First, some statistics. In the summer of 2005, the median price of a home rose nearly 15 percent from the year earlier, in some markets, much more. Lenders lowered required credits scores (FICOs), waived some documentation requirements, and raised the debt allowance to 45 percent of income. Some reports estimate that interest-only loans now make up 30 percent of all new mortgages. Nearly 35 percent of mortgages are now ARMs (adjustable rate mortgages). Since June 2004, the U.S. Federal reserve has raised rates 11 Read more

• Foreclosure Buying A Foreclosed Home

  Foreclosure begins when a property owner defaults on the mortgage of a property, mainly due to financial difficulties or the inability to keep up with the…

• Foreclosures. Sweet Deal or Nightmare

  To the novice real estate investor foreclosures often Read more

Buy low, sell high. Anyone in any market aims for that, but few succeed. The only reasonable conclusion is it’s easier said than done. So, to be part of that group of ‘we happy few’, consider some of these ways to maximize your return.

In any business deal there are essentially only two ways to achieve the highest profit - keep your costs as low as possible, and attract the highest bidders.

To keep costs low going in, do as much yourself as possible. Two areas to start on are inspections and repairs.

Acquire the skills, and even licensing, needed to perform professional level Read more

No doubt, negotiating an agreement you’ll later be happy about is the toughest part of any investment. It’s a rare investor who consistently says afterwards that they got everything they wanted at the price they wanted to pay. But like any skill, negotiating can be learned.

Knowledge and information are your best and most basic tools for successful negotiation. You need to know the market, the law, and as much as you find out about the seller’s status.

That final item includes knowing whether they’re approaching or in foreclosure. Are there any recent life events motivating the Read more

In the world of property investment, there are various points along the ‘just looking’ to ‘ready to sell’ spectrum. Protecting your investment takes on different hues at different points.

When first looking for property you have to consider the amount of ready cash available, the state of the current market, as well as your own level of experience with the many aspects of investing.

The first lesson of risk management is: know the law. Whether a novice or a savvy investor of long experience, few things can put your investment at greater risk than ignorance of the rights and requirements Read more