Archive for the ‘Real Estate’ Category

Hot Areas to Buy Real Estate

Tuesday, August 30th, 2011

Here is a list of the five best places you can buy hot real estate now. With the market currently a buyer’s market and sellers unable to move houses as much, this real estate list can help you choose a great place to live.

 

The first hot area to buy real estate is Austin, Texas. Why is this a hot real estate area?

Austin is a beautiful place to live. If you have lost your job you will be happy to know that Austin, Texas, had a 14.1% of job growth in the year 2010. You may want to apply ahead of time to find a job before moving. If you are into a tech career there are more then 2000 tech companies in the capital of Texas. The national USA average of unemployment is 9.8% whereas Austin, TX is 7.1%. When looking to buy a home the average median price is $122,921. If you currently own a home, sell it and you may already be ahead with the low cost of homes here. All of these benefits make Austin a great place to live!

 

Another one of the hot areas to buy real estate is Broomfield County, Colorado which is located between breathtaking Denver and Boulder. In this area you will find jobs galore including high tech jobs. In the last ten years jobs increased by 50%. Average median home price is $239, 000. Get skiing and hiking in Colorado now!

 

Looking for someplace warm to buy hot real estate? Check out Deerfield Beach, Florida. The median home price is only $89,400. Enjoy a home with a view of the beach. Imagine waking up every morning, grabbing a cup of coffee and relaxing by the beach.

 

If you are looking to retire and find a new piece of real estate check out Durham, North Carolina. The median home price is $174,900. Enjoy as many of the one hundred plus activities the Duke University has to offer seniors. You can also enjoy your golden years playing golf, seeing Broadway hit shows as well as concerts and stay young hiking.

 

On the opposite spectrum if you are looking for a hot piece of real estate to buy and raise your children check out Woodbury, Minnesota. In this area of Minnesota the schools are phenomenal. Plenty of jobs await at 3M and the state government. Enjoy the wonderful lakes for swimming, fishing and boating. Other fun activities include winter activities such as snowmobiling, snowshoeing, making snowmen with your kids, sledding, ice skating, etc. You and your family can hike, enjoy the grassy parks and biking. There is never a dull moment. Median home price in this hot real estate area is $245,000.

 

The fifth best place to buy a home is Madison, Wisconsin. You can choose to live in Madison or buy a hot piece of real estate rental. There is so much to do in Wisconsin’s capital including many sports, cultural events, affordable housing, one of the top rated colleges, shopping, variety of restaurants, four season activities and so much more. The average median home price is $199,900.

 

With a little research and help from a real estate agent you can find the best place to live for your current situation. Start living the dream now.

 

TIPS FOR BUYING A FORECLOSED PROPERTY

Wednesday, August 17th, 2011

With so many foreclosed properties flooding the market on a daily basis, it is getting harder to find a property that isn’t a foreclosure.  But there are some decent and well maintained foreclosed properties out there; the hardest thing is finding them.  Having so many foreclosed properties available offers buyers the chance to find an excellent opportunity or find one that isn’t quite perfect, but with some work can be.  It all depends on how much money and work you want to put into a property to make it something you are happy with.

When you’re looking into purchasing a foreclosed property it is important that you keep your wits about you and do not make any snap decisions that may come back to haunt you later.  Below are some tips to help you successfully purchase a foreclosed property.

  • Avoid bidding wars – Because banks list foreclosed properties at bargain prices, to avoid the cost of maintaining the property while it sits empty many prospective buyers are drawn to them.  The low prices represent opportunities that buyers haven’t seen in quite a while and that excites them, but it may also cause the property to attract many buyers who are all bidding against you.  If this happens, take a breath and reconsider the true value of the property by looking at others that have sold in the same neighborhood.  This will give you an idea of the actual value of the property and help you to know when to not up your bid.  This will help a great deal from becoming something that you will regret paying so much for down the road.
  • Build contacts with lenders – Establishing a relationship with someone who works at a bank can give you valuable information about upcoming sales that other buyers are not aware of.  Having this inside information can give you edge when it comes to bidding on a property.  Establishing a relationship with someone in a bank who has access to this information can be very rewarding.
  • Establish your financing before bidding – Having your financing in line before making an offer on a property will make the whole process a lot easier.  Many sellers prefer buyers who are pre-approved with their financing ready.  This is because it proves that you are a serious buyer who has taken the time to establish your buying credentials.  Being pre-approved will avoid the need to wait for a bank to approve you and you possibly losing the property you really want because all of your ducks aren’t in a row.
  • Take a second look at a property that may need work – Seeing a property for a second time may help you re-evaluate the problems that you may have noticed on your first visit.  What seemed like a major fix the first time through may not seem as bad when you see it again.  Consider how much the repairs will cost and how that will affect your bottom line.  After looking at a few properties you will know what will cost too much to fix and what can be fixed inexpensively.

There are pros and cons to purchasing foreclosed properties, the important thing is to know which property is right for you and is something that you can afford. 

Why invest in mobile homes?!

Tuesday, July 19th, 2011

For many years mobile homes carried many stigmas and prejudices around them. However, there are plenty of advantages to investing in mobile homes. Even though the advantages are not always obvious, they exist and are real One of the advantages of investing in mobile homes is fast equity building. The myth about mobile homes depreciating is only half true. When you buy mobile homes in parks they generally go down in value over time. On the other hand, if you buy mobile homes on land, they’ll usually go up in value.  Buy Mobile Homes To Build Equity Fast Here is an example of how a mobile home builds equity fast. A house with a $100,000, 6%, 30-year mortgage loan gives you a payment of $599.60. $500 of the first payment will go to interest, $99.60 to principal. You built equity of $99.60. For right now we are ignoring appreciation.  A mobile home on land, with a $30,000, 8%, 10-year mortgage gives you a payment of $363.99. The higher interest rate is normal with mobiles. The shorter term is normal too, so you’ll own the home free-and-clear in 10 years instead of 30. The first month, $200 will go to interest, meaning $163.99 goes to principal. You built more equity in this scenario. A mobile home on land might appreciate more slowly than a “regular” house, but faster loan pay-down probably may cover this factor. Now, if you also chose to bank the difference in payments ($235.61 per month), you’d definitely be better off financially with the mobile home versus the more expensive home. However, this will not be true during times of fast appreciation. You can pay less per month and build more equity. Your real estate agent won’t tell you this, and don’t expect him to agree even after you explain it.  Other Advantages You can do what you like with the home when you own the land.  Mobile homes are cheap to maintain. The most expensive repair you’ll have in a mobile would be to replace the furnace should it die on you. Windows, plumbing, and doors are all cheaper on a mobile home. Property taxes, because they’re based on value, cost less. Insurance is less because you’re insuring less value. Just be sure you can get insurance before you buy. You may not be able to get insurance for some old mobiles in some areas. It is not a good idea to buy a mobile home if prices for houses are about the same as prices for a mobile home. You have to decide if you can make money investing in mobile homes. Every investment opportunity is not right for every investor. Take some time to decide if this is an area that can be profitable for you.

How to Save on Closing Costs

Monday, February 28th, 2011


 

As a real estate investor, you are confronted by closing costs in every deal you make. The figures can be alarming if you are not ready for them. Too many times, a lender will tack on closing costs that a new investor does not understand. Some of them may be excessive. Do not be worried; there are ways to save on closing costs.

1. Try to use the same lenders as often as possible.

The more often you use the same lender, the more of a reputation you build with that institution. As you get to know them and they get to know you, a layer of mistrust is peeled away. The lender will work with you in every way possible if you become a valuable repeat customer. That does not mean you should never try a new lender. Adding new lenders to your stable will help you in all your ventures. Just be sure to develop a relationship with the ones you do use.

2. Get an upfront estimate of closing costs.

Get an estimate of what the closing costs will be as soon as the deal is being discussed. That will give you a heads up for trouble later on. Remember that this preliminary estimate is not binding in any way. However, it can help you in researching the details and planning for negotiations. In the last days before closing, you should be given a good faith estimate of the final closing costs.

3. Negotiate costs when you can.

Once you get that good faith estimate, you have a fairly good idea of what will be demanded of you at the time of closing. However, nothing is set in stone at this point. The lender can up their costs. Preferably, you could go in and negotiate even lower costs. Discuss the merits of your ideas from a position of power. After all, the lender wants to make the deal as much as you do in most cases. Remember that you are doing them a service by bringing them your business.

4. Accept the fact that some fees are not subject to alteration.

Face it; some closing costs are set by government agencies and they cannot be circumvented. You may be able to negotiate who pays these fees, but they must be paid by someone. These include title fees, notary fees, survey costs and others.

5. Timing is everything. Once you have the closing costs under control, close the deal immediately.

Do the negotiations for the closing costs when it is near the time for closing. After the costs have been nailed down, assuming that the rest of the deal is in place, proceed directly to closing. Needless delays will give the lender time to rethink their position and possibly charge you the higher costs they originally requested, if not more. When you invest in real estate on a regular basis, it is important to get the hang of managing closing costs. Otherwise, you will spend a great deal of money on each deal for unnecessary expenses.

The Marketing System for Real Estate Agents

Monday, January 10th, 2011



If you want to do well in the real estate business, you need to have a lot of contacts with possible prospects.  The marketing system for real estate works like a funnel. Here’s the breakdown of the necessary steps that you have to take.

  • Initially, you have to start your marketing with a huge number of people who‘s never heard of you before. Marketing to strangers is building awareness to a group of people and letting them know that your real estate exists. Since these people don’t know you yet, your advertisements, website as well as marketing materials should be centered on their concerns and problems so that you can market effectively to these people.
  • Once you have successfully reached out to these strangers, your next step should be getting their contact information and you should also get a permission to do a follow up with them. Through constant communication, you should be able to build rapport so that you can establish your credibility through educating these suspects.
  • The selling process starts when your ‘suspect’ becomes a probable ‘prospect.’ This happens if the person’s mindset shifts from just being interested to being ready to sell or buy. The selling process should not be hard. As long as your marketing was done well and the education of your suspects regarding the benefits was well rounded. You will know if the selling has already started when your suspect starts communicating with you solely. For example, sending you emails or perhaps asking for a consultation with you. Remember, do a good job and this will end in a signed working agreement.
  • Keep in mind that the marketing process does not end when your prospects becomes your clients. Once they’ve become your client, you have to find them the perfect house or get them the best price for the house they’re selling. In a working relationship, an outstanding client service is very important. Every interaction that you have with them is considered as a marketing opportunity.
  •  In the marketing system for real estate, a happy and satisfied client becomes your advocate when it comes to client service. These advocates will surely tell other people about you. That is why it is a must to provide an excellent result so that they will refer business to you in the future. Think about establishing a referral reward system for these advocates so that you can promote any referrals.

Top 5 Tips to Finding a Great Real Estate Agent

Monday, December 27th, 2010


Finding a real estate agent can be very easy in today’s level of advertising availability and internet usage. Be alert when searching for an agent, you don’t want any real estate agent, you want one that’s in the business for you as much as he or she is for themselves. Real estate agents can make the buying and selling of a property as smooth as the state legislature allows. The best real estate agents working today don’t have to come from the big name companies. At the end of this article there will be a small list of very successful and impressive individual mentors available to start you out in the right direction. 

 

1. Be sure your “realtor” is an actual realtor registered and certified by the National Association of Realtors. Only realtors qualified by the NAR can bare their logo. They adhere to a code of ethics that cover 17 different articles and standards of realty practice. Surprisingly, less than half of the realtors in business today have bothered to become an official Realtor. Get more info about realtors at, http://www.realtor.org/

 

2. Ask the agent you’re investigating for referrals. Most realtors of any size or income stay in business by using multiple sources of advertising. One of the most important is mouth to mouth referrals. Ask for direct referrals from past customers, or to have the agent put you in touch with some of his former clients. This may seem like bad form to some, but when spending the type of money needed to invest in real estate, or even buy a median priced home, every attempt to be 100% sure of your decision is never a waste of time.

 

3. Go to open houses, even the some of homes you’re not interested in. This will give the you the opportunity to explore new choices. It is up to you to decide which are the best options and which are the worst, refer to the end of number 2, on the list.

 

4. Go to an agent who does not specialize in the type of real estate you want. It sounds like a trick, but most agents will happily refer youl to a quality agent who does specialize in the type you’re looking for.

 

5. Check the selected agent on the web. Doing a background check about the agent using their own website can be very effective at sorting out the bad apples. Look at their listings, were they sold long ago, or are they kept recent. If the website is in disarray, then chances are the agent is as well.

 

Using these tips and a little common sense, anyone looking to buy real estate can make an informed decision on who they should choose for an agent.

 

One of he best real estate advisors, agents and investors is Dean Graziosi. Take him on as a mentor, or just follow his blog at, http://www.aboutdeangraziosi.com/.

For more information about Dean click on any of the following links…

 

http://www.deangraziosireview.com/

http://www.aboutdeangraziosi.com/

http://www.totallyfulfilled.com/

The Most Common Types of Real Estate Selling Across the Midwest

Tuesday, December 14th, 2010


The United States Midwest region, namely the Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois real estate markets, have been slowly suffocating under the assault of a world wide recession.

 

Wisconsin: Residential Wins Big

The percentage of Wisconsin residents who are currently home owners is an astounding 61.46 percent. Renters in Wisconsin, reached 28.34%, leaving just over 10 percent of the Wisconsin homes vacant. The most common type of real estate in Wisconsin, is the single family detached homes, with 65.99 percent of the real estate falling into that category. Apartment complexes, otherwise known as high rise apartments, are the next best bet for the real estate investor in Wisconsin, consuming 14.03 percent of the total real estate owned in Wisconsin.

 

Wisconsin’s apartment real estate markets are on fire, the high rise apartment properties are a large chunk of Wisconsin’s real estate industry. That becomes more apparent, with the next revelation of Wisconsin’s real estate numbers. The amount of real estate being consumed by small apartment buildings in the state are nearly the same as the high rise apartments. Mobile homes sales in the state, also,  makes an impact on the real estate markets and economy of Wisconsin, small as it may be. The amount of real estate being owned by mobile home owners and sellers rests at 4.37 percent.

 

The median home value in the state averages out to be just under, $186,000. The price paid by most homeowners, 43.75 percent, paid between $170,000 and $339,000. The majority of the rest of the real estate sold in the state of Wisconsin, 33.83 percent, are homes selling in the $84,000 to $169,000 range. The average rental rate for a Wisconsin apartment, crunches out to be $696.00, per month. After reflecting on these numbers, any agent can see that the largest real estate market in Wisconsin is, easily, the residential markets.

 

Iowa Real Estate

The state of Iowa has been one of the best real estate markets in the country. Since 1990, the appreciation rate of Iowa real estate has risen 6.37 percent, and in the last 12 months, it has risen 0.82 percent. Residential real estate prices in Iowa fling from the bottom rung, all the way up to the top shelf. The cost of residential real estate in central Iowa is much heavier than that of the western and northern regions of the state. In Des Moines, residential homes can range from $129,000 all the way up to, $168,400, for the average single family home. In the northern cities, such as Dubuque, the housing costs are fairly low, in the range of $35,000 to $79,000.

Iowa’s median income reaches the 60 thousand dollar range, which is needed by Iowans just to maintain the mortgage on a lower priced $70,000, home. 

 

 

Illinois real Estate

Illinois has been doing a bit better in this respect, than Iowa, but not nearly as strong as Wisconsin. Illinois appreciation rates have climbed over the past 10 years , 6.4 percent, but across the last 12 months, the residential real estate in Illinois has plummeted 2.92 percent, including a loss of 0.16 last quarter. In 2010, the all important median value of a residential piece of real estate, namely a single family home, lists at just below $184,000, making it the 21st in the United States. The average monthly mortgage in Illinois is $1,455. The median income of Illinois home owners was $61,174, ranking it 14th, but per capita, the state averages a poultry 26,307, making that $1,500 mortgage payment a little harder to fathom.

 

Most of the Illinois economy is industrial based, that includes farming, soft coal, mining, oil production and refinement. It manufactures everything from iron and steel, and chemicals . If the industry markets of Illinois are crushed by state and national legislations, as many politicians wish to do, the Illinois’ real estate industry will crumble as the legislations grow.

 

The Overview

 

After researching and reading all the real estate facts for Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin, the only conclusion that can be reached is, the most commonly bought and sold pieces of real estate in the entire midwest, is residential homes and apartments, specifically high rise apartments. For in more information on these states and others go to… http://www.neighborhoodscout.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Real Lesson In Real Estate by Dean Graziosi

Monday, December 6th, 2010


Dean Graziosii, self-made real estate millionaire, has been very busy lately. He’s been trying to get the best ideas, systems, and strategies to help you get the most return out of your real estate investments. Against Deans better judgement, he’s released some of his most prized ideas along with some common sense tips that every investor needs to know. When you visit Dean Graziosi’s Real Estate Investment Academy, the average investor can get the know how he needs, and the experienced investor can learn a thing or two they didn’t know the day before. Oh, and did I mention before, it’s absolutely free. Every post, every hint, every lesson, absolutely free of charge.

To go there now just click… http://www.totallyfulfilled.com/

 

What Does the Real Estate Investment Academy have to offer

The Real Estate Investment Academy covers 14 categories from a-z, including agents, banker, brokers, buying and selling real estate, foreclosure, and many others, Every topic will be briefly covered so you can get a clue as to what Deans Graziosi’s Real Estate Academy teach you. If you click… http://www.totallyfulfilled.com  you’ll learn of the direct affects the internet has had on the tactics of real estate agents and how they make themselves more accessible. Also, in the agents section, you will learn some easy ways to locate and get first call on pre-foreclosed properties.

 

When you read on, keep in mind these are some of the best tips, lessons, and ideas you’ll ever get for free, so keep note and visit often. There are two dozens past episodes and podcasts available to read and watch. Keep your mind open and free to new ideas and you’ll be able to make real use of the in-depth real estate information currently available at Dean’s Real Estate Investment Academy.

 

In the banker section, http://www.totallyfulfilled.com/?cat=75, You’ll learn about the current difficulties with mortgage bankers, and what the expiration of the  homebuyer tax credit has really done to the real estate markets all across the United States. In the foreclosures link, http://www.totallyfulfilled.com/?cat=56, of Deans Real Estate Investment Academy, you’ll learn the rights of tenets residing in your real estate properties. What happens if the property is foreclosed, along with the process the tenets must endure in order to stay in spite of the foreclosure.

When you visit the homeowner page, discover the latest foreclosure stop plugs being put in place by the Pennsylvania states legislature, and signed into law by President Obama. In the very useful, making money link, http://www.totallyfulfilled.com/?cat=5, Dean Graziosi explains his four step plan for keeping the home you live in from being someone else’s house.

On the Real Estate Investment Academy podcast link, listen to Dean Graziosi’s weekly podcasts, which include cash saving tips on closing costs, the $7500 government tax credit, along with countless other topics. The Real Estate Investment Academy’s short sale page, http://www.totallyfulfilled.com/?cat=70, offers experienced advise for real estate investors and how to determine if the potential buyer is considered to be serious. One of the Academy’s best kept advertising secrets is available for all to see on the uncategorized page, http://www.totallyfulfilled.com/?cat=1, go there now to find out what it is.

 

All this and much more is available at Dean Graziosi’s, Real Estate Investment Academy. Don’t miss out  much longer, when you’re not getting the edge against your real estate investment competition, they’re getting the edge on you.  Act now and act fast, increased profit may be passing you by!

 

Baby Boomers Changing Urban Living Demographics

Monday, October 18th, 2010


Remember all of the songs and derogatory press about the “suburbs,” or “burbs” in the 80s?  The suburban lifestyle was depicted as one of blandness, and generally a really boring existence.  Huge tracts of same-looking homes in rectangular blocks created the “tract living” environment.  People went off to work in the city in carpools and came home to their cookie cutter homes every night to do it all again tomorrow.

However, “times they are a-changing,” as Bob Dylan sang.  In today’s real estate markets, prices in the suburban areas have dropped along with everywhere else, but many times a lot more.  With home prices in these areas down, some communities have developed plans to revive their “burbs,” and the 72 million+ baby boomer generation is playing prominently in some of these plans.

Rockville, a suburb of Washinton D.C. was one of those areas maligned in songs for its boring blandness.  But today’s Rockville is quite different, and is reviving the “downtown” Rockville area’s shops and businesses.  The core of the town and the plan is shops, restaurants and apartments, all steps away from a subway station.  This creates a vibrant street life that’s fun and attracts and supports business.  Also, the nearby subway station provides the convenient and fast transportation to the larger city supporting major services and employment.

Baby boomers are buying and renting in Rockville now.  They like the sense of community created by the town square.  Neighbors and friends are meeting to enjoy the square, have a cup of coffee or shop in the boutiques along the way.   It’s no longer the “sprawl” growth of the past, now called “smart growth.”  Developing a mix of housing and businesses in and near existing cities creates a mini-community.

What does this mean for real estate investors?  Simply, if a real estate investor can get in on the front end of one of these new smart growth initiatives, there is opportunity to profit.  Whether it’s rehabbing older subdivision homes for resale, or holding them for rental, these areas are successfully rebirthing the old tired subdivision concept.

Think Outside The Box

Monday, August 30th, 2010


Every now and then an investor comes up with a novel idea.  The Mack Companies are a real estate investment company located in Chicago and specializing in the city’s south and west sides.  The company has come up with a nice package, which they call home-redevelopment.

 

The home-redevelopment concept is designed for the small to medium investor who has a small appetite for risk.  The company has put together an interesting formula with controlled exposure and a steady yield with long-term potential.

 

The new product is called RECAP, which stands for Real Estate Cash-flow and Appreciation Program.  The Mack Companies promote the product as the simplest way to be in the real estate investment business with minimal risk.

 

Rather than purchase short sales or go through the foreclosure process, investors purchase one or more of Mack’s tenanted, professionally managed completely redeveloped homes at discounted prices.  All properties in this offering are located in secure, stable areas of the city.

 

The homes are in “pristine” condition, are guaranteed to be structurally sound, including all the structural systems, and have all appliances that appeal to tenants.  All tenants in the RECAP homes have been qualified by the company.

 

As the real estate market improves, investors can anticipate long-term growth.  Meanwhile, investors have a steady stream of income.  The Mack Company says investors receive one check for each property each month.  From the proceeds the investor must pay property taxes, the mortgage, management fees and insurance fees.  Typically the investor nets between $200 and $300 per month.

 

Mack says most tenants stay in the properties for five years. Obviously there are questions to be asked, but it is refreshing to see developers start to untangle the effects of the recession.