Profit of Investing in Real Estate

The stock markets have crashed and recovered and then crashed again. Similarly for commodities like silver and gold. The overall trend for silver and gold is positive though . Also stock market indices too over the years look positive. But that's an index, only if you buy the right stocks do you get the benefit. Essentially the risks, with an investment like stocks, are huge. Moreover less risky instruments like Mutual Funds have huge entry and exit fees.

Real Estate is the one investment from which you can get a steady income, and at the same time enjoy a steady appreciation. This specially holds good if you buy apartments close to IT parks, railways/metro stations in any big city, close to any place of commercial or industrial activity. A rental income is an assured monthly income with little hassles, all things going right.

It's also a usable investment. You can feel it, touch it, live in it, rent it out.

Currently real estate prices are increasing literally on a daily basis. This is definitely not a trend that is sustainable. If you plan to realistically invest in the real estate market, please ensure that you have a timeframe of a few years. The current real estate increases are hugely attributed to the buying power of IT professionals and their willingness to pay a premium for any piece of property. Places like Kerala too have show steep escalations and the main reason is the money flowing in from the Middle East. Even though Keralites believe that the land prices there are now higher than what they should be, on comparing to cities like Bangalore, Kerala is still very under priced. Similarly for Pune. Land prices in Pune are seriously undervalued compared to Bangalore. In 2005 you could purchase land in Kondhva for around 300 Rs per sq feet and land in Bhugaon close to the IT Park for 400 Rs per sq feet. The prices have increased a 100% within a year. It's still cheap compared to Bangalore !!

High incomes of IT employees, a bull run on the stock market and foreign repatriations have made the Indian real estate market a little volatile at this point. But a country with a billion people and still growing will always have a housing issue, and any investment in the housing market can never go wrong. Real estate; whether land or houses will always sell at a premium.

For most people who live in 3 storeyed apartments that are over 20 years old, builders have offered schemes where current apartment owners sell the land and building to the builder, in return for a bigger apartment. The builder constructs a high rise there and recovers his cost from the fact that in a building where there were 12 apartments, there are now 60. This is a win-win situation. Builders get prime land in the city and the apartment owners get an upgraded apartment that has a lot more market value.

Rents too have been on the increase. Apartments close to work places or transportation hubs rent well. Since most tenants are professionals, owners need not worry about tenants staying for long periods and then refusing to vacate.

Interest rates in India are much much higher than in the US. There it's about 6%, we're close to 9%. Realistically you can expect property to appreciate between 10-15% every year. Holds true more for land. For housing the property price increase usually depends on increase in costs of raw material like steel and cement.

Do not always look at real estate just as an investment. A house is always a great place to live in. For first timers, do not look at real estate as an investment, but a home to go to.

David Thomoson, an associated editor to pune360.com , is a contributing author to the http://www.pune360.com for distinct article sites/journals. Please feel free to visit http://www.pune360.com for more information on Real Estate, property and classified issues Or write to him AT pune360@hotmail.com. Any comments and /or suggestions will be highly appreciated.

7 Tips to Real Estate Agent's Success: Tip #6 Make Managing Yourself a Priority

Building a real estate business is not easy. You, as a real estate agent, must learn how to manage yourself especially in the area of time management, ongoing real estate sales training (continuing education units), real estate coaching and personal life balance. Real estate is said to be a 24/7 business much like any small business. However, it is important not to lose sight of your personal life including family, friends, physical health, etc.

Being a real estate business owner has many benefits from setting your own time to conducting business over lunch or the golf course. Yet, time becomes an even more precious commodity and other aspects of the real estate agent's life can suffer. Meeting clients during dinner can potentially harm family dinner time. Attending education classes can interfere with the children's or other family or social plans. Therefore, the real estate agent must make self-management a priority for 2 reasons: business success and personal success.

When individuals are focused and understand all of their priorities, they take the appropriate actions to ensure that their lives are in balance. From my experience as a performance improvement consultant and executive coach, I have personally witnessed over 90% of my clients having lives that are out of balance. Additionally, many of my clients and those to whom I speak have consistent issues of time management from How can I take these classes? to How can I continue to make sales?

During the last several years, I have asked the following question of small business owners from real estate agents to other professionals such as accountants, engineers, executives, financial advisors and lawyers: Do you waste 12 minutes every day? What is very interesting to note is most people say yes even if they have already acknowledged that their plate is full.

From this simple question, I know that self-management is really self-leadership: How do I lead myself to achieve my goals? Self leadership is both a skill and a habit that requires ongoing development. Learning these strategies or techniques requires not only new knowledge or refreshing old knowledge, but the help from a mentor and possibly even a real estate sales coach. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but rather of strength. Failing to ask indicates a potential for living Einstein's definition of insanity:

Doing the same thing over and over again hoping for different results.

When you have learned the art of successful self-management which is really self-leadership, then you will begin to achieve incredible results and having an amazing real estate business.

P.S. Read the previous tip 7 Tips to Real Estate Agent's Success: Tip #5 - Create a Financial Budget

Leanne Hoagland-Smith quickly doubles results for her clients from individuals (small businesses owners, entrepreneurs and young people) to large organizations by creating executable strategic action plans along with the necessary business skills to pull it off. By closing the gap between today's unsatisfactory performance to tomorrow's goals, limited resources are maximized with waste including time being reduced. Please feel free to contact Leanne at 219.759.5601 or visit http://www.processspecialist.com/ and explore how she can help you.

One quick question,if you could secure one new client or breakthrough that one roadbloack holding you back from success, what would that mean to you? Then, take a risk and give a call at 219.759.5601 to experience incredible results.

Mention that you read this article and receive a complimentary 30 minute coaching session.

P.S. If you are seeking an affordable speaker for that special event, Leanne may help fit your current speaking need.

Tips to Save You Time and Money When Investing

Here is some valuable and time saving real estate investing tips that will benifit you and most people which you may not be aware of . . .

Everyone?s reason for selling their property is different and the settlement time in which they want (or need) to sell can vary as well.

When a person is selling a property I like to find out what is their level of Motivation to Sell.

What you need to determine is that some vendors are motivated to sell and will look favourably on your offers in order to achieve a quick sale while others have higher and often unrealistic prices that will not be suitable for your investing needs.

What I would suggest is you focus on those who are motivated and spend less time on those who are not. Don?t ever take their rejection of your offer personally,

And please don?t let fear of rejection stop you from making any offers with any types of vendors.

You will quickly find the motivated vendors by making offers, always include a ?subject to? line included in your the offer. (Subject to Finance, Building inspection, etc)

Always treat the vendor as a businesses partner it is merely a transaction between both parties to achieve a satisfactory outcome.

Be polite and respect them, don?t try to burn them. Concentrate on their needs as well. There are always plenty of deals to be had.

If you treat people this way they will be more likely to want to do business with you. Sometimes they will often come back and take another look at your offer if they can?t get their asking price.

Remember there is always more than one way to skin a cat.

http://www.therealestateinvester.com I am an experienced and passionate investor. I buy typical mum and dad type houses that give me cash flow and capital growth. My website offers helpful tips and ideas for any type of investor to help you with your wealth creation. Using my site will help to prevent you falling into the traps the inexperienced investors do.

Help Your Real Estate Listing Clients: How to Stage a Kitchen in the Age of Dining Out and Fast Food

Today the kitchen has lost its position as the ?heart of the home? that it enjoyed in generations past. According to a 2004 report on dining out, published by Restaurant.org, single professionals eat over 50% of their meals away from home. And, in recent trends data? the National Restaurant Association (NRA) reports that restaurant sales will rise nearly twelve-fold from the 1970 figure of $42.8 billion to a whopping $511.1 billion this year! So, where does this leave you when you are trying to show a home? It makes it essential that you outline the ideal kitchen and help your listing clients ensure that their kitchen shows well.

Yes, some people are gourmet cooks, some families still eat dinner together every night, and some individuals consider their kitchen the only real place to ?congregate with friends.? But many homeowners eat out more often than they cook at home. Add to that the number of meals that are ?delivered? and the number that are eaten ?en route? to work and school?and you may find that the kitchen has taken a back seat when you are showing a home.

According to the Meal Consumption Behavior report, ?Males between the ages of 25 and 34 eat commercially prepared meals most frequently ? an average of six times per week? and higher income earners are even less likely to prepare food at home.

Those with a household income of $75,000 and above dine out more often than lower income households. These higher income households spend 46.7% of their entire annual food budget on eating out.

Despite these figures, homebuyers still want a ?traditional home.? People who are buying a house often imagine themselves as ?settling down? ? and they want all the time-honored options ... including a nice, roomy, well-organized kitchen.

When you show a home, the kitchen must be inviting. Want to help your listing client create a show-friendly kitchen? Share the following information with them:

What are the top five ways to lose a potential buyer with this one room?

Cluttered counters and walls - The more ?stuff? on the counters, the less counter space your room will appear to have. The more bits and pieces plastered on the front of the fridge -- the more disorganized and cluttered the whole room will seem to be. The more ?decorative? items you have strewn on the walls, the less able your potential buyer will be to imagine their stuff on the walls. The idea is to make the buyer imagine living here? the less of YOU they see, the more of THEM they can project.

Grimy floors/sink/cabinet tops/appliances - In a matter of moments, a floor can become gritty. Add to that a few water spots in the sink, a slight coffee stain from this morning?s essential cup of java and a few crumbs perching on top of the toaster? and what do you get? A kitchen that seems dirty and uninviting.

Be sure you take a look at the kitchen with fresh eyes. Stand at the door and pretend you have never seen it before. (Imagine you are the grime police.) What do you see? If you were your mother-in-law (or maybe your mother) what ?tiny little comments? might you make? Fix those. Now.

Be so bold as to scrub the sink and SHINE it (pay special attention to behind the faucet and the rim around the sink ? use an old toothbrush). Sweep, mop AND wax the floor. Thoroughly clean all appliances ? even in the nooks and crannies. Make it simply spotless.

Unsavory smells/odors - Avoid cooking strong smelling food when your house is on the market. Day old fish, boiled cabbage, onions, etc., will turn off the most interested buyer. Avoid ?covering up? smells with strong sprays, over-scented candles and products. Your favorite ?gardenia? smell may send your potential buyer into sneezing fits.

Instead, consider leaving out a single appliance ? a bread machine, with the timer set to be mid-way through the baking process when the house is to be shown. How many people do you know that don?t like the smell of fresh bread? (Yeah, I can?t think of a single one either!)

Disorganized or insufficient storage space - If your cabinets are brimming with ?stuff? or (goodness forbid) things tend to tumble when you open them, you need to remove all but the most essential items while showing your home. Pack up all the extras in a box (or boxes) and put them in storage. Eliminate your ?junk drawer? and be sure that your plates, glasses and bowls are close together and are located close to where you will use them.

Organize your pantry area and be sure all food items are neatly stacked and appropriately organized and are not located in various cabinets throughout the kitchen. Consolidate them into one general area.

When you finish cleaning and packing away, make sure that what remains is neatly organized and that everything is located where you are most likely to use it. People WILL look in your cabinets. They will try to determine from your use of the area if there is enough storage space. If you can?t live in the space, why would they believe that they can? If you can?t keep it organized, how will they?

Dark and/or claustrophobic d?cor - Dark colors in the kitchen make it less inviting. It makes it harder to cook when you have to strain to see what you are doing. Ample light is a requirement. Natural light is best. If your kitchen doesn?t have quality lighting, you need to add it. Consider ?natural light? light bulbs, add additional light sources under upper cabinets, and make the room brim with warm, bright light. If your lights flicker or are dull ? replace them. In one kitchen I saw recently, there was no window to the outside, but the owner had added a mirror with ?window panel? framing over the sink and a light above it to add light, reflect it and give the impression of a window. It wasn?t perfect, but I was a vast improvement over facing a solid wall while doing dishes.

Claustrophobic decorating would include oversized decorative items in a small kitchen, anything that requires you to dodge, move or step around to do simple tasks. Heavy, low-hanging items that ?close in? the space in a kitchen are also ill advised. I recently saw a wrought-iron pan rack that was hung (too low) over an island in the center of a kitchen. It was covered in pans and it created a visual wall in the center of a modestly-sized kitchen. The cook continually had to ?bend down? to talk to people on the other side of the rack. This type of decorating was too ?claustrophobic? for that space. Replacing the rack with higher-hung lighting would have eliminated the ?squeeze? effect and would have lightened, brightened and expanded the entire room.

What do most people want in a kitchen? They want enough counter space to work and clean line of sight (so kill the do-dads and tuck away the cabinet-top appliances). They want modern, clean, easy-to-maintain appliances. They seek cheerful, well-lit areas (think ?natural light feel?) and enough easy-to-reach outlets (extension cords in a kitchen are both unsightly and unsafe). People looking at a home?s kitchen want to see a space that is inviting and easy-care. They want a kitchen that makes them WANT to stay in for meals -- a place to ?nest? that adds comfort, relaxation and other nourishing qualities to daily life.

? Copyright 2006 by Angela Allen Parker of WickedWordCraft.com

Angela Allen Parker is a freelance writer based in Dunnville, Kentucky. She's an Internet marketing specialist and web content writer, working with real estate clients and small business clients across the globe. She has provided offsite services since 2000. She offers marketing articles for small business owners, real estate agents, and outsourcing professionals at WickedWordCraft.com and writes regular columns and marketing articles for online and print publications for the real estate industry.

Alameda Mariner Square

Enjoy a romantic San Francisco Bay cruise, the lights of the city, and the chance to own a home in one of the most prestigious areas of Alameda. Located across the estuary from Jack London Square, the shopping, dining and nightlife are top quality. The atmosphere of safety and planning make some of the accommodations ideal for seniors, and there are planned communities in the area with more than 25 years of experience that provides a safe, beautiful and caring haven for retirees.

Whichever option you choose, either a community setting or an individual one, the homes and spaces here are amazing, with views of Oakland and the sea air making each day seem like one endless holiday. Many retirees have started successful and enjoyable small businesses here taking advantage of the wonderful economic atmosphere of Alameda. Coffee shops, crafts and small restaurants abound. Take advantage of the opportunity to stay busy as well, even after you have settled in.

You can find fully furnished homes that reflect your personality and lifestyle, or you can start from scratch and find one that you decorate yourself. The possibilities are endless, and homes start at around $250,000. There are many great deals to be found, including some homes right on the water. The assisted living options typically cost $29,000 a year and up plus, there is usually an entrance fee.

There are many great brokerage and financial services available in Alameda, so you do not have to travel very far to take care of your investment and retirement fund needs. Of course if you do have a business here, or plan to, they can be very helpful with that, also. Overall, there is probably no more beautiful, scenic and luxurious place to retire, take it easy, and enjoy life than right here at Alameda Mariner Square.

Brenda Smith
http://www.alamedainfo.com/
http://www.cardinalpointccrc.com/plans.html

How To Choose The Right Realtor For You

A home is probably the biggest investment you?re ever going to make. It?s not only a monetary investment; you?re trusting this home to hold up through the years, to be safe, and to be in a good neighborhood with good schools for your children. When buying your home, you should be working with someone you trust to meet your needs. That?s why it?s so important to find a good realtor. Here are a few steps to get you started.

The first step in choosing a good realtor is finding realtors in your area. The best way to find a realtor in your area is through referrals. Ask your friends, family, or colleagues who?ve bought or sold a home for good recommendations. If you can?t get any referrals, check with your local realtors association. You may also want to go to a few open houses. Even if you aren?t interested in that particular house, it gives you a chance to meet the realtor and decide if they might be right for you. If you?re still left with no options, you can always drive around neighborhoods you?re interested in and look at the names on signs. You could also flip through the local house listings. You may not know how good the realtor is, but you?ll still have names to work with. You could also get names from billboards and ads, but be wary of someone with ads everywhere. If a realtor is really good, they get a lot of return business and referrals. This means they shouldn?t need to advertise a lot.

Once you have a few options for realtors, you should set up interviews with each of them. If you don?t want to go to their office, set up a meeting in a coffee shop or somewhere else you?ll be comfortable. Before the interview, write down the questions you want to ask them so you know you don?t forget anything. While the questions asked depend on your preferences, it?s always good to find out if they are a licensed realtor, how much experience they have, and how familiar they are with the neighborhoods you want to live in. You should also find out their availability. If they have a lot of clients, they may take so much time getting to you about a house on the market that you lose the chance to bid on your dream home. If you have kids, make sure they?re knowledgeable about schools in the area. You should also make sure the price range your realtor specializes in matches your own.

Above all else, you want to find a realtor that you are comfortable with and who you feel understands your needs. You want someone who is working in your best interest. If you don?t feel someone understands your needs, move on to your next interview. It may take time to find someone you?re comfortable with, but if you keep looking you?re likely to find them. Good luck and happy house hunting.

Visit Mike's Real Estate Team, your Cary NC Realtor.

Buying Cheap Government Repossessed Homes

The American dream was for everyone to have a nice family, a stable job and a nice home with picket fences. Unfortunately, there are some who are still far away from this.

This could be because the price of property is too high and the breadwinner of the family has other things to be worried about such as putting food on the table.

Rather than being homeless and sleeping on the streets, the best that the individual can do is rent an apartment or condominium until enough money has been saved to buy home.

The opportunity of owning a home may be sooner than the person thinks. This is because the government puts a foreclosure on a house when the borrower is unable to pay for it.

This means this will fall under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development that will put this house up for sale or auction. An ad is usually placed in the newspaper but this is more updated online.

The individual can check it out then decide whether this will be suitable to the needs of the family and if there is enough money around to make a good offer. It will also be a good idea to have someone check if there are any liens on the property. This will make sure there won't be anyone who will contest on the properly later on.

The person should not be surprised if some of these are very cheap because the place could already be run down. This may require a little renovation but it can be good as new in a few months.

Most of the houses that are sold don't have to be paid up front. It is possible to negotiate payment terms with a government representative as well as get some money from the bank to cover it.

The important thing to remember is to pay the monthly amortization on time because the interest rates will just add more to how much the homeowner is supposed to pay when buying the home.

Those who are interested will need to go down to the office of Housing and Urban Development to get the proper forms. Once this has been filled up, a down payment may have to be given so the processing can begin.

The applicant will not get an answer on the same day or overnight. This is because the government will also give time for other people who are interested to submit a bid.

The person should be aware that there are buyers who will buy it, fix it up then sell it in order to make a profit. This shows there is a lot of competition in the real estate market and not only for those who want to own a home.

Should the person win; the only thing to do is to make the necessary repairs before packing out of the old place then moving in to the new one. The place may not be brand new but it is something that the person can say is his or her own.

This isn't a bad start for someone who wants to attain the American dream because there are times that one has to start small before being able to reach something big.

For listings of government repossessed homes, please visit www.real-estate-foreclosed-home.info