Today with the real estate market being in such a slump, you want to do anything you can to make your real estate property more appealing. Actually there is a great way to make your property stand out against all others. The most popular houses on the market today are those that are energy efficient. An existing house can be retrofitted to both save and produce energy. This new type of energy efficient home is becoming very popular and houses that are environmentally friendly sell more quickly and produce more profits than comparable houses that are not environmentally friendly.If you pay attention to the news, you will know that energy costs are rising and people are becoming more aware of alternative fuels, and want to save whatever existing energy we do use. There are some things you can do to make a traditional home more energy friendly and according to Dean Graziosi more appealing to buyers.

1.      Create high performance insulation of the entire home using both air barriers and insulation. Use form fitting doors and windows that don’t allow air to escape.

2.      In stall energy efficient lighting and appliances. These are extremely attractive to potential buyers.

3.      Use solar panel cooling and heating systems. These have come way down in costs and are extremely helpful when saving energy. Dean Graziosi believes that the use of solar panels even if it’s just for water heating will improve the attractiveness of your home.

4.      If you can find someone to install a photovoltaic system to offset electrical costs, this is another great addition to a home.

Whatever you can do to make your home more energy efficient will help improve its marketability, your investment, and the price you get for it. Some of these remodeling projects are not that expensive, and others cost a bit more, but are still well worth it.

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There are a great number of bond investors out there who are experiencing reduced returns due to economic factors.  Interest rates are very low, thus bond yields, though steady and safer than holding stocks, are quite small as well.  Hundreds of billions of dollars in retirement assets are invested in government and corporate bonds in this country.

·         Government bonds, frequently backed by the “full faith and security” of the U.S. or state government, are considered quite safe.  After all, they can just raise taxes to generate revenue.

·         Corporate bonds are a bit more risky, but they almost always pay higher yields for that reason alone.  You’re betting on the continued operation and financial health of a corporation.

Perhaps you’re a bond investor with substantial holdings in either or both of these bond types.  After all, most financial planners will advise you to diversify.  They’ll also point out that bonds are safer investments, and that makes their lower yields acceptable if you are near or in retirement.  All of this is very true, and we wouldn’t advise anyone to liquidate bond holdings to re-allocate money to real estate investing…unless they do their homework at least.

If you have considered moving money from bonds to direct real estate investment, here are some characteristics of these investment types that may help to you make a decision.  Remember, we’re talking about active investing, though you may hire others to manage your properties.

·         Historically, real estate has provided appreciation and rental yields at multiples of the yield rates of bonds.

·         The history of real estate in this country has proven the safety of the investment if done properly with due diligence and intelligent purchasing.

·         While bond yields suffer with inflation, the rental property investor usually profits from it.  The cost to build goes up, so their properties appreciate, and usually rents increase with inflation as well.  All the while, your fixed mortgage payments stay the same.

·         Bonds have a fixed value, with the only return on investment coming from the interest or dividend yield.  Real estate will often produce an equal or higher rental yield, while appreciating in value as well.

·         When home buying becomes unaffordable for many, or mortgage avenues dry up, there are more tenants because they cannot afford to buy a home.

·         Our population continues to grow, with the normal first home for younger people being a rental of some kind.

Examine your life goals and your investment objectives.  If you have the time and ability to invest in real estate, particularly rental property, then you may find that a partial re-allocation of your investments from bonds to real estate is for you.

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That’s a question Dean Grasiozi is often asked and the answer is simple, the time is always now, especially since the market has slowed and homes are being listed for longer periods of time—meaning the price continues to drop.

In April of this year, inventory of homes on the market rose by 10.5% with about 4.5 million homes listed as for sale compared to the same time frame in 2007. So there are bargains to be bought.

There are a number of niche markets that prospective real estate investors should consider looking into:
a) For Sale by Owner Market.

b) Condominium market.

c) Foreclosure market.

d) Resort and Vacation home market.

If you’re looking to buy something in a geographical area you don’t currently live, Dean Grasiozi suggests you use the World Wide Web to find articles and information about the area you’re interested in. There are a number of websites that keep up to the minute information about trends in real estate and the perfect place to look.

You might also consider making sure you have other professionals on your team to help you with questions that come up when buying investment real estate properties.

• A Real Estate attorney is great to have especially one who is experienced in handling all types of purchases.
• A Contractor is useful when you’re looking to buy a property that needs fixing up.
• A certified public account that knows real estate and preferably has already purchased several properties.
• Of course it is quite possible to become a successful real estate investor without any of those aforementioned professionals.

So there’s no time like the present to start buying your own real estate investment properties and add to your investment portfolio.

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When you are in the market for a home then sooner or later you have to deal with a mortgage and understanding the way mortgages work, especially in the current market is a HUGE issue for many buyers. I cant tell you the number of times we here at Dean Graziosi have been asked about mortgages and how they work. We estimate that about 75%  of new home buyers have a difficult time understanding the real estate market and how mortgages work. In fact many people just don’t buy a home or invest in property because they don’t understand the mortgage process and find the whole thing very scary when buying real estate.

The Answer

The answer for people that are in the real estate industry and who want to increase sales, is to help the consumer understand the mortgage process, address their fears, and do whatever we can to help them with their purchase. You need to address financing, interest rates, monthly payments and especially down payments.

Down Payments

The sizable amounts that are now required for down payments have also become a huge issue for many home buyers.  It is estimated that almost 30% of possible home buyers are not in the market to buy a home because of a lack of a down payments, that’s even more people than those that have poor credit.

If People in the real estate business could help people address these fears and issues then more people would be in the market for homes. They would cut expenses in other areas such as personal luxuries, clothing expenses, and would stay home more often, if there were a way to lower their down payments.

This type of survey done by Harris Interactive, is not alone, other surveys within the real estate industry have come up with similar conclusions. So, the answer for those of us in the real estate market is to address the issues of home buyers and help them get into the home of their choice even if the real estate market is on a down turn.

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The primary reason is because real estate produces money in more ways than one. So when you are looking for real estate for investment purposes you are probably thinking about how the property can make money for you in the future and you need to keep that in mind before making your purchase.

Dean Graziosi, a prominent real estate investor, says that you need to think about the future value of the property, but also its rentability. Income generated from rentals can be quite good when it is administered correctly. You need to purchase the property at the right price, keep maintenance and expenses down. If you keep the building, apartment, condo or house well maintained then you will usually make money on the investment.

There are a few things you should be aware of when thinking about buying real estate as an investment. 

First you need to consider the neighborhood. If you choose a neighborhood that will go down in the future, then this will affect your investment negatively. You will have a harder time renting the property.

Carefully consider the city’s infrastructure. You don’t want to buy a property where factories will soon go up or where there will be an airport. The good thing is that this type of construction is usually announced well in advance giving you time to sell the property.

Appliances and equipment should be in good repair. Nothing devalues a property more than old water heaters, roofing, appliances, etc. This means you will also need to invest in maintenance of the property, so your buying price should reflect that.

Even with all of these factors that need to be watched for buying real estate in a downward turned real estate market can be a blessing in disguise for a Savvy real estate investor. There are many motivated sellers who are willing to reduce the price of a property, and offer other great incentives for the right buyers. The point is that you hone your negotiating skills and realize that the buyer needs to sell, and will at a great price.

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Everyone knows that the housing market has dropped in the last year but most homeowners, real estate developers, agents and investors believe that the real estate market will get better once the new president comes to office in 2009. This belief is based on a survey taken by Harris Interactive.
The surveys findings, state that almost 50% of women and a little over 40% of men believe that the housing market will get better once the new president has taken office. It also found that 80% of current home buyers are a little nervous about the current market. The reasons for this nervousness varies a little but mainly because of high down payments, loss of faith in the economy, lower annual income levels, and higher prices in real estate.
Even so! Even though news seems to be negative in the real estate market, the survey also indicated an up side. Demand for new homes is still healthy, and many current homeowners intend to buy another home sometime in the future, and many of those plan on buying within the next five years.
Another interesting fact the survey came up with, is that almost 80% of home buyers are willing to change their spending habits so they can save money for that higher down payment. They are also willing to cut out certain neighborhood features and amenities, in order to buy a home in today’s market.
Dean Graziosi, a renown real estate investor,  believes these findings are both good news for both the homebuyer and the seller. The idea is to be aware of the current real estate market, but don’t be to scared either to put your house on the market, or to go out and find that great home you have been looking for.  It is still possible to find the real estate deal, and selling your home may take a little longer, but there are buyers out there.

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Some tips for perspective home buyers from Dean Graziosi.

1) Probably the most important tip Dean Graziosi can give perspective home buyers is before you start shopping for a home/investment, make sure you know what’s on your credit report. Most people don’t realize that your credit report can contain an array of errors. And it’s your responsibility to clean them up. You’re entitled to one FREE credit report per year. It’s worth the time to request your credit report and make sure it’s in perfect order.

2) After you’ve checked your credit report, it’s important to become pre-approved so you can shop with no worries. Your pre-approval will give you the amount the bank is willing to loan you and you can shop for a piece of property in your price range.

3) Once you start looking, make sure you’re patient. Finding the home that’s just right for you can take some time. You don’t need to buy a home for the amount you’re approved for especially with today’s real estate market becoming more of a buyer’s market. It’s important to be able to afford the house you buy.

4) Dean Graziosi suggests that you don’t use all of your savings to make that home buy. Seek out a strong mortgage professional who can find the right program for your budget and make sure you don’t use all the money you’ve saved. When you move into your new home, you’ll want some cash in case you need to do repairs or upgrades.

5) If you’re a first time home buyer or haven’t owned a place in several years, you can qualify for programs that are geared for first time home buyers. Once again, make sure your mortgage professional has provided you with all of your buying options including those first time home owner programs.

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You’ve just bought your first investment property and it needs a little tender loving care. Here are some suggestions from Dean Graziosi to help you dress up your property.

1.         Put on Paper. Whether you find an architect or do it yourself, put your ideas for your property on paper. Draw the changes you want and it will help you see how your place will look when the remodeling is finished.

2.         Don’t reinvent the wheel. Seek out others who have done remodeling so you can learn from their mistakes. Check online, watch some of the tv networks that are dedicated to remodeling and even peruse magazines and other publications.

3.         Check your wallet. Though good planning can certainly give you an idea of how much your remodeling will cost, it’s always good to have something extra for those unexpected over-budget emergencies.

4.         Don’t do it alone. You might be handy but it’s best to make sure you’ve hired the right set of players for your remodeling project. Even though your designer might have some people in mind, take the time, to find workers who you are comfortable with at a price you’re willing to pay.

5.         Get it in writing. No matter who you’ve hired to work for you, make sure the terms of what they’re responsibilities are, how much they’re to be paid and how long it will take to do the work are carefully spelled out in writing.

6.         Permits. It’s important before work begins, to arrange for all permits you might need. From your county to your home owners association, don’t start working until you have all the documents you need giving you permission to make the repairs you intend to make.

7.         Have a plan B. The best laid plans of mice and men means that you need to plan for unexpected problems. Whether it’s broken equipment, inclement weather or illness, try to schedule an alternative plan to keep your remodeling project on deadline.

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According to the Associate Press, foreclosure filings were up almost 50 percent for the month of May. Across the nation, 261,255 homes received at least one foreclosure related filing.

The article goes on to state that with weak housing sales, falling home values, tighter mortgage lending criteria and a slowing United State’s economy has forced homeowners to lost their homes through foreclosure.

All but 10 states showed an increase in foreclosure filings with Nevada, California, Arizona, Florida and Michigan with the highest foreclosure rates.

AP also reported that in some neighborhoods, lenders are dropping prices so much in an effort to get rid of their foreclosed properties.

It’s clear that homeowners have overextended themselves and though this might be bad news for some, it’s good news for those who are looking to find bargains in the real estate market.

Dean Graziosi has spent much of his adult life passing along his secrets to obtaining wealth through real estate to thousands of everyday people.

His books and lectures are filled with information to help you be a success at buying and selling property.

You don’t even have to reside in the state where you want to buy property.

The trend appears to be for continue slow housing starts and falling housing prices—the perfect recipe for investors looking for a bargain in real estate.

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Dean Graziosi is a real estate investing expert who teaches people how to make money in real estate by showing them how to quickly and easily identify cycles in the real estate market. His personal goal in sharing his knowledge about real estate investments is to help individuals buy, sell, rent and flip real estate properties in a manner that is win-win for all parties involved. Even though Dean Graziosi is a multi-millionaire today, that’s not the way he started. He was a poor kid, raised by a single mother, who worked her tail off at two jobs to earn a scant $90 a week. Dean wore second-hand clothes and endured excessive teasing growing up. This was motivation to better his life.

His First Real Estate Investment

Dean Graziosi made his first real estate investment as a teenager. He bought and fixed up a run down apartment building in his home town, and he purchased it with no money down. This whole interesting story of this first venture into real estate investing is told in his book “Be A Real Estate Millionaire: Secret Strategies for Lifetime Wealth Today.” This is a book people who want to learn real estate investing invest in to learn the same strategies Dean has used himself, and taught for over 20 years to novice real estate investors all across the United States.

Unlike so many so called real estate investing experts, never would Dean Graziosi scam anyone! Dean truly desires to deliver value to people and is an active investor today. He is not content to simply offer information to make more money for himself; he is seriously committed to helping others make money in real estate investing
So they can experience the kind of financial freedom he has found through real estate investing.

Dean Graziosi Provides Real Estate Investing Education Resources

Besides his new book, “Be A Real Estate Millionaire” Dean also has a real estate investing course titled the: “Think A Little Different” real estate course. It teaches people how to make money from Real Estate in a variety of ways. Dean also offers real estate investing advice to investors through an advanced real estate investing training program. His name is often mispronounced as Dean Graziosi rather than the correct way, (Graziosi). Today Dean has accomplished most of his financial dreams. His daily appearances on TV since 1999 have helped make him known internationally as one of America’s foremost experts on helping folks achieve top levels of financial security.

The positive techniques Dean Graziosi uses are making money in real estate for people who use them. He maintains that anyone can achieve monetary independence with a little knowledge and taking action. No matter what cycle the real estate market is in, if you put into practice the steps Dean lay’s out for you in his system, (which truly boils down to two things; understanding the existing real estate cycle and applying the suitable investment approaches), you’ll make wealth. It’s that simple.

To see the $1 risk free trial of the course Dean Graziosi created that automatically drives foreclosure deals to your door please click here

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