Posts Tagged ‘real estate’

Pros and Cons of Living in a Gated Community

July 12th, 2008

2008-07-04 Houlgate (148)
Creative Commons License photo credit: Nuneatonolly

Throughout the nation, there are neighborhoods which are set back from the road and surrounded by gates that are guarded by security personnel who monitor the comings and goings of people on the grounds. These gated communities are highly appealing to some home buyers who like the exclusivity, privacy and security that they feel is afforded to them when living in one of these neighborhoods. However, others feel that the drawbacks of living in a gated community actually outweigh these perceived benefits. Whether or not to live in a gated community depends greatly on the things that you value in the neighborhood where you live. (more…)

Should You Buy A Project Home

July 11th, 2008

insulation 004
Creative Commons License photo credit: thingermejig

After just one weekend watching cable TV most people feel they can fix just about everything and are ready to tackle that fixer-upper home. But is this a smart decision? (more…)

Buying a Home with a Significant Other

July 10th, 2008

Love Dance of Podiceps Cristatus
Creative Commons License photo credit: gezgin.bloggum.com

You’re already living together, so why not take that rent money and put it towards a mortgage payment. On the surface it seems like a very logical idea, you’ll be spending about the same and earning equity in the meantime. You’ll also have the freedom to decorate any way you want. And maybe that significant other is handy and you could even purchase a fixer-upper and flip it. (more…)

Hidden Expenses of Home Flips

July 9th, 2008

DSCF4244
Creative Commons License photo credit: ryanrumsey

Flipping homes became a huge concept a few years ago. For some the venture was incredibly lucrative, for others it was the road to bankruptcy, and for others yet, it was just a dream, something never acted on. (more…)

When to Sell or Rent Your Home

July 8th, 2008

Victorian House
Creative Commons License photo credit: roarofthefour

You’re thinking about a move but don’t know whether to sell your current property or to rent it. It’s a difficult decision for some as the thought of added income every month may be tempting but the idea of having to deal with tenants may be daunting. (more…)

Fractional Property Ownership

July 7th, 2008

Graphic Design - Rondald McDonald House of Delaware - Pie Chart
Creative Commons License photo credit: mstorz

Is fractional property ownership right for you? Fractional means a mathematical portion of a whole. Fractionalized ownership of a luxury item has been commonplace for quite some time. You’ll often hear of people going in together to purchase a boat or an airplane and property is no different. (more…)

Tips on How to make Your Home Standout

July 3rd, 2008

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Creative Commons License photo credit: OK-59

You have listed a home for sale and it’s not moving. It could just be due to the slow market but that doesn’t mean that you have to sit back and wait for the market to speed up again before you can sell your home. There are things that you can do to improve your listing so that people will want to come take a look at the property that you have for sale. There are also things that you can do to the property to make it stand out from the crowd. By making the effort to do these things, you’ll be able to speed up the sale and generate some revenue from your real estate despite the fact that the housing market isn’t moving as quickly as most people would like. (more…)

Understanding Real Estate Short Sales

July 2nd, 2008

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Creative Commons License photo credit: sscornelius

The so-called “short sale” in real estate is quite an oddity in comparison to traditional real estate lending. It essentially means that the bank that offered the mortgage loan will be willing to accept an amount lower than what is still owed. This is obviously something that a lender generally wouldn’t be interested in doing so the short sale is an uncommon aspect of real estate sales. The fact that it’s not common makes it a bit confusing for people who have never been involved in a short sale before. However, it’s something that can be done fairly easily, especially with the housing market the way that it currently is, so it’s worth looking into if you’re in the business of buying and selling real estate property. (more…)

Lease to Purchase Explained

July 1st, 2008

Hans's-house-header-at440-by-G.E.Sattler
Creative Commons License photo credit: G & A Sattler

Have you ever considered a lease to purchase agreement. These home purchase deals can sometimes be a great boon to both the seller and the buyer but before you leap its best to know what you’re getting into. Lease options, options to purchase and lease purchase agreements all sound sort of the same but they’re actually three distinct purchase agreements. Each state has its own laws and regulations on these purchases and you should check your state’s particular version as they all vary slightly. (more…)

Trends Caused by the Decline in Housing Prices

June 30th, 2008

Sign Of The Times - Foreclosure
Creative Commons License photo credit: respres

The housing economy has been on the decline for a couple of years now and it shows no sign of letting up in the near future. This has caused people to start embarking on some trends that are likely to continue in the months to come. As a professional in the real estate industry, it is important to stay aware of these trends in order to adjust your approach to your properties accordingly. (more…)