Want A $10,000 House?
March 31, 2008
How do you find a house for ten or twenty thousand dollars? In three steps:
1. Find towns that are affordable.
2. Find houses you like.
3. Make an offer.
1. Affordable Towns
Altoona, Pennsyvania still had dozens of homes for sale for less than $30,00 when I checked today. The cheapest one is listed for $7,500. As the photo on our site shows, this is a cute little town, yet still big enough to have everything you need.
Hot Springs, Arkansas has houses under $20,000, the cheapest at the moment being $13,500. Alamogordo, New Mexico is a town we like a lot, and it still has homes for sale under $30,000. Independence, Kansas has really inexpensive homes. Prices start under $10,000!
2. Affordable Homes
To find houses that are for sale in these towns and others, you can look up their local newspapers online, and check out the classifieds. You can find a local real estate agent online too, and give them a call. One of the best resources, though, is probably www.Realtor.com, where you can search any town for homes listed by price, number of bedrooms, and many other criteria.
Kings Bay, Saint Marys and Kingsland Georgia Real Estate - Mortgage Lenders
March 30, 2008
When looking for a home, it is important to first get pre-qualified with a mortgage company before you search for a home. This is the first step in making buying a home a no-nonsense experience.
There are many mortgage lenders in the Kings Bay Georgia market. Most offer many of the same programs, but the mortgage that they offer you may not be the mortgage that best suits your needs.
As a mortgage broker with Affordable Home Funding, I have more to offer you when it comes to financing your home. We can almost always offer you a lower rate, better service, quicker closings, but most important, knowledge of the market and the neighborhoods in the Kings Bay area.
We will guide you every step of the way! Beware! of realtors who almost insist that you use the lender in their company. In many cases when you allow your realtor to be the director of your financing, you are giving them permission to decide what loan program, appraiser, etc. that you will use. When you hire the lender, your lender can advise you on the right loan program for you, not what is in the real estate agents best interest.
Kings Bay Georgia Real Estate - Be Picky When You Choose your Realtor!
March 30, 2008
I have been a mortgage lender for many years and have seen a few transactions go sour. When problems arise after a contract is signed, it can be stressful for everyone involved. Here are some things that you will want to know before you choose your real estate agent.
The Kings Bay Georgia real estate market has changed quite a bit over the last couple of years. The demand for homes is high and it is surely a sellers market. Interest rates have been at record lows for over three years and young couples are buying homes instead of renting. Local home contractors are building homes as fast as possible to meet the demand.
Due to the increase in real estate sales, people from all walks of life are taking the real estate exam, passing it and then joining up with a real estate company and deeming theirself as a professional realtor/sales agent.
Many real estate companies have training programs for new agents, as well as sales managers who guide the new agent and teach them the ropes. However, others give them business cards with their name on them and tell them to hit the pavement and sell some property!
How To Buy Real Estate - Yes, YOU CAN!
March 29, 2008
If you want to buy a house but don’t think you can for any of the following reasons, this article is intended to give you correct information so that you can make smarter choices and open yourself up to a world of wealth, possibilities and realistic expectations.
The truth is you are being unrealistic when you believe the following reasons to be true:
I can’t buy property now because?
- I don’t have 20% for a down payment, let alone 5%, let alone even 1%.
- I don’t have any money for closing costs.
- I won’t qualify for a loan (I have poor credit, don’t make enough money, can’t prove my income, haven’t been at the same job long enough, etc.)
- The market prices are too high now.
- I don’t want to live in a bad neighborhood and that’s the only place I can afford one right now.
- I can’t afford the mortgage payments with my current income.
- Fill-in-the-blank.
I am here to tell you that you CAN buy property, regardless of any of the above.
In this day and age, there is absolutely NO reason why anyone can’t own their own home. The strict days of the 20%-down-excellent-credit-and-stable-well-paying-job loans are over, replaced by no-down-payment-prior-bankruptcy-and-stated-income loan programs.
Real Estate Growth: How Long Will It Last?
March 28, 2008
There has been speculation in the media recently about the fact that real estate will begin to fail and implode as it can only handle so much growth. In my humble opinion these theories don’t hold a lot of merit and here is why. First, understand that there are three basic things that undercut the validity of saying that there is a real estate bubble that people are operating in.
1. There is no "international" or "national" real estate market.
2. The real estate market doesn’t explode or crash.
3. The market has limited impact on the seasoned investor.
The Real Estate “Market” is an overall view of micro markets nation wide.
When people talk about real estate economics they are usually referring to national or international statistics which in truth are made up of thousands on micro or local real estate markets. So even though you might find a North America wide trend there are still many, many markets which will be completely at odds with the overall numbers.
Real Estate Markets do not "Crash."
Title Insurance Protects Your Financial Investment
March 27, 2008
You purchase homeowners insurance to protect yourself financially in case something happens to your property or its contents. However homeowners insurance won’t protect your financial interests if a matter arises regarding past ownership of your property. That is where title insurance comes in.
Only the title to the land and not the land itself can be purchased. So, unless a homeowner possesses a clear title, he or she risks losing his/her home and the land under it. Title insurance guarantees the title as reported.
Actually there are two types of title insurance: lender policy and the owner’s title insurance. Most lenders require a loan policy when they issue you a loan to protect their interest (the amount they loaned you) should a problem arise. The policy amount decreases each year and eventually disappears once the loan is paid off. Therefore the owner should also have title insurance to protect his/her financial interest. Only owner’s title insurance fully protects the buyer. Should hidden defects surface at any time challenging an owner’s rights, the title company will defend the title, in court, if necessary, and cover the owner’s losses up to the full value of the policy.
Feel At Home Faster After You Move
March 26, 2008
Moving to a new community can be a great adventure, if you go with the right attitude and a sound strategy for settling-in. Incorporate these tips into an action plan, and you’ll stay focused, organized and proactive-just what’s needed to put roots down fast.
Before You Go
Complete a change of address form with the post office, which can be done online at the United States Postal Services website, usps.com. You’ll also want to send your new address to any publications you subscribe to, as it can take up to eight weeks for the change to become effective.
Contact the Visitor’s Bureau for materials about your new town, which should include a map. Identify important routes, such as those between your home and your office or your child’s school.
Make initial contact with childcare facilities. Depending on the area you move to, you may need to put your name on a waiting list.
If possible, enroll your children in school. Firm plans will reduce the stress.
Pack a box with essentials for your first few nights, such as prescription medicine, toiletries, a telephone, clothing, towels, toilet paper, and bed linen.
Real Estate Investors: How to Get a Powerful Marketing Education for Free
March 25, 2008
I am a total geek.
A few weeks ago, late at night, I wasn’t in the mood to go to bed yet so I turned on the TV. What I tuned into may surprise you. What I am about to reveal will empower you.
You may assume that I flipped to the Late Late Show, but that is not the case. Most deliberately I turned to the insomniac’s staple, paid programming. Yes, I intentionally watch infomercials.
I find there is much to be learned from studying the marketing and sales methods used in this media. Most infomercials are produced by very successful marketers. FYI?the Guthy-Renker shows are some of the best as proven by their staying power.
I could record an infomercial and base a whole seminar around studying it. From the "and that’s not all" offer to the "call in the next ten minutes" close, there are strategies that can and should be easily adapted to your own marketing. The product may be different, but the consumer psychology is the same.
Practical Advice for Finding Irish Castles for Sale
March 25, 2008
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a castle?
Have you ever dreamed of dancing in a grand ballroom that at one time was filled with princes and other nobility?
If you find yourself dreaming of this lifestyle, you’re not alone. Celtic castles, and all things medieval for that matter, have gotten very popular in recent years. While it’s true that there aren’t Irish castles for sale on every corner, you can still find them if you’re willing to be diligent and patient.
First, decide what region of Ireland you’d prefer to find castles for sale.
If you want to buy a castle in Ireland, you must first decide whether you’re interested in a particular region. If you are, then research that area first. The best way to do this is to use one of the online community guides to all 32 of Ireland’s counties.
Best ways to find castles for sale in Ireland:
Unlike houses and commercial buildings, you probably won’t find listings for Irish castles for sale in the local real estate section of a newspaper. A better place to begin searching for castles for sale is with a reputable real estate agent in Ireland so you can be contacted as soon as Irish castles come on the market.
How To Sell A Home That Didnt Sell
March 24, 2008
If your home has just come off the market and hasn’t sold, don’t be discouraged. The reason it didn’t sell may have nothing to do with your home. Your home may have been one of the more desirable properties for sale. If your listing has expired and you still wish to sell, take a moment to review your situation.
Selling your home can be very inconvenient, but make the commitment to do what it takes to get your home sold the next time. With the right agent and your cooperation, your home will sell.
Why didn’t your home sell? Honestly assess your listing history. Your home probably did not sell for one of the four most common reasons:
1. Availability ? Is your home easy to show? Your home must be easily accessible, if you don’t have a lock box, consider installing one. Be flexible, and allow showing times that are convenient to buyers and their agents. Do not follow the buyer and their agent around the house; go for a walk, or at the very least, step outside. The showing agent is compensated only after they sell your home ? they are motivated to get paid. Buyers need the freedom to voice objections and only then, can their agent solve the issues raised. Allow the buyer and their agent the "freedom" to discuss your home, without worrying about hurting your feelings.
