Land surveys aren’t necessary if you can find the survey stakes - If you find the survey stakes from a previous survey, all you know is that there was a previous surveyor who determined that this location was on the edge of the property. The land surveyor you hire can tell you if what you’ve found is really your property line; you may be surprised to learn that in many cases, what you think is a surveying monument may not be it at all. Plus, your findings won’t hold up in court, but a licensed land surveyor’s would.

It’s very rare for a neighbor to encroach over a property line - Don’t be so sure that you aren’t encroaching onto property that legally belongs to your neighbor, or that they aren’t technically on your property. Land surveyors see these types of issues all of the time. Hiring a land surveyor to mark the exact property line is a good investment in your property.

I can build my fence on the property line without a survey - Even when you’re sure you’re building only on your land, protect your investment by making sure that you know exactly where the property lines are. If it turns out that you have built onto a neighboring property, you may be forced to tear down your work. Think twice before building a fence right on the property line, even if you know right where it is. Can you maintain the other side without trespassing on your neighbor’s property? Will the footings encroach on their land?

The fence has to be my property line, it’s been there a hundred years - Fences, especially those built decades ago, are only an approximation of where the property line is or was thought to be. Even if that fence has been used for decades, that doesn’t automatically make it the property line.

All land has already been surveyed, it’s just a matter of finding the survey - Although you may be ale to find old maps created for tax purposes, in many cases the land you own may have never been surveyed. Even if you do find a previous survey from decades ago, it may not always help solve your issue or assist you in identifying the actual property lines on the ground, especially if the surveyor’s monuments are long gone.

I don’t need a second survey if the land was surveyed years ago - Land survey is an art, not an exact science. It is possible for two surveyors to obtain different results. Also, the measurements are made based on the evidence found; surveyors working at different points in time may not have the same evidence available. The new surveyor will have the benefit of the monuments set by the previous surveyor, if they are still in existence, as well as any records recorded after the previous survey. If the previous survey’s results are being questioned, it may be worth it to have another survey done.

Having a survey done is too expensive - Not having a survey done when you really need one can cost you thousands of dollars. Is it worth the risk? This professional service is well worth the cost.

We at Point to Point Land Surveyors pride ourselves on accuracy, customer service and quality work delivered on time, guaranteed. Telecommunication land surveys are a specialty.Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/7-land-surveying-myths-and-misconceptions-debunked-1787373.html

When closing a home, it is good to look at the Good Faith Estimate or the costs associated with your decision to purchase at settlement period. The interest rate is not the sole basis for the costs that you will incur during the closing stage.

When a prospective lender is legally operating, it is required by the Federal Law to provide a Good Faith Estimate with a three-day period upon the application of a mortgage. Though this is true, the reality is that there are always discrepancies between the estimate and the actual amount that needs to be paid. Some lenders intentionally reduce the cost to win the sale. This may be understandable but this is not good for borrowers who have limited funds to use for the purchase. What the government is doing is to ensure that a more accurate estimate is given to give the buyers the true picture in terms of purchase and other associated costs.

Closing costs normally range between 3% - 5% of the total loan amount. This is the allowance for the costs that will be covered for the other transactions with regard to your purchase. What you can do as a buyer is to gather the good faith estimates of at least three buyers and compare the costs. With this information with you, you can compare and check what one lender covers and what is not. Then, you can check on the details with each one.

Good faith estimates normally include appraisal fee, credit report, lender’s inspection fee and other costs that cover insurance, hazard and other requirements. You should note that closing costs are categorized as non-recurring and recurring. The non-recurring costs are one time fees and you are no longer to pay them again. Recurring costs should be repeatedly paid over a period of time. These include insurance and property taxes. It is good to classify these costs and know how much will be required for your one-time fee and the periodic costs and make sure that you will be prepared for such.

Don’t go to the last step of buying a home without checking on the closing costs. It is a wise move to look at this area and be assured that you are ready to move in that new house.

Need to buy or sell a home in the Bothell, WA area? Check out Bothell Homes.Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/closing-costs-when-buying-a-home-1776041.html

At the present time the real estate market is leaning to the advantage of those that are buying homes in Walnut Creek. The market is filled with both houses and apartments of many different styles and budgets. Regardless of what type of residence suits your needs, you will find a home to match at a great price.

Fifty-three percent of the demographic is actually married couples, but only twenty-one percent of that are families with children. The other remainder of the demographic is single, being held by forty-six percent of the neighborhood’s population. The neighborhood seems that it would fit well with any age bracket from this general information.

Get your budget clear before you start searching in earnest for your new house. By having some of the financing arrangements in place prior to looking you can save time when you find the right house and reduce the risk of losing it to another buyer.

There are a few different options when it comes to buying Walnut Creek homes for sale. You can visit homes that are for sale in the standard way, go to auctions or check out foreclosures. Foreclosures have the distinct advantage of generally being listed at below market value so you can save yourself a lot of money or get a better quality home for your budget. To get a foreclosure home though, you generally have to be in the position to buy quickly.

Find an agent who is willing to show you multiple properties. Looking at pictures and listing sheets is fine, but you can’t make too many decisions from these photos. All photos are made to make the property look spectacular. Think about hotels ‘ how many times have you ever arrived at a hotel to find out it looks nothing like its brochure photos? Homes are no different. They rarely bear much resemblance to reality.

Before scheduling your first appointment, make sure she has previewed homes to show you, and get your prequalification letter taken care of.

Learn more out about Walnut Creek Homes For Sale at my helpful website for home buyers and homes sellers.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/things-to-know-when-considering-walnut-creek-homes-for-sale-1770148.html

It is important for investors to decide which type of investment property is best suited to their needs. Some real estate investors focus on a specific niche, such as rental properties. Other investors diversify and acquire a mix of physical properties and real estate notes.

Investors looking for long-term investments might consider rental property. Rental houses bring in regular income as long as tenants are in place. The key to making money with rental homes is to carefully screen tenants and charge rental rates according to market conditions. If not, properties could sit vacant and create negative cash flow.

Investors that desire quick cash investments might consider wholesaling and house flipping. Wholesaling involves buying real estate at wholesale prices and reselling the property in “as is” condition for profit. House flipping involves buying houses in need of repair at discounted prices, fixing them up and selling for profit.

Flipping houses is almost a thing of the past because the real estate market is oversaturated with discounted properties. However, there are still deals to be made in this niche. The goal is to buy below market value, renovate, and sell the investment property for profit within a few months.

House flipping investment profits can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Much depends on the property type, location, purchase price, cost of repairs, and sale price. Investors that embark down this path should be financially prepared to hold real estate for extended period of time if the property cannot be sold for profit.

There is no doubt the housing market is currently a mess. Home mortgage loan credit restrictions have made it difficult for many buyers to obtain financing. Mortgage lenders are hanging on to distressed real estate in hopes of obtaining a higher sale price when the market stabilizes. These factors combined have reduced the number of available real estate investing opportunities.

What does this mean for real estate investors? It means investors need to work smarter to find profitable investment property. Working smarter begins by developing relationships with other realty professionals. Networking helps investors gather information and locate investment opportunities more efficiently.

Investors who engage in careful market research and network with real estate professionals can reap profits in any economic market. Investors that make informed choices can set the stage to reap profits when the market rebounds.

Author and real estate investor, Simon Volkov, has published hundreds of investment property and real estate investing articles, many of which are available on his website. Simon offers multiple investment opportunities through his real estate investment club. Investors are encouraged to subscribe to Simon’s Investment RSS feed to receive notification of real estate properties and cash flow notes for sale. Learn more by visiting www.SimonVolkov.com.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/investment-property-ways-to-profits-in-a-recessed-real-estate-market-1762419.html

You may have your own take on the validity of that increasingly tired, yet pertinent, phrase but one thing’s for sure, its universal message gets some mileage in property markets across the globe.

But from whose wise lips did this often repeated incantation first slip? From where did it originate, and why did it become the mantra for hordes of estate agents around the planet?

As intriguing a question as it may be, the truth itself seems just as confounding.

Even the incredibly vast and astonishing resource that is the world wide web fails to clarify this query, and several options eventually surface. These range from unreferenced suggestions that it was US hotel magnate EM Statler who first coined the now-familiar triple whammy, to more coherent, if equally apocryphal, British origins.

A probe by the late William Safire, The New York Times’ political commentator and language guru, seems to offer the most believable leads. Despite some weighty support from highly regarded London newspapers, Safire dismisses a popular misconception that English tycoon Lord Harold Samuel was behind the phrase when he reportedly stated ‘There are three things that matter in property: location, location, location.’

Safire eventually uncovered, via the editor of The Yale Book of Quotations , the phrase’s oldest known usage in a rather surprising place. It appeared in a real estate advertisement declaring ‘Attention salesmen, sales managers: location, location, location, close to Rogers Park’ in the classified section of The Chicago Tribune dated 1926. Of course, it may well have appeared elsewhere prior to this.

Even if it was, in fact, first coined in that seemingly innocuous ad, how on earth did it take so long to come into common use in the real estate lexicon - and who was responsible for popularizing it, in the latter part of the twentieth century? Even the mighty Google doesn’t seem to be able to clear that one up…

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Mrs Baxter is 60 years old and is severely disabled. Her husband of 63 years also suffers from the lung disease emphysema.

‘When we agreed terms for the purchase of the property we knew there were three tenants in occupation, but we were assured that they would all move out as part of the sale of the property. Indeed, the sale contract said as much’, explained Christine.

‘However, when we turned up at the property as the new owners, we found that one of the tenants was still actually living there!’

‘He made it clear to us in no uncertain terms that, although he was very sympathetic to our predicament, he had no intention of moving out’, she added.

The tenant also laid claim to a garage that was attached to the property, which the couple were going to use for the installation of a disabled lift.

With the property in need of renovation and without a lift available, Christine and her family were unable to move into the property, even with the upstairs tenant present.

As a result, they were obliged to decamp to hotels, camp sites and bed and breakfast houses, before finally being able to move into a holiday property provided to them by friends.

The couple engaged solicitors to bring a legal action against the seller, but the French courts ruled against them, arguing that they did not make it clear enough by their actions that vacant possession of the property was indispensable.

The court did not argue with the facts of the case that the couple had been misled by the sellers, but this did not seem to override their view than vacant possession was not an essential element of the purchase of the property.

‘We are amazed at the decision of the court, as is our solicitor, but we are as equally unhappy with the handling of the case by our solicitor, whom we have since learned has been dismissed from the company for incompetence’, said Christine.

The couple also feel they were misled by the estate agent, who gave them verbal assurances that were not kept, and even the notaire who processed the legal formalities of the purchase was criticised by the judge for not doing her job properly.

‘We have spent around €40,000 in legal and other costs and we have now run out of money, as a result of which we are unable to pursue the matter further to the French supreme court, to whom we would otherwise wish to lodge an appeal’, said Christine.

In the meantime the couple have made a formal complaint to the European Ombudsman, and they are considering formal complaints to the relevant professional bodies of the notaire and the solicitor.

We wish Christine the very best with her official complaints, and with any appeal action she may bring.

Comment

The ruling of the court in this case does seem unusual and unjust, and it is difficult to see a logical explanation for it.

Where a sale contract makes it clear that the property is being sold with vacant possession, then if this is not granted the buyer would normally be successful in obtaining either an annulment of the sale or damages from the seller, or both; the outcome would depend on the particular circumstance of the case, and the wishes of the purchaser.

However, the case does illustrate the desirability of visiting the property on the day of sale completion, prior to the final signatures.

You should also ensure that any clause in the sale contract concerning occupation of the property is later incorporated into the acte authentique, the deed of sale.

You can read more at : <a target=”_blank” href=”http://www.french-property.com/news/”>http://www.french-property.com/news/</a>

David Yeates

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Land is an even more acute requirement than food and when you own a piece of land, it can prove to be a very good source of income as well. Investing in real estate is a common thing, since most people look forward to owning their own home which will last for a lifetime. This home can also be passed down generations as a valuable piece of property and will benefit your children immensely. If you have already inherited a home or piece of land from your forefathers, you may still be investing in real estate. This is because many people prefer to invest in real estate as it will always have demand and hence its value will only grow higher. Some take it up as a source of income when they buy multiple pieces of land at a certain price only to sell them off after a while at a higher price. When there is a booming economy you may be lucky enough to sell off your property for twice or three times the price you bought it for.

There might be people who tell you how a recession is bad for the real estate sector and that you may be making losses due to it. However there is also a brighter side to it. During the recession the price of land comes down and if you happen to have enough money stored away you can buy land at a much lower cost than you could have at any other point of time.

If you are looking forward to invest in real estate the best place to find out more is kwmemorial.com which will give you detailed information on everything related to real estate.

Whether you are looking for real estate in Houston Texas or have a property to sell, Keller Williams Memorial is here to help. Working with a respected Houston Texas real estate professional can help ensure a good experience.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/houston-real-estate-path-ahead-in-2010-looks-brighter-1740836.html

This article was provided by Brian Talley of Regent Property Group LLC, providing information about Austin home price trends to those people searching Austin neighborhoods for purchasing or selling a home in the Austin area with help from a top Austin REALTOR®.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/austin-home-price-trends-comparing-2009-to-2007-1734401.html

You might think that erecting a prefabricated garage, or putting together a wooden garage that comes with all the pieces, is easy. But in order to do a good job you will need to know how lay a concrete floor and how to set trusses. If you know how to do these things, then you may be successful, but if you don’t, rather hire a professional contractor.

There are many things to take into account before building a traditional garage. Firstly, you will have to have approved plans. The next step is to stake out the site according to the plans. This must be done before any work can start.

Next the ground will have to be excavated and leveled so that the concrete slab can be laid. You will need to make sure that anchors for plumbing and electrical points are placed in the correct position. Once the concrete is poured, there is no going back to rectify any mistakes.

Putting up the walls can now start in accordance with the plans. The sill plates will be positioned while the walls are being erected. After this, the roof rafters or trusses can be placed in position. These should be covered with either plywood or OSB sheeting before work on the final roof can start.

The roof can now be completed. At this point, the building is said to be dried-in which means that no damage can be caused by the elements. The next step is to put in the windows, doors, plumbing and electricity. Once this is complete, the interior walls can be painted.

When it comes to the finish of the exterior walls, there are a number of options. Popular finishes include drywall, OSB sheeting, or plywood. Whatever finish you decide on, take into account its durability. If you live in a harsh hot climate, or a cold, rainy climate, you should choose a finish that is appropriate.

Your new garage will add value to your property. Apart from protecting your car, you can use part of the garage as a laundry or a workshop. A garage is also an ideal place to store things like your garden equipment and other implements. Take all these factors into account before planning your new garage.

Visit the Real Estate Scoop for more information on Home Building Kits.

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By definition, U.S. economy has been in a recession since December 2007. So, what does that mean for VA loans? Is the VA Home Loan Guaranty Program resilient in an economic slump? And, like conventional loans, are there fewer VA loans now or more? Because the Program is resilient, there are more VA loans being made now.

In fact, there are several factors that have helped keep VA loans strong even in this recession: recent improvements in veterans’ benefits, the VA outreach program, and the abilities of private mortgage lenders to implement the VA benefits in a down economy.

Since the Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2008 was passed into law in October 2008, the guidelines under which VA-eligible borrowers can obtain a home refinance loan are more attractive than ever. First, the maximum guaranty for cash-out refinance loans has been made the same as that for purchase loans. Qualified veterans can now refinance up to 100% of appraised property value. And, the ceiling has been raised for VA’s refinance loan up to $729,750; provided that the loan does not exceed the maximum county limits established. Also, the VA’s authority to guaranty ARMs and Hybrid ARMs has been extended to September 30, 2012.

To protect the Federal Government’s guaranty, the VA has counselors to help veterans keep their homes even in the toughest economic situations. The VA’s outreach program focuses on two groups: those who use the VA loan guaranty program and those who don’t. The purpose of this outreach is to keep veterans in their homes. VA counselors can assist people with VA-guarantied loans to avoid foreclosure. And, they can advise VA-eligible borrowers with other types of loans about the benefits of refinancing to safer and more affordable loan terms associated with VA loans.

Are the VA Home Loan Guaranty Program’s improved benefits and counseling enough to stand up to a recession? A VA home loan is originated and funded by a VA-approved private lender. It’s up to the lender to establish its requirements for making a loan. Lenders must comply with VA income and credit standards when considering a VA home loan application; however, lenders may establish more conservative lending policies. That said, a VA home loan is still one of the only options left for zero-down, 100% refinancing.

Because VA loans are backed by the Federal Government, a VA-approved lender can make VA home loans to VA-eligible borrowers even in the worst of times. VA loan limit guidelines help VA-approved lending institutions determine how much a qualifying veteran can borrow.

In a recession, the VA Home Loan Guaranty Program can be resistant to many factors that drag the economy down. So, those VA-eligible borrowers (who may be in financial trouble due to their current high-rate mortgages) may qualify for VA refinance loans with safer more affordable VA terms.

It’s no doubt that there is a decline in conventional home loans. But, because of their recession-resistant traits, VA home loans may be on the rise. The VA Home Loan Guaranty Program can make it very possible for VA-eligible borrowers to emerge from even the worst economic stench smelling like a rose.

Eric Kandell has helped thousands of U.S. Veterans get approved for California VA loans and Texas VA Loans. Hopefully the article above provides you some insights that help you take advantage of the Veteran Benefits you are entitled to because of your service in the United States Military.Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/recession-and-the-va-loan-1717672.html