Events seminars meetings talks - Around the Town - listing of various real estate industry events - Calendar

Sept. 10--New York Building Congress will hold a breakfast forum, starting at 8:30 a.m. Mysore L. Nagaraja, president of MTA Capital Construction Company, will be the featured speaker. The breakfast will take place at Club 101, at 101 Park Ave. Members: $45 per person. Non-members: $65 per person. For registration please call (212) 481-9230.

BOMA Lunch

Sept. 10-The Building Owners and Managers Associates of New York will hold its monthly luncheon meeting from 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m The meeting will take place at the Marriott Financial Center, at 5 West St. Members: $75 per person. Non-members: $85 per person. For registration please call Hallie Sherck at (212) 239-3662.

ICREW Gift Drive

Sept. 11-ICREW will hold its membership breakfast and gift drive intended to benefit the Jersey Battered Women's Shelter. The event will take place at the Woodbridge Hilton Hotel. Participants are encouraged to bring journals, picture frames, disposable cameras, nightgowns, phone cards, and $5 gift certificates for department stores and supermarkets. For registration and additional information please call (973) 227-4278.

RealShare New York Conference

Sept. 16 - Real Estate Media will hold its second annual RealShare New York conference. Mary Ann Tighe, director of CB Richard Ellis-Insignia/ESG, and Doug Shorenstein, chairman of Shorenstein Co., will be among the featured speakers at the event. The conference will take place at the Roosevelt Hotel. Admission: $255 per person. For registration and additional information please call Wendi Grinnell at (212) 2553620.

AIR teams with MyContracts to expand member services - American Industrial Real Estate Association - Brief Article

MyContracts, the leader in collaborative Web-based lease and contract management, today announced that the American Industrial Real Estate Association (AIR) has selected MyContracts as its exclusive lease management service provider.

AIR and MyContracts will work together to promote MyContracts' online lease management software to AIR members.

In addition, AIR and MyContracts will work toward the integration of AIR's standardized real estate forms with MyContracts software, developing a solution to automatically abstract the data from form leases.

"MyContracts delivers a cost-effective, Web-based lease management solution that is both user friendly and leading edge, adding tremendous value to our membership service offerings," said Tim Hayes, managing director for AIR.We're excited about the opportunity to collaborate with AIR," said Tom Turley, vice president of real estate for MyContracts. "We believe that MyContracts' solution directly supports their commitment to excellence and is a natural complement to their comprehensive offering solution-oriented services."

Around the town: events seminars meetings talks - listing of various real estate industry events - Calendar

Aug. 13--The New York Association of Realty Managers will hold a breakfast seminar titled "Controlling Cost, a Financial and Operational Perspective" from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Brooklyn Marriott located at 333 Adams St. Parking is available. Certification credit for the NYARM designation will be given. The topic is for both property managers and for NYARM's associate members, who are expected to work hand in hand with managers to reduce waste. The cost for members is $25 and non-members $50. For more information contact NYARM executive director Margie Russell at mrussell@nyarm.com or call 212-216-0654.Aug. 14 & 26--Cowan Financial Group will hold a conference entitled "Giving Value to Your Client as Property Manager Through Long-Term Care" from 6-8 p.m, both dates. The conferences, sponsored by Neuhaus Chocolatier, are free and will take place at 530 Fifth Ave. Refreshments will be served. RSVP by Aug 12 for 1st seminar and by Aug. 22 for the 2nd seminar. For registration and other information please call the event's host, CFG's Jeanne Brutman at (212) 536-7733.

Aug. 20--MetroZone will hold a "Seminar-on-Wheels" from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The seminar will focus on Midtown North and Upper Manhattan, with special emphasis on Harlem and East Harlem. The motor coach classroom will leave Times Square at 8 a.m. The cost is $175 per person or $150 per person for groups of 3 or more. For more information call Steven Barshov at (212) 421-2150.

NRC Lunch

Sept. 8--New York Post journalist Lois Weiss will be the featured speaker at a National Realty Club Inc. lunch from noon to 2 p.m. at The Williams Club, 24 East 39th St. The cost is $40 for members, $65 for non-members who pay in advance and $85 at the door. Payments should be sent to NRC, 380 Lexington Ave., Suite 1700, New York, NY 10168. Reservations must be made the Friday prior to the event. For reservations or information call Tamara or Burton Beck at (212) 551-1013 or email natlrealtyclub@mindspring.com.

Appraisal Institute Course

Sept. 16 to Oct. 21--The Long Island Chapter of the Appraisal Institute will offer a continuing education course, entitled "Appraisal Principles," on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The course will discuss such topics as the valuation process, money and capital markets, and data collection. It will take place at the C.W. Post campus of Long Island University, at 720 Northern Boulevard in Brookville, N.Y. Tuition: $400 per person. For registration and additional information please call (516) 248-8964.

IREM Lunch

Sept. 17--The Greater New York Chapter of the Institute of Real Estate Management will host their monthly luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the New York Helmsley Hotel, 212 East 42nd St. The keynote speaker will be announced at a later date. The cost to attend the luncheon is $65 and advance reservations are recommended. To reserve please call Sheila Still at (212) 944.9445.

Real Estate Course

Sept. 16&17--The Manhattan Association of REALTORS[R] is sponsoring a 2-day course called "Essentials of International Real Estate" from 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. at the New York Athletic Club. The course is designed to provide both residential and commercial agents a better understanding of the international business environment, global cultures, and the practical aspects of international brokerage including the flow of capital and currency. The course has been approved for 15 hours of NY State CE credit and is the first step in earning the prestigious CIPS designation. The course will be taught be David M Michonski, CIPS, the 2004 NAR International Liasion and Board Member of the International Real Property Foundation. The cost of the course is $295 for REALTORS[R] and $350 for non-REALTORS[R]. For further information and registration materials call (212) 879-9166 or email lfrubinfeld@manarrealto

Now is the perfect time for real estate shuffles

One of the major issues facing corporate users today is decentralizing operations while still ensuring efficiency, productivity and creativity amongst its employees. This is a monumental undertaking for any corporation and is especially daunting given the series of events that led to its consideration. However, given current market conditions, this move can offer key advantages not only for a company's continuity, but also its bottom line.

Although most prevalent throughout the financial services and information technology industries, decentralization is an option that should be considered by any company that has 100% of its operations or 100% of any given business unit in a single location.

With corporate profits on the rise and growth prospects improving, now is an advantageous time to review local and state tax incentives and perform a "stacking analysis" of office space within a building or office park in order to consider relocation opportunities.

A restacking analysis will reveal two basic options: either a creative use of existing space or the need to take additional and/or new space. With hiring on the rise, the need to lease additional space has started to increase. Market conditions have just started to trend upward, so the near future will be an opportune time to revisit decentralization issues. This can be done by simply transferring portions of business units into a new facility or by reshuffling groups throughout existing facilitiesthis process does have repercussions for human resources by either disrupting existing teams within a unit by rendering them less deployable or affecting the lifestyle choices many professionals make by working in a particular location. Someone working and living in an urban location might seek out a competitor when faced with the prospect of moving to the suburbs, and vice versa.

In addition, the outbound personnel may feel that they are being moved away from the power base. However, these factors are negligible when looking to enter a market already boasting a large and well-educated labor pool. On the other hand, companies have the opportunity to create a leaner, more cost effective organizational structure.

The decentralization of any company is an onerous process. Some of the larger full service commercial real estate brokers have consulting departments well equipped to assist clients in the analysis.

Robert Marc takes 500 SF on West Broadway - real estate contract information - Brief Article

Robert Marc, a fashion eyewear retailer, has signed a 10-year lease for 500 square feet of ground floor plus basement space at 436 West Broadway for its first ever SoHo store, which it is slated to move into this August.

Yair H. Staav, along with his team of retail and fashion specialists, Bill Melville, Christine Emery and Douglas Zinn, of The Lansco Corporation represented the landlord and Joel Isaacs of Isaacs & Co. represented the tenant in the negotiations. The space was formerly occupied by Antique Addiction.

It is really difficult to find a small storefront in SoHo, so naturally the tenant was happy to be able to find space in this location," commented Staav, who also sold the building to the landlord two years ago, creating the opportunity to begin the transformation from old tenants to more high fashion ones, such as Villebrequin, Cecile Jean Jewelers, Perlier Kelemata and Swatch.

Willingboro Town Center going "green" - commercial real estate property information - Brief Article

The Willingboro Town Center development plan employs sustainable building practices in creating a mix of retail and commercial establishments, adult housing and community-oriented institutions. The Route 130 Corridor of Burlington County, in which the Willingboro Town Center project is located, consists of 12 municipalities, covering 59 square miles. The area lacks a central commercial node, presenting an opportunity for the project to fulfill that role. Much of the land area within the corridor is developed, presenting options for additional development that include in-fill housing and the redevelopment of abandoned or deteriorated properties. Willingboro Town Center is recognized as being a significant factor in revitalizing the Route 130 Corridor.

Willingboro Town Center will feature a new state-of-the-art, environmentally sustainable town library, residential housing, village greens, office space, daycare center, and over 175,000 SF of retail space. Renovations and an expansion began in September 2000 on the 160,000 SF former Boscov's department store by Sweetwater Construction Company on behalf of ReNEWal Realty and the purchaser, Merck-Medco.
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Set to open later this year, the 260,000-SF Merck-Medco facility will feature an automated mail-service pharmacy at this location, introducing over 700 jobs to the community. In addition, ground has already been broken for the 19,000 SF facility for Burlington County College, which is scheduled to be completed during the first quarter of 2002. The college will utilize the facility as a branch of its main campus. The site will also feature a new, 42,000-SF, $6 million dollar Willingboro library. The library will include an exhibition area and state-of-the-art auditorium. In addition, it will house a children's area, adult reading area, multimedia facility, computer room and abundant storage area. Situated next to the development's village green, a dedicated open space area with heavy landscaping, the library will be the first building to greet visitors at Willingboro Town Center as they enter the complex from Route 130. The new Willingboro library will be connected to the Burlington County College facility by a walkway. Approximately 13,000 SF of retail space will be part of the new library facility.

Acustaff, a Cherry Hill-based temporary staffing company, Chapala Cafe, a Mexican restaurant, and Java on High, a coffee shop, are all on track to become new tenants occupying part of the total 175,000 SF of retail space available at Willingboro Town Center.

Avalon Pavilions sold for $81.5M - real estate acquisition information - Brief Article

The immediate area has over 1.5 million square feet of additional retail developments primarily located in four power and community centers, as well as several large freestanding stores. This is the largest concentration of shopping, restaurants and theaters in the state of Connecticut.

The confluence of highways supporting this retail base provides excellent access to major destinations throughout the region. As a result, this residential location provides a unique blend of suburban living with many of the features usually found in cosmopolitan urban settings.

"Northland has purchased a unique residential investment property that cannot be reproduced anywhere in the region.

Avalon Pavilions offers high quality apartments with an extensive amenity package on an extraordinary site in a very tight rental market." stated Dunne.
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The seven-person Tri-State Investment Team, which in addition to Jeff Dunne and Chris McManus includes partner Jim Tully, specializes in the marketing of investment properties on behalf of owners in the suburban New York area and in secondary cities along the East Coast.

The Annual Borrower's Forum on Real Estate Mezzanine Loans sponsored by the Information Management Network will be held December 4 and 5 at the Roosev

The Annual Borrower's Forum on Real Estate Mezzanine Loans sponsored by the Information Management Network will be held December 4 and 5 at the Roosevelt Hotel, 45 East 45th Street in Manhattan. Over 375 mezzanine loan borrowers, investors and market participants attended last year.

Legal information available to RE execs on NY State Bar Association Web site - Technology - real estate executives - Brief Article

Real estate executives can now access valuable legal information and resources, including legal referral services and educational brochures, from the New York State Bar Association's recently redesigned Web site (http:www.nysba.org).

"Access to information is key in navigating our legal system," said Lorraine Power Tharp, president of the New York State Bar Association and a partner-in the Albany law firm, Whiteman Osterman & Hanna. "Our new site is a go-to source for comprehensive information about New York State law, legal services and procedures. We hope it will be a valuable tool for those seeking legal assistance, as well as for the attorneys who provide it."

Among the resources the site provides for the general public are:

* A lawyer referral and information service designed to help individuals find an attorney or other legal resources, including legal organizations and pro bono lawyers. For added convenience the information is organized by county.

* Educational brochures prepared by NYSBA members to provide basic information about specific areas of New York law. Topics include: buying and selling real estate; rights of residential owners and tenants; and the role of a lawyer in home purchase transactions; among many others.

* The Courts of New York, a guide to the state's court system with a glossary of legal terms, published as a public service by the Committee on Justice and the Community of the New York State Bar Association.

* Resources to aid victims of the World Trade Center disaster.

* Information on attorney-disciplinary procedures in New York State, the grievance process and how to file a complaint.

The new site also provides a wide array of resources and information for NYSBA members including: Ethics opinions, a practice management resource library, products and publications, free online legal research, CLE, calendar of events, opportunities for pro-bono service, jobs, legislative developments, and a sample letter of engagement, among others.

NYSBA partnered with Active Matter, a Fairfax, Va. Web development firm that provides strategic Web consulting and advanced Web solutions to associations and non-profit organizations across the country.

Finding Your Ideal Home

The purchase of a home is a exciting time in anyone's life, especially if it is your first home. Naturally you want to find the best home that suits all of your needs, and your budget. This is a purchase that requires planning on every aspect. The last thing you ever want to do is impulse buy a home, only to find out later that there are problems with the home or that it does not suit your needs.

OK. Now its list time. Sit down with pen and paper and start planning out what you need in a home. Don't be afraid to think big, but stay within reason. Remember if you think you need a pool and cabana but can only spend $150,000.00 chances are you will be disappointed. Things like number of rooms, or a fenced yard, or proximity to work and schools should be the priority at this stage. You can also make a list of things that you would like to have in a home. This is where you can let your imagination run wild.

Consider all the aspects of the area you are planning to move into. Talk to some of the people that live there. Ask if they like living in the area. Try to find out if there are any problems with it. The long-term residents are a great source of information, and if they are to be your neighbors, get to know them! Also be sure to find out about the schools and recreational programs in the area if you have children. Another good thing to look into is the kind of commute you can expect to deal with getting to work every day. If there are major congestion problems between the area and the home then you might want to consider a different location.

With these things in mind you can now begin to look at the available homes. When you have found something that suits your needs and wants, its time to start your homework on the home itself. Have a thorough inspection conducted to determine the structural integrity of the home and the condition of the plumbing and wiring. Also have the home inspected for mold, as mold can cause health problems and structural problems in the long term. Never forget; this is likely the largest purchase you will ever make. You can not afford to not be picky!

Interior Staging of Your Home

There is a big question that you must consider when selling your home. How to best showcase the distinct qualities of your home and create a warm and inviting environment that will impress even the most critical buyer. Staging is a process that should be considered on a room to room basis. No two rooms have the same features, its quite possible to find something to highlight in every room in your home. Is there a real "conversation piece" or element of the rooms that stands out to you? If so, roll with it and you should be able to come up with something very special.

Good things to do when preparing to stage your home are really the basics, cleaning out any clutter, ensuring that the house is sparkling clean and that there is a feeling of comfort, but not one that is too personal. This is why it's a good idea to remove overly personal knickknacks and items. The idea is that people feel as comfortable in your home as possible and at the same time be able to picture their belongings in the space.

A properly staged home will invite viewers in, and the properly highlighted aspects of the home will keep them interested and wanting to explore more of what your home has to offer. Pleasing smells are a big factor for many people. Comforting aromas such as cinnamon or the champion "fresh baked chocolate chip cookies" are great things to catch people's attention. Just remember, if you have cookie smell, buyers will want cookies to go with it!

Relocating to Scottsdale

Many years ago, the Scottsdale area what thought to be inhospitable and inhabitable. The land was mostly desert with little water or apparently, hope. How things have changed. Scottsdale has developed into a desert oasis that is one of the most popular resort destinations in the country with more than 8 million visitors every year. One of the first things that strikes visitors about this area is the verdant greenness of this city surrounded by barren desert. The evolution of this city has definitely created a lush oasis where there once was only sand and sagebrush.

Forming the economic backbone of scottsdale is the famous tourism industry. This area has become a global destination that features some of the best golf in the world. The active lifestyle is featured here year-round, with the golf, tennis, baseball and a number of other sporting activities. If you are an active individual then you will never be at a loss for great and interesting things to do in the Scottsdale area. This city is designed with this lifestyle in mind as parks feature prominently in the city's makeup.

Home in Scottsdale have been steadily appreciating for many years now and shows no sign or indication of slowing anytime soon. Not only is this a fantastic place to live, but its a wise place to invest in as well. With such rampant popularity, there is a huge call for vacation rental homes and condos. The tourism industry is a demanding industry and many tourists are demanding options other than hotels and resorts for their vacations.One nice aspect of a vacation rental in Scottsdale is the fact that it will pay for itself many times over in a short period of time while gaining equity quickly.

This is an ideal market to get into if you are looking to enhance your real estate portfolio while enjoying one of the most notoriously beautiful climates in the nation.

The Role of a Buyer's Agent

The Buyers Agent is a role that has become critical in the world of real estate. Primarily because home buyers have come to realize that it is a good idea to have someone who specializes in dealing with their needs as a buyer during the home purchase process.

For many years the entire home transaction was typically handled by one agent, or one type of agent. That is an agent who deals with both buyers and sellers. Much of the time the whole deal was seen to by the listing agent. While this is fine for the seller, buyers found that their unique needs were not being seen to completely. This is understandable as the agent's primary responsibility was to their original client, the seller of the home.

So, the role of the buyer's agent evolved. The buyer's agent is primarily concerned with the location of suitable homes for their clients. Sometimes there is quite a list of requirements and the time that is necessary to dedicate to such requests can be demanding. Once a suitable property is found, the buyer's agent commences the contracts and offers on the property. They see to all aspects of this process including the inspections of the home, and all other aspects of the sale. This role is pivotal as there are usually numerous steps to closing a home and they can be quite complex if one is not knowledgeable on the topic of real estate contracts. Usually the agent will also ensure that all of the buyer's subjects are met or dealt with in a acceptable manner.

Staging Your Home During the Winter Months

Staging your home for a quick sale can be a time consuming task, even more so during the winter months. Not only does one have to contend with other homes on the market, and numerous buyers, but the weather can present a problem in terms of access to the home and the cleanliness of the interior. In some areas this is not really a big deal. Places like Arizona and Florida do not have to contend with snow and ice. In order to ensure your home shows to its full capacity during the winter months, here are some good things to do.

Access to a home is crucial during the winter. Sidewalks and driveways can easily become danger areas as ice and snow can turn even the nicest yard into a skating rink. Its a daily task to ensure that the driveways and walkways are clear and safe. Keep a good supply of rock salt or another de-icing agent on hand. The last thing you want is a prospective buyer to slip on their way to the door. Remember if people have to trudge through knee deep snow to reach your front door, it won't look good for you as a seller. Keep the driveway shoveled and de-iced at all times. Its also a good idea to clear snow off the eaves and edges of the roof. Make sure there are no dangers to the visitors to your home.

Keeping the inside of a home clean while the weather is cold and snowy presents a different challenge. This is compounded if your home is a popular showing. With numerous people coming in during a day, its a great idea to have plastic shoe covers to help stop the problem of snow and dirt getting tracked into your home. During the cold months is a great idea to keep the house warm and inviting. If you have a fireplace, light it. The ambience and warmth will help visitors to stay longer and explore all that your home has to offer. Ideally you would like your home to be as inviting and interesting as possible. The winter months give a homeowner the opportunity to showcase their homes during the dreary winter weather. It's a chance to turn your home into a winter palace that will interest buyers from the moment they see it.

Tips For Building a Log Home

Log homes have a long and valued tradition in the United States and other countries, and despite our modern age, they've never really gone out of style. In fact, they're more popular today than ever. In our busy stressful lives, more and more people want a first home, vacation home, or retirement home that's off on a piece of land of their own, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. If this sounds appealing to you, and you're seriously thinking of taking the plunge and building a log home, let's talk about some tips that can save you time and money.

First off, buy the land on which you're going to build. Do this before you make a commitment to a log home manufacturer or decide on a particular design. Often the lay of the land will dictate the best way to go about building a home on it. (And going against the lay of the land will only cost you money and trouble.)

Second, have a realistic idea of how much the total project will cost before you sign up for a log home package. What they quote you for the kit and what the actual costs will be are going to be a lot different. To get a feel for how much more you'll end up paying once labor and non-kit necessities are included, talk to builders, contractors, and other homeowners who have built a log home. Don't be afraid to ask the manufacturers how much actual costs tend to run in your area.

Whether you're browsing kits or planning to have an architect design your dream home, keep a scrapbook of pictures and clippings in the months leading up to your purchase. Trying to say everything you want in words can be difficult, but if you can point to a picture and say "do the kitchen like that and the bathroom like that..." you'll be more likely to get the home of your dreams. Don't be afraid to spend months in the planning process, considering everything, before actually committing to a design.

Before you buy, check references. Look for a log home manufacturer that is a member in an organization such as the Log Homes Council. This means they have a comprehensive construction manual and have agreed to hold up to certain log-grading standards.

Make sure you've taken care of financing before starting construction (and make sure that financing will cover the cost of the whole project--there are too many tales of partially finished log homes out there that have been abandoned because the erstwhile builders ran out of money). Some home buyers with disposable income will start the process paying out of pocket and then try to get a construction loan when they run out of cash. This is a bad idea, since lenders usually refuse to loan money on construction that is in progress.

Make sure you understand the manufacturer's terms of purchase and that your financing covers those terms. Especially pay attention to the time period of the agreement (and what happens if you exceed the time limit). Examine the refund and warranty policies.

Keep these tips in mind as you think about your future log home. Plan copiously and don't rush. This way you'll be more likely to survive the building process and get the home of your dreams.

Searching For Benidorm Propertry

The growth in Benidorm has been occurring at a rapid rate. There are many reasons for this. It ranges from people building a vacation home to those that are using the property as an investment to use as rental or lease property.

Here are some tips for buying property in Benidorm, Spain. First do your research. Look into potential areas of growth as well as locating the hot spots. Look at the trends and determine where people are buying the most property or which section is the most likely to be developed so as to attract the most people if you are looking at investment property. Look at the location and talk to local realtors to determine where the best spot will be.

Make sure that you go and look at several areas on your own to determine what you view to be the best investment. Look into making multiple trips or making multiple stops on a single trip in order to help you in your decision making process.

Make sure you know how much you can spend when you are looking into getting these properties. Determine your limits and figure out how much house or rental property that you will be able to maintain. You do not want to lose your primary property in the process as it will in most cases be used as collateral.

When you do decide to go and visit different locations on your visit to Spain make sure that you use a real estate agent. They will be able to get you in and out of properties easier as well as be able to set up multiple visits in one day. If you do not speak Spanish, be sure to locate an agent that speaks your language.

Make sure that you have an attorney who is familiar with real estate law in Spain to make your purchase go smoother. This will make your Benidorm property purchase smooth and easy.

Determine If You Will Rent Or Own In Benidorm

Make sure that if you will be renting during your visit that you do book far enough in advance so as to secure the property that you want to use while you are there. Make sure you know when the peak seasons are on the Costa Blanca so as to determine what will work best for you.

If you want to own and do not want to live in n area that is very busy you may want to consider looking into one of the outlying areas of Benidorm.

Accessible Home Design

“Accessibility”, as it pertains to the design of buildings, is a term that most of us are somewhat familiar with. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (the “ADA”) mandates that most buildings used by the public be designed for ease of use by persons with many kinds of disabilities. We’ve all seen accessible parking spaces, ramps, and washrooms in retails stores, airports, and office buildings.

Homes, too, should incorporate design features and products that are easier to use by people of all ages and abilities. It’s a concept called “universal design”. For most people however, the image of an accessible home is one of fluorescent lights, wheelchair ramps, and white porcelain plumbing fixtures – more like a clinic than a home.

But an accessible home needn’t be like that at all. In fact, many design features and fixtures that work well for accessibility are also well suited for just about anyone. Accessible design is often just plain good design - a well-integrated accessible home design can and should extend a home’s usability through more than just one phase of family life.

Start In The Kitchen

Making a house more accessible isn’t particularly difficult or expensive. You might even have some universal design principals at work in your kitchen now.

“Side-by-side” refrigerators are more usable by a person in a wheelchair - unlike a unit with the freezer mounted on top. Inside the refrigerator, sliding shelves eliminate the need to reach all the way to the back to retrieve what you want.

A very common disabling condition associated with aging is reduced physical strength, which can make cooking in a large pot difficult if it has to be lifted into and out of the sink to fill with water. Instead of a standard kitchen faucet, install a “goose-neck” spout that allows the pot to be filled without lifting it into the sink. And place the cooktop nearby so that the pot can be easily slid across the countertop to the burner – no lifting required.

The latest in dishwasher design is the “drawer” type like those from Fisher & Paykel and KitchenAid. Drawer dishwashers don’t require as much bending over to load and unload and because there’s no door in the way, they’re more easily used from a sitting position.

Staying Home

As the American population ages and as housing prices escalate, many homeowners are trying to stay in their homes longer. Too often however, family homes are primarily designed for young families and become rapidly obsolete when they can no longer provide the convenience and safety that older citizens need. It’s an unfortunate result of a “disposable home” mentality – but that’s a topic for a future article!

A few simple design changes can make almost any home better able to support changing lifestyles, as ease of use and safety become important issues. One of the easiest is the installation of blocking for grab bars at appropriate places in the bath when the house is built. These simple and inexpensive structural supports are used for the future installation of grab bars, which provide increased safety in showers, tubs, and at toilets.

Another easy change is using “lever-type” door hardware - popular because of its looks and ease of use but also a requirement for persons with reduced strength or restricted mobility. Widening the doors a few inches can also extend the useable life of the house. Standard thirty-inch doors aren’t wide enough for wheelchairs and can be difficult for anyone with trouble walking. A thirty-six inch wide door solves both problems and makes moving furniture a lot easier, too.

Ups and Downs

Stairs are the biggest obstacle to making any home accessible. Typically, a fully accessible home must be all on one level – no stairs, step-downs, or even door thresholds. But a one-level home is more costly to build than a two-story and may require a larger property.

A better solution is a residential elevator. Sound expensive? Compared to the cost of a one-level home on a larger lot, an elevator is a very reasonable expense. It only adds about sixty square feet to the floor plan, and enables easy access to the first floor, the second floor, and the basement. Even better, only the elevator shaft need be installed now – the actual elevator equipment doesn’t have to be in place until it’s needed, maybe many years down the road.

Easier Than You Might Think

In most cases, accessible or universal design isn’t much more than good design sense and a desire to make houses usable by everyone – and isn’t that a worthy goal for any house, regardless of the current occupants? Our houses are sometimes a little too disposable – we can easily make them less so by making them more functional for a wide range of homeowners with and without disabilities. We’ll all benefit from design that helps people stay in their homes longer.

Live in Spain - Enjoy Life

Would you believe that you could be looking at pictures of new homes in a catalog one day and just a few weeks later that one of these homes could be built for you from several boxes of materials? That is just how over 100,000 people built new homes across the United States during the period between 1908 and 1940. This offered affordable housing to people who would otherwise not have been able to own a home of their own. Also, when the boxes arrived at your door the home could be assembled and completed that day!

Many people received the Sears catalog and would look through more than a hundred different models to find the one that would suit their needs. They ranged in price from about $400 for a three room model without a bathroom to over $3,000 for a seven room home with oak doors, shutters, and a granite bath tub.

These homes were referred to as “kit houses” and were very popular during this time. Sears offered a payment plan, a cross between a credit card and a mortgage, so that people could live in the house while they were still paying for it. You could also pay extra to have a construction supervisor assist you with putting the kit together.

Other companies like Montgomery Ward and Aladdin also sold homes by mail, but Sears was the most well known and sold more than the others. This was seen as an affordable and quick way to build a house for your family. Entire neighborhoods across the United States consist of these homes. Sometimes a company needed housing for its workers and ordered a dozen or more at a time. Water and sewer lines were connected and the new neighborhood could be completed within a week of receiving the materials.

Today there are still kit homes available from many companies that specialize in them. They are primarily used as vacation homes or cabins. Many communities prohibit manufactured homes in certain areas of town because of the belief that they will bring down property values.

Sears destroyed many records over the years so it is now impossible to find all of the homes. There are people who have made a hobby of locating them and listing them as historic buildings. Many times someone currently living in a kit home is not even aware that their home is of that type.

This is another part of the history of home building across the United States. The American dream of owning a home can take on many different forms and this is just one of them.

Kit Houses - Building a Home in Less Than One Day

Would you believe that you could be looking at pictures of new homes in a catalog one day and just a few weeks later that one of these homes could be built for you from several boxes of materials? That is just how over 100,000 people built new homes across the United States during the period between 1908 and 1940. This offered affordable housing to people who would otherwise not have been able to own a home of their own. Also, when the boxes arrived at your door the home could be assembled and completed that day!

Many people received the Sears catalog and would look through more than a hundred different models to find the one that would suit their needs. They ranged in price from about $400 for a three room model without a bathroom to over $3,000 for a seven room home with oak doors, shutters, and a granite bath tub.

These homes were referred to as “kit houses” and were very popular during this time. Sears offered a payment plan, a cross between a credit card and a mortgage, so that people could live in the house while they were still paying for it. You could also pay extra to have a construction supervisor assist you with putting the kit together.

Other companies like Montgomery Ward and Aladdin also sold homes by mail, but Sears was the most well known and sold more than the others. This was seen as an affordable and quick way to build a house for your family. Entire neighborhoods across the United States consist of these homes. Sometimes a company needed housing for its workers and ordered a dozen or more at a time. Water and sewer lines were connected and the new neighborhood could be completed within a week of receiving the materials.

Today there are still kit homes available from many companies that specialize in them. They are primarily used as vacation homes or cabins. Many communities prohibit manufactured homes in certain areas of town because of the belief that they will bring down property values.

Sears destroyed many records over the years so it is now impossible to find all of the homes. There are people who have made a hobby of locating them and listing them as historic buildings. Many times someone currently living in a kit home is not even aware that their home is of that type.

This is another part of the history of home building across the United States. The American dream of owning a home can take on many different forms and this is just one of them.

Plano Texas Real Estate - How to Find a Competent Professional to Sell or Buy Your Home

If you are looking to buy a home, there are hundreds of properties in the Plano Texas real estate listings. The problem is that there are almost as many real estate companies in Plano Texas as there are listings and choosing the right company can be difficult.

Whether you are buying or selling, choosing the right Realtor® can save you time and money. In fact, choosing a Realtor® rather than the average real estate agent can make all the difference in the world. The designation is further explained below. Looking at certifications and experience, as well as asking the right questions can help, as well.

Plano Texas real estate is in high demand. On a list compiled by Money magazine of the best places to live in the United States, Plano ranked number 11 in 2006. It has been designated as the most affluent city in the United States, with the lowest poverty rate for a city of its size, and the city enjoys a very low unemployment rate.

With more than 25 different major corporations headquartered in Plano, including Triad Hospitals, Texas Instruments, JC Penney and Frito-lay, most residents find that they can live and work in the same city. But, for those who work in Dallas, Plano offers the Red Line, part of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) public transportation system, with stations downtown and at Parker Road.

Appealing homes in the Plano Texas real estate listings cover a wide variety of architectural styles and price ranges. From multi-million dollar mansions to modest town homes, the Plano Texas real estate market caters to people in many different income brackets.

Easy commutes, major employers and beautiful homes are just some of the reasons for the large number of real estate companies in Plano Texas. Outdoor activities, public amenities, museums, petting zoos, good schools, a major University and an active night life round out the Plano experience and keep the Plano Texas real estate market popular.

The best real estate companies in Plano Texas should ask you about more than your price range. They should try to help you find your “dream home” if you are buying. If you are selling they should be able to help you get the best price in the shortest possible time, with the least amount of hassle.

They should be familiar with the neighborhoods, the schools and nearby activities. If you are selling, ask them how they will determine the asking price. A Comparative Market Analysis or CMA will show the market value of similar homes in your area and is one of the best tools for setting a price.

If you are buying Plano Texas real estate, find out what the agent knows about the area. You may want a home close to the world famous Southfork Ranch, which offers public tours of the property used as the setting for the Dallas TV series.

You might want to be near the Heritage Farmstead instead, where history “comes to life”. You might want to be near the Arts Center. You may want playgrounds and parks for the kids. You might want to be down the street from Billy Bob’s Texas, a country music honky-tonk, recognized by the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music as the best country music nightclub in the world.

Whatever your interests, if you want to find the best piece of Plano Texas real estate for you, then you want a Realtor® that is concerned about your interests and desires.

One way to filter through the real estate companies in Plano Texas, or the surrounding area, is to look for a Realtor®. You may think that all real estate agents are Realtors®, as the names have come to be used interchangeably, but those who display a sign designating them as a Realtor® are members of the National Association of Realtors®.

While both real estate agents and Realtors® are licensed to negotiate and transact a sale, Realtors® are experts in the real estate industry. They are well educated professionals with more experience and expertise than the average real estate agent. The designation separates and sets them above the rest.

Many of the agents who work for real estate companies in Plano Texas and the other Dallas suburbs work limited hours. You should know how easy it will be for you to get in touch with your agent, when to expect a phone call and when to expect results.

Open House Expectations

Before you hold an open house, it is wise to discuss with your real estate agent what you should expect from an open house. Some agents feel that the purpose of a virtual tour is to give a potential buyer the opportunity to tour the home on line instead of visiting it in person. Clearly for any potential buyer visiting your home in person is much more helpful. I have seen more buyers either express their disappointment or their surprise when they find what the virtual tour didn’t expose.

In today’s market sellers often feel that every possible approach to gaining exposure for their home should be exhausted, including open houses. I believe that there are certain advantages to having a public open house.

If you decide to host an open house, here are some tips to make it worth your time:

If you are going to host an open house, advertise it during the week leading up to the day. There is an exception to this rule. If a buyer has visited your home on a Thursday with his agent and has decided it is one he may want to consider, a last minute decision to host open house that weekend may give him reason to make an offer on your home fearing that he could lose the opportunity should someone else come along. Even if the open house has not been advertised in the local paper, your agent can put it into the MLS and the interested buyer’s agent will surely let them know about it. As well, any interested buyer will likely drive through the neighborhood while they contemplate making an offer on your home.

Be flexible for the very likely possibility that a nosy neighbor will visit the home. While the chances are not great that they are looking on behalf of someone they know, it is possible. Having a sign-in sheet might keep those who are less bold from coming into your home. A sign-in sheet is a good idea anyway because any feedback is good and your agent can call the visitors to see what they thought, assuming they entered correct information on the sign-in sheet. Again, set your expectations accordingly.

Condensing your open house time to an hour and a half or two hours has its benefits. Obviously, you aren’t as inconvenienced. If a potential buyer has read the ad and is interested, they will make time to visit the home. There is also a better chance that more than one visitor will be there at the same time which could make the home appear more appealing and create a sense of urgency. There is nothing etched in stone that says an open house has to be from 1-4.

Commercial Real Estate Credit

CREDIT AND ITS IMPACT ON INVESTMENT LOANS

The status of your credit plays a major role in helping you to obtain commercial real estate financing. It helps to determine how much financing for which you will qualify and what kind of an interest rate you will get on the loan. Unfortunately, most people do not pay attention to or monitor their credit files on a regular basis. If you are going to invest in real estate, this is an absolute “must.” What is good credit?

Good credit for a commercial real estate investor usually means about twelve to fifteen “trade lines” of seasoned credit in a credit report, with several real estate loans either showing as active or having been paid off successfully. For example, car loans, current mortgages, and charge cards which are at least two years old and show no late payments. Again, for real estate investors, successful maintenance of real estate loans is a “must.”

Now granted, not everyone is perfect (in fact, very few are!) and we all have our ups and downs, so don’t be worried if you have a few 30-day late payments or some old collection accounts on your credit report. Today, credit reporting systems use a complex method of evaluating credit patterns which is distilled into and issued as a “credit score.” The higher the number, the less risk there is that a borrower is likely to “default” on a loan.

While this process, called “credit scoring,” is in full use for residential loans, the commercial lenders are only now starting to adopt it. There is a trend to use them by certain non-bank lenders for loans less than $2,000,000 or so.

Most underwriters (the people who would approve your loan) and underwriting systems that review your track record are looking for trends. In other words, they’re looking for a history or recent pattern of good or bad credit. Isolated incidents should not affect your ability to get a loan.

How Can You Repair Your Credit?

In most cases, a simple letter or phone call to the credit card company or business that originally gave you the “credit” can put you on the right track to having that “scar” removed from your report. It may not even be necessary though, based upon your recent credit patterns!

Sometimes they’ll require you to pay-off the balance of your debt or send in a letter explaining why you were late with your payment. Don’t pay any creditor off without talking to a qualified professional financial advisor or mortgage consultant first!

However, if you have a history of recent late payments, you’re probably going to have to let time take its course (although there might be trick or two here you can use).

There are a million scenarios I could review, but I think it’s important you walk-away with two key thoughts from this: 1) Your credit can make or break your ability to acquire a loan; and 2) you must know what is on your credit report, your credit score, and begin to examine and, if necessary, repair any credit problems immediately.

What Role Does Your Investment History Play?

Your investment property loan history or “track record” will play an important role in whether or not a lender will want to finance your next property. Investment properties, and their respective loans, are often looked upon as a higher credit risk than if you were buying your own home. So, if you have a proven track record of successfully selling or managing investment properties loans, with no late payments, then you are more likely to get your loan approved.

The bottom line is that “credit” or, more accurately, “credit history” is a major determinant in your ability to finance commercial real estate. Pay close attention to this area of your finances if you intend to be an active investor and manage your credit as you would one of your properties: Actively.

Will Real Estate Prices Rebound?

After years of hyper appreciation, the last 18 months has seen a major cool down in the real estate market. Given this change in direction, will real estate prices rebound?

Well, of course they will. Real estate has always been viewed as a good long-term investment. Nothing has occurred that changes that basic assumption. The short-term situation is a bit rocky, but it is only because we are going through a correction after watching the real estate bubble expand and expand for six years. Predictably, the air is coming out of the bubble, but at least it did not burst.

The more relevant question for people in the real estate market is not whether prices will rebound, but when? Ah, here we enter the realm of the mystic. The Harry Potter of real estate if you will.

The bold faith truth is nobody has a clue when they will rebound. On the positive side, we are starting to see things even out a bit across much of the country. On the negative side, financing for real estate purchase is tightening up as lender begin to realize they probably should not be giving money out like candy on Halloween. In the case of subprime lenders, the game is up for many of them and bankruptcy court looms.

At its financial heart, the real estate market is just a product market. Many people fail to take this into account when sizing up real estate opportunities. A home is a place you live in and raise a family. When it comes time to buy or sell, however, it is really no different than buying or selling a car. Yes, you had some good times with it, but now it something to be moved.

If you can wrap you mind around the idea a home is a product, you have a better chance of predicting when prices will rebound. Why? Well, it all comes down to inventory. When there is more inventory than demand, prices drop. When demand out paces inventory, prices go up.

At the moment, there is an absolute ton of inventory on the market and only modest demand. During the booming real estate market, developers where building homes as fast as they could. As the market cooled off, developers kept building like there was no problem. This has resulted in a glut of properties in most cities and high population areas. Developers are now offering very attractive deals to move the homes, but the market will not rebound till most of these are gone.

It is important to understand that inventory is important, but the number of houses sold is less so. If you see reports that the number of homes being sold is picking up, it is good news. That being said, it may not be great news. Such reports can be misleading because they do not take into account the reason a home is sold. If more homes are being moved because sellers are cutting prices, it does not mean that prices are on the rise again.

Will home prices rise again? Of course. You just need to be patient and watch the inventory.

Scottsdale, Arizona - Where the Living is Easy

Scottsdale Arizona, is internationally renowned as a major resort destination despite barely squeaking into the top 100 of U.S. cities in terms of population. No Virginia, size is not everything.

Although its nickname is "the West"s Most Western Town" I have to say that really is a misnomer. In fact, construction of new horse corrals was all but banned back in the 70's. Call me old fashioned but to be "Western" I think horses should factor into the equation somewhere. The only re-shoeing going on in Scottsdale today is a trophy-wife exchanging her Blahnicks for Jimmy Choos!

That being said, Scottsdale truly is a treasure. It has been written that in terms of entertainment and culture, Scottsdale ranks at #3 behind Los Angeles and New York. As someone who has lived, at length, in all three places, I have to say that Scottsdale is most definitely on the ascendancy; indeed it may already have surpassed L.A., in this humble scribe's opinion. Certainly, theatre, dining and entertainment are L.A.'s equal, but housing costs are much lower, and the traffic here in Scottsdale is a breeze compared to the grid-lock that L.A. has become.

It is also the reason that many wealthy people, and in fact several celebrities, have chose Scottsdale for their second home. Spectacular estate homes in Scottsdale are available for a fraction of the cost of comparable homes in LaLa land. Of course, many are of new construction with all the attendant modern conveniences that would be expensive retrofits in Los Angeles. Plus we still have abundant land available here in Scottsdale, a situation not available in L.A. for many years.

Scottsdale is also well served by its own airport as well as Phoenix International Sky Harbor Airport just minutes away. Of course, the northernmost boundary of Scottsdale abuts Carefree,(which also has its own airport) even so it is still a scant 30 minute drive to downtown Phoenix.

Believe it or not, when the town of Scottsdale was incorporated in 1951 it was just one square mile. Today, it covers around 184 square miles.

As testament to its status as one of the premier golf and tourist destinations in the world, Scottsdale is home to the annual FBR Open Golf Tour, the most attended PGA event on the tour.

It is also home to the world famous Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction, plus a host of lesser auctions staged at the same time, such as Russo and Steele and Kruse.

While it is true that it can be an expensive place to live, it should be remembered that the older parts are quite affordable and are enjoying something of a renaissance. One of the benefits of the cooling real estate market, is that for some who felt the ship had sailed forever in 2004 and 2005, there is a second chance to grab a piece of the dream.

Whether your interest is cars, horses, museums, art, theatre, entertainment, shopping, nightlife or golf, there is something for everyone in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Email-Lead Grabber – A Perfect Tool To Increase Your Conversion Rate Of Online Leads

A recent survey concluded that 90% of all real estate agents don't respond to their online inquiries.

Prospective online clients generally collect information for a potential purchase. They are accustomed to collect information freely but reluctant to provide valid contact information. Because of this many real estate agents get frustrated and they consider online leads as a waste of time.

This is a huge mistake as a Forrester Research shows that “The Realtors who respond promptly to an online inquiry, have 10 times greater chance of signing the prospect as a client.” The startling truth is unless you are constantly following-up on prospects, you are literally throwing away your rolls of money!

Now the problem is how to follow continually-up with interested prospects?

It is not practically possible to call or email every single lead.

Imagine, a simple yet powerful, automated tool that would work for 24 x 7 turning your online prospects into lifelong, loyal customers. Fortunately we have developed email-Lead Grabber to make your dreams come true.

email-Lead Grabber (previously known as Web Response Grabber) automates processing of email leads. It automatically downloads email leads submitted through online forms and various 3rd party websites, extracts specified information and transfers it instantly to your contact manager. It also schedules activities and sends auto response emails.

The realtors who used our software to respond to online inquiries agreed that they are able to reach leads faster than before get more prospects signing up with them than others in the other real estate industry . email-Lead Grabber enables realtors to engage with prospects in an automated, timely and effective manner. It really is that simple and it is a definite competitive advantage for increasing customer satisfaction.

Flipping Destin Real Estate

Florida is a fantastic place to seek out properties to flip. Not only is the real estate market here booming, but there are numerous properties that can see a great ROI with just a little TLC. Flipping homes in Destin is much like flipping homes anywhere else with the added bonus of having the amazing reputation of Florida to back it up. This is simply one of the best places in the world to live. What the rest of the world calls summer we call winter, and the summers? Those are something else entirely.

Smart investors know that Florida is one of the hottest real estate markets in the world. However, most don't realize the drawing power of areas other than those with the major tourist attractions. It is difficult to break into the real estate market in areas like Orlando and Tampa. Destin, on the other hand is home to a comparatively inexpensive, but just as valuable host of homes. With beaches that stretch for miles and crystal blue ocean, this area is a tropical dreamland.

As with any home, its a good idea to assess the amenities and aspects of the home that could use some upgrading. A little bit of work can yield a lot of results if done correctly. Cosmetic touches like new paint and landscaping also translate into profit nicely. Considering the interior, it never hurts to install new appliances and redo some floors. Typically the flooring in homes is the most likely suspect for being out of date or in need of replacement. High traffic and years of cleaning solutions can wear heavily on any surface and replacing the floors can add new life to a home like nothing else.

Everything A Real Estate Agent Doesn't Want You To Know - Who Has Control Over Your Deal Anyway?

Okay home buyers and sellers, It’s that time of year again! Time to think about doing what people always do, year after year, in the same predictable way as always. What is that you ask?

Home sellers will call real estate agents to come out to their house to sell them on signing a long-term listing contract with a 50/50 chance of getting hooked up with an under-performing, part time quasi-lazy sales agent who sells real estate (maybe) to "augment their income". That’s right, home sellers all over America will be duped into dumb deals with fast talking agents who will simply throw their listing into the MLS (multiple listing service) and hope another agent gets lucky and sells it for them. The same old stuff, year after year…

And home buyers too… they will call real estate companies to "inquire about homes" and end up spilling their financial guts out to some para professional, part time real estate sales person (who typically "legally" represents sellers and not buyers) and from there it goes downhill in favor of the agent. That’s right! The agent will have you sign enormous amounts of disclosures and other documents in the process of finding all they need to know about your financial wherewithal to buy a home, information that should really be kept confidential until the (right strategic time for the buyer), not the agent. Nope, that’s not how the real estate people play home buyers. They send them to "friendly" loan officers to get pre-qualified for a home loan and by the time you go out to look at houses, the agents know way more than they should about you, your numbers and your buying strategies. The result? You will pay several more thousands of dollars then you should… money you should have, could have and would have kept in your pocket if you only knew how to play the game. But you don’t and they do and you lose, whether you realize it or not, every time.

And you can forget about the crooked little buyer broker too… that’s a scam if I ever saw one and fodder for a future article. I will say this about buyer reps: how can a real estate agent sign a listing contract to represent the "best interests" of a home seller and a buyer rep agreement to represent "the best interest" of a buyer at the same time? They can’t unless the buyer rep does not represent sellers whatsoever. Even then, it’s a little shaky for the buyers.

What’s the result of this mess? Home sellers waste time and money, buyers spend to much money and the real estate agents earn big fats commission checks whenever they get around to having someone else sell a home for them.

There is so much home buyers and sellers don’t know that I had to write two books, one for buyers and one for sellers called "Everything A Real Estate Agent Doesn’t Want You To Know" to cover their bases effectively. There are so many problems lurking in the real estate system that it will simply blow you away… and it costs consumers billions of unnecessary dollars each year playing the game according to the stupid rules WRITTEN by "licensed sales agents". Now, what’s wrong with that picture? I’ll tell you what is wrong with that picture…

CAVEAT EMPTOR or buyer beware. Whether you are a home seller or a home buyer you better know what you are doing because if you get screwed, well, that is your own fault. How could that be you ask? Because the NAR (national association of realtors) is one of the largest special interest groups in the nation and they have squeezed congress to write real estate laws in their favor. Which means, if you make a bad decision in a real estate deal, shame on you, that’s your bad, not theirs. You should have known how to play the game. That’s fair isn’t it? They have real estate licenses… but you are on your own…. That’s fair!

Arizona Real Estate And The Importance Of Remodeling

Being a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage and after viewing so many homes with many clients, remodeling your home may be of paramount importance. In and out of so many homes, people seem to want the newer, more modern style.

Many homes in the Scottsdale, Arizona area are getting older and there is hardly any land left to build new homes. There is plenty of land in Arizona to build new homes, but most of the building is going up on the outskirts of Phoenix in cities such as Surprise, Queen Creek, Casa Grande, and Anthem.

The people that want to buy in Scottsdale are not going to be able to buy a brand new home unless they knock the home down with a bulldozer and start from scratch. If you are a home owner, here are some suggestions that may help increase your re-sale-ability. Granite counter tops in the kitchen would probably be your number one. Try to make sure that the granite you pick out compliments the paint in the kitchen. If the paint in the kitchen is out-dated, you may want to consider re-painting the kitchen, and doing granite counter tops.

When discussing flooring, it seems every one prefers tile over any other type of flooring. Tile in the bathrooms and kitchen would be a great place to start. The really big twenty four inch tile is more popular than small tile. When thinking about doing tile in your home, ask a professional tile expert about which tile would look best. There are so many minor cosmetic things a home owner can do to make the property look more desirable.

So many homes appearances are absolutely destroyed by paint issues. People get bored, or they think they are professional painters, and decide to paint a room bright purple, or pink, or green. There is no problem with painting a room a color you like, but if you decide to sell the home, have all the walls re-painted back to the original colors of the home. Paint is such a cosmetic item, and such an easy fix. If possible, try to have the entire house one color such as white or light beige. It may not be a good idea to have dramatic colors through out the home. Your taste in style is probably not the same as the people that are coming to view your home that may possibly purchase your home.

Light fixtures are a relatively easy fix. Out dated or old light fixtures can be easily replaced, and are relatively cheap. Old corroded faucets in the kitchen and bathrooms is also a relatively easy fix, and not too expensive. Electrical outlet covers, probably the easiest of all, can be replaced extremely easily. If they are cracked or missing, take the extra time to replace them.

When someone purchases a home in Arizona, ninety nine percent of the time they are going to do an inspection on your home. When the buyer does an inspection on your home, their inspector is going to notice every small detail. Many reports include problems such as slow draining sinks and bath tubs, electrical outlet covers cracked or missing, light bulbs out, doors do not open and shut properly, cracked tiles on roof and many other minor issues. The fewer things an inspector puts on a report, the better that is for the seller.

Major remodeling projects might include adding a pool, or a basketball court, or a putting green, or even a playground type structure for the kids. A pool would be an extremely lovely upgrade for a home in Arizona with out a pool. It is so hot in Arizona, and homes with pools are not as common as one would think.

Unfortunately, no guarantees can be made that any of the above mentioned items will increase your property value, or guarantee that your home will sell. There are never guarantees when discussing Real Estate. The above mentioned items may or may not help when selling your home. Do not attempt any of the above projects without consulting with a licensed, insured, trained professional first.

Agents And Brokers Ad Value Estimator Buttons To Their Real Estate Web Sites

Why real estate agents are adding things like "value estimating buttons" to their web pages.

For a short time, some of the large “display” and “lead generation” real estate sites have tried to reduce valuing a home to a programmers equation. The surfer enters an address or some other identifying data, and voila! - a value appears. Unfortunately the value is often very incorrect. So, why are real estate agents adding “Value Estimator” buttons to their pages?

The addition of this type of "resource" to agent web pages is inevitable. As technology evolves and as agents learn more about how to use technology and as they learn more about how to provide information to the surfing public, they will make changes to their own web pages that will encourage surfers to visit. The move from the large real estate site has already begun. In April of 2007, the Northwest MLS and its 27,000 member real estate licensees will stop feeding their listings to sites like Realtor dot Com.

Agents are learning how to make their pages more effective by optimizing for search engines, advertising their domains, and by providing better local content than the conglomerates. "Value Estimate" buttons are a current example of these lessons learned. An “estimating formula” can be put on any web page for a “generic” valuation. It incorporates, assessment (each town can be near or far from market value), recent sales, recent sale to list price, days on the market, etc. The value is different for each town (and each agent) because the variables are different and are valued differently by agents.

Most agents and brokers have a similar formula in mind when they speak in general terms about a property. Because they are in their market on a daily basis, they can easily modify the weight that the variables have on their formula. Some of the variables they consider are list to sell percentage, days on the market, and assessed value when it is current. When the larger conglomerate sites started putting "Instant Value" estimates on their pages, agents and brokers looked for a way to provide a similar estimation equation.

Whether they use one they have developed themselves or use one of the free ones that are available, agents and brokers are adopting the technology that surfers are looking for. The struggle for most of the larger sites is, that evolving technology is available to everyone, and even the smallest companies often have very useful and informative local websites.

Many surfers are also starting to appreciate the ability of a local web page to provide much more relevant and current local information about listings, taxes, schools, and businesses. Although many people use real estate as an excuse to surf the net, real estate has become one of the items consumers expect to be able to research when they get serious about buying or selling. Agents and brokers are quickly providing new information and improving their sites in order to make themselves more useful to consumers. Many brokers and agents often surf other company pages for technology ideas as well as "pocket listings".

Because real estate will always be a "one-off" purchase item, mathematical equations or computer programs will never produce a very accurate value. Market conditions, property conditions, location, social prejudice or preference, and many other variables make correctly valuing a property more than math. Equations are only as good as their variables - ask any economist, statistician, or pollster. And everyone knows (even if they don't admit it) that there are unseen preferences for location that are only understood by humans.

But, the surfing public likes to see things like the "Instant Value Estimator" button on a site, so agents and brokers are adding them. For every value that is near the target price of a home, there are many times that many values which are completely incorrect, and until computers become intuitive, most intelligent consumers will consult a human that knows the values in their town better than the button. As long as the "Value Buttons" aren't taken too seriously, they can be fun to use.

There are many other unique things on local agent pages that help consumers. Things like Lava Flow Maps, Pollution Reports, or explanations of the difference in a Septic versus a Sewer system are a few examples. Local real estate pages are usually the best source for real estate information, and agents are working hard to improve them for consumers.

So have fun with the button. And don't worry when thousands of agents and brokers pull out of the big sites. It is a natural evolution of the Internet, because agents are able to provide better resources on their own pages for consumers locally.

REO A Great Way To Buy Real Estate At Below Market Value

REO property is one of the best ways to buy real estate at below market value. REO means real estate owned by a bank. When the owner of a property does not pay their mortgage the bank that holds the mortgage sends a notice to the owner of the property. This notice lets the owner of the property know that the property is delinquent. Delinquent means all the payments are not up to date. If a property stay delinquent for a significant amount of time witch can be from one to three month, the bank will take possession of the property.

This time can vary from state to state. The process of the bank taking possession of a property is known as foreclosure. A foreclosure property is put up for sale in an auction known as a Public Sale. If the property does not sell or is selling for too low the bank will bid on it and keep possession of the property. After a property goes through this complex process it becomes a REO property. You can buy these REO properties from the bank. Since banks hates to holding properties because they are responsible for the taxes, they will more that likely love to sell a REO property to you.

Most banks have a list of their REO properties, if you ask they will show or give you their list to you to look over. When it comes to buying REO properties do your homework, see how much work you will have to do to the property to bring it up to good standers. One last thing when it comes to REO property is remembering that the bank dose not want this property, in this case you can usually get the bank to sell it for less than the first price they tell you. Buying a REO does take a bit more work but it will payoff in the long run.

Home Prices Continue to Fall

The housing market has seen better days. After much debate, it seems as if we are finally in agreement on this fact.

But the one thing that analysts, economists, industry insiders and regular homeowners are not in agreement on is whether the market will get better or if we are headed for some more rough patches before things get better again.

Well, the current numbers that are coming in right now are making this fairly difficult to determine.

Its mixed reviews and numbers all throughout the nation’s housing market. In the most recent report, we find that home prices are sliding yet sales numbers are decreasing, a predictable catch-22.

Home prices have to fall in order to attract buyers into the market, and these home prices declining only leads to a further declining market.

Basically it’s a no-win situation until we start to see everything look up, and no one knows when that will be. A February 27, 2007 article by Chris Isidore of CNNMoney.com, “Home price slump continues,” discusses some recent data that has come in about our housing market. “Housing prices continued to fall in the latest reading on the battered real estate market released Tuesday from an industry trade group. The median price of an existing home sold in January was down 3.1 percent from a year earlier, according to the National Association of Realtors.”

The reason why these price drops are so concerning and headline warranting is because this is very unusual for our housing market. Normally it is robust and flourishing; but everyone knows that what goes up must come down. “It marked the sixth straight month that prices have shown that year-over-year drop, a relatively rare condition for home prices before the current slide. Before the Realtor's price readings showed a year-over-year drop for August sales, it had gone more than 11 years without that kind of drop.”

But in another sign that things aren’t so bad, these lower prices are bringing more buyers to the desolate housing scene, thus stimulating the market and causing home sales to rise. “The lower prices apparently are helping to draw more buyers to the market. The pace of home sales rose 3 percent from December, coming in at an annual rate of 6.46 million homes. But that was also down 4.3 percent from year-earlier levels.”

“It's just like any market, when there's price depreciation, buyers are more likely to come into the market place,’ said Wachovia economist Phillip Neuhart. ‘I think prices will be flat to slightly negative this year. I don't think we're going to see any imminent recovery.”

How To Determine How Much You Can Afford When Getting A Mortgage

When buying a house it is important to know how much you can afford to pay when it comes to the mortgage. If you get a mortgage you can’t afford you can end up losing your home. One way to determine how much you can afford when it comes to the mortgage is making a budget. With a budget you can see how much money you will have and how much more you can afford on a monthly basis.

Another way to determine how much you can afford when it comes to the mortgage is going to a bank and seeing how much they will lend you and at what interest rate. Most banks will do this even if you don't have a house in mind that you want to buy. It is more likely that you will do business with a bank that helps you out in the past; this is why a bank is happy to do this. One last way to determine how much you can afford when it comes to the mortgage is adding up the household earnings.

When you add up your household earnings in a monthly basis, the next thing to do is divided that number by three. The number you get when you do this process is a rule of thumb of what you can afford when it comes to the mortgage. A mortgage is usually the largest loan you will ever have. If you use some of the tips you read here it will help you from taking out a loan you can’t afford.

Existing-home Sales Up, New Home Sales Down

As of late, news about the housing market is pretty much all over the map. No one really knows what is going to happen next, and everything is pretty much completely unpredictable.

Now that everyone has pretty much agreed upon the fact that the market is indeed slowing down, the next question on everyone’s mind is whether we are going to see an improvement in the future, or if we are going to see some more slowing before things start to pick up again.

Well, all of the data that is coming in is making things even more confusing and difficult to predict.

The most recent data shows us a variety of mixed signals concerning the health and vitality of our nation’s housing market.

The most recent data coming in shows us both good and bad news.

As for the good news, according to a major trade association, sales of existing homes increased last month. As for the bad news, new home sales slowed.

A February 28, 2007 article by RISMedia.com, “Existing-home sales improve in January,” looks at the latest numbers that are coming in concerning our housing market. “Sales of existing homes rose in January, reaching the highest level in seven months, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Total existing-home sales-including single-family, town homes, condominiums and co-ops - increased 3.0 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate1 of 6.46 million units in January from an upwardly revised pace of 6.27 million in December. Sales were 4.3 percent below the 6.75 million-unit level in January 2006.”

Although we are seeing improvements in the exiting home sales, which is definitely good news for the market, we shouldn’t get our hopes up to high.

Things are improving here, but there are other aspects of the housing market that are still declining. And surprisingly enough, one of the housing industry’s most influential figures is sighting the strange weather we have been seeing as reason for these unpredictable numbers. “David Lereah, NAR's chief economist, said observers shouldn't overreact to the sales gain, or to other short-term effects. ‘Although we're expecting existing-home sales to gradually rise this year, and buyers are responding to the price correction, some unusually warm weather helped boost sales in January,’ he said. ‘On the flip side, the winter storms that disrupted so much of the country in February could negatively impact the housing market.’”

Although many housing markets were essentially shut down for a while in February due to the extreme whether conditions, things should continue to pick up shortly. Only time will tell what will happen to our market in the future.

Recession on the Horizon?

The United States real estate market has been unstable since the events that took place in 2006; a year that was supposed to be a slight price correction but has turned out to be much more than that.

The dreaded “R” word (recession) was loosely tossed around here and there towards the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2006 but by the end of the year sales began climbing once again, leaving many economists to predict the correction was end by midway through 2007.

But the start of 2007 has been less than advertised in terms of increasing sales and a stabilizing market as the same economists are now predicting the correction to last until the end of the year.

The article, “Alan Greenspan and the ‘R’ Word,” written February 28, 2007 by Henry Savage and posted on Realty Times, explains how the U.S. real estate market may be in for more hard times before even thinking about a successful rebound.

“He may not be the Fed Chief anymore, but folks still listen to him. On February 26th, Alan Greenspan warned that the U.S. Economy could slip into recession by the end of this year.” “During a satellite link to a business conference in Hong Kong, Greenspan suggested that there are signs that the current economic expansion, which began in 2001, is coming to an end. As an example, he noted that profit margins in the U.S. have begun to stabilize, ‘which is an early sign we are in the later stages of a cycle.’”

Forecasters have been predicting the best possible outcome for the housing market over the past couple years but Greenspan said that many economists are now predicting a slowdown through at least some of 2008. First the correction was supposed to take place in early to mid 2007, then by the end of 2007 and now sometime in 2008.

Even as the housing slump digs in deeper every month, just about every professional in the industry laughs at the idea of seriously considering a recession is possible.

But housing vales have undoubtedly dropped but consumer spending is not expected to support even lower prices.

“Regarding the housing niche of the American economy, it seems to me there are two major issues that will indeed curtail consumer spending. First, the liquidity that poured into the economy as a result of the refinance boom no longer exists. Second, homeowners are feeling less wealthy because their homes are no longer skyrocketing in value. Even for folks who don't plan on selling anytime soon, the psychological effect when one's biggest asset no longer appreciating, or even losing some value, is likely to curb spending.”

If a recession does come to pass it should not be as negative and lasting as in the past and will be good news for the millions of prospective home buyers who are currently priced out of the market.

If you own property, do not worry. Real estate always appreciates over time. The only people a recession would really affect are homeowners trying to sell and avid investors. A recession may never happen but the rebound does not appear to be in the near future either.

Use A Real Estate Broker, Or Do It Yourself

When buying or selling real estate, many people are tempted to avoid using real estate brokers. Georgia homeowners reason that they can save themselves tens of thousands in commission by doing all the work themselves. Sometimes this decision is driven by a problem with a previous broker either experienced directly or heard of through a friend. After all, how hard can it be to buy or sell a house—right?

Qualified brokers earn their commissions

Brokers provide a variety of services using tools and knowledge that an unlicensed or inexperienced individual won’t have access to. Brokers have easy access to all data on recent real estate sales that helps them determine a reasonable price on a home. They can provide marketing expertise and venues that can increase the number of buyers looking for a home and increase the chance that the seller will get the desired price. Additionally, brokers have an understanding of the paperwork involved that can reduce hours of head scratching to a few minutes of signing.

When working with real estate brokers, Georgia homeowners also get an expert in the art of negotiation. Georgia has areas where the real estate market is quite competitive, and a good negotiator can make a huge difference in the final price of a home.

They key word is “qualified”

A real estate license reflects a knowledge of the laws of buying and selling homes, but does not indicate a broker’s level of negotiating skill, personal commitment to their customers, or knowledge of the community. Some people see real estate as a get-rich-quick scheme thinking they can work part time and make lots of money. Nothing is further from the truth. Successful real estate brokers work full time and more. It isn’t a hobby, it’s a career.

This flood of brokers into the market creates competition. Some brokers compete by lowering their commissions, hoping to attract clients with their bargain rates. Bargain rates often bring bargain service and unhappy customers. Other brokers compete by adding value to their services, working harder, and getting new clients by earning the trust of their old ones.

Sadly, the real estate hobbyists and the bargain agents tarnish the image of all real estate brokers. Georgia has many well qualified full-time brokers who can provide service that makes them well worth the cost of their commission. Don’t judge the entire industry by one experience. After all, you wouldn’t swear off eating in expensive restaurants because you had a bad fast food meal.

Do your research

Don’t just use the broker your friend used. Buying and selling your home will probably be the largest financial transactions you make in your life so take some time to research a variety of real estate brokers. Georgia has plenty of trustworthy and experienced brokers just waiting to provide the kind of service you deserve and make your real estate transaction as painless as possible.

Retiring To Arizona And Investment

There is no realm of investment that can equal the excellent ROI that is provided by real estate. Investors have for years sought the best area of investment, stock markets, bonds etc. Yet real estate continues to be one of the best and most secure investments going. More people are making more money off real estate than just about any other form of investment. One of the more dynamic of the U.S. investing markets continues to be Arizona.

Within Arizona there are numerous different area to consider, and Mesa is one of the most popular. Mesa has gained a huge amount of popularity as a retirement area, and features many different investment options that are tailor made to a more relaxed style of life. After spending a lifetime in the hustle and bustle of life, Mesa is a great spot to settle for the golden years and enjoy the best years that life has to offer.

Palm Gardens in Mesa offers a unique style of life that is tailor made to a +55 style of life that includes a wealth of recreational options as well as amazing homes with fantastic value. Palm Gardens is home to a number of luxury mobile homes, that far exceed any idea that one may have of a typical mobile home. Palm Gardens offers what could only be seen as luxury mobile estates. There is also a huge number of stalls for RV's where one can leave their recreational vehicle year-round or travel in at their leisure. This is ideal if you desire a quick getaway from the rigors of life to a relaxing outpost that is always waiting for you to arrive.

One great asset that is provided by Arizona real estate is the amazing appreciation of the property value. This is true of real estate all across the state, Arizona is known to be home to a real estate market like no other and has shown an amazing staying power for many years, and there is no indication that this is set to change any time soon.

The Ideal House (Home Sweet Home)

The house was the place of the gathered and protected family from various disturbances that came from nature and from the disturbance of the bad hands.

Because of that so that we feel at home remained at home, then was needed by the atmosphere of the pleasant house.

Several characteristics of the Ideal House:

* His atmosphere interior enjoyable.
* The exterior had the environment that beautiful
* The clean kitchen part
* The clean TOILET part

In the house, the values of the family and humanity was invested in a manner for generations to the individual.

As main means of a family, the existence of the house must become main attention.

Four conditions must be met to be able to be said as the ideal and healthy house.

1. The house interior must be enough to be available the room for parents, the child and the guest. For the tropical area, better the attic was rather high, so as the volume of air in the room was enough. Air ventilation must be good, likewise room information must be enough.
2. The house exterior in order to have the area of the yard that was enough so as to be able to be planted the reforestation crop, the fruit, vegetables and the flower. The environment might not around the house be dirtiest pollution. Was available water facilities, electricity and continuation of the telephone. Had the road that could be passed through car to head means of the public’s service like the market, the hospital, the school and the place of religious duties.
3. The part or the kitchen of the processor of domestic food must meet the condition for the cleanliness. In this place food was processed. When the dirty kitchen, then food that was cooked dirty also and this was dangerous for the health of the member of this house of occupants’s family.
4. The condition for the four healthy houses was the existence of the clean TOILET.

Renting in New York - The Ultimate Class System?

In 1943, President Roosevelt signed into law the Emergency Price Control Act (EPCA), which marked the beginning of rent controls in New York City. New York law allows the rents on these homes to be raised by only a tiny percentage each year. Today, over one million such apartments, called rent-stabilized or rent-controlled apartments, are rented at rates that are based on 1943 prices, rather than today’s market forces.

Roughly speaking, as long as a NYC resident stays in a rent-controlled or rent-stabilized apartment, he or she will never have to pay the fair market rent. Since even the average studio in Manhattan with no amenities rents for $2,100, people who are enjoying the huge financial benefit of rent-controlled apartments, which are typically less than half-price, hold onto them like manna from Heaven.

So tenants spend their whole lives in the same apartment, and move their kids in before they die (since rent controls can be passed on to the second generation). The effect of all this is that there is an extraordinarily low number of vacant apartments available for people who want to move into New York or within New York. Today’s vacancy rate is a meager 0.5%.

This suppressed supply combined with the very high demand you’d expect for any world-class city like New York means that the few units that are available are priced artificially high, and the landlords can be extremely picky about who to put in them.

Landlords require that their new tenants meet very strict conditions. When people come to Manhattan for the first time, they will be shocked to find that they will have to prove annual income of at least 40 times the monthly rent. In other words, unless you earn $120,000 a year, don’t even bother applying for an average one-bed with no amenities – because you won’t be considered.

You won’t be considered - unless of course you have a rich mommy or daddy to act as Guarantor. But they had better be truly well-heeled, because they’ll need to show annual income of $280,000 a year to get their child into the same apartment.

These numbers need some context to show just how divisive this situation is: only 1.5% of households in the US earn a quarter of million dollars a year or more and would thus be able to act as guarantors on the lease for the their child’s one-bed apartment. And only about 3% of households earn $150,000 or more a year. (source: US Census Bureau 2005)…

In other words a good 97% of US citizens would not even be considered to rent a one-bed apartment in NYC based on their income. And the remaining 3% who are welcome are on bankers’ salaries and/or come from extraordinarily privileged families.

There is a cruel irony about this situation. New York’s rent stabilization laws, instituted originally to ensure that there was plenty of affordable housing in the city - prevent all but the richest from coming to NY to chase their American Dream. These laws-to-protect-the-less-privileged in fact do the opposite, ensuring that today’s bankers, Wall Street traders and controllers of capital in New York, come from the same families as yesterday’s.

One would expect that a landlord who wouldn’t accept someone because they earned, say, 35 rather than 40 times the rent, would at least be lenient were the applicant for the apartment able to put down six months’ rent in advance. But other broken New York rent laws, which are also misguided attempts at protecting tenants, grant excessive rights to sitting tenants in Manhattan, making it illegal for an owner to evict a renter from a New York apartment, except after a six-month court proceeding.

For this reason, landlords will not risk any situation in which a tenant may be in their property without an ongoing source of income – and it really doesn’t matter how much he or she has in the bank. Even if you come to Manhattan with a million dollars in your pocket, that won’t get you past the conditions on income: because the landlord will only count the interest that is generated by your money. At current rates, that might be 50,000 bucks’ interest on a million on deposit… or just enough to qualify you for a studio in Harlem.

Accordingly, in New York real estate, class matters more than perhaps anywhere else in the world - including my home country that is generally supposed to have invented class: in England, we haven’t yet started qualifying people economically before allowing them to rent a home.

There is surely something too paradoxical about this kind of decidedly anti-capitalistic elitism in the center of the city that is thought of as the global paragon of capitalism and full of opportunities for economic and social mobility.

True - anywhere people live and work, a wealthy family background helps with queue-jumping, but if you’re coming to New York, unless you or a parent can show two years of tax returns with a six figure income, you may as well turn around at the Holland Tunnel.

This is the irony of the economic engine of America. In terms used by many of the Wall Street analysts who can live here, the center of the American Dream has a huge barrier to entry. Unless you’ve already made it, New York won’t accept your application.

Analyze the Real Estate Transaction

A real estate investor is a person who is engaged in the transaction of buying and selling of real estate property. When a person is interested in the real estate property, surely then he will engage in this transaction. Dealing in a real estate transaction makes the real estate investor more knowledgeable and experienced. When the investor is engaged in the transaction of the real estate, he has to follow some necessary steps and techniques to makes his transaction a successful transaction. It is in the hands of the investor to make his transaction a successful or unsuccessful one. Other than the changes of the real estate investing market, the investor can make other criterion a successful criterion.

Commitment
The important factor to be noted by the investor is to analyze the deal carefully. The investor is to focus mainly on this issue. The investor is to make inspection on the transaction whether it gives more profit and it is a legal one. The investor is also required to collect information relating to the transaction. The information collected and the inspection made on the transaction will be useful to the investor to determine any further proceeds in the transaction. Only after collecting the adequate information needed for the transaction, the investor can engage into the dealing of buying and selling of real property. The investor is to make his commitments very carefully and legally, because once commitment is made its difficult to come out from the transaction.

Evaluation
When the investor enters in to a transaction, he has to analyze whether the transaction will fetch him a high cash flow. The investor has to evaluate the real property at the time of buying and selling of the real estate property. Evaluation is the important factor to be noted, because the investor may buy or sell the property even in a loss. To avoid or overcome this problem evaluation is to be done on every property the investor dealing. This investigation not only helps the investor to overcome the problem, but also helps realize the fact.

Adequate knowledge and experience
The other main factor needed for the real estate investor is the adequate knowledge and the experience on the real estate investment. When the investor gains this knowledge then it becomes the easier task for him to make his buying and selling transaction a profitable venture. When the investor does not make use of this information, he may also suffer a loss.

Market changes
The real estate property dealing must have enough cash flow, leverage and equity. Every investment made will have uncertain risk. It is difficult to predict the real estate market, because it may have changes at any time. The property market may find boom or depression at any time. When it is a boom the investor can sell the property at a profitable rate but buy the property at an unprofitable rate. While at the time of depression the property can be sold out at an unreasonable rate and buy at a fair rate.

When the investor notes the changes in the market conditions, then he can easily make his decision. The investor has to evaluate the information, transaction and market changes to make his deal an effective source. Involvement and business spirit makes the real estate transaction a successful transaction.