Tuesday, February 3, 2009

An Introduction To Commercial Real Estate Loans

Unlike residential loans, commercial loans require more robust credit and down payment from buyers. Typically the terms of these loans are less attractive than residential properties. While these impediments reduce the number of qualified commercial real estate buyers, there are many investment trusts and corporations fully capable of qualifying for and carrying such debt service successfully.

Borrowers will be faced with a large variety of available loans. In the beginning, a deposit receipt needs to be provided which represents the terms of purchase of a commercial property. It will list the amount to be financed, estimated interest rates and terms of the loan. A loan is applied for by completing a loan application with a mortgage broker or loan company. There will be a non-refundable loan application fee, usually around $200 to $400. A commercial mortgage broker represents several lenders, and will submit the application to a lender he believes most appropriate for the situation. Representatives for banks and other lending institutions usually represent only one institution, and will submit the application to that institution. There are advantages to each type. The lender will verify the statements of assets, liabilities, employment, and salary. The subject property will be appraised.

The loan approval takes about 20 to 30 days on an average. The actual time depends upon how quickly the lender can process the application, get the appraisal, and obtain verification of employment and bank balances.

A commercial loan eases the burden of paying huge sums of money at a single instance. Finance options spread the paymet towards the loan amount over a period of 25 to 30 years. New businesses are increasingly opting for commercial real estate loans.

Real Estate Loans provides detailed information on Real Estate Loans, Commercial Real Estate Loans, Investment Real Estate Loans, Residential Real Estate Loans and more. Real Estate Loans is affiliated with Refinance Home Mortgage Loans.

Las Vegas Home Builders

Signature Custom Homes is a full-service design/build company that concentrates on one-of-a-kind homes with greater design and craftsmanship. They are renowned for delivering a home on budget and on time. The team of professionals deployed by Signature Custom Homes will work together with the owner in designing a custom home that meets the exclusive needs of the owner's distinctive lifestyle. Prices start from $800,000

Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE:TOL) is the country's leading builder of luxury homes. In 38 years, Toll Brothers has constructed over 47,000 luxury homes offering wealthy single-family homes and elegant town and carriage homes. Building on its well-established brand, Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE:TOL) is coming up with urban mid- rise and high-rise condominium product and suburban offerings. Prices start from $350,000.

Las Vegas is one of the rapidly growing cities in the nation, and it is not difficult to see why. Beautiful year round climate and proper access to entertainment mark this area as very desirable. Engle Homes designs and produces communities and homes that keep pace with the requirements of families and individuals in this lively environment. Prices start from $220,000.

American West believes in the importance of family. They see the new home as a reflection of the family's personality and values. From groundbreaking design and superior construction, to homeowner approval, American West's homes offer outstanding quality and bargain prices per square foot of any homebuilder in La Vegas. Prices start from $325,000.

Richmond American Homes, for over three decades, has been constructing and financing the best homes in the city of Las Vegas. With a reputation for excellent craftsmanship, it is no revelation that Richmond American is one of the country's top homebuilders. Prices start from $200,000.

Las Vegas Homes provides detailed information on Las Vegas Homes, Las Vegas Home Sales, Las Vegas New Homes, Las Vegas Home Builders and more. Las Vegas Homes is affiliated with Las Vegas Travel Deals.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Selling Your Glendale Home Are You Asking the Right Price?

If you have a home in Glendale, Arizona that you'd like to sell, you are in a good position. Glendale is a great community for buying and selling, it's one of the most affordable home communities in the greater Phoenix area.

Fortunately, Glendale is popular enough that you'll find plenty of people interested in buying your home. On the downside, if you've never sold a home before, you may not have realistic expectations about the sales process. You may be setting yourself up for a fall if you aren't aware of some of the common mistakes to avoid.

Asking Too Much for Your Home

Sometimes it's hard to have a great perspective on the asking price for your home. After all, you've probably put a great deal of time, effort and money in making improvements to the property. Unfortunately, if you focus exclusively on the price you think the property is worth, you may lose out on prospective buyers.

Remember that your home will be on the market beside other comparable homes. If your house isn't priced competitively, the home may be quickly passed over by buyers.

Listen carefully to your real estate agent and consider their input. Your agent understands the Glendale market and is going to give you the best price. If you have some doubts, check out zillow.com. This site uses some of the same information as real estate agents, sales of comparable properties, etc. to deliver an accurate home value.

Not Having A Marketing Plan

Before you list your home, you need to have a discussion with your real estate agent about how he or she intends to market your property. What will he or she do to make your property stand out? You want to get as much exposure for your home as possible in the shortest amount of time. The longer your home is on the market, the more opportunity you miss when it comes to finding another home, or you may not be able to complete the purchase of a home you really love.

Not Accepting an Offer

Judging whether to accept an offer is always a little risky, if you take too low of an offer you're missing out on potential money. If you reject an offer because you want something higher, you may find that your property just won't sell. Again, the most important thing you can do is follow the advice of your real estate agent. Glendale is a competitive market, so you should be able to get a good offer on your home. Even before you receive an offer, discuss the absolute minimum that you will accept, and how much room there is for negotiation. It's hard to make decisions in a stressful time, so if you go in with as much information as possible, you can alleviate some of the tension.

Glendale is the perfect community for finding affordable homes and reselling your home to new buyers. Work with an agent you trust and you'll be living in your new Glendale home before you know it.

Reg Gustin is a senior loan officer with Sun American Mortgage and specializes in helping families and their financial lending needs.

Get a FREE mortgage rate quote from a reputable Arizona mortgage company at http://www.arizona-homes-store.com/arizona-mortgages.html.

Search the Arizona MLS at http://www.arizona-homes-store.com/arizona-mls.html

Click here: http://www.arizona-homes-store.com/arizona-real-estate-appreciation-report.htmland get a FREE copy of The Greater Phoenix Area Housing Appreciation Report, as compiled by Arizona State University with your free subscription to his monthly ezine, MARKET NEWS.

The 411 on Lofts (And Why Everyone Wants to Live in One)

What is it about the high windows and ceilings, exposed brick and open floor plans that make so many people want to live in loft style apartments? Maybe it?s the carefree lifestyle that such an open style of living space represents. Maybe it?s because such a home can be as detailed or sparsely decorated as the resident wishes it to be. Or maybe it?s the artsy, urban lifestyle that?s been publicized so much in the movies and on television. Whatever the case may be, loft living doesn?t merely reflect a unique lifestyle, but it also creates a truly distinctive and unique attitude!

The vast majority of lofts are apartments that have been built into a vacant industrial building- one that?s been empty for some time. As the two-floored version of mono-spaced studio apartments, lofts typically have an open floor plan for a living room and kitchen area, plus an open-concept upstairs for the bedroom. The former warehouse-type building is chosen as the base of this trendy apartment style because of the high roof/ceilings that accompany industrial buildings, acting as a key component for ?urban renewal? projects around the globe. The results of such projects are art galleries, art studios, and of course, the artsy lofts.

But exactly how did lofts become the status symbol of ?the cool life?? It seems that back in the 1950?s, in the midst of the American domination of the world economy, the hustle and bustle of a once-thriving industrial areas, such as New York?s Soho district, had begun to vacate the large, high ceiling industrial-style buildings, as these buildings were no longer suitable for the changing times and modernizations required. The now-empty buildings forced landlords to look to the art community as a source for rent money, as the art and creative communities could certainly use the space.

Just as today, legal restrictions and zoning laws made life a bit tricky for the new residents. These studios were ?designed? for the use of artists as a place to work, not to live. So sometimes, historically, to hide their domestic usage of the property, a series of pulleys and false walls were added so that the living and sleeping arrangements of the ?studio? could be hidden from the variety of inspectors that would come by at a moments notice. The rest is loft history, including the incredible ?shrinking? loft, for as the demand for such apartments grew, the available space shrunk.

Since the 1990?s, loft living has been synonymous with a ?Soho/New York?- type of busy, carefree lifestyle and attitude, as lofts offer an extra touch of excitement! It?s considered to be genuine lifestyle that sets residents apart from the ?dull and monotonous? life of suburbia.

Maria Hayden recommends that you visit www.lofts.com for more information on lofts.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Choosing a Home Inspector

One of the most important people you will meet in the purchase of a home is your home inspector. While most people have their homes inspected, many don't really think about the person inspecting the home.

We've heard horror stories of inspectors who miss major defects, skip over major problems or find problems that they can fix for a small fee.

But these aren't reasons not to have your home inspected. They are reasons to look more closely at your home inspector choices.

It is important to make sure that your home inspector is well trained and insured, especially since he or she will help you decide whether or not this investment is a good one for you. Look for the following things in a home inspector:

  • Your inspector should be properly trained in all aspects of home inspection and is up to date in changes in residential construction techniques and systems.
  • The inspector should be certified by a reputable training institute. He or she should test annually, such as required by the National Institue of Building Inspectors.
  • The inspector must have insurance coverage. This includes general liability, worker's compensatio and Errors and Omissions insurance. If you find an inspector that doesn't carry the E and O insurance, it is an indication that the inspector has no formal training or a poor track record in the industry. It is the same as malpractice insurance for doctors.
  • The inspector should be willing to provide a written guarantee to back up his or her inspection findings.
  • An inspector should only be an inspector. You don't ever want to do business with an inspector who is also a contractor. This gives a conflict of interest, an opportunity for repairs made for problems found.
The inspector is very important. You want to make sure that you are doing business with someone reputable. Even if he says he is certified, you must make sure that there is insurance in place. Don't be afraid to ask questions. If the inspector is hauty or doesn't want to answer easily, look for another inspector. After all, this is a major purchase. You want the best people on your team.

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 Buy Property on Roatan Island Honduras?

Discover an untouched paradise on Roatan. Roatan, the largest of the Bay Islands off the coast of Honduras boasts tropical landscapes surrounded by crystal clear Caribbean waters. Roatan is often found to be as affordable, if not more affordable, than surrounding Central American countries. Come to Roatan to start loving where you live!

The Roatan real estate market has a lot to offer a foreigner desiring to buy property on the island. Whether you are looking to invest in a continually booming market, purchase a second home for vacationing or to share with others, or searching for the perfect location to re-locate or retire, Roatan is for you.

The weather on Roatan is great all year long. The water is always warm and the tropical climate makes for beautiful scenery and cool evenings alongside the beaches.

Some benefits of moving to Roatan include an appreciating real estate market, knowledgeable and friendly real estate agents who speak English, investor friendly laws to protect you and your investments, a great local community maintaining a relaxed island lifestyle and an upbeat place to live. Additionally Roatan offers white sand beaches that fade into calm, warm Caribbean waters: heaven for scuba divers and water enthusiasts alike. The cost of living is extremely affordable and can be as extravagant or simple as you prefer. Modern hospitals and healthcare facilities exist on the island, and for very serious issues more advanced hospitals are a short plane ride to the mainland of Honduras.

Roatan Island has an international airport, docks and marinas, banks, grocery stores, and schools. Accessing the island is very easy from anywhere in the world with direct flights being offered by many mainstream airlines. If re-locating to Roatan, some of the top vacation spots in the world are right around the corner. Roatan offers all the amenities you look for in a place to live or raise a family, but offers them at a much lower costs and in a more beautiful and culturally diverse environment.

Roatan has a market for every buyer. If you would like to buy a home as an investment, our real estate agents can help you rent it out and maintain the property while you are away. For the vacationer and free spirit, Roatan offers more affordable housing that will be available to you whenever you decide to visit. For the people who want to make Roatan their home, the options are limited only to the imagination: Lush green tropical hillsides, beachfront property, huge estates, jungle plateaus, or homes near the main cities are all available.

On Roatan people can easily choose between developing property from start to finish, renovating an existing location, or moving into a completed new home. Running hot water, electricity, television, and high-speed internet are all available. The resources on Roatan are available for the business you always wanted to try, or opportunities to take over running businesses. The tourism industry on the island is very active and lucrative as Roatan is a great place to dive and relax all year long.

Honduras is a democracy headed by a President and Legislature, both elected by the voting public. Obtaining residency is easy. Honduran government encourages foreigner investment and has privatized most businesses for that reason. The government will grant citizenship to retirees or people moving into the country and living off of investment incomes or foreign incomes without taxing personal items, vehicles, and appliances brought into the country. The government values stability and over the past 15 years has placed, and continues to place, high importance on foreigners, which is why Honduras laws protect foreign investors just as they would a native. Foreigners can own land and are not required to lease the land.

Your safety is not so much a concern as it is almost guaranteed. The island of Roatan was once under British rule and many island natives speak English. Unlike some other Latin American countries where safety is of high concern, the Honduran government has taken extra precautions in recent years to keep visitors and newcomers safe.

Unlike other Central American cities, Roatan is removed from most mainstream political conflicts. Roatan?s climate is temperate year-round: the average temperature is 81?F. The people are friendly and the prices of property are on a steady increase, but remain affordable. The people of Roatan are kind, the lifestyle is simple. If all of these traits interest you, then Roatan can be your paradise. Honduras is one of the most reasonable priced places to live in the world and Roatan is no different.

Ryan Bernal is a freelance travel writer. RoatanLife.com is a premiere Real Estate company on Roatan. Please visit: http://www.roatanlife.com for more information.

A Primer on a 1031 Realestate Exchange

The 1031 realestate exchange is popular because it allows taxpayers to dispose of certain real or personal property and defer their federal, and in most cases, state income tax liability by exchanging the real or personal property (relinquished property) for qualified use like-kind property (replacement property). But investors should remain aware that the transaction is governed by IRS rules and regulations. To use this technique you must become a student of the concept.

A good first course is to have basic understanding of the rules for a 1031 realestate exchange. A good place to start is by knowing the different types of like-kind exchanges:

A simultaneous exchange occurs when the exchange (disposition) of the relinquished property (sale property) and the purchase of the like-kind replacement property occurs at the same time. The delayed exchange, the most common form of exchange, occurs when there is a time delay between the transfer (conveyance) of the relinquished property (sale property) and the purchase of the like-kind replacement property. This type of exchange is subject to time limits set by the Department of Treasury.

When the like-kind replacement property is purchased first, prior to transferring (conveying or selling) the relinquished property to the actual buyer, it is called a reverse exchange. Built-to-suit exchange refers to the technique of allowing the taxpayer to build on, or make improvements to, the like-kind replacement property, using the exchange proceeds before they actually take title to the property. And finally, the personal property exchange occurs when personal property is exchanged for other personal property of like-kind or like-class as long as the personal property has been held for investment, income production (rental) or use in a business.

Also, knowing the types of property that can be exchanged under a 1031 will help property owners find replacement properties in a changing market place. Qualifying use property is property that has been or will be held for income production (rental), investment or used in a trade or business. Your personal residence and vacation home are not qualifying use property and thus do not qualify for 1031 realestate exchange treatment. Assuming the property satisfies the qualified use test, then the property must also satisfy the like-kind test. Real property is like-kind to real property, so as long as you are exchanging real property for real property it will qualify as like-kind for 1031 exchange treatment. In general, any type of real estate may be traded for another type of real estate as long as it satisfies the qualified use test.