Ihr Immobilienmakler in Heidelberg

If you normally put of budgeting as a boring task then things have to change when you have a baby. While having a baby is very exciting as a couple it may have a big impact on your household income and out goings. You might be a two income couple who struggle to save any money and wondering how your going to cope when you get to one income and an extra mouth to feed. The good news is that regardless of your income you can make some smart moves to make a baby more affordable and leaving you with fewer financial worries so you can focus on the important things like your new baby.

Calculate your current living costs: The initial step in budgeting is to list down all the expenses that make up your costs to live right now, without your baby. Ensure that all expense items are included. The monthly bills you pay regularly are often the easiest place to start: rent or mortgage, car, groceries, power, water, phone, cable, Internet, fuel, membership dues, etc. Once these amounts are written down, start listing expenses on other things. It does not matter how small the expense is: these little items add up. Sum up your total spending each month.

Establish your income: You will want to know your total household income. It should be easy to determine all the money going into your bank account. Deduct your expenses from income, and the remainder will be the baby budget. A baby may require about $800 a month or nearly $10,000 in the first year of life. Do you have enough money left over? It is also important to consider differences in income before and after birth. If you have a two-income household, there may be an income loss when the mother has to take time off for the baby. You’ll need to decide on the length of time for that period.

Cut unnecessary expenses: If the baby budget is not enough, look at items that can be eliminated, particularly non-essential spending. A lot of people spend nearly a third of monthly income just for dining out. Saving money on this item will go far.

* Pack a lunch. Cook at home instead of dining out. Make coffee every morning instead of getting it from the coffee shop.

* Fruitful areas for trimming are usually the Internet services, telephone and cable. Downgrade your cable package to a lower-cost package. Does it really matter much if it takes a few minutes longer to get connected online? There could be a $15-$30 difference in monthly fees. If you can reduce the features on these three services down to essential needs, you might save up to $100 a month; that’s $1,200 annually.

* Consider switching to low-gas-mileage cars (but make sure it is child-friendly). Driving a small and more efficient car can save money on fuel, loan repayments, servicing and even your insurance.

* Some baby things should be bought brand-new, such as baby’s crib and car seat. Baby clothes and maternity clothes do not need to be brand-new. People don’t need all the baby gear forever so there are loads of fantastic items in secondhand stores, garage sales and online auctions. Majority of maternity and baby items have been gently used for short periods of time (maybe 3-6 months) and quickly outgrown. There may even be unused items, because new moms often receive an overabundance of them as gifts.

* Be a smart shopper. Go for on-sale products instead of sticking to brand names and favorite products you automatically pick but don’t know exactly why. Many people shop for groceries once a week, buying more than 50 items each time. If you are able to substitute even half of your items for supermarket own brands or cheaper brands costing on average $1 less each then you could be saving $25 every week. This adds up to $1,300 after 52 weeks in a year. The point is for you to start paying attention to prices and key qualities in a product, and not just the brand. This will eventually make the habit of saving money second nature to you.

There are many spending habits you can change. You’ll just have to find out where and how much savings you can generate.

Set up baby’s monthly budget: In the first year of life, you’ll need between $600 and $800 each month for the new baby. You can raise this by saving money over time or revising your budget to make funds available for it every month. You will have to think of essential items the baby will need including expenses before birth (prenatal pills, doctors‘ appointments) and after birth. There will also be expenses for delivery and after-birth care. Budgeting some money for health insurance will be desirable; if you do not have health insurance, you will have to plan how to cover these necessary payments.

Start saving money: It would be desirable to start saving money in a high interest savings account even before a child is conceived. You will need a lot of money during pregnancy and the first year of life, and will probably use up most of what you save ahead of that time. But you will find that saving money ahead is also a good way to build up savings for the baby’s future. Saving money unspent for the month in a separate high interest savings account gives you a pool of funds for emergencies, unexpected costs, and even for the child’s future.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Rich Greenwood

Cheap, Bargain, Real Estate; Good Deals, Below Market, Low Priced properties are available if you know how to buy them. By Jody Hudson – Realtor since 1972. How to FIND and BUY: Cheap Bargain Real Estate, Good Deals, Below Market, Low Priced and Less Expensive; homes, lots, land, businesses, and condominiums. They are everywhere and easy to find. Here is how to find and buy them from anyone, anywhere. This article lays out the steps: How to find and buy a Bargain, A Good Deal, in real estate; that is; how to get it real cheap! Yes, there are ways! Nearly every call or e-mail that I get is asking me to find the buyer a bargain. We all feel that way when we are buying as well. All of us want a good deal. We all want to get cheap real estate. And we can all do it. There is a bit of a challenge however. Every single buyer that I’ve ever had in my thirty two years of selling real estate has wanted to sell the property they have for more than it is worth. Herein lays our challenge as Realtors — and of course for you as purchasers. To get those HOT deals in real estate there are at least three things you must do: 1. First of all as a buyer you must be able and willing to act faster than any other buyer. 2. Second you must be able to know a bargain when you see one. This takes experience and education in the specific market . Any assumptions made from other markets, about the subject-inteded market, will sentence you to certain failure… 3. Third you must BUY it. That is write a deposit check and write a contract that will win over the other contracts that may be presented at about the same time as yours. This group of three steps, sounds simple, but only about one buyer in each ten year period is willing to do these three things in order to get the cheap property they have asked us to find for them! I have several people, and so do most Realtors, that are the most; ready, willing and able and we call them first! If you want to be one of the ones called you must be MORE ready, willing and able! Recently, August 2002 the waterfront home next to ours was listed for sale for $249,000 and it was worth at the time about $350,000. Kate and I called each of our family members, our wonderful neighbors on the other side (one of whom is a local builder and the other a mortgage broker) and some of our best clients and a best friend of ours, a builder and investor, who had already said he liked the fine home. (Note that property is now worth about $800,000 Sept. 2004). We explained that the home was going on the market in a few hours and that they must act fast. Our neighbors on the other side, the most knowledgeable of the bunch wanted to make an offer of $180,000 saying they thought that was all the property was worth. They knew better or at least should have and they should have bought it. They just „hoped“ they could get it for less and that they didn’t have to move fast. The offer they made was ignored and wasted our time. They did however get another property in a few days, for a lot more money, that was worth a lot less, as a result of improved alertness and awareness after losing the one next to us. Our savvy investor friend put in a couple of offers below the asking price with several contingencies. Meanwhile we are telling everyone to write a contract for full price with no contingencies and calling on both our phones as fast as we could call. None of our best friends or family would pay attention. They were ALL too greedy. They knew the property was far under-priced but wanted it for even less… Lesson: when it’s a good deal – ACT instead of getting more greedy and losing the deal totally. Then our lovely new neighbors came and saw the property. They also were knowledgeable about similar properties, and had lost several properties they liked by moving slow, writing unreasonable contracts and not paying attention to real values. This time they did it correctly. In fact they wrote a contract on the spot, with no contingencies, and for MORE than full price so that if anyone did offer full price they would still have the best chance. They paid $5,000 more than the full price on the spot, told the sellers they could have settlement any time they wanted it and before they even heard back from the sellers they arranged for a mortgage of MORE than they needed and asked for the money to be immediately available. They did not ask for a home inspection, a survey, or for the sellers to fix anything. The home is 30 years old and has not had one bit of maintenance. There was a burst hot water tank, a roof that needs replacing and a few HUGE cracks in the foundation. All these problems cost them about $15,000. They have, as I write this, owned the property for several months and worked on it every weekend, before they could take a break and enjoy it. They love it. If they were to fix all of the things that need fixing, paint the trim and freshen up the yard and landscaping; we could get $900,000 to $950,000 for this home for them in a few months on the market. And, city sewer will be here in a few years, at that point the property will instantly go up another $200,000 and all the people we called knew about the pending sewer too. The buyers didn’t find out about the sewer coming to town until after they had contracted to purchase the property. The sewer is still not in — WOW. They are glad they did the One, Two, Three to make it happen! By doing the three things listed above the purchasers of the home next to us have made the wisest purchasing decision thus far in their lives and have one of the best bargains that have been available in the last several years. The sellers are happy too as they just wanted to sell it as fast as they possibly could, due to a sudden and dangerous illness of one of the owners. I’m writing this article to serve you the reader. But you must know it is self serving as well. Much of our time as Real Estate Agents is spent trying to successfully educate our buyers and sellers. If they would take our advice they could be far, far, more successful in selling or buying. The articles I write here [http://www.kate-jody.com/essays/index.html] are those advices that I give my customers and clients – if they ask. Most don’t and when they do, very few take the advice. Just like in every other profession, we the professionals do what we can to help those who come to us but it’s up to them to take the advice. Bargain homes are always available – but hard to sell. They are homes that are in need of some repair or cosmetic improvement or that are in an area of transition. We have several on the market right now and they are hard to sell. Someone with vision will eventually purchase them, fix them up and perhaps sell them at a huge profit – often to someone who says they want a bargain but won’t do what it takes to get a bargain. Funny isn’t it, and this sort of thing happens all the time. It has consistently happened in my 35 years in the real estate business and being a licensed Realtor since 1972. Just know this, if you want a fixer-upper, so does everyone else, but you need to be very, very, educated and able to spend the time and money to renovate the property effectively and affordably. And, you need to do One, Two, Three! If you want a bargain; educate yourself and be ready to DO — One, Two, and Three. We’ll try to help you. By Jody Hudson Copyright 2002-2004 www.Kate-Jody.com Jody Hudson: MrJodyHudson@earthlink.net

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Jody Hudson

Like most colonials, our home has a family room and a living room. And like most homeowners, we spend a lot more time in our family room than our living room. In fact, my 7 year old still gets confused when I use the term „living“ room. It’s now just known as the „red“ room in our house.

With some minor changes and a lot of inspiration, you can turn your living room into something you’d actually live in! Here are some possible uses and design tips to help you get started:

Home office – Home Office means different things to different people. It could be a place to pay bills and file paperwork, or a place for kids to do homework, or you may run a business out of your home. Whatever your definition, focus your design around the function of the room.

• Provide a clear surface on which to work. It’s easy for a desk or table to become overrun with „stuff“ resulting in no place to actually work. Tight for space? How about a table that drops down from the wall when needed (like a Murphy bed)?
• Add a comfortable desk chair that is adjustable and doesn’t squeak (trust me on this one!). If your room has carpet, consider a plastic floor protector to help you wheel around easier.
• Add lots of hidden storage, but be sure to clearly label your storage units so you know where to find things.
• Lighting is key! You will need overhead as well as good task lighting. If there is no overhead light, add some up-lighting.
• Select functional accessories that add personality by do not cutter the space. But be careful not to make it too institutional – it’s still your home, after all!
• Keep the palate light and bright to inspire energy.
• Minimize and secure cords as much as possible. Go wireless wherever possible.

Library – Love to read? Have a great book collection? Turn your living room into a cozy place to curl up with a good book! It’s like having your own coffee house.

• Add lots of shelving. Rather than just adding bookcases, consider customized bookshelves built around a window to create a window box seat. Not only will you get additional storage, you’ll add a wonderful focal point to the room.
• Instead of a traditional sofa or loveseat, opt for two or three comfy club chairs (depending on space). Gather those chairs around a round glass-top coffee table with a wood shelf underneath to show off some of your favorite coffee table books.
• Provide task lighting for each reading chair. Pharmacy lamps are great for this. Make sure you also have enough lighting to see the books on the shelves.
• As a library, you can comfortably use darker paint to create warmth.
• Accessories – add a warm toned rug, soft throw blankets, and pepper the walls with black and white photography to create a coffee house feel.

Toy room – A toy room can be a great compromise between parents and kids in the eternal battle of toy clutter!

• Opt for shelving with attractive bins that can hide the clutter inside them, and allow for pick-up in less than 5 minutes. Open storage looks messy, even when the room is picked up. Avoid a collection of mis-matched toy organizers – they look tacky!
• Make sure the room is comfortable for grown ups as well as kids -add a comfortable chair or loveseat.
• Add a kid-sized table and chairs. Tip: put a machine washable rug underneath to survive craft time!
• Keep the room bright with cheerful colors, but avoid „cutesy“ – save that for their bedrooms.
• If your kids enjoy movies, add a TV and DVD player.
• Set clear rules for cleanup, and stick to them!

Media room – Do you enjoy watching movies? Create your own movie theater in the comfort of your own home!

• Add French or pocket doors and light-blocking shades to create a dark, quiet environment on demand.
• Add a large screen TV with surround sound.
• Add a dimmer switch to better control the lighting. Add task lighting to allow for discreet multi-tasking while watching a movie.
• Depending on how many people will be watching the movies, add enough comfortable seating. Tip: use two loveseats angled at the corners of the room opposite the TV, and toss a couple bean bag chairs behind them for extra seating when necessary.
• For decor, just frame a few of your favorite movie posters and hang them on the walls.
• Don’t forget the DVD organizer and a handy remote control holder!

Mud Room -Depending on the layout of your house, you could convert your living room into an oversized „holding cell“ to accommodate coats, back packs, shoes, calendars, cleaning supplies, dog bed, pet food and much more. You get the idea!

• Assign a „locker“ to each family member (don’t forget the family pet). Lockers provide vertical storage that makes good use of the space while hiding its cluttered contents. It’s a great storage solution for jackets, purses, backpacks, and more. Lockers can be wood or metal, whichever you prefer.
• Add wall hooks for guest coats, umbrellas, etc.
• Add a shoe rack for wet or dirty shoes. Place vinyl placemats underneath to protect your floor.
• Create a mail box for each member of the family to control mail flow.
• Add a credenza or file cabinet to file all that mysterious paperwork that wanders into the house.
• Create a message center by painting a wall (or part of a wall) with magnetic and/or chalkboard paint. Make it „pop“ by adding a large empty gold leaf frame!
• Add a colorful rug. Rather than get one large rug, opt for a couple smaller rugs that are machine washable.
• How about a small drop-leaf table and a couple chairs for small projects, or for putting boots on?

Stag room – What can I say? If you must have one, here are some ideas:

• Add a pool table, and a dart board (if room).
• Include a bar and some bar stools.
• Opt for a darker paint color that won’t show wear and tear.
• Display your favorite neon bar sign, deer head, or other prized possession.
• Add a juke box in the corner if you like.
• Don’t forget the traditional „dogs playing poker“ print!

Overwhelmed? Call an Interior Re-designer in your area. They specialize in making rooms work using what you already have. It’s a very cost-effective way to bring new life to your old room.

It’s time to start actually living in your „living“ room!

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Susan Jensen

Planning a family vacation to Africa can be confusing …and expensive!  I would suggest using a travel agent that has experience in planning African Safaris.  Here are few helpful tips:

• Plan stay for at least 2 weeks so that you can visit all of the places you want to see.  You paid a lot of money to get there, so take advantage of it!
• Plan to have an English-speaking tour guide show you around.  Many people will speak a little bit of English, but people will take advantage of you if you are not careful.  Touring with an African guide will keep you out of trouble.
• Vendors will try to get you to pay outrageous prices.  You must barter &  negotiate to get a fair price for your souvenirs.
• Be sure to tip porters, servers , etc. fairly, but don’t over tip.  Offering hand-outs increases the problem of people taking advantage of Americans.  Generosity is a good thing, but please give to area missions, charities, schools, orphanages, or other organizations.  They will be able to make sure your money goes to good use.
• If possible, bring clothing, medical or dental supplies, school supplies, etc., with you to give to local organizations.  There is great need, and these types of supplies are difficult to obtain in some areas.  You may want to contact an organization before you travel to see what specific needs they have.
• Bring water, Pepto-Bismol tablets,  toilet paper & hand sanitizer everywhere you go.
• Note:  If you staying anywhere near the city you will hear the Muslim Call to Prayer over loud speakers.  The chant-like praying can be a little eery if you are not expecting it, so be sure to prepare your children.

Best Places to Visit near Arusha, Tanzania:

• Mount Kilimanjaro – Actually a dormant volcano, Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa.  Believe it or not, this mountain that sits only 3 degrees away from the equator has an ice-capped peak all year long!  I have not hiked the mountain myself, but I have been told that the trails are easy.  They have different treks to chose from, some lasting 5-12 days.
• Ngorongoro Crater – Ngorongoro is a massive volcanic crater that is home to many different species of wildlife and vegetation.  In the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, I saw African lions, zebras, Black Rhinos, wildebeests, ostriches, hyenas, giraffes, elephants, baboons, dik diks,   and much more.  I even saw a cheetah hunting an impala!  It was like watching Discovery Channel up-close & personal.
• Lake Manyara National Park – Set on the beautiful Lake Manyara, this park is also filled with wildlife.  We saw lots of elephants, giraffes, baboons, hippos, and hundreds of flamingos.
• Arusha’s Cultural Heritage Centre – The Cultural Heritage Centre in Arusha is a must-see!  Bring plenty of cash for shopping with you.  You will not want to leave without some Tanzanite jewelry or ebony statues.  Take a moment to watch the linked video.   The video shows exactly what the store is like.  You need to plan at least half a day for this visit.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Cathi Arwood

A plumbing system usually refers to a network of pipes and fixtures which regulate the potable water and the waste in a building. The construction of plumbing structures varies from town to town depending on the weather and overall public infrastructure. Areas with extremely low temperature need a plumbing system which can handle the harsh weather and ensure uninterrupted supply of clean water and quick waste removal. A Plumbing structure mainly consists of pipes, fixtures, tanks, heaters and other equipment. Residents have to deal with a variety of issues related to drainage, water supply, and malfunctioning fixtures. Following are some common plumbing issues and their solutions:

Clogged drains

Obstructed drain or pipe is one of the most annoying problems citizens face on daily basis. Drain blockage is a very unpleasant experience and it must be fixed immediately as it causes odor and other health-related issues. Minor blockage can slow down the water flow in pipes. Plumbers employ various techniques and tools to track down and clear the obstruction. Some problems such as blocked sink can be fixed without professional help if you have the required tools and skills.

Leaked pipe

A damaged or leaked pipe is another major issue that should be given due attention. Pipes made of a reliable material such as steel cause fewer leakage problems. However, plastic pipes corrode quickly. Leakage is a serious problem as it can badly affect the entire building structure. Even a minor pipe leak can be dangerous if not given due attention. It can weaken the foundation of a structure. Sometimes leaks are easy to detect and fix without professional assistance. However, hidden leaks are hard to detect and fix without expert plumbing services. Damaged pipes are one of the reasons households experience low water pressure.

Malfunctioning plumbing fixtures

Fixture-related problems include dripping taps, running toilets, leaked water heaters and problems in shut off. Old plumbing fixtures should be replaced in order to get rid of these minor issues. Repairing a fixture can solve the problem for time being. The job of a plumber is to thoroughly examine the fixtures and provide long-lasting solutions.

Installment or replacement of a plumbing system

Plumbing is a highly technical profession. When it comes to the installation of plumbing systems in large buildings, only an experienced company can handle the job The entire system is carefully designed to ensure sustainability. If you are facing perpetual plumbing issues, you either need to replace the entire system or repair some of the fixtures. A professional service can better assist you in this regard. It is always recommended to take swift actions if any of your plumbing components is not working properly. Slow water pressure is one of the signs that pipes installed at your house need professional attention. Delay can further worsen the problem.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Syed Ali Zain-ul-Abideen

If you own real estate or are thinking of buying real estate then you better pay attention, because this could be the most important message you receive this year regarding real estate and your financial future.

The last five years have seen explosive growth in the real estate market and as a result many people believe that real estate is the safest investment you can make. Well, that is no longer true. Rapidly increasing real estate prices have caused the real estate market to be at price levels never before seen in history when adjusted for inflation! The growing number of people concerned about the real estate bubble means there are less available real estate buyers. Fewer buyers mean that prices are coming down.

On May 4, 2006, Federal Reserve Board Governor Susan Blies stated that „Housing has really sort of peaked“. This follows on the heels of the new Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke saying that he was concerned that the „softening“ of the real estate market would hurt the economy. And former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan previously described the real estate market as frothy. All of these top financial experts agree that there is already a viable downturn in the market, so clearly there is a need to know the reasons behind this change.

3 of the top 9 reasons that the real estate bubble will burst include:

1. Interest rates are rising – foreclosures are up 72%!

2. First time homebuyers are priced out of the market – the real estate market is a pyramid and the base is crumbling

3. The psychology of the market has changed so that now people are afraid of the bubble bursting – the mania over real estate is over!

The first reason that the real estate bubble is bursting is rising interest rates. Under Alan Greenspan, interest rates were at historic lows from June 2003 to June 2004. These low interest rates allowed people to buy homes that were more expensive then what they could normally afford but at the same monthly cost, essentially creating „free money“. However, the time of low interest rates has ended as interest rates have been rising and will continue to rise further. Interest rates must rise to combat inflation, partly due to high gasoline and food costs. Higher interest rates make owning a home more expensive, thus driving existing home values down.

Higher interest rates are also affecting people who bought adjustable mortgages (ARMs). Adjustable mortgages have very low interest rates and low monthly payments for the first two to three years but afterwards the low interest rate disappears and the monthly mortgage payment jumps dramatically. As a result of adjustable mortgage rate resets, home foreclosures for the 1st quarter of 2006 are up 72% over the 1st quarter of 2005.

The foreclosure situation will only worsen as interest rates continue to rise and more adjustable mortgage payments are adjusted to a higher interest rate and higher mortgage payment. Moody’s stated that 25% of all outstanding mortgages are coming up for interest rate resets during 2006 and 2007. That is $2 trillion of U.S. mortgage debt! When the payments increase, it will be quite a hit to the pocketbook. A study done by one of the country’s largest title insurers concluded that 1.4 million households will face a payment jump of 50% or more once the introductory payment period is over.

The second reason that the real estate bubble is bursting is that new homebuyers are no longer able to buy homes due to high prices and higher interest rates. The real estate market is basically a pyramid scheme and as long as the number of buyers is growing everything is fine. As homes are bought by first time home buyers at the bottom of the pyramid, the new money for that $100,000.00 home goes all the way up the pyramid to the seller and buyer of a $1,000,000.00 home as people sell one home and buy a more expensive home. This double-edged sword of high real estate prices and higher interest rates has priced many new buyers out of the market, and now we are starting to feel the effects on the overall real estate market. Sales are slowing and inventories of homes available for sale are rising quickly. The latest report on the housing market showed new home sales fell 10.5% for February 2006. This is the largest one-month drop in nine years.

The third reason that the real estate bubble is bursting is that the psychology of the real estate market has changed. For the last five years the real estate market has risen dramatically and if you bought real estate you more than likely made money. This positive return for so many investors fueled the market higher as more people saw this and decided to also invest in real estate before they ‚missed out‘.

The psychology of any bubble market, whether we are talking about the stock market or the real estate market is known as ‚herd mentality‘, where everyone follows the herd. This herd mentality is at the heart of any bubble and it has happened numerous times in the past including during the US stock market bubble of the late 1990’s, the Japanese real estate bubble of the 1980’s, and even as far back as the US railroad bubble of the 1870’s. The herd mentality had completely taken over the real estate market until recently.

The bubble continues to rise as long as there is a „greater fool“ to buy at a higher price. As there are less and less „greater fools“ available or willing to buy homes, the mania disappears. When the hysteria passes, the excessive inventory that was built during the boom time causes prices to plummet. This is true for all three of the historical bubbles mentioned above and many other historical examples. Also of importance to note is that when all three of these historical bubbles burst the US was thrown into recession.

With the changing in mindset related to the real estate market, investors and speculators are getting scared that they will be left holding real estate that will lose money. As a result, not only are they buying less real estate, but they are simultaneously selling their investment properties as well. This is producing huge numbers of homes available for sale on the market at the same time that record new home construction floods the market. These two increasing supply forces, the increasing supply of existing homes for sale coupled with the increasing supply of new homes for sale will further exacerbate the problem and drive all real estate values down.

A recent survey showed that 7 out of 10 people think the real estate bubble will burst before April 2007. This change in the market psychology from ‚must own real estate at any cost‘ to a healthy concern that real estate is overpriced is causing the end of the real estate market boom.

The aftershock of the bubble bursting will be enormous and it will affect the global economy tremendously. Billionaire investor George Soros has said that in 2007 the US will be in recession and I agree with him. I think we will be in a recession because as the real estate bubble bursts, jobs will be lost, Americans will no longer be able to cash out money from their homes, and the entire economy will slow down dramatically thus leading to recession.

In conclusion, the three reasons the real estate bubble is bursting are higher interest rates; first-time buyers being priced out of the market; and the psychology about the real estate market is changing. The recently published eBook „How To Prosper In The Changing Real Estate Market. Protect Yourself From The Bubble Now!“ discusses these items in more detail.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Louis Hill

Are you a job seeker who is looking for general labor jobs? If so, you can and should turn to Craigslist.org. This popular classified website and service is a great job search tool. However, with a recent spike in popularity, you may find hundreds of general labor jobs listed. How can you quickly and effectively search these jobs? Continue reading on for a few helpful tips.

Download a Craigslist Search Tool

Craigslist is a city based website. To perform a traditional search, you do so by selecting your state and city. This may be Texas and Dallas. Unfortunately, when you search general labor jobs, you are only searching jobs in the Dallas area. You may live in Dallas now, but what if you don’t mind traveling for a good job or relocating for the right pay? Normally, you would need to search other city pages individually. This could take you hours or even days! Luckily, there is a better alternative, which is a Craigslist search tool.

Craigslist search tools are desktop applications, which are often free to download. They can significantly cut down your job search time. Most allow you to search nationwide listings, statewide listings, or search multiple cities at once. Once again, if you live in between two cities listed, are willing to travel, or are interested in relocating, a search tool is a must-have software program.

Use Relevant Search Phrases

When most of us think of general labor, construction often comes to mind. However, general labor is a phrase that describes may different jobs positions and duties. On Craigslist, you can find job listings for housekeeping, carpenters, custodians, landscapers, babysitters, drivers, and more. Since you may get hundreds of open positions with a standard search, you want to perform a customized search. Search with the name of position you want or the type of duties you want to perform. For example, if you want general labor jobs that focus on construction, search with construction, carpenter, painter, landscaper, and so forth.

Read Headlines to Bypass Wrong Jobs

As previously stated, the phrase general labor includes a lot of different positions. Using relevant search phrases should automatically weed out jobs you aren’t interested in. Still, read all headlines carefully. They should describe the position or job duties. If you want to work in construction, avoid general labor job openings for farm workers, drivers, and home aides. On the other hand, if you find a job that sounds ideal, click on the headline for more information inside. Not only should you get a list of duties or job requirements, but a method of contact for application too.

As mentioned above, you can download a search tool to quickly search all of Craigslist, entire state listings, or multiple cities at once. Get started by visiting MotionT.com and download the free Craigslist Reader. You can also receive new job notifications by email.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Adnan Masood

In today’s California condominium market not only should the seller prepare the unit for sale, but the seller should be prepared with certain information about the homeowner’s association–prior to listing. Do you as a seller know how many owners live in the association? Are you familiar with your association’s Conditions, Covenants & Restrictions (CC&R’s)? What about upcoming assessments for planned maintenance work on the common areas?

You’ve worked hard repainting your unit, cleaning the carpeting and possibly upgrading the countertops in your kitchen and bathroom, and you’re ready to have buyers take a look. Then perhaps you obtain an offer from a motivated and excited buyer and you open escrow and plan to close in 30 days. But wait, have you considered other issues that could impact your sale?

For instance, did you know that having less than a 50% owner occupancy ratio means you may need to obtain an offer from an all cash buyer? Unfortunately, many condo owners do not realize that with a higher number of rental units comes a lower probability of buyer mortgage financing. Many lending sources have a higher criteria than required under FNMA loan rules, and may require 70-75% owner occupancy before agreeing to your new buyer’s loan. At a minimum, 50% owner occupancy is required for FHA loans (this applies only if your building is FHA approved, by the way). In a 32 unit building for example, 16 renters will be too much. Lest you think otherwise, this situation is not unheard of and in fact exists in a very upscale area where the owners don’t want to let go of their units after they have moved on to a single family house. It has presented a lot of difficulties for those owners who wanted to sell. If you wait until you are in escrow for the buyer/buyer’s lender to find this out, much time will have been wasted and the transaction may end up cancelling. Wouldn’t it be wise to bring this issue up to your Board of Directors so that the general membership could review the policy for handling rentals?

Property owners should not be living in oblivion while allowing their association’s owner ratio to decline year after year. This could mean the difference between selling a unit while it still has equity or as a successful short sale, or forcing one into foreclosure because the owner has no other way out of their situation because no lender would grant financing and no all cash buyer could be found. A foreclosed unit in an association means a drop in collected owner’s dues and a possible increase for remaining members, or at the least a lack of contribution to normal operating costs. Plus, the market value of all units in that association may be impacted if it now becomes impossible to obtain financing, or cash buyers bring in „lowball“ offers to a desperate seller. Typically, a lender’s HOA Certification submitted to the Board or property manager may ask how many owners, how many renters, and how many vacant units. You can circumvent wasted time by contacting your Board or property manager beforehand to obtain this information.

Let’s say the owner occupancy ratio is still fine, but there are delinquent owners in the building, possibly due to loss of employment, or units already in foreclosure. Did you know that if an association has over 15% of its owners 30 days (or more) behind in their association payments, the lenders will probably not make a loan until that number is decreased to less than 15%. In a smaller building of 30 units, that would take only 5 units. What if those particular owners are foreclosures held by a bank which is not paying dues until the unit sells, or owners who have abandoned their units and are unreachable? Has your Board of Directors suggested a remedy to assist current sellers in good standing? This is information you the seller should look into before you list your property. Why wait until you’re in escrow and then find out the lender won’t go forward due to this issue? Again, your Board of Directors (possibly the Treasurer) or your property manager representative should be able to quickly provide you with this information.

These are two of the biggest issues that a seller may confront, but others may include whether or not your association has a reserve study–how much money is set aside in your annual budget for reserves? Ideally it would be about 10%. Does your association have CC&R’s updated in the last 5 years, or are you still operating on your original documents that are probably very out of date with today’s laws? What is the pet policy in your building? Many buyers have pets and will need to know in advance what to expect, i.e., two dogs may not be allowed, but one dog under 35 lbs is allowed. Are you aware of any litigation within the association? This is a disclosure asked of California sellers in which lenders have a direct interest in the risk of lending there, depending on the particular issue.

In a homeowner association, the concept of „the greater good“ is very close to the surface. Members of an HOA are bound together by a particular legal umbrella found in the California Civil Code that does not exist in a non-association neighborhood. Condominium living was and is really meant for the owners who plan on living there, and it may not work well for long-term absentee landlords, because now more than ever, the transfer of these units is greatly controlled for the first time by mortgage lending criteria.

For more real estate information please visit my websites. I would be happy to respond to any questions concerning this article, or condo selling in general.

http://www.longbeachrealestate.blogspot.com

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Julia Huntsman

The Problem: Most expired listing letters sound too stuffy, too professional, too much like a loud and cheap radio commercial. They say the same thing without any personality. No wonder they don’t work for most real estate agents.

The Alternative: Write your own expired listing letter. But it may be a little intimidating to come up with a fresh, interesting letter that would get the seller’s attention and persuade them to call.

The solution: Here is a method that has helped me come up with some compelling writing. I use a small Sony digital recorder, but a mike and a computer would do just fine. First I come up with a list of seller’s questions I’d like to address in the letter. Here is an example:

• What are the tree biggest problems most sellers face?
• How can I solve those problems?
• What makes me a unique and different real estate agent?
• Why should home owners list their home with me?
• Why should they believe me?

I think about the questions a bit, maybe jot down an idea or two on how to answer them. Then I turn on the recorder and pretend I have a pleasant conversation with a nice home owner on the porch of their house. I answer each question in a few sentences. No stopping, no editing, I just let the ideas flow.

Next, I listen to the recording and write down ideas and thoughts that stand out; first in just a skeleton outline, then in a letter form. Then I take a break, get a cup of tea, and let it go for a while.

There is no great writing, only great rewriting. My final step is to go over the text, rework what doesn’t make sense, polish some ideas, discard others, change and edit. Does the letter flow? Does it make sense? Is it interesting? Is it compelling? Would I call if I was selling my house?

Many times I end up with material for more than one letter. Try this method and you’ll discover that your expired letter is better than 99% of the recycled „professional“ sales letters out there. After just a little practice you can be writing great letters, and most importantly, taking more expired listings.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Borino Slivka

In today’s topsy-turvey real estate market, it seems that there are always a handful of agents and realtors that „insist“ that buying foreclosure are a great bargain and everyone should have at least 4-5 of them.

Well, to tell you the truth, some of what they are saying is truth but much is a fabrication of implied truth intending only to fatten their bottom line. Many real estate agents intentionally lie to get their clients to buy foreclosures so they can generate a commission. The problem is that you don’t need a real estate agent to buy a foreclosure! But that is not what I am going to discuss here today, instead, I am going to talk about why „not“ to buy one.

First of all, a brief explanation of what a foreclosure is:

Normally, a house is purchased through a real estate agent and a normal escrow handles the middleman issues and is the „neutral 3rd party“. There is the buyers agent and the sellers agent and the escrow officer handling the escrow. Once all the issues are resolved (title, loans, repairs, termite, etc) then the escrow closes and the buyer takes possession of the home or condo.

The new buyer has taken out a loan for the property and pays monthly for that loan and if it is a 30 yr fixed, the payments are consistent every month. If it is adjustable then the payments change with the interest rate based on LIBOR or on the 10Yr note or equivalent.

Suppose a buyer cant make a payment by the due date, then a late notice is sent out and the buyer has like 10 days to bring the loan current. If they don’t then a „notice of default“ is sent and filed at the county recorders office. If the buyer still doesn’t pay then the lender forecloses on the property. They file a document with the county notifying the public of a pending sale and notify the seller they will lose their house. Once it goes to sale on the county courthouse steps, someone usually buys it for the back taxes or loan amount. It is too complicated to explain here about the different ways people can lose their homes, but for the sake of argument, we’ll say that foreclosure is the only way. Now, if no one buys the home at the auction, it goes back to the lender and they have what is called REO or Real Estate Owned. They don’t want the property, they want the money plus interest from the loan!

Now, what does the buyer do? The are forced to leave the house against their will. DO you think they are happy about that? NO, they aren’t. And guess what they are thinking? They are mad at the lender and do not even realize that they were the reason they lost their home. So in order to get back at the lender they might be thinking: „if I don’t get this home, then nobody does“ and proceed to destroy the home. I have seen picture of vacant foreclosures that are completely wrecked. Mold on the walls up 3-4 feet, dog urine and feces all over. Broken walls and cabinets, missing fixtures, and the like. Still want to buy a foreclosure?? It gets worse! By law, they cannot even give a home warranty on the home, there is no termite inspection and the transaction is minimally monitored except the auction it off at the county courthouse. Nice looking little foreclosure might look nice on the outside, but inside is a whole other matter.

My advice? Buy a home through a Real Estate agent and go through a standard escrow. You will be glad you did!

By James Noll – Realtor, USA Realty & Loans

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by James Noll