Odors Can Make or Break The Sale of Your Home

Writen by Raynor James

It’s amazing how important the sense of smell is to many people. If you’re selling your home, and this applies across the board to houses, townhouses, condos, apartments, or whatever, you need to be aware of the power of odors. An odor like cigarette smoke can cause potential buyers to leave quickly without ever really considering purchasing your home. On the other hand, an odor like that of bread baking can conjure up all sorts of homey feelings and cause the same potential buyer to linger.

Do You Have “Deal Killer” Odors?

The two most common offenders are cigarettes and pet odors. Sadly, most people who smoke or have pets don’t realize this. Often, they don’t notice the smells themselves, so they think this isn’t a problem. Well, it is. A surprising number of people will have a swift, strong, negative reaction. Would you like to smack every second or third prospective buyer in the face when they come through your door?

Anything cloyingly sweet like “room deodorizers” which really just cover up other scents by overwhelming them is likely to be an offender. The same thing is true of other strong, funky smells. Unwashed gym clothes and shoes, cooking smells from foods such as cabbage, fish or more than a little garlic or curry will probably be offensive to many people.

So is it really necessary to stop smoking (or only smoke outdoors), ban the dog to the garden and basement, wash the laundry, and stop cooking strong smelling foods until your home is sold?

Yes.

Beyond that, it’s necessary to “clean up your act” if you’re really desirous of selling your home. You’ve probably cleaned it up visually already, but what to do about lingering odors? Anything made of cloth holds odors for a long time. Carpets, upholstery, curtains and draperies, table skirts and the like will smell for months or forever. What on earth do you do about them?

If it’s bad enough, carpets need to be replaced and upholstered furniture put into storage. However, it’s often adequate to shampoo carpets and the upholstery in the most intense areas (your favorite smoking chair and the pieces nearby) and launder the curtains. Keep fans going while things are drying; you don’t want to end up with mold and mildew smells. Your goal is to clean up the cause of the smell, not to cover it up.

Attractive Odors Attract

Odors people find attractive are very personal, but there are general smells that are pleasant and cause good emotional responses in most people. We’ve already mentioned baking bread. Almost anything that smells sweet when tends to be in this category - cookies, apple pie, cinnamon buns, etc. Of course, it’s not practical to bake the whole time your house is on the market, but one thing each week end might be possible.

In cool weather, apple cider simmering with a cinnamon stick or two and a few cloves has much the same effect and is definitely easier to do. A vase or two of flowers with mildly scented flowers is another possibility.

Of the two, cleaning out offending scents is much more important than adding pleasant ones. If you can successfully do both, you’re way ahead of much of your competition and it will help your home sell faster.

Raynor James is with http://www.fsboamerica.org providing FSBO homes for sale by owner. Visit our “sell my home” page at http://www.fsboamerica.org/seller.cfm to list and sell your home for free for one month. Visit http://www.fsboamerica.org/buyer.cfm to see homes for sale by owner.

Budapest: the New Prague for Real Estate Investors

Writen by Rhiannon Williamson

When Hungary and the Czech Republic joined the European Union back in 2004 they set the standards for economic achievement that the rest of the new entrants could only dream of achieving.

Both Hungary and the Czech Republic not only embraced their new membership status, they went out of their way to create an environment so conducive for inward investment that both countries are now thriving.

As has been well documented, the stunning Czech Republic city of Prague became of such intense interest to international real estate investors even before the Republic joined the EU because it boasts almost inimitable charm, attraction and opportunity. I say ‘almost’ inimitable because Hungary’s capital city of Budapest is equally well endowed with stunning ancient architecture, cultural attraction and a unique and timeless appeal.

As a direct result Budapest is suddenly becoming one of the hottest European cities for tourism and the business environment is so buoyant right now that the numbers of expatriates heading to the city for work is at an all time high. These factors mean that the demand for real estate to rent is outstripping the current supply of well located and appointed property and prices in Budapest are starting to soar.

Where once Prague was the European capital city attracting the most overseas real estate investor interest, Budapest is now surpassing the investor levels Prague has enjoyed. And one of the real reasons for this is the fact that property prices in Budapest are up to 25% less than those in Prague, and the past couple of years have seen price gains in the most desirable districts of Budapest reach 15% annually.

The opportunity to profit to the max is huge currently, but at the same time the window of opportunity is likely to be narrow for those wishing to buy into the projected period of rapid growth. Those real estate investors who are buying right now have the strongest chance of realizing the greatest gains. Over the medium term the demand for property in Budapest will not slacken but the property price margin increases will slow down as prices reach parity with the Czech Republic.

After this period of time it is likely that prices will continue to rise in line with local affordability and that potential rental income will still be impressive. This will continue to bring investors to the market place which means an investor can purchase in Budapest with confidence that he will be able to resell his real estate assets when the time is right for him to release the gains he has accrued.

If you compare the potential fortunes of Budapest with Prague you will see just how much room there is in the market for growth and return, and how far demand can actually go for property for sale and rent in this stunningly beautiful Hungarian city.

Rhiannon Williamson writes about real estate investment in emerging markets worldwide. To read more about property investment in Hungary click here.

Real Estate Market Update: Where is the Flood of Foreclosures?

Writen by Luigi Frascati

One of the many dire predictions done these past few months by many ‘bubbleologists’ out there that is all those who indulge in the contemplation of real estate bubbles of all sizes and colors, whether real or imaginary, coming our way was that by now real estate markets everywhere would be inundated and swept away by a tsunami of foreclosures of apocalyptic proportions.

The general rationale among those specializing in the fine art of staring at crystal balls (or perhaps at several empty bottles of rum) was that the steady increase in interest rates, the consequence of a tightening monetary policy implemented by the Fed since mid 2004, would have led by now to a collapse of the adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) market, since consumers could not possibly cope with the increased monthly payments. This, in turn, would dramatically increase mortgage defaults and foreclosures, with the end result that real estate markets everywhere would be flooded with excess inventory at deflated prices, thus causing markets to crash the tsunami I was talking about.

The Mortgage Bankers Association of America (http://www.mbaa.org) does not seem to share this particular vision of the end of the world. In its Economic Outlook update released in May 2006, the Mortgage Bankers Association of America (MBAA) pegs the ARMs share at 27 percent, down from the 36 percent peak of early 2005, an indication that many prudent consumers have locked in already. Likewise, the inventory of mortgages held by banks is virtually unchanged at 1,500 billions (aggregate nominal face value of mortgages, by dollars), the same level of 2005, suggesting that, rather than defaulting, consumers are ‘holding on’. And, finally, the rate of delinquency is at 4.38 percent, down from 4.70 percent in the final quarter of 2005, clearly another measure of consumers financial stamina, and an indication that banks were actually faring worse when real estate markets were doing better.

But that’s not all!

In the Mortgage Finance Forecast released also in May 2006, MBAA highlights that the rate of housing starts nationwide has increased nationwide, up to 2,131,000 units (annualized) for the first quarter of 2006 from 2,059,000 units in the last quarter of 2005 - an increase of 72,000 units representing a robust +3.496 percent overall, although this rate is forecasted to slow down as the softening trend in real estate markets continues throughout the year. Home sales overall are forecasted to decrease by 501,000 units nationwide to 6,574,000 units by December, 2006 from the 7,075,000 of December, 2005. Although this represents an annualized drop in sales of 7.08 percent compared to last year, it can hardly be called a bubble burst!

And here is the most surprising figures of them all - surprising for the bubbleologists, that is. Notwithstanding the increase in interest rates and the toll that many think ARMs will take on defenceless consumers, MBAA forecasts that the average market share of ARMs will remain constant at 27 percent of institutional mortgages for 2006, down only 3% from the 2005 average. The significance of this forecast is twofold: 1) MBAA does not anticipate that interest rates will increase significantly higher for the remainder of the year and 2) MBAA mirrors a Gallup survey conducted in May 2006, which found that only 11 percent of Americans worry about ARMs, down from 20 percent in 2005.

And why should they worry? In the latest release, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, has pegged the Consumer Confidence Index at 109.6 in April, up from 107.5 in March and higher than the 103.8 of December, 2005. The Consumer Confidence Index is now at the highest level since March, 2002, with the average family income up 0.8 percent in March, 2006.

To finish, I would like to spend a few words on how politics are filtering into economics, especially in times of elections. It is a shame that an increasing number of Bloggers and even journalists out there are twisting and interpreting economic data to fit their own political agenda. Although November, 2006 is pretty much around the corner and the battle is on to take control of Congress, the manipulation of economic and statistical data for political ends and means is a great disservice to consumers, no matter the political colors.

For example it is not true, like some Bloggers assert out there, that the recent appreciation in real property values is the direct result of President Bush’s domestic economic policies. Real estate capital growth was largely due to the correlation between capital and employment or, if you will, between income and labor. An increase in levels of consumption has set forth an increase in prices caused by a corresponding increase in demand, in itself generated by a commensurate increase in the income employment factor. So growth was derived by the equilibrium of capital and investment with labor and employment. And since, furthermore, production is in direct function of consumers spending which increases as unemployment falls, capital accumulation has increased as employment rose steadily. It is as simple as that!

Likewise, it is not true that President Bush is the main culprit for the real estate bubble burst - like many Democratic sources imply and some actually cry out loud. Poor President Bush has absolutely nothing at all to do with real estate bubbles and their bursts, essentially for two reasons: 1) because there are no bubbles in real estate and 2) because there are no bursts either. Like Prof. Bernanke has repeated now several times, far from being a bubble burst the present cooling off trend through higher interest rates will have the beneficial effect of consolidating market wealth achieved thus far, by allowing the economy to get an even footing through a slowdown of capital appreciation and, at the same time, allowing real wages to catch up, thus reducing the affordability crisis and rejuvenating the pool of buyers.

And, finally, it is not the President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, that is trying to promote his country’s nuclear programme by putting a stranglehold on North America’s real estate markets through higher crude prices, while attempting to get rid of Secretary Rice at the same time (I know, this is laughable, but I read it in the commentary of a political blog - TIME Magazine should make this particular blogger ‘Man of the Year’).

Consumers and all those interested in an objective evaluation of real estate markets climate, are well advised to go straight to the source of statistical data and economic analysis and evaluation, bypassing all commentaries entirely, especially these days.

Luigi Frascati

Luigi Frascati is a Real Estate Agent based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Economics and maintains a weblog entitled the Real Estate Chronicle at http://wwwrealestatechronicle.blogspot.com where you can find the full collection of his articles. Luigi is associated with the Sutton Group, the largest real estate organization in Canada, and is based with Sutton Centre Realty in Burnaby, BC.

Luigi is very proud to be an EzineArticles Platinum Expert Author. Your rating at the footer of this Article is very much appreciated. Thank you.

How Home Buyers Can Find the Right Neighborhood

Writen by Mark Nash

The ying of finding the right home needs to be balanced by the yang of locating the appropriate neighborhood for your needs. Home buyers can determine if the neighborhood fits their parameters by following these simple tips by Mark Nash author of four books including his latest 1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home and as a regular columnist for RealtyTimes.com.

Drive through a neighborhood or community at different times of the day and night. In the morning when residents are going to school or work. During the day to see whether properties are maintained, including alleys. At night to check on traffic noise, parking availability, and lighting.

Walk or bicycle through areas to get a slow look, include schools, playgrounds, and parks.

Talk to local store and shop owners. They might offer a different perspective from home owners and could give you insight into future plans for commercial development.

Determine if stores, shops, and restaurants are open late at night and first thing in the morning if you need to run out for a gallon of milk, fill a prescription or pick up a cup of coffee.

Make a trial run between different establishments that you will use for services. Can you easily group errands or are providers spread out over a wide area?

Attend school and village board meetings to understand what the local issues are.

Visit the library to see whether their collection is thorough enough for your families needs. Read some issues of the local newspaper.

Stop by the village hall and inquire about garbage and water rates, watering bans, street cleaning and snow emergencies. Will your car need a village sticker?

Check out the hospital and emergency room, it’s better to know before you have a need what kind of facilities and services are offered.

Community funded park district and sports leagues can make a big difference. Locate the locate facility and see if offers programs and amenities your looking for.

Inquire about public transportation. You might think you won’t use it, but the day you’re late for work and the car won’t start you be looking for automobile alternatives. Pick up bus and train schedules and locate taxi stands, just in case you’ll need them.

Surf the Internet for community related sites.

Visit the police station and inquire about crime statistics and neighborhood watch groups. In some states, you may search online to learn whether a sex offender lives in a neighborhood or community.

Don’t ask local realty agents if a neighborhood is safe. It is a violation of Fair Housing Laws for real estate agents to make a judgment on the characteristics or demographics of a community, block, or neighborhood. This practice is steering and is considered discrimination.

Mark Nash’s fourth real estate book, “1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home” (2005), and working as a real estate broker in Chicago are the foundation for his consumer centric real estate perspective which has been featured on ABC TV, Associated Press,CBS The Early Show, Bloomberg TV, Bottom Line Magazine.CNN TV, Chicago Sun Times & Tribune, Fidelity Investor’s Weekly, MarketWatch, HGTVpro.com, MSNBC.com, Smart Money Magazine,The New York Times, Realty Times, Universal Press Syndicate and USA Today.

Mark is regular columnist for www.RealtyTimes.com, a contributing writer to www.BrokerAgentNews.com, www.PrincipalBroker.com and Realtor Magazine Online. His concise tip articles are syndicated on many real estate blogs including L..A.’s Best Real Estate Web log. He is a member of the National Association of Real Estate Editors, National Association of Realtors(R) and frequently speaks on residential real estate issues and trends through ExecutiveSpeakers.com.

Finding Your Dream Home in Spain

Writen by Diane Newsom

Do you dream about moving to Spain, spending time driving through Spain’s gorgeous countryside and enjoying all of the magnificent diverse scenery that Spain has to offer? You’re not alone: thousands of people follow their dream and move to Spain every year. You can toothere is plenty of prime property for sale in Spain and with so many beautiful houses available to choose from you’ll have no problem finding the home your heart longs for. Spain opens its doors to you with a fantastic selection of properties, ranging from one bedroom apartments up to the most luxurious villas with private swimming pools and much more, all waiting for the right owner to scoop them up and call them home. The perfect owner could be you.

What areas of Spain are popular? All areas of Spain are equally appealing and every region of Spain makes a fine place to call home. Homes are now being sold in all of the various regions of Spain including Andalusia, Asturias, the Balearic Islands, Basque Country, Cantabria, Castilla y Leon, Catalunya, Extremadura, Galicia, Madrid, Murcia and Valencia. Establishing a home in Spain has never been easier and there are thousands of houses to choose from. You can find and buy a home nestled in the countryside or you can just as easily purchase a home that is centred in any one of Spain’s major cities: the choice is totally up to you.

When you are looking to move, you have a choice between existing freehold homes and new developments. Existing freehold homes are the homes that are already built and many of them are pre owned. The great thing about freehold homes is that you can often find a home that is already furnished and ready to move right into, maybe get a bargain deal as the previous owners don’t want the hassle of moving furniture. On the other hand, you can choose to purchase a home on one of the many new developments currently being built in Spain and you can move in when the building is complete. The advantages you’ll find when you buy into a new development include the fact that you are part of the decision making processbuilders will let you give your input on how your home should look and feel. Bathroom and floor tiles, etc.

If you purchase a home in Spain and it isn’t a private home in the city or a private home in the country, you will immediately become a member of the Comunidada council of property owners that have the right to make decisions and you will have certain responsibilities pertaining to property maintenance. As part of the Comunidad, you will also be expected to pay annuals dues. If you have any concerns about Comunidad fees you can easily speak with the seller of the property you plan to buy to establish exactly what you are expected to pay. As of 1999, Spanish Law demands that property sellers provide home buyers like you, with all of the information pertaining to Comunidad responsibilities.

If you feel the atmosphere of Spain calling you, why don’t you respond? The incredible landscape, the rich history, the fine dining and of course the culture all combine to making Spain so appealing to homebuyers all over the globe. The climate in Spain is equally invitingthe mild winters in the Mediterranean, the warm summers throughout Spain and the moderate rainfalls make Spain a comfortable place to visit and live. The landscape calls out to homebuyers, from the vineyards and farmhouses scattered all along the Mediterranean coast, to the seemingly endless meadows of the Meseta, there are so many reasons you’ll want to make Spain your home.

Don’t forget the incredible beaches all along the Mediterranean coast. With plenty of days of sun, the beaches of Spain can be enjoyed almost 300 days out of every year. Moving to Spain never sounded so good: you can practically spend two thirds of the year sunning on one of the many beaches lining Spain’s coast. In fact some of Spain’s coastal areas have been awarded ‘the most healthy place on earth to live’ by the World Health Organisation.

The culture in Spain draws thousands of movers every year: from bull fighting to bull running, from flamenco dancing to “futbol”, there is no shortage of recreational activities for you to engage in when you move to Spain. Further, it is not uncommon to find people skiing during the winter months, playing golf in the summer and cycling in the spring.

Homebuyers turn to Spain for the perfect townhouses, cottages, villas, bungalows and apartments. Whether they are buying a home as a primary property or they are buying a home as a secondary holiday home, homebuyers know that they will have a perfect location for their investment. People are flocking to Spain from far afield to purchase their dream homes because they know that Spain offers everything they could possibly want or need. With so many affordable properties for sale in spain , the task of finding the perfect home for your family is virtually painless. By investing in Spanish property, you can be sure that you are investing wisely and with the knowledge that your lifestyle is about to improve.

Diane Newsom writes for the UK search portal Usewho. Please visit us for more information on properties for sale in spain.

Home Buying Tip: How to Automate Google for Easier House Hunting

Writen by Brandon Cornett

If you’re preparing to buy a home (and especially if you’re relocating to a new city), this home buying tip will simplify your research and save you time.

Home Buying Requires Research Lots of It
It pays to know as much as possible about the real estate market where you plan to buy a home: market trends, new construction, employment news, zoning and taxes … you should keep up with these developments and more.

But with so many other steps in the home buying process, how do you find time to sit in front of the computer researching these topics? There just aren’t enough hours in the day.

Automate the Process
Here’s a way to automate the real estate research process. It’s called Google Alerts, and it allows you to send Google’s robotic web crawlers on research missions of your choosing.

Using Google Alerts, you can enter a key phrase (like “buying a home in Dallas” or “Dallas real estate news”) and then be notified by email whenever Google finds a new page with that phrase. Many of the notifications will be the result of press releases and other news distributed online. So it’s an easy way to stay informed about real estate developments in your specified city or town.

To get the most benefit, set Google Alerts as far in advance of your expected buying date as possible. You should also include variations of your key phrase for maximum coverage.

Benefits of Using Google Alerts:

• Saves you time and energy.
• Keeps you informed about real estate developments.
• Costs nothing but a few minutes of your time.

Try it today. Just visit Google’s website and click on the “more” link. Next, click on the “Alerts” icon and fill in the information they request. Presto … you’ve got your own robotic research buddy!

* Copyright 2006, Brandon Cornett. You may republish this article (unaltered) provided you keep the byline and author’s note. Please leave hyperlinks intact.

About the Author
Brandon Cornett is the editor of HomeBuyingInstitute.com, one of the Internet’s largest libraries of home buying tips and articles. Put this knowledge to use by visiting http://www.HomeBuyingInstitute.com.

For daily home buying tips, vist HBI’s blog at: http://www.homebuyingtips.blogspot.com

Buying a Home 3 Things To Look For In Your New House

Writen by Carrie Reeder

Buying a new house is your chance to pick what you really want in a home. While floor plans and square footage are important, take a look at the whole package. That includes the immediate neighborhood, as well as the surrounding community. Be sure to make sure the house has enough storage room. And finally, keep your eyes open for problems so you won’t get an unexpected surprise after signing.

1. The Neighborhood And Community

Where you choose to live is just as important as picking out the actual house. Your location will determine many things, like the home’s value and where your kids go to school.

While you may have a general idea of where you want to live based on work commute or closeness to relatives, take a look at specific neighborhoods. Check out school districts, crime rates, and property tax levels. Your realtor will be able to help you with much of this information.

2. A House That Fits You And Your Stuff

When looking at homes, many places will look spacious because few things are actually in the room. This is done on purpose to create an illusion of space.

Take that into account when looking at properties. Watch out for full sized beds in master suite, especially when you have a queen size mattress. Another trick to watch for are rooms without coffee tables, bookshelves, or entertainment units.

If you are serious about a house, take a tape measure and determine how your major furnishings will fit. Also, make sure you have enough storage space in the kitchen, laundry area, and bedroom closets.

3. Look For Problems Before It’s Too Late

Even when you fall in love with the perfect house, look for its imperfections. That means inspecting the roof from inside the attic, crawling underneath the house to check drainage, and poking the walls around showers and toilets. Better yet, hire an independent home inspector before you sign any contract to get a professional opinion.

Even if you do find problems with a house, you still have options. You can request the seller to either fix them as part of the contract or to knock off a couple of thousands so you can fix it yourself. Your real estate agent will help you determine the best approach.

Buying a house is one of the largest purchases you will ever make. Take your time to search for just the right home.

If you are Buying Your First Home, ABC Loan Guide has lists of New Home Mortgage Loans Online.

5 Methods for Finding Bargain Properties

Writen by Adam VanBuskirk

Finding a bargain property, one that is being sold well below its worth or potential worth, is not as easy as riding a bike or watching T.V. Not that it is that difficult either, but the task of getting a good deal on an investment property can at times be cumbersome. In the brief list below, five methods for finding and grabbing that good deal are explained, and although the descriptive nature of the list is brief, it will give you just enough to ignite your thought.

1.) Distressed sellers When I first began researching the rental property sector for investing purposes, I constantly came across books that toted the great benefit of finding distressed sellers; people who are eager to sell due to personal reasons. I remember thinking to myself “Yeah right, I bet those people come along once every 10 years.” Man was I wrong! Distressed sellers are everywhere.

A year ago I had a man (who was trying to straighten out his marriage) that I had bought property from in the past offer me a property for $69,000.00. I told him that was too much and passed on the offer. A month ago as I was searching on the internet for properties, I came across that same property for sale listed by his realtor. Amazingly, the price was now $46,000.00! He dropped the price by $23,000.00! After negotiations, I got him down to $41,750.00 and $650.00 cash at closing……..

2.) Vacant Properties I have a former co worker who doesn’t invest in real estate, but five years ago purchased what is now a $120,000.00 home in the country for $43,000.00. How did he do it? He drove around in the country and looked for homes that had tall grass and a crummy exterior. He then went to the county courthouse and searched for the owner of the deed (property). Once he found the owner, he contacted him and made him an offer. The owner turned out to be a retired farmer who owned the abandoned property free and clear, but didn’t have the time, energy, or reason to fix up the property. Long story short, the coworker got a great property for a great price and the farmer got $43,000.00 in cash. Win Win is the best!

3.) College Towns In college towns, there are often an abundance of rentals and a plentiful stock of professors and college kids to rent the properties. In these areas, there are always landlords wanting out of the game for various reasons. Not only can you get a property that is already a rental, but often you can buy them with a tenant under lease, lessening the risk of an upfront vacancy. Usually these properties are priced around their actual value, but the bargain is the fact that they usually demand a higher than average rent because of the continuous demand for housing.

4.) Foreclosures We have all heard about these, so I’ll make it short. These are often bargains, but beware of the following two things: First, the banks that got burnt on the mortgage often buy these back at ridiculous prices, leaving you outbid and feeling violated. Secondly, these properties are always sold “as is,” which means you cannot view the inside of the property before buying it (unless you peek in the windows). Be prepared for busted plumbing, holes in the walls, and everything worth anything stripped from the property.

5.) REO (Real Estate Owned) REO is real estate owned by banks that have had to foreclose on a property and then bought it back at the foreclosure auction. These properties are actually considered a liability on the balance sheet of the bank, so they must make sure that they don’t accumulate a large number of these. For this reason, you can usually find pretty good deals on properties that are owned by the bank. Similar to the method used to find abandoned properties (that I mentioned above), drive around the town, city, or country, and find properties that have tall grass and look abandoned. Often in residential areas, these properties are owned by the bank. Simply find out the bank that owns it, contact them, and see what happens. You may get a great deal directly form the bank or get a heads up on when and where the property will be going to auction.

With the five steps above, you now have the outline of a great real estate purchasing plan (if you didn’t already). Use it to your benefit, and begin building you territorial dynasty that you where destined to lead.

The author is the founder and owner of LandLordDocuments.Com