| |
| |
|
|
Real Estate |
|
Real Estate: Financial Considerations $$$
Raw land as opposed to improved property is much more difficult to finance through traditional lenders. The main reasons are that it generates very little income, development costs can be expensive, there are no buildings or improvements that can be used as collateral, and it is often considered speculative. For those reasons mentioned we find that sellers are often our first choice regarding financing. It is typical for a seller of raw land to accept 10 percent down and the rest to be paid over time at a specified (below market) interest rate. This would be an example of an installment land contract. Other forms are contract for deed, mortgage and note and purchase money mortgages. In these cases, a real estate attorney usually drafts these contracts and a bank will act as an escrow agent to facilitate verifiable records of payments received. The seller often retains the deed until the property is paid for in full. If you want to investigate bank financing, then you may start out by offering 30 percent down with a seven-year mortgage, with the bank getting an extra percentage point over and above the current interest rates for standard loans. This may not be accepted, but it does give you a starting point to see just what they may be willing to do. If you plan on building on your land, then having a development plan with an appraised set of blue prints for the project will help the lender in justifying your loan. If you can use equity from other property, then paying substantial down payments may also be an option. Final words of caution here are to know values and don't overpay. Always offer less when possible and research recent sales of comparable properties. The larger a parcel is, the cheaper it tends to get per acre. Ask an agent what an acre of land tends to go for in the area that you are considering; try to buy more than one acre. When buying residential lots, builders try to keep raw land costs down to 10 percent of the overall value of the project. If streets and utilities are already in place, then they will use 25 percent as their guideline. If you can combine or assemble parcels or achieve zoning changes with property, you have a good chance of immediately increasing its value. Always physically inspect the property and do your research before obligating yourself to buy it. And try using contracts with contingencies put in to protect yourself. In essence, these are really options that let you control the deal while you investigate and research the land's potential to satisfy your objectives. Happy Hunting and buy the high grounds! About The Author By Dan Auito, mailto:magicbullets@alaska.com, a real estate investor for the past fifteen years & has bought, sold, and rented seventeen properties to date, totaling more than $1.3 million - all on a blue-collar salary before the age of forty. Grab your free tip sheets & more at: http://www.magicbullets.com/home.php
MORE RESOURCES:
Real-Estate - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Real Estate: Choose a Realtor You Can Trust Today's volatile real estate market involves complex laws and fluctuating financial conditions. Maybe you've outgrown your first home; maybe you're in the process of turning over your fourth. Appraisal vs. Market Value: How to Avoid Pitfalls in the Sale of Your Home When you sell your home, appraisers use comps (comparable market sales) of local properties sold within the last six months to value your home. With today's rapidly rising seller's market, six-month-old information is ancient history. Investing In Commercial Property Why commercial property?Compared to residential property investments, commercial property offers some key advantages:Long-term secure cashflow -- Commercial lets normally have long lease contracts, with periods of 10 years and more not being uncommon. In addition to this, commercial property tenants are less likely to default on payments and even if the tenant goes into liquidation, the liquidator may continue paying the rent in order to stop the lease being forfeited. Prepare Your Property Like A Pro And Boost Profits The housing market is hot, and you've decided to list your home. But what, if any, improvements should you tackle before selling? Should you just leave it all to the new homeowner?There are two ways to look at pre-sale home improvements. Home Not Selling In Todays Hot Market? Tips and Ideas to Help You Sell So, your selling your home. Prepare yourself both physically and mentally for the agony of the endless phone calls and interruptions to your daily schedule. The Secret to Maximum Real Estate Profits: Lighting Lighting is the most important detail of interior Design Psychology for selling houses. Lighting influences a prospective buyer's feelings within a space more than any other interior design element. How to Use the Internet to Help Your Apartment or House Hunting So you are looking for an apartment to rent or a house to purchase. One of the most important steps is researching the neighborhood to decide if you really like to live in that area. Should You Allow Buyer To Rent During Closing? It's not uncommon for an investor to sell a house and have the buyer request the right to rent and occupy the property while the closing is being completed.You're a bad guy if you refuse and often in hot water of you agree. Best Time to Buy? Best Time to Sell? When is the best time to buy? When is the best time to sell? I get asked these questions constantly everywhere I go. In short, the answer is that it depends on your individual circumstances. Investment Property Part I: How Not to Become a Slumlord After riding the ups and downs of the stock market roller coaster for a while, an increasing number of investors are looking into property investment as a more stable alternative. With hot markets in many parts of the United States, the time may be ripe for you to get into this potentially lucrative trade. Interior Design Secrets for Selling Houses New concepts in Interior Design Psychology are helping home sellers net more money in today's competitive real estate market. Therefore, it's worthwhile to spend time planning the changes that will help your home sell for the highest price. Home Owner Association Restrictions - Read Before Buying Many communities have associations for homeowners, property owners, condo owners, or similar associations. The presence of a homeowners association, also known as "HOA", introduces another layer of rules and regulations to consider when buying a home. Questions Investors Should Ask When Buying and Selling Investment Property If you're a real estate investor, here are several questions to consider when looking at investment properties. Providing sound answers to these questions will greatly increase your profits:Why do homeowners sell for bargain prices?There are many factors that can prevent owners from being able to maintain their homes. Canal Front Homes in Venice A bit about VeniceVenice, Florida was named by an early explorer who thought the beautiful, clean canals that snake through the coastal community starkly resembled the canals of the historic city of Venice, Italy. In the 2000 census, Venice, Florida had a population of 17,764 people and that number has continued to increase over the last five years. Real Estate Investing - Free Vacations While Searching for Real Estate Acquisitions Real estate investing professionals look for all possible tax deductions because of the generous profits derived from real estate investing.For example, real estate investors are concerned whether the sale of their real estate is subject to capital gains taxation or qualifies as ordinary income. Make Your House Earn Its Keep Did you realise that there is a lot you can do get an income from what is probably your most valuable asset? Not only is your property a great (long-term) investment, your home could also bring you an income while you are still living in it. Here are some ideas to make your property really earn its keep. Why Should Sellers Be Absent During Showings? If only there were a way to sell your home without letting all those people come through. Unfortunately, the reality is that homes must be shown in order to be sold. Selling Your Home - What Can Go Wrong With Pricing and Loans So, you're selling your home (house, townhouse, condo, apartment, land, lot, farm, ranch, etc.), what can go wrong? The sad fact is that a lot of things can go wrong. Quality of Life in Sussex County Delaware. Facts, Statistics, Observations and even opinions! We Sussex Countians are fortunate in many ways as we have a wonderful quality of life here.Climate: Our climate for one thing is the best in the region. Forclosure And The Durrett Rule It's probably happened to you..
|
||||||||||||||||
