Although a lot of people may think they don’t have the money to do it right now, there are alternative methods that can get you started.

Flipping foreclosures has been proven to make more than enough money to live on. Any excess equity money can be invested into bigger projects and put into savings. It is the responsibility of each of us to try and figure out a way to create a long term financial security for ourselves. If we don’t, we could find nearly half a nation relying on government funding to barely survive. An epidemic like that could literally put our government into poverty.

We have all felt the hit of the recent financial decline, just imagine if it were to get even worse. The best thing that could have ever come from it did. The price of real estate has come back to a level where the average person can afford to buy again. That should make all of us feel at ease. At least we now have a tool to help us one day stop working. Once you discover how you could actually make a good living, or even retire by flipping foreclosures, you will be doing your part to help the rest of the economy get back on track.

There is a lot of money to be made right now by flipping foreclosures, but you should educate yourself first to avoid losing money in the process.

A new course has been released which has been designed to train anyone how to take advantage of this lucrative and unique opportunity.

Course

Some experts in the property field have predicted that 2009 will follow a similar pattern and both home owners and buyers shouldn’t expect any significant movement yet.

Recently major UK lenders and estate agents were asked to predict both sales and valuations for 2009. The response was that there was little positive outlook, however most predicted some form of recovery.

As an average, property prices are expected to plunge a further 10-15 percent, however in contrast property sales are expected to increase. This is rather shocking news for most and flows in the face of recent media speculation.

Given the state of the economy not only in the United Kingdom but the World the knock on effect of those associated with the housing market are really feeling the push, particularly building and its associated labour force. This in turn has had a profound effect on the economy and the repercussions will be felt across the board for a long time.

First time buyers are also an area that everyone looks too as an indicator towards the state of the market. Most recently soaring prices had squeezed all but the brave and bold from the marketplace but now the tide is turning slowly and the number of people wanting to buy is rising and mortgage approvals are starting to move in a positive manner.

Generally a full recovery of the UK market is predicted for around 2010, but it remains to be seen if this prediction lives up to its expectation.

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Short Term Interest Rates Exceed Long Term:

Finally for the first time in decades, it is cheaper to lock into a long term mortgage rate. Imagine that – mortgage financing that helps the buyer!

According to the latest results of the Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) released by Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate has dropped down to an average of 4.80 percent. Same time last year, the rate was 6.03 percent.

A one-year Treasury-indexed adjustable-rate mortgage (ARMs) averaged at 4.82 percent. Same time last year, the same mortgage was 5.29 percent.

A five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid ARM averaged at 4.85 percent, down from 5.68 percent last year, and the lowest rated since January 2005.

House Prices Rise and Fall

For the months of January and February, house prices rose consecutively. The last time this happened was in April 2007. Then March came along and the median home price declined by 12% from the previous year.

Record Price Cuts:

The famous Bailey Mansion in New York (previously owned by circus owner James Bailey), has dropped in price from $10 million to $6.5 million in less than 6 months.

Washington’s most expensive home listing, Evermay, has dropped its asking price from $49 million to $39 million. This 3.58-acre, 12,000 square foot Georgian Revival estate has been on the market since September.

Probably the largest price reduction for a piece of U.S. real estate, the Greenwich, Conn. mansion formerly owned by the late Leona Helmsley can be had for only $75 million. This is a far cry from the original asking price of $125 million.

Foreclosures See Record Highs:

After seeing foreclosure rates dip in January, they shot up by 44 percent in March, increasing to record high 175,199. Apparently there is still a backlog of unprocessed claims that will be appearing in the next couple of months as lenders scramble to deal with the volume.

Freddie Mac Executive Found Dead:

David B. Kellermann, the acting CEO at Freddie Mac committed suicide, leaving behind his wife and daughter. Sadly, he was only one of the many victims resulting from this global financial crisis.

Jumbo Loans More Plentiful

It appeared jumbo loans had fallen by the wayside, but now lenders are looking at these loans as a new opportunity to make money, and they are definitely making a comeback. Among the many banks offering them, ING has a 30-year fixed rate loan running in the upper 5% range.

The Mortgage Reform Bill

This much awaited bill was introduced in early April in an effort to change the way lenders do business and encourage no frill mortgages with lengthy terms. It’s a shame this bill wasn’t introduced 7 years ago, much of the housing crisis may have been averted.

Incidences of Real Estate Fraud Spikes

Our vulnerable market has created a perfect climate for real estate fraud and other types of scams. Following right on the heels of Bernie Madoff, who was convicted of committing the largest investor fraud by a single person, spring has sprung with a new collection of real estate related “tom foolery”.

In early April twenty-four people in San Diego were charged with racketeering in an elaborate mortgage scheme. In Dallas, the Stanford Financial Group was recently accused of selling certificates of deposit that were never invested, in addition to numerous other fraud allegations. A Twin Cities realtor was recently convicted of mortgage fraud. A Georgia attorney recently pleaded guilty to a $28 million investment fraud scheme.

The seemingly endless flow goes on, touching on every aspect of the real estate and investment industry, from appraisers, to real estate agents, attorneys, investment brokers, mortgage brokers, and bank managers.

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North Bay Village first came into being when it was built up from the waters of Biscayne Bay in the 1940s. Together with Treasure Island and Harbor Island, the community was incorporated as a village and became the haven of many snow birds who flocked to the area every winter to escape the brutal cold of the North. Many of these snow birds eventually decided to make the area their permanent year round home because they loved the quaint lifestyle plus the benefits of being surrounded by Biscayne Bay on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. If you are looking for prime beach front property that is affordable and yet still has a hint of luxury that you crave, North Bay Village has plenty of real estate offerings for you to choose from.

The village is very popular in terms of restaurants and retail options. If you are looking to dine in style or dine casually, there are plenty of options to choose from. If shopping is your thing, you are located near all of the best shopping that the Miami Dade area has to offer. If living in the sun year round is appealing to you, North Bay Village offers you year round sunshine and access to great beaches and water sports.

In terms of real estate offerings, you will see many single family homes on the market in addition to many condominium developments that offer you ocean views as well as breathtaking vistas of the Miami skyline. There are many quality developments for you to choose from including Blue Bay, Cielo by the Bay, The Bridgewater and The Lexi. If you are looking for a quaint living experience that still has a touch of class and elegance, North Bay Village may be just what you are looking for in terms of lifestyle and real estate value.

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Big names from Sports world:
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum presented a whole island (in “The World”) to Michael Schumacher at his retirement, probably one of the most expensive publicly known gifts to an individual in recent times. Schumacher involvement doesn’t end there; we have got a whole Michael Schumacher Business Avenue at Business Bay as well. Similarly Boris Becker has a 19-storey building named after him. ACI Real Estate recently launched “Boris Becker tower” in the same district. Talking of tennis celebrities, everybody knows the famous friendly match played between Roger Federer and Andre Agassi at the helipad of Burj Al Arab hotel. Then we have “Tiger Woods Dubai”, a golf resort designed by non other than Tiger Woods himself. David Beckham represents the football stars at Dubai, who owns a luxurious Villa at Palm Jumeirah (though for the time being, his in-laws are more likely to occupy it).

Showbiz Biggies:
Dubai government is trying to make Dubai the prime destination for tourists, and what better way to attract people all around the world than bunching up some of the most famous showbiz names in Dubai, one way or another. Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Hillary Swank, Kylie Minogue, Giorgio Armani, Carlos Santana, Shah Rukh; the names are big enough to pull crowds on their own. One of the hottest couple in Hollywood (at least among those, who are still together) Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have reportedly bought an island in “the world” Hillay Swank and Shah Rukh Khan are endorsing some property developments (While SRK owns an address in Palm Jumeriah as well). More than 2000 celebrities from all over the world flocked to Dubai for a grand opening ceremony of Hotel Atlantis, where Kylie Minogue and Michael Jackson performed.

With so many celebrities, VIPs and super starts showing up at Dubai, Dubai will soon become an ideal spot for investors, businessmen and tourists alike (oh and paparazzo’s as well).

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The buyers of the homes in Washington Park are classified as cool hunters, empty nesters, investors, out-of-towners, and bloomers. Cool hunters are those who thought living in a loft in downtown Denver was a good idea, but who found themselves running with their dog, throwing their frisbees, or playing volleyball in Washington Park. Bloomers are the young families that already live in the neighborhood and, because of growing families, need more space.

These 5-buyer groups have lots to choose from for their purchases. There are homes in the neighborhood that did not have the required maintenance over the decades. There are those that were maintained, but were not remodeled. Then there are the original structures that have been updated with new mechanical, roofs, windows, and kitchens and baths. Many homes have been expanded up and out, while the new structures occupy the space of many of the not maintained homes.

Price appreciation has been strong in Washington Park Real Estate over the last 13 years. However, the first quarter of 2009 saw significant changes in several respects. First, the mix of homes sold has shifted. The growth segment is no longer new builds, but now the larger bungalows. The prices have fallen when compared to the same period last year, and the time it takes to sell a home in Washington Park has grown to over 130 days.

Even though the neighborhood is no longer immune from the national economic forces, it is still a great place to live with a promising future. It is a perfect example of a great urban outdoors neighborhood, full of people of all ages, many nationalities, and eclectic interests.

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These 15 Action Steps will help you to prepare your home and yourself:

1. Find your legal papers, such as the deed, insurance, mortgage documents, etc.
2. Call a title company and ask for a complementary title report to check for discrepancies that may be present.
3. Check your credit rating.
4. Speak to your bank about pre-approval whether you need a mortgage or not.
5. Have a look at other homes in your neighbourhood that are up for sale – how does your home compare?
6. Do an honest, reality check – make a list of areas that need upgrading, both minor and major.
7. Determine your budget for fixing and redesigning.
8. Consult with a professional who can advise you on the areas that will bring a real return for the money you will spend fixing.
9. Hire a staging consultant to prepare your home (statistics show that staged homes sell faster and for a higher price).
10. Hire a home inspector.
11. Check with family and friends for referrals, re a Real Estate Salesperson.
12. Interview at least three salespersons, then choose the one you find most compatible.
13. Be sure to ask for specific steps that will be taken to market your property.
14. Don’t sign a long term contract, make it three or four months, which will give you wiggle room.
15. Pay it forward, make a list of services available in your area for the new owner.

Prospective home buyers may not understand how much work went into preparing your home to make it as inviting as it now appears, but they feel comfortable and at home – so much so, that they are willing to purchase it. It pays to be proactive.

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As you could guess I obviously couldn’t keep up with the subscriptions. I never had time to read them so finally one day, I made a list of every magazine I was receiving and started cancelling them as the subscriptions expired. I can proudly say I’m a recovering magazine subscriber and only have two active subscriptions.

So, what did I do with all these publications? I actually used a lot of them for staging. Some of the higher end ones like Architectural Digest, Town & Country, and San Francisco were used as coffee table displays or in offices, and Wine Spectator was sometimes used in the kitchen, dining or bar areas.

We actually used quite a few of the magazines as art to stage bedrooms. Let me describe some examples.

You can easily tear fashion magazine covers off and place them in a frame and voila…instant art for the bedroom! Your selection can be tailored to showcase either a male or female room.

We also occasionally purchased magazines specifically for staging purposes like Cosmo Girl and Teen People to create custom frames in a teen-age girl’s room but bedrooms are by no means the only rooms you can use magazines as professional staging props.

A yoga room may be shown to advantage by using a Women’s Health magazine attractively displayed in a basket with rolled towels and a small spray of artificial flowers or there are more specific yoga magazines available for use also.

However, just as you can use a cookbook in a kitchen to build a theme, you can also create an excellent visual staging prop using a home style or gourmet cooking magazine. I can personally attest to the wide range available.

BONUS TIP: If you need to find a photo to place in a picture frame for a bedside table, desk or bookcase, flip through magazines for prop wedding, kids or pet photos. This way, you preserve your own privacy by not having to use personal photos for this purpose.

You just never know where you can find inspiration – take a look around, there are a lot of inexpensive options available.

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Here are some of the questions you are probably asking yourself:

* Take it off the market for awhile?
* Lower your price?
* List with another broker?
* Fix it up, and then relist it at a higher price?
* Pay to fix it up and leave it at the same price?

Several choices but which if any would be right for you? Of course it depends on your circumstances, but you should be aware that houses that sit on the market for a long period of time fall into two categories:

Stale: Having your house on the market for a long time puts it in a negative light; most people viewing it will believe that it has serious problems and that’s why it has not sold. Perception is not always reality, but the buyer looking at it again, after a few months will not know that.

Desperate: Some folk would take this opportunity to make you a low-ball offer, because they rationalize that by now you must be desperate to sell and they could get your house for a bargain basement price.

Suggestions to help you sell your home for a fair price:

* Delist – Remove your home from the market
* Re-evaluate – Is your home fairly priced
* Compare – yours to the competition
* Clean – entire house including windows and doors
* Fix – anything that needs fixing
* De-clutter – store unnecessary items

To get your house in pristine condition you may need to hire a professional stager or re-designer, who will not have any emotional blinders and will therefore see your house in a totally different light and easily prepare it to attract a wider range of buyers.

Here are some more suggestions to help you achieve the look and feel to get your home sold quickly:

Refresh – Maybe you only need to refreshyour home. The easiest and least expensive way to re-fresh your house would be with paint, light (fabric) curtains, and more lighting from different areas and sources.

Redesign – Discover how furniture placement, accessories, paintings and the strategic placement of objects can totally change a space and turn your house into your buyer’s dream home.

Renovate – If you want to renovate parts of your home, do not waste money on upgrades that will not give you a high return on your money, time and work. Find out which makeover projects will double the return on your money and which renovations you do not need to make.

After you get your house in a buyer – friendly condition, then and only then should you do the following:

Re-List – Put your house back on the market using a new agent or broker, this time list for only 3 to 4 months. A new listing with a different agent will attract more buyers.

Post pictures – Post good pictures of the changes that have been done. This will give you that extra edge that you need to get your house sold quickly.

Reap – The benefits of doing it right. Using a stager or re-designer will cost less than making a reduction on the price of your house.

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Here are the top 5 things to tell your sellers.

1. YOU DON’T LIVE IN YOUR HOME THE SAME WAY YOU SELL YOUR HOME – Many of the items that you showcase for the home you live in may need to be eliminated when your home is being shown to potential buyers. This does not mean that those items are not beautiful or important. It just means that they may be a deterrent to a buyer.

2. SOMETIMES LESS IS MORE – While you may need places for 6 family members to sit and watch television, having several extra chairs in a room may make it appear smaller. Therefore you may need to remove some of the extra furniture in a room.

3. YOU HOME MUST BE CLEAN – It is important for your home to be clean when you begin to bring in buyers. If you cannot do a thorough cleaning yourself, you may want to hire a professional cleaning company. Everything should be as clean as possible, including windows, ceiling fans, exhaust fans, floors, carpets, grout etc.

4. YOU ARE SETTING A “STAGE” – You want your home to be cozy, colorful & inviting. It’s the little things you do like adding decorative soaps in the bathroom, setting the dining room for a romantic dinner, or lighting candles. (only if someone will be there to blow them out!) These are some of the things that will make your house feel like a HOME.

5. MOVING DAY IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER… START PACKING NOW! Many closets and cupboards are full of extra items. Start packing up those items now and put them in the storage, or in your garage. You want each closet, cupboard & countertop to appear spacious and uncluttered.

In addition to these 5 areas, there are some other very simple things a homeowner can do to add appeal to their home. Paint the front door and buy a new welcome mat. Pack away those worn tattered towels in the bath and replace with some new ones. Remove all personal photos from the home, especially from the refrigerator. Remove everything from the closet floors. Be sure the windows are sparkling clean.

Lastly, on the day of a showing open all blinds so the home is bright. Play some soft music. Turn on at least 1 light every room, including the closets, so there is a soft, warm glow throughout the home. If you must place air fresheners in every room be sure they are the same fragrance. Vacuum & dust before the showing if possible, so everything feels clean. If homeowners will just spend a little time preparing their homes for sale they will be amazed at the positive feedback they will receive. Hopefully, their extra time and effort will be reflected in a quicker sale and a large profit.

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