Real Estate Investing

More Thoughts on REDC Auctions

Buyer Help

This is a follow up to yesterday’s post about the upcoming June 13-14 REDC auction of bank owned foreclosure homes. Most auction houses don’t use the Arizona Association of Realtors’ (AAR) purchase contract form. They’re national corporations; they use their own forms. REDC doesn’t publish their purchase contract online. However, I’ve seen other auction companies’ [...]

19 May 2009 Read the full article →

REDC Auction

Buyer Help

REDC is one of the biggest home auction houses in the country and they’re advertising their upcoming June 13-14 Phoenix area auction heavily on local cable TV channels. Here’s a few things you should know if you’re thinking about attending. Access and Inspections You can tour the homes and do inspections before the auction but [...]

18 May 2009 Read the full article →

Where to Find Homes Online

Buyer Help

Did you know that consumers can’t view the MLS? You’re probably thinking “She’s loony. I was looking at the MLS online just the other day.” Umm, no. You weren’t looking at “The MLS.” First, a definition. The MLS  (a.k.a. Multiple Listing Service) is a privately-owned local or regional database where all participating Realtors list their [...]

5 May 2009 Read the full article →

Homes for Under $25,000 ??

Buyer Help

Buy a Valley home for under $25,000? (map courtesy of FlexMLS. Click to enlarge, use browser’s back button to return) The map above shows the homes (single family detached only) in the greater Phoenix area, with list prices of $25,000 or less, that sold between March 25 and April 25 of this year. Each blue [...]

29 April 2009 Read the full article →

Landlords, Do You Owe Rent Tax?

Real Estate Investing

The recession has hit everybody in their wallets, even city governments. The Arizona Republic reported recently that the Valley’s cities are getting tougher in tracking down landlords who aren’t paying the rental tax they owe the city. Didn’t even know that Arizona landlords pay rent tax? You’re not alone. The Arizona Republic reports, “Laws that [...]

20 January 2009 Read the full article →

Building Real Wealth

Real Estate Investing

For many fist time buyers, the next 6 to 9 months could be the best possible time to buy a home in the past 25 years or so. Not for everyone. But maybe for you. If you’re pretty sure your job is secure, can emotionally handle the potential of a falling home value for a [...]

19 January 2009 Read the full article →

Contemplating Self-Management of your Rentals? Pt. 3: Rents & Deposits

Real Estate Investing

In this third installment, we’ll be looking at rental fees & deposits.  Renting a home is very similar to selling in that there is a market that influences what you can charge for a home.  As in selling, the market for your rental will be largely impacted by location, & currently available rentals.  The better the [...]

12 September 2007 Read the full article →

More on Selling your Rental Property

Real Estate Investing

It’s amazing every time I head out with buyers to look at properties, how many rental properties are on the market and what condition they are in!  This last weekend proved yet another adventure in house shopping as well as an eye-opener to what some seller’s are asking considering the condition of their properties and [...]

7 May 2007 Read the full article →

Contemplating Self-Management of your Rentals? Pt. 2: Finding Tenants

Real Estate Investing

As a self-managing landlord you have the responsibility of locating your own tenants, and the more credible they are, the better.  So, how do you go about locating such tenants?    You might want to start with referrals from your closest friends/relatives.  Sometimes they generate the best leads.  However, you also have to consider your ability to [...]

6 May 2007 Read the full article →

Contemplating Self-Management of your Rentals? PART 1

Real Estate Investing

As more and more properties are listed for sale, homeowners are finding it increasingly difficult to sell.  When a home doesn’t seem to be selling, sometimes the owner contemplates renting out the home instead.  Perhaps you have toyed with the idea of renting out your place in case your home doesn’t sell just to make [...]

27 April 2007 Read the full article →

Rent vs Buy

Buyer Help

Even though the market has been slow and home prices are off 10 – 20% from their market highs, it still costs less each month to rent than it does to buy a similar home. This has some buyers asking whether they should consider renting instead. I think the majority of the "renting advantages" are [...]

17 January 2007 Read the full article →