Real Estate Outlook: Warning of Slow Down?

Though some economic analysts are warning that the housing market's rebound will slow down as the weather turns colder, this week's numbers show no hints of that.
In fact, they're actually pretty warm.
Start with house prices. The Clear Capital Home Data Index, which tracks price movements in thousands of neighborhoods and ZIP codes across the country, reported a 6.3 percent gain last week for the period covering August 27th through September 25th.
The latest index found prices up for the first time since 2006 in two of the hardest-hit real estate markets - Riverside-San Bernardino, California, and Orlando, Florida. Though the gains weren't big - just 1.2 percent in Orlando, and half a percentage point in Riverside-San Bernardino - just the fact that they're finally bottoming out has got to be good news for property owners and sellers there.
Baltimore also saw its first positive price change in seven quarters on the Clear Capital Index, while other major markets continued their multi-quarter strings of gains.
Dallas-Ft. Worth, for example, saw prices rise by an average 2.3 percent. Miami-Ft. Lauderdale was up 3.4 percent, Houston 3.1 percent and even New York, which has had a tough time recently in Manhattan, posted a 1.6 percent jump.
Meanwhile, the mortgage market continued to provide plenty of financing fuel for home buyers looking to use the $8,000 tax credit before it possibly disappears at the end of November.
The Mortgage Bankers Association says average thirty year rates dropped again last week in its national survey -- hitting 4.89 percent -- the lowest they've been since May.
Fifteen year fixed rates decreased to just 4.3 percent, which is the lowest ever recorded in the mortgage association's survey history.
Not surprisingly, record low rates are pulling in massive numbers of new loan applications. Overall applications were up by 16 percent last week. Loans to people planning to buy homes jumped by 13 percent, while refinancing applications soared by 18 percent.
And here's a truly amazing statistic: New mortgage applications to buy houses using FHA loans were 52 percent higher last week than they were a year ago!
With mortgages flying out of banks with interest rates in the mid -to -upper four percent range, you don't spend a whole lot of time worrying about a slowdown in the real estate rebound.

Rising Trends in Real Estate 2009

Real estate markets in the United States might hit to bottom in 2009 and then splash for much of 2010, according to the Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2009 report by the ULI and New York-based PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. For the duration of this phase, current drops in property values, foreclosures, delinquencies, and a limping economy will continue to crimp property cash flows
"Commercial real estate faces its most horrible year since the wrenching 1991–1992 industry depression," bring to a close industry experts interviewed for the report, which projects losses of 15 percent to 20 percent in real estate values from the mid-2007 peak. "Only when property financing gets restructured will pricing recorrect so we can find the floor, and this evolution might wipe out companies and people," says one respondent interviewed for the report.

Prior to a rebound, Emerging Trends says the subsequent requirements to happen:
• Private real estate markets need to correct-–lenders must compel distressed owners to become motivated sellers.
• Debt capital needs to flow-–lenders will need to learn to deal in a more stringent regulatory landscape. The commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) market must "reformulate."
• Regulators have to to restore confidence in the securities market. The government will put in itself into overseeing mortgage securitization markets. Systemic overhaul promises more measured debt flow.
• The economy needs to advance. Falling demand for space won’t affect real estate markets severely until 2009.
• The housing situation is no better and shows no signs of recovering quickly. For lenders, the "sub prime mess is the tip of the iceberg." Stricter lending standards and the weak economy will keep on draining the homebuyer market. "Forget the quick fix!"
The report acknowledges that commercial markets will recover more quickly than most housing markets, and homebuilders may have to sell land tracts for "cents on the dollar" or face foreclosure on their holdings, adding to the previously high rate of mortgage defaults and foreclosures.

Best guidance for 2009:
• Investors should sit firmly. Opportunities will surface at significant discounts.
• Buy discounted loans.
• Recap distressed borrowers: invest in maturity defaults, construction loans/bridge loans, or take mezzanine positions and equity stakes in properties.
• Invest in publicly-held real estate investment trusts (REITs). They will lead the market’s recovery.
• Focus on global pathway markets: 24-hour coastal cities.
• Staff up asset managers, leasing pros, and workout specialists. Separate good assets from bad.
• Retrench on development and reorient to mixed-use and infill. Higher-density residential with retail will gain favor in next round of building.
• Go green. Cutting energy expenses is likely to be a priority.
• Buy or hold multifamily, hold office, hold hotels, and/or buy residential building lots, but be prepared to hold.
• Purchase distressed condos in urban areas near transit.
• Focus on neighborhood retail centers with strong grocery anchors and chain drugstores

Now in its 30th year, Emerging Trends is the oldest, most highly regarded annual industry outlook for the real estate and land use industry and includes interviews and survey responses from more than 600 leading real estate experts, including investors, developers, property company representatives, lenders, brokers and consultants.

Guidelines to Real Estate Agents' Success

1. First and Foremost YOU are a business: Real estate agents work for a broker, but are self-determining, custom-made sales people. This means that you are a small business and must put into practice as a business. Again, remember you are a small business owner.
2. Embrace a Planning Attitude: If you don't have a plan, then you are on some else's plan - usually the successful real estate agent's. For the duration of last 10 years, what I have learned as a performance development consultant or coach is that most people place more value in forecast a trip to the grocery store or a vacation than planning their lives either professionally or personally.
3. Research Your Market Plan: Since you, as the real estate agent, are responsible for your own everyday expenditure, do your research specific to your marketing plan within your strategic plan. Time spent in constructing your marketing plan is definitely well spent. NOTE: Remember a business plan usually is data driven, while a strategic plan identifies who does what by when.
4. Establish Sales Goal: Using your strategic action plan, establish sales goals. If you are new to this industry, it may take 6 months before the first sale. SUGGESTION: Use the W.H.Y. S.M.A.R.T. criteria for goal setting.
5. Create a Financial Budget: Budgeting is critical given the up and down of this volatile market place. Your financial budget should plan for your marketing costs, any additional costs such as education and your foretasted income.
6. Make Managing Yourself a Priority: Building a business is not easy. You must learn how to manage yourself especially in the area of time management, ongoing real estate business training coaching continuing education units, and personal life balance. Real estate is said to be a 24/7 business much like any small business. However, it is important not to lose sight of your personal life including family, friends, physical health, etc.
7. Find a Mentor or a Real Estate Coach: Going it alone is not easy. Take the time to find a mentor who can help you steer through some of the known obstacles and help you during the "peaks and valleys." If you have the resources, you may wish to hire a real estate coach or an executive coach who specializes in small business help and sales.

Top secret ways to make money in Real Estate

It is general knowledge that for a well-versed investor there are multiple ways to make earnings in the real estate market if only you are willing to learn the various strategies of real estate investment. It is valuable to know a few of the secret ways to make money in the real estate market:

Renovating / renting: - This is the most widely practiced method of real estate investment. Buy a house which is in need of repairs at below market price, undertake some renovation work and sell the house when the real estate markets experience an upward swing.

Real Estate Agent – Instead pf actively investing in the real estate market and running the concomitant risks, it is safer to turn into a real estate agent. Real estate agents do not invest neither buy nor sell properties but earn attractive commission amounts by helping people to buy and sell in the real estate market.

Buying wholesale - This is a secret way to make some instant profits in real estate market. To put it less charitably, you truly become the middleman by identifying a lucrative deal, enter into a contract and then advertise it for more money than you are paying. This method is considered somewhat unethical- more so, if the buyer comes to know what you are doing.

Leasing – This is indeed a wise method as you lease a property keeping the option to buy it below market value at an opportune moment. Lease optioning is practiced by many, particularly by people who do not qualify for a mortgage.

Money lending – You are nothing more than a financier or more plainly, a money lender. You lend the required amount and get paid for putting deals together. The one shortcoming is you need to have a large sum of cash at your disposal. But it is a fact that after being a successful investor in real estate investing for many years, people turn into hard money lenders.

Flipping Houses - This method can be successfully practiced if you have a sound knowledge of home prices, repair and upgrade costs. This strategy involves finding houses and reselling them to other investors on an as-is basis. Depending upon the market swings and your negotiating skills, you can flip houses faster.

Buying Land – Some real estate investors merely buy vacant land and do no construction but sell it after a couple of years when the market becomes bullish. If you are able to buy a few acres of undeveloped land and then sell it by convenient lots, you can expect a windfall profit.

Buying while under-construction – You buy properties in early stages of construction, by paying a deposit which may range from 5% to 30%. Suppose you have contracted to buy a house that is under construction and the developer raises the prices within a year, you can go ahead and sell your contract for more than what you secured it for. Or if you can afford to wait longer till construction is over, you can immediately sell the house without occupying it and also avoiding mortgage payment.

Consultation work – After being in the real estate business for a few years, people and gaining some valuable experience, it will be lucrative to turn into a consultant and offer advice to people wanting to buy or sell real estate properties. There are instances of consultants who have reaped rich dividends in the real estate market.

Current Trends in Real Estate Marketing

Now that you have been discussed about some of the internet marketing trends, let’s move on over to some of the other trends that taking place in the marketing world for real estate. For example, appearing on a local radio station or even on a location TV talk show is a fantastic way that you can get your name out there and ensure that people know who you are – after all, that is the entire point of being in the real estate market.

Advertising and selling yourself is something that many real estate agents have a hard time doing in the beginning, however that is something that you have to do in order to gain prospects, you truly have to ensure that people know who you are. Talking to everyone and anyone and truly making connections is what real estate is all about.

So make sure that you get yourself out there and I can promise that you will gain all sorts of different prospects!

Targeting a Niche Market

Finding a Good Niche Market

While location is the most obvious divider for real estate, perhaps your niche involves other factors. You can target specific property types, such as income properties, condos, waterfront homes, luxury homes, or new developments. Perhaps you specialize in different demographics such as Spanish speaking, senior citizens, or first time buyers.

A well-defined niche should consist of people with the same specialized needs that you offer. You should be able to provide a compelling reason for individuals in this group to do business with you instead of your competition. Also make sure that the target group is large enough to sustain the volume of business needed to meet your goals

Using Multiple Websites for Better Targeting

One option that is often overlooked is to have more than one domain name and web site. If you would like to target a large market or area, it may be a good idea to create multiple sites each targeted to a more specific market. This way you can use each web site to establish yourself as the expert in each of the smaller communities without sacrificing the larger area.

Distressed Investors Still on Sidelines as Commercial Real Estate Decline Continues

Investors anticipate further deterioration in the underlying fundamentals of the commercial real estate industry through the remainder of 2009 and into 2010 as investors remain on the sidelines, a new survey shows.

Those seeking to acquire quality assets at distressed prices are hoping that expected near-term defaults and looming due dates on commercial mortgage-backed securities will jump-start buying opportunities that so far have been absent, according to the new PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Korpacz Real Estate Investors Survey.

Investors are also looking to the 2012 due date for $153 billion of CMBS loans to spur buying opportunities. Since commercial banks account for a much greater percentage of the total looming debt, however, they could provide distressed sales sooner than 2012.

Separately, research firm Real Capital Analytics forecast that commercial-property sales in the U.S. this year will fall to the lowest level in almost two decades as the industry experiences its worst slump since the Savings and Loan crisis of the early 1990s.

The firm forecast that only about $16 billion of office transactions will be completed by year-end, Bloomberg News reported. Firm officials said that may be the lowest volume since at least 1991.

The PwC Korpacz survey found that the majority of the commercial real estate industry is expected to remain in recession through 2011. While an industry-wide recovery is not expected to begin until 2012, the pace of the recovery will vary for each property sector, as well as across individual geographies.
In the industrial and office sectors, a more pronounced recovery is expected to materialize in 2011, but is not expected to dominate these sectors until 2012. In the retail sector, the recession phase of the cycle is expected to linger through 2011, giving way to a slight recovery in 2012.

In contrast, the U.S. multifamily sector is expected to lead the industry out of the recession as its recovery starts to take hold in 2010 and continues through 2012.

So far, the de-leveraging of the commercial real estate industry has disappointed many investors, said the PwC analysts.

“Investors seem surprised at the lack of quality buying opportunities, given the problems in the financial markets and the continued weakening of the industry’s fundamentals,” said Susan Smith, editor-in-chief of the survey. “Some investors sense that near-term defaults with commercial banks will allow them to acquire quality.

Assets at steep discounts, as banks may no longer be able to continue to ‘pretend and extend’ troubled loans and would be forced to place assets up for sale.”

Luxury real estate vultures

A Fortress Investment veteran is now at an auction house that hopes to feed off of distressed estates.

(Fortune Magazine) -- When an ex-managing director of evade fund Fortress teams up with Sotheby's in a real estate business enterprise, you know something funny is going on in the luxury residential market.

But that's basically what happened last month when George Graham, formerly of Fortress's Drawbridge Special Opportunities Fund, joined a real estate auction house that works closely with Sotheby's (BID) International Realty and other firms to sell off luxury homes.

Graham is CEO of Concierge Auctions, founded in 2006 by a well-connected broker in South Florida. The company is looking to make hay from an up tick in luxury real estate auctions.

"There is a pipeline of multimillion-dollar properties that are underwater," says Graham. "In most of these areas the homes aren't selling. There's a multiyear supply."

Concierge's pitch to a seller is simple: Your house won't sell on the open market for years. You may not get the price you want with an auction, but it's better to have an exit than to be stuck with the carrying costs on, say, a $20 million home -- or worse, enter foreclosure.

Specific Requirements

superior grade of wood that helps them to be more durable and long lasting. We also have the expertise of manufacturing them in customized finishes as per the specific requirements and needs of our clients.

We make top quality carrom boards which is made up of superior Indian Plywood supported by seasoned Wooden Chakri Frame. Border Frame are made of seasoned Hard Wood for better rebound action and we also provide excellent finish to carrom boards to resists all climatic changes. Customers have the option to choose between Regular, Glossy Finish and Premium Mat Finish. Our Mat Finish Carrom Boards are made of Water Proof & Scratch Resistant and have extrem We offer a diversified range of premium and durable quality carrom board, plywood carrom board, wooden carrom board made of top grade plywood to give it excellent shine. It is designed using high grade material protecting it from scratches and water. Our boards have a low cost maintenance and duly meet the standard of the game. They are manufactured and customized as per the requirements of the client. The product is made available to the client in varied size in diverse color schemes with prints and designs on it as per the order placed.

What You Should Know About Higher FDIC Coverage

Americans work hard and save money in hopes of having a comfortable retirement. But as people live longer and spend more years in retirement than ever before, preparing financially can be complicated. Here's good news that may help families saving for their retirement.

For the first time in more than 25 years, Congress has raised the limit on federal deposit insurance coverage, which protects against loss if a banking institution fails. However, the higher insurance limit only applies to certain kinds of retirement accounts that people may have at banks and savings associations insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and at credit unions insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).

The FDIC wants you to be clear about what has changed…and what hasn't. Here is an introduction to what you need to know about your FDIC insurance coverage.

The higher insurance coverage applies to traditional and Roth IRAs (Individual Retirement Accounts), Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRAs, and Savings Incentive Match Plans for Employees (SIMPLE) IRAs. Also included are self-directed Keogh accounts, "457 Plan" accounts for state government employees, and employer-sponsored "defined contribution plan" accounts that are self-directed, which are primarily 401(k) accounts and include SIMPLE 401(k) accounts. In general, self-directed means that the consumer chooses how and where the money is deposited.

Under the FDIC's new rules, which took effect on April 1, 2006, all of your deposits at the same insured bank that are in this broad category of retirement accounts are added together and the total is insured up to $250,000. Your retirement accounts also are separately insured from any other deposits you may have at the same institution.

HUD Homes

After you find a HUD Home on homesales.gov that you want to buy, you should find a real estate broker who can submit the bid for you. The broker can submit the bid online. Normally, HUD Homes are sold in an "Offer Period". At the end of the Offer Period, all offers are opened and the highest reasonable bid is accepted. If the home isn't sold in the initial Offer Period, you can submit a bid until the home is sold. Bids can be submitted any day of the week, including weekends and holidays. They will be opened the next business day. If your bid is acceptable to HUD, your real estate agent will be notified, usually within 48 hours.
For more information on HUD Homes:

USDA/Rural Development Homes
After you find a USDA/Rural Development home on homesales.gov that you want to buy, you should contact the local USDA/Rural Development servicing office, which will provide the most current and accurate information regarding the status of the home as well as your eligibility for potential program benefits. You can find the local servicing office contact information on the home's description web page. Depending on your circumstances and the status of the property listed, your method of bidding and ultimately purchasing the property may vary.
For more information on USDA/Rural Development Homes:

VA Homes
After you find a VA Home on homesales.gov that you want to buy you should have a real estate agent or the selling agent prepare the Offer to Purchase And Contract of Sale VA form, and complete all necessary documentation. Your agent will submit your offer through the listing broker for approval. The listing broker's name and telephone number are found at the beginning of each listing.

What You Need to Know Before Choosing One Investment

he SEC receives many questions about investment advisers—what they are and how to go about choosing one. This document answers some of the typical questions we receive from investors about investment advisers. This Q&A is for the benefit of investors. You should not rely on it to determine if you need to register as an investment adviser.

Q: What is an investment adviser?

A: Investment advisers are in the business of giving advice about securities to clients. For instance, individuals who receive compensation for giving advice on investing in stocks, bonds, or mutual funds, are investment advisers. Some investment advisers manage portfolios of securities.

Q: What is the difference between an investment adviser and a financial planner?

A: Most financial planners are investment advisers, but not all investment advisers are financial planners. Some financial planners assess every aspect of your financial life—including saving, investments, insurance, taxes, retirement, and estate planning—and help you develop a detailed strategy or financial plan for meeting all your financial goals.

Others call themselves financial planners, but they may only be able to recommend that you invest in a narrow range of products, and sometimes products that aren't securities.

Before you hire any financial professional, you should know exactly what services you need, what services the professional can deliver, any limitations on what they can recommend, what services you're paying for, how much those services cost, and how the adviser or planner gets paid.

Housing Counseling

Anyone interested in buying a home for sale by the U.S. Government, particularly first-time homebuyers, should seek assistance from a housing counseling agency approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD supports a network of approved housing counseling agencies that provide counseling services across the nation. For a complete list of HUD approved agencies in your area, call the HUD housing counseling referral line toll-free. After you find a HUD Home on homesales.gov that you want to buy, you should find a real estate broker who can submit the bid for you. The broker can submit the bid online. Normally, HUD Homes are sold in an "Offer Period". At the end of the Offer Period, all offers are opened and the highest reasonable bid is accepted. If the home isn't sold in the initial Offer Period, you can submit a bid until the home is sold. Bids can be submitted any day of the week, including weekends and holidays. They will be opened the next business day. If your bid is acceptable to HUD, your real estate agent will be notified, usually within 48 hours.

Statewide Interagency Council on Homelessness

Governor Bob Riley created the Governor’s Statewide Interagency Council on Homelessness with the signing of Executive Order #31 on August 11, 2005. The Governor’s Statewide Interagency Council on Homelessness was formed to develop and implement a plan to prevent and end homelessness in Alabama. I am honored that the Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives was appointed the lead agency for the Council.

When creating the Council, Governor Riley recognized that in order to effectively work to end homelessness in Alabama there must be collaboration among government agencies, the private sector, and service provider networks. It is in this spirit of collaboration that the members of the Council come from a diverse background in the public and private sector given that we all have an investment in ending homelessness in Alabama.

The State of Alabama already has a tremendous resource in its community, non-profit, and faith-based organizations helping those that are homeless. Many homeless service providers in Alabama act as national models of compassionate, creative, and effective programs addressing the various causes that leave people without a home. We are blessed to have such dedicated people aiding the homeless in our state.

National Consumer Protection Week (March 1-7)

As the petite young woman knelt on the bathroom floor for more than three hours, holding her shoulder-length blond hair away from the toilet bowl and retching up the remains of a night at Cornerstone Grill and Loft, she had only one thought in her mind: "At least I'm getting my dinner up."

For the sophomore business major, who shared her story on the condition of anonymity, this was as low as it got. Sitting there in a drunken haze, she reached for her cell phone and, without thinking, speed-dialed her boyfriend. She told him everything - how she lamented every calorie, how she could go for days on end without eating and how she hid it from everyone.

While that night may have been an all-time low, it proved to be a turning point by bringing her anorexia, a disease suffered in secret, out into the open.

The young woman I interviewed was brave enough to share some of the thoughts that swirled around in the mind of a person suffering from a terrible eating disorder. She felt comfortable telling me how there were days she ate nothing, but how on days when she ate only a single cracker and a diet soda, she felt fat and ugly. Unlike this young woman, many people who suffer from similar disordered eating patterns will never share their thoughts with anyone and may never reach out for help.

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, which runs February 22 to 28, exists to encourage people to embrace their body no matter what its shape or size. It exists to raise awareness of eating disorders and bring light to resources available both for those who suffer and for their friends and family.

It never hurts to familiarize yourself with the warning signs of an eating disorder. The National Eating Disorders Awareness organization provides additional information for teachers and coaches as well as information on counseling and other help options.

It's been a few years since I wrote that story, but in the time that's passed, I'm happy to say the young woman found a counselor, put on much of the weight she had lost and seems to be more comfortable in her own skin. She's also happily engaged. She was one of the lucky ones, who had supportive friends urging her to get help and was brave enough to admit she needed it.

Calculating Mutual Fees and expenses

Calculating Mutual 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.

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Farms and Ranches for Sale

Farm Loan Program real estate for sale includes government owned real estate and potential foreclosure sales for farm and ranch properties, houses, lots, and buildings.

Homes for Sale by the U. S. Government

The HomeSales.gov web site provides current information about single family homes for sale by the U.S. Federal Government. These previously owned homes are for sale by public auction or other method depending on the property. Anyone can buy a home for sale by the U.S. Government, but you must work with a real estate agent, broker or servicing representative to submit an offer or bid.

Currently the U.S. Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Agriculture (USDA/Rural Development), and Veterans Affairs (VA) have homes listed on this site. Learn how to buy them.

For additional information regarding property listings, please contact the corresponding agency.
Agency Contact Information

How to Buy U. S. Government-owned Homes

Housing Counseling
HUD Homes
USDA/Rural Development Homes
VA Homes
Housing Counseling
Anyone interested in buying a home for sale by the U.S. Government, particularly first-time homebuyers, should seek assistance from a housing counseling agency approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD supports a network of approved housing counseling agencies that provide counseling services across the nation. For a complete list of HUD approved agencies in your area, call the HUD housing counseling referral line toll-free at 1-800-569-4287 or visit the HUD website at .
HUD Homes
After you find a HUD Home on homesales.gov that you want to buy, you should find a real estate broker who can submit the bid for you. The broker can submit the bid online. Normally, HUD Homes are sold in an "Offer Period". At the end of the Offer Period, all offers are opened and the highest reasonable bid is accepted. If the home isn't sold in the initial Offer Period, you can submit a bid until the home is sold. Bids can be submitted any day of the week, including weekends and holidays. They will be opened the next business day. If your bid is acceptable to HUD, your real estate agent will be notified, usually within 48 hours.
For more information on HUD Homes:

USDA/Rural Development Homes
After you find a USDA/Rural Development home on homesales.gov that you want to buy, you should contact the local USDA/Rural Development servicing office, which will provide the most current and accurate information regarding the status of the home as well as your eligibility for potential program benefits. You can find the local servicing office contact information on the home's description web page. Depending on your circumstances and the status of the property listed, your method of bidding and ultimately purchasing the property may vary.
For more information on USDA/Rural Development Homes:

VA Homes
After you find a VA Home on homesales.gov that you want to buy you should have a real estate agent or the selling agent prepare the Offer to Purchase And Contract of Sale VA form, and complete all necessary documentation. Your agent will submit your offer through the listing broker for approval. The listing broker's name and telephone number are found at the beginning of each listing.
For copies of required forms and more information on VA homes

Contracting at HUD

Contracting Opportunities

Current HUD Contracting Opportunities
Simplified Acquisitions
Possible HUD Subcontracting Opportunities
FedBizOpps (Governmentwide contracting opportunities)
SUB-Net (Governmentwide Subcontracting Opportunities


Features

Invoicing Requirements for HUD Information Technology (IT) Contracts
Affirmative action for disabled veterans and veterans of the vietnam era
Earned Value Management System (EVMS)
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Resources
HUD's Hurricane Katrina Resource Page
Important Websites for Prospective HUD Contractors
Download the current Management and Marketing (M&M) contract
Small Business Assistance
Small Business Contracting Goals
Did you know? (Items of Contracting Interest)

HUD Jobs

Internships
HUD Career Internships Common Questions
Related Work Opportunities
Contracting opportunities
Real estate brokers interested in selling HUD homes should contact marketing and management companies that service the area in which they would like to work.
Appraisers interested in being included on FHA's Roster of appraisers should visit the appraisers page. All applications and renewals are submitted online.
Inspectors interested in conducting inspections on HUD properties need

Common Questions

Looking for something specific? We've compiled answers to some of our most frequently asked questions. Maybe you'll find what you need right here. Find answers to questions about:

Homebuying: low down payments, FHA mortgages, and homebuying options

Homeowning: refinancing, reverse mortgages for senior citizens, and home improvements

HUD Homes: HUD homes for sale and how to buy a HUD home

Renting: public housing, Section 8, and other rental assistance programs

Relocation, Foreclosure, Eviction: avoiding foreclosure and responding to eviction notices

FHA Refunds: FHA premium refunds and "tracers"

Homeless: services for the homeless

Fair Housing: housing discrimination and HUD's fair housing logo

Communities: how to get involved in your community and how HUD helps communities

Consumer Information: housing discrimination, health hazards, and other consumer information

Working With HUD: grants, contracts, and doing business with HUD.

Complaints: how to file a housing discrimination complaint and report fraud in HUD programs

HUD Handbooks, Forms and Publications

Housing information for families and individuals

We have basic information on Homebuying and Rental Assistance on our web site. We also have information on resources for senior citizens and people with disabilities.


Grant applications

Grant applications and funding announcements are available online on the Grants Page. Further information on ordering by telephone is also available there.

Families or individuals seeking housing assistance can find basic information on Homebuying and Rental Assistance on our web site. We also have information on resources for senior citizens and people with disabilities.
For help with housing needs, you can find the nearest
Forms

Official HUD forms used in all programs and other commonly used forms are available online to print and download. Printed forms can be ordered online through the Direct Distribution System or by telephone at 1 (800) 767-7468.

Forms for housing discrimination complaints are available online.

For assistance using forms we provide information on program technical guidance below.

HUD handbooks, notices, mortgagee letters and regulations

HUD Handbooks, Notices and other documents are available to print or view at HUDCLIPS. For the FHA Home Mortgage programs, links to the most commonly used Handbooks and Mortgagee Letters are included in the FHA Mortgagee Starter Kit. Printed handbooks can be ordered online through the Direct Distribution System or by telephone at 1 (800) 767-7468. For assistance with questions on the content of handbooks we provide information on program technical guidance below.

Local HUD Information

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