This is a Real, Real Estate » home

2006: U.S. Cities With Overvalued Real Estate And Home Prices

admin — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 05:58:29 +0000

Buying a home is a big-time real estate investment and has to be done with great prudence. Knowing where not to buy a home is as important as are the dos and don’ts of buying a home.

Of the many top ten lists on CNNMoney.com, there is listed the top ten overvalued cities in America where it is better not to buy a home for the next two years or so. The report states a variety of reasons for the unfavorable market conditions.

Five cities in California – Bakersfield, Fresno, Merced, Sacramento and Stockton, figure among the top ten cities that have the least possibility of home price appreciation. Home prices have reached a new high (by nearly 60%) in these areas over the past two years. With an economy driven by agriculture and relatively higher unemployment rates anticipated for that area, the real estate market is predicted to slump in the region.

Although three cities in Florida are recommended as good real estate buys, the report also cites four others in Southwest Florida that fall among the very bottom of the list. With home prices here expected to plummet very soon, cities like Fort Myers, Naples, Punta Gorda and Sarasota are those that one would do best to avoid for a year’s time or so, while buying a home or a condo.

Market prices are expected to decline in the Jersey Shore (New Jersey) area that saw a radical boom in the last two quarters. Although home prices in the third quarter have rebounded from the slight drop during the second quarter, the bubble is expected to burst soon and the overpriced market is likely to stabilize. The popular seaside cities of New Jersey, Atlantic City and Ocean city are anticipated to fall under the unfavorable list.

In Phoenix, Arizona, a hot favorite among investors last year, sliding home prices may to be an unavoidable occurrence in the next 12 months. With home prices dropping by more than $100,000 in some residential developments and investors trying to sell off their property, it is safer to wait for a year or longer before investing here.

Economists at Moody’s Economy.com also predict a sharp decline in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, California’s Inland Empire.

The bottom ten cities that are likely to see major drops in median home prices during the coming year are Stockton, (leading the list with a predicted fall of 9.7%), Merced, Reno/Sparks, Fresno, Vallejo/Fairfield, Las Vegas, Bakersfield, Sacramento, Washington, D.C and Tucson.

Given these fluctuating real estate market conditions, one should exercise a great deal of caution when investing in real estate. It makes sense to get the expert advice of a real estate agent to advise you about your next home purchase, since agents often have access to the most up-to-date real estate market data and neighborhood pricing trends.

Tags: 2006, Cities, Estate, home, Overvalued, Prices, Real, U.S.

What Do Wealthy Home Buyers Want From Their Real Estate Agent?

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 05:46:49 +0000

Wealthy home buyers who buy multi-million dollar homes are typically self-made millionaires with new money, according to a recent online survey of 683 Coldwell Banker Previews International property specialists. The study revealed the top professions of these affluent customers. According to the respondents, 88 % of their customers are business or corporate executives, 37 % are physicians, 31 % are lawyers, 30 % are financial professional and 14 % are entertainers, entertainment executives or professional athletes.

Wealthy home buyers require their real estate agents to be equipped with special skills, according to the Coldwell Banker’s survey. Given the magnitude of the financial transactions involved in luxury home purchases, 78 % of sales associates said that the top most need their clients require from their real estate agents is privacy and confidentiality. The luxury customers also want their real estate agents to exercise discretion while dealing with their multi-million dollar transactions. Almost 70 % of respondents polled that their wealthy clients want their real estate professionals to offer customized services while 44 % said that the luxury home buyers want their agents to have good network and work relationship with executive assistants, CPAs and attorneys.

Wealthy home buyers also want their agents to know the inside scoop on the real estate market, according to 36 % of the respondents in the Coldwell Banker’s survey. Seventeen percent of the sales associates surveyed indicated that one of the necessary skills for real estate professionals working with affluent customers was the ability to provide emotional support to their clients. And according to 11 % of respondents, luxury customers want their real estate agents to establish personal rapport with their clients.

The study also included queries on the “must have” amenities that the affluent clientele want in their luxury homes. Wealthy home buyers want media rooms in their homes, according to 60 % of respondents and another 60 % polled that their affluent customers want “wired” homes. However, there are a few home design elements that are out among luxury home buyers. Gourmet kitchens, granite countertops and wet bars are no longer counted as luxuries by wealthy home buyers, according to the survey respondents.

The survey also found that the multi-million dollar home buyer pays a typical down payment of 20 % to 30 %, while a quarter of clients put down 30 % to 50 % of the sale price.

Tags: agent, Buyers, Estate, From, home, Real, Their, Want, Wealthy

Role Of Real Estate Agent In Vacation And Second Home Markets

admin — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 04:05:30 +0000

Second home sales have been increasing over the last few years with more people becoming second home owners. In 2005 alone, 40 percent of the homes sold were second homes. Demographics, all time low mortgage rates, and healthy rise in home prices have contributed to this development in the second home market. Besides these, a major factor that has helped augment the buying and selling of second homes is the real estate professional.

The National Association of Realtors conducted research on the profile of second-home owners in 2006. According to the NAR report entitled ‘2006 Profile of Second-Home Owners’, a majority of second home sales transactions are conducted using the services of real estate agents.

The statistics are remarkable; 64 % of vacation home buyers purchased their home using the services of a real estate agent by the end of 2005 – a marked increase from less than 50 % of vacation-home buyers in 2003. Also, 65 % of investment-home buyers purchased their home with the help of a real estate agent – an increase from 53 % of pre-2003. In comparison, only 14 % of vacation-home buyers and 7 % of investment-home buyers purchased directly from builders from 2003 to 2005.

The growing role of the real estate professional is evident from the following figures:

1. Of vacation home sales made, 71 % of them were second homes and 74 % of the sales were made using the services of a real estate agent.

2. Of the investment properties sold, 85 % of them were previously owned and 62 % of the sales were made using the services of a real estate agent.

The use of real estate agents in second home sales transactions varied according to the home’ location.

1. Buyers used a real estate agent more frequently while purchasing a vacation home located in a suburb/subdivision (56 %) or a rural area (57 %) than for homes in other locations.

2. About 66 % of buyers who purchased an investment property in an urban/central city area or in a suburb/subdivision, used the services of a real estate agent more frequently than those who purchased a home in other locations.

Real estate professionals continue to be the first source of information to second-home buyers (38 % of vacation-home buyers and 34 % of investment-home buyers). The real estate professional also plays a major role when second-home owners plan to buy additional properties. If you are thinking of buying a second home or vacation home, seek out the services of a real estate agent to guide you through your next home purchase.

1. The percentage of second home owners who are more likely to use a real estate agent in their next home purchase is quite high. Among vacation-home owners it is 79 % and investment-home owners 73 %.

2. Among second home owners, 65 % of vacation-home owners and 64% of investment-property owners are more likely to use a real estate agent in their next home sales.

Given these statistics, it is no wonder that the real estate agent plays a pivotal role in helping people buy and sell second homes. So whether you are a second-home buyer or seller, enlist the services of an agent for a smooth, hassle free real estate transaction.

Tags: agent, Estate, home, Markets, Real, Role, Second, Vacation

How to Avoid Paying a Broker’s Fee for a Rental Apartment or Home in NJ By Jyson Properties, LLC

admin — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:49:40 +0000

You probably already know that it’s difficult, if not impossible, to find a decent rental near the city without having to pay a huge broker’s fee. But if you’re smart and you know this insider’s secret, you can keep that money in your pocket where it belongs.

Ask around and there’s a good chance you’ll get all sorts of ideas on how to avoid paying a broker’s fee. Here are a few of the approaches past urban renters have tried.

The walkabout

Some people claim you can simply walk around the neighborhood where you’d like to live. While on tour, they claim you can look for properties with posted vacancy signs. When you find one you like, you call the number of the building’s property manager and negotiate a deal.

Sounds pretty simple, but you probably won’t make much progress using this method. More often than not, the person you talk to will refer you back to a broker.

The stealth approach

Others will tell you to deal with the broker—in the beginning—and after you’re taken to a property you’re interested in, you ditch the broker. They claim that with a bit of sleuthing, you can learn the name of the landlord/building manager and then approach him directly to negotiate your best deal.

Again, this sounds good, but there a few problems. First, smart brokers make you sign a contract stating that you agree to pay a fee if you end up renting a unit that the broker showed you. Once you sign something like this, you’re legally bound to pay the fee! Even if the landlord did rent to you without a broker’s knowledge, the broker likely would find out and insist that someone pay their fee.

There are other approaches, but chances are they’re illegal, unethical, or simply not feasible. Let’s face it; brokers are in the business to make money. The ones with experience know all the tricks and know what it takes to get the fees they’ve negotiated.

So what’s the secret?

All you have to do is find a full-service real estate company (www.jysonproperties.com) that gets paid by property owners or landlords rather than tenants.

See, property owners have just as great a stake in finding the right tenants as you have in finding the right rental property. And many are willing to pay to make sure that happens.

It’s legal, it’s simple, and it works.

What will you do with all that extra money?

With broker fees equal to several months’ rent or some insane percentage of the annual rent, you could easily save thousands of dollars. That’s a lot of money to pay a broker who does little more than give you forms to fill out and show you a few properties.

Instead of paying a broker, why not put that money towards your security deposit or buy new furniture. Or maybe you could throw one heck of a moving in party!

Tags: apartments, home, properties

How to Select Townhouses in Ottawa

admin — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 10:46:40 +0000

Ottawa Townhouses often can a superb “middle way” between a detached single family home and a full condominium, because to a sure degree, they offer attributes of both. A townhouse is by meaning a house that in one or more other houses, but which sits straight on a section of land that you own (if you do not own land, it is a condominium). For this conversation, townhouses can range from duplex and triplexes all the way through huge townhouse communities, consisting of hundreds of comparable houses. It is a good degree of difference in the way townhouse communities are structured. It can be a simple contract (as is often the case, the duplex and triplexes), that every part of land and sits at home, it is owned separately.

In the case of larger municipalities’ townhouse, you will normally have an additional general ownership in the common areas of the complex and all amenities such as swimming pools, parks, etc. This property let together with all other owners in the town house complex. In each purchase town house, where an Ottawa owners’ Association, it is vital to as much information as probable, the club can have a significant impact on your individual needs.

Ottawa – The Townhouse Capital of Canada

Also know as Ottawa townhouses capital of Canada. Montrealers and Vancouverites have the distinction have the fewest single-family houses: 59% and 61% owned by homes in these cities or single. Toronto and Ottawa follow and are strikingly similar: 66% owned houses in both cities are singles. The proportion of individual apartments to rent apartments below 80% in Calgary and 82% in Edmonton.

It may come as a shocker that Toronto, where 12% of owner-occupied housing allowances are owned apartments, is closer to Ottawa-Gatineau -9% in this regard as to Montreal – 23% and Vancouver -21%. The percentage is identical (9%) for Ottawa as Ottawa-Gatineau.

Ottawa is the undisputed townhouse capital city of Canada. Almost 18% of city apartments are rented town houses. The percentage for the Ottawa-Gatineau is 14%, suggesting that town houses are mostly in Ontario the side of the CMA.

Next-highest and back, Toronto and Vancouver – 8%, Calgary – 7%, Edmonton -6% and Montreal -5%. Where in other cities in the Townhouse is a fairly marginal product, here in Ottawa is really a niche for itself.

These figures suggest that Ottawa house owners are eager to embrace denser types of housing in the form of town houses in the first place, but also housing properties.

Tags: home, land, municipalities, townhouse

Knowing When Your Ready To Buy

admin — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:09:59 +0000

All across the United States, there are millions of people looking to a buy home – either now or in the future. Over the last few years, lower interest rates have come along, making it more affordable than ever to buy a home. When most people stop and give it some thought – buying a home makes a lot more sense than renting a home or an apartment.

In order to buy a house, you’ll need to start saving your money and have enough for the closing costs and a down payment. Your down payment will normally need to be around 15% of the price or the value of the property – whichever is lower. To be on the safe side, you should always try to have 20% to put down. If you aren’t able to put 20% down, you’ll need to buy some private mortgage insurance, which will cost you more in terms of your monthly payment.

In most cases, the closing costs will run you around 5% of the property price. Before you purchase the home, you should always get an estimate. An estimate won’t be the exact price, although it will be really close. You should always plan to save up a bit more money than you need, just to be on the safe side. It’s always best to have more than enough than not enough.

You’ll know your ready to buy a home when you know exactly how much you can afford, and you’re willing to stick with your plan. When you buy a home and get your monthly mortgage payment, it shouldn’t be any more than 25% of your total monthly income. Although there are lenders out there who will say that you can afford to pay more, you should never let them talk you into doing so – but stick to your budget instead.

Keep in mind that there is always more money involved with a home other than the mortgage payment. You also have to pay for utilities, homeowners insurance, property taxes, and maintenance. Owning and caring for a home requires a lot of responsibility. If you’ve never owned a home before, it can take a bit of time to get used to.

Before you fill out any applications, you should always look over your credit report and check for any errors. Although you may think you don’t, you can easily get an error on your credit report and not even realize it. If you have an error on your credit report, it can cost you a lot of money in interest rates. An error will decrease your credit score, which will put you in a higher interest bracket and ultimately cost you a lot more money in the end. Therefore, you should always know your credit before you approach a lender.

If you check your credit report early enough, you may leave yourself enough time to fix any problems and get your credit back on track. Rebuilding credit can take time though, sometimes even years. You should always plan ahead – and give yourself plenty of time to fix your credit.

Buying a home will require a bit of commitment on your behalf. You should always strive to get the best possible deals, which means knowing your credit and where you stand. This way, you can get the best interest rates. You don’t want to buy a home with bad credit, simply because you’ll pay a lot more money for the home. If you take the time to fix any credit problems and save up some money – you’ll be able to get a much better home for your money.

Tags: buy, home, money

Investing to Profiting

admin — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:07:14 +0000

Real estate doesn’t have to stop at buying a home. There are several ways to invest, turn the property around and help you to profit. There is always a market for making extra cash flow through properties. It will only take understanding the market and knowing how to respond to what is available to you.

The first thing to keep in mind if you want to invest in extra real estate is to find homes at the right time. There will be times when the market is lower than others. There will also be houses that have been put up for foreclosure that will have a lower price than some. These will be the best homes to invest in at the beginning. With a little work and a small investment, you will have the ability to turn around and make profit off of the property later on.

Depending on the home that you decide to invest in will also determine how you can profit off of the home. You will want to make sure that you are in a logical demographic area and that you have the ability to do what you want with the home. Often times, those that have the home will invest some in it and sell it to someone else for higher profit. Other times, you can keep the property and rent it or lease it in order to have more substantial profits. No matter what you want to do, it will only take the right time of year to get what you want done with the property that you have.

Being smart about real estate can easily bring you in money, especially if you are working with the right market. By investing in the right properties and knowing when to turn the property around, you will have the ability to do exactly what you want with the real estate for your financial benefit.

Tags: home, invest, real estate

If You Can’t Afford a First Home

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:45:00 +0000

Do you know someone who is living in a small apartment, but can’t afford to get out. Maybe you are in the situation yourself and know that you are throwing away extra money every month by paying rent. If you are in this situation, you don’t have to be. There are several ways to begin investing in a first home without having to invest a lot up front.

There are hundreds of people that are living in apartments instead of investing because of the money that is needed up front, as well as the changes that are needed for income level. At the same time, there are programs that recognize this and are available to help those in need to find a first home. If you have a stable income, you also have the ability to move out of throwing away your money.

One area that you can look in for a first home is the grant programs that are available. Each locality will have different programs, most which are easy to qualify for. The programs will vary according to your living situation and what you need. For example, several grant programs will give you money simply to be in a first house, while others will give grants to special situations, such as beginning your own business. Looking into things such as ‘neighborhood goal’ can help you find something that won’t take your money with no return every month.

If you aren’t certain what program will work for you, simply ask your real estate agent. Most of the time, they will be familiar with the programs and should be able to help you with what is available. By the time you move into your first home, you will either have everything in the initial investments paid for you, will receive money back, or will have some financial support to help you get started.

Making investments in your first home does not necessarily mean saving up thousands in order to get in the door. It simply means finding the programs that are willing to help you pack and move and taking advantage of what is available in your area. With a little bit of research and a little help, you can stop paying rent and move into an investment.

Tags: apartments, home

Tips For Buying Your First Home

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:35:05 +0000

For a first time home buyer, the process can get quite overwhelming, giving you the feeling that the financial decisions are rapidly spinning out of control. When it comes to real estate, most people don’t have a lot of experience or know a lot about it. In all actuality, buying a home is actually a simple process. All you need to do is understand the basics, which will go a long way in helping you buy your very first home.

The first thing you should know is to avoid pre payment penalties at all costs. What this means, is that if you buy the home then later want to sell it before the balance of your mortgage is due, you’ll have to pay a penalty. You can find a variety of great loans that don’t include these types of penalties. If you find a loan that does include pre payment penalties, you should immediately turn it down and look for another loan.

You should also be on the lookout for good ARM’s. If you have a good ARM, then your interest rate and monthly payment will adjust at the exact same time. This will make sure that your interest doesn’t affect your monthly payment. If your interest rate does affect your payment, then you will notice the unpaid interest reflecting the overall amount of your loan balance.

You’ll also want to get pre approved for your house as well. This lets the seller know that you are serious about buying, and will normally work in your favor to give an edge – which is especially handy if there are several others interested in purchasing the home. Getting pre approved will also save you a lot of time as well. If you can’t get approved for a loan, you shouldn’t waste your time inspecting it, trying to get a good interest rate, or negotiating with the seller for your ideal price.

Before you purchase a home, you should always be aware of how much you can afford. Before you attempt to purchase a home, you should always go over your budget and figure out how much money you can spend on a mortgage payment. If you manage your money smart and know your finances, this shouldn’t take you hardly any time at all. On the other hand, if you don’t know your finances, this will take you a long time indeed.

If you’ve already purchase your first home, you should always avoid taking any type of home equity loan. These loans can be very tempting when you get in an emergency and need cash, although most home equity loans add up to more than the value of your home. You should never, under any circumstances take a home equity loan, as there are many other ways that you can clear up your personal problems without having to jeopardize your home.

Keep in mind that the above are just a few basic tips and that there are many other things you’ll need to know before you buy your very first house. You’ll need to be familiar with private mortgage insurance, special loan programs, fixed rate and adjustable rate mortgage, and several other things. Buying a home is an easy process, once you know a bit about it. If you familiarize yourself with buying a home and learn all that you can about what is involved, you’ll find the home buying process to be easier than you ever thought possible.

Tags: buying a home, equity loan, home, loan

Cheap Homes

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:30:48 +0000

When it comes to real estate, it’s really hard to beat a cheap home. Cheap homes are very affordable, and ideal for those on a budget. For real estate agents, these types of homes represent a way to buy a home at a low price, build it up some more, then sale it for a large price. Making money with real estate is easy to do – no matter how you look at it.

Although you can find cheap homes throughout the United States, some will obviously be better than others. Some are in great neighborhoods, giving you plenty to see and plenty to do all around you. On the other hand, most towns that offer the cheapest homes normally have a bad situation when it comes to the job market. They can be great to retire to or settle down in if you own a business, although they aren’t great if you need a job. Internet marketers and writers are finding these areas, are flocking to them at a very fast pace.

You can also save quite a bit of money by buying a home that is less expensive, but still fits your needs. What this means, is buying a home in the inexpensive areas of your town, or buying a home that is cheap in price. You shouldn’t be focused on one type of home or neighborhood, but instead look at your available options and compare prices.

Keep in mind that buying cheap homes doesn’t necessarily mean buying a run down place or buying your home in a bad part of town. You can get a cheap home in a great neighborhood, if you weight your options accordingly. If you shop around and look at different areas, you might find yourself very surprised at just how many homes are available at cheap prices.

Before you purchase a home, you can save a lot of money if you know how to negotiate with the real estate agent. Although a home may have a higher price than you are willing to pay, you can shave quite a bit of the price off through negotiating. If you learn just a few of the simple techniques of negotiating, you can save a lot of money. Each and every day, hundreds of people get cheap homes by negotiating with real estate agents.

In some cases, you can end up paying the full price of a home and still end up spending less than someone else might spend. Although price has an impact, financing is also an area that can help to make a home more affordable. If you get a low interest rate, you’ll save a lot of money when you buy the home. There are several ways that you can save money through your finance options, which is why you should always research what’s available to you before you buy.

Before you decide to buy a home, you should always think things through and be sure to look around different areas and neighborhoods. Even though there are many cheap homes out there, you can get just as good of a deal through negotiating. Most cheap homes sell very quick, which is why you should always be on the lookout for one. When you find a cheap home that fits your needs, you should act on it. Contact the agent, take a tour of the home, then decide if the price and the features are indeed what you’ve been looking for. If it isn’t – simply forget about the house and start looking for another one.

Tags: buying a home, cheap homes, finance, home, homes, purchase

This is a Real, Real Estate » home

2006: U.S. Cities With Overvalued Real Estate And Home Prices

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