Purchase Property
Stering to Euro exchange | purchase property in Spain Xchange Business Treasury Services Foreign exchange terms Bureau de change The Xchange Business Sterling to Euro exchange Get a quote and see how much you can save! FREEPHONE 0800 953 1384 OR Click here to request a Sterling to Euro quote Buying a house in Spain. Buying property in Spain is now more popular than ever, with increasing numbers of people following their dream of purchasing a holiday home, buying property to rent out or moving lock, stock to the sun. The British love the pleasant, healthy climate and in recent years the Spanish local authorities have made great efforts to increase the number of foreign tourists and residents. Buying a property abroad is an exciting experience. However buying a property abroad is very different to buying a property in the UK. There are many considerations and we have listed some of the main ones below. Settle on a region - Spain is a big country with many different regions, with many beautiful areas not necessarily on the coast. Your individual choices and taste will determine the type of area that you choose. Climate, future growth and the type of life you want should all be considered when you are buying a property in Spain. You also have to decide on a type of property to buy in Spain ,such as an apartment, a villa or even an old farmhouse. View lots of areas to get a feel for the pricing the lifestyle and the general ambience. Talk to estate agents - When purchasing a property in Spain be aware that estate agents must be officially registered and hold a licence . As the process of buying property in Spain is very different you need a good agent to guide you through the pitfalls. Appoint a lawyer - Naturally the purchase of a property in Spain has different legal issues and costs involved. A Solicitor in Spain is called an Abogado and will advise and assist you, but it is worth researching the system and the likely costs Making an offer - Once you have decided on your dream property purchase in Spain you need to make your offer, in writing if possible (of course, subject to contract). When you make your offer include not only the price, but also the amount of deposit, when you are prepared to pay it, when you are prepared to complete, what you consider to be included in the price and, an often neglected point, that all machinery equipment and installations should be in normal working order. If an offer is accepted - The lawyer the legal responsibility for checking the land registry and will then prepare a private contract which will bind both parties to the deal . The solicitor will next prepare the public deeds (Escritura de Compraventa) for signature in front of a Spanish Notary. When the balance of the purchase price is paid and vacant possession of the unencumbered property is granted, the sale is completed. The notary will fax details of the title deed to the local land register to inform them of the identity of the new owner. Once you have bought a house in Spain and wish to spend more than six months in Spain you need to apply for a Residencia - to become a Resident. The main benefit of becoming a resident is that your taxes will be lower. Financing your property purchase in Spain Before you purchase your house in Spain you will need to have the relevant finance in place. There are many costs assoctiated with buying property in Spain . There are two main methods of financing a property purchase in Spain. You can apply for a mortgage in Spain where the interest rates are lower or you can use a UK based mortgage. Some people are lucky enough to have equity in their UK house which can be released to buy the property in Spain, in which case a sterling to Euro exchange and transfer service is required. It is more than likely that with either process at some stage you will require the services of a currency transfer company. Whether to transfer the whole amount, monthly mortgage payments or to transfer living expenses you will want to transfer your funds at the best available rate. We can exchange your Sterling currency to Euros and transfer to Spain for you. Get a quote and see how much you can save! Quick guides - purchasing property abroad Currency for purchasing property abroad Purchasing a house in Europe Purchasing a property in Australia Purchasing a house in Canada Purchasing a house in America Buying a house in Cyprus Our foreign currency rate could have a dramatic effect on thecost of buying property in Europe Contact Email: jp@xchangebusiness.co.uk Contact Telephone: FREEPHONE 0800 953 1384 Contact us | Why us? | FAQ? | Disclaimer | Testimonials Sterling to Euro exchange and transfer at exchange-currency.co.uk Exchange Currency © 2003
Home Equity Conversion (HEC).
Home Equity Conversions: Reverse Mortgages Home Equity Conversions: Reverse Mortgages Authors: Celia Ray Hayhoe, Ph.D, CFP®, Family Resource Management Cooperative Extension Specialist and Stacey Williamson, Graduate Assistant; Virginia Tech Publication Number 354-025, Posted April 2004 Many senior adults are finding it hard to live on their fixed retirement incomes and are looking for ways to supplement those incomes. For some, the largest asset they own is their home, but they do not want to sell their home and move. For these individuals, there is an option called Home Equity Conversion (HEC). One type of home equity conversion is a reverse mortgage. The equity or cash value of the house is used to provide income to repay the loan. All reverse mortgage options are not the same. They have different eligibility requirements, income amounts, timing of payments, interest rates, and/or initial costs. Homeowners should compare the different options, keeping in mind their goals and needs. Advantages The value of your house, not your income, is used to determine eligibility. You can receive a lump sum, a line of credit, or a monthly amount, without having to make a monthly repayment. You do not have to sell your home and move, and can continue to live in the same familiar surroundings. You do not have to worry about losing your home to foreclosure since the payments are made out of your equity in the home, not from your income. The loan must be repaid when the house is no longer used as your personal residence. However, the lender can only look to the proceeds from the sale of the house for repayment. They cannot go to your heirs if the house sells for less than what was borrowed. Money can be used for any purpose. You must attend a free HECM/HUD approved counseling session to see if this type of mortgage is right for you. Disadvantages Interest for a reverse mortgage is compounded, and cannot be deducted on income taxes until you repay it. The income you receive decreases the equity in your home, and the equity may not be adequate for your future needs or for your estate. Interest rates and initial costs (application fees, points and closing costs) are usually higher for a reverse mortgage than for other equity loans. Income ends when you sell your home or no longer use it as a principal residence. Payments may affect Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid payments. You must attend a free HECM/HUD approved counseling session. This may add time to the process of obtaining a loan. You may need to pay off your existing mortgage out of the proceeds of your reverse mortgage. You will be required to maintain the house, pay the taxes, and carry property insurance. Eligibility You could be eligible if you own your own home, use the home as your principal residence, and are at least 62 years of age. You must also have adequate equity in the home. A lender looks at the equity in the home plus any expected appreciation or depreciation in the value of the home to calculate a base amount. The costs associated with any reverse mortgage loan (application fees, interest rates, closing costs, initial charges, sales commissions, and homeowner's insurance) also must be considered. All reverse mortgages currently available in Virginia require homeowner's insurance. The lender and the homeowner must work together to determine the type of payment, the payment amount, and the time period. This is determined not only by the calculations of the base amount by the lender, but also by keeping your goals and financial needs in mind. Income Income from a reverse mortgage is not taxable, and will not affect Medicare eligibility or benefits. But the added income can affect both Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid eligibility and benefits for Virginia residents. Confused? A home equity conversion is not a home equity loan! Home-equity loans require that a homeowner has enough income to pay back the loan, and the payments are made in monthly amounts. A home-equity loan would not work for the majority of senior adults who are living on limited fixed incomes and who could not afford a loan payment. Example A wide variety of loan options are available depending upon your age, the amount of equity available, the time period of the loan, and the way payments are disbursed. For example, Mary Jones, a 75-year-old widow whose home is her principal residence, is looking at a ten-year reverse mortgage that will provide her with additional monthly income of approximately $450. At the end of the ten years the monthly income payment will stop. But because her loan is through an insured lender (loans offered by HUD approved lenders have government guarantees), the loan will not have to be repaid until she sells the home, moves, or dies. Home Equity Conversion Checklist These questions can to help you determine if you are eligible for a home equity conversion (HEC). YES NO 1. Are you 62 years of age or older? _____ _____ 2. Is your mortgage paid off in full or nearly so? _____ _____ 3. Do you use your home as your primary residence? _____ _____ If you have answered yes to questions 1 through 3, you might want to consult with an HEC lender for specific information. The following questions will help to determine if you are eligible for a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) home equity conversion. A HUD-HEC is similar to other HECs but with additional requirements for the property and residents. 4. Is your home a single-family dwelling? _____ _____ 5. Will your home probably meet HUD minimum property standards? _____ _____ 6. Is your family income less than 80% of area median? _____ _____ If you have answered yes to questions 1 through 6; you might want to consult with a HUD-HEC lender for specific information. The following is a list of HEC/Reverse mortgage programs. FHA - HECM (Home Equity Conversion Mortgage) Guaranteed by FHA/HUD Flexible Income Payment Option Growing Line of Credit Maximum Lending Limit - $ 280,749 Cash Account Flexible Income Payment Options Growing Line of Credit Higher Equity Release Options No Maximum Lending Limit HomeKeeper by Fannie Mae Guaranteed by Fannie Mae Line of Credit Options Maximum Lending Limit - $ 322,700 Zero Point Cash Account Closing Costs Limited Minimum Draw at Closing Required Interest Rate Cap No Maximum Lending Limit The following lenders offered HEC/Reverse mortgages as of March 2004: Mortgage Capital Investors Equity Division 6571 Edsall Road Springfield, VA 22151 (703) 941-0711 East West Mortgage - HECM, HK, CA 4321 Northview Drive Bowie, MD 20716 (866) 9REVERSE [(866) 973-8377] (301) 809-1568, ext. 225 Financial Freedom Senior Funding Corp. (Subsidiary of Lehman Brothers, FSB) - HECM, HK, CA (800) 368-3254 Reverse Mortgages of the Mid-Atlantic - HECM, HK, CA (800) 745-0102 Suntrust 564 Lynnhaven Parkway Virginia Beach, VA 23452 (757) 431-4876 Fidelity & Trust Mortgage, Inc. - HECM, HK, CA 7229 Hanover Parkway Suite C Greenbelt MD 20770 (703) 273-3797 (800) 458-4624 People's Choice Mortgage - HECM, HK, CA (757) 564-8596 Wells Fargo Home Mortgage - HECM, HK (888) 292-1180 Inclusion on this list of lenders does not imply endorsement by Virginia Cooperative Extension, nor does omission from this list imply a lack of endorsement. Home Equity Conversion Comparison Worksheet Name of Lender Features Payment Option: ----------------------- ----------------------- ----------------------- Lump Sum Option Line of Credit Option Monthly Benefit Option APR (Annual Percentage Rate) Time Period Application Costs Closing Costs Sales Commissions Insurance Costs Other Initial Charges For More Information AARP Home Equity Information Center 601 E. Street NW Washington D.C. 20004 (202) 638-2863 http://www.aarp.org/revmort/ Reverse Mortgage Money (866) 363-1914 requestinfo@reversemortgagemoney.com American Credit Counselors Tudor Square, Ste. 10 211 Roanoke St. Christiansburg, VA 24073 (800) 926-0042 virginia@cccsswva.org http://www.americancredit.org HECM Counseling National Center for Home Equity Conversion 360 Robert Street North Suite 403 St. Paul, MN 55101 (651) 222-6775 People Incorporated 1173 W Main St Abingdon, VA 24210-2428 (540) 623-9000 HECM Counseling Original authors: Patricia Gorman, graduate assistant, and Kathleen Parrott, former Extension housing specialist, Virginia View this document in PDF format Visit Virginia Cooperative Extension
Sell House
AutoTrader.com - How to Sell Your Car Home > Research > How to Sell Your Car How to Sell Your Car Why should I sell my car instead of trading it in? It's simple—to boost your profit. Sell it yourself, and you get a higher value out of your car. Depending on the age and condition of your car, you can pocket an extra $1,000 to $2,000 or more. If you have a late-model vehicle, you stand to make much more. Just think of it as cutting the middle man out. If you trade your car in, the dealer has to pay to clean it, advertise it and sell it while making a comfortable profit. Your lower trade-in reflects that. Besides, with today's online resources, selling your car is easier than ever. Find out all you need to know to put your car up for sale, and then list it at a less expensive price than traditional printed classified listings. Plus, you reach more buyers in your area—and across the country. Place Your Ad Today Get a CARFAX Vehicle History Report Provide buyer assurance. Check your vehicle's history before you sell. Enter VIN Find Info on Specific Models Get the details on your old car before you advertise. Find out options, standard features, safety and more. What are my first steps? Selling your car yourself can be rewarding, especially with a little guidance. We've come up with a few tips to make the experience easier and to help you get the best price for your car. View Hide Set a competitive price A good place to start is determining the market value of your car. Check out our used-car values page to find out what your car is worth. You'll want to price competitively in your local market-look at our online ads in your area to see what used cars similar to yours are being sold for. If you're open to negotiation, determine the least amount you will accept. Based on that amount, you may want to create some cushion in your price—$500 is a good minimum. Remember, buyers are looking at the same online pricing guides, so if your price is close to or lower than the price they found, your car could be that much more appealing. Once you set your price, consider using the proper ad lingo to make your point: Inserting "or best offer" (OBO) or "asking price" signals you'll consider an offer lower than the stated price. You may get more responses. Stating your price is "firm" signals that you're sticking to your price. View Hide Get your car ready Appearance is everything. That means you should thoroughly clean your car, inside and out. And consider taking care of any minor maintenance issues. Here's a laundry list of things you can do to improve your car's appearance: Wash, wax and vacuum your car. Wipe down the dashboard and other surfaces. Gloss up the tires and polish the wheels. Clean all glass inside and out, including mirrors. Clean out any junk from inside your car and the trunk. Replace any burnt lights or fuses. Top off the fluids. View Hide Gather your car's records Smart car shoppers want to know how well maintained your vehicle is and will ask for maintenance records. A presentable maintenance log with all of your receipts, especially oil changes, can be a powerful selling tool. Consider collecting the receipts you have and creating a maintenance log. If you know you had something done but can't find the receipt, log it anyway. Warranty receipts are especially important. If you've recently replaced your tires or battery, present the warranty to the buyer. View Hide Purchase a vehicle history report You can put buyers at ease by showing a copy of your car's vehicle history report . One of the biggest fears of used-car buyers is unwittingly buying a car that has been in a wreck. A vehicle history report reveals if a car was ever wrecked, whether the odometer was rolled back and other costly problems. Presenting your maintenance records and a clean vehicle history report instills confidence in buyers—it could make the sale! How do I advertise my car? Your best bet is to place an online ad . Think about it this way: how many newspaper readers are looking to buy a car? Compare that to the number of people visiting auto websites like this one looking to buy a car now. You'll also get more sophisticated options, like editing tools and more space to show off your car. Here are some surefire bets to bring you more responses. View Hide Post quality photos Although photos are not required for listing your car online, they are a key selling tool. You have a far greater chance of buyers clicking on your Search Results Listing if you have photos. In fact, 85% of buyers look for listings with photos in their initial search. You don't need to have a digital camera to post photos. Just take your traditional film to your local photo-processing lab and ask for a photo CD. You can easily upload photos from the CD to your ad. Or, you can turn your prints into digital pictures with a scanner. Before you point and shoot, remember these guidelines: Photograph your car in daylight. Avoid reflections and shadows from the sun and trees. Photograph your car at a front-side angle to achieve a good view of the entire car. Park your car against a flattering backdrop. Make sure your car is clean and neat in appearance. If you post multiple photos, photograph the interior and any special features about your car, such as specialty tires and wheels. View Hide Give details buyers will respond to Another benefit of advertising online is providing a complete description of your car. You get to give buyers those extra details that grab their attention. In your AutoTrader.com ad, you will list your car's basic details and options installed. With that important information already out of the way, you can focus on making your description enticing. Keep in mind the first 150 characters of your description will show on your Search Results Listing. Put your most important details first, so buyers see them right away. Consider giving some of the following details: Appeal to a buyer's lifestyle. Ex. Van—"great family car," economy car—"excellent gas mileage makes it a great commuter car," truck—"a dependable work truck." Use key phrases that typically signal you've taken care of your car, like "one owner," "kept in garage" and "maintenance records available." But do be honest! Mention any non-standard modifications and improvements, such as stereo, speakers and specialty wheels. List any recent replacements, like new tires or battery. View Hide Be prepared to field inquiries Once you place your ad, be ready to answer questions. Keep a list of basic facts about your car near the phone and computer. Print out the online sources that show your car's market value. Buyers are making a big decision, so try to answer every question honestly and openly. You'll save yourself time instead of making unnecessary appointments. Make appointments for a specific time, rather than allowing a buyer to show "sometime after work." It increases the chances of the buyer making it, and it doesn't waste your time. If you feel uncomfortable with a buyer coming to your house, arrange to meet in a populated, well-lit area. How do I close the deal? You've done your homework. Now it's time to sell your car. With a little preparation and patience, you should do just fine. View Hide Show your car to interested buyers Once you make an appointment, a buyer will most likely want to take your car for a spin. Before the test-drive, remember to: Ask to see a valid driver's license and proof of insurance. Let the buyer drive, but you navigate. Have a planned route in mind that allows the buyer to experience different driving conditions. If a buyer is very interested and wants you to hold the car, ask for a deposit and specify that it's only for a certain amount of time. Also, some buyers may want to have the car inspected by their mechanic. This is a reasonable request, but it's up to you how you want to handle it. View Hide Negotiate a fair price By now, you know what your car is worth, and you know what you're willing to accept. Prepare yourself with possible responses when a buyer begins to negotiate. For example: If a buyer mentions a scratch or ding, say it's normal wear and tear and that it's accounted for in the depreciated market value. If a buyer makes an offer lower than your asking price, counter offer. Never seem too eager to lower your price. And don't budge beyond your minimum. If a buyer shows you a mechanic's receipt for repairs needed on your car, take a look at the repairs. If they're warranted, consider reducing the price based on the amount needed for the repairs. If you advertised that your car is being sold "as is," then simply refer to your ad. View Hide Finalize the sale Once you settle on a price, accept only cash or a cashier's check before you sign over the title. And make sure the check has cleared at the issuing bank. Be suspicious of any buyer who offers a complicated payment arrangement that involves overpayment with a refund. This is often a sign of fraud. To learn more about spotting a scam, read our fraud awareness tips . You should have a bill of sale ready for both parties. A bill of sale is a sales receipt that shows transfer of ownership to the buyer and contains both parties' contact information, details about the car, the agreed upon sell price and the odometer reading. To find a bill of sale, your state motor vehicle website should offer a detailed form. If not, try an office supply store for a generic form that you can add to if needed. Also, check with your state motor vehicle website to find out what the requirements are to transfer the title to the new owner. Generally, you will have to sign and date the title before turning it over to the buyer. Notifying your local motor vehicle office of the transaction and ensuring the title is correctly transferred will prevent you from being liable for any accidents. If you still owe money on the car and a lending institution is holding the title, you can finish the sale with the buyer at the offices of the lender. Once you have the money and the loan has been paid off, sign the title to the buyer. If the bank is out of state, you can go with the buyer to the motor vehicle office and get a temporary operating permit based on the bill of sale. Once you pay off the balance of the loan with the money from your car sale, you'll receive the title. Sign it over to the new owner and the transaction is complete. One last thing—don't forget to cancel or transfer your insurance policy to your new car. I want more resources... Credit Tools Free Credit Report Be prepared before getting an Auto Loan. Vehicle Valuation Trade-in & Retail Pricing Get free trade-in values and retail pricing. Car Loans Loan Center Get up to 4 offers with one simple form. Refinance Auto Loan Center Refinance your auto and save. Payment Calculator Calculate the monthly loan payment for a car. Safety Safety Info Information and articles on safe driving and vehicle safety features. Reviews and Tips Search Reviews Search the latest car reviews. Buying Tips Information and articles to help you make the most informed buying decisions. Home > Research > How to Sell Your Car 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 . ©2005 AutoTrader.com L.L.C.
Real Estate Management, 15th
IREM Home MEMBER LOGIN SEARCH FIND A CPM ® / ARM ® / AMO ® FIND / POST A JOB FIND MY CHAPTER New IREM Course Line-Up for 2006 Featuring many enhancements, updates and additions, IREM’s 2006 education offerings are more relevant to your professional development than ever before. Explore our 2006 course offerings and register for a course – or encourage your employees to enroll in IREM education. View the 2006 course schedule and register today! IREM Foundation Grant Application The IREM Foundation has released a grant application to provide financial assistance for individuals and families affected by Hurricane Katrina. Download the application . Subhead of feature two. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Mauris fringilla. Ut mattis fringilla turpis. Sed felis risus, faucibus vel, eleifend vitae, porttitor vitae, magna. Aenean a nisl id ante cursus blandit. Proin et justo. Etiam eget erat id quam eleifend tempor. Fusce laoreet eleifend justo. -- JOURNAL OF PROPERTY MANAGEMENT The Institute's award-winning publication. MEMBER SERVICES Online tools and services for IREM members. MEDIA CENTER IREM information for journalists. IREM FOUNDATION Enhances the industry through career development and community service initiatives. ETHICS Codes, compliance, enforcement, complaints. JOIN IREM Become an Associate Member Breaking Legislative News On December 22, President Bush signed the Terrorism Risk Insurance Extension Act of 2005 into law, extending the federal insurance backstop program for two years. Learn more. Principles of Real Estate Management, 15th Edition Updated and expanded, the 15th edition continues to provide comprehensive coverage of all property types. Order now! Get Real. Get Ready. IREM has many resources available for college students. To learn more about IREM and real estate management careers, visit GetRealGetReady.com . IREM.org | Join IREM | Education | Conferences | Public Policy | IREM Store | IREMFIRST | Member Services | JPM About IREM | Chapters | Chapter Services | IREM Foundation | Media Center | Site Map | Contact | © 2005 Institute of Real Estate Management. All rights reserved. IREM ® , the IREM logo, Certified Property Manager ® , CPM ® , the CPM key logo, Accredited Residential Manager ® , ARM ® , the ARM torch logo, Accredited Management Organization ® , AMO ® , the AMO circle logo, Income/Expense Analysis ® , Expense Analysis ® and JPM ® are registered marks of the Institute of Real Estate Management. In principle and practice, the Institute of Real Estate Management values and seeks a diverse membership. There are no barriers to full participation in the organization on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin, or disability. Moreover, the Institute of Real Estate Management encourages equal opportunity practices among its members. Privacy Policy Privacy Policy | Terms of Use --
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