Monday, December 15, 2008

Cedar City Foreclosures

Are you in the market for a Southern Utah home? If so you may want to consider a Cedar City Foreclsoure. The reason is pretty simple really. Banks will often let REO's go for 60% of thier appriased value or less. This means you are buying your home for a 40% discount.

The reason banks will do this is because they make money by lending it and collecting interest. When they own properties they are not making them interest. This is why they are willing to sell at such a steep discount.

SO if you are looking for a great home at a great price I have a free list of Cedar City Foreclosures on my personal website.

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Wednesday, December 20, 2006

To Adsence or Not to Adsence that is the Question

Google Adwords program had another look earlier but was discontinued because it´s basic idea was to pay per impression. That did not guarantee traffic to the advertiser and was not so popular.What an advertiser want is highly targeted traffic and the best way to achieve this nirvana of the internet world is to learn and implement the right marketing strategies from the start. But ultimately the success of any online business relies on getting the traffic it needs.

If you look at some of the ads on Google and learn from the one’s that made you want to click on their link. Now you can create ads with a text that matches the exact keyword phrase for which people are searching. The available keyword tools makes it easy for you. Also, one reason many people like a home based business is because it allows them to operate on a small budget, and Google Adwords now offers a way to place online ads within that budget.

Any online business is doomed to fail without traffic. But simply selecting a few good keywords and paying a high cost per click rate is not going to keep you in business very long.

The optimal goal is to find keywords that have relevance to your product but that have little competition. Remember that if your product requires a payment, you should include -free as a negative keyword. In that way your ad will not be shown to people who include free in their search. So you will not have to pay for visitors who have no intention of spending any money. If possible, list the prices in your text, so that you can put off clicks from those who would have no intention of purchasing your product or service.

It is easy to setup an account with Adwords and it only takes a few minutes to have your first campaign go live. You can also advertise in a local area and use the advantage of geographical targeting in a campaign. Adwords is a actually a great service that is here to help us reach more customers. The big one’s are Google and Yahoo, they control over 90% of the pay per click market and so you should seriously consider using them if you want the maximum possible exposure to targeted web traffic through pay per click advertising. The ads appear on Google´s search results, on websites and virtually anywhere a web page can be served.

With a proper preparation and execution, starting Google Adwords can be like planting a money tree that will provide your business with a steady stream of revenue. After you have set up an account with a small activation fee of $5, you can start bidding on keywords and gain ranking in the SERPs on the right side of the organic search engine listings instantly.

Be careful and watch the cost of bids if you are outside the US. For example, the cost of bids in the UK when currency is converted has been significantly higher, therefore it may be wise for you to setup an Adwords account which uses USD.

There are other things to consider when you outline your Adwords campaign. What do you want to be included in the title and what facts or catch phrases do you want your visitor to see before they decide to spend your money by clicking on your advertisement. The more you can qualify the visitor who clicks the ad, the better is the likelihood that the clicker will convert into a sale.

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

First Time Homebuyers Tips

It’s very likely that you will never make a purchase as large as a home purchase.

This is a very good reason to prepare for the process as much as possible. The home you purchase will depend very much on the amount of mortgage for which you qualify.

As a first time mortgage user, preparing yourself for the home buying process is the best way to set yourself up for success.

Making the Down Payment
Many first time mortgage users worry about saving up for their down payment and rightfully so.

A down payment can mean the difference between getting approved or denied for a mortgage. This is true for first time mortgage users and homebuyers who have obtained a mortgage previously.

The good news is that, for many lenders, you don’t have to make as high of a down payment as first time mortgage users have in the past.

First time mortgage users should keep these tips in mind when trying to reach a down payment goal.

• First make sure the goal you are setting for the down payment is a reasonable one. Consider your monthly income and expenses. Use this to decide how much you can reasonably set aside for the down payment. Saving for your home shouldn’t cause you to miss your other financial obligations.

• Set aside money for yourself first. Before you pay any monthly bills or other expenses, set aside money for your savings or investment accounts.

• Watch your purchases. Consider every dollar you spend on something you don’t need a dollar that could have gone toward your down payment.

Preparing Your Credit
As a first time mortgage user, it is a good practice for you to begin watching your credit as soon a home purchases has been decided. Your credit history will be one of the primary factors used by prospective lenders to determine your eligibility for a mortgage.

Past credit problems won’t disqualify you for a mortgage. Many lenders work with first time mortgage users that have less than perfect credit.

Even if you have had credit problems in the past, you can begin repairing your credit to look more favorable to lenders. Start by disputing inaccurate and outdated items from your credit report. You can also pay down some of your debt to improve your credit history.

Income vs. Debt
To determine how much first time mortgage users can borrow for a mortgage, lenders compare your income to the amount of debt you have. In general, lenders look for first time mortgage users to spend less than 35% of their monthly income to pay for monthly debt and housing expenses.

The lower the percentage of income you spend on debt, the better your chances at obtaining a loan. Avoid increasing your debt by making large credit purchases before applying for a mortgage.

You don’t have to be intimidated by the mortgage process because you are a first time mortgage user. Being prepared with the knowledge of the lending process will ease some of the qualms you have about applying for a mortgage.

Mortgages Your Complete Guide Ebook

Monday, December 18, 2006

Buy, Sell or Hold Real Estate?

This is something that depends on your own circumstances. Remember that we are not now in the sort of market where you will naturally see a price rise after holding for a while. This is a flat market where the prices generally stay static. They might rise a bit and then fall a bit, but generally they'll bump along for a few years now until the next boom starts. So whether you sell or hold is your own decision, based on your finances and your investment portfolio.

You might find that you need that extra bit of cash, so you'd be better off selling. Then again, if you bought them at the top of the boom you may have paid too much for them and if you sell now you'll make a loss. Remember, if you decide to hold, it will be for a few years because the boom won't come back in six months time, so ask yourself if you can afford to hold for at least five years.

If you can't afford to hold for that long, it might be best to sell off now before the property starts to cost you even more. Another question to ask yourself is: "Will the property increase in value over the next five years?" If it won't, there's no point in keeping it.

When considering this question, look at the surrounding neighborhood. If it has good access roads and infrastructure, good schools and shops, parks and gardens and the people are renovating their own homes, then the likelihood of values increasing there is good.

On the other hand, the place may only be booming because some factory there that is expanding. In five years time if that factory has stopped expanding and is maybe even closing down, then what is going to happen to all those houses? The area will become something like a ghost town, with values at rock bottom. It doesn't hurt to do a bit of research into the history of the area to see what has caused the place to expand and increase in value.

For the person who has several investment properties, it's a good idea to sell four out of five and keep the quality one that will be worth heaps more when the prices stat to rise again. You make money both ways in real estate. You buy to flip and you buy to add value and hold a while. Real long-term wealth comes from buying quality property and holding it, but by playing both sides of the game you make extra money.

You can get a greater cash flow and use it to reduce your risk through debt exposure if you sell four out of five properties. Always try and keep a loan to value ratio of about 70% to 80% of the values. So if your house is worth $400,000, then your loan should be in the vicinity of $320,000. That way, if you are forced to sell at say, $340,000 or even $330,000, you have enough to cover your loan with a bit left over.

Just remember that winning in the real estate game is not about buying the most properties in the shortest time, now even about making a killer profit on every deal. It's about creating a core strategy that will work in today's market and every market, whether it's a flat or a boom time. You've got to stick to that core strategy through thick and thin and only do those things that will maximise profits and minimize risks. That's the way to become successful in real estate.

Discover exactly how Sal Vannutini combined two of the easiest (yet brutally powerful) real estate investing strategies and made an insane $31,510 Profit In Just 49 Days... And How You Can Do The Same! Visit http://www.FixerUpperFortunes.com

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Investing in Tax Liens

Tax lien certificates are a little known or understood investment type that can reap tremendous rewards for their owners. Essentially they combine the potentially high returns usually associated with riskier investments with the security offered by lower income financial instruments such as bonds.Here is how they operate:1. The investor purchases the tax lien certificate which is secured to the property it relates to – in effect the investor is paying the property tax on behalf of the property owner.2. As an example, the tax lien may relate to real estate/land owned by someone who has not paid their property taxes. This is where you step in – by paying off the tax lien and getting a certificate in return. This certificate entitles you to (a) interest on the lein and (b) the amount of the tax.3. Interest payable on the property is passed directly to the certificate holder. The entire billing & collection process is done by the government administration and paid to the certificate holder. The rate of interest on the lien varies but tends to be between 8% and 50% per year.4. Research shows that over 98% of tax lien certificate holders receive payments to the value of their investment within two years – and if they do not, the tax lien certificate holder can end up owning the property for little more than the amount that was paid for the certificate.While you may be forgiven for thinking that tax lien investments are reserved for the very rich and experienced, you would in fact be wrong. They are quite simple and can be obtained for as little as a few hundred dollars.Some experts believe that tax liens are one of the best kept secrets within the investment world – they offer high returns on capital and it is an investment backed by the government itself. In fact, investment expert Robert Kiyosaki has mentioned the benefits of tax lien certificates in his Rich Dad Poor Dad books.Consider these staggering advantages of investing in tax lien certificates:Tax liens typically earn incredible rates of interest on your investment. Where else can you achieve typical rates of 15%, 25% and more per year on a low-risk investment?The investor is never responsible for ensuring that the interest, taxes etc are collected by the non-payer. This is the duty of the government who will handle all of this on the investors behalf.Should the non-payer fail to settle the monies owed, the investor has the legal right to foreclose on their land/real estate for an incredibly low fee. The length of time can vary between one to three years before foreclosure becomes a possibility.Tax lien investing is fairly simple – and arguably a lot easier to understand than stocks (and certainly less risky).As with all investments, it’s important to be well armed with knowledge and experience on your side plus an understanding of the potential problems you may face when deciding to put some of your capital into tax liens.Below we outline some important considerations:1. To uncover the most profitable tax lien opportunities can take somewhat more capital and research than standard ones. It involves visiting tax lien sales which can be time consuming – and before bidding on anything you should consider visiting the real estates mentioned in the tax lien sales. This can be harder than it sounds because the amount of information available is very basic.2. Remember, that aside from buying the tax lien, you will also need to pay the taxes on the property until it is redeemed. Once you do invest in tax liens, you cannot retrieve your initial investment – instead you must wait till the lien is redeemed or the property falls into foreclosure.Tax liens are wonderful things - high yields, the opportunity to pick up real estate for just pennies on the dollar and returns that are backed by the U.S. government. Start investigating them now before they become common knowledge.

Realtors Seeing a Buyer’s Market for Condos

According to the National Association of Realtors, the flourishing condominium market is no longer an advantage for sellers. It has become a buyer’s market across the United States amidst declining sales and median prices. By year end June 2006, realtors have seen the supply of existing condos for sale increasing by almost two-thirds and sales falling by almost 15 percent across the nation. With investors making up about a third of condo ownership, it is expected that more condominiums will be put up for sale this year. According to the National Association of Home Builders, realtors also can expect an influx of new condo development over the next two years and increasing conversions of rental apartments to condos, adding to the over-availability in the condominium markets.
During the past real estate bubble, condos have appreciated at a faster rate than single-family homes, especially in high-cost metro markets with rapidly rising prices. Even last year ending June 2006, the national median price rose by nearly 14 percent. Realtors only expect an increase of three-to-four percent this year, as compared to six percent for single-family homes.
Currently, the national median price for a condo is $226,900, as compared to a single-family home at $231,500. This makes buying a condominium much more attractive, especially for empty nesters and young families. The realtor outlook for condo prices does vary by region. The Midwest is the best location with only a one-percent sales drop last year and a third of a percent drop in prices — this is within the Chicago and Minneapolis/St. Paul markets. Realtors would expect smaller Midwestern cities to be even better.
Realtors in the western part of the U.S. saw the biggest hit in the condominium market. Sales there last year were down by 21 percent, and there was an 11 percent drop in prices.
For August in the San Diego, Carlsbad and San Marcos area, the median condo price was $373,800, as compared to last year’s price during August of $387,100. Realtors saw August sales decrease by 3.4 percent, as compared to an increase of 5.5 percent last year at this time.
With the onslaught of retiring baby-boomers, the condo market may see an upswing during the next five-to-ten years. The downside for some markets is that the increasing amount of natural disasters, such as hurricanes, may change the migratory pattern towards safer weather states.
Sellers
A declining condo market does not mean an owner cannot sell at this time. Realtors advise sellers to price the unit appropriately — more affordable condos still are selling well. Make it stand out over your competition by removing clutter and staging it well. Some sellers are throwing in amenities, such flat-screen televisions and state-of-the-art audio systems. Some are offering bonuses as incentives to the realtors who make the sales, motivating an increase in the number of showings. Realtors advise sellers to be prepared to negotiate with buyers and not to automatically turn down reasonable offers.
Buyers
Realtors see this as a good time to buy if you plan to own the property for at least three-to-five years. Realtors do advise that you look for condos that will hold their value over time for a better resale value. Look for units with a great view; close to downtown or shopping areas for lower gas usage; easy access to parking, public transportation, necessities and amenities; an elevator and spacious floor plans; garage parking in cold climates; and a doorman or concierge if in a luxury market. Realtors also advise that you take your time shopping for the right condominium. Visit the units you like more than once and drive a hard bargain.


http://www.twtrealestate.com

Saturday, December 16, 2006

Deer Valley Real Estate

If you are looking to buy real estate at a ski resort area, then you should consider Deer Valley in Park City Utah which offers a great selection of ski property for sale. You can find for sale at Deer Valley Resort ski in ski out homes, townhomes, condos and vacant lots. There are some great new projects offering brand new luxury ski property at some of the best locations on the mountain.
Deer Valley Resort is one of the top ski resorts in the country and was rated #1 Ski Resort by Ski Magazine in 2005. Deer Valley is a skier only resort offering high end service for the discerning skier looking for a fabulous ski experience. It is also one of the easiest ski areas to get to with the Salt Lake International Airport which offers many non-stop flights from over a 100 destinations a short 35 minute drive away.
Currently under construction at Deer Valley Resort is the Deer Crest St.Regis Resort and Residences with completion planned for around August of 2008. The St.Regis will offer an opulent 5 star experience at one of the top ski resorts. The St. Regis is currently offering for sale full ownership opportunities at their new Deer Valley location which a local Park City Realtor can help you purchase. The St.Regis is located in the exclusive gated community of Deer Crest which offers for sale luxury ski in ski out homes and vacant ski in ski out lots to build your dream ski home. There is an incredible ski in ski out estate in the Deer Crest area on the market in 2006 called the Deerfield Estate which is priced at nearly 26 million offering it's own private gondola.
At the base of Deer Valley Resort you will find the Lower Deer Valley area which is the first area that was developed at Deer Valley in the early 80's. You can find older and newer construction in this area of the resort. One of the popular properties for investors has been the Lodges at Deer Valley which offers some great rental revenue because of it's meeting room space and amenities. Condos in lower Deer Valley start typically in the $600,000's and go up to 4 million for a ski in ski out condo at Black Diamond Lodge. The median single family home price is 2.4 million and median vacant lot is 1.1 million. You will find your best value in this area of Deer Valley.
In the mid mountain area of Deer Valley you will find the Silver Lake/ Upper Deer Valley area. The great benefit of this area is the Silver Lake Village which offers several great full service restaurants and many wonderful shops. So if you are looking for a village area that offers restaurants and shopping a short walk away then this location can be very appealing. Condos here start around $895,000 and the 2006 median price is 1.8 million. There are also fractional ownership opportunities for condos in the Upper Deer Valley area starting at $125,000 for a 2 bedroom ski in ski out condo. The median single family home price is about 7 million and median lot price for the very few lots available is 1.6 million.
In the upper mountain area of Deer Valley is the newest area on the mountain called the Empire Pass Area. It is also one of the most beautiful areas of the mountain offering some of the most spectacular views. Here you will find some great new luxury ski in ski out condo projects that have just finished or in the process of being built in this popular area of Deer Valley Resort. There are also some great luxury townhomes, single family homes and vacant lots. Condos in this area of Deer Valley start at 1.6 million with a 2006 median price of 2.6 million. The median single family home price is 5.4 million and there are currently no vacant lots available but the amazing area of Red Cloud in the Empire Pass area will be releasing some amazing lots in 2007. Property owners in the Empire Pass area belong to a unique ski club which offers some incredible amenities for owners both on the mountain and at a local private golf community.
Deer Valley is an amazing ski area that you should strongly consider if you are looking to buy ski resort real estate. It offers a great selection of ski in ski out property which is hard to find in many other ski resort communities. Most other ski areas have built long ago in the most appealing locations on the mountain. At Deer Valley you will find a better selection of new construction at the most desired areas of the mountain. Deer Valley is in one of the easiest to get to ski towns with a major international airport a short drive away. So give Deer Valley your strong consideration.
Deer Valley Real Estate

Rental Management - Do Your Own?

Rental management fees vary around the country, and according to the property type. They can be as low as 4% of the gross rents for large properties, to as high as 12% for single family homes. Managing your rental properties yourself can theoretically save you a lot of money, especially if you own a collection of single family rental homes.
Should you do it yourself, then? That depends on the property, and on your own long term goals. Let's look at some of the advantages and disadvantages.
Rental Management - Do It Yourself
The obvious advantage is that you save the property management fees. On a fourplex renting for $700 per unit, the fee might be as much as 10%, or $280 per month. That might be all of your cash flow or more. You could save $3360 per year by doing it yourself.
Even if you have sufficient cash flow, that $3360 makes it a safer investment, doesn't it? If the roof needs repairing, or some other surprise comes up, you would be more prepared. So there is a safety factor in doing it yourself and saving the money.
Additionally, the personal involvement means you can find cheaper ways to do things. A rental management company will just call a plumber, for example, if a toilet is clogged. You might save $80 for a minute of plunging.
Rental Management - Hire It Out
Property management companies have prospective renters coming to them weekly, so they can rent that vacant apartment out quickly. For this reason, the fee may not cost you as much as it seems. If an apartment is vacant for an extra two weeks, because you are too inexperienced and busy to get it rented quickly, that can cost you hundreds of dollars.
It may be true that doing your own rental management is safer, and you can control costs more. A job is safer too, though, and that is what you end up with. Time spent showing units, collecting rents, and plunging toilets takes away time from finding other good investments. Saving hundreds can cost you thousands in lost opportunities.
Property management companies have experience in dealing with late rent, making tenants pay for clogged drains that they caused, getting apartments ready to rent, and every aspect of the process of running a rental property. Do you? Even if you do, you have to ask yourself whether you want to invest in properties or work in them.
Buy properties that have sufficient income to cover all expenses. Include a property manager as one of those expenses when analyzing an investment. Then, when you make your investment, pay for rental management, so you can get back to investing.

Rental Property Management

What Exactly Is A Buyer's Real Estate Agent

A buyer’s real estate agent offers two general kinds of service. There is a full service that engages the agent to seek out properties that fulfil the client’s criteria and also to negotiate the purchase of the property chosen. The second is where the buyer engages the agent solely to bid for them at an auction of a property they have sought and found for themselves.
Why engage a buyer’s real estate agent? Some buyers have all their financials in order but are inexperienced with the buying process and would prefer to hand over the technical side to professionals. Or, if the buyers happen to be looking for a property some distance from where they currently live, the agent can do the foot work and create a list of potential properties from which the clients will choose.
A buyer’s real estate agent will also act on the client’s behalf in matters of price and terms negotiation, determination of proper market value, arrangement for pre-purchase structural and pest inspections and ultimately, purchase. Buying a house involves a great deal of paperwork and the agent can make things a whole lot simpler for the buyers.
What should I know before engaging a buyer’s real estate agent? Avoid conflicts of interest. Your agent should not be acting for a seller whose properties might be appealing to you as a buyer. He should also conscientiously point out to you the negative, as well as positive, aspects of the properties he presents to you. He should guarantee you 100% loyalty from start to finish. You should find out if the company he works for ever offers properties for sale.
At all times, a buyer’s real estate agent should offer transparency, loyalty and efficiency. After all, he has your hard-earned dollars to keep in mind and when you appoint someone to act on your behalf, you must be sure that they will do the best job for you … almost as though you were doing it yourself, but with greater experience.

Relocation - Buyer Broker - Raleigh NC