Imagining Real Estate Without Realtors

Imagining Real Estate Without Realtors, Glenn Freezman, Nucazza, LLP

About 20 years ago if I needed to travel on a business trip it was an easy task-I just called my travel agent told her what I needed and let her do all the heavy lifting. And why not? The job got done and it didn’t cost me any extra (or so I thought at the time).

Today, getting on an airplane is largely a DIY process. The tools are intuitive, the rates are competitive (and I’m not paying that overhead that was traditionally used to pay the agents and at the end of the day what’s most important to me is that I was able to get on the right flight and not who got compensated for getting me there.

Because of this major shift in how we book travel, the line of people waiting to become a bona fide travel agent has dwindled to zero. While there are still professionals out there who provide special planning for business travelers, vacation packages, excursions, etc., they are now the exception and not the rule.

That’s the travel industry. What if we were to look ahead 20 years in the future at how homes are bought and sold?

Well, for starters I can imagine that the way he that homes would be marketed would continue to change pretty significantly. After all, the average person is not looking for a ‘house’, they are looking for the ‘right house’. This means that they have a list of criteria which they use to find homes that match their needs and desires. By plugging these criteria into a database, home buyers should be able to easily generate a refined list of homes that match the criteria.

Like today, homebuyers would have access to not only information about the home but full video walk-throughs of the property, the history of a property, the ability to virtually walk through neighborhoods, tax statistics, school information, crime statistics in just about any other type of information they could want about a property and where it’s located.

I can also imagine homebuyers entering into automated agreements withe home sellers through negotiation or auction-based platforms. Quite simply, they enter the amount that they are willing to pay for a property and the system automatically works at a negotiated agreement. An automated auction engine may also use an auction approach that allows different parties to bid on a property over time.

For all the properties in these databases, due diligence would’ve been worked out for all of them before they could be posted. This means that title searches, tax defaults, and anything they can get a way of the property being free and clear would have already been taken care of. Likewise, each listed home would have been fully inspected and have good and marketable title, prior to its posting so that homebuyers know exactly what they’re getting.

Closings could also be largely automated especially if any of the potential contingency killers were taken care of in advance of the home being listed. While a lawyer might be required to sign off on the paperwork with the homebuyers and sellers that would pretty much be the full extent of the closing responsibilities.

All this futuristic thinking begs the question -”What about the future need for Realtors?” Well, I guess that depends on what they bring to the table. Today Realtors are the ground forces that help houses to be found, seen and bought and sold. But if all the selling and buying is being handled by automated systems, then the real value that Realtors bring to any agreement is in their expertise and understanding of their markets. After all, no matter how good we get with the technology it will never replace the importance of people who can serve as real estate advocates and consultants.

Realtors, where do you plan to be in 20 years?

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If You Wish for Low Risk and High Return, Buying Overseas Realestate Overseas is a Good Option

Realestate purchase and selling market has picked up a boom with the increase stability across many countries economies. People not only buy property as an asset but considers it as an investment and why not, when it is actually providing them with excellent returns on their investment. Owing a beautiful home is each person dreams; however is out of reach of many due to the big prices attached with buying a property. In the recent years International Property is picking up at a faster rate and is turning out as a lucrative option of investment especially for middle class people. Couples, who really can’t afford to buy a ready to live home due to hefty amount of money, they have to take it out from their pockets at the single go.

They can actually think seriously about the investing in condo hotels, property overseas. International Property provides the opportunity to enjoy realestate investment appreciation while the property is being built as well as after the construction is completed.

There are many reasons as to why investing in International property is to be considered seriously. Lower initial price is the first important reason. This allows the investor to make a substantial return on the investment. Finished homes are pricy and thus are a difficult deal. In some cases there are contract attach to buy property, sell property or realestate sale which binds the investor to hold the property for some duration of time after the completion of construction however, by renting that finished home, the investor can earn a considerable income each month. Further, after the successful completion of the duration, that property can be sold and by that time real estate market would have definitely gone up as compare to the existing market: the trend has been such each passing year. This means that the return will be much higher than the investment and also the amount needs to be invested would have been higher if the investor would have invested in the finished property.

It should be kept in mind that the best deals can be obtained at the beginning of the project when there is more opportunity for the selection of floor, location etc. Project developer offer discounted prices at the beginning of the project for the fact that the investor will to pay even before having a look at the finished home. Which is the reason, it is smart to invest in pre-constructed homes. As the construction project moves forward, the developer tends to increase the prices as high as three to five times. Also, if the project is at prime location, it is by and large easier to rent or sell the property and excellent returns can be expected.

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Identify How Buyers Agents Will Provide You With Your Greatest Source Of Real Estate Aid

Most of the individuals have a misunderstanding of the expectations that exist with the real estate environment. While its traditionally acceptable for a person selling a home to use the services of real estate agent, most individuals believe that the usage of all these real estate agents to help at the time of purchasing process is not required or even not recommended. By preventing this misperception, an individual will be capable of accelerating their home buying chances and discover everything that’ll be offered to them when they utilize the services of an experienced buyers agent Sydney.

The first source of aid which is available to a person utilizing the services of a broker is found with the experience they provide. Even home buyers, those who have made investments into more than one home, still only have a limited awareness of the process involved and the details those are related with purchasing a new home. While you’re looking to buy property in Sydney, the usage of a broker would prove to be an incredible help in providing you with experience in the buying process. This’ll help in recognizing the ideal home for you, while also identify the ideal price on the piece of property.

The second source of support that a person will discover when they take advantage of the opportunities that exist with buyers agent Sydney, is found with the resources all these people have access to. The real estate market is tremendous in size and most properties that go on sale are not even offered to the public. This’ll greatly lose your chances pertaining to finding the best home to meet your investment criteria. Real estate agents have access to all resources which are available in the real estate market, allowing you to make out homes that are both publicly as well as privately advertised.

A next subsequent source of assistance an investing individual can tap into, when utilizing all these real estate agents, is found with the contacts all these individuals have. In a market such as real estate, having contacts would help you in improving search and even sale chances. When you buy property there are several organizations you will be working through, including the sellers real estate agency, escrow agencies, inspection agencies, and any legal agencies required to finalize the home investment probability. Using an agent who is familiar with the several other people in these agencies would supply you with an upper hand in any investment process and help in maximizing your investment opportunities.

The final source of aid that a person will make use of with their investment into buyers agent Sydney is found with the skills these individuals possess. Not only will they aid you in the process of finding the best home to fit your criteria, they’ll also aid you during the negotiation process, in order to make sure that you are getting the best deal for the property you’re seeking.

PK Property is a real estate firm based in Sydney, Australia. It is Sydney’s number one buyers agent firm and it recently opened their first website’s virtual doors. The website offers a way for users to connect with buyer’s agents for questions, inquiries into certain properties, or even to receive a fixed price quote or a no obligation property consultation.

In 3 months (or less) you can quickly and easily become a mini real estate tycoon… by flipping houses! Looking to increase your net worth? Read a guide that will change the Way you look at real estate investing forever at Flipping Houses 101.

Huntsville Al Real Estate Values Up 5.8%

According to the Huntsville Times, median home values are up 5.8% to $185,000 in Huntsville Alabama real estate. The Huntsville Area Association of Realtors said that 454 homes were sold in August, which is 15.8% down from July and 17.9% down from 2007. While housing sales are slowing a little, the prices are rising.

“Any time you see that opposite movement, that means it’s a desirable place to live and buy a house, despite the economic conditions,” explains HAAR director Oscar Gonzales.

Even though nationwide sales have dropped 13% and median sale prices have dropped over 7%, Huntsville AL real estate seems to be a little sluggish compare to the dynamic 2006-2007 year (which was the third-highest of all time); but the homes are certainly retaining their values. According to local real estate expert John Allen, house prices are selling at 98% of their list price, with most homes selling in the $200′s. Over all, Madison County homes saw a 28% increase in home values from 2007-2008, which is a much better return than the stock market! He added that a lot of the house-flippers and speculators appear to have dropped out of the market, leaving fair and affordable prices. Additionally, 30-year fixed interest rate mortgages are at a 40-year low for those who have the credit to qualify.


Increased employment opportunities, resulting in 16,000 new high-tech jobs, has fueled a lot of the steady Huntsville Alabama real estate growth. Since 2000, the population has increased by 44,000 people and is expected to grow another 2% each year. The city has attracted much attention in recent years, receiving prestigious distinctions such as: Milken Institute’s “Fifth-Best Performing City,” one of the Wall Street Journal’s “Top Ten Metros for Business Vitality,” one of the “Forbes Leading Cities for Business,” one of MSN/Sperling’s “Top Ten Cities for Job Growth and Affordability” and Coldwell Banker’s “Most Affordable Residential Real Estate Market.”

“I think that we have a very healthy economy in Huntsville,” said Huntsville AL real estate broker Tommy Adams. “A year or two ago, they had looser guidelines and people were buying homes who should not have been. Incomes here are good, and there’s a lot of selection. It is harder to get someone to qualify, but people with high credit scores are getting good interest rates.”

“The local numbers show that we are still in a growth market,” said John Allen, president of the Madison County Builders Association. “When you put this year’s numbers next to last year’s, it’s important to remember that last year gave us record numbers. Our market remains healthy.”

In 3 months (or less) you can quickly and easily become a mini real estate tycoon… by flipping houses! Looking to increase your net worth? Read a guide that will change the Way you look at real estate investing forever at Flipping Houses 101.

How To Succeed With A Commercial Property Search

You could do a commercial property search the easy way. This could involve using the vast expanse of the internet to find shop premises, find office and seek out your ideal business premises on the array of websites around that specialise in a commercial property sales. You could also seek to find business premises by merely looking around local high streets, towns and city centres to find offices, find shop premises and such like which are currently vacant, making note of contact details and approaching companies in charge of the commercial property.

But this would not be a very effective commercial property search and would result in the prospective business starting off on totally the wrong footing by paying over the odds for a business premises unsuitable for your needs when the perfect premises would have been merely around the corner. If the saying ‘You cannot see for looking’ applies to one particular aspect of your business set up then it must surely be the difficult task of conducting a business property search.

Indeed, to find a business premises is one of the hardest of aspects of actually starting up your own business or moving offices etc. Thinking about location, accessibility, price, renovation required and all kinds of other issue can be taxing, stressful and due to the his may result in a badly informed, overly expensive purchase.

The last scenario you want to find yourself in when trying to find business premises and conducting a commercial property search is to lose patience and become so caught up in the complicated, frustrating world of business that you make a rash, poorly researched decision without guidance. Imagine years of saving to complete your dream of opening your very own brand spanking new restaurant ruined by your ability to find restaurant premises suitable to your needs or being in charge of your company moving offices and making an uninformed decision that could lead to your role in said company being taken away! What should be such a simple task to find business premises time and time again proves difficult but there is no need to be alone in your business property search, there is help at hand.

One of the many functions being taken on in this day and age by chartered surveyors is indeed to role of aiding clients to find business premises via an effective and efficient office, business or retail property search. So if you are in the position of struggling to find shop premises, moving offices or merely struggling to know where to conduct your business property search, chartered surveyors will have a team of experts on hand it assist you.

These experts will utilise key contacts, local information and years of experience to aid you to find business premises and thus make a more efficient commercial property search that in the long run will ensure your business starts on the strongest possible footing. They will, on your behalf, compile possible short lists of sits to compare, arrange viewings as part of your business or office property search and provide expert knowledge to help you find business premises, suitable for every one of your needs and requirements. Once they have helped you to find business premises or aiding you in securing the location when moving office, the support does not cease. The companies will then seek to work with the landlords and property owners to secure you the best deal possible on the most profitable terms for your business.

So when seeking to find business premises do not make the mistake of trying to head out into the wide, complicated world of commercial property search alone. Seek help and no better help comes in this field than from chartered surveyors!

In 3 months (or less) you can quickly and easily become a mini real estate tycoon… by flipping houses! Looking to increase your net worth? Read a guide that will change the Way you look at real estate investing forever at Flipping Houses 101.

How to Search Local Real Estate Listings From Your Cell Phone

July 2, 2010, Raleigh, NC- One of the top real estate firms in Cary, NC is introducing a way for clients to view all of the homes for sale in the area with any cell phone. Legacy Partners Realty, LLC is providing clients with a mobile real estate search that makes it possible to search all local property listings from their mobile device, regardless of whether it is listed by them or another broker or agent. Legacy Partners Realty’s mobile real estate search is the only house-hunting tool that works on 95% of cell phones across all carriers.

With the application, interested home buyers can be in any neighborhood and view detailed property information at the touch of a button. The GPS technology in the mobile phone, when available, locates users and pulls up addresses and information on listings in their immediate area. Sales price, square footage, tax information, beds/baths, interior and exterior features, pictures and more become available instantly in the palm of their hand.

Consumers can also search by address, community name, city or zip code when GPS is not available, or if they want to search for real estate in an area other than their current location.

The “Call to See” feature within the mobile application will connect users to an agent if they have questions or want to schedule a tour of the property.

“A mobile real estate search is such a valuable tool for both the agent and the consumer. It helps clients conduct more efficient and enjoyable searches. When it comes to dream homes, time is of the essence!” said Broker-in-Charge, Katyna Bunn.

Consumers can get Legacy Partners Realty’s mobile real estate search on their cell phone by visiting www.ExpectLegendaryResutls.com for easy instructions or by texting KBUNN to 87778 to receive a text message with a link to download the mobile real estate application.

In 3 months (or less) you can quickly and easily become a mini real estate tycoon… by flipping houses! Looking to increase your net worth? Read a guide that will change the Way you look at real estate investing forever at Flipping Houses 101.

How to Purchase Real Estate in New York City

Known as a premier real estate law firm in Manhattan, Steven Sutton’s Law Offices of Steven R. Sutton has been helping both commercial and residential clients close deals on properties for years. According to Sutton, with special regulations, limitations, and liabilities, purchasing property in Manhattan would be all but impossible without the help of a real estate attorney who knows what he is talking about.

Buying real estate is tricky in any market, which is why people should look for an attorney who is sensitive to their own personal issues when it comes to real estate. Chief among the concerns of most apartment buyers is the issue of fair contracts-how to get one and how to make sure that the contract is secure. This contract is extremely important for both buyers and sellers.

Transfer taxes are another area of real estate law that any Manhattan legal firm should be able to help sort out for its clients, since the majority of property buyers would have no idea how to understand these archaic tax structures on their own. Property buyers should expect their real estate lawyers to have plenty of advice on these topics, and be able to estimate the costs that are going to be associated with them right from the beginning.

In my experience, when it comes to residential real estate in Manhattan, purchases are typically divided into two main areas – condos and co-ops. They are two very different things.

Buying Condos

When purchasing a condo, there is typically going to be an offering plan. In Manhattan, most real estate law firms will try to guide their clients through that process while making sure they are aware of what costs are going to be going into that plan.

For condo buyers, a common issue that comes up has to do with borders and boundaries. An attorney should be able to help his clients with any encroachment or surveying issues. Unfortunately, survey issues are completely foreign to many real estate attorneys, which is why it is so worthwhile to choose a real estate law firm in Manhattan that has plenty of experience in this area.

Another issue that comes up with real estate purchase is mortgages. My law office in particular has contacts with a lot of banks, which helps us smoothly guide clients through the mortgage application process from beginning to end. We represented a number of banks during the heyday of the big mortgage boom, so we are very familiar with all types of mortgage issues and title issues.

Buying Co-ops

While purchasing a condo is just like purchasing any other type of property, buying a co-op is what described as a “whole different animal.” When a client purchases a co-op apartment, he is buying stock in a building, or a proprietary lease, rather than buying the actual apartment itself.

People who are looking at co-op apartments are subject to a host of rules and bylaws that condo buyers are not, simply because co-op clients are buying their way into a corporation rather than purchasing any actual real estate. Very little can be negotiated when someone is buying a co-op apartment, and that is definitely something that people need to be aware of beforehand. I suggest that buyers make sure they are working with an attorney who is sensitive to these differences in the laws and the provisions of the co-op’s plan, since not understanding these nuances could end up costing the buyer a lot of money in the long run.

In addition, when you consider buying a co-op, there is a fair amount of due diligence that needs to be done, as well as financial statements that need to be reviewed. A real estate attorney should be the professional handling these issues as they come up. You need someone who is going to put in that extra effort to make sure that you know what you are getting into, as well as someone who will try to negotiate on your behalf.

Finally, I recommend being very cautious before hiring any attorney whose fee is well below what others in the same area are charging. Although the fees that real estate law firms in Manhattan charge for these services can vary wildly, real estate negotiations and financial reviews aren’t something that most low-price firms will necessarily handle. There are many technical property issues that come up during the purchase of an apartment that can be really complex. That is why it is so important that people hire an attorney who is as experienced as possible.

This article is for informational purposes only. You should not rely on this article as a legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances, and you should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel. Publication of this article and your receipt of this article does not create an attorney-client relationship.

In 3 months (or less) you can quickly and easily become a mini real estate tycoon… by flipping houses! Looking to increase your net worth? Read a guide that will change the Way you look at real estate investing forever at Flipping Houses 101.