Heidelberg Wohnen in der schönsten Stadt Deutschland – Seite 2 – Wohnen in der wunderschönen Stadt Heidelberg

Selling Your Home or Investment Property – Get The Highest Price for Your Property!

The biggest mistakes that often occur when you are looking to sell your property is that you may go with the easiest or what seems like the most sensible options – by giving your property listing to a friend or family member, by choosing the agent who offers the lowest commission, by selecting a sales agent who has a little number of listings and will therefore dedicate their time to servicing you, or the agent who tells you „I won’t spend your money on advertising, it’s not necessary“. There is a well known acronym in the sales industry that good sales agents use and that you need to follow – the 4 P’s…

Profile, Presentation, Presence & Price!

If you get all 4 of these right, you should be on your way to a great sales result…

Profile – choose an agent who is a known market leader. They are in that position because they sell lots of property and they sell it well – for the best price. They may charge a slighty higher commission than „Joe Blogs“ down the road but I’m sure if you look at their sales history, their results warrant a higher commission. Look at it this way…

Agent A charges 2.5% on a $500,000 sale = $12,500 commission

Agent B charges 2% on a $500,000 sale = $10,000 commission

You may look at that scenario and say, „I’ll choose agent B“ but I’m sure that if Agent A is a high profile agent with a good database of buyers and great sales skills to sell your property, they are likely to achieve at least 5-10% more than Agent B – which will actually result in $25,000 to $50,000 extra in your pocket. $2500 is one extra bid at Auction, and a great sales agent will get you that and more!

Presentation – a property is never going to achieve its maximum sale price if it is badly presented. The buyer who is likely to pay higher for your property is the home buyer as they will become emotionally attached to the property, so present your home for sale well to attract home buyers. Remove clutter from rooms – this includes personal books (I have seen a copy of Kama Sutra in a book case before and it made me wonder what the current owners did there!), family photos, and personal items. You want the buyer to visualise where their own items will go, and the less cluttered a property is, the larger it will feel. Mow the lawns, take out the garbage and if you have time, apply a fresh coat of paint to the walls (this will immediately life the look of a property but make sure the property doesn’t smell of paint when buyers inspect).
Presence – if you want to sell your home for the highest price possible, you need to tell the world that it is for sale. A good sales agent will recommend an advertising campaign be included as a large component of your marketing and from my experience, this is often a necessary evil but there are instances where it may not be;
a) Your property is an investment property and the likely buyer may be from overseas or interstate OR b) Your buyer is most likely to be a Gen X or Gen Y – as they are less likely to pick up the paper than they are to surf the internet for their ideal home or property investment
Price – There is two main methods of selling your property in Australia – Auction or Private Treaty. When it comes to choosing a method of sale, you need to know your market. In Sydney & Melbourne, the market is used to Auctions and this can often be the best way to maximise your sale price, however, in areas like Brisbane and Perth, the Auction process can be detrimental to a sales campaign, as buyers prefer the transparent process of a listed for sale price. In some circumstances, buyers have paid above the asking price as they have recognised value in the asking price and have been forced to compete with other buyers to secure the property. The chosen method of sale is also reliant on the current state of the property market. If you are in a Buyers Market (ie. more property for sale than buyers), I wouldn’t recommend an Auction unless you are seriously committed to selling and will take whatever bidscome your way on Auction Day. However, if you are in a Sellers Market (lots of buyers and not much property for sale), Auction can the best way to increase your sale price, as the fear of missing out kicks in and buyers often pay well above their intended limits.

Above all, if you are committed to selling, do your research – attend open homes in your area, talk to your neighbours, read agent testimonials and ask to speak to previous clients. If you know your market, you will know the best agents and the likely sale price for your property, allowing you to trust your chosen sales agent and in the end you will feel like you have made an informed decision when it comes to crunch time and you do sell!

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Kathlene Campbell

Who Are For Sale by Owners?

You may be wondering what kind of people sell their own homes. Do they have some special trait, or skill, do they possess a natural salesmen-like quality, or are they just regular people who are sick and tired of giving their hard earned money away. Let me take this opportunity to put your mind at ease. Selling your own property privately does not require any special trait or natural ability, in fact millions of people around the World have done it, and millions more continue to do today. The person who decides to sell privately as a For Sale By Owner (or FSBO) is just a regular person like you or me. What sets them apart is that these homeowners who may, or may not, have any previous experience in selling a property, all take the time to learn the „trade secrets“ of how to do it correctly. They look for a practical resource of information, one that has been carefully designed to guide homeowners through the process of preparing a house for market, and once they find it, they make it work for them. One such resource is this article. Lets discuss some of the myths about selling privately that have gained popularity over the years.

Myths Of Selling Privately

Many people believe that they cannot sell their own house without the help of a Real Estate agent. Some believe that it’s even illegal to do so. This is not true, and I will take a moment to break it down, and prove this to you in an example. Please forgive that my example is somewhat simplistic, but it will nevertheless serve to make my point.

In the sale of a house there are likely 6 participants, the Vendor (the homeowner), the Purchaser, the Vendor’s lawyer, the Purchaser’s lawyer, and then there is the Vendor’s Real Estate agent, and the Purchaser’s Real Estate agent. By simple process of elimination, we shall see which of the above participants are needed to transact a sale. We will try removing each set of participants from the transaction, and ask ourselves the question „Can the sale still be done?“. If it cannot, then we need those participants and they cannot be removed. If it can proceed, then we can remove the participants from the transaction, and still have it proceed. Let’s begin removing participants from the transaction.

If you remove the Vendor or Purchaser from the transaction then obviously the sale cannot proceed, so these two participants must obviously stay. What about the lawyers? If we remove the lawyers from this transaction then there is no one to investigate the existing property title, and there is no one to legally convey the title of the property being sold to its new owner (the Purchaser) after the sale. In addition to this, without the attorneys there is no one to legally oversee the exchange of monies so that the Vendor gets paid once title is turned over to the Purchaser. It’s pretty obvious that the lawyers should remain in the transaction so we cannot take them out and still proceed. That leaves one group – the Realtors. Can we remove the Realtors from this transaction and still proceed? Since millions of homes are sold each and every year without the use or participation of Real Estate agents, then the answer is a resounding „Yes!“. The Realtors can be removed from the transaction, and it can still proceed without cause, making it all too clear who is needed, and who is not.

Now that we have clearly established who is needed to transact the sale of a property, we should deal with some popular misconceptions that seem to have gained credibility over the years. Many of these falsehoods are nothing more than rumor and hearsay which has been around long enough to be mistakenly taken as fact. For example, some people believe that a Real Estate agent has some mystical power that helps them get more money for a house than if it were sold privately by its owner.

People who promote this idea often argue that the Buyer knows that there is no commission being paid by the Vendor to a Realtor, and so this savings must go to them in the way of a discount. Nothing could be further from the truth. Ask yourself this simple question, „When did it become usual, or even reasonable, to give Buyers everything that they want, and worse, how is this apparent entitlement to an automatic discount enforced?“ In other words, under what authority is this discount enforced? The simple fact is that no one can force any Vendor to sell for anything less than they are willing to sell for!3 By the same line of logic, if it’s true that a Buyer is automatically entitled to a discount because the Vendor is not paying a commission, then is it also true that the Vendor should be paid a bonus, over and above his property’s fair market value, for improving and keeping the property in good condition over the years? Of course not! It’s ridiculous because market value is market value, period. There is no denying that it can be helpful to have sales representation to argue your case for a better sale price, but the fact is that a Buyer doesn’t much care who is selling the house or arguing the case for an end sale price, they just want to buy the best house they can for the least amount of money.

On the other side of the table, a Vendor doesn’t much care who is buying the house either, they just want to get the most money for their property. The truth is that in any market Vendors will not get one nickel more for their properties than they are worth to Buyers who are willing to purchase them; and those Buyers will not pay one nickel less than what those Vendors are willing to accept for those properties. This is the very definition of market value;

The fair market value of a property is that price that is agreed upon by a knowledgeable and willing Vendor and a knowledgeable and willing Purchaser in a free market, with each being unencumbered by undue pressure to buy or sell, and with each acting in his/her own best interest.

The bottom line is that nothing has changed in over 500 years, the value of goods in a marketplace are still simply a matter of supply and demand, and creating a demand for your property is simply a matter of good marketing, and that’s what these articles are all about! They have been designed to teach you the time-tested techniques of how to market your property so that it fetches the greatest value, in the least amount of time. These articles are filled with practical advice and tips on how to sell your house privately „By Owner“ and get quick results with more money in your pocket! No gimmicks, no magic – just good marketing! You will learn how to prepare and promote your house for a profitable sale, how to negotiate with a prospective Buyer, and all without having to use a real estate agent!

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by George Grosso

Reinventing Real Estate, Part 2: Online and Empowered Consumers Are Taking Charge and Paying Less

Demanding consumers

„Internet buyers tend to be better informed on market conditions and better prepared to act on the home they want when they start working with a realtor. Luckily for realtors, these changes don’t necessarily hurt, as long as they are able to adjust to the new relationship and realize that the new-style buyers value speed and efficiency over guidance when finding a home.“

– E-marketer, Internet Home Buyers Changing the House Rules

Thanks to the Internet and other technological innovations, more real estate information is freely available than ever before. As a result, consumers are demanding new choices, improved services, faster transactions and lower prices. According to a recent NAR survey, the number of sellers stating that they didn’t want to pay a sales commission fee rose from 46 percent in 2003 to 61 percent in 2004. In 2004, 23 percent of Florida home sellers opted to sell independently without an agent, up from 14 percent in 2003 and nearly double the 14 percent national average, according to Planet Realtor.

And Web-enabled consumers are demanding a high digital IQ when working with real estate professionals. In addition to being well-versed on their own industry-specific technology, real estate professionals now are expected to utilize laptops, mobile phones, digital cameras, personal digital assistants and global positioning systems to keep pace with Internet buyers and sellers.

Downward pressure

„If consumers are going to do their own home-shopping online, they expect to save some money, just as they would for using the self-service lane. That’s why they are susceptible to online discount brokers and the new affinity companies that are promoting lower commissions if only the consumers will use their agents. These business models promote the idea to consumers that they ought to be paying less money in commissions.“

Realty Times Columnist Blanche Evans

Traditional real estate commissions, typically around six percent of a home’s selling price, are facing downward pressure from consumers and competition. Some consumers claim traditional real estate commissions don’t reflect:

– Today’s home prices. Years ago, when median-priced homes sold for $25,000, real estate commissions were typically five percent, or $1,250. Today, with South Florida median home prices around $300,000, the cost of a six percent full-service real estate commission becomes $18,000. Some brokers even charge additional fees to cover administrative costs. When you consider that today’s average homeowner sells a home every five to seven years, real estate commissions can dramatically impact your personal savings and net worth.

– Owner equity. When selling properties, most homeowners calculate the cost of selling as a portion of sales price, though the commissions are paid out of owner equity. (Equity is the difference between the value of your property and amount of mortgages owed.) Consider this example: You decide to sell a property for $250,000 in which you hold 10 percent equity, or $25,000. After paying a six percent commission of $15,000, you are left with $10,000 before any applicable closing costs. In this example, the $15,000 commission is six percent of the selling price, but 60 percent of the $25,000 equity.

– Services performed. Under today’s commission structure, selling a $100,000 house at six percent typically costs $6,000, while selling a $500,000 house costs $30,000. Does selling the more expensive home really require five times more effort? Your cost is the same whether the agent spends one hour or 100 hours marketing your home. This is one reason many real estate consumers find fee-for-service real estate so appealing.

Developing alternatives

„Consumers want what they want, when they want it and will gravitate to the most cost-effective source to obtain it. Why? Because our „one-size-fits-all“ approach to working with sellers and buyers is archaic and won’t allow consumers to access various segments of help they need in a timely fashion. That’s why .com Web start-ups are finding a receptive audience in real estate consumers and why for-sale-by-owners are burgeoning.“

Julie Garton-Good, Author of „Real Estate a la Carte: Selecting the Services You Need, Paying What They’re Worth“

Until recently, you have had few practical alternatives to the traditional full-service, full-commission real estate transaction with a broker. Most sellers paid a single commission fee for a full range of real estate services, whether they needed them or not. Now traditional real estate agencies face the challenge of identifying new services that have value to today’s sophisticated online and empowered consumers.

One result is an „unbundling“ of traditional one-size-fits-all real estate services for consumers who want more control over real estate transactions and their associated costs. If you’re willing to take on some tasks traditionally performed by agents and brokers, you could receive lower transaction costs. You might benefit from the following emerging alternatives:

Fee-for-services

„Consumers want assistance from real estate professionals, but don’t want to pay for it in the form of traditional commissions,“ says a la Carte real estate Pioneer Julie Garton-Good. Garton-Good has been preaching the fee-for-services gospel for more than 20 years. As the name implies, you can choose which tasks you feel comfortable performing and hire qualified real estate professionals to do the rest. Many traditional real estate brokerages are beginning to offer a more menu-based service plan. For example, you may not mind listing your home and holding open houses, but you may want assistance with contracts and closings.

One-stop shopping

In response to dwindling margins and the rising costs of technology and lead generation, some real estate companies are attempting to combine traditional and Web-based services to provide consumers a single source for all their real estate needs. One-stop shopping sites generally provide or partner with lenders, insurers, title companies, real estate attorneys and others to facilitate all aspects of buying and selling. In addition, some sites are adding home-improvement and related services to stay in touch with consumers between buying and selling transactions.

Web-based discounters

Although many Web-based real estate companies flamed out in the dotcom era, scores of new companies have emerged to take their place. By offering targeted services such as flat-fee MLS listings, buyer rebates and AVM tools, these sites are appealing to independent buyers and sellers who prefer to take a more active role in transactions. In addition to listings, some sites also offer how-to articles and advice for those who choose to go it alone.

Tradition + technology + turbulence = opportunities

So, given the trends, changes and ongoing industry evolution, what can independent buyers, sellers and investors expect in this new era of real estate?

o The Web and other technologies will continue to evolve and transform the $1.3 trillion real-estate industry. Technology will continue to reduce the time, expense and complexity of manual processes, and increasingly sophisticated search and valuation tools will play a more strategic role.

o Free and low-cost real estate resources will continue to be available and even multiply on the Web. In real estate, knowledge truly is power. Consumers will try to use their power to gain more control of the real estate process and subsequently expect to be compensated in the form of reduced and fee-for-service commissions.

o The role of traditional real estate brokerages will evolve as Web-enabled consumers become more knowledgeable. This likely will trigger some restructuring and consolidation of traditional brokerages, but will also drive the development of innovative new practices targeting online and empowered consumers. Real estate professionals will focus more on promoting their local knowledge and industry expertise, while consumers will perform some buying and selling tasks on their own.

o Traditional real estate commissions and profitability levels will continue to face downward pressure from various sources. The future will be profitable for brokerages that are able to extend their core expertise of neighborhood and industry knowledge into flexible new consumer-centric offerings.

o The traditional high-touch, full-service real estate agency is evolving, not disappearing. Real estate professionals who provide exceptional service and value to their customers will always be in demand.

You now can find more real estate knowledge, tools and resources on the Web than ever before, enabling you to buy and sell with increased confidence. For real estate professionals, reinventing the industry means making hard decisions, changing processes and managing new opportunities. But for consumers, reinvention in real estate is a winner, hands-down.

Learn more at http://www.homekeys.net

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Charles Warnock

Best Way to Find Foreclosures – 5 Tips for Finding Foreclosures

Are you looking for foreclosures in your area? Conditions in various seller’s markets may be different but there are still ways in which you can easily find foreclosed homes for your ownership.

Tap the services of real estate agents. Real estate agents are given access to a system which is known as MLS or Multiple Listing Service. It is through this system that the agents are able to find foreclosed homes in a specific area. Thus, tapping such professional is one way to find a foreclosure.

Scout for real estate yard signs. Banks are still into the practice of putting yard signs into properties that have come back to their stables of possessions. There are variations of these signs but aside from foreclosure, included among the most common signs are bank-owned, bank repossessed, and bank repo. Typically, the real estate agent’s name is reflected on the sign. Take the opportunity to call whoever is written on the sign. with advanced thinking, you can already ask about forthcoming foreclosures in your area.

Join social media groups geared towards foreclosure buy and sell. Social media has become habitat to a variety of groups with different purposes and goals. Foreclosure groups are no different. They have thrived and lived on social media. If you are savvy enough, you will be lucky to find some groups over Facebook. Join them. You’ll not only find foreclosures in your area. You will also be up for learning from the experiences, tips, and suggestions that will be shared by other members.

Visit real estate websites. Apart from the real estate agents themselves, a lot of real estate firms maintain official websites. There are firms which concentrate on foreclosures. There are also those which offer the buying and selling of mixed properties along with foreclosures. Either kind, you can browse through their listings and filter those properties that are already foreclosed or those that are nearing repossession.

Make your own ads. Digital marketing, aside from being free, is powerful in terms of the number of reach it can have. A single post can reach multiple sellers. Utilize your social media accounts for free posts that you are looking for a foreclosed property to buy. Just patiently wait for responses, and you’ll be more than happy to see that there are indeed a number of persons who are willing to negotiate for their foreclosed homes.

Foreclosed properties are just near your place. By finding them and giving good offers, you are not only taking a step towards buying a dream house or an investment property. You are also making someone benefit from the amount that will be granted when deal is closed.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Desare A Kohn-Laski

Real Estate Agents and the Internet – How to Buy and Sell Real Estate Today

Then and Now

Ten years ago, a search for real estate would have started in the office of a local real estate agent or by just driving around town. At the agent’s office, you would spend an afternoon flipping through pages of active property listings from the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS). After choosing properties of interest, you would spend many weeks touring each property until you found the right one. Finding market data to enable you to assess the asking price would take more time and a lot more driving, and you still might not be able to find all of the information you needed to get really comfortable with a fair market value.

Today, most property searches start on the Internet. A quick keyword search on Google by location will likely get you thousands of results. If you spot a property of interest on a real estate web site, you can typically view photos online and maybe even take a virtual tour. You can then check other Web sites, such as the local county assessor, to get an idea of the property’s value, see what the current owner paid for the property, check the real estate taxes, get census data, school information, and even check out what shops are within walking distance-all without leaving your house!

While the resources on the Internet are convenient and helpful, using them properly can be a challenge because of the volume of information and the difficulty in verifying its accuracy. At the time of writing, a search of „Denver real estate“ returned 2,670,000 Web sites. Even a neighborhood specific search for real estate can easily return thousands of Web sites. With so many resources online how does an investor effectively use them without getting bogged down or winding up with incomplete or bad information? Believe it or not, understanding how the business of real estate works offline makes it easier to understand online real estate information and strategies.

The Business of Real Estate

Real estate is typically bought and sold either through a licensed real estate agent or directly by the owner. The vast majority is bought and sold through real estate brokers. (We use „agent“ and „broker“ to refer to the same professional.) This is due to their real estate knowledge and experience and, at least historically, their exclusive access to a database of active properties for sale. Access to this database of property listings provided the most efficient way to search for properties.

The MLS (and CIE)

The database of residential, land, and smaller income producing properties (including some commercial properties) is commonly referred to as a multiple listing service (MLS). In most cases, only properties listed by member real estate agents can be added to an MLS. The primary purpose of an MLS is to enable the member real estate agents to make offers of compensation to other member agents if they find a buyer for a property.

This purposes did not include enabling the direct publishing of the MLS information to the public; times change. Today, most MLS information is directly accessible to the public over the Internet in many different forms.

Commercial property listings are also displayed online but aggregated commercial property information is more elusive. Larger MLSs often operate a commercial information exchange (CIE). A CIE is similar to an MLS but the agents adding the listings to the database are not required to offer any specific type of compensation to the other members. Compensation is negotiated outside the CIE.

In most cases, for-sale-by-owner properties cannot be directly added to an MLS and CIE, which are typically maintained by REALTOR associations. The lack of a managed centralized database can make these properties more difficult to locate. Traditionally, these properties are found by driving around or looking for ads in the local newspaper’s real estate listings. A more efficient way to locate for-sale-by-owner properties is to search for a for-sale-by-owner Web site in the geographic area.

What is a REALTOR? Sometimes the terms real estate agent and REALTOR are used interchangeably; however, they are not the same. A REALTOR is a licensed real estate agent who is also a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS. REALTORS are required to comply with a strict code of ethics and conduct.

MLS and CIE property listing information was historically only available in hard copy, and as we mentioned, only directly available to real estate agents members of an MLS or CIE. About ten years ago, this valuable property information started to trickle out to the Internet. This trickle is now a flood!

One reason is that most of the 1 million or so REALTORS have Web sites, and most of those Web sites have varying amounts of the local MLS or CIE property information displayed on them. Another reason is that there are many non-real estate agent Web sites that also offer real estate information, including, for-sale-by-owner sites, foreclosure sites, regional and international listing sites, County assessor sites, and valuation and market information sites. The flood of real estate information to the Internet definitely makes the information more accessible but also more confusing and subject to misunderstanding and misuse.

Real Estate Agents

Despite the flood of real estate information on the Internet, most properties are still sold directly through real estate agents listing properties in the local MLS or CIE. However, those property listings do not stay local anymore. By its nature, the Internet is a global marketplace and local MLS and CIE listings are normally disseminated for display on many different Web sites. For example, many go to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS Web site, http://www.realtor.com, and to the local real estate agent’s Web site. In addition, the listing may be displayed on the Web site of a local newspaper. In essence, the Internet is just another form of marketing offered by today’s real estate agent, but it has a much broader reach than the old print advertising.

In addition to Internet marketing, listing agents may also help the seller establish a price, hold open houses, keep the seller informed of interested buyers and offers, negotiate the contract and help with closing. When an agent provides all of these services it is referred to as being a full service listing arrangement. While full service listing arrangements are the most common type of listing arrangement, they are not the only option anymore.

Changes in the technology behind the real estate business have caused many agents to change the way they do business. In large part, this is due to the instant access most consumers now have to property listings and other real estate information. In addition, the Internet and other technologies have automated much of the marketing and initial searching process for real estate. For example, consumers can view properties online and make inquires via email. Brokers can use automated programs to send listings to consumers that match their property criteria. So, some agents now limit the services they offer and change their fees accordingly. An agent may offer to advertise the property in the MLS but only provide limited additional services. In the future, some real estate agents may offer services in more of an ala carte fashion.

Because of the volume of real estate information on the Internet, when people hire a real estate agent today they should look at the particular services offered by the agent and the depth of their experience and knowledge in the relevant property sector. It is no longer just about access to property listing information. Buyers and sellers historically found agents by referrals from friends and family. The Internet now provides ways to directly find qualified agents or to research the biography of an agent referred to you offline. One such site, AgentWorld.com, is quickly becoming the LinkedIn or Facebook for real estate agents. On this site an agent can personalize their profile, start a blog, post photos and videos and even create a link to their web site for free. Once unique content is added to their profile page the search engines notice!

Some have argued that the Internet makes REALTORS and the MLS less relevant. We believe this will be false in the long run. It may change the role of the agent but will make knowledgeable, qualified, and professional REALTORS more relevant than ever. In fact, the number of real estate agents has risen significantly in recent years. No wonder, the Internet has made local real estate a global business. Besides, Internet or not, the simple fact remains that the purchase of real property is the largest single purchase most people make in their life (or, for many investors, the largest multiple purchases over a lifetime) and they want expert help. As for the MLS, it remains the most reliable source of real estate listing and sold information available and continues to enable efficient marketing of properties. So, what is the function of all the online real estate information?

Online real estate information is a great research tool for buyers and sellers and a marketing tool for sellers. When used properly, buyers can save time by quickly researching properties and, ultimately, make better investment decisions. Sellers can efficiently research the market and make informed decisions about hiring an agent and marketing their properties online. The next step is to know where to look online for some of the best resources.

Internet Strategies

In the sections that follow, we provide strategies and tips on how to use the Internet to locate properties for sale and research information relevant to your decision to purchase the property. There are many real estate Web sites from which to choose and although we do not mean to endorse any particular Web site, we have found the ones listed here to be good resources in most cases or to be so popular that they need mention. One way to test a Web site’s accuracy is to search for information about a property you already own.

Finding Real Estate for Sale

Despite the widely available access to real estate listings, many believe that MLS databases continue to offer the most complete and accurate source of real estate information. Most MLSs now distribute content to other Web sites (primarily operated by real estate agents). An excellent starting point for MLS originated content is the national NAR Web site, realtor.com, which is also the most popular web site for searching real estate listings. Virtually all local and regional MLSs have an agreement with realtor.com to display much of their active listing inventory.

Some local and regional MLS systems also have a publicly accessible Web site. However, to get complete information you will most likely still need to find a qualified local REALTOR. Many local real estate agents will also provide their customers (via email) new listings that are input into the MLS that match their predefined criteria. This can be very helpful to a busy buyer.

There are also many Web sites that display both real estate agent listed and for-sale-by-owner properties. Some of the more popular Web sites include zillow.com and trulia.com. These sites offer other services too. For example, zillow.com is best known for its instantaneous property valuation function and trulia.com for providing historical information. Another source of properties for sale is the state, regional, and local Web sites associated with brokerage companies; for example, remax.com or prudential.com. Search engines like yahoo.com and classified advertising sites like craigslist.com also have a large number of active real estate listings.

One key difference between these sites is how much information you can access anonymously. For example, at trulia.com you can shop anonymously up to a point but then you will need to click through to the agent’s Web site for more information. Many new real estate search engines allow you to sift through listings without having to fill out a form. The best strategy is to browse a few of the sites listed above to find geographic areas or price ranges that are interesting. Once you get serious about a property, then that is the time to find a qualified REALTOR of your choice to conduct a complete search in the local MLS.

It also never hurts to search the old-fashioned way by driving through the neighborhoods that interest you. There is no substitute for physically, not virtually, walking the block when you are making a serious investment decision. In this sense, real estate is still a very local business and standing in front of the property can lead to a much different decision than viewing a Web page printout.

Valuing Real Estate

As we mentioned, one of the most popular real estate tools is zillow.com’s instant property valuation. Just type in an address and in and you get a property value. It even charts the price ups and downs, and shows the last date sold (including price) and the property taxes. There are other sites that provide similar tools such as housevalues.com and homegain.com. Unfortunately, many people use these estimated values alone to justify sales prices, offers and counteroffers. However, these are only rough estimates based on a formula that incorporates the local county sales information. These estimates can swing wildly over a short period of time and do not appear to always track actual market changes, which are normally more gradual. In addition, these estimates do not automatically take into account property remodels or renovations or other property specific or local changes. This is not to say these sites are not useful. In fact, they are great starting points and can provide a good ball-park value in many cases.

When it comes to getting a more accurate value for a particular property, there are other strategies that are more trustworthy. One is to go directly to your county’s Web site. More often than not the county assessor’s area of the Web site provides sales and tax information for all properties in the county. If you want to research a particular property or compare sales prices of comparable properties, the local assessor’s sites are really helpful. When you visit a county’s Web site you are getting information straight from the source. Most counties today publish property information on their Web sites. Many times you cannot only see the price a previous owner paid, but the assessed value, property taxes, and maps. Some county assessors are now adding a market and property valuation tools too.

Given the importance of valuation to investing, we are also going to remind you of the two most important (non-Internet) valuation methods: real estate agents and appraisers. Working with a local REALTOR is an accurate and efficient way to get value information for a property. While one of the primary purposes of the MLS is to market the active property listings of its members, the system also collects sales information for those listings. REALTOR members can pull this sales information and produce comparable market analyses (sometimes called CMAs) that provide an excellent snapshot of a particular property’s value for the market in a particular area.

Finally, the most accurate way to value a property is by having a certified appraiser produce an appraisal. An appraiser will typically review both the sold information in the MLS system as well as county information and then analyze the information to produce a valuation for the property based on one or more approved methods of valuation. These methods of valuation can include a comparison of similar properties adjusted for differences between the properties, determine the cost to replace the property, or, with an income producing property, determine a value based on the income generated from the property.

The Neighborhood

There are many ways the Internet can help you get the scoop on a particular neighborhood. For example, census data can be found at census.gov. You can also check out the neighborhood scoop at sites like outside.in or review local blogs. A blog is a Web site where people discuss topics by posting and responding to messages. Start by looking at placeblogger.com and kcnn.org/citymediasites.com for a directory of blogs. Trulia.com has a „Heat Map“ that shows how hot or cold each neighborhood is based on prices, sales, or popularity among the sites users.

Schools

When it comes to selling residential property or rental properties that cater to families, the quality of the area school district makes a huge difference. There are many Web sites devoted to school information. Check out greatschools.net or schoolmatters.com. Most local school districts also have their own Web site. These sites contain a variety of information about the public schools and the school district, including its district demographics, test scores, and parent reviews.

Finding the Right Real Estate Agent

A recent addition to the Internet boom in real estate information is Web sites that let real estate agents market their expertise and local knowledge by displaying their professional profiles and socially networking with blogs. You can search to find an agent with a particular expertise, geographic area of specialization, or an agent offering specific services. The web site AgentWorld.com lets users quickly and easily find an agent with the right expertise using keyword searches and clean and simple agent profiles. AgentWorld.com also enables agents to post personalized blogs, photos and videos to help consumers find the best agent for their needs. Plus, many agent profiles include a direct link to the agent’s web site where you will likely find the local MLS listings.

Maps and Other Tools

The Internet has made mapping and locating properties much easier. To get an aerial view or satellite image of a property or neighborhood, go to maps.live.com or maps.google.com or visit walkscore.com to see how walk-able a particular property is. These sites can give you an idea of the neighborhood characteristics and the types of entertainment, restaurants, and other facilities that are within walking distance of the property. Maps.Live.com provides a view at an angle so you can see the sides of houses and Maps.Google even gives you a 360 degree street-level view for certain neighborhoods. If you have not tried one of these satellite map Web sites, you really should if only for amusement.

Final Thoughts on Internet Strategies

The Internet is a very effective research and marketing tool for real estate investors but is not a replacement for a knowledgeable experienced real estate professional. The Internet can save you time and money by enabling quick and easy property research and marketing options. Sites like AgentWorld.com also help you efficiently find a REALTOR who fits your buying or selling needs.

Always remember, when it comes to Internet strategies for real estate: More knowledge is better. You need to use the Internet to build your knowledge base on a target property or to find a real estate agent with expertise you need. However, the big caution here is that the Internet should not replace human judgment and perspective, expert advice or physical due diligence-keys to successful investing.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Tyler Kraemer

Tips To Sell Your House Quickly For Cash

Traditionally, when it comes to selling a house, people were getting in touch with estate agents for getting their property appraised and for installing a signboard in the yard and they were waiting for potential buyers. But, when this technique is followed in the current situation, where you are in need of immediate money, this option will not work out as it will take a longer period for the sale deed to complete. After waiting for long, if the right buyer cannot be found, your plan to go for a new house will go in vain.

If you are intending for a fast house sale, you should search the option for achieving the same and this is possible in the current circumstances as there are firms offering this sort of service. These firms are actually running with the team of house cash buyers, who are ready to provide immediate cash for the houses. They can get the work done at a faster pace as compared to an agent. These service providers have clearly specified on their website as to how do they operate and how they make the dream of the sellers to come true immediately within a short period of just seven days.

Some of these firms are providing different options for the sellers to select from. They can either go for an option of selling within 7 days or they can also opt for a sale within 30-60 days, where they can get 80% of the market value. They also market the property via their network of quick buyers and local agents for homeowners selecting the second option. In both these options, they take care of the valuation and legal fee and the sellers are also relieved of paying the estate agent fee.

Some of the best firms offering fast house sale are providing free evaluation to the sellers. Once they receive an online application from the homeowners, their representatives will be visiting the house for making an evaluation and will make the quotation accordingly. Even, some of them are providing a guide for quick sale via their website as they have a network of house cash buyers.

Some of them are assuring a good sale price and as they list the property via their portal, it can easily get the attention of intended buyers. They are also assuring an average sale-time of 12 weeks, which is actually 8 months when you hire a real estate agent.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by John S. Mavrick

The 9-Step System to Sell Your Home Fast and For Top Dollar

Not so long ago, it is usual for investors to make fortunes in real estate. It was nothing to buy a home, wait a short while, and then sell it at a tidy profit, and then do it over and over again.

As you are no doubt aware, times have changed. As good as the market may be at any given moment, home prices remain below what they were at their peak.

And buyers are far more discriminating: a large percentage of the homes listed for sale never sell. So it’s more important than ever to learn what you need to do to avoid costly seller mistakes and sell your home quickly and for the best possible price.

The 9 Step System to Get Your Home Sold Fast and For Top Dollar

Selling your home is one of the most important undertakings in your life. This nine-step system gives you the tools you need to maximize your profits, maintain control of the process, and reduce the stress that is always part of the home selling process.

Know why you’re selling, and keep it to yourself.
The reasons behind your decision to sell can affect everything from setting the price to how much time and money to invest in preparing your home for sale. Which is more important to you: the amount of money you walk away with, or how long your property is on the market before it sells? These different goals require different strategies.

However, once you’ve determined your motivation, don’t reveal it to anyone except your realtor because they may use it against you at the negotiating table. When asked, simply respond that your housing needs have changed.

Do your homework before you set a price.
Do not take the job of setting the listing price lightly. Once you set a price, you’re telling buyers the absolute maximum they’ll have to pay for your home, but pricing too high is as dangerous as pricing too low. Remember that the average buyer is looking at 15-20 homes at the same time they are considering yours.

This means that they have a basis for comparison, and if your home doesn’t compare favourably with others in the price range you set, you won’t be taken seriously by prospects or agents. As a result, your home could sit on the market for a long time and, new buyers in the market may think there is something wrong with your home that has kept it from selling.

Do your homework.
In fact, your agent should do this for you. Find out what homes in your own and similar neighbourhoods have sold for in the past 6-12 months, and research what currently listed homes are listed for. That’s exactly how prospective buyers will assess the value of your home.

Find a good real estate agent to represent your needs.
Almost three-quarters of homeowners say they wouldn’t use the same realtor who sold their last home. Dissatisfaction is frequently due to poor communication, which results in not enough feedback, lower pricing and strained relations. Request your free copy of our report, „10 Questions to Ask Before You Hire an Agent“ to learn about the questions you should always ask when you interview agents who want to list your home.

Maximize your home’s sales potential.
Corporate North America spends billions on product and packaging design every year. Appearance is critical, and it is foolish to ignore it when you sell your home.

While you cannot change your home’s location or floor plan, you can do a lot to improve its appearance. The look and feel of your home triggers an automatic emotional response in potential buyers.

Clean like you’ve never cleaned before. Pick up, straighten up, remove clutter, scrub, scour, and dust. Fix everything, no matter how insignificant it seems. Present your home to get a „Wow!“ response from prospective buyers.

Create an atmosphere that will encourage buyers to imagine them living in your home. The decision to buy a home is based on emotion, not logic. Prospective buyers want to „try your home on“ just like they would a new garment. If you follow them and point out every improvement, or if your decor is so unusual that buyers can’t push it out of their minds, you’re making it difficult for them to feel comfortable enough to imagine the home.

Make it easy for prospects to get information on your home.
It may surprise you to know that some of the most frequently used home marketing strategies (traditional open houses, for example) really are not very effective. In fact, only 1% of homes are sold at an open house.

And prospective buyers calling for information about your home value their time as much as you value yours. They do not want to be subjected to a game of telephone tag with an agent, or an unwanted sales pitch. Make sure the ads your agent places refer inquiries to a 24 hour, pre-recorded hotline with a specific ID number for your home. It should provide detailed information about your property day or night, seven days a week, without having to talk to anyone. Three times as many buyers call for information about homes under this system. And the more buyers that are competing for your home, the better, because it can create up auction-like atmosphere that puts you in the driver’s seat.

Know your buyer.
During negotiations, your objective is to control the pace and set the duration. Determine your buyer’s motivation. Find out if the buyers need to move quickly. Will they be able to pay your asking price? Having this information gives you the upper hand in negotiations, because you know how far you can push to get what you want.

Make sure the contract is complete.
As a seller, be certain to disclose everything. Smart sellers proactively go above and beyond the legal requirement to disclose all known defects, in writing, to buyers. If you tell buyers in advance about known problems, they can’t come back with a lawsuit later on.

Make sure all terms, costs, and responsibilities are spelled out in the sales contract, and resist the temptation to override the contract. For example, if the buyer asks to move in prior to closing, just say no. Now is not the time to take a chance on the sale falling through!

Don’t move out of your home until it’s sold.
Studies show that it is more difficult to sell a vacant home because it looks forlorn, forgotten, and simply not appealing. It could even cost you thousands. And if you move, you’re telling buyers that you have a new home and are probably motivated to sell fast. This gives the buyer the advantage at the negotiating table.

If you follow the nine suggestions in this article, you’re much more likely to be able to sell your home quickly and for top dollar.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Neville Adomi

Selling Your House In A Tight Real Estate Market

It’s stressful enough to consider selling your home, but when the real estate market takes a serious nosedive, you’ll need these ten practical tips to remove the stress from having to sell during difficult times in real estate.

1. Do your Realtor homework. In a lousy real estate market, you want the best help you can get to sell your home. Take your list of questions to several Realtors and take a goodly amount of time when you interview them. Comparison shop. No one’s rushing to buy homes this year, so don’t be in a rush to choose a Realtor.

2. Get ready. Many Realtors agree it takes 30 days to ready a house before the „For Sale“ signs goes up, because those first impressions often will prove the most important factor in whether a „looker“ eventually becomes a „buyer.“ Make the investment in external repairs that can mean the difference between a quick „No“ and extra time spent examining your house. This is the time to paint, patch and repair what buyers will see first. Buyers are more forgiving in a strong real estate market, not in a weak market.

3. Consult the owners of homes that successfully sell. What buyers consider valuable can vary from region to region. Ask those in your community with a newly placed „sold“ sign for pointers on how to prepare your house for sale. What did they notice that most „lookers“ paid attention to, or commented on, when exploring their house? Just ask – is installing new carpeting more important or is it better to freshly paint the walls. Ask several owners of recently sold homes, and take lots of notes. These can serve as your guide to using your time wisely to prepare your home for sale.

4. Actively engage your family. Let them know that there will be „company,“ and to assist you with their unique skills. Let the list-maker in your family make repair and „sprucing up“ lists, and keep lists of Open House dates and other important information. Share the work of selling a home, and every family member will have a personal stake in your success. You’ll be able to remain more stress-free if you’ll delegate some of the preparation work for getting your home ready to sell.

5. Be flexible with personal plans. Stay focused on the goal from the time you first plant that For Sale sign on the front lawn to the first Open House – no activity should become a distraction. Don’t plan messy parties or major functions during this period, because you want your home to be tidy at all times. Arrange family gatherings elsewhere. You’ll want to be particularly vigilant when homes aren’t selling easily to make no mistakes.

6. De-clutter. A cluttered house looks smaller. Rent a temporary space at a local storage facility and fill it with seasonal items extra clothes and even extra furniture. A de-cluttered house also will reduce your stress levels by simplifying the sprucing-up process. Whisk all your personal things into hiding. If you’re overworked and time-starved, place an ad on Craigslist.org and hire a college student or affordable cleaning service to help you. If you can’t afford that, consider downsizing your possessions. Are they really worth cleaning, storing and stepping over year after year?

7. Disappear your pets. (temporarily, of course) Not everyone likes dogs; not everyone likes cats. Arrange for a day away in a boarding facility or away from home with a member of your family on Open House days. When the real estate market is slow, you don’t want to offer any excuses to potential buyers that will make them turn away from your wonderful home.

8. Stage your house. Do a little research about „staging“ your home, and if you’re financially flush, hire a professional staging service to do this for you. Exchange harsh lighting for soft lighting. There’s nothing like freshly baking cookies swear some old timer realtors. Sprinkle baking soda on your carpet before you vacuum. Buy a bouquet of fresh flowers such as inexpensive daisies to brighten up your room.

9. Be honest. No house is perfect. Be honest about shortcomings. The buyer will trust your honesty and be more inclined to trust a decision to make a purchase. It’s a buyer’s market, so become a trustworthy seller.

10. Be realistic. The higher the price, the longer it will take to sell your home, especially in a lousy real estate market with high foreclosure rates that are pushing home prices down. Have a frank discussion with your agent about what amount you will accept below the asking price, or how long it will take to find a buyer who will meet your price. Engage a practical friend or family member in this discussion.

Selling your home during a tough real estate market isn’t impossible. It simply requires pulling out all the stops and being fully informed.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Ruth Klein

10 Mistakes Home Sellers Can Avoid in Los Angeles

Ready to sell your house in Los Angeles? You will likely have many decisions to make along the way. Learn more about mistakes home sellers can avoid before selling their house in Los Angeles!

There are many things to consider when selling your house. Sellers often make the same mistakes, but there are ways to avoid them. The first step is knowing what they are!

#1 – Not Exploring Options

You don’t have to list your house in Los Angeles in order to sell it. You can choose to sell it yourself either on the market to traditional buyers or directly to an investor or professional property buyer. What works for one property seller may not work for you. Before you call an agent, take a look at what is available to you! Exploring options will ensure you get the optimal result.

#2 – Pricing It Incorrectly

If you choose to list your house, one of the biggest mistakes you can make is pricing it too high out of the gate. Many sellers have an over-inflated price in their head, trying to get as much as possible, without considering what will be a realistic price to sell for. Some agents will advise you to list high so they can convince you to sign with them, while they take a shot at scoring a higher commission.

#3 – Not Clearing Out Your Personal Items

Imagine if it were you viewing a property. You wouldn’t want to see someone’s vitamins on the table, family photos everywhere or their stack of mail on the counter. Seeing personal items strewn about can make people feel very uncomfortable. They need to be able to imagine themselves in the house, not feel as if they are intruding on someone’s space. Many people will pack up everything but the necessities and put it all in storage until the house has sold.

#4 – Not Considering All Costs

If you decide to list your Los Angles house, there are all sorts of costs to consider. Not only are there agent commissions, but also agent fees, administrative costs, marketing costs, listing fees, closing costs and more.

#5 – Not Making The Needed Repairs

Not doing some things up front will cost you down the road. Once your buyer does an inspection, they will often ask for a number of things to be fixed. You might be blindsided by the number of repairs your house needs. Some sellers choose to have their own inspection done before listing so they have an idea of what they are in for. Taking care of the problems up front will save you time and money down the road.

#6 – Not Disclosing Items Upfront

These items will come back to bite you. Either in the inspection or when the new owner sues you. By law, you have to disclose what you know about the property.

#7 – Not Putting Away Pet & Kid Stuff

While kids and pets are wonderful, not everyone has them. Some people will feel a little uncomfortable if there are chew toys on the couch or legos all over the floor. Remember, the experience is about them. Make the areas feel neutral but welcoming.

#8 – Not Putting Personal Feelings Aside

This is business. If someone comes to view your house and you hear them say they want to pull out the garden to add a deck, don’t get too hung up on it if they plan on paying you the price you want. While you might feel a little sad, this is business, and missing out on a qualified buyer because of something petty can be a huge mistake.

#9 – Hiring A Bad Agent

It can be easy to hire the wrong agent. Some are full of charm and are great at sales. This is great when they are trying to sell your house, but they also use this charm to get you to sign with them. Make sure they aren’t making false promises or are only worried about their commission. You can look at reviews, but it is best to hear first-hand experience from people you know and trust. You simply aren’t going to click with everyone either. You might find the top agent in town can be incredibly stressful to work with.

#10 – Not Having a Game Plan

Selling your home can be a stressful time, but it doesn’t need to be. Having a game plan will help you get through the process unscathed. Generally speaking, if your property is in very good shape and you can wait months to sell, listing with a realtor is the best plan. If, on the other hand, your property is distressed and you need to sell quickly, selling to an investor or professional home buyer is usually the best option.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Johnathon Case

Hey Buddy, Wanna Buy a House? Or What Do Realtors Actually Do for All That Money

Real estate as a profession has been around as long as there has been a United States and yet many people have little idea how Realtors actually function. This understanding is exasperated by the fact that no two Realtors practice in the exact same way. While the aim is the same, the methods employed are often quite different. Still, the basic process remains unchanged.

This matters because both buyers and sellers are often challenged by their living situation–or lack thereof–to the point of severe stress both emotional and financial. Understand the process can be a great help.

Buyers, for instance, tend to think of real estate sales persons as someone who wants to sell them a house, that they will even try to talk a person into buying a particular property in order to make another commission. While some new licenses may start out like a glorified used car salesman with this idea they rarely last. Over 70% of new agents fail in the first year.

What actually happens is the Realtor learns all they can about a person’s needs and finances and combs the market for a home to fit those needs and financial limitations. This last issue is usually the toughest. Buyers strive to get the most home for the least cost and sellers strive to sell for the highest price. Add direct competition from other buyers and the landscape can be challenging at best.

This is where a good Realtor is worth his or her weight in gold. Well, maybe not their weight in gold, although this may be true in some cases, but a considerable amount of money at a time when financial resources are usually stretched to the limit.

Helping a buyer into the right home at the right price is the job and Realtors have been doing just that for as long as there have been Realtors. If they didn’t they would have gone extinct ages ago especially in today’s computer driven markets.

Once the right home is found the job is just beginning. The best price and terms must be negotiated. This is an art in itself and can save the home buyer a sizable fortune. Here’s where the network of Realtor affiliated with the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and the National Association of Realtors (NAR) comes into play.

Both the buyer and the seller are typically represented by separate agents, each legally required to serve their client’s needs and no other. Buyers and sellers do not directly interact. This single factor facilitates successful agreements more than any other means since Realtors as experienced negotiators can put together deals that individuals usually cannot as witnessed by the staggering rate of negotiation failures experienced by FSBOs (For Sale by Owner sellers working without representation)

Once the deal is struck the next challenge is getting to the closing table through financing, home inspections, attorney and title hang-ups and even timing. The previous owner must leave at the same time the new owners are ready to move in. This is often on the same say, the day of the closing. Here too expertise pays off while sellers who manage to strike a deal experience major fall-through issues and failed closings forcing them to start over with all the accompanying costs and missed opportunity.

Realtors facilitate successful transactions not by pushing their own agenda but by expediting their client’s needs and goals.

Not only is trying to sell someone a home counterproductive in a world of cautious buyers it undermines an experience agent’s foundation for continues success in the profession: repeat customers.

Sellers too often labor under misconception about the process of selling their property. If they gave it any consideration at all they might think that what doesn’t really happen to buyers actually does. No successful agent goes out and tries to talks someone into buying a house.

What actually happens is much like marketing any product or commodity. Simply put, the Realtor promotes the listing to the buying public in the best possible light. This process too is greatly facilitated by MLS associations as a repository of homes for sale. The MLS is the single best source for home sales in the country where over 90% of buyers find their home through agents affiliated with a regional MLS. The goal is that no one interested in buying a home is left unaware of the seller’s offering. And that the best possible light means the place must show well and the price must be competitive with other similar homes since buyers will always choose the best home at the best price.

This can be as much of a challenge for sellers as it is for buyers. Again, the seller is looking to maximize their investment which does not usually include fixing the place up. If they wanted to make improvements or repairs they wouldn’t be selling in the first place and for the price they are getting the buyer should be willing to accept less than picture perfect–at least that’s often the common thinking. This is just as reasonable as buyer’s being put off by homes that need work and in their opinion overpriced but not conducive to anyone getting what they want and need.

What results is conflict–almost every time. Solving these innate issues is what Realtor do best: Finding the right home for the buyers based on their needs not their own. Or market the seller’s home effectively to bring in a ready, willing, and able buyer. Then making it work for both parties all the way to the closing table and a fine new home for the buyer and a big check for the seller to enhance their bottom line as well as their living situation. Not bad, not bad at all.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Dennis Maier