What’s This about a Housing Bubble?

Writen by Scott Campanella

In his recent testimony, Alan Greenspan warned against the possiblity that we have seen home prices plateau. The bursting of the “bubble” could cause a big hit to the U.S. economy. But, why should we worry?

Well, as we all know, house prices are up across the country…over 10% in the last year, including over 25% in some markets. Additionally, house prices have risen over 70% since 1994, more than double the increase of renting during that time period. Demand for houses is high, as interest rates have stayed low. This has created an investment market for houses.

Now, the average homeowner can use the equity in his/her home to finance the purchase of one or more additional houses. One statistic showed that 13% of houses are currently unoccupied, due to investors gobbling them up, hoping the prices will continue to skyrocket.

But can these prices last? Once the supply of houses exceeds demand, we could see a rapid drop in prices, as people look to sell their extra homes. Higher interest rates or falling prices could scare away potential buyers, creating a housing market crash.

Furthermore, those with Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs) who figured they would only own the house for 3 4 years might now be stuck with either a high interest mortgage, or selling the home for a substantial loss.

Either way, the potential for bankrupt investors seems unnervingly real. With new laws making it harder for one to declare bankruptcy, we could become a nation with huge individual debt…and that would certainly hurt our economy.

Scott publishes and maintains Stock Market Plus, a financial blog with topics ranging from Investing to Debt Control. Visit him at http://www.stockmarketplus.com

Important Factors Regarding How to Buy HUD FHA Properties

Writen by John Nazareno

There are many different types of homes which can be purchased on the general market today. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development is a federal agency developed for the purpose of managing federal housing and related issues. Within this encompassing federal department is the Federal Housing Authority which further carries out the goals of HUD. There are certain properties known as HUD FHA properties and these will be discussed in detail as well as the process for buying these homes.

What HUD FHA Does With Regard to Property Purchases

In order for a home to be a HUD FHA home, it has to be owned by the federal agencies. They obtain the initial property in the following manner. Individuals can apply for a HUD backed loan through their individual lender. From that point onward, HUD vouches for the repayment of the loan and will repay the lender should the borrower fail to do so. In the event that the homeowner fails to pay their mortgage and a foreclosure is instituted, HUD will repossess the property, pay off the lender any amount currently due and then take full ownership of the property. From this point onward, the property belongs to HUD and the agency can dispose of the property as it sees fit.

After the property has been taken and is in the rightful ownership of HUD, the next step is to sell the property to another homeowner. If HUD uses a real estate broker to initiate the sale of the home, the broker will take over certain pertinent duties related to the sale of the home and receive a commission, usually 6%, for doing so. It is important to note that real estate agents are allowed to bid on HUD homes and purchase them on their own but need to go through a HUD broker.

As for the condition of a HUD property, all HUD properties are sold as is on a cash basis. This does not mean that an individual has to have cash in hand to buy it but they will need to obtain a loan from an outside lender. HUD homes are usually of a lower to intermediate price range of home and some homes will be in better conditions than others will.

How to Find a HUD FHA Home

There are a few different ways to locate HUD homes. One who is interested in buying a HUD home can search the newspaper real estate advertisements, contact a HUD broker or contact HUD directly for a listing of HUD brokers in the area. Once a potential HUD home is found, it is time to proceed with the purchasing process.

Buying the HUD Home

When a potential HUD home has been located and the individual is expressing an interest in purchasing it, it is important to adequately inspect the property and make sure it is what you are looking for, both inside and out. If the house is what you desire, you will need to submit a HUD bid package to the area HUD office with a 5% deposit. This deposit is non refundable should the prospective buyer fail to follow through with the purchase. The individual will wait for the bid to be accepted and if so, will have 30 days to close escrow.

Reasons to Buy a HUD FHA Home

Perhaps the number one reason to purchase a HUD home is for the reasonable price that is being offered on the home. HUD homes tend to be more reasonable in price than non HUD homes so it entices individuals to show an interest and ultimately purchase homes of this type.

Some individuals buy HUD homes not only for the price but also for the overall quality of the home itself. Although most HUD homes are of a modest level, there are some which individuals find to be perfect for their needs. Whether they have the right amount of bedrooms and bathrooms or are in a desired location, some people buy HUD homes without ever really looking for a HUD home in particular.

Summary

Taking advantage of the homes which are offered by HUD is extremely attractive for many individuals. Not only are these homes reasonably priced but they are also on the market and off of the market as quickly as possible since HUD is anxious to sell the home and have one less home to look after. If an individual is looking to buy a home that is reasonably priced, usually a quick sale and at times in the perfect location for the homeowner, then considering the purchase of a HUD home might be the perfect thing for a prospective homebuyer to do.

visit my website: free foreclosure information and list. Search the free California MLS for homes online. All 50 States available.

Nuts and Bolts: Maybe I’m Getting Old Fashioned

Writen by Donna Robinson

Lately I have been thinking about the real estate business, and how it has changed so much over the past 10 years. Most of the techniques taught today were around 10 years ago. There were people doing assumptions, lease options, flipping, rehabs, etc., back then too. But what is really different today is the increase in the number of courses, infomercials and clubs that encourage people to become real estate investors. And those efforts are obviously working. The ranks of those who call themselves real estate investors have swollen dramatically during the past 10 years.

Most are attracted to the promise of quick profits from flipping or rehabbing. It is exciting to think about having the opportunity to make a 20K profit in just a few days time on a flip deal. I have seen it done. I personally participated in a deal that netted $25K in profit in only 3 days. On a number of occasions I have seen 10K profit deals put together in just a few days. It does happen. Guess what else happens? You get to pay a significant portion of those profits in taxes. Oh, and people forget to tell you that they can’t get the money together to buy your flip, so you show up at closing with a seller expecting to sell, and no buyer there to cash you out. Or, you luck out and get seller financing on that older house that has those hardwood floors everybody wants, lots of attic space for a new bedroom, a great lot, good location, everything you could ask for in a rehab, except one thing - an interested buyer.

It can get very scary when you can’t find a buyer for your flip or worse, no buyer for a retail you just spent $30K fixing up. When your buyer fails to show for closing and you are on the hook to buy a house you don’t really want to keep, it can make for some very anxious moments. The older I get, the more I like the idea of sleeping at night. Losing $20K on a deal is VERY scary, just like making $20K is fun. And you have to keep in mind that it can go both ways. You win some and you lose some. I have lost money on real estate deals and I have seen friends lose more than $25K on one deal. I would be willing to bet that there is not a full time investor that has never lost money on a deal at one time or another. That is OK when you are well financed and can weather such a set back. But the average investor who is just getting started cannot afford such loses. That’s why my thoughts and interest have returned to the old fashioned rental property business.

Let’s not be blind here, you can lose money on rental property too, but in my opinion the odds are much more in your favor when you are planning to buy and hold. You will still need operating capital. There will always be expenses you need to be able to cover, but by and large, over the years you hold a property, it will likely increase in market value and rental income, thereby yielding asset growth and increasing net cash flow. If you can make it through the lean start up years, you will likely find yourself “sitting pretty” 10 years down the road, if you apply a diligent program of buy and hold over a 10 year span.

Rental property has been around since the second house was built. It is a tried and true business model. But is has to be run like a business in order to avoid the burnout common to so many rental property owners. Most landlords are mom and pop operations, with no real business organization when it comes to managing properties and tenants. This lack of management skill causes many a landlord to eventually grow tired of the business, thereby becoming motivated sellers.

The best course that I have seen on the topic of rental property management was written by John Adams. It is not as much a course as it is a handbook. According to John it is a compilation of the management techniques and methods he has developed over the past 25 years. I like it because it is specifically tailored for the state of Georgia. Of course I have not seen everyone’s course, and I am sure there are others that are good. But I highly suggest you take in one of John’s very inexpensive seminars on long term real estate investing. You can check out his seminar schedule at www.money99.com (he did not pay me to say this, in case you are wondering!)

Rental property is not the exciting “get rich quick” opportunity that flipping and rehabbing appear to be. But when managed professionally, it can be a more or less worry free way to accumulate real estate wealth. There is risk in all of real estate investing. But the risks with some techniques are much higher and potentially much more difficult to deal with than rental property. Rental property doesn’t have the “James Bond like” excitement of quick cash deals, but you will probably sleep better at night than ole’ James does.

If you have questions or comments on this or any real estate related topic, you may contact Donna by email at assets20@hotmail.com.

Donna Robinson is a real estate investor, author, and consultant located in Atlanta Georgia. You may read more of her articles on her website at http://www.RealEstateInvestorHelp.com or you may contact her by email at drobinson@reihelp.com or call 404 542 9903.

North and East Scottsdale Real Estate Market

Writen by John Whitbread

Developments on the Rise

A most innovative North Scottsdale resort community is Troon North. Gorgeous homes in varying styles can be seen here. Troon North is truly the most northern place in Scottsdale. Its hilly region gives way to breathtaking views that ignite the imagination. Community facilities included professionally inspired golf courses and first rate tennis.

Resort living is at its peak at the Boulders Resort Community in North Scottsdale. The community espouses natural enigmatic protrusions of fascinating form that surround this legendary property. The Boulders Community’s development contains some of the most impressive single family dwellings that seem to blend right into the rocky landscape.

An East Scottsdale community, DC Ranch possesses the Market Street District, inspiring a sense of community. Here the best of yesteryear meets contemporary society’s needs and desires.

In the center of the community, the sociable Market Street District sits with its banks, grocery stores, retail shops, and restaurants. Surrounding the Market Street are meticulously planned neighborhoods with luscious and inviting parks. Beyond these neighborhoods are golf courses and foothill properties. It doesn’t matter that this location is a bit away from the city’s center; the community is self contained.

These communities and many others are just a sampling of the kind of pleasurable living that can be experienced in the mountainous, often rustic, but always picturesque, Scottsdale.

Commercially Speaking

Located near newly designed and pre designed residential developments are plenty of commercial sites, themselves new or in the planning stage. Retail shopping centers occupy about every street corner in North and East Scottsdale. Restaurants and movie theatres accompany these shops.

The new residential communities do not sit and wait patiently for stores to come their way. The commercial developments are planned right along with the residential communities themselves. Immediately, residents experience a community within a community.

Growth and Expansion

Historically, Scottsdale has been known as a resort community; however, over the past ten years, a new professional and service based economy is emerging. With this new type of economy is an ever increasing desire for office space. Since 1999, North Scottsdale has seen 4.1 million square feet of office space added to the area.

Specifically the Scottsdale Airpark area in North Scottsdale is exploding and is known to be following the motto, “if growing out is not longer the option, growing upward is!” The obvious attraction for the illustrious executivea handy airport. The 101 Freeway is also easily accessible from the Airpark.

Investment opportunities in North and East Scottsdale are vast. Since retail and office space are sure to follow residential growth, savvy investors in commercial ventures are in their prime. The smart investor knows that individuals now desire to work closer to their homes, while still enjoying a tight knit community,

Area Attractions

Self contained communities seem to be quite alluring to potential buyers, but area attractions and vistas certainly contribute to the mix. Life in the “West’s most Western City,” includes equestrian type activities and entertainment at Westworld, premier golf and tennis at area resorts, and historical figures like the legendary architect, Frank Lloyd Wright at his studio, Taliesin West. Just to name a few options for those allured by novelty and intrigue.

Whether home hunters or commercial real estate scouts, those interested in newly developing communities or those that enjoy the incredible scenery and year round weather, Scottsdale is the definitive place. The ever evolving North and East Scottsdale offer closeness to city center with small town friendliness and appeal.

John Whitbread for Liz Dobbins real estate http://www.lizdobbins.com serving the North Phoenix/ Scottsdale, Carefree & Cave Creek areas.

The Benefits of A Real Estate Agent 101

Writen by Lori Osenbaugh

Buying and selling property is not as easy as you may think. There are many things that you have to consider when purchasing a home, or when putting a home up for sale. That is why there are real estate professionals out there armed with the skills and knowledge needed to make this process easier. Read below to see how a real estate agent can help you in your real estate transaction.

The Benefits of a Sellers Agent

When you list your property through a real estate company, the individual with whom you list is known as the sellers agent, or listing agent. The very first thing that a listing agent has to offer a seller is a comparative market analysis, or, a CMA. A CMA compares your property to other real estate property listings, preferably ones that have sold. The goal of the agent is to compare apples to apples. In other words, they compare MLS listings (a.k.a the multiple listing service) with similar square footage, whether or not the property has a garage, the types of flooring the home has etc. In the end of this analysis, the agent provides you with a figure for which he or she feels that your property will sell.

Once you have chosen a sellers agent, you enter an agreement with them, often called an exclusive right to list agreement. This simply creates a legal relationship between your agent and yourself. Once your house is listed in the MLS listings, there is still much more your real estate professional can do for you. Real estate agents advertise property within their office and on their own personal websites. They often send out news letters, flyers, post cards and offer MLS bulletins for other realtors to see so that your property gains maximum exposure. In addition to advertisements, real estate agents also perform open houses on your property, during which potential buyers can see all that is good about your home.

The Benefits of a Buyers Agent

Many people feel that real estate agents are for sellers and sellers alone. But this is most definitely not the case. The first arena in which a buyers agent is helpful is finding the perfect home. Real estate agents have access to the MLS on a level that buyers do not. They can search specific criteria and find the perfect three bedroom, two bath home with a fenced in back yard and a rocking chair front porch. In addition, they can narrow real estate property listing searches by capping the minimum and maximum prices that the buyer wishes to spend. Once homes are selected for viewing, the agent then ensures that appointments are set up with the sellers of the homes to view the property.

Next there is the negotiation stage where a buyers agent comes in handy. The first part of this legal area is the writing of a contract. Real estate agents can help a buyer fully understand the ins and outs of an offer to purchase and give them a sense of exactly what they are getting into. Once a contract is created, presented, and accepted, the agent then sets up appointments on behalf of the buyer for things like the home inspection, pest inspection and appraisals. Your agent can advise you as to which investigations and inspections are recommended or required.Buyers agents also have a sense of who is good at these things and who is not, making these decisions easier on the buyer. Then, when closing time comes, the agent is there to help the buyer warm up their signing fingers before signing all of the papers making their home ownership a reality.

Lori Osenbaugh is a licensed Realtor

How To House Selling Series #1 House Selling Tip

Writen by Jeff Morrow

If I had to pick the #1 home selling tip, it would have to be this one. This may seem like odd advice, but the number #1 house selling secret is really taken from how professional, large scale home builders prepare new homes for sale.

If there is a new home tract near you, stop by for a quick look. It doesn’t matter what kind of track it is, big homes, small homes, or condos. What you will find are some wonderfully (but sparsely) furnished homes that anyone could live in with the emphasis on “anyone.” The homes are anonymous. There might be a baseball glove in the “boy’s” room, but no family photos on the walls. What you will find is a “personality” that fits the home builder’s target buyer but you will not find a person.

You might say that home builders can do no more than to dress up the house a bit to fill empty space, but you would be missing what builders and real estate professionals have known for years.

The reason you want to make your home “anonymous” is because you want buyers to view it as their own home. When a potential home buyer sees your family photos hanging on the wall, it puts your own brand on the home and momentarily distracts their need to “try on” your house to see if it fits.

So here is the advice. You’re moving out anyway, so put away family photos, sports trophies, collectible items, knick knacks, and souvenirs. Put them in a box. Rent a storage area for a few months and put the box in the storage unit.

Do not just put the box in the attic, garage or a closet. Part of preparing a house for sale is to remove “clutter,” and that is the next step in preparing your house for sale.

Jeff is the owner and partner of We List homes 4 Less, a full service, low sales commission broker serving Santa Clarita Valley real estate and Valencia, California real estate markets. Jeff is an advocate for using the Internet to promote niche, local businesses and to pass the savings onto clients. Their Website ranks in the top 99.75% of all Websites according to Alexa, a traffic rating service owned by Amazon. Find more ways to maximize the equity in your house by visiting the house selling advice section at We List Homes 4 Less.

Building Your Own Home in Shreveport Bossier City Louisiana Areas

Writen by Matthew Thompson

What does it take to build your own home, to be your own contractor, to save money? In Louisiana an individual has the right to build their own home once per year. I’ve built several homes in the past, and each time was a learning experience. With this experience I have prepared for YOU a step by step guide to building a home from my point of view. This article is specifically taylored to building slab on grade homes in the Shreveport Bossier City area.

1. Choose your home. Make a decision about which will be your next home. Once you decide what to build you’ll need to purchase house plans. One of my favorite places to look for house plans is W.L. Martin Home Designs. These guys have the most well constructed house plans I’ve ever seen, not to mention beautiful designs. Look above and check out the WL Martin home completed in 2005. If your framing crew ever complains about a WL Martin house plan, consider firing them for incompetency.

2. Find some land. Now you have your house plans and you know what footprint your house will have the property. Shop around and find some land to build your new house on. Drive around, look in the newspaper, look on the internet. Find out what the restrictions are on the property. Many subdivisions have covenants (restrictions) describing what type of homes are allowed. If your house fits then great! If not, pick another house or another piece of land.

   Caution! Be on the lookout for contractors selling land requiring that you let them build the house for you. Not that there’s anything wrong with this; as a matter of fact I would require people let me build the house too. However, the focus of this article is building your OWN home.

3. Finance the land. If you don’t have cash on hand find someone that will loan money for the land. If you are building the home immediately most mortgage companies have programs available. If it is months or years before you plan to build the home then contact David Ogletree at the Louisiana Land Bank. The Louisiana Land Bank has a program for future homesites which enables them to loan money for raw land. Their rates are competitive, and their service is fast.

4. Get your costs together. There’s no skipping this step! Before you get a loan for building a home the bank will make you submit your cost estimate. I have provided a list for you which includes everything I bought for my last home project in 2005. I also provide you with names of people in the area who did a good job for me. Feel welcome to contact them and tell them I sent you. Please note that the purpose of this list is to provide you with a starting point and remind you of things that are often forgotten. You will need to edit this list to make it fit your requirements. These items are listed in the order I encountered them.

   • Land Cost How much you pay for the land.
   • Land Clearing You’ll need to hire a good dozer man to prepare your property for your home. For this task I recommend Roy McDowell from Webster Trucking. He has a laser level on his bull dozer that puts a nice grade on your site. His phone number is 318.949.4915.
   • House Plans How much you paid for the house plans.
   • Permits Be sure to obtain all required permits. These can be culvert permits, parish building permits, city permits, and more.
   • Builder’s Risk Insurance Protect yourself agains fires, theft, and a host of other unfortunate circumstances. Call Bobbie Smarr for Builder’s Risk Insurance at ICT Insurance Agencies 318.797.7400.
   • Portable Toilet service When you gotta go, you gotta go. Keep your workers relieved at your job site.
   • Temporary Water Service Contact the water service in your area and have them put a water meter in. There are several phases of construction that require water (ie. masonry).
   • House Pad Find someone that can sell dirt and build the house pad for you. Don’t go too cheap here, or you’ll have a house sitting in a mud hole. For this task I recommend Roy McDowell from Webster Trucking. He has a laser level on his bull dozer that puts a nice grade on your site. His phone number is 318.949.4915.
   • Slab, Post Tension Contact Drew Paschall with TBG, Inc. His phone number is 214.616.4841.
   • Driveway and sidewalks Contact Drew Paschall with TBG, Inc. His phone number is 214.616.4841.
   • Temporary Electricity Contact Bo Wilkinson at BW Electric at 318.949.8711. They have electric poles and will help you coordinate getting the temporary power on your job site.
   • Interim Loan interest Be sure to remember this one. While it takes 3 12 months to build your home you’ll be paying interim loan interest on the money you have borrowed. I like to use 5% of the final borrowed amount to estimate how much interest I’ll pay over the life of the interim loan.
   • Framing & Lumber Contact Drew Paschall with TBC, Inc. His phone number is 214.616.4841. Even if you use someone else for the construction of the slab make sure you don’t miss the pleasure of working with these people in framing your house. Their speed will save you money on your interim loan interest. They work in large crews and focus on YOU until they are finished with the job.
   • tape/float/texture/paint/stain This process involves hanging sheetrock inside your home, preparing the sheetrock for texture, texturing the sheetrock, painting the house, and staining the cabinetry. For this task I have a strong preference for Mark Villarreal at Aim To Please. His home phone number is 318.949.8871. His cell phone number is 318.458.0079. Since this step in building a home is time consuming, Aim To Please’s painters work in large crews to complete your job in a shorter amount of time. This saves you money on interim loan interest.
   • Cabinets Get your order in for cabinets at the same time you pour your slab. Doing it this way will prevent delays when it’s time to install them. Randy Peters and Tim Taylor build some beautiful cabinets. Contact them at 318.272.4598.
   • Cabinet knobs Steer clear of fancy prices here. Get the cabinet knobs and stuff on Ebay! That’s what I did.
   • Countertops Will it be formica, corian, granite, marble? Make the choice now. You need to know how much it will cost you.
   • Wood, tile, and carpet material and labor Decide how the flooring will be laid out in your new home. For fair pricing and top notch workmanship contact BJ’s Flooring at 318.371.6823.
   • Electric/ethernet/security Nobody does my electric work except BW Electric. Give them a call at 318.949.8711.
   • Air conditioning / Heating Don’t cheap out here. Get a unit with a high seer rating and enjoy reduced electric bills. Look at the pictures above. The house completed in 2002 was 1,400 square feet with an average electric bill of $250/month. The house completed in 2005 is 4,000 square feet with an average electric bill of $160/month. Contacted Fertitta’s Air & Heat and let John come out and work his magic. Their phone number is 318.687.5966.
   • Masonry, labor, sand, mortar, lentils Get with Jim Thomas at 318.377.3856 or Toby Whaley at 318.218.4803. Both of these guys have an excellent reputation in this area.
   • Plumbing, plumbing fixtures, tubs, faucets, toilets Tommy Adkins’ phone number is 318.470.3490. He can provide you with a quote on your plumbing. I approve of their work, and I think you will too.
   • Trim Materials and Labor This includes crown moulding, mantels, and anything else that might be fancy. Let Drew Paschall set you up. His phone number is 214.616.4841.
   • Insulation Who else but Charles at AAA Insulators. His phone number is 318.949.3719.
   • Fireplace Try Mike Cox at Bradley Brick. His phone number is 318.752.9933.
   • Garage doors Whether your looking for the regular ones or the fancy insulated ones give Benny Cash a call at Overhead Door. His phone number is 318.865.7666.
   • Lighting fixtures and ceiling fans No recommendations. Just find a place known for on time delivery.
   • Dishwasher/stove/vent/microwave No recommendations. Just find a place known for on time delivery.
   • Refrigerator No recommendations. Just find a place known for on time delivery.
   • Exterior doors, interior doors Contact Drew Paschall at 214.616.4841.
   • Stairway materials and labor Contact Drew Paschall at 214.616.4841.
   • Windows Contact Drew Paschall at 214.616.4841.
   • Roofing materials and labor No recommendations.
   • Lawn Preparation for Grass James San Angelo and his tractor can work wonders. Cell: 318.393.4923

     Home: 318.746.9985.

   • Grass, mulch and labor Now is the best time to add a layer of compost to compliment your lawn installation. Eco Mulch & Sod can make all this happen for you. Their phone number is 318.865.5200.
   • Landscaping Richard Matthews at Avant Garde ner has a love for landscaping and it certainly shows. Let him help you design your landscape, and you’ll feel he’s as interested in your project as you are. His phone number is 318.797.7183.
   • Mirrors and shower doors Glass Doctor can make anything your heart desires. Give them a call at 318.221.3503.
   • Gutters Harmon & Sons installed the gutters on the house completed in 2005. No matter how much of a handyman you think you are, you’re not going to equal the quality of this work with stuff you bought from the store. Their phone number is 318.671.9668.
   • Appraisal Fee Don’t forget the appraisal fee. Once you finish the house the bank will want an appraisal so plan on paying one more time before you move into your house.

5. Get Approved for a Mortgage. Contact your mortgage company and get preapproved for the amount calculated in your costs in Step 4. If your credit is good enough, try adding a 10 15% contingency on top of your total value. You can have this amount for “cushion” in case you run into unforeseen circumstances. Also it might come in handy if you see something you might want to upgrade along the way. Remember though, it’s much better to complete your project under budget rather than over budget.
6. Get an Interim Loan. Commonly referred to as a “Construction Loan”, an Interim Loan allows you to build your home and only pay interest on the money you have borrowed to date. For example, if you are approved for $100,000 to build your home on a 7% interim loan and you spend no money during the first month of construction then your loan payment would be $0 for that month. However, if you spent $20,000 during your first month of construction then you’d pay $117. To arrive at this number all you need to do is multiply $20,000 by 0.07 (your APR, or interest rate). The result should be $1,400. Then divide $1,400 by 12 (because their are 12 months in the year).

   Bring your house plans from Step 1 of this article, your costs from Step 4, and your mortgage approval from Step 5. If you have done Step 4 completely then the bank is going to be impressed and give you consideration for thinking everything through so carefully. Keep in mind that while it is your right in the state of Louisiana to build your own home once per year, it is also the bank’s right not to loan you the money because you don’t have a licensed contractor building your home. It’s their money and their rules. Many of the banks have discontinued loans to owner construction because so many have found theirselves in cost overrun. You’ll need to find a bank that will finance to owner construction. One bank that I know of that still does this is Minden Building & Loan in Minden, LA. Give Greg Lee a call at 318.377.0523.

7. Get Your Permits. For building my last home out of the city limits I had to get a culvert permit and a parish building permit. Go to your Assessor’s office in Bossier or Caddo Parish and tell them the address of your new construction. They should be able to set you up with all the permits you need. Nothing like good ‘ol taxation from the government.
8. Get Builder’s Risk Insurance. Call Bobbie Smarr for Builder’s Risk Insurance at ICT Insurance Agencies 318.797.7400. Protect your investment.
9. Prepare your Land. Call Roy McDowell at 318.949.4915. You’ll need to discuss with him where your house will be located on the property and where your driveway(s) will be. Roy has an excellent knack for determining house elevations. He’ll make sure your house is high and dry. He’s knowledgeable of soil compaction properties and will use only the highest quality material. His bull dozer with the integrated laser levelling system will make sure your home is sitting on a perfect foundation.
10. Portable Toilet. Time to get the potty for all the workers!
11. Temporary Electricity. Call Bo Wilkinson at BW Electric and tell him it’s time to install the electric pole. 318.949.8711.
12. Foundation Preparation. Contact Drew Paschall with TBG, Inc. His phone number is 214.616.4841. They’ll set the foundation and dig all the beams for your home.
13. Plumbing Rough In. Call Tommy Adkins at 318.470.3490 so they can bring the Ditch Witch out and install water and sewer lines.
14. Order cabinets. Don’t find yourself waiting later. Get those cabinets ordered now so you’ll have them when you need them.
15. Pour Slab & Install Post Tension. Drew Paschall comes back again to install the post tension cabling and pour the concrete for your slab. Just after the slab dries they should do a “partial pull” of the cabling. This helps prevent premature cracking of the concrete.
16. Framing. A day or two after the concrete dries Drew’s crew is back out again to build the frame for the house. This process will take several weeks. Once they are finished your house will have tar paper on the roof, windows and doors on the exterior, and any applicable siding. You can now brag to your friends using the lingo, “my house is in the dry” or “I got my home blacked in”.
17. Put the Roof on. Bring out the roofers and put the shingles on so the house won’t leak. Remember the cheap shingles don’t last as long as the expensive ones!
18. More Rough in. It’s now time to rough in your air conditioning, electricity, insulation and plumbing. Now is your chance to make any special requests for location of sockets, installation of surround sound, or anything else your heart desires.
19. Install the Fireplace. Now is the best time to install the fireplace an all associated duct work.
20. Install Cabinets. The painters are going to need to stain the cabinets while they’re painting the house so get them installed just before the guys show up with their paint brushes.
21. Paint the house. This part takes the longest and quite frankly it is the most boring in my opinion. However, rest assured that lots of work is happening. At this stage you’ll get your sheetrock hung, your walls texturized, and your whole house painted! This stage could take well over a month if not two or three months.
22. Masonry. Brick? How about some stucco? Bring that brick man out and let him put the brick on.
23. Trim Work. All moulding, doorways, stairs, and other fancy stuff should be installed at this point.
24. Install Fixtures. Bring the guys back again for final trim out of air conditioning vents and controls, electrical fixtures and switches, sinks, faucets, etc.
25. Appliances. Time for the dishwasher, stove, range vent, and microwave.
26. Insulation trim out. Bring on the pump truck. The insulators will come out one last time. They’ll run hoses throughout the house and up to the attic to blow a nice coat of insulation to keep your house cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
27. Contact your loan officers. You’re now about 1 month away from moving into your new home. Contact your loan officers and decide upon a target move in date for your new home. Put your interim loan officer in touch with your mortgage officer and let them coordinate how they will handle the roll over of your interim loan into a mortgage. Now is the time to lock in your mortgage interest rate.
28. Flooring. Just when you thought you were almost through it’s now time to install the flooring. Expect another period of slow, intensive labor. This process takes a few weeks, but the end result is fabulous! After the flooring is done it’s okay to move in your refrigerator, washing machine and dryer.
29. Install garage doors. This process only takes about a day. If you’re getting standard doors then the delivery time is fairly rapid. If you plan to have insulated doors you should order them about one month prior to the expected installation date.
30. Mirrors and shower doors. All mirrors and shower doors are ready for installation around this date. Just make sure this is done AFTER the electrical trim out or you could run into problems.
31. Driveways and sidewalks. Bring Drew out for one last time. The installation of the driveways and sidewalks will only take a couple of days.
32. You’re not finished, but Move In! At this point you have completed your house to the point where you can order an appraisal, close on your mortgage, and move in!
33. Install grass, landscaping, and gutters. Now that you’re all moved in you’ll be ready to just enjoy your new house. Make one final push and get your lawn, landscaping, and gutters installed.

Thank you for reading Building your own home in Shreveport Louisiana. I hope you have found this article both informative and interesting. It takes a great deal of planning and effort to build a home, but the rewards are money savings and satisfaction through piece of mind. I welcome any of your comments or suggestions.

Matthew Thompson, Realtor, Webmaster Shreveport Real Estate Webmaster Copyright. All rights reserved.

Apartment Realty Advisors in Brandon Florida

Writen by Clint Hunter

Those who invest in apartments, and other multi unit housing, can end up investing hundreds of thousands, even millions, of dollars. Because apartments are such a large investment, an apartment realty advisor can be used to help maximize your investment. Realty advisors keep track of apartments that are for sale all over the United States. They will help you find the right apartment to purchase at (or near) the location of your choice. They will help you get the best deal on your investment.

There are a few things that you might want to have in mind before you consult with apartment realty advisors. For example, you should have a good idea as to what area, or city, you want the apartment to be located in. You should also consider what type of apartment investments you are interested in. There are all sizes and types of apartments to invest in.

Apartment realty advisors will be able to show you a list of available apartment buildings and complexes that are for sale. As you go out to look at these apartments, you should consider a few things. Look at the location of the complex. The area of town the apartment is located in may help you understand what types of renters live in the apartment. You should ask how much the current rent is in the particular apartment you are looking at.

Once you have found an apartment that you like, you should do two things. First, have the apartment inspected. An inspector will be able to tell you of any major, or potentially major, problems that the apartment has. They will inspect the complex looking for electrical and plumbing problems, the roofs of the buildings, and the infrastructure of the buildings. Once the building is inspected, have it appraised. An appraiser will look over the property and assign it a value. This helps you to avoid overpaying for the apartment building or complex.

When you are ready to make a purchase, apartment realty advisors will consult you on getting the best deal, and getting through the paperwork and legal process of purchasing the apartment(s).

There are many loans available for those who want to purchase an apartment complex. Fixed loans, ARMs, and other types of loans are available. The length of these loans varies, but is usually between 15 30 years. An advisor will be able to help you determine what loan is best for your situation. Make them aware of how much you have to use as a down payment, and how much you can afford as a monthly payment.

If you do not find an apartment or apartment complex that you are interested in purchasing, don’t worry. Apartment realty advisors will keep track of you and of what you desire to invest in as far as apartments go. When something that meets your criteria is found, they will notify you.

Investing in apartments is a large investment. Getting help with your decisions concerning apartment investing may save you hundreds of thousands of dollars, and several headaches.

Inside Brandon Real Estate is a network entirely devoted to real estate information. The entire Inside Real Estate network has more than 100,000 pages of real estate for cities allover the United States. Inside Real Estate covers several topics from the basic “how to’s” of real estate to city specific real estate information.

Preparing the Property for Tenants in England

Writen by Adil Akkus

UNFURNISED OR FURNISHED?

This is one of the most widely asked questions, and there is no right or wrong answer. Safety is now an import question and you (or your letting agent) must ensure that your soft furnishings meet the current standards.

You now get the same legal protection when your property is furnished or unfurnished. Furnished properties used to get higher rents but in today there is not much difference, though smaller properties are often let more quickly when furnished.

PREPARING TO LET UNFURNISHED PROPERTIES

The property should be professionally cleaned throughout; including carpets and curtains in all rooms. A property can never be too clean at commencement as this is how the tenant will have to hand back the property at termination.

The kitchen should include a cooker, a fridge/freezer, a washing machine and a dishwasher (optional). The remainder of the property can be entirely unfurnished with the exception of carpets, curtains/blinds and light fittings.

PREPARING TO LET FURNISHED PROPERTIES

A fully furnished property should be ready for immediate occupation without the tenant providing anything but their personal belongings (with the exception of TV/video, Hi Fi) and should include the following:

Kitchen:

Cooker

Fridge/Freezer

Washing Machine/Dryer

Dishwasher (optional)

Microwave (optional)

Electric Kettle and Toaster

Set of Saucepans and Frying Pan

Matching dinner dervice

Cutlery and ditchen utensils

Selection of bakeware

Iron and ironing board

Vacuum cleaner

Broom

Dustpan and brush

Mop and bucket

Lounge:

Three piece suite

Coffee table

Table lamps

TV unit/stand

Bedrooms: (Each bedroom should have)

Bed and mattress in good condition

Mattress covers

New pillows and duvet

Wardrobes

Dressing table and stool/Chest of drawers

Bedside table and lamp

Dining Room:

Dining table with chairs (suitable for size of property)

Sideboard or equivalent

Placemats

Bathroom:

Bathroom cabinet

Electric shower (optional but preferable)

Shower curtain (if applicable)

Mirror

Bath and pedestal mat

Garden: (Should be left in a manageable, ’seasonal’ order)

Dustbin

Lawn mover

Gardening tools

Hosepipe

Garage: Should be left empty with keys

It is important that furnishings, fittings and d