Should You Pay Retail For Local Real Estate Investment Properties?

It's an idea that would make many investors blanch. In today's world, when foreclosures are advertised on every web site and newsletter, paying full or retail price for local real estate investment properties just doesn't seem to make sense. After all, foreclosures are repossessed properties that are often sold at well below market value -- or so many advertisers would have you believe. Paying less for a property ensures more profits down the line. However, before you lose your shirt on the foreclosures market, consider all the reasons why paying retail and avoiding the foreclosures makes sense:

1) Foreclosures may not be the bargain you think they are. Many banks, for example, sell foreclosures at almost full market value or even above market value. With more people buying foreclosures than ever before -- and understanding less and less about them -- there is less onus on sellers to sell them at a discount. Plus, many homeowners are using up all their home equity (and sometimes more), which means that if they default on their home loan the lender must sell for full or above market value to recoup their losses.

2) You get what you pay for. When you pay a decent asking price for local real estate investment properties, you often get a home in move-in condition. This means you can start placing tenants or start reselling right away. In contrast, when you buy a foreclosure you're never quite sure what you're getting. You may wind up with a property that needs a lot of work or comes with pricey legal problems. Of course, you need to research every property you buy, but there are more problems likely with foreclosures than with properties you buy on the traditional housing market.

3) Retail does not mean full price. You can still buy properties at below market value when you buy them on the regular market. Many properties that are being sold right now that are not repossessed are being sold at below market value because they need a little work or because they are not selling as quickly as the homeowners would like. Plus, many homeowners want to get rid of their homes quickly or need to sell now, and are willing to sell at below market value in order to do that. The result is that you still get a great bargain on a good property without playing in the foreclosures market.

4) Traditional buys. This is where retail selling really makes sense. When you buy from a traditional seller in a traditional transaction, you get to look at the property, have an inspector look it over, and you even deal with a real estate agent if you like. All of these are layers of protection from losing your shirt. In contrast, foreclosures are often sold "as is," and some are sold at high pressure auctions, which allow you very little information about the property before you buy. Why take that sort of risk? Looking for decent sales on local real estate investment properties just makes more sense for the beginning investor.

What Are Good Deals in Real Estate and Are There Tips on How to Find Them?

Using a realtor is one of the best ways to find best deals in great subdivisions such as Power Ranch. You can avail of the product for less than half its market value from the top. Properties are also sold in bundles. This is very appealing to investors today because they can avail of a house for a very low price and profit from it by selling them.

Many thought that this endeavor is just for big time investors. However, small players in the market can also benefit from this. The trick is to know the system. It is also important that they know where to look for cheap properties in Power Ranch. Fortunately, finding these estates is not as difficult as it seems. Your initial solution would be filling your tank and driving around the neighborhood. With some luck, you will be able to spot properties on sale.

Although driving around your car could work, it will cause you a lot of time, effort, and gasoline expenses. In order to find them, you should know where to look. Here are some tips to help you find these properties:

The best places to look are lending organizations and banks. They have list of properties for foreclosure. It is also great because these institutions want to turn the tons of properties they have to cash. They are also very willing to work out a financial scheme so that interested buyers will be able to make the payment.

You can also check business magazines and local newspapers. These materials post up to date listings of properties within the area that are available for sale. They also provide information about the property just in case you do not have enough time to check it out.

Instead of looking for ads, you can create your own. You can post an ad on the above-mentioned instruments or post it on your website, blogs, and other media you can access. This way, those who want to sell their property can contact you. In addition, you can discuss prices with the homeowners directly.

Ask those who are in the business. This is also the best way to get listings. Other investors have access to this information. They also have their own list. The challenge there is how you are going to ask them for listings of homes in Power Ranch. They will surely find you as their competitor. As you may know, most properties are set up for highest bids.

In order to find the best deals, you have to know where to look. There are several ways to find these properties. You can exhaust all resources. However, do not get too excited with the low power sale prices. You may find yourself at the losing end once you check the house.

It is important that in making the purchase you know what to expect. If there are certain damages on the property, be certain that its cost is not more than the amount you paid it for. It is not a worthy investment if you are in the losing end.

Summary:

In the real estate industry, Power Ranch properties have a growing market. If you are an interested investors, you have to learn the system and the process to maximize profitability. One of the things you should learn is where to look for these properties.

Gurgaon Real Estate - Residential Properties India

Gurgaon is the most happening city in the world. Gurgaon is one of the most sought after locations for residential real estate needs. For residential properties there is a definite solution to all real estate needs. It has emerged as a favored residential destination from all over as it has all the characteristics to be a dream destination for home.

Easy availability of quality housing at affordable prices and the quality of construction has made Gurgaon most sought after destination for residential property. Greenery, tranquility, spaciousness are accompanied by availability of modern facilities and amenities. Many prestigious schools have their presence in the city. It is a peaceful area where crime rate is very low. In recent past real estate Gurgaon has emerged as a very big residential center

The city also offers a wide range of residential properties for middle class segment. DLF has recently launched "New Town Heights" and Vatika has launched "Vatika India Next" for the mid budget home buyers. The independent houses and higher end segments like villas, condominiums and penthouses cater to the rich and famous in the corporate world and expatriate clients. Due to its proximity to south Delhi and connectivity to the international airport Gurgaon has become world class real estate destination for investors of India and abroad.

From Independent Houses to Apartments to Villas everything is available in Gurgaon catering to every buyer's need. Independent Houses are available in DLF Phase I, II, III, IV, South City I, Green wood City and Sushant Lok and many more. Apartment/Condominiums are available in Beverly Park I & II, Belvedere Park & Towers, Heritage City, The Laburnum, Hamilton Courts, Windsor Courts, Regency Park I & II, Richmond Park, Uniworld City, Uniworld Gardens, Uniworld Spa, The Palms, Central Park, Pinnacle, The Icon, Aralias, Malibue Towne, Orchid Greens etc and list is endless. You can have Greenwood Villas, Nirvana Country, Viesta Villas, Today Villas and Rosewood Villas to mention a few.

Today people consider residential property in Gurgaon as a valuable investment since Gurgaon is fast developing in the corporate world. Having own residential property in Gurgaon is having something worthy.

The Physical Planning Process For Real Estate and Property

The physical planning process is no different from other planning processes such as economic planning and social planning in that, it is cyclical.
The process is a dynamic one. Eight stages are involved.
1. Terms of Reference
This is the first stage in the planning process involving the formulation of the parameters, which are to govern the ensuing plan. These parameters include the aims (goals) and objectives, which are guidelines within which the anticipated plan must function and to which it must relate. The "goals" are the broad guidelines while "objectives" are less general and more tangible.
2. Information Gathering
No plan can be developed without relevant information. Thus, information has to be gathered in accordance with the defined terms of reference, aim "goals" and objectives in order to ensure relevance.
3. Analysis of information
Analysis of data collected will expose problems. With this, the planner can better assess the situation within the adopted terms of reference and see the extent to which the anticipated plan will have to address itself to the problems, shortcomings or obstacles which imperil goal achievement, and the plan's potential efficacy.
This stage is a necessary prerequisite to the formulation of policies from which recommendations evolve.
4. Formulation of Policies
A "policy" is a statement in which the adopted aims "goals" and objectives are made more tangible for the process of implementation to begin.
5. Recommendations
Recommendations are statements of what should be done through the operation of the plan to achieve the aims, objectives and policies.
6. Strategies
Recommendations do not say how the aims, objectives and policies are to be achieved so the formulation of strategies (or a modus operandi) becomes necessary. Strategies define the methods, which should be employed to ensure that the recommendations achieve the stated aims, objectives and policies. A number of strategies can be developed to effect a single recommendation so the strategies most suitable to the stated aims have to be selected. Implementation is the next step and for this there are a number of steps to be taken.
7. Implementation
Implementation of this Physical Plan cannot take place by the mere fact of its existence. Efforts must be made to channel development into areas for which it is recommended and the institutional and legal framework by which it is to be realized must exist to ensure that resources are effectively deployed. Clear guidelines must be given to the many agencies and private organizations, which will be involved in its effectuation and monitoring, must be done to keep development projects in line with proposals. Before control and monitoring can take place, programs and projects must be identified and schedules worked out for each.
8. Monitoring
This is the final and most essential stage of the Physical Planning process particularly because of its cyclical nature. The "monitoring" stage serves as a test for future plans, and measures the extent to which the plan is successful in the achievement of the aims and objectives. It also identifies inherent problems and shortcomings so that the planner may be cognizant of, and able to avoid them in the preparation of future plans.

What Are Real Estate Owned Properties?

Concept of REO Properties

If the tenant or lessee is not able to pay the final amount, the property may reach the foreclosure process. In foreclosure process, the property may be offered on auction. Property is offered on auction means that it is offered for sale through the auction by the lender. In many of these deals, the lender may be a bank or a financial institution. In such deals, the total amount that the bidder has to pay to the lender to become the owner of the property is more than its market value. No bidders stand in such foreclosure auctions and the auction ends without sale. If there is no result of such an auction, then the property would revert to the lender or the financial institution. These properties are termed as the real estate owned properties. REO is an abbreviated form of the real estate owned properties.

What happens after the auction is closed without a sale?

After the property reaches back to the lender, the mortgage loan (if there is any mortgage loan on the property) disappears. The lender in such situation becomes the evictor and evicts the current owners. Damages are repaired to make it attractive for the potential buyers. The buyers should purchase a REO property because they can get good leverage. The buyers can also resell it quickly to earn profit.

Why Banks or financial institutions will always want to sell a REO property?

Banks or financial institutions will always want to sell a REO property and will never like to keep it because they only need the maximum returns from these properties. There are two main reasons why a bank or a financial institution will want to sell an REO property soon. The first reason is that the banks always prefer liquidity in money and would never like their money caught in properties because the liquidity in money will help the banks to earn interest. The second reason is that the properties need regular maintenance which is not possible for the banks.

How the Banks or financial institutions sell REO properties?

When it comes to selling, the banks employ a separate department dedicated to manage the foreclosure process. The selling process may start when a capable buyer contacts the bank or the financial institution to purchase a REO property. In such cases, the bank or the institution will reply by making a counteroffer and the capable buyer can then respond to the counteroffer. If the terms and conditions along with the price of the property are agreed between both the parties, the REO property can be sold to the buyer by the bank or the institution.

Real Estate and Seller's Benefits

Real estate is a legal term that encompasses land along with anything permanently affixed to the land, it can be anything- any building, specifically property that is stationary or fix in location.

Selling a home involves more than just putting a "for sale" sign on your lawn or presenting before buyer. It's a step-by-step procedure that involves a lot of care and attention, complicated further if you are considering buying another home as well. Any real estate company provides great benefit to its sellers. Selling through it is safe and sound. Real estate offers many unexampled benefits to its sellers. Some of benefits associated with real estate and its sellers are mentioned below.

Benefits of sellers

Negotiable pricing - You have flexibility while choosing the price of your item. You can choose a flexible ad Negotiable classified ad, as it is the most popular way of selling; another option is Fixed-price classified ad, for when you're not considering offers.

Sell without paying commission- Selling your land through real estate; it is very save for you as it saves you from the heavy commission charges of agents. The buyers pay a buyer's premium for the privilege of buying at auction. Many sellers prefer this option rather than pay a seller's commission because it saves their money as well their time.

Quick process- Selling through real estate auction is a quick process. Real Estate auction properties are marketed, sold and closed within weeks, resulting in reduced carrying costs and overhead.

Cash conversion-Deal with real estate is helpful in utilizing the dollars. It can convert the cash in various currencies. Thus, it is good for even foreign people.

24x7 service- If you want to sell your land through real estate there is no need to wait for long time as it provides 24hours and 7 days a week service to its sellers. It is an online access that can help anytime to its sellers. So, there is no need to go anywhere you can enjoy the service even sitting at home.

Real Estate and Wealth Building - What Do You Need to Know Before Buying Real Estate?

Everyone wants to get a bargain when they buy real estate. I've NEVER met anyone who said, "I hope can find property to buy today and pay the owners a lot more than it is worth."

But what you may not realize is that not everyone is trying to sell their property at retail market value.

I know that may sound a little crazy when you first hear it. But the fact of the matter is that people sell real estate for a lot of different reasons. And sometimes those reasons mean that a quick sale is more important to them than selling for a high price.

The most critical factor in real estate purchases is finding the "true value" of a property.

Once you know the value of a property, you'll know whether you are getting a bargain or a money pit.

After you've figured out the true value, there are other things you will need to consider:

* after repair value - what will the property value be after needed repairs?

* the comparative market analysis - how does the property compare to similar properties?

* gross rent multiplier - is this property worthy of further research and consideration?

* capitalization rate - what is the valuation of a rental property?

* vacancy and credit loss - what if you have no tenant?

* gross potential 1ncome - what will your potential fully-occupied rental income be?

* and much more...

There's a saying in real estate, "You make your money when you buy a property, not when you sell it." Don't make the mistake of buying a money pit. If you educate yourself and buy correctly, you can follow the footsteps of others who have generated their fortunes by buying real estate wisely.

Remember: It's important to know both the market value of any property you are considering as well as its' personal value to you.

Real Estate Rental Property Advice: 5 Essential Tips

Real estate can be very rewarding and be a great investment no matter what path you take. This will explain several concepts you must know to be successful with rental property. You can also lose in real estate as we have all seen in the recent economy around 2007 to the present. Knowing the fundamentals and becoming more knowledgeable can make the difference between winning and losing in real estate.

Here are 5 essential tips that are the basic key concepts to understand with rental property.

1) Low Maintenance
Keep this in mind for the long-term success of your property. Have a low maintenance yard with gravel, wood chips and plants that require little effort after the roots take to the soil such as phoenix roebelenii, sago palm, king palm and queen palm. Low or no HOA (home owners association) monthly fee. Carpet and tile that will not show dirt and usage well.

2) Know the Area Well
Before you buy a rental property know what you're getting into. Know what a good price for that area is, if that neighborhood is improving or declining, will the surrounding neighborhoods appreciate or decline your property, what can you get for rent and does this make sense with your mortgage payment are a few questions in the process you must take to having your investment being well thought out.

3) Good Qualities of a Tenant
It is important to know what good qualities to look for in a potential tenant. These include honesty, a good source of income and stability to name only a couple of the good qualities in a tenant. Listen carefully to find the good qualities in potential tenant. A lot of information can be gathered by simply asking a few questions and listening while they talk to you. Ultimately, you want a good person who will take care of your house and pay rent on time.

4) Red Flags for Prospective Tenants
Knowing what to avoid in a tenant will make the difference between collecting a check each month or calling an eviction company. Bad credit, an existing short sale, low bank accounts and large up front money are only a few of the red flags to watch out for.

5) Finding Tenants
Craigslist.com is the best place to find renters. Bulletin boards and word of mouth can work sometimes but on a very low magnitude so do not rely on this. If you have the time you should post on Craigslist.com and show the house yourself instead of a management company to find the best tenant. Qualify potential tenants over the phone to save each party time if you know it will not work out. Ask how many tenants and what occupations. In addition, ask what their credit and debt is like including credit score, credit card debt and bankruptcy.

Using Online Auctions To List Real Estate And Land For Sale

The Internet is the most powerful and modern tool you can use to advertise your land and property online. With all of the things that are now possible on the Internet, selling real estate online has created a whole new world of opportunities for sellers. Not only can you create your own website with property listings, index your real estate and land properties with major website, but you can also use online auctions as a way of posting your properties for sale. There are strategies that work well for online auctions that include linking the properties that you are selling in the auction to your website. You can accept for direct from the listings and set up times and dates that you want all of the bids in by.

You can also use a combination of techniques like taking online bids, and having round robin telephone auctions towards the end of your auction. You can set up the properties and listings on your web site, but set up the bidding and auction at a different web site that hosts real estate and specifically land auctions. You can also do what's called a reverse auction, where you start with a high price, and every few days, you lower the price until someone bids on it and wins. You can set the number of days before you change the price of the listing, and you can make it a first come and first serve type of auction. This can create a sense of urgency for the buyers that if they do not act quickly; they may lose out on the great deal.

Participating in online real estate auctions to sell land has been successful for a lot of sellers, this is very important because in this way you can show off, or publish your real estate and land list on internet. Online real estate auction are also a great tool to use in combination with other online advertising and by advertising in publications, you are able to reach a broad range of buyers. Once you have target groups that you want to reach, you can concentrate on each area of advertising to appeal to each group. Whatever method of advertising works the best for you depends on the type of buyers that you are trying to target. Some do a lot of their real estate shopping online, while others prefer printed advertising. Doing different forms of advertising is usually the most successful way to sell.

Copyright (c) 2011 Jack Bosch

Real Estate Forms Property Owners Need

If you are taking advantage of the rental market by owning your own rental property then you are going to need the correct real estate forms to get the job done. The real estate forms you need if you are renting out a property can be onerous to say the least but if you stick to the following outline you will be on your way to sunny days. When you rent to people before they officially take over the property you need to perform what is called a walk through. This process is where you and the tenant look at the condition of the property and make a note of it on special real estate forms called a walk through.

These forms are standard in most places and help protect your investment and at the same time protect the renter from any issues that arise when they move out and wish to claim their damage deposit. A damage deposit if you are unaware is an amount of money that depending on your area is either the equivalent to one month or half month rent, These funds are held to cover any damages done to the property that is not considered normal wear and tear. If you are renting to people and wish to be proactive you can bring a video camera to document the unit with the tenant. Be sure to have the tenant sign on your real estate forms to confirm they are aware of the condition of the property and agree to the terms.

Another type of real estate forms you will need to use is one to notify the tenant you will need to enter the property for a host of reasons. Typically you must provide 24 hours written notice, it must not be on a weekend or holiday or past a certain hour of day. The reasons you would need to enter the unit can be for repair work or inspection for insurance purposes, another time you will need to enter the property is to perform an inspection for fire safety.

Real estate forms you may need to use but is by no means a pleasant experience is requesting the tenant to vacate the properties for a serious breach of the leasing agreement, this can include wild parties, damaging the property, engaging in illegal activities i.e. growing and selling drugs. The rules for this type of real estate form vary by the area you live but any serious violation or if you have reasonable grounds to suspect your property is in danger you are within your rights to request the tenant quit, this form is called notice to quit and leave your property. You must have valid grounds to use these real estate forms otherwise you could find yourself in serious legal trouble.

How to Choose Real Estate Investment Property Today

To be successful in your investment strategy, the most important decision you will ever make involves the types of properties you choose to invest in. There are a number of important factors that go into that decision, all of which will determine the type of investor you choose to be - as well as the levels of success that you will achieve. Things like general location, needed repairs, the type of lease and income potential, as well as the expenses necessary to keep the property profitable are all important factors. In addition, the necessity for property management, the ability to defer through depreciation, financing availability, and any unique features that render the property more attractive can often make a particular property even more attractive. Knowing those factors can help you to choose between the five types of real estate opportunities described below.

The first type of popular investment real estate is the apartment complex, which includes everything from high-rise complexes to duplex buildings. The availability and nature of rental properties is dependent upon the needs of the local market. Most apartments, as well as duplexes, can be rented either annually, or month to month. Keep in mind that the availability of laundry, storage, and garage facilities can add to the value and desirability of any location. Office buildings are another type of property, but one that requires a more experienced investor. Many first time and novice investors steer well clear of office properties, despite their potential for profit and their ease of management. Office buildings differ from most investment properties in that they are generally leased on a square foot basis.

Shopping centers, warehouses, and industrial buildings are a few other great investment opportunities, but like office buildings they come with their own unique features that can make them somewhat daunting to newcomers to the investment field. Shopping centers can range from strip malls to large complexes, and the management of such a center requires acquiring a number of tenants to lease space for their shops. Tenants within a shopping center generally pool costs of maintenance and upkeep. Most investors just getting started with commercial investments begin with small strip malls with three or four small businesses. Warehouses and industrial buildings are even more exotic for investors. Warehouses are generally leased out for storage, and tenants come and go quite frequently. For that reason, the warehouse investment market is anything but stable. Industrial buildings, on the other hand, offer more long term leasing opportunities, and even offer the potential for a sale and leaseback opportunity - enabling an investor to purchase the property from a company and then lease that property back to the seller.

4 Simple Tests To Find Good Real Estate Investment Properties

You're driving along the road when you spot it. There in the middle of a shaggy lawn sits a disheveled property. It may need a good coat of paint, or a shutter straightened out, but it's easy to see that with a little work it could be a little gem of a property. Best of all, sprouting in the middle of the unkempt grass is a For Sale by Owner sign. It looks like the perfect fixer-upper, but how do you know for sure?

First, consider your reason for buying. If you're looking for a property to 'flip' - to buy low, fix up and sell for a profit - there are a number of things you'll want to take into consideration. If your intent is to buy it as rental property, there's a different set of consideration, and if you're looking for a home of your own, there's yet a third. Let's assume, for the sake of this article, that your intent is to flip the property for profit.

Test 1: The Neighborhood Test

Before you invest another hour, do yourself a favor and take stock of the surroundings. The old saying in the real estate business that the three factors in selling a home are 'location, location and location'. What is the location like? No matter how wonderful the property is, you'll have a difficult time selling it for top price in a bad neighborhood. That doesn't mean that it's a bad property - depending on how low a price you can bargain, you still may be able to make a decent profit from it.

Another consideration in the Neighborhood Test is a bit more
subjective, and you'll have a feel for it if you're local and keep an ear to the ground. Is the neighborhood in transition? A neighborhood that is on the cusp of a renewal effort like gentrification can be a great place to invest, as long as the upward momentum continues. An area that is on the outskirts of new development will often benefit from that as well. If, on the other hand, the neighborhood shows signs of slipping into a decline, you might want to pass the property by. If you can see that the neighborhood is slipping, so will prospective buyers.

Are there 'amenities' nearby? Depending on the neighborhood and your prospective market, those amenities might include a neighborhood school with a good reputation, a corner store within walking distance, or a park right down the street. In one Massachusetts city, for example, the value of properties in a formerly depressed neighborhood skyrocketed when a local university announced a commitment to provide full tuition to the
children of neighborhood residents, and provided additional incentives to home buyers within several blocks of their campus. Investors who bought just before the announcement realized excellent turnaround on their investment.

Test 2: The Pricing Test

Is the home listed with a Realtor, or is it a FSBO? How realistic is the asking price? Is it in your price range? Can you work out a low or no-money-down financing option? How open to negotiation is the seller? Will you be able to realize a profit after making needed repairs?

Test 3: The Condition Test

This is one of the most important tests. The property you want to buy doesn't require any extensive, expensive repairs. It should be structurally sound, without any major plumbing or electrical problems. If you're just starting out, you'll want a property with repairs you can manage yourself - repainting, refinishing floors, a little landscaping. If the property requires more extensive repairs, it will cut into your profit, or eliminate it altogether.

When you view the property, really kick the tires. Look for indicators of hidden problems. Here are a few things to look for:

• Moisture stains on walls and ceilings could indicate plumbing problems
• Little piles of sawdust near corners or woodwork could mean termites.
• Separations between floor and wall, especially outer walls which could indicate structural problems.
• Lift tiles in suspended ceilings to examine the ceilings above for loose plaster, moisture stains and other indications of problems

Test 4: The Title Test

The final test is the title test. Be certain that the title to the property is clear, with no liens or attachments that could sour the sale. If there are, and you still want the property, work out a conditional sale, where your purchase is contingent upon the liens being satisfied.

If the property passes all of the above tests with flying colors,
congratulate yourself. You've got yourself an investment property that could turn a pretty profit for you.

Ocala Real Estate and Equestrian Property Buying Guide

When searching for Equestrian real estate, Ocala Florida is one of the highest rated horse lover communities in the country. Located in Central Florida, just an hour's drive from Disney World, Ocala is filled with a vast array of equestrian properties.

Ocala real estate features properties that range from individual residential farms to equestrian communities. A popular retirement destination, residents are surrounded by beauty and elegance. A horse lover's dream, those who buy in Ocala are typically horse enthusiasts, golfers or those who love beautiful weather and landscapes.

Buying real estate in Central Florida is an easy decision because you will always find property you like since you'll have a vast majority of beautiful ranches, farms, and equestrian communities to choose from. The first thing is to determine what kind of living you are interested in. Living on a ranch has its solitude and wide open space. It is great for those with a large family, or those who want to be alone on their own property with their animals. Farmers and ranchers delight in keeping their own stables of horses and other farm animals on their own ranch. Other's love the community lifestyle and caretaking of Equestrian villages,

A community offers amenities that a farm or ranch doesn't with luxurious and well kept landscapes, trails, and activities plus many amenities such as a 20 stall barn, an arena, a jumping ring, a carriage storage facility, a thoroughbred training facility, paddocks, pastures, and a climate controlled track room with lounge. Horse enthusiasts who compete or just ride leisurely are surrounded by everything equine. Neighbors all share the same love of horses and there are many joint activities plus competitions and events to participate in.

Retirees love this kind of setting, where they are not alone, they have the support of a community and the wide open space of an equestrian village. When looking at Ocala homes with the intent to purchase, make sure the type of setting matches your interests and goals. An Ocala real estate agent can show you many farms, ranches and homes in communities or in individual settings. Depending on the condition of the home and what you plan to put into it, prices can vary. Do not get overwhelmed by the array of beautiful properties located in this area. Focus on what you want, the layout of the land, accommodations for your horses, and layout of the home. You are sure to find what you are looking for with patience and guidance.

Investing in Real Estate and Public Records

A great number of people are looking to make money investing in real estate. They recognize that they can make a substantial amount of money if they get the right piece of property, and when you collect multiple properties, you can make even more. But there's a difference between the investors who make it and those who don't. And, let's face it, the world is full of would-be real estate investors who never manage to get very far. Those who make it know how to go a step further than they need to, while those who don't aren't able to, or are unknowledgeable about, going that step further. And using free public records is one way to make sure that your investments pay off.

Finding Investment Material

The first thing you need to do when you want to invest in real estate is to find a worthy place to buy. The average beginning investor will spend hours scouring the internet and their local newspaper looking for people who are selling their homes cheaply. This doesn't happen often and is known as a unicorn in the real estate business. Instead of looking for homes that are already for sale, true real estate experts know that it's better to look, instead, for properties that have absentee landlords who are looking to sell, or, even better, to find real estate that hasn't had its taxes paid on it in awhile and to contact the owner.

In this venture, state public records can be a huge help. The tax assessor's office is the place to go when you're looking for information like this, as you can learn all about the properties that are currently delinquent on payments. Once you find that list, you can then narrow down which ones will be good investment opportunities and which ones are not likely to be great options. Look first for rental units by looking up the address of the tax bill. What you'll find is that rental properties will have tax bills that go to a different address than the current address of the property that you're researching.

Once you know this information, you can then use free public records to figure out more about the property, and about the owner of the property. You can learn if they have any liens against them, and if they're in trouble legally or financially. You can even find out what their address is, as some owners will have a property management team taking care of the bills. Sending mail to the property management team won't likely get you very far, whereas sending mail directly to the owner will likely have better results. If you want to get involved in real estate investing, the first thing to do is to familiarize yourself with the tax assessor's office, and even probate court, where you can learn which pieces of real estate are going to be ripe for the plucking and which ones may make you a financial success.

6 REASONS for Investing in Florida Real Estate Investment Property NOW

I invite you to take the next few minutes to learn the truth about the real estate market, how it compares to other methods of building assets and why it is such a lucrative form of investing. Many potential investors will say, 'I need to get into the Florida Investment Property market', especially taking into account current stock market fluctuations and the HOT market for investment properties, but simply don't know the facts about Orlando property investing and how to use sale and leaseback method of property management.

When is the last time your financial advisor or stockbroker tried to convince you that moving a portion of your assets into the Florida Investment Property market might be a good idea? Never Right? The 'why' is simple. They don't earn commissions when you buy Florida Investment Property. It is also likely that you have probably never had an 'apples to apples' comparison of stocks versus Florida Investment Property quite like the one you will see here.

Reason 1:

Leverage: Banks will not typically loan money to buy stocks. Banks will however, compete fiercely to loan money to buy Florida Investment Property. Your first question should be, 'why is that'? It has to do with risk management, which we will discuss later. The fact that banks want to loan you money to buy Florida Investment Property creates a situation which we will call LEVERAGE.

Let's assume that you have $10,000 to put into some type of investment. If you choose to buy $10,000 worth of stocks, you will own exactly $10,000 worth of stocks. Pretty straight-forward. However, suppose you choose to invest that $10,000 into Florida Investment Property using a 90% mortgage (which in many cases can go up to 95-100% mortgages in today's market), you will own $100,000 worth of Florida Investment Property. If both of your investments were to appreciate by 10%, your actual gain with your stocks would be $1000 where your actual gain with Florida Investment Property would be $10,000. That equates to an actual 10% return on investment vs. a 100% return on investment. That's what we call leverage.

Leverage: Florida Real Estate vs. Stocks

The traditional argument against Florida Investment Property Investing (mainly from Stock Brokers) has always been 'I can get an average of 10% from stocks with little effort so why would I invest in Orlando Investment Property that only appreciates 6-7% per year'? This point-of-view is not taking leverage into account.

If you take the above statement to be true and compare the REAL numbers, the stock investment gained 10% of the initial $10,000 value (or $1000) and the Orlando Investment Property investment gained 6% of the initial $100,000 value (or $6000). That is still an actual return of 10% versus 60%. It is not hard to see which investment provides a greater immediate return on investment. Additionally. these numbers do not take into account any income from your property during the course of the year, or the substantial tax advantages to owning property, which we will discuss later.

Reason 2:

Value: As we mentioned previously, if you invest $10,000 into purchasing stocks, you own $10,000 worth of stocks (a fairly obvious point). If you invest $10,000 into purchasing Orlando Investment Property using the leverage of a 90% mortgage, you own $100,000 worth of Orlando Investment Property right? Well, only if you paid retail for your property. Any savvy investor will tell you that there are excellent deals to be had in Orlando Investment Property, you just have to find them.

What if you purchased a $100,000 property that happened to be worth $110,000 the day you bought it? Does it happen? The answer is yes, all the time. If you have your eyes open and are willing to 'go through the numbers' to find good deals, they are all around you. You may be asking yourself, why would anybody sell a $110,000 property for $100,000?

Value: Making money when you buy.

The reasons are endless as to why a quick sale is desired, but just to name a few: job relocation, divorce, an estate is being settled or maybe a current appraisal on the property simply wasn't done prior to selling. By 'finding this deal' you have accomplished two things.

You have added $10,000 to your asset column in the form of equity.

You have created additional LEVERAGE for yourself as the value of your property increases (a 6-10% gain on $110,000 is better than a 6-10% gain on $100,000!) Remember, you make money in Orlando Investment Property when you buy, not when you sell.

Reason 3:

Control: Let's take our assumption one step further. When you buy your $10,000 worth of stocks, what can you do to increase its value? If we follow the previous assumption, you have invested $10,000 using a 90% mortgage to purchase a $100,000 property that has an actual value of $110,000 because you 'found a good deal'. So what can you do to further increase the value of your new $110,000 property?

It is amazing what a cleanup, a little landscaping and a paint job can do to increase the value of a property. Only a few hundred dollars well spent can result in huge value gains in Orlando Investment Property. Your $110,000 property with a little effort could easily be worth $115,000, $120,000 or more virtually overnight! Do you have to do any of this work yourself? Absolutely not! If you like to do that sort of thing then have at it, but if not, simply hire it done and accept a little lower net gain.

Reason 4:

Superior Tax Position: The tax code in the United States is geared to reward Investors who make housing and other property available to the population. When you invest in stocks, you are taxed at some of the highest rates in the tax code. When you invest in Orlando Investment Property, you put yourself in one of the best tax positions in the business world. Remember the wealthy that hold substantial portions of their assets in Orlando Investment Property? Tax advantages are one of the main reasons this is true.

Continuing with the above example, let's say that you have completed your 'deal' with the $10,000 invested with a 90% mortgage to purchase the $100,000 property that appraised for $110,000 (because you 'found a good deal'), which you improved to say, $115,000 by spending another $1000 on cleanup etc. Assume that one year passes and the Orlando Investment Property market grew by 6%, your property would now be worth $122,000. So far, so good right? If you are like most people, you may want to spend some of your hard earned money.

Let's do the numbers. You have a mortgage at current rates that started at $90,000 and after a year worth of payments (the majority of which are tax deductible) you still owe approximately $89,000. However, your property is now worth approximately $122,000. If you were to refinance at 90% once again, you would take out a new mortgage of approximately $110,000. This will leave you with approximately $21,000 in cash in your pocket. Now, the BIG question; do you have to pay tax on that money? Absolutely Not! You have not sold the property or realized a 'capital gain'. You have simply borrowed money from yourself. You are able to do what you wish with that money, free from any tax whatsoever. Obviously, a good strategy might be to purchase two more properties just like your first deal!

Also, we have not taken into account the fact that ALL of your interest payments on this property are tax deductible. In addition, you are also able to depreciate the property itself and all of its contents for additional tax advantages if you choose to do so.

Let's be fair and compare the Orlando Investment Property tax position with the stock scenario. Assume that the $10,000 initial stock investment grew by 10% in the first year, creating a gain of $1000 and you wish to access it. If you draw it out, you will pay from 20-28% (or higher) in capital gains tax in order to have access to this money. This reduces your net gain to $800 (actual 8%) or less, depending on your tax situation. Compare that to Orlando Investment Property and you are beginning to get the picture.

Reason 5:

Limit Your Exposure To Risk

Risk Management: Do you remember at the top when we said that banks would compete fiercely to loan you money on Orlando Investment Property? The answer to the 'why' is very simple. Low Risk. Banks incur little if any risk when loaning money on Orlando Investment Property due to the steady, solid growth rate of the property market, as well as the fact that if you default on your payments they will simply sell the property to somebody else. This is in direct contrast to the volatile stock market, which can vary daily with sharp increases and decreases in value. Furthermore, banks realize that a property isn't going anywhere, whereas many investors know all too well about .com and other types of companies that were there yesterday and gone today.

This is all not to say that Orlando Investment Property markets don't go down from time to time, however the dips are much less dramatic than that which can take place in the stock market, proven out by the banks' willingness to loan money on property.

Reason 6:

Protecting your peace of mind.

Finally, Now that we understand the value of leverage and risk management we realize that a 6% Orlando Investment Property gain 'beats the pants off' a 10% stock gain in actual return on investment by a wide margin (approximately 50%, not taking into account several factors that can increase this number such as tax advantages, income on property etc.) Owning good, solid Orlando Investment Property allows you to sleep at night, or go on an extended vacation without worrying about your asset column. This is directly opposed to holding a substantial percentage of your assets in stocks.

Honduras Real Estate and Procedures for Property Purchase in Honduras

The economic growth of Honduras has been very slow for long but recent years have witnessed an average growth rate of 7% per annum, one of the largest among Latin American countries. Still, the distribution of wealth had been highly polarized. Honduras has been ranked by the World Bank as the third poorest nation in the entire Western Hemisphere, next only to Haiti and Nicaragua. Abut 50% of the population are estimated to live below poverty line. Unemployment rate is above 25%. Further, the mountainous country does not have significant plain lands to offer lucrative prospects in Honduras real estate for sale or Honduras rentals.

In spite of this problem, the narrow plains lying along the coasts and the Sula valley situated in the northwest region of Honduras are heavily populated and provide investment opportunities to international real estate investors due to the low prices of land and properties. The Honduras scenario is coming to the attention of international investors only now, particularly the areas of Roatan, La Ceiba, Guanja, Utila, etc. that have good potential for international developers and property owners. The Honduras real estate for sale or Honduras rentals are available in plenty at cheap prices in these regions, whether they are mountain villas, beachfront homes or resorts, quaint village houses, or large plain lands waiting for development.

One major advantage is the favorable property ownership laws and regulations of Honduras. The regulations revised and published by the Government at the end of 1991 allow foreigners to purchase properties up to 3,000 sq. m. or three-fourth of an acre without any restrictions. A couple could buy 1½ acres jointly but the owners must build on the property within 3 years. For international investors intending to buy more than 3,000 sq. m., the legal option is to form a corporation registered in Honduras. Any local lawyer would help the overseas investors form such a corporation, which would cost between $1,000 and $2,000. Since all the documents must be written in Spanish only, the lawyer should be reliable and an expert in both Spanish and English. When the corporation is registered, the foreign investors would have all the rights of average Honduran citizens for purchasing Honduras for sale or Honduras rentals. It is necessary to ensure that the Honduras real estate listings considered by foreign investors have clear legal titles. The lawyer would be able to review the documents on this crucial aspect.

Apart from the price of the property and the corporation formation costs, the closing costs range between 6% and 10%. These costs include the land transfer taxes, stamp duties, registry taxes, bar and legal fees, etc. If the international real estate investors deal through local agents, they would charge around 10% as commission but this is usually paid by the seller. Annual property taxes are quite low. Hence, Honduras real estate listings are highly attractive propositions for international investors.

Opportunities In Real Estate Income Properties

Investing in real estate is nothing new. Real estate gurus like the famous Donald Trump at one end and Russ Whitney have sworn by the wealth building properties of real property for decades, yet when the market tanked a lot of skeptics took a step back and wondered just how powerful and wise their teachings really are. Today, with properties prices still at astonishing lows, combined with stricter lending criteria for income properties, there are more opportunities than ever. Here are three reasons why buying an income property can not only help your cash flow but help you build wealth over the long-term.

1) Depressed property values. Whether you are looking at purchasing a multi-unit property or a single home that you intend on renting out, depressed property values allow you to buy property cheaper than you ever could have imagined. As well, with low prices (some decent properties are still selling for under $35,000!) the property owner does not have to collect an exorbitant amount of rent to allow for a positive cash flow. Prices like these are so rare it is not unrealistic to believe they will never be seen again.

2) Stricter lending criteria. Although stricter lending criteria also means that someone investing in property will need more of a down payment and will have to jump through more hoops, it also means that if there is another real estate market correction, properties will not be "given away" for next to nothing. This will allow property values to appreciate more modestly than ever, but investors can rest assured that those price appreciations will not get wiped out overnight. This makes real estate a "slow but steady" wealth building asset, arguably a good thing.

3) Demand for rental units. Although there is a big vacancy rate when it comes houses, property investors should expect to see a short-term jump in demand for rental units, especially in some areas. With many people afraid of losing money in real estate as well as the stricter lending criteria where mortgage lenders will verify every piece of information you give them, a lot of people will fee more comfortable sitting on the sidelines and renting so that they can not only get a better "feel" for the "new" real estate market, but so they can rebuild their assets (remember, at least some down payment will be required by a mortgage now). This demand will help investors fill their properties and increase its cash flow value.

These are just three of the most obvious benefits to buying real estate for its income-producing benefits in the current environment. With a bit of thought and digging around, it will not take too long to realize just how rich today's opportunities are.

Real Estate - Investment Property In Hyderabad

The recently-inaugurated world-class international airport in Hyderabad is seen as a mascot that will boost the image of this Indian software hub as a future mega city of the world. The investment scenario in the city promises growth and returns to the stakeholders.

Nevertheless, in the past couple of quarters two multi-billion dollar deals have taken place in the real estate sector of Hyderabad between Maytas Properties and JM Financial and Golden Gate Properties and Deutche Bank.

These investment bankers, after their exhaustive studies, found Hyderabad as a dynamic real estate market that has potential to attract investors from across the world.

Infrastructure Support

The Shamshabad airport is undoubtedly a major growth driver for Hyderabad's investment property segment, but since it is located at the suburban area, connectivity is a major issue that can affect investors' mindset.

The Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA), however, have come up with an action plan. Five major infrastructure plans have been laid down to suitably connect the airport with all major parts of the city and reduce the travel time as well. The authority is in the process of constructing a 4-lane, 11.50 km long PVNR Elevated Expressway, between Aramghar and Mehdipatnam. This will be India's longest elevated highway.

A slip road has also been planned at Aramghar to divert heavy traffic and de-congest the junction. According to sources, an 8-lane 22 km section of Outer Ring Road (ORR) would also be extended to enhance the connectivity of airport across the eastern and western part of the city. The 11 km Inner Ring Road (IRR) will be improved between Mailadevpall and Khairatabad, covering the inner central and eastern parts of the city. A P7 road will be developed to provide connectivity with the IRR.

The ORR will provide direct connectivity to the airport while the IRR will link north-eastern parts of the city like Begumpet, Tarnaka, Champapet and Chandrayangutta through P7 road.

According to real estate experts of Hyderabad, the property values in the vicinity of these roads will escalate in the near future and returns from 25 to 200 per cent on residential plots can be expected in the next 8-12 months.

Real Estate and Property in Thailand

Because of the exotic beauty and splendour of Thailand most of the tourists who come to visit temporarily end up living in this majestic and tropical country as expatriates.

Generally, under the Thai law, foreign ownership of land is strictly prohibited. Financially smart foreigners however, have found the process of purchasing condos in their own name and renting those units out for income generation to be a very attractive investment.

Thus, resourceful foreigners have directly gained full control over the property they acquired in the form of condominium units. Some expats will live in the Thai condo themselves while other owners choose to have a property management company handle the rental. Some Thailand condo developers will even offer this service to the new buyers.

Since foreigners are forbidden from acquiring real properties in Thailand, they have chosen to purchase the next best thing. Acquisition of condominium units have become the simplest and most trouble-free substitute for foreigners who want to own real property in the country.

Although foreign ownership of condominium units is allowed, acquisition thereof is limited to a maximum of forty-nine percent (49%) of the whole building.

Another method of indirectly acquiring real property in Thailand is through a long-term lease. Although the non-Thai is merely considered as a lessee in this case, he is converted into the virtual owner of the leased premises since the lease agreement may be drafted in such a way as to render the agreement binding for a very long time, the maximum period of which is for thirty (30) years.

Before the expiration of the contract of lease, if the latter changes his mind and decide to sell his rights to the leased premises, he may validly be allowed to do so as long as such an act is provided for under the contract of lease.

Another alternative approach to indirectly owning real estate is the purchase of land through a duly registered Thai company. Although purchase of land by an individual foreigner is prohibited, it isn't prohibited for the Thai company to own and to acquire Thailand real estate.

Commercial Real Estate - Perfect Property Options

Miami is one of the best cities when it comes in investing. There are lots of investment opportunities that you will encounter as you conduct a search in this great city.

This city can offer you several options and for sure you will find the perfect property for you. And when it comes to the Miami commercial real estate markets, there are also a lot of options that you can choose from.

If you are planning to put up your own business center in this city, well there are lots of office spaces in Miami commercial real estate that you can choose from. Now there are lots of options that you can choose from. You have an options of renting on your own or sharing a single complex with others which is a practical options for those first time business person. You just have to make sure that you will pick the desirable property for your business and make sure that it can give you positive effects on your business.

When choosing Miami commercial real estate properties, you have to check all the factors that can affect your business. It is important that you have to start with the location of the property then the advertisement and other amenities. These are the important factors that can affect your business so make sure that you have to manage it properly especially if you prefer to rent a property on your own.

But if you prefer to share the building with other business, make sure that you are ready to face different problems that may arise. Those could not be a good choice because you may end up problematic. Problems start when you have common concepts for your business. There will be tight competition especially because you are sharing one property. This is not good start especially for that first timer.

Aside from commercial complex, Miami commercial real estate also offers other properties. There are also industrial properties that are suitable for heavy manufacturer and storage. These properties are suitable for those who have large business that are searching for a base location. But if you think that the property is too big for your business, and then you can opt for subleased the extra space that is available. In this way you ill be able to save a little amount for your rental fee.

If you want to have a thriving business, then you have to search the right Miami commercial real estate property. You have to ensure that the property that you are going to choose is something that can perfectly fit your business needs.

Is Now the Right Time to Buy a Real Estate Investment Property?

When buying real estate, it's important to remember that all purchases of real estate are essentially investment properties. What will matter most when buying real estate for investment is what the objectives are of the purchaser. Rental properties, specifically, generate regular income, and, in this market, can be ideal right now-if the investor takes time to consider these four possibilities:

#1 - Choose the Right Location

The ideal location for rental properties is where the population is dense. Look for areas near colleges and universities, accessible to public transportation options, and close to activities such as shopping centers, cultural events, and the like. Renters with children typically wish to be in areas that have good schools, and safe neighborhoods, so choose an area that is close to the best schools, private schools, or have a great deal of activity and population density.

#2 - Sound Financial Planning

In order to take advantage of the buyer's market, ensure that there is enough capital to handle typical investing risks. There's no need to stop at working with lenders. Lenders can be very helpful with understanding financial goals, but they're just for starters. Discussing options with a financial planner can help increase capital to pay for many potential obstacles. It is also important to try to have at least six months worth of mortgage payments on hand to cover repairs, maintenance, or transitional periods where the house is between renters. Buying real estate for investment is just the beginning; knowing the investment hazards and being prepared to avoid them will help make the most out of any investiture.

#3 - Consider Property Management

A property management firm can assist in the daily rental issues that occur, and having a maintenance team on board can ensure issues are taken care of before they become problems. Moreover, consider expanding the property management team to include an attorney to handle legal issues, and an accountant to assist with finances and taxes. In this case, more really is better, as a good team can work ahead to foresee potential issues that could become headaches if not handled immediately.

#4 - Choose Experienced Partners

When just starting out in investment properties, it's a good idea to partner up with an experienced real estate agent, who knows about buying real estate specifically for rental and investment properties. A good broker will assist their clients with sound recommendations and advice, because they want repeat investors. They look to seek relationships with investors over the life of the investment, and are always able to help search for growth opportunities.

Now is a great time for buying real estate to turn into an investment property, particularly rental properties. This is specifically true for rental investments-with good tenants there is the promise of steady income and gains. By keeping these four tips in mind, foreseeable pitfalls can be avoided. With market prices being as low as they are right now, getting in on an investment property is ideal.

Miami Real Estate And The Effect Of Hollywood On Sales

Miami is a major city in the state of Florida, which covers 55.27 square miles, and is the seat of Miami-Dade County. This urban enclave is the largest city within the South Florida metropolitan area and the largest metropolitan area in the Southeastern United States with a population of 5.4 million. Miami and its surrounding cities make up the fifth largest urban area in the United States.

The importance of Miami as an international financial and cultural, and real estate giant has elevated Miami to the status of world city. Miami's cultural and linguistic ties to North, South, and Central America, as well as the Caribbean is well-entrenched, and this city is often times referred to as "The Gateway of the Americas." Florida's large Spanish-speaking population and strong economic ties to Latin America also make Miami and the surrounding region an important center of the Hispanic world.

Miami also has enshrined itself among TV and movie buffs, and on a large number of occasions has the city been the set of a wide array of blockbuster television and movie projects. Emmy-award winning drama shows such as CSI: Miami, Nip/Tuck and Dexter all take place in Miami.

The NBC show Good Morning, Miami was fictionally based around the workings of a Miami television station, as well as popular sitcoms The Golden Girls and "Empty Nest," were also based in outlying Miami Beach. In the 1980s however, one TV show, Miami Vice succeeded in revitalizing the city's image as the 'place to be' for the new generation.

The remake of the new Miami Vice film takes a colder, darker look at the city's underworld, although laid out in a cool and exciting manner. Video games like Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories also take place in Vice City, which is a fictional city inspired by Miami, and includes some of the area's architecture and geography.

Miami is also a mecca for Latin television and film production, owing to it's proximity to the Caribbean and Latin America. As a result, many Spanish-language programs are filmed in the many television production studios, predominantly in Hialeah and Doral. These include game and variety shows, news programs, and telenovelas, as well as daytime talk shows Cristina Saralegui and El Gordo y la Flaca. All these add to the glitzy, seductive and sweetly sinister look most folks would crave of Miami.

Throughout the past decade, Miami has emerged as one of the most vibrant real estate markets in North America. People from overseas have descended into the city and have made an unprecedented revitalization of this long neglected southern jewel. The new dynamism has carried across Biscayne Bay to Miami's worn-out downtown area, up Biscayne Boulevard, and throughout its historic east side neighborhoods.

Currently, along Miami's bay front corridor, there are around an estimated 17,000 new luxury high-rise and loft style condominiums being built or awaiting permits. That upswing has been overflowing into the adjacent Miami neighborhoods. The past decade has seen the Miami cityscape changing dramatically.

A large part of these changes have been made just over the past three years, as the city's skyline is now crowded with a mix of high rises and construction cranes. The city's real estate market has been extremely dynamic, the main Miami preconstruction condos development areas are, Downtown, Brickell, Edgewater, the Miami River as well as Coral Gables. A large number of older Miami buildings are disappearing to give way to luxury hi-rise buildings.

The city's commercial real estate market has also been very strong; it is estimated that over 4 million square feet of brand-new retail space will enter the market in the future. A flurry of real estate investments come from Latin America, the north east of the United States and also from Europe, where European investors are banking on the emerging Euro to acquire large pieces of the Miami real estate market.

Definitely, a huge chunk of prospective home buyers and developers see the sleazy, sinister and frenetic appeal of Miami as a huge clout in drawing them to this sunny, South Florida city, and a lot of that could be attributed to the sleazy appeal Hollywood has contributed to Miami's stature.

Miami Real Estate - http://miamirealestateinc.com

Are You Ready to Face the Headaches of a Real Estate Rental Property Investment?

Investing in a real estate rental property is definitely not a walk in the park. It is a serious commitment that requires you to face a number of headaches. Do you think you are ready to face these problems?

Just like any business, real estate has its own set of problems. And unlike other investments such as stocks or bonds, you may have a hard time to get out of this type of investment. It takes time to liquidate a property. You need to find a seller and it may take years for you to finally get your money back. This is just one of the problems that you may likely face when a rental business turns bad.

Another risk that you need to face is that not all properties may be profitable. You may face situations when you are failing to achieve sufficient revenues to cover your expenditures. You may need to pay your mortgage and you do not have enough money collected. When you do not collect enough payments from renters, you have to carry the burden of paying the remaining amount. Negative cash flow is a big pain in the ass. As a prospective investor, are you ready for this?

Unlike paper assets, you also need to maintain the property to keep it profitable. Although you may be trying to achieve passive income, there is still the requirement for active management of the rental property. You need to keep the property in top shape to keep it in demand. Never ever allow the property to be abused by your tenants. You also have to fill all the vacancies as soon as possible to maximize your cash flow. For many people, this aspect called property management is a big headache.

As if those risks above are not enough, you may also have to face the tenants from hell. These tenants are those who intently fail to pay their rent on time. The bad news is that you cannot evict them just like that. These tenants can be really annoying because you will end up paying for their rent. You may also need to seek the assistance of a lawyer to finally regain the property. And you may also have to pay for the repairs for the property after these tenants left.

These are just a few of the headaches that you may need to face when owning a rental property. Luckily, these can all be remedied or avoided with the right solutions. I recommend you find preemptive solutions to avoid these troubles with secrets from the experts. I also urge you to check the e-course down below for tips on how to manage these risks properly.

Real Estate Investment Property - Something's Devouring Profits?

You can spot "alligators" of all sizes in real estate investments by their ability to "eat" away profits. How did we get "alligators" in California where the housing market was soaring? I'll tell you how. Properties that won't sell eat away at pure real estate investing profits. On the market for months and no deal yet. Monthly payments, taxes, utilities, insurance. Ouch!! What a nightmare!

Robert Kiyosaki, best known for his Rich Dad, Poor Dad series of motivational books, talked about "alligators" that just keep eating and eating away at would-be profits and he's right. But is real estate investing endangered in California? Not by a long shot. How about the rest of the country? The old "as California goes, so goes the country," right? The great thing about investing in real estate is that there is always an opportunity to be had right around the corner no matter what the doom-and-gloom sayers say.

You might ask, "Will we invest the same way we did when these same properties were selling in hours or days, not weeks and months?" The answer is "a big fat NO!"

Another question to consider, "Will we be more cautious?" A resounding "absolutely!"

The key to investing in a market with so many "alligators" is to buy right and buy smart. Buy right and you won't be so concerned about the sale. Buy right and you can move your property to another investor or just offer it well below market value to a homebuyer. Buyers are thrilled because they get a great deal, and you have plenty of wiggle room and still come out ahead. Buy smart and consider the timing. You may find that "alligators" in California, or anywhere else in the country for that matter, create many motivated sellers. Find a way to solve their most pressing problems that will also give you an advantage, and you will create a powerful and persistent stream of income.

Buy right and you control the deal instead of the deal controlling you. If you bought too high then the "alligators" will be after you. If you have made this mistake, you will know it because the tell-tale sign is that your profits are whittled away every month, and there is no end in sight. Is your property "cash-flowing" or costing you every month? Do you have a viable exit strategy, or are you fretting as the market ebbs and flows? If you answer "yes" to the latter, then you have "alligators" wherever you are.

I have had my share of nightmares in the real estate investing business, and some of them included "alligators." However, I will tell you that when you buy right and buy smart, the nightmares go away and so do the "alligators."

Why Not Purchase Bali Real Estate And Move To Bali?

Bali is an island in Indonesia which lies between the province of Java and Lombok. Bali has been a popular tourist destination for many years. Tourists from all around the world choose Bali as their vacation destination due to the rich culture and topography of this province. Bali is also referred to as the island of peace and tranquility.

Bali being an island, has been naturally blessed with beautiful pristine shorelines and clean beaches. It enjoys a sunny and warm weather for most of the year. This is why you can choose to fly to Bali anytime during the year and still enjoy enough sunshine to get a tan. There are all kinds of resorts and restaurants which offer traditional local delicacies. There is something for everybody here in Bali.

Bali is also known as the island of gods, which is due to the number of temples that you can find here. Most of these temples have been around since ancient times. Some temples have been carved out in the mountains and in rock formations. You will be awestruck by the beauty and grandeur of the temples seen in Bali.

Lately the Bali real estate market has witnessed a boom in sales together with an influx of tourists visiting the island all year round. Many people love the island that much and consequently decide to purchase property in the area. Buying Bali real estate is nothing short of securing your own piece of paradise. You need to be here in order to understand the beauty of the place. The photographs you see online do not do justice to the natural beauty found in this destination.

The real estate agents here are very friendly and professional as well. They are aware of the regulation and know the in's and out of the Bali real estate market. They would be your best bet if you wish to own property in Bali. Based on your needs they will advise and guide you in making the right purchase. They will ensure that all basic utilities such as water, electricity and broadband access are available for your convenience. As a foreigner they will also help you with the legal proceedings associated with owning property in this province.

Some of the most popular Bali real estate can be found on small hills that have rice fields sloping down towards the beachfront. You get an awesome view of the sparkling beach and the soft wind wafting through the rice fields. If you do not wish to live in Bali the entire year you can opt to rent your property to tourists or give the keys of your Bali home to family and friends who wish to take a break from the hustle bustle of city life. They will love the place and be grateful for the opportunity to spend time in a destination that many refer to as paradise on earth.

Strategies for Flipping a Real Estate Investment Property

Fixing and flipping (fix n' flip) - this is the first thing that comes to mind when people think of flipping a real estate investment property. It is whereby you purchase a property that needs repair, finance all the repairs at your own cost and then sell it as retail property for some profit. Fix and flip is the most reliable way of generating lots of cash on a single deal. If you are not careful enough though, you can run into real trouble when you pay excess for repair or underestimate the cost that repairs will take. As such, you should account for all factors before you make any deal. You should further be conservative and smart enough during repairs, lest you end up spending all your profit.

Refinancing and leasing-option - this second option works as the first strategy but rather than resell the property to generate a profit, you can appraise it at its new value and then go ahead to restructure the financing linked to it. As such, you can be able to sell the property with a lease-option meaning the rent of the tenant should at least cover the mortgage and in case the tenant ever decides to purchase the property, it will mean you will not need to hire a realtor to market and sell the property again.

Wholesale - instead of selling the property as retail, you can think of passing it to a fellow flipper who is looking to employer the fix and flip strategy mentioned above. This way, you will have to wait until you get a lucrative deal in a good market and then turn around and flip your property to a rehabber without having to make any fixing or repairs. It will mean that you will sell the property 'as is', under the existing market value - exactly what your fellow flipper is searching for). Even though you could make a tiny profit as compared your fellow flipper, you will not incur any repair costs meaning you could walk away with several thousand dollars.

The last strategy that you can employ in investment property, although it's somewhat riskier than the rest, involves predicting your local economy. If you bump into a lucrative real estate market and make perfect timing, you can get into a contract for a condo or house under construction, or even one under planning. If all fall into place, you can wait until the end of the development and construction process, and then resell the condo or home at a retail market value for a huge profit. Important to note however is that in case the local economy backfires on you, you will be stuck with your property which without a shadow of a doubt will deflate in value.

Fantastic Deals in Ogden Valley, Utah Real Estate - A Property to Invest In

Ogden Valley in Utah is the most picturesque place on the earth. If you are a lover for raw natural beauty then this valley has a lot to offer you. Living in the lap of nature is a divine experience. This place is really perfect for nature lovers. It has a natural charm that has been untouched by man's exploitation of his surroundings. It is free from pollution since most part of this valley is rural with typical mountain community. Commercial zoning is very little. You can either live or vacation in this mountainous region. Snow basin real estate consultants can help you acquire property in this area. However, if you are considering it as a tourist destination, you should hire the services of Ogden Utah Lodging.

Information about the Valley

The valley is centrally located between Snow Basin, Powder Mountain and Wolf Creek, Utah. It has three townships renowned for snow sports, music concerts, biking, hiking and dining. It is also famous for skiing. Talented tri-athletes participate in huge numbers for snow sports competition. This place is perfect for a vacation. If you are thinking of investment or buying a second home then Powder Mountain real estate can be of great help. They have thorough knowledge of this place. When you live in a place for 20 years, you know every nook and corner of it. This experience serves as an advantage and you can expect the best advice.

Tips to Hire Ogden Valley Utah Real Estate Consultant

There are some features that you must consider while hiring a real estate consultant. In this article, we share some tips to help you make the right decision.

* The real estate consultant should be forthright in his approach. He should be honest, diligent and fair in his dealings. Exaggerating facts, over-selling, miss-selling and inflating the rates are unfair business practices. Stay away from such realtors. It is easy to identify them. All you need is a little presence of mind and carefulness. Pay them a visit personally to find out their traits and qualities.

* Ogden Valley real estate consultant possesses great knowledge about the area. It usually comes with experience and may be extensive if the realtor is a local. Someone who has lived around the valley or city will know more about the place than an outsider will.

* The realtor should be thorough with legal framework. Ideally, he must appoint a lawyer for preparing the property agreement. Ensure that the paperwork is in place, if required get it checked by a lawyer.

* The broker must possess a valid license for trading in real estate/property. This pre-requisite will protect you in case there is a discrepancy. Keep these tips in mind while hiring Ogden valley Utah real estate.

How To Wholesale Real Estate and Get Quick Cash

Out of all the ways to make money in real estate investing - Wholesaling and quite honestly is one of my favorites, personally. It is the strategy we used to avoid financial disaster in 2001, when the events of 9/11 caused the collapse of my aviation business.

Wholesaling is when you get a property under control and assign your interests to another investor at a marked-up price. And if it appears that I have chosen my words very carefully, you are correct!

Two things you MUST know before we go any further:

1 - It is a well established principal of contract law that EITHER party can assign a contract, unless the contract itself says otherwise. There is a lot of confusion in the marketplace about this - often times the source of the confusion are well meaning, but ill informed real estate agents and real estate brokers. Again - YOU CAN assign any contract (assuming you are a valid party to the contract) unless the contract says otherwise;

2 - Anyone can sell their own property without a real estate license. O.k., so what is property? Property is any tangible thing in which you have some from of ownership interest, including a fully ratified sales contract.

O.k., so before I get in trouble for practicing law, understand this, what I have just said, and will continue to emphasize is that this is about BUSINESS Advice, specifically in the area of real estate investing. NOT legal advice. If there is anything I have written that is confusing, or you are not quite sure about, you need to go speak with YOUR attorney and get her blessing before proceeding.

And since everyone has "Pre-paid" Legal, or an attorney available to them, then this will not be an issue. Dudes, Dudettes, if you are investing in anything, or for that matter living in the US, you need an attorney. Someone to look over your shoulder. If you refuse to have a team of advisors, including an attorney, you really do need to turn off the computer right now and go back to watching re-runs of Gilligan's Island cause you're never going to get rich with a DIY (do It yourself) mentality.

We move on...
So wholesaling is the act of getting a property under agreement (contract, letter of intent, memorandum of understanding) and then assigning your interests to another investor. This is the theory, for the actual mechanics of how it works you are going to invest a little more time than simply reading a blog post. Something for you to now ask about when you attend the next REIA meeting or National Real Estate Investor Conference.

Wholesaling is great because it works in ANY market.

When you have low interest rates, like we have seen over the past three years, and most of the "end-buyers" are rehabbers and first time home owners, you can wholesale to them. And when you get into a higher interest rate environment (like now) and the "buy/hold" investors start coming back into the market, you can wholesale your deals to this group.

However, what I like best about Wholesaling is that it GIVES YOU AN EXCUSE! That is an excuse to get to know more experienced investors. How? By agreeing to wholesale deals to them and in exchange for doing so, you get to know what they know.

Unfortunately, there is not enough space here to go into all the details of advanced wholesaling strategies, but I will come back to this in future posts. What I do want to touch on now is the need to stop confusing Wholesaling with "Flipping" - they are not the same. Or, more accurately, they do not mean the same thing in all circles.
The term "Flipping" comes from the world of Commercial real estate, where wholesale deals occur ALL THE TIME.

On any given day in Washington, DC, or Baltimore, or any major city in America, smart and savvy investors are putting small pieces of property under contract (and making millions) with absolutely no interest in closing on the deals themselves. These street-savvy investors fully intend to take their contracts and assign them to investment groups with much deeper pockets who are in the process of "assembling" a city block to build a huge office building.

The larger investors often times encourage the smaller investors to do this because if the property owner really knew XYZ Corp wanted their property, the price would quadruple. A few years ago, the term "flipping" slid into the language of the folks doing single family deals. "Flipping" originally meant to "flip" ones contract.

However today "Flipping" means many things, including "going to jail". HUH???
Yes, in 2003, the Federal Government (HUD) issued a ruling that broadly labeled "Flipping" as illegal. This ruling has to do with collusion and other bad stuff that resulted in a number of mortgages (which were insured by the Government) going into default. This HUD ruling has absolutely NOTHING to do with wholesaling, but most people do not care about details. They hear the words "illegal" and "flipping" in the same sentence and go no further.

In addition to the HUD ruling, HGTV started producing a television show called "...Flipping...". Again, this show has nothing to do with wholesaling. In the HGTV show (which is a knock-off of a British Show called Property Ladder), the participants buy, rehab and then sell houses. If you have ever watched this show, you would know it is probably something you will never want to do, unless you want to drain your savings account and end up in divorce court.

Unfortunately, whether it is a Federal Ruling, or a TV show, the term "Flipping" has come to mean different things to different people. Therefore, it is probably best to not even use the term.
Wholesaling will make you money. "Flipping" may, or may not get you into trouble - depending upon what type of "Flipping" you are doing.

Again, in a future article (after I get through the other strategies) we'll come back and discuss the various ways to make money wholesaling. For now understand this: Wholesaling works in ALL real estate markets, regardless of interest rates, or the economy.

Scenic Montana Real Estate and Fly Fishing Properties in the Gallatin Valley

Looking to relocate to Montana? The Gallatin Valley offers incredible mountain scenery, world class fly fishing, close proximity to the college town of Bozeman, and a variety of exciting recreational opportunities. All of this and more awaits you in this friendly community of ranchers, farmers, college students, expert fishermen, all with a small town mind-set.

With plenty of wide open space, the best in outdoor recreation and the best fly fishing in the country, the Gallatin Valley in Montana is ideal place to live if you are looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. With full views of the Bridger Mountains and located near Yellowstone National Park, the valley offers a world of splendor, enticing recreational opportunities, and a friendly community spirit that is unmatched in other parts of the country. For those looking to relocate to this peaceful region, there are several resources offering a large selection of Montana real estate and fly fishing property for those with an enthusiasm for the sport.

In the Gallatin Valley of Montana, there are 100's of acres of land for sale and mountain properties for those wanting to reside in this unique region of Montana. Enjoy amazing views of the entire valley, seven snow capped mountains, rivers, and ranch lands. The access to fishing and hiking, incredible geological formations and horseback riding facilities are beyond compare. Located just a half an hour from the lively college town of Bozeman, there are a variety of shopping opportunities, exciting entertainment and a unique way of life to experience. Montana real estate is a significant investment right now, and there are many opportunities to find Montana land for sale.

The Gallatin Valley, including the towns of Bozeman, Belgrade, Manhattan, Churchill, Amsterdam and the ever popular Yellowstone National Park offers an ideal place to reside with an economy largely based on agriculture, and more recently tourism and the high tech industry. The area offers clean air, national forest access and a moderate climate make this a perfect place for outdoor recreation. For those who like to stay a little closer to home residents enjoy the variety of shopping opportunities, parks, world-class museums, and arts and cultural attractions.

TACT Program - Solving the Real Estate and Banking Crises is Simple

There have been numerous articles and books written on the theories or reasons behind the residential real estate bubble and its bursting in 2006, which led to what will likely be remembered as the Great Recession. I can add that I am not one of the parties that share the blame. I was living in Europe from 1994 - 2007 and did not even own real estate in the US during most of that time period! Chalk that up to luck, not prescience.

I would like to focus on what can be done to get out of this mess. The answer is surprisingly simple, although as so many things in life that are simple, it will not be so easy to implement due to the number of banks and organizations involved. They need to change or eliminate the policies, guidelines, and artificial barriers these organizations created to stop the free market from correcting the situation.

The easiest way to understand the solution, is to realize that a bank's balance sheet is far stronger when it has a performing mortgage loan, rather than a bank owned (REO) property on its books. A REO property is in reality a liability to the bank, inhibiting its ability to borrow and lend. A performing mortgage loan is an asset that can be sold in the secondary market, or used to borrow against to make more loans. The situation is similar when a bank has a performing mortgage loan (even at a lower face value), rather than having a non-performing loan that exceeds the value of the real estate backing it.

In the simplest terms, the solution is for the banking industry to use some of the same strategies as real estate investors currently use since bank loans are not available. Investors whose livelihood depends on the returns they earn on their invested capital, do not wait until a buyer comes along with the ability to get financing. With few mortgage loans being made, there are very few such buyers. The investors package financing in with the property sale to have a competitive advantage. The only step the banking industry took in this direction over the last year was their proposal to allow former owners to stay in their homes as renters. The banking industry lacks property management skills, so they picked the worst strategy to try. The banking industry needs to focus on providing financing to sell the homes, not to get into the rental business.

I have been working on this solution for 18 months and so many naysayers told me it could not be done, that I initially believed them. Fortunately I heard about a gentleman across the country that had been working on the same concept. He had sufficient success acquiring bank owned properties from small local banks, that he started holding seminars on the topic. He coined the phrase "Bank Seller Financing" and pitches it as a great way to acquire properties. He appropriately cautioned that this was not a phrase that would get a positive reception within the banking industry, since "seller financing" was viewed as competition by mortgage lenders. I am indebted to Michael P. Watson and his seminar for rebuilding my determination to expand this simple solution to resolve a massive problem - the US housing market crisis.

Let me summarize the US residential real estate market issues, as if there was a US real estate market. In reality there are many sub-markets with varying degrees of these problems and opportunities. Detroit, Cleveland and Buffalo (where I was born & raised) are very different real estate markets than Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix (where now I live and invest), or most metro areas in Florida. The key issues are:

- property values have declined, in some markets precipitously,
- many homes are now below their mortgaged value, and far below their "market value" during the bubble,
- banks have too many properties they own due to foreclosure,
- banks are faced with many non-performing loans and the prospect of even more foreclosures,
- some counties (like Maricopa County where I invest) are sending out ridiculously low assessments for 2011 and scaring more homeowners into turning their keys over to their lenders, and
- with the current high unemployment rate the majority of people believe that real estate prices will continue to decline, despite evidence to the contrary.

As a case in point, I was shocked when investors at a recent meeting of the Arizona Real Estate Investors Association (AZREIA) were polled about whether they believed housing prices would fall further, are near bottom, or are rising. Approximately 75% felt they would decline, 14% said it was at or near bottom, and 1% (including me) felt they were rising. All of those investors have access to the same very detailed market data, so I was shocked how differently we each filter that data based on what the media and the gurus are saying.

Back to the issues, there is one key issue which is both the crux of the problem, and the crux of the solution. There is not enough money available to make mortgage loans to meet demand. Ask your friendly bank executive if money is available for mortgages and they will give you the party line - "yes, we are lending every day and have plenty of funds available". Publicly available data on lending, current underwriting requirements, and government issued guidelines give a totally different answer. The truth is banks do not have sufficient reserves to make enough loans.

Since banks are not lending, hard money lenders and private mortgage lenders (like my company) cannot even meet 20% of the investor demand for loans, despite charging annual rates of 12-18%. If plenty of mortgage money is available, why do I get daily requests, far exceeding our capacity, for Private Mortgage Loans, Transactional Funding, Seller Financing, Contracts for Deed, and our Lease-to-Own program? Trust me, it is neither because of my good looks, nor because I offer rates below government subsidized bank loans.

Many people believe that demand for real estate is low, and that is depressing the market. The opposite is true in many markets. In the Phoenix market, sales in 2009 and so far in 2010 were on par with the peak years of 2004-2006. Pending sales are now at levels that make those earlier years look like slow periods. Incidentally, during the peak years the Town of Buckeye, where I live, was the fastest growing housing market in the US. By 2008 the bubble burst and about 90% of the properties for sale were distressed sales. Like the rest of the Phoenix market, sales now exceed the peak years, and I have prospective buyers asking for our financing help daily since they can't get bank financing.

The solution to the real estate and mortgage crises is simple, and it is not new and stronger regulation. To the contrary, the more the government meddles the worse things will likely get. The banking industry, and I include the mother hens in FHA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac along with the banks, need to eliminate the self inflicted policies they imposed and barriers they constructed after the real estate market collapsed. These policies are analogous to locking the doors once all the horses escaped.

I recently submitted a number of purchase contracts on bank owned (REO) and short sale properties (with non-performing loans). So to those that say there is no demand - I am ready and willing to buy hundreds of properties that meet my cash flow requirements, if the financing is available. There are another 100 investors like me in the Phoenix area flocking to the auctions, bidding on REO listings and on short sales. If financing were available, prices would be rising even faster than the 13% year-over-year increase we saw in April. That was not a misprint; Phoenix area prices rose 13% since April 2009!

Here are a few of the barriers to mortgage financing:

- REO properties require high reserves, inhibiting lending,
- non-performing loans require accruals and reserves, further inhibiting lending,
- bank REO, short sale and mortgage modification departments are understaffed,
- lending departments have policies to inhibit financing the sale of their own bank's REO's and short sales (notice the Catch-22),
- most mortgage loans help the bank selling the REO more than the one issuing the new loan (not a great incentive for issuing new loans),
- few investors and homeowners have FICO credit scores exceeding 720 (the new underwriting norm),
- individual investors, even those at the top of the Forbes 400 list are restricted to 10 mortgage loans in their name, regardless of assets, net worth and income,
- entities whether corporations or LLCs, as most investment funds are structured, cannot get mortgage loans regardless of their assets, profitability or book value, since those loans cannot be sold on the secondary market,
- bank executives are not aware of the conflicting policies they have put in place,
- too many separate governmental organizations regulate and "try to fix" the mortgage and banking industries, and
- there is intense pressure from the US Treasury for banks to buy T-Bills to finance the deficit.

To me it is very obvious from this list - banks do not have the money to lend due to their weakened balance sheets and reserve requirements. When distressed homeowners face this same dilemma, they reach into the bag of tricks investors use, selling their homes with seller financing, on a lease-to-own contract, contract for deed, or even turning over the deed "subject to" the investor taking over the payments.

Banking industry, meet the enemy - look in the mirror. It is time to heal thyself by implementing the TACT (Toxic Asset Conversion and Transfer) Program. Learn from and work with real estate investors and buyers to sell off your REO and short sale properties. You will strengthen your balance sheets and income statements, property values will continue to rise, fewer people will hand over their keys, and the real estate market will return to normal. This can be done in months, not in decades. For more detailed description of the TACT Program review other articles in this series.

Banking Industry: We have met the enemy, The enemy is us.