DEAN GRAZIOSI: DEAN GRAZIOSI REVIEW – REAL ESTATE FEED BY DEAN GRAZIOSI

So you’re looking to move out of a house or want to make a return on a non-primary home. There are two main options for homeowners in this situation – you can either sell the home, or rent it out. Both options have their pros and cons, and the “right” decision has to be based on your individual situation. Some of the things to consider for renting include the age of the house and the kind of screening and lease agreements you’ll have in place.

Older houses are often cheaper and thus attractive to investors looking for rental properties, but they can end up being more trouble than they’re worth. Older plumbing, wiring and fixtures are more likely to break than newer houses. Water heaters and furnaces may be outdated, inefficient and also prone to breakdowns. These are all fixes that must be made by the owner; they have to be done quickly and out of your own pocket. If you have the time and money to put into modernizing an older house it may turn into a good investment because of the lower sale price and property taxes.

Responsible renters who will take care of the property like their own are worth their weight in gold, and nearly ensure that the property will be profitable. However, there is no guarantee that your renters will be responsible and the house may require even more maintenance. Homes that allow pets are in high demand, but you will have to decide if it’s worth the additional risk to allow them. Being a landlord may require a lot of time and energy, and in the case of people who do not pay on time may require some unpleasant exchanges. Lease agreements must be done properly and legally if you wish to have any protection against legal issues. Many homeowners opt to hire a rental management company to worry about all the issues that may arise. They will handle screening rental applicants, enforcing eviction orders and coordinating repair and maintenance professionals for your property. You will have to decide whether hiring such a company will be worth the cut in your profits.

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 Stains on garage floors are inevitable, but very unsightly. If you’re putting a house on the market, this is often a task on the priority list. First, try to identify what kind of stain it is; this makes it easier to use the proper method for either removing the stain or bleaching it to the point that it can’t be seen. Most commonly, they will be oil stains or other fluids from cars.

If the stain is fresh, you can usually remove it with dish soap, water, a nylon scrub brush and an old towel. Never use a brush with wire bristles as it will leave little pieces of metal behind which will rust over time, causing an even larger stain. You can use cat litter in place of an old towel to pick up the water and oil after the stain has been removed. If you don’t want to go to the trouble of scrubbing, many hardware stores have oil removal products available.

For things such as mildew and algae, it’s best to treat the stains as soon as possible to avoid deep staining the concrete. When treating these stains, you will need a power washer, hot water, and oxygenated bleach or a deck-whitening agent.

To treat berry stains, do not use soap as this will cause it to set. For stains caused by fruit juices use hydrogen peroxide and flour to make a thick paste the consistency of peanut butter. Apply the mixture to the stain in a layer approximately ¼” thick and cover with plastic wrap. Tape the plastic wrap into place securely and allow it to sit until completely dry, usually about 24 to 48 hours. If you have a large stain you may want to consider purchasing a commercial product.

Finally, never use chlorine bleach for rust stains as it sets the stain, making it nearly impossible to remove. You should purchase a commercial product that contains oxalic acid and use rubber gloves, eye protection, warm water and a nylon scrub brush –preferably a long-handled one. Apply the product according to the directions, taking great care to keep it from touching bare skin.

Often, your local hardware store can give you additional pointers for removing specific types of stains from your garage floor.

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When it comes to buying or selling a home, one of the first steps is finding a responsible, reliable realtor to work with. You need to find a realtor that has your best interests in mind, so if you’re in the market to purchase a new home you would need the help of a selling agent. If you’re selling your home, a listing agent will be able to help you get the best price for your home.

In a few states, it’s legal for the seller’s agent to also be the buyer’s agent. In this case, the realtor would receive commission both from the home being sold as well as from the person buying it. Be aware of agents working on both sides; they usually have only their own interests in mind. Your agent should be on your side, working with you to get you the most bang for your buck, whether you are selling your home or purchasing a new home.

When you are shopping for a realtor, one great source for information is friends and family who have recently purchased a home with the help of a realtor. They will be able to give you honest, straightforward feedback on the quality of service they received from their realtor. They will be able to tell you if they would recommend that realtor.

If you don’t have anyone who has recently purchased a home to give you recommendations, then be sure to check the references of the realtor you are interested in hiring, which should be readily available. You should feel comfortable about asking your agent any questions that pertain to your house hunt, and they should be honest and sincere with every answer.

Some relevant questions to ask the realtor should include:

• How long have you been in business?
• Do you work directly with the seller? If so, do you have any obligations to the seller?
• Are you willing to show homes with a lower commission rate?

Don’t be afraid to ask a realtor to lower their commission if you think it’s unreasonable. If many other local realtors are charging 5.5% and your realtor is charging 6.75%, you may want to assess whether the service they provide is worth the difference. Your realtor should be trustworthy and his/her first priority must be getting you a good home at the right price.

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Today’s real estate market is complex, and if you have opted to sell your home during these hard times, you may be discouraged.  Real estate experts such as Dean Graziosi understand the market and before you start the selling process, it is essential that you do as well. 

First of all, contrary to what many believe, you can still sell your home in today’s market.  The truth of the matter is that if you have a home that people want to buy, and the price is right, the house will sell, it’s just a matter of how long it will take to get the job done. 

So, let’s assume you are ready to show your home.  Here is a checklist of some things you may have overlooked. 

• Have realistic expectations when it comes to the selling price of your home.  You must remember that in order to sell your home in a declining market, your home must be listed at today’s value. 
• Is your home in show condition?  Remember, you are not selling what is in the home, but the home itself.  Get rid of the clutter, this makes your rooms look bigger.  You should also clean your walls, floors and doors.  Invest in new light fixtures if they are outdated.  All of these things cost pennies on the dollar and can turn lookers into buyers.  Look at your home from across the street or from next door.  Does anything stand out that you may want to change?  Nice curb appeal is imperative, as buyers will make a judgment about the inside of your home just from seeing the outside. 
• In today’s market, you should be willing to negotiate on terms and financing.  It is much harder for buyers to be approved for home loans today than it was just a few years ago.  Therefore, if you are willing to assist in the financing part of things, your chances of selling greatly improve. 
• Above all, be patient and don’t get discouraged.  While it may take longer to sell your home, if you are proactive, it is just a matter of time.  Remember, chances are you are competing with thousands of other homes in your area, and many of them are foreclosures.  You must take the time to make your home appealing both physically and financially. 

If you think like a real estate investor, you can still find your success in the midst of a failing economy. 

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With the end of the year approaching, here are some ‘forecasts’ for the real estate market for the upcoming year. Of course, like the weather, unpredictability is the key and it’s important to remember that.

According to Lawrence Yun from the National Association of Realtors, he expects that home prices will rise about 2.8% in the coming year. But then again, the NAR is very optimistic in their prediction.

Currently, housing prices continue to drop and this is great news for those looking to invest in the real estate market. The longer a house sits on the market and the more eager the owners are to sell, the higher the probability will be that they will continue to reduce the selling prices. So if you have your eye on a piece of property, patience and persistence are the keys.

Areas to consider when looking for a real estate investment are Phoenix, Arizona; San Diego, California and the District of Columbia where good homes are known to sit on the market for up to half a year or more.

It’s a great idea to begin your search in the real estate market for homes that have been listed for at least three months. The longer they sit, the more anxious the home owners are to sell and the better the selling price will be.

According to CNNmoney.com, home prices are down almost twenty percent from the peak of the real estate market in July of 2006. They also report that there are approximately 18.6 million homes in the United States that are sitting vacant—the most since the Census Bureau began to track this figure in the mid-1960s.

So the forecast for investors in the real estate industry is one of optimism and hope. Good bargains are out there and with interest rates continuing to remain low, the opportunity to buy a beautiful real estate investment property is better than ever. 

Just remember that being patient when looking to buy a real estate investment is a good quality.

Happy Home Hunting for 2009!

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Whether you are a new investor or a professional like Dean Graziosi, protecting your real estate investment is a top priority, and that means you must make smart business decisions.  When it comes to purchasing investment properties, there is no room to cut corners.  This holds true no matter if you are buying a rehab or flip property, or if you are buying a long-term rental property.

One of the biggest mistakes newbie investors make is overlooking the need for an inspection prior to a purchase.  This one mistake alone can sink you before you even get started.  The problem here is that new investors easily get caught up in the moment and they forget that there are good deals in every city and state.  Just because a home is cheap, does not mean you should buy it.  Don’t be too quick to jump if you have not done your research. 

If you are purchasing a property that needs work, not only should you get a proper inspection, but in the case that you still go ahead and purchase the property, it is best to hire a maintenance professional and get things fixed correctly the first time around.  Getting things repaired properly the first time will not only save you headaches, but thousands upon thousands of dollars in the long-term. 

Now let’s say you find a great deal on a multi-unit building and you purchase it without getting it properly inspected.  While it may seem like you have a sound investment, what happens when within a matter of months you find yourself with a leaky roof, air conditioning units that will not work and plumbing problems?  Not only will you find yourself with unhappy tenants, or no tenants at all, but you will be left with huge bills that may cost you everything.   

New investors should never take maintenance and upkeep lightly.  Likewise, if you are renting out your property, make certain you are screening your tenants.  Not only do you want them to pay their bills, but you want to make sure that they respect your property.  If you have repairs that need to be done and you are not certain you can do them correctly yourself, find a reputable company to do it for you.  The bottom line is that mismanagement will put you out of business. Managing your property correctly is the only way to protect your real estate investment.   

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If you have ever considered making money in the real estate market, one name you’ve probably become very familiar with is Dean Graziosi. Dean Graziosi is a real estate expert and he teaches others how to turn real estate into investment opportunities; he has taught many investors how to buy real estate, improve the property, rent it out or sell it at amazing profits, creating a win-win situation for all parties involved. In this scenario, the buyer or renter gets an amazing refurbished home and the investor’s hard work pays off. Through learning and utilizing a variety of investment techniques, Dean Graziosi has helped himself, and many others like him, become multi-millionaires.

Although Dean Graziosi has done very well for himself through investing in real estate, he had a difficult childhood that may have motivated him to work hard to live a better life. He was raised by his single mother and usually had to wear secondhand clothes. When he was still a teenager, Graziosi purchased his first piece of real estate, a run-down apartment building in the town where he grew up. At that time, he bought the building with no money down. That was the beginning of an era for Dean Graziosi, and he has since helped many thousands of people realize their potential in investing real estate.

Graziosi has several books and courses available today to help the novice investor fulfill their dreams. His newest book is called Be A Real Estate Millionaire: Secret Strategies For Lifetime Wealth Today which is available alongside his real estate investing course, Think a Little Different in Real Estate. These informational resources teach new investors a variety of ways to make a profit by buying and selling real estate. Dean Graziosi also offers advice to investors in his real estate training program. While he has achieved his financial dreams, he believes that anyone can accomplish financial independence with just a little knowledge and action.

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We have all heard of the saying about the glass that is either “half full” or “half empty.” In fact I remember my parents always bringing that “half glass” up every time my thoughts turned to the negative, but whether you see the glass as half full or half empty, really depends on who is looking at it. This quote about “the glass,” and the current real estate market seem to have a lot in common.  Like that half full glass, the real estate market trends really depend on your focus. If you look at job loss, the economy, the world financial crisis, mortgage availability, bankruptcies, and delinquencies, then you probably have a pretty negative view of the current market, and you may not even want to consider how to buy or sell houses in this market.

But if you look a bit closer, then you can also see some positive aspects, and trends in the current real estate market. Think about it! today houses are much more affordable than they were two years ago. The severe national crisis and the sheer number of foreclosures have caused the end of the housing boom. Houses are experiencing great price reductions, and mortgages are being offered at extremely low rates. Mortgages have dropped as low as 5 and a half percent, for a fixed rate mortgage, which means low monthly payments for the term of the loan. What about that! Isn’t that good news? It certainly sounds like it. To some this may mean that now is the time to buy or sell houses.

Now, add this to the government’s January plan to cut the fixed rate mortgage to as low as four and a half percent, and offer a 10% tax incentive. Then you have the formula for success in any home investing plans, no matter why the investment is made.

The  idea is to promote the housing market, thus stimulating the economy. This means that if you want a great investing opportunity, you want to start looking at homes now.

Even if you are not interested in real estate investing, but you do happen to be renting, then this is the perfect opportunity to invest in your own home. By purchasing a home at this point in time, you will probably save more monthly money by buying, instead of renting, and you are creating a nest egg for yourself.

When the housing market fell in the 1970´s a similar stimulus was created and this had very positive effects on home purchases, and on the whole of the economy. If this type of programming is put in place again, then there should be extreme advantages to buying real estate, for any reason.

So, whether you are looking for a safe place to put your savings, or want an inexpensive place to live, you really want to seriously consider the real estate market… and soon!

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Purchasing real estate simply because it is cheap, is not the smart thing to do.   While finding the hugely discounted properties is important in most cases, there are countless other things that should be considered before you jump in.  Real estate experts such as Dean Graziosi have been trained through education, research and above all, lots of experience.          

If you are in need of immediate cash from a real estate transaction, then cash flow should be one of the biggest factors in deciding whether or not a property is for you.  You need to ask yourself, will this property produce an income for me?  If you need cash now, but the property you are looking at is in no shape to rent, sell or flip without substantial work, you may want to pass on the opportunity.  In other words, if you don’t have the time to do a lot of repairs, don’t buy a fixer upper with the “hope” that it will work itself out. 

Leverage is another factor that you should consider before purchasing any property.  The more money you put down on the property, the less you can put down on another.  You want to make sure that the properties you are investing on are solid investments because the money you put down on them will ultimately determine whether you have a negative or positive cash flow.  The more debt you have in a property the greater your loss could be in the long run.  This is why it is important to invest in real estate markets that will appreciate in the long run.  If the value of the property goes up, so does your rate of return.  Choose your neighborhoods wisely and watch the market trends.  You may have to look a little further than your backyard to find a deal worth investing in.

Obviously, if you can buy a property with a large amount of equity, your chances of success just increased substantially.  Equity comes in many forms, from huge discounts and fixer uppers to foreclosures and properties that can be rezoned.  If you want to invest in a fixer upper, make sure that you are at least getting a discount equal to double of the amount you will have to invest in it to fix it. 

Lastly, never invest in any property without assessing your risk.  If you purchase a property that happens to depreciate in value, will you be able to rent it for a positive cash flow?  If you find that you can’t sell it as quickly as you wanted to, can you survive with less income or will you find yourself in dire straights?  All of these questions are worth asking before you make any real estate transaction. 

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We’ve all heard the startling news stories, the ones that provoke fear into the hearts of home owners and novice real estate investors alike.  Despite the fact that housing prices have fallen to the lowest values in decades and the credit crunch has made it difficult for consumers to get new loans, real estate experts such as Dean Graziosi, have taken the bad news and turned it into profit.  

While it is true that the vast majority of the United States is seeing astronomical foreclosure rates and low property values, there are still some housing markets that have seen appreciation of home values rather than depreciation.  Finding and purchasing homes in these areas is just one of the ways you can ensure your real estate investment success.  If you are looking to invest in the immediate future, make sure you take a close look at what the following cities have to offer.  These cities are considered to be the best housing markets in the United States in the year 2008.

Biloxi, Mississippi

Salem, Oregon

Bismarck, North Dakota

Spokane, Washington

Yakima, Washington

Austin, Texas

Grand Junction, Colorado

Fargo, North Dakota

Mobile, Alabama

Idaho Falls, Idaho

New York, New York

Glen Falls, New York

Salt Lake City, Utah

Grand Forks, North Dakota

Pascagoula, Mississippi

Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Kellogg, Idaho

Boise, Idaho

Provo, Utah

Ogden, Utah

Edmond, Oklahoma

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Amarillo, Texas

Lubbock, Texas

In today’s market deals are everywhere.  The problem is that there are so many deals that for a novice investor, deciding which deals are good in the long run can be a nightmare.  While you may have to look a little further than your backyard when it comes to making a wise investment, there are definitely deals to be had if you know where to look for them.  Wise investors not only take the time to research the real estate markets they are considering, they also know when to pass up a deal.   Anyone that has any experience in real estate knows that location is one of the most important factors when deciding whether or not to invest in a particular property, and perhaps in today’s sluggish economy, it is the single most important factor. 

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