real estate investors

The Value Of A Home Inspection Prior To Buying A Investment Property

Most fixer uppers are homes that usually need a number of home repairs that generally do not require special knowledge or expertise on your part, as the homeowner. Fixer upper homes can be excellent bargains when the “asking price” is significantly lower than the current market value of other homes in the area.

An fixer upper needing a cosmetic fix-up can be a great investment property. They generally need some repainting outside and inside (paint can do a lot of wonders), floor refinishing or new carpets, new lighting fixtures, little repairs, complete cleanup and landscaping.

If the home necessitates massive repairs such as electrical and plumbing problems that usually are expensive, it will slash your profit back or worst, eliminate it.

Before purchasing any house , a professional home inspection should be completed. The inspector can provide you an accurate idea of what existing problems the home has and what repairs are needed as well as an approximate repair cost.

Here is a list of common issues found during a home inspection.

Roofing

Insulation

Plumbing system

Electrical system

Central heating

Central cooling

Water seepage

Structural (Most of these defects requires expensive professional repair especially when talking about the value these repairs will return upon resale.)

Most often, major defects go unnoticed because fixer upper buyers usually can’t see the inside workings, hidden out of view or behind walls. When buying you a fixer upper you need to turn over a few stones.

A broken or damaged “heat-exchanger” in the heating system, faulty wiring, termite damage, lead accumulation, as well as asbestos insulation are common physical flaws that you can’t see immediately and need to be corrected before a re-sale.

Indications of these problems are as follows:

Moisture stains that can be found on ceiling and walls could mean plumbing problems.

Separations between wall and floor specifically for outer walls could mean structural problems.

Sawdust piles near woodwork or wall corners can be an indication of termites.

A home inspection from a professional

Average professional home inspections can cost about 200-325 dollars depending on the kind of property, location, square footage, etc.

When hiring a professional home inspection of fixer upper houses, it is wise that you obtain quotations first from several competing companies. However, the lowest bidder shouldn’t be immediately given the job; aside from the price, you must inspect the “quality of service” they offer as well as the company name. It is important to choose a company with a good reputation.

Several home inspection companies have some kind of computer-like machines which can supply inspection reports and descriptions instantly then the company adds their “pre-printed” sections which are very helpful for you in order to understand the fundamentals of repairing, fixing and replacement.

The most important part of a home inspection is that the inspector supply an entirely impartial appraisal and assessment of the house, inspecting everything carefully from electrical systems, plumbing to structural to make certain that the fixer upper house you are purchasing is sound.

Professional home inspectors can make certain that all major systems (air conditioning, plumbing, furnace) are working properly or they can pinpoint defects to you because these kinds of repairs will cost you a great deal of money.

However not all major repairing problems automatically indicate that you shouldn’t purchase the fixer upper home, because they can simply be added in the home’s price upon resale.

A good fixer upper seller or realtor will and can factor in said considerations or concerns and you possibly can purchase the home for even less if you put it clearly that you will be responsible for the repair or replacements. Just be careful that you don’t get tricked. Never take anybody’s word that the plumbing, the furnace or the electrical have no problems at all; you have to make certain.

Sometimes walking away from a “deal” is the best option. Perhaps it is due to location or a disagreement on price with the current owner. (Repair costs are almost always a sticking point)

In order to really make a good investment in a fixer…you need to find the hidden “information”. Most of the time a seller will not go out of the way to tell you. In some cases it isnt done out of spit…it might be information the current owner isn’t aware of themselves.

Doc Schmyz has invested all over the US and Canada. His free website shares Real estate investing information for all over the US. Find real estate information by state

categories: flipping houses,forclosures,foreclosures investing,investments,real estate investing,real estate investments,real estate investors,investing,real estate,business,money,retirement

real estate investors

Some Basic Truths About Foreclosed Properties

When you say the word FORECLOSURE, most people have two popular notions about foreclosed homes: that they are being sold at bargain prices and that they are only located in crime-ridden areas. The former is not always true while the latter is definitely not always the case.

The price of foreclosed properties can be 30% to 40% cheaper than their current market values but that doesn’t necessarily apply to all. Most houses will likely be sold at about 5% less than their current value. This is because banks decide the listing price with respect to the condition of the property. Many factors including, but not limited too, the location and the type of neighborhood where the property is will also affect the listing price of the property. A common notion that a foreclosed home can be bought cheap, only requires a little fixing up, and can be sold at a hefty price is a big misinterpretation. Well, some properties may fit this idea, but this is no longer the norm for this type of real estate investment.

For foreclosed property buyers, this means one thing: in order to get the best deal, you really have to put in the time and legwork in finding the best property on sale. One thing you have to remember if you are considering this kind of investment is that banks will definitely not sell off the properties at cheap prices in ALL situations. They know the value of homes that they have foreclosed and they don’t treat them as liabilities, but as assets. However in many cases the lenders are holding A LOT of “assets”…so you may indeed get a lower price.

What about those properties that sell at bargain prices? Most, if not all, require major repairs or have eviction issues, or both. Electric and plumbing issues are the most common across the country. Followed closely by wood rot and decay. These handyman specials can be a great deal IF you can do the work.

Foreclosed properties can be found everywhere and can come in any form, shape, size, and price. This is contrary to the popular belief that foreclosed homes can only be found in crime-ridden areas. Meaning, finding a country villa, log cabin, beachfront home, and prime property among many others are within your viable options. But you should never, ever expect that these properties are sold dirt cheap. As the old saying goes, “you get what you pay for.” So, if you are eying a premier foreclosed property, just expect to pay the real cost or slightly lower than its current value because in the end, saving you from the trouble of repairs and dealing with the bad neighborhoods are really worth the extra bucks.

Doc Schmyz has worked with investors all over the US and Canada. His free website shares Real estate investing information for all over the US. Find real estate information by state

real estate investors

Foreclosure:Working With Your Lender To Avoid It.

If your home is on the verge of foreclosure or you fear the chance of it, you certainly will do any possible means to save it. But the problem is how you will do it? The first step, is going to your lender and asking for help. DO NOT OVER LOOK THIS OPTION!

For some, contacting your lender at the first sign of financial problems seems to be not so good of an idea. It may be because you are embarrassed to discuss money issues to others or you simply don’t see the need to inform your lender right away of your present financial standing. But the truth is, asking for your lender’s help will save you a lot of trouble and it will could help you save your home.

People often have the perception that lenders, like banks, think only of themselves and don’t care about the future of the borrowers. This leads to the common notion that lenders show no mercy to homeowners who have defaulted on payments and will take the homes when the very first window of opportunity opens. The truth is lenders like owners will do everything they can to avoid home foreclosures. So again, the best way to save your home is to work with your lender to solve the problem.

If you miss payments for 3 consecutive months normally the lenders usually send a Notice of Default. However if you know your in trouble DO NOT wait until you get the notice to take action. Call your lender as soon as possible. Inform them of your reason of default on a payment and ask for an alternative payment schedule or temporary lower rates until your finances have recovered. You can also ask for Forbearance where your lender waives some of the penalty fees as a result of default or a mortgage refinance without going through the process of re-application. Most mortgage lenders are more than willing to help you to avoid repossessing your home.

Talk to your lender, inform them of the situation, and ask for payment alternatives. Don’t wait too long before you make a move to save your home. Act fast. Understand the gravity of the situation and do something. It is your obligation to pay your mortgage but when worst comes to worst, your lender will help you keep your home. This is more true during economic downturn.

Doc Schmyz has invested all over the US. He built a free free website shares Real estate investing information for all over the US. Find real estate information by state

categories: forclosures,foreclosures investing,investments,real estate investing,real estate investments,real estate investors,real estate investor,foreclosure,homebuying,foreclosure,real estate investing,business,foreclosure,finance

real estate investors

Finding Foreclosed Homes Is Really Easy

In a down real estate market, finding foreclosed homes is easy. To make your search easier, here is the list of the places where you can find foreclosures.

Auctions

Auction companies hold a inventory of properties, sometimes selling as much as 100 homes or more in just a single day. The bidding is relatively quick and houses can be sold in a matter of seconds, prices of real estate can go over the board but you can find really good properties in their inventory.

Some Large Bank Websites

Most major banks maintain a list of foreclosed properties that they now own. Visit bank web sites and check out the foreclosed properties listing. More often then not this is a great method to find good solid investment property…just be warned…banks take FOREVER to move on a sale if your offering below what they feels is “Fair market value”.

Online foreclosure companies

There are a few companies online that specialize in selling foreclosed homes. A small,one-time membership fee is charged to anyone who wishes to access the list of foreclosed properties. Once you join you will normally have access to a list of property from across the nation. This is very helpful if you have a part of the country you prefer to invest in.

Good Real Estate agents (Buyers Agents)

These agents are either maintaining personal web sites or are under real estate companies that sell foreclosed properties. You can search them online or browse through yellow page listings. Major cities have real estate offices where you can inquire into possibility of acquiring foreclosures.

Real Estate Signs

You don’t need to look anywhere else because you can find foreclosure signs around your neighborhood.These signs contain address and contact information of the agents you can visit or call. The best thing about considering homes with real estate signs is that you can actually check the condition of the house on-site. Nothing is stoping you from walking the property to take a look to see if it is worth looking into. And with one phone call, you can arrange with the agent the date when you want to see the interior of the house.

Government Agencies

Department of the Treasury and other government agencies have a list of real estate properties for sale. Usually, when buying a house from these agencies, you are required to acquire the services of a real estate broker or personally submit an offer. Go to any of the government agencies web sites for more information.

Doc Schmyz has invested all over the US. His free website shares Real estate investing information for all over the US. Find real estate information by state

categories: foreclosure,REO,Foreclosed real estate,forclosures,foreclosures investing,investments,real estate investing,real estate investments,real estate investors,real estate investor,real estate,real estat,real estate,investing