Real Estate Agent

Smartmoney.com: Consumer Action: Ten Things Your Real Estate Broker Won't Tell You Thursday December 29, 2005 3:23 PM ET U.S. Markets close in: :37 Search (choose an option below) Quote Charting Earnings Ratings Competition Financials Profile Key Statistics Insiders Site Search News (Enter Symbol) advanced search SmartMoney Select My Portfolio Tools Maps Stocks Advanced Trading Funds ETFs Personal Finance Autos Career Journal College Planning Debt Management Health Care Insurance Life LTC Insurance Real Estate Retirement Tax Guide Economy & Bonds Small Business SmartMoney TV SmartMoney Magazine SmartMoney University Business Travel Technology SmartMoney Mobile Holiday Survival Guide Select Homepage Stock Screener Market Map 1000 Fund Screener Stock Compare Fund Map 1000 Fund Compare XStream Quotes More... 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Editor's Picks Features Ten Things Real-Life Index Advertisement 4.25% APY with hsbcdirect.com Online Savings. Earn 8X the national savings average and make money into big money. No minimums. No monthly fees. Member FDIC. Email This Story Print This Story Save This Story Send Us Your Comments Add this column to your News Alerts (New!) 1. "Your open house is really a party for me." Hire a real estate broker to sell your home and one of the first things he'll likely suggest is hosting an open house, so potential buyers can casually check out your property on a weekend afternoon. While open houses are promoted as a great way of finding a buyer, a National Association of Realtors study found that their success rate is a mere 2%. No matter. Having an open house serves another important purpose — for the broker. "It gives him a database of clients," says Sean McNeill, an independent real estate broker based in New York City who says that he doesn't like open houses, preferring to match clients with appropriate buyers. "At open houses, you get all kinds of people walking in. Some are [trying] to see how much they should sell their own places for; others just want to get a look at what's out there." All are perfect pickings for a broker looking to increase his roster of buyers and sellers. "Think about it," McNeill says. "The broker is devoting a couple hours of a weekend. He won't do that unless it helps him in a big way." 2. "My fees are negotiable." Brokers like to make it sound as if their fees are engraved in stone, but that's rarely the case — especially in a brisk market, when brokers fiercely compete for properties they can unload fast. This past summer one broker in the Midwest says he lowered his fee by a full percentage point because there was so much demand for good properties that he needed leverage. Indeed, says the broker, who asked not to be named, sellers should shop around for broker's fees. He suggests these negotiating tactics: "If somebody's willing to commit to me for selling one place and buying another, I give a discount. If you're in a particularly desirable neighborhood with a house that will bring a lot of traffic" — say, at an open house — "that can be used, because the broker will use the flow of people to get potential customers. And with some [smaller] brokers, all you need to do is ask and they'll lower the commission." 3. "Think you've had no offers? Actually, there've been several." Legally, the broker you hire to sell your home is obligated to tell you about all offers that come in. In reality, some don't. Perhaps he thinks the offer is insultingly low for you, but more likely, "the broker thinks it's too low for his own purposes. He wants to hold out for a bigger commission," says McNeill. Or else there's an outside broker (or "co-broker") circling your house, and the primary broker is waiting for one of his own clients to make an offer so he can keep the full 6% to himself. "You must be clear with your broker that you want to be informed of all offers," McNeill says. "Otherwise, you may be leaving him to make decisions that you should be making." Check the listing agreement drawn up when you hire the broker; if the promise to disclose all offers isn't listed explicitly, insist that it be added. 4. "I talk about you behind your back." You spot your dream house as you're driving through a neighborhood and call the broker listed on the For Sale sign. That's how a lot of buyers stumble on a broker — who, in turn, happily shows you other houses, asking about your needs, laughing at your jokes. It's easy to get loose-lipped and forget whom you're dealing with: someone else's agent. "Legally, brokers are obligated to provide their sellers with any information that can help them get the best prices for their homes," says Stephen Israel, president of Buyer's Edge, a Bethesda, Md.-based company that represents homebuyers. "If you tell the broker that you're willing to pay $500,000 but want to offer $450,000, they'll pass that on to the seller. They have to." Also, some brokerage companies encourage prospective buyers to get preapproved for loans. While that can make a buyer more attractive to a lender, it also tells a broker whether a buyer can afford a $600,000 house when he's trying to haggle on a $400,000 property. "When somebody asks for [a preapproval], find out who they're representing," says Israel, acknowledging that such details can short-circuit your negotiating leverage. "If they represent a seller — or someone in their office does — they shouldn't have it. The broker may tell you she will be impartial, but how can she be?" 5. "Sometimes I forget whose side I'm on." The past 10 years have seen the proliferation of the buyer broker, agents who are supposed to work strictly in the buyer's interest, helping him get a fair price on a home as well as avoid pitfalls along the way. Unfortunately, things don't always unfold so nicely. While buyers may think they're getting a broker who isn't commission-hungry, many buyer agents are just that: They usually get about 3%, the same amount any broker typically earns when he gets involved with another agent's listing. "Buyer brokers are sometimes too focused on closing the sale and getting that commission," says Max Gordon, an Overland Park, Kan.-based real estate broker and attorney, so it's often in their best interest to see you pay as high a price as possible. Even worse, some brokers who call themselves buyer advocates are actually working for companies that also represent sellers. "Brokerages offer bonuses to buyer agents if they sell an in-house listing," says Israel. A good way to get a broker who has no such conflicts of interest: The National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents, whose Web site (www.naeba.com) can help you find a buyer agent near you who pledges to help you get the best deal possible and has no ties to sellers' agents; many even work on a fee structure rather than on commission. Page 1 | 2 Consumer Action Archive To license this content, click here ADVERTISEMENTS Click here to get your FREE report -- The Motley Fools´ 2 Top Picks. 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Buy Property

Guide to Buying Property Abroad Featured Homeowner Loans at Loansite Get a loan fast - complete our easy form for low rates and a friendly service. Use Loansite to get low-APR deals on loans and mortgages in the UK. l www.loansite.co.uk Home Property and Bills Property Abroad Thu, 29 Dec, 2005 BUYING PROPERTY ABROAD Breaking News Mailing List Alert me to site updates Related Links Secured Loan Selector Unsecured Loan Selector Mortgages Loan FAQ's Unsecured Loans Loan Calculator Loan Best Buys Secured Loans Home Improvement Loans Loan Directory Loans Currency Exchange Currency Enquiry Secured Loans Buy Overseas Property Get the house you always dreamed of with Vilamoura sunset villas. Situated in the heart of the Algarve, our property is perfect for a holiday home in the sun. l clk.atdmt.com Property in Bulgaria Specialists in Bulgarian property. From city to mountain to the coast, we have a wide range of properties available exclusively for our clients. l www.bulgariandreams.com Buying Property Abroad If you are thinking about buying property abroad, start by applying the same principles as buying a property in the UK. Firstly do your research. This means taking a trip or holiday to the destination. Talk to locals, expats, those who have already bought in the area. Never underestimate the importance of doing thorough homework on the location. Find yourself a good local lawyer, preferably one who is fluent in English as well as the native tongue. If you can, talk to people who have used this lawyer before. The lawyer should be well versed in the local regulations, laws and procedures. In Spain you will have to make out a local will before buying. When transferring money abroad, be aware that most High Street banks in the UK charge a higher rate of commission than can be obtained from a foreign exchange specialist (for example ask for a quote from Excel Currencies and compare with the amount of destination currency quoted by your High Street bank). With properties costing from £20,000 upwards, a half-percentage point difference in rates can translate into hundreds of pounds saved. Understand that the costs of buying are usually higher than in the UK. Find out what the local taxes are for selling as well as buying. In some Eastern European countries, it may be cheaper in the long run to set up a company to own the property. Buy Overseas Property Get the house you always dreamed of with Vilamoura sunset villas. Situated in the heart of the Algarve, our property is perfect for a holiday home in the sun. l clk.atdmt.com Property in Bulgaria Specialists in Bulgarian property. From city to mountain to the coast, we have a wide range of properties available exclusively for our clients. l www.bulgariandreams.com Buy Bulgarian and Cyprus Property Online Bulgaria and Cyprus property sales. Click here to register your interest and receive your personalised property matches instantly. l www.investorsinthesun.com Discover Northern Cyprus Superior new homes in beautiful Northern Cyprus from only 49,950 - register now for your free information pack.... l firsthomesww.co.uk Investment Property in Turkey Mecitoglu Homes is one of Antalya's outstanding house builders, providing quality homes in attractive locations throughout the Mediterranean coast. l www.homeinturkey.com Bulgaria Property Sales and Investments Specialists in Bulgarian property - investment properties for sale on the Black Sea Coast and ski resorts in Bulgaria. l www.coralestates.com 2004-2005 QCK.com Financial News | Sitemap | Terms | About us | Contact

Investment Property

Find a Property Investment Properties edition Buy to let, property development and investment opportunities Find a Property - Home Property Search Estate Agents Property News Specialist Properties Browse All Areas Find your ideal house, flat or apartment for sale or rent Find a Property - Moving made easy Find a Property - Specialist Properties - Investment Properties Investment Properties Property Edition Buy to let, property development and investment opportunities The Buy to Let market, one of the great success stories of the last ten years, has produced a growing band of happy investors buoyed up by the delights of solid capital growth and respectable rental incomes. It is, however, a cyclical market and one as subject to the laws of supply and demand as any other sector of the economy. Experts will advise that prospective investors should take pains to carefully research the local market and view the business as a medium to long term project. Viewed in that light, it remains a very solid bet and will continue as a popular option for a diverse cross-section of the population. This edition includes dozens of properties which should appeal to those motivated by high rental returns as well as those whose primary concern is capital growth. It also includes details of experienced agents who have made this sector a speciality. So if you're new to the market and need a reliable expert to lead you through the maze, if you're a seasoned player and know exactly what your looking for, or if you live overseas and need a professional all-in-one 'hands off' management service to take care of your portfolio this is the place to begin your search. Property in the Investment Properties edition London (North of Thames) London (South of Thames) Surrey & Middlesex Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire & Essex Hampshire, Sussex & Kent Rest of UK Rest of Europe Rest of World Today's featured property for the Investment Properties edition... Blyth Road, London, E17, London E17 "Blyth Road, E17. A first floor end of terrace flat located on this quiet street off Lea Bridge Road. The property would benefit from some modernisation and comprises two large bedrooms, bathroom." On the market for £ 147,995 through ludlowthompson.com Rental Returns Overestimated 22 Nov 2005: Recent research from Landlord Mortgages accuses some lettings agents of exaggerating rental returns...... Landlords Remain Upbeat 26 Oct 2005: Landlords are in a bullish mood and plan to buy more properties in the months ahead, says a new survey...... How To Invest In Property 20 Oct 2005: How clued-up are you when it comes to spotting a good property investment? If you feel you could use a helping hand, Ludlow Thomson has some tips...... Learning To Invest 20 Jul 2005: Thinking about investing in property but new to the business? Investment guru Simon Shinerock explains why it can pay to learn from the experts...... Fantastic Investment Opportunity In South Africa 12 May 2005: How does the prospect of investing in a brand new development at the heart of Cape Town sound? Appealing? Read on for more details...... From Coronation Street To Canary Wharf 24 Mar 2005: From the terraced houses of Coronation Street to the high-rise apartment blocks of Canary Wharf: actress Annie Hulley has become a serious player in London's buy-to-let market...... PIFS Unlikely To Conflict With Buy-To-Let 03 Mar 2005: The introduction of property investment funds (PIFs) in the UK would add value to the property market but would be unlikely to have much effect on the buy-to-let sector, says a new report...... Investors Keep Faith With Property 09 Feb 2005: Despite the recent slowdown in the housing market, investors believe that property still provides the safest home for their hard-earned money...... Buy-To-Let Confidence High 07 Jan 2005: Despite negative comment from some quarters, landlords and mortgage intermediaries remain optimistic about the investment market...... Buy-To-Let Looking Good 06 Jan 2005: Strong tenant demand is pushing up rents and boosting landlords' yields, says a new report...... Landlords Hold The Line 14 Dec 2004: Despite falling house prices, most landlords are determined to hang onto their investment properties, says a new survey...... One-bed Flats Do Well 25 Nov 2004: Landlords take note: rents on one-bed flats are outpacing the rest of the market...... Buy-To-Let To Boom 08 Nov 2004: Despite talk of a market slowdown, the coming decade should see a huge increase in the number of buy-to-let investors, says a new report...... Rents On The Rise 20 Oct 2004: Rents are on the up in many parts of the country as landlords pay more for investment properties, says Paragon Mortgages...... What Tenants Want 29 Sep 2004: Power shower or roll-top bath? Garden or trendy kitchen with mod cons? Which features will have tenants fighting over your property?...... Investors Fly To Let 20 Aug 2004: As the housing market cools in Britain, investors are starting to pack their bags and look for bargains overseas...... Landlords Stand Firm 06 Jul 2004: Buy-to-let investors are showing few signs of stress and a mere 2.7 per cent say they'll sell up if house prices start to fall...... Women Bet On Buy-To-Let 23 Jun 2004: The property industry has long been a case of jobs for the boys, but that hasn't stopped a new generation of women investors from getting a foot on the development ladder...... A Leg Up From Your Landlord 22 Sep 2003: It might sound improbable, but a clever new scheme aims to help landlords make a healthy profit while giving tenants the chance to save a deposit for their first home...... Rent: The Furniture 03 Apr 2002: If you've ever been let down by a removals company, are about to relocate to the UK with your family, or are a serious buy to let landlord, rented furniture could be just the ticket....... Tenants From Hell 16 Nov 2001: They don't come trailing sulphurous smoke in their wake and 666 is not emblazoned on their foreheads. So a new service which promises to help identify the tenants from Hell should prove very popular with landlords and letting agents...... Well Hammered 15 Oct 2001: Buy at auction, the pundits all declare, if you want to pick up a bargain. Fine if you have the confidence and expertise to bid with the best. But where do you go if you don't? Meet the man with the answer...... Local Authority 08 Dec 2000: Ex-council properties may be viewed with suspicion in some quarters but in an inflated London market they're still within reach for hard-pressed first-time buyers and an excellent prospect for canny buy-to-let investors...... All Over The Shop 17 Nov 2000: Once upon a time, high streets across the land had a butcher, a baker, a candlestick maker and people who lived contentedly above the shops...... Investment Properties Property Edition Buy to let, property development and investment opportunities This edition only includes specially selected properties. To search every property in an area select your local edition Top Top Find a Property - Home Property Search Estate Agents Property News Specialist Properties Browse All Areas Find a Property 2004 Advertise (estate agents only) Contact us (estate agents only) Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions

Florida Real Estate Agents

Palm Harbor Real Estate - Palm Harbor Homes for Sale - Clearwater Real Estate - Clearwater Relocation Palm Harbor Real Estate - Clearwater Real Estate Providing a superior level of informed , professional real estate services to buyers and sellers in Palm Harbor, Clearwater, Oldsmar, Safety Harbor, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs, New Port Richey, and surrounding Pinellas and Pasco County communities. Beth Frederick's genuine, caring attitude has helped families just like yours make an exciting and smooth transition when buying or selling their homes. Her proven approach and family values have earned her the respect of clients and colleagues alike. A Senior Real Estate Specialist, she is especially adept at meeting the special needs and concerns of maturing Americans who are buying or selling residential or investment properties. If you would like to know what your property is worth , or if you just have questions about buying or selling, call or e-mail Beth Frederick today. To have FREE REAL ESTATE REPORTS sent to you immediately such as: -5 Powerful Buying Strategies, -7 Selling Mistakes You Don't Want to Make, -Moving Tips Click Here! Meet Piper Wight, Beth's buyers' agent: Click here! Take a tour of Dunedin with Beth's granddaughter, Emily: Click here! SeekOn/Real Estate More About Beth Meet Beth - one of the top real estate professionals in the Pinellas County area. Featured Homes Showcasing some of the finest properties on the market today - updated often! Multiple Listing Service (MLS) Home Search Search all Tampa Bay Listings! Please request information on any home you find. Dream Home Finder Use this form to request a free up-to-the-minute list of homes for sale that suit your specific needs. Your Home's Value? Use this form to request a free comprehensive market evaluation detailing what your home may sell for in today's market. HOME & COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER CLICK ANY LINK BELOW... Community Information , Area Attractions , Local Restaurants , Movies , Weather , More... Loan Programs , Down Payment Assistance , ABCs of Mortgage Credit , More... Change of Address Form , 10 Most Forgotten Items , Moving Checklist , More... Top 10 Scams , Avoiding Telemarketers , Recycling Guide , Kelly Blue Book , More... What You Can and Cannot Deduct , Rental & Vacation Homes , Tax Planning , More... Keeping Your Home Safe , Disaster Supply Kit , Poisoning & Prevention , More... Buying Foreclosures , Avoiding the Pitfalls , Ready to Buy? , Home Inspections , More... Setting Your List Price , Preparing Your Home For Sale , Improve Selling Time , More... Expert Advice , Tips On Saving Energy , Hiring a Contractor , Cost vs. Value , More... Gardening Basics , Plant Encyclopedia , Gardening Q & A , Regional Guides , More... Star Chefs Secrets , Recipes & Cooking Tips , Cooks Thesaurus , More... Your Elected Officials , ATM Locator , Reminder Service , Driving Directions , More... read our disclaimer and our privacy statement. Please visit my National Real Estate Agent Directory for you relocation needs. Relocation Network & Partners Click here to link with this site! Real Estate Associates Relocation Connection REALTOR® Partners National Realtor Directory Apartments for Rent Florida Realtor Real Estate Agents & Realtors Florida Real Estate Agents Web Site Design and Hosting Provided By: Advanced Access © 1998-2005

foreclosure property will be

King County Treasury Operations - King County Property Tax Foreclosure List Disclaimer Treasury Operations King County Property Tax Foreclosure List Disclaimer The foreclosure list will be updated as time allows. Any parcel may be redeemed (paid) up to the day before the date of sale. Information regarding the foreclosure process, sale date, sale location, method of payment, etc., may be obtained by clicking on the following link, King County Property Tax Foreclosure Information. It is important for potential bidders to understand that Treasury Operations is not a real estate office. The sale of property tax foreclosure properties should not, in any way, be equated to real estate sales by licensed salesmen, brokers and realtors. The King County Treasury Operations cannot guarantee the condition of the property nor assume any responsibility for conformance to codes, permits or zoning ordinances. You should inspect the property before purchasing. The burden is on the purchaser to thoroughly research, before the sale, any matters relevant to his or her decision to purchase, rather than on the county, whose sole interest is the recovery of unpaid taxes. Tax foreclosure property will be sold on an "as is" basis. The King County Treasury Operations does not warrant the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of any information in this system, and shall not be held liable for losses caused by using this information. Any person or entity who relies on any information obtained from this system, does so at their own risk. I understand that Washington State law, RCW 42.17.260.(9) prohibits the use of lists of individuals for "commercial purposes". I understand that the use for "commercial purposes" of said records may also violate the rights of the individual(s) named therein and may subject me to liability for such commercial use. I understand that "commercial purposes" means that the person requesting the record intends that the list will be used for general business purposes, including but not limited to communicating with the individual(s) named in the record for the purpose of facilitating profit expecting activity. I acknowledge and agree to the prohibitions listed in RCW 42.17.260(9) against releasing and/or using lists of individuals for commercial purposes when I click on the "I Accept" box to access these records. King County | News | Services | Comments | Search Links to external sites do not constitute endorsements by King County. By visiting this and other King County web pages, you expressly agree to be bound by terms and conditions of the site. The details.