Posts Tagged ‘real estate’

10 Tips to Pricing Your Home Properly

March 14th, 2010

As a Realtor, one of our biggest frustrations is dealing with the unrealistic expectations of a seller. Sellers are notorious for overpricing their homes. The market is saturated with thousands of properties that will never sell without a price adjustment. Lack of comparable sales, poor or no Realtor representation, believing improvements are worth more than they really are, no knowledge of the real estate market, ignoring current competition, needing a certain sales price based on personal expenses and not staying on top of the current market conditions are a few reasons sellers overprice their homes.

1) Be objective

Yes, you are selling your home and all of the great memories and experiences that you have had but try to be as objective as you can. Don’t factor those great memories into the price tag of your home. Buyers are more concerned with location, quality, size and condition.

2) Ignore what your home would have sold for 5 years ago

It does not matter that your home was worth a lot more five years ago. The real estate market changes daily. Get the old values out of your head. You have to sell in today’s market.

3) Don’t count on a sucker

Many sellers go with the idea that an idiot will show up with a briefcase full of cash and fall in love with their home. You do see homes sell for more than they are worth but it is rare.

4) Are priced dropping in your area?

Chances are that prices are lowering in your city. If you sold a year ago you would have put more money in your pocket than if you sold today. Most likely if you sell in the next 30 days it will be for more money than 6 months from now. The fast your sell it the better. Don’t dilly dally around.

5) Study the market

This is where a good Realtor comes into play. Some agents spend no time pricing the home when this is really the most important part of the equation. Look at the properties for sale, under contract, expired and recently sold. Be objective and compare your home with those properties.

6) More marketing does not justify overpricing

Marketing and advertising are important in a market like this. However, having your home listed in the newspaper every weekend won’t make it sell for more than it is worth. Buyers look at more than one property when they buy. If your competition is better you will lose. Even if they came to your home from a great ad.

7) Keep appraisals in mind

You don’t want to go through the hassle of an offer, negotiations, inspections and packing your belongings only to find out that your home did not appraise for the sales price and the deal is off. In a perfect world you can find three recently sold similar homes. Do your homework and establish an asking price based off of these three sales. Lending and appraisal guidelines have changed dramatically. Lenders are looking at appraisals closely so don’t figure on selling your home for a price that an appraiser cannot justify.
8) Get in front of the market

In a quickly moving market you may need to make an adjustment based on market conditions. When the market was hot in 2004 and 2005 a lot of sellers were taking the last sale and adding 5-10% to that price and making that their asking price. And, it was working. Now, the opposite may be needed. Since the market is moving quickly to the downside you may need to take the last sales price and make your asking price that or 5-10% lower.

9) Be better than your competition

This holds true for any real estate market. People pick the best value. If your competitor has a better lot, better view, is in better condition and a lower price why would a buyer go for your home?

10) Be prepared to lower your price

You may not get the correct asking price from day one. Sometimes it is difficult because of the market or lack of comparable sales. The initial asking price is just a starting point. Do not lock that number in your head. Make sure you lower your price before your house gets stale. If your home has been on the market too long many Realtors will stop showing it because they figure that you are not a realistic seller.

If you are thinking about selling your home in a bad real estate market keep these tips in mind when establishing your asking price. You can have all of the marketing in the world but if you are asking too much for your home it most likely won’t sell.

Learn more about Sarasota houses. Marc Rasmussen would be happy to help you buy or sell a house in Sarasota, Florida.

How To Look For Good Apartments For Rent?

March 14th, 2010

If you are looking to rent an apartment, it is no easy task and careful, if sometimes painstaking preparation is required before you can rent the house of your choice. Renting an apartment basically means paying the home owner a fixed sum every month for the right to occupy their house, and there are a few things that you must do before you can rent a house.

Usually, when you apply for a house, a list of your last five addresses and landlord’s contact details are a must, so be prepared with such details. Landlords also usually require your employment details as well, including your current salary and your personal references. All these details, if in good order, always help you stand out among other applicants.

First, look up as many apartment listings as possible in classifieds, online websites etc. for an apartment in an area which is convenient and which you can afford. Most people spend about one third of their income on their rent, and paying any more than that is a bad idea. Once you’ve narrowed it down to a few choices, consider how far away from your workplace or college the apartment is, and way to commute to all these places from the apartment. A real estate agent is a good way to look at a lot of apartments you wouldn’t be able to find otherwise, but remember that real estate agents take a healthy cut out of every purchase, so you’ll end up paying a little extra rent to pay for their services. If you can’t afford a place all by yourself, looking for a roommate is also good idea, provided you and your roommate get along.

Now that you’ve pretty much found what you are looking for, and are in a position to rent out the apartment, it is essential to give the apartment a thorough look over. Landlords trying to blame existing damage to the house on new tenants is not an uncommon occurrence, so be on your guard for such problems with the house, and ensure that you get the landlord to fix it before moving in. Make sure that the walls are thick enough, or otherwise you’ll end up hearing everything from adjoining apartments. Check whether the rent includes utilities, or there is some separate amount that must be paid for water, heat, electricity etc. If you own a car, a parking space is always a good deal, so try to get one with the apartment.

Bargain hard to try to get a good deal, whether it is by paying a lower security deposit, or paying lower rent as well. Also, get the landlord to clearly state what condition the house must be in to get back your security deposit. Check if you can make any superficial changes to the house, like adding storage shelves or repainting the walls etc. The best way to go about this is to make sure that everything is clearly stated out, and then rent the apartment.

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Get Real Estate Success When Rehabbing Old Seattle Investment Property

March 13th, 2010

One option for making money in real estate is through rehabbing old property. Many rehabbers report that this is an effective means to earn cash on Seattle investment property. This one isn’t all that difficult to define, however, since it simply means buying an occasional fixer upper and performing necessary repairs then making that property available to the average home buyer.

In fact, you’ll probably be able to find some fixer uppers in your area. These properties are great buys and can still make a future homebuyer happy with a little fixing up. Rehabbers are the reason you’ll find old homes with modern renovations on the market in any neighborhood around the country. Ordinary people who make a similar leap into the ranks of real estate investors are the answer to this badly needed transformation.

Investors are able to pick up these homes for cheap because they need more involved repairs than a homebuyer is wiling to make. This is when the investor comes in to purchase that home at a very good price. Rehabbers will work to make enough repairs to the Seattle investment property that it can be put back on the market at a higher price. It’s as easy as purchasing an old home and making it like new for a higher market value.

If you stick to your budget and perform due diligence rehabbing will bring returns in any market, good or bad. When the real estate market is sluggish the investor just needs to remain a little more price conscious of materials and labor costs as well as looking for homes in good repair. The budget is really important here, and you’ll want to account for every penny. That includes assuming there will be unexpected costs before you start a project.

Taking your time to learn about rehabbing will help you in the long run, when trying to fix up and sell a home in weeks. The speed with which you sell that property depends largely on your advertising and selling price. You can sell your house on your own with some extra work, but hiring a realtor will reduce the workload and provide you with knowledgeable professional. Investors can make as much as a 30% increase in their profits with each project, although these days it’s more typical to see half that in profits when selling fixer uppers.

Investors can bring in regular income by renovating older Seattle investment property. Learning to rehab a property is not hard at all. Furthermore, this may be one of the better investment opportunities during an economic downturn.

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Top 5 Home Insurance Myths Debunked

March 13th, 2010

Myth #1: Standard home insurance covers flood damage.

Fact: Standard home insurance does NOT cover damage caused by a flood. If you feel that you need coverage for a flood you should purchase a separate flood insurance policy.

Myth #2: The Medical Payment portion of my homeowners insurance will cover injuries to me and my family.

Fact: MedPay, a common feature of standard home insurance policies, is there to protect you in the event that someone other than you or your family (a neighbor, friend, etc) gets hurt on your property and they do not want to sue you. MedPay will typically cover up to $1,000 for each covered claim to someone outside of your family. If you or your family, however, gets hurt on your property they are not covered by your home insurance policy.

Myth #3: If my home is ever lost, my insurance company will reimburse me for whatever I tell them I owned at the time of loss.

Fact: In the event of a covered loss your home insurance company will ask you to make a list of everything you own and include specific details such as purchase price, date of purchase, serial numbers, etc. (Imagine trying to do this from memory!) The best way to avoid this situation is to have a home inventory already put together. Use a checklist like this one: http://homeinsurance.com home insurance home inventory checklist. Make sure to include photos, receipts, serial numbers and anything else that will help you prove ownership. Don’t risk not having everything replaced in the event of a disaster. Make sure to keep your inventory in a fire proof safe or at a friend’s house so it is still around when you need it!

Myth #4: If I file a home insurance claim, my home insurance premium will definitely go up.

Fact: While many home insurance companies do look at your claims history, there are many other factors that determine how much you will pay for home insurance. Filing one claim over a period of a few years might not increase your home insurance premium. To be on the safe side, always think twice before filing a claim for minor damages to your home. Consider your deductible. If the total cost of repair is not too much more than your deductible you might want to consider paying for the repairs yourself. While this might cost you more upfront, it might save you from an increased premium. If, because of a stroke of bad luck, you have to file multiple claims over a period of a few years and your premium is steadily increasing, rest assured there are other ways to save on your home insurance. Ask your agent about home insurance discounts. Sometimes simply installing a smoke alarm, burglar alarm system or by adding your auto policy to your home policy, you can save a great deal of cash.

Myth # 5 All of my valuables- like jewelry -will be covered in the event of a burglary.

Fact: There are limits on the amount of coverage you can receive for valuable such as jewelry, furs, etc. For example, most companies put a cap of $1500 on total jewelry lost during a burglary of your home. If you find that your jewelry values over $1500 you should talk to a home insurance agent and schedule an endorsement on your policy giving you additional coverage.

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If You Want To Gain Financial Freedom, Try Sebastian Investment Property Selling

March 12th, 2010

The real estate industry provides investors different ways to make money. You can choose between profiting from a Sebastian investment property that you will renovate and sell it or just sell your home to a traditional buyer. The most popular way to make money in real estate now-a-days is either renting houses or giving rent-to-own offers on houses.

Let’s talk about buy and sell strategies for property investment. A good strategy that investors have used is to buy low cost homes at wholesale and selling these homes to other buyers. Investors can hold the property for just a few short days or as long as a year with the intention of selling it. Rehabilitation of a Sebastian investment property and assigning a contract are the two most popular buy and sell methods among real estate investors.

Assigning a contract involves having to get in contact with homeowners selling affordable homes fast, and once you get in contact with them, you can get them under contract with your agreement to purchase. Having the homeowners under contract will make it easier for you, the investor, to look for a buyer who will give the earnest money that is needed for the right to buy that home. This method requires having a lot of buyers on hand and a developed network, so they may want to start simply with a rehab. Just purchase an old house, in bad condition and have it fixed up then, sell it in the market.

The latter is really straightforward once Investors have the process down and there’s yet another form of rehabbing that’s called house flipping. Investors have probably heard about this strategy, but it primarily involves buying a home that’s only in need of cosmetic repairs and fixing those to look great for the traditional home buyer. Investors who choose flipping do not hold on to their properties for more than a few months. They are always keeping an eye on their schedule and available budget.

Lastly, there are the buy and hold strategies like land lording and rent-to-own. If you want to be the landlord of your property, you have to get your property fixed so you can rent it to tenants so the property will generate a regular income. While this gives an investor regular income, he/she is still involved with all maintenance that needs to be done on the house, so the rent-to-own scheme might be a better choice. If you put your property under rent-to-own however, you get a monthly income but all future home maintenance will be undertaken by the tenant because you will have a written agreement that he/she will pay off the house.

You have just read about a number of ways on how an investor can make money in real estate and the rent-to-own scheme is the most profitable method. Should they earn it through flipping a Sebastian investment property or hold it for a little longer by renting it out is up to them. Hopefully, this gives you a better idea how that investor is making a business on your new rent to own home.

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Boise Real Estate Trends To Watch For

March 12th, 2010

The preliminary number for February indicate that homeowners in the Boise metro area have stopped reducing the price of their homes in order to sell them, according to Zillow.com’s data source.

As indicated by industry sources, and revealed in a Reuters report yet to be released, January median home prices did follow the previous downward direction.

With January posting a 19.8% rate of at least one price reduction per home for sale, February’s slightly lower number of 19.5% has some significance to homeowners and industry spectators.

Asking prices dropped by an average of 6.8% in January to an average reduction of 6.7% in February.

The Boise real estate market has posted this trend consistently over each of the past twelve months, showing a boon for buyers. The February home sales numbers did not look too hot either, considering Zillow reports that an 8.7% price drop was shown over 33% of listed homes.

The median list price of homes fell 1.4% in February from January, to $205,000, which is down 6.8% from the median listing price in February 2009, sources said.

The Boise real estate statistics continue to improve with the median day on market dropping from 109 in January to 105 days in February sources reported. The greatest reduction in the median days on market category was in August which posted only a median of 90 days on market.

The average number of days on market for Boise real estate in February was 109, according to Zillow.

What this means for many property owners is that the inventory is being absorbed at predictable rates that would allow for price changes accordingly. Many Boise real estate sellers will have to use this information to plan on reducing their prices to keep pace with the market as it continues to show a slow pace this winter sales season. Losing whatever equity you may have in a market headed downward is not a fun lesson to learn and can be avoided by anticipating where the price point in the market will be, and getting there ahead of it.

This allows Boise real estate buyers the time to carefully consider exactly what they want and to patiently plan exactly how they are going to get a home that meets all their needs. Being in a “buyer” market is not necessarily a good thing if you are not well educated on market tendencies, and cannot capitalize on the best value when it comes along.

The author enjoys writing articles about boise real estate & Boise real estate source. To learn more about these topics click on the links above!

Factors And Variables Influencing Mortgage Finance

March 11th, 2010

Properties are secured under mortgage to oblige the borrower to make a predetermined succession of loan payments. A borrower can obtain mortgage finance to from a financial institution like banks. Components like loan size, loan maturity, interest rate and loan payment method differs significantly from one creditor to another.

Mortgaged properties levy restrictions on the use or disposal of the property like selling the property before closing outstanding debt payment. In countries where the demand for home ownership is colossal, robust domestic markets have developed. Economies of USA and UK heavily depend on mortgage finance.

In the USA, borrowers obtain the mortgage finance by submitting a Loan application in conjunction with documents related to borrower’s credit or financial history to the bank underwriter. Alternatively, borrower’s can submit the same documents to a mortgage broker, who then assess the information and provides the borrower with best possible options of financing the mortgaged property. Often, unsuspected borrowers fall prey to unscrupulous money- lenders or brokers en-cash on the borrower’s plight and work the situation to their advantage, while eliminating the mortgage responsibility on the property and force the property owners into foreclosures.

Lenders take into account key factors that influence their decisions regarding lending to a borrower. These factors include credit report, outstanding credit, credit card accounts, down payment, income, interest rates, available funds and debt to income ratio. In addition, supply & demand, interest rates, demographics and economic growth relatively influence the mortgage industry.

Mortgage loans are available to borrowers at Fixed and Adjustable interest rates.

Regardless of national interest rate change, fixed interest rates remain unchanged. Used as part of an introductory offer, usually they are replaced by higher fixed rate or variable rates upon successful completion of six months of the loan duration. The alternative to change a fixed interest rate is through refinancing – getting a lower fixed rate or variable rate on the new loan agreement. Fixed interest rate provides a security against elevating national rates, borrowers are an advantage of paying a comparatively lower are, if locked for a lower fixed rate than the current national rate. It makes finance budgeting easier, if succession of loan payments is unequivocal. However, the disadvantage lies when the national rates have pulled down, borrowers end up paying a higher interest on their mortgage loan.

Variable rates in contrast fluctuate in response to changes in national rates. It is directly proportional to the national rates, hence when national rates pick up; variable rates increase and when they decline so do the variable rates. It’s the most common type of interest rate used for small loans and credit cards. With variable rates prediction of lump sum payment is difficult, it could increase up to several times than the payment that could have been made in matter of few months. However, monthly payments remain fixed and the final payment may be a different amount due to the fluctuating interest that has been accrued over the loan.

Fixed and variable interest rates are popular when dealing with mortgage finance, though there are other types of loans like balloon loans and government backed loans that offer both types of interest as well.

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Tips On Paying And Reducing Monthly Mortgage Payment

March 11th, 2010

The monthly mortgage payment is one of the most expensive debts most of us pay each month. Unfortunately, the recent housing and economic crisis has left many homeowners struggling to keep up with their mortgage payments. If you are on a tight budget, there a number of ways you can reduce your monthly mortgage payments and alleviate the overwhelming financial stress. Below are a number of tips on paying and reducing monthly mortgage payments.

1. To counter the effects of the housing crisis and prevent foreclosures, the Federal Government and mortgage lenders have come up with mortgage programs that allow homeowners to take advantage of reduced mortgage interest rates. If you are having troubles paying your mortgage, this is a good time to approach your lender about refinancing your mortgage for a better rate. By refinancing, you will have a lower monthly mortgage payment.

If possible, try to get a long term fixed mortgage such as a 30 year mortgage because a fixed rate will not fluctuate if the markets start to decline. As well, if you are shopping your mortgage around for a good refinancing deal, check to see if a real estate agent or lender will waive such fees as the application fee. Getting a low interest rate and avoiding extra fees are key factors to getting a good mortgage refinancing deal.

2. A helpful tip on paying your mortgage payment is to pay a significant amount on the principle of the balance owing. If you pay a large amount on the principle, you may be able to get rid of the mortgage insurance payment which will decrease the amount you pay each month.

3. The longer you have a mortgage, such as a 30 year fixed rate mortgage, the less you will have to pay monthly. If you are applying for a mortgage or refinancing, try to get a long term mortgage. As well, if you can afford it, put a large chunk of money down on the mortgage as it will lower your monthly payments.

4. Often people find them in situation where they cannot make their mortgage payments because they have too much debt. For instance, credit card bills, student loans, medical bills, and the bills racked after purchasing homes for sale and etc, can be financially overwhelming. One solution is to get a debt consolidation mortgage loan. When you consolidate all of your debts into one loan, you will only have one monthly payment and one interest rate. You could end up saving thousands of dollars.

5. Always pay your mortgage on time so that you can maintain a clean credit report. Remember, a clean credit report is valued by lenders and will stay with you through life. It will also help you get a better refinance deal. If you have outstanding debts on your credit report, try to pay them off. Consider debt consolidation as a way to clean up your credit rating.

If you find your self in a situation where you are having problems paying your monthly mortgage, there are many steps you can take to avoid foreclosure. By doing so, you will be able to get some much needed financial relief.

Vic Singh is a real estate Brampton agent and specializes in offering some of the lowest commissions with no conditions. When searching for Brampton condos or homes, be sure to check out his real estate advice at his personal blog and website.

The Economic Ingredients Behind the Boise Real Estate Market

March 10th, 2010

The U.S. economy grew faster than initially thought in the fourth quarter as businesses drew down inventories at a much slower pace and boosted investment, a government report showed on Friday. Based on this good news, the Boise real estate market will be buoyed by the gains in economy.

In its second reading of fourth-quarter gross domestic product, the Commerce Department said the economy grew at a 5.9% annual rate, rather than the 5.7% pace it estimated last month. It was still the fastest pace since the third quarter of 2003. Posting an impressive 2.2% increase, the third quarter led all to date. If we go back to the 2003 number the Boise real estate market would be on solid footing.

The economy in the winter time frame posted a 5.7% rate of growth, including all goods and services sold inside the borders of the U.S., according to Reuters. With the recovery seemingly in full swing in the last few months of 2009, our nation seemed to be emerging from the most severe financial crisis since the Great Depression, but that growth has been stymied somewhat in the first quarter of 2010. Even thought consumer spending and the housing markets were down, the fact that businesses increased investment in software and equipment helped add some steadiness to the economy and allowed business to liquidate bloated inventories. As the nation goes, so goes Boise real estate.

Stripping out inventories, the economy expanded at an annual rate of 1.9%, rather than the 2.2% pace estimated last month, indicating growth was not being driven by demand. Inventory sales amounts were alarmingly reduced from $33.5 billion to around $16.9 billion in the final quarter. They dropped $139.2 billion in the July-September period. The inventory changes alone were responsible for a 3.88% difference in GDP. This was the biggest percentage contribution since the fourth quarter of 1987. Inventory reductions by construction materials company had a sizable effect of Boise real estate too.

As a whole, the year 2009 featured the most dramatic decrease in GDP, at 2.4%, since the post World War II recovery of 1946. Toward the end of 2009, consumer spending had to be reduced from the projected 2% to 1.7% in consumer spending. Although offset soon afterward, the “cash for clunkers” program drove GDP, by stimulating consumption, up by a respectable 2.8%. A huge block of our economy normally comes from consumer spending, around 70%, but in the fourth quarter of 2009 it only added a minuscule 1.23%. In such a financial crisis, the Boise real estate market is not independent of the national trends.

With spending on commercial real estate heading down quickly, the fact that the growth happened at all was due mostly because of equipment purchases and investment in software necessary for business growth and improvement. Increases in business investment, from a projected 2.9% to a 6.5% actual pace helped out a lot. It had dropped 5.9% over the prior three-month period. With everyone watching the housing markets, projections of 5.7% were down graded to about 5% in the fourth quarter. With growth as high as 18.9%, the third quarter was a busy one. The fourth quarter closed out with imports and exports showing stronger growth than expected, and contributing a .3% gain for the GDP, according to data sources. As GDP indicates our national economic states, Boise real estate eagerly awaits is significant turn around.

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Want To Sell Your Property?

March 10th, 2010

There is not any denial of the fact that selling out property is no easy task. Numerous number of people around you are trying hard and putting in their best efforts to sell of their properties. When there are free-flowing properties are all prepared for sale, it is kind of plain that selling your own can become quite daunting. However,do not fret as it is not an unattainable task either. Let’s take a look at some measures that will simply help the selling of your property at the earliest best.

One of the finest things that you can do to sell off your property is search out the services of an auctioneer. In case, you aren’t hunting for an express price for your property, auctioning is one of the best options that you have. An auctioneer takes care of everything applying to selling your property. He advertises your home, prepares bidders and takes care of the sale. So, you don’t have to get bothered by any of the problems that lie in the middle of selling the house. However, the only downside to auctioning your property is that you may not be ready to get the type of price that you’re looking for.

Another measure that proves beneficial in this direction is to go in for online selling. It is in reality the fastest way to sell off your property. When it comes to online selling numerous portals come to your aid. Exercise caution when you zero in on a particular website. The reason for this is that there are numerous duplicitous websites who can make wrong use of the information as provided by you. To avoid such a thing, it is in your interest to go through the testimonial and the referrals of the customers who have availed the services of the websites. If you suspect the website is deserving of trust, there is no harm in giving out details of the property you are considering to sell off.

Yet another thing that you can do to sell off your property quickly is cut back your margin. Find out the appraised value of the property that you would like to sell off. Now add to this only justified profit. If you keep the profit margin too high, there’ll be less takers for your property. So, bring down your profit margin and sell off your property at a fair price. This way you could just earn smaller profit on the sale, but you’ll be able to dispose off your property rather quickly.

Yet another necessary account for selling your property is the condition the property is in. it has been observed that if the property is in a good and perfect condition, it raises the chance of its selling to a significant extent. Well of course you need to shell out cash for the restorations done. But it will get you great results in the long-term. A lot many people would like to opt in for properties that are all set and all ready to be used. So be sure that property is in good shape and you are sure to bring more customers.

With these tips at your assistance, you will be able to sell off your property more quickly.

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