Fremont homes

If you are thinking about buying a new home, don’t miss an opportunity to save money. Everyone likes to compare the best value on products or services, and will take advantage of specials or discounts in order to save money. What about buying a new home from a builder?

How do you save money when buying a new home? Home builders may offer what is called a broker co-op, which is a sales commission offered to a real estate agent as an incentive to show clients their new homes. The sales commission may range from 3% to 4% of the sales price.

Many real estate agents are now offering to share their commission with their home buyer clients. Before making an offer to buy a new home, a buyer can make an agreement with an agent to represent them, in exchange for a share of the commission paid by the home builder.

The amount of money a buyer can save depends on the share of the commission, which is negotiable with the agent, and the sales price of the home. For example, buying a new home with a sales price of $300,000, with a 2% share, would save the buyer $6,000.

The buyer can receive a check at the close of escrow, or the money may be applied to the down payment or closing costs, providing there are no restrictions from the mortgage lender, or state laws that regulate real estate transactions.

 Most new home builders don?t usually advertise a broker co-op offering, so the buyer, or the buyer?s agent would have to ask. The home builder may have a requirement for the buyer’s agent to be with them when visiting the office, or signing paperwork for buying a new home, so be sure to clarify the rules. A little time spent could mean a lot saved.

For a list of Fremont Homes for sale, Real Estate listings, California Real Estate go to http://www.helpusellachievers.com or contact Meena Gujral at 510-279-9580.

Homes Sold by Meena in Fremont 

Homes sold by Meena in Castro Valley, California

To see all my virtual tours click:

Meena’s Virtual Tours

For any homebuyer or real estate investor, buying a new home is an undertaking. It involves a lot of careful planning and research in order to make sure you get the homes you want for prices you can afford. Unfortunately, these days it seems that is becoming tougher and tougher. High property values, competitive markets and other factors are all contributing to making it tough for buyers to find any kind of deal that will significantly benefit them, and that is why more buyers are turning to buying foreclosure homes.

Foreclosed homes are great opportunities for anyone interested in getting into the real estate market, whether you?re buying for the first time or you’re an experienced investor looking for a new way to turn a profit. They are extremely unique, and you will rarely find them available through any sort of real estate agent or broker. This leads many people to prematurely decide that they must be too much work to find, but the truth is to the contrary. You can find foreclosure homes for sale in great abundance these days, all over the country. And best of all, they can be purchased for up to 50% their actual value on the open market.

Buying a home in foreclosure means buying a property from a mortgage lender. Usually the lender is selling the property as a means of collecting the remaining about owed by a homeowner who has defaulted on their home mortgage loan. As a result, the lender is usually only looking to claim enough to settle the remaining debt from the sale of homes in foreclosure, regardless of their market value. This is why buying homes for sale through these sorts of public auctions can be so beneficial.

But truly benefiting from the opportunity presented by these homes for sale means more than just attending auctions and bidding like crazy. You have to be able to know hot to buy homes through these methods, and a big part of that is being able to find the foreclosure for sale with the most potential for profits.

Once you find foreclosure properties that interest you, you have to be sure to fully investigate them. Call everyone associated with the home you can find, including sale trustees, the country records office, and anyone else you think can provide you with information on the home. Try also to learn about the surrounding environment on the property as well, including the local economy and school systems, as these will all have profound effects on the property’s potential for appreciation value.

Next, make sure you have an independent appraisal of the property performed. This will serve as the amount the property is worth on the open market, and you can use this figure to determine your savings during a sale and when calculating your maximum bid. Be sure to weigh in any costs associated with the home, such as those for repairs. These will all have a bearing on the actual value of the property, and can affect whether or not you’re getting a good deal.

In general, proceed with caution, and make sure you won?t be in for any surprises when buying homes foreclosure. And be sure to weigh your options, both in terms of the type of property you buy and your patience in choosing the right one. Don?t think you have to buy the first thing that looks like a good deal. In the long run, you’re much more likely to save the most when you wait for the right deal to come along, whether you’re buying bank foreclosure homes or any of the other myriad kinds of foreclosure homes available on the market today.

When considering to purchase homes for sale, we generally think first of single-family homes. There are many advantages, however, to condominiums that single-family homes for sale cannot give you.

According to the National Association of Realtors, condominiums are most popular for first-time homes for sale buyers, especially single women. Next, come retirees and empty nesters, who do not wish to have all the physical upkeep required by single-family homes for sale. Thus, condominiums make up an increasing share of the output of the top homebuilders across the nation, even with the decrease in homes for sale since the bubble deflated.

In addition to new condominiums being built, many apartment buildings, hotels office buildings, and even warehouses that have been vacant or partially filled are being converted into condominiums. These condominium homes for sale take less than a year to convert, with upgrades to the exterior and common areas. They add amenities to the interior; and in some, they add a pool, spa, gym and/or clubhouse to attract the upscale homes for sale buyers.

The best deals in condominium homes for sale are those in the process of being converted or built. You usually can purchase during construction/renovation at a 10-15 percent discount. Look carefully at the purchase contract, however, if the condominium is being converted from an apartment building. Ensure you will not be required to allow current renters to stay for a specified length of time.

A condominium homes for sale has many benefits. Like a single-family home, they appreciate in value and have the same tax advantages. Unlike a single-family homes for sale, your homeowner association and maintenance fees covers all major upkeep costs of common areas, landscaping and so on. Sometimes, several other amenities and benefits are covered, as well.

Converted Condominiums

Before buying a homes for sale in a converted building, find out how old the building is and what updates they made during the conversion. Older buildings generally have more frequent and higher cost repairs. Ask if the homeowners association has enough money in reserve to cover major costs, such as roof replacement. If not, will the owners have to meet the costs. How old are the appliances, especially the furnace, hot water heater, and air conditioning? If the appliances are not new, consider purchasing maintenance and repair contracts to save large expenses later.

Established Condominiums

Before buying a homes for sale in an established condominium complex, ask to see all available documents, including minutes of the association for the past few years. Ensure your potential homes for sale will not see a major increase in maintenance or association fees, taxes, and so on. Also, look for any noticeable disputes that residents have had with the association. You do not want to purchase a condo that will give you a lot of headaches. As with converted buildings, consider purchasing maintenance and repair contracts If the appliances are not new.

Buying Any Condominium

Always check the contract and association rules for the following:

? What is the consequence of late payment of association or maintenance fees? Possible actions are lien against your condominium, foreclosure, and court action.

? What are the restrictions? Do they restrict age of residents; pets; who and how many people may live in your homes for sale; no renting or subleasing; number of guests at one time in your unit, home business; and so on?

? Make sure you understand the definitions of the restrictions (such as, what constitutes excessive noise).

? What are the consequences of the different restrictions?

? How and when can you access the pool, spa, gym or clubhouse?

? Does the association have to approve all buyers? Do they conduct a criminal background check before approval? A condominium can offer you more safety than a single-family homes for sale in that the association can ensure its residents do not have criminal backgrounds.

Once you purchase your condominium homes for sale, insure the inside against liability and damage. Consider the extra cost for flood (if even a remote possibility exists ? think Hurricane Katrina) and wind insurance (especially for units above ground level).

Bank Foreclosure Homes for Sale – Invest Today to Earn Tomorrow

As we all know, foreclosure is a process through which a bank or a lender gains possession of the house whose mortgage the borrower fails to pay. Foreclosure is a legal process and despite being despised by many, it is necessary to protect the banking system. The sub-prime crisis in the United States and the consequent economic slowdown has led to significant increase in the rate of foreclosures in the country. This might be bad for some. However, for others, these bank foreclosure homes for sale provide an opportunity to buy new homes or invest in property market. This is because the homes which the banks gain possession of are not used by them for personal use. Instead, the banks put these homes for sale in the open market for anyone to buy. And, since the very purpose of selling these homes is to make up for the losses on account of bad debt or home loan, the houses are competitively prices so as to attract more and more people to buy them.

After witnessing real estate boom for several years, the property market in the US received a shock in 2007-08 when the property prices started falling. Later the revelations about bad state of sub-prime market further deteriorated things. In a matter of few months, the property and real estate prices dropped sharply leading to lender foreclosures. The domino effect of the sub-prime crisis was that it led to loss of jobs, thus further affecting the economic condition of the borrowers.

Whether it is the stock market or real estate sector, the prudence always lies in buying low and selling high. The economic crisis has forced the governments all over the world to cut interest rates. This, coupled with the current low prices of houses makes it an ideal time for those with sound economic background to invest in real estate and property. And contrary to the popular notion, the buyers of the houses attained through lender foreclosures do not need to have the cash ready in hand. Several banks and financing institutions are currently offering loans at competitive interest rates to borrowers to purchase such homes.

This is the best time for anyone who is either looking for a house of his or her dreams or looking to invest in property, to go ahead and buy these homes.

One of the biggest reasons that homes for sale by the owner often do not sell very quickly is due to the vendor not knowing how to advertise the property effectively. FSBO does not have to be intimidating and the following tips will prevent you having to fork out costly real estate agent fees when selling your home yourself.
The key to selling your house quickly is by using effective advertising such as that offered by several real estate web sites in the U.S. Some sites allow FSBO home listings to be posted free, so check what is available in your area. When placing your ad, include several flattering pictures of your home and keep your advertising copy short and simple. Make sure that you stress attractive characteristics, employing words and phrases that are appealing to prospective purchasers. Terms like Newly Remodelled, Close to All Amenities or Priced below Market are good for starters.
Another important tool in your marketing arsenal are lawn signs. If you also attach some form of container with information sheets to the sign, any prospective purchasers will have instant access to your contact info.
Before you put your house on the market, it must be immaculate inside and out. Homebuyers are attracted to clean, spacious and appealing homes. Remove all clutter and clean your home thoroughly, including the carpeting and windows. Do not underestimate the power of curb appeal. Trim the trees, plant colorful flowers and make sure your lawn is neat. Another instant turn off for potential buyers is to be overpowered by a not so sweet smelling house odor as soon as they set foot inside your front door. If you have pets, you need to make sure that the air is not permeated with that all too familiar doggy smell. Although it is better to get rid of the smell at source instead of attempting to disguise it, some essential oils put in discrete locations around the house can make the world of difference. Since you probably do not notice the odor yourself, invite a friend or neighbor over to give you an honest second opinion.
The actual asking price is another key factor in the ability to sell your home rapidly. Over pricing when selling a house is the biggest reason why many homes for sale by the owner do not move. A good guide to being able to price your home properly is to check local realty listings to work out the average going rate for similar properties in your area. As a general guideline, if you pitch your selling price at about ten percent higher than the actual going rate, you will likely receive offers, and hopefully a sale, very close to the true market value of the house.
One service that you should not do without is that of an attorney who is knowledgeable in the intricacies of home dealing. A survey by a professional home inspector should also be carried out, to find any problems that you may not be aware of.
Selling a home yourself can be time consuming, but the financial rewards are tremendous. Presentation together with proper pricing and effective advertising should see your property being sold in no time at all. Educating yourself about the nuances of the real estate market in your area will make you as effective as any realtor but without the costly fees.

For Sale By Owner or FSBO has long been an option that many people look into when it is time to sell their home. They do so for a variety of reasons. However, usually it is simply because they are trying to save the expense of hiring a real estate agent. Ideally, this means that homes sold by owner should even be less expensive than others, making them more desirable. The price of a FSBO home is often at least 5% cheaper than a comparable one listed by an agent.

Finding homes, which are for sale by owner, is not always the easiest thing to do. It requires a little extra work because you simply cannot call up an agent and give her the specifications of what you are looking for. By putting the following tips to work, you will be well on your way to finding great FSBO home sales in the area you want.

1. Check out websites that feature free classified ads like Craiglist.org and other local real estate web sites that offer low cost for sale ads. Even eBay has a section for real estate that is worth investigating.

2. Check out specialized websites that offer just by owner ads. More of these are starting up and usually have an option to search by city or even zip code, to tailor your search. FREEhomeownerlistings.com and Zillow.com are good sources to check.

3. Get the local newspaper daily, but especially on Sunday when there are bigger featured real estate sections, and check it thoroughly for the by owner ads.

4. Drive slowly through the areas and neighborhoods you would like to buy in and take notes on homes with a for sale sign that does not have a real estate broker’s information on it. It may or may not say for sale by owner.

5. Check local real estate publications. Often there are free real estate magazines available in grocery stores, libraries and other public places. While a majority of ads will be for real estate agent listings, there are often for sale by owner ads too.

6. Use your social network. Tell your friends that you are looking to find a for sale by owner home and if they know of one to please pass along the information. It is surprising how often someone in your circle may know of a home that is not even on the market yet. You may get first dibs. If you have a Facebook, MySpace or other social networking account, make a mention that you are looking for a FSBO home.

7. Contact a real estate agent. Some FSBO owners will be willing to co-op with real estate agents and agents will often be aware of such listings.

8. Check the MLS or Multiple Listing Service because many owners will pay the flat fee to list their home there for the added exposure it brings.

By taking such steps you will be well on your way to finding every FSBO home in the market you are looking to buy in. These are great ways to find a good deal. Just be sure that you involve a real estate lawyer so that you have all your bases covered and you haven’t missed anything vital in the transaction.

Exit the Traffic Jams – Buy a Condo

Condos are a great buy, holding their price in a downwards market – and sometimes even increasing their value!

Why would it be that in many distressed realty areas, condos are holding their price? Is it the glut of baby boomers moving into the easier ‘condo’ lifestyle? Is it because they can often be less expensive than houses for first time buyers? Could it be because single householders (who are more likely to choose condos) have now out-numbered married ones? Is it because condos are built slap in the middle of town?

Whatever the reason, condo prices have remained unchanged in nearly sixty key USA metros and they have even shown a price increase in thirty-three metros. A closer look at the figures for the nation could point to the answer.

For instance, Chicago is one of the metros where sales of townhouses and condos were mostly equal or higher than in the previous year. Chicago is a very condo-dense city which could indicate that many buyers probably wish to avoid all the traffic jams and live right where they work. The immediacy of condo life is very appealing to city lovers and the career-minded.

The south-western coast of USA boasts the highest priced condos in the nation. In the San Francisco, Oakland, Fremont area you could pay the median figure of $600,000 for a condo. This is fairly high when you consider that the median price for a condo in North Carolina is $116,000.

The second highest median condo price is in the Los Angeles, Long Beach, Santa Ana area and this is quoted as $363,000. This market is closely followed by the San Diego, Carlsbad, San Marcos area where the median price for a condo is $327,000.

These areas could all fall under the ‘West’ resort bracket, a sought after location, where all prices are high against the national average.

The rules for buying a condo are the same as ever: location, location, location. However, prospective condo buyers would be well advised to pay attention to the other type of rule pertinent to condo ownership – that of the HOA.

HOA stands for Home Owners Association and it is imperative to read through their rule book before you buy. You will have to live by these rules, so you will need to ensure that they fit your lifestyle. You will also need to ensure that any conditions that you particularly want when buying the condo will not be jeopardized by the HOA rules.

For instance, if you are planning to rent your suite out for half the year, or even half a week – make sure this is allowed. In order to keep the community feeling of the condo society, some HOA’s do not like transience.

Permanency builds neighborliness and it also means that the condo occupier is more likely to adhere to the rules. If you are just stopping there for one week, you may well crank up the stereo while you are sunning on the balcony. Rental options may be disallowed in order to better enhance the lifestyle of all the permanent residents.

Another point to watch is this: if you are a do-it-yourselfer, many condos have rules about only using certain contractors to carry out repair problems and/or decorate. Certain other rules are involved in condo living; for instance, night-time noise may be regulated after, say, 11pm.

If the rules of the HOA fit your wishes and your lifestyle, then it will seem as if the conditions are non-existent. However, if part of the deal of purchasing your condo involves augmenting your financial status by renting it, you will need to ensure that this is acceptable.