Spokane housing market a great investment

Right now couldn't be a better time to invest in a home in Spokane. In 2007, Spokane was one of only a few cities nationwide where the median price of a home increased in value. Contrary to many major markets, "Most of Spokane's speculative builders dramatically reduced the number homes they will build in 2008," said Robert Henry, President of R&D Construction and board member of the Spokane Home Builders Association. The result of declining home starts means that at the current rate of market absorption (the rate at which new homes are currently selling), the current inventory of new homes will have been purchased by the first quarter of 2009. Production builders are likely to continue with far fewer home starts well into 2009. Many builders have dramatically reduced the pricing of homes that have been completed for several months. Now is the time to find and negotiate great deals on new homes. Buyers who have a decent credit rating and are pre-approved are in excellent position to negotiate with motivated sellers. For a complete search of homes for sale in Spokane, visit Donna Henry's site at: donnasellsspokane. com

What you should know about hud properties

HUD properties are available all over the United States, and make great investments for anybody that is interested. These homes often times get a bad rap for being in bad condition, but in all actuality they are not any worse than other foreclosed homes that are available. Just like anything else, there are some HUD properties that are in good condition, and some that are in need of a few repairs. It is simply a matter of how well the past owner cared for the home.

HUD properties are homes that had loans which were insured by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. But when the owner fails to live up to the financial obligations that are expected, the bank then takes over the home and it becomes an HUD property. At this point, the Department of Housing and Urban Development is in charge of repaying the lender any money that they lost on the deal. So as you can see, the Department of Housing and Urban Development sticks their neck on the line when they insure the loans on these homes; if the owner does not pay, they are stuck with owing money to the lender.

Investors are particularly fond of HUD properties because they are a great way to make them a quick profit. The way this works is quite simple. Since HUD properties can be bought at a great discount, investors will purchase as many as they can afford. They will then fix these homes up just enough so that they can sell them back to the public. But the catch is that they sell them for the market value. This means that their profit equals the difference between the market value cost and how much they actually bought the home for. In many cases this can be tens of thousands of dollars. By doing this on several houses a month, HUD property investors can make a lot of money.

If you are not an investor and are just in need of a new home, you may also want to consider HUD properties. Even though you may have to put some work into repairing the home, you will save a lot of money on the initial cost. With the money that you save you will easily be able to make the necessary repairs.

HUD properties can be found all over the United States, and offer great buys to interested parties.

Curb appeal first impressions count when selling your home

People selling their homes via real estate brokers get lots of coaching. People selling their own homes as FSBOs need the same. One of the most important topics on which FSBOs can benefit from coaching is “curb appeal.” How does your home look when a potential buyer drives up to the curb and takes that all important first look?

Be Sure It Looks Great

Single family residences require the most work. The FSBO seller of a single family home also has the most control of what is seen from the curb, so let’s start there. Make sure grass is cut, leaves are raked, sidewalks swept and edged, and planting beds are freshly mulched. That’s just the beginning.

Narrow walks leading to front doors are not inviting. If you can afford to have the walk replaced with a wider one, do it. A walk with some curve to it is often appealing. One which is wider where it meets the public walk and wider as it reaches the front steps can look particularly inviting. If two men can approach your front door side by side without jostling each other, your walk is sufficiently wide.

What if you have a narrow walk and a small budget? You can improvise with brick, stone, or concrete pavers from Lowes or Home Depot if you’re handy and healthy. Choose whichever material is most compatible with your house. Dig out the grass on either side of your walk and lay a line of the chosen paving materials parallel along each side of your walk. Fill in with mulch (not the colored type, just good earth toned natural stuff, please), sand, or river gravel. Make sure there’s a crisp edge where the grass starts.

Large, overgrown shrubs that crowd the house and cover windows are a negative. Prune them back. If there is a narrow planting bed along the front of the house, widen it. Have the bed swoop in a curve around to the side of the house. Depending on the size and scale of the house, plant something like a dogwood, a butterfly bush or a holly in the curve at the corner of the house. Make sure it will not be so close or so large as to overwhelm the house in a few years. Fill in with smaller plants at the front of the widened bed. Mulch. Mulch. Mulch. But the mulch should be only two or three inches deep. Don’t let it pile up on the trunks of trees.

Plant colorful flowers in containers on either side of the front door if the season is conducive. Geraniums work well in sunny spots. Impatiens are good in shade. Make sure the containers are of natural materials. Most plastic containers look tacky and cheap. Advertisements for luxury cars show them near expensive houses and beautifully dressed people for a reason. Association. You want the things seen on the way to your front door to be in good taste and of excellent quality. Fortunately, that doesn’t necessarily mean they have to be expensive. Clay pots are good. Old iron urns are great with traditional homes. Oak barrels can look wonderful with rustic homes. The addition of a bit of trailing ivy or sweet potato vines can be attractive. It’s possible to achieve a miniature garden by combining several sorts of plants in larger containers.

Make sure the front door is clean and the paint is in good condition. Be sure it swings on its hinges well. It needs to open and close well and firmly. The doorknob should work well and not have any “bobble” motion when it’s used. Exterior light fixtures should be clean and free of rust. Front windows should be clean and shining.

When preparing to sell your house, make sure you get everything in order. As superficial as it may sound, curb appeal is a dominant factor in getting sales.

Costa rica property for sale - prices up 300 in 10 years and more to come

If you’re looking to buy property as an investment, then the property for sale in Costa Rica offers you the chance to make substantial gains in the coming years - with low risk.

Buying Costa Rican property is inexpensive and easy - and prices are on the move.

Here we look at Costa Rica property for sale, and the importance of location - which will help you make even bigger capital gains on your investment.

So, when you’re looking at the Costa Rican property that’s for sale, what do you need to consider for making the big capital gains?

The Last 10 years have Shown 300% Growth

The biggest change in the Costa Rica property for sale during the past decade is that prices have doubled, or tripled in many locations – and the good news is - it’s still cheap!

Costa Rican property prices range considerably:

. 1/4-acre beachfront home sites ranges from $50,000 to upwards of $200,000.

. Beachfront homes range from $165,000 upwards.

. Seaside condominiums range from $55,000 to $250,000 - depending on size and geographical location.

. Just inland - maybe a 10-minute walk to the beach, two-bedroom, two-bathroom, homes start at $40,000 - and single-family building lots start at $6,500

. Less expensive deals can be found in more remote areas - such as the northern Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica's southern region.

Popular Places

Most realtors agree that the best turnover, and fastest-selling properties are generally located in the Central Valley, and along the Pacific coast - and it’s here that you can get the best capital gain on your investment.

Although the Central Valley covers just five percent of Costa Rica, it contains the vast majority of the country's population. Therefore, property prices around the greater metropolitan area (including San Josй, Alajuela, Heredia and Escazъ) - where many of the country's businesses and services are located, tend to be among the highest in Costa Rica.

Generally, the farther away from town you go, the lower the prices of property for sale will be. The exception to this rule is the central and northern Pacific coast - where a number of major developments are underway.

Property for Sale in Costa Rica - the Secret of Big Returns

Here you need to get out your map of Costa Rica, and look at areas set to increase in value - simply watch for changes in the infrastructure that will boost property prices.

Buying property that’s for sale in Costa Rica can give you great returns - but if you build in advance of important building projects that will enhance local amenities - and the quality of life, will make you even more money.

So, what sort of changes in the infrastructure are we referring to? Let’s look at three projects currently underway that look set to increase property prices in adjacent areas:

New Freeway: Scheduled to be completed shortly. The freeway will link the largest cities to the Pacific Coast - generating an increased flow of traffic and buying interest in areas with easy access to the freeway.

New Marina: The largest marina in Costa Rica will be completed shortly in Quepos.

New Airport: A new international airport is coming to the town of Orotina in the near future.

When buying property for sale in Costa Rica, being in ahead of the crowd - before an important part of the infrastructure is completed, will enable you to take advantage of the increased demand for real estate in the areas that these changes will benefit.

Buying Property that’s for Sale in Costa Rica is Straightforward

The government encourages investors – they place no restrictions on foreigners. In fact, foreigners are entitled to the same ownership rights as Costa Rican citizens. When you factor in low costs, and no capital gains tax, overseas buyers will continue to buy the property that’s available in Costa Rica.

Property for sale in Costa Rica as an investment

Buying property currently for sale in Costa Rica can be a rewarding experience. The future looks bright - as the big fluctuations in property prices that you see in the United States, doesn't happen in Costa Rica.

Based on past history, prices either go up by at least 10 percent per year - or at worst, stay the same. When the real estate market is in a downturn, properties don’t tend to go down in value - they stay static - making this a low risk way to invest.

Currently, the chances of a downturn in the market now look slim – due to the rising number of investment property buyers.

If you want to double or triple your money in the next few years, think about the Costa Rican real estate market - and buy some building lots or property.

Sharpening the saw - how to keep improving your commercial real

It is absolutely pertinent for every person involved in commercial real estate to be constantly improving their education!

A real estate insider is only as good as his or her information, and this information must be up to date, accurate and relevant to the business of interest. The business of interest could be a certain type of property, such as apartments or raw land, a certain area, such as a specific city or state, or even specific types of deals, such as distressed properties that are offered well below market rate. Whatever the area of interest, the real estate insider must understand his or her market better than anyone else, and constantly keep up with the dynamics of commercial real estate.

In addition to understanding the market defined by his or her area of interest, national and local trends should constantly be monitored, such as mortgage rates, real estate laws, weather anomalies such as hurricanes, and other such influences that affect real estate that are found in the macro environment.

In order to remain sharp and in the know in commercial real estate, there are many things that you can do to continue your commercial real estate education. We must admit that your education does not stop at any point in time with commercial real estate.

The commercial real estate insider must always be growing, learning, finding new tid-bits of information, expanding and improving his or her real estate activities, and fine tuning his or her business model. Success will be found on the largest of scales when this strategy is adopted into a sound business model.

To not continue your education is sure death in this industry! There will be someone right under you to take your place and your opportunities if you choose not to always go the extra mile and be as informed as possible!

Let's look at the many ways you can continue to educate yourself so that your commercial real estate endeavors are maximized to the fullest!

Reading is probably one of the key ways to improve your education. Trade journals, newspapers, magazines and books are great sources of information. By reading, you can identify trends, be cautious of future changes, learn from others' strategies and business models, as well as strengthen your basis for ideas in order to strengthen your own commercial real estate business. You never know how another person's idea or experience can spark a great idea for your own business out of nowhere! You may adopt some strategies and tools for yourself that you didn't even know existed, or perhaps modify them to better fit your business model.

Make a morning of it, and spend some time reading your monthly magazine subscriptions and trade journals! Choose a real estate book every week or so, and dedicate yourself to reading a little every day. Not only will it increase your education, but it can be fun as well.

Another great way to increase your education is to attend meetings where there are speakers and discussions on anything that influences your area of interest. This may include real estate seminars, zoning and planning meetings at your local Chamber of Commerce, classes regarding finance and contract writing, or other areas where you may find your knowledge and capabilities weak. Attend investor meetings in your city.

There will be a wealth of information found here that you will not find published in any book or magazine. Experience and insider tips can be found nestled in these seminars and meetings that can give you a whole new advantage on opportunities!

Refer to online sources as well, such as newsletters and blogs, where you can find more insider tips and teachings. Do be aware, however, that not all information is valid, so you may be learning things on what not to do, which can be just as valuable as learning what to do.

On more of a personal note, in order to keep up with the dynamic ways of commercial real estate, it is important to treat your body well by keeping a physical and active lifestyle, to support such a fun and rigorous profession.

Another element of sharpening the saw is to visualize your goals, and where it is you ultimately want to be, so all your education is leading you down the correct path that will get you the most out of life!

Share the wealth by teaching others your special knowledge, and give them an opportunity that you were given to be involved in such a great business.

All these things mentioned can greatly increase your success as a real estate insider, as well as transform your life into that which you have always dreamed. Implement just a few of these ideas, and you will yield positive results exponentially through your increased knowledge and abilities. Always be ahead of the game, and the game will reward you handsomely!

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!

Home equity your ace in the hole

Almost 15 years ago, you bought your first home. You’ve been diligent in working and paying on the mortgage, and finally have more equity than mortgage. Ah, the sweet smell of victory, and home ownership. But are you playing the financial investment game as well as you think? Are you missing out on tax savings, funding strategies, or just plain smart money options? How do you check your equity options versus your tax savings options, to comparative shop and make use of your smart options?

Today, the tax benefits of retaining a mortgage on your home far outweigh the benefits derived from complete home ownership. Mortgage interest is fully tax deductible, and so are some of the options that come with equity lines of credit, second mortgages, or equity mortgages.

Borrowing against the equity in your home in order to pay off credit card debt, fund college educations, fund additions or needed repairs to the home, or to provide startup capital for that dream of owning your own business, is a tax advantage. Interest on first and second mortgages in general is fully tax deductible, and if you’re borrowing to fund education related expenses, or start that new business, some or all of those expenses are going to be deductible. It’s a win-win situation.

How is the dollar value you have in your home established? Well, there a couple of different ways that lending institutions determine home equity. If you’re dealing with a local bank that has held your mortgage since inception, many will not require an appraisal of the home, they will simply use the original established value of the home. Now, if you believe your home to be worth quite a bit more than the original appraisal value, you might want to request a new appraisal, but appraisals aren’t cheap.

In general mortgage companies will always require a recent appraisal before lending money against residential property. Either way, the equity in your home is established based on the current dollar value of your home, less any monies already owed against the property (that would be your first mortgage). There is an additional piece of information worth noting here. Usually, a lending institution will only lend a certain percentage of the homes value. With the creation of 125 loans, or loans where up to 125 percent of the value of the home is loaned, you may be able to borrow up to that amount, even with a second mortgage. 125 Loans, jumbo loans, and interest only loans are a relatively new market for home mortgages, and not loans that I would recommend, simply because they put the homeowner in a precarious position if the mortgage should be called in, if the home should sell prior to paying the mortgage down, or if a forced sale should occur.

Your home’s equity is a trump card, if you will adhere to some common sense rules and continue to stay abreast of your individual financial needs.

How to make a million dollars in real estate investment

I remember starting out as a real estate investor I had learned a very simple, yet mind-blowing strategy to make a million dollars in real estate. The concept was taught by Marshall Reddick, who is an avid real estate investor, and to date, he has over 200+ real estate rental properties in his portfolio.

It could not have been said better than Marshall himself. To make a million dollars in real estate, you must:

1. Borrower a million dollars

2. Have someone else pay it back for you

Simple as that. How does it apply to real estate investing, you may ask? Well, all you need to do is purchase enough investment properties worth a million dollars total, and have them rented out. That essentially is borrowing a million dollars in mortgage debt, and have your renters pay back the debt for you.

For many people, borrowing a million dollars may seem out of reach, but just as you would eat an elephant one bite at a time, so is buying real estate properties - you buy one house at a time. Unless you live in California, there are still many states that you can purchase a home for around $100k. Even if you are residing in California, you will need to stretch your vision and reach out-of-state.

Many people fear owning a property, let alone owning an investment property out of state. However, as a true real estate investor, you must put yourself in the mode of a business owner. Real estate investment is a business, and like any business, it may come necessary for you to hire people to work for you. That's what realtors and property managers are there for. In order to really expand your real estate investing business, you must get comfortable with hiring property managers to manage your properties.

We have all heard good debt and bad debt, so don't let the concept of owing money scare you off - especially when you can have someone else pay it back for you! As an added bonus, real estate value on average has never gone down in value in history. You hear people losing money in real estate because they could not hold on to their properties and they let them go at unfortunate times. Even if real estate value do go down, you should never fear because you have someone else paying your mortgage - your renters. As good as the concept of making a million dollar in real estate may sound, fear not and take the first step in your real estate investing.