Buying And Selling Homes Online

By: Lawrence Bunnell


It used to be that, when you needed a product or service, you picked up the telephone book to find a business that provided it. Then you called to make sure that the store had what you were looking for, or you called to schedule an appointment. You finished up the process by going to the store or going to the business to get everything worked out.

This was true of a wide variety or products and services, and changed with the internet. Now, as a society, we regularly make online purchases – from books to banking, from personal care items to personal training, we buy it all online. Many of also sell items online, using auction services rather than yard sales.

It only makes sense, therefore, that as time goes on more buying and selling is done online. One of the newest trends, in fact, is buying and selling homes online.

For those who are buying homes, it is easy to search online for properties. Home buyers can search for properties for sale in their neighborhood. Home buyers can search online for homes in neighboring areas, neighboring states or across the country.

Home buyers can search through MLS listings to find homes that match their criteria: home with a certain number of bedrooms, bathrooms, living space or that are within a set price range. And, when home buyers do this research on their own, they find that they can save – in the form of rebates of the buyer's agent's commission – when they do buy a home.

In addition, they find that, by using flat fee real estate services, they are not left alone when it comes time to make an offer or to close on the property.

Likewise, those who are selling a home online can take advantage of Flat Fee MLS listings and other flat fee real estate services to save when they sell property. Unlike traditional for sale by owner home sellers, they are able to effectively market their homes – to both online home buyers and buyers' agents alike.

However, those who sell a home online using a Flat Fee MLS listing and other flat fee real estate services save thousands of dollars more than traditional home sellers. This is because they will not have to pay a seller's agent commission.

As a result, buying and selling homes online using flat fee real estate services allows both parties – the buyers and the sellers – to save thousands of dollars during the transaction. The savings, however, are not the only benefit.

Both buyers and sellers will also benefit from being able to do research on their schedule – even if that means looking for properties or creating marketing materials in the middle of the night. Both buyers and sellers will have the satisfaction of knowing that they were in control of the transaction. And both buyers and sellers will know that, when they need help, they are able to get it.

Buying and selling homes online using flat fee services – both flat fee home buying and Flat Fee MLS listings – is a relatively new trend. However, buying and selling homes online allows buyers and sellers to fit the process into their schedules and to save thousands of dollars at the same time.


About the Author:
Lawrence Bunnell is a Partner and the Principal Broker of IHS Realty, an Internet based, real estate brokerage company offering consumers online, flat-fee, 'a la carte' real estate brokerage products and services. Lawrence has been a full-time licensed REALTOR® since 1984 and is currently a licensed real estate broker in Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, Georgia, South Carolina and Pennsylvania. In addition to his role as the firm's Prinicipal Real Estate Broker, his duties include serving as the head of web application design and development and Internet marketing initiatives for IHS. http://www.ihsrealty.com/

Read more articles by: Lawrence Bunnell

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Choose The Best Color Scheme For Your Home

By: Niall Roche


Choosing a color scheme to use in one room or across your house is probably one of the most important decisions you will make when it comes to decorating. Based on this choosing the right color scheme can and should certainly be given almost top priority. The last thing you want to do is steam ahead with the first color scheme that comes to mind and then have to backtrack and work twice as hard to cover up the mistake you made in haste right?

Perhaps looking at more traditional or at least more established color schemes would be a good place to start?

The ever popular European scheme focuses on very rich, and sometimes old-fashioned, colors. These are mainly dark reds and dark gold, as well as blues and purples. They should not be totally matte, or too metallic, but just enough to reflect the light a little bit. To go specifically for a French feel, light gold, light maroon and blue create a truly French theme.

If you fancy going further than the Mediterranean, a tropical theme focuses on greens, light blues, and browns, as well as highlighting colors, and shades that bring the room to life, such as red and yellow. White also works well, as it fits in with the feel of clean air on tropical islands.

Or maybe keep the ocean feel, but bring it back home to a local seaside theme. Light brown, sea blue and medium green, as well as a sandy orange can all be used to give this image. Light grey also goes well if you're aiming to create a rocky feel, or perhaps the tone of a typical rainy day at the seaside!

Perhaps you don't fancy any of these and would prefer to go east with an Asian style room. This theme thrives on blacks and whites, highlighted using red and blue, which gives the room depth, and a small amount of gold can also be used to create a luxurious feel.

After the color scheme is sorted, you should be all set to complete the room with furniture and accessories, resulting in a room that you just simply love!


About the Author:
Do you want to avoid doubling your interior decorating budget? Choose the best interior decorating colors for your home decorating project the right way first time. Source: http://www.decorsecrets.com/

Read more articles by: Niall Roche

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

London Apartments: Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Book A Serviced Apartment In London Through An Agent

By: Binh Zientek


Dear reader, before you all accuse me of blatant propaganda for my own company, please let me use the 80:20 rule and declare that only 20% is propaganda and the other 80% is based on the truth. Read on and if something strikes you as nonsense, you can choose to stop reading or share your feedback with me.

The source of this article was borne out of frustration at one particular incident which happened a few months back. I received a call from a potential client seeking a serviced London apartment for short stay rental. When he discovered that Quality London Apartments was a third party agent and not the owner of the apartments, his comment was: "Oh no, not another agent!"

He then explained that he has just had a bad experience with one of my competitor. After listening to his story I totally sympathised with his plight. I helped him to book the right London apartment and eventually received many words of thanks for my help. But it niggled me that some agents are giving all agents a really bad reputation, so I have decided to fight back and remind travellers around the world why using agents are the best choice.

1.Good agents are like your friends in the city of your destination. Imagine having someone who will help you to research and book a serviced apartment. Then they will also help you with free support and advice of this city. If you choose an agent who actually live and work in this city, then it will be like having your own personal concierge.

2.Agents worth their salt will help you to find the right apartments to fit your budget. Obviously, you need to be realistic as well, as London is a notoriously expensive destination. Imagine if you had a family of 4 on a budget of £250 per night for a two bedroom apartment and you wanted to be in central London. Where do you begin? How much time do you wish to spend searching online, making expensive overseas phone calls/emails before you find something suitable? That is a lot of time and expense. An agent will have called at least 3 and give you the options within 15-30 minutes. How? That takes me to the next point.

3.Good agents are specialist who has visited the apartment to understand what their customers are going to stay in, have a relationship with the apartment owners, and know how flexible or inflexible the apartments will be with prices. They will squeeze as much as reasonable to fit your budget.

4.Agents are your advocates. Good agents are on your side, they want to help you and ensure that you have a smooth and happy stay. They are your representative in London, who fights for you; act as trouble shooters when something goes wrong with the apartments on arrival. What could go wrong? Read on.

5.Who you turn to when something goes wrong during your stay in an apartment? Here is a true life scenario to illustrate the point. One of my new clients booked a luxury apartment through Quality London Apartments for his break. When he arrived on New Years Day, the apartment owner tried to fob him off (whether mistakenly or on purpose) with another different apartment with a totally different décor…not to my client's taste. If my client had booked directly with the apartment, he would have had to fight his case on his own. But he phoned me on New Years Day, I then complained (diplomatically of course) to the apartment owner and presto! All sorted for him. That is a difference that many people in this age of automated bookings do not realise, is the human help. Convenience and efficiency is great, but when things go wrong, as it invariably does, it is the people you trust who will make that call on your behalf.

Sadly, not all serviced apartments agents follow this code, nor do they respect their customers. Conversely, there are also many great agents who are passionate about service, actually enjoy taking care of their clients and are honest to you. It is hard to know which agents are excellent and which are shoddy, until you work with them.

Here comes the 20% propaganda that I did pre-warn you about earlier. My company's mission is honesty, good old fashioned service and service with integrity. I am passionate about serviced apartments as the best way to travel and I really love helping clients. Period.
How can you know if this is true? I cannot prove it just by words, only by action. I dare you to choose Quality London Apartments next time and let us prove it to you.


About the Author:
Binh Zientek http://www.qualitylondonapartments.co.uk/

Read more articles by: Binh Zientek

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Checkout Your Options Before Selling Your Land

By: Christine Macguire


To dispose off a real estate is a one of the major tasks that one has to carry with due responsibility. Of all the real estate assets, land is usually the most valuable. Land plots have always been objects of purchase, sale or bargain. The number of transactions with land plots is huge and still growing on a daily basis throughout the nation. One of the dominant factors here is the rising price of land plots in the capital and suburbs.

People do tend to retain their land ownership viewing it as security that can be a valuable part of a diversified array of retirement asset. They don’t even want to face the inconvenience of dealing with rental contracts including establishing and collecting rents, repair and maintenance, and the liability exposure. Some are fearful that land values (rents) will fall and real estate taxes will increase, leaving them with less and less income. Others fear land values will rise and increase their estate taxes.

If you decide to sell your land and/or building there are several ways to accomplish this.

· Sell it for cash: Sell your land for cash in a lump sum and as a consequence you have to pay all the accompanying income taxes. It is advisable to resort to this mode of sale only when you are in an urgent need of funds and your land is the only asset left to dispose off.

· Sell it on a contract for deed: A land contract puts you in the position of a lender. As the contract payments are made, you include them in your taxable income over a number of years. By signing a land contract deed with installment sale reporting, you do obligate yourself or your heirs to paying the income tax on the gain. At times selling on a contract provides the buyer with a source of credit and terms he or she can afford. However the buyer is liable to pay you a lot of interest over the life of the contract. And again the interest you receive from the buyer is fully taxable to you. If you become a contract for deed holder, you assume the risk of default by the buyer. You may get your land back through forfeiture or you may be forced to foreclose on the party in default.

· Sell your land piecemeal: You can also sell your land piecemeal that is bit by bit at a time, as the buyer can afford to purchase it. Using this method, the buyer can apply all purchase money to principal and none to interest. Land Developers are eager to find owners willing to sell land piecemeal because the owners are often eager to get rid of it - especially if it was purchased at the height of the market. In fact, some owners have even let parcels revert back to the previous owner if development wasn't feasible.

· Consider a tax-free exchange: Exchanging like-kind property can postpone your taxation of capital gains. Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) offers real estate buyers and sellers a golden opportunity to defer their taxes on capital gains if they reinvest the proceeds to purchase of like-kind property. Properties are believed to be of a like-kind if the property acquired is alike in nature and situated in the United States. If you are to qualify for a 1031 exchange the transaction has to be done in accordance to the exchange rules set forth in the tax code and the treasury regulations.

Seeking professional advice and assistance from established real estate agencies when you want to sell your land is undoubtedly the best approach. Real estate agents can provide many useful services and work with you in different ways. They provide the landowners the best approach to selling their real estate at fair market value. With access to a large network of land investors, developers and homebuilders they are able to offer the best price in the real estate market for your valuable real estate asset.


About the Author:
Christine is an expert Internet marketing professional with years of experience in various industries such as: Business, Finance, Real Estate, Web-Design, Health & Medicine and many more. Url: http://www.uslandbuyers.com/

Read more articles by: Christine Macguire

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Do You Have A Marketing Plan For Your Real Estate Investment Business?

By: Brad Wozny Wozny


If you own investment property, you’re immediately classified as an entrepreneur and – as it’s a small business opportunity unto its own, you must have a marketing plan in place in order to make the most of it.

Unfortunately, this is one of the top reasons why statistically, 92% of all first time investors fail in 3 months, and less than ten percent of those who do will survive the first year of their investment portfolio.

Here are a few should and should not’s that you should follow:

First, your marketing plan should begin with an analysis your current situation and investment environment. This means that you need to look at what you are doing with your investment property or properties. For example, evaluate where your leads come from, how many leads contact you each month, and how many prospects you get each month that are worth following up on.

Secondly, it’s all about the metrics. Determine how many qualified leads you get in proportion to the total number of leads that come in currently. Evaluate how many deals you close as a result of the qualified leads vs the tire kickers, and how much money you generally average from each closed deal.

Finally determine how much it costs you in total to get each close deal -- that is, determine how much you spend advertising, phone calls, overhead expenses, and other costs before you see the actual money.

When you're looking at your investment property business this way, you'll be able to see how your small business opportunity is faring. If you're getting lots of leads but are getting very few closed deals, you know that you may want to make some changes.

One last point I’d like to make is that you should be tracking each one of your lead sources. For instance, are you generating the most qualified leads through your ads in the newspaper? Off bandit signs? Through your website? From the call to action magnets on your car? Business cards? You get the idea.

Once you do know where the top three to five sources of leads in your small business stands, then develop a solid marketing plan by setting some goals and allocating a portion of business funds each month proportionate to these lead generation machines.

Write down your goals for total net income, your goals for the total number of deals you want to sign up, and your goals for the number of leads and interested sellers you want to generate. Determine how much net income you need to or want to make from each closed deal.

Lastly, based on how your investment property business is doing right now, determine how many prospects or leads you have to generate in order to reach your goal. For example, if you currently get one closed deal from every 10 leads that contact you, and you want to have ten closed deals at the end of the year, you know you need to get 100 leads to contact you.

Getting your marketing plan down on paper will help you see exactly what steps you need to take in order to take your business opportunity from small-time to successful.

Cheers,

Brad Wozny
Creator, 7 Figure Profits™


About the Author:
Watch the 30 second video below & discover how you can setup your 7-Day Free Trial to find more deals, with bigger profits, and no hassles beginning right now at http://www.INSTANTRealEstateSolutions.com/claim.html

Read more articles by: Brad Wozny Wozny

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

How To Sell An Ugly House

By: Kris


Let’s face it, not all of us have homes that are easy to sell. Sometimes homes can be downright ugly and when that happens it is hard to sell them. Ugly homes can happen for a variety of reasons. Whether it has been a lack of time or money that has not allowed you to make those long over due renovations or you have had slacker tenants treat your house with disrespect, or simply old age, homes can take a turn for the worst.

One the realities most home sellers looking to put their substandard house on the market face is a lack of support from their local real estate agent. Whether you are agreeing with their policy or not, most real estate agents will not help you if you have a home that is not in great shape.

So the question you are left to encounter then is quite a frustrating one: just how do you sell an ugly house? Here are a few handy tips to help ease the pain.

Firstly, you bite the bullet and pay for a renovation rescue team. By seeking the services of a professional home renovator not only can you just sit back and let them do all the hard work for you, you are guaranteed a top-notch job. Home renovators are qualified experts in preparing a home for selling and tackle any and every job. In fact, there is no job too big or too small for a home renovation specialist. They will give your house a makeover like you would not believe, improving and restoring everything from major jobs like replacing roof tiles and floorboards through to shining your cutlery.

Secondly, you should get to work immediately on fixing up your home’s exteriors. Selling a home is much like going for a job interview, first impressions are everything and people often make a decision in the first few seconds of seeing your home. Therefore, if the lawn is mowed, the gardens are trimmed and the outside of the house has been given a fresh paint job, you’ll be surprise just how new and improved it can look with very minimal cost and effort.

Thirdly, lower the asking price for your home. It is human nature to believe that our homes are castles, and therefore we value them a whole lot more then they are actually worth on the open market. In order to see your ugly house gone, you have to concede that, yes, it is in fact not as impressive in other’s eyes then it is through yours. That means you should sell your house for what its real industry asking price is and not your own price tag. Like anything, if the price is right, there is always a great demand for it and that goes for your old home, too.

As you can see, selling an ugly house does not have to be a stressful time. All it requires is a little hard work and tender loving care, and you’ll have that ugly home sold in no time.

Alternately, if your house is REALLY ugly, and you don’t want to go through the hard work of prettying it up, consider selling to a company like asisnow.com, who will buy any property, at a fair price, fast, and without realtor fees attached. It might see your sale price drop a little, but the sale will be lightning fast, and you’ll have money in your pocket tomorrow - rather than in six months time.


About the Author:
We will buy your house As Is Now in any condition including Ugly Homes. If you need to Sell Your Home Fast Orlando, Jacksonville, Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, For Lauderdale, Houston, Tampa and Fort Myers. Visit us at http://www.asisnow.com/main.php?page=home. Call 1-800-AS-IS-NOW (800-274-7669).

Read more articles by: Kris

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Investing In Real Estate - Six Specific Tips

By: Steve Gillman


Investing in real estate should be a pleasurable and profitable activity. Listen carefully to investors, though, and you hear not just success stories, but sad tales of stress and losing money. Here are some tips for keeping your real estate stories happy ones.

- Have a top price. Properties have a market value, and then they have their value to you. Many investors pay too much just because everyone else is doing so, and then they have negative cash flow month after month. Just because others are paying too much for duplexes, doesn't mean you have to. Once you decide on a top price that works for your plan (which hopefully involves cash flow), start below that and don't go a penny higher. The time to set your limit is before the negotiations start, not during them.

- Choose partners carefully. Investing in real estate can be an uncertain process. Too many decision-makers just make it more so. If you must have a partner, clearly define your roles before you start a project. Group decisions tend not to work well, and will cause you much stress. It is often best if one partner puts up the bulk of the money, and the other runs the show. Agree to a plan, then step back if you are investing the capital, and let your partner do his thing. Of course, step up and take control if you are managing the project.

- Listen to what the market is saying. When the cabinet guy asked me for a decision I realized that I knew nothing at all about which cabinets people like. I asked him which ones home owners were most often choosing, and he pointed to one that three quarters of his last forty customers had chosen. Then that's the one I want, I told him. Why would I argue with the market I am trying to sell to? I have seen sellers paint a home a certain color because they like it. That's a quick way to reduce the market value of a home. What colors do the potential buyers like? That's what is important.

- Understand the numbers. Investing in real estate is all about the numbers. If it is an income property investment, it's about one number in particular: cash flow. Be aware of whatever the local formulas are, whether gross rent multipliers or capitalization rates or whatever. Ultimately, though just be sure that after every last expense you'll have cash flow from the very first month. If it is a residential fixer-upper, know what it will sell for and what it will cost to fix it up - before you even make an offer.

- Don't confuse investing with gambling. Investing in real estate isn't gambling, or at least it shouldn't be. There is risk, but unlike true gambling, the odds are in your favor. At least they should be, and you should be able to clearly see the outcome. This why you shouldn't invest based on the assumption of continued fast appreciation. Over time, real estate values do trend upwards, but there is no guarantee that prices will continue up at any particular rate during a given time. Do deals in such a way that they'll be profitable even if prices go nowhere. If values go up, you're that much better off.

- Do the research. Understand the statistics and information you are looking at. It is possible that the real estate agent will show you only the comparable sales that make the property look more valuable. With a bit of your own research, and an understanding of how the various numbers are arrived at, you can avoid overpaying. Many counties have made researching prices easy, with sales prices online. Other web sites, such as the U.S. Census site, have information on population and jobs. Understanding these figures can mean not investing in real estate just before the town declines.

These tips, like all others, are just guidelines of course. You can "gamble" on rising values, for example, if you really did your homework and know the demand for housing in a town is about to explode. You might pass up a great opportunity too, because you refuse to go $500 over the top price you set. While having a few rules and guidelines is a good place to start, don't let them take the place of thinking when investing in real estate.


About the Author:
Copyright Steve Gillman. For a Free Real Estate Investing Course, visit: http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com

Read more articles by: Steve Gillman

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Buying A Home For 1st Time Home Buyers - Frequently Asked Questions

By: CL Haehl


First time homebuyers are faced with a myriad of questions about the process of buying and financing their first home. Luckily, there are countless programs available to first time homebuyers to help them realize their dream of owning a home.

What is The Definition of a First Time Borrower? You may be surprised to find out that a first time homebuyer is almost always defined as someone who has not owned a home in the past three years. Even if you owned a home for twenty years, if you sold it four years ago and haven’t owned a home since then, you are considered to be a first time homebuyer.

How Much Do I Need To Put Down? Many first time homebuyer programs are designed to allow you to put down as little money as possible for a down payment. There are conforming programs such as “My Community” that require the buyer to contribute only $500 of his or her money towards the purchase of a home. Even closing costs can be financed into the loan!

What Does My Credit Score Need To Be? For borrowers with credit scores considered average or better (620+), there are programs that will let you finance 103% or even 107% of the purchase price of a home. The remaining 3% or 7% can go towards closings costs such as processing fees, title fees and even opening an escrow account for taxes and insurance.

What If I Have Credit Problems? For those with less-than-perfect credit or income that is difficult to document, lenders have programs available that allow 100% financing, usually down to credit scores of 580. Even with lower credit scores (or no credit), a good mortgage broker can help you creatively finance the purchase of your new home, especially if the seller is willing to help with closing costs or by holding a second mortgage.


About the Author:
List of Recommended Mortgage Companies For 1st Time Home Buyers - We maintain a list of recommended lenders online that is frequently updated. These lenders are excellent for first time home buyers to apply with.

Read more articles by: CL Haehl

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Real Estate Investments And What Different Types There Are

By: Louis Roberts

The idea of real estate and property is much more than just finding a home. There are categories of homes and business properties as well as divisions in the types of real estate that are available to others. If you want to make a different type of investment in something that you know you can make a profit out of, then knowing the different types of real estate investments can help.

Real estate investments begin with two major types; business and residential.

Each of these has specific guidelines set with them which will make a difference in the functions of the real estate. After you have determined what type of real estate you will be looking at, you can divide up what is available to you.

If you are looking at pure residential areas, then the real estate will be divided by the size of the home.

Typically, this will be known as a single family or multi-family home. If you are looking at a multi-family unit, you can expect to have neighbors sharing the same wall as you, such as condos or town homes.

A single family home will be completely independent and will usually be shaped differently because the neighbors can't cross the yard.

Business real estate is also divided into several categories. These will also often be referred to as commercial properties, and will range from office buildings to manufacturing sites.

The difference between a business building and a residential building is that it will change the approach towards regulations. Most likely, there will be zoning rules and the lease will have different divisions for things such as taxes and insurance.

If you are in the right area, you might have the opportunity to have both a commercial and residential area in one. Things such as land investments or areas that have been zoned for commercial purposes may have these types of regulations.

With this, you can also consider renting a property. If you want to have a business from home or want to expand into a business, this might be something to consider.

The investment that you decide to make can be more than your home. It can also be something that will bring you back profit for the investment.

If you are interested in finding a space that is much more than cozy, than knowing the different types of real estate to invest in is the place to begin.


About the Author:
Discover and Learn The Fastest, Easiest and Safest Way To Create Wealth In Real Estate For more information visit: www.akrealestates.com

Read more articles by: Louis Roberts

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Building Your Own Home

By: Scott Hubbard

If you have ever done any type of major remodeling or construction to an existing home then you know how tough and confusing it can be. This is especially true if you have an idea of what you want but you don’t know where to begin or how to start.

Now, imagine how confusing it can be when you are building a whole house! Remodeling your kitchen may have seemed difficult, but wait until you have to make decisions on a new construction home.

Building a home can be both exciting and nerve wracking. You have the great ideas of how the house will look like once it’s done, but how do you even get the ground broke? This is why it is key to find a contractor that will work with you rather than against you. First you will want to begin by looking at several different contractors and getting a feel for what is available. Generally, each contractor has their own set floor plans while others are more than happy to help you build a custom home. All contractors should have the proper licensing, bonding and insurance. Be certain that you get proof of these things before hiring any contractor or subcontractor.

Next you will need to sign an agreement. All contracting agreements should be in writing as that is your only protection when it comes to getting what you want in the home you are building. If your builder doesn’t do what you want or a serious problem occurs and you feel you need to sue, then the contract is going to be imperative for you to win the case. You don’t have anything to stand on without a contract. This is also the only way to track how the project is progressing.

When building your own home you may also be able to save some money by purchasing your own fixtures. You can pick out exactly what you want and the contractor will install it. Be sure to have the cost of installation noted in your contract as well. If you do choose to purchase your own fixtures then you are making yourself responsible for getting those items to the job site when the contractor is ready to install it.

A knowledgeable contractor is essential when it comes to building a house. They will tell you where to start, how it’s going to be done and even give you advice on where to find your fixtures, countertops, brick, tile, etc. This is not an easy task to do on your own and the experience of a professional is a necessity.


About the Author:
Article courtesey of Scott James Hubbard - A Tucson, Arizona REALTOR® Tucson New Homes

Read more articles by: Scott Hubbard

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Your Mortgage Lender: The Difference Between A Good & Bad Real Estate Transaction

By: Eric Bramlett

As a Realtor and Buyer’s Agent, the most visible part of my job is searching for real estate, negotiating the property, and then contracting the property. Most people think that my job ends there. However, if I want to make sure that I continue to receive business referrals from my past clients, I have to make sure that every aspect of the transaction goes well.

Because of this, I have to be knowledgeable about every aspect of a real estate transaction: contracts, inspections, insurance, title, and most importantly, financing. The right financing can make a successful transaction, and a bad lender can turn a successful transaction into nightmare. I have long-standing relationships with many quality lenders – I’m highly selective about who I work with, and very wary about outside lenders that find their way into my clients’ transactions.

The Mortgage Brokers & Lenders who I know and trust make a habit of making promises, and keeping them. A bad mortgage broker will either choose to make no commitments to their client, or make promises that they have no intentions of keeping. Oftentimes, this has to do with interest rate – which makes a huge difference in a buyer’s monthly payment. Imagine contracting a home for a certain price that you were assured would mean a specific monthly payment, then being told that the price of the home was still the same, but you would pay hundreds more per month for the home. You wouldn’t feel that the transaction went well, and I wouldn’t receive business referrals from you.

Good Mortgage Brokers & Lenders create deadlines for themselves & the transaction, and they keep those deadlines. A bad mortgage broker will avoid making any commitments and will not respect your closing date. Buyers always assume that their lender knows and respects their closing date. However, when dealing with unknown lenders, I have seen bad lenders close 2-3 weeks late – and sometimes not at all. When asked why the transaction won’t close on time, it’s typically “due to underwriting.” This excuse is invariably used because the buyer & buyer’s agent are not permitted to contact the loan underwriter.

Good Mortgage Brokers & Lenders maintain an open line of communication and contact their clients regularly. A bad mortgage broker will “disappear” for extended periods of time and has no set contact schedule. Many times, there is little to no news to report. However, clients oftentimes need the reassurance that everything is still on track and that nothing is needed of them. Good lenders understand this, and they make sure that clients hear from them on a regular basis, from first contact to closing.

There are small differences between good & great mortgage brokers & lenders – lenders who attend closing, go the extra mile to make sure that their clients understand every detail of the transaction, etc… While a great mortgage broker can help to make your transaction great, avoiding bad lenders will help to make sure you’re happy at closing. The only way to make sure you avoid a bad lender is to use someone who has been referred to you and who has an established track record.


About the Author:
Eric Bramlett currently manages his Austin Real Estate Guide, his Tulsa Real Estate company’s website, & his San Antonio Real Estate Guide.

Read more articles by: Eric Bramlett

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

What Are Foreclosures?

By: Jeff Adams


Foreclosures are properties that have been repossessed, usually because the owner has gotten into some sort of financial trouble and is unable to pay their mortgage. When this happens, the lender has a number of options to start a process called foreclosure. While laws surrounding real estate repossession vary by state, in most states, lenders can start proceedings after three months of non-payment.

The foreclosure process also varies depending on the lender and on the type of loan that the borrower has defaulted on. If a loan has been insured by the FHA or VA, for example, the lender can apply to these organizations in order to get the money owed. The property is handed over to the HUD or VA, and the lender gets his money. The HUD or VA, in turn, make the property in question available for sale in order to earn back some of the money they had to pay to the lender.

In cases where the loan is not insured by the government, the lender repossesses the property themselves. The property is often sold at auction, where the lender may bid on it. If the lender re-buys the foreclosed property at the public auction, he or she can then resell it at any price. Properties that have been repossessed and are being resold this way through the lender are known as real-estate-owned or REO properties.

All foreclosures are considered distressed properties, since they are homes or commercial real estate that is in trouble. Sometimes, foreclosures are also fixer uppers, requiring some repairs. Smart investors love these properties, though. That’s because repossessed real estate can be purchased inexpensively –in some cases, 5% or 60% off the market value. Thanks to the fact that sellers are often highly motivated to sell, foreclosures can also often be bought with very flexible (and amazingly low-risk) financing options.

Foreclosed properties offer great benefits to the savvy investor, including instant equity, low-cost financing, and the possibility for great profits. However, this is not an automatic get-rich-quick plan, either. Repossessed properties do come with risks, and the successful investor has to be able to find these properties and choose the right real estate in order to make cash. That’s where www.FreeRealEstateMentoring.com can help – by offering free e-courses and practical advice that can show investors exactly how to buy these properties like a pro.



About the Author:
This article was written by Jeff Adams, a full-time investor who has successfully completed over 350 deals in the past 12 years. Claim your Free 7-Day e-course on "The 23 Most Costly Mistakes Investor's Make And How To Avoid Them" today by visiting: http://www.FreeRealEstateMentoring.com

Read more articles by: Jeff Adams

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Best U.S. Markets For Commercial Office Space Investments

By: Real Estate Advisor


Grubb & Ellis, a commercial real estate company, conducted a study into the country’s top 10 best office markets for real estate investors. Grubb & Ellis annually measures 52 office, industrial, retail and apartment markets against a number of set criteria that are vital to evaluate the performance of real estate investments.

In their annual study, the Chicago-based real estate company selected 10 U.S. office markets that are expected to perform particularly well over the next 5 years from 2007 through 2011. These office markets were ranked from 0 to 100 based on 16 property, economic, and demographic factors.

According to the Grubb & Ellis 2007 Real Estate Forecast, the following are the top 10 best office real estate markets in the country.

1. Washington, D.C. Metro - score of 70.8.
2. Los Angeles County (California) - score of 70.2.
3. Las Vegas (Nevada) - score of 69.6.
4. Dallas/Fort Worth (Texas) - score of 68.8.
5. Phoenix/Mesa/Scottsdale (Arizona) - score of 68.8 (actually tied for 4th).
6. Seattle/Tacoma/Bellevue (Washington State) - score of 68.7.
7. Orange County (California) - score of 66.5.
8. Orlando (Florida) - score of 64.7.
9. Houston (Texas) - score of 62.2.
10. Portland (Oregon) - score of 60.9.

According to the report, stable interest and capitalization rates will keep the real estate market strong through 2007, and real estate income will once again cover the appreciation component. The report predicts that the volume of investment transactions will stabilize in 2007, though at a high level. With real estate income expected to soar once again, the real estate market should be back on track as a solid income-generating investment.

Each of the regions noted above are stronger or weaker on different investment factors. If you are interested in investing in commercial real estate or need office space, be sure to seek out the services of a local commercial Realtor to guide you through this complex transaction. An experienced local commercial Realtor can advise you about both objective investment criteria, as well factors unique to a particular region based on your risk tolerance and investment objectives.



About the Author:
San Diego Condos Pacific Beach Homes Pacific Beach Condos

Read more articles by: Real Estate Advisor

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Make $100,000 Per Year As An Estate Agent

By: Gerald Mason


There are plenty of opportunities to make great sums of money as an estate agent, if you use the following tips you will stand a good chance of becoming very successful in this field.

If you want to become a real estate agent there is one thing that you should have on your mind; being the best that you can be.

(there is a free ebook that shows you how you can profit as an estate agent for you to download at the bottom of this page)

The fact of the matter is that there are a lot of real estate agents out there who do not care about the industry, or the people who they work with.

Instead, the only thing on their mind is how much money they can make. To be an excellent real estate agent there are a few things that you must keep in mind.

The great thing about being a good real estate agent is that you will make a lot of money. Bad agents may still get paid, but being good to the people in the industry will pay off regularly.

So what does it mean to be an excellent real estate agent? First off, you should be honest.

Many real estate agents think that they know what it means to be honest, but when it comes down to it they are only out for themselves.

Not only should you be honest with yourself, but you should also be honest with the buyers and sellers who you are working with.

Remember, they trust you to give them good advice when buying a home. If you do not do your best to tell them the truth you may end up leading them towards a bad decision that can negatively affect their finances, as well as a large portion of their life.

Another thing that goes into being an excellent real estate agent is hard work.

You may think that selling homes is easy enough, but the fact of the matter is that it can be quite difficult.

If you do not put the time into being a great real estate agent, you are not going to get out what you expect.

As a general rule of thumb, your income level will be directly affected by how much work you put in. Remember, you will only be paid based on commission on the homes that you sell.

If you slack off you will not sell homes. And when this happens you will not make any money. So as you can see, working hard may be the most important trait if you are a real estate agent, or are considering becoming one.

Overall, being an excellent real estate agent is easier said than done. But with that being said you can reach all of your goals if you are trustworthy and work hard day in and day out.



About the Author:
Download A Free Ebook That Shows You How You Can Make $100,000 Per Year As An Estate Agent: Free Real Estate Agent Ebook

Read more articles by: Gerald Mason

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

How To Create A Great Advert To Sell Your Home Fast

By: Geri Mason

Your for sale by owner ad will be one of the most effective marketing tools that you use for selling your home.

(There is a link to download a free ebook, that gives you 101 Tips For Selling Your House, at the bottom of this page).

It is possible that hundreds, maybe even thousands, of buyers will be exposed to your for sale by owner ad. You must write an ad that stands out and calls attention to the home.

Your ad should catch the buyers attention and ultimately cause him or her to have a strong desire to know more about your home.

The heading, home features, and closing are the three key pieces of your for sale by owner ad. Perfect each of these elements and you will have a winning ad for your for sale by owner home.

Attention Grabbing Heading!
The first part of your for sale by owner ad that buyers will read will the heading. Of course, you need to have a heading that will quickly read them over.

The heading of your ad should inspire the buyer to read more of the ad. Your heading can touch on any of the aspects of your home. Are you looking to advertise your home based on its price?

Try something like “The Price is Right.” Do you want to hook the buyer by flaunting the size of your home? Tailor your headline to focus on that aspect of your home. Remember the headline is the first thing the reader to see. Make a good first impression.

Best Features Highlighted
Once you’ve hooked the reader with a stellar heading, it’s time to give them a verbal view of the goods you have to offer.

Think about the things that make your for sale by owner home spectacular. Did you just remodel the kitchen? That’s something you can include. How was the home constructed?

Most finishes other than vinyl siding are worth mentioning. Fireplaces, finished basements, and screened-in patios are all features of the home that should be highlighted.

Don’t forget about the location of the for sale by owner home. If your home is near schools, shopping, or interstates, you should include it.

Great Closing Line
How you close your for sale by owner ad is just as important as how you begin it.

End your ad with a closing line that will make the buyer want to pick up the phone at that very moment and ask about your home. As you think about your closing line ask yourself why the buyer should call right away.

Is your home a deal that won’t last long? Say it. Is the home a buyer’s dream come true? Say it. Your closing line should have a sense of urgency that pushes the buyer to inquire further.

Look through the classified section of your local newspaper to get a feel for how some home ads are worded. Take note of those that seem be put together well.

Highlight several of these well-written ads and use them as a guide for how you write your for sale by owner ad.

Once you put your for sale by owner home ad together show it to some of your family and friends to gauge their reactions.



About the Author:

Download 101 Free House Selling Secrets Here: 101 House Selling Secrets

Read more articles by: Geri Mason

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Tips For Selling Your House: Have An Open House Day

By: Gerald Mason


Selling your own home can save you a great deal of money, money you could use to put towards your next home!

A for sale by owner open house is an excellent way to get your home sold fast.

Many for sale by owner home sellers have successfully sold their homes by taking just one weekend and opening up their house to prospective buyers.

There’s a very good chance that a friend, relative, or neighbor of yours knows someone who is looking for a house.

By advertising your for sale by owner open house, it gives buyers a chance to come by and see what you are offering.

The first thing for you to do is choose a date and time for your for sale by owner open house.

Weekends are the best time because most people are off work. Saturday afternoon or Sunday are the best times.

Check the community calendar of events to make sure that there are no conflicting events with the date you choose for your for sale by owner open house.

Here are some tips for a successful for sale by owner open house:

To make your home look spacious bring as much light into the home as possible. You can do this by opening the blinds and curtains and turning on all the lights.

Pay close attention to entrance light in your foyer, dining room and living room.

Allow buyers to envision themselves in the home. If you have too much of your own personal effects in your home, this will be difficult.

Remove family photographs from the walls and tabletops. Not only will the sparse decoration enable the buyer to imagine living in the home, it will also create the illusion of a larger space.

Create a welcoming aroma in your home. You can do this by baking cookies or bread or by boiling cinnamon sticks. Put bowls filled will potpourri in the bathrooms and bedrooms so the aroma will be present in every room in the house.

Fresh towels and soap in bathrooms will give off a fresh scent. If you have pets, put them away and clean their areas. People who are allergic or afraid of pets may be turned off to the home because of the presence of pets.

Have as few distractions as possible during your for sale by owner open house. Arrange for your children to visit a neighbor or friend so you can give your full attention to showing the home. Do not turn on the television as this can also distract buyers from the showing.

Never apologize for anything in the home during the for sale by owner open house.

Before the start of the for sale by owner open house, you should gather a few essentials. Prepare a guest book in which buyers can write their contact information. You can use this guest book to keep notes of the buyers that show interest so you can contact them later on.

Blank sales contracts are necessary because someone might want to buy your home during the for sale by owner open house.

You can purchase real estate sales contracts from a major office supply store like Office Depot or Office Max.

Finally, prepare a flyer that buyers can take with them. Include a photo of the home, facts about the home, the listing price, and your contact information. If you have a web page advertising your home, be sure to include the web address.

Use these tips and you will sell your house in no time.

Did you know there are an estimated 8 million plots of unclaimed land and real estate in this country?

To download a free ebook that shows you how to claim your share,please visit:
http://www.freelandproperty.com



About the Author:
Find Insider Secrets To Buying And Sellng Your House Here: Insider Secrets To Buying And Selling Your House

Read more articles by: Gerald Mason

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Obstacles To Overcome In The For Sale By Owner Process

By: Geri Mason

Most homeowners have little knowledge about the home selling process.

Follow these tips to help you sell your home:

When you decide to sell your home sans a real estate agent, or for sale by owner, you take on the responsibility of attending to every facet of the home selling process.

Knowing the possible obstacles will help prepare you for the process ahead of you.

Setting a selling asking price. The selling price is can be one of the most attractive (or unattractive) features of your home. Many for sale by owner sellers unwisely set their home price based on what they believe the home is worth.

In many cases, this price doesn’t truly reflect the value of the hoem. For sale by owner sellers should set their home price according to the market, not their personal beliefs of the home’s worth.

Not being familiar with the home selling process. Few homeowners are truly aware of how to sell a home. The process consists of a lot more than putting a sign in the front yard and signing over the deed the property.

The for sale by owner seller’s lack of education can prove to be a tough hurdle to overcome in the for sale by owner transaction. Sellers are best served by educating themselves as much as possible on selling a home.

Managing your time to answer and return phone calls and showing the home.

Buyers will not feel the liberty to discuss shortcomings or disadvantages of a for sale by owner home. Try to be as objective about your home as you would if it were not even your home. It will be impossible for you to overcome the fears of buyers if they are not comfortable voicing their fears. Create an impression of openness and don’t overreact if a buyer expresses dislike in some aspect of the home.

Negotiating with buyers. It is likely that you will work with buyers who are specific in their wants from a home. Your goal is to find a place where both your needs and the buyer’s needs are met. Negotiating is a key skill in the for sale by owner home selling process. Reading books and literature on negotiating will prove helpful.

Buyers who get cold feet after signing the sales contract. Once the sales contract is signed, it doesn’t mean the for sale by owner process is complete. Many buyers start wondering if they made the right decision as this point in the housing transaction. Some look for ways to sabotage the deal because they are fearful of committing. Try to stay positive until the end and continue to work to meet your buyer’s reasonable requests.

About the Author:

Download 101 Free House Selling Secrets Here: 101 House Selling Secrets

Read more articles by: Geri Mason

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Realty Facts Of Home Hunting

By: Bill Riley

Going for your dream-house hunt may turn to be a nightmare if you do not take precautions. The precautions are nothing but the awareness of the real-estate market and about yourself. The following step-by-step processes will take you to the right hunt.

Know your affordability
This is a key factor that guides you throughout your hunt for the house. Consulting a home counselor will be the most appropriate in this regard. You need to figure out how much you can pay as the EMI for the house if you are opting for a loan. The professional guidance will help you to manage your funds for the down payment.

Select the right financial institution
This may include commercial banks, mortgage companies and credit unions. Approach them individually and get the best deal from each of them. Work out the most appropriate deal taking into consideration the main factors such as your monthly income and expenses, the amount offered as loan, the term of the loan, and the interest rates. Try to find out the insurance options offered by different people Getting a home loan through a mortgage lender will also be a good idea.

Find a real estate agent
This is the most difficult task as you are likely to be duped by the lucrative offers of the market. Going by own judgment is not advisable in this matter. Rather, going by reference may be ideal, probably through a friend who has recently had a deal with them. Always go for those who provide the up-to-date information on the market than those who offer you the service after a ‘research done on your criteria’. The later are not likely to be your direct dealers.

Select the right home
It is quite natural that every home you see will be too far or too less of your expectation. Don’t panic; don’t drop the plan right there. Buying a house is too complex to find the ‘ideal one’ satisfying all your demands of finance, location, price, quality of construction, neighborhood and so on. The best thing here is to prioritize the options in front of you. Make sure that you discuss all the pros and cons of the new house you selected with your family and your friends who can often detect the flaws in your selection, if any. Don’t be in a hurry to sign the deal even if you face a lot of pressure from the seller and the dealer.

Bargain the deal
This is the opportunity to show your smartness. Have a good idea about the market rates before starting the negotiation. Of course, after the rigorous house hunting process, you would be in a position to compare the quality and the price of the houses on offer. You may be lucky to close the deal for a better price if the owner is in a hurry to sell his house. Never show your excitement or urgency in signing the deal, as it will motivate the opposite party to offer a heavier deal in front of you. Present the ‘who-cares’ attitude in front of both your real estate agent and the owner.

Signing the deal: This is the most complex procedure and the last step of your home search. It would be appropriate to consult a legal advisor before signing the deal and know the imperative clauses that have to be included in the deal. Make sure that you understand the clauses properly and get the obscure statements clarified before signing them.


About the Author:

Bill Riley writes about Real Estate, Investment and Financing. Fine tune your decisions at Mortgage Calc Review

Read more articles by: Bill Riley

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

How Much Does An Estate Agent Earn?

By: Geri Mason


How much does an estate agents earn? is a question lots of people interested in buying and selling real estate for a living ask.

The fact of the matter is that there is no set answer to this question.

The income that a real estate agent earns greatly depends on a number of different factors. If you want to get ballpark figures on real estate agent income you can do so online, or get in touch with somebody who is already in the industry. But for cut and dry numbers you will simply have to test the waters.

The number one thing that determines real estate agent income is the amount of homes that are sold. As a general rule of thumb, if you sell more homes you will make more money. This is how the industry works because real estate agents do not get paid a salary, but instead a commission on each sale that they make.

Another thing that determines real estate agent income is the value of the homes that are being sold. It goes without saying that the real estate agents who are selling mansions in top notch neighborhoods are making more than the ones who work in low income areas.

So if you want to make the big bucks you will want to try to work your way up to one of the upscale neighborhoods in your area.

Finally, the commission rate that your company pays will affect the income that is made. For instance, some real estate agent companies pay out more in commissions than others. Real estate agent income is greatly affected by this rate, and for this reason you should try to get hired by a company that offers competitive rates.

Overall, real estate agent income is based on a number of different factors. If you are interested in becoming a real estate agent you should know that you can make a lot of money. But remember, your income is based on the factors listed above.


About the Author:
Find Insider Secrets To Buying And Sellng Your House Here: Insider Secrets To Buying And Selling Your House

Read more articles by: Geri Mason

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

How To Find Business As An Estate Agent In Good Times And Bad

By: Geri Mason

Are you a real estate agent?

If so, you know just how important it is to have many houses for sale at the same time.

Follow these tips and you should not be short of business

After all, the more homes that you are listing the better chance you have of making a lot of money. Remember, you will not earn a salary so it is important that you list as many homes as you can on a regular basis. But with that in mind, there is one very important question that you must answer. How are you going to find business as a real estate agent?

If you work for a good real estate company you may have your work cut out for you. The best companies do a good job in attracting potential customers, and then setting them up with an agent like you if they are interested. This is one of the most important reasons as to why you need to work for a real estate agent that cares about its employees. When you get this type of backing from your real estate agent company you will have a much better chance of making a regular number of sales throughout the year.

Another way to drum up business is to take on this task on your own. For instance, you can start your own marketing campaign. This can include everything from sending out fliers to past clients or making your own website where you can showcase what you sell and what you have available. You may find out sooner rather than later that your own marketing skills will go a long way in determining your success as a real estate agent.

And remember, word of mouth is very important to your success. If you are a good real estate agent people who you work with will tell others who are in the market for your services. This free marketing is one sure fire way for you to increase the amount of business you do, and in turn the amount of money that you make.

Finding business as a real estate agent is not as hard as you may think. You should not let this scare you away from joining this exciting industry. Instead, find new ways to drum up business, and you will be head and shoulders above your competition in no time at all.



About the Author:
Find Insider Secrets To Buying And Sellng Your House Here: Insider Secrets To Buying And Selling Your House

Read more articles by: Geri Mason

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Making Money In Real Estate Investing: How To Calculate Profit

By: Chris Thomas1

There are many things that can affect your profit margin when investing in real estate. Being knowledgeable about all aspects of making money in real estate and learning to recognize all of the costs that you could incur with any given real estate investment will help you to choose good investment properties and avoid those that are more trouble than they are worth.By now you probably already know how to calculate how much gross profit a property can potentially earn. To do this all you have to do is take the market value of the home and subtract your purchase price to see how much profit the property could potentially make you. But this is only a skeleton glimpse into the potential of the property, making money in real estate requires that you know every hidden cost, no matter how small, that could reduce your profit margin.Some of the most obvious costs to flipping a property and making money in real estate include any repairs and remodeling that need done to the house before you can resell it. Make sure that you account for every repair. Get estimates and price supplies. Don’t guess. Attention to detail will make it more likely that you will be to stay on budget during the construction phase of your project. Oh, and don’t forget about building permit fees.You will also need to account for any liens that you will inherit with the property. Liens can include arrearages in property taxes or any other bill that has been attached to the property for collection purposes. Being able to find these hidden costs is key to making money in real estate.Carrying costs will also need to be subtracted from the gross profit potential of the investment. These include any taxes, loan payments, interest payments, and insurance costs that you will have to pay while you own the property. These costs will continue to mount as long as you hold the property. That is why it is very important to move a property quickly when making money in real estate.You will also need to take into account inspection fees, brokerage commissions, legal fees, and advertising costs that you will have to cover when it comes time to sell the property. Include everything that you can think of. This will help you avoid any hidden costs and give you a clearer picture of what you stand to earn on each and every property investment that you make.

About the Author:
Chris Thomas is a real estate investor and author of the best selling ebook "Dominate Preforeclosures," which teaches you how to acquire property in pre-foreclosure with a successful, proven way to approach homeowners and get the deal. Visit http://www.dominatepreforeclosures.com/ for more.

Read more articles by: Chris Thomas1

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

5 Secrets To Finding The Best Realtor When Buying A Home

By: Joel McDonald

When buying a home here are 5 things you should do to get prepared, and find the best Realtor to help you find that dream home:

Decide on your needs
Write down a list of what your needs are for your next home search. Be sure to differentiate between your wants and needs. For example; Do you really need that 3 car garage, or is it just a want? It could mean the difference between finding 50 homes with a 2-car garage that meet your needs, and only 5 with a 3-car garage. (It may be different where you are, but in the Denver real estate market, you'll likely cut your options by 90% to 95% by requiring a 3 car garage vs. a 2-car garage unless your budget is over about $500,000.)

Establish a "top 10" list of your wants.
Be sure that number one on that list is what city (or cities) you need to live in. This will be paramount in how you go about finding the best Realtor to help you. If two of you are going to buy the home, each of you should write a "top 10" separately. After you're both done, compare notes, and agree that any criteria that match are "must-haves". Everything else can be negotiated. My wife and I did this two years before our last move, and it settled a lot of would-be arguments about what home was right for us. When we eventually found our dream-home, every single one of those criteria was met! Sit down right now, and write your list, and keep it for future reference.

Find a Realtor who will best serve you, and don't settle for anything less
Start with how you find your Realtor. If you are "internet friendly", and do a lot via email and the web, the last place you should look for a Realtor is in the phone book, or classified ad section of the newspaper. The agents you will find there most likely center their business around the phone, and you'll find that many of them might not even check email except every few days. On the other hand, if you don't regularly check email, and aren't comfortable "surfing the web", you'll likely want to start your search in the phone book or newspaper. The last thing you need is to start working with a Realtor who is excellent at email correspondence, but slow to return phone calls. Either way, once you identify a few buyer-specialists that look like they might be able to help you, contact several of them (via your preferred method of contact), and ask them what homes they can send you that meet your specific needs. Give them a list of what you're looking for, and see what they can find for you.

At this stage, you should be contacting 3 to 5 Realtors. Contact less, and you might not have enough "candidates" to make an informed decision. Contact more, and you will get overloaded with agents constantly checking in with you in order to get your business. (This is the largest problem buyers have when calling a dozen or two listing agents (one at a time) to get details on homes that interest them.)

Narrow the list
Now that you've got 3 to 5 Realtors vying for your business, judge them based on their performance. If any of them tried to talk you into their own listings, or strayed from the list of needs and wants you gave them, drop them. They've already demonstrated that they aren't going to listen to your needs. How they get back to you is also important. If you are a "phone person" who only checks email every few days, why not deal with a Realtor who is willing to call you whenever they find a home that meets your needs. If you like to look on the web, make sure your Realtor is willing to email you every day (and make sure that they're ONLY emailing you properties that meet your specific needs.) This step usually narrows your list to one or two agents, and the choice will likely be an easy one after an initial meeting with them. Once you have met with them, have a discussion about "exclusive agency". When you have that discussion, be sure they have a "cancel anytime" policy. If they aren't 100% satisfied that you will be happy with their performance, why should you be?

If you're not moving for several months (or even a year), it's that much more important that you get in touch with 3 to 5 Buyer Agents. If they're not willing to invest their time in educating you on the market, they're not serious about their business. Odds are that if you start with half a dozen Realtors in January, only 1 or 2 will still be in touch come June or July. Those agents are the ones you want working on your side. The rest will simply weed themselves out for you.

Get out and start looking!
Once you've identified a handful of homes that interest you, contact the agent you've decided to work with and start looking! No amount of pictures and virtual tours can substitute for getting out with your agent and actually looking, touching, and feeling the homes you might one day be moving into. By giving your agent the assurance that you're ONLY working with them, they'll clear their calendar for you whenever you want to look at homes, and since you've got a "cancel anytime" agreement with your agent, you can get rid of them if it turns out they're not as great an agent as you initially thought they were.

About the Author: Joel McDonald is the owner of Benchmark Realty - specializing in Boulder CO real estate and Gunbarrel CO real estate.

Read more articles by: Joel McDonald

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Guide To Getting A Good Rate On A Home Mortgage

By: Patricia Lewis

Getting a home mortgage is the first step in purchasing a home, and it can help to create a solid credit history for the borrower. Finding a good rate on a home mortgage is important so that monthly payments can be made easily, and over time, can help establish a stronger credit standing or credit rating.Getting a good rate on a home mortgage involves a variety of factors. These include working with a good lender or mortgage broker, doing some research or homework beforehand to be prepared for negotiation, securing assets and other personal property in case collateral is needed, getting a co-signer to boost the credit score, and improving the credit score to meet a lender’s standards.Reducing credit card debt and other monthly payments will help significantly in securing a good rate for the home mortgage. Lenders look at these key criteria before approving the loan, and the less outstanding debt or payments a borrower has, the higher the chances of getting a good competitive rate.Improving the credit score is important for many reasons. When a lender requests the credit check, they will look for a credit score of 650 or above for the best rates; 680 or above is ideal. If a borrower can improve this by paying down outstanding credit cards, loans, or other debt that shows up on the credit report, this can help considerably.It’s also important to make sure the credit report shows factual information; many errors and mistakes can be reported without the borrower knowing, so obtaining a clean copy of the credit report can play a significant role in getting the good rate. Payment history has a 35% impact on the credit score, outstanding credit card balances have a 30% impact, and the remainder are from other factors detailed on the credit report itself.You can also get a good rate by using collateral—any asset that has a large value that can be borrowed against. If the borrower owns property, land, or personal possessions that are attractive on the market, this can also help increase the chances of a better rate.Another good idea is to let the market dictate when to buy or sell; interest rates fluctuate daily, and contacting a lender or just staying in touch will keep the borrower informed of when rates are in a good place, and when to wait.

About the Author: Chat with Patricia. Visit http://www.mortgagebrokertip.com for up-to-date tips, FAQ's and news. Patricia Lewis writes informational items on the latest news in the mortgage arena.

Read more articles by: Patricia Lewis

Article Source: www.iSnare.com