Real Estate Investment Opportunities

Through our comprehensive, international network we offer a wide variety of real estate investment services. Click on any of the links below to get further details on each investment opportunity:

• Commercial Real Estate - We offer commercial investment property all over the United States. Some of our properties include apartment complexes, duplexes, 4-plexes, C-2 properties, multi-family, rentals, strip malls, shopping centers, autonomous retail units, warehouses, mini storages, motels, hotels, and more.
• Preconstruction Real Estate - We have hundreds of properties in the lucrative preconstruction phase all over the country in all price ranges, including townhouses, condos, homes for sale, and condo hotels. Additionally, we provide articles on preconstruction real estate investment strategies from real estate experts.
• Real Estate Investment Groups and Clubs - YEARD has one of the nation's largest real estate investment groups, with buying opportunities throughout the U.S. and abroad. This safe and profitable investment strategy is relatively new, so we provide several articles from real estate experts on the pros and cons of joining YAERD's investment club.
• Vacation Properties - YAERD has a wide array of vacation homes for sale throughout the nation. Due to the recent prosperity of the state real estate market, most of the property we offer is in Florida. In this profitable region, along with several other areas, YAERD offers luxury homes, preconstruction and new construction homes, penthouses, mansions, and condo resort property.

New Construction Investment Homes

Buying a new construction investment home or investment property is different than buying traditional real estate although most of the rules are similar. New construction property sales representatives work for the builder (unless you ’ re dealing with an independent real estate brokerage). If you buy a new home through the builder ’ s sales rep you will have no one representing your interests but if you deal with an independent brokerage they can give you insight into not only the specific project but the developer and location as well. Most states do not require builder sales persons to be licensed real estate agents which means that is the only property that this commission sales person can sell you. When purchasing new construction investment properties we recommend using a real estate brokerage that specializes in preconstruction homes and opportunities. YAERD works with respected realtors that personally hand picks every new construction project and development.

Choose your New Construction Real Estate Agent Wisely

The home buying process is full of traps for the unwary, inexperienced, and even the experienced home buyer. A good investment real estate agent can help you find the best new construction homes and houses in the best locations. Understand that not all real estate agents are equal, spend some time interviewing agents and only deal with them if you feel they are knowledgeable about the industry as a whole and not just a handful of specific projects.

Know What New Construction Project You Can You Afford

Your Buyers Agent will insist that you to be pre-approved for a mortgage (not pre-qualified) before starting the home search so he isn ’ t wasting yours and his time. They will probably direct you to 2-3 different bankers/mortgage companies that they are confident can follow through and close your loan will little or no hassles. You will find that many builders usually have the own financing companies available that offer special incentives if your referred to them by the brokerage or builder. Example, YAERD offers their points of commission from the mortgage company to their clients which will shave several points off the top of the loan...

What New Construction Developer is Best For You

Your new construction agent will help you determine your specific needs and preferences before shopping for a project or developer. What area is going to explode with business over the next few year? Which developer has the best track record of keeping a development rented (which will increase your monthly ROI)

Now you and your buyer agent can look for subdivisions or custom developers in that area who will best address your needs. Take your time, shop around. Inspect model homes, pick-up brochures with floor plans and pricing become educated before making your choice.

Select Your New Construction Community

What amenities are you most interested in, pool, tennis, golf, club house, gated community? Is there a homeowners association if so you must have a copy of the restrictions these tell you what the community rules are regarding what you can and can not do with your own property (i.e. some comminutes do not allow you to alter landscaping or have an outdoor barbeque. Your buyer agent can help you check local land use regulations and what is planned on the vacant land nearby you may end up with a 24 hour gas station behind your new home.

Sale of Residence

You may qualify to exclude from your income all or part of any gain from the sale of your main home. Your main home is the one in which you live most of the time.

Ownership and Use Tests

To claim the exclusion, you must meet the ownership and use tests. This means that during the 5-year period ending on the date of the sale, you must have:

* Owned the home for at least two years (the ownership test)
* Lived in the home as your main home for at least two years (the use test)

Gain

If you have a gain from the sale of your main home, you may be able to exclude up to $250,000 of the gain from your income ($500,000 on a joint return in most cases).

* If you can exclude all of the gain, you do not need to report the sale on your tax return
* If you have gain that cannot be excluded, it is taxable. Report it on Schedule D (Form 1040)

Loss

You cannot deduct a loss from the sale of your main home.

Investment Real Estate is Booming

So you want to start buying new construction investment real estate in the preconstruction phase but you don’t know where to get started? Let us help you through the process:

1. Research the market and find the best areas for investment real estate, make sure the articles you’re reading are current and really make an effort to talk to others in the investment real estate industry.

2. Find a trustworthy real estate brokerage that you feel has your best interests in mind. Be sure the brokerage has a large selection of properties and be sure to take suggestions but don’t let them does not pressure you into one or another.

3. Find financing, often times brokerages will have special deals for clients as far as financing goes if a client buys from them. For example, clients that buy from YAERD receive a better rate than most other places because they forfeit their commission and give it to the clients.

4. Contact your investment real estate brokerage and ask them for the reservation form and send it in to the developer to hold in an escrow account and you’re on your way to becoming a real estate investor.

Careers in Real Estate

The real estate profession has expanded and offers one of the widest career selections in the business world today. Helping people buy and sell homes, office buildings, industrial property and corporation farmland, property management, land development, mortgage banking, urban planning, real estate counseling, appraisal and research are all aspects of a career in real estate.

Advantages and Rewards of a Career in Real Estate

A career in real estate provides flexibility and freedom to set your own pace. Income directly reflects your efforts, with no limits on what astute, hard-working men and women can earn. Successful people in real estate are goal-oriented, persevering, self-motivated, ambitious and people-oriented. The rewards of a real estate career are a potential for high earnings, status in the community, autonomy, time freedom, helping people, the intellectual challenge and the satisfaction from those accomplishments.

Working in real estate allows for independence and choices of environment in which to work, such as affiliation with a large or small firm as a listed salesperson. With more experience and upon passing of an additional exam, becoming a real estate broker is the next step. Brokers can own their own businesses and employ other salespeople.

A Sense of A Sale

When selling your home, it is often easy to focus on making things look good without considering other factors. As humans, we have more senses than just what we see. We smell. We hear. We taste. Okay, you can probably forget about taste when it comes to your home because most buyers are not going to lick a wall, but smell and hearing is something to take into account. Bake a pie or cookies to make sure your home has a “home” smell.

Clean carpets and anything else that causes unattractive smells. On the hearing front, keep all the windows closed when someone comes buy. If there are sounds from the street that are easily heard in the house, consider putting up a hedge or other landscaping to buffer them. In short, appeal to all the sense someone will use when considering whether to make an offer on your property.

Interview with Real Estate Brokers

So your sister just introduced you to her friend Irving, a real estate agent, and now you can't get rid of him, right? Wrong! Choosing the right person to sell your home is one of the most important steps of selling. Therefore, choose wisely.

At a minimum, speak with 2 or 3 brokers from different agencies. Ask prospective brokers the same list of questions, in order to compare their answers. Find out what they would do to sell your house.

Above all, choose a broker that you feel comfortable with and like. This person will help you make the biggest sale of your life, so find someone you think will do a good job!

The following is a list of questions that may be helpful to ask while speaking with prospective real estate brokers.

1. How many years have you been in business?
2. For how long have you sold houses in this area?
3. How many houses did you sell in the past year?
4. What is your commission?
5. If I were to work with you, how would you market my house?
6. Will you organize meetings with potential buyers and will you coordinate them personally?
7. Can you give me names and telephone numbers of other families that have used your services?

Costa Rica Real Estate Investment Properties for Sale

World renowned for its pristine beaches and lush habitat, real estate in Costa Rica has become increasingly popular for homebuyers and investors due to its stability and friendly foreign ownership policies (fee simple). Propelled by a decade of robust tourism growth, real estate demand and prices have climbed steadily, but are still at a significant discount to those offered in other beautiful, politically stable countries around the world, like the United States and the Caribbean.

Costa Rica is often called the "Switzerland of the Americas," largely due to its stable government, which abolished the army in 1948. This helped pave the way for Costa Rica's current desirable investment status that it boasts today, as the government allocated would-be military dollars towards education, infrastructure and health care. Today, Costa Rica has one of the highest literacy rates in the Americas and the best infrastructure of any Central American or Caribbean country. Furthermore, Costa Rica’s enlightened approach towards conservation, with over 25% of the country’s landscape proclaimed as national wildlife reserve (the highest in the world on a percentage basis), provides the framework for generations to come and enjoy this Tropical Paradise.

Safe Investment Real Estate Practices For Beginners

Many people feel as if investment is a negative word. Understandably, most people automatically associate the word investment with tedious, low yield money management. However, what we will be discussing is using strategy, intelligence, and diligence to earn quick returns on a minimal investment. Investing does not always have to be about spending volumes of money with little return This is the beauty of investing in
real estate. Follow our real estate investment primer for guidelines on what to look for when investing:


1. Location

Although cliché, location is among one of the most important issues to look at when investing. There are certain places that present an opportunity for high demand investment real estate hot spots in the current investment industry. Florida, Las Vegas, and Biloxi are currently at the top of the real estate food chain. Many properties are turning an upwards of 30% return on investment, or ROI, yearly . Some are even higher than that, but for the most part, the potential for a high ROI is prevalent in these markets.

2. Amenities

Amenities are something that makes investment real estate markets flourish. A resort in the middle of farm land is nothing but that, a resort in the middle of farm land. But when this resort is next to Disney World, Universal Studios, the beach, or casinos, it is in a place that will be much more profitable to invest in.

Are you finding this article to be helpful? For more information, sign up for our newsletter and view our suggested properties.

3. Cost of living

The cost of living is a huge issue. Orlando is going to consistently bring investors looking for a vacation home because the cost of living is among the lowest in the country. A vacation home may be very desirable and and reasonably priced, but if normal necessities are too expensive or inaccessable, or if taxes or community orginization fees are too high, , , then what seemed to be a good investment can potentially lose its property value due to high cost of living. Therefore, the cost of living is instrumental in determining the potential of an investment real estate property.

4. History

History typically repeats itself. If an area has been a good area for investment in the past, it will be a good area for investing in the future. South Florida is an excellent example one of these areas that has a history and a future. Orlando, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Panama City and others have been growing for some time, and have plenty of room for growth throughout the future. Certain properties are doubling with in a year of ground breaking. Miami also has a strong real estate investment history. Although heavily developed, Miami is constantly rebuilding itself and expanding.

All of these concerns should add up to a safe investment. We have a top picks section where you can see many properties that are available in the investment arenas discussed in this article.

Luxury Florida Vacation Homes in Orlando, Miami, Panama City

Have you been thinking of purchasing an investment vacation home in Florida? Then you should contact us, we are very knowledgeable in the industry and the president has over 19 years experience in the Florida vacation home market. Searching the internet for projects sounds like a good idea but could turn out to really bad unless you have knowledge of not only the developer building the vacation home but the area as well. Vacation homes just miles apart could be like night and day so pricing each property against each other in different locations is next to impossible unless you're familiar with the area.

Why People all over the world are choosing Florida for their vacation homes:

1. The Weather - Can you think of a place in the US that has better weather then Florida? People come from all over the world just to get a taste of the beautiful sunny weather. This maybe why Florida has the largest number of retirees moving here every year.

2. The Atmosphere - Florida has the best atmosphere in the United States. It's a laid back feeling that seems to penetrate every visitors soul and seems to just wash your cares away. If you haven't had a chance to spend some time in Florida do yourself a favor and come down for a little while and see for yourself.

3. Smart Investment - Although you may not be thinking of selling your Florida vacation home anytime soon wouldn't it be great to know that you got a great deal and have pre built equity in the property? This is way buying your Florida vacation home in the preconstruction stage is such a smart investment.

Bottom line is you won't be able to find a better place for your vacation home then Florida. While in some places real estate prices have slowed down other areas are just starting to skyrocket. Give us a call and one of our agents will explain the current state of the real estate market and educate on all the hand picked florida vacation homes we have available. Imagine buying a vacation home in Florida and have pre built equity in it. These are good times to buy florida real estate.

Owning a Home

Owning your own home is the American Dream…but you need to be prepared for its challenges. These tips, tricks, and other information can help make your experience as a homeowner a little easier.


Maintaining and Improving Your Home

• programs - HUD has a number of programs that may help you with home improvements
• Rural housing repair and rehabilitation grants and loans
• Home improvements for senior citizens
• Avoid deceptive home improvement contractors
• Tips for hiring a contractor
• Home maintenance and repair - great index of "how to's" from repairing leaky faucets to getting ketchup out of carpet
• Specially adapted housing program at the Veterans Administration
• Information for people with disabilities

Energy and Your Home Environment

• Make your home energy efficient with the Energy Star program
• Home energy saver - find the best ways to save energy in your home
• Consumer Energy Information from the Department of Energy
• Protect your family from lead poisoning
• Protect your home from lead hazards
• Indoor air quality
• Radon

Paying Your Mortgage

• Escrow accounts - in most cases, part of your monthly mortgage payment goes into an escrow account. Know what to expect
• Mortgage insurance premiums
• Your rights and the responsibilities of the mortgage servicer
• Reservists, Guardsmen, and Other Military Personnel have special protections
• Having trouble with your FHA lender? - HUD's National Servicing Center may be able to help you
• If you are facing the loss of your home…
• Avoiding foreclosure on an FHA loan
• If you have trouble paying your VA loan

Refinancing

• Should I refinance? - this simple calculator can help you see if refinancing is right for you
• FHA streamline refinance
• Interest rate reduction refinancing loans for veterans
• Predatory Lending - don't be a victim of unscrupulous lending practices
• When not to refinance

Reverse Mortgages

Manufactured Homes

• Have a problem with your manufactured home?

Disaster relief

• HUD disaster relief assistance
• Disasterhelp.gov

Selling Your Home

Selling your home can be exciting, but it also takes work. You’ll need to fix all those little problems you’ve let go for so many years. You need to decide if you’re going to try to sell your own home or use a professional real estate broker. And you’ll need to be patient! Selling your home can take some time, depending on your local real estate market.

Learn about the process and the pitfalls of selling your home, before you begin. Here are just some of the resources available.

• Getting your house ready to sell
• Selling your home
• Settlement costs

Real Estate Investing Benefits

Many reasons exist that conclude real estate investment is a safer and more profitable opportunity than other investments that arise. In this article, we will go over a few of the factors that make real estate investment a sound choice for your future.

Growing instead of Shrinking

There are many benefits in real estate investing opposed to the other available benefits. The first benefit of real estate investments is found when this market is looked on as a time line in comparison to the stock market. It is apparent that the real estate market has a growing line with no major fluctuations. On the other hand, the stock market has high points and valleys that range from quick highs to sudden drops through out its history. Although this market can be more profitable one has to worry about the various factors of risk that is found in this investment. It is harder to look at the time lines in other forms of investing (i.e. currency investing, mutual funds, buying gold and silver, etc.). But one thing is clear, no other market is as profitable with such a low level of risk involved as the investment real estate market.

Many people ask me, “Why is investing in real estate such a safe investment?” The answer is as simple as it is complicated. The quick answer is “God isn’t making any more of it” the more complicated answer is not so simple. Real estate investments are full of benefits for the investor. Along with these benefits some forms of risks are involved. This article discusses with you different factors that can make these risks more avoidable.

Government Tax Breaks

The United States government has setup multiple tax breaks for real estate investors including the very popular 1031 exchange. The textbook definition of a 1031 exchange is:

"A 1031 exchange or Like kind exchange is defined by section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code. This code specifies that if an asset, usually some form of real estate (i.e. land or a building), is sold and the proceeds of the sale are then reinvested in a like kind of an asset. By this occurring no gain or loss is recognized, allowing the deferment of capital gains taxes."

The simple explanation is that as long as you reinvest the money you made from your real estate investment into another investment you don’t have to pay taxes on said profit. This makes a real estate opportunity a highly desired investment. No other form of investing gives you this much freedom with taxes.

Anyone Can Invest

Since real estate investing is so profitable and safe it allows for a large amount of amateur investors to entering the market everyday. Why else do you think all these infomercials are on late at night talking about the millions they’ve made overnight with someone’s CD set? I am not saying that buying one of those CD sets will make you a millionaire but they are good to learn the basics of real estate investing from. A large problem that arises with these CD sets is they teach making millions in real estate with bad credit or without spending a dime. This comment is a one factor which is highly exaggerated. Almost every traditional investment opportunity requires, you, the investor to have an excellent credit rating. In addition to an excellent credit rating, a good amount of money is needed for down payment with these opportunities; around 10 to 20% down. This is not the case with preconstruction real estate investments. Although the investor needs to be clear of past bankruptcy, a small amount is needed for the down payment on the property; usually this amount is around $2,000.

Other People’s Money

common inquiry is, “Why invest your money when you can invest someone else’s?” One of the big rules in real estate investing is, “If someone is willing to flip the bill, let them”. Banks are more then willing to give out a loan to buy houses. This is because unlike other forms of investing they have something tangible they can keep if you decide to foreclose. Banks are usually not as willing to give loans for stock or gold investing because the stock you invested in maybe worth nothing by the time you sell them. Banks are therefore making their decision for an investment with no guarantee; you could also take your gold and run across the border. Real estate, on the other hand, is almost always going to be worth something (often increasing in value every year). There has not been a recorded case yet of someone taking a house across the border.

How to Bid on Investment and Traditional Real Estate Homes and Houses

If your like most new home buyer you probably get a little nervous when it comes to making an offer to sellers when you are about to purchase a home, or real estate property. You’re probably thinking you want the best deal possible without feeling as if we are offending the seller - You have to realize two things.

1.
Buying and selling real estate is a business (a BIG business) - You ARE NOT in the business of making friends with the seller… Just being a businessperson and realize that I low offer isn’t going to hurt someone’s feeling.

2.
Everything in real estate is negotiable - Don’t worry if you go to low on a bid, the seller will often counter offer no matter how low the bid is.

Don't be afraid of making an extremely low offer to a seller. You don't know what they are thinking or what their situation is. For all you know the seller will except half the asking price due to “rock and a hard place” situations. In fact your lowball bid maybe the only bid in 2 years and the seller will gladly take the loss to stop the monthly hemorrhaging of cash from it.

***EDITOR NOTES:
I purchased a BEAUTIFUL 4 bedroom, 3 bath, Belgium block home for half the asking price and for a third of what it was appraised for due to the seller’s tough luck situation: Appraised $140,000 - Asking $110,000 - Purchased for $56,000 - My initial asking price $30,000***

One thing I can not stress enough is find a good real estate agent that doesn’t mind throwing out these low ball offers. Many agents feel they are wasting their time and you don’t have the money to buy. Although once the agents sees your tactics they are much more willing to work with you knowing you will bring in more business over time as well as referrals.

Also remember, the seller never even has to see you... In most cases, the agent handles all communications and only if these get more serious will you ever deal with the seller.

The seller can do several things after receiving your offer.

1.
They could accept your offer, which would be the ideal outcome. This means that they don’t even haggle and just give it to you for the price you wanted. (If this happened you should have went much lower)

2.
They could totally reject your offer and not even respond... This does occasionally happen but with the millions of houses out there its not even worth wasting the time thinking about it. Remember bid on many houses and don’t get attached to any one - the biggest mistake you can make if you want to see a profit is to get attached to one property.

Your offer could be counter-offered. He will reject your offer, but give you an offer on the table. If you receive a counter-offer, you can then accept, reject or counter-offer.

The key in buying is that you have to set your top-of-the-line price before you make offers. Decide how much you want to pay for the property and stick with it.

Here's a key though. By reducing the price, the seller is telling you that things are negotiable. You may want to counter again.

Here is something to remember. There are tons of houses out there. Yes, you may have to shop around, but it can be worth it in the long run. You want to buy a home at the price you can afford. Not more than you can afford. Although you maybe able to rationalize it ( i.e. I won’t eat out as much, I’ll wait longer for that new car, the kids really don’t NEED a college fund, etc) It’s good to set a stop point BEFORE you start the search.

Insuring Your Deposits

What Is the FDIC?

The FDIC – short for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – is an independent agency of the United States government. The FDIC protects you against the loss of your deposits if an FDIC-insured bank or savings association fails. FDIC insurance is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government. The term “insured bank” is used in this brochure to mean any bank or savings association with FDIC insurance.

To check whether your bank or savings association is insured by FDIC, use "Bank Find" at look for the official FDIC sign where deposits are received.

Why Is FDIC Insurance Important to You?

All FDIC-insured banks must meet high standards for financial strength and stability. The FDIC, with other federal and state regulatory agencies, regularly reviews the operations of insured banks to ensure these standards are met. Even with these safeguards, some insured banks fail. If your insured bank fails, FDIC insurance will cover your deposits, dollar for dollar, including principal and any accrued interest, up to the insurance limit.

Historically, insured deposits are available to customers of a failed bank within just a few days. Since the start of the FDIC in 1933, no depositor has ever lost a penny of insured deposits.

What Does the FDIC Insure?

The FDIC insures all deposits at insured banks, including checking, NOW and savings accounts, money market deposit accounts, and certificates of deposit up to the insurance limit.

The FDIC does not insure the money you invest in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, life insurance policies, annuities, or municipal securities, even if you purchased these products from an insured bank.

The basic insurance amount depositor per insured bank. Certain retirement accounts, such as Individual Retirement Accounts, are insured depositor per insured bank.

Basic Real Estate Investment for Beginners

Learn all you can, as quick as you can:

Before committing to an investment property, you should have a fundamental understanding of the real estate market there. For example, be aware that, in general, investment real estate properties are not liquid investments. Barring recent updates in the industry, real estate does not always sell at a moment's notice. In some areas it could take months to sell a property while in other areas (Orlando, Panama City, Miami, Las Vegas) real estate seldom sits on the shelf, be sure to research the market of each CITY not state before you invest.

Consider your cash flow situation:

Make sure you have enough capital on hand to cover any short-term losses due to vacancies between tenants if you plan to rent the properties. If you have problems renting out a unit it may be a good idea to hire a property management company.

Be ready to make fixes quickly and respond to the renter's needs. If you're not prepared to or are willing to be a hands-on landlord, consider hiring a property management firm.

Join a Responsible Real Estate Investment Brokerage:

One of the best pieces of advice anyone can give you if you plan on making a lucrative living in the real estate industry is partner with a trustworthy investment real estate brokerage. Finding the right brokerage can save you thousands of dollars of time and money freeing you up for more important things.

Deicide form of real estate investing is for you:

Is it retail, wholesale, lease/option, sell with owner financing, or rent? Before jumping into the investing game be sure to research each of these forms of investing and make your decision based upon your educational background, personality, and available assets. However, it is strongly recommended you find one strategy and stick with just one.

Buying a Home

The home buying method can seem complicated, but if you take things step-by-step, you will soon be holding the keys to your own home!

Nine steps to buying a home

* Figure out how much you can afford

* Know your rights

* Shop for a loan

* Learn about home buying programs

* Shop for a home

* Make an offer

* Get a home inspection

* Shop for homeowners insurance

* Sign papers

Step 1: Figure out how much you can afford

What you can afford depends on your income, credit rating, present monthly expenses, down payment and the interest rate. The calculators below can help, but it is best to visit a lender to find out for sure.

* How much home can you afford?

* Buying vs. Renting

* Home Economics

Need help with your down payment and/or closing costs?

* Home buying programs in your state

A housing forecaster can help you figure out how to manage and pay off your debt, and start saving for that down payment!

* Find a housing counselor near you

Step 2: Know your rights

* Fair Housing: Equal Opportunity for All - brochure

* Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA)

* Borrower's rights

* Predatory lending

Step 3: Shop for a loan

Save money by doing your homework. Talk to several lenders, compare costs and interest rates, and negotiate to get a better deal. Consider getting pre-approved for a loan.

* Looking for the best mortgage: shop, compare, negotiate - brochure

* Let FHA help you

* Why Ask for an FHA Loan?

* Learn about interest only loans

Step 4: Learn about home buying programs

* Home buying programs in your state

FHA loan programs offer lower down payments and are a good option for first-time homebuyers.

* Let FHA help you

* HUD's special home buying programs

* Good Neighbor Next Door (formerly known as Teacher/Officer/Firefighter Next Door)

* Hurricane Evacuees discounted sales

* Homeownership for public housing residents

* Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program (Section 184)

Step 5: Shop for a home

* Choose a real estate agent

* Wish list - what features do you want?

* Home-shopping checklist - take this list with you when comparing homes

* Homes for sale (including HUD homes)

* "Fixer-uppers" - home purchase and repair programs

* Manufactured (mobile) homes

* Build a home

If you choose a home in a neighborhood with a Home Owners Association (HOA), be sure to request a copy of the HOA packet, so you can review before closing.

Step 6: Make an offer

Discuss the process with your real estate agent. If the seller counters your offer, you may need to negotiate until you both agree to the terms of the sale.

* Making an offer

Step 7: Get a home inspection

Make your offer contingent on a home inspection. An inspection will tell you about the condition of the home, and can help you avoid buying a home that needs major repairs.

* For Your Protection Get a Home Inspection

* 10 Questions to ask a home inspector

Step 8: Shop for homeowners insurance

Lenders require that you have homeowners insurance. Be sure to shop around.

* Homeowners insurance

* 12 ways to lower your homeowner’s insurance costs

Step 9: Sign papers

You're finally ready to go to "settlement" or "closing." Be sure to read everything before you sign!

* Settlement Costs and Helpful Information

Check out Brokers and Investment Advisers

Research Individual Brokers or Firms

Research Investment Advisers (Firms Only)

What the Letters Mean: Investment Professional Designations

Find Your State Securities Regulator

Tips for Checking Out Brokers and Investment Advisers

Tips for Checking Out Brokers and Investment Advisers

Federal or state securities laws require brokers, investment advisers, and their firms to be licensed or registered, and to make important information public. But it's up to you to find that information and use it to protect your investment dollars. The good news is that this information is easy to get, and one phone call or web search may save you from sending your money to a con artist, a bad financial professional or disreputable firm.

Before you invest or pay for any investment advice, make sure your brokers, investment advisers and investment adviser representatives have not had run-ins with regulators or other investors. You also should check to see whether they are registered or licensed.

This is very important, because if you do business with an unregistered securities broker or a firm that later goes out of business, there may be no way for you to recover your money - even if an arbitrator or court rules in your favor.

Brokers and Brokerage Firms

The Central Registration Depository (or CRD) is a computerized database that contains information about most brokers, their representatives, and the firms they work for. For instance, you can find out if brokers are properly licensed in your state and if they have had run-ins with regulators or received serious complaints from investors. You'll also find information about the brokers' educational backgrounds and where they've worked before their current jobs.
You can ask either your state securities regulator or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) to provide you with information from the CRD. Your state securities regulator may provide more information from the CRD than FINRA, especially when it comes to investor complaints, so you may want to check with them first. You'll find contact information for your state securities regulator on the website of the North American Securities Administrators Association. To contact FINRA, either visit FINRA's Broker Check website or call FINRA's toll-free Broker Check hotline at (800) 289-9999.

Investment Advisers

People or firms that get paid to give advice about investing in securities generally must register with either the SEC or the state securities agency where they have their principal place of business. Investment advisers who manage $25 million or more in client assets generally must register with the SEC. If they manage less than $25 million, they generally must register with the state securities agency in the state where they have their principal place of business.
Some investment advisers employ investment adviser representatives, the people who actually work with clients. In most cases, these people must be licensed or registered with your state securities regulator to do business with you. So be sure to check them out with your state securities regulator.

To find out about investment advisers and whether they are properly registered, read their registration forms, called the "Form ADV." The Form ADV has two parts. Part 1 has information about the adviser's business and whether they've had problems with regulators or clients. Part 2 outlines the adviser's services, fees and investment strategies. Before you hire an investment adviser, always ask for and carefully read both parts of the ADV.

You can view an adviser's most recent Form ADV online by visiting the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) website. You can also get copies of Form ADV for individual advisers and firms from the investment adviser, your state securities regulator, or the SEC, depending on the size of the adviser. You'll find contact information for your state securities regulator on the website of the North American Securities Administrators Association.

If the investment adviser is registered with the SEC, you can get Form ADV (Part 1 only) by sending an email to the SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy at publicinfo@sec.gov. You also can make a request by sending a fax to (202) 777-1027. Please note that you will have to pay a photocopying charge of $0.24 per page, plus tax and postage. In addition, at the SEC’s headquarters, you can visit our Public Reference Room from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to obtain copies of SEC records and documents. If you have a question, you can contact OIEA at (202) 551-8090.

Because some investment advisers and their representatives are also brokers, you may want to check both the CRD and Form ADV.

Conclusion

Once you've checked out the registration and record of your financial professional or firm, there's more to do. For example, if you plan to do business with a brokerage firm, you should find out whether the brokerage firm and its clearing firm are members of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). SIPC provides limited customer protection if a brokerage firm becomes insolvent - although it does not insure against losses attributable to a decline in the market value of your securities. If you've placed your cash or securities in the hands of a non-SIPC member, you may not be eligible for SIPC coverage if the firm goes out of business.

Here are a few questions to get your started.

* What experience do you have, especially with people in my circumstances?
* Where did you go to school? What is your recent employment history?
* What licenses do you hold? Are you registered with the SEC, a state, or FINRA?
* Are the firm, the clearing firm, and any other related companies that will do business with me members of SIPC?
* What products and services do you offer?
* Can you only recommend a limited number of products or services to me? If so, why?
* How are you paid for your services? What is your usual hourly rate, flat fee, or commission?
* Have you ever been disciplined by any government regulator for unethical or improper * conduct or been sued by a client who was not happy with the work you did?
* For registered investment advisers, will you send me a copy of both parts of your Form ADV?

For more questions and additional tips, be sure to read our publications, Ask Questions and Get the Facts on saving and investing. In addition, although the SEC cannot recommend or endorse any particular entity, there are a number of non-profit educational and consumer organizations that offer free tools to help investors check financial professionals. For example, AARP offers a Financial Adviser Questionnaire, and the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards has a Checklist for Interviewing a Financial Planner.

Calculating Mutual Fund Fees and Expenses

Fees and expenses are an important consideration in selecting a mutual fund because these charges lower your returns. Many investors find it helpful to compare the fees and expenses of different mutual funds before they invest.

You can compare the fees and expenses of up to three mutual funds, or the share classes of the same mutual fund on the NASD's Mutual Fund Expense Analyzer. You can also compare the fees and expenses of up to three ETFs using the same tool.

With just some basic information, you can use the tool to compare the costs of different mutual funds in a manner of seconds. That's because the tool automatically provides fee and expense information for you. Simply enter each fund's ticker symbol or select the fund through the drop down menu. If you can't remember the full name of the fund, you can also search for the fund using key words.

A mutual fund's fees and expenses may be more important than you realize. Advertisements, rankings, and ratings often emphasize how well a fund has performed in the past. But studies show that the future is often different. This year's "number one" fund can easily become next year's below average fund. On the other hand, independent studies show fees and expenses can be a reliable predictor of mutual fund performance.

Of course, selecting a mutual fund involves more than just picking one with low fees and expenses. Before you invest in any mutual fund, decide whether the investment goals and risks of the fund are a good fit for you and determine how it will affect the diversification of your entire portfolio. You can read about a fund's goals, risks, and costs in its prospectus.

The SEC's online, interactive Mutual Fund Cost Calculator can also help you compare the costs of different mutual funds and understand the impact that many types of fees and expenses can have over time. You can find this "classic" calculator at: http://www.sec.gov/investor/tools/mfcc/mfcc-intsec.htm. Unlike NASD's Mutual Fund Expense Analyzer, you'll need to enter fee and expense information manually from a prospectus or other disclosure document when using this tool.

First Time Buyers - First Time Investors

Are you looking to purchase your first home, but you don't know where to start? As with every other important decision, the first step is explicit planning.

Research and preparation are two fairly obvious, yet essential steps. Exploring these steps thoroughly will dramatically help to alleviate the stressful transition entailed in a new home ownership.

First, you need to assess your credit. Your credit rating will determine how much interest you pay on your mortgage. Therefore, the better your credit, the less you pay. If your credit needs a little work, then taking the time to improve it before the purchase, will prove cost-effective. Even a small increase in an interest rate, when dealing with homes, can end up costing tens of thousands of dollars over thirty years and more.

You can improve or maintain your score by simply paying your bills on time and using your credit wisely. The key is to have less credit than you can afford. A poor credit rating may result in a rejection for your mortgage.

The next thing you will need to consider is saving money for expenses such as: a down payment on your home, closing costs, and repairs and maintenance. One strategy is to start a savings plan to help you handle the financial burden of owning a home and ideally be prepared with more money than necessary in your savings account in the event that there are extra, unforeseen expenses.

Create a budget to help you accurately predict how much you can afford on housing expenses monthly. A budget is simply an accounting of your income in relation to your expenses. Online calculators can give you a general idea of what an acceptable housing expense should be, but only you know what you spend each month, so look to your own spending habits when determining a final figure.

There is far more to owning a home than a mortgage payment. You will face property taxes, utility costs and hookup fees, maintenance, moving expenses, closing costs, homeowners' insurance and private mortgage insurance. These expenses can add up quickly and will hurt if you aren't adequately prepared for them.

You should also consider any additional financial increases that could occur from your new home. For example, you could be further from work, thus increasing your fuel expenses for commuting. If you purchase a condo, you will have association fees to pay each year. Think of all the extra expenses that will affect your budget.

Get help planning your home purchase. Whether you research the process over the internet or simply ask family and friends for advice, you will find that knowledge is one of your most important tools when buying.

Owning a home forces you to undertake a great deal of responsibility. If you are prepared, plan ahead and assess all possible factors that will affect the amount of money you spend both immediately and in the long run. The more detailed and accurate the planning, the better off you will be.

Advatages and Disadvantages - 10 Ways to Invest in Real Estate

There are different types of real estate, and different ways to invest in them, and it is essential to combine these two factors in a means that suits your particular needs. Here are a few possibilities to consider, with their advantages and disadvantages.

1. Rental Houses.
Advantages: Easy way to get started, and reliable long-term return on investment. Disadvantages: Being a landlord is tedious, and you generally wait a long time for the big pay-off.

2. Rent-to-own Houses.
Advantages: When you buy, then sell as rent-to-own arrangement, you get higher rent payments, and the buyer is usually responsible for maintenance.
Disadvantages: The bookkeeping is tricky, and most tenants don't complete the purchase (this can also be an advantage, but it means more work for you).

3. Low Income Rentals.
Advantages: The same as any other rentals, but higher cash flow.
Disadvantages: The same as other rentals, but more repairs and tenant problems.

4. Fixer-Uppers.
Advantages: Quick return on investment, and more creative work.
Disadvantages: Higher risk (unpredictability) and heavy taxes on the gain.

5. Buy for Cash, Sell for Terms.
Advantages: High rate of return by paying cash for a low price, and selling on easy terms to get a high price and high interest.
Disadvantages: Tying up your capital for a long time.

6. Buy Land, Split it and Sell it.
Advantages: Simpler than most real estate investments and has possibility for high profits. Disadvantages: It can take a long time, and you have expenses and no cash flow while you wait.

7. Boarding Houses.
Advantages: You can get a lot more cash flow renting a house by the room, especially in a college town.
Disadvantages: You can get a lot more headaches renting a house by the room, especially in a college town.

8. Commercial real estate.
Advantages: Long term triple-net leases mean little management and high returns. Disadvantages: Tough market to get into, and you can lose income on vacant storefronts for a year at a time. Find more information on commercial real estate investing.

9. Buy, Live in it, and Sell.
Advantages: The new tax law means you can fix it up and sell for a big tax-free profit after two years, then start the process again.
Disadvantages: You have to move frequently.

10. Speculation.
Advantages: Buying during growth and holding until values increase and yield large profits, especially if you buy low.
Disadvantages: Prices are unpredictable, you have expenses with no income while you're waiting, and transaction costs can eat much of the profits.

Real Estate Investment Group - Resource for Investors

The individuals that make up our organization have earned significant profits from uniting as a powerful negotiating entity. We are continually seeking more people to add to our organization to further increase our buying fortitude and investment opportunities. We like to call the people in our organization "partners".

YAERD.org is unlike many investor groups whose motives are to charge you upfront membership fees to join an “inner circle” or "premium membership" or to sell you over priced, over hyped recycled courses and ebooks. YAERD.org simply wants to build the largest network of real estate investors and leverage the power of this ever growing organization to the mutual benefit of our partners.

A Surplus of Projects

Due to the surplus of projects we are offered, we filter them as to only offer the top properties to our partners. With such an abundance of properties in our queue, we are recruiting more partners to invest either in groups or as individuals. The YAERD.org real estate investment organization is a safe and profitable approach to real estate investing offering a comprehensive real estate investing playbook to help you build and diversify your portfolio. The playbook consists of:

• Assured Income Plays
• Built In Equity Plays
• Pre-Preconstruction Plays
• Vulture Opportunity Plays
• High End Luxury Plays
• International Plays
• Phased Land Plays

The concept of the YAERD.org real estate investment organization is really quite simple, “The Power of the Group Exceeds the Power of The Individual”. Many developers approach YAERD.org because they are eager to sell their real estate in bulk so they can reduce their holding costs and mitigate their own risk of investment. Developers sometimes NEED to sell their units so they don't experience a loss. This means that they are often willing to contract to us to sell a portion of their inventory in bulk in order to create velocity in sales.

Public involvement is essential to developing sustainable smart growth initiatives.

FHWA promotes increased public involvement in the transportation decision-making process by:

* Providing best practices in public involvement;

* Articulating the benefits of early and continuous public involvement;

* Providing training, peer exchanges, workshops and technical assistance; and

* Demonstrating public involvement strategies that have been effective with traditionally underserved populations.

Analytical Methods:

* Toolbox for Regional Policy Analysis - A toolbox of analytical methods for testing the regional impacts of transportation and land use policies.

Linking Land Use and Transportation in Project Development:

* Community Impact Assessment - An iterative process of understanding potential impacts of proposed transportation investments on communities.

* Linking Planning and NEPA - The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) have developed legal and program guidance on how information, analysis, and products from metropolitan and statewide transportation planning processes can be incorporated into and relied upon in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process under existing Federal statutes and regulations.

Operations affects land use and transportation:

* Linking transportation planning and operations improves transportation systems management and operations across a region.

Vacation House Sales Plummet

This was sent in from a reader on the other side of the GG bridge, in some place called San Francisco: Second home sales have taken a direct hit in the current real estate market slowdown, according the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) annual survey of investment and vacation home buyers.

The realtors group, always eager to put a sunny spin on the real estate market, was frank in its assessment of sales of second homes, which include both vacation homes and investment properties. “Second homes are discretionary purchases and there is a natural tendency to pull back from big-ticket items in periods of uncertainty,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist.

In 2007, some 740,000 vacation homes were sold, down 31 percent from the 1.07 million sold in 2006...

Hmm, Marin has a few vacation homes. But of course, as we all know, what happens in the rest of the country, or even the state, doesn't apply to us.