0 Lessons from the Recent Recession

The Great Recession has created a big impact not just in America, but in nearly all nations across the globe. It has affected thousands: people lost their jobs, banks suddenly had plenty of money-lending problems, and the value of properties went down.
 

Which was—ironically enough—a piece of good news, especially for those planning to own or buy properties. If you’re one of them, do you know your options? 

Housingloans and credit cards are two of the easiest ways through which people can afford to buy a house or property they have a yen for. 

Real Estate in the Aftermath of the Recession  

For some, the recession has resulted to poor credit due to foreclosures, unemployment, and other related issues. For those who have their own residential properties, losing their jobs isn’t their only problem. Meeting the mortgage payments on their properties has brought more pressure and stress on them. And while some have resorted to selling off their properties during the Great Recession, this is hardly an ideal solution to the problem.

Because of many foreclosed homes, money lending companies now tend to be more cautious in giving financial aid to people who plan to purchase a residential property. 

The Good Side of the Great Recession

The recession taught people the importance of saving money. Between the years 2007 to 2008, the rate of household savings increased to at least two-fifths. Banks have an improved rate of persuasive saving. Even though recession brought decreased ratings in the stock market, devalued the market for residential properties, and increased the number of unemployment, there’s still a something good or positive that came out of it. People felt the urge to save money for their financial stability in the future. They tried to spend less to save more.

Having too many possessions is impractical—if you can’t afford them. So more people learned the value of recycling. Other women tried to spend less cash on their clothes, while some tried to minimise their weekly or monthly food costs. Impulsive buying habits were changed and personal finances were cautiously and carefully budgeted.

There are only a few of the positive things in the aftermath of the great recession. Also, since the value of homes went down, it was buying time for those who had the cash and wherewithal to spend. 

If you’re one of them, here are a few tips for you, especially if you’re looking to own property during the recession:

• Would-be buyers are on the hunt for Foreclosure properties because it’s a great opportunity to buy properties with sharp discounts. So make sure you remember to ask for that discount.

•  Make sure you choose a payment scheme that will sustain your financial standing.

• You need to save money that you can use as down payment.

•  If you want to apply for a house loan, make sure you have a good and clean credit report so you get to be approved immediately by most money lenders.

• Check the location and the condition of the house. Look for good buys rather than investing in a home-wreck.

Know that buying a house is a long-term investment so make sure you’re prepared for anything, six-ways-till-Sunday prepared. If you are, you just might get that home loan approved for that house or property you’ve been eyeing all this time.

1 Paying for College on the House

College is financially challenging as the price of tuition keeps on increasing. Luckily, there are several ways students and parents may consider to support college education. From scholarships to Federal and State Grants to Federal loans and Private student loans, these are options for students who really want to take into the next step of education. Another option, which needs careful thinking is the use of the equity of the home to support finances. Parents may consider using home equity loan if they feel there are no other way to support their children's education.

Taking the equity of the home may be beneficial for the following reasons:

• Getting a fund through the equity might be faster if you have at least 80–85% equity in your home.

• Interest is often tax-deductible.

• Interest rates compared to other types of loans are much more in favor.

• Repayment terms are flexible, with a maximum of 30 years to pay back the loan.

Looking at these advantages, you might consider taking this loan. Perhaps, looking at the downsides would help you create better decision:

• You are taking the equity of your home and you are setting your home as the collateral. There is a tendency you will lose your home once you fail to repay your lender.

• Once payment is delayed or deferred or  forgiven in times of economic downturn, you will probably lose your home.

You may still consider college student loans considering that the interest rate of student loans is pretty reasonable compared with home equity loans. The interest is also tax-deductible up to $ 2,500 per year. Graduates can also get deferrals of up to three years on repayment of their federally guaranteed loans.

With regard to some disadvantages of college student loans, considering the recent news about the rise of student loan debt, you might want to think again.  In fact, according to the Institute for College Access and Success, the average college student graduates with more than $27,000 in loan debt. There are even others who have in excess of $ 50,000 in college debt. Regardless if there is awating job after graduation, most students in debt would not be able to afford comfort and financial stability due to financial crisis. Taking to the next path can be a huge burden with debt issues from the past.

It is better to review both the advantages and drawbacks of other ways to fund college. This will help you create better financial and education decision.

0 Foreclosure Man

Since the very beginning of the real estate crisis, there has been a glut of bank-owned homes on the market in Michigan. Although that spells bad news for the people who lost them, it can be a veritable gold mine for people who have the means to buy them. Under normal circumstances, a real estate investor might pick and choose a handful of foreclosed properties, renovate them and flip them for a profit. The other popular option is to rent them out to tenants. One Michigan man has made a real splash: He bought a whopping 650 foreclosures at one time.

Just Call Him the Foreclosure Man

71-year-old Bill McMachen is far from an experienced real estate investor. Until 2001, he'd never purchased a foreclosed property in his life. On a whim, he decided to buy a bank-owned property for $12,000. Shortly thereafter, he sold it for a cool $18,000. Inspired by the quick and easy nature of the transaction, McMachen started thinking. The more foreclosed properties he bought, the more he stood to make. Unlike many would-be investors, McMachen had a decent amount of money at his disposal. He decided to find a way to put it to good use.

A New Way to Make Money

McMachen earned his fortune by selling yachts. Not surprisingly, the yacht industry hasn't fared very well since the economy took a nosedive. Instead of accepting the situation, McMachen had found a new way to make money. Clearly, a higher volume was going to be needed to make the venture as profitable as possible. When he saw an advertisement for a bank-owned property auction by Macomb County, he couldn't resist. The auction was to include 650 tax-foreclosed properties. McMachen was in, but he just had one question: Could he just buy all of them?

An Auction to Remember

Although county officials had never seen it happen, they told McMachen that there was no reason that he couldn't just buy the entire lot of foreclosed homes. The asking price, $4.8 million, was the total of the amount of back taxes that were owed on all of the properties in question. At an average price of just over $7,300 per property, McMachen would be getting them for an absolute steal. Instead of drag the process out, he went ahead and bought the entire lot in one fell swoop.

What's Next?

The properties that McMachen snapped up at the Macomb County auction included 403 single-family homes, 120 residential lots, 14 condominiums, nine commercial buildings and some undeveloped land. Not surprisingly, people were immediate curious about how McMachen was going to handle all of those properties. From the very start, his plan was to sell them to investors for a profit. However, he wanted to give back to the community too, so he plans to donate some of the homes to needy families. Unlike when buying foreclosed homes at an auction, however, he's going to give investors the opportunity to inspect them and see the property for themselves to find the perfect house that suits them before buying them.

Properties are Flying off the Shelves

As overwhelming as suddenly coming into 650 properties may sound, McMachen has handled it gracefully. In fact, he unloaded 181 in one week and another 150 in another week. According to him, all of the properties should be off his hands shortly. As it happens, people are hungry for investment properties. Of course, people who want to buy and live in them can do so as well. With the right mortgage loan, it's possible to become a homeowner for very little money. There's no word on whether McMachen will buy another batch of properties, but it's clear he's discovered a new career.

1 Everyday Financial Tips Parents Can Give Their Kids

There is a proper mindset regarding money that should be taught to children as soon as possible. A child that is taught proper money management skills at an early age will continue those habits as adults. Parents who really care about their kids will make sure that they have proper money management skills.

Tip 1-Having Proper Medical Coverage Is Mandatory

Medical bills are among the leading causes of bankruptcy in America. However, medical coverage doesn't have to be something that is expensive to carry. Cheap medical insurance quotes can easily be found online with a simple Google search. Another option for receiving coverage is to find an employer who is willing to provide medical coverage to employees.

Tip 2-Make Savings A Key Part Of Any Budget

Saving money can lead to a stable financial future. Having a healthy amount of money in a bank account can help to protect against a future financial emergency. You never know when you might lose your job and the money that goes with it. An unexpected medical bill could add to your expenses when you have not planned for it. Having a baby would certainly create new expenses that a healthy savings account would help you with. Having an emergency fund allows you to deal with the financial adversity that life is going to throw your way.

Tip 3-Pay Cash Whenever Possible

Credit cards can be a great help in times of emergency. However, credit cards can also cause financial problems if you rely on them too much. Never use a credit card when you can pay for something in cash. The interest that you have to pay is not worth it. Credit debt can become a larger problem should you ever lose your job and ability to pay on time.

Tip 4-Only Carry One Credit Card At A Time

The best way to minimize reliance on credit is to limit the amount of credit you have available. Carrying only one card at a time is a great way to make sure you are not going crazy with your spending.

Tip 5-Invest Your Money Wisely

An easy way to lose your money is to invest it poorly. Always take your time before putting any of your money in the market or probably invest in a real estate. Analyze the risks and potential pitfalls before giving anyone your money. One bad investment can drain you of all your savings.

Tip 6-You Will Never Get Rich Quick

The only way to build your wealth is to use patience and good planning. Saving money is a long-term project that requires you to make sacrifices for the greater financial good. Trying to get rich without working for it will generally cause you to lose everything.

Being smart with your money is an important part of a stable future. Having a stable source of money will give you security and peace of mind as you go through life. Financial security gives you so many options and choices as to how you want to live your life. The ability to save your money provides insurance against the adversity that life will throw your life.

2 Five Steps to Design An Effective Real Estate Ad

Newspaper Ads: Five Steps to Design An Effective Real Estate Ad

Nowadays, some businesses might think that it’s now hard to use other forms of advertisement apart from the online types. They might think that in this computer age, online advertising is thebest way to promote your brand or products.

But on this post, you can learn the technical aspects of the DO’s and DON’Ts and the step by step procedure during the design stage on how you can make an effective real estate advertisements on newspaper!

Step one (1). Collect everything you need to be placed on the ad.

• Key features. If you’re advertising for example a "condo in the Philippines", note all the items that might interest the reader: location, square footage, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, amenities.
• Adjectives. Research on competitors’ posts and compile all the hot words: brand new, classic, luxurious, best offer, impeccable, modern etc.

Step two (2). Create an outline layout. Draw and visualize where each element will go. Do you put the picture and content side by side or place the image in the middle instead? For the content outline, use bullets for list.

Step three (3). Work on the copy.

• Headlines. The tagline must say it all. It has to be dramatic and memorable, should be easy to read regardless if it’s written in upper or lowercase. The first three words are extremely important. Go direct to the point. Mention the property or brand name.
• Benefits. Highlight the benefits. Be descriptive. Emphasize how it stands out from the rest. List the price if the deal you’re offering is something that they would not see from the others. Enumerate how much they’ll save and get discounted if they avail your product and service.
• Call to action. Put in a sense of urgency so they’d take action right this very minute-- “Today!”, “Now!”. Write down the availability but also show how opportunity is wasted if they postpone contacting you. Keep it strong and brief.
• Contact Information. Leave your contact details. Guide the client on what they are supposed to do, should they call, visit, or buy. Add “Like us on Facebook” or “Follow us on Twitter.”
• Technical Writing. Always prefer active voice: YOU instead of WE. Headline must be bold-faced. Stick to Roman or Serif font type. If your copy is in paragraphs, distribute it evenly, perhaps 3-4 lines. Moderate capitalization. No to italics or script as they are not that readable.

Step four (4). Choose your illustration. Focus on people instead of an empty lot. Concentrate on bringing out your reader’s emotion through your photo and translating it into something that they can imagine themselves being in that exact same scene. One is better than many. Include caption.

Step five (5). Take a final look. Perform a test run by asking for opinion. Do not be afraid to make mistakes. Do trial and error.

5 Housing Market Trend in Chicago

The year of 2012 has had its ups and downs, and the following is information on the housing market trends last year in the Chicago area.

Housing market trends are famous for changing and every year there are different factors and issues that determine if it is a good year for buyers or a good year for sellers, or something in-between.

During 2012 the housing market trend in Chicago has been reported to be on the decline, according to the Trulia report. The average sale price for houses in the Chicago area between January and March was $160,750, which is a little over a 13 percent decline when compared to the price in 2011.

Market May Be Better For Buyers, Than Sellers
While this may be good for buyers, it isn’t good news for people trying to sell their homes who may be facing a situation where their homes are worth less than they paid for them. This is a bad issue that causes home sellers to lose money on sales, and even in some extreme cases, they may not even break even when they sell their homes.

The statistics also show that as of April 2012 the Chicago market price for each square foot of property was $124, which is also a decline from the same time in 2011 by a little over 12 percent.

Certain Neighborhoods Are Better Than Others

The market trend in the Chicago housing arena does show, however, that certain neighborhoods are doing better in sales than others. The ones that were doing better this year include North Side, Lincoln Park, the Loop, Wicker Park, De Paul and Bucktown.

Reports say that sales are brisk in those areas and buyers are investing in housing there, although no specific reason for it was listed in the Trulia report.

Chicago area, according to the U.S. Treasury Department, is on par with the rest of the country on the number of distressed homes at about 35 percent, while it is only one point lower on the national housing market. However, there have still been a lot of foreclosures in the Chicago area, according to the Chicago Tribune, which reported on the market showing a lot of vacant homes that were going unsold.

Experts Hope For Change in Trends

Experts are reporting that the Chicago market for housing is not very stable this year and that there is much financial uncertainty. Due to this, people who normally invest in the real estate market are standing by to see what transpires, as it is possible the housing prices will rise. The potential investors were heartened by recent reports from the Illinois Association of Realtors sales data for October, which showed an increase in the number of homes sold from the beginning of 2011. In fact, this rise is the best in the past six years for homes being sold in the Chicago area and have significantly gone up in the past two years.

Housing Time On the Market

The amount of homes for sale that are listed in the Chicago area is also a number that goes up and down. It is sometimes hard to get an accurate number in this area though, as many houses that are under a contract never close and this could cause flawed data to be counted. Even so, the trend has been for a rise in the homes available for sale, though when the recent home tax credit of $8,000 expired it brought this number way down in August of 2012.

However, while this was bad news for buyers, it means good news for sellers since there will be less properties on the market for people who want to buy to choose from. The only problem is that since the job market has not been good as of late, there are less people who can actually afford to buy these available houses.

The bottom line is that just like in many other communities and metro areas, the housing market in the Chicago area has had its share of ups and downs. If you are trying to either buy or sell a home, then you should talk to a realtor for the latest information and advice.

3 How to Save Up For Your Vacation Dream Home

Saving up for your vacation dream home is not as complicated as it may seem. However, it does involve a lot of self discipline and the willingness to make temporary sacrifices in the present in order to enjoy a luxury vacation home in the future. Following are some tips on how you can save up for the vacation home of your dreams, a bit at a time.
 

Saving Money

A number of financial gurus suggest that a person should set aside about 10% of his or her income and put this money in a savings account. This is a wise idea and should be done before a person spends money from his or her monthly paycheck.

Naturally, saving 10% of your income means that you have less money to spend in the present. Chances are you will probably have to make some sacrifices in order to save this amount of money. Perhaps you will have to eat out less often than before, buy secondhand clothing instead of new clothes and/or walk or ride a bike every so often instead of driving short distances. However, if the vacation home is worth it to you, then making these small sacrifices will not be such a big deal.

Increasing Saved Money via Investments

If you want to maximize your savings, then investing this money can be a good idea. Every type of investment comes with some risks, although some investment options are safer than others. Buying gold is a good way to make more money, as gold usually costs more at the end of the year than it did at the beginning. Other safe investment options include buying fixed annuities, putting the money in a savings account that accumulates interest and investing in bonds.

A person may also want to invest in a few risky investments, such as stocks and mutual funds. While there is a chance that one will lose money, these investments have the potential to be very profitable. You just need to do some research to see which exact stocks and mutual funds are the best ones to invest in at the present time. You will also need to keep an eye on your investments and be prepared to sell them quickly if they take a sudden downturn.

Calculate how much your vacation dream home will cost and then determine how much money you will need to set aside every month in order to buy the home of your choice. You can then determine if saving money is enough or if investing the saved money is also in order.

While you can take out a mortgage or refinance your home in order to buy a vacation home, it is cheaper and better to save the money and pay for the home without going into debt. The above tips provide a good starting point for anyone who wants to set aside money to buy a luxury vacation home.

About the Author: The author is an expert in the field of buying property and has written extensively on the subject. Click here if you are interested in good deals on luxury properties in Park City, Utah.

2 Now Get Exactly What You Are Looking For

The Need For Real Estate Hunting

It is not needed to elaborate over why it is needed to have the real estate for you. It offers the security that is needed for anyone in their lives. Getting and investing in a house is the most obvious thing that a person would like to get in their lifetime. It is the most secure as well worthy investment procedure because the chances of the prices going down is less. Moreover a person should make a wide decision as far as investing in a real estate. There are a few factors that need to be taken into consideration as to taking the call for the purpose of investment as well as location that one is opting for. These are the factors that will be affecting the prices of the estate in the future. With industrialization taking place in full scale in all the places, it is very obvious that no place can be left untouched and the value of real estate is going to increase steady.

The Loans As Well As The Interest Factors

It is very important that the loan amount should be taken into consideration as well as the interest that you will be paying along the way. Make a conscious decision as to decide over the price that you will be paying for the property over a period of time. Real estate for sale will have many brokers in the mid way. But at the same time there have come up a lot of ways to make sure that they can reach to the parties directly without having to shell out extra bucks in the mean while. These all form to be very important factors for the people in the meanwhile. Buying a real estate sure does not come in cheap and for this real one needs to be very cautious about such expenditures that can be definitely avoided.

Locating A Lucrative Estate Online

Now that the need and the intervention of agents and middlemen has decreased considerably, one can get a lot of help online as well as the smart phones that have become so common in use these days. How is that possible? Well you can easily access the entire list of the real estate via the famous apps that can be downloaded on the phone. This makes it very easy to get in touch with the party themselves.

Real Estate For Various Locales

If you are seriously interested in real estate for sale, you need to be aware of the rates as well the future of the same as it varies from place to place. Generally in developed and technologically advanced nations the rates for purchasing in the real estate can be too expensive. In the same way it will comparatively easy to invest in underdeveloped and developing nations. One needs to have the intuition and the foresight in case they intend to take a chance in making a real estate investment decision.

3 How First-time Home-buyers Can Benefit From Kit Homes

Not every family can afford to purchase their very first home. Many end up living in rented flats, condos, or apartments just to be able to have a roof over their heads. In countries like Australia, the US, and some parts of the UK, kit homes are available and sold as alternative housing. These homes are prefabricated and do not cost as much as real estate properties.

The idea of living in a kit home may be too far-fetch especially for those who used to live in a lavish home with their parents and siblings. But today's economy is different and starting families are not always so fortunate when it comes to financial situations. You can avoid the problem of being in debt and having to pay a large accumulated sum for a mortgage by considering modern alternative housing.

Other than living in an apartment or condo, you can still save up for a good-sized lot within your city or suburbs. You may also loan a considerable amount if your savings are not sufficient to purchase the land. As for a kit home, there's no need to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars because these are already prefabricated according to style and size.

Going DIY or without the help of a contractor can also save you several hundreds to thousands of dollars in construction costs. One way to ensure that you'll succeed here is by getting some helping hand from friends or family/relatives who know home-building and construction work. If you choose among steel frame kit homes, for example, you will get the instructional guide and the complete materials to help you assemble the home's sections onsite. This is called the 'homeowner-builder' approach and you can save more if this is your chosen route.

For those who have no construction know-how, the right way to go is to look for a local contractor who can help you. Negotiating your concerns and issues right away can help eliminate possible problems of not finishing the assembly process on time and/or incurring too much labor costs in the end. Lay out your plan of approach and timeline to prevent these things to happen. A reputable contractor is the best choice if you are after faster and efficient assembly of your steel frame kit home. Besides, the contractor won't be building the entire home from scratch as it is just a matter of putting the sections together in place.

If you are one of those families who care about the environment as much as you care about your savings, you will be doing your share of preventing too much waste and pollution within your premises and the surrounding area. There will be less construction materials, wastes, paint and chemical spills, as well as unnecessary trash during and after the assembly of your kit home. You can also save on hauling the excess materials, particularly on trucking services or your own gasoline expenses.

If owning a home can be daunting for most people, it is a good idea to look for better and affordable options such as steel frame kit homes. These are as sturdy and stylish as traditionally built houses and they use modern processing for faster onsite construction; hence the lower costs.

Author's Bio:
Ben Wall has been involved in real estate property development over the last ten years. He is passionate about this industry and wishes to share what he has learned from his experience with Australian suburban real estate to those who wish to know more about the business. He is also blogging for http://www.valleykithomes.com.au/ - Australia's preferred kit homes specialist.

0 Closing Time

It’s not really fair to single out any one point of selling your home and declaring that it’s the “most important.” That being said, obviously no deal is complete until it is complete. And any salesperson will tell you that closing the deal is, if not strictly speaking the single most important step, than definitely the trickiest. Look up any classic movie speech on sales, and you’ll likely find a focus on closing. (And if Alec Baldwin is in the clip, it’s also very not safe for work!) Closing requires a delicate touch, and there are many ways to help the process along that both parties can agree too. Escrow. Simply opening an escrow account can take a lot of the anxiety from both buyer and seller out of the issue. There are so many issues involved in buying a house that the details can obscure some important things. Having a neutral third party hold all money and pertinent documents until the deal is completely finished is the best way to ensure that no one is in danger of getting ripped off. Home Inspection. There is no law that says a home must be inspected before it is sold, but they are usually par for the course. This doesn’t mean they aren’t always done, however! It would be dumb to not insist on one, and keep it mind it’s more than fair to demand that the seller paid at the very least half of the inspection costs. In fact, if they aren’t willing to eat the entire fee, it might be something of a red flag. Renegotiate. If an inspection does turn up issues, by all means, renegotiate, even if your offer had previously been accepted. Changing the price to reflect anticipated repair work is a fair demand, as is agreeing to settle at the agreed upon price so long as the repairs are made by the seller to your satisfaction. If your purchase contract states “as is,” you might not be able to get a compromise, but you are usually allowed to back out if a major problem is found that the seller can’t or won’t fix. Title Search and Insurance. A title search and insurance provides you with that peace of mind that guarantees legally that you are protected from anyone else claiming the property as theirs later on, such as a lost relative forgotten in the will or tax collector making a return round for what he thinks is his due. A title officer can perform the search and ensure that there are no clouds hanging over the title, and help you to resolve those issues before they come to a head. Just remember that buying a home is a huge investment, and no one wants to be rushed in. Using these tips as a safety net will help to ensure that the deal is closed smoothly and successfully.

Ed Michelson blogs for We Buy Ugly Houses, a national real estate company which buys and sells homes throughout the US.

1 What real estate agents can learn from Obama's Win

As you brainstorm ways to use the Internet to enhance your real estate business, think about President Barack Obama. In 2008, then-Senator Obama pledged that his presidential bid would be the first cyber campaign. That is to say that he would utilize computer and on-line technology in an unprecedented way. The result was spectacular. Not only did a young, nearly unknown first-time senator win the election, but he brought presidential campaigns into the 21st Century. It was obvious his 2012 campaign would expand on his previous success. The president's creativity should inspire you to consider applying Internet technology - social media, email, video, etc. - to your own real estate business needs.

Initially, the most obvious difference in Obama's 2008 campaign was its extensive use of email to build a communication network with supporters and potential supporters. The campaign used all media to attract voters to its website and, therefore, its email list. TV commercials, Web ads, You Tube videos and personal pleas lured people to the candidate's website, but they could not enter the site unless they gave up their email addresses. In addition, online fundraisers not only collected money, but also email addresses. Even traditional "retail politics" played a role as campaign staffers circulated at rallies collecting, you guessed it, email addresses.

As the presidential email list grew, so did its value. The list was used to solicit more donations, make important announcements, offer contests and get out the vote come election day. Plus, once the 2008 election was over, the list allowed the campaign to stay in touch with the electorate while building a foundation for the next election.

Such lists are versatile and powerful. In real estate, a list of potential home buyers and sellers is worth gold, and such a list could be built easily. Email addresses should always be collected on websites, at open houses, and during telephone calls. And these addresses will continue to be useful, even after a prospect purchases a home. Home owners are great for referrals, and post-sale feedback is always valuable.

In addition to the email list, you should immerse yourself in social media. Once just the realm of young people, sites like Facebook and Twitter now reach a wide selection of potential customers. Plus, these demographic-based networks make it much easier to reach your best prospects. It is target marketing times 100. Just as the Obama campaign focused in on the voters most likely to not only agree with the president, but also to take action and actually vote, you can use a professional Facebook page or Twitter account to zone in on people you can help, or at least people who can help you.

You also should consider creating your own software. In fact, it could be said that this was one of the most effective strategies of the Obama campaign. For 2012, the campaign created a technology field office staffed by skilled Silicon Valley supporters with advanced coding and program-design talents to literally build web-based programs customized to the campaign's specific needs. Among the custom programs built were a one-click text message fundraising protocol and a unique volunteer organizing interface. These days, with affordable coders available to hire online, a program customized to your unique needs could be most helpful.

Still, even if you would rather not build your own program, the online possibilities are endless. Not only can you find many web apps to help you with the basics - like online faxing, website building, and electronic signature software - there are a wide variety of online resources geared specifically to real estate. Sites offer all-in-one real estate marketing assistance, data mining and even automated "for sale" commercial makers.

Even video, which was difficult to use not so long ago, is easily available now. Most computers not only record video, but also feature easy-to-use video editing software. Now anyone can make a video and post it online.

President Obama was smart enough to use every tool available to him to make his campaigns successful. You should do the same. Creative use of online technology will not only expand your customer base, but also give you an edge against your competitors who are missing the boat. Well, missing the boat for now.

0 Benefits of Buying a Home in the Winter

Most people think the combination of moving and winter is pretty miserable. Between dealing with the busy holiday season, a dwindling bank account, and inclement weather, winter isn’t usually the most ideal time to pack up and relocate.

However, if you’ve been thinking about buying a home, now might be the perfect time to do it. Here are six reasons why buying a home in the winter is a good idea.

1. Studies show the most popular time to buy or sell a home falls between April and July. Very few people choose to move during the winter. Therefore, it is pretty safe to assume those who do so aren’t doing it by choice. Many people sell their home during the winter out of necessity – job transfers, school enrollment and financial issues are the leading causes of sudden relocation. As a result, a homebuyer can usually find a pretty good deal and definitely has the upper hand when it comes time to negotiate price.

Homebuyers should note this information is region specific. Residents in warm locations – especially those in common retirement areas like Florida – don’t tend to follow the home buying/selling yearly cycle of other, cooler locations. Also, the complete opposite information tends to hold true for popular ski and winter sport regions

0 Repost: Housing Will Be What Pulls Us Through

This is an article I recently wrote for The Niche Report. Please do visit the original post at http://www.thenichereport.com/blog/housing-will-be-what-pulls-us-through/

The worldwide economy is shaky at best. In fact, there are more doomsday predictions about total economic collapse out there right now than there are about any other subject. So who do you believe, and what could make the world a more stable place to live economically speaking. When you set aside the EU problems with government debt, the slowdown in Chinese manufacturing, unrest in the Middle East and chaos in South America and Africa, all you have left is the U.S. economy; the largest economy in the world for both consumption and production. Yet, the U.S. continues to struggle with high unemployment, low manufacturing data and soaring prices for the average consumer.

So Where Does the Problem Lay?
The United States has always relied upon the housing market to pull it up from a recession. Throughout history, when times were tough, the construction industry pulled the weight of the other lacking industries. However, the housing construction industry has not been able to contribute to the overall growth of the country for six of the last seven years. It is only in 2012 that home construction has begun to show signs of life.
In a recent article released by Reuters, 35 of the top 38 economists in the country believe that the housing industry is finally beginning to return, and that the home construction industry will actually contribute to the GDP figures this year.

When home construction occurs, jobs are created, support businesses see an increase in demand, and government generates considerable revenue. In fact, the Government Accounting Office has stated that each new home built creates at least $90,000 in overall revenue for government entities.
The other problem is the large amount of homes available on the market today at extraordinary low prices. Because home values have dropped so much, and there are too many homes available, the desire to purchase is absent.
While it would be normal to think that low prices would drive demand, the opposite is true. People see home values dropping and do not want to take the risk that if they purchase a home now it will be worth less next month. When people see home prices continue to rise, they will interpret that as “time to buy” before prices go too high.

Other Contributing Factors
High unemployment rates are also a large cause of the housing industry problems and the overall economic downturn. Unemployment has remained over eight percent for several years, and people are simply afraid to commit to purchasing a home because they do not know what tomorrow will bring with their employment.
Unemployment, once you factor in the reported rate of 8.3 percent, and the additional six percent that are no longer looking for work, you have a population that is almost 15 percent unemployed. When you combine this figure with the amount of retirees, students and people receiving disability compensation that are out there, the number becomes closer to 25 percent. That is nearly one-quarter of the country not earning a living, consuming goods to boost the economy, or purchasing real estate.

What Can Be Done?
For the economy to heal in the United States, and around the world, a serious look must be taken at government debt burdens, the way commodities are traded and educational opportunities.
The people must begin to educate themselves to compete in the new millennium. Once they can return to work, they will become consumers again. Once they feel safe, they will begin to purchase homes and other goods and the economy will heal.

3 Understanding your rental agreement – five things to keep in mind

It is always exciting when you move into your own place, whether you are purchasing or renting. But remember, just like a mortgage, signing on for a lease is more than a big step: it is a legally binding agreement. Wherever you are renting real estate, western suburbs, Melbourne to Allura to inner city Glebe, you are bound by your rental agreement. Here are five things to keep in mind.

1. You have to fill out an application form first

It seems you have to fill out an application form for almost everything these days, and a rental property is no exception. Once you find your dream rental property, you’ll need to fill out a tenancy application form, which enables the landlord to check your references and credit history. If your application is successful, the landlord will give you your rental agreement.

2. Your agreement has a time frame tied to it

As with any other document, make sure you read your rental agreement carefully. The first thing to look out for is the time frame tied to the agreement. Is the contract for a fixed term or periodic tenancy? The latter is usually renewed on a weekly or monthly period and

1 A Guide on Getting a Mortgage For Your Property

Buying a home is an important step for any adult. Whether it's your first home or your fifth, getting the mortgage is one of the most important, but often stressful, parts of buying a home. In order to get the job done and save on money at the same time, it is helpful to do your homework before you begin working on getting a mortgage for your home.

The Mortgage Comes First

If you want to look for a home without worrying about whether you can afford it, many prospective home buyers are now applying for the mortgage before going house hunting. This can help the buyers in two ways. First, the buyer will be able to know how much money a lender is willing to give them for a mortgage, letting the buyer search for homes that are specifically in their price range. Second, getting the mortgage first will also let sellers know that you are ready to go if you decide to make an offer. They will not have to wait for the bank to approve your finances.

Interest

What determines how much a person can afford is often left up to what interest rate you can get. The better your credit is going into the mortgage process, the more likely you are to get a lower interest rate. Interest rates are also based on current economic conditions, so if you do a little research you will be able to target the best time of the year to get low interest rates for your mortgage. If you settle for a higher interest rate to get the home quickly, you do have the option to refinance down the road.

The Term

Another factor that will determine your monthly mortgage payments is the term of the loan. Most first time home buyers go for the maximum term,

3 Designing a Home on a Budget

Owning a home gives people many benefits over renting, one of these being the ability to remodel, redecorate, and renovate every inch of the living space if desired. These changes can give the home a very personalized feel, as well as set the tone for the house as a whole. From redoing rooms so that they all match with each other to simply changing a few things to suit the ever-changing tastes of both adults and children, the one thing that typically holds people's decorating dreams back is the cost.

Although many types of remodeling is not cheap, there are ways to accomplish even the biggest of tasks for reduced prices - it just takes a bit of research and planning.

Read more at my post on Designing a Home on a Budget.

6 Finding Your Perfect House

With the real estate market pumping out numbers that are at an all-time low, you may be finding that it's time to start house hunting. Now, before you start hunting for that perfect house, there are a few things that you should know before signing that offer sheet. To make your house hunting process a little easier, here are some things to keep in mind:
 
Room to Grow

For starters, let's take a glance into your future. What do you plan on doing? Do you plan on having children? Do you have a family set in stone now? The reason you will want to know

11 The Cost of Moving House

Moving into a new home can cost a considerable amount of money. The amount of money that is required to move depends on numerous factors. Moving is one of the most important financial decisions that you can make which is why the cost of moving has a direct impact on the entire moving process.

The property market and estate agents

Moving house requires additional costs because there are various purchasing requirements. This includes buying items such as removal boxes or new furniture. Buying these items contributes to the cost of moving. Stampduty and other forms of tax can also add to the cost of moving house. These are mandatory and part of the legal moving process.

The cost of moving house also depends upon