Decide Whether Or Not You Need A Real Estate Agent

There are plenty of people out there in the real estate market trying to sell their own homes without the benefit of using a real estate agent. Many people find that they are just as capable as a real estate agent in showing their own homes to prospective buyers and understanding just enough about the industry to get by at selling their own home. When you put up a piece of real estate for sale, you have to determine whether you are one of these people.

Sure, if you have all of the necessary information for a successful sale, you could go ahead sell yourself and try to save some money. If you are an experienced expert at properly displaying each room and selling the floor plan then go for it yourself. And of course if you enjoy drafting and revising contracts and negotiating down to the last penny, a fsbo may be a good option. But I know that the majority of us are not experts in real estate and do not possess the necessary experience in the market. For this reason it is a great idea to let an experienced professional handle the sale of your property.

An agent knows what information to present to potential buyers and has access to that information. For instance, the agent can tell people where to look for neighborhood statistics, such as information on schools and crime in the neighborhood. They also know how much other houses have sold for in the neighborhood and why they sold for a particular amount. In addition, as a matchmaker between buyers and sellers, they know other professionals, such as lawyers, whose services may be needed in the process. They know everything that is supposed to happen when there is a piece of real estate for sale.

Taking care of your home sale using a real estate agent is the best way to benefit from first hand experience and knowledge in your local market. They most likely have a good educational background that has been enhanced by years of time spent making sales on the market. A good real estate agent is going to be the best direct source of knowledge you can find.

All of these skills that a real estate agent possesses are fantastic and will help you get and keep a buyer interested long enough to get them to the negotiation table. And that is the time when the agent's skills will really become evident. You really see an agent shine at the negotiation table. That is because the agent has done this enough times to develop know-how of the human thought process. A real estate agent knows how to keep a poker face or how to disguise what he or she is truly thinking, how to gage interest and how to get the buyer to accept terms that are better for the seller. As a non-professional, it is entirely possible that you will miss valuable cues that signal the buyer is willing to do what you ask, whereas a professional will be able to seize the opportunities that present themselves. An agent brings far more to the table than simple knowledge of the real estate market.

Sara Green is the real estate marketing director for Pollock Pines real estate where you can find local school information, full access to the Sacramento California area MLS listings. Visit: http://www.debrarealtor.com

Don't Overlook This Source Of Private Money For Real Estate Investing

When it comes to finding private money for real estate investing, some folks are sitting on a goldmine and don’t even know it. Read on to discover what this goldmine is, and if you're sitting on one yourself.

Think about this… if you have retirement funds that have been gradually building up in a 401k or IRA, you’ve most likely seen the rates of return stumble in recent years. In some cases they’ve done more than stumble, they have taken a nosedive.

There are a few people out there whose retirement accounts have grown during that same period at a healthy double-digit pace, for one simple reason. They knew how to put their money to work for them in self-directed IRA accounts that allowed them to invest in real estate.

Don’t dismiss this as pie-in-the-sky thinking. If you’re sitting on retirement funds, from tens-of-thousands to hundreds-of-thousands, even millions of dollars, yet you continue to struggle with finding private money for real estate investing, you need to ask yourself why.

Simply by moving your money into a self-directed IRA, you could create a convenient source of available funding for your deals, pay yourself a healthy rate of return, and defer the taxes on your real estate transactions, all in one move.

There are several players in the self-directed IRA market right now. Some are better than others, but all are capable of administrating your account and allowing you to fund your deals. Shop, compare services, and decide which company fits your style and personality.

A self-directed IRA is usually pretty simple to handle, but there are some special rules you will need to follow. One of the most important is that ALL transactions relating to the subject property must be paid for out of the IRA, but that’s easily accomplished. Your account administrator will assist you in setting it all up.

Make sure you familiarize yourself with all the rules, and follow them to the letter. Failure to do so could cost you all your tax benefits, plus substantial penalties. As long as you follow the rules, using your IRA to fund your deals may turn out to be an excellent source of private money for real estate investing.

There are other ways of finding private money for real estate investing, but few are as convenient and immediate as your own retirement funds. Don’t overlook your IRA or 401k when you’re looking for ways to fund your deals.

For more on finding private money for real estate investing try http:www.private-money-real-estate-investing.com/find-private-money.html

Tom Dunn is a successful real estate investor and author of the popular DealFiles Real Estate Investor Stories free newsletter. You are welcome to share this report, unedited and in it's entirety, with anyone you like. You may not remove this text. © 2007 by Tom Dunn.

Converting Real Estate Notes For Cash

People have resorted to converting real estate notes for cash, as they are cash strapped and in need of cash. More and more people need cash for purposes, such as, paying off debts, investing in a better real estate deal, late payments, settling an estate, insurance liabilities, tax problems or to pay for tuition or when people have become tired of collecting monthly payments or just the desire to have cash in hand etc.

Several firms offer to buy real estate notes and help in converting real estate notes for cash. When a mortgage note is sold, the persons paying the mortgage are not affected, as they will just have to continue paying regularly but to a different individual or firm. All the terms and conditions of the original note remain unchanged. The firms who buy the notes usually pay the seller with a certified check from a reputed financial institution. Some firms deal in second, third mortgage notes, interest only mortgage notes, new mortgages just a portion of the note can be sold in case cash is needed urgently. These firms buying the notes check if the loan to value ratio is favorable. The main lure is getting cash in hand instantly where as it is not guaranteed with a note. Documents Needed For Converting Real Estate Notes for Cash;

Copy of the original signed promissory note, if applicable needs to be presented. A copy of the original recorded contract for deed, deed of trust, land contract, mortgage, real estate contract, trust deed, or trust indenture, or a recorded memorandum or notice which refers to any of the these. Copy of the closing or settlement statement, escrow agreement, title insurance commitment when sold, the property’s fire/hazard insurance information, if applicable have to be submitted too. Copy and current balance of the underlying first lien has to be presented. Copy of payment ledger and copies of up to the last 12 payments needs to be presented too. A detailed map with very specific directions to the property is required too. Current color photographs of the property, tax parcel identification number etc. Are some of the details needed for converting real estate notes for cash. When the appraisal is satisfactory, the buyer sends the closing documents and the seller gets cash for his real estate notes.

Thus, people are converting real estate notes for cash easily as they are impatient to have cash in hand, rather than wait for it to accumulate slowly. People are given the option to sell the note completely or in part as per their needs. This is a better alternative to bank loans and the cash is guaranteed if the documents are in order.

There are online firms that would help you with converting real estate note for cash.

Alexander Gordon is a writer for www.smallbusinessconsulting.com - The Small Business Consulting Community. Sign-up for the free success steps newsletter and get our booklet valued at $24.95 for free as a special bonus. The newsletter provides daily strategies on starting and significantly growing a business.

Business Owners all across the country are joining "The Community of Small Business Owners” to receive and provide strategies, insight, tips, support and more on starting, managing, growing, and selling their businesses. As a member, you will have access to true Millionaire Business Owners who will provide strategies and tips from their real-life experiences.