Realty Daily

tatpigoe asked:


I’m considering joining a condo conversion firm in California, but am worried about the timing and how the business might fare given recent weakening in the housing market. Intuitively I’d think if real estate prices are dropping, fewer people will be converting into condos, so it might not be a good move for me. The guy who’s trying to hire me is saying that the condo conversion biz is market independent and is a generally strengthening trend. Does anyone out there with experience in real estate want to weigh in here? Please list your credentials as well, and i’ll give lots of points to the best, etc. Thanks.
This is in the northern california market…

Eva

Bookworm259 asked:


I’ll be graduating from college this May and I’m hoping to get into real estate development or commercial real estate. Is the commercial market currently as shaky as the residential market?

Thanks

Gladys

Xiang Z asked:


I am a new real estate investor. I am looking for a good real estate investment coach in San Francisco Bay Area. I have a real estate saleperson license and have basic real estate investment knowledge. I am looking for a good real estate investor coach who have years of success investment experience in residential and commericial. I have private funds for good deals and would like to be partnership or learn from savy investors.

Ethel

Otto Ruebsamen asked:


You may have discovered that you need a real estate club in order to make it big in the real estate business. You may have already done your research on the benefits that you gain from your membership in a real estate club. You also may have been doing your assignment in identifying your specific needs to be considered as one of the ‘big boys’ of this business.

Practical Tips in Choosing the Right Real Estate Club

All these activities lead to one important aspect of decision making; identifying the right real estate club. There are a lot of real estate clubs to choose from. You can start your search for the right real estate club by clicking on the many sites on the Web that have a comprehensive directory of real estate clubs. You may even opt to join a specific online real estate club.

When scouting for the right real estate club, it is essential you consider those clubs that are appropriate with your present circumstances and needs. However, these are not the only considerations when making your final choice.

Research on the real purpose of these listed clubs you are seriously considering. You can do this by joining in a few meetings and activities being handled by these clubs. Make sure to profile the principal personalities behind these clubs and look through their motives in organizing the real estate club. Was the club organized to synergize? Was it started by the founders mainly to sell their products? Learn more about the members of the club and their reasons for joining. Determine if these motivations jive with your own goals in joining a real estate club.

There are other questions that need accurate and frank answers. You have to validate if the real estate club exists mainly for networking or education. Confirm whether the club is organized as a non-profit or profit organization. Both may be legitimate, but it is essential that you know what you may run into when you join a club. Determine if the club requires members to buy books and force you to pay for seminars which you are not interested in.

It is also important to validate the specific type of real estate sector the group is interested in. It might not be the same sector that you are making your investment. Study the roster of members of the real estate club. Validate how many are legitimate and actual real estate investors. This is essential if you want to get some important tips from seasoned real estate investors.

It is also wise to know the track records of the members of the real estate club. Differentiate the successful real estate investors and weigh your decision carefully. It would be nice to be in the league of successful real estate investors. Hopefully, their winning ways might rub-off to you.

Finally, determine the cost involved in joining the club. This should include the membership fee and other dues that are paid by regular members of a real estate club. Real estate investment is a very tricky business. It is essential that you learn the ropes of the trade as fast as possible and with fewer mistakes. Joining real estate clubs is one of the more effective ways to go in this kind of business venture.



Lisa

Mark G. Estates asked:


A lot of people these days are preaching about the buying and holding method of gaining wealth with real estate. There indeed may come a time in your life or business when you’ll want to hang on to a piece of property, although you’ll only be interested in keeping certain types of property. If you’re just starting out, flipping a house may be an ideal way to get started.

Basically, there are three ways that you can flip a house, although each one has its own terms, motivation, and type of property. The first method is known as retailing. What this means, is that you buy a house in bad shape, do the repairs to fix it up, then turn around and sell it. There are a variety of houses in need of repairs out there, and several ways that you can quickly flip a house to net profit. All you need to know are the techniques that will get you the most money in the least amount of time.

The second way you can flip a house is though wholesaling. Wholesaling involves finding a home for sale then flipping it to an investor for a fast, yet small profit. To do this, you’ll need to know the real estate investors in your area, the types of homes that flip the best, and how to fund your property so you can flip it to them. If you live in a big area or a city, you’ll find that using the wholesaling method of flipping houses is actually easier to accomplish.

The third way to flip a house is by assigning the purchase. Using this method, you’ll commit to buy the house. Instead of closing the deal yourself, you’ll assign it to a real estate investor - of course for a small fee. The investor will take the contract over and close the purchase themselves - flipping the house. This can be very profitable, especially if you invest in the right home. You don’t need to have your contract worded any special way to be legal, although you will need to determine the assignment fee.

If you’re looking to break into the real estate market and make big bucks, you’ll need to learn all about flipping houses. Flipping houses is very profitable, especially once you have learned the basics. The first and third methods are the best, although they will both take quite a bit of work on your part. Restoring homes isn’t easy, and you’ll need to have a team qualified to handle any repairs. Assigning the purchase may be difficult when you first start out, although it will get easier with time. If you stay at it and do your best to make a profit - you’ll be an expert at flipping homes in no time at all.



Gilbert

Curious In California asked:


I’ve always thought that a real estate investor just bought houses, fixed ‘em up, and sold them for more money or something of that sort.

Am I completely off the mark?

Susan

Real Estate Advisor asked:


One of the original counties of California, San Diego County is named in honor of the Franciscan St. Didacus of Alcala, known in Spanish as San Diego de Alcala de Henares. Located in the far southwest, bordering Mexico, it is the third largest County by population in the State of California.

Sun, sand and surf is a way of life with people in San Diego. The county is blessed with year round good weather making it a favorite with first time visitors as well as residents. No wonder then San Diego County is a preferred choice of people looking for prime real estate. The entire County is known for its natural splendor, and whether it is the North County area, Central San Diego, East County, or the South Bay, real estate is buzzing throughout San Diego County.

Although most of the communities make for great real estate, each one of them has a distinct identity of its own. Coronado, located across the bay from downtown San Diego, for instance, is a world famous tourist destination offering a peaceful life to its residents. La Jolla, located 15 minutes from San Diego offers up beachside market comforts with fabulous restaurants, art galleries, museums and the famous Scripps Institute of Technology. The list goes on and on.

Whether you are buying, selling or renting property in San Diego County, your choices are plenty. It all depends on what kind of property you are looking to buy or sell. A simple online search can yield you great results with virtually thousands of properties up for sale.

When buying or selling a home, you should know that there are a variety of factors that influence a home’s price. Perhaps the largest contributor is the price of similar homes in the same community. Other factors include a home’s proximity to the ocean, the quality of schools, crime statistics, availability of local hospitals, proximity to police stations, availability of recreational facilities, etc.

Be sure to find a knowledgeable Realtor who can guide you throughout the home buying and home selling process. A good agent will assist you with locating a home that meets your needs, negotiating a good price, and will guide you through the home loan, escrow and closing processes.



Donald

Bob Schwartz, CRS,GRI, San Diego California real estate broker asked:


It seems that the decision makers running the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac government refinance programs did not learn anything from the current, and continuing, housing bust.  If bad loans got us into the current mess, why do Fannie and Freddie think that more bad loans will get us out?  In a recent press release it was announced that the two government-owned agencies will now refinance loans up to 125% of the current home’s value!

Does this spell trouble for the FHA home loans? All facts from the mortgage industry and government point to the fact that mortgage default rates take a huge spike upwards with high loan to value loans.

I would venture to say that many of the mortgage debtors (in trust deed states) may not realize that by refinancing through this program, they will be going from a non-recourse loan to recourse refinancing, in many cases.

My bet is that actions like this will give a false sense of recovery for awhile, only to have us fall further in the future, much like the stimulus money is currently doing.

In his statement FHFA Director Lockhart said, “The higher LTV refinancing will allow more homeowners to strengthen their finances.” Do you really believe this? If the government really wanted people to stay in their houses, they would allow them to go into foreclosure and help them find alternative housing. Moving them into a 125% LTV recourse loan is setting them up for disaster and setting taxpayers up to take on the resulting new losses.

Perhaps the government is not being 100% honest in their touting this 125% refinancing program as a way to help people stay in their houses. In reality, it may actually be a way to help banks keep from writing down assets while they earn enough money to increase their capital base.

Some folks like to say that where California goes, so goes the rest of the country.  The “tax and spend” government in California did not yet come up with a comparable plan and have been beat to the punch by the Feds.  California’s 26 billion (or more) deficit, the absence of a viable budget, and the need for issuing IOU’s rather than cash payments, is no excuse.  Only a few months ago California tossed out $100 million towards a credit to new home buyers for 5% of the purchase price (up to $10,000).  Now that the first pot of money is depleted, there are two new bills pending in Sacramento proposing to double or triple the original $100 million.



Erik

Mark G. Estates asked:


There is no one in the world that wants to work a day longer than he has to. But with economic instability leaving many of us worrying about how our future and retirement will be paid for, it is ever more tempting to invest in something concrete and allow ourselves to retire young with real estate investments.

There are two main ways of making money from real estate. The first is to buy older and dilapidated properties at prices below the market value, then renovate them and sell them on at a profit. Property development can offer significant returns in the short term, and allow you to enjoy a higher standard of living, although it may initially require a lot of work and there may be a lot to learn.

The other method of earning money from real estate is to buy properties and then let them out to people and become a landlord. Provided you are able to get tenancy agreements that allow you to make a profit on any mortgage payments you have on the property that you rent out, you can buy a portfolio of real estate that will pay for itself while also providing you with a salary.

Over time, as your investments mature, rising property values along with the fact that your mortgages will be paid off by the rental income mean that when you are ready to retire, you can either sell off your entire portfolio for a lump sum to live on, or you can continue to receive the income from your tenants in lieu of a salary from a job, while allowing you to enjoy your retirement earlier than you thought possible, and in style - driving your Bentely to the Country Club for lunch and going on vacations four times a year (irst calls of course).



Henry

Real Estate Advisor asked:


If you are looking for the best golf community living in San Diego County, check out these top ten golf communities that are the best in sunny Southern California, according to Golf Community Realty. These exclusive gated golfing communities offer the most suitable lifestyle for golf lovers and have been chosen based on the homes available and the amenities they offer. All ten communities enjoy the exquisite Californian weather year round and are the ultimate golf areas in San Diego County.

1. Pauma Valley C.C., Pauma Valley

This golf community offers a magnificent golf course, 24-hr gate-guarded entrance, clubhouse, tennis courts, a swimming pool and a long private airstrip. Resale condos begin from the low $400s while single family homes start from $575,000.

2. Aviara Golf Club, No. San Diego County

The golf community boasts of a very picturesque resort, the Arnold Palmer Signature golf course and proximity to the Pacific Ocean beaches. The resort’s master planned housing area consists of executive homes and custom homes. Also available are numerous villas that skirt the golf course.

3. Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe, Rancho Santa Fe

This golf community is known for its award-winning villas that are available on the resale market from time to time. Custom-appointed homes begin from the mid $2 millions. Custom estate homesites and estate-sized homes are also available.

4. The Crosby Estate, Rancho Santa Fe

The Crosby Estate is home to the Crosby National Golf Club and beautiful homes with breathtaking views that include semi-custom homes, golf villas, and custom homesites. Also available are a clubhouse, a swim and athletic club, tennis garden, etc.

5. Encinitas Ranch, Encinitas

The Encinitas Ranch Golf Course offers 18 championship holes amidst a stunning natural scenario. Elegant executive homes line the golf course and are available from $895,000.

6. Golf Club of California, Fallbrook

This private golf club offers an 18-hole championship golf course, a charming clubhouse, a business center and more. Homes start from $895,000 and most of them offer wonderful views.

7. Maderas C.C., Poway

This Poway golf community offers a magnificent location, a top ranking 18-hole golf course and several custom homes that are available from 1,175,000.

8. Pala Mesa Resort, Fallbrook

The resort community offers a beautiful 4-star rating golf course, tennis club, swimming pool and a host of other amenities. Condos around the golf course start at $279,000 and other homes in the area begin at $650,000.

9. Santaluz, No. San Diego County

This is a private club with a championship golf course. Homes include single story homes of the Santa Barbara styled casitas and large custom homes. There are plenty of custom homesites too.

10. Village of Rancho Santa Fe

“The Village” of Rancho Santa Fe offers several championship golf courses and other amenities such as tennis courts, a riding club, etc. Homes in this area consist of custom homes, luxurious ranches and large estate homes.



Luis