November 26, 2008

Tricks of the Trade

Filed under: General Facts — B. Slade @ 1:38 pm

Image Source:greenpeace.org

You should have insider knowledge on the “tricks of the trade”. The “tricks” people often refer to is actually the secrets to a successful life. The first you do is have a goal which is reasonable and achievable within a specified time frame. Unless you know what it is you want to do, you will never know the first thing to do. Next is , you have to persevere. Successful people always overcome challenges - which incidentally are always just around the bend. Like they always say, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Last, understand the process. Patience is a virtue. In real estate investment, the road to success is quite long. Starting with setting your goal to forming your team to finding and evaluating your property to making the offer to managing it when it becomes yours.

September 29, 2008

Building Your Own House

Filed under: Decision-Making, General Facts, Information, Tips — B. Slade @ 5:32 pm


Some people prefer to build their own home instead of buying an existing one. This way, the home is built to your exact specifications and wants. It will be more demanding and time-consuming, but emotionally it may be more satisfying. It may cost you more than you bargained for, though, especially if you’re not well-prepared. To minimize costs, make sure to plan your budget and determine exactly how much you can afford to spend. Search for the best team who can work with you. Start by asking for referrals from friends who built their own houses. Next, choose the house design that meets your needs and your budget. You may need to hire an architect for this, or choose using stock plans from a catalog. Changes and modifications should be discussed with the builder or designer, as well as the corresponding cost. Lastly, be sure to get a contract from the builder or contractor that will describe the project in detail, the project estimates and bill of materials, and the contractor’s fees and responsibilities.

August 13, 2008

Your Role in the Estate Planning Process


Image source: www.lastinglegacypartners.com
Your role in the process is an active role, not a passive one. You should avoid the attorney who is content with simply telling you what to do, and then throwing together some documents to accomplish it. That is the attorney’s plan – not yours.

In summary, if you’re working with the right estate planning attorney, you should plan on being involved in three distinct steps:

1. Develop a plan with counseling-oriented (rather than document-oriented) professionals.
2. Commit you and your family to an ongoing maintenance and education program.
3. Assure that your wisdom is passed along with your wealth.
As you consider those you love, and those material things that you’ll someday leave behind, only a properly designed and implemented estate plan can ensure that your goals for those loved ones are accomplished.

Many estate plans in America don’t work. They often consist of fill-in-the-blank documents, delivered in a one-time transaction, and never updated. If that’s all an attorney can offer, that’s not the right attorney for you. Choose an attorney that is counseling-oriented, values-based, and as strong on relationships as he or she is on the law.

June 6, 2008

Ways to Advertise Your Real Estate

Filed under: General Facts — editor @ 8:00 am

12.jpgIn selling a real estate, there are different ways in advertising it. First, through the modern way, the Internet. There are hundred sites where we can post pictures, details and even an online virtual tour of the estate. Second, through Flyers & Newspaper, where a seller post one picture and rough details of the estate. This is usually done locally or within a state and last for about 2 weeks. Third, through TV or Radio announcement, this is usually time limited and sometimes costly on the part of the seller. And last and considered an old way, is through Word of Mouth. This done by the seller telling his neighbors/friends to look for buyers of the estate and usually do an open house.

(image source : nobsshortsales.com)

May 27, 2008

Real Estate Trading

Filed under: General Facts — editor @ 4:10 am

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Due to the declining pace of real estate in the US, many are now thinking of trading real estate instead of simply selling properties. This kind of deling can be described as an “I buy yours, you buy mine” arrangement, and is very much different from vacation home swapping.

This works if the seller is also looking for a new or another property to purchase, like moving to a new place or state, and you are likewise doing the same, and it just so happens that both of you find each other’s property a good swap or trade.

But before doing a trade, we must take in consideration the other party/owner’s capacity to go into this since in these simultaneous transactions, you have to close the deal the same time, unlike when you’re selling and then buying afterwards.

(image source : http://destinyaddis.com)

April 22, 2008

Check Documents before Paying

Filed under: Decision-Making, General Facts, Legalities — Brian @ 6:02 am

When you find a great property to buy, do make sure that all the documents are in place and are surely legal. There are some brokers out there who are posing as licensed real estate brokers but there are also con artists who can scam you out of your money.

Bear in mind, we are in the age of hard times and money is hard to go by. So while we may be fascinated by the thought of buying ideal property, we just have to go about it the traditional way by considering the legality of it all before we can move into the dream house we initially envisioned.

April 18, 2008

Negotiations on Price

Filed under: General Facts, Legalities, Tips — Brian @ 6:01 am

As far as real estate buying is concerned, the initial price you will see is normally negotiable. Normally, the proper amount that a property seller would want depends on the mode of payment, cash or installment.

Cash Payments. This is perhaps the sweetest sound that a property seller would want to hear and that if possible, consummate the deal immediately. It is not everyday you will see buyers who will purchase property in cash so ask them to give their goodwill just to verify their sincere intentions.

Installments. For people who rely on loans or financial aid, the time element of settlement of the property amount is really the one in question. So if it takes time to fulfill, expect stiff decisions on the asking price although some would tend to bend over.

April 15, 2008

Lifestyle Checks are Important

Filed under: Decision-Making, General Facts, Tips — Brian @ 12:00 am

One thing that hinders decisions in real estate buying is the type of lifestyle you follow. Not all people have the same lifestyle and this includes the manner of living. There are a lot of properties out there and most of them may be situated in places where you least like.

This is why during planning and developmental stages, areas are important for consideration before ground-breaking ordeals are officially made. Along with marketability comes the area where a property will be located. Most people want a great place to live in and for sure, the location of the future property investment potential will play a vital role towards attracting visitors and potential buyers.

March 16, 2008

Before deciding to buy your dream house

Filed under: General Facts — B. Slade @ 6:48 am

In making big purchases like buying a house or getting a new car you should plan for these things ahead of time and not jump into it the moment you thought that it is the right time. Put in mind that you should consider first your financial stability before you splurge on something, yes we all know that buying your own house is a good decision but are you ready to have one right now? Check your job status, do you have enough savings, have you made a loan just recently and can you ask help from your spouse/relatives in paying your debts? Weigh the pros and cons first, its not easy getting out from a quicksand.

March 12, 2008

Finding It easy!

Filed under: General Facts — B. Slade @ 6:40 am

With the recent innovations like the worldwide web, you can easily find your dream house just a click away. Recent surveys shows that more young working adults due to their busy schedules at work, finds it easier and more convenient to search for the right house they’ve been wanting to purchase for so long from a lot of websites that offers a variety of selections. Furthermore, real estate agents find it amusing that most of their buyers who opt to purchase their houses came from using the internet compared to walk-in buyers. With this in mind, real estate agents decided to make their websites more appealing to their virtual buyers by posting colorful photos and detailed description of the amenities for them to have more and more buyers in the future.