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Guide To Buying Forclosure Real Estate
Posted by: | CommentsOne man’s trash is another man’s treasure. While home foreclosure can be a tragedy it can also be a blessing for others. Gas prices are not the only prices that continue to rise. Residential properties are also expensive. Their prices also vary from one place to another. Due to this other people take advantage of foreclosure auctions.
Repo homes are a great opportunity for those who simply cannot afford a new house. Often these houses are sold far below the market value.
Unfortunately most repossessed houses are those which require a lot of repairs. Previous homeowners do hot have the means to maintain the house or just didn’t take care of them. Some of these houses have also been abandoned by their previous homeowners and mortgage lenders have no choice but to get rid of them immediately.
Study up on the process
Before you buy a repossessed home you need to make sure that you’re going to get a good deal. You may have to do a little bit of research first to be able to see how much you will have to spend in buying and repairing the property.
If you are short on cash, you can get a loan. ( in some cases you can get an assumable loan) Talk first to loan officer or mortgage broker to see if you are qualified. If you are qualified gather the information you need.
You will be able to find a list of foreclosure homes on the internet. The list will also be published in local newspapers. You can also find information for auctions online. After you have gathered enough information visit the houses to stake out possible properties that you can buy.
Work out your budget. What are you willing to pay for the foreclosed house along with the repairs? If you’re planning to “flip” the house,ask your agent to calculate the property’s “after repair value”. If you’re planning to rent it after buying the property, calculate the monthly rate and compare to prices in the local paper for the same type of property.
Once you have finished all the research, make a bid on the property. After you have purchased the house have it inspected and appraised. Then look for a title company to research the history of the house. Once the house is yours and, any repairs you need to make are done, you have the option to live in it or rent it out.
Doc Schmyz has invested all over the US and Mexico. His free website shares Real estate investing information for all over the US. Find real estate information by state
Home Foreclosure: Who The Heck Is Calling My House…AND WHY?
Posted by: | CommentsHome foreclosure is a not the best situation to be in. Once the notices start coming and the phone starts ringing you can’t really keep hiding. Your going to hear from lots of people who claim that they can help you. These calls are from organizations that have their own motives and goals. In desperate times even a good sales pitch may sound like a miracle.
There are a number of people who are going to send mail or call. Most likely they were able to get your address or your number from the court system. Due to the legal nature of the process your information will be deemed as public and be published. This means anyone with internet access can find you.
The most common people or organizations that are going to give you call:
Swindlers/Con Men
These are the ones you have to be aware of. (And there are a lot of them out there.) All of them offer promises and refer you to a chapter 13 attorney for collect a fee. In worse cases, they will take the deed of the house and force you to pay rent while leading you to believe that they can save your home and in the end you loose it all because they do nothing but take your “rent money” and skip town.
This is the most common problem you will face besides the actual foreclosure.
Mortgage brokers
They can help you by refinancing your property. However, these loans may have higher interest rates and closing costs than what you payed at the bank. Some may even charge you more to see how much you are willing to pay and take advantage of it. Not all brokers will rip you off. Over the last several years mortgage brokers have gotten the short end of the stick in the press. Shop around and ask family and friends for a referral if you decide to use a broker. (and just for the record..no I am not a mortgage broker)
Attorneys
This is your last resort. Most attorneys don’t really care about the situation you’re in or give you the attention you need.
Mortgage negotiators/Mortgage “Mod gods”
They negotiate repayment schemes with mortgage lenders. You can negotiate with the bank but in case it fails you can ask the help of a professional to get the plan approved. Some banks may impose a much more demanding plan and these professionals can get you a more favorable agreement.
Hard money lenders
They help arrange a new loan for you or buy the house from you. No matter which type you choose you must be completely aware of what they are doing and what they want. Other people can help while some can just make matters worse.
Mortgage/note holder
Your mortgage holder will call you to reinstate your house. This can be a good option depending on your situation. These are usually offered by mortgages backed by the government.
Whoever calls you or wherever the mail comes from be aware and think things through. You can stop a home foreclosure with the right options applicable for your situation. Do not throw in the towel if you don’t have to.
Doc Schmyz has worked with investors all over the US. His free website shares Real estate investing information for all over the US. Find real estate information by state
Starting Out As A RE Investor
Posted by: | CommentsSo you have decided to increase your personal wealth, and you looking at real estate a means to get there…good for you! Sometimes people get over whelmed by the amount of information that is out there on the subject. Dont let this get to you. If you invest well, you will be rewarded with returns for years.
How does one start with the business of real estate investing? Let’s look at plans to get started buying and selling real estate property:
Plug into your local real estate investors association. Most medium to large communities have a real estate club where other real estate investors attend regular meetings. These are other investors with the same goals and dreams as you.
Most of these clubs are very open with new members or any one interested in investing. So show up and mingle. Most investors love to share war stories or exchange information on purchases they have mad or services they have used.
Now dont buy anything just yet. You need to map out your “battle plan”. What type of real estate are you interested in? What are you willing to do with it? And what is your exit strategy with it?
At first you need to decide on what type of property to start with. If your goal is to find distressed houses then focus on those. If you want to deal with the condo market…then thats where you look. Keep in mind when you focus on one area you will become more understanding of what those types of property can be sold for, not to mention how much it cost to get them sale ready.
Begin to get together a group of contractors and sub-contractors who you can trust to work within your new system and according to your business plans and your budget.
Lets say you choose a “fixer” for your first project. Be ready to put on your team a contractor, an electrician, heating and AC guy…and of course a plumber. Now a word to the wise. IF you can find one…a GREAT handyman will be able to do all the above mentioned and normally at a far cheaper cost.
Find a good agent. This is harder than you might think. You see most agents dont work well with investors. Why? Investors want the agent to do tons of work the normal buyer doesnt. Offers counter offers…spread sheets to show profits and losses…not to mention all the surrounding research on the sales in the area in the last 6-12 months. A good agent will do this. A good agent understands that they may sell you more than one house in a years time…and that means repeat business for the agent.
Have an exit tactic in mind. This is a critical element of investing in real estate. How are you planning on selling this house once it is fixed and ready for market? How much room do you have on price so you sell it and still make a profit?
Every beginning real estate investor will make mistakes that cut into potential profits. It is imperative to recognize these mistakes and correct them before they can cripple the business.
Be efficient, and resourceful. Keep your eye on your bottom line and you will grow a nice little investment business.
Doc Schmyz has worked with investors all over the US and Canada. He owns a free website that shares Real estate investing information for all over the US. Find real estate information by state
Home Equity Line Of Credit: Do You Really Want One?
Posted by: | CommentsFor the last few years the “home equity line of credit” has gotten a lot of attention.
Home equity is the value of your home minus the remaining mortgage balance which is outstanding. This equity can be used to cover cost and expenses you may have or be used on home remodeling projects you wish to do.
Why Would You Want an Equity Line of Credit?
Unlike a typical loan which deposits a set amount of money in your account and begins charging you interest and payments at a fixed rate until repaid, a line of credit acts as a revolving credit (like your credit card). You do not need to pay interest on the full amount you have access to — you only pay for what you have used. Also, like a credit card, when the debt is repaid you still have access to the credit.
When using an equity line of credit (also known as a HELOC) it gives you greater flexibility with the least cost. Not only can you access the credit only as you need it,your monthly payments will reflect only the balanced used. Some lines of credit have only the interest as the minimum payment which can be helpful when finances are tight. In some case you even have an option of paying just the intrest on the amounts used for a specific span of time.
A HELOC is a great his if you don’t want to spend a large amount in one place..as well as if you want access to that credit agian, once it has been repaid, without asking for another loan.
What can the HELOC be used on??
So you have the loan…not what can you use it on. Here are some examples.
Consolidate Debts
Consolidate or wipe out some of your other bills/debts completely. Not only does this make your monthly breathing room a bit wider…but in the long run it will help your credit score and interest rates that are offered to you on other loans as well.
Second Mortgage
Use your line of credit to pay off the existing mortgage for better interest rates.
Add On, Update or Go Away
Cover the cost of an addition, redecorate, or go on a trip…all at a interest rate lower then most credit cards.
When Should You NOT Use a Line of Credit?
While the before mentioned information sounds great…whats the rest of the it look like.
Some debts — like student loans- have features that you may not be entitled to if you switch them to an equity line of credit.
Other items like cars and vacations may seem like a good idea to buy with your home equity line of credit, but with the ability to pay only the interest you may find the motivation to pay off the debt is lacking and end up owing for items that have lost their value or were consumable. Plan to pay off the debt quickly for the most advantage.
A Second mortgage (or refinancing) may or may not be a good idea depending on interest rates and your repayment terms. While lines of credit take advantage of current low interest rates you may find that your regular loans protect you better from fluctuating rates if you will not be paying the loan down in the next few years.
Using your finances wisely can give you great relief and freedom. Before taking on any financial obligations it is important to understand the risks as well as the benefits.
Doc Schmyz has done real estate deals all over the US and Canada. He built a free website shares Real estate investing information for all over the US. Find real estate information by state
Real Estate Investing During The Down Turn
Posted by: | CommentsOK let’s establish a few ground rules for this article first.
1) The market has had a down turn before and people still made money.
2) Not every deal will fall into a cookie cutter format keep your eyes open.
3) Not every tactic or idea works in EVERY state/province. ALWAYS check local laws pertaining to real estate transactions.
Ok..now that we understand the rules…lets move forward.
Just because a drop in the market has taken place doesn’t mean that you, as a real estate investor/professional, are out of luck. It only means you need to add new tricks and tools to your tool box. (Be warned I use “tool box” a lot.)
Finding Deals and Marketing property
Besides the normal channels of RE agents and brokers (still the best way to find good investments in my opinion) you have a huge amount or resources at your fingertip with the Internet.
You can join website communities for investors, follow blogs, get in on group discussion etc. You can even start your own website for investors and network. All of these things can lead to new and interesting deals.
Several investments have come to me via the web. I also have gotten many tips from other investors on investments and financing issues. Never over look the value of belonging to an “investor community website.”
I honestly feel that in the upcoming years the majority of investing will shift to being web related. Not just in finding investment projects but in doing the research for them as well as the funding process and the majority of the marketing/exit strategy as well.
Finding financing
Currently we are hearing about how the current market and credit crisis is making getting loans harder This is true. No way around it. The loan process has changed. So what options are left?? The answer is several.
Lease options. Assumable loans. Seller financing.
The above mentioned will become the big trends in the next couple of years. I am waiting to see the lenders change the loan guidelines in the next few months to “re introduce” the assumable loan. We are already seeing a HUGE trend in short sales. (This was a practice that was used only in limited capacity in the last 10 years by most lenders now it seems like every other distressed listing is a short sale in some cities.)
Please don’t let the current market conditions scare you in to sitting this investment period out. Take the time to do the research on finance options, look into building a LLC perhaps. Find out about buying real estate with your IRA. Etc, etc.
Buy books. Read investment strategies of the big names in investing. Use the time to educate yourself and above all be creative.
Don’t run for the hills when you should be shopping in the valleys.
Doc Schmyz has invested all over the US. He built a free website shares Real estate investing information for all over the US. Find real estate information by state