Ben Anton asked:




The Pacific Northwest — specifically Portland, Oregon — is renowned for pairing the convenience and luxury of urban life with the unmatched beauty of nearby parks and wilderness. Portland seems to be bursting with city parks, and Portland residents take great advantage of having a number of green areas right in their own backyards. The Forest Heights neighborhood of Portland is perhaps the best example of this combination; homeowners are treated to spacious and beautiful lots in the heart of a breathtaking natural setting. And the welcoming surroundings aren’t the only reason to consider relocating to Forest Heights. Top notch schools, clean streets and parks, and a bustling market center are just a few reasons why Forest Heights may be the perfect neighborhood for you.

It may be an old real estate axiom, but it still rings true; location, location, location. Nestled in the gorgeous, rolling West Hills of Portland, Forest Heights gives homeowners acres of pristine residential and forest areas to explore and enjoy. The neighborhood is conveniently located to the darling Northwest 23rd Street district, minutes from Downtown and a quick commute to the outlying Beaverton and Hillsboro areas. The natural beauty of the West Hills accents the diverse array of architectural types available to Forest Height homeowners. Unlike many cookie-cutter residential communities, Forest Height architects and designers make sure the mix of house styles is not only varied but aesthetically complimentary to the rest of the neighborhood. Classic Northwest-, Colonial- and Mediterranean-influenced houses mix to create as attractive a planned community as can be found in the Portland/Metro area.

Location may be important but it certainly isn’t everything. Luckily for homeowners, Forest Heights provides many opportunities for active residents to get involved in their community. Indeed, many Forest Height residents are responsible for helping maintain the charm and individuality of their own neighborhood. Apart from the beautiful parks, trails and old-fashioned streets, Forest Heights residents are also invited to participate in and attend special events as a way to build a greater sense of community and safety in the neighborhood.

Of course, a neighborhood is only as charming as its local merchants, and Forest Heights happens to have one of the most pleasant and convenient merchant centers in the area. The Forest Heights Village Center started in 2005 and boasts a broad spectrum of shops and services. Looking for a relaxing way to spend a Saturday afternoon? Treat yourself to a few hours of massage and beautification at DentSpa before checking out the fine hand-crafted needlepoint designs of In Stitches. Running errands between business meetings? Get those copies done at Postal Annex while shooting down some espresso from the nearby Starbucks. Or perhaps you’re looking for a fun or romantic night out with a loved one? Fill up at Pizzicato Gourmet Pizza and then try to squeeze in a little dessert at Sweet Ambrosia Bakery. Each business in the Village Center is on a five-year lease, meaning you won’t lose your favorite hairstylist or barista soon after settling in to your new neighborhood. And the Forest Heights Village Center also offers several special events throughout the year, such as holiday celebrations and summer music concerts. The Village Center offers such a dizzying array of shops and events, it’s amazing Forest Heights residents ever make it back to their homes.

For those home owners in the process of or planning to raise a family, Forest Park Elementary School allows children to get a solid education in the comfort of their own community. Forest Heights is also conveniently located to a number of Portland’s best public schools, and the Forest Heights bus service makes sure students get to their classes safe and on time.

Portland is quickly becoming one of the Pacific Northwest’s premiere relocation destinations, and with communities such as Forest Heights it is easy to see why. The jaw-dropping landscape, convenient location, community involvement, education options and merchant center provide residents with virtually everything they might need. Small-town simplicity is combined with urban eccentricities into one fun, safe and attractive community. If you’re looking into relocating to the Pacific Northwest, make sure to consider Forest Heights; it may be the best Portland’s West Hills have to offer.

~Ben Anton, 2008

Thomas Lloyd asked:




The Playa del Carmen real estate is one of the highest of demand here in the country of Mexico.  Many economical factors and general trends over the past two years throughout the North American and European economies are working to place the Mexico real estate market as one of the most attractive for investors throughout the world.  Near forty percent 40% of the Riviera Maya Properties are being purchased by Mexican Foreigners with the Americans and Canadians leading the countries with the highest amount of such international real estate investors.

A very popular investment option has been the Mexico condo options.  In this real estate opportunity, buyers are able to reserve a condo unit before the construction has been realized.  On some occasions, the developer may offer Mexican investment construction options “off the plan” before a parcel of land has even been purchased.  The risks are compensated with large discounted prices on the condo units which many international buyers have found extremely attractive given international averages on Ocean Front Condo prices.  The procedure normally requires a reservation quantity to be paid ranging from $5,000 up to $10,000 usd.   This money is refundable upon request and may reserve a unit for an average of 20 days, enough time for the investor and his legal counsel to study and analyze the promissory contract on the Playa del Carmen Real Estate.  If the buyer, upon review of the contract, decides to proceed on the investment opportunity, he will then be required to sign a promissory contract and forward another payment quantity.   This hard contract deposit may range from 20% up to 90% depending on the developer or the negotiation of the particular operation.   Other payments and payment plans may include monthly transfers or transfers based on construction milestones.   Once the property is completed, the developer can proceed on obtaining a Mexico Condominium Regimen, which will then allow for delivery of the physical property as well as transferring the legal rights to the Mexico property.

International buyers are playing a significant role in the demands for Playa del Carmen real estate.  With the tourism and occupancy rates higher than years before, and projections stronger than any historical figures on record, the appreciation on Riviera Maya Real Estate continues to grow despite slowdowns in the United States market.  As more tourists come to the area, more fall in love with the local Caribbean Beaches, Mexican history, and the warm Spanish hospitality.

K. Van Liew asked:




The real estate marketplace can fluctuate dramatically and unpredictably leaving as many stories of failure as there are stories of success.  The best way to help stack the odds in your favor is to have a solid real estate investment business plan.  A business plan is a detailed outline that includes a clearly stated objective and a how you are going to achieve that objective – in this case real estate.  It should contain methods of securing financial support, either through partners or loans, and be able to describe ways of limiting fiscal risks.  It should also list certain criteria that will distinguish between investments that are likely to provide a profit and those that are likely to create a loss.  Finally, it should delineate clear methods of procuring a steady stream of buyers.

The first step to success is to find potential investments.  The basic principle to follow is to buy low and sell high.  Situations that depress a property’s asking price include foreclosure, owner death, IRS issues, illness, divorce, relocation and job transfer.  In a number of these cases, a bank or financial institution assumes ownership over the asset.  Hoping to reclaim some of their financial losses, they sell off as much of these assets as possible.  This typically happens to houses that have come under bank ownership.  The asking price for these houses is generally much lower than market value.  These types of situations are advantageous to an investor because a lower asking price ensures a higher profit margin.  A successful real estate investment business plan should include as many of these beneficial opportunities as possible, thus increasing the likelihood of a greater profit margin.

The next principle of any business plan is to secure the funding needed to get started and keep the process going.  When dealing with real estate, this part is usually straight forward and easy.  Ideally the money for the initial investment would come from your own savings or a trusted partner.  In this way, while you are risking your own money, failure would not harm your ability to garner future loans from banks or mortgage lenders.  However, not everyone has enough personal capital to begin buying real estate.  This is where proven time tested techniques are utilized to secure the funds needed from joint venture partners or private lenders.  Both of these groups are mainly interested in two items; One – how secure is their money and Two – How much will they be paid.  As long as it is a truly good deal you should have no problem finding the money.  Do not be afraid to share some of your profits to your money partner, better to share some than not be able to do the deal and make nothing.   The idea is to secure the loan, purchase the property, sell the property, and then pay off the investor.  Using this method you can buy real estate without any personal financial commitment.

Finally, a real estate investment business plan should include a stable method to facilitate a deal with your exit strategy.  This should consist of a manner to procure buyers, in the marketplace. There is no shortage of these, and it is a way to close the deals that ensures the highest possible profit margin possible.  It may be a good idea to hire an advisor at this point if you are not confident with your own experience.  In the beginning it is a good idea to re-invest the profit.  In this way you can create more opportunities to earn more money, thus securing the ultimate goal: financial success. 

Bob Corcoran asked:




Picture in your mind a bucket—but not an ordinary bucket. Think of this bucket as one you must keep full—full of leads so that your real estate business doesn’t dry up.

The good news: directly above this bucket are 10 faucets. We can call them “lead faucets.” The bad news: many Realtors don’t use them.

That’s unfortunate, because each lead faucet has powerful potential. And just a little tinkering can mean a steady gush of leads that will keep your bucket filled to the brim.

Let’s look at these 10 ‘faucets’ and how to create a fire hose-strength flow.

1. Past clients—Vital because their referrals come with an implied endorsement of your services. Put past clients into two categories: A – Those who’ve given you referrals, and B – Those who haven’t given you referrals. Set a reminder system to stay in touch with each regularly with cards, calls, small gifts, etc.

2. Internet—A must if you plan to stay in business. Put your focus on responding to the site visitors. Can you respond in 15 minutes? If not, fix it so you can.

3. Interactive Voice Response (IVR)—The hotline numbers buyers can call to learn about properties. Again, ignore technology at your peril. (Incidentally, I have a client who landed 11,298 calls from his hotline number in 2005. His secret? An irresistible call to action.)

4. Sphere of Influence (SOI)—The more you think about your SOI (basically your family, friends and acquaintances) the larger it gets. That “acquaintances” category, for example, should include everyone you’ve met. Think how you interact with those you meet casually—develop the effective 10-second “elevator” speech for them.

5. Signs—Revisit your signs. How can you make them more effective with more eye-catching color and contrast? Do they include an IVR hotline number?

6. Direct mail—It can be expensive, so find out what’s already being sent in the area you’re considering. The two keys here are differentiation—will your mailer stand out and will the offer and the call to action actually produce desired results?

7. Broadcast radio and TV ads—Yes, some may be too expensive. But don’t rule it out completely. Both radio and TV have massive reach and there are deals out there. The key is, if you do go with these mediums, use them regularly. Frequency beats reach—so don’t buy for just a one-shot deal.

8. Print ads—Give them a fresh and thorough inspection. What’s keeping them from really grabbing your target audience by the collar? Often, they lack contrast and that prevents them from being noticed in the first place. Don’t forget to add muscle to your call to action.

9. Prospecting—Absolutely essential. It’s one of just four real dollar-producing activities a Realtor can do. The trick is to schedule time everyday to do it—usually in the morning because it’s the most controllable time of the day.

10. Networking—Choose where you network carefully. There are literally thousands and thousands of groups out there. Be strategic by examining what potential business they bring to the table.

Real Estate Advisor asked:




Women are working more, earning more and buying more than they ever did. Consequently, they have a significant influence on the American economy in general, and the real estate industry in particular.

The collective buying power of US women accounts for about 85 % of all consumer purchases. When it comes to purchasing patterns, women are estimated to make 94 % of home furnishings decisions, 91 % of new homes purchase decisions, and 89 % of travel decisions.

Women’s earnings have accelerated over the last few years and they have emerged as the Chief Purchasing Officers in their households. According to IRS data, women constitute 39 % of the top wealth holders in the country. This means about 2.5 million women possess a wealth of $4.2 trillion put together. Notably, the IRS estimates that by 2050, 42 % of these women will be single or widowed. The IRS further estimates that more wealth is bound to be accumulated among women.

Another growing trend that emerged in a December 2006 study by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) was that about 22 % of homes purchased between July 2005 and June 2006 were by single women who were in the 25 to 34 age range. Women accounted for a record number of 1.76 million home purchases (1 in every 5 homes), a significant increase from 14 % a decade ago. Women’s growing success in their careers, higher education, financial independence and a desire to build an early nest on their own, are some of the reasons that have spearheaded this home buying trend.

Among the vast demographic spectrum in the real estate industry, women have become a force to reckon with. Real estate agents are increasingly taking note of their female clients and the power they wield in home buying decisions. By the influence that they bring into play in home buying decisions, women form a significant and growing market that simply cannot be ignored.

If you are considering buying a home, condo, or any other real estate, be sure to seek out the services of a local real estate agent to guide you through this complex process.

Hector Lesende asked:




The Miami real estate rental market is booming. Finding a qualified tenant that will maintain the property in good condition and pay the rent on time is a challenge. Miami-Dade County Housing Authority – Section 8 is an excellent way of finding tenants with most of the rent guaranteed by the US government and timely inspections done yearly. The benefits of renting to Section 8 tenants far outweigh the detriments. The landlord must follow all the procedures, rules and guidelines of the Section 8 process in order to comply with all the requirements.

The Section 8 rental process is as follows:

1. Finding the tenant. Miami-Dade Housing Authority produces a list of available homes for rent in the Miami real estate area. The landlords can be added to the list so that all potential tenants can find available properties for rent. Be advised that Section 8 tenants do not have two months deposit plus the current month rent so you must be flexible.

2. Fill out the voucher. Each tenant has a voucher that must be filled out thoroughly and notarized. Any mistakes in the voucher will delay the process. The application will be rejected and all mistakes must be corrected. The Section 8 rental process begins once the voucher is delivered to the field office.

3. Survey. A property survey is conducted to insure that the rent requested is comparable to the rent charged in the Miami real estate area. The survey is a crucial step in the process. The landlord will receive a call from Miami-Dade Housing in the event the property does not pass the survey. The landlord will get the opportunity to lower the requested rent amount or cancel the contract.

4. Initial Inspection. According to the new guidelines the landlord gets only one chance to pass the initial Section 8 inspection. If the property does not pass the inspection the tenant must get another voucher and start the process again. The inspection consists of the following: no dead bolt locks, no exposed wiring, covered fixtures, weather tight doors, no dead bolt locks, no exposed wiring, covered fixtures, air conditioner must have heater, smoke alarms, electrical panel box, water heater, windows, bedroom must have a closet, windows must have screens, kitchen must have range hood over the stove, bathroom must have ventilator fan, all window bars must have openings, no scaling paint, no trash or junk vehicles in yard, among others.

5. Rent Increase. There is usually a yearly rent increase. The landlord must request the rent increase in writing two months before the lease is due and the re-certification is done. The maximum amount of rent increase is 8% unless a freeze is in effect for that year in the Miami real estate market. The landlord will not receive a rent increase if there are errors filling out the forms, or the forms are filled incorrectly or not turned in on time.

6. Yearly inspections. The property is inspected once a year by Section 8. You will receive a list of items that must be repaired, if any. It is specified if the tenant or the landlord is responsible to do the repairs in the list. You have 30 days to do all repairs and if you fail the second inspection the rent payments are stopped. The payments will resume after all repairs are completed. The payments are not retroactive. The rent will stop permanently if no repairs are made.

7. First Rent Check. The landlord must be prepared to wait for the first check to arrive in the mail. The first check can take up to five months to arrive. Section 8 has tried to speed up the process but has not corrected it yet. After the first check is received and the tenant is in the system all consequent checks are received every third day of the month in a timely manner.

The Miami real estate Section 8 rental process takes about a month to complete and the landlord must be diligent in following up and keeping track of the inspection and the survey process. It is in the landlord’s best interest to follow all the procedures so that the property can be rented quickly in the Miami real estate market. The best thing to do is to go in person to the Section 8 office and find out the status of your property and potential tenant. Don’t assume that everything is fine. Miami Section 8 has an overwhelming number of tenants.

The process of renting to a Section 8 tenant is difficult and time consuming but definitely worth the effort. The tenant is not allowed to move into the property until the survey and inspection are done. Miami Housing Authority will not pay the rent if the tenant is allowed to move in prior to approval and no initial inspections are conducted while the tenant is occupying the property. Section 8 tenants are highly regulated and must confirm to very strict rules and regulations. Renting to Section 8 tenants is a viable alternative in today’s Miami real estate market.

David Jackson asked:




One of the first money making reasons to hold apartment houses and not single family houses is because there is loads of cash flow to be made in apartment investing. Apartments are always in demand – no matter the economy – so if cash flow is important to you then will generate it quickly. When you invest in apartments, your income has no cap. It’s solely based on your expectations and actions.

You can invest in apartment houses part time and eventually quit your job and live better. Serious apartment house investors spend their time finding more profitable deals. Once those deal are found and closed, they employ experienced property management companies who will carry out the day to day activities associated with maintaining an effective business. The purpose of the management company is to free the owner of the apartment building so he or she will have time to do the leisure activities that they enjoy most.

There is less competition in apartment investing verses single family home investing. Only a few investors know how to do it right, and are willing to talk about it. There is little written on the subject of apartment investing and those who do know want to keep it a secret.

There is a lot less risk when buying an apartment building. You don’t lose all of your cash flow if you lose a tenant, as you would with a single family home. Consider this – you can cut your risks by 2 with a duplex and by 4 with a quadplex. So imagine if you have more units under one roof, it will become even easier to absorb tenant turnover.

Apartment investing provides you the benefit of tax-deferred money. Your profits can be tax free (or at least tax deferred) though refinancing. This principle is called 1031 tax-deferred exchange. Performing a 1031 tax deferred exchange basically allows you to defer capital gains taxes on real estate bought and sold for investment purposes.

Economies of scale are realized when investing in apartments. Owning six units in one apartment building is better than owning six single family homes. The cost to maintain them is a lot less. Most importantly, other people pay your mortgage and expenses.

Apartments provide you with a fast price rise in an “up” market cycle and lower price fall in a “down” market cycle. Real estate markets are cyclical meaning it has cycles and phases. Each cycle is different and it depends on the economic environments. Knowing how to buy apartment buildings in each market cycle can lead to tremendous gains as well as avoid long term loss.

Apartment home investing is a ground-floor investing opportunity. Not many people are investing in apartment houses. It’s is a great time to invest in apartments because the economies of affordability of single family housing forces many to rent. The greatest demand for apartment homes is being created by the Baby Boomers children, who are called the Echo Boomers. In addition, lifestyle changes and elderly preferences are swelling the ranks of renters.

Christine OKelly asked:




Landlords know that sometimes things happen that can cause a tenant to break an apartment rental lease. In a perfect world, everyone would finish out their contract before moving on, but many landlords and property management companies realize that sometimes unavoidable events occur. You can do a few simple things to work with your landlord that may help you avoid penalties when breaking your lease.

Let Your Apartment Rental Landlord Know Early

Giving your landlord or property management company plenty of notice will most likely be met with cooperation if you have to break your apartment rental lease. Try not to spring a broken lease on a landlord and instead give them as much notice as possible. This will give them time to try to find a replacement tenant. If you behave professionally, so will your landlord.

A lease is a legally binding contract and you signed it willingly. If your time in your rental apartment has been good, but you’re being transferred out of town, let your landlord know. Tell them you’d be happy to renew if it weren’t for the move. If you remain calm and rational, your landlord is more likely to let you break the lease without penalty. Remember they do not have to do this. The landlord has the legal right to not let your break your lease without penalty. Talk with your company’s human resources department about a possible relocation package. Some include a payment to cover a broken lease fee.

If military service is causing you to break your lease, it should have a military clause that allows you to break it without penalty. If your landlord doesn’t know about a military clause, check with your base or post legal department for help.

Help Find A Replacement Tenant

Helping your landlord find a replacement tenant is a good way to make your landlord happy if you have to break your lease. Recommending your apartment to friends and family is a good start. Even if they’re not looking for a new place to live, they may know someone who is. A good recommendation is a positive thing for both the landlord and new tenant.

Let Your Landlord Show Your Apartment Rental

Letting your landlord or property management company show your apartment rental to prospective tenants will help them find a replacement tenant faster. Be sure to keep your apartment in a neat and tidy condition. It is especially important to keep the apartment clutter-free, the bed made, dishes put away, and the bathrooms clean. It will help your landlord show off the apartment to potential tenants and, although it may be an inconvenience, it could save you hundreds of dollars in penalty fees.

The easier you make breaking an apartment rental lease on your landlord, the more likely they are to let the penalties slide. It is easier to keep everyone happy if you work together to find a new tenant.

Joe Cline asked:




In 1987, the Journal of Real Estate Research published an article entitled “Pricing Strategies and Residential Property Selling Prices,” which presented evidence showing that the pricing strategies used for residential properties actually colored the perceptions of buyers regarding the quality and the worth of the property in question. This effect, called price influence, is based on the idea that consumers often base their assumptions about quality and worth on the listed price of an object. For instance, consumers exhibit a trait consumer researchers call “price reliance.” This is the tendency to believe that things that cost more are worth more, and that the reverse is true as well. Even for informed buyers, price is an indicator of quality. The article cited evidence that this is especially true for less frequent purchases and high-value items, like automobiles and real estate, and stated that within certain “latitudes of acceptance” price increases correlated with consumer perceptions of higher quality. This was partially attributed to a dearth of applicable knowledge on the part of buyers, who often lack specific knowledge of home values and comparable pricing for similar homes. Due to their lack of knowledge, price becomes an important indicator of worth for both parties.

When pricing real estate for sale, homeowners can employ one of three basic strategies. They can price their home higher than its expected sale price, and plan to negotiate a lower price with buyers from a favorable first position. They can price their home at about its estimated value, and hope to sell it for approximately what it is worth, bearing in mind that sellers and buyers alike often suffer from the same lack of specific knowledge of the home’s worth on the market. Sellers can opt to price their home lower than the typical market value of comparable homes in hopes of eliciting a bidding war and selling their home for more than the original asking price.

A more recent article from the New York Times called “The Psychology of Pricing” argues that there are specific pricing break points. For lower-priced homes, these break points come every $20,000 or so, and at each $50,000 or $100,000 for higher-priced properties. If your home is priced just under or just over one of these break points, it can have serious effects on your ability to sell your home quickly and for the amount you want. For instance, the article postulates that it’s better to price your home at $299,000 than $301,000, because $301,000 seems much higher than $299,000 from a psychological standpoint. Additionally, pricing your house just under one of the break points ($99,000 rather than $100,000, for example) will likely attract more potential buyers, since nearly every real estate buyer has a specific price they are not willing to exceed, and they usually inform their real estate agents of this maximum price. The difference between specific numbers and rounded off numbers is significant as well, since the latter seem to give the impression that the price is negotiable far more than an oddly precise amount might do.

Generally speaking, the more attention and foot traffic your home receives, the faster it will sell and the more likely it is that you’ll receive close to your asking price for it. It is obviously better to be in the position of choosing between a number of bids on your home than to have received none at all. Therefore, it’s important to carefully assess the true worth of your home, then price it slightly above that, but just under one of the pricing break points. If your estimate of your home’s value is correct, then you should be able to benefit from your knowledge of price reliance and the financial break points to sell your home quickly and for the best possible price.