2 bedrooms, den, 2 baths at Motor Row Lofts Unit 202

Twenty units at this historic loft conversion are slated to be auctioned on November 15th by Sheldon Good and Company. Developer Paul Zucker took me on an extended tour of the building and some of the units that will be auctioned. In this video we visit a high-ceiling unit and also discuss the soundproofing efforts in the building an important consideration in lofts. Check back for more video from our tour. This video was sponsored by Motor Row Lofts and Sheldon Good.

Real Estate Agents - A Lesson in Reality

In a bustling economy, it seemed everyone wanted to become real estate agents. Some individuals even quit their regular jobs to get into a marketplace they had an opportunity to take full advantage of.

Of course, before being able to work the business, you need to go to real estate school. Different states have different requirements but in general all you need is a high school diploma. Schools average about 40 hours of coursework and this can be broken down into perhaps a few weekends, or other schools advocated one night a week for a few months, giving students a better opportunity to understand and remember the coursework.

After school is over you are then required to take your state's licensing exam. Once you pass you are typically recruited by every real estate agency in your town because they have access to all the new licensee names.

As you go to interview with these agencies, you are rarely told how much money it's going to cost you to get into the business. These agencies will do and say anything to get you to work for them because of course the more people they have, the better chance they have to increase sales.

As you see dollar signs in front of your eyes, you don't realize that you are truly working for yourself. Period. And as any independent contractor, because that's what you are, it costs money to be in business. Typically you will need to come up with over $1,000 just to start working at most agencies. You will be charged for MLS fees, office administrative fees which include use of phone, space, etc., along with business cards, general advertising expenses, liability insurance, and a host of other possibilities.

Once you are shown to your new desk, you're pretty much on your own. This is where you realize that what you learned in real estate school isn't helping you much at all. Real estate school teaches you about tax stamps and deed rights, but it doesn't teach you a thing about how to sell property. Most agencies don't provide much on the job training and you'd better find a mentor quick before you quit.

To help you get some customers you will probably be given the opportunity to answer phones for specific periods of time. You're probably saying you didn't sign up for this, but in reality this is how you will get your first customers. People see for sale signs with your company name, and they call in for information. This is your chance to try to schedule an appointment with them and sell them the home.

With a little experience you might be lucky to get your own listings, meaning you are being hired by sellers to put their home on the market. Of course, you are also responsible for spending your own money to advertise the house, and you need to spend money on gas driving customers around to see all your houses for sale.

For anyone thinking about getting into real estate, be aware that there are heavy expenses associated with the business where some commission splits are very low.

A drive through East Winnetka

Linda Martin of Coldwell Banker's Winnetka North office has lived in East Winnetka for more than 20 years, and volunteered to show me around her neighborhood. This is one of a series of videos in which Linda drives me around, and we talk about a variety of topics. In this episode we start on Lincoln Avenue, pass the Winnetka Community House, learn about the neighborhood circles, and chat a bit about housing prices

What To Expect From Your House Appraisal

Having your house appraised can be a scary step in the moving process, especially if you don't know what to expect. Will your house pass muster or will they find some hidden defects and problems lurking in the basement and attic? Should you scrub the house clean?

Don't worry - this isn't a test of how clean you keep your house or even if your house has problems (that will be for the home inspector to find out). The appraiser is there to determine a fair market value for your home. Whether you are selling the house or refinancing, this is a common part of the process and the inspector is quite used to traipsing about peoples homes in all kinds of disarray so you need not be embarrassed if your house is messy and it will not affect the value the appraiser puts on the property.

Determining the market value of your home is necessary so that your lender knows the home is valued at or above the amount of money you are borrowing. An appraisal is an estimate of worth. It is an opinion but is not entirely a subjective process. The FNMA, Federal National Mortgage Association sets up the guidelines and assigns values to certain assets of your home to ensure a fair sale.

The value of your home will be determined by comparing it to similar area properties that have sold in the past few months. The appraiser looks for properties that have the same number of bedrooms, baths, square footage and amenities like a fireplace or garage in your neighborhood or town. They start by looking at your neighborhood to find comparable sales or properties in similar neighborhoods that share similar characteristics of lifestyles, income level of residents, surroundings, average age and home values. A valid appraisal can be done when 3 or more properties similar to your own have been found.

Once the appraiser has these homes, there will be some adjustments made to take into consideration features that your home has the others don't or features they have that you don't. These features have nothing to do with your décor - they are based solely on house size, rooms and amenities so your hot pink kitchen will not affect the value of your home appraisal!

The process is quite methodical and done to standard practices so you need not worry. If you are moving and you have hired a realtor, you will find the appraisal will come in right on the button for what they have valued your home at. Most realtors know the market quite well so you needn't worry that your buyer won't be able to secure funding because of your home appraisal.

Real Estate Sector in Dubai is Growing Rapidly

Dubai is well known for the real estate developments occurring here and also for the most innovative technologies and concepts implemented for it's developments. Investing in Dubai's real estate sector is considered to be safer and most lucrative way to double your money.

Reason behind the sudden growth in Dubai real estate sector is the changes in laws made by Dubai government, which allows foreigners to own, rent out and sell properties in Dubai. Some of the real estate development companies are offering habitation visa for those who purchase properties from them. Several multi national companies are now setting up their branches in Dubai, which in turn made Dubai an excellent job market for professional and skilled works around the world. More people attracted towards Dubai due to it's attractively high and tax free salary and have created an huge demand for accommodation and office spaces. Laws in Dubai related to real estate are very clear and formalities are very minimal.

Dubai has become shopper's paradise because of it's open port policy with low import duties and superb logistic facilities. Dubai has a world class facility for exhibition and conference, it hosts many international events and exhibitions. The Real estate sector in Dubai is witnessing massive activity in the form of investments from private, public organizations which includes world's tallest building, largest amusement park, largest man made islands etc.

Dubai's real estate sector is growing day-by-day. Now Dubai has started breaking it's own records by introducing more innovative and ground breaking projects.

British Columbia's Real Estate Market Making a Slow Climb to Profitability

Real estate agents tend to agree that the market is doing considerably better than predicted a short year ago. But they are equally in agreement that those who are in the selling end of the market are not making the money that was to be had during the peak times in the British Columbia real estate market.

It is a cyclical market. That is a given. And yes, the consensus is that the market is taking an upward turn, but a rather slow one. The Vancouver market is seeing more properties being listed with more sales resulting. In the Okanagan, while new listings are being added, the sales have not been keeping up.

There is less for the potential home buyer to choose from at the moment. Currently there are 4,120 properties listed for sale, compared to 4,648 from January of 2009. That is a decrease of 11 percent. On the upside, new listings have increased. In December 2009 a scant 525 homes were added to the inventory. In January 2010 that number almost doubled, to 1,021. January of 2009 only showed 884 new listings.

Sales from this January numbered 252 units, as compared to the 113 units that changed hands in January of 2009. The continued low mortgage rates and affordable home prices should keep the sales momentum moving in a positive direction throughout most of 2010. Perhaps the 2010 Olympics will give places like Kelowna a boost, since property there is more reasonably priced than in the Vancouver area. It may be a somewhat slow climb back to real estate prosperity for those in that industry, but at least we are moving in the right direction.

Real Estate Broker Exam - Strategy #4 For Passing the Test

No one will ever answer with certainty all of the questions on the California Real Estate Broker's Exam. That means that everyone, sooner or later, will have to guess at a few answers. So here are some strategies to help you come up with the best guess.

First, if there are two choices that mean essentially the same thing, and the correct answer does not appear to be "all of the above," eliminate those two choices. You can't choose between them because they refer to the same thing. For example, if answer choice "A" offers "purchase contract," and answer choice "C" offers "deposit receipt," you can eliminate "A" and "C." The answer can't be either one of them.

In many situations, when you look at a question where you do not know the correct answer, just because of your general knowledge, you should be able to eliminate two of the choices. Two of the choices will not seem plausible or won't make sense. That leaves your guess between two, which raises the odds of getting it right. Before choosing, you should read the premise of the question one more time. That reading might tip the scale in the direction of one or another.

Some other tips worth paying attention to are these. "B" and "C" are probably the most commonly used correct answer choices. "All of the above" is not usually correct on the Broker's Exam. It is on the salesperson's exam, but they want you to notice the nuances and see the distinctions on the Broker's Exam. "None of the above" is not usually the correct answer choice. It is used as a default answer. Think about it like this. You are writing test questions, and you come up with a concept and you have the right answer in mind. You come up with two incorrect answer choices that are plausible (they must be plausible, right?), and you're trying to think of a third, but it's tough. You just can't think of one. Ah, "None of the Above" will do. You are now finished and can move onto the next question.

"Not enough information given," is tempting-it appeals to our egos-but I have never seen it to be correct. And if you see an answer choice that offers two of the other answer choices as the answer, like "D: A and B," that may have a good shot at being correct, just because it's a really elaborate ruse, and chances are the test writer didn't go that far to trick you.

Now all of these tips are based on observations over many years. They are not airtight, but they are a valid trend. Always answer what you know for sure-then apply this information. And happy testing!

The Best Way To Get Real Estate Listings

The Real Estate Industry is HUGE and is a golden opportunity
for real estate agents. National average home sales exceed
$200,000.00 and real estate commissions are big and
plentiful.

No wonder so many people are getting licensed as real estate
agents. And why not? You can make a lot of money selling
real estate. But being licensed is only the first step, as
more and more people are getting licensed to cash in on the
opportunities.

The Second Step. The most successful real estate agents have
lots of listings. Although getting them is easier said than
done, you can do it if you have a good real estate listing
system.

With listings you triple your chances of earning commissions
and bonuses. When the listings sell you'll be paid a listing
fee, a sales fee, or both. Conversely, if you don't have
listings you'll only get paid when you sell a property.

A system that some work to near perfection focuses on
Expired Real Estate Listings, which are a great source of
leads. You don't have to spend a lot of time or money
prospecting for them, as they're always just a couple of
keystrokes away.

Go ahead, let's try it right now! Log onto your Multiple
Listing System service, print out an update report and wah,
lah! In seconds you'll have a complete update of all the
expired listings for any time frame you want.

The MLS update report will provide you with just about
everything you need to know to relist expired real estate
listings. You can get the seller's name, mailing address,
property address, phone number, type of property, current
asking price, price reductions during the listing period,
how much the taxes are and anything else that you even think
you might want to know about these properties.

Unlike fsbos, cold calls and other lead generating systems,
owners of expired listings are almost always warm,
responsive prospects. Also, they are typically still Realtor
friendly and are already sold on the idea of doing business
with a real estate agent - again.

But wait a second. Although expired real estate listings are
easy to find you still need to know what to do to get them.

Converting Expired Listings to New Ones Converting expired
listings to current listings is like most other things. You
have to have the right tools and skill set to get the job
done, or else you end up wasting lots of valuable time and
money. In this instance it could cost you tens of
thousands of dollars in lost commissions.

Owners of expired listings are as close to a captive
audience as you're going to get in real estate. Many still
want to sell their properties and may be tired of being
stuck. Stuck with bad tenants, double mortgages, property
taxes they'd hoped to avoid having to pay.

Sure, some change their minds and decide not to sell. But
many are still primed to relist again and are waiting for
the right Realtor with the right approach. That can be you
as easily as anybody else. But you have to come prepared,
or don't come at all.

With so much at stake and so much money to earn do yourself
a favor and get yourself a real estate listing system. Even
as you read this agents with systems are getting listings.
What's that phrase again? He who hesitates _____!

Without a system of some kind you might be yet another
person who tried and failed. But with one you can become an
impact player and making a good living doing what you want
to do.

Remember, owners of expired listings have a problem that you
can help resolve. But in order to get their business you must
come with your "A" game.

If you don't have a real estate listing system you should get
one. The few dollars you spend now will be returned a
thousand times over and may prove to be one of the best
investments you ever made.

Conquering Initial Fear as A Real Estate Agent

The success of a real estate agent working online and offline depends largely on the dedication and motivation he has towards the steps he take on real estate marketing. Each task that he faces must be overcome and unfortunately, there is no better way to go around it.

A real estate agent usually begins small and most have probably started without anything at all. They could be entirely passionate about working in the real estate field but what they know about it could be limited. Some may also have the tools to do the marketing tasks for real estate but it could also become a difficult marketing move if proper use of this is not put to work.

Real estate marketing is a difficult task for any person. Don't think that you are the only who are going through mishaps at the moment. There could be a lot of questions a real estate agent might ask even after having worked on a marketing aspect for some time now but the main idea is just to allow everything to flow as how things happen and to have a direction towards where you are headed.

Asking yourself whether you are in the right position to create a marketing step for your real estate is a good way to start. But you also need to ask the right questions. Giving a negative impression to what you have decided to do doesn't help. Saying that you don't know much about real estate marketing is just natural, everybody starts from scratch and as for you, be realistic so you can move on from this phase. Acquire as much knowledge as you can about the subject and if you think you really don't have enough ammo for your real estate market, research as much as you can and add more knowledge as you go along.

As for sending your message across to your real estate market and list of real estate leads, if you are worried of being not knowledgeable enough of the twists and turns of real estate, don't worry. You surely know how to deal with your audience with profession and ethics, right? Just bring out there what you know and combine it with professionalism and you will be surely liked.

It is important for you to trust what you think you could do best in working for this industry because if you don't take courage and step further, you will never get anywhere. Think about the goals you have planned.

Real Estate Prospecting - Should You Get a Job Or Stick it Out?

If you were making $60K/year as a realtor, would you rather keep doing it or quit and go to work for someone else for $60K? When I was young and terrible, I used to pity agents who quit to take "real" jobs. "They can't take it! They're losers!"

Now I'm older and wiser. So when I ran into a former agent at Starbucks the other day, I had a pleasant paradigm shift. I had thought he was one of the "biggies" who couldn't fail. (Sound familiar?) He looked great--healthy, vibrant, so I said it looks like business is treating him well. He told me he'd quit and gone back to the work he was in before. He wasn't making as much money, but on the other hand, he spent less and was much happier. He looked it.

He wasn't the first former agent I'd seen around town looking fit and at peace.

Do What's Right for You and Your Family - You Can Always Come Back Later

For some agents, going to work for someone else at this difficult time can be a relief from the constant pressure and stresses of not knowing--not knowing when they'll get paid, not knowing if what they're doing will make a difference, not knowing how to sell, etc. Working a job can be relaxing. It's satisfying to be an expert at your work and to get paid a regular wage for doing it. You have fun colleagues to act as a sounding board for life issues and be there for you--an extended family.

When Working a Corporate Job Isn't an Option

On the other hand, for other agents, quitting isn't an option. A corporate job would suck the life out of them, or they don't take orders well, or their options for interesting work are limited, or they have the sense that "great success is just around the corner" so they keep at it. Unfortunately, many of them get stuck in average, revving their engines until the gas runs out and they're forced to take a job anyway.

If you're stuck in average, but are still hoping to make it (build a sustainable, profitable real estate business), then you have to realize the situation isn't going to change on it's own. "If you keep doing what you've always done, you'll keep getting what you've always got."

Avoid, for now, the fad prospecting programs that promise "it'll be like shooting fish in a bucket." (Some of them really are great programs.) Instead, get rigorous coaching or mentoring for a while. Think of it as an intervention or a crash course. If you can't afford professional coaching, use your broker, manager, another agent in the office--or all of the above. Just keep your eye on reality.

What's Happening In Real Estate Right Now And Where Is It Going?

1. Analysis of Today's Market

2. Update On Gold

3. Real Estate Prices In South Florida

4. Real Estate Nationwide

5. Yield Curve Is Still Inverted

6. What this means to you

1. Analysis of today's market

As an analyst of the economy and the real estate market, one must be patient to see what unfolds and to see if one's predictions are right or wrong. One never knows if they will be right or wrong, but they must have a sense of humility about it so that they are not blind to the reality of the marketplace.

In March of 2006, my eBook How To Prosper In the Changing Real Estate Marketplace. Protect Yourself From The Bubble Now! stated that in short order the real estate market would slow down dramatically and become a real drag on the economy. We are experiencing this slowdown currently and the economy I feel is not far from slowing down as well. History has repeatedly shown that a slow down in the real estate market and construction market has almost always led to an economic recession throughout America's history.

Let's look at what is happening in the following areas to see what we can gleam from them: Gold, Real Estate in South Florida, Real Estate Nationwide, Yield Curve/Economy and see what this means to you:

2. Gold

If you have read this newsletter and/or the eBook, you know I am a big fan of investing in gold. Why? Because I believe that the US dollar is in serious financial peril. But gold has also risen against all of the world's currencies, not just the US dollar.

Why has gold risen? Gold is a neutral form of currency, it can't be printed by a government and thus it is a long term hedge against currency devaluation. James Burton, Chief Executive of the Gold Council, recently said: "Gold remains a very important reserve asset for central banks since it is the only reserve asset that is no one's liability. It is thus a defense against unknown contingencies. It is a long-term inflation hedge and also a proven dollar hedge while it has good diversification properties for a central bank's reserve asset portfolio."

I agree with Mr. Burton 100%. I believe we will even see a bubble in gold again and that is why I have invested in gold to profit from this potential bubble (Think real estate prices around the year 2002 - wouldn't you like to have bought more real estate back then?)

I had previously recommended that you buy gold when it was between $580 and $600 an ounce. Currently, gold is trading at around $670 an ounce up more than 10% from the levels I recommended. However, gold has some serious technical resistance at the $670 level and if it fails to break out through that level it might go down in the short-term. If it does go down again to the $620 - $640 level, I like it at these levels as a buy. I believe that gold will go to $800 an ounce before the end of 2007.

3. Real Estate in South Florida

Real estate in South Florida has been hit hard by this slowdown as it was one of the largest advancers during the housing boom. The combination of rising homes for sale on the market, the amazing amount of construction occurring in the area and higher interest rates have been three of the major factors of the slowdown.

For every home that sold in the South Florida area in 2006, an average of 14 did not sell according to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) data. The number of homes available for sale on the market doubled to around 66,000, as sales slowed to their lowest level in 10 years.

Even though home prices were up for the year of 2006, the average asking price for homes in December was down about 13 percent compared to a year ago. From 2001 to 2005, the price of a single-family home in Miami-Dade increased 120 percent to $351,200. This is also similar to what happened in Broward County. The problem is that wages during that time only increased by 17.6% in Miami-Dade, and 15.9% in Broward, according to federal data. This is the other major factor that is contributing to the slowdown - real estate prices far outpaced incomes of potential buyers of these homes.

Another factor that helped drive the South Florida boom in prices was high growth in population in Florida. From 2002 to 2005, more than a million new residents moved to Florida and Florida also added more jobs than any other state. However, the three largest moving companies reported that 2006 was the first time in years that they had moved more people out of the state of Florida than into it. Also, school enrollment is declining which could be another sign that middle-class families are leaving.

By far though, the area of South Florida real estate that will be hit hardest is and will continue to be the condominium market. Due to their lower prices than homes, condos make financial sense in the South Florida area. However, the supply of available condos has tripled over the past year and it will get worse before it gets better. More than 11,500 new condos are expected this year and 15,000 next year with the majority of them being built in Miami.

As a result of the oversupply, asking prices for condos are down 12% in 2006 in Miami to $532,000. And incentives are substituting for price cuts. These incentives include paying all closing costs to free upgrades and more.

The last point to think about affecting South Florida real estate is the escalating costs of property insurance and property taxes. These increasing costs are putting more downward pressure on real estate prices.

My strong belief is that we are only starting to see the slowdown of the South Florida real estate market and that prices will continue to fall. Due to the fact that many real estate investors are pulling out, where are the next wave of buyers going to come from at these current prices? Unless a serious influx of new, high paying jobs enter the South Florida area, real estate prices, just like any asset that falls out of favor after a large runup only have one way to go... down.

4. Real Estate Nationwide

A report released last week from the National Association of Realtors showed that in the last three months of 2006 home sales fell in 40 states and median home prices dropped in nearly half of the metropolitan areas surveyed. The median price of a previously owned, single family home fell in 73 of the 149 metropolitan areas surveyed in the 4th quarter.

The National Association of Realtors report also said that the states with the biggest declines in the number of sales in October through December compared with the same period in 2005 were:

* Nevada: -36.1% in sales

* Florida: -30.8% in sales

* Arizona: -26.9% in sales

* California: -21.3% in sales

Nationally, sales declined by 10.1% in the 4th quarter compared with the same period a year ago. And the national median price fell to $219,300, down 2.7% from the 4th quarter of 2005.

Slower sales and cancellations of existing orders have caused the number of unsold homes to really increase. The supply of homes at 2006 sales rate averaged 6.4 months worth which was up from 4.4 months worth in 2005 and only 4 months worth in 2004.

Toll Brothers, Inc., the largest US luxury home builder, reported a 33% drop in orders during the quarter ending January 31.

Perhaps most importantly, falling home values will further decrease their use of mortgage equity withdrawal loans. In 2006, mortgage equity withdrawal accounted for 2% of GDP growth. Construction added 1% to last years GDP growth, so the importance of these factors are to the health of the US economy are enormous.

The other concern is sub-prime mortgages. Today, sub-prime mortgages amount to 25% of all mortgages, around $665 billion. Add to this the fact that approximately $1 trillion in adjustable-rate mortgages are eligible to be reset in the next two years and we will continue to see rising foreclosures. For example, foreclosures are up five times in Denver. These foreclosed homes come back onto the market and depress real estate values.

The Center for Responsible Lending estimates that as many as 20% of the subprime mortgages made in the last 2 years could go into foreclosure. This amounts to about 5% of the total homes sold coming back on the market at "fire-sales". Even if only 1/2 of that actually comes back on the market, it would cause overall valuations to go down and the ability to get home mortgage equity loans to decrease further.

Prepare yourself now because you can still get great advice from the eBook. Buy it with this secure link: https://shop.outstandingebooks.com/displayProductDocument.hg?productId=1

5. Yield Curve is still inverted!

The yield curve is still inverted. In a normal market, you get more interest (yield) for longer term investments. But very rarely the short-term rates become higher than long term rates such as now.

History has shown that an inverted yield curve is the best indicator of a future recession. The yield curve has been inverted since last fall, and if history is any judge we should be in a recession by the 3rd quarter of 2007. Throughout history, we have never had an inverted yield curve without a recession within the next 4 quarters.

The inverted yield curve does not cause the recession, it is simply a signal that something is out of whack in the economy.

6. What this means to you

One of two things could happen going forward in the real estate market: real estate prices will go up or they will go down. History has shown us that any asset that runs up, must come down, whether we are talking about the Dutch Tulip Market, the stock market bubble, the gold bubble of the early 1980s, or Japan's run-up in housing in the 1980's and subsequent 15 year decrease in values.

The big picture of the real estate market is that it goes up and down in cycles. It has been in an up cycle for 10 years and it is most likely time for it to face it's down cycle.

This is the natural cycle of assets:

* Markets go up

* Greed and insanity take over

* An excess forms (i.e. overbuilding)

* A downturn corrects the excesses in the market

This natural cycle is the same principle in "the big picture" as crash dieting is in "the little picture". We starve ourselves to lose 15 pounds, which shuts down our body for the short term, only for it to crank up higher when we go back to "normal" eating patterns.

And speaking of diets, I heard from an old high school buddy who has lost weight on a "cookie" diet where he eats one high protein dinner a day and only 6 low fat cookies throughout the day whenever he is hungry. While he has lost weight on this 800 calorie a day diet, I can't see how it is healthy to starve yourself like that. He told me that whenever he breaks his diet and eats any sodium, he immediately gains one and a half pounds. Talk about your body out of whack! I still recommend exercise (www.mattfurey.com) combined with a low white-carb diet (no white bread, white pastas, and limited sugars). It works for me.

Set your portfolio up correctly now by reading the eBook at http://www.myrealestatebubble.com.

***Disclaimer: This information and the corresponding websites do not constitute professional services, including, but not limited to investment advice. Please consult a finance and/or investment professional for services and advice.

Tips for Real Estate Agents to Survive the Current Market

Like homeowners, real estate agents are suffering as well. Inventories have continued to rise and as a result many agents are not closing as many transactions as they have in the past. In order to remain competitive, many agents have discovered that they must become quite creative in order to keep their offices open.

As budgets tighten, advertising dollars have become limited and yet agents know they must advertise in order to get beyond the current slump. While print and television advertising can be quite expensive, advertising online remains quite cost effective. In fact, many agents are turning toward blogs in order to offer weekly market advice that is specific to their location. This technique is quite inexpensive and works well to keep local residents apprised of the existing market conditions.

Agents are also recognizing that buyers as well as sellers are more interested in value today than ever before. As the average home price continues to drop, an increasing number of sellers are turning toward the idea of selling their home on their own in order to avoid real estate commissions. To combat this problem, more and more offices are reducing their fees. Other creative efforts can also be quite effective. For example, some agents are springing for the cost to have properties professionally staged or even professionally cleaned.

The current market is definitely challenging; however, it is critical that you take action rather than simply sitting around bemoaning the fact. While making an effort in the existing market will take some effort, it will also set you apart from the competition. One of the ways you can go about doing this is to consider each property separately and think about what you can do to make that property stand out. In battling the current real estate market, you may simply find that you need to fight it out one property at a time. You do not need to spend a lot of money on these efforts; however, there are many things you can do to market your listings in order to increase their exposure.

Consider how much online exposure your listings are currently given. If you do not have much of an online presence at the moment now could be the time to make that change. Statistics indicate that more than 83% of all buyers begin their property search online. If you are going to nab those buyers, you need to be advertising in the same medium in which they are searching or you run the risk of missing out on them.

In addition, it is a good idea to think about what you can do to improve the quality of your advertising. For example, you might give some thought tow hat you can do to improve the quality of your photographs.

Finally, use the time you have on your hands to your advantage. It very well could be that business is out there, you simply need to do some mining to find it. Use the power of your database to unearth warm leads which could provide you with excellent resources for buyers. Set a goal to contact at least 10 people each week. You just never know where those phone calls may lead you, especially if you provided them with great customer service in the past.

Negotiating Real Estate - Go Slow

Why should you sometimes go slow when negotiating real estate deals? It's all about the power of time investment. Let me explain with a story.

One of my less-pleasant experiences selling real estate was when I sold a home for a real decent guy, and the buyer was a lawyer. I was new to real estate, and this lawyer knew all the angles. Without getting into all the dirty tricks he used, I'll just say that the buyer had everyone involved angry, frustrated and worn down.

As a final blow, he arbitrarily decided that he wanted the price lowered by another $5,000. Now that's hardball negotiating. The seller was almost ready to throw away the whole deal, but he had been trying to sell the home for two years, and we had been working with this buyer for months. None of the agents or brokers involved wanted to see all their effort go for nothing.

There were three agents under two brokers involved in the sale. We all agreed that suing the buyer wasn't worth it. Instead, we gave in. The seller had enough of the buyers tricks, so each of the other five parties to the sale (3 agents, 2 brokers) agreed to each forfeit a $1,000 of the commission, just to make the deal close.

This is an extreme example of using "time investment" to your advantage. After investing so much time, none of us wanted to lose everything. The lawyer knew that, and used it. In this case, there was nothing in the contract that allowed him to renegotiate the price, making it unethical in my mind. Still, it was effective.

Negotiating Real Estate Deals - Ethically

In other cases, it is just good negotiating. If you want to get the best price on a car, do you think you'll get it after spending two minutes with a salesman? Let him invest two hours showing you cars, and he'll be begging the manager to let the car go for your low offer. The same is true with real estate negotiation.

Remind the seller about time, to let him remember the time he has already invested. To do this politely, say something like "Look, neither of us wants to lose the time we've spent on this and start all over, so why don't I..." Then offer some small concession.

He is subtly warned that he could lose his whole time investment with nothing to show for it. The words "start all over" may even scare him. You set the scene, and then you offer a way out. This is non-offensive too, if done right. You say "Neither of us..." to let them know you're both in the same situation, and it's not just you threatening them.

This is, of course just one technique of many for negotiating real estate deals. Take the time to learn several, at least.

Deal Estate: A Double Dose of Green Building in Elmhurst pt2

In this video featuring Bill Styczynski—green features include an open-loop geothermal system, which uses the temperature of belowground water to help heat or cool the house. He also installed motion detectors in the bathrooms that bring heated water to the faucets only when someone is in the... For more info check the blog at www.chicagomag.com/radar/deal-estate

Upcoming changes to the FHA approval process

Mike mcnamara, a home mortgage consultant with Koenig & Strey GMAC Real Estate and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, talks to yochicago.com about some of the changes that will take place in the FHA approval process starting Nov. 1, 2009. He also discusses some of the conventional loan options offered to buyers through Wells Fargo, including loans requiring just 5 percent down payment on new condominiums for qualified buyers.

Florida Real Estate and Inflation

A constant motto in my conversations with potential customers is that inflation is a key factor in Real Estate investment. My personal feelings have always been that inflation indexes and calculation have historically been somehow skewed and distorted and that they don't accurately reflect the reality of our currency devaluation throughout the last two decades.

A quick trip to supermarkets and gas stations and a quick look at your property taxes, property insurance bills, the price a new home, will quickly put in doubt the touted 2% or 2,5% annual inflation rates included in official economic data. All signs are that we are heading into a period of high inflation, fed by enormous hikes in oil and food prices.

Real estate is a unique, valuable and tangible asset, which is not always the case with stock market shares, bonds, and other paper investments. World's population is constantly growing; the amount of available land and recourses is not. Unlike a dollar in the bank, its actual value will not shrink with inflation. Real estate will always be needed for residence, commercial, farming and industrial use.

My opinion has always been that, if we follow certain criteria and reasonable principles when acquiring real estate, it will always be, on the long term, the best investment we've ever made. In Florida, this is especially true, since we are one of the fastest growing states in the US, and we are due for a continued migration from of baby boomers from Northern states, Latin Americans, and Europeans. The very high inventory of condos and homes available will be eventually absorbed - and faster than most of us realize. After all, a couple of years of low construction would be enough.

The newspapers, on July 17th, 2008 were talking of a last month inflation percentage in the vicinity of 1% or more. Is that scary? Even though they clarify that it's due to fuel and foods only, while in other items such as clothing, it was actually negative, I am afraid that, in the longer term, food and fuel will reflect on all other components. Not only transportation, heating, energy are affected by fuel prices.

Practically every other item will surely feel the pressure and eventually ride the inflation wave.
It's a fact that once inflation takes off, it is self-feeding and hard to contain. Not that I want to be a fear monger, but I have seen this happen in the past and I have seen banks paying 18% interests on Certificates of deposit!

It is true that inflation can be a blessing for many mortgage borrowers, when their interests are at a fixed rate. Imagine paying during 30 years a mortgage at 6%, when inflation could be in the range of 10 or 15% and new buyers could be paying an 18% fixed rate! Impossible? Not really, it has already happened not so long ago.

That's what, sooner than most believe, real estate is due for a strong recovery. And you better not be too late!

Disneyland Tour - 5 Disneyland Tours to Make Your Disneyland Vacation More Interesting

No Disneyland vacation should be considered complete without a Disneyland tour. This is especially true if it's your first time at Disneyland.

Currently you have five different tours to choose from and you have to have your admission to Disneyland park paid in order to go on any of them. It's also a good idea to make reservations in advance for the tours you want to take.

The Welcome to Disneyland Tour

The Welcome to Disneyland Tour is great for first timers. It cost only $25 per person and comes with a lot of benefits such as priority seating at one of the stage shows, priority seating at one of the restaurants, instructions on how to use FastPass plus two bonus FastPass tickets, tips and suggestions for getting the most from your Disneyland vacation, and more.

Disneyland's Discover the Magic Tour

Disneyland's Discover the Magic Tour is probably the most popular tour. On it you'll be looking for clues along with Disneyland characters in your hunt for treasure. You'll be outsmarting the Disney bad guys and living out any Disneyland fantasy you might have had. This tour comes with lunch and an exclusive gift that's only available on the tour.

The Discover the Magic Tour

The Discover the Magic Tour is a three-hour tour. There's a two-ticket minimum. The first two tickets cost $49 each and every additional ticket will cost $39. It's geared towards 5 - 9 year olds and adults.

The VIP Tour

The VIP Tour is approximately four hours and cost $75 per hour per party of up to 10 people. You should book the VIP Tour well in advance or you'll be charged an additional $20. It's not recommended for children. It's designed for people who would like to know more of Disneyland's history and have a deep rooted interest in Disney.

A Walk in Walt's Footsteps

A Walk in Walt's Footsteps is also geared towards adults. It concentrates on the vision of Walt Disney and is filled with trivia about the park along with its history. It's a bit over three hours long, costs $49 per person, and features a peek at the exclusive Club 33.

A Hamptonesque home in Winnetka, Part 3

Developer Michael Hughes shows us around the lower level of this newly-built home in Winnetka, priced at $3349900. The sheer attention to detail in a Hughes-built home has to be seen to be understood. In this video Hughes talks a bit about his approach to building. We're joined by Linda Martin of Coldwell Banker's Winnetka North office.

Relocating? America's Top Ten Most Livable Cities

Each year, Money magazine rates hundreds of American cities in order to help folks who may be yearning to move be able to find the best new place to settle. The magazine compiles statistics on various factors, such as housing affordability, job growth, commute time, schools, weather, access to health care, leisure pursuit possibilities, crime rate, and quality of life, and then publishes its findings once a year.

For the year 2006, the overall winner was Fort Collins, Colorado, followed by Naperville, Illinois, and Sugar Land, Texas. Money magazine was especially impressed by the many parks in Fort Collins, including some sixty miles of biking and hiking trails in a town of 128,000 people located some 5,000 feet up in the Rocky Mountains. There are plenty of jobs in Fort Collins, too, with giant companies like HP, Eastman Kodak, and Agilent Technologies maintaining a large presence in town. Fort Collins is also the home of Colorado St. University and Poudre Valley Hospital, which provide 10,000 more jobs between them.

Rounding out the rest of the top ten most livable American towns were: Columbia/Ellicott City, Maryland; Cary, North Carolina; Overland Park, Kansas; Scottsdale, Arizona; Boise, Idaho; Fairfield, Connecticut; and Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

Money magazine also rates the country's largest cities annually, as well, and publishes a separate list of America's top ten most livable big cities. This year's winner was Colorado Springs, Colorado, making it a clean sweep for the Centennial State, although Colorado Springs was the second smallest city on the list in population, at 369,800. Coming in second was Austin, Texas (690,300), followed by Mesa, Arizona (442,800).

The top ten list of big cities was rounded out by Raleigh, North Carolina (341,500); San Diego, California (1,255,500); Virginia Beach, Virginia (438,400); Omaha, Nebraska (414,500); Wichita, Kansas (354,900); and New York, New York (8,143,200).

Since many people are concerned about crime, Money ranked cities according to crime rates, and the safest city in America turned out to be Wayne, New Jersey, followed by a pair of Connecticut towns, Fairfield and Greenwich. Two Nevada towns, Paradise and Sunrise Manor, were next, and the rest of the top ten was comprised of another Connecticut town (Manchester, 7th); and four more New Jersey cities (East Brunswick, 6th; Cherry Hill, 8th, Edison, 9th, and Hamilton, 10th).

If you're single and yearn to live in a city with lots of other single people, Money magazine's data suggests moving to Bloomington, Indiana, where 58.2% of the population is unattached. There were nine other American towns in which more than half the residents were single, including New Brunswick, New Jersey (54.6%); College Station, Texas (54.3%); Ames (52.5%) and Iowa City (52%), Iowa; Cambridge (52%), Somerville (51.3%), and Boston (50.4%), Massachusetts; Berkeley, California (50.3%); and Champaign, Illinois (50.2%).

If you're thinking about relocating, there are many factors to consider. Explore your options and make your own list of priorities.

Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

1188 Onyx Eagle's Landing Normal $177,900

Created on February 2, 2010 using flipshare.

Hoffman Estates Canterbury Fields Short Sale Townhouse

www.tourfactory.com For more information, contact: I SOLD 44 HOMES IN 2009 TEL 773-987-8224 Michael Sorensen - REMAX CITY Short Sale 6073 Canterbury Lane Hoffman Estates IL 60192 Canterbury Fields Subdivision Hoffman Estates Real Estate Listings Short Sale Hoffman Estates Illinois Homes For Sale MLS Hoffman Estates Townhouses Short Sales. 6073 Canterbury Lane, Canterbury Fields, Hoffman Estates IL. SHORT SALE PROCESS INITIATED BUT THE BUYER WENT ELSEWHERE. SPACIOUS END-UNIT OPEN FLOOR PLAN & FEATURES FORMAL 2-STORY LIV. RM AND DIN. RM. GORGEOUS HARDWOOD FLOORS THRU-OUT ENTIRE HOME. FANTASTIC KITCHEN INCLUDES 42' CHERRY CABINETS, SLIDERS TO BACKYARD & OPENS TO FAMILY RM W/ FIREPLACE. MASTER BR STE INCLUDES WALK-IN CLOSET & BATH W/ SEPARATE TUB & SHOWER. 2ND FLR LOFT. FULL BASEMENT. SHORT SALE HOFFMAN ESTATES SCHAUMBURG SHORT SALE HOMES

First Time Home Buyers Can Receive $7,500 Tax Credit on Their Home Purchase

At the end of July 2008, President Bush signed a bill into law (H.R.3221) that will give thousands of first time home buyers nationwide a check for $7,500.00. This bill is clearly an effort to help the housing market and to stimulate the economy. Although this part of the bill was buried amongst a myriad of other items, this is probably the most affective economic stimulus Congress has passed and it will help real people who work save real money. There are many details and as they say, the devil is in the details but most will be delighted with the way this program works.

Many first time home buyers do a scramble when it comes to getting a down payment or even paying for moving expenses. This is real money the government will give you if you are a first time home buyer between April 9, 2008 and July 1, 2009. A first time home buyer is defined as a home buyer who has not owned a home in the previous three years. This is sensational. Currently housing values are depressed and now is a good time to get great values on real estate. There are many exceptional values on the marketplace today nationwide. If a family decides now to buy their first home now it might be a life changing event for their good. With the expected appreciation of housing over the next ten years the $7,500 they receive can continue to grow for years to come.

The passage of a bill this wide sweeping to help first time home buyers nationwide is unprecedented. Of course, it's temporary and the first time home buyer must qualify for the $7,500.00 and qualify for the mortgage. Are there many restrictions on this program? You betcha. The best way to find out if you qualify is to contact an experienced mortgage expert. An experienced mortgage expert can help you from the very beginning of your transaction to when you are handed the keys to your new home. The first step for those wanting to take advantage of this credit need to contact an experienced mortgage expert now.

Fire Drink

How to stay warm in Chicago

Pilsen

Check out the eye-popping mural and "outsider" art here-- and then go check out the real thing in this emerging Latino neighborhood.turnhere, Inc., produces Internet video for a variety of businesses across the globe including media, real estate, small businesses, travel and financial services. Our 2000 filmmakers shoot and produce Internet videos in more than 50 countries that emotionally engage viewers with compelling, authentic stories. With deep backgrounds in media and video production, our in-house team of producers work with our partners on creative treatments and leverage the talent of our filmmaking network. We help our partners distribute their videos across the Web to a variety of partners including Google, Yahoo!, AOL and MSN. Founded in 2005, the company is privately-held and based in Emeryville, California. www.turnhere.com

Appartamento nel centro storico di Foligno

Augmented Reality audience application Google Android + Layar

EN: This video illustrates how you can get the real estate price of each single building in Paris, simply by using the camera of your mobile phone (Google Android HTC Magic), thanks to an augmented reality application powered by Layar technology. FR: Cette vidéo illustre comment il est possible d'obtenir le prix du m2 de chaque immeuble de Paris, grâce à la caméra de votre téléphone portable et une application de réalité augmentée (grâce à la technologie Layar).

NICOLA COLLINI BALLA AL COYOTE UGLY

Nicola Collini improvvisa il ballo dell'estate 2007...è pazzo!!!!

Main Level Master Bedroom

www.tourfactory.com For more information contact: Ginny Opsahl 847-732-6072 REMAX AT HOME Great Buy! Master bedroom is on the first floor with full bath and spacious loft has 1 / 2 bathrooms, toilets, roof! Loft is a bed, office, den! Wood floors in living room and dining room! Kitchen! Refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher only two years! Home backs open space! Great North Hoffman location close to shopping, Metra, I90, and great schools!

Heatherstone, Beach Park, Camrbidge Homes

A tour of Heatherstone in Beach Park, IL. Built houses in Cambridge.