Real estate brokers are

Real Estate Agents & Brokers Career Prospects in Virginia Real Estate Agents and Brokers Home | Find another career | Find career statistics Suggestions & corrections Printer friendly page What do they do? Real estate agents sell property for owners. Specializations : Residential property, commercial property Preferred education : Complete an approved real estate marketing program in high school (with Career & Technical Education), community college, or trade school; associate's or bachelor's degree is an advantage Certification & licensing : State license required Getting ahead : Selling more & higher-valued property brings more commissions & more property to sell Skills & knowledge : Selling, negotiating, & bargaining; working well with clients; knowledge of local area Where they work : Visiting houses & properties to be sold Job outlook : Good in the long run, but probably becoming more competitive as the housing boom of the last decade slows down Look for work : Link to job banks and other job search resources Earnings : Usually in the $16-110,000 range Links : Find more information about this career Become An Agent & Get Rich Quick? Think Again Interviews with real people See a video WHAT DO THEY DO? It's the "American Dream"-- buying a house somewhere to call one's own. And the people who assist in that dream, making a fair profit at the same time, are real estate agents. When people want to buy a house, some land, or a commercial property, they usually contact a real estate agent or broker who collects listings of all the houses, properties and parcels of land for sale in a particular city or neighborhood. The agent sorts through the listings and selects the properties that seem to fit a buyer's price range and needs. The agent then shows the property to the buyer, along with any others that seem to fit the bill. When clients have questions--for instance, how old is the roof and is the property in a flood zone--agents track down the answers. They draw up contracts between buyers and sellers, and help smooth along the whole process by acting as a "go-between" between buyer and seller. Money enters the picture when the agent actually makes a sale. Agents charge both buyers and sellers for their services. Many also offer services like renting and managing property owned by others, also for a fee. Real estate brokers are the people who own and manage real estate agencies. Real estate agents are usually independent sales workers who provide their services to a licensed broker on a contract basis. In return, the broker pays the agent a portion of the commission earned from the agent’s sale of the property. (Agents are also sometimes called realtors if they belong to the National Association of Realtors). Despite all the excitement and money in real estate in recent years, selling real estate is not an easy line of work. Agents must stay on top of changes in the market by constantly touring homes that have just been listed. They work nights and weekends and have to be on call for clients who want to see them at odd times. They spend many weekend afternoons sitting at "open houses" and must be aggressive and good at drumming up new clients. In very competitive markets they must perfect the art of cold-calling or canvassing for new business. Va Association of Realtors Most importantly, real estates agents must be expert negotiators since they must manage delicate price negotiations when an interested buyer and seller hook up. The agent also coordinates the "closing" when a property is sold, that is, the actual signing of papers and transfer of a property's title. Once the property is sold, the agent who sold it and the agent who first got the listing both receive a portion of the commission. Agents who sell a property they also listed can increase their commission. Real estate agents and brokers need to know a lot about the communities in which they work. They need to know about the local real estate market and about local services, particularly the schools. They also need to be familiar with local zoning and tax laws, and know where to get financing. A broker's knowledge, resourcefulness, and creativity in arranging mortgages often means the difference between success and failure in closing a sale. Above all, the successful real estate agent has to be able to sense what clients really want in a property, be good at selecting properties that clients will like, and at helping clients be realistic about what they can afford. This type of job, in short, calls for a business-minded "people" person who really knows the lay of the land, so to speak. Specific tasks include: Finding properties to sell Estimates property will sell for to set the opening price Meeting with prospective buyers Helping buyers find property that they like Knowing the physical condition, features, and special characteristics of properties Preparing purchase agreements Referring clients to lawyers and tax consultants Working with lenders, home inspectors and others until the sale is completed to the client's satisfaction Commercial Investment Real Estate Real Estate Professional Realty Times The right job for you? Learn more with an informational interview with a local employer . The wrong job for you? Take an interest test & find a better one . SOME AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION Most real estate agents and brokers sell residential property. A small number, usually employed in large or specialized firms, sell commercial, industrial, agricultural, or other types of real estate. Every specialty requires knowledge of that particular type of property and clientele. EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, & LICENSING In Virginia, as in every other state, real estate brokers and agents need a license. Prospective agents need to be at least 18 years old, and pass a written exam. The exam--more comprehensive for brokers than for agents--includes questions on basic real estate transactions and laws affecting the sale of property. In Virginia, agents have to complete 60 hours of real estate classes at an approved school and pass the state and national portions of the salespersons exam. Brokers must complete 180 hours of education, pass the state and national portions of the broker exam, and submit proof that they worked as a salesperson during 36 of the preceding 48 months before applying for a license. A college degree is helpful in certain areas like commercial real estate, but it is not required. Real estate licenses must be renewed every two years. To qualify for renewal, agents and brokers need to complete 8 hours of approved continuing education. In addition to licensure and continuing education requirements, real estate agents and brokers in Virginia cannot be guilty of violating the fair housing laws of any jurisdiction, nor convicted anywhere for a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, sexual offense, drug distribution, physical injury, or any felony. Real estate agents and brokers can also study to earn their GRI a nationally recognized professional designation that stands for Graduate, REALTOR® Institute. Studying to be a real estate agent in Virginia: Are you in high school? Learn more about Career and Technical Education . Find out about CTE courses in Real Estate Marketing. Students who complete this course are eligible to take the Virginia real estate licensing exam. Planning to go to college? Find real estate programs at community colleges . Read " How do I become a realtor " from the Virginia Association of Realtors. Find out more about getting a license and other issues from the Virginia Association of Realtors. Find more information on licensure and a list of schools and colleges approved to offer the required courses for brokers and agents from the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. Read about GED , High School , Community College , Financial Aid , & more in The World of Education Va public schools • Your School Division • HS Graduation Requirements • Career Readiness Certificates GETTING AHEAD Real estate agents advance as they learn more about the business, become more efficient, and as a result increase their earnings by selling more property. They may also earn larger commissions by moving to agencies that list more expensive properties. In large agencies, experienced agents can advance to sales manager or general manager. Experienced real estate agents who go on to get a broker’s license may open their own offices. Others with experience and training in estimating property value may become real estate appraisers, and people familiar with operating and maintaining rental properties may become property managers. Bright ideas for getting ahead in any job SKILLS, ABILITIES, & PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS Communicating clearly Working well with customers or clients Working in a highly competitive environment Attention to detail Listening carefully to what someone else is saying Keeping track of numerous responsibilities at once Dealing with people under stress Being consistently pleasant and polite Building and maintaining good public relations Selling, negotiating, and bargaining Thorough knowledge of local area Inspiring trust and confidence Keeping abreast of economic conditions and trends In addition to career-specific skills, everybody needs these basic skills: Reading Math Writing Speaking & listening Computer literacy Problem-solving & decision-making Understanding the broader picture Working with people A strong work ethic A positive attitude Independence & initiative Self-presentation WHERE THEY WORK ( Employer locator ) Real estate brokers and agents spend much of their time away from their desks, showing properties to customers, analyzing properties for sale, or meeting with clients. Increasingly, real estate agents work from home because now they can get so much of the information they need over the Internet. OUTLOOK Real estate brokers and agents enjoyed boom times during the last decade, as demand for housing soared. However, the future will not be quite so bright if interest rates rise and sales slow. In fact, some experts fear that the recent housing boom is expanding into a bubble that will soon burst leading to a fall in house prices and a slowdown in sales. Even if the real estate market holds up, opportunities for agents and brokers are expected to grow more slowly than average through 2012. People who want to buy houses can now do a lot of their own searching on the Internet, and this will probably reduce the need for agents and brokers. However, jobs prospects in this field also tend to vary by region and since many people are expected to retire from this field in coming years, there will always be work available. The economy in: Your area • Virginia • The nation Employment projections Monster Employment Index Manpower Employment Outlook LOOK FOR WORK See job ads at Virginia's Job Bank • More job banks • Find local employers Learn job search skills—from reading job ads to preparing for the interview EARNINGS See what people usually earn Most real estate agents in Virginia earn somewhere in the $16-73,000 range. Brokers usually earn more, in the $20-110,000 range. Incomes in this occupation vary widely because agents work on commission. They are paid a percentage of each sale they make, so their incomes depend on the price and the number of properties they sell. The average commission is about 5-7 percent of a property's selling price. This commission rate varies from firm to firm, and commissions are often split between broker and agent on a 50-50 basis. Commissions can also be split between the agent and broker of the listing firm and the agent and broker of the firm that made the sale. Learn more about earnings at Salary.com , Payscale.com , Career Info Net , & other sites FOR MORE INFORMATION Virginia Association of Realtors 10231 Telegraph Road Glen Allen, VA 23059 www.varealtor.com Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation Real Estate Board 3600 W Broad St Richmond, VA 23230 www.state.va.us/dpor/reb_main.htm National Association of Realtors 4301 North Michigan Ave Chicago, IL 60611 www.realtor.com/ National Association of Real Estate Brokers, Inc. 1629 K St NW, Suite 1100 Washington DC 20006 www.nareb.com/ About.com's Real Estate professional's page Realty Times realtytimes.com/ WetFeet.com, Career Profiles and Interviews Career Overview www.wetfeet.com/asp/careerprofiles_overview.asp?careerpk=33 Industry Overview www.wetfeet.com/asp/industryprofiles_overview.asp?industrypk=27 Real People Profiles www.wetfeet.com/research/rpp/rppbycareer.asp?careerpk=33&careerName=Real+Estate This page was last edited on: November 18, 2005

Investment Property Calculator An

Investment Property Calculator http://www.dinkytown.net -- Financial Calculators http://www.dinkytown.net -- Investment Property Calculator An investment property can be an excellent investment. This calculator is designed to examine the potential return you might receive from an investment property. Investment Property Calculator Property Address PROPERTY_ADDRESS Property Information PROPERTY_INFO Financing Information Purchase Price PURCHASE_PRICE Cash Invested CASH_INVESTED Loan #1 Amount LOAN_1_AMOUNT    Interest Rate INTEREST_RATE_1    Monthly PI LOAN_1_PI    Term in Months TERM_IN_MONTHS1 Loan #2 Amount LOAN_2_AMOUNT    Interest Rate INTEREST_RATE_2    Monthly PI LOAN_2_PI    Term in Months TERM_IN_MONTHS2 Property & Depreciation Information Land Value LAND_VALUE Personal Property PERSONAL_PROPERTY Building Value BUILDING_VALUE Personal property depreciation PERSONAL_PROPERTY_DEPRECIATION at PERSONAL_PROPERTY_DEPR_RATE depreciation Building depreciation BUILDING_DEPRECIATION at BUILDING_DEPR_RATE depreciation Total Depreciation TOTAL_DEPRECIATION Gross Operating Income Annual Rent ANNUAL_RENT Less Vacancy LESS_VACANCY Gross Operating Income GROSS_OPERATING_INCOME Annual Expenses Real Estate Taxes REAL_ESTATE_TAXES Utilities UTILITIES Insurance INSURANCE Maintenance/Repairs MAINTENANCE_REPAIRS Advertising ADVERTISING Admin/Legal ADMIN_LEGAL Supplies SUPPLIES Miscellaneous MISC Total operating expense TOTAL_OPERATING_EXPENSE Operating expense ratio OPERATING_EXPENSE_RATIO Tax and Appreciation Rates Tax bracket TAX_BRACKET Appreciation rate APPRECIATION_RATE Cash Before Taxes Gross Operating Income GROSS_OPERATING_INCOME Operating expense - TOTAL_OPERATING_EXPENSE Net Operating Income = NET_OPERATING_INCOME Annual Debt Service - ANNUAL_DEBT_SERVICE Cash Flow Before Tax = CASH_FLOW_BEFORE_TAX Cash After Taxes Net Operating Income NET_OPERATING_INCOME Total Interest - TOTAL_INTEREST Total Depreciation - TOTAL_DEPRECIATION Taxable Income = TAXABLE_INCOME Tax Paid or Saved TAX_PAID_OR_SAVED Cash flow after tax CASH_FLOW_AFTER_TAX Rates of return Total appreciation TOTAL_APPRECIATION Return on Investment with appreciation RETURN_ON_INVESTMENT_WITH_APPRECIATION Return on Investment without appreciation RETURN_ON_INVESTMENT_WITHOUT_APPRECIATION Cap Rate CAP_RATE Cash on Cash CASH_ON_CASH Schedule **REPEATING GROUP** Information and interactive calculators are made available to you as self-help tools for your independent use and are not intended to provide investment advice. We can not and do not guarantee their applicability or accuracy in regards to your individual circumstances. All examples are hypothetical and are for illustrative purposes. We encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding all personal finance issues. " This Financial Calculator requires a Browser with Java(TM) applet Support. If you are seeing this message you will need to download SUN's Java(TM) Plug-in. This can be done simply, and automatically, by clicking the link below: Get the Java(TM) Plug-in! Definitions Cash Invested The money, you the investor, actually have to put down on the property. (out of pocket). Usually it is the amount of earnest money you invest in property. Interest Rate The amount of interest the investor pays annually to borrow money from the lender. Rates and programs can vary, check with lender for more information. Land Value The approximate value of the land that the property sits on. Usually available on the tax records in the county the property resides. You can not deprecate land value. Personal Property Anything that you have that is used for the investment property, such as washer/dryer, range, refrigerator lawn equipment, fixtures and other. Personal Property Depreciation Rate The rate annually you can depreciate on the personal property. Building Value Depreciation Rate Recovery period for five-year personal property. Year Percentage 1 20% 3 14.20% 5 11.52% 2 32% 4 11.52% 6 5.76% Appreciation The amount the property is on an annual basis appreciation occurs on entire value of the property Loan P & I P=principle, I=interest Total Depreciation Total amount you can depreciate annually on personal property and building value. Gross Operating Income The amount of income available after vacancy. Total Annual Operating Expense The total annual expenses including real estate tax, repairs, management fees, insurance, utilities, supplies, and other miscellaneous expenses. Operating Expense Ratio It's the percentage amount- based on the income 23 - 30% is considered average. Net Operating Expenses Total annual amount of expenses. Cash Flow Before Tax What's left after expenses, principle payment and interest. Annual Debt Service Your payment to lender including principal and interest. Equal Principle Reduction The amount left annually as you pay down the principle and interest. Return on Investment w/appreciation Cash flow before tax + principle reduction + taxes saved/paid + appreciation divided by cash invested. Includes appreciation. Return on Investment w/ out Appreciation Does include same formula above except appreciation. Cap Rate AKA= Net operating income divided by price, capitalization rate, rate of return- Anything in Double Digits is Fantastic! Cash on Cash Cash flow before tax % cash invested. Investment Appreciation Annual Percentage of increase of appreciation of property. Total Return The total analyzation of returns of the property. Information and interactive calculators are made available to you as self-help tools for your independent use and are not intended to provide investment advice. We can not and do not guarantee their applicability or accuracy in regards to your individual circumstances. All examples are hypothetical and are for illustrative purposes. We encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding all personal finance issues.

Florida Real Estate Market

Florida personal injury lawyers, real estate attorneys, corporate lawyers - Oppenheim Pilelsky, P.A. What's Hot: NEW: Oppenheim Pilelsky spearheads a $5 billion class action lawsuit against DuPont for failing to warn consumers about Teflon dangers. Click here for more.. Dupont sued over alleged carcinogen Lawsuits filed in S. Florida allege Teflon is linked to cancer S. Fla. law firms to lead Teflon class action For more articles Click Here NEW: Roy Oppenhim discusses the Teflon Class Action lawsuit on NBC-6. Click Here NEW: WSVN-7 covers the Dupont Class Action Lawsuit. Click Here NEW: WPLG-10 covers the Dupont Class Action Lawsuit. Click Here NEW: WPEC-12 covers the Dupont Class Action Lawsuit. Click Here For More TV Stories Click Here Founded more than fifteen years ago by a husband and wife legal team , Oppenheim Pilelsky, PA is uniquely positioned as one of Florida's leading boutique law firms with offices in Ft. Lauderdale and Tampa, serving national, international, and local clients. The firm's old fashioned approach of personalized service has contributed to our expanding family of clients. The Firm's practice areas include personal injurylaw, real estate, commerciallitigation, business related matters, and consumer related class actions. Thefirm is outside general counsel to a myriad of residential and commercial developers,coordinating all legal related matters and is outside counsel to manufacturersof suppliers to big box retailers, coordinating litigation, and handling distributionissues and intellectual property disputes. In addition, the firm is regularlyinvolved with representing clients concerning real estate development and investment. Clients also include professional athletes, elected officials, and high profileFlorida entrepreneurs concerning their business, estate and family matters. TheFirm is particularly media savvy and assembles the finest team of professionalsin the the legal profession and other disciplines for high profile matters. What's New: Recent hurricanes deliver leasing troubles for tenants Roy Oppenheim Comments on the Future of the Millennium Mall. Working more than 40 hours and not getting paid for it, please read Employment claims in Florida . Whistle Blowers in Florida : Over the past several years the firm has been proud to represent a number of whistle blowers in connection with high profile related companies and industries. New Whistleblower protection under Federal Law! Roy Oppenheim discusses the South Florida Real Estate Market on the WPBT-Channel 2 program "Issues." Roy Oppenheim discusses the Florida Homeowners' Construction Recovery Fund High Bandwidth Version Low Bandwidth Version Roy Oppenheim discusses Medical Malpractice Crisis. High Bandwidth Version Low Bandwidth Version Roy Oppenheim discusses Medical Malpractice Crisis. High Bandwidth Version Low Bandwidth Version Recent hurricanes deliver leasing troubles for tenants . Read more about hurricane damage and lease issues here . Oppenheim Pilelsky spearheads a $5 billion class action lawsuit against DuPont for failing to warn consumers about Teflon dangers. Read more about the Dupont Teflon case here . Roy Oppenheim shares his views on the white-hot South Florida Real Estate Market during a guest appearance on WPBT-TV. Read more about the broadcast , or click here to watch video of the show now. Oppenheim comments on music industry crackdown on illegal piracy. Read more about Florida music piracy lawsuits . Oppenheim & Pilelsky Attorneys and Civic Leaders who have Blazed a Trail through our City. Read more about how we're making a difference in Weston and Broward County Oppenheim Pilelsky Represents Custom Home Builder in a $22.5 Million Property Purchase in Boynton Beach. NEW: Roy Oppenheim named one of the Daily Business Review's Top Dealmakers for 2003 Oppenheim Pilelsky Represents Developer in $11.2 Million Sale of Weston Retail Plaza. It’s a Sign of the Times: Oppenheim Pilelsky, Weston’s Oldest Law Firm, Expands into New Offices. Parents of St. John's Meningitis Victim File Wrongful Death, Medical Malpractice Suit Against Mayo Clinic-Jacksonville and Others. The Florida Times - St. Johns girl's parents sue over meningitis death . St. Augustine Record - Lawsuit filed by family of teen who died of meningitis . Oppenheim Pilelsky Law Firm Successfully Negotiates Lease-to-Purchase Deal for Old Hollywood Fashion Mall. Oppenheim Pilelsky Announces Closing of Construction Loan for Hallandale Yacht Club Hallandale Beach luxury condo project going up on last available lot near Intracoastal. Hialeah Widow Settles Lawsuit Against Doctor Who Misdiagnosed Her Husband's Fatal Heart Attack for $362,500.00. Woman Settles Lawsuit Against South Broward Hospital District and Dania Women's Center in Spina Bifida Case. Tampa Bay Area Law Office Opened by Renowned South Florida Attorney Roy Oppenheim. Oppenheim Pilelsky Law Firm Announces Closing on Millennium Plaza at Weston. Oppenheim Pilelsky Law Firm Announces Closing on Millennium Plaza at Parkland. Landmark Custom Ranches Development Announces Closing on Land For Multi-Million Dollar Homes at Weston Border. Family Settles Lawsuit Against MacDill Airforce Base in Deadly Meningitis Case. Miami Woman Awarded Nearly $1 Million in Winn Dixie Slip-and-Fall Case. Updates Archive >> Weston Law Firm Overview - Practice Areas - South Florida Litigation - Florida Real Estate Law Florida Corporate Litigation - Florida Family Law - Sitemap Other Areas - Biography Of Attorneys - Representative Cases - Recent Deals Media - Press Releases - Published Legal Articles - Media Clips - Contact Us Related Links - Employment Opportunities - Disclaimer © 2003. Oppenheim Pilelsky, P.A. All Rights Reserved. Design, Hosting and Marketing by Webcast1

Buy Home

Mortgages, Mortgage Rates and Home Loans by Quicken Loans America's Home Loan Experts SM GO My Quicken Loans Login Great Rates. Expert Advice. Fast Process. Call 800-251-9080 To Get Your Rate   Refinance Refinance Center Learn About Refinancing Refinance Calculators Refinance Loan Options Contact a Refinance Expert Home Purchase Home Purchase Center Learn About Buying a Home Home Purchase Calculators Home Purchase Loan Options Contact a Purchase Expert Home Equity Home Equity Center Learn About Home Equity Home Equity Calculators Home Equity Loan Options Calculators Calculators Refinance Calculators Home Purchase Calculators Home Equity Calculators Contact a Loan Expert Loan Options Loan Options Refinance Loan Options Purchase Loan Options Home Equity Loan Options Contact a Loan Expert Bad Credit Rates Get your loan approved in just minutes over the phone We bring the paperwork to you for signing it's quick and easy! Calculate YOUR potential mortgage payment below. Select Loan Purpose Refinance Purchase Desired Loan Amount: Expected Purchase Price: Choose A State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Current Monthly Payment: Expected Down Payment: Calculate YOUR potential mortgage payment below. Select Loan Purpose     Refinance Purchase Choose A State           Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Desired Loan Amount Current Monthly Payment Expected Purchase Price Expected Down Payment -- Dis-ARM Yourself Now! Lock into a fixed rate today! Quicken Loans' Chairman Dan Gilbert hosts CNBC's "Squawk Box". Read More Start Taking Control of Your Credit! Introducing FreshStart Get approved for your mortgage - even with less-than-perfect credit Get on the path to paying off debt and repairing your credit Consolidate high-interest bills into one low-interest mortgage payment FIND OUT MORE Rates Keep Rising. Get a Fixed Rate Now! The Fed will keep raising interest rates - Get out of your adjustable rate mortgage or home equity line of credit! Lock your rate for 30 years with payment flexibility. Introducing FIND OUT MORE Flexible guidelines to fit your needs! Introducing Advantage1st No doc and full doc options available Cash out and interest-only options Get a low rate on a mortgage that fits your needs FIND OUT MORE Want a low mortgage rate? Call a Quicken Loans Mortgage Banker now to find out how you can get a low mortgage rate and payment flexibility with our SmartArm ® loan. A Quicken Loans Exclusive FIND OUT MORE What's the Difference between Interest Rate and APR? When you get a mortgage, you are charged two different rates--the annual percentage rate (APR) and the interest rate. Understanding the difference between the two rates is important and will help you make an informed decision when shopping for the right lender and the right loan... Read More Archived News Homeowners Can Still Refinance at Low Rates Dec 29, 2005 Despite Decline, Housing Still Strong Dec 28, 2005 More Mortgage News Quicken Loans - We Are Here to Help You! No one makes it easier than the home loan experts at Quicken Loans! We are ready to help you with your new mortgage , refinance , or home equity loan needs — all at great low interest rates. Explore our web site for exclusive home loan options, easy-to-use mortgage calculators , home loan articles, and instant rate quotes on several mortgages. Quicken Loans is America's #1 online mortgage lender. Apply for your mortgage online or talk to a Quicken Loans home loan expert today. Call us now at 800-251-9080. 3,400 home loan experts ready to help you Refinancing | Home Loans | Home Equity Loans | My Quicken Loans Login Mortgage News | Mortgage Rates | Mortgage Calculators | Apply Online About Us | Careers | Contact Us | Feedback | Site Map | Help | Search Security and Privacy | Disclosures and Licenses | Terms of Use © 2000 - 2005 Quicken Loans Inc., All rights reserved. Lending services provided by Quicken Loans Inc., a subsidiary of Rock Holdings Inc. “Quicken Loans” is a registered service mark of Intuit Inc., used under license. Build 2741 2005-10-25 09:50:43

Real Estate Prices

Housing prices can go down. - Sep. 19, 2005 Web CNN/Money Home News Markets Technology Commentary Personal Finance Autos Real Estate Real Estate Buying & Selling SAVE | EMAIL | PRINT | SUBSCRIBE TO MONEY | Real estate: When booms go bust... Home prices can and do go down. Here's what declines have looked like in the past. September 19, 2005: 6:21 PM EDT By Les Christie, CNN/Money staff writer NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Across America, real-estate prices continue to confound the skeptics. Many Americans have come to think of their homes as rock-solid investments with little downside. And why not: For the past 40 years, national home prices have surpassed inflation by a percentage point or two on average and there has never been a national real-estate bust. But are people ignoring the risks? "I think Americans are not well aware that many markets are risky," says Ingo Winzer, president of Local Market Monitor, which sells real-estate market analysis to corporate and consumer clients. Those investors should realize that price reversals do happen, even if only locally rather than nation-wide. A look at the not so distant past reveals numerous examples of cities that went through housing busts -- followed by years of falling prices. Some have never fully recovered. Once hot, then not Take Los Angeles, where real estate has been turbocharged for nearly 10 years. But the early 1990s were a different story; the average house price in L.A. dropped from $222,200 in 1990 to $176,300 in 1996, a loss of 20.7 percent. Furthermore, those are nominal prices, not real values. To calculate the loss more realistically you would have to figure in the cost of inflation: $222,200 in 1990 would have been worth $266,700 in 1996 dollars, which means the actual loss for homeowners buying in 1990 and selling in 1996 was closer to 34 percent. Not exactly the Nasdaq meltdown for investors, but getting closer. But that's L.A., where the aerospace- and film and television production-based economy can be a bit volatile. What about cities in more traditional areas? How did things play out in Peoria, Ill. for instance? Not well, not in the early 1980s at least. Peoria experienced real-estate price drops amounting to more than 15 percent tied, in part, to strikes and lay-offs at Caterpillar, the city's biggest employer. In 1981, the average home there sold for $60,800. By 1985, that had dipped to $51,400. "Oil patch" cities, suffered even sharper declines. In Oklahoma City prices plummeted 26 percent from 1983 to 1988. It took 15 years for prices there to return to nominal 1983 levels. Houston home prices fell 22 percent from $111,000 to $86,800, and also took 15 years to rebound. Counting inflation, the average Houston home, which cost just $159,700 in 2004, is actually worth less now than it was 22 years ago. When, adjusted for inflation, a home cost about $219,000 in 1983. In Oklahoma City, the inflation-adjusted price in 1983 was $196,600. Today, it's just $135,100. The boom will end, but when? History seems to dictate that the current price boom is at risk. One factor is that real-estate investing has spiked, pressuring prices upward. In Phoenix, according to Bill Jilbert, president and COO of the Coldwell Banker brokerage there, investors from Nevada and California have invaded the Arizona market, and "affordable housing has been pushed to extremes." That story is echoed in many local markets. Low interest rates have also kept real estate bubbling. Cheap mortgages enable entry level buyers to get into the market and wealthier ones to afford more expensive houses. That means higher demand and higher prices at all market levels. Winzer says that low rates "have extended the cycle." Winzer assesses local market risk by taking into account economic and population growth, construction costs, vacancy rates, and, especially, income. He also considers such factors as density and access to open land. Prices in densely settled New York have always been higher than those of cities with lots of space for new housing. Winzer considers real estate "very risky right now." And because the price run up has been so high he expects the adjustment period where home prices stagnate as income catches up -- to take a very long time. Before they purchase a home, buyers better figure on scenario of many years of little or slow home-price appreciation. Counting on home price increases could be a big mistake. The boom has already gone on longer than Winzer thought it would. "Bubbles do tend to last longer than most people expect," he says, "and end quicker." _____________________________________________________________________________________ Think you're living in a bubble? Here are four strategies . Watch out: 5 crazy loans that could hurt you Hot markets have not slowed much yet. See that story by clicking here . For more articles on Real Estate, subscribe to MONEY Magazine . The Hot List Most profitable renovations How risky is your 401(k)? Big new tax credits for hybrid cars More Buying & Selling Least affordable rental markets Take this home market...and love it Double jeopardy for landlords contact us | magazine customer service | site map | glossary | RSS | press room OTHER NEWS: CNN | SI | Fortune | Business2.0 = Money subscribers = Premium content -- * - Time reflects local markets trading time. † - Intraday data is at least 15-minutes delayed. Disclaimer © 2005 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Terms under which this service is provided to you. privacy policy Reprints of site stories are available. Top Stories Most overvalued housing markets Risks to the economy in 2006 Which was the worst ad of all in 2005? After the ride, a rest Hilton brands reunite after 40 years YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS Follow the news that matters to you. 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