By Kirby Collins
In Florida, you have your places to live, your places to visit, and your places to explore; Indian River County happens to be a place of all three. Being a place of interest on the news as of the past few years, you may not have heard of one of its up-and-coming towns named Sebastian. It is known as being the home of the first designated wildlife refuge in the United States; a place known only as Pelican Island. The town is quickly blooming into a land of subdivisions and town homes, with schools, parks and other facilities that make it the perfect place to live. Doubt my judgment? Well, I am a former resident who spent the first 18 years of my life in Sebastian, and I must say, everything is family oriented!
Though Sebastian itself is a small town, many other smaller towns that surround it make up its City "limits", such as the town of Roseland and Wabasso. There are a few roads that will get you pretty much anywhere you'd like to go in the city, such as Highway US-1, SR 512, SR 510, Roseland Road, and Barber St. These roads all connect to one another in some shape or form which will allow easy access to all of the great locations and will prevent you from ever getting lost. Even if you did get lost, the local store owners and employees, Police officers, and everyday town folk will be quite friendly and assist you in directions or any other questions you have.
Looking for a home, a place to raise a family, or simply a leisure spot to retire? There's not a better place than Sebastian! Sebastian is home to six public schools, three of which are elementary schools, two junior highs, and one high school. There are also a variety of parks, two of which are more the main attractions, such as the Creative Playground/Barber Street Sports Complex and the Riverview Park. For fun in the sun, you have hundreds of choices and two of them are facilities, such as the North County Aquatics Center and the Sebastian Skate Park, both with a small admissions fee. Sebastian is also home to over 20 Churches of many different faiths, all dedicated to strengthen you on your spiritual journey. There's the Sebastian Golf course for a full 18 Hole tour and many lakes and ponds to fish at... but all of this is only half the fun. With so much to do with friends and family, your kids will be sure to stay out of trouble and have fun the safe Sebastian way.
Of course, not everything is simply for residents. There are many other attractions that will satisfy you for a lifetime or for a short vacation. Sebastian is mainly know for its parallel run next to the Indian River; considered one of the best relaxation and fun spots ever to be exploited on the water. Several islands are there to camp on and explore as is the Wildlife Refuge, The Pelican Island. From Fishing, to camping, to boating, to tubing and skiing, swimming and snorkeling; it doesn't matter your preference, the Indian River will fulfill your heart of desire with as much fun as the river has in volume of water. Are you ready for a rougher ride? Turn your boat starboard or northeast and head towards the Sebastian Inlet. From there, you can head out to the Atlantic Ocean and see the beaches on both sides of the inlet itself. Is surfing, tanning, lounging or beach volleyball your thing? Then park that boat at the ramp, drive south down Highway US-1, take a left and head East across SR 510 over the Wabasso Bridge, and there you will arrive at SR A1A; home of the Treasure Coast Beaches! Take your pick heading North or South on A1A, as there are a variety of beaches there; some with playgrounds, others with restaurants nearby. Most beaches close at around 6 o'clock PM, as lifeguards leave their stations, so be sure to plan ahead.
Now, you have to be hungry after a day like this of fun-filled excitement, or even after a day of causal lounging. The hot spots consist of restaurants located on Indian River Drive, just parallel to US-1 and the Indian River itself. The main attraction is Captain Hiram's Resort; a restaurant, bar and grill, and hotel service that is known country wide. Also along Indian River Drive are restaurants such as Hurricane Harbor, Red Garlic Bistro, and Squid Lips, all mostly known for their seafood and bars. Maybe seafood isn't your thing though, but I know Sebastian has more to offer! Head over to J P Matty's, just off of SR 512 for some breakfast or lunch specials, or perhaps Island Smoothie Café on US-1 for a sub and a smoothie and great prices! And if you're heading out to the golf course or anywhere near Main Street, be sure to stop by The Eagle's Nest on Airport Drive for some breakfast, lunch, dinner and drink specials. You don't have to golf, but it sure is a great option!
While Sebastian might not be the party town, they know how to have a good and safe time. Back when I was young, we always asked, "What is there to do in Sebastian?" Now it baffles me to think of how naive I was, that I now say "Where the heck do I start with all of these great options?!" With a little bit of money and an open mind, Sebastian has endless opportunities for both visitors and residents.
So why not plan your vacation or move today?
Indian River County is famous for citrus and great beaches. While there, check out model homes in Sebastian for sale at affordable prices and get a taste of the Sebastian River area with beaches, boating and the great Florida lifestyle.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kirby_Collins
Renting an Apartment Despite of Bad Credit
ป้ายกำกับ: Apartment, Rent
By Irene James
In today's leasing world, most apartment complexes conduct credit checks on prospective tenants before they can approve for an apartment. Some people find this practice controversial since they do not see why a leasing office would be interested in conductive a comprehensive credit check on a other areas of one's credit other than those that pertain to housing or broken leases. But this is a reality that most tenants have to contend with in order to get an apartment. Apartment complexes do this in order to protect themselves from discriminatory allegations and also to create a safe environment for existing tenants. With that said, can bad credit cause you to be denied an apartment?
The criteria that apartments use to determine tenant approval varies from apartment to apartment with some being more strict than others. Apartments are owned by different entities. Some are owned by different corporations while others are owned by individuals. Those that are owned by individuals tend to be more lenient than those owned by larger companies and if you have bad credit, you might want to know which ones are owned by individuals. Then there are apartments which will not approve you if you owe more than $1500 to previous landlords. Others are concerned about utilities in collections while others will flat out deny you if you have a broken lease. The key is to ask.
Before you embark on an apartment search, check your credit score. It is always beneficial to know what is contained in your credit file including your FICO score. You can easily do this by contacting Experian, TransUnion and Equifax, the three major credit bureaus. You can also go to annualcreditreport.com and get a free copy if you have not already done so. You'll be amazing at how many people embark on an apartment search without first scrutinizing their credit report.
As we mentioned earlier,ask. Before you go into the process of getting that money order for your security deposit, ask what the leasing criteria is. If the apartment complex does not tolerate people with less than perfect credit, do not bother to write the check for the application fee or get that money order. Simply go elsewhere. Some apartments are obnoxious enough to receive your deposit even though you have informed them you have bad credit. In most cases a simple phone call can give you the information you need.
If you have bad credit, ask the apartment complex whether they can take a larger deposit. Some will agree. Again, some will decline. Offering a larger deposit signals to the apartment manager that you are a responsible person and that you want to look out for the interests of the tenant.
Another tactic you can employ is to get a cosigner. This is someone who has excellent credit and does not mind having his name down. Sometimes it can be difficult getting a cosigner. If that is the case with you then just get references These can be people are respected in the community and that can state that they know you and that you are a person who is trustworthy.
Irene James is an internet expert specializing in credit issues and has been helping disadvantaged families and individuals who have credit or criminal histories find housing. Visit http://www.simplecreditsecrets.net for more details.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Irene_James
In today's leasing world, most apartment complexes conduct credit checks on prospective tenants before they can approve for an apartment. Some people find this practice controversial since they do not see why a leasing office would be interested in conductive a comprehensive credit check on a other areas of one's credit other than those that pertain to housing or broken leases. But this is a reality that most tenants have to contend with in order to get an apartment. Apartment complexes do this in order to protect themselves from discriminatory allegations and also to create a safe environment for existing tenants. With that said, can bad credit cause you to be denied an apartment?
The criteria that apartments use to determine tenant approval varies from apartment to apartment with some being more strict than others. Apartments are owned by different entities. Some are owned by different corporations while others are owned by individuals. Those that are owned by individuals tend to be more lenient than those owned by larger companies and if you have bad credit, you might want to know which ones are owned by individuals. Then there are apartments which will not approve you if you owe more than $1500 to previous landlords. Others are concerned about utilities in collections while others will flat out deny you if you have a broken lease. The key is to ask.
Before you embark on an apartment search, check your credit score. It is always beneficial to know what is contained in your credit file including your FICO score. You can easily do this by contacting Experian, TransUnion and Equifax, the three major credit bureaus. You can also go to annualcreditreport.com and get a free copy if you have not already done so. You'll be amazing at how many people embark on an apartment search without first scrutinizing their credit report.
As we mentioned earlier,ask. Before you go into the process of getting that money order for your security deposit, ask what the leasing criteria is. If the apartment complex does not tolerate people with less than perfect credit, do not bother to write the check for the application fee or get that money order. Simply go elsewhere. Some apartments are obnoxious enough to receive your deposit even though you have informed them you have bad credit. In most cases a simple phone call can give you the information you need.
If you have bad credit, ask the apartment complex whether they can take a larger deposit. Some will agree. Again, some will decline. Offering a larger deposit signals to the apartment manager that you are a responsible person and that you want to look out for the interests of the tenant.
Another tactic you can employ is to get a cosigner. This is someone who has excellent credit and does not mind having his name down. Sometimes it can be difficult getting a cosigner. If that is the case with you then just get references These can be people are respected in the community and that can state that they know you and that you are a person who is trustworthy.
Irene James is an internet expert specializing in credit issues and has been helping disadvantaged families and individuals who have credit or criminal histories find housing. Visit http://www.simplecreditsecrets.net for more details.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Irene_James
Secrets To Buying Thailand Condominiums
ป้ายกำกับ: Condo
By Scott Riefler
One question we are constantly asked is if you have to obtain permission from the government before purchasing property. To buy a condo or apartment in Thailand is very simple if you're a non-Thai. Most projects have a 51%-49% ownership rule. If the Building is over 51% Thai owned, a foreigner can purchase and own the condo or apartment freehold. If not, you must purchase the apartment as a 30 year lease. Check with the local land office before you purchase if you are unsure about the title deed.
Buying direct from the developer has several advantages: you will get to see a range of properties in Thailand that suit your requirements; you have the benefit of many years experience, as well as a English speaking office to support you in your home country; it may help eliminate any possible misunderstandings; and it helps takes away the stress associated with purchasing in Thailand or abroad.
Transactions and payments are simply made by wiring from you home bank account. It's always better to let the Thai banks convert your money in Thailand then to let you home bank to convert it to Baht before you wire. This tip along can save you thousands of dollars when you go to wire a large amount. Some developers can "lock in" a rate for you before you wire. Make sure you can communicate with your agent by MSN chat, Skype or text message in case you have any last minute questions while at the bank.
The Thai currency system is based on the decimal system. One That Baht is divided into 100 satangs. Coins range in value from ten baht to 25 satangs and six bank notes are in circulation: 10, 20, 50,100,500 and 1000. Always keep lots of small bills as it's a big jump between 100 baht and 500 or a 1000. Most street vendors and taxis can't make change for 1000 baht.
Personal effects, household goods and furniture may be imported duty free. There is very high duty on importing a car. I believe with the hassle of dealing with Thai customs it's better to buy what you need inside of Thailand and leave most of your personal effects at home.
Find out monthly secrets to Buying in Thailand apartments and properties. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and get free tips and tricks of the trade. Some tips alone can save you thousands of dollars on your purchase.
Scott Riefler is an expert in dealing with Real Estate and finance related matters. He has written several informative articles on topics like mortgage, home refinancing, real estate loans and real estate insurance. He regularly contributes articles to web guides on real estate and home refinancing.
Phuket real estate
Scott Riefler is the author of several e-books and online resources. I have put together a collection of landing pages and you can download for free. With them you change the copy to your own and upload them to your web site. If you would like them, please visit my Download link by going to my web site at: Free landing pages
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_Riefler
One question we are constantly asked is if you have to obtain permission from the government before purchasing property. To buy a condo or apartment in Thailand is very simple if you're a non-Thai. Most projects have a 51%-49% ownership rule. If the Building is over 51% Thai owned, a foreigner can purchase and own the condo or apartment freehold. If not, you must purchase the apartment as a 30 year lease. Check with the local land office before you purchase if you are unsure about the title deed.
Buying direct from the developer has several advantages: you will get to see a range of properties in Thailand that suit your requirements; you have the benefit of many years experience, as well as a English speaking office to support you in your home country; it may help eliminate any possible misunderstandings; and it helps takes away the stress associated with purchasing in Thailand or abroad.
Transactions and payments are simply made by wiring from you home bank account. It's always better to let the Thai banks convert your money in Thailand then to let you home bank to convert it to Baht before you wire. This tip along can save you thousands of dollars when you go to wire a large amount. Some developers can "lock in" a rate for you before you wire. Make sure you can communicate with your agent by MSN chat, Skype or text message in case you have any last minute questions while at the bank.
The Thai currency system is based on the decimal system. One That Baht is divided into 100 satangs. Coins range in value from ten baht to 25 satangs and six bank notes are in circulation: 10, 20, 50,100,500 and 1000. Always keep lots of small bills as it's a big jump between 100 baht and 500 or a 1000. Most street vendors and taxis can't make change for 1000 baht.
Personal effects, household goods and furniture may be imported duty free. There is very high duty on importing a car. I believe with the hassle of dealing with Thai customs it's better to buy what you need inside of Thailand and leave most of your personal effects at home.
Find out monthly secrets to Buying in Thailand apartments and properties. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and get free tips and tricks of the trade. Some tips alone can save you thousands of dollars on your purchase.
Scott Riefler is an expert in dealing with Real Estate and finance related matters. He has written several informative articles on topics like mortgage, home refinancing, real estate loans and real estate insurance. He regularly contributes articles to web guides on real estate and home refinancing.
Phuket real estate
Scott Riefler is the author of several e-books and online resources. I have put together a collection of landing pages and you can download for free. With them you change the copy to your own and upload them to your web site. If you would like them, please visit my Download link by going to my web site at: Free landing pages
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_Riefler
Real Estate Isn't Brain Surgery, Or is It?
ป้ายกำกับ: Real-Estate
By Brian Talley
What Does Brain Surgery and Real Estate Have in Common? For April Henry, a 29 year old wife and mother of two based in Austin Texas, they have everything in common. On Thursday, July 24th, 2008 April went under the knife of an elite neurosurgeon in New York City for a rare condition where her brain stem was sinking into her spinal canal, causing a myriad of problems such as heart arrhythmia, difficulty walking & breathing, reduced ability to "feel" in the upper extremities, and extreme pain throughout her body. A short two weeks later with an unexpected infection causing April fever and uncomfortable swelling around her head, April would be carefully and very reluctantly escorted by her husband to a title company in northwest Austin Texas to close on the sale of their home followed by a visit to another title company the same day to close on the purchase of a new home, all before driving to the emergency room.
All of her life April has been physically active and athletic, enjoying activities such as snow skiing when on vacation and other outdoor activities prevalent with the Austin Texas lifestyle and environment. But due to April's diagnosis of Classical Type Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and Chiari I Malformation in early 2008, April learned that she has a condition that just about ensures her a long list of debilitating symptoms and along with it, an uncertain fate. At best April would experience the continuation of the painful degeneration of her motor faculties and at worst; she was at risk of paralysis or sudden death. The best solution to her ails would be neurosurgery, a posterior fossa decompression and a cervical fusion to create separation between her skull and spine, which would relieve the pressure built up in her spinal canal due to her sinking brain stem.
The Henry's decided early in the summer 2008 to hire an Austin REALTOR to sell their northwest Austin home in Spicewood Estates and to relocate to a home nearby to accommodate their need for more space, a single level foundation, and a newer home requiring less ongoing maintenance and repair. Their existing house was livable, but the house was over 20 years old and required systematic improvements to be conducted to keep it in good living condition. The house also had a foundation with different levels where April had to go up and down steps to get from one room to another. The backyard was small and with their two highly energetic boys Jack (4 years old) and Luke (3 years old) getting older, everyone would benefit from more play space inside the house and in the back yard.
At the time the Henry's decided to sell their home they already knew that April needed to have surgery for her recently diagnosed condition, but they fully intended to get the sale, purchase, and move completed before the procedure, which was not scheduled yet. So on June 5th the Henry's had an Austin REALTOR place their home on the market priced at $320,000, a price consistent with the tax value of the home. While the Henry's wanted to get the highest value possible for their home, they also wanted a fast sale given the circumstances. Since they owned the home for 6 years since September 2002, the Henry's would enjoy significant appreciation on their sale even if they were forced to sell at a below market price.
Once the house was placed on the market there were dozens of buyer tours, but no contracts. Feedback from buyers and REALTORS had shown that the small backyard and the steps from one room to another in the house were turning buyers away. At the same time the Henry's were conducting an Austin home search to find a new home, which they found nearby and were able to place under contract contingent on the sale of their existing home. The Henry's quickly lowered their sale price after 21 days to $304,000 on June 25th and then to $299,000 on July 19th in order to boost the affordability of their home and increase their chances of a quick sale. Getting the price below the $300,000 threshold did the trick and on July 24th the house went under contract with a target close date of August 7th, just a short two weeks later! While the Henry's were ecstatic about getting the house sold and having the other house under contract, the timing couldn't have been worse.
By the time July had rolled around April's condition had progressively deteriorated and her pain was worse than ever. She received a much anticipated call from her neurosurgeon with a proposed date for her surgery, July 24th. April didn't know it at the time, but the date that her surgery was scheduled would be the same day her house would go under contract! Furthermore, with a short two week close date on the sale of her home, April would still be recovering from her surgery when she would have to move out of her home and into the new one.
On Friday, August 1st April returned from New York City to begin her recovery from surgery at home. A short 6 days later April would be escorted by her husband Paul to a 9am closing appointment to finalize the sale of their home and then on to a 1pm closing appointment to finalize the purchase of their new home. The problem was that on the evening before closing, April was running a fever and had swelling around her head. These symptoms indicated an infection, which could be bacterial meningitis in a worst case scenario. The problem was that April had planned to attend closing in person, and it was now too late for April to provide her husband with power of attorney to sign the closing documents on her behalf. April's husband was adamant that they delay closing in order to take April directly to the hospital, but April insisted that they attend closing before she subject herself to another long hospital stay. So on Thursday morning August 7th April and her husband Paul attended the 9am closing together and completed the sale of their home. April was still feverish and not feeling well, but she was intent on making it to the 1pm closing of their new home before driving to the hospital emergency room. April made it to the 1pm closing and as a result, was able to trigger the process by which her friends, family and hired labor helped pack up and move the Henry's from one house to the other.
April was admitted to the crash trauma unit at the local Breckenridge hospital immediately following the 1pm closing and it was confirmed that she did in fact have an infection in the area of her brain surgery. After a night in the crash trauma unit they moved her into critical care for two days followed by two more days on the neurosurgery floor. Fortunately, it did not turn out to be bacterial meningitis, which can lead to sudden death. April stayed in the hospital for a total of 5 days until the infection had subsided and she was cleared to leave. She arrived at her new home on Tuesday, August 12th, which had been unpacked and organized for the most part by her husband and friends.
While timing could not have been worse for her surgery, it couldn't have been better for her post surgery life. April and her family now have a new spacious home to enjoy, which will better accommodate her ability to get around the house with ease. It was a painful and stressful process for April to sell and buy a home; all while suffering through physical pain from her condition, the challenges of surgery, and the post surgery recovery process. April attributes her ability to endure through these challenges to her faith in God and to the support she has received from family and friends.
This article was provided by Brian Talley on behalf of Regent Property Group, Austin Texas Real Estate specialist's and top Austin Realtors helping professionals secure Austin Office Space and helping client's purchase Austin homes for sale, and helping client's sell Austin Texas real estate and homes.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Talley
What Does Brain Surgery and Real Estate Have in Common? For April Henry, a 29 year old wife and mother of two based in Austin Texas, they have everything in common. On Thursday, July 24th, 2008 April went under the knife of an elite neurosurgeon in New York City for a rare condition where her brain stem was sinking into her spinal canal, causing a myriad of problems such as heart arrhythmia, difficulty walking & breathing, reduced ability to "feel" in the upper extremities, and extreme pain throughout her body. A short two weeks later with an unexpected infection causing April fever and uncomfortable swelling around her head, April would be carefully and very reluctantly escorted by her husband to a title company in northwest Austin Texas to close on the sale of their home followed by a visit to another title company the same day to close on the purchase of a new home, all before driving to the emergency room.
All of her life April has been physically active and athletic, enjoying activities such as snow skiing when on vacation and other outdoor activities prevalent with the Austin Texas lifestyle and environment. But due to April's diagnosis of Classical Type Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and Chiari I Malformation in early 2008, April learned that she has a condition that just about ensures her a long list of debilitating symptoms and along with it, an uncertain fate. At best April would experience the continuation of the painful degeneration of her motor faculties and at worst; she was at risk of paralysis or sudden death. The best solution to her ails would be neurosurgery, a posterior fossa decompression and a cervical fusion to create separation between her skull and spine, which would relieve the pressure built up in her spinal canal due to her sinking brain stem.
The Henry's decided early in the summer 2008 to hire an Austin REALTOR to sell their northwest Austin home in Spicewood Estates and to relocate to a home nearby to accommodate their need for more space, a single level foundation, and a newer home requiring less ongoing maintenance and repair. Their existing house was livable, but the house was over 20 years old and required systematic improvements to be conducted to keep it in good living condition. The house also had a foundation with different levels where April had to go up and down steps to get from one room to another. The backyard was small and with their two highly energetic boys Jack (4 years old) and Luke (3 years old) getting older, everyone would benefit from more play space inside the house and in the back yard.
At the time the Henry's decided to sell their home they already knew that April needed to have surgery for her recently diagnosed condition, but they fully intended to get the sale, purchase, and move completed before the procedure, which was not scheduled yet. So on June 5th the Henry's had an Austin REALTOR place their home on the market priced at $320,000, a price consistent with the tax value of the home. While the Henry's wanted to get the highest value possible for their home, they also wanted a fast sale given the circumstances. Since they owned the home for 6 years since September 2002, the Henry's would enjoy significant appreciation on their sale even if they were forced to sell at a below market price.
Once the house was placed on the market there were dozens of buyer tours, but no contracts. Feedback from buyers and REALTORS had shown that the small backyard and the steps from one room to another in the house were turning buyers away. At the same time the Henry's were conducting an Austin home search to find a new home, which they found nearby and were able to place under contract contingent on the sale of their existing home. The Henry's quickly lowered their sale price after 21 days to $304,000 on June 25th and then to $299,000 on July 19th in order to boost the affordability of their home and increase their chances of a quick sale. Getting the price below the $300,000 threshold did the trick and on July 24th the house went under contract with a target close date of August 7th, just a short two weeks later! While the Henry's were ecstatic about getting the house sold and having the other house under contract, the timing couldn't have been worse.
By the time July had rolled around April's condition had progressively deteriorated and her pain was worse than ever. She received a much anticipated call from her neurosurgeon with a proposed date for her surgery, July 24th. April didn't know it at the time, but the date that her surgery was scheduled would be the same day her house would go under contract! Furthermore, with a short two week close date on the sale of her home, April would still be recovering from her surgery when she would have to move out of her home and into the new one.
On Friday, August 1st April returned from New York City to begin her recovery from surgery at home. A short 6 days later April would be escorted by her husband Paul to a 9am closing appointment to finalize the sale of their home and then on to a 1pm closing appointment to finalize the purchase of their new home. The problem was that on the evening before closing, April was running a fever and had swelling around her head. These symptoms indicated an infection, which could be bacterial meningitis in a worst case scenario. The problem was that April had planned to attend closing in person, and it was now too late for April to provide her husband with power of attorney to sign the closing documents on her behalf. April's husband was adamant that they delay closing in order to take April directly to the hospital, but April insisted that they attend closing before she subject herself to another long hospital stay. So on Thursday morning August 7th April and her husband Paul attended the 9am closing together and completed the sale of their home. April was still feverish and not feeling well, but she was intent on making it to the 1pm closing of their new home before driving to the hospital emergency room. April made it to the 1pm closing and as a result, was able to trigger the process by which her friends, family and hired labor helped pack up and move the Henry's from one house to the other.
April was admitted to the crash trauma unit at the local Breckenridge hospital immediately following the 1pm closing and it was confirmed that she did in fact have an infection in the area of her brain surgery. After a night in the crash trauma unit they moved her into critical care for two days followed by two more days on the neurosurgery floor. Fortunately, it did not turn out to be bacterial meningitis, which can lead to sudden death. April stayed in the hospital for a total of 5 days until the infection had subsided and she was cleared to leave. She arrived at her new home on Tuesday, August 12th, which had been unpacked and organized for the most part by her husband and friends.
While timing could not have been worse for her surgery, it couldn't have been better for her post surgery life. April and her family now have a new spacious home to enjoy, which will better accommodate her ability to get around the house with ease. It was a painful and stressful process for April to sell and buy a home; all while suffering through physical pain from her condition, the challenges of surgery, and the post surgery recovery process. April attributes her ability to endure through these challenges to her faith in God and to the support she has received from family and friends.
This article was provided by Brian Talley on behalf of Regent Property Group, Austin Texas Real Estate specialist's and top Austin Realtors helping professionals secure Austin Office Space and helping client's purchase Austin homes for sale, and helping client's sell Austin Texas real estate and homes.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Talley
Snapshot - Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 - 1st Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Info
ป้ายกำกับ: Real-EstateBy Shannon Luscher
Let's start with the basics. The who, when, & what!
Who's Eligible?
1st-time Home-buyers only. This means that neither the purchaser nor the purchaser's spouse may have owned a principal residence in three years prior to the purchase.
When Is It Effective?
Purchases on or after April 9, 2008 until the feature terminates before July 1, 2009. Thus, it doesn't matter if you signed the offer to purchase in February as long as the closing(simply put the transfer of title) occurs on or after 4/9/08 you'd be eligible to take the credit.
What Does the Refund Do?
Refund reduces income tax liability for the year of the home purchase and will be claimed on the tax return for that year.
What Properties are Eligible?
Eligible property includes any single-family residence that will be used as a principal residence. No condos or co-ops allowed.
How Much of a Credit Can I Get?
Ten percent of the cost of the home, not to exceed $7500.
Are There Income Limits?
You are eligible for the full amount of credit as long as your adjusted gross income is $75000 or less ($150000 if filing joint return). Their are credit phase outs above those caps and individual with incomes at $95000 for individuals and $170000 for those filing jointly will not be eligible for any tax credit.
Now let's get down to business and look at the fine print. The government is not simply giving you a $7500 tax break!
Do I Have To Pay This Credit Back?
Recapture! Yes, that's what I said. A portion of the credit - 6.67% - is to be repaid each year for 15 years. If you sell your home before you've reached 15 years the remainder of the credit will be recaptured upon the sale. This feature is why you may have heard this tax credit referred to as an interest free loan. Home-buyer pays 6.67% of whatever credit they receive($7500 or less) for the next 15 years with no interest. So, if you qualify for the full $7500 credit you will repay $502.50 each year for 15 years.
One caveat here is that if you sell your house before the 15 years and there isn't enough proceeds to pay back the loan the remainder will be forgiven. You will not owe the IRS if the proceeds fail to cover the full repayment amount.
What About The Alternative Minimum Tax?
The credit can be used against the AMT so that it will not push individual into the AMT.
Item of note:
There's no application. Just claim the credit on the appropriate tax form if you wish to take it.
Disclaimer: Nothing in this article shall constitute either legal or tax advice. Consult with your tax advisor regarding the use of this provision.
Shannon LuscherVP Elite Mortgage Solutions, Inc.Visit the Elite Mortgage Daily Blog for Mortgage News & Insights at http://elitemortgagesolutionsdailyblog.com/Wisconsin borrowers can find more information about rates and products by visiting my comprehensive website - http://www.elitemortgagesolutions.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shannon_Luscher
The Real Estate Agent Income Crisis - There is a Way Out
ป้ายกำกับ: Real-Estate
By Alana Demler
Many real estate agents are suffering financially. Possibly this is you. It is unfortunate but houses are selling much below their value and are staying on the market for months. There are more sellers than buyers and there is no relief to be seen in the very near future.
People are struggling; struggling to pay bills to pay debts. The real estate industry is a tough market to be in right now. Possibly you have been wanting to find a way to get you through.
One of the best solutions is to start a home business. There are many tax advantages and you have the benefit of writing off many of your household expenses at tax time. It is also flexible.
Something you can do while still being a real estate agent. Maybe something to tide you over until the economic situation improves or maybe something that permanently creates an income for you. The key is to find the right business. One that is recession proof.
We have chosen to build a recession proof business and are helping others to do the same. When searching for any home business there are some critical evaluating tools you need. Want to Work from Home? Have you considered These Crucial Evaluating Tools?
So you have decided that you would like to work from home. Maybe you want to stay home with your children, maybe you want money for that extra special something or maybe you want to create financial freedom. Maybe you just need to pay your bills and pay off debt. So you know your reasons why. This is a great start but now what?
It is easy to want to jump into the first thing that comes along. Something may sound good on the surface, so you should jump right in, right? Wrong.
There are several key factors that anyone and everyone should consider when deciding on what business would be right for them. Ensuring you have thoroughly researched the opportunity can save you a lot of money, a lot of time, and more importantly, a lot of heartache. I have heard too many stories of people going broke trying to find the right one. I even know someone who has tried 23 opportunities before finding the right one. Can you imagine?
The first key in researching a business is knowing what features you should be looking for in a company. You will definitely need to know the following:
- Is there an established track record?
You want the company to be at least seven years old - successful home-based business companies experience a surge of growth in their first 3-5 years, but most cannot support the increased capital and organizational needs this growth demands to continue their success. Be wary the person who says "this is a ground floor opportunity" or you need to "catch the wave".
- Is the company financially sound?
You should be able to get access to this information. Another great way to know if a company is legit, is trustworthy and has integrity is if they will let you see their previous years' income statistics. If they're not willing to share what their business people make, do you really think they're doing that well. And I don't just mean the top earners, find out what the "little guy" is making.
- Do they have a strong management team and company credentials?
Beware! There are some companies out there who are "touting" scientists behind their products that have received their degree by mail order over the internet. Do your research! What is the history of the management? What awards have they received? What does the Better Business Bureau have to say about them?
- Does this company have unique, consumable products that are guaranteed?
There are companies that have only one product. How many of that one product do you think you have to sell to make any money? If this is a luxury item, you most likely won't get repeat sales from the same person which creates much more work for you. If it's a hobby, you are looking at the same thing. The product should be something that a person goes through and needs again fairly soon, preferably monthly. These products should also have a 100% guarantee.
- Does this company require that you keep inventory or 'front end load'?
This is a very fast way to the poor house. I know lots of folks who have garages full of products. You may think it will be easy to 'unload' it but it's not. Make sure the company does not require you to have stock or inventory.
- Is there a low personal production requirement?
Essentially, this means how much of their product do you need to order to stay in business? If they are asking you to order more than you would use, then you guessed it? Straight to the poor house for you.
- Is there a high customer re-order rate?
Some companies have a re-order rate of only 5%. Does this tell you how hard you will have to work to win customers and keep them? Again, if the company won't give you this information then they have something to hide!
- Is there low initial investment?
You should be able to get started in any business for $500 or less. In addition, any investment should be guaranteed. Any more than that and the risk sky rockets.
- Is there low attrition?
If more than 10% of the people are leaving every month, what does that tell you?
- Is there breakaways?
No breakaways!!! What that means is that you work really hard and then when you reach a desired level, they have the rest of your team "break away" from you and you start all over. Does that sound like what you are looking for? Know the compensation plan. You should be able to earn an income from each person you offer your product or service to. No breakaways, no balancing sides.
- Does the company have any risk?
Risk is a 4 letter word. It has its place but not in your business. This is your life. There should be no risk. You should only be using products you would use anyway, and there should be a full guarantee on everything. If this is the case, there is no risk!
Alright, so now that you know what is important to look for in the company, what product concept makes the most sense, you ask?
REPEAT Consumables (necessity items) and I can't stress this enough. This is a 200 billion dollar industry. People must already want or need to buy the products. It is much easier to interest people in something that is better or less expensive than their current brand than it is to get them to buy something new that they hadn't considered before. The concept of "switching stores" works best because people spend "no new money", they just switch brands. Durable goods won't generate residual income because people won't buy each month.
The products should always be competitively priced (have a low cost per use). No matter how well people like something, they won't stay customers forever if the product costs more than the store bought equivalent. Since commissions depend on customer purchases, the longer they stay, the more RELIABLE your income. The products must also be unique and exclusive to the company. It is of benefit if there are patented products that have been scientifically developed. The re-order rate should be above 90% and it has to make sense to just be a customer, continuing to buy the products without being a business builder.
Lastly there are a few more things that you may want to consider. Does the company manufacture its own products? Does the business offer a system that you can duplicate for success? Does the organization provide you with free training and support? Do you have to leave your home to build the business? Do you need experience in sales or business to be successful? Can you make enough to replace your income? What are the tax advantages to owning a home-based business?
I know this seems like a lot of work, but the end result will make for a happier, wealthier you. Good luck in your search!
Alana Demler is a work at home mom. She has a passion for helping others and specializes in helping people to reach their financial goals. For further information on this article or building a business Alana can be reached at 204-772-8152 or go to http://www.momswantmore.com/workathome or http://www.teamvitality.com/workathome
Helping, one person, one child, one family at a time...
There IS a Better Way!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alana_Demler
Many real estate agents are suffering financially. Possibly this is you. It is unfortunate but houses are selling much below their value and are staying on the market for months. There are more sellers than buyers and there is no relief to be seen in the very near future.
People are struggling; struggling to pay bills to pay debts. The real estate industry is a tough market to be in right now. Possibly you have been wanting to find a way to get you through.
One of the best solutions is to start a home business. There are many tax advantages and you have the benefit of writing off many of your household expenses at tax time. It is also flexible.
Something you can do while still being a real estate agent. Maybe something to tide you over until the economic situation improves or maybe something that permanently creates an income for you. The key is to find the right business. One that is recession proof.
We have chosen to build a recession proof business and are helping others to do the same. When searching for any home business there are some critical evaluating tools you need. Want to Work from Home? Have you considered These Crucial Evaluating Tools?
So you have decided that you would like to work from home. Maybe you want to stay home with your children, maybe you want money for that extra special something or maybe you want to create financial freedom. Maybe you just need to pay your bills and pay off debt. So you know your reasons why. This is a great start but now what?
It is easy to want to jump into the first thing that comes along. Something may sound good on the surface, so you should jump right in, right? Wrong.
There are several key factors that anyone and everyone should consider when deciding on what business would be right for them. Ensuring you have thoroughly researched the opportunity can save you a lot of money, a lot of time, and more importantly, a lot of heartache. I have heard too many stories of people going broke trying to find the right one. I even know someone who has tried 23 opportunities before finding the right one. Can you imagine?
The first key in researching a business is knowing what features you should be looking for in a company. You will definitely need to know the following:
- Is there an established track record?
You want the company to be at least seven years old - successful home-based business companies experience a surge of growth in their first 3-5 years, but most cannot support the increased capital and organizational needs this growth demands to continue their success. Be wary the person who says "this is a ground floor opportunity" or you need to "catch the wave".
- Is the company financially sound?
You should be able to get access to this information. Another great way to know if a company is legit, is trustworthy and has integrity is if they will let you see their previous years' income statistics. If they're not willing to share what their business people make, do you really think they're doing that well. And I don't just mean the top earners, find out what the "little guy" is making.
- Do they have a strong management team and company credentials?
Beware! There are some companies out there who are "touting" scientists behind their products that have received their degree by mail order over the internet. Do your research! What is the history of the management? What awards have they received? What does the Better Business Bureau have to say about them?
- Does this company have unique, consumable products that are guaranteed?
There are companies that have only one product. How many of that one product do you think you have to sell to make any money? If this is a luxury item, you most likely won't get repeat sales from the same person which creates much more work for you. If it's a hobby, you are looking at the same thing. The product should be something that a person goes through and needs again fairly soon, preferably monthly. These products should also have a 100% guarantee.
- Does this company require that you keep inventory or 'front end load'?
This is a very fast way to the poor house. I know lots of folks who have garages full of products. You may think it will be easy to 'unload' it but it's not. Make sure the company does not require you to have stock or inventory.
- Is there a low personal production requirement?
Essentially, this means how much of their product do you need to order to stay in business? If they are asking you to order more than you would use, then you guessed it? Straight to the poor house for you.
- Is there a high customer re-order rate?
Some companies have a re-order rate of only 5%. Does this tell you how hard you will have to work to win customers and keep them? Again, if the company won't give you this information then they have something to hide!
- Is there low initial investment?
You should be able to get started in any business for $500 or less. In addition, any investment should be guaranteed. Any more than that and the risk sky rockets.
- Is there low attrition?
If more than 10% of the people are leaving every month, what does that tell you?
- Is there breakaways?
No breakaways!!! What that means is that you work really hard and then when you reach a desired level, they have the rest of your team "break away" from you and you start all over. Does that sound like what you are looking for? Know the compensation plan. You should be able to earn an income from each person you offer your product or service to. No breakaways, no balancing sides.
- Does the company have any risk?
Risk is a 4 letter word. It has its place but not in your business. This is your life. There should be no risk. You should only be using products you would use anyway, and there should be a full guarantee on everything. If this is the case, there is no risk!
Alright, so now that you know what is important to look for in the company, what product concept makes the most sense, you ask?
REPEAT Consumables (necessity items) and I can't stress this enough. This is a 200 billion dollar industry. People must already want or need to buy the products. It is much easier to interest people in something that is better or less expensive than their current brand than it is to get them to buy something new that they hadn't considered before. The concept of "switching stores" works best because people spend "no new money", they just switch brands. Durable goods won't generate residual income because people won't buy each month.
The products should always be competitively priced (have a low cost per use). No matter how well people like something, they won't stay customers forever if the product costs more than the store bought equivalent. Since commissions depend on customer purchases, the longer they stay, the more RELIABLE your income. The products must also be unique and exclusive to the company. It is of benefit if there are patented products that have been scientifically developed. The re-order rate should be above 90% and it has to make sense to just be a customer, continuing to buy the products without being a business builder.
Lastly there are a few more things that you may want to consider. Does the company manufacture its own products? Does the business offer a system that you can duplicate for success? Does the organization provide you with free training and support? Do you have to leave your home to build the business? Do you need experience in sales or business to be successful? Can you make enough to replace your income? What are the tax advantages to owning a home-based business?
I know this seems like a lot of work, but the end result will make for a happier, wealthier you. Good luck in your search!
Alana Demler is a work at home mom. She has a passion for helping others and specializes in helping people to reach their financial goals. For further information on this article or building a business Alana can be reached at 204-772-8152 or go to http://www.momswantmore.com/workathome or http://www.teamvitality.com/workathome
Helping, one person, one child, one family at a time...
There IS a Better Way!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alana_Demler
Stuffs to Do Before Listing Your Home For Sale
ป้ายกำกับ: Selling Home
By Eliza Maledevic
Maybe you are excited to list your home for sale, but behind that you have to think that selling your home has lots of things to consider and prepare. Siesta Key real estate may be a strong market, but you still have to prepare your home in order to attract buyers.
If you are thinking that you can easily sell your home since the market is strong, you are wrong, since it is not only your home that is out in the market asking to be sold. You need to keep in mind that you need to compete with the other homes for sale in Siesta Key real estate market.
There are steps that you should do before you list your home for sale, continue reading for you to gain the ideas on how to do it.
First of all, you have to walk through your home, take a little of your time, checking every part of your home. Check out on things that potential buyers can easily see when viewing your home such as pealed paint, leaking faucets, stained carpets, holes on walls, and so on. You have to fix things that need some fixing in order not to make buyers be dismayed with these stuffs.
If you want to repaint your home, but do not want to spend too much money, you have to use cheap paints. Actually, in improving your home, you do not have to spend too much money for it. Before repainting, clean up the walls, doors and windows, remove the dirt first. Choose neutral colors of paint in order to make sure you can attract buyers, avoid using your own taste and preference since people have different tastes and preferences, so to be safe, you have to go with neutral colors.
If you are having a hard time determining which part to be improved, you can ask a friend to do it for you or hire a professional, provided you will allot money for it since it is an added expenses.
After determining which needs some fixing, you have to start fixing your home. If there are cracks on the walls, fix them all up. If there are stains in your carpet, clean it up. If there is a leaking faucet, fix it or replace it. Take note that the most important rooms in the house are the kitchen and bathroom, so you need to assign time in cleaning these rooms up, free these rooms from unpleasing odors.
Remove your personal belongings since this can get in the way for buyers to picture themselves living in your home. Remove the picture frames hanging on the walls, messages on the refrigerator and the likes.
Yes, you need to attract buyers, but it doesn't mean that you load your home with lots of decorations and furniture. You have to remove unneeded furniture, equipments and decorations. You just have to make it simple but modern of course.
As soon as all of these things are settled, you can now list your home for sale. With all of these tips, you can surely easily sell your home in Siesta Key real estate market without the stress and pressure.
http://www.siestakeyrealestate.com - Siesta Key real estate
Eliza Maledevic writes for http://Jump2Top.com - SEO Company
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eliza_Maledevic
Maybe you are excited to list your home for sale, but behind that you have to think that selling your home has lots of things to consider and prepare. Siesta Key real estate may be a strong market, but you still have to prepare your home in order to attract buyers.
If you are thinking that you can easily sell your home since the market is strong, you are wrong, since it is not only your home that is out in the market asking to be sold. You need to keep in mind that you need to compete with the other homes for sale in Siesta Key real estate market.
There are steps that you should do before you list your home for sale, continue reading for you to gain the ideas on how to do it.
First of all, you have to walk through your home, take a little of your time, checking every part of your home. Check out on things that potential buyers can easily see when viewing your home such as pealed paint, leaking faucets, stained carpets, holes on walls, and so on. You have to fix things that need some fixing in order not to make buyers be dismayed with these stuffs.
If you want to repaint your home, but do not want to spend too much money, you have to use cheap paints. Actually, in improving your home, you do not have to spend too much money for it. Before repainting, clean up the walls, doors and windows, remove the dirt first. Choose neutral colors of paint in order to make sure you can attract buyers, avoid using your own taste and preference since people have different tastes and preferences, so to be safe, you have to go with neutral colors.
If you are having a hard time determining which part to be improved, you can ask a friend to do it for you or hire a professional, provided you will allot money for it since it is an added expenses.
After determining which needs some fixing, you have to start fixing your home. If there are cracks on the walls, fix them all up. If there are stains in your carpet, clean it up. If there is a leaking faucet, fix it or replace it. Take note that the most important rooms in the house are the kitchen and bathroom, so you need to assign time in cleaning these rooms up, free these rooms from unpleasing odors.
Remove your personal belongings since this can get in the way for buyers to picture themselves living in your home. Remove the picture frames hanging on the walls, messages on the refrigerator and the likes.
Yes, you need to attract buyers, but it doesn't mean that you load your home with lots of decorations and furniture. You have to remove unneeded furniture, equipments and decorations. You just have to make it simple but modern of course.
As soon as all of these things are settled, you can now list your home for sale. With all of these tips, you can surely easily sell your home in Siesta Key real estate market without the stress and pressure.
http://www.siestakeyrealestate.com - Siesta Key real estate
Eliza Maledevic writes for http://Jump2Top.com - SEO Company
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eliza_Maledevic
Buying a Home - Preparing Your Offer to Buy
ป้ายกำกับ: Buying
By Ma Stj
Buying a home is an exciting and potentially nerve racking time. Thankfully preparing an offer is one of the last steps in the home buying process. By this time you have found a property that suites your needs (and hopefully a little more) and you are ready to finalize everything. If you are comfortable doing this on your own, great. However it is strongly recommended that when you are preparing an offer, you have a real estate agent or another certified professional by your side.
When writing up an offer there are a few points to consider such as: How much will you offer for the home? Do you have any terms or conditions that the seller must meet? How much money are you willing to put down on good faith (this is called earnest money)? Let's look at these questions in more depth to make sure you make the best decision in preparing your offer.
How much will you offer for the home?
Maybe you don't like to negotiate or the seller is asking a fair price otherwise you have to consider how much you are willing to spend on the purchase of the property. If the market is booming you may not have a choice however it is rare to pay the asking price. Exception to this rule include: situations where two parties want the property and start a bidding war, there are previous offers pending on the home, or you accept the asking price because the seller will cover other costs usually covered by the buyer, like closing costs of the mortgage. Keep the following in mind: how much you can afford, do you have any competition for the property, why is the seller selling, do you need to spend any more money on repairs or renovation to the home, is the price competitive with the market, and of course...how much do you want the property.
Placing terms and condition on an offer:
It is important to note that once you place conditions on an offer they must be met, otherwise you are not bound to the offer. Common conditions include: your ability to obtain mortgage financing (this is a must as if left out you stand to lose your deposit). Get a home inspection and report done on the property, if you don't and miss something like a bad foundation you're in for a nasty and expensive surprise. Once the inspection is complete and you've read the report carefully you can make an informed decision whether you should add any further conditions or ask the seller to make the repairs if any. Your real estate agent will help you with any other terms or conditions they feel you should add to your offer.
Putting money down on the property is a sign of good faith and is a way of securing your offer on the home. When you submit an offer, be prepared to make a deposit. The deposit is put toward the amount you've agreed to pay for the home in your offer. If your offer isn't accepted or the terms aren't met the deposit is returned to you. In most cases people are not in a big hurry to sell their homes so it is up to you (as the buyer) to make a good impression. It is in your best interest to let the seller know you're serious by:eing preapproved for a mortgage from a financial institution or another lender. Having the prequalification for the home loan at X amount of dollars prepared for when you put in your offer will let the other party know you're not wasting anyone's time. Note: you may want to keep the amount you've been preapproved for under wraps until you've come to a decision regarding the amount you're willing to offer; after which time you can go to your mortgage lender and get the document stating you will have no problem with following through on your offer to buy. That way the seller never needs to know that you may have been approved for more.
Now after all the work of finding a property that suits you and making that leap to organize and submit your offer comes quite possibly the most nerve racking part if the process. Once your offer is in, the seller will have a chance to review your offer and decided whether or not to accept it. Don't be surprised if the seller counteroffers. Understand counteroffers are not always about the money (although, more often than not, it is) it may be in relation to the terms and conditions laid out in your offer. You'll have to decide where to draw the line, what you are willing to accept and how much you are willing to pay period. Be prepared to go back and forth until both parties are content (if you dislike negotiating, make sure you have a professional on board). Keep in mind if the seller does counteroffer you have the ability to reject the offer at which point the deal is either off or the seller will try to compromise (it is however best to attempt to find a solution that meets both of your needs; after all, if you've placed an offer down to buy a home you must like it enough to be a little flexible). With a bit of luck and perhaps a tweak here and there your offer will be accepted and both you and the seller will be happy. Which means it is time to go back to your lender and finalize your mortgage financing That essentially covers how to make an offer, as I have said several times, unless you are a professional make sure you have a licensed pro that can help and guide you through the process (it'll just make everyone's life so much easier). Good luck with your offer and new home.
Article by: http://www.topmortgagesfinder.com
Copyright: Top Mortgages Ffinder maintains the copyright to this article. If you would like to use this article you must reference the source and provide the link to the source.
Thank you.
Having been apart of the real estate and mortgage industry for well over a decade and after receiving hundreds of email ever week regarding the same dozen or so question about buying and selling property I decided to put together a series of articles to be released weekly in order to shed some light on such topics as: the mortgage lending process, what to watch out for when buying home etc. It is my home that these articles will help answer some import questions. Thank you for reading.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ma_Stj
Buying a home is an exciting and potentially nerve racking time. Thankfully preparing an offer is one of the last steps in the home buying process. By this time you have found a property that suites your needs (and hopefully a little more) and you are ready to finalize everything. If you are comfortable doing this on your own, great. However it is strongly recommended that when you are preparing an offer, you have a real estate agent or another certified professional by your side.
When writing up an offer there are a few points to consider such as: How much will you offer for the home? Do you have any terms or conditions that the seller must meet? How much money are you willing to put down on good faith (this is called earnest money)? Let's look at these questions in more depth to make sure you make the best decision in preparing your offer.
How much will you offer for the home?
Maybe you don't like to negotiate or the seller is asking a fair price otherwise you have to consider how much you are willing to spend on the purchase of the property. If the market is booming you may not have a choice however it is rare to pay the asking price. Exception to this rule include: situations where two parties want the property and start a bidding war, there are previous offers pending on the home, or you accept the asking price because the seller will cover other costs usually covered by the buyer, like closing costs of the mortgage. Keep the following in mind: how much you can afford, do you have any competition for the property, why is the seller selling, do you need to spend any more money on repairs or renovation to the home, is the price competitive with the market, and of course...how much do you want the property.
Placing terms and condition on an offer:
It is important to note that once you place conditions on an offer they must be met, otherwise you are not bound to the offer. Common conditions include: your ability to obtain mortgage financing (this is a must as if left out you stand to lose your deposit). Get a home inspection and report done on the property, if you don't and miss something like a bad foundation you're in for a nasty and expensive surprise. Once the inspection is complete and you've read the report carefully you can make an informed decision whether you should add any further conditions or ask the seller to make the repairs if any. Your real estate agent will help you with any other terms or conditions they feel you should add to your offer.
Putting money down on the property is a sign of good faith and is a way of securing your offer on the home. When you submit an offer, be prepared to make a deposit. The deposit is put toward the amount you've agreed to pay for the home in your offer. If your offer isn't accepted or the terms aren't met the deposit is returned to you. In most cases people are not in a big hurry to sell their homes so it is up to you (as the buyer) to make a good impression. It is in your best interest to let the seller know you're serious by:eing preapproved for a mortgage from a financial institution or another lender. Having the prequalification for the home loan at X amount of dollars prepared for when you put in your offer will let the other party know you're not wasting anyone's time. Note: you may want to keep the amount you've been preapproved for under wraps until you've come to a decision regarding the amount you're willing to offer; after which time you can go to your mortgage lender and get the document stating you will have no problem with following through on your offer to buy. That way the seller never needs to know that you may have been approved for more.
Now after all the work of finding a property that suits you and making that leap to organize and submit your offer comes quite possibly the most nerve racking part if the process. Once your offer is in, the seller will have a chance to review your offer and decided whether or not to accept it. Don't be surprised if the seller counteroffers. Understand counteroffers are not always about the money (although, more often than not, it is) it may be in relation to the terms and conditions laid out in your offer. You'll have to decide where to draw the line, what you are willing to accept and how much you are willing to pay period. Be prepared to go back and forth until both parties are content (if you dislike negotiating, make sure you have a professional on board). Keep in mind if the seller does counteroffer you have the ability to reject the offer at which point the deal is either off or the seller will try to compromise (it is however best to attempt to find a solution that meets both of your needs; after all, if you've placed an offer down to buy a home you must like it enough to be a little flexible). With a bit of luck and perhaps a tweak here and there your offer will be accepted and both you and the seller will be happy. Which means it is time to go back to your lender and finalize your mortgage financing That essentially covers how to make an offer, as I have said several times, unless you are a professional make sure you have a licensed pro that can help and guide you through the process (it'll just make everyone's life so much easier). Good luck with your offer and new home.
Article by: http://www.topmortgagesfinder.com
Copyright: Top Mortgages Ffinder maintains the copyright to this article. If you would like to use this article you must reference the source and provide the link to the source.
Thank you.
Having been apart of the real estate and mortgage industry for well over a decade and after receiving hundreds of email ever week regarding the same dozen or so question about buying and selling property I decided to put together a series of articles to be released weekly in order to shed some light on such topics as: the mortgage lending process, what to watch out for when buying home etc. It is my home that these articles will help answer some import questions. Thank you for reading.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ma_Stj
Buy An Apartment Building With No Money Down - Is It Realistic?
ป้ายกำกับ: Apartment, InvestingBy Ted Karsch
The brand new apartment building investor/buyer should be aware of what I consider to be the most important rule to multifamily investing:
First, the new apartment investor MUST find a profitable property
This may sound obvious but, in my role as an apartment building financing specialist, I speak to dozens of aspiring investors every week who call me or email me saying that they found a great piece of real estate, with a super CAP, in an excellent area, that is 95% occupied and that they would like to find a loan to purchase the apartment building. Unfortunately, many of these "great opportunities", upon closer inspection of such documents as rent rolls and the income and expenses, it becomes clear that the apartment building does NOT "debt service". This simply means that the real estate does not produce enough income on an annual basis to cover all expenses including the loan payments, taxes, insurance and maintenance costs. After doing the math, the investor goes back out into the field, armed with more knowledge. Persistence usually pays off because there are plenty of profitable properties for sale, it just takes some time to find them.
After finding a profitable apartment building THEN the investor should seek financing
Commercial mortgage companies and apartment building lenders almost always require a buyers contribution to be 20% of the purchase . The purchase price shouldn't be confused with what the buyer thinks the property is worth, or even what the real estate recently appraised for. Banks are only going to lend money based on the purchase price of the apartment building. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. One exception is when the investor is purchasing the place to do a construction rehabilitation of the property. In this case, the loan process is usually more involved and more documentation is required.
Many of the potential apartment building buyers that I work with don't have the liquid capital required for the 20% down payment mandated by the bank. Here are some of the strategies that DO WORK in the real world. There are no secrets, despite what many "real estate gurus" will you, to financing an apartment building investment with no or little money down.
Many investors are not aware of all the creative methods that can be used effectively to raise investment capital. Here are some of the ideas that I have seen be successful in the real world, with real investors, buying real apartment buildings with less money down.
1) Incorporate a limited partnership and raise money from other investors. Forming a limited partnership for the purpose of raising money for an apartment building investment is a great solution if the investor does not currently have the liquid capital needed for the 20% down payment. A limited partnership should be formed under the direction of an experienced real estate attorney who understands the intricacies of this kind of partnership agreement. The limited partnership normally consists of one general partner and one or more limited partners. The general partner is the only member who has the power to make executive decisions concerning the apartment building investment. The limited partners invest their money with the expectation of receiving a return on their investment when the property is sold or as structured payments from monthly net cash flow. The investor/general partner should prepare detailed financial statements on the project to present to potential limited partners in order to convince them to invest their hard owned money. A good real estate attorney should be able to help with this aspect of the partnership as well.
2) Raise capital from friends and family
This may seem like an obvious solution but it is surprising how many investors neglect to look close to home when trying to fund a good apartment building investment deal. Unfortunately, if the investment doesn't work out as intended the investor not only is risking his investment capital but he is also risking a close friendship or good relationship with a family member. Because of this it is generally a good idea to have a qualified real estate attorney draw up a formal agreement that clearly spells out the responsibilities of all parties involved.
3) Obtain owner financing
Most owners of apartment buildings are experienced investors who are financially adept. They are accustomed to receiving and utilizing some form of owner financing to structure their investment projects. Many great properties have been purchased from sellers who have for some reason or another neglected the property or are ready for retirement. Sellers who are motivated to relinquish ownership of their apartment building will be more willing to offer some form of flexible owner financing.
If you are new to investing in commercial apartment buildings I highly recommend you read my e-course, "Buy Your First Apartment Building E-Course" This course not only gives you all of the in-depth information that you need to purchase your first apartment building but it also gives you all of the interactive forms that you will need to figure out the cash flow and expenses.
This course will actually teach you exactly how to determine if your apartment building will be a profitable investment. You will also get access to the names and phone numbers of 25 banks nationwide who specialize in commercial lending on apartment buildings. Visit http://www.ApartmentBuildingInvestor.com/ecourse.html to learn more.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ted_Karsch
African Decor Update - What's the Inspiration Behind African Home Decor?
ป้ายกำกับ: Decor
By Roy Primm
African home decor gets its inspiration through nature. For example, the trees, the animals, the soil is the reflection it gives through it's craftsmanship. History proves most cultures and tribes of Africa have long felt true power comes from the soil, trees, stones, rushing rivers, powerful animals and more. As a result craftsmen and women work to reflect that power as they fashion wooden sculptures, figurines, mask and other hand-made products.
Due to the natural symbolism these products exude, they have the strength and depth to survive the passing trends and fads of time. The power and depth of hand-made African decor is what gives it longevity long after most other home decor styles have faded away.
African Interior Design Reflect Powerful Symbols of Nature
The powerful symbols of nature from the African continent reflect the feeling and inspiration through a growing market of African home accents, and room decor. African art and the culture that comes from it is inspired through hand-made craftsmanship. Most of these techniques, handed down for centuries from generation to generation, continues to produce quality pieces of home decor that's demanded around the world.
The expansive decorative designs, patterns and textures make up the popularity and uniqueness of most modern African American home decor. The rich vibrant beauty adds life and authenticity to a lack luster space or room in a growing number of homes. The range of choices in patterns, textures, designs, and colors is what makes the African decor style so adaptable to various home decor themes and homeowner taste. The colors of nature continues to inspire more African interior design choices.
African decor takes on many symbols and forms. They include African figurines, masks, wooden sculptures, baskets, iron art, ceramic pottery and even furniture to name a few. The huge assortment of African textiles also play a large role in African room accessories. Colorful, bright and uplifting is the best way to describe the exotic designs and patterns of this popular decor. Whether you're choosing to add an accent piece to brighten up a dull space or introduce a whole room theme, African home decor has a solution for ever room design problem.
African Decor Color Choices Reflect Nature
The color range of African American home decor alone is expansive, it can go from soft natural earth tones to all the colors of the rainbow and beyond. The nature-friendly textiles, used for an assortment of items, add warmth to any room. For example, wall decor, window coverings, sofa and chair covers, even decorative pillows, bedspreads, tablecloths, and table runners. The list continues to grow and expand as consumers needs continue to grow and expand.
Many woods go into the classic African influenced furniture. For example, if you need to brighten your space, woods such as cedar, pine, and ash can add a light colored mood to your room. For the classic look - consider the dark, rich, timeless look of mahogany and ebony wood as your African decor choices.
For earth-friendly or organic African home decor there's bamboo, wicker, rattan and other environmentally friendly materials. Theses materials come from fast growing trees that's easily replenished. The exotic artwork of Northern African contributes to the timeless look of a room. Famous for world renowned mosaic art in colorful floor tiles, rugs, wall and ceramic products.
African American home decor continues to merge with the styles, taste and culture of Africa. As time passes more people will come to recognize how influential and inspirational this exotic decor is to other styles of home interior design as well.
Roy Primm, publisher of Black Homeowner News has written dozens of articles on the growing popularity of African decor. For more tips, trends and ideas go to African Decor Ideas
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roy_Primm
African home decor gets its inspiration through nature. For example, the trees, the animals, the soil is the reflection it gives through it's craftsmanship. History proves most cultures and tribes of Africa have long felt true power comes from the soil, trees, stones, rushing rivers, powerful animals and more. As a result craftsmen and women work to reflect that power as they fashion wooden sculptures, figurines, mask and other hand-made products.
Due to the natural symbolism these products exude, they have the strength and depth to survive the passing trends and fads of time. The power and depth of hand-made African decor is what gives it longevity long after most other home decor styles have faded away.
African Interior Design Reflect Powerful Symbols of Nature
The powerful symbols of nature from the African continent reflect the feeling and inspiration through a growing market of African home accents, and room decor. African art and the culture that comes from it is inspired through hand-made craftsmanship. Most of these techniques, handed down for centuries from generation to generation, continues to produce quality pieces of home decor that's demanded around the world.
The expansive decorative designs, patterns and textures make up the popularity and uniqueness of most modern African American home decor. The rich vibrant beauty adds life and authenticity to a lack luster space or room in a growing number of homes. The range of choices in patterns, textures, designs, and colors is what makes the African decor style so adaptable to various home decor themes and homeowner taste. The colors of nature continues to inspire more African interior design choices.
African decor takes on many symbols and forms. They include African figurines, masks, wooden sculptures, baskets, iron art, ceramic pottery and even furniture to name a few. The huge assortment of African textiles also play a large role in African room accessories. Colorful, bright and uplifting is the best way to describe the exotic designs and patterns of this popular decor. Whether you're choosing to add an accent piece to brighten up a dull space or introduce a whole room theme, African home decor has a solution for ever room design problem.
African Decor Color Choices Reflect Nature
The color range of African American home decor alone is expansive, it can go from soft natural earth tones to all the colors of the rainbow and beyond. The nature-friendly textiles, used for an assortment of items, add warmth to any room. For example, wall decor, window coverings, sofa and chair covers, even decorative pillows, bedspreads, tablecloths, and table runners. The list continues to grow and expand as consumers needs continue to grow and expand.
Many woods go into the classic African influenced furniture. For example, if you need to brighten your space, woods such as cedar, pine, and ash can add a light colored mood to your room. For the classic look - consider the dark, rich, timeless look of mahogany and ebony wood as your African decor choices.
For earth-friendly or organic African home decor there's bamboo, wicker, rattan and other environmentally friendly materials. Theses materials come from fast growing trees that's easily replenished. The exotic artwork of Northern African contributes to the timeless look of a room. Famous for world renowned mosaic art in colorful floor tiles, rugs, wall and ceramic products.
African American home decor continues to merge with the styles, taste and culture of Africa. As time passes more people will come to recognize how influential and inspirational this exotic decor is to other styles of home interior design as well.
Roy Primm, publisher of Black Homeowner News has written dozens of articles on the growing popularity of African decor. For more tips, trends and ideas go to African Decor Ideas
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roy_Primm
Retirement Home Benefits
ป้ายกำกับ: Home and family
By Kamyar Shah
The retired couple wanted to downsize from their large family home into a more comfortable space close to the golf course they frequented. They needed a place that would allow them to remain active among other older adults. They were also willing to pay a homeowners association management fee to help with the upkeep and security of their residence.
They researched many options including assisted living facilities, apartments and active adult communities. They asked many questions and listed the pros and cons of each option. They knew that as they aged they might require special needs and hoped to find a home or community that offer options as their needs changed.
The active adult community is the first option they looked at. In this community, active, healthy seniors live in an environment that has a impression of a community. The couple would purchase their own home and pay a homeowner association management fee to help cover the cost of maintenance. The community often has conveniences for its residences such as a clubhouse, a pool and golfing greens.
They wanted to find a community that offered several services.
One service that was a necessity were health care services. Even though they were both in good health now, as they aged they may need to have assisted living and need a simple transition from independent living.
Another service that is offered should be a good quality 24 hour 7 day a week security team. The entire community should be patrolled regularly with a security guard located at a locked entrance gate and other points of entrance. The homeowners association management team is responsible for employing the security staff.
The homeowners association management team acts as another set of eyes at the community. They do more than just patrol the area. They help set the rules and standards on any changes that can be done to the outside of each residents home. The couple wanted a community that had taste, not neighbors who painted their homes outrageous colors. There are also restrictions on where cars can be parked and for how long a non running car can be parked at a residence. The team is responsible for taking care of maintenance in a condo community.
The couple talked to current residents already living at the active adult community. The residents told them everything they needed to know about the quality of living there, the staff and security and answered any questions they had. As they interacted with the residents they found out the types of people living at the community that gave them a good idea of whether they would enjoy living there. They discovered the community had parks with swimming pools and other amenities to allow them to remain active.
They asked questions that related to their personal lifestyle before committing to the community. They learned the regulations on parking discrepancies and what guidelines to follow on outdoor landscaping and holiday decorations.
The elderly couple decided to purchase a home in the active adult community. They took an active roll in the community, enjoying the many amenities available. They learned when meetings were held and began attending homeowners association management meetings and took active rolls in those meetings. They are pleased with their new smaller home and the active adults who live in the community.
Source : Property Management
Free Articles
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kamyar_Shah
The retired couple wanted to downsize from their large family home into a more comfortable space close to the golf course they frequented. They needed a place that would allow them to remain active among other older adults. They were also willing to pay a homeowners association management fee to help with the upkeep and security of their residence.
They researched many options including assisted living facilities, apartments and active adult communities. They asked many questions and listed the pros and cons of each option. They knew that as they aged they might require special needs and hoped to find a home or community that offer options as their needs changed.
The active adult community is the first option they looked at. In this community, active, healthy seniors live in an environment that has a impression of a community. The couple would purchase their own home and pay a homeowner association management fee to help cover the cost of maintenance. The community often has conveniences for its residences such as a clubhouse, a pool and golfing greens.
They wanted to find a community that offered several services.
One service that was a necessity were health care services. Even though they were both in good health now, as they aged they may need to have assisted living and need a simple transition from independent living.
Another service that is offered should be a good quality 24 hour 7 day a week security team. The entire community should be patrolled regularly with a security guard located at a locked entrance gate and other points of entrance. The homeowners association management team is responsible for employing the security staff.
The homeowners association management team acts as another set of eyes at the community. They do more than just patrol the area. They help set the rules and standards on any changes that can be done to the outside of each residents home. The couple wanted a community that had taste, not neighbors who painted their homes outrageous colors. There are also restrictions on where cars can be parked and for how long a non running car can be parked at a residence. The team is responsible for taking care of maintenance in a condo community.
The couple talked to current residents already living at the active adult community. The residents told them everything they needed to know about the quality of living there, the staff and security and answered any questions they had. As they interacted with the residents they found out the types of people living at the community that gave them a good idea of whether they would enjoy living there. They discovered the community had parks with swimming pools and other amenities to allow them to remain active.
They asked questions that related to their personal lifestyle before committing to the community. They learned the regulations on parking discrepancies and what guidelines to follow on outdoor landscaping and holiday decorations.
The elderly couple decided to purchase a home in the active adult community. They took an active roll in the community, enjoying the many amenities available. They learned when meetings were held and began attending homeowners association management meetings and took active rolls in those meetings. They are pleased with their new smaller home and the active adults who live in the community.
Source : Property Management
Free Articles
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kamyar_Shah
Is Canada's Real Estate Expensive?
ป้ายกำกับ: Real-Estate
By Mark Jennings-Bates
Is Kelowna the 13 most expensive real estate market in the world?
Like me, that is probably what you were left thinking after a recent news report. So much so, that time and time again in coffee shop discussions I have heard the statement "We are now the 13th most expensive city for housing in the world". It sure left me confused, and it was interesting to see the reaction of people, which ranged from horror to glee that their houses might be worth so much on a global scale.
Since I have been touting the line that Kelowna offers some of the best value resort real estate in the world, I though it was time to go digging.
Firstly, whilst Kelowna is indeed a City and whilst the Economic Development Commission have done a fantastic job of creating economic diversity within the region, there is no doubt that Kelowna will transition into a full service resort region with strong retirement and pre-retirement demographics. Straight away, one of the first things that came to mind is why did we not consider resort markets in this comparison instead of major urban centres? Certainly, Kelowna cannot be considered a major urban centre although if you have lived here for your whole life, you may not be comfortable with the changes and size for the City today. Taking a comparison within a similar real estate market will give us a very different glimpse of the world. If we were to look at Whistler, Canmore, Telluride, Aspen, Palm Springs, Puerto Vallarta, Carmel, Cannes, Majorca and other world renowned resort destinations, there is no doubt at all that Kelowna is one of the least expensive regions to offer one of the most fantastic retirement lifestyles.
That thought made me realize that I should study the actual survey in more detail. Perhaps it was in fact categorizing us unnaturally, at least in my opinion. Then I started to think about international City's, like Perth Australia, New York, London, Dublin, Paris, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego. Just a short list of cities, that if I travel to, makes me think twice about moving there because of the cost of housing in the urban areas. What was I missing? In short, the detail behind the study!
The survey, The Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey actually defined it's criteria as " median house price divided by median household income to assess housing affordability". Now I felt I was getting somewhere, because perhaps you, like me simply read (and heard on the radio!) "Kelowna ranked as Canada's least affordable community". That is not true, I just moved from Canmore Alberta and I have friends who live in Whistler... lets talk about affordability.
Clearly, with this data, the context of the report was very different to that portrayed in the headlines we all read. In relation to the average income in Kelowna, housing is less affordable. Does that mean we have the most expensive housing in Canada. NO!
It does indicate that most people moving here are less concerned about finding a job. That would match the demographic we have been talking about for a few years in our articles. It does mean that many people are making recreational property investments as we have been talking about for a few years. It also means that there is a challenge in inviting a labour pool to the community because of the relative affordability of Kelowna. That would be the reason that Mr. Robert Fine, from the Economic Development office, spends so much time on aircraft heading to other destinations and promoting Kelowna as a great place to live, work and set up business.
Interestingly, those destinations are likely to have more expensive housing than Kelowna which is why we can say, on a global scale, Kelowna offers tremendous value to the property investor, retiree and pre-retiree and we don't see that changing in the near term.
One good reason to work with a professional realtor is to have someone explain the ramifications of the statistics that can at first appear confusing or can be used by an overly aggressive media to create a headline that takes your breath away... it did mine!
Interestingly, in that same month as that report was released, the local real estate board issued a media release announcing continued growth in the real estate market in the month of January compared to the same month last year. What does the rest of the year hold... we'll tell you more as we get into it.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Jennings-Bates
Is Kelowna the 13 most expensive real estate market in the world?
Like me, that is probably what you were left thinking after a recent news report. So much so, that time and time again in coffee shop discussions I have heard the statement "We are now the 13th most expensive city for housing in the world". It sure left me confused, and it was interesting to see the reaction of people, which ranged from horror to glee that their houses might be worth so much on a global scale.
Since I have been touting the line that Kelowna offers some of the best value resort real estate in the world, I though it was time to go digging.
Firstly, whilst Kelowna is indeed a City and whilst the Economic Development Commission have done a fantastic job of creating economic diversity within the region, there is no doubt that Kelowna will transition into a full service resort region with strong retirement and pre-retirement demographics. Straight away, one of the first things that came to mind is why did we not consider resort markets in this comparison instead of major urban centres? Certainly, Kelowna cannot be considered a major urban centre although if you have lived here for your whole life, you may not be comfortable with the changes and size for the City today. Taking a comparison within a similar real estate market will give us a very different glimpse of the world. If we were to look at Whistler, Canmore, Telluride, Aspen, Palm Springs, Puerto Vallarta, Carmel, Cannes, Majorca and other world renowned resort destinations, there is no doubt at all that Kelowna is one of the least expensive regions to offer one of the most fantastic retirement lifestyles.
That thought made me realize that I should study the actual survey in more detail. Perhaps it was in fact categorizing us unnaturally, at least in my opinion. Then I started to think about international City's, like Perth Australia, New York, London, Dublin, Paris, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego. Just a short list of cities, that if I travel to, makes me think twice about moving there because of the cost of housing in the urban areas. What was I missing? In short, the detail behind the study!
The survey, The Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey actually defined it's criteria as " median house price divided by median household income to assess housing affordability". Now I felt I was getting somewhere, because perhaps you, like me simply read (and heard on the radio!) "Kelowna ranked as Canada's least affordable community". That is not true, I just moved from Canmore Alberta and I have friends who live in Whistler... lets talk about affordability.
Clearly, with this data, the context of the report was very different to that portrayed in the headlines we all read. In relation to the average income in Kelowna, housing is less affordable. Does that mean we have the most expensive housing in Canada. NO!
It does indicate that most people moving here are less concerned about finding a job. That would match the demographic we have been talking about for a few years in our articles. It does mean that many people are making recreational property investments as we have been talking about for a few years. It also means that there is a challenge in inviting a labour pool to the community because of the relative affordability of Kelowna. That would be the reason that Mr. Robert Fine, from the Economic Development office, spends so much time on aircraft heading to other destinations and promoting Kelowna as a great place to live, work and set up business.
Interestingly, those destinations are likely to have more expensive housing than Kelowna which is why we can say, on a global scale, Kelowna offers tremendous value to the property investor, retiree and pre-retiree and we don't see that changing in the near term.
One good reason to work with a professional realtor is to have someone explain the ramifications of the statistics that can at first appear confusing or can be used by an overly aggressive media to create a headline that takes your breath away... it did mine!
Interestingly, in that same month as that report was released, the local real estate board issued a media release announcing continued growth in the real estate market in the month of January compared to the same month last year. What does the rest of the year hold... we'll tell you more as we get into it.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Jennings-Bates
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