Finding the Ideal Property to Rent

The mere thought of having to find a property to rent, whether this is your first go at it or you?ve become an experienced pro, can leave an undesirable taste in your mouth. Why? It almost always seems that every apartment that you?ve looked at (or will be looking at, if you?re new to this) seems to come up a bit short of what you really want (at least, among those in your price range). But not to worry, as with a bit of planning, you?ll be surprised at how smoothly and successfully your efforts can go!

Firstly, you need to decide upon the type of property you want to rent. Perhaps a one-bedroom flat will suit your needs nicely, or maybe a two-bedroom country house is more to your liking. Make a list, prioritize, and be open to suggestions, change and compromise; likewise, be aware of those features you aren?t willing to sacrifice at any cost.

Secondly, check online to browse the available flats and houses. To make your life easier, there are a few quality websites that aggregate listings, as they exist solely for this purpose. Again, make a list and prioritize; be open to suggestions, change and compromise. For example, maybe you really don?t need that second bedroom in order to keep the superb view of the city within your price range. Or maybe gas central heating is more important to you than living close to the train.

Thirdly, when you find a property that you?re interested in, be sure to research the building, the general area, and the landlord. A quick web search for the landlord?s or management company?s name will often tell you whether the tenants are treated well. If the property of interest is one in a larger development, you can always take a leisurely stroll during the day and ask quick, simple questions of any tenants you might see.

Likewise, you can get information on the neighborhood?s crime rate with a web search or by asking a knowledgeable realtor or someone who lives there. Alternatively, you can take a stroll through during the evening and observe the neighborhood for its typical social behaviors.

Above all, be mindful of your priorities, and do your homework! With so many resources available (both offline and online), there?s no excuse to get into a lease that will leave you unsatisfied.

Carolyn Jameson recommends that you visit www.rentright.co.uk for more information on property to rent in the UK.

An Interesting Twist in the New Hampshire Real Estate Market

An interesting twist to the Souhegan Valley real estate market!

Since late 2005 the real estate market in the Souhegan Valley of New Hampshire has seen declines in the number of homes sold, increases in the number of homes on the market, and falling prices. This is completely logical. Lower demand and higher supply inevitably leads to lower prices. But there is an intersting twist in this market.

The number of homes sold through October 2006 is down 23% from last year, while there is currently a 13 month supply of homes on the market. This has lead to a drop in home prices, as evidenced by the drop in per square foot sold price since the end of 2005 (see Charts at Web site below).

Despite this drop in home prices, the average price of a home sold has increased slightly over 2005. In fact, the average price of a home sold in the area is up about 0.7% from last year. This is perplexing! The price of a home is dropping but the average price of a home being bought is increasing.

If the major problem in the New Hampshire housing market is that homes have become unaffordable and the prices of homes are falling due to lower demand then one would expect that the average price of a home sold would fall as well. Instead, the average price of a home sold has clearly increased. This is an indication that many buyers have the means to buy a home and are willing to spend that money to get the home they want. So as the prices of homes drop, buyers are simply buying more house for their dollar.

This is not to say that buying a home is easy for everyone. In southern New Hampshire a first time home buyer faces difficulty in finding an affordable first home. They can expect to pay $230,000 or more for a single family home in the area. Even a condominium can cost $180,000, which is difficult for the first time home buyer.

However, with a strong job market and increasing wages, buyers in the market are taking advantage of lower prices and low interest rates to buy the home they want. Today, buyers do not have to compromise on home size, location or amenities like they did when the market was hot. These indicators also highlight the fact that this market was not precipitated by a major economic event, such as major job losses, that prohibit people from buying. Therefore, this market will probably not last long. I do not expect a return to the red hot real estate market we had with 15% appreciation per year, but I do anticipate increases in buying with moderate appreciation. (Of course this assumes no changes in economic conditions that will impact buying power.)

As a closing note, I have noticed over the last few weeks that the news media has begun to run stories about the market hitting bottom. These stories are important to note because they will change buyers perception of the market. When buyers believe that prices have hit bottom perhaps, they will begin to buy.

Enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday!

Market Notables Single family home sales through the 31st of October 2006 were down 23% from the same period last year. Single family home sales in the month of October were down 38% from last October. (Recall that sales in September were off 53% from a year earlier, so this is an improvement.)

The number of single family homes on the market was down in October to 840 homes. This is an improvement from September when there were 902 homes on the market.

Despite the lower demand for homes the average selling price of a home in October was $387,009, 0.7% higher than in October of 2005.

The towns with the largest percentage increase in average selling price so far this year are Greenville, where the average price of a home is up almost 20% and Mason, up 14%.

Two towns in the area have the distinction of actually exceeding the number of sales they had in 2005. These are Temple and Wilton.

Note:

This data in this article is based on information from the Northern New England Real Estate Network for the periods indicated for the towns of Amherst, Bedford, Brookline, Francestown, Greenfield, Greenville, Hollis, Lyndeborough, Mason, Merrimack, Milford, Mont Vernon, Temple, and Wilton.

Carl Johnson has been a Realtor since 2002 and serves home buyers and sellers in the Amherst and Milford area of New Hampshire. Visit http://www.SouheganHomes.com for complete market reports for the Souhegan Valley of New Hampshire

Effective Business Card Design For Realtors

A good real estate business card is invaluable to you as your first line of marketing for both your real estate company and for yourself. You need to make a huge first impression, because there are thousands of realtors out there, all willing to push you out of the way to get to your client. Commission on selling a house can be large if you find the right house buyer, and you want to make sure that it is you who is going to get that commission.

A real estate business card should start by showing your company name. Brand name recognition is very important in this field, and although they may be using you as their realtor, they also need to trust the company in which you work for. Many companies require that you put their background on the card, but if they don?t, then you have countless other backgrounds you can choose from. Business card templates can include a cityscape of either the city that you sell real estate in, or you could use a stock photo of a major city in the United States. Some realtors prefer to use landscapes showing a more residential suburb if that is what your specialty is. The choice is yours, but you need to take your time in finding the best business card template possible for the ultimate in professional business cards.

A real estate logo can be added to your professional business card with ease. It can include the words Equal Housing Opportunity, MLS, E-Pro, or a trademark realtor sign. The logo should include what kind of housing you sell, or what kind of realtor you are. Business cards have plenty of room for a logo either under your name or under the company name, and you should utilize this space. You can also use the logo of your company if they have a very popular logo to go with their company name. Anything to make your real estate business card stand out to your clients.

Since business cards are the only way homebuyers have to remember you, you should consider placing a photo of yourself on the card. Adding your face, or even your family to the background of the card can make a huge difference in adding to your value as a realtor. Your face can also be superimposed on the landscape background to show you and your area of expertise. Professional business cards in the real estate field often show a picture of someone standing in front of a very large house, but you may want to be unique and show yourself in front of an ocean if you work on the coast, or a mall if you work with commercial real estate. It is important to be different, and to wow your client before you even show them a house.

For printing a quality real estate business card, you need to have them professional printed with a glossy stock of paper, preferably with an UV coating. Make sure your picture is clear and not blurry. The address and phone number should be current, as well as the agency name and number. You have one chance to make a good first impression, make sure you do it right.

Natalie Aranda writes on business and marketing. Good business cards are invaluable to you as your first line of marketing for both your real estate company and for yourself. You need to make a huge first impression, because there are thousands of realtors out there, all willing to push you out of the way to get to your client. Commission on selling a house can be large if you find the right house buyer, and you want to make sure that it is you who is going to get that commission. Since business cards are the only way homebuyers have to remember you, you should consider placing a photo of yourself on the card.