Johnny Sarkis

Day Five of a Five-Part Series: Greenlining hits the road, targets private foundations

Johnny Sarkis (Long and Foster Real Estate ) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 10:42:21 -0700

Day Five of a Five-Part Series: Greenlining hits the road, targets private foundations

By: MARK TAPSCOTT
Editorial Page Editor
April 16, 2010

(photos.com)

When 10 of California’s largest private foundations announced their agreement in 2008 to put $30 million in new grant money into minority communities, Greenlining Institute Executive Director Orson Aguilar wasn’t all that impressed.

“That’s a start,” said Aguilar, who led a campaign for AB 624, a bill in the state legislature to force the Golden State’s private foundations with assets of $250 million or more to make public extensive data about the demographics of their officers, managers and grant recipients.

The bill was withdrawn when the foundations caved in to demands by Aguilar and other left-wing activists that they give more grants to organizations in minority communities.

Leaders of the foundations knew what would happen if they kept fighting the bill because for many years they had seen Aguilar’s Greenlining Institute in action against banks: He and his allies would put demonstrators on the foundations’ doors shouting charges of racism, demanding “change” and “justice,” and disrupting work in every way possible.

It had worked for years against the banks and now it was working again; only this time against California’s private foundations.
But more recently Aguilar has taken the tactics that worked so well in California on the road. He and other Greenlining leaders are now working with powerful allies in a growing national campaign to gain access to immense resources held by private foundations, many of them family philanthropies devoted to causes that were dear to their founders.

Greenlining Institute: A five-part series on political extortion

Day One:

Day Two:

Day Three:

Day Four:

Day Five:

About Authors

Once Aguilar and his allies get access to those billions of dollars in resources, they will be used to fund more campaigns for even more money, including tapping into government programs and tax-funded budgets.

Greenlining’s tactics are simple. The organization targets a state — so far they’ve gone after foundations in Florida, New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey — and sends a letter to selected foundations “inviting” them to participate in a survey on the racial makeup of their officers and grant recipients.

The results are then used to duplicate the California AB 624 campaign in which the targeted foundations cave voluntarily to Greenlining’s demands. The mere threat of such a campaign is often enough to panic foundation leaders in the targeted states to surrender without firing a shot.

Greenlining “has always had a presence in Washington,” according to the group’s Web site, but a permanent D.C. office was opened last year to facilitate the national campaign and joint efforts with groups like the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy.

Last march, NCRP held a Washington, D.C. news conference to unveil its suggested criteria for judging private foundations: To satisfy the criteria, the foundations had to direct at least half of their funding to minority communities and another quarter to “advocacy, organizing and civic engagement to promote equity, opportunity and justice.”

The foundations also had to add minority representatives on their governing boards, and make their grants for “general operating support” for multiple year terms, thus avoiding accountability issues and assuring long-term revenues.

Just in case any of the targeted foundations thought about rejecting NCRP’s criteria, Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Calif., was there, thanking NCRP and its allies for “giving us in Congress something to work with.” Becerra said a federal tax exemption represented “revenue foregone” by the government and he said Congress “has an obligation to make sure such tax dollars are well-invested.”

In other words, accept NRCP’s criteria or face the prospect of losing your federal tax exemption, which would seriously damage or kill most private foundations.

Aguilar and NCRP’s executive director, Aaron Dorfman shared speaking duties last November at a forum titled “Racial-Ethnic Diversity and Foundations in New York City: The Lessons From the California Experience.”

The forum was hosted by the New York City Collaborative for Fairness and Equity in Philanthropy. It resulted from briefings of the collaborative’s leaders by Greenlining operatives on how the New Yorkers could duplicate Greenlining’s successes.
Among Aguilar’s remarks was this statement: “Now that the electorate is increasingly speaking for greater regulation and scrutiny, the responsibility for overseeing foundations can be transferred from community organizers to Congress itself.”

It was the perfect handoff to Dorfman.

So far, no federal legislation similar to AB 624 has been advanced in Congress, but, as the New York forum illustrates, the campaign to duplicate Greenlining’s California success on a nationwide basis shows no signs of letting up.

About the authors:

Tori Richards is a veteran broadcast and print investigative journalist with CalWatchdog, a project of the Pacific Research Institute. Mark Tapscott is editorial page editor of The Washington Examiner.

Join my Facebook Real Estate FAN PAGE!

Johnny Sarkis

Senior Real Estate Specialist
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Tel: 703-400-9660 703-986-5700

Sarkis Real Estate on Facebook

Get the Right Image With Text to Flickr & Twitter With One Cell Phone Message

Johnny Sarkis (Long and Foster Real Estate ) — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 20:42:40 -0700

Get the Right Image With Text to Flickr & Twitter With One Cell Phone Message
Send an image to Flickr and have it post to Twitter automatically.

By James Kimmons, About.com Guide

See More About:

I've written about how valuable Flickr has become in my image management, and my ability to access them from multiple computers. I've also told you about Twitter, and using it for real estate alerts, and even document sharing, in your local market.

Now, with SnapTweet, I can send an image from my cell phone up to Flickr and, when I insert a special tag, it will also post with a title and description on my Twitter account. This is one text message from my cell phone, and I've accomplished two things. I've used it to send pictures of new construction in the area, as well as to inform my readers and followers about events and civic projects in my area.

My new camera phone, with a 3.2 MP resolution, allows me to take large and detailed photos that have sufficient quality for most of my web work. After all, many of us were using large cameras three years ago with lower resolutions. With many predicting a future for micro-blogging, the shorter more recent breaking news post, my cell phone and these two free online tools are going to help.

Before this new phone and higher camera resolution, I was always catching myself without my large camera, or out of battery power when I needed it. I realized that I always had my phone, and a spare battery in my pocket, so I upgraded to get the image resolution to allow me to never be without a camera when I needed it.

Join my Facebook Real Estate FAN PAGE!

Johnny Sarkis

Senior Real Estate Specialist
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Tel: 703-400-9660 703-986-5700

Sarkis Real Estate on Facebook

Using Technology for Real Estate Brokerage Growth & Agent Retention

Johnny Sarkis (Long and Foster Real Estate ) — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 20:39:00 -0700

Using Technology for Real Estate Brokerage Growth & Agent Retention
Using Technology Development to Change The Way You Do Business

By James Kimmons, About.com Guide

See More About:

There is certainly a great deal of pressure on our industry. It's not just the changes brought on by the Internet. Consumers are becoming more demanding, and there is continual pressure to lower real estate commissions. Of course, the Internet is spurring many changes in how we deliver our core services as well. One argument for lower commissions is the efficiency added by new technology.

Rather than lamenting the technology changes, or avoiding investment in new technology solutions as long as possible, why not embrace it and let it help you to change the way that you do business? Technology investment can pay back in many ways, and that includes possible major changes in how you charge your clients for services, and how you compensate agents.

This is the first article in a series I'll write on using technology to change your brokerage business. In this one, let's talk specifically about our current compensation models. Let's look at a few things about human nature and the business needs of our agents first:

Most of your agents are also struggling with technology.
Your agents are reading about the need for them to have an effective web presence that probably includes blogging.
They are also getting into social and online business networking.
Some of them have more knowledge about the tech stuff than you do.
Realizing that the Internet can be a major source of business outside of brokerage leads, they are examining their options.
Most agents would respond well to a brokerage that provides them with business-building solutions.
Your agents realize there is a cost for tech in money and time. Done right, they'll trade commission split percentage for a system that works for them.

The franchise or large brokerage that first makes maximum use of the technology available to them will be a major force in the future of real estate. Providing a turnkey and technologically advanced office and marketing environment to agents, retention will be much higher, and production the same. What are the major points to consider?

A brokerage Web presence that fosters agent individuality and automates some of the lead distribution based on agent involvement (multi-author blogging)
A backbend lead management solution that allows remote access, agent management of their leads, and reports for agents and brokerage (Intranet)
Leverage of cell phones, SMS text messaging and social networking to disseminate information and leads to agents, and to receive information from them.
Document storage, transmission and receipt systems for remote access. This would include training documents, videos, transaction documents, etc. (Intranet)
Online faxing (yes there is still a lot of faxing going on) that delivers PDF files to computers for out-of-office access.
A package of solutions that negates the need for a desk in the office if that's what the agent wants.

It is very possible to provide world class support to your agents with them rarely entering the office. Even training can be done remotely now at little or no cost with videocams and high speed internet access. The other side is the cost savings that will result from not tying up 100+ square feet of office space for each agent.

Join my Facebook Real Estate FAN PAGE!

Johnny Sarkis

Senior Real Estate Specialist
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Tel: 703-400-9660 703-986-5700

Sarkis Real Estate on Facebook

Which Is Better For You - A Netbook or a SmartPhone for Real Estate?

Johnny Sarkis (Long and Foster Real Estate ) — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 20:33:40 -0700

Which Is Better For You - A Netbook or a SmartPhone for Real Estate?
As netbooks get smaller and cheaper, it's not a tough call to make.

By James Kimmons, About.com Guide

See More About:

Netbook for Intranet Access

®Jim Kimmo

Now, with the netbook phenomenon hitting the technology world, what's your best choice for a real estate mobility solution? Keep in mind that cost really is no longer a consideration, with netbooks running about the same, or even less than fancy cell phones. You say you can get your phone subsidized by the cell provider? True, but now they're doing the same for netbooks. AT&T and Verizon began the process with $99 netbooks for a two year contract.

Now, let's consider a nine or ten inch screen to that tiny two inch cell screen. And, with many of the 10.1 inch screen netbooks sporting 90%+ size keyboards (compared to notebook computers), we're back to our old standby touch typing. Sorry, but there's simply no comparison in my book. Speaking of my book, here's what I'm carrying, and what I'm doing with it:

HP Mini 2140 Netbook with 10.1 inch screen, 92% notebook size keyboard, 160 GB drive, and 1 GB RAM.
All of this is in a sub-3 pound package, and sports a realistic 6+ hour battery life with the 6 cell battery.
Using WiFi or my cellular broadband modem, I'm in range virtually 100% of the time, and able to work on the Web or do email at broadband speeds.
Using a Webex WebOffice with custom real estate databases, I'm able to do contact management, prospect management, lead, listing and transaction management from anywhere.
In my consulting, I use the built-in VGA camera for video chat, as well as using online screen sharing for instruction.
I am writing this article from the HP Mini, and my typing is every bit as fast as on my desktop full size keyboard.
I search the MLS, display listings to clients, and print them out with a bluetooth connection to my HP 460 printer.

There is no comparison to functionality on the Web. The netbook takes you to a whole new level, with continuous Internet access, and the screen and keyboard necessary to do real work out of the office. Oh, I don't even use the office much anymore, preferring to work from coffee shops, or even in the car when it's convenient and I'm waiting on that buyer late for appointments.

Note: Subsequent to the writing of this article, I became an affiliate with Webex. However, no links in this or any other article on this site result in any payment or credit to me in any way.

Join my Facebook Real Estate FAN PAGE!

Johnny Sarkis

Senior Real Estate Specialist
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Tel: 703-400-9660 703-986-5700

Sarkis Real Estate on Facebook

Tips and Tricks for Getting the Most Out of Your iPad for Real Estate Business

Johnny Sarkis (Long and Foster Real Estate ) — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 20:30:44 -0700

Tips and Tricks for Getting the Most Out of Your iPad for Real Estate Business

By James Kimmons, About.com Guide

See More About:

I had my iPad the first day possible, and have been working ever since to find the best, easiest and least expensive solutions to do as much with it in my real estate business as possible. Why reinvent the wheel when you can take advantage of my research and testing, as well as the large number if apps I bought but found not to be what I needed.

You'll find some great solutions here to make your iPad a real business tool.

1. First Impressions on Opening the iPad

Jim Kimmons

Worse than a kid at Christmas, I met the Fedex person at the truck to get my iPad. Read in this article what comes in the box, as well as my impressions of this amazing Apple product.

Look, Feel and First Impressions

2. Printing with the iPad Over the Web

While it would be nice to have a USB port to print locally, you can accomplish this task using an online service called PrinterShare This service is easy to use, with the installation of software on your computer, and the sharing of your attached printers.

Printing With the iPad Using PrinterShare

3. Using the Pages App on the iPad for Real Estate Documents & Flyers

Apple

Pages, the iWorks app for word processing is a beautiful solution for anyone who wants an easy to use word processing application that works well with images and tables. And, there's even a template for a real estate listing flyer to get you going quickly.

Using The Flyer Template for Real Estate Listings

4. Drawing Real Estate Floor Plans & Vector Drawings on the iPad

Jim Kimmons

While there are floor plan apps for the iPhone, none had been designed especially for the larger screen of the iPad when I was looking. I'm glad, as it helped me to find this vector drawing application that not only does my floor plans, but also allows complex drawings for flyers and other marketing materials.

Easy Drawing to Scale of Floor Plans

5. Using Evernote for Real Estate Document Management on the iPad

iStockPhoto

I've written about the amazing features and abilities of the Evernote online note capture service. I use it a lot, and now will use it even more. You can email your iPad documents to your Evernote account, pick them up on any computer, and get them back on the iPad when you want.

Evernote Meets So Many Business Needs - Now It Helps on the iPad As Well

6. Using an Online Backup Solution for iPad Real Estate Document Management

iStockPhoto

I've used Sugarsync for a long time now as my backup solution. It works in the background, making mirror image copies of all of my documents as I change or create them. Now, I also find that it helps me to manage, store, and retrieve my iPad documents.

Using Sugarsync to Safeguard All of Your Files & Manage iPad Documents

7. Using the Numbers App on the iPad for Real Estate & Mortgage Calcs

® Photo: Jim Kimmons

You can do just about anything you need in a spreadsheet application with Numbers on the iPad. Check out this short article about templates that provide fast and professional client sheets for mortgage comparisons.

Templates for Comparing Mortgages + Amortization

8. Keynote for iPad Real Estate Presentations

iStockPhoto

Using Keynote on the iPad to create a presentation is easy, and the ability to resize and rotate images with your fingers is fun as well. But, the huge value lies in the types of presentations you can create, and the professional look when you sit in front of a buyer or seller with the iPad. Learn here also about a cool free app to capture website screen shots to use in your presentations.

See How Keynote Can Supercharge Your Presentations Here

9. WordPress for Real Estate on the iPad

One of the first projects on my new iPad was learning what I needed to know to post to my WordPress blogs on the go. Learn at this short article about the WordPress app for the iPad, as well as how I also post with the browser to my regular admin interface.

Two ways to post to your WordPress blogs with the iPad.

10. Voice to Text Conversion Apps for Real Estate on the iPad

In the short article at the link, I give you four ways to get your voice notes out of the iPad via email. Three also convert your voice to text. Learn why I like them all, and which are best for your needs.

Learn Which Apps I've Tried That Really Work

Join my Facebook Real Estate FAN PAGE!

Johnny Sarkis

Senior Real Estate Specialist
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Tel: 703-400-9660 703-986-5700

Sarkis Real Estate on Facebook

Do you have a private Septic system...Now is the time to service it.

Johnny Sarkis (Long and Foster Real Estate ) — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 20:27:39 -0700

Via William Feela Realtor 651-674-5999 No. Branch,MN (WHISPERING PINES REALTY):

Many people don't realize that if you have a private septic, that you need to pump the tank every2-3 years. In fact, many counties here in Minnesota now require proof that you did.

Spring is one of the best times to do this maintenance. One of the big reasons is because, Private Septic systems can freeze in the winter if there isn't enough snow during a really harsh cold spell. The reason for pumping in the spring, is that this gives your system a chance to get the micro bacteria growing again. These little creatures create heat while in the process of breaking down the matter you put into the system.

This heat will ensure that your system doesn't freeze in a severe cold snap. Think about it...A frozen system is not good! Very costly to thaw out or pump every couple of weeks.

Do yourself a favor and if your system needs pumping...DO IT NOW!

Join my Facebook Real Estate FAN PAGE!

Johnny Sarkis

Senior Real Estate Specialist
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Tel: 703-400-9660 703-986-5700

Sarkis Real Estate on Facebook

Charges Of Fraud And Strategic Default At Goldman Sachs

Johnny Sarkis (Long and Foster Real Estate ) — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 20:24:15 -0700

Via John Mulkey, Housing Guru (TheHousingGuru.com):

An article in the Wall Street Journal has reported that Goldman Sachs Group and one of its vice presidents, Fabrice Tourre, have been charged with fraud in a civil complaint filed by the SEC. The complaint alleges that Goldman failed to disclose to purchasers of CDOs, collateralized-debt obligations, that the selection of the underlying mortgage backed securities had been influenced by Paulson & Company. With the bursting of the housing market bubble, the CDO investors lost $1 billion, Paulson raked in profits of $1 billion, and Goldman earned $15 million for handling the transactions.

And while the stock market and business writers are focused upon this story, an article in the Financial Times is, for me, far more interesting as it pertains to current issues in the housing market. It seems that a real estate fund managed by Goldman Sachs has lost 98% of its $1.8 billion in equity. Adding an interesting twist to the story is the fact that Goldman has chosen to return the keys to some of its investments back to the creditors, in effect choosing “Strategic Default,” an oft criticized option when chosen by defaulting homeowners.

To complicate matters for those who speak of the “morality” of not honoring one’s obligations, it was Lloyd Blandfein, CEO of Goldman Sachs, who recently described the efforts and actions of his company as “doing God’s work.” If Blankfein’s assessment is correct, then, it would seem that the question of the “morality” of strategic default may have been resolved for all of us.

Finally, while the SEC “appears” to be vigorously pursuing the case against Goldman Sachs, some might ask how the regulators were able to miss the offenses when they were committed. And what many would like to see is “perp walks” by the heads of companies who enriched themselves and their cronies at the expense of millions of homeowners and investors; but such action seems unlikely, with perhaps only a few “scapegoats” suffering for the misdeeds of their companies. It is good to see some action being taken, but it would be far better if our regulatory bureaucrats and politicians would do their jobs by providing the oversight and enforcement of the regulations already in place.

The Housing Guru: The expert source for all your housing questions

Join my Facebook Real Estate FAN PAGE!

Johnny Sarkis

Senior Real Estate Specialist
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Tel: 703-400-9660 703-986-5700

Sarkis Real Estate on Facebook

Home for Sale.

Johnny Sarkis (Long and Foster Real Estate ) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:05:58 -0700

Johnny Fort Monroe

View more presentations from Johnny Sarkis.

Join my Facebook Real Estate FAN PAGE!

Johnny Sarkis

Senior Real Estate Specialist
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Tel: 703-400-9660 703-986-5700

Sarkis Real Estate on Facebook

12 Terrific Moving Tips When You're Moving Your Home

Johnny Sarkis (Long and Foster Real Estate ) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 22:22:32 -0700

12 Terrific Moving Tips When You're Moving Your Home

Great Moving Tips to Make Moving Your Home Easier

From Coral Nafie, former About.com Guide

See More About:

Who can't use some moving tips when they're packing up their whole life for a new home? If you're among thousands of people who have picked up and moved their family to a new home or a new community, you have fresh memories of some of the ups and downs or thrills or frustrations of moving.

Drawing from personal experience, I know there are lots of ways to help make your household move easier and more smooth. Read here for help to get your life, and your possessions, organized for a peaceful and exciting move.

Make a list.
Write everything down! You'll thank yourself later. Before you pack even one box, create a simple record keeping system. Create a computer-printed list of numbers with a space to write the contents. Or have a spiral-bound notebook for the job. You'll place a number on EVERY box you pack and list the contents on your list. Don't put the list down unless it's in a place you'll call Packing Central. This is where you'll find your labels, marking pens, box tape, and other supplies. When describing the box contents, be specific -- "A-D files" is better than "files", and "Tulip dishes" rather than "misc. kitchen".

Have plenty of supplies.
Don't make me say this twice-- you'll need LOTS of boxes--probably more boxes than you think, and having enough boxes will make your life easier! (If you buy your boxes from a moving company, you can always return unused boxes for a refund. If you got them free from the grocery, just toss any leftovers.) Have about 10 boxes set aside to use for last minute items on moving day, such as bedding, clothing, and cleaning supplies. You'll need strong plastic packing tape to close up the boxes securely. Use unprinted newsprint (newspaper can stain your items) or packing paper or bubble wrap to wrap and cushion household good. Again, you'll need lots more supplies than you think, so get extra so the packing can go smoothly. Return any unused supplies after the truck is packed.

Utilize wardrobe boxes.
These tall boxes are perfect for bulky, lightweight items such as comforters, pillows, and blankets, as well as clothes that need to remain hanging. Call your mover to ask the width of the wardrobe boxes they'll be bringing. Then measure the clothes in your closets (including coat closets) to see how many wardrobe boxes you'll need. You can also use them for closet storage boxes, shoe boxes, and other bulky items such as fabric bolts, large baskets, or gift wrap tubes.

Don't make the boxes too heavy to lift, however. One mover told the story of someone who put a bowling ball in a wardrobe box! When the box was lifted off the truck the bottom gave way, sending the bowling ball on a wild ride down the ramp, across the street to the gutter, then down a hill where it finally came to rest in a roadside ditch. (Is that a strike or a spare?)

Strategize wardrobe box use.
Moving companies will be happy to deliver boxes ahead of your moving day. Or if you're doing the move yourself, get things organized as early as possible. A few days before your move, fill some sturdy handled shopping bags with bulky closet items such as shoes, sweaters, belts, and jeans. On moving day, fill the bottom of the wardrobe boxes with some of the shopping bags, then add your hanging clothing. Pack hanging items tightly so things won't move around and fall off of hangers. Finally, cover the shoulders of your clothes (a dry cleaning bag works well), then add a few purses or sweaters on top. You'll have fewer boxes, and closet items remain together. Also, the shopping bags will make it easier to retrieve your belongings from the bottoms of a tall wardrobe box.

Color coordinate.
Designate a color for each room in the new home, such as yellow for kitchen, orange for dining room, etc. Apply colored stickers on the box near the box number. In your new home. Put a matching sticker on the door to each room. The movers will know where to put everything when they arrive at the destination. It's also helpful to post a big sign on the wall in the room where you want boxes stacked, ("Boxes here please") to keep them out of furniture and traffic areas.

For more moving tips, go on to Page 2 and find out more about strategies for filling wardrobe boxes, making a cleaning kit, and using "personal" boxes.

Join my Facebook Real Estate FAN PAGE!

Johnny Sarkis

Senior Real Estate Specialist
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Tel: 703-400-9660 703-986-5700

Sarkis Real Estate on Facebook

Top 5 Home Improvements That Help You Sell

Johnny Sarkis (Long and Foster Real Estate ) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 22:20:37 -0700

Top 5 Home Improvements That Help You Sell

From Coral Nafie, former About.com Guide

Filed In:

Are you selling your home soon? To get the best price, take some time right now to get it ready to sell.

While you may need to tackle some basic repair issues first, these simpler cosmetic improvements can help polish up your home and set the tone for a quicker sale.

Remember to put yourself in the shoes of a potential buyer before your house is listed for sale.

Start with these 5 tips, then go a step further. Check out our extensive tips on Staging a Home for Sale.

1. Put Clutter in Storage

Hiding your home’s good features behind piles of clutter will only make it harder for buyers to fall in love with your home. Box up anything you won’t be using in the next few months (including holiday decorations, seasonal clothing or sports equipment, old toys, etc.) and send it to a storage facility. Remove any pieces of furniture that look less-than-perfect or make a room feel crowded.

See more:
Storage Solutions
Storage Basics

2. Welcome Buyers at the Door

Step outside and take a look at the front door. Potential buyers will likely spend at least a few minutes here as the realtor gets out the keys to your home. Make sure the door is clean and that any glass is sparkling. Polish the hardware (or replace if necessary) and repaint the door if it is in poor shape. Finally, add a fresh doormat, mailbox, and pretty pots of greenery or flowers on either side of the door.

See More:
How to Add Interest to a Front Door

3. Remove Outdated Window Treatments

Dreary draperies, torn window shades, or bent mini-blinds will do nothing to sell a home faster. Remove these outdated items and replace them with simple white mini-blinds or wood blinds cut-to-measure at a home center, This is a fairly simple fix that can refresh your rooms in just one weekend.

See More:
Windowcovering Basics

4. Install Closet Systems

Crowded closets stuffed with clothing and household items make it look like there isn’t enough storage space. Go through your closets and store (or give away) anything that’s not currently needed. Once the closet is empty, install a closet system from a home center and refill with just enough of your stuff so the closet looks organized, but not cluttered.

See More:
Closet Web Sites

5. Showcase Wood Flooring

Worn, dirty, or badly colored carpeting can turn buyers off in seconds. If you have hardwood floors however, the fix is easy. Tear out the carpeting and expose the wood. Buyers won’t have to wonder what’s underneath the carpet and will likely love the look and patina of hardwood flooring.

See More:
How to Clean Hardwood Floors

Join my Facebook Real Estate FAN PAGE!

Johnny Sarkis

Senior Real Estate Specialist
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Tel: 703-400-9660 703-986-5700

Sarkis Real Estate on Facebook

Decorating in the French Country Style

Johnny Sarkis (Long and Foster Real Estate ) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 22:17:22 -0700

Decorating in the French Country Style

Bring This Charming Style to Your Own Home

From Coral Nafie, former About.com Guide

See More About:

This gold and red toile is a classic adapted for today.

More Images (3)

Colors used to decorate in the French Country style come from the full spectrum of the color wheel. Sunny yellow and soft gold, firey red and burnt rust, bright grass green and dark hunter green, cobalt blue and soft ocean tones -- all these are found in this wonderful decorating style.

Bright black and dull grays punctuate the bright colors and define accessory pieces. Rusted metalfurniture, lighting fixtures, and furniture give warm color and wonderful lines.

An important element in pieces used in French Country style decorating is the use of natural materials. Rough stained or painted plaster walls, hefty beamed ceilings and walls, delicate carved wood details, and chair seats woven of rush give texture and simplicity to the look. Natural stone floors are covered with wool or cotton rugs.

No real French Country home is complete without astone fireplace. A heavy beam at the top of the opening serves as a mantle. Tiles, either stone or ceramic, form the border. The hearth is clay or brick, and herbs, copper pots, and iron accessory pieces hang on the side walls.

Read on for more ideas on how to create the look of the French Country style of decorating in your home. Use some or all of the elements to feel comfortable with this style.

Join my Facebook Real Estate FAN PAGE!

Johnny Sarkis

Senior Real Estate Specialist
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Tel: 703-400-9660 703-986-5700

Sarkis Real Estate on Facebook

Basics of French Country Decorating

Johnny Sarkis (Long and Foster Real Estate ) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 22:15:06 -0700

Basics of French Country Decorating

From Pamela Cole Harris, former About.com Guide

See More About:

Basics: French Country style has a warm, comfortable feeling. The color? It's best to stay on the warm side of the color wheel with colors that have medium to low intensity. Think sunny.

The furnishings should have graceful and simple lines. French Country features lots of painted furniture. Buying older distressed furniture would be a perfect fit for this style. Wrought iron or rusted metal accents are essential.

Fabrics in this style are wide-ranging, but relay on toile, a very traditional fabric. You can partner toile with stripes, plaids, or solids - anything goes!

In the Kitchen: A French Country kitchen features lots of jars holding food staples. Find old covered jars at thrift shops or garage sales to duplicate the look. Add hand painted labels or print them on your home printer. Use old quaint street or grocery signs for wall decor. Again you can make your own. Just search out craft stores for inexpensive wall plaques or metal signs. Use a wrought iron wall planter to hang pots or utensils. Just add inexpensive hooks to hold them secure.

In the Dining Room: For a traditional French Country dining room, whitewash old mismatched chairs and use a round wrought iron patio or garden table for an inexpensive dining set.

In the Living Room: Windows in French Country rooms shouldn't be weighted down by heavy drapes. Instead add lacy panels to let the sun shine in while still providing privacy. In front of the window, try a wrought iron garden bench with pillows for the look of a window seat.

In the Bedroom: An old iron garden gate would make a great headboard. Use an old metal garden bench at the end of the bed as a sitting area. Dressers painted in colors and distressed will bring that comfortable feel into the room.

In the Bathroom: Use wrought iron towel racks or old vintage wrought iron fruit bowls to hold towels and wash cloths. Use an old painted buffet as a vanity for the sink.

French Country on a budget? It can be done, and as you can see, it can be done easily with a old thrift shop finds, distressed garden furniture, and fabrics. So go forth and design!

Join my Facebook Real Estate FAN PAGE!

Johnny Sarkis

Senior Real Estate Specialist
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Tel: 703-400-9660 703-986-5700

Sarkis Real Estate on Facebook

The Basics of Budget Home Decorating and Design

Johnny Sarkis (Long and Foster Real Estate ) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 22:13:07 -0700

The Basics of Budget Home Decorating and Design

From About.com

Take it from me. You are going to have a gorgeous room on a budget and you are going to decorate and design it yourself!

Think there is no way that's going to happen? All that's standing between you and that gorgeous room is some simple decorating and design basics. When you understand those, you can decorate any room.

We actually know more about design than we realize. Have you walked into a room that just "feels" off? Violation of one of these principles just may be the reason. Learning more about design may enable you to figure out what was wrong and make certain you don’t make the same mistake in your home.

The Basics of Color
Understanding Room Design
Putting Everything Together in Style
Decorating Basics and Color Basics Quiz

The Basics of Color

Color can make a room a success or - if totally wrong - can make it a disaster. But the best thing is - it's easily changed and inexpensive.

The paint you chose can lighten a room or make it dark and intimate, can be a personal statement or a classic tradition, and can be a neutral palette or a focal point. Just decide which direction you want to go and use the color principles here to design with a color.

Understanding Room Design

So what are you going to do with that bare room? To figure that out, you need to understand the size of your space, the problems it has, the relationship between one element and another in the space and how the eye perceives those relationships.

Understanding these elements are essential when planning your space layout and the placement of the furniture and accessories. Use the relationship elements here to layout your space.

Putting Everything Together in Style

Once you understand how color and space relationships work, you are ready to put your room together. Fabrics, furniture, and accessories can now be added. You probably have a style in mind that you prefer, so go for it. One last piece of advice: less is more. Only put into the room half of what you think you want. The design will be cleaner, less cluttered and elegant. It will be that gorgeous room that you finally designed yourself!

Decorating Basics and Color Basics Quiz

Let's find out what you have learned about color and budget decorating!

Join my Facebook Real Estate FAN PAGE!

Johnny Sarkis

Senior Real Estate Specialist
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Tel: 703-400-9660 703-986-5700

Sarkis Real Estate on Facebook

The Four Worst Ideas from Home Decorating Shows

Johnny Sarkis (Long and Foster Real Estate ) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 22:10:47 -0700

The Four Worst Ideas from Home Decorating Shows

Wednesday December 9, 2009

The end of the last century and the beginning of this one has seen a rise in the interest in remodeling, flipping, and diy decorating. The popularity of home and garden and diy television networks has led viewers to embrace the notion that anyone could remodel and decorate their own house. Well, most can, but there are some in every group who's individual style is just this side of tacky. - not that tacky is bad. it's just . . . tacky.

Today I shudder to remember some regrettable trends that television redecorating shows have spawned. Here are four that immediately come to mind:

The idea you can stick anything on the wall and call it beautiful - hay, plastic bags, newspaper, or egg cartons. No matter what Hildy says, some things are just plain ugly.
The idea that every stick of furniture has to be painted. Sometimes natural wood is the best finish you can find..
The idea that you can;t live or have a perfectly beautiful and functional kitchen without "stainless steel appliances and granite countertops." There are any number of materials that can transform your space for less money and less upkeep.
The idea that all you have to do is buy an old house and slap some paint on it, plus add those "stainless steel appliances and granite countertops" to make a fortune in real estate. When you finish, sometimes all you have is a painted old money pit.

So watch home and garden shows as much as you would like, just remember that every idea they give you isn't a good one. Now on to put up my Christmas wreath - lovingly made from aluminum foil, paper clips and plastic cups. I got the idea on TV.

http://budgetdecorating.about.com/b/2009/12/09/the-four-worst-ideas-from-home-decorating-shows.htm

About.com

Join my Facebook Real Estate FAN PAGE!

Johnny Sarkis

Senior Real Estate Specialist
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Tel: 703-400-9660 703-986-5700

Sarkis Real Estate on Facebook

Best places to live 2009.

Johnny Sarkis (Long and Foster Real Estate ) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 22:03:16 -0700

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2009/top100/

CNNMoney's Best Places database of 1,800-plus U.S. cities includes towns with populations 8,500 to 50,000 with satisfactory education and crime scores, where income is below 200% of the state median, and that are no more than 95% white � as well as cities with populations 90,000 and up.

Ckeckout Arlington,VA.

Join my Facebook Real Estate FAN PAGE!

Johnny Sarkis

Senior Real Estate Specialist
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Tel: 703-400-9660 703-986-5700

Sarkis Real Estate on Facebook

Best places to live 2009.

Johnny Sarkis (Long and Foster Real Estate ) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 22:01:50 -0700

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2009/top100/

Ckeckout Arlington,VA.

Join my Facebook Real Estate FAN PAGE!

Johnny Sarkis

Senior Real Estate Specialist
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Tel: 703-400-9660 703-986-5700

Sarkis Real Estate on Facebook

How to avoid bad investment

Johnny Sarkis (Long and Foster Real Estate ) — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 16:51:32 -0700

Top 10 Ways to Lose Your Home

10 Home Buying Mistakes

By Elizabeth Weintraub, About.com Guide

See More About:

Few home buyers stop to think that they could lose their home. But mistakes happen. The reasons sellers decide to sell are based on the mistakes they made when they purchased.

Me: Why do you want to sell?

Seller: Because too many cars drive by.

Me: Why did you buy a house along the freeway?

Seller: It was cheap.

Many homes buyers study the market, ask questions, hire pros, yet even so, some are headed into foreclosure before the ink is dry on the deed.

Here are 10 fool-proof ways you can, without meaning to, set yourself up to fail at home ownership:

1. Attending No Money Down Seminars

Start by calling that toll-free phone number to make a reservation. Then sit through a three-hour sales pitch for books, tapes, CDs and specially discounted services hawked by seminar gurus who most likely never bought or sold a piece of real estate in their lives but are getting rich off the backs of suckers. Er, I mean honest, information seeking consumers.

Armed with trade secrets, then venture forth into the world of real estate, making sure you regularly point out how the "pros do it" to yourreal estate agent, who, undoubtedly, will be forever grateful to receive such sage advice.

Make dozens of lowball offers that get rejected until you find a seller who will carry all the financing at 18% interest with a 3-year balloon payment.

2. Choosing Bad Agents

Start by believing the premise that all real estate agents are the same because they all hold a real estate license. Do not interview your agentbecause you don't want to offend by asking hard questions or trying to figure out the agent's answers. Hire the cheapest and most eager agent you can find, regardless of experience, because that agent will work harder for you. In fact, ask your newly licensed brother-in-law to represent you.

Refuse to sign a buyer's broker agreement.

Above all, after your agent has shown you homes for several weeks, go directly to the listing agent of the home you decide to buy and ask that agent to write a purchase offer for you.

3. Wiping Out Savings

Big Stock Photo

Put every cent you can scrape together into a down payment for your new home. Beg or borrow money from relatives to pay your closing costs, which will barely let you squeak by an underwriter’s scrutiny, but at least you have equity walking into the deal. If you’re short on funds, tell yourself that you’ll make it up out of next week’s paycheck and make a cash withdrawal on a major credit card. Plan on charging all repairs and future maintenance to that credit card as well.

Make every effort to clean out all sources of available cash, dumping every dime into the purchase of your new home. In fact, why not cash in your retirement accounts, too, because retirement is a long ways off.

4. Refusing Professional Advice

Realize that regardless of what your agent or mortgage broker tells you, professional sales people are only interested in closing the deal. They want your money into their pocket as fast as they can get it and nobody cares about what happens to you, except you. Which makes you an authority. What you do not know, you can ask Uncle Joe to explain, since he owns a home and you do not.

Don’t bother looking up information on the Internet, reading real estate books or asking for a second opinion as all of that is a waste of time. Whatever you do, do not, under any circumstances, ask a lawyer or an accountant for advice. If you receive professional advice, disregard it and do what you think is best.

5. Choosing Exotic Financing

The lower your monthly payment, the more money you will have leftover every month to spend on other things. Besides, appreciation is the only way to build equity in a home; you do not need to pay down the principal balance of your loan. Make sure you shop for the lowest interest rate you can find, even if it means the rate will adjust later on. Don’t pay any attention to a Good Faith Estimate -- it's just jargon. If you don’t understand the terms of your loan, shrug it off.

You know there is no reason to be concerned with silly terms such as indexes, margins, caps or negative amortization. Because you have a low interest rate, a low monthly payment, and you feel confident that whatever happens later, you can handle.

6. Picking Wrong Neighborhoods

The three most important words in real estate: location, location, location, are a joke to you, but you never got the punch line. Besides, driving through a neighborhood will tell you everything you need to know about an area. There is no point in asking the police department about crime statistics or talking to neighbors before you buy.

To you, living next to a grocery store means you can pick up a carton of milk without walking very far. Even though a few boarded-up homes on the block sport rotting mattresses in the front yards, it doesn't affect your market value.

You can instantly recognize a good buy when you find it, especially if it’s priced thousands less than homes in neighborhoods you’ve considered but cannot afford.

7. Choosing Most Expensive Homes

The most important factor to consider when buying a home is to make sure your home is the largest and most expensive home you are pre-qualified to purchase. You will derive great pleasure in bragging about your elaborate new home to friends and family and want to make sure your home is impressive. There is no such word as compromise in yoursearch for a home. If you need three bedrooms, a five-bedroom is better, even if the home that fits your needs costs less.

The more bells and whistles it has, the more you will love it. As far as you’re concerned, you can’t be stretched too thin if every single design element of the home is perfect for your tastes, and you’re willing to reach higher than common sense dictates to get it.

8. Passing Up Home Inspections

Everybody knows that home inspections are a waste of money and time. There is no known default in a home that can’t be spotted with your own eyes, and qualified home inspectors aren’t going to conduct any visual inspections that you can’t do on your own. If a home has four walls, a roof and somebody is willing to occupy it, you can fix any minor problems that surface later on. Besides, suing the seller and everybody involved in the transaction after it closes is always an attractive alternative.

You would prefer to save the money you would throw away on a home inspection and instead buy a new barbecue grill. It doesn't matter that the interior walls are crumbling because a fresh coat of paint works wonders.

9. Altering Financial Pictures Before Closing

Now that you’ve finally taken that leap, written an offer that was accepted by the seller, you’re still in the buying mode. While waiting forloan funding, you may decide it’s a good idea to buy a new car to match that new home. Better yet, you may as well buy new living room furniture; oh, and a big screen TV would fit on the wall over the fireplace like a glove. In fact, there’s a sale on washer and dryers, and you’ve always wanted a new fangled front loader.

Your excellent credit report affords you the opportunity to buy whatever you desire and, besides, there are no payments due for a year. It’s like getting a new car and home furnishings for free. After all, more debt shouldn't affect the funding of a mortgage.

10. Plunging Into Debt After Closing

Now that you’re a homeowner, you’re blown away by all the incentives arriving in the mail offering great deals on a home equity loan. Why, you can pull out all your equity and use this new-found money to buy all those necessities you’ve been denying yourself and your family. A vacation in Hawaii next December sounds wonderful to you. So does buying patio furniture, and maybe new decking or a spa for the back yard.

While you’re at it, maybe you should remodel the kitchen, too, and put in granite counters, perhaps new appliances. You can afford it. You will never lose your job or need money for a medical emergency; times are good right now!

Join my Facebook Real Estate FAN PAGE!

Johnny Sarkis

Senior Real Estate Specialist
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Tel: 703-400-9660 703-986-5700

Sarkis Real Estate on Facebook

Lease Options - Lease Purchase Sales

Johnny Sarkis (Long and Foster Real Estate ) — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 16:47:29 -0700

Lease Options - Lease Purchase Sales

How To Do a Lease Option / Lease Purchase Sale

By Elizabeth Weintraub, About.com Guide

See More About:

Ask Your Lawyer to Draw the Lease Option

_{Big Stock Photo}

alienation clauses in mortgages. Proponents claimed the sale was not really a sale because it was a lease; however, courts argued otherwise.

Today, options to purchase, lease options and lease purchase agreements are three different financing documents. The variances are state specific and not all states have identical laws. Before entering into an agreement with a seller, buyers should obtain the advice of a real estate lawyer. The information below is an overview and is not meant to be construed as legal advice.

Basics of an Option

Buyer pays the seller option money for the right to later purchase the property. This option money may be substantial or as little as $1.
Buyer and seller may agree to a purchase price now or the buyer may agree to pay market value at the time the option is exercised. It is negotiable. However, most buyers want to lock in the future purchase price upon inception of the option.
The term of the option agreement is negotiable, but the common length is generally from one year to three years.
Option money is rarely refundable.
Nobody else can buy the property during the option period.
The buyer can sell the option to somebody else.
If the buyer does not exercise the option and purchase the property at the end of the option, the option expires.
The buyer is not obligated to buy the property.

Basics of a Lease Option

Buyer pays the seller option money for the right to later purchase the property. The lease option money may be substantial.
Buyer and seller may agree to a purchase price now or the buyer may agree to pay market value at the time the option is exercised. It is negotiable. However, most buyers want to lock in the future purchase price upon inception of the lease option.
During the term of the lease option, the buyer agrees to lease the property from the seller for a predetermined rental amount.
The term of the lease option agreement is negotiable, but the common length is generally from one year to three years.
The option money generally does not apply toward the down payment.
A portion of the monthly rental payment typically applies toward the purchase price.
Option money is rarely refundable.
Nobody else can buy the property during the lease option period.
The buyer generally cannot assign the lease option without seller approval.
If the buyer does not exercise the lease option and purchase the property at the end of the lease option, the option expires.
The buyer is not obligated to buy the property.

Basics of a Lease Purchase

Buyer pays the seller option money for the right to later purchase the property. This option money may be substantial.
Buyer and seller agree on a purchase price, often at or a bit higher than market value.
During the term of the option, the buyer agrees to lease the property from the seller for a predetermined rental amount.
The term of the lease purchase agreement is negotiable, but the common length is generally from one year to three years, at which time the buyer applies for bank financing and pays the seller in full.
The option money generally does not apply toward the down payment.
A portion of the monthly lease payment typically applies toward the purchase price.
Option money is nonrefundable.
Nobody else can buy the property unless the buyer defaults.
The buyer typically cannot assign the lease purchase agreement without seller approval.
Buyers are often responsible for maintaining the property and paying all expenses associated with its upkeep, including taxes and insurance.
The buyer is obligated to buy the property.

Doing a Lease Option / Lease Purchase

Hire a real estate lawyer to draw the documents and explain your rights, including those ofpossession and default consequences. The property might be encumbered by underlying loans that contain alienation clauses, giving the lender the right to accelerate the loans upon sale.

Sometimes sellers give the option money to their real estate agent as full payment of commission. Agents are not always involved in the exercise of lease options or fulfillment of lease purchase agreements and, even if you have retained real estate agent representation, you still need a real estate lawyer. Agents are not lawyers and cannot give legal advice.

In the event of a lease purchase, obtain all the disclosures and do your due diligence just like you would on a regular sale. This means:

Get a home inspection.
Examine the title policy.
Obtain an appraisal.
Read seller disclosures.
Consider obtaining pest inspections, a roof certification, home warranty plan and hiring other qualified inspectors.

Lease Purchase Benefits for Sellers and Buyers

Lease purchase agreements are commonly offered by sellers of hard-to-sell properties. Think about it, if the property was easy to sell, the seller would sell it to a conventional buyer who would pay the seller cash.

Sellers generally get market value at today's prices and relief from paying a mortgage on a vacant property.
Although the lease payments may exceed market rent, the buyer is building a down paymentand banking that the property will appreciate beyond the agreed upon purchase price.
Buyers generally make a small down payment, with little or no qualifying, making a lease purchase an attractive way to ease into the benefits of home ownership.
Buyers also receive a forced savings plan since part of the lease payment is credited toward the purchase price at the end of the lease option agreement.
If the buyer defaults, sellers do not refund any portion of the lease payments nor the option money and may retain the right to sue for specific performance.

For more information, contact a real estate lawyer.

Join my Facebook Real Estate FAN PAGE!

Johnny Sarkis

Senior Real Estate Specialist
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Tel: 703-400-9660 703-986-5700

Sarkis Real Estate on Facebook

Owner Financing in Real Estate

Johnny Sarkis (Long and Foster Real Estate ) — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 16:42:34 -0700

Owner Financing in Real Estate

Buying a Home With Owner Financing

By Elizabeth Weintraub, About.com Guide

Owner Financing

_{Big Stock Photo}

Asking a seller to give you owner financing to buy a home can be a tricky proposition. That's partly because if you ask the listing agent if the owner will carry some or all of the financing, the agent probably doesn't know. Why? The agent never asked.

If you ask the seller directly, the seller is likely to say no. Sellers often reject the suggestion of owner financing because nobody has explained the benefits or proposed owner financing as a way to sell the home. Most sellers don't sell a home every day. Their knowledge is limited to conventional practices where the buyer goes to the bank to get a mortgage.

However, for a seller whose home isn't selling or when traditional lender guidelines are tightened, owner financing suddenly becomes very popular. Owner financing is definitely a viable option inbuyer's markets.

What is Owner Financing?

When part or all of the purchase price, less the buyer's down payment, is carried by the seller, the seller is providing owner financing. It doesn't matter if the property has an existing loan, except to the extent that the existing lender might accelerate the loan upon sale due to an alienation clause. Instead of going to the bank, the buyer gives a financing instrument to the seller as evidence of the loan and makes payments to the seller.

If the property is free and clear, meaning the seller has clear title without any loans, the seller might agree to carry all the financing. In that instance, the buyer and seller agree upon an interest rate, monthly payment amount and term of the loan, and the buyer pays the seller for the seller's equity on an installment basis.

The security instrument is generally recorded in the public records, which protects both parties.

Types of Owner Financing

Most purchase-money transactions are negotiable. Sellers and buyers are free to negotiate the terms of the owner financing, subject to usury laws and other state-specific regulations.

While there is no standard down payment required, many sellers want a sufficient down payment to protect their equity. Down payments can vary from little to 30% or more. Sellers feel their equity is safeguarded by the buyer's down payment because buyers are less likely to go into foreclosure if they've invested a lot of money upfront.

Some variations of owner financing include:

Land Contracts.
Land contracts do not pass legal title to the buyer, but give the buyer equitable title. The buyer makes payments to the seller for a certain period. Upon final payment or a refinance, the buyer receives the deed.
Promissory Notes and Mortgages.
Sellers can carry the mortgage for the entire balance of the purchase price (less the down payment), which may include an underlying loan. This type of financing is called an "all-inclusive mortgage" or "all-inclusive trust deed" (AITD). The seller receives an override of interest on the underlying loan.

A seller may also carry a junior mortgage, in which case, the buyer would take title subject to the existing loan or obtain a new first mortgage. The buyer receives a deed and gives the seller a second mortgage for the balance of the purchase price, less the down payment and first mortgage amount.
Lease Purchase Agreements.
Selling on a lease purchase agreement means the seller is giving the buyer equitable title and leasing the property to the buyer. Upon fulfillment of the lease purchase agreement, the buyer receives title and typically obtains a loan to pay the seller, after receiving credit for all or part of the rental payments toward the purchase price.

Owner Financing Benefits to Home Buyers

Little or No Qualifying.
Even if the seller demands a credit report on the buyer, the seller's interpretation of buyer qualifications are typically less stringent and more flexible than those imposed by conventional lenders.
Tailored Financing.
Unlike conventional loans, sellers and buyers can choose from a variety of payment options such as interest only, fixed-rate amortization, less-than-interest or a balloon payment. Payments can mix and match. Interest rates can adjust periodically or remain at one rate for the term of the loan.
Down Payment Flexibility.
Down payments are negotiable. If a seller wants a larger down payment than the buyer possesses, sometimes sellers will let a buyer make periodic lump-sum payments toward a down payment.
Lower Closing Costs.
Without an institutional lender, there are no loan or discount points to pay. No origination fees, processing fees, administration fees or any of the other assorted miscellaneous fees that lenders routinely charge, which automatically saves money on buyer closing costs.
Faster Possession.
Because buyers and sellers aren't waiting on a lender to process the financing, buyers can close faster and get buyer possession earlier over a conventional loan transaction.

Owner Financing Benefits to Home Sellers

Higher Sales Price.
Because the seller is offering owner financing, the seller may be in a position to command full list price or higher.
Tax Breaks.
The seller might pay less in taxes on an installment sale, reporting only the income received in each calendar year.
Monthly Income.
Payments from a buyer increase the seller's monthly cash flow, resulting in spendable income.
Higher Interest Rate.
Owner financing can carry a higher rate of interest than a seller might receive in a money market account or other low-risk types of investments.
Shorter Listing Term.
Owner financing attracts a different set of buyers. If a property is not selling under conventional methods, offering owner financing is one way to stand out from the sea of inventory and move a hard-to-sell property that otherwise might not sell.

In closing, before entering into a transaction with owner financing, consult a real estate lawyer and obtain competent legal advice.

Join my Facebook Real Estate FAN PAGE!

Johnny Sarkis

Senior Real Estate Specialist
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Tel: 703-400-9660 703-986-5700

Sarkis Real Estate on Facebook

Foreclosed? Here comes the tax man

Johnny Sarkis (Long and Foster Real Estate ) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 23:26:36 -0700

Foreclosed? Here comes the tax man

By Les Christie, staff writerApril 8, 2010: 1:30 PM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Did you lose your house to foreclosure this year? Did your lender forgive some of your mortgage debt because you sold it for less than it was worth? If so, you could be facing a big tax hit.

It is IRS policy to tax forgiven debt you are personally responsible for as if it is income. Say, for example, your credit card company settled a $10,000 debt for 50 cents on the dollar. You'd have a debt forgiveness of $5,000, which the IRS would count as income, just like your wages.

The same policy held true for most mortgage debt until 2007, when Congress passed the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Act. That ended the liability for many homeowners -- but not all.

In general, if you lose your home to foreclosure or short sale, where you sell your home for less than you owe, the IRS won't add insult to injury by counting the difference as income. At least until 2012.

There are four major exceptions to the rule:

1. You did a cash-out refinance and splurged.

Many homeowners took cash out when they refinanced their homes and used the extra dough to pay for new cars, boats or vacations. Say you did that and then got into trouble, losing the house through a foreclosure or short sale. Even if your lender waived the remaining debt, the IRS will treat as income the portion of the forgiven debt that you took out as cash and spent. Only the funds used to actually improve your home won't be taxed. Yes, even if you spent the money on paying off your student loans or credit cards.

The IRS' reasoning is that only the money spent on home improvement actually added to your home's value. And that, presumably, diminished the difference between what you owed on your mortgage and the value of your home when it was foreclosed.

Beware: Some lenders made refinancing offers contingent on homeowners paying off credit card debt, according to Kent Anderson, a Eugene, Ore.-based attorney and tax expert. If you took one of those deals, the refinance money will be reported to the IRS and you will owe taxes on it.

2. You have a home-equity line of credit.

During the boom years, many homeowners tapped soaring home equity to make all sorts of consumer purchases. But the same rules that apply to refinancings also apply to home-equity loans: The IRS will only forgive the tax liability if the loan money was spent improving your home. And, tax experts advise, you'll need to show receipts to prove you did.

3. You lost your vacation home or investment property.

So the market tanked and you lost your vacation home. Unfortunately, if you didn't use it as your primary residence for at least two of the previous five years, you're going to pay the tax man.

More common, however, may be the case of investment properties gone sour. During the housing boom, buying homes for investment purposes soared, accounting for 28% of all sales during 2005, according to the National Association of Realtors. (Vacation homes made up 12%.) And many of these purchases were made with little down payment.

When the bust hit, second home prices cratered. The median price paid for investment properties fell 43% to $105,000 in 2009, from $183,500 in 2005, according to NAR. For vacation homes, the median price paid dropped 17% to $169,000.

If an investor bought a property in 2005 at the median price and sold it in 2009, he could have run up $75,000 or so in forgiven debt. If the investor is in the 25% income tax bracket, that would add nearly $19,000 to their tax liability. Ouch!

4. You owned a multi-million-dollar home.

It may be hard for Americans struggling in this weak economy to sympathize with anyone wealthy enough, at one time, to afford a multi-million-dollar home. But owners losing one could be on the hook for a hugetax bill.

Only the first $2 million in forgiven debt will be voided under the relief act; all the overage is taxable as income.

So, say, for example, you're Scarlett Johansson. You paid $7 million for your Hollywood Hills villa in 2007. (With a 100% mortgage; this is hypothetical, remember.) But now, you have it on the market for $4.59 million.

Say you can't unload it, your movies tank and you have to a short sale. (Hey, it happened to Nicholas Cage; he went into foreclosure.) If you sell it for $4 million, leaving a $3 million balance, the IRS would forgive the first $2 million. But the remaining million? You better hope you have a good accountant and a lot of deductions.

The good news? Even if you fall under any of these four scenarios, you may have a way out, according to Anderson. "If the taxpayer was insolvent at the time of the foreclosure, the forgiven debt can be excluded for tax purposes," he said. "It can also be discharged in a bankruptcy and approved by court order."

And then there is California

While most states follow the IRS lead and don't tax most forgiven mortgage debt, California still makes you pay. The state legislature hopes to change that before April 15, but right now California taxpayers are legally liable for paying state income taxes on forgiven mortgage debt.

The state, which has endured some of the worst price declines and foreclosure rates in the nation, did follow the federal lead when it passed the original debt forgiveness bill, but the state only authorized the relief for the 2007 and 2008 tax years. There have been successive legislative efforts to extend relief through 2009, but none have succeeded.

One attempt at passing an omnibus "conformity" bill resulted in a veto by Gov. Schwarzenegger for reasons having nothing to do with mortgage debt forgiveness. The governor objected to a different provision covering erroneous tax reporting by businesses.

Confusion and anxiety is running high, according to Rocky Rushing, chief of staff for democratic state Sen. Ron Calderon, who is spearheading new legislation. His office has fielded many calls from unhappy taxpayers.

"We've heard about tax bills in the thousands of dollars," he said.

Join my Facebook Real Estate FAN PAGE!

Johnny Sarkis

Senior Real Estate Specialist
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Tel: 703-400-9660 703-986-5700

Sarkis Real Estate on Facebook

What Are Interest Rates?

Johnny Sarkis (Long and Foster Real Estate ) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:29:27 -0700

What Are Interest Rates?

From Mike Moffatt, former About.com Guide

See More About:

Question: What Are Interest Rates?

Answer: Like anything else in economics, there's a few competing definitions of the term interest rate. The Economics Glossary defines interest rate as:

"The interest rate is the yearly price charged by a lender to a borrower in order for the borrower to obtain a loan. This is usually expressed as a percentage of the total amount loaned."

Interest Rate or Interest Rates?

In day to day conversation we tend to hear references to "the interest rate". This is somewhat misleading, as in an economy there are dozens if not hundreds of rates interest between borrowers and lenders. The differences in rates can be due to the duration of the loan or the perceived riskiness of the borrower. To learn more about the different types of interest rates, see What's the Difference Between all the Interest Rates in the Newspaper?

Nominal Interest Rates vs. Real Interest Rates

Note that when people discuss interest rates, they're generally talking about nominal interest rates. A nominal variable, such as a nominal interest rate, is one where the effects of inflation have not been accounted for. Changes in the nominal interest rate often move with changes in the inflation rate, as lenders not only have to be compensated for delaying their consumption, they also must be compensated for the fact that a dollar will not buy as much a year from now as it does today. Real interest rates are interest rates where inflation has been accounted for. This is explained in more detail in Calculating and Understanding Real Interest Rates.

How Low Can Interest Rates Go?

Theoretically nominal interest rates could be negative, which would imply that lenders would pay borrowers for the privledge of lending money to them. In practice this is unlikely to happen, but on occasion we do see real interest rates (that is, interest rates adjusted for inflation) go below zero. To learn more, see: What Happens if Interest Rates Go To Zero?

Join my Facebook Real Estate FAN PAGE!

Johnny Sarkis

Senior Real Estate Specialist
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Tel: 703-400-9660 703-986-5700

Sarkis Real Estate on Facebook

Loan Locks - When is the Best Time to Lock a Loan?

Johnny Sarkis (Long and Foster Real Estate ) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:26:58 -0700

Loan Locks - When is the Best Time to Lock a Loan?

What Does it Mean to Lock a Loan?

By Elizabeth Weintraub, About.com Guide

See More About:

Locking a Loan Guarantees Your Interest Rate

When it comes to locking the interest rate on a mortgage loan, everybody wants to time it to get the best deal. There's nothing wrong with that sentiment. It's normal. Some of the time you'll get lucky and some of the time you won't. In other words, it's a roll of the dice. With a locked interest rate, however, you are guaranteed that if interest rates go up by the time you are ready to close, you will pay the lower interest rate.

What are the risks if the loan is not locked?

Let's say you decide to wait. You've narrowed down where you will get a mortgage and looked at all your loan choices. Maybe you've even decided on the loan product you want. But the market is moving down. The Fed has cut rates twice and you expect them to drop further. So you decide not to lock.

It's a gamble. But if rates go up, you have absolutely no protection. You're going to pay the higher rate.

What are the main elements to loan locks?

When deciding to lock a loan, there are 3 points to consider:

Interest rate
Points
Length of the lock period

Borrowers will pay extra for an extended loan lock. It's not free. The interest rate will be a bit higher or the points will reflect the loan lock fee. That's because the lender is taking on the risk that rates could go up while the transaction is processed, so the lender could end up losing money if the loan is funded at a lower-than-market interest rate. But locking the loan gives the borrower peace of mind. Real estate experts recommend that borrowers lock.

Are you committed to that loan if you lock?

Locking in the rate does not mean the borrower is wedded to that lender. The borrower is actually free to go elsewhere for a loan if the rates go down by the time the transaction is ready to close. Most borrowers don't realize this little known fact. That's because lenders don't want to tell anybody. They don't want to lose a loan by encouraging a borrower to jump ship.

But if rates go down, and the borrower threatens to pull the loan, to go to another lender, generally the lender will renegotiate the interest rate. Why would the lender do this? Because the lender wants to keep its customers.

How are loan-lock rates figured?

A 30-day rate lock might cost the borrower one-half of a point; whereas a 60-day rate lock might cost one full point. These fees are not paid up front; they are paid at closing. So if the loan never closes because the borrower has changed her mind or gone elsewhere, the fees are never paid. If a borrower doesn't want to pay for the loan lock through points, the fee can be computed into the interest rate.

Is there a downside?

There is rarely a reason not to lock a loan. Interest rates change daily, sometimes hourly. To protect yourself against the volatility of the marketplace, it's a good idea to lock your rate once you are satisfied with the rate. The reason some buyers dislike loan locks is because they want to grind every dime out of a transaction that is humanely possible. Just remember that if the rate was acceptable when it was locked three weeks ago, a drop of an 1/8 of a point or so isn't the end of the world. You don't need to be that kind of borrower to get a good deal.

Join my Facebook Real Estate FAN PAGE!

Johnny Sarkis

Senior Real Estate Specialist
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Tel: 703-400-9660 703-986-5700

Sarkis Real Estate on Facebook

When is the Best Time to Buy a Home?

Johnny Sarkis (Long and Foster Real Estate ) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:25:12 -0700

When is the Best Time to Buy a Home?

Which Days of the Year Are Buyers More Likely to Get Low-Ball Offers Accepted?

By Elizabeth Weintraub, About.com Guide

See More About:

To grab a good deal, you've got one day out of the year that is better than all the others.

When is the best time of the year to buy a home? There are at least two days of the year that give buyers the edge. Would you like to guess which two days are best for buying a home?

Every spring, as tulips struggle to poke through melting snow in the North and rosebuds cautiously open in Southern climes, sure as tootin' real estate signs begin multiplying like bunnies across the country. Soon as the For Sale signs are mounted on the posts, swarms of activity buzz in the streets as sellers, buyers and real estate agents crawl out from wherever they hibernated for the winter to welcome the spring sales season.

There is nothing like a spring real estate market. Offers fly over FAX machines and cell phones ring constantly. Everybody wants a deal, and everybody wants to sell. Typically the marketplace is flooded with inventory. There is more on the market in the spring than any other time of the year.

It's also the worst time to buy a home. Except for one day. There is one day in the spring that a buyer will have the edge against all the other buyers.

The second best day of the year to buy a home is Easter Sunday.

A buyer looking for a fixer on the outskirts of downtown Sacramento lucked out last Easter. A home came on the market at an attractive price. The buyer immediately inspected the home and wrote an offer. Fortunately, the listing agent was also the seller, so it was very easy to present an offer. The offer was signed and accepted on Easter Sunday because there was no competition. Come Monday, offers started rolling in, but it was too late.

Easter falls sometime between March 22 and April 25.
It is the first Sunday after the ecclesiastical moon after the vernal equinox.
The vernal equinox falls on March 20th or 21st, depending on the year.

The first best day of the year to buy a home is Christmas Day.

Almost nobody looks at homes on Christmas Day. But buying on Christmas Day is a smart move. If you scout out the homes on which you'd like to make offers a few days before Christmas, you'll be better positioned. Why is Christmas Day so attractive?

People are in good moods, celebrating, opening presents, enjoying family.
People are more inclined to be generous, even if it means coming down on the price. "Hey, it's Christmas, hon; just sign it."
Few buyers are out looking at homes during Christmas week, so the chance of multiple offers or any competition whatsoever is very low.
Home prices are at a 12-month low in December.
If a person has their home on the market over Christmas, that person is definitely serious about negotiating and selling that home. You can bet on it. Better yet, why not write an offer?

Of course, the key is to find a real estate agent who will a) work on Christmas and b) be aggressive enough to worm her way into the seller's home without batting an eyelash. Those agents are out there.

Join my Facebook Real Estate FAN PAGE!

Johnny Sarkis

Senior Real Estate Specialist
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Tel: 703-400-9660 703-986-5700

Sarkis Real Estate on Facebook

Gregg's Landing in Vernon Hills is a Wonderful Place to Live

Johnny Sarkis (Long and Foster Real Estate ) — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 23:44:14 -0700

Via Sharron Kelley, CRS, ABR,CDPE (Coldwell Banker-Buffalo Grove-Long Grove-Vernon Hills):

If you have been through Gregg's Landing in Vernon Hills, you know it is a very unique area which has a lot to offer. There are 23 different communities within this subdivision, ranging from Townhouses to High End Custom Homes. When the Subdivision was originally built, the communities were called pods, and many different builders were involved in creating this Luxurious area that we know today.

Gregg's Landing features a golf course and a club house that attracts many of the local residents, as well as people from the surrounding Lake County Illinois towns. The White Deer Run Golf Course is a well kept luscious 18 hole golf course that wraps through many of the Townhomes and Single Family homes. The area also features newly updated parks for the little ones, as well as small ponds and wooded areas. It truly is a great place to live.

The breakdowns of the Gregg's Landings' communities are as follows:

Townhomes Prices starting in the Mid $200,000's and going to the Mid $400,000 range

Bay Tree

Bayhill

Pinehurst

SaddleBrook

Shadow Creek

Single Family Lower Price Range from the high $500,000's to $700,000's

Muirfield Village

Oakmont

St. Andrews

The Pointe

Pine Valley

Royal Troon

Single Family Semi Custom Homes priced from the high $650,000's to the $850,000's

Augusta Green

Cypress Point

Royal St. George

Turtle Bay

Broadmoor

Beaver Creek

Full Custom Homes ranges from the $800,000's on up

Pebble Beach

Royal Birkdale

Sawgrass

Rivera Estates

Single Family Zero Lot Line No Maintenance Homes Price from the mid $400's

Inverness

Our team is an expert in this area. We have Listed and Sold Many of the Homes in Gregg's Landing and the surrounding Vernon Hills areas. We are closing in 2 days on a townhouse in Pinehurst, and activating 2 new listing in Baytree and Inverness.

The Sharron Kelley Team knows the Vernon Hills area and we know how to get homes sold. If you are looking to buy or sell in the Lake County Illinois Area contact us at 847-465-3638 or email us sharron@northernillinoishomes.com

You can visit our website at www.NorthernIllinoisHomes.com or www.SharronKelley.com for more information on our current listings and see how we get homes SOLD!

Join my Facebook Real Estate FAN PAGE!

Johnny Sarkis

Senior Real Estate Specialist
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Tel: 703-400-9660 703-986-5700

Sarkis Real Estate on Facebook

Top 10 Tips for Writing Purchase Offers

Johnny Sarkis (Long and Foster Real Estate ) — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 23:31:52 -0700

Top 10 Tips for Writing Purchase Offers

By Elizabeth Weintraub, About.com Guide

See More About:

Sometimes buyers get so excited over finding that perfect home to buy that less attention is paid to how they write the purchase offer; however, the quality of your offer is almost as important as the price you offer to buy that home. Listings agents should not be placed in the position of having to educate selling agents on how to write an offer. Poorly written offers reflect badly on everybody and lessen your chances as a buyer to get your offer accepted. Here are 10 basic tips to guide you.

1. Use the Correct Form

While this may seem elementary to you, there are a lot of purchase contracts available. Each state has its own laws. Realtor associations publish purchase contracts. In California, for example, we have at our disposal:

Manufactured Home Purchase Agreement
New Construction Residential Purchase Agreement
Probate Purchase Agreement
Residential Purchase Agreement
Residential Income Property Purchase Agreement
Vacant Land Purchase Agreement

And that's not every conceivable form, either.

2. Determine Price

Some courts have ruled that offers containing acceleration clauses such as "I will pay $1,000 more than your best offer," do not constitute a bonafide offer. You have a price in mind. Put it in writing.

Barring extreme buyers' markets or sizzling sellers' markets, you will probably want to offer a bit less than you expect to pay. You can ask for guidance, but don't expect your real estate agent to name a price for you. Picking buyer's prices is not an agent's job.

3. Make an Initial Deposit

In most states, to have a binding offer, you need to make a good faith deposit. It could be cash, personal check, cashier's check or other modes such as personal property, real property, mortgages or unsecured promissory notes.

Spell out who will hold the deposit -- almost anybody but the seller!

If your state has "liquidated damages," the seller could be entitled to retain your deposit if you default under the contract.

4. Disclose your Down Payment

Your down payment could be cash, promissory notes, stocks, real estate or other assets. Generally, it is readily available cash. Some states require verification of your down payment within a certain time period. If you are selling an asset such as liquidation of a mutual fund to receive cash, that action could be considered a contingency of the transaction and, if so, you should disclose it.

5. Name Financing Terms

Please remember that your deposit, when added to your down payment and financing should equal the total consideration paid.

Some contracts allow you to specify a maximum interest rate, giving you a way to cancel the deal if your interest rate comes in higher.
Disclose the type of financing you hope to obtain: conventional, FHA, VA, contract of sale, assumption or other.
Include maximum points, especially if you are asking the seller to pay them.

6. Include Contingencies

California Association of Realtors (CAR) purchase contracts in California give the buyer by default 17 days to do inspections. Other states are similar. Federal law gives all buyers 10 days to inspect for lead paint, unless waived in writing. Many contracts carry provisions for such contingencies as:

Appraisal
Loan Funding
Physical Inspections.
Depending on your state law, if you do not remove your contingencies in writing, they may still be in effect, all the way to closing!

7. Address Possession Succinctly

My experience shows more battles are fought over possession than are ever necessary. Some deals fall out because sellers and buyers have unreasonable expectations about possession.

Spell out the possession date. It is on closing? A day after closing?
If possession is prior to closing, to protect all parties, execute a rental agreement.
If possession is more than two or three days after closing, execute a rental agreement to protect the buyer.

8. Spell Out Who Pays the Fees

Although most contracts call for fees to be negotiable, some fees, depending on your locale, are customarily paid by one party. If you don't know custom, you may be unintentionally inviting acounter offer. Call the listing agent before you write the offer and ask. Sometimes fees for title, escrow, county or city transfer taxes can equal one to two percent of the sales price. For example, if the seller is paying for title and it's customary for the seller to choose, let her choose.

9. Request Special Reports

If you are concerned about a specific inspection, request a report. Few disputes irritate a seller more than to find out halfway through a transaction that the buyer had a concern that was not addressed upfront. Sellers feel duped. Buyers feel mislead. Address the issues you want discovered. Some states allow the buyer to conduct all inspections before writing the offer just to alleviate this type of miscommunication. If it's customary for a seller to provide certain reports, ask for them.

10. Clearly State Expiration of Offer

Deals sometimes fall through because buyers did not allot enough time for a seller to respond to the offer. If you are unsure, call the listing agent and ask how much time is required. Sellers can be out of town or have emergencies.
Clarify to whom the accepted offer should be delivered. If it's the buyer, and the buyer is unavailable to accept delivery, the buyer could lose the transaction if another buyer popped up out of nowhere.
Read your state contract laws regarding offer expiration.

Join my Facebook Real Estate FAN PAGE!

Johnny Sarkis

Senior Real Estate Specialist
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Tel: 703-400-9660 703-986-5700

Sarkis Real Estate on Facebook

Johnny Sarkis

Day Five of a Five-Part Series: Greenlining hits the road, targets private foundations

By: MARK TAPSCOTT Editorial Page EditorApril 16, 2010

Get the Right Image With Text to Flickr & Twitter With One Cell Phone Message

Get the Right Image With Text to Flickr & Twitter With One Cell Phone Message Send an image to Flickr and have it post to Twitter automatically.

Using Technology for Real Estate Brokerage Growth & Agent Retention

Using Technology for Real Estate Brokerage Growth & Agent Retention Using Technology Development to Change The Way You Do Business

Which Is Better For You - A Netbook or a SmartPhone for Real Estate?

Which Is Better For You - A Netbook or a SmartPhone for Real Estate? As netbooks get smaller and cheaper, it's not a tough call to make.

Tips and Tricks for Getting the Most Out of Your iPad for Real Estate Business

Tips and Tricks for Getting the Most Out of Your iPad for Real Estate Business

1. First Impressions on Opening the iPad

2. Printing with the iPad Over the Web

3. Using the Pages App on the iPad for Real Estate Documents & Flyers

4. Drawing Real Estate Floor Plans & Vector Drawings on the iPad

5. Using Evernote for Real Estate Document Management on the iPad

6. Using an Online Backup Solution for iPad Real Estate Document Management

7. Using the Numbers App on the iPad for Real Estate & Mortgage Calcs

8. Keynote for iPad Real Estate Presentations

9. WordPress for Real Estate on the iPad

10. Voice to Text Conversion Apps for Real Estate on the iPad

Do you have a private Septic system...Now is the time to service it.

Charges Of Fraud And Strategic Default At Goldman Sachs

Home for Sale.

12 Terrific Moving Tips When You're Moving Your Home

12 Terrific Moving Tips When You're Moving Your Home

Great Moving Tips to Make Moving Your Home Easier

See More About:

Top 5 Home Improvements That Help You Sell

Top 5 Home Improvements That Help You Sell

Filed In:

1. Put Clutter in Storage

2. Welcome Buyers at the Door

3. Remove Outdated Window Treatments

4. Install Closet Systems

5. Showcase Wood Flooring

Decorating in the French Country Style

Decorating in the French Country Style

Bring This Charming Style to Your Own Home

See More About:

Basics of French Country Decorating

Basics of French Country Decorating

See More About:

The Basics of Budget Home Decorating and Design

The Basics of Budget Home Decorating and Design

The Basics of Color

Understanding Room Design

Putting Everything Together in Style

Decorating Basics and Color Basics Quiz

The Four Worst Ideas from Home Decorating Shows

The Four Worst Ideas from Home Decorating Shows

Best places to live 2009.

Best places to live 2009.

How to avoid bad investment

Top 10 Ways to Lose Your Home

10 Home Buying Mistakes

See More About:

1. Attending No Money Down Seminars

2. Choosing Bad Agents

3. Wiping Out Savings

4. Refusing Professional Advice

5. Choosing Exotic Financing

6. Picking Wrong Neighborhoods

7. Choosing Most Expensive Homes

8. Passing Up Home Inspections

9. Altering Financial Pictures Before Closing

10. Plunging Into Debt After Closing

Lease Options - Lease Purchase Sales

Lease Options - Lease Purchase Sales

How To Do a Lease Option / Lease Purchase Sale

See More About:

Basics of an Option

Basics of a Lease Option

Basics of a Lease Purchase

Doing a Lease Option / Lease Purchase

Lease Purchase Benefits for Sellers and Buyers

Owner Financing in Real Estate

Owner Financing in Real Estate

Buying a Home With Owner Financing

What is Owner Financing?

By: MARK TAPSCOTT
Editorial Page Editor
April 16, 2010

Get the Right Image With Text to Flickr & Twitter With One Cell Phone Message
Send an image to Flickr and have it post to Twitter automatically.

Using Technology for Real Estate Brokerage Growth & Agent Retention
Using Technology Development to Change The Way You Do Business

Which Is Better For You - A Netbook or a SmartPhone for Real Estate?
As netbooks get smaller and cheaper, it's not a tough call to make.