Auctions: Not just for foreclosures

Auctions stir up a great deal of interest and are well known for bringing in bids well above the asking price. But are they a good selling strategy for real estate investing or should they be reserved for special cases only?

The great thing about auctions is that they stir up a lot of interest. This is because when people hear the word, auction, they think that they are going to be able to get a great deal. People flock to auctions motivated by visions of a property selling for a fraction of what it is worth. But, for the most part, real estate auctions result in a property going for the asking price or for more than the asking price.

Auctions are emotional events where anything can happen. You might think that this is not a great forum to use for real estate investing, but there are mechanisms that can protect a seller from losing money at an auction. By setting a reserve price, an investor does not have to sell the investment property until a certain bid amount has been reached.

Even if the reserve price is never met, hosting an auction is still a good idea for real estate investing because it generates publicity and interest in a property. An auction brings more people onto and into your property than your real estate agent can over a course of weeks all in just a couple of short hours. An open house can also accomplish this, but open houses still do not generate as much interest as an auction does.

With that said, is holding an auction always a good selling strategy for those trying to turn a profit through real estate investing? The answer is no. Many real estate agencies are using are now using auctions as a marketing and selling strategy. This means that in some communities auctions are overdone. Holding an auction in an area where they are common place will not likely generate the interest that you desire for your investment. In fact, holding an auction under these circumstances might be more trouble than what it is worth.

You should also not use auctions as your sole strategy for selling your investment properties. Save this special strategy for those special properties that you really want to make stand out. Maybe a property that is in an area without a great deal of through traffic would sell a lot quicker through an auction than it would through traditional means.

Making money in real estate investing is about making good decisions and staying ahead of the game. The bottom line: Don’t dismiss the auction. It could be the selling strategy that can help you sell your property for record profit in record time.

Claremont Business Opportunity $240,000

Business Type: Food Services

Sqft: 1,559

Property Description:
Maui Wowi Coffees & Smoothies Franchise for Sale. It offers Superior Products-Exclusive All-Natural, Fat-Free Fresh Fruit Smoothies, Proprietary blend of Hawaiian Coffees, Authentic Hawaiian Product that includes 100% Kona Coffee, Macadamia Nuts, Various Snacks. Customer would experience Aloha Spirit by embaracing the values of balanced living & family. Excellent A plus location in the city of Claremont. Plasma TV and Bose Speakers & Denon Stereo Equipment for Weekend Karaoke Funtime. All Catering equipments blenders, coolers and equipment included in the sale. Wonderful opportunity if a qualified buyer is looking to start his own business.

Additional Property Information

Type of Lse:	Nnn	Motivation:		Want:
Mnthly Rent:		Lse Deposit:	$7,000	% Lease:		Lease/Sqft:	$1.75
W/Prsnt Own:	3/1/2007 12:00:00 AM	AvgCustCount:		Tot Assets:		HowLng Est.:
TotalAnn Exp:		Adj Net Inc:		TotPr Incl.:

Claremont Townhouse For Sale $370,000

Bedrooms:	2
Baths (FTHQ):	1

Year Built:	1984
Sqft/Source:	1,177

Lot Sqft/S: 4,282
Assoc Dues: $ 239/Mo

Property Description: North Claremont Club Vista Town home,Open to big common area. This complex is just north of Claremont Tennis Club, 1/2 guest bath downstairs, 2 bedrooms 1.5 bath upstairs. patio open to greenbelt/common area is great for outdoor dinning.

Are Foreclosures Worth The Risk? ( 2 )

The Risky World Of Auctions
The best advice for those pondering auctions as a way to get in on
foreclosed property is to simple not get involved at all. The risks
are immense when dealing with a bank-run auction as you will most
likely not have seen the house, have no way to protect yourself
against title problems should they exist and must pay in cash.

That collection of traits discourages most investors and rightfully
so. There is simply too much uncertainty when dealing with auctions to
know for sure that the low sticker price is necessarily worth the
hassle of going through title clean up issues and scraping together
the cash for a purchase.

Foreclosed Homes
As the final step on a bank's path of foreclosure, the home is put up
for sale on the real estate market, though often for at least close to
its market value. Because a home has traveled through a variety of
steps and banks are in no hurry to lose money on any loan, savings are
often slim on foreclosed properties that make it to this step.

However, there are certainly positives. Most likely there will be at
least some kind of discount off of the market price of a property,
albeit slim and deals are much easier to put together. Real estate
transactions more closely follow the format of common real estate
transactions and offer similar protections.

So, as you go through the process of deciding to get involved with
foreclosed property, make an effort to decide which step of the
process you want to target. There are opportunities all along the path
of foreclosed properties, but each step has its own pros and cons that
must be weighed against potential benefits. Having a clear plan will
save you headaches later as you complete the purchase.

Are Foreclosures Worth The Risk?

Many home buyers and real estate investors have been prompted by steadily increasing interest rates to be more aggressive in their hunt for bargain homes. Competition for the best-priced and most attractive homes has only increased in most real estate markets and because of that intensity, foreclosures are drawing more and more interest from prospective home buyers and investors.

While foreclosures certainly offer some financial benefits, there are also risks involved, as you might expect. Not every foreclosure is the same and while the interest in them is growing, you need to be aware of what to look for when evaluating whether or not a foreclosure opportunist is right for you. Here are some things to look for.

Pre-Foreclosures
Pre-foreclosure properties can offer an attractive investment or home purchase opportunity to those willing to work for it. There exists a period of time in between when a home owner is notified that their loan is in default and when the bank actually seizes the home to put it on the market to recoup expenses. During that period of time, it is possible to purchase the home and satisfy financing requirements on it.

There are two negatives at play when going the pre-foreclosure rate and both discourage a majority of the potential investors that contemplate the pre-foreclosure route. One is the extremely brief period of time available to complete a deal. The period of time is regulated by individual states and usually consists of a couple months.

The other discouraging aspect is the necessity to deal with a home owner that is probably embarrassed by the foreclosure and may not even be aware that such information is made public. Knocking on a door or picking up a phone to contact someone that may not even be aware of pre-foreclosure purchases can be a difficult thing to do.

Please stay tuned for more information.

Claremont Commercial Lease $495

Property Type: Office

Total Bldg Sqft:	8,637
Leasable Sqft:	197
Year Built:	1966

Parking Space: 1

Property Description:
Two story professional office building located in the heart of beautiful downtown Claremont.

Investment in Real Estate ___ A growing sector

Can we really stop wanting to buy houses? We are constantly developing, constantly making progress, and of course, constantly adding to the population. The more the development, the more the place that is needed by the businesses; and of course the growing population only means added demand for housing. In such a scenario, the real estate sector has no choice but to grow!

Real estate investment is considered to be the safest option for investment. Of course there will be detractors who will try to tell you otherwise. The truth is you need to be well aware and purchase the right property so that you may be a success at the business. This you can only do when you know exactly what the demands of the market are, and the ideal property to buy.

Property-buying Tips
So what should you do to make sure you buy the right piece of property? Well, first of all, you need to make sure that your property generates residual income. This is the chief point of consideration when investing in real estate. You have to make sure your property gives you the maximum returns and you make a good profit at the end of the day.

To understand how residual income may be generated through real estate, you must educate yourself well, through various books, websites, and of course a tremendous amount of survey. Online tutorials are also a popular way of educating yourself regarding the real estate business. You need to grab at any bit of knowledge that comes your way because believe it or not, all of it will come of use to you at some point or the other.

Market-Related Information To Gather
Apart from reading, you need to survey the market in the area in which you intend to buy and sell. You need to be tuned in to the demands of the people in the area. The demands of the businessmen will vary from the demands of regular individuals. You need to make sure you understand all of these finer details really well. Once you understand the demands and know exactly what the local trends are likely to be in the coming months, you will know exactly which properties you should invest in, and understand which ones will generate suitable income.

Of course, you can learn a great deal from people whove been in the profession longer than you have. It would help tremendously if you have friends who are real estate agents or real estate brokering mortgagers. If you dont, maybe you should try and befriend a few, or apprentice with a few so that you can learn on the job. Theres nothing like practical experience. Many a professional real estate investor would probably be more than glad to give you beginners tips.

Once youve got the hang of it, start with helping friends and relatives with their real estate investment deals, and if you do well, youll know youre all set to take on the real estate world!

Claremont Land For Sale $250,000

Acres: 0.05

Property Description:

Lot Com N 3660 Ft And W 942 Ft From Se Cor Of Sec 22 T 1n R 8w Th N 2/15' W 30 Ft With A Uniform Depth Of 80 Ft W Part Of Se 1/4 Of Ne 1/4 Of 22.

The fundamentals of Real Estate Investing

If you have decided to begin a career in real estate investing, you will need to start out with the basics before you begin investing your money. The fact is that understanding the fundamentals of real estate investing is crucial for you to become a success. The following information will help you to understand what you need to do to become successful.

Why You Want To Invest

Generally speaking, there are only three reasons to invest in property. The first is to get cash immediately. This can be done a couple of different ways. This is done by purchasing a property at a low price then selling immediately at a higher price, otherwise called flipping properties.

The second reason to get involved in real estate investing is to get cash monthly. This can be done by generating a positive cash flow from the rentals you’ve purchased as an investment. Of course, the third reason is to get cash at a later date.

These properties are kept for a time until they appreciate in value and then they are sold. It is kind of like having cash in the bank that you can not touch. Understanding why you want to invest in property is one of the fundamentals of real estate investing that you must know before you begin the process.

The Buying and Selling Process

In order to be successful in your investing, you must first understand how the buying and selling process works. You need to understand what steps to go through before you close on a property. This includes learning about the purchases and sale agreement, contingencies, cash flow statement, and, of course, how to negotiate as both a buyer and a seller. These things are the fundamentals of real estate investing and must be understood before you begin.

Understand The Market

Understanding how to research the real estate market is also the key to your success. Knowing where to go, such as the local registry of deeds and town office, to research the history of the property can make or break you in this business.

If you do not have the history of the property, as well as information on how properties are selling in your particular area, you may find that you are lacking the fundamentals of real estate investing and find yourself on the losing end.

Your Financing Options

One of the most important things to learn is what your financing options are when investing in property. If you plan to finance your property investments, you will need to understand the terms and conditions of your loan. Without this knowledge, you may end up not making as much money as you could with your investment.

When you set out to learn the fundamentals of real estate investing, you will find that there is no one particular “right way” to begin investing in property. There are many different methods to use and some will bring you success while others will cause you to lose money.

However, if you can learn the fundamentals of real estate investing, you will find that you are successful with your investments far more often than not. You will find there are many property classes on the buying and selling process, financing, and negotiating online, as well as held by local financial institutions. Take advantage of the classes around you and you might be surprised in your success. Good Luck!

Things to consider while hiring a management company

Its always good form to make a precise plan when hiring a team of people to do a specific task…
The following are some of the factors that you must keep in mind while you are hiring real estate investing management company. In order to find a good property manager, you must ask the following questions, because if you ask everything upfront there will be fewer misunderstandings.

What Are The Other Properties They Manage?
You must carefully examine what the other real estate investing properties are that the property manager manages. Make sure that they have rental properties that are very much similar to yours in nature. Inspect and do an extensive research the properties, they are managing. See if they are properly maintained.
How Much Are They Charging?

This is very important. The usual fee they charge varies from place to place, but on an average, they could be as low as 4% of gross rent for larger buildings to as high as 12% for single-family houses. Make sure that the fee is in accordance with the charge normally applicable in your area. Also, some real estate investing management companies do not show the real picture and it is only after you have hired them, that you come to know about the hidden charges. Therefore, make sure the fee is clearly stated and understood. Also, see if they are charging any extra cost beyond the legal fees.

Who Will Handle Your Property?
Before you hire a real estate investing management company, you must be aware of the person or persons who are going to manage your property. It is best if there is only one person assigned to manage your property all the time. Get that persons complete identity, and make sure he/she is experienced in the field.
What Will Be The Fee Method?
Ask them when and how will the fee be collected. Will it be billed to you? Will it be directly deducted from your account? Will they charge on a monthly basis or on an annual basis?

What Will Be Their Method Of Advertising?
You must know beforehand certain things regarding the advertisement of your real estate investing property. For example, what type of advertising will be using? How exactly will the units be advertised? Also, what will be the overall cost to you?

Reports And Accounts
You must also ask them certain things about reports and accounts. For example, what type of accounting do they use? What types of reports do they send? How often do they send their reports? How do they set up the accounts?
Business Hours
Do not forget to ask about their normal hours of operation. For example, What are their business hours? If it is a weekend or a holiday, who will take the call?

These questions are just to give you a broad idea. You should also ask many other questions that are based on your particular needs and the needs of the particular real estate investing property.
Overall, management companies offer services that can make you wealthy while you just sit back. Real estate investing and being a landlord are a lot less stressful with a good property management company.

Claremont House For Sale $1,699,000

Bedrooms:	4
Baths:	5.00/
Built:	2005
Square Feet:	3,800
Lot Size:	15,548

Custom Built In 2005. This Single Story 4 Bedroom 5 Bath Has It All. Located On A Quiet Cul-De-Sac In The Claraboya Foothills. Large Kitchen Opens Up To Great Room. Granite Counters. 10-12 foot Ceilings Thru-Out. Solid Core Doors. Plantation Shutters. Marble Entry. Hardwood Floors. Custom Sound System. Spacious Bedrooms. Master Suite Offers: Fireplace, Large Master Bath, Walk-In Closet, City Lights View. Dual Zone AC Units. Outdoor Fireplace. BBQ Island. Oversized Spa. Unbelievable Sunsets. Outdoor Commercial Heaters. Copper Rain Gutters. Epoxy Flooring In Garage. This Home Is A Must See!

Claremont House For Sale $1,695,000

Bedrooms:	5
Baths:	6.00/
Built:	2006
Square Feet:	5,629
Lot Size:	36,000

Assoc. Dues: 138/

Property Description:
Stunning newer Centex home in Stone Canyon Preserve. Tasteful upgrades include warm decorator colors, rich granite counters, custom doors, arched doorways, crown molding, fruitwood cabinets, curved vanities, Sante Fe Oceano tile floors and patterned Karistan carpet. This open foor plan includes one bedroom downstairs with its own bath, expansive great room with kitchen, breakfast nook and family room. Top of the line appliances, Kohler sinks, bronze fixtures, 3 fireplaces, upstairs family room and "to die for" master suite. Don't miss this opportunity to live in one of the most "desirable cities" in the country!

Features:
Ceiling Fan, Direct Garage Access, Driveway, Great Room, Lot 20000-39999 Sqft, Mountain View, Walk-In Pantry, Window Blinds.

Claremont House For Sale $529,000

Bedrooms:	4
Full Baths:	2

Built:	1962
Square Feet:	1,512

Questions You Should Ask Before Buying An Investment Property

In the world of real estate investing, the things that can go wrong are innumerable. While no investor can predict the future and save himself from all loss, asking questions and doing research can offer a great deal of protection. Asking the right questions is particularly important during the pre-purchase phase of any real estate investment. It is during this phase that investors need to ask the right questions in order to avoid purchasing a property that will bring them nothing but sorrow.

The first thing that you should be concerned with regarding any investment property is its marketability. In other words, are you going to be able to sell it? In many cases, the best source for this type of information is your real estate agent. Your agent will be familiar with the housing market in the area of the property and may even know past details concerning the property itself. Some details that might help you determine how well a property will sell include how desirable the community is to consumers; how quickly other homes in the area are selling; how quickly the home has sold in the past; and how long the house has remained on the market looking for a buyer.

The next consideration regarding any investment property is how much profit it could bring. While profit is not guaranteed in real estate investing, you can increase your residual income by purchasing a property that has the highest potential for profit. Questions to ask your agent include how much below resale value is the home priced; how much could the property be worth after renovations; and are other homes in the area appreciating or depreciating in value.

You may also want to ask your real estate agent about financing options open to you as an investor as these may differ from options available to those wishing to purchase a property as a primary residence. Tax laws are another great topic of discussion for those wishing to make an investment in real estate.

Other questions that you may want to consider are those that would be asked by any ordinary consumer looking to buy a property. These questions are property specific and involve the condition of the property. You should always know what repairs need to be done on the property and what mechanics are in working order and which ones are not. Boundary disputes and health issues are often disclosed to buyers before purchase. If they are not, you should ask for the information rather than assume that everything is fine.

Doing the necessary homework before a property purchase is vital for being successful in real estate investing. Ask any investor and he will tell you that most failed investments can be avoided if the right questions are asked.

When to Back Out of Real Estate Investing Deal

Many people are making a very comfortable living through real estate investing. But while the majority of people have a great investing experience, there are those that get taken in by scam artists and end up purchasing a property that has been misrepresented. To save yourself the expense and hassle of making this mistake, you should look for obvious signs and know when to back out of a deal no matter how good it may seem.

The first and most obvious sign that an offer is too good to be true is that it just seems too good to be true. If you are approached with a deal that seems a little too generous, there is a good chance that you are going to get burned. Be sure to examine the offer thoroughly and find out why the owner of the property would sell it so cheaply. In some cases, there will be a plausible reason why the homeowner wants rid of the property. Maybe he is on the verge of bankruptcy or there is an illness in the family which makes in necessary to move quickly. In the absence of any logical reasoning, though, there are likely hidden problems with the property, problems that you do not want to make your own.

There are many overhead costs associated with real estate investing. These costs normally fall into the categories of repairs and advertising, but there are some costs that can follow you for a lifetime. These costs should be completely avoided and come in the form of financial liabilities and fines levied toward the owner of contaminated properties or properties that represent a health hazard. Even after you sell such a property, you can still be held liable for any ground water contamination or illness associated with the property. For this reason, never buy a property if there are health concerns of any kind involved.

Debts can become attached to a property and follow that property from owner to owner. If you purchase a property for real estate investing purposes that has several liens on it, you could lose all of your profit paying off someone else’s bills. To avoid this, never purchase a property if you cannot have the title searched or if there seems to be some amount of obscurity about legal issues surrounding the property.

The key to building residual income in any real estate investing venture is to know which deals to make and which ones to leave alone. Be sure to do plenty of research on any investment property before you purchase it. If something seems odd at any point during the transaction, back out of it. There are plenty of investment opportunities out there that are worth your time and money. Do not throw all of your hard work away on questionable properties.

Claremont House For Sale $639,000

Bedrooms:	5
Full Baths:	1
3/4 Baths:	2
Built:	1956
Square Feet:	2,581
Lot Size:	10,799

Property Description:
You'll be surprised when you walk through the front door. Over 2500 Sq Ft of living space PLUS an additional 400 Sq Ft finished basement, giving you almost 3000 sq Ft of usable space that is perfect for the largest family. The home is set up that part of the home could easily be used as a Mother-In-Laws Quarters as it has it's own entrance from the side of the home. The Living Room is accented by a large round used brick dual faced wood burning fireplace that opens to both the living and dining rooms. There is an informal eating area off of the kitchen with a traditional 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. You then enter into the extra living area of the home that is currently being used as a large family room, play room for the kids and office. This could also be an extra 2 bedrooms or guest quarters as it boasts its own private bath and laundry. The finished basement is the perfect game room or workshop. All of this and you still have a sparkling pool and spa in the backyard with room to spare.

Claremont House For Sale $1,888,000

Bedrooms:	5
Full Baths:	5
1/2 Baths:	1
Built:	2005
Square Feet:	5,315
Lot Size:	21,492

Assoc. Dues: 188

Property Description:
Casa California! A gorgeous Spanish Colonial Revival Hacienda sits beneath the foothills of Padua Hills in the Stone Canyon Reserve. This Executive Estate has been elegantly upgraded throughout. Professionally landscaped grounds accented with intricate floral metalwork embellishes a gate and the beautiful walkway with earth tone slates all created a very inviting environment. The sound of flowing water from a waterfall jug provides a very relaxing and tranquil atmosphere that made one wants to linger & enjoy. Spacious formal living room can access center court yard & beyond the gates to lush & spacious backyard w/BBQ & waterfall. Gourmet kitchen w/built-in frig, island & granite counter tops. Dining rm has FP, built-in china cabinet & niches, butler pantry & wine cooler. FP & built-in ent. ctr in family rm. Upgraded flooring, shutters & custom draperies thru-out. 5 BD Stes w/1 guest qtr downstairs. Mas ste w/mountain views & huge bathroom. Bright & airy. Truly an entertainers delight!

Features:
Cathedral Ceilings,Cc And R's,Cul-De-Sac,Custom Window Covering,Direct Garage Access,Lot 20000-39999 Sqft,Mountain View,Rain Gutters,Stained Glass Window,Turnkey,Window Blinds,Window Shutters.

Claremont House For Sale $1,425,000

Bedrooms:	6
Full Baths:	6
1/2 Baths:	1
Built:	2001
Square Feet:	4,293
Lot Size:	36,076

Property Description:
Exquisite Chanteclair Estate Executive Home Located in prestigious Northeast Claremont. Money Magazine has named Claremont the "5th Best City" in which to live in the US. Beautiful Home and Breathtaking Views. Upgraded Flooring throughout. Entry leads to Office, Formal Living Room and Dining Room. Family Room with fireplace, large media niches and built ins. Spacious gourmet kitchen with large center island, Granite counters / raised backsplashes, 42” Décor Cooktop, Kitchen Aid Stainless Steel appliances, under counter lighting, walk-in pantry and generous breakfast area. Maid’s Quarters and Laundry Room off kitchen. Spiral staircase leads to Upstairs Loft and 3 Bedrooms / 3 Baths. Distinctive Master Suite with Retreat, Walk-in Closet, dual sinks with deep sunken tub & separate shower. Three Quarters of an acre with Saltwater Corinthian Pool and Spa. Motor Court with 4 car tandem garage with direct access. No Homeowner’s Association Fees; Furniture is an option.

Features:
Ceiling Fan,Curbs/Walks,Direct Garage Access,Double Door Entry,Driveway,Guest/Maid's Quarters,Home Warranty Plan,Lot 20000-39999 Sqft,No Common Walls,Panoramic View,RV Access/Parking,Window Blinds.