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The worst scenario is the utilization of properties for
anti-social and objectionable purposes. Such properties lose
their utilitarian value due to the tarnished status of their
past, Instances of fraud and forgeries are a usual ailment in
tenancy relations. Estate agents create a nuisance in the world
of rental housing, in achieving their sole objective of earning
commission from both tenant and owner, they tamper documents,
prepare fake document, misinform parties about property
particulars etc. Another bone of contention is the annual
increment in rents. Though the gravity of these issues faced by
the rental housing sector prevail yet it contains prospective
for resolutions and remedies to overcome these predicaments in
order to provide people unable to afford buying houses so that
one of their basic needs to survive can be obtained to the
optimal level.

Regards
Real Estate Agent

Dear Agents

Rising building costs are a factor in the increase in home
prices due to the demand in markets besides the United States,
such as China. By implanting green building techniques such as
using locally obtained building materials and other renewable
resources, capital costs can possible be decreased and home
prices do not increase.

As real estate professionals it is our ethical duty to
encourage the building and marketing of ‘green homes’.
Recently, the Portland, Oregon Regional Multiple Listing
Service added the ability to search for homes based on green
certifications and specific aspects the home has that make it
green, such as the features discussed above.

Everyone in the real estate industry needs to work together to
promote green building. Appraisers can note the value in the
home based on the full-life circle of the home and the savings
in monthly energy and maintenance costs. If lenders begin
considering not only PITI (principle, interest, taxes, and
insurance) as monthly costs of home ownership but also EM
(energy and maintenance costs), buyers may be able to afford
more home based on their monthly savings.

Regards
Real Estate Agents

Dear Agents

Commercial Real Estate Projects are, in many respects, the same as residential real estate investments except for their size. A commercial develpoment may well be many times larger in scale and thus require much more money. In this article we examine three of the most significant non-financial issues that an investor should consider before investing in a commercial real estate deal.

1) Selection of tenants

Given that most real estate investors are buying property to generate cash flow and generate profit from asset appreciation some time looking at the tenant mix of a commercial building can determine the potential profitability of a project.
Seeking creditworthy tenants may well assist in gaining finance on good terms from potential lenders - many lenders will make an offer that is based upon the credit rating of the larget tenant. So, finding a project with creditworthy tenants - or, at least, the expectation of finding them is a priority. Analysis of the tenant mix with a view to optimising it is an important part of the buying process.

2) Property Zoning

Success in real estate investment has much to do with land zoning. If zoning should change during redevelopment of a property then there will be significant additional costs associated with changing the use of the property to meet the new regulations. Due diligence is the key here. Hire a real estate attorney to check on the property to find out if there is a likelihood of re-zoning and other legal issues. Use the attorney to check that, for example, all necessary accesses are available and that rights of way have been established and any development will not cause rights of way conflicts.

3) Check Utilities

A thorough inspection of all utilities and their condition is mandatory. Reinstalling electrical systems and piping can be very costly and any defect should be factored into the offer price. In the worst cases, where pipes and wires are emebedded in walls, ceilings and underfloors the cost of renovation may make a project non-viable without complete demolition.

So, spend some time with an appropriate legal advisor, check and optimise the tenant mix and ensure that utilities are in serviceable condition. Although these factors may not be an immediate part of the financial considerations they should be as shortcomings in due diligence can prove expensive and, of course, issues uncovered should be reflected in the purchase price of the property.

[b]Regards
Real Estate Agent [/b]

My life is busy. Being a realtor in a large and busy city means
that I have little time to relax and enjoy life outside of work.
I know that many, many professionals know what I'm talking
about. So another great thing about living in apartments is
that it is such a low-maintenance place to live. I, for one, do
not have enough time in my weeks to take care of the immense
amount of upkeep that living in a home requires. So apartments
are perfect for me because there is little to no maintenance to
be handled in this kind of living. So if you're a busy
professional or family that wants to spend life on things other
than doing maintenance to a yard, then you should really
consider living in apartments.

Another great benefit of living in apartments is that you have
the freedom to get up and move at any time. So if you need a
place to live for a few months or for just a few years, then
you should consider apartment living over buying a house.

[EDITED BY MODERATOR: Material from http://www.articlehub.com/Business/Real_Estate/The-Benefits-Of-Living-In-Apartments.html ]

Regards
Real Estate Agent

Dear All

One of my favorite real estate investing stories is about a man in California who used to just send out offers on a hundred MLS listings at a time. He never looked at the properties. He just offered 25% less than the asking price on each one, trusting that the listing agents were pricing these homes somewhere near the actual value, and so assured that he had a good deal if the seller accepted.

Sometimes a seller would accept his lowball offer. This happens more often when you make hundreds of offers instead of just a few. Of course, he always included an "inspection and approval" clause in the offer. This is common, and it meant that if the home had real problems, he could back out of the deal later without forfeiting his deposit. In the meantime, he very efficiently found the truly motivated sellers.

My favorite part about this story, apart from it being true, is that it demonstrates that success in real estate investing, as in life, is often just a "numbers" game. Try enough times, and you are more likely to succeed.

The story also demonstrates that with a good clause or two in the contract, you don't have to worry about making an offer before you see a property. This is true with buy investment property or your next home. If you make the offer in the right way, and the property it isn't everything the seller says it is, you can reject the deal with little or no loss. However, why wouldn't you want to look at the property?

[EDITED BY MODERATOR - Post Courtesy of http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/8-10-2006-105090.asp ]

Regards
Real Estate Agent