Real Estate Investing Courses

Another lucrative aspect of the real estate business is entering the market as a real estate investor. Real estate investors go in the market with the sole aim of buying low and selling high. In between the time when the investor buys and sells a certain piece of property, he may opt to do some remodeling or renovation to the property to increase the market value of the property that he had just bought. However, real estate investors do not just randomly buy properties and sell them, his choices and decisions with regard to purchases and selling are founded on a deep understanding of the real estate market and the skills to carry out transactions. In the same way that agents and brokers undergo formal training, real estate investors also receive formal training to help them become better investors.

Courses available online

Potential real estate investors can avail of formal training either from the traditional sources such as schools, real estate firms and other institutions, or they can avail of these courses from the Internet. The courses that are offered in the Internet aim to help investors create their own investment portfolio whether they are beginners or experienced investors in real estate. The courses that are offered revolve mainly on the subject of real estate investments. Other relevant courses that are offered to investors include risk management, real estate taxes and real estate financing. These courses aim to equip the investor with the core competencies in making the right decisions to help him grow his investment.

Some of the schools that offer courses on real estate investment also offer their students access to databases of available properties they can choose to invest on and databases on foreclosures nationwide. Other services offered by these schools include access to the most up to date trends and news on real estate. Some schools also offer one-on-one tutorials for investors who want a more personalized and tailor-fitted delivery of the training.

Investing your hard earned money needs to be backed by the right competencies and skills in making the right investment choices. By accessing the available training on real estate investments either from schools or on the Internet can provide you with a rich source from which you can get the competency and skill that you need to be a successful real estate investor.

Real Estate Courses provides detailed information on Online Real Estate Courses, Real Estate Agent Courses, Real Estate Appraisal Courses, Real Estate Broker Courses and more. Real Estate Courses is affiliated with Phoenix Real Estate Schools.

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Steel Building Construction

Steel building construction is the process of building a structure, using steel as the raw material. Steel is an advantageous building material that enables a simple and easy construction process. Steel building construction has 48% of the total market share of construction. It includes commercial buildings, industrial buildings, temporary shelters, storage units, churches and air hangers. The construction process differs with the style of the building. However, the basic steps are the same. Steel building construction is flexible than traditional building methods. Steel building construction is taken up by many architectural firms. It also provides the opportunity for do-it-yourself construction.

Planning and scheduling are the pre-requisites of steel building construction. The standard patterns include LRB, LR and LM. The design that suits the needs and purpose can be finalized from available patterns. In standard construction, the material fabrication is done at the site of the building under the supervision of the engineers, according to the custom design. Now, pre-engineered systems are available, in which 70% of the system fabrication is done in the manufacturer's factory and shipped to the construction site. The customer merely has to assemble the building kit on the ground. This reduces the labor and 2 or 3 people will be enough to erect this building.

The style of steel building construction is based on the space requirements. A building permit is essential to start the construction. The foundation is the basic step of onsite construction. Depending on the weather and soil conditions, an appropriate foundation lay out is selected. Concrete floor slabs or steel base rails have to be built. The main columns of the steel frame are embedded to the foundation. The building rafters are fixed to the columns with anchor bolts. The wall frames leave places for doors and windows. The roof sheet is installed on the purlins and wall girts with metal screws. Door and window installation is the final step in steel building construction. In case of arch construction, the arches that act as side walls as well as roofs can be erected from the foundation, one after the other. Insulation can be also added to the steel building.

Steel building construction offers benefits such as faster installation, sustainability and unlimited design flexibility. It reduces energy cost and the amount of waste material. It does not require any sophisticated tools for assembly. Steel constructions can successfully withstand natural pressures such as earthquakes, severe cold or hurricanes. New innovations in the color code and accessories will add to the aesthetics of steel building construction.

Steel Buildings provides detailed information on Steel Buildings, Commercial Steel Buildings, Pre-Fabricated Steel Buildings, Steel Storage Buildings and more. Steel Buildings is affiliated with Metal Building Kits.

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Triple Net Lease: Own A Property? Get The Maximum Out Of It

A triple net lease designates the tenant or lessee as being solely responsible for bearing all the costs related to the asset being leased. The landlord and the tenant come to an agreement where the tenant agrees to pay all taxes, insurance and miscellaneous expenses on the property in addition to any normal fees that are expected under the agreement. The concept of Triple Net Lease has been very popular in commercial building leasing because it reduces the owner's need to worry about spending time and money for monitoring property conditions and providing maintenance.

The basic idea of a net-net-net lease is for the lessee to assume responsibility for all property's expenses, both fixed and operating. The concept is well accepted and employed in all traditional sale-leaseback transactions for long-term lease of larger properties. Both the owner and the lessee agree upon a lease document stipulating that the tenant bears the operating responsibility for the property. In recent years the triple net lease has become increasingly popular for leases of smaller properties. While there are many versions, triple net typically includes Taxes, Insurance, and Maintenance (TIM).

In a triple net lease, the rental component is separately identifiable in the lease, making the actual net investment return clear for property owners and investors. Unfortunately there are several pitfalls for the smaller property owner in regards to leaving the insurance of their building to the tenant. The tenant may willfully damage the property in order to claim insurance while experiencing financial troubles. In such a situation the owner will lose all claim to the insurance and has no fall back to claim losses against the tenant.

Most triple net leases require the lessee or tenant to cover costs to maintain the roofing, heating, etc.- practically anything related to the building that can wear out or be damaged during the lease period. If you are in a triple net lease agreement you will be excused of all property taxes and property insurance liabilities. You will be responsible for paying your utilities directly. You can budget your personnel expenses and costs for routine maintenance and secure a quote for a maintenance contract.

There are a number of important issues to be considered before entering into a triple net lease agreement, including cost of capital, future operating performance and relationship with the building. All parties in a triple net lease arrangement need protection against surprise expenses that can occur as the facility ages and components wear, requiring maintenance and eventual replacement. Some owners reduce their risk by establishing a reserve fund into which each tenant makes regular payments. The owner then covers property maintenance costs as needed from this fund. As tenants come and go, the maintenance fund is constantly replenished?with no surprise burdens for a single tenant or for the owner.

A triple-net lease via a 1031 exchange allows the investor to get even higher returns by deferring his/her taxes and thus increasing the overall internal rate of return. Various companies provide you with a quality selection of triple-net leased properties that are ideal for 1031 like-kind exchange investments. It is believed all interests are best served by regular inspections performed by independent professionals with extensive experience and expertise in evaluating and reporting on building conditions.

Christine is an expert Internet marketing professional with years of experience in various industries such as: Business, Finance, Real Estate, Web-Design and many more. 1031 exchange resources

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Home Search Merges with Google Maps

Searching for a home online? MLS home search systems are now merging the features of real property listings with mapping features such as Google Maps.

First impressions are Wow! Why had someone not done this before? More and more services are being provided online that don't require any online registration or jump through hoops of any sort? all you have to do is click on one of many online MLS home search systems to begin your search.

Maps used to be buried several clicks away from the listings. Now, the listings are being plotted for you on Google maps first up front. You pick the area on the map you are interested in looking to buy a home and then drill down to find the house that meets your needs in those areas.

The way it works is really pretty easy ? locate an MLS Search site that features a mapping system such as Google maps for the area you are interested in purchasing property in. Different colored pins or flags indicate the city and another color pins or flags indicate the individual listing details. Hover your mouse over the pins to see how many listings are available in each town/city. Click on the pins to see the individual listings and you will be able to see the ?More Details?.

If the pins are too close together, simply change the view by clicking on ?Zoom Out? or ?Zoom In?. Click on the area of the map you are interested in looking to re-center the map.

You may find it useful to select the desired ?Search Criteria? adjacent to the map. The more information you can narrow the search down with the better. It?s best to start with a narrow search and then broaden your search to find more results.

As you select the ?Search Criteria? remember to click the ?Redraw Map? or Refresh button to automatically update the map to match your search. Clicking on the pins will instantly open a thumbnail summary of the listings. Click on the summary information for complete property details.

Although, many home search systems don?t require you to sign up, register or jump through hoops of any sort to use the MLS Home Search, alot of home search systems allow you to register for a free account so that you can keep track of your search, or get automated email alerts on new or updated listings that match your criteria.

Roman Alfaro and Randy Watson of Cowboy, REALTORS - Home and Ranch continually strive to give their clients increasingly better and much more useful tools when searching for real estate information such as the San Antonio MLS Homesearch. Visit http://www.satxproperty.com. Se habla espanol ? Agente de Bienes Raices en San Antonio.

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How to Avoid Foreclosure from Happening to You

Foreclosure is a term many people may have heard of yet are unsure as to what the term means exactly. Foreclosure is something which affects homeowners who have a mortgage or lien on their home and do not own the house outright. There are a few things which homeowners should be aware of with regard to foreclosure in order to prevent this from happening to them.

What Is Foreclosure?

Foreclosure is when a lender who currently holds a mortgage on one?s home can come in and repossess the home due to a number of reasons but mainly for nonpayment of a mortgage. For those individuals whose home is less valuable than their current loan balance, they may also owe a deficiency judgment as a result thereof.

How Do Foreclosures and Deficiency Judgments Affect the Individual?

There are many ways in which foreclosures and/or deficiency judgments can affect an individual. First and foremost, when a home is foreclosed upon that individual loses their living quarters plus any money which they have already paid for the home. When one has a deficiency judgment issued against them they will find that they will owe varying sums of money in order to make up the difference between the value of the home and the outstanding loan on the home. Also, it is important to note that either one of these incidents can affect the credit of an individual and cause a blemish on their credit rating for years to come.

Ways to Prevent Foreclosure

There are a few ways in which homeowners paying mortgages can avoid foreclosure on their beloved home. The first way in which to do so is to pay the mortgage bill on time. This is the primary answer for those who ask how to avoid foreclosure. For those who have difficulty with doing so from time to time, there are other ways to prevent this from occurring.

The homeowner should always address letters from the lender which revolve around late payments. Within these letters the homeowner will find important information that tells the homeowner what to do if they are having trouble making payments. The letter will ultimately include phone numbers and names of contact individuals at the financial institution so that they can discuss their payment issues with a lender representative. It is crucial for the homeowner to speak with the lender and not bury their head in the sand to avoid it. Avoiding a problem such as nonpayment of mortgages will not make it go away and will only make it worse.

Individuals who are having trouble making mortgage payments should also be certain to stay in their homes and not abandon the property in any way. This will only hurt the individual in the long run and make foreclosure even that much more of a possibility.

Lastly, if the home is a HUD home, there are HUD counseling agencies which will aid the homeowner in preventing foreclosure issues from arising. The homeowner should contact HUD authorities to discuss ways in which to keep their home and make payments.

Possible Alternatives to Foreclosure

For those individuals who have trouble making mortgage payments on their home and fear foreclosure, it is important to know about other alternatives which may be recommended besides the dreadful foreclosure. Not all of these alternatives will apply to each and every individual but some may prove to be very handy when all is said and done. The first is called a special forbearance.

The special forbearance is something which may be arranged by the lender whereby the homeowner receives a payment schedule adjustment and may also receive a suspension of payments for a certain period of time. The representative of the lender will discuss options with the homeowner and after reviewing their situation decide if a special forbearance is warranted.

Another alternative to foreclosure is the mortgage modification. A mortgage modification is where the homeowner has the option to extend the loan period or refinance their current loan to get a lower rate and therefore have lower monthly payments. This is a wonderful option for those individuals who do not make enough each month at the moment to currently pay their mortgage.

A partial claim is another alternative for homeowners facing foreclosure to consider. The partial claim is available to those individuals who have HUD loans. With this payment alternative, the Department of Housing and Urban Development would help the homeowner bring their mortgage up to the current balance by paying the money which is overdue. This is a way to help the homeowner get out from under the mounting debt and then try to get them on the right payment schedule.

Some individuals may find that selling their home is the best bet and they can do so by way of a pre-foreclosure sale. This allows the individual to sell their home for an amount less than the total mortgage amount due prior to having it sold via foreclosure sale.

Lastly, one may be able to submit a deed in lieu of foreclosure. Although this still will not prevent the homeowner from losing their house, it will help them in the long run by not having a foreclosure on their credit history.

Summary

Foreclosure is a serious matter for homeowners to face. However, it is important to know that there are ways to prevent foreclosure and alternatives to foreclosure do exist should such a thing be necessary in the end.

Information about Foreclosures in California and other states including tax liens and tax deeds. The Bay area is considered a beautiful and interesting area to live as well as to visit. If you're looking to start your search for Bay Area Real Estate please visit my website

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Home Sellers: Is Your Home in One of these Buyer's Markets?

It may not actually be the beginning of the end of America's real estate boom, but one of the first indications of a slowdown in the housing market is when homes begin to take longer to sell. Although the National Association of Realtors doesn't keep track of the nation's overall home marketing times, but there has been a dramatic rise in the number of homes on the market in the past six months. With the supply of available houses rising, buyers have more homes to choose from, and according to the laws of supply and demand, that means prices in many areas of the country may begin to come down.

Let's look at some areas of the country to examine trends. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the average marketing time in June 2006 was 33 days. That amounts to an increase of ten days from a year ago. Although the number of sales has remained steady, there are more houses on the market--nearly twice as many, in fact, standing at 36,000 units, as opposed to 21,000 the previous year.

It has traditionally taken longer to sell a home in Nashville, Tennessee (an average of 65 days a year ago) but that figure has risen to 75 days in the current market. In Des Moines, Iowa, the average time on the market has increased from 75 to 82 days, and although prices haven't fallen, some developers have begun offering rebates and free upgrades to move their homes more quickly.

The figures are even more dramatic in some areas of the country that have been considered hot markets over the past few years. In Hanover, New Hampshire, for instance, which experienced double-digit annual price increases since 2000, the average time on the market has risen to 125 days. Such startling numbers are likely to begin affecting home prices in the near future.

In Napa, California, homes used to sell in two weeks or less, but the average home now sits on the market for 60-90 days. Although residents of the area don't seem concerned about Napa’s overall future, they may begin to see prices decline as homes continue to take longer to sell.

Other cities are also experiencing longer sales times. Sales time in Boston has risen from 52 to 58 days, Phoenix now takes about 60 days to sell homes that used to sell in less than two weeks, and Miami's on-market time has increased to nearly 40 days, up from 20 a short time ago.

The bottom line: with on-market times rising across the country, it's possible that home prices in many areas will begin to decrease. It also means that sellers will need to keep a closer eye on their local markets to make sure their homes are competitively priced if they want a quicker sale. As more and more homes begin to show up on the market, prices will eventually begin to soften. That's the way supply and demand works. But for now, our most recent real estate boom may be ending.

Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

Free home seller tips and home staging information from author Jeanette Fisher. Learn how to prepare your home for a speedy sale: http://sellfast.info

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A Prelisting Package to Ensure You Acquire that Listing

In today?s competitive world, real estate agents have to continually think of unique ideas to score listings, to build clientele, to retain them etc. The sky is the limit when it comes to strategies to impress prospects without resorting to illegal or unethical methods. A Pre-listing package is the marketing tool that holds the potential to get you that listing even before you meet the prospective client.

A Pre-listing package can include just about anything ? documents, photographs, charts, figures, videos etc. It aims at preparing the seller for the upcoming event (sale of his home) and to prove that you are the agent he should list with. Remember that the seller probably has several other similar packages from competitors; so you have to prove yourself better and more capable than the rest.

A pre-listing package should ideally be sent immediately after you get a lead. Once the date, time and place are set for the appointment with your prospect, customize a pre-ready package and send it out immediately. You have to give the seller the chance to go through all its contents.

When composing your pre-listing package, think: simple, easy to understand yet professional. You don?t have to overspend, make it elaborate or exaggerate about your services. It should not be complicated and too time-consuming. The key to a fantastic pre-listing package is to cater to your client?s needs. Think of what your client may require at this point and put a package that hits the nail on its head.

Generally pre-listing packages contain the following information. A confirmation letter detailing the date, time and place of the appointment. Information on pricing, home staging and an outline of the home selling process. Copies of documents that the seller will have to deal with during the selling process, such as listing agreement, property disclosure forms etc. A comparative market analysis. An overview of your marketing plan ? include what you generally do as well as how you are going to tailor your strategy for this particular home.

Next you must tackle with seller involvement. To show your professionalism and to make the seller a part of the process, provide a seller?s checklist. Ask him to keep certain documents ready for your appointment. This can include utility bills, surveys, mortgage papers, any declarations etc.

Include information about yourself and your agency. This means your mission statement, information on your past performance and homes you have sold, the team who will help work with you in the process, other partners or individuals whose services may be required during the process etc. Try not to brag too much about yourself and keep this short. Let testimonials or referrals from past clients do this for you. Provide their contact numbers and addresses for the seller?s information.

A whole load of other items may also be included in your pre-listing package. It all boils down to how you want to sell yourself effectively. Make sure that the package is attractive and well-organized. Every bit of information does not have to be put down in words. Use different techniques appropriately ? for instance, use a simple graph to indicate your past performance, a video on your team or how to sell a home, a flowchart of the home selling process etc.

You can spiral bind the entire contents or use single sheets in a file or employ any other design strategy that looks good and is organized well. If you do not already have a pre-listing package, create a template right away. Keep it handy so you can just customize and send it out when required. It is a great way to let your prospect know that you are the right listing agent for him!

Sadiya Anjum - ChoiceOfHomes.com - Offering free real estate leads to real estate agents. ChoiceOfHomes.com also has a searchable database of the latest real estate listings of Homes for Sale and Homes for Rent in the United States.

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The Difference Between a Real Estate License and Broker License

You've decided that you want to get your real estate license. You've heard of a broker license too. What is the difference between these two real estate professions? Unless you've been involved in a real estate transaction or are familiar with the careers, you might not know the exact differences.

If you want to pursue your real estate license, you should thoroughly understand the similarities and differences.

All states require that real estate sales professionals, including salespersons and brokers, be licensed by that state. Brokers will generally be required to complete more real estate education and experience than a salesperson.

A real estate agent is usually an independent contractor who provides his or her services to a licensed real estate broker on a contract basis. In return, the real estate broker pays the salesperson a portion of the commission earned from the agent's sale of the property.

Real Estate Salesperson - An individual who can show property for sale on behalf of a seller, but who may not have a license to transact the sale and collect the sales commission.

* Assist sellers in marketing their property and selling it for the highest price.
* Assist buyers in purchasing suitable property for the best possible price.
* Acts as an intermediary between the buyer and seller.

Real Estate Broker - A person licensed by his or her particular state to charge a fee for bringing a buyer and a seller together to purchase real estate.

* Assist sellers in marketing their property and selling it for the highest price.
* Assist buyers in purchasing suitable property for the best possible price.
* Acts as an intermediary between the buyer and seller.
* Buys and sells real estate for a company or individual on a commission basis.

Real estate salespersons and brokers perform many of the same duties including: obtaining listings, determining sales price; showing properties; assisting with financing; selling property; overseeing inspections, and more.

The state examination, which is more comprehensive for a real estate broker than an agent, includes questions on real estate transactions and laws affecting the sale of property. Most states require that a real estate salesperson complete between 30 and 90 hours of instruction. A real estate broker needs between 60 and 90 hours of real estate education and a specific amount of experience selling real estate (usually 1 to 3 years).

http://www.realestatelicense.com

Heather Brunson is a lead marketing writer for Allied Schools. She has a B.A. in Journalism with an emphasis on public relations. She has additional experience in technical writing.

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What You Need To Know To Stop Foreclosure on Your Home

Understanding how to stop foreclosure is essential, especially if you find yourself unable to make mortgage payments. The faster you act when facing financial problems, the easier it will be to stop foreclosure homes. The longer you are in denial, the fewer options you will have.

Even if you have bad credit, if your home has a lot of equity you may be able to get a refinance home loan package. If you can borrow enough money on a new home loan to pay off your mortgage, arrears, and by costs, you canstop foreclosure.

In most states, the law stipulates that if you pay your arrears in full, your lender must stop foreclosure. If you don't owe much in arrears, this is a useful option to keep in mind, especially if you have some way of raising the funds.

You and your creditor may be able to come to some sort of agreement to stop foreclosure. There are several ways to do this:

You can choose to let a third party negotiate for the home loan to be settled for less than the original amount. A new loan is arranged to pay the lender the late payments and the various transaction fees that have accrued.

If you are not very behind, your lender may be convinced to temporarily lower your monthly payments, your interest, or bywise make repayment easier for you. A professional stop foreclosure negotiator may be able to help you accomplish this and stop foreclosure on your home.

If you can, arrange with your lender to pay as much of your arrears as possible up front. Pay the rest in agreed-upon monthly increments in addition to regular payments. For this to work, you need a down payment and proof of income. However, most lenders will happily accept this agreement and stop foreclosure proceedings.

You can try forbearance. In this situation, the creditor agrees to stop foreclosures proceedings and legal action. In exchange, the debtor must agree to pay a specific sum of money, make property repairs, or possibly put the property up for sale.

http://www.foreclosuredeals.com/stopforeclosure.html

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Can You Still Make Money Flipping Houses?

Successful real estate investors have been making money flipping houses in all markets. Just like any business, some investors lose money, even during the best market conditions. The difference, besides experience, is knowledge. Here are three key points.

Knowledge of the market helps you know a bargain house when you spot one. Look at many houses for sale in your area. Keep track of sales and how long the houses take to sell. Ask selling real estate agents about the terms of these sales because this helps you understand how sellers market their property. (Some of this information is public record). For instance, if a seller paid closing costs for the buyer, did the price rise from the listed price accordingly? Or, did the seller come down on the price and also pay the buyer's costs?

Examine the sales that sell quickly. What home features and financing options prompted the fast sale?

You must know the economic outlook in your area. Follow employment trends and population statistics. Are more people moving in than moving out of town? Because people always need housing, invest in an area with a good rental market. If you find too many vacancies in a neighborhood, that means you should discount any offer or look elsewhere.

You also need to learn about houses. What makes one property more attractive to home buyers? You wouldn't want to buy a home with a terrible defect like a horrible floor plan, a noisy freeway in the back yard, or structural flaws. The best way to learn about houses is to preview many houses for sale.

When you learn about your local real estate market, local economy, and property conditions, you empower yourself to make wise investing decisions.

Copyright ? 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

Free ebook, The Truth about Making Money Flipping Houses at http://www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.com Jeanette Fisher, author of Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars, teaches interior design secrets for fixing houses to make money in any real estate market: Fixing and Flipping Houses

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Summit County CO Real Estate Forum

Question: I want to buy a vacation-home and had been looking at properties along the coast. The hurricane situation there makes me very nervous. Do I have a good option in the mountains- specifically Colorado? Answer: As hurricane insurance makes coastal living more costly and as wealthy buyers look to resort communities for vacation-home purchases, pricey mountaintop developments are gaining popularity.

Ridge-top homes in the western North Carolina mountains are going for $225,000 to $1.5 million. There are dozens of such developments along the mountains of North Carolina. Among the largest is Wolf Laurel near Mars Hill, with over 600 of 1,000 planned homes completed so far.

The resort communities in Summit County, Vail and Aspen are very strong markets now. While communities in Phoenix, San Diego, Florida, Washington DC and Las Vegas are struggling following double digit inflation in the past decade, our mountain market remains extremely strong.

First-Time Buyers Are Picky, Picky, Picky

Question: I might just be picky, but I have delayed buying my first home because there are certain things that I want in a home that I just can?t afford right now. Do you have any comments? Question: High expectations might be playing a role in the slowing U.S. real estate market.

A national survey by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage shows many first-time home buyers are unwilling to compromise on certain key elements in the homes they buy and that could prolong the time they spend renting.

Among the renters surveyed who say they want to buy a home, four of every 10 are unwilling to buy a home that is smaller than they'd like or one needing significant improvements. Forty-six percent are unwilling to buy at a distance farther from work than they would like; and 70 percent are unwilling to move to a less-desirable neighborhood than they would ideally like.

Other key findings from the survey include:
?97 percent of first-time home buyers would never go back to renting.
?77 percent of first-time buyers believe buying their home is the best investment they ever made.
?Nearly 75 percent of first-time buyers believe that the value of their home will go up in 2006.
?78 percent of renters believe that it is generally true that people cannot obtain mortgages without perfect credit, and 52 percent of renters believe that they personally can't get a mortgage because of credit issues. But 46 percent of the first-time buyers surveyed didn't believe their credit was excellent or even very good.
?56 percent of renters believe that a downpayment of 15 percent or more is required when buying a home, and 55 percent believe that size of a downpayment is a personal barrier for them. But 74 percent of first-time buyers reported they put less than 15 percent down.

Split-Levels Are Here, There, and Everywhere

Question: Allison, I want to build a retirement home and my wife and I just can?t decide on a basic floor plan. We want to build in some resale value and think that our favorite split-level designs might be out of vogue. Do you have any information that would help us? Answer: According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, traditional split-level houses are out of style. In 2005, fewer than 1 percent of the more than 2 million houses constructed in the United States were split-levels, according to new housing data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

But don?t expect them to disappear anytime soon. They were built by the thousands between 1955 and 1975. The split-level's relatively efficient floor plan developed as `50s American families, who were filling little ranches with babies as fast as they could, started to feel crowded. The secret of it was, it gave them a family room in a minimum amount of footage, says housing-industry consultant Tracy Cross.

The design hasn?t disappeared altogether. The latest incarnation is a duplex split-level and they are not for the weak of limb.

You have a garage and a family room at grade, and a main level on the second floor, so you walk up seven risers to get in, then you enter the foyer and walk up another seven risers to your two bedrooms, or sometimes three, Cross says of the typical floor plan.

Then you walk down to the foyer again and then another seven risers down from there to grade level, which is your family room.

Makes a Baby Boomer?s knees hurt just thinking about it.

Calculators Measure Cost of Moving

Question: We?re going to be making a move for retirement and are looking for sources to determine the cost of living in different communities. Do you have any online resources? Answer: Moving to a city can be baffling. A cost-of-living calculator can take some of the mystery out of relocating.

Here are just a few: Bankrate.com?s Cost of Living Comparison Calculator. Select your current city, the city to which you?re moving, and current income. The calculator displays a range of relocation factors, including home prices. Homestore.com?s Salary Calculator. Calculates cost of living for hundreds of U.S. cities and the salary you?ll need to match your current situation. CityRating.com?s Cost of Living Comparison Calculator. Determines the cost of living in two different states based on your current income.

For answers to your real estate questions, call Allison at 970-468-6800 or 1-800-262-8442. Email - Info@SummitRealEstate.com or visit their web site at http://www.SummitRealEstate.com Allison and Joyce are both long time locals in Summit County. Summit Real Estate ? The Simson / Nenninger Team is located at the Dillon Ridge Marketplace. Their long-time residency and years of real estate experience can help you make the most of any buying or selling situation. Both are Certified Residential Specialists (CRS), the highest designation awarded to a Realtor in the residential sales field. Their philosophy is simple, whether buying or selling, they understand that the most important real estate transaction is yours.

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What Did My Neighbor's House Sell For ?

There are many people who are constantly asking what their neighbor?s houses sold for. Some people may think they are just being nosey, but the truth is that there is a lot to learn by what your neighbors get out of their homes. In fact, you simply cannot go without knowing these figures, if you are interested in your own property?s value.

Every year, the homes in your area sell and are bought. However, you may not know how much each house is sold for. If you read the paper daily, you probably know that most real estate transactions are listed in many papers. This will be the easiest way to find out what your neighbor?s house sells for. You can often find them by address and even see the person?s name that bought it. This is all public information and is almost always published weekly.

The reason it is so important to know that your neighbor got so much for their home is because you might want to sell you home in the future. When your neighbor gets more for their home, you should get more as well. This is if your home is comparable in size and kept the same. If your home is larger and you maintain it better, you might even get more and should take that into consideration.

So, don?t worry about being nosey. Find our what your neighbor?s house sold for so you know about how much your home is worth as well?just in case you want to sell!

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Costa Rica Watch Out for the Real Estate Sharks

Thinking about buying real estate in Costa Rica? It could be a great investment or your biggest headache. Read on to learn how to stack the odds in your favor.

Costa Rica does not regulate the real estate business and this leaves you, the buyer, at a huge disadvantage. All real estate agents in Costa Rica are in business for only one reason - to make money. They only make money when they sell a property. All the agent wants is your money. The expression ?shark? is a very fitting synonymous for ?real estate agent.? However, in my opinion, it is it is a derogatory comment about sharks.

Agents can be great people, best friends and can even be from your home country but do not trust them as the final authority with your investment money. They do not have your best interest at heart.

Here is my personal list of real estate stories (lies?) that I have heard from several agents in Costa Rica.

1. All Ticos (Costa Rican's) are out to screw you! I have found that some are and others are not out to take advantage of you financially. After living here for a year, personally I am more leery of Gringos trying to sell me something than the Ticos. This is because I know what the Tico wants but do not know the Gringo?s true agenda. Anyone who uses such generalizations should be included in the group that they are criticizing.

2. ?We don?t mark up property like other agencies...? They may not use the same % of markup (called ?Net Listings? which are illegal in the US) but don?t believe them unless they will let you or your attorney talk directly to the seller to verify the asking price. There is one very well known agent in the northern central valley that has previously openly advertised that he doesn?t mark up properties when in reality he does mark up property whenever he thinks he can do so. I forgot the exact words he used but the gist was: Real estate in Costa Rica is unregulated so we can do anything we want.

3. We charge a commission to the buyer because Costa Rican?s don?t pay commission. What a line if I ever heard one! Costa Ricans are not dumb and they know that to sell the property, they probably have to pay someone to find a buyer. Is the agent double dipping? I don?t know but I am willing to bet that nine times out of ten the seller is paying someone to get the property sold and the agent is making money on both sides of the transaction.

4. You or your attorney cannot talk directly to the seller. The excuse often given is that they are afraid your attorney is unscrupulous and may steal the property or something like that. My supposition is that the agent is either marking the property up and/or charging the buyers a commission while the seller is also paying a commission.

5. ?We have already done all of the due diligence for you.? When problem arises the water or electricity or the neighbors, your agent is not going to pay to fix it, rather he will say something like ?Gee I?m awfully sorry, I didn?t know about that.? One agent is advertising that they have done ALL of the due diligence on their properties before they list them. If that is the case, I wonder why the property I purchased from that agent doesn?t have any water available when he stated to me that it had water on the property.

6. Your agent states that he is making a full and truthful disclosure to you. California has one of the toughest disclosure laws in the real estate industry while Costa Rica has none. One agency in the northern central valley is currently promoting a house they are building on speculation by saying Vulcan Poas is not dangerous. In March, 2006, Vulcan Poas roared back to life (it is and has been one of the two most active volcanoes in Costa Rica) and scientists are now concerned because the water temperature of the lake is some 30 degrees hotter than normal. Is this a full and accurate disclosure? Not in my opinion.

7. Your earnest money deposit is not refundable. Some agents use contracts or ?letters of intent? that state that deposits are nonrefundable and that the seller receives the deposit immediately! You can and should write a purchase contract where your deposit is held in escrow and is refundable if certain conditions are not met. I strongly advise that you think long and hard about a deal if the agent says you have to make a nonrefundable deposit.

8. The seller can change his mind any time he wants and refuse to sell. Again, some agents do not know how to or do not want to write a correct contract. If you have a purchase option and have it recorded, it will be much more difficult for the seller to back out.

9. You don?t need to use your own attorney. Just read our personal experience with attorneys and you will see why it is imperative that your attorney represent you and only you.

10. You have to pay all of the closing costs. The custom in Costa Rica is to split the closing costs equally between the seller and the buyer. Of course you and the seller can agree on other terms but don?t start off by offering to pay for everything - that just makes the job easier for the agent.

11. You don?t need a new plano. Your plano is a legal survey of the property. Unless you get a new plano you will not know for certain that what you are looking at is really what you are buying. It is a fact that some fences are occasionally moved by the neighbors and a lot of older surveys are flawed.

12. Don?t worry about utilities... The previously mentioned agent and his associates use practically the same story for every lot they show to their clients - ?Electricity should cost about $3,000. The road should be about $2,500 and water is right over there.? Just make sure you verify everything with the proper authorities and get real estimates from the people that will be doing the work. Don?t be surprised if you find out that the real costs for installing utilities are up to 10 times as much as the agent stated.

13. The water is safe to drink. Over 90% of the surface water in Costa Rica is polluted with gray water runoff, industrial pollution, farm run-off and human waste. Even the large municipalidades have problems with human waste and gas getting into their wells. If you don?t know where the water is coming from get it tested.

14. Gringos are more honest than Ticos. This is a common misconception or misplaced belief on the buyer?s part that makes them feel more comfortable parting with their money. It is really easy to fall into this ?comfort trap? and believe that all Gringos are honest. The simple fact is that it is easier for a Gringo to sell property or an investment to another Gringo. Think about it - Why are all of the international time share resorts are staffed with Gringo sales people?

15. No, the lot isn?t too steep... If the property is steep you have two options: Build on piers which is more costly or: Cut out a building pad. Either way make sure you allow for adequate drainage. I have seen some lots carved out of a hillside where there is bare earth for forty to fifty feet almost straight up. Landslides are common in Costa Rica, even though it is practically all volcanic soil. Don?t think your lot is an exception unless you obtain an engineer?s opinion. My uneducated opinion is that a retaining wall just delays the inevitable. When in doubt ask an engineer, not your agent.

16. Ticos are not litigious like people from the US. This is an out right lie. There are so many suits pending in Costa Rica, some courts are backed up for up to 10 years.

17. ?I am an expert on Costa Rica real estate.? Ask them how long they have been in the country selling real estate. If they have not lived here full time for at least 10 years, then they, like me, are not experts.

How do you avoid these traps? Check out Living and Building in Costa Rica at http://www.die-trying.com/html/retruth.html.

All of these ?myths? are solely my opinions and are based on situations where I have personal knowledge of the facts.

Remember, nobody, including me, cares more about your future than you do. Verify, verify and re-verify before you invest.

David L. McDuffie is a US citizen that has adopted Costa Rica as his new home. Mr. McDuffie is a Custom Home Builder and Home Designer in Costa Rica at http://www.crbuilders.com You can learn about Discount Architectural Services at http://www.crplans.com

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Idaho Mortgage What to Expect When Buying a Home in Idaho

Maybe you are buying your first home in Idaho, or perhaps you?re relocating to Idaho from another state. Either way, it?s important that you educate yourself on Idaho home loans before shopping for a home and mortgage. This article explains what you will need to know before buying a home in Idaho:

The median price of a home in Idaho is $106,300. Recently, homes in Idaho have been appreciating at rates slightly below the national average. Therefore, affordability is favorable in the state of Idaho. In fact, Idaho has the highest rate of home ownership in the nation.

The price of homes in Idaho varies widely between zip codes. For example, in Boise, Idaho, the median price of a home in the summer of 2005 was $195,000; however, in Meridian, Idaho, the median price of a home was $177,000, and in Eagle, Idaho, it was $210,000. Average interest rates in Idaho are equal to the national average.

Idaho is one of only 14 states that uses a ?Deed of Trust? as a mortgage. This means that a trustee holds the title of a house for a lender rather than the mortgage company itself.

If you?re buying a home in the state of Idaho, you qualify for both federal and state housing assistance. Low income borrowers can qualify for down payment assistance, and borrowers with special needs can receive certain types of assistance with buying a home. These programs are available through Idaho?s HOME program.

Jessica Elliott recommends that you visit Mortgage Lenders Plus.com for more information about Idaho Mortgage Rates and Loans .

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St. George Utah is Pure Fun in the Sun

If you are considering a retirement move, St. George, Utah is a safe, fun place to live.

Washington County and St. George (the city in the heart of Washington County) enjoy a very low crime rate. When it comes to raising children our community, schools, and parents in particular, use strong old fashioned values to guide the children and teenagers. This caring environment produces warm, friendly families who care about their neighbors and neighborhoods.

Summers in St. George are hot from June to August. Summer temperatures run from about 104? to 110? during the day. Fall and spring are beautiful with temps running 70s to 80?s. Winters are crisp during January and February with hard frosts at night and 50? temperatures during the day.

St. George has an amazing variety of entertainment activities. For example we have a 2000 seat outdoor amphitheater (Tuachan Amphitheater) that has a stage back drop of soaring 1000 foot red rock cliffs. These cliffs occasionally are highlighted with natural water falls shortly after a rain fall. Productions of Cats, Westside Story, South Pacific, and Peter Pan are just a few of the shows that run throughout the summer and fall.

Washington County, where St. George is located, also has a live musical theater in-the-round (St. George Musical Theater), two new libraries and several first-class restaurants. There is shopping galore, with most stores being new or nearly new.

Of course, the natural beauty of Southern Utah is amazing. Several National and State Parks are very close by. The red rocks of Zion Park, Bryce Canyon and Snow Canyon State Parks are within just a few minutes to a few hours drive of St. George.

The St. George area attracts a lot of retirees. This means that age restricted communities abound. In addition to the retirement communities, the builders tend to cater to retirees by building a lot of one story homes with large rooms and small easy to manage yards. There are also several gated communities geared towards the ?well-to-do? with home prices starting at $750,000 and going up from there.

If you are looking for a great retirement town, St. George, Utah might be the place to move to.

This content is provided by Don Glasgow and may be used or republished only in its entirety with all links included. To sign up to receive weekly St. George foreclosure listings click Here.

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Sarasota PreConstruction Real Estate

The United States real estate market is growing faster then ever before. Sarasota has become a pre-construction real estate hot spot. Pre-construction is the most profitable phase of investment in real estate. New construction offers a wider choice of location and layout, with the most desirable finance options. Pre-construction is considered a healthy investment, making investors wealthy beyond their wildest dreams. Investors in pre-construction real estate are willing to take bigger risks for a chance to make huge profits.

Sarasota has for long been an upper class vacation destination with its pristine white beaches, exciting nightlife, 5 star restaurants and hotels, and its interesting mix of cultures. The Sarasota pre-construction market has witnessed a boom in the last few years. There are downtown condos, beachfront high-rise condos, single-family residences and mansions under development. Sarasota is a sellers market and most properties remain on the market only for small period.

Prices of Sarasota real estate in its pre-construction stage are significantly lower and more affordable to the investor. Pre-construction sale has shown a significant increase over the years and continues to grow. Investors have the advantage of not having to pay any local and state taxes for many years.

Pre-construction deals are usually not advertised in the initial stages. Deals are mostly brokered via a network of estate agents who sell directly on behalf of the developers. Brokers reserve a number of units for their top clientele. The second stage of construction brings on a 10% increase in price. On selection of a property, an investor pays a deposit of around 10% of the purchase price. An additional 10% is usually paid within the next three months. Investors are able to sell their units within a year at a profit of 20% or more.

The increasing interest in Real Estate investment trusts shows that real estate investment return is becoming an important part of a Sarasota investor?s investment portfolio.

Sarasota Real Estate provides detailed information on Sarasota Real Estate, Sarasota Pre-Construction Real Estate, Sarasota Real Estate Marketing, Sarasota Real Estate For Sale By Owner and more. Sarasota Real Estate is affiliated with Minnesota Commercial Real Estate.

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Take Advantage of Top Producer to Manage Buyer and Seller Leads

The National Association of Realtors recently conducted a study that found that most people select the first Realtor who follows up with them to be their buyer's or listing agent. So many Realtors fail to follow up with potential leads that it creates an opening for the few who do. Why do so few Realtors follow up with their leads when it clearly leads to success?

The problem is that simply keeping track of potential leads can be a full-time job in itself. Luckily, modern Realtors now have access to inexpensive software that can do this work for you - many programs even automatically follow up with your leads!

Taking Advantage of Top Producer

Top Producer is the leading software program for Realtors. It has a great system that uses email to keep in contact with your clients. Most buyers and sellers enjoy email because it allows them to see that you're taking care of and remembering them, but it's unobtrusive. Many buyers take up to a year to make a decision on a home, and it can be easy to forget to call. If you set up an automatic email system through Top Producer, that buyer will receive frequent messages from you, even if you've forgotten that they're still looking! What an easy way to make sure that when they do find that perfect house, they will call your number.

Top Producer Works For Low-Tech Clients As Well

For clients who don't use email or who prefer a more personal touch, you can still use technology on your end. Set up reminders in Top Producer to tell yourself to call them. Top Producer can network with your handheld device, too, and be programmed to set off an alarm when you get an alert! Use this feature and you'll never forget to stay in contact again.

Also set up reminders to send out your direct mailings. It can be tempting to put them off, but when it automatically appears on your to-do list, you'll be reminded to keep up that contact. Make sure that you don't lose a client when it can be so easy to keep everyone happy!

Brett Miller is the founder of HoopJumper.com and has created the best lead generating real estate websites in the industry and helped hundreds of real estate professionals make the most of their Internet presence. Call 888-Hoop-Jumper for a complimentary web analysis today or visit http://www.HoopJumper.com to see how HoopJumper can help you grow your business.

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Who Should Hire the Real Estate Appraiser and Why?

Everyone involved in the sale of real estate has a vested interest in the results of a real estate appraisal. The outcome affects the seller, the buyer, the lender, and even the realtor.

A too low valuation of the property by the appraiser could mean a seller must lower the asking price. For a lending officer, it could mean a lesser commission or none at all. A too high valuation means the buyer could be paying more than the property is worth. For the realtor, his/her commission could go higher or lower, which is based on the purchase/sell price of the real estate.

An appraiser, who should be licensed by the state, performs the real estate appraisal. It is best to hire someone local with years of full-time experience in order to get a more accurate appraisal. The appraiser and appraisal are governed by the minimum standards, published periodically in the Uniform Standard of Professional Appraisal Practice by the Appraisal Foundation. The Foundation is chartered by Congress.

The recent real estate bubble, unfortunately, brought problems for appraisers and many involved in real estate transactions. According to Realty Times in their April 2006 issue, appraisers have been routinely asked by lenders to inflate real estate values to keep up with the ever-rising real estate market. One real estate appraiser in San Diego quit and turned in his license to the state, after being fired three consecutive times for refusing to inflate his valuations. Now, real estate appraisers across the United States are under a microscope from federal financial regulators and Congress.

The real estate appraiser may be hired by the seller to determine an accurate selling price or by the buyer to ensure the accuracy of the purchase price and mortgage; but generally, the lender does the hiring or uses their own in-house appraiser. Though buyers may assume the lender has their best interest, mortgage lenders have their own best interest at the forefront, especially some not-so-scrupulous lending officers who may be targeting a higher commission.

If I were a seller, I would hire my own real estate appraiser to ensure I was getting the most for my property. As a buyer, I would put the money out upfront to hire an independent and objective appraiser with no connection to anyone within the real estate transaction. This ensures that I do not contract for a mortgage, based on an inflated appraisal valuation, that will give me a new home with a lower or negative equity. The lender still may require a different appraiser.

If five different real estate appraisers evaluated the same property within the same timeframe and under the same conditions, it could result in five different and varying real estate valuations. Why? There is no set checklist or established value for each property feature and amenity. Though appraisals are based on prescribed standards, it is a subjective process.

If there is more than one real estate appraisal and they disagree significantly, you have options. If the value is too low for the seller, renovations may raise the value ? or you can decline to sell. If the lender insists on its appraiser?s value, which disagrees with your real estate appraiser?s value, as the buyer you can look for financing elsewhere ? or decline to purchase the real estate. There also is the option to bring the appraisers together to come to a common agreement on the value.

Remember, the person looking out for your best interest is yourself. Ensure the appraiser in your real estate transaction is reputable, objective with no connections to anyone in the transaction, local and experienced.

John Harris is an expert researcher and writer on real estate topics such as economics, credit improvement tips, home selling advice and home buying preparations. For more on San Diego Homes for Sale visit http://www.twtrealestate.com

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House Hunting Tips for Buyers

House hunting can actually be an enjoyable experience if you take your time and do your homework. Really! In my years as a Realtor, Investor and just a plain old looker before that I discovered the following ways to make house hunting less stressful and more effective.

Key to it all is first deciding where you'd like to live, then making it your business to learn as much about schools, hospitals, grocery stores, shopping, medical facilities, recreational amenities and so on.

Once you've done that you're ready to investigate about the crime rate. Is it a safe location, or do you need to be considering another location?

And as awkward as it may be to talk about, you want to assess the quality and character of the people who live in the area. Obviously, you can't interview them, but you can get a fairly good sense of their character by the condition of their homes and from the activities you might observe.

For example, if your prospective neighbor has discarded auto parts, household appliances and other stuff in their front yard you might want to reconsider your choice. A poor location when you buy will definitely be a negative factor if and when you decide to resell the home at a later date.

But once you've zeroed in on a good location, you're ready for the next step of finding your dream home. can start to think seriously about searching for your dream home. But instead of spinning your wheels by looking at houses randomly, you should determine what you really want in a house beforehand and be quided by those things in your search.

Make a list of things that are important to you. Do you want a single story house, or do you prefer two stories? Will 3 bedrooms and 2 baths do, or do you really need 4 bedrooms and 2 & 1/2 baths? Making a list will not only save you time, it will also be a big help to your Realtor in planning your viewings.

Next comes the biggie. Get pre-qualified for a mortgage loan before jumping in the car to tour houses. You need to know how much house can you afford, which most people don't know.

Affordability is based upon income, credit status, interest rates, down payment, closing costs and the type of loan selected. By getting pre-qualified by a lending institution you will know what you can afford to spend, which will save you time by establishing the price range you should be looking in before you begin your house hunting tours.

Once armed with information about how much house you can afford you're ready to begin looking at homes. Make notes after each viewing each property, because after 2 - 3 homes they'll start running together and you won't be able to remember the details of each one as you think you will.

Finally, you need your own Realtor; someone who is working for you and is looking out for your interests. When you call the Realtor on a house for sale sign you're speaking to the seller's agent, who represents the seller and will be looking after the seller's interests.

Like I started out saying, house hunting can be an enjoyable experience when you take your time and do your homework, but when done wrong it can be a terribly stressful situation. Fun and easy, or difficult and stressful. You decide!

Lanard Perry, author of a real estate marketing system that shows Realtors how to average 1 or more listings a week. Visit him at Real Estate Marketing Talk for more marketing ideas.

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Dallas Real Estate

With a little over a million residents, Dallas ranks as the second-most populated city in the state of Texas, which is the second-largest state, by area, in the United States. Dallas has a lot of interesting real estate options to offer, ranging from ranches to gated communities. Though ranches that go with the usual Texas image are still available in the Dallas county area, the city has a lot of impressive houses, apartments, and commercial property for any prospective resident.

Six districts make up the city of Dallas, which comes under the Dallas-Plano-Irving metropolitan division of the Dallas-Forth Worth-Arlington greater metropolitan area. The prominent suburbs of Dallas are Allen, Flower Mound, Colleyville, Frisco, Keller, McKinney, Plano, Southlake, and Irving, to name a few. These areas offer gated communities, golf course communities, lakefront homes, homes with acreage, horse properties, retirement communities, and commercial property. Within Dallas, the popular areas are Oak Hill, North Dallas, Casa Linda, Knox/Henderson, and downtown Dallas.

As per the U.S. Census Bureau data for 2005, the average home price in the city of Dallas is $179,920, which is only marginally higher than the national average of $173,585. However, the Dallas county area, which includes the suburbs, has a much lower average, at $125,922. The median rental price in Dallas is $328, which is considerably lower than the national median of $471. There is almost an equal share of owner-occupied and rental units in Dallas, with the former accounting for 42%, the latter 52%, and approximately 6% remaining vacant. This looks quite different from the national picture, where owner occupied, at 60%, is twice that of rental units.

Dallas area real estate comes with easy access to the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, which is the world's second-busiest airport. There are many schools and universities, like the University of Texas at Dallas, University of Dallas, and Southern Methodist University. These important aspects of this area have helped create a very vibrant real estate market in Dallas.

Dallas Real Estate provides detailed information on Dallas Real Estate, Dallas Lake Front Real Estate, Dallas Real Estate Agencies, Dallas Commercial Real Estate and more. Dallas Real Estate is affiliated with Austin Commercial Real Estates.

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Seattle Real Estate Agencies

Are you thinking of selling or buying a property in Seattle but do not know where to start? If you are, then you need a Seattle real estate agency to help you in selling or buying your property.

Seattle real estate agencies help find sellers for those who want to buy real estate and help find buyers for those who are trying to sell their real estate. They have real estate agents that assist sellers in marketing their properties to prospective buyers and who are able to sell the property at the highest possible price under the best terms. Real estate agents also help buyers to purchase a property with the best possible price and with a price range reasonable for their budget.

If you plan to sell a property in Seattle, real estate agencies will have your property listed for sale to the public. They will also assist you in preparing the papers that describe the property for marketing purposes. After which, they advertise your property and even put a ?for sale? sign on your property that indicates where to contact the real estate agent. In some cases, they hold an open house to show the property to prospective buyers.

On the other hand, if you are a buyer of Seattle real estate, the real estate agencies will find a property in Seattle that will be in accordance with your needs, specifications, and budget. They will take you to some locations of properties that are for sale and give you details of each. However, they will have to prescreen your financial capability to see if you are really financially qualified to buy the property shown.

With all these services provided by Seattle real estate agencies to real estate buyers and sellers, it does make a lot of sense to have one to assist you in your selling and purchasing decision. However, you have to be very careful when choosing a real estate agency because nowadays there are many who operate without the proper license. You have to see to it that the agency has professional real estate agents who obtained a broker?s license.

Seattle Real Estate provides detailed information on Seattle Real Estate, Seattle Real Estate Agencies, Seattle Real Estate Listings, Seattle Real Estate Financing and more. Seattle Real Estate is affiliated with Greater Orlando Real Estate.

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Creative Real Estate Investment Is It For You?

The Economist reported recently that residential property investment amounted to $48 trillion, while commercial real estate investment (CREI) was ?only? $14 trillion. This is certainly in part because CREI is much more complex.

Unlike stocks and other investments of that sort, real estate has a solid and very specific, tangible location. Investors may be many miles away, but the property exists as a part of its own very local market, which affects how it is appraised, bought, sold, and used. And unlike residential properties, commercial property is intended for business purposes. As a result, there are different considerations for valuing, financing, leasing, and maintaining these types of properties

A commercial investor must generally invest a great deal more into the purchase and sale of the property. He or she must be savvy, and willing to incur greater risk (and consequently, reap greater reward).

You?ll need to know how to estimate the Capitalization Rate (cap rate) and the Gross Rent Multiplier (GRM). The cap rate can be found by dividing a property?s annual net operating income by its purchase price. In the past, an investment with a 10% cap rate was considered a wise financial decision. Recently, though, that number has dropped to 8%, corresponding to a greater risk and lower expected return. To find your GRM, divide the purchase price by the property?s monthly gross operating income.

You should also consider the difference between a property?s assessed and appraised values, and the total income and replacement costs.

Commercial properties are more susceptible to market fluctuation, which makes them a greater potential risk. Be aware and sensitive to changes in general economic conditions. A smart investor should be concerned always with outside factors that will affect occupancy rates (domestic factors, and foreign alike). Issues across the globe can press heavily upon American business conditions overnight

Commercial property investment requires knowledge of local zoning and leasing regulations. Do your research. In addition, you will need to consider other financial issues. Rented properties need to be heated, cooled, supplied with electricity, and so forth. You will need to provide a security system, and fire suppression. Tenants will need telephone and Internet facilities, as well.

Mortgages and insurance is also more complicated than with residential properties. An exception is the triple-net lease, in which the tenant is responsible for any additional expenses related to building maintenance and repair. In this arrangement, the tenant would also be liable for insurance costs.

The risks are many, and CREI requires very specific local knowledge, but the potential for reward is far greater than residential property ownership. There is also something to be said about the satisfaction one may receive as part of the promotion and maintenance of our collective economic growth. Entrepreneurial dreams will be made and carried out between your walls, and you should certainly take some comfort in that.

Paulie Sabol, often called the ?legal bank robber? for his real estate financing and bank owned foreclosure investing, is a nationally recognized real estate investor, trainer and financial thinker. Sabol, has personally completed 100?s of real estate investments, and helps real estate investors learn to make more money with creative investing. Visit his site at http://www.reiunion.com/rei.html

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Bulgaria's Hottest Property Spots

Hot-spots

Sunny Beach:
The country?s largest package holiday resort has a good beach with excellent leisure facilities, entertainment and activities. It is close to Bourgas? international airport and has been a focus for building and buyer interest, although over-development is becoming a problem, with a glut of new properties meaning unreliable rental returns.

Golden Sands:
A large package resort with a good beach and facilities set in pretty surroundings on the forested coast north of Varna. Easy access to Varna airport and the city. Strict building controls have limited development and ensure strong demand for property.

Bansko:
The country?s largest ski resort, which is enjoying major infrastructural investment, including a new golf course. The negative impact of rapid development could be reduced by a clamp-down on new developments in the area.

Pamporovo:
European?s most southerly ski-resort is increasingly popular with the British

Veliko Tarnovo: The picturesque countryside around this historic city is the target for a growing number of foreign buyers looking for peaceful rural retreats and renovation properties. The beautiful scenery has led the area to be dubbed ?Bulgaria?s Tuscany?.

Sofia:
Renovation properties and off-plan developments in the country?s capital are popular with investment buyers for their solid rental returns and capital appreciation.

Rising Stars

Balchik:
A small seaside town, north of Varna, that is near a new golf course development. Easy access to Varna city and its airport.

Byalla:
A quiet beach resort favoured by Bulgarian holidaymakers, which is set in beautiful countryside halfway between Bourgas and Varna.

Ruse:
Provincial city on the Danube that has a hinterland of unspoilt countryside dotted with villages.

Sozopol:
An atmospheric seaside town with good beaches that is close to Bourgas airport.

Borovets:
A small ski resort near Sofia that has been slated for major investment.

Dominic Whiting is a journalist and publisher of the Buying in Bulgaria and Buying in Turkey property guides. For more information, newsletters or to order visit: http://www.buyinginturkey.info.

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Types Of Liens On Real Estate

-A lien is a legal recorded claim against a property. The claim encumbers the property as a means to collect money owed, such as a mortgage, property taxes, or an unpaid debt owed to a contractor who performed work on the property. There are other reasons liens are recorded against a property.

-Equitable lien. When a property is held as collateral and the parties agree in a document, that the property is used to secure the debt.

-General liens. These liens all real estate and personal property. Court ordered judgments, probate actions, and IRS taxes fall under this category.

-Judgment lien. This is the result of an action by a party or government agency through a court of law to collect payment on a claim.

-Involuntary lien. State statues create real estate property taxes. These taxes are a claim against the property and the property owner assumes the statue when purchasing a home. Unpaid taxes can result in a specific involuntary lien.

-Specific liens. Special assessments and mechanics liens fall into this category. Unpaid contractors from home repair and remodeling projects can file a specific lien. Homeowner associations and local governing bodies can issue special assessments for repairs and improvements. Failure to pay these special assessments can result in lien being placed against a property.

-Voluntary lien. When you have a mortgage and voluntarily agree that the mortgage lien is security for the lender in case you default on a mortgage loan.

Mark Nash is the author of Fundamentals of Marketing for the Real Estate Professional, Starting & Succeeding in Real Estate, Reaching Out: The Financial Power of Niche Marketing, and 1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home. Mark is a contributing writer for: Realtor (R) Magazine Online, Broker Agent News, Real Estate Executive Magazine, Principal Broker, and Realty Times. His tried and true real estate tips has been featured on Business Week, CBS The Early Show, CNN, HGTVpro.com, The New York Times, and USA Today. Purchase his books at http://www.1001RealEstateTips.com .

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Chicago Real Estate Appraisal

The first thing to do before selling your real estate property or buying one is to get an appraisal. This is essential in all situations. Whether you are a first time seller or a savvy real estate investor, you need to get your property appraised before you put it on the market.

Real estate appraisal means determining a piece of property's monetary equivalent based on its highest and best use value. A real property's value differs in many ways: market value, value-in-use, insurable value and investment value.

In order to optimize the sale of your property and get every cent you deserve, refer to a reliable appraiser. An accurate Chicago real estate appraisal is important for loan financing, real estate tax and financial planning.

The real value of property is not in its physical appearance but its use. For example, a certain area of land may be given its highest and best value as a commercial lot rather than as a residential property. So if you are looking for a place for your family, it would be best to opt for real estate labeled as residential. For one, dwelling in a commercial space may not be legal. And two, most commercial spaces are more expensive than residential areas.

So to be on the safe side, acquire a Chicago real estate appraisal before you take action. There are plenty of appraisal companies all over the Chicago area that will put you in touch with qualified appraisers. A quick visit to any appraisal company is all you need to get a Chicago real estate appraisal.

Protect your investment with a Chicago real estate appraisal. Whether your property is a 2-room apartment or a sprawling mansion, a log cabin in the mountains or a high-rise condo-you should get an appraisal before you put it on the market.

Chicago Real Estate provides detailed information on Chicago Real Estate, Chicago Commercial Real Estate, Chicago Suburb Real Estate, Chicago Real Estate Developments and more. Chicago Real Estate is affiliated with Atlanta Commercial Real Estate.

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Sell Your House Fast

Selling your house fast would normally mean that you have a sale contract in place within a few weeks of listing. This is definitely possible if you prepare yourself well.

Once you have made the decision to sell and you want fast results, it is better to hire a reputable sales agent for the task. You could also list your house online and request that your agent put advertisements and flyers in neighboring areas. You may also offer the agent an incentive for a speedy sale. In the meantime, determine an appropriate value for your house. But selling a house quickly should not mean that you are selling it at any cost. The right price will help you sell it faster. Again, the agent could help you in valuing your house. Check with some valuators to ensure you are not underselling.

For a quick sale, it pays to be flexible in the negotiations. It is sometimes required that you reduce the original price. So plan how much you are ready to negotiate. If you do not stick to your planned price reduction, chances are you might end up selling at a much lower price than the current market value. List the benefits of the house and location. And make sure the house is neat, well-lighted and presentable, inside and out. Inspect the house yourself or have it examined by a professional, and make the necessary changes to help it sell faster. If required, replace any leaking and broken fixtures. Try to be available all the time so that you do not miss any prospective buyers.

Finally, treat your prospective viewer respectfully, and let him look around the house. Do not try to hide any defects. Instead, be honest about all major problems, if any. This will bring trust to the relationship. Also, clearly indicate what accessories will be included as part of the sale. You may even contact professional real estate investors if you want to sell your house fast. But they generally tend to pay less than the market value. Do not fall for any unduly attractive deals. Stick to your goals and do not sell the house in distress. If there is an immediate need for cash, try to check other options for meeting this demand. Otherwise you could end up in a deal that you might regret later.

Sell House provides detailed information on Sell House, Sell Your House Fast, Sell House By Owner, Sell Your House Online and more. Sell House is affiliated with Real Estate Note Brokers.

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When A Great View Is Not A Great View

House hunting is a game wherein you try to get the most while paying the least. Part of getting the most is often finding a home with a view, but don?t be a sucker.

After a hard days work, you come home to your dream home. You change into something comfortable, grab a beverage and head out to the deck. There, you relax and take in your fabulous view. This is the daydream you have while standing in a home for sale that has an incredible view.

Yes, it is a nice view. In fact, it may be so nice that you do not really pay attention to the rest of the home. Even if you do, you may be able to overlook some problems that you would not otherwise if there was no view. At the end of the day, you make an offer and the seller accepts. Sixty days later, you are the owner, moved in, unpacked and enjoying your new property.

After a year or so, you come home after a stressful day. You change clothes, grab a beverage and head out to the deck. You are stunned to see a two-story home being built in the middle of your view. How can this be? This is an outrage! Unfortunately, you probably are out of luck. Depending on your state laws, you may have no way of keeping the other property owner from spoiling your view.

As you might expect, this situation arises more often than people would like to admit. When considering making an offer on a home, one must be very careful when it comes to views. You should never dismiss other problems with the home because you like a view. Further, you should not overvalue the view. A beautiful view today may just be a view of the side of a home in a year. Investigate local legal regulations regarding new construction in the area, the height homes can be built to and whether pre-existing homes can add second or third floors.

If you do not, you run the risk of owning the room without a view.

Raynor James is with the site - FSBOAmerica.org - home buying information.

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China's Incredible Real Property Appreciation

Readers who routinely follow my articles on Real Estate Economics are fully aware of my position on real estate bubbles in North America.

A real estate bubble occurs when prices of real capital assets become so absurdly high that consumers either refuse or cannot afford to purchase, thus sending demand tumbling down. This has not happened in North America's real estate markets, where we have assisted at either a slowdown in property appreciation or a depreciation of values in line with the Fed's forecast of late 2005 and the beginning of the year, as well as with those of many economic analysts - including myself. This is the reason why this time around I wanted to give an example of a true real estate bubble.

As reported by the official Xinhua News Agency, there is a growing concern among top officials of the People's Republic of China that surging prices in major cities threaten to create economic overheating and serious social unrest. This has prompted a new crackdown by the Chinese leadership on property speculation. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the state planning agency, in fact reports that in North-eastern Dalian in the first three months of this year prices for new properties jumped 15 percent from a year earlier, and that prices in the Southern boomtown of Shenzhen gained 10 percent in the same period. While in Beijing, says the NDRC, prices were up 17 percent amid euphoria over the forthcoming 2008 Olympics in the Chinese capital.

But before you hop on to the first flight for Beijing, read this. Chinese economists say that owning an apartment is now an unrealistic dream for large numbers of urban residents who are falling further behind as home prices surge. The core of the problem appears to be the disparity between prices of real capital assets and wages. More specifically, the average apartment in the city costs 13 times the annual average salary.

Now, that's what I call a real estate bubble!

The main reason for this huge levitation of prices is speculation. Speculation is one of the many forces that act on capital at any given time. In theoretical Economics, speculation is defined as ?the acquisition of financial or capital assets made solely to quickly profit from fluctuations in their prices, or of goods or commodities with no real intent to consume or otherwise use them for production'. Basically what many Chinese speculators are doing is flipping apartments, even before they are built. NDRC reports that many developers have gone even as far as creating independent companies that they themselves control, the sole purpose of which is to buy the apartments the developers are in the process of building and then resell them with a markup, thus inflating prices.

Property is a big driver of Chinese economic growth, and runaway investment in the real estate sector has contributed to signs of a broader overheating. The economy grew by a red-hot 10.2 percent (annualized) in the first quarter of the year from a year earlier, when it grew to the tune of 8 percent per year. Concern about too-rapid growth has prompted the government to raise bank lending rates by 0.27 percentage points last month to discourage borrowing and reduce investment. Officials fear that overheating could lead to a sudden economic crash. Additional measures are in the wings, including hefty increases in property taxes, again to take aim at property developers who hoard land and buildings, a practice that creates artificial shortages and drives up prices

Scarier still is the social unrest that the leadership fears if the economy does not slow down to more manageable levels. This is due to a growing imbalance of wealth rampant in China's population of 1.3 billion people, wherein thirty-five percent of the population lives in the cities and sixty-five percent inhabits the countryside. There is a system of residence controls, so that if one is lucky enough to be born in a city - and registered as a city dweller - it is easier to get into university or to work at all the large companies and government agencies in the city. If, conversely, one is registered as a rural person there are very severe restrictions on where he can live and work. And this is actually the biggest human rights problem in China today. The majority of this population of 1.3 billion people consists, by law, of second-class citizens who live for the most part in conditions of abject poverty, in rural huts many of which do not even have running water. One can imagine how these people feel when they look at the way their urban counterparts live.

The economic ripples and effects that a speculation in grand style such as this have on market wealth are indeed humongous. Market wealth is defined as ?the combination of materials, labour, land, services and technology in such a way as to capture a profit' (Adam Smith). The aftershocks of a bubble of this size that bursts are usually terminal and irreversible: market wealth disappears, it vanishes entirely. And it takes forever to re-build it, right from scratch. Here in the West, the greatest example in recent times is the infamous Black Monday - October 19, 1987 - when the Dow Jones collapsed 22.6 percent in value in a single day! It took nine years for Wall Street to lure investors back.

But then, how much is too much? Well, consider this: at the top end of the market, even the smallest apartment in a building next to Citigroup's skyscraper on Shanghai's waterfront is stunningly expensive. Complete with all-copper doors and Swarovski crystal lights it costs about USD 2 million or USD 1,670 per square foot - and no fireplace.

Luigi Frascati

Luigi Frascati is a Real Estate Agent based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Economics and maintains a weblog entitled the Real Estate Chronicle at http://wwwrealestatechronicle.blogspot.com where you can find the full collection of his articles on Real Estate Economics and Finance. Luigi is associated with the Sutton Group, the largest real estate organization in Canada, and is based with Sutton-Centre Realty in Burnaby, BC. Luigi is very proud to be an EzineArticles Platinum Expert Author. Your rating at the footer of this Article is very much appreciated. Thank you.

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Home Selling Tips Part I

The following are some guidelines when deciding to sell your home in the current real estate climate.

1. Why are you selling your home? This is the single most important factor when deciding to sell your home. Do you need the proceeds for a specific purchase? Do you need a larger home due to changing family conditions? Or are you downsizing? All are important reasons to sell. But remember ?Why? you are selling affects your list price, time allotted to selling, selling effort and how much money you will be allocating towards the selling process.

2. Keep the reasons to yourself. Have you ever noticed that at an Open House the potential buyers and viewers ask: Why are you selling? Most are not just curious but rather looking for a needy seller or a negotiating position when making an offer. What I recommend is that you answer that with your housing needs have changed.

3. Do your research. With the advent of the various internet based sites this portion of the business has become more readily available then in years past. But you will want to:

a.) see what properties have sold in the last six (6) months that are a direct mirror of your home.
b.) Check out other open houses to see what your ?competition? is going to be like.
c.) get an independent appraisal so you have an idea of what the market value will be as well as letting any potential buyers know that your home can be financed.

4. Decide on a Realtor?.
Consider interviewing real estate agents while looking at several factors to base your decision. Some should include past sales, current listings, marketing plan, market knowledge and make sure that they are someone you can trust and feel confident that they will do a good job on your behalf.

5. Prepare your home.
Make sure your home presents itself in the best possible light. Fix everything. Make sure it is super clean. Eliminate the clutter from years of storage. Freshen the paint and make sure it is neutral in color. Make sure the entrance clean and unobstructed. Get rid of any odors like pet, food or smoke.

6. Remember to disclose everything.
Don?t get caught in the trap of not disclosing all known defects. By doing this you can prevent liabilities and avoid potential lawsuits. Some states like California have extensive documentation requirements so check with the governing body in your state.

Ken is a licensed real estate agent living and working in San Francisco, CA. For more information on Ken?s sales visit his website at: www.KenGlidewell.com

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