RSS Feed

Posts Tagged ‘Real’

Blackstone Turns Graham IPO Flop Into Lucrative Bids: Real M&A

June 15, 2011 by Real Estate Investor Comments Off

Blackstone Group LP may finally get the payday for Graham Packaging Co. that it was denied last year as New Zealand’s richest man drives up the acquisition price.

View full post on Finance Stories

 

Former U.N. Ambassador Puts Faith In Indian Real Estate Investment

November 21, 2010 by Real Estate Investor Comments Off
Tejinder Singh – AHN News Correspondent

Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – Indian diaspora on the East coast was treated to a visual display of real estate investment opportunities at a gala dinner featuring finished and planned projects by New York based Ireo on Saturday in Vienna, Virginia.

“If you are interested in real estate space in India, be it for yourself – your family – or simply an investment, there is no better place to put your money then with Ireo,” Vijay Amritraj, international tennis legend and former United Nations Ambassador told AHN on the sidelines of the glittering show.

Answering, “Why should I mess (read: invest) in India – when I live here?” the core question of Indian Americans settled in the United States, Anjali Grover, of Ireo, told the select audience of rich and famous gathered at the “Bombay Tandoor Restaurant,” that the projects, some of which are completed, some are in the building stage while others are on the architects’ drawing tables, are all on par with the American standards in quality and safety.

Sitting in the United States, the investor can use easy means to invest and own or sell later with Ireo providing personalized services all the way, she added.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

View full post on Economy, Business And Finance Stories

 

Commercial Hard Money Loan – An Honest Review

October 15, 2010 by Brian Garvin Comments Off

A Commercial Hard Money Loan isn’t for everyone. But it could be a viable solution for someone that can’t get an everyday traditional Real Estate Loan. Of course with this type of loan Real Estate is always the collateral, with no exceptions. If for some reason the buyer defaults on the payments, the bank can repossess the property in due course of course, no pun intended.

The basic inference of the various types of Commercial Loans can also be defined as Sub-Prime Lending, Near Prime, B-Paper or Second Chance lending options.

So seriously would someone take out a Commercial Hard Money Loan verses a standard Commercial Loan? It’s because there are determining factors such as Slight Credit Score, Enterprise Stability, proven absolute Income Level that would curb someone from getting traditional money financing or custom rates, so the defaulter in these cases will compromise for what they can get.

Some companies have a lowest amount they will lend you when helping you get a Commercial Hard Money Loan. The companies we have researched start out at $300,000 and go up into the millions for Commercial Real Estate Properties.

There are also what they call Mezzanine Loans which is a loan that’s paid back behind the sale or refinance of the Commercial Property. It’s possible for a lender to secure a portion of the proceeds upon sale of the Hard Loan debt. These loans tend to have suitable structures such as good debt and equity ratios.

There’s also a Financial Loan called a Hard Money Bridge Loan. These types of Money Financing solutions are usually temporary until a more permanent solution comes into play. These are used when time is of the essense, when a business move needs to be made quickly to acquire a property. There are no upper limits on this type of loan, and the qualification requirements usually remain the same.

There are also Hard Money Construction Loans, which is another distinctive Money Financing option that can be applied to for limited home projects to larger Commercial Property projects such as the development of a strip mall or tract home development project. In most cases for construction projects there is a reserve account setup to make sure that money is allocated properly as the project keeps moving forward.

A Commercial Hard Money Loan is typically used in both Urban & Suburban areas. The current Prime Rates are from 11 – 16% verses the 6-7% for a standard loan. Usually all associated Points & Fees are included in the loan and payments from these are dispursed upon closing the loan. Also note these are Short Term Real Estate Loans that are usually given from 1-3 years.

It is always comforting to know that there is big money available to you when you need it in the form of a Commercial Hard Money Loan. This article went over the main types of loans and how they can benefit you. However beware of the common Predatory Lenders that lurk in this industry. Expect to pay 11-17% for a Real Estate Loan like this. If you are asked to pay anymore more, imho you are being taken to the cleaners. So before you jump into anything like this, just do your research and you should come out okay.

Author: Brian Garvin
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
News of Solar Power and Alternative Engery

 

Real Estate Investing- Buying Properties at Auction

September 27, 2010 by Real Estate Investor Comments Off

Foreclosure Real Estate Investing: How NOT To Lose Your Shirt At The Foreclosure Sale For real estate professionals, this past year has been one of the most painful in recent times — defaults are up, homeownership is down, foreclosures have soared and the poorly performing housing sector is starting to create negative ripple effects in the broader national economy. Since all projections indicate that 2008 will be equally as challenging, should property investors run for the hills, put all their money in AAA rated munis, and ride out the storm until the next boom? Absolutely not! There’s no question that 2008 will bring reduced housing demand, lower prices in some areas, and fewer loan options, yet 2008 looks strong for treasure hunters. At HMB, we’ve been seeing investors scoop up bank REO’s for 40 to 50 cents on the dollar and selling them off at nice profits. After all, people will always buy property if they can get a great deal, no matter what the market conditions. Your job is to simply find the best deals. Many great deals will most certainly come from foreclosures over the next 24 months.

If you intend to jump into foreclosure auctions, follow these tips to help insure a profitable transaction: A? Do your homework: I recently had one of my investors call me and ask me if he would be risking anything greater than his security deposit if he simply walked away from a house he purchased at auction. Because he was intimately familiar with the neighborhood, he didn’t bother to visit the property. After the auction, he learned the damage to the property was more extensive than he anticipated. In a aEoehotaE? market, price appreciation could have bailed him out but, in today’s market, he was sunk. Lesson? Never buy a property sight unseen, and make sure to get the best contractor estimates possible prior to auction day. A? Read the advertisement carefully: The devil is in the fine print. You could buy a lot of trouble if you don’t read and understand every word. Examples: Many auctioneers require a Buyer’s premium. In my area, it could be as much as 10%. If your bidding on a $120,000.00 property, that’s an additional $12,000.00 expense! Even worse, you may be required to pay interest on the prior owner’s defaulting Note from date of auction forward to the date of settlement. That’s an additional 30-45 days of interest expense (or more in some instances). Worst of all, in some cases the auction purchaser could be responsible for certain outstanding liens due at the time of sale, such as water, taxes, or even condo liens. Do you really want to be responsible for the prior owner’s $3,000.00 past due HOA bill because you didn’t read the ad? A? Be careful of flipping: Flips are still possible in this market but could be dangerous to the financial health of an unseasoned or careless investor. If you intend to flip to another investor, remember he or she will be leery of buying anywhere close to retail because of the likelihood of additional price erosion over the next few years.

Did you properly discount your bid price for this? Will the property cash flow at your proposed sales price? Many investors use the 1% Rule as the aEoegold standardaE? aE” a $100,000.00 purchase price should yield a renter at $1,000.00. If you don’t carefully account for these factors, you could get stuck in the property. If you are using short-term hard money and your credit is weak, you even run the risk of loan default because you won’t be able to refinance out of your hard money loan. A? Setting property values: In addition to recent comps, you may want to go back to 2004-05 tax assessment records to review pre-bubble pricing. Is it possible for prices to retrace back to those levels? Maybe yes, maybe no, but it doesn’t hurt to bid based upon worst-case scenarios. A? Keep your cool: Don’t get caught up in the emotion of the auction. Know your absolute high price going in. Once the bidding has exceeded that price, don’t even think about it anymore. Walk to your car and leave. There’s always another deal tomorrow. A? Get finances in order before bidding: You will be required to bring to the auction a cashier’s check for the advertised deposit amount. But you may also be asked to increase the initial deposit to 10% of total purchase price within a certain time period after the auction date.

Check with the auctioneer the day of auction. Also, get lender approval prior to the day of auction. A hard money lender can be your best friend in these situations, as an approval from a hard money source accomplishes 2 things: 1) you’ll know up-front whether you’ll be able to close on the property, thereby reducing any risk of losing your deposit; and 2) you’ll get a second, and often expert, opinion on the conservative value of the property. Even if you end up using conventional lending, the hard money approval can give you great peace of mind. A? Insurance: It is critical to get a hazard insurance policy in place the day of auction. Many times, the risk of loss is contractually passed to the successful auction bidder. If you don’t have insurance and the building burns down, you lose! A? Bankruptcy: Call the auctioneer the night before (for early a.m. auctions) or the morning of the auction to make certain the foreclosed-upon borrower has not filed a bankruptcy. A bankruptcy filing stops the foreclosure process, even if it is filed one minute before auction. Probably 90% of foreclosure auctions get cancelled this way, so you’ll waste a lot time if you don’t call beforehand. A? Default: Always remember that the re-auction of a property is almost always aEoeat the risk and expense of the defaulting bidder.aE? This means if you bid on a property and don’t follow through, you could be sued for a lot more than just your deposit. Jeffrey Shiller, Esq. MD DC VA Hard Money Lender

Harold Money PhotoAbout Author
Jeffrey Shiller, Esq. www.hardmoneybankers.com MD DC VA Hard Money Lender
 

Private Real Estate Money: the 5 Advantages of Private Money Over Hard Money Loans or Mortgage Loans

August 6, 2010 by Real Estate Investor Comments Off

For real estate investors there are numerous benefits and advantages to private real estate money versus hard money loans or mortgage loans to fund your real estate investing business. Knowing the advantages can mean the difference between making a real estate deal work or losing a good deal to your competitors.

As the credit-bubble continues to unwind, traditional sources of real estate financing are drying up and real estate investors need to find alternative sources of capital such as private real estate money.

Advantage #1: Speed and Cash Flow

The ability to close a real estate deal in less than two weeks is a huge advantage over having to wait weeks or even months for a typical bank loan approval. The importance of speed cannot be overstated in a competitive market and quick cash gives you a big edge over other investors.

Imagine if you are the seller and someone comes to you to buy your house and has a two or three month escrow period before closing plus several financing contingencies versus another investors who will close in two weeks with no contingences.

Not hard to tell which offer the seller will accept. And the real power of this offer is the seller may accept a lower price to close quickly with no contingencies. So not only do you get the deal from the other investor, but you get it at a lower price. The power of private real estate money is the ability to close quickly and drive better deals terms to your advantage.

Advantage #2: Simple Paperwork

Have you ever gone to a closing on a traditional mortgage loan and had to sign 2 inches of paper work. Now image going to closing and only signing two or three documents (yes that is not misprint).

Private real estate money deals are incredible simple and the total paperwork is normally less than 10 pages and includes two or three simple documents. The documents included in a private real estate money transaction are a mortgage (Deed of Trust), an installment note and possible a disclosure statement. The only other required paper work is to name your lender on your property insurance as you would in any normal loan situation.

Advantage #3: You Control Terms and Conditions

One of the incredible advantages of a private real estate money transaction is you control the terms and conditions of the loan. For example, you can offer a very short term loan of only 6 months if you know you are going to flip the property for quick profit. Or you can offer a 5 or 10 year term if you plan on holding the property for a long term rental.

You can also control the conditions of the loan such as not allowing a prepayment penalty for early prepayment. Most normal mortgages and hard money loans require a 1% to 10% prepayment penalty to pay a loan off early. With private lending transaction you control the conditions and can simply add a clause that allows an early prepayment without a penalty. That can mean a huge savings down the road.

Advantage #4: Reduced Fees and Costs

Private real estate money is less costly than mortgage loans or hard money loans. For example, most hard money loans can ultimately have total interest cost of 20% or greater by the time you factor in all the fees, points, interest and other costs. Even mortgage loans can be very costly with fees and upfront points factored in and the high interest rates most investors must pay versus home owners. Loans from private real estate money sources usually have no points and very few costs. The total cost of most private loans is somewhere in the 9% to 15% range with little upfront or back-end fees.

Advantage #5: Flexibility

Private real estate money provides tremendous flexibility for both you the borrower, but also for the private lender. The private lender can invest small amounts of $5,000 or less in deals or large amounts to fund larger apartments or commercial property purchases. You can also work with lenders to structure a term that fits the lenders needs.

Do you want to learn more about Private Lending and Download our new FREE 20-page ebook titled “Discover the Secrets of How to Fund Your Real Estate Deals with Private Lenders!” then simple click here for your instant download===> Private Lending Presentation Kit.

Mike Lautensack is a full-time real estate entrepreneur in Philadelphia, PA and creator of the Private Lending Presentation Kit. This powerful done-for-you kit is loaded with tools and techniques to attract and develop a consistent stream of private investors into your real estate business. To learn more about this kit and receive your FREE Real Estate Wealth Newsletter go to http://realestatewealthtoday.com/Private-Lending-Presentation-Kit.

 

Dirty Little Secrets of Real Estate Investors by Hard Money Loans Arizona

by Real Estate Investor Comments Off

Welcome to Real Estate Investing Today brought to you by hard money loans arizona. My name is Ryan Wright and I want to tell you about the dirty secret of real estate investors and what the dirty secret is; real estate investors that are successful know that the first thing they need to worry about is finding a good deal that if they find a good property they will find the funding. Funding is not as important as finding a good property.

There are so many real estate investors that are hesitating or deliberating or waiting on making an offer or finding a good deal and they are trying to figure out where they are going to get the money from before they find that great deal. Successful real estate investors know that if they find a great deal, they will find the money and the money will come if they have a great deal.

Luckily you are connected with the folks at Private Money Lenders, who provides 100% financing regardless of credit score, job history or anything else. They can provide funding on so many different real estate projects. But it is important that you go out with confidence and you make offers and you secure a property and the dirty secret is that if you find a good property they will come and they will come in with rows and there is money available to help you be successful as a real estate investor.

One of the other dirty little secrets that real estate investors have is that lots of time they are able to get 100% financing on their investment property. So it is important to realize to find a good deal. Now, I am sure you want to know about good deals. A good deal is basically defined if a person is able to buy a property for a specific cost or if he is able to resell the property at that particular time with some profit. You can find many good deals, if you search around but the main thing is that you have to give time to your search rather than just rushing into it.

Although, there are few sellers who could tricked you and can gain benefits from the buyers. Another trick these sellers use is that they try to make the deal very attractive and therefore, one has to be careful, otherwise the deals could turn out to be a failure. Therefore, a good deal always require a lot of research, education and experience. So, get experience first or dwell with people who are experienced in helping you find a good deal like Hard Money Loans because this is a very important step in real estate investing and the money will come.

 

Real Estate Home Mortgage Deduction Soon to Vanish

by Real Estate Investor Comments Off

The American Dream is often paired with owning one’s own home.  For decades Legislator’s have protected that dream with allowing home owners to claim the mortgage interest paid on their homes as a tax deduction.  With a possible phase out of this deduction, could the dream fade?

“There are no cows more sacred in the tax code than the deductions for mortgage interest and property taxes. Together, they add up to at least the $ 75 billion annual subsidy for housing and Homeowners. ” The New York Times.

In 2002, 37.2 million taxpayers claimed the deduction, writing off $336.6 billion, or about $9,000 per taxpayer. Representing about 37% or so of itemized deductions, it was slightly more than itemized deductions for deductible state and local taxes, and twice as much in deductions as charitable donations.  Clearly, the mortgage deduction is important and worth a huge amount of money.

In 2005 it was estimated that:

* The mortgage interest deduction will cost the Treasury $72.6 billion, according to congressional estimates.

* The $250,000 and $500,000 tax-free exclusions of home sale profits for single sellers and joint filers, respectively, will cost $23 billion .

* Property tax write-offs cost $20 billion, and tax subsidies for local and state housing bond programs account for $1 billion.

When a congressional committee examined the distribution of homeowner benefits for 2004, it found that people earning $200,000 and more a year – just one-half of 1% of all homeowners filing for deductions – pocketed 22% of the $70.2 billion in write-offs in 2004.

In 2007, Rep. John D. Dingell (D-Mich.) unveiled a draft of his “carbon tax” legislative reform package. Part of this draft legislation was a phase out the mortgage interest deduction on large homes. The phase-out schedule for the mortgage interest write-off, beginning with houses of 3,000 square feet, which would lose 15 percent of their deductions, and ending with houses of 4,200 square feet and larger, which would receive no deductions at all.

Dingel said: “In order to address the issues of climate change, we must address the issue of consumption-we do that by making consumption more expensive.”

Naturally, with the real estate market bust, the Dingell package was shelved. Once the housing market recovers, lets’ say two years from now, it’s a very good bet the administration will be looking hard at ways to increase taxes to pay down the huge bailouts. The unusual financial troubles and the move to green, will be the perfect time to push through such legislation.  Unlike the Dingel proposal ,which was aimed at larger homes, the future legislation will most probably cover all mortgage interest deductions. To increase its’ chance at passage, it is a good bet it will be a phased in plan with deductions decreasing over a number of years.

To get the reversal of the sacred deduction started, President Obama’s impending budget proposes a cap on the mortgage interest rate deduction.  Couples earning $208,850 or more would loose the deduction. Where currently households at the 33% and 35% tax rates are allowed the deduction, Obama would reduce their deduction to only 28% of the value of those payments.  This is likely a first step to what seems to be a total elimination of mortgage tax deduction.  If (when) this passes, Obama will find it easier to lower the earning cap for the mortgage tax deduction, leading up to an even lesser amount in the future.  It seems on the horizon that the mortgage interest rate will be only for low income earners.

Bob Schwartz is a Certified Residential Specialist, real estate broker specializing in San Diego real estate. Read more of Bob’s ‘tell it like it is’ real estate opinions & subscribe to his free RSS feed at:San Diego real estate blog Also visit San Diego real estate & San Diego real estate agents

 

Tips For Military Home Buyers Who Are Buying San Diego Real Estate

August 4, 2010 by Real Estate Investor Comments Off

San Diego County is home to one of the largest concentrations of military bases in the United States. In fact, the San Diego area contains 12 major Marine Corps and Navy bases and facilities. If you’re in the military and moving to San Diego, one of your biggest decisions is whether to buy a property, live on base housing (if this option is available to you), or rent a home or apartment. If you choose to buy a property, there are many issues to consider before taking this step.

BUY OR RENT?

The decision to buy or rent is more complicated for military personnel because you may be assigned to San Diego only for a limited period of time. If you plan to purchase while in San Diego and then sell when you transfer, the condition of the real estate market at the time you sell will make this either an easy or difficult process. In a seller’s market (when demand exceeds supply), properties tend to sell quickly and at or above asking price. In a buyer’s market (when supply exceeds demand), properties usually take much longer to sell and may sell below asking price. Individuals in the military should consider this issue in determining whether to buy or rent real estate in the San Diego area.

For those who choose to buy, the major other consideration is the likely appreciation rate of your property during your tenure in San Diego. If you plan to sell your property before you depart to your next assignment, you should remember that there are expenses (e.g. realtor fees, taxes, etc.) associated with selling your house, and any price appreciation you realize by owing the property for a few years, may or may not be offset by these fees.

Some individuals choose to keep their property even after they transfer to a new assignment outside of San Diego. In these cases, you can rent out the property, leave it empty, or find another acceptable use of the dwelling. If you choose to hire a Property Manager to oversee the renting and maintenance of your property, keep in mind that the fess for this service will cut into any monthly profit you realize on the property.

GETTING A HOME LOAN?

If you decide to purchase a property, obtaining a home loan is one of the tasks you must undertake. Many active-day members, retirees and other service veterans are eligible for special loan programs guaranteed by the Veterans Administration (VA).

To be eligible for a VA guaranteed loan, you must have served on activity duty and have a discharge status of other than dishonorable after a minimum of 90 days of service during wartime, or a minimum of 181 continuous days during peacetime. There is a minimum 2-year service requirement for veterans who enlisted after September 7, 1980. The 2-year requirement also applies to Officers who began service after October 16, 1981. There is a minimum 6-year service requirement for National Guard members and Reservists, and surviving spouses are also eligible under some conditions. There are other special conditions in which a person may be eligible, so contact your local VA office to get more information.

WHAT IS VA GUARANTEED LOAN?

The VA loan is a federal guarantee of a maximum of 25% of a home loan amount but not to exceed $104,250. This formula allows eligible members to obtain a maximum loan amount of $417,000 (as of 2006). However, service members must meet other eligibility requirements. Individuals borrowing using this type of loan must intend to be occupants of the purchased property.

Private lenders are the source of funds for VA guaranteed loans. The guarantee provides these private lenders assurance that the federal government will reimburse the lender up to the maximum allowable amount if the borrower fails to repay the loan. Because of this guarantee, lenders are more favorable to offering loans without a requirement for a down payment.

VA CERTIFICATE OF ELIGIBILITY

Individuals desiring a VA guaranteed loan must first obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from the Veterans Administration (VA Form 26-1880). Contact your local VA office to obtain this form by calling 1-888-244-6711. You will need a copy of your military discharge document (DD-214) to submit with your application. Once you have the Eligibility Certificate, you can then select a lender or mortgage broker to work with on getting the loan.

CLOSING COSTS

In addition to the purchase price of your property, there are closing costs that must be paid to process your home loan. These closing costs are fees that are charged by different service providers to help complete the loan process. For example, your lender will require an appraisal of the property to make sure that its value is at or above your purchase price. Other charges commonly included in closing costs are: recording fees, credit report fee, prorated taxes and assessments, hazard insurance, flood insurance (if required), survey, title examination, title insurance, postage and shipping fees, and the VA Funding fee.

WHAT IS THE VA FUNDING FEE?

The VA charges a fee to individuals utilizing the VA guaranteed loan. This fee is a percentage of the loan amount and is linked to the size of your down payment on the home you plan to purchase.

For active-duty personnel or veterans who put no money down, the funding fee is 2.15% of the loan amount. This rate increases to 2.4% for National Guard/Reserve.

For active duty personnel or veterans who put a down payment greater than zero but less than 10% of the loan amount, the fee is 1.5% of the loan. This rate increases to 1.75% for National Guard/Reserve.

For active duty personnel or veterans who put a down payment of 10% or more of the loan amount, the fee is 1.25% of the loan. This rate increases to 1. 5% for National Guard/Reserve.

The rates listed above are for first time users of the VA loan guarantee program. Individuals who have used the VA guaranteed loan program before pay higher rates than first time users. The rates above are subject to change. In some limited cases, individuals are exempt from paying the funding fee. You should contact your local VA center for current information.

CHOOSING A VA LOAN VS. A CONVENTIONAL LOAN

You must carefully evaluate the terms of the VA guaranteed loan vs. the terms of a conventional loan. One advantage of a VA guaranteed loan is that many lenders will not require you to put a down payment on the purchase of the property, assuming you meet their other lending criteria (e.g. credit scores, sufficient income, adequate debt to income ratio, etc.). There are also many zero down payment conventional loan programs. In some cases, the VA guaranteed loan will offer a lower interest rate and better terms, and in other cases, you can obtain a better deal through conventional financing. A good loan officer can help you evaluate the advantages of either loan, given your particular situation.

FINDING THE RIGHT HOME

If you are familiar with the San Diego area, then you probably already know where you want to live. If you are less familiar with the communities in San Diego, your Realtor can serve as an excellent resource to answer your questions. There are many steps to take during the home search process, which include:

1. Work with your loan officer to identify how much you can afford.
2. Determine what type of property you want to buy (single-family home, townhouse, condominium, other). Your Realtor can advise you about the differences between these types of properties.
3. Determine how many bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage, etc. you need.
4. Determine what areas of San Diego you would consider living in.
5. Calculate the drive time (with and without traffic) to your job.
6. Identify the quality of schools in the neighborhoods that you are considering.
7. Locate the crime statistics for the neighborhood that you are considering.
8. Identify the location of local community resources such as libraries, shopping centers, athletic centers, etc.
9. Ask your Realtor to advise you about the resale potential of the home you are considering.

Although there are many other factors to consider, the above is a good starting point. Your Realtor should be able help you get answers to the questions above as well as provide you many other resources. Keep in mind that most Realtor’s who assist homebuyers and paid by the home seller, but make sure to ask your Realtor about this.

HOW MUCH SHOUD I PAY FOR A HOUSE?

Your Realtor should be an excellent source of information to help you understand a fair offer price. The Realtor should provide you information about what other similar properties in the same community have sold for recently, current pricing trends for the community, as well provide you a recommendation based on their experience in the local market.

DO I NEED A HOME INSPECTION?

There are many other issues besides the offer price to consider when making an offer. For example, many buyers find it advantageous to get an inspection of the property by a qualified inspector. The inspection typically covers the major systems of a property. Check out the National Association of Home Inspectors web site for more information about what is covered in a typical home inspection. Getting a home inspection is generally a good idea.

HOW LONG WILL THIS TAKE?

If you want to use the VA guarantee, then make sure you have obtained the Certificate of Eligibility far in advance of your relocation to San Diego. Whether or not you are using the VA loan program, be sure to obtain a loan pre-approval (sometimes called loan prequalification) from a lender or mortgage broker. This lets home sellers know that you are a serious buyer and are ready to act quickly if needed.

Prior to moving to San Diego, get a sense of the local real estate market. Your Realtor can set up an automatic email notification system that will send you descriptions and pictures of properties that meet your criteria. Doing this type of research should save you a lot of time when you arrive.

Once you have your loan pre-approval, the next step is to locate a property that meets your needs. Your Realtor should show you a variety of available properties that meet your criteria. Once you find a house you an interested in, your Realtor will prepare the purchase offer documents, and guide you through the loan and closing process.

In summary, it’s simply a process of getting a loan, finding a house that you like, making an offer that is accepted, and going through the closing process, which can occur in less than 30 days.

CONTACT A SAN DIEGO REALTOR

If you are moving to San Diego, contact a Real Estate agent who is familiar with VA guaranteed loans and has experience working with military buyers. Many agents have prior military service themselves, and are very familiar with your situation and needs.

 

Profiles in Green Building: the Austin Real Estate Market

August 2, 2010 by Real Estate Investor Comments Off

Austin has long been a home for friendly folk- friendly to each other, friendly to animals, and friendly to the environment. What used to be considered as only the concerns of hippies and the bohemian sect, environmentalism is now at the forefront of commercial and residential design, and “green” businesses are popping up nationwide. Austin, however, was the first city in the United States to establish a local green-building program, laying out environmentally friendly and sustainable guidelines for home builders and its interested citizens back in 1991.

Since the Austin real estate market is known nationwide as the leader of these green building methods, the National Association of Home Builders chose the city as its hub to launch an industry-wide effort to establish green-building guidelines in 2004. These guidelines now provide a practical nationally recognized framework for builders to follow to reduce a home’s environmental impact by making them more energy efficient, improving indoor environmental quality, and so on. Though Austin has already been using similar guidelines for over a decade, now the rest of the country is following suit.

The City of Austin and Austin Energy provide a great resource to owners of Austin homes, and new home builders, who are looking for ways to conserve energy, and build an environmentally friendly home. The city’s website offers a list of companies willing to do an energy analysis of a home that will determine possible options to help the house conserve more energy, with suggestions ranging from air conditioning repair to weather stripping doors. The city then will offer a 20 to 75% of that cost.

For those Austinites building a new house or commercial building, the city created the Austin Energy Green Building organization to promote the construction of high quality, more sustainable buildings, and has even zoned sections of the city’s real estate to require an Austin Energy Green Building rating. Four times a year, the organization also holds a one day “Green By Design” workshop open to the public. The workshop provides an overview of the green building process, and brings in design, building, engineering, landscaping, and Austin real estate professionals with many years of experience in homebuilding and remodeling, to help make sense of it all.

In March of this year, Austin was named as the city leading the country in “cleantech” by SustainLane, an online resource center that offers sustainability tips to state and local government. The term “cleantech” refers to venture capital-based startups based in green technology, with Austin as the front runner with seven such startups, ranging from internet-controlled irrigation to geothermal energy technologies. To keep Austin on the cutting edge of green technology, the Clean Energy Incubator program was set up to help young clean energy businesses succeed by commercializing their ideas. With citizens, government, and forward thinking businesses, Austin will likely be the city to follow in the environmental battle for years to come.

Ki is a real estate agent in Austin and can help buyers find a green friendly home in the Austin real estate market. If you are looking for more information on the Austin market his Austin real estate blog is a good place to start your research or you can search for homes on his Austin MLS search.

 

LuxuReal International, Inc. markets top Philippine Real Estate projects

July 31, 2010 by Real Estate Investor Comments Off

LuxuReal International, Inc. is a top real estate marketing firm which markets only top Philippine Real Estate properties. LuxuReal International, Inc. aims to provide “luxury living within your reach”, with an array of condominiums, condotels, house & lots, and resorts developed by top names in the Philippine real estate industry.  Among the roster of featured developers are top Philippine Real Estate companies such as Avida Land, Ayala Land, DMCI, Earth+Style, G2 Global, Megaworld, SMDC and Vista Land. Featured properties include Ridgewood-towers Taguig, Ponticelli Daang Hari Alabang and Canyon Woods Tagaytay among others.

In its website, www.myluxureal.com, home buyers can have a quick search for a property in preference to location, property type and price. Photos have been included for each property for a better view of sample unit. The website posts brief information such as the amenities, location, nearest road that travellers are familiar with, the typical venues you can see near the property and some write ups of featured properties. You can also browse either by developer or by the latest properties. If you want to be updated you can check out their news and events, and do not forget to view their latest promos posted for some properties to get discounts, add-on furnishing and more.

LuxuReal International is also looking for partners for Philippine real estate projects such as Global Sales Managers, Brokers and Agents and Global Referral Partners.

For more details on LuxuReal International, Inc., visit their website at http://www.myluxureal.com and experience luxury living within your reach.

For inquiries visit http://www.myluxureal.com/contact-us/

LuxuReal International has the primary goal of fully satisfying their customers desire to invest and find their dream homes, condos, farm lots, vacation & beach resorts. They are partnering with the best property developers so that they too can provide their customers the best value for customer’s investment.

One of the nation?s real estate investment firm, LuxuReal International, Inc., is leading real estate development firm in the Philippines with a website located at http://www.myluxureal.com/

 

Powered by Yahoo! Answers