Negotiation is where many FSBO home sellers really have problems. The wrong attitude or a slip of the tongue could cost you thousands. Here are a few pointers to keep you on the right path: 1. Show interest in selling the house. In an effort to project a sense of strength many people either take an aggressive "take it or leave it" attitude, or they appear to be overly relaxed, almost disinterested. It is better to have an open mind, stay calm, be...more
Did you know that the area that you call your 'office' is a direct reflection of you? If your environment is clean and uncluttered it projects that the person who works there is calm and has everything under control. Consequently if it looks like the local rubbish tip then the impression others get is that this person is disorganised, and a complete mess. Now before any of you get upset with these assumptions, I'm just stating the fact that the...more
If you want to become a real estate investor, find a "fixer-upper" owned by an anxious seller. Finding distressed houses at bargain prices, fixing them up, and then selling them on a consistent basis can make you a millionaire.Why Sellers Sell At a DiscountHomeowners' problems often prevent them from staying on top of their home's upkeep, and factors such as job loss, divorce, serious illness, various addictions, or other personal problems quickly overwhelm them. These sellers can't make the needed repairs because of financial or physical limitations, and when that happens, their home becomes a low priority and sometimes will go into foreclosure.Look for the "Triple D"Home sellers with three problems give beginning investors a great opportunity. A "Triple D" is a Doghouse, involved in a Divorce, and in Default. The label "doghouse" comes from Southern California Realtors who used this term to describe the worst fixers. These houses maybe "tired" and need only cosmetic work in order to favorably compare with other homes in the area.What to Look for in a DoghouseThe hardest house for a homeowner to sell is a "doghouse," "dump," or "fixer-upper." These run-down houses scare off most...more
Your mortgage calculator says: probably a lot less than your mortgage banker says you can.Sometimes you can qualify for a loan but you should not accept it. Why? The monthly payments are more than you can afford. There are lots of laws in place at the state and federal level to protect customers against predatory lending, but there are still many...more
Presently council tenants are able to purchase their rented property after 2 years of tenancy. However, this is about to change. As of the 18th January 2005, the new Housing Bill becomes law and the current 2 years will change to a period of 5 years. This means, that once the proposals come into force, any new council tenant will have to wait 5...more
There is nothing worse than putting house up for sale and watching it sit on the market. Here are a few tips to sell your house fast. Sell Your House FastThe following tips will help you sell your house fast, but we need to cover something first. If you have some type of defect with your house, it is going to have to be repaired. There is a difference between making small mistakes that prevent a sale versus having a major problem like a sliding foundation. These tips will only help if your home is in reasonably good shape when compared to those houses selling in your neighborhood. The number one thing involved in selling your house fast is the price. The price of your home should not be what you personally think it is worth. Buyers simply don't care about such things. To sell your house fast, you have to find a price that is attractive to buyers. The best way to do this is to look for comparable houses in your neighborhood that sold fast. Find out how much they sold for and compare your price to the prices the other houses went for. If you are above those prices, you need to take a deep breath and lower your price. When it comes to pricing your house for a fast sale, do not try to...more
Your house is one of the biggest purchases you have probably ever made. You make payments faithfully each month, take care of the interior and exterior, and fix it up to meet your current needs. Whether you are younger or older, your house is a part...more
When talking to people who are trying to sell their house I'm often asked the question, "Why should I sell my house to you?"That's a great question. Today's house seller has lots of options: they can list their house with a real estate agent, they...more
Broker's have predicted that the housing market is set to bloom in 2006.After house prices dropping for 16 months in a row BBC news has reported that house prices are set to rise again in 2006, although gains will be small.Nationwide is said to be...more
Bankruptcy can make getting any kind of financing much more difficult. However, it's not impossible anymore to get financing, even a few days after the discharge of a bankruptcy. But, is getting a loan soon after a bankruptcy a smart thing to do?It...more
The typical American household budget percentage breakdown looks like the list below. For most of the categories a range is shown. A range makes more sense to help you see where your personal budget fits (or doesn't fit.) If your budget doesn't fit...more
HUD reverse mortgages can be a great tool for Seniors that are looking for additional funds for retirement. Through a HUD reverse mortgage, seniors can tap into the equity from their homes without having to make repayments.HUD Reverse Mortgage...more