real estate investing isnt

MSN Money - The real risks of investing in real estate MSN Home Hotmail My MSN Sign In Money S earch MSN Money: Help Home News Banking Investing Planning Taxes My Money Portfolio Loans Insurance Investing Home Portfolio Markets Stocks Funds ETFs Commentary Brokers CNBC TV MSN Money Insight Jubak's Journal SuperModels Start Investing Strategy Lab Company Focus Mutual Funds Street Patrol Other Views Contrarian Chronicles TheStreet.com Resources Commentary Index Decision Centers Start Investing Mutual Funds Find Hot Stocks Simple Strategies Power Tools Investing For Income Real Estate Related Links Expert Picks Market Dispatches CNBC Stock Picks Message Boards Print-friendly version Send this to a friend Research any REIT Find top-performing mutual funds Sortable database of SEC filings Find stock winners with our screener Personal finance bookshelf Find It! Article Index Finance Q&A Tools Index Site Map The Basics The real risks of investing in real estate advertisement With prices soaring, real estate looks tantalizing -- but the margin of error is shrinking. Forget the get-rich-quick plans. Pay attention to the numbers. By Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine For Derrik Dyka, the biggest obstacle to successful real estate investing isnt a meltdown in property values or tenants who wreck an apartment or dont pay their rent. "Its overconfidence," says Dyka, a 34-year-old Minneapolis investor who turns old apartments into new condominiums. If youre expecting to cash in on the 21st centurys first gold rush without breaking a sweat, it would be wise to take Dykas words to heart. The margin of error for making money in real estate is closing fast. Its not surprising that real estate tempts so many Americans today. Over the past five years, home prices have soared and rags-to-riches tales abound. But so much real estate has become so expensive that Real Estate Research Corp. in Chicago reports that many real estate pros say now is a better time to sell than buy. As San Diego real estate investor Chuck Wise observes about the area where he operates, todays buyers are like "lambs being shorn." Start investing with $100. Explore our new ETF center. Of course, that doesnt mean that all deals are doomed to fail. But it does mean that its time for would-be investors to pay more attention to the perils of owning property, not just the potential profits. Watch your cash flow The most common entree into real estate investing is the single-family house. Investors bought almost one-fourth of all homes sold in 2004, according to the National Association of Realtors. If youre one of those buyers and your income from that property (after taxes) exceeds your expenses by $100 or $200 a month, youre in good shape. But because prices and property taxes are so high in many areas, and theres so much competition for attractive rental properties, its increasingly difficult to find deals that generate enough income to more than cover your expenses -- whats called positive cash flow. In areas such as the leafy suburbs of New York City and Boston, where a modest three-bedroom house can easily cost $600,000, theres no way you can collect enough rent to cover the steep property taxes and payments on a $500,000 mortgage. Figure monthly out-of-pocket expenses of more than $3,000, if not $4,000. The pool of renters who will pay that much is small. Related news and commentary on MSN Money • Nothing quick about getting rich with real estate • Do you have what it takes to be a landlord? • Don't bite off too much house • How to find a good investment property • 7 creative ways to buy your first house • Decision Center: Home financing So be ready to set your sights lower and get your hands dirty. Instead of a well-located home in pristine condition, look for a fixer-upper off the beaten track for maybe $150,000 that you can rent for $1,000 a month. The numbers work if youre willing to spend weekends, say, painting the walls and, if youre capable, making repairs that would otherwise require professional help. The hidden profit from home improvements is why "ugly real estate often makes more money than the nice stuff," says Kelley Pace, head of Louisiana State Universitys real-estate research institute. Mind the cap You can quickly figure out whether a house or condo is likely to generate positive cash flow. For more complex properties, such as a small office building or retail space, check the cap rate, a single number that can tell you if youre overpaying. The cap rate -- cap is short for capitalization -- is a propertys net operating income as a percentage of its price. The figure is real estates version of a bond yield. If a property sells for $500,000 and generates net income of $50,000 (rents minus expenses), the cap rate is 50,000 divided by 500,000, or 10%. The lower the cap rate, the more you pay for each dollar of annual income. In 2000, the average cap rate on commercial property in the U.S. was 10%. Since then, because of relentless price appreciation, the average cap rate has sunk to 8%. That alone suggests that wringing further gains out of commercial property is unlikely. If you want to invest in a commercial property, aim for a purchase price that results in a 10% cap rate. But remember that the cap rate also depends on how much you collect in rent. Ask the broker for details about the tenants leases, including how rents compare with those of other nearby properties and when the leases are up for renewal. The property should come with an information packet that is more like a stock prospectus than a real estate agents fact sheet on a single-family house. If necessary, hire a property inspector. Then take all the information to a lawyer who specializes in real estate. If you have any doubts about the property, walk away. Page 1 of 2 Story continues on next page Fund data provided by Morningstar, Inc. © 2005. All rights reserved. Quotes supplied by ComStock , an Interactive Data company. MSN Money's editorial goal is to provide a forum for personal finance and investment ideas. Our articles, columns, message board posts and other features should not be construed as investment advice, nor does their appearance imply an endorsement by Microsoft of any specific security or trading strategy. An investor's best course of action must be based on individual circumstances. © 2005 Microsoft MSN Privacy Legal Advertise Feedback Help

Real estate prices and

Real estate price index, annual changes - Statistics Sweden Find: A-Z Content Search Find more on the website --------------------------- Agriculture, forestry and fishery Business activities Citizen influence Culture and leisure Education and research Energy Environment Financial markets Health and medical care Household finances Housing and construction Information technology Judicial system Labour market Living conditions National accounts Population Prices and Consumption Public finances Social insurance Social services Trade in goods and services Transport and communications --------------------------- Use Sweden's Statistical Database Maps About Sweden's Statistical Database --------------------------- Publication plan Publications About the publications --------------------------- International statistics Information and Library Economic statistics Regional statistics Methodology --------------------------- Information services Statistics Sweden's Business Register SCB International Consulting Order international statistics Order Swedish statistics --------------------------- Swedish Statistics Net Other statistical sources Housing and construction Real estate prices and registrations of title Real estate price index Per cent change from previous year. As a comparison the consumer price development is also shown Download Data and graphs for printing out (101 kb) Comments The graph shows the development of prices for one- and two-dwelling buildings for permanent living, buildings for seasonal and secondary use and multi-dwelling and commercial buildings. For one- or two dwelling buildings and buildings for seasonal and secondary use, the development is expressed as per cent change of real estate price index from the previous year. For multi-dwelling and commercial buildings it is the development of the purchase-price coefficient. The inflation rate has been included in the graph to further illustrate the development of prices. The late 1980s was a period with very rapid price increases. The downturn of the economy in the early 1990s ended this and the price level decreased for three years. During the latter half of the 1990s, price increases have again been considerable. For the whole period, consumer prices have increased at a much slower pace than real estate prices. Press information Statistical Databases More graphs on real estate prices Real estate price index, annually. 1981=100 To Economic statistics To Business cycle indicators Top of page Updated: 2005-06-01

Home Loan Home Loan

VA Home Loan Information - Veteran Loans from MRC Contact | Mortgage Rates | Mortgage Calculators Mortgages Refinancing Debt Consolidation Mortgage Resources Loans FHA Loan VA Loan What Type Of Loan Are You Looking For? Please Select.... VA Home Loan Home Loan VA Home Refinance Home Refinance FHA Home Loan What Is The Approximate Value Of Your Property? VA Loan Information VA home loans are designed to provide assistance in purchasing a home for United States Veterans. A benefit of a VA loan is that you can purchase a home with no down payment. In addition, it is slightly easier to qualify for a Veterans Affair loan when compared to a regular loan. Many people for who actually qualify for a VA Loan are not aware of it. If you would like to learn how to get approved for this type of Loan or to find out whether you qualify for one, you may speak with a mortgage specialist by calling 800-930-9201 . Get a free prequalification for a VA home loan Apply for a VA Streamline Refinance New! The VA is now offering VA adjustable rate mortgages. Click above to see if you qualify for a 3yr or 5 yr ARM. If you do NOT plan to stay in your home for a long time, the ARM may be best for you. The VA Adjustable Rate Mortgage is fantastic for anyone who does not plan on staying in their home for more than 5 years. It will help save you a great deal of money because the interest rates are generally much lower. Who qualifies for a VA Loan? The following table shows what type of service (and for what duration is required in order to be eligible for a VA Loan: Wartime Service during: WWII - 09/16/40 to 07/25/47 Korean - 06/27/50 to 01/31/55 Vietnam - 08/05/64 to 05/07/75 Persian Gulf - 8/2/90 to undetermined You must have at least 90 days on active duty. Plus, you must have been discharged under other than dishonorable conditions. If you served less than the standard 90 days, you may be eligible if discharged for a service connected disability. Peacetime Service during periods: 07/26/47 to 06/26/50 02/01/55 to 08/04/64 05/08/75 to 08/01/90 To qualify for a Veteran Loan, you must have served at least 181 days of continuous active duty. Plus, you must have been discharged under other than dishonorable conditions. If you served less than the standard 181 days, you may be eligible if discharged for a service connected disability. Call us at 800-930-9201 Other questions about VA Loans: 1) Is the spouse or children of a veteran eligible? A spouse is eligible if the veteran died as a result of a service connected disability or died while on active duty. The children are not eligible. 2) Who makes the loans? Private lenders make the loans. However, the VA guarantee protects these lenders against loss. The guaranty will allow lenders to make loans without other requirements (for example, a down payment). To find out what lenders have the best VA loan programs, visit the Veterans Center or you may call 800-930-9201 . 3) Can I get a VA loan if I have been foreclosed on in the past? Yes. The best way to find out how to qualify for this is to contact a mortgage specialist . They can give you advice on what you can do to ensure you can qualify for a loan. If you are considering a VA Loan, remember that there are still a variety of different mortgages. A mortgage broker can be a useful tool to help find the most appropriate mortgage for your purchase. If you plan on living in your home for a long period of time, you may want to consider the traditional fixed-rate 15- or 30-year loan. Another option is to choose an adjustable rate mortgage and consider refinancing again in a few years. Short-term mortgages include balloon mortgages and one-year adjustable rate mortgages. Get more VA eligibility information or get information about the VA loan limits for your home . Call 800-930-9201 to get additional advice about a VA ARM. If you have questions or would like help with your mortgage, you can call us at 800-930-9201 . "Nathan, I wanted you to know that everything went very well at our closing. It was quite pleasant. Thank you for everything." -Vicki Ficklen Mcdonough, GA More Testimonials Equal Opportunity Lender License Information We can help you find the lender (mortgage bank) that can get you the best deal for your financial situation (including setting you up with the best financing rates and loan term). MRC does not originate loans in MA, NJ, NY, ND, PA, VT, NV, WV, or DC. If you are getting a mortgage in one of these states, we will help you by directing your information to a lender in your state. Get additional information about a VA Loan , Home Loan , or 1031 Exchange : Privacy Policy .

Buy Home

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Real Estate Investment

Russ Whitney, Building Wealth, Real Estate Investment Training Free Millionaire Mentor Ezine Subscription Learn More About The Free Training · Hotel Information · FAQ REGISTER FOR FREE REAL ESTATE TRAINING BY CLICKING A DATE BELOW Jan 4-Jan 7 Houston, Houston, Sugar Land, Houston Jan 4-Jan 6 South Bend, Indianapolis, Indianapolis Jan 4-Jan 6 Boca Raton, Delray Beach, West Palm Beach Jan 4-Jan 6 Sparks, Carson City , Reno Jan 9-Jan 12 King of Prussia, Cherry Hill, Philadelphia, Wilmington Jan 9-Jan 13 Fort Collins, Westminster, Aurora, Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs Jan 10-Jan 12 Santa Fe , Albuquerque, El Paso Jan 10-Jan 12 Allentown, Reading, Langhorne Jan 16-Jan 19 Concord , Berkeley , San Jose, Union City Jan 16-Jan 18 Altamonte Springs, Kissimmee, Orlando Jan 17-Jan 19 Scranton, Lancaster, Harrisburg Jan 17-Jan 19 Burlingame, Santa Rosa, San Francisco No Cost · No Obligation · Seating Is Limited! Ask Questions - Get Answers Online Discussion Board saad7861 asks: How do I create a buyer and seller database, if I am just starting out and don't have contacts or experience? ? Join this discussion... View other discussions Register and start your own Special Offer Success Story Arlene McCormack : I just wanted to show you the check we received after our first fix and flip in March. Colm and I were so excited to see our names on the check...for [$41,045.93]. Let me tell you that it felt really good to bring this to the bank.. Read More Investor Relations | Contact Us | Careers | Sitemap | Privacy Statement © 2000-2005 Whitney Education Group, Inc. All rights reserved. -- --