Real Estate Investing
Bob Bruss Real Estate Center An Audio Message from Bob Bruss Subscribe to Bob's Weekly e-mail update and get this Free Report: 2005 Realty Tax Tips: 8 Chapters of Tax Savings for Homeowners and Investors First Name: Primary E-mail Address: >> Order Bob’s Special Real Estate Reports only $4.95 each! >> Ask Bob a Real Estate Question >> Subscribe to Bob’s Newsletters NEW REPORT! “Foreclosure and Distress Property Profit Secrets” >> Order Why pay upwards of $300 per hour for real estate legal, tax or investment advice? Bob Bruss, America’s most trusted real estate expert, offers Special Reports on a wide range of real estate topics for less than $5.00 each! Bob’s columns appear in over 150 newspapers across the country, including the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Chronicle. Bob draws on more than 25 years of real estate writing, teaching and investing to bring you unbiased information that will help you make smart real estate decisions. Click above & get a free 6-month newsletter subscription! Bob's Notebook SIX KEY REAL ESTATE NEGOTIATION TIPS FOR BUYERS, SELLERS Determining other party's motivation paramount to success The year 2005 has been very good for most property owners and realty sales agents. Home sales prices appreciated handsomely in most communities and the sales volume of new and resale homes were near-record. But 2006 promises to be more "normal" as mortgage interest rates slowly rise, resulting in a modest new home construction volume decline with a corresponding residence market value appreciation and sales volume slowing. Having been through many real estate market ups and downs over almost four decades, both as an investor, sales broker, and realty writer, I've learned that success in a slowing real estate market requires paying greater attention to negotiation skills. NEGOTIATE WITH PEOPLE WHO WANT TO NEGOTIATE . As a lifelong student of real estate negotiation techniques, because there is always more to learn, I've discovered it usually is a waste of time to attempt to negotiate with people who are not highly motivated to make a change. Most experienced real estate agents hate the situation when a home seller lists their desirable property for sale with a top price but they really don't have a good motivation for selling. These sellers often have the attitude "If we can get our price, we'll sell. Otherwise, we won't sell." Their homes often take "forever" to sell. But in 2005, many homes sold for above their asking prices because buyers wanted to purchase more than sellers wanted to sell. A strong motivation for many buyers was to beat the long-predicted rise in home mortgage interest rates. The result was a "seller's market" in many communities with more qualified buyers than motivated sellers. However, as the number of residence listings for sale has risen recently and is expected to continue rising in early 2006, especially after the customary holiday 2005 year-end lull in home sales, many real estate economists are predicting a more normal balance of motivated sellers and buyers. The result should put a premium on negotiation skills for home buyers and sellers, as well as their realty agents, to conclude successful sales. HOW TO ACHIEVE A SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATION . Whatever your role in a home sale, as buyer, seller or realty agent, you can't ask too many questions. Of course, the best negotiators inquire in a friendly manner interjected with compliments. Here are the six key questions to get answered for a successful home sale negotiation: 1. WHY IS THE SELLER SELLING THIS LOVELY HOME? One way or another, successful home buyers and their realty agents need the answer to this key question so the buyer can make a purchase offer which meets the seller's needs (of course, buyers should leave out the word "lovely" if the place is a dump!). As a long-time investor in rental houses, and my personal residences, I always try to tailor my purchase offers to meet the seller's needs (and mine too). For example, several years ago I bought a house from an elderly lady who was retiring. So I offered her 10 percent cash down payment and a 90 percent seller carryback mortgage to provide for her retirement income. When she saw my offer and how much she would receive from my payment each month, she accepted (although the listing agent previously told me she wouldn't carry back any mortgage financing). Another time a listing agent told me the retired sellers of an "el dumpo" house were living in a boarding house and needed cash. As a result, I figured they wanted an all-cash sale so I arranged 100 percent financing at a community bank. The sellers immediately accepted my low purchase price offer for cash. 2. WHAT WAS THE HOME SELLER'S PURCHASE PRICE? Buyers who don't find out the answer to this key question, either from the listing agent or their buyer's agent, are at a severe negotiation disadvantage. Here's why: If the seller purchased the home many years ago for a low purchase price compared to today's market value, that seller has lots of negotiation room. However, if the home seller bought within the last few years for a price not far from today's market value, there isn't much negotiation flexibility. Of course, if the seller has a high-motivation reason for selling, as disclosed by the answer to the first question, even a recent home buyer is often willing to sell in a quick sale for close to the seller's purchase price. Such a situation is an ideal candidate for the buyer to take over payments on the current mortgage with the lender's permission. 3. DOES THE OTHER PARTY HAVE A TIME DEADLINE? This is a question both home buyer and seller should ask of their realty agent. To illustrate, if one party has a job transfer, then purchase or sale of the home can be very important. But if the seller is moving to a retirement residence, time usually isn't so critical. However, if the seller already bought another home and needs to sell the current home to produce the down payment, then closing time is ultra-important. As experienced real estate agents know, the worst home buyers and sellers are those without any time deadlines. Those folks can take forever to make decisions. 4. HAS THE SELLER OBTAINED A PROFESSIONAL HOME INSPECTION REPORT? Today's smartest real estate agents suggest their sellers obtain a professional inspection report at the time of listing the home for sale. Then the seller is fully aware of most home defects and can either have the defect repaired or fully disclose it to prospective buyers, thus averting future lawsuits. Sharp home purchasers, and their buyer's agents, understand this trend. When a buyer is seriously interested in a house, always ask if the seller has already obtained a professional inspection the buyer can review before making a purchase offer. Even if the seller has obtained customary professional inspection reports, smart buyers should always include in their purchase offers a contingency clause for the buyer's approval of their own inspection report obtained at the buyer's expense. Most states now have some form of required seller disclosure statement revealing known home defects. However, many sellers are not aware of all their home's defects, or they might "forget" to disclose a defect. The old days of "caveat emptor" (let the buyer beware) have disappeared. Today, the new rule seems to be "let the home seller beware of the buyer and his lawyer." 5. WHAT IS THE BUYER'S MOTIVATION TO PURCHASE MY HOME? Just as home buyers need to know the seller's reason for selling, to create a harmonious negotiation situation, home sellers should ask why the buyer wants to purchase. Of course, there are many home purchase reasons. However, if the buyer has indicated a key reason why that particular house is under consideration, such as its great condition, outstanding school district, or need to move in quickly, the seller can use that information to enhance their negotiation position. 6. ASK AN OPEN-ENDED QUESTION, SUCH AS WHAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SHOULD I KNOW BEFORE MAKING A DECISION? There are many variations of this question home sellers and buyers can ask, especially of their real estate agents. To illustrate, a home buyer might ask their buyer's agent "What else should I know about this house?" Or the seller might ask their listing agent "If you were in my situation, would you accept or counteroffer the buyer's purchase offer?" SUMMARY : When negotiating a home sale, sellers and buyers can't ask too many questions to enhance their negotiation position. The prime reason is to determine how motivated the other party is to buy or sell. If there is weak motivation, you aren't in a strong negotiation situation. However, if the other party is highly motivated, then you are in a strong circumstance to negotiate your strongest price and terms. More details are in my special report, "How to Become a Super-Successful Real Estate Negotiator," available for $5 from Robert Bruss, 251 Park Road, Burlingame, CA 94010 or by credit card at 1-800-736-1736 or instant Internet PDF delivery at www.bobbruss.com . Back to top © 2005 Inman News Home | Real Estate Reports | Real Estate Newsletter | About Bob Bruss | Site Map
Real Estate Investing
Real Estate Investors Club, Los Angeles, California, LA Free Newsletter & Timely Tips on Real Estate Investing Email: more info We value your privacy and never give out your information Home About Us Membership Events Educational Tools Interesting Sites Free Stuff Investing 101 Advertise with Us Sell Your House Fast! Calendar Message Boards Recommended Vendors Contact Us Do You Want to Be Financially Free? The only way you will ever achieve true and lasting financial independence is with the ultimate source of money: Real Estate! No other vehicle has consistently helped investors make money - especially California Real Estate. Take control of your future. You too can make money in real estate - lots of it - and in all kinds of markets. We are experts on real estate market conditions in Southern California, from Palmdale and up into Ventura County to Long Beach and outward to the Inland Empire. Dont reinvent the wheel. If you are committed to using real estate investment as a vehicle to create both short and long-term financial security for you and your family, you need to find out what how other successful people have done it and just copy their strategies. You dont need money or credit. What you do need is desire, education, and a real estate team. The Real Estate Investors Club of Los Angeles will help you form that team. You need to know a cooperative hard moneylender, a mortgage broker, a title company, an escrow company, a realtor, a birddog, an appraiser, a real estate attorney, and people you can go to for mentoring. Reic of LA holds monthly networking meetings along with periodic real estate educational seminars. Our meetings include local as well as national speakers such as Bruce Norris, Ron LeGrand, Jeff Kaller, Robyn Thompson, Bill Bronchick, David Finkel and Peter Conti. Make a commitment to achieving a financial quantum leap. Join us at meetings and sign up for our newsletter to get timely real estate information about the real estate market in Los Angeles and Southern California that you wont get anywhere else. We cover money making topics such as: Getting started Finding money Qualifying buyers Buying and Selling paper Asset Protection No Money Down Creative Financing Saving Taxes Landlording Mobile Homes Rehabbing 1031 Exchanges Working with brokers Lease/Options Foreclosures Whether you are an investor, broker, mortgage lender, contractor or landlord, you are welcome to join our association if creating wealth using real estate is your goal. Monthly Meeting Tuesday, January 10 th Speaker: Robert Campbell Campbell Marketing Timing Newsletter Topic: Real Estate Bubble: Time Bomb or Dud for more info click here Investing Outside of California? Check out our Out of State Expo Click Here for More Info Bruce Norris California Downturn Click Here MONTHLY MEETINGS Meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7:30 PM at The Crown Plaza - LAX Hotel, 5985 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles, CA. The $25 admission fee for non members includes an expert speaker each month, refreshments and great networking! << Next Meeting's Speaker Individuals with allied professions are invited to network with us. Click Here to join our mailing list so we can keep you posted on upcoming events. For Information on How to Advertise on this Site, Email dina@realestateclubla.com or call 310-793-7069. Any product you purchase through REIC of LA has a 30 day money back guarantee. We are a secure site. We NEVER sell or give your information to anyone. Home Newsletter & Tips Calendar Next Meeting Membership Contact Us ©2005 The Real Estate Investor's Club | CP | WebMail Created by EMA
Land Loan Tools
Indymac Bank Construction Lending Indymac Bank home | about us | contact us | privacy | ID notice | security | careers 1-800-HCL-LOAN (425-5626) HCL for Individuals Main Page Get To Know Us Get Started Now! My Project Application My Loan Information Loan Products · Construction-to-Permanent Loan · Remodeler Loan · Bridge Loan · Lot/Land Loan Tools · Line Item Budget Calculator Find A Builder -- · Cost To Build Calculator -- Event Calendar -- Help · FAQs · Glossary Customer Service -- · Contact Us Lot/Land Loan Found the perfect location to build your dream home ...and now you need the perfect loan? Our Lot Loan is the right loan if you're looking to purchase a residential lot to build your primary residence or second home. Once you have purchased your land, you will have time to design your new home and choose a contractor. Best of all, Indymac Bank will fund your Construction-to-Permanent Loan once you're ready to build. · Loans to $500,000. -- Frequently Asked Questions Check to view all answers. Q. How do I know where I should build my home? A. Location may be one of the most important factors to consider. Although many people have a geographic location in mind, some are open to alternatives. It's important to consider your lifestyle (and those you'll be living with) as well as the cost. If you're planning a family, schools will be important. If not, you may want to consider other factors such as proximity to work, or accessibility to the beach, the mountains or leisure activities. Q. What is a "finished lot"? A. A "finished lot" refers to a portion of land that already has road access and utilities in place to the lot boundary. Additionally, it has been approved by the city or county as a separate parcel of land on a parcel map. Q. Can I buy a piece of land that is not a finished lot and save some money? A. While it may be possible to purchase an unfinished lot, generally this is not advisable for an individual building their own home. The costs of bringing roads and utilities to the first lot in a new area are usually very high. Typically, the first person to build pays for others who will build later. There are land developers who specialize in preparing lots for building (this may include zoning and/or soils issues, as well as bringing roads and utilities to the site, and creating a building pad). Often, these lots are in a planned community. Q. What do you mean by "planned community"? Aren't all communities planned? A. No, many older communities were not planned; they evolved. Certainly, as a city has grown, plans have taken shape. But in many cases the nucleus of a community was started many years before the community or city planning existed. In many instances, it is this unplanned characteristic that gives a community its charm. A planned community, in contrast, generally offers a specific style and certain amenities at a package price. Depending on the size and location of the community, these amenities may include greenbelts, landscaping, biking trials, swimming pools, even schools and shopping centers. Some amenities, such as the community pool and greenbelts, are paid for through a homeowners' association. Others are paid through taxes or mello roos. Still others are design enhancements intended to encourage potential buyers to purchase in an area or to attract more commercial business. Many of the more costly amenities included in a planned community may not be affordable for a homeowner on an individual basis. However, some of these amenities may not be important to you. After all, priorities, like lifestyle, vary. If you select a home in a planned community, you'll generally have a more structured community where decisions are made jointly rather than by the individual homeowner. These community decisions include individual home design and landscaping. While some homeowners may consider this an acceptable trade-off to ensure an attractive environment, others may consider it an infringement on their rights. It's important that you know how you feel before selecting the type of lot you want. Q. Can tax bases differ within the same community? A. Yes, they can. While some cities already have parks, schools, and streets, newer communities built within the same city may have special assessments that cover the costs to develop or maintain new or existing parks, schools, streets, etc. These assessments may be for a prescribed period of time or may continue indefinitely. A little research goes a long way. Here again, a good real estate agent or title company officer can often provide you with this information. Q. I've found the perfect location, but I'm not ready to build my dream home. Can I obtain financing for the land only? A. Yes, you can obtain a Lot Loan. Typically, this is short-term financing for the purchase of a residential lot suited for future construction. This loan allows you time to select an architect, builder, and design your dream home. IndyMac Bank's Lot Loan program allows you to finance up to 50 acres. And when you're ready to build, we offer a one-time close Construction-to-Permanent Loan. ^ back to top Still have questions? Call toll-free 1-800-HCL-LOAN (425-5626) to speak with a construction loan specialist, or downloada copy of our booklet (pdf) that answers the most frequently asked questions about building your own home. Information Center · Glossary · FAQs -- FAQs · Get To Know Us · Building Your Dream Home Magazine (pdf) · Owner Builder Guide (pdf) Consumer Guide to Construction Financing (pdf) Did You Know A Construction Loan Is A Reimbursement Loan? (pdf) subscribe now -- Get Started Now! Apply online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and get a loan approval in minutes! get started -- e-mail/mail us | 1-800-HCL-LOAN (425-5626) Licensing | Terms of Use | Site Feedback -- Licensing | Terms of Use | Site Feedback Licensing | Terms of Use | Site Feedback -- Licensing | Terms of Use | Site Feedback -- ©2005 IndyMac Bank, F.S.B. Registered trade/service marks are the property of IndyMac Bank, F.S.B. and/or its subsidiaries.
Home Loan
Current Mortgage Rates and Today's Loan Information from HSH Associates Lenders and Rates | Loan Rates Index | Loan Statistics | Calculators | Library | ARM Indexes | Free Content "") thensession("searchfor") = request("searchfor")end if% -- Search our Website Any Word(s) All Word(s) The Library Statistics ARM Indexes Calculators Entire Site Find a Loan "A" Credit Mortgage Interest Only Lenders B-C-D Credit Mortgage Commercial Loans Construction Loans Home Equity Loans Calculators Payments Credit Grade Prepayment MoneyToys Calculators Lots More Here! Download our Homebuyers Calc! Calcs for your Website... Advice and Articles Commentary / Forecast Helpful Article Library Book and Tutorials Question of the Day Mortgage Stats Daily Weekly Metro Rate Forecast Graphs Hybrid Arms More... ARM Indexes Latest Values LIBOR Prime Fed Funds Graphs Archives Data Stream Delivery Daily Index Update Service More... Consumer Products Home Buyers Mortgage Kit Refinancing? How-To Booklets Rates From Our Survey Rates for Websites Insurance Insurance Agencies Professional Products Stock Surveys Custom Surveys Index Update Service Web Service Feeds Helpful "Guide To" Booklets Learn About Home Equity Loan Fees & Qualification Prepaying Your Loan Guide to Refinancing About HSH® Our Company In The News Media Releases Professional Research Our Clients Internet Services Feedback about HSH Our 26th year! Since 1979, the nation's trusted resource for mortgage rates, news, and advice. || Today's Mortgage Rates || || Weekly Market Commentary || Weekly Mortgage Statistics || Newest Articles: -- Need a Mortgage , Home Equity , Commercial , or Construction Loan How can we help you? Good Credit - Mortgage Special! Good Credit Interest Only Mortgages Bruised Credit - Mortgage Home Equity Lines or Loans Commercial Loans Construction Loans Find Current Mortgage Rates From Your Area! Perfect Credit By State Bruised Credit By State Quick Links to Popular Articles: New! A Negative 'Option' Explained (with graphs) New! Thoughts on Mortgage Risk, Housing Bubbles and Market Perceptions The Principal Facts of Interest-Only Mortgages What Moves Mortgage Rates? Reverse Mortgage Information What You Should Know About Home Equity Loans Prepaying Your Mortgage for Fun and Profit Average Selected Closing Fees and Charges What You Need to Know About Adjustable Rate Mortgages -- Want more? Visit our Library ! Consumer Loans Calculators Mortgage Stats ARM Indexes Find our Homebuyer's Mortgage Kit and more in our Consumer Catalog ! Home Equity Info View Rates & Terms from our nationwide survey! Advice & Articles About HSH® Surveys & Professional Services LiveEdit SM Login HSH® Associates, Financial Publishers 237 West Parkway Pompton Plains NJ 07444 800-873-2837 973-617-8700 E-mail link We respect your privacy . Updated Rates & Indexes Want to receive the free HSH Weekly Market Trends newsletter? Click here to subscribe! See current rates from HSH's editorial survey ---What's New--- The 2006 conforming loan limits have been announced ! New free content: ARM index graphic for your website. Get it now ! Updated! Strategies you can use when rates are rising New! Have you got your free credit reports yet? Changes in Single Family Home Prices (2Q05) Tell us what you think about proposals regarding mortgage fees that could impact what you pay HOT! Feature our Credit Grade Calculator on your website! Free Content! Get Daily Mortgage Averages, Home Equity Line and Loan Averages, New and Used Auto Averages and calculators for your site! On the latest move by the Federal Reserve The Principal Facts of Interest-only Mortgages Answers to your questions about Piggyback Mortgages Here's a list of HSH's booklets & tutorials . Think you want an Adjustable Rate Mortgage? Learn how ARMs work ! Are you a savvy mortgage shopper? Check out HSH's survey of your local market ! Thinking of refinancing? Order "A Homeowner's Guide to Mortgage Refinancing" A sample of Average Closing Costs About Us | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Advertising Information | LiveEdit Login | Contact Us © 2005 HSH Associates, Financial Publishers - http://www.hsh.com
home For Sale by
MilitarybyOwner.com - Real Estate near U.S. Military Bases Forgot your password? Email: Password: 12/29/2005 2:30:31 PM -- Live Support Chat Live Chat Hours of Operation 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM EST M-F WELCOME Welcome to MilitarybyOwner.com, your one source for advertising your home For Sale by Owner or For Rent near our Military Installations. Use the power of your military network and the web to help you find, sell or rent your next home. HOME SEARCH State - Select - AL AK AZ AR AE AP CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY Military Base Select a state first City or Zipcode Price Range No Min $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $250,000 $300,000 $350,000 $400,000 $450,000 $500,000 $550,000 $600,000 $650,000 $700,000 $750,000 $800,000 $850,000 $900,000 $950,000 to $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $250,000 $300,000 $350,000 $400,000 $450,000 $500,000 $550,000 $600,000 $650,000 $700,000 $750,000 $800,000 $850,000 $900,000 $950,000 $1,000,000 No Max Bedrooms 1 or more 2 or more 3 or more 4 or more 5 or more Availability January February March April May June July August September October November December / / 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 AD Number -- THIS SITE IS AN INVALUABLE TOOL FOR SELLING YOUR HOUSE IN A MILITARY 'SELL BY OWNER' COMMUNITY. I COULDN'T KEEP UP WITH THE PHONE CALLS AND EMAIL HITS. PEOPLE STILL CONTACTED ME AFTER THE HOUSE WAS UNDER CONTRACT. CUSTOMER SERVICE IS EXCELLENT. A SMALL INVESTMENT FOR A HUGE PAYOFF. - TOM, FORT BRAGG, FAYETTEVILLE, NC MILITARY LOANS | 50 STATES | BUSINESS ADVERTISING | MOVING RESOURCES | TESTIMONIALS | FAQ | ABOUT US | CONTACT US