Buy Home

Used Cars, Sell Your Car, Auto Financing & Insurance - AutoTrader.com Home Read reviews, get pricing and compare cars. New Cars Certified Cars Used Cars Over 2.7 million listings! Make Acura Alfa Romeo AMC Aston Martin Audi Avanti Bentley BMW Buick Cadillac Chevrolet Chrysler Daewoo Daihatsu Datsun DeLorean Dodge Eagle Ferrari Fiat Ford Geo GMC Honda Hummer Hyundai Infiniti Isuzu Jaguar Jeep Kia Lamborghini Lancia Land Rover Lexus Lincoln Lotus Maserati Maybach Mazda Mercedes-Benz Mercury Merkur Mini Mitsubishi Nissan Oldsmobile Peugeot Plymouth Pontiac Porsche Renault Rolls-Royce Saab Saturn Scion Sterling Subaru Suzuki Toyota Triumph Volkswagen Volvo Yugo ZIP Learn more Close Power Search lets you: Shop by body style. Choose color preference Search for up to three makes and models. Select your mileage. And much more... More flexible search options. ZIP Buscar en Español Sell it yourself... Edit Your Ad Search for Certified Cars Make null Acura Buick Cadillac Chevrolet Chrysler Dodge Ford GMC Honda Jeep Lexus Lincoln Mazda Mercury Oldsmobile Plymouth Pontiac Saab Toyota Volkswagen Volvo ZIP There's an option somewhere between new and used. Discover the benefits. Learn About Buying Certified Price a New Car • Find the best deal. • Get a free quote. Compare Cars Narrow down your options. Browse by Body Style Find all available models of a specific body type. Find New Cars Search our dealer inventory. Free CARFAX Record Check Check for costly hidden problems and buy with confidence. Get Pre-Approved in 2 Clicks. Check Today's Rates. Refinance Your Auto and Save. Fraud Awareness Tips Learn how to spot a scam . Used Cars in the UK 60,000+ Quality Used Cars SearchCars.net Find Cars in Australia Find A Dealer | Become an AutoTrader.com Dealer | About | Help | Site Map | Employment Opportunities | Email Us | Press Room By using this service, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement . Privacy Statement ©2005 AutoTrader.com L.L.C.  

property listing DUBAI REAL

Real Estate Listing :: Gowealthy.com HAPPY NEW YEAR 2006 HOME | REAL ESTATE | TRAVEL | ENTERTAINMENT | PREMIUM CLUB MEMBER LOGIN User ID: Password: Not a member? Register now! Forgot password? WORLD PROPERTIES » Property home » List your property » View property listing DUBAI REAL ESTATE NEWS » Read News » Submit Press Release FREEHOLD GUIDE » General FAQ » Construction Updates » Currency Converter HOME | REAL ESTATE | LISTING property listing Filter Properties by Type All Apartment Duplex Villa Townhouse Beach House Farmhouse Island Retreat Retail Outlet Site Shop For All Sale Rent Re-Sale Bedroom All Studio 1 2 3 4 5 6 6+ Nill Country All Argentina Australia Belize Brazil Bulgaria China Dominican Republic Egypt France Greece India Lebanon Malaysia Mexico Morocco Pakistan Panama Portugal Singapore South Africa Spain Switzerland Turkey United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Yugoslavia First Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next Last Name Herdade Monte - a house with 11 bed-rooms Type Farmhouse Property for Sale Bedrooms 6+ Area 8,000,000 Sq.M. Price AED 7,500,000 City Arraiolos Country Portugal » More details » Property enquiry Name Small hotel/loft new refurbished with nine rooms in the Swiss mountains Type Villa Property for Sale Bedrooms 6+ Area 1,000 Sq.M. Price USD 1,350,000 City Matt Country Switzerland » More details » Property enquiry Name Freehold Hotel and Beach Club Type Site Property for Sale Bedrooms 6+ Area 4,500 Sq.M. Price EUR 9,500,000 City Tangier Country Morocco » More details » Property enquiry Name Hotel and Beach Club Type Site Property for Sale Bedrooms 6+ Area 4,500 Sq.M. Price EUR 9,500,000 City Tangier Country Morocco » More details » Property enquiry Name Beautiful villa on the med sea in tangier Type Villa Property for Sale Bedrooms 4 Area 953 Sq.M. Price EUR 500,000 City Tangier Country Morocco » More details » Property enquiry » List of active properties | LINK | ADVERTISE | SITEMAP | FAQ | FEEDBACK | CONTACT US | ASSOCIATES GOWEALTHY.COM © 2005. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED DISCLAIMER PRIVACY POLICY

Real Estate Broker License

Real Estate Licensing Real Estate Licensing Home / Licensing /Real Estate Licensing HOW TO OBTAIN A UTAH REAL ESTATE LICENSE A real estate license is required of any person who, for another and forvaluable consideration, negotiates or consummates the sale, lease, exchangeor purchase of real estate. The Utah Real Estate Commission determines the qualifications and therequirements of all applicants for a Utah real estate license. Each applicantis required to provide evidence of honesty, integrity, truthfulness, reputationand competency. Each applicant must pass an examination covering the fundamentalsof the English language, arithmetic, bookkeeping, real estate principalsand practices, the Rules established by the Real Estate Commission and anyother aspect of Utah Real Estate License Law considered appropriate. Please take time to go over the screening questionnaire. Your responses tothese questions could have an impact upon whether or not you are able toobtain a Utah Real Estate license. Additional information and requirements are outlined throughout the followingpages. Screening Questionnaire Sales Agent License Associate Broker License Principal Broker License Opening Own Business Property Management License Branch Offices Non-Resident License ApplicantsLicensed in Other States Reciprocity (between Utah and: Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and Alberta, Canada) Examination Procedure ChangeCard SCREENING QUESTIONNAIRE 1. Do you now hold or have you ever held a real estate license in a state otherthan the state of Utah or in another country? 2. Have you ever had a license to practice in the real estate profession,or any other profession or occupation, denied, restricted, suspended, orrevoked? 3. Have you ever been permitted to resign or surrender your real estate licenseor any other professional license,or have you ever allowed a license to expire while you wereunder investigation, or while action was pending against you by any realestate licensing or other agency? 4. Is any disciplinary action now pending against you by any real estatelicensing or other agency? 5. Are you CURRENTLY under investigation for, or charged with, or have you everbeen convicted of, or pled guilty or no contest to, a felonyor misdemeanor? (If you have had only one misdemeanor conviction or plea and thecase was closed over five years ago, you do not have to answer yes. Caution: DUI's and other alcohol-related traffic offenses may bemisdemeanors. Non-alcohol-related traffic offenses do not need to bedisclosed.) 6. Have you been placed on probation or ordered to pay a fine in connection withany criminal offenseor a licensing action? If you answer YES to this question you will beasked at the time of application for licensure to provide proof of completion ofyour probation and payment of all fines. 7. Have you been ordered to pay restitution in connection with any criminaloffense or licensing action? If you answer YES to this question you willbe asked at the time of application for licensure to provide proof that you havefully complied with the restitution order. 8. Have you had a civil judgment entered against you based on fraud,misrepresentation, or deceit? If you answer YES to this question you will be asked at the time of application for licensure to provide proof that the judgment has been fully satisfied. 9. Are you under 18 years of age? WARNING: IF YOU PASS THE EXAMINATION, YOUR FINGERPRINTS WILL BE TAKEN ANDSUBMITTED FOR A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK. FAILURE TO ACCURATELY DISCLOSEYOUR CRIMINAL HISTORY WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE AND AUTOMATIC REVOCATION OF YOURLICENSE. SALES AGENT LICENSE License Requirements - The applicant for a sales agent license must be at least 18 years ofage. Education Requirements - An applicant for a sales agent license must complete an approved educationalprogram of 90 classroom hours. The subject matter of the course will consistof Real Estate Principals and Practices and Utah Real Estate License Law. All courses must be completed at a Division approved real estateschool . Membership in the Utah State Bar will satisfy this education requirement. Experience will not satisfy the education requirement. Licensing Procedure - Within 90 days after the successful completion of the examination, theapplicant must return the following to the Division: Score Report/License Application - The applicant will provide a score report/license application receivedfrom Promissor ( the professional testing service) which indicates that both the nationaland state portions of the examination have been passed. The passing score report/license application must besigned by the principal broker with whom the applicant will be affiliating.No such signature is required of the applicant who desires inactive status. Education Documentation - The applicant will provide documentation of the successfulcompletion of 90 hours of classroom education taken within the previous year.Documentation will consist of the signed and stamped education certificatelocated in the examination Candidate Handbook, and/or an education waiverissued by the Division. Fees - The fee will include the license fee, the fee for the Recovery Fund, and the fingerprint processing fee. Currently, this totals $151.00. ASSOCIATE BROKER and/or PRINCIPAL BROKER LICENSE License Requirements - The applicant for an associate broker/principal broker license must beat least 18 years of age. The applicant must have a minimum of three years real estate experience and a total of at least 60 points accumulated within the five years prior to licensing. A minimum of two years (24 months) and at least 45 points will be accumulated from Tables I and/or II. The remaining 15 points may be accumulated from tables I, II, or III. The Principal Broker may accumulate additional experience points by having participated in real estate related activities as outlined in Experience Points Table III. Education Requirements - An applicant for an associate broker or principal broker license mustcomplete an approved educational program of 120 hours. The subject matterof the course will consist of 12 classroom hours in Brokerage Management, 24 classroom hours in Advanced Appraisal,24 classroom hours in AdvancedFinance, 24 classroom hours in Property Management, 24 classroom hours in Advanced Real Estate Law, and 12 hours in Utah License Law. All courses mustbe completed at a Division approved real estateschool . The Division may waive all or part of the education requirement by virtueof equivalent education. Education waivers may be granted only by the Division.To obtain an education waiver, the applicant must provide to the Divisionvalid documentation of his/her equivalent education. Experience will not satisfy the education requirement. Licensing Procedure - Please refer to the following information and forms (Broker Application Packet) Application for a Broker License Procedures Checklist Requirements for Obtaining a Real Estate Broker License Experience Points Tables (Rule 162-2.2.5) Documentation of Full Time Experience Real Estate Sales/Leasing Transaction Log Real Estate Property Management Transaction Log Brokerage Verification Form OPENING OWN BUSINESS If the applicant wishes to open his/her own business, the following isalso required: Business Name Approval - The principal broker applicant must submit evidence that the name underwhich he/she will be doing business has been registered and is approved bythe Division of Corporations, Utah Department of Commerce. The Division ofReal Estate will not accept a proposed company name that may mislead thepublic into thinking they are not dealing with a real estate brokerage orproperty management company. Company Registration - The principal broker applicant must submit a Company Application on theform required by the Division. Evidence of Trust Account - The principal broker applicant shall submit documentation from a financialinstitution that is less than 30 days old verifying the applicant's trustaccount. Change Cards - A Change Card must be submitted for each agent who will be affiliatingwith the principal broker. Fees - Appropriate fees for company registration mustbe submitted. Currently this fee is $25.00. PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LICENSE License Requirement - All persons who, for another and for valuable consideration, engage inproperty management must hold a current Utah real estate license to functionas a property manager. Property management is defined as providing the followingservices which may include, but are not limited to: Advertising real estate for lease or rent. Procuring prospective tenants or lessees. Negotiating lease or rental terms. Executing lease or rental agreements. This requirement does not apply to: An owner who manages his/her own property. A regular salaried employee of the owner of real estate who manages property owned by the employer. Apartment managers who manage the apartments at which they reside in exchange for free or reduced rent on their apartments. A full time salaried employee of a homeowners association who manages units subject to the declaration of condominium, which established the homeowners association. Individuals who, as employees of a licensed property management company, provide prospective tenants with access to vacant apartments, provide secretarial, bookkeeping, maintenance or rent-collecting services, quote predetermined rent and lease terms, and fill out preprinted lease or rental agreements, the terms of which are not negotiable by the person completing the form. Broker Supervision - All property management conducted by a sales agent or associate brokermust be supervised by the principal broker with whom the licensee isaffiliated. S EPARATE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY A principal broker may be granted a license to operate a property managementcompany separate from an existing real estate brokerage upon compliance withthe following conditions: Application - The principal broker, as a single proprietor or a company, must obtainan additional broker's license by submitting an application on the form requiredby the Division together with the license fee plus the fee for the RecoveryFund. Business Name Approval - The applicant must submit evidence that the name of the new company hasbeen registered and is approved by the Division of Corporations, Utah Departmentof Commerce. The Division of Real Estate will not accept a proposed companyname that may mislead the public into thinking they are not dealing witha real estate brokerage or property management company. Company Registration - The principal broker applicant must submit a Company Application on theform required by the Division. Evidence of Trust Account - The principal broker applicant shall submit documentation from a financialinstitution that is less than 30 days old verifying the applicant's trustaccount. Affiliated Licensees - The principal broker must designate with which company each of the licenseesaffiliated with him/her will be located - either the real estate brokerageor the property management company. Property Management Company Only - No Brokerage - If a principal broker (an individual or company) wants to operate a propertymanagement company only AND does not operate a real estate brokerage, theprincipal broker may do so by the same procedure as for opening a real estatebrokerage. Fees - Appropriate fees for company registration mustbe submitted. Currently this fee is $25.00. BRANCH OFFICES A branch office is a real estate office affiliated with and operating underthe same name as a principal brokerage but located at a different address.A branch office must be registered with the Division of Real Estate priorto operation. Application - To register a branch office, the principal broker must submit to the Division,on the forms required by the Division, the location of the branch, the nameof the branch manager and the names of all associate brokers and sales agentsassigned to the branch. He/she must also submit trust account documentationthat is less than thirty days old of a valid trust account. This accountcan be the same trust account used by the main office. Branch Manager - Each branch office must have an associate broker as a branch manager whowill actively manage the office. Fees - Appropriate fees for company registration mustbe submitted. Currently this fee is $25.00. NON-RESIDENT LICENSE A person who is actively licensed and in good standing in anotherstate as a real estate principal broker, associate broker or sales agentmay be issued an equivalent license in Utah by successfully completing specificeducation hours required by the Division with the concurrence of the Commission,and by passing the state and, in some cases, the general portion of the Utahreal estate licensing examination. The general portion of the exam may notbe waived for licensees from California due to the way California administerstheir exam. If the license in another state is expired, the applicant will be required to comply with all of Utah'sprelicensing requirements. Education and examination waivers will not beprovided if the license has expired. The applicant must also comply with each of the following requirements: Application - The applicant must submit an application for examination and license inaccordance with the requirements of the state of Utah. License History - Proof of licensure and disciplinary action, if any, (a "history letter")from each state in which the applicant has been licensed. Education Documentation - A waiver toward the Utah education requirement may be granted for educationtaken in another state. The applicant must provide to the Division validdocumentation of any certified real estate education taken in another statethat correlates with the education requirement of the state of Utah. Validdocumentation shall show proof of completion of the subject matter, the dateof completion and the number of classroom hours of each course taken. The application will be required to take a minimum of 12 classroom hoursin Utah License Law and may be required to take additional real estate educationhours. The applicant will be notified by the Division of his/her specificeducation requirements in the form of a "waiver letter." WAIVER LETTER - Upon receipt of the "license history" and the documentation of previouslycompleted real estate education, the Division will determine how many hours,if any, of Utah's education requirement may be waived and how many hoursthe applicant will still be required to complete before he/she will be allowedto sit for the examination. The licensee will be notified of his/her educationrequirements in the form of a "waiver letter." If applicable, the "waiverletter" will also indicate whether the general (national) portion of thelicensing examination will be waived. The "waiver letter" must be presented: to the school to show the number of education hours required of the candidate, at the time of the examination, and at the time of application for licensure. EXAMINATION - If the applicant has been actively licensed in another state for the precedingtwo years, he/she will be required to take only the Utah state portion ofthe examination. If the applicant has been on an inactive status in anotherstate for any portion of the past two years, he/she will be required to takeboth the national and Utah state portions of the examination. The general portion of the exam may not be waived for licensees from California due to the way California administers their exam. TRUST ACCOUNT - If the applicant is a principal broker, he/she must establish a real estatetrust account in this state. CONSENT TO SERVICE - Upon applying for licensure, the applicant must submit to the Divisionan irrevocable written consent allowing service of process on the Commissionor the Division. PRINCIPAL BROKER AFFILIATION - If the applicant is an associate broker or sales agent, the principalbroker with whom he/she is affiliated must hold an active Utah license. APPLICANTS LICENSED IN OTHER STATES A person who is licensed in another state as a real estate principalbroker, associate broker or sales agent may become licensed in Utah by successfully completing specific education hours requiredby the Division with the concurrence of the Commission, and by passing thestate and, in some cases, the general portion of the Utah real estate licensingexamination. The general portion of the exam may not be waived forlicensees from California due to the way California administers their exam. If the license in another state is expired, the applicant will be required to comply with all of Utah'sprelicensing requirements. Education and examination waivers will not beprovided. The applicant must also comply with each of the following requirements: Application - The applicant must submit an application for examination and license inaccordance with the requirements of the state of Utah. License History - The applicant must be or have been licensed as a principal broker, associatebroker or sales agent in another state. Proof of licensure (a "history letter")from the regulatory agency of each state of previous licensure must be providedto the Division of Real Estate. Education Documentation - A waiver toward the Utah education requirement may be granted for educationtaken in another state. The applicant must provide to the Division validdocumentation of any certified real estate education taken in another statethat correlates with the education requirement of the state of Utah. Validdocumentation shall show proof of completion of the subject matter, the dateof completion and the number of classroom hours of each course taken. The applicant will be required to take a minimum of 12 classroom hours inUtah License Law, and may be required to take additional real estate educationhours. The applicant will be notified by the Division of his/her specificeducation requirements in the form of a "waiver letter." WAIVER LETTER - Upon receipt of the "license history" and the documentation of previouslycompleted real estate education, the Division will determine how many hours,if any, of Utah's education requirement may be waived and how many hoursthe applicant will still be required to complete before he/she will be allowedto sit for the examination. The licensee will be notified of his/her educationrequirements in the form of a "waiver letter." If applicable, the "waiverletter" will also indicate whether the general (national) portion of thelicensing examination will be waived. The general portion of the exam may not be waived forlicensees from California due to the way California administers their exam. The "waiver letter" must be presented: to the school to show the number of education hours required of the candidate, at the time of the examination, and at the time of application for licensure. EXAMINATION - If the applicant has been actively licensed in another state for the precedingtwo years, he/she will be required to take only the Utah state portion ofthe examination. If the applicant has been on an inactive status in anotherstate for any portion of the past two years, he/she will be required to takeboth the national and Utah state portions of the examination. The general portion of the exam may not be waived for licensees from California due to the way California administers their exam. RECIPROCITY The State of Utah currently has signed reciprocity agreements with Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and Alberta, Canada. To apply for reciprocity, send us a written request for licensing through reciprocity, including what states you currently have and previously have had a license in, as well as your contact information. Have the state(s) send a certified license history to us (see contact information ). The reciprocal state MUST show that your license is on an active status. Once we receive your written request and the certified license history/histories, we will generate an application form for you. We will also send you: a questionnaire, the Consent To Service form and acknowledgement, which must be signed and notarized; 2 fingerprint cards; and the fingerprint waiver form (fingerprints required for sales agent applicants only - not for broker applicants). Fingerprints must be obtained by the applicant. The application and other relevant forms must be completed and submitted with the $100 licensing fee and $12 recovery fund fee for sales agents or $18 recovery fund fee for brokers (plus $39 fingerprint processing fee for sales agent applicants). If a broker applicant wishes to open his or her own company, additional paperwork and fees are required. See " Opening Own Business " information above. EXAMINATION PROCEDURE Education - Before an applicant will be allowed to sit for the examination, he/shemust have completely satisfied the appropriate educational requirement. Application - The candidate should obtain the Candidate Handbook from the pre-licensingschool. This handbook will outline the procedure for registering for andtaking the examination. Date/Location - The examination will be given twice daily (Tuesday thru Saturday) in theSalt Lake City area. The examination is also available at the testing centersin Provo, Ogden, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Grand Junction, Colorado. Waiver Letter - Any candidate who is granted a waiver of the general portion of theexamination must submit proof of such waiver from the Division at the timeof application. Questions - The test consists of 80 questions on the general portion of the examination,40 questions for sales agents and 50 questions for brokers on the state portionof the examination. Both the general and state portions of the examinationmust be passed within a six-month period of time. More Information - Please refer to the Candidate Handbook for complete details on takingthe examination. Special Services - The testing center complies with the provisions of the Americans withDisabilities Act (42 USCS Section 12101 et seq.). If the candidate has adisabling condition, he/she may request special testing services. The disabilitymust be verified by a professional who is qualified to diagnose and documentthe disability. Utah Department of Commerce Home | Utah Division of Real Estate Home | Contact the Division of Real Estate | Site Map | Links

Real Estate Investment Trusts

Investment Services Real Estate Instruments in the Yahoo! Directory Search: the Web | the Directory | this category Investment Services > Real Estate Instruments Email this page Suggest a Site Advanced Search Directory > Business and Economy > Shopping and Services > Financial Services > Investment Services > Real Estate Instruments CATEGORIES Real Estate Investment Trusts (110) SPONSOR LISTINGS ( What's this? ) Matrix Capital Partners - private equity firm focused on multi-family real estate investments and the preservation of affordable housing communities. SITE LISTINGS By Popularity | Alphabetical ( What's This? ) Sites 1 - 31 of 31 RealEstateCourseReviews.com - read and write reviews of the most popular real estate investing courses. Also offers products, articles, and links related to real estate investment. Oarlock Investment Services, Inc. - specializes in investment real estate for self-directed retirement accounts. Lend Lease Corporation Limited Lend Lease Real Estate Investments - diversified investment manager offering real estate and mortgage products. George Smith Partners, Inc. - commercial mortgage brokerage firm specializing in financing acquisition, construction, and mezzanine loans in addition to joint venture equity and highly leveraged participating debt. Cashflow Property Network - offers members insight on where to invest, what types of real estate to invest in, and what to expect as a real estate investor. Intercontinental - features investment, development, and asset management. Legacy Partners - management and investment company with properties in the western states. The J.E. Robert Company - commercial mortgage investment and asset management firm with offices in the U.S. and France. Charter Municipal Mortgage Acceptance Company (AMEX: CHC ) - invests in tax-exempt bonds, the proceeds of which are used by borrowers to finance and refinance the development and ownership of multifamily housing nationwide. Bancroft Capital - real estate investment and consulting company specializing in the western United States. L & B Group - provides real estate investment advisory and management services to institutional investors. LNR Property Corporation - invests primarily in real estate properties, loans, and securities. New Boston Fund, Inc. - offers information on activities and investment team. Capital Commercial Investments (CCI) - real estate investment company. Maverick Consulting Group - consulting for residential, office and retail property investment internationally. RealtiCorp - real estate trading company that does research based land investing to identify, acquire, and sell land. Krupp Funds Group American Spectrum (AMEX: AQQ ) - diversified real estate investment and management company. Sagam - specializing in investments and trading in Mortgage Backed Obligations an the Dynamic Currency Unit (DCU). RealNet USA - provides a wholesale method of acquiring, financing, insuring, and managing real estate investments. Phoenix Capital - specializing in acquiring income-generating real estate assets by purchasing property units from individuals involved in limited partnerships or syndications Infinity Commercial Real Estate Group - specializing in 1031 Tax Deferred Exchanges, and focusing on income producing properties such as apartment complexes, office buildings, and retail centers. Asia Pacific Capital - acquisitions include office, hotel, retail and residential properties. Institutional Real Estate Advisors - investment options for ERISA multi-employer plans, corporate plans, and related investment managers. TDM Properties - properties in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific. Buy A House.com - offering real estate investment services assisting people in creating real estate wealth. Gravitas Holdings - financial structuring engine at the heart of a group of companies that focuses on property acquisitions, procurement, sales, and consultancy services. Asset Marketing, Inc. - real estate holding offers investment, marketing, development, and management services. Property-Invesmtent.com - provides clients with professional advice regarding foreign property investments. Matrix Capital Partners [SPONSOR] - private equity firm focused on multi-family real estate investments and the preservation of affordable housing communities. Investment Services > Real Estate Instruments Email this page Suggest a Site Advanced Search Directory > Business and Economy > Shopping and Services > Financial Services > Investment Services > Real Estate Instruments Search: the Web | the Directory | this category

real estate prices in

Towards Liberty International Society for Individual Liberty > Don't Get Stuck Paying "Zombie" Debt – Towards Liberty – A commentary on current events by Jarret Wollstein The Coming Real Estate Collapse – 05-24-05 – As real estate prices in much of the U.S. continues to soar, evidence is growing that both commercial and residential real estate is greatly over-priced in many of the country's hottest markets – including New York City, Boston, Washington, D.C., Miami, and much of California. One clear indication that real estate is overpriced is that rents are now a fraction of mortgage payments, and are continuing to fall in terms of real dollars. For instance, Forbes reports that cash return on income-producing real estate has fallen from 9% a few years ago, to just 5% to 7% now, and is likely to go lower. You can clearly see why rents are falling in overheated markets like California's Silicon Valley. In the San Francisco-San Jos corridor, there is currently over 33 million square feet of un-rented (and in many cases never occupied) commercial space. Last year, just 65 thousand square feet of this enormous inventory was rented. At that rate, it will take over 507 years to rent all unoccupied commercial real estate in Silicon Valley. Since most investors can't wait over half a millennium for returns on their capital, what's more likely is that commercial real estate prices in this "hot market" will soon fall like a rock. Another indication that real estate is poised for a fall, that fewer and fewer people can afford today's astronomically-priced houses. For instance, in California – where ordinary 2,000 square foot, 3-bedroom homes are going for $500,000 to $2,000,000+ – less than one family in six now qualifies to repurchase their own house. Another indications that real estate is ready for a fall: Of 362 U.S. metropolitan areas, about 15% are experiencing a housing "boom" – a three-year, inflation adjusted price gain of 30% or more – according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. That's the highest number of boom markets ever recorded in the 30 years that they have been tracked. In Americas hottest real estate markets – including the big cities in New York, Florida and California – housing prices went up by 15% to 35% in the past year alone. This is clearly unsustainable. No matter how low interest rates are and no matter how many schemes George Bush comes up with for an "ownership society," it's clear that we are rapidly reaching the point when hardly anyone can afford to buy a new house in a hot real estate market, without putting their financial future in jeopardy. So what's propping up the real estate bubble, and causing housing prices to go ever-higher, even as rents fall and commercial landlords face enormous vacancy rates? Besides artificially low interest rates, the answer, in a word, is speculation. Up to one residence in three in California is now purchased not to live in, but for resale, according to the San Francisco Chronicle . The comparable figure may be as high as one property in two in the Las Vegas area. In downtown Miami, 80% of approximately 35,000 new condos now under construction or just completed, are owned by investors – not people who actually plan on living in them – according to MoneyNews.com. Call it the triumph of delusion over reality. I can't tell you how many people have told me that real estate price "can't fall, because if they did, they would be bankrupt." In other words, because they want prices to stay up, they must stay up. If you believe that, there is a nice three-bedroom fixer-upper on a dirt lot, and on the edge of an eroding cliff, in Pacifica, California, I'd like to sell you for just $2.5 million. Buy this bargain now, before the price really goes up! (This is a real example.) In the current frenzied real market, self-delusion is rampant. In Florida's red-hot real estate market, one Miami realtor recently told the New York Times , "South Florida is working off a totally new economic model than any of us have ever experienced in the past." That's precisely what executives of dot coms told investors to justify their astronomical stock prices, just before the collapse – which triggered the destruction of over $3 trillion in stock value. Unfortunately, for many overextended home owners, property prices aren't immune to the laws of economics. Property prices can and do fall in America, as witnessed by the bear markets of 1974-75, 1980-82 and 1990-92. A personal example: One Northern California home owner I know bought his 2,000 sq. ft. house for $750,000 in 1989. In 1992, he was couldn't get $450,000 for his property, and was forced to declare bankruptcy after he lost his job. Millions of overextended American families with "interest only" and adjustable rate mortgages will likely find themselves in the same boat, when mortgage interest rates edge up above 7% or 8% – which is likely by the end of this year. (Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan has warned that we can expect at least a 2.25% increase in interest rates in 2005, on top of the 2% increase in 2004.) The brutal financial reality is that a mere 2% rise in mortgage rates, can increase ARM payments by as much as 40% – an unsustainable burden for families living on the edge. One way or another, at best , the U.S. real estate bubble has 1 to 2 more years to run before it collapses. If you or your children are among those living in overpriced homes you can barely afford, NOW is the time to sell, when the market is at or near its peak, and before prices drop by 30% or more – and they find themselves living in a Motel 6 or in your basement. To minimize taxes on the profits, reinvest in a home in a small town or rural area where prices arent so absurd, and bank the rest. Please stay in touch! Add yourself to our e-mail list. Two times per month we send an update on the activities of our members and new features at ISIL.org. Simply enter your e-mail address here and click the button. You can easily remove yourself (unsubscribe) at any time. E-mail us at isil@isil.org if you have any personal questions or comments. E-mail address: Subscribe Unsubscribe