The Why and the How-to of Real Estate Investment - 08/27/09 02:50 AM
These days, Wall Street and the stock market make people a little wary. The idea of investing your money in something that roller-coasters up and down on a regular basis doesn’t exactly sound, well, sound. Besides, it’s complicated. There are stocks and bonds, bull markets and bear markets. You need to know when to sell and when to buy. For that matter, you need to know what to sell and what to buy. The system is all well and good for someone who understands that kind of thing, but you don’t. However, you also don’t want to leave your money sitting … (1 comments)

Getting Office Space on a Budget - 08/27/09 02:48 AM
An office business center is a shared office facility or series of facilities, fully equipped, staffed and furnished to need. Based on a monthly market value, a person or small business can rent a facility or office of this nature. This enables the business to operate with a business setting, at a fraction of the overhead. The businesses in a specific area share common facilities like rest rooms, break or lunch rooms, conference rooms and services such as secretarial, network management, copying and the like. This lowers the overall cost of the small business’ expenses. Many small businesses find that sharing … (0 comments)

Is For Sale By Owner (FSBO) For You? - 08/27/09 02:46 AM
In today’s market many people are faced with choosing the best way to sell their home, however this is a difficult choice to make. The intention of this article is to help a home seller understand what is involved in the process, even if only slightly. This will empower the home seller to make the best choice in any situation.
For many the option to sell a home themselves is often intended to save the 3 to 6% on the real estate agent’s commission. Some budget the marketing by simply figuring in the cost of a news paper ad, maybe some … (2 comments)

Branding: What It is and Why It Helps - 08/27/09 02:44 AM
For some time every cattleman in Texas and throughout the United States brands or marks his herd. This is how he distinguishes his steer from that of a neighboring rancher’s should one wander away from the group when they are, for example, rotating to a different field for feeding. And it is the most intelligent thing he or she can do, because it makes the cattle stand out. Everyone who sees that mark will know: that is one of Smith’s or that is one of Jones’. It’s simple Texas logic. And it is logic you should be using to distinguish yourself … (0 comments)

A New Purpose for Old Buildings - 08/25/09 03:43 PM
Necessity is the mother of invention, goes the old saw, and it's never been truer than in this day and age. With construction on new housing at a slow down, the real estate market in a slump, and - on a seemingly unrelated note - more and more people calling for a global policy of reduce, reuse and recycle, the building and architecture industry has had to take some interesting twists and turns to get to the goal of providing the housing that is greatly in demand.While re-purposing buildings is not a new concept, its popularity had been on the slide … (0 comments)

Creative Housing Solutions for College Bound Children - 08/25/09 03:40 PM
Tuition costs are ridiculous enough, but have you seen what it costs to feed and house your university student lately? There is a growing trend among parents and grandparents of those young people who are off to college to help out with housing in a pretty clever way: buy them a house near their chosen place of study.
Purchasing your student is house for the four years they attend their institute of higher education is an investment in the future - and not just a financial investment either. Usually, a parent or grandparent will purchase a small house with enough rooms … (1 comments)

Sometimes Lawyers Can Be Your Best Friend: Reviewing Mortgage Documents - 08/25/09 03:34 PM
 It is, however, a really good idea to hire one when you're ready to take the mortgage plunge. A mortgage is a serious commitment that requires serious study. You're putting your whole credit rating on the line for 15 or 30 years and you'd best know what you're getting into.
One of the causes of today's horrific real estate crisis is an unfortunate combination of home buyers unable or unwilling to read the documents they're signing and sleazy operators taking advantage of this. On the other hand, oftentimes the unwillingness of the home buyer to read these legal documents results in … (0 comments)

The Closing: What You'll Need to Complete the Deal - 08/25/09 03:29 PM
By the time you get to the closing, you've already done a considerable amount of work. You've listed your own home or notified your landlord of your departure; you've obtained a real estate agent and begun the search for your dream house; you've found that house and made a bid, which has been accepted; and you've readied yourself to make the move into a brand new (for you at least) home. So it would be nice to think that all of the work aside from packing and unpacking is behind you, but it isn't. There are still some things you'll have … (0 comments)

Protecting Your Home From the Top Down : Maintenance is Key to Longevity - 08/25/09 03:26 PM
You want to have good walls; you want to have good floors. You want an interior that reflects a positive nature and gives you a sense of calm. The indoor, the floors and the walls are, after all, what you will see the most of. But they aren't the only things that need taken care of. You need to pay attention to the exterior, too, particularly the exterior you see the least. Protecting your roof, chimney and gutters will guarantee you have a home that is stable from the top down.
Begin with your roof. It takes up nearly half of … (1 comments)

Before You Buy a Home: Financial Planning is Key - 08/25/09 03:24 PM
When you prepared to buy a home, you made a plan. You plotted out an ideal time frame, considered when to list your own house and with whom, and determined what types of properties you wanted to purchase. You determined the right neighborhoods, the right price and the right size. By the time you took action, you were ready for anything and capable of handling any unforeseen (or foreseen) bumps along the way. It was a beautiful thing. So why wouldn't you do the same for your finances?
A financial plan will help you determine what investments you should make, how … (0 comments)

Real Estate: An In-Home Business, With Tax Write Off Perks - 08/15/09 01:58 AM
One of the best parts about being a real estate agent is that you have the power to be your own boss. You may align yourself with a specific over-arching company, but in the end you call the shots. You determine the hours you work - you can do paper work at 5 at night, 5 in the morning or over lunch. You determine how hard you work and, as a result, how much you make. And quite often, you can determine where you work. This means you can work in your home, and when you set up a business in … (1 comments)

The Why and the How-to of Real Estate Investment - 08/15/09 01:55 AM
These days, Wall Street and the stock market make people a little wary. The idea of investing your money in something that ‘roller-coasters’ up and down on a regular basis doesn’t exactly sound, well, sound. Besides, it’s complicated. There are stocks and bonds, bull markets and bear markets. You need to know when to sell and when to buy. For that matter, you need to know what to sell and what to buy. The system is all well and good for someone who understands that kind of thing, but you don’t. However, you also don’t want to leave your money sitting … (0 comments)

When to Outsource - 08/15/09 01:52 AM
Outsourcing is akin to a four-letter word in many parts of America. Jobs that could be held in the States are, instead, being taken by employees in other countries, such as China and India. It is making the idea of outsourcing any aspect of your company a bad one. But sometimes, in real estate, when you’re running your own business, you need to outsource. Fortunately doing so does not require you to find an applicant or company in East Asia. In fact, outsourcing for you will take you no further than Texas and likely no further than Austin.
But, first thing … (1 comments)

Networking to Make a Sale - 08/15/09 01:45 AM
The buzzword, these days, is networking. Social networking via sites such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace are no longer simply ways for college friends to keep in touch or post photos. They are how businesses attract fans and patrons, how celebrities maintain a coveted position of fame (think Ashton Kutcher and Twitter), and how bands get their music heard often for the first time. As a real estate agent, you can use social networking sites to keep in contact with other realtors and keep a pulse on the market/competition. But will Facebook help you sell a home? Probably not; to do … (2 comments)

Investing Internationally - 08/15/09 01:41 AM
There’s something about anything in a foreign country that is alluringly exotic. French wine, whether it is or is not, sounds more luxurious. Italian, Chinese or Thai cuisine has a strong pull for Americans tired of the standard burger or steak. And when it comes to people, while nothing beats the Texas drawl, there is something to be said for an Irish lilt or Australian accent. Is the same true for real estate? Does owning a villa in Tuscany have a stronger appeal than owning a country home in the U.S.? For many it does. International real estate investments are the … (0 comments)

Real Estate: A Home Business for the Future - 08/15/09 01:39 AM
There may be any number of reasons for you to want a business you can operate out of your own home. Maybe you have kids who needed to be carted to football practice, dance lessons, school and essentially all over Austin, as well as a spouse with a long commute. Maybe you want the freedom to control your hours and set your own pace. Maybe you’re just now reentering the business world and aren’t ready for the corporate buildings that house CEOs and loom ominously over Texas. Or maybe you just like the idea of doing paperwork in your pajamas. Whatever … (1 comments)

Branding: What It is and Why It Helps - 08/15/09 01:36 AM
For some time every cattleman in Texas and throughout the United States brands or marks his herd. This is how he distinguishes his steer from that of a neighboring rancher’s should one wander away from the group when they are, for example, rotating to a different field for feeding. And it is the most intelligent thing he or she can do, because it makes the cattle stand out. Everyone who sees that mark will know: that is one of Smith’s or that is one of Jones’. It’s simple Texas logic. And it is logic you should be using to distinguish yourself … (1 comments)

Choosing an Accountant for Your Real Estate Business - 08/15/09 01:31 AM
You are picky about the doctor you see when something is wrong. You don’t want an MD who specializes in orthopedics if the problem lies in your back. Similarly, you wouldn’t look to a large animal veterinarian when your hamster starts wheezing. And you wouldn’t go to a medieval historian for information on the colonization of America or the formation of Austin. You would go to a specialist. You would find a professional who has been trained in that particular area, for that is the only way you would get the date you need. And if you’re pick about those things, … (1 comments)

 

Find TX real estate agents and Austin real estate on ActiveRain.