding backdrop - and now, that the moratoriums are over, there is a huge excess of foreclosures to process.

In cities like Orlando, Florida and Phoenix, Arizona, foreclosures are huge - and so is the befalling for contractors entering the acreage canning arena.

One brace who afresh got into the acreage canning field, Matt and Carrie Singleton, confused to Las Vegas to yield advantage of the huge REO bazaar there - and, afterwards beneath than six months of operating a foreclosure clean-out business there, begin themselves authoritative $89,000 in revenues in one month. And this was after accepting any above-mentioned contacts or alive relationships in the city afore relocating there.

To get a absolute faculty of what's complex in charwoman out a foreclosure, a video produced by a Southern California TV base acquaint at http://rocktrueblood.blogspot.com/2009/02/trash-out-of-foreclosed-homes.html shows the action well. It's amazing to watch this video and see just what humans leave abaft afore they avenue a home. You'll apprehend about an urn with a relative's ashes that was begin by the apple-pie out crew, a part of added actual claimed items - children's toys, photo albums, etc. You'll aswell see the absurd arrangement of items of amount larboard in the home - computers, cher appliances, and furniture.

With foreclosure sales alpha to boom, acceptable a acreage canning architect is acutely a acceptable business move in an ambiguous bread-and-butter time. And for banks, lenders, asset managers and REO agents, application a dependable, accurate and properly-trained architect is the quick way to restore "curb appeal" to foreclosures and adapt them for the market.

Real Estate Sellers - Competing With Foreclosures And New Construction

Real Estate Sellers - Competing With Foreclosures And New Construction

It is quite often that buyers will find the right house with the wrong yard...and vice versa...the right yard, wrong house. A real estate buyer searches for just the right fit, often starting with resale properties in established neighborhoods and ending up with new construction. What does an established neighborhood mean to you? To me, it's the older neighborhoods with wonderful outside elements that help to make a house have the feel of a home. The land, the yard, the Azalea's and Rhododendrons that burst into bloom each Spring. What does an old neighborhood mean to you? Large lots? Grand Southern Magnolias and stately Oak trees?When you drive up to a house like that, it feels like home...you wish it were home! In the Charlotte NC real estate market, you'll quickly learn that the beauty of our older neighborhoods start at the ground level and work their way skywards. The lots are larger, nicely set back from the street with a front porch and a front yard...large trees offering a canopy over the fenced backyard. Natural privacy is found by ample spacing between you and your neighbors home. These homes should sell quickly, right? Well, not necessarily. Buyers drive through the older neighborhood......."It's just GORGEOUS!" they exclaim. Ahh...then they make an appointment to view a few of the homes. The carpet is a fashionable olive green. The Kitchen has harvest gold appliances, lots of heavy floral wallpaper in the Dining Room and Bedrooms...very clean but very dated. The residential property disclosure sheet states that there are hardwood floors under the carpet. Well, unfortunately, without viewing those hardwood floors, the buyers are uncomfortable in making any further inquiries. They are homes that have fantastic potential! Given a few basic cosmetic upgrades, these homes could move off of the market quickly. Instead, they are gathering dust. Why is that, you ask. It's because the buyers became discouraged and began rethinking their options. Old vs. New. The buyers originally thought they wanted an older home in an older neighborhood. They were sure of it!. The older home's neighborhood was gorgeous, but so many of the homes needed some form of cosmetic updating.The older homes were not dilapidated homes; they were lacking today's sleek appliances, sunken tubs and walk in closets. They were not move in ready. And, unfortunately for the resale market, these older homes have actually pushed the buyers into the new home market. We are in a society where too often both parents work outside the home. With little time and little know how, (and little extra cash) they choose the home that is easiest for them to move into. They decide to take another look into purchasing a new home complete with the barren soil and twice baked yard of new construction. So, the buyers wander back over to the new home development where the model homes are professionally decorated and showcased ever so perfectly. The neighborhood entrances are beautifully designed and welcoming. The new development also offers great amenities which include a community pool, tennis courts and playground. Everything is new and neatly staged to sell. The buyers begin to overlook the flaws evident in the small lots, tight garages and narrow streets. They are relocating and they have to buy. Their options come down to one of two things: Fix the old house up...(only if they can steal it with a low ball price). Landscape the new home...(which they may or may not do). If you are a seller, it will pay for you to have your home fixed up and move in ready for the buyers. Your competition is steeped in foreclosures and new construction. It is a tough market for sellers. Shine it up. The home will smell better. Box it up and store those excess items. The home will be easier to keep clean. Update items that you can update. It will sell faster. Kind of clean will not work. Nor does lots of wallpaper, crazy colors and damaged blinds. Make a list and check it twice! If you have to sell, it's much easier to get in shape without the interference of showings. It will also benefit you with the ability to sell in a timely manner at fair market price. Tags : Charlotte NC Real Estate, house, home, neighborhood, buyers, foreclosures, new home development, new

Real Estate - First Time Home Buyers Before Grabbing Your $8,000 Pot Of Gold

Real Estate - First Time Home Buyers Before Grabbing Your $8,000 Pot Of Gold

Wow! The stimulus package is sure stimulating. Home buyers are jumping out of the woodwork and on to the Internet! Great days are coming!!! A new house, $8,000, no more renting, no more apartment dwelling...the first time home buyers are all over this free money...who wouldn't be? They should be! Not being one to burst one's bubble (famous last words)...BUT, if you are a first time home buyer ready to catch the money, you may have some issues to tend to first. BUYER BEWARE: Issue #1: Have you looked over your current lease? Issue #2: Have you been in touch with a lender to see if you can qualify for a loan? Issue #3: Do you know how much money you will need (out of pocket) to buy the home? Issue #4: Have you hired a Realtor in the form of a Buyer's Agent? The role of a Realtor as a Buyer's agent was created to guide and protect you, the consumer, on one of the biggest purchases of your life. This article is not to suggest that you shouldn't pursue your home. You should. As a Realtor and a parent of first time home buyers, I'm all for it! What is striking, is that with the excitement of the free money, and the ease of finding homes on the Internet , a few very valuable components in the home buying process have gone by the way side. Two players...the Mortgage Lender, and the Realtor.You will need both of these folks, so start with one or the other or both at the same time! And then you will be ready to go and buy your first home! Below is a FREE First Time Home Buyer Tutorial for all of you first time home buyers: The INITIAL Task of the Mortgage Lender is this: They pull your credit score using your social security number. They use the credit score to help them guage what your financial ability is. They will need to do some digging on your debt and income ratios. They will "CRUNCH the numbers" to guide you to a comfortable home purchase price, and monthly payment expectation. They will provide you with a 'good faith estimate' so you will know approximately how much money you will need to have the day you close (the final deal-keys). They may also offer you some guidance on the do's and don't's regarding your particular credit/buying scenario. LASTLY, they work from the beginning of the deal to the end of the deal to make sure you have a LOAN that enables you to actually buy the house! So, why haven't you contacted a lender yet? Like any other type of buying process, the home buying process is one of elimination. Eliminate the price, the location, the condition, and, yes, the ugly ones. The Task of the Buyer's Agent is: They will guide you through the proper channels of making a home purchase your reality. They will start by assisting you with a consultation regarding what your needs are in a home. They will set up a search for you, so you have a broad range of homes to choose from, yet keep them within your specified criteria.(We have 25,000 Charlotte homes for sale in (give or take a few). Eliminate the masses with the help of your buyer's agent. They will work with you with homes that are resale and new construction. They will guide you through the writing of an Offer to Purchase (The NC Offer to Purchase is 8 pages long). As Buyer's agents, they will negotiate the Offer to Purchase on your behalf. The Realtor (buyer's agent in this transaction) becomes the glue that oversees the following pieces of your transaction. Their guidance will also carry you through the following: Negotiation of Offer to Contract Lenders follow up and follow through Inspection-structural, mechanical and termite...others when needed Negotiations of repairs per the inspection reports Attorneys/HOA/Title Work/ Surveys-explanations, ordering, and timeliness Final Walk Throughs and Closing Did You Know... A majority of the time, the fees paid to the Buyer Agent are paid for by the Seller or by the Builder...making this a FREE service for the buyer...Rates have never been lower and there is a huge surplus of homes on the market... Call your Lender (this is free). Call your Realtor (this is free). Just know this: Running around without guidance is very costly versus making a couple of phone calls at the starting gate, neither of which will cost you a thing. Once that's done, you'll know for sure if the $8,000 from Uncle Sam is coming your way! Happy house hunting! Tags : stimulus package, buyers, Realtor, buyers agent, mortgage lender, first time home buyer, real estate

Real Estate Professionalism - Will Buyers Buy From You?

Real Estate Professionalism - Will Buyers Buy From You?

Why show up when you personally don't show well? Are you are a top producer in real estate sales and your signature look is one that sports a Bohemian attitude regarding decorum and dress. I just don't get it. Perhaps island huts are your niche. Maybe you just sell beach homes. Or, perhaps, I'm suffering from a form of jealousy because I could never pull off a grill smile in baggy pants. Those that can...my hats off. What is your dress style and how does it relate to your effectiveness? If first impressions are a major factor in how clients select real estate agents, why would you show up looking like you just rolled out of bed from one very good (or very bad) night? You spent so much effort, time and money to gain that qualified client. Why are you in such a hurry to turn them off? Stage a home, stage your self for Pete's sake! If you are a woman, what really works for you? Does the couple you are out showing homes to have their own issues? A jealous wife, caused by a stray dog for a mate? Or just plain insecurity from the female buyer? If so, that skirt one inch too short may cost you a few thousand dollars. My suggestion: if they are not your personal friends, dressing professionally and conservatively will help you earn some extra money. Unless, of course, you just sell to men. And for men, are women afraid to get in the vehicle with you? Are your male clients making sure to dominate the conversation in efforts to keep their wife at bay from your gleaming smile? As much as you would like to sell the house, without selling yourself first, you'll never see the end game. When you walk in to a top notch office building and the receptionist greets you in casual Friday denim, does your level of respect for this company dip...maybe just a bit? Perhaps you forgot it was Friday. Do you question why this high dollar company has a slob in the meet and greet spot? I do. Have we become too casual? There's a lot of business money and know how being tossed out the window, to be so casual, Friday or not. I am in Charlotte NC real estate sales and Charlotte is a conservative financial hub, not a tourist attraction. I think in business settings, yes, we have. One should not have to make an apology for one's appearance. Business attire is called business attire for this reason: it is our image that portrays professionalism and inspires our clients to have a bit of confidence in us. If you are in a business that you never have to meet with a client, then your robe will do. First impressions have always mattered. Those at the top of their sales game, dress for success. This doesn't just apply to the real estate profession. This applies across the board. Put your reticular activator in gear, and start taking performance notes of those that are excelling where others fail. If you run a company, you might want to put some "image" rules in place. Professional standards dictating a professional image can be a very good company policy in more ways than one. Show up looking, acting and speaking in a professional manner and the odds are very, very good that you will enjoy reaping the rewards and results that a professional sales career can bring to you. Tags : real estate agents, buyers, selling, house, home, real estate profession, top producer, sell

Rising Home Sales in Arizona

Rising Home Sales in Arizona

The housing market is scaring a lot of people these days. People are afraid to buy homes because they think the value will go down tremendously. There are many different reasons for this bad housing market, and it will take much more than one article to explain it. Weirdly, the housing market in Arizona has been doing very well in the past few years. Home sales have been generally up in Arizona for many different reasons. Arizona has always been one of the best places to live. This state attracts many different people, from retirees, to students, to people trying to start a family. Arizona is great for any of these people and so many more, such as people who are looking for a second home. This article will give you some of the reasons people love to live here as well as break down some of the numbers that prove that home sales are up. Retirees love to live in Arizona. It is actually, statistically, one of the most popular states in the country for retirees. This is most likely due to the amazing weather. Arizona rarely has a horrible natural disaster such as an earthquake or tornado. Elderly people who are retired just want peace, they do not want to deal with many natural disasters. Another reason is that Arizona has a very laid back and peaceful atmosphere. Weather and the general atmosphere are two great reasons why someone would want to live in a certain state and Arizona has some of the best. People who want a second home, a lot of the time choose Arizona. In much of the country, winters are harsh. The snow and feel of the winter can make it a tough time for many people. Arizona has very tolerable winters, with the lowest temperature in Phoenix being 40 degrees, and this is on the worst of days. The people with second homes come here for almost half of the year to escape the bad seasons where ever they may live. Along with the reasons mentioned above, Arizona is one of the prettiest places to live. Many people visit Arizona and decide to stay just because they love the way everything looks. Arizona has everything from a vast desert to beautiful forests, up north. Arizona is one of the most unique places in the world because it is the only place that has every type of eco-system. You can find many different types of wildlife and plants all across Arizona. Arizona hit its peak home sale numbers in 2005 with 104,725 homes sold in that year alone. The years surrounding that one have also been very close to those numbers. This is up a lot since the late 90's and early 2000's. People keep realizing that Arizona is an amazing place to live. It is one of the fastest growing states, and it will continue to grow because the reasons mentioned above are not going anywhere. See why Arizona is the amazing and explore one of the greatest places in the world.
Buy or sell a home in the heart of Phoenix's East Valley with a top realtor in Tempe, Arizona at Tempe, AZ Homes for Sale or in the ever popular Val Vista Lakes in Gilbert, AZ at Real Estate in Val Vista Lakes, Arizona or the gorgeous Chandler area of Chandler AZ Lake Community Real Estate

How To Dominate Foreclosure Deals

How To Dominate Foreclosure Deals

After you locate a pre-foreclosure home, you can then negotiate with the bank for a credit. Or you could pull up a contract with the current holder stating that you will produce all the past due payments and go on to meet payments on the residence until it sells. At that time you can split the profit.
As soon as you understand the owner's circumstances, build a bond and figure out whether this house can make you a profit. If it can, become creative and make the deal take place.

The most excellent way to deal with folks in pre-foreclosure is to purchase the owners out and have them leave. Emotional attachment can run to a bad deal if the preceding owners stay in the residence.

If the homeowners persist on staying inside the property, rent it to them without an option to pay for. You need to exercise caution since the prior owners could still be in serious financial circumstances, which means you may possibly finish up with an eviction and court battle.

If the homeowners are not willing to be solely tenants and have important equity in the property, offer a joint venture agreement where the partnership owns the property. Your contribution to the partnership is the money to disburse the back payments due on the loans.

The partnership will lease the property to the previous homeowners for market rent. If they default on the rent payment, the partnership evicts them. The former homeowners still maintain a business interest, but they do not have possession.

Once this happens, you can purchase them out of the partnership. When you're working with this kind of circumstances it has the ability to get messy. Therefore, the partnership tactic should not be approached without the assistance of qualified authorized counsel.

Constantly make sure you have an exit strategy for yourself in case the owners suddenly come across some money. In your agreement or contract, state that if the prior owners give back all money you laid out plus an added amount for your time and effort, you will sell the house back to them. This way, there is no confusion and your profit is in writing. Most of the time this doesn't take place but you always have to be prepared for the worst when dealing with real estate.

For all still searching to get the the majority out of their life and the independence to live and prosper in a large way, then we can absolutely help you attained that freedom that all of us really deserves. By visiting this website you will discover information rewarding with hope and excitement.

Selling Your Miami Real Estate

Selling Your Miami Real Estate

True that it is difficult to bag a sale as it requires the person to have selling skills in order to close a deal. There are in fact a number of things which you should be good at in order for you to sell successfully.
One skill which you should be proficient in is around communication. This is very helpful in interacting with the prospective buyer. As for you - the sales person, you need to be equally determined enough to make that sale.

Selling becomes more of a challenge most especially when it comes to the field of real estate. This most especially true if you are looking at selling off that Miami real estate which you own. This is even a situation where you would need to consult and seek help from experts as for sure, you would like to make certain that you close a good deal.

As for any wise decision, things should be planned out and you as the driver of the action should ready yourself for the things which you need to take care of and made aware of. There are a number of things which you can do to prepare yourself, in fact. This comes with realizing that you need to understand what is required for you to successfully sell your Miami real estate which includes tips and tricks of the trade, in as much as understanding how to best deal and transact with people whom you will be facing.

Another option which you can look at to prepare you in selling your Miami real estate is for you to attend seminars where you can get guidelines and techniques from people who are experts and have had good experience in the field of real estate. Here, these experts will be covering tips and will help you understand how you can get the best deal out of your Miami real estate property.

However, if you are looking at disposing your Miami real estate property the soonest time possible, then you might not have enough time to learn new things. In this case, the best option for you to take is to get the help of a real estate agent to help you sell off that property of yours.

What you can go is to hire around 2 real estate agents who can both help you look for prospects who are interested in purchasing your Miami real estate. Ultimately, these people given their expertise will be able to help you acquire the best deal possible. As you interact with them, make sure that schedules and details are planned out so that you do not experience any conflicts or difficulties with the schedule you are working with. These experts will truly be able to give you good advice on how to dispose your property the soonest and fastest way they know.

Waterfront Property in Columbia SC and Where to Invest. Lake Murray, Wateree, or Monticello?

Waterfront Property in Columbia SC and Where to Invest. Lake Murray, Wateree, or Monticello?

Waterfront properties in Columbia South Carolina are plentiful. The Monticello Reservoir, Lake Murray, Lake Wateree, The Broad River, The Congaree River, The Saluda River and The Wateree River are all great landmarks for the midlands of South Carolina. Although they are primarily thought of as recreational areas for outdoor enthusiasts and high dollar real estate investors, their main function is to produce electricity. In earlier times, before the popularity of the motor vehicle and interstate highways, the rivers were used for trade and travel for the Indians. In fact, Columbia was established and settled because of the convergence of the Saluda, Broad and Congaree Rivers. Columbia later became the capitol of the state because of its central location.
The lakes and rivers in Columbia are a major attribute to the real estate market here. Waterfront property is a multi-billion dollar industry that has compounded over the years. Real estate is bought then sold over and over again, which typically increases in value with each sale. But again, the underlying function of these bodies of water is for hydro electricity.

The Monticello Reservoir in conjunction with the Parr Reservoir has the most interesting functionality. Lake Monticello, as it is commonly referred to by locals, is a quiet lake located off of HWY 215 in Jenkinsville, SC about 35 minutes from Downtown Columbia. Local chatter throughout the years has told me that most of the property surrounding the lake was farmland and the farmers have kept the acreage intact and not succumbed to the high-dollar real estate opportunities. It wasn't until the beginning of the millennium that the inherited estates began to be sold off due to the lack of profitability in farmland and the high demand of waterfront property for sale in South Carolina.

The 6700-acre Monticello Reservoir was completed in the late 1970s as a pumped storage facility run by SCE&G (South Carolina Electric and Gas). It was built to compliment the existing 4400-acre Parr Reservoir that has existed since the early 1900's. These are the two main components of the nuclear pumped storage facility and later a 300-acre "Recreational Lake" was built as a public recreational area. Traditional hydroelectric stations must have either large volumes of water, or a constant that flow to create this process. That is unless you have a nuclear power facility to pump water back into the original source(above the turbines) as Monticello does. Because of this process the water levels can rise and fall in extreme measures. Sometimes as much as a 5-foot decrease in Monticello and a 10-foot increase in the Parr reservoir over a 12-hour period of generation. Boaters must take extreme caution and be alert of any hazards that may arise during this time. In comparison to Lake Wateree and Lake Murray, Lake Monticello has some heavy restrictions on fishing and boating and allows no water-skiing or jet skis. Additionally, SCE&G owns a strip around the entire lake so that they can maintain the natural beauty and prohibit excavation projects.

Lake Murray is a lake that is also managed by SCE&G. It is about 50,000 acres in size and the 200-foot dam was once deemed the "largest earthened dam" in the world. Lake Murray was constructed in the mid-1920's and completed around 1930. Just recently the dam was improved with a "backup dam" in case of an earthquake or uncontrollable breach. Waterfront property on Lake Murray is in high demand and the use of the lake is much less restricted. You will find all types of waterfront estates including single family residences, multi-family condominiums and apartments, and even commercial properties. It is by far the most popular lake in the area and about 20 minutes to downtown Columbia. There are public access points around the entire lake and boating, skiing, sailing, SCUBA diving, and fishing are encouraged. There are also a few marina grills that are open to the public and in the summer you will find the boats lined along the entire dock. It was rumored that "Madonna" bought a house here years ago.

Lake Wateree is somewhat a different vibe. It is operated by Duke Power and was built in the 1920's and is approximately 13000 acres in size. Lake Wateree and is located about 15 minutes off of I-77, 25 minutes off of I-20 between Charlotte, NC and Columbia, SC. It is also a recreational lake but you will find much less traffic and virtually no social spots. Fishermen find Lake Wateree a desirable area because traditionally it has been a low traffic area with plenty of coves and undeveloped property. At times you may forget that it is a public lake and feel like you have it all to yourself. In comparison, it's a mix of Lake Murray and Lake Monticello.

FreedomSoft, Freedom Soft, Preston Ely, Wholesale Real Estate Investing

FreedomSoft, Freedom Soft, Preston Ely, Wholesale Real Estate Investing

Preston Ely will be launching his brand new revolutionary advanced wholesaling software for real estate investors in January 2010. It's called FreedomSoft and the buzz surrounding this product is huge.
It's become biggerr than a real estate investing product launch but it's becoming an devent.

The hype surrounding FreedomSoft is already everywhere and anywhere. The guru's are promoting it and the buzz is huge. Preston has gone to every length to make this event extraordinary.

He seems to of created a over the top movie trailer that's a must see.

Freedom Soft is going to be the first ever Advanced Wholesaling System business management software and advanced wholesaling education.

Preston Ely personally had the software created for his business because like many other investors we all need useful software and there doesn't seem to be any out there.

Personally I've yet to come across an effective and reliable wholesaling software that has it all.

So What Does Freedom Soft Include? It's supposed to include...


Comparable sales service
Websites and Email Marketing
Lead Generation Tools
One Click Contract Generation
One Click Direct Mail Generation
Property Marketing Aggregation
Integrated Education
And more...
Only time will tell as we learn more details are revealed about FreedomSoft.

From what I've heard from my inside connections is that there will be a one time setup fee and there will be a monthly recurring fee.

A demo will be released shortly to the public but for the time being we all will just sit back and watch the craziness of this product launch as it happens.

Flipping Real Estate: 10 Reasons Why They Fail

Flipping Real Estate: 10 Reasons Why They Fail

From 2002 to 2006 real estate was such a lucrative business with the generous availability of loans and so much speculation that home prices would trend up forever. In today's market, they buying frenzy is long gone and real estate became a very tricky business, made so mostly because of the high transaction costs and how long it takes to sell a home. But never despair, you may be losing out on a great opportunity by sitting on the sidelines. There is always money to be made in real estate, even in a recession. You just have to avoid making these common mistakes:

Have a Plan - Are you flipping or planning on renting out the property? These are very different investing styles and the type of property you buy depends on what you are planning to do with it. For example, I have found that for tenants, the number of rooms is very important. The more the merrier. However, for home buyers, quality is much more important. For example, you should have quality materials especially in the kitchen, focus on the overall look and feel of the home, and be sure to have the amenities like a master bath, a spacious backyard, central air, and a backyard deck. If you are looking to make a quick flip, you have to get a phenomenal deal on your home to make any decent profit. Don't even bother looking at the mls. You have to use unconventional methods to find a killer deal. Search for homeowners who are at risk of having their home foreclosed, find out how much they owe on their home, and negotiate a deal that will benefit you both. A good website that lists homes with defaulted loans is foreclosure.com.

Thoroughly Analyze the Property and Its Neighborhood - Look at how the home compares to similar homes in the same neighborhood before you even think of placing an offer. Your realtor should bring up a list of recently sold comps so you can find out how much you can expect to sell it for. If you want to become a landlord, look up your local classifieds listing for similar homes for rent in the same neighborhood to see how much you can charge for monthly rent. You can also research your neighborhood rents on craigslist.org and rentometer.com. Always make sure that you can rent out your home for more than your monthly mortgage payment.

Do An Inspection - It costs $300 but you can avoid some very costly mistakes by having an expert look at your home, especially if the home you are buying is older than 20 years. There are so many things that could be wrong with the house and you won't even discover them until you begin remodeling. For example, if you discover extensive dry rot damage, that could cost tens of thousands of dollars to replace. You are better off spending the $300 and not getting involved with the property at all.

Create a Realistic Timeline - This could be the most challenging step in creating a plan to fix up and flip a home. We are always optimistic about how fast we can perform certain tasks and don't account for unforseen circumstances. When creating a schedule, give yourself plenty of time to finish the task. Then when you are done planning, you can expect it to take about 50% longer than you anticipated. No matter how hard we try, something will always happen to put us behind schedule. It's a fact of life so plan accordingly.

Budget Yourself Generously - Just like the timeline, there will always be hidden expenses that are unforseeable when planning your flip. You want to have a sufficient emergency fund just in case. Keep in mind that every time you buy a house there will be closing costs (3%-4% of the value of the home) and when you sell you pay your realtor's commission (6% of the sale price). And don't forget your carrying costs, which are your mortgage payment, warranty, and insurance. The longer you hold your property, the more you pay in carrying costs. You can never anticipate how long it will take to sell or rent your home so pretend that you will end up holding your property at least 3 months longer than you originally planned.

Know the Limits of Your Ability - Most newbie flippers try to save money by doing everything themselves. You may be able to get away with it if all you need to do is clean up, paint, and patch up small holes in your drywall. However, if you have no experience framing a room, plumbing, or stretching carpet, it's best to leave the heavy lifting to the pros. Otherwise you might end up wasting a lot of time trying to do it yourself and then having to hire an expert to fix what you've done. It's a good idea to get to know a handyman you can depend on. Use Job Bullet to find a contractor to do the work you need.

Have a Backup Plan in Case Things Go Wrong - If this is your first time flipping, do not quit your day job. You must have something to fall back on if for some reason your flip fails. If it's winter and the real estate market is in the dumps, then consider getting month-to-month tenants to help you with the carrying costs until you find a buyer. Or if you can put off selling your home for a few years, get a permanent tenant to move in so you can wait out the hard times and get top dollar for your property.

Don't Abandon the Property - Whether you are selling or renting, it is always important to maintain the home and make it look like someone is living there. If it's in your budget, get a staging company to come in and spruce up the appearance of your home. It will attract more offers from buyers because they can actually picture themselves living in that home. This is not as important for rental units, but it will help you find good tenants if you don't let your property go.

Don't Be Too Aggressive With Your Ask Price - A good rule of thumb when selling your home is to list the asking price 5% below the fair market value of the property and your realtor can determine that for you. That will get many more eyes on your home and you will receive multiple offers faster. With a competitive bidding process in place, you have a better chance of receiving an offer that is at or above what you initially wanted for the property. It is also a good idea to accept any offer that is reasonably close to what you want for your home. If you decline an offer simply because it is a few thousand dollars lower than you want, you are running the risk of holding out for less money. Carrying costs will eat away at your profits every month and in this economy you have to take what you can get.

Get Help From a Realtor - Trying to save money by not using a realtor is a big mistake. Over 90% of home buyers use the mls in their home search. So if you are not using a real estate agency, you are missing out on a lot of exposure. Your first priority when selling an investment property is selling it fast because of high carrying costs. Talk to your friends who have successfully sold a home and find out who their realtor was.
With so many great bargains left over from the real estate collapse now is the safest time to invest in real estate. Since banks have tightened their lending standards, the rental market is unbelievable. You can fill a vacancy in just one week! It's a sure win strategy to buy a rental now, hold it for 5 years, and sell at the next real estate boom.

Real Estate in Citrus County Florida Real Estate

Real Estate in Citrus County Florida Real Estate

Citrus County Florida is one of the best and leading real estates around the country. You will never go wrong investing in this city.
Real estate is a legal term that encompasses land together with something permanently affixed to it such as buildings or exclusively built property in the location. It is alternatively called as personal property or chattel referring to rights or ownership of the land and other property.

There are many types of real estate. One example is the residential real estate also known as the right to occupy such dwelling or housing tenure. Housing tenure is classified as tenancy, owner occupancy, condominiums, housing cooperative, public housing, co-housing, and even squatting.

Residential real estate goes down into classification where lands were connected to a neighboring residences and lot. Types of housing tenure have same physical aspects and built. It can be owned in single entity and leased, or separately owned with agreement between units and common concerns and its area.

Some of these types fall under different categories like apartment, multi-family house, terraced house, condominium, semi-detached, duplex, single family detached home, mobile homes, houseboats and tents. These are usually measured in square feet or by meters.

In the United States the square meters of land and its dwelling includes the area of the walls, the area of living space excluding garage and non-living space. In Europe however the garage is included in the total measured area. The built of houses is more likely into studio apartment types with single bedroom, separate kitchen but no living room.

Other apartments include a living and dining room, one or two bedrooms, and built-in closet for garments storage. It is common in some part of a larger unit apartment rather than the single type studio apartments. You can see a list of different houses and its types with your real estate agent.

Many economists because of lack of effective laws and governance have recognized mortgages in real estate. In some societies, the most part of their total wealth was put to invest in purchasing lands, houses and buildings. They use it as capital or mortgage loans to improve their land and buildings.

Some real estate in Citrus County, Calaveras County, Wake County, Orange County, and Florida were more even better than the past few years of operation, buy and sell of the property is now easy to make with the help of their professional broker and well known real estate agents.

Their team has assigned professionals and agents to find suitable areas and start building real estate activities. It will be made ready for occupancy to those who want to have their own investments either in land, houses or for a rental property with reasonable price and good partnership and dealings with their professionals.

Citrus County in Florida is one of the fascinating places for those looking for a profitable investment or simply want to have their own lot. Citrus County was named after "Nature Coast" because of its fascinating and close to nature features and facilities. The land was rich in captivating values and cultures and is ready to compete with any other world-class communities.

Exchange properties in Citrus County are one of the best investments to enter into. Seeking advice from professional will help you in finding suitable and right properties available in some special areas.

Their real estate agents, professionals and brokers offer big and great options; they will keep you connected with its countrywide set of connections and bringing them a large set of information regarding your investments in real estate market. Visit their online site and talk to their well known agents and brokers for more information and assistance.

You Got Your Real Estate License - Now What?

You Got Your Real Estate License - Now What?

So you have just received your real estate license and now you need to find a great office to work in. Deciding where to hang your real estate license can be a very tough decision. After all, choosing the right real estate company is a major decision.
In fact, there are a number of key factors that should be considered when deciding on a company to work with. We provided a few things for you to think about, below:

1. Do you feel that your business and moral principles are a good match for this firm? 2. How confident do you feel associating yourself with this particular brokerage? 3. Does this brokerage have any additional perks or benefits? An example might be additional education or even mentoring programs that would help you establish yourself in the industry.

There is now way around it, but money is often the leading concern for most new agents. There are very few brokerages that offer their agents a salary as the industry standard is to work on a commission.

You will find that there are two types of companies out there, commission based and split commission companies. The commission based companies typically charge what they call a desk fee. That is a flat fee that usually covers your franchise fee as well as your costs associated with doing business.

On the other hand, the Split Commission companies will usually offer you a split of your commission, often based on your number of sales or the dollar amount of your commissions. One nice thing about this type of company is that there is no real initial expenses, however, you may notice a fairly drastic reduction in the amount of commission you receive.

You may want to consider chasing the power of a large company name to increase sales as you are starting out. Companies like Coldwell Banker and Prudential are well known brands that bring in business. On the other hand, should you be interested in a smaller brokerage you may require additional time to establish your name and buid up a list of clients.

One alternative option is actually not in real estate sales at all, rather in Property management. That is correct, some states do require property managers to hold an active real estate license. The nice thing about this field, is that it it usually a salary based pay. This means that you can get right to work without the need to build up a client list.

Please just try and remember that it is your good name and your real estate license that will be on the line. So make a well informed decision before hanging your license any real estate firm.

The Shrinking Home Equity Pandemic

The Shrinking Home Equity Pandemic

Though it seems like we're getting weekly reports that the economy has ceased its nosedive, the nation's homeowners aren't out of the woods yet when it comes to mortgages and the value of their homes. As any homeowner can tell you, the value of the homes with mortgages on them have shrunk considerably since they took out mortgages on these properties. With two thirds of homeowners paying mortgages, this is a frightening trend.
So far, the decline of home equity has primarily struck homeowners with sub-prime mortgages, but recent months have seen a significant increase in the number of prime conforming loans as well as prime jumbo loans with the months to come seeing an even bigger increase in equity losses in these types of loans as well. The riskier home loans given during the housing boom already have much higher decline in value, half of those are underwater at present.

At this rate it is estimated that by next spring a full half of homeowners with a mortgage will owe more than their house is worth, with some owing far more than the equity in their homes. The months to come are expected to show more and more impact on mortgages that were in no way risky, instead affecting loans that were deemed quite safe.

The results of this trend are likely to be a continuation of the trends we've already seen in months previous: homeowners stressing over owing more money than their real estate is actually worth and consequently walking away from oppressive mortgages as a result. The word is that many homeowners who could either have their mortgages modified or otherwise keep their homes have even walked away from their mortgages because of the spreading feeling of gloom and doom in some areas.

It is estimated that by next year, some areas of the US that saw their housing values excessively inflated in the past housing boom will see more than ninety percent of their loans underwater by next year.

To try to avoid having your home foreclosed on, talk to your mortgage lender. There has been millions of dollars from the federal government put into helping homeowners manage their mortgages; with the monthly government reports on how well these financial institutions are doing to help people modify their mortgages, there should be some added incentive for them to be more helpful in this regard when you know that the opportunity is there for the asking.

School Days Again in Real Estate

School Days Again in Real Estate

I like slow days like today in real estate. On days like this, after all my work is finished, and there is really nothing left to do at the Wichita office, it's time to go to school. Time to take advantage of a little down time and learn something.
Learning is a lifelong process. We start as soon as we are born and we don't ever stop. Experience teaches us, as do our mentors, the books we read, the people we listen to and our environment around us. The process of learning, or experiencing, comes natural, but can be pushed too. We can strive to stuff more information in our brain and make ourselves more knowledgeable and better ourselves and our position in life.

Brian Tracy teaches best time management practices or ways to best use or save time. One way to take advantage of time is what he calls Automobile university. Anytime I have to go somewhere in my car I put in an educational CD. It could be something about a particular topic, a motivational seminar or even just something to refresh a skill set I already possess. Now I'm not wasting the time it takes me to get from one place to another but taking full advantage and furthering my career. Sort of like killing two birds with one stone. Never do that by the way.

If you think your bored, just the very act of gaining knowledge eliminates the possibility of boredom. There are always books to read. To many in fact and not nearly enough time. The Internet puts educational videos and classrooms literally at our fingertips. Have you ever heard someone, a child perhaps, proclaim that "I'm bored, there's nothing to do". On the contrary there is to much to do. So much you actually have to make conscious decision as to what you want to make time for.

I happen to be in the real estate business so that is what I like to learn about. By visiting the blogs and websites of more experienced real estate professionals on sites like Active Rain there is much to be learned. How to prospect effectively for instance, or how to handle a difficult client. Lately I've increased my search engine optimization skills and knowledge 100% or more just by reading one mans blog. To many lessons to count or list here.

The best way to learn more about the business you are in or to better your circumstance is to ask the successful people that were there before you. Just ask. Rarely have I come across a successful Realtor who wasn't willing to share his or her knowledge and expertise. The best way to get to where you want to go is to learn from those before you. Then perhaps you can improve from there but don't waste time looking for knowledge when it is right in front of you.

So days like today I'll take advantage of the down time and find something to learn. Someway to improve my business or my mind. Read a book, listen to a seminar or pull up a something on the web. Whatever it is, I won't be wasting my time.

Primary or Secondary PrePaid Meters For Real Estate Investors

Primary or Secondary PrePaid Meters For Real Estate Investors

When considering buying a prepaid meter as a home owner or a landlord there are several options that one should be aware of. In the electricity prepaid metering industry there are two options and many types of meters.
The two options are: municipal prepaid meter and landlord owned meter. Many landlords and home owners are not aware of the difference between a municipal prepaid meter (primary meter) and a landlord owned meter (secondary meter).

Both landlords and home owners come across two main barriers to entry when inquiring about installing prepaid meters: First is the price, second barrier is the simple fact that municipality simply does not supply prepaid meters in some areas or that the waiting list to get a prepaid meter installed is 6 months to 2 years with some municipalities. That said, they are not aware of the fact that they are only inquiring for the first option, the municipal prepaid electricity meter.

While landlords with rental property have the option to install sub-meters, also called secondary meters that are owned and managed by the landlord, the home owner wanting a prepaid meter for their primary dwelling unfortunately does not have this option and must turn to the municipality.

To better under this we will look now at the difference between the municipal prepaid meter also called "primary" and the sub-meters which are landlord owned and managed meters.

1. The municipal meter is owned by the municipality and the applicant will only get one at the price of the municipality, waiting list they have and provision of the area if such exists.

2. The secondary meter can be purchased by any landlord, it can be received and installed in a matter of days, the landlord manages the meter and the kwh rate is the same as the municipal tariff for the area.

The first option means that they are at the mercy of the rules and pricing of the municipalities. If the municipality does not provide prepaid meters for their area or the price is prohibitive then really this options is not viable.

Furthermore, with a municipal meter the landlord has absolutely no control of the meter. In other words, the tenant can purchase electricity from any Point of Sale the municipality prescribes and in the same time carry on living without paying the rent to the landlord or avoiding the landlord in that regard.

The second option that landlords have is to purchase a landlord owned meter. Owning a sub-meter does not require municipal approval of any sort. With sub-meters the landlord can buy a meter, often at a third of a municipal meter price and the availability is almost immediate, no long waiting lists for installation.

Sub-meters are also used in multiple dwelling ERFs. Municipality will not provide in almost all cases more than one meter per ERF, which means that if the landlord is letting out a house with one granny flat/cottage or more, the only option is a sub-meter for each tenant. This is being done also in shopping centers and industrial properties, where here are many tenants on one ERF.

Should the landlord opt for a sub-meter, this will mean that the primary meter owned by the municipality will not be removed and the landlord will continue to received the municipal bills. However, the landlord will receive all moneys for prepaid electricity from the tenants. From the amounts collected during the month, the landlord can now pay the bill that will arrive at the end of the month from municipally.

When understanding this setup it becomes evident why the home owner doesn't really have the sub-meter option. A landlord is avoiding arrears from late or non-payment by a tenant and ensuring the tenant can monitor their own use of electricity. However, as a home owner, one would still receive the municipal bill, which in effect can make a sub-meter of no effect as home owners want to alleviate themselves from municipal bills.

With sub-meters though the landlord is not allowed to re-sell electricity (in South Africa) at a tariff greater than that which the municipality stipulates, the landlord is entitled to install a secondary meter and issue electricity tokens for electricity sold at the municipal rate and, at the same time, the landlord is allowed to charge a service fee for doing this.

Because sub-meters are managed and controlled by the landlord, this also means that the tenant has to approach the landlord to receive electricity tokens, which in turn means that if tenants does not pay for their rental, they will have to face the landlord sooner or later to get electricity tokens.

As opposed to primary prepaid meters, landlord owned and controlled meters now add the additional value of not having to chase the tenant who is avoiding calls from their landlord for late or non-payment of rental, sooner or later will have to approach the landlord for additional electricity tokens.

In summary, though primary meters seem to be the only solution known by landlords, savvy property investors and property owners that need to manage tenants are finding out that sub-meters are often a cheaper, faster to get and install solution that affords them a level of control that is non-existent with primary prepaid metering provided by the municipality.

As for home owners, unfortunately if the wish to stop getting bills from municipalities then, this means that they will have to go the municipal route and go through their local municipality process to purchase a municipal prepaid meter at the municipal cost and installation time.

REO Agents Bracing For Wave of Deluxe Foreclosures

REO Agents Bracing For Wave of Deluxe Foreclosures

Million-Plus "McMansions" To Be Next Big REO Listing Category

Up until now, the boilerplate chic has been hardest hit by coast home prices and a bad absolute acreage market. This has resulted in massive mortgage defaults, the flat beachcomber of foreclosures and the celebrated top amount of REO listings available.

The top boilerplate chic and high-end homeowners who anticipation they would be able to contrivance the foreclosure ammo now arise to next in band for foreclosures. A lot of of them who bare to advertise accept been counting on renting out their homes for a year or so "until the bazaar comes back" - while afire through their own claimed basic at an alarming rate.

The accuracy is, even with prices off an boilerplate of 30%, home prices are still too high. The contempo acceptable account about bigger sales has aggregate to do with agents and sellers giving up and not abundant to do with client interest. REO backdrop are absolutely a hot article now - because of their price, they're apparent as a accord and a abundant investment. The blow of the action is mostly due to atrocious homeowners accommodating to accord and abbreviate sales.

You can accusation growing unemployment and bread-and-butter stagnation for the absolute acreage bazaar (aside from REO homes) continuing to languish. There's just not a lot of banknote or acclaim about - and that agency we accept yet to see the basal of the apartment market. And that aswell agency a lot of homeowners captivation big mortgages on million-plus backdrop who are cat-and-mouse for a big absolute acreage backlash are alone traveling to be on the accepting end of big, big disappointment.

Looking at the a lot of contempo apartment abstracts from Orange County, California, home to a huge amount of "McMansions," it's bright that lower and mid-tier apartment has counterbalanced to some extent, with inventories assuredly shrinking. But what's aswell bright is that the college end homeowners aren't accepting the cher absoluteness of the accepted absolute acreage market.

Look at the numbers and adjudicator for yourself:

• Homes priced at beneath a bisected actor will yield about 6 or 7 weeks to sell

• Homes from $500,000 to a actor will yield about 10 to 11 weeks

• Homes over a actor - over 13 months

What that agency is that, with the bread-and-butter account as it is, a lot of million-plus backdrop artlessly won't advertise in the timeframe a lot of owners crave them to. Many experts accede that these beyond backdrop are currently cher by as abundant as 50%. That foreshadows a amount collapse in this bazaar bank identical to that which hit lower end apartment - area the huge REO acreage bang has been focused so far.

For REO agents, brokers and contractors, this agency added adorable listings, college profits and added work.

Leading Mortgage Blog Blown Mortgage Expresses Hope of Housing Recovery

Leading Mortgage Blog Blown Mortgage Expresses Hope of Housing Recovery

Blown Mortgage which offers one of the most trusted free home loan modification and independent mortgage industry commentary online has said that the mortgage industry is on a path to recovery but it is still sometime before it stabilizes entirely. Since its launch in 2006 after the credit crisis started the blog has been one of the most read blogs across the United States. Mr. Daniel Logan, editor of Blown Mortgage said that their blog has received hundreds of thousands queries on the housing market and answered them through articles, blogs and responding to individual comments. The mortgage modification initiatives of the United States Treasury are helping to stabilize the housing market in a big way. Mr. Logan emphasized the fact that the mission of the company is to provide genuine solutions and responses to American homeowners. Every member of the editorial team is experienced in the loan modification service and gives valuable and genuine solutions on the subject. This is one of the reasons why Blown Mortgage is quickly moving towards becoming the primary source of loan modification information on the Internet.
Mr. Logan mentioned that the sole objective of Blown Mortgage is to give peace of mind to citizens so that they can start their day with a lesser burden. Apart from mortgage, the site also gives valuable information on consumer credit relief. Blown Mortgage is not a service provider for loan modifications. Commenting on the root of the credit and housing problem he said that Americans had taken mortgages beyond their means to profit from the steep rise in real estate prices. However, like every graph rises and falls the real estate growth could not sustain the abnormal rise, and fell steeply. The drop took many of leading Wall Street giants such as Lehman Brothers and Bear Sterns along with it. It just stopped short of drowning the pillars of American economy such as Citigroup and AIG.

As a step towards stability of the country, the administration moved in quickly and was supported by banks which were not in such a bad shape. He said that Blown Mortgage and its team of researchers are focused on offering advices and tips to help citizens to overcome their individual problems. The team has developed an excellent knowledge base on loan modifications, loan refinancing and mortgage modification which is being used extensively to solve credit problems. Blown Mortgage has already received its share of bouquets being noted as one of the Top 3 influential Mortgage Blogs in the industry by Inman News.

The team at Blown Mortgage is one of the best with recognized writers and researchers such as Jay Hammond, Constantine Von Hoffman and Morgan Brown taking the pen. The company plans to expand the team with new writers and researchers joining the team. He said that a marketing campaign has been initiated to make the blog more popular among citizens so that they can benefit from the credit related information. With the new presidency and a bigger financial stimulus, millions of Americans can hope to see better days in the future.

Keywords: Loan modifications, loan refinancing, mortgage modification

Using a Reverse Mortgage for a home purchase

Using a Reverse Mortgage for a home purchase

As of early 2009, seniors that are looking to purchase a new home can use a Reverse Mortgage for the financing. A federally insured "Purchase Reverse Mortgage" is a revolutionary way for seniors to purchase Real Estate. Recent changes in legislation allow for seniors to purchase a home with NO monthly mortgage payments.
Eligible property types include: Single family residence, Condo, Townhomes, 1-4 Units Multi-Family, and Manufactured Homes (meeting strict guidelines). With the addition of the HECM Purchase program there a great number of opportunities available to help seniors, 62 years of age, who would like to purchase a home as their primary residence without dealing with a monthly payment. However, unlike the HECM Refinance program, there are some very different requirements that must be addressed when presenting and originating this product.

First, here is the address the differences between a HECM Refinance and a HECM Purchase:

* The senior will be required to provide the remaining cost of the home at closing, and these funds will need to be verified so the transaction can be fully documented and meet all of HUD's guidelines.

First, the Borrower may only use their own money or proceeds from sale of assets, such as another home or a mutual fund. As well, the borrower can use his savings or retirement account as the provider of the necessary funds. However, there are restrictions on gifts, personal loans, Loan Discount Points, Interest Rate Buy Downs, Closing cost assistance, builder incentives, Seller contributions or seller financing, credit card advances, secured or unsecured loans from another asset (car, home equity, etc.)

Some other requirements for purchase of a Reverse Mortgage home include the requirement that the borrower must occupy the property within 60 days of closing. Newly constructed properties must have Certificate of Occupancy prior to the date of the application for the Reverse Mortgage. HECM Purchase transactions do not have a three day (3) rescission period.

With the bad economy right now and the Credit Crisis and the Mortgage Crisis all together, the Reverse Mortgage is a safe and secure way to purchase a new home without affecting your assets, income, or investments. It is a safe way to ensure that when you buy a home, you will not have to make payments on a new mortgage or worry about default or foreclosure so that you can enjoy your well-earned retirement.

California Loss Mitigation and Foreclosure Realities

California Loss Mitigation and Foreclosure Realities

Although in the past investors would push servicers to foreclose on those who couldn't make their payments on their mortgages, today investors are all about loss mitigation. Foreclosure, it turns out, is a costly hassle, leading to thousands and thousands of dollars of loss. Extrapolating these losses over entire portfolios, or even over the entire country, they add up to billions of wasted dollars.
Obviously, investors and government agencies don't like that, and they have begun convincing/enticing/forcing the servicing community to help discover new methods of loss mitigation, create special departments for their execution, and generally to pursue less wasteful alternatives to foreclosure. These new plans include tactics such as delicate loan modification negotiations, forbearance plans, deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, and real estate short sales. Now, every single operation features such programs, it is assumed. And even better, it works.

The huge losses of sudden foreclosures and defaults are largely a thing of the past, replaced by the smaller losses of loan mods, short sales, and other mitigating actions.

Sadly, this improvement is not without its drawbacks. Loan servicers, especially the ones in residential situations, have become bogged down in layers of litigation that come with loss mitigation, because trying to reach a workout of loss mitigation while simultaneously, and often secretly, pursuing the channels of foreclosure created a lot of angry people claiming that they were engaging in deceptive practices.

There is a court case that set a strong precedence in these matters. Richter v. Bank of America (1991) led to a court awarding Richter about three million in damages against a lender who had 'breached it's duty' to deal in good faith towards the goal of restructuring a loan, and had engaged in negligent misrepresentation by going for foreclosure while 'taunting' the borrower with promises of a loan modification. It was a landmark case, demonstrating the power of expectations for genuine loss mitigation efforts over the old foreclosure practices or unscrupulous fraud. It also made servicers nervous and hesitant to engage in loss mitigation efforts if foreclosure might be legally simpler.

However, most lenders have come to the conclusion that the risk to their interest is worth the prevention of major loss during foreclosure or short sale. And there are some pretty simple and effective steps lenders can take to protect themselves from potential risk.

The most self-explanatory, but often hardest to execute plan is to simply "be a straight shooter". Lenders who suggest that they plan to pursue loss mitigation avenues instead of foreclosure need to admit that, actually, they will be proceeding with foreclosure procedures until a document executed by both parties is produced that sets out specific, agreed-upon loss mitigation alternatives. They need to straight out document the fact that they are in danger of foreclosure, and that they should not definitely rely on loss mitigation results, and be aware that they are in very real danger of losing their homes. Lenders cannot be in the business of giving out false hope, because it can lead to more loss, and sometimes lawsuits.

Staging Your Home to Sell in Today's Real Estate Market

Staging Your Home to Sell in Today's Real Estate Market

Selling a home in today's market takes a little extra know-how if you want to make a profit and sell your home quickly. Buyers today have numerous houses to choose from so your job is to make sure your house is "the one" they want to buy. How can you do that? Through properly staging your home to sell. Staging is a way of setting up your furniture and decorative touches to make your home more inviting and attractive to potential buyers. It is a way of making your home feel different, special and inspiring. It can truly be the difference between selling your house and not or selling it for a good price rather than taking a loss.
One of the first steps to staging your home is to eliminate clutter. You absolutely cannot have stacks of newspapers, magazines or unread mail on any surface of your home. Your home needs to look like a magazine ad or a store display whenever a potential buyer comes in to view your home. Clutter is not limited to garbage either; you also need to eliminate excess furnishings and decorations. Less is more when it comes to staging. Less furniture will make rooms seem bigger and allow potential buyers more of a clean canvas to imagine their own furniture in the home.

Another important aspect of staging is neutralizing your paint colors. You may be perfectly happy with a pink room for your daughter and a blue one for your son, but a potential buyer may have 2 daughters, 2 sons or no kids at all and want the extra bedrooms as an office and an exercise room. Putting neutral colors on the walls helps to avoid turning them off and allows potential buyers to see the homes potential rather than feeling limited by what you have done with the home.

Staging your home to sell also means having appropriate furniture, electronics and artwork in place. If you have a country home with modern furniture, things will feel disjointed and uncomfortable. If your living room furniture is from the sixties it can make your home feel old and outdated. If you don't want to buy new furniture you can always consider renting some to make the home look updated until it sells. You will likely make your money back when your home sells quickly and for the right price.

Making sure that you have every possible advantage to sell your home quickly and profitably is an important part of your real estate agent's job. Make sure that you choose a realtor who understands the importance of staging and can walk you through the steps you need to take to stage your home properly.

Financing for Investment Property

Financing for Investment Property

Understanding different types of loans, and knowing when to use them is essential for investing in real-estate. Different loans are used for different reasons. Specific loans may be used for holding property long term, and specific loans are used for short term holds. Each type of loan has a specific purpose when investing in real-estate. Learning each loans purpose is essential to ensure the right loan is being applied to the correct investing strategy. Investors can get crossed up very easily, costing them a lot of time and money. Knowing when to use a specific type of loan can be the difference between making a lot of money and losing a property to foreclosure. Below is a list of the most popular loans used by investors.
*Fixed Rate Mortgage - This loan is probably the most common loan used by average real-estate investors. It is also one of the safest to use. The interest rates are locked for the entire life of the loan. This loan usually comes in terms of 15 years, 20 years, 30 years, or 40 years. The longer the term, the lower your payments will be. Obtaining the lowest payments may sound good, but a longer term equals much more interest paid to the bank. Choose a term that will allow the most cash-flow out of your investment property. This is the perfect loan for a property that does not need rehab and is to be held as a long-term investment.

*Adjustable Rate Mortgage- This is the same type of loan that has recently been the cause for many foreclosures over the last couple years. People have been steered away from these loans. This is not a bad loan if investors understand how to use it correctly. These loans usually come in 10/1, 7/1, 5/1, and 3/1. The number before the one indicates the length of the first term. After the first term the payment will increase to a higher fixed interest rate. The first term payments may be cheaper than a conventional loan, but after it adjust the payments will significantly go up. This loan is best used for property intended to be sold before the end of the first term. The advantage is that the investor will have a low mortgage payment for the first term.

*Interest Only Loan- This loan can be used for property with a lot of equity already built into it. If investment property has a lot of equity in it, then paying down the principle and creating more equity may not be important. Accomplishing positive monthly cash-flow may be more important. For example, let's say an investment property was brought, and the seller left $50,000 in equity for the buyer. The buyer decides to rent the property and then sell it in 5 years. The investor can make cheaper payment to the bank because he is only paying interest on the property and no principle. Therefore, the investor can make more money renting the property because he is paying less in mortgage payments. The investor has $50,000 in equity, 5 years of appreciation, and 5 years of profitable rental income. In this case an investor may want lower mortgage payments, instead of paying principle and interest on property that already has equity-- and will be held for only 5 years.

*Seller Financing- This is good way to buy a property from someone who may own a property free and clear. A lot of times you can negotiate these deals with no money down and no credit check. People who own property that may need repair are more likely to agree to seller financing. Many people avoid buying property that need extensive repair. These properties are hard to sell, so the owner is probably open for different ideas of getting rid of the property. The goal is to get 0% interest and no payments. This may seem unlikely, but surprisingly some seller financed deals are structured this way. If the seller does not agree, then negotiate the cheapest rate and term possible.

*Hard Money Loan- This loan is normally used for property that is going to need repair. This type of loan allows investors to finance the money needed to buy and fix investment property. Be very careful. Be sure you are able to get out of this loan quickly. These loans are short term, and a balloon payment is due 6-12 months after the loan originates. Buy and fix the property, then refinance before the loan is due. Although, lately investors have been getting caught with their pants down. The banks have been making it harder, and harder to refinance out of these types of loans. In some cases, investors cannot refinance due to seasoning issues, and the loan becomes due before they can secure permanent financing. Before using this loan get pre-qualified for long-term financing, and be sure the investment property adheres to all guidelines and financial conditions for the new loan. In some instances, investors can walk away with money in their pocket if everything goes accordingly.

There are many other loan products on the market . Each loan is designed for a specific purpose and a specific person. Each loan has its own risk, some more than others. The important thing is to learn and understand the loan. Plan your strategy and choose the loan that makes the most sense for the strategy in place. Make it work for you and not against you.

Swimming Into Trouble: The Urgent Need For Property Preservation Professionals

Swimming Into Trouble: The Urgent Need For Property Preservation Professionals

Abandoned Foreclosure Home Pools are Potential Disease Pits

Foreclosures that have been abandoned by their owners are at historic highs. For many holders of mortgages left owing a lot more than their house is actually worth, it makes more economic sense to walk away than to continue to struggle to meet huge monthly payments.

What happens after those homeowners leave, however, can turn into a horror show. A recent round-up of newspaper stories from across the country shows how these abandoned homes can quickly deteriorate - especially when the previous owners left without any concern as to the condition of the house - and accents the need for more property preservation companies to clean them out.

In Las Vegas, one of hardest-hit foreclosure cities in America, many of the empty homes also have filled pools with the potential to become disease incubators. The number of "green pool" complaints jumped from 1700 to 2800 from 2007 to 2008 - and it's expected to grow again this year.

Workers with the Southern Nevada Health District make their way from pool to pool, dumping in silvery fish to eat the mosquitoes and algae that quickly overwhelm the pool water.

It's a problem all across the Western U.S. "As the economy went south, the number of green pools went north," said Chris Conlan, supervising vector ecologist in San Diego County's Department of Environmental Health. There, they conduct weekly helicopter flyovers to spot problem pools.

Meanwhile, in Contra Costa County in Northern California, the county's Mosquito and Vector Control District subscribes to foreclosure listing services so they can scout out troubled pools. They also breed fish to put into the pools.

They would need a whole ocean of them in Maricopa County in Arizona, which contains Phoenix, another major foreclosure-ridden city. There they expect 14,000 pool complaints to surface this year - and mosquitoes. It takes about 50 fish to clean the mosquitoes out of a 400 square foot pool. But sometimes well-meaning neighbors dump chlorine into the pool - killing the fish and forcing health officials to start over.

The pool problem has become so expensive that Nevada lawmakers are considering allowing liens on properties whose owners won't reimburse them for the mosquito control.

The problem, though, is easily controllable. REO (Real Estate Owned) sellers and agents hire Property preservation and field service companies to maintain foreclosure home pools affordably and make sure this kind of health hazard never materializes.

By keeping pools in pristine condition, banks and lenders can be sure that the eventual REO sale will go swimmingly.

How to Find Repo Houses Early

How to Find Repo Houses Early

Purchasing real estate has really changed over the past few years, and as a result of the economy, an opportunity is presenting itself that has not been available in recent history. This opportunity is to purchase repossessed homes, often in much less than current market value. The benefits of doing so are quite varied, but it can help to get you into a home at a great price or give you the opportunity to build up a real estate portfolio and save for the future. Being able to find repo houses early, however, is the key to being successful in purchasing one.

When a homeowner is unable to pay their mortgage for one or more months, they will be in default on that mortgage. The number of months that an individual is allowed to be in default may vary from state to state and some lending institutions may also have their own guidelines. Eventually, however, the home is going to go into foreclosure and they will no longer be able to keep it. When this takes place, the bank will try to recoup their money by taking the property to auction and selling it to the highest bidder. At the time that the foreclosure occurs, it becomes a matter of public record and is searchable by anyone.

There are several different ways to find repo houses and, depending on how much time you want to put into it the research, it can get rather extensive. Most foreclosures are going to be listed in the local paper as it may be a requirement to do so. There are also some agencies which compile this information and you can go search through it manually at any time for new foreclosures that are taking place.

The easiest way of how to find repo houses, however, is to search for them on the Internet. Since the information is public knowledge, there are several websites that have compiled this information and made it searchable by county, state, city or zip code. This can help you to find the foreclosures whenever they first take place, and that can benefit you in your efforts to obtain the property greatly.

REO Properties for Sale - What's the Benefit?

REO Properties for Sale - What's the Benefit?

You are probably familiar with the foreclosure market to a certain extent and it is rather amazing, the number of individuals who are going through foreclosure at any given time. As a result of this condition, there are a multitude of foreclosure auctions that are taking place and not all of them are going to result in the successful sale of the property. Many times, far more is owed on the property than what the property is currently worth. After an unsuccessful auction, the bank takes possession of the property and it becomes a part of the REO properties for sale.

These REO properties, or bank repossessed properties are no longer available through a foreclosure auction. At this point, they are available through a real estate agent and the bank is interested in making sure that they recoup as much of their money from the lost loan as possible. Purchasing one of these REO properties for sale will be very similar to purchasing a home from a property owner, but there are a few things that you should be concerned about.

First of all, many of these REO properties have been sitting vacant for quite some time, and they may be in somewhat of a dilapidated condition. Most times, the lending institution is going to put a little bit of money into fixing up the home and getting it in a sellable condition. It is often a good idea, however, that you do your own inspection of any of these REO properties for sale in order to make sure that there is nothing hiding underneath the surface.

Although it certainly is possible for you to walk away with a bargain by choosing one of these REO properties for sale, it is usually a better idea for you to purchase a home in a foreclosed state, or perhaps even during pre-foreclosure. By finding these properties early, either by searching through public records or using an online resource, you have a better opportunity of making a successful and profitable purchase.