Real Estate Q & A

Q. My property went into a sixty day escrow. The escrow amount was $3,000.00. Five days prior to closing the buyer's agent notified me that the contract would be cancelled due to the fact that the property did not appraise for the agreed upon value. Is the buyer's escrow forfeited?

A. In any situation, you must first turn to the closing contract itself. You should look for deadlines for certain things to occur, such as appraisals. Did this appraisal occur after the deadline? Were any other terms involving deadlines not met by the buyer? This will give you some insight as to whether or not the escrow monies must be returned. A general rule of thumb is that escrow monies cannot be released without the consent of all parties.

Q. We had a closing date set. I have just been informed that the seller is requesting a delay in the closing date. Do I have legitimate grounds for renogiation of the purchase price?

A. The reasons that a seller may wish to delay closing may vary, from the legitimate to outright procrastination. If you attempt to renegotiate the purchase price, it may be considered as a new offer, which replaces the original offer. This may therefore void the original offer and all terms negotiated pursuant to that offer. The safest way to approach this is to simply ask yourself if you are willing to wait for the property at the originally agreed upon price.

Q. I am purchasing a property. The seller has not found a replacement property, and has requested an extension of the escrow period. If I do not agree to the extension, do I lose appraisal and inspection fees, as well as my deposit?

A. The deposit will likely be refunded less a small cancellation fee. The appraisal and inspection fees will most likely be lost. If you agree to the extension, be sure to place deadlines on the seller, such as a time by which a replacement property must be found.

Q. I decided to purchase a particular home, however I have now changed my mind. How do I go about cancelling the contract?

A. A contract is a legal document which you have made with the seller. Cancellation for certain reasons may be allowed, however cancellation on the sole basis of changing your mind will likely come with ramifications. You should strongly consider these ramifications prior to backing out of the deal. You should consult an attorney regarding your potential liability in this situation. Typically, a contract cannot force parties to a transaction, however you may be responsible for paying damages to the seller. These damages can take many forms, including the lost opportunities that the seller missed as the result of taking his or her home off the market.

Q. I signed a contract to sell my home. Now I have changed my mind and want to keep the property. Must we sell our home?

A. Again, the first thing to do is to look at the legal document itself. Look for contingencies which will allow you to back out of the transaction. The buyer may decide to enforce the contract in court. You should consult an attorney. It would be wise to make the cancellation more palatable to the buyer by compensating him or her for all of their out of pocket expenses, and maybe an additional amount for their time and effort in negotiating the transaction.

Q. I made an offer on a property. The seller came back with a counter offer. May the seller subsequently sell the property to another buyer?

A. Typically, the seller is free to sell the property to the first buyer who accepts an offer. If you have not accepted the counter offer, chances are the seller is free to do as he or she pleases.

Q. Can I negotiate the selling price of a newly-constructed home?

A. You can always negotiate the selling price of any real estate. However, the seller of a newly-constructed home is usually not willing to budge on the price, for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the small profit margin for transactions involving newly constructed homes.

About the Author:

Catherine Nguyen was born and raised in Dallas, Texas and is a licensed real estate agent. Ms. Nguyen specializes in Dallas real estate and has a career with Renowned Realty Group ? Dallas/Ft. Worth RE/MAX.

Making The Best Use Of Your Cash

You?ve gotten a home equity loan. You?ve jumped through all the hoops and now have that much needed cash in hand. How can you make the best of it? First, decide exactly what you really needed the cash for? Was it for medical bills or educational expenses? Or did you incur too much other debt and need to pay that off with your cash? Whatever the reason, be sure and stay steadfast to the cause. It?s very easy when you have that green in your palm to forget what you truly needed it for in the first place. Write down exactly where you needed the money to go before you begin to write the money orders and checks out.

As you pay off whoever the debtor is, mark them from the list. Mark off everyone! This is very important. Keep your goals in mind. It?s so easy to get caught up and want to spend the money elsewhere. This is really not wise. If you needed the money so desperately you took out an equity loan in the first place, then you really should stay clear to your initial goals. If you took out the loan for medical bills and you buy a new washer and dryer when you really didn?t need one, this is most likely not going to help your financial situation. Sure, you?ll have a shiny new washer and dryer, but you?ll still owe those medical bills and not gain anything else financially. Your payments won?t be lower and after a while the new washer and dryer will remind you of the old one. So, in summary, be sure and be careful when distributing that cash and enjoy achieving those goals!

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Home Appreciation Slows to Lowest Rate in Nine Years

Existing home sales fell 1.3% in June, according to the National Association of Realtors. This marks the eighth decline in 10 months.

June's average price of a sold home increased 0.9% from the year prior, to $231,000. This is the smallest year-over-year price increase since May of 1995.

Regionally, June's sales were down 3.5% in the Northeast and 2.3% in the South, while sales in the West and Midwest remained steady.

The supply of unsold homes has risen to a record 3.725 million units. The inventory is a 6.8 month supply at June's sales rate -- the greatest amount of time in over eight years.

Single-family home sales were down 0.9% to a seasonally adjusted rate of 5.81 million units, whereas sales of condominiums fell 5.5% in June.

David Lereah, NAR chief economist, says that home sales are beginning to level out after five years of record sales. With interest rates increasing, housing sales have slowed.

Lereah suggests that there are two markets seen in the industry right now -- one where red-hot markets are cooling, and the other where moderately priced areas are starting to heat up.

The NAR reports that sales have decreased in New York, Boston, Minneapolis and Chicago, but have increased in Syracuse and Pittsburg.

Overall, sales are increasing in Texas, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee, while decreasing sales are seen in Maryland and Virginia.

Martin Lukac represents http://www.RateEmpire.com and http://www.1AmericanFinancial.com, a finance web-company specializing in real estate and mortgage rates. We specialize in daily updates, mortgage news, rate predictions, mortgage rates and more. Find low home loan mortgage interest rates from hundreds of mortgage companies!

Minnesota Commercial Real Estate

The commercial real estate of Minnesota is concentrated on the ?twin cities? of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Minneapolis is the largest city in Minnesota, as well as the seat of Hennepin County. It is situated in the southeast central part of Minnesota, on the Mississippi River. It flanks its ?twin city? of St. Paul. Minneapolis is a major hub of commerce and industry, and serves a large agricultural region. During the 1900s, manufacturing, milling, food processing, health services, computers, and graphic arts grew as the city?s major industries. There are fifteen Fortune 500 companies that have their headquarters in the Minneapolis and St. Paul metropolitan area. The Ninth Federal Reserve Bank?s headquarters is also located in the city.

Also, the twin cities are famous for their broad range of cultural appeal, and there are many historical museums in Minneapolis. They include the Walker Center, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, which is located at the University of Minnesota's Minneapolis campus.

St. Paul has a population of over 270,000, and is smaller than Minneapolis. It lies along the Mississippi River, adjacent to Minneapolis, forming the metropolitan area of the twin cities. St. Paul is a port of entry in the Mississippi, in addition to being a railroad hub. The city is a financial, commercial, and industrial center. St. Paul also shares an international airport with its twin. Among the city's various industries are construction, electrical and medical equipment, paper and plastic products, sheet metal, motor vehicles, food and consumer goods. Other industries are oil refining, and printing and publishing.

Minnesota Real Estate provides detailed information on Minnesota Real Estate, Minnesota Real Estate Listings, Minnesota Commercial Real Estate, Real Estate Agents in Minnesota and more. Minnesota Real Estate is affiliated with Sarasota Real Estate Marketing.

The Benefits of Obtaining the Services of a Flat Fee Realtor

Each year, a large number of Los Angeles residents make the decision to sell their home. If you are interested in becoming one of those individuals, you have a number of selling options. Those options include privately selling your home or using the services of a professional realtor.

As with any service, there are advantages and disadvantages of seeking professional assistance to sell your home. Many homeowners mistakenly believe that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages, but in reality they often do not. The main disadvantage to using a professional to sell your home is amount of money they will charge. A large number of realtors charge a high fee for their services, but not all do.

If you are interested in finding a realtor that does not charge a high amount of money for their services, there are a number of ways that you can go about doing so. The first way involves familiarizing yourself with the most popular ways that real estate agents obtain their fees from their clients. The two most popular payment methods include a flat fee or a commission based fee.

One of the most preferred choices of payment by Los Angeles homeowners is a flat fee realtor listing. Los Angeles residents prefer this method for a number of different reasons. Perhaps, the greatest benefit of obtaining the services of a flat fee realtor is that their fee will be decided ahead of time. Individuals specializing in flat fee realtor listings often charge the same amount of money for their services, no matter what your home sells for.

If you have a home that is expect to sell for a large amount of money, you may want to consider using the services of an individual who has experience with a flat fee realtor listing. Los Angeles residents with expensive homes are often able to retain a profit from the sale of their home by using a flat fee realtor.

As the current owner of your home, you have the ability to choose which realtor you?d like to select. In addition to selecting a realtor based on their fees, you are encouraged to examine the services offered by each realtor. This should enable you to determine if the fees being charged are actually worth paying. There are many realtors who charge a high amount of fees, but offer a limited number of services. With these realtors you are not receiving a good value for you money.

By taking the time to contact a number of realtors, you could easily find an individual who is experienced with offering a flat fee realtor listing. Los Angeles residents typically want to see a profit from the sale of their home. With a low-cost flat fee realtor, you may be able to see a significant profit.

Brad Horn is a writer for 1 percent realtor where you can find a great resource for information regarding Los Angeles Flat Fee Realtor

How to Sell Your Home in 24 Hours

Has your home been on the market for a while? Are you not getting any showings? Maybe you are getting showings but no offers. I will show you how to sell your home and sell it quickly. These tips work if you are selling it yourself (FSBO) or if you are using a Realtor.

Obviously, if you are in a hot real estate market, you shouldn?t have any trouble selling your home. The tips here can help you sell it for more, but this article is primarily for those in a more competitive market who are having trouble selling their home. It?s for those in either a slow or medium market with plenty of homes for sale. Those are the ones who will benefit most from this article.

First, we need to determine how serious you are about selling your home. Are you a short term, medium term or a long term seller? A long term seller:

• Is in no rush to sell their home, or
• Doesn?t care if they sell it or not, or
• Wants the absolute top price for their home

Do you remember the movie ?Sixth Sense?? The kid in that movie could see dead people. Some of the dead people didn?t know they were dead. The thing about long term sellers is that some of them don?t know that they are a long term seller. They will tell you they want to sell their home, but they won?t do what it takes to sell their home. It?s a Realtor?s nightmare. If you are a long term seller, forget about selling your home quickly. It won?t happen. That?s why it?s called ?long term? seller.

It helps a home to sell if it has good street appeal, is clean and uncluttered, and in a good neighborhood. But what if there are 2 or 3 of those on the same street, or 500 of those in the same city? With all other things being equal, the reason one home sells and another does not, is price.

I have seen homes come onto the market and get accepted offers within just hours of being listed. And this was not in a particularly hot market. They weren't really outstanding homes either. But they had a great price and home buyers want a good deal.

The title of this article is ?How to Sell Your Home in 24 Hours?. Catchy title, huh? It got your attention didn?t? it? The reality is that there is a price at which your home will sell within 24 hours. You may not like that price, but it will sell. The point I am trying to make is if you really want to sell your home, you must take serious measures to make it more attractive than similar homes on the market. That may include lowering the price to a number that you don?t particularly like.

So how serious are you? How motivated are you? I?ve see some sellers switch Realtors like they were flipping pancakes. They kept hoping the next one would have that special touch to sell their home. They thought there was some magic formula that would get them the top-price offer they wanted. And, if your home is a FSBO, you have another hurdle to overcome. You are probably not getting the exposure needed to make you home competitive in the market. To be competitive, your home must have good exposure and be a better choice in some way than similar homes on the market.

The driving force of the housing market is supply and demand. In fact, it?s the driving force of any market. It doesn?t matter if it?s the housing market, the stock market, or the commodities market. Why are gas prices so high? What determines the price of a bag of sugar? Why is one stock price higher than another? Why does one 3 bedroom, 2 bath 2,000 square foot home in one neighborhood cost five times as much as one across town? Why does an electrician charge more for re-wiring your home today than he quoted a year ago (copper prices)? It?s about supply and demand.

If there are more homes on the market than there are buyers for them, it?s called a buyers market. They have more choices. The supply of homes is larger than the demand for them. But there are things you can do to make your home a more attractive choice for available buyers.

• Good street appeal. Keep your grass mowed. Do some landscaping. Plant bushes and flowers. Trim bushes and trees. Put on a fresh coat of paint outside if needed. Make it look appealing. Make people want to come into your home.
• Get rid of the clutter. Make it look spacious. Not just the rooms but the closets and kitchen cabinets as well. People like a home with a lot of storage space.
• Keep it clean. Mop. Dust. Straighten. Clean the carpets. Keep the cat litter box clean.
• Do any needed repairs.
• Paint inside if necessary
• Give it some decorating touches There are some inexpensive decorating techniques you can learn and apply. Browse some of the home magazines. Watch some of the TV shows about the home. Visit some open houses in your area and see what others have done.

But if you do all of this and your home still isn?t selling, it?s time to take a serious look at the price of your home. It may be overpriced. This is where a Realtor can really help you. Get the comps (comparable sales) of homes in your area. When appraisers and Realtors calculate the value of a home, they determine the price per square foot that similar homes sold for in your area. So obviously, you can?t just look at the total price of a home if it is a different size than yours. If a neighbor sells their home for $200,000 and it?s 2,000 square feet, that?s $100 per square foot. If other homes in your area are also selling for $100 per square foot, then you know what yours is worth. Just multiply the square foot of your home by $100. If your home is 2,200 square feet, and everything else is equal, your home is worth about $220,000. This is a simplistic explanation because there are some variations, but it is generally accurate. For a more accurate valuation, pay for a professional appraisal.

Your Realtor can give you a pretty good idea of the price range of homes in your area. For instance, they may find that homes in your area have sold in the $97 - $103 per square foot range, thus an average of $100. If homes have sold in the $97 - $103 range, they were probably listed (and are listed) in the $100 - $106 range. By using this price range, if you price your home at $106 per square foot (or higher), you probably won?t get much activity. If you price it at $100 per square foot you will probably get a fair amount of activity. But if you price it at $97 (or lower) per square foot, you will probably get a lot of activity. The advantage of aggressive pricing is that it may bring in multiple offers and you may actually get a higher than asking price for your home.

So, if you are serious about selling your home, use some of the tips mentioned here and pay particular attention to pricing. And if you really do want to sell your home in 24 hours, be very aggressive with your price.

Craig Jones has been a small business owner since 1991 and a Realtor since early 2005. Check out his newest web site called http://www.The-Best-Websites-Guide.com.

You will find there a collection of some of the most useful websites around. We list the top websites in over 15 categories that are jam packed with information that can save you time and money. We don't overwhelm you with too many choices in each category -- we only give you the cream of the crop.

Las Vegas Nevada Real Estate

Nevada is a state in the western United States, well known for its widespread legalization of the gambling and gaming industry. When searching for a Las Vegas Nevada real estate, it is important to consult qualified brokers. The purchase of any type of residential or business real estate is an important decision. There are agencies, which have a network of local brokers and specialize in residential and commercial real estate. There are brokers who work individually also. In the case of a seller, the main objective is to sell the real estate property at the highest cost possible and as quickly as possible. The buyer desires to purchase the real estate at the lowest possible cost. It is essential to both to go through the transaction with no problems and no time wasted. Nevada real estate brokers assist buyers and sellers in this.

Experienced Nevada brokers primarily aim at meeting the demands of customers seeking to invest in real estate. They have a documented record in buying and selling real estate and are an ideal option to ensure the best deal possible. They are well aware of the market conditions and price fluctuation. This puts them in a position to be able to suggest the best price strategy. This helps to gain from the value of a Nevada real estate sale or purchase.

Nevada real estate agencies offer a selection of properties available for purchase and this is helpful to the real estate investors. These companies have websites that list Nevada's magnificent penthouses, condos, practically priced investment properties, single-family houses, sea front mansions and business properties. Every real estate list contains the properties available currently, house plans and elevations, builder models, pricing and square footage, neighborhood information and contact details. The information helps in securing good estate deals in Nevada.

Nevada provides detailed information on Nevada, Las Vegas Nevada Real Estate, Reno Nevada, Nevada Corporations and more. Nevada is affiliated with Napa Valley Wine Tours.

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.

Celebrity HomeStyles: Meredith Vieira

Home-as-a-refuge will never be more important to Meredith Viera while she completes the transition from ensemble member on the popular The View to the stratosphere of day time television as co-host of The Today Show. Tucked away in the Hudson River Valley, far enough away from Manhattan to provide a oriented home for her husband and three children, is a Italian style home that yields a comfortable elegance.

Contemplating a major expansion of her home, Viera seized the opportunity to redefine both the homes style and her own need to shift away from country-Tuscan to European elegance. The home is centered around a courtyard, and not a small one. Airy, roomy outdoors spaces perform a variety of functions. An outdoor covered kitchen and dining area provide a place for friends and family to taste the flavors of food and wine. A substantial fireplace anchors a comfortable open-air seating area. Authentic rough slate tiles and gray gravel provide the dramatic flooring backdrop for assorted pergolas, raised and at-grade gardens. Enclosed on several sides by the stucco two-story elevations with substantial wood doors, windows, shutters and topped with a red tile roof, you feel a million miles from New York City.

Interior rooms reflect the new attitude of Viera and husband, the writer Richard Cohen. With a mix of classical moldings and trim, random-width and standard hardwood floors, the color palette features creamy tones and masculine touches. An occasional design edge is featured through stunning furniture selections, finished with art from today and yesteryear. French doors with Juliette balconies peppered through the house bring the outside in. Just thinking about drapes blowing in the wind at Viera's home says refuge to me.

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. He contributes residential real estate analysis to Business Week, CBS The Early Show, CNN, HGTVpro.com, The New York Times, and USA Today. View his books at http://www.1001RealEstateTips.com.

Housing Prices And NorthAmerican Wealth

Housing prices fundamentals depend a great deal on the wider economy, especially income and borrowing rates. More specifically, housing prices bear chiefly fret over two important measures: 1) the ratio of house prices to median income and 2) the ratio of rental income to house prices.

House prices to median income now equals 3.8 pretty much in both the United States and Canada, which means that the median price of an interest in land is now getting out of reach of the average North-American household. This measure is the primary catalyst to what economists refer to as ‘The Affordability Crisis', and is becoming more and more a concern. The Affordability Crisis is a very serious matter indeed. It has economic, political, social and demographic reverberations and repercussions.

The hot local real estate markets of recent times have driven prices literally through the roof and since home-ownership is the single most important element in the democratization of prosperity, un-affordability becomes a social problem just as much as an economic one. It impacts the very essence of North American wealth reserves and distribution, because home-ownership is the element of social stability and cohesion and, therefore, an important pillar of a sustainable modern economic capitalistic growth.

The second measure, the ratio of rental income to house prices is too low to offer property owners and investors a decent return, suggesting again that houses are badly overpriced. At 0.5 percent, rental income over house prices indicates that investors will think twice before purchasing rental properties, since they have investment alternatives. For instance, here in Downtown Vancouver it used to be, only a couple of years ago, that purchasing an apartment unit and then rent it out would net a yearly return of over 8 percent. But since rental rates have not followed at par with real capital appreciation, taking into account increased property tax the yield is nowadays less than 5 percent.

Nearly everyone now expects prices to level off for a bit and slow the economy down, but in ultimate analysis the foregoing valuation measures are less worrisome than one might think at first.

The high ratio of house prices to income is less alarming because low mortgage rates in both the United States and Canada have held down the real, effective cost of owning a home. This cost has not changed much despite an upward shift in interest rates, which in turn has increased volatility in real estate markets. North-American homeowners, especially in the United States, remain exposed to a sharp rise in long-term interest rates if, say, foreign investors in the American Treasury were to start selling bonds and put their money elsewhere. But this does not seem to be the case for the time being, as confidence in American financial stability is at an all-time high.

Furthermore, although it is true that rents have failed to keep pace with the rising prices of interests in land, that comparison partly reflects a failure to adjust for the growing quality of the homes Americans and Canadians have been buying. This, coupled by the fact that demand for rents is now beginning to move up, would suggest that rising rents could raise the threshold and set the ratio on a more balanced footing - so long as incomes keep growing.

An additional reason for optimism is that prices of real estate in Britain and Australia, two other countries that bubble-watchers have been fingering as examples of the impending and devastating real estate bubbles in North America, have proven much less damaging than many expected. Their respective economies have performed so well after real estate markets peaked, that their central banks found it necessary to raise interest rates again afterwards.

For all the foregoing reasons many economic forecaster and analysts here do not believe that a recession is around the corner merely because of the slowdown in real estate. And I am one of them.

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.

Portable Metal Buildings II

Portable metal buildings are very useful and have multiple purposes. Metal buildings are sturdy and durable and provide a means of storage. In some instances, you may opt for portable metal buildings because of the nature of your business or home.

For example, if you live in a mobile home or move frequently, you may want to take any storage sheds with you during your move. These are also useful for businesses such as construction companies where your company may need a presence on each of your construction sites. Below are some of the different types of portable metal buildings.

One of the most useful types of portable metal buildings includes portable ticket booths and kiosks. They have a variety of uses including shelter for parking lot attendants, ticket booths, and concession stands. Most designs are compact and easy to move with a standard forklift. If you have a large company, it may be worth it to have a few of these on hand, especially if you regularly organize company events and picnics. If you need more of these than what you have, you can always rent them.

You can also purchase portable storage sheds. These are usually larger than the standard kiosk, so handling them with a fork lift is usually not an option. If you opt for a smaller shed, you may be able to handle it with a forklift. However, your best option would be to transport them using a trailer. These are ideal for businesses that have several locations and whose storage needs may change constantly. These also are great for construction companies.

So, portable metal buildings are a great way to enhance your storage capabilities. The smaller portable booths are ideal for parking lots, retail kiosks, and for events. The small storage sheds are great for both business and residential purposes. If you decide to purchase one, keep in mind that companies and designs vary, so doing your research is essential.

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

Wisconsin Lakefront Property

The value of land is of great importance since its quantity cannot be increased. To be in possession of any type of recreational land in America is a status symbol. In the Midwest alone there are more than 20 million people contending for the few remaining lakefront properties, as this property is turning into a rarity very quickly. Wisconsin lakefront properties are becoming hard to find, if not impossible. Properties with brooks, streams and small ponds are becoming scarce, and hence the request for attractive parcels is ever increasing.

As far as lakefront property is concerned, Wisconsin has a lot to offer in terms of variety and quality. Geneva Lake is the second-deepest lake in Wisconsin, and property on its shores is particularly popular. It provides a taste of splendid scenic beauty. This lakefront provides some of the best properties with a reasonably priced investment, and taxes are not too high.

There are other lakefront properties next to the No-Wake lakes, where one can enjoy camping, hunting, and fishing without any disturbances since the area around is extremely quiet. There are fly-fishing streams close by where one can experience canoeing and kayaking. Winnebago, Wisconsin's largest lake, offers some very beautiful lakefront properties which are charming and pristine. Apart from these, the Green Lake, which is the deepest and also one of the most gorgeous lakes of Wisconsin, has a few rare and expensive pieces of lakefront property. One can find some of the most magnificently clear views of the Green Lake. Peaceful waters and a shallow shore provide safety for children to swim.

For someone who is looking for a lifetime of tranquility and fun, Wisconsin lakefront property is the option to look out for.

Lakefront Property provides detailed information on Lakefront Property, Michigan Lakefront Property, Lakefront Property For Sale, Wisconsin Lakefront Property and more. Lakefront Property is affiliated with Lake Havasu City.

Fractional Home Ownership

Why buy a whole pie if you only want a pie? If fractional jet ownership makes sense to you, fractional vacation home ownership will too.

As the second home market is experiencing a boom time, 1/3 of all homes sold last year were for second homes. Many will be used as retirement residences in the future, but who wants a single retirement home when you can buy several in different locations for the same expense?

The 76 million baby boomers who will retire in the next 15 years are studying their options and one hot option is fractional real estate ownership. The biggest number of boomers turned 50 this year and last, and at 50 years old, statistically people begin to shop for a retirement residence. At the same time, the fractional real estate business is red hot.

Where do boomers want to be in retirement? On a golf course? Although many do, most want to be in walkable communities, with shopping and dining options. Many want to return to school, and pursue educational interests they never had time for before. What if you can own 4 homes, for 3 mos a year each, and enjoy all the best places.

Quarter-share fractional ownership allows this dream to be an affordable reality.

In a fractional ownership share you are guaranteed a set period of time in your residence. You know years in advance when you will be enjoying your vacation spot. Many fractionals also allow exchange so that if you ever bore of the 'same old great place' you may be able to trade it for another destination residence.

How is fractional different from timeshare you may ask? Timeshare is typically sold in 1/52, or one-week, shares. This greatly increases the marketing expense and dilutes the real estate value or your deeded purchase. With fractional, 1/12 or a full month of use, is typically the minimum share, and the real estate value you are purchasing is closer to that of whole ownership.

Mortgages for timeshare are readily available, but again at a much higher rate and cost - typically 10% or higher rates. Financing for a fractional is again much closer to that of a typical second home with many of the same 30 year type mortgage options. Few lenders understand fractional financing.

Buyers of fractional also benefit by sharing the cost of these facilities, boomers will be able to afford the lifestyle for which they desire and have become accustomed to while affording multiple homes in retirement.

Bob Waun , Founder & CEO
Vacation Finance
bwaun@vacation-finance.com

Bob is CEO and Founder of Vacation Finance, America's First Second-Home Lender, which is a leader in the fractional ownership, condo hotel, cottage and timeshare financing business. Vacation Finance offers a full range of mortgage options for second home buyers and offers fractional financing from 1/4 share to 1/12 share.

Breakthrough Marketing Tips for Selling Houses

Home sellers who learn about marketing psychology and home staging can take advantage of unconventional selling strategies. If you're selling a home or investment house, you might need some extra help to generate a speedy, top-dollar sale. Here are three cutting edge home selling concepts to help you.

1. Marketing Psychology

Study the Internet marketing masters. Notice that effective sales letters don't list the features of a product. Internet marketers know that people buy because they want the benefits.

Structure your sales materials for your product keeping in mind what your house can do for the buyer. Instead of listing a long list of features, turn the amenities into benefits to the home buyer. For instance, instead of listing 2,050 sq. ft, 2 story, say: Spread out in huge two-story home of over 2,000 square feet. Think about your potential buyers and target your benefits to them. First-time home buyers care about privacy and easy payments. Move-up buyers care about status and luxury.

2. Home Staging for a Speedy Sale

Staged homes sell faster for many reasons. Staged homes make buyers feel at home--instead of feeling like an intruder in someone else's home. Agents love to advertise and show a staged home. Appraisers even give credit for buyer appeal.

3. Home Staging with Design Psychology for a Speedy, Top-Dollar Sale

Design Psychology takes home staging further by applying marketing psychology to interior design.

Always consider your target market and their emotional needs. First-time buyers want shelter and security, while move-up buyers desire prestige and peace. After you've cleaned and shined your home, set the stage. Add a few props, carefully selected to encourage a prospective buyer's desired emotions and paying special attention to happiness, joy, serenity, and security.

Home Staging with Design Psychology, unlike traditional home staging, brings into play:

* Market colors instead of bland white walls: market colors are selected based on the buyers' profile and proven preferences.

* Furnishings for feelings: stage a lifestyle step-up.

* Props to entice buyers senses: unlike normal home staging, you don't need rooms full of furniture.

What do home buyers want? They want a home that meets their needs. However, they'll eventually buy the home that makes them FEEL happy and one that will impress their friends, because they also want to be proud of the home they've chosen. Your choice of decorating colors, patterns, textures, and furnishings will influence the way a prospective buyer feels, and the buyer's feelings will impact their choice of housing.

Copyright ? 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

More information about Staged Homes

Learn about Home Staging from an interior design teacher. Jeanette Fisher offers free Home Staging Information and teleseminars. Find out how to profile your prospective home buyer and set the stage for a top dollar, faster sale. Sell Your Home Fast: http://sellfast.info

Affordable Homes In California A Myth Or A Reality?

In one of the most expensive real estate markets in the United States, how do you find a home in California affordable? It is simple. Don?t overextend your budget. In today?s market where lay offs are occurring and real estate sales are on the downslide, make sure you choose a home you can afford. If you?re laid off or you lose your job for whatever reason, you want to ensure you can still afford your payments and hopefully have some money to spare if an unforeseeable event such as job loss occurs.

Keep in mind not to select a home that will have your mortgage payments exhausting all of your resources in cause of emergencies. Most financial advisors recommend you have at least six months salary in savings in case of emergencies. If you saddle your budget with a huge payment, it might not be possible to do accrue such a savings. So can you afford a home in California? Sure, as long as you know your limits, budget accordingly, and don?t over extend yourself. However, chances are that if you are home shopping in California, you?re employed there as well. Congratulations! You?ve joined one of the top paid states for median income. So with higher salaries, a higher-priced home is more affordable to you. With most of California?s residents purchasing homes using up to 50 percent of their income, it?s better to be safe than sorry. Always keep a level head with thinking of how much you make and how much you can afford for you and your family.

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Real Estate Courses

Buying, selling and investing in real estate involve complex transactions and high financial considerations. Given this, buyers, lenders and investors usually ask the help of real estate agents and real estate brokers to help them in their real estate needs. This is because real estate brokers and agents possess a thorough knowledge of the real estate market. They are also familiar with local zoning and tax laws and with financing agencies. In some cases, agents and brokers also act as intermediaries in the negotiations between buyers and sellers on the price of the property.

Becoming an agent or a broker

Being a real estate agent or a broker has proven to be a lucrative source of income for those practicing this profession and most estimates show that in the near future, the number of real estate agents and brokers will continue to rise because of this fact. However, becoming a real estate agent or broker requires that potential agents be at least 18 years of age, a high school graduate and be able to pass the state exam. The state exams, which is usually more comprehensive for brokers include questions on real estate transaction and relevant real estate laws.

If you wish to become an agent or a broker in the United States, you must be informed on the different requirement of the different states with regard to licensing. In most of the states, it is required that potential agents must complete between thirty to ninety hours of classroom instruction. For brokers, they are usually required to undergo sixty to ninety hours of formal training together with a required amount of experience in real estate transactions, which range from one to three years. Most of the courses in the training include subjects on marketing, accounting, and a substantial amount of courses in real estate, finance and real estate laws.

Most states require that these licenses be renewed every one or two years. However, instead of requiring agents to take new exams, some states require continuing education for agents and brokers for them to be able to renew their licenses.

Where to enroll

Given the demand for real estate training, a large of number of rims has been set up to provide such services. These firms cater to both beginners and experienced agents and brokers for their specific training needs. Apart from the traditional institutions such as universities and colleges, potential brokers and agents can also look to the Internet for online courses. As the number of agents and brokers who wish to get formal training on real estate continue to increase, the importance of institutions that provide these training will further be highlighted.

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.

Online Real Estate Listings Are They Reliable?

Nearly everyone shopping for a home these days looks online either before or after contacting a real estate agent. Not only can you search for a home according to your desired price range, number of bedrooms, garage space and location, but you can see color pictures and in some cases videos, and forward them to your friends.

Does this mean that you no longer need a real estate agent to find a home? Well, not exactly. The online listings contain only the ?broker reciprocity? listings. Some brokers elect to not allow their listings to be displayed on other company web sites.

Besides not being complete, the listings on an individual agents?s or broker?s web site may not be up-to-date. It takes time and programming savvy to download the current listings which are only available to realtors. Some agents may do this daily, while others may settle for weekly or sporadic downloads.

Only a real estate agent is able to access the entire Multiple Listing Service. Your agent may also know of properties that are not yet listed, so you are able to increase your search considerably by working with a licensed real estate agent.

You may also receive quite a bit of additional information on listings that you have already browsed online, by getting the listing sheet from your agent. Most of the online databases list only a fraction of the listing information.

If you are looking for lakeshore real estate for instance, you agent is able to search for listings on a specific lake. If you are an investor, your agent can search for listings based on the length of time they have been on the market. He or she can also save these search parameters and recheck them for you as often as you would like.

Visit http://www.realestatecrosslakeminnesota.com/ for information about real estate in Crosslake Minnesota.

California Foreclosure Activity Up by the Biggest Margin in 14 Years is the Bust Starting?

Although the foreclosure rate in California soared in the second quarter, it is still not clear exactly how bad this is. It certainly is not good, however in spite of the soaring foreclosure rate, foreclosures are still below normal.

In the time period April through June lenders 20,752 default notices to homeowners, up 67.2% from the same period last year. When a homeowner receives a default notice, foreclosure is still quite a way off. After the first default notice the homeowner may still have a number of options before they lose their home to foreclosure. The default notice is sent to a homeowner who is late with their mortgage payments.

These statistics have been compiled by the company DataQuick since 1992. The jump in default notices is the largest since DataQuick began compiling these statistics.

The quarterly high for default notices files was in the first quarter of 1996 when 59,897 notices were sent out to homeowners.

There are a number of other factors that need to be watched. These include the amount of equity the homeowner has in the home and the type of mortgage they have. This default activity bears watching but does not necessarily mean the housing market is about to collapse.

Of homeowners that receive default notices, only about 7% actually go into foreclosure and lose their homes. It is not like the market is going to be flooded with homes in foreclosure. However the appreciation of prices is slowing quite a bit. Homeowners who depended on that appreciation to continually refinance and take out equity are the ones that will be feeling the pain. For investors the market bears close watching.

Marshall Prentice the president of DataQuick believes the default rate would almost have to double before home values would be affected. The spike in defaults is slowing the appreciation of of home values. In San Diego and Sacramento home values are flat. These are two areas in California that saw appreciation rates soar. San Diego and Sacramento are two areas in California that are vulnerable to falling home prices.

Andy Goldman has contibuted articles on finance to numerous publications over the past 15 years. He is owner of http://www.carealestateinvest.com

Mortgage Applications Down

Mortgage applications fell for the first time in four weeks as demand hit the lowest level in almost three years.

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association weekly report, the seasonally adjusted index of mortgage application activity for the week ended August 25 decreased 0.9%, landing nearly 23% below last year's level for the same week.

The decline remained consistent with the slowdown being seen in the housing market.

We're still in the soft landing camp for the housing market, explained John Shin, senior economist for Lehman Brothers. We do see a sizable impact on the economy and expect that the slowing housing market is going to trim roughly one percentage point off of growth over the rest of this year and the next year as well.

For the sixth straight week, home refinancing demand increased as a result of decreasing mortgage rates.

Last week, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate averaged 6.39%, well below June's four-year high of 6.86%. However, they were well above last year's level of 5.73%.

Seasonally adjusted index of refinancing applications increased slightly for the week, up to 1,609.2 from 1,608.5.

The refinancing share of total applications increased to 41.5%, up from 40.6% the week prior. This marks the highest level since February.

Fifteen-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged a rate of 6.06%, up from 6.04% the week prior. The one-year adjustable-rate mortgage also saw an increase, up to 5.97% from 5.91%.

ARMs made up 26.8% of total loan applications, an increase from 26.4% the week prior.

The MBA's survey covers 50% of all US retail residential mortgage loans. Respondents include mortgage bankers, commercial banks and thrifts.

Martin Lukac represents http://www.RateEmpire.com and http://www.1AmericanFinancial.com, a finance web-company specializing in real estate and mortgage rates. We specialize in daily updates, mortgage news, rate predictions, mortgage rates and more. Find low home loan mortgage interest rates from hundreds of mortgage companies!

Why Do You Need Help Buying Or Selling Your Home In The New Market

Since the latter part of 2005, it seems like Real Estate signs are popping up in yards like weeds. As of July 31, 2006 there were 15,743 listings on the market for Pinellas County (9,549 Single Family Homes and 6,194 Condos). With this many homes on the market, it begs the question ? Why Do You Need Help Buying Or Selling Your Home In The New Market?

As anyone who has been in the market for a home recently knows, there are A LOT of homes to choose from. If a buyer is not specific with their criteria the number of possibilities can be overwhelming. By sitting down with an agent, the homebuyer can discover what is truly important to them and only look at homes that meet their exact requirements, including location, price or features.

Once a property has been selected, the buyer?s agent can also help negotiate the best possible price for that home and also make sure that the buyers financing needs are all met. Most agents have a good working relationship with a lender who can facilitate a smooth financial transaction for the buyer. In addition, more buyers are able to take advantage of seller assisted closing costs and other creative financing options which their agent will help them to negotiate during the offer.

Having an agent on their side in this market is also vital for home sellers. With all of the local competition it is not enough to just put a house in the MLS system and hope it sells. Agents are now utilizing every avenue available to market their listings including direct mail, the internet, homes magazines and on-site events like Broker?s Open Houses and Public Open Houses. Additional ideas like increasing the buyer?s agent commission, offering bonuses and assisting with buyer?s closing costs are also methods that can generate buyer interest.

The current absorption rate (the percentage of the homes on the market that sold in any given month) is a good indicator of the challenges faced when working to getting a home sold. The rate has dropped from 51.5% in July of 2005 to 8.6% in July of 2006 for Single Family Homes and from 43.6% in July of 2005 to 4.8% in July of 2006 (meaning that less than 10% of the Single Family homes and less than 5% of the Condos on the market sold last month). Having a dedicated Realtor? working full time to get your home in front of any available buyers is imperative!

Once an offer is received, the challenge is to negotiate an offer that is win-win for BOTH the seller and the buyer. Because of the tight market, buyers are more savvy when negotiating a deal and so having an agent on your side can ensure that you get the highest price possible for your home.

Visit realestatemarketingpro.blogspot.com for free real estate marketing tips or see these tips and tricks in action at www.ComeToClearwater.com

Realtors and mortgage bankers/brokers, please feel free to use this article provided this reference is included and all links remain active.

The State of the Real Estate Market is the Housing Bubble Bursting in Tampa Bay?

If your local Realtor? is to be believed, the stabilization of housing prices and the cooling of the housing market is good for the entire community. But, how can such a slowdown possibly be a good thing? Homeowners, used to seeing double digit gains in their homes values, are concerned when their home does not sell in a matter days with multiple offers, as homes were doing until the end of 2005.

Surprisingly enough a more stable market is better for everyone, and a slowdown is not a stop. David Lereah, NAR's chief economist states, 2006 is still expected to be the third strongest on record. In this case, experiencing a slowing from a hot market is a good thing because we need a solid housing sector to provide an underlying base to the economy, and slower appreciation will help to preserve long-term affordability.

In general, the overwhelming opinion of those in the know, is this slowdown will result in a stable housing market through the end of 2006. Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan on May 18, 2006 said that Americans' consumption could taper off somewhat now that the U.S. housing market's extraordinary boom has ended. Greenspan, in his first public U.S. speech since retiring in January, predicted there is no danger of a total collapse of the housing market.

UCLA Anderson Forecast Director Edward Leamer, who also does not expect real estate prices to fall significantly, notes that sales volume is what typically drops, and drops more precipitously than prices, as the price cycle lags behind the volume cycle. Locally we have seen this as homes have stayed on the market longer, although prices have remained stable.

According to the NAR (National Association of Realtors), Two conditions are necessary for price softness in a given area: an oversupply of homes available for sale, and adverse economic conditions ? generally a weak local job market. Fortunately, our local job market continues to be strong, with Florida's unemployment rate at 3.2 percent in May, up only slightly from 3.0 in April. Florida's May 2006 rate was 1.4 percentage points lower than the national rate of 4.6 percent.

We are fortunate in the Tampa Bay area that Florida continues to be the destination for aging Baby Boomers and others looking for vacation properties and second homes. With a strong economic forecast and a desirable destination, Tampa Bay should be able to weather the housing bubble rumors and come through the remainder of the 2006 housing market safely.

Visit http://realestatemarketingpro.blogspot.com for free real estate marketing tips or see these tips and tricks in action at http://www.ComeToClearwater.com

Realtors and mortgage bankers/brokers, please feel free to use this article provided this reference is included and all links remain active.

Lakefront Property For Sale

Lakefront property for sale is a highly valuable commodity. A life at the lakefront is just like your own personal heaven. A lakefront property cannot be compared with any other property. Hence, the delight of living next to lake can be experienced only by owning or renting lakefront property.

Today a huge number of lakefront properties are available for sale. Some are along the world's most beautiful lakes, while others are on small and quiet ones. Lakefront property is common in the USA and Canada, since they have about 3,000 lakes.

Some lakefront properties set themselves apart from the rest. Less than a 4-hour drive from the areas of Washington, DC, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New Jersey is a village at the Bear Trap Dunes, which was given the 2002 Development of the Year award for some of the best lakefront property in the area. Near Delaware, elegant lakefront property is available next to the Indian River Bay.

In Florida, the Hammock Beach, situated at the Palm Coast, is enclosed by very old oak hammocks and the Atlantic Ocean. Here one has a chance to obtain pre-construction pricing. Then, moving towards the Southeast, there are beautiful lakefront properties in the Mississippi, such as the Pickwick Pines Resort in Iuka and the Old Waverly in West Point. These provide an amazing experience of stylish living. A lakefront property on Lake Wylie, near Charlotte, North Carolina, is The Sanctuary, which is a natural reserve society of less than 200 home sites. The Goodfield Landing, Decatur, is in Tennessee.

Lakefront Property provides detailed information on Lakefront Property, Michigan Lakefront Property, Lakefront Property For Sale, Wisconsin Lakefront Property and more. Lakefront Property is affiliated with Lake Havasu City.

Real Estate What Makes for a Great Agent Website

In today?s market it is important for an agent to have a website that caters to the needs of the consumer. This means that a website needs to go beyond the old rule of providing just the pictures, size, style, and price of a home. The agents website today needs to have more information and links to the communities they serve. It should have information about the city/town, local newspapers, libraries, schools, public transportation, and shopping. If you find an agent who includes this kind of information on their website, you probably have an agent that is current with today?s technology and is thinking about the customer?s needs instead of his needs. One more thing, if you are a first time homebuyer make sure the website has free articles that talk specifically about your needs

You should be concerned if your agent does not have a website. It can mean:
1. S/he is new in the business or refuses to accept change
2. S/he may not believe that the Internet is important.
3. S/he is afraid of technology

If you are planning to buy or sell property in Massachusetts in the next 12 to 18 months, or you?re just curious, check out http://www.ricks-ma-home-buyer.com

Rick is a member of the Real Estate Cyber Space Society and the Massachusetts Association of Realtors, Technology Committee. He has also been an active traveler on the Internet Highway for more than 15 years.

California Real Estate Market Gives Mixed Messages

In April 47,250 new and resale houses and condos were sold in the state of California. That?s down from 54,500 in March which is a drop of 13.3%. April of 2005 was one of the strongest months for real estate in California?s history. What a difference a year makes. Sales were down 21% from last April. Even though sales were down, prices were not.

In April of 2006, prices were up 10.2% from the same period a year ago. The average price of a home in California now is $562,380. Nearly 85% of the cities in California have shown an increase in prices since the same period last year. Since California trends are so important to the Real Estate market, the Real Estate market there is being watched very closely.

One market that is watched closely is the luxury home market. The feeling is in a market downturn, the luxury market will be one of the first markets to suffer. So what is happening in the luxury market in California? Lets take a look at these markets in Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco.

In Los Angeles values rose 0.1 percent from the previous quarter and 12.4 percent from a year ago. In Los Angeles the average luxury home was priced at $2.29 million.

In San Diego prices rose 0.9 percent from the previous quarter and 6.8 percent from a year earlier. The average luxury home in San Diego priced at $2.1 million. San Diego as a whole has been one of the most overheated markets in California, so the fact that luxury home prices continue to hold up there may be good news for the rest of the homeowners in San Diego for now.

In San Francisco prices were up 1.6 percent from the previous quarter and up 8.6 percent from the same period of time last year. The average price of a luxury home in San Francisco is $2.92 million.

So what direction is the California Market moving? There are investors cashing in on their profits and getting out, however most homeowners are not investors. Investors poured into lower priced markets during the recent boom and areas in Florida and Arizona have many residential investors. The market has started to reflect this. In Phoenix the real estate market is pulling back due to rising inventory from investors trying to cash in, however at this point you couldn?t call this a bust. In other areas of the country prices are still inching up.

In California the market is returning to normal conditions. It will take longer to sell a home and prices may stay flat or increase slowly.

So far the signs of market stress that would indicate a bust are not there. Down payments remain stable and speculation buying is moderate. The default rates are up, however these rates are still low.

Andrew Goldman is president of Metal Rabbit media services, the operator of http://www.carealestateinvest.com and http://www.Exchangetradedfundinvesting.com He has written a number of articles on finance and investment over the last ten years.

Before You Sell Let Your Realtor Help You to Prepare

When preparing to sell a home, you may be dealing with a lot of mixed feelings ? for example, letting go of all the memories in the old house, yet looking forward to new and exciting adventures in a new one. It also is a very hectic time, especially if you moving out of the area. There will be the going-away parties with neighbors and at work, ensuring you have changed your address with everyone, and coordinating the sale of your home with the purchase of your new one.

Your realtor(s), both for selling the old home and for buying the new one, can be of great assistance to you in coordinating these transactions and avoiding the domino effect of the closing, moving and closing dates. Your realtor gets everyone to commit to a window of dates and also to stick to them. The realtor will get all agreements in writing and can place financial penalties on any party who fails to comply.

Curb Appeal

Your realtor is used to viewing home and property from the potential buyers perspective. He/she can be essential in assisting you to prepare your home with a strong curb appeal. It is important for your property to be visually appealing in order to attract more potential buyers and garnering a quicker sale.

The realtor will look at the exterior, which should be well maintained with trimmed trees and shrubs, nothing sitting around to detract from the property?s appeal, foundations without cracks, and well maintained and cleaned window casings, gutters, chimney, shutters, siding, doors and moldings. Anything that needs painting should be painted. If you are not sure, ask your realtor. Ensure the garage door always is closed when not in use.

Another area your realtor will review is the interior, where there are plenty of improvement areas that do not cost a lot to do but make a world of difference in buying appeal. Clean all the windows inside and out with no streaks. Make sure floors, tiles, tubs, showers and faucets sparkle. The same for kitchen appliances, especially ranges, ovens, refrigerator and freezer ? inside and out. Give the carpets a good cleaning, even if you recently did this. Ensure there are clean filters in the heating and air conditioner. Repair squeaky floors and oil squeaky doors. Ensure the faucets do not drip. Your realtor will advise you of many other inexpensive things that will add buyer appeal to your home.

Once your home is ready to show, your realtor will provide invaluable services to you. He/she will establish a fair asking price for your home, based on the location, economic conditions, supply-demand of the local market, seasonal influences, school availability in the area, the average home prices in the neighborhood, and the extra features and amenities of your home.

Next, your realtor will promote, advertise and market your home at no cost to you, using resources not available to homeowners who prefer to self-sell their homes.

Your realtor will schedule all showing appointments, negotiating times that are convenient for you without losing the potential buyers. The realtor will qualify interested buyers, weeding out those who cannot qualify for a mortgage; and then help you negotiate a sale price with the buyer.

Another service of your realtor is referrals for insurance, inspections, legal counsel and financing. Your realtor may even be able to refer you to a lender for a bridge loan, if you are forced to purchase a new home before you have sold your current one. A bridge loan helps, when you are forced to carry mortgages on two homes simultaneously over a short duration.

Rely on your realtor when selling your home. Experience in the industry gives the realtor a unique perspective that can only assist in a good sale for your home.

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

Find The Perfect Honolulu Monthly Rental

Hawaii is beautiful, find the perfect vacation rental

Are you in need of a rental in Honolulu? Honolulu is broken into four areas: Downtown, Manoa, Waikiki, and Waimanalo/Kaneohe. Before proceeding to search for a rental in Honolulu, you should pick the areas that most appeal to you. You must also come up with a reachable budget. When you rent, you still must pay for your food, utilities, and personal expenses. It is important to know how much you can afford to pay in rent and still have money left for your other bills.

The majority of rental in Honolulu managers require a full-credit check, a security deposit, first and last month?s rent, personal and professional recommendations, and proof of employment. You will be asked to sign a legally binding lease. Make sure you are clear on what utilities, if any, are included in the monthly rent. Water and heating are usually included. Electricity and phone bills are typically the renter?s responsibility.

In Downtown, rental rates can be quite low per month for an unfurnished studio that houses a living space and bathroom. Located on the western side of Oahu, Downtown Honolulu is close to shopping, dining, business, and the major airport. For several thousand dollars per month, you can rent a three-bedroom plantation-style bungalow that is located across from the beach. For this area of rental in Honolulu, the average price is high but that is indicative of the location. The renter here gets a three-bedroom, two-bathroom cottage near the major shopping district.

Manoa is located on the southwestern edge of Oahu. Beaches in this area are pristine. A one-bedroom studio rental in Honolulu in the Manoa area starts is several hundred dollars per month. A few thousand dollars a month will get the renter a two-bedroom apartment with ocean views. For a lower price the rental typically includes one-bedroom apartments that come fully furnished, minus the fabulous view.

Waikiki is located on the southern end of Oahu. This area is popular with surfers and beach lovers. A rental in Honolulu in the Waikiki area is also in the few thousand dollar range. Property in this area is extremely hard to come by.

If you are planning to obtain a rental in Honolulu in Waikiki, you must be extremely aggressive in pursuing any available property. An unfurnished one-bedroom apartment with one parking space is very desirable and therefore is in high demand. Spending more per month will net you an unfurnished two-bedroom cottage in a gated community. Neither of these examples are waterfront. Waterfront property in Waikiki is extremely rare and very high priced.

Finally, when looking for a rental in Honolulu, Waimanalo/Kaneohe is another area to consider. On the eastern coast of Oahu, Waimanalo/Kaneohe properties are a popular choice. A three-bedroom, executive style home will rent for a few thousand dollars per month including utilities.

Leasing a rental in Honolulu can be a trying experience. Prices vary greatly, but if you go into your search with a firm budget in mind, you?ll do fine!

For more information on the best Honolulu Montly Rentals try visiting Real Estate Magazine located at http://real-estate-magazine.com where you will find valuable information on real estate, prefab log cabins and other information..

Austin Real Estate Brokers

A person whose business is to market immovable property on behalf of clients is called a real estate agent. They find buyers for those trying to sell real estate, and sellers for those who want to buy property. Austin is currently experiencing a real estate boom. There are many real estate agents in Austin who give great service to their clients.

As there is high competition, these agents charge reasonable prices. Buyer's agents in Austin get their share from the proceedings of the sale; hence, buyers receive free service. For sellers, most of the agents give free cost-market analyses. Normally, the commission is given upon finding a satisfactory buyer for the real estate for sale. The estate agents do the advertising for the seller. The special laws and rules are made for the dual agents who serve both buyers and sellers at the same time.

There are many agents who perform specialized tasks, like selling ranches, selling houses, selling commercial property, etc. Many agents are tied up with the builders. With predefined contracts they get a commission from the builders.

Due to stiff competition, the agents in Austin provide good service in order to retain customers. Austin?s real estate brokers use the latest in technology and the Internet to make buying or selling profitable and enjoyable. They provide help in getting loans and making documents. Since word of mouth publicity is very important in this profession, and a satisfied customer is the best referrer, the agents give proper attention to customer satisfaction.

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

How to Buy Foreclosure Properties at Auction

One of the best known, but least understood, ways of buying foreclosure properties is to buy them at a live foreclosure auction. Depending upon where you live, a foreclosure auction will generally be held either at your county courthouse or in some other public place. Sometimes the auction will be conducted by the county sheriff and sometimes by a proxy appointed by the court. Regardless of who is chosen to conduct the auction, the result is the same: the property is sold to the highest bidder.

The first bid is typically made for the foreclosing lender by whoever is representing that company. The bid will generally be for the amount that's owed, although there doesn't have to be any actual exchange of money involved. If no one else puts in a higher bid, property ownership reverts to the lender.

In the majority of cases, no one shows up for the foreclosure sale except the proxies for the lender and whoever may be running the auction. That's especially true if there's no room for profit between what's owed and the market value of a property.

Make no mistake: foreclosure auctions aren't generally places for beginning investors, because you'll need access to either significant amounts of cash or a large line of credit that you can tap into quickly. If you have either of those resources at your disposal, you can sometimes find great buys at foreclosure auctions, but you have to be careful, because most of the time the amount owed doesn't leave much room for profit, if any. The properties that do contain a significant amount of room for a profit are most likely to be attended by a bigger group of investors. The key is to do your homework well, because a mistake can be very costly.

If you want to check into auctions yourself, the first thing you have to do is find out which publication is used to list them. Often it's the legal section of your local newspaper, although some larger cities use specialized business papers to advertise foreclosure sales. There are also various services that will notify you of foreclosures in your target area if you subscribe. If you happen to be interested in a particular property, you can contact the firm in charge of the auction for information about the time and place of the auction. Call the day before the auction to see if the defect has been cured or the sale has been delayed for some reason.

Always remember, if you bid, you must follow through with the purchase. There's no turning back once you've committed to buy a foreclosure property at an auction. So do your homework. It would be wise for you to choose a few target neighborhoods and specialize in those areas, so you'll know how much profit is available even before you consider bidding on a certain property.

Although it's rare, you can occasionally find some great deals at foreclosure auctions. If nothing else, you'll find it educational just to attend a few, just to see how the system works.

Copyright ? 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

NOTE: Government-owned foreclosures have an entirely different bidding system. See How to Buy a HUD Repo

Jeanette Fisher teaches beginning real estate investors how to make money in any real estate market fixing and flipping houses at http://www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.com

Agent Marketing Minute: Let a Brag Book Tell Your Story

In today's competitive real estate marketplace, I still amazed at how few agents know how to communicate their real estate business story to a home buyer and seller. First impressions count, and you need to be prepared verbally and visually to tell your story and why the consumer should use you and not the competition. Soon after I started in the business I developed for lack of a better name, my brag book, that take on all listing appointments and first meetings with buyers.

My books' contents are always evolving and are constantly updated with current information and examples. The first section has as many active, pending, and closed listings as I can fit in. I include property brochures, postcards and virtual tours on CD-ROMs. Include a variety of price points and locations.

The second section has examples of newspaper advertisements, magazine features, and screen prints from my and my brokers web site to illustrate what types of marketing I do for a specific property.

Third in my brag book are the actual cards, letters, and emails that have testimonials from clients, both buyers and sellers, about their satisfaction with my real estate business.

Lastly, any awards or non-profit work I do in the community, I like to point out that giving back to the community is an important part of my business. After a client goes through my book, they have an comprehensive idea of what benefits I bring to the table. Let your brag book help tell your story to prospective clients.

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. He contributes residential real estate analysis to Business Week, CBS The Early Show, CNN, HGTVpro.com, The New York Times, and USA Today.

View his books at http://www.1001RealEstateTips.com

Property Developer

What is a property developer?

A property developer makes improvements of some kind to property, builds on land and thereby increasing its value. The developer may be an individual, but is more often a partnership, a Limited Company or a Public Limited Company.

There are two major categories of property development activity: land development and building development (also known as project development) the later being the most popular with the smaller developer.

Land developers typically acquire raw land (i.e real property with no improvements or infratucture) and improve it with utility connections, roads, etc. Building developers acquire raw land, improved land, and/or redevelopable property in order to construct building projects. The buildings are then sold entirely or in part to others, usually for a significant profit.

This is all well and good but how does the small property developer get started?

Small projects, terraced properties, shops, small offices, buying property in auction, these are all areas that the small property developer can consider. There is an old saying that goes, ?you should start in the area that you know best.? The reasoning behind this is obvious, as the area will be known, prices will be easier to determine and profits can be readily calculated.

Cashflow is king for the property developer as capital should be available for the initial purchase, as well as the cost of improvements, purchase costs and sale costs.

Buying a Small Terraced House for Development
Lets look at the classic case of buying a small terraced property with potential. The fees for the purchase will be as follows:-

?Initial Purchase Costs- ?75,000
?Initial Surveyors Fees- ?200
?Purchase Solicitors Fees- ?400
?Improvement Costs- ?3,000
?Cost of Sale (Estate Agent)- ?800
?Solicitors Fee (Sale)- ?300

Total Cost- ?79700

On the assumption that the property can be sold for around ?90,000 - ?95,000, the property developer could make a tidy net profit of between ?10,300 - ?15,300 and depending on the timeframe from purchase to sale, this could be the equivelant to earning of around ?50,000 to ?60,000 per year.

All this is well and good if you have the capital to be able to buy the property for cash but what if you haven?t. Well, let?s assume in this case that the property developer can only lay his hands on ?25,000 as a maximum. This is how this could work:-

?Initial Purchase Costs- ?75,000
?Initial Surveyors Fees- ?200
?Purchase Solicitors Fees- ?400
?Improvement Costs- ?3,000
?Cost of Sale (Estate Agent)- ?800
?Solicitors Fee (Sale)- ?300

Total Cost- ?79700

Less the cost of borrowing ?56,250 for say 3 months- ?2,109
Less extra Solicitors Fees- ?500
Loan Arrangement Fees- ?1,125

Total extra cost of borrowing- ?3,734

Based on the assumption that the property developer was borrowing 75% of the property value for a three month period would reduce the profit margin to a net profit of between ?6,566 - ?11,566.

This hypothetical situation shows that ideally the small property developer is better off financing the scheme from his/her own funds but as well as this, profits can still be earned even though the majority of the money is borrowed by the property developer.

The author has been in the UK Financial Services Industry for more than 20 years and has worked on both small and large projects with clients in many parts of the UK. Follow the link http://www.commercial2.co.uk for further information.

Make The First Impression a Great One

First impressions are critical. Just like the view from the curb may prevent a buyer from getting out of the car, the view inside the house determines whether they make an offer. Buyers need to be able to imagine themselves living in your home, or perhaps more to the point, they need to envision your home as theirs. You can accomplish this by staging your home.

Home staging is the process of preparing your home for sale to make its best impression on prospective buyers. It can be as simple as cleaning the house and putting out fresh flowers or as complicated as hiring a consultant to determine what furnishings and decorations best suit your home while it?s on the market. Big budget or small, how you present your home to potential buyers can affect how quickly it sells.

Cleaning and decluttering are essential. The whole house should sparkle ? especially kitchens and bathrooms. Clear off counters and organize cabinets and closets. Too much ?stuff? is distracting and makes spaces feel cramped and small ? definitely not a good impression. Remove furniture that blocks the natural traffic flow, being sure there is a clear walkway to all windows and that the windows and screens are clean.

Visual cues help buyers process your home?s features. Keeping room d?cor simple makes it easy to ascertain a room?s purpose. A bed and a dresser in a room with a closet are all it takes to show that a room can be used as a bedroom. A table with chairs identify a dining area, formal or otherwise. Staging rooms for their traditional purpose helps buyers understand your home. Whether the final buyer decides to use rooms the way you show them doesn?t matter.

There is a lot you can do yourself to get your home looking its best. Consult with your real estate professional before you start any projects to be sure that the payoff is worth the investment. Remember, once you decide to sell your home, it?s a good idea to behave as if it isn?t your ?home,? anymore. Cutting the emotional ties makes it easier to get your ?house? sold fast.

Shawn Buryska is a realtor in Rochester MN, specializing in home real estate, buying a new home, selling your old home, or helping you search Southeastern Minnesota MLS Listings.

Iowa Mortgage What to Expect When Buying a Home in Iowa

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

The median home value in the state of Iowa is $82,500. Current interest rates in Iowa are above the national average, and job growth rates are below the national average.

In the state of Iowa, purchase transactions on sub-prime loans are subject to a $30,000 minimum. Additionally, if you live in Iowa and file bankruptcy, you do not necessarily have to forfeit your home. If you have been current on your payments and continue to be, state law does not require you to surrender your home.

If you?re buying a home in southern Iowa, you qualify for state FHA loans through the Southern Iowa Home Ownership Program. First-time home buyers qualify for loans with below-market interest rates and down payment assistance. Borrowers must meet certain income requirements and specific guidelines, and must purchase a home in a southern Iowa county: Appanoose, Davis, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lucas, Mahaska, Monroe, Van Buren Wapello, or Wayne.

These loans are revolving, so there are only a specific number that can be given out at any period of time. When a person with a FHA loan through this program sells their home or refinances it, then their loan is made available to another qualified applicant.

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

Buy To Let Property ? How To Get Big Capital Growth and Income

More people than ever are looking at buy to let property. They want a second home they can enjoy an appreciating capital asset and the opportunity for rental income.

There is no better way to make money quickly and with low risk than investing in property in the right location and this article is all about getting the best return on your money.

More investors than ever are looking to buy to let overseas as properties are cheaper capital growth potential can be up to 100% per year and in the right area rental income is great.

Why Look Overseas

In the US and UK there have been massive increases in real estate prices over recent years, but the market is slowing and we already are seeing price falls.

The buy-to-let market in many industrialized countries has become less profitable than it was at the start of the decade and with slowing economies in developed countries investing overseas is becoming more popular and lucrative.

Destinations for capital growth and income

Property markets in other countries are performing well and the scope capital gains on buy to let properties is huge.

A fantastic destination in Costa Rica because:

? Property prices are 70% cheaper than in the US

? Many investors buying in the right location are making triple digit annual gains

? Downside risk is low

? Buying property is easy and you get the same rights as residents

? Property tax is nominal and its extremely tax efficient

? The country is the proffered destination in Central America for Americans ensuring high demand

So you can get triple digit gains but you also have a buoyant rental market. The best place to buy is in the region around the town of Jaco on the central pacific coast.

This area is popular with Americans and the area has fantastic infrastructure that will see it continue to grow and that means triple digit capital gains and good buy to let rental income.

There is no better way to get a holiday home an appreciating asset and good rental income than buying in Costa Rica

FREE REPORT

On how to make money investing in property as well as all the facts you need to make money in property visit http://www.costaricalandlots.com

Cheers to Housing Correction

Slowly the housing market is becoming a buyer's venue. Prices have been sliding downward. Finally it appears people are getting tapped out. Cancellation rates on contracts and price concessions have become an increasing pattern. Housing depreciation has hit for several straight months. Many will say this is a bad thing since the less people buy the less will be built and the less economic activity and all the rest. Well, good. It appears much of this market boom was built on a shaky foundation ready to come tumbling down. It was basically built on credit, credit, credit. The average American salary is roughly $40,000. Even with the wife working the cost of a house is a severe strain along with all the usual things to go along with it. Thus, all sorts of financial schemes have been thought of- along with low interest rates- to make an unaffordable house, well, affordable. Be it adjustable rate mortgages or virtually no money down risks, the housing market became a gamble.

As usual, many people keep betting their houses will just keep going up in value. In places like New York, California and South Florida, the price increases have been utterly outrageous. Some of the air is starting to come out of the fat balloon. The average price for a house is now about $225,000.

Predictably we see the old pig-out. People get a sense something is booming and then grossly overreact. Thus, we have around 4 million units of housing just sitting around due to over building. Buyers will just keep on waiting for things to come down a bit more.

States like Indiana and Ohio have seen their foreclosure rates go up since the auto industry did its workers in thanks to the joys of free trade. If you have no job or no decent paying job, well, no house to purchase. That is the heart of the problem, of course.

If there is no real money then the house of cards has to come crashing down the way it did during the internet boom. Shaky deals, weird lending policies, etc. can go on for awhile but like the old Wendy's commercial of Where's the beef? the money must be there. No beef equals a housing disruption. Really just common sense.

Most economists agree there is more shaking out to do. Good. If you don't have the money then you really have no business owning homes. Painful but true. If you have to get a deal where you put no money down or very little for a house that is too expensive for your budget and then you hope you can get the money back due to housing appreciation, well, good luck. Some get lucky on that one. But for the average person that is a stressful gamble. Better to pay what you can afford on traditional mortgages.

Of course, some people are gamblers by nature. But do not be shocked when your gamble turns to dust. That is nice if you are one of the big boys like Donald Trump or Steve Wynn or lesser known individuals with the financial means.

In the end it is very simple: Do you have the money or not?

Robert Carberry is a writer from New York

A Brief History of Gated Communities

There was a time in the long ago past of the human race when we lived in secure private communities. They were called caves. They were surrounded by large stone walls, and the only access to them was through a single narrow gate. The gate was guarded by a big burly fellow whose purpose was to make sure that the only people, or animals that came inside were the ones that belonged there. This concept of living served us for a very, very long time, and there is no doubt that deep inside the collective memories of our species, there is a longing to return to that warm fuzzy feeling of the cave. You knew that there was much unknown, and great danger outside, but inside you were free to live, enjoy the company of people who were pretty much just like you, and raise your kids safely.

There were not enough good livable caves to support the population growth of mankind. Eventually we had to find another way. Right from the start, settlements outside of the cave were protected by some sort of barrier, with access limited and controlled. As time went on, and the population continued to increase, we began to build the first cities, with thick stone walls, and gates to control entry.

The idea of a gated community inside the walls of the city began early. This double protection was something that was pretty much restricted to the very wealthy. The smaller walls around neighborhoods inside the thicker walls of the city served not only to protect the residents, but was the beginning of the idea of exclusion. When the smaller gated communities began to add some basic amenities such as markets and schools behind their guarded gates, it served more to isolate them from the others' outside more than any other reason.

In recent times, the rapidly exploding population and the advent of bomber aircraft, and ballistic missiles have made the city wall obsolete. The city, no longer contained by stone, expanded and spread. The need for housing, and the increasing crowding and crime associated with inner cities led to the creation of suburbs. These sprawling bedroom communities became the new population center, and at first, the residents felt a strong sense of safety there. The suburban communities also provided the shared amenities that had marked the cities. Schools and markets were close. Recreational facilities were close. Crime was far away.

The wealthy still had that sense of exlusiveness, and this led to the first of the modern gated communities in the suburbs. The first ones consisted of large estates surrounded by stone walls, but most importantly they had limited access. This was accomplished by either manned or unmanned gates. They were also mostly residential in nature, with markets, schools, and even parks, being located outside the walls. There was another trend growing in the suburbs and being fueled by the advent of mass media. Televisions were bringing the violence and crime of the entire nation into people's living rooms, and eroding the sense of safety and security. They began to realize that they were not as secure as they had thought, and the time became ripe for private communities for the middle class.

Natalie Aranda writes on family, home and history. The idea of a gated community inside the walls of the city began early. This double protection was something that was pretty much restricted to the very wealthy. The smaller walls around neighborhoods inside the thicker walls of the city served not only to protect the residents, but was the beginning of the idea of exclusion. When the smaller gated communities began to add some basic amenities such as markets and schools behind their guarded gates, it served more to isolate them from the others' outside more than any other reason.

The Messina Bridge Development Will The Project In Sicily & Mainland Italy Commence?

If you are a property or real estate investor in Sicily, you will probably be aware of the ongoing situation regarding the proposed Messina bridge, which would connect Sicily and mainland Italy, by road, and drastically reduce the speed to travel between the two. The bridge would in effect probably greatly aid the Sicilian economy and make Sicily even more accessible and attractive to investors and realtors. With the defeat of Berlusconi from office, the bridge project (which would mean creating the longest suspension bridge in the world) this year 2006 looks unlikely to go ahead. The project was a pet project of Berlusconi's and Prodi who has taken over power, clearly seems to believe that the bridge is unnecessary and a waste of money.

On the 19th September 2006, approximately 1000 residents of Sicilian and neighbouring mainland areas i.e. marched in Rome to voice their support and desire for the Messina bridge project, demanding an improved infrastructure in the South of Italy, which has arguably, been neglected over the years. The North of Italy is more affluent than the poorer south. One group involved with the protest went as far as staging a pretend funeral to highlight the death of the bridge project. The protestors want the project brought back to life.

Sicily has lacked investment in the past and the protestors, who included Sicily's local government chief Salvatore Cuffaro, believe that the bridge would drastically help the Sicilian economy and also create thousands of jobs. The bridge has already been approved by the E.U. and there is a fair amount of opposition to the bridge, in addition to support for it. The opposition highlight the costs that would be involved, and concerns that the mafia could become involved in the financial side of the construction work. Others highlight concerns over the environmental impact of the bridge, if it is built. Many Sicilians though, feel that they deserve finally to get some investment into their depressed region.

Under Berlusconi, the bridge development would have commenced this year and finished 2012, at an estimated cost of more than 4 billion euros. Estimates in the media, state that the bridge would likely be able to handle four and a half thousand cars per hour, up to two hundred trains a day. This project would certainly help the Sicilian economy and also booast the Sicily real estate market.

Sicily property Italy
Barcelona property

Paying Tax On Your Turkish Rental Income

Recent press reports, including a column in the Turkish daily Hurriyet, have warned of a crackdown on tax dodging landlords. Although the practice is widespread in Turkey, there has been a particular outcry about foreign owners renting properties ?informally? from their home country, usually via word-or-mouth, websites or the classifieds, and not paying tax on the income. There have been increasing demands for action from hoteliers in the coastal resorts, who see villa rentals as a growing source of competition.

A recent declaration by the Turkish Ministry of Finance also suggests that the tax authorities will be clamping down and may be targeting foreign-owned properties in the future. ?Every property owner must be registered with the tax authorities, at which time they become a tax payer even if they are not residing in Turkey,? explains solicitor Ayse Ozcan of Acacia International. ?Income tax on the rental from their property is one of the taxes and should not be ignored.?

However according to Janet Crawley of online rental agency Villa Renters Turkey, Most owners simply aren't aware of the rules, otherwise they would do things legitimately. There are also practical problems, like finding an English-speaking solicitor.

Rental income must be declared annually, along with any other personal income earned in Turkey, with hefty fines, and interest liable on back taxes, for landlords caught not doing so. Income tax rates are currently 15-35%, but there is a personal allowance of 2,200 YTL and you can claim up to 25% of the gross rental income back in expenses for maintenance and repairs. A Turkish accountant can prepare your accounts for you, with payment due every year in March.

Dominic Whiting is a journalist and publisher of the Buying in Property Guides. For more information about buying property in Turkey, newsletters or to order the books visit: www.buyinginguides.info

Indian Real Estate Agents are Making It Big

Gone are the days of pot bellied, pan chewing, smooth talking, museum like mobile carrying, wholesale safari-suit clad army. They are changing with the times. Indian real estate agents or (locally called) Dalal are sporting a radical new makeover these days. A boom in real estate in India has given birth to the next generation of professional property agents. You will find them flaunting foreign degrees. You will discover they are completely in tune with the latest jargons that have hit the business magazines only the last week. Contentedly they are discussing floor to area ratio, vastu-feng shui merits-demerits, Italian marbles, decorated flooring, real estate gimmicks and substances with their offshore foreign clients via video conferencing.

It seems the order of the day, anyway. Gone are the days of shabby looking unprofessional Indian real estate agents. The burgeoning Indian real estate industry needs professional new age real estate specialists who have knowledge in world business, outsourcing, finance, architecture, investment and what not.

What?s more, there are youngsters also who want to make a career in this field. Gauging the opportunity and also by the fact that the industry does not have enough of trained manpower, couple of renowned real estate developers have smartly launched business management program on the area. There are also short term studies which will give candidates a formal orientation and industry insights into this not so conventional industry vertical.

According to a conservative estimate by FICCI real estate industry in India is estimated at around $12 billion. The industry is growing at the rate of 30% per year. Industry analysts feel that the scorching growth is credited to demands created by offshore and outsourcing business sectors which include IT and ITES, high end software and technology consulting, contact centers, call centers, software houses, design firms and other process outsourcing companies. No wonder an opportunity galore has explored to the real estate agents in India in a never before way.

Ernst & Young, the leading consulting house reports FDI in India is expected to touch $15 billion this year. That?s triple the 2004 figure. The report states that one fifth of Fortune 500 companies including global biggie General Electric, pharmacy major Eli Lily, technology leader HP are setting up research and development centers in India.

Krish is a leading analyst of real estate and development in India. He is a member of advisory council for Property in India for various states. He also acts as a consultant for various non governmental and professional organizations. His insights on Indian real estate and how it can attract more foreign investment as the country has relaxed its real estate investment rules are much sought after in the industry. He writes for various national as well as international magazines and newspapers on regularly.