home interior

Worse yet, they often bum the relationship bridges that are meant to sustain their investment systems; they use people until they are done with them and then move on. Recreating their investment systems and relationships as they go along, they never ride the momentum of market fundamentals. Instead, these get-rich-quick artists become very good salespeople, with great stories about how you can join them and become fabulously wealthy. Their stories can be very compelling, even hard to resist. But resist you must if you truly want to make a long-term financial difference in your life and your family's. These short-term investors give real estate a bad name.

At the other end of the spectrum are investors who learn to practise the art of patience. Focusing on fundamentals, not emotions, will soon lead to a much more enjoyable and profitable way of investing. Veteran real estate investors will tell you that it will take at least three years of real estate investing before you start to sec the real fruits of your labour. Make sure you are emotionally prepared for this investment timeline. Also, make sure your other partners, including your spouse, share your commitment to long-term wealth.

In an average market, it takes three years for a property to really start outperforming the market. In a hot market, your results will come more quickly. But the bottom line is simple: Don't quit your clay job thinking you'll be eating your real estate profits in the first few years.

During these first three years of owning a property, you are building a foundation for your investment business. As you build that foundation, based on systems, relationships and follow-through, you will learn what it really means to make real estate investment decisions based on emotion-free market fundamentals.

Hype sells. Your job as a sophisticated real estate investor is to pull back the curtain to see what's behind the hype. Sadly, the real estate market is often manipulated by two key emotions: hype and fear. These two emotions are commonly used to get investors to take action. Free seminars, late-night TV infomercials and syndicated shows that try to convince you a certain city or development is the place to buy into, are all good examples of bad real estate hype. The seminars are free only until the pitch is made to you to buy their products. The infomercials you see on television are typically based on the market realities in the United States.

In fairness, some of the pitches might be good investments. But you'll only know if you do your complete due diligence. Similarly, some of the packages sold at so-called free seminars may be helpfu1. Just don't get caught up in the "there are only nine packages available" baloney. There are always more where they came from, but the promoters are capitalizing on the fear of missing out.

Overview

The US Property Market

The real estate market in and across the United States of America is as varied and expansive as the country itself. Although the age old adage comes off a bit trite and certainly overused, when it comes to real estate investment and other real property purchasing opportunities in the United States, there actually is something for everyone. There are many different opportunities available to the savvy shopper.

Investment Property in America

In the 21st century, an ever growing number of men and women are electing to make the purchase of investment real estate in the United States. This includes both residents of the U.S. as well as people living abroad who wish to become a part of the generally burgeoning U.S. real estate marketplace. As a general rule, people who are snatching up investment property in the United States are doing so in three different arenas:

First, investors are electing to buy into commercial real estate holdings.

Second, men and women buying investment property in the United States are also spending a goodly share of their funds on residential rental property.

Finally, people who are purchasing investment real estate in the United States are putting at least some of their money into vacation types of properties.

Residential Real Estate in America - Single Family Properties

No where is the commentary that the real estate market in the U.S. is as varied as the country itself when it comes to the matter of residential real estate. Depending on where a person is interested in residing, in making the purchase of residential property, will dictate how much money will need to be spent on such a purchase.

In some cities in the United States -- many of the major cities on both the east and west coasts of the country, for example -- the prices of residential properties continues to increase rather dramatically over time. On the one hand, the ever rising cost associated with the purchase of residential property in some cities in the country is keeping some people out of the housing market all together. There are some cities in the America that are experiencing a flat housing market. In other words, the appraised value of real estate is remaining level and not increasing much over time.

Residential Real Estate in America - Apartments

In addition to stand alone, single family residences, the market involving apartments, condominiums and townhouses in many communities has become more active in the past five years. This has particularly been the case as the so-called "Baby Boom" generation begins to move towards the empty nest phase of their lives (their children have left home) and even towards retirement. As a consequence, people are moving towards purchasing apartments, condominiums and townhouses because they are more convenient and generally less difficult and time consuming to maintain. In many instances, these properties are also smaller in size than the typical single family residence.

The overseas buyers are also seen buying these types of property with greater frequency over recent years. In some instances, citizens of other nations are taking to the purchase of these types of properties in order to allow them the opportunity to have a second home in the United States.

Holiday Property in America

One of the most significant trends that has developed in regard to real estate in the United States in the past twenty years revolves around vacation property. In the 21st century, a growing number of people within the United States -- as well as an increasing share of property owners from abroad -- are investing in vacation and holiday property.

Investment in holiday property generally has been seen to occur in two different areas. First, people both in and out of the United States are making purchases of second homes or vacation homes for their own usage. (In some instances, these people do turn around and rent or lease out their vacation or second homes to other people during those segments of the year when they are not using the property personally.)

Second, men and women residing inside and outside of the United States can also be found investing in time shares in record numbers. A time share situation is one in which a person buys "time" in a piece of real estate. In other words, they are buying an interest in a particular piece of property that interests the purchaser during a specified period of time each and every year.

Mortgage Options

When considering the options for a mortgage on your overseas property there are a couple of choices to consider;

1. Do you consider raising finance on your existing property in the UK to cover the whole cost of your purchase abroad? A good idea if the interest rate in the country in question is a lot higher than it is here in the UK as you will pay a lot less in monthly repayments.

2. Do you secure a mortgage against the property from a local bank in the country of purchase? This can be a wise option especially if the interest rate is lower than our current UK interest rate. Most overseas mortgage / bank lenders will require upto 30% deposit on mortgages. However, you will need to give some thought to how you will service your mortgage payments each month especially if you are not living or earning in that country as you may well lose out on exchanging money each time to cover monthly expenses. Check out our Foreign Currency page to see how you can save money in this example

3. Some Builders and developers may well offer their own mortgage facilities on their properties for sale. This can be beneficial to both parties depending on the logistics of the mortgage or loan facility. Always check and compare with the two options above before making your final descision.

For more details on Mortgages in America visit our Mortgage page in the American section on our website.

Specific steps to buying real estate property in America

A person interested in making the purchase of any kind of real estate in the United States needs to give serious consideration to engaging the assistance of a qualified and licensed broker or of an equally qualified real estate service that has been established to service the needs of those people seeking to purchase investment, residential or vacation property within the U.S. When shopping for real estate in the United States, a buyer needs to keep in mind that the agent or Realtor works for the seller. The real estate agent or Realtor is legally obliged to protect and further the interests of the seller.

In addition to engaging the assistance of a qualified broker or real estate service, it is also important to note that the real estate markets found across the United States vary significantly from location to location. As a consequence, a person looking to buy real estate in the United States will want to make very certain that he or she has resources that are specifically knowledgeable about the real estate market in a particular region of the U.S.

One step that a person interested in buying real estate in the United States will want to consider taking up front is obtaining a financing commitment from a bona fide lender before beginning the search for specific pieces of real estate. In recent years, in the United States, lenders will extend mortgage facilities to people interested in purchasing real estate (provided that they are credit-worthy) in advance of identifying a particular piece of property for purchase. By having such a lending commitment in hand, a person looking to buy real estate will be in a better position to more efficiently and effectively procure real property in the least amount of time.

When making the purchase of real estate in the United States, the general practice and law in most states is that a purchaser accepts the property in the actual condition it is in at the time of the contract for sale is executed. In other words, a buyer generally buys the property in the condition it is in and cannot complain about significant defects after the deal is closed between the buyer and seller. (The one caveat is if the seller willfully and intentionally withholds material information about defects or problems of a significant nature associated with the real estate.) As a result, it is imperative that a buyer makes certain that the property is closely examined for flaws and defects before a contract for sale is finalized and certainly before the closing date on the transaction.

Once a particular piece of property has been identified for purchase, a contract is then drafted. In the United States, real estate cannot be sold in the absence of a written contract. Often, when residential real estate is sold, a standard form of contract is utilized to memorialize and effect the sale. However, if a person is making the purchase of investment or commercial real estate, more often than not a specific and individualized contract is created for the transaction.

When the contract is signed by the parties, a closing date is established. In the U.S., the closing date is the date on which all of the duties and obligations under the contract need to be satisfied -- including the obligation of the seller to make certain that the title to the real estate is "clean" and including the obligation of the buyer to make certain that his or her financing is in order.

Generally, a closing date is set approximately 30 days from the signing of the contract for sale. However, there is no hard and fast rule pertaining to when the closing is to be held. The closing date is established between the parties to the real estate sales contract.

One of the items that a buyer will want to make certain he or she obtains after the contract is signed and before the closing date is title insurance. Title insurance will protect the buyer of real estate should a situation arise in which the title to the underlying real estate ends up being clouded. A clouded title is one in which another person or entity ends up having an interest in real estate that may not have been found or properly disclosed during the time period between the signing of the contact and the closing of the sale itself. For example, a prior lender may have a lien on the property that for some reason was not discovered. While such an encumbrance on the property's title should have been discovered, there are countless examples in which mistakes occur and liens and other interests in a particular piece of real estate are not discovered. Again, title insurance protects a buyer of real estate from any expenses or loss that he or she might experience as a result of a defect in or cloud on the title to real property.

In most jurisdictions in the United States (but not all) local units of government assess property taxes on real estate. If a person is making the purchase of real estate, he or she needs to understand that they are likely to be responsible for paying a pro rata share of taxes that will be due and owing for the portion of the year of the purchase during which the buyer actually assumes ownership of the real estate. Often, the taxes will be due to be paid at the time of closing to avoid any problems between the buyer and seller in the future.

Additionally, insurance on the real estate needs to be in place to benefit the buyer on the closing date. A purchaser of developed real estate will not want to assume possession of the property without making absolutely certain that proper insurance is in place.

Property Abroad always recommends using a Solicitor or Lawyer

Change is good for the consumer and for the real estate industry. It fuels competition and drives innovation and efficiency. Yet, the real estate industry has seen little change during the last 50 years. Indeed, other than marginally lower commissions as a result of the introduction of "discount brokerage models," the change is imperceptible.

Will the industry survive as we know it today? What will it take to thrive in the future?

Technology and changing consumer behavior will be the driving forces behind change, but not the only forces. What matters is what the consumers want -- not what we think they want.

We searched for answers. We went from denial, to awareness, and finally to acceptance. The lessons were harsh but clear. We needed to listen and learn from the consumer. Here is what we learned and want to share with you.

Legislation and regulation can't stop evolution and innovation.

It is not business as usual anymore. Prior success no longer guarantees the future viability of the existing real estate business model and profitability for the industry. While it has been a long and rewarding ride, its time has passed. However, there should not be any doubts that there is a bright future for the real estate industry. After all, real estate will continue to be the heart and engine of our economy. And it will be especially brighter for those embracing radical change and seeking new ways to serve the consumers. Those that embrace the change brought by evolution will succeed. Those that continue to use legislation to defend the indefensible will see their business succumb to innovative models that put the interests of the consumer at the center of the process.

Consumers have lost confidence in the traditional model.

Is anyone surprised about this? Have consumers been taken for granted? Did the industry forget that consumers are critical on both sides of the transaction? You would have thought that consumers would be in control of the process. Yet, ironically, consumers do not have any leverage because the power resides with intermediaries. Consumers' options are limited when buying or selling real estate, particularly for those who want to go about it on their own.

We hear frequently: "Why do we need to pay a 6% commission for selling our property?" That concern is being felt across the real estate industry, and while commissions are being reduced, the decrease is still not commensurate with the "homeowner's perception of value".

Homeowners believe that fees should be based on "the value of the services" and not on "the value of the property". The adage that a rising tide lifts all boats has proved to be true in the real estate industry. This rising tide has brought housing values to record high levels. The good news for the homeowners is that their equity has increased. The bad news (which materializes at the time of the purchase and sale of property) is that such increase is completely independent of the contributions of third parties. It is simple market forces at work : supply and demand.

Consumers see through the lack of transparency.

Consumers know that you are not what you write or say, but what you do when no one is looking. Consumers want more transparency. They want all the myths to disappear. They want a leveled playing field, with unrestricted access to the tools and knowledge required for a successful sale or purchase. They want transactions that are "procedurally" easier, smarter, cheaper and faster. They want to choose how to go about buying and selling. The one size fits all approach is not longer valid.

Because of this lack of transparency, consumers are paying more for less value. Consumers are working more, but not being compensated for their efforts. Over 74% of buyers are now using the Internet to search for properties, yet they cannot complete the process because the back end is controlled by intermediaries. Sellers who want to sell on their own do not have an "effective platform" to market their properties, unless they use the Multiple Listing System. The cost of representation currently based on the value of the property is archaic and does not reflect the realities of the times. The absolute value of commissions paid continues to increase and the beneficiary is not the consumer. It is the consumers' equity that continues to erode, while the economic benefits are enjoyed by the intermediaries. Simply stated, the time has arrived for the consumers to be in control of the process. After all, the consumers own the properties and who better than them to decide what to do and how to go about it. They are willing to pay for the services and guidance they need, but not as a function of the value of a property.

The traditional model does not reflect today's consumers.

Advances in technology and the ever increasing sophistication of consumers are destined to change the way home real estate is bought and sold. Did the industry fail to recognize changes in the behavior and expectations of homeowners and investors?

Today's consumers are tech savvy, more independent, more sophisticated, more knowledgeable and want to be in control. They want to have choices!

Almost every traditional brokerage house has a web site mostly used to provide "photographs and summarized property information." This is a step in the right direction, but not quite what the consumer wants. Consumers want access to the same information and tools that professionals have. They want a buy and sell process that is "easier, smarter, faster and cheaper". Consumers know that the Internet has made it possible to have access to information and resources that in the past only were available to professionals. The Internet has also made it possible to provide these services at a fraction of the cost. Technology based models are not a substitute for good judgment, but they are more efficient and transparent. These efficiencies result in lower cost of representation, and access to information and know how that is completely unbiased and independent of the value of a property. Put another way, technology drives down the cost of representation!

Homeowners want real options, not a recycled traditional model. While real estate is a $ 1.3 trillion industry that is highly fragmented, there is little differentiation between options. The industry also exhibits behavioral traits typically found in oligopolies. Consumers have been led to believe that the process of buying and selling is complicated and unmanageable without the intervention of an intermediary. This is simply not true. Consumers want real options that remove the "fear, uncertainty, and doubt," which historically has been foisted on the real estate transaction by intermediaries.

There are over 2.3 million licensed brokers and agents in the United States. Entry and exit barriers are low. In theory, it looks like consumers have a very large number of choices. In practice, that is not the case. Mostly everybody offers the same and there is little differentiation between companies, business models, and services provided by brokers and agents. Consumers want "real choices," not variations of the existing business model.

Currently, home owners that wish to sell their property have two options: (i) sale by owner (FSBO); or (ii) a contractual engagement with a licensed real estate broker or agent.

For those owners who desire to sell their property themselves, advertising and valuation tools are virtually non-existent. Their intent is to avoid the high commissions sought by brokers, but they are restricted in their advertising and analysis capabilities.

Looking to take advantage of the market necessity for a FSBO real estate solution, a plethora of market developers has begun to introduce solutions in this area. Nonetheless, these developers have focused on creating revenue from either individual online FSBO advertisements, advertisements from or referrals to third-party real estate professionals, lead generation, or some basic set of information services/tools with limited capabilities. These are legitimate alternatives for some but not for all.

Real estate consumers are actively seeking alternatives. Consumers have an infinite appetite for information and knowledge. Web based applications have made that possible and there is no turning back. According to a 2004 report from the National Association of Realtors, the Internet has rapidly become the preferred method of property search with over 70 % of homebuyers indicating that they utilize it as their primary source of property listings. In fact, 2003 marked a milestone in the technological evolution of the real estate industry. That year, for the first time, more buyers used the Internet than newspaper advertisements as an information source. Buyers are doing most of the work, yet they find themselves having to go through an intermediary. Buyers do not buy the myth that "Commissions are paid by sellers." They know these commissions are part of the gross purchase price and paid exclusively by them.

Most consumers want an innovative online business environment with functionality that incorporates optimal data sources, analytical tools, marketing exposure, and opportunity leads in a comprehensive and user-friendly online solution. They know the Internet has created new industries and new ways to transact business and they want to be the beneficiary of such transformation. New games and new rules will become the standard. And we better learn to play the new game! The consumers will have the final word.

Change is unavoidable but not easy to accept. Change is good for society and we are constantly witnessing the transformation of everything around us. Change drives innovation, efficiencies and progress. Why should it be different for the real estate industry?

We need to listen and learn from the consumers. They want choices.

They want to compare those choices and decide how to proceed with what is for most people a very important investment decision in their life: buying or selling real estate. This is not about who is right or who is wrong. It is all about what is right for the consumer.