equity: AMERICAN DREAM IS NOT COMPLEX - 03/17/13 05:55 AM
The American dream is so simple it boggles the mind. You buy a home. You pay back what you borrowed to buy it and lo and behold after 20 years, you are sitting ON and living IN the American dream...Since a mortgage gobbles up almost half of peoples income, having no mortgage is the financial freedom everyone is looking for...Why re-invent the wheel?
THE START OF IT ALL
The short cut, a new way, a different procedure and taking risks are all allowed and available to the American people because that is our way of life. We have the best of … (6 comments)

equity: OH WHERE DID I PUT THAT $13 TRILLION DOLLARS? - 03/16/13 09:54 AM
There it is! It is back where it belongs! In everyone's home in the form of invisible money we call equity. It took a short hiatus and left without saying a word but then decided to come right back after all these years. It is like the parable of the prodigal son who wanted his share of inheritance, got it, squandered it and then came back home only to be treated like he never left.
FEELS GOOD AND BAD AND GOOD AGAIN
The equity in peoples homes across the nation is coming back slowly but surely and Americans are deeply affected … (13 comments)

equity: REAL ESTATE WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED? - 03/04/13 08:05 AM
For years Real Estate has come under scrutiny and many have shared the downside of the subject matter as they traveled through defaults, foreclosures, loan modifications and the horrors of being displaced. Anyone who bought a home in the last ten years had sound thinking and should be encouraged to revisit the subject once again but with a different mindset
HOME SWEET HOME
First of all, do not buy more home than you need or want. Forget the grandiose mansion mentality and instead get yourself a nice functional piece of Real Estate that you can take from being a house and … (3 comments)

equity: HOW CAN MONEY TALK WITHOUT LIPS - 02/18/13 10:50 AM
It is simple...You use these pieces of paper to communicate with people and when a big smile crosses over their face...Well the money is talking. Your credit card can speak money fluently too. Used to be that your house talked using the ancient ways of equity and appreciation to make itself known. Diamonds talk non-stop and gold brags and boasts continuously
MANY MONEY SPEAK
If you found a cache of money all tied up an bundled, oh its talking the minute you laid eyes on it. Money given freely speaks softly and gently too. Money from ill-gotten gains speaks very little … (4 comments)

equity: SHORT SALES PLEASE "SAIL" AWAY - 02/18/13 06:57 AM
I know that many Real Estate agents rose to the occasion of the Real Estate crash and took on the Short Sale dynamics and prevailed. Pure chaos when this introduced itself remember? Couldn't get through to the banks with phone calls, documents lost, files misplaced, different personnel every week and then it became the norm. Let me remind all you professionals and lovers of business of something
BUSINESS REQUIRES A RETURN ON INVESTMENT
There is no way a business can survive or thrive when someone in the transaction is losing. Yes opportunities abound for investors and home buyers I wont deny … (7 comments)

equity: DEMAND FOR REAL ESTATE INVENTORY STRATEGIC - 02/14/13 06:42 AM
I am suspecting that the banks held up and are holding up inventory in a strategic move some seen coming from 2-3 years ago. Think about this statement for just a moment.  It makes sense to freeze the product thus controlling supply and demand and creating the value after that. Only someone who has that much gold can make the rules such as this one. He who has the gold rules....
NEW LAWS WERE PASSED
Two to Three years ago, it was a frenzy with short sales, defaults, foreclosures abounding and banks breaking the law while handling them all. In the … (8 comments)

equity: STOP STARING AT THE INTEREST RATES - 01/30/13 09:59 AM
They are not there to look pretty or have some casual conversation about. NO. It is a soft and subtle but constant reminder putting everyone on notice that these rates are in a class of history that is to be respected and acted upon. They are a reminder that the cost to own a home is within reach and that mortgage payments and rent payments are competitive
TO DIE FOR THESE INTEREST RATES
While other things are seeking their flow or bottoming out, the interest rate is holding. Then, at some point you will notice a little hiccup, a slight bump … (9 comments)

equity: PEDALING THE REAL ESTATE CYCLE - 01/17/13 06:48 AM
Whoever is driving the current Real Estate bike is pedaling fast. Things are picking up and speed is increasing. Inventory is being swallowed up and multiple bids are quite common. But not those bids that drove Real Estate pricing through the roof and caused a crashing. NO. Appraisers and banks will only go so far on the value. But buyers have to move with a purpose if they want to MOVE into a new home
2013 MARKS THE BEGINNING
It is fitting that we can now reference and time this with the NEW YEAR. 2013 promises to be a busy Real … (4 comments)

equity: WHAT CAN WE EXPECT IN REAL ESTATE 2013 - 01/02/13 08:52 AM
Whatever takes place, we can be assured that the Real Estate industry is alive and vibrant. That was and is a good way to exit one year and start another. We have strong reports of lack of inventory, multiple bidding, low interest rates and talk of appreciate in many parts of the country.
WELL LOOKY HERE
Even new construction has raised its head up and is looking around for a foot hold too. What stands out for many people after living through this last year is what to do and what not to do and it is very plain and clear … (2 comments)

equity: GOT BACON & EGGS BUT NO HOME TO EAT IT IN - 10/05/12 09:50 AM
I am thinking of how well the pure and proven Real Estate systems work when not interfered with. The process to buy is simple and welcoming too. FHA makes it very easy to get started. After that, make the monthly affordable payment and live life day by day. Next thing you know, your little PIGGY bank will start swelling up and in time..grow into a FAT HOG..CALLED EQUITY...works every time too.
NOT AN OMELET...DO NOT EAT THIS EGG
But word of caution here. In referring to value/equity, I like to use the term NEST EGG. You see in the last several years, we … (6 comments)

equity: THE POWER OF OWNING A DUPLEX OR A TRIPLEX - 10/01/12 01:55 PM
I have a friend who owns a triplex. They live in the nicer unit and rent out the other two. In about 25 years time and between now and then, the payments will shrink and the income will increase slowly but surely over time. Eventually, the place will be paid off. Then this guy lives for free and the other two units pay him a monthly income....wow
SAME STORY ONLY SMALLER
A duplex is the same success story only a little version of it. You only sacrifice a little of your privacy but look what you gain in doing so. To … (23 comments)

equity: WHEN YOU PURCHASE A HOUSE YOU DONT OWN IT - 07/31/12 07:12 AM
How many times have we run into people or have we incorrectly stated that when someone brings up the subject of do you own or rent and the person is in the process of paying for their home do we say..OH, I OWN MY HOME. Well, you do not not own your home. Your thinking is sound and you mean well and without stretching too far, you are saying something that is happening but not finished
YOU CONTROL...BUT DON'T OWN
If you have bought a home, then you are on your way to owning it via paying for it in full. … (111 comments)

equity: BUY THE HOUSE AND PAY IT OFF - 07/27/12 11:11 AM
Anyone who is 40 and up will be quick to tell you that the last 20 years of their lives has come and gone so fast. Heck, I thought High School would never end soon enough for me but it did. At some point, you look back and think what you could have done better or more of? Time waits for no one rings very true. I have said all that to say all this.
BUY SOMETHING RIGHT NOW
Anything purchased today will put you on the road to a very pleasant and productive TWENTY YEARS (20) FROM NOW program. That's right. … (7 comments)

equity: WHEN YOU LIST WITH RAN RIGHT REALTY - 07/18/12 02:45 PM
You are in for a treat. WHY? I will show you how to either get in or out of the transaction successfully. No muss or fuss, drama, distraction or wasted time or energy. The best part of the beginning of the whole system in dealing with Richie (moi) is the free consultation. You get to explore, ask questions and ponder all for free. Doesn't matter if you go with me or not. The next agent will appreciate you even more and marvel at your savvy
LOT TO COVER AND DISCOVER
I don't expect you to understand the documents, the small print, the Real … (6 comments)

equity: DARN IT I ALWAYS MISS THESE OPPORTUNITES TO BUY - 06/11/12 01:53 PM
First off, I am talking about myself. I have seen so many good purchases over the last several years that have come about from the Real Estate crash. All I could think when I was listing some of them was if I only had the money. I knew the areas, the property and the values, so if I had the $$$, I would have bought several properties by now
RIGHT TIME AND PLACE
For those that have the money and the opportunity, you cannot go wrong. You are shopping at the right time, with the generous support of low interest rates, lots … (5 comments)

equity: SHOULD I BUY A FORECLOSED OR AUCTIONED HOME FAQ & POST #10 - 05/14/12 07:02 AM
People have a belief that when it comes to Real Estate transacting, they need to find a steal or a deal to make it a success. Sure, when those dynamics present themselves, many jump on that occasion. Keep in mind there are people who invest that do this all the time and they are the ones that usually get the so called bargains first
STEALS & DEALS?
So everyone else turns to an auction or a foreclosure thinking they too will get a steal or a deal. NOT SO. In fact, be very careful here. Not everything that glitters is gold. … (7 comments)

equity: WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO PURCHASE OR SELL FAQ & POST #9 - 05/14/12 06:58 AM
The simple down to earth answer is coming. Are you ready? the best time to sell or buy is when you are good and ready to do so. It is a personal and subjective thing and far from being a impulse. The stakes are too big to go shopping at these prices and not be sure of what or why you are doing so. So the best time is when you have said, I am ready to proceed
TAKING A CLOSER LOOK
Then, great things will happen. Now we will take a closer look at what we are doing because we … (2 comments)

equity: CAN I CHANGE MY MIND AND NOT BUY A HOME FAQ & POST #8 - 05/14/12 06:53 AM
It is the largest transaction you will undertake in your lifetime. It is fraught with small print, legalese, Real Estate speak, risk and adventure. The upsides are all there and make sense. But should one decide to change their mind in the middle of a transaction, they may but with a few careful caveats presented before hand
YOU HAVE TO READ BEFORE YOU SIGN
Much important time has to be spent before hand reading over and understanding all the relevant documents one is expected to sign and honor. Especially important is where you have to put monies up that are non-refundable.
… (0 comments)

equity: WHERE DO I INTERVIEW FOR AN AGENT FAQ & POST #7 - 05/14/12 06:49 AM
This is a very important step when considering entering into the Real Estate arena. You want to form a team and then that team has to go to work. Picking-the right team leader is very important because that person will be on point and will be the glue that holds it all together going in or getting out of the transaction successfully
SHOP ON ACTIVERAIN
ActiveRain is a very good place to shop for a Real Estate agent. This Internet site is accessed by millions of people and has hundreds of thousands of member-ed Real Estate professionals all-across the United states and … (0 comments)

equity: WHO DOES THE REPAIRS FAQ & POST #6 - 05/14/12 06:42 AM
There are disclosure laws that are very strict in Real Estate because if a repair problem or another issue that affects value comes up after the fact, you have a potential lawsuit on your hands. Plus, your personal Real Estate agent that represents you in a fiduciary relationship which is a sacred and intimate coming together, well they want you to have a successful transaction
TAKE A LOOK SEE
Of course you and the agent will walk through the property and note things accordingly. However, for a small fee, a professional inspector can be hired and this is a very good … (2 comments)