Estate

Posts Tagged ‘estate’

Buying Greenville SC Real Estate Foreclosures, REOs, and Bank Owned Properties, Listings, and Homes for Sale

Buying Greenville SC Real Estate Foreclosures, REOs, and Bank Owned Properties, Listings, and Homes for Sale

Normally before a Greenville South Carolina foreclosure is listed on the market, it first goes to the auction on the courthouse steps. In the past, the banks could almost always unload any of these foreclosed properties at the courthouse auction because the bank only needed to recover the outstanding balance on the mortgage.

Although today’s foreclosure buyers can still purchase some of these homes below market value, however, the bad loans that were made in the past years have made it difficult for most of these homes to sell at the auction. In most cases the homeowner owes more on the property than it is worth, and the bank needs to recover as much or more than the market value of the property, which means that majority of these homes will not sell at the auction.

When a property does not sell at the auction, it is said to become an REO (Real Estate Owned) status by the bank. At this point, the bank would evict the homeowners, get a BPO (Broker Price Opinion), and list the property with a real estate agent. Some of these foreclosure properties are in good condition, and sometimes some lenders would make some updates like, new carpets, paint, sometimes replace appliances, and then try to sell it at market value. But, in majority of the cases, these homes are sold as-is, and they are usually in need of repairs and/or updates.

Greenville SC foreclosed properties that are in good condition and are priced right usually sell quickly, and some of them actually receive multiple offers. The ones that don’t sell fast just sit vacant. Since the bank has no hope of getting any mortgage payments, the longer it sits, the more motivated the bank gets.

If you are interested in purchasing a foreclosure, REO or short sale property in Greenville County, and are considering the value, you need to look closely at comparable sales in the neighborhood and be sure to take into account the time and cost of any repairs or remodeling needed to prepare the house for resale. Victor Amadi can help you with all the necessary homework before you proceed with an offer.

Feel free to contact me for help buying an Upstate foreclosed property, or to get a free list of foreclosed homes in your price range.

Victor Amadi – Your Simpsonville and Greater Greenville SC Real Estate Resource

As your Simpsonville SC and Greater Greenville residential Realtor, I am committed to staying up to date with local information, education, and technology. My intention is to be an invaluable real estate resource. So, whether you are buying or selling real estate in Simpsonville SC, Greenville SC, Greer SC, Easley SC, Mauldin SC, Fountain Inn SC, Pickens, Powdersville, Taylors, or other Upstate SC areas, I have the tools, knowledge, experience, and resources necessary to make your experience an enjoyable and successful one. I can also help you avoid foreclosure, find Foreclosures and Short sale Properties, listings and Homes for Sale. Call me at 864-525-0201 so we can discuss how I can help make your next real estate transaction a success.

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Remember the Age-Old Saying Location, Location, Location is Key to Gain Success in Real Estate

by burienundressedblog

95291 Starkweather Road | Gold Beach Real Estate
selling real estate

Image by Gold Beach Real Estate
WOW owner says sell now! Just reduced 0,000.00 Architecturally Exquisite with exceptional coastal views. Oak floors, towering windows, 9 ft ceilings, INDOOR regulation Raquetball Court, 35 ft. Lap Pool & Sauna. Epicurean kitchen: stainless appliances, granite counters, cook island. Deluxe master suite w/companion shower & private sunning deck. Executive office. IMMACULATE.

In some areas real estate is in demand, in other areas this is not the case. The key to selling real estate is buying that real estate in a desirable location or one that will become desirable soon. If the location of a property is not desirable, selling it becomes virtually impossible! It is not only important to make sure that the property is in a good location, but it is vital to ensure that it is in the most desirable location for the type of property that it is.

For example, if you are looking to buy a home for resale, you are not going to want to look at a house next to bar where music is playing all night long and drunks and roaming the streets. If it is commercial real estate that you are interested in, and you are looking to buy a business that thrives on retail, you are not going to look for a building that is placed in the middle of nowhere with little traffic flow. As an owner looking to put a property up for resale, you want to make sure that you can get the most profit out of the property. A good way to do this is to ensure that the area is as advantageous as possible to the buyer.

If you are selling commercially, a potential buyer will spend more money on your property if they know they can make money from the location that it is in. A family looking to buy a home from you will spend more if they can feel safe and secure in the environment surrounding them.

When looking to invest in a home to sell to potential buyers, location is key. Most people are not going to enthusiastic about buying a home that is not in a desirable neighborhood. When investing in the home it is important to envision a whole pool of different buyers, imagining the key components varying individuals would look for when purchasing a home.

Here are a few things that are very important to individuals when they are looking to buy a home:

Security: People want to feel secure in their homes. Purchasing a home in a neighborhood with security problems and a high crime rate are going to make that home very difficult to sell. People rely on having good surroundings, which include having neighbors that they can trust around them.

Cities with a stable economy: Buying a house in an area with a stable economy can ensure that you will have better luck when it comes time to re-sell the property. Large cities have plenty of job opportunities and potential for growth, which makes it a good economy to sell in.

Suitable to raising a family: A house that is close to a shopping center or a city, gives it a great amount of appeal. A couple with children does not want to have to drive 30 minutes out of their way to get groceries, or school supplies. Also, being close to a good school district is also something to look for when investing in a property for resale. A home with a poor school system instantly looses its appeal to a whole group of potential homebuyers who may be looking to settle down and raise a family.

Similarly, when looking to invest in a commercial property it is important to consider the location of the property, as it can make or break the success of the business. When buying a commercial property it is important to ask yourself these questions:

What kinds of competition can be found in the nearby area, and what kinds of products are they selling? It is imperative to know if the product that you plan to sell can compete with the products that are already being sold in that area. Is the street that the business is on easily accessible? Can people get in and out? Is their suitable parking for the clientele?

What is the daily traffic flow in the area? Is the area well known, or in the middle of nowhere? It is important to know if many people visit the area. If people cannot easily locate the business than it is not going to get customers, and we all know that a business needs customers to service.

When buying a property, people know what they are looking for. They want to get the most possible out of the place that they are buying, for the smallest amount of money. They are picky, and because of this buyers have to be very specific about the properties they chose to invest in. A home or business can look nice, but if it is not in the right location, it is NOT going to sell. Never forget the age-old saying Location, Location, Location is key to becoming successful in real estate always!!!

www.ChadiBazzi.com In this video Chadi Bazzi a Tom Ferry coach will teach you the basics of selling. Anyone, anywhere, can learn these skills and those who do learn them and apply them experience easy sales … Selling is fun when you know how to sell. Selling is not selling when you are presenting to a motivated buyer, so how do you find those motivated buyers, well, you become a great sales person first and all of sudden, just like magic, they begin to appear.

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Real Estate As A Business

by daveiam

One of the widely selected businesses in the passive income group is real estate. Why real estate? Because people perceive this business as almost sure profit business. Majority of families dream of owning a house. This makes the real estate market a huge market. It is also a general perception that a house is an asset. It is usually the biggest single investment for an average income family.

The perception that it is a sure profit business is not always true in reality although the chances of making a profit against losing money is higher. There are times real estate properties are sold at a loss; not to mention those properties that have been mortgaged to banks or financing companies when the appraised or loaned money in exchange for the house is always lower than prevailing or actual price, should the house be foreclosed for non-payment of loans.

The perception that a house is always an asset is also not correct; it can (in many instances) be a liability. If you own a house or intend to have one, consider the following factors to determine if it is an asset or a liability:

Property tax (which is an expense).

Mortgage payment to the bank or loan company (consider the interest charge which is also an expense.

If you are having the house rented to a tenant, is the rental enough to cover above-mentioned expenses?

Other incidental expenses (including maintenance).

Offset the expenses against the income you will generate from the house and you will know if it is an asset or liability. If you are using the house for yourself, compare these expenses to the rent you would pay your landlord. Assuming you are confident that the house won’t be foreclosed in the event of non-payment of loans, you have to consider the value of the house against the total money you will invest on it once it has been fully paid for. That way, you will know if the house you bought is too expensive or not, and if you are going to make money out of it once you sell it.

The mortgage payment you make to the bank may leave you without any savings, and you will miss out on other opportunities to make money because of your obligation on the house.

What you just read are eye openers or wake up calls just in case they haven’t occurred to you. They are not meant to be recommendations. It is a case-to-case basis depending on the situation. Still, the decision is yours.

When it comes to the value of the real estate property you own or want to buy, some of the determinants that can make it more valuable or less valuable are:

Location.
Accessibility to transportation, schools, stores, church, and service-oriented establishments.
Security of surroundings.
Environmental condition like elevation (susceptibility to flooding), road condition.
Sanitation or cleanliness of surroundings (is it near a dumpsite?)
Weather condition; in temperate climates, a corner lot is more expensive but a corner lot in snowy areas is cheaper due to more work involved in shoveling snow.

If you are looking for a house to buy, you can make an offer as low as half the asking price if you feel it is too high. Do not think that a much lower offer would offend the seller. It is part of business. If consumer items on sale can go as low as half the regular price, a house can also be priced in the same manner.

If you offer to buy a house and the seller accepts but you are still having second thoughts if you want to buy or not, you can come up with conditions like: “subject to approval of partner,” wherein your partner could be your wife or business associate or a friend.

Should you be in the business of buying or selling real estate, a good practice would be to find buyers first before closing a deal with sellers even if you have found the seller first. With this kind of set up, your profit is realized the moment you buy the house, not after you sell it.

In the business of owning real estate properties intended for rental to tenants, hire a property manager or supervisor. A good manager when you pay him/her well is an asset for your business. He/she will reciprocate what you pay with dedicated service and valuable information which you can use for your other real estate businesses. It also allows you more time and attention to other moneymaking ventures which makes your work a lot easier.

Information about bargains on real estate can be available in law offices and in foreclosed departments of banks and loan companies. Court houses handling civil suits regarding land disputes are also sources of information. It is most likely that properties for sale are handled through bidding.

You can also buy a big piece of land and sub-divide it into small ones before putting it up for sale, similar to sub-division developers but in a small way. This is one way to increase the value of the house you sell, thereby increasing your profit margin. Or you can do it the other way around – by buying small lands linked to each other; consolidate it into one big piece, and sell it to a ready buyer.

Another possible source of real estate business is memorial lots. Some rich people invest their money into buying many pieces of these lots and wait for prospective buyers. Your marketing arm can be the sales people of the very company where you bought the lots from. They just draw commissions from you every time a transaction they recommend materializes.

The options on real estate are various and numerous. Your creative juices can be put to good use in this line of business.

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Tips On Choosing A Sarnia Real Estate Agent

by daveiam

Buying and selling a home isn’t a simple process especially if you consider the following details: Do you have access to every home for sale in the neighbourhoods you’re interested in? Do you have the time, energy and resources to research the real estate market in your area? Do you understand the true value of your property, and can you market your home for sale effectively? Do you understand the terms of a real estate contract, and know of your legal obligations to the buying party?

The truth is, buying and selling real estate can be very complicated, and it’s also one of the biggest financial decisions most people will ever make. With so many things to consider, working with a professional real estate agent or realtor can help locate the right property at the right price, or negotiate the best deal possible on your future home. But how do you go about choosing the right real estate agent? Here are a few helpful tips:

You should start by interviewing real estate agents from multiple agencies. Good agents have many qualifications and a number of years of experience. Have there been any complaints filed with the City Board of Realtors? Lastly, do you feel comfortable talking and interacting with your agent? Having a good personality fit will ensure your real estate agent is patient, and understanding of what you’re seeking in your future home.

Does your real estate agent know your neighbourhood of choice inside out? They should be aware of the housing prices in the areas you are aiming to buy or sell a home. An experienced and competent agent will know the housing market well enough to set an optimum price that is attractive for both the buying and selling parties.

Real estate agents have access to a powerful tool –the Multiple Listing Service (M.L.S.) that has listings for all available properties by region. A skilled agent will use the M.L.S., in addition to their own experience, to locate homes in neighbourhoods matching your property wish list — such as a the number of floors, access to transit, how new the property is, and close access to highways.

Will you be receiving good customer service? Since a real estate agent is your trusted business partner in a huge financial move, you’ll definitely want to choose an agent who is always ready, willing and available to show you properties, make recommendations, and be flexible as per your schedule. Be sure that communication stays open throughout your engagement and those phone calls and emails are returned. Top agents often employ assistants to handle much of their legwork. If this is the case, be certain your agent is the one present and accounted for when it comes time to check the contracts and close the transaction.

Always read through the real estate contracts to understand what you’re signing. This will protect your own interests.

Orange County Realtor

Can recent economic happenings in the country like high inflation be a great time to purchase a home if you can beat the price and other home seekers? If you are hell bent on finding homes in foreclosure, check out an Orange County Realtor® and take advantage of the market while you can. Realtor® Adam Brett can be of help. Advice from a professional will help you avoid hurried decisions and costly mistakes.

In this market you need an agent who is responsive and available so that you can act on opportunities when they occur. Time is a valuable commodity and working with a Fullerton real estate agent who knows the local market and has the experience and track record of success can save you both time and money.

With Realtor® Adam Brett and his web site as your local real estate guide you can cut to the chase and focus on the essential elements needed to achieve your real property goals. Adam Brett’s site can help also you diligently evaluate and analyze real estate agents so you can make the informed choice of who can best help you achieve your real estate needs.

When you are embarking on a real estate investment or making a decision to purchase a house you can call home, it pays to do your homework up front. Avoid the pitfalls of working with an un-experienced agent or one who is not knowledgeable of the local markets you are considering.

Financial instability can result from a bad or ill-time real estate investment, not all real estate agents are created equal. It pays to work with a qualified real estate agent who not only has professional real estate credentials, but one who has the tools and ability to streamline the process by using the power of the Internet combined with local knowledge and outstanding customer service – that person is Realtor® Adam Brett.

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Why Flipping Homes Is More Than A Way To Make Money In Real Estate

by daveiam

When you hear the word “flipping,” what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Does it have something to do with coins and making a decision? Or does it invoke the image of person going crazy? Whatever your impression on the term “flipping” is, for real estate investors, it simply means the opportunity to make huge money.

In real estate, flipping homes is simply defined as the buying and selling of properties for profit. Over the years, many real estate investors have made a fortune by buying and selling houses. And no matter what the current economic condition is, these entrepreneurs are still generating huge profits by flipping real estate.

So what makes flipping homes a very interesting way to make money in real estate?

Flipping real estate allows you to make a quick buck at it promotes a fast business scheme. In this method of investing in real estate, real estate entrepreneurs are required to sell the properties that they bought as quickly as possible to prevent paying higher holding costs. If done correctly, an investor can buy and sell a house “as is” within a week. As long as he has a strong buyer’s and seller’s list, making a quick income is just a piece of cake.

If you’re a health buff but can’t find the time to go the gym because of your busy schedule, you can get a free workout by rehabbing or fixing and flipping homes. Doing the demolition job gives you the chance to tone your muscles because removing the old carpet, hauling the trash, and tearing down broken walls and floorboards are like spending a day at the gym.

Flipping houses allows you to sharpen your management skills. As we all know, there is more to buying and selling real estate for profit. You have to plan your actions carefully and manage your time well. By being a real estate investor who flips properties, you will get to learn important skills that can help you grow as a person and as a prolific entrepreneur.

Unlike other high-paying jobs, you don’t need an MBA or a doctorate from prestigious universities just to make huge profits in this method of investing in real estate. In fact, you don’t need a college degree at all. With the business of flipping homes, your lack of proper education will not be a hindrance to your success.

For a more comprehensive report on flipping real estate, visit www.RehabList.com.

Cash Fast Offers: Tips For Obtaining the Best Real Estate Deals

by daveiam

Cash fast offers are quickly becoming a preferred choice amongst real estate buyers and sellers. Using cash instead of financing through a bank can save time, money and frustration. Sellers who need to sell their house fast are usually willing to lower their asking price when a buyer offers cash. Although they make less money, they can sell the property quickly and close in a matter of days.

Cash fast offers can be made on any type of real estate. Desperate homeowners are eager to locate cash buyers because it gives them negotiating power with their lender. With the massive number of foreclosure properties, many lenders are now offering the option of short sales. This agreement allows borrowers to sell their house for less than they owe on their mortgage note.

Two types of short sale agreements exist. The first is known as Payment in Full without Pursuit of Deficiency Judgment. What this means is the bank will accept the sale price as payment in full and the borrower walks away without owing any money. Obviously, this is the preferred choice.

The second type of short sale is known as a Deficiency Judgment. Borrowers are responsible for paying the difference between the purchase price and mortgage loan balance. Lenders establish the lowest offer they will accept on the property within the short sale approval documents.

Entering into a deficiency judgment could cause serious financial harm. Therefore, it is crucial to weigh the consequences if this is the type of short sale agreement your lender offers. Currently, lenders approve about one of ten short sale requests. You can improve your chances of approval by locating a cash buyer prior to contacting your lender.

Another reason property owners need to sell real estate stems from probate. When a person dies everything they own must be accounted for. The probate process is used to validate decedents’ last will and assess a value of their estate. Unfortunately, courts are overflowing and the probate process is painfully slow.

Throughout probate, estate executors must pay all costs associated with the estate; including real estate holdings. When probate properties have an attached mortgage, the estate can go bankrupt if the decedent did not have sufficient funds to cover expenses.

If real estate holdings become a financial burden, estate administrators can opt to sell the property. Probate real estate is often a great investment because homes are usually well maintained and do not require as much work as foreclosure or bank owned homes.

Homeowners who need to sell their home due to employment relocation or health issues welcome cash fast offers. Many of these individuals are paying two mortgages, along with utilities and general maintenance. They are usually eager to lower the price when buyers offer cash.

Many people who own vacation homes or rental properties are struggling to make ends meet. Drive down nearly any street and you are certain to find homes owned by people who need to sell fast. Some of these sellers are placing “Discount for Cash” stickers on their For Sale signs.

With the current credit crunch many private investors are buying houses with cash because banks have become more stringent with lending criteria. Many of these investors obtain soft money loans through private individuals and are purchasing investment properties on their behalf.

In today’s shaky economy, cash is king. Individuals who buy homes with cash have greater negotiation power, while providing financial relief to cash-strapped sellers.

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Types of Commercial Real Estate Lease

by Tim Patterson

Our new condo
Apartments leasing

Image by timbarton
We’ve just signed a one year lease for a new condo. 10 minute walk from our old one, we’re moving in in 3 weeks. Very exciting!

Dubai is one of the fastest growing business centers in the world. Supported by buoyant prices of the crude oil, a flourishing tourism and growing retail sector and the ever developing real estate industry, Dubai has evolved as a great place to set up an office and expand your business horizons.

However, the recent downfall of rentals in Dubai has splurged many to lease a commercial property in Dubai. The process of leasing commercial property in Dubai is slightly different from that of residential property. It is not like that a tenant and a landlord meet for commercial property transaction and sign the document, there is always a need of right commercial property lease document that can be beneficial for both.

Following are the few types of leases that you should know while renting a commercial property in Dubai:

Gross Lease – It is often described as a general form of lease in which full services are included. Basically, here tenant pays a set amount of rent and the landlord is responsible for the payment of taxes, insurance and other costs associated with owning the property.

Modern Net Lease – This type of lease is quite helpful for both tenant as well as landlord. Here the charges are being divided, like if a landlord pays maintenance charges than the tenant pays insurance premium or other operating charges.

Triple-Net Lease – This type of a lease have the tenant paying a certain percentage of all the expenses like rent, maintenance and insurance. This kind of lease is extensively used while renting commercial property in Dubai as it is beneficial for both tenant as well landlord. For landlord, he gets significant amount of share in all expenses and for tenant the fixed rent is lower.

Land Lease – The landlord rent out the land to the tenant and he constructs building on it. This kind of lease agreements are for longer period but once the lease period is over, land plus the improvement done on it including building reverts back to the land owner.

Move in Dubai ( http://www.moveindubai.com ) is a fresh, modern and dynamic rental company in Dubai and offers a wide range of portals for renting commercial property in Dubai. Move in Dubai caters for the need of both, by searching best rental property at affordable prices for tenants and also searches valuable tenants for landlords.

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The Emergence of Online Auctions in the Real Estate Industry

by daveiam

Over the last several years, there has been substantial growth in the number of auctions held and the value of real estate properties sold in auctions. According to the National Association of Realtors, real estate auctions are currently 21.5% of the overall auction market. During 2010, one in every three properties is expected to be sold using an auction model. The trend is increasing for online auctions and it is likely to continue into the future. Online auctions were not feasible in the past due to lack of availability of appropriate technology, as there was no specific dedicated platform for real estate. Recently a few companies have developed proprietary platforms and are utilizing them for conducting their own auction business. Hitherto traditional real estate brokerage firms had no or little access to the technology. Real estate brokerage firms can use online auctions as an additional selling tool in their business.

The traditional method of selling real estate has less transparency. Buyers never knew what the other bids were so they did not know what they were competing against. Sellers didn’t know if they were getting a good price for the home because there was very little competition between buyers. Sellers generally want to sell a home quickly for multiple reasons including a new job, family, etc. but have to often put their lives on hold because it usually takes a long time to sell their home. There was no pressure on buyers to submit a bid in a timely fashion so homes were on the market for much longer periods of time. For realtors, if they take more time to move home inventory it takes longer to get commissions and the growth rate of their business is reduced. They were also not able to leverage technology to offer any value-added services to their clients in the past.

Currently, there is such a large supply of foreclosed homes that banks are trying to sell their stock utilizing auction companies who have live and online auction platforms. According to RealtyTrac, a record 2.8 million households were threatened with foreclosure last year and the number is expected to rise to more than 3 million homes in 2010. New companies are starting up who seek to specialize in selling these REO homes by the auction process. These new entrants may also seek to gain a slice of the traditional real estate market in competition with existing brokerage firms. Brokerage firms can get in the online auction business early and not leave the field open to competition from new entrants.

XWAuctions has launched a SaaS online and live auction platform for real estate. There is no software to purchase or install, it can be branded to your website look and feel, and with this technology realtors can offer new value added services to grow their business and generate additional revenue streams. Visit www.XWAuctions.com to request a demo of our online and live platform to see how it can change the real estate industry for the better.

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Sydney Real Estate Agents: Service of Excellence in a Dynamic Industry

by Diana Parkhouse

Erinaceous Group plc
selling real estate

Image by Robert Brook
ERINACEOUS GROUP PLC
PHOENIX HOUSE
11 WELLESLEY ROAD
CROYDON
SURREY CR0 2NW
Company No. 03732607

Nature of Business (SIC(03)):
7012 – Buying & sell own real estate
7020 – Letting of own property

Real estate agents are getting better at what they already do so well, with properties being personalized to suit the buyers needs and in Sydney this is more so.

As the population grows, everybody is looking towards their property worth. Weather buying, selling and investing, people are constantly on the lookout for affordable living and/or business opportunities.

Sydney real estate agents are now taking a more personal approach to selling property. The strict business only routine is great for a sales pitch in an office, but when you’re trying to sell a house to a family, it should feel like everything possible is being done to help them choose their home.

For investors and business owners alike, the process is different they need to see that it is the golden egg they are looking, the investment property of a lifetime or the location that will get the most traffic.

A common complaint is that real estate agents become unreachable to their clients if a problem occurs. However, realtors are regaining a good reputation, by not letting this unprofessionalism continue.

When a client is looking for a place to live in or place to set up a business they have an idea of what they are looking for. Everything from the type of space, the location, the number of rooms and the parking, is decided by the client, before they approach the agent. It is then the real estate agent’s job to make that happen, it up to them to fulfill the client’s need and create a happy relationship.

Selling real estate is not just about placing a ‘For Sale’ sign in the front yard; the property requires an agent that can make the property desirable and put it out there. The agent has to take care of the requirements and make the process as stress-free and rewarding as possible for the owner and the buyer alike.

In the busy lives of all professionals, it does happen that people don’t get the service that they want or truly deserve. Making an effort on the agents’ part is in this day an age an unusual experience for some people. Commitment, dedication and passionate towards their chosen field, has allowed them to excel in offering a complete real estate experience in Sydney.
Look for a Sydney realtor who is also a good negotiator. They get a better price or a better deal for you than you possibly could on your own. Someone who doesn’t know negotiate to the fullest on your behalf is lacking and is not the most ideal pick. The mark of a good realtor is that he would be hard to satisfy and would not settle for anything other than what is best for their client.
And finally look for a realtor who is a good communicator. So that you are not kept guessing about the finer details of the deal and have a say in all that goes on. Think practical and think professional. You really can’t go much wrong with that piece of advice.

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How to Find a Real Estate Agent

by darrowwest

Lincoln Square 134
Real Estate Guides

Image by darrowwest
Come tour the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago with Your Windy City Guide.

Come tour the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago with Your Windy City Guide.

You probably already know how to find a real estate agent when you want to sell your house or other real estate. All you have to do is put a “for sale sign” out and wait for the phone to ring. But how do you find the right real estate agent for your property? Here are some tips to get you started, followed by the questions you need to ask.

Note which day most brokers typically advertise real estate in your local newspaper. Get that day’s issue, and also collect a few real estate guides. Find advertisements for properties similar to yours. For example, if you are selling a lakefront home, you want to look for those.

Take notes, writing down the names and numbers of the agents selling similar properties. You want to find real estate agents who have experience with your type of real estate. The woman who has all the million dollar homes listed may not be the best one to sell your vacant commercial lot. Try to find agents who have sold or are selling several properties like yours, and start calling them. Call those who are active in your general area first – they are more likely to know how to properly price and market your real estate.

Hiring the right agent can mean thousands of dollars to you. When I was a new agent many years ago, I told a couple that we should list their home for ,000, but they insisted on ,000. We got a full price offer within a month. In other words, my advice could have cost them ,000 in lost profit.

Find A Real Estate Agent – And Ask These Questions

Always ask as many questions as you need to, starting with the ones below. Most real estate agents won’t like it, but this really is a job interview – and you’re the one hiring him or her. Thus you should ask questions like:

How much experience do you have, and what kind? – The importance of experience is shown in my own confession above. I wouldn’t use an agent with less than a year of experience unless he or she had experience in a related field, like appraisal or mortgage lending. As for the type of experience, you want one that has sold properties like yours.

Can you give me examples? – Get an address or two. Then you can drive by and see what kind of properties he really has experience with.

Why should I list my property with you? – An obvious question, but listen closely to what he has to say. He needs to sell himself to you for you to trust that he can sell your real estate.

What will you do to market my property? – She should do more than place an ad and put your home in the MLS listings. Is she working with any people looking for properties like yours? How will she let other agents know about your listing and encourage them to bring buyers to see it?

Do I Need A Real Estate Investing Course?

by GuideEbook

Sold it!
selling real estate

Image by Mundoo
Signing the paperwork with Lucas, the Elders Real Estate Agent for my investment house that sold after a successful ‘open inspection’ yesterday.

Taking a real estate investing course will introduce lots of helpful information needed in today’s market. Most investors find that their motivation and desire to succeed is all the help needed. However, there are some that may need additional guidance with their projects. The real goal is understanding the basics of real estate investing. These basics are essential to a successful career in real estate.

For starters, here are a few things that an investors course will teach:

Negotiations: As you begin investing, you will find that negotiation is a major aspect of real estate investments. In terms of time, negotiation may seem like a small part of an extensive process, but the rewards resulting from negotiation can be quite financially rewarding. Learning to negotiate through real estate investing courses will prove beneficial during your endeavors with real estate investment.

Using Trusts: Trusts involve companies that channel real estate transactions with investors in a way that is more profitable. By using trusts, you can operate with less taxes while protecting the assets of you real estate in the event of a dispute. If you are a new investor, trusts may seem like an undesirable and unnecessary investment tool, but the effective form of protection offered by this system can easily rove worthwhile.

Managing Your Real Estate Investment: Owning a real estate investment can be a financial burden, and can be a headache even more so if you are uninformed about how to manage your investment. When managing a real estate investment, you are essentially operating a home-based business. The overall nature of real estate investing requires investors to incorporate proper management techniques in order to be successful. Real Estate investing courses provide a detailed outlook on management, an unrivaled perspective that can only be given from experts who have managed real estate investments.

How To Buy and Sell: Real Estate investing courses will provide worthwhile education about buying and selling real estate, such as information financing your purchase or tips for finding the best deals. If you are a beginner user, it will be difficult for you to access this information without the help of an experienced source. Since this stage is the first in real estate investing, it is important that you learn these tips about buying and selling before you actually get started.

General Tips & Information: There are many insignificant aspects of real estate investments that can actually be very important when conducting business. Real Estate Investing courses contain information that, while trivial, can be just as important to success in the long run. Real Estate Investing courses serve as a source for information that is often times unobtainable elsewhere.

All in all, the resulting advantages of consulting with real estate investment courses are countless. The knowledge you learn will advance your real estate investing success both directly and indirectly, as each piece of information will help you to acquire useful techniques while simultaneously gaining valuable experience in real estate investment. Investors of all calibers will find that real estate investing courses are a more than worthwhile tool in real estate investment.

Top 10 Marketing Strategies for Real Estate Investors Part 2: Personal Networking

Top 10 Marketing Strategies for Real Estate Investors
Part 2
Personal Networking

“It isn’t just what you know, and it isn’t just who you know.
It’s actually who you know, who knows you, and what you do for a living.”
Bob Burg

Networking is such an important part of your business. You must let everyone know what you are doing. Everyone can be a “bird dog” for you – And you for them. A great book to read if you are uncomfortable with the idea of attending events to network yourself and your business is ‘How To Win Friends and Influence People’ by Dale Carnegie. It’s a great book that helps you to understand why you need to network with others as well as knowing what to say when you meet with new contacts.

Throughout the 30 years of owning several businesses, I can honestly say this type of marketing has been the most effective … and the most fun! Of course my belief in the benefits of networking is reflected as I founded a networking group called Women’s Success Group, (a nonprofit networking group since 1998) and now beginning and running an Investors Network in my own town.

For the sake of my audience I am going to focus all marketing strategies discussed over the next few weeks exclusively to those involved in real estate investing, though the same principals often apply to most other businesses.

I would like to start with suggestions for some places to Network your real estate investing business.

1) Search Real Estate Investor Clubs in Your Area. (Mine is www.investorCommunityofCentralValley.com)

2) Check meetings and trainings for local Real Estate Associations.

3) Check meetings and trainings at local Title Companies.

4) Check on handyman, builders and contractor associations in your area.

5) Ask everyone you talk to for referrals for networking events that have worked for them.

6) Of course chamber events and networking clubs that meet at breakfast and lunch are a general source to get to know the general public.

I know the biggest fear and reason many people don’t attend networking events is they don’t know how to approach or what to say to others when first meeting them. So here is an idea.

For every person you come in contact with at any type of networking meeting, your conversation might go something like this:

“Hi there, my name’s __________. What’s your name?”
“Say their name – What is it that you do?
“How long have you been doing this?” (Don’t be surprised most investors are part timers)

If they ask what you do for a living or about yourself, be prepared!

1) Hand them your card.

2) Summarize your business in 30 seconds or less. This is where spending time writing down how you want to market you and your business is important. You want to be concise and clear in describing what you do and what types of referrals would be most helpful. Try to incorporate something that differentiates you from the rest?

Here is an example of a 30 Second Commercial

“Hi my name is _________________. I consider myself the real estate investor with a heart. My passion is to work with home owners in jeopardy of losing their homes to foreclosure. If the home owner wants to keep living in their property I might point them direction on how to do that (www.theavoidforeclosurebook.com ) …if they just want out – maybe they lost their job and can’t afford to keep it any longer, then I offer to buy their property. My goal is to create a win-win-win. Win for the home owner/seller, win for me the buyer/ investor and win for the bank when I take the house off their hands.”

If you know anyone that can use my help I pay a 0 referral fee to you when if I end up buying their property.”

Here is my 30 second commercial to everyone:

“I enjoy buying and selling real estate having closed on over 300 properties in the past 5 years. Some people call me the Flippin’ Queen because as you know, flipping is another term for contracting to buy and then selling real estate quickly for a profit …. Or as I say Flippin’ it. I look to invest in residential real estate at a discount through pre-foreclosures, short sales, REO’s, bankruptcies, Probate, as these are the usual reasons a seller is motivated to sell a property at a discount. After I am in contract to buy, I will often “flip” or turn the contract or property to an end buyer at a discount too. Are you interested in buying and/or selling discounted residential real estate?”

Here are some things to consider if your new contact is in an occupation other than an investor:

The important thing is that you are interested in what they do for a living. Don’t talk about yourself until asked. Ask them questions about their occupation and how you can be of support to them in their line of work. If this person is a potential power team member for you, ask if you could contact them in the future. (You would be able to follow your list of questions for power team members and take notes when you called them back)

However, if this person is an investor, you might want to ask some of these questions:

“Do you buy, fix and sell or do you buy and hold?”

“How many properties do you own and/or have you sold?”

“What part of town do you invest in?”

“Really, why that area?”

“What do properties cost in that area?

“Do you pay cash for them or what banks do you use that are investor friendly?”

“What title company do you enjoy using the most?”

“Do you know any of the other people here?”

“Who are the big investors in this area?”

“If you ever come across some good deals and you don’t want them let me know.”

“By the way, do you have any property you want to sell?”

“We sometimes have properties for sale as well, if you’re looking to increase your inventory.”

“Well, Mr. /Ms. Investor based on what you told me and where you prefer to buy; if anything comes along I’ll make sure to call you first”.

Make sure to collect everyone’s card, email address, fax, cell, and correct spelling of first and last name. Write a note or 2 on the back of their business card helping you remember the next steps you will want to take with this contact in the future. Just a “nice meeting you” card in the mail or email is often a memorable gesture encouraging future communication re: each other’s business needs.

Networking should be a part of everyone’s marketing plan.
ATTEND, JOIN, PARTICPATE…
…whatever you want to call it…

The important thing is to GET IN FRONT OF PEOPLE!

Tamera Aragon
www.TameraAragon.com
Top 10 Marketing Strategies for Real Estate Investors
Part 1 -Aim-Ready-Fire- Talley The Score (http://www.tamerarei.com/487/aim-–-ready-–-fire-–-talley-the-score/ )
Part 2 – Networking

Find More Selling Real Estate Articles

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Real Estate Companies in Chennai – Chennai Real Estate Developers, Property Developers in Chennai

by RedAgenda.com

Pagan Offering
Property Development

Image by Dominic’s pics
An image taken at or near the Brighton Earthship located near Stanmer Park, Brighton, East Sussex.

The Earthship – the first built in the UK – is an experimental sustainable development which includes the following features: photovoltaic solar cells, collection of rainwater from the roof, a windmill, using the thermal storage property of the ground (by building "hobbit like" into a hillside), reuse of rubber tires as a building material for the walls.

No one lives here, but regular tours are available by arrangement.

Further information:
Low Carbon Trust
Brighton Earthship Project
Sustainable Development Commission
The UK Earth Centre Network

Real Estate Companies in Chennai

The city of Chennai is experiencing a dramatic change both in the IT sector as well as the property sector. Real estate companies in Chennai are utilizing every resource available to offer the best commercial accommodation in Chennai to its residents. Today, Chennai is the IT hub of India with many foreign information technology companies setting up their offices here. This major development has led the land price in Chennai to increase more than 40 percent. Many people are moving south for better career in IT sector, the demand for office property in Chennai has grown.

The reason for this huge growth in the commercial sector is backed up by the government. They help the IT companies by providing them better infrastructure by setting up IT parks and other services. Pacifica is one such real estate company in Chennai who has developed outstanding state-of-the-art IT park catering to the BPO sector. Chennai is developing mainly on the south and hence the real estate developers in Chennai are grabbing all the opportunity they can get to develop a prime a land. The real estate market of Chennai seems to be energetic in nature forever.

If you happen to look for a commercial property in Chennai but don’t know where to start then you should consult one of the real estate firms in Chennai. These firms can guide you so that you can benefit from the investment that you make on commercial properties or office space in Chennai.

Today, Chennai is considered to be the IT capital of India and the fourth largest metropolitan state. With this status, Chennai’s commercial property is fast developing along with the retail sector as well. Property developers in Chennai are setting up shopping malls which are thing of architectural beauty. This clearly underlines an explosive growth of Chennai’s real estate market. Chennai is becoming a potential place for investment by companies dealing in IT industry and buying a commercial property in Chennai is a good long term investment. The huge impact created by the property development in Chennai has raised the price of many commercial properties. However, a professional real estate company such as Pacifica guides its clients in buying the best office condos in Chennai so that customers get their monies worth.

Basic amenities such as ample car parking space, power back-up, fire detection and protection service, better waste disposal system and a complete business solution such as ATM, food court, retail store and many such facilities are provided by realty companies in Chennai.

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How to Invest in Probate Real Estate

by ep_jhu

Investing in probate real estate isn’t anything new, but not many investors specialize in this niche. Probate real estate refers to property held in probate court during the estate settlement process. Properties are oftentimes sold well below market value and usually in good condition.

The sale of probate real estate can be ordered through the court to pay off financial obligations of the decedent or sold through the probate administrator managing the estate. Much depends on the state where property is located and the circumstances surrounding the sale.

Court-ordered sales are often conducted in the courtroom and multiple buyers can submit purchase offers. When probate administrators manage the sale they might accept multiple offers or engage in private transactions. Investors must abide by state probate laws or court directives when purchasing estate realty.

Estate administrators can elect to sell real estate for a variety of reasons. The most common is when estates are not financially capable of paying real estate related expenses. During probate, the estate is responsible for paying mortgage loan installments, property taxes and insurance, and required maintenance. If loan payments cannot be met the property can fall into foreclosure.

Another common reason for selling probate real estate is no one is available to care for the property. When the probate personal representative resides out of town or has physical limitations or time constraints, they may have to pay outside sources to maintain the property. Depending on the duration of probate these expenses can become costly.

If heirs contest the decedent’s last will and testament, the estate administrator may be forced to liquidate inheritance property to cover defense legal fees. If more than one heir is entitled to the property, all heirs must agree to the sale unless court-ordered.

Before ever submitting a purchase offer on probate real estate, investors must take time to become educated about the process involved. Each state and each estate will be different. There are many variables that exist when buying estate properties. When in doubt consult with a real estate or probate attorney.

The most common procedure for locating probated properties is searching public records. When a person dies their last Will is submitted through probate court and becomes a matter of public record. Investors visit courthouses or download records via their computer.

The last will provides information about estate holdings, along with contact information for the estate executor or their attorney. Once investors obtain property information they review property records to find out if the decedent has an outstanding mortgage note, accrued home equity, or owns the property outright. The next step involves contacting the estate executor to discuss the potential sale.

Estate administrators are often unaware they can sell real estate during the probate process. While this can be a touchy matter, investors who buy probate properties can relieve financial burdens for cash-strapped estates.

It is not uncommon for investors to buy probated homes well below market value. While it takes longer to locate investment properties, the savings can outweigh the time and effort. This type of real estate investing strategy is virtually untapped. Those who take time to master the process have the potential to earn a high return on investment with probate real estate.