Bad Real Estate Agents in Disguise

I classify bad Real Estate Agents are those sneaky Real Estate Agents who claim to help you, but really just looking to get the commission.

How do these bad Real Estate Agent masquerade as good ones?

1. The Bad Real Estate Agent pretends to be a Hard Worker

If you hire a Real Estate Agent, you want them to work hard for your money because you do. And Real Estate Agent knows that. Salesmen know that. But working hard never guarantees success. A Real Estate Agent, like all people, should be have some level of workmanship, but not to the point of slavery. Do not be gullible enough to believe your Real Estate Agent will climb mountains for you. It is just a job. He should have other priorities. Do not base your Real Estate Agent selection based on how hard they work or how must time they spend with you. If your Real Estate Agent is wasting too much time pretending to work hard, then your Real Estate won’t have time to actually get you valuable information you need to make an informed decision. The moment the contract is signed and the agent get the commission, Bad Real Estate Agents will run to the next sucker and never want to talk or help you anymore.

2. Charmer

Every now and then, you’ll meet the person who knows exactly what to say. He knows the words you are looking for you and make you feel comfortable to trust him. When trusting an agent, don’t look for how kind, gentle, or how witty he is. Look for the results. What has the Real Estate Agent really done for you?

3. Not providing sufficient information.

Information is vital for you to make important decisions. Bad Real Estate Agents will hide information in order to get you to make the decision to buy the house. To make sure the agent is being absolutely honest with you and providing you all the information you need to know, always have another reliable source to verify the information.

One good way to find honest Real Estate Agents is through referrals. If you friends have experience good results from the agent, then at least you found someone honest and you know the results.

Do NOT go through the Internet and pick the first agent you see or the agent that has the most advertisements. They are just spending marketing money, which they intend to recover from you. I especially find the ones that are top ranked search engines to be the most conniving, especially the Mississauga location!!!

Now for the good news. If you are fair and you are looking for a human being Real Estate Agent and you treat them like a human being with no slavery expectation, you should be able to find a decent Real Estate Agent to help you. There are indeed plenty of honest agents that are really hiding because they are too busy helping their clients. You have to scout around and do a lot of homework to find that close-to-perfect agent that matches your needs. Using the information in this article, you should be able to filter out the bad agents.

Now, after all this discussion, one may even be asking whether you need a Real Estate agent. In private homes sellers, you do not. Only homes where sellers have a Real Estate Agent, you do need buyer’s Real Estate Agent to protect you. Whether you want to purchase home through private or through an agent should not be a deciding factor. Simply look at the house you want to buy and the price you want to buy it at. If your selected house requires a Real Estate Agent, then you should get one, too.

If you have any more questions or concerns, feel free to e-mail me at admin@freerentalads.ca

You are also certainly welcome to e-mail me your good and bad home buying experiences. I may or may not choose to post them up.

For those who have not read my part 1, please do so.

My next articles will take a closer look at tactics Bad Real Estate Agents pull.

Do you invest in real estate? Is your business as successful as you feel it should be? You might consider hiring a real estate consultant. Real estate consultants can focus on a number of different aspects of your business. Real estate consultants can specialize in many different aspects of the real estate business, or they can provide comprehensive consulting services.

One approach to real estate consulting is through management consulting. This would entail the consultant taking a close look at your business practices and determining what you are doing right, what you are doing wrong, and what you are doing right but could be doing better. For example, have you set measurable, testable performance benchmarks? Do you have a sound, practical business plan? A good real estate consultant can help you structure your business practice in ways that will help ensure success. They can provide support, , motivation, knowledge, and help you know where to focus and learn to keep our focus there.

Another type of real estate consultant is the type of consultant that performs research. This research may consist of market research. Market research will help you determine which types of properties best suit which type of customer, as well as who is buying. Market research can also highlight demographic trends that will impact your business. Wouldn’t it be great to buy up the next hot, trendy neighborhood well before everyone else gets there? There is some luck involved, but you don’t need to read the tea leaves or consult oracle bones. Most of what you will need to know is present in what’s happening on the ground right now. A consultant can mine the vast reams of data present in any market and help you spot these trends.

Real estate consultants often offer other types of research as well. For example, if you are thinking of taking your real estate investing into another market, and thereby diversifying geographically, real estate consultants can advise you on local real estate law and zoning practice. They can also advise you on tax planning for your real estate investments. Real estate consulting firms can also do boots-on-the-ground research, such as locating properties that you can potentially invest in. This would give you a leg up on competitors not employing such research as you may find properties well before everyone else is aware of the opportunity.

These are just some of the many potential benefits of partnering with a real estate consultant for your real estate investment business. The right real estate consultant can help you firm up your business practice in exactly the areas where you need help, whether it be managing your business, performing market research and anticipating investment trends, or advising legal, zoning and tax planning aspects of your business. Real estate consultants can give you a clearer picture of what you need to do for your real estate investment business to thrive, and help you plan the roadmap to get where you want to go, as well as set achievable benchmarks—and achieve them.

While the current economic climate might not make many run to the real estate market for their top career choice, for some, it can be a lucrative business. If you’ve decided to enter the real estate business consider the varying specialties that might help you to succeed. You may want to start as a commercial real estate agent, someone who specializes in selling commercial real estate. You may also consider becoming an appraiser, the person who determines the value of the home being bought or sold; a broker, who assists buyers with the actual transaction; developer, a person who improves land by adding or replacing or fixing up buildings; property management, someone who manages the property for an owner. With all these choices when becoming a real estate agent you are bound to find something that will be the perfect fit.

When deciding whether or not you’d like to do commercial or residential real estate consider these major differences. Obviously, commercial real estate agent will focus around office space or other types of commercial properties that are mostly income producing. Most homes will simply be by their owners. Commercial real estate can encompass leasing office space, owning an apartment complex or selling real property to name a few of the areas that you might be working in.

It’s also important to note that the paperwork involved is very different between the two areas of real estate. Residential deals are given much more consumer protection than commercial deals. Disclosures common to residential are not necessarily required. Commercial real estate buyers are going to need to ask about zoning laws, whether or not the area is suitable for their business, among other business decisions. As a real estate agent you’re going to need to have the skills necessary to meet different needs for the consumer.

No matter the type of real estate you decide to specialize in, each requires a different level of skill and a different level of knowledge. The type of person you are going to be dealing with in residential real estate is going to be quite different than the person you might deal with in a commercial transaction. Consider the types of customers you would most like to work with when comparing the two. Consider the types of goals you have and the types of needs you like to meet for others. It can be exciting helping the first time homebuyer discover and purchase the home of their dreams. Does this get you more passionate than helping the savvy business owner find the perfect space for leasing, a space that can help them meet their business needs. While there are two different goals, helping people meet those goals can be very rewarding.

Committing to becoming a residential real estate agent or a commercial real estate agent can be a big step. Determining that you want to go into real estate can be a difficult decision, especially when the current real estate climate is shaky. However, in the end, it can be a very rewarding career choice and a very lucrative one, depending on the type of real estate agent you become and the area in which you live. If you don’t think commercial or residential real estate is the right move then consider the other types of specialties that might be just the right fit. You have to spend a lot of time in your career so make sure that you are making a choice that is going to be in your best interest for the long term.

Real Estate Investing In a Down Market

Timing may be everything, but is now the right time to invest in real estate, given the steep declines seen in the housing marketing in recent months? Some real estate investment professionals seem to think so. In fact, the smart investors are buying, buying, buying properties right now. Why?

“First, let’s define what we mean by “investing,” says real estate mentor and author Minh Pham, whose popular real estate seminars pack convention rooms with novice real estate investors eager to learn how to make money with real estate. “Are you intending to be a knowledgeable, well-educated buyer of under-priced properties and stay in the real estate market for the long term in order to see excellent returns? Or are you looking for a ‘get-rich-quick’ scheme? If so, my real estate seminars are not for you.”

Pham explains that buying a cheap property in the hopes of immediately reselling for a lot more than you paid is speculating, not investing. And speculating is as risky as buying a lottery ticket. No credible real estate investment coach will teach you how to speculate, because there is no way to guarantee profits.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t start seeing profits in a fairly short space of time – you just need to know what you are doing.

Becoming a successful real estate investor involves getting educated, doing excellent research, and putting together a well-thought-out strategy. This may seem like homework to some, but for those who have done it the financial rewards are more than making up for the time spent learning.

“Can you make money in real estate in a down economy? Absolutely. Can you do it without knowing what you are doing? Absolutely not,” says Pham. “Worst case scenario, you could lose thousands of dollars and end up being very disillusioned, as many people are right now as a result of not really understanding what they were doing. There are rules to any game, and if you don’t take the time the learn them you could lose your money.”

According to Pham and other real estate investing experts, in order to be successful it’s important to learn how to make money in both ‘up’ and ‘down’ markets. You need survival strategies for when the economy is bad, and know how to win in a competitive market when the economy is booming. “Don’t fear the competition – embrace it,” advises Pham. “If you see a lot of investors competing for deals, then know you’re not the only one that sees the potential for profit. There are more than enough good deals to go around. At any given time there are hundreds of properties for sale in local market niches, enough for every savvy investor to make the profits they’re looking for.

Even in today’s uncertain climate, novice real-estate investors are making money, especially in smaller properties that are easy to acquire and manage. Owning property that pays for itself is what it’s all about. But how do you find those kinds of properties, and how do you recognize them when you do? “Ah, you’ll have to come to one of my seminars,” grins Pham.

Minh Pham’s next real estate investing seminar will be held in Alexandria, VA on March 14th, 2009. He will be giving away his real estate investing handbook, “Turnkey Profits Using Lease Purchase, Subject To’s and Other Creative Real Estate Investing Techniques” to seminar attendees. To reserve a seat go to www.realestatementoring.eventbrite.com.

Real estate investments are often termed as hot investments and if done right, they can really yield high returns and that too very quickly. Prudential is a popular name in the world of investments. Prudential financial companies are spread throughout the world and offer wide range of financial services including real estate services (which are also known as Prudential real estate services or just Prudential real estate brokerage services). Prudential real estate network is quite large.

Prudential real estate services start with a tool for finding a home. Enabled by the vast Prudential real estate network, the Prudential real estate home finding service provides you with thousands of listings from various states in the US. This is one wonderful service that also provides you with the access for the multiple listing service in the area of your choice (you need to register for that on the website of Prudential real estate services; this registration is free). Using this service, you can even save homes in your portfolio (i.e. save the details of your choice of homes in your portfolio) and later comeback and view them. You can even request an online home tour. Besides this home finding Prudential real estate service, you can use another service called “Find a neighbourhood service”.

Using this Prudential real estate service, you can determine not only the average costs of houses in a particular locality (and you can choose any locality by giving its zip code or postal address) but also things like schools in that area (with full details) and also other demographic, lifestyle details of the area. Prudential real estate goes even further with providing you with a service that automatically provides you updates for homes that match your profile. These updates are provided through email and are based on the profile that you provide to Prudential real estate at the time of registering on their website. Prudential real estate also provides you with guides and tips for buying and selling homes. These guides can help you in enhancing your understanding about real estate and hence aid you in decision making.

Prudential real estate services also include relocation services, real estate investments, commercial mortgages and commercial properties. You can even join the Prudential real estate network by becoming their franchisee. So Prudential provides the whole gamut of real estate services that you can utilize for your benefit.

Various Prudential real estate services and the Prudential real estate network can be easily accessed through the Prudential real estate website.

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In every real estate transaction there are a wide variety of legal issues that must be taken care of. Contracts should always be reviewed by an attorney who understands the nuances of real estate law. But there are also state specific State laws to contend with. A Seattle real estate lawyer deals with a large number of State legal issues related to acquiring, financing, developing, managing, constructing, leasing and selling residential and commercial property of all kinds. A Seattle real estate attorney will fully inform you of your options, advise you of any consequences, and protect your legal interests.

Below are some reasons you should consider retaining a Seattle attorney (Seattle Law Firm) for your real estate transaction:

? Real estate closings bring all interested parties together. They involve the execution and delivery of all necessary documents at the same time as the payment of the purchase price and the settlement costs of the deal. While this may seem like a simple process, handling a real estate closing is a complicated matter and requires a thorough knowledge of the law. This is why sellers and purchasers need to hire a reputable Seattle real estate attorney to orchestrate the transaction.

? Seattle real estate lawyers deal with tax implications for those buying and selling property.

? An experienced Seattle real estate lawyer can help you keep your property out of probate court by setting up a living trust for you to pass your property directly to your intended heirs.

? Real estate attorneys can protect you from costly mistakes, errors in the documents, errors in the figures and other problems that could lead to litigation or other expensive legal action.

? A real estate lawyer represents all parties involved in real estate transactions, for both residential and commercial properties.

? A real estate attorney also represents and assists business entities in a variety of commercial real estate issues.

? A Seattle attorney can help you with issues including real estate investment opportunities, real estate construction and development, landlord/tenant matters, zoning, financing or refinancing, and mortgages and foreclosures.

There are non-legal services that claim they can do all the legal work you need. If you’re tempted to save a few bucks this way, remember that lawyers belong to a regulated profession with standards they must meet and insurance to cover damages if they make an error or omission. You don’t necessarily have the same standards or recourse dealing with other advisors. And this isn’t the time to “do-it-yourself”. Although many legal forms used in real estate are similar, binder or purchase and sale agreement forms do vary from state to state. So if you intend to engage in a real estate transaction, retaining a Seattle real estate attorney, or Seattle law firm, will insure that all facets of your real estate transaction will be reviewed based on Washington state laws. Furthermore, some title insurance companies and mortgage lenders require you to use an attorney to ensure that, among other things, the title is good, there are no liens against the property, and that the deal will close as anticipated.

A Seattle real estate attorney’s role can be as broad as you want. And while it is not typical in a real estate transaction, you can ask your Seattle attorney to describe his or her work and fees in writing before you proceed. Whether you are a sophisticated businessperson with significant real estate experience, or a first-time homeowner, you can count on a qualified Seattle attorney experienced in real estate law to protect your interests during your real estate transaction. Do not close a real estate transaction unprepared!

Comparing Colorado Jumbo and Conforming Mortgages

There are differences between a jumbo Colorado mortgage and a conforming Colorado mortgage and learning what those are will inform you about which Denver mortgage is the best for you. Information about your mortgage will help you as a customer, so you will be able to work out a fair deal with a lender when you are in the market for a Denver mortgage.

Jumbo & Conforming Colorado Mortgages Defined

There are two companies, named Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that are empowered by the government to buy mortgages. Because of how they were created, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae make the standards for the mortgage business. So they have decided what makes a conforming loan and what makes a jumbo loan.

The difference between a conforming loan and a jumbo loan is the size of the loan you are looking for. A conforming loan is the smaller of the two. The most expensive loans are called jumbo mortgages.

The boundary between the two different kinds of loans moves from year to year and stems from the mortgage and housing market. The line now for a Denver mortgage and Colorado mortgage to be considered a conforming loan is a price of less than $417,000 for a single family house with a first mortgage and an amount of $208,500 for a second mortgage. Multi-family properties will have higher limits. Any amount above this is officially a jumbo Colorado mortgage. The limit will be different in states outside of Colorado, but these amounts cover all of the state. There will be a change to the limits to Denver and Colorado mortgages because of the stimulus package.

All About Colorado Jumbo Loans

The amount of the loan is the key factor in determining if a Denver mortgages is a jumbo loan. The jumbo mortgage products in Colorado are otherwise just the same as a conforming loan. The loan terms can be changed in many different ways, including fixed rates, adjustable rates, and interest-only programs. All of it will depend on which program you sign up for when getting a Colorado jumbo mortgage loan from a lender

Don’t forget that since the market is so small for jumbo mortgages there will be a tighter rein on the qualifications. This is true of Colorado mortgages as well. Since the borrower is taking out such a large sum, they will have to meet such strict standards such as a higher credit score and lower loan to value ratios.

When you look at the price and the loan amount of the house you are interested in, you will be able to see whether or not you need a jumbo Denver mortgage or a conforming Colorado mortgage. When you know what type of loan you need, you then find a mortgage lender in Colorado who can work with you. As always, it’s best to work with a Denver mortgage lender who has experience making customers happy with their loan selections. The lender will work with you on finding the right home loan option, whether it is a conforming mortgage or a jumbo Colorado mortgage. In the end, you will be connected with the best product for you.

This article is written by J.B. of 1st American Mortgage and Loan, LLC, a Colorado mortgage lender who offers access to information on obtaining a Colorado mortgage loan as well as other information on loans inColorado online mortgage quotes, and rates through his website TrueMortgageQuote.com http://www.truemortgagequote.com).

Seniors today often live with a great deal of financial uncertainty. The retirement they imagined may not be consistent with the reality they face.

Incomes are flat or declining, living and medical expenses are higher than ever and few income boosting alternatives exist. Even those who have heard about Reverse Mortgages may be unsure about how they work or what questions to ask. As they search for information, they often turn to their financial institution for guidance and information. By becoming familiar with the product, you can be an even more valuable resource to your clients providing them with income supplementing alternatives to drawing down assets.



What is a Reverse Mortgage?



A Reverse Mortgage is a special type of loan that allows a homeowner to convert a portion of the equity in their home into cash they can access. The funds are not taxable to the homeowner and typically don’t interfere with eligibility for Social Security or Medicare benefits. (However, in the federal Supplemental Security Income program, beneficiaries must keep their liquid resources under certain limits.) The customer retains title to the home as well as right to any appreciation in home value when the loan terminates after it is paid off. The loan remains in force until the last titleholder dies, permanently leaves the home or sells the property; the borrower can’t be forced to sell or move by the lender. The loan may be repaid at any time. But unlike a traditional home equity loan or second mortgage, no monthly payments are required. Instead of putting further pressure on an already stretched budget, a Reverse Mortgage can free a senior homeowner of monthly debt obligations.



Most Reverse Mortgages today are Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) and are FHA-insured and guaranteed. Because HECMs are subject to FHA lending limits, proprietary products have also been developed to help homeowners with properties in excess of the FHA lending limits.



Who qualifies for a Reverse Mortgage?



All titleholders must be 62 or older and own a home with some equity. There are no income or credit qualifications. Existing mortgages or liens must be paid off, but are often paid with proceeds from the Reverse. The homeowner must also remain current on insurance and property taxes, but these can also be paid with proceeds from the Reverse.



How can a borrower use the money?



The funds can be used for any purpose from making ends meet to living retirement dreams. The top reasons for funds used given typically by borrowers are:





Paying off debts, primarily mortgage and credit cards

Home repairs and remodeling

Living expenses

Travel

Health care or long-term care

Easing the financial burden on children

Education

Hobbies

Escalating property taxes





The amount available depends on the borrower’s age, the value of the home, interest rates and local FHA lending limits. Older borrowers can receive a higher percentage of their equity than younger borrowers. Funds can be received in a lump sum, a monthly payment or a line of credit.



What are the costs?



As with most any loan product, there are origination fees and closing costs, but they can be paid from the proceeds of the Reverse Mortgage. HECM loans also have a charge for the FHA’s Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP). There are usually no out-of-pocket costs to the borrower.



What consumer protections are in place?



Reverse Mortgages are non-recourse consumer loans – the loan payoff can never exceed the value of the home. To get a Reverse Mortgage, the customer must attend a mandatory counseling session and review their financial situation with a trained, professional Reverse Mortgage counselor. Many of the counselors are certified by the AARP. The counselor ensures that they understand the transaction, the costs and their other alternatives.



If you have questions regarding Reverse Mortgages or how they may provide life-changing benefits to your clients, contact MLS Reverse Mortgage at 1-888-888-4834 or www.mlsreversemortgage.com.



Fixed Rate Reverse Mortgage



MLS Reverse Mortgage

Tom Martino has been an advocate of consumer rights for more than 30 years. Now, Tom Martino mortgage help is being offered trough the Tom Martino troubleshooter mortgage referral system.

The Tom Martino troubleshooter mortgage referral system has grown out of Tom Martino’s troubleshooter.com and referrallist.com. The members of the Tom Martino troubleshooter mortgage referral network must meet the strict consumer-centric standards set by Tom Martino. And, the Tom Martino troubleshooter mortgage referral system is just one of the services of the troubleshooter network. In addition to the troubleshooter home loan, Tom has many types of business and other service providers. Tom is nationally known as a trustworthy resource for business location and good service.

Why You Should Use a Tom Martino Troubleshooter Mortgage

First to know, the Tom Martino mortgages are not provided by Tom Martino or the troubleshooter network. When people talk about a Tom Martino troubleshooter mortgage or a Tom Martino home loan they mean that the lender is a member of the troubleshooter mortgage network. The company has met Tom Martino’s mortgage standards for ethical practices, customer service, and reliability. A Tom Martino mortgage, then, has met the troubleshooter stamp of approval.

How a Home Loan Provider Becomes A Troubleshooter Home Loan Provider

To get onto the Tom Martino troubleshooter mortgage lender or broker referral list, a company has to live up to the strict standards set by Tom Martino and his network. It’s not easy. Tom Martino requires companies to:

•Be prescreened before getting the Tom Martino home loan badge of approval

•Be monitored during the entire period of their inclusion on the Tom Martino mortgage referral list

•Stick to a strict code of ethics set by Tom Martino

•Keep a track record of great customer service to become a troubleshooter home loan member

•Agree to settle customer disputes along with the Tom Martino mortgage

arbitration team.

Troubleshooter home loan members who don’t do this are taken off the referral list and stripped of the honor of being able to have the troubleshooter mortgage badge.

Why You Can Trust a Tom Martino Troubleshooter Mortgage

You should be confidence that you can have trust in a Tom Martino troubleshooter mortgage. Tom and his troubleshooter network have a national following. When you are shopping for a Tom Martino mortgage, you should know that the lender has had to live up to standards to become and stay a Tom Martino troubleshooter mortgage provider. It’s not easy; it takes a commitment from the company to the standards and to the customer to be considered a Tom Martino troubleshooter mortgage provider. The great customer service of the Tom Martino home loan provider won’t be an illusion. If the company wants to be a Tom Martino home mortgage provider they have made a serious commitment about becoming customer-centric and they want to be able to provide a troubleshooter home loan that will be no trouble for the borrower.