Posts Tagged ‘Real Estate Agent’
Real Estate Agents, Things To Know When Using One
January 12th, 2010
Kevin Cox asked:
When selling a home some sellers will use the services of a real estate agent. Using an agent has its advantages and its disadvantages. One of the advantages of using a real estate agent when selling a home is a good agent can sell your home faster than you can. A seasoned agent will usually have a large contact of people who are interested in buying a home. Another advantage of using an agent when selling a home is using the agent’s past knowledge of selling a home. An agent will usually give you tips to make your home more desirable to buyers.
One last advantage of using an agent when selling a home is, if you trust the real estate agent he or she can tell you approximately how much you can get for your home. One disadvantage of using an agent when selling a home is if a real estate agent has a lot of homes to sell he or she may not give your home the time it deserves to get the top price for it. It is not unlikely for an agent to have to show more than one home in a small period of time. Another disadvantage of using an agent when selling a home is the commission that has to be paid to them when the house sells. It can come out of your pocket or the pocket of the buyer but if you are using an agent the commission must be paid.
One last disadvantage of using an agent when selling a home is the real estate agent may not have your best interest in mind. Some real estate agents get the seller to lower the price of the home so they can sell it faster. When using an agent it is recommended not to tell them what is the lowest you are willing to sell your house for, some agents won’t hesitate to tell this to the buyer in order to get a faster sale. Using an agent does have its advantages and its disadvantages when selling a home, but with this information you read here you will know some of the things to look out for.
A good web site where you can see more information on topics like this is Real Estate Agents, Things To Know Before Using One which is highly recommended. Another article witch is also recommended is How Much Home You Can Afford Value Thank you and enjoy.
Portland Real Estate
December 10th, 2009
kerri asked:
If you’re in the market for a home in the Northwest, you’re probably aware of the many great reasons to live, work, and play in Portland, Oregon. For decades, Portland has been one of the most desirable destinations and addresses on the West Coast. Why? Simple. Portland boasts an enticing combination of big-city culture, small-town warmth, and beautiful scenery. Portland remains one of the few cities in America where residents can maintain access to the great jobs and entertainment that come with living in a large city right alongside access to natural beauty and outdoor activities.
The market of Portland OR Homes for Sale, then, is as varied as Portland’s current and eventual residents. If you’re a young, single professional, you’re sure to find an appealing loft, condominium, or townhome near the city center, where you can have easy access to restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, and Portland’s famous tax-free shopping. If you’ve got a family, the market of Portland OR Homes for Sale includes plenty of spacious single-family dwellings close to great schools and including amenities such as yards and garages.
One of the best ways to find an appropriate home in Portland, Oregon is to use Portland Oregon Real Estate Agents. Why? Simple. Buying a home is a long, arduous, and expensive proposition – and the timeline can dramatically increase when you’re trying to do things on your own. Simply open the paper on Sunday mornings and you’ll be awash in real estate listings: scanning through these listings can take hours, and you’re likely to head out on a large number of showings for properties that turn out to be a far cry from what you want and need. With the help of a Portland Oregon Real Estate Agent, you’ll be able to, quite literally, cut right to the chase: a fully trained real estate agent will listen to what you want and need in a home (four bedrooms, a new kitchen, and a two-car garage) and do the research for you. This means you’ll only be visiting homes that have been pre-screened for features and price by someone who has your best interests in mind. Plus, when it comes time to make an offer and start signing contracts, Portland Oregon Real Estate Agents can help ensure that all your i’s are dotted and your t’s are crossed – meaning you won’t have to waste time with inaccurate paperwork.
Purchasing a home in Portland, Oregon, then, is well worth the effort. This stunning American city offers everything a homebuyer could want in a spectacular natural setting. Whether you’re looking for a sleek new condo or a vintage single-family home with plenty of character, the city of Portland is sure to have what you need.
If you’re in the market for a home in the Northwest, you’re probably aware of the many great reasons to live, work, and play in Portland, Oregon. For decades, Portland has been one of the most desirable destinations and addresses on the West Coast. Why? Simple. Portland boasts an enticing combination of big-city culture, small-town warmth, and beautiful scenery. Portland remains one of the few cities in America where residents can maintain access to the great jobs and entertainment that come with living in a large city right alongside access to natural beauty and outdoor activities.
The market of Portland OR Homes for Sale, then, is as varied as Portland’s current and eventual residents. If you’re a young, single professional, you’re sure to find an appealing loft, condominium, or townhome near the city center, where you can have easy access to restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, and Portland’s famous tax-free shopping. If you’ve got a family, the market of Portland OR Homes for Sale includes plenty of spacious single-family dwellings close to great schools and including amenities such as yards and garages.
One of the best ways to find an appropriate home in Portland, Oregon is to use Portland Oregon Real Estate Agents. Why? Simple. Buying a home is a long, arduous, and expensive proposition – and the timeline can dramatically increase when you’re trying to do things on your own. Simply open the paper on Sunday mornings and you’ll be awash in real estate listings: scanning through these listings can take hours, and you’re likely to head out on a large number of showings for properties that turn out to be a far cry from what you want and need. With the help of a Portland Oregon Real Estate Agent, you’ll be able to, quite literally, cut right to the chase: a fully trained real estate agent will listen to what you want and need in a home (four bedrooms, a new kitchen, and a two-car garage) and do the research for you. This means you’ll only be visiting homes that have been pre-screened for features and price by someone who has your best interests in mind. Plus, when it comes time to make an offer and start signing contracts, Portland Oregon Real Estate Agents can help ensure that all your i’s are dotted and your t’s are crossed – meaning you won’t have to waste time with inaccurate paperwork.
Purchasing a home in Portland, Oregon, then, is well worth the effort. This stunning American city offers everything a homebuyer could want in a spectacular natural setting. Whether you’re looking for a sleek new condo or a vintage single-family home with plenty of character, the city of Portland is sure to have what you need.
Posted in Real Estate | 
Tags: Loft Condominium, Oregon Real Estate, Real Estate Agent | 
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Seven Ways to Flip a Property
November 26th, 2009
Attorney William asked:
Flipping” is the buzzword of the year in real estate – flipping books, flipping articles in the newspaper, and even flipping shows on TV! What is flipping, how does it work and how you can profit?
Flipping simply means buying a property and reselling it quickly, as opposed to holding on to a property long term as a rental. Flipping comes in several varieties, most of which are legal and profitable, some of which are not.
Flip Strategy #1: Buy, Fix and Flip
Let’s start with the most common form – the good, old “fix ‘n flip”. This process involves buying a property that needs work, fixing it up, then selling on the “retail” market, that is, to a person who will live in the property. This method is tried and true, and works very well. You can easily make $15 – $50k on one deal, depending on your market and how good you are at finding bargains.
The danger in fix and flips is either paying too much or underestimating repairs. Be very conservative in your fix-up costs and length of time it may take to resell. Also, make sure you include in your analysis the cost of paying a real estate agent to sell the property.
Flip Strategy #2: Buy, Refi & Lease/Option
Rather than sell the fixed up property for all cash, sell for terms. Once you have completed the rehab, refinance the property at its new appraised value. If you did the math correctly, you should have little or no money in the deal. Sell the property on a lease with option to buy. The rent payment from your tenant/buyer should cover your mortgage payment (if not, consider an interest-only or adjustable rate loan that is fixed for 3 years). When your tenant exercises his option to purchase, you reap a larger profit, since you don’t have to pay a broker’s fee. If the tenant exercises his option after 12 months, you benefit from a lower capital gains tax rate.
Flip Strategy #3: Buy & Flip “As Is”
Don’t like to do fix-up work? Consider selling the property “as is” as a light fixer upper. If the local real estate market is hot, you should be able to sell the property in poor condition just a little below market. This is especially the case with houses in “transitioning” neighborhoods. Make sure, of course, that you acquire the property sufficiently cheap enough that you can sell it below market quickly and still profit.
Flip Strategy #4: Wholesale
Strategy #1, the fix and flip, is very popular, which means there are a lot of investors looking for rehabs. You can buy the property cheap and sell it for just a few thousand dollars more to another investor without doing any work. You won’t make nearly as much as the rehabber, but you will realize your profit quickly.
Flip Strategy #5: Pre-Construction
In very hot real estate markets, prices are appreciating as much as 2% per month. If you time things right, you can put a contract on a pre-construction house or condominium, then flip it to someone else when the development is complete. If it takes 12 months for the development to be complete, and the condo price is $500,000, you could make $100,000 or more in one year! Of course, the opposite is also true – you could end up losing money if the local economy tanks and you end up with a worthless condo that you can’t sell for more than you paid. Use this approach very carefully…
Flip Strategy #6: Scouting
The Scout is an information gatherer, so not technically a property flipper. He is the “bird dog” who finds potential deals and sells the information to other investors. Many people get started as a Scout for other investors because it does not take any cash or prior knowledge to look for distressed properties. The Scout finds a property for sale, gathers the necessary information, and then provides this information to investors for a fee. The fee will vary depending on the price of the property and the profit potential. The Scout can expect to make five hundred to one thousand dollars each time he provides information that leads to a purchase by another investor.
Flip Strategy #7: Illegal Flipping
OK, I am not advocating this approach, because it is illegal. Illegal property-flipping schemes work as follows: unscrupulous investors buy cheap, run-down properties in mostly low-income neighborhoods. They do shoddy renovations to the properties and sell them to unsophisticated buyers at inflated prices. In most cases, the investor, appraiser and mortgage broker conspire by submitting fraudulent loan documents and a bogus appraisal. The end result is a buyer that paid too much for a house and cannot afford the loan. Since many of these loans are federally insured, the government authorities have investigated this practice and arrested many of the parties involved. As a result, the public perceives is flipping to be illegal.
The fact is, “flipping” – as I described in the beginning of this article – is NOT illegal. Loan fraud in the process of flipping is what is illegal, so don’t confuse the two. The other six ways to flip are very legal, very ethical and very profitable!
Click Here for more info for Seven Ways to Flip a Property
Flipping” is the buzzword of the year in real estate – flipping books, flipping articles in the newspaper, and even flipping shows on TV! What is flipping, how does it work and how you can profit?
Flipping simply means buying a property and reselling it quickly, as opposed to holding on to a property long term as a rental. Flipping comes in several varieties, most of which are legal and profitable, some of which are not.
Flip Strategy #1: Buy, Fix and Flip
Let’s start with the most common form – the good, old “fix ‘n flip”. This process involves buying a property that needs work, fixing it up, then selling on the “retail” market, that is, to a person who will live in the property. This method is tried and true, and works very well. You can easily make $15 – $50k on one deal, depending on your market and how good you are at finding bargains.
The danger in fix and flips is either paying too much or underestimating repairs. Be very conservative in your fix-up costs and length of time it may take to resell. Also, make sure you include in your analysis the cost of paying a real estate agent to sell the property.
Flip Strategy #2: Buy, Refi & Lease/Option
Rather than sell the fixed up property for all cash, sell for terms. Once you have completed the rehab, refinance the property at its new appraised value. If you did the math correctly, you should have little or no money in the deal. Sell the property on a lease with option to buy. The rent payment from your tenant/buyer should cover your mortgage payment (if not, consider an interest-only or adjustable rate loan that is fixed for 3 years). When your tenant exercises his option to purchase, you reap a larger profit, since you don’t have to pay a broker’s fee. If the tenant exercises his option after 12 months, you benefit from a lower capital gains tax rate.
Flip Strategy #3: Buy & Flip “As Is”
Don’t like to do fix-up work? Consider selling the property “as is” as a light fixer upper. If the local real estate market is hot, you should be able to sell the property in poor condition just a little below market. This is especially the case with houses in “transitioning” neighborhoods. Make sure, of course, that you acquire the property sufficiently cheap enough that you can sell it below market quickly and still profit.
Flip Strategy #4: Wholesale
Strategy #1, the fix and flip, is very popular, which means there are a lot of investors looking for rehabs. You can buy the property cheap and sell it for just a few thousand dollars more to another investor without doing any work. You won’t make nearly as much as the rehabber, but you will realize your profit quickly.
Flip Strategy #5: Pre-Construction
In very hot real estate markets, prices are appreciating as much as 2% per month. If you time things right, you can put a contract on a pre-construction house or condominium, then flip it to someone else when the development is complete. If it takes 12 months for the development to be complete, and the condo price is $500,000, you could make $100,000 or more in one year! Of course, the opposite is also true – you could end up losing money if the local economy tanks and you end up with a worthless condo that you can’t sell for more than you paid. Use this approach very carefully…
Flip Strategy #6: Scouting
The Scout is an information gatherer, so not technically a property flipper. He is the “bird dog” who finds potential deals and sells the information to other investors. Many people get started as a Scout for other investors because it does not take any cash or prior knowledge to look for distressed properties. The Scout finds a property for sale, gathers the necessary information, and then provides this information to investors for a fee. The fee will vary depending on the price of the property and the profit potential. The Scout can expect to make five hundred to one thousand dollars each time he provides information that leads to a purchase by another investor.
Flip Strategy #7: Illegal Flipping
OK, I am not advocating this approach, because it is illegal. Illegal property-flipping schemes work as follows: unscrupulous investors buy cheap, run-down properties in mostly low-income neighborhoods. They do shoddy renovations to the properties and sell them to unsophisticated buyers at inflated prices. In most cases, the investor, appraiser and mortgage broker conspire by submitting fraudulent loan documents and a bogus appraisal. The end result is a buyer that paid too much for a house and cannot afford the loan. Since many of these loans are federally insured, the government authorities have investigated this practice and arrested many of the parties involved. As a result, the public perceives is flipping to be illegal.
The fact is, “flipping” – as I described in the beginning of this article – is NOT illegal. Loan fraud in the process of flipping is what is illegal, so don’t confuse the two. The other six ways to flip are very legal, very ethical and very profitable!
Click Here for more info for Seven Ways to Flip a Property
Where to Get Property Investment Advice
July 8th, 2009
cheryl jack asked:
Investing in real estate can be overwhelming and scary. It is important, if you are new to investing, to get good property investment advice. It is important to learn as much as you can about the real estate market, property investment, and your local area before you begin investing in properties. Here are some places you can go for reliable advice. The internet is a good place to start gathering general information about property investment. There are scores of websites devoted to real estate investment, flipping houses and other types of properties, and beginner’s guides to the housing market. The important thing is to take your time as you sort through all of the information that is being offered to you. Make sure that the web sites you search for information are reliable sources and not just sites trying to sell you something. Real estate agents are another fantastic resource if you want to learn about real estate investing and buying property. Real estate agents in your local area will have tons of information on your local housing market and how to begin investing in it. Your real estate agent will know how to help you find properties to invest in and how to tell the difference between something worth buying and something that should be passed over. Mortgage brokers and lenders are another valuable resource for property investment advice. These are people who understand the money side of real estate investment and can teach you how to make the most from what money you have, and how to tell the difference between a good deal and a bad investment. It is always important to learn about something before attempting it. Finding sound property investment advice will help ensure that you are able to make money instead of losing it.
Investing in real estate can be overwhelming and scary. It is important, if you are new to investing, to get good property investment advice. It is important to learn as much as you can about the real estate market, property investment, and your local area before you begin investing in properties. Here are some places you can go for reliable advice. The internet is a good place to start gathering general information about property investment. There are scores of websites devoted to real estate investment, flipping houses and other types of properties, and beginner’s guides to the housing market. The important thing is to take your time as you sort through all of the information that is being offered to you. Make sure that the web sites you search for information are reliable sources and not just sites trying to sell you something. Real estate agents are another fantastic resource if you want to learn about real estate investing and buying property. Real estate agents in your local area will have tons of information on your local housing market and how to begin investing in it. Your real estate agent will know how to help you find properties to invest in and how to tell the difference between something worth buying and something that should be passed over. Mortgage brokers and lenders are another valuable resource for property investment advice. These are people who understand the money side of real estate investment and can teach you how to make the most from what money you have, and how to tell the difference between a good deal and a bad investment. It is always important to learn about something before attempting it. Finding sound property investment advice will help ensure that you are able to make money instead of losing it.
Posted in Real Estate |
Tags: Investing In Real Estate, Investment Advice, Real Estate Agent |
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Want to buy foreclosures property? Look up for Foreclosed Homes Listing!
April 18th, 2009
Anirban Bhattacharya asked:
Sometimes, an individual/proprietor is not able pay the amount overdue against his name on account of home, for no matter whatever reason – whether it is loss of job, health, or death or if the home is taken over by a finance or mortgage company. Under such circumstances, once the legal formalities are over, the propriety or the house is termed as foreclosure. When finance company or mortgage firm or the bank has the possession, they more than often tend to place the home in foreclosure homes listing.
The intention of the foreclosure homes listing is to sell the home/ propriety as promptly as possible. A foreclosed home is more than often obtainable at a great deal lesser cost than its actual market value. The banks or mortgage firms, who are in possession of these distressed properties, wish to dispose of them as soon as possible. With the intention of drawing more and more customers, they cut down the prices of these properties to a great extent.
These kinds of home make available an exceptional opportunity to bidders for houses and real estate investors by presenting to them a prospect to acquire properties for sale for far less than its standard market value.
Fundamental Elements of Foreclosed Homes Listing
If you want to buy foreclosures property, you must understand the listings. A foreclosed homes listing compiles research gathered on real estate markets in every state and then create a comprehensive, searchable database of foreclosures for sale. A number of the essential basics listed out in an online foreclosure listing include:
Addresses of such available properties
Detailed description about their physical condition
Comprehensive account of the neighborhood area
Estimated price
Date of auction
Contact person or real estate agent
Status of foreclosure
A virtual view of the property so that the potential bidders can see a video of the available properties.
While buying foreclosed property, you are required to be cautious, because a lot of of the laws that guard or defend your rights in an otherwise conventional real estate deal may not be relevant to a foreclosed property. So once must be extra careful.
Sometimes, an individual/proprietor is not able pay the amount overdue against his name on account of home, for no matter whatever reason – whether it is loss of job, health, or death or if the home is taken over by a finance or mortgage company. Under such circumstances, once the legal formalities are over, the propriety or the house is termed as foreclosure. When finance company or mortgage firm or the bank has the possession, they more than often tend to place the home in foreclosure homes listing.
The intention of the foreclosure homes listing is to sell the home/ propriety as promptly as possible. A foreclosed home is more than often obtainable at a great deal lesser cost than its actual market value. The banks or mortgage firms, who are in possession of these distressed properties, wish to dispose of them as soon as possible. With the intention of drawing more and more customers, they cut down the prices of these properties to a great extent.
These kinds of home make available an exceptional opportunity to bidders for houses and real estate investors by presenting to them a prospect to acquire properties for sale for far less than its standard market value.
Fundamental Elements of Foreclosed Homes Listing
If you want to buy foreclosures property, you must understand the listings. A foreclosed homes listing compiles research gathered on real estate markets in every state and then create a comprehensive, searchable database of foreclosures for sale. A number of the essential basics listed out in an online foreclosure listing include:
Addresses of such available properties
Detailed description about their physical condition
Comprehensive account of the neighborhood area
Estimated price
Date of auction
Contact person or real estate agent
Status of foreclosure
A virtual view of the property so that the potential bidders can see a video of the available properties.
While buying foreclosed property, you are required to be cautious, because a lot of of the laws that guard or defend your rights in an otherwise conventional real estate deal may not be relevant to a foreclosed property. So once must be extra careful.