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The title to this article is a pretty bold statement, but if you’ll allow me a couple of minutes of your time today, I’ll show you how you can take advantage of a brand-new Real Estate niche that most Agents don’t know about. It’s not that they aren’t aware of it; it’s just that they haven’t put two & two together.

This new source of Real Estate Leads could mean another 100 – 600 new, very motivated (Seller) Leads that are desperate for your professional help. And that’s only for a market of 100,000 homes. You’re market could have even more.

Why hasn’t this opportunity been available before?

Well, before now all the pieces were not readily available. Today, the technology is in place, the turnkey business-in-a-box-training-systems are available, and the market for this business is very ripe & growing.

Foreclosures will be the next big thing in Real Estate Leads

We are often asked by our Coaches Corner{tm} Newsletter Subscribers (350,000+): „What’s the next big thing going to be for Real Estate Agents?“

Well, if you asked me that question specific to Real Estate Lead Generation, I’d have to say Foreclosures & PreForeclosures are going to be the next big thing for New Real Estate Lead Generation.

You’ve probably already heard that Real Estate Foreclosures, as of April 2007 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report (published by RealtyTrac® – the #1 online authority for Foreclosure data), are up by 62% nationwide from April 2006. Some states are up by as much as 3,325% (New Hampshire).

Real Estate Foreclosures Rates continue to grow

Recently USA Today printed an article about the fact that 75% of the new home mortgages in California are No-Doc-Loans (some industry experts call them liar-loans). These No-Doc-Loans allow the homeowner to use stated income and often allow them to borrow more money at higher debt-to-income ratios than they could traditionally. The no-doc loans have become very prevalent in the last couple of years and are now widely used nationwide.

In my opinion, the majority of these liar-loans are Real Estate Foreclosures in embryo. It’s likely just a matter of time before the homeowners get into trouble and fall into Foreclosure.

Over a Million Real Estate Foreclosures Each Year

According to RealtyTrac®, with whom we’ve established an exclusive partnership, the number of Foreclosures will likely exceed 1.2 million this year if we continue at this pace. To read the complete May 15th, 2007 press release for RealtyTrac®’s U.S. Foreclosure Market Report click here.

What this means for the average Real Estate Agent in a market with 100,000 households is that about 127 new properties will enter some state of Foreclosure per month. Some of the not-so-average counties will see 431 new foreclosures per month for those same 100,000 households. So, that means that there will be 14 new Real Estate Foreclosure Listings per day per 100,000 households.

If you had the home seller information in a timely manner and were equipped to deal with this specific type of lead, it could mean 100 – 500 brand new leads every month in a market with 100,000 households.

Most Real Estate Agents don’t know how to handle prospects in Foreclosure and usually see them as junk prospects. So, there’s very little competition for you in this niche if you become a Real Estate Foreclosure Expert.

Couple that with a very highly motivated home seller, and you have a recipe for New Lead Generation Success.

Do you know your State’s Foreclosure Rate? If it’s only the national average, you’ll have 1 Foreclosure for every 783 households like quite a bit of the country? How many households do you have in your market, and what does that equate to in Foreclosures? A whole lot no matter where you live!

The Foreclosure Rates are growing almost everywhere and there are already an enormous amount of potential leads for you where you live, so take action and equip yourself with as much information as you can on Real Estate Foreclosures. The information will help you carve out a brand new niche in Real Estate Foreclosures in your area and help you grow your Real Estate Business.

I was hanging out with a few people at a wedding recently and the conversation turned to

today’s real estate market.

One of my friends, John, from a town near San Jose, CA told a fascinating, yet familiar,

story. I thought I would share it with all of you.

John and his wife, Liz, decided to sell their home. They bought the house in 2004, saw it

increase in value, and this summer decided to sell it. They interviewed four different

agents to sell their home and finally decided on the one who agreed to sell their home for

what they wanted to sell it for.

They believed the home was worth $625,000. The first three agents who came in to

interview for the listing told them the house would never sell at that price and that they

should consider listing it below $600,000. They all felt $589,000-$599,000 was the

„magic“ number.

John is a commercial real estate broker. He knew that his asking price was high but he

was in no hurry to sell. He also didn’t like the fact these three agents weren’t offering

any „solutions“ they were only discussing the „problems“ he would face at the higher

price.

These agents told John and Liz about the current market conditions for their area. If

their home sold, it would likely take up to 120 days. There was a 55% chance that the

home wouldn’t sell at all during these four months. Based on what they wanted for their

home, they needed to be prepared for this. The agents told them they needed to consider

lowering the price.

John and Liz talked very seriously about lowering their price. Then they met a fourth

agent named Lynette.

Lynette came in and presented her case. It really wasn’t much different than the rest.

She also told them about days on the market and the chances of selling their home. She

also suggested they may be priced a bit high but then she offered an option.

„Let’s stage your home using a professional home staging company,“ Lynette suggested.

„This is going to cost you about $4000. We will list the home at the $625,000 you want

but to offset some of this expense, when I sell your home, I will split this expense with

you.“

Whereas real estate professionals, like Lynette, are highly skilled in marketing, selling

and closing your home, home stagers are designers. They are artists who prepare your

home for resale.

Home stagers work with the „flow“ of your home. They will remove and re-arrange

furniture. They will eliminate clutter. They may even add pictures, bedspreads, paint,

art, rugs and other items to make it more appealing. They may even assist in enhancing

curb-appeal.

Their goal is to make an incredible first impression on potential homebuyers the moment

they pull in front of your home.

Lynette explained that although the décor of the house was very nice and contemporary,

the home was cluttered because of their three young boys and busy lifestyle. The home

didn’t feel as large as it was because it was packed with too many items to display it

properly. The home was „too personal,“ she told them. They had picture of the boys

all over the house from birth to last year’s soccer playoffs.

She told them that they needed to compete with new home builders who are offering

buyers the most incredible purchase incentives. She said that when you walk into the

model homes of the builder you are „blown away.“

„THAT is your competition,“ Lynette said. „You need to blow away the people who

walk into your home too.“ She also explained that the last few clients who hired her

home staging company sold their home in less than 60 days and didn’t discount their

asking price.

John and Liz were not crazy about spending $4000, and certainly not thrilled about taking

down pictures of their beloved family, but they were encouraged by Lynette’s creative

idea. At the end of the day, what they really cared about was selling this home, so they

did it.

John said the home staging company came in and made the house seem like a „hotel.“

„They took out way more things than they put in, but it did look better, like a nice bed

and breakfast hotel,“ he said. „It almost made me want to stay there,“ he joked.

It worked. Their house sold in three weeks….at the $625,000 list price. Lynette did an

amazing job from start to finish!!

Just this month, I sold my very own investment house that was staged in 11 days. There

were three like models listed in the subdivision at the same time. Mine was the highest

priced. My incredibly talented real estate agent did an amazing job too but I truly

believe staging was a real key as well. I did take a small loss on this home. However a

sale in 11 days is no small accomplishment in today’s market.

Experts say that if you are hiring a professional staging company, plan on spending

between $2000-$5000 based on the size and condition of the home. If you just want

consultation, plan on $100 or so per hour.

Experts, like StagedHomes.com, say that a staged home sells in half the time as a similar

home that is not staged and that a staged home sells for 7-10% higher.

Coldwell Banker tracked nearly 3,000 properties, ranging in price from $229,000 to $4.8

million, in eight major U.S. cities.

During this time, they determined the average home was on the market for nearly 31

days, the typical staged home sold in less than 14 days.

The average home sold for 1.6% over the seller’s asking price. The staged homes, in the

Coldwell Banker study, over the same time, went for a 6.3% more.

This means, if the average home price is $300,000, you can expect the average staged

home to sell for $318,000-$330,000. Obviously, this makes the $2000-$5000 investment

a no-brainer.

Inventory is at an all-time high in many areas. The National Association of Realtors

recently reported the biggest drop in home prices since the trade group began compiling

price data in 1968. Many experts are now saying housing prices will continue to decline

though 2007.

So do you take your home off the market until 2008, and hope it gets better, with the

possibility it gets even worse, or do you separate yourself from the competition and do

what it takes to give your home the very best chance it has to sell today?

We are in a slower real estate market, however the people who are most committed to selling their

home will likely still be successful. When you are selling real estate it’s no different

than selling any other product. You have to market to find a capable buyer and then you

have to impress him.

Your real estate professional will market the property to bring the buyers but the product

and how it’s displayed will determine if it sells and at what price. This is where the

professional home stager comes in.

OK, so you want to give Home Staging a try? Here’s how.

There are many websites out there. Just type „professional home staging“ into your

favorite search engine like Google, Yahoo!, or MSN and you can start looking for the one

that best fits you.

If you want to try doing it yourself, take these tips from professional home stagers like

StagedHomes.com and others:

HOW TO „STAGE“ YOUR HOME YOURSELF

MAKE AN AWESOME FIRST IMPRESSION

Look at your house like you will look at the homes you want to buy next.

Prospective buyers make up their minds about your house even before they get out

of the car.

This is your chance to WOW them. Clean up the yard; rake the leaves and sweep

driveways and porches.

Get out the rags and cleanser and spend 30 minutes scouring your front door,

porch, railings and steps.

Make sure all of all your trash cans, recycling cans, other bins, discarded wood

scraps, extra building materials, etc., are in the garage.

Check gutters for roof moss and dry rot. Make sure they are swept and cleaned.

Look at all plants. Prune your bushes and trees. Keep plants from blocking

windows.

Weed and then mulch all planting areas. Keep lawn freshly cut and fertilized.

Remove dead plants or shrubs.

Clear patios or decks of all small items such as small planters, flower pots, charcoal,

barbecues, and toys. Box them away and store them.

Check the paint condition of the house, especially the front door and trim.

UNCLUTTER YOUR HOUSE

Empty your closets to a minimum, clear out the cupboards, and get rid of the small

appliances. Take books off the shelves, get rid of all of the magazines, the CDs,

video games, and DVDs, and lose the kid’s toys. Minimize it all.

Rent a storage unit or box what you want to keep and toss the rest.

Now is the time to say goodbye to your house and your stuff and transition. Your

life may be a bit uncomfortable during this time but you are now in the business of

selling your home.

GET RID OF THAT FURNITURE

An easy way to „unclutter“ and create a much greater sense of space is to get rid of

some furniture.

Consider moving your sofa, extra chairs, and end tables into storage so you can

make the home feel like it is larger and has much more space.

If your furniture is old, you may want to pack it away and rent a few more

contemporary pieces.

The goal is to sell your home, not display your old furniture.

MAKE YOUR HOME „THEIR“ HOME

The goal here is to get the potential buyer to imagine that he is living in your house.

If he feels like an intruder during his tour, your chances of selling the house are less.

That means put away anything connected to your family or personal interests. Like

trophies, family vacation photos, and personal mementos. Box it all away!

Clear refrigerator fronts of all messages, magnets, pictures, reminders, etc.

Stagers say the bathroom is a crucial place to pay close attention too. Shampoo

bottles in the shower and toothbrushes near the sink make it very hard for the

buyer to picture himself there. Box it away during the day and bring it out at night

for your use.

Keep the towels to minimum as well. Think „neat hotel bathroom“ on the day you

checked in.

MAKE THAT HOUSE AS CLEAN AS POSSIBLE

If your house is clean, the buyer tends to believe everything else is great with the

house as well. This means clean everything! The mirrors, walls, floors, carpets,

drapes, bathrooms, kitchen, and even door handles, light fixtures and pantry

cupboards.

If you hate cleaning, bring in a professional maid service regularly while your home

is listed and get someone in to do the windows, driveway and walkways. Remember,

it costs money to make money.

HIRE A PROFESSIONAL HANDYMAN

As I mentioned, I recently sold an investment property of mine that was staged in 11

days. I staged it myself by following all of the items listed here.

The day before my agent officially placed my home in MLS and started contacting

all of his previous clients, I called a handyman to come out and fix a few things.

I had a missing face plate for a light switch. I had some mold around one of the

toilets. One of the sinks had a broken drain valve. The door leading out to the

garage was dinged up a bit and needed a coat of paint. This was less than $100

worth of work. Many sellers would simply have ignored these items, offered the

buyer a blanket repair credit, and said „get it fixed yourself when you move in.“

Because of my research on this topic, I knew better and made an appointment to get

the handyman out to fix it. He was busy so he committed to come in a week.

However, my home went on the market the next day.

Two days later, five days before the handyman came; the eventual buyer of my

home toured my house. He came back a week later, after the handyman had been

there, and bought it. When I finally met the buyer at the final walk-through, I

asked him whey he didn’t make the offer the first time through.

He told me the missing face plate on the light switch and the dinged up garage door

really bugged him. When he came back and it was fixed, he was impressed and

knew I cared about the home.

A $3 item from Home Depot and a simple coat of cheap grade white paint almost

cost me the sale of my home.

Don’t wait! Fix those minor problems today!

COLOR UP THAT HOUSE WITH PAINT AND CARE

A fresh coat of paint in key areas of your home really makes a big difference. If

your home feels „special“ like you care, that will translate to buyers. Experts say

flowers in the entry or near the front door make your home feel more special, warm

and inviting.

FACE IT, YOUR HOUSE STINKS…MAKE IT SMELL BETTER

Stagers say that people don’t realize it but many of their homes simply stink. They

stink from pets or just everyday family use. The easiest way to overcome this is to

keep your windows open for 10 minutes a day.

This strategy works better than deodorizers, says Barb Schwarz, president of

StagedHomes.com, since a lot of people have allergies to artificial room fresheners.

The oldest trick of all? Leave chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven. The smell

helps buyers bond with your home.

MAKE YOUR HOME BRIGHTER AND MORE ALIVE

When things are lighter they feel more vibrant and alive. Dark is depressing. You

don’t want the buyer feeling depressed walking through your home.

Staging experts say clean windows let in as much as 30% more light than dirty ones.

Get them cleaned.

Clean the shades on your light fixtures and add floor lamps if an area seems dim.

Get rid of those energy-saving 60-watt bulbs and go with higher wattage lights for

maximum illumination.

When it comes time to show your home, make sure all the lights are on.

GET HOMEY AND CREATIVE

Flowers, plants, candles, expressive art are all items that are not overly personal

that give a good vibe to the buyer walking through your home. Show these off or go

buy some to add that touch.

You want your home to feel like a model home you see at a new house tract or,

better yet, a comfortable hotel lobby.

For real estate agents, in my opinion, this is a great tool to separate yourself from your

competition in trying to get a listing and sell the home. I think it’s a good idea to take a

few home staging classes or have a professional home stager as part of your team as an

option to present sellers.

StagedHomes.com offers two-day home staging workshops for real estate agents.

For homeowners with a lot of equity, I think hiring a professional stager is a tremendous

idea as well.

If you don’t have as much room financially and the costs of hiring a professional stager

seem preventative, you may want to try the „do-it-yourself“ ideas listed above first.

If those still don’t work, but you notice the feedback is more positive, you may want to

then consider hiring a home staging professional.

From all indications, and I can tell you first-hand, the price of staging your home is small

compared to the benefits you can realize.

Although, we are, presently, experiencing, a Sellers Market, in housing, which, we have never seen, in recent memory, to this extent, and, resulting, escalating, home prices, and, far – more, qualified, potential buyers, than houses, for – sale, instead, of over – reacting, etc, a smart buyer, will take the time, and make a concerted effort, to better understand, and, truly, appreciate, those significant factors, which every buyer, should! These factors, are, of course, in addition, to closely, examining, the specific features, and quality, of the house! With, that in mind, this article will attempt to, briefly, consider, examine, review, and discuss, 7 key ones, and why, they matter.

1. Area/ region/ neighborhood: Consider, what you like, and don’t, about a specific area, region, and/ or, neighborhood! What are the strengths, weaknesses, and neutral considerations? If, you are familiar, with the area, why are you attracted to it, and what does it offer? If, you are not, do some research, speak to neighbors, and drive – around, and observe!

2. Your personal, present/ foreseeable – future considerations: Each of us, is unique, in certain ways! Since, for most, their home’s value represents, their single – biggest, financial asset, it is wise to pay keen attention, to what you are seeking, and differentiate between, your present and foreseeable – future needs, priorities, and goals, and how a specific house, might, serve your purpose! What attracts you, and not, and, why?

3. Real estate taxes: Remember, often, real estate taxes, are a significant component/ part, of your monthly costs, of home ownership! When, doing your calculations, don’t forget to seriously, consider, the impacts of these!

4. Safety/ crime: Examine the area’s relative – safety, and crime figures! For most, living in a safe neighborhood, is a most, significant factor! Look at the data, rather than, just asking someone!

5. Conveniences: How convenient is the location, especially, as it relates to your needs, and priorities? Is it, close to shopping, markets, drug stores, etc? How about access to mass transit? Is it easy and convenient, to use a car, etc?

6. School quality: If, you presently, have, or plan, to have a family/ children, or, even, if you don’t (because it affects, future resale values), examine the reliable data, regarding the quality of the local school system! Many states publish official data, etc!

7. Your personal comfort zone: What makes you feel comfortable, and how, would a particular property, enhance your enjoyment, etc? Do all the facts, fit into your personal comfort zone, especially, in terms of costs, monthly expenses, area, location, and all other relevant factors? Remember, if you aren’t comfortable, you probably, shouldn’t purchase that specific house!

Be a smarter home buyer! Consider these, and any other, personally – significant factors, carefully, before making a final decision!

Buying pre-foreclosure is said to be very prosperous in return. What say you? There are abundant of advantages in buying pre-foreclosure and 1 of them is getting under market value pre-foreclosure home. If you are an investor, then for sure buying pre-foreclosure is prosperous. However, no matter investors or home buyers, we should anyway first to understand pre-foreclosure in order to get handsome return, shouldn’t we? For great bargains are always earned.

Pre-foreclosure is the first stage of a home being foreclosed. This happen when the home owner has missed at least one payment and is now considered delinquent on the loan. The home owner will then receive a Notice of Default, which is a formal warning sent to the homeowner. The homeowner will be given a certain period to respond to the borrower regarding the solutions of the un-paid payment/loan. In this state, foreclosure home owners are considered to be very motivated to look for home buyers to buy their house.

To go any further about buying pre-foreclosure, we have to first understand the psychology of the foreclosure homeowner. In most of the cases, the owners are dealing with negative events in his life that has caused him to fall behind in his mortgage payments. It could be the outcome of illness, divorce, job loss, family illness or other monetary obligations that have grown out of expectations. Therefore, foreclosure home owners are very distressed when things come to worse where borrowers send in the warning of foreclosure. Because this will not only make their home being fore closured, it will also leave a bad mark in their credit history, causing a long term consequences.

Remember, we as investors or home buyers could always help those foreclosure homeowners. If we are able to buy their foreclosure home with some amount above their mortgage balance, homeowners could settle part of their financial problem which helps much in either financial expect or psychology expect. Thus, buying pre-foreclosure is a win-win situation for both buyers and homeowner, where we can get a under market value foreclosure home while homeowners could settle their unpaid home loan.

However, there are challenges in buying pre-foreclosure. Out of them, the biggest challenge of buying pre-foreclosure is getting the attention of homeowner. Great deals attract people. Thus, acting fast and effectively will help you to reach homeowners with better and deeper impressions. This is why real estate listings are important. Whenever a new pre-foreclosure home is unfolded, you can be the first person to review its details in the foreclosure listings. Besides, we could get info on the pre-foreclosure properties in foreclosure listings too. Foreclosure listings are just a necessary tool in order to buy a great bargain of pre-foreclosure.

A lot people, including big names like Jim Cramer of CNBC’s Mad Money and TheStreet.com, are suggesting investing in Mexico real estate. So, this is great – let’s invest in Mexico! This is about as useful as being told to invest in stocks to make money. Which stocks? When? How much?

For a real estate investment in Mexico, you also need to know where, when, and how much. Especially, if you are buying on a smaller budget, you will need to find good properties for a good price. Two basic steps can help you with this question. One is to do some on-line research using MLS listings from reliable sites and information about different market areas. The other is to contact an expert.

Some MLS listings provide properties from throughout Mexico. You can start by calculating how much you can invest, and take a look at listings within this range. Browse through, see what’s there.

You can also search by area. Take Playa del Carmen real estate,for example. You want to make a small investment, under $100,000 USD. A options you will find:

• around $70,000 – a home on the beachfront, in a small gated community. This home could be rented out to vacationers looking for something a little quieter, away from the main tourist traffic. It’s only 10 minutes away from town.
• around $90,000 – lots in an upscale gated community; homes in this area go for around $500,000 USD. It is a full-service marina and golf community, with a mall, church, school and small shop and restaurant area.
• Around $100,000 – a 2 bedroom, 2 bedroom home in a new development, about 10 minutes from the beach. There is a pool, 24 hour security and plenty of green space. A great property and community for renting to vacationers on a budget (a proven constant source of income), your own vacations, or family living.

Of course, your options broaden with a larger budget, with the most options right within the $150,000 – $200,000 range. But there’s no need to spend more; you can also explore a variety of areas. You can find more information on the web about areas, how tourism and how the economy is.

After you’ve explored your price range, however, the best source for information is an expert real estate broker. A qualified, experienced broker will be able to make suggestions for areas and property types according to your needs. Their knowledge of the market will also allow them to advise you if your plans are feasible or not, and provide alternative suggestions.

Start your search today; regardless of your budget, Mexico real estate will an investment suitable for you.

When you are invited by the owner of a commercial property to submit a proposal to sell it, you may only have that single opportunity to convey the proposal message and your marketing strategy. Unfortunately most vendor invitations to present sales proposals are made to multiple agents for the single property, so the message in the document has to be clear, and the conversion outcome is critical.

Before you start any proposal, ask yourself this one question. ‚What makes me different in the marketing of this property?‘ If you have not got a clear answer then a major problem exists.

Far too many agents enter a competitive property sale proposal situation with a focus on one or more of the following:

• Discounted sale fees
• Discounted commission
• Discounted or agent paid advertising
• Inflated price quotation

Whilst the client may initially think that some of this is attractive, it does little to sell the property and may even be counterproductive. Why prostitute yourself? If you are the best real estate agent in your area then show it and make sure the message is clear in your sales proposal.

A great proposal to sell a property is strategic and targeted to the outcome that the client seeks. Everything in your document should be displaying your dominance and understanding of the task at hand. To be the best agent to do the job, the proposal has to illustrate that.

So what are the rules to adopt here? In essence the proposal is to be all about the property and the client in all respects. The following will help you with the blueprint for a great sales listing proposal.

1. A statement detailing the property location and features. Market appeal of the property is also part of this opening to your proposal. Copies of property titles, plans, photos, tenancy schedules, and encumbrances should also be displayed here.
2. A summary of the requirements of the client to sell the property should be made. Make sure that this is quite clear so that the client knows you totally understand the brief.
3. A list of the clients concerns and questions that you have identified is very useful at this point. As a direct follow on to that, you can provide answers for the client. This shows that you are really aligned to the needs of the client.
4. An overview of the property market and its current trends is essential. As part of this you should then position the subject property into the market you have described and then comment on the competition properties that impact the property marketing today.
5. Clearly define the target market that you see as relevant to the promotion of the property. Then explain how relevant the property is to that target market and the features of the property that will assist you in the process of marketing.
6. Recommendations regards methods of sale become the natural flow on from point 4 above. You must give reasons for your selection of the method of sale. Also give the client some comment on the ‚factors of time on market‘ that exist at the time, and the success factors of your chosen method of sale. Give the client some clear comfort that you really do know that the method of sale selected is the best.
7. Use time lines as an illustration of where you would like to head with this property sale promotion. Illustrations are much better than words. Gantt charts are great for this purpose.
8. At this point it is best to provide an innovative marketing strategy that complements the chosen method of sale and attracts the defined target market. The promotional strategy offered should have 2 or 3 alternatives of marketing that provide the client with a selection of budgets. Vendor paid advertising is the rule and not the exception in listing a commercial property. Stick to this rule.
9. Copies of adverts are useful to give the client an idea of what the promotional material will look like and how it will be formatted.
10. A summary of fees and costs to do the sale should be simple and clear. Whilst costs are always important, if you have done your job in the earlier parts of your proposal, then the fees and costs will be less critical to the client.

All of the above points centre on the property and the client. Very little is said about the agency and what you bring to the property for the client. Only after all the points above are handled should you move to the matters of agency promotion and relevance.

As listing Commercial property for sale or lease is a competitive process, it is important that written submissions for owners are presented promptly. The company that has their submission before the owners first is likely to be given most consideration. However, the listing agreement or contract is an important document and it needs to be prepared carefully to ensure that all the arrangements negotiated with the owners have been included.

You should, if possible, present the submission in person so that you can „walk“ the owners through the documents and immediately clarify any matters of concern. If possible obtain exclusive listings, but whatever the situation, ensure that the document is accurate, well presented and that your oral presentation complements it.

If you think you are the best real estate agent in the market to handle the property sale, then your proposal has to show that very clearly.

It can be quite exciting and inspiring to buy a home for the first time. However, it can be quite tiring and stressful if you are a first-time buyer. This article will give you a couple of tips that will help you make sure that the process of purchasing a house is enjoyable and stress-free.

1. Set your Budget

Before starting your research, we suggest that you think about financing this purchase. If you cannot pay in cash, you will have to borrow the required money through a mortgage. For a deposit, you will also need a lot of cash. Typically, it is between 5% and 10% of the value of the property you want to purchase.

2. Identify your Needs

Once you have set your budget, your next move is to look for a property that can meet your needs. Now, if you want the property located near a certain workplace, station, or school, you may want to mark them on the map. This will help you identify if the property is near the spot. Apart from this, you may want to prepare a list of all the stuff that you desire in your property.

3. Put your Home on the Property Market

Some buyers want to sell their existing home prior to looking for a new one. According to experts, it’s not a great idea to do so. If you have not put your existing home on the market, you may not be able to secure the deal that comes your way.

4. Start your Property Search

Ideally, you may want to start your research on the internet and the websites of popular real estate agents. Most of the websites allow you to filter the search results by the number of bedrooms, price, and location.

5. Sort the List

It won’t take you more than a couple of hours or days to create a list of properties that might meet your needs. So, what you need to do is create a shortlist list of the ones that can satisfy your criteria. It is not a good idea to look at a lot of houses in a day. The reason is that this will make you forget the details quickly.

6. Make an Offer

Once you have decided on a property that can meet your needs, you may want to decide on the price that you need to pay. It is important to keep in mind that every property comes with an asking price. And there is the price that you will be willing to pay. So, your role is to negotiate with the seller before making payment.

7. Agreeing on the Price

Once you have made an offer, it is up to the seller to accept or reject it. If they say that your offer is too low, you may have to offer a higher amount. Once the negotiation is over, your offer will be accepted and the deal will be done.

Long story short, these are some of the tips that you may want to keep in mind when looking for a home to buy for the first time.

Opportunities for real estate investment for foreigners is wide and varied in the United States. It doesn’t matter where you’re from and what currency you’d be using to purchase a property, you have a property waiting for you.

There are generally three kinds of real estate investment available to foreigners. These investments include the commercial estate investment and residential property investment. Residential properties are further classified into single family properties, apartments or condominiums and recreational properties. Regardless of what kind of real estate you are interested in, there are all sorts of tax ramifications, financing options and legal requirements that you have to deal with.

Why Should You Invest in the U.S. Real Estate Market?

You’ve probably heard of the increasing number of foreign real estate investments in the United States. This is not surprising. With the troubles that the real estate investment market is facing in the United States, greater opportunities in real estate investment were opened to foreign investors.

With the dollar’s value in its all time low, foreign investors are finding real estate bargains all over the United States. There are no shortages of deals in this market. More and more distressed properties are being sold everywhere and foreigners are pouring in millions buying these foreclosed or distressed properties. The United States real estate has become a fairly attractive long-term investment for foreign investors.

In November of 2006, the National Association of Realtors released a report entitled „Foreign Investments in U.S Real Estate: Current Trends and Historical Perspective“. The report showed that there has been a steady increase in foreign real estate investment in the United States. This is especially after the euro and the loonie became stronger in the face of the continuous devaluation of the US dollar. Prime bargains were opened to foreigners. Many foreigners have now looked into the possibility of retiring or settling in the United States.

If you’re a foreigner, you would find a lot of reasons why you should invest in the United States real estate market. Aside from the fact that the floating exchange rate has given you a lot of leverage over the bargaining table, the financial market is a pretty good reason why you should invest in the US real estate.

The financial market in the United States in relation to the real estate market is quite liberal and the restrictions against foreign investors are pretty reasonable. This is ideal for foreign companies that are seeking to invest in the real estate market in the United States in order to avoid tariff restrictions and are considering setting up an office or a company in the United States.

Furthermore, despite the devaluation of the US dollar and the wide foreclosures of a lot of property, the real estate market remains to be stable, though slightly shaky, due to foreign investors‘ capital appreciation. Domestic real estate buyers may not necessarily share the same opinion, but the market has remained to be strong for foreign real estate buyers. This may be largely credited to the fact that there is minimal risk for them.

Why are Foreign Real Estate Investments Safe and Profitable?

There are a lot of investments you can make, but the safest you can make right now is investing your money in real properties. This is another good reason aside from the fact that you can make a pretty nifty profit, if you like, particularly now with the widespread property foreclosures and seemingly continuous US dollar devaluation. This is especially true if you are going to use the euro or the loonie when making your investment.

But why is US real estate investment safe for foreigners?

It is undeniable that stock investments are not a safe avenue at this point. The recession has not only affected the US economy; the same recession has greatly affected worldwide stock investments. Stocks values are dropping. It is also a fact that even without the current economic situation, stock values fluctuates.

On the other hand, real estate investments are pretty stable if you would compare it to stock investments – or even bond or mutual fund investments. With real estate investment, you’d be putting your money in an investment that would grow in value as years go by.

What are the Benefits of Foreign Real Estate Investment?

US state government supports foreign investments and along this line has formulated various tax breaks to encourage foreign investment on real estate. Many of these tax breaks are not available in many countries. In fact, most countries would frown at foreigners owning real properties within their territory.

Foreign real estate investment in the United States is open to everyone. As long as you can afford to buy the property or at least comply with the mortgage requirements and payments, you can secure for yourself a pretty good property in the United States. Again, with the current economic situation of the United States, this is the perfect chance for you to make an investment.

Another great benefit that you can take advantage of is the availability of mortgage financing. Lenders have opened their doors to foreign investors who are looking into purchasing a property. So, you don’t have to actually deplete your bank account. You can actually secure a mortgage loan and gradually pay it off.

I’m Canadian, What Are My Financing Options?

There is a steady increasing rate of Canadian real estate investors in the United States; and accordingly, the government has made certain that they have attractive financing options available to them.

If you’re Canadian – or if you’re a foreigner – you’d find a lot of reasons why you should buy a piece of real property in the United States. For Canadians, the parity of the currencies or the apparent devaluation of the US dollar is a pretty good reason itself. But how do you finance your purchase?

There are various financing options available to you depending on which state you are in. In Arizona, for instance, you’d get favorable financing terms if you are purchasing a property for recreational purposes, that is, you do not derive any income or benefit from your purchase or ownership. You will be required, however, to sign up a disclosure agreement and give a 30% down payment for your loan. To qualify though for a loan, you may be required to show availability of liquid reserves for a period of three to six months. You may also be required to present a minimum of 3-month bank statement.

If you are purchasing a property for investment, you’d probably meet stricter terms. Requirements may be more stringent. For instance, you could be required to give a down payment of more than 30% and you may be required to show one year worth of liquidity reserves.

Regardless of your reasons, if you feel like you can fulfill the requirements of a financing loan, you can then proceed to actually applying for a mortgage loan. Also, keeping yourself updated with the financing terms flux may be a wise idea.

Understanding the Tax Ramifications of Real Estate Investment

The first foreigner to have ever bought a real estate property in the United States was Peter Minuit. This opened the doors to foreign real estate investors. After a couple of centuries later, foreign real estate investment has grown into huge proportions, accounting for billion-of-dollar worth of industry.

The low risk attached to US real estate market, the availability of countless properties, and the steady market liquidity attract foreign investors in droves. The initial snag, however, is the process of understanding the legal ramifications of foreign real estate investment.

What you have to understand is that foreign investment in the United States can take a lot of forms. A foreigner has various options. He can acquire direct interest. He can acquire an interest in the real estate through a partnership, a corporation, or a limited liability company. The latter is the typical structure used by foreign investors.

Limited partnership or Limited Liability Company offers financial protection or indirect asset protection, especially in cases of bankruptcy, law suits and taxes. Foreign investors are generally taxed on the property as if they hold the property in direct interest.

Ideally, you should secure the services of a real estate accountant to help you out with the tax ramifications, but it would help if you, at least, know the basics before you actually talk to an accountant.

There are tax consequences that you have to deal with when you buy a real estate in the United States. You would need an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number which you will use with all your tax transactions. Your investment in real estates can be treated as a portfolio investment and will be accounted for as an investment income which can either be fixed or a periodic income. This is typically taxed at 30% on gross revenues. This tax though does not apply though to all foreign investors. Tax rates would vary depending on the tax personality the foreign investor opted for. For instance, a corporation would be taxed differently.

Other things that you should take note of are availability and requirements of tax refunds and state tax laws on real estate properties as they may differ from federal laws, among other things.

By knowing all these things, you may save yourself from a lot of hassles when you finally approach a real estate accountant. You’d be in same wavelength when you finally get down to talking business. It is, however, very important that you secure the services of an accountant. You’d have an easier time dealing with the taxes ramifications. You’d also have assistance ensuring that you comply with all the accounting aspect of your investment. This is especially true if you are purchasing a real property for investment purposes.

Do You Need to Secure the Service of a Real Estate Lawyer?

If you are considering buying a property in the United States, you need to secure the services of a real estate attorney – someone who could help you with the legal issues concerning your purchase. It is tempting to forego securing the service of a lawyer to save money, but this could cost you a lot of money in the long run. Make sure that you have an experienced and trustworthy lawyer to help you out. Make sure that you have thoroughly checked out his credentials, profile, history of successful cases handled by him, and other factors that would influence your decision. You could check online and look for a lawyer working within the state where you are considering purchasing a property.

Functions of a Real Estate Lawyer

There is no actual distinctive function for a lawyer in a real estate case. However, you would really need the assistance of a lawyer for various tasks. A real estate lawyer would review the sales contract for you. He would also check on the title and other documents relating to the property. A lawyer would also review your mortgage contract and make the necessary adjustments or corrections. You could also get him to review with you the legal and tax issues concerning the purchase. A real estate attorney could also make the necessary adjustments relating to various expenses and costs involved in the purchase. He would assess your eligibility for tax refunds and draft the documents and statements relating to this.

Putting it simply, a real estate lawyer will be your watchdog. He would guide you through the whole process of purchasing a real estate in the United States in order to make sure that you will be legally protected. You will have a capable and trustworthy liaison to help you out with the contract. He will also face legal disputes if any arise.

Tips on How to Invest in Real Estate Successfully

Now, if you’ve fully bought into the idea of real estate investing in the United States, you might just want to know how to go about investing in real estate successfully. If you want to be successful in this venture, the first thing that you have to avoid is overanalyzing. Of course, it is a good idea to carefully think through your actions but it is a bad idea to overanalyze your investment to nonexistence. You might lose a great opportunity.

Before you purchase the property though, it might be wise to check the property value. If it sits well with you and you can reasonably afford the property, go ahead and make the purchase.

If you are considering the property for a quick flip, make sure that the property is in perfect condition and in good area. This is to ensure that you could double or actually triple your return of investment. If you can inspect the property yourself, do so. If not, a good and trustworthy agent can help you with this task.

Another important thing to remember when you’re buying real estate is good financing. You should take your time to carefully consider all your financing options. Foreign investors can email in their queries to various lending institutions. It is a good idea to make sure that you’ve had their terms and rates on paper because they tend to change these terms and charge you with a lot of junk. Your real estate agent can help you with reviewing the escrow charges.

The bottom line, however, is that it is very important that you do your homework before you actually buy a real property. Investing in real properties in the United States can be profitable especially during these times. In fact, it may be the wisest and most perfect investment you can make right now.

Waterfront property is immune to most market trends, and for good reason. Splendid summers can be spent on a lake or river, promising family bonding time and decreased stress. Full-year houses and cabins are becoming more frequent. They can also be converted into permanent residencies that promote privacy and communing with nature. A waterfront house for sale is rarely on the market for long and should be pounced on by interested buyers.

Privacy

Privacy is an increasingly valuable commodity. With lakefront property, real privacy is obtainable. The distance between homes and dense foliage dampens sound, leaving the owner to appreciate their thoughts and conversations with friends and family. With limited space for development, no houses will pop up between the property and water’s edge, resulting in a clear view of the water. A waterfront house for sale will also likely feature a private dock, or at the very least, an intimate, walk-up access to the shoreline.

Fun Water Activities

Water activities are a great way to bond with families and friends. The water presents a wide range of options for fun, such as fishing, skiing, swimming, and boating, among others. Many of these activities cannot be replicated on land and give a thrill of being unique. Even simple activities like reading a favorite book while drinking a cup of coffee are suddenly mystical when paired with a lake sunset.

Limited Supply

Substantial property directly on a body of water is rare and priced accordingly. They retain their value, especially compared to fluctuations of city housing, and can be sold at almost any time if need be. When not in use, renting cabins can provide large profits. Owning a waterfront property requires some amount of upkeep. However, a house for sale in an area that is desirable can be a great family experience, as well as a smart investment.

Closeness to nature

While this depends on the area, lakes and rivers are a natural habitat for a plethora of wildlife. You can watch birds from the dock, fish for sport or food, catch the occasional appearance of deer or owls, and experience an intimate moment with nature that a city cannot duplicate. Of course, having a fully operational house means that nature can be enjoyed on the individual’s terms, which is especially important in humid climates and at night.

Health Benefits

Many studies have shown that spending time close to water has immediate health benefits. For those who have spent time around or on water, this should come as no surprise. Spending time on the lake creates a serene atmosphere that reduces stress. For those who are used to living in a city, the clean air and decrease in noise and light pollution will be a welcome change.

Let’s get right down to it, shall we:

Best REALTOR Slogans

#5. „My job is your future“– Good. So you understand how big of a deal a home purchase is for me.

#4. „Purveyor of fine homes to fine people“ – Not bad; a little boring, but you have a good command of the language and demonstrate strong commitment to a targeted market.

#3. „Sold in 100 days, or I’ll buy it“– Does this belong in the top 5? Yes – because you stand out, commit, and I know I’ll have a guaranteed sale within 4 months.

#2. „I Never Forget You Have a Choice“– That’s what I like to hear – you’ll always have the right motivations while we’re working together.

#1. „Anyone can sell your home. I can sell it for more.“ – Strong, assertive and straight to the point. Let me put you to the test.

Worst REALTOR Slogans

#5. „A Realtor You Can Trust“– Sounds like something your parole officer told you to say.

#4. „No Fancy Punchlines – Just Great Service“– Does this constitute an oxymoron? (Definitely a moron)

#3. „It’s the Energy!“– What does that even mean? I think your doctor over-prescribes stimulants… Out of curiosity, what’s his name (my friend wants to know…)?

#2. „Everything I Touch Turns to Sold!“ – Ha ha! It’s funny, I’ll give you that. But now that the joke’s over can you introduce me to a real REALTOR?

#1. „Spouses Selling Houses“ – Do you include domestic disputes with showings?

Conclusion

This was a tough article to write because there are at least 20 terrible catch phrases for every good one. Some rules of thumb:

• Use common sense – No one wants to hear you state the obvious – and no one is interested in self-indulgence. There’s also not much room for humor (there are exceptions of course), so keep it professional.
• If you say something bold in your slogan, make sure you’re willing to eat, sleep, and breathe by it.
• If you can’t come up with anything good, don’t worry: Clients won’t notice that you don’t have a catch phrase, but you might lose clients if you have a bad one.