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If you want to buy a house but don’t think you can for any of the following reasons, this article is intended to give you correct information so that you can make smarter choices and open yourself up to a world of wealth, possibilities and realistic expectations.

The truth is you are being unrealistic when you believe the following reasons to be true:

I can’t buy property now because…

• I don’t have 20% for a down payment, let alone 5%, let alone even 1%.
• I don’t have any money for closing costs.
• I won’t qualify for a loan (I have poor credit, don’t make enough money, can’t prove my income, haven’t been at the same job long enough, etc.)
• The market prices are too high now.
• I don’t want to live in a bad neighborhood and that’s the only place I can afford one right now.
• I can’t afford the mortgage payments with my current income.
• Fill-in-the-blank.

I am here to tell you that you CAN buy property, regardless of any of the above.

In this day and age, there is absolutely NO reason why anyone can’t own their own home. The strict days of the 20%-down-excellent-credit-and-stable-well-paying-job loans are over, replaced by no-down-payment-prior-bankruptcy-and-stated-income loan programs.

With the wide array of today’s diverse lifestyles comes an abundance of opportunities and programs created for each and every possible situation. Businesses need to make money, and the best way to open themselves up to a larger range of customers is to offer services for the vast and varied circumstances of each individual.

Many lenders today offer little to no down payment programs, poor credit leniencies and even no proof of employment or salary requirements (in lender speak, it’s called “stated-income programs” where you simply state your income to the lender without having to prove it with pay stubs, W2′s, etc. This is widely used by freelancers and consultants).

In addition to the countless programs offered by lenders, there are now government grants and (often free) services available for the low-income, low reserve home buyer as well as plenty of programs for first time home buyers. Government programs and many private loan programs also offer assistance for closing costs (the costs required up front to pay for lender fees, escrow & title charges, etc.), with some programs requiring the seller to pay for most of them.

For a list of government grants, go to http://www.cfda.gov (The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance) or http://www.firstgov.gov (The US Government’s Official Web Portal). Click on “Benefits & Grants” to get to their grants page.

“Ok, that’s great,” you’re thinking, “but the real estate market is so inflated now, even if I could qualify for a loan, how am I going to afford a house in the neighborhood I want?”

Welcome to the wonderful world of foreclosures, tax auctions and rehabs (otherwise known as fixer-uppers)! It is a myth that all foreclosures and tax-defaulted properties are in poor, run-down neighborhoods. One good thing about foreclosures and tax-defaulted properties is their indiscrimination. They occur in gang-ridden crack neighborhoods, middle class neighborhoods and elite million dollar communities alike.

Another benefit is that they are generally much cheaper than the lowest priced house in the same neighborhood. We all know the difference between retail and wholesale. You could go to the mall and buy a shirt for retail at $20 or you could go to the garment district in the city and buy the same shirt for wholesale at $10, or better yet, with the advent of the internet, you could do all your wholesale shopping online in the comfort of your pajamas.

The same is true for real estate. If you wouldn’t spend that extra $10 dollars to buy a shirt at retail, why would you spend an extra $10,000 (or usually more) to buy a house at retail?

In the industry, houses that are listed on the market are considered retail. Houses you find through foreclosures and tax auctions are considered wholesale. These are discounted houses, available at a low price for a quick sale, usually because the Bank or County is seeking to simply make back the money they’ve spent on it before (and after) the buyer defaulted. This equals to huge savings for the educated buyer.

Rehabbing is buying houses that are a little less than perfect and fixing them up, either to sell for a profit or to keep as a residence. Some people enjoy the challenge of buying a property that needs a complete overhaul (new roof, extensive remodeling, structural fixes, etc.) while others prefer a “cosmetic fixer,” a house which needs a little touch up paint here and there, some flowers planted in the yard, maybe even a new kitchen countertop, etc.

Cosmetic fixers are a fun and easy way to make money. You get to do a little artistic handiwork (even if you’ve never done it before) and make money at the same time. The quick profits you yield can be rolled over into a bigger and better house, you can repeat the process over and over again, working your way up from a $50,000 house to a $500,000 house within a few years – and the best part, it’s all tax-free!

Called a “1031 Exchange,” the gains you receive from selling the house can be tax-deferred as long as you continue to buy an equal or higher priced house with the proceeds you make from the sale. Unlike a straight sale of a residence, there are no occupancy requirements or live-in time restrictions for a 1031 Exchange. For a residence, federal law states that you must live in the home for 2 out of 5 years of ownership in order to avoid capital gains tax. You may choose to live in it for 2 years and bank the proceeds – yes, tax free! – or you may choose to flip it and do a 1031 Exchange – yes, tax deferred!

If you’re sitting there scratching your head, thinking all this sounds like too much work when all you want is simply a house to call your own, chances are good you can still find a great deal in the retail market as well.

If you are convinced, or even slightly convinced that you just might be able to buy a home after all, here are some steps for the average, traditional home buyer.

• The first step is to figure out how much you are willing to spend. Get your finances in order by evaluating your current total monthly income against your current total monthly outgo. If you are paying $800 in rent now, how much more can you afford per month? If you don’t want to pay any more than $800 a month, but really can, I urge you to look at the bigger picture. Is it worth it to spend a little more per month now to ensure you have an investment that could reap significant returns for you a few years later? Is it worth it to invest that $800 a month (and a little more if necessary) into YOUR future prosperity and not your landlord’s? Is it worth it to live without Direct TV or 100 cable channels or 3,000 cell phone minutes in the short term to invest in your financial freedom in the long term?

  Be careful not to overstretch, however. You still want to enjoy your home without cursing it for breaking your bank. Depending on your financial situation, it may not be necessary to cut costs or stretch to purchase a home, but if so, what is owning your own home worth to you?

• The second step is to find the right lender or broker. You need to find a lender/broker so that you will know how much house you can afford. They will tell you how big of a loan you qualify for, based on your income vs. your debt (debt-to-income ratio), how much the monthly payments will be approximately, and how much your upfront costs will be, if any.
• Once you find the right lender, the third step is to find an agent. As a buyer, you do not pay an agent. The agent makes a commission from the seller’s final price. The commission (usually 6%) is split between the buyer’s agent and the seller’s agent (and their broker). If you can, be your own agent. If you find a house you like on your own, you can often offer the seller a lower price since they won’t have to pay part of that to the agents and can afford to lower the price for you. Sellers usually factor in the agents’ commissions when setting their asking price.
• The fourth step is to get to know the market. Knowing what to buy, when to buy and where to buy is key to making money in real estate. Watch the market, talk to agents, sellers, buyers, investors, anyone who might know the neighborhoods you’re interested in. Be open to neighborhoods you haven’t thought of or heard of. Your agent can help you with this too. If you have found a good agent, they will share with you their knowledge of the market based on their experiences being in it every day.
• Know what you want and why. There are numerous ways to make money in real estate. They range anywhere from simply buying low and selling high, to rental income property, to purchasing notes and certificates, to the aforementioned ways and more. Do you want to make a quick, instant million? Or do you want a modest but steady stream of income to be comfortable? Or do you just want to buy a house to live in, a house your children can grow up in? Study your options and go with the one that appeals to you regardless of whether you know anything about it and whether you think you can do it or not. Find your niche in the market and follow it.
• Learn from others who have done it. If your knowledge is insufficient due to lack of experience, let someone else’s experiences guide you. Take courses, read books, talk to others who have led the way and have achieved success in what you want to do. Don’t listen to anyone who hasn’t done it themselves, especially ones who tell you that you can’t. “Borrow” someone else’s knowledge until you gain your own through experience. There are a lot of materials out there to get you started.

Above all, the BEST thing you can do for your success is believe in yourself, believe it CAN be done and go out and do it! Stop wasting your time making up excuses why it CAN’T be done and start spending your time more effectively by finding ways it CAN.

Teresa Franklyn is author and publisher of The Daily Dose, a popular inspirational online publication. When shes not passionately typing away at her computer, she enjoys investing in Real Estate for fun and profit. For more information and helpful links about how to get into Real Estate, visit her website at http://www.followyoursoul.com. To read about her adventures as an Owner/Builder, visit her Blog at http://followyoursoul.blogspot.com

Author: Teresa Franklyn
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Anti-angiogenic Food

Real estate investing is about more than picking up a property cheaply and reselling it at a profit. While how-to books and real estate guru seminars may make it seem easy and risk-free, there is a reality to real estate investment. To learn more about the potential downsides of real estate investing, keep reading.

It Takes Capital

Typically, real estate isn’t considered a quickie investment, and your capital can be tied up for a long time. A down payment on a home can’t always be taken out and withdrawn in the case of a financial emergency or the need for quick cash.

That capital could also be used for other investments. For example, let’s say you invest $20,000 into a home that winds up not appreciating at the 8 percent annual rate you hoped it would. Instead, it depreciates and then eventually appreciates at a low 4 percent rate. That $20,000 could have made more by investing it wisely in a diversified investment portfolio.

Returns Will Vary

Like any investment, other than GICs (Guaranteed Investment Certificate) or guaranteed savings programs, your returns are going to vary. While real estate is more stable than, say, the stock market, that doesn’t mean you can bank on a 10 percent annual return.

You Will Pay Capital Gains Taxes

Taxes can slash your profits on your real estate investments if you’re unprepared. While there are deductions and capital deferral programs available to real estate investors, you need to understand the law and be prepared to apply it to your own circumstances.

Closing Fees and Transaction Costs can Reduce Profits

Unless you’re savvy enough to handle your own sales, you’ll have to hire a real estate agent, meaning you’ll have to pay commission. In addition, most investors will need to pay closing costs, title insurance, inspection rates, legal fees and more.

Typically, the costs associated with any real estate transaction usually hover around 15 percent of the transaction, whether you’re buying or selling.

There is Work Involved

While a real estate investment normally does reward sweat equity, that also means you have to put it in. Unlike stock market investments where it takes little more than cash and a telephone or a computer to make an investment and see a possible return, real estate investment involves getting out of your chair and a lot of leg work.

Whether it’s driving out to sale sites, attending home viewings, cleaning properties, maintaining rental units, upgrading or renovating houses or preparing a house for sale, it’s all hard work that you’ll have to put in. So, before you jump into real estate investing, make sure you have the time and energy to invest alongside your money.

For information on exciting real estate locations, visit http://www.realestatelocale.com, a popular site providing great insights concerning home purchase ideas, such as Manchester New Hampshire real estate, Senoia real estate, and many more!

Author: Hunter Craig
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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In real life, there is no secret way to attain real estate investing success. I wish it were not so, but successful real estate investing requires hard work, good research, and a systematic analysis of each and every investment property opportunity.

A proficient real estate professional can help you find, research, and even analyze the profitability of specific rental properties. This can be helpful (even needful), but you want to be prepared. It is good for you to have some knowledge of the rates of return real estate investors generally use during the analysis process before making that all-important decision to purchase a property, regardless.

Since you are new to real estate investing, it seems like a good idea to discuss three of the most commonly used measures and returns.

By themselves, none of these is a deal maker or breaker. You would not make an investment decision based solely on the results of any of these numbers. But they are popular, you will hear them referred to, and it certainly will better prepare you to achieve your investment goal by becoming familiar with them.

Cash on Cash Return

Cash on cash return (C-o-C) measures the initial profitability of a rental property. That is, it indicates the return you can expect to receive in the first year on the money you invest to purchase the property (i.e., the initial cash required to cover your down payment and closing costs).

There are no hard fast rules regarding what return makes a good investment, but it should be obvious that the higher the cash on cash return is the better.

Formula: Cash on Cash = Before Tax Cash Flow / Cash Equity (Initial Investment)

Test your understanding. Given the opportunity to invest $50,000 for a cash-on-cash return of 6.5% or an investment of $75,000 for a 10.2% return, which appears to be the better investment? Though it would require more cash outlay, the higher return, at least on the surface, seems to be the better investment. Why, because a first-year yield of 10.2% on your cash investment is better than a first-year yield of 6.5%.

Gross Rent Multiplier

Gross rent multiplier (GRM) measures the ratio between annual gross rental income and sale price. It is the least informative measure of an income-property primarily because it does not consider a property’s operating expenses, debt service or cash flow, and by itself is insufficient as a stand-alone number because it says nothing about a property’s profitability.

Nonetheless, gross rent multiplier can be helpful for simple comparisons between rental properties. It is an easy calculation you can make in your head, and can be used when you simply want to get some idea how the price for one rental property compares to similar properties recently sold or currently for sale in the market.

Formula: Gross Rent Multiplier = Purchase Price / Gross Rent

Test your understanding. If you are considering a duplex with a gross rent multiplier of 7.2 and know that two similar duplexes down the street sold recently at gross rent multipliers of 8.5 and 9.0, what does that suggest? That you could be getting a good deal, and might want to take a serious look at the property. Why, because the gross rent multiplier on the duplex you are considering indicates a higher ratio of gross rent to purchase price then the market seems to suggest.

Capitalization Rate

Capitalization rate (or Cap Rate) is essentially an indicator of how much debt an income property can carry; the higher the cap rate, the more debt a property can support, and vice versa.

The idea is straightforward. A property’s cap rate indicates the percentage rate of sale price attributable to net operating income (income less operating expenses). That is, it shows how much cash flow is generated to make the mortgage payment as a percent of sale price.

Real estate investors, of course, want to purchase at the highest rate possible (they desire net operating income to be a larger percentage of sale price), while sellers seek to sell at lower cap rates (meaning they can obtain a sale price that is higher compared to the property’s net operating income).

Formula: Capitalization Rate = Net Operating Income / Purchase Price or Value

Test your understanding. You know from your research that small office buildings in your area have typically been selling for a cap rate around 8.3%. The building you are looking at results in a cap rate of 6.8%, what does that say about the price? That unless there are some benefits to prove otherwise, the property might be over priced. Why, because the building in question indicates less net operating income as a percent of sale price compared to what the market suggests.

Conclusion

There is no magic bullet for real estate investing; pure luck is improbable. To succeed, you will have to work hard, research, and above all, do the math. Investment property is all about the numbers, and the more you prepare yourself to run those numbers, the better your chances (as one new to real estate investing) to make money at it.

About the Author

James R Kobzeff is a real estate broker and developer of ProAPOD Real Estate Investment Software – Rental property cash flow, rate of return, and profitability analysis.

Real Estate Investor Software – So those just starting to invest in real estate can determine whether the property makes money before invest.

Mortgage and Financial Calculator – Compute hundreds of mortgage, time value, and cash flow computations in seconds!

Preview an APOD, proforma income statement, and our other cash flow analysis reports at www.proapod.com/ReportsPage.htm

Author: James Kobzeff
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Awe Inspiring Pictures

The following are not your usual home buying tips. For example, almost everyone will tell you that you should buy a home, but the first tip below suggests an alternative.

Consider Renting

This is all about time and place and your own situation. Are you going to be in one place for long? If you are likely to move within a few years, you may be better off renting. Transaction costs of buying and selling will likely eat up any equity gains you get. It may seem profitable to buy at $200,000 and sell at $220,000 two years later, but commissions, closing costs and loan costs can easily add up to $20,000, so where is the gain? Also, there is no guarantee that prices will rise, and if they don’t you suffer a real loss.

Also, it is a matter of the ratio between rental rates and the costs of buying, and what is likely to happen in the market. For example, suppose you are in a slow-growing stable area, and your total monthly cost to buy a home is going to be around $1,200. If rent is anywhere near that for the same size home, you should probably be buying a house.

On the other hand, let’s look at the example of Tucson, Arizona in late 2005. You could buy a small home for about $190,000, with mortgage, taxes and insurance running about $1,325 per month. But you could rent the same home for just $675 per month. Now add to this the fact that home prices had been rising at 20% or more per year for years, and 12% of all recent sales were to speculators, not owner-occupants (a sure sign of a market top).

In this case, it would have made more sense to rent. Had you bought there two years ago, you would have paid $650 per month extra to be a home owner, or $15,600 over these last two years. In addition, the house would probably be worth a little less now than when you bought it. Better to have banked that $15,600 and bought the home today.

Other Home Buying Tips

Compare ALL costs when you look at various homes. It is easy to consider just the price of a home, or what that means in terms of a mortgage payment. However, there are other costs. If the home is in a flood zone, for example, insurance could be $200 per month higher than for other homes. Look at taxes, insurance, utility costs (big homes cost more to heat) and any other regular costs, so you can honestly compare houses according to what they will cost you monthly.

Go to online forums to learn about a new town. Many people like to talk about where they live. They get to do this in various online forums, which you can search for by entering the name of the town and “forum” into any search engine. Be aware that these are often places where locals complain about their town, but you can also find interesting and useful information, and ask questions.

If your real estate agent doesn’t represent you, don’t be loyal. If she is really a seller’s agent, she is obligated to pass on comment you make to the seller, like “I think we can go higher if they reject our first offer.” Even if she represents you, be sure she does it well. If you are shown three houses that have nothing to do with the criteria you laid out, show the agent the door. By all means stick with a good agent who really helps you, but otherwise you can also call the listing agent for each house you want to see.

Inspect the home yourself. You probably plan to have a home inspection done by a professional before you buy. But you should also visit the home a second time yourself, and do your own inspection. Bring a checklist and look over everything, even if this takes an hour or more. In this way you can tell the professional inspector what your concerns are, and be ready with questions for him.

There is another reason to do this inspection. It has to do with a concept called “time investment.” Sellers are more likely to accept an offer if they have invested more time and hope into a buyer. Negotiation secrets like this are a whole other area of home buying tips – one that you may want to learn about.

Copyright Steve Gillman. See a photo of the house we bought for $17,500, get a free ebook on how to buy cheap homes, a free real estate investing course, and a Home Inspection Checklist at: http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com/home-inspection-checklist.html

Author: Steven Gillman
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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It is not easy to sell your house in today’s market as prices are plunging. If you ask for the price that was six months ago in the market, you’re going to turn off your potential buyers. Instead, price your home by looking at similar houses currently on the market. Also see those homes which are not selling. Chances may be owners might have priced their dwellings too high. If you want to sell your house, you should under price your house by just a hair.

Hire a home stager who will guarantee a quick sale. Home staggers will do anything from removing the clutter to rearranging the furniture to rent all new furnishings. Staged properties are sold much faster and at a higher price than any other property. There are some inexpensive tricks that homeowners can do on their own to attract buyers. Your house space should be open and clean as far as possible. Remove all personal items that may make it more difficult for someone to imagine living in your house.

A house that is free of repairs will sell much faster than one that needs pricey repairs. It would be better if you inspect your house before you put it on the market for selling it. Make an online listing of your house. Nearly 84 percent of people start their real estate searches online. Buyers don’t like to waste time visiting anyone’s house, they just like to see some photos so that they can know whether they would select your house or not. If you want to sell your home fast include a video tour of your home in the real estate searches online. Hire a professional photographer who would take half a dozen photos that highlight your home’s best features. Take a snap of the outside on a sunny day, one of the kitchen, a bathroom, dining room and a bedroom. It is important to include several pictures in an online property ad.

Since selling a home has become very difficult, sellers are offering many incentives to buyers such as paying for the closing costs or points on a mortgage. Consider replacing draft windows with ones that are energy-efficient. If you install a 40 inch plasma TV with a surround sound stereo system in the living room, offer to include it with the house. Don’t try to sell by a certain date. This adds unnecessary pressure to sell and can cost you thousands of dollars off the asking price.

Andrew Wilson is a SEO copywriter for Sell home fast, House to sell and Sell property. He has written many articles in various topics like Sell and rent back, Selling my house and Selling home. For more information visit: http://www.rapid-property-solutions.co.uk/

Author: Andrew V. Wilson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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The housing market these days is under pressure. Foreclosure rates are on the rise and those trying to sell a home are experiencing great competition. So what do these hard economic times hold for those trying to sell their homes?

What should you do if you’re trying to sell?
There are many reasons why you may be trying to unload your home, even if it is a buyer’s market. Maybe your job transferred you to a new location, you’re recently divorced, or you’re downsizing after sending the last child off to college.

While each area of the country is experiencing difference sales times and sales prices, are there ways you can increase your chances of selling? Try these three tactics and your chance for selling goes up.

1. Make sure the price is right. What happened two years ago has nothing to do with today. Do some research on your own to find out what houses similar to yours are selling for in the area. There are some websites online where you can find sales price information. You can also enlist the help of a professional real estate agent. If you price your home for the current market, it will sell. If you price it too high or too low, then you may experience a delay.

2. Make it presentable. The better your house looks, the faster it’ll sell. Buyers can’t envision themselves living in your home if it is dirty, cluttered, or in need of major repairs. It’s not a matter of remodeling the whole house, but it is a matter of making it look its best.

3. Offer a bonus. Whether it’s offering to pay the buyer’s closing costs or upgrading the appliances, offer a bonus incentive to get the attention of potential buyers.

It’s a buyer’s market, but this doesn’t mean you can’t sell a home in today’s market. If it’s time for you to move on from your current home, try these three tactics to increase your odds for selling–making it easier and faster.

Kristie Lorette is a freelance writer and marketing consultant that specializes in personal finance. She is also the editor of The Mortgage & Credit Diva, a blog devoted to mortgage and personal finance tips, tricks, and advice for consumers. You can read Kristie’s blog at http://www.mortgageandcreditdiva.blogspot.com or learn more about her writing and marketing services at http://www.studiokwriting.com

Author: Kristie L. Lorette
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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