Top Tips for Home Buyers and Sellers During the Holidays in 2006

Searching for or selling a home in November or December can be stressful in addition to the built-in holiday frenzy. Simple tips for buyers and sellers can minimize stress and possibly facilitate a sale.

Sellers.

-Consider potential buyers spiritual backgrounds in your market before decorating for a holiday.

-Less is more when decorating a home for the holidays while you are trying to sell. Streamline the amount of holiday specific decorations you display.

-Large over-size Christmas trees and other holiday decorations consume space that might make rooms or landscapes appear smaller.

-Install and remove exterior holiday decorations 2 weeks before and after holiday.

-Turn off lighted holiday decorations before showings, buyers should focus on your home and not your decorations.

-If you are having out-of-town house guests, ask your real estate agent to postpone showings until after your guests depart.

-Display summer photos of home and gardens to inform buyers of the features of the home in other seasons.

-Before showings remove snow, ice and leaves from walkways and driveways. Don't overlook outside entrances to basements, garages, and porches. Pet dropping are a turn-off to buyers.

Buyers.

-You can find motivated sellers at year-end, but don't think they'll give away their home. Do your homework before drafting a real estate contract. Look only at sold comparable's from the last six months.

-Don't be afraid to ask for concessions from sellers. Popular give-backs from sellers to buyers are: property and transfer tax rebates, closing cost credits and paying mortgage points.

-When performing a home inspection in wintry weather, it's easy to forgo adequate roof and air-conditioning condenser reviews. If you can't see or operate a structural or mechanical system, ask for an extension until the weather improves.

-Patience rules at the holidays. Everyone is busy, and if it takes an extra day to view a property, it's not uncommon.

Both.

-If you plan to close the purchase or sale of a home near a holiday, check with your agent, title company and lender to verify two business days before closing that they have all the required documents and funds have been wired to complete the transaction.

-If you are closing on your new home, select a mid-week day, early in the day, to schedule your closing time, to accommodate last minute delays by a mortgage loan processor, insurance or title company.

-If you plan to move during the holidays, keep in mind that moving companies will require more notice and could charge additional fees for packing, moving and delivering household goods on week-ends and holidays.

Mark Nash is the author of Fundamentals of Marketing for the Real Estate Professional, Starting & Succeeding in Real Estate, Reaching Out: The Financial Power of Niche Marketing, and 1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home. Mark is a contributing writer for: Realtor (R) Magazine Online, Broker Agent News, Real Estate Executive Magazine, Principal Broker, and Realty Times. He contributes residential real estate analysis to Business Week, CBS The Early Show, CNN, HGTVpro.com, The New York Times, The Today Show and USA Today. View his books at http://www.1001RealEstateTips.com

What is a Market Value Index?

This entry was posted on 02/21/2006 01:37 PM and is filed under Pricing Properties for purchase and resale.

Market-value weighted index

Definition

A stock index in which each stock affects the index in proportion to its market value. Examples include Nasdaq Composite Index, S&P 500, Wilshire 5000 Equity Index, Hang Seng Index, and EAFE Index. also called capitalization weighted index.

We use the term to find out the value of the property we intend to purchase and resell. It is our formula for purchasing and reselling property. Unlike most of you we do not use the real estate brokers to price out our purchases and do not always rely upon the comparable sales method used by brokers. In fact we see a conflict (tension) between the real estate broker and us as investors that can not be resolved. The broker wants a listing and will try to get you the highest and best price for the property. This may take months to do and may wreak havoc on your cash flow waiting to make a few thousand dollars more. It also is simply not right to use the opinion of somebody who has no skin ($) in the deal.

We instead follow a sales index based upon the history of the street, block, ward or if need be neighborhood to give us a bigger picture of the actual value of the property.

We did not invent the sales index and in fact borrowed the idea from the writings of many economics experts. Two of the most notable are Case and Schiller. They are the economic guru?s who created the repeat sales index that is used by the Government Service Enterprises as well as others. We simply analyzed the writings (ten years ago) and began testing a localized model using a history of all sales on the street from 1985 forward. We then took into consideration the square footage, interest rates and a couple of other items to equalize the properties.

This then gave us the price that the property should sell for (a conservative price) and the price we should purchase the home for based upon our profit requirements, carrying costs and capital costs.

We then added in the mix the cost of a rehabilitation of a home based upon post mortems and we were off to the races. Type in or automatically gather the sales (depends on the county) then you have the value of the home.The second calculation targets the remaining costs based upon prior dealings with the lenders, brokers and rehabilitation to tell you what you can expect as a gross profit.

As a FrontGate client you will learn how to use this index and only ask your broker for a reassuring opinion of value. Never will you feel nervous about making offers.

So do yourself a favor and learn to do a market value index on every property you purchase. Or let us teach you to perform them. www.frontgateconsulting.com

House Approves Increase in FHA Limits

The House of Representatives approved a bill to increase the FHA's lending limits and reduce payment restrictions.

The bill, which will help low-income and first-time home buyers, was sponsored by Ohio Representative Bob Ney. It received almost unanimous support by the house with a 415-7 vote.

The factors in determining the maximum amount insurable by the FHA for single-family homes will be changed as an amendment to the National Housing Act, according to the new law.

The bill allows the FHA flexibility in insuring mortgages up to the median home price in areas where home prices are extremely high. It will also provide for a maximum of 40-year mortgage terms.

The bill will eliminate all flat mortgage insurance premiums, instead instuting a tiered premium system according to the property's loan-to-value ration, the borrower's credit history and debt-to-income ration and the FHA's experience with comparable borrowers.

The current minimum downpayment of 3% will be discarded. The limit on federally insured reverse mortgages will also be eliminated

The law will allow loans to be more easily made in high-cost areas. For years, low-income buyers have been pressured to take out high-cost private mortgages due to the substantial increases in house prices in metro areas.

The FHA hopes that the new law will change this trend.

Modernizing FHA will improve competition in the prime home loan mortgage industry and effectively assist the industry in combating abusive and discriminatory lending practices, said Ney.

This bill helps further increase the country's homeownership rate, especially among low and moderate-income and minority families.

Martin Lukac represents http://www.RateEmpire.com and http://www.1AmericanFinancial.com, a finance web-company specializing in real estate and mortgage rates. We specialize in daily updates, mortgage news, rate predictions, mortgage rates and more. Find low home loan mortgage interest rates from hundreds of mortgage companies!

Are You Suffering From Anemic Profitosis?

Is your investment income looking a bit pale and fatigued? Do you become nauseated at the site of your profit and loss statement? Are you itching to sell properties that are losing money? Chances are you're suffering from a lingering case of anemic profitosis.

Sooner or later many real estate investors begin to show symptoms of this affliction. Occurrences of this disease are most common during times of transition in the real estate markets. At present we are moving from a hot sellers market to a cooler buyers market. The changing conditions often catch many investors holding properties that just won't move. This extra inventory can leave you feeling bloated and irritable. The result can be a devastating case of anemic profitosis.

One of the primary causes of anemic profitosis is severe swelling in the taxinus maximus. In most markets, this condition usually develops slowly over time, and tends to get worse year by year if left untreated. In some areas swelling property tax rates have all but wiped out positive cashflow. In extreme cases this can lead to a very bad rash of selling among landlords who did not realize that they were paying too much for their property at the time they bought it. Like many afflictions, anemic profitosis can be difficult to detect in the early stages.

Another common cause of anemic profitosis is buying pre-construction at near full price, then discovering afterward that there is not enough appreciation to cover your costs. This painful condition is often accompanied by sleeplessness, migraine headaches and multiple trips to the lenders office to beg for deferred payments. Symptoms include buying preconstruction condo developments in Florida, in markets that are already overbuilt and oversold to investors.

Chronic cases of anemic profitosis often arise when investors associate with high-risk groups. Chief among such groups are marketing gimmicks that offer to find houses for investors. Symptoms of this malady include paying a fee to join a group or club that will find the houses, arrange for your financing and take care of all of the details for you. A key symptom is the fact that you do not need to know anything about real estate investing. In many cases this leads to swollen purchase prices which can inflame or burst your budget, leading to severe financial emergencies. This situation can also be difficult to detect in the early stages, so it is best to avoid all contact with such high risk groups.

If you are an investor who is struggling with anemic profitosis, take heart. There is a cure.

Of course like they say An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. But in this case the same solution that can cure this malady can also prevent it if the symptoms are caught early enough.

The only known cure and the only known way to prevent anemic profitosis is to develop an excellent understanding of real estate fundamentals. Investors who are immune to anemic profitosis or have recovered from it have discovered that the profit is really made when you buy; therefore Buying Right is the key to avoiding a nasty case of anemic profitosis. Buyers-Anonymous is full of recovering investors who admit that they got involved in deals they did not understand, with people they did not know.

Investors that earn healthy profits in any market will tell you that they don't buy anything unless the price is right. But these investors have the ability to determine what the right price is; because they understand the fundamentals of the market they're working in and generally choose a more conservative, common sense approach to their investing strategy.

The bottom line is that all strategies work sometimes but no strategy works every time. In order to understand what strategy will work in a given situation it is necessary to understand the fundamentals of that particular investment and choose the strategy that will work best within the given circumstances.

Fundamentals will affect your strategy choices, but strategy choices cannot change the fundamentals. For example:

Interest rates are a fundamental issue. Each investor will be able to qualify for financing at a certain interest rate. For some investors this interest rate will be low, for other investors this interest rate may be several points higher. Some investors will be able to pay all cash and will not have an interest rate at all. In all three cases the costs of funding will vary and strategy decisions may be altered in each case due to the cost of funds. Whatever strategy you choose, your cost of funds will be a fundamental issue that you will have to work with.

When interest rates are low, financing is easier to get, there are more buyers, so you can sell faster for more money. This condition makes for a better chance of fast cash profits. But when interest rates are rising, fewer buyers can qualify for a home. So they move into rental apartments and houses instead. Therefore rental income tends to grow, and income properties will cashflow better. And, creative seller financing is easier to find in a buyers market.

Equity is a central fundamental issue. Simply put, the more equity in the property, generally the better the profits will be. It is much more difficult to make a profit from low equity deals than it is to profit from high equity situations. Equity gives you more flexibility, and more exit strategy choices.

Property Taxes are a major fundamental issue. No matter what type of property you purchase, no matter what investing strategy you choose, property taxes will affect your profitability.

There are many other fundamentals issues such as location, area demographics, and available inventory, just to name a few.

Adaptability is the key to avoiding chronic cases of anemic profitosis. The ability to adapt to changing market conditions comes only from understanding how the fundamentals will affect your investment. Whether commercial or residential, healthy long-term investing requires the ability to analyze your market, and make adjustments to your buying and selling strategy for maximum profitability.

Whether you are suffering from a lingering case of anemic profitosis, or you want to avoid this affliction entirely, you'll need quality investing education that teaches you how to understand the fundamentals and then apply them to create profitable investing opportunities in any market.

Donna Robinson is a real estate investor, consultant and market analyst, based in Atlanta, GA. You can get more information about avoiding the disabling effects of anemic profitosis on her website: http://www.REIUonline.com

Creative Real Estate Investment Is It For You?

The Economist reported recently that residential property investment amounted to $48 trillion, while commercial real estate investment (CREI) was ?only? $14 trillion. This is certainly in part because CREI is much more complex.

Unlike stocks and other investments of that sort, real estate has a solid and very specific, tangible location. Investors may be many miles away, but the property exists as a part of its own very local market, which affects how it is appraised, bought, sold, and used. And unlike residential properties, commercial property is intended for business purposes. As a result, there are different considerations for valuing, financing, leasing, and maintaining these types of properties

A commercial investor must generally invest a great deal more into the purchase and sale of the property. He or she must be savvy, and willing to incur greater risk (and consequently, reap greater reward).

You?ll need to know how to estimate the Capitalization Rate (cap rate) and the Gross Rent Multiplier (GRM). The cap rate can be found by dividing a property?s annual net operating income by its purchase price. In the past, an investment with a 10% cap rate was considered a wise financial decision. Recently, though, that number has dropped to 8%, corresponding to a greater risk and lower expected return. To find your GRM, divide the purchase price by the property?s monthly gross operating income.

You should also consider the difference between a property?s assessed and appraised values, and the total income and replacement costs.

Commercial properties are more susceptible to market fluctuation, which makes them a greater potential risk. Be aware and sensitive to changes in general economic conditions. A smart investor should be concerned always with outside factors that will affect occupancy rates (domestic factors, and foreign alike). Issues across the globe can press heavily upon American business conditions overnight

Commercial property investment requires knowledge of local zoning and leasing regulations. Do your research. In addition, you will need to consider other financial issues. Rented properties need to be heated, cooled, supplied with electricity, and so forth. You will need to provide a security system, and fire suppression. Tenants will need telephone and Internet facilities, as well.

Mortgages and insurance is also more complicated than with residential properties. An exception is the triple-net lease, in which the tenant is responsible for any additional expenses related to building maintenance and repair. In this arrangement, the tenant would also be liable for insurance costs.

The risks are many, and CREI requires very specific local knowledge, but the potential for reward is far greater than residential property ownership. There is also something to be said about the satisfaction one may receive as part of the promotion and maintenance of our collective economic growth. Entrepreneurial dreams will be made and carried out between your walls, and you should certainly take some comfort in that.

Paulie Sabol, often called the ?legal bank robber? for his real estate financing and bank owned foreclosure investing, is a nationally recognized real estate investor, trainer and financial thinker. Sabol, has personally completed 100?s of real estate investments, and helps real estate investors learn to make more money with creative investing. Visit his site at http://www.reiunion.com/rei.html

The 411 on Lofts (And Why Everyone Wants to Live in One)

What is it about the high windows and ceilings, exposed brick and open floor plans that make so many people want to live in loft style apartments? Maybe it?s the carefree lifestyle that such an open style of living space represents. Maybe it?s because such a home can be as detailed or sparsely decorated as the resident wishes it to be. Or maybe it?s the artsy, urban lifestyle that?s been publicized so much in the movies and on television. Whatever the case may be, loft living doesn?t merely reflect a unique lifestyle, but it also creates a truly distinctive and unique attitude!

The vast majority of lofts are apartments that have been built into a vacant industrial building- one that?s been empty for some time. As the two-floored version of mono-spaced studio apartments, lofts typically have an open floor plan for a living room and kitchen area, plus an open-concept upstairs for the bedroom. The former warehouse-type building is chosen as the base of this trendy apartment style because of the high roof/ceilings that accompany industrial buildings, acting as a key component for ?urban renewal? projects around the globe. The results of such projects are art galleries, art studios, and of course, the artsy lofts.

But exactly how did lofts become the status symbol of ?the cool life?? It seems that back in the 1950?s, in the midst of the American domination of the world economy, the hustle and bustle of a once-thriving industrial areas, such as New York?s Soho district, had begun to vacate the large, high ceiling industrial-style buildings, as these buildings were no longer suitable for the changing times and modernizations required. The now-empty buildings forced landlords to look to the art community as a source for rent money, as the art and creative communities could certainly use the space.

Just as today, legal restrictions and zoning laws made life a bit tricky for the new residents. These studios were ?designed? for the use of artists as a place to work, not to live. So sometimes, historically, to hide their domestic usage of the property, a series of pulleys and false walls were added so that the living and sleeping arrangements of the ?studio? could be hidden from the variety of inspectors that would come by at a moments notice. The rest is loft history, including the incredible ?shrinking? loft, for as the demand for such apartments grew, the available space shrunk.

Since the 1990?s, loft living has been synonymous with a ?Soho/New York?- type of busy, carefree lifestyle and attitude, as lofts offer an extra touch of excitement! It?s considered to be genuine lifestyle that sets residents apart from the ?dull and monotonous? life of suburbia.

Maria Hayden recommends that you visit www.lofts.com for more information on lofts.

Preparing for Your Move to Atlanta

Being relocated to any part of the country can be a very complicated endeavor. It is not just a matter of packing and hauling your things and then unloading them to your new place; it involves so much preparation for things to go well. And even if you think everything has been planned very efficiently, things may not always go as expected. But the challenges of moving can also be fun and exciting, a great learning experience that would toughen you up for more of life?s tests. If you know what you need and how to get them, then you would probably not have much trouble.

Like moving to any other location, preparing for you move to Atlanta can be both thrilling and stressful. There are many things to have in mind before being able to successfully make the move. First you have to know about the city, then you need to know what to look for before and during your move to your new neighborhood, finally you need to let yourself be settled to make the new place your home.

Knowing About Atlanta

Atlanta is the capital city of Georgia, the second most populous state in America. The city is relatively small when compared to other major cities with only about 131 square miles of land area, but it is booming with life and activity. Despite its size, Atlanta comfortably houses a lot of people, over 4 million residents occupy the metropolis, but the place does not seem to be too crowded, except during rush hour when the traffic is at its most notorious peak.

The city is very friendly and accommodating. The characteristic Southern hospitality is still very much in Atlanta. You may just walk along most streets and say hi to anybody without ever fearing of being ridiculed or snubbed at. Shady trees line the charming streets of this city?s lovely neighborhoods. Quaint and cozy little restaurants are plentiful as well as interesting shops that serve most anyone?s tastes desires. The commercial scene is very active with corporate bigwigs such as beverage giant Coca-Cola, whose headquarters lie securely on the city?s grounds.

What to Look for Before the Move

The very first thing you need to find when moving to Atlanta is of course a place to live. Fortunately, there are many residential places in the metropolis and also along the suburbs. Homes are reasonably priced. You may buy a house starting at 125,000 dollars for modest single-family homes to around 300,000 dollars for newer houses within spectacular communities featuring great amenities.

Settling in the City

Atlanta is a good place to raise a family or to find one?s own niche. There are many good schools both public and private that can surely provide quality education to children. The city is also full of fun activities for all ages and tastes. The entertainment scene is very much alive in Atlanta. Musicians of different genres perform regularly and cater to different tastes, whether pop, jazz, classical, or Latin. Dance and theater companies, both local and visiting, make great productions year round. Movie theaters and shopping centers also thrive featuring the latest trends.

Preparing your move to Atlanta can be quite easy when you get acquainted to the city, when you know what to look for, and when you know what to do once you have settled. Your move to Atlanta could be one of the most significant choices you would ever make.

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Are you thinking of relocating to the Atlanta, Georgia area but don't know where to start? Bettye Prothro is available to become your Personal Connection for Atlanta Homes and Real Estate information. Visit http://www.AtlantaHomesAdvisor.com for Atlanta Homes & Real Estate Information and Resources.

Do You Know About The Most Popular Real Estate Scams?

Real estate scams are more and more popular, even though we can't see them yet. Compared to robbing a bank, stealing $200,000-worth property via a false deed or an identity theft is trivial - and remarkably safe for the thieves. Their imagination is remarkable and oftentimes we can't do much more than minimizing the damage they inflict. By becoming aware of the most common real estate scams, you may be able to protect yourself or someone you know.

False Deeds, Part 1

Most real estate frauds revolve around forged deeds. The most popular scam is using a false deed in order to get a loan secured against a property. The thief then vanishes with all the money, leaving the real owner in danger of foreclosure by the bank - oftentimes the danger is real if the owner doesn't react on the first warnings received from the bank.

False Deeds, Part 2

Another common real estate fraud is selling a property without the owners consent. The uninhabited, recently inherited and otherwise unguarded property is the most probable target for such scams. The most inventive thieves are able to even sell the same property to several buyers at the same time. However, if they have sold it only to a single buyer, the fraud can go unnoticed for months or even a year. By that time, the ?owner? is long gone, usually in another state, selling another home to someone else.

Real Deeds

The false deeds are bad enough, as such scams usually hit at random and they often can be reversed after the deed is thoroughly checked. However, the problem begins when the fraud is performed using a real deed, one that was either stolen or simply taken from the owner. The sad thing is that such thieves often recruit from our family and closest friends, people we would never suspect of anything.

The most popular way is to get some kind of authorization (or truly, just a signature) from the owner in addition to a deed. This way the thief can do whatever they like without any real risk for being caught. This is an especially popular scam used against elderly people - a nurse or a family member either take a loan in the name of the elder or just force them into taking it.

Another, even more outrageous, real estate fraud is performed by unethical door-to-door loan sellers. Under the pretext of making home repairs, they force the seniors into signing some documents which are truly high-rate loan contracts secured against the property. As most seniors are unable to repay such debt, their homes are taken by the creditor (which was its goal from the beginning) and the elder is left homeless.

Defense

Defending against such frauds is difficult. If the thieves use false deeds, it is possible to prove that you had nothing to do with the loan or purchase. However, if they use a real deed and/or have your authorization, this gets dicey. And taking effective legal actions is next to impossible if you sign the loan papers.

Here are some tips to help protect yourself from such scams: 1) never sign anything you haven't thoroughly read and if you are in doubt have your attorney review the documents before signing; 2) throw out any peddling loan lenders; 3) keep important documents, such as your deed, in a safe deposit box.

For more information on real estate visit http://www.1st-real-estate.com

Declutter to Sell Your Home Quickly and Easily for Top Dollar

CLUTTER: Disordered mass of objects (Collins Dictionary)

If you are selling your home as you read this article, there is not much you can do about 'location, location, location' but there is always something you can do about 'presentation, presentation, presentation', and presentation is the single most important thing for you to attend to when your house is on the market.

In today's busy, overcrowded, frantic world, what is it that attracts top dollar? It is a space where people can create their own sanctuary; a space where they can relax and lock out the stresses of life. It becomes, therefore, your task to show your prospective buyer that your home, more than any other, provides them with that space.

There are screeds of things to think about and masses of information available as you present your house to prospective buyers, whether or not you are using an agent, but in my (considerable!) experience the most neglected aspect of presentation of properties is the problem of clutter.

There really is only one solution to this problem because there is a very high probability that you will not be able to see the clutter in your own home; it is very difficult to dissociate yourself from your beloved home and to see it as a product that needs marketing. You will almost certainly need an outside opinion; your agent may be able to do this, or a close friend who can be totally honest with you, but you really need someone who can be totally dispassionate about his or her perceptions.

I came across a very good example of this quite recently. A house I looked at was on the market at a very reasonable price, tidily presented, great garden and excellent value all round. The owners and their children were obviously very keen sportspeople. Trophies; cricket trophies, tennis trophies, golf trophies, dominate the living room, a glittering display of expertise that is of no interest to a prospective buyer whatsoever! In fact, to buyers, the impression is that there's not much room to put anything of their own, because the fact that those trophies won't be there when (or rather 'if') they move in does not register.

Take a look around the room you are in as you read this. A computer is fine; the pens and paper, disks, cheque books and other accoutrements that collects around it is clutter. Anything to do with pets is clutter; the cat's litter box and scratch post is clutter, the dog basket and the rat cage, all clutter. When someone looks at your property, pets should not be visible, and this is triply important if you have a big dog, however affectionate!

The nice warm fire on a cold day is fine: the cardboard box of logs is clutter. Get rid of it! Create more welcoming space.

The family photograph or two on the wall is acceptable: the two dozen photographs of the grandchildren is clutter. Get rid of them. Create more welcoming space!

The coffee table on the rug on the floor is fine: the library books, shoes, magazines, footstools, floor cushions, TV remotes, mobile phones, etc are clutter. Get rid of them. Create more welcoming space!

Don?t forget the garage. Clear the space. Tools, half empty cans of paint, oils stains and spiders are clutter. Get rid of them. Create more welcoming space!

All these things occupy space that the incoming people need to be able to feel that they can appropriate for themselves.

You are aiming to show the buyers that this haven can be theirs. This may involve your local furniture storage units or other temporary storage in a friend's garage, a small investment for maximum returns. It may involve your local second-hand or opportunity shop, or even an on-line auction.

REMEMBER: THE KEY POINT YOU ARE AIMING FOR is a spacious, clear, inviting ambience where the buyers can see themselves fitting in with their own lifestyle, rather than yours. Do this, and your house will sell quickly and easily, for the best price. Mission accomplished.

Community First House Second!

Moving can be a stressful time, especially when individuals are being relocated due to employment and not necessarily by choice. Families are often overwhelmed with the sudden move, and anxious about buying the right house.

In my experience, much of the stress and anxiety can be eliminated if buyers will follow one simple rule. Choose the community first! Too many times, buyers are focused on the brick and mortar house in which to move. They are often overwhelmed with the numbers of homes from which they must choose, and often choose quickly! While selecting a house that falls within your needs is extremely important, I believe it should take back seat to finding the best community first. If you buy your dream home that is located in the wrong end of town to fit your lifestyle, you may feel that your dream has become a nightmare quickly!

?MAKE A LIST

When thinking about the community, make a list that has your ?must have? and ?wants? regarding your lifestyle written on a list. What activities are you, or your family, currently involved in that you absolutely must continue after the move. If soccer is important to your children, then by all means make sure the community you select supports soccer and has adequate facilities. Swimming, piano, golf, dirt bike riding, running; whatever it is that is your passion and hobby, make sure it is not only available in the community you select, but is also convenient to the home in which you will be living.

?NARROW DOWN BY CITY AND AREA

Once you have a community or city selected, you need to start thinking about which end of town within the selected community you wish to live. Again, be sure to estimate commute time to and from work, practices, etc. Does one end of town have more of the grocery stores that you like? Do you want to be close to the interstate or far away? This will help you decide North, South, East, or West.

?DOUBLE CHECK

Sit down and think about your list in great details. Make sure there is nothing that you need to change. One you make the selection, and commit to purchasing a home in a specific area, you are finally ready to get started.

?FIND YOUR HOME

With your list in hand, research the communities and areas in which you want to live. You should be able to narrow down rather quickly if you want to live North, South, East, or West. Your lifestyle should also point you in the right direction for the city that will suit you best.

?NO PERFECT HOUSE

Now that you know where you want to live, it is time to start looking for homes. Don?t be tempted to look at homes that are not in the area! You?ve got a plan on where you need to live in order to have a successful move! Keep in mind that there are no ?perfect houses? but you can create a perfect home with a little thought and preplanning.

?WORK WITH A REALTOR

Last but not least, make sure you have a relationship with an honest and trustworthy Realtor who will assist you in your move. A Realtor can make a huge difference on how you feel about your real estate transaction. It should be your Realtor's job to make your home buying experience a pleasurable one. After all, using a Realtor is typically FREE for the buyer since the seller pays the commission.

For more information, please visit my website at http://www.SherriWellborn.com Sherri Wellborn, Realtor with Keller Williams Realty, Murfreesboro, TN. Specializing in real estate home sales and commercial properties in Murfreesboro, TN and surrounding areas. Relocation specialist.

Loan Officer Marketing: Attract More Real Estate Agents With Questions

What if you could come up with a technique that would allow you to consistently talk with high-producing agents, without the fear of rejection or high-pressure sales tactics?

One way to this would be to contact several real estate agents, it does not matter if you know them or not. The only purpose of the call is to find out as much about the agent as you can. Introduce yourself to the them and do a simple, short, telephone survey.

Some of the questions you should ask them are:

How long have they been working as a real estate agent?
Do they typically represent buyers or sellers?
What are their typical activities on a daily basis?
What are their short term and long term goals?
Do they feel like they are on the track to accomplishing the goals?
What are some of the obstacles that are keeping them from meeting their goals?
What causes them the most stress in their business?
What do they need to fix it?

Notice that none of the questions are anything other than real estate related. Do not ask any questions related to mortgages or mortgage clients. You will find that instead of having to pry the information from the agents, you will not be able to get them to stop talking.

Most people have one favorite topic of conversation, themselves. There is nothing they like better than to talk about themselves and the problems their facing. Fortunately, most people never run out of problems to talk about.

Ultimately, you will receive several positive comments from the agents:

The agents will say how much they enjoyed having someone listen to them.

When the agent realizes it is not a sales call, which was stated from the beginning of the call, they will immediately open up.

Almost every survey call will end with the real estate agent asking the loan officer for more information about their mortgage services.

The survey technique is a great strategy for several reasons. It allows you to determine which real estate agents are producing at the level you require. You will gain access to the agent in a non-confrontational, non-selling situation. And it gives you an opportunity to lay the foundation for future sales presentations. Save your sales pitch for your second call. On the second call you can show them how you can solve their problems.

Does the idea of cold-calling agents, even for a survey, intimidate you? Consider approaching the agents with the survey through email. Surprisingly, you will get some response from agents.

Develop the survey into a paper-based form and give to buyer agents at closing. You will be amazed at how many agents take time to complete the survey.

When agents take the time to complete the survey, whether over the phone, through email or in person, you know which agents are receptive to you and are interested in establishing a relationship. Your simple survey will open doors, now and for a future relationship.

Jeff Nelson helps loan officers increase loan originations by attracting quality relationships with real estate agents from the development of customized relationship-building strategies.

Click here to get a free copy of the Marketing Planning Guide, a 20-page workbook designed to help you outline a strategy to become an Agent Magnet.

Visit us at http://www.loan-officer-marketing.com

Overseas Property Investment This Area Continues To Soar In Value!

Do you want to invest in overseas property but are worried about the risk?

In that case, you will be interested in the region below where property speculators have been making solid gains of 30 ? 100% annually for several years and prices look set to move far higher.

The region is:

Central Pacific Coast Costa Rica.

Were not talking about an area that could take off but has taken off for overseas property investment.

More gains are coming and we will give you the reasons in a bit.

Lets look at the gains first at if you want a second home a villa a condo or a retirement home in the sun gains here are fantastic.

For instance buyers who purchased $30,000 of property in the town of popular town of Jaco, 15 years ago are now worth more than $750,000.

Another example of great gains can be seen are at Marriot Corporation Los Suenos Resort, they pre sold condos of 2000 square feet for $250,000. The following year they sold more at $350,000.

Now this years top end units are being sold at $450,000 to $850,000 and there is not enough supply to meet demand.

So why will this area make more gains?

There are several reasons:

1. It?s an established community with huge foreign investment and this inspires confidence for more people to come.

Its not an area that may take off it has and with all areas that do, property booms can last for decades and this one looks set to go a lot further.

2. The area has easy access from the airport, superb beaches and beautiful national parks and is an area with great scenery,surfing and fishing.

3. Facilities, infrastructure and property are of a very high standard in an area popular with both foreigners and locals, the proof of a boom area.

4. Costa Rica remains the premier destination for US and many foreign buyers.

While in a different country, the large expat community and the great facilities make it a place people feel at home in, despite being in a foreign country.

More gains coming

Now the above area is getting record investment and more people from overseas are coming and this means prices will continue to rise.

Not an area that may take off it has!

Unlike many central American countries it has a track record and the investment coming in reflects the appeal of Costa Rica and the preferred destination of the central pacific coast.

If you want a great area to purchase an overseas property in then Central Pacific cost Costa Rica offers you a solid investment and a great location

More FREE info

On investing in property and land in the area outlined above and suburb beach front plots with great capital appreciation potential then visit: http://www.costaricalandlots.com

Honey I?m Home!

The housing boom has been the main engine of America's economic growth in recent years. Indeed, it is the main reason why the American economy held up better than expected, after the Stock Market bubble burst at the start of the Millennium. Since 2000 the real wages of most American workers, measured in terms of disposable income, have barely budged, yet surging house prices have allowed consumers to keep spending - on credit.

Over the past five years, according to the National Association of Realtors, the cumulative total market value of American homes has increased by more than USD 9 trillion to reach a record-shattering USD 22 trillion. These gains have helped to offset both the slide in stock prices as well as the feeble wage growth. In real terms, home prices have risen at least three times as much as in any previous housing boom. Not too long ago, in the Fall of 2005 to be exact, appreciation of housing value was a hefty 15 percent annualized and most analysts thought that average prices were unlikely to fall across the nation.

Readers of my articles on Real Estate Economics know that I was one of the few lonely voices anticipating a drop in pricing levels and a slowdown in real capital appreciation which, far from being the beginning of the dreaded bubble burst that many were so fond of predicting, would have instead the beneficial effect of consolidating market wealth achieved thus far. Allowing the economy to get an even footing through a slowdown of real capital appreciation and, at the same time, allowing real wages to catch up - I reasoned - was exactly the tonic needed for a healthy foundation.

America's housing boom, though as impressive as it has been, looks far more modest than booms elsewhere. Since 2000, in fact, average selling prices in the United States and Canada have almost doubled but all this is dwarfed, for example, by the gain of almost 180 percent in Britain throughout the same period.

The real estate boom has lifted the economy in three major ways:

[ it has boosted residential construction and, as a direct and proximate result, it has benefited also all related fields such as banking, brokerage and insurance;

[ it has made people feel wealthier and has encouraged them to spend more;

[ it has allowed homeowners to use their real properties as a gigantic cash machine, taking out money by borrowing against their capital gains.

Merrill Lynch estimates that the three foregoing factors, taken together, accounted for more than half of America's GDP growth in 2005. Counting construction, banking and real estate agency firms, the housing boom has also been responsible for one-third of all jobs created since 2001.

Fuelling consumerism is both good and bad. Consumerism is good for the economy, as it promotes trade and the exchange of money. It is also bad, as it fuels inflation. Particularly when spurred by investment stimulated by a property boom, there is very little base to boost long-term growth. In the overall national flow of capital, expensive houses merely redistribute wealth to homeowners from non-homeowners. Worse still, exaggerated real capital appreciation and the rush on the part of everybody to invest so as not to miss the boat has diverted resources away from productive sectors, thereby causing households to save even less and thus exacerbating America' economic imbalances.

Additionally, too much consumerism is bad in trade and finance as it creates too much dependence on imports and thus generates large trade imbalances. The flip side of these imbalances has been a sharp rise in the net foreign liability position of the United States and a massive accumulation of foreign exchange reserves especially by Asian countries such as China and India. China has amassed reportedly more than USD 450 billion of reserves. India too has seen a marked rise in international reserves, to roughly USD 150 billion. Even more striking, as of the end of 2004, all of Asia (including Japan) had accumulated USD 2.1 trillion in foreign exchange reserves. Subtracting this quantity of dollars from the economic monetary cycles forces the U.S. Government to borrow more and the Federal Reserve System to print and lend more money, with the deleterious effect of diminishing the purchasing power by weakening the strength of the currency.

For all these reasons, therefore, it is sure better for Americans to start saving in the old-fashioned way, that is by spending less of their real income rather than relying on rising asset prices. This will lift inflationary pressure on prices and will help stabilize US monetary policy by allowing the Federal Reserve to slash interest rates. Which, in ultimate analysis, will not only save the economy from a recession, but will also contribute to the consolidation of real estate market wealth I was referring to a few months ago.

Luigi Frascati

Luigi Frascati is a Real Estate Agent based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Economics and maintains a weblog entitled the Real Estate Chronicle at http://wwwrealestatechronicle.blogspot.com where you can find the full collection of his articles on Real Estate Economics and Finance. Luigi is associated with the Sutton Group, the largest real estate organization in Canada, and is based with Sutton-Centre Realty in Burnaby, BC.

Luigi is very proud to be an EzineArticles Platinum Expert Author. Your rating at the footer of this Article is very much appreciated. Thank you.

My Friend's Big Surprise How He Can Buy Real Estate Property

My friend had a big revelation today, he can buy real estate investment property! I visited a friend today. He works in the info media industry, making and editing commercials for local councils and businesses. Wing is his name. He is very smart and switched on in his business. I sat there amazed and astounded at what Wing knows about his job and also computers in general. He was pulling up screens with ads and also video clips that he had just created. I was sitting there thinking ?Boy where did he learn all of this? I was in awe. I asked Wing where he lived. he replied, he lived in Box Hill, which is a very exclusive suburb. I asked if it was far from work, but Wing said it was only fifteen minutes drive. How good is that I thought! We started discussing a recent seminar we had both attended. I asked Wing if he had done anything or acted on any of the strategies from that seminar. He said he was waiting till his work slowed down a little so he could concentrate on one thing at once. My immediate reply was, that will never happen. Wing went on about how he had to finish six projects he was working on at the present time, and how he would have to work through the night to get one done that had been delayed. He had promised that company that he would get it done on time. This meant he would be an extremely busy for that entire period.

I asked Wing what was his fee for that intense amount of effort he would have to produce to achieve that result, all done by himself to I may ad. He said he was making around $120,000 a year working for himself. This included working seventy hours straight when needed. I was stunned he could produce a quality result working those long hours. He assured me he loved working under these conditions and it happened quite regularily. I thought what sort of life is that? Working through the night to get a project completed.

Wing did mention that he had paid over 80% of his mortgage on his own home. My radar went up immediately because he had mentioned that he was interested in buying real investment property to increase his wealth. What really rocked me here was I thought Wing knew everything regarding wealth creation and real estate investment property principles. What I learnt was he knew nothing about property investing. The worst part was he had all that equity in his own property to reinvest in other real estate investment properties. I explained to him how he could draw the equity out of his own home to fund the purchase of his first real estate investment property, and a few more as well. He was amazed. I was more amazed he did not know.

Then I thought to myself, if this does interest him, then he will follow up and learn the principles that you need to master it. I asked Wing for a piece of scrap paper so I could show him in layman?s terms how to buy a real estate investment property with the equity he already had in his?s own property. Wing was shocked at how easy it was to do this strategy. I assured him, people were already doing this, and this was how easy it was. The thing that rocked me was, people don?t understand what recources they have available to them to massively grow their wealth creation strategies.

I am sure Wing is now thinking more about his possibilities where he can grow his real estate investment portfolio. With his income, he will be able to produce some impressive results that will ensure he maintains a steady growth and combined with his increased knowledge base that will ensure his real estate investment property portfolio grows to suit his new found life style. This is how easy it is. If you know the rules, you will succeed at real estate investing. Focus on what you want.You need to be listening on all levels. Establish a peer group of people who are successfully doing what you want to do as well. Most important point is to have a mentor or coach. All the most successful people have a mentor or coach. They do this because they cannot see what they are doing wrong. A coach can what you and correct your mistakes.This ensures you get to and achieve your goals quicker. That will make your real estate property investing or wealth creation journey smoother, more prosperous and enjoyable.

To your investing success Leo Love

PS If any of your family or friends are interested, please pass this on to them www.therealestateinvester.com

http://www.therealestateinvester.com

I am an experienced and passionate investor. I buy typical mum and dad type houses that give me cash flow and capital growth. My website offers helpful tips and ideas for any type of investor to help you with your wealth creation. Using my site will help to prevent you falling into the traps the inexperienced investors do.

Outsourcing And Domestic Demand: The Case For Real Estate Capital Growth

It is an undisputed fact that market economies, in Capitalism, are moved by the supply and demand for goods and services. Specifically as it relates to the Real Estate sector, the basis for the real estate market is the demand by households, businesses, governments and institutions for space and shelter to conduct activities. And moreover, since according to the National Association of Realtors the aggregate size of residential real estate markets in the United States measured by sales volume accounted for almost USD 57 billions in 2005 alone, the impact of households' demand for residential real estate products is huge.

When people acquire income they tend to invest it, and the more people that acquire income the more people that tend to invest it. Therefore, there is a correlation between capital and employment in real estate or, if you will, between income and labour. An increase in levels of consumption sets forth an increase in prices caused by a corresponding increase in demand, in itself generated by a commensurate increase in the income-employment factor.

It follows, therefore, that growth is derived by the equilibrium of capital and investment with labour and employment. And since, furthermore, production is in direct function of consumers spending which increases as unemployment falls, it follows that capital accumulation increases as employment rises and capital accumulation decreases as employment falls. Which fact, therefore, brings up to light the importance of the conditions of domestic job markets for real estate. All the more so at a time when - due to an ever more efficient process of economic globalization - we are witnessing a constant migration of jobs from North America to emerging economies abroad.

Globalization and outsourcing were, in fact, the focus of the annual symposium held by the Federal Reserve Bank in Kansas City. The topic being floored and examined by the top minds of the economic world was how the rise of China, India and other countries is reshaping employment and wages within the North American economy.

It is commonly believed that wages of workers in rich countries are being depressed by the shift of jobs to low-wage countries, but the debate undertaken at the symposium has offered a much rosier view, with economists arguing that off-shoring can actually increase the wages of domestic workers. The general feeling was that outsourcing boosts firms' productivity and profits, thereby enabling them to expand and, consequently, to take on more workers at home to perform jobs that cannot be easily moved abroad. In essence a line is being drawn between low-paying, unskilled jobs that can be transferred to emerging economies like those of China, India and, to a lesser extent, Russia vis-?-vis higher-paying, skilled jobs that remain in North America.

Clearly, whereas low-paying, unskilled jobs have a minimal to zero effect on the consumption of domestic real estate products, the scenario changes drastically with higher-paying jobs.

Outsourcing and jobs migration is a topic that has just as many political connotations as it has economic reverberations, particularly in an election year such as this. Critics of outsourcing are quick to point out that between 1997 through 2004 the streamlining of companies through off-shoring was not enough to create sufficient higher-paying jobs at home to offset the outflow of low-paying jobs abroad. And that evidence does exist, furthermore, to the extent that in America, the Euro Zone and Japan total wages have actually fallen, in real terms, to their lowest shares of national income whereas the share of corporate profits has surged. An obvious indication that many ?leaner' firms have opted for retaining their earnings as opposed to re-investing them in the domestic work pool.

Specifically because of this, Prof. Ben Bernanke, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve System, has argued at the symposium that the scale and pace of globalization is unprecedented and that the overall gains will be huge. But he has also warned that there is a risk of social and political opposition as some workers lose their jobs. The Chairman has urged policymakers, therefore, to ensure that the benefits of global integration are sufficiently widely shared through the echelons of the economy, so as to maintain support for free trade and enhance the democratization of wealth.

Real Estate stands to gain the most by a more evenly shared distribution of wealth in North America, both from the standpoint of increased demand and of increased inventory production and supply, for when people feel rich they spend - a psychological effect known in Economics as The Wealth Effect. Despite the near-term moderation in the number of existing home sales, the housing market can all but continue to benefit from expected positive long-term economic fundamentals including expansion of gross domestic product generated by job creation and investments, coupled by a monetary policy of continued moderate interest rates.

Luigi Frascati

Luigi Frascati is a Real Estate Agent based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Economics and maintains a weblog entitled the Real Estate Chronicle at www.realestatechronicle.blogspot.com where you can find the full collection of his articles on Real Estate Economics and Finance. Luigi is associated with the Sutton Group, the largest real estate organization in Canada, and is based with Sutton-Centre Realty in Burnaby, BC.

Luigi is very proud to be an EzineArticles Platinum Expert Author. Your rating at the footer of this Article is very much appreciated. Thank you.

Biophilic Design Shy Relation of Green Building

Green building is more than just a trend. An often overlooked part of Green building is what is called Biophilic design. The goal of this sub-genre is to bring the outdoors into interior living spaces, either residential or commercial. The introduction and interaction with natural elements for aesthetic and health purposes is beginning to receive wider acceptance as indoor air pollution becomes a growing concern for urban dwellers and suburban ones who live in air-tight energy efficient homes.

Biophilic design injects real or simulated natural components into living and working spaces to promote emotional and physical wellness. Morning sun exposure, water features, natural vistas through window-walls, sky-ceilings, and greenhouse rooms where plants dominate and restore air quality while providing an indoor forest refuge are some common applications of this recent design extension. Biophilic design is based more in a emotional or Zen-like perspective than save-natural-resources Green building. Understanding that nature and natural settings allow humans to relax and is part of our DNA, professors at major universities study ecology and it's effect on our home environments as well as dispositions.

Here are some tips to get a start on Biophilic design in your home.

-Find a room that faces good morning sun and install floor-to-ceiling windows to receive a daily dose of high-powered natural light. Studies show that hospital patients who receive morning sunshine need almost a quarter less pain medication that those with north facing windows.

-Install a sky ceiling in a family or living room. These new ceiling systems mimic full-spectrum light emitted from mid-day skies.

-Place a waterfall or pond with fountain in side a favorite room. Flowing or spraying water adds a relaxing sound to your environment and helps screen out exterior noise pollution.

-Build a green house room with many indoor and outdoor plants, more the better. Put a comfortable chair to use for reading or relaxing in your home garden.

-Use window-walls to allow outdoor vistas in. I have seen homes that installed large glass areas in a well-used room. The increase in natural light and the ability to see from the ground to the sky is welcomed especially in the dark days of winter.

Mark Nash is the author of Fundamentals of Marketing for the Real Estate Professional, Starting & Succeeding in Real Estate, Reaching Out: The Financial Power of Niche Marketing, and 1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home. Mark is a contributing writer for: Realtor (R) Magazine Online, Broker Agent News, Real Estate Executive Magazine, Principal Broker, and Realty Times. He contributes residential real estate analysis to Business Week, CBS The Early Show, CNN, HGTVpro.com, The New York Times, and USA Today. View his books at http://www.1001RealEstateTips.com

Estate Sales in Arizona

If you are shopping around for a home to buy, you might want to consider buying a property in Arizona.

Arizona is an excellent choice for building a home for your family. Arizona offers a diverse landscape, from the desert communities of Scottsdale, Tucson and Phoenix to the snow country in high-mountain cities of Prescott and Payson. You may also want the red-rock appeal of Sedona or the river cities of Bullhead City and Lake Havasu.

Many properties for sale can be found in Arizona. This state is located in the southwest portion of America. It is among the four corner states, lying on the border of Utah, Nevada, New Mexico and Colorado.

Similar to other southwest states, Arizona boasts abundant topographical features and desert climates. More than half of the state is made up of plateaus and mountains. The Grand Canyon, carved by the Colorado River in northern Arizona, is among the seven natural wonders of the world. Aside from Grand Canyon Park, which is one of the very first national parks in the United States, there are many other nature parks, forests and mountains located in Arizona.

Arizona's major city is Phoenix, which is both the capital and the largest city in Arizona. Scottsdale is the haven for a hundred or so art galleries, while Tucson boasts a mineral show that is very popular worldwide.

If you are thinking of selling your Arizona property, there are many reasons you should hire a professional to help you sell. If you want your property to sell quickly, you should consider hiring a real estate agent so your home will be seen by many people and sold quickly.

The agents tell you the right price and deliver maximum exposure for your home in Arizona. They can even help you increase the value of your home.

So bear these things in mind whether you are buying or selling Arizona real estate.

Arizona Real Estate provides detailed information on Arizona Real Estate, Tucson Arizona Real Estate, Phoenix Arizona Real Estate, Arizona Real Estate Agents and more. Arizona Real Estate is affiliated with Arizona Vacation Rentals.

Vermont Mortgage What to Expect When Buying a Home in Vermont

Maybe you?re buying your first home in Vermont, or perhaps you?re relocating to Vermont from another state. Either way, it?s important that you educate yourself on Vermont home loans before shopping for a home and mortgage. This article explains what you?ll need to know before buying a home in Vermont:

The median price of a home in Vermont is $111,500. Recently, homes in Vermont have been appreciating at rates above the national average. As a result, income levels in many parts of Vermont are too low to purchase a median-priced home with a conventional loan. In fact, homeowners in many Vermont cities pay more than the recommended 30% of their incomes toward housing.

The price of homes in Vermont varies widely between zip codes. For example, in Burlington, Vermont, the median price of a home in the summer of 2005 was $338,000; however, in Montpelier, Vermont, the median price of a home was $294,000, and in Rutland, Vermont, it was $288,000. Average interest rates in Vermont are below the national average, and job growth rates are comparable to the national average.

Vermont state law prohibits the issuance of home equity lines of credit. Additionally, it requires that a defective mortgage be treated as though it had never been recorded.

Each year the Vermont Housing Finance Agency hosts a Home Buyer Fair where potential homeowners can meet and talk to mortgage lenders, realtors, attorneys, home energy specialists, among others. The Home Buyer Fair offers homebuyer education workshops, credit and budget counseling, post-purchase counseling, and post-purchase workshops.

Vermont?s Housing Finance Agency provides low interest financing to homeowners who meet certain income and purchase price limits. Information on these programs is also available at the Home Buyer Fair.

Jessica Elliott recommends that you visit Mortgage Lenders Plus.com for more information about Vermont Mortgage Rates and Loans .

Buying Cyprus Property

Buying a vacation property has become more than just trendy ? it has become an important part of anyone's financial portfolio. People from Western countries are increasingly snapping up vacation properties in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and other choice locations in warmer climates.

One island that is seeing renewed interest is Cyprus. Being a relatively new member of the European Community, Cyprus property are also seen a surge in demand because English is widely spoken as a second language.

Being part of the EEC is expected to be a precursor to increased property prices, making Cyprus an excellent long-term investment for real estate. The stable economy is expected to continue to grow as a result.

Investment properties in Cyprus are like tax havens

The exciting news for any property investor is that Cyprus is almost like a tax haven within the European Community. There is no inheritance tax or gift tax, pensions from abroad are taxed at a flat rate of just 5%, interest earned on foreign capital imported into Cyprus is tax exempt, and investment income remitted to Cyprus by foreign nations is taxed at a flat rate of 5%. Even the corporate tax rate is a flat 10%. Cyprus also has signed double taxation agreements with many countries, including the United Kingdom. A Capital Gains Tax of 20% is payable on the sale of immovable property in Cyprus, but no capital gains tax is payable on gains from investments. Personal income tax rates range form 0 - 30%.

Interestingly, there is increasing demand for Cyprus properties from non-traditional sources, including the Middle East, Russia and its former states and United States, as well.

According to Glen Young of SunSeaker Properties, the island has the dual benefits of being popular for both retirees and vacationers. Retirees buy property in Cyprus for their own use, largely to bask in the warm Mediterranean sun and escape the snow and cold winds of winter. The attraction of Cyprus as a second home (or a new first home) is helped by a skilled work force, relatively affordable prices and a friendly, welcoming population.

But Cyprus is also a popular travel and leisure destination, with regular affordable flights from major European cities. Visitors look for quality accommodation, such as villas and apartments can offer. This makes Cyprus property a good investment, earning an income until the owner wants to sell and cash in...or until the owner decides to retire and use the property for his own purposes.

Of course, over 320 days of sunshine certainly don't hurt land values on this Mediterranean island.

Unlike in many other sunshine destinations, the legal system in Cyprus is mostly based on the British legal system and is designed to safeguard the property purchaser. This makes it particularly attractive to UK investors. Once the contract of sale is signed and a deposit is paid, the contract is registered at the land registry office. This procedure protects the purchaser's ownership rights until the title deeds are issued and transferred to his or her name. The contract in the hands of the Land Registry cannot be withdrawn by anyone, and therefore the property cannot be leased, sold, transferred or mortgaged. Only the purchaser himself can alter this status.

Cyprus investment properties might require some patience

With so much going for it, even Cyprus is not perfect. Sometimes it does take patience to buy property in Cyprus. As with many sunny locations, the bureaucrats don't always see the need to rush and paperwork can take longer than an eager buyer would sometimes like.

In the case of buying property off-plan, it can often take a couple years for the development to be completed...meaning that the buyer might need some bridge financing until the property can be let and income starts rolling in. Mortgages, usually up to 75%, are readily available, and the wise investor will look for one that requires only 30% to be paid down over the period of construction, making financing affordable to average investors.

With a little planning and patience, Cyprus properties are easy to obtain and promise to carry a positive return on investment. Sooner or later, everyone retires; it's never too early to stake out an investment property on your favorite Cyprus beach.

David Leonhardt operates a freelance writers service. Read more about at Sunseaker Properties or more specifically about Cyprus properties for sale.

Real Estate Agents

When one uses the words ?real estate ?it brings to mind a person whose business is selling land or property. To go a step further, it includes buying, selling or leasing of residential homes, apartments and houses, or office premises, retail outlets?. the list goes on. He finds buyers for sellers and vice versa and in order to conduct this line of business must be in possession of the necessary license or licenses. Once he gains the required experience, he can go on to being a real estate broker or a full service agent. A real estate agent must, as a matter of routine, be one who is presentable in attire, attitude and knowledge of his profession.

When a person decides to sell his property through a particular broker, he gets himself listed with them. A contract is then signed under which the broker represents the listed party, though that does not necessarily mean that he gets the power of attorney. The broker?s job is then to effectively advertise for the said property, ensure that people are aware that such a place is up for sale, and show the prospective buyers around. Many times one broker can represent both buyer and seller. The broker must have sound negotiation and financing skills to ensure that everyone concerned is satisfied with the deal.

Most agents earn a commission on their deals and they can make anywhere from

$10,000 and above depending on the size, location and the selling price of the property. Most real estate agents double up as insurance, securities, commodities, financial and travel agents to boost their income.

A good broker would be one who has a keen eye for securing deals, a valid license holder and one who evokes a feeling of trust in the person interested in contracting him for the job.

Real Estate Agents provides detailed information on Real Estate Agents, Find A Real Estate Agent, Las Vegas Real Estate Agents, Commercial Real Estate Agents and more. Real Estate Agents is affiliated with How To Get A Real Estate License.

Is There Greener Grass to Real Estate Investing?

This may come as a surprise to you but trust me when I tell you the grass is not always greener on the other side.

What kind of oddball do you think I am here making this type of statement as a real estate investing lesson?

Well, for me this lesson was one of those rather costly, hard learned lessons that I'm sharing with you. This is one of the most basic fundamentals when it comes to investing in real estate that far too many people overlook when on the lookout for their first property or gaining more properties. They believe they'd be better off investing in an area other than their own backyard.

They see all the stories of where someone picked up a property cheap and they think, I wish I could, I would have if I were in an area like that, blah, blah, blah. Or they think of the area that has seen double-digit appreciation rates and think if I was only in an area like that. The fact is whether you're in a red-hot market or a slowing market, there's a way for you to make money investing in real estate. It starts by just realizing that you've got opportunity in your own backyard to make this a successful business.

Here's why:

When you're thinking of investing in real estate, you're looking for sellers that have some underlying situation that's causing them to want to sell. Usually, these sellers have a problem of some sort that's causing some undue pressure. We call these 'Motivated Sellers' and if you're not attracting motivated seller then you're wasting your time.

And there's not an area in the country without motivated sellers!

The problem with thinking the grass is greener in another market keeps you from looking in your own backyard for the next profitable deal.

Even though, this sounds basic, it's easy to fall into this line of thinking. At one point, I was convinced that I could work another market that was nearly 4 hours from where I lived. I've got to confess that this was a costly lesson.

While you can make money in another market, I was stepping over dollars in my own backyard to pick up dimes in a completely different market. See I tried building my business wide instead of building it deep in my own market. Lesson Learned.

See, I want you to focus on your own market, instead of making the mistake of spreading yourself too thin. Once I realized this lesson, I refocused my business and started building it like a business instead of a mom and pop shop. See, so many people are opportunist and just look for wherever they could make a potential buck. Just realize you know more about what's going on in your own backyard than anywhere else. Also, it's imperative that you work to build key relationships with people in your business. This was a major problem when attempting to do deals in too many markets - you've got to find new contractors, new realtors, new closing agents, and new investors to flip to. It's like basically starting from scratch in every aspect.

So, the key lesson is to stick to your own backyard and master the system before you even think of looking outside your area.

Derek Pierce is a full time real estate investor and business owner. He got his start investing in real estate when he bought his first property in September of 2000. After this first deal, Derek literally became obsessed with Real Estate Investing. After being faced with the possibility of being downsized in 2001, he quit his job to be full time in the business and hasn't looked back since. Now, he reveals the real estate investing techniques he swears by in his Free Real Estate Investing E Coaching Program. To sign up for the Free E-coaching program, go to http://www.thereisecrets.com

California Defaults Up 67%

Mortgage defaults rose to a three-year high in California for the second quarter of 2006. The 67% year-to-year increase saw 20,752 default notices sent to homeowners across the state.

When compared to the first quarter, the increase was 10.5%, up from 18,778. There were 12,408 notices sent out in the second quarter of 2005. Notices of default mark the first step in the foreclosure process.

This is an important trend to watch, but doesn't strike us as ominous, said Marshall Prentice, DataQuick's president. We would have to see defaults roughly double from today's level before they would begin to impact home values much.

Prentice added that due to the extreme low numbers of defaults in recent years, most industry experts have expected to see defaults rise as home appreciation slowed.

We hear a lot of talk about rising payments on adjustable-rate loans triggering borrower distress, he said. While there's no doubt some of that is going on, as far as we can tell the spike in defaults is mainly the result of slowing price appreciation.

Slowing prices make it more difficult for homeowners to sell their homes for the amount they owe. Many are left with more debt than home value.

With the increases in interest rates over the past two years, the formerly booming market has begun a slowdown. California defaults hit a low of 12,145 in the third quarter of 2004. During 2004, home prices were gaining over 20% annually.

This year, annual price gains have fallen into single digits in many of California's key markets, according to DataQuick data. As home prices level out, more defaults are expected to come.

In July, median home prices in San Diego and Sacramento counties fell about 1% for the year. Second-quarter defaults rose by 99% in San Diego County and 109% in Sacramento County.

DataQuick reported that defaults remain one-third the peak levels reached in 1996, the last time a housing recession hit California.

Martin Lukac represents http://www.RateEmpire.com and http://www.1AmericanFinancial.com, a finance web-company specializing in real estate and mortgage rates. We specialize in daily updates, mortgage news, rate predictions, mortgage rates and more. Find low home loan mortgage interest rates from hundreds of mortgage companies!

Surge in Leasing Charges for Dubai Property

The current property boom in Dubai has sent rental charges rising upwards since the year 2002, at an average 37% increase according to The Dubai Municipality. The higher cost of living, unregulated rental increases and average 1.5% salary increase in the private sector, according to a study done by GulfTalent.com, has put a lot of pressure on Dubai?s tenants. To alleviate some of that pressure, the Government of Dubai moved to impose a rental cap of 15% in October 2005.

Considering the rapid increase in Dubai?s population that has swelled from approximately 800,000 in the year 2000 to 1.3 million in 2006, where it stands today, there is a shortage of residential apartments and villas for rent. This excess demand over supply has led to higher rental charges because property continues to be in short supply.

Despite the current shortage, the future of Dubai property remains extremely bright. Over the next three years an additional 84,000 accommodation units are expected to be ready for occupancy as new projects are completed. The addition of these properties is expected to help stabilize the marketplace for rents.

Investors who have put their Dubai properties out for rent yield an average of 8-9 percent on their property at the current market rate. Deemed a good investment, several new comers and existing residents in the city are seeing the benefits of buying their own accommodations, instead of renting.

Visit www.bhomes.com for buying, selling, renting, investing, managing and short-term renting your Dubai property.

What Is a Buyers Broker and How Can They Assist You?

Buying a new home is an exciting, yet complicated process. If you are interested in buying a new home, do you know where to start? A large number of homeowners actually do not; therefore, they seek assistance from an individual who is sometimes referred to as a buyers broker. Los Angeles is a beautiful place to live and raise a family. If you are interested in living in the area, you have a number of options when it comes to selecting a buyers broker.

Many individuals automatically assume that there is only one type of buyers broker. The truth is that there are a number of individuals that could be considered buyers brokers and all of these individuals operate in different ways. There are real estate agents who act as duel agents and then there are those who act only as a buyers broker. Los Angeles has a combination of both types of brokers.

Duel agents are individuals who are often classified as traditional real estate agents. In addition to assisting new home buyers with find their dream home, a duel agent will also assist other homeowners with selling their home. Many first time home buyers choose to work with a duel agent. This isn?t because there is anything wrong with an individual who specializes in assisting home buyers, but it is because many aren?t even aware that such a thing exists.

If you are searching for a buyers agent in Los Angeles, you will search for them like you?d search for any other service or company. You can use a Los Angeles phone book or the internet to your advantage. If you are interested in speaking directly to a broker then you will only need their contact information. If you are interested in researching the individual or company online, you will need to find the address of their online website.

In this day in age, there are many individuals who prefer to communicate online versus through the mail or on the telephone. If you want to communicate with a buyer agent online you can do so, but when searching for a buyers broker you are encouraged to have direct contact. This direct contact is important to find the perfect buyers broker. Los Angeles is filled with a large number of individuals who specialize in offering assistance to home buyers. Finding the perfect broker may enable you to get a better deal on your new purchase.

If you live in or around the Los Angeles area, you may not need to seek assistance from a buyers broker. Los Angeles is located on the west coast; therefore, if you live elsewhere it may be difficult for you to visit all of the homes that you are interested in buying. While a Los Angeles resident may not need assistance when buying a home, you are encouraged to obtain it if you are from out-of-town.

Brad Horn is a writer for 1 percent realtor where you can find a great Los Angeles Buyers Broker

Remove the Fear From the Home Buying Process

Especially if you're new to the home buying experience, it can seem like an intimidating process, fraught with frustration and full of potential pitfalls. It can be a scary proposition to buy a home, but here are some ideas you can use to take the fear and risk out of the home buying process.

Your first step is to remove any doubt as to whether you can qualify for the home of your dreams by getting an approval from your financial institution before you even begin looking. Believe me, after you've fallen in love with a home is NOT the time to find out that you can't qualify for the loan it will take to get into that home. Knowing how much home you can buy will take a huge amount of uncertainty out of the process. It will let you know what price range to shop in, and can save heartache later on, once you've located the home you've been looking for.

Visit your new home at least three times before making your final decision. Each time you visit, you'll notice different things, including flaws that you didn't notice when you first fell in love with the home. You'll be amazed that the things you missed on your first visit, and on your second!

When you do find a home you love, buy an owners title policy. This type of policy is different from a standard title policy, which covers only your loan amount. An owners title policy is relatively inexpensive and also protects your equity in the home.

If your new home includes any land, have the property surveyed so that you'll know exactly where your boundaries are. It's not good enough to have the owner point out which trees mark the boundaries. Often those boundaries have only been agreed upon by various neighbors for many years, and may have no relevance to your actual property lines. If that's the case, it's best to find out before you take possession of the property. Remember, agents can help you with the various sales conventions of the area, but not with legal questions.

If the home is in a subdivision, read the developments covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CCRs) carefully. These will spell out specifically what you can and can't do with your property. The same is true is you're buying a condominium. Find out what your legal rights are and what your association fees entitle you to.

Make certain that the sellers move out according to schedule. This is especially true if you're buying the home directly from the owner. If you're using a real estate agent in the transaction, you can probably ask them to help if it seems as if you might have any difficulty in that regard.

Overall, buying a new home should be an exciting and fun experience. If you pay attention to the details, you can make sure your next purchase is rewarding and trouble free.

Copyright ? 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

FREE report for home buyers: Home Buyers' Biggest Mistake, visit the Real Estate Credit Help Center. Author Jeanette Fisher teaches first-time home buyers and beginning real estate investors the ins and outs of real estate investing. Free real estate investing information: http://doghousetodollhouse.com

7 Tips to Real Estate Agent?s Success: Tip #5 Create a Financial Budget

Every business demands a financial budget and the real estate agent?s practice is no exception. Small business financial budgeting is critical given the historically ups and downs of the real estate market place. Your financial budget should plan for your marketing costs, any additional costs such as education and your forecasted income.

Most individuals recognize that a budget improves overall financial performance. Yet, when it comes to a business, many small business owners drop the ball and ignore this critical step in improving their own financial business success.

Projected profit and loss (P&L) are part of any business plan. Actual P&L figures can be found within any completed tax return. P&L statements can be quite complex if the organization has high dollar volume. For the typical real estate agent, P&L statements are quite simple and probably take only 1 to 2 hours per month to complete and review depending upon the agent?s record keeping whether software driven or paper and pencil. These projections should be monthly and followed up with actual expenditures.

A financial budget has 2 categories:

• Revenue
• Expenses

Revenue is determined by your products and services. Revenue should be broken down for the real estate person into listings and sales and tied to the marketing plan and overall sales goals.

Expenses need to be consistently measured and managed. Specific categories may include:

• Staffing compensation
• Staffing benefits
• Other staffing costs
• Dues and subscriptions
• Marketing (business cards to purchased leads' lists)
• Management fees
• Office supplies
• Professional fees
• Rent
• Internet fees
• Advertising
• Telephone
• Utilities
• Travel ? gas
• Travel ? lodging
• Travel ? food
• Entertainment
• Education

Having a written financial budget will assist you in keeping within your projections. But, most importantly, a financial budget that you actively review will help to ensure that you are not one of the 40% or 80% who drop out after the first year and will allow you to be one of the 10% who stay within the real estate industry after 3 years.

P.S. Read the previous tip 7 Tips to Real Estate Agent?s Success: Tip #4 - Establish Sales Goals

Leanne Hoagland-Smith quickly doubles results for her clients from individuals (small businesses owners, entrepreneurs and young people) to large organizations by creating executable strategic action plans along with the necessary business skills to pull it off. By closing the gap between today's unsatisfactory performance to tomorrow's goals, limited resources are maximized with waste including time being reduced. Please feel free to contact Leanne at 219.759.5601 or visit http://www.processspecialist.com/ and explore how she can help you.

One quick question,if you could secure one new client or breakthrough that one roadbloack holding you back from success, what would that mean to you? Then, take a risk and give a call at 219.759.5601 to experience incredible results.

Mention that you read this article and receive a complimentary 45 minute coaching session.

P.S. If you are seeking an affordable speaker for that special event, Leanne may help fit your current speaking need.

Showing to Sell

When you offer your home for sale the atmosphere of your house should be bright and airy. Raise blinds and pull back drapes. Turn on lights in dark corners. Check for burnt-out bulbs, espically in out-of-the-way places.

Noise. Turn off the television. If you wish, tune the radio to an easy listening station, with the sound very low. Have your children play outside.

Floors and carpeting. Fix loose tiles. Wax or polish floors. Have carpeting steam-cleaned and repaired as necessary.

Odors. Make sure there are no lingering pet, smoke or cooking odors. Place some potpourri on the stove or pop a baked good in the oven just before buyers arrive.

Clutter. Remove unnecessary clutter from the garage, basement, attic and closets. If your home is crowed with to much furniture, consider putting some things into storage. If a room needs a fresh coat of paint, use a neutral off-white color.

Remember, cosmetic changes do not have to be expensive. In fact home improvements do not necessarily offer a good return on your investment when you sell. It'sattention to the basics anything that says this home has been carefully maintained that will help you get the price you want. Keep in mind the following considerations when preparing your home for sale.

Making the Fresh Start Presentation

So you are out and running your route and have found a homeowner home who wants to listen to a Fresh Start Presentation (FSP). Remember the Fresh Start Presentation is the Homeowner Options slide show that you have. It goes through the advantages and disadvantages of the seven (7) options available to the financially distressed homeowner. They are as follows:
1)Sell on the Open Market
2)Refinance the home
3)Restructure the mortgage
4)File bankruptcy
5)Borrow from friends and family
6)Let it go to foreclosure
7)Sell to an investor

Whether you have scheduled an appointment or have just knocked the door the opportunity to make the presentation will lead to money for you. So what is the best way to make the presentation? Do you start with the overview and then go through each option? Do you ask some preliminary questions and get to the homeowners present position or do you just get to the price we will pay for the home and leave it at that?

The answer depends upon the homeowner and your preparation for your visit with the homeowner. Remember ?Information is power and the key to a successful negotiation and purchase of your next home or investment property?. So if you have failed to prepare for your meeting with the homeowner your chances of success are diminished. We try to gather information for you and put it in the notes. Some information can be gathered by going over the pricing of the home when you have a scheduled appointment. The rest of the information will come from the homeowners? needs and wants and honest eyes.

What follows are typical situations you will run into in the field and what assumptions you should make if you run into these types of situations. They are 1) Research indicates that the home is on the market. 2) Home is vacant; 3) Homeowner just came out of Bankruptcy.

Home on the Market

What assumptions can we make if the home is placed on the market?
1) We know that they are willing to leave the home and move on with their lives.

2) The Homeowners have cut the emotional attachment to the home.
3) They have either eliminated or exhausted the following options: refinance, restructure and borrowing from friends and relatives.
From this we can make the following conclusion: The homeowner is left with the bankruptcy option and selling on the open market or to us. Here is a note from a locator regarding a house that is on the market.

Visited 8/12/06; 1PM. Met HO in driveway. HO's are divorced and selling the property. Home vacant. Property is listed with Briarwood Realty. Presented the Fresh Start Program to HO's. Interior of the home is broom swept condition already. Good condition. Husband was ready to give release, wife not willing to give release today. Wife indicated that she would like to take a few days and to talk with the bank on Monday. We agreed to contact each other on Tuesday 8/15/06. I left contact info with them and received their contact info as well. Will take complete set of photos when I get the release. Both HO's confirm that they have equity in the property.

Now what part of the FSP would you pitch to get the release? How do you begin the process? If I knew the number they had placed on the house, I would talk about market time, home inspections and the possibility of an unsavory investor tying them up until it is too late and purchasing at the auction.

If I did not know the market number I would ask for the price and how long it has been sitting on the market.

This type of presentation should begin with a back-up plan or safety net plan. It should inform the homeowners that we could possibly purchase the property in a quick fashion and net them some money for their fresh start. We would do this by making a deal with the listing broker to continue to list the property after we purchased it. Saving the homeowners the cost of the broker. We could also inform them that they would not have the carrying costs, insurance, taxes, and foreclosure costs that are currently stacking up on the property. All of this may add up to a less stressful conveyance than waiting out a slow market. If you are fairly new at locating just use the making the offer to the homeowner chart to walk you through the offer: This chart is located on the resource page of the website.

When a home is on the market it is fairly difficult to get a homeowner to agree to sell the property to an investor. Reasons are that some mortgage broker has told them that they can sell their home for a number we will not pay. Only time and an auction date will usually make this homeowner come around. A smart locator will make the pitch for the backup plan and wait until it is close to the auction to return for a final opportunity to purchase the property. In the meantime just call the homeowner every week or ten days to check in on their situation. This will allow you to have a continuing dialogue and build some type of relationship with the homeowner.

HOME IS VACANT

What assumptions can we make if the home is vacant?

1) We know that they are willing to leave the home and move on with their lives (they already have).
2) The Homeowners have cut the emotional attachment to the home.
3) That the house is costing the homeowner carrying costs each and every day. We can stop the bleeding by purchasing the home.
4) Homeowner should be happy to unload the property.

Here is a note of a recent vacant home visit:

Visited 8/12/06; 3:15PM. HO not home. Left into letter in the door with personal note. Spoke with the neighbor to get an update on this property. Mailbox is full. Shrubs and vines have overgrown the yard and cover the primary entrance to the house. Lawn has not been mowed in months. Neighbor says that the owner is a great person. He seems to think that the owner has another residence in Marshfield. This property had been up for sale. The HO has been trying to sell it for almost 2 years. He believes that the last listing was $249K. He also has been in the house and said that a lot of work has been done on the inside. Driveway is not paved. Otherwise, nice neighborhood. Dead end street with playground for children. This property is on the quiet end of the street directly across from the playground, corner lot. Looks like a good investment. We will need to track this person down.

Once the homeowner is found the pitch would be straight to the sale of the property to our company. There is little need to go through the rest of the options with this homeowner. It would simply be straight to the sale of the property. Again, this particular note tells us that he had it on the market for 249,000 dollars for two years or so. So we could easily tell him that the price of the property is too high and substitute it for the price that we would sell the property at. (see your manager or the index for the price). Next, I would use the Homeowner chart again to go through the price we could offer on the house and why. Once you as a locator get familiar with the costs associated with a home you can forego using the chart.

This vacant property purchase should be fairly easy once we have tracked down the homeowner. There is no emotional attachment, in fact the homeowner should be relieved to get rid of the property. I would stay on your manager to find these owners and provide you with the means to make a deal.

JUST OUT OF BANKRUPTCY OR IN BANKRUPTCY BUT IS LIQUIDATING THE PROPERTY TO PAY FOR THE PLAN.

What assumptions can we make if the home just came out of bankruptcy?

1) We know that they are finished with most of the options. They can file bankruptcy again but it will not help them.
2) The Homeowners can try to refinance but the cost of the mortgage will be astronomical.
3) That the homeowner has tried everything to save the home and failed.

Here the homeowners have been through the entire process. They have borrowed money from friends and relative, tried to restructure, and refinance the home as well as save it in bankruptcy plan by forcing a payment plan on the bank. Nothing has worked. You need to allow the homeowner a way out with dignity if possible. That may come from you just purchasing the property and giving them enough to begin renting.

They only have two real options left: 1) sell on the open market or sell to us. Your job is to explain to them the problem of selling on the open market with only weeks to go to the auction is not a viable option. The real option is trying to get some equity out by selling to us.

This type of purchase has to be performed with surgical precision. You have homeowners who are emotionally drained from the process of trying to save the home. They trust nobody including the lawyer who took them into bankruptcy and feel like everyone has screwed them. If you are empathetic now would be the time to show it.

Here is a note on a property where this happened.
7/31 note: Relief from stay of auction granted.
11/05 note: In chapter 13 now. He isn't interested in hearing our option as the thought of selling his home makes him cringe. He did agree with me that selling is better than losing to auction. He has the auction stayed for some time now. Let?s keep an eye on his bankruptcy. This is a good home.

From the note the locator has been watching this house since early November 2005. Long time to check in on the property, but it is getting ready to payoff. The new note indicates that the bank has now received the right to foreclose upon the property. It is usually the step before the bankruptcy being dismissed.

The locator will now need to go out to the home and listen to the story of the bankruptcy and convince this homeowner that it is best to sell the home instead of losing it to the bank. This homeowner really does not want to sell the house in fact he would rather stay in the house. With that in mind it is going to be a tough sell.

Again, this pitch should be a straight up number crunching pitch going through the items on the chart. Remember you are going to have to deal with the emotional tie to this house. From the note it is quite evident that this particular homeowner has this tie. When I make the pitch I usually talk about the house as sticks and bricks which is not really a home. The home is his family and the memories which they get to bring with them to the new house they will be occupying. If you can get through the emotional you will purchase the house.

good hunting
http://frontgateconsulting.com/

http://frontgateconsulting.com/