Posted on November 20, 2009Why Mortgage Preapproval Pays
Don’t be confused with the jargon regarding mortgages; there is a big difference between prequalifying and preapproval. Prequalifying for a mortgage is based on estimates and is not a guarantee that you can get a mortgage for a particular amount....
Real Estate Investments Articles
Posted on November 14, 2009To Flip or Not to Flip - Real Estate's Risky Business
In an era where real estate is either a benefit or a burden to Americans, it is still possible for people to prosper from the practice of flipping a home. It may take a lot of work, or not in some cases, but for investors who are looking to put some...
Posted on November 12, 2009Livin' and Lovin' Loft Lifestyle
Does the thought of buying a one- or two-bedroom apartment with plain, egg shell-white walls and L-shape layout bore you to tears? Does your lifestyle include plenty of action, or at least living in the near vicinity of the action? Then a loft may be...
Posted on November 6, 2009Short Sale Investing Tips
Engage the services of a licensed realtor who is well versed in short sale procedures. This may take a little from the profit margin, but the time saving and avoidance of some red tape will be more than worth the effort. The bank will pay the...
Posted on October 27, 2009Living the Good Life in Charleston, SC
For people who are looking to purchase their first home, there are a number of properties priced well within reach for newcomers to the real estate market. Some may be mild fixer-uppers, and only need a good paint job to freshen rooms, while other...
Posted on October 27, 2009Living the Good Life in Charleston, SC
While some new construction has taken place in the original section of Charleston, the magnificent architecture style has been maintained, creating a virtual trip back in time to the gentle, southern style and grace of the city.
Posted on October 23, 2009Homeowner Needs: Buying Into Security
Every prospective home buyer is likely looking for some level of security when they’re researching neighborhoods to buy into, but how much is enough and how much is just bordering on paranoid? Home security can range from buying into a neighborhood...
Posted on October 22, 2009Things You Should Ask Your Potential Buyer's Agent
How well does this person know the area you are interested in purchasing in? Someone who has bought and sold in the area for several years is preferable to someone who doesn't have as much knowledge of the area. Home prices depend a lot on 'location,...
Posted on October 22, 2009Buying Commercial Real Estate - Risk or Reward?
Before you sign the contract for a commercial building, do your research. Does this location have a lot of drive-by, or if required, foot traffic? Has the building changed hands often in a short period of time? Why is that? Perhaps it is not the...
Posted on October 22, 2009Buying Your Dream Haunted House
While the thought of buying a genuine haunted house is an exciting proposition for many people, it is important that you do your homework when looking at prospective properties to make sure that you’re getting the real deal and the best haunted house...
Posted on October 21, 2009Buying a Condo: Working with Condo Associations
Before you get too attached to a condo, take the time to read the association bylaws to get a good idea of what the rules are for the complex. You will also want to see at least the last few months meeting minutes so that you can see if there have...
Posted on October 21, 2009Sourcing a Good Foreclosure Deal
Check out local free lists of foreclosures, bank-owned properties or short sales. These properties may go quite quickly in the competitive, bargain-hunting world of real estate today. Some homes will be snapped up within one hour of being put on the...
Posted on October 21, 2009Refinancing Real Estate Investments – A 12-Year Plan
People who supposedly know about this kind of stuff say it’s dangerous to include numbers when you write. That may be true but in my opinion, numbers can be pretty exciting. The following set of numbers is visual proof that unique real estate...
Posted on October 21, 2009Real Estate Investments – The J. Hartman Company 10 Commandments
Real Estate Investments should be part of everyone’s investment portfolio. Sure, like any investments, there is risk involved; however, the risk is greatly minimized by those who are properly prepared to make wise real estate investments.
Posted on October 21, 2009What To Look For In a Rental Property
After watching your so called "stable investments" take a nose dive in the last year, maybe you've decided to take the plunge and diversify your investments. It's still a buyer's market and interest rates are the lowest they've been in years, so real...
Posted on October 21, 2009Buying Older Homes: Be Aware of Possible Problems
With all the great deals on homes on the market these days, it is a perfect time to pick up a vintage home for a fabulous price. There are a myriad of older homes, both foreclosures and not, going for a veritable steal on the market right now....
Posted on October 21, 2009Bidding on a Deal: Some Considerations for Buying a Home
There are currently many home buyers looking to take advantage of the glut of foreclosures and short sales on the market. Some of the better priced homes are getting snatched up quickly; these fast transactions are making some home buyers make hasty...
Posted on October 20, 2009Is a Townhouse Right For You?
If you don’t mind living close to other people, this may not be a problem, especially if they value their property and strive to keep it clean and welcoming for everyone. However, if neighbors are noisy or filthy, you’re going to have to deal with...
Posted on October 20, 2009Finding a Use For the Languishing McMansion
There has certainly been a revival in housing sales over the last few months; condos and single family dwellings have been experiencing increased sales as the government has supported stimulus spending into real estate to help the economy along....
Posted on October 3, 2009When You Should Find a New Buyer's Agent
If you find yourself calling your buyer's agent regularly with no return calls from them or you never get responses to your emails, you might want to consider getting yourself a new agent. This agent either has too much on their plate or just doesn't...
Posted on October 2, 2009Piggyback Loans: Pros and Cons
Another issue with many piggyback loans is the balloon payment that many lenders expect at the end of the term. A balloon payment is a significant sum that must be paid in full upon the agreed-upon date of loan termination. It is usually quite a bit...
Posted on October 2, 2009Budgeting For Your New Home
The annual taxes add another burden to your new expenses. Depending on how your home is evaluated, your taxes can be several thousand dollars a year. If you have this attached to your mortgage, it could be several hundred dollars extra; if you don’t,...
Posted on October 12, 2009Choosing a Realtor to Help You Buy or Sell a Home
Another good way to get names of agents, particularly if you're looking to see your home, is by looking in your local papers to see which agents put a lot of effort into advertising homes that they're selling. Ideally, when you're selling your home...
Posted on September 30, 2009Finding the Perfect Home for Your Family
Make sure that your house either has any specialty features that you want in a home or the space to add those features later. If one of the most important things in a home for you is space for entertaining, then make sure that your kitchen is going...
Posted on October 11, 2009Buying a Home With a Well: What You Need to Know
You will also want to know what kind of shape your well system is in. The well should be well away from any pollutants (such as your septic field), the age of your well, the condition of the casing and cap, as well as what sort of backflow protection...
Posted on September 6, 2009Things to Watch Out For When Buying an Older Home
Over a century of pests, oxidization, weather and use are going to take their toll on any home. Without regular maintenance and updates, a historic home could be hiding serious flaws that not only compromise your comfort and the home’s resale value,...
Posted on August 31, 2009Condo Loan Risk Reduction May be Creating More Problems
So, there are some strict requirements in place to avoid much of that risk taking by lenders including only approving home loans where the purchaser is buying into a building where 51% is owner occupied, at maximum only 10% of the condos can be owned...
Posted on August 23, 2009Buying a Home in Summer? Be Wary of Potential Sogginess
In many areas, there is a month or more of dry weather in the summer that can dry up any excess moisture making it seem like there is no problem in the first place. If the weather has been dry for an extended period of time before you tour a house...
Posted on August 14, 2009Foreclosure Nightmares
With so many foreclosures on homes happening in the country, many home owners are taking out their stress and frustration on their foreclosing homes. Home owners teetering on the verge of foreclosure are vandalizing their own homes to get a few more...
Posted on July 15, 2009Mobile Homes Can Be a Good Investment
Legislation has taken some time to catch up with mobile homes so that there are standards for their construction, but now there are laws in place that require manufacturers to make their homes as soundly as they would build a traditional home. The...
Posted on July 11, 2009Choosing a Friendly Neighborhood
This will give you an idea if the traffic on that road is particularly heavy at certain times of day as well as what sort of people you should expect to see walking in the neighborhood in the evenings. Some areas are quiet during the day but may have...
Posted on July 11, 2009When Should You Buy a Condo Instead of a House?
Many people mistakenly believe that the only real option when buying a new home is to buy a house; however, a house is not an ideal option for many people. Owning a house and owning a condominium both have their advantages and disadvantages which...
Posted on July 4, 2009Buying a Home? Be Upfront with Your Agent
While I think that agents should ask their clients questions, I don't believe that it is up to the agent to ask his or her clients for every possible combination of needs that they might require out of a property. At some point it becomes the...
Posted on July 2, 2009Miromar Lakes - A Waterfront Paradise
Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club is a waterfront paradise, only 15 minutes from town, yet once you arrive- it's like being on an island. With 700 acres of freshwater lakes, there is water as far as the eye can see, and the three miles of white sandy...
Posted on July 1, 2009Alternatives to Mobile Homes
Homes that can be moved may be built on a trailer frame or trucked to your location, as long as it has road access. A home on a trailer frame can just be parked at the location but a pre-built structure will likely require some sort of foundation for...
Posted on June 29, 2009The Pros and Cons of Buying a Fixer Upper
Before buying a 'diamond in the rough' consider the neighbourhood. If the neighbourhood is unlikely to appreciate to a level where you could get a good price for your home, then it may not be worthwhile to fix up a house there. The age old adage of...
Posted on June 27, 2009Death and Taxes: The Language behind Mortgages and Amortize
As a homeowner today can be levied fines, lose a good credit rating or have to declare bankruptcy if unable to meet mortgage payments, this is still an appropriate reference today! “Mortgage”, then, means “dead pledge”. If the mortgage loan is...
Posted on June 26, 2009Your Home as a Lifestyle Investment
Sure, the home may be worth a lot and is slated to increase in value, but that may not make up for the fact that you have little money to spend on everyday comforts due to the high cost of the mortgage or your hobbies are hampered by your home’s...
Posted on June 26, 2009How to tell if Your Prospective Neighbor is a Psycho
Examine the property lines of the property and check to see if there is anything on your neighbor’s or your property that could start of a dispute (or be the object of a present one). Something that “isn’t a problem” as far as your agent, the listing...
Posted on June 13, 2009Use the Recession to Your Advantage with Real Estate
Real estate will always be in demand. Many of the failed mortgages came about due to the failure of people to critically examine their finances and examine “too good to be true” mortgages with a skeptical eye. With a modest home and mortgage, many of...
Posted on June 12, 2009Choosing a Healthy Location for Your Next Home
When we decide to buy a new home, we often think about things like how far the new commute will be, how good the schools are in the new neighbourhood, or how well the neighbours' yards are kept up. However, one of the most important things that you...
Posted on June 11, 2009A Slice of Aloha: Vacation Property in Hawaii
So, where is the best place to shop for vacation property? Well, if you're looking to buy a house or condo at a discount, but you want to make sure that the property value will remain strong for many years to come, then Hawaii could be your best bet....
Posted on June 11, 2009SEZ as A Major Source of Economic Growth in India
Social Economic Zone widely known as SEZ has become a chief medium of economic development for India. The SEZ in India is not only objective for an economic growth but also to provide highly developed infrastructure with a superior financial package....
Posted on June 9, 2009Purchasing Foreclosures: the Basics
To avoid foreclosure, sometimes a home owner will accept a buyout on their property for less money than is owed to their lender. This practice is called short selling because the owner is selling their property for an amount short of what is owed on...
Posted on June 8, 2009Use Neighbors to Help You Scout Potential Homes
There are some issues with a home that owners feel are better off not talked about, but if your potential neighbors have noticed, you might be in for a surprise. Better now than when you've bought the house. Even if you still decide to put in an...
Posted on June 8, 2009REO Properties: The Safer Bargain?
REOs aren't for everybody; they have as many problems and issues as other homes, sometimes more. However, in these times, the price you pay can more than offset the cost of restoring the house to its former glory.
Posted on June 7, 2009Renovating a Victorian home
If you want to paint your Victorian home to reflect its heyday, you will probably want to use "authentic" Victorian-era colors and combinations. While many Victorian homes today are painted on neutral themes, this may not be the best course for a...
Posted on June 7, 2009How to Make Niche Real Estate Work for You
People like feeling special. If you specialize in an area that they identify with, they are more likely to pick you because at least they know you will be paying attention to their particular tastes/concerns/goals. For people who are passionate about...
Posted on June 6, 2009Foreclosure Sizzlers
Foreclosure properties have become hot commodities in the current market. So hot, they are sparking bidding wars between first time buyers and real estate investors. There is a huge inventory of unsold homes, all throughout the U.S., and foreclosures...
Posted on June 12, 20098 Reasons To Buy a Home Now
Not only is this a refundable tax credit, but it's also a loan. This means that within two years buyers must begin paying it back at no more than $500 per year for 15 years. If the home is sold during that time, the amount is withdrawn from the...
