High End Real Estate Choices

Published by julia | Filed under Buyer / Seller Tips, Miscellaneous, Real Estate

Celebrities often own the richest and best homes on the market.  These homes are the high end homes that cost several million each.  These homes are not typically listed or handled by the average Re/Maxx real estate agent though; these homes are handled by people who specialize in high end real estate.  These are people who work exclusively with the rich and famous with too much money to blow and not enough time to blow it.  These homes are exclusive, as are the locations that they are situated.  Nothing in the high end real estate game compares to the normal real estate that people consider.High end real estate includes homes that are several millions of dollars.  Most of these homes are not new builds, but rather homes with some type of a history surrounding them.  The history of the homes is often what contributes to the high price of the homes, as well as the type of people who are looking to buy the home and the type of neighborhood that the homes are situated in, not to mention the extremes of the home itself.  Many homes sell at a very high rate because of who lived in them.  We are not talking about homes that state representatives lived in, but rather homes that the likes of Marilyn Monroe may have lived in.  These are the rich and the famous individuals who seek to entertain the crowds that make these homes more valuable by simply living in them.High end real estate also includes homes that are excessive.  Very few people have any real need for any more than two bathrooms at any given time.  However, some of these homes have upwards of seven or eight bathrooms and upwards of ten to twenty bedrooms.  The kitchens too many of these homes are larger than some restaurant kitchens.  Some pools are more extensive than the local water park pools and on very rare occasions these pools are even bigger than some water parks.The local real estate agency often does not carry these types of homes in their portfolios.  Nor does the local real estate agency have people who are prepared to handle the super famous individuals as the individuals that they are.  This is why the rich and famous go specialized real estate agencies that handle only high end real estate.  These companies are often affiliated with more common real estate companies but have different names and different financial goals.

	Fairfax County Real Estate and homes for sale
	Alexandria | Annandale | Burke | Centreville | Chantilly | Clifton | Dunn Loring | Fairfax Real Estate | Fairfax Station | Falls Church | Fort Belvoir | Great Falls | Herndon | Lorton | Mclean | Oakton | Reston | Springfield | Vienna |

You Want to Buy a Town?

Published by julia | Filed under Buyer / Seller Tips, Miscellaneous, Real Estate, Shout Outs, Uncategorized

Every now and again, you hear on the news or internet about a celebrity who buys a town.  While this is not common, it is not unheard of.  Many times a town or city will come up for sale once it is vacant or is on its way to becoming vacant and can no longer pay for the repair and upkeep of roads, schools and hospitals.  Once this occurs, the town may come up for financial sale, leading to either business individuals or single individuals to purchase the town and help finance the rebuilding of the town.  There are several things that one may find though, as they purchase a town.

Not all of the property of the town is for sale.  Often just the government of the town is for sale.  This means that the owner of the town would be more like a mayor, as opposed to an individual who extensive property rights.  Just because the town is sold, does not mean that the individuals living in the town lose their homes or businesses.  The name of the town may change, but the property rights do not change.

The town can easily become a financial burden to the one who has purchased the town.  This is to say that the town may not ever be able to make enough money to cover the expenses of running the town.  There are always going to be government people to pay, police and firefighters, teachers and other government workers that need to be paid and the taxes and other funds of the city may not ever get high enough to cover the expenses.  In addition, the town may not be able to hold any substantial work projects long enough to cause a growth in the town.  This can lead to an economic crisis which can lead the town to financial and fiscal ruin.

Depending upon the surrounding areas of the town, it may not be beneficial for companies to move their production or franchise to the town, which can halt economic and fiscal growth in the town.  This can lead to the failure of the town which was depending upon the assistance of the individual who bought the town.

One major advantage to purchasing a town is that with the proper development of the town and proper advertising, the town can become a financial boon.  This is to say that people can make a fair amount of money if a good financial plan is followed and the proper advertising brings in the right type of money to the situation.

	Fairfax County Real Estate and homes for sale
	Alexandria | Annandale | Burke | Centreville | Chantilly | Clifton | Dunn Loring | Fairfax Real Estate | Fairfax Station | Falls Church | Fort Belvoir | Great Falls | Herndon | Lorton | Mclean | Oakton | Reston | Springfield | Vienna |

Real Estate as an Economic Indicator

Published by julia | Filed under Buyer / Seller Tips, Miscellaneous, Real Estate

Real estate is one of the many indicators that the world uses as an economic indicator.  Countries where most of the population lives in homes with electricity and indoor plumbing are often the first world countries and are the elite countries to live in.  Within these countries, the rise and fall of the number of homes being bought and sold is an indicator of the country’s current economic status and progress.  Other indicators regarding real estate that are indicators of a country’s economic status and process include the number of foreclosures and late mortgage payments.

In normal economic status, the number of homes being built and sold equal the number of people buying these homes.  This is due to the population having productive and well paying jobs, allowing them to take on a large loan and pay it off efficiently.  In an economic growth, the number of people looking for homes often is higher than the number of homes being built or that are offered.  This is because the number of jobs is increasing and the rate that the employees are being paid is higher.   The opposite is found in an economic decline.  The number of homes being sold is higher than the number of people looking to buy homes.  This is due to the number of people who may have lost their jobs or can no longer afford to pay for their mortgages.

Just as homes sales are vital to viewing the economic health of a nation, factors dealing with the mortgages of these homes are also vital.  One such factor is the number of mortgages that have been defaulted upon.  Such homes that have a defaulted mortgage are called foreclosures, and if this number is on the rise, it can signal an economic crisis.  It means that people are no longer able to make the necessary payments to keep their homes.  They either turn to apartments or they end up on the streets, but either way often requires assistance from their community to survive which can mean more stress on a fragile community.

An indicator that often precedes the foreclosure indicator is the late payment indicators.  Foreclosure is the final step to a defaulted mortgage, but a late payment is often the first step.  If this step is completed, it can often be the early warning sign of a failing economy.  With late payments, interest rates increase, as do fees for late payments.  This helps to dig the hole that many home owners simply cannot dig out of and often leads to foreclosure.

Real Estate in Tampa:

Apollo Beach Homes | Belleair Beach | Brandon Homes | Channelside District | Clearwater Real Estate | Dunedin | Gibsonton | Holiday | Indian Rocks Beach | Indian Shores | Land O Lakes | Largo | Lithia | Lutz Real Estate | Madeira Beach | New Port Richey | New Tampa Homes | Odessa | Oldsmar Homes | Palm Harbor | Pasadena | Pinellas Park | Plant City | Port Richey | Riverview Homes | Ruskin | Safety Harbor | Seffner | Seminole | St. Petersburg | Sun City Center | Tarpon Springs | Thonotosassa | Treasure Island | Valrico Homes | Wesley Chapel Homes | Ybor City | Zephyrhills | Tampa Short Sale

Becoming a Realtor

Published by julia | Filed under Buyer / Seller Tips, Real Estate

Becoming a realtor is the dream of many people.  This dream requires a good ethics, a proper credit history, skill and class work.  This is not a cake walk job; it requires work to succeed and a drive to find people the home of their dreams.  If selling things and finding buyers is not what one wants to do, realty is not what one should invest in.  If the idea of class work and networking seems like too much, then real estate selling is not the job one should pursue.  There are a lot of rewards in realty, and a lot of money can be made if one is good at the job, but without serious work and serious commitment, one is less likely to succeed as a realtor.

The first step to becoming a realtor is to attend the classes necessary in the state one wishes to work in.  Many real estate agencies offer these classes and some are willing to pay for the exams.  These companies often require that one signs on to the company for a certain amount of time and that one obtains and keeps at a certain grade point average or grade average per class.  This helps to ensure that the money the agency is putting towards one’s education is not wasted on those who are unwilling to work at the classes or who are looking to join a different agency after the classes.

During these classes, students learn about the different rules and zoning regulations for the specific locations that they wish to sell homes or property.  The students also learn different financial tactics to ensure that the clients they represent have the best chances to obtain a mortgage if they do not have one at the beginning of the home search and how all of the paperwork is filed.  The students also learn ethics and must adhere to an ethical code of conduct.  This helps to ensure that everyone is fairly housed and protects the realtor and the agency at all times.

To ensure that one has a high standard of ethics and is capable of handing the job of being a realtor, many real estate schools and agencies will often request a credit score from the student.  This is to limit the chances of the student stealing from them if the student owes money and can be an indicator of non-ethical behavior.

From there, one must build networks and a clientele bases to work within.  A portfolio can be given to the student by the agency once they have completed the course work and tests. Advertising is sometimes done by the agency to attract new clients to the new realtor, although most advertising is the responsibility of the realtor.

	Prince William County Real Estate and Homes for sale
	Bristow | Broad Run | Catharpin | Dale City | Dumfries | Gainesville | Haymarket | Manassas | Manassas Park | Nokesville | Occoquan | Quantico | Triangle | Woodbridge |

	Other Northern Virginia Counties and Cities
	Arlington County | Alexandria City | Falls Church City | Manassas City | Stafford County |

Family Real Estate

Published by julia | Filed under Buyer / Seller Tips, Miscellaneous, Real Estate

Family homes are becoming rarities in today’s world.  No longer are children staying in the same cities as their parents.  Many parents are no longer keeping their homes until death, required to live in nursing homes and sell their primary residence to pay for the expenses.  However, there are some family homes that have managed to last through generations, making for long memories and great gathering hubs for all of the family members.

It used to be that people would pass their home onto their children and their children would pass that home down to their children.  This would make for a home that one only had to pay taxes on and do general upkeep on.  This was highly beneficial to the children and also provided a residence for the elderly throughout their lifetime.  This was also the time where the elderly could live at home their entire life and possibly die at home.

Now most children move away from the home in search for better jobs and better lives.  This search often lands the now adult children in their own homes and sometimes in different cities or states as their parents.  They are no longer in need of the family real estate and often do not want the real estate if it is inherited to them.  They are often forced to sell the property just because they have no one to live in the property.

It is unfortunate that since so many of today’s adults live away from their parents, that more parents are entering assisted living facilities or nursing homes as they age.  No longer are the children caring for their parents on their own as the parents age.  While it was not always practical to care for one’s parent, especially if the parent had a sever illness or became violent as they aged, it was common to see the elderly cared for by their children as they age.  Now parents who experience broken bones or illness often find themselves in the care of a stranger, a nurse who may change daily.  Their homes that they may have grown up in, sold to help pay for the expenses of their daily care.

Those homes that remain family homes see a different life in the family.  Those homes that have been passed down from generation to generation often are hubs of activity throughout the year.  These pieces of real estate are where everyone comes during the holidays, where everyone throws their parties and announce news, for better or worse.  These hubs are where the elderly are care for by their children and the children continue to live after the loss of their parent.  Those families that have family real estate often are closer knit than those families that do not.  Not to say that they love each other more, but rather to say that they are around each other more and stay in closer contact.

	Loudoun County Real Estate and Homes
	Aldie | Ashburn | Bluemont | Dulles | Great Falls | Hamilton | Hillsboro | Lansdowne | Leesburg | Lovettsville | Middleburg | Paeonian Springs | Potomac Falls | Purcellville | Round Hill | South Riding | Sterling | Stoneridge | Waterford |

Let’s Ski – Choosing Real Estate with Outdoor Activities in Mind

Published by julia | Filed under Buyer / Seller Tips, Miscellaneous, Real Estate

Skiing is quickly becoming one of the most common sports in the northern part of North America.  Some people are so in love with the sport of skiing that they are moving to be closer to the ski slopes.  It may be the rush of the down hill trip, the peace of cross country skiing, or simply the crisp, cool air, but something is driving these people to find the best ski related real estate.

In the northern part of North America, snow is a common sight in the winter.  This does not mean that all of North America is good ski territory though.  Down hill skiing requires some type of a hill or mountain.  If starting out with a hill, one may soon find that a hill is not enough.  Cross country skiing is easier to find real estate around because it does not require any type of hills.  However, this type of skiing can become tedious and boring if done in the same location every day.

Some of the best ski real estate can be found out west.  These areas include the ranges around the Rocky Mountains.  This is because the down hill skiing can be as easy or as challenging as one can want.  The cross country skiing is scenic and varied.  Even crossing the same location can be different every time due to the ever changing scenery and every changing wild life.  The Rocky Mountains do have a tendency to be unstable due to the ever changing plate tectonics.  This can result in avalanches or earthquakes.

Some great ski real estate to the east is found around the Appellation Mountains.   This mountain chain is not as high or as steep as the Rocky Mountains, but they are still great for skiing.  These mountains are more stable than their western cousins and can make real estate in the area more valuable due to the security that they provide.  The major down side is that the Appellation Mountains have more inhabitants living in the mountains than the Rocky Mountains do.  The up side is that there can be more real estate with homes already built available on the mountains.

For those strictly interested in cross country skiing, finding real estate in the Great Plains of America can be very beneficial.  The Great Plains provides one with many wide open areas to explore and great scenery and wildlife to view at the same time.

	Prince William County Real Estate and Homes for sale
	Bristow | Broad Run | Catharpin | Dale City | Dumfries | Gainesville | Haymarket | Manassas | Manassas Park | Nokesville | Occoquan | Quantico | Triangle | Woodbridge |

What You Need to Get a VA Loan

Published by julia | Filed under Buyer / Seller Tips, Listings, Miscellaneous, Real Estate, Shout Outs, Uncategorized

Can you get a VA loan, and if you can, then what are the benefits of receiving one? A VA loan is a mortgage loan provided by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. People who qualify for this type of loan are either current or former members of the U.S. military. If a former member, they must have been honorably discharged or medically discharged to qualify. Many veterans take advantage of these types of mortgage loans because they require no money down and have lower interest rates than typical mortgages. You still must be able to qualify under regular credit requirements, because you will be getting the loan through a regular loan company, and the loan will then be backed by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. However, because of this backing, many lenders look more favorably on veterans with poor credit histories than they would for other people.

In order to get a VA loan, you should know that you need at least 181 days of service during peace time or 90 days of active service in war time as a member of the U.S. military. National Guard and Reserves members become eligible for this type of loan after serving 6 or more years in that capacity. If you were in Desert Storm, you can qualify for a VA loan no matter how long you had active duty. If you are the spouse of a veteran who was killed in action, then you also qualify.

Next, you need to get a certificate of eligibility from the VA, which is normally easy to to. If you are out of the military, you can order the certificate from the VA. If you are still in, you can get the form from the personnel office on your base. Once you have the proper qualifications in hand, you can go ahead and apply for your loan. You can use these loans on any house you like, and it is an excellent way for those who have served our country to become homeowners for no money down. It is like a gift from the government to them for serving.

What Do You Need to Qualify for an FHA Loan?

Published by julia | Filed under Buyer / Seller Tips, Listings, Miscellaneous, Real Estate, Shout Outs

An FHA loan is a government backed loan provided by the Federal Housing Authority. The program was started back in 1934 to make it easier for people who do not have the money for a large down payment to qualify for a mortgage. Also, the qualifications for getting an FHA loan are less stringent than with other loan companies, because the loan is backed by the surety of the federal government. If you are interested in getting an FHA loan to buy your house, here is what you need to qualify for one.

First of all, you will need to have two years of steady income. If you have been employed for those two years, preferably with the same employer, then that’s even better. If not, then some type of stable income will need to be seen. You should also minimize the number of late payments you have had with your creditors for the past two years, as too many could disqualify you for the FHA loan. You will also need a credit score of at least 620.

You can not have gone through bankruptcy in the past two years and should have maintained a good credit record since then. If you have had a foreclosed property, you will need to wait at least 3 years before applying for an FHA loan, and maintain good credit during the three years you are waiting. Finally, you will need to provide a down payment of approximately 3.5% of the purchase price of the home. This is far less than the 10 to 20 percent that most home lenders want you to pay.

One thing that is important to remember is that you will go through a regular lender to get your FHA loan. However, since FHA requirements are looser than some other loans, you could qualify for an FHA loan with one lender while not qualifying for a regular loan with the same lender. If you still do not qualify for an FHA mortgage, you will be told why, and you can work on improving your credit record so that you can qualify for one the next time you apply.

Should You Use Solar Energy for Your Home?

Published by julia | Filed under Buyer / Seller Tips, Miscellaneous, Real Estate, Shout Outs, Uncategorized

Solar energy is one of the cleanest, safest, and most abundant forms of energy there is. It is completely free, produces no pollution, and will never run out. With all the concern about the environment and the greenhouse effect, it is no wonder that many people are looking for alternatives to traditional electric energy. Solar energy is one of these options, and has the potential to power your entire house. You can literally get off the grid and have no more power bills to pay if you go solar, which makes this attractive to lots of homeowners.

However, many homeowners stop short at just dreaming about solar power because they think it is too expensive to use in their homes. It is true that buying pre-made solar panels is quite expensive, as they can cost thousands of dollars each. Getting a professional company to install them can cost even more. Many homeowners simply think the dream of solar power is out of their reach.

However, this is not necessarily true. If you can follow basic instructions and have some spare time on your days off, you can build your own solar panels with materials you can easily find at Home Depot or Lowes. Best of all, the cost of building your own solar panels is way less than buying them pre-made. You can get a solar panel built by yourself for about $200. If you build enough of them, you can eventually power your entire house with them and say good-bye to electric bills for good. That is definitely an encouraging thought!

Even if you don’t power your entire house with solar panels, you can build enough panels to take care of a portion of the power needs of your home. This will at least reduce your monthly electric bill, often by a lot. And, if you can build a great many solar panels, you may even produce excess energy that your local power company may be willing to buy back from you, meaning you will be getting a monthly check from the electric company, rather than the other way around!

Selected Communities in Tampa: Cory Lake Isles Homes / Live Oak Preserve Homes / Grand Hampton Homes / Arbor Greene Homes / Meadow Pointe Homes / Tampa Palms Homes / New Tampa Homes / Seven Oaks Homes / Lake Jovita Homes / Wilderness Lake Preserve Homes / Oakstead Homes for Sale / Pasco County Homes for sale / MiraBay Homes for sale / FishHawk Ranch Homes for sale / Andalucia Homes / Covington Park Homes / Rivercrest Homes for Sale / Panther Trace Homes / Villages of Bloomingdale / South Shore area / Carrollwood Homes / South Tampa (Bayshore, Davis Island, Hyde Park, Bayshore condos) / Westchase Homes for Sale / Cheval Homes for sale / Heritage Harbor Homes / Pinellas County homes available now

Do You Need Flood Insurance on Your Home?

Published by julia | Filed under Buyer / Seller Tips, Miscellaneous, Real Estate

Most homeowner insurance policies do not specifically cover damage from natural floods. If you live in an area that is near rivers that are prone to overflowing, or near the beach or any storm drain backups, then you may need to seriously consider getting a flood insurance rider on your homeowner’s insurance policy, otherwise you will be out of luck if your home sustains damage due to any type of natural flooding. Some mortgage companies will actually require you to purchase flood insurance if you live in certain areas, because they want their investment in your home protected.

Even if you get a flood insurance rider, it might not cover certain events, such as sewer backups or seepage that can damage basements and ground level housing. You may have to purchase special addendums to the riders to cover sewer related flooding events. Not every homeowners’ insurance company offers these riders and addendums, so you may need to do some looking around to find the policy that you need.

It is also important to remember that there is usually a 30 day waiting period from the time your policy is purchased until you can actually receive protection under it. That is why it is a good idea to buy flood insurance well before any typical flooding seasons in your area, such as hurricane season in the south, or the spring thaw in the north. In fact, some insurance companies in the south stop selling flood insurance policies during hurricane season, and you won’t be able to get a policy until after the season has ended. Therefore, it is a good idea to pay close attention to the weather cycles in your area to know when the ideal time would be to buy this insurance.

Of course, not everyone is going to need flood insurance. If you don’t live near a body of water and your house is not in a flood plain, then the chances of you needing this type of insurance are small (though exceptions have been known to happen). If you don’t live in a flood plain area, then purchasing flood insurance is entirely up to you.