Things to Consider when Buying a Home

Posted by mytxreal | Real Estate,Texas Housing Market | Monday 22 August 2011 8:25 pm
Home Alone (film)

The home that you choose will affect the way you live in the future. The neighborhood may change or the people may be very different from when you first move in. Even the cost of maintaining the home is a big factor to consider. As a home buyer it is essential to look at certain things before closing on a deal and moving in to the home.

Before closing on a home it is essential to know how much energy is used to heat and cool the structure. Have an energy audit performed on the home prior to closing so you will be able to see what needs to be done to make the home more green.

The location of the home is a good thing to consider when buying. Having to drive a long ways to work or to shop will cost money in gas. The trip will also create more carbon emissions which add up. Try and find a home close to where you spend the most time during the day.  A local real estate agent can help you with this.

People are finding that a smaller house is easier to maintain. It costs less to heat and cool the structure. It even saves time on the amount of yard work that needs to be maintained. If space is an issue in a smaller home, then consider furniture that serves several different functions.

After moving into a new home, make sure to sign up for recycling. It will cut down on how much you are putting into the landfill and you will feel better about doing your part to help. Most recycling programs are free and all you need to do is have the bin outside by the trash or on pickup day. If you need a bin contact your city hall and ask about how to get one.

Roger is a real estate broker that specializes in homes in West University. For more information on West University Place and other luxury neighborhoods in Houston visit http://www.rogermartinproperties.com.

Tips On How To Locate A Good Realtor

Posted by mytxreal | Agents and Brokers,Real Estate | Sunday 12 June 2011 9:09 pm
realtor

When you are trying to find a new home, it can be quite the challenge because of all the different homes available on the market. This is when you may need to have some tips on how to locate a good Realtor to help you in your home search. Some of these tips will include to look at the company the agent works for, determine how experienced the agent is, determine what kind of assistance they can provide outside of the home purchase.

The company the agent works for is important to look at. Normally the larger the company, the more access to homes the agent will have for you. However, with the multiple listing services this may not be the case, but they may still learn about the new listings before they go out on this type of service.

Experience of the agent is important for you to consider as well. Now you may not think this will matter that much, but you should realize if the agent is still fairly new, the chances of them knowing the ways to write a contract for better deals may not be as high.

The assistance outside of the home buying process is good information to know as well. Normally you will need to have an inspection and quite a bit of other things when buying a home. Since you need to have these things, you need to know about who the agent will recommend for you to use.

Being able to buy a new home is very exciting for many reasons. The main issue you can face is not knowing about the tips that can help you in locating a good Realtor. This is when you should realize you need to look at the company they work for, the experience level of the agent, and what kind of additional assistance they can provide after the move has been completed to ensure you have selected the best one available.

A Real Estate Buyer’s Agent

Posted by mytxreal | Agents and Brokers,Buying,Real Estate | Thursday 19 May 2011 8:58 pm
Logo of the National Association of Realtors.

Image via Wikipedia

In a simple real estate transaction, there is usually a buyer, a seller, and a property on the market offered for sale.

There is an extensive list of legal and loyalty obligations in the process between the listing of a property and the closing of the sale that many parties in the transaction do not understand.

When a person lists a property for sale with a real estate agency, the agency and all of its licensed realtors are working on behalf of the seller of the property. Their primary responsibility is to the seller.  The licensed realtors of the listing firm negotiate on behalf of the seller. The licensed realtors show the listed property in the best possible light and they try to negotiate the sale of the property at the highest price and under the best conditions for the seller.

In addition, the primary reason for this exclusive negotiation on behalf of the seller is that the seller is paying their commission under a listing agreement, a legally binding contract.

Licensed realtors can also be exclusive agents for a person interested in buying a property. The buyer must sign a buyer’s contract with the realtor and agree to pay the realtor a commission at closing.

Realtor’s commissions are negotiable and they usually range, depending on the sales price of the residential property, anywhere from three to eight percent. A buyer’s agent is usually a member of a regional multi-list agency and can search and make offers for properties anywhere in the state where the agent is licensed.

Under a buyer’s contract, the realtor negotiates the contract at the lowest, or best price, and under the best or most favorable conditions for the buyer. The buyer’s agent works exclusively for the buyer and the buyer’s interest comes first.

5 Tips For Choosing Replacement Windows

Posted by mytxreal | Remodeling,Texas Housing Market | Wednesday 27 April 2011 8:46 pm
Oriel windows in San Francisco, California.

Image via Wikipedia

Buying replacement windows involves proper research and decision making. Never make a purchase without first gathering all the information you can on the choices available. Buying on impulse could result in the purchase of over priced replacement windows with features you will never use. Listed below are 5 tips for choosing replacement windows.

1. When shopping for replacement windows always look for a dealer who employs high rated installers. Ensure the
company has good references before making a purchase. Go online and read customer reviews about the company and its products. Check the Better Business Bureau website for any possible complaints filed against the company.

2. Avoid buying replacement windows from a dealer who hires a subcontractor. Choose a company with its own installers to ensure that the costs of any repairs from possible damage are fully covered.

3. Consider the climate where you live before deciding on replacement windows. Double glazed windows are the best choice for warmer regions where the winters are milder. In the regions where the winters are much colder, triple glazed argon filled windows are a better choice.

4. Purchase energy efficient replacement windows to help save on the cost of heating and electricity bills. Before buying any windows check to see that they have the government issued label Energy Star.

5. Consider vinyl replacement windows when shopping for less expensive and low maintenance options. Before making your purchase check to see that the windows are of the highest grade by ensuring that the vinyl is welded together and has metal joints.

Steve manages a company that sells replacement windows in Houston and has been in business for over 25 years. He has experience in all aspects of remodeling the exteriors of homes.

Things That You Need To Know to Start a Commercial Mortgage Company

Posted by mytxreal | Agents and Brokers,Buying,Mortgages and Loans,Real Estate,Real Estate Investing | Friday 18 March 2011 9:29 pm
The Organic Business Guide - financing and teh...

Image via Wikipedia

Starting a commercial mortgage company requires a great deal of knowledge of the industry and the lending requirements. Start with your financing first, so that you grow your business and that your business starts on solid ground.

Learn everything on commercial mortgage financing that is current and up to date. Fair Market Values (FMV), financing products, and trends are changing consistently.  You will need to be up to date on all of the constant changes.

Before making any expenditure, research local regulations for necessary licenses and licensing requirements. In many of the US States, licensing isn’t necessary for commercial loans. Regardless of this fact, one should check just in case.

Form relationships with commercial lenders and learn from them. You need to have good lending contacts for success of small, medium and large commercial financing.

If you are new to the commercial loan broker business, a boutique category may help generate cash flow for your business. This allows you to become an expert in a few lending areas. It develops cash flow faster then competing with experts in multiple areas of lending.

Make a marketing plan that will attract clients. Next, obtain leads who can become potential borrowers by going to websites, newspapers and trade magazines. You will get quite a few borrowers who will meet the financing qualifications of the lenders. First, qualify borrower and property and then meet the qualifications of lenders working for the company. Matches are made and you’re on your way. In the end, commercial mortgage business owners are making good money.

Getting The Most Out Of Commercial Loans

Posted by mytxreal | Mortgages and Loans,Real Estate | Wednesday 23 February 2011 9:39 pm
Fed Funds Rate vs. Mortgage interest rates

Image via Wikipedia

Depending on your business of choice, commercial mortgage rates can vary greatly. You’ll want to consider factors such as interest rates, risk ventures, capital, and viability before looking to secure the needed loan. You’ll also want to shop around for the best available rates. Mortgage rates fluctuate frequently, and competition for business loans is stiff. The hours you spend planning and researching now could save you thousands or even tens of thousands in reduced mortgage payments over the next several years.

Keep in mind that if you have a high risk venture, you’ll have to expect to pay more interest initially than a more established business. The stronger a bank perceives a business to be, the lower the interest rates.

Lower interest rates are available in tighter economic times and higher in growing economies; they naturally fluctuate with supply and demand. There are several useful resources online for comparing commercial mortgage rates online. Be sure to use as many of these sites as possible; it can only take a minute to catch a bad quote, and a decade or more to pay it off.

The last thing you’ll need to decide is whether to go with a fixed or variable-rate mortgage. Which is more appropriate will depend on many factors, including those just discussed. The best approach is to consult with experts, do your own research, and rely on your best judgment. It can be tempting to go for a bargain rate, but remember that if it seems too good to be true it likely is. More and more financial experts are leaning towards fixed rates in these uncertain times, although with sound planning variable rates can save you thousands. Be smart and do yourself due diligence as you would your best client. After all, you’re your own best earner.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Commercial Mortgages

Posted by mytxreal | Agents and Brokers,Buying,Mortgages and Loans,Real Estate | Saturday 22 January 2011 9:26 pm
New Orleans, LA, 2-20-06 -- SBA Loan Inspector...

Image via Wikipedia

Commercial real estate loans are a very affordable way to buy land or buildings for a business.  You may find these mortgages to be very flexible and common. There are just two simple interest rates to choose from and will make it easier for you to be able to payout the mortgage. We will discuss why you should have a commercial mortgage and the process of getting it.

The first rate is the Fixed Interest Rate. This rate will allow you to pay the same price for a certain amount of time for your interest. Your interest will be set and you will not have to pay anything more if the market should rise. This would be great for a long term loan. Although, you will not receive a price reduction if the market decreases and will not be paid back any overage you may pay.

The second rate is the Variable Interest Rate. This rate will change according to the Bank Base Rate and unfortunately so will your payments. The good thing is that once the market goes down, you can save a lot of money, as your payments will adjust. The bad part is that when the market rises again, you will be paying more. If you like to know what you are paying every month this rate may not be good for you, but if you want to save money this might be a great rate for you.

Now, there are many advantages to commercial mortgages. For example, your interest payments are tax deductible. However much you pay you may be getting it back at the end of the year. Like most mortgages, there is a danger of the seller re-selling it if you are unable to pay. You will want to make sure you have an agreement.

Caleb is a national account executive at a financial services firm that offers apartment building loans and a variety of other commercial real estate financing options. He enjoys travel, writing and spending time with his family.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

How Do Property Tax Assessments Work?

Posted by mytxreal | Mortgages and Loans,Real Estate,Real Estate Investing,Texas Housing Market | Wednesday 19 January 2011 5:36 am
An icon from the Crystal icon theme.
Image via Wikipedia

Many homeowners today are really unsure what exactly a property tax assessment means, other than the amount of taxes they will be required to pay. The definition of assessment is that the property is assessed for the purpose of levying a law or an assigned value. In general, when referring to property tax assessments, this does not reflect the true fair market value as property tax assessments cannot fluctuate as regularly as real estate prices do. In a stable market, the fair market value may be relatively close to the property tax assessment value however.

Certain states within the United States do use fair market value as the property tax assessment value. This can cause property to be taxed at a level that is higher or lower than the actual market value of the property, depending on the real estate market when the assessment is done. As real estate prices fluctuate, property values may rise and fall. Some states also use a blanket method for property tax assessment rather than evaluating each property individually. Using like properties, all of the single family units of like size and acreage are assessed together and all businesses are assessed together. There are many ways that a state or county can choose to assess the value of a property for property tax purposes. Some states also use individual assessments which are performed periodically to include improvements and changes made to the property.

In many cases, the valuation of the home does not accurately reflect the changes made to the property. It is considered to be the responsibility of the owners to alert the proper offices of these errors. For the most part however, many homeowners do not do so. As the value of their home and property rises, so do the property taxes that they are required to pay. Therefore, many property owners simply wait for the next periodic review of their property to have the additions and improvements added.

Broker Price Opinions Jobs – Eight Tips For Launching Your Real Estate Investing Career

Posted by mytxreal | Uncategorized | Monday 29 November 2010 5:57 am

By: Real Estate Expert

Broker Price Opinions Jobs

Eight Tips for Getting Started in Real Estate Investing

Introduction Broker Price Opinions Jobs

This article is just the basics for getting started in real estate investing. This is not a how to article but an article that gives you some information about things to do to get started. Everything in this article is tools that can be applied to helping anyone get started in real estate investing. I am going to give you my eight keys to getting started. Nothing is right or wrong but reflects the point of view of the author. Laws and legal practices vary from state to state, and laws can change over time. The author does not vouch for the legality of his opinions, nor is there any intent to supply legal advice. The author strongly encourages the reader to consult with professionals and an attorney prior to entering in any real estate transaction or contract. The author is not a writer but he is a real estate investor. There will be grammar mistakes and errors, so don’t be too critical of the grammar but focus your energy on what is being said. With that said prepare yourself to think a little differently and expand your mind. Let’s get started on an amazing adventure.

The Eight Tips are as follows

1. Desire
2. Goal Setting
3. Learning What To Do
4. Attending a Real Estate Investing Seminar
5. The Billings Montana Market
6. Finding a Mentor
7. Your Real Estate Team
8. Just Do IT

1. Desire

Before we get in to the bolts and nails of real estate investing in I want to talk to you about desire. If you are going to be successful at anything in life including real estate investing you have to have the desire to do it. Desire is defined as longing or craving, as for something that brings satisfaction or enjoyment. Desire stresses the strength of feeling and often implies strong intention or aim. In real estate investing if you don’t have a desire to learn and grow as a human being and really get satisfaction out of it, then real estate investing is going to be hard to do. When I go out and look at a property it brings me a lot of enjoyment. Every aspect brings me joy from talking to home owners, figuring out how I can make a deal work, to buying the house and to finding a good homeowner or tenant for the house. Real estate investing may not be for everyone but real estate investing can offer anyone the financial freedom we all crave for. If you do not have the desire for real estate investing that is ok, it can still help you to live your dreams and help you to get where you want to go in the future.

Why is real estate investing an amazing avenue for anyone to live out all of their dreams? Let me ask you a few questions. Do you have enough money to do anything you want? Do you have everything you want? No debt? A nice house? Great Marriage? The freedom to do anything regardless of how much it costs and the time it takes? If you have all of these things then you are one of the few people in America who does. Most people may be working fifty hours a week and making just enough to pay their bills. In today’s day and age most people are living pay check to pay check never really knowing if they will make enough to pay the bills that just keep piling up. If you cannot keep up with your monthly bills how are you going to plan for retirement or send your kids to college or have time to enjoy life. The answer to all of these questions is becoming financially free. Now it’s not going to be easy everyone will have to get off the couch and out of their comfort zone. Real estate is proven to be one of the fastest ways to get your out of the rat race of the nine to five and begin living the life you deserve to live. Everyone wants something different out of their life. Some dream of traveling the world, spending more time with family, volunteering, golfing, laying on a beach, giving back to the community, or anything that will make them happy. There are thousands of things that make people happy.

Making it in real estate takes a person who has a strong desire to change their lives for the better and think big. Anyone can become a great real estate investor. It is going to take a lot of work and can be a struggle at times but in the end it will be the most amazing feeling ever. The people that make it in real estate investing all have a few things in common. First they run their real estate investing business like any other business out there. Second they get out there and network with anyone and everyone. Some people might be like me and have a hard time talking to other people. If you are that is ok, anyone can learn how to become a people person, it just takes hard daily work. You have to push yourself past your comfort zone. The third thing is that you cannot be afraid to fail. Everyone has failed at something but the most successful people out their learn from their failures. The fourth thing is that you have to put a good team together. I will go into putting a team together in a later chapter. The concept of putting a team together is so that when you don’t know something you have team members that know what to do and can help you with questions. The can also make sure that you are not working yourself to death. You do not want to be the person doing everything in your business. Doing everything is a receipt for failure. You have to put together good people who you can trust and rely on. The fifth thing is that you need a mentor. Sixth and final is the desire to do it. No one can become successful at something if they don’t want to do it and don’t get satisfaction out of what they are doing.

2. Setting Goals

Having goals is one of the most important aspects of achieving what you want in life. You don’t want to just have your goals up in your head you want to write them down and past what you have wrote on the wall somewhere or in the bathroom mirror. You want to review your goals daily and read them out loud to yourself. This way you remind yourself everyday why you are building your business.

How should you start to write down you goals? First off you should think big, and by big I mean HUGE. If your goals are too small you will easily achieve them and have nothing else to look forward too. You should start off by asking yourself the question if I had all the money and time in the world what would I do, what would I buy, how would I spend my time, and how would I spend my energy. Are you starting to write these down? Well you should be. Think about what you want, spending time with family, traveling the world, the best cars, a castle, owning a small country, running for president, having the biggest real estate investing business in your area or in the country. Whatever your dreams and what you want out of your life, write it down. Some of my goals are becoming free, traveling the world, having a Ferrari, having 10 vacation homes all over the world. Right now I am just trying to get you out of your comfort zone of thinking and let your imagination run. Broker Price Opinions Jobs

There are several ways to set goals. I have learned a lot of ways you can set you goals and there is no right or wrong way. The best ways that I have found to set your goals is to break them up into two categories. First your short term goals. This should be goals from a month out to around a year. The second is your long term goals these goals are you think big goals and what you see for your future.

For year one I like to first make a list of what I want to achieve this year and I will give you an example of how to do that. For year one you want to be very specific first you want to list what you want your income to be at the end of the year, next how much cash in the bank you want (this is money in your checking account, not assets). Next you want to list how much you are going to give. Giving is a very important, this can be giving to charity, giving of gifts to friends and family, giving to your school or anything you can dream of. As long as what you give brings joy to others who need it more than you. Next list what bad habits you have that you want to eliminate. Weather is be quitting smoking, spending too much on junk, drinking too much, working too much, not spending enough time with family, too much TV, not exercising and many more. We all have bad habits that need to be changed in order for use to grow as human beings. Under each of these bad habits list out some steps that you can take in order to quit them. If you bad habit is being lazy and not exercising enough what can you do to change that. Well you can get a gym membership or a home work out program. Commit yourself you following through with a plan to work out 3-5 days a week. For you to change these bad habits you have to be totally committed and follow through with a detailed plan you set for yourself. After you have your plans in place you should start listing several things you want to achieve or do in the next year. This can be start a successful business, spend time with family, travel to 2-5 places and so on. Now under each of these you should also write a detailed plan on what you need and what you need to do in order to achieve these goals. Finally you should take all of this information you have a write on page on what you see your life being over the next year. Doing this is a great exercise to really see what you want out of life.

Goals Year One

This is what I am going To Do This Year
Income: $500,000
Cash: $100,000
Give: $20,000

Bad Habits that will be changes:

Over Sleeping 1. Go to bed at 11 p.m. 2. Use a timer and set it for 8 hours 3. Set the timer on the other side of the room

Buying things that you don’t need: 1. Going out shopping less 2. If you have the urge to buy something think to yourself is thing item going to help me to achieve my goals of becoming financially free? 3. Tell friends what you are doing, so they can help to stop you.

What I want to Achieve:

Start a successful Real Estate Investing Business: (you should write a detailed step by step plan of everything you need in order to achieve your goal)

Travel: Where do I want to visit? 1. Gators football game (what I need to do it, money, etc)

And last your own page about what you want to achieve using words like I will and only positive words.

For long term goals you don’t need to be as specific right now, but you should list them and under them list a few steps or smaller goals that need to be achieved before you are able to achieve them. With the long term goals always think big. Another good exercise for long term goals is to make a collage of you goals. Put pictures of the house you want on it, places you want to travel, a picture of your family, a number of what income you want in or anything you can think of. Broker Price Opinions Jobs

5 Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Agent

Posted by mytxreal | Agents and Brokers,Buying,Real Estate,Selling | Thursday 18 November 2010 6:17 am
Fran Kinion Real Estate Agent
Image via Wikipedia

When you are looking to buy or sell a property, there are five reasons you should consider hiring a real estate agent. The first involves the numerous resources that an agent has at his or her fingertips. The agent will have a listing of the company’s properties, which can go into the thousands. This gives you a wider selection to choose from. You will also have access to the necessary information on each one.

Secondly, an agent can help you save an enormous amount of time. They can locate a list of potential properties and provide you with pricing and specification data to help you make a smart choice. This keeps you from spending hours looking at various properties that may not be right for you. Third, you will have a professional who can help you in negotiating with the buyer or seller. Real estate agents are familiar with local regulations and the negotiation process, taking the pressure off of you.

The fourth advantage is that you will be getting professional guidance. These agents go through extensive training and often have years of experience in the field. They will know how to get you a good price, find a property that you want and can answer any questions you have. The fifth reason is that many agents will offer their services without a cost to you. They are paid from the commission rate that they receive with the close a sale. These benefits make hiring a real estate agent a very smart choice.

Next Page »