Real Estate Investment

REALTOR.com: Real estate listings & homes for sale Welcome, Visitor! Sign Up to: Save Searches Save Listings Sign Up Now! Already a member? Sign In Homebuying Tools Find a Lender Find a Mover Market Conditions Neighborhood Tour Real Estate 101 Buyers Sellers For REALTORS® Resource Center News REALTOR.org Search the Web Select a Top Search: Bad Credit Contractors Homeowner's Insurance Debt Consolidation Interior Design Mortgage Rates Loan Types Rates Points 30-yr fixed 5.74% 0.37 15-yr fixed 5.38% 0.28 ARM 3/1, 30Yrs 4.87% 0.26 Updated: 12/29/2005 11:27:14 AM Check Local Rates Search our national directory of mortgage brokers and lenders. Find a Home Over 2.5 million listings for sale! State/Province AB AK AL AR AZ BC CA CO CT DC DE FL GA GU HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MB MD ME MI MO MN MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK ON OR PA PR RI SC SD TN TX UT VI VT VA WA WI WV WY - OR - Minimum Price $0 $500 $1,000 $1,400 $2,000 $5,000 $10,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $45,000 $50,000 $55,000 $60,000 $70,000 $75,000 $100,000 $125,000 $150,000 $175,000 $200,000 $225,000 $250,000 $275,000 $300,000 $325,000 $350,000 $400,000 $450,000 $500,000 $550,000 $600,000 $650,000 $700,000 $750,000 $800,000 $850,000 $900,000 $1,000,000 $1,250,000 $1,500,000 $1,750,000 $2,000,000 $2,250,000 $2,500,000 $2,750,000 $3,000,000 $3,500,000 $4,000,000 $4,500,000 $5,000,000 $6,000,000 $8,000,000 $10,000,000 to Maximum Price $1,000 $1,400 $2,000 $5,000 $10,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $45,000 $50,000 $55,000 $60,000 $70,000 $75,000 $100,000 $125,000 $150,000 $175,000 $200,000 $225,000 $250,000 $275,000 $300,000 $325,000 $350,000 $400,000 $450,000 $500,000 $550,000 $600,000 $650,000 $700,000 $750,000 $800,000 $850,000 $900,000 $1,000,000 $1,250,000 $1,500,000 $1,750,000 $2,000,000 $2,250,000 $2,500,000 $2,750,000 $3,000,000 $3,500,000 $4,000,000 $4,500,000 $5,000,000 $6,000,000 $8,000,000 $10,000,000 no maximum Beds 1+ Beds 2+ Beds 3+ Beds 4+ Beds 5+ Beds Baths 1+ Baths 1.5+ Baths 2+ Baths 2.5+ Baths 3+ Baths 3.5+ Baths 4+ Baths More Search Options Map Search Hurricane Relief Find or offer immediately available temporary housing to assist Hurricane victims: HurricaneHousing.net Relief.WelcomeWagon.com -- Find a REALTOR State/Province Alabama Alaska Alberta Arizona Arkansas British Columbia California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District Of Columbia Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Manitoba Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Ontario Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming From the National Association of REALTORS ® Join REALTORS® in supporting hurricane victims Why Use a REALTOR® With a GRI? Make the most of every moment with FamilyTime, an interactive DVD celebrating the family. Visit REALTOR® Magazine Online Read current NAR Press Releases For REALTORS ® REALTORS Relief Effort exceeds $5.2 million for Hurricane victims, donate now... Enter the Business Success Zone at REALTOR.org! Find out how REALTOR.com can help you secure more listings, sell homes for more and promote yourself and your brand NEW name for NAR member benefits offeringsthe REALTOR Benefits(sm) Program. Learn about the practical, everyday solutions for your professional and personal life! Reach new levels of success with NAR partner, The Pacific Institute! About the National Association of REALTORS ® Representing Home Owners State & Local Associations Real Estate Specialty Organizations Find an Appraiser Find a Commercial Property International Real Estate Search in popular metros: Atlanta | Austin | Boston | Chicago | Dallas | Denver | Houston | Las Vegas | Long Island | Los Angeles | Memphis | Miami | New York City | Orange County | Palm Beach | Phoenix | Sacramento | San Diego | Seattle Site Map | Corporate News & Info | Contact Us | Advertise With Us | Join our staff Terms of Use and PrivacyPolicy . 1995- NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS and Homestore, Inc. All rights reserved. Equal Housing Opportunity REALTOR.com is the official site of the National Association of REALTORS and is operated by Homestore, Inc. REALTOR -- A Registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. Inquiries regarding the Code of Ethics should be directed to the board in which a REALTOR holds membership.

Buy property in France

Guide to Buying a House Abroad Guide in UK Net Guide: Homes & Property Home Business Money & Finance Jobs & Education TV Guide News & Weather Arts & Entertainment Homes & Property Lifestyle & Dating Sports & Leisure Health & Fitness Travel & Holidays Shopping & Gifts Motoring Homes & Property Property Gardening Furniture DIY Rate This Guide Not Rated -- Web Search GO Local Business Finder GO Sorry, you need inline frames to see this poll. Home >> Homes & Property >> Guides >> Guide Homes & Property Guide to Buying a House Abroad More than two million Britons own a home abroad, and more and more of us dream of jumping on the same bandwagon. But whats involved? How do I find a home abroad? Most people spot something while they are on holiday. Otherwise, several magazines list foreign properties for sale, including Exchange & Mart, Homes Overseas and Foreign Property News, and there are hundreds of websites offering overseas sales. Im really keen to proceed Its time for a reality check. Half drunk on sun and sangria and on a break from the office, almost anywhere can seem appealing. Ask yourself these questions: What is this house like in winter? What happens to the local area in the off season? Do I want to go to the same place every year? Are you prepared to spend your holidays organising foreign builders, roping in friends and doing the hard graft yourself? Have you considered the cost of getting to your holiday home? Cheap flights have opened up large parts of Europe to British buyers, but dont assume that those routes will be there forever of or that prices will stay low. Dont assume your house will rise in value. This is a peculiar British obsession. If you are buying thinking you can sell at a profit later, you could be disappointed. It may make more financial sense to rent. How do I raise the money? If you can buy with cash, do it. You will own the property outright without increasing your mortgage debt. This will mean fewer bills. If you don't have the cash, there are two ways to pay for a foreign home. You can extend your main mortgage, or you can get a new mortgage for the property. Extending your mortgage is presently a cheap way of raising cash, but you may not be able to get a remortgage for more than 75% of the property's price. But remember, you risk losing both homes if you cannot keep up payments. The other option is to take out a second mortgage on your holiday home. Several High Street companies offer mortgages overseas, including Abbey National and Barclays. Conti Financial services in East Sussex is one of many companies that can arrange mortgages for homes abroad. You often have to have at least 10% of the price in cash. Can I get a mortgage in the local currency? Yes, but you need to be aware of all the risks. Taking out a foreign currency mortgage could be dangerous. You are exposed to currency fluctuations: the pound can move against the euro or the dollar - if it weakens, your payments will increase. On the other hand if you are buying property in another country your home will be valued in that currency so it could make more sense to borrow in that currency. How long will it take to complete? It depends on the country you are buying in. Buy property in France and it could take up to 20 weeks to complete the transaction. In Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal it will average between 12 to 18 weeks. Be aware the longer it takes to complete the transaction the more at risk you are from rate fluctuations, which could add thousands to the real cost of the property in the time it takes to complete. I don't speak the language You will need a reputable solicitor and valuer who is local. Your bank or mortgage lender should be able to help you find these professionals who also speak English. The Federation of Overseas Property Developers, Agents and Consultants has a list of lawyers who specialise in buying abroad. Beware that in some countries lawyers act for you and the seller, so make sure you're getting independent advice. Talk to a British lawyer before you sign anything, and remember, you often cannot pull out of an agreed offer as you can in England and Wales. Are there any hidden costs? Almost certainly. Britain has some of the cheapest home-buying costs in Europe. For example, French legal fees are high - ranging between 10% and 18% of the house price. There is also a regional tax and an occupancy tax if you live there more than eight months a year. In Spain, valuation costs 100, and loans must be signed by the public notary. This costs 580 on a 45,000 mortgage. Taxes and legal fees will normally amount to at least 10% of the property value. What about day to day running costs? The buying process is the not the end of the expense. Check carefully what local taxes you must pay, and be aware that in many blocks of flats you have to pay a service charge. You'll need to open a local bank account, as services such as water and electricity may only connect you if you sign a direct debit. Local bills must be paid in local currency - this costs money to buy and in some cases foreign banks charge extra for transactions. Are there tax implications? Yes. If you rent out your property abroad income will have to be declared to the British taxman. Check out the tax laws of the country you're buying in. There may be implications if you rent or sell the house. Many countries have reciprocal tax agreements with the UK so that you don't end up paying tax twice. You also need to make a will, as local inheritance tax laws may also come into play. Most of Europe is governed by Napoleonic law, which means that your children and spouse will be entitled to a share of your estate. This can create inheritance tax problems in the UK, where only assets left to a spouse are exempt from IHT. Get good advice. How do I insure my home? Ask your own home insurer if they offer a deal to insure a property abroad. Average User Rating: Not Rated -- Sponsored Links Buying in the Sun? Barclays' European mortgages and bank accounts - in France, Spain, Portugal and Italy. Guide to Moving Abroad Thinking of buying abroad? Try this site for advice and ideas. Save Money when Buying Property Abroad Great exchange rates, expert guidance, no commission and fast transactions. Make your money go further with Moneycorp. Advertising | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Email Us | Add URL | FAQ © UK Net Guide 2000-2005. All Rights Reserved. Thousands of properties on Loot.com now! Tools & Search Property Search Auction Search Compare Utilities Flatshare Search Home Insurance Search Mortgage Search New Homes Search Repossessed Homes Other Useful Guides More Guides... 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Real Estate Prices

Home price increases may have flattened - Nov. 15, 2005 Web CNN/Money Home News Markets Technology Commentary Personal Finance Autos Real Estate Real Estate Buying & Selling SAVE | EMAIL | PRINT | SUBSCRIBE TO MONEY | Outlook sours for real estate Many indicators point to a major slowdown in home prices. November 15, 2005: 5:47 PM EST By Les Christie, CNN/Money staff writer Most overvalued markets The real estate markets most vulnerable in a housing bust Metro market Median home price Percent overvalued Naples, FL $489,875 79.35% Santa Barbara, CA $609,999 73.69% Merced, CA $256,348 71.71% Salinas, CA $539,273 70.49% Stockton, CA $307,849 68.66% Medford, OR $246,245 64.78% Port St. Lucie, FL $210,727 64.17% Riverside, CA $291,170 62.92% Modesto, CA $287,030 62.77% Madera, CA $256,417 60.39% Source:National City NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Did homeowners who sold in September get out just in time? The latest report on third-quarter home prices, released Tuesday by the National Association of Realtors, showed continued strength. But increasingly there are signs that prices have plateaued. Of 147 markets tracked , 69 had gains from a year ago of more than 10 percent -- only six metro areas experienced declines. But from the second quarter to the third quarter, the national median home price rose to $215,900, up just 3.8 percent. That contrasts with a 10.4 percent jump in the prior quarter. And more and more leading indicators are pointing to a slowdown. In Boston, real-estate investor Matthew Martinez reports recently having spoken to five condo converters. "They all said the party was over," Martinez said. In Florida, Elena Filipa, vice president of the Corcoron Group in West Palm, said "We've leveled off. I would say prices will go up this year, but not as fast as they have." None of this surprises the many economists who have been waiting for a downturn. Richard DeKaser, chief economist for mortgage banker National City, has been reluctant to call the top, but thinks it has finally passed. "We're coming down the other side of the mountain," said DeKaser. The signs include: Builder pessimism The builders DeKaser surveys are less optimistic than they were even a few months ago. Separately, one leading builder, Pennsylvania-based Toll Brothers, announced last week that expected demand for 2006 would be down, resulting in moderating price increases and fewer sales. New-home sales declining DeKaser also notes that the number of new homes sold have fallen sharply since peaking in July at an annual rate of 1.3 million units. DeKaser calls new-home sales (rather than existing-home sales) the canary in the coal mine. "Developers tend to be more sensitive to market conditions," he said. They have cash flow issues, payrolls, and loans that put more pressure on them to sell. Ordinary home sellers are often more selective than developers, even taking properties off the market if they don't get the price they want. Developers have to drop prices to move inventory. Inventories rising Supplies of new homes are way up, to nearly 500,000 units, from 350,000 a few months ago. "That's an all-time high for new homes," says DeKaser. The higher the inventory, the more likely prices will fall. Sell times are up Houses are sitting on the market longer. New homes now take about 4.1 months to sell and existing homes 4.7; both figures are up substantially. What to expect In a recent survey, NAR members say they predict home prices to rise only 5 percent in the next 12 months. Nearly half of the realtors predict prices will rise less than five percent and 6.4 percent actually expect prices to fall. "You can't expect double-digit price increases to go on forever," said Walter Molony, spokesman for NAR. "We're seeing a market in transition in which there'll be an easing of price increases in the future." While DeKaser expects a slowdown, he predicts an "orderly transition" for the most part, with some exceptions. "There will be busts in some markets," he said. "Mostly, we'll come out of it unscathed." For the most part, DeKaser doesn't envision losses on that scale. He thinks home prices will decline 1.7 percent during the fourth quarter of 2005 and stay almost flat all the way through 2007. But history shows that some over-valued markets could fare much worse. Molony points out that the most severe drops in real-estate prices are usually triggered by an underlying economic crisis. After oil prices went into a six-year decline in the late 1970s, housing prices in oil cities experienced steep drops. In Oklahoma City, prices plummeted 26 percent in real dollars from 1983 to 1988. With inflation, the "real" loss was more than 40 percent. Houses in many oil patch cities are worth less in real dollars than they cost more than 20 years ago. How to protect yourself It may already be too late to cash out at the top, which some residents of hot markets have already done. About 500,000 California residents moved out of state since 2001, according to economy.com, many to take advantage of lower housing prices elsewhere. But houses are not really investments in the same way stocks or bonds are. As an investment, timing the market is touchy -- miscalculate and it can cost you. If, for example, you cashed out a year ago in Los Angeles, expecting to buy back in at a lower price, you'd have to spend nearly 23 percent more for a similar house this year. Add closing and moving costs and commissions and it could cost 30 percent more to get back into the market. Cashing out just doesn't make sense except for retirees or others in a position to relocate or downsize. People looking to buy right now should shop carefully. Look at a number of homes, try not to fall in love, and be realistic about prices. Don't be afraid to bid low. The days of multiple bids may be over for a while. With interest rates rising, try to get into a fixed-rate loan. Adjustable rate loans could adjust to a much higher level when they come due, making monthly bills much costlier. ARMs rates are so close to fixed at this point, it costs little extra to forego the risk of higher rates in the future. ________________________________________________________ Latest prices for 147 markets. Housing affordability is at a low point. For more, click here . Just as the good times may be ending, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange is beginning to offer futures trading in home prices. For more click 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. Create your own alert to be notified on topics you're interested in. Or, visit Popular Alerts for suggestions. Manage alerts | What is this?

Land for sale in

Land for Sale - Plots for Sale - Land for Sale UK from PropertySpy Home Land for Sale Land Portfolio Investing in Land TV Adverts Land News About Us Contact Us Land for sale in Saunderton I would like to view details of land for sale in UK TITLE Mr Mrs Ms Miss Dr FIRST NAME SURNAME EMAIL MOBILE HOUSE NO POSTCODE NOTES Are you interested in: Land investment or: Self-build The information is solely for the use of PropertySpy and will not be passed on to any third party. To browse our plots of Land for sale UK, please give your details. We will immediately e-mail you the particulars. If you would rather speak directly to one of our Team please telephone: 0845 1 244 277 Local call rates apply The PropertySpy Plc Group specialises in Land for sale in England. The Group is run by an experienced property team. PropertySpy listens carefully to customer needs and searches England for Land for sale of all types. These Plots of Land are then offered to you. Saunderton NEW! Our site is a few minutes walk from Saunderton Station offering a regular peak time service to London Marylebone and Birmingham Snow Hill. Lacey Green NEW! Lacey Green has largely become a residential village, from which most working members of the population commute to other destinations. We have a wide variety of land to choose from, with over 30 sites in 14 counties . Our sites are in prime locations, next to existing development with good rail and road links, and close to local amenities. For online particulars of the freehold land for sale in our portfolio, please register using the form on the right and we will immediately email you details. Alternatively, if you are looking for a plot for sale in a particular area, then call our Land sales team on 0845 1 244 277. It is widely reported that the price of freehold land for sale in the UK has increased significantly in recent years. Rural land prices rose by 30% in 2004 (RICS) and residential land prices have increased a staggering 8-fold over the past 20 years (Halifax). With these statistics it is hardly surprising plots for sale of greenbelt land are seen as a viable alternative to more traditional investments. Investors are snapping up land for sale that is available. A report from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors recently concluded, "More and more people are being turned on by land as an investment vehicle. These are not just downshifting city slickers but also those looking for a viable investment alternative to bricks and mortar or the stock market." Investing in PropertySpy Land has the advantage that there is currently neither VAT nor Stamp Duty to pay on your investment. In addition there are no rates to pay whilst the land remains undeveloped. There are solid benefits to buying land for sale. Land is a tangible asset - it's real and its supply is limited. The demand for land for sale, particularly in the Southeast, is soaring because of the chronic housing shortage. Large profits can be made from buying greenfield land, which then obtains planning permission. Planning permission, however, cannot be guaranteed on land. But such are the gains from buying this type of land for sale that the Government commissioned Barker Report concluded, "landowners and developers typically make windfall gains as a result of residential planning permission being granted, especially where this is on greenfield sites. These windfall or development gains result from the increase in land values, as land for housing is worth up to 300 times more than agricultural land." Prices of our plots for sale start at just £10,000. Plot sizes vary from an eighth to a quarter of an acre, which is sufficient to build a detached 3 or 4 bedroom family sized home subject to planning permission. So if you are looking for an investment, why not consider buying land for sale? You can contact PropertySpy direct on 0845 1 244 277 to discuss your interest in land. Please note that planning permission cannot be guaranteed. Top of Page - Print this Page - Contact Us - Home © PropertySpy Plc 2000 - 2005 Chaucer House, 4-6 Upper Marlborough Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 3UR Telephone: 0845 1 244 277 Free DVD Offer NEW! Land Under £10,000 Flexi Plot Implementing Planning LandSpy Newsletter Value Plus Service Development Gains Land Purchasing Why use a Solicitor Land Buying Department Marking Your Plot Financial Advice Tax Information Land FAQ The greatest pressure on land is in the South East, the very region where help with affordability is most needed and where the average single plot costs 123,000... Evening Standard, 09/12/2005 Planners will be forced to allow the building of a third more new homes every year, with the building taking place in the parts of the country where house prices are the highest, the Government said yesterday... Daily Telegraph, 06/12/2005 The boss of Britain's biggest housebuilder wants 'scruffy' parts of the Green Belt torn up for housebuilding... Evening Standard, 29/11/2005

Buy House

Buy my house, please! - Sep. 11, 2003 CNN/Money Web Autos Real Estate Money's Best Home Markets & Stocks News Jobs & Economy World Biz Technology Commentary Personal Finance College Credit and Debt Insurance Interest Rates Retirement Tax Center Ask the Expert Five Tips The Good Life Millionaire in the Making Money 101 Moneyville Retirement Planner Savings Calculator Asset Allocator Mutual Funds Money Magazine Video CNN TV Fortune 500 Best Employers Money 101 Portfolio Calculators Real-time Quotes Last 5 Quotes SPONSORED BY include virtual="/fn_adspaces/markets-stocks/last_five_quotes/sponsor.88x31.ad" -- CNN/Money Email newsletters RSS Mobile news Money archives Buy story reprints Find a Mortgage SPECIAL OFFER Your Money Your Home Buy my house, please! As the market cools, it will take more work to get that 'For Sale' sign out of your front yard. September 11, 2003: 5:10 PM EDT By Sarah Max, CNN/Money Staff Writer BEND, Ore. (CNN/Money) To say that it's been a seller's housing market is the understatement of the year. Homeowners looking to sell in most parts of the country haven't had to wait around very long for a suitable offer, and those in the best markets have seen their homes swooped up in a matter of days, even hours. In early 2003, in fact, 21 percent of all houses went into contract less than one week after going on the market, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). On average, houses sold in just five weeks nearly half the time it took throughout the 1990s. "I believe this may be our best year ever," said David Hemenway, a realtor in Cottage Grove, Ore., who's been in the business since 1968. On the other side of the country in Sebring, Fla., realtor Chip Boring is enjoying a record year. Yet, both are aware that great times can't last forever. "Up until the last 2 1/2 years the average time on the market was anywhere from 180 days to 210 days," Boring said. And Hemenway recalls the early 1980s when his listings lingered on the market, sometimes for years. As interest rates creep up, buyers' budgets creep down and markets return to more normal levels, sellers will discover that it takes a little more work (and patience) to unload their homes. Many already have. While there is little you can do to change the laws of supply and demand, you have some control over whether your house sits or sells. Here are the most common reasons houses don't sell, in order of importance. The price is not right Even in the best of markets, setting your price too high is a mistake -- unless you really don't want to sell your house. "Starting too high is the worst thing you can do," said Hemenway. More on Your Home • Mortgage Application Center • Beating higher rates • Mortgage demand hits 14-month low • Choosing the best mortgage now Why? Because your greatest opportunity for selling your house is immediately after it goes on the market. That's when the majority of serious buyers will see the house. "Even if you lower the price to reflect the market, you'll have fewer people coming through than if you'd just priced it right to begin with," said Hemenway. In fact, it's not until after you bring the price down below the market something few sellers want to do that interest will pick up again. To make matters worse, say real estate agents, the longer a house sits the harder it is to sell. "Everyone thinks there must be something wrong with the house if it hasn't sold," said Boring, adding that for this reason he won't take on a listing if the seller insists on asking more than the house is worth. To drum up new interest among buyers, sellers sometimes pay for extra advertising or offer to, for example, pay for closing costs as a way to get buyers' attention. "In markets where people don't have a lot of cash, paying for closing costs or buying down interest rates with points up front can put you at a huge advantage," said Ron Phipps, a realtor in Warwick, R.I. The house is in the wrong place When markets are good, buyers are more willing to buy on the outskirts of an area or turn a blind eye to busy streets, bad views and other problems. But when markets cool down, it's these spots that suffer the most, said Hemenway. Short of moving the house, there is not much you can do if it is in the wrong location. But while in the house you can take care to make sure you don't over-improve your property relative to the ones around it. "If you have a $300,000 house in a neighborhood of $100,000, be prepared to lower the price or let it sit," said Boring. Buyers can't get past the front door Realtors say that getting buyers to take a look inside a house is the biggest challenge of selling a house. Once they've stepped through the door buyers are more likely to consider a place. "I recently sold a house that from the front was not very inspired," said Phipps. "The buyers came to the open house only because they needed to kill time, but once inside they were interested." For this reason, a little time and money spent on curb appeal will go a long way. Trimming the grass, washing the windows and planting a few flowers may be all it takes. In the case of houses whose best features are inside or out back, Phipps recommends taking good interior pictures and putting 360-degree tours online. Sellers sometimes get buyers to look past their homes' imperfections with creative extras. "I've seen sellers offer decorating allowances, and pay for cleaning service and landscaping," said Phipps. "Several years ago a seller in the bakery business offered to bring the buyer a different cake every month." Too much chintz and tchotchkes Less is more when it comes to attracting buyers. "Put all of those pictures of your family and other personal treasures away," said Sheryl Gregory, a broker in Wynthrop, Maine. "It distracts buyers and makes it harder for them to picture themselves in the house." She also recommends taking down distracting curtains and putting on a fresh coat of paint. "Buyers sometimes get scared if they wander through a house and think they're going to have to do a lot of painting," she added. --* Disclaimer Selling? Buying? Click to compare top local real estate agents More on YOUR HOME • Your Home: Bracing for higher rates • Refinancing demand lags again • A rose is (not) a rose TODAY'S TOP STORIES • Most overvalued housing markets • Risks to the economy in 2006 • Which was the worst ad of all in 2005? CNN Money contact us | subscribe to Money magazine advertising -- | site map | glossary | RSS | press room OTHER NEWS: CNN | SI | Fortune | Business 2.0 | Time © 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.