Costa Rica is often called the ‘New Hawaii’. This usually means that is that it is similar to Hawaii as far as climate and beauty is concerned but, importantly, that this Central American country nestled between Nicaragua and Panama is how Hawaii used to be fifty years ago! Then Hawaii had huge sugar plantations. Now, however, Hawaii gets most of its money from tourism. Costa Rica has coffee and pineapple plantations but its tourist industry gets bigger every year.

Located in Central America, Costa Rica is an emerging nation who are working hard to get rid of their ‘third world’ status. Surrounded on the east by the Caribbean Sea and on the west with the Pacific Ocean, The country is truly beautiful and is famous for its bio diversity and indeed even the sand comes in all colors, from volcanic black, browns, reds to spectacular white. The ocean is warm and you can either enjoy a good book on the beach with the occasional swim or go all out with a great variety of water and sand activities from scuba diving to wind surfing to beach volleyball. There are many varieties of insects, birds and animals and this alone is a huge source of eco tourism.

There are two seasons – wet (green) and dry. On the coast it’s usually hot and humid – although even that varies from north to south where it is more arid in the north. However, the Central Valley which surrounds the capital, San Jose, has spring-like weather all year round.

People that visit often think of returning to live there – be it for a vacation home, a second home or even to relocate there for good. Prices are still reasonable but the place already booming, so now is the time to buy.

Buying real estate can be as simple or challenging as you like. There are so many options. Land and housing come in all forms and prices! You can buy a simple hut on a piece of land or go all out and have a villa built overlooking the ocean.

It seems that everything is available if the price is right. Even North American realty companies are there to help you – Remax and Century 21, for example are well represented.

There are also companies from the U.S. or Canada who have bought up a large tract of land in Costa Rica and then put it into plots for sale. You can buy this land in various stages, from the original land, the land with roads and infrastructure in place and many companies facilitate building a house for you and take care of all the legalities. Everyone here is Spanish speaking, getting a lawyer that understands what you want and can speak and understand English can be challenging.

These North American companies take care of all that and even after you have your home built, some companies offer furnishing options as well as maid and gardener services. To put icing on the cake, they often offer rental services – i.e. they will rent out the place for you and keep it maintained and cleaned for the time you are not using it personally.

This is a great place to be and Costa Rica real estate is booming so make your decision soon.

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This is the recipe the private mortgage industry was founded on – and it has returned.

With everything going on right now in the real estate marketplace there are two key factors that make this the time for seller financing. One, banks are not lending. Two, investors have nowhere to put their money.

Enter the Private Mortgage.

What if you could invest your money, right now, and get a 10% return? Would you be happy with that? I suspect most people would. Of course the stock market, as we have well seen, has no guarantees backing performance. A private mortgage note, on the other hand, has a very important piece of collateral – the home itself.

More and more people are returning to selling their property using owner financing. The seller collects anywhere from 5%-20% down and charges an interest rate between 8%-12%. That is a great return in todays’ market. If they don’t pay, you get the house back and do it all over again.

Enter the “new” buyers.

In the past decade owner financing was used primarily for those buyers with limited, challenged, or poor credit. What is unique about this market is banks are not lending, leaving many “qualified” buyers just unable to get traditional loans. This is great for sellers because they have a much larger pool of potential (can you say pay-on-time-credit-worthy?) buyers.

Sell your home to someone with good credit and receive a nice return? That is a financial recipe for success!

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Before looking at homes and becoming influenced by our hopes and desires it is important to sit down with our partner and doing a budget. Include all your normal bills such as groceries, car expenses, credit card debt repayment, and any other bills that are regular. Make sure you include a margin of comfort for expenses that come around irregularly and for those “rainy day” issues. You should then deduct these expenses from your after-tax income and that is the money that is available for mortgage, property taxes, insurance etc on your new property purchase. Moneys that are currently being paid as rent on accommodations may also be counted in this amount. Consider the resulting amount carefully as the amount you borrow will result in a payment for the next 25+ years, that’s 300 payments. If you can not pay your lending institution will foreclose on the property and your credit history will suffer.

In addition to calculating your current expenses and budgeting, when purchasing a home you need to consider the other costs of home ownership aside from the expense of the mortgage. As a homeowner you will be paying the cost of heating, electricity, homeowner’s insurance, property taxes etc. It is important when considering homes to determine these costs as they pertain to each home. Larger homes will generally cost more to run, both for utilities and taxes. Also remember that older homes will generally need more TLC and if you are not capable of doing the work yourself you will need to pay to have it done – however even if you can do some of the home maintenance yourself there are still costs involved for materials.

When you are organizing your finances to make a purchase be aware that there are expenses involved including the lawyer’s fees, various expenses such as oil remaining in the tank, and portions of property taxes that the previous owner has paid and you will have to, on a pro-rated basis, pay back the vendor for these. The conveyancing lawyer works out these expenses. As result you will want to ensure that you keep back some of your savings – not using it all as a down payment. A few extra thousand will not make much difference to your monthly payment so keeping back some savings leaves you a bit of a slush fund in case there are problems down the line, job loss, emergencies and the like. You should of course have cash to pay moving expenses.

Once you have found a home that is in your budget and you have moved in you will begin to make your mortgage payments. Try to ensure that you stay current and up to date on your loan obligations as once you have fallen behind it is difficult to catch up and this will have a negative effect on your credit rating as well as adding substantially to the amount of interest you will have to pay. If you have planned beforehand however you should be well on your way to building equity in your new PEI real estate investment.

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Not all real estate agents are alike, though. There are many different factors that play are part in selecting the right one for you. In some circumstances, there may be hundreds to choose from in certain areas. How to even begin selecting the best agent can be confusing, for instance finding an agent for Narangba property or North Lakes property. By taking a few key factors into consideration, though, it is possible to find someone who will make the process incredibly easy and pain free.

Key factors in choosing the right agent -

When you begin looking for a real estate agent, credentials matter. Ask friends and family members in the area if they can recommend anyone to you. If this is not possible, begin your search by weeding out agents who do not meet your specific criteria. Look for agents that focus in a certain area and the areas you are interested in, for example an agent that specializes in Deception Bay Property. They are much likelier to be an asset to you in your search.

Experience matters in property. Look at agents who have been in the business for a decent length of time. They are far more likely to know and understand all of the ins and outs of the real estate market in the area. Beware of agents who quote you impossibly high prices for property that you are looking to sell; they are probably willing to say anything to get you to sign on.

Look for a real estate agent that inspires you -

Your agent should inspire confidence in you. Before settling on one particular agent, meet with them and see how the dynamic is between the two of you. An agent should exhibit vast knowledge and expertise in the specific area you are looking at. Someone who claims familiarity with Narangba property, for instance, should be able to demonstrate this by discussing the merits of the area.

When you interview a prospective real estate agent, ask them how they plan to work for you. Make sure they go into specifics as to how they will aid you in selling or purchasing property. Ask them about the strategies they prefer to use. The answers they give should make you feel at ease, confident in the knowledge that this agent will work honestly and in your best interests.

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Real estate is an industry that does not discriminate based on background and education. Opportunities to learn are offered continuously throughout the year allowing for new students to begin their studies at anytime, without waiting for a break in the semester or term. There are no prerequisite courses or college credits required for individuals wanting to begin a career in the industry. People in all stages of life and from a variety of backgrounds have discovered the rewards of hold a real estate license.

No matter what age or prior experience a person may have, learning more about the property trade can benefit anyone wishing to pursue a new career path. Whether a seasoned sales professional or a novice high school graduate, classes offer attendees a comprehensive approach to studying for state and national exams that qualify candidates for licensing. Most classes can be completed in about a six week period with devoted study and average three months to complete for those working in other endeavors and taking courses on a part time schedule.

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–Search. The best place to find a local agent is the internet. The others are a local builder association, open houses, local advertising, referrals from other agents, recommendations from neighbors, and suggestions from lenders, attorneys, financial planners, and past clients.

–Interview. Talk with many agents to get a personal “feel” before selecting one to work with. A good agent you eventually chosen to work with could be one of your most valuable resources. The interviewing process will help you evaluate the agent’s ethical stance and trustworthiness issues as well as his or her competency. Agents should have a thorough knowledge of the property market in their communities, familiar with local zoning and tax laws.

There are many factors in considerations regarding locating the right property to buy. You will have frequent contact with your agent for his or her helpful guiding hand. These interviews are a good opportunity to ask about the issues such as training, experience, representation and professional certifications. Look for agents who are actively involved in community affairs. He or she should have a better understanding of the town that he or she is selling than an average resident.

How well the agent knows the local neighborhood? A qualified agent will have many social networks of his and her own and can incorporate other people’s valuable business experience to assist you with your quest. Ask the agent how many listings he or she actually has listed personally? How many homes or properties he or she actually sold? Share with your agents your time limits, your budget, your list of home requirements, your preferences, your dislikes. Be as specific as you can. The more you know what you want, the better it is to find. An agent of your dream will work with you.

–Selection. Your buyer or seller agent should provide you with information detailing current marketing conditions, financing options, and negotiating issues that might apply to a giving situation. New listings or new detail on a deal can come up anytime. Make sure that your agent communicate with you regularly and is available to consult with you on a short notice. Your agent will provide guidance during the evaluation of the properties and guide you through the closing process. He or she also acts as intermediaries in price negotiations between you and the seller.

Unless your agent is specifically a buyer’s broker or buyer’s agent, he or she will typically be paid a commission based on a percentage of the sale price out of the seller’s pocket. If the agent helps you to negotiate a lower price, her commission will be lower too.

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1. Sellers love them. I learned this lesson firsthand after a recent listing. During my listing presentation, I gave my clients about 50 pieces of paper along with about two dozen reasons why they should work with me, one of which was that I would create a single property website for their listings. After I won the listing, I assumed they just skimmed everything and didn’t think the single property website was even that important to them. At the time, I was working with a new single property website provider (who charged about $700 for photos and the site, by the way), and she didn’t get the site live for several days after my listing started. Guess what the sellers asked me several times right after their listing started? That’s right, it was “where is our single property website?”. It was the first thing they looked for, and obviously was an important factor in their decision to work with me and a major reason I won the listing.

2. Potential buyers love them. Ask any candid real estate agent about the purpose of an open house, and they’ll tell you its to generate more buyer and seller clients for themselves. Top agents know that a professionally run open house (multiple signs, spotlessly clean, nice brochures/ table display, even refreshments) leaves a good impression on buyers and neighbors/ sellers that visit. Top agents also know that most people pick the agent who left the best impression on them. The exact same logic applies online: Top agents go the extra mile and leave great impressions on all buyers who visit their online listings. If you were a buyer looking online, would you consider working with an agent with average online marketing or one who stands out with professional marketing?

3. Potential Sellers love them. Just like with open houses, buyers aren’t the only ones viewing your listings. Curious neighbors (curious because they’re considering selling!) look at for sale properties in their neighborhood online too. These potential sellers are viewing your marketing with an even more critical eye, because it’s what they can expect if they pick you. Again, if you were selling, how would you differentiate who the best agent is? It’s all about standing out from the crowd.

4. They’re ridiculously inexpensive. Single property websites range from $10-$50 flat cost per listing. Unlike online or offline ads, there’s no monthly costs and they last for a whole year. Even better, some companies such as http://mysinglepropertywebsites.com let you set up a preview version that you can bring in to your listing presentation for free; you only pay if you win the listing! Or you can create a blog and set up your own property site from a blog company such as www.wordpress.com. When you think of the return from one extra sale, the return on investment is dramatic.

5. They’re ridiculously easy. Most real estate agents groan at the thought of entering a new listing into their local MLS. There’s sometimes hundreds of fields, things have to be entered in a very specific way, and the MLS can be downright cranky sometimes and erase it all because you missed a field! The newest generation of single property sites are designed with the customer in mind, and can usually be done in less than five minutes.

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Careful on-line research will turn up a multitude of opportunities for the ambitious virtual real estate wholesaler. As a real estate wholesaler your primary aim is first to spot and then promote bargain properties to interested investors. As the primary contact, the virtual real estate wholesaler holds the key to unlocking the door to previously unheard of profits simply by connecting the dots between the acquisition of money making properties and the transfer to investors who, in most cases have neither the time nor the inclination to do all the leg work necessary to close a profitable deal.

The many search engines available on the internet will provide all the fodder necessary to get your virtual real estate wholesaling enterprise underway. Simply key in the types of properties you feel will have the most rapid turnover and then search for the bargain that quickly become a potential gold mine. Unquestionably, there are hundreds and even thousands of opportunities available to the astute middleman in the real estate market.

Of course your job will be easier if you employ the services of one of the many virtual assistants available at the click of your mouse. Once you find a dependable virtual assistant you can then set the ground rules, negotiate a fair price for their services and then just sit back and let someone else do the sometimes tedious legwork for you. Virtual assistants can be one of your most valuable assets in the arsenal of tools necessary to conduct a profitable and sustained virtual real estate wholesaling business.

Once you have developed a working relationship with a competent virtual assistant, your next step should be to find and employ the services of a virtual closing agent. This step is absolutely essential in order to protect both you your investment from the legalities involved in flipping properties.

In addition to performing tasks such as ordering various types of home inspections, conducting surveys and providing repair estimates the competent virtual closing agent will conduct the paper trail necessary to make sure your deal is legal, timely and profitable.

Once again, the onus will be on you, the virtual real estate wholesaler, to ensure that the virtual closing agent you hire is not only competent, but also operates well within the confines of real estate laws.

By instituting the above steps in a professional and expedient manner your venture into virtual real estate wholesaling will be well on its way to becoming a profitable and lasting entrepreneurship.

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Unique Designs vs. Website Templates
Choosing a business card design from a website template is admittedly very easy. You browse to the site, choose a design you like, upload some contact information, and your cards are on the way. Sometimes free, sometimes for no effective cost. But ask yourself a serious question. Is that the best you can do for a business card? Does that template specifically target your customers? Are you buying it just to have it or to add some mojo to your presentation? If you want mojo then step up to a customized business card.

Customized marketing materials are expensive! Everything is relative. The right printer can make it very affordable. Customizing your presentation, targeting it at your customer in your marketing material can have a significant positive impact. Given the right approach a presentations sells real estate and if you positively impact that a valuable commission check is soon to be yours. Quality design work moves you to the front of your prospects mind and keeps you there.

Choosing Printing Companies – Value and Quality
On your internet search for “business cards” at Google, MSN, or Yahoo you will find a list of teaser rates at most of the companies offering free or near free cards. These offers are always tied to lower quality print materials and a lack of industry specific design services as part of the offer. You get what you pay for. A generic card your customer will smile and accept but likely will not keep or recall.

It can be a serious problem if your customers are buying expensive products and services. Even more so if your selling to a small business owner who is often involved in the creation of their own business marketing material and can tell the difference between generic material and well prepared material.

The less expensive materials are all made from thinner paper products, 10 or 11 PT business cards and yield mediocre results as a selling tool. The perceptive affluent customer will expect to see a sturdier card, 14 or 16PT card stock with the best card treatments available for stunning graphic presentations.

To enjoy the success of a seasoned sales professional search and find the print firm that specializes in customizing cards for your particular industry. The experience of their design staff is critical to your success in selling into your target market.

Your business card design should focus your client’s attention on the value your services will bring to them. It is not something a template at a business card ‘template shop’ is going to be able to provide you.

When doing custom business card design you will normally be working with a Relationship Manager at the printing company. They are there to help you and will solicit your opinion on the design concepts you are provided. Make it a point to solicit their opinions and that of the actual designer. Listen to their advice even if you don’t agree with it. Just keep the part that works for you.

Alternatively to a targeted card for your market and client it is feasible for you to go to a generic printing website, choose a template, upload some basic info and get your cards sent to you overnight. Expect a generic card with no additional value for your sales process.

Your business card design is all about your personal credibility with the customer. If you want referrals it should be designed to draw referrals. It presents a generic, image of you and your company, the customer will draw a different message form it.

How you brand your business through your business cards is important, the most important step to your client relationship since it comes before everything else. Maximize the first step to achieve long term business relationships.

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As spring comes to an end, it’s about time to get your postcards ready for the next season. Prepare your summer postcard designs with a picture of a pristine real estate property sitting right next to the beach and you can expect it to generate a lot of attention and offers. Proper timing of postcard printing is essential in making postcard campaigns. Let postcard prints work for your business by anticipating market needs with the seasons. Timing certain holidays that have high expectancy rates will increase sales and profits as well.

The Christmas season is always a good time to give out postcards with a subtle marketing proposition. People are more welcoming to the idea of making big purchases as gifts for loved ones or themselves. Real estate companies can use this window of opportunity to maximize their efforts and seal some big deals. Timing does not just imply seasonal use of postcards. Postcard printing can occur for other events and happenings such as birthdays, anniversaries or graduations.

Seasons and occasions give you the timing for your postcard printing, but timing is not the only indicator you use to develop postcards. The message and content can also be a powerful weapon in dealing with your target market. It is always a nice gesture to give out warm greetings to satisfied customers that can have repeat orders. Those touched by your messages will in turn spread the good word to others and imprint a positive company image on the public. Credibility is a big issue for many who invest in homes. And having the support of the community can boost your business tremendously when closing a sale. Referrals naturally pour in when your business has a good public image.

Increased sales, notoriety, credibility, public image and customer preference can all be attained using postcard printing as the ideal marketing tool. Timing and content play vital roles in making postcard prints that work. Printing postcards off season can result in poor turnarounds and weak leads. At this point in time, we cannot afford to foolishly exhaust our resources. The financial crisis that has hit our economy might last longer than expected. It would be wise to carefully plan your postcard printings and be discerning of postcard designs.

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