A Single’s Game of Real Estate
(Getting started in your twenties)

Due to the fact that most of us grow up in either a rented apartment or our parent’s single family home, it stands to reason that most people, when beginning to ask themselves the question of purchasing their own dwelling, will come to the conclusion that a condo or small house is probably the way to go. That’s a result of conditioning and it’s a hard mindset to break! After taking the time to talk to or personally guide a respectable number of people in their twenties, I have come to find that firm, direct and accurate information can really adjust the reality of how real estate can be acquired and used to their best advantage starting with property that sets the tone for a much more profitable and rewarding future.

Everyone understands the concept of paying rent, so to begin with a great opening question to our real estate student is, "How would you like to collect that rent as opposed to pay it!" Naturally this question gets their attention and we can begin to open the door of enlightenment. I like to use the duplex example to illustrate the two homes under one roof concept. Some people are unfamiliar with what exactly a duplex is and how it works, so I simply state that quite often you find duplexes composed of one building that has two bedrooms and one bath on each side, all under one roof, some larger, some smaller.

These are as easy to finance as a single family home and in many cases allow you to qualify for a larger loan amount which leads to using leverage and more of other people’s money to get ahead faster in life. Using an example lets say you find a duplex for $150,000 (California is higher), your loans interest rate is 6% that would cost $899.33 a month to pay principle and interest back on a 30 year loan. They would have to insure it, so we use an average of $5 per $1000 of home value to average insurance costs. So $5.00 x $150.00 = $750.00 a year for insurance. We divide that by 12 months to get a figure of $62.50 a month for insurance. We also have annual taxes that are based on what the home is worth multiplied by a millage, or mill rate. Let’s use a tax rate of $11.00 per $1,000 of the homes assessed value: $11.00 x 150 = $1,650.00 a year. Now divide that by 12 months to get a monthly tax of $137.50 and by adding principle, interest, taxes and insurance (P.I.T.I), we get a total monthly mortgage payment of $1099.33.

Now when you rent one side out for (in many cases, approximately $750.00 a month) you are left to pay only $349.33 out of your own pocket every month. When I get this point firmly affixed to the gray matter of their brain, it becomes clear that this amount is much lower than the amount of rent they are now paying to live under someone else’s roof and rules. Now the questions start coming in the following order. Well? How do I buy something like this? The answer most often begins with, "By getting pre-qualified for a loan," and I go on to say you will need to gather and bring the following things to the bank loan officer to get started:

1. Copies of three years of tax returns for first time buyers + schedules and W2 forms

2. Copies of most recent pay stubs within the last 30 days

3. Copies of your most recent three months of bank statements

4. A list of all creditors with name, address and account numbers

With these initial documents the lender can begin to process your application for a loan. They will determine your assets and liabilities (net worth) as well as verify where you live now, your credit history and a host of other information that begins to validate your existence and ability to borrow money now and in the future.

Once they’ve had a chance to review and verify your information they can pre-approve you for a certain loan amount. Once your approved you can begin your search for a home of your own, typically as a first time home buyer you will find that there are programs that let you put as little as 3-5% percent down in order to buy a home that satisfies the lender’s guidelines according to its value and conformity. Now on a $150,000 loan the down payment can be anywhere from $4500.00 – $7500.00.

There are ways to lower these costs and a great place to start is by attending a first time home buyer’s class. These classes introduce you to the basics and give you further information on programs that are currently available that may offer you the opportunity to buy with nothing down! So with that said, the next step is to get to a free class and get familiar with the process. Often I recommend going to the class before going to see a lender so you don’t appear so green and unprepared upon your initial introduction.

Since I usually find these poor souls wondering and wandering in the land of the lost, the next frown I see come over them is the realization that they just don’t have the money required to start. So the question comes up as to where to get it. I usually ask about savings, whether parents or grandparents can help, if they can sell valuable possessions or take second jobs, get grants, gifts, use trust funds, personal loans or co-signers, or a combination of these alternatives with a complimentary loan program usually gets the ball rolling. Options and hard money lenders usually come later as alternative funding and acquisition sources, so I won’t confuse any one with those now.

The bottom line is this: If someone wants something bad enough there is always a way!The nice thing about duplexes is that the lender will take into account the fact that 75% of the rental income from the other side of the property can be used to offset your qualifying ratios, so in this case they can use 75% of the rentals $750.00 income to reduce the amount you must earn to qualify for what appears to be an unaffordable loan. Seventy-five percent of $750.00 equals $562.50. Now subtracting that amount from the original mortgage payment of $1099.33 leaves you with a payment of $536.83 which the bank says you must be able to repay every month out of your own pocket. You can do this!

Can you begin to see how with a little information, effort and belief you can actually own something and pay less than what you are currently paying in rent?

Let’s continue on with the way things begin to unfold once you begin the journey. Starting with the day you close the deal and become the new owner you will see that you now have just created a passive income stream that gives you an extra $750.00 a month without you having to punch a clock or trade a certain amount of hours to earn the money. Your new asset works for you day in and day out constantly generating income for you while you go and do other things. This is leveraging your time and money in a very beneficial way!

You also will notice that at the closing of your purchase that the old owners who sold you this property had to prorate or give you a share of the rents due and any security deposits that the tenants had given to them. Now add to that the likelihood that your first house payment won’t come due until about a month and a half after you move in and you find yourself with, low and behold, extra money, probably for the first time in quite a while!

Let’s calculate it using simple math. Assuming you close on the 15th of the month, you will have 45 days before your first payment comes due, you will be credited with 15 days of rent, you will receive all security deposits of the tenant and you will receive another month’s rent on the first of the month from your tenant and you yourself will have no rent or house payment of your own to make for another whole month. What does all that add up to? Let’s break it down:

1. Fifteen days of rent equal to $375.00

2. A half month’s rent as a security deposit equal to $375.00

3. A full month’s rent in another 15 days equal to $750.00

4. No payment to the bank for another 30 days and you’re not paying rent to anyone any longer, so you keep whatever you normally would have had to give to someone else as rent that month (let’s say that was $500.00).

5. Another payment to you for $750.00 from your tenant as well as you having to make your first mortgage payment of $1099.33 on the 1st of the month which comes 45 days later.

Side note: If you decided to rent your second bedroom to a roommate, they would pay $500.00 a month and half your utilities as well, thus your basically living and owning this property for free. Say goodbye to all those student loans as you divert all these freed up funds to pay off loans instead of a landlord!

Adding these up, we get $375.00 + $375.00 + $750.00 + $750.00 + 500.00 not paid to your old landlord. That equals $2,750.00 that you will now have as a result of your first month and a half of ownership. Now subtract your mortgage payment of $1099.33 and you are left with a reserve fund of $1,650.67 in your account. Take your parents out to a steak dinner and celebrate – you’ve earned it!

Let’s review: You decided to buy your own home, you made the choice early to offset expenses by looking at a multiple income property, you went to the homebuyer’s class, you went to see a lender and got pre-approved for a loan, you saved or arranged to have the necessary amount required to buy and you hunted, searched and analyzed more than a few properties in order to find a good one that would satisfy your criteria.

Your next phase is to begin to realize that you are now responsible for the welfare of another family or person due to your willingness to become a landlord. Your tenants pay rent and expect you to take care of their housing needs. If you chose a good property by carefully looking at plumbing, heating & A/C, electrical, foundation, structure, roof, location and price, then you should be well positioned to be able to successfully manage these duties. Often, you as the new owner will begin to make improvements to the property such as painting, installing new carpet and doing some inexpensive landscaping and repairs. These are the things that add value to your property and keep your tenants happy while at the same time not breaking the bank!

With $1,650.67 in your bank account, you’re not exactly Donald Trump just yet, but you’re getting there! Smart landlords establish 6 month reserve accounts and/or contingency funds, which protect them in times of vacancies or when expensive unforeseen repair bills pop up in addition to regular planned-for maintenance items. What I’m saying is don’t spend your reserves frivolously. In my case, a steak dinner is a tradition but the major portion of your funds should only be used to build, protect and enhance your asset’s ability to produce and sustain income generation.

By taking on responsibility in the housing market at such a young age, you will have some added benefits and opportunities coming to you. Let’s look at what starts happening: the first thing is you have overcome fear and lack of understanding by acquiring your first property. In addition, you have begun to offset expenses while saving more money, you are establishing excellent credit while building assets, and you’re gaining tax advantages while getting management, home buying and repair education at an early age. These are outstanding life skills that you can employ for the rest of your life and the longer the period of time that you have to use them, the further the compounding effects will help you to go.

This type of initial home-buying strategy can and does lead to further opportunities to grow and achieve further benefits besides those already mentioned. Individuals who learn to accept responsibility early will by nature grow more mature throughout the process and in effect create for themselves a higher status in the minds of others by being looked upon as a current homeowner and landlord. Once established, you will become known for what you can do. If you were single when you undertook these challenges, then you will appear and become more self-sufficient to the opposite sex.

What do I mean by that? What I’m saying is when you meet someone who may become your spouse in the future, they will recognize your ability to provide for their safety and protection and they won’t question or complain about your fooling around with wild ideas of becoming educated in real estate now. They will accept that this is something you do and will respect your ability to manage this part of your life.

As time passes on and you find this love of your life and the eventual marriage proposal ensues, the time will come when you’re going to want to separate business from pleasure. As a young couple the time will come when you may want to start a family or at least separate yourself from your tenants while moving up to a nicer single family home that suits your changing needs more appropriately. Perfect, because now is the time to consider renting out both sides of the duplex while you begin to investigate your new single family home.

How does this phase work? Hold on, I’m getting there! Okay, let’s assume its two years later and you have been living in and improving your duplex all along. Now taking into account that you bought a decent property in a good neighborhood and inflation and appreciation has been adding value in addition to your improvements, your $150,000 duplex should command a new appraised value of $175,000. Let me explain how the value grows: 3% annual inflation multiplied by $150,000 equals $4500.00 the first year. Let’s also say that appreciation due to demand also adds 5%, so 5% x $150,000 equals $7500.00. Now $150,000 + $7500 + $4500 = $162,000, which represents the new value for year one. The second year we do the same math on $162,000 and we get $12,960 for year two. Adding that to $162,000 equals $174,960. Okay, I was off by $40.00. Don’t forget any improvements and that you may have bought it at a discount because the old owners where motivated and you might find its worth even more.

Now over those two years you have also been paying that old mortgage of $1099.33 each month and the principle amount that you owe on your loan has been reduced by an additional $3,965.96, leaving you with a loan balance of $146,034.04. The difference between the new appraised value of $175,000 and the current amount of $146,034.04 which you owe equals $28,965.96. This number represents the equity, or value, that you currently own in the home. Knowing this, it is entirely possible to apply for and receive a home equity line of credit up to the full value of the new appraisal! If you haven’t gone overboard on buying cars, boats and running up other revolving debt while at the same time your significant other or spouse-to-be has a job and good credit with manageable debt, than the bank is going to approve this line of owner-occupied credit.

Now what you have done is set up a line of credit which can be used to buy a $145,000 single family home with a 20% down payment. This allows you to avoid paying private mortgage insurance (PMI), thereby creating a very affordable new mortgage on your new family residence.

NOTE: Do not confuse homeowner’s insurance with private mortgage insurance. PMI protects the lender while homeowner’s insurance protects you. When you put down 20% of value on a home’s purchase in the form of a down payment, you are in effect protecting the lender from yourself because if they foreclosed on you for non-payment, they could sell the home fast for less than full value and still be paid in full.

Don’t pay for private mortgage insurance if you can avoid it!

Let’s not forget that as the value of your duplex has risen the rents should also be increasing along the same lines. Now instead of $750.00, you should reasonably expect to get $800.00 per month, per side, which now delivers $1600.00 a month to your bank account. Unfortunately you still have to pay for 28 more years on the original loan amount, so you will make that good old $1099.33 payment as usual. That leaves you with $500.67 left over to pay that new equity line back with. Your new $29,000 equity line which you used as a down payment on your new home costs you $336.71 @ 7% for 10 years. Now $500.36 minus $336.71 leaves you with $163.96 left over to maintain a nice little reserve account for vacancies and maintenance/repairs. This is a good example of how to transition to a secure lifestyle while using your existing asset base to buy more.

Review:

1. Break the mold and look at multiple income property to start.

2. Go to a first time home buyer class to get ready.

3. Go to a lender prepared to qualify for an affordable loan amount.

4. Focus your effort on learning how real estate works.

5. Realize the sooner you start, the better off you will be.

6. Offset expenses by renting to others.

7. Manage tenants, deposits and property responsibly.

8. Plan for the future using assets and equity lines to start.

9. Keep reading and learning how to do new things with real estate.

10. Find mentors and use knowledgeable people to help you along the way.

I hope this little plan of entering into homeownership has given you some ideas in your quest for independence. Wishing you all the best! Your investment pal, Dan

Dan Auito is a dual-licensed real estate agent and appraisal assistant. In addition to being a 20-year veteran of the United States Coast Guard, Dan has also founded a non-profit drug prevention corporation, a real estate consulting group and is the author of "Magic Bullets in Real Estate." This 300-page power-packed book (due out in late Sept 2004) comes with a website (on line in late Sept 2004) that further supports its readers. Please visit with the family at http://www.magicbullets.com we look forward to seeing you!

How to Buy a Home When Your in Your Twenties

Where should you invest in real estate? If you know an area well, and have enough experience investing in real estate, you can make money almost anywhere. However, there are always places that are better or worse for real estate investments – places that have a better demand/supply ratio. Use the questions below to find them.

Demand Questions

1. Is the population growing fast? Check the US Census figures online, or ask the local government if they have the statistics. Stay away from areas that have little growth.

2. Is job growth decent? Again, ask local authorities or use the census information. You want to see job growth equal to or exceeding population growth. The people have to have money to pay for housing.

3. Decent quality of life? This is subjective, but important. Are there theaters and bookstores? Count coffee shops and cafes. Trendy areas usually have increasing demand for housing. It’s also a good indication of a high quality-of-life if people are willing to take lower-paying jobs just to live there.

4. Wealth in the area? It is always a good sign when there is some degree of wealth in a town. Count rich homes. Wealth means everything doesn’t die when the economy slows.

Supply Questions

1. How much new construction? The census figures can tell you what’s happened over the last ten years. Then check with the local authorities to see if the the number of housing units they’ve issued permits for is more or less than the expected population growth.

2. How many homes for sale? A lower supply of homes for sale means upward pressure on prices. This indirectly drives up rents as well, which makes for better investing.

3. Rent and vacancy levels? Are rents high enough to justify investing? Are vacancies low? When we first came to Tucson, every building had vacancies, and we saw a man holding a sign that read, “Apartment – $250 Per Month.” Great place for renters, but not a great place to invest in real estate.

4. Available land that is buildable? Less is better for future appreciation. When the land runs out, the prices start accelerating upwards.

Use these questions to compare various towns and cities, and you’ll see the differences more clearly. You’ll see how housing demand compares to supply in each. Finally, you’ll see where it is better to invest in real estate.

Steve Gillman has invested real estate for years. To learn more, and to see a photo of a beautiful house he and his wife bought for $17,500, visit http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com

Invest In Real Estate – But Where?

As an active real estate investor you probably already know that the most important phase of your investment is when you buy the property. Most of us are getting the bargains in the foreclosure market. You will agree with me that the best time to buy is before the actual foreclosure. This is commonly known as pre-foreclosure.

If you ever found yourself in the heat of a foreclosure auction you would agree that this is not the situation you want to be in. To get into the pre-foreclosure market you need to have quick access to all kind of information. You can imagine that there’s a huge competition in the pre-foreclosure market. Everybody wants a piece of the pie and the bigger the pie gets the more people want a piece.

We are looking at a tidal wave of new foreclosures within the next 1-3 years. I’m talking about all the interest only mortgages and special mortgages that enabled homebuyers to get more house than they actually can afford. These loans are converting into higher interest loans or fixed rate loans. Either way these folks will be looking at about a 40% higher mortgage payment each month. For most families this will be disastrous.

That’s why I predict a tidal wave of foreclosures. As a real estate investor you might say "great", but in reality it will kill your business. Residential real estate is typically appraised through the recent sales comparison method. This means that the value of your home depends on how the market works in your area. As an example; you just bought a bargain foreclosure home in a nice sub division. There are a total of 50 homes in this development. You got the house for 30% under market value. Now your purchase price will be factored in into the comparison model for the next appraisal.

In itself this is not a big deal. A small percentage of under market deals will not spoil the market for the next regular sale. Imagine that instead of 1 or 2 foreclosure deals all a sudden 5 or 10 foreclosures happen. If you were the first to buy a foreclosure in this development you’re looking at financial challenge. Your so called bargain buy represents the new lower market value. Actually you’re lucky if you do not own an overpriced piece of investment real estate. So, watch out for the tidal wave.

There’s a better way to deal with foreclosures. This requires a little bit of negotiation skills and a sincere motivation to help other people. This is called Forbearance. What does this mean? It means that you will be in the business to help people to avoid foreclosure and if you’re successful you will charge a fee for your services. Forbearance is much more than just a form of charity. You will actually cash in on both sides of the foreclosure process.

You will earn a fee for helping distressed homeowners and if you fail to stop foreclosure you will have a first hand bid on buying the property. But your first and most important goal is always to help the homeowner to keep their property. If you don’t set this as your primary business mission you will be out of business in no time. If you fail to build a circle of trust you will have no business.

Most real estate investors I know tell me that they are rather take the big checks once in a while than working in a regular base on a fee based business. If you’re related to Donald Trump, go for it. If not, you will have a huge cash flow problem at hand. With a Forbearance business you will have control over your cash flow. By simply calculating how much money you need to pay your bills you can calculate how many deals you need to do to cover these expenses.

Let’s say you need $8,000 a month to cover your living costs. At a fee rate of $1000 per Forbearance case, you need just 8 cases per month or 2 per week. The Forbearance business is a full time business. There’s simply no way that you can negotiate with lenders after hours. Also you need to be flexible to talk to homeowners during evening hours and weekends. Although it doesn’t take a lot of time to work on a single case it takes a lot of commitment to run this business. A homeowner trusts you to save his home and you don’t want to disappoint him.

So why would you step into this business? Again it’s all in the cash flow. Investing in real estate is fun, but these big checks are just not happening every day. You need to pay your bills and support your family. Forbearance allows you to do exactly that; generating cash flow. You will have enough time at hand to hunt for great real estate deals. So you get the steady income plus the big checks once in while.

I think this is a great real estate business model and worthwhile to spend more time researching. Some states regulate the Forbearance business and some actually have laws in place that don’t allow you to charge for offering a service like this. Do your homework before you start and make sure that you have a good working relationship with a real estate attorney. You don’t want to start this business without a real estate attorney.

Sincerely,
Peter Dobler

As Bulgaria readies for joining the European Economic Community in 2007, many investors are looking to see if there are real estate bargains to be had there.

Other countries have had a big run up before and shortly after joining the European Economic Community. Bulgaria’s prices for commodities are amongst the cheapest in Europe, and if you can find similarly priced property values, you could do very well.

Most people will want to look at Black Sea properties, or in ski resorts like Bansko, but the real deals are to be found in the interior of the country, in rural areas. In a recent visit properties on the Black Sea were fully priced, but inland properties could be had for 5-15,000 Euros – cheap!

There are many online companies offering pre-construction, or off-plan opportunities as well as completed units. Property management is easily available as well.

Discover one of Germany and England’s favorite holiday desitinations.

Make sure to do your homework though. All sellers will make the property they are selling seem easy to buy, easy to rent, and headed for the moon! Different areas have different appreciation prospects, and rental prospects as well.

A unit in a residential area of a city like Varna will not generate anywhere NEAR the revenues that a Black Sea resort property in Golden Sands will.

With the recent run-up of properties all across Europe, Bulgaria, just escaping the grasp of communism, appears ripe for property appreciation.

Andrew Larder http://invest.150m.com/international/bulgaria-real-estate.html

FREE REPORT – How To Buy Property With Nothing Down, available by sending a blank email to monopolyinvestments @ getresponse .com

Real Estate Investing In Bulgaria

Any trip to Belize starts fantasies of owning a beach villa, or a jungle resort. There are a lot of North Americans in this English speaking, former English colony.

Belize is known for its reef, the second largest in the world, and the fantastic diving that goes with it. Even beginner divers have heard of the Blue Hole, a famous diving spot. Ambergris Caye, “La Isla Bonita” in Madonna’s song, is the main toursit spot.

Along with tourist shops and T-shirt shops, there are real estate shops on the dusty roads of San Pedro on Ambergris Caye. Belize prices can range from as low as $5-10,000 for a beach lot in Corozal Town, a sleepy border town, to much higher prices for properties on Ambergris Caye. The southern resorts like Placencia are somewhere in between, price-wise.

There is lots of online assistance available. Gringos resell their properties, and locals sell to gringos, often through real estate agencies.

As more and more North Americans travel, and with the ease of getting to Belize, and its English speaking, safer roots – there will be more people looking to retire and visit Belize. This should be a continuously appreciating investment with good rental prospects, if you do your home work!

Andrew Larder http://invest.150m.com/international/belize-real-estate.html

FREE REPORT – How To Buy Property With Nothing Down, available by sending a blank email to monopolyinvestments @ getresponse .com

Real Estate Investing In Belize

Buy an on-line Tenancy Agreement now. As a landlord and also as a tenant it is important that there is a comprehensive tenancy agreement in place to protect both parties. Don’t be tempted with purchasing off the shelf do it yourself tenancy agreements. It is worth investing in a professionally prepared tenancy agreement by a qualified solicitor.

Tenancy agreements

Tenancy agreements are a legally binding document which protects both a landlord and the tenant when renting out property. If you are a landlord and need to http://www.buytolet4sale.com click here.

Amount of Rent

A landlord will determine the level of rent based on market conditions and level of rent expected on the type of property in question.

New landlord renting for the first time

If you are a new landlord renting your property for the first time it is essential that you purchase a comprehensive tenancy agreement. Never, believe that trust is enough. This is a business relationship to help protect your investment property.

Damage deposits

It is important for landlords to take a damage deposit from the tenants. The amount set is determined by the landlord. However, it is a worthwhile investment to http://www.buytolet4sale.com as this will detail the condition of the property and contents prior to the tenants moving in which can be signed by all parties. When the tenants vacate this landlord inventory can be used to determine whether any of the deposit needs to be retained for repair/maintenance work created by the tenants.

Evicting tenants

It is never an incident that a landlord wants to exercise but on occasions it is necessary to evict tenants. There are certain procedures that a landlord must take to do this. In the first instance it is worth consulting a solicitor to find out how to execute this.

Rent Arrears may need to get a county court judgement

Many landlords will collect rent via direct debit from their tenants own bank accounts. It is important that tenants pay the rent on time and the full amount so as to avoid getting into rent arrears. If this does happen the landlord may have to apply for a county court judgement to resolve the rent arrear issues.

Before you evict you need to know which notice to serve

As a landlord needing to evict tenants it is important to know which eviction notice to serve. There are a number of good information sources available to find this information, but it is always worth contacting a solicitor to ensure that it is done in the correct legal manner.

Each party has certain obligations that they must meet. These can include:

The Landlord

- Adhering to Safety Requirements

- Collecting Rent

- Attending to repairs on the property

- Enabling the tenants to live peacefully in the property you have provided

- Not harassing the tenants. This can include visiting the property without prior notice, builders/tradesman arriving at the property without prior notice and generally leaving the property in a poor condition for the tenants.

The Tenant

- Paying Rent on time

- Ensuring that bills are paid and on time

- Contacting the Landlord notifying of any repairs needed

- Issuing the Landlord with the correct period of notice before they leave

When both parties have signed the tenancy agreement it is very rare that it can be changed unless the tenant and the landlord agree mutually. For example if a tenant has signed an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement for a minimum period of six months and the tenant wanted to leave after just three months, then they may be liable to pay the remaining three months unless a break clause is written into the original tenancy agreement signed.

As a tenant there are certain steps that they need to take to terminate their tenancy agreement. Under normal circumstances they would give the landlord notice that they are leaving. Even if this is not written into the tenancy agreement, it is common courtesy to let the landlord know so that the landlord can begin necessary preparations to source new tenants when they vacate.

Different Types of Tenancy

If a tenant pays rent to a private landlord and live in a flat or house that is not shared with the landlord, the tenants are likely to have:

? an assured shorthold tenancy
? an assured tenancy, or
? a regulated tenancy

This applies even if the tenants have a room in a house that is shared with other people. The type of tenancy also depends on the date the tenants moved in.

Assured shorthold tenants

If tenants moved in after 27 February 1997, they are more likely to be on an assured shorthold tenancy agreement. Although it is still worth checking as tenants may be on an assured tenancy agreement if the landlord said that the tenancy would be an assured tenancy rather than an assured shorthold tenancy before they moved in.

An assured shorthold tenancy agreement gives the landlord a guaranteed right to repossess the property at the end of the term. This is the most common tenancy agreement used for most residential tenancies.

Assured tenants

If tenants move in after 15 January 1989 but before 28 February 1997 and the landlord didn’t give notice stating that the tenancy agreement was to be an assured shorthold tenancy agreement, then it is likely that the tenants may have an Assured Tenancy. Although the landlord may have given the tenants a notice stating that the tenancy agreements is an assured tenancy rather than assured shorthold tenancy.

You may also be an assured tenant if you became the tenant because the tenancy was passed to you after a regulated tenant died.

Regulated tenants

If the tenants moved in before 15 January 1989, it is likely that the tenants will be on a regulated tenancy. A regulated tenancy can remain in place even if the landlord changes or the tenant moves.

Jennifer Tweed is the founder of buytolet4sale.com, one of the UK’s first property portals dedicated to all types of investment property for sale and everything you should need for your sale and purchase. Learn more about http://www.buytolet4sale.com

Purchase Online Tenancy Agreements

Real estate research might start with a look at the U.S. Census information about a town. It can include inspections of specific properties, too. There are many statical tools and information that can help, but don’t forget one of the easiest and most useful research tools: talking. Let me explain with a true story.

My wife and I were on vacation, and stopped in Farmington, New Mexico for a few days. We were about to buy a house for a winter project. The plan was to fix it up and sell it in the spring for a profit.

Just prior to making an offer, we took a last walk-through. As the owner showed me around, my wife started to talk to the woman who was renting the home. She told Ana that half of the outlets in the home didn’t work, as well as other useful information.

This got me thinking, and I went down to the basement for a second look at the wiring. Not only did the house likely need all new wiring, but I found a garden hose attached to a natural gas line. The owner shrugged and said, “You can just cut that off.”

To this day, I don’t know what that was about, but for these and other reasons, we didn’t buy the house. It helps to talk to anyone you can when looking at a house or other real estate investment. Neighbors and renters are especially helpful.

Real Estate Research – Choosing a City

Talking to a lot of people isn’t just useful for information on individual properties. It is also a great way to research a town. I once called the Chamber of Commerce of Deming, New Mexico. The chairman’s casually commented that the city was using up the water faster than the aquifer was being replenished. They had no back-up plan. This was enough for us to cross Deming off our list.

If you want to know about a town, use the phone first. Find any excuse to call anyone from a real estate agent to a random resident. Ask about crime, whether the local government welcomes new businesses, what the climate is like. Have houses been sitting for sale for a long time, or do they go fast? What are the good and bad things about the town?

Before we moved to Tucson, Arizona, part of our real estate research was to call people in potential towns to see if they owned a snow shovel. If so, we crossed the town off the list. Two places can both get 45 inches of snow per year, but in some it stays all winter, and in others it melts before noon. The snow shovel question told us the truth behind the statistics.

Once you’re in a town, a good local bar can be a great place to do your research. After a beer, patrons will tell you what big employers are about to move in or out of the town, how fast homes are selling, whether there are gangs, and much more. Talking to people is a good way to do real estate research, but verify what you hear. People do sometimes exaggerate.

Steve Gillman has invested real estate for years. To learn more, and to see a photo of a beautiful house he and his wife bought for $17,500, visit http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com

Real Estate Research By Talking

Mexico is CHEAP! But its getting more expensive. As property values rise, especially in resort areas, investors wonder how they can profit from this.

Compared to major US cities, Mexico is still very very cheap. But compared to 5, 10, or more years ago, values have really risen.

There are some particulars to pay attention to with Mexican property purchases. For instance, Mexico forbids foreigners from owning land in resort areas. This is worked around by shares in a development, partnerships, or strata arrangements.

Foreign ownership is limited only in the “restricted zone,” land located within 100 km of the Mexican borders, and within 50 km of the coastline.

Instead, a real estate trust must be set up to hold title for the foreigner. Since foreigners are not able to enter into contracts in buy real estate, they must have a bank act on their behalf, much as a trust is use to hold property for minors because they also can not contract. Potential buyers should always get advice and have all real estate transactions overview by a licensed Mexican attorney.

Mexican real estate transactions are not carried out in the same manner as United States real estate transactions. The buyer must retain professionals to assist in the transaction. Mexico has yet to regulate real estate transactions. Real estate agents and brokers are not legally licensed in Mexico. Consequently, a foreign buyer cannot always depend on the normal safeguards that would be applied to real estate transactions in the United States. The old saying “let the buyer beware” is very appropriate. Anyone can set up a real estate company in Mexico. There are no special requirements or brokerage licenses to obtain. A would-be real estate agent merely has to establish a Mexican corporation, obtain a work visa, and he is in business.

As a rule, a foreigner should assume nothing. Was THAT enough of a warning to make sure to get good legal assistance in your transactions??

The best part about investing in Mexico is the proximity to North American investors. You can vacation and view your property, even stay in it if it is not occupied. Mexico has become North America’s playground, so it is likely that you would return every few years.

Anywhere in Mexico that there are tourists, there are vacation properties and property management compqanies. And realtors to re-sell your property when you wish to take your profits!

Your best bet is to travel to Mexico, find an area that YOU really like, and will return to again and again, happily. Then you get a two fold benefit from your investment – it draws you back to your version of paradise as well as hopefully making you money!

Andrew Larder http://invest.150m.com/international/mexico-real-estate.html

FREE REPORT – How To Buy Property With Nothing Down, available by sending a blank email to monopolyinvestments @ getresponse .com

Real Estate Investing In Mexico

Renters are often in a quandary as to whether it makes sense to continue renting or buy a home. Buying a home makes more sense, particularly when taking a long-term view. Yes, even in the current hot real estate market.

Renting – Advantages

Renting can have a few advantages depending on the part of the country you live in. The primary advantage is your monthly rent payment may be less than an equivalent mortgage. A secondary advantage is the fact that maintenance and improvements to the property are the responsibility of the landlord. Still, these advantages pale in comparison to the disadvantages of renting.

Renting – Disadvantages

The disadvantages of renting are significant. If you have any opportunity to purchase a home or condominium, it almost always makes sense to do so.

The biggest disadvantage of renting is the loss of value. Assume you rent a residence for $1,000 a month and you live in the residence for two years. You will have paid a total of $24,000 in rent, a pure expenditure. The $24,000 is simply gone and you will have nothing to show for it other than the time you spent in the home. Compare this to what your landlord has gained.

Rent payments are closely aligned with a landlord’s mortgage payment. Using the above example, lets assume your $1,000 rent exactly equals the mortgage payment. For two years, you have indirectly paid the landlord’s mortgage, helping them build equity in the house by paying down the loan. In addition, the landlord has benefited from the appreciation of the property.

By appreciation, I simply mean the amount of increase in the value of the house. If the rental appreciated $20,000 in two years, the landlord has received a windfall. They may have seen a gain of $24,000 in appreciation and payments lowering the mortgage. As a renter, you have made this all possible. The landlord no doubt would like to thank you.

Now, what would have happened if you had purchased a similar home with similar financial figures? You would have seen an increase in YOUR wealth of $24,000, not the landlord’s wealth. If you renting, these figures should make your teeth grind.

If you are renting, you should be out shopping for your own property. After all, isn’t it time to make your money work for you, not a landlord?

Raynor James is with http://www.fsboamerica.org – providing homes for sale by owner, “FSBO”, properties. Are you thinking, “Should I sell my home?” Visit http://www.fsboamerica.org/seller.cfm to sell your home sale for free for one month.

Renting Versus Buying A Home

A good school district is a key factor in home buying if you have kids. It can also be a positive selling point when it comes time to sell your home.

School Districts

When considering the quality of school districts, keep in mind that everyone is looking for "good ones." The question, of course, is what does "good" exactly mean? To a buyer with children, it means the best education on the planet. To your real estate agent, however, it may mean something much less.

You must look to facts, not opinions, when evaluating potential school districts as part of your home buying process. Asking for opinions is like a girlfriend asking a boyfriend if she looks good in a particular dress. Do you really think the answer is going to be anything other than positive?

The quality of a school district is found in the hard, cold facts. Issues you should consider include topics such as:

1. What is the student to teacher ratio?

2. What teaching style does the district use?

3. How much experience do the teachers have?

4. What is the turnover rate for teachers?

5. What is the drop out rate?

6. What percentages of graduates go to college?

7. Is there any history of violence on the schools?

8. Are there any reports of gangs?

9. What extra curricular activities are offered such as sports, music, etc.?

10. What are the average SAT scores for students?

While this list of question will help you determine if a school district is "good," it isn’t an end all. Consideration must be given to your personal views on the education of your children. Develop questions based on your opinions and make sure to get them answered.

If you have children, evaluating potential school districts is a key factor in purchasing home. Make sure you get the facts, not the opinions of interested people such as the seller or a real estate agent.

Raynor James is with http://www.fsboamerica.org – providing homes for sale by owner, “FSBO”, properties. Are you thinking, “Should I sell my home?” Visit http://www.fsboamerica.org/seller.cfm to sell your home sale for free for one month.

Home Buying ? School District Issues