For Consultants, Time Is Money

Category: Finance, Real Estate.

Realtors are well known professionals that have formed the foundation of the real estate industry for years.

As the industry evolves, a newer profession, however has emerged: the real estate consultant. So much so that few people ever have to ask what it is that they do. Contrary to what many people think, a consultant has a very different role from that of an agent. The objectives of a consultant are much different from that of an actual agent. Though the two professions have some similarities, they have just as many differences. The agent is primarily focused on selling homes, and making a profit from the sale of that home. A consultant, on the other hand, does not have the objective of selling a home.

Because of this, he/ she will have a slightly different approach to their dealings with a consumer. In fact, he/ she is completely unbiased in the purchase or sale of a property. There is no financial gain based on the sale of a home. His/ her primary concern is helping the consumer satisfy his real estate needs. Instead, profits are made by the services offered. It is the consultant s job to be concerned about the real estate situation, but not necessarily about a specific outcome. When you work with a consultant, he/ she might seem to be unbiased or even disinterested.

To make an unbiased decision, he/ she must be completely objective in the situation. If he/ she believes that the property will not meet the needs of the consumer, the consumer will be advised not to purchase the house. While a realtor will usually do what is necessary to convince a consumer to purchase a home, the consultant will be perfectly honest with consumers. A consultant wants to be sure that correct results will be achieved in a real estate transaction. He/ she will then look for different ways that the consumer s objectives can be achieved. To do this, he/ she will ask many questions about the consumer s wants and needs. This is very much unlike an agent, who believes that all a consumer s needs can be met with the sale of a home.

They do not want to waste time, nor do they wish to waste the clients s time. For consultants, time is money. Each minute the consultant spends on a dead- end deal is a minute that he could have been spending on a more profitable deal. Not doing so would be an injustice to both. They will make sure to advise the consumer of a deal that is destined to go sour. There are situations where the services of a realtor will be needed and situations where a real estate consultant will be needed. Knowing the difference between the two professions will help you to know which you need.

Trends In Florida Home Buying

Category: Finance, Real Estate.

It s hard to miss all of the recent media coverage regarding the US housing market.

According to the latest numbers, these predictions are proving to be accurate. Analysts have predicted a cooling off period after nearly five years of soaring prices, and a housing, bidding wars market that became a seller s playground. At present, the number of unsold homes throughout the US has risen to a record high. The Florida real estate market has not been immune to these changes. Mortgage rates are currently at an average of 6% for a 30- year fixed loan, the highest rates in nearly four years, and the average sale price of a home has dropped to$ 238, 000 nation wide. Like most other areas of the country, a flood of homes on the market in Florida and dropping sale prices have created a different kind of market.

Taking Advantage of a Buyer s Market. While this current cooling trend may be worrisome those with a house currently on the market, it is great news for the Florida home buyer. For the Florida home buyer, the real estate market of the past five years has been a roller coaster ride of indecision and worry over sharply rising housing costs. Time to shop for the perfect home was extremely limited, while sellers were reaping record profits in the boom market. Buyers were forced to make immediate offers on prospective homes, often ending up engaged in a bidding war with other buyers. Today things have changed a bit in the Florida housing market. With the flood of existing homes on the market and new home builders looking to incentive programs and price reductions as means of attracting new buyers, there has rarely been a better time for the Florida Home Buyer.

Homes are sitting on the market for a much longer period of time, leaving sellers with the opportunity to comparison shop and find the home that is truly right for them. Creative Financing for the Florida Home Buyer. Unlike the 1980 s, sellers are not offering financing of this type to counteract sky- high interest rates, now the purpose of seller financing is to shield sellers from capital gains taxes in an era of record home sale profits. Seller financing, which saw the greatest level of popularity during the 1980 s, is a returning trend in today s housing market. Despite a cooling market, sellers are still gaining huge returns on their initial investment once they sell their home, and offering to carry all or part of the financing is a way to spread out gains and avoid hefty tax rates. Trends in Florida Home Buying. This finance option is beneficial to buyers because sellers will often finance at slightly lower interest rates, and buyers do not have to worry about costly appraisals, and mortgage points, application fees.

Purchase of existing homes with intent to remodel remains a popular option for Florida home buyers. According to the latest predictions from the National Weather Service, the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season is expected to bring up to sixteen named storms, and as many as six major hurricanes. Newly constructed home sales also remain robust, especially high quality custom homes that are built above hurricane code. These numbers are slightly lower than the 2004- 05 seasons that brought devastating storms such as Katrina, the fact remains, Rita and Dennis that even if only one major hurricane impacts the US coastline, it is a bad season for the residents of that area. And in the current market conditions, these homes are more affordable than ever. This is why homes built of solid concrete with additional roof truss straps and impact resistant windows remain so popular with Florida home buyers. Many custom Florida home builders are presently offering reduced sale prices and additional amenities, features and incentives to attract new buyers in a cooling market.

Good News for Florida Home Sellers. Depending on the time of year and amount of homes a builder must sell, it is possible for the Florida home buyer to find fantastic deals on these high quality homes. The outlook for Floridians looking to sell their homes is not all bad. It may take longer to sell a home, but there are still buyers out there who are eager to invest in the Florida real estate market. Sellers are still reaping record profits from their homes, and home sales were actually up in the month of April. Florida realtors are also beginning to tap a robust international market. New marketing strategies include international conferences where Florida realtors can present their listings and investment opportunities to these buyers.

Buyers in Europe, South America and, Asia other countries are eager to invest in industrial, commercial and residential properties throughout Florida.

Greece Doesn T Require Any Introduction, When It Comes To Speaking About Its Role In The Worldwide Tourism

Category: Finance, Real Estate.

Greece doesn t require any introduction, when it comes to speaking about its role in the worldwide tourism.

But, the story doesn t stop there, and the recent trends might say, even the Greece property market was about to experience a major boom due to the greater keenness being shown by the foreign buyers. The nation s timeless ancient history and its unharmed natural landscape, provide with the needed pull for drawing in millions of visitors to its soil each year. Greece property provides the buyers with an option to buy holiday homes, villas and apartments over a wide range of tourist places. Least to say, these are well developed urban areas with the air links and sea routes arriving in from and leading out to the entire globe. These places are scattered allover its mainland, the coastal area and several of its well- known islands. There is no definite answer as to why this latest upsurge may have taken place in the Greek property market, but the analysts attribute two major geopolitical events for this transformation.

A whole lot of new construction was undertaken during the Olympics campaign, which subsequently became the selling ground for the Greek real estate. The first one was the admission of Greece into the European Union in 1981, and the second one, the return of Olympic games in Athens in 200Both events proved crucial in helping out the Greek tourism and its real estate market to resurrect themselves in the eyes of the global community. From what we understand about today s Grecian real estate, it is hard to buy a low- cost single family house in Athens, where the demand to supply ratio for such units is much higher compared to the other regions of the country. At the same time, people can buy luxurious villas in the resort towns as an investment option or to have extended holidays there. This leaves out the buyers with an option to buy apartments in Athens, which are easier to locate in the Greece property since the 2004 Olympic games ended here. Buyers eye the hectic profits these days, when deciding to invest in the villas or farm lands across the Greek countryside. On the other hand, many villa owners lend their properties to holidaymakers, who flock in huge numbers after each winter season.

Villas can be sold to other buyers at a handsome premium later. Thus, the market for Greece property provides with a great investment value to all those who might be willing to cash in from its buoyant trend. These are, having a Greek bank account, being enrolled as a tax payer in Greece and getting a prior permission to buy properties in certain areas. Anybody who might be seeking to own a Greece property will have to fulfill certain conditions before doing so. The permission to buy properties can be obtained from the chief administrative or judicial officer in the area of concern. It should also be noted down that, those hailing from the European Union should easily be able to own properties in their names, as compared to those from the non- EU countries.

What A Great Way To Plan For College

Category: Finance, Real Estate.

With the average cost of college level education rising approximately 6% every year, what is the best way to have the money for college exepnses when you need it? In fact, only 40% of students graduate in four( 4) years.

We can easily help you with different ways to invest for college education. That means that 60% of students are taking five( 5) years to complete their education. On average, it costs over$ 6, 000 per year to attend a state college. It's very important to plan for this major expense well in advance. And if you attend an out- of- state college full time, there is a sur- charge of over$ 10, 00Private colleges can run well over$ 22, 000 per year. However, this can result in hefty tax payments. There are actually several ways to pay for your education or provide financing your child's education: You can invest your money in the stock market or savings account.

You can hope your child has the ability to obtain a full scholarship. But consider the longer time frame to graduate. and also the fact that there is a higher drop- out rate with students who have to work. You can take a second job when the time comes. or have the student take a part time job to help with expenses. Or you could have your child finance his/ her education with student loans. Let's consider a a couple of different ways to save up for those education expenses! But, this leaves them with a huge debt load when they are trying to start their new adult life. Let me explain how to have the money for college at your fingertips when you need it.

I' ll use a$ 125, 000 property for our example: Equity will build! Just purchase a rental property with a 15- year mortgage? Even if there is no appreciation in value, you will still have this$ 125, 000 property paid for in 15 years. But let's run some figures on a modest 5% increase per year in property values. Plenty for the finances needed for college. In this case, your property will more than double in 15 years. And you don' t even have to sell it!

Your$ 125, 000 investment could be worth over$ 250, 000 when you' re ready to pay for college. Here's a way to take your money out of this property without paying tax on it. A re- finance is not taxable income! ! Simply re- finance it. What a great way to plan for college! Even with refinancing for a higher amount- consider that because the property has increased in value- so has the potential rental income! You will have had renters to pay the mortgage payment. and if you re- finance for college expenses, you will still have renters to pay for the new mortgage payment.

Quinta Do Lago�s Infrastructure Is First Rate

Category: Finance, Real Estate.

Villas Quinta do Lago- Quinta do Lago is an exclusive resort in Algarve Portugal. Quinta do Lago began life in 1970 as a 550 hectare area marked for development on Portugal's Algarve coast.

Covering 2, it is bordered, 000 acres by the Atlantic Ocean and the Ria Formosa nature reserve. Today, property values reflect the overwhelming success of the resort. Housing density is low in Quinta do Lago as environmental legislation allows only 8% of the area to be developed. Back in the 70�s a 3 bedroom property in Quinta do Lago would cost around �200, today the same, 000 property carries a price tag of nearer �4, 00 It is, 500 easy to see why Quinta do Lago is favoured by property investors. Three to five bedroom luxury villas with pool and garden are the norm and there are only a limited number of building plots available in Quinta do Lago at any one time. There was a slight stagnation of prices during the off shore legislation brought in by the Portuguese government in 2002, Quinta do Lago, however property prices quickly returned to a continuous steady rise once the effects of this shift in government policy had been absorbed. These fetch, up to �5000, on average/ m Real Estate in Quinta do Lago has experienced continual appreciation, in fact Quinta do Lago is one of the few investment havens where a general European recession has never taken effect.

Villas in Quinta do Lago fetch some of the highest prices assigned to any property in the Algarve with prices starting from �450, 000 and reaching in to the multi million euro bracket. The Quinta do Lago resort regularly plays host to the Portuguese Open Golf Championship and all courses have first class driving ranges, putting greens and, golf academys clubhouses. Quinta do Lago is famous for its golf and has 72 holes of championship quality golf. Other recreational facilities on offer in Quinta do Lago include an equestrian centre, watersports, tennis clubs, football pitches and a beautiful beach. Quinta do Lago has its own exclusive shopping centre: "Quinta Shopping" with high end restaurants, bars and shops serving the exclusive villa properties, property owner clubs and village developments of Quinta do Lago. Quinta do Lago�s infrastructure is first rate.

Styles of Architecture in Quinta do Lago include traditional, classic and ultra modern. Properties available in Quinta do Lago include 1 or 2 bedroom apartments, townhouses with private or communal pools as well as bungalow style villas on smaller plots. Architects have always designed villas in Quinta do Lago with the environment in mind and nearly all boast views to the nature reserve, golf courses or the sea. At the high end of the Quinta do Lago property market, there are a number of extravagant 9 bedroom properties on large plots. Quinta do Lago has received numerous awards and has been voted" best property investment area in Europe. " Apart from investment, buyers also purchase villas in Quinta do Lago for the following reasons: as a permanent family or retirement home, as a holiday rental property or as a refurbishment project that will then be put back on the market.

That Agent Must Revert To A" Facilitator" Status

We' ve all heard the term" Buyer's Agent" or" Exclusive Buyer's Agent" .but what do these terms mean? How are they paid?

What do they do? Aren' t they just another Realtor? The rule, was that the, for many years seller paid the commission. so therefore, all agents involved in the transaction worked for that seller. Not long ago, the real estate industry operated completely different than it does today! It was a" buyer beware" situation. Lawmakers have been trying for years to come up with a way that agents could represent the buyer. legally! This is not true anymore.

As of right now( at least in the state of Tennessee) , everyone involved in a real estate transaction must be made aware of who is representing who. and it must be in writing. When a listing agent takes a" listing" , they enter into a legal and binding contract with the seller to represent them in the sale of their home. This document is a legal part of every real estate contract for purchase. The seller is actually signing an agreement with the real estate firm that the agent represents. The problem arises when the listing agent( or any other agent affiliated with the real estate firm) shows the property. Therefore, every other agent that works with that real estate firm legally represent that seller.

How can they represent the buyer when they are already representing the seller? But guess what? The law provides the solution: The managing broker can" designate" one of the firm's agents to function as a buyers agent to work with that particular buyer. That agent is still in the same office. talking over the same water cooler. and many times has access to the files in the office. The law goes one step further. They do the best they can, but agents are still human. and mistakes occur.

In the event that the" listing agent" actually brings the buyer and writes the contract, it really becomes a sad case. This means that they can no longer represent either side. That agent must revert to a" facilitator" status. At this point, they can only take care of the paperwork involved in the transaction. I' ve seen this done for years, and I don' t believe that most buyers and/ or sellers understand that they no longer have any representation. This agent, the buyer and the seller must sign a document that they understand this new arrangement.

Do you see how this quickly becomes a" conflict of interest" ? True exclusive buyer's agencies do not take any listings. So, when agents advertise that they are" buyer's agents" , be sure to check and see if the company they work for takes any listings. They work exclusively for buyers without this conflict of interest. First and foremost, is the absence of this conflict of interest. What are the benefits of using an exclusive buyer's agent? There's no" bonus" for selling company listings.

They are free to focus on your real estate needs. There's no motivation to push any particular property. They usually function as" consultants" .guiding and educating you on the process of your new home purchase. Most exclusive buyers agents will preview homes for you, look much deeper into the background of the home as well as tell you the negative points about the home( as well as the good points) . They can be your eyes, especially if you, ears and legs are relocating from another town. How are they paid? They normally split the commission that the seller and listing agent have already agreed upon.

Buyer's agents are usually paid from the transaction. The listing firm simply pays the buyer's agent at closing. The law requires that a buyer's agent agreement be in writing, and this is one of the issued discussed at that time. If the buyer decides to remove even this tie to the seller, they can choose to work out a compensation agreement directly with the buyer's agent. There are many wonderful Realtors. that do a really good job. Legally, there are ways around this problem. but you should be aware that the problem exists. But, the conflict of interest is something that is there anytime they show a listing that belongs to their firm.

And decide if you want to take that chance. or hire someone to represent you- 100% .