Other Angles For Flipping Houses and Real Estate

You can certainly make money flipping real estate the first way described. More experienced investors can make money even when the situation may not work out quite as planned. This is yet another benefit to flipping real estate. If it doesn't work out exactly as planned, there is always the option to lease option the property or rent the property out. The fact that there are options and that you are not stuck with a bad flip is definitely a benefit.

There are other angles such as flipping a home in foreclosure, which would consist of purchasing an undervalued property in need of work, repairing it, and putting it back on the real estate market at a higher purchase price. A flip of this type can yield large profits but it will depend on different factors whether this is the best approach for your situation. With extensive renovations this will often require more initial cash or financing to get the deal done. This is why these type of flips are most easily executed with homes that require minimal repairs and primarily just need cosmetic work completed.

Flipping homes can also have a positive effect on a neighborhood by the development and re-growth of a stagnant area. Renovated homes also draw new people to an area and encourage economic growth. While flipping presents exponentially large profit potentials, it also poses large risks if you actually take ownership of the property to rehab, so you want to take the right steps to protect yourself.

The more risk free option is flipping via contracts. This is also sometimes referred to as wholesaling or assigning properties. This is where you tie up a property at a discount (using an agreement) and then flip the contract it to another buyer or investor for a quick profit.

The benefits include it's virtually risk free, there is no need for excessive cash or credit or financing, you are not taking ownership so there are no closing or holding costs and you do no repairs or work yourself. This is why when it comes to making quick cash in real estate, this real estate investing method is one of the best routes to take especially for real estate investing today.

Foreclosed Homes and Real Estate - The Next Great Investment Opportunity is Here

The current real estate market and financial crisis have brought about an opportunity to invest in lower priced homes and other real estate. Those who have funds to invest can now look to foreclosed real estate as a means to generate future profitable returns for investment funds.

The real estate market is currently at its lowest point and many properties are priced below their usual market rates. Governments and banks have greater inventories of foreclosed properties that they are required to manage. Lower prices and increased availability means that investment opportunities are created that will generate future greater returns on investments, perhaps beyond other investment products.

Like any investment, research and knowledge of foreclosed real estate opportunities are important. There are some things that those who wish to make investments should understand.

1) Not every property is a good investment. Look for foreclosed properties that are being sold at less than their value. Look for homes that are in good condition in neighborhoods where growth is taking place or future growth is likely to take place.

2) Understand the financial condition of the foreclosed property that is being sold. Find out if, the price of the property is for a clean title to the property or if there are liens and other expenses attached to the property.

3) Use services that can provide complete and accurate listings of foreclosed home and real estate.

4) Have the funds available to purchase foreclosed real estate properties. Do research into lenders that are willing to loan money of foreclosed properties to qualified applicants.

5) The best way for most new investors may be to join with those who have experience in buying foreclosed real estate and making a profit. Investing in a business that buys foreclosed properties may be the best way to make a profitable return on investment money without the need to do all the activities of finding, purchasing, and selling involved in foreclosed real estate.

6) Quick returns may not always be possible or plentiful. Purchasing foreclosed real estate and homes in a down market will mean that it will be necessary to hold the properties until the real estate market rebounds. Properties may need to be rented, or improved. Those looking for a low cost home to own and live in may be the ones who may find the best opportunities to make a profit as their home appreciates while they live in it.

The current real estate market provides great investment opportunities for those who will look for the best values and use wise procedures to obtain a high rate of return on their investment funds.

More Than Entertainment Alone - Burbank Homes and Real Estate

Burbank homes provide an interesting topic of discussion. Burbank, CA, or the Media Capital of the World as it is called, is nestled right outside of the famous Hollywood, CA. More people work in the entertainment-oriented city of 100, 000+ residents than actually live in it. The primarily upper-middle class area offers a bit of something for everyone. While it is true that stars including Orlando Bloom, Sean Penn, and Patton Oswalt all own real estate in Burbank, what is little talked about outside of Burbank's entertainment focus are the many vibrant communities that make up this famous city.

To start, there are executive homes in Burbank located on the Verdugo hillside that capture the Valley's gorgeous views. Business owners, executives, and entrepreneurs call this area their home. It includes the pristine developments of Burbank Hills, Burbank North, Halston, and Highridge Estates.

Homes for young professionals in Burbank who desire the ideal urban zen tend to be located in Burbank's downtown area. Downtown Burbank contains many lofts with cafes, entertainment, and shops right outside of them. This is indeed the perfect community for people who choose to live and work in a vibrant area that never allows for a dull moment.

In addition to the executive and downtown Burbank homes discussed, Burbank also boasts of a thriving Equestrian Rancho district. This beautiful area is an idyllic community of ranch homes which is ideal for horse lovers. In fact, many of the homes in this district have their own stables.

Last but not least, probably the most overlooked communities of Burbank homes are its family-oriented districts. One such area is Magnolia Park, which contains many California bungalows of ranch and Spanish styles. The homes are conveniently located near schools, cafes, boutiques, and parks. Another such area is the Media District, which is in close proximity to Disney, NBC, and Warner Bros.

Burbank homes and real estate make for a rather interesting topic. While centered around the entertainment industry, Burbank, CA has communities for executives, young professionals, horse lovers, and families. There is a little something for everyone in Burbank.

Divorce and Real Estate - What Do We Do With the House?

Many families in America, Hawaii included, have faced an extraordinary amount of stress given the state of the housing market and economy over recent years. Unfortunately, this stress can make its way into the very fabric that holds a family together and can ultimately lead to a divorce. While some divorces are amicable and some are... well, not... it's almost a given that the process is going to have its share of pitfalls, especially where a house is thrown into the equation. That's why it's good to understand your options.

Going through a divorce and all its strain is hard enough. Going through a divorce and trying to split marital assets becomes even harder. It's one thing to split a couple cars or furniture, but what about a house? A 2000 sq ft house on Oahu worth over $400,000 or that nice Waikiki penthouse overlooking Diamond Head and the beach? Can you see how it might get messy? In many cases, the couple just wants to get on with their lives but can't with too many things in limbo. For some, their home is just a constant reminder of "what used to be". It can quickly turn into a burden and heartache at the same time when one is forced to leave their home and if the one left behind cannot afford it.

Quite often during the divorce process, the presiding Judge orders the house to be sold and assets to be split between the two parties. In this case, most parties involved just want it to be over as soon as possible. As they begin new chapters in their lives, the last thing they need and want is the emotional attachment to a house they once called "home" following them around into the future. They want closure.

Of course, there are plenty of divorces where one spouse remains in the house for the short or long term, usually at some financial compensation for the departing partner, especially if both names were on the mortgage. However, if a sale of the asset is the chosen (or ordered) course of action, then you need to decide the nature of the sale. What will you do with that nice 3br/2ba Honolulu house with the papaya and mango trees in the front yard? Will you list it with a realtor? It might sit on the Hawaii MLS overpriced for months as the agent hopes for a higher commission, delaying both your emotional closure and receipt of any financial gain.

Another option, and often the better one, is to approach a local Hawaii real estate investor. An investor will pay all cash and can likely close the deal in 30 days or less. You'll usually have to provide a substantial discount because the investor will have a profit motive for the property and will need to capture some equity, but the prime advantages are threefold. One, you will be saving months of additional mortgage payments. Two, an investor will almost always come unrepresented, meaning that you as the seller can save that 6% of commission fees that you would otherwise have to pay if you listed it with a realtor (this can be tens of thousands of dollars back in your pockets). And three, you'll finally be able to wash your hands of some heartache. The investor can also work with your divorce attorney(s) to ease the entire sale process.

If the mortgage on the property is upside down, meaning the balance on the loan is greater than the current property market value, or a foreclosure is looming, then you should still contact an investor with short sale experience because they bring a different tool set and strategy to the situation. They also will have no interest at all in overpricing your property on the MLS because they are not paid on commission. At the end of the day, you're still likely to come out ahead with the removal of the property from your divorce case and your lives.

Your house has been your home. Work, money, time and love went into it over the years. Your home is a milestone of memories. Foundations for a strong family, work ethic and your credit history were built one brick at a time. Just know that you are not alone in going through this situation. Plenty of families across America are asking the same question - now that I'm going through this divorce, what are my options with the house?

While one of you may end up staying in the property at compensation to the other, you may instead find that selling your home to a professional real estate investor provides what you really seek - closure.While the price will usually be less than market value and will depend on any outstanding mortgage or lien amounts, condition and the equity in your home, you still might be able to capture a nice profit at the end of the day. You'll also be saving months of mortgage payments because the investor will want to close as soon as possible. This is often the best scenario as it allows for the quickest sale of your property and relief of the emotional burden. Closure. And with a divorce being difficult enough, isn't that what you're really looking for? Most would say 'yes'.

Foreclosures and Real Estate: How To Buy Real Estate In Foreclosure?

If you are looking to invest in real estate and foreclosures have popped into your head, you will want to be fully aware of what you are getting into. There are however a lot of people who do take advantage of foreclosures and do so often. This is because they are very attractive with the money that can be made from them. You can make a fifty percent profit and sometimes more if you are lucky. There are pros and cons to going this route. Let's look at what exactly this process involves and where you should be careful.

Foreclosures are basically legal procedures. The way they work is when the mortgage holder will want to reclaim a property or house because of no payments or defaults on the loan. This all depends on how much time the person who is paying has to pay off the loan. Every state is different and there are different rules and regulations. You should be fully aware of the procedures in your state before proceeding.

The reason you need to know all the details of foreclosures in your state is because sometimes the borrower is allowed to buy back the property. There are some instances when the borrower has a right to try to make good on the loan and repay it. This is usually only allowed for a certain amount of time. However if you are to get into this process for your real estate investment, you should be fully aware of how much time the borrower may have. That way you will know exactly how long you have to wait to full proceed with reselling the house. That way you don't get caught in the middle of a situation where you are about to sell the house, but the original borrower has come up with the money to get their home back. Proceed with caution and you will do fine. The best thing to do in this situation is to only proceed in cases where a Notice of Default has been issued. That way you are a little surer that you will not lose out on the deal.
Of course you could also go the REO route, which is real estate owned (meaning the lender) property. This means the house has already been foreclosed on and is awaiting a buyer. These are usually the safer routes to go when it comes to foreclose property.

Before you go into buying property that has been part of any foreclosures proceedings you should take a look at the property at the very minimum. However when you do so, you should really have a professional inspector come along as well. They are highly trained to find a lot of stuff you may not have noticed. That way you are only getting the best real estate possible. Never buy sight unseen and you should be pretty happy with the real estate that you get. If you feel that the property is need of repair but it's something you can handle, than make sure you bid lower as you see fit and mention why you are doing so.

Foreclosures can be tricky when it comes to buying real estate. However if you keep in mind some of the basics and ways to get good deals, you should be fine. Never buy without looking and make sure you know every detail about the property and the proceedings before you proceed.

Green Eco Homes and Real Estate

Have you ever wondered what makes real estate properties 'green' or 'eco friendly'? Hopefully I can help you learn how to identify properties that meet some or all of these green qualifications in both construction and operation. Whether you are looking to buy green, or you want to 'green' your present home in order to sell it I hope to help you in your endeavor, and especially if you are simply looking to implement easy green features and habits, creating a green home and a more eco-friendly lifestyle.

I definitely know there are countless things I could add to my list here, but for now I want to merely create the mood of what a green home would look like. One thing's for sure, no matter how green you go, make sure it's done in a light, joyful way that doesn't impose on others. We are where we are at any given time in our lives, and there will always be someone greener than us! Green pride, should always be personal.

These green lifestyle choices not only enhance our health, but also our finances! Yeah green, puts green in your pocket!

So what features might make a property green or eco-friendly...

Usually homes are demolished, but do you know they can be deconstructed instead? Antique stores have known for centuries the brilliance of reclaimed and reuse of materials. Certainly a great percentage of a homes materials can come from a pre-used source. I know of one yoga studio that has the most gorgeous wood floors reclaimed from an old Bank of America historic building that was being refurbished. And it was free! Only the cost of removal! What a conversation piece! Just as relevant are materials derived from easily renewable sources, bamboo versus ancient oak trees.

The paint we use, low or zero VOC paint. You know that 'new home smell' we all love, usually from a fresh coat of paint? Well that's the smell of your lungs being poisoned! There are many sources of green power or at least eco choices, such as solar panels for electricity, natural day lighting via skylights and low voltage lighting for the evening. Site orientation makes such a difference, imagine orienting the home toward the sun in colder climates and alternatively catching cool breezes in warmer climates? Not only that but using landscaping to help. Deciduous trees to shade windows in the summer, yet let in warm sun in the winter. Green comes in many shades! Overall, we should seek durable, healthy, sustain-ably sourced 'green' building materials, ones that are non-toxic thus helping improve indoor air quality.

In the garden permeable paving helps guide 'fresh' water to underground tables rather than run off via drain pipes to the salt water ocean. The use of native, zero or low water use gardens not only replace a strange obsession with antiquated English grass lawns but also encourage native birds and butterflies into your garden! Green landscaping can create a truly magical garden.

Not every green home will embody all features. The hope is that we are making lifestyle choices that are healthier for us, cheaper on a daily basis and kinder to our planet.

I think green, eco-friendly lifestyle choices are not only the logical thing to do, but the financially clever thing to do. I'm no Donald Trump, but if I had two homes, one build in the conventional manner with all toxic formaldehyde off gassing materials, with my kid suffering from asthma, expensive to heat and cool... then across the street is another home for sale, essentially the same design and price except it's cheaper to run and healthier to live in... what is the choice?

The green one of course! No doubt you would choose the green, eco-friendly home. Ask anyone... Green is the new black!

Are Open Houses Helpful? - Learning How Buyers, Seller and Real Estate Agents Benefit From Them

Open houses have been one of the marketing strategies in selling a property. Over the years, real estate agents and sellers conduct them in the hope to pick-up the right buyer. However, with the rampant usage of internet and virtual open houses, questions have risen as to whether it is helpful or not. Of course, you will be the judge of that but it will depend on what stand point you are looking.

Seller and Real Estate Agents Point of View

Nowadays, most real estate agents benefit more from this activity than the sellers. Some real estate agents feel that people visit open houses just to inquire for more listings. Yes, they may look around to check the house. But it is not a 100% sure that people would purchase the property right there and then. Most of them just come in to get information in case they decide to purchase or sell houses in the future. In fact, the National Association Realtors (NAR) current statistics shows that 87% of the buyer used the internet in shopping homes. Therefore, this just proves that most buyers, who walk-in the seller's front door, have already pre-screened them online.

For real estate agents, it is unproductive and an utter waste of time. Nevertheless, it is a good way for them to gain popularity and to harbor possible clients.

Some sellers think it can put a threat on their security. There is a risk of burglary when they welcome strangers into their homes. In 2007, a Leesburg woman has been charged 34 counts of theft at open houses. Another account of theft during open houses happened in New Jersey; as two women stole luxury items from a Manhattan open house. This shows that conducting an open house becomes more of a risk to the sellers rather than a rewarding experience.

Besides, if the house is not that appealing and requires severe repair, it wouldn't be smart to conduct this event. Moreover, agents might think twice before allowing their names to be associated with such property.

What Buyers Think

When buyers go to open houses, they get a chance to converse with the real-estate agents. If they are interested to purchase the property, this will be their chance to get an initial inspection. Doing this would allow them to ascertain the condition of the house. However, in reality most buyers check the internet for listings. Therefore, shopping by attending a series of open houses is nothing more but a daunting task.

Importance to Current Market Status

Looking at the current market status, you can really say it is difficult to sell a house. Even with the rise of internet shopping and virtual homes, not all qualified buyers can go knocking at a seller's door. In a difficult situation like this, all tactics may be exhausted. Though open houses can be an added work, it might give a good outcome. According to NAR statistics for 2008, 48% of the buyers look into open houses to get information. This might just become a good reason for sellers and agents to give it a shot.

IT - BPO - And Real Estate Development

There is no doubt that IT and BPO have been a key reason for the realty development in a lot of cities. Even today, a lot of investment in commercial real estate can be attributed to the sectors, which also render residential realty growth around in a region.

A recent study - conducted jointly by the National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) and global management consulting firm A T Kearney - has identified 10 cities in India that are good for the IT-BPO industry. Criterion fro ranking were: Knowledge pool and skill-set availability; infrastructure; social and living environment; enabling business environment; government support; and operating cost. Let's take a deeper look in to each of these to see the commercial and residential growth in each city.

Rank 10: Nagpur
Nagpur is well endowed with land and connectivity to the city. Next to Mumbai, it is the commercial hub for India. It has gained the attention of MNC biggies in India. With the IT biggies making promising investments in the city, here's a list of places to invest in the city. Marathahalli, Dhantoli, Wardha, Shankar Nagar and Amravati Road, Manish Nagar have seen extensive residential development with apartment concepts finally progressing well in the city. The city has not only seen development in the city areas but has also expanded in the north, east and west.
One of the most talked about projects, the Airport, is the largest economic development project underway in India. Sky rocketing prices in the commercial real estate sector is the talk of the town in the city. Within the city the prices are even higher. Even at this price the demand has been steadily moving up with absorption around 50-60%. The logistics park has attracted investment may times over the original investment.

Rank 9: Jaipur
A blend of tradition and modernization, Jaipur has already gained fame for the big talked about investment in the city in past years and is already home to Genpact, Infosys among others. There are attractive residential projects local builders mushrooming in Sirsi Road, Lajpat Marg, Jaisinghpura, Yash Path, Ajmer Road, C- scheme and many more.

The commercial development has happened in Govindpura, Kalwar road, Ajmer road etc.

Rank 8: Mohali / Chandigarh
The tricity came in to picture with MNCs like Dell establishing their centres in the city. One of the most well planned cities in the country, Chandigarh- Mohali and Panchkula have been hailed as the IT - BPO destination of the North. DLF, Emaar and many other developers have invested heavily in the state.

Rank 7: Kolkata
With commercial development in Kolkata, and areas like Chowringhee road, Park Street and Camac Street, becoming the IT and ITeS centres, the Kolkata real estate market has sustained momentum

The Govt. Support through SEZs, IT Parks have also contributed to the growth witnessed by the city today. Locations like Rajarhat , Mahetsala have everything to match your expectation. Undoubtedly, this well balanced approach will give a boost to residential property requirements and adds to the fast paced possibility of commercial development.. Park Street as always will remain the hub and the heart of the city.

Rank 6: Mumbai
There is no elaborating much on Mumbai as one of the most lucrative destinations for realty in India. However, it is also plagued by the low supply of land. This has led to a good development of most of Mumbai Suburbs - from Malad to Kandivli, both residentially and commercially.

Rank 5: Pune
Currently, Pune property market is one of the most active regions in Western India. Developers are betting their money on the expected development in the city. Private property developers as well as local property builders and civic authorities are flowing in more investments in the city. The city saw a massive development in the past years post and he city areas is almost saturated with very little supply in the city area, furthering development in the suburbs of the city close to Pimpri etc.

Rank 4: Hyderabad
Sprawling city Hyderabad has the advantages of talent and rich realty development. Again the infrastructure of the city supports the realty development well. Jubilee hill, Banjara Hills, Ameerpeth, SR Nagar, Begumpet are some of the most popular residential destination. Recently Miyapur, Gachibowli, Hitech city have attracted developers from across the world. Commercially the city has seen a lot of development in the past few years with the hitech city attracting a lot of companies to the city.

Rank 3: Chennai
The development of the IT industry in the city is led by the profusion of good talent in the city. Nokia and Dell have therefore setup their campuses in Sriperumbudur in Chennai.
The city has seen extensive and rich realty development. Areas for residential investment include Nagar, Mylapore, Abhiramapuram, Adayar as these places have good proximity to schools, hospitals and industrial areas. Real Estate is comparatively cheaper and there is sufficient supply of land.

Rank 2: Bengaluru
Bengaluru, India's Silicon Valley, gained its reputation as one of the most preferred investment destination and still is the most known IT destination. The gardens, the climate, the Cosmo feel, the multi-cuisine and diverse culture are just some of the reasons why people love to settle in the city as well. Plagued by some concerns, the city makes for a perfect destination for the investor and the settler.

Rank 1: Gurgaon
Once upon a time Gurgaon was known for Maruti, but today has gained the reputation of DLF city. The growth of the city has been fast and drastic. Once known as the suburb of Delhi, it is now in a phase where the city has its own suburbs like Manesar. There are a lot of infrastructural issues that it has overcome to become the most lucrative destinations in India.

Most Successful Realtors and Real Estate Investors Use This Free Technique

What is the quickest path to building a huge list of property buyers with zero cost and little effort? Whether you realize it or not, your network of contacts is full of connected people who are able and very willing to help you. However, many of us make one very costly mistake, we focus on our immediate contacts, people in our rolodex that we have direct interaction with. What if you had a way to go beyond your rolodex and dig down not just one or two levels, but three, four or more? You would uncover the whole new universe of useful contacts that are also eager to build new relationships and expand the reach of their networks.

If you don't know anybody who is in the market for real estate, there is an easy way to find someone who does. By accepting your invitation to become a part of your network a person is giving you access to their list of contacts and in return gaining access to yours. Therefore, with every extra person you add to your network you are multiplying your contacts. Imagine the leverage your business would gain if you would take a targeted approach to your networking and focus your efforts on connecting with mover and shakers of Real Estate Industry.

If your goal is to sell a property, your networking will yield most results if you concentrate your efforts on realtor and real estate investors. Realtors and real estate investors always network with other realtors and investors. They always find prospective buyers who are in the market for a new home or investors who are looking for new investment properties. These contacts are most valuable to you, because they can pass on a message about your property to people who are directly connected to your potential buyers. Where can you find and connect with right people who have resource and connections needed to assist you in selling or buying a property? One site that can help you is www.MyPocketDeals.com. A social networking site for buyers and sellers of real estate that helps you target your networking efforts with a laser-like precision and quickly grow your network of important contacts within Real Estate Industry.

TV Reality Shows on Flipping Houses and Real Estate Investing Terms Demystified

The TV show Flip this House spurred a lot of interest in making money in real estate by flipping houses. However, the show only tells part of the story. Often, the viewer never gets to know if the renovated house sells or not.

How can you learn about making money flipping houses if you don't get the entire story on how much profit the investor made? Also, the investors rarely get their hands dirty and hire out all the remodeling, which costs a lot.

Another reality show scheduled for The Learning Channel, Property Ladder,* also focuses on the "rehabbing" side of flipping houses. In this show, the investors do the home remodeling themselves instead of hiring outside help. Let's hope the new show gives us more details on costs, profit and loss.

To many real estate investors, the type of real estate investing these TV reality shows feature is termed "rehabbing" or fixing a "fixer."

Flipping Houses: Terms Explained

Old-school investors think of "flipping houses" differently. They think of a "flip" as a house (or just its purchase contract), which is purchased below market value for a quick resale. The house may never transfer title into the investor's name. These investors look for sellers under duress to sell for 70 percent or less of market value. The house may not even need fixing. When the house or purchase contract sells to another party, possibly another investor "rehabber," the "flipper" pockets quick cash.

The flipper or "quick turn" investor may never even "invest" any of his or her money into the purchase. Quick-turn investors look for many "flips" to do each month and like to make $5,000 to $10,000 or more on each house.

The "rehabber," who fixes many houses each month with a team of contractors, may or may not do some of the actual work. Rehabbers who do the work themselves take longer to do a project and do fewer homes each year. If they keep a house for over a year, rehabbers can gain a significant appreciation if the property value increases. Plus, they do not have to pay high income taxes. Investors who sell in less than a year pay taxes based ordinary income. Holding over a year gives investors the long-term capital gains tax break.

State taxes also cut into the investor's profit. In California, the state gets the first check out of escrow--almost 3.8 percent of the sales price-- regardless of the profit percentage. Investors need to wait until they file tax returns to get their money back.

Investors who specialize in "Pre-Construction" also flip houses. They gamble that a builder's home will appreciate in value upon completion. Some builders require that an investor keep the home for over one year to keep speculation from harming the home buyers who intend to live in the home.

No matter what you think of when you hear the term "flipping houses," you can bet that the knowledgeable investor makes money.

Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

Effects of Mortgage and Real Estate Industry on the Stock Market

In the recent times the Real Estate industry has been on a boom in all its five sectors, i.e. Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Retail and Investment. Though there were many reports and rumors of crashing of mortgage and real estate market, its growth was rather steady in the first half and will grow further during the second half of the year 2007. This is apparent through economic indicators like steady rates, falling dollar, changing demographic tends, growing stock market and few other things.

The number of immigrants shifting to U.S.A is rising at a quick pace. It is estimated that by 2010, the number of immigrants will raise around 12 million. The demand for home ownership among this section will build up for almost 30% of the U.S market share by 2010. The US real estate industry is going nowhere, but to the top.

The mortgage market is on the rise as well. According to the Mortgage Originations Survey, fixed-rate loans made up 46.2% of dollar volume for first mortgage in the second half of the year. In the first half, fixed-rate loans made up 43.3% of those loan dollars. In terms of number of loans that originated during the time period, 60.5% were fixed-rate in the second half of the year, up from 54% in the first.

The total mortgage origination volume increased in the second half of the year up 11% in dollar amount compared with the first half and up 19.4% based on loan count, according to the group. The Mortgage Bankers Association said that the increase in originations was due to a rise in home-purchase volume and an increase in refinance volume.

With two of the major industries on boom, the stock market is also on a high. Though the financial markets have been unstable in recent weeks, credit situation has become tighter for some households and businesses, and the housing correction is ongoing, the economy seems likely to continue to get bigger at a moderate pace over coming time, supported by solid growth in employment and incomes and a healthy global economy.

Given the importance of well-functioning financial markets, surprisingly little attention has been paid to Mexico's recent progress in laying the foundation for a world-class financial system. A series of quiet reforms-many enacted in just the past few years-points to a financial big bang in the making. This rapidly growing market for mortgage-backed securities is a prime example of Mexico's success in financial development. Not long ago, financing for home purchases was scarce, and obtaining it typically required a down payment of 50 percent or more for a relatively costly adjustable-rate loan. Today, a rapidly growing number of people have access to competitively priced, fixed-rate mortgages.

All the above-mentioned facts tell the success story of the role played by the mortgage and real estate industry in economy's progress.

Make Money From Home With Real Estate Investment Opportunities

There are many ways to make money from home, but few that will provide you the significant cash flow and vast opportunities as real estate. There are many different ways to make money by investing in homes, land, apartment buildings, waterfront properties and commercial real estate. The list goes on and allows you to be as creative as you wish. Below are three examples of just how real estate can make money for you.

One way to make money from home investing in real estate is to use your own. If you have considered moving but don't want to sell your house in the current market, you are in luck. Buying a new home at a lower price is now an option which will then leave you free to rent the one in which you currently reside. Rents have remained stable in most areas while real estate prices have gone down, so you should have no problem with this option. Rent yours while you can and later on when the prices go up you will be able to sell for a reasonable asking price. This will keep the cash coming in and enable you to gain money when selling it in the future.

Another way to make money from home investing in real estate is to buy and sell lots. Small lots can be purchased for lower prices and then later sold at higher ones. By selling them for more than the usual market price you can make a substantial income. You can make a few lower offers until one is accepted. When selling high, offer easy financing. You can do this by offering a low down payment with monthly payments that are easy to make.

A third way to make money from home investing in real estate is to change uses. One way to do this would be to convert a hotel into an apartment building. You could also covert a larger home into a duplex. The key is to buy cheap so you will be able to pay for the renovations. If you possess the skills to do this yourself you will save even more money. The options are endless and you will find opportunities popping up everywhere.

Investing in real estate is a great way to make money from home. There are countless options when it comes to land and homes for sale and many ways to buy. You'll also have the chance to be creative with your new acquisition and may find ways of increasing cash flow you never knew existed. Best of all, you aren't relegated to just one area so can spread out your investments in many locations. This gives you even more options and ways of seeing a very big return on your investments.

Copyright (c) 2011 Jack Bosch

Finding Out How Probate And Real Estate Deposits Work Together

Several perplexing terms in the real estate business may come up that don't appear to be comprehensible merely from their on-the-face names. If you've ever encountered probate before, it might or might not be understandable that it is a real estate term because it's utilized for different unrelated processes as well.This includes number of different processes.

The law would be to blame in such a case, so for the moment to speak, for the term probate, as are numerous other puzzling terminologies generally speaking. When somebody dies, an executor goes through probate to deal with the remaining assets included in the estate. Each state has different policies but some factors for going through probate include accessing a locked apartment or a single-person bank account. Often enough, an executor will need to process the will via a probate court before he or she can manage and allocate the assets within it.

If you're an investor or a possible home buyer and want to purchase property via an real estate, you will have to work together with a probate real estate deposit to do it in many states. You will note that the property is probably tangled up in probate court. Numerous estates will not have liquid assets, so an executor will attempt to settle expenses like credit card bills by selling the estate's real estate property to liquefy some money. Those named in the will only get cash from the estate after the decedent's creditors have been paid.

Every state is unique and has different laws on probate real estate deposits. California specifically demands ten percent of the entire home price to be deposited as a deposit, so this may be difficult if you are strapped for money. In such a case this may be little difficult for you. Of course, it is all well and good if you have got this additional cash obtainable, but it will be an issue for your potential house-purchasing leads if you do not.

In the end, you should make certain you protect all of your bases prior to purchasing a house. That means you also have to be conscious of the identity of the property's seller. This means verifying who the seller is and, if they happen to be an executor of an estate of which the property is really a component of, you should research the relevant state laws appropriately in this regard.

Marietta Foreclosed Homes and Real Estate Market

Marietta foreclosed homes are still in demand among many interested home buyers. There are signs of recovery in the real estate market of Georgia and the market of this city is also coming out of recession.

There are numerous homes for sale available in the city of Marietta and the number of the foreclosed properties is also quite positive. In fact, Marietta is among those cities, which are bouncing back positively from the impact of recession and providing several excellent opportunities for the buyers and investors.

You can understand the positive growth of Marietta real estate market from the following facts. According to a report published by authentic source, the average selling price of a home in Marietta was $255,900 in 2009.

However, in 2008, the price of homes for was $288,600 on an average, which means there was a drop of 11.3% in 2009. However, the present average price for properties in the city is more than $347,250, which is quite impressive. It implies that the prospects of buying homes or investing in the properties of Marietta can provide you a profitable deal.

Like many other parts of the nation, the effect of recession on Georgia real estate was comparatively less. There is a good sign of fast recovery in several key centers of Georgia, like the Cobb County. Therefore, the prospects of purchasing homes and investing in real estate have increased in Marietta. Buyers are finding this market more attractive with low rate of interest, low tax credits and low prices.

Moreover, the investment opportunities in the market of metropolitan Atlanta area and Marietta homes for sale is big. The price value of the properties available in this market is one of the major factors that drive the home buyers.

Homes for sale in Marietta or neighboring Kennesaw are quite less in comparison to the other large cities of the nation. The price of the properties can be up to the millions, but the average price is around $350,000.

The average age of these properties is fifteen years, which makes them suitable for purchase. The relationship of value and price of the homes for sale is fabulous in the city. Moreover, the income average of individuals matches well with the averages of the nation, and hence the city makes a suitable location to call home.

Why buying Marietta foreclosed homes or other real estate properties is a good choice? The location is absolutely fantastic as it is among the largest suburban areas in the Atlanta metro area.

From the location of Atlanta city limits, Marietta is based within 15 miles distance. It provides the residents with easy access to various recreational facilities along with other essentials such as schools, parks, medical facilities, entertainment centers and a lot more.

The city is a preferred location to buy homes among the first time buyers along with the young professionals and families. Some of the available varieties of Marietta real estate properties include single family homes, condos, town homes, lofts, etc.

Tips for Investing in Foreclosed and Real Estate Owned Property

If you play your cards right, investing in foreclosed properties can be a very profitable venture. Although it's not quite as simple as the late-night infomercials lead you to believe, the following tips can help you prepare for what lies ahead.

Before property is labeled "Foreclosed" it must first be placed for sale through a real estate auction. In order to purchase property through the foreclosure auction, individuals must place a minimum bid equal to the amount of the loan balance, along with any other costs associated with the process, such as accrued interest and attorney fees.

Typically, foreclosed real estate is sold "as is". Occasionally, the ex-homeowner may still reside in the home and individuals who purchase the property will have to deal with having them evicted. This is not a pleasant experience, so conduct research on any foreclosed property you are interested in to determine if the home is vacant or occupied.

If your bid is accepted, it will be your responsibility to pay-off any liens and/or back taxes attached to the property. You will also be responsible for taking care of necessary repairs or renovations.

While it is true foreclosed property can yield a good return on your investment, it is imperative you engage in due diligence. Learn as much about the property as possible before placing your bid at auction. Keep in mind much of the real estate placed on the auction block is not worth the amount owed on the note. Therefore, you want to look for properties that do not have tax or creditor liens attached or those in need of extensive repairs or renovations.

If the foreclosed property is not sold through auction, it is returned to the mortgage company, who returns it to the bank. At this point, foreclosed property becomes real estate owned (REO) property.

Once foreclosed real estate becomes bank owned, the mortgage note no longer exists. Generally, the bank will negotiate with lien holders to remove or reduce liens placed against the property. They will also take care of evicting individuals still residing in the home. Occasionally, they will invest in repairs and renovations.

REO properties are frequently listed on bank websites. Included will be the name of the contact person, along with their phone number or e-mail address. Prior to contacting the specialist, thoroughly investigate the property and conduct research on the market value of other homes in the area where the foreclosed home is located.

If possible, obtain estimates to determine the cost of repairs or renovations. If you plan to do the work yourself, determine the length of time it will take to complete the repairs along with the cost of materials.

Keep in mind banks are just like any other business. Their eyes are on the bottom line. If you want a good deal on an REO foreclosed property, make a respectable offer and leave room for negotiation. More often than not, the bank will respond to your original offer with a counter-offer. You may have to submit several counter-offers to obtain the price you want. Be persistent and remember, virtually everything in a real estate transaction is negotiable.

Not every foreclosed property will be a good deal. You will probably have to sort through quite a bit of rubbish in order to find your diamond. But, it can and does happen and there's no reason you can't grab your slice of the real estate pie.

Weehawken NJ: The Lay of the Land and Real Estate Market

Weehawken is a township in Hudson County totaling 1.5 square miles in size. Its close proximity to New York is why it is considered part of the New York metropolitan area. Manhattan can easily be reached through the nearby Lincoln Tunnel or the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail station that provides service to Port Imperial and Lincoln Harbor with ferries running to Manhattan. The Light Rail also runs to Hoboken Terminal where commuters can transfer to the PATH train offering a quick train ride to lower or midtown Manhattan.

Weehawken overlooks midtown Manhattan as it is along the western shore of the Hudson River, and the south end of the New Jersey Palisades. Weehawken Cove is in the southeast corner and boarders Hoboken, and its north boundary is shared with West New York. Boulevard East is a scenic street running along the Hudson River with an amazing view of the New York skyline.

Weehawken's main commercial district is located along Park Avenue which boarders Union City. There are also small shops and commercial facilities scattered throughout the town. There are townhouses and office buildings constructed along the Hudson River. Zoning laws in Weehawken prohibit building high rises that would obstruct the views from established buildings.

Weehawken's residential areas are divided into four neighborhoods, Downtown, The Heights, Uptown and The Waterfront.

The latest data on the local Weehawken NJ real estate market are a bit more encouraging than that of most of the national housing market.

While most major markets around the country have slipped into a "double dip" in home prices at the start of 2011, the median home sale price for Weehawken NJ for the three months ended February was $525,000, or 1.0% higher than the same period one year ago.

The median listing price for the 99 Weehawken NJ homes for sale is currently at $720,742 as of March 2.

Though far outstripping the median sales price, this level is 2.3% below the average listing price this same time last year.

Bottom line? The combination of still reasonable price levels, very low mortgage rates by historical standards and the steadily improving macroeconomy makes this an increasingly opportune time for investors or homeowners to step into the market.

Whether a longtime tri-state area resident or someone looking to relocate to the New York metro area, Weehawken is an affordable and livable option with access to all that the city of New York has to offer.

Interview Questions to Ask When Selling a Home and Real Estate Marketing Strategies

HOW TO INTERVIEW YOUR SELECTED AGENT(S)

Top Ten Real Estate Interview Questions 

1. Has the agent priced your home correctly with a thorough market evaluation?  
Correct pricing of your home is the key to getting the best results and is a direct indication of the agent's knowledge of the area, current market conditions and your property.  

2. What will the agent do to market your home?   
(See Our RECOMMENDED MARKETING section below.)  

3. What is their level of experience? How do they handle offers and multiple offers?  

4. Can they show you client testimonials or referral contacts?  

5. Who will you be speaking with during your transaction - the agent or their assistants and how and when will they be providing feedback and communication regarding your sale?  

6. How will they help you in preparing your home for sale and if necessary staging your home for sale?  

7. Who do they recommend for your termite, roof and property inspections and why? How do they handle all the disclosures,  have they ever been sued or taken to arbitration in a real estate transaction?  

8. What is their commission rate and what is the rate broken down between the listing agent and the buyer's agent? Verify that the rate being offered on the MLS is competitive with the competition on the market and of course get it in writing when you sign a listing agreement.  

9. How long do they think it will take to sell your home and close escrow?  

10. Have you made them aware of any additional concerns you might have such as pet concerns, attached items that you want to remove or take with you, or timing of your move in relation to selling your home?  

Note:  
An initial brief interview by phone or e-mail prior to selection of agents to interview in person can save a lot of time and energy. 

When you have selected a real estate agent or several agents to interview for the job of selling your home or investment property we recommend that all parties that have an interest in the property be present during the interview(s). It is very important that the real estate agent be able to communicate effectively with all parties and the decision on the right real estate agent for the job must typically meet with the approval of all owners. 

RECOMMENDED REAL ESTATE  MARKETING AGENT AND SELLER MUST HAVES FOR BEST RESULTS: 

• Assist you with proper preparation and staging of home for sale.
• Price your home correctly.
• Place/list your our home on the MLS (multiple listing service) with multiple photos and preferably a virtual tour as well.
• Professional color brochures.
• Yard signs with a brochure box.
• Computerized lock box.
• Open houses (at least one every 3 weeks).
• Exposure on major internet websites.

ALSO LIKE TO SEE:  

* Area Broker Tours, Office Tour  
* Newspaper, Real Estate Magazine Advertising  
* Real estate agent website advertising  
* Real estate agent and client networking  
* Agent Prospecting for potential buyers  

Selecting the Right Real Estate Agent:
After interviewing the real estate agent(s) if the decision is obvious and you feel comfortable with working with the agent, communication is excellent between all parties and all your concerns have been addressed, go ahead and make the decision to work with the agent.   

If it is a close decision between two or more agents, you can always use the Ben Franklin approach by noting the advantages and disadvantages of working with each and seeing which one stands out as the best after weighing out the decision and choosing the one that best meets with your criteria.   If you do not feel good about working with any of the agents interviewed, keep looking!   While selling your home can be stressful, you want to work with someone you can count on to help you make the right decisions with more peace of mind.    

Look for experience, focus, dedication to your best interests, and outstanding marketing, negotiation and communication skills,  knowledge of the area, current market conditions and your property.  

How to Buy Foreclosure Homes - A Real Estate Investment Opportnuity

Foreclosure filings against homeowners have increased dramatically in the last few months.

In some areas, this increase is 30-40% higher than it was last year. Experts say that foreclosures have doubled over the last three years in many places.

Homeowners have struggled to cope with high prices, rising interest rates, and mortgages that are adjusting. This is the fallout.

Over the past few years, mortgage lenders devised many new loans to help buyers afford homes. "1.00% MORTGAGES!!" "$800/MO FOR A $300,000 HOME!!"

Buyers came out in record numbers. 100% financing and record-low interest rates helped some people who previously could not afford homes, become homeowners, and that helped stimulate the most incredible real estate explosion on record.

In Nevada, where I live, nearly 62% of all mortgages are interest-only and ARMs. We are second only to California. However, today interest rates are higher. Combine this with a soft real estate market and you now have a squeeze on homeowners who are struggling to make the higher payments on adjustable-rate mortgages or are forced to refinance their loans to attempt to lower their payments.

For example: Let's say you did 80% financing on a $300,000 home in 2004 and you did a 3 Year ARM at 5.000% with a margin of 2.75%. Your mortgage payment was $1250 per month. It was tight but you figured you could afford it.

When that loan adjusts this year (margin + current index) you could be facing an adjustment to 8.000%. This would increase your payment to $2000 per month. You cannot afford your home any longer.

Sure, you can refinance it and maybe only increase your payment by $100-$200 per month from the $1250 but what if life circumstances have changed? Like your credit is not as good? You may have a lot of equity so you are still OK, but what happens in a slower market where you are not gaining much? Or you have removed all of your equity through a credit line? Or your home has depreciated since that purchase? The slower real estate market compounds the problem.

In recent years, homeowners with risky mortgages could take advantage of the rising value of their homes by refinancing at lower rates. Or by selling.

With housing prices stabilizing or decreasing, the refinancing option is not available. With a vastly inflated inventory of houses on the market and a 30% sales decline from last year, selling is not as viable an option. Quite simply, rising interest rates and decreasing home values spell disaster.

In 2003, when the market was on fire, the amount of 30 day delinquencies was half what it is today. Foreclosures are much more common today and many experts believe they are going to increase substantially in the coming years.

OK, so what does this mean to you and your buyers? OPPORTUNITY!!!!

Buying a property out of the foreclosure market is one of the best opportunities available in all of real estate. However, it is not easy and takes a lot of work.

It's not unusual to save from 10 to 30 percent of the market value on a foreclosure property if you know where to look.

However, don't be lured into thinking this is a get-rich quick scheme. Most foreclosed properties sell for less than 5% off market value. The key is research, preparation, patience and persistence.

Experts say that the investors who do best in the foreclosure market spend 30 - 40 hours per week working it.

There are many internet websites like http://www.realtytrac.com that detail these properties and you can also get a list of properties going into default from the marketing rep at your preferred title company.

There are many different stages to the foreclosure process but two are most important to you.

The first is notice-of-default (NOD). This is when the lender notifies the borrower that a default has occurred and that legal actions COULD proceed. This is very early in the process. Once you get an NOD you probably have a few months to cure the default before you are actually foreclosed on. This is the best place for you as an investor to try and get the property with the best possible discount.

The next is notice of trustee sale (NTS). This is much more serious. This means the lender has set a date to sell your home at a public auction. As an investor, you will have to bid against the competition.

The margins here are much tighter and you need to have much more knowledge about the property, its value, and its potential before moving forward. The investing window of opportunity opens the day the Lis Pendens, the notice that a legal action is pending, is filed. The window closes the day the property is sold at auction.

The time between these two events enables an investor to work with the homeowner and lender to create a workout strategy or a purchase of the property from the homeowner before the sale date.

The amount of time the window remains open depends solely on state and local laws, as well as the behavior of the property owner. Most states sell properties within 90-120 days from the first notice of default.

There are many books and internet sites that tell you how the many different ways to buy pre and bank-owned foreclosure properties. For the purpose of this newsletter, let's stick with the most profitable method. The pre-foreclosure.

Let's examine the best way to try and get you or your client a home at a serious discount.

Here is what you need to do:

Get pre-qualified for a loan so that you can act quickly if you find a property.

Find out what properties are in default through one of the websites like realtytrac.com or through your preferred title company.

Evaluate these properties and narrow your selections based on most possible return.

Contact the homeowner. Inspect the property thoroughly and the default loan documents.

Determine the homeowner's needs...does he need quick cash or to simply get out?

Know all of the liens on the property and the payoffs that a purchase will require.

Calculate your selling price and the potential profit based on current market conditions.

Negotiate with the lender, the owner and any lien holders.

Close the deal, repair as necessary and sell for profit!!

This is much easier said then done. Keep in mind, the homeowner is being slammed with letters from the bank, attorneys, and bill collectors. Some may even be showing up at his door.

You are not alone in this idea. There are other investors like you contacting him as well. You all have three ways to contact him. In person, by mail or by phone.

You have to understand, many people being foreclosed on become upset with the amount of negative contact so they are not in a very responsive position to listen to what you have to say.

It's best to start with mailings. Let the homeowner know that you are interested in his financial problem, you have a solution and as a real estate investor, you specialize in homes in his area. Let the homeowner know in your mailing that you can help him stop this foreclosure, possibly still save his credit, and maybe even get him some additional cash.

Be creative and different with the mailing! A former client of mine used to send a $50 bill to each pre-foreclosure property owner with a simple note that basically said, "I care about what you are going through. Please find $50 to help out. When you call me to thank me, let's discuss some ways I can help further." It was expensive, but brilliant and it worked! I shared this with a 27-year-old investor I work with and he has been having success doing the same thing.

After you send this first letter out, don't be overly aggressive. Give the borrower a few weeks and then follow up by mail or phone. As you get closer to the auction date, stress the urgency. Always stress that you want to help.

Always be courteous and understanding. This person is facing one of the most difficult financial challenges of their life and they are being completely overwhelmed by attorneys and creditors. You need to be the "savior," not another person hounding him.

All you want to do for now is get a meeting to determine if he is even a candidate for your assistance. When you get your meeting, make sure the homeowner has all of his loan, mortgage and insurance documents available, as well as the foreclosure notices.

You need to carefully review these to determine profit potential. If you are going to make an offer on the property, you must have the loan, ownership, and debt or lien information. You must also assess the condition of the property.

Combined with the market value and the default amount, you have all the ingredients necessary to formulate your offer. Some investors in foreclosures even make the very courageous move of visiting the property in person without an appointment. One of my investor clients firmly believes in going door-to-door.

However, you have to be prepared as you may end up meeting with an angry homeowner who doesn't appreciate you showing up at his door. Be polite and leave if you are asked to. Never, under any circumstance, snoop around, inspect or generally trespass unlawfully on somebody's property. You are there to be a "savior," not a snoop.

When you finally get your meeting, you need to quickly assess the needs of the homeowner. Is he looking to save his credit? Is he looking for cash? Does he just want to be bailed out? Is he on the verge of bankruptcy? Is there something else he fears? Does he want to stay in the home on a rent-back basis until he can get his feet on the ground?

If you meet his needs, he will be much more receptive to your offer.

Inspect the property with the homeowner as you were a home inspector. Use an inspection checklist and record your information and estimated costs of repair.

Many owners of homes that go into foreclosure have been struggling financially for a while before they give up. This likely means the house has not received needed repairs or general maintenance for a while. Experts say to NEVER make an offer at this point or give the homeowner any money.

If you like the property and think you want it, make an appointment to meet with him again, go home, crunch the numbers, analyze all of the liens and payoffs, and come back with your offer. Make sure you factor in all closing costs before determining this price.

These homeowners are not as likely as savvy as you. They are also very skeptical. Changing the offer once made because you made a calculation error will not come across as a simple mistake. It will likely kill your deal.

Make sure you carefully review all liens on the property that have been filed. You will also want to ask the homeowner if there are any other liens that may "pop" up later.

If you want to be taken seriously as a buyer, you must be realistic when preparing an offer. Homeowners, regardless of their situation, aren't likely to give properties away. They know the value of their home on the open market and will likely lose it before making a deal where they feel ripped off.

Experts say the typical offer is 80% or less of market-value.

Women And Real Estate

If you don't already own a home, there are so many reasons to from a financial perspective: build equity, save money on taxes and use your equity as back-up security. However, as a woman there is an even important reason, it is a tremendous source of security for your future. Many women that own real estate have seen success in other parts of their financial lives as well! If you already own a home, you should think about paying down your mortgage a bit more each month or year.

If you are married, this will only increase the value of your assets towards your retirement. In fact, it is an opportunity to become more active within the financial realm of your life. By becoming interested in the home finance details (i.e. through paying off your mortgage earlier, refinancing when rates lower or appraising the home when values rise), it can lead to taking more of an interest in other areas of your family's personal finance.

For women that end up alone, either through divorce or widowed, owning a home can provide tremendous financial security. It provides options that provide security later on in life such as: tapping into their home owner's equity, getting extra income or taking advantage of the increased value or reverse mortgages.

Since real estate prices have gone up so much these last few years, partially due to low interest rates, you might be thinking that you can't afford to get into the real estate market where you live. Well, stop making excuses! You can look in other areas. For example, New York City has become prohibitively expensive. Therefore, many people are buying homes in the Catskills or outside New York's 5 boroughs and have already seen property values rise. Or you might be thinking that you don't have enough saved for a down payment. If you don't do anything about it, you still won't have enough saved for a down payment next year. Just get started!

Purchasing Miami Foreclosures and Real Estate

It may be easier to find foreclosed and distressed properties in Miami compared to other metro areas as on the whole as the Miami economy is still struggling to find it's footing. This is impacting real estate as households find it difficult to cope with high debt burdens. Since 75 percent of first quarter townhome and condominium sales across Florida were cash transactions, it appears that investments continue to drive the real estate market in the state. Foreign investors are particularly active in Miami compared to the national market, helping to increase the competition for desirable properties. These activities have contributed to eleven consecutive months of rising home sales reported in Miami as of March 2013.

Florida Realtors reported 3,487 closed sales on Miami single family homes in March 2013, at a median sale price of $240,000. Median sales prices were up 26.3% year over year. For some homebuyers and investors, Miami condominiums may represent a better opportunity; the March 2013 median sale price of these properties based on 4,431 closed sales was $117,750, with a similar 26.6 percent price increase year over year.

Condominiums Most Popular Property Type in Miami Real Estate

Miami is one of few areas where recent condominium sales have outstripped sales of single family homes, indicating that the conveniences offered by condominium living continue to be highly desirable to Miami homebuyers and renters. The number of area townhouses and condominiums sold in the first quarter of 2013 was up 2.9 percent over the same quarter a year prior.

Miami's location also attracts significant numbers of out of state buyers who live in Miami on a seasonal or vacation basis. Between these purchasers and investors, of all properties sold in Miami during March 2013, 43.6 percent were purchased by absentee buyers - those who indicate that a property bill should be sent to an address other than the property purchased.

Top Neighborhoods to Look for Miami Foreclosures

Miami foreclosures and distressed properties are potentially lucrative investments given the annual double-digit price appreciation recently posted for both single family properties and condominiums. Between the appreciation and increased real estate activity, properties in the lowest price segments are becoming scarcer; sales of properties priced below $100,000 dropped 11.2 percent in March over the previous year, while sales of properties priced below $200,000 dropped 3.3 percent during the same period. The impetus is therefore on buyers and investors to act quickly when a Miami foreclosure appears on the market in the right price range.

According to Metro 1 Properties, 2012 residential rental rates in the highly desirable Wynwood neighborhood were over $2 per square foot per month. This highly diverse and trending neighborhood is a well-integrated mix of residential, commercial, and industrial property, further enhancing the prospects for investors interested in purchasing Miami foreclosures for future rental.

The Little Havana neighborhood is centrally located, within walking distance of downtown and the upscale Brickell area. It is one of the most established neighborhoods in Miami, and as one of the larger districts can provide increased foreclosure opportunities for buyers. Both single family and multiple family properties are regularly listed in this neighborhood.

The Miami Association of Realtors predicts that future increases are in store for the Miami real estate market, leading to increased absorption of distressed properties. New plans for condominium complexes are also in the works to meet growing demand. For many buyers and investors, this shows that now is the right time to be purchasing Miami foreclosures.

Festive Season And Real Estate

Real estate is not just any investment. It's an emotion that brings along with it, a lot of good vibes. Festivals are the best time to imbibe good values and major investments made during this span of time carries a great deal of value.This festive season many can spread the cheer by investing in a real estate property that suits our budget.

Why do we invest in a property during festive seasons is what all of us might question.

Property can be invested in at any given point of time if the means and resources are available then why an inclination towards getting property during festivities.

Research and surveys highlight the fact that the festive season foretells good fortune in the real estate segment. According to the recent report released by Religare Securities says that the festive discounts and promotional offers by builders would surely spur up the volumes that might also land in an upside of about 10% in property prices India. October and November is especially hoping for an augmented demand during peak festive season.

Religare Security report added -

"August has seen a number of new real estate projects and the launch momentum is expected to continue in the peak festive months of October and November."

This time is also good time to invest in property because a strong majority of culturally inclined people believe that property is something which can be invested during an auspicious time like a festival. Developers give away attractive offers is one more common reason. Companies give bonuses that help in securing that finance needed to make a down payment. Property prices seem to drop during this phase is also a common belief. Real Estate projects tend to launched during this phase and there is more options. Good vibes bring good options in the real estate industry.

Which freebies attract people during festival season in terms of real estate buying is a major thought we have decided to take a look at. Cash discounts, free goods like furnishing and electronic goods, fully furnished homes, Rebates on EMI and parking facilities along with club house memberships are some things that attract during getting new property in an instant.

Property is going to be a big thing this festival season.Trends and research combined with practical solutions make real estate a good thing to invest during this time.

It's however important to note that the post festive season the scenario is not likely to drastically change.. Where we saw an upscale of about 15 % in the festive season this quarter.. this is not expected to come down steeply. With the economic revival globally there is some positive indications that some sectors - real estate being one of them - would also see a turnaround from the past couple of years. The prices are not expected to skyrocket but experts believe that we have left the bottom for now & the only way to go is Upwards!

Allison Island Luxury Homes: The Community, The Lifestyle, and Real Estate Value

Allison Island luxury homes are one of the top choices for people who seek waterfront real estate options located within a serene residential community in the city of Miami Beach in South Florida. If you happen to be someone who would be interested in your available options on today's property market, luxury homes on Allison Island are one of the prime choices that you should definitely check out.

The Community

People who are interested in Allison Island luxury homes will definitely be delighted to know that the community offers such an exquisite location for residential living. It is located on a beautiful 8.5-acre island found in the waters of Biscayne Bay where it sits in-between La Gorce and Brittany Bay Park along Indian Creek Drive.

The community is connected to the city of Miami Beach via W 63rd Street making it highly accessible to residents who are hoping to experience all of the amazing options that are made available within the world-class city which includes shopping centers, dining establishments, incredible beaches, and a myriad of recreational options.

The Lifestyle

Residents who choose to live within the community can easily look forward to one of the most rewarding lifestyles possible within the region today, especially since most of the Allison Island luxury homes are situated on large plots of land which provide ample space alongside scenic views from the waterfront.

People will be able to find boat docks, circular driveways, landscaped gardens, tennis courts, swimming pools, and expansive front and backyards which are truly idyllic for people who plan to indulge in their peaceful surroundings without having to leave the comfort of home in order to experience the finest things that life has to offer which is definitely something that adds value to these real estate properties.

Nevertheless, people whose preferences call for an expansion in options will find that there are so many places that are within close proximity that allow people to engage in a variety of activities such a swimming, boating, golfing, shopping, indulging in a feast of international flavors, and so much more.

Real Estate Value

In order to showcase the high level of real estate value that people can expect from the selection of Allison Island luxury homes on today's property market, it is only right to showcase the record-breaking sale which was made in late 2012 for a seven-bedroom, seven-and-a-half bath Mediterranean-style property located along Allison Road which used to belong to Edgar Renteria who used to play for the Marlins.

The property was sold for a total of $8,325,000 which was settled in cash. According to reports, the home came with 200 feet of waterfront along Biscayne Bay, an infinity pool, a movie theater, a wine cellar, and an elevator.

Such facilities definitely make it the dream home for anyone who has always wanted to live on an island community, especially one that is located so near the happening places within the city of Miami Beach. Allison Island luxury homes really are one of the most sensational options that people can find within the region today.

If you would like to find out more information on the availability of such extravagant real estate options on today's property market, you are encouraged to contact an agent that can provide you with more details.

For Homebuilders And Real Estate Agents - Improving Your "Internet IQ"

Psst - what's your Alexa Rating, Page Rank or Technorati Authority? I know, it sounds like a strangely personal question, but performing well on any of these Internet website ranking tests can exert tremendous influence on how your customers find the products and services you sell. Given that nearly 90 percent of today's potential home buyers start their search on the Internet, companies which include "Search Engine Optimization" (SEO) or "Search Engine Marketing" (SEM) as part of their overall strategic plans are discovering that a high "Internet IQ" can pay dividends far beyond what traditional offline campaigns can deliver.

Compared to 10 years ago, most homebuilding company websites have become much more sophisticated and user-friendly. But no amount of on-the-fly custom brochures or detailed community information will hit their targets if they're hard to find, and that's where expanding incoming links to a website is crucial. For example, although many buyers might find a site through a direct search on Google or Yahoo, they're just as likely to stumble upon a specific page - such as one which promotes an individual development - through a generic search term, a well-placed ad or a link from another site. That's why a website run by Beazer Homes -- which according to the web information company Alexa has been online since 1996, can claim 300 outside links pointing to it and loads up a page in just 1.6 seconds - reports far more traffic than any of the other top 10 builders on the most recent Builder 100 list (see summary table).

But first, some definitions are in order. An Alexa Rating refers to a website's rank among the universe of sites this company regularly surveys, with bragging rights accorded to any in the top 100,000 (Beazer's rating is 32,136 versus 1,664 for Realtor.com, 4 for Google and 1 for Yahoo!). Besides its ranking system, Alexa can also reveal a website's speed, how many outside links it has and even how long the site has been online. Although critics maintain that an Alexa score can be increased simply by downloading their toolbar or using special software, it's still a useful way to gauge competitor's websites.

A Page Rank® - named after one of its developers, Google co-founder Larry Page - is a complex mathematical formula that the search engine giant uses to rank the relevance of a website based on the number of incoming links from other sites as well as the quality of those referrals (i.e., faux websites which repurpose content and feature links only to sell advertising need not apply). Based on a 1-10 scale, Google's rank is 10 (not surprising, since it's their methodology), CNN.com's is 9, Drudge Report's is 7 and most homebuilder websites range between 5 and 6 (with even a 5 rank being high enough to broadcast).

Finally, a Technorati Authority assigns importance to a website based on the number of blogs linking to it, and then ranks them accordingly. Although I couldn't find a corporate blog on any of the websites of the Top 10 builders, they are gaining strategic importance in other industries for a variety of reasons. In the complex automotive world, General Motor's "FastLane" blog has achieved a Technorati ranking of 405 - out of tens of millions of sites -- due to the 11,121 blogs which link to it, thus bringing regular traffic outside of search engines. Besides positioning GM as an automotive thought leader, FastLane allows the company to control their brand and message in a way that's just not possible with traditional advertising.

One company on the cutting edge of this marketing transformation on behalf of builders and developers is One Eighteen Advertising in Los Angeles. According to owner Michael Larson, the diversity of his client base outside of homebuilding has allowed his team to bring other relevant experiences to his clients, with the result being targeted advertising based on both geography (determined by users' Internet Protocol (IP) addresses) and behavior (profiled by the content they're viewing).

"What most people don't know is that we can target down to a cluster of zip codes, so if your buyer pool is coming from West L.A., we can target that region with banner campaigns," he explains. "We also know about behavioral searches and sites, and target ads to those who are looking to buy a new home depending on the sites they visit." Even better, he says, is the ability to follow potential buyers who aren't biting at the first bait. "I can tell if you're seen the ad, clicked on the ad, and signed up. But if you haven't, tomorrow you could be off surfing on ESPN.com and our networks get a flag that you're on one of their websites, so we can re-target and increase the offer."

If that sounds a bit too complicated, Larson recommends starting out first with a test case. "Just take one ad insertion in a new home section - about $15,000 - and I'll take that same amount of money and put you online for an entire month for an exponentially greater response." How exponentially greater? When working with Centex Homes in Northern California, Larson says the Cost Per Lead rates ranged from $3 to $5 versus $15 to $30 for traditional offline media, which is also why he's moved 30 percent of his total media budget to the Internet.

Want to increase your own Internet IQ? Conduct your own research regarding the best and worst practices for websites and blogs and how the digital world might just be the best thing that ever happened to your marketing budget.

Modern Homes - Modern Real Estate

The current U.S. real estate market is a burden and an asset to American investors, an article from Housing Predictor, an online forecaster of market trends, reports.

Citing as evidence thousands of reported home foreclosures, as well as homes that have been on the market for a substantial period of time without selling, the article notes that for a select group of investors, the time is drawing near to consider investments that could potentially turn into lucrative purchases and over time provide significant monetary returns.

The central issue is timing. Many investors are waiting to see how the government's bailout affects Wall Street and consequently influences the real estate market, but many more investors are holding out until the bottom of the housing market hits its lowest rates.

Housing prices will continue to fall in the immediate future, and the nation's credit crisis has put the brakes on consumer spending and made it difficult to obtain a reasonable mortgage. This means that housing prices could tumble even further and that investors could see more attractive prices for potential purchases.

But this wait-and-see approach has risks. If housing prices do not continue to go down, the opportunity for an investor to acquire property at its ideal price might pass him by. All this keeps mortgage companies, banks, real estate forecasters, and investors closely monitoring America's temperamental housing market.

The next reasonable question to ask is when the bottom will hit. Housing Predictor forecasts that by 2009, and through 2010, most markets across the country will reach their lowest rates. The bottom will not come at once to every market in the country. Instead it will be a slow procedure, one that leaves some markets with their worst days behind them and others with their worst days still ahead. Based on current trends and data, the housing market will make a turnaround in 2010 and 2011. But the bottom is already near in California, Florida, Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan, which means that by the time the rest of the country is enduring its hardest times, these markets could very well be showing signs of growth.

Real Estate Investors understand the benefits of vigilance and timing. For some, whose previous investments have left them in a position to spend today, the market is an asset. And for others, perhaps just starting out, this too is a time of opportunity. But it is an opportunity that will largely be defined by the vision, resources, and wisdom of the investments. Warren Buffett has said that his investment philosophy is simple: Be cautious when others are aggressive, and aggressive when others are cautious. This statement is as true today as it was when the housing market was at its strongest.

Nowhere near its peak and still growing with tremendous strength, modern design has budding interior designers everywhere excited and spending. Across the globe, more and more consumers are environmentally conscious and have specific ideas and expectations when it comes to furnishing their homes. They want products that have superior design, products that are eco-friendly and practical. But they also want products that reflect their personalities and domestic lives, products that mark an increased enthusiasm for sustainability and uniqueness.

This enthusiasm is global and has sparked increased sales for products with a keen sense of modern design. In Europe, Questo Design focuses on producing quirky accessories and highly stylized furniture. The Scandinavian inspired company Ikea brings sensibility and affordability to its myriad lighting, kitchen appliances and decor products. In the U.S., Design Within Reach, Hive, and 2Modern, are but three of the hundreds of companies whose collective business goal is offering sophisticated products to a hungry and intelligent consumer market.

Splinter off a section of modern design consumers and you will find people looking to buy or sell modern homes built with the same principals and sensibilities. A vast market is available for those who want their homes to be a symbol of their creativity, ingenuity, or personal style.

From San Francisco's Bay Area to Boston's historic outskirts, residential and commercial spaces designed with innovative architecture and sustainability continues to attract investors. These homes serve as local attractions and are often the focus of modern living oriented magazines such as Dwell and Metro Green+Business. They are places where industry meets intelligence, where design is defined by craftsmanship and durability.

Homeowners interested in selling their modern home today have key advantages in the current real estate market. The first advantage is that many modern homes now on the market attract buyers who have distinct interests in specific architecture and amenities that can only be found in certain modern homes. It's a straightforward theory that is verified when thousands of people with similar tastes buy and sell homes to one another.

The second advantage is that a unique, modern home will always be just that: unique and modern. Even when styles and tastes change, superior craftsmanship and design allow modern homes to stand out and remain marketable. This market sustainability makes a modern home an investment that will experience years of healthy monetary returns.

A modern home is in some ways an extension of the person who lives there. It is about design and architecture. But it's also about character. As someone buying or selling a modern home understands, a home is more than a roof and windows and floors. It is a space that informs and accentuates the people who live there. For these reasons, whether you are an investor, a person in the market to buy or sell, a modern home is a wise and rewarding investment, no matter the economic climate.

Current Trends In Alaska Foreclosures And Real Estate

According to the National Association of Realtors, the median list price of homes in Anchorage has increased 7.02% year over year to reach $305,000. This is a less significant increase than would be expected in more densely populated metropolitan areas considering that new home listings have declined 17.37% year over year, though in May listings showed recovery posting a 16.06% increase from April, to 961 new listings. With the median age of listings at 38 months, there are still opportunities for real estate buyers to negotiate pricing on Alaska foreclosures and real estate.

What's Happening Now in Alaska Foreclosures and Real Estate

Data from local real estate agents and the Alaska Multiple Listing Service show that condominium units continue to be an attractive option in Alaska foreclosures. Sales volumes have remained stable despite seasonal jumps since 2009, and prices on condominium units are comparable year to date in 2013 to prices in 2011 and 2012. One possible reason for the consistency in the condominium market is the relatively young population in Alaska; the median age of individuals in Anchorage, for example, is 33.4 years.

Where to Look for Alaska Foreclosures and Real Estate: Anchorage

According to Moody's Analytics, Anchorage is a major transportation gateway for Alaska, with a diverse economy that has helped the local economy outperform the U.S. job outlook as a whole since 2004. According to data from the Alaska Multiple Listing Service, the average days on the market for homes in the area was at 52 as of June 2013, a 27% decrease year over year as total sales volumes increased over 17%. These sales volumes included 82 closed transactions on foreclosures during the month. However, contracting military budgets could lead to a higher availability of Alaska foreclosures and real estate in the Anchorage area as cuts to staff lead to greater outmigration. This may help to offset an anticipated shortage in new home construction and keep prices for desirable Anchorage property competitive.

Downtown Anchorage is experiencing a fast paced real estate market, with sales in the first half of 2013 already outpacing total sales volume for all of 2012 on single family residential properties. Those looking for bargains may wish to consider areas where homes are selling less rapidly, such as Girdwood/Turnagain Arm or Post Rd-Glenn Highway.

Where to Look for Alaska Foreclosures and Real Estate: Fairbanks

The Fairbanks economy is largely supported by the University of Alaska and its proximity to desirable oil and gas mining locations, as well as a large, established military presence. These stabilizing factors are helping sellers realize an average 98% of asking price on marketed properties, with the average days on the market at 75 days over the past six months. At the same time, homes that have not sold have an average of 124 days on the market. This could indicate that properties needing updating or more than average maintenance work are a better bargain in Fairbanks' tight real estate market.

Asbestos and Real Estate - What it Means to You and Your Clients

In the last 10 years, you may have noticed a significant increase in the concern of asbestos and its health effects. As a real estate broker or agent, you must understand how asbestos can affect a real estate transactions

Let me start by answering the basic question; what exactly is asbestos? Asbestos is the name of a group of fibrous minerals with long and thin fibers. That doesn't sound so bad, why all the fuss over some fibers? Well, asbestos may be thin, but they are very durable. So durable in fact that they find their way into lung tissue and remain there for a long time. When asbestos infects the lung tissue it can cause asbestosis, mesothelioma, and cancer.

From a health perspective, you don't want asbestos anywhere near your lungs. So, where are all these asbestos fibers hiding? Asbestos is naturally occurring in serpentine and ultramafic rock. Asbestos is also used in many building materials (especially on buildings built before 1987) such as roofing material, floor tiles, piping, and fire doors to name a few. So if asbestos is so harmful, why is it used in building materials you ask? Well, asbestos isn't a concern if the building material is in good condition. If the condition of the material is damaged, and there is a possibility that the asbestos fibers could have turned to a powder, then a health problem could arise if you breathe enough of it over time.

This problem leaves the average home buyer and seller confused. What are my consequences relating to asbestos if I buy a home where asbestos is naturally occurring in rocks? If naturally occurring asbestos has been confirmed in your area, minimizing the release of fibers should be of paramount importance. Don't drive, jog, or use heavy equipment on unpaved roads. Driving on unpaved roads lifts the asbestos fibers out of the ground which increases the chance of the fibers finding their way to your lungs. Also, be sure to wipe your shoes off outside, before coming indoors. As a supplement to this practice, clean your floors often. Since children often play outside and get dirty, it is especially important to tell them to take off their shoes prior to entering your house and wash their hands if they are dirty. If you are gardening or digging in your yard, keep an eye out for rocks such as the rock featured in this article.

All of this information is not meant to scare the average homeowner. Once asbestos is found in your community, your local government goes through thorough steps to investigate and remediate the situation. For more information on asbestos in your area, consult your local city hall.