Figuring Out Whether You Can Afford That Home

House hunting can be a brutal affair, particularly if you don’t know what you can afford before hand.  No your price range in advance and you can avoid looking at really nice homes you’ll never get.  .
Mortgage – Monthly Payments
The biggest costs associated with owning a home is the mortgage. Unless you are filthy rich, you are committing to apportioning a significant amount of your monthly income to that dream home. In evaluating whether you can afford the mortgage, you need to consider the difference between the mortgage payment and what you are currently paying.
If it is a significant step up, will you be able to pay it now and in a few years? Under no condition should you assume you will be making more money in the future. Base everything on what you are making now.
When considering monthly mortgage payments, you also need to factor in the type of mortgage. Interest rates have been at historical lows for some time, but are starting to creep up. If you are taking the plunge on an adjustable mortgage, will you be able to make the payments if the interest rates increase over the next few years? In coming to a conclusion on this, you should assume the rates going up to the caps indicated in the mortgage for the relevant period of time. Again, you don’t want to get stuck in a financial bind because you let your eyes overrule you brains when selecting a home.
Other Expenses
The pride of homeownership comes with a few extra costs. In gauging affordability, many homebuyers fail to take into account the twin evils of property taxes and homeowner’s insurance. The expenses associated with each of these necessary items can be surprisingly high. In some states, property taxes can be an ugly surprise the first year of homeownership. Much like taxes, they are collected in a lump sum and can be thousands of dollars. If you fail to plan for them, your finances can become unbelievably strained.
Buying a home is absolutely the best move you can make if you’re renting. Just make sure you can meet those payments without losing sleep.
Gordon Pate is a 5^th generation resident of Bryan-College Station, his extensive knowledge of the area and its culture helps you get acquainted with Bryan-CollegeStation Real Estate. He offers various homes for sale college station properties that satisfy what you need and what you want.

Earn more with Commercial Real Estate

Commercial Real Estate refers to the property that has potential to generate extra income for the owner of real estate. Commercial real estate generally includes office buildings, retail properties, apartment units, condos and raw land. Every property that can produce revenue for the owner is known as commercial real estate. It doesn’t include habitable real estate like houses or apartment buildings.
In 21st century, large number of people is generating income with commercial real estate. Commercial real estate business is based on certain principles. These principles are generally same for property owner, developer as well as for commercial real estate agent. Commercial real estate agent helps you to identify the best features of commercial real estate agent. Real estate agent enables you to make a finest deal of commercial real estate. Commercial estate agent is helpful to both buyers as well as tenants.
You should choose best commercial real estate as per your requirements. Choose your property at best location that has great future. Commercial real estate at good location will offer more benefits in the coming days. You’ve to choose finest piece of land that you can use efficiently. You may select commercial real estate nearby high traffic areas that can be easily used for full-service restaurants, hotels, stores or other shopping malls.
Investment in commercial real estate business is the best way to get more revenues. Always keep in mind that a right time investment is the best opportunity to earn more profits. You should consult financial advisors that will provide help to find the best commercial real estate. Investment in commercial real estate is good for large as well as small-scale businessmen.
Buyers should check the reputation of commercial real estate provider. Before any type of agreement or purchase, they should check rate, terms & conditions, and other essential aspects of commercial real estate for the best deal.

·         Gordon Pate is a 5^th generation resident of Bryan-College Station, his extensive knowledge of the area and its culture helps you get acquainted with Bryan-College Station Real Estate. He offers various homes for sale college station properties that satisfy what you need and what you want.

Construction Loans

Before you sell yourself short, talk to a mortgage company. Many lenders are more than happy to lend you money for a lucrative project, because it means profitable business for them too. Construction loans are the backbone of many mortgage company portfolios, and if you own a vacant lot that has market value, lenders will normally lend you money based on the collateral of the vacant lot. You get cash to build a new house, and after you sell the completed project you can pay back the loan and pocket the profits.
 Other construction loans allow you to borrow money from the builder's own sources, in the same way that you might borrow money from an auto dealer to pay for the car you buy from them. Construction companies with their own mortgage sources may charge you higher interest rates, however, than conventional lenders.
 Shop around for construction loans. More often than not, deciding on a builder and the best source of funds will take longer than it actually takes to build the house, but it is time well spent. A few interest rate points can make a difference of thousands, or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Talk to lots of lenders and buil

·         Gordon Pate is a 5^th generation resident of Bryan-College Station, his extensive knowledge of the area and its culture helps you get acquainted with Bryan-College Station Real Estate. He offers various homes for sale college station properties that satisfy what you need and what you want.

Creative Real Estate Investment

An example of creative real estate investment? When I was young, I had a job that paid $3.40 an hour, and I somehow saved enough to buy my first piece of real estate - 2 acres near where I lived. It cost $3,500.
I spent a few hours removing brush, outlined a driveway with logs, and hand painted a sign. Two weeks after I bought it I sold the land for $4,750, with $250 down, $100 per month, at 11% interest. With the capital gain, my annual return on investment was over 20%. This was my first real estate investment.
Creative Real Estate Investment - The Key
I bought the land cheap, because the seller needed fast cash. I solved his problem. I sold the land higher than the market value because the buyer needed easy terms. Second problem solved. Solving problems is the key to  creative real estate investment.
Cell phone companies, radio stations, police departments and others need hill tops for their towers. The problem is that they can't tie up their capital buying them. One creative investor found a way to solve their problem.
He got six month options on hill top properties for a few hundred dollars. Then, when he found those who needed them, he would get a long term lease signed. They built the tower themselves, of course. With a lease in hand, it was easy to get financing to exercise the option and buy the properties. He invested a few hundred dollars to create years of income.
Trees are needed by lumber mills. A friend of mine solved this problem by letting a company cut half the trees on his small property. They paid $4,500, and I couldn't see the difference when they were done. The property was worth as much the day after the cut as the day before. My friend lived there, but a creative investor could buy property like his, sell half the trees, maybe clay or gravel too, and then re-sell the land.
To solve problems, you have to figure out what they are. Do people need easy terms? Cleared lots? Lumber? Better access to a piece of property? Smaller pieces of land? Condos instead of apartments? The list could go on. Just remember that solving problems is the key to creative real estate investment.

·         Gordon Pate is a 5^th generation resident of Bryan-College Station, his extensive knowledge of the area and its culture helps you get acquainted with Bryan-College Station Real Estate. He offers various homes for sale college station properties that satisfy what you need and what you want.

Climbing The Equity Ladder

If you currently find yourself in the enviable position of looking to buy a second property then congratulations. The equity that you stand to gain from this purchase can be considerable, just remember to plan properly, to maximize your gain. The first step in this process is to decide what the second home will be utilized for. Is it a vacation home? Perhaps a long or short-term rental? Either way, the more detailed about your forward planning you are, the smoother the process will be.
If you are looking at this purchase as a source of revenue then there are certain steps that you should take to ensure the home will bring in as much money as possible, thereby allowing you to pay off the mortgage quickly. For this type of investment, the cleaner the better. Nice homes are in high demand, and they fetch a good monthly rate. Enough so that the mortgage payment can be made easily with cash to spare. Also, ask yourself, "am I ready to be a landlord?" This will involve the task of finding and maintaining good tenants, and sometimes having to do what's right for you and your property, not what's right for the renters. If you have the tendency to be "too nice," land lording might not be for you.
No matter what your property is intended for, be sure to cover all the bases. Be as diligent as you were when buying your first home. Even more so, you will be able to apply any lessons you learned during that process on the new home, and avoid any mistakes or area of stress that were present in the first purchase. Many people buy a second house only to find themselves buying yet another. Once you start to climb the equity ladder its kind of hard to stop!
 Gordon Pate is a 5^th generation resident of Bryan-College Station, his extensive knowledge of the area and its culture helps you get acquainted with Bryan-College Station Real Estate. He offers various homes for sale college station properties that satisfy what you need and what you want.

What You Need To Do To Get A Foreclosure

If you want to make money today in the real estate market, one way is to get a foreclosure.  Foreclosures are properties that the bank has regained because the owner defaulted on the loan.  They are usually owned by mortgage lenders and in some cases, the government.  Finding foreclosures in the market today are easy.  They are everywhere.
Years ago, foreclosures were rarely seen and when they were, they were located in undesirable areas.  Today, they are seen in the most upscale neighborhoods.  When the real estate bubble burst, it took a lot  of people with it, including a lot of developers.  There are entire subdivisions in some states that have been foreclosed upon by banks.
If you want to make some money in the real estate market today, you can do so by purchasing a foreclosure.  Foreclosures are sometimes in need of cosmetic repair.  People get angry as they are getting evicted and sometimes do damage to the home.  Most of the damage, however, is all cosmetic.  If you are handy, you can fix up the property easily enough.
You will have to be able to prove that you can purchase the property before you can even bid on the foreclosure.  This means that the first person you should see is the lender.  Your lender can take you through the process of getting a mortgage and issue a pre approval letter.  This states that the lender is willing to loan you a certain amount of money for a piece of property.  A pre approval letter is something that is necessary if you want to bid on foreclosed property.  The bank or lending institution does not want to work with someone who is not going to be able to buy the property.
There will be no contingencies.  You will have to be ready to close.  Inspections are usually done at your own expense prior to the acceptance of the contract.  You should have an older home inspected for a variety of different reasons.  It is well worth the few hundred dollars it will cost to do this.
You will also have to have a certified check for the earnest money.  Earnest money is a deposit that you put down for the home that pretty much states you are serious about committing to purchase the home.  If you default on the contract, you will forfeit your earnest money.   The amount of earnest money varies and is usually a few thousand dollars.
If you are planning on buying the home with cash, you will have to have proof that you have the cash on hand and are ready to close.  This can be simply a bank statement that reflects the amount of the cash.  A cash buyer is always preferred over a mortgage buyer, even one who has been pre approved.  This may put you at the head of the line.
You can then bid on the property.  Remember that the bank or lending company simply wants to recoup their investment.  Bid low and hope for the best.  You may have to bid on several foreclosures before you get accepted.
Gordon Pate is a 5^th generation resident of Bryan-College Station, his extensive knowledge of the area and its culture helps you get acquainted with Bryan-College Station Real Estate. He offers various homes for sale college station properties that satisfy what you need and what you want.

Budget For Closing Costs – Prepaid Loan Interest And Home Insurance Premiums

Entering into escrow on a home can be both exciting and stressful. The excitement comes from knowing you are close to moving into the new home. The stress comes from issues that will arise.
Budget for Closing Costs – Prepaid Loan Interest and Home Insurance Premiums
As part of any closing, you need to go through certain steps to make sure you are both getting what you think you have purchased as well as paying for it. Each of these steps has an associated cost, known as closing costs, and you have to pay them before you can take possession of the home. If you do not, the deal will not close and you will lose the home.
When going through escrow, costs associated with closing can accumulate quickly. Here is a closer look.
Prepaid loan interest is an ugly little surprise for many first time homebuyers. The lender will often require you to pay the interest that accumulates between the day the loan is funded and the day you are actually scheduled to make your first loan payment. Many people mistakenly believe they have roughly a month before they have to start paying. This is rarely the case, and the sudden requirement to pay a hundreds or thousands of dollars can be a nightmare. If at all possible, you should try to get the lender to fund the loan as close as possible to the actual closing date, even on it. Try to avoid closing the loan on a Monday. The lender will have to fund the loan the previous work week, which means interest will be growing.
Homeowners insurance is something you are going to need and most people expect as much when buying a home. If you are not informed, however, you will be surprised at closing when you find out you have to pay the full premium for the first year of the policy. Depending on the value of your purchase, this can add a couple hundred dollars to thousands of dollars onto your closing costs. Again, it is important to budget for this cost when putting funds together prior to purchasing a home.
If you are going to purchase a home, you are going to have to pay these two items at closing. Make sure you budget for them to avoid running into cash flow problems.
Gordon Pate is a 5^th generation resident of Bryan-College Station, his extensive knowledge of the area and its culture helps you get acquainted with Bryan-College Station Real Estate. He offers various homes for sale college station properties that satisfy what you need and what you want.

Bank Foreclosures

Bank foreclosure real estate, also referred to as REOs (Real Estate Owned), is foreclosed real estate that is owned by the bank due to an unsuccessful foreclosure auction. There are several reasons the home may have not sold at the auction. The most common reason is negative equity- the bank foreclosure real estate is worth less than the amount owed to the bank. Of course, the bank seeks to receive the outstanding balance of the original loan; therefore, the minimum bid for the bank foreclosure real estate is usually the amount of the outstanding balance of the original loan, plus interest and any additional fees. No smart investor or buyer will consider bidding on such a property.
Nevertheless, an unsuccessful sale will not stop the bank from trying to make an attempt to get the bank foreclosure real estate sold. The bank will consider removing some or all liens and fees on the bank foreclosure real estate in order to get it on the real estate market and resell it to the public. The resell process may be retrying an auction or working through a Realtor.
This is a hot market for real estate investors. Real Estate investors take an eager interest in bank foreclosure real estate property. The market of foreclosed homes may be large; but, not always suitable for some investors. The foreclosed property may not meet some important needs. Nowadays home buyers and investors alike are scrambling through the market of bank foreclosure real estate looking for better deals. Though, most bank foreclosure real estate property is in poor condition, the low sale price of the home highly compensates for the property poor condition.
Investing in bank foreclosure real estate property offers a great return for investors. Bank foreclosure real estate by far offers greater deals than typical foreclosed homes. As an investor you must consider all your options. Make sure you get the bank foreclosure real estate property at the best price. Hopefully, the bank foreclosure real estate that an investor chooses to invest in will give the investor rewards; such as a larger return in profit, either through renting the home out or through selling the home.
There are several ways to search for bank foreclosure real estate property.  You can search the Internet, magazines, and newspaper listings. The Internet can lead you to thousands maybe millions of connections. Here you can view listing by state, banks, county, and much more.
You should also invest time in finding a good real estate agent.  If they know what you are looking for, they can save you a lot of time and work.  They can also help you determine the true market value of the home you are considering investing in.

Gordon Pate is a 5^th generation resident of Bryan-College Station, his extensive knowledge of the area and its culture helps you get acquainted with Bryan-College Station Real Estate. He offers various homes for sale college station properties that satisfy what you need and what you want.

Bangkok Rental Market Thrives

Thailand Property Report by Dawn Ferguson  –  With housing allowances in the range of  Bt70,000 to Bt100,000 a month, Bangkok’s  high-paid expatriates have money to burn - and they want homes with all the Western-amenities they’re accustomed too.
For condominium and apartment owners, this segment of the market is a potential gold mine, particularly given most of these expects are here on a short-term basis. The statistics certainly are promising, but as competition grows, it’s not an easy market to enter.
CB Richard Ellis Thailand executive director James Pitchon told Property Report Thailand that demand for high-end rentals increased in 2006 and the number of expatriates in Bangkok with work permits grew to 67,412 in 2006, a 12.5% increase year on year according to statistics by the Alien Occupational Control division of the Department of Employment. The largest segment of this market is Japanese - 22% - as the so-called “land of the rising sun” is the largest foreign direct investor in Thailand.
Pitchon noted that the rental market is in actuality even higher, as those numbers exclude diplomats and agencies such as the United Nations. They also exclude foreigners without work permits, but Pitchon says they consider most of these to be part of the retiree market, who traditionally buy their units.
“The good news is that demand increased. Last year there was only a limited amount of new supply in apartments, and there were only about 330 units completed last year. But the number of condominium units grew by over 4,000 units. That will continue to be the case in the next two to three years,” he said, but added this figure excluded serviced apartments, which are considered a very different product – somewhere in between a hotel and an apartment. Many now have a hotel license, so they’re operating on a more short-term basis.
“From a supply point of view, the big question is, how many of these apartments are expat quality, and how many owners of these new condominiums will want to lease them out?” asks Pitchon. ”Recently a new supply has appeared in the downtown area, and there’s been a greater focus on small sized units, many of them aimed at the Thai market, so not all the new condo supply will be of a standard that appeals to expats, but there are a lot of condo units.”
Pitchon says the proportion of owner occupation and units purchased by people on a buy-to-lease basis varies from building to building: “Of the developments that are just coming up to completion, the number that will be available for rent ranges between 30-50% at the moment. So, although demand has risen, there will be quite a lot of condominium supply coming on.”
This means that competition is going to be tight in the coming year. Generally, expats given the choice would prefer a single ownership apartment, says Pitchon, because the owner is able to service all their requirements whereas in a condo the owner might not even be in Thailand. And in many cases the owner has not put in place a local manager to look after his apartment. So the challenge for condominium owners who have bought to lease out is how to manage their units because tenants will have questions.
“So if the air conditioner breaks down, who’s going to fix it? It will not be the staff looking after the common areas of the condominium, because their responsibility is not private property. So owners must think about how they will manage and maintain the units.”
This includes implementing pest control contracts, regular A/C maintenance contracts, and, most importantly, there has to be a clear understanding between the owner and the tenant of who’s responsible for doing what.
The most popular area for expats is still Sukhumvit, followed by Central Lumpini and the Sathorn area. There are two satellites, one being around the International School of Bangkok and there is also a smaller cluster around Bangkok Pattana School. As for the up-and-coming riverside, currently there is limited demand from expatriate tenants, generally because of access issues. A small segment of expats are heading to other areas, such as Thonglor. “Again you’ve got access to the skytrain but in a slightly lower density environment,” said Pitchon.
The expat rental market is driven generally by housing allowances granted to employees and employees generally spend all of their allowances, but not put their own money in. “The biggest change in the market has been that Japanese with families now receive higher allowances than they did previously,” says Pitchon. “Some will give Bt70,000 or Bt75,000 for a three-bedroom apartment. The Japanese tend to be at the lower end of the market but they are a significant level of demand.
“What’s happened is that much of the existing stock is over 10 years old. We’ve seen very few apartments built since the financial crisis over the last 10 years, more condominiums, and what has been happening is that new supply, with smaller units, is actually getting higher rents because it looks better. Modern design.”
As for housing rentals, Pitchon says the market is small because there a limited supply of homes in central areas, including in the Sukhumvit area. “Sansiri on 67 had rented well, but there is a limited market for people with over Bt100,000 a month to spend,” he said. “There are few companies that pay that kind of housing allowance.”
As for two-tiered pricing for Thais and Foreigners, there really isn’t a Thai rental market. Given that Thais have the freedom to buy and sell what they choose, unlike foreigners, those with high salaries and incomes just won’t go out and rent 75,000 a month apartments. So there is no Thai market above Bt15,000 a month.
“The rental market is efficient in terms of transparent pricing, information on products and a regular turnover,” said Pitchon. “So if a building doesn’t maintain its standards, then new expats will not move in.”

Gordon Pate is a 5^th generation resident of Bryan-College Station, his extensive knowledge of the area and its culture helps you get acquainted with Bryan-College Station Real Estate. He offers various homes for sale college station properties that satisfy what you need and what you want.

Bakersfield California Real Estate

Bakersfield, California, is located in Kern County, 100 miles NW of Los Angeles, California. Bakersfield has a population of 247,057. It has become a popular place for visitors en route to and from Las Vegas and Los Angeles, who stop for outdoor adventures such as whitewater rafting on the Kern River or hot air ballooning over the San Joaquin Valley.
Agriculture is king in Bakersfield. The region grows over 250 types of crops, with about 30 types of fruits and nuts, 40 types of vegetables, and over 20 field crops. Lumber, livestock, poultry and dairy products are also big industries here. The area is also home to the California State University, and Bakersfield College, and numerous museums and galleries.
Bakersfield Homes
Bakersfield properties pool is 83,428 residential properties including Bakersfield new homes. The median age of real estate in Bakersfield is 1979. The average household size is 3.41 people. 3% are one bedroom homes, 14% are 2 bedroom homes, 56% are 3 bedroom homes, 22% are 4 bedroom homes, and 2% are 5+ bedroom homes.
Bakersfield Mortgage Statistics
Homes With No Mortgage 18%
Homes With Mortgage 82%
First Mortgage Only 63%
First & Second Mortgage or HELOC 19%
Bakersfield Area Real Estate Tax
Bakersfield Real estate Tax: Median Real Estate Taxes (2000) were $1,422 comparing to 1999 Median Family income $ 45,556. Compare to USA median yearly Real Estate Tax $1,300 and USA median Family Income $42,000 (1999).
Bakersfield School District: Children make up 32.7% of Bakersfield population. Bakersfield has 80,683 under 18 years old residents, or 0.81 kids per one worker, or 0.97 kids per one household.
Bakersfield Real Estate & Bakersfield Homeownership
There are 18354.16 or 22% one person households, 23359.84 or 28% two person households, and 14182.76 or 17% three person households in Bakersfield, California. Median residents age is 30.1, Senior citizens (65+) make up 21,681 or 8.8%% of Bakersfield population.
There are 99,769 workers (over 16 years of age) in Bakersfield. Of these, 92.68% drive to work. Approximately 1.73% of workers in Bakersfield take public transportation. An estimated 1.32% walk to work.
Median Bakersfield homeowner's housing expenses are 22%
Crime in Bakersfield (2003), crimes per 10,000 residents per year
Violent Crimes 61.28
Robberies 17.77
Aggravated Assaults 40.88
Property Crimes 570.8
Burglaries  109
Larceny-Thefts 381.09
Motor Vehicle Thefts 80.71
Invest in Bakersfield Properties
When making a decision about buying real estate in Bakersfield California area, you should consider the following statistical data:
Near Medium City        
Near Large City  Los Angeles, California
Bakersfield Zip Codes  93301, 93304, 93305, 93306, 93307, 93308, 93309, 93311, 93312, 93313, 93314
Bakersfield Area Codes 661
White population  61.87%
African-American population 9.16%
Asian  4.33%
American Indian & Alaskan
Hispanic (of any race) 32.45%
Median Family Income (1999)  $ 45,556%
Population Below Poverty Level  17.72%

Gordon Pate is a 5^th generation resident of Bryan-College Station, his extensive knowledge of the area and its culture helps you get acquainted withBryan-College Station Real Estate. He offers various homes for sale college stationproperties that satisfy what you need and what you want.

Real Estate Services India

India's real estate market is getting very, very warm.
 It still may be a fragmented industry with high transaction costs and an absence of transparency, but it is whetting the appetites of domestic and overseas investors. In India, changing government policies and a focus on infrastructure are driving up the demand for housing developments, malls and offices.
"For investors seeking the high returns that are no longer possible in the mature European and North American real estate markets, India and China are hot," said Prakash Gurbaxani, the chief executive of TSI Ventures in Bangalore, a joint venture of Tishman Speyer Properties of New York and ICICI Bank, based in Mumbai.
"Every foreign investor group, including pension funds, high-net-worth individuals and private equity funds, are all looking at this sector," said Gurbaxani, whose company has planned to invest more than $1 billion in the industry in the next few years.
 In the past, investors were wary of the opaque business practices in Indian real estate. The land laws were archaic, mortgage financing was expensive and the quality of the developments was poor.
But these days, India's $12 billion real estate market is expanding at a 30 percent annual rate. Analysts at Merrill Lynch predict that the real estate market will grow to $90 billion in 10 years.

 Foreign and domestic investors are eagerly scouring this market, but only recently has real estate begun attracting meaningful amounts of capital, said Rajesh Khanna, managing director in India of the private equity firm Warburg Pincus. In the past year, Warburg Pincus has dedicated a third of its resources in India toward creating and evaluating real estate investment opportunities.
 Next month, the real estate developer DLF Universal will have a public offering that is expected to raise more than $3 billion in what is billed as India's biggest share sale. It tops earlier public offerings such as the $2.3 billion share sale of the government's Oil and Natural Gas Corp. two years ago.
Kushal Pal Singh, the chairman of DLF and one of India's richest men, is credited with turning a sleepy New Delhi suburb into a bustling zone of fancy malls and offices. DLF has projects in 18 cities but plans to expand to 36.
Last year India's government eased restrictions on foreign ownership of real estate, construction and housing companies. Foreign developers can have wholly owned subsidiaries in India if they invest $10 million. Foreign companies can build commercial and residential buildings if the projects exceed 50,000 square meters, or about 538,000 square feet.
Last month, the California Public Employees Retirement System invested $100 million in a real estate fund floated by IL&FS Investment Managers of India. In March, Morgan Stanley's real estate investment arm said it would pay $68 million for a minority stake in an Indian property firm, Mantri Developers.

1.       Gordon Pate is a 5^th generation resident of Bryan-College Station, his extensive knowledge of the area and its culture helps you get acquainted with Bryan-College Station Real Estate. He offers various homes for sale college station properties that satisfy what you need and what you want.

Real Estate Search Engine Marketing Options

Search Engine Marketing: Options for Real Estate Agents
Using search engines has become one of the most popular activities on the Internet, second only to email. But with millions of websites and billions of web pages, potential homebuyers need a tool that can sift through this clutter to find the realtor websites relevant to their search.
Thanks mostly to the techniques pioneered by Google, search engines have become remarkably effective at providing results that are highly relevant to the term or phrase the user searches on like
Homes for Sale. But to be relevant, you have to be found, and this is where search engine marketing comes in.
What is Search Engine Marketing?
You may have great inventory, a fantastic local clientele, and a high-end new website, but if that website doesn't show up on the first two pages of Google (or Yahoo, MSN, or Ask Jeeves), you're not getting the exposure you need to remain competitive.
Why aren't you showing up? You may have overlooked search engine marketing. Effective search engine marketing is about more than just optimizing your website or submitting it to the search engines for indexing. When hundreds or thousands of your competitors are competing with you on your service and keywords, just one Internet marketing technique won't give you high rankings.
Studies have proven what most Internet users know already - people usually do not look past the first two pages of search results. And with over 71% of homebuyers initiating their home search on the Internet (according to the National Association of Realtors), you can't afford to miss out on all of those active buyers. And if your site isn't ranked high, it probably isn't pulling in leads either - leads that translate to more sales and more commissions.
How does it work?
Unlike organic search engine optimization, which you (or your webmasters) can do yourself, search engine marketing requires a little financial investment to generate results. It's pay to play, but the rewards are worth it.
Generally speaking, search engine marketing is the advertising that appears on top of or along side the "natural" or organic search results on search engine sites such as Google, MSN, Yahoo and many others, usually under the heading of "Sponsored Links" or "Sponsored Sites." These links can also show up on many consumer and industry-specific websites, depending on the keywords used like Fort Myers Beach Florida Real Estate.
The copy that you see in the advertisement is usually written by the site owner, who will also come up with the keywords and keyword phrases trigger the ad. The site owner also determines how much she is willing to pay for each click as well as daily maximum limit, giving total control of targeting and spending. Advertising charges are only incurred when a visitor clicks on the ad, not when the ad is shown.
Although sponsored listings are a popular way to conduct your search engine marketing, there are other ways to get great results. Many real estate agents are finding that having the time and expense of a good search engine marketing service done for them by a third-party is a great way to go.
Getting traffic to your real estate website
In addition to buying sponsored (paid) listings, lead tracking, and email marketing excellent strategies for drawing relevant real estate leads to your real estate website. All of these methods work quite well and give you a high return on investment, when done properly that is. If you do not have the time or energy to invest in creating your own real estate marketing campaign for search engines, you can always leave it to the experts to create a custom-designed solution for you.
But let's look at each of the above methods in more detail.
Sponsored (Paid) Listings
As mentioned above, sponsored, or paid listings are a great way to get fast visibility on the major search engines.
Google AdWords is by far the most popular sponsored listings program, mainly because the Google network is used by 80% of all Internet users. The AdWord program allows you to create your own ads based upon the keywords most relevant to your business. You can also choose to have Google write the ad for you for an extra fee.
Lead Tracking
Sponsored listings and SEO can help attract leads, but to truly get the most out of SEM, you will want to develop a lead tracking system to target the customers and prospects most likely to be interested in your services.
Lead tracking brings both short- and long-term benefits to your company - giving you instant access to information about each sales prospect while also helping to streamline and manage the sales process.
Lead tracking not only helps you attract more customers, it also tracks your return on investment, so you know exactly how much each lead is worth, how many leads convert into transactions, and your overall return on investment in your advertising dollars.
Email Marketing
So now you have high rankings on the search engines and lead tracking is bringing in numerous high-quality prospects. Now what? Email marketing is the icing on the SEM cake - it impresses your prospects by allowing you to send them valuable information on the market and it helps you to stay fresh in their minds.
Relevant Real Estate Website Traffic
At Fidelity Assets we have a better way. We charge you a flat fee every month for the number of visitors you want sent to your site from the search engines. That's it. Your costs are fixed, and your traffic and quality is guaranteed. You can start with as few as 30 visitors a month for a flat $59.95/month fee. You can buy more traffic as your business grows over time.
Fidelity Assets was created and is staffed by search engine marketing experts. Our company manages online advertising for real estate agents, and our employees are veterans of companies such as NBC Internet, Xoom.com, Infoseek, CNET and other pioneering advertising and e-commerce companies. We know the online ad space better than anyone.

1.       Gordon Pate is a 5^th generation resident of Bryan-College Station, his extensive knowledge of the area and its culture helps you get acquainted with Bryan-College Station Real Estate. He offers various homes for sale college station properties that satisfy what you need and what you want.

Creative ways to advertise your home

With the advent of the Internet a whole new market has opened in the advertising world.  There are virtual worlds being created every day to introduce the world of consumers to new products.  Why not use this innovative way to sell your home.
It is possible to create a free web site with many different web hosting companies.  This includes Yahoo and Bravenet.  You can log on and set up an account for absolutely no charge.  Both of these sites have a What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) site builder.  You can create a beautiful, informative web site for nothing. 
Using this concept, you can advertise your home to the world.  Making up flyers with the web site address printed on them will allow you to send interested parties through a virtual tour of your home.  You can put these flyers in a special bin under the “For Sale” sign in the front lawn.  You can even put them up at the local grocery store or laundry mat.  By taking video of your home and narrating it, you can show off your house as no one else could.  You can point out all the unique features which made you buy the home in the first place.  Then you can point out the hidden ones which made you fall in love with the place while you lived there.
There are sites which allow you to advertise for free, like Craig's List, on the Internet.  Many homes have been bought and sold on this virtual “classifieds” section of the web.  Investors are always looking here for their next purchase.  Whether you want to reach the people in your local area or the ones across the country, you can do it with Craig's List.
Other sites specialize in For Sale By Owner (FSBO) properties.  Some of  them charge a fee while others allow you to enter your listing for free.  Many of these web sites offer informational videos which explain the entire process from deciding to sell to closing the deal.  You can even find contracts and other forms you may need.  You can chat with other FSBO sellers to see what they are doing to market their homes.  Many great ideas come from listening to others. 
Of course the traditional sign in the yard will let those in your neighborhood know you are selling your home.  However, asking your neighbors in for a private showing can also bring in some great potential buyers.  You can do it in a neat way by calling up your friends and neighbors and saying something like this.  “Hi Jane, I just wanted to invite you and Bob over on Saturday.  Bill and I are putting our house on the market and we thought you may know someone who might want to take a look at it.  How does 1 o'clock sound?”  You got their attention, went straight to the point and let them know they could bring someone to look at the house.  You can explain the details later in the conversation.  Things like it is only going to be for a half hour because you have someone else coming at 1:45 gets the ball rolling.  If “Jane and Bob” know anyone who thought about moving into the neighborhood, this is their time to shine.  Remember, people like to shine.  If you do this with ten of your friends and neighbors, you just got some of the best advertising money could buy, word of mouth.
When you sell a home, think of it as a marketing game. You have the product, now find your market.  Ask yourself who would want your house and where would you find them.  This is always the best place to start when selling anything and a house is no different.  There are many creative buyers.  Be a creative seller.

Contact or visit Gordon Pate for more details.

Business Rentals

If you are thinking of investing in commercial real estate, consider business rentals.  Business rentals range from storage facilities, office buildings, storefronts and strip malls.  While some commercial real estate investors build business rentals and then act as a property manager, others simply purchase buildings and renovate them so they are suitable for business rentals. 
Commercial real estate college station investing has many facets.  When most people think about commercial real estate investments, they think about giant malls or industrial parks.  Few think of small business rentals that also encompass commercial real estate properties. 
When purchasing a business rental, make sure that there is a lease in place or you have a client in mind who wants to lease the property.  Few people invest in commercial real estate upon speculation as it can be quite risky.  It is financially prudent to seek a sound investment when choosing business rentals.  Business rentals in blighted area are risky at best.  Commercial real estate in a declining area is usually not a good idea.  Location is the most important aspect of any real estate investment. 
Before investing in a piece of commercial real estate, an investor must perform due diligence.  Due diligence with regard to business rentals includes the following:
Ÿ  An inspection of the property to make sure it is structurally sound;
Ÿ  Environmental inspection if required;
Ÿ  Zoning consideration - if you are planning on making a change in the type of business rental, make sure that the current zoning is applicable;
Ÿ  A survey of the property with all easements included;
Ÿ  A title insurance commitment detailing any liens, covenants, restrictions or tax problems recorded against the property.
In addition, make sure you are aware of all the applicable laws in the municipality where the property is located.  You would not want to purchase a piece of property to lease for a tavern if the municipality does not allow liquor.  When considering business rentals, take a look at the surrounding area and see what will work well in the community.
Storage facilities are another example of business rentals.  Companies and individuals use storage facilities to keep items they cannot keep in their office or home.  Business rentals such as storage facilities, make good commercial real estate investments. 
Other business rentals include strip malls, office buildings, office complexes, storefronts and free standing structures.  People invest in business rentals for many different types of reasons, the main one because it is a steady source of income for the investor.  The loan on the property can be paid off by the individual or business renting the property and, if your commercial real estate investment is in a location where the properties appreciate in value, you can earn money years down the road when you sell the property, or you can continue to hold onto the property and gain the income from the business rental. 
Business rentals can be a good solid investment if an investor has knowledge of the real estate college station market, invests in a desirable location, performs proper due diligence and is mindful of what is needed in the area in which the property is located. 
For a complete list of business rentals good for investment click here.

Commercial Real Estate Investing

Because the bottom has fallen out of the residential real estate market, real estate investors have now turned to commercial real estate investing.  Commercial real estate college station investing has many different options for the savvy investor.  Some of them are as follows:

1.       Investing in a retail shopping center as part of a joint venture with several other investors.  This enables you to take less of a risk and get some experience in investing in commercial real estate college station without it costing you a lot of money.  Make sure you know plenty about your partners as well as the property that you will be purchasing;
2.       New construction.  If you have been a project manager or general contractor, you may be able to swing commercial real estate college station new construction as long as you are aware of the different codes.  Commercial real estate new construction is much different than residential new construction.  There are different building codes for commercial buildings that vary from different municipalities.  You have to be familiar with the codes when building commercial property;
3.       Rehabbing or refurbishing older buildings and preparing them for business use.  Again, you need to have some knowledge of building codes and requirements;
4.       Buying a storefront property or free standing store and leasing it to a business.  You need to know about the location, make sure you have a solid lease with a reliable and stable renter and proceed to reap a profit on the rental income while paying off the property at the same time.
Those are just four examples of commercial real estate investing.  No matter what you decide to do, remember the three most important aspects of real estate investment:
 1.       Location;
2.       Location;
3.       Location.
 This is an old and well worn saying, but bears repeating because it is so integral to any type of real estate investment, commercial or residential.  If you purchase a storefront in a blighted area it may be cheap, but unless you plan on working in the store all day and every day and worrying about getting robbed  or murdered on a daily basis, stay away from blighted areas. 
You want to make sure that there is a need for the commercial real estate college station you plan to develop or in which you wish to invest.  Office buildings and complexes are usually always in demand as professionals and others are usually looking for cheap office space. 
 In older towns and cities, there are areas in which older homes are being turned into office buildings and stores.  In “historic districts” in towns, there is an effort to refurbish older homes and increase the value of the property in the area.  These are also an ideal option for those who are thinking of commercial real estate investing.
Use any knowledge you have regarding real estate college station when deciding on commercial real estate investing and make any skills you have work for you.  By doing as much as you can with regard to construction, rehabbing or even property management, you can add income to your investment.  Always remember to purchase property in a good location or up and coming location so that it will appreciate in value.
When making investments in remax properties college station, you can consult with Gordon Pate.

Financing your Commercial Real Estate Investment

There are many different ways for financing your commercial real estate investment.   You can either go to a bank or join an investment group that will finance the rest of the project.  There are good reasons for choosing either of these options.
If you are planning on investing in your own commercial real estate venture, financing your commercial real estate college station investment will probably take place at your local bank.  You will have to come up with a good part of the money for the project, a detailed business report, a statement of assets and liabilities and other documentation that states how you are going to pay for the property and how it is going to be used.  They will also want to see a business plan as well as information from the municipality where the property is located prior to loaning you money.
Getting a bank loan can be time consuming, but if you are planning on making a career out of investing in commercial real estate college station, this is an excellent opportunity to build up a relationship with your banker.  Once you have established a good credit history with your banker, chances are that they will be willing to lend you more money in the future at a better rate.
You will also most likely have to provide any financial information pertaining to yourself as well as income tax statements.  If your business is incorporated, you will have to show proof that it is in good standing with the state in which it is incorporated when financing your commercial real estate college station investment through a bank.
If you do not wish to pay interest rates or fees charged by a bank, you can enter into a real estate college station partnership with an investment company or investment group when financing your commercial real estate investment.  You will only have to put up a portion of the money, but will have to split the profits with the other partners in the group.  This can be quite beneficial for someone who knows little about the commercial real estate market but wants to make their money earn a higher yield that it would do in a money market account, mutual fund or a bank.
Commercial real estate college station investment is blooming across the United States.  Unlike the residential market, the commercial market is still proving to be a viable option for those who want to invest in the real estate market today.  However, investing in commercial real estate is completely different than investing in residential real estate and financing your commercial real estate investment is also quite different.  You will deal with a bank that is rather stringent in their requirements, or an investment group where you will share in the costs as well as the profit.
As the interest rates are low, financing your commercial real estate college station investment through a bank has never been better than it is right now.  Be forewarned, however, that if you choose this route, you have to know something about what type of investment you are financing, how it will be used, have good credit and have a solid and proven business plan.
For details, information and current remax properties college station, please visit Gordon Pate.

Leasing a Storefront

A storefront is a business that has visibility from the street.  Storefront remax properties college station  are generally leased by those selling items to the public.  Some storefronts are used for restaurants or even business offices.  Leasing a storefront can bring the commercial real estate investor good, steady income.
In many cases, a commercial real estate college station investor will look for storefronts that need construction improvement.  In other cases, old homes in “downtown” areas of different communities are being made into storefronts.  Whether you are improving an existing storefront or turning a or other property into a storefront, it is best to have a qualified renter prior to purchasing the storefront property.
It will be your responsibility, when leasing a storefront, to make sure that the property complies with all local ordinances.  This will relate specifically to advertising, lighting and signs.  If the storefront is a solitary structure, you will also have to insure that the driveway and parking areas are cleared for customers.
Storefront businesses are popular in all parts of the country, especially in cities.  Businesses that sell retail prefer leasing a storefront as it gives them more visibility for the public.  Storefront windows can exhibit the goods in the store to their advantage.  Storefront windows can also exhibit signs and have lettering on the windows, allowing a business drive by advertising.
One way to get a storefront is to purchase property in part of town that is changing from residential to business zoning.  This happens in many areas where they are trying to make an historic area a shopping area in town.  Old homes for sale college station are converted from residential buildings to commercial real estate store fronts.  A commercial real estate investor who wants to make a profit leasing a storefront can do well by purchasing such a property and converting.
To convert an old home into a storefront business you will first have to apply for a zoning change.  If most of the other property is being zoned for business use, you should have no problem as long as the municipality approves your proposed usage of the property.
Prior to investing in commercial real estate college station, especially if you are endeavoring to engage in leasing a storefront, get a title search of the property and learn the covenants, restrictions and conditions that pertain to the property.  These can range from all stores have to have a green roof to no restaurants that sell tacos.  You have to make sure that you know if your business will be prohibited by any existing covenants or restrictions recorded on the property.
Leasing a storefront can be an ideal way to earn a profit when investing in commercial real estate.  Because storefronts are usually easy to lease to businesses because of their visibility, they are rarely vacant when in prospering areas.  As is the case with all commercial real estate investments,  location has everything to do with the success of the business.  Make sure your storefront is in a good location and has a steady traffic flow in order to make this commercial real estate investment work for you.
Look for Gordon Pate when you visit Bryan/College Station.He knows more of the homes for sale college station that you can convert to storefront business establishment.

Real Estate Investment Programs

There are many ways to make money with real estate bryan tx .  You will find infomercials and books anywhere you look telling you how to amass a fortune by dealing in real estate bankruptcies.  Many of these self proclaimed experts are making their money by selling a program.  If the program worked as well as they say it does then why do they advertise so much about what you can afford to buy from the wealth you will make instead of telling you how to do it?  Remember those that can't, teach!
Just because someone says there is money to be made with no money down does not mean it is going to work with every real estate deal that comes along.  You need to understand the rules of real estate bryan tx .  This  is something which many of these guru's forget to mention.  It may work with somebody who is willing to carry a note on the properties.  It will not work on a foreclosure or bankruptcy in which the seller needs the money to rescue themselves from total devastation.  They want money and if you do not have a buyer for the house, the bank is not really going to let you walk out of the closing with the key without some money somewhere in their pocket.
The truth is that anyone can invest in bankruptcies and truly build an empire with the properties they buy.  This is done over time, not over night.  You need to understand the real world of investing before you spend a fortune on programs which are nothing more than scams used when people were so desperate to buy or sell they would try anything.
If you really want to know how to invest in bankruptcies find a real estate investor who has done it. Make sure your source is someone who has put several deals together.  Do not take the word of someone who fell into a great deal because the neighbor's great uncle's wife had a brother who died and left the house to someone who could not afford it.  Gain from experience, not whims.
People who have made money in real estate bryan tx  investing are not afraid to show you what they know.  They are proud of being able to put good deals together. They know there are so many on the market now that no matter what, there is enough for every one to gain from them.  Ask how they did it.  Find out what these experts know.  They will tell you.  You may even be surprised to find they will help you with the first deal.
Many of the experts advertising on television are people who may have made a deal or two. Their real money has come from selling the program you are watching the ad campaign for.  Any reputable real estate investor who is selling their information will usually be doing it in a seminar.  In the seminar you will learn many secrets.  No, not all of them will be revealed.  This is saved for the books or tapes you can buy at the end of the session.  Yet you will find many of the hints and tips being offered in the seminar will work.  You may not get all the lists if you do not buy the book.  These are the lists you can find on your own anyways.
To make sure the program you are deciding about gives references.  Not paid actor claims which state they have made millions doing the exact program to invest in bankruptcies.  Find people who have bought the program and have had success.  A real program that works will have people who can tell you it does work and they have done it.  They will let you know what is wrong with the material or what is outdated.  The program writer will not be afraid to let you talk to these people.  This is because he or she knows the system will work for you.  You can make money with certain real estate bryan tx programs on the market.  You just need to do your homework and decide which one is right for you.
Gordon Pate is a leading consultant and remax realtor bryan tx that you can get in touch with if you want a profitable real estate investment program in Bryan, Texas.