6 Tips For Selling Your Home Fast

May 11 2013| Filed Under » Mortgage, Selling a Home, Home and Garden

In a declining real estate market where supply outstrips demand, a person can generally sell a house faster by lowering the price. But there are other ways to enhance a home's attractiveness besides lowering the asking price. If you're looking to sell your home in a cooling real estate market, read on for some tips on how to generate interest and get the best price possible.

Tutorial: Exploring Real Estate Investing

Differentiate From the Neighbors 
In order to attract attention and to make your home more memorable, consider custom designs or additions, such as landscaping, high-grade windows or a new roof. This can help improve the home's aesthetics, while potentially adding value to the home. Any improvements should be practical and use colors and designs that will appeal to the widest audience. In addition, they should complement the home and its other amenities, such as building a deck or patio adjacent to an outdoor swimming pool.

However, while it can pay to spice up your home, don't over-improve it. According to a 2013 article in Realtor Magazine, some renovations, such as adding a bathroom or putting new shingles on a roof, might not always pay. The data suggests that the nationwide average amount recouped for a bathroom remodel is about 58%. For a new roof, it's even less. If you're going to invest in home improvements, do your research and be sure to put your money into the things that are likely to get you the best return. In addition, if you have added any custom features that you think buyers will be interested in, make sure they are included in the home's listing information. More than ever, in a down market you should take every small edge you can get.

Clean the Clutter
It is imperative to remove all clutter from the home before showing it to potential buyers because buyers need to be able to picture themselves in the space. This might include removing some furniture to make rooms look bigger, and putting away family photographs and personal items. You may even want to hire a stager to help you make better use of the space. Staging costs can range from a couple hundred dollars for a basic consultation to several thousand dollars, particularly if you rent modern, neutral furniture for showing your home. Many people feel that stagers can make a home more salable, so hiring one deserves some consideration.

Sweeten the Deal 
Another way to make the home and deal more attractive to buyers is to offer things or terms that might sweeten the pot. For example, sellers that offer the buyer a couple of thousand dollars credit toward closing costs, or offer to pay closing costs entirely will in some cases receive more attention from house hunters looking at similar homes. In a down market, buyers are looking for a deal, so do your best to make them feel they're getting one.

Want to turn $1k to $10k?  

Another tip is to offer a transferable home warranty, which can cost $300 to $400 for a one-year policy and will cover appliances, such as air conditioners and refrigerators, that fail. Depending on the policy, other appliances and house gadgets may be covered as well. A potential buyer may feel more at ease knowing that he or she will be covered against such problems, which could make your home more attractive than a competing home.

Finally, it's important to note that some buyers are motivated by the option to close in a short amount of time. If it is possible for you to close on the home within 30 to 60 days, this may set your deal apart and get you a contract.

Improve Curb Appeal
Sellers often overlook the importance of their home's curb appeal. The first thing a buyer sees is a home's external appearance and the way it fits into the surrounding neighborhood. Try to make certain that the exterior has a fresh coat of paint, and that the bushes and lawn are well manicured. In real estate, appearances mean a lot. What better way to set your home apart than to make it attractive at first glance?

Get Your Home in "Move In" Condition
Aesthetics are important, but it's also important that doors, appliances and electrical and plumbing fixtures be in compliance with current building codes and in working order. Again, the idea is to have the home in move in condition and to give potential buyers the impression that they will be able to move right in and start enjoying their new home, rather than spending time and money fixing it up.

Pricing It Right
Regardless of how well you renovate and stage your home, it is still important to price the home appropriately. Consult a local real estate agent, read the newspapers and go to online real estate sites to see what comparable homes are going for in your area.

It's not always imperative to be the lowest priced home on the block, particularly when aesthetic and other significant improvements have been made. However, it is important that the listing price is not out of line with other comparable homes in the market. Try to put yourself in the buyer's shoes and then determine what a fair price might be. Have friends, neighbors and real estate professionals tour the home and weigh in as well.

The Bottom Line
Selling a home in a down market requires a little extra work. Do everything you can to get the home in excellent shape and be prepared to make some small concessions at closing. These tips, coupled with an attractive price, will increase the odds of getting your home sold.

http://www.investopedia.com/articles/mortgages-real-estate/08/sell-down-market.asp

"How long should you rent before you buy a house?"

"How long should you rent before you buy a house?"

The longer you rent, the more likely you are to postpone purchase of your house.  Federal Reserves in its Survey of Consumer Finances has consistently found a huge gap between the average net worth of homeowners compared to those of renters.  Buying a house is the best investment that you can make due to long-term gain in value that is crucial for growing wealth.  On top of that, owning your home will make you feel secure and comfortable in today's uncertain times, while renting will leave you stranded in poverty.  Renting your home will not solve your housing problem on a long-term basis.  Now is the best time to make your home ownership a reality.  Home ownership provides you with a feeling of security and peace.
Below listed are reasons why you should rent as short as possible.

1. Buying your home is the best investment you can make for your future

Buying a house is the best investment you can make.  It will save you monies down the road that you would have been throwing down the drain by paying for rent.  You could always rent a part oyour house and earn passive income off of it.  Thus, you will manage to diversify your source of income which is crucial for survival in today's times.  Home ownership grows wealth through the accumulated savings streamed towards paying down a mortgage and long-term home appreciation which is the gradual rise in the home value over time.  Thus, the earlier you buy a home, the quicker you can get the appreciation to work for you.  The longer you postpone purchase of your home, the more money you will lose especially looking at it long-term.

2. Renting will leave you stranded in poverty as it will not solve your housing problem on a long-term basis

With renting, you will have a difficult time getting out of poverty as you will be wasting your money on rent instead of saving it for a requiredmortgage payment.  The longer you rent, the less likely you are to buy your own home.  Thus, you may be waiting a long time and falling behind especially if you are waiting for the current housing boom to crash as the market may rise more slowly in the future and stabilize.  Renting will not solve your housing problem on a long-term basis.  Sooner or later you will need or want to own your own home.  So why should you wait and postpone the purchase of your home?  The longer you postpone it, the more money you are going to be throwing down the drains for renting someone else's property.  Renting is only a temporary solutionthat is meeting your short-term needs.  What you need to do is invest your monies into a more permanent solution -buying your home- which will satisfy your long-term needs for ownership and security.

3. Now is the best time to make your home ownership a reality

Recession may equal opportunity for some.  Make your dream of owning a home a reality.  There is no better time to do this than now. If you and your partner have decent and stable jobs, this is your unique opportunity as a couple to take advantage of the current market situation where property is readily available and for a cheaper price.

4. Home ownership provides you with a feeling of security

Home ownership will provide you with a feeling of security and comfort which is crucial for feeling well in today's insecure times.  There is that special feeling associated with living in your own home and being able to do whatever you want with it in terms of decorations and interior.  You can never feel as peaceful and comfortable when living in someone else's property.

You will eventually benefit by owning your place rather than renting it.  This holds true especially if you plan on staying in the place of your choosing for the next five years in order to overcome a real downturn, if you are capable of maintaining your house, have cash savings, and solid money management skills.  But, if you live off of credit cards and do not know where and what you spend your money on, purchasing your home may be the last thing you want to do.

Article Provided by Amela Piric via Helium.com
Home Investors of America DOES NOT take credibility for this article

How To Save Money On Moving

Moving house can be an expensive business. If you hire a company to do the moving for you, which is the most convenient way of moving, then the costs can quickly mount up. You may also find that you need to buy a number of new things for your new home, even if you can't really afford them. Thankfully, there are a number of ways that you can save money on moving, provided you are organised and gain the support of your family and friends. 

*Pack everything up yourself

Ideally, you will be able toafford to get movers in to do all the packing for you; all you will need to do is direct them. However, this can be prohibitively expensive. You can do it yourself, provided you can persuade friends and family to give you a hand, provided that you are organised and allow yourself plenty of time. Don't buy boxes if you can avoid it - ask at your local shop instead - and use the original boxes to pack up your electrical items. For bedding and other soft items, use bin bags. 

*Do your own DIY

Unless you are lucky enough to be moving to a home that has been newly decorated, you will probably want to make some changes to your new home, with at least a fresh coat of paint and new curtains. If you are pressed for time, you may need to get someone in to do it for you, but otherwise, get together with friends and family and you will soon have the place blitzed. Alternatively, ask around your new neighbourhood to see if there is anyone available to do it cheaply. 

*Don't start from scratch

When moving, most people take the opportunity to throw away a lot of things that they don't want any more. That is a good thing to do - it cuts down on the amount of stuff that you have to move. However, don't go overboard and throw away things you might well use again. Otherwise, you will have to buy everything new once you reach your new home and that can become very expensive. Think about your white goods too and, if they will fit your new home and are not too old, then consider taking them with you. 

*Sell what you don't need

Before throwing or giving away your unwanted goods, put aside things that you can sell and, either put them on eBay, take everything along to a car boot sale, or have your own yard sale. You may well be surprised at the amount of money that you can earn and then put towards your moving costs - depending on how much you are selling, you may even be able to cover them. If you've never been to a sale before, get some tips from the Internet, or ask someone more experienced to do it with you. 

*Hire a van

It is incredibly hard work to load a van with your household belongings yourself. However, with some careful planning and a lot of help from anyone willing (or bribed), you could hire your own van and pack it up yourself. If you are travelling a long distance, this will be particularly tricky, because you will need to work out how to do the minimum of trips. It may be more cost-effective (and certainly time-effective) in the long run to shop around and find the cheapest deal. If you have pre-packed everything, it shouldn't be too expensive.

*Buy second-hand

Once you've arrived at your new place, no matter how much you have planned, there are bound to be some things that you find you need. Before spending a lot of money that you can't afford, however, think about second-hand goods. If you have a local recycling system, you may even be able to get some goods for free. You could also ask friends and family if they have any relevant items for you - they may well have a spare set of dining furniture in the shed that they would be happy to let you have. 

The key to moving on the cheap is to persuade those around you to give as much help as they are willing, and to start preparing well in advance. Find the balance between spending too much money and stressing yourself out. 

Written by Sun Meilan found via Helium.com
**Disclaimer: Home Investors of America does NOT take credit for writing these articles. This article can be found at www.Helium.com. The link above is information on the author "Sun Meilan". 

Property Investment: Benefits of buying a secondary home

Owning property is definitely a smart investment move, some people buy homes while others choose to buy land or any other property that looks profitable and is of good value.

If you have been considering buying a second home and you are a bit skeptical about it then you should consider the following benefits of buying a second home and make a final decision.

1. Boost your net worth

Buying a second home will definitely increase your net worth. This is because the value of property is highly likely to appreciate depending on the market forces.

Property is least likely to depreciate in value,unless the property is not in good

shape. If after buying the secondhome, the value appreciates because of the market forces, then this will automatically increase your total net worth.

2.  A good income generating source

A second home means more money for you, especially if you choose to rent it out. Before you buy a home for income generating purposes, find out more about the area where it is located and have a thorough inspection done by a valuer to find out how much income it can generate.

3. A personal gain

Buying a second home also means that you have the luxury of owning more than one property. If you choose to keep it as your second get away home then you can enjoy yourself especially if you use it as a holiday home according to Lowest Rate.

4. You can use it to apply for a loan

Owning a second home can help you to easily get a bank loan by using it as a guarantee when applying for a  loan. In the event that you fail to pay for the loan the second home can be used to recover the unpaid loan by repossessing your property.

5. Tax advantages of owning a second home

Owning a second home can provide some tax relief for you. There are certain tax rules and regulations applicable to second properties ownership.

For example, your second home will be considered a residence of you are using it as a second home for at least a certain part of the year. If you choose to rent it out for the entire year, then it will be considered as a rental property and will attract taxable income.

According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), in order for your second home to qualify as a residence, you must at least spend two weeks residing there, or 10% of the period the property is rented out. You can find more information about the IRS tax rules and regulations about owning a second home from their official IRS website.

"Property investment: Benefit of buying a secondary home"
www.helium.com keyword: Home Investments
Article Written by: Angie Joanna

Home Investors of America does NOT take credit for writing or publishing this article.

"Investing 101 in your 20s"

by T.Yeap

Created on: September 22, 2009   Last Updated: September 24, 2009

To most youngsters in their 20's, investing is still a foreign land yet to explore. However, it's crucial to start investing young because time is on your side, and if the investment return only yields a modest 6% per year, the compounding interest at the end of their retirement age will make a big difference compared to the individual that starts investing in their 30's. Are you wondering how to invest smartly in your 20's? Here are several tips that I obtained while I was in my early 20's from my mentor and family.

1) COMPANY RETIREMENT PLAN

Take advantage of your company's 401 (K) or other retirement plan that they offer, most company match 50% of your contribution up to the first 6% of your pay. It is also convenient that most of them offer direct deduction from your pay check and the deduction usually is before tax and therefore reduce your yearly income and less tax will be taken out each pay period. With the automatic contribution to your retirement plan each pay period, you will be able to invest in the market consistently. Also, make sure you review all the prospectus and pick 3 or 4 out of the bunch to enroll. If you are nervous about the investment, you can invest in things that you are familiar with as the prospectus of each funds will list out the major holding and their investment strategies.

2) INVEST IN IRA (INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT)

Besides the company investment, you should also open an IRA account with your own choice of brokerage firm. There's plenty to choose from and if you are more knowledgeable and you can manage your own investment, choose the online trading through Scottrade or E-trade. If you decide not to do it yourself, they also offer service to help manage the account for you. However, most IRA account required a minimum starting a mount of about $3,000 and then you can choose your own investment option either bimonthly, monthly, biannually or annually.

The smartest choice will be investing a small amount bimonthly or monthly until the maximum contribution of $5,000 at the end of the year. It's similar concept with the company retirement plan, as you will need to choose different type of mutual funds or stocks you would like to purchase. IRA offered more variety, therefore your investment portfolio will be more diversified. It is also advised by investment guru that during your 20's, your portfolio should reflect about 90% stocks and 10% bond as you are able to take the risk

3) CERTIFICATE DEPOSIT (CD)

It's is also wise to put aside some of your money in a CD for some stability as investment can be volatile at times. That's why many investment firms encourage people not to put all the eggs in one basket. Besides, most long term CD offers an average interest rate such as 3% for 5 year standard CD. But, you should only put the money in CD if you are not short in cash as this is not the best investment strategies for the 20's investor but it might be suitable for people that are not willing to take higher risk.

5) INDIVIDUAL STOCK BUYING

Investment requires knowledge, consistent monitoring and also patience. Time is moneyand while you are still young, you have plenty of time to make adjustment and diversify your portfolio from time to time. If you gain confidence throughout the years, you can start investing in individual stocks that are has good potential and yield good dividend that can be reinvested. Blue Chip stocks such as Proctor & Gamble (PG), Google (GOOG), Yahoo (YHOO), Kraft (KFT), Pepsico (PEP), and Coca-Cola (KO) will never go out of business and they will only strive to make their business better every year. Since the stocks are still relatively cheap at this time, it's a good chance that those stock will help you make a lot of money in the long run.

Invest wisely and you will be able to enjoy good life later on.

[Home Investors of America does NOT take credit for writing this article-

Investments: Concept Made "Easy"

by Brian Cody   via HELIUM

When you are considering investing your hard earned capital into purchasing residential rental property, you are taking risks in exchange of an expected reliable stream of income. The other purpose of investing your capital for purchasing real estate investment properties is for the expected capital appreciation of your property.

 Your goal should be to mitigate the risks of experiencing a negative cash flow or experiencing a long term capital loss of appreciation in your investment.  The following real estate investment tips will provide you with the common sense guidance to mitigate your potential losses. You want to develop a business plan as well as a property management plan for each of your properties that you want to purchase.  You also want to form a cash flow and financial plan to ensure that your investment properties will result in a positive cash flow.

 There are three things that an professional investor should consider when reviewing the purchase of real estate investment properties.  For each property you need to run a cash flow analysis.  You want to review the property condition of each unit.  You also need to consider the property location as well.

 There are a couple of cash flow analysis that you want to consider.  The first cash flow analysis is the capitalization rate analysis.  Let's say as an example you are considering purchasing a 4 family unit. The purchase price of a 4 family unit is $325,000.  The  rental income  will be $3,895 per month. The (PITI) Principle ,interest, taxes, & insurance is $1,807 per month.

 You will then take your rental income of $3,895 and subtract the (PITI) $1,807.  The result will be a net income of $2088 per month.  Your annual net cash flow will be $25,056.

 You will then take the property value of $325,000 and divide the net income of $25,056 and your capitalization rate will be 12.37% approximately.

 Some financial experts will also utilize a absorption rate analysis.  If you have an negative absorption rate analysis then your community that you are interested in purchasing investment property will show a contracting economy.

You also want to review the condition of the property itself.  Is the properties conditions' meeting local and state housing code standards?  Is the property free of lead paint?  Does the property have newer windows, roof, vinyl siding?  Is the properties heating and air conditioning units new or old?  Is there plenty of parking for your tenant?

 Ask yourself this question would you want to live in the property that you are considering to rent to Tenants?

 Review current macro economic statistics that are reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Contact your areas local chamber of commerce and the city/towns office of economic development for information on the local economic vitality.

 Does your town a robust big box retailers near by such as Best Buy, Home depot, Wal Mart, Target, Sears or JC Penny?  Is your community growing or contracting?

 Follow some of the ideas in this article  and you will mitigate your risks when it comes to real estate investment.  You want to ensure that you have an expected stream of reliable income as well as potential capital improvement.

Keeping It "Real" Estate     by Shelly Adams  VIA HELIUM

It's a buyer's market! It's a seller's market! The real estate bubble is about to burst! Housing prices are inflated! Fannie Mae! Freddie Mac! What does it all mean?

Investing in real estate can be very confusing, especially in today's economy. However, there may never have been a better time to invest. Hey, the stock markets not getting you anywhere.Now, forget what you hear on 2 AM infomercials on how to make $450,000 your first week. Those guys are trying to sell you a set of DVD's for $69.95.

The first rule of thumb is to decide what your goals are with investing. Are you wanting to buy a fixer-upper to rent or flip or are you looking at a single family home to live in? Perhaps a commercial building?

Then use some good ole common sense. How long has the property been on the market? How motivated is the seller? Where is the property? What type of renovations are you looking at? Do your homework.

A good market analysis will let you know what comparable properties have sold for, how long they were on the market, and how well the market is progressing in that area. If a similar property being used for the same purpose in the same neck of the woods sold for $100 per square foot after being on the market for 12 months and the asking price for your property is $120 per square foot, that might be an "I don't think so" property. Whatever you do, don't get swept away by one particular feature of that property. I once bought a fixer upper because it had a beautiful hand sculpted 12 foot ceiling in the living room. The property was in a terrible neighborhood and required more renovation than imaginable. It was a passion buy. Lesson learned.

Next, what type of renovations are needed and how will you get those done? If you're going to do the work yourself, you might save money, but do you honestly have the time? Time is also money, right?

Before buying, have a contractor come over and give estimates on the job. Make sure to check out the central heat/air and plumbing, check for termite infestation, mold problems, etc. If you're not sure about what to look for, you can hire a home inspector to check it all out.

How motivated is your seller? In today's market, many people are in real trouble for a number of reasons. Many people cannot afford their mortgage. It's unfortunate, but for investors, it can really make for a good buy. Banks or mortgage companies have lists of foreclosures and preforeclosures. Talk with them and let them know what you want. It is much easier for a lending company to offer the home to you at a discounted price than to go through the hassle of waiting for a traditional resale. If someone is in trouble on their mortgage, they might be willing to let you buy their house for their balance. It's better than letting their credit go in the tank.

And don't forget the three rules of real estate. Come on, you know what they are. Location. Location. Location. If you can't buy in a prime location, that's ok. Some of the best buys are actually in pre-prime location. Up and comings, if you will. Look for neighborhoods that are just beginning to get facelifts.

And last but not least. The most important thing to remember about investing is to have fun doing it.

by Stella Kaye    VIA HELIUM

First and foremost, real estate investment is not like any other investment; you must be prepared to tie up your money for a good number of years. It isn’t for those who may require instant access to their cash.

Buying an investment property is not like having your money sitting in the bank and earning interest; it won’t produce a passive income from day one (although it may do so eventually) and you will have to work hard to keep your property well-maintained in the meantime.Any real estate investment will likely cost you money in the short term. Even a new build will cost you in ongoing management fees. Can you afford the outlay and expenditure this will likely bring?

As with any other type of investment there are no guarantees; the small print will always warn you that your investments can go down as well as up.

You must leave yourself with enough spare cash for every eventuality when it comes to property investment. What if a boiler packs up in the depths of winter? What if the roof needs repair? What if the tenant withholds rent until essential works are done? You could soon find yourself in the unenviable position where your property is costing more money than you have coming in and you may thus stand to lose over the short term rather than gain  If you cannot secure the finance you need to put things right you will be in a whole lot of trouble.

Property investment will only prove lucrative after a good number of years so the essential part of the equation is time. Time + Bricks = Money. You must allow the time for your property investment to increase in value and produce equity.

The days of fast flips regarding property investment have long gone and speculators who managed to make a fast buck back then can rarely do so now. There is a vast difference between a property speculator and a real estate investor. The speculator takes real risks that may cause him to lose everything but a true investor takes a calculated risk that may leave him virtually penniless in the short term but will pay off over a longer period of time. Which one would you rather be?

Everything in life can be a bit of a gamble but to succeed in real estate investment nowadays you have to a true investor rather than speculator.

Your number one priority must be to meet all your financial obligations and commitments to banks and other financial institutions. Never mess up your excellent credit score and always treat it as if it were an entrance ticket to Heaven.

There are no hard and fast rules on how to succeed in real estate investment but you must have direction, determination and drive.

You will make mistakes and lots of them but the trick is to turn your mistakes around to your advantage, remain flexible and be prepared to change your strategies if they are clearly not working.

The motivation that prompted you to become interested in real estate investment in the first place must continue as a permanent part of your personality and you will need to have limitless amounts of entrepreneurial spirit.

Never forget that each day will present new problems which will serve as a continual learning process to make you stronger and if you have a long-term commitment to your chosen vocation as a real estate investor you will be very likely to succeed and reap the rewards of all your hard work.