Tips For Showing & Selling Houses This Holiday Season

If your home is currently listed for sale? Below are some tips for showing - and selling - your home during the holiday season.

1. Don't, if you don't have to.
2. Ditch the holiday decor or make it meticulous.
3. Set a few, clear "no show" dates and times.
4. Expect some inconvenience and irritation.
5. Engage in safe, sensory staging.

See the original post at www.Trulia.com.

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Tips for Buying Foreclosures

For better or for worse, there are a lot of foreclosures hitting the housing market right now.

In fact, I purchased a foreclosure not too long ago. It was in a neighborhood that my husband and I weren’t sure we’d be able to buy into, but low and behold we were able to with a foreclosure. The connotation that most seem to get with foreclosed properties is not something we encountered. But that’s not always the case.

While it may seem like an ideal situation, purchasing a home for less than it’s worth; you need to make sure you take the proper precautions before taking that leap. Here are a few tips:

1. Choose realtor wisely. The realtor you choose to represent you is a personal choice, but make sure you think about your decision from all aspects. Not only your comfort level with the individual but also his/her knowledge in the area, experience in industry, successful track record and of course, familiarity of the foreclosure market. Find a Real Estate Agent
2. Budget carefully! A foreclosure can be a great deal, but it can also be a huge expense. Know ahead of time that if you fall in love with a foreclosure that you’ll be able to invest the finances necessary after the home inspection.
3. Get home inspected. My realtor, and any good realtor would, advised us to get a home inspection of the property. It wasn’t a deal breaker should we find out anything needed to be replaced but it was good to know what was needed in the near future (in our case a new HVAC unit and hot water heater).
4. Check surrounding area. If you’re not familiar with the neighborhood, be sure to research the area. Check out local parks or community gathering places as well as school districts (for children and resale value). While in the neighborhood, glance at neighboring houses to make sure the vicinity has been kept up. This would include landscaping of your property and others, as well as conditions of the houses.
5. Time on market-how long has the house been a foreclosure? Was it properly taken care of (i.e. winterized)? You don’t want turn on the utilities until you know the condition of the pipes. The pipes could have cracked during a cold spell, water could start leaking into the walls, and mold could take hold when you turn the water back on. In addition to plumbing issues, time on the market also affects other things such as bugs and rodents getting into the home.

When shopping for a house, do your homework, especially in the case of purchasing a foreclosure. My recommendation would be to purchase a home warranty from companies like AHS, to help you with any surprises along the way. On top of the home meeting your aesthetic standards, it also needs to be a financially sound decision.

See the original post at www.homes.com.

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Even Women Are Making Money In Real Estate Using Short Sales

Seven Reasons Women Are Turning to Real Estate in Record Numbers

Think short sales and real estate investing is a guys game? Think again. Women are making in-roads into real estate in a big way. Forget clipping coupons or trying to save up for a vacation, research shows that women have been making the majority of home buying decisions related to the purchase of a family home for several years but now many are taking it one step further. Women are now making investment decisions on a regular basis including the purchase of short sale real estate and other investment assets. In fact, nearly 1 out of every 4 real estate transactions are conducted by women buyers.



Below are the most important reasons women are turning to real estate in record numbers:

1. Profits. Women have historically lagged behind men in earning capacity even with the same education and job experience. Short sale real estate provides an exceptional opportunity for women to supplement income without having to work second or even third jobs.

2. Retirement. Even after the most recent rebound, many investment portfolio's are far from healthy. A few well-timed short sale deals are able to replace much of that lost income.

3. Convenience. Real estate is flexible allowing women the time to interact with family and friends without sacrificing a life they love.

4. Security. A few well timed deals or rental properties afford women an independent means of income aside from those of their spouse or significant other. Statistically women live longer than men which often results in a dramatic decline in their standard of living towards the end of life. Holding a few long term assets that appreciate over time can assure access to funds at any time of life.

5. Empowered. Not surprisingly, men have been harder hit by the recent downsizing and lay-off's than women. Experts believe higher overall income levels are acting as an inverse incentive to eliminate men while keeping less expensive staff. The shift in income is increasingly shifting the focus of power in the household.

6. Credit Changes. Gone are the day when women must have a co-signer but lower income levels combined with children and more obligations often resulted in a practical need for two income applications. As women earn more and build solid credit reputations independent from their spouse or significant other, they are asking for...and getting...more favorable terms. Combined with federal incentives such as tax breaks, it's a winning combination.

7. Fun. Women have learned to enjoy the freedom, prestige and game of negotiation once thought to be the exclusive domain of men. Of course, communication skills combined with social savvy, independent wealth and a bit of encouragement has resulted in a record number of women learning that wheeling and dealing is not only a great way to make money but a lot of fun!

Yes women are doing this with Short Sales - TODAY!

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Buffett's Real Estate Housing Market Prediction - A Recovery In 2011

One of the wealthiest and most influential men in US history, Warren Buffett, was recently noted for saying, “Within a year or so, residential housing problems should largely be behind us. Prices will remain far below ‘bubble’ levels, of course, but for every seller or lender hurt by this there will be a buyer who benefits.” This was announced in his annual letter to shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

As everyone knows, the accelerated decline in the U.S. housing market over the past two years has led to record foreclosures and a surplus of residential real estate. According to Mr. Buffett, he thinks that it will take another year (i.e. 2011) before housing demand catches up with supply. He also says that slowing the production of new homes is one of the fastest ways to bring supply and demand into equilibrium.

For additional information to ideas like the one above, simply enter your name and email address below for timely real estate investing tips, information and cutting-edge marketing strategies to help you become a better investor. You'll receive your FREE real estate investing newsletter. Learn two dozen investor mistakes to avoid. Most importantly, we'll notify you about the up and coming Knoxville investment club meeting.

Real Estate Deal Structuring - 5 Tips For Closing "The Deal"

The days of financing properties for 70% to 80% ARV (after repair value) are long gone. And not everyone has 100% of the necessary funds to close a deal. Therefore the key to real estate success is linked to one's ability to be creative at structuring deals.

Two School's Of Thought For Creative Real Estate Deal Structuring:

• First, one must do their due diligence and know the MAO (maximum allowable offer) that they can pay for the investment. One must also know their "exit strategy" before ever closing on the deal. If one knows the (1) the "front end" cost and (2) the "back end" method for getting out of the deal, then they are well positioned to correctly structure their deal.

• Second, one must know exactly what the seller needs above and beyond "price." In other words, find out how to give the seller more of what they "need" (example: some money down today and a payoff later) as opposed to simply what they "want" (example: 100% CASH or 100% Financing up front).

Today one can finance investment property, both hard money and private money, for somewhere around 50% to 60% of the "as-is" value (plus additional fees). Most would agree that this is a bit too pricey for the cost of money. But what if there was another way to get less expensive financing? In fact, what if the real estate investor could get 0% interest financing?

In the following scenario a recently renovated home at 123 Parkside shows comparable values (ARV) of around $100,000. The current seller owns the house free and clear. Unfortunately Mr. Seller has recently lost his job of 10 years selling vehicles and wants to move in with his brother to start looking for work again. In this example, Mr. Seller agrees to sell the home for $67,000.

The problem is that like most investors, Mr. Real Estate Investor (REI) doesn't have CASH to buy the property. However Mr. REI does have a few options.

• Mr. REI can get hard money of up to $60,000, but he still needs $7,000 plus closing costs to close the deal. This is exactly what Mr. Seller "wants" which is just $67,000. However he only needs enough money (a few thousand dollars) to move in with his brother across the country to start looking for work again.
  

• Mr. REI comes up with the creative idea of offering Mr. Seller more of what he "needs" which is $3,000 today (to help him move). Mr. Seller will "deed" the house to Mr. REI, because Mr. REI structures the deal in such a way to pay Mr. Seller what he "wants" ($67,000 TOTAL). This method of creative deal structuring will give Mr. Seller his $64,000 in six months at 0% interest when Mr. REI sells the house to another buyer.

Tips that Mr. REI always uses to get Mr. Seller to sign the contract.

1. Explain to the seller their specific options (give them at least two to three options).
2. Remind the seller of how long it takes to sell a property in a particular area (either FSBO or with a Realtor).
3. Always put an offer in writing (sometimes us a figure like $67,367.59 to make it more "concrete").
4. Remind the seller that they will get both what they need ($3,000 today) and what they want ($64,000) if they will be a little flexible.
5. Always use the advice of a great attorney when structuring creative deal financing.
   

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Buying Investment Property?

As the old advice goes, "buying investment property is an excellent way to build your nest egg." Successful investors have found that the way to riches is littered with bargain priced real estate. Unfortunately many unsuccessful investors have learned about property investment through trial-and-error. The trial-and-error method more times than not proves to be costly. Read on to discover excellent tips to discovering bargain priced properties.

FIRST - You need to discover great property buys to be successful in real estate investing. Bargains are not just about the ‘price tags’ of properties. Successful investors know that part of the secret is to find real estate that is anticipated to increase in value. If your first acquisition is profitable, it goes without saying that it would encourage you to invest more in property. This method can be applied over and over again until an investor has enough properties that give him more pull in the property investment market.

SECOND - Location is also critical when buying an investment property. When buying investment properties, you must study your target areas and realize their potential. Your next cash flowing property can be located in a developing community, as long as growth is already in the making. These developing communities are excellent areas to spot real estate that are expected to rise in price soon.

THIRD - Suburbs just outside main capital cities are also great places to explore for investment properties. Plenty of neighborhoods are perfect for buying an investment property. However, don’t give attention to too many areas all at the same time so you can concentrate and specialize on how much real estate is worth sooner.

LAST - Most newbie investors get confused on whether they should acquire units or homes. While a few property investment advice consultants swear by units, but many others still are convinced houses are the better buys. The motivation for this latter suggestion is the grounds that come with a house. Land will increase in value, so the more land you own, the more value you possess. When you obtain a house, you also get the land on which it’s constructed. Units, on the other hand, don’t come with land, which can limit remodeling to it and negatively affect rent.

A good number of novice investors employ coaches to learn how to buy an investment property. These specialists can offer the requisite know-how and suggestions to guarantee your lucrative investments. Plenty of property investors opt to be knowledgeable about property investing on their own but this method can prove to be a big in time- and money-waster. If you heed the advice of investing experts, you can reap financial rewards sooner. Buying an investment property can be a very lucrative endeavor.

We want to see to it that you succeed as a real estate investor. Just for stopping by you'll receive your very own real estate investors guide and it's a yours to keep for FREE. In order to get immediate access simply fill out the form in the box and get instant access to our very own VIP buyers list. You'll get access to Knoxville's hottest investor deals. These are deals that other investors only WISHED they knew about.

Knoxville Real Estate Investors Association - REIA

Want to make money investing in Knoxville investment properties? The first place to start is the Knoxville Real Estate Investors Association (REIA). Everyone's talking about: foreclosures, REO's (bank owned) properties, short sales, wholesale deals, flips, rehab and rentals. Learn what they all mean and how to use them in your business.

The Knoxville area REIA (Real Estate Investors Association) is THE PLACE for Knoxville real estate investors. And it's THE PLACE to find local resources and ideas that you can use in your business TODAY! More specifically you'll find three important things at the top of the list. These three things are investing education, mentoring and networking. You want to use these tools as your opportunity to help YOU be a successful real estate investor. It's what you need to EXPLODE YOUR BUSINESS, starting today.

Education -

It doesn't matter if you are a veteran investor or if today is your first day learning how to invest; you should never stop learning. The Knoxville REIA brings together the best in investment information to help you earn more money in real estate. Their goal is to bring investors the most information. This is the place to be if you want to improve your technique or learn how to invest.

Mentoring -

At the REIA you can find a mentor that can help you decide what is the best way for you to accomplish your goals. The bottom line, if you commit and work hard at building this relationship, then with a little luck you can be successful. A good mentor can greatly accelerate your learning.

Networking -

When you're at the REIA you'll notice an amazing coincidence. Those people who are doing deals and making money investing have large networks of business contacts. In this market if you're not making connections with real estate investors on a daily basis then you are completely missing the boat.

Time & Location -

Ask yourself, "wouldn't you like to connect with: buyers, wholesalers, lenders, realtors, RE attorneys, and handymen just to name a few?" You're not going to find more people from different investing backgrounds ALL in one place as you will at the Knoxville REIA. It's never been a better time to be a property investor, because America is literally on sale. Find out how to take the next step. Currently meetings are held in west Knoxville on the second Tuesday of every month (subject to change). Starting time is typically around 6:30 pm EST.

Sign up for the REIA at www.meetup.com/knoxrei.

For additional information, simply enter your name and email address below for timely real estate investing tips, information and cutting-edge marketing strategies to help you become a better investor. You'll receive your FREE real estate investing newsletter. Learn two dozen investor mistakes to avoid. Most importantly, we'll notify you about the up and coming investment club meeting.

Rehabbing and Renting Success Secrets

Has all the negative press scared you from investing? If you’re like most of the Americans that work a 9 to 5 JOB and rely on your 401K for a secure retirement, then yes we would also be a little concerned. However, if you’re one of those entrepreneur-types that are tired of corporate America, then we know you’re itching to take advantage of this real estate environment.

Now, the question that you have to ask yourself is, “what type of real estate investing do you want to pursue?” Do you want to rent homes to make money over a lifetime while you hold the property? On the other hand, do you want to buy homes to renovate and then quickly resell for a one-time profit? If you’re like most new real estate investors out there, then you probably are need of the initial capital that renovating and reselling can offer you. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of each type of investing.

Property Investing is serious business. If you are eager to buy rental properties and become a landlord, there are some things you NEED TO KNOW in order to become successful. Making money in this business starts with BUYING RIGHT! You’re probably getting set to tune us out because you’ve heard that before. We know you’ve heard it before! So why are we telling you such a basic fact again? Look, there’s a reason that every guru worth his salt, pounds it into your head repeatedly. Why? Because it’s the #1 mistake investors make ALL the time!! The purpose of this post is to help arm you with the knowledge you need to ensure you make a solid investment!

Rehabbing properties is a fast game. If you’re not sure what you’re doing, then like renting you can lose your money and your mind while rehabbing your first house. First and foremost we must become experts at team building. We have to surround ourselves with quality team players that excel. If this is done right, the probability of the rest of your rehabbing project being a success increases ten-fold. When you work with competent people you are able to utilize your time and leverage your ability while rehabbing. This is the key to flipping your way to the top.

There is no better time in history to buy property (renting or rehabbing)! Our office is FLOODED with calls from sellers looking to unload their properties; the number of deals out there is mind-blowing! If you are ready to start building your wealth through real estate investing, make sure and become a VIP member of Roberts Investment Properties LLC Wholesaler Buyers List here in Knoxville. As a member, you’ll be notified immediately when we have a new property up-for-grabs (that means YOU will have first dibs on the hottest deals)! To get instant access to the hottest rehab and rental deals here in Knoxville, simply enter your name and email address in the form below.

The MAO Formula - It's How We Buy Houses!

No matter if you're in an up market or a down one, you can still use a simple method to buy homes. All the guru's will tell you that profits are made on the purchase price of the home (NOT the sell price). One of the best ways to make sure that you buy at the right price is to use the MAO formula. We buy houses in Knoxville using the MAO formula.

The MAO formula is THE mathematical equation used by investors to help insure buying at the right price. MAO stands for maximum allowable offer. The most widely used version is [(ARV * 70%) - Cost Of Repairs] = MAO. ARV stands for after repair value. This is the value of the home when is has been fully rehabbed and is ready to sell to a retail buyer. That value is then multiplied by 70% (some guru's may use a bit more or less). Next, this value is then subtracted from the cost of repairs. Sounds somewhat complicated doesn't it?

Here is a simple example of how the MAO formula is actually used. Say for example the ARV of a home is $100K. This amount is then multiplied by 70%, which in this case turns out to be $70K. Here's the hard part. You must estimate the repairs of the home as accurately as possible. If your estimate of repairs turns out to be, say $10K then the most you would ideally like to pay for the home is $60K.

Here's a recap of the above example.
*ARV is $100K
*$100K X 70% = $70K
*Repair Estimate is $10K
*[(100K X 70%) - 10K] = 60K = Maximum Allowable Offer

No matter if you buy houses in Knoxville, TN or Billings, Montana you can use the MAO formula as a tool to pay the least amount possible for your investment property. We at Roberts Investment Properties LLC want to see you succeed as a real estate investor. Our success is linked to your success.

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Knoxville Wholesale Real Estate Investor Deals

Now is probably the greatest opportunity there is for finding great deals for a long time to come. This is the time to buy! Are you a serious rehabber who wants to cash in on great deals? Are you looking for fixer uppers to rent out for cash flow? If so, you’ve come to the right place.

KnoxvilleWholesaleRealEstate.com is looking for rehabbers who can act quickly in closing great wholesale deals in the Knoxville area. Our job is to scout out the best deals in our housing market and bring them to you so you can focus your efforts on rehabbing or renting these properties. Opportunities available now may not be available tomorrow.

Whether you are looking to rehab homes and then resell them or just building a rental portfolio to hold onto for the long term, this market is full of amazing deals and we can bring them to you. We are Knoxville's Premier Real Estate Wholesalers, which simply means we sell amazing DEALS!

We specialize in finding distressed properties here in the Knoxville, TN area. Many are great foreclosure and reo deals. This is our invitation to serious rehabbers who can cash in on these great deals. Time is money so, let us save you time by doing the grunt work for you. This way, you can focus on better things to do with your valuable time such as, making more money. We want you to get your hands on the best deals out there.

We want to see to it that you succeed as a real estate investor. Just for stopping by you'll receive your very own real estate investors guide and it's a yours to keep for FREE. In order to get immediate access simply fill out the form in the box and get instant access to our very own VIP buyers list. You'll get access to Knoxville's hottest investor deals. These are deals that other investors only WISHED they knew about.

Richard Roop's Free and Clear Cash Machine

THE SHOCKING TRUTH behind Richard Roop's Free and Clear investment strategy course. Today there are many gurus out there that are NOT active real estate investors. They are simply salesmen interested in marketing their "how to" investing courses. I bet you're saying that Richard is one of those "how to" investing course guys.

Well, guess what? If you think that he's out trying to market his Free and Clear Investment strategy course, then you're correct. He's taking the strategies that he's learned over the past dozen years, and bringing them directly to you at www.YourFreeAndClearCashMachine.com. On the other hand, if you think that he's NOT an active real estate investor then you're DEAD WRONG!

"Creatively buying and selling houses since 1996, Richard Roop has since become one of the top direct response marketing ‘gurus’ and success coaches dedicated to helping real estate investors generate more leads, negotiate better deals and create more consistent, predictable cash each month. He has done over 400 deals, manages millions of dollars in real estate near his home in Woodland Park, Colorado and still actively buys and sells houses every month. But his real passion is sharing his knowledge, systems and strategies with other real estate entrepreneurs. Very few speakers and trainers get down so in-depth into the real nitty gritty, step-by-step “how to” of capturing equity and generating cash without using your own money or credit."

Are you ready for real results with the Free and Clear Cash Machine Strategies? Take a look at www.YourFreeAndClearCashMachine.com. Inside you'll discover "how Marc from Minnesota buys a free and clear house each month and how he recently collected $50,000 in extra cash buying a $240,000 house for $212,000 with 6 years of 0% seller financing at $1,000 a month."

Richard wants to personally show YOU how to build YOUR Free & Clear Cash Machine. It's The Ultimate Strategy for collecting cash NOW and cash flow for life. Inside www.YourFreeAndClearCashMachine.com you'll "discover how Richard's free and clear investing strategies can help you collect $6,000 to $30,000 cash in less than 28 days, with no experience, none of your own money, and never setting foot in a bank."

REGARDLESS of any other investing models you're successfully using today, you can enjoy more consistent success and generate a windfall of monthly cash profits targeting high equity deals with the Free & Clear Cash Machine.

Here's what he'll show you how to do. Richard's going to show you how to get started right now in your present job without any money, credit or experience. Inside he's going to show you THE SECRET for finding the best deals. Next, you'll discover how to PRE-screen leads for the best deals. You're also going find out how to fund your deals by raising private money. Richard's going to show you how to structure your deals and submit multiple offers. In the end you'll learn to build massive wealth from cash flow.

The materials that you'll receive, he normally charges almost $2,000, but for a limited time through this special promotion you're going to get a HUGE discount plus you're going to get over $7,500 in FREE bonuses. Claim your special bonuses that are only available for a limited time at www.YourFreeAndClearCashMachine.com.