Posts Tagged ‘Real Estate Investors’

by GuideEbook

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Image by daveiam

Introduction:

Real estate is a business, where the realtors will be dealing in an immovable property, like land, buildings. Real estate is also called as immovable property where it deals in a permanently fixed property. It is also considered as real property or realty. There are two ways of starting the real estate, one understanding the concepts and have connection with real estate investors and the other is attending the general association/clubs/meeting the real estate business. The term realty refers to immovable property like land, building and personally refers to movable property like automobiles, patents, shares etc. Sometime people try to distinguish the difference between realty and personalities, the term real property or realty or real estate have same sense. But in civil law jurisdiction, it refers to immovable property.

Do we need a huge amount to invest in real estate business? Real estate business does not constitute a large some of investment. If he invests a little some of money is enough to carry the business. Investing initial capital and starting a business has a huge advantages but real estate business does not need a huge investment. Even if he invests, he can get back in a shorter period. There are many ways to collect funds to run the business.

Real estate brokers: a broker is a person who act as an intermediately between the buyer and the seller .He find out a person who wills to buy and sell the real property. In America, the connection was initially recognized with reference to the English common law of agency where the broker having a good relationship with his customers. In UK, the term estate agent is referred to a person or organization whose function is to market the real estate. In America, when they act as buyers brokers, they will purchase the property for a reasonable consideration. While, they became a sellers brokers they sell the property for a price which will fetch them a reasonable profit. Brokers without license they sometimes act as a customer agent.

Is licensed required for real estate business: license is not a important statement for real estate business. Each a have an individual right to sell and buy the property on their own interest. He needs to procure license only when he sells the property which does not belongs to him. But a licensed agent is well recognized in the market without his publicity. In United States, in most jurisdictions a person is essential to have a license in order to obtain payment for services rendered as a broker. Lawyers are also allowed as a broker or agent without acquiring a license.

Commercial real estate: commercial real estate constitutes of buying and selling of immovable property like land and those fixed to it. In this type, realtors share their land ownership among themselves. Commercial real estate consists of accumulated closing price. They involve in a process of buying and selling if land and buildings.

Advantages in real estate:

Property and land are usually expensive; realtors fetch a maximum profit by selling.

Real estators does not need a higher investment. If they have the ability to borrow is enough.

With help of the realtors, we can buy and sell any type of property all over the world.

Conclusion:

One can easily understand the term real estate and how to invest in to it. Thus real estate is a business where buying and selling of fixed property like land, buildings. With the help of the brokers, we can buy and sell any type of property in any particular place. But, paying commission or brokerage is an expensive one.

Related Selling Real Estate Articles

by stonnington history centre

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Image by daveiam

Learning strategies of how to sell a home on your own can be a financially rewarding experience. Sellers who take time to understand how to market for sale by owner real estate can save several thousand dollars in real estate agent commissions. Those who try to sell real estate without becoming educated about the process could place themselves and their home at legal risk.

Several options are available for learning how to sell a home on your own. An abundance of house selling resources are available via the Internet. Libraries can be an exceptional resource for obtaining real estate information. In addition to books and realty publications, most libraries allow patrons to borrow real estate courses presented on DVD.

Numerous real estate investors offer for sale by owner training seminars. Before spending money on realty classes, it is a good idea to conduct research on the company or individual offering the seminar.

When homeowners list for sale by owner real estate they must adhere to the same criteria as realtors. Home inspections and appraisals must be obtained and real estate contracts filed through local courts.

Sources for finding FSBO information include real estate clubs, forums and online or in person networking groups. Real estate groups typically include a mix of investors, realtors, mortgage lenders, appraisers, home inspectors, and realty lawyers. Participating in group meetings grants homeowners the opportunity to network with real estate professionals and obtain necessary information and resources for selling their home.

In order to expedite the sale of FSBO properties, homeowners should create a real estate marketing plan. A variety of marketing materials exist to help homeowners attract buyers. Marketing efforts might include developing a website to showcase the property, FSBO flyers, postcard marketing, signage, print advertising, TV commercials or online videos.

Nearly all FSBO marketing tools can be located online. Several online resources offer FSBO marketing kits that include templates for signs, flyers and postcards. Most real estate contracts and selling documents can be downloaded for a minimal fee. Several for sale by owner websites exist which allow sellers to publish information and upload photos of their property.

In today’s real estate market competition is fierce. Homeowners must make every effort to make their property stand out amongst the millions of homes for sale. It is important to remember buyers can choose from bank owned homes, foreclosure properties and newly constructed homes offering big incentives to buy. Home prices must be in-line with comparative homes being sold in the area.

In order to obtain the highest price, homeowners should be prepared to make repairs and renovations. In order to attract buyers, homes must have curb appeal and be as clean as the inside. Remove debris, spruce up the landscape and plant flowers or shrubs. It is important to spend time giving the property a thorough cleaning. When necessary, apply a fresh coat of paint to the interior and exterior.

Selling a home on your own places everything in your hands. Take time to learn the process and make certain you understand the advantages and disadvantages before placing a “For Sale” sign in front of your property. Otherwise, you could end up losing money on the deal or unable to locate a suitable buyer.

by John Beagle

Cities and towns across America are dotted with “We Buy Houses” signs. With foreclosure rates at staggering heights, homeowners desperate to sell their house fast often turn to home buying companies. The question that lingers is, is this the best option available?

Organizations that engage in “We Buy Houses” programs often do provide solutions to homeowners facing financial challenges. However, considerable caution should be used prior to signing over the deed to your home. Sadly, many unscrupulous people are waiting to prey on borrowers fearful of losing their home to foreclosure.

Borrowers who owe more on their mortgage loan than their home is worth find it nearly impossible to locate a buyer. Organizations who offer to buy real estate for cash typically want to purchase properties below market value. In some areas across the nation, housing prices have dropped as much as 50-percent, making it impossible to sell the home at a reduced price.

The only option available for borrowers is to obtain short sale approval from their mortgage lender or allow the home to fall into foreclosure. Short sales are rapidly becoming the remedy of choice for homeowners facing foreclosure. Using short sale agreements, mortgage lenders agree to accept less than is owed on the home loan.

At present, banks accept approximately 10-percent of short sale requests. If the mortgage lender denies the request to short sell property and the borrower is unable to cure mortgage arrearages, the only option left is foreclosure.

When lenders commence with foreclosure a Notice of Default letter is sent to the borrower. The NOC becomes a matter of public record. Many real estate investors that buy houses for cash hire researchers to scour court documents in search of foreclosure and bankruptcy notices. If you have received a notice of default, chances are you will receive correspondence from investors and home buying companies with an offer to buy your home for cash.

Real estate experts recommend avoiding “We Buy Houses” programs solicited by mail, phone or TV. Instead, seek out real estate investors who specialize in purchasing distressed properties including foreclosure and short sales. These individuals possess experience and understand what needs to be done to close the deal.

Use the Internet to locate real estate investors in your area. Many investors belong to a network and can connect buyers and sellers across the nation. Once potential investors are located take time to engage in due diligence to ensure you are working with a licensed professional. Check with the Better Business Bureau to determine if the investment company is in good standing or if complaints have been filed.

Realty agents and real estate companies must be licensed in the state where they conduct business. Every state has a real estate commission where credentials can be verified.

Private real estate investors typically are not listed through the BBB or real estate commission. Professional investors will provide clients with referrals and resources to validate their credentials.

Real estate documents should be reviewed by a qualified attorney. All documents should be read and completely understood before signing on the dotted line.

Trust your instincts. If the deal sounds too good to be true, chances are it is. When it comes to saving your home from foreclosure, every precaution should be taken to ensure you are not being scammed.

Avoid being a victim of foreclosure scams by engaging in thorough research. While it can be tempting to sell your home to stop foreclosure or bankruptcy, making the wrong decision could create a situation much worse than the one you are already facing.

More Buy Houses Articles

by wallyg

The U.S. housing market is in a world of hurt. Bank owned homes (REOs) exploded to three-quarter of a million in the month of July, 2008.

For real estate investors, watching the number of foreclosures grow generates emotions much like those experienced while attending a slasher movie. The number of homes taken through bank foreclosures is up 184% from a year ago. Yes, a higher proportion of properties that enter the foreclosure process are ending up repossessed by lenders.

If anyone tries to tell you that the worst of the housing crisis is over point out that default notices are up 53% and notices of foreclosure auctions is up 11%.

Lenders now own over 750,000 homes and the number is climbing. They don’t want those homes, they want to sell them. What happens when there is a surplus of anything? Prices go down and that holds true for foreclosed homes. Some lenders are cutting prices as often as every 20 days on their REOs.

The book value of one to four-family homes owned by lenders whose deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. more than doubled to .56 billion at the end of the first quarter from .59 billion a year earlier.

Investor should understand that this ocean of vacant homes is driving down prices in many areas. Banks tend to cut prices faster than other sellers. That undercuts the value of every home in the area. What you buy today may seem like a bargain, but remember lenders will continue dumping tens of thousands of homes for months to come. That will reduce the value of your bargain home.

Those owning homes today are also suffering. Many bought at the peak of the real estate price bubble and have been underwater every since. With falling home values their situation grows worse every day. What little equity they had vanished some time ago. That will result in more owners walking away from there homes and another increase in foreclosures and REOs.

Rents Crash

The bad news continues. With hundreds of thousands of homeowners losing their homes through foreclosure the rental market has been flooded with potential tenants. That should be good for apartment owners, right? That seems logical until you remember the tens of thousands of vacant homes that can’t find buyers.

Landlords are desperate to rent their homes to raise cash that can be applied to mortgage payments. With so many homes offered for rent they are asking for almost anything they can get. For apartments rent growth has flattened, vacancies in many areas are at record highs and rent concessions are near record highs.

Renters can lease a home for the same price as a 990 sq ft apartment. That’s tough competition for apartment owners.

To make matters worse is the number of condo conversions that have been converting back into rentals. More rental units coming on a distressed markets means continued downward pressure on residential rents.

Oh sure, all of these problems will be overcome with time. If you are a real estate investor there are big profits ahead, but keep a tight hold on your buying power until there is not the slightest doubt that the housing market has hit a real bottom and is starting up the other side.

Keep This In Mind…

In November of 2002 an event was held to honor economist Milton Friedman on his ninetieth birthday.

Then Federal Reserve Governor Ben S. Bernanke (now Fed head) gave a talk. Here are the last lines of that speech…

”Let me end my talk by abusing slightly my status as an official representative of the Federal Reserve. I would like to say to Milton and Anna: Regarding the Great Depression. You’re right, we did it. We’re very sorry. But thanks to you, we won’t do it again”.

Arboleda Luxury Apartment Homes in Cedar Park, TX offers spacious 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments for rent. Texas-Rich architecture, designed to live clubhouse, and resort style pool are community pleasures for your enjoyment. We offer a host of spectacular interior amenities and features not to mention a location that is truly convenient to all that Cedar Park and Northwest Austin have to offer. A tranquil setting with spectacular views… that’s Arboleda. View our apartments for rent online at www.forrent.com

by John Beagle

1st House that Johnny Wants to Buy 048


Image by John Beagle

Tampa, Florida, December 17, 2007 – We will buy your home. At FastHomeSolutions you want to sell your home and we buy houses. This is what we do for a living. We are Professional Real Estate Investors that have money waiting to purchase homes of those that either need to or just want to sell their home. Pre-foreclosures or in foreclosure? We can negotiate with the bank so you can sell your home to us and you can have the piece of mind you need to move on without having a foreclosure on your credit. We will even make your payments for you which will improve your credit score quickly.

If you read the newspapers or watch your local news you know that selling a home in today’s market is a risky proposition and most real estate agents are not getting the job done. It is a home buyers market today and any qualified home buyers are looking for the perfect deal. Insurance and Taxes are forcing a lot of people out of their homes. Taxes, insurance and declining prices spell disaster if you need to sell your home. We will buy your home at a fair price based on current averages and sell fast. It’s a huge opportunity for REO asset managers,” said Jim Case, CEO of Fast Home Solutions, which recently launched its online property investors website at www.FastHomesolutions.com. “We’re seeing investors from all over, especially France, Germany and Belgium, as well as from the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. They are eager to buy U.S. homes, villas, properties now, while their own currencies are strong against our dollar.

This is good news for loan servicers and loss mitigation professionals charged with disposing of owned real estate. The online auction concept, while not new, is experiencing a surge of popularity because of the ease with which properties can be vetted by potential buyers, whether for investment or owner occupancy. “Asset managers are getting slammed right now by the sheer volume of properties they must sell,” observed Case. “Online auctions are the best way to get properties in front of the most people, but REO people are so busy at the moment, it is difficult to consider new methods.” Fast Home Solutions approach to attract REO listings is to avoid the negatives buyers and sellers have seen in the past with online auctions. “Buyers hate paying premiums to buy properties online, so we’ve eliminated them,” said Case. “At the same time, investors want research on areas and values, as well as finding local property managers, so we’re adding content to make those available at minimal or no cost,” he added.

The “Half-back” Phenomenon

Further complicating things for REO asset managers desiring sell property in Sunbelt areas is the increase of people leaving places like Florida for financially more hospitable climes. Their properties are competing with REO sales for buyer attention, and keeping prices low. These are people who have been whipsawed by rising insurance rates caused by the hurricanes and sinkholes of recent years, as well as increased property taxes. Rather than moving all the way back up north, they are going half way, to places like Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee, hence the term “half-back.” “These neighboring states have much more attractive scenarios for these sellers,” explains Jim Case. “And they still don’t have to put up with harsh winters.” With these additional properties cluttering up the inventory, REO sellers are finding their work cut out for them.

This new wave of foreign investors may be the key to keeping the market moving, said Case. “We send out over a million opt-in emails to investors every week and I can tell you that the demand for property listings is getting stronger every day,” he said. “The dollar’s weakness right now may work out to be a blessing for the REO asset managers, especially since these foreign investors like to buy more than one.”

About Fast Home Solutions

Fast Home Solutions is a real estate auction web site which harnesses the power of the Internet to benefit REO agents, asset managers, motivated buyers and sellers. Buyers can search, bid on and acquire REO properties, all at no cost, and sellers can efficiently post properties and market to prospective buyers. Fast Home Solutions is based in Tampa, Florida, and can be found on the Internet at www.FastHomesolutions.com

by John Beagle

As more homes fall into foreclosure, more “I Buy Houses” signs pop up. The majority of these signs belong to private real estate investors or investment groups. Investors buy houses that are either in preforeclosure, already foreclosed, bank owned or probate real estate at discounted rates. Their services allow sellers and lenders the opportunity to reduce financial burdens.

Before contacting “I Buy Houses” investors, conduct research to determine their credentials. When there is money to be made and desperate people to scam, unscrupulous people crawl out of the woodwork. Currently, real estate is a prime target for scamming people out of their most valuable asset.

The Internet is a valuable resource for locating information about businesses and sole proprietors. Business owners must be licensed to conduct business in each state where they offer products or services. Business registrations are typically managed through the Department of Revenue or Secretary of State.

Consumer complaints are filed through each state’s Attorney General’s office, as well as the Better Business Bureau. Real estate agents and brokers are licensed through the National Association of Realtors.

You can easily locate any of the resources above by typing in your state along with the name of the organization; e.g. California Attorney General. These consumer protection agencies can help ensure the business or investor holds proper business licenses and is complaint-free.

As a real estate investor, I have heard numerous horror stories of homeowners losing their house to foreclosure scams. I have also witnessed newbie real estate investors duped into buying properties from “I Buy Houses” groups who were selling properties they didn’t own. Sadly, real estate has taken a hard hit from every angle. Whether buying or selling, homeowners and investors must take every precaution to protect their real estate.

Another common occurrence I face is desperate homeowners contact me daily; begging me to buy their home. The problem is most of these people have procrastinated far too long. By the time they call me, there is nothing I can do to help them save their home.

I would like to offer the same advice to you as I give to everyone else. If you have fallen behind with mortgage payments, today is the day to contact your lender. I realize it can be difficult to pick up the phone and attempt to negotiate a deal to save your home from foreclosure.

The truth of the matter is, the longer you wait the less receptive the bank will be to working with you. Once your property falls into foreclosure few options exist to stop the process.

If you are unable to continue making home loan payments and have not yet entered into foreclosure, your lender might offer the option of short selling your house. When lenders enter into short sale agreements they accept less than is owed on the mortgage note.

Most lenders require borrowers to have a buyer in place prior to negotiating the short sale option. Certain criteria exist and not all properties qualify. In fact, less than 20-percent of short sale requests are approved. If your lender participates in short sales, it is recommended to work with a realty professional experienced in negotiating short sale transactions.

Legitimate “I Buy Houses” investors can be extremely beneficial in helping borrowers obtain short sale approval. Seek out private investors through online real estate forums, local networking groups or by obtaining referrals from banks, mortgage lenders, credit unions, realty agents, brokers or real estate attorneys.

by TheTruthAbout

we think it’s sold


Image by TheTruthAbout
and in escrow

You may think that negotiating with banks in order to get them to give you a discount on their property is practically impossible! It is possible and real estate investment deals go through with the bank every day. Here’s why.

Why You can Get Discounts on Default Properties

Banks are rated in their ability to work out deals with homeowner in default. That means they are rated for how much cash they hold in reserve to cover each mortgage should it default and how well they work with the homeowner in order to keep a property from foreclosing. Some banks may hold as much as 8 times the default mortgage in cash reserve, which for a standard 0,000 mortgage is as much as 0,000. They are required by law to cover that mortgage in case it goes sour. The banks can’t use this money, invest this money and they certainly can’t use the property. It just sits there tied up for as long as that mortgage is in their books.

So a bank will accept a short sale on a property or a mortgage note purchase primarily because of the reserves they are required to set aside. They want that money freed up so they can invest that reserve money and make profits.

Your best deals come from the bank right before the end of their fiscal year or right before their auditing.

How eager the Banks are to get rid of Default Properties!

A particular real estate investor was interested in a small home in default. The investor began discussions with the bank that held the homeowner’s mortgage to see if they could negotiate a deal. He was holding out for a sale price of ,500 on this property and he wanted to make the sale as a note purchase. The bank was being difficult. They didn’t want to sell the property that low and they wanted a short sale deal on this property. The deal didn’t work out all three parties went their separate ways.

About 6 months later the bank calls the real estate investor back up to see if he is still interested in buying the property. They were willing to let him have his previous price of ,500 and let him have the property mortgage through a note purchase. In fact the bank needed to do a note purchase.

They had foreclosed on the homeowner during those 6 months, but neglected to show up at the sheriff’s sale. This naturally messed up their foreclosure.

The only way they could sell the property was by a note purchase. There may have been a lot of investors interested in this property, but because the investor had been holding out for a note purchase six months prior the bank remembered him and called him up to see if he was still interested in investing that property. Even better the investor saw what a pinch the bank was in and managed to negotiate an even lower sale price on the note purchase of ,000.

Banks are not in the real estate business, they are in the money lending business. The only use foreclosure as a last resort to recover some of their money. This process takes a long time though and it’s messy. Banks are much more willing to sell the property, work with the homeowner or take discounted short sales and note purchase deals to recover their loan.

by xiaming

View from my hotel


Image by DearEdward
It was on a spit of land – lots of new property developments in Qatar!

Commercial real estate developers

Commercial real estate is nowadays a common buzz word which people come across. Commercial real estates are investment or income properties. It includes offices, malls, restaurant, shopping complex, warehouse, multifamily apartment, multiplexes, etc. People find commercial real estate as good opportunity to invest on. It has turned out to be gold for many of the investors. It is not necessary that everyone has the same story.

Someone has rightly said that “Think twice before acting, this is the sign of being wise”. One who plunges into the trail of others is surely going to fall into pit one day. Similar has happened to many real estate investors who acted without thinking and have lost huge amounts. One should find good real estate developers in India to find right place for them at right prices.

Commercial real estate developers serve as a bridge between the construction companies that build the buildings and the businesses that use them. Property developers in India help businesses in providing best appropriate location and cost. With their wide experience in real estate and construction, property developers in India ensure that newly constructed spaces meet the client businesses’ needs. Real estate developers are often property managers as well, and keep operations running smoothly by maintaining the facilities, allowing their property owners to focus on driving profits. By bridging the gap between builders and users, real estate developers in India pay an extremely important role in controlling unnecessary expenses and improving efficiency and effectiveness for all parties involved.

Duties of a Commercial Real Estate Developer

The job of the commercial real estate developer is to purchase property and then develop it to turn a profit down the road. This is a tedious undertaking that involves a great deal of time. In some areas, developers buy land and hold it for quite some time, waiting for the market to be just right to build. Market research skills and an ability to read into trends within a target community are a must here. For a real estate developer to really succeed, developers should be able to buy land at a low price and develop in order to generate high return. This takes serious negotiating skills and knowledge of when it’s time to walk away.

Real estate development doesn’t stop when a land purchase is made. The work, at this point, is only starting. To carry through, a property developer in India needs to create a plan for the site, gain proper approvals for construction, obtain financing and then see the construction process through to the end. The job of a top real estate developer is not completed over night. That is why property developers are paid highly. A good commercial property developer always has methodical approach which includes market research, acquisition, development and distribution of land.

How to Choose a Right Commercial Property Developer?

For investors choosing right property developer is extremely important in order to generate high return on investment. Some attribute investors should keep in mind when approaching commercial real estate developers is market reputation, services of developers, and quality of work. Investors should visit the examine the previous property developed by commercial real estate developers and check personally regarding its maintenance, services, experience and quality of work.

The commercial real estate developers in India like Pacifica have the expertise in acquiring right land at right prices. They are professionally involved in real estate development in India. Most of time their time is spent on extreme research of land full of opportunity and which could generate high returns in future. With such tough and tedious job, Pacifica Companies, a real estate developer in India is also committed to do their duty properly by working sincerely in order to generate profits for themselves along with profits for others will only be coming out with flying colors.

Pacifica is one of the most reliable and experienced commercial real estate developers in India. Our services are available in all major cities across India. Our work is appreciated globally and can be personally observed like Business park in Delhi, IT Park in Chennai, Hotel in Ahmedabad, Hotel in Hyderabad, Hotels in Bangalore and other residential projects like Apartments in Ahmedabad, houses in Pune etc.

How to find the perfect property development with Sarah Beeny. Other Tips for Developers can be found on www.tepilo.com – What do you need to get started? http – How to find the right market tepilo.com

Related Property Development Articles

by RedAgenda.com

Flying the flags (2)


Image by AndrewH.uk
A new property development in Stowmarket faces the credit crunch

The recession of 2008-2009 has struck a real bad blow to the real estate and property market in the European states. Of the same, UK has been hit the hardest, especially as a lot of real estate investors and entrepreneurs hail form the States and similarly affected regions. And this is exactly why a property development course would have helped the homeowners or real estate mavericks.

Property management courses can actually help homeowners or even common shareholders in a piece of property save their skin from an untoward financial calamity or a bad investment. Property management courses can help in more ways than just that – help prevent against improper buying of properties as well as train you to predict against economic disasters – personal or global. Here are 5 benefits:

1.    Personal Safeguard – A lot of homeowners fall prey to fraud property development agents and firms because they do not know what can help keep their properties secure. A property development course from authentic institutions or trainers can help you stay abreast of the rules and regulations in the real estate scenario – and thus act as your personal safeguard.

2.    Better Investment Decisions – Once you are through the fire-rings of a property management course, you can decide investment decisions and purchase deals for the better. For instance, you will not purchase a piece of property in Dominican Republic just because of the pristine beaches. You will know a lot more intricate details that will help you decide, rather than the prima facie attributes of the estate.

3.    Seek Out Targets – With property management courses, you can finally seek out uncharted territories to reap your property development rewards from! So the next time someone tells you that a real estate treasure chest has opened up in some remote corner of Europe, you would actually be counting your profits from property in the region bought ahead of time, than run in late for the same!

4.    Manage Properties Better – With a professional property course, you can also become a property development manager by profession. Not only does real estate pay in profits as a homeowner, it can also help you get one of the most lucrative job opportunities in the UK – as a professional real state agent. And given the state of the economy and the property development scenario, you need not wait for long till you reach the peak of the industry!

5.    Understand the Industry – Understanding an industry is integral to enjoying benefits from the same. A professional property management course helps you understand the nitty-gritty of the real estate development industry. This, as an obvious consequence, helps you attain the expertise needed to survive and excel in a meticulously ruthless industry.

If you were contemplating whether you should take up a property development course, it is high time you did so. For with the once shattered-now steady British property economy, you can climb a lot of rungs in the property management ladder at one go!

by John Beagle

1st House that Johnny Wants to Buy 052


Image by John Beagle

Today is Friday, February the 13th. It is supposed to be a day of bad luck, right? Wrong! I was driving down the road this morning in the One Hour Homebuyer Hummer going to get a cup of coffee on the way to work. Just so you know, our H2 is a basically a rolling billboard. The Hummer is completely wrapped in vinyl and advertises the fact that “we buy houses in one hour or less” and that sellers can “sell your house in an hour or less” by selling to us. So I was pulling into the parking lot when a lady in a minivan followed me in and started honking her horn at me and waving her arms wildly. If I didn’t have this happen to me at least once a day, I might have found it a bit strange.

I pulled over, stopped the truck and rolled down the window to talk with her. She immediately asked “Do you buy houses?!?” Duh, I thought. Do you think so? I chuckled and asked “What makes you ask that?” She said, “I think the Hummer gave you away!” I said “Yeah, I get that a lot. I can’t go anywhere without being people asking me to buy their homes.” We both laughed and then she proceeded to tell me that she had two houses in foreclosure that were set to go to auction very soon. Because our Hummer said “We can buy your house in one hour” she wanted me to go look at her two houses for sale right away. Since they were both on the way to our One Hour Homebuyer office, I agreed to go take a look at them and make her an offer on them both.

Both houses were located in what I call nice, “first time home buyer” or “middle income”, neighborhoods where the houses were all only a few years old and ranged from 0,000 to 0,000. She told me that she and her husband had purchased these two homes as “amateur” real estate investors and quickly learned they had gotten in way over their heads due to the lack of proper training. She said they had paid too much for the homes, they had little or no equity and because they were investment properties with a higher than average interest rate, the mortgage payments were too high to cover with market rent and still cash flow. She had had lots of problems collecting rent from the tenants. One tenant had moved out on their own free will and left the house a looking like disaster. The other was still being occupied by her son who was unemployed and not paying rent. He wasn’t a very good house keeper either.

Other than needing a thorough cleaning and cosmetic updates like paint, carpet and minor repairs, the houses were in relatively good condition. She owed over 0,000 on each and both were many, many months behind on the taxes and mortgage payments. I told her that she owed too much, the payments were too high and the loans were too far behind for us to catch up and take over her mortgage payments. I also told her she owed way too much for us to pay all cash. Because of her upcoming foreclosure, I told her the only thing we could do to prevent foreclosure was to negotiate a short sale with her lenders. She said both lenders had expressed an interest in doing a short sale but that she had not found a buyer to pay off the short sales. I told her “we are that home buyer!” We offered to buy both of her houses based on reaching a mutually agreeable short sale price and closing date with her lenders. We made her no promises since we could not guarantee the bank would accept our offers, but she was ecstatic with the possibilities nevertheless. We put both of her houses under contract in an hour or less each! Not too bad for Friday the 13th and it is not even noon yet!

If you would like to sell your house fast, often in one hour or less, by selling your home to a Licensed One Hour Homebuyer such as us or to one of our affiliates in your area, please call 888-765-3461 or visit our website at www.OneHourHomebuyers.com, complete our Seller Questionnaire, and one of our local, professional home buyers will contact you ASAP about buying your house fast!

by John Beagle

Unfit for Purpose #2


Image by Alan Stanton
12 October 2010. In Lordship Lane N17 a sign on a lamppost advertised: "We Buy Houses".

It was just outside Haringey’s North Tottenham Customer Service Centre at 639 High Road Tottenham.

Close-up here.

Just by picking up the local news paper, it’s hard to look past the abundance of We Buy Houses classified ads. In addition to print advertising, chances are you have/will be driving by a multitude of We Buy Houses bandit signs (a.k.a. road signs) of the major highways in the greater Knoxville, TN area. Let us not forget about billboards, radio or television marketing either. Last but not least, real estate investors are popping up all over the internet trying to buy homes.

Investors today are buying properties in Knoxville to reap the financial rewards found in real estate. These same house buyers are looking for investment property that will return them money in one of two ways. They are looking for a return on their money either by a (1) capital gains method or a (2) cash flow method.

Many real estate investors purchase homes to fix up (a.k.a. rehab) and sell to an end buyer that is ready to move into it. This type of investor likes to flip houses. Their strategy involves buying properties at the lowest possible price. They can then rehab any the damages do to the home and resell it for the highest possible price to an end buyer. These are capital gains types of investments. Profits are made on the spread between the purchase price (along with the amount invested to rehab it) and the sell price of the house.

Still other buyers are investing for cash flow. These types of investment deals yield profits over a lifetime of home ownership. Cash flowing property buyers are obviously looking to purchase single family houses and apartment buildings at reasonable low prices. However, they are more concerned with the total amount of rent per month that can be collected from each tenant. Another advantage of owning cash flowing rentals is the tax benefits. Holding on to a profitable rental property for more than a year can help the investor with (1) a smaller tax on capital gains, (2) depreciation of the property and (3) possible eligibility of a 1031 exchange.

Most commonly property investors purchase homes with cash. Sellers usually prefer it that way if they can get an investor to write a check for  the entire amount to buy the house. This method is a great home buying strategy, but it’s NOT the only buying strategy used to buy properties. The following are a few additional buying strategies that investors use to purchase properties.

· Short Sale – This is a process whereby the delinquent mortgage holder is in agreement with the lender to sell the house for less than the mortgage balance. Typically in this situation the home owner has been behind on paying the mortgage payments and the mortgage balance is usually greater than the value of the home. The current owner of the home is expected to have the house    sold for less than market value to an end buyer without receiving any funds from the sell price. Often times a Short Sale can be the best outcome for both the lender as well as the current home owner.

· Owner Financing – This is a process whereby the current homeowner typically owns the property free and clear and decides to sell it to a buyer. A buyer that does not bring 100% of the funds to the closing table (i.e. cash, private money source of funds or traditional bank financing)  can use Owner Financing to purchase the property. Then terms of Owner Financing are agreed upon by both parties prior to closing.

· Existing Bank Financing – This is a process whereby the current homeowner can keep the existing mortgage in place an have the new buyer purchase the house by using this same financing. Often times this is referred to as “Subject To” financing. It can also be thought of as a version of the older version of assumable mortgage.

· Private Lender Financing – This is a process whereby there is a third party that provides the funding source. These Private Lenders will typically charge the investor a higher rate for the cost of money, but the terms can be agreed upon prior to closing.

There are a multitude of ways that investors can purchase property here in Knoxville, TN without having the bring cash to the closing table. If you would like to learn more about selling your property to the We Buy Houses in Knoxville investors, then contact us to find out your options.

by John Beagle

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Maybe you’ve noticed them.  They are those signs that read, “We Buy Houses”, “We Buy Houses Cash”, “Sell House Fast” or even “Cash For Houses” and a phone number.  The signs are everywhere.  You may have wondered why so many people are buying houses.  After all, the housing market is supposed to be bad, isn’t it?

Well, those “We Buy Houses” people are real estate investors.  We pay cash for houses as investments.  We buy houses below market value, do necessary repairs and then either sell the house for a profit, or rent the house out.  This provides a nice profit and/or passive income.

You may be wondering why people would want to sell their house below market value.  Well, there are many situations that people find themselves in where they need to sell their house fast and some just sell this way for the convenience of it.  Take for instance people that inherit a property that is far away from where they live.  Many people in that situation don’t know how or even want to deal with the property and a cash home buyer is an answer to their prayers.  Some other reasons include: people facing foreclosure that don’t want to lose all of their equity, tired landlords, divorcing couples, people in bankruptcy and people that have houses that just need so many repairs that normal home buyers are just too scared to buy.

As investors, we buy houses cash and ‘As-Is’.  The ability to pay cash enables investors to close on your schedule, within 3 days if necessary.   You don’t have to worry about having dozens of complete strangers walk through your house, possibly looking through your personal items.  You don’t have to pay any commissions.  You won’t have to wait months for a qualified buyer to come along, just to find out they want you to make a ton of repairs before they will close.

So as you can see, there many reasons why people put the signs out and many reasons people call on them.

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by daveiam

Buying and selling real estate notes and land contracts can be financially rewarding for all parties involved. Real estate notes are used to record transfer of property between sellers and buyers. Often referred to as ‘real estate receivables’, these contracts are commonly used when sellers provide seller carry back financing.

When seller carry back financing is utilized, real estate notes and land contracts should be executed by a real estate attorney. At minimum, a lawyer should be retained to review contracts to ensure they will be upheld in a court of law if either party defaults on the agreement.

Real estate investors who buy notes should be aware of various strategies to maximize their return on investment. Realty receivables are valuables assets which can be sold in whole or part to obtain additional investment funds.

When sellers provide private real estate financing they must adhere to state and federal laws. Buyers who enter into seller carry back mortgages should be prepared to provide a minimum down payment of 10-percent for residential real estate and up to 30-percent for commercial real estate.

Rarely do sellers carry back 100-percent of financing. In most cases, sellers carry between 10- and 50-percent of the purchase price and require buyers to obtain a conventional loan for the balance. When sellers offer full financing, real estate contracts typically extend for three to five years to allow buyers time to establish or improve their FICO score.

Sellers who engage in real estate financing must engage in due diligence by obtaining a current credit report and background check of potential buyers. Financial experts recommend working with buyers who possess a FICO score of at least 600. This is especially important if sellers plan to sell land contracts to a real estate investor at a later date.

The majority of buyers who seek out seller carry back mortgage arrangements are usually credit challenged. When sellers offer short term financing they provide buyers with the opportunity to clear derogatory credit by making mortgage payments on time. However, working with poor credit buyers can lead to eviction or foreclosure.

When investors purchase real estate notes and land contracts they must give careful consideration to risk factors of poor credit buyers. Investors generally offer less money to purchase real estate notes when buyers have low credit scores.

Another factor to consider when offering seller carry back financing is real estate contracts must comply with state usury laws. Usury laws regulate the amount of interest which can be charged against private loans. Private lenders are required to assess a lower rate of interest than mortgage lenders.

Charging a higher rate of interest is a criminal offense and can result in incarceration. When offering seller carry back financing be certain to understand usury laws and lending limits. State interest regulations can be located at UsuryLaw.com.

Sell Real Estate Note: Facts for Note Holders and Investors

People sell real estate note contracts for many reasons, but the most common is to obtain lump sum cash. Real estate notes are typically a valuable asset that can provide note holders with funds to pay off credit card debt or take advantage of a profitable investment opportunity.

Note holders can elect to sell real estate note in whole or part. In order to complete the sale, a new note is created to record the transfer and assign buyer rights and submitted through local courts. Depending on the state, note holders may also be required to submit sale agreements, letter of intent to purchase, or purchase contracts.

The type of document required will depend on the property being sold or transferred. Residential and commercial real estate is secured with a mortgage note. Raw land is secured with a land contract. Purchase contracts are used when property owners sell real estate that is under a lease option or seller carry back financing contract.

Seller carry back trust deeds are often partially sold so the property owner does not lose accrued home equity. This option is frequently used by real estate investors who require funds to purchase additional investment properties. When investors sell seller carry back mortgages in whole they must transfer the property deed and cash-out the sale.

Real estate stock purchases are secured by cash flow notes. Stocks are purchased through real estate investment trusts. REITs are conglomerations that own multiple investment properties. Partnering with multiple investors allows the group to invest in expensive properties that can yield a high return on investment.

Selling real estate notes can provide required funds, but is not without risk. When real estate notes are partially sold the funding source does not provide full face value. Funding sources typically offer upfront cash for 50- to 75-percent of appraised property value. Property owners are responsible for the costs of real estate appraisals, title transfer and recording fees.

Investing in real estate notes can be a profitable niche as long as investors become educated about the various strategies. Those who take time to learn the trade can develop a solid portfolio of profitable properties and cash flow notes. Not to mention, investing in real estate notes and land contracts is less demanding than maintaining investment properties.

Thanks to the Internet investors can learn everything they need to know from the comfort of home. Some of the more popular online investing websites include: Trump University, REIClub.com and CREOnline.com.

Investors can also benefit from joining local real estate clubs. It is a good idea to attend a few meetings at three or more clubs to determine which group offers the information and networking possibilities best suited to the chosen niche.

Real estate clubs offer the opportunity to meet a variety of professionals. Investors can network with realtors, mortgage brokers, real estate appraisers, property inspectors, real estate lawyers, tax attorneys, and other investors. Individuals who need to sell real estate note can utilize real estate forums and networking groups to locate buyers.

Whether selling real estate notes for cash or buying notes for profit, individuals must take time to review tax consequences and ensure proper protocol is followed. It is always best to obtain legal counsel to determine if selling or buying notes is in the best interest.

Alecia Charny, real estate broker with Harvey Kalles shares tips on selling real estate.
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We Buy Houses Companies

We Buy Houses Companies

You have probably seen the “We buy houses in any area, any condition and in any price range” all over the internet. These companies listed at Dir-USA.com do just that and are experienced real estate investors throughout the United States!

Selling a house is usually a expensive and complicated process. That’s why real estate agents make such big commissions (often thousands and sometimes tens of thousands of dollars) on a single house sale. And most successful agents usually have 5, 20 or 20 homes listed at any given time knowing that these houses will probably sell within the next 3 to 6 months or longer. Since most of the good agents have so many listings, it’s rare that they will spend the time, money and personal attention needed to sell your home quickly. If you don’t have much equity in your house, your home selling options are even more limited. You may have to write a big check at closing in order to sell your North Carolina home and cover any negative equity, closing costs, taxes, etc in addition to your agent’s large commission check.

Professional house buyers. We have a network of professional house buyers in the United States that specialize in offering cash or other creative terms to solve your home selling problems and buy your house quickly.

They are your best solution to sell your home fast. If you’ve tried to sell your home “for sale by owner” and failed or if you have listed your house with a real estate agent who was unable to sell your home, we are your best solution to get your home sold quickly.

They buy all types of houses. These companies are looking to buy all sizes and shapes. such as single family homes, multi family homes, condos, townhomes, apartments, etc. We buy newer homes, older homes, pretty homes, ugly homes, etc. If in doubt,locate your state and give them a calll!

Your house selling satisfaction is a must to these companies. Remember, there is no obligation for you to accept any of their offers to purchase your house if they don’t meet your unique house selling needs. If you are not completely satified with their offer, you do not have to sell them your house.

To sell your house fast, choose your state and  let them know where you have a house to sell by submitting your information and a local professional homebuyers will contact you who buys houses in your area fast

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