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The business of buying and selling real estate can be quite lucrative. The lure of high commissions is certainly enticing, and leads aspiring real estate entrepreneurs to believe that it’s easy to make a lot of money in real estate. Yet, the reality of selling real estate is very different.

The truth is that more than 80% of real estate commissions are earned by less than 20% of real estate agents. Furthermore, nearly 80% of all new real estate agents fail. These statistics are certainly discouraging and usually enough to give most people pause. Nevertheless, the excessive appreciation of home values over the past several years drove many vacillating individuals to take the risky plunge into real estate, hopeful that they, too, would rake in thousands of dollars in commissions in the booming real estate market. Then, the market started to cool, a natural fluctuation in the cyclical real estate market.

I’ve heard it said that the hardest part about a career in real estate is passing the real estate exam. I would have to respectfully disagree. The real estate business is a 24/7 enterprise. Thus, the only way to truly succeed in real estate is to eat, sleep, breathe and live real estate. As far as I am concerned, sacrificing your family, friends and personal interests is by far the hardest part about a career in real estate.

In the grand scheme of things, I spent a miniscule amount of time pursuing a career in real estate. I found, after little more than a year, that I simply did not want to devote my entire existence to real estate sales and promptly redirected my efforts elsewhere. My Aunt learned the same lesson in approximately the same amount of time. I would be remiss, however, if I did not play devil’s advocate and share with you that those few persistent and committed individuals who resisted the temptations of everyday life have, indeed, made and continue to make a substantial income from real estate.

So, if you are convinced that a career in real estate is your destiny, consider the following facts before you make the leap.

A real estate career requires a significant investment in money, as well as time. Regardless of your state of residence, the real estate commission will require you to pay fees to take the real estate exam. But, before you can even take the exam, you will be required to take a real estate course designed to prepare you for the exam and your career. (Note: not all states require the course, though most do). The cost of the course varies, but averages approximately $250. The exam usually costs in the neighborhood of $100, which varies by state. Thereafter, assuming you pass the exam, you must pay a licensing fee for your state’s licensing authority to issue your license to you. Once you become licensed, you will usually be required by your hiring broker to join your local association of Realtors. I paid in excess of $400 annually to join. Depending on the agency you work for, you may have to pay licensee or agency fees, which are usually a few hundred dollars. In order to get started marketing yourself as an agent, you must have business cards (upwards from $75 for a starter box) and other marketing devices (car magnets, listing signs, mass mailings, etc). Remember, too, that this is the Internet age. Therefore, a computer is essential. Most agents I worked with, myself included, used laptops. Some invested in desktop systems that, of course, had to be left in the real estate office.

After all of the initial start-up costs, there are ongoing expenses like self-promotion marketing and fuel. Right now, with gas prices as high as they are, I doubt struggling agents can scarcely get ahead. I once spent an entire day touring more than 14 homes with a potential buyer who expressed urgency in finding a new home and claimed to have cash readily available for the purchase. Despite all my efforts, he went home to “think about” the homes I had shown him, and I never heard from him again. I traveled several hundred miles that day alone. After being skunked several times, I finally landed my first listing and closed it in relatively short order. At last, I had a commission check. And, just like a teenager who earned her first paycheck and wondered who the devil FICA was, I looked over all the agency deductions and realized just how small my checks would be relative to all the hard work I had to put into each transaction.

All things considered, I was mildly successful as a new agent. I grossed more than $2 million in sales in my first few months. Sadly, however, after spending more than a year preparing for and developing my real estate career, my earnings from those sales yielded me income of little more than $11,000. Once I deducted all of my expenses for that same year, I netted very little income. Such is the life of a real estate agent.

It’s important to note, however, that each agency has its own fee and commission schedule. Some realty companies are required to deduct a franchise fee that is passed on to the franchisor (i.e. Century 21, Coldwell Banker, RE/MAX, etc.). In addition to franchise fees, some agencies keep as much as 50% of its agents’ commissions, plus a fee for malpractice insurance coverage, ostensibly in exchange for valuable services and paid marketing. Other agencies keep very little of your commissions but require its agents to pay all of their own marketing and office expenses, including desk rental fees (which can exceed $2000 a month in some areas).

Unlike other business enterprises, the amount of time, effort and money you pour into your business does not directly correlate to income earned. As I mentioned above, an agent can spend many weeks or months with a buyer showing property and working with lenders to qualify that buyer for a home loan. Sometimes the buyer will finally complete a transaction. Sometimes he will not. Likewise, agents regularly spend months showing their listed properties to prospective buyers and searching for other qualified and interested buyers. In the end, a sale may close or the seller may decide to terminate the listing and, perhaps, list again with another agent. So, a new agent must learn the valuable lesson to never count on any commission until the transaction has completely closed. Things can and do go wrong, often at the closing table. Unfortunately, some of my fellow agents, anticipating a closing, would make purchases against the uncollected commissions, which occasionally resulted in a serious financial crises for that agent.

One final word of caution for would-be real estate agents – real estate litigation is on the rise. I know of several very good agents who became unwitting defendants through no real fault of their own. Rather, dissatisfied or remorseful buyers elected to target their agents instead of admitting their own carelessness or haste in buying a questionable property. That is not to say that some agents are not justifiable defendants. Indeed, there are an abundance of disreputable agents who methodically deceive their clients to ensure a commission. The deplorable fact is that lawsuits follow deep pockets. Real estate agents are generally considered to be wealthy, though this is certainly not applicable to all agents. Therefore, they are becoming more frequent targets for both legitimate and frivolous legal actions.

As with any career, there are rewards as well as drawbacks. Real estate agents are nearly always classified as independent contractors, which affords them greater autonomy and control over the direction of their business than ordinary employee-employer relationships. For many, that single advantage is sufficient to offset the drawbacks of a demanding real estate career.

Buying a home is one of the most important investments a person can make. Most people look for a mortgage or a loan while buying a house. The Florida real estate market is currently booming with falling interest rates and easy loans, and mortgage loan lenders are offering several kinds of loans and special mortgage loans to attract customers.

A mortgage rate is the rate of interest that is charged on the loan used for buying a house or a property. Mortgage rates keep changing over a period of time. A lower mortgage rate means a lesser cost of the house and lower monthly payments. A mortgage lending company looks after all the aspects that need to be considered such as the length of the mortgage period (fifteen-years or thirty-years), the kind of interest rate (fixed or variable), and even home inspections, taxes and property appraisals. Most people do not understand the typical mortgage terminology like PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance), APR, settlement costs, points etc. In such cases, a professional mortgage company would prove to be very useful. The main factors that are considered when issuing a mortgage loan are income of the applicant and his/her credit record.

Only Florida citizens are eligible to receive Florida mortgage loans. The various kinds of mortgage loans available in Florida are: FHA (Federal Housing Administration) loans, consolidation loans, land loans, conventional loans, balloon loans and refinance mortgage loans. Mortgage loans can also be refinanced. Refinanced mortgage loans have several benefits like lower monthly payments, lower interest paid, and cash equity. There are also bad credit mortgage loans that are offered at a slightly higher rate of interest for people who have bad credit records. The most popular kind of mortgage loans in Florida is the fixed rate loans- because of their predictability. The typical term of this loan is 15 years or 30 years. The ARM (Adjustable rate mortgage) loans are also popular because the interest rate is likely to decrease sometime in the future. This is generally preferred by people who plan to sell off the home in a few years time after paying off the loan. Other kinds of special Florida Mortgage loans are: hard equity loans, interest only loans, 100% cash out refinance, construction loans, commercial mortgage loans, farmer’s home loans, no PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance) loans, vacant land and acreage mortgage loans and cross- collateralization of properties.

Florida offers very competitive mortgage rates. The best way to find a good mortgage lender in Florida is to ask friends or family members for suggestions. The Internet is a great source to find good mortgage companies who are advertising extensively about good rates and terms and also best service.

Source – EzineArticles

Payday loans are very short term loans of usually one or two weeks, which are to be repaid when you get your paycheck. The objective of taking payday loans is to tide over unexpected financial exigencies or medical emergencies. Payday loans are also called a cash advance, check loan, payday advance loan or paycheck loan. If you are not able to pay off the payday loan on the stipulated date, you have the option to roll it over. However, you have to pay extra fees for the extension of the payday loan.

Why are payday loans needed?

Payday loans or a cash advance may be required at the end of the month for meeting urgent expenses like medical bills, electricity bills, phone bills, house rent, other utility bills or any other unexpected expenditure. Such situations usually arise when a person lives beyond his means or fails to maintain a household budget. In these circumstances, payday loans or a cash advance is usually the only way out of a difficult financial situation.

Is it wise to get a payday loan?

There are times when it may be wise to obtain payday loans to get out of a tight financial situation. You must be sure that you have the capacity to pay back the Payday loans or cash advance as planned. Some of the situations in which it may be wise to obtain a payday loan are:

* You can take a payday loan to ensure that your checks do not bounce. The costs of a bounced check may add up to more than the cost of taking a payday loan.

* Take payday loans if not paying for your immediate need entails serious long-term consequences. However, you have to ensure that it should be more serious than the 20% to 30% fee for the payday loan.

* In case the late fee for not making a payment will be more than the cost of the payday loan.

* When not making the payment will reflect on your credit rating. Late payments may show up on your credit records and make it difficult for you to get a loan years later. Your credit rating is something you can not leave behind you and you may need to take payday loans to protect your credit rating.

You have to be sure that you are taking a payday loan or cash advance for the right reasons.If the $30 or $40 fee of payday loans can get you out of a situation involving a major expense or long-term consequences, it may be wise to take a payday loan. The only major consequence of a payday loan or cash advance is the fee involved, which may appear to be a small amount but could add up to a huge sum if you took it with a long term perspective.

It is not advisable to take payday loans to make an impulse purchase or to get some spending money or when it is not crucial to get one. The charges for payday loans of a few weeks are very low but if you are not able to pay off the loan on time, you will have to pay very steep fees, which may be very difficult to bear. You must be sure that the payday loans or cash advance is being taken for something that is necessary and that sufficient money will be coming in to pay off the loan. Surveys have shown that the number of people taking payday loans or a cash advance and the number of companies offering payday loans are growing.

Source – EzineArticles

Opportunities for real estate investment for foreigners is wide and varied in the United States. It doesn’t matter where you’re from and what currency you’d be using to purchase a property, you have a property waiting for you.

There are generally three kinds of real estate investment available to foreigners. These investments include the commercial estate investment and residential property investment. Residential properties are further classified into single family properties, apartments or condominiums and recreational properties. Regardless of what kind of real estate you are interested in, there are all sorts of tax ramifications, financing options and legal requirements that you have to deal with.

Why Should You Invest in the U.S. Real Estate Market?

You’ve probably heard of the increasing number of foreign real estate investments in the United States. This is not surprising. With the troubles that the real estate investment market is facing in the United States, greater opportunities in real estate investment were opened to foreign investors.

With the dollar’s value in its all time low, foreign investors are finding real estate bargains all over the United States. There are no shortages of deals in this market. More and more distressed properties are being sold everywhere and foreigners are pouring in millions buying these foreclosed or distressed properties. The United States real estate has become a fairly attractive long-term investment for foreign investors.

In November of 2006, the National Association of Realtors released a report entitled “Foreign Investments in U.S Real Estate: Current Trends and Historical Perspective”. The report showed that there has been a steady increase in foreign real estate investment in the United States. This is especially after the euro and the loonie became stronger in the face of the continuous devaluation of the US dollar. Prime bargains were opened to foreigners. Many foreigners have now looked into the possibility of retiring or settling in the United States.

If you’re a foreigner, you would find a lot of reasons why you should invest in the United States real estate market. Aside from the fact that the floating exchange rate has given you a lot of leverage over the bargaining table, the financial market is a pretty good reason why you should invest in the US real estate.

The financial market in the United States in relation to the real estate market is quite liberal and the restrictions against foreign investors are pretty reasonable. This is ideal for foreign companies that are seeking to invest in the real estate market in the United States in order to avoid tariff restrictions and are considering setting up an office or a company in the United States.

Furthermore, despite the devaluation of the US dollar and the wide foreclosures of a lot of property, the real estate market remains to be stable, though slightly shaky, due to foreign investors’ capital appreciation. Domestic real estate buyers may not necessarily share the same opinion, but the market has remained to be strong for foreign real estate buyers. This may be largely credited to the fact that there is minimal risk for them.

Why are Foreign Real Estate Investments Safe and Profitable?

There are a lot of investments you can make, but the safest you can make right now is investing your money in real properties. This is another good reason aside from the fact that you can make a pretty nifty profit, if you like, particularly now with the widespread property foreclosures and seemingly continuous US dollar devaluation. This is especially true if you are going to use the euro or the loonie when making your investment.

But why is US real estate investment safe for foreigners?

It is undeniable that stock investments are not a safe avenue at this point. The recession has not only affected the US economy; the same recession has greatly affected worldwide stock investments. Stocks values are dropping. It is also a fact that even without the current economic situation, stock values fluctuates.

On the other hand, real estate investments are pretty stable if you would compare it to stock investments – or even bond or mutual fund investments. With real estate investment, you’d be putting your money in an investment that would grow in value as years go by.

What are the Benefits of Foreign Real Estate Investment?

US state government supports foreign investments and along this line has formulated various tax breaks to encourage foreign investment on real estate. Many of these tax breaks are not available in many countries. In fact, most countries would frown at foreigners owning real properties within their territory.

Foreign real estate investment in the United States is open to everyone. As long as you can afford to buy the property or at least comply with the mortgage requirements and payments, you can secure for yourself a pretty good property in the United States. Again, with the current economic situation of the United States, this is the perfect chance for you to make an investment.

Another great benefit that you can take advantage of is the availability of mortgage financing. Lenders have opened their doors to foreign investors who are looking into purchasing a property. So, you don’t have to actually deplete your bank account. You can actually secure a mortgage loan and gradually pay it off.

I’m Canadian, What Are My Financing Options?

There is a steady increasing rate of Canadian real estate investors in the United States; and accordingly, the government has made certain that they have attractive financing options available to them.

If you’re Canadian – or if you’re a foreigner – you’d find a lot of reasons why you should buy a piece of real property in the United States. For Canadians, the parity of the currencies or the apparent devaluation of the US dollar is a pretty good reason itself. But how do you finance your purchase?

There are various financing options available to you depending on which state you are in. In Arizona, for instance, you’d get favorable financing terms if you are purchasing a property for recreational purposes, that is, you do not derive any income or benefit from your purchase or ownership. You will be required, however, to sign up a disclosure agreement and give a 30% down payment for your loan. To qualify though for a loan, you may be required to show availability of liquid reserves for a period of three to six months. You may also be required to present a minimum of 3-month bank statement.

If you are purchasing a property for investment, you’d probably meet stricter terms. Requirements may be more stringent. For instance, you could be required to give a down payment of more than 30% and you may be required to show one year worth of liquidity reserves.

Regardless of your reasons, if you feel like you can fulfill the requirements of a financing loan, you can then proceed to actually applying for a mortgage loan. Also, keeping yourself updated with the financing terms flux may be a wise idea.

Understanding the Tax Ramifications of Real Estate Investment

The first foreigner to have ever bought a real estate property in the United States was Peter Minuit. This opened the doors to foreign real estate investors. After a couple of centuries later, foreign real estate investment has grown into huge proportions, accounting for billion-of-dollar worth of industry.

The low risk attached to US real estate market, the availability of countless properties, and the steady market liquidity attract foreign investors in droves. The initial snag, however, is the process of understanding the legal ramifications of foreign real estate investment.

What you have to understand is that foreign investment in the United States can take a lot of forms. A foreigner has various options. He can acquire direct interest. He can acquire an interest in the real estate through a partnership, a corporation, or a limited liability company. The latter is the typical structure used by foreign investors.

Limited partnership or Limited Liability Company offers financial protection or indirect asset protection, especially in cases of bankruptcy, law suits and taxes. Foreign investors are generally taxed on the property as if they hold the property in direct interest.

Ideally, you should secure the services of a real estate accountant to help you out with the tax ramifications, but it would help if you, at least, know the basics before you actually talk to an accountant.

There are tax consequences that you have to deal with when you buy a real estate in the United States. You would need an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number which you will use with all your tax transactions. Your investment in real estates can be treated as a portfolio investment and will be accounted for as an investment income which can either be fixed or a periodic income. This is typically taxed at 30% on gross revenues. This tax though does not apply though to all foreign investors. Tax rates would vary depending on the tax personality the foreign investor opted for. For instance, a corporation would be taxed differently.

Other things that you should take note of are availability and requirements of tax refunds and state tax laws on real estate properties as they may differ from federal laws, among other things.

By knowing all these things, you may save yourself from a lot of hassles when you finally approach a real estate accountant. You’d be in same wavelength when you finally get down to talking business. It is, however, very important that you secure the services of an accountant. You’d have an easier time dealing with the taxes ramifications. You’d also have assistance ensuring that you comply with all the accounting aspect of your investment. This is especially true if you are purchasing a real property for investment purposes.

Do You Need to Secure the Service of a Real Estate Lawyer?

If you are considering buying a property in the United States, you need to secure the services of a real estate attorney – someone who could help you with the legal issues concerning your purchase. It is tempting to forego securing the service of a lawyer to save money, but this could cost you a lot of money in the long run. Make sure that you have an experienced and trustworthy lawyer to help you out. Make sure that you have thoroughly checked out his credentials, profile, history of successful cases handled by him, and other factors that would influence your decision. You could check online and look for a lawyer working within the state where you are considering purchasing a property.

Functions of a Real Estate Lawyer

There is no actual distinctive function for a lawyer in a real estate case. However, you would really need the assistance of a lawyer for various tasks. A real estate lawyer would review the sales contract for you. He would also check on the title and other documents relating to the property. A lawyer would also review your mortgage contract and make the necessary adjustments or corrections. You could also get him to review with you the legal and tax issues concerning the purchase. A real estate attorney could also make the necessary adjustments relating to various expenses and costs involved in the purchase. He would assess your eligibility for tax refunds and draft the documents and statements relating to this.

Putting it simply, a real estate lawyer will be your watchdog. He would guide you through the whole process of purchasing a real estate in the United States in order to make sure that you will be legally protected. You will have a capable and trustworthy liaison to help you out with the contract. He will also face legal disputes if any arise.

Tips on How to Invest in Real Estate Successfully

Now, if you’ve fully bought into the idea of real estate investing in the United States, you might just want to know how to go about investing in real estate successfully. If you want to be successful in this venture, the first thing that you have to avoid is overanalyzing. Of course, it is a good idea to carefully think through your actions but it is a bad idea to overanalyze your investment to nonexistence. You might lose a great opportunity.

Before you purchase the property though, it might be wise to check the property value. If it sits well with you and you can reasonably afford the property, go ahead and make the purchase.

If you are considering the property for a quick flip, make sure that the property is in perfect condition and in good area. This is to ensure that you could double or actually triple your return of investment. If you can inspect the property yourself, do so. If not, a good and trustworthy agent can help you with this task.

Another important thing to remember when you’re buying real estate is good financing. You should take your time to carefully consider all your financing options. Foreign investors can email in their queries to various lending institutions. It is a good idea to make sure that you’ve had their terms and rates on paper because they tend to change these terms and charge you with a lot of junk. Your real estate agent can help you with reviewing the escrow charges.

The bottom line, however, is that it is very important that you do your homework before you actually buy a real property. Investing in real properties in the United States can be profitable especially during these times. In fact, it may be the wisest and most perfect investment you can make right now.

Home buyers and homeowners need to decide which home Mortgage loan is right for them. Then, the next step in getting a mortgage loan is to submit an application ( Uniform Residential Loan Application ). Although we try to make the loan simple and easy for you, getting a mortgage loan is not an insignificant process.

Below is a short synopsis of some loan types that are currently available.

CONVENTIONAL OR CONFORMING MORTGAGE Loans are the most common types of mortgages. These include a fixed rate mortgage loan which is the most commonly sought of the various loan programs. If your mortgage loan is conforming, you will likely have an easier time finding a lender than if the loan is non-conforming. For conforming mortgage loans, it does not matter whether the mortgage loan is an adjustable rate mortgage or a fixed-rate loan. We find that more borrowers are choosing fixed mortgage rate than other loan products.

Conventional mortgage loans come with several lives. The most common life or term of a mortgage loan is 30 years. The one major benefit of a 30 year home mortgage loan is that one pays lower monthly payments over its life. 30 year mortgage loans are available for Conventional, Jumbo, FHA and VA Loans. A 15 year mortgage loan is usually the least expensive way to go, but only for those who can afford the larger monthly payments. 15 year mortgage loans are available for Conventional, Jumbo, FHA and VA Loans. Remember that you will pay more interest on a 30 year loan, but your monthly payments are lower. For 15 year mortgage loans your monthly payments are higher, but you pay more principal and less interest. New 40 year mortgage loans are available and are some of the the newest programs used to finance a residential purchase. 40 year mortgage loans are available in both Conventional and Jumbo. If you are a 40 year mortgage borrower, you can expect to pay more interest over the life of the loan.

A Fixed Rate Mortgage Loan is a type of loan where the interest rate remains fixed over life of the loan. Whereas a Variable Rate Mortgage will fluctuate over the life of the loan. More specifically the Adjustable-Rate Mortgage loan is a loan that has a fluctuating interest rate. First time homebuyers may take a risk on a variable rate for qualification purposes, but this should be refinanced to a fixed rate as soon as possible.

A Balloon Mortgage loan is a short-term loan that contains some risk for the borrower. Balloon mortgages can help you get into a mortgage loan, but again should be financed into a more reliable or stable payment product as soon as financially feasible. The Balloon Mortgage should be well thought out with a plan in place when getting this product. For example, you may plan on being in the home for only three years.

Despite the bad rap Sub-Prime Mortgage loans are getting as of late, the market for this kind of mortgage loan is still active, viable and necessary. Subprime loans will be here for the duration, but because they are not government backed, stricter approval requirements will most likely occur.

Refinance Mortgage loans are popular and can help to increase your monthly disposable income. But more importantly, you should refinance only when you are looking to lower the interest rate of your mortgage. The loan process for refinancing your mortgage loan is easier and faster then when you received the first loan to purchase your home. Because closing costs and points are collected each and every time a mortgage loan is closed, it is generally not a good idea to refinance often. Wait, but stay regularly informed on the interest rates and when they are attractive enough, do it and act fast to lock the rate.

A Fixed Rate Second Mortgage loan is perfect for those financial moments such as home improvements, college tuition, or other large expenses. A Second Mortgage loan is a mortgage granted only when there is a first mortgage registered against the property. This Second Mortgage loan is one that is secured by the equity in your home. Typically, you can expect the interest rate on the second mortgage loan to be higher than the interest rate of the first loan.

An Interest Only Mortgage loan is not the right choice for everyone, but it can be very effective choice for some individuals. This is yet another loan that must be thought out carefully. Consider the amount of time that you will be in the home. You take a calculated risk that property values will increase by the time you sell and this is your monies or capital gain for your next home purchase. If plans change and you end up staying in the home longer, consider a strategy that includes a new mortgage. Again pay attention to the rates.

A Reverse mortgage loan is designed for people that are 62 years of age or older and already have a mortgage. The reverse mortgage loan is based mostly on the equity in the home. This loan type provides you a monthly income, but you are reducing your equity ownership. This is a very attractive loan product and should be seriously considered by all who qualify. It can make the twilight years more manageable.

The easiest way to qualify for a Poor Credit Mortgage loan or Bad Credit Mortgage loan is to fill out a two minute loan application. By far the easiest way to qualify for any home mortgage loan is by establishing a good credit history. Another loan vehicle available is a Bad Credit Re-Mortgage loan product and basically it’s for refinancing your current loan.

Another factor when considering applying for a mortgage loan is the rate lock-in. We discuss this at length in our mortgage loan primer. Remember that getting the right mortgage loan is getting the keys to your new home. It can sometimes be difficult to determine which mortgage loan is applicable to you. How do you know which mortgage loan is right for you? In short, when considering what mortgage loan is right for you, your personal financial situation needs to be considered in full detail. Complete that first step, fill out an application, and you are on your way!