So what are tax lien certificates?

Each year property taxes are due on all properties. The local government uses the money from property taxes to pay for various things in the community. If an owner doesn’t pay their property taxes, the government still needs that money to be able to run their county effectively! So what’s a government to do? They levy a tax lien against that property and auction it off at a tax lien sale. An investor, YOU, will purchase that tax lien with the understanding that you will earn a certain percentage interest rate. When the owner of the property finally pays off their taxes(plus penalty fees), the county then cuts a check to the investor for the principle amount invested, plus any interest or penalty fees accrued. The county makes out because they get the money they need to run things, the home owner or business makes out because they are given more time to pay off their taxes, and the investor makes out because they just earned a lot of money without really doing much at all!

Why should I invest in tax lien certificates?

Safety

Tax liens are sanctioned and run by the government. Your investment is protected by state law and secured by actual real estate! What other kind of investment option provides that kind of backing? Take a look at it from the other end. People do NOT want to lose their homes. So odds are they’ll pay off their taxes, thus paying you off. And if they don’t…you just may end up with a free property.

Minimal Competition

The great thing about tax lien investing is that, for the most part, it’s a completly unknown investing option. Most people think that stocks, bonds, mutual funds, CDs, money markets, and traditional real estate investing are the only ways to invest their money. So what you have is a very small number of people “in the know” making tons of money in an extremely low risk form of investing.

High Return on Investment

Your return on investment will vary largely depending on what state and county you are in. But to give you a rough idea, interest rates will vary from about 5% to 25%. Now, given how safe and easy this is, these kind of interest rates alone would be worth the investment. But there’s more. In most cases you won’t have to wait a whole year to earn your 15% interest. If the property owner pays off their taxes in one month, you’ll still earn that same 15% interest, but you’ll get it one months time. Freeing up your money to invest again. Lets say you take that money, and each month invest in a tax lien certificate and get paid off right away. That’s 15% interest, 12 times, giving you a final return of 180% over the period of the whole year. Because interest rates are always calculated over the period of one year, this is what’s called your effective return on investment. This is why investors love tax lien investing. In a state like Texas your effective return on investment can be up to 300%!

Examining the alternatives

Here are some alternative investing options that the majority of americans invest in. Included with them is an average interest rate and the degree of safety of the investment.

Savings account – 1% – safe

Money market – 1-2% – safe

CDs – 1-4% – safe(interest rate depends on length of CD

Stock market – average growth 11% – unsafe, percentages vary wildly from year to year

Tax lien certificates – 5%-300% – Safe. Government run. Enforced by state law. Fixed interest rates.

The ultimate win/win situation

So what happens if the owner doesn’t pay off their taxes? Well in many states you would initiate a foreclosure on the property. The property gets auctioned off at a tax deed sale, and as the tax lien certificate holder, you get paid off first. But in other states the property is signed over to you free and clear! That’s right, your small investment geared to earn 15% just earned you a free house with which you can do as you please. Live in it, rent it out, sell it, whatever you want.

Conclusion

So why should you invest in tax lien certificates? Because it simply doesn’t make sense not to. If you’d like to learn more about the ins and outs of tax lien certificates or specifically about tax lien auctions, more detailed information is available.

Gregory Nirshberg owns and operates Tax Lien Investing Resource. A website dedicated to providing free quality information about tax lien certificates and the tax lien investing process.

With analysis of tax lien auctions, tax deed sales, and even tax lien investing tips for the newcomer.

Author: Gregory Nirshberg
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Before going into the buying process you should first ask yourself if you are already ready for house buying.

Do you embrace or even delight in moving into different places. Do you prefer using your savings for things like vacations, paraphernalia, retirement or having your own business? Do you like to enjoy not having so much bother with predictable upkeep and repairs?

If your answers to these queries are yes, then you may not be set to delve into the home buying experience. You may have a lot of good reasons for buying a residence but you should also ponder your reasons for not wanting to.

Remember than buying a home is not just the biggest monetary decision you will ever make but also the strongest emotional choice in your life, so be prepared to make wise decisions when you are in this process.

Buying home always seems to be a tremendous idea, but it is important to realise that ownership of a property comes with a great deal of responsibilities too.

Of course, being a homeowner is something to be proud of but it also means having to lay out money, time and energy and take on added responsibilities. So, before you resolve to buy a home, make certain you’re ready.

The first things that comes into our mind when we think about home owning, is the marvellous things that is connected to it. It is true that there are a lot of commendable reasons for buying a residence. So here are some of the advantages of house buying.

Financial security is a exceptionally important factor when it comes to owning your own home. If the housing prices would go up, your property can furnish you with some financial security due to capital appreciation.

Versatility is another thing, when owning your house you will be able to decide all the aspects that comes with it. You can embellish or renovate your home to meet your own family’s individual tastes and needs.

And of course stability, having your own home will make you feel at ease and less burdened than renting one.

Although it is really nice to think about the positive aspects of owning a home, it is also a critical factor to consider the downsides as well. Here are some of the disadvantages on home buying.

Financial Pressure is a very commonplace problem in home buying. Coming up with the down payment, meeting routine mortgage payments and other ongoing expenditure will tie up a lot of your cash, and can put sizeable stress on your finances.

Upkeep and Higher Costs are also a big problem. Keeping your home in good shape requires time and money.

You may pay more each month for housing than you did as a resident. There are also additional costs for maintenance and property taxes.

So, you’ve decided that homeownership is suitable for you. Now you need to decide if you are financially ready to buy a house.

To keep off any future surprises, you can do some financial exercises to see where you stand. They include: calculating your net worth, your present monthly expenses and your current monthly debt payments.

Knowing your net worth is important because you will need this information when you chat about a mortgage with your lender.

Your net worth is the amount left over once you’ve subtracted your total liabilities from your total assets. It will also give you a picture of your current financial status and show you how much you can afford to put as a down payment.

Just bear in mind all these pointers and you will undoubtedly make the right decisions in home buying. Do not rush into home buying, take some time to think and view the property first before closing a deal.

Closing day is the when you ultimately have bought your home; you now take legal ownership and finally get to call your new home your own. You are sure to feel great relief and delight but remember that the home buying process isn’t over just yet. There are quite a few things that need to be done on closing day.

Make sure that your lender will provide the mortgage money to your lawyer. You must provide the balance of the purchase price to your lawyer along with the closing costs. Your lawyer pays the vendor, registers the home in your name, and provides you with a deed and the keys to your new home.

Now go home and enjoy!!

Stuart Perryman Buying and Selling Real Estate [http://realestate.alluneedtoknow.info]

Author: Stuart Perryman
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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MECHANICS OF PRECONSTRUCTION INVESTING

Before you even begin
investing, you need a working knowledge of exactly what is meant
by “preconstruction” investing, why has preconstruction
investing generated returns in excess of 100% per year for many
investors, what is the terminology used in preconstruction real
estate investing, etc. The good news is this is your easiest
step to take.

As an example, in this stage you will learn terms like
reservation, hard contract, assignment of contract, letter of
credit, to name a few. Even if you are new to investing, don’t
let that intimidate you. Whenever I teach a class on this topic,
it only takes about 30 to 60 minutes to get everybody up to
speed on this.

So how do you learn the mechanics of being a preconstruction
real estate investor? My suggestion is to take advantage of the
free resources available on the internet. For example, at
GetPreConstructionDeals.com we give a way a 30-page ebook about
preconstruction investing that will walk you through this basic
terminology and will give you some real world preconstruction
real estate project examples. Also, if you conduct an internet
search on “preconstruction” “preconstruction investing”
“preconstruction condo”, etc., you will find tons of websites
with this type of information readily available. Give yourself
an evening or two and you should be a master. Unfortunately,
over 80% of new investors stop after Step 1 and immediately want
to look for “deals”. In my opinion, this is a big mistake
because they are lacking what separates the beginning investor
from the street-seasoned preconstruction investor; the
methodology to RAPIDLY pick “smart investments”

FINDING PRECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

If you did an internet search
in Step 1 above, did you notice how many real estate web sites
you found with preconstruction investments on them? If not,
simply put in the term “Miami preconstruction” in any internet
search engine and you will see the number of results. Here is a
test for you. From the internet searches done above, can you
rapidly look at those projects and choose which ones might be
worthy of further investigation? Most people become overwhelmed
at this point whereas most savvy investors could sort through
most of these in a matter of minutes.

Over the years, in both the stock and the real estate markets, I
have had the opportunity to work with some truly outstanding
investors and I have also seen many, many beginners. When a
beginner looks at a preconstruction investment, they ask the
real estate person “How much will I likely make on this
investment and should I buy it?” When an experienced investor
looks at the same investment, they first ask THEMSELVES “Is this
investment really low risk and if so, how much money is really
at risk?” Then they ask THEMSELVES “How much money am I likely
to make if this investment works?” In their mind, they are
trying to determine the amount of reward, relative to the risk.
They know that the person marketing this project is UNLIKELY to
think this way but they know how to ask the right questions to
quickly decide if this project has an acceptable reward-to-risk
ratio for THEMSELVES.

If you are reasonably new to investing, or have always counted
on others to make investment decisions for you, how do you
perform Step 2? Simple. You must learn how a savvy investor
thinks, how they calculate risk, what back-up plans they have in
place in case the investment does not work, how they calculate
reward, etc. None of this is rocket science or even difficult to
do. If you’re new to preconstruction investing and are trying to
do all this on your own, it can be a daunting task, however. I
find that truly savvy investors are always talking to others,
getting their opinions, learning anything they can to make THEIR
OWN decision. They know that every little tidbit they can learn
can literally mean several 10′s of thousands of dollars into
their own pockets.

Practically, you need somebody to mentor you that has “been to
the dance” many times before. If you know somebody in that
category, buy them lunch, dinner, movie tickets, whatever and
ask if they would look over your shoulder. If you know several
people in this category, better yet. Your lunch bills will be
pricey but your education gained will be priceless.

In addition, learning to think like a savvy preconstruction
investor is the reason that we created our original home study
course as well as our more complete live teleseminar course.
Many people don’t have someone to turn to other than maybe the
real estate person bringing them the project. I personally find
that most real estate agents/brokers are fantastic resources for
information, however most do not analyze the investment like I
would. If you ever find yourself asking your agent or
salesperson if “they really think you should buy this,” then
that is probably a good indication that you are ill prepared.

No matter how you accomplish it, learn to think like a savvy
investor for YOURSELF; it just is not that hard to do.

GROWING YOUR PORTFOLIO

Once you think like a pro in Step 2, you
will have just created a problem for yourself: you will probably
find that few preconstruction projects will fit your objectives.
New investors tend to think this is like the stock market…..
When they are ready to invest, you should just be able to plunk
down your money and move forward. Realistically, in the stock
market and the preconstruction market, TRUE OPPORTUNITIES appear
when they are good and ready. When that occurs, and only at that
time, then the savvy investor will pounce with lightning speed.
Remember, for many people, a couple of good investments PER YEAR
is plenty and may then more investment returns than they ever
dreamed possible.

While this may be hard to imagine right now, after Step 2 you
should have a clear understanding of the type of investments
that you would consider. As an example, suppose you end up
concluding that you really like condo/town home projects, not on
the beach, and in the southeast. In addition, you want these
investments in some emerging markets but not necessarily those
that have been explosive for a long time. Great! Now start
getting on lists of brokers/developers that bring out those
projects. If you can work with a group of like minded people,
all the better because you can share the workload and also have
additional clout because of a higher potential buying power than
just one individual.

I will caution you however that when you think like a savvy
investor, you are going to want a lot more information than is
typically provided by these types of sources. You will want a
true assessment of the local market (other than “boy has this
been hot”), you will want a true assessment of the amount of
similar projects that have been or are going to be offered, and
you are going to want to know a lot about who is buying these
projects and why.

Because we like a lot of detail and because we know we have to
move very quickly for good investments, we have always found it
better to operate as a group, rather than one lone person trying
to sort this out after work. In addition, we have found that by
pooling together the buying power of a group we can get much
better access to really good investments.

It is for these reasons that we at GetPreConstructionDeals.com
have created our “Mastermind Group.” I hope this has given you
an understanding of the 3 steps needed to become a true
preconstruction investor. Some people will look at this and say
that it is too hard, or too time consuming. Yes it will take
some time and some effort. The question that I always ask them
is then “How many hours in your regular job would it take you to
make some of the large $75,000+ returns that some
preconstruction investors are making?”

Dr. Chris Anderson is a co-founder of [http://www.GetPreconstructionDeals.com] and is referenced in many venues including the New York Times and USA Today. Download his free, 30+ page preconstruction investing ebook today at Get Preconstruction e-Book [http://www.GetPreconstructionDeals.com]

Author: Chris Anderson, PhD
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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These are certainly valid concerns, but there are steps the smart homeowner can take to increase the chances of a smooth buying and selling transaction.

Right timing to buy and sell

The timing of the two transactions can be very important. Many people find that they have the best chance of buying and selling a home in the spring and summer months. The spring and summer months of the year are typically the time when the inventory of homes on the market is at the highest level. If you need to sell your home in the fall or winter of the year, the time period between finding a buyer for your current home and finding a new home could be much longer.

Add contingency clause

It is also a good idea to tie the sale of your home to the purchase of a new home. Consider specifying in the sales contract that the sale of your current home is contingent on your finding a new place to live. Failure to write this contingency into the contract could leave you searching for a temporary place to live if your home sells before you find a new one. It is fairly easy to add a clause to your sales offer that your offer is contingent upon the sale of your existing home. This will protect you in case your home takes longer time to sell than anticipated.

Sell first buy later

You’re encouraged to put your home on the market before you begin the search for a new property. That time differential will allow you to gauge the local housing market and give you an idea of how long it will take your home to sell. It will also give you the ability to negotiate the escrow period in order to give yourself plenty of time to find a new place to live.

When buying and selling a home, it is a good idea to have the transactions close simultaneously if at all possible. This will help you avoid the situation where you have to get out of your present home before you can move into your new one.

Utilize same services

It is also important to remember that you are not obligated to use the same agent for the purchase and sales transaction. That said, using the same agent for the purchase and the sale might give you leverage when it comes to negotiating the real estate commissions.

Even though it is not necessary to use the same real estate agent for the purchase and sale, it is advised to use the same title or escrow company and the same real estate attorney to handle the transfer of both properties. Using the same companies for these important transactions will help ensure that both transactions go as smoothly as possible.

In addition, make sure you get all your financial documents in order and to fully investigate your financing options while your home is on the market. This is crucial, especially, for buyers who are selling their current home and looking for a more expensive one. Furthermore, having a pre-approval loan document in hand will give you greater negotiating power on the purchase of your new home. Using the time your home is on the market in a constructive way will help you a great deal.

Andrew is the web owner of Home Buying Tips: How to buy a house, a website that provides informational guide on home buying and selling, mortgage loan, foreclosure, real estate investment and more. You can visit his website at: http://www.buy-and-sell-house-fast.com/

Author: Andrew Webber
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Considering researching the purchase of Florida Investment Property or properties for sale in central Florida? Do you find yourself wishing you didn’t have that lawn to mow and the constant upkeep on a home? Purchasing Florida Investment Property can relieve you of all those household chores but purchasing a Florida Investment Property requires you do some homework. You need to know what you are looking for in a Florida Investment Property. Some important things to consider in Florida Investment Property are: size, price, location and future salability. Are you looking for the best price on an economy unit, or do you desire luxury Investment Property with more to offer. Prices on Florida Investment Property will vastly vary depending on size, location and other amenities provided. Remember to keep the main thing in mind when purchasing Florida Investment Property: location, location, location. This is the most likely factor in determining whether your purchase of Florida Investment Property will escalate in value. A Florida Investment Property location near banks, shopping, restaurants and cultural venues in a growing real estate sales area will probably mean home values will continue to escalate. The market can always be volatile but purchasing Florida Investment Property in areas such as this will give you a greater chance of profitable resale value.

Purchasing Florida Investment Property in High Traffic Areas

Are you looking for Florida Investment Property as your primary residence or are you considering purchasing Florida Investment Property as a source of providing rental income? Or is your goal to purchase Florida Investment Property that can be used for family vacations, giving you the benefit of anytime availability without the hassle of searching for last minute specials on low cost holiday lodging. Owning Florida Investment Property can provide you with the security of owning your own vacation villa. Purchasing Florida Investment Property in high traffic tourist areas will also give you the benefit of renting to help off-set the cost of your purchase. Many profitable rental locations exist with one of the hottest areas being the Orlando, Florida area. Orlando is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations due to its proximity to Walt Disney World and the major area theme parks, Sea World and Universal. Owning Florida Investment Property in the Kissimmee, Florida, Orlando, Davenport, Florida area will provide rentals with the closest lodging locations near the major theme park attractions.

Owning Florida Investment Property Close to the Major Attractions

Kissimmee is closest to Disney World, the number one Central Florida tourist destination. Besides Disneyworld, don’t overlook other area attractions near Kissimmee that are also a boost to owning a rental accommodation in this area. A family with kids will have loads to do when booking rental accommodations in Kissimmee. Green Meadows Petting Farm transports you to the country where more than 300 farm animals are on display to touch and see. Other farm activities are also scheduled at this country adventure land. For the horse lover, Horse World is what you’ve been dreaming of! 750 acres are yours to explore with nothing above you but blue sky and nothing below but the creaking of the saddle. Along with horse riding, Horse World also allows you to relax with a good old fashioned game of horse shoes, volleyball, or basketball. Reservations are suggested. A trip to Kissimmee would not be complete without a visit to the Silver Spurs Arena where rodeos are held every Friday night at 8:00pm. Opening in October of 2005, the Silver Spurs Arena has a capacity of 8,300 with 12 luxury skyboxes in an indoor arena hosting concerts, sporting events and more. Along with these old Florida attractions, you won’t want to miss the Arabian Nights dinner theater which was voted best dinner show by Orlando Sentinel readers. Step back into medieval times where an Arabian fairytale is played out before your eyes on horseback. Along with the amazing entertainment, you will feast on an elegant three course meal. Kissimmee is loaded with amazing hidden surprises.

Owning Florida investment properties in the Orlando Area

Owning real estate resort condominiums in the Orlando area will provide you and your renters with access to all the theme parks around Central Florida plus the hundreds of discount attractions in or near Orlando. Orlando’s nickname is The Beautiful City”. It more than lives up to its name with its towers of gleaming glass metal skyscrapers set between sparkling lakes. Orlando is also all about historic preservation also. You will find charming brick streets and many gardens and parks. Cultural attractions near Orlando Florida investment Properties include the Morse Museum of American Art where a permanent display of Tiffany glass is on exhibit along with American paintings from the 19th century. The Orlando Museum of Art features American portraits and landscaping, art of the ancient Americas and American impressionist works. Looking for a garden oasis far removed from the hectic tourist pace? Try Leu Gardens, an oasis covering 50 acres featuring annuals, palms and an orchid house. These fine cultural experiences will seem like cheap deals for their reasonable price.

Florida investment properties – Other Fine Attractions

The list goes on and on. After spending a fortune at the major attractions, you will appreciate finding low cost but fun entertainment near your investment Property. A trip to Florida would not be complete without a visit to Gatorland. The name says it all, as this 70 acre park is home to thousands of gators and some crocodiles. Breeding pens and nurseries are available to view, containing critters of all sizes. Don’t miss gator feeding time when you will get a close up view of gators in a feeding frenzy. This family owned park also has a mini water park for children, a petting zoo and a 2000 foot boardwalk which winds its way through a cypress swamp. Looking for the “au naturale” wild side of Florida? Wekiwa Springs pumps 42 million gallons of sparkling clear water a day. Canoeing, swimming, picnicking and fishing are popular outdoor activities. You are also likely to spot a gator in the wild, along with other wildlife native to Florida. For information on these and other local Orlando attractions and to check out the lowest price at orlandoinfo.com.

Renting Florida investment Properties

Owning Florida investment Properties may be a great option for those with the funds but maybe all you want to do is find discount lodging for a Florida dream vacation. There are many options for renting Florida investment Property. Kissimmee and Orlando are great choices for location of your rental villa. Check out this web source for more information on lodging: http://www.orlandotouristinformationbureau.com. Looking for a time share resort rental? Redweek.com lists time share rentals with price and availability listed on site. Maybe your idea of a dream Florida vacation is staying in a quieter area, somewhat removed from the mainstream of the tourist hubbub. Staying in Davenport, Florida offers that quiet respite. Davenport may seem like its miles removed from the mainstream but it is only 5 miles southwest of Disney making it a close commute to the major attractions. One choice in Davenport is Island Hideaway Resort offering 2 and 3 bedroom suites with fully equipped kitchen. Other amenities include: outdoor pools, children’s play room, poolside bar and grill and recreation center. Another great choice is the Island Club Resort and Spa. With its variety of discount deals, you are sure to find what you are looking for here. Everything from an economy size villa to a 5 bedroom vacation villa can be found here. Along with low cost lodging, you will also find resort amenities which include a large adult pool and kiddie pool, volleyball, basketball and tennis court, massage and fitness room and on-site store.

Lisa Carson

http://www.biminibayresortinvestment.com

lcarson@biminibayresortinvestment.com

Lisa Carson http://www.biminibayresortinvestment.com lcarson@biminibayresortinvestment.com Florida investment property Expert

Author: Lisa Carson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Introduced in the 1980s the Right to Buy scheme achieved its goal and was successful in offering tens of thousands of council tenants the opportunity of owning their own home. In a survey carried out by the charity Shelter Scotland, out of the 1013 members of the public interviewed, 66% said that Scotland had benefited from the scheme by increasing the number of home owners.

The popular scheme seemed to be going very well hitting an all time peak of over 240,000 new home owners under the scheme in 1982. However in 2001 the maximum discount was reduced to £15,000 and the period of tenancy increased from 2 to 5 years thus slowing down the upward trend of Right to Buy in Scotland. Then in 2002 warning signs came about that there was a housing crisis and shortage of affordable homes for tenants and the Right to Buy scheme was held responsible.

So what is going to happen to the Right to Buy? Will it disappear for ever and will council tenants no longer be offered the possibility of buying their own homes [http://falkirk.right-to-buy-mortgage.info/whatcan.asp] in the future or will the government come up with a suitable alternative?

If you are interested in buying your council property and are not sure whether you have the Right to Buy it might be worth looking into it now.

A useful website about right to buy is http://falkirk.right-to-buy-mortgage.info It explains the Scotland Right to Buy rules in detail and offers all the information you need.

Beatrice Pecorelli works for a UK company called The Media Slice Ltd who specialises in putting people in touch with useful services such as loans, mortgages and pensions.

Author: Beatrice Pecorelli
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Why the Interest in Florida Investment Property?

Considering the myriad of investment property locations on the market, Florida investment property is one of the most desirable. Home to 11 of the country’s 100 fastest-growing counties, a Florida investment property has high potential as a profit-maker, unlike most other areas. Port St. Lucie, Miramar and Cape Coral are the fastest growing cities in Florida. It’s unlikely you will make a mistake investing in Florida real estate considering the vast number of tourists and new residents flocking to the land of sun and surf. The most difficult decision to make will be which location in Florida to purchase. Good investments abound in each area of the state, from Miami in the south to Clearwater on the gulf coast, going east to Daytona Beach and north to the panhandle. Selecting a location depends on your goals for purchasing Florida investment property. Carefully consider what you intend to do with your Florida investment property. Will your purchase be used mainly as a rental property for vacationers? Do you intend to have access to the property during certain seasons? Or is your goal rental of the property to local tenants? Some of these questions will help you in narrowing down your search. Once you have determined whether your Florida investment property will be used primarily for vacationers or for local renters, and whether you intend on using it as a vacation resort yourself, it is easier to choose the location.

Florida Investment Property Locations

There are so many location options of investment property in Florida, making it difficult to select just the right location. Let’s start from the top! Do you desire a beachfront location, or one close to the coast, or would you rather select property in a town setting. Tourist area or settled community, inland or beachside? Asking these questions helps you narrow down your search. Each area where an investment property in Florida is located has its own flavor, its own attractions. Let’s start with the Miami area. Miami is located in the southeastern corner of Florida and Miami Beach is a seven mile long island known as America’s Riviera. Home appreciation rate in the Miami area is about 11% with the median home price around $240,000. There are diverse offerings of single family homes, ocean front property and ocean view condominiums. Of course condo and home prices are offered in a vast range, with upscale areas bringing in up to $5 million. Condos and town homes may be cheaper, depending on location, but with price escalation and population density, even there it may be hard to find a bargain. Miami offers beautiful beaches with perennial sunshine but traffic congestion and the increasing population boom may be a deterrent to some. Just forty miles north of Miami, lies Boca Raton with five miles of coastline and gorgeous beaches. Appreciation rate here is around 11%. Clearwater, on the west coast of Florida borders Clearwater Harbor and the Gulf of Mexico. Indian Shores is a small historic community offering condos, gulf front property and Intracoastal Waterway homes and town homes. The appreciation rate for investment property in Florida, Clearwater is about 9%.

Investment Property in Florida – Daytona Beach, Jacksonville and Destin
Moving north in our search for investment property in Florida, let’s take a look at the Daytona Beach area. Daytona is known as a spring break and family playground on Florida’s east coast about 50 miles northeast of Orlando. Homes prices are surprisingly reasonable here in comparison with other popular Florida beach locations. Appreciation is about 10% with homes starting as low as $80,000. A large variety of housing choices exist, everything from inland or waterfront property, to townhouses and single family homes, ocean front or inland. Older homes abound but there are also several new upscale building projects. Let’s take a look further north at Jacksonville. Jacksonville is known as Florida’s River City due to the ever-present St. John’s River which flows through the city, ponds and lakes. A modestly priced investment property in Florida can be found here with a range from $60,000 to several million. Appreciation is around 9% with continual growing home construction. Unique to Jacksonville is its diverse neighborhoods and building styles. Destin is located in the Emerald Coast of Florida, sitting on the Gulf of Mexico. It is just south of Alabama and was recently voted as having the best beaches in the US. Destin boasts great seafood, and excellent golfing and fishing. Home appreciation here is around 12% with the median home price about $165,000. Condos and townhouses here begin at $100,000 and can go upwards in the millions for waterfront property.

Investment Property in Florida – Attractive Tourist Areas

Let’s play a little word association. I’ll say Florida and chances are the majority of people will say Walt Disney World, or something relating to the Orlando area. Orlando has a thriving tourist economy that attracts close to thirty five million visitors each year. Real estate is booming here with the median price taking a dramatic jump from $166,000 to $200,000, an appreciation of 27%, making investing near Orlando a great venture. Conway Belle Isle, east Orange County, Maitland/Winter Park and northwest Orange County have seen the most dramatic property value increases. There is a strong job market here without forecasts of a downturn, keeping prices strong. There are a large variety of properties to choose from, including starter homes, modest cottages, older homes and impressive new developments. Orlando is called the City Beautiful and owes part of that title to its cleanliness, newness and innovation and variety of lakes and nearby attractions. Whether you are considering investment property in Florida as a rental for locals, as a tourist rental or to rent and use yourself, Orlando is an excellent choice in location. Consider the varied options of attractions in the Orlando area. Walt Disney World would be foremost as a draw card, followed by Sea World, and Universal Studios. But along with these well-known attractions, a plethora of other hot spots exist. Wet-N-Wild draws a huge number of the sizzling summer crowd, a great place to cool down on a scorching Florida summer day. Kennedy Space Center makes a great day trip as well as Cocoa Beach, home of Ron Jon’s Surf Shop and Daytona Beach, a world famous family and spring break destination.

Investment Property in Florida – Locations near Disney World

Having established that owning investment property near Orlando would be a wise investment decision, the search now begins for a specific location. Disney World, Sea World and Universal Studios are located on the south side of Orlando. Condos, town homes and single family homes are commonly purchased for investment purchase in this area. Closest to the Disney area is the community of Kissimmee, Florida. Kissimmee was a sleepy cow town just a decade ago. It is now booming with tourist activity. A quaint downtown area still exists with a few cattle ranches on the outskirts but generally the flavor of Kissimmee now reflects its large tourist population. Close to Disney, within 30 to 45 minutes, lies the lesser-known town of Davenport, Florida. Surrounded by orange groves, it gives you the feel of old rural Florida, but is close enough to the major attractions to make this an attractive investment option. Looking to get into a ground floor investment opportunity? Bimimi Bay Resort, a brand new town home resort development is now offering purchase opportunities. The many amenities in the planning stages include a resort pool, 2 movie theatres, a major restaurant chain, club house, lazy river, food court and many others. For the price of principal, interest, taxes and insurance, the owner has the many advantages of using the property for a minimum rate while vacationing and letting Bimimi Bay take care of all the headaches of rental during the year, still receiving a reliable monthly income. It’s a no lose deal for investors.

Lisa Carson http://www.biminibayresortinvestment.com lcarson@biminibayresortinvestment.com

Author: Lisa Carson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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In the 1960s, William Nickerson wrote, “How I Turned $1000 into Three Million in Real Estate” and “How to Make a Fortune Today Starting from Scratch.” It was one of the first real estate investing books to get national attention. A little later, Al Lowry authored “How You Can Become Financially Independent by Investing in Real Estate.” Al Lowry might be called “the father of the modern-day real estate seminars,” because he was the first to hold seminars as a result of his book sales.

But it was Mark Haroldsen who carried the real estate investing book/seminar thrust to the next level. Haroldsen wrote, “How to Wake Up the Financial Genius Inside You.” If you were tuned in to real estate investing at that time, you remember the newspaper and magazine advertising showing a picture of suave and bald-headed Mark leaning against the front hood of his Mercedes. The picture appeared everywhere in full page ads of major publications. And as Mark began selling his books, he began holding real estate investing seminars. I have had lunch with Mark and Al Lowry as they swapped stories of the advertising blitzes that vaulted them into national prominence for their real estate investing prowess. Mark later wrote “The Courage To Be Rich” and “Tax Free.”

But it was Robert Allen who capitalized on the previous groundwork by Lowry and Haroldsen. Robert Allen was reportedly paid $1 million advance royalties for his best-selling book, “Nothing Down,” a compilation of 50 techniques for buying property with no money. Robert had learned these techniques from several years experience with a commercial real estate firm. He later wrote “Creating Wealth” and “Getting Started in Real Estate Investing.” The Robert Allen Real Estate Investing Seminars became a phenomenal marketing bonanza. Conventions were held in the major cities across the country, like Orlando, LA, Dallas, Chicago and Atlanta. The authors of various real estate investing techniques spoke at these seminars, but their spiel focused on selling packages of real estate investing materials that they offered for sale. Millions of dollars of real estate investing materials were sold at these 3 day conventions. The convention frenzy ushered in what has since become known as “The Nothing Down Real Estate Movement” of the early to mid-1980s.

I keep all of these books in my personal library, and you can probably still find them in your public library and book stores. There’s a lot of great information in these books that can make you very knowledgeable, even though some of the ideas are out-dated.

We are now presented a variety of ways for making money in real estate investing in TV infomercials, books and seminars. Which is best? Who can say? Real estate investing is learned through trial and error. Real estate investing skills and techniques are acquired by practice. I don’t think anyone can dogmatically recommend a technique best for another person. Every real estate investor has unique needs and is in a unique situation. Objectives of real estate investing differs.

However, if you are limited with real estate investing educational dollars and need to generate quick return on investment, I think fixing up cheap houses is an ideal beginning point. Real estate investing in makeover properties generates quick, profitable dollars with low risk.

Phil Speer, Ph.D., started his real estate investing career 25 years ago. Without the availability of credit and using only a $10 bill, he purchased $1 million in properties in his first year, and had accumulated $10 million in properties by his fourth year. http://www.CashinHouses.com/. He was featured in a Wall St.Journal editorial as most successful investor in the Nothing Down Real Estate Movement, and was honored with a Caribbean cruise as top investor of the year. In his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, he has been a businessman and Human Resources Consultant for 30 years. He is an author, speaker and seminar director.

To learn how to profit in real estate investing, even without cash or credit, read his report at [http://www.Real---Estate---Investing.com/information/flipping.html/] Subscription is free to his Fix-up Ezine. He and other contributing authors provide free articles and resources on real estate investing at his online “Academy of Advanced Real Estate Investing Techniques” at http://www.AAREIT.com/

Author: Dr.Phil Speer
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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There are many things to consider when buying your first home. Some of the most important steps to buy a house are:

Step 1: Learning the home buying process

Start by learning as much as you can about how the home buying and mortgage application process works. Read as much as you can about buying a home. Check out the many books in your local library that offer hints to first time home buyers. Read financial web sites on the internet for tips for first time home buyers. You may even want to sign up for a class aimed at first time homeowners. Many towns and cities offer these kinds of classes, and they can be a great source of information for the buyer looking for his or her first home.

Step 2: Find out the pre-qualified price range

It is important to find out how much you can borrow before you start looking for a home. Talk with several mortgage lenders in your area and get pre-qualified for a particular price range. The mortgage lender will be able to help you determine how much you can borrow based on your annual income. In general, mortgage lenders recommend that all home related expenses, including the mortgage payment, insurance premiums and real estate taxes, do not exceed 28% of your monthly income.

Step 3: Get Pre-approved for mortgage loan

The next step is to get pre-approved for mortgage financing. This is similar to getting pre-qualified for a price range, but it is a more formal process. You will need to supply proof of your income for the pre-approval process to move forward. Most lenders will want to see income tax returns from the past two years as proof of the income you are claiming.

Step 4: House hunting

After you have been pre-approved for your mortgage loan, it is time to actually start house hunting with a realtor (find out why you need to find a realtor before buying a house?). Your mortgage lender will give you a letter stating that you have been pre-approved for a mortgage and the amount you are authorized to borrow. You will need to present this letter to the real estate agent when you get started. It is important to get pre-approved for a mortgage loan before beginning your home search. The real estate agent and real estate company will be much more willing to work with you if they know you can afford the home you are looking at. In addition, sellers will take your offer much more seriously if it is accompanied by a pre-approval letter from your mortgage lender.

Step 5: Make an offer

Once you have found a home that meets your needs, it is time to make an offer on the property. You will already know the most you can spend from the pre-approval process, and you probably will have your own ideas on what the property is actually worth. In addition, your real estate agent can guide you through the negotiation process and offer procedures. A copy of your pre-approval letter will be presented as part of the written offer. This will ensure the seller that your offer is legitimate.

Step 6: Negotiation process

If the seller accepts your first offer, congratulations. Your negotiations are over and you’re ready to start preparing for your move. More likely, however, is that the seller will come back with a counter-offer. This negotiation process can go on for a short or long amount of time, depending on factors like the motivation of the seller, the local real estate market, and a host of other factors. The real estate agent will be a good guide through the negotiation process. After all, he or she will have been through this process many times before.

Step 7: Provide copy of Purchase and Sale Agreement to mortgage broker

After the negotiation process has been completed, you will need to present your mortgage broker with a copy of the Purchase and Sale Agreement for the home.

Step 8: Work to close the mortgage loan

After presenting the Purchase and Sales Agreement, you will need to work with the mortgage broker to ensure you meet all the conditions required for the closing of the mortgage loan.

Step 9: ome inspection prior closing

Prior to closing, you will want to make sure to have a thorough home inspection performed by a qualified and certified home inspector. A home inspection will protect you from flaws in the construction and condition of the home that are not obvious to the naked eye. Home inspections can uncover things like foundation cracks, termite infestation and other home quality issues.

Step 10: Hand over down payment

After the home inspection has been performed and the report has come back clean (or all the items uncovered have been repaired), it is time for the buyer to actually hand over the money for the down payment and sign the loan documents.

Step 11: Collect the house key

After the closing of the loan, the fun part of home buying begins. Your real estate agent will hand over the keys to your new home and you can actually move in and enjoy your beautiful new home. Welcome to moving day!

Andrew is the web owner of Home Buying Tips: How to buy a house, a website that provides complete guide on home buying, selling house, home mortgage, foreclosure, real estate investment and more. You can visit his website at:http://www.buy-and-sell-house-fast.com/

Author: Andrew Webber
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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The public school system and educational curriculum in the U.S. is only a feeble attempt to prepare students to just “get a job.” Unfortunately there is no class in “Making Money 101.” You don’t have the opportunity to take a class in “How to Become Financially Independent.” No teacher ever taught a class in “How to Succeed When Everyone Else is Failing.” I never learned anything about succeeding as an entrepreneur or becoming wealthy during my 10 years in the university classroom. I only became a multi-millionaire when I learned the skills of real estate investing, and I paid the price out-of-pocket and out-of-the-classroom for that education. I learned these skills in the ole University of Hard Knocks through trial-and-error.

Never disparage the cost of education. There ain’t no free lunch. You’ve gotta get this know-how outside of a classroom, and learning how to make money is gonna cost you. But if you think the cost of education is expensive, you should calculate the cost of ignorance!

However, learning real estate investing doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. Yes, I know, the real estate investing TV infomercials and the real estate investing seminars held around the country charge big bucks for those 3-day seminars and week-long Boot Camps. But that’s pocket change compared to the fees they want to collect from you later. Catch this fact: all the real estate investing infomercials and seminars target you as a candidate for “real estate investing coaching.” That’s where they charge you up to $25,000 and over $50,000 per year for “coaching.” And often you are assigned to some kid “still wet behind the ears” to call you each week or month to hold your hand and whisper in your ear what common sense and a persistent drive should already tell you! I’m not exaggerating the real estate investing educational system, because I know it inside and out. I personally know many of the so-called “gurus.” I’ve been close to it for 25 years. My opinion is that the fees charged are exorbitant because the promoters have found deep pockets in the marketplace.

When I started my real estate investing career 25 years ago, real estate investing TV infomercials were unknown and real estate investing seminars were extremely rare. Back then, Mark Haroldsen followed an emerging trend started by Al Lowry and Nick Nickerson by holding occasional real estate investing seminars across the country. Later Robert Allen expanded the industry. Robert Allen promoted real estate investing conventions in the major cities across the U.S. He found a market for costly real estate investing packages of information with cassette tapes and note books. TV infomercials, expensive seminars, and outlandish coaching fees followed in subsequent years. Would-be real estate investing aspirants today who want more than an inadequate salary from a job in Dullsville often conclude that they have to “pay through the nose” for real estate investing know-how.

However, through diligent searching, these wanna-bees often find that this education in real estate investing is more readily obtained from other sources than they previously imagined.

Real estate investing is probably one of the most easily learned skills never taught in school. Real estate investing is probably one of the most prolific careers available on Planet Earth. Because families now live in houses instead of caves, houses available for fix up are everywhere. And probably nothing contributes to upgrading the deplorable housing conditions across America comparable to real estate investing in fix up properties.

The entrepreneur-minded aspirant who discovers the real estate investing industry often catches a vision of life-beyond-a-job. Books and online courses offer an alternative to expensive seminars and coaching.

Phil Speer, Ph.D., started his real estate investing career 25 years ago. Without the availability of credit and using only a $10 bill, he purchased $1 million in properties in his first year, and had accumulated $10 million in properties by his fourth year. He was featured in a Wall St.Journal editorial as most successful investor in the Nothing Down Real Estate Movement, and was honored with a Caribbean cruise as top investor of the year. In his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, he has been a businessman and Human Resources Consultant for 30 years. He is an author, speaker and seminar director. To learn how to profit in real estate investing, even without cash or credit, read his report at http://www.CashinHouses.com/. Subscription is free to his Fix-up Ezine. He and other contributing authors provide free articles and resources on real estate investing at his online Academy of Advanced Real Estate Investing Techniques – http://www.AAREIT.com/

Author: Dr.Phil Speer
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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