Archive for August 25th, 2009

Lakefront homes west

Posts about Real Estate Agent as of August 25, 2009
Sicamous Lake real estate offers some of the best in lake front beach property and homes in the Canadian world! With miles of warm, sandy beaches to stroll at sunrise, and challenging golf courses, and boating opportunities that only begin …. Ln Sandy 5382 Northlilac Ave West Jordan 4167 Misty Dr West Jordan 4984 W 6960 S West Jordan 4944 Shooting Star Ave West Jordan 7077 W 8130 S West Jordan 2955 W 8565 S West Jordan 3840 S 6660 W West Valley 1988 W 3605 S West Valley …  read more…

Neighborhood of the Week: Montgomery Cove | All Around KTown
This week Neighborhood of the Week heads back west and way down Northshore Drive to revisit a little lakeside neighborhood with some awfully big homes: Montgomery Cove. Nestled in the “v” formed by Northshore Drive and Choto Road, … Residents who don’t live in one of the neighborhood’s lakefront homes can still enjoy the water at Waterside Park, a four acre community area complete with a Stephen Fuller designed clubhouse, a lakeside dock with fishing pier, …  read more…

Lakefront homes | Waterfront Houses
The number of active listings for Lake Arrowhead Lakefront Homes tells a very different story. We currently have 45 available Lakefront Waterfront Homes. The highest price is $9500000, the lowest is $779000 and the median is $2575000. … Located just 20 minutes west of the dynamic city of Austin Texas, this small city is home… read more… What Types of Accommodation Are There in Taupo New Zealand? Planning a trip to Taupo New Zealand in the near future and don’t know what …  read more…

From Google Blog Search

Lake Travis Houses
Cooling lakes surrounded by rolling hills and spotted with tree-filled parks, that’s Lakeway Texas for you!

Located just 20 minutes west of the dynamic city of Austin Texas, this small city is home…  read more…

Chances for First-Time Investors and Buyers of New Homes in Austin Texas
The market of Austin real estate gives possible buyers a range of home varieties in and around the area of Austin. The mounts of west Austin and the ponds that are just about the place make Austin the…  read more…

Why Families Are Calling Lakeway, Texas Home
If Austin is an oasis in Texas, then Lakeway should be considered a paradise within the oasis.

Lakeway is a city of 15,000 people about 20 minutes west of Texas’ capital city. With rolling hills, l…  read more…

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Resolved Question: Looking for Michigan inland lake to move to. (Eaton, Barry, Calhoun, Kalamazoo Counties – I work in Lansing.)
Also could be: in the county of Ionia, Jackson, Clinton, Ingham. I would like to move asap, and be within an hour from Lansing & I don’t know the areas (especially the Lakes!) very well. Finding lakefront homes in other counties is hard to do, since my realtor is only able to get properties from the Lansing MLS. (I am also spending a fortune in gas $ to drive out to different areas on the weekends.) Hopefully the lake would be larger compared to smaller. I am hoping for about a 90+ acre lake.

(Even if you are aware of an internet site that has concrete info about all Michigan inland lakes. I have not been able to find anything particular. Even on Google earth, if I see a lake, I have to know the address before I can find out the size or mapquest it to see how far of a drive it is to work.

I work at the new GM plant on the South West corner of Lansing, so anything relatively close to 96 or 69 would be great, although i can take other smaller roads!

thanks in advance

  read more…

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How to Calculate the Debt-to-Income Ratio in a Loan Modification

Mortgage Modifications are becoming popular. A loan modification aids people save their homes by reducing the monthly payment in the loan. However, not everyone who asks for a mortgage modification obtains the desired result.

Lending institutions go over each particular application in order to see if the owner will be capable to pay back the mortgage after the mortgage. Lending institutions always take a look at the debt-to-income ratio to know if the home owner will be able to pay back the mortgage. In this essay, well look at how to figure out the debt-to-income ratio for a loan modification.

First, you should add up all of your monthly gross income. This is the money you make before taxes. In the case you get alimony or child support, you need to include these amounts.

Then, you should add all of your monthly debt obligations. This includes the minimum payments on your credit cards, car installments, the hoped for new mortgage payment, property taxes and property insurance. In this step, you don’t need to add utilities, cable TV, food, etc.

After you have figured out your monthly debt obligations, with the addition of the new mortgage payment, you need to multiply this amount by two.

To find out if you have a very good opportunity to get approved for the mortgage modification, your doubled amount needs to less than the gross monthly income. If the amount is over the gross income, there is a good chance that you will not be given the modification.

Keep in mind that lending institutions are normally willing to modify a mortgage when the debt-to-income ratio is under 50% of your gross income. A few lenders will go up to 55%. However, the majority of the lenders won’t allow any more than that percentage.

Nevertheless, you may sometimes be given a loan modification if you have a special situation. For instance, you may have been sick and now that you feel better you can work again in a good job.

Please, keep in mind that this way to calculate the ratio is only used as an example. It is up to you to discuss your situation with a loan modification expert who may help you present your situation in a better light or even offer you recommendations on how to change the debt-to-income ratio so that the loan modification is approved by the lender.

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Home Equity Loans For The Beginner

If you are a homeowner that is currently paying a mortgage, and you need a large amount of money for whatever reason, then you may want to look into getting a home equity loan. But before you agree to any terms with a lender, you should be aware of what will happen if you are unable to pay off your home, as you can lose your house.

You must take this into consideration when you are trying to get a home equity loan, and you must ask yourself, is it really worth it to risk losing my home if I am unable to pay the loan back to the lender.

There are many types of home equity loans that can be taken out. You will see that most of the lenders out there will offer the repayment from 10 to 30 years.

This is great as you will have low monthly payments for the next 30 years, but you must take into consideration that the lender will be making a lot of money off of the loan due to the amount of interest that is building up over the years.

When you are beginning to pay the 2nd mortgage loan back, you will be paying just one amount that is mixed in with your mortgage, depending on what type of home equity loan that it was that you took out in the first place. You will have to pay back both the capital and the interest of the loan.

If you manage to work out an agreement with your bank about paying off an interest loan only, there will be two agreements. You have one for the capital payments and then you will have one for the interest payments.

This is why the more knowledge you have on home equity loans, the better off you will be in the long run. If you select the wrong type of payment plan, you could find yourself paying off interest only for many years, and then 7-8 years later you will realize you haven’t even started to pay the actual loan off yet.

Sit down with many lenders and explore every type of home equity loan and interest rate that there is. If you do not need a large sump of money, then you may want to look into a home equity line of credit instead.

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Dominion Lending Centres the Legend

Let’s face it; there are millions of new homeowners out there and in fact you may even be one of them yourself. There’s also a good chance that you’ve at some point thought about taking out a mortgage on your home but you’ve never done so simply because you don’t know how to go about it. Bear in mind however that while many companies are willing to do whatever they can in order to help you, others will simply try to take you for a ride. Of course, as you can imagine, home mortgages are a serious business and certainly not something you should take lightly. In that respect, you should only ever consider using a reputable company which is dedicated to helping people.

Dominion Lending Centres has been helping people all over Canada to set up a home mortgage since 2006, and they show no signs of slowing down having been awarded the title of Best Newcomer Mortgage company in 2008.

Over and above home mortgages, Dominion Lending Centres also have a leasing division in order to deal with financing requirements for various commodities such as motor vehicles and computers. Of course, this is one thing which sets them apart from many of the other mortgage brokers out there in that the majority of brokers fail to offer such a service. Irrespective of what it is you require; there’s a strong possibility that Dominion Lending Centres can in fact offer you assistance.

Over and above the services already mentioned, the company also offers refinancing, and of course they are fully aware of just how important a person’s home is to them. In fact, they have people on hand 24/7 to provide assistance should you experience any issues relating to your home mortgage. Interestingly enough, this is a service which practically no other mortgage company offers and as such, it should be testimony enough that the company can be relied upon.

Also, if you browse around on their website you will notice a few interesting things. For example, you’ll find a home mortgage calculator the and also a refinancing calculator, both of which are invaluable with regards to helping you calculate what your monthly payments will be.

It goes without saying that a mortgage site is by far the best place for you to use such a calculator because if you choose to use these tools on other sites you could very well end up in the hands of a mortgage company which has ill intentions. You should bear in mind that certain companies provide such calculators in order to furnish bad rates, and then they go ahead and offer better rates by means of a popup advertisement. Essentially, considering this is home mortgages we are talking about, you should only ever go with a company which is capable of standing on its own, such as Dominion Lending Centres.

There is certainly no shortage of refinancing companies and as a result it can often be extremely challenging when it comes to choosing a company which is willing to put your best interests before their own. Dominion Lending Centres realize that while they may not be able to convince you to use their services, they do however suggest that you at least go and talk to them so that they can help you get the most out of your home mortgage.

Remember that getting a home mortgage doesn’t have to be scary or confusing, just follow expert advice and use your best judgment, and most of all, use Dominion Lending Centres.

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Ontario Real Estate Outlook 2010

Viewed as one of North America’s consistently hot real estate markets, Toronto has enjoyed sustained growth for the past twenty years. There are still quite a few hot markets around the GTA area. When times are high, when times are low, there are always great deals in the GTA market, according to Monica I, one of Toronto’s best “people-oriented” real estate agents. (What a great attitude she has).

Monica points out a great recent online article from CMHC. CMHC Canada states that “The decline in housing starts in 2009 are because of a several factors, including the current economic climate, increased competition from the existing home market, and the impact of strong house price growth from 2002. This info will help you determine an up and coming neighbourhood in your area, or the GTA.

Toronto, for many years was one of the hottest of the hot real estate markets in North America, with an % appreciation in your properties value in the double digits. When the real estate market is superb, one of the things you must keep in mind is to get a home inspection done. And remember even if a market is hot, and you want to get into the action, always remember to go with a real estate agent whose total marketing presentation and rapport makes sense to you.

Another great online article from CMHC that Monica points out to her clients was this. CMHC Canada states that year-over-year, starts are still down. In May 2009, there were 760 starts in Atlantic Canada’s urban centres, compared to 1,094 in May 2008. In Quebec, there were 3,594, down from 4,659. In Ontario, urban starts fell to 3,665, from 6,570.

As a real estate agent, Monica can simplify your real estate search process by listening to your market and home needs. Once understanding your needs, she then utilizes cutting edge research technologies, along with contacting some of her information sources to find you the right home that matches your needs.

Versatile real estate agents always keep their customers interests in the forefront of their mind, as Monica constintly explores the GTA market place daily online. She remarks as a heads up, pre-sale Toronto property undertakings are also well underway, including some high-end condominium hotels and high-rise tower residences that will transform the Toronto horizon forever.

Every since her first day in real estate, Monica strives to help Toronto home buyers and sellers make better informed decisions by providing them with informative articles and up to date MLS listings, all related to the property they wish to sell or purchase. She is a wealth of neighbourhood knowledge and you need that when searching for up and coming neighbourhoods.

Toronto, for many years was one of the hottest of the red-hot real estate markets in North America, with an % appreciation in your properties value in the double digits. When the real estate market is superb, one of the things you must keep in mind is to get a home inspection done. And remember even if a market is hot, or a market is up and coming, and you want to get into the action, always remember to go with a real estate agent whose total marketing presentation and rapport makes sense to you.

As a real estate agent, Monica can simplify your real estate search process by listening to your market and home needs. Once understanding your needs, she then utilizes cutting edge research technologies, along with contacting some of her information sources to find you the right home that matches your needs.

Every since her first day in real estate, Monica strives to help Toronto home buyers and sellers make better informed decisions by providing them with informative articles and up to date MLS listings, all related to the property they wish to sell or purchase. She is a wealth of neighbourhood knowledge.

Public Transportation is one thing to look for. If a subway, streetcar or bus makes up residence in the area, jump on and savour the ride. The presentation of public transportation can modify a community quite alot, particularly for monumental more populated areas.

So folks, from among the many Toronto real estate agents out there in the market, choose first the agent that you want. If you can not see eye to eye, or you dont feel an “in-touch with your needs” chemistry bond with the agent, it may not work. That is why I highly recommend Monica as one of the best Toronto real estate agents that can work with. You truly get your money’s worth. Monica knows the marketplace, so you may be able to catch the next hot up and coming neighbourhood boom in Toronto before it happens. Call her.

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Web logs are now becoming the center of attraction for many Internet savvy people. Creation of a blog can be based on two major reasons. One is the personal aspect and the second one is the professional aspect. Blogging has received enormous popularity among people as a trend. It has proven that when blog have been used for professional reason, dragged more public response and the concerned business has received a significant hike in revenue.

Creating a blog is absolutely free while creating a website requires money and knowledge of some applications like HTML, Php, Java and others. While creating a website you must have knowledge regarding web designing and web development. If you have knowledge about these applications then its well and good but if not then blogging can be a nice idea. Blogs are really easy to upload and there is no requirement of web hosting provider. But if you have future plans to transfer your blog to a website then some of the best blogsites provides you with this opportunity.

Blogging for the real estate business has grown like anything due to the abundant amount of good result real estate investors have experienced. Real estate blog marketing can be used as an effective and affordable marketing tool, which real estate agents from all over the world are using to receive more amount of business success.

Through blogging real estate professionals have drawn significant result. For such reason blogging as a trend has grown like anything among real estate investors. Real estate blog marketing is an affordable yet effective online business tool that allows the real estate agents to draw solid business success.

So, you need to make your blog different from others so that it can draw maximum number of web traffic’s attention. As a real estate investor you are well acquainted with the ongoing tremendous competition in the real estate market. Therefore, making a blog that can be noticeable from the rest is the most important aspect that you need to look for. Also your blog needs to be optimized as per the requirements of search engines. Achieving a high rank in a major search engine like Google can bring you good amount of web traffic as well as popularity on the Internet.

There are several ways through which you can make your real estate blog marketing successful. If you are not absolutely ready to add posts for your blogs on a regular basis then starting a real estate blog may not become fruitful for you. You need to spend some time on a regular basis to add new posts and updates with your real estate blog. If you can add several posts for your blog in a week then its always better from both the readers and search engine point of view.

You too have to keep looking for the aspects like the promotion of your blog as per the search engine standards. Search engines are the prime source for web traffic. Whether you got a blog or a website, if you are not receiving web traffic in adequate amount then it’s a total loss for your business. Through optimization of blog you can get higher rank in all the major search engines and the flow of web traffic will increase.

Reading other’s blog related to real estate market can bring you more idea about how to draw popularity for your blog. With such notion you can know the updates and events about your surrounding real estate market. More of all real estate blog marketing can create a good readers database for your real estate business. In this way you can receive a severe hike with your real estate business and its associated revenue collection.

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The method of podcasting has emerged from the process of blogging. It is usually said podders are bloggers who use podcasts in their blogs to enhance it. Podcasting uses the technique of webfeed to deliver audio content and is very similar to the radio. But there are many more extra options that it offers like the content and program style. So, if you are a real estate professional and wish to reach out to your audiences by sending your message you can use the three broad ways of podcasting.

Audio Touring is the first technique by which you can get reach out clearly to the audience using podcasting. These audio tours can be an effective method for your business when as an agent of real estate you are looking online for potential buyers and clients. A description in details of properties that you wish to advertise and promote can be podcasted. Audio touring is a type of virtual touring. Listeners will get a clear and concrete picture in their minds, will get a fair idea about these properties, and decide if they are interested.

If you want to make your social marketing over the internet even stronger you can go for the podcasting method that pools the process of Audio tours with Audio seminars. By this the data that you will be providing from your blog will be of the audio-electronic type.

Your income will increase if you offer your customers access to interesting material with the help of podcasting and this will also reflect that you are updated technologically and are very proficient in your work. Your clients and customers will have a positive impression of your real estate operations.

You can consider using a second method by giving some exclusive advice to your listeners periodically while podcasting your real estate blog. This can be called as Tip of the Day or something similar. Thus the listeners will be eager to receive something new and functional every time.

The third and the best method of podcasting is to host a radio show for your listeners. The benefit in hosting such shows is you are able to remain in touch with your clients intelligently. You can speak about your real estate business and discuss different questions with them in this radio show. You also get the chance to update the clients with the latest news, rates and offers. Choosing the format of the show is up to you and that meets your social marketing demands.

You can express yourself in a manner that is personal in nature by creating a radio show for podcasting your blog. This repeatedly builds a bond between you and your consumers. Consumers prefer to do business with those whom they know, trust and understand. A radio show can be the best mode that can create and reinforce all these sentiments in the minds of your consumers.

The most vital aspect of podcasting, as any other outlet for advertising, requires you to send your message across to your target audience successfully. Your main objective should always be to keep your product or service at the center of discussion. Podcasting as a medium of advertising your product will not make you wealthy instantly. It can effectually bring your message out, draw the attention of more customers and strengthen your base of social marketing.

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How To Hire A Good Property Management Company

Should you need to hire a professional property management company then the profitability of your property boils down to whether you hire a good or bad company.

If you pick a good property management company, your rental home will make you a good amount of money. If you pick a bad company, you could lose thousands of dollars a year on your rental home.

A big mistake owners make is that they just randomly pick a property management company from the phone book without doing research on the company first.

Don’t hire one of those big nationwide corporations that sell property. They do property management because they want to be the first company you think of when you want to sell your property. They lose money on property management, but make money when you are ready to sell your home. It’s never a good idea to go with a property management company that is trying to get you to sell your home because that’s where they make the big money. You want a company that specializes only in property management and nothing else. You don’t want a big corporation either. You want a small, local expert that has lived in your city for at least 20 years. You want a property management company that specializes in your local market only.

Check references, particularly the management companys other clients. Make a few phone calls to check references. Do not sign any agreement with the property management company until you know they have a good track record. Now here’s where owners blow it. They contact a property management company on their high up pedastool and they demand to see a list of all the property management’s clients so they can call them for a reference. Don’t do that. Humble yourself. Your home will only make about $50 a month for the property management company. If you are a pain, they will simply tell you to take your business elsewhere. The property management company will not release a list of “all” their clients. Not to you. Not to anyone. That is confidential and internal information. Think about it. Anyone could get a list of clients and then contact those clients and offer a slightly lower management fee and take all their business away. You would be hard pressed to find any business that would be willing to give you a list of “all” their clients. Just chill out. Ask for three references that you can call. Call the references and ask if they work for the property management company or know someone who does. Ask the references how long they have had their properties managed by this company, and just go from there.

Go online and check the company out. Do they have all the necessary licenses to do business in your area? Are they in good standing with the DRE? Most states require a property manager to also have a real estate license if they are dealing with single family homes.

Ask about the company’s insurance. They need to be insured. The firm should have professional liability insurance and general liability insurance on its employees. Also, the firm should have a bond on the employee in case of employee theft, after all, you have a right to know this because it is the employees who will be handling your deposit and monthly rent money and if they commit fraud, you want full reimbursement.

Another big mistake owners make is that they do not ask the right questions when hiring a property management company.

Consider asking the following questions:

1 – Can you list the exact management services you will be providing me?

2 – Do you have a home sales division?

3 – Can you provide a list of exactly when I will receive income checks and reports?

4 – Where will you advertise my home? How much will it cost me to advertise there?

5 – How are maintenance orders from tenants handled?

6 – Who will manage my property? What are his qualifications? Does he have all the necessary legal licenses? How many homes does he currently manage?

7 – I would like 3 clients of yours that I can call. I would like the references to be from people who have homes that are managed by the same person who will be managing my home.

8 – If maintenance is provided in-house or by an affiliated firm, do you only charge the actual cost of labor and materials without any surcharges, markups, administrative fees, or other such add-ons? Can I opt out of your in-house maintenance division and have repairs done by external companies only?

9 – Are you able to get discounts with vendors and if so, do you pass on those savings to me?

10 – How do you handle late charges? Who gets to keep the late charges? If you keep the late charges, will you come down on my monthly management fee? If I get to keep the late charges, are you charging me a higher monthly management fee?

11 – Do you have general liability insurance and Errors and Omissions insurance on your employees? If so, is your general liability insurance for at least $2M and your Errors and Omissions insurance for at least $500K?

12 – Do you have Forgery and Alterations coverage on all your employees of at least $25K? Are your employees bonded for at least $500K?

13 – Do you have separate bank trust accounts for each client rather than a single master trust bank account containing multiple owners funds?

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6 Things To Avoid While Waiting For A Mortgage Approval

Stage 1 of the 2 stages of the mortgage loan approval process begins when a potential buyer submits the completed mortgage application to his loan officer for a pre-approval.

Preapproval is an initial home mortgage approval. When this is requested, It indicates that the loan is likely to be approved for a predetermined down payment and purchase price.

Stage 1 ends when the buyer signs a purchase contract on a home. At this point, the “walk-through” approval is useless because the buyer now needs a real home loan approval from an underwriter and not a loan officer.

Stage 2 of the process occurs when a mortgage underwriter is reviewing credit, income, assets, job history and probable other things. It is the job of the underwriter to insure that the buyer can meet the lending institution’s criteria for loans.

If the loan officer did his job in Stage 1, Stage 2 is just a formality. And most times, it all goes according to plan. Occasionally, though, a homebuyer sabotages his own mortgage approval by inadvertently changing his “risk profile”. It doesn’t happen on purpose, of course — it just happens.

So, consider this a quick primer of what not to do while you’re between Stage 1 and the completion of Stage 2 of the home loan approval process. Following these pointers will help keep the risk profile consistent.

1. Don’t buy a new car (or take on a larger lease payment) 2. Don’t quit your job or change industries (and certainly don’t switch to a heavily commissioned role) 3. Don’t transfer large sums of money into or out from your bank accounts (and remember that “large” is relative) 4. Don’t miss a payment to a creditor (even if you don’t think you owe it) 5. Don’t open a new credit card (even if you’re getting 10% off your new bedding) 6. Don’t accept a cash gift without talking to your loan officer first (because there’s rules on how to accept them)

There’s other items, too, but this a good start. Now, avoiding these mistakes may not be practical for everyone. Therefore, if you know you’re going to violate a “rule”, check with your loan officer first. There are a lot of “gotchas” in mortgage lending and it helps to have professional guidance for your individual questions.

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How Professionals Sell A Home With Little Waiting Time

Selling a property sounds straightforward- but that’s only if you haven’t gone through the motions yet. Selling a property can be tough to do even if you live in a great neighborhood and have a killer deal. There are some rules to go over before actually putting the home on the market.

The first rule is to never cover up problems with your home- be honest about them! If a buyer sees that there is a problem being covered up, such as a hole in the wall taped and painted over, they will start to wonder what else is wrong with the house. Don’t violate the trust they have instilled in your property- and do your best to either fix any problems or notify the buyers of them.

Painting is the easiest way to change how a room looks and feels, and for very little money. Just be positive that you take the time to tape off anything you don’t want paint on, and cover any furniture or carpet in the room before starting. You don’t want to cause more harm than good, so do take your time. Haste can be convenient, but patience is mandatory!

If you can make your home feel expensive, you can can either charge more or get a quick sale at your currently listed price. The best way to show luxury is with high class furniture, carpet, art, and appropriate decorations. If you don’t have the money to do so, you can mimic luxury by decorating on a budget. Drapes, covers, and light fixtures are inexpensive options.

Be sure to leave on the ambiance! Keep a fireplace on with a fire, play some very faint music, and light a few candles for the showing of the home. When a buyer comes into a home and smells a faint scent of brown sugar and cinnamon, they take this as a homely feeling and it influences them to make the buy. Showing that a home can be a paradise should be your goal.

Getting your home sold will take time- even more so if you don’t have enough time to get all the work done day in and day out. A real estate broker is a logical choice in hiring at this point. There are probably already several in your immediate area you can go to a consultation with to see if you need their services. Most do turn out needing them, as they provide a valued service.

Final Thoughts

Take note of everything you do in selling your home. There is little doubt you will be going through the process again at some point in your life as a home owner. The good news is it gets easier as you gain more experience!

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