I Buy Houses

fast flat sales
You've heard it before – “When the going gets tough, the tough get going!”

That's what commercial realtors need to do right now in these economic times. In every city, town or small community there are signs advertising commercial properties for sale or for lease. Many commercial buildings were constructed during better economic times when supply and demand was strong. Now, many of these office buildings and storefronts stand vacant or half-empty which translates into lost revenues and business opportunities for commercial property owners and the community in general.

If you're a commercial property broker, building owner or a marketer tasked with getting a property sold or leased in these tough economic times, here are some suggestions on how to successfully develop a marketing plan that can help to reduce the time that the property is on the market.

INCENTIVES

Seller Finance – Many buyers can be shut out of conventional loans but may still qualify to buy with the right incentives. If the property is for sale, the seller (s) may consider seller financing. There are many ways to seller finance and there are often some good financial and tax benefits. The length of the loan and the terms vary so be sure to have the seller first consult with accounting and legal professionals to determine if this incentive would be beneficial.

Free Rent - If the property is for lease, find out if the seller is willing to offer one, two or more months free rent as an incentive.

Tax Breaks – Check with state and local government agencies to see if the property qualifies for any tax abatements or special financing programs.

Free Parking - If the property has a parking lot or parking garage where there is a fee to park, ask the seller to offer free parking to tenants.

“Stage” an Office – If the building is vacant, work with a local office furniture company to “stage” an office. Buyers or tenants can better visualize space when there are tasteful furnishings already in place. Ask the office furniture company to offer a discount on the furnishings to the buyer or tenant if they want to purchase the furnishings. It can be a “win-win” situation because the office furniture company makes a sale and the buyer or tenant has a “move-in” space, ready for business.

Preferred Vendor List - All businesses are looking for market exposure and cost-effective advertising opportunities. Provide additional incentives to prospects by approaching local businesses to see if they would be interested in offering a discount to the property buyer or tenant in exchange for being listed free of charge on your “Preferred Vendor List.” The list can be included in your prospect package to potential buyers or tenants offering valuable discounts on goods and services if they purchase or lease the property. Preferred vendors can include:

Telephone and cable companies

Carpeting and flooring companies

Office cleaning service companies

Landscaping companies

Lending institutions

Security and alarm companies

Painters and drywall contractors

Office supply companies

Marketing services companies

Electronics companies

Employment agencies

Interior decorating companies

The more incentives offered, the better the chances are of closing the sale.

MARKETING TOOLS

Website – Create a property website. Include photos (interior and exterior) or a “virtual tour” along with building maps, demographic information, financing options (link the site to your preferred Lender's site) and contact information.

Email Campaigns - Develop an ongoing email marketing campaign to specific target markets to promote the property. Make sure there is a “call to action” that prompts the prospect to ask for more information. Additionally, if you are marketing more than one property, be certain to include a “click here for more available properties” tab.

Printed Marketing Materials – Have professionally printed marketing materials to send or hand out to prospects. A professional graphic designer and copywriter can develop the materials. Some items to consider are:

Sell sheet with interior/exterior photos along with property description and contact information

Area amenities such as school and day care centers, shopping, public transportation, medical and fitness facilities

Site maps and area demographics

Postcards with a photo and property information

Color brochures describing the property

Postcard magnets – these mailers are like two marketing messages for the price of one.

Property information is printed on the postcard and the magnet is a reminder of your business and contact information

Printed presentation folders to hold information and documents

Signage

Sales letter

DVD's -Create a DVD of the property. Include interior and exterior photos along with demographic and area information. Any incentives that are offered should be included as well. These can be distributed or mailed to prospects.

Well developed, professional – looking marketing materials will convey a polished image and will attract serious buyers.

OTHER MEDIA

Contact the local cable company to see if there are affordable time slots to place advertisements.

Local newspapers and magazines are also a good source of advertising to the local market. If the property resides near other communities, advertising in those local papers also makes sense.

If your prospect market is larger than your local area, contact major newspaper outlets as well as regional magazines for advertising rates.

National Real Estate Investor Magazine (www.nreionline.com) focuses on real estate trends. Readership includes brokerages, construction companies, owner/developer, finance/investors, property managers, corporate real estate and other related real estate services. Contact them for their advertising rates.

MAILING LISTS AND OTHER ONLINE RESOURCES

If you don't have the time to manage the marketing aspects yourself, there are companies advertised online that can assist. These companies will, for a fee, provide you with many of the necessary online tools needed to market the property from email campaigns to website design and list services.

A simple Google search will yield several sites that offer list, search, marketing, research and finance options and other useful information for the commercial real estate professional.

Here are a few:

BiggerPockets (www.biggerpockets.com)

This is a special interest media and publishing company focused on the business of real estate and real estate investing in the United States and North America. They focus on uniting the real estate community with associated real estate professionals through their social networking and online tools and resources.

CityFeet (www.cityfeet.com)

CityFeet is a commercial real estate site with thousands of commercial real estate properties, broker profiles and commercial service listings.

Commercial Investment Multiple Listing Service (www.CIMLS.com)

CIMLS is a national online commercial real estate listing service.

Commercial IQ (www.commercialiq.com)

Commercial IQ is an online commercial real estate search drawing commercial property listings from local brokerages and associations nationwide.

Drake Street Lists (www.drakestreetlists.com)

Drake Street Lists provide active accredited investor lists in a variety of target markets.

Informetrics (www.informetrics.com)

Informetrics is a marketing services provider to the commercial real estate industry, combining cutting edge technology and design with practical industry experience.

Lead-Trac (www.lead-trac.com)

Lead Trac provides lists of commercial property owners.

LoopNet (www.loopnet.com)

LoopNet is a directory of commercial properties online.

STATE AND RESOURCESAND ASSOCIATIONS

State Department of Economic Development

Local Chamber of Commerce

National Association of Real Estate Investors (www.nationalreia.com)

This is a non-profit trade association serving the real estate industry. The website has a wealth of information and resources.

Keeping an edge on the real estate competition is serious business and marketing plans are part of the process. Especially in difficult economic times, creative and innovative marketing techniques are important ingredients to a successful sale.

Remember, get tough by marketing wisely and stay ahead of the competition!

sell and ren back
You've heard it before – “When the going gets tough, the tough get going!”

That's what commercial realtors need to do right now in these economic times. In every city, town or small community there are signs advertising commercial properties for sale or for lease. Many commercial buildings were constructed during better economic times when supply and demand was strong. Now, many of these office buildings and storefronts stand vacant or half-empty which translates into lost revenues and business opportunities for commercial property owners and the community in general.

If you're a commercial property broker, building owner or a marketer tasked with getting a property sold or leased in these tough economic times, here are some suggestions on how to successfully develop a marketing plan that can help to reduce the time that the property is on the market.

INCENTIVES

Seller Finance – Many buyers can be shut out of conventional loans but may still qualify to buy with the right incentives. If the property is for sale, the seller (s) may consider seller financing. There are many ways to seller finance and there are often some good financial and tax benefits. The length of the loan and the terms vary so be sure to have the seller first consult with accounting and legal professionals to determine if this incentive would be beneficial.

Free Rent - If the property is for lease, find out if the seller is willing to offer one, two or more months free rent as an incentive.

Tax Breaks – Check with state and local government agencies to see if the property qualifies for any tax abatements or special financing programs.

Free Parking - If the property has a parking lot or parking garage where there is a fee to park, ask the seller to offer free parking to tenants.

“Stage” an Office – If the building is vacant, work with a local office furniture company to “stage” an office. Buyers or tenants can better visualize space when there are tasteful furnishings already in place. Ask the office furniture company to offer a discount on the furnishings to the buyer or tenant if they want to purchase the furnishings. It can be a “win-win” situation because the office furniture company makes a sale and the buyer or tenant has a “move-in” space, ready for business.

Preferred Vendor List - All businesses are looking for market exposure and cost-effective advertising opportunities. Provide additional incentives to prospects by approaching local businesses to see if they would be interested in offering a discount to the property buyer or tenant in exchange for being listed free of charge on your “Preferred Vendor List.” The list can be included in your prospect package to potential buyers or tenants offering valuable discounts on goods and services if they purchase or lease the property. Preferred vendors can include:

Telephone and cable companies

Carpeting and flooring companies

Office cleaning service companies

Landscaping companies

Lending institutions

Security and alarm companies

Painters and drywall contractors

Office supply companies

Marketing services companies

Electronics companies

Employment agencies

Interior decorating companies

The more incentives offered, the better the chances are of closing the sale.

MARKETING TOOLS

Website – Create a property website. Include photos (interior and exterior) or a “virtual tour” along with building maps, demographic information, financing options (link the site to your preferred Lender's site) and contact information.

Email Campaigns - Develop an ongoing email marketing campaign to specific target markets to promote the property. Make sure there is a “call to action” that prompts the prospect to ask for more information. Additionally, if you are marketing more than one property, be certain to include a “click here for more available properties” tab.

Printed Marketing Materials – Have professionally printed marketing materials to send or hand out to prospects. A professional graphic designer and copywriter can develop the materials. Some items to consider are:

Sell sheet with interior/exterior photos along with property description and contact information

Area amenities such as school and day care centers, shopping, public transportation, medical and fitness facilities

Site maps and area demographics

Postcards with a photo and property information

Color brochures describing the property

Postcard magnets – these mailers are like two marketing messages for the price of one.

Property information is printed on the postcard and the magnet is a reminder of your business and contact information

Printed presentation folders to hold information and documents

Signage

Sales letter

DVD's -Create a DVD of the property. Include interior and exterior photos along with demographic and area information. Any incentives that are offered should be included as well. These can be distributed or mailed to prospects.

Well developed, professional – looking marketing materials will convey a polished image and will attract serious buyers.

OTHER MEDIA

Contact the local cable company to see if there are affordable time slots to place advertisements.

Local newspapers and magazines are also a good source of advertising to the local market. If the property resides near other communities, advertising in those local papers also makes sense.

If your prospect market is larger than your local area, contact major newspaper outlets as well as regional magazines for advertising rates.

National Real Estate Investor Magazine (www.nreionline.com) focuses on real estate trends. Readership includes brokerages, construction companies, owner/developer, finance/investors, property managers, corporate real estate and other related real estate services. Contact them for their advertising rates.

MAILING LISTS AND OTHER ONLINE RESOURCES

If you don't have the time to manage the marketing aspects yourself, there are companies advertised online that can assist. These companies will, for a fee, provide you with many of the necessary online tools needed to market the property from email campaigns to website design and list services.

A simple Google search will yield several sites that offer list, search, marketing, research and finance options and other useful information for the commercial real estate professional.

Here are a few:

BiggerPockets (www.biggerpockets.com)

This is a special interest media and publishing company focused on the business of real estate and real estate investing in the United States and North America. They focus on uniting the real estate community with associated real estate professionals through their social networking and online tools and resources.

CityFeet (www.cityfeet.com)

CityFeet is a commercial real estate site with thousands of commercial real estate properties, broker profiles and commercial service listings.

Commercial Investment Multiple Listing Service (www.CIMLS.com)

CIMLS is a national online commercial real estate listing service.

Commercial IQ (www.commercialiq.com)

Commercial IQ is an online commercial real estate search drawing commercial property listings from local brokerages and associations nationwide.

Drake Street Lists (www.drakestreetlists.com)

Drake Street Lists provide active accredited investor lists in a variety of target markets.

Informetrics (www.informetrics.com)

Informetrics is a marketing services provider to the commercial real estate industry, combining cutting edge technology and design with practical industry experience.

Lead-Trac (www.lead-trac.com)

Lead Trac provides lists of commercial property owners.

LoopNet (www.loopnet.com)

LoopNet is a directory of commercial properties online.

STATE AND RESOURCESAND ASSOCIATIONS

State Department of Economic Development

Local Chamber of Commerce

National Association of Real Estate Investors (www.nationalreia.com)

This is a non-profit trade association serving the real estate industry. The website has a wealth of information and resources.

Keeping an edge on the real estate competition is serious business and marketing plans are part of the process. Especially in difficult economic times, creative and innovative marketing techniques are important ingredients to a successful sale.

Remember, get tough by marketing wisely and stay ahead of the competition!

sale and rentback

Bank foreclosures can offer investors an opportunity to make a significant profit, but they aren't without risk. Before investing in distressed properties, it's important to conduct research to fully understand the process involved and weigh the pros and cons.

Real estate owned bank foreclosures are properties that did not sell at auction. Oftentimes, foreclosure properties have a mortgage balance higher than the property is worth. Additionally, they usually have creditor or tax liens attached to them and require significant repairs. Once they are placed through the auction process and cannot be sold, they are returned to the bank.

Bank foreclosures are sold directly through banks and lending institutions. Most banks prefer to sell real estate owned (REO) properties as quickly as possible. However, this does not mean they are eager to sell them for less than the amount due on the mortgage note.

Investing in bank foreclosures won't provide you with the deal of the century. However, you can typically purchase REO houses for five to ten percent under market value. Currently, most banks require bids on bank foreclosures to be at least ninety-five percent of the amount due on the note. For instance, if the note balance is $100k, banks expect to see offers start at $95k.

Real estate experts suggest banks will soon be forced to accept lower bids on bank foreclosures. As foreclosure rates continue to soar across the United States, many banks are now holding deeds to more homes than they can manage. In order to liquidate their inventory they will be forced to accept lower offers.

Although bank foreclosures do not offer tremendous savings, they do offer considerable advantages. Typically, bank foreclosures have a clean title and property taxes are current. In many instances, banks make repairs to homes and prepare them for sale. Occasionally, banks will sell REO homes that require substantial repairs “as is' and accept lower offers. In order to obtain the best deal you will need to engage in legwork and investigate properties to determine which type of property is best suited for you.

When investing in bank foreclosures, it's crucial to conduct a thorough inspection of the property. If the home requires numerous repairs and renovations, you can use this to negotiate the price. Depending on your level of expertise, homes requiring major renovations can potentially reap significant profit. If you can make repairs on your own, savings can be substantial and increase your profit-margin.

More often than not, when you make an offer on bank foreclosures the lender will make a counter offer. Arm yourself with a list of repairs and estimates of work required to return the property to livable condition. When possible include photographs showing proof of necessary repairs. Depending on the condition and location of property, you may have to counter-offer several times before the bank will accept a final offer.

One mistake many novice investors make when purchasing bank foreclosures is they become captivated by the house and end up paying full price or above. Remember, there are plenty of bank foreclosures available. If the bank isn't willing to give you a good deal, be prepared to walk away.

An insider secret to purchasing bank foreclosures is to locate private real estate investors who purchase bank portfolios. When investors purchase bulk properties they are able to obtain houses at wholesale prices. Oftentimes, these savings amount to thirty percent or more. Investors who purchase in bulk are able to pass along their savings to interested parties and provide them with instant equity in the home.

The key to purchasing bank foreclosures from private investors is to buy them with cash. This allows for fast closing and enables you to make a profit on the house quickly. While others are busy making counter-offers with banks, you can purchase a bank foreclosure from a private investor, make repairs and renovations, sell it under market value and still turn a profit.

Homeowners struggling to sell a home are now turning to renting, creating a new breed of accidental landlords.

For most accidental landlords, are simultaneously becoming tenants, moving themselves in the houses of other families who cannot sell. Often these changes of address mean an upgrade, better kitchen in a better neighbourhood.

There is an antisipated reduction in rental income, that presents a challendge for those Landlords whose mortgages stay stubbornly high.

Landlords can and always should use a nottingham student letting agent to source a suitable tenant and manage the property. The letting agent would make sure that all applicable laws and regulations are abided by. A decent agent will be able to recommend tradesmen at honest prices if any work need doing to the property.

As a landlord, you may wonder why the rent you're advertising on Craigslist isn't bringing in any potential tenants. Did you price it too high? Maybe you priced it too low and people are suspicious that something might be wrong with your property. What can you do to find out? What if you're a current tenant and you suspect you might be paying too much, or you're in the market for another place and you don't want to get ripped off? For both tenants and landlords, the answer is simple: Rentometer.com.

Using Rentometer is a very simple process.

First, tell it whether you're a landlord or a tenant. This selection can tailor the results so that you receive the information you need.

Second, enter the address of the property you're interested in knowing about.

Third, enter the current rent being charged for the property (assumed to be an apartment by Rentometer.)

Finally, input the number of bedrooms in the apartment.

Click “Analyze” and you're on your way to informative results!

If you're not particularly interested in analyzing a specific property and its rent costs, and you would rather just take a look at the larger scheme of rents in the United States, you can tour through the links at the bottom of the page. The links are self-explanatory – visit “Expensive Apartments” to find out where the pricest are highest (a zipcode in Denver tops the charts with a whopping $8,900 median rent!) and “Cheap Apartments” to discover a place where you could pay a month's rent with a week's paycheck.

There is also link for each state at the very bottom of the page, and clicking one brings up a list of all the cities in that state. You can then select the city of interest and it will add that to the original form, and you can continue your search. As an added bonus, doing this will also provide you with “Fast Facts” about the city of choice!

Rentometer can help both tenants and landlords immensely in their search for the right price. Check it out and find the perfect rent for your place today!

nottingham carlton lettings