Real Estate Broker License

Real Estate License Preparation Tutoring Program Real Estate License Preparation Software for all 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands with Legal Aspects & Office Practices Practice online at home, in the office or on the road Included FREE all: Study Guide For All Subjects, All Ages Agents: Workplace Assessment Questions Brokers: Income Property Evaluation Program Use this top-rated Real Estate license preparation software for: Acing Course Quizzes, Midterm Tests, and your Final Exam for Agent (Realtor) Broker Mortgage Broker or Loan Officer Buying and selling your own or a relative's home – FSBO (For Sale By Owner) Effective Training and Sales Team Evaluator for the Office Manager . To find out how you can secure your copy of this essential and valuable program explore our comprehensive Web site by first clicking here: Specific States: Alabama Arizona California Florida Georgia Illinois Louisiana Mississippi New York North Carolina Ohio Pennsylvania Tennessee Texas Washington (State) All other states: (The user selects a state during registration) License Preparation for Real Estate Agent License Preparation for Real Estate Broker License Preparation for Realtor License Preparation for Mortgage Broker or Loan Officer License Training & Evaluation Tool for the Sales Team And don't forget to Experience our interactive live demonstration What you see is what you'll get For Your Privacy: We do not sell customer lists and we do not share customer e-mail addresses with outside companies. Amelox Incorporated P.O. Box 2573 Sunnyvale, CA 94087-0573, U.S.A. Comments? Questions? us. For Your License Exam Preparation the Amelox College Tutor delivers results site map about us FAQ writing jobs Best viewed with 800x600 pixels and higher resolutions.

Land for Sale Final

Land for Sale UK | Self Build Land for Sale Home | Self Build | Buying Self Build Land | Planning & Building Information | Directory | Forum | Site Map | Buying Self Build Land Location Land Agents Land Auctions Assessing Building Land for Sale Final Checks Land for Sale - Information Plots of Land for Sale Plot Finder A Self Builders Experience of Buying Land Land for Sale UK There are two types of land for sale in terms of self build homes - land for sale with planning permission and land for sale without planning permission. Each type of land has pros and cons but ultimately it comes down to time and money. Land without planning permission Land for sale without planning permission is much cheaper than land with some type of planning permission . Buying a plot of land for sale without planning permission does carry an element of risk - in terms of self build it might be wise to consider this more of an investment rather than guaranteed building land. There are many companies offering land for sale without planning permission in areas of housing shortage, ripe for development and, in some cases, the government have specified green belt land for development. This type of land for sale is often referred to as strategic land. Strategic land for sale is often next to existing development and over time may become enveloped in the boundaries and may be considered for development. Once planning permission is gained the value of this land is much greater. A plot of land without planning permission may cost around £15,000. An equivalent plot of land with planning permission may be sold for around £100,000. The land may not be considered for development now, but with the UK government putting their foot down and forcing local councils to build more homes more land may be released or reconsidered at any time. A couple in London purchased a plot of land without planning permission - yet just seven weeks later Islington council had given planning consent! Plots of land for sale can never be guaranteed to get planning permission in the future - nor can it be guaranteed that the land will not gain it. There may be money to be saved and money to be made in the medium to long term from plots of land for sale without planning permission. Read a buyers experience of land for sale without planning permission Land with Planning Permission Land for sale is also available with planning permission . The planning permission may range from simple outline planning permission to detailed planning permission. The degree of planning permission is reflected in the price. A plot of land with planning permission is an easy, if costly route to ensuring that you can build on the land. But in the case of land with full detailed planning permission you need to be sure that the plans submitted match your plans for self build. This type of land is expensive and the end result may be far from your 'dream house'. If you purchase land that has outline planning permission this may give more scope to get your own plans approved, but there are no guarantees that the changes you propose will be accepted. When buying land for sale with planning permission it would be wise to have an informal chat to the planning authority to discuss your plans to see that they are not rejected. Read a buyers experience of land for sale with planning permission More on plots of land for sale...

Rental Property Join the

How to Invest in Rental Property - eHow.com Clear Instructions on How To Do (just about) Everything Web eHow.com Home Finance & Business Center Investing How to Invest in Rental Property Join the ranks of thousands of people who have discovered that investing in rental property can be profitable - and even enjoyable! Steps: 1. Determine what type of rental property appeals to you - a single-family residence, multi-family unit, commercial property, or a vacation home. 2. Narrow your search by focusing on available properties in a particular area. 3. Obtain comparable prices for similar properties in the area from a local real estate company. 4. Estimate possible rental income from a particular property, based on current rental prices for similar properties, found in the classified section of your local newspaper. 5. Determine possible cash flow (or loss) for the property by subtracting taxes, insurance, mortgage payment, maintenance, repairs and other expenses from the estimated rental income. 6. Consult a tax advisor about the tax consequences of investing in rental property. 7. Ask an attorney or real estate agent to review all contracts and agreements before submitting an offer. 8. Make an offer based on comparable prices for similar properties in the area, subject to appraisal, loan approval and thorough inspection of the property. 9. Determine who will manage the rental property. Tips: Establish and maintain an emergency fund to cover unexpected repairs and expenses on your rental property. Warnings: Mortgage loans for rental property usually require larger down payments with higher interest rates, than mortgages for owner-occupied properties. Tips from eHow Users: You may get turned in to code enforcement by null H. An older building that needs work may mean you can't rent it. Many cities have rental laws and fees to pay if you are a landlord. Cities may require you to hire an electrician for wiring repairs, for example, even if you can do the repairs yourself. Rate this tip: View 4 More Tip(s) from Users Please Share Your Tips with Us More Resources: Contribute to eHow: Write an eHow Article Suggest a Topic Give Us Feedback on This Article Related eHows: Make a Bid on a Home for Sale Buy a Home Invest in Precious Metals Invest in Student Housing Property Decide Whether to Buy Through a Realtor or by Yourself Things You'll Need: tax services real estate agents real estate attorneys purchase agreement Project Details: Skill Advisory: Moderately challenging New! -- Related eHows: Make a Bid on a Home for Sale Buy a Home Invest in Precious Metals Invest in Student Housing Property Decide Whether to Buy Through a Realtor or by Yourself Check out Thousands of How-To Solutions in eHow's Centers Automotive Careers & Education Computers & Home Electronics Family & Relationships Finance & Business Food & Entertaining Health Hobbies & Games Holidays & Traditions Home & Garden Personal Care & Style Pets Sports & Fitness Travel How to: --? Web eHow.com Home | Site Map | About Us | How To Books | Link to eHow Subscribe to the eHow of the Day Mailing List : Have the eHow of the Day appear on your My Yahoo! Page: Add the eHow of the Day to your RSS reader: © 1999-2005 eHow, Inc. How things get done. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy .

Investment Property A Realty

Real Estate Investing - Facts and Advice About Real Estate Investing  You are here: About > Home & Garden > Home Buying / Selling > Investing & Foreclosures Home & Garden Home Buying / Selling Essentials 10 Things Home Buyers Shouldn't Do Best Tips for First Time Home Buyers "Must-Do" Tasks Before You Sell How to Buy a Home, Step by Step For Sale by Owner Advice Articles & Resources How To Buy a Home How To Sell a House Celebrity & Historic Credit Reports & Scores Design & Remodel Home Maintenance Inspections & Appraisals Investing & Foreclosures Modular & Manufactured Mold, Radon, Lead, etc. Mortgage Advice Moving & Relocation Real Estate Careers Real Estate For Sale Vacation Homes Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Home Buying Books Foreclosure Books Mortgage Books Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Home Buying / Selling newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Home Buying / Selling > Investing & Foreclosures Real Estate Investing, Foreclosures & Taxes Tools to help you learn about real estate investing. What choices do you have? What's the "best" real estate investment for a beginner? You'll also find information about tax-deferred exchanges and other tax issues. Subtopics 1031 Exchange (6) Investing in Foreclosures @ Capital Gains (6) Investment Strategies (0) Commercial RE (5) Lease Option Ideas (5) Foreclosures (25) Marketing Your Rentals (5) Invest Analysis Software (2) Rental Property Tips (5) Articles & Resources Sort By : Guide Picks | Alphabetical | Recent How To Do a 1031 Tax Deferred Exchange Performing a 1031 tax deferred exchange allows you to defer Capital Gains taxes on real estate bought and sold for investment purposes. Learn how the process works and get the information you need to do a successful 1031 exchange. Acquiring Income Producing Property Here's a multi-page document that offers tips and techniques on just about every aspect of buying and managing rental properties. Buying Investment Property A Realty Times article that outlines a few ways to finance your investment acquisitions. How To Calculate Cash Flow from Rental Properties This document takes you step-by-step through a cash flow calculation. How To Set the Right Rent Tips to help you determine the right rent to charge for your investment properties. Investment Property / Rental Home Calculator This calculator provides an analysis of cash flow and net worth on investment property purchases. Take a look. Property Investment: Single Family Rental Homes Homestore.com explains why single family homes are a popular investment choice. This articles includes information about financing and taxes, and discusses probable scenarios about cash flow. Real Estate Investing HouseClicks offers a great deal of information about different methods you might use to begin investing in real estate. Real Estate Investment Strategies John T. Read's text is helpful for the beginning real estate investor. Short Term or Long Term This information from HouseClicks might help you decide if a short or long term real estate investment is best for your current needs. When Should You Sell Investment Property? Not just about selling, this Realty Times article also contains advice about choosing the right investment.        Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About Oprah's Life Vacation Ideas Shop Safely Online VIDEO: Craft Rooms VIDEO: Christmas Traditions What's Hot Coping with Unethical People How To Buy Land Real Estate Appraisal Before You Buy a Log Home Package Home Buying / Selling - GuideReviews Headlines Getting Ready to Sell Your House Guests and lots of activities make it difficult to show... Before You Buy Gas Logs Gas logs are growing in popularity every year, so manufacturers... Pros and Cons of Becoming a Real Estate Agent You've decided you want to become a real estate agent,... Step-by-Step Directions Help You Measure Square Footage Each year, home owners discover that their new home's square...

real estate investing Being

Getting real about real estate investing - Nov. 17, 2004 Web CNN/Money Buying & Selling Investment Property Home Improvement Million $ Life Financing Best Places Getting real about real estate investing Being a landlord can be profitable -- or a big headache. Take some advice from these investors. November 17, 2004: 4:03 PM EST By Jon Birger , MONEY Magazine. Additional reporting by Joan Caplin and Amy Feldman. NEW YORK (MONEY Magazine) - Successful real estate investors sometimes make what they do sound almost too easy. "Rentals freed me from ever having to get a job again," says Orlando Rodriguez, a 38-year-old San Antonio landlord who makes about $100,000 a year off the 90 apartments he owns. "I'm a high school dropout -- seventh-grade dropout, actually -- so my story should tell people this isn't rocket science." Yes, landlording isn't science (which is not to say it isn't often a lot of hard work), but if you're willing to put in the time and effort, buying and operating rental properties can pay off big. Try this math on for size: You purchase a $100,000 condominium with $30,000 down and a $70,000 mortgage. If the condo rents for $1,200 a month, your net profits -- after costs such as mortgage, maintenance and property taxes -- should be in the $2,000-a-year range. Conservatively invested, that sum should earn enough to pay off the entire mortgage within 14 years. You'd have turned $30,000 in equity into $100,000, even if rents didn't go up and property values didn't appreciate. Factor in 4 percent annual rent increases and price appreciation, and the property's net value to the owner would be closer to $200,000. A stock fund would need to return 15 percent a year for 14 years to beat that performance -- and funds don't give you any of the tax breaks that can come with being a property owner. The key thing to remember, though, is that buying rental properties is not for point-and-click investors. Even landlords who hire out the plumbing, painting and rent collection to contractors and management companies typically make a big time commitment. Rick Lionhardt of Dallas, a 55-year-old retired telecom worker, owns 33 properties with wife Helen, 49, a secretary. Even when he was working full time, Lionhardt says, he spent 70 to 80 hours a week on real estate. "I'd make calls during lunch and drive around at night looking for more things to buy." For the first-time landlord, there is plenty to learn -- about taxes, financing, dealing with difficult tenants -- and usually there are many mistakes to be made. The payoff can be terrific though, even for investors who own just one or two properties. Doing it right will get you extra income now and a valuable addition to your retirement nest egg down the road. What does "doing it right" mean? Read on for some key tips and secrets -- as well as pitfalls to avoid -- from successful investors who had to learn the hard way. Know how to take your market's temperature. When considering a rental property, your top concern should be whether you can make money renting it out now, not how much its price might appreciate in the future (although that's important too). All you're doing is speculating on real estate prices if you're shelling out more than you're taking in -- and that can be dangerous, especially if you're doing it with borrowed money. "You never want to buy a property where every month you have to feed it," says Neil Binder, co-founder of New York City's Bellmarc Realty. So before you buy, add up your projected property taxes, mortgage payments and maintenance costs, and make sure the total is less than your expected rental income. Experienced real estate investors say they generally look to pay anywhere from 45 to 85 times monthly rent for a property. That means annual rental revenue should be about 15 to 25 percent of the property's value. Finding places with those kinds of yields can be difficult. Take California, probably the most bubblicious market in the country. A condominium renting for $1,200 a month in Southern California sells for $350,000 today, according to veteran California real estate investor Bruce Norris. A $1,200-a-month condo in the Dallas/Fort Worth area can be had for $95,000. To a landlord, that's the difference between an annual return on investment of 4 percent vs. 15 percent. Mortgages and home equity loans Search for rates from hundreds of lenders. No points only Select Loan: Select a Mortgage 15 Yr Fixed Jumbo - $385K 15 Yr Fixed Conforming - $165K 30 Yr Fixed Conforming - $165K 30 Yr Fixed Jumbo - $385K 1 Yr ARM Conforming - $165K 1 Yr ARM Jumbo - $385K 3/1 Yr ARM Conforming - $165K 3/1 ARM Jumbo - $385K 5/1 Yr ARM Conforming - $165K 5/1 ARM Jumbo - $385K 7/1 Yr ARM Conforming - $165K ARM Jumbo - $385K State: Select State Alaska Alabama Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Washington DC Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Iowa Idaho Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Massachusetts Maryland Maine Michigan Minnesota Missouri Mississippi Montana North Carolina North Dakota Nebraska New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico Nevada New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Vermont Washington Wisconsin West Virginia Wyoming "The only reason you'd be a California landlord at today's prices is because you're expecting price appreciation," says Norris, who thinks prices in the state are due for a fall. "Monthly cash flow would be almost impossible to achieve without an enormous down payment." Another tool experienced investors use to measure the profitability of a market is price-to-rent -- that is, the ratio of median home price to annual rent for three-bedroom homes. The bigger the number, the less likely you are to make money as a landlord. California has a price-to-rent ratio of 25 these days, the highest in the country. Hawaii (23) is second from the top, and Massachusetts (19) is third. Far more inviting to investors are states like Delaware, Missouri, Texas and Vermont, where the price-to-rent ratios are 11 or 12. For more information on median home prices and market rents in your area, visit realtor.org and huduser.org . Find smart ways to cut your financing costs. Borrowing to buy real estate as an investment is more expensive than borrowing to buy a home. Lenders generally think they are taking more of a risk on buildings that the owner doesn't live in. Consequently, the interest rates they charge tend to be 0.5 percentage points or more above those for traditional home mortgages. Not only that, but borrowers need excellent credit scores to qualify for the lowest rates. In addition, the minimum down payment is usually 20 or 25 percent, instead of the 10 percent for standard home mortgages. There are a couple of ways around the higher rates and steeper down payments. To qualify for a traditional mortgage, you are required by most lenders to live in the property for a minimum of one year. But there's nothing stopping you from buying a home or a condo with a traditional mortgage, living in it for a year and then renting it out afterward. YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS Mortgages Personal Debt Real Estate Loan Markets or Create your own Manage alerts | What is this? If the down payment rather than the rate is the stumbling block, ask the seller whether he's willing to self-finance the mortgage. With owner financing, the buyer signs a promissory note in which he agrees to make his mortgage payments directly to the seller. In exchange for forgoing a down payment, the seller typically gets a premium rate -- 8 to 10 percent, perhaps. Why would a seller take the additional risk implicit in skipping the down payment? "It's a lot faster to sell a house owner-financed than conventionally," says San Antonio landlord Rodriguez. (There are also brokers who buy owner-financed notes from sellers who want their money up front.) Click here to learn about interest-only mortgages and some of their advantages. Learn to take advantage of the many tax breaks. For tax purposes, what you make in rent is generally taxable as regular income. Real estate taxes and mortgage interest on an investment property are fully tax deductible though. Operating expenses such as utilities, insurance, repairs and condominium common charges are also deductible. So are rental fees paid to brokers, although they must be spread out over the life of the lease. Even better, the federal tax code entitles rental-property owners to a depreciation deduction even though housing prices usually go up, not down, over time. (There are, however, numerous conditions and catches, which is why it is essential to consult a tax adviser before you invest a cent.) Anticipate problems (they will be numerous). Reliable, prompt-paying tenants do up and leave suddenly. Minor leaks have a way of becoming expensive repair jobs. That's why it's smart to line up inspectors and contractors before you buy. And why it's important to establish rainy-day funds. Two or three months' rent is usually -- but not always -- sufficient. Just ask Marla Renee, a 55-year-old semiretired hairdresser who owns six rental properties in the Detroit area. Five years ago Renee bought a run-down duplex for $28,000. She figured the house needed $10,000 worth of work, but three months later the tally was nearly three times that. "The last tenant had turned on the water on purpose and flooded the whole place," she says. "The floor, ceiling and walls were all messed up." Finally, don't skimp on fees should you decide to hire a management company to tend to your rental property. The typical fee is 5 to 10 percent of rental income. Experienced landlords say it's not worth it to be cheap: Property managers often work harder to fill vacancies and to maximize rent when they are better compensated. Put potential tenants under the microscope. Picking tenants may ultimately be the most important real estate decision you make. This is where listening to the voices of experience really pays off -- although you should be discreet about how you apply their lessons. Elderly people are better tenants than college kids, as everyone knows, but in many states, landlords acting on that type of common sense judgment would be running afoul of fair-housing laws. Michelle Bizik, 35, of Lake Ariel, Pa. owns two small apartment buildings with her husband Goran, 30. For the most part, they've had lots of success finding good tenants. They require potential renters to provide Social Security numbers, ostensibly for criminal and credit background checks (which are a good idea), but Bizik says it's more about renters proving to her that they have nothing to hide. She also checks references with employers and prior landlords. If prospects pass those tests, she and her husband always meet them in person. "I need to get a vibe off of them," she explains. These are all good ideas for screening tenants. Here are a couple more. When checking references, don't stop with the most recent landlord. Contact the second or third most recent as well. "The current landlord may just want him out of the property," says Ellis San Jose, a 39-year-old real estate investor from Los Angeles. Also, consider making an unannounced visit to the prospect's current residence. Marcia Glantz, a Coldwell Banker broker for 27 years in Yorktown, N.Y., says, "Explain that your house is important to you, and that you want to get a sense for how they live." Saying no can be tough when a vacancy is burning a hole in your wallet. Stay strong. The one time Michelle Bizik caved proved to be a big mistake. "We were both against him," she recalls, "but the apartment was empty and he was a friend of another tenant." Soon after the guy moved in, his pregnant girlfriend, five cats and two friends did too. And he was late with the rent. "All the tenants were complaining," Bizik says. "The hall smelled like cat urine. The music was so loud, tenants were calling me at 11 o'clock at night." The Biziks offered to pay him to leave. He declined, so they had to go through the aggravation and expense of having him evicted. Think about investing in REITs instead. If you want to buy into real estate but don't want to deal with all the headaches that can come with managing it, you may want to consider a real estate investment trust (REIT). These are publicly traded building-management companies that pass the bulk of their earnings on to shareholders in the form of hefty dividends. That makes them a great choice for retirees and other income-hungry investors. One catch is that REIT dividends are taxed at higher rates than regular corporate dividends. REITs offer several advantages over buying properties on your own. First, there are economies of scale: On a per-square-foot basis, REIT maintenance costs are much lower than those of most individual landlords. The management expenses of a typical REIT are only 0.5 percent of total assets under management, says Russell Platt, manager of the Dividend Capital Realty Income fund. Another plus is diversification, since REITs typically invest in many markets and sometimes different types of property -- residential, commercial and retail. And finally, there's liquidity: You can sell a REIT whenever you want, and your brokerage commission will be a drop in the bucket compared with the 6 percent charged by most real estate brokers. A conservative REIT bet would be Equity Residential Properties ( Research ), run by Chicago mogul Sam Zell. Equity Residential is the nation's largest landlord, which makes it something like an index fund for apartment buildings. Earnings have taken a hit lately owing to, among other things, the Florida hurricanes. But occupancy rates have been ticking up, and Equity Residential still offers a juicy 5.1 percent dividend yield. A more aggressive play is Archstone-Smith Trust ( Research ), an apartment building owner with a big presence in suburban Washington, D.C. and other East Coast markets. Archstone-Smith also has a dividend yield of 5.1 percent. The company has profits from condo conversions, and high occupancy rates, which put it in a good position to raise rents. And that's a very nice position for any landlord to be in. --* Disclaimer Try an issue of MONEY magazine - FREE! More on REAL ESTATE • How to buy and build on rural land • Most overvalued housing markets • When booms go bust... 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. 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