Selling a Home to Buy Another

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For many people the nightmare of selling one home to buy another is one they wish to avoid. Even though they do want to move to another home they don't want the hassles that come. Realistically they know they must sell the first one to be able to buy the second one. The last thing they want is to end up with two mortgage payments to cover.

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One the other hand though they don't' want to sell their current home and then struggle to find another one before the closing date. Then they won't have anywhere to go and that creates another hassle. Even if you are able to get an apartment or a hotel for a few weeks you still have to move twice. Most of us will agree that process of moving once isn't something we want to do - so doing it twice in the span of a month or two is out of the question.

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It isn't always a great time to sell a home and you do need to be aware of that. If there are tons of other homes on the market right now that aren't selling then it could be difficult for you to sell yours as well. It could be because of the economy or other factors in your area. Find out what the scenario is before you leap into putting your home on the market.

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Many lenders though do want to help people out in such a predicament. If you have decent credit they may extend what is called a bridge loan to you. With this you will get the funding you need to buy the second home even though the first one hasn't closed yet. The lender will get their money due when the closing date occurs with that first home.

This way you can get your home sold and still buy one that you are going to move into. The requirements for bridge loans vary based on the lender so explore what may be extended to you. One requirement is that you have to be able to show you have enough income to pay for the mortgage on both homes. You also should know that this type of loan often has a high rate of interest with it.

The good news is that people sell one home and buy another all the time. It can take some careful planning to make sure you don't end up with some problems along the way. If you have never done this before get your real estate agent to help you. Working with one person to help you sell your current residence and then to buy another is the best option.

By doing so you will be able to ensure they do their best to get all of the dates to line up. They can also add stipulations to offers you make on the new home that state you must sell your own home before it is going to continue moving forward. This type of stipulation is more common than you might think.

Don't feel like you are stuck in a home because you need to sell it before you can get another one. Work with your real estate agent to get the home ready to sell. Offering it at a great price will also help to get that done in less time. While that is all going on have a good idea of what you want in another home. That way you can explore what is out there as soon as you get a bite on the home you are in.

Selling a Home to Buy Another

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Take My Home From Me Please!

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There's More to Selling Your Home than a "For Sale" Sign In Your Front Yard: Beware.

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Even if a simple sign in your yard did produce a buyer knocking on your door, how will you handle the following questions:

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"How does your home compare to others like it in your area?"

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"How did you determine the fair market value of this property?"

"What about financing? Can you help?"

"If I make an offer, who will draw up the paperwork?"

"Why aren't you using a Realtor? Is there something wrong with the property?"

"Since you aren't using a Realtor, we can take their fee right off the top, right?"

Selling your home is one of the most important financial transactions you will make in your life. Don't take risks. Selling your home is nothing like selling a car. Every home is different, and every homebuyer wants to offer you as little as possible. How do you determine the real market value?

Almost all homes are sold using a Realtor. Top real estate professionals know it is their job to help you negotiate with all those buyers who want something for nothing. Not to mention preparing your home for sale, marketing it locally in your market and even nationally, and guiding you through the complex paperwork and pitfalls of escrow and closing. Make sure you are really ready to handle all of that before pounding that sign into your front yard. Errors can be extremely costly.

Remember: Buyers want to offer you as close to nothing as possible! While that "For Sale by Owner" sign might sound like a good idea, it usually means a different thing to buyers: "Try to steal this one."

Your home is one of the biggest negotiations of your life. Mistakes can be extremely costly. Don't get outfoxed at the negotiating table!

Take My Home From Me Please!

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5 Tips for Buying a Home in Today's Market

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Whether it is your first home or you consider yourself an old pro at home buying the recent economic downturn caused the guidelines for obtaining a home mortgage much more stringent than before. So if you are thinking about buying a home, you will save yourself a lot of headache and heartache if you follow these 5 steps.

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Establish Credit

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If you are a prospective first time homebuyer your first job may be to establish credit. No lender is going to finance your home purchase until you can prove or show a history of borrowing and paying back on time. A good way to get started is with a credit card. It is possible to pay many of your monthly expenses with a credit card with no fees involved if you pay the entire balance off at the end of the month. If you have had credit cards make sure that your payments are made on time.

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Face The Past

Now is the time to clean up any past credit problems. Find out if there are any unpaid bills that need to be paid. Lenders evaluate your credit history so if you spend too much on a regular basis and have been slow to pay, the odds of getting a mortgage these days are mighty slim.

How To Clear Up Credit Problems

You can improve your credit score by first getting a copy of your credit report. If your score is not in the high 700s or higher, then rethink your budget, lower your expenses, possibly consolidate your bills and make sure that you start immediately to make your payments on time. In fact, pay more than the minimum amount on your credit card so that credit companies do not see you as Just Hanging On

Evaluate What You Can Afford

In the long run, what with tax breaks and appreciation, buying a home can be less expensive than renting but that does not mean that it is less expensive in the short run. When it is your home, a problem with a leaky roof is your problem, not the responsibility of the landlord. In addition to paying the principle and interest, you must also budget for taxes and in many areas for homeowner association dues as well. Also, if you have been living in a condo or an apartment and plan to move to a home with a yard, you will have to figure in the cost of landscape management.

Evaluate The Market

When you have a general idea of what you are looking for, it is easy to hop online to find out the projected cost for buying it. Sometimes you may have to settle for less than you originally planned but you can get a real good idea of the market before you actually go out to see any properties in person. For example, a search for Evergreen CO Real estate shows over 300 3 bedroom, 2 bath homes currently on the market. Prices range from a high of million to a low of 9,000. Find the price range you are looking for an study the homes online.

Get The Right Mortgage

Talk with reputable lenders and get yourself pre-qualified and pre-approved for a loan amount. This gives you and the seller the confidence that when you put in an offer on a home you can afford that the lender will approve the loan assuming that the property also qualified or appraises for the selling price.

Happy Hunting

Armed with pre-approval from you lender, you can shop for homes in your price range with every confidence of success.

5 Tips for Buying a Home in Today's Market

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Lakewood Ranch - Fantastic Florida Real Estate

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Lakewood Ranch is an unincorporated master planned community spread over an area of 8500 acres located in Manatee County, Florida. The development offers amazing acres of preserves, miles of sidewalks and breathtaking lake vistas. The most highlighted feature of Lakewood Ranch is its green community development guidelines and the community is soon to be the largest green-certified development in the United States.

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Lakewood Ranch has more than half of its area dedicated to trails, parks and recreational areas as people of Florida love to spend the maximum amount of their time outdoors enjoying our beautiful weather. Each Lakewood Village boasts its own unique attributes and offers a soothing environment for relaxation and enjoyment. Besides trails and parks, a lot of importance is also placed on tennis and golf. Lakewood Ranch is a host to an array of competitive golf courses. The community also offers state of art facilities for the game of tennis. There are 18 tennis courts available for play at the Lakewood Ranch Country Club, 16 Har-True and two red clay. All other amenities and facilities have also been well provisioned in the community such as polo club, cricket club, movie theater, supermarket, shopping, fine dining, swimming, fitness, private schools, high schools, social clubs, medical facilities and numerous other recreational facilities.

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The community includes seven unique villages that include custom estates, townhouses and condominium units. The seven villages of the development are Greenbrook, Summerfield, The Lake Club, Edgewater, Lakewood Ranch Country Club, Central Park and Riverwalk. Among these, the village Central Park and Country Club East are still in early development stage whereas the rest of the villages are maturing nicely.

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There is no doubt that Lakewood Ranch is a perfect place to live in as you have the exceptional opportunity to enjoy the natural settings and friendly atmosphere. For those individuals, who desire to own a newly constructed home, there are several builders offering new construction, whereas those individuals who are hunting for the best deal in the area should consider the foreclosed properties and short sales available in the development.

The development has seen a drastic reduction in the amount of available homes and home builders are once again operating in the development. This activity is resulting in higher prices compared to 6 months ago. If you are considering owning a home in Lakewood Ranch now if likely to be the best time to do it. Interest rates are their lowest in most home buyers lifetimes and it will not remain this way forever. Lakewood Ranch is a great place to invest in real estate.

Lakewood Ranch - Fantastic Florida Real Estate

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Modular Building Costs

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Cost is the bottom line for any construction project. Modular buildings are cost effective because of less labor and material cost. Labor effort is maximized by factory construction and material waste is minimized.

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Costs for modular buildings can differ quite radically from to 0 per square foot. The factors that affect price include the size of the building, quality of material and complexity of the construction. Though certain regions have low cost of modular buildings, it is not possible to take advantage of that as the shipping costs turn out to be more.

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Transportable classrooms, offices and simple buildings are inexpensive building options. Medical offices are more expensive. Sophisticated buildings with extensive wiring or high quality building material result in building costs that turn out to be quite expensive.

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On a typical job site, overhead expenses due to bad weather and in the form of construction delays and damages to building products take place. It is seen that constructors waste valuable time traveling between multiple jobs and running out of supplies. Carpenters, electricians and plumbers who are very necessary in building homes, typically get more work done working on an assembly line than the typical subcontractor doing the same work at the job site. Thus, they become more cost effective in a modular construction.

In terms of financing, the buyer can choose to buy or lease a modular building according to his personal preference. Before making a final decision, the buyer needs to weigh all the pros and cons. It is critical that the buyer ensures that bids are truly competitive before choosing solely on price factor. It is advisable that the buyer checks the quality of fixtures, doors, walls and carpeting before finalizing the contract. The buyer should also ensure that the total cost includes all costs including installation.

Modular Building Costs

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Owner Financing - Buyer Beware!

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If for some reason you don't qualify for traditional home financing, owner financing may seem like an answer to prayer. While many experts caution the seller against problems with owner-financed sales, the buyer may also be at risk.

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Why is the seller willing to finance? Is he a professional real estate investor who uses these deals as a source of cash flow? An individual seller looking to improve the tax consequences of the sale by deferring income? Or a scam artist unloading a problem property to an unsuspecting victim?

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Traditional financing commonly includes various home inspections. These may include pest inspections, roof inspections, heating/cooling inspections, or structural inspections, which are customarily paid for by the seller.

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When offering owner financing, the seller often does not provide these inspections. An unscrupulous seller may know there is a problem (perhaps from a failed prior inspection).

There may also be financial liens against the property for unpaid taxes or mechanics liens for home improvements. Make sure that your sales agreement provides that the seller clear any liens against the property in order to deliver clear title at payoff.

Read the terms of the sales agreement carefully. Most are drafted to favor the seller. Pay special attention to clauses which may restrict pet ownership or improvements to the property. You should be able to make reasonable changes without permission, but it is customary to require written permission for major structural changes. If you anticipate a major remodeling project, it may be easier to negotiate permission before or at the contract signing, rather than afterward.

You should also carefully read payment terms and late charges. Many professional investors are well-aware that seller-financed buyers are at high risk for default and impose significant penalties for late or missed payments. Some may sell the same house over and over, anticipating that buyers will default.

It may also be helpful to know what rights you have under the law, and make sure that your sale contract doesn't have terms that cause you to sign away those rights. While sellers may draft a contract that gives them all the advantages of renting with none of the responsibilities, many states have ruled that contract buyers have equity rights early in the transaction and traditional rental rules (like eviction) don't apply.

Before considering buying a seller-financed home, you need to honestly analyze your situation. Are your credit problems in the past, or ongoing? Can you really afford to buy a home, especially a fixer-upper with deferred maintenance issues? What steps do you need to take to make sure that you don't end up in foreclosure?

Follow these steps and you, too, can enjoy the advantages of home ownership.

Owner Financing - Buyer Beware!

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Living in Denver Colorado - The Mile High City

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Denver is known as the 'mile high city' that has a dynamic economic development with great cultural background, making it one of the most visited cities in the United States. Major neighborhoods in Denver Colorado include the Ballpark neighborhood located at the Downtown Central Business District of Denver and Lower Downtown and Coopers Field situated in the 20th street. If you are looking for beautiful homes, head to the Belcaro neighborhood that features wonderful real estates. Bonnie Brae is another highly desirable neighborhood in Denver near the Cherry Creek and the Washington Park. The place is known for its restaurants, ice cream parlors and quaint shops.

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Capitol Hill is one of the most diverse and historic neighborhoods in Denver. It is the most populated neighborhood due to its excellent parks, transportation, entertainment opportunities and unique retail. Cherry Creek, on the other hand is Denver's most vibrant and attractive neighborhood known for its restored Victorians, charming bungalows, luxurious condominium buildings and elegant townhouses. Denver home mortgage can help you with your financing needs as well as information necessary for your plans to move in Denver.

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Denver is filled with sports, outdoor activities, culture, shopping and a lot more. The Colorado Rocky Mountains are famous for exploring, skiing and hiking. You can find numerous movie theaters in Colorado that offer different kinds of entertainment such as movies, plays, musicals and operas. In addition, dining in Denver should never be a problem with its vast array of choices of cuisines. White Fence Farm offers the best foods in town with a beautiful setting. For a fantastic Moroccan feast, Mataam Fez Moroccan Restaurant is one of the best choices you have. Denver is also known as a music city with numerous live venues, dance clubs and bars for your nightlife.

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Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Denver Art Museum, Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys, the Children's Museum of Denver and many other museums and public libraries are accessible for those who love history, art and literature. For sport enthusiasts, the Mile High City is the perfect place to be. Denver Colorado is home to more than eight professional sports teams. Football, baseball, soccer, basketball, hockey, rugby and lacrosse are some of the most popular sports in Denver. If you are planning to visit Denver for your next vacation, do not forget to see the three top destinations in Denver including the Lakeside Amusement Park, the Elitch Gardens and the Heritage Square.

The population of Denver as of the year 2007 is 566,674 and since year 2000, the growth of the population has reached 2.2 percent. In general, the cost of living in Denver is 104.88. The city has an unemployment rate is 3.70% with a job growth of 2.05%. The city's predicted future job growth for the next ten years is 24.61%, with a tax rate of 7.60% and the income tax is 5.00%. The income per capita in Denver is ,753, including all the children and the adults. ,391 is the median household income. Denver's home median value is around 9,700 and the home appreciation over the last year is 3.57%.

In Denver Colorado, the average one-way commute takes around twenty-seven minutes. Public transit is widely available, which provides people access to different important places around Colorado. The crime rate in Denver Colorado is considered a bit high due to crimes such as nonnegligent manslaughter, robbery, aggravated assault and forcible rape. In addition, property crimes include larceny-theft, burglary, arson and motor vehicle theft.

Denver Colorado gets sixteen inches of rain every year with an average snowfall of forty-five inches. There are two hundred and forty-five sunny days each year in Denver Colorado and the July high is about nine-four degrees while the January low is fifty-seven out of one hundred. With a great climate, Denver Colorado is simply a wonderful place to visit.

Living in Denver Colorado - The Mile High City

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Home Staging Starts With Quality Pictures - Part 1

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Home Staging starts with good quality real estate portfolio.

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Since the Internet became readily available in North America, more and more home buyers use the Web to shop for properties and select the ones they want to visit. The latest statistics indicate that over 85% of the potential buyers for YOUR home will use your pictures to make a decision whether to visit based on what they see. So, if your pictures are out of focus, blurry or unclear, you'll likely lose many of those potential visitors....

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One important question to consider for best quality photographs is the number of megapixels your digital camera should have. (A megapixel is a measure of how much detail a digital camera can resolve and record.)

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The answer to this question depends on where and how you are planning to use the photos you take of a property or listing.

If your photos are only going to be used online (such as for the MLS or an FSBO site, for a realtor website, or for a single-property website), any digital camera with at least 3 megapixels is perfectly fine for real-estate photography. Actually, more megapixels may work against you because the size of the resulting image file becomes larger and takes more time to transfer. For example, pictures taken with my backup 3-megapixel digital camera generally are only about 2 MB, while pictures from my digital SLR camera are around 4-6 MB each (at least)! Although you wouldn't be able tell the difference between these images if you viewed them on-screen, you WILL notice a difference in the time you'll wait for the pictures to appear, especially at their full size!

On the other hand, if you are planning to use these photos offline (to print a flyer, brochure or handout, for example), then a digital camera with more megapixels will allow you to print larger images from a file. For example, an image from my 3-megapixel backup camera, I can create good 4" x 6" prints and O.K. 5"x 7" prints, but not 8½" x 11" prints. On the other hand, my digital SLR camera produces very good 4" x 6", 5" x 7" and 8½" x 11" (or even larger) prints. This is very important if you want to use a full-size print for the cover of a home's brochure or in a handout, as well as if you plan to use the image within an online video tour or slide show.

So, depending on your real estate marketing plan, decide where and how you are going to be using the images you capture with your digital camera. If you are shooting online images, your current camera might just do the job. If not, you might want to invest in a new camera or consider hiring a professional real estate photographer, who will take the BEST quality pictures for your home selling project.

Home Staging Starts With Quality Pictures - Part 1

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Debt-To-Income Ratios When Buying A Home

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The first thing a lender looks at when determining your ability to qualify for a mortgage is called your "debt-to-income" ratio. That is the percentage of your gross monthly income that you spend on long term debt. This includes your mortgage payment, taxes, insurance and HOA fees. I also includes any consumer debt payments such as credit cards, student loans or installment payments. Plus it includes car payments.

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Now you're wondering just how much that new car payment can reduce the purchase price of your new home. Let's crunch some numbers. Say you earn 00 per month and have an average car payment of 0 per month. Calculating based off an 8% interest rate that car payment would cut your purchase power on your new home by about ,000. That makes a considerable difference in the type of home you will be able to purchase.

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It does not matter if you feel you can afford both the more expensive home and the car payment. The mortgage companies approve based on their guidelines not yours. You should still take the time to get pre-qualified with a lender.

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Getting pre-qualified with a lender is one of the first steps in any home purchase. Your Realtor should be able to refer you to a good one. Realtors work with lenders on a daily basis and can offer valuable referrals based on past experience with lenders. That experience is invaluable when searching for well qualified professionals.

The lender will crunch the numbers and evaluate your credit to determine what you qualify for and the terms. That car payment will come into play here and affect how much of a home you qualify for.

If you're thinking of purchasing both a home and a car in the near future, purchase the home first or you may be living in the car.

Debt-To-Income Ratios When Buying A Home

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Conventional 30 - Year Amortizing Mortgage - Why Use It?

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A fixed-rate conventionally-amortized mortgage is the least risky kind of mortgage obligation. If borrowers can make their payment, a payment that will not change over time, they can keep their home. At the end of a predefined term, the original funds have been paid in full, and the loan is discharged.

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After World War II a series of government programs to encourage home ownership spawned a surge in construction and the evolution of private lending terms resulting in the 30-year conventionally amortized mortgage. This mortgage generally required a 20% down payment, and allowed the borrower to consume no more than 28% of their gross income on housing. These conservative terms became the standard for nearly 50 years. Lending under these terms resulted in low default rates and a high degree of market price stability.

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There were experiments with various forms of exotic financing during this period, particularly in markets like California where price volatility required special terms to facilitate buying at inflated pricing. The instability of these loan programs was demonstrated painfully during the deep market correction of the early 90s in California characterized by high default rates and lender losses.

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In residential mortgages, a 30-year term is most common, but if bi-weekly payments are made (two extra per year), the loan can be paid off in about 22 years. If borrowers can afford a larger payment in the future, they can increase the payment and amortize over 15 years and pay off the mortgage quickly.

The best way to deal with unemployment or other loss of income is to have a house that is paid off. Stabilizing or eliminating a mortgage payment reduces the risk of losing a house or facing bankruptcy. Unfortunately, payments on fixed-rate mortgages are higher than other forms of financing, so borrowers often opt for the riskier alternatives.

Exotic loan financing terms became widespread during the Great Housing Bubble. These terms proved to be unstable, and many borrowers defaulted on their loans. As more and more people defaulted, the lenders stopped lending money under these terms, and real estate values plummeted. Of course, this caused even more people to default, and prices fell into a downward spiral. Lower prices distressed more homeowners who went into foreclosure which drove prices even lower. None of this would have happened if fixed-rate conventionally-amortized mortgages were the norm rather than the exception.

Conventional 30 - Year Amortizing Mortgage - Why Use It?

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Pine Ridge Estates

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Pine Ridge Estates is located in the convenient-to-it-all area of north Naples, and features gorgeous thickly wooded homesites that boast of pine and oak trees. This non-gated community features single family homes and estate homes that range in architectural flair due to the commencement of construction in Pine Ridge Estates which was in the 1960's. Many homes are newer construction as well with homes styles ranging from traditional to contemporary, with some of the older homes newly renovated even torn down and rebuilt. This non-restricted community offers privacy to its residents with several magnificent homes that have gated entrances.

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There are even sections where the equestrian enthusiast can opt to own a horse, with some lots as large as ten acres. Pricing varies accordingly, with asking prices for estate homes as much as seven million boasting of thirteen thousand square feet of living, to more affordable homes priced in the three hundred thousand range, and are more modest in size. There are several glistening lakes within the community with many homes situated directly on the banks of their pristine waters. Many of the larger estate homes as well as the smaller residences of Pine Ridge Estates are set in a tropical haven of luxury with swaying palm trees that surround, glorious landscaping, in a park like setting.

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In addition to the wonderful estate residences in Pine Ridge Estates, there are several vacant lots with mature landscaping that are available. Lots range in size from one acre to up to ten acres, some offering spectacular and tranquil lake views and some situated in the midst of a preserve like setting. Many lots have been cleared and filled, and are ready for the ideal piece of real estate to be built. Pine Ridge Estates does not have a home owners association to govern, therefore there are no architectural requirements or a selection of preferred builders that one must use.

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The location of Pine Ridge Estates is unmatched as it is conveniently close to the heart of downtown Naples, the historical Tin City and Palm Cottage, cerulean blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico, sparkling white beaches of Vanderbilt Beach, is three miles to Clam Pass and minutes to the beautiful mangrove laden Delnor-Wiggins State Park. Additionally, the fine shops at Mercato are just minutes away, as well as a large selection of restaurants, grocery stores, pharmacies, excellent schools, and businesses. Pine Ridge Estates offers a diverse index of real estate in a superb and desirable area of Naples.

Pine Ridge Estates

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Looking for 11 Beautiful Neighborhoods With Apartments to Rent? Denver Is the Place!

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Life is better when it's spent in a beautiful place. Denver is surrounded by beautiful mountains and other types of scenery, but there are some neighborhoods that are just prettier than others. If you want to absolute most stunning Denver neighborhoods, this is the list for you. I've even included the average price for apartment rent in each place, where available.

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Alamo Placita (rent: 4) - named after the beautiful Alamo Placita Park with its exquisite flower gardens, the rest of the neighborhood is influenced by the park's beauty.

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Belcaro (rent: ,024) - tranquil and upscale, make sure to drive past the Phipps Mansion, which sets the tone for elegance in the entire neighborhood.

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Cheesman Park (rent: 1) - the unique place near Denver's botanical gardens adds to the picturesque nature of this neighborhood.

Cherry Creek (rent: 4) - newer residences mix in with older homes, giving a unique flavor to the well-groomed neighborhood. The shopping districts here, Cherry Creek Shopping Center and Cherry Creek North are upscale and bring add a commercial beauty of their own.

Cory-Merrill (rent: ,163) - close to urban life, this neighborhood is somehow quiet and upscale. Residents keep up a strong feeling of "neighborhood."

Golden Triangle (rent: unavailable) - one of the oldest neighborhoods in Denver, you'll mostly find unique condominium developments here, as well as the Civic Center Park.

Highland (rent: 0) - coveting began when the community formed in 1859. The Rocky Mountain News that year remarked that "no more handsome location for residences can be found than on the highlands of Highland." The statement holds true today.

Hilltop (rent: ,055) - a beautiful, tree-filled area with a view of the Front Range mountains. New, larger homes are replacing many of the original houses.

Sloan's Lake (rent: 2) - near beautiful Sloan's Lake Park, this community has a delicious view of downtown Denver across the Lake.

University (rent: 1) - this neighborhood is heavily influenced by the University of Denver with all its collegiate charm.

Washington Park (rent: ,318) - this park is one of the most beautiful in the area and so is the prestigious neighborhood.

The worst part of moving to a new city is not knowing which neighborhood you want to consider for rent. Denver, like any major city, has places that are more desirable than others. If you're looking for the finest neighborhoods in Denver, you'll have to consider those on this list -- they are the most beautiful you'll find within the city limits.

Looking for 11 Beautiful Neighborhoods With Apartments to Rent? Denver Is the Place!

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How to Sell Your Home Even In Today's Market

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It is possible to sell your home even in today's market. The big question you must first ask though is whether you want to be "on" the market or "in" the market.

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Lets take a look...

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There are a lot of factors that contribute to the value of a home. Even so, the reality is the seller only has control over two of those factors... Price and Condition. A seller can't control the taxes, the seller can't control the rating of the local school, the seller can't control the lot size etc. On the other hand, the seller does have control over the price of the home as well as the condition of the home.

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As I heard it spelled out one time during a real estate webinar, there are essentially three places you can be when selling your home...

1. On the market
2. No Man's Land
3. In the market

If you are "on the market" you are listed, but not getting any showings or offers. Therefore, you will need to adjust either your price or the condition of the home...or both.

If you are getting showings, but still are not getting any offers then you have entered what is called No Man's Land. To get out of No Man's Land and actually start to get offers you will have to once again adjust either the price of your home or the condition of your home...or both.

Where you really want to be is IN the market. You know you are IN the market when you are getting both showings and offers.

So, the trick is to adjust your Price and Condition to position yourself IN the market. However, for most people, the reality is it is much easier to adjust the price of the home than it is to adjust the condition of the home.

Now if you really want to sell your home fast, the best approach is to under-price it 10% below comparative market value.

This approach often times leads to multiple offers and therefore bidding wars which actually drive the price of your home back up. You see once someone has mentally committed to buying a home and has already pictured himself living there, he is much more likely to come up in price when he finds out someone else wants to buy his dream home.

Again, if you want to sell your home you must be IN the market. The price of the home and the condition of the home are the only two factors a seller has control over to position the house IN the market. To sell your home fast we suggest doing only minor upgrades while focusing more on under-pricing your home to generate more showings and more offers and quite possibly a bidding war.

How to Sell Your Home Even In Today's Market

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Great Songs to Play While Heading to Home Showings

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If you're like a lot of Realtors and home buyers, you're probably in the car a lot, driving to and from home showings, appointments with various real estate professionals and to and from your place of work. Sometimes, music can make those times in the car a little less onerous, but you also want something to get you and your passengers in the mood for looking at yet another property. Here is a list of songs that you might consider for your playlist:

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Coming Home/Going Home:

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On My Way Home - Enya
Home For A Rest - Spirit of the West
Within A Mile of Home - Flogging Molly
Who Says You Can't Go Home - Bon Jovi
500 Miles - The Proclaimers
Homeward Bound - Simon & Garfunkel

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Owning a Home:

Our House - Crosby Stills, Nash & Young
A House is Not a Home - Ella Fitzgerald
Our House - Madness
Heaven is a Place on Earth - Belinda Carlisle
Once in a Lifetime - Talking Heads
Home Sweet Home - Motley Crue

When It Just Isn't Going Well

In Every Dream Home a Heartache - Roxy Music
Little Boxes - Malvina Reynolds
Burning Down the House - Talking Heads (Another torch-the-house song. But, hey, it's cool.)
Take Me Home - Phil Collins (this is all about a patient in a mental institution, but, hey, it's got 'home' in the chorus...)
Sunny Came Home - Shawn Colvin (of course, Sunny torches her home, but hey, it's still got a great rhythm)

Location-Oriented:

Sweet Home Alabama - Lynard Skynard
My Tennessee Mountain Home - Dolly Parton
Home on the Range - traditional
Take Me Home, Country Roads - John Denver
California - Joni Mitchell
House in California - Keb Mo

Property Type/Style:

Cadillac Ranch - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Love Shack - The B-52's
Pink Houses - John Cougar Mellencamp
Country House - Blur

These are only a selection of the many songs about houses and real estate. Flip through your mp3 and CD collection to see if you can find more. As a rule, positive and easy listening songs are the best accompaniment when driving to yet another "perfect home". Location songs can also be good choices, if you have some that have to do with the area.

Unfortunately, the effectiveness of subtle messages has never been proven to actually effect people's choices. However, it's great to have some songs that can focus and motivate one in the realm of home selling, even if they don't compel the client to buy!

Great Songs to Play While Heading to Home Showings

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Hanging Baskets That Last All Year Round

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You know spring has arrived when the stores put out their display of colorful hanging baskets. Why wait til spring, wouldn't it be great to celebrate the seasons all year round? You can do this by creating an all season hanging planter that changes with each of the four seasons.

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Start by buying a strong, attractive hanging basket holder that will last. Try to avoid those cheap, white plastic, disposable containers, and go for a more durable planter made from cedar or wrought iron. If you're using a solid container, pour gravel in the bottom for drainage. If you prefer a wire frame planter, try lining it with coco fiber or sphagnum moss. Fill the container with lightweight potting soil, or make your own using equal parts of peat moss, perlite and vermiculite.

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Now, depending on the season, the fun begins! Here are some four seasons planting suggestions:

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Summer:

Keep in mind that whatever you choose has to be compatible with the amount of sunlight your planter will be exposed to. For the biggest most consistent blooms, fertilize once an week, and never let your soil dry out. On some of those super hot summer days, you may have to water twice a day.

Use a combination of tall and trailing plants with varied leaf color. Use taller plants or decorative grass in the center and surround with a combination of trailing blooms and vines.

Try designing a hanging basket with a specific color scheme such as red and purple or red and white. Alternately, choose one strong bloomer such as calibrachoa (million bells) and load up your container.

A basket with soft pastel colors can be equally dramatic by using a combination of lavender Verbena, rose colored Wax begonia, and Browallia speciosa.

Fall:

Once the weather begins to cool down and your blooms start to wither, it's time to start thinking about an autumn basket. Fall mums make a colorful display of rich blooms that last right into the colder weather, or try some unusual plants such as decorative kale or giant hens and chickens. For a maintenance-free planter, make a display using fruits from the autumn harvest such as baby pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn and decorate with small scarecrows.

Winter:

Now is the time to combine your hanging basket with your holiday decorating. Start by getting trimmings from spruce or cedar trees to create a layer of greenery. Add sticks of red dogwood branches in the center, or spray paint branches white or gold. Accent with silk poinsettias and large pinecones. For a night time display, add tiny lights or bright red Christmas balls.

Spring:

This is probably the most anticipated basket transformation and nothing says spring like spring bulbs. This is something you can do prior to decorating your Fall basket. Once your summer plants are removed, stuff your basket with various spring bulbs using a combination of early and late bloomers.

If you haven't planned in advance, that's ok, buy potted bulbs or use some that you have already forced indoors and transplant into your planter. Crocuses, daffodils and tulips shout "spring" as they poke through the dirt. Depending on your location, bright colorful primulas are available in February and will bloom well into late spring.

Hanging Baskets That Last All Year Round

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Regions With the Highest Drop in Home Prices

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Throughout the country, there have been varying degrees of success, and trouble, within the housing market. Some have certainly fared better than others, and while many are quick to blame the individuals states in which these regions lies as a part of the problem with their housing market, the answer is not always as clear cut as it may seem on the surface.

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Numbers don't lie

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The most recent report of home prices dropping in cities across the nation is eye opening for several regions, but it doesn't take into account the actual cost of other cities that have almost nowhere else to go with their home prices other than up. Take Detroit, for example, or any major city in the state of Michigan.

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Michigan has endured some of the worst economic conditions for more than a decade. The home values in Detroit alone had pretty much reached the lowest point they could possibly go last year. With this in mind, the latest numbers in home value declines don't mention one city from the entire state of Michigan.

While these numbers do not indicate true value from region to region, it does offer indicators of areas throughout the country that are either still facing major hurdles to recovery or are merely feeling the effects that other regions felt during the past few years.

The numbers

For example, Hanford, California had the highest drop in home prices last year, shedding 25.9% of home values. New York City shed 12.9% of its home prices while Miami, Florida dropped 22.5%. The following is a list of major cities and their reported drop in home prices, in order of the most significant drop to least:

Hanford, CA -25.9%
Miami, FL -22.5%
Ft. Lauderdale, FL -21.3%
West Palm Beach, FL -18.5%
Phoenix, AZ -18.5%
Las Vegas, NV -15.4%
Tampa, FL -13.8%
Pensacola, FL -13.6%
Gainesville, FL -13.4%
Suffolk, NY -13.4%
New York, NY -12.9%
Ocean City, NJ -11.8%
Bethesda, MD -11.8%
Deltona, FL -11.1%
Washington, DC -10.7%
Atlantic City, NJ -10.0%
Naples, FL -10.0%
Fort Walton Beach, FL -9.9%
Edison, NJ -9.8%
Minneapolis, MN -9.8%
Orlando, FL -9.0%
Prescott, AZ -8.6%
Los Angeles, CA -8.1%
Salisbury, MD -7.8%
Jacksonville, FL -7.5%

What to take away from these numbers

The numbers are sobering, more so for some regions. Florida has taken the brunt of the housing price collapse and continues to feel the pain of foreclosures and a depressed market. There are many factors that contribute to certain regions faring better, or worse, than others. Unemployment is certainly one of them, but if one is to look to Florida to try and understand what may be causing these drops in home prices, then it would be pertinent to look to Wall Street as well.

Many retirees move to Florida, and many of these retirees also had an enormous percentage of their retirement fund invested in 401k's and the Stock Market. When the recession hit, their savings -or more aptly, their investments- were significantly affected, which led to foreclosures and an exodus from the state.

At least that is one argument. Each state also has its own responsibility for the pressure it has placed on homeowners with continually increasing property taxes and fees. In Suffolk, NY, for example, the property taxes had reached a point in 2005 where many predicted that within ten years, more than half of all residents would be moving out to escape the property tax burden. The same holds true for New Jersey and other states as well.

Looking deep for the answer

The answer to why home prices continue to fall is debatable. Some will argue that the high prices were inflated and needed to come back to reality for many homebuyers. Others will argue that the pressure of foreclosures and unemployment in certain regions has an impact. The third, and perhaps reasonable assumption, is the basic premise of supply and demand.

Currently there are more homes on the market than buyers, which is inevitable going to drive prices down. Any attempt to artificially stimulate the housing market or inflate prices could have drastic consequences. The bottom will be reached and once it does, the value of homes will begin their march back up.

Patience is the key and while it can be difficult for some to stomach, it is the only real answer to surviving this tumultuous and trying time.

David

Regions With the Highest Drop in Home Prices

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FSBO - How to Determine Your Listing Price

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When you list your home for sale, a professional real estate agent will advise you on a listing price according to the market in the area that you live. If you are selling your home on your own, it may be a bit tricky to come with a realistic listing price to sell your home fast. When potential buyers are searching for homes, they will look in the price range that they know they can afford. Most of these home buyers are pre-qualified or pre-approved, and they have a clear notion of the type of home they can afford. In reality, buyers are the ones who determine a price in a particular area, depending on the condition of the market. A real estate agent may suggest an asking price to list the house, you set the price, but the buyers are the ones who determine the selling price.

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These days, buyers are more informed than in previous decades. With the advance of technology and computers, buyers educate themselves on the procedures of buying a home, they search for homes in the internet, and they come prepared with an idea in price. If you set your price too high for the current market, you will scare buyers away. They will not even bother to make you an offer since they think that you will not negotiate; they determine this due to the unrealistic price they see. On the other hand, when you price your home right, you will have many potential buyers wanting to look at your home. The right price generates the right amount of traffic. The right asking price will determine if you sell your property in a desirable time frame.

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There are many factors why sellers overprice a home. It may be the prime location, it could be that the seller needs to get out with some money in the pockets, but the market in the area is slow or down. It could also be that the seller is not well informed about real estate in the area, or has no knowledge of the basics of selling a home.

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Most activity occurs during the first month of putting a home for sale. If you overprice, you will be missing a good pool of buyers, and your home will get stale in the market. In addition, consider that the bank will do their own appraisal of the home, when lending money to buyers. If your home is overpriced, even if you have a buyer, the bank will only lend so much, and the buyer will have to come up with the rest - an unlikely scenario.

It is better for you to be a bit under the ideal price that overpriced. At least if you are under, you may get several offers and they could go up. If you are not sure of how to price your home, you can ask an agent for a free consultation. Most are happy to do it, even if you are not listing with them. An agent can only suggest a price according to the conditions of the market. Real estate agents do not set prices; you do, as a seller. You can also see what homes are selling for in your area, and use comparable homes to set a price. In an unstable market, like the present one, this is a bit hard to determine since prices are all over the place. You may need to consult a professional real estate agent for advice.

FSBO - How to Determine Your Listing Price

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Relocate with Ease

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Are you thinking of relocating to a new city? Maybe you've been transferred at work, starting a new degree or maybe you're just looking for a change of scenery. Although it's not an easy decision, relocating can be an exciting opportunity for a fresh start and a chance to expand your horizons. With a little research and some effort on your part, you can begin your new life with confidence.

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Begin by researching your new area online. A basic search online should turn up lots of information, and you can get more specific as you hunt for detailed information. You may find useful tourist-focused sites that will give a general overview of your new location. Subscribe to the local newspaper for a few months before you move - it should help you get a feeling for local politics, organizations and cultural activities.

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Find a realtor - they may be able to useful provide a relocation package. Talk to you realtor about what you're looking for in your new home. You should have a fairly good idea of your price range, and what kind of home you want (i.e. square footage, lot size, number of bedrooms, etc.). Check out some listings online, but don't get too attached to anything before you visit the new community. Get pre-approved for a mortgage so you know exactly where you stand financially and you're ready to make an offer when you find the right place.

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When you first arrive focus your efforts on getting to know the area. Drive around, sample local eateries, visit parks and recreational areas. Where will you be working? Is there a particular school you want to send your kids to? Visit the neighborhoods near these places and get a feel for the atmosphere and amenities. This is important, because a seemingly perfect house won't be perfect if you choose the wrong neighborhood.

Once you've settled on an area, your realtor will be able to filter the listings based on the criteria that you provided him/her before arriving and you can then get on with finding the right property for your needs.

Remember, relocating to the new area will be emotional. Expect some stress and find productive ways to work it out - visit the gym, keep a journal, etc. Stay in regular contact with friends and family back home - having a support network to talk to will help you transition better.

Begin building a social network in your new town. When you notify your friends and acquaintances of the move and your new address, ask them if they've ever visited your new location, or if they know anyone in the area. They may be able to give you the numbers/email addresses of contacts or suggestions of things they've enjoyed in the area.

If you are involved with an organization, group or church in your current town check to see if they have an affiliated group in your new location. When you arrive, take a class, join a club or volunteer. Remember to give your self time to adjust - it may take a while to feel comfortable in your new surrounding. Don't give up too soon!

Don't be shy about inviting people to spend time with you. Ask new acquaintances to play a round of golf go to the lake or see a movie. Introduce yourself to your new neighbors and invite them for coffee. Host a monthly dinner party or potluck. Find a doctor, dentist, vet and other professionals. Ask for suggestions from your new acquaintances. Soon you'll find yourself so immersed in your new community that you won't remember when it didn't feel like home!

Relocate with Ease

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Colorado Springs Horse Property

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Colorado Springs offers endless possibilities to own your dream horse property. Throughout the city, there are many great horse properties, ranging from small one-acre lots to hundreds or even thousands of acres.

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Colorado Springs horse properties include horse ranches, equestrian farms, and homes. Equestrian farms are ideal for breeding and training horses. Horse ranches are especially suited for sportive buyers. For those who prefer a rural lifestyle, there are a fine number of horse properties in the majestic countryside. These properties - with abundant land and great views - are truly an escape from the fast-paced city life. You can also find some outstanding horse properties inside the city. Some of the Colorado Springs horse properties are available for rent or lease.

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The horse properties are provided with tack stalls, wash stalls, separate indoor hay/feed storage room, and water feeder facilities. Productive hay meadows, large pastures, paddocks, and horse riding areas are also included. Some of the Colorado Springs horse properties even feature elegant country homes with loft and integrated lock-off apartment for the ranch manager; this can be used for home business as well.

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A couple of things should be kept in mind while purchasing Colorado Springs horse property. As the area boasts a semi-arid climate, the horse properties must have a good supply of water. Check whether the horse property is large enough to support the number of horses you have. Other critical factors to be considered are the size of stalls and the arenas, access to trail system, and the water source.

Today, the horse property real estate market in Colorado Springs is continuously on the rise. There are many professional real estate agents who represent clients in the purchase and sales of horse properties. Edge Real Estate, Colorado Rocky Mountain real estate, and Durango Colorado Real Estate can assist you in finding the ideal horse property in Colorado Springs.

Colorado Springs Horse Property

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7 Things You Need to Know Before Going to Denver Foreclosures For Sale

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Facts you need to consider before you attend Denver foreclosures for sale at an auction, there are some facts you need to be aware of.

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1. Find out all the information you can about the property before you bid. You can search the internet at sites such bank foreclosures sale. At web sites like this one, you may be able to find all sorts of pertinent details about the property that would be good to know. Another good web site for the Denver area is realty trac. With a free trial at this site, you can find all the numbers relating to information on the property at your fingertips. Much, much data is available for your perusal and to help in your decision-making process.

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2. Visit the County Clerk's and County Tax Assessor's office to glean information about the property that their record books show. Try to get an estimated value of what the property is worth by comparing it to other similar properties in the neighborhood.

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3. Find a good local realtor and ask to see information on Denver foreclosures for sale. There should be a list containing a multitude of choices, and you can choose the best property available for your needs and investment purposes.

4. Physically visit the property site to try to ascertain the shape and condition the property is in so that you will know how much repair work, if any, will need to be done to the property.

5. Before you make a bid on a foreclosed home, know that you will be expected to pay, in cash or cashier's check, that same day, the full price you bid on the property if you are the winner. In addition, the recording fee is separate and is generally in the .00 range. There is generally an associated auction fee.

6. Talk to a local title search company and see what information they can provide. Determine how many names are actually on the title to the property.

7. Get a legal land description of the property and, when you are visiting the county government offices to find all the information you can, ask if any parcels of the land have been sold from the original deed. If portions of property have been sold separately, they will not be included in your purchase.

Denver foreclosures for sale can offer a great deal as a new home for you, or investment property to add to your financial portfolio. As long as you arm yourself with as much knowledge about the particular situation involving the property you are interested in, you should be able to become a happy Denver homeowner.

7 Things You Need to Know Before Going to Denver Foreclosures For Sale

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What Is the Current Housing Price Trend?

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The recent housing price trend is the changing part of landed property. As more changes take place in the market of real estate the more the housing price trend is getting affected. The sector of property has undergone a transformation in recent times. Be it retail, commercial or residential properties, gossips and reports are widespread that the market is going to crash. There is also an awareness of the market of real estate of working on a moderate scale in its upsurge and development, simultaneously. This is highly obvious through many financial indicators such as falling dollar, stable rates, change in the trends of demography and enlargement of the stock market.

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The US is witnessing an increase in the number of immigrants nowadays. This plays a very important role in the market of real estate or in other words, housing price trend. Due to the increase of the immigrants there is an escalation in the demand for possession of houses at high rates. It is estimated that immigrants made up nearly 30% of the market share last year. The most vital part of the prediction is purchase power. It is estimated that 1.5 trillion dollars would be under the total purchase power.

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You also have to keep in mind that there would be frontage for approximately 55% to 60% of first time buyers of homes. It is also seen that first time buyers of homes are aware of the position of the market when they are investing in a house. The current housing price trend shows a change in the attitude as people are getting more careful when it comes to the assessments of their purchase. To keep pace, brokers and representatives dealing in real estate have to take the approach of financial planners. The traditional attitude of real estate will not work any longer. Without doubt, the appeal will be more professional, institutional and universal. Condensed response and complete knowledge will help them to survive or else they have no hope.

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What Is the Current Housing Price Trend?

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Four Cities That Could Be The Best Places To Buy A Foreclosure

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Congratulations on deciding to purchase a foreclosed home. You made the right choice indeed since foreclosed properties are a lot cheaper than traditional homes for sale or those that have to go through real estate agents. Now, the only thing left for you to do is to determine the best possible location for your future home.

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San Francisco, California

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Many real estate market analysts agree that San Francisco is one of the best places to invest in bank owned homes. Foreclosure discounts are quite impressive and the prices of home are considerably cheaper compared to what they used to be.

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Aside from property-related benefits, you also have to consider the perks that comes living in a city like San Francisco. You get to enjoy one of the best and sunniest weather in the United States. You also get to have the best of both worlds: natural landscapes that are to die for and the most famous manmade attractions. Living in San Francisco will place you in proximity to the world's most famous celebrities while at the same time granting you easier access to some of the most impressive natural attractions like the Old Faithful, Death Valley, and the redwoods of California.

Kansas, Missouri

No place is like home, as Dorothy says, and Kansas may just be home for you as well if foreclosure properties are what you are looking for. More importantly, you should consider living in Overland Park, a beautiful suburb in Kansas that boasts of some of the best schooling choices in the country. The town also has a 300-acre botanical garden and arboretum to show off as well as a 12-field soccer complex for sports-mad fans. There is also a biweekly farmer's market to enjoy.

Employment rate is also lower than the national average in this particular Kansas town. Even though Sprint, its largest employer, has laid off thousands of employees in recent years, the city is nevertheless able to rebound with new employers continuing to come in.

Denver, Colorado

If you are sick of all the hustle and bustle of city living, then perhaps it is time to move to a quieter place like Denver, Colorado. This city offers the best of both worlds, with its expansive open space and natural surroundings. If you buy one of the foreclosed homes away from the city, you can enjoy all the privacy and quiet you need.

More importantly, consider searching for foreclosure homes in the town of Fort Collins, which boasts of two unique sources of recreation: beer and bikers. But don't worry, bikers here mean cyclists, and Fort Collins is indeed a cyclist's paradise with its numerous cycling trails. As for beer, in recent years Fort Collins has become a mecca for brewers, with the likes of Fat Tire maker New Belgium Brewery moving in and other competitors following suit.
Phoenix, Arizona

Lastly, real estate experts believe that there is much to enjoy when purchasing a foreclosed home in Phoenix, Arizona. Although its weather may take some getting used to, you will eventually get used to the perpetually bright sun and may even find it comforting at some point in the future. Prices at are an all-time low for housing and especially in Gilbert, a small city that is just half an hour away from downtown Phoenix.

Four Cities That Could Be The Best Places To Buy A Foreclosure

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Collecting on a Civil Suit

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The cardinal rule to all civil lawsuits: Don't sue unless you can collect the award. Unlike criminal law where the government can take your freedom or even your life, in civil law the only thing you can collect is property or cash, and the courts need to be able to access those tangible goods. So even if you win a million dollars in a damage liability suit with a homeless man, you will not see anything except his smiling face. People and business who are broke or can hide their assets are essentially impossible to collect from.

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Good signs that you can collect your judgement from someone are a job, money in the bank, and real estate property. Wages can be garnished, so the employer pays a percentage to you before the employee. In most states, you can garnish up to a quarter of a person's wages. Government payments, pensions and disability are exempt, so the person must make money on some non-exempt way for you to collect. Most people in the united states do not have significant assets in the form of property or cash. So in most Denver motorcycle accident cases, this is where you would be receiving your payment.

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Collecting from a legitimate business is usually relatively easy. If the company refuses to pay but is still collecting income, you can have the sheriff or other court agent go to the bank and physically take out the money owed. If the business is cash only, or doesn't have any real location you may be out of luck.

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The next thing that can be seized by the court is property. In many Denver personal injury cases you may be able to claim some of the defendant's property. However some possessions are exempt, especially those that the defendant uses for his business. A defendant in bankruptcy is also exempt from any claims. Denver accident attorneys are therefore more leery of suing someone without extra property outside the home.

So the key factors that indicate a person will be able to pay that you should check before suing are: Personal or future income and business income. Licensed professionals may lose their license if they do not pay, and recent bankruptcies cannot file for bankruptcy again for a long time, so people in both these situations may be compelled to pay.

Collecting on a Civil Suit

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Trends in Green Building and Sustainable Construction

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"Green Building" is a broad term used to describe the design and construction of sustainable and environmentally conscious buildings.

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The driving force behind this is to lower our negative impact on the environment and, at the same time, make the buildings we live and work in safer and healthier for us.

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According to the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) statistics, buildings are responsible for all of the following:

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39% of US carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions 70% of US electricity consumption 15 trillion gallons of water consumption

Even though there is still some controversy over the effect of greenhouse gases on the environment, the last two statistics are very important for those of us living in urban areas experiencing continuous growth, especially the American Southwest. With our population expansion, aging water and electrical infrastructure, and shrinking landfills, designing and constructing green and sustainable buildings makes practical sense from a utilitarian perspective.

In fact, USGBC data shows that green buildings use 36% less energy, require fewer raw materials, and divert less waste to our landfills. Furthermore, the "increased" cost of green building is only one or two percent more expensive than a conventional building. This minute difference exemplifies the tangible and long-term benefits of sustainable design, primarily due to the fact that green buildings conserve water and electricity. Thus, while they are more expensive to build, green structures will save money by conserving more energy over time.

Another push towards the green build movement is by local governments. More and more municipalities are adopting the USGBC LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) guidelines for new and renovated buildings. In 2006, at the USGBC Greenbuild expo, the Mayor of Denver challenged other major cities to see who can have the most LEED® certified green buildings. They are accomplishing this by offering tax breaks to private corporations and mandating sustainable construction for city-financed projects.

This has led to a dramatic increase in the number of sustainable projects built by LEED® Certified general contractors. However, this growth has not come without challenges. Currently, the following issues are restricting the number of green projects being built:

Increased demand for green products has lead to long lead times New and unspecified materials are labeled "green" products which are not necessarily certified Building officials are struggling with a steep learning curve on how to evaluate these new products and sustainable building techniques

Despite these difficulties, the USGBC, sustainability advocates, and green building construction management firms are meeting to overcome these challenges.

The LEED® process is constantly under review and continues to adopt the latest codes and products. This includes Standard 189, a new minimum standard for green building. The USGBC is currently developing LEED® 3.0 and working with national code writers to include new products and techniques.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has even rolled out a new initiative called "Sustainability 2030," which at its roots, is looking to design all buildings by the year 2030 as carbon neutral. The USGBC has even initiated the Green Advantage Builders Certification for contractors to certify their knowledge in green building techniques.

So what does green building mean at the end of the day? It's simple yet profound: Do the right thing for you, the environment, and the next generation. While most companies are concerned with their bottom line, they ought to embrace the idea that energy and water conservation, green building, and the use of "green materials" in construction stands to increase their savings over time while positioning them as a leader in environmental stewardship.

According to the USGBC, we spend 90% of our time indoors. Due to this fact, scientists have identified an increase in allergies, asthma, absenteeism from school, and even work. There have been numerous studies done on post occupancy productivity levels, which have increased within "green" built facilities. Not only does green adaptation result in less sick days taken, but also shows an increase in productivity, job
satisfaction, and in the case of schools, better grades.

So, as we positively affect the environment around us with sustainable green construction, we eventually create better health for ourselves.

Trends in Green Building and Sustainable Construction

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How to Sell Expensive Houses

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So, you have lived in a house for several years and are taking pride in a multitude of improvements, but now it seems to be overvalued. How can you sell such a house?

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When talking about the issue selling expensive houses, two scenarios exist:

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1) You have a house within a neighborhood that is expensive and you thus ask for prices similar to the homes that are around you. In this situation, you have to sell the expensive home in question through more traditional means, such as through FSBO listings or through realtors. The home has to be cleaned and then listed with multiple listing services. Open houses need to be undertaken and given advertising on the internet with photographs. Within today's market, you need to have the ability to move homes quite quickly.

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2) This scenario is a little more complex since you need to improve your house beyond values supported by the structures surrounding it. This can oftentimes happen if you live within a house for a substantial time period and make certain home additions like brand new floors, rooms and renovated kitchens. Homes within the neighborhood are all probably appraised for around 0,000; however, your additions need to make your house worth more than 0,000. This could be a problem since nobody will want to purchase the most expensive house on your block.

Your initial choice would be to hold onto your home, with hopes that neighbors will come around and improve their own homes. However, since this strategy is full of problems, you should probably avoid it.

The better choice would be to target your house to specific demographics. If you have added several rooms to the house, you have to produce advertisements that are directed at families with several children that would match the amount of bedrooms in the house. If you have driven yourself crazy with fixture and kitchen improvements, you need to market your house as a cheap luxury. The goal would be to transform any problem into unique selling positions for your home. There will definitely be buyers out there on the lookout for solutions to these problems.

If your home happens to be too improved, each possible sale might fall through since the appraised price could make things difficult for buyers to get loans. The ideal to deal with this would be to carry second mortgages on your house. By doing so, you will agree to take particular percentages of the overall price within payments over particular periods of time. This will allow buyers to live in the house as you leave. If you take this direction, you need to ensure that you make use of lawyers to ensure that everything is actually legal.

Selling expensive houses can be challenging, but it can be done.

How to Sell Expensive Houses

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The Buy First - Sell First Dilemma

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Unfortunately, the smooth transition from selling one house and buying another involves more luck than science. Do you list your home and risk selling it before you have a new one to move into? Or, do you buy first, produce a costly down payment, and then nervously wait to sell your home; praying all the while that you won't get burdened with two mortgages.

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Neither scenario paints a perfect picture, but there are measures you can take to help get you through this difficult situation.

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Conditional offer: When buying first, a common strategy is to place a contingency clause in the offer; whereby stating the purchase is conditional upon the sale of your current property, within a specified time. Not fool proof, a conditional offer has some disadvantages. It runs the risk of being rejected by the seller for a more favorable unconditional offer. Also, your offer remains in place until the end of the period you specify, and if a better deal comes along in the interim, you have to wait until this offer expires before you can go for it.

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Be prepared: As soon as you have the vaguest notion that you want to move, start getting ready. Begin cleaning out the closets, de-cluttering, and make a list of all the necessary repairs and start whittling away at it.

Enlist a realtor: Make an appointment with some real estate agents and find one that you feel comfortable working with. The agent will give you a good idea of the selling price you can realistically expect, so you can determine your buying range. Once that is decided, the two of you can begin looking for your dream home.

Get off the fence: Decide whether you will simultaneously list your home and shop for the new one. If so, you may risk buying the new place, and having to carry two mortgages because the existing home is not sold. Do you have the emotional and financial well being to deal with that situation? If so, begin working on a game plan to help minimize the risks and stress in this situation.

Call your happy bank manager: Contact the bank, explain your situation and explore your options regarding a bridge loan or home equity loan to help you finance a down payment for the new place.

Minimize delays: Is your home an easy sell, if not, determine what steps need to be taken to prevent selling delays. Are you listing it at a realistic price, or are there any unique features about your home or repairs needed that may inhibit a quick sale?

Selling first has its perks: If lending requirements demand that you sell first, this option does come with some benefits. At least when you sell your home first, you'll know exactly what price range you can buy into. During negotiations, you'll be in a stronger position to place an unconditional offer, which is much more likely to be accepted by the seller than an offer that has a contingency attached to it.

How do you get along with your mother-in-law?: Be prepared for the possibility of moving out of your house sooner than you'd like, and start looking into alternate housing arrangements. Explore the possibility of bunking in with a friend or relative, or research the availability of furnished, short term rentals. Acquaint yourself with the pricing for storage facilities in your area. Many moving companies will offer a storage arrangement as well.

A home transaction can be an overwhelming, stressful situation, but by having your home ready for sale and knowing your options, you'll be better prepared and feel more in control. You'll be glad you did when the unexpected happens; especially in the event that your dream listing suddenly appears and you are faced with the choice to buy first or sell first!

The Buy First - Sell First Dilemma

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Checkbook IRA LLC Investing Guidelines - Part Two

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Real Estate as an Alternative Asset or Non-Traditional Asset

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Real Estate Investing-The Most Popular

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There are many reasons why real property is the most popular self-directed IRA investment. To mention a few:

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Familiarity-everyone lives in some sort of dwelling and has some first-hand experience with detached single-family houses, townhouses, row houses, condominiums, and apartments. Because of this first-hand knowledge and experience, taking the investing step probably feels safer.

Proximity-real estate is near-by. We can view it and examine it quickly and conveniently. We have personal experience with the neighborhoods and the cities. They are local and we are local.

Uncomplicated-because we are familiar with some type of real property, we have less to learn when we transition for being an occupant to being an owner/investor. We do not have to start at a zero understanding level. Essentially, we already understand some things, but not everything, about location, property taxes, hazard insurance, repairs and maintenance, and payments and expenses.

Variety-there are probably more types of properties to be considered as potential investments then any one investor could ever need or understand. Listed below are a few:

Single family houses

Multifamily properties

Raw land

Farm property

Resort property

Mobile Homes

Retail property

Industrial property

Self-storage property

International real estate

Limited Liability Companies containing real estate

Foreclosed real estate

Franchised business containing real estate

Professional Advise and Consulting-local real property professionals that specialize in specific types of properties are readily available for consultations. Usually, it is more comfortable to deal with a local professional on a face-to-face bases, rather than dealing with a distant advisor. Often, investment opportunities become available through or with a professional advisor or consultant. Being an investor in a property structured by a professional can be an excellent way to learn and to diversify your self-directed IRA investments.

Rental Property Advantages for Self-Directed IRA Investing

Right now, renting housing units, being a landlord, for single family or multi-family properties is providing excellent cash flow returns in many geographic areas. The main reasons for this situation relate to:

High unemployment rates

High foreclosure rates

High mortgage delinquency rates

High loan qualification requirements needed to be approved for a new loan

Because of these obstacles, many people who previously would have bought a home are now in the rental market. Additionally, the average price of homes has declined over the past three years, making them a better investment value.

Essentially, house prices have declined while rental price levels have increased.

This has set the stage for excellent rental cash-flow returns for the self-directed IRA investor.

How to Invest And Benefit From Very Favorable Situation

Be a solo, hands-on investor. Buy and own a rental property by yourself and manage it by yourself.

Option: outsource the property management

Be an investing partner with another hands-on investor. Buy and own a rental property with a partner and manage it with the partner.

Option: outsource the property management

Be a passive investor in a pool of rental properties that are professionally managed and administered.

Words of Wisdom

Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.

Henry David Thoreau

Success in business requires training and discipline and hard work. But if you're not frightened by these things, the opportunities are just as great today as they ever were.

Rockefeller

An education isn't how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you do know and what you don't.

Anatole France

Checkbook IRA LLC Investing Guidelines - Part Two

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Promissory Note Investing - Principles And Tips

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Because of the uncertainty of the stock market, many investors are looking for safer and more predictable ways to invest their money. Promissory Note investing, which is also know as Private Money Investing, and Hard Money Investing, offers an individual the opportunity to earn safer, more predictable, and higher returns on their money.

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Promissory Note investing is fairly low risk because the loans are backed by the appraised value of the collateral security plus the promise to pay of the borrower. Generally, the loans are conservative--at about 65% of the appraised value of the security. In case of a foreclosure, the property is sold to recover the funds. The borrower's promise to pay and credit provide an additional measure of protection and an exit strategy. Additionally, hazard policies (fire, hail, wind) are insuring the property. The title to the property and the note holder's interest is also covered by insurance-title insurance and lender's insurance. This is the correct way that the investment is structured.

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Private Mortgage Notes provide borrowers with an alternative to traditional bank financing for real estate properties. A borrower may not want to pursue bank financing due to time constraints, credit worthiness, or other factors, so they look for individuals or groups to finance their investment. Investors/lenders will take on the risks of lending, and in exchange, will receive a higher than normal interest yield on their investment.

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Yields for private mortgage notes are generally higher than the traditional investments available. Return rates of 9% to 15% are typical. The more risk the lender is willing to accept, the higher the return expected. Generally, you want to be listed as the first position lien holder on the property-the first mortgage. You should fully understand the circumstances of a particular note investment before determining the amount of risk you are willing to accept. Take your time and get all of the information that you need.

As in any successful business, being in the promissory note investing business requires that certain important contacts are developed, and certain important skills are acquired.

Promissory Note Investing Tips

Plan
• Plan your cash needs and cash availability
• Plan your time requirements-learning and training time, networking time, personal time
• Plan your business development schedule-develop target dates and target goals

Skills
• Understand the meaning of key words in the loan documents
• Understand the legal terms used in the note business
• Understand the numbers used in calculating investment returns and expenses
• Understand your legal responsibilities
• Understand the borrower's legal responsibilities
• Understand the foreclosure process in your state
• Understand risk in general, and note investing risk in particular

Contacts
Build business relationships with people you can trust
• Investors that you can share ideas with
• Investors that can provide some guidance and knowledge
• Mortgage brokers
• Realtors
• Title insurance companies
• Real estate appraisers
• House inspectors
• Attorneys that specialize in real estate law
• Promissory note experts who advise and consult on notes

Remember, you are probably investing all or almost all of your net worth. You may be also investing other people's money-people that trust you and that you do not want to disappoint. You are making serious decisions that have important present and future impacts on your life and on the lives of others.

Don't take short-cuts; don't hurry; don't over-reach; don't over estimate your own capability and experience.

"Investing should be more like watching paint dry or watching grass grow. If you want excitement, take 0 and go to Las Vegas."
Paul Samuelson

Even though good experienced, professional advice and service costs money upfront, it will save you a whole lot more on the back-end of the investment. Five-hundred dollars spent upfront to structure a deal right may save you ,000 on a back-end.

Promissory Note Investing - Principles And Tips

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Promissory Notes For Building Wealth Gradually

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WEALTH BUILDING GRADUALLY

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Promissory notes are great tools for building wealth because they are available in just about any amount, any interest rate, any duration, and any risk factor. They can be individually created and tailored to specific needs and circumstances; they can be purchased individually or in groups; they can be bought for all cash, they can be used as collateral security and borrowed against; they can be bought for a combination of cash and debt. One of the main reason promissory notes are acquired is to provide a portion of, or all of, the income needed for financial independence. A simple definition of financial independence is having enough passive income to cover all of one's living expenses; not having to go to work to pay one's living expenses.

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Having ,000 invested in a 7% annual interest promissory note amortized over fifteen years provides .88 per month for 180 months; ten similar notes will provide 8.83 per month. This shows how, by taking small investment steps, a substantial monthly income can be created over time.

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WHO ARE THE PLAYERS AND WHAT DO THEY DO?

In order to understand the promissory note business it is necessary to become acquainted with main players. The players described next are "institutional entities" or professionals. But, at the private party level (the little guys level), all of their functions are duplicated-but on a much smaller scale-by private players. Essentially, there are four main parties involved:

Lender-originates the note and is the party that injects the original cash into the business. The lender can be a commercial bank, a credit union, a savings and loan association, or a private party. the lender normally structures the terms and conditions of the note to be mutually acceptable to the borrower and itself.

Borrower-is the party who needs the cash. The borrower adds value to the note by pledging his personal credit-promise to pay-and some of this property as collateral security guaranteeing the repayment of the loan.

Note Dealer-sometimes called the "secondary market"--buys the note from the original lender. The cash from this purchase goes back to the original lender and replenishes its cash and allows it to make another new loan to another borrower. Usually, the note dealer does not hold the promissory note but, immediately sells it.

Investor-pays the note dealer cash for the note and holds it long-term for its income and cash flow benefits. Institutional investors are life insurance companies, casualty insurance companies, pension plans, mutual funds, and closed-end funds.

HOW THIS TRANSLATES INTO THE PRIVATE PARTY PROMISSORY NOTE ARENA

We can easily transfer the above institutional promissory note information into the private party promissory note arena by using a common example: "A" (Lender) sells his real estate property to "B" (Borrower) and carries back a seller financed promissory mortgage note; "D", (note dealer), arranges a sale of the note to "I", (Investor) the private party investor.

TYPES OF PROMISSORY NOTES AVAILABLE TO PRIVATE PARTY INVESTORS

There are many different types of notes available to private party investors. They are available in many different sizes, with many different interest rates, and many different maturities. Following are examples: Real estate secured promissory notes-single family houses, multi-family properties, vacant land, small commercial properties, small industrial properties, etc.

Contracts secured by real estate-installment land contracts, leases, etc

Automobile notes Mobile home notes Divorce notes Partnership dissolution notes Business sale notes Cemetery Pre-Need Contracts Equipment leases

The above list, though not all-inclusive, certainly indicates the broad assortment of promissory notes available to the private party investor. All of these notes can be bought with face amount annual interest rates ranging between 5% and 10%; it is very common for these types of notes to sell at a discount from their face amount. The mathematical effect of the discount is to increase the effective interest rate above the face rate. Usually, when purchased at a market rate discount, these types of notes will yield the buyer 9% to 19%.

SUMMARY

There are few opportunities available today for the small investor-the little guy-to earn 5% to 19% on their money! Promissory note investing should be at the top of every small investor's list!

Promissory Notes For Building Wealth Gradually

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