Posts Tagged ‘Real Estate Agent’

by allan.hane

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Image by daveiam

It is common knowledge that for an informed investor there are multiple ways to make profits in the real estate market if only you are willing to learn the various strategies of real estate investment. It is worthwhile to know a few of the secret ways to make money in the real estate market:

Renovating / renting: – This is the most widely practiced method of real estate investment. Buy a house which is in need of repairs at below market price, undertake some renovation work and sell the house when the real estate markets experience an upward swing.

Real Estate Agent – Instead of actively investing in the real estate market and running the concomitant risks, it is safer to turn into a real estate agent. Real estate agents do not invest neither buy nor sell properties but earn attractive commission amounts by helping people to buy and sell in the real estate market.

Buying wholesale – This is a secret way to make some instant profits in real estate market. To put it less charitably, you truly become the middleman by identifying a lucrative deal, enter into a contract and then advertise it for more money than you are paying. This method is considered somewhat unethical- more so, if the buyer comes to know what you are doing.

Leasing – This is indeed a wise method as you lease a property keeping the option to buy it below market value at an opportune moment. Lease optioning is practiced by many, particularly by people who do not qualify for a mortgage.

Money lending – You are nothing more than a financier or more plainly, a money lender. You lend the required amount and get paid for putting deals together. The one shortcoming is you need to have a large sum of cash at your disposal. But it is a fact that after being a successful investor in real estate investing for many years, people turn into hard money lenders.

Flipping Houses – This method can be successfully practiced if you have a sound knowledge of home prices, repair and upgrade costs. This strategy involves finding houses and reselling them to other investors on an as-is basis. Depending upon the market swings and your negotiating skills, you can flip houses faster.

Buying Land – Some real estate investors merely buy vacant land and do no construction but sell it after a couple of years when the market becomes bullish. If you are able to buy a few acres of undeveloped land and then sell it by convenient lots, you can expect a windfall profit.

Buying while under-construction – You buy properties in early stages of construction, by paying a deposit which may range from 5% to 30%. Suppose you have contracted to buy a house that is under construction and the developer raises the prices within a year, you can go ahead and sell your contract for more than what you secured it for. Or if you can afford to wait longer till construction is over, you can immediately sell the house without occupying it and also avoiding mortgage payment.

Consultation work – After being in the real estate business for a few years, people and gaining some valuable experience, it will be lucrative to turn into a consultant and offer advice to people wanting to buy or sell real estate properties. There are instances of consultants who have reaped rich dividends in the real estate market.

If your thinking of selling your home, buying a home or maybe looking for Investment homes such as Foreclosures – Robert J Russell, REALTOR can help. Visit our website www.robertjrussell.com for more information or call direct 972-679-9029 Call Today !
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by allan.hane

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Image by daveiam

Hiring a real estate agent can help you tremendously when buying a new home or selling your existing one. You can benefit from a real estate agent’s experience and knowledge, take advantage of their resources, learn more about different neighborhoods, get the best tips of buying and choosing homes, close the best deal with the help of your agent, get your agent to help you with the paperwork, and benefit from having someone to address your concerns.

Purchasing or selling real estate may be harder than you’d imagine. From searching properties or prospective buyers down to closing the deal and processing the papers, you are absolutely going to need a real estate agent to help you out. The following are reasons why you need to use the services of a real estate agent:

Take advantage of the expertise and background of a real estate agent

Few people buy or sell more than a a handful of properties over the course of a lifetime. Due to this fact, you may not have as much of an ability to handle such situations as well as a trained professional. Real estate agents have the experience and know-how to make real estate transactions easier and right for you.

They have a wealth of resources for your benefit

Agents come in contact with a wide variety of potential clients each and every day, this may include some other agents as well as purchasers and sellers. You are able to save a good amount of time as they have correct information about the properties which are likely to be sold at present and also about the people who would like to buy some properties. A good real estate agent takes “the work” out of buying or selling property. Friendly and professional, they do the footwork for you! They can get access to multiple listing services (MLS), where real estate properties are listed region wise, including Santa Clarita real estate.

Find out additional information on various neighborhoods

On many occasions, real estate agents hop from one neighborhood to another doing their job. This experience and knowledge gives you the advantage of learning more about your areas of interest, especially when you are looking for a new home. Your agent can tell you specific details about churches, grocery stores, malls, hospitals, and schools in particular neighborhoods.

Obtain the most up-to-date information on buying and selecting a home

Depend on the experience of your agent when you are selling your home to give you good advice as to how to repair, clean or update your home to make it more appealing. You can better attract prospective buyers if you fix lights, windows, your garage, your kitchen and many other details in your home. However, a good real estate agent can direct you to homes that are just right for your business and personal location concerns. She can also tell you if the property is overpriced or a great deal for your budget and can propose other financial solutions best for you.

Finish making the deal with the assistance of your real estate agent

Finding a good real estate agent with plenty of experience and know-how can always win you the best deal possible. She can help you get the best buying or selling terms and conditions, helping you save money when you buy or earn well when you sell your property.

Have a representative assist you in completing the forms

Documentation for real estate transactions can be pretty tough to be completed on your own without making errors that could become expensive in the future. When you hire a good real estate agent, you won’t have to worry about getting all tangled up in the papers and other minutiae that are associated with real estate transactions. Lawyers can easily take care of all the documentation, too.

Get the advantage of having someone who deals with whatever concerns you

Even when the buying, or selling, of real estate property goes smoothly, there are still issues that may arise after the fact. There’s no reason why you must shoulder all the burden, especially since a good and experienced real estate agent can help you even after you’ve closed the deal on the sale of your home.

Working with a real estate agent does not cost your more money or increase the burden of buying or selling a house. Remember, your agent is your best friend when it comes to scoping out potential prospects. In conclusion, their purpose is to save you time, expenses and work when you are putting your house for sale or buying one.

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by Marc van der Chijs

1st House that Johnny Wants to Buy 072


Image by John Beagle

Tampa houses are always in demand by the local people and visitors who wish to invest in properties in Tampa.We buy houses in Tampa attracts people who wish to sell their homes in a short sale and avoid the lengthy and stressful foreclosure process. This creates a new market opportunity for buyers and investors who have a wide variety of homes to choose from at very competitive prices.

“We buy houses in Tampa” provides important information to people interested in selling their property. It is educational and informative and helps distressed sellers understand the benefits of a short sale versus a foreclosure. There is no cost to the seller of the distressed property as the real estate agent is paid by the bank. Tampa has one of the highest foreclosure rates in the nation and banks are working with short sale agents to help solve the problem. With options like “we buy houses in Tampa”, sellers get the most up to date information on the short sale process and work with some of the most experienced short sale agents in the Tampa.

Tampa foreclosures are on the rise and skilled short sales agents are in great demand. A good short sale agent is worth their weight in gold, as they have the knowledge to negotiate a sale with the bank and keep up to date on the latest changes in the process.We buy houses in Tampa has streamlined the short sale process and made it easy to understand for the seller in distress. Foreclosure affects a seller’s credit score in a very adverse manor, making it very difficult to get financing for a future home purchase. A foreclosure remains on a credit record for 10 years. A short sale is not reported on a credit record. It is typically reported that the mortgage was “PAID as negotiated”, “PAID in full” or “PAID for less than owed”.

Agents working with “we buy houses in Tampa” provide a wonderful service in helping homeowners get released from their mortgages so they can move on with their lives. The stress of the foreclosure is removed. The worry of harassment by future debt collectors is gone. The mortgage is settled and homeowners can move forward with confidence.

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by allan.hane

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Image by daveiam

Selling real estate in a lot of cases can be difficult. Most people are picky when it comes to buying property. There are some things you can do to make a property a bit easier to sell. One thing you can do is give some of the rooms a new paint job. This if done right can make most rooms look more inviting. When painting the best thing to do is pick a neutral color, an off white or something close to that. You do not want to scare off potential buyers because of the color of the walls.

Another thing you can do to make a property a bit easier to sell is change the tiles in the bathroom and the kitchen. With the bathroom and the kitchen you can get a bit more colorful. It is recommended to stay within two to three colors. If you use too much different colors the property may get even more difficult to sell. A wise thing to do is ask people you know for their honest opinion when picking out tiles.

One last thing you can do to make a property a bit easier to sell is throw in some accessories with the sale or the property. You can throw in a lawn mower, a computer, a television or anything you think some one can use with a new home. Make sure if you giving something with the sale of the property that you are giving away some thing brand new. The last thing you want is someone to think your giving them something that you don’t want. Selling real estate can truly be difficult in some cases but if you use some of the strategies you read about here you can make the process a bit easier.

A good web site where you can see more information on topics like this is Real Estate Facts which is highly recommended. Thank you and enjoy.

www.realestateagentinaustralia.com.au – How To Find The Best Real Estate Agent In Australia To Sell Your House! We can help you to get an average of 00 off the fees of any real estate agent you choose to sell your property through. All the service is for free. For more information please check http

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by daveiam

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Image by daveiam

It may have taken longer than with other industries, but realtors are starting to see the impact of the Internet on their incomes. While the Internet has provided easy access to much more information for realtors to do their job better, it has also given the same information to homeowners looking for ways to save while looking for a new home.

Websites are showing realtors that their industry will need to change or they will be reduced in numbers. Since these websites are giving away precious real estate information for free, commissions are dropping for realtors.

What is the main motivating factor to sign on with a realtor? In one word, information is the key reason why most homeowners will choose a realtor for their home buying and selling needs. After all, realtors have access to information the average person cannot obtain. However, with the appearance of websites on the marketplace, access to the information has now become public knowledge.

In the past, you simply could not buy or sell a home without the use of a realtor. Their access to the National Association of Realtors multiple listing services was essential to buying or selling your home in an appropriate amount of time at a price that suited the homeowners.

Only real estate agents knew what homes in the area were being sold for and they were only willing to share that information for a commission, the standard 6 percent.

Now, however, real estate information has become available online and become available for free. Any average homeowner can get a estimate on their homes value from a mulitude of websites. They can even get an offer on their house from home buyer websites. Should a homeowner want to put their home out there for public access, they can easily place their property information on a for sale by owner website.

Accuracy, however, is the drawback for these websites and currently, the saving point for realtors who might worry about the future of their careers in the face of these daunting information sites. Currently, websites can be slightly off on homes in neighborhoods where fewer properties sell. These sites will be more accurate in neighborhoods who have had a number of sales recently to better gauge comparables in the area.

However, a realtor will have a similar problem in a neighborhood that rarely sells properties and websites have an advantage they are not biased. Whereas an overzealous realtor might inflate home estimates to win over prospective clients, websites and other similar websites tell it exactly like it is, for better or worse.

Another down side of not using a real estate agent in a new home purchase or to sell a home is that a real estate agent can protect your best interests. Home owners rarely buy or sell real estate and most need help through the process. It can be complicated and if you make a mistake it can cost you thousands.

However, if you need to sell your house fast you would be much better off selling to a local home buyer in your area. They exist in every major city in the nation and they buy multiple homes each month. They mostly deal with people who are facing foreclosure, moving out of state or recently inherited a home, but their service is free.

The change in the real estate market mirrors what happened with traditional stock brokers whose monopoly on trading information was threatened with the advent of investing websites. Just as these stock brokers had to change their offerings and lower their fees, so too will realtors have to change in order to be a viable and important part of the real estate market.

Rather than fight these informational websites, realtors will have to find ways to make their services invaluable for the homeowners who will need their marketing skills and experience in the real estate market.

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by dalechumbley

7-10-08


Image by Dan..
Sold! To me! I went to Alki this afternoon to check out the place again… It’s only the 3rd time I’ve seen it, but I’m more excited than ever

I’m not an Agent nor am I involved with Real Estate, however, I do know that one of the most important things when trying to sell something is marketing it or advertising it. If no one knows about you, then you will never sell whatever it is you are trying to get \”rid\” of. It doesn’t matter if you’re a writer, a Real Estate agent, a Chef at a restaurant or anything else.

In the case of a Real Estate agent, broker or seller how can you get people to notice you and what can you do in order to sell your home(s) or properties? Well one thing I would suggest is looking out for some websites that will allow you to do flat fee realty. These sites will actually allow you to buy packages online relevant to MLS.

These MLS (multi listing services) wont just let you list ALL your properties in one place, but they will also allow you to get the \”views\” you need and they will teach you and help you sell your property and or home. They offer significant aggressive advantages and a unique marketing concept that benefit home sellers like you.

Their marketing solution integrates modernized thinking and massive expertise, delivering results that transcend the ordinary. Look these websites obviously exist for more than one reason. But one of the main reasons have YOU the seller in mind.

They know that selling a home can be exhausting, time-expensive and sometimes even frustrating. That’s why their flat fee MLS listing package is your best solution to sell your home fast and easy! Today’s predatory market demands closer alignment with enhanced exposure and effective selling methods.

And with packages like the ones these sites offer you can increase performance and quicken the selling process! When listing your home on the MLS you get instant access to professionals whose job it is to connect buyers and sellers. Can you envisage the impact of having so many professionals working hard to sell your home!

Something like this could take just a few weeks whereas with your old process it could have taken you months – even years. Look around you. I’m sure you can find homes that have been listed for well-over a year. Chances are the problems they are having are the ones you are having. But you no longer need to suffer! Sell your home quickly and easily and move on to your next project. This seems like it would be such less stressful way of getting exactly what you want!

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by el clinto

Today, people have options for getting a home sold quicker and easier, as shown in the tips listed below.

- If a buyer comes in with a low price, instead of shutting it down, you might look at ways in which terms could be defined more in your favour in exchange for accepting the lower bid. – If you have repairs that need to be done but your finances do not warrant a budget to get things done, perhaps you could lower the price or you could ask buyers if they would allow you time to make all required repairs after the home sells. Obviously, you want your home to be in the best condition possible but if not, see if buyers would be a little flexible.

- Make sure the real estate agent representing you on the sale of the home has access, either with a house key or lock box. This way, the agent would be able to bring potential buyers into the home when you are not there or at times more convenient to buyers.

- When setting the asking price on the home, it is recommended that you be careful so if an offer were to come in just below that price, you would have some flexibility in accepting it. Obviously, setting the price too high would mean having the house sit too long on the market so actual asking price is an important decision.

- Talk to your real estate agent about having at least one open house. With this, brokers, agents, and buyers could walk through, which gives the home more exposure.

- Take time to look up your home on the internet, using its MLS number. While a highly skilled real estate agent would have the listing accurate and with great photos, you as the homeowner should still double check. Sometimes, even the slightest inaccuracy could result in the house not selling.

Using these tips and working with a reputable real estate agent would be to your benefit. Instead of being one of those homeowners that has property on the market not selling, you would see quick movement on your home and for the price you want.

Using these tips and working with a reputable real estate agent would be to your benefit. Instead of being one of those homeowners that has property on the market not selling, you would see quick movement on your home and for the price you want.

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by apollonia666

Ciputra International City, Hanoi (Vietnam)


Image by E8Club
Ciputra Hanoi is the biggest urban area project in the capital city with 323 hectares and capitalized at US.1 billion.

“Looking for an apartment can be a time-consuming and sometimes overwhelming experience. Trying to sort through all of the different apartment listings can be quite tedious and deciding which ones are truly worth your while can be difficult. Since so many of us are dealing with busy schedules, it is difficult to find the time to look at different apartment listings and to try to coordinate your schedule with the schedules of various landlords. Therefore, if you are looking to simplify the process while also increasing your chances of finding your dream apartment, it is a good idea to enlist in the services of a leasing agent.

What is a Leasing Agent?

A leasing agent is a person that actually works for the landlords of apartment complexes, shipping centers, and office buildings. The primary job of a leasing agent is to help the landlord find tenants. When the leasing agent successfully finds a tenant for the landlord, he or she receives a commission. The leasing agent also takes care of finalizing the leases. As such, the landlord relies upon the leasing agent to find good tenants that are willing to pay a fair price for the apartment.

What Should I Expect from a Leasing Agent?

Just as a real estate agent is hired to represent the person selling the home, a leasing agent is hired to represent the landlord. Therefore, you are responsible for trying to negotiate the best deal possible. After all, the leasing agent is going to try to get the best deal for his or her client as possible because this will result in a larger commission. In order to guarantee that you are properly represented, you might want to higher an agent to represent you.

How Can I Be Sure to Get the Apartment I am Looking For?

In order to make sure you find the apartment you are looking for, you need to have a clear idea of what you are looking for when you approach the leasing agent. This includes knowing how much you are willing to pay, the size you are looking to rent, where you prefer the apartment to be located, and the amenities you want to be included. If you are a pet owner, you will also need to bring this to the attention of the leasing agent.

By putting together a comprehensive list of what you are looking for in an apartment, you can simply submit this to the leasing agent and ask that the agent contact you with a list of apartment options that fit your criteria. Once the leasing agent supplies you with a list, you can select the ones that are of the most interest to you.

In some cases, the agent will only provide you with the apartment information and you will be left to look into the apartments on your own. In other cases, the leasing agent will actually take you to view the various apartment rentals on the list. If this is important to you, be sure to deal with an agent that will take this extra step for you.”

by Nick Bastian Tempe, AZ

Missing “I”


Image by modenadude
Everywhere I went in London, they were missing the "i" in their "toilet" signs.

There were "toilets" in office spaces (like in this photo on the Heathrow runway… random place to put a toilet if you ask me), in flats, in restaurants… you name it, every area had a "toilet"… but they all were missing the letter I!!

I know they have public bathrooms on the streets and stuff, but at least work on the spelling, UK. Sheesh.

I hope you get this… haha. I know these signs don’t mean "toilet"… I just wish someone told me before that cop did in Picadilly Circus when he caught me… never mind…

Can leasing apartments in Phuket be as good as purchasing freehold? Many people believe so because there have been many apartments recently. Current Thailand law allows you to lease an Apartment for 30 years and have two extensions. This allows the purchaser to hold the property in their name for 90 years.

Freehold means that when you purchase you own the apartment in your own name. This is done by an apartment project in Phuket only selling up to 49% of the apartments to foreign owners. If a project is 50 units, the project developers would sell 24 as freehold and 26 as leasehold or to Thai owners. This sounds pretty complicated but setting this up is really very simple.

Leasing a piece of land is a very different story. In order to lease the land, it has to be registered at the local or-bor-tor office and it is a good idea to also register it at the land office. Some people like to lease land because they may not have to commit a lot of money. The terms can be to pay money every year. This can turn against the lease if he ever builds on the land and tries later to sell the property.

Leasing a property like an apartment is usually set up very different. If you lease through a real estate agent or broker they usually have a standard contract for a lease. Have a lawyer give you advise when signing a lease contract. This is to make sure your rights and interests are protected.

One big disadvantage of a lease is it might be hard to extent the lease after the first 30 years is expired. This is because the law reads that you must extend the lease every 30 years by the original land owner. It has even been know that original land owner may refuse the second 30 years lease even though they promised it in the first contract.

One option to leasing land was to set up a company and have the company own the land. In my opinion this option is no longer viable because the land offices are checking these shaky companies that have no purpose other than owning land. The door to owning houses or apartments in Thai companies is no longer open.

Apartments in Phuket can be bought freehold if you can find a property that is still freehold to buy into. Most properties like this are sold out under preconstruction and jonnie come lately has to pick at what units are left if any. If your plan is to purchase a unit that is 100% finished and ready to be moved it to you will find you will get the very worse units in the project. Even these units may not be available as freehold and leasing them may be the only option.

If the property investor is willing to take high risks, he can purchase a nice unit on preconstruction. The risk one takes if the project will ever start and more importantly, will it ever finish. If the project sells well and finishes within a year or two of planned completion date, the investor was lucky and has a nice unit to be proud of.

In closing, Apartments in Phuket can be a great investment if the owner is a careful shopper and weighs all factors when purchasing an apartment. Not only location, quality of construction and view are important. One must look at the ownership and the value that it will or may have 30 years down the road. Leasing in Phuket in lieu of owning an apartment unit freehold may be an option for the investor who is willing to take some calculated risk.

*** FOR MORE INFO PLEASE GO HERE *** www.delvalproperty.com
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by JoeInSouthernCA

When you have a home for sale in Orlando or elsewhere in the nation, you have to know the competition is fierce. Many home sellers think they have all their ducks in a row when a potential buyer comes to view the house, only to have a minor, forgotten issue blow the deal.

The Outside of Your Home

Your home’s exterior is the first thing potential buyers see up close. Online, you may have images of the front yard, back yard, kitchen and other rooms, but pictures can’t do justice to your home for sale in Orlando.

To prepare you home for that first up-close viewing, here are 17 outside tasks:

1. Power wash your siding and windows

2. Fix broken siding

3. Give the exterior a fresh coat of paint if it needs it

4. Paint the door and trim

5. Mow the lawn

6. Trim bushes

7. Remove oil spots from the driveway

8. Pick up all tools, toys or trash in the yard

9. Remove lawn ornaments

10. Clear weeds from the walkway and driveway

11. Plant seasonal flowers

12. Rake leaves

13. Clean roof and gutters

14. Sweep the porch, walkway and driveway

15. Clean fences

16. Take photos of a garden if it comes up each spring, as well as the yard when it’s fresh and green

17. Add tasteful landscape lighting if possible

Of course, not knowing what your specific home looks like, I can’t give a complete list, but these 17 items should get you off to a good start. Don’t forget that a few fall decorations can be the added touch that gets your home for sale in Orlando sold to a new owner!

The best place to start is searching for the right real estate agent to guide you thru the selling process. Your home’s exterior is the first thing potential buyers see up close. Online, you may have images of the front yard, back yard, kitchen and other rooms, but pictures can’t do justice to your home for sale in Orlando.

First of a three part series focusing on what makes great real estate photography. This video takes a look at the impact wide angle photograhy plays to help homes sell faster. Hosted by Sid Cameron of The St Louis Agent Team of RE/MAX Properties West in Saint Louis and Chesterfield, Missouri (1 of 3)

by lyteforce

for sold


Image by damclean
July 1, 2005: Our friend James is moving out of the neighbourhood into beautiful downtown Houston. Is it hot in here or is it just me. Anyway, his house sold while he was on vacation and the new residents are moving in while he’s on assignment in the States… no love lost with the house there.

Oh yeah, and my camera’s in the shop so I’m catching up via USB card reader. Thanks James S.

When you are looking to sell a home in the Phoenix Arizona area, you may want to consider contacting a reputable realtor to learn about the benefits of a short sale.  Current economic conditions have led to fewer people purchasing homes, which makes it more difficult when you want (or need) to sell.  If you find yourself in financial straits and paying your mortgage is a problem, this may be a viable solution for you.

No one wants to go the foreclosure route.  Not only can it be embarrassing, it destroys your credit and ability to make any substantial purchases in the near future.  When a short sale offer is structured and negotiated properly, there is often no need for the seller to wait for the buyer to obtain financing or make repairs while every minute that goes by is bringing you closer to bankruptcy.  Some people don’t even consider a short sale because they have heard that the process takes forever.  In some cases it can, but a qualified and highly experienced certified Phoenix real estate agent can help you avoid much of the red tape so that the transaction is handled as smoothly and swiftly as possible.

Another benefit of short sales is that you, as the seller, do not have to spend money you do not have trying to “fix up” and repair.  These things are typically handled by the seller, but in this instance a home is frequently sold as is, which means the buyer will be responsible for making any changes they desire to the home.

A short sale does affect your credit rating, but usually isn’t nearly as devastating as bankruptcy.  By going this route, you will most likely be able to purchase another home in just two short years, whereas with bankruptcy your credit is completely obliterated, and it is normally about five years before you can purchase again.  You may also be able to forego mortgage payments while negotiations continue, helping you to avoid further financial distress.

Finances and money are tough issues for many people today, and paying your mortgage can often become a burden that is too much to bear.  If you live in Phoenix and surrounding areas and are looking to get out from underneath your mortgage, contact a certified distressed propertyrealtor to help you determine if going the short sale route may be the answer to your prayers.

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by The Lab

sold


Image by TheTruthAbout
we’ve got a winner

In today’s technology driven world, more and more buyers are turning to the internet to look for a home. In a 2006 survey, the National Association of Realtors found that over 75% of buyers start their search online. With so many homes on the market today, it is now essential that these buyers see your home first.

And in the real estate market’s current state, it’s now more important than ever to have a solid internet marketing plan as part of your overall marketing plan. With so many homes for sale, buyers simply don’t have the time to see the hundreds of homes on the market.

What are some ways a technology savvy real estate agent can use to help market your home?

1. Preparing the Home to be Showcased

Even though this isn’t high-tech, preparing your home for showings and pictures is essential for producing showings and eventually offers for your home. In today’s market, buyers are pickier than ever and expecting homes in the like-new condition. If you look at the closed sales, the ones that sell are the ones that are turn-key or in move-in condition. So before you even take a picture, talk with your agent about cleaning, painting, and staging your home to sell.

2. Photographs, Descriptions, and Virtual Tours

After your home is properly staged or prepared for showing, photographs should be taken, either by a professional photographer or by a realtor with a good, panoramic camera. A panoramic camera will be able to showcase entire rooms and will make the house bigger. So many times, there are beautiful homes on the market with poor photos. And no matter how spectacular your home is, if you have poor quality pictures or a lackluster description, a buyer might eliminate your home without ever stepping onto your property. Also work with your agent to describe the features you love about your house into a description that makes your home stand out. Lastly, virtual tours may also be a good option for showcasing your home but in some instances not having a virtual tour encourages buyers to visit the property instead of just see the virtual tour.

3. Maximizing Exposure for your Home

Now that your home is featured in its absolute best light, it’s essential to get as many people to see it as possible. An agent up-to-date with technology should have a standard way of distributing information about your property online. First, I allow my listings to be sent through the MLS to hundreds of websites, including Coldwell Banker’s, Century 21′s, and Re/Max’s websites. My goal is to showcase my seller’s property to everyone I can, even to agents from other companies because they might just have a buyer for my client’s home. Second, I also have a constantly growing number of sites I submit to, in addition to those above, all to put your property in front of as many buyers as possible.

Although the tools above will help you gain more exposure for your home, internet marketing is not a comprehensive solution but should be used as a part of an overall marketing plan that includes traditional marketing ideas as well. Open houses, broker caravans, signs, and the real estate brokerage network are still vital to selling a home for the most money in this market.

Esquimalt — As Marko Juras checks in on a new home overlooking the Gorge Waterway Friday, the realtor says anyone looking to sell right now should get ready to lower their expectations. “Inventory continues to be at very high levels for this time of year and combined with low sales it’s ….you know…. going to be a long winter for some sellers” he says. His comments come on a day when September sales figures released by the Victoria Real Estate Board show the 20-year low hit in August was no blip: 395 properties sold last month, down from 425 in August, off nearly 50% from last year, and again the worst numbers in two decades. Juras says nervous buyers are looking at more homes, making fewer offers, and are generally being more cautious, so sellers need to adapt. “I don’t think I’m seeing any panic in sellers, but people are definitely going to have to be more open to price drops and more realistic prices on their properties” says Juras. But not all realtors see the tumbling sales of the past few months as an indication the market is in trouble, and in fact point to an upswing in transactions over the past two weeks a sign of good things to come. Jason Binab says the stronger second half of September is a big step in the right direction. “I don’t know if we’re out of the woods yet, we are coming into the slower time of the year in October and November, but I’m optimistic with the phones ringing, nice weather and places selling. I feel good about the fall season” says …
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by daveiam

sold sign


Image by TheTruthAbout
every real estate agent’s dream

Zip code 78749 in Southwest Austin is one of the few places in the United States where the real estate market is robust and booming. Recently ranked second in a Business Week magazine study on the fastest selling US zip codes, homes in this high-end neighborhood were second to only Sunnyvale, California.

Austin real estate brokers are positive about the implications such market behavior will have on Austin, TX real estate, especially for sellers. Interviewed by Business Week magazine Jay Carter, a veteran realtor with Living in Austin says, “This truly is one area of the Austin Real Estate market where sellers are still in control.”

Real estate in Texas has definitely been looking up as zip codes like Houston, Plano and economically forward areas like Portland and Oregon have been drawing homebuyers and sellers in numbers. Nonetheless, Austin real estate agents have revealed that the 78749 zip code is as exclusive as it can get in terms of prime real estate in Texas.

Where prices are concerned, the superior condition of the homes in such an elegant neighborhood commands enormous potential for profit for the seller. The high standard of the homes in this locality speak for themselves and realtors like Jay Carter cannot be any happier.

Similarly, for a buyer interested in prime Real Estate in Austin, Jay thinks the location is ideal. A recognized realtor in the Austin real estate business, Jay explains, “It’s a high-end neighborhood surrounded by scenic hills, but it’s just a 5- or 10-minute drive to downtown.” The price you pay for real estate in Austin is the price you pay for exclusivity, convenience and aesthetically pleasing environs.

Unlike other Austin, Texas real estate brokers, Jay Carter, realtor and co-owner of Living in Austin walks the talk. His views are featured regularly in magazines like the Personal Real Estate Investor and Business Week.

The Living in Austin team has established a name for themselves as one of the best firms to approach for real estate in Texas. Jay Carter is an established authority on the Austin, Texas real estate market and along with his extremely resourceful team works towards educating and enriching the Austin community and culture about smart real estate choices.

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If you wish to know more about buying and selling homes in Austin, Texas, you can visit the Living in Austin website www.livinginaustin.com or call Michelle Kim Carter at 512-997-7653.

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by darrowwest

Hotblack Desiato


Image by Dean Ayres
I came across the name Hotblack Desiato when I was walking along Upper Street in Islington, and there it was on an estate agent’s hoarding. I thought, "What a cheek! They’ve nicked the name off Douglas Adams".

Then I found this on the web;

"I came across the name Hotlblack Desiato when I was driving along Upper Street in Islington, and there it was on a house For Sale sign. It was the name of a new (real) estate agent . I thought it was the most wonderful name I’d ever seen, and wished I could come up with names as good as that.

I couldn’t get the name out of my mind, and when I was trying to figure out the name for the rockstar who was spending a year dead for tax reasons, every name I thought of was not nearly as good as Hotblack Desiato. So in the end I gave up and phoned the agency and spoke – as it happened – to Geoff Hotblack. I asked him if I could use their name and he was, as you might imagine, quite surprised but said I certainly could.

And so I did. I spoke to Geoff quite often after that, in his capacity as an estate agent. And one day he told me that they had had quite a few calls from people saying hadn’t they got a bit of a nerve naming their agency after a character in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy?

So, yes, it certainly does work both ways."
Douglas Adams.

When buying or selling a home in Arizona, it may be a good idea to do some research before selecting a Real Estate professional. There are several Realtors and Real Estate firms to choose from. How do you know which one to choose? Which firm will represent your best interests?

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Scottsdale, Arizona is extremely aggressive when talking about putting your needs first, and making sure your best interests are represented. There is always two sides to a Real Estate purchase contract. There is usually a buyer, and a seller. It is rare when one firm represents both sides, but is absolutely legal as long as both parties agree and sign documents allowing one firm to represent both sides. Depending on which side you are on will determine the course of action a firm will take with you.

Scottsdale, Arizona Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage help people buy and sell homes all over the state in cities such as Scottsdale, Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Cave Creek, Peoria, Coolidge, Queen Creek, Avondale, Buckeye, Tempe, Surprise, Glendale, Anthem, Casa Grande, Apache Junction, and all the metropolitan area cities just to name a few. When purchasing a home, just let your Realtor know which city, which zip code, which school district, or which neighborhood you want to live in. Real Estate agents are unable to steer you in a certain direction, so it is important that you have a good starting point for your Real Estate professional.

When purchasing a home, tell your Realtor what is important to you. Let them know what amenities are important to you and they should be able to help you find what you are looking for. A Realtor will do a search on the things you tell them. Real Estate agents can search available homes by price, city, zip code, square footage, year built, type of roof, size of the lot, school district, and style just to name a few.

Once you have found a home in your price range, your Realtor should represent you through the purchase contract. They should make sure that everyone one involved in the purchase contract are on the same page. Your first step when purchasing a home is to get pre-qualified for a loan. If you have a lender that you work with, that lender will be able to tell you how much you are qualified for, and what your price range is by analyzing your finances. This process usually only takes a few hours. If you do not know of any lenders your Realtor should have a good recommendation.

When selling your home, a good Realtor will come to your home, take pictures of the home for marketing purposes, and get all the paper work filled out and signed. Once all the paper work is filled out and signed, the home should be on the market within a few hours. Good Real Estate firms will market your home effectively by putting your home on the MLS, in newspapers, in magazines, send out mailers to the neighbors, put a sign in the yard with info tubes, and hold open houses just to name a few.

With Scottsdale, Arizona Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, your home is featured on several national and local websites. So many people are moving to Arizona so it is extremely important to attack the out of state markets. The more exposure your home gets, the more chance it has of selling. When discussing home selling in Arizona, with the current market conditions, it is extremely important to price your home correctly. If you owe more than your home is worth, it may not be a good time to sell.

Real Estate markets are cyclical. What goes up may come down. Unfortunately, no guarantees can ever be made by a Real Estate agent. However, a good Realtor will answer all of your questions, have all of the paper work ready for you, and represent you in an ethical manner. A good agent will hold your hand through the entire process. For those home owners with lots of experience buying and selling property, they usually know the drill. Scottsdale, Arizona Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage may be a good choice when seeking representation in Arizona. We can schedule a free, no obligation consultation on any of your Arizona Real Estate needs or questions. Please visit the website below to get in touch with a qualified, aggressive, honest Real Estate agent.

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by TheTruthAbout

Woodinville August Real Estate Sold


Image by burienundressedblog

As a real estate agent there are different phases that you must go through when selling a home.

If you follow these tips you will sell much more real estate:

First off, you need to find somebody who is looking for the service that you offer. From there they will sign a contract, and you will be responsible for trying to sell their home as quickly as possible.

You can do this in a number of different ways, and it is your marketing efforts that will get people interested in the home that you are trying to sell.

But the last step of the process may be the most difficult of all. This is when you will try to close the sale, and wrap everything up. Although this may sound easy enough, closing the sale can be quite tough because you will be acting as the middle man between the buyer and the seller.

The main goal of any real estate agent is to sell the homes that they list. When a real estate agent sells a home they make money; it is that simple. So as you can imagine, when a real estate agent gets to the final step of the process they are anxious to try to close the deal, and then move onto the next one.

The very first step of the closing process is getting an offer from a buyer. The real estate agent will then relay this offer to the seller, and act as the middle man as the two sides negotiate back and forth.

It is during this process that the real estate agent will want to pull out all the stops to try to mediate a sale. This does not mean that they will lie, but they will do everything they can to get the two sides to agree on terms.

When an agreement is made, you are almost there. The final step to closing a sale is to get the buyer and seller together to sign the papers. This is known as the closing process, and it usually goes off without hitch.

Of course the home will have to pass inspection first, etc. But assuming that everything checks out there the closing process should be a piece of cake.

The better a real estate agent becomes at closing sales the more money they will make. If you are new to the industry you may have a tough time with this at first. Just remember to learn something from each sale that you go through. Over time you will become a top notch deal closer.