Real Estate Networks

Over the years, we’ve seen literally hundreds of Overseas Investment property transactions, so If you’re buying abroad here’s our check list of tips and advice to make sure your property purchase goes as smoothly as possible:

Take time to think about what you want from your property. Is it purely for investment? or will you be using it yourself? when do you want to resell it? Do you see it as a long term or short term option? Very soon you will get a much clearer idea of the style and type of property purchase that is right for you.

Make sure you can afford it. Make an appointment to speak to your financial advisor before house hunting. Knowing your limits will prevent impulse buys that will blow your budget.

No matter what the Developer says, use an independant bilingual Lawyer. Good legal advice is worth every penny and avoids costly mistakes. If you dont plan to visit your property, make sure the solicitor offers a power of attorney service to sign necessary legal documents on your behalf, with your prior approval.

Know the closing costs. Every country imposes different taxes to the process of buying and selling property. Make sure you are fully aware of these. In some countries these can add up to 10 - 12 % of the property value.

Check the documentation yourself. Your lawyer probably wasn’t there when you negotiated your property purchase. If you managed to get some extras thrown in with the deal, make sure they’re in the contract or management agreement and let your solicitor know what they are.

If possible, look at other developments by the same developer. Were they completed on time? What was the build quality like? If the property is investment orientated, is there a track history of good rental performance with this developers properties?

Finally, use your common sense. If a deal looks too good to be true, or is heavily weighed in your favour, theres a reason for that, and its not always your shrewd bargaining skills. Take extra care, take extra advice, and don’t just look at the price.

Andrew Beale is Director of FSI, a leading ski and Investment Property Broker

His Website is

FSBO (For Sale By Owner) is becoming a popular way of selling homes. Many people that choose this means to sell their home are wanting to avoid real estate commissions. Others have tried realtors and have decided that they can better sell their home or property.

If you have decided that you want to sell your home FSBO, you have to realize that you are going to have to market your home as a realtor would. This means that you have to use the same real estate marketing methods that a realtor would. This means that you will have to commit time and effort to the endeavor.

You’ve come to the conclusion that FSBO is the way to go. Your’re ready to put your home or property on the market ‘for sale by owner’. You’ve priced your home competitively and appropriately for your local market. How are you now going to market it so that you get the exposure to attract potential buyers and make the sale?

You will need to go through the same steps and marketing techiques that any real estate agent would use. Here’s the techniques I would recommend:

For Sale By Owner Signs

House signs are the first place to start. Signs can be made locally or often bought at hardware stores. I would spend the money to have your own personal sign made. It will pay off if done right.

While realtors place signs with the name of the agency and the phone number of the listing agent to contact. FSBO signs should read like the headline of a good advertisement. “Your Dream Home is Now For Sale” or “The View from Your Future Home is Spectacular”. You should catch the immediate attention of drivers-by and make them interested in seeing your home for themselves. This sign should play on the emotions of the potential buyer.

The phone number on the sign should be prominent and large enough for visitors to read from the road. It should be prefixed with a statement like: “For more information on this wonderful home, call 555-5555″. Set up a phone number that is separate from your normal phone number and specific for the purpose of selling your home.

Buy an answering machine that has caller id so that you can capture the name and phone number of potential buyers. The message should tell the caller to leave their contact information so that you can get back to them at the earliest possible moment with complete details on the property. If you have your home on the internet, you may also give them the URL while their awaiting your return call. This website can also be listed on your FSBO sign.

Classified Ads

A classified ad in your local newspaper for your FSBO property is a good investment. These are generally inexpensive and have a high return on investment for gaining leads to potential buyers. A short ad, also reading like a good headline, and run a number of times will serve you best. The same information that is on your house sign, phone number and website listing should accompany the ad.

Magazines and Community Publications

Many communities have ‘For Sale by Owner’ magazines which are placed in shopping malls, gas stations, and outside of grocery stores. These are similar to the homes magazines that real estate agencies advertise listings in.

These ‘For Sale by Owner’ publications will cost more than a classified ad but have the advantage of having photos of your home and a more detailed listing description. I would advise that your ad be different and unique from the normal listing if possible. Some publishers have set rules on what they allow.

Use these ads to emphasize the benefits of the home and not just the features of the house like the number of bedrooms and baths. Answer the question of what’s in it for the buyer. Give your special phone number so that you can collect contact information on the prospect.

Brochures

Brochures or one-page flyers are one of the best means the sale by owner has at their disposal to advertise their property. These can be put in a bruchure holder on your FSBO yard sign, on bulletin boards in local neighborhood shops and restaurants, and given to parties that espress an interest in buying your home.

Brochures are your ticket to market your home the way no real estate agent will. Don’t make your FSBO brochure look like the typical listing advertisements. Here again, think outside the box and make it more of a personal sales letter.

Emphasize the benefits of the home. The view, the convenience to shopping, schools, and workplace. Note the special features that place your home apart from others in the neighborhood. When describing the rooms, draw attention to the details like the solid oak floor or the woodwork. Write to the prospect like you are writing to a good friend.

Keep your brochure holder filled at all times. don’t get annoyed when nosey neighbors pick up your brochures. Mor often than not, your neighbors know friends that they wouldn’t mind living next door or close-by. And their friends will usually be able to afford a house in your neighborhood. Be sure to step out and tell them to pass the brochure on to someone they know.

Pass out the brochure freely to prospects that look at your house. This will insure that they will remember the home. After all, they are most likely looking at more than just your property. Color photos will aid in this.

And, don’t forget your co-workers. Give them your brochures too. After all, you find it convenient to live in your home and they know it. You work with them and you can afford to live there. Most likely, they have friends that would find a similar living arrangement pleasant. Ask them to pass on the brochure if they know someone looking for a great home.

The Internet

You can’t ignore the internet when you’re selling your own home FSBO. The internet has become an important search option for potential home buyers.

There are several internet websites that will allow you to post your FSBO listing. These will vary in price and options for your listing advertisement. Some will allow you to post photos and update information on your personal ‘open house’. You’ll find that prices range from $25 per month and up. Be sure to research your options carefully.

You can also put up your own listing website to refer prospects too. Just like with your brochure, make this website more of a personal sales letter and include a form to capture contact information for further follow-up.

Be sure to pay for your website to be hosted. For some reason, free websites don’t gain the attention from prospects that true websites do. Hosting can vary from $3.95/mo to $19.95/mo. You don’t need much from your website so go with the cheaper package as long as it will allow you to post a contact form on your site.

Open Houses

If the above suggestions don’t market your home quickly and produce a sale, you still have the option of hosting your own open house. In many localities, home sales by owner are boosted by having an open house. If you are in a hot or cold market location, this can be an excellent tool for selling your home.

Of course you will have to advertise that you’re having an open house. This can be accomplished using any of the above techniques. Some local newspapers have a special section in their classified ads just for open houses. Be sure to place a large sign on your lawn the day you are having your open house. This will give notice to others of the event as well as allow people to find your home easily.

The above suggestions should make it easier to sell your home quickly. It takes time and some money to market you ‘For Sale by Owner’ home. But you will save money on realtor commissions and have more control over your transaction. Be sure to check out the laws in your area and the forms you will need to close the deal.

Jim Bruce is a direct response marketer who advises real estate agents and home owners wanting to sell their homes FSBO. More information on marketing real estate and using direct marketing techniques for this purpose can be found at realtormarketinginfo.com realtormarketinginfo.com

Going into debt is never an easy decision, but getting a homeowner loan is probably the best debt you can have. Homes build equity – think investment more than loan.

There are hundreds of varieties of loans available today. The important thing is to choose the homeowner loan that suits your financial situation first and then your long term goals. The property should never dictate the loan terms. Know your limits – the payment you can afford and the duration you are willing to stay in debt – before you begin looking for a home.

Many people step into a long term homeowner loan without much thought. It is the normal way of doing business after all. The last two times I have looked at refinancing our property, no one even offered me a short term loan. All the lenders immediately looked at the rates for a thirty year mortgage.

Getting a thirty year homeowner loan means that I would be in debt until after I was able to retire. On the flip side, if I had taken some time and thought about what we were doing, we would have already paid off our mortgage. We’d be completely debt free and that $600 (or $1000 or whatever your amount is) would now be available for savings, building a barn for the horses our kids want, or just taking a vacation.

Once that picture dawned on me, I felt stupid. Maybe our payments were a little lower by getting a long term homeowner loan. All we did was spend that money somewhere else. To compensate, I’m now making an extra half payment each month. At this rate, we should have the existing debt paid in full before the children graduate high school. There will still be some time for family outings then, won’t there? And at least we will have some way to pay for all that college they’ll be heading to.

Kathryn Lang is a freelance writer covering the finance industry. She has written various articles on

The 2005 residential real estate market was filled with anticipation of the over- hyped real estate bubble. Though we’ll only see a correction, home buyers and sellers made some mistakes that those looking to buy or sell in 2006 can put to good use in their transactions.

Many requests for my top mistakes list which was a result of two recent articles I wrote; “What’s In, What’s Out with Homebuyers in 2006″ and “2006 Decorating Do’s and Don’ts for Home Sellers ” which struck a real estate nerve. These first two articles came after the review of my fourth real estate book “1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home” that was recently published in The New York Times.

Buyers

-Bought properties to flip at top-of-market prices. Thinking the bubble headlines were wrong or didn’t apply to them, newbie real estate investors wanted to become week-end millionaires. What they didn’t know is they were buying the experienced investors portfolios as they exited markets at the top.

-Utilized Interest-Only Mortgages. Many home-hungry buyers discovered the only way you can pay top-of-market prices is to get an interest-only mortgage. With declining prices and no monthly principal payments, these homebuyers could fuel a foreclosure market in 2006. Fixed-rate mortgages will become the majority in 2006 as mortgage underwriters and educated consumers are reunited.

-Overlooked Resale Characteristics. New construction was the rage in 2005, everyone wanted to select finishes, floor coverings and kitchen cabinets. 2005 buyers should beware when this years homebuyers become sellers, buyers could bypass their resale that was new in 2005 for the chance to design their own new home. Look to future before signing on the line.

-Skipped Performing a Home Inspection. Before some markets shifted away from sellers markets, many homebuyers waived their right to a property inspection. Never, skip or waive the right to a inspection, the benefits far out weigh the costs and could save you numerous headaches and expenses later. Hire a professional, not Uncle Bert.

-Misinterpreted developers give-away’s. Two years free condominium assessments, stainless appliances and plasma tv’s were thrown in to induce buyers to write contracts to purchase. What many buyers thought were a freebie were actually a signal that markets were softening and that projects were slow to sell from increased competition and a lack of buyers. Incentives are a band-aid for a languishing development.

-Were represented by the same agent representing the sellers. Thinking they might get a better deal or out of ignorance used the listing agent to represent them as well. Most states require written acceptance of this situation known as dual-agency by both parties under agent license laws. All buyers should be represented by an agent who has a fiduciary responsibility to them. Hire an Exclusive Buyers Agent.

-Didn’t Read Homeowners Association Documents. Getting rid of Fido because you didn’t know you were moving into a no-dog building is an example why every buyer should request and read home owner association declarations, rules and regulations, association meeting minutes and budgets. Ask if there are any special assessments (typically for capital improvements; new roofs, windows, elevators) or planned ones. Special assessments can run into the thousands.

-Neglected to request rates of state, county or local transfer taxes paid by buyers at closing. Some buyers learn too late that they might need large amounts of extra money to pay transfer taxes in the state, county and city where they are purchasing property. Transfer taxes which typically can’t be financed can kill a transaction. Inquire when you start your search how much transfer taxes are and who pays them.

Sellers

-Over-priced home. Thinking back to bragging sellers at the water cooler or at the neighborhood cocktail party as little as a year ago, home sellers in 2005 over-priced properties in record numbers. After chewing up market time, the realization set in that it wasn’t the same market as ‘02.’03 or 2004. Realistic pricing based on sold comparable’s in the last six months illustrates to buyers that you understand today’s market.

-No Internet property marketing. According to The National Association of Realtors(R) over 70% of all home buyers start their search on the Internet before contacting a real estate agent. Require any agent you list your home with to post a virtual (360 digital) tour and a minimum of eight indoor and outdoor photos on the Internet. CD’s of your home are a great take-away for open houses.

-Stop showings to early after contract. With a shift towards buyers for the first time in years, buyers remorse was on the upside in 2005. Many sellers lost valuable market time when taking their home off market too early after signing a purchase contract. Continue to show your home until you feel very comfortable that your buyers intend to go to the closing table with you.

-Refused to pay buyers closing costs. For the first time in many years, buyers based on their strength in the market, asked for and received give-backs from sellers. Closing costs and points on mortgages were the most popular. Decide before offers come in, what your strategy is for dealing with give-back requests. In 2006 expect owner-financing to be the next buyer perk.

-Exclusion confusion. As prices dropped, sellers began to strip fixtures and amenities in contract negotiations. Forget “if the price is right” and take down and replace Grandma’s chandelier and remove the mid-century refrigerator for sodas before you place your home on the market . Some simple ratios of home list price versus chandelier cost will convince you to not get distracted by personal property or must-keep fixtures.

-Knowing your market and competition. Buyers in 2005 were very savvy with market times and available inventory. Home sellers who were out-of-touch failed to spend the time to visit competing properties at public open houses, study the competitions marketing and “listening” to the market. No or few showings, no second showings or purchase offers and unfavorable feedback indicate market issues with your home. Don’t be the obstacle to selling your home.

-Paid document fees on top of full-service commissions. American business is in love with extra fees that they charge if you don’t ask to have them waived. In 2005 documentation fees became standard in listing agreements. No matter what your told, they are just another revenue source for brokerages. It’s excessive for brokerages to ask for another $300.00 on top of 5-7 percent commissions from home sellers. Either ask to have them waived or have the listing agent pay them.

Mark Nash’s fourth real estate book, “1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home” (2005), and working as a real estate broker in Chicago are the foundation for his consumer-centric real estate perspective which has been featured on CBS The Early Show, Bloomberg TV, Fidelity Investor’s Weekly, Dow Jones Market Watch, MSNBC.com, The New York Times, Realty Times, Universal Press Syndicate and USA Today.

Financial literacy is the means of empowering consumers to make informed financial decisions through exposure to accurate and timely information. In no other area is the void of accurate information more evident that in the area of foreclosure.

The national foreclosure rate is at the highest level since the Great Depression. Families fall behind on the mortgage payments because of illness, job layoffs, business failure, divorce and marital problems, and bad money management decisions. Foreclosure and the loss of the home is the usual result. Foreclosure is financially and psychologically devastating to the stability of the household.

This article provides information to expose homeowners to the financial principles of loss mitigation. Loss mitigation is essential to asset protection because it provides the borrower with information necessary to make good decisions. Learning the programs or “tools” available as an alternative to foreclosure is the key to preserving home ownership.

For example, If I told you that the mortgage servicing industry reports average loss of $20,000 to $30,000 per foreclosure, then you may be inclined to believe that foreclosure is not an efficient and cost effective means of collections for the lender. According to Vic Draper, President of Universal Default Services, “33% of all mortgage defaults that go to REO never made contact with the borrower!” The lender does not want your home and will work out a financial alternative if you speak their language.

LOSS MITIGATION TOOLS

A homeowner should know and understand options available during times of crisis. It makes the difference in gaining ground in challenging situations. A point well presented by Gerry Spence, legendary attorney and best selling author of “How to Argue and Win Every Time,” a book I first bought as a young attorney and have since read numerous times. Spence stresses that you cannot make the winning argument if you are speaking English and the other person is speaking French. Parlez-vous Francais?

The following financial tools act as a safety net that allows for a quicker recovery. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has been instrumental in establishing guidelines to assist homeowners experiencing financial hardships. The goal is to offer financial alternatives to foreclosure, while allowing lenders to make determinations based on certain risk criteria. Lenders also benefit from the prevention of losses due to foreclosure sales. Without these programs, millions of people would lose homes each year.

FORBEARANCE PLAN

Immediately contact the lender to report a temporary loss or reduction in income and signup for a forbearance. A forbearance plan is designed to bring payments current over a period of time by paying a full payment each month, plus a partial payment on the delinquent amount. An initial down payment is required. Most lenders have a forbearance program. However, you must be diligent in requesting forbearance even if it means speaking with a manager with authority to approve the plan. Request that the approval be sent to you in writing.

Affordability

An important subsection in acceptance of forbearance is the probability of successfully completing the plan. It is easy to agree to any repayment plan when desperately trying to stop foreclosure. You will be happy to stop the process by any means necessary.

I have had clients who agreed to ridiculous repayment plans that they obviously did not have the income to cover. In some cases, it appeared that the lender pulled numbers out of the sky without gathering information on the homeowner’s ability to repay. This is poor mitigation technique that will normally count against the client as a broken promise to pay and often leads to the decision to sell the property rather than take additional risk with the homeowner.

During the early part of 2004, a prospective client contacted Save Your Home two days before his home was scheduled for sale. Despite time limitations, we had a very good relationship with this particular lender and agreed to intervene on the homeowner’s behalf.

He had $8,000 to use as a down payment to stop the sale but the lender refused to accept it because a forbearance plan had been put in place three months earlier in which our client had paid a $6,500 down payment, but failed to make the subsequent payments under the terms of the agreement. This made him a bad risk for reinstatement and foreclosure seemed the most prudent financial decision for the lender to recover its arrearage.

However, the truth of the matter was the homeowner agreed to a plan that he could not afford to pay. It was not a good plan because it was based on a higher monthly income due to miscalculations where a quarterly bonus should have appeared on the financial status report. His monthly income had been overstated by $600 per month. When it was time to make the other payments, he was rich on paper but was cash poor. He did not have the income and as a result violated the repayment plan.

We convinced the lender to take another look at the numbers. In the end, the lender accepted a $2,500 down payment and modified the terms of the loan. The client was able to keep his home because he correctly reported his income to the lender. Make sure that you report your income accurately so that you can afford the repayment plan offered to you.

LOAN MODIFICATION

When the financial loss is due to an illness, death or loss of a spouse, or unexpected increase in expenses, (e.g. tax levy, sick child, or other permanent hardships), talk to the lender about a loan modification. A loan modification changes the terms of the loan to lower the payments. Documentation of the hardship will be necessary. Loan modifications are granted frequently. Still, you must aggressively negotiate with the lender. Refer to examples in case study.

REVERSE MORTGAGES

This is a type of home equity loan that allows you to convert some of the equity into cash while retaining ownership. If you are 62 or older and are “house-rich and “cash-poor,” a reverse mortgage is an option to consider. Consult with your family, attorney, or financial advisor before applying for a reverse mortgage. Knowing your rights and responsibilities as a borrower may help to minimize financial risks and the threat of foreclosure.

DEED IN LIEU OF FORECLOSURE

If turning over the home is an option, contact the lender to voluntary release the deed to the property with the stipulation that the lender agrees not to start or complete foreclosure proceedings. Many lenders will agree to this arrangement since it gives them possession of the property minus exorbitant legal fees and court costs. Further, request that the lender remove some or all of the missed payment reports to the credit bureau. If not, threaten to file bankruptcy or to fight to keep the home. Get all agreements in writing on company letterhead.

PARTIAL CLAIM

A partial claim is an interest free loan available on FHA/HUD loans. To qualify, a loan must be at least 4 months delinquent but not more than 12 months. If approved, the partial claim is repaid after the first loan has been paid in full.

SHORT REFINANCE
The area of loss mitigation is always changing in order to address new challenges within the economy. Because of a tremendous loss of jobs in some areas, property values have steadily declined.

A new loss mitigation tool that some innovative lenders are using to address the new economy is called the short refinance. Remember that refinancing out of foreclosure is extremely difficult because of loan to value restrictions that may not be sufficient to pay off the existing mortgage and cover closing costs.

If the property value has decreased, certain lenders and investors may be willing to accept less money. You must agree to an in home inspection and provide the normal loss mitigation package for approval. The lender closes a new mortgage loan to pay off the mortgage that is in foreclosure. If you have a second mortgage lien, this lien holder is not included in this deal and will still have the same loan amount.

SHORT SALE
Lenders are in the business of lending money not owning houses. The lender will allow you to sell the home to someone and accept far less than what you currently owe on the mortgage. This is also called a short payoff because the lender agrees to cancel the note and mortgage as a lien on the home. The lender may want to perform an in home inspection to determine the property’s condition and value. Cooperation with this request by allowing access

All of these programs may not be right for everyone so you must evaluate your situation to decide which one will benefit you the most. For more information, visit www.syhuniversity.com for a free copy of the loss mitigation book, How to Save Your Home.

Herbert Addison, JD is a former consumer law attorney and is President of Save Your Home, Inc., a nationally acclaimed loss mitigation firm located in Columbia, South Carolina. Mr. Addison and Michael Taylor, Sr. are co-authors of the book, How to Save Your Home, that teaches homeowners how to properly negotiate foreclosure alternatives with mortgage lenders. Mr. Addison has also been published in Service Managment, the leading default management magazine to the mortgag servicing industry. He can be reached at 877-212-1880. His business websites include syhuniversity.com syhuniversity.com; contacttheexpert.com contacttheexpert.com and saveyourhome.info saveyourhome.info Email: mailto:taddison@saveyourhome.info taddison@saveyourhome.info.

It has been an easy journey for me and my associates over the last few years. The more we discover about Real estate, the more we realize what a gift it is to the human race. The industry, the concept of ever increasing intrinsic value of property. Its simply the perfect vehicle for anybody wanting to retire early and fast.

You must agree, real estate is a very subjective investment object, and where one person will consider one price tag of a unique house as too dear, another might consider the price way too cheap.

It’s this subtle intricasy that wealthy individuals use to manufacture huge returns in real estate. The largest obstacle to you is not making a fortune in real estate. That is a given.

The question is how to get into real estate in the first place.

Most people dont have hundreds of thousands lying around to buy property outright. So like 99% of people, they seek to borrow the funds from banks or other similar commercial lending
organizations.

These keepers of the wealth “key” use their criteria to say who gets in and who doesnt. Its unfair but its how it is. Their credit checks keep thousands from entering the one and only industry that is guaranteed to deliver real profits, real results.

Real estate is amazing. A person can find anything he/she needs in it. He can buy for a humble abode, he can purchase for wealth, he can puchase to make dreams come true. But if you dont make the grade, if you fail to have the correct paper work, the correct historical references and back ground, then you will likely fail to get the credit you require to own
the home you wish to purchase.

Is there a way to avoid this harsh burden? And still get the house you want? To be able to own property and sell it for your profits so you can purchase more.

Of course there is.

Buying homes while avoiding credit checks is something we intentionally sought to achieve.

Why? So we could take all the deals we saw lying around and turn them into a profit. We wanted to buy and sell 100 homes per month. We could see so much intrinsic value sitting there waiting to be scooped up. Millions of dollars just waiting to be taken by anyone willing to buy for profit and not for long term living.

My partners and I did well. We did it without requiring money down OR dancing to a banks tunes. We did it our way and were rewarded for our efforts helping young couples and families get into their own homes. It was rewarding from a fiscal stand point, but more importantly, we feel we deserved the millions we earned because the people we helped were thankful too.

The key is in the paperwork and the structure you apply to the deals you do. Buying outright using a banks credit is only one way to secure property. We really weren’t after so much control of a property. True we needed some control, but not outright ownership because we weren’t retail buyers.

We were/are controllers of deals and not purchasers. So what need do we have for finance or even the down payment moneys. Once you have the contract paper work and wording right, you are free to replicate and replicate as prolifically as you wish.

That is the key to owning real estate without credit checks. You see, we did this until we could afford to comfortably buy our own dream homes without needing the services of a bank.

And we certainly didn’t need their help to control the profits we found and created.

My very best to you.

Martin Thomas is a professional investor that trades in yachts, precious stones and real estate. Jack Reynolds is one of Martin’s students, Jack was a broke Insurance salesman only 2 years ago, today he owns assets valued at several million dollars. What did Martin teach Jack in 24 short months? You can read about Jack’s remarkable and rapid transformation and download Hayden’s famous book “The Million Dollar Mentor” by

These days, many lenders understand that irresponsibility is not the only reason why people become bankrupt. High cost of living, education, healthcare, and homeownership; as well as some other uncontrollable things which happen in life such as job loss, divorce or sickness means that bankruptcy can happen to anyone, even to those who are financially prudent. As a result, many lenders are willing to take a chance with high-risk borrowers by offering credit, loans and mortgages to people who have experienced a bankruptcy.

Life after bankruptcy is about starting over and working hard to create a better credit record. When someone who was once declared bankrupt is applying for a mortgage, the lenders scrutinize how they have handled their finances in the past one to two years.

So, what are the key tips for getting your life and financial situation back on track after bankruptcy?

1. Spend your money wisely; make an effort to have a budget so that you know your incoming and outgoing money to cover your bills, loans and expenses.

2. Try to save some money in your savings account on a regular basis.

3. Get a copy of your credit report and ensure that it is accurate. If you have recently paid off all of your creditors, your credit report states this.

The main actions which will show the potential lenders that you are working towards your financial recovery are establishing a solid record with new accounts, re-establishing old accounts, regular contributions to a savings plan, and payroll deductions that go into your children’s college fund, among others. If your recent financial activities are good, this tends to offset the old payments and collections you had in the past, which works in your favor because it shows your progress towards financial recovery.

It is recommended that you apply for a credit card that is easy to get. Usually department stores and gas stations are a good place to start. You don’t necessarily have to use them, but having them and making the necessary payments will offer you a degree of financial credibility. You can get a secured credit card or debt card from a bank, which operates like an automated teller machine or ATM card. Although the limit is tied to the amount of money available, the record of payment on the account is reported like that of any credit card, and this is important for proving your financial recovery.

What Elements of Credit Scoring to Consider with a Mortgage after Bankruptcy?

The formula for credit scoring allocates the greatest weight to the absence of problems, and then brings your score down according to what problem or condition is noted and how old it is. According to the Beacon system, the main problems and aspects that reduce your score when your mortgage application after bankruptcy is considered are outlined below.

* Current outstanding accounts, number of accounts with outstanding balances, number of finance company accounts, number of accounts currently or in the past not paid as agreed
* Too few bank or national revolving/open accounts.
* Recent payment history is too new to rate
* The length of time accounts have been established
* No non-mortgage account balances, or non-mortgage balances not recently reported
* Amount past due on accounts; account not paid as agreed, public record, or collection agency filing

For you to be able to start applying for a mortgage, your bankruptcy should be at least two years since it was discharged. It is important that within these two years you make every effort to improve your financial history by spending wisely and saving some money, all of which will prove that you have recovered from the bankruptcy.

Dean Shainin is a consultant specializing in home loans, strategies for loan financing, home equity loans, and consolidation loan information. To see a list of recommended loan companies, tools, resources, free quotes and articles, visit this site:
homemortgageloantips.com homemortgageloantips.com

Get free valuable online tips for saving money from his: homemortgageloantips.com/Articles/Refinancing_With_Bad_Credit.php Refinancing With Bad Credit website.

Anyone planning to take out a mortgage for the first time will most likely find the job a little daunting, not least because the financial jargon can often be very difficult to make sense of. As with any major financial decision, it is essential to fully understand every aspect of a mortgage plan before making a commitment. It’s also vital to simply do the math, to calculate exactly how much each type of mortgage will cost for the overall life of the loan, how long it will take to repay, and what the monthly repayments will be. Buyers would be wise to make the financial calculations before choosing a home, to get a clear picture of exactly how much home they can really afford to buy. More information is available at money-smash.com

One of the most important decisions to make is choosing the term of the mortgage. Most fixed term mortgage plans work on either a 15 or a 30 year period. Generally speaking, a 15 year plan means the monthly repayments will be higher, but less interest is paid over the long term, so often the mortgage will work out cheaper over the life of the loan. A 30 year plan will normally mean more interest in the long term, but the monthly repayments will be lower, which may mean the borrower can afford to buy a more expensive home.

Another important choice to make is between a fixed and an adjustable rate mortgage. The terminology is as simple as it sounds, although making the choice between the two types of plan may be a lot more complex. Fixed rate mortgage means the interest rate is set at the time the loan is made, and remains the same throughout the life of the loan. With an adjustable rate mortgage, the interest rate is set for the first few years, then after that, it is determined by various external economic factors which are outside the control of the lender and the borrower. Usually there will be some kind of cap to protect borrowers from excessive interest rate rises. A fixed rate plan is the less risky option, but an adjustable rate plan generally offers lower rates initially, and should interest rates fall in future, borrowers can take advantage the lower rates immediately, without having to refinance.

David Cannell is a freelance writer and university educator. He is also the owner of money-smash.com money-smash.com

Mortgage brokers can be an excellent resource for refinancing. Brokers have extensive contacts in mortgage industry and access to loan offers you might not find on your own. The problem with using a mortgage broker is that this person makes a living on commission; the mortgage that gives them the largest commission might not be the right loan for you. Here are several tips to help you refinance with a mortgage broker without overpaying for your new mortgage loan.

Mortgage brokers make money by originating loans in two ways. When you refinance your loan you are required to pay the broker origination fees for their part in arranging your loan. This “origination fee” should not be more than one percent of your loan amount. Mortgage brokers also receive “lender paid” compensation for originating your loan. Sounds innocent, if the lender pays the fee why should I be concerned?

It’s not the fact that the lender is paying the fee, but what the lender is paying this fee for that should concern you. Wholesale mortgage lenders reward mortgage brokers for overcharging you. Yep, it’s true and they even have a fancy technical term for ripping you of. Yield Spread Premium is the markup of your mortgage interest by the mortgage broker for a larger commission.

How does this markup work? When the broker submits your application to the wholesale lender you are approved for a specific interest rate based on your credit score and qualifying ratios. The wholesale lender provides your broker a written guarantee or rate sheet of this interest rate. Your broker marks this mortgage rate up because the wholesale lender pays them one percent of your loan amount for every quarter percent you overpay on the mortgage rate. That’s right; the wholesale lender rewards the mortgage broker for overcharging you.

How can you avoid this unnecessary markup of your mortgage interest rate? Tell the broker that you understand how Yield Spread Premium works and you will not tolerate any markup or “lender paid compensation” with your loan. Tell the broker you will pay a reasonable fee for originating the loan and ask to see the interest rate sheet you qualified from the wholesale lender. You can learn more about refinancing your mortgage without paying too much with a free mortgage tutorial.

To get your FREE six-part Mortgage Refinancing Tutorial, visit RefiAdvisor.com using the link below.

Louie Latour specializes in showing homeowners how to avoid costly mortgage mistakes and predatory lenders. To get your hands on this free video tutorial: “

Miami Preconstruction Real Estate investing is buying properties prior to their construction. For example, a condo that will be built in 2 years, you can put a small deposit to hold the condo and capture the appreciation during the 2 years, which is the time it takes for the condo to be built.

Why is Miami Preconstruction investing attractive to investors?
No carrying costs during the 2 years till the condo is built. There is no mortgage, no taxes, and no expenses at all. Most of all, you do not need to manage tenants which can be a concern for Real Estateinvestors. Also, you do not need to qualify for mortgage. So, regardless of your credit history, developers will sell you a unit.

How to calculate your return on Miami Preconstruction Real Estate investing?
If the condo for example priced at $500K, typically, in the Miami market, developer would require 20% deposit. 10% at contract time and additional 10% when construction begins. So, your total out of pocket deposit would be 100K which 20% of 500K.

Miami Real Estate market has been appreciating over % annually. However, for this example, let’s assume Miami Real Estate will appreciate 20% annually. By the end of the first year, this condo that has not been built yet would have already appreciated from $500K to $600K. Which means you have made $100K on your investing of $100K. That 100% return in one year. In other words, you could double your capital every year.

How to buy Miami Preconstruction ?
Be aware to these facts: Developers are NOT Mutual Fund Managers in the business of making you money. They are business people in the business of building real estate. They understand the Real Estate market and they make the most profit by selling for the highest price. This is the myth that could cause investors not making the right decision.

So, do your own research, the Internet can be a great aid in finding initial information. After doing some initial research, find a good realtor that understands the market and Preconstruction to help you evaluate the options you have available.

If you’re contacting the developer directly, you could be taking a gamble since the sales staff has no loyalty to you to disclose vital information, they work for the developer. Go with a knowledgeable local realtor to represent you. You can find realtors to provide this free service. They are paid commission by the developer and your price is the same.

What Miami Preconstruction investing do you choose?
Waterfront Real Estate is the safest investing possible. Tens of thousands are moving to Miami area every month and most asking for waterfront or oceanfront real estate. They are willing to pay a good premium to enjoy the life style. There is a lot more details that cannot be covered here.

Bubble or Not?
Miami Preconstruction and Miami Real Estate has been very rewarding to its investors. If you’re looking for long term investing, this is a great vehicle for good ROI with little effort. “Be selective”, Not every developer and every project is well analyzed and priced right. Like many financial markets, Miami Preconstruction and Miami Real Estate are controlled by greed and fear, the primal emotions that drive the markets.

Interest rates might not have great impact on Miami Real Estate since Miami is an international market with buyers from around the globe. International buyers are enjoying the extended buying power from the weak US dollar and heavily investing their cash in Miami Real Estatemarkets. Florida has very flexible rules towards foreign nationals buying Miami and Florida real estate. Also, we are seeing buyers from markets such as California and New York that are aggressively buying Miami Real Estate and oceanfront properties.

Savvy and long term investors will do well. Risk management is the key to survival in financial markets and that includes Miami Preconstruction Real Estate investing.

Andrew James, Miami Preconstruction realtor and investor
Direct 786-326-7776
info@MiamiNewConstructionGuide.com
MiamiNewConstructionGuide.com MiamiNewConstructionGuide.com

Andrew James is a full-time realtor and investor in Miami real estate and preconstruction. He is the founder of MiamiNewConstructionGuide.com MiamiNewConstructionGuide.com, site dedicated to miami preconstruction investors