Posts tagged real estate investing

Talk To Your Lender About Saving Your Home from Foreclosure

When your home is on the verge of foreclosure, you certainly will do anything possible to save it. But the problem is how you will do it. One, among many, is going to your lender and asking for help.

Yet for others, contacting the lender at the first sign of financial problems seems to be not such a good idea. It may be because they are embarrassed to discuss money issues to others or they simply don’t see the need to inform their lender right away of their present financial standing , most of the time they are thinking it is a temporary problem. But the fact is, asking for your lender’s help will save you a lot of trouble and it will help you save your home.

Most people have the perception that lenders, like banks, think only of themselves and don’t care about the future of the borrowers. This leads to the common notion that lenders show no mercy to homeowners who have defaulted on payments and will take the homes when the very first window of opportunity opens. The truth is lenders like owners will do everything they can to avoid home foreclosures. So again, the best way to save your home is to work with your lender to solve the problem.

In most cases lenders will send a Notice of Default if you miss payments for 3 consecutive months. Call your lender as soon as possible. Inform them why you have defaulted on a payment and ask for an alternative payment schedule or temporary lower rates until your finances have returned to normal. You can also ask for Forbearance which is where your lender waives some of the penalty fees as a result of default or a mortgage refinance without going through the process of re-application, whichever you think is more economical. Mortgage lenders are NOT IN THE REAL ESTATE SELLING BUSINESS, thus are more than willing to help you to avoid repossessing your home.

Talk to your lender, inform them the cause of your delay, and ask for payment alternatives. DO NOT WAIT!!! Act fast. Understand the gravity of the situation and do something about it. It is your obligation to pay your mortgage but when worst comes to worst, your lender wants to help you keep your home.

Doc Schmyz has invested all over the US and Canada. He built a free website shares Real estate investing information for all over the US. Find real estate information by state

Real Estate During A Poor Market

by Doc Schmyz

OK a few ground rules for this article first.

1) Bad markets have happen before…and people still made money.

2) Not every deal will fall into a cookie cutter format keep your eyes open.

3) Not every tactic or idea works in EVERY state/province. Check local laws pertaining to real estate transactions.

Ok…now on with the article.

So the market has taken a big drop this doesn’t mean that you, as a real estate investor/professional, are out of luck. It only means you need to add new tricks and tools to your tool box. (Be warned I use “tool box” a lot.)

Finding and Marketing property

Besides the normal channels of real estate agents and brokers (still the best way to find good investments in my opinion) you have a vast amount or resources at your fingertip with the Internet.

You can join website communities for investors, follow blogs, get in on group discussion etc. All of these things can lead to new and interesting deals.

Several of my investments have come to me via a web community of some sort. I also have gotten countless tips from other investors on investments and financing issues. Do not over look the value of belonging to an “investor community website.”

I honestly feel that in the upcoming years the majority of investing will shift to being web related. Not just in finding investment projects but in doing the research for them as well as the funding process and the majority of the marketing/exit strategy as well.

Finance

Currently we are hearing about how the current market and credit crisis is making getting loans harder This is true. No way around it. The loan process has changed. So what options are left?? The answer is several.

Lease options. Assumable loans. Seller financing. Just to name a few.

The above mentioned will become the big trends in the next couple of years. I am waiting to see the lenders change the loan guidelines in the next few months to “re introduce” the assumable loan. We are already seeing a HUGE trend in short sales. (This was a practice that was used only in limited capacity in the last 10 years by most lenders now it seems like every other distressed listing is a short sale in some cities.)

Please don’t let the current market conditions scare you in to sitting this investment period out. Take the time to do the research on finance options, look into building a LLC perhaps. Find out about buying real estate with your IRA. Etc, etc.

Buy books. Read investment strategies of the big names in investing. Use the time to educate yourself and above all be creative.

Don’t run for the hills when you should be shopping in the valleys.

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Foreclosure:Working With Your Lender To Avoid It.

by Doc Schmyz

If your home is on the verge of foreclosure or you fear the chance of it, you certainly will do any possible means to save it. But the problem is how you will do it? The first step, is going to your lender and asking for help.

If contacting your lender at the first sign of financial problems seems to be not so good of an idea. It may be because you are embarrassed to discuss money issues to others or you simply don’t see the need to inform your lender right away of your present financial standing. But the truth is, asking for your lender’s help will save you a lot of trouble and it will could help you save your home.

People often have the perception that lenders, like banks, think only of themselves and don’t care about the future of the borrowers. This leads to the common notion that lenders show no mercy to homeowners who have defaulted on payments and will take the homes when the very first window of opportunity opens. The truth is lenders like owners will do everything they can to avoid home foreclosures.

If you miss payments for 3 consecutive months normally the lenders usually send a Notice of Default. However if you know your in trouble DO NOT wait until you get the notice to take action. Call your lender as soon as possible. Inform them of your reason of default on a payment and ask for an alternative payment schedule or temporary lower rates until your finances have recovered. You can also ask for Forbearance where your lender waives some of the penalty fees as a result of default or a mortgage refinance without going through the process of re-application. Mortgage lenders are more than willing to help you to avoid repossessing your home.

Talk to your lender, inform them of the situation, and ask for payment alternatives. Don’t wait too long before you make a move to save your home. Act fast. Understand the gravity of the situation and do something. It is your obligation to pay your mortgage but when worst comes to worst, your lender will help you keep your home. This is more true during economic downturn.

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DON’T BUY A HOUSE!! (Till You Do These 6 Things First.)

by Doc Schmyz

Buying your first home is down right scary for most people. Your facing the unknown in most cases. Terms you don’t know…payments your not sure of…and I wont even mention the contracts to sign. Some studies show that some people are so over come with anxiety that they wont take the first steps to even buying a home.

Usually, your home will be the biggest purchase you will ever make. And if it is your first time, this purchase is even more intimidating because you are taking full responsibility upon yourself. You should try and take advantage of the wealth of home buying information and programs out there.

Be sure to prepare yourself before buying. Here are six steps to follow before buying:

1) For most people, home ownership is an integral part of the American dream and the advantages (tax benefits, sense of home, financial investment) far out weigh any drawbacks.Think about what it will be like to be a homeowner.

2) Have an idea about your credit right from the start. Your FICO score will normally be between 400 and 850. the higher the score the better your funding chances are. Get a copy of your credit report and review it. Look for any discrepencies and report them to the agency. In some cases you may want to use a credit repair agency.

3) Understand exactly what your finances are. For most homebuyers the two most feared words are: DOWN PAYMENT. Today, there are so many diffrent types of loans available that this shouldnt be as much a worry as it was, say ten years ago. a good loan officer or mortgage broker should be able to walk you through the process and stear you clear of the programs to avoid.

4) Get pre-approved…NOT pre-qualified. Here is the diffrence. Pre-approval means you have already given a broker or your bank all the information they want in order to actually run your credit and financies in order to see what loan you can get and how much you can actually spend on a home. Pre-qualified means some one looked at your credit application and THINKS they can get you a loan.

5) Look into down payment assistance programs. While meeting with your mortgage broker or banker, have them look into any down payment assistance programs that may be available. They should have an idea of what would be available to you. There are many programs out there run by counties and cities and other governmental agencies. The trick is to know about them, first, and then to see if you qualify for them.

6) Look into first-time home buyer classes. Many lenders and Realtors offer home buyer education classes. They are usually 2 to 4 hours long and will walk you through the process of applying for a loan, working with a Realtor, making an offer, going to escrow (closing), and various other responsibilities associated with owning your own home. And realize that whoever is putting on the class is will also try and sell you on their services, which is fine, but you are under no obligation to use them.

By following these six steps you’ll be well on your way to homeownership! Remember, ask lots of questions and make sure you understand exactly what is happening. Always try to get referrals from people you trust. Good luck.

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Real Estate Investing Basics

by Marcus Myer

Location – don’t jump in to get a property simply because the market is bearish. Consider the position of the property very scrupulously. The reality is a property with a bad location won’t fetch you a great price even when the market is bullish. If you have an interest in buying property then ensure that the property is suitably located.

It should be in the vicinity of shopping complexes, malls, hospitals, colleges parks and should be easily accessible by road and mass transit systems. It may be right that a property will cost you comparatively more if it is well found. Nevertheless, you will be ready to fetch a more acceptable price when the market picks up.

long-term – investing in property is a long-term proposition with convincing returns over a period. You may have a higher capital gains tax guilt.

Don’t think of selling such a property. Lease it out instead. Always put aside a certain portion of the revenue for upkeep and maintenance. Many backers who flipped properties found themselves in the middle of a property market crash and were saddled with properties that they couldn’t dispose off.

You need to sell or hire it straight out. A lease option goes against the interests of both buyer and seller. The tenant will ask for discounts on the rent with the debate that these be changed against the deposit and closing costs. In all chance, the tenant won’t buy the property at the end of the lease and the owner would have lost a lot of money re refunds on the rent. The lease agreement should have a clause that stops the tenant-buyer from defaulting on the purchase by allowing you to forfeit the deposit.

Local – Buy local, think local. Concentrate on the idea of investing in buying local property ; at least at the beginning of your real estate investment career. Do not rush to buy property in another state or country, as you would not be so knowledgeable about the conditions. Making an investment in property in other states will boost your expenses vis commuting. Consider the incontrovertible fact that as a prospective owner you will have to inspect the property to determine if there is any damage every month. You’ll also have to ensure that the property is not being misused in any way.

It makes for better business sense for you to think local and buy local.

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Passive Income Ideas Can Be Easy To Generate, But Hard To Execute On!

If you dream about escaping the cubicle nine-to-five jail, then passive income ideas are the keys to your cell. Working for someone else can make you well off financially, but you’ll potentially never actually be made. Owning your business is the way to go if you’re looking for true finance freedom.

Yet many business owners find themselves working more hours and dealing with added headaches than theydid while running after the cheese in the rat race. If you would like to be freed from bosses, headaches and sitting pretty financially passive income is the way to go.

Instead of punching a clock or working an insane amount of hours passive income ideas permit you the capability to do the work up front and chill and collect checks for the rest of your life. While there are millions of way to make your own way in this world, one of the most profitable and hands off is real estate investing.

For example, by setting aside some money every paycheck you could simply put cash down on a house. Nowadays there are tons of houses for sale, either thru standard means, repossessions or bank owned properties. Gain advantage from the slow market and purchase a house below it is true worth. After putting in some work fixing up the place, hire it out. The renters pay the mortgage and whatever extra is yours.

Repeat the technique and your monthly cash would keep growing as you put in virtually no work maintaining your properties. If you out source management of the properties your passive income becomes actually easy. The best part is your renters are paying the mortgage and you are keeping the overages. If you need a massive influx of cash for your kid’s school, a new vehicle or any reason you can simply sell a property and collect all of that extraordinary equity!

Take this basic idea and use it on other passive income concepts, like investing in commercial property. Commercial property is valued differently than home, in that commercial property is valued by the money it produces not what similar properties are selling for.

This is one of the great passive revenue ideas because with little improvements you may constantly increase the value of your property as well as your monthly passive income checks. You also spread the chance out amongst several renters, and aren’t solely reliant on one individual to guarantee your money.

With a tiny planning and a little investment you can build a real estate empire which will give you earnings for the rest of your life. .

It’s a great resource for new and experienced real estate investors to talk to people who are really “doing” investing, not just selling products about it. I think you’ll find the authors keep it real.

When Buying REO Properties What Do You Look For

by Jerome Pennix

REO properties are one of the hottest ways to invest in real estate right now. Banks do not need to, nor do they want to; hold onto these properties for any longer than they have to. This is why, REO properties can be had for nearly any reasonable offer. Of course, there are many things to consider about these properties.

You should complete a thorough inspection of the property which should include the major structures of the home. The roof, sub flooring, basement, plumbing and wiring will need to be inspected.

Be certain to get a detailed title search pertaining to the property. There are several property titles that have tax liens and this tax can be passed along to the new buyer of the property.

Most importantly though you have to know what the home should be bought for and what it is valued after repair.

Use REOGoldMiner.com to find the REO deals and InvestorCompsOnline.com to analyze the current market value of the house you want to purchase as well as those of similar properties in the area. You will save time and money if you conduct a little research before you make bids on the properties in question.

So what do you look at to accurately review the data for your potential projects? Compare houses using these top three items: year built, room count, and square footage. When looking at the previous sales provided, compare your property to sales with those similarities. This will give you the most accurate view of what similar properties have been selling for REO and after renovation.

Investing in real estate is not only about selling a property and making money from it. It often requires some research in order to evaluate its value and to best price the property. By using REOGoldMiner.com and InvestorCompsOnline.com, you will have access to the best REO deals and be able to learn how to set the price for it to buy or sell.

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Investing in USA Real Estate: Purchasing the Land of the Brave (Credit) and Free (Home)

by Dario Dingwall

The US real estate market is among the most intricate industries to invest in. Many investors shy off from investments in the market due to the current economic crisis and the sluggishness being experienced. However, there are some properties that are waiting to be bought at a fraction of what they really worth. Savvy investors wanting to enter into the US real estate market can take advantage of the foreclosures.

Many investors have the notion that to have access to financing has been made difficult with the prevailing economic crisis that is facing the world today. But with industriousness, the correct break through and right locality, investments in real estate in the USA is more practicable. The questions that you need to ask yourself are; what the perfect opportunity and location are and the reason why other properties are good investments in comparison to some?

Right location: real estate investing in the USA does not mean simply buying any and every property that becomes available. First you must know what the actual market value of the area is and what it will likely be for a while. For instance, if you are purchasing a home to use as a rental, you must know what the average rental property is going for in that area. If the amount is far below the mortgage price on the home, you will be losing money every month. On the other hand, there are many foreclosures on the market that will be sold far below what they could be potentially worth.

Foreclosed homes: when investing in foreclosures consider the current value of the foreclosed home and its actual value and then get the difference. Sound investment decisions in the US real estate market require that you understand the factors that influence the industry as well as the mindset of the previous homeowners.

When a home is foreclosed, the homeowner may literally destroy the property and not always in obvious ways. There have been reports of cement dumped in drains, wiring removed from behind walls and other things that could drive up repair costs far beyond the homes value. If you buy a foreclosure for $30,000 but spend nearly that amount in replacing wiring, pipes and other repairs you will never recoup your investment if the average home in the market is valued at $45,000.

Short sale of property is the other feasible approach to making investments in the real estate market in United States. Many homeowners prefer to engage in short sale to avert foreclosure. The homeowners enter into agreements with their respective banks that allow the banks to sell the homes on their behalf at a price less than the initial loan. This is practical when the amount of loan is greater than the value of the home. Short sales allows investors to purchase more properties that what they previously anticipated.

It is important to evaluate the market price of the homes in the neighborhood before selling or proposing an offer. It is also important to review reports of property appraisers. Qualified appraisal companies can identify the costly and problematic situations that must be tackled before investing in a house. Bear in mind that it will be a bargain when you do not incur additional costs to repair the home.

The investment in property with the intention of not using it is impractical in the US real estate market. Rentals that are not in good conditions have no way of being rented. This is true since homes that are not habitable for a family will remain idle thus incurring additional maintenance and other costs.

Real estate investments in the US are worthwhile ventures but not to everyone. The income that rentals bring in might be less than the costs incurred in maintaining them in the initial months. You will be losing money on a monthly basis if you mortgage a house for $500 while other rentals in the same area are $550 especially if you are prone to breaking stuff. The costs of repairs and replacements will be incurred by you, thus increasing the expenses on a monthly basis.

Investments in the real estate in US are very profitable but this depends if the deal is done in a correct way. With proper evaluation of investments before committing to any of them, buying homes in short sale or those under foreclosure can be profitable. Ensure that the asking price is equivalent to the value of the house in its current condition and that there will be no expenses incurred on any repairs.

Ensure that after renovations are done, the worth of the house is still comparable to other homes in the neighborhood. It makes no sense to spruce up a home in an abandoned estate full of dilapidated homes. Investing in real estate in US ought to be done with caution and after careful analysis and research.

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5 Insider Secrets By Wordpress For Your Real Estate Web 2.0 Marketing

by Mark Bradley

Undeniably, the power of Real Estate Web 2.0 marketing is much stronger once it is affiliated with Wordpress. With the changing world of real estate industry today, you can’t afford to be left behind or else you will not prosper. Many are putting up their Real Estate Web 2.0 sites in order to keep abreast with the flow of the innovative trends.

For you to be successful in your Real Estate Web 2.0 marketing, you should employ the best techniques that you know. With the immense prominence of online blogging today, take this opportunity to develop your Real Estate Web 2.0 sites by incorporating the latest strategy, Real Estate blog marketing. It is proven to be effective in attracting more possible customers.

Opting to sign up for Wordpress is the best way to optimize the visibility of your Real Estate Web 2.0 sites. With the command leverage of the Real Estate Web 2.0 marketing and the excellent website design platform and content management system of Wordpress; you are assured of an unparalleled edge over your competitors who are using the old style HTML website. Based on the opinions and unified thoughts of the many bloggers, programmers and techies, they consider Wordpress as the best in the field of blogging.

Thinking how to use this advantage of Wordpress to revitalize Real Estate Web 2.0 sites, follow the tips below. Signing up for Wordpress at www.wordpress.com is an easy access. By simply giving your email ad, you will be able to make an account. The other one is less patronized, but proven to be effective in optimizing your websites. You have to download and install the Wordpress software in your Real Estate Web 2.0 sites.

You have to download and install the Wordpress software in your Real Estate Web 2.0 sites. Get the latest version and follow the instructions there. Make sure that the theme of the Wordpress is readily available for your Real Estate Web 2.0 sites. This will be the backbone of your site. Look for the widgets for these will make your website truly interactive. For better Wordpress themes, you can have the right sidebar that will place your posts and pages before any links in widgets. Having the three (3) columns will also provide much monetization options on your site.

Optimize your Wordpress blogs in the different search engines. Most search engines love ranking online blogs in their searches for they present more personal perspective and information to the viewers. It is good to note that Wordpress has lot affiliations that would make your Real Estate Web 2.0 sites highly searchable in the Web. It makes use of Google XML Sitemaps which are supported by top search engines like Google, Yahoo and AOL.

Using the plug-ins like All-in-One SEO Pack and Dagon Design Sitemap Generator, the optimization is immense. Aside from that, they can always create links back to your location. With that, brace yourself for higher rankings in the Web.

The goal of your Real Estate Web 2.0 marketing is to reach a larger portion of the population. Make your Wordpress ready for social networks bookmarking. Connection to the Real Estate Web 2.0 sites will help realize it.

Real Estate Web 2.0 sites are avenues for interaction. Making it lively and appealing will surely make your clients to stay longer in your website and meet more people whom they may share ideas about real estate. Aside from that, any feedbacks would also be beneficial to you.

Dominating the Internet is one step to go if you will keep Wordpress attached to your Real Estate Web 2.0 sites. For Wordpress is useful enough for the full optimization of your site and making your Real Estate Web 2.0 marketing strategies work effectively.

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What To Look For In A “Bargain Property”.

by Doc Schmyz

Home foreclosures and fixer-uppers have long been a focus of many real estate investors looking to make big profits. Of course, if the target property doesn’t meet certain criteria, an investor can lose their investment as well as any profit that was to be gained

A step by step approach is best in order to make a solid decision before committing to the investment. Make a check list and use it. And dont forget to add these to your list.

Please Note: The following elements discussed are not listed in any particular order. Nor do they all hold the same value in relation to each other, but they must ALL be considered in their entirety. The property should meet at least one of the criteria, and should have no unjustifiable issues in any one single area.

I give you…THE LIST:

WHY THE ASKING PRICE

Price is the first thing and investor sees.

They search for properties they think are selling below market value. This makes sense buy low and sell high right?? However think about the reasons behind the sales price? What is their motivation? Are they relocating or in financial duress? The 3 D’s come in to play here most of the time. (Death Divorce, Debt)

Are there problems with the property that will cost a small fortune to fix? Out dated plumbing??? Poor electrical wiring? In older houses these problems are VERY common. Dont forget to consider holding costs.

My personal opinion is that the holding costs are the number one profit killer. YOU HAVE TO BUDGET THEM IN. Commissions to agents, mortgage, closing costs taxes, all repairs…and dont forget the gas and electric.

A poor understanding of the current market value is another major deal killer. Remember market value is an educated guess at best. No one really knows until the appraisal is complete.

YOU MUST ANALYZE similar properties in the area. Keep in mind that prices are set at the margins and may reflect the extremes of a particular housing market environment.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS

What areas can you leverage besides price and location? Financing?

If you have the means you can pay full price but jockey for a FAR lower interest rate or a smaller down payment. Over time your cash flow could be in the black faster due to the terms you set up.

KNOW THE LOCAL MARKET

Experienced real estate investors try to learn everything about the market they are shopping in. Sometimes its the small details that give the property you’re looking at the best chance to appreciate. For example: How close is the nearest church? Is the area family friendly? What is the local crime rate… is it close to good school? Where is the closest Fire/police station? Does the neighborhood have a community watch program? Next factor in the local floor plans that surround your target property. Was the last owner primarily concerned with vacancy rates, so they keep prices low instead of upgrading the property? In contrast, your research shows that particular upgrades like air-conditioning, second bathrooms, or enhanced security allow for both lower vacancies and higher rental rates.

LOCATION IS NO TO BE OVER LOOKED

If your shooting for a long term tenet or residence then location is the second most critical thing to look at…however if you have a chance to turn a good profit for a ugly house in a less than 4 star area…that profit might out shine a nice little bungalow on the beach.

DISTRESSED REAL ESTATE

In the case of a fix and flip and sometimes a foreclosure. It is the job of the investor to factor in the repair costs. A keen eye can save you lots of money in a very short time. (Not to mention a good understanding of home repair work)

Distressed property is a gold mine. IF you know what youre looking at. How old is the roof on the property? How much will it cost to repair/replace? How is the plumbing? Is the foundation/slab sound? Once you have asked a lot of the basic questions…and you have an idea how much it will cost to fix/correct, do yourself a favor. Add 5% as a buffer.

Understand the ZONE

Zoning provides an opportunity to put the property to a higher or better use and is an area many investors ignore. Higher and better use means that the owner is getting the most out of the land. For example, if a lot is zoned for three units but contains a single lot, then it is not getting its highest and best use. Or if a lot is zoned commercial, yet there’s a three unit residential building sitting on it, it is not getting its best and highest use, like a business or a store.

Think of it this way, what could make you more money…a single small house on the land you just invested in…Or a duplex on the same land? One tenet or two? Zoning is a gift or a curse depending on your plans with the property…makes sure you know before you buy it.

Garages converted without permits, Granny flats that get added…etc…etc. These are common examples.

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