When you are first starting out investing in houses, you should always look for ugly or bad houses that need to be upgraded. These homes are much cheaper to purchase, although they will take some work to improve. You should start out by looking for houses that need some work, such as clean up, painting, and in some cases new carpet. You don’t want to buy something too run down, as it could cost a fortune to repair.

If you think of yourself as a handyman and feel that you can do the repairs yourself, you can save a lot of money. On the other hand, if you need to hire someone, you should always make sure that the individual or company that you hire is qualified to do the repairs. If you aren’t comfortable with doing any of the repairs, you should inquire about a subcontractor or company that will do it for a reasonable price, or perhaps a share of the money once you have resold the house.

If the house you are thinking to purchase and resell has any type of structural problems, you should always get an estimate from a reliable contractor before you make the purchase. If you decide to stay in the business, you’ll learn a lot more over the years, although you should always hire a contractor when you first start out. Once you get all of the estimates together, you can make that final decision on how much of an offer you want to put down on the property.

After you have a team together and successfully renovated and resold several homes, you’ll begin to feel quite a bit more confident with buying homes that need repairs. All it takes is time and practice – and you’ll be buying homes that the average investor wouldn’t think twice about. This can be a huge advantage when you are looking for homes to buy and resell, as there will be less competition to worry about. You’ll also be able to get a lower price when buying the home, simply because you can use the cost of the repairs to your advantage.

Once you are able to do repairs on homes, including structural problems, you’ll have a huge advantage in the market. You’ll be able to buy virtually any home, including those that other investors choose to ignore. Doing so can be very profitable for you, especially if the house is in a well known and well desired neighborhood. After you have done the repairs, you can resell the home for a much higher price than you paid to acquire the home.

When you start looking for houses that you can repair and resale, you should always take your time and buy the right homes. You won’t have the money, time, experience, or support to buy the bigger houses at first, which means you won’t have any room for mistakes. Once you have purchased and resold a few smaller homes, you’ll eventually be able to work your way up to the bigger homes – which is where the big profits will come into play.

Always keep in mind that when you first start out, you’ll need to take things slow. You can expect profits to come overnight, as it will take you some time to learn. Once you have been at it a few years and have several houses to your credit, you’ll be ready to tackle anything. At that point – you’ll make a lot of money in a career that is truly exciting.

Skyrocketing Foreclosures- Buying by Investors

It’s a fact that the number of real estate foreclosures is skyrocketing. All over the US Real estate investors are buying foreclosure homes and homes in preforeclosure at firesale prices. A quick scan of the legal part of your newspaper will reveal the large list of properties scheduled for the foreclosure auction. Statistics indicate that over 1% of the today’s homeowners will be behind on their payments or this year will face mortgage default and foreclosure. Just think, almost every neighborhood in this country will have 2-3 homeowners not being able to make their house payments. So it’s not surprising that some savvy homebuyers with cash, and real estate investors make low offers for buying foreclosures and preforeclosure homes.

Lenders Lure Homebuyers and Pay the Consequences

This is bad news for the homeowners and bad news for the banks and institutional lenders who are looking at billions of dollars of loans that they’re not getting interest payments for. It is of course, great news for investors buying foreclosures, because when the supply is high, the prices go down. Banks are even taking less that what they’re owed for the loan by accepting short sales offered by investors and at foreclosure auctions (for more information on short sales see resource box).

So why is this happening? Here’s 3 acronyms that tell the story:

ARM ’s – Adjustable Rate Mortgage

HELOC’s – Home Equity Line of Credit

80/20 – 80/20 no down payment loan

ARM ’s are the chief culprit. Those who are not familiar with these types of mortgages, the way they work is that when the loan is first issued there is a very low (below market) interest rate. Then after a set period (from 1 – 10 years), the interest rate adjusts upward as much as 2% based on an interest index. The rate then adjusts annually by as much as 2% until the cap is reached which can be 10-12%, although caps can be in the 12-16% range.

Of course

Adjustable Rate Mortgage Lures Unsuspecting Buyers

However, this apparent good fortune for the new home purchasers was often just a foreclosure waiting to happen. A day of reckoning was coming, and these homeowners would have no idea what hit them.

Here’s an example of what started happening and is continuing to happen today. Let’s say Jim & Sue Tenants have a fairly low income of about $2000/month. A general lending rule of thumb is that your mortgage monthly debt should be no more than 30% of your gross income. So based on this, Jim & Sue could afford a %HOUSE% monthly debt of about $650/mo.

Now let’s say they could get an ARM with a 1% starting percentage value and a cap of 12%. They could qualify for a $200,000 loan with monthly debts of $643/mo. And let’s also suppose the lender does not escrow the taxes or insurance. Typical taxes & insurance let’s estimate to be about $2400 or $200/month. (By the way, the following scenario will play out the same, no matter what the starting percentage is).

Jim & Sue move into their new home, purchase a bunch of furniture on their credit cards, a new TV, and stereo, and some window treatments, etc. After about 6 months Sue gets pregnant. The tax bill comes due in September, and Jim and Sue are in a bit of shock. They haven’t been putting away money for taxes, and it takes most of their meager savings to pay the bill.

Payment Trouble Leads to Unavoidable Foreclosure Default

Then around November, the mortgage company sends them a letter informing them that the value is adjusting upward by 2% and their monthly debt starting January will be $843 per month-a $200 increase. With their credit card debt, a new baby on the way and monthly living expenses, they’re really living on the edge. When their next tax bill comes due-Jim decides the county is just going to have to wait for it’s money. (In reality what will happen is that the county will put a lien for back taxes on the property and sell that lien at a tax sale auction. The real estate investors purchasing the tax lien or tax certificate (in many states) will eventually have the right to foreclose if they’re not paid the back taxes and interest. Essentially buying the foreclosure for the cost of the tax lien!).

Then in November of that year, they get another letter informing them of another increase in their interest value-this time to 5% (still pretty low), and this raises their monthly mortgage monthly debt to $1074/mo – a $230 increase!

Now, Jim & Sue are in over their heads. Come January, they send in the old monthly debt amount. The bank doesn’t accept it and considers them in default. They think they only owe the difference-in fact, the bank considers it as if they hadn’t made any monthly debt at all. After several months, they get a foreclosure warning letter.

At this point Jim and Sue may consider selling their %HOUSE%. If they live in a rapidly appreciating market, they may be able to get out by the skin of their teeth. In most areas, after only a year or 2, most homes have not appreciated enough to sell quickly. With a realtor commission and accepting a discount from the purchaser, they’d have to come out of pocket to go through with the sale-money they don’t have.

So depending on their state, unless an investor steps in, buying the foreclosure by negotiating a short sale with the lender, the property will be sold at auction on the courthouse steps according to state foreclosure laws.

In the next part, I’ll discuss the insidious nature of Home Equity Loans for the unwary borrower.

SUMMARY

The rate of foreclosures is at an all time high, and many real estate investors are buying foreclosures, looking for big discounts by negotiating short sales with lenders and buying foreclosures at the courthouse steps. The reason for the high rate of foreclosures are lending practices such as ARM’s (adjustable rate mortgages), HELOC’s (Home Equity Lines of Credit) and 80/20 (nothing down loans) that allow home buyers to borrow more than they can afford. In part I, how ARM’s create this problem is analyzed. In parts 2 and 3, the consequences of home equity loans, and no money down loans are analyzed.

KEYWORDS

Foreclosure buying, real estate investor, investing, short sales

San Diego County is home to one of the largest concentrations of military bases in the United States. In fact, the San Diego area contains 12 major Marine Corps and Navy bases and facilities. If you’re in the military and moving to San Diego, one of your biggest decisions is whether to buy a property, live on base housing (if this option is available to you), or rent a home or apartment. If you choose to buy a property, there are many issues to consider before taking this step.

BUY OR RENT?

The decision to buy or rent is more complicated for military personnel because you may be assigned to San Diego only for a limited period of time. If you plan to purchase while in San Diego and then sell when you transfer, the condition of the real estate market at the time you sell will make this either an easy or difficult process. In a seller’s market (when demand exceeds supply), properties tend to sell quickly and at or above asking price. In a buyer’s market (when supply exceeds demand), properties usually take much longer to sell and may sell below asking price. Individuals in the military should consider this issue in determining whether to buy or rent real estate in the San Diego area.

For those who choose to buy, the major other consideration is the likely appreciation rate of your property during your tenure in San Diego. If you plan to sell your property before you depart to your next assignment, you should remember that there are expenses (e.g. realtor fees, taxes, etc.) associated with selling your house, and any price appreciation you realize by owing the property for a few years, may or may not be offset by these fees.

Some individuals choose to keep their property even after they transfer to a new assignment outside of San Diego. In these cases, you can rent out the property, leave it empty, or find another acceptable use of the dwelling. If you choose to hire a Property Manager to oversee the renting and maintenance of your property, keep in mind that the fess for this service will cut into any monthly profit you realize on the property.

GETTING A HOME LOAN?

If you decide to purchase a property, obtaining a home loan is one of the tasks you must undertake. Many active-day members, retirees and other service veterans are eligible for special loan programs guaranteed by the Veterans Administration (VA).

To be eligible for a VA guaranteed loan, you must have served on activity duty and have a discharge status of other than dishonorable after a minimum of 90 days of service during wartime, or a minimum of 181 continuous days during peacetime. There is a minimum 2-year service requirement for veterans who enlisted after September 7, 1980. The 2-year requirement also applies to Officers who began service after October 16, 1981. There is a minimum 6-year service requirement for National Guard members and Reservists, and surviving spouses are also eligible under some conditions. There are other special conditions in which a person may be eligible, so contact your local VA office to get more information.

WHAT IS VA GUARANTEED LOAN?

The VA loan is a federal guarantee of a maximum of 25% of a home loan amount but not to exceed $104,250. This formula allows eligible members to obtain a maximum loan amount of $417,000 (as of 2006). However, service members must meet other eligibility requirements. Individuals borrowing using this type of loan must intend to be occupants of the purchased property.

Private lenders are the source of funds for VA guaranteed loans. The guarantee provides these private lenders assurance that the federal government will reimburse the lender up to the maximum allowable amount if the borrower fails to repay the loan. Because of this guarantee, lenders are more favorable to offering loans without a requirement for a down payment.

VA CERTIFICATE OF ELIGIBILITY

Individuals desiring a VA guaranteed loan must first obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from the Veterans Administration (VA Form 26-1880). Contact your local VA office to obtain this form by calling 1-888-244-6711. You will need a copy of your military discharge document (DD-214) to submit with your application. Once you have the Eligibility Certificate, you can then select a lender or mortgage broker to work with on getting the loan.

CLOSING COSTS

In addition to the purchase price of your property, there are closing costs that must be paid to process your home loan. These closing costs are fees that are charged by different service providers to help complete the loan process. For example, your lender will require an appraisal of the property to make sure that its value is at or above your purchase price. Other charges commonly included in closing costs are: recording fees, credit report fee, prorated taxes and assessments, hazard insurance, flood insurance (if required), survey, title examination, title insurance, postage and shipping fees, and the VA Funding fee.

WHAT IS THE VA FUNDING FEE?

The VA charges a fee to individuals utilizing the VA guaranteed loan. This fee is a percentage of the loan amount and is linked to the size of your down payment on the home you plan to purchase.

For active-duty personnel or veterans who put no money down, the funding fee is 2.15% of the loan amount. This rate increases to 2.4% for National Guard/Reserve.

For active duty personnel or veterans who put a down payment greater than zero but less than 10% of the loan amount, the fee is 1.5% of the loan. This rate increases to 1.75% for National Guard/Reserve.

For active duty personnel or veterans who put a down payment of 10% or more of the loan amount, the fee is 1.25% of the loan. This rate increases to 1. 5% for National Guard/Reserve.

The rates listed above are for first time users of the VA loan guarantee program. Individuals who have used the VA guaranteed loan program before pay higher rates than first time users. The rates above are subject to change. In some limited cases, individuals are exempt from paying the funding fee. You should contact your local VA center for current information.

CHOOSING A VA LOAN VS. A CONVENTIONAL LOAN

You must carefully evaluate the terms of the VA guaranteed loan vs. the terms of a conventional loan. One advantage of a VA guaranteed loan is that many lenders will not require you to put a down payment on the purchase of the property, assuming you meet their other lending criteria (e.g. credit scores, sufficient income, adequate debt to income ratio, etc.). There are also many zero down payment conventional loan programs. In some cases, the VA guaranteed loan will offer a lower interest rate and better terms, and in other cases, you can obtain a better deal through conventional financing. A good loan officer can help you evaluate the advantages of either loan, given your particular situation.

FINDING THE RIGHT HOME

If you are familiar with the San Diego area, then you probably already know where you want to live. If you are less familiar with the communities in San Diego, your Realtor can serve as an excellent resource to answer your questions. There are many steps to take during the home search process, which include:

1. Work with your loan officer to identify how much you can afford.

2. Determine what type of property you want to buy (single-family home, townhouse, condominium, other). Your Realtor can advise you about the differences between these types of properties.

3. Determine how many bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage, etc. you need.

4. Determine what areas of San Diego you would consider living in.

5. Calculate the drive time (with and without traffic) to your job.

6. Identify the quality of schools in the neighborhoods that you are considering.

7. Locate the crime statistics for the neighborhood that you are considering.

8. Identify the location of local community resources such as libraries, shopping centers, athletic centers, etc.

9. Ask your Realtor to advise you about the resale potential of the home you are considering.

Although there are many other factors to consider, the above is a good starting point. Your Realtor should be able help you get answers to the questions above as well as provide you many other resources. Keep in mind that most Realtor’s who assist homebuyers and paid by the home seller, but make sure to ask your Realtor about this.

HOW MUCH SHOUD I PAY FOR A HOUSE?

Your Realtor should be an excellent source of information to help you understand a fair offer price. The Realtor should provide you information about what other similar properties in the same community have sold for recently, current pricing trends for the community, as well provide you a recommendation based on their experience in the local market.

DO I NEED A HOME INSPECTION?

There are many other issues besides the offer price to consider when making an offer. For example, many buyers find it advantageous to get an inspection of the property by a qualified inspector. The inspection typically covers the major systems of a property. Check out the National Association of Home Inspectors web site for more information about what is covered in a typical home inspection. Getting a home inspection is generally a good idea.

HOW LONG WILL THIS TAKE?

If you want to use the VA guarantee, then make sure you have obtained the Certificate of Eligibility far in advance of your relocation to San Diego. Whether or not you are using the VA loan program, be sure to obtain a loan pre-approval (sometimes called loan prequalification) from a lender or mortgage broker. This lets home sellers know that you are a serious buyer and are ready to act quickly if needed.

Prior to moving to San Diego, get a sense of the local real estate market. Your Realtor can set up an automatic email notification system that will send you descriptions and pictures of properties that meet your criteria. Doing this type of research should save you a lot of time when you arrive.

Once you have your loan pre-approval, the next step is to locate a property that meets your needs. Your Realtor should show you a variety of available properties that meet your criteria. Once you find a house you an interested in, your Realtor will prepare the purchase offer documents, and guide you through the loan and closing process.

In summary, it’s simply a process of getting a loan, finding a house that you like, making an offer that is accepted, and going through the closing process, which can occur in less than 30 days.

CONTACT A SAN DIEGO REALTOR

If you are moving to San Diego, contact a Real Estate agent who is familiar with VA guaranteed loans and has experience working with military buyers. Many agents have prior military service themselves, and are very familiar with your situation and needs.

The tourism boom has brought migrant labour to the city, fueled the growth of a large construction industry and provided transportation and other large-scale infrastructure which has led to Antalya becoming the hub of commerce in this part of Turkey

The increased number of foreign visitors in this astounding Belek holiday resort are creating a highly desirable investment zone. The past few years have lead the numbers to higher counts by many discovering Europeans

Buying property in Turkey is a straightforward process – so it seems…However with so many different variations of how it’s interpreted on the internet by so many local and overseas property estate agents, may make things a bit confusing.  We found that the most ideal way to get an understanding of buying property in Turkey is by reading or hearing about it from experienced consultants and particularly from investors who have gone through the whole buying property process in Turkey.

Uncommon to most estate agent web sites – overseas and local – we have built a forum area on our web site for anyone who wishes to share their ideas, views, comments, experiences, advice, and questions on the internet, based on the main topic of Property in Turkey.  All we ask that it’s kept clean and no names or reference to individuals and companies are used in negative instances as it is not appropriate in general.

We’re all here to help each other make the Turkish property market a better place  

Thank you and Enjoy!

We are currently seeking professional overseas real estate companies and individuals to work together with. If you have an interest for this type of cooperation contact us for more details…

 

ttp://www.turkeypropertyinvest.com/property/forum

 

Buying a home is a big-time real estate investment and has to be done with great prudence. Knowing where not to buy a home is as important as are the dos and don’ts of buying a home.

Of the many top ten lists on CNNMoney.com, there is listed the top ten overvalued cities in America where it is better not to buy a home for the next two years or so. The report states a variety of reasons for the unfavorable market conditions.

Five cities in California – Bakersfield, Fresno, Merced, Sacramento and Stockton, figure among the top ten cities that have the least possibility of home price appreciation. Home prices have reached a new high (by nearly 60%) in these areas over the past two years. With an economy driven by agriculture and relatively higher unemployment rates anticipated for that area, the real estate market is predicted to slump in the region.

Although three cities in Florida are recommended as good real estate buys, the report also cites four others in Southwest Florida that fall among the very bottom of the list. With home prices here expected to plummet very soon, cities like Fort Myers, Naples, Punta Gorda and Sarasota are those that one would do best to avoid for a year’s time or so, while buying a home or a condo.

Market prices are expected to decline in the Jersey Shore (New Jersey) area that saw a radical boom in the last two quarters. Although home prices in the third quarter have rebounded from the slight drop during the second quarter, the bubble is expected to burst soon and the overpriced market is likely to stabilize. The popular seaside cities of New Jersey, Atlantic City and Ocean city are anticipated to fall under the unfavorable list.

In Phoenix, Arizona, a hot favorite among investors last year, sliding home prices may to be an unavoidable occurrence in the next 12 months. With home prices dropping by more than $100,000 in some residential developments and investors trying to sell off their property, it is safer to wait for a year or longer before investing here.

Economists at Moody’s Economy.com also predict a sharp decline in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, California’s Inland Empire.

The bottom ten cities that are likely to see major drops in median home prices during the coming year are Stockton, (leading the list with a predicted fall of 9.7%), Merced, Reno/Sparks, Fresno, Vallejo/Fairfield, Las Vegas, Bakersfield, Sacramento, Washington, D.C and Tucson.

Given these fluctuating real estate market conditions, one should exercise a great deal of caution when investing in real estate. It makes sense to get the expert advice of a real estate agent to advise you about your next home purchase, since agents often have access to the most up-to-date real estate market data and neighborhood pricing trends.

Most people who are interested in real estate avoid ever getting started because they are not sure of where to get started.

There is a lot of real estate investing information out there, but many people are not aware of how to get to it. One of the ways potential investors can learn more about real estate investing is through a real estate investing book.

When you first try to think of known titles for a real estate investing book, chances are you come up with a blank. This knowledge isn’t something that is commonly known. To find a real estate investing book, you will first need to do some research.

The best place to look for a real estate investing book is one the internet.

Please see the link at the bottom of this article to download a free real estate investing ebook.

There are many websites that advertise various books on real estate investing. The key is finding these books. By doing an internet search on “real estate investing book”, you will be returned web pages that feature various books on real estate investing.

Look through each of the websites returned by the search engine to find out more about a specific real estate investing book. Websites that are designed to market a specific real estate investing book will give more details about that book. Read the description of several different books to get a better idea of which books are better than others. The best kind of real estate investing book is one that will give you all the information you need to get started with real estate investing.

There are some key factors that you can use to help choose a real estate investing book. To be successful in real estate investing, you need to know how to locate properties. The real estate investing book you purchase should give details on this subject. Although you might first think that locating properties is something that can be easily done, be forewarned that there is a method to it. A valuable real estate investing book will provide you with this information.

A real estate investing book should also cover, in varying degrees of details depending on the book, negotiating deals. You will need to know how to negotiate deals both as the buyer and the seller. Most investors have never had the experience of buying or selling real estate. Any real estate investing book you purchase should include this information.

The real estate investing book you purchase should cover at least one strategy for investing in real estate. Most investing books focus on only one strategy. This is the strategy that was tried and true for the author. A better real estate investing book will give information about several different strategies that can be used. Since a single strategy cannot be used for all kinds of investments, it isn’t wise to purchase a real estate book that only details one strategy.

Ultimately, the real estate book you choose to purchase is a matter of preference. You should read several description of books so you are better aware of what various books offer.

You can also download a free ebook that shows you how to make some great profits from the link below.

Buying home, condo or any other real estate in a market that is protected from a bursting bubble is every investor’s dream. Knowing where to look for these bubble-proof markets and how to identify them is crucial.

There are some important factors that investors should consider when searching for stable investments such as single-family homes, condos or any other type of real estate. Some of these factors include a fast growing population (which positively impacts the demand for housing), a solid and diverse economy (which impacts employment rates and subsequent demand for housing), rising incomes (which impacts buyers’ ability to purchase real estate), a developing infrastructure (which contributes to the appeal of a city or community), and restrictions on future real estate development (which limits future supply of real estate). Investing in real estate within communities that meet these criteria may prove to be more profitable than communities that are missing one or more of these factors.

A recent report by Business 2.0 Magazine identified U.S. cities that have consistently demonstrated price appreciation in the real estate market. The October 2006 issue of the Magazine identified the top 5 real estate markets that demonstrated an upward price trend over a long period time. The top-ranking cities were:

1. San Francisco, California

2. Los Angeles, California

3. Seattle, Washington

4. Boston, Massachusetts

5. New York City, New York

San Francisco topped the list with an average annual home price appreciation of 4.2% from 1949 to 2006. In contrast, the national average was 2.3%. Strong restrictions on real estate development and a limited geography helped push San Francisco to the top slot.

Los Angeles ranked second in the report. The average annual home price appreciation in Los Angeles was 3.7% from 1949 to 2006. Reductions in available land and increasing restrictions on further development helped pushed Los Angeles to the number 2 slot.

Home prices in Seattle, which was third on the list, demonstrated an average appreciation rate of 3.2% from 1949 to 2006. While Seattle made the top 5 list, recent easing of building restrictions may cause Seattle to fall out of the top 5 over the next few years.

Boston was fourth in the rankings. The city has seen annual home prices appreciate by 3% over the period from 1949 to 2006. A strong increase in per capita income contributed to Boston’s high ranking.

New York City follows close behind with an average annual home price appreciation of 3% from 1949 to 2006. A limited geography, large population, and finite number of properties contributed to New York’s high ranking.

While there is no guarantee that any of the real estate markets listed previously are truly “bubble proof,” the factors described above may help investors find the profitable markets and avoid “bubble” markets. Since the real estate market is constantly changing, be sure to seek out the services of a skillful real estate agent to help you navigate your next real estate purchase.

The foreclosure market is an attractive option for buyers wanting to invest in real estate. A foreclosed property is a mortgaged property that has been taken over by the lender due to non-payment of the mortgage. The lender then sells the property in order to recover the money, often at below market prices. Foreclosed homes, condos and other properties can for make excellent investments and is a popular choice for those entering the real estate market.

The October 2006 issue of Business 2.0 Magazine ranks the top 10 foreclosure markets in the United States. Greeley in Colorado tops the list followed by Detroit in Michigan, Miami in Florida, Indianapolis in Indiana, Ft. Lauderdale in Florida, Denver in Colorado, Dayton in Ohio, Dallas and Fort Worth in Texas, and Atlanta in Georgia.

Greeley, CO, has the largest number of foreclosure households in the country, with 0.59% of homes falling in the category, an increase by 14.7% since January 2006. The report holds aggressive residential development, risky underwriting practices and stagnant wages as the main causes.

Detroit, MI, stands next with 0.51% of the households in foreclosure. The badly performing auto industry and the resulting impact to autoworkers’ incomes has contributed to number of homes in foreclosure in this city.

Third on the list is Miami, FL, where 0.37% of the households are in foreclosure, a staggering 91% increase since January 2006. The report states a weakening economy, higher property insurance premiums, and rising energy and interest rates, as the reasons for this rapid increase.

The fourth among the top ten foreclosure markets is Indianapolis, IN. Although the foreclosure rates are slightly lower from last year, still the portion of households in foreclosure stands at 0.35%. Setbacks and layoffs in the city’s auto industry together with falling home prices have contributed to foreclosure rates in this city.

Fort Lauderdale, FL, stands fifth with 0.34% of households entering foreclosure, which is up by a whopping 118.5% since January 2006.

Denver (with 0.33% of households in foreclosure), Dayton (with 0.33% of households in foreclosure), Dallas (with 0.31% of households in foreclosures), Fort Worth (with 0.31% of households in foreclosure) and Atlanta (with 0.31% of households in foreclosures) round out the top 10 foreclosure markets.

If you are looking to invest in the foreclosure market, consult a real estate agent who can help you clinch the best deal on the foreclosure property of your choice.

If you are a real estate investor, beginner or experienced, it is important for you to learn about real estate investing. One of the ways you can learn about real estate investing is through a real estate investing seminar.

When many people first become interested in real estate investing, they think of it in the same way as investing in stocks and bonds.

Just as must as real estate investing is similar to other kinds of investments, it is also very much different from these traditional types of investments. In a real estate investing seminar you will learn about how you can invest in real estate and make a profit.

Before you attend a real estate investing seminar, you should be forewarned that sometimes these seminars are not what you would expect. In many cases, the seminars do not have a lot of funding for speakers.

In addition, real estate seminars do not operate for a profit. Because of this, speakers often are not paid. When you attending a real estate investing seminar you might notice that many of the speakers seem to be attempting to sell some kind of merchandise. Although this might not what you expected, keep in mind that even these seemingly salespeople also have a vast amount of experience that you can learn from.

Even though you might experience these sales pitches at some real estate investing seminars, this certainly doesn’t take place at all seminars.

One of the things you will learn at a real estate investing seminar is current market trends. Speakers will tell you everything you need to know about the current real estate market.

In addition to market trends, you will also learn tactics and strategies that will be useful in your real estate investing endeavors.

You might hear of several different kinds of strategies depending on the speaker. Keep in mind that what worked for one investor might not necessarily work for all.

Still, it is good to take notes on what each speaker has to say. This way you get a full picture of strategies you might add to your investing portfolio.

Depending on the purpose of the real estate investing seminar, you might hear any of an assortment of different topics. There is much to the world of real estate investing, far more than can be covered in a few days or even a week.

Some topics at the real estate investing seminar might be covered in detail, while others might only be glossed over with a provision of high level concepts.

When you attend a real estate investing seminar, you should take the opportunity to network with other real estate investors. Unless you work for a real estate investing company, you might not get the chance to meet other investors.

Attending a real estate investing seminar gives you the chance to make contact with real estate investors that might be of some benefit to you in the future. While you might learn a lot during the real estate investing seminar, you can learn much more outside of a seminar type setting. The contacts you make at the seminar will serve as resources in the future.

If you have something that experienced real estate investors can gain from you, they will be more willing to pass on valuable information to you. Just going to the meeting will be stimulating and help give your business a boost.

When you start the process of buying a home or any type of real estate, you’ll no doubt hear the term “earnest money deposit” (EMD). So what exactly is an EMD?

An EMD becomes relevant when you are ready to make an offer on a property. In most states, your Real Estate Agent prepares the offer on your behalf. The offer usually takes the form of a written contract that is submitted to the seller by way of their agent.

In addition to the offer document, sellers typically expect an EMD. An EMD is a monetary deposit submitted via check to demonstrate to the seller that you are a serious buyer. In some regions of the country, only a photocopy of the check is submitted with the offer, and the original check is delivered to the appropriate entity if the offer is accepted. Ask your Real Estate Agent to clarify how deposits are handled in your region of the country.

The check is usually made out to an independent third- party such as a Title Company, Escrow Company, Real Estate Attorney or your Real Estate Broker. Ask your Real Estate Agent to clarify who will hold the EMD.

The amount of the EMD sellers expect varies by region. The EMD amount is based on the customs and practices for a region, but is generally from 1% to 2% of the purchase price. In a competitive market place where demand exceeds the supply of homes, some buyers may offer a higher EMD than expected to impress the seller of their intent. In determining the amount of your EMD, consult your Real Estate Agent and balance the need to demonstrate your serious intent, against the good business practice of minimizing the deposit amount.

The amount of the EMD is usually applied to reduce the purchase price of the property or to cover closing costs, as you dictate. For example, if you are purchasing a $300,000 property and you give an EMD of $3000, then the remaining balance owned at closing is $297,000 (plus closing costs). Alternatively, you may direct that the EMD be applied toward the closing costs.

Once a valid contract for purchase is created, an independent third-party usually holds the EMD until the purchase is either completed or cancelled. At this point, the money belongs jointly to both the seller and the buyer.

In cases where you make an offer that is accepted but later decide to cancel the offer, the terms specified in the contract (or state law) will dictate if, and under what circumstances, the EMD is returned to you. Be aware that you could loose your deposit if you do not not comply with the terms of your contract. Your Real Estate Agent can provide you information about how EMDs are dealt with if a contract is cancelled.

Since state law varies by region and practices can differ even within the same state, be sure to consult your Real Estate agent about the rules that apply to EMDs in your region of the country. You should also be aware that the EMD is not related to any down payment that you make toward your home loan.