new home or remodel

EERE Consumer's Guide: Designing and Remodeling a Home Search Help More Search Options Search EERE Information Center Professional Services Find an Architect American Institute of Architects Federal Government Resources Energy-Efficient Rehab Advisor U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Related Links A Construction Technology Showcase Homes Across America Energy & Environmental Building Association Decisions for Environmental Buildings Green Tree Green Building Home Guidelines National Association of Home Builders Research Center Reading List Related Publications Printable Version Designing and Remodeling a Home Before you design a new home or remodel an existing one, you should consider investing in its energy efficiency. You'll save energy and money in the long run. It's also a good time to invest in a renewable energy system that will provide your home with electricity , water heating , or space heating and cooling . If you'd like to design an energy-efficient home, no matter what type of design, you should use what's called the whole-house systems approach . If you're remodeling a home, conduct an energy audit to help you determine what energy efficiency improvements should and can be made to your home. Learn how to optimize energy efficiency with the following home designs and construction techniques: Advanced House (Wall) Framing Techniques Reduce lumber use and waste—improving energy efficiency—in the construction of a traditional wood-framed house. Earth-sheltered Homes Incorporate earth into their structure and design for durability and energy efficiency. Log Homes Use wooden logs to provide structure and insulation. Manufactured Homes Feature energy-efficient options for new homes and improvements for older homes. Passive Solar Homes Take advantage of climatic conditions, especially the sun, for heating in the winter and cooling in the summer. Straw Bale Homes Use straw bales to provide all or part of their structure and insulation. Zero Energy Homes Produce more energy than they use. You should also explore your options for financing an energy-efficient home or improvements . Printable Version Skip footer navigation to end of page. Webmaster | Security & Privacy | Consumer's Guide Home | EERE Home U.S. Department of Energy Content Last Updated: September 12, 2005

buy property in Spain.

Buying property in Spain - A full guide to buying property in Spain Buying Property in Spain A full guide Sponsor this Page for 720.00 a year Over 250,000 Unique Visitors every month! Click here Home | Spanish Shop | Photo Library | Message Board | Classified Ads | Property | Currency Converter | Site Map | Stats | Search | Advertise | About Us | Contact Us Property in Spain - A full guide Introducing the new service from idealspain.com www.idealspain-properties.com - Properties for sale & to rent throughout the whole of Spain CrawfPro Spain SL - CrawfPro is a private company based in Granada, selling select homes in the area. We can also find your property, survey it, lead the buying process, inspect construction, manage your project, look after your property and deal with bureaucracy. Don't be alone. HIFX - Save money on currency, regular payments & overseas property insurance. Lump sums: excellent exchange rates & totally free transfer of funds to Spain. Regular payments: fix an exchange rate for your mortgage or pension transfer for up to 2 years ahead with no monthly transfer changes (this alone could save you 300 per year!). Buying a property in Spain Foreigners buying property in Spain has become very popular. The country has a pleasant, healthy climate and in recent years the local authorities have made great efforts to increase the number foreign tourists and residents. Spain now derives more of its foreign income from tourists than any other country in Europe. Due to low European interest rates, now is a good time to buy property in Spain. There is a very wide selection of standards, from farmhouses (fincas) and plots through to villas, townhouses and new apartment developments. There is no shortage of real estate agents in Spain and it pays to search out a good company who will care for your requirements. Before you buy a property in Spain you should use our website to look at the different areas then consider visiting your favourites before deciding where to buy. Many people also rent a property in that area first. Here's a simple guide to get the most out of buying a property in Spain: Set your budget limit and stick to it. Visit the property at least twice before you make a decision. Check what amenities the property has such as electricity, water, gas. Have a builder or architect examine the structure of the building. Talk to your prospective neighbours about the area. If you are unsure about a property, take photos and draw sketches to take home with you. Have your legal advisor check ownership of the property before you sign anything. Have your legal advisor check outstanding debts on the property before you sign anything Initial Costs As well as the cost of the property, the buyer will be liable for transfer tax (IVA), which at present is 6% on a second-hand property and 7% on a new one, plus 1/2% stamp duty. The property registration office will charge you a fee to change the new deeds into your name. This is usually around 300€. There will also be notary charges for copies of the 'escritura publica'. The charge is on a scale depending on the contract price. In total you should allow 10% of the purchase price for costs. It is often the case that the buyer also pays the sellers fees. Check this at the point of enquiry and it is often possible to negotiate. Banks may also charge an opening commission for mortgage loans. Annual Costs The local town hall charge IBI which is an annual real estate tax. The previous owner is obliged to give you copies of previous bills. Community charges apply when you buy a property on a community development. These cover things like maintenance, swimming pools, gardens etc. You will also be liable for a wealth tax, payable annually and based on the value of the property and a property owners income tax based on your income from the property. You should clarify these in detail with your estate agent at point of enquiry . Finance See our mortgages section here Many developers of new properties are now offering up to 80% over 20 years for non-residents. Local banks will offer anything up to 60% for European residents. Most loans are long-term and secured on the property. When seeking a loan, make sure you are aware of the interest rates and if they are fixed or floating. Banks will ask for passports, residence permits, payslips, sale contracts and copies of the title deeds. There are many advantages to taking out a loan to purchase your property, in the form of tax allowances. We have not listed them here as they are subject to fluctuation. You may need to transfer money into Spain and you need to protect yourself: When you buy a property in Spain, you will know the price of the property in Euros but you will not know the actual cost until you buy all of the currency to pay for it. This means that the property could either cost you more than you had planned (if the Euro strengthens) or the property could become cheaper (if Sterling strengthens). Recently Sterling has fluctuated more than 10% against the Euro within a matter of months, so this does deserve careful consideration. On the basis that you are buying a property and not speculating on the currency markets, it is worth fixing the exchange rate for all of your future stage payments to the agent / developer. How to fix the exchange rate: 1/ Buy all of the currency now on a "spot contract". Hold the currency on deposit and send payments when they are due from your Euro account. To do this you need to have full funds available. 2/ Buy as much currency as you can afford now (e.g. for the first 2 payments) and reserve an exchange rate for the remaining payments. To reserve an exchange rate you need to buy a 'forward currency contract'. In effect you are buying currency now but paying at a later date when you have the funds available. The exchange rate that you achieve on a "forward contract" is not quite as good as that for a "spot contract" but it does guarantee that you know the cost of the property. You will be required to pay 10% of the value immediately and the balance by the date that you have reserved the currency for. Use a specialist currency broker : As a result of extensive research idealspain are pleased to offer preferential currency transfer rates for all their clients and visitors, click here for more information . It is also advisable to speak to your new bank with regards to High Interest Sterling Accounts where your mortgage payments can be taken directly and converted on your behalf. Approx cost to buy a home at 128,000 euros or (80,000 pounds) IVA 7% Spanish VAT payable on declared property value 8,960.00 Legal fees Searches, preparing deeds and translation etc 900.00 Notary's fees Preparing escritura, registering and stamp duty 600.00 I.A.J.D Spanish tax of 0.5% of the declared value 640.00 Connection charges Water, gas, drainage, electricity etc 300.00 Plus Valia Capital Gains Tax on increased value of plot since last sold. Levied by the Town Hall 60.00 Total Approx 7,355 pounds €11.460.00 Currency Converter Legal Matters Most properties in Spain are in fact NOT registered. Most of the re-sale properties are sold by Spanish ....still.... since they earned about 100 a year from selling fruit and veg they would certainly not pay 300 to pay for their property to be registered. The only way someone may find out if how many square meters is legally theirs to sell is by investigating at the Catastral Department and Town Hall. If they have ever declared that there is a property at all. A great deal of families have never informed the Town Hall that a senior family member has deceased and therefore many sales take months to proceed to completion. There are many families with complicated backgrounds, most children believe they actually own what is and sometimes what once was their parents, sometimes resulting in an Expediente Dominio where there can be no proof of title at all. A great deal of the beautiful villas you see advertised are not registered by the builder and therefore the purchaser pays for the first registration, sometimes no licences have been issued and the seller is required to pay fines to the Town Hall. Many many properties are then registered with less than the actual square meters of built area, and a great many are not mortgageable. Most urbanisation properties now being built are of course registered first because there is a compulsory registration system in Spain for new developments but this is Urban land - not countryside. Most of the old village properties have no Title Deeds. The seller of a second-hand home should provide the following documents: The title deed of the property Receipt of payment of the real estate tax for the last year Receipt of payment of the tax on the increased value of Urban Land Certificate that any community charges (if applicable) have been paid up to date Latest copies of domestic bills so that you can take over the services such as electricity and water The seller or developer of a new property should provide you with: Deed of declaration of new construction Occupancy permit Certificate of rateable value of the property Normally, before the purchase of a property is made official, there is a prior agreement drawn up between the buyer and seller. This document will identify the two parties and set out the terms of purchase. You must seek legal advice before signing this and you must be sure that this is the property you want to buy. You can lose any deposit you have paid if you pull out of the purchase and there is a penalty clause in the contract. In the case of the seller defaulting then he has to pay twice the amount. When it comes to signing the contract, this has to be before a notary, in the form of a public deed. This ensures that the details are entered onto the public records. Insurances Fire insurance is compulsory by law when taking out a mortgage. Comprehensive household insurance is available to protect your home and contents. Life insurance can be taken out to guarantee payment of the loan in the case of death. The cost of property - trends Official figures for the Costa del Sol state that property prices will increase this year by 12-15%. It is claimed that an average new property with two bedrooms in a block now costs 241,000 euros (around 2,000 euros per square metre). An average villa costs 388,100 euros. On the Costa del Sol there are around 20,000 homes for sale, 40% of which is in the Marbella area. 75% of home buyers on the Costa del Sol are foreign. The increase in prices is leading to an increase in the number of smaller, cheaper municipalities springing up, away from the coast. Tax advantages for property owners If you spend more than six months a year in Spain, you are obliged by law to apply for a residents permit.* This law is currently being abolished. There are however, several tax advantages for residents of Spain that do not apply to non-residents. Inputted income tax is an annual tax on an imaginary income resulting by virtue of ownership of a property and is charged as 0.5% of the catastral value. If you are a resident you will not be charged this on your principal home. Wealth tax is a tax on all assets in Spain and is charged at 0.2% of the catastral value of any house owned. For residents the first 108,000€ is exempt and for a joint ownership this would apply to each partner. These two taxes are paid annually as long as you own the property. Non-residents do not receive any relief so therefore have to pay 0.7% of the catastral value every year. When you come to sell the property, capital gains tax will be charged on any profit you have made. This is 35% for non-residents but only 20% for residents. A further concession for residents is that if you are over the age of 65 and have lived in your property for at least three years, you are totally exempt from capital gains tax. Finally, if you are 60 years of age or more and have lived in your property for at least three years, you can bequeath your property to your spouse or children and avoid paying inheritance tax on 95% of the valuation. The inheritor must also be a resident of Spain and agree not to sell the property for at least ten years. WSI - Start Your Own Business and Profit from the Internet! Now in its 10th year of business, WSIs systems are used by over 1000 franchisees in 87 countries around the world. Currently rated the "#1 Fastest Growing Business Services Franchise" and the "4th Fastest Growing Franchise in the world" , WSI has established one of the most profitable Franchise Opportunities in the world today with a Proven Business System! Home or office based. Complete Training and Support. No Business experience required. For your free information package & CD please visit: www.wsicorporate.com . Learn Spanish Today for FREE! Learn Spanish the interactive and fun way! Our web site will help you learn Spanish free of charge. Not just a few Spanish verbs, but over 500 words of the Spanish language, including complete Spanish phrases and sentences. Watch our free online demo that plays the first 15 minutes of a lesson. In this demo, the in program manual is displayed on the screen. spanish-online.co.uk Spanish book, cd and cd-rom publishers. User-friendly material for complete beginners to intermediate level. To make the most of our great offers, use the promotional code IDEALSPAIN on our online shop. Intasure - Insurance for your holiday home in Spain - Property insurance for expatriates in Spain - Comprehensive golf cover 365 days of the year which covers theft of equipment, medical expenses, travel, public liability and even hole in one cover - Low, low cost travel insurance. Avro is the UK's leading charter flight-only company, selling over one million seats every year. We have recently expanded and now offer scheduled flights to destinations worldwide, with flights available from over 70 of the world's leading airlines. Bookings.org - The best selection of Hotels, at great prices, throughtout Spain... View Special offers here & 5,166 Golf courses in Europe - Find golf courses in Spain, view pictures of all courses with maps. Book nearby hotels online . Car Hire Booking Centre Online together with IdealSpain.com - Created with one main objective; to offer clients the best vehicles with the best service at unbeatable prices. Why pay more when BOOKING CENTRE ONLINE offers MORE THAN THE REST, CHEAPER THAN REST? Car hire throughout Spain, the Canary & Balearic Islands . Hotel Club - The fast and secure service offering savings of up to 60% on your accommodation. To view Specials click here . PHA Travel has been offering independent advice on Health and Travel Insurance since 1995. Now in our 8th year this site provides our best selling value for money Travel Insurance from a range of reputable travel insurance companies. All policies are underwritten at Lloyds of London or through international travel insurance providers. You can obtain an instant quotation for your travel insurance, and you can buy online with a generous discount. RatesToGo.com - Last minute hotel reservation service. The fast and secure service offering great savings on your last minute hotel reservations - up to 20 days in advance. To book more than 20 days ahead click here . Related Links View agents and information for specific areas of Spain: Choose an option Property for sale in Spain Costa Almeria Costa Blanca Costa Brava Costa Calida Costa de la Luz Costa del Azahar Costa del Sol Costa Tropical - Granada Canary Islands Golf Properties Mallorca New developments Rural properties UK Based Agents Private Property Sales Commercial Property Home Improvements Mortgages Main guide to buying Guide to renting Holiday rentals Private Property Rentals a Property for sale in... a Spain a Costa Almeria a Costa Blanca a Costa Brava a Costa Calida a Costa de la Luz a Costa del Azahar a Costa del Sol a Costa Tropical - Granada a Cordoba, Andalucia a Huelva, Andalucia a Jaen, Andalucia a Seville, Andalucia a Canary Islands a Mallorca a Tenerife a New Developments a UK Based Agents a Rural Properties a Golf Properties a Private Property Sales a Businesses for Sale a Home Improvements a Property to Let in Spain a Private property rentals Related Links a Buying Property - Guide a Buying a finca - Guide a Buy a business-Guide a Buy a bar in Spain-Guide a Renting Property - Guide a Mortgages a Mortgage Calculator a Money Matters a Foreign Currency Services a Legal Matters a Hotels in Spain - A-Z a A-Z of Places a Holidays in Spain a Moving to Spain a Sport Home Page Relevant features Teach Yourself Spanish Relocate to Spain Working in Spain Costa Jobs Driving in Spain Tourist Offices The Culture Healthcare in Spain Legal Matters Banks in Spain Making a will Teach Yourself Spanish Schools in Spain Tenants rights If you have a property you wish to sell privately, you can advertise it on idealspain.com for 150 euros until sold. Click here for details Need to transfer money to Spain? Save money and stop making the banks rich. click here for details NEED A MORTGAGE? Advertise with us Step by step guide Site Stats About us | Terms of use | Contact us | Site Map | Advertise with us | Latest updates Buying Property in Spain | Schools in Spain | Healthcare in Spain | Finance | Move to Spain | Work in Spain | Culture of Spain Airports of Spain | Hotels in Spain | Weather in Spain | Nautical Spain | Geography of Spain IdealSpain.com - Tel: (+34) 952 198 832 - Email: info@idealspain.com All content and images 2000-200 5 idealspain.com Visit our other websites : www.perfectbulgaria.com - www.idealcroatia.com www.iberianimage.com - www.fiestaproperty.com - www.fiestapropertymallorca.com

Real Estate Agents Career

Real Estate Careers - Advice For Real Estate Agents  You are here: About > Home & Garden > Home Buying / Selling > Real Estate Careers 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 > Real Estate Careers Real Estate Careers - Advice for Real Estate Agents Career advice for real estate agents or anyone who wants information about a career in real estate. Helpful resources for all real estate professionals, from new real estate agents to brokers in charge. Subtopics Commission Advance (1) NAR Web Sites (35) eCards (4) Presentation Skills (8) Errors/Omissions (3) Real Estate Humor (5) Ethics (2) Real Estate License Law (29) Fair Housing (7) Real Estate News (5) Finding Clients (8) Schools (12) For Brokers in Charge (19) Software (19) Marketing Your Listings (36) Articles & Resources Sort By : Guide Picks | Alphabetical | Recent Safety Tips for Real Estate Agents - Real Estate Agent Careers Real estate agents have historically felt safe while performing their jobs, but the trend has shifted in recent years, with a number of agents raped, robbed and murdered while showing homes and other properties. If your office has developed agent safety policies, follow them. If it hasn't, there are several things you can do to help minimize your risks. Real Estate Careers - Special Designation Programs for Real Estate Agents Real estate agent pre-licensing classes teach you about real estate laws and customs in your state, but they don't teach you how to manage and promote your business or work effectively with consumers. For that you'll need ongoing education. Some agents choose to accomplish that by participating in one or more special designation programs. What is a Realtor? Career Advice for Real Estate Agents - Information for Consumers Some people call all real estate agents "Realtors" without realizing that not every agent can legally use the title. When join become Realtors they must agree to conduct their business in a way that adheres to the rules of the National Association of Realtors, NAR, including its Code of Ethics. Here are some Realtor basics. How to Measure and Calculate Residential Square Footage Each year, home owners discover that their new home's square footage is not the figure stated when the home was advertised. Real estate agents and for sale by owner sellers can reduce their risks of lawsuit by knowing how use accepted standards to measure and calculate a home's square footage. So You Want to Become a Real Estate Agent You've decided you want to become a real estate agent, but what's your motivation? It can be a rewarding career choice, but it's definitely not a job for everyone. Here's some advice to help you determine if a career in real estate is right for you. Interviewing for a Real Estate Agent Job Looking for a real estate career? Interviewing for a real estate agent position requires different techniques than those you use when applying for most jobs. Get the facts before your interview. How To Calculate Real Estate Commissions New real estate agents sometimes aren't aware that commissions are usually shared by all agencies who participate in a sale. Here are some examples that show how commissions are split. How To Find a Job in Real Estate This simple how-to article gives you a step by step look at the process you must follow to find a job as a real estate agent. Preparing Your Sellers for Home Showings Advice for real estate agents. Take time to prepare your sellers for the realities of showing a home. When home sellers understand that a good showing might result in a good offer, they are usually willing to comply with your requests. Errors and Omissions Insurance for Real Estate Agents Get the facts about errors and omissions insurance for real estate agents. E&O is your protection from lawsuits filed by unhappy clients and customers. Deed Plotter for Windows, Review Deed Plotter for Windows is a deed description analyzer, a software program that allows you to type-in the legal description of a piece of property. The software analyzes the information, and draws the tract. Find out how this software can help you with real estate transactions. Get Your Home Sales to the Closing Table Getting a real estate sales contract doesn't signal the end of your work with that client, it's just the beginning. There's a lot more work to do before the buyer and seller meet for closing. This advice will help you get there. Sales Techniques for Real Estate Pros Successful real estate agents know that asking the right questions is an important part of working with home buyers. Use these tips to refine your sales skills.        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 Agent

San Diego real estate, MLS real estate listings, San Diego County real estate San Diego real estate San Diego county real estate - San Diego homes San Diego real estate Search the San Diego MLS San Diego real estate source San Diego real estate . . .Buying, selling, relocating . .to INSURE the BEST POSSIBLE DEAL Use the expertise of Bob Schwartz, Certified Residential Specialist Cell/Pager: 619-300-8819 Home office: 619-286-5604 *This site is continually (usually twice weekly) updated. Just Listed! San Carlos - Cosmetic Fixer! SAVE TENS OF THOUSANDS 4Br./2.5Ba.+Fam. Rm 1,800+Sq.Ft. . Click Here for more info on this San Carlos home Westerly Sunset Views Value Ranged just $499,000 to $529,000 San Diego local real estate facts . Sellers - Expose your property to over 96 Times more traffic than most real estate sites! 17,341 Unique visitors in March '05 San Diego county real estate - San Diego homes San Diego real estate Search the San Diego MLS San Diego real estate news that affects you ! San Diego Neighborhood real estate activity Certified Residential Specialist --- The'inside' secret to your BEST real estate deal! San Diego Home appreciation San Diego CA real estate value growth San Diego California Population Growth San Diego Communities Real estate San Diego - Hi-Tech marketing California Real Estate Prices San Diego (92120) Average Residential Detached sales price Nov. 2005 -- $ 632,434 (Source:S.D.A.R.) Calif. median home price - Oct. 05: $538,770 (Source: C.A.R.) Calif. highest median home price by C.A.R. region Oct. 05: Santa Barbara So. Coast $1,225,000 (Source: C.A.R.) Calif. lowest median home price by C.A.R. region Oct. 05: High Desert $315,870 (Source: C.A.R.) Come surf the San Diego California real estate market with the assistance of Bob Schwartz , a C ertified R esidential S pecialist with 27 years experience Bob & his long board. In surfing, selecting the right board is very important. When buying or selling real estate, selecting the right real estate professional is even more important! Many times, your real estate transaction is going to be the largest monetary decision you'll ever make! This is not something you want to trust to just anyone! Bob Schwartz, Certified Residential Specialist Just 5% of all Realtors have earned this coveted nation designation! San Diego real estate table of content s Sellers -Expose your property to over 96 Times more traffic than most real estate sites! www.brokerforyou.com Summary by Month Month Monthly Totals Visits Pages Files Hits Mar 2005 17341 41148 238856 309153 Feb 2005 14726 34034 221890 281081 Jan 2005 15353 35013 239054 295682 San Diego rentals For San Diego rental information on these rental and others, visit the free San Diego rental & sale photo site at: San Diego for sale by owner Find YOUR San Diego Dream Home Get FREE local real estate news ! Preferred Real Estate Property Locator San Diego CA e-mail Newsletter San Diego California Real Estate News Real Estate Glossary Get the FACTS before you hire a real estate representative Bob's Background Real Estate 100% Guarantee Client Testimonial s Bob's real estate Awards San Diego real estate services Hi-Tec Radio Broadcasting San Diego MLS website Real Estate Awards brokerforyou.com Site Awards San Diego websites Interesting websites Fun in San Diego San Diego Monthly Events San Diego Padres San Diego Chargers San Diego Sports San Diego Golf Courses San Diego Hotels San Diego Zoo Sea World San Diego San Diego vacation attractions tours Real Estate Facts Home Buyer's Facts Home Seller's Facts San Diego Facts San Diego real estate website traffic San Diego housing value tends California's new sales witholding tax San Diego real estate sales history San Diego County real estate sales history San Diego median price history East County median price history San Diego County real estate news Real estate & Hollywood stars Money Saving Facts San Diego home - finding your own place Condo sellers SAVE over $100 when selling! Tax Breaks Home Energy Saving Tips Epson inkjet cartridges Imprinted products Domain name registration Web hosting Internet software California gold nuggets Web site awards Weather + San Diego Weather San Diego's electric rates & possible ways to lower your cost! San Diego Employment + Legal resources California real estate laws for 2005 San Diego Employers/Business Overview San Diego lawyers - San Diego attorneys Los Angeles Orange County lawyers - attorneys San Francisco Oakland lawyers - attorneys Sacramento CA lawyers - attorneys directory S an Jose CA lawyers - attorneys directory Fresno CA lawyers - attorneys directory Riverside attorneys -San Bernardino attorneys California attorneys - California lawyers legal advice library - legal articles - legal websites Las Vegas Nevda lawyers - Vegas attorneys Houston Texas lawyers Houston attorneys Dallas Texas lawyers Dallas attorneys Austin Texas lawyers Austin attorneys San Antonio Texas lawyers San Antonio attorneys Epson ink cartridge replacements San Diego costal homes - La Jolla Del Mar Encinitas Downtown San Diego real estate for sale Health Health-Care Senior Services San Diego dentist - Tijuana dentist San Diego plastic surgery San Diego cosmetic surgery Hoodia Gordoni info Education San Diego school rankings San Diego State University University of San Diego USD Brokerforyou.com Site Search San Diego lawyers attorneys directory San Diego real estate articles Ready to Move! Moving Tips Buying Process Who pays what? Mortgage Disclosure Eats - Hotels San Diego Restaurants San Diego Hotels San Diego vacation attractions Free Stuff! FREE for my web site visitors: How much is you home worth? Free home market value report R eal estate software. Useful software program for Windows compatible computers San Diego real estate selected to meet your individual needs & full details e-mailed to you Nation-wide Certified Residential Specialist Referrals 'Insiders' money-saving report for home sellers San Diego Monthly e-mail real estate newsletter Vacation/Travel/Air Fare Money-Saving Discounts San Diego for sale by owner - List your home w/picture on the Internet San Diego costal real estate site. Featuring La Jolla real estate Del Mar real estate Encinitas real estate The expertise of Bob Schwartz, real estate broker , Certified Residential Specialist = Your BEST POSSIBLE Deal Buying or Selling San Diego real estate Contact Information Bob Schwartz Telephone: Toll-Fre e : Only for sale/purchase real estate inquires: 1-866-895-3715 Cell/Pager: 619-300-8819 Home office: 619-286-5604 fax: 619-229-0048 Postal address: Brokerforyou c/o Bob Schwartz 7966 Laurelridge Road, San Diego CA 92120 Electronic mail: ***Privacy Policy*** We will NEVER release, sell or give any of your information to any other party or organization. You will only receive requested information or updates and only from us. SAN DIEGO REAL ESTATE INTERNET WARNING: The Internet is a great source for information, but can never be a substitute for 27 years of actual real estate experience! California real estate sales, with their myriad of disclosure laws, makes for one of the most complicated sales transactions. From Natural Hazard Disclosures to City water retrofit transfer of responsibility forms, anyone entering into a real estate transaction here, without proper advice, guidance, and professional opinion is gambling with one of their biggest monetary investments. I care about my clients and strive to help them reach their goals in a conservative, professional manner. There is no substitute for the real estate experience I can bring to any negotiation. To insure an accurate understanding of any Internet real estate data, please contact : BOB SCHWARTZ, real estate broker, Certified Residential Specialist. brokerforyou.com/Bob Schwartz does not warrant the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose of the information contained in brokerforyou.com. brokerforyou.com does not in any way endorse the individuals described in brokerforyou.com, nor does brokerforyou.com verify qualifications, licenses, practice areas or suitability of the listed service providers or web links. In no event shall brokerforyou.com be liable to you or anyone else for any decision made or action taken by you in reliance on such information. Any damages or expenses of any kind, for any reason, shall be limited to the amount paid to access brokerforyou.com. The above warranties are the only warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied, including warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose. Del Cerro, Santee, La Mesa, San Carlos Epson inkjet cartridges View our partner real estate websites Best Real Estate website Award Click here to apply for this FREE real estate website award. San Diego Excellent Website Award ... is presented to those San Diego websites whose web content provides useful, instructive information, shows superior design and has achieved levels of excellence deserving of recognition Click here to apply for this FREE San Diego California website award. Web Genie Website Award is presented by search engine placement - Promotions Unlimited San Diego real estate source = brokerforyou.com San Diego real estate broker, Bob Schwartz is a Certified Residential Specialist and is active in San Diego residential sales throughout San Diego County. Just a few of the San Diego communities Bob is active in are: San Carlos - La Mesa - Fashion Valley - Mission Valley - Point Loma - Pacific Beach - Clairemont - North Park - Hillcrest - Mission Hills - Kensington - San Diego State College -Santee - El Cajon - Lakeside - Allied Gardens - Del Cerro

real estate investing isnt

MSN Money - The real risks of investing in real estate MSN Home Hotmail My MSN Sign In Money S earch MSN Money: Help Home News Banking Investing Planning Taxes My Money Portfolio Loans Insurance Investing Home Portfolio Markets Stocks Funds ETFs Commentary Brokers CNBC TV MSN Money Insight Jubak's Journal SuperModels Start Investing Strategy Lab Company Focus Mutual Funds Street Patrol Other Views Contrarian Chronicles TheStreet.com Resources Commentary Index Decision Centers Start Investing Mutual Funds Find Hot Stocks Simple Strategies Power Tools Investing For Income Real Estate Related Links Expert Picks Market Dispatches CNBC Stock Picks Message Boards Print-friendly version Send this to a friend Research any REIT Find top-performing mutual funds Sortable database of SEC filings Find stock winners with our screener Personal finance bookshelf Find It! Article Index Finance Q&A Tools Index Site Map The Basics The real risks of investing in real estate advertisement With prices soaring, real estate looks tantalizing -- but the margin of error is shrinking. Forget the get-rich-quick plans. Pay attention to the numbers. By Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine For Derrik Dyka, the biggest obstacle to successful real estate investing isnt a meltdown in property values or tenants who wreck an apartment or dont pay their rent. "Its overconfidence," says Dyka, a 34-year-old Minneapolis investor who turns old apartments into new condominiums. If youre expecting to cash in on the 21st centurys first gold rush without breaking a sweat, it would be wise to take Dykas words to heart. The margin of error for making money in real estate is closing fast. Its not surprising that real estate tempts so many Americans today. Over the past five years, home prices have soared and rags-to-riches tales abound. But so much real estate has become so expensive that Real Estate Research Corp. in Chicago reports that many real estate pros say now is a better time to sell than buy. As San Diego real estate investor Chuck Wise observes about the area where he operates, todays buyers are like "lambs being shorn." Start investing with $100. Explore our new ETF center. Of course, that doesnt mean that all deals are doomed to fail. But it does mean that its time for would-be investors to pay more attention to the perils of owning property, not just the potential profits. Watch your cash flow The most common entree into real estate investing is the single-family house. Investors bought almost one-fourth of all homes sold in 2004, according to the National Association of Realtors. If youre one of those buyers and your income from that property (after taxes) exceeds your expenses by $100 or $200 a month, youre in good shape. But because prices and property taxes are so high in many areas, and theres so much competition for attractive rental properties, its increasingly difficult to find deals that generate enough income to more than cover your expenses -- whats called positive cash flow. In areas such as the leafy suburbs of New York City and Boston, where a modest three-bedroom house can easily cost $600,000, theres no way you can collect enough rent to cover the steep property taxes and payments on a $500,000 mortgage. Figure monthly out-of-pocket expenses of more than $3,000, if not $4,000. The pool of renters who will pay that much is small. Related news and commentary on MSN Money • Nothing quick about getting rich with real estate • Do you have what it takes to be a landlord? • Don't bite off too much house • How to find a good investment property • 7 creative ways to buy your first house • Decision Center: Home financing So be ready to set your sights lower and get your hands dirty. Instead of a well-located home in pristine condition, look for a fixer-upper off the beaten track for maybe $150,000 that you can rent for $1,000 a month. The numbers work if youre willing to spend weekends, say, painting the walls and, if youre capable, making repairs that would otherwise require professional help. The hidden profit from home improvements is why "ugly real estate often makes more money than the nice stuff," says Kelley Pace, head of Louisiana State Universitys real-estate research institute. Mind the cap You can quickly figure out whether a house or condo is likely to generate positive cash flow. For more complex properties, such as a small office building or retail space, check the cap rate, a single number that can tell you if youre overpaying. The cap rate -- cap is short for capitalization -- is a propertys net operating income as a percentage of its price. The figure is real estates version of a bond yield. If a property sells for $500,000 and generates net income of $50,000 (rents minus expenses), the cap rate is 50,000 divided by 500,000, or 10%. The lower the cap rate, the more you pay for each dollar of annual income. In 2000, the average cap rate on commercial property in the U.S. was 10%. Since then, because of relentless price appreciation, the average cap rate has sunk to 8%. That alone suggests that wringing further gains out of commercial property is unlikely. If you want to invest in a commercial property, aim for a purchase price that results in a 10% cap rate. But remember that the cap rate also depends on how much you collect in rent. Ask the broker for details about the tenants leases, including how rents compare with those of other nearby properties and when the leases are up for renewal. The property should come with an information packet that is more like a stock prospectus than a real estate agents fact sheet on a single-family house. If necessary, hire a property inspector. Then take all the information to a lawyer who specializes in real estate. If you have any doubts about the property, walk away. Page 1 of 2 Story continues on next page Fund data provided by Morningstar, Inc. © 2005. All rights reserved. Quotes supplied by ComStock , an Interactive Data company. MSN Money's editorial goal is to provide a forum for personal finance and investment ideas. Our articles, columns, message board posts and other features should not be construed as investment advice, nor does their appearance imply an endorsement by Microsoft of any specific security or trading strategy. An investor's best course of action must be based on individual circumstances. © 2005 Microsoft MSN Privacy Legal Advertise Feedback Help