An irate tenant or disgruntled home-buyer, with the help of a willing attorney, can readily prompt a property search for a property owner in public records. The target of the search becomes someone who has deep-pockets as reflected in real estate assets.

Land trusts are available in most states, though they differ in structure and extent of protection.

Land trusts are nothing more than a legal entity that hold title to a property. One of the advantages to a land trust is that the owner of record is not you!

A land trust is simply transfer of a property out of your name and placed into another entity. The land trust names a trustee to manage the trust, such as your lawyer, a friend, or relative with a different last name. The trust then owns the property, and your name is omitted from the ownership record (which is the deed or title).

But you still own the trust. You are the beneficiary of the trust.

Obviously, it is a little more complicated than that, but here’s the bottom line. If Suzy Suehappy is aggravated with you for some reason and begins looking for your assets of record, she will have a hard time finding what you own if each of your properties are recorded in a separate land trust. Your properties would be listed under the name of the trust rather than yours. Your name would never appear in the records if each of your properties were held in the various names of your trusts.

If you owned 123 Main Street where Suzy Suehappy lives, and your name is John Lucky, Suzy might go to the county clerk’s office to ask for all the property that John Lucky owns. The search would be fruitless because your name could not be found. Suzy Suehappy would discover that the property is owned by 123 Main Street Trust (or whatever you wanted to name it). She would also find that no other properties are owned by 123 Main Street Trust.

But if habitual trouble-maker Suzy Suehappy has a problem with property owner Jane Notsolucky, and finds all of her property of record listings in Jane’s name, she has an easier target for a lawsuit.

If an actual suit is brought against you by Suzy Suehappy, her attorney can demand in deposition a listing of all your property. However, in preliminary discovery efforts by Suzy or her attorney in perusing the county clerk records, maintaining anonymity can be an advantageous deterrent in asset protection.

Once I had a tenant who stumbled onto the staircase landing of his second-story apartment house while drunk, broke the rail, and fell to the ground with some minor injury. He approached a prominent sue-crazy lawyer in town about his case, but I was fortunate not to face an expensive defense of myself because I was not high-profile in the county records. I assume that a review of the records did not disclose my personal name on real estate properties, and I was considered to have no recorded real assets.

Asset protection has to be a concern of real estate investing, and the use of land trusts might be a consideration. I find, however, that few attorneys understand land trusts, and need education in this specialty of the law.

Phil Speer, Ph.D., started his real estate investing career 25 years ago. Without the availability of credit and using only a $10 bill, he purchased $1 million in properties in his first year, and had accumulated $10 million in properties by his fourth year. http://www.CashinHouses.com/

He was featured in a Wall St.Journal editorial as most successful investor in the Nothing Down Real Estate Movement, and was honored with a Caribbean cruise as top investor of the year. In his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, he has been a businessman and Human Resources Consultant for 30 years. He is an author, speaker and seminar director. To learn how to profit in real estate investing, even without cash or credit, read his report at http://www.Real–Estate–Course.com/nomoneydown/flipping.html/ Subscription is free to his Fix-up Ezine. He and other contributing authors provide free articles and resources on real estate investing at his online “Academy of Advanced Real Estate Investing Techniques” at http://www.AAREIT.com/

Real Estate Investing – Protect Your Privacy

Satisfying and lucrative real estate investment depends upon your correct assessment of profit potential, of course, but your ultimate success depends on your ability to transform a doghouse into a dollhouse. The renovation process involves physical work and choosing the best supplies, in order to create maximum positive emotional effect and profits. By incorporating the psychology of residential design, you can make wise choices in transforming your fixer house by using colors, textures, building materials, and decorations that will assure a future speedy and cost-effective sale.

The psychology of residential design addresses the entire home, inside and out, but the techniques of Transformation Psychology are a bit different, because your ultimate goal is different. The use of Design Psychology in your personal home is much more individualized, while renovating a doghouse into a dollhouse integrates more generalized design ideas to create a home that appeals to a specific target buyer.

Using Transformation Psychology to increase your real estate profits means that you must learn how our human senses and emotions are affected by our decorating details and choices of materials. Buyers view a prospective home with their eyes, but their brains interpret what they see and feel according to subtle touches you have purposefully chosen to decorate your house.

Process of Transformation Psychology

Your goal is to create a glorious home that buyers won’t be able to live without, and that process begins with planning all the changes that will be necessary, from inception to realization, in order to accomplish a total makeover of the house. Calculate your eventual selling season. For instance, if you will be selling during summer, chose colors and patterns that make the buyer feel like your home is a refreshing haven from the heat; using green cool colors and bamboo patterns will attract buyers during sweltering heat.

Also, consider your ultimate target market. Determine the type of buyer by estimating the income level. For homes in upscale neighborhoods, use complex colors like sage green; for working-class neighborhoods, use simple greens.

Buy Materials with Drama in Mind

When you envision your ultimate transformation and make a plan, you will be prepared to choose the right building materials. Spend a little extra time choosing design details like paint colors, new flooring, and lighting fixtures. Check out new development houses nearby and see what your competition features. This helps you to follow current decorating trends.

Spending a little extra money on upgraded materials can boost your profit when buyers fall in love with your creation. Also, in markets with more houses for sale than buyers, making your home stand out can mean that you sell fast and pay fewer mortgage payments.

We love taking a dirty doghouse and turning it into a marvelous dollhouse, and we’re willing to invest more time and money than the average investor in order to achieve a truly dramatic transformation. We usually spend about $12,000 for each renovation, which includes the cost of materials and outside help. Many investors spend much less, but they make less profit when the property sells.

Real estate investing takes skill and planning, but using Transformation Psychology gives you a competitive edge, taking a doghouse and turning it into the kind of dollhouse that buyers stand in line to bid on.

(c) Copyright 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

Professor Jeanette Fisher, author of Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars, Joy to the Home, and other books teaches Real Estate Investing and Design Psychology. For more articles, tips, reports, newsletters, and sales flyer template, see http://www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.com/pages/5/index.htm

Using Transformation Psychology to Sell Investment Properties

Many folks dream of becoming real estate investors, but not everyone has what it takes. If you’re dreaming of becoming an investor, here are several important questions to consider, long before you buy your first investment property:

1) Why would a homeowner sell a house at a bargain price?

Many things happen in people’s lives that make their home suddenly become a burden. Loss of income, divorce, or illness are the most common, but sometimes a homeowner dies, leaving a home that none of their heirs wants. In any case, the home has become a problem, which is where you, as an investor, come in. The homeowners, or the heirs, have a problem, and you must find a way to offer a solution.

2) What types of houses should you look for?

Besides being owned by someone who no longer wants or can afford to stay in a property, you want to find a home that’s only tired, and not in need of structural work in order to favorably compete with similar houses on the market. We call that type of house a “doghouse.”

3) How do you find doghouses?

Your real estate agent can scan the MLS listings, looking for fixer-uppers, handyman specials, or as-is houses. You can also find similar properties yourself, using the local newspaper or shopper.

4) Should you try to close quickly?

This is an important step in becoming successful, because beleaguered sellers will almost always be in need of money in as short a time as possible. Get yourself prequalified and preapproved for a loan, so you can close on the property quickly. Being able to let sellers know they’ll get paid fast will consistently net you more houses than your competition.

5) How do you flip houses fast?

Find ugly homes, in good neighborhoods, that need as little work as possible. Clean them up, paint them inside and out, and install a neutral shade of new carpet, and you should be able to flip the home in a short amount of time. Always keep your limitations in mind. Hiring professionals for repairs will cut into your profit margin.

Asking yourself these questions will help get you started in your real estate investment career, and keeping these answers in mind at all times will keep you from making costly mistakes as you buy and sell investment properties.

(c) Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

Professor Jeanette Fisher, author of Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars, Joy to the Home, and other books teaches Real Estate Investing and Design Psychology. For more articles, tips, reports, newsletters, and sales flyer template, see http://www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.com/pages/5/index.htm

How to Become a Successful Real Estate Investor

To make a good profit in real estate, you must buy right. Check out all property types available to find the best transaction for your specific situation. Consider fixers, distressed sales, repossessions, multiple listings, for sale by owners, and vacant properties just wasting away.

Distressed Properties

Recognize the difference between a fixer and a distressed property. Distressed properties may be fixers or just unwanted houses. Divorce, job loss or transfer, death, financial difficulty, and other problems often force a sale for less than market value. Just because an owner’s problem causes a distressed sale does not mean the house requires fixing.

REPOSSESSIONS

Although the repossession market seemed dried up last summer, houses are beginning to appear on foreclosed lists again. Lender Rob Kramarz with Nationwide Mortgage (www.seetloan.com) says that this may be the beginning of another real estate investor boom.

Look for great bargain properties for sale by HUD, VA, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, and Bank-REOs (acronym for real estate owned). Real estate agents try to discourage you from repos and switch you to multiple listed homes. Do not listen to negative remarks about how hard it is to find a good deal property. Find another agent. Even in the hot market at the time of this writing, when the average house sells in less than three weeks, we found two properties for at least forty thousand dollars under market value.

Paying a listing service to mail you lists of repossessed properties is a waste of money. Actually, by the time you get these lists, the houses are already sold. Many web sites listing foreclosures thrive on the web for no charge to you.

Take a flashlight with you to view a repossessed property. With no electrical service and boards covering windows, viewing dark rooms is tough. A good real estate agent will have her own flashlight, but you want to see what you want and not what she wants you to see.

HUD

In our area, new HUD listings post online late Thursday night or Friday morning. New "Daily’s," homes previously sold which fell out of escrow, post Saturday morning. Properties not sold during the bid time stay listed as daily’s. Bids, due by the following Tuesday at midnight, must be submitted by a real estate agent who has completed HUD registration. Don’t waste your time using a Realtor who is not familiar with selling HUD homes. Any mistake causes the bid to be rejected. Don’t use an agent who says you must bid way over minimum bid. Find an agent specializing in HUD homes who wants to work with you on your terms. Many bargain HUD homes do sell for far more than the minimum bid. Hold out for the one property which doesn’t get way overbid. (I bid about $40,000 under minimum on our second home owner-occupant mountain cabin.)

We submit many bids and win enough to make it pay us well. HUD only allows one repo purchase as an owner-occupant every two years from the date of closing.

Rely on your gut instinct and don’t let your real estate agent unduly influence you. It is not a difficult process for your agent to make a computer bid. You need an agent willing to make a few bids to get a successful bid. This is like winning a lottery, with the odds in your favor.

Bids must have a lender’s loan commitment statement. Lenders unfamiliar with HUD requirements also waste your time. Any mistake causes you to lose the purchase. Not all lenders understand HUD’s bid, finance, and purchase process.

When placing a HUD bid, raise your offering bid to cover some of your closing costs. This means you get HUD to pay your closing costs and save out-of-pocket expenses. Also, the higher sales price impacts the market comparable sales in your favor for sale later. Your purchase price influences the values of the market area. Keeping prices higher for active sales during your renovation time protects your investment potential.

Don’t get attached to one particular property. We placed a bid on a home I loved in Apple Valley and lost it by a few hundred dollars. The house came back on the list later, not at all uncommon for HUD repos. But, by this time, we had already purchased a better distressed property.

VA

Cleaner than HUD repos, homes owned by the Veterans Administration are also offered on a bidding system through real estate agents. The VA partially fixes up their repossessed homes. The VA sometimes offers vendee (seller) financing with few processing costs, low interest, and no prepayment penalty. You do not have to be a Veteran to buy these easy to qualify for homes.

As of this writing, the VA is changing the way these homes are offered for sale. This is another reason you need a real estate agent who stays on top of recently revised marketing procedures relating to government-owned properties.

Less known government agencies such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FDIC, SBA, the IRS, and GSA list repossessed properties on their individual web sites. These properties, rarer than HUD and VA, usually get cleaned and repaired before listing with real estate agencies with sale prices closer to market value.

REOs

Banks often offer their real estate owned-REO homes at bargain prices. Depending on the bank’s resale policy, conditions of the property, and available financing, REO opportunities vary widely. Several banks lend on their repos while other banks just want out. Great financing becomes possible through the banks who offer in-house terms. Ask for no points, minimal loan costs, and no prepayment penalties. Check with your local lending institutions and find out how they market their repossessions. Many of these bankers will give you their web page listing available property. Befriend real estate agents who specialize in listing bank-owned repossessions so they will notify you of a new listing immediately.

Multiple Listings

It is hard to find a bargain in multiple listings, but not impossible. Check out listings which have been on the market for awhile. Look for vacant houses, as these cost the seller money every month. Make an offer for much less than asking price with a quick escrow. Many anxious sellers jump on an offer if they think they will be out of their problem in only ten days. This is another reason you need a lender and an escrow officer who perform fast.

I follow the multiple listings in our area on the Multiple Listing Service. One of my agents emails me new listings daily. You need an agent who calls you the minute a new distressed property listing becomes available. Under-priced listings mostly get snapped up by the real estate agents and their investors before they hit the market.

Just like making many bids, make many offers. You never know when a seller’s problems reach a critical point causing abrupt action.

For Sale by Owners

Houses for sale by owner may not always be a great buy, but there is always at least one bargain out there. Many investors prefer buying directly from the owner. If you have ever tried to sell your home by yourself, you probably met some of these investors. Cruel, hard, and in some cases, fraudulent investors dream up all kinds of schemes to steal houses from distraught homeowners. Understand that the home seller most likely dealt with these callous investors before you and therefore may view you with suspicion. Earn their trust by working with them honestly and compassionately.

Seller’s Motivation

Let honesty and kindness guide your actions with sellers. Finding out the seller’s specific problem is the key to helping them and yourself. Uncover the seller’s particular need and find a solution. Because it is embarrassing for some sellers to let you in on their troubles, extra sympathy and relaxed timing helps you unearth their underlying motivation. Listen carefully, stop talking, and pay attention to details which lead to understanding the real reason they need to sell.

The seller may need a quick escrow, need to rent back the home for a while, or want immediate cash. You could give the seller a loan of cash with a note secured by the property. Ask an attorney about your state laws regarding this type of purchase advance. We offered a seller a $2,000 deposit outside of escrow, which went toward the down payment, to entice a money-hungry seller to commit to our low price.

Many sellers do not need all of their cash out. Owner financing is a great deal for you. Usually, you get a lower interest rate and you don’t have to pay lender’s points or prepayment penalties. Also, these loans typically won’t show on your credit report so you won’t have these payments counted against you. If you have a good credit report, take a copy with you to show to the seller. This prevents more inquiries on your credit history and keeps your credit score from dropping.

Ready to Buy

Be prepared to make an offer immediately when you find a bargain. Make sure you are pre-approved with a great lender who can close quickly.

Distressed sellers and fixer houses offer you a great way to get into the real estate investing business.

(c) Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

Professor Jeanette Fisher, author of Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars, Joy to the Home, and other books teaches Real Estate Investing and Design Psychology. For more articles, tips, reports, newsletters, and sales flyer template, see http://www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.com/pages/5/index.htm

Buying Houses: Types of Bargains to Find

What Real Estate Lenders Look For

Lenders control many programs — some make use of over 200! Generally, lenders look for the following typical standards, with many exceptions:

1. Absolutely no late mortgage payments
2. Credit score above 580
3. If bankruptcy, no charge-offs or collection accounts afterwards
4. If bankruptcy, only 1 late payment afterwards
5. Two active revolving accounts in good standing
6. Good employment history or stated income
7. Three to six months reserves (covering mortgage payment, taxes & insurance) in savings
8. 55% income to debt ratio
9. Appropriate loan-to-value ratio on purchase property

Borrowers obtain a loan by bringing something of value to the table. One of the following assets ought to get you financing:

1. Good credit score
2. Good income
3. Good cash down payment and reserves

Seven Loan Types and Finance Terms

Understanding the variety of loan types and terms enables you to choose an effective lender. Here are seven important loan types and related terms:

1. “A” Loans
Borrowers with great credit, a good cash reserve, good employment, and a debt-to-income ratio of less than 33%, qualify for “A” loans. These loans typically cost less upfront for points and costs, charge no prepayment penalty, and offer lower interest rates.

2. Sub-Prime Loans
Credit reporting agency websites portray Americans as having great credit. These informational articles and graphs mislead and cause struggling home buyers to feel inadequate. In fact, my Countrywide lending contact told me that 60% of all applicants are considered “sub-prime” borrowers. Sub-prime borrowers usually are those with credit scores under 620 or those with other conditions such as undocumented stated income, poor employment history, or credit issues such as collections, charge offs, and late payments.

3. Stated Income Loans
Most applicants for a mortgage have a full-time job with income tax returns verifying income for the past two years. Other borrowers, like me, with multiple streams of income must get loans with stated income. Some lenders require two years of bank statements showing deposits equaling the required total income, proving the ability to make the mortgage payment.

4. Full-documented Loans
These loans require tax returns, employment verification, bank statements, and other individual lender demands. Other processing types, more flexible and easier for the borrower to gather information on, do not necessarily cost more. High credit scores, big down payments, and large cash reserves ease documentation requirements.

5. Conforming Loans & Jumbo Loans
According to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines, “conforming loans” are mortgages for less than the following allowable amounts at the time of this writing:

(Unit= dwelling or housing unit)
1 unit $333,700
2 units $413,100
3 units $499,300
4 units $625,000

Note: the amounts are higher in Hawaii and Alaska. Other states like California, New York, and Florida join the higher limits this year. The dollar amount of these loans changes periodically.

Conventional lenders also use the term conforming loans for loans which are not Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans. Conforming loans simply refers to the dollar amount; it doesn’t mean you get a Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae loan.

6. “Jumbo loans” are for higher dollar amounts.
You need jumbo loans to finance properties requiring larger mortgages than the limited conventional loan amount. Jumbo loans usually charge higher interest rates than conforming loans.

7. Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)
If you already own your own home, consider a Home Equity Line of Credit, with few fees and lower costs, for purchasing investment property. Use this line of credit for a large down payment on your investment properties over and over. With twenty percent or more down on an investment property, you get better financing plus save on loan costs.

(c) Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

Professor Jeanette Fisher, author of Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars, Joy to the Home, and other books teaches Real Estate Investing and Design Psychology. For more articles, tips, reports, newsletters, and sales flyer template, see http://www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.com/pages/5/index.htm

Financing Houses

Does the myth that mobile homes depreciate in value keep you from investing in them? Well, they do lose value in a park, on a rented lot. Mobile homes with real estate, however, are an entirely different investment.

My mobile home doubled in value in the twelve years I lived in it. The home deteriorated a little (don’t all houses?), but the value of the land continued to rise. Also, by renting rooms, I took in far more money from my home than it originally cost, and I was living in it!

Forget your prejudices and look at the numbers. In this town, for example, a two bedroom house rents for $800/month, and costs about $120,000. A mobile home gets $500/month, but you can buy one on real estate for $50,000 or less. The cash-on-cash return on investment is obviously higher with mobile homes.

What about the long term return from appreciation? House rentals here typically have negative cash flow, while mobile home rentals at least break even. Investors prefer houses anyhow, believing they’ll build equity faster, but is that true?

Faster Equity With Mobile Homes

Buy a house for $120,00. Put $20,000 down, and you’ll have a $100,000 mortgage loan. Amortised over 30 years at 6% interest, you’ll have a payment of $599.60. Of the first payment, $500 will go towards interest, $99.60 towards principal. In other words, you only built equity of $99.60. I’m ignoring appreciation, but only for the moment.

Second scenario: Find a nice mobile home for sale, and borrow only $30,000, at 8% interest, amortised over 10 years. Note the higher interest – this is always the case with “factory built home mortgages.” The shorter term is normal too, so you’ll be done with payments in 10 years instead of 30.

Now, despite higher interest and a shorter term, the payment will be only $363.99. The first month, $200 will go towards interest. That means the other $163.99 goes towards principal. You bought more house (built more equity) in this scenario.

A mobile home on land might appreciate more slowly than the “regular” house, but faster loan pay-down covers this factor. Pay less per month and build more equity! Don’t expect your real estate agent to tell you this. Don’t expect him to even agree with me after you explain it. I sold real estate years ago, and math skills were not part of the licensing requirements.

Cash Flow With Mobile Homes

In the example given, you’d initially lose about $150/month on the house, after your payment, taxes, insurance repairs and other expenses. You’d break even or better with the mobile home, and after the loan is paid (ten years), you’d have a lot of cash flow, of course.

Mobile homes are cheap to maintain. The furnace died in rental I owned, the most expensive repair you’ll have in a mobile. I replaced it for $1,200, much less than a furnace for a larger home. For $200 you can have a mobile home roof tarred, instead of $5,000 to re-shingle a traditional roof. Windows, plumbing, doors – they’re all cheaper.

Property taxes cost less, because they’re based on value, and mobile homes have a lower value than stick-built houses. Insurance will cost less too, because you are insuring less value. The only precaution to remember here is to be sure you can get insurance. Very old mobiles may be uninsurable in some areas.

The Bottom Line

Mobiles have their own problems. Renters who have to rent for less sometimes pay late, for example. These issues are minor compared to the advantages. Your twenty thousand could buy you two mobile home rentals, with ten thousand down on each, instead of one negative-cash-flow house, for example.

Take an honest look at the numbers. The two investors in my town that own most of the mobile home rentals always have cash flow, and have millions in equity now. Other investors, following their prejudices, struggle to make money with their “nice” rental homes. So don’t automatically pass on those mobile homes for sale when you’re looking for a good investment.

Steve Gillman has invested in mobile homes and other real estate for years. To learn more, and to see a photo of a beautiful house (not a mobile) he and his wife bought for $17,500, visit http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com

Get Rich With Mobile Homes

When painting your home for resale, choosing the right colors can make a huge difference in your paycheck at closing. For instance, did you know that the exterior color of houses selling most quickly is a certain shade of yellow, but that choosing the wrong shade of yellow can kill a sale?

You’ll find many brochures in paint stores, showing various combinations of exterior paint colors. But most people don’t realize that most of those combinations actually include three colors, and not just two. Limiting your exterior paint scheme to just two colors also limits your income potential.

For a fast sale, think fun colors and go for a third, or even a fourth, exterior color. Think “Disneyland Main Street,” where every shop is painted in glorious multi-colors. Adding more colors will also add definition to the various architectural details of your home. Use gloss or semi-gloss paint on wood trim.

The Psychology of Exterior Colors

When choosing exterior colors, take the sales price of your home into account. Certain colors, especially muted, complex shades, attract wealthy or highly-educated buyers, whereas buyers with less income or less education generally prefer simpler colors. A complex color contains tints of gray or brown, and usually requires more than one word to describe, such as “sage green,” as opposed to “green.”

On the other hand, simple colors are straightforward and pure. Generally, houses in the lower price range sell faster and for higher prices when painted in simple colors like yellow or tan, accented by white, blue, or green trim.

The Psychology of Interior Colors

Using colored, rather than bland, white walls will increase your profit potential. Lynette Jennings tested the perception of room size and color, and discovered that a room painted white appeared only appeared larger to a few people when compared to an identical room painted in color – and the perceived difference was only about six inches! Most people also look better when surrounded by color, and feel happier, and since buyers pick houses that make them feel happy, that knowledge can put dollars in your pocket at closing!

Entryways should bring the exterior colors into the house. Repeating shades of the exterior throughout your home will make the entire home seem to be in harmony. Living and family rooms painted in a slightly lighter shade of the exterior color will ensure that you’ve picked a color your buyers like, because if they didn’t like your exterior colors, they wouldn’t have bothered to look inside. If they loved the exterior colors, they’ll love the interior, too.

When choosing interior colors, consider the use of each room. For instance, kitchen and dining areas that are painted in "food colors," such as coffee browns, celery greens, and scrambled egg yellows, feel natural.

Since, deeper shades of color imply intimacy and serenity, I like to paint master bedrooms a medium shade of green or blue for warm selling seasons, and rouge red for cooler weather. Other bedrooms can be painted in creamy tones of green, blue, or a pale shell pink. (See the chapter on the Psychology of Color in my book “Joy to the Home: Secrets of Interior Design Psychology” for further information.)

Selling Season

Always consider your selling season (the time of year you’ll be marketing your home) and climate when choosing colors. Estimate the amount of time you’ll need to get your home ready for sale, and then add on extra days for unexpected delays. Use cool colors, such as blues, greens, and grays, to sell during spring and summer, and warm colors, such as yellows, reds, and maroons, when selling in the fall and winter.

Color Intensity

My husband and I usually use lighter colors when painting the exteriors of our investment dollhouses, because it makes them appear larger. On the other hand, our cabin in the woods looks richer when painted a darker color. When we decided to have it painted, I considered the usual cabin colors of dark brown and barn red, but fell in love with Olympic’s gorgeous “Gooseberry” plum color.

When getting ready to paint your house, look at the colors of neighboring houses and choose colors that harmonize, yet stand out from the crowd. Colors that clash badly with other houses will detract from the overall neighborhood.

At the beginning of the article, I told you that homes with yellow exteriors sell the quickest. But which shade of yellow sells best? First, the yellows to avoid: yellows with green undertones look sickly to most buyers, and yellows with orange undertones give buyers an impression of cheapness.

The best-selling yellow exterior color is actually a pale, sunny yellow, especially when complimented with one or more carefully-chosen accent colors. For instance, a semi-gloss white trim will give your home a clean and fresh look, and adding a third color, such as green, can make your home even more attractive to prospective buyers.

Colors affect human beings in many ways, and by using the principles of Color Psychology, you can make your home stand out from the competition, sell more quickly, and at a higher price.

(c) Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

Professor Jeanette Fisher, author of Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars, Joy to the Home, and other books teaches Real Estate Investing and Design Psychology. For more articles, tips, reports, newsletters, and sales flyer template, see http://www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.com/pages/5/index.htm

Using Color Psychology to Sell Your Home

The city of Westminster is centrally located in the Denver metropolitan area. Its easy access to amenities in both Denver and Boulder really coax investors into buying a home in Westminster. The eclectic region is also the center of attention because it possesses a variety of natural landscapes including mountainous views, rolling hills, flat plains and plateaus. Westminster is known as the city of choice for over 100,000 residents who are fortunate enough to utilize numerous major highways, corporate businesses, and beautiful housing.

Qualities:

What’s the point of buying a home in Westminster if you are unaware of the exciting activities the city offers? Any resident can confirm there are an endless number of activities to do here. First of all, it is the place to be if you value the arts. You can witness live theatrical performances or take informative tours in one of Westminster’s museums. Even the intellectuals have their own nook. College Hill Library is a great place to study or hold conferences in comfortable settings. Westminster thrives on its outdoor activities. You can take pleasure in the mountainous settings encircling the Legacy Ridge Golf Course or greenery near the Heritage Golf Course. Nothing is better than playing your favorite sport in the midst of the breathtaking wonders nature carries. You may even want to combine the pleasures of entertainment and the great outdoors by taking the family to Westminster Promenade where everyone can bask in the city’s pleasant setting while witnessing some of the best amusements.

Open Landscape:

Living in Westminster’s open environment will leave you free to roam the town’s sublime venues or adore nature’s beauty from the comfort of your own home. Being close to the natural environment of this town will enable you to experience firsthand the smallest benefits of buying a home in Westminster. These peaceful domains are rich with fresh air and mountainous lands exemplifying the splendor of the town. A spacious single family residence or townhouse could work wonders for you in this type of setting.

Residential Neighborhood:

If you would much rather be in a sociable environment, there are plenty of admirable subdivisions that will provide you with the advantages of living near friendly neighbors. You are encouraged to invest in an apartment, condo, luxury home, or even a vacant space in an office building that will give you security in a close-knit community. Westminster’s residential area is equipped with the finest schools, transportation, restaurants, shops, and other services to cater to your needs.

Buying a home in Westminster can certainly enliven your lifestyle with modernized features near the best landscapes that nature has to offer. Come and look at what could be your property today!

http://inside-real-estate.com in a network entirely devoted to real estate information. Our staff of nationwide writers has provided a library of over 25,000 real estate articles. Inside-Real-Estate covers several topics from the basic “how to’s” of real estate to city specific real estate information.

Buying a Home in Westminster

A bit about Venice

Venice, Florida was named by an early explorer who thought the beautiful, clean canals that snake through the coastal community starkly resembled the canals of the historic city of Venice, Italy. In the 2000 census, Venice, Florida had a population of 17,764 people and that number has continued to increase over the last five years. Venice is one of five communities that are nestled on the southwestern coast of Florida along the Gulf of Mexico. However, it is one of the few cities that does not have a barrier island to the Gulf.

The warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico help maintain an exceptional year-round climate that rarely drops below 70 degrees. Gorgeous weather combined with miles of pristine white sand beaches is perfect for all beachgoers. The clear blue water is great for swimming, surfing, fishing, and boating. Because the beaches are sprinkled with prehistoric, fossilized shark teeth, the city has become known as the "Sharks Tooth Capital of the World."

If you are looking at canal front homes in Venice, you probably consider recreation as an important factor in your decision. Besides having instant access to the waterfront where you can swim, boat, and enjoy many water sports, Venice also has many other indoor and outdoor activities. There are nearly a dozen challenging golf courses that are great for all skill levels. For example, the Plantation Golf and Country Club has difficult greens while the Bird Bay Executive Golf Club offers an easier day on the course.

Buying a canal front home in Venice

Each year, more and more people desire to live in one of the beautiful canal front homes in Venice. There are several canal front homes for sale that fit different tastes and budgets. There are styles ranging from luxurious Italian architecture to modern contemporary structure. A prospective homebuyer can choose from luxury homes, condominiums and villas. Perhaps the most popular type of housing in recent years is the villa.

The price of canal front homes varies immensely. Depending on the size, amenities, location and style of the home, some properties may cost a few hundred thousand dollars while others may cost a few million dollars. However, whatever type of home you are looking for and whatever amenities you desire, you should be able to find a suitable canal front home.

Canal front homes in Venice offer the best of all worlds. You can have a beautiful home located on the clear blue water of the canals while still having close proximity to business districts, schools and shopping centers.

Just imagine yourself sitting on the dock, dangling your feet in the cool, blue water after a great day of boating. Then imagine yourself striking up the grill and enjoying a family barbecue on the banks of the peaceful canal. Could you ask for a better day? With such an abundance of desirable qualities that nearly every homebuyer wants, but most only dream about, what could be better than canal front homes in Venice?

http://inside-real-estate.com in a network entirely devoted to real estate information. Our staff of nationwide writers has provided a library of over 25,000 real estate articles. Inside-Real-Estate covers several topics from the basic “how to’s” of real estate to city specific real estate information.

Canal Front Homes in Venice

As the second largest city geographically in Florida, this beautiful southwestern attraction is located on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River. It also lies between the Gulf of Mexico and part of the Intracoastal Waterway. With a population of more than 138,000, Cape Coral is known as a vibrant city that promotes growth industrially, educationally, and culturally. Residents take pride in the area’s momentous growth, ideal weather, resource availability, and the affordable cost of living. It’s no surprise that a Cape Coral realtor is destined to be successful in the numerous real estate transactions that take place in this city.

History:

Cape Coral has developed into what it is today in just a 40-year span. This young city was incorporated in 1970 by two land speculators that placed confidence in the host of opportunities that waterfront living would bring. The Rosen Brothers purchased the property, built more than 400 miles of canals, and launched a major marketing project that would later result in the sale of thousands of residential building sites. Today, Cape Coral continues to experience rapid growth economically and socially. The city is even able to distinguish itself from others since it features thousands of waterfront residential properties on canals and direct saltwater routes to the Gulf of Mexico. Cape Coral is proof that a little investment can go a long way.

Qualities:

No matter what leisurely activity catches your interest, Cape Coral guarantees plenty of fun in the sun. You will definitely enjoy all of the park, playgrounds, golf, and sailing that the city has to offer. Do you like to go fishing? Southwest Florida is nationally recognized for saltwater fishing, and the extensive miles of canal undoubtedly make Cape Coral a haven for fishermen and boaters. If you are looking to make the most out of a peaceful day, Jaycee Park features many areas designated for picnicking, romantic strolls, and sightseeing. Four Freedoms Park offers more energetic outings that include a playground area for children and a recreation center. You can also visit Veteran’s Memorial Park to engage in sporting events like basketball or bocci ball. Are you an aqua-lover? If so, the Sun Splash Family Water Park provides 15 acres of two dozen water attractions. A Cape Coral realtor will inform you of all these wonderful activities and much more when you consult about prospective properties.

Housing Opportunities:

One of the duties of a Cape Coral realtor is to confirm that absolutely nothing is better than the residential opportunities found in this magnificent city. There is a wide range of waterfront residences to suit your tastes at fairly reasonable prices. You can opt to dwell in a cozy condominium near the Gulf, a luxury villa surrounded by the city’s most lavish clubhouse, or even a spacious single family flat with a waterfront view for the whole family to enjoy. The housing opportunities are limitless, and investment possibilities are abundant. Since Cape Coral acquires so much land mass, it is easy to purchase pristine property for your own private use.

You can look forward to a literally bright future by conversing with a Cape Coral realtor about the endless benefits that this endearing city has to offer.

http://inside-real-estate.com in a network entirely devoted to real estate information. Our staff of nationwide writers has provided a library of over 25,000 real estate articles. Inside-Real-Estate covers several topics from the basic “how to’s” of real estate to city specific real estate information.

Cape Coral Realtor