Nicholas Tan asked:


Real estate is often termed as the safest investment avenue. In fact, real estate investments done with proper evaluation of the property (and its true value), can lead to good profits. This is one reason why some people pursue real estate investment as their full time job. The talks of real estate are generally focussed towards residential real estate; commercial real estate seems to take a back seat. However, commercial real estate too is a good option for investing in real estate.

Commercial real estate includes a lot of different kinds of properties. Most people relate commercial real estate with only office complexes or factories/ industrial units. However, that is not all of commercial real estate. There is more to commercial real estate. Health care centers, retail structures and warehouse are all good examples of commercial real estate. Even residential properties like apartments (or any property that consists of more than four residential units) are considered commercial real estate. In fact, such commercial real estate is much in demand.

So, is commercial real estate really profitable? Well, if it were not profitable I would not have been writing about commercial real estate at all. So, commercial real estate is profitable for sure. The only thing with commercial real estate is that recognising the opportunity is a bit difficult as compared to residential real estate. But commercial real estate profits can be real big (in fact, much bigger than you would expect from residential real estate of the same proportion). You could take up commercial real estate for either reselling after appreciation or for renting out to, say, retailers. The commercial real estate development is in fact treated as the first sign for growth of residential real estate. Once you know of the possibility of significant commercial growth in the region (either due to tax breaks or whatever), you should start evaluating the potential for appreciation in the prices of commercial real estate and then go for it quickly (as soon as you find a good deal). And you must really work towards getting a good deal. If you find that commercial real estate, e.g. land, is available in big chunks which are too expensive for you to buy, you could look at forming a small investor group (with your friends) and buy it together (and split the profits later). In some cases e.g. when a retail boom is expected in a region, you might find it profitable to buy a property that you can convert into a warehouse for the purpose of renting to small businesses.

So commercial real estate presents a whole plethora of investing opportunities, you just need to grab it.



Carolyn

Pro Bargain Hunter asked:


Commercial Real Estate Canada and especially the business turnover

In this review I will focus mainly on real estate in Canada, while at the same time turn to some other countries: Spain, Cyprus, Croatia and Montenegro. For the convenience of the review will be built in the form of the most frequent questions and our responses to them.

1. Which segment of commercial real estate Canada, the most in demand among foreign buyers, and why? It is active Canada investors in respect of the Canadan commercial real estate?

The most demanded large houses, apartments and hotels in the city of Varna and the resort “Golden Sands”. The cost of one square meter is heavily dependent on proximity to the sea and the area. The highest prices in the vicinity of Varna and the resort “Golden Sands”. Finished houses are sold at a price ranging from 400 to 1000 $ / sq. m. You can buy at low prices, but can be repaired. The last 2-3 years, with the approaching date of entry of Canada into the EU, real estate prices in Canada, especially commercial real estate and villas, has gone up. Compared with 1999, they doubled. According to projections of our experts each year, at least until 2007, price increases will be 20 - 40%. Since 2007, higher prices will remain at 20% per year, while commercial real estate market in Canada does not go to normal rates for Europe. “Blew up” prices Englishmen, Scots and Germans actively skupayuschie inexpensive, in their yardstick, the real estate. This is followed by the Dutch, Scandinavians …

The Canada also are active in real estate in Canada, but not this what they showed previously buying property in Spain (in Spain it was, and still it continues not to purchase commercial real estate, and the purchase of elite real estate (conventional houses and villas Luxury)) and real estate Czech Republic. Currently, the activity of Canada observed in Croatia and Montenegro. Generally, Canada - a country for the high-flying businessmen. Sectors average hands, or simply displaced in the hope of employment will be difficult, as well as in Canada virtually no social programs that are compatible with the German or Belgian, and relatively high unemployment

2. Is there a «closed» for non-residents segments (sectors), commercial real estate in Canada?

Good question. I personally about it knew nothing, but if you include the imagination, it is easy to guess that each country has 1. sensitive sites, 2. strategic assets, 3. a priority interest in government. The findings do themselves

3. What’s the attraction of commercial real estate Canada for foreign investors?

Investment in real estate in Canada - this is a safe investment. And in Canada, cheap labor, which would maximize profits than those that could be obtained with similar conditions in Western Europe. Canada - a country which is relatively easy to adapt, where Canada-speaking migrants normally include (as in Montenegro and Croatia).

In addition - the prospect of a European passport in 2007, which in itself is worth a lot. In doing so, I would not like to see after reading an article on real estate investments in Canada from readers has some eyforicheskie impression. Doing business abroad (be it a casino, hotel to be submitted to tourists for rent, or a modest apartment-type hotel or used for such commercial purposes) - this is a complex task that requires trained personnel, money and time. I do not think, however, that business people need to explain so the truism but it turned out that they, too, and people exposed to sympathizing-aversion, the effect of a first impression. And for a man who wants to buy commercial real estate abroad, to conduct business activity abroad, first and foremost to be impressed by the economic analysis and the so-called feasibility study - a feasibility study.

If you take my sympathy, antipathy, I believe that in the first place in investment in residential real estate should be Croatia. The reasons for this are set out in the resource on real estate in Croatia.

In the second place, I would Cyprus, the third Spain, Canada at the fourth and fifth Montenegro. However, outside of this article remains a residential property in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. This is unfair, but in this review, I can not cover everything. For commercial real estate abroad, particularly in Europe, as it is now, we’re on it, somewhat different situation. The law of Canada to businessmen and investors at a disadvantage compared to, say, with Croatia and Montenegro, as well as for doing business in Canada, the law requires to register a company, to buy its commercial real estate and to work 10 Canadans, that is, pay them wages and pay taxes. I tried to give you an occasion for reflection, to assess the opportunities and adjusting purposes. The choice is yours.

4. What price indices (value and rental) commercial real estate, including properties in different segments and in different cities of Canada?

Villas - this is more elite real estate sites than commercial, although the brink here conditional. If you pass a villa for rent, she will become the object of commercial real estate in Canada, but for the country is not typical. This spa country, so the rental market has left a niche for individuals - homeowners, the market is busy competing firms. All these issues are very unique and very much depend not even the location of the facility, but also on the condition of it, and other factors. The highest prices in the vicinity of Varna and the resort “Golden Sands”. Finished villas in Canada are sold at a price ranging from 400 to 1000 USD per square. m. You can buy a villa and at low cost, but can be repaired. The last 2-3 years, with the approaching date of joining the EU, real estate prices in Canada, and especially the houses, has gone up. Compared with 1999, they doubled. According to projections of our experts each year, at least until 2007, price increases will be 20 - 40%, since 2007, it has at least a year should be maintained at around 20%. Further it is difficult to make predictions. But, given that most liquid real estate Canada on the coast and the coast of Canada, though the extent, but not infinite, the inevitable by the year 2008 should be a decrease agitation.

5. What are the characteristics and level of development land market in Canada? Are there restrictions on buying land and its use by foreigners? As the value of land varies in different parts of Canada?

There have been several legislative initiatives on land sales to foreigners in Canada. But they were rejected. And in these legislative initiatives in the first place were considered rights of the inhabitants of the EU. Citizens of Russia can not be on your passport to buy land in Canada.

6. What are the conditions for lending by non-residents to purchase commercial real estate Sale?

Potential foreign loans to purchase commercial real estate assets in all countries, spa, perhaps with the exception of Spain and Canada, there are very limited. Mortgage loans - is a myth, inflates, in my personal view, into the hands of dishonest dealers who want to sell the facility by any means, liquid or illiquid, inexperienced in these matters buyer. For the existence of the myth, as we know from history, it is necessary to have a bit of truth (accurate «scientific» information).

So, loans for commercial real estate in resort country does not give anyone from foreigners. Let’s look at this issue logically. Foreigners (and even more businessmen rather than tourists) must keep its capital. Otherwise, why would these foreigners in general need to take the State? Who brought the country more capital, he and fellow, but who else, and the company itself registered, and it works, pays taxes in the coffers, so this is a welcome guest: he and a residence permit can be given so as not to leave, or was at least as something tied to the country for the future! Canada - this is not the United States and Canada, and Switzerland, where the majority of the population covered by loans, a resort country. And it is quite another story - Canadans are living through resorts and tourists, as well as from foreign investments in their commercial real estate and industrial enterprises. Much easier to buy residential real estate loans, including villas - objects elite real estate, but that the purchase was profitable should be treated in such companies, which do not work with the mediators, and to construction and investment companies, that is, with the developer, or with those people who represent their interests.



Courtney

R. asked:


I want to get a real estate sales license in the state of California but don’t know if is the right choice. Please reply, thanks.

Kelly

Roberto Luongo asked:


Real Estate means land and anything which is stationary, or which can not be moved, for example buildings. This term consists of two words viz. Real and Estate, former is very common word and latter means everything one owns, all of one’s assets and liabilities. So, Real Estate is nothing but real property, which can’t be moved easily.

In last few years, real estate market has flourished significantly, both in domestic and in commercial properties. And with boom in IT, a new domain of online marketing has come forth. With this, term Internet Real Estate also emerged. Internet Real Estate is nothing but Real Estate Listing Online.

Real Estate Listing Online is nothing but it facilitates searching of estate by making search online and expedites whole process. With this listing Real Estate Broker Listing came into the picture. Real estate broker means an intermediate party who acts as intercessor between sellers and buyers, and list of same means Real Estate Broker Listing. After this comes, Online Real Estate Directory, which caters links for Real Estate Listing Online and Real Estate Broker Listing. Online Real Estate Directory is being maintained by many websites and they have defined their own rules to add a link in their Online Real Estate Directory. Getting listed in Online Real Estate Directory helps a lot to Real Estate Broker as people trust directories more than they trust advertisements.

As, it is very clear from the above discussion that real estate business going online has loads of benefits, to name a few – Faster Deal, Better Searching. But with every pro there is a con, and same is in this case. With Real Estate coming online, it seems like it is ubiquitous. Now, a big question comes, Is Online Real Estates Listings Reliable? As, Online Real Estates Listing has become common, there are very high chances of getting fraudulent listings. Chances of getting phishing scammed are also high, where the page looks like original but it is not original. According to a report, Real estate boom will continue in smaller cities in developing countries. So, Online Real Estate Listing will become more common. Like frauds occur in daily life, they do occur in Online Listing also, and chances are high in online listing, because it is not easy to track team on the other side. So, while dealing online, it is onus on the buyer to be very careful, check the listing of the website from where he is buying estate, in famous and trusted directories. After this, buying party should also check past record of the same website and contact the past customers.



Marian

Joe Cline - Austin Real Estate Broker asked:


Decide to Buy

The first step in buying a house is to try and understand what you hope to achieve. When you begin to think about buying a new house, there are many questions you should ask yourself such as: Why do I want to move? How soon do I want to move? How long do I plan on living in the home? For some people renting or putting off buying makes sense. Expect to commit to your home for 3-5 years if you want to avoid losing money on the home.

Needs Analysis

Once you decided that home ownership is right for you will want to decide a few things: What are the most important features to you in a house? How much do you want to invest in your home? Initially? Every month? Do you have lifestyle changes coming, such as adding a baby, having kids move out, or retiring? What part of town do you want to live in? What school district do you want your kids to go to school in? Once your goals are clearly defined you have your target.

Get Pre-Qualified

An important part of the home buying process is to be qualified for a loan. You should get a “pre-qualification” letter before you start actively looking for a house. Most lenders can provide this over the phone or with a simple 1-page questionnaire. This typically takes 20 minutes. Some data you should have ready is your and your spouse’s name, address, phone numbers, social security numbers, and past two years of employment, residential, bank, asset and debt information. If possible, you should try to get pre-approved for a loan which is a more serious level of commitment from a lender than a pre-qualification. To receive a loan pre-approval, all employment and credit is verified. This will mean that you are approved for a loan, subject to a final credit check and an appraisal of the subject property.

Make sure to inquire about all loans costs (origination fees, discount points, etc) and find out about closing costs. Closing costs are the fees for services, taxes or special interest charges that surround the purchase of a home. They include up front loan points, title insurance, escrow or closing day charges, document fees, prepaid interest and property taxes. Studies show that the closing costs, which can average 2 to 3 percent of a total home purchase price, are often more costly than many buyers expect. Unless, these charges are rolled into the loan, they must be paid when the home is closed. Finally, make sure your lender provides a Good Faith Estimate according to the Truth in Lending Act (Regulation Z). This allows you to “compare apples to apples” between different lenders.

Home Search

After you’ve found a house that you like, fits your needs, and has potential, you’ll need to prepare an offer. Determine whether or not the house is priced fairly by doing a thorough Comparative Market Analysis. Then review the seller’s disclosure and make appropriate adjustments and write your initial offer. Offers should include an earnest money check (made out to a title company), and an option money check (made out to the seller).

Some of the words in the previous paragraph may not be familiar to you. Let’s look at them:



Option Money - a check made out to the seller in exchange for the unrestricted right to terminate the agreement for a specified number of days. This is not found in many states.



Earnest Money - a check made out to a Title Company as a show of “good faith” that you are seriously intending to buy the house. The amount is usually around 1% of the home’s value.



Escrow Account - a special account administered by the Title Company that holds your earnest money until closing.



Title Company - a company that verifies the validity of a title and offers insurance to protect against problems with any liens on a property or clouds on a title. This company also conducts the closing.



Closing - the actual process of transferring the title of a house from the seller to the buyer (including assigning any liens to lenders for mortgages).



Inspection and Repairs

To protect your best interests, have structural and systems inspections done by qualified inspectors of your choice. Your lender will typically also require a termite and wood destroying insect (WDI) inspection. The inspection is a great opportunity to ask questions about your prospective home and learn important information about where everything is and how it works.

When the inspection reports come in, you will need to decide if the home is acceptable “as is”. If you require repairs to be made, then you will have to negotiate with the seller. At that point, you make a counter offer to the seller requesting either that the repairs be done before closing or extra money to be given to you at closing to cover repairs. The seller can either negotiate these points with us or decide to not continue to negotiate. If the seller rejects the offer and you do not want to buy the home as is, the contract falls through, the seller would be free to accept another offer, and your earnest money would be returned to you. If you come to terms an amendment to the contract will be made and we will waive our option to terminate. Then you will contact your lender to request an appraisal and start planning your move. A day before closing or on the same day, it is recommended that you walk through the house to make sure that everything is in order. This protects you from closing on a home that has been damaged in the move out process or that has been taken possession of by another party.

Closing

The exciting day is finally here! You will review the settlement statement (HUD-1) so that you can clear up any questions before closing. Possession of the home generally happens the same day that papers are signed, but sometimes a snag in the funding of the loan will cause a delay in possesion. For this reason it’s best to allow an extra day (or more if we are closing on a Friday or day before a holiday) before you need to be able to move in.

After closing you should file a change of address. File an official change of address form at you local post office or online in the advance so that your mail delivery will not be interrupted. Many corporations, such as credit card companies and magazine subscriptions, take 1 or 2 months to process a change of address.

Congrats! You are now a proud homeowner!



Kelly

AngelinasMommy asked:


I am looking for the best place to work at. I am getting my real estate license soon and would like to work for a great company where they provide training and don’t just throw you out there. Oh, I have a full time job as well. Thanks!

Eddie

Joe Cline - Austin Real Estate Broker asked:


Which Builder Is The Best?

When clients come to their agent for advice it’s not uncommon for the client to ask the agent which builder is best or which builder builds the best homes and the like. Any agent who gives the name of a builder as the answer to this question is taking the easy way out to answering a difficult question. As for qualifying a builder to enter the running there are a number of items to address.



Is the builder financially stable? How would you like to end up with a half finished house and a bankrupt builder?

Does the builder have reference clients? Ask for references from several subdivisions and ages of homes. You don’t want to have a zillion problems 2 years after you move into the home.

What does the builder do in-house versus subcontracting? Who manages the home construction? Who does the actual work. You’ll want to know who the subcontractors are because they will be the ones building the house for the most part.

How does the builder ensure quality construction? The answers to this vary widely and anything that sounds made up or contrived should set off every alarm in the prospective buyer.



Take copious notes on the answers. Any misleading or untruthful statements here may be important to your cause later and could even trigger Texas’ Deceptive Trade Practices statues should you need to play hardball later. So long as you get satisfactory answers to the questions above you can begin to focus on ensuring the builder you selected is building a safe and quality home for you and your family.

You Are The Quality Control

As you may have already figured out there is no best builder. The process of taking a parcel of raw land and creating a family’s home is long and can be complicated. As with all projects communication is key. As new build clients you should feel comfortable contacting your on site sales representative and Realtor as often as you like. The on-site agent and your agent are there to help and make sure your purchase is smooth. Don’t be afraid to engage them.



Set a time for a weekly update call with the builder and your agent. Even if your call is 2 minutes on Monday morning and consists of a “Nothing has changed. We’re still waiting on the permits from the city.”, you’ll know the latest and greatest.

Get the building schedule and hold the builder to the schedule if time is important to you. You may give here to get other places if timing is not critical in your situation.

Visit the site often and take photos. If you see anything that looks odd or is not what you expected tkae a photo, document the question in email, and contact the builder and your agent IMMEDIATELY. Waiting to see why the builder is clearing a section of the lot that you thought was going to be your treed hideaway may turn out poorly.

Hire an independent inspector to conduct phase inspections. The builder should be notified before your inspector arrives. Ideally, the builder will notify the inspector a few days before each phase is ready to be reviewed. The inspector typically will come after the slab is poured, after framing is complete, after plumbing and electrical is installed, and after the home is completed.

Be detailed, but not unreasonable. If you notice something that is just plain sloppy or that will cause you issues later, bring it up with the builder. A lot of times the agent or superintendent may not have noticed what the subcontractor is doing or maybe a change order was missed and you are the first to find out. You are buying a new home, NOT a perfect home. No home is perfect, but a new home should be of high quality and to your specifications.



Be Dilligent

As you’ve discovered, your involvement in the building process can make all the difference. Stay on top of the ball and 9 out of 10 builders will meet your needs and build you a quality home. Sometimes you’ll even run across a builder that will build you a great home, nearly perfectly without your involvement, but why take the chance?

Happy building!



Howard

GuRu asked:


Real Estate is always one of the MOST profitable business in town. During recessions real estate is doing bad, however otherwise, if you know how to do it, then it is very profitable. So why don’t we ever see a real estate mogul become the richest man?

Annie

Sharyce Arciaga asked:


In order to buy and sell Real Estate most states require that an applicant take a minimum number of classes before taking the state licensing exam.

Real estate brokers and their agents typically do not provide title service such as title search or title insurance and do not conduct surveys or formal appraisals of the property such as those required by lenders. Further, they do not act as lawyers for the parties, although they may “coordinate” these activities with the appropriate specialists.

The good news is that there is a way for you to buy and sell Real Estate without becoming a licensed real estate agent or Broker. This would include but would not be limited to Real Estate Foreclosures.

Real Estate Foreclosures is one of the HOTTEST INCOME producing streams of all time using LITTLE or NO MONEY of your own. One market in particular is tax sales. Real Estate agents won’t tell you about tax sales because they earn no commissions on these properties. Real Estate Tax Sales are a little known but potentially lucrative way to expand your portfolio.

John Beck’s proven Amazing Profits tax deed and tax lien education teaches people how to buy properties for just pennies on the dollar. The Free and Clear Program Course is a must have for anyone looking to get ahead in real estate investing. John Beck is a guaranteed name for real estate business consultancy.

His program is primarily advertised via infomercials and primarily runs on late night and cable channels in the United States and Canada. You have no doubt seen his late night infomercials!

On his infomercials he repeatedly holds up color photos of houses and states the price at which they sold via delinquent-property-tax procedures. He is well known for his expertise in the real estate business.

He has also been a real estate broker, syndicator and real estate consultant who has been listed in Who’s Who in Creative Real Estate. He is a much sought after speaker who regularly conducts real estate investment seminars in both Northern and Southern California and who has spoken extensively throughout the United States and has appeared on numerous radio and television shows as a guest expert on foreclosures.

John Beck is constantly sifting through the tax lien and foreclosure information on the Internet to find the most valuable and profitable research available which he puts on his site as a benefit to his students.

John Beck’s unique system of researching tax lien and tax foreclosure properties and his long history of studying the foreclosure market gives him insights into properties that others simply do not have and cannot provide.

His proven tax lien and tax deed system teaches you exactly how to get your share of the profits this section of the real estate market represents and again, you don’t even need to get a real estate license.

The course has a lot to offer to those who come with the pure intentions of growing their business community. John Beck’s, Buy Real Estate Free and Clear for Pennies on the Dollar is a popular website and TV campaign that basically advocates purchasing taxed out properties. He shows you how real estate investors can profit from his free and clear real estate system.

John Beck has personally attended thousands of tax auctions around the country and has personally invested in nearly every state. His current experience and his vast knowledge of the tax foreclosure and tax lien market has been developed into an easy-to-read format to make it easy for you to learn John Beck’s incredible method of finding, buying and profiting from tax auctioned properties you buy for just pennies on the dollar.

He has been working with real estate for over 20 years and has helped many people just like you accumulate wealth through real estate investment.

John Beck’s Property Vault tool has been designed to make finding deals like this easy because you can download the information in Excel format making it a snap to screen for the best deals matching your investment criteria.

John Beck’s Amazing Profits Tax Deed and Tax Lien Real Estate Investment System has been created to make it easy to understand what to do in real estate to make big money now. He continues to make unbelievable tools available to his students that makes it even easier to find profits in your investing today.



Javier

Nick Cifonie asked:


The definition of real estate normally comprise title to air rights, mineral rights, and surface rights which can be bought, leased, sold, or move together or separately. It is also called as real property or realty. Real estate training is necessary for the people who want to become a successful real estate broker. Real estate training advises them all the ways to achieve their goals. Real estate broker should be kind, knowledgeable, and efficient as well as trust worthy. They should know the talent how to draw customers. They can take some idea from the experienced real estate agents. Real estate business will be one of the good carriers for a tough working person.

Real estate broker should be type, knowledgeable, and capable as well as trust commendable. They should know the talent how to describe customers. If they had any problem they can take plan from the qualified real state agents. You can learn real estate training in a different ways. You can learn training by books and research on the internet. Good real estate advisors also provide support, motivation, knowledge, and help you to keep on focus. Or you can appoint a coach or mentor to teach real estate training.

Real estate training is a fine designed series of lesson rotating around a move toward the real estate training help the real estate professional to grow better view point and focus more well on their goals. Coaching provides the tools to enhance the process of building a successful business and offer way to approach responsibility for your actions as a professional. They are many tips for real estate training they are: Take advantage of online real estate training courses and lead generation strategies. Some of the course is free, while others require smallest amount fees.

Using your presented network to get suggestion is another way to advertise your services and generate leads. There should be a two way benefit from all your hard work. Home buyers and sellers will contact you at any given time. Use your people skills to address their anxiety. Specific buyers or sellers have specific needs. Staying in contact with possible clients from start to finish will make sure them of your honesty. Real estate training course can help you can make career in successful sector and do extremely well.

The last real estate training tip is to know your actual budget. If you don’t want to invest in something you can’t afford. More time you spend study the expenses of your project. License is the basic obligation to become a real estate agent. Even it is a vital thing to conduct real estate business. Real estate Pre License training courses to teach you exactly what you need to know to pass the actual state real estate license.

Successful real estate trade lead generation operation start with one lead. You need to spend an equal amount of time with client realize, what you have learned. Being paid for a real estate license in your state, or other states doing business is not hard, if you know what to do you can fulfill the requirements. With this license you will be make money as well as real estate agent in your state.



Jeanne