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Archive for February, 2010

Feb
27

Lay Your Roots Down In Sunny Arizona

Posted by editor on February 27, 2010

There are many people that will avidly report that there is nowhere else in the United States quite like Arizona. This could be one of the main factors why so many people are beginning to show an avid interest in land for sale in Prescott Arizona.

Not only is the land in Arizona simply dazzling, it is actually quite inexpensive as well. Prescott AZ land for sale signs can be located throughout the entire valley. If you have always wanted to be able to lay your head down in a calm and peaceful location that is full of exotic scenery and sincere and humble people than Arizona is definitely the place to be.

Contrary to popular belief, Arizona might be a desert but there are actually different parts of the state that experience winter conditions. If you’re interested in still being able to witness snowfall and the over embellished four seasons then land for sale in northern Arizona might be of interest to you.

Imagine having a home that is surrounded by large and magnificent mountain ranges accentuated by cacti and palm trees. Inadvertently, in many regards Arizona is similar to a tropical vacation. With its man-made lakes, unforgettable sunsets and ever growing population, Arizona is definitely the place to lay your roots down in, in the 21st century.

Feb
24

What is Pre-Construction Real Estate Investing?

Posted by Lorraine Ross on February 24, 2010

What is Pre-Construction Real Estate Investing?

The idea of pre-construction investments when it comes to real estate is actually quite a clever way in which many have made millions. The theory is simple really. Invest in a property before when it is in the planning stage. Those who will be building these buildings need money and investors in order to do get the building off the ground. By investing (in many cases basically purchasing options to purchase) in the units, typically condo units in high demand areas, before the ground is broken investors often have the option of investing for pennies on the expected dollar once the building is complete and can re-sell the property at full market value once the building is complete pocketing the difference in the original investment and the asking price.

This is a win-win situation for many builders or ‘owners’ of the property in questions because ‘pre-selling’ the units allows lending agents to have confidence in the viability of the project as a money earner by selling many of the units sight unseen. The benefit to investors is that they are able to purchase at a much lower price pre-construction than afterwards and can sell afterwards at the full market value (or above in some high demand and under saturated areas for real estate).

This style of investing is not nearly as glamorous to some as flipping houses. There are no beast to beauty renovations. There are, however, some things that should be kept in mind while making this type of transaction.

First of all, no real estate venture is ever guaranteed to turn a profit no matter what the glossy little brochures tell you. With the current trends in property sales, this is typically not the best environment for pre-construction investing though these things tend to change on a regular basis and that market could be looking up again in the very near future.

Second, networking is more often than not the best way to break into this particular business. There are all kinds of fly by night would be real estate investors. The ones that manage to last are those that network with other real estate agents as well as those who have specific interests and experience with pre-construction investments. Join local groups in addition to online groups that deal specifically with this sort of investment in order to get more information more quickly. The costs involved might appear daunting at first but they are far less than the costs of getting in over your head by not having a grasp of even the most basic ‘ins’ and ‘outs’ of pre-construction real estate investing.

Third, develop a close-knit relationship with a realtor that specializes in this particular type of real estate investing. This could prove to be the most beneficial thing you will ever do in order to insure future success. Be developing the right relationship with the right realtor you can get information on new properties before they make it to the public sector. This puts you in the rare and wonderful position of beating the competition to the punch. This gives you a much better shot at receiving the rock bottom prices that are often missed by waiting too long to make the purchase.

Fourth, be prepared to hold onto the property for a little while if you need to do so. The problem with pre-construction investing is that there are no guarantees that when the time comes you will have been able to ’seal the deal’. Things come up even when you have a buyer that is willing and eager to make the purchase. In other words, there are times when you will need to hold onto the property for a short while and sometimes as a long-term investment. Some options in the case of long-term holds would include renting the property out to vacationers if it is in a high demand tourist area. You can use your realtor to help with that. This allows the property to be earning some income until the sale can be made. Others decided to hold onto the property as a personal vacation home for themselves, friends, and family. In the end, the important thing is that there is a “Plan B” for the property should the deal fall through and you are left paying the monthly note.

Pre-construction real estate investing may not have the ‘name in lights’ appeal that other types of investing carry but it does provide a viable investment style that has the potential to bring in significant profits. The name of the game when it comes to investing is profits so keep this in mind when considering your investment options. This is one of the forms of investing that requires (in most cases) the least amount of capital up front.

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Feb
18

Seattle Area Foreclosure Factsheet

Posted by editor on February 18, 2010

It’s not a pleasant fact, but it’s true. More people are defaulting on their home loans today than at any time since the Great Depression. This will continue to be true until the economy turns the corner and the real estate market recovers. Until then, foreclosure sales are one of the best ways to buy real estate. If you are looking for a home or investment in the Seattle area, check out www.foreclosureplatform.com. They can help you through the whole foreclosure process.

This website offers the most complete listing of foreclosures in the Seattle area that can be found anywhere on the internet. Their foreclosure guide covers every detail surrounding foreclosures, including auction dates, bids and other important information that is updated daily.

Take note of those words, “updated daily.” A number of sites cover nationwide foreclosures, but many of those listed are long out of date and any information about others cannot be trusted to be up to date. That’s the difference between this site and som many of the others: you get information that you can trust to help you in your decision making process.

There is much more to be found on this site as well. In fact, a subscription to Foreclosure Platform is as good as having your own agent helping you personally on a daily basis. If you want to make the best decision regarding your Seattle foreclosure, go to their website and read more. . .

Feb
17

Selling Real Estate in a Sluggish Market

Posted by Lorraine Ross on February 17, 2010

Selling Real Estate in a Sluggish Market

Real estate is one commodity that many depend upon to get them through the rough times in their investment strategies. The problem is that unlike stocks and bonds, real estate is not the most liquid of assets to turn into cash when the going gets rough and money is needed immediately. This may be the one large drawback when it comes to real estate. You cannot rely solely upon real estate to get you through the financial rough patches, as real estate is a very fickle market.

There is only one way in which real estate can truly be sold in a sluggish market such as the one that is rocking the real estate world at the moment and that is not always a way that is ideal for investors. However by offering an exceptional value to consumers, you can almost always manage to sell real estate. This is by far not the method of choice for investors. Investors are often encouraged to hold onto properties during the rough patches by any means possible (and ethical of course) in order to get the maximum profit they are hoping to achieve in the endeavor. When this is not possible, make sure the property being offered and sold is the best value for the money that is currently on the market.

Play up the attributes of any given property and offer several properties for sell at once (assuming you own more than one). More importantly, offer different types of properties rather than one style of property. If you own a few rentals, a couple of vacation homes, time shares, and perhaps a corporate office building or two put one of each on the market and see which sells more quickly.

Another thing that must be considered in a sluggish market is that you cannot attach an emotional value to the price of the property. This is simply bad business. No matter how much sweat, tears, and blood have gone into the property you must realize that just as it is a business transaction for you, so it is for the person placing the bid. You cannot afford to run off potential bidders by becoming insulting or feeling insulted by their bids. Make a counter offer and see what happens rather than letting emotion rule the day. In a buyer’s market there will be low offers.

There are many who make livings (like most investors are attempting to do) by buying low and selling high. This means they will make an insultingly low offer the first time around to see where the seller stands. This doesn’t mean they are the scum of the earth only that they are in this for the greatest possible profit. Do not take their actions or attitudes personally. They are not insulting you or the property only attempting to gain the most money in the process. Most businesses operate that way no matter what they claim.

Selling property in a sluggish market can be a disappointing and gut wrenching process but it is often necessary for one reason or another. Unexpected expenses arise and money is needed when it is needed. This is after all why we make these investments in the first place, to be able to handle the unexpected twists and turns that life tosses our way.

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Feb
14

Get a Home Loan Advantage With Advantage Home Loans!

Posted by editor on February 14, 2010

Advantage home loans are the one online lender you need if you are looking to buy a home. This company helps individuals with bad credit get home mortgages. If you have been looking for a home loan but are on the verge of giving up, don’t! This company really can help.

Advantage gives you the advantage by taking advantage of the fact that lending institutions are competing like never before. If they do not lend money, they cannot make money. Of course, they have to exercise prudence and will charge higher rates of interest for people with bad credit, but they have to compete for that business, too.

What that means is that even if you have bad credit, you may still be in a position to qualify for a loan and to negotiate a decent and affordable mortgage. All you need is the expert help the Advantage Home Loans can give you. In addition to all their other services, they offer invaluable Free Home Loan Tutorials on their website that will give you knowledge you won’t find anyplace else.

If you are wondering about FHA Home Loans, you must check out this website. They can tell you everything you need to know. The bottom line is this: you CAN get a home loan and Advantage CAN help you get it.

Feb
13

Find out all the latest Foreclosures, for free!

Posted by editor on February 13, 2010

Are you looking for the best possible deals you can get in real estate but don’t know where to look? The absolute, rock-bottom priced real estate deals are Real Estate owned foreclosures. Your next question will probably be, “Where can I find those?”

That’s the easy part! There is a free REO Foreclosures website that you can go to and find foreclosures all around the country. It is completely free to use. You don’t even have to sign up to a mailing list or register to become a member. Simply go to their blog and find everything you want to know about foreclosures there.

This blog and website is set up to make your search easy. On the home page is a map of the United States. Click on the state of your choice and another page will come up that has an extensive list of towns and cities in that state. Click on the city of your choice and there will be a list of foreclosures in that city you can choose between.

That list of foreclosures will include photographs of the properties, a map showing their location and contact details of the company that is in charge of the sale.

This whole search has taken less than 5 minutes. In that time you could find the property you thought would take months to find. Check out Free Foreclosures. You will be amazed!

Feb
12

Common Risks Involved in Real Estate Investments

Posted by Lorraine Ross on February 12, 2010

Common Risks Involved in Real Estate Investments

While a good many millionaires will agree that their fortunes were made in real estate, the honest ones will also tell you that they’ve probably lost a few fortunes in real estate along the way. This is a risky business and every property purchased doesn’t always pan out to become a successful investment. There are many risks involved in real estate investing and you would be going to battle unprepared if you didn’t take a moment to carefully study these risks and work to avoid them when planning your property investment strategy.

Unfortunately, there are very few one size fits all risks for real estate investing, as each type of investing is inherently different. This means that each type of real estate investment will involve a new set of risks. Below you will find a brief overview of different styles of investing and the common risks that are involved in each.

Rental Properties

This type of investing offers some risks that are unique and some that are also risks when investing in properties that are lease-to-own or rent-to-own as well. First and foremost is the risk of failing to make a profit. If the property in question cannot achieve an adequate monthly income to cover the expenses of operating the property then it is not a solid investment.

Other risks include the risk of getting bad tenants. This is particularly hard on first time investors. Bad tenants are costly and in some cases destructive (which leads to even greater expense). Vacancies are another risk for rental properties. These properties are only costing money as they sit empty rather than earning money as they were intended. Short turnovers are in your best interest as are long-term tenants.

“Flipped” Properties

This is one of the most enjoyable types of property investments for many ‘hands on’ investors. This allows the investor to roll up his or her sleeves and take an active role in creating the masterpiece that will eventually bring in serious revenue (at least that is the hope). This is also one of the riskier investments, particularly when trying to turn a profit in what is known as a buyer’s market.

The risks are simple but often overlooked and they can have a significant impact on the overall success or failure of the project. First of all, the biggest risk is in paying too much for the property. Other risks include underestimating the costs of repairs, over estimating the ability of the investor to do the work him or herself, taking too much time, experiencing a down turn in the housing market, making the wrong judgment call for the neighborhood, becoming overly ambitious, and getting greedy. Sometimes it is much better to walk away with a lesser profit than to end up loosing money by holding out.

Personal Residence

Keep in mind that your personal home is essentially an investment. The intention is that your home will gain in value over time and that equity in your home will build as you age. There are risks involved in this transaction as well. Buying a home that is in a ‘borderline’ area or one that is not showing obvious signs of growth is one of the biggest risks. This puts your home in the position to lose rather than gain value. This can make your home a burden rather than the investment it was intended to be. Other risks involve is becoming involved in a loan situation that is not at all beneficial (such as an adjustable rate mortgage or an unreasonable balloon payment).

Perhaps the biggest risk of all when purchasing a personal residence as an investment is failing to get a proper inspection that could rule out potentially costly and even dangerous problems within the home your purchase for you and your family. Toxic mold is one problem that comes easily to mind that most proper home inspections would almost immediately rule out. Others include structural problems that are costly to repair and dangerous to leave in disrepair. Each of these risks should be considered before an offer is made on any property.

For those seeking to turn impressive profits in short order, real estate is one way in which this can be accomplished. It is in your best interest however to be aware of the risks that are involved and take careful steps to minimize those risks. Taking these steps now may cost a little more on the front end but in many cases the pay off for doing so well outweigh the expenses.

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Feb
07

Buying Real Estate Foreclosures

Posted by Lorraine Ross on February 7, 2010

Buying Real Estate Foreclosures

When looking for a home for you and your family you will come across all kinds of deals, bargains, and so-called values along the way. If price is a very tangible object for you and your real estate investment then you might seriously want to consider the value of foreclosures. If you are hoping to invest in real estate in order to turn a profit then you may also wish to consider these properties that are often sold well below the ordinary value of the property because they are in varying degrees of disrepair.

Foreclosures are properties that have been taken back by the lenders because the previous owners were unable to continue making payments on the property. Being that these homes were often owned by those in financial distress and may have been empty for some time before being sold, chances are that the foreclosure homes being sold at any given time are in some degree of disrepair. The shabbiness of many of these properties is one of the factors that keeps the prices down. Another is the fact that the lenders are essentially attempting to recoup their investment in the property. For this reason they are often willing to take less than the value of the property if that is what is owed on the property.

Why are these properties often in a state of disrepair? Truthfully, there are many reasons but the primary culprit in this situation is money. Obviously the owners of the home were struggling to make the payments or the home would not be in the state of foreclosure. If the notes on the property were difficult to begin with it makes perfect sense that other issues such as leaking roofs, shabby carpeting, or plumbing maintenance would take a distant second in priority to making the house payment.

At the same time, there are those who are bitter about loosing their homes. As sad as the situation may be some add insult to injury by damaging these properties intentionally. These homeowners feel they have nothing left to loose and if they cannot have their property hole then the lenders should not as well. While this is by no means the way to go there are very many who choose this path over other options.

The fact is that their loss in these situations is actually your gain. The damage they do to the property is often not terribly expensive to repair though it can be quite bothersome. Your willingness to do the work in order to create a beautiful home for you and your family or as an investment can often translate to big savings at the closing table or when negotiating the price of the property. Foreclosures can allow families to buy larger homes in better neighborhoods than they would ordinarily be able to afford. They can also provide a fabulous kick-start to a property investment portfolio.

Despite common claims and Internet advertisements, you do not need to buy a list in order to find foreclosed real estate in your area. You simply need to procure the services of a competent realtor and let him or her know that your intentions are to purchase a foreclosed property or some other property that is selling well below market value. You might be amazed at the wealth of information and assistance your realtor can provide not only in finding excellent foreclosures but also when it comes to procuring financing for some of the more creatively damaged foreclosures you may run across at insane bargain prices.

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Feb
06

Real Estate Investing Riches Roadmap

Posted by editor on February 6, 2010

If you haven’t heard of Tim Taylor yet, you will soon, because this man is taking the real estate world by storm! Tim is a well-known real estate success coach and author who has mentored hundreds of people in his proven techniques for getting rich buying and selling real estate. Before you say to yourself, “I can’t even afford a down payment” and leave this page, you should know that Time can teach you the secrets you need to know to do no money down investing!

Tim has finally decided that it was time to give as large a number of people the opportunity to learn from him at an affordable price. To that end, he has produced his Real Estate Investing Riches Roadmap. His DVD’s include over 90 hours of the best and most informative live coaching sessions and seminars! That’s over 90 hours of invaluable information about everything you need to know in order to get rich in the real estate market. Topics in these DVD’s include flipping houses, investing in foreclosures, purchasing with seller financing, asset protection and many more vital topics.

That’s not all you get, either. Tim has learned from the masters of motivational training – names like Robert Kiyosaki, Robert Allen, Anthony Robbins as well as Ron LeGrand – and he will share much of what he has learned from them with you, too.

And it doesn’t stop there! Also included in this amazing package is a guide that consists of 500 pages  plus four extra bonus products that cover even more topics you need to know about in order to succeed in real estate.

Why is he doing this? As Tim says, “The way the present day economy is, there are people that cannot afford to render the costs for one on one coaching so I created‘The Real Estate Investing Riches Roadmap’ program.” Do yourself the best favor you’ve ever done and go to www.realestateinvestingrichesroadmap.com and get this fantastic offer today.

Feb
01

Real Estate Investing

Posted by Lorraine Ross on February 1, 2010

Real Estate Investing

There are many methods for building fortunes in the world today. One of the most accessible even for the common entrepreneur however is real estate investing. In fact, you will find many rags to riches stories are built by investing in the real estate marketing in one form or another if not many methods for investing in this lucrative but risky field.

Real estate is a great strategy for the investor who is willing to make the time to learn about the options, risks, and potential rewards for this type of investment process. Some of the more common real estate investments are the following:

1) Rental property. Property ordinarily gains value over time unlike many other investments that may rise and fall quickly and without warning. The problem is that far too few people can actually afford to hold and maintain multiple properties over an extended and indefinite period of time while waiting for the value to rise. Many property investors manage to overcome this by renting the properties to tenants during the time when the property values are rising. This allows the tenants to essentially cover the note on the property and makes the venture a little less risky though there are risks involved when dealing with tenants (such as property damage, failure to pay the rent, and possible legal woes-the good tenants generally outweigh the bad).
2) Pre-construction investment. This is a highly speculative and very risky sort of property investment that has booms and busts. Many investors recently discovered exactly how risky this endeavor actually is when the property ‘bubble’ went bust so to speak. The risks involved in this type of investment should not cover up the fact that many millionaires have been created through pre-construction investing and many more will be created in the future. Pre-construction investing, just as its name implies is a type of investment in which investors purchase ‘options’ on the property before ground is broken. This is very popular in high demand areas that are known to experience housing shortages as prices often rise quickly and the units are often sold before they are completed and any ‘real’ money exchanges hands.
3) Flipping houses. This is a type of property investment that has made leaps and bounds in the last few years thanks to the popularity of many popular home improvement and house flipping shows on cable networks in the last few years. More and more people have decided to pursue this sort of investment in hopes of creating big profits in a short amount of time and with minimal investment. The problem, of course, is that it always looks much easier on television than it is in person. Couple this with the fact that many people have unrealistic expectations when it comes to costs and ability and there are plenty of risks involved with this type of investment as well. For those who are successful however, there is the potential for great profit in a relatively short amount of time as these televisions shows indicate.
4) Buy and hold. As mentioned above, real estate tends to gain value over time. Even if the buildings are in desperate need of TLC and repair the very land they are standing on is more often than not gaining value as the years pass by. Purchasing large lots of land or even several houses and holding on to them for as long as possible before selling can often fund college educations for children, pay for weddings, or greatly supplement retirement funds. The longer these properties are held the better in most cases as this provides the greatest opportunity for the value of the property to increase.
5) Lease options. There are few people in this world who never experience rough spots financially. Many of these people are denied traditional home loans because of their inability to cover debts properly in the past. For this reason they are often willing to pay for the privilege of rebuilding their credit while working towards a path of home ownership. For these people, a lease option presents a workable and often valued solution. Those investors who are willing to take the risks often find the rewards are well worth those risks.

These are only some of the investment opportunities that exist for those who are interested in real estate for an investment avenue. There are commercial real estate endeavors that have the potential to bring in big profits as well as the development and planning of housing communities as well. Needless to say real estate investing offers many opportunities to the savvy investor.

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