Top Realtors – How to Benefit on the Best Real Estate Market Has to Offer

[ad_1]

Don’t you just hate it when you have to sell your house and you have to endure a clumsy real estate agent? Not only you did not get a good deal on your house but you also have to suffer the stiffness the man did his job.

A real estate agent can help when you want to buy or sell a home, but it can also be awful hard to work with. That is way you need to choose top realtors to successfully buy or sell a house.

Top realtors are the ones that have the best results on today real estate market. Choosing one of them would make you feel confident and would increase your chances of success.

The efficiency of a top realtor is due to the long experience they have had on the market, which can be a great help in taking care of the details and negotiations. A top realtor will get you the best deal possible.

But what makes a realtor be the beast at what he does? Well, we already mention experience as one of the important things. A second one would be the affiliation to top agency as usually professionals work for highly respected companies while amateurs work for small or little known companies. A big agency has enough financial power to put your home on the market as it can afford to spend money on advertising.

The next reason why someone should look for top realtors involves a code of ethics published by the National Association of Realtors. While an average real estate agent simply has a real estate license, a realtor has to subscribe to the Realtor Code of Ethics to start working. This code of ethics consists of seventeen rules that a realtor swear to uphold and adhere.

Some of this rules state that the realtor has to put the interests of the costumers ahead of their own by not collecting commissions without the seller’s knowledge or not co-mingling the client funds with his own. Although not all realtors subscribe in practice to these principals, top realtors always regard them as a priority in their work. For professionals quality services always come first.

Make no mistake about it, professionals always work better than average workers. Although it may be more expensive to hire one, a top realtor will not disappoint you.

[ad_2]

Source by Rizvana Abdul

How to Find a Real Estate Agent

[ad_1]

A real estate agent serves as the guide during the whole process of buying a home. He is the one responsible for making things easy for you when you decide to buy a home. Finding your perfect dream house may be quite overwhelming, most especially if you are on your own. By merely asking the help of an experienced real estate agent, he can help you narrow your home options.

Normally, you will pay the agent three percent of the equivalent price of the house. Statistically speaking, twenty percent of all the real estate agents take care of eighty percent of the whole house buying process. The majority of people consider paying their agents that particular amount, as they know that it is worth the price.

However, the most important question remains unanswered. How do you find a good real estate agent? Certainly, you may want to find someone who is worth the amount that you have paid for. A good an experienced real estate agent is someone who has extensive experience on the said field, is patient, has good professional and working ethics and knows how the real estate market works. Having recognized these important key points, there are three significant places where you can start your search.

The perfect way in finding a good agent is by asking the people that you know. Relatives, neighbors, and trusted friends might be able to help you. Ask them for some recommendations. Try to know their experiences with a particular real estate agent. Inquire whether they are satisfied and contented with the kind of service they have received. Ask them to rate that agent on a scale of one to ten. Being able to know all of this information will help you distinguish whether or not these agents are worth your money or not. Remember not to simply rely and believe on people that you barely know.

Another option is to search over the internet. In the past, you had to visit one office after the other to be able to compare their prices. Indeed, finding a good agent is a lot easier nowadays since these listings are scattered all over the web. However, you must be informed that what you see in their listing is not always what you get. It still pays to read consumer reviews and testimonials before making that tough decision.

And lastly, you can also find an agent by going through the classifieds section of your daily newspaper. Large institutions are more commonly found on classifieds rather than those who are just starting out.

Do not settle with one agent, yet. Try to compare their rates and ask them questions related to the field. Well, here is one thing that you should always pin into your mind – finding a real estate agent is not difficult, but finding a good one is much harder, but well worth your time.

By following the advices listed above, positively you will find a real estate agent that is worth the price.

[ad_2]

Source by John Carlstrom

Tips For Finding a Realtor

[ad_1]

When it comes to selling your Virginia home, your home’s representative is one of the most important aspects of securing an effective, efficient, and lucrative sale. Whomever you choose to represent your Virginia home and the sale of your home is dependent on several different factors such as costs, your overall budget, required maintenance or home staging, etc. Thinking about these things is important when it comes to selling your home, especially if you’re selling a home for the first time. Here are some tips when it comes to Virginia realtors, and selecting a realtor in Virginia that will work for you.

Can I save money by selling my home myself?

Cut of commission costs are one of the biggest incentives when it comes to selling a home in Virginia yourself. While this may seem worthwhile, you should always have a firm grasp on what exactly is involved with selling a home. Home sellers will traditionally let a realtor handle all of the marketing and paperwork involved with selling a home. A realtor can also troubleshoot any issues that may arise either during the selling process or the finalization of the sale. Realtors also have access to larger markets and internet marking, so your home may sell in a shorter amount of time compared to selling on your own.

How can I find the right Realtor?

Don’t be afraid to meet with potential realtors to discuss what exactly you want and need during the selling process and transaction of your Virginia home. Research the realtor’s track record and testimonials will also benefit you during your search. High amounts of positive feedback are a plus. Don’t be afraid to ask for references. The last thing you want is to feel doubtful in your realtor choice, as this has everything to do with the effective sale of your home. Your realtor should be knowledgeable, approachable, trustworthy and willing to fulfill your needs as a seller.

Does choosing the right agent really make a difference?

Absolutely! The wrong realtor may cause you to lose money and may also cause your home to stay on the market for longer than you anticipate or desire. A professional, reliable realtor will not only be able to sell your home in a shorter amount of time, but they may also help you to save money by providing useful advice on how to stage your home and prepare it for sale in a cost-effective way. Check references, and be sure that the realtor you choose has a plan that fits your time, budget and needs.

[ad_2]

Source by Sarah Reece

German Castles — 4 of The Most Incredible Ones — Part I

[ad_1]

We have a long history here in Germany and very medieval castles also. Tens of thousands of tourists come to Germany day in and day out just to see and feel the „charisma“ of our German castles.

I will explain you 4 of my favourites and a little bit of their history. If you plan to travel to Germany, you might like to know them and to feel its charisma too. 😉 These 4 castles are located in South Germany, so you do not have to travel hundreds of kilometres/miles to see each of them. By the way, most of our German castles are located in South Germany.

1. Heidelberg

The first one I describe to you is the Heidelberg castle. It is really big and has a secret stairway to walk up to it. Very few people know that way, most of the people go up by the „hill train“. I mean, you can do that too, but imagine how incredible it is, when you walk up the more than 300 stairs (each stair has its number on it!) and see all the old houses around you, WOW!

Heidelberg itself has a strong history too and you see that on all the houses and the extremely expensive residential areas. Very famous people live in Heidelberg, such as Steffi Graf and famous Scientists. You should also walk through the, and now I’ll give you a insider secret, „Philosophenweg“ (Way of Philosophs). You may ask the people out there where exactly this way is, but however when you walk up that way, you have an really awesome, and I mean really awesome view to the Heidelberg castle and Heidelberg itself and its river (Neckar).

2. Schwetzingen

Not far away from Heidelberg (approx. 10km) is a small town called Schwetzingen (yes, I live in this town and I love it!). The special thing here is, that this town has just 22,500 residents, but also a huge castle! When you visit German castles you will realize, that some of them not so big, but beautiful too. The castle of Schwetzingen is not just beautiful, it’s awesome and huge! The city itself spends all of the entrance fees (only 2,50 EUR per day) into this incredible castle, and you see that at each corner stone, plant and bloom.

The Schwetzingen castle is almost as big as the city itself! 🙂

Its history goes back to Baroque, Rococo and Classicism. It’s still apparent today that the irregular complex of the Schwetzingen castle in essence dates back to a medieval castle altered in the Renaissance period.

At the end of your castle visit you absolutely must go to one of the irresistible cafés and restaurants in front of the castle – at the „Schlossplatz“ (castle place). There are seven (and much deeper in and around the city) of them and you will find people of all ages there, and you easily come in contact with them. They are really communicative. Most of the young people are able to speak English. More about this amazing town you’ll find on my site: www.smart-travel-germany.com/schwetzingen.html.

My site isn’t perfect yet, but it grows day after day and I work really hard on it to give you the highest valuable free insider tips for your travel to Germany.

I hope you enjoyed the first part of my special report of 2 awesome German castles. Watch out for the second part with the other 2. I will post it shortly.

Also for further insider tips go to my website. I finished the creation of my monthly free special report. In this report I will describe the rest of our TOP 40 German castles and its histories. You can subscribe to it at www.smart-travel-germany.com/smart-travelogy-germ.html.

I appreciate you!

Marcus Hochstadt

[ad_2]

Source by Marcus Hochstadt

Your Online Reviews Can Make or Break Your Real Estate Deals

[ad_1]

If you looking to purchase a product which is offered by different companies, how would you decide who to purchase it from? If you are like most of us, you would simply pick up your smartphone and read online reviews about each company and make your decision on those reviews. Well, the same goes for anybody who is possibly going to use your real estate services.

With the internet and technology making it easy and quick to access information about anybody, your potential clients will search for reviews on you. The reviews and testimonials they find online could be the difference between getting new clients, or losing them to someone else.

Get a Testimonial From Your Client After Every Closing

It is important that you obtain a testimonial after every closing if your clients are happy with your real estate services. Typically, the time of closing is a happy time for the client, and therefore, a perfect time to ask for a testimonial. It is always harder to obtain that testimonial at a later time down the road.

Tell your clients that it could be short and just be a few sentences. Many don’t like writing long reviews and may not give you one because of that. A short testimonial that’s to the point is just as effective.

Take a Picture With Your Client In Front of the Property

Along with asking for a testimonial at the time of closing, you should definitely take a picture with your clients. It is always preferred to take a picture at the property. An effective picture is to take a picture in front of the property while your clients hold the SOLD sign or the keys. The picture can be taken when you meet your client at the property to deliver the keys.

Displaying Your Testimonials on Your Real Estate Website

The most important place to display your reviews and testimonials is on your very own real estate agent website. Your real estate agent website is typically ranked higher in search engine results than your Facebook page and profile pages on Zillow, Trulia, realtor.com, and other large real estate marketplace websites. Therefore, you’ll definitely want to display your testimonials on your agent website.

You should have testimonials clearly visible on your homepage along with a separate page that displays all of your testimonials. Your real estate agent website platform should contain an interface that allows you to enter reviews and testimonials along with pictures of your clients.

Post to Facebook

If someone is looking online for reviews about you, they’ll most likely land on your Facebook page. Therefore, it is very important to create a „Just Sold“ post after every closing. The post should contain the testimonial by your client AND the picture you took with them in front of the property. Be consistent and do this for every time you close on a property.

Ask Clients to Submit a Review on Zillow, Trulia, and realtor.com

Anybody looking for online reviews about you will also most likely end up on Zillow, Trulia, and realtor.com. All of these sites accept reviews and it is important that you build up the number of reviews and your rating on these large marketplace real estate websites.

The review is submitted by your clients from your profile page on each of these sites. A client can submit a review by clicking on the „Submit Review“ button that appears on your profile page. To make it easier for your clients, send an email with links to your profile page for Zillow, Trulia, and realtor.com.

[ad_2]

Source by Michael Yee

Why Flat-Fee MLS Service Is Best For You

[ad_1]

For sale by owner or FSBO are those that sell their property on their own without the help or with just a very little help from real estate brokers. The main reason why there are people who would like to sell their own property without the aide of a broker is simple, because they want to save on the sale and get more profits from the sale. The danger however of selling the property on your own, especially if it is your first time to sell real estate, is the fact that you do not have the same skill set and experience as that of a real estate broker. On top of that statistics would show that majority of those selling their property on their own as an FSBO fail and reverted back to hiring the services of a real estate broker.

However, today, there is a service that could help a property owner sell his property with the help of a professionals in the real estate industry without having to pay a huge percentage, instead he would just have to pay a flat rate. This service is called flat fee MLS, this service would provide you several real estate brokerage services that would only require you to pay a flat subscription rate. We have outlined below the different reasons why this service is best for FSBO.

  1. Provides Real Estate Brokerage Services – although as a FSBO you will still have to do most of the work, flat-fee MLS service will provide you with the essentials. Like having your property listed in hundreds of MLS Listing sites which is only accessible to real estate brokers. By doing this you are potentially putting your property in front of thousands if not millions of potential and interested buyers.
  2. Flat-Fee MLS Provides Offline Services As Well – how do you capture the attention of passers-by who are also potential customers? You place a for sale yard sign in your property. This service can provide you with this service still by paying a flat-rate. Which means as an FSBO you do not have to make the yard sign on your own, the flat fee MLS provider will do that for you.
  3. Affordable Fees – this maybe one of the biggest reasons why as an FSBO, you should be getting this service to help you sell your property. The subscription fees for flat-fee MLS is affordable, in fact it starts from $99 three months subscription and you get all the services and then some.
  4. Great After-sales services – most reputable flat-fee MLS companies would have an after-sales service where you will be able to get live customer support for when you encounter problems with your subscription or if you want to change things in your listing. Not to mention the fact that some providers have a money-back guarantee to make sure that you are secured with the investment that you have put in. These are some of the reasons why you should use flat-fee MLS service to help you in selling your property. Of course every provider is different and one is always above the other in terms of the services that they provide, so you have to choose the provider that is reputable and trusted.

[ad_2]

Source by Vincent Tabor

How Any Real Estate Agent Can Generate New Leads & Listings from Foreclosures

[ad_1]

The title to this article is a pretty bold statement, but if you’ll allow me a couple of minutes of your time today, I’ll show you how you can take advantage of a brand-new Real Estate niche that most Agents don’t know about. It’s not that they aren’t aware of it; it’s just that they haven’t put two & two together.

This new source of Real Estate Leads could mean another 100 – 600 new, very motivated (Seller) Leads that are desperate for your professional help. And that’s only for a market of 100,000 homes. You’re market could have even more.

Why hasn’t this opportunity been available before?

Well, before now all the pieces were not readily available. Today, the technology is in place, the turnkey business-in-a-box-training-systems are available, and the market for this business is very ripe & growing.

Foreclosures will be the next big thing in Real Estate Leads

We are often asked by our Coaches Corner{tm} Newsletter Subscribers (350,000+): „What’s the next big thing going to be for Real Estate Agents?“

Well, if you asked me that question specific to Real Estate Lead Generation, I’d have to say Foreclosures & PreForeclosures are going to be the next big thing for New Real Estate Lead Generation.

You’ve probably already heard that Real Estate Foreclosures, as of April 2007 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report (published by RealtyTrac® – the #1 online authority for Foreclosure data), are up by 62% nationwide from April 2006. Some states are up by as much as 3,325% (New Hampshire).

Real Estate Foreclosures Rates continue to grow

Recently USA Today printed an article about the fact that 75% of the new home mortgages in California are No-Doc-Loans (some industry experts call them liar-loans). These No-Doc-Loans allow the homeowner to use stated income and often allow them to borrow more money at higher debt-to-income ratios than they could traditionally. The no-doc loans have become very prevalent in the last couple of years and are now widely used nationwide.

In my opinion, the majority of these liar-loans are Real Estate Foreclosures in embryo. It’s likely just a matter of time before the homeowners get into trouble and fall into Foreclosure.

Over a Million Real Estate Foreclosures Each Year

According to RealtyTrac®, with whom we’ve established an exclusive partnership, the number of Foreclosures will likely exceed 1.2 million this year if we continue at this pace. To read the complete May 15th, 2007 press release for RealtyTrac®’s U.S. Foreclosure Market Report click here.

What this means for the average Real Estate Agent in a market with 100,000 households is that about 127 new properties will enter some state of Foreclosure per month. Some of the not-so-average counties will see 431 new foreclosures per month for those same 100,000 households. So, that means that there will be 14 new Real Estate Foreclosure Listings per day per 100,000 households.

If you had the home seller information in a timely manner and were equipped to deal with this specific type of lead, it could mean 100 – 500 brand new leads every month in a market with 100,000 households.

Most Real Estate Agents don’t know how to handle prospects in Foreclosure and usually see them as junk prospects. So, there’s very little competition for you in this niche if you become a Real Estate Foreclosure Expert.

Couple that with a very highly motivated home seller, and you have a recipe for New Lead Generation Success.

Do you know your State’s Foreclosure Rate? If it’s only the national average, you’ll have 1 Foreclosure for every 783 households like quite a bit of the country? How many households do you have in your market, and what does that equate to in Foreclosures? A whole lot no matter where you live!

The Foreclosure Rates are growing almost everywhere and there are already an enormous amount of potential leads for you where you live, so take action and equip yourself with as much information as you can on Real Estate Foreclosures. The information will help you carve out a brand new niche in Real Estate Foreclosures in your area and help you grow your Real Estate Business.

[ad_2]

Source by Dan Matejsek

The Best Way to Find Vacant Houses For Sale

[ad_1]

Finding vacant properties is often much more difficult than it would first appear to be, as said homes generally don’t have an owner who can be contacted in relationship to making a sale. This may be because the house is a new build, but in some cases the house may have ended up being abandoned for whatever reason.

However, if you are interested in buying a vacant property, there are still a number of different avenues that you can consider exploring to find them.

Ask A Real Estate Agent

Your first step should be to contact a property industry professional to get their take on the situation. Many will not maintain a full database of vacant properties in the same way that they maintain one for properties that are for sale, but they may be able to point you in the right direction in regards to who you would need to speak to in your particular state.

You may even get lucky and find an agent who specialises in this form of property sale, though those are fairly rare and will often cost a pretty penny if you want them to search for you.

Find The Owner

In some cases a vacant home will still have an owner and has simply been abandoned for one reason or another. In these cases you may find that the owner is a very active seller – if you can find them in time.

The key here is getting any new address details, if they exist. You can try speaking to neighbours or leaving a note at the house in case the owners return, but you can also check tax records to see if they filed a new address. You can even try sending a postcard to the house you are interested in, with a written message stating „Do not forward – address correction requested“, which the post office will return with new address information, if they have it.

Driving Around

Vacant houses often have a certain feel to them that people can detect when they pass by. Overgrown gardens and a slight eeriness are commonly reported and can be tell-tale signs that nobody is in the house.

As such, if you are trying to find a vacant property then it could be a good idea to simply drive around a couple of different areas every day to look for the signs that a house no longer has an owner. You can then start looking into ways to buy it.

Speak To Postal Carriers

As invasive as it might sound, there are few people who know the state of a property better than the people who deliver mail to it.

Try to arrange a conversation with the mailmen and women who deliver to a particular neighbourhood and ask them, politely, if they are aware of any properties that don’t appear to be housing anyone at the moment. If you’re lucky they may just give you the information you are looking for, allowing you to start looking into ways of acquiring it.

[ad_2]

Source by Bill Len

Should I Buy a Home In 2008?

[ad_1]

Dreadful information about the slumping American housing market is all over TV news and in almost every paper. During this housing slump many potential first time home buyers often wonder, should i buy a house in 2008? While every persons situation is different the next few paragraphs will hopefully help you decide whether or not to buy a house in 2008

It is a fact that property values across north America have dropped, in some areas they have dropped drastically and others its just a slight dip. Buying a home when prices are at the lowest is the best way for buyers to get the most for their money, and many people are now taking advantage of the lower home prices.

The major factor for most people when buying a home is securing a affordable mortgage to purchase the home with. In today’s current market mortgage rates have also fallen to very low levels making financing a new home more affordable then one year ago. When low mortgage rates are combined with reduced asking prices your money suddenly is able to buy you much more home then you previously thought possible!

The only real roadblock to buying a home in 2008 is going to be actually qualifying for a mortgage. Even though mortgage rates are low the lenders have tightened up their lending guidelines since the housing slump began. Since many borrowers need 100% financing it makes things that much more difficult. To deal with stricter lending guidelines borrowers are going to need excellent credit or have down payments in the range of five to twenty percent to secure home financing.

With property values falling and mortgage rates at very low levels 2008 is a great time to buy a new home. Not only is there more selection on the market but you will also be buying when prices are low so when the next real estate boom starts you will make substantial money on your investment.

[ad_2]

Source by Darin Sewell

Why A Waterfront House For Sale Is A Good Investment

[ad_1]

Waterfront property is immune to most market trends, and for good reason. Splendid summers can be spent on a lake or river, promising family bonding time and decreased stress. Full-year houses and cabins are becoming more frequent. They can also be converted into permanent residencies that promote privacy and communing with nature. A waterfront house for sale is rarely on the market for long and should be pounced on by interested buyers.

Privacy

Privacy is an increasingly valuable commodity. With lakefront property, real privacy is obtainable. The distance between homes and dense foliage dampens sound, leaving the owner to appreciate their thoughts and conversations with friends and family. With limited space for development, no houses will pop up between the property and water’s edge, resulting in a clear view of the water. A waterfront house for sale will also likely feature a private dock, or at the very least, an intimate, walk-up access to the shoreline.

Fun Water Activities

Water activities are a great way to bond with families and friends. The water presents a wide range of options for fun, such as fishing, skiing, swimming, and boating, among others. Many of these activities cannot be replicated on land and give a thrill of being unique. Even simple activities like reading a favorite book while drinking a cup of coffee are suddenly mystical when paired with a lake sunset.

Limited Supply

Substantial property directly on a body of water is rare and priced accordingly. They retain their value, especially compared to fluctuations of city housing, and can be sold at almost any time if need be. When not in use, renting cabins can provide large profits. Owning a waterfront property requires some amount of upkeep. However, a house for sale in an area that is desirable can be a great family experience, as well as a smart investment.

Closeness to nature

While this depends on the area, lakes and rivers are a natural habitat for a plethora of wildlife. You can watch birds from the dock, fish for sport or food, catch the occasional appearance of deer or owls, and experience an intimate moment with nature that a city cannot duplicate. Of course, having a fully operational house means that nature can be enjoyed on the individual’s terms, which is especially important in humid climates and at night.

Health Benefits

Many studies have shown that spending time close to water has immediate health benefits. For those who have spent time around or on water, this should come as no surprise. Spending time on the lake creates a serene atmosphere that reduces stress. For those who are used to living in a city, the clean air and decrease in noise and light pollution will be a welcome change.

[ad_2]

Source by Alfred Ardis