Real Estate Marketing Tips for Realtors. Real Estate Agents need all the help they can get when it comes to marketing online. This blog can help you stay ahead of the competition.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Over 18,000 Foreclosed Homes Sold in Sacramento

Over 18,000 Foreclosed Homes Sold in Sacramento



By: Leticia Carvalho

As California foreclosures continue to rise, the inventory of unsold foreclosed homes has increased to more than 5,000 units as of October 20.



Nevertheless, the sales rate for repossessed houses in the state has jumped much higher compared to 2007. Of the entire 23,572 houses foreclosed by mortgage banks in the Sacramento region since 2006, a total of 18,491 have been sold. Real estate research firm MDA DataQuick also said that the sales rate for foreclosed homes has surpassed the sales rate for new homes.



The soaring number of repossessed homes is not decreasing however. California foreclosure rates continue to rise. In the Sacramento region, mortgage lenders foreclosed 7,277 homes during the quarter ended September 30, up by 32 percent from the second quarter.



What has been bothering sellers most is the rapid fall of home prices due to the foreclosures. According to real estate research firm First American CoreLogic, in one section of Rancho Cordova, 84 percent of households with mortgage loans have negative equity, collectively owing the banks $120 million more as of October because of the depressed values.



The depressed prices have made foreclosed homes the top sellers in the Sacramento real estate market, which covers four counties. Sales of bank-foreclosed homes consisted of 66 percent of total real estate sales volume in October, even though they made up only about one-fourth of the total inventory of real estate properties for sale.



According to real estate analyst Trendgraphix Inc., as sales of bank-foreclosed houses have been steadily rising, the sales of non-foreclosed homes have been flat in all the four counties.



In contrast to the selling frenzy, there is one national bank which has chosen to rent out some of its foreclosure properties rather than offer them for sale. Robert Machado, president of HomePointe Property Management in Sacramento, confirmed that his firm has signed a contract with the bank, which did not want its name known, to rent out some of its foreclosed homes.




Author Resource:-> http://www.foreclosuredeals.com/wp/over-18000-foreclosed-homes-sold-in-sacramento/

Article From Real Estate Pro Articles

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

What Are Your Options When You Need To Sell Your Property Quickly?

If you need to sell your property quickly there are various options you can take. The 4 main options are:

 

1. Sell via an estate agent

2. Sell privately

3. Sell via an auction

4. Sell to a cash buyer or specialist home buying company

 

Which one you chose will normally depend on how great your need is to sell and the price you need to achieve. Although estate agents are normally the best solutions when you have 6 months to wait until your property is sold they do not suit people who need to sell their properties urgently – i.e. in the next 1-8 weeks. Selling via an Estate Agent normally 4.5-7 months and then there is a 1 in 3 chance of a broken chain which means starting all over again. Even if you put your property on the market a big discount it is still likely to take you a lot longer to sell this way than via an auction house or through a home buying company (where you are likely to get a similar price).

 

Selling privately is often not the best solution if you need to sell property quick. In fact it is often the worst. By selling privately, I mean doing your own advertising in newspapers and online. People use this method to save on estate agents fees normally but it is normally counter productive when you have time to sell, never mind when you need to sell quick. It is unlikely enough potential buyers will see the property, particularly the ones able to buy it quickly. 

 

Selling via auction is a good option for those people who need a quick home sale but those selling this way need to understand that they are only likely to get up to 80% of the properties value – sometimes a lot less. Of course you can set a reserve so you don’t have to accept offers below a certain level. You also need to be aware that there a auction house fees of 2.5% normally. The advantage is that after the auction takes place the sale is normally completed in a month (if the reserve has been met). It will normally be 1-2 months after you contact the auction house that the auction will take place to allow for marketing the property and potential buyers to carry out due diligence. So in total you would be looking at 2-3 months to sell via this route. 

 

Selling to a specialist home buying company is a viable alternative to an auction house.  The advantages to this method is that:

1. The whole process from contacting the company to completing the sale can be done in a month or quicker.

2. There are no estate agent or auction fees

3. Legal fees of £500 are normally paid for you (which normally covers them all)

4. No Home Information Pack required

5. The sale is guaranteed once you agree on a price

6. You have more control over the price as this is negotiated directly with the buyer. If you are not happy just walk away with no money lost. 

 

The price you will be offered from an a specialist homebuyer is normally between 70-80% of the properties value. This is similar to what you would expect from an auction sale although you don’t have any fees and it is quicker. 

 

So if you need to a quick sale consider a homebuying company or an auction. If you are not in a hurry use a good estate agent. 

Should You Sell To A Homebuying Company?

Selling a property can be one of the most stressful things you can do and unfortunately this event is sometimes forced on people. Due to external factors many people find themselves in a situation where they need to sell their home quickly. The operative word here is “need” rather than “want”. Often this is due to financial difficulties, divorce, separation, emigration or the threat of repossession and eviction. In these circumstances selling on the open market via an estate agent is not the ideal solution due to the time it takes.

 

Selling via an estate agent is the preferred route of most property sellers and accounts for 90% of all sales. The reason why this method continues to be so popular is that it allows the seller to get near the maximum price possible for their property (assuming they are using a good estate agent which is not always the case).  Just a quick note on this: the market value and is the price that people are willing to pay for the property. Sounds simple but it is important to distinguish that the value of a property is what people will pay and not what surveyors or estate agent say. Most of us have seen (either on TV or through personal experience) 3 different estate agents value the same property and come up with 3 very different prices. They are guesstimates but many people chose the highest and hold on to this as fact. 

 

Anyway, I digress. Selling via an estate agent normally takes anywhere between 4.5 – 7 months with 6 months being the average. It is also worth bearing in mind that 1 in 3 of these sales collapses down due to chain breaks. The buyer and seller then have to start all over again. So this is not the ideal solution if you need to sell your property quickly. Those who do are increasingly turning to specialist home buying companies as well as the traditional auction route. 

 

Home buying companies can offer the best option to some people who need to sell their homes fast. So what can they offer:

 

1. Exchange in days and completion in less than a month

2. Guaranteed sale (they buy with cash or have pre-agreed finance in place)

3. Pay sellers legal fees up to £500 (which normally covers total cost)

4. No Estate agency fees

5. No HIP required by seller (as it is a private sale)

6. Many offer option to rent back if you are in financial difficulty

7. Some also offer option to buy your property at a fixed price in the future

 

That is basically it. You get a quick guaranteed sale with no fees to pay. So what is the catch – why doesn’t everyone use them? Well the biggest reason why they are only suitable for those needing a quick home sale is that they will only offer to buy properties at a discount. Normally, 20-30% below market value. Therefore if you have a house worth £100,000 they will offer to buy it at between £70-80,000. They take this discount as they are in a business to make a profit – they normally try and make a 5% profit for each purchase. 5% is normally all they get after the costs of buying,  marketing, waiting for the property to be resold, and selling costs.

 

In conclusion, if you need a fast home sale and are willing to sell your property at 70-80% of its value then this method is worth considering (it is approximately what you will get at an auction but you will incur more costs selling via this route and there is no guarantee it will sell).  If you would just like a quick sale, then your best option is to use a very good estate agent. 

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

How To Sell Your Home In Rough Times

Are you wondering how to sell a house in a recession? Right now is an awful time to have to sell a house. House prices have gone way down from earlier in the year and there are many more homes for sale than there are buyers. People are reluctant to make such a large purchase in these rough economic times and so sellers need to do everything they can to get their homes sold. Although the prospects are not great, there are some things you can do to get give your house the best chance of getting sold.

One thing you might consider trying is to negotiate with your real estate broker. If you agree to raise your realator's percentage slightly, he/she will be more motivated to putting in the necessary time to get your house sold. Of course this option is not for everyone and will depend on just how desperate you are to sell your house. This is not the standard way of how to sell a house but if you do raise their percentage, it will give them incentive to hold more open houses on the weekend and to send more flyers out.

Another thing you must do is to advertise your house. You must work to get the word out to as many people that your house is for sale. This is in addition to the work of your realator. There are many ways to advertise your home including advertising in the newspaper, announcement boards at your supermarket, printing brochures and handing them out to everyone, having signs on nearby cross section streets, and telling all your friends.

Another possible source of leads are your neighbors. Make sure all your neighbors in your local community know your house is for sale because they will sometimes know someone who is interested in moving into the neigborhood. Make sure everyone at your church knows your house is for sale as well.
 
Unfortunately, selling your house in a recession may come down to lowering the price. No matter how much you do to remodel your house and make it look just right may not matter if the price is not low enough. There may be no right way of how to sell a house fast as right now sellers have the upper hand and they know it. If you want to get what you perceive to be the right price for your house, it may just not be possible. It is difficult knowing what your home was worth and could have gotten one or two years ago but unfortunately cercumstances have changed. In today's market you need to be willing to negotiate and lower the price.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Foreclosures in Wahsington State

Foreclosures are increasing all around the country. Foreclosed homes in Washington and the surrounding Seattle area have stayed relatively low until just recently. The housing market is beginning to decline like much of the country. As prices fall it could be time to contact your Redmond Real Estate Agent

The number of households ensnared in the foreclosure crisis grew by more than 70 percent in the third quarter of this year compared with the same period in 2007, according to data released Thursday. Many Homeowners find themselves in a position where they cannot continue making their Home Mortgage payments. New foreclosures nearly doubled in Seattle in the third quarter as the worst housing crisis since the Great Depression continued to deepen, the online real estate data company PropertyShark.com reported.

New foreclosures in Seattle rose to 501 from 251, the second biggest gain in the study of four U.S. cities including New York and Miami. Nationwide, nearly 766,000 homes received at least one foreclosure-related notice from July through September, up 71 percent from a year earlier, said foreclosure listing service RealtyTrac Inc.

Seattle hasn't been hit as hard as other parts of the country like California, Nevada, Georgia, Florida etc.


King County saw its foreclosure rate drop sharply in September, according to RealtyTrac, a national foreclosure tracking service. Foreclosures in King County dropped 42 percent from August to September and fell 13 percent from September a year ago. Data according to RealtyTrac in King County show one out of every 1,630 houses are in foreclosure.

RealtyTrac's third-quarter statistics put Washington 26th in foreclosure activity. Of the 100 top metropolitan areas, Tacoma ranked 40th and Seattle/Bellevue/Everett ranked 77th for Mortgage Home Loan foreclosures during the third quarter.

In Washington state overall, foreclosures dropped 38 percent from August to September and declined 16 percent compared to September 2007. The state was ranked 34th for foreclosure activity.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

How To Sell Your Home Fast

 

This article looks at the options open to property owners who want to sell their homes fast. 

 

The majority of residential property sales (90%) are conducted via estate agents. However, this method is not right for everyone and more people are looking at alternatives as they are unhappy with their estate agent or they need a quick property sale. 

 

The problems with Estate Agents

The Office of Fair trading conducted a study of estate agents in response to many complaints about them. They found serious concerns over the way estate agents serve the public. The consumer group Which? has also conducted research and found evidence of serious violations of the law and a massive 50% of consumers voicing dissatisfaction over the service received from their estate agent. They said:

 

"Consumers entering the home-buying or selling process are substantially disadvantaged by the way estate agents currently operate"

 

Now, of course there are some good estate agents out there but all too often you have to pay 1.5 - 2.5% +VAT (i.e. that is £5,875 on the sale of a £200,000 house) for terrible service. 

 

So what it the alternative??

Well if you want the top price for your property the only real alternative is to advertise yourself or get a better estate agent. However, if you need a quick sale then a specialist home buying company is a good option to use. They can purchase your property directly from you with out the need to go through an estate agent.

 

Just to be clear, you should really only use a specialist property buying company if your need for a quick sale is greater than your need to sell for the best price. 

 

Typically you find yourself in need of house buying specialist if:

1. You are in financial difficulties

2. You are being threatened with repossession

3. You would like to sell and rent it back

4. Your chain has collapsed and you're totally desperate and need a quick sale

5. You need money quickly and remortgaging is not an option

6. Bereavement or divorce means you need to move-on as quickly as possible

7. You've inherited property that you want to cash-in quickly

8. You're emigrating and your property is proving difficult to sell

 

Home Buying companies will normally give you a cash offer for your property within 2 days and exchange contracts within a few days and 3- 4 weeks. Completion can then be fixed to suit you but the norm is completion within 3-4 weeks.

 

How Much Will They Buy My Property For?

Home buying companies will normally pay between 75-85% of your properties open market value. Open market value is the price the property would fetch on the open market within 3 months. This is typically less than the price estate agents advertise properties at as they expect to receive offers between below their advertised price (apart from in Scotland).  So, you will received a quick sale and a guaranteed sale if you sell via this method. 

 

What other benefits can these companies provide?

 

A good company will offer to:

1. Pay your legal fees (up to GBP 500 which normally covers them all)

2. Pay any survey and valuation fees

3. Allow you to stay in the property after selling (i.e. you rent back from them)

4. Meet their promises on price and completion date

5. Adhere to some Code of Practice from a recognized body if you rent back such as NLA Rent Back.

 

Beware!

Avoid a sale and rent back company that do not offer the services listed above. Some companies charge for valuation fees regardless whether they plan to buy your property or not. Also beware of companies that try and get their foot in the door by giving you a high offer only to reduce it at the last minute.

 

Need a Fast Home Sale?

This report will show you the tricks and secrets you must know if you need a fast property sale of your property.

 

Selling property can be one of the most stressful things you will ever do. 90% of people sell through an estate agent so this must be the way to go right?

 

Well, it depends on time pressure you are under. When selling through an estate agent you will normally have to go through these stages:

 

1. You need to pay for and complete any renovation and refurbishment necessary (2-3 weeks)

2. You will need to conduct multiple viewings (4 to 8 weeks)

3. If your estate agent finds you a buyer, you will need to wait a few months for the buyer to arrange a mortgage (8 to 14 weeks)

4. If the buyer is in a chain, you will need to wait for their home to sell before yours can be purchase (2-3 weeks)

 

This can take between 4 to 7.5 months! This is a long time in anyone’s book! It is a also a sad fact that 1 in 3 chains break down at the last moment due. It only takes one person to pull out and the whole chain falls apart.

 

How to sell in less than 4 months

However, even with these obstacles in mind it is still possible to sell your home in less than 4 months by these following tips (and having luck on your side):

 

1. Get a reliable, reputable estate agent.

2. Finish off any necessary DIY jobs

3. Thoroughly clean and de-clutter you home

4. Depersonalise your house and go neutral

 

Point 1 is very important as unfortunately some estate agents are not good. As the Office of Fair Trading said:

 

"Consumers entering the home-buying or selling process are substantially disadvantaged by the way estate agents currently operate"

 

Now, in fairness there are some great estate agents out there but they seem to be hard to find. Will you be lucky enough to uncover a good agent? Are you prepared to pay 1.5 - 2.5% +VAT (i.e. the price of a new kitchen) to find out?

 

So what it the alternative??

One of the more popular alternatives if you need a quick home sale is using a specialist home buying company to help you. They can purchase your property directly from you with out the need to go through an estate agent. You will not have to pay solicitors fees, estate agency fees or for a Home Information Pack. These companies will not offer you the market value of your property (normally 15-25% less) but they can offer you a quick hassle free home sale

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Seattle Area Real Estate Market is Stabilizing

The Seattle area's real estate market showed signs of stabilization in September, according to new statistics released Monday.  Especially in the critical market for single-family houses in the four-county central Puget Sound area, said Glenn E. Crellin, director of the Washington Center for Real Estate Policy Research at Washington State University.


Sales of houses and condominiums in those counties rose nearly 4.1 percent in September compared with the same month in 2007, and nearly 4.2 percent in King County alone. The last monthly increase for the region was 4.8 percent in February 2007.


The main reason for the market stabilization in year-to-year numbers is the mortgage crunch hit the Seattle & Redmond real estate area hard in August 2007, when the region already had an increasing number of homes chasing a shrinking pool of buyers. That crunch showed first in the data from September 2007.


The median sale price fell last month by 8.3 percent to $295,000 compared with September 2007 and by 3.7 percent to $380,315 in King County.
Total active listings at the end of September were 10,889, down by about 1,500 or about 12 percent from a year earlier.


Crellin said the most significant figures he saw in the report were the declines in sales that closed in the central Puget Sound area - 16 percent in King County, 4 percent in Pierce County, 30 percent in Snohomish County and 14 percent in Kitsap County. Overall sales figures also include agreements that await financing.


The statistics show more sales are taking longer to close, reflecting delays in obtaining financing because of the credit squeeze nationally, he said.


"I'm not saying that they're not going to close, they're just taking longer," he said.
The areas previous real estate bubble had too many sellers and not enough buyers, so the trend is "ultimately good news for the market generally," Crellin said.Now may be the time to find the low hanging fruit and step back into the real estate market.  Talk to a Redmond real estate Agent and receive your Redmond real estate


Sellers are less aggressive in trying to cash in at a profit, "taking a more wait-and-see attitude," he said. "I think that's healthy."

Friday, October 24, 2008

The Contract for Deed – A Great Way to Buy a Home

In today’s real estate market it can be both difficult to either buy or sell a home.  Contract for deed sales seems to be what more and more real estate investors are looking into.  Remember: As a buyer or seller of a real estate notes, check whether the contract you are agreeing to is to your benefit and well written.  Unorganized contracts can cause us a great deal of problems in years ahead, especially if you ever plan cash out that real estate note.  That is why it is imperative that both buyer and seller read all clauses in the contract for deed and to be positive that everyone understands all details.  It is often even recommended by private real estate investors that you get your contract reviewed by a good real estate attorney.

Just what is a Contract for Deed?

In Texas, or nationwide, a contract for deed assists the buyer in saving money when purchasing a home, money they can draw on for expenses resulting from the real estate purchase.  Under this contract, the seller retains ownership of the property until the buyer fulfills all his obligations, then the title is transferred to the buyer.  To explain it in laymans terms the owner will keep the deed, and do all the financing himself.  The title becomes the buyer's and the deed is registered once payment occurs and all conditions are met.

The buyer is usually permitted to offer a lesser amount for a down payment on a home with a real estate note.  This implies that buyers wanting to purchase a home do not have to have too much capital.

What becomes of monthly payments derived from a real estate note? The Texas contract for deed has it's benefits at first, but draw backs will surface later to balance its attraction, as is true in other states as well.  It means that there is usually a higher interest rate on the principal, and the monthly payments will tend to be high, especially if the contract is written for a short amount of time.   It is this reason because of which the buyer has to have enough cash flow for being able to pay the monthly payments.

Benefits to the Seller: The advantages to those placing your notes for sale are numorous.

First it is easier to sell the home in these difficult times.  Another aspect to this is that allows the seller to instead of just reporting one year of capital gains it allows for the whole period of the contract.   Taking advantage of this will give the seller several tax credits.

If you are looking for a large sume of money at closing it is highly unlikely you will get it with this type of sale.  This sale may not be right for you if the tax saving is not as important as the large down payment.

At times, there may only be one option for a person to buy a home or for a buyer to sell a home - the contract for deed.  So both the parties can get benefited by this.  Be certain that the agreement is sound and both the parties have benefits in it.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

House

When the housing market is in a down time, interest rates may rise, leaving homeowners who have adjustable rate mortgages with higher payments than they can afford. Under these circumstances, it's not unusual for homeowners to fall behind in payments and face repossession, or foreclosure.

House repossession is a hard measure that the creditor takes against the debtor, while being forced to recuperate its financial losings caused by failing to get the monthly payments to cover the debt. House repossession takes place either because the loan was made in order to buy the house, or because the loan was made in order to buy another kind of property or good, but the house was set as a guarantee that payments will be made regularly and according to the contract that was initially signed by both the debtor and the creditor.

House repossession is very serious and painful business. Before it occurs, the creditor in most states is forced by law to warn the debtor about failing to keep up with the monthly payment. After these warnings and the grace period is over, foreclosure comes next. The person who has loaned the money from the bank is probably issued an eviction order and in informed about when the house is supposed to be available for the creditor to get hold of.

Despite all these radical measure, house repossession can be avoided. There are many real estate companies that profit from this business and at the same time help you stop house reposession. These agencies can make you various offers like buying the house from you at short notice and allowing you to keep living in it while paying rent and being able to return the money obtained from selling to the bank. Some companies also agree to sell the house back to the initial owner who has now become the tenant for a pre-settled price stipulated in the contract. Indeed, the real estate company will gain profit out of this business but it will also help you stop house repossession from occurring and it will buy the debtor more time until he can figure out how to get the money in order to feel the true master of his house again.

If house repossession is a threat, it is advisable to read laws, look up all the possible offers from various agencies and check with a legal advisor so that minimum losses will be at stake.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Sell to Rent Back Remortgages

The reasons why a seller might need to sell to rent after closing vary, but it's not uncommon for a seller to request a rent back. The home the seller is buying might not be available at the time your transaction closes or the seller might not be able to find a moving van on the last day of the month, when demand for moving vans is high.

Of course, as a new home buyer, you might find this situation unsettling. After all, you've paid a lot of money for your new home, on top of paying interest on a loan for a home that you can't yet occupy. It's understandable that you are eager to move in and take possession right away. Plus, you may not have anticipated finding yourself in the position of being a landlord.

 

How to Protect Seller

Treat this situation as you would any other business relationship. Buyers should never let sellers retain possession of a home without executing a formal occupancy agreement. These agreements spell out the terms and conditions of the seller's occupancy and protect buyers as well as the sellers.

In California, real estate agents have at our disposal a handy form called the Purchase Agreement Addendum (PPA), which among other contract terms, addresses seller rent backs. When the appropriate box is checked, this addendum modifies the purchase contract.

The PPA handles short-term seller rent backs that are less than 30 days and contains the following elements:

 

  • Term of the rental period
  • Amount of rent per day
  • Amount of security deposit
  • Whether the security deposit will be held in escrow or released to the buyer at closing
  • Late charges, if any, pertaining to non-sufficient funds and / or payments that are received late outside of escrow
  • Who pays for which utilities
  • Right of buyer to enter property
  • Seller's duties to maintain the property
  • Lease assignment and subletting rights
  • Seller's obligations upon surrender
  • Insurance for seller's personal items
  • Miscellaneous conditions

 

Insurance Coverage for rent backs

Sometimes, buyers will insist that sellers maintain their existing homeowner insurance policy during the rent back period. While insurance companies are not happy to keep coverage in affect, many will continue upon request.

However, there are several problems associated with this. The seller no longer owns the home, so in the event of a claim, the seller's insurance company may refuse to pay the claim. Moreover, the buyer has insurance coverage because lenders insist that a buyer's insurance policy be in force at closing.

Some insurance companies have argued that if a claim were to occur and the seller submitted a claim to the seller's company, even if the seller's company paid it, the seller's company might look to the buyer's insurance coverage for reimbursement.

In either case, the seller should carry coverage for the seller's personal belongings and automobiles.

 

Determining rental amounts

The rent the seller pays is negotiable. Sometimes seller don't want to pay any rent but ask to stay in the home for a few days rent-free. In that event, it is still wise to execute an agreement that addresses liability issues and term.

Because most buyers finance a new home, buyers are incurring interest and paying taxes and insurance for a home they do not occupy. It is reasonable, in most cases, to charge the seller an amount that is equal to a daily proration consisting of the buyer's principal, interest, taxes and insurance.

If the buyer's new mortgage payment includes impounds (taxes and insurance), it is fairly simple to divide the PITI payment by 30 days and charge the seller that prorata amount per day. For example, if the buyer's new payment is $3,000 PITI, that would equal $100 per day.

For further protection -- and to comply with local rent control laws or other state-specific laws governing landlords and tenants -- buyers and sellers might want to consider signing a standard residential lease agreement. For more information, consult a real estate lawyer.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

What Is A Real Estate Short Sale


"Real estate short selling" is a popular phrase among many these days. Real estate short sales serve as an alternative to foreclosures in an increasingly declining real estate market. Real estate prices are lower now than they have been in a long time and the amount of time it takes to sell a piece of real estate is rising.

It is completely valid to say that some regions - such as Detroit, for example - are experiencing a market meltdown. These declining real estate markets are the main reason for the rise in short sale real estate.

A bank allows a real estate short sale to occur when the bank consents to letting their property be sold for an amount smaller than the amount owed on it. In order for this to occur, two conditions must be met.

Firstly: Market values are such that the property's sale price cannot cover the outstanding mortgage balance(s). An inability to make additional payments on the property is the second requirement.

You might have someone who bought a property five years ago for the price of 217,000 dollars using an adjustable rate mortgage. Let's say that two years after purchasing the property the owners took out an additional 10,000 dollars second mortgage, which means that today the owners owe 227,000 dollars on the property.

Also, we have to remember that in five years, the amount of time that the mortgages have been paid off is negligible. We'll also imagine that the property value has decreased to 215,000 dollars while the mortgage interest rate has increased from seven to eleven percent. If we toss in the fact that one of the owners has just lost her job, we should realize that a real estate short sale is on the horizon.

For a bank, a foreclosure can mean a lot of time and money spent that a short sale would not. Banks do this because it allows them to accept a definite amount of money and because it allows them to get the property off their books. In general, this is how the real estate short sale works, though of course, complications through stubborn owners and lenders can arise.

Admittedly, many owners may find the real estate short sale a very painful experience, but things could be much worse for them. Having to go through the experience is awful, but it is a lot better than having a foreclosure on your credit report.

Real estate investors should understand that the short sales give them a wonderful opportunity to purchase property.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Foreclosure Listings in Saving Money Buying Your Home


Foreclosure listings can be used to your advantage when buying a new home. It’s a well known fact that numerous people lose their homes due to financial shortcomings. Many cases exist where individuals could not afford the mortgage at the onset. There are accessible listings revealing to prospective buyers many homes that are discounted thanks to the original owner defaulting on their mortgage.

We recommend using the many online resources wisely and reading through foreclosure listings to find a home at a bargain price. It may look cruel that your good luck could come at the price of someone else’s hard luck but looking at foreclosure listings could significantly reduce your expenditure when buying your home.

What’s your Choice...? Free vs. Paid Subscriptions

Available are free as well as paid foreclosure listings showing you power of sale properties at a tiny proportion to the original listing. Free listings may not be updated as regularly as those listings that require a subscription fee. We advise you to take a look at all the available alternatives before seeking a subscription service.

How to Find Foreclosure Listings

If your aim is to really save a lot of money on buying your new home (or an investment property) then it will certainly do you good to find a good home and property listing service.

Foreclosure listing services can be specific to certain areas, giving you information quickly. Paid services are preferred with respect to free services since they tend to be more efficient.

Let’s Now Find a Good Foreclosure Listings Sites

Go online for foreclosure listings and carry out a search based on the factors you are interested in. It is not rare to find listings services that will even e-mail you upon the appearance of a new listing with your preferences.

For information and valuable insights into mortgage topics please go to:

http://www.mortgage-infoguides.com/blog/.

Know the Timeline for Foreclosure-Save Your Property

If you are interested in discovering what it will take to stop foreclosure proceedings you will have to gain the knowledge that will be needed in order to do so. In all honesty, the timeline for foreclosure varies from state to state, but there are similarities. If you are a homeowner it would be smart to fully understand and know the entire foreclosure process, not only the timeline for foreclosure. Many borrowers lack knowledge or are very uninformed, or even misinformed. This sad lack of understanding can wind up being devastating.

As you have probably discovered, any undertaking without the required knowledge will usually wind up being a bad deal. Many borrowers do not comprehend or want to admit that there are predators out there disguised as mortgage brokers, real estate investors and attorneys that will steal you blind. Your misfortune, likely caused by lack of knowledge can bring them huge monetary growth.

The timeline for foreclosure will usually follow this outline. The foreclosure timeline begins when you are just one day late in sending your house payment. Yes, one day late.  Most of the time, at this point no additional fees have accrued yet. If you do not send your whole payment within 16-30 days a penalty or a late charge will be added on to the total amount due. About this time you will no doubt hear from the mortgage lender. They will inquire about why you haven’t sent your mortgage payment. If your housepayment goes more that 30 days late, you will be labeled as in default of your mortgage loan agreement.

Being in default in the simplest terms, at this point, means you are behind on your loan obligations. If you have not sent a loan payment after thirty days, the lender may decide to exercise their rights and repossess of your property. Whatever you do, do not freak out. Remain calm and remain in contact with your mortgage lender during this foreclosure process. These days the majority of lenders really do not want to take possession of the house. They will likely be willing to help you if they are able. Do not be afraid to inquire about� what plans they have available to you.

Between the 60th and 90th days or non-payment, an official notice of default will be sent to the borrower. At this point during the timeline for foreclosure, collection costs will be added on and the lenders legal department will prepare and deliver the required documents to a local lawyer. This is the start the actual foreclosure proceedings.

The last portion of the foreclosure timeline occurs somewhere between day 150 and day 415. The homeowners home will be put up for liquidation at a foreclosure sale or a foreclosure auction after the Notice of Trustee Sale is filed. There are certain benchmarks and points that must be followed and adhered to during a foreclosure process. Remember that a foreclosure is a legal event. The impending foreclosure will likely advertised in the local paper, once the case is handed over to local lawyers.

The homeowner still has the chance to halt the procedures leading up to the foreclosure. Most states have laws regarding that. During the pre-foreclosure period, the homeowner may be able to purchase the property back from the lender if they have secured the financial means. Regretably a great many of homeowners will be forced from their property by the local sheriffs department. This situation could be prevented if the homeowner pocesses the knowledge about what is available to them when they are facing foreclosure.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

An exciting and unique product that is designed to create more vendor (seller) leads for estate agents.

This web-based application goes under the title AGENTQUOTE and is set to make a big impact on the UK estate agency market. The product should be equally popular with the public as it enables a house-owner to obtain a price to sell their property, in a more efficient manner.

The AGENTQUOTE system invites a seller to register details of a property that they wish to sell (or rent) and the system will then contact all estate agents servicing the postcode area of the property, inviting them to prepare a simple quotation for the seller. The quotation response form asks the estate agent to provide 3 simple but pertinent pieces of information to the seller:

1) How many buyers does the agent have on their database that would likely be looking for such a property.

2) Of those buyers that can be counted as interested parties, how many of them are considered to be ‘hot‘ buyers.

3) What fees would the agent typically charge to market such a property.

Once an agent has responded to a quotation request the seller can then choose from the range of quotes received and select which agents should be invited to make formal contact with the seller to arrange a market appraisal of their property. The seller has some additional tools to assist them in deciding which agents to approach as the system includes a star rating which reflects the agents’ performance to date which is based upon seller-created feedback.

Terry Davies, managing director of BaySoft commented:

“Every property portal service in the UK is focused on driving buyer leads to estate agents by advertising properties that are available to buy. We’ve turned the model upside down and created a site for persons that exclusively want to sell or rent a property. This system delivers a great benefit to the consumer that wants to receive a range of quotations from agents without having to make individual contact with them all. The rating system acts similarly to the way price comparison websites work providing an additional aid to the seller, and because we don’t pass full seller contact details on to the agents, the seller is protected from pressure selling at all times.We also believe that this is an invaluable resource for smaller and medium sized agency firms to help them achieve better levels of sales in an economic climate that could be spelling doom and gloom for many of their competitors.”

It’s unsurprising that this innovative and unique product has already caught the attention of some bigger companies who are keen to offer their services through the AGENTQUOTE portal. One of these is Confused.com who see the bi-product agency rating engine as having a direct synergy with the business model they offer their customers. BaySoft have also created a Confused.com branded version of the AGENTQUOTE system especially for the purpose of driving increased vendor traffic to estate agents.

Friday, September 26, 2008

2 Situations Where Sale and Rent Back is the Wrong Choice

This article assumes you understand the sale and rent back process and will discuss 2 scenarios where selling and renting back your property is most likely not the best solution. If you are in these situations it is advisable you look at the alternatives which are suggested.

1. If you can reduce your monthly outgoings 

Some people may find that they can reduce their monthly outgoings by consolidating their debts to a rate that is more affordable. This does not mean taking out more debts to pay off existing ones but getting all existing debts onto the best interest rate possible. If financial difficulties are causing you to ask yourself 'shall I sell my home and rent it back?' it is often worth while looking at loan consolidation as a possible alternative.

This may allow you to keep ownership of your house but it does not guarantee that your future outgoings would be less than if you sold and rented back. If you are not sure what to do, it may be worth getting a rental quote from a rent back specialist (the good ones will give this free) and compare it to your potential outgoings if you consolidate your loan. This way you will be able to make a more informed decision.

2. When you want to get full market value for your property

If you want to get the best possible price for your property then sale and rent back is most probably not for you. Sale and rent back companies are not able to offer you 100% of the market value of your property due to the costs they incur buying it and the profit margin they need. Those companies that say they will offer 100% of the market value and rent your property back to you are most likely not telling the truth. They are trying to get their foot in the door and then will offer less. If they did offer 100% of the market value they could not survive as a business as they would incur a loss for every property they bought. Reputable sale and rent back companies normally offer up to 80% of the properties value.

You need to make sure you sell to a company that (a) is honest and upfront with you and (b) has a sound business model because if they go out of business there are going to be complications with you staying in your house.

If you want the best price possible for your property and do not need to stay in it then selling via an estate agent is the best solution. If you want the best price for your property, do not want to rent back and need a quick sale then a cash buyer is often the best solution. Many rent back companies can offer this ‘quick cash sale’ service (including us). 

The bottom line is: sale and rent back is not the solution for those wanting full market value for their property and beware of companies that say they can offer this.  

 

21 Ideas To Sell Your Property Quickly Using Better Curb Appeal

5 Tips for selling your house

When you’re getting ready to sell a property or other investment, there are a lot of things you can do to create curb appeal so everything works in your favor. Accordiing to statistics, potential buyers decide within the first 10 seconds of seeing the outside of the house whether or not they want to see the inside. One of the most important things you can do to initially attract buyers is this. You will sell your property faster than you might have thought and get a better price for it too.


Here are some cost effective things you can do quickly to make your real estate investment more profitable. Being familiar with some of these concepts doesn't mean you are using them your advantage. A lot of these principles also apply for creative real estate investing strategies like foreclosures, flipping, wholesaling, lease options, property assignments and rehabs.


Here are some of the most important things you can do beside the standard house cleaning to have the most impact at a minimal cost:

-Mow the grass first and then clean the flower beds and trim the trees and shrubs

-You can make your investment property look almost like new by simply pressure washing the exterior walls

-Use touch up paint where you can avoid repainting entire rooms

-When you need to paint, use neutral or lighter color paint that will appeal to more buyers.

-Replace or eliminate old and outdated things like knobs, fixtures or wallpaper

-Remove the garbage and clutter in the house especially in the closets and pantry

-Have the carpets cleaned or replace areas that absolutely need it

-The front door will add color and definition to your home so repaint it.

-Sweep and clean the pathway to the front porch

-Clean out gutters and spouts

-Oil stains on the driveway just looks bad so clean it as best you can

-Repair any leaks, cracks or stains

-Old dirty welcome mats are not welcoming so put down new ones

-If room permits, add a small bench or seating on the porch or just inside the entry.

-Add color to the entry way with flower pots on the porch

-Old light fixtures need to be replaced with new brighter ones

-Cleaning and re-grouting the tiles in your shower and bathroom adds a lot of appeal

-Clean or replace old blinds, drapes and shower curtains. -Get rid of dated drapes and make sure as much natural light can get into the house as possible

-Clean door handles, light switches and handrails

Wash mirrors and windoows

-Use natural air fresheners to air out the house. -Chemical based air fresheners or sprays can cause many people to have an allergic reaction so avoid using them.


You can make a big difference by doing many of the things we've talked about without breaking the bank with excessive remodeling. Don't do expensive renovations when small details will acutally do more for you. This can even be advantageous for low risk, quick cash strategies such as a system to flip houses and similar effective fast cash investment strategies!

How to Sell For Sale By Owner Homes Quickly

One of the greatest reasons that for sale by owner homes frequently do not sell very quick is because of the vendor not knowing how to advertize the property effectively. FSBO does not have to be intimidating. The following pointers will prevent you having to hand over pricey real estate fees when selling your home yourself.

Before you put your house on the market, it must be impeccable inside and out. The simple fact is that first impressions matter and potential purchasers will only be attracted to immaculate and appealing homes. Remove all clutter and clean your home from top to bottom, including the carpets and windows. Curb appeal is another powerful aspect that should not be neglected. To that end, ensure your garden is neat and tidy, the lawn is mowed and any overhanging tree branches cut back. Additionally, make sure your home smells great. If you have pets, this can be of great concern. Although it is better to eliminate the odor at source rather than trying to disguise it, some essential oils put in discrete places around the home can make the world of difference. Ask over a friend or neighbor and have them walk through the house to get a second view.

To sell your home quickly, the most significant factor to consider is the selling price. Over pricing when selling a house is the biggest reason why umpteen homes for sale by owners do not move. A good guide in being able to price your house correctly is to check local real estate listings to figure out the regular selling price for similar houses in your area. As a general rule of thumb, if you pitch your asking price at about ten percent higher than the actual going rate, you will probably receive offers, and hopefully a sale, very close to the true market price of the house. One service that you should not do without is that of a lawyer who is experienced in the intricacies of selling houses. It is also advantageous to have a professional home inspector check for any issues.

Naturally, if nobody knows about your home being on the market, you are not liable to sell it very quickly. This is why effectual advertising is so important and to that end, there are a number of FSBO web sites in the US where you can post adverts You may even be able to advertize for free as many sites allow FSBO listings at no cost. Your actual advertising copy should be simple and to the point with a selection of good quality photographs of the property that show it off in all its glory. Ensure that you underline attractive characteristics employing language and phrases that are appealing to potential buyers. Terms such as Newly Remodelled, Close to All Amenities or Priced Under Market are good for starters. Lawn signs are one the most essential selling tools for home sellers and if you attach a container of data sheets to the sign, then browsers will have instant access to your contact information.

Selling a house yourself can be time consuming, but the financial payoffs are enormous. The key is to have your home priced properly and looking more attractive than the competition. Educating yourself about the subtleties of the realty marketplace in your area will make you as effective as any realtor - without the costly fees.

Insurance Deals for House

Finding home insurance deals is not that difficult as it was earlier. Customers are the main focus of companies, so this is why the need to change some policies . house insurance quotes Therefore, before applying for a home policy plan, buyers need to make detailed research on different home insurance policies, their benefits, and so on.

There are two parts to Home Insurance Policys Depending on the chosen plan, it may or may not cover against specific calamities and damages. Alternate plans may cover possessions within the house and damages to them. Home policies exist that are specifically designed for tenants. As a result, people should select and review which plan they believe will be most beneficial to them.

Home insurance policies rely on specific factors to determine premium rates and coverage. Individuals can get their policies at a much lower rate from the insurer if they have done proper study of these factors and they implement them. those factor are discussed below cheap home insurance quotes on line.

If homes are located in the safe regions where crime rates are low, offer easy transportation, and are at close proximity to hospitals, schools, and shopping, then insurance companies offer home insurance plans at affordable premium rates.

Secondly, when finding deals, people need to look after the security features of their houses. For security, you need to have at least two bolts, so you should use a five-lever lock for all outer doors and windows. If people install good security systems in their houses, it will help them to obtain affordable plans and rates. The reason is, these types of homes are less likely to be robbed, decreasing insurer's concerns regarding claims.

Companies also look for fire alarms when considering the house of a potential buyer. Lives can be saved, and damage prevented, if people remember to install fire alarms in their homes.

Another extremely important factor to the firm is the age of the house. The best home insurance coverage deals may be found by customers with newly purchased homes. Also, for better insurance rates, people insuring old homes should address pipes and walls. The only reason why it is essential to repair ones home is because otherwise it is likely to collapse or have a short circuit. (ancient wires), etc.

Excess weight is another consideration in setting the premium for insurance. Companies offer affordable insurance deals, if people are willing to pay half of the claim in case of certain damages that occur to houses. To understand it better, consider this instance, if the damage amount equals to $100, then individuals will have to pay $50 themselves and rest $50 will be paid by the insurer.

Locating a good insurance deal for home insurance is a balancing act between need and price. It means that, obtaining a lower premium policy may not be good, if it does not render any or enough benefits.

So, when enrolling in a homeowners insurance plan, customers should be sure the policies they select are reasonably priced as well as offering good benefits. The simplest way to accomplish this is to compare the quotes from several companies. Get started now by using the handy resources below. Help on cheapest home insurance quotes online.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Where To Buy Home Insurance?

It is important to understand the significance of a home insurance policy. The practicality of such a policy should be considered. cheap online home insurance quotes Many people are faced with the important question of where to buy home insurance. Policies can be bought either through a reliable agent or home insurance companies' websites.

Before taking the step to buy,you should take the expert's advice in order to get the exact information concerning your deal. Gather information about their plans such as policy coverage, tenure of the policy, payment options, and monthly or yearly premium amount.

Nevertheless, you have to take special precautions when purchasing policies for home coverage. For instance, prior to approaching any agent or company, ensure that these companies are reliable and registered or authorized by your state's governing or licensing body. A number of phony businesses and salespeople are doing business online, therefore you need to be cautious.

You might consider talking to friends and family and see if they've worked with any agents or insurance companies that they would suggest to you. If you still need assistance, try looking in the Yellow Pages for more info. Websites, such as Google, can be a great help in your search for additional information.

Be sure to be knowledgeable about the insurance company or agent before you decide to sign on. Read review online and anything else you think may help.

Home insurance policies are many and varied, including HO-1 all the way through HO-8. Different types of home insurance policies can vary greatly in their individual benefits and limitations. cheapest home insurance quote.

Please provide as much detail as possible when requesting quotes because there is a wide variety of policies and coverages for each insurance type. An example is to check if the policy is meant for a homeowner, a leaseholder or a co-op/condominium owner.

You need to do your research and find the company that gives you what you want to have with the best deal and the policy that you want to buy.

Recently, the internet plays an increasingly vital role in bringing worldwide information to users within a matter of seconds. The Internet has virtually eliminated the fears of choosing the wrong company due to a lack of information.

You may find trustworthy insurance companies and agents online. These reliable insurance sources offer good deals on home coverage policies, thus homebuyers can save quite a bit of money.

Although a lot of people have successfully purchased home insurance online, a number of companies are not honest. Thus, it is a very good idea to just steer away from companies without state government certification. It is not unusual for individual state governments to appraise the plans offered by an insurance company and then recommend said company with the state's endorsement. More help about free home owner insurance quote.

Facing Eviction? Take These Steps to Avoid Repossession

Firstly it is important to know that your lender can not evict you without a court order.

If you have been given a court order by your lender (received in the post) it usually means that other attempts made by you and the lender to overcome the arrears have failed. Some lenders are very sympathetic to borrowers who have got behind in their mortgage payments and may wait 6 months before applying for a court order. Some lender (of the ‘sub prime’ variety) will be all to quick to take late payers to court.

In order to start the eviction process the lender will apply to the local court to issue a ‘possession claim’ which will give you a date and time for a hearing in the county court. You should have at least 28 days’ notice of the hearing date. (Note; a court hearing does not mean you will automatically lose your home.) Even if the court decides you cannot afford to stay there, you will not be evicted from your home on the date of the hearing.

What you need to do before the hearing

A document called ‘particulars of claim’ will be sent as well. This sets out your lender’s case for taking possession of your home. You will also receive form N11M called a ‘defence form’ which you should fill in and return to the court within 14 days or receiving it.

It is important you give as much information as possible in the defence form as this give the court a chance to see your side of the story. The court will not evict people unless they have to so give them a good reason why they should order the lender not to evict you. You need to ensure you:

  • Check the details of your lender’s claim to see if you agree with them. Say if you think that the information is wrong.
  • You will be asked how much you can afford to pay off the arrears. Prepare a personal budget sheet to work out how much you can afford to offer and show this.
  • Put down an amount which you can afford, even if your lender has already refused this offer.
  • If you are hoping that your circumstances will improve in the future (i.e. the reason why you got in arrears will change or improve), or you want time to be able to sell you home, then say so in the space provided.

You should send this document back 14 days after receiving it. If you have missed this date it is still worth sending it if it will reach the court before the hearing date. Remember to keep a copy. 

What you need to on the day of the court hearing

  • Come prepared to the court with short noted about what you would like to say at the hearing. Don’t be afraid to refer to them when you speak. 
  • If your financial circumstances have changed since you filled in the court form work out a new budget sheet and take it with you.
  • Take 3 copies of your latest personal budget with you (one for you, one for the judge and one for the lender’s representative).
  • Try to answer questions clearly, calmly and fully. Remember you have as much right to put your case as the lender and the judge will be keen to get the full story.

What should you say?

If you think you can pay off some of the arrears in staged payment let the judge know your plan. If the judge agrees the lender can not evict you if you stick to these plans. If the judge does not agree with this plan you can ask for an adjournment or postponement to give you time to sell your property yourself.

If you plan to pay off the arrears in a short space of time (by remortgaging or selling your property ask for an adjournment). You should also ask for an adjournment if you don’t agree with the lenders figures. This will give the lender time to get detailed accounts ready for the judge.

If the judge does not accept any of your plans they can the district judge can make a possession order, which allows you a set period, usually 28 days, before your lender can take any action.

What if I can’t pay?

If you subsequently find you can not pay the amount which the court has ordered you to pay, you should go back to the court and ask for the order to be changed. Use the form N244, available from the court office. You should also contact your lender and try to make a new arrangement. If you can not make another arrangement there is a danger that you may not be able to avoid repossession and you should prepare for the worst or possible arrange to sell and rent back your home. . 

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Avida House and Lot in Antipolo - St. Gabriel Heights

Many OFWs in the Middle East and the rest of the world, or even non-Filipinos who wish to live in the Philippines are searching for a house and lot in Antipolo. In fact, even my relatives have called me from overseas asking about where to live in the Philippines. Since I know that they want the cool clean air of the mountains, yet want to be able to go to Quezon City, Pasig or even Makati within 30 to 45 minutes, I searched for house and lots in Antipolo.

Fortunately, I was able to find St. Gabriel Avida, an Avida Land community in Bgy. Dalig, which is quite near the Antipolo church. St. Gabriel Heights is less than 12 minutes away by tricycle from Shopwise, and about 5 minutes away by car of jeepney. You can also get to SGH if you approach Antipolo via the Sumulong Highway route. Simply take the Tanay provincial road, and you will see the Avida Land Community on your right.

What makes the St. Gabriel Heights gated community a great place to live in? For starters, people are pleasantly surprised when they find out that Avida Land is an Ayala Land corporation. People know about the track record of Ayala Land in Philippine real estate. Time and time again, happy house and lot owners attest to the reliability of projects developed by Ayala Land.

The typical reaction I've encountered is: "What, there's an Ayala Land project in Antipolo?" It's quite understandable, I guess. When you live in Antipolo, you feel far from the worries of the hustle and bustle of city life (even if you're just 30 minutes away from your office in the Ortigas Center area, for example). Life is calm and relaxing, you feel you're no where near Makati. So when you find out that Ayala is behind this Antipolo project, you get pleasantly surprised.

Anyway, my relatives and their OFW friends like the Antipolo house and lot packages in St. Gabriel Heights (SGH) Avida Land, because the affordable prices range from P1.5 million to P3.5 million. When I sent a message to Jhoanna@AntipoloProperties.com, I was able to get hold of more information regarding SGH. I was also able to schedule a site visit to get a firsthand look at the place, and feel the clean mountain breeze, too. Of course, I stopped by the Antipolo church to get several suman sa ibus, which tastes wonderful when dipped in sugar and eaten with a cup of chocolate eh.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Find Information on Foreclosures Free

Free foreclosure information on homes is available in all areas of the United States through newspaper advertising as well as through court filings. When a family loses their home it can be one of the most upsetting experiences they can suffer. In some parts of the United States families seem to lose their houses more often than in other parts of the States. This is where people looking to take advantage of certain situations can find houses at reduced prices by knowing where to look.

In some US states a lender must file any claim through the law courts before issuing foreclosure proceedings on the borrower. Once a judge reviews and agrees the foreclosure information during a judicial review, they will then offer the defendant a specified time frame, usually 30 days, in which to make payment of the entire loan amount that the judge determines to be due. At the end of that time, if the borrower has not been able to meet the deadline set by the judge the court can then order the home to be sold at auction. Just because the court has ordered foreclosure of a mortgage, does not mean the homeowner has left it too late to stop the foreclosure auction continuing. The homeowner has right up until the day of the auction to pay the mortgage, along with all the costs and maintain ownership of the property. A great way to find a home to buy is to check out the court records and make contact with the home owner before foreclosure.

Check The Facts Before Making Any Offers

Potential buyers should look at several issues that may affect the purchase of the property before making any offers, especially if it is being purchased as an investment. Whilst the foreclosure information provided to the court is likely to be accurate; if the home loan is quite new and therefore has not time to generate much equity, the amount needed to purchase the property may be higher than the propety's value once all the associated costs are calculated into the final price. It's always a good idea to try and contact the owner of the property and negotiate with them as this may well be more beneficial than negotiating solely with the lender. One way to find out who the owner is is by looking through the foreclosure information in the newspapers. The lender knows that through auctions as well as subsequent civil action they can recoup the cost of the loan and legal costs incurred when trying to collect. There is no reason why you shouldn't offer a lower amount for a mortgage than what is originally offered by the lender, they may surprise you and accept.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Investing In Foreclosed Property? Avoid Making These 5 Mistakes!

Due to the recent rise in home foreclosures a new wave of neophyte real estate investors are getting into buying distressed and foreclosed property. Attracted by the seminar mantra of quick profits and simple approaches many of these new investors are jumping in naked into a world of foreclosure investing. If you′re one of these new investors, thinking of investing in foreclosed real estate property, here are 5 mistakes to avoid:

1. Foreclosure Ignorance: You have to do your homework and avoid the lofty pitches that may be coming to your from all directions. Invest the necessary resources to ascertain within yourself that you have all of the information you need in order to make a profit from your investment.

2. Inaccurate Evaluations: You must have an accurate knowledge of home values and ensure your evaluations match current market data. A higher and higher level of foreclosed properties is a result of no buyers in the market. Ensure you′re buying low.

3. Decision Doubts: Although knowing all of the factors that come into making a profit from investing in a foreclosed house is important, the truth is that it is not enough. You must also move like lightning when the time is right. Hesitation in foreclosure investing leads to going over the falls and missing out on the ride.

4. Extra Noise: Miscommunication and a shabby presentation will slow you down and in turn create noise when instead you want clarity and attention. Think of your investment as a diamond in today’s tough real estate environment of foreclosures and then make it a diamond - clear and clean. Put your pretty face on.

5. Word Silence: Do not solely rely on traditional marketing efforts. Your investment must be viral using all of the online marketing tools available to you today. Be completely motivated to spread the word every hour of every day. Spread the word.

Successful investing in real estate foreclosures requires that you avoid making these 5 fundamental mistakes. Keep them in mind as you go through the process of investing in foreclosures.

There are plenty of resources where to learn about investing in real estate foreclosrue. Here is one resource which we have found to be a great place to learn the ins and outs of foreclosure investing:

- Foreclosure Bible, by Chris Negro, is a good source for the ins and outs of foreclosure investing such as figuring out where the home owner is at (in the foreclosure process), the different times you can buy, and how to sell your investment in 36 hours or less.

How to Go about Acquiring Homeowner's Insurance

The first question that arises in the minds of people when considering home insurance is how to get home insurance very easily. Consult cheapest house insurance quote. It is most important  in getting home coverage to first select a possible vendor of services. For things like this, consumers need to take the time to shop the market.

Also, it can be of great benefit to search the Internet for competitor's prices. On the other hand, low cost coverage shouldn't be stressed too much. This is because a low cost coverage does not mean a good deal. The most important factor is the service and stability of the company. This is why it is important to review the status of insurance companies. Collect the quotes once you have short listed the best companies.

Some homeowners include their land cost in their insurance coverage. Most homeowners buying insurance share this common mistake. These practices are avoided. This is because, when theft, flood or earthquakes occur, the land should not suffer any permanent damage. This may cause a customer to pay larger premiums in tune with the land value in their home insurance coverage.

Everyone looking to buy homeowner's insurance wants to know how to obtain a plan that offers the ideal features. First, consumers need to determine what is best for them, and then decide how to get such coverage at an affordable price. Follow these simple guidelines to get worry-free home insurance coverage.

Ask friends and relatives about their experiences with home firms. Be aware of get a home coverage quote. Take note if another insurer or agent is suggested. Do not just take someones word for it do a search yourself. Make a good attempt to get all the information you can about these agents and insurers.

Browse the State Department of Insurance and make up a listing of companies which are ranked A or higher. Don't neglect gathering quotes from the short listed insurance companies.

Obtain numerous quotes from a lot of companies and then compare the quotes. From those, select the five most ideal insurers.  

Once you have picked five companies, look at reviews from some independent sources. Use A.It is the 14th alphabet of the 26 total alphabets that you need to know to learn the language English and it is written as M. Best Company, Better Business Bureau and Phelps are needed in order to determine their current position in regards to credit. This kind of credit appraisal firm can assist you in determining how sound any of your chosen insurance providers is.

Do not accept any company whose rating falls below an A. Such companies are not in any position to guarantee compensation, if an insured person makes a claim.

To select the best deal for their dream home,insurance buyers check on different bureaus on-line or off-line. An important thing is the fact that deals must fit into the budget of an insurance buyer's finances.

Consumers have the option to search for an optimal and affordable deal, from various companies that offer similar deals.

The first question that arises in the minds of people when considering home insurance is how to get home insurance very easily. To get home coverage, the first vital step is to find a prospective insurer. For this, consumers need to shop around for them. It is also beneficial to check over the online companies and their quotes and prices. However, avoid stressing more on low cost coverage. This is because a low cost coverage does not mean a good deal. The stability and service of a company is most important. Hence, ascertain the credit status of insurance companies. After short listing the best companies, collect their quotes. Some homeowners include their land cost in their insurance coverage. This is the most common mistake among all homeowners who buy insurance. However, they have to avoid such practices. This is because, when theft, flood or earthquakes occur, the land should not suffer any permanent damage. This may cause a customer to pay larger premiums in tune with the land value in their home insurance coverage. A Few Effective Ways to Get Home Insurance: Anyone who shops for a home policy is concerned about how to get home coverage with the best features. First, consumers need to determine what is best for them, and then decide how to get such coverage at an affordable price. Below are a few guidelines on how to get home insurance coverage with little or no trouble. Ask friends and relatives about their experiences with home firms. If they suggest some insurer or agent, note them down. However, do not simply go with suggestions. Try to get details about such agents and insurers. Visit the State Department of Insurance and create a list of firms that have a rank of A or greater. Remember to collect quotes from these short listed companies. Get online quotes from as many of these companies as you can, and compare their quotes. Choose the best five insurance companies among them. After selecting five companies, try to find out their ratings from several independent sources. Use A.M. Best Company, Better Business Bureau and Phelps to ascertain their crediting status. These credit rating agencies will help to decide how solid each of the selected insurers is. Do not go for any company that has a rating less than A. Such companies are not in any position to guarantee compensation, if an insured person makes a claim. Conclusion: Insurance buyers may seek help from different bureaus, which exist online as well as off-line, to select the best deal for their dream home. Another key factor is that deals have to be within an insurance buyer's financial budget. Consumers have the option to search for an optimal and affordable deal, from various companies that offer similar deals. Remember to hunt for discounts on any chosen policy. The Internet is vast and there will be numerous results. However, consumers have to be very careful in finding a superior home insurance to protect their homes. The resources below can come in handy when looking for coverage. Everyone would agree that buying a home is a major purchase. Even with the decline in the housing market in recent years buying a house is still quite expensive and the best way to protect that investment is with a good homeowners insurance policy. In fact, if the purchase of your house requires obtaining a loan, your lender will more than likely require that you carry at least basic homeowners insurance. This article will talk briefly about what's covered and what's not covered in a basic homeowners insurance policy and gives some tips to make sure you get the best coverage at the best possible price. A basic homeowners insurance policy will cover a number of potential hazards known in the industry as "perils". The following perils will be covered by any homeowners insurance policy. Fire or lightning, smoke damage, explosions, wind storm or hail damage, damage from the build up of snow sleet or ice, damage caused by vehicles or aircraft, vandalism, theft, water damage due to plumbing failure, damage from the electrical surges, falling objects, volcanic activity, and riots or civil unrest. That list is fairly long and seems like it includes just about everything but a couple of major events that would not be covered would be earthquakes and flooding. Insurance is available for earthquakes and floods but is not part of a basic homeowners insurance policy. To be protected against those particular perils would require the purchase of additional homeowners insurance. If you live in an area that is prone to flooding, obtaining flood insurance may be difficult. However, if you live in an area where floods are not too common flood insurance would be very inexpensive and may be a good investment. Even in areas that don't see flooding on a regular basis, all it would take is a blocked up storm drain in a heavy rainstorm to cause flooding. Just a couple inches of water inside your home can do thousands of dollars worth of damage. Whether you decide to include earthquake and/or flood insurance, or you decide to go with the most basic homeowners insurance policy, the policy would cover your dwelling, your personal property, and some degree of liability insurance. The dwelling refers to the actual structure of your home. If your home was damaged the insurance benefits would be used to repair or rebuild the structure. Personal property refers to all of the items inside your home that are not part of the structure. This would include everything from major appliances to jewelry and knickknacks. Liability coverage would protect you in the event that someone were injured on your property. The amount of liability coverage would very from one policy to another. All of the items discussed above are the items that would typically be covered under a basic homeowners insurance policy however the dollar amounts of the benefits to be paid out, the monthly premium payments, and the deductibles will all be different from one policy to the next. The best way to make sure you get the most coverage at the most affordable price would be to do some comparison shopping. Get multiple quotes from several different insurance providers and you can easily determine which quote will be offering the best coverage at the best price. More can be found at free home insurance quotes on line.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Understanding Reverse Mortgage Loans

Reverse homeowner loans often are a benefit to older property owners. The funds generated by getting free homeowner insurance quote and selling off some of their home equity (to get the reverse property loan) might aid these retired homeowners in releasing cash for many purposes ie the sum thus created could be spent on financing house improvements, or the sum can act as a further retirement income or it might be used for paying off an existing house loan or it may be used for paying for some doctor expense etc.

Moreover, the income generated from reverse mortgage loan is usually tax free. What's more, after you pay off the reverse home loan partly (or in full), the interest section of the loan can qualify for income tax deductions (this further adds to the list of advantages from reverse home loans).

Reverse mortgage loans are an addition fantastic concept in the world of home loans. A reverse property loan is a home loan that works in the reverse way eg. you receive payments instead of making payments. With a reverse home loan, you keep adding to your debt rather than decreasing it.

Thus a reverse mortgage gets you regular payments and as you collect these payments you increase your loan amount. Yet when do you repay the money that is added through the reverse property loan? Well, the reverse mortgage loan isn't required to be paid back as long as you reside in that home plus get Here Is Your House Insurance Quote Online. So, the reverse home loan is to repaid if you either stop living at the property (whose house value you are borrowing from to receive the reverse home loan) or you sell the home or you pass away.

You must check the fees and additional costs that are a part of reverse homeowner loans before you select one. In actual fact, you should do a lot of research by getting reverse home loan deals from different mortgage loan lenders before you pick the one that gives you the greatest returns (as you should for a traditional house loan). Furthermore, because the ownership of the home stays in your name, you are required to pay the property taxes, homeowners insurance and other additional costs that you incur on your home.

Reverse home loans are an option that is available to older people usually to persons who are over 62 years of age. Of course, the assumption is that you have enough house value in your home that you need to use for reverse homeowner loan. Also, a person can avail of a reverse mortgage only if you are residing in the home that they need to get a reverse home loan on.

All in all, a reverse mortgage loan is surely a great option for some senior homeowners. For more home insurance quotes cheap.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Stop Foreclosure Tips and Options

Here are Three Stop Home Forclosure Options:

There are several options a home owner may take to stop foreclosure.  Below we list three stop foreclosure options that may help you if you are currently facing foreclosure. 

Choosing which option will work for you, depends on your current situation:

- Special Forebearance
- Mortgage Loan Modification Option
- Particial Claim

Special Forebearance Option to Stop Foreclosure:

The Special Forebearance Option is where your mortgage lender could arrange a new repayment plan based on your current financial status.

In addition, your lender could allow a reduction of your monthly mortgage payment, or even suspend the payment for a few months (adding on to the time to pay for the full mortgage).

Usual Qualifications Required For Special Forebearance:?

You could qualify for special foreberance to stop foreclosure if you have had a sudden loss of income due to an injury or loss of job, or even a high increase in living expenses.

Your lender will usually require you to provide proof to show your income hardship situation, or you may also be required to write a Hardship Letter to Stop Foreclosure.

Documented proof may be required by your mortgage lender that shows you can now make the new mortgage payment, if a new repayment plan is setup.

Mortgage Loan Modification Option to Stop Foreclosure:

With a mortgage loan modification option you may be able to refinance your current mortgage at a lower rate and / or add years onto your mortgage loan term. If you use a mortgage loan modification to stop foreclosure, you could also lower your monthly mortgage payment so that it is more affordable.

Would You Qualify for a Mortgage Loan Modification?

A mortgage loan modification may be a choice for you if you have just recovered from an unusual income hardship. To qualify for a mortgage loan modification you will need to be able to afford the new loan payments.

Partial Claim Option to Stop Foreclosure:

With a partial claim option to stop foreclosure, your lender could apply for a payment from the FHA Insurance fund, US Department of Housing and Urban Development - HUD on your behalf. The amount would equal the total funds required to bring your loan payments current.

Partial Claim Qualifications Require:?

You may qualify for a partial claim if your mortgage payments are at least 4 months past due, yet are not more than 12 months past due. You would also have to be able to prove that you can pay your mortgage payments from this point forward.

The partial claim to stop foreclosure will require you to sign a promissory note for the amount required to bring your loan up to date.And, a property lien will be added to your property, until the promissory note is paid. The promissory note to HUD is interest free, and must be paid when you pay off the first mortgage, or when you sell the property.

The above information regarding stop foreclosure options are an example of many options that may be available. You can learn about many more options if you visit the free information site: Stop Foreclosure Tips.

Where To Find Online Home Options

There are many benefits associated with online home forms and online house owner tracking such as home quotes for free. The most important good thing is obtained based on the opportunity to get and review some house quotes in a very short time. Moreover, since these home quotes are gotten through a website, you avoid the hassle of keeping and arranging all the forms that you would otherwise have to do. Furthermore, you may directly find the info (search the info) from the previous homeowner offers and put them in a format (eg Microsoft excel spreadsheet) that makes it easy to look at many offers all at once.

You could do research on the web and look at home articles online or you might go through web based mortgage education lessons. When you have any questions or queries on mortgages, you might make use of a reputed house owner related online forum to get online homeowner advice. You might put in your details on a web page and find out about many house rate quotes and in less time than an hour.

The web has helped break knowledge imbalances and has made communication much faster by house insurance quotes. The Internet has made internet based house owner quotes a choice. Interned based mortgage rate quotes, internet based homeowner calculations, web based house owner tips, online home owner lessons, online home owner price comparisons and internet based mortgage payment tracking, all are simple and are used by several individuals.

Moreover, there are a few webpages that have internet based mortgage calculators at no cost. You may use such web based house owner calculators to compare prices from various house lenders. These online calculators only need a few details (like interest rate, homeowner loan amount, house tenure) about your home and once you provide this information you will immediately see the results (again through a webpage). You can receive clarifications on the house rates through email (eg again online). Web based mortgage payments are available using the web banking web pages. You may even examine your amortization schedule online.

Home brokers don't have to deal with any mail or paper work costs either. In fact, if we did not have this facility of receiving the homeowner offers Rates on the internet, the mortgage specialists would certainly not have offered these rate quotes at no charge either. Because so many individuals using the internet today, online mortgage transactions allow the house brokers to find a larger number of leads also (than would have been otherwise available) through home owner insurance quotes. Once more, web based house payment tracking is exceedingly useful too. You can logon to the web at any time and from any location and just find out about the current status of your home information.

So, web based mortgage deals have created a huge opportunity both for the house owner lenders/brokers and homeowner borrowers. It's verily a great thing for everyone.

Who Needs House Quotes

For acquiring outstanding mortgage insurance quotes, it's crucially important that you pick a well established mortgage broker that has a great Knowledge of the market like cheap home insurance quotes online. Putting in time in asking about and picking a great mortgage broker is sure to pay good rewards. Like this, if you cannot trust a house lender or a house insurance specialist, then you shouldn't be allowed"have the chance to reveal the total and correct details about your finances etc and hence you wouldn't be have the chance to get the lowest home quotes.

Buying a house is not the most fun thing and more so if you are buying it with a mortgage loan. It's one of the biggest choices of your life and should be treated with all seriousness. Once you have done the starting analysis and brooding on whether you should and want to go for a a loan, you come to the next point e.g. hunting for the mortgage that is right for you with a cheapest home insurance quotes. This begins with searching for mortgage insurance quotes. You can receive the mortgage insurance quotes through a mortgage insurance broker or you can receive home insurance quotes straight from mortgage lenders.

Before looking for house quotes, you must be extremely clear about your needs (you don't want to make a mistake by getting the erroneous home quotes because you put in the incorrect information). You can additionally ask for house quotes through the Internet. There are some sites that can find you many house quotes free of charge and within a short time period of hours.

As a result, you might be a lot more comfortable in discussing the house quotes (and other options) with a person you trust. After you request the house quotes, you should be allowed to understand the different terms and conditions with it. If you do not comprehend something on the home quote or should you have questions about the home quote, you need to get them clarified with your mortgage insurance broker or home specialist.

In order to make certain that you get the best mortgage deal, you should always ask for and look at several home quotes. Do not go with the first mortgage insurance quote that you get. Explore your options with several mortgage quotes. However, this does not signify that you ask everyone and anyone for house quotes. You should receive home quotes only from honest mortgage brokers and home insurance specialists, and consider only those house quotes that meet your needs and gives options.

So, just go home shopping and ask your compare house insurance quote.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Easily Sell A House In Selmer Tennessee

Navigating the house selling process can be a fascinating adventure depending on how you plan it and on the strategy you put to use. Selmer, TN property is selling quickly on the real estate market, and if this location is one of your choices or interests, opting for listing your property for sale with a legitimate real estate agency will increase the chances of you experiencing a much more successful result once the process has been finalized.

Those of you searching for Wayne County Tennessee real estate have the options of running numerous searches as well, and of perusing real estate publications designed to inform prospective buyers or sellers of the current property listings. Selling houses in this general area requires the seller to be fully informed of the laws and regulations that govern the sales of property, houses, land, locations, etc. Making use of advantageous real estate agencies is also another option when selling a house.

There are many companies that offer fast cash for houses that is either not selling within a specified time frame, or are not receiving a specified value desired for the home or property. Should this occur, these businesses offer home sellers a chance to sell their house without any added hassle or stress. Offering competitive prices, business designed to offer fast cash for your house, enable you to sell your home quickly and begin your future projects.

Selmer, TN property is listed on numerous websites geared toward prospective home buyers as well as businesses interested in acquiring ownership rights of property within these locations. Selling houses in this area is easily completed with the use of sufficient advertising and marketing of said houses. Real estate agencies most usually handle the difficult task of actually selling the houses, and you are simply required to make sure the property is maintained and kept in good order prior to the selling finalization.

McNairy county Tennessee real estate is opening the real estate market to new places and possible new ownerships. No matter what type of property you are searching for, nearly all properties are listed with some form of agency, making the act of gathering important information and facts about them, much simpler. If you are selling your property located in this area, make sure it is listed for proper advertising and marketing. Sell your house in Tennessee the right way, sells it through real estate agency listings.

Timothy A. Crane Private Real Estate Investor We buy houses and help people with their situations and give them options that they weren't aware of. Selling Savannah TN Property http://www.cashmoneyhousebuyer.com