Makler Heidelberg

Buying a home doesn’t need to be a one man job. A person who wants to buy a home has the option of getting himself a realtor to make the job light and be able to find a home faster! If you don’t know, more successful realtors believe that the key to get want you want in real estate whether you are buying or selling a home is hiring a great realtor.

Agents can provide services that non-real estate agents can’t provide. They specialize about knowledge in real estate business which makes them the right group of people to ask for advices. The good news is agents are not hard to find. There are agents in almost every city. You can make a quick search in the internet to find out the list of real estate companies and real estate agents.

When hiring an agent, be sure to hire who has a good record, and I mean someone who have done many transactions and closed deals with clients. That alone shows that d he has the great qualities of a great agent. He is someone

1. Experienced

2. Professional

3. Reliable

4. Trusted

5. Has networks of people

6. Has a set of strong marketing skills

There are people who don’t want to hire an agent because they think that agent will cost them more. What they don’t know is having an agent is a great advantage. In fact, when you have a great realtor, it is like saying you found a great agent so you are half way to your home ownership! Here is the list of services they provide in behalf of you:

• Agent does the task of finding you a home to become a light task.

• Agent provides market appraisals of properties.

• Agent Negotiate the sale of properties. This is the very reason why you need an agent. They know better how to negotiate with the clients.

• Agent answers your questions and other concerns.

• Agent can help you not to have your time wasted on clients who could never qualify for your place in the first place.

• Agent could make recommendations when it comes to the home selling or buying pricing. Your agent knows better what price is right and what is not! This will save you more time, effort and money!

Finding your perfect home doesn’t have to be a challenge. Just take your time and follow these guide lines.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

With the decline in home values in the past few years, some homeowners who need to sell in the current market find themselves trapped, as they owe more than their home is worth. In this situation, the short sale can become a viable option.

What is a short sale:

A short sale is simply a sale in which the proceeds are not enough to cover all of the outstanding obligations associated with the sale of the home including the mortgage or mortgages, unpaid property taxes, attorney’s fees, title expenses, commissions, etc. This shortage would require the seller to bring money to the closing or to negotiate a „shorted“ payoff with their lender. The lender has no obligation to agree to this, but many will. In most cases, a short sale is attempted by sellers who are facing foreclosure or have fallen behind and no longer have the ability to continue making their payments.

The process:

There are a lot of misconceptions about the short sale process and the lender’s role in it, even among some Realtor®s. The seller’s lender’s role is nothing more than that of a contingency. This can vary by state depending on whether it’s a title theory state or lien theory state. This information applies to Illinois, which is a lien theory state (the owner holds title and the lender holds a lien on the property)

The seller owns the home and ultimately is the one who, with the help of their agent, accepts, rejects or proposes a counter offer once an offer is received. When the offer is accepted by the seller, it is done so contingent on their lender agreeing to accept the net proceeds of the sale as full settlement of the amounts owed. I’ve had more than one occasion where an agent working for a buyer asks when their offer will be submitted to the bank, even before the seller has agreed to accept it. It can add to the confusion if multiple offers are received. Some think that all offers must be presented to the lender. This is not accurate. All offers must be presented to the seller, not to the lender. The goal of the listing agent should be to obtain the best offer possible, thereby giving the transaction the best possible chance of actually closing.

What are the odds of a successful closing?

They’re actually better than they used to be. Nowadays it makes sense for banks to seriously consider accepting a short sale as, in many cases, they net more money overall versus going through the whole foreclosure process, taking the home back and marketing it as an REO (Real Estate Owned). Illinois is a judicial foreclosure state. Some states are non-judicial. Judicial foreclosures take much more time to complete. In Illinois, the process can take a year or more. There are some states which take upwards of 3 years. When you consider that, in most cases, the bank is receiving nothing while the process drags along, you start to see their motivation to consider other options. Add to this the deterioration to the property during that time and the additional carrying costs, and the benefits to the bank become even more clear. The bank in this situation, much like the homeowner, is looking for the best way to limit their losses.

The benefits of a short sale:

Lenders generally don’t allow the seller to receive any of the proceeds of the sale. This is fair when you consider that the whole basis of the short sale is negotiating with the lender to get them to take less than what they’re owed. The only exception I’ve seen to this was years ago when, due to an error, we were out of balance by $.06 The title company actually cut a check to the seller for six cents! As a seller in this situation, one needs to keep in mind that, if the lender agrees to the short sale, they are allowing the seller to avoid having a foreclosure on their record which follows them around for many years. Additionally, most short sales also let the seller out from under the debt without being chased for a deficiency. These two things should be all the motivation you need. there are no guarantees of being successful but it’s certainly worth the effort.

Who should you call?

These transactions are not for beginners. There is no substitute for experience when it comes to navigating through this process. An experienced agent and attorney are crucial. In this situation it makes sense to ask a lot of questions. There are specialized short sale/foreclosure courses available for agents. Some are very worthwhile but these courses alone don’t necessarily make the agent an expert. An agent referred by a seller who’s been through this process is definitely someone worth talking to.

What will it cost?

In most cases, it will cost you nothing unless there’s an upfront fee charged by the agent to list the home. All agents negotiate their own fees. It should cost you nothing to talk to an agent and get information. All commissions and other closing costs a seller would normally pay will be factored in and, if the lender agrees to the short sale, they are agreeing to the net amount of the sale so essentially, it is the lender that is paying your closing costs. For someone facing foreclosure, a short sale can be an excellent solution.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Opportunities for real estate investment for foreigners is wide and varied in the United States. It doesn’t matter where you’re from and what currency you’d be using to purchase a property, you have a property waiting for you.

There are generally three kinds of real estate investment available to foreigners. These investments include the commercial estate investment and residential property investment. Residential properties are further classified into single family properties, apartments or condominiums and recreational properties. Regardless of what kind of real estate you are interested in, there are all sorts of tax ramifications, financing options and legal requirements that you have to deal with.

Why Should You Invest in the U.S. Real Estate Market?

You’ve probably heard of the increasing number of foreign real estate investments in the United States. This is not surprising. With the troubles that the real estate investment market is facing in the United States, greater opportunities in real estate investment were opened to foreign investors.

With the dollar’s value in its all time low, foreign investors are finding real estate bargains all over the United States. There are no shortages of deals in this market. More and more distressed properties are being sold everywhere and foreigners are pouring in millions buying these foreclosed or distressed properties. The United States real estate has become a fairly attractive long-term investment for foreign investors.

In November of 2006, the National Association of Realtors released a report entitled „Foreign Investments in U.S Real Estate: Current Trends and Historical Perspective“. The report showed that there has been a steady increase in foreign real estate investment in the United States. This is especially after the euro and the loonie became stronger in the face of the continuous devaluation of the US dollar. Prime bargains were opened to foreigners. Many foreigners have now looked into the possibility of retiring or settling in the United States.

If you’re a foreigner, you would find a lot of reasons why you should invest in the United States real estate market. Aside from the fact that the floating exchange rate has given you a lot of leverage over the bargaining table, the financial market is a pretty good reason why you should invest in the US real estate.

The financial market in the United States in relation to the real estate market is quite liberal and the restrictions against foreign investors are pretty reasonable. This is ideal for foreign companies that are seeking to invest in the real estate market in the United States in order to avoid tariff restrictions and are considering setting up an office or a company in the United States.

Furthermore, despite the devaluation of the US dollar and the wide foreclosures of a lot of property, the real estate market remains to be stable, though slightly shaky, due to foreign investors‘ capital appreciation. Domestic real estate buyers may not necessarily share the same opinion, but the market has remained to be strong for foreign real estate buyers. This may be largely credited to the fact that there is minimal risk for them.

Why are Foreign Real Estate Investments Safe and Profitable?

There are a lot of investments you can make, but the safest you can make right now is investing your money in real properties. This is another good reason aside from the fact that you can make a pretty nifty profit, if you like, particularly now with the widespread property foreclosures and seemingly continuous US dollar devaluation. This is especially true if you are going to use the euro or the loonie when making your investment.

But why is US real estate investment safe for foreigners?

It is undeniable that stock investments are not a safe avenue at this point. The recession has not only affected the US economy; the same recession has greatly affected worldwide stock investments. Stocks values are dropping. It is also a fact that even without the current economic situation, stock values fluctuates.

On the other hand, real estate investments are pretty stable if you would compare it to stock investments – or even bond or mutual fund investments. With real estate investment, you’d be putting your money in an investment that would grow in value as years go by.

What are the Benefits of Foreign Real Estate Investment?

US state government supports foreign investments and along this line has formulated various tax breaks to encourage foreign investment on real estate. Many of these tax breaks are not available in many countries. In fact, most countries would frown at foreigners owning real properties within their territory.

Foreign real estate investment in the United States is open to everyone. As long as you can afford to buy the property or at least comply with the mortgage requirements and payments, you can secure for yourself a pretty good property in the United States. Again, with the current economic situation of the United States, this is the perfect chance for you to make an investment.

Another great benefit that you can take advantage of is the availability of mortgage financing. Lenders have opened their doors to foreign investors who are looking into purchasing a property. So, you don’t have to actually deplete your bank account. You can actually secure a mortgage loan and gradually pay it off.

I’m Canadian, What Are My Financing Options?

There is a steady increasing rate of Canadian real estate investors in the United States; and accordingly, the government has made certain that they have attractive financing options available to them.

If you’re Canadian – or if you’re a foreigner – you’d find a lot of reasons why you should buy a piece of real property in the United States. For Canadians, the parity of the currencies or the apparent devaluation of the US dollar is a pretty good reason itself. But how do you finance your purchase?

There are various financing options available to you depending on which state you are in. In Arizona, for instance, you’d get favorable financing terms if you are purchasing a property for recreational purposes, that is, you do not derive any income or benefit from your purchase or ownership. You will be required, however, to sign up a disclosure agreement and give a 30% down payment for your loan. To qualify though for a loan, you may be required to show availability of liquid reserves for a period of three to six months. You may also be required to present a minimum of 3-month bank statement.

If you are purchasing a property for investment, you’d probably meet stricter terms. Requirements may be more stringent. For instance, you could be required to give a down payment of more than 30% and you may be required to show one year worth of liquidity reserves.

Regardless of your reasons, if you feel like you can fulfill the requirements of a financing loan, you can then proceed to actually applying for a mortgage loan. Also, keeping yourself updated with the financing terms flux may be a wise idea.

Understanding the Tax Ramifications of Real Estate Investment

The first foreigner to have ever bought a real estate property in the United States was Peter Minuit. This opened the doors to foreign real estate investors. After a couple of centuries later, foreign real estate investment has grown into huge proportions, accounting for billion-of-dollar worth of industry.

The low risk attached to US real estate market, the availability of countless properties, and the steady market liquidity attract foreign investors in droves. The initial snag, however, is the process of understanding the legal ramifications of foreign real estate investment.

What you have to understand is that foreign investment in the United States can take a lot of forms. A foreigner has various options. He can acquire direct interest. He can acquire an interest in the real estate through a partnership, a corporation, or a limited liability company. The latter is the typical structure used by foreign investors.

Limited partnership or Limited Liability Company offers financial protection or indirect asset protection, especially in cases of bankruptcy, law suits and taxes. Foreign investors are generally taxed on the property as if they hold the property in direct interest.

Ideally, you should secure the services of a real estate accountant to help you out with the tax ramifications, but it would help if you, at least, know the basics before you actually talk to an accountant.

There are tax consequences that you have to deal with when you buy a real estate in the United States. You would need an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number which you will use with all your tax transactions. Your investment in real estates can be treated as a portfolio investment and will be accounted for as an investment income which can either be fixed or a periodic income. This is typically taxed at 30% on gross revenues. This tax though does not apply though to all foreign investors. Tax rates would vary depending on the tax personality the foreign investor opted for. For instance, a corporation would be taxed differently.

Other things that you should take note of are availability and requirements of tax refunds and state tax laws on real estate properties as they may differ from federal laws, among other things.

By knowing all these things, you may save yourself from a lot of hassles when you finally approach a real estate accountant. You’d be in same wavelength when you finally get down to talking business. It is, however, very important that you secure the services of an accountant. You’d have an easier time dealing with the taxes ramifications. You’d also have assistance ensuring that you comply with all the accounting aspect of your investment. This is especially true if you are purchasing a real property for investment purposes.

Do You Need to Secure the Service of a Real Estate Lawyer?

If you are considering buying a property in the United States, you need to secure the services of a real estate attorney – someone who could help you with the legal issues concerning your purchase. It is tempting to forego securing the service of a lawyer to save money, but this could cost you a lot of money in the long run. Make sure that you have an experienced and trustworthy lawyer to help you out. Make sure that you have thoroughly checked out his credentials, profile, history of successful cases handled by him, and other factors that would influence your decision. You could check online and look for a lawyer working within the state where you are considering purchasing a property.

Functions of a Real Estate Lawyer

There is no actual distinctive function for a lawyer in a real estate case. However, you would really need the assistance of a lawyer for various tasks. A real estate lawyer would review the sales contract for you. He would also check on the title and other documents relating to the property. A lawyer would also review your mortgage contract and make the necessary adjustments or corrections. You could also get him to review with you the legal and tax issues concerning the purchase. A real estate attorney could also make the necessary adjustments relating to various expenses and costs involved in the purchase. He would assess your eligibility for tax refunds and draft the documents and statements relating to this.

Putting it simply, a real estate lawyer will be your watchdog. He would guide you through the whole process of purchasing a real estate in the United States in order to make sure that you will be legally protected. You will have a capable and trustworthy liaison to help you out with the contract. He will also face legal disputes if any arise.

Tips on How to Invest in Real Estate Successfully

Now, if you’ve fully bought into the idea of real estate investing in the United States, you might just want to know how to go about investing in real estate successfully. If you want to be successful in this venture, the first thing that you have to avoid is overanalyzing. Of course, it is a good idea to carefully think through your actions but it is a bad idea to overanalyze your investment to nonexistence. You might lose a great opportunity.

Before you purchase the property though, it might be wise to check the property value. If it sits well with you and you can reasonably afford the property, go ahead and make the purchase.

If you are considering the property for a quick flip, make sure that the property is in perfect condition and in good area. This is to ensure that you could double or actually triple your return of investment. If you can inspect the property yourself, do so. If not, a good and trustworthy agent can help you with this task.

Another important thing to remember when you’re buying real estate is good financing. You should take your time to carefully consider all your financing options. Foreign investors can email in their queries to various lending institutions. It is a good idea to make sure that you’ve had their terms and rates on paper because they tend to change these terms and charge you with a lot of junk. Your real estate agent can help you with reviewing the escrow charges.

The bottom line, however, is that it is very important that you do your homework before you actually buy a real property. Investing in real properties in the United States can be profitable especially during these times. In fact, it may be the wisest and most perfect investment you can make right now.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

People generally get confused with the term real state and real estate Business. Real estate itself is not related to business as it represents a property of land and building that too, including the natural sources, such as flora, fauna, crops, parks, pools etc. that are immovable and lies in the property’s premises. Whereas real estate business is the profession of selling, buying or renting these properties.

Real Estate Agents

It’s a tough task to match the needs of buyer and property sellers, as buyer may not get his dream property and at the same time the seller also may not get the price of his wish. To establish a good connection between buyer and seller and to find the right buyer for a seller and vice versa, Real Estate Agents can be hired that are easily available in the market. Real estate brokers or agents are the ones, who acts as an intermediate between property buyer and seller and tries his level best to match their demands. Buyers for buying and property owner for renting or selling their property get in contact with the agent. The agent listens to their demands and try hard to fulfill them, for a property sold or rented in his supervision, the agent charges some percent of the price of that property from both the parties, i.e. the owner and the buyer. Agents use websites to promote the sale of properties, often work at nights and weekends busy in showing properties to buyers.

Things you should know about Real Estate Agents

Although agents are such a bliss to those who are struggling to get a property or a price of their interest, but we have to be wise when it comes to choosing an agent. Agents are not bound to show you best properties or tell you all the things they know, they might get greedy sometime and show you properties that are going to profit them more than you. On the other hand, for property owners they might end up, leaving you with paying guest that can trouble you in future, in fact, as the general goal of an agent is to sell the property as soon as possible, they may excite you and ask you to sell your property at comparatively lower prices than that you expected, and would be getting after some days. It’s better recommended to choose your agent and the other party to buy or sell wisely, after taking your time, and not to get excited on every other offer you get.

New Real Estate Business Mediums in market

Now-a-days many online sites and applications have been developed to remove the work of agents. Both the parties contact with each other directly and choose the deals of their interest. Though, this move has increased the transparency between both the parties, but because of being fully online, may result in misleading each other. That’s why it is highly recommended to see the property in person before booking it. As the thing that seems to be good and satisfying online can be completely opposite from that what you will be getting in real.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Foreclosure is never a pleasant experience, so it is important to be aware of where you stand once your property has been foreclosed. Once the proceedings have been put in place, you will have a limited amount of time to catch up on your mortgage payments before your lender accelerates the payments to the point where they will accept nothing less than full payment if you intend to keep the property. The amount of time you have for this will differ depending on the loan provider, but it will usually be no more than a couple of months.

If you are unable to meet these conditions in the timeframe provided, hope is not necessarily lost. There are a number of things you can do to try to maintain possession of the property, particularly if you have maintained a right to redemption on the property.

Your Rights

It is important to note that not every home is eligible for redemption, so it is important to find out if you even have the right before trying to exercise it.

To be eligible, your home will need to have been seized via a judicial foreclose order, in which the lender files a foreclosure suit in court. This process usually takes longer than other types of foreclosure, often lasting up to a year before the lender has undisputed control of the property. This offers you a timeframe in which you can try to buy back the home before it goes to auction.

Timeframe

As mentioned, a judicial foreclosure will often take a year to complete, which usually means that you have about that amount of time to raise the required funds to buy back your home. However, this is not guaranteed and there will be cases where you have far less time to achieve the same outcome.

This is particularly the case if the loan company brings the house to auction quickly and a buyer is found who will pay the full asking price for the property. In these cases you will only have about three months to match the offer ad buy the home back. After this period has passed you lose the right to buy your home.

The Price

The price you will pay to redeem your home is not necessarily going to be the amount that you owed to the lender at the time of foreclosure. In fact, you will often find that you end up paying more to buy the property than you would if you had just maintained the mortgage payments.

In most cases the amount you pay is going to be equal to the amount the lender would ask for if the property was placed in an auction, plus any associated interest charges. Furthermore, you will usually be asked to pay the owner for any repair work undertaken in addition to taxes and insurance for the period in which they owned the home. Furthermore, you will also be required to pay any subordinate liens attached to the property before you can buy back your home.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Investing in real estate scares some people. Understanding just what will happen when you invest, and even how to do it, can leave most people bewildered. This article’s been assembled to supply you with the some easy, but effective tips on entering the exciting field of real estate investing.

Remember that real estate investing is all about the numbers. When you’re buying a home to live in, you may get emotional about the place, but there’s no room for that in investing. You need to keep your eye on the data and make your decisions with your head, not your heart.

Do not be afraid to spend money on marketing. It is easy to just focus on the numbers and get fixated on how much marketing is costing you. However, it is important to think of the marketing as an investment in and of itself. If done the right way, it will only benefit you in the end.

Keep an accountant on speed dial. You can be aware of tax laws and current taxation; however, there are many variables to keep in mind. A good accountant, that understands and keeps abreast of tax laws, can be an invaluable asset. Your success with investing can be made or broken by your approach to taxes.

When negotiating, you should limit the amount of talking you do. You will be surprised at how often someone will do all the work for you just by letting them speak. Also, because you are listening, you will catch the right moment to strike for the price you seek.

As you look for investment properties, seek those that are likely to grow in value. Purchasing anything near water or close to other businesses will be beneficial to you later on. Think about the big picture and the chances its value will increase.

Don’t let your emotions cloud your judgement. Choosing a property to invest in should be a business decision, not an emotional one. It can be easy to get attached to a house or really fall in love with a location. Try to always look at things objectively. Shop around for the best deal without getting attached to one of the first few places you look at.

Find a contractor to work with that you can get along with. There’s no reason to get someone to help you with fixing up the real estate you invest in if you don’t like how they operate. You can save yourself a lot of frustration if you just find someone that you know will work well with you.

Stay away from deals that are too good to be true, especially with investors that you cannot trust or do not have a good reputation. It is important to stick with those who have a good reputation because getting ripped off in this business can cost you a lot of money.

Build your real estate investment buyers list with online ads. For example, you could use social media, online ad sites such as CraigsList and/or the local newspaper to draw attention to the properties you have on offer. Be sure to retain contact information for every person who shows and interest so you will have a well-rounded contact list as you accrue new properties.

Know the value of your time. You may enjoy renovating properties, but is the time you’re spending on it time well spent? Consider if you could better spend your time by searching for the next opportunity. If you are able to outsource certain jobs, then you should do so. It’s worth freeing up your time for the more important aspects of your business.

Don’t buy property in a bad neighbourhood. Pay close attention to where a property you are interested in is located. Make sure you are very thorough when looking at the area. Homes in bad neighbourhoods are often low-priced. The property could be at risk for being vandalized and may be hard to sell.

If you are thinking about purchasing rental properties, consider hiring a property manager who can help you screen qualified tenants. Because rental payments are likely to be the source of your mortgage payment, your tenants need to be reliable. Otherwise, you may end up losing money.

Before you buy investment property in a neighbourhood, find out if the city has anything planned for the areas surrounding this neighbourhood. For example, you would not want to buy in an area if the city proposed to turn an area into a landfill. If there are positive improvements on the horizon, this may be a good investment.

Don’t let a real estate investment deplete your emergency reserve or cash fund. When you invest in real estate, you’ll often not be able to access the money for a while. Don’t let this situation destroy your ability to live from one day to the next.

Know what you should be looking for in a property based on current trends in the market. For example, if you’re going to rent out the properties you buy, then it’s best to have units that are for single people, which is a current trend. Another example is to ensure any home you buy has three or more bedrooms because it will be easier for you to sell or rent to families.

As you see, there is a lot of information to learn regarding real estate investments. This article has provided you with the proper foundation concerning real estate investing. So, remember what you have learned, keep learning and get into real estate investing today.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Real Estate is always a great investment option. While you may have heard stories of quick resale garnering a much higher price making it to the news, rental income form the core of real estate investment value. That’s because historically there has been very little real price appreciation in houses. Renting generates a steady monthly income, like a classic dividend-paying utility stock. If your property appreciates in value then that should be only seen as an additional bonus to your constant income stream. But making a real estate investment into a residential or commercial property isn’t equivalent to a low cost index fund.Carpet Area – Most project only declare the super built-up area that means that you will be charged for a square-footage that you never use including thickness of walls and certain common areas. Carpet area is the true area in which you will be living so its important to understand how much the carpet area for the space is. As per RERA builders cannot charge you a square foot rate based on the super built-up area anymore. They need to charge you only as per the carpet area hence it is important that you get a clear picture about that.

Quality of Construction – If the builder has previous projects that are completed then inquire with past buyers about the quality of construction. You should also check the tiles quality and the brand of bathroom fittings that they will be using for your project. If he is using third-party contractors for construction, then you need to check on the market reputation of these contractors about quality of construction.

Other Costs – Generally the price is quoted as square foot rate and this doesn’t include GST, registration charges, club house registration and any other fees that might not be included in the builder quoted price. GST has affected the cost of projects so its better to check the final price inclusive of all these charges before making a decision.

Check for Completion or Occupancy Certificates – If you are buying a completed project them demand to see the Completion Certificate before making your purchase. You can also check if all permissions from Municipal authorities have been obtained.

Litigation Issues – If you are buying from a single owner or resale properties, then make a check if there is any litigation or dispute about the property. Even a builder should be able to provide you with the agreements with land owners and clear papers that show that there is not pending litigations on the property.

Lastly, every builder has a separate payment plan. To plan your payments and if you need adequate time to apply for a loan, ensure that you get a detailed payment plan from the builder so that you manage your finances smartly. http://blog.pinclick.com/tag/house-for-sale/, http://blog.pinclick.com/tag/real-estate-india/ty-guide/

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Over the past ten years, thousands have invested in the Costa Rica beach front real estate market along the upper Pacific Coast, mainly around and to the north of Quepos. Numerous others have invested in less expensive ocean view real estate overlooking the Pacific, farms and riverfront property in the interior, but mainly still near the ocean. Many others have purchased vacation homes, second homes, and retirement property in Costa Rica due to the cheap cost of living when compared to the United States and Europe.

Both the investor and casual real estate purchasers have already made, or stand to make, huge profits from their investments when they sell their real estate holdings along the coast. In today’s market, it appears many owners could profit around 500% for beach front investments held over a five-year period.

Many in the Jaco, Quepos, Puntarenas, Tamarindo, and the Flamingo areas stand to profit considerably more, but the market in the northern region is rapidly surpassing „affordable price levels“. Much of the beachfront real estate in these areas is being „gobbled up“ by large corporate concerns to build gated subdivisions, condos, mega-hotels and resorts for the sun loving, vacationing Americans and Europeans. This corporate rush for prime beach front land is essentially putting it out of reach for the average investor or retiree.

The new airport near Liberia has resulted in a marked escalation of property prices in the beach towns surrounding Liberia. In addition, the region to the south of Liberia has experienced price increases in the neighborhood of 100% in the past two years and the Costa Rican government projects that real estate prices near Marbella will double in the next three to five years. A beach front ACCESS lot in this area is currently listed for around $300,000 for 54,000 square feet or 1.2 acres.

Dominical, south of Quepos, is currently experiencing a huge boom in prices as beach front condos are springing up like Palm Trees, and of course, the prices are escalating at an astonishing rate. I personally passed up a $150,000 cliff side lot near Dominical seven years ago. On a recent trip to San Jose I saw a cliff side lot, in the same area, that was advertised at $450,000, a three hundred percent return on an investment held for seven years. You can now expect to pay $350,000 for a lot near Dominical.

The same can be said for Palo Seco. In 2000, I looked at a huge lot there for $70,000. Today, lots on Palo Seco are being developed into condos. According to a realtor in the area, property on Palo Seco has escalated by 400% in the past two years and this does not include the escalation in the prior five years. 11,000 square foot building lots are selling for around $115,000.

With the approval of a new marina in Golfito property prices should shoot through the sky. There is great potential for making a lot of money on real estate in Golfito right now, but there is no beach or infrastructure development that most Americans or Europeans expect when investing in „city“ property. Before Golfito really takes off, someone is going to have to foot the bill for these improvements, and you should not expect local taxation to pay the bill.

In the past seven years the small village of Zancudo and Zancudo Beach have shown a tremendous growth in real estate sales and land prices, but Playa Zancudo real estate still remains affordable for most investors, retirees, and those looking for second homes or vacation houses. As I stated, many of the beach front properties in Costa Rica have escalated in price by 300 – 400% (or more) over the past six to seven years and Zancudo investments have performed at the same level. However, large „unimproved“ beach front lots on Playa Zancudo only sold for around $35, 000 each in 2000, some for less. Today, those same very large lots, unimproved, are selling for around $150,000 each – these are NOT small building lots, but rather large tracts of vacant real estate. Compare these prices to beach front, or riverfront property, up north and you will see why Playa Zancudo and the surrounding area is one of the last frontiers for affordable real estate investments on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.

Prices here will probably be comparable to those we are seeing on the upper coast in another three to five years, possibly sooner once the new airport north of Golfito is completed. This means today’s investors could make substantial profits over the next few years, if the past history of real estate prices in Costa Rica continues.

When Opportunity Knocks — will you open the door?

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Copyright 2007 By Donald Lee Johnson

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Part 2 – Staging Sells Your Home Fast.

In 2009 many people began a business in real estate sales by selling their own house. Today, (2010) many of these same people are still trying to sell that first home. The market is tough and with so many homes on the market, today’s buyer is looking for an extraordinary home at a reasonable price, not an ordinary home at an extraordinary price. If you are a For Sale by Owner seller who is not partnering with a REALTOR®, this article will provide you with some guidelines that will help speed the process up and make your home extraordinary.

For example, using our checklist as a guide, the first task after setting the proper price, (see article 1) is preparing your home to sell or „staging.“

Before we get into the heart of staging, we need to discuss disclosure. Staging does not mean hiding. As the seller, you should be aware that the seller’s disclosure of material facts is an important part of a real estate transaction. We suggest you first get your home inspected by a licensed home inspector. Make sure that your home is termite free, and has good plumbing; water quality, lead, radon, septic tank, asbestos, electricity.

If you are partnering with a REALTOR®, they will know of a professional who is reliable and experienced. If you are going strictly on your own, you can look up their listings in the phone book under Home and Building Inspectors. Beware however. Anyone armed with a „do it yourself“ book and a business license can call themselves a home inspector. Some states do not require the inspector to pass a test or be certified. Make sure that you them through the Better Business Bureau. Ask for their credentials and verify references. It’s a little effort that results in maximum benefits.

As we discussed in the last article on „Setting the Price,“ the first thing to remember in selling your home fast is to highlight the best parts of your home. Remember – „first impression“ is important. Just because many of you are still living in the home you are selling, it doesn’t mean that the home has to appear „lived in.“

Make your home attractive to a potential buyer by making sure the first view is their most attractive view. Walk to the street in front of your home and turn around. What do you see? Be honest with yourself; would you pay the price you’re asking. Is the lawn cut, curb edges manicured?

Are the bushes trimmed? Is the paint fresh or chipped and fading? Has the roof seen better days; missing shingles or curled up in spots? Are windows broken, screens missing? Is there clutter everywhere, bikes and toys lying all over? Are fences down or missing slats or links? Are walkways broken, cracked or missing? To answer the obvious question here – NO, the new buyer does not want to do those repairs themselves, no matter how attractive the price is.

Ok, assuming the outside checklist is finished, walk inside the home, with that same critical eye and notepad in hand. Make sure the inside of your house is attractive. A well decorated home, with freshly washed or painted walls and clean carpets, with furniture neatly arranged, will sell faster and for more money than one that looks „lived“ in. De-personalize the home. Get rid of the personal mementos and wall decorations, sports plaques or your child’s finger painting you have tacked onto the refrigerator as well as un-clutter and re-arrange desk(s) and bookshelves.

Clean the kitchen and bathrooms until they shine. These are the two most critically looked at areas of the house, right after the living room. If you have problems doing this, you may need to hire a home stager and a professional cleaning crew so that your home will look organized, clean and tidy.

After your home is in its best performance, you can also hire a professional photographer to take some great pictures of your home. Why you ask? Because in today’s market, many home buyers and their buying broker, look for houses on the web first.

If you belong to a FSBO service, they usually have a spot for you to put pictures of the home. Do not trust this requirement to your trusty digital camera you got for Christmas. Get a professional who knows real estate sales. Remember that first impression is an important thing, how can you sell your home fast if your home itself does not look attractive on the web. You want them willing to see your home after they have viewed the pictures you put up..

After all those things set, you can start to make an „open house.“ Open houses should be scheduled on the time in which your home shows its best performance or condition. For example, if you have a beautiful garden, show it off during the morning before the flowers start to wilt. If there’s one thing that you love most about your home, be sure to share it with potential buyers, but don’t hover. Let the potential buyers look for themselves. Let them ask questions and answer them honestly but then shut up. As a professional REALTOR® who partners with FSBO sellers, I have seen more first time sellers talk the customer out of buying, than I have ever seen them talk one into buying.

With today’s influx of foreclosures, if you need to sell your home fast, you may need some help from a professional in order to take advantage of their buyers list and their nationwide marketing.

If you are partnering up with the services of a real estate firm, your REALTOR® will be able to help you determine what needs to be repaired or corrected.

In conclusion, selling your home fast by yourself is not an impossible task. Those expenses you will incur to freshen up the home are worthwhile when compared to the money gained in the sale.

By Hans Rosielle – GRI

Property Mill Real Estate Group LLC

A Fixed Fee REALTORS® Guide for the FSBO Seller.

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There is no rule dictating that you can’t sell your own by yourself. In fact, there are other home owners like you who have done FSBO (for sale by owner). However, there are several things needing consideration for the process to be successful and beneficial on your part.

Home Value: You can’t just put an FSBO sign in front of your house without knowing how much your house is valued in the market. Of course, determining the figures will need you to avail the services of a professional appraiser. His expertise on the matter will be crucial to price your house enough. Not too low to be below than your buying price and not too high for it not to be purchased at all.

Marketing: As the sole person in charge of selling your home, you need to explore all advertising channels available. Because you’re on FSBO, you can’t put your house in MLS. It’s available to real estate agents only. You probably have to rely on the power of social media to make a buzz about your house being sold. Free ad posting services are also available like Craigslist. You can make flyers and brochures if you want and leave them in high-traffic spots like cafes, bars, restaurants, and parks. But you also need to cooperate with the owners and managers before you can distribute ads in their places, but it’s worth trying!

Contract: You should have the contract ready because a buyer can agree to purchase your house any time, and at times when you won’t expect it. Contracts are hard to prepare because there are legal matters associated to it. For hassle-free preparation, a real estate attorney helps well.

Security Deposit: You’re putting your house on FSBO because you need funds. When negotiating with a buyer, tell him that when he agrees to purchase the house and signs the contract, he should make a security deposit for his intention to buy the house. There should be clear agreement as to when the security deposit will be returned to the buyer and to when it will be forfeited in your favor.

Property Taxes: Avoid being caught in a dilemma after you have sold the house. Property taxes are associated costs that come after. Talk to a real estate accountant to determine the due taxes after successfully selling the house.

These are just four of the many things you need to know about FSBO. Inspections, buyer qualifications, and title should be discussed as a separate entry.

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