Determining the Listing Price of Your Home by William Bronchick

When it comes to buying a home, most potential buyers will use the listing price to as the number one factor to determine the homes that they look at. Even though you and a realtor may determine the asking price, the buyer will determine the selling price. If the price is too high, most buyers won’t give it a second thought – which is why you want to determine the listing price carefully.

If you set the correct price, you’ll notice a much faster sale. Setting the right listing price will also attract more potential buyers to your property as well. You’ll also notice an increase in response from realtors, and receive more calls about the property. The listing price is very important – and it can ultimately determine whether or not you sale your property.

A home can be overpriced due to several reasons. Overpricing is something you want to avoid, as buyers tend to steer clear of homes that have been overpriced. Normally, this happens when a buyer asks a lot more than the home is worth or valued at. Some buyers ask a lot more than the value of the home due to location. Although the location is very important, most potential buyers won’t give the home a second look if they think the price is too high – and more importantly out of their price range.

When you put your home up for sale, most activity will happen within the first couple of weeks. If you put the right price on your home, you’ll notice immediate interest. There are always buyers looking for homes in their price range, waiting for new homes to be listed or homes to be reduced in price. Buyers who are waiting to purchase may miss seeing your home completely if the price is too high.

To determine the listing price of your home, you might consider having it appraised before you put it on the market. This way, you’ll know the full value of your home. You can sell it for market value or go a little under, although you should never attempt to go way over the value. In doing so, you’ll miss out on a lot of potential buyers. The home market is very competitive these days, which is why you want your home to draw as much interest as possible.

Keep in mind that realtors really have no control at all over the real estate market, only the plan behind marketing. Realtors don’t determine the asking price – the seller does. You can ask a realtor for advice, although you are the decider of your listing price. If you do things right and take each thing step by step, you’ll set the listing price in the right area and have no problems selling your property.

Benefits of Real Estate Partnerships by Bill Bronchick

If you are thinking about investing in real estate, you should know that you don’t have to do it alone. There are several that are thinking of the same thing as you, but don’t have the proper resources to begin the process. Building partnerships to invest in real estate is one of the great ways to start building an income off of owning property.

One of the benefits of having someone else investing in real estate with you is that it will allow for any missed parts of the process to be covered. This is especially important in the beginning of the process. If you are unsure of different parts to look at with the real estate investing or if you don’t feel like you can cover all of the areas alone, a partner can help in determining what you are missing. Everything from contract work to needing a third person can be handled and put together from missing links. Two heads are always better than one, especially if you are just beginning.

Having a partner to help you with investing can also be beneficial because of organizational needs that will need to be met. Everything from basic paperwork to taxes and even procedures can be better when handled by two people. You will want to make sure that everything that is set for your profits is understood by both and whatever is missed will be picked up by your partner in order to keep the benefits coming in organized.

By having more than one person involved in the investment of real estate properties, you will be able to set your goals, keep standards and move forward in the business. Finding the right person who has the necessary tools will ensure that you will be successful. Having the right help will provide you the ability to continue to expand your business and make plenty of profit from real estate sales.

(NEXT POST… the bad side of partnerships)

Does Staging Sell Houses?

There is something to be said about a neat and tidy house when you are sorting through house after house looking for the perfect home for you and your family. This is something that should be kept in mind when selling either a personal home or an investment property. There are a few other things you should keep in mind when it comes to selling real estate. One of those things is that staging sells homes.

 

Seriously, there is something cold about an empty house. It could be painted impeccably and meet every possible standard a family has and yet feel cold and anything but homey when walking through the home for a real estate tour or inspection. This can be easily overcome by contacting a local furniture rental store and picking out furniture that will match at least the primary rooms of the home in order to make the home appear leaved in and homelike.

 

The primary rooms that you will want to appear ‘lived in’ are the living room, dining room, master bedroom, and all bathrooms. These are the rooms that essentially sell homes and it is important to make them appear neat, orderly, and well cared for. If you have the funds for every room in the home then by all means do so. It is a huge selling point, particularly for those who are trying to sell homes quickly. If the home doesn’t sell after the first two weeks or month (you decide the time limit) then you may want to remove the ‘staging’ furniture in order to eliminate the expense. I would strongly encourage you to keep this furniture as long as the home is being shown fairly regularly though.

 

You will want to do so much more than simply putting furniture in the property you are trying to sell. You want to create an atmosphere or warmth and comfort. This means you want to have prints on the walls, mirrors, plants, and pillows. You do not have to purchase items particularly for this process. You can use things from your own home in order to establish this atmosphere of homelike comfort. Be sure not to use sentimental favorites or very valuable pieces, as not all people who will view the property being sold are honest. It’s a sad reality but something to consider all the same.

 

Other things that may help an empty home sell are scents. There is nothing quite like the smell of cookies in the oven or flowers in bloom to make a home feel ‘homey’. These scents can be easily accomplished with well placed scented candles, potpourri warmers, dry potpourri, fresh-cut flowers, and electric room air fresheners. There are few things that will turn off potential buyers more quickly than an overpowering fragrance however so keep this in mind when selecting the method of fragrance. Having some fragrance in the home also eliminates the problem of an empty house taking on the ‘empty house’ scent that so many do over time. In other words, this is yet another part of the staging process that works for many trying to sell homes.

 

The short answer to the question of whether or not staging sells real estate is “yes”. Staging a home can absolutely lead to a higher offer and a quicker sell.

Get Rich in Real Estate (Slowly) by William Bronchick

If you try to browse the internet, you will see a lot of topics on how to acquire wealth. Getting rich is probably what many people desire but very few get what they want. Do you agree with what experts say that an easy way to get rich is to through real estate investing?

Entrepreneurs are always looking for ways to attain extreme wealth but they are also struggling to manage their finances and the business. There is never really an easy way to earn extreme wealth. You should work hard for every penny you earn and that also applies to real estate investing. Even if other investors are quite successful in the real estate business, there is no guarantee that you will have the same fate.

To ensure your success in the real estate business, you should master proper leverage. You should learn about different systems such as automation, duplication, and delegation. You should be creative to multiply the results of your resources and effort. This is very important to ensure that you get enough profits in the future. Try to set realistic goals.

About 90% of the rich people are into real estate investing. Again, you need to keep in mind that it’s not really easy to gain wealth even in real estate. Don’t believe in what infomercials claim. You must learn about the different processes involved in real estate. When pursuing your business, you will encounter many income generating opportunities like lease options, foreclosures, rentals, commercial properties, tax liens, short sales, being a loan officer or agent, investing in mortgages or in notes, and many others. Investing in mortgages promises high gains but you need you study how it works.

When entering the real estate business, you should choose between purchasing single families or condos. To some, purchasing multi-unit properties is a great advantage because they can have the property rented. While they are paying for the mortgages, they will also earn income from the rental rates every month. There are those who purchase properties who are hoping to gain profits by reselling them at a much higher price.

You see, there are a lot of things to consider when purchasing investment properties. If you don’t have the right knowledge, you will not last long and you’ll end up wasting your money. You need to ensure that your capital is protected. True enough, the first few years can be very tough because you have very high expenses but in the later years, you will see money rolling.

There isn’t exactly one way to be extremely rich. Well, if you’re born rich, then you’re lucky because you already inherit wealth. What about those who were born as ordinary individuals? You should not be discouraged even if you were not born with a silver spoon in your mouth. If you try to learn about the foundation and basics of real estate investing, you too can become rich.

Start real estate investing now. You will be rich in time especially if you’re hardworking and knowledgeable. Gather all the possible information resources you can find online and offline. Read and understand the facts you obtained and apply them in your investment decisions. Even if it may take some time, you’re guaranteed to have wealth through real estate investments.

Test your luck in the industry but try to ensure your success as well.

Retaining Tenants by William Bronchick

What tenant wouldn’t love the allure of high speed Internet and a computer of their very own? This is one of many incentives that investors and property owners are offering in order to retain or reward long term tenants. There are other rewards that are just as effective and cost property owners a little less in order to keep the tenants such as gift cards to restaurants after the renewal of a lease or gift cards at furniture stores for lengthening an existing lease. Savvy investors realize that an empty house, apartment, mobile home, etc. is money that is being lost each month that these sit empty.

 

The same savvy investors also realize that by keeping tenants longer they are often able to prolong the installation of new carpet, new paint, and other cosmetic repairs that are often required when a dwelling is turned over. In addition to the costs of these repairs there is also the time problems of these repairs as many of these cannot be completed in the course of a day or two and leave the apartment out of commission for at least a week if not longer. Bottom line is that the time the apartment sits empty is essential income that is lost.

 

If you do have an empty apartment or house there are things you can do in order to entice renters to sign a lease. One thing that many potential tenants find appealing is offering to allow them to select the color scheme for the walls and flooring. Too many rental units permit only white walls to their tenants. Imagine the benefits of not only allowing them to have walls in designer colors but also doing the work for them. This is a great incentive to many renters who love the idea of the final look but not necessarily the expense or work involved in creating that look. The ability to have the colors of choice when moving in is a huge bonus to many renters that should not be neglected or overlooked.

 

Another thing that tenants find helpful and appreciate in a rental property are the little luxuries such as a dishwasher, garbage disposal, built in microwave, washing machine, or dryer. These things are luxuries that many find are well worth signing a longer lease and even paying a little extra for each month. Garages and carports are another great bonus to potential tenants if you have the facilities to provide this. There are other enhancements you can make to a property that makes it more appealing to long-term tenants. Some of these would include ceiling fans, a fenced in yard for children or pets, and free cable television. It is the little touches that often appeal to renters and you will be amazed at the difference they make.

 

By offering your tenants something that every other landlord in the area is failing to offer you are standing out from the rest. You are also creating a ‘spoiled’ tenant who isn’t going to be content with what the other landlords have to offer when the time to renew the lease comes around. For this reason he or she is likely to stick around for yet another six months or year until the new lease expires, at which time you, as the savvy investor you are, can convince them to once again name their price for staying and offer yet another beautiful incentive in order to keep your clients happy and in place. 

The Flip Side of Flipping Houses

Television programming and infomercials of all styles will have you believe that flipping houses is a fun and fascinating way to turn a serious profit in real estate. It is just that, though it is also so much more. There is a lot of money that can be made by flipping houses (buying homes in various states of neglect or disrepair, making the repairs, and then selling for a sizeable profit) by the right professionals. However, there is a massive amount of work that is actually involved in the process of making that money.

 

The sheer volume of work, the time consumption, the sleepless nights and days, and the sometimes disgusting chores that must be done in order to get a run down property in sellable conditions is often glossed over on these television shows for various reasons—most of all the reason that the average Joe sitting at home wants to believe that he too can do this kind of work for quick profits and these images are not conducive to that illusion. In other words, this is a tough racket no matter how easy they attempt to make it seem.

 

Poor planning is the bane of a property flipper’s existence. In order to have a successful flip (and by that I mean maximum profit—minimum investment not any profit at all) you must carefully create a plan of action and implement that plan as quickly and cost effectively as possible. You must also realize that there are likely to be rain delays, hiccups, and disasters along the way. Proper planning can eliminate some of the disasters that may occur but it will not eliminate every conceivable possibility that will come along. More importantly than anything else however, proper planning can limit these occurrences as well as their severity to the overall time schedule and budget.

 

Another important thing, which falls under proper planning, is having a proper inspection done. The importance of this step cannot be stressed enough. Knowing the problems and potential problems that exist in a property can help you create a workable timetable and budget for the property flip. This also notifies you of potential problems you may encounter along the way. The television shows that deal with this week in and out often leave out this oh so important step and many would be investors find themselves investing in a money pit rather than a home that has potential to turn the quick profits they are hoping for.

 

You should make every effort to insure that your first flip is a simple cosmetic flip (this is something that a good inspector can assist with). In fact, this should be the case for your first few flips and then you can move on to more substantial flips that involve more work. The reason is simple—while the profits will be somewhat smaller on these cosmetic flips it gives you, as the investor, the opportunity to learn to budget, set timetables, and live within those budgets and timetables. This is where most investors go astray when taking on projects that are above their means. A house flip is no small endeavor and there is a lot of money to be lost along the way when this particular real estate investment doesn’t pan out. Start small and ignore the dollar signs in your eyes, then work up to more extensive projects.

Don’t Get Caught up in Illegal Real Estate Scams by William Bronchick

There are many ways to legitimately make money in real estate.  There are also many shortcuts that are illegal, fraudulent, or a downright scam.

Here’s a few of them:

1. Lying on Your Loan Application.  Whether it be saying you will live in the property or overstating your income, these are lies that can get you caught up in legal trouble.  If you get caught, you go to Club Fed.

2. Cash Outside of Closing.  Giving the seller or buyer cash outside of closing not reported on the HUD is a violation of RESPA.  This can also land you in Club Fed,

3. Not Reporting Rental Income.  It’s tempting to screw the Government by undereporting cash you receive, but why risk it?  Instead, be aggressive on your deductions.

4. Doing Work Without Proper Permits and Inspections.  Many investors will disturb lead paint, asbestos or hide hold.  All of these can get you sued, not to mention fined by the EPA.  Do the job right, and disclose it.  Also, don’t do any life-threatening or health and safety repairs without a proper permit.

You can make an honest living in this business without breaking the rules.  Keep on the straight and narrow path and you will succeed.