Being a Successful Real Estate Novice

Buying property for the first time is always thrilling ? it?s one of those purchases that you?ll remember the rest of your life. When you?re a novice, the memory can be a great one or a terrible, depending entirely on how well you handle the purchase. To make sure you remember your first purchase as a successful one, do your homework and move carefully.

Before buying, think long and hard about why you?re buying ? is it for your own use, or is it an investment that you intend to resell after doing some renovations? Be sure you know your motivation and how much you want to pay for the property itself. Remember, if you?re going to be doing repairs after the purchase, you have to budget some money in for that as well, so don?t overextend yourself on the property mortgage and then end up not being able to afford the work you need to do.

Find out what the lowest and highest priced properties are in the area you?re considering. Knowing the range can help you when negotiating on a price. Also look at several different properties that are similar and compare the similarities and differences. What extras are demanding premiums, which ones aren?t?

You should also go into negotiations and closings from a position of power. Learn what all of the terms mean that you will be hearing. Escrow, title, mortgage insurance, options and a host of other terms will come up. If you don?t clearly understand what the realtor or the lender is talking about, you are working at a distinct disadvantage. Knowledge is a powerful thing, and will give you the power to ask questions and make it clear that you understand what?s going on.

Learn the actual procedure for the closing so that you aren?t surprised by costs like inspections, escrow, realty and other fees. Be sure you familiarize yourself with any local laws or ordinances that may affect the property you?re purchasing as well.

When shopping for property, don?t simply go with a realtor. While a realtor can be very helpful, you can save a substantial amount if you by-pass this route because you won?t be paying the realty fees. Homes that list as ?For Sale by Owner? are often being sold by homeowners who want to sell quickly or are willing to negotiate and have passed on the realtor in an effort to make some money despite having to lower the price of their property. Also check the Internet, newspapers and local Home Sales weeklies for listings.

Financing once you?ve settled on a property is also a minefield. Don?t go with the first mortgage you?re offered. There are so many different mortgage lenders now that you can afford to shop around. If you belong to a credit union, talk to the mortgage officer there. Also talk to banks and savings & loans. If you want to be sure you can purchase a property at the best price and beat other interested buyers to the punch, have your financing in place before you make your offer. Sellers will go with someone who?s financing is guaranteed over an unknown every time.

Finally, remember that buying and selling property takes compromise. When you make an offer on a property, you?re likely to get a counter-offer from the seller. Don?t dismiss it without offering a compromise. Can you offer a better price if they are willing to closer earlier? Whatever you can do to make the deal come together with both of you happy is best.

For more helpful real estate information, visit 1st-Real-Estate.com at www.1st-real-estate.com

Discount Real Estate Agents in Los Angeles

Each year, millions of United States residents make the decision to sell their home. If you are interested in becoming one of those individuals, you have a number of ways that you can go about selling your home. A large number of homeowners privately sell their own home, but even more obtain professional assistance.

If you live in or around the Los Angeles area, that assistance can come from a discount real estate agent. Discount real estate agents are agents that offer their services for a low or discounted price. Unfortunately, a large number of individuals believe that there is no such thing as a discount real estate agent. Los Angeles residents that believe this misconception could be paying more than they need to for real estate assistance.

To differentiate traditional real estate agents from discount real estate agents, you will have to determine the cost of using the services provided by each agent. This can easily be done by price comparison. Similar to comparing prices at your local supermarket, you will need to obtain price quotes from a number of Los Angeles real estate agents. After the information has been obtained, you can easily compare the prices to find the lowest fees.

The cost of service is not the only thing that should be examined when finding a discount real estate agent. Los Angeles residents are also urged to examine the services offered by each real estate agent. The service offered by each agent is important in determining what type of service you will receive for your money.

When examining the fees of discount real estate agents, it is likely that you will see their services differ from traditional real estate agents. The services are often not as inclusive as those offered by full price real agents. Just because the same services are not offered, does not mean that you should stop searching for a discount real estate agent. Los Angeles residents have found success using the services of a discount real estate agent. Many are more concerned with the amount of money they will be saving versus the level of service they would receive.

When searching for a discount real estate agent, you may find that there are only a select number of agents that can be considered discounted. This is because most real estate agents charge full price for their services. If you are interested in quickly finding a discount real estate agent, without having to compare a number of fees, you can use the internet to your advantage. You can easily perform a standard internet search to find a discount real estate agent. Los Angeles residents often search for agents this way.

Whichever way you choose to search for discount real estate agents, it is important to remember that they do exist. Do not believe hearsay from other homeowners or denials from full priced competitors. With a little bit of research, you can find a discount real estate agent. Los Angeles residents have been finding them for years and now you can too.

Brad Horn is a writer for 1 percent realtor where you can find a great resource for information regarding a Los Angeles Discount Real Estate Agent.

What you need to know about a Rental Agreement?

A rental agreement is a legally binding contract between the landlord and the tenant that outlines the terms and conditions of the rental.

This contract document is made up of many components. They are:-

1. The rental agreement should be very specific on the subject of abandonment. It must clearly define the landlord?s options if the tenant leaves the property without notice?

2. It should outline the alterations that a tenant can make to the property. The rental agreement should clearly state the kind and extend of the alteration that is allowed or not.

3. The rental agreement should touch on the subleasing. As subleasing is very popular today, the rental agreement should state your stand very clearly on this subject to avoid future misunderstanding.

4. The rental agreement should also state very clearly what will happen in the case of defaulting on a payment. The late fees should also be outlined in the rental agreement. The tenant should know up front how much they will be penalized.

5. As a landlord you should have access to your property for inspection. The rental agreement should detail when and how you will be able to enter the property in order to inspect it, etc. State laws vary on this subject and your rental agreement should conform to the law of the state.

6. The rental agreement should state who is responsible for the maintenance of the property. If it is a joint responsibility, it should clearly state who is responsible for what.

7. Payment methods should be outlined on the rental agreement so that the tenant knows how they can pay the landlord.

8. Like maintenance, utilities are a huge part of any rental agreement. It should be clear on who will pay what bill, as well as which utilities are included in the monthly rent.

All of the above are important components to any rental agreement. In addition since state laws differ, a rental agreement can have additional clauses depending on where you are located.

The first place, and usually the best place, that you may want to search for a rental agreement is on the Internet. There are several websites that will supply you with the rental agreement form that you are looking for. One of the more reputable services is located at www.rentalagreements.net.

You have to pay a small price to purchase the rental agreement that is appropriate for your state but it is much better than drafting your own rental agreement and taking the chance of missing out on something that is crucial.

The other way to get hold of a rental agreement is to get in touch with a real estate agency. If you are lucky, they may even be able to supply you with a sample rental agreement that you can customize and use as your own.

A rental agreement is something that you must have if you are going to be renting out any property. State laws differ and your rental agreement needs to meet the laws and requirements of your state in addition to also outlining every aspect of the lease in detail.

Ken Fong http://www.therealestatescoop.com Terra Bites of Real Estate Information

Spurt in Prices of UK Land ? An Ideal Investment Opportunity?

UK is becoming densely populated to an untenable level. This has led to an acute housing shortage and a sharp rise in UK Land for Sale prices.

Prices for housing and land in UK has shown continuous upward trend due to a robust growth in average earnings - predicted to be close to 5% this year - as well as cuts in interest rates that has combined to prop-up the housing market .

According to Milan Khatri, chief economist at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the medium term outlook is for steady price growth.

Despite a fall in the number of mortgage approvals in April, which are viewed as a forward indicator of housing demand, activity remains above the historical average and still point to firm demand conditions, Mr. Khatri said.

Thus investments in UK Land for sale market are increasingly becoming attractive to common investors.

UK Land Highlights

? Unlike equities, the capital growth of land investments is attractive and so is the downside risk
? Better growth and lower downside risk than ANY other investment.
? Growth is consistent
? Unlike equities and land in the right location does not suffer long periods of cyclical decline.

Today, there are a number of companies serving smaller investors select plots of land to buy, and investments typically start at about $10,000.

Following types of plots of land for sale are available across the UK -

Brownfield Land: Brownfield Land is the common term used for previously developed land i.e. land that is or was occupied by a permanent structure. This land is often smaller, resulting in High Rise Development e.g. old petrol station and factories.

Greenfield Land: Greenfield Land simply refers to land that has never been used for development eg Farmland.

Greenbelt Land: Greenbelt Land is largely undeveloped or sparsely occupied land, which historically has been set aside to contain development, prevent towns merging and provide open space. Greenbelt boundaries can change in response to the requirements for additional housing in a controlled manner.

While there is some opposition against moves to grant planning permission to builders on greenbelt and greenfield land but keeping in view the acute mismatch between expected demand for housing and the amount of land available for planned development such moves are necessary.

Moreover release of such land for planned development would create jobs and opportunities in those areas and by increase in the supply the house prices would automatically lower, thereby ensuring that everyone can afford to become a home owner. At present, for the ambitious young generation to own a home is easier said than done. It is also very difficult for the low waged population to build there own homes.

Thus be it a farmland, greenbelt land, greenfield land or brownfield land, buying plots of land for sale has the potential to make stunning returns quickly. Infact prices of land in UK have increased by a stunning 926% in last two decades.

UK Land for Sale Market is thus expected to show a steady increase for coming decade and could prove to be an ideal investment vehicle for common investors

Stephen Brewood
Land Plots For Sale in UK

West Austin Apartments

West Austin is a charming neighborhood in Austin, an economically developed business center in central Texas. Set in the backdrop of rivers and hills, it is the perfect place for customary and urban living.

West Austin offers the finest options for residence with a good choice of apartments suitable for all budgets. West Austin apartments are available both for rent and for sale, on a weekly, monthly, or yearly basis. A wide range of apartments including furnished, unfurnished, condos, town homes, and duplexes are available. Apartments with single and double rooms are suitable for students and small families. Larger units with three to four bedrooms are also available. There are contemporary and modern apartments designed to meet varied lifestyles. Corporate, senior, and student housing are also available.

All West Austin apartments have a fully equipped kitchen and a spacious living room. Luxury apartments come with fireplaces, built-in computer desks, and hardwood floors. Amenities include abundant closet space, Berber carpets/cut-pile Berber, built-in wine racks, detached garages, digital cable, state-of-the-art phone systems providing high-speed Internet access, linen and pantry storage, gourmet kitchens with designer custom cabinets, luxurious baths with oval garden tubs, private alarm systems, washer/dryer connections, study niches with phone, cable and electric outlets, and private fenced backyards.

Community amenities feature twenty-four-hour emergency maintenance, clubhouses, bar and entertainment centers, coffee, juice, and bagel bar, controlled access gates, drive-up mail kiosks, resort style pools with Jacuzzis, misters and cabanas, on-site lifestyle coordinators, business centers with free Internet access, copiers, faxes and color printers, large parking areas, fitness centers, and clubs. Many West Austin apartments also boast a picturesque view of lush woods and hilltops. West Austin also provides services in healthcare and education.

Numerous real estate agents and organizations specialize in the sale and rent of apartments in West Austin. Online agents also help you find an apartment in this locality. Some of them offer a service promise, relocation options, and a rent with equity program.

Austin Apartments provides detailed information on Austin Apartment Associations, Austin Apartment Guides, Austin Apartment Locators, Austin Apartment Stores and more. Austin Apartments is affiliated with North Dallas Apartments.

Sell Your Home Become an Informed Seller

Regardless of whether you decide to sell your home yourself or through an agent, you owe it to yourself to become an informed seller. Even if you're trusting the sale of your home to an agent, it's still important that you have some idea of how the process works.

First, do some basic research on home prices in your area. Make no mistake: potential home buyers will have a very good idea of what your home should sell for, and if you're too far away from a realistic price, you'll find yourself with no buyers looking at your home.

There are some things you can't change about your house, such as its location, number of bedrooms and baths, and lot size. Take them into account when pricing your home. There are other things you can change, such as paint, carpet, and landscaping. Learn how much your home is worth just as it is, and then analyze how much return you'll get on your investment if you make repairs or upgrades.

Spend a considerable amount of your preparation time cleaning and decluttering your home. Have a yard sale, rent a dumpster, and donate everything that you no longer want or need. This is one of the most cost effective things you can do before you put your home on the market. Keep a record of the money you spend to upgrade and repair the house for sale. There may be tax advantages once the home has sold.

Be familiar with the various financing options that are available in your area. You don't have to be an expert, but it will pay to be as knowledgeable as possible. That way, you won't be surprised when buyers come in with a financing option you've never heard of.

Make sure your home is being marketed in the most effective way. That doesn't mean holding a number of open houses. They're not as effective as most sellers think they are. In fact, open houses often benefit the agent much more than the seller, because they're a great way to meet home buyers. In spite of the advances in technology, the most effective sales tool is still a good old-fashioned sign in your yard.

Keep your home as clean and uncluttered as possible while it's on the market. This is also important, because rightly or wrongly, buyers associate dirt and clutter with substandard housing. Make sure your home says quality to every person who enters.

Make your own moving plans early. There are few things in the world more frustrating than to have to find and purchase a new home quickly once yours has sold, so don't wait. Start looking right away, because you never know when a buyer is going to walk into your home and fall in love. You can make the purchase of your new home contingent on the sale of your old one, so don't put off your own home search while you wait for your current house to sell.

Selling a home doesn't have to be difficult or frustrating. It should be an exciting time as you look to enter a new phase of your life. Take charge of the situation, and you can make sure that selling your house is a happy experience.

Copyright ? 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

Jeanette Fisher teaches home sellers five ways to make the highest possible profit from selling their homes. Free reports and teleseminars at http://www.sellfast.info

Free Home Staging Information

Realtors It's Time To Take Charge

The Next Real Estate Industry Revolution: A primer on how to become a full service provider to your clients.

After the introduction of the MLS and the advent of Franchising, the Real Estate Industry was changed forever. We are now on the brink of a third revolution, which only a few real estate agents are embracing.

You are and always have been and will be the Trusted Adviser to your clients. They look to you for advice, what to do next in the process of purchasing their new home. You have a huge influence. Until now, there appears to be many reasons for you not to provide full real estate services to your clients; such as mortgage financing or other services. Some of your reasons maybe:

Fear of getting too financially intimate with your client

Don't want to spread yourself too thin, you want to focus on what you know, which is real estate

Lack of knowledge & expertise regarding finance and mortgage

Added expense and time required to start another business

Fear of violating RESPA and may risk the possibility of loosing your license

You were told not to in real estate school or by your very own managing broker (while you knew that he or she was already in the mortgage business)

Most Realtors have been thought in sales school, that to be successful they must stay in control of their client and the sales process. To-day how business is being conducted is rapidly changing with the ever growing Internet Customer. Have you noticed that you are less and less in control. Here are some interesting statistics; "76% of clients looking for a home will use the Internet, before they ever E-mail, telephone or meet with a Realtor". - 'The National Association of Realtors (NAR) recently conducted a survey which determined that over 80% of home buyers would prefer to have their real estate agent help them with their mortgage financing rather than refer them over to someone new and unknown." Consider a New Business Model, where Internet technology and easy to use Point of Sale mortgage loan origination systems, implemented on the Internet, makes the tasks of filling out a 1003 mortgage application a breeze.

Initial loan documents and required disclosures by law are automatically generated and E-mailed to your clients within the three day RESPA rule. Mortgage products and pricing are done automatically from the input you provide by filling out the easy e1003 application in your browser. Then a list of available solutions are given to you to select from by the build in pricing engines.

You can become a virtual owner of a Mortgage Company overnight. Give your clients more of what they want and spend 80% of your time on the 20% of the activities that will expand your business and generate more revenue for you.

Here are a few steps to follow to implement this New Business Model:

Decide to add Mortgage Origination to your or your team's existing core of talents (Whatever your talents are now, you need someone else's talents to complement yours to realize your goals faster.) Benefits: You will stay in control of the loan process. You won't miss any important contractual dates. You will get automated loan status reports. You will stay RESPA compliant. You will make an additional commission by representing your clients on mortgage origination.

Create a Winning Team- by having a highly focused, local team tailored to support your business is your key to success. You can outsource mortgage origination to a local team of a mortgage bank (make sure that they have the track record in the purchase origination business, they have the technology, products, pricing, in-house underwriting and processing support) and still receive a healthy piece of the mortgage loan commission. You can decide how much time and energy you want to spend in the mortgage business. You can have your own dedicated mortgage coordinator and processor. You can direct your client to your loan coordinator to get pre-approved. You can be in conference with your client and your loan coordinator to complete the on-line loan application and follow the process on your computer.

This is a testimonial from a Realtor in Albuquerque, NM, who is taking charge and using this new business model: "When I joined the company, I was looking for a place to put my license that would give me flexibility. I have bought and sold homes for several years, mostly my own properties. Little did I know the real opportunities that this company presented. I can make more money in less time with no investment or liability like I had before. I have recently been a buyer‘s broker with a customer and originated a loan at the same time, with the help of Steve Toth. My customer received excellent service at a single location (his home). I already had most of the info I needed for the loan. The purchase offer was accepted on a Thursday and by Friday we already had a pre-approval on the loan. How easy is that for my customer and me? My customer did not even have to miss work. I have changed my whole focus on Real Estate. Instead of spending days looking for my next project, I spend my time with customers ready to buy or sell and helping others in the business. None of which is none productive time. What a great opportunity for any Real Estate agent!!"-Ron Hensley-Albuquerque, NM

To find out more on Strategic Alliances with Realtors to Offer Mortgage Education and Full Service Real Estate to Consumers and to view our Webcast click here

About the Author:

Mr. Toth has over eight years of residential, commercial and investment banking experience. He started the Real Estate and Mortgage Focus Radio Show in early 2004 on 630KHOW Denver's Talk Station to educate the public about real estate, finance and coaching. He became known as a real estate and finance area expert and someone who networks at a high level within the industry.

In 2006 Steve M Toth, ?The Mortgage Guy?-Radio Show Host on Live365 expanded the ?Real Estate and Mortgage Focus?? Radio Show Program into a national show on Live365- the World?s Largest National Internet Radio Network.

In 2003 he started a coaching practice called Real-Coaching? to provide coaching programs and consulting services that dramatically enhance individual and team performance in the areas of Sales, Motivation, Leadership, Teamwork, Communication and Life Balance Management Skills for Realtors, Investors and Mortgage Professionals.

Types Of Liens On Real Estate

-A lien is a legal recorded claim against a property. The claim encumbers the property as a means to collect money owed, such as a mortgage, property taxes, or an unpaid debt owed to a contractor who performed work on the property. There are other reasons liens are recorded against a property.

-Equitable lien. When a property is held as collateral and the parties agree in a document, that the property is used to secure the debt.

-General liens. These liens all real estate and personal property. Court ordered judgments, probate actions, and IRS taxes fall under this category.

-Judgment lien. This is the result of an action by a party or government agency through a court of law to collect payment on a claim.

-Involuntary lien. State statues create real estate property taxes. These taxes are a claim against the property and the property owner assumes the statue when purchasing a home. Unpaid taxes can result in a specific involuntary lien.

-Specific liens. Special assessments and mechanics liens fall into this category. Unpaid contractors from home repair and remodeling projects can file a specific lien. Homeowner associations and local governing bodies can issue special assessments for repairs and improvements. Failure to pay these special assessments can result in lien being placed against a property.

-Voluntary lien. When you have a mortgage and voluntarily agree that the mortgage lien is security for the lender in case you default on a mortgage loan.

Mark Nash is the author of Fundamentals of Marketing for the Real Estate Professional, Starting & Succeeding in Real Estate, Reaching Out: The Financial Power of Niche Marketing, and 1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home. Mark is a contributing writer for: Realtor (R) Magazine Online, Broker Agent News, Real Estate Executive Magazine, Principal Broker, and Realty Times. His tried and true real estate tips has been featured on Business Week, CBS The Early Show, CNN, HGTVpro.com, The New York Times, and USA Today. Purchase his books at http://www.1001RealEstateTips.com .

Real Estate As US Real Estate Tumbles Diversify Overseas

Real estate prices have risen nicely in the last few years and most buyers speculating in real estate have made some great profits, however changes are coming that will see the real estate price tumble in value and its already started.

Prices are declining and will soon crash. Why? To get the real estate outlook and what may happen we have to look at the wider picture.

Real estate prices have already slowed

The real estate market carried the American economy through the 2000 stock-market crash, a recession and climbing oil prices has lost its momentum in recent months and now has begun to slow the economy, which saw growth at a modest 2.5 recently

That was a big fall from 5.6 percent growth rate of the first quarter and was caused partly by the third consecutive quarterly decline in spending on real estate, after several years of great growth. Now were going to get a crash

1. Inflation & Interest rates are on the move

When money is cheap people spend it and a lot of this money flows into real estate when money is expensive we have the opposite its pure and simple economics.

If you have taken a look at commodity prices such as gasoline, you will see rises and this is reflected in inflation moving up. The Fed has stepped in to raise rates to combat inflation and will raise them further in the months ahead.

By its very nature this means that there is less money to spend and house prices are affected already.

There are less new buyers and existing buyers are reluctant to move.

A real estate market that is booming needs to see real estate being turned over i.e. new buyers entering and people using their profits to move on, or buy second and vacation homes.

Higher interest rates also hurt buyers who took out adjustable mortgages (ARMs) a few years ago to get onto the property ladder

The benefit of these mortgages is that buyers get low interest rates that are reflected in monthly payments for few years, then monthly repayments are increased dramatically.

3. Psychology

Any market is affected by the psychology of the people who invest in it.

When confidence is high people buy, when it?s low they sell.

This is true of any market, not just real estate and people are selling now as over 70% of Americans believe real estate prices will fall.

The result?

A large number of homes are going up for sale in a period that has seen record new home construction and a huge amount of new homes for sale.

A Simple equation

Lets make it simple

Interest Rates rising = less money in economy = less to spend on real estate

Investor psychology down = increased selling & decreased buying = falling real estate prices

The result? A gentle decline soon ends uip in a crash.

Protecting yourself & Making money from real estate

If you invest in real estate for a living, have a second home or are wondering about buying one, then you can protect yourself.

The answer is invest in overseas property and look for capital growth you can buy cheaper and get bigger gains.

Consider this:

In Costa Rica, just a 3 hour flight from the US. Investors are pouring in to buy second homes and investment properties.

They buy at 70% cheaper than in the US, they get the same rights as residents, in a stable, friendly and beautiful country.

Even better, they can take advantage of increasing real estate prices with prime property up 500% in the last 5 years and a buoyant rental market.

When the US market crashes make huge gains here

Why? Because people still want second homes, investment property and they want value and that?s what they get in Costa Rica and its only 3 hours away!

Make huge Gains If US Real estate falls

Americans spending in Costa Rica is already at a record high and as the US market falls investment will increase as the market offers a fantastic alternative with low risk to build wealth.

If you are looking to protect yourself from falling property prices in the US, Consider Costa Rica and you could find make far bigger gains than you ever did in the US.

FREE REPORT !

On how to get profit potential in Costa Rica by investing in property then visit our website for more free information, the chance to win a FREE vacation and see this opportunity for yourself at http://www.costaricalandlots.com.

Buyer Beware of Excessive Home Improvements

When shopping for a home, many buyers view improvements to properties as positive sign. In general, this is logical but a buyer must be careful.

A time-tested approach to making money in real estate is to buy a home, make improvements to it and then reap the appreciation gain when you resell the home. While this approach has certainly worked for many, it can lead to disastrous results for seller and unwary buyers.

When a person purchases a home, they buy it for both the current appearance and their vision of how they can improve it. The improvement vision tends to be an emotional decision, one that can lead to financial problems. While improvements area a good idea, most people do not take the time to evaluate how much they can spend on improvements and still make a profit on the resale of the property. Instead, they overspend on improvements and then realize the comparable homes in the neighborhood will not support a price that recoups the cost of improvements.

For instance, the seller may put $100,000 into new bathrooms and kitchen accessories only to realize the appreciation from such improvements is $50,000. In an effort to resolve this issue, the seller will list with a high price and is usually not particularly motivated to lower that price in negotiations until the property has sat on the market for some time.

As a buyer, you have to be very careful when considering the purchase of such homes. These homes will almost always be priced at the top of the market. While they may look nicer than any other home in the area, you must ask yourself whether there is room for the home to appreciate over time. Often there is not, which means you just end up buying the seller?s problem.

While buying a home is an emotional decision, you must be able to objectively crunch the numbers. Buying at the high end of the market is rarely a good idea.

Raynor James is with the site - FSBO America - FSBO homes for sale by owner.

The Attractions of Owning Property in Provence

France is the world's number one tourist destination, and within this country of wondrous natural beauty one of the most-visited regions is the area of southeast France known as Provence.

The classic region of Provence, as named by the Romans, was a huge area that stretched west from the current Italian border near Nice to Marseille at the mouth of the Rh?ne. Nowadays when we refer to Provence we generally exclude the Mediterranean coast, now called the C?te d'Azur (or C?te Varoise near Saint-Tropez), and think of the area that stretches north of the coast a 150 kilometers or so to the vineyards and rolling countryside, dotted with tiny villages, in the area around Aix-en-Provence and Avignon.

Provence offers a number of unique attractions not only for a tourist but also for those who would like to buy property and settle down here. A Mediterranean climate featuring more than 300 days of sunshine per year is a major drawing card. Whether you enjoy swimming at nearby seaside beaches or hiking in the hills, the climate of Provence offers numerous advantages for those who are physically active and enjoy the out-of-doors. And even with its well-deserved reputation for warm and sunny weather, major ski resorts in the Alps are only a drive of two hours or less from most parts of Provence.

While Provence is best known for its warm-weather attractions, many visitors especially enjoy visiting in the winter, when there are few tourists and the days are bright and sunny with mild temperatures. If you purchase property and take up residence in Provence, you will not have to worry about heavy heating bills in the winter, for even in the coldest month of the year the temperature during the day ranges from 3? to 15? degrees centigrade (37? to 59? Fahrenheit).

Provence is also rich in history. Well before the arrival of Caesar's legions in the first century BC, Greeks and Phoenicians fishermen and traders established villages along the coastline. The region got its name when it became a province of the Roman Empire. Many antiquities from the Roman era remain, as do churches, monasteries and cathedrals dating back to the Middle Ages. Many villages still have their original ramparts constructed in medieval times to ward off invaders.

While it is best known for its countryside attractions, in recent decades Provence has evolved into one of the most sophisticated regions of France, thanks partially to the fact that many Europeans and North Americans rent seasonally or have purchased homes here. Marseille, France's second largest city, is a major port and features world-class boutiques, as do Avignon and Aix-en-Provence, both of which are university towns. Orange, north of Avignon, and Aix are also famous for their summer opera festivals, and Avignon for its world-renowned theatre festival in July. Aix hosted a major C?zanne exhibition in the summer of 2006 that drew visitors from all over the world.

If you fancy life in a small village set in the vineyards for which the region is famous, there are many picturesque localities that beckon in Provence. Travel magazines rhapsodize about the constellation of villages perch?s in the Luberon region east of Avignon. Each of these hilltop villages - Gordes, Bonnieux, Lacoste and Roussillon, to name only a few - seems more charming than the last. Equally seductive are the towns and villages of the Alpilles area south of Avignon, among them Saint-R?my-de-Provence (many of Van Gogh's paintings were created near here), Eygali?res and Les Baux-de-Provence. Proven?al villages are especially enjoyable to visit when the weekly open-air markets are taking place.

In addition to its beautiful countryside and vivid colors, which drew many of the Impressionist painters here, Provence is also renowned for its herbs and its aromas. In the springtime, take a walk in the countryside and you can breathe in the fragrances of thyme, rosemary and lavender. In the spring the apple and cherry trees are in full bloom. One of the most enjoyable times to visit Provence is in autumn, when the annual grape harvest is underway and the vines are just beginning to take on their fall colors.

During any time of the year you can enjoy the fine food and drink for which France and this region are well known. Restaurants abound everywhere in the region, ranging from sidewalk caf?s to family-run village restaurants that routinely offer regional cuisine of a level that would be awarded high marks by restaurant critics in other countries. For fine dining there are numerous Michelin-starred establishments, among them Bistro d'Egayli?res at Eygali?res, and the famed L'Ousta? de Baumani?re at Les Baux-de-Provence.

With all of these attractions it is no wonder that Provence is a must-see destination for anyone who visits France. And for the visitor who is interested in establishing a residence or owning a vacation home in France, Provence should be at the top of locations to consider, both in terms of an enjoyable lifestyle and a sound investment that will appreciate in value.

Cecil Jones is a Philadelphia attorney, businessman and dedicated Francophile. He is the CEO of Just France Sales, http://www.justfrancesales.com, a United-States based company whose mission is to help people seeking to buy property in France and the South of France. Visit his website for more information about buying real estate in France.

Good News for Owners Sale of New Homes Down but Existing Home Sales in Good Shape

Over the past months, we have all been inundated with projections on the housing market bubble ? Will it burst? It is going to burst soon, be prepared! Sell Now! Buy Now! And the forecast differs depending upon the television channel you are listening to or the media article you are reading.

According to James Cooper of BusinessWeek magazine, the numbers point to a gradual slowdown of the market ? not a sudden crash, as many have predicted. In his July 10, 2006, article, Cooper cites how different indicators for the housing market are up one week and down the next. Some homes for sale indicators decline, while others rise. Though it is difficult to accurately project the future of the housing market for the remainder of 2006, he is optimistic ? in spite of all the noise that changes the market outlook on a daily basis.

Compared to last year?s peak numbers, the housing market is in decline for both new and existing homes for sale and the growth rate of prices continue to slow. Yet, the expected drop in sales has not been as bad as predicted, and the market collapse forecast has not occurred. The progressive slowdown is expected, however, to continue through the remainder of 2006.

The area of the homes for sale market that has been hit the hardest is the new single-family homes and existing condominiums and co-ops. Existing single-family homes for sale have faired the best with only a gradual decline in prices.

New home sales have fallen off sharply in 2006 and have the most volatile market indicators that cause the chaotic forecasts. There have been some ups and downs since the first of this year; however, new home sales are down overall by 10.9 percent since the end of 2005. Currently, builders have large inventories of new homes for sale that are expected to create further declines in both sales, prices and new construction starts for the future.

In May of 2006, the number of new homes for sale was up nearly 24 percent from last year for the same period. Median prices of new homes for sale were up by 5.1 percent for the same period but now have slowed drastically. With the average time to sell a new home being almost six months, builders are offering incentives to buyers, including helping with the closing costs, and are more willing to lower prices in order to sell off their inventories.

Condos and co-ops sales were off by 6.7 percent during the first half of 2006. The number of such homes for sale on the market has soared in the past year, gutting the market and bringing down prices and sales. The number of unsold units are up 73 percent.

The good news is for existing homeowners with homes for sale. This market is currently in good shape with both sales and prices holding up better than the new homes for sale market. Such sales have declined in seven out of the past nine months, but median prices are up 8.2 percent over the same period in 2005. According to Cooper, homeowners are not as willing to lower their prices as are builders, preferring to leave their homes on the market in order to find buyers willing to meet their price.

The bad news for owners of homes for sale is the number of existing homes currently being put on the market. In May of 2006, the number of existing homes for sale rose to 3.6 million, that?s one million more than in May of 2005. This is sure to begin affecting the existing homes for sale market. Additionally, the Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates soon that will affect mortgage rates for buyers. Right now is the best time to sell your home as buyers race to lock in current mortgage rates before the Federal Reserve takes action.

The predicted housing bubble crash is not expected in the near future. Consumer confidence is up by one point in June of 2006, according to the Conference Board?s index on consumer confidence, weighing in at 105.7. With good buyer confidence in the homes for sale market, a solid economy, and good labor markets, owners with homes for sale are still at a competitive advantage for now.

John Harris is an expert researcher and writer on real estate topics such as economics, credit improvement tips, home selling advice and home buying preparations. For more on San Diego Homes for Sale visit http://www.twtrealestate.com

Real Estate 101 What's a Cap Rate

A ?cap rate? is short for capitalization rate. The term is usually used in real estate when people are talking about the ?rate of return? they can expect to make or want to make on an income producing property. Huh?

Okay. Let?s say an owner wants to sell his property for $1,000,000. He is also advertising that his property has a cap rate of 6%. Now here is where a majority of people check out. People see numbers, and their eyes roll up in the back of their head, their breath becomes shallow, and they break out in hives. No, really. But you know what? It?s not hard. Really really.

There is a formula that I?ve used for years when talking about commercial property. It is:

Rate x Paid = Made

Rate is the rate of return, the interest rate, the cap rate, that you are using with this particular property.

Paid is what someone would actually pay for the property. The value.

Made is the money the property generates after expenses, which is called the Net Operating Income, or NOI. Whenever somebody mentions NOI, remember, it means then money made after expenses, but before the payment of the loan.

So back to the example. If the owner says the property is worth $1,000,000 and has a cap rate of 6%, then we know that he is saying the money you can expect to make after expenses is:

Rate 6% x Paid $1,000,000 = Made $60,0000.

Now let?s suppose an investor wants to make 7% on his money, so he?s going to use a 7% cap rate when looking at properties. This means he doesn?t care what the owner is asking. He cares about what the NOI is when determining the maximum amount he would be willing to pay. He?ll then compare it to the asking price and see if the owner is asking what the buyer is willing to pay.

Example.

Our investor wants 7%. Our owner has a property listed for $2,500,000 with a reported NOI of $40,000.

The investor doesn?t care yet what is being asked, he cares about the NOI.

Formula: Rate 7% x Paid = Made $40,000

According to our formula, he?s going to take the7% and divide into the NOI.

.$40,000/.07 = $571,429. The most our investor would pay is $571,429.

Which means he would not be buying this property.

The cap rate is used by brokers and investors to determine what a property is worth and how much an investor would be willing to pay.

Tom Bruner is President of Bruner & Associates, Inc., a full service California commercial property brokerage since 1989. Tom spent four years teaching students Real Estate Principals for Kaplan Schools.

?By spending extra time with each of my clients, I?m able to help that investor buy or sell their income producing property by maximizing that information. Visit me at http://www.brunerandassociates.com.?

Understanding The Real Estate Inflation Game

In the Fraser Valley?s rapidly expanding real estate market there are several elements to consider. You are probably aware of the concept of inflation. But just to recap, inflation means that the increasing cost of buying a service or a product (tangible or intangible). This decreases your purchasing power. For example, an item that cost perhaps 10 dollars ten years ago, now cost 50. People in today?s world that are on fixed incomes are very aware of their purchasing power of the Fraser Valley rental dollar.

This factor is very important to consider when renting your new home, apartment or townhouse in the lower mainland. The inflation rate in Canada varies at different times of the year and in different regions across the country. At one time Canada had what?s known as ?double digit inflation. However, currently in the Abbotsford, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Surrey, Langley, New West and Richmond area, inflation has stayed relatively low.

Naturally, the appreciation of property value over time includes inflation factors. And historically, land appreciation value for residential homes has been between 4 and 5 percent greater then inflation rate. When you buy a home in the Fraser valley your buying a home with inflated dollars. That is, you are probably getting more money now in terms of salary increases to pay off lesser-value money when you took out that original mortgage. So your beating the system!

Renting in the Fraser Valley can often be a disadvantage given our appreciating real estate in Abbotsford and Vancouver. In fact Every city across the Fraser Valley has been hit by the real estate boom and has experienced some level of Appreciation. This includes Richmond real estate, Burnaby, Coquitlam, New West, White Rock, Mission, Maple Ridge, and all other major cities across the lower mainland. Appreciating simply means the increase in value of the property over time. It is the growth in value of your original capital investment.

The national average of appreciation with real estate in the Fraser Valley is 5%. However, real estate in the lower mainland has seen gains as much as 25%. It?s important to understand that trends will go up and down. But with the 2010 Olympics coming up, interested rates staying under 10% and our economy the way it is, you?ll notice the real estate market will continue to clime. The ?rent BC? option has rapidly changed into a wealth building endeavor for any middle class investor.

Shane Toews is a Licenced Realtor who helps others to educate themselves on current real estate issues. He also provides assistance on how to locate quality homes, apartments or vacation rentals in Canada's Fraser Valley area. Visit his website RentFraserValley.com for more information on Canada's Fraser Valley Real Estate Market

Do You Know About The Most Popular Real Estate Scams?

Real estate scams are more and more popular, even though we can't see them yet. Compared to robbing a bank, stealing $200,000-worth property via a false deed or an identity theft is trivial - and remarkably safe for the thieves. Their imagination is remarkable and oftentimes we can't do much more than minimizing the damage they inflict. By becoming aware of the most common real estate scams, you may be able to protect yourself or someone you know.

False Deeds, Part 1

Most real estate frauds revolve around forged deeds. The most popular scam is using a false deed in order to get a loan secured against a property. The thief then vanishes with all the money, leaving the real owner in danger of foreclosure by the bank - oftentimes the danger is real if the owner doesn't react on the first warnings received from the bank.

False Deeds, Part 2

Another common real estate fraud is selling a property without the owners consent. The uninhabited, recently inherited and otherwise unguarded property is the most probable target for such scams. The most inventive thieves are able to even sell the same property to several buyers at the same time. However, if they have sold it only to a single buyer, the fraud can go unnoticed for months or even a year. By that time, the ?owner? is long gone, usually in another state, selling another home to someone else.

Real Deeds

The false deeds are bad enough, as such scams usually hit at random and they often can be reversed after the deed is thoroughly checked. However, the problem begins when the fraud is performed using a real deed, one that was either stolen or simply taken from the owner. The sad thing is that such thieves often recruit from our family and closest friends, people we would never suspect of anything.

The most popular way is to get some kind of authorization (or truly, just a signature) from the owner in addition to a deed. This way the thief can do whatever they like without any real risk for being caught. This is an especially popular scam used against elderly people - a nurse or a family member either take a loan in the name of the elder or just force them into taking it.

Another, even more outrageous, real estate fraud is performed by unethical door-to-door loan sellers. Under the pretext of making home repairs, they force the seniors into signing some documents which are truly high-rate loan contracts secured against the property. As most seniors are unable to repay such debt, their homes are taken by the creditor (which was its goal from the beginning) and the elder is left homeless.

Defense

Defending against such frauds is difficult. If the thieves use false deeds, it is possible to prove that you had nothing to do with the loan or purchase. However, if they use a real deed and/or have your authorization, this gets dicey. And taking effective legal actions is next to impossible if you sign the loan papers.

Here are some tips to help protect yourself from such scams: 1) never sign anything you haven't thoroughly read and if you are in doubt have your attorney review the documents before signing; 2) throw out any peddling loan lenders; 3) keep important documents, such as your deed, in a safe deposit box.

For more information on real estate visit http://www.1st-real-estate.com

Canada's Beautiful Fraser Valley A Buyers & Sellers Market

So you think the market is hot? Why is that? Many people follow the crowd and go with what the media is promoting. Some of the hard core factors that affect real estate are Interest rates, Taxes, Rent Controls, Economy, Population and much more. Let?s get started. Interest rates in British Columbia has a direct connection between prices in the lower mainland and Fraser Valley area?s. The higher the rates, the lower the prices. The lower the rates, the higher the prices. When the rates are low, more people can afford to buy their first home or an investment property in Abbotsford, Langley or Vancouver. This puts pressure or a greater demand on the Fraser Valley market.

With our municipal and provincial taxes in British Columbia you?d be affected with property values. When your in an area with high municipal property taxes this can be a deterrent to a purchaser. A rise in taxes could cause real estate prices to drop. Provincial taxes, such as a property purchase will limit the number of buyers. These factors would affect the overall amount of real estate activity as well as prices in the Langley, Burnaby, Chilliwack or other Fraser Valley Markets.

Naturally, provincial rent controls and related restrictions could have a limiting effect on how much an investor in real estate can be active. This chain effect limits the number of potential buyers on the market. Rent controls are governed by provincial legislation. Not all provinces have rent control, but any province can introduce them or modify their existing legislation at ANY TIME. If your curious about your rental caps simply go to any search engine and type in ?landlord tenant law in British Columbia?. You will see the criteria for increasing rents in your Fraser Valley area.

The confidence in the economy is an important factor in stimulating home buyers and investor activity in the Fraser Valley. If the mood is positive then more market activity will occur in Langley, Richmond or wherever you live in the lower mainland. Conversely, if the economy is stagnant, the opposite will occur resulting in a decreased number of home buyers. Luckily the Fraser Valley has opportunities that attract immigrants from outside the country and other provinces. This increase demand increases the popularity of prices.

With lower vacancy levels in the area, this could stimulate a first time home buyer to buy a home. Also, renters who can't find a place to rent may borrow from relatives or find other creative ways to enable them to purchase a home rather then rent a home in the Fraser Valley. Our location with trees, streams mountains and fresh air attracts people of all places. The public perception of a certain geographic location or type of residential property or building affects the prices. Now that you are aware of many factors that effect Real Estate in general, is it a good investment? That is for you to decide!

Shane Toews is a Licenced Realtor who helps others to educate themselves on current real estate issues. He also provides assistance on how to locate quality homes, apartments or vacation rentals in Canada's Fraser Valley area. Visit his website RentFraserValley.com for more information on Canada's Fraser Valley Real Estate Market

Low Commission Real Estate Agents in Los Angeles

A large number of homeowners, all across the country are interested in selling their homes. If you are one of those individuals and you live in or around the Los Angeles area, you have a number of options. The option most often selected by a homeowner is to receive professional assistance. This assistance often comes from a real estate agent.

If you are searching for a Los Angeles real estate agent, you have a number of different choices. You can do business with a full priced real estate agent or you can find an individual who specializes in low commission real estate. Los Angeles has a both types of agents. When searching for a real estate agent, you are encouraged to familiarize yourself with the services offered by each type of agent.

Full priced real estate agents tend to be more expensive, but they are sometimes the most sought after. This is because in many areas of the United States there are a limited number of real estate agents. When competition is small, many businesses make the decision to charge higher prices. Another reason why full priced real estate agents are popular is because of the wide range of services they offer.

The services offered by a particular real estate agent will vary, even with full priced real estate agents and agents specializing in low commission real estate. Los Angeles residents are encouraged to fully examine each service before making a final decision. Many residents are unsure what to look for in a real estate agent. If you are searching for a Los Angeles agent to assist you in the selling of your home, there are a number of services that you may search for.

A large number of real estate agents participate in an MLS program. MLS programs are often referred to as multiple listing services. Almost all real estate agents, including full priced agents and those specializing in low commission real estate, participate in an MLS program. An MLS program allows homes on the real estate market to be placed in a large, searchable database. This list includes homes being sold by different real estate agents.

In addition to an agent?s participation in an MLS program, you should determine the other ways that they intend to market your home to potential buyers. Many real estate agents use newspaper advertisements, while others use open house programs. A low commission real estate agent may not offer individual showings to potential buyers, but they usually have other effective ways of marketing your home.

The marketing of your home to the general public is important to success of the sale. In addition to marketing, there are a number of other factors that you should considered when finding a real estate agent. These factors are all important, whether you choose a full priced real estate agent or one that specializes in selling low commission real estate. Los Angeles residents have reported success with low commission agents and there is no reason why you shouldn?t be able to receive that same success.

Brad Horn is a writer for 1 percent realtor where you can find a great resource for information regarding a Los Angeles Low Commission Real Estate Agent

10 Keys to Success as a Beginning Real Estate Investor

Ever thought about becoming a real estate investor but weren?t sure where to start? You?ve got company. People just like you have purchased millions of books, tapes and videos from the Robert Kiyosaki?s, Carlton Sheets? and Robert Allen?s of the world looking for the keys to investing puzzle. However, very few actually get started and even fewer make any money at it. You might still feel as if there are too many obstacles in your way.

Let me encourage you. Just because you might lack a large cash balance, may not have a great credit rating or may not have years of experience as a wheeler-dealer doesn't mean that you can't enjoy success as a real estate investor. I am walking proof. I have helped real estate investors obtain millions of dollars in financing for their projects and, along the way, I think I?ve seen every type of investor possible.

In my job, I?ve had the benefit of seeing many people succeed wildly and many others lose thousands of dollars almost overnight. Here are some ideas that, in my experience, will lead to greater success for you:

1.Determine your goals. Where do you want real estate to take you? Approach your real estate career just like you would any other business by deciding where you want to be in one year, three years or deeper into the future. Knowing where you want to end up helps you choose the right road.

2.Choose the best path for you. What level of profitability do you want to achieve? How much risk can you tolerate? One thing I love about real estate is that there are at least 100 different ways to make money. For example, you could consider

?Rehabbing and reselling single-family properties

?Buying homes and holding them as rental properties

?Becoming a real estate agent

?Brokering or owning office and commercial properties

?Investing through limited partnerships or becoming a private money lender

The thing that matters most is that you find a path that is in line with your lifestyle in terms of how much you want to participate in various investment vehicles.

3.Do your homework. You can lose a lot of money fast if you don?t exercise the discipline to educate yourself and get good advisors. Talk to people about various lending programs, rates and terms in the marketplace. Read some trade magazines or subscribe to wonderful newsletters such as Peter Pike?s Dispatch (http://www.pikenet.com/) to bolster your understanding of real estate trends.

4.Location, location, location. Learn the makeup of your local market. Buy locations. You can change everything about a property except where it is located. I haven?t seen too many folks make money by having the market bail them out of a bad situation. It usually doesn?t happen that way.

5.Ask questions. When you find a property or project, talk to the neighbors. They will tell you everything you could want to know and more?including why the owner is really selling. Interview Realtors. Some have worked in certain neighborhoods long enough to have brokered the same property several times over the years.

6.Appraisals and inspections are your friends. Unless you are already a millionaire real estate investor, stop listening to your ?gut? feeling. If you are a millionaire real estate investor, you probably aren?t reading this article. Therefore, I feel safe in recommending that you always get a second and third set of eyes to look at every investment you?re considering. Better to spend a few dollars to save thousands, right?

7.Line up your professional team. Ask for references and check them. Be willing to fire them and move on if they aren?t performing. You?ll want to establish a relationship with a good attorney, real estate broker, mortgage broker, accountant, inspector, appraiser and a title company along with others that you may work with from time to time.

8.Know your numbers and respect them. You are probably not so much brighter than everyone else that you can rewrite the rules. (Not yet.) Take the time to learn how to analyze debt coverage ratios, local days-on-market, property rental rates, occupancy averages, etc. Respect what your research tells you and?

9.Always be willing to walk away from a deal. It is your money and your time that are at stake. You are making all the ongoing commitments and taking much of the risk. Don?t let anyone pressure you. No one gets paid until you start signing papers; so wait until you are ready before going forward. Once you?re ready?

10.Get started and never give up. You might do a bad deal or two. That?s okay. It?s better to learn early in your career, right? There is a way to breakthrough and accomplish all your dreams. You just have to hang in there until you find it.

In most of the cases, people lose because they violated one or more of the above keys. The more you guide your real estate investing career by these rules, the better off you?ll do. Maybe you?ll be sending me a testimonial recounting your latest success one day? I hope so.

In the mean time, if you need assistance identifying your goals, locating advisors, evaluating opportunities or financing your projects, contact me today for help. In fact, I have a free ?Deal Evaluator? in Microsoft Excel format that I will send you free when you e-mail me. No matter where you are starting, the exciting and wealth-building world of real estate investing isn't closed to you.

I wish you great success.

Mark Anthony McCray, author of the upcoming books, ?The 31 Rules for Succeeding as a Mortgage Broker? and ?The 31 Rules for Prospering Financially? (http://www.the31rules.com), is the Founder and CEO of Houston, TX based First Capital Mortgage Company (http://www.dealsdone.net). First Capital is a commercial mortgage banking and brokerage firm that has helped its clients leverage millions of dollars in financing for their real estate acquisitions, developments and investments over the years. Write to Mark at mark@dealsdone.net or call 713-267-4040 for more information about the author or First Capital?s services.

Real Estate Brokers Using PPC To Generate Online Real Estate Referrals

The housing market is hot and there is a lot of commission to be made for real estate brokers that sell homes. Competition for new business is fierce and the enterprising real estate broker uses all means possible to generate real estate referrals, including online generation of real estate referrals and sales leads.

One of the easiest ways for real estate brokers, especially new brokers, to generate real estate leads and referrals is through PPC advertising on internet search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and MSN. If you are not already doing so, know that competing real estate brokers are generating their fair share of real estate referrals on the internet. You should too.

Home buyers are, more and more, searching for home buying services on the internet. You need to have a presence to gain these people as prospects.

If you are just getting started with generating real estate referrals and leads via PPC, I've compiled a sample list of keywords that you can use to start to target home buyers that are doing online searches. The following is a short sample list. Of course the keywords that you choose should be directly targeted to the market that you target. In no particular order, here they are:

• First time homebuyer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• New York, NY apartments
• Dallas real estate agent
• Vacation properties in Hawaii
• Mortgage rate calculator
• Toronto Remax realtor
• Phoenix, Arizona housing market trends
• Buying a new home in Cleveland, Ohio
• Miami Beach, Fl real estate
• Wilmington, NC real estate broker
• Real estate negotiation
• American mortgage rates
• Century 21 Realtor in Memphis, Tennessee
• Chicago commercial real estate
• Denver, Colorado condos for sales
• Calgary, Alberta house values
• San Diego, California investment properties
• Ottawa, ON MLS listings
• Portland, Oregon housing prices
• Buying a home with bad credit

Of course, when developing your own keywords to generate real estate referrals, substitute any of the cities above with the city that you work in.

Tino Buntic invites you to visit http://www.trade-pals.com. Tradepals provides free sales leads and business referrals, including real estate referrals, to business professionals across The United States and Canada. Tino also recommends the Real Estate and How Blog as a real estate news source for real estate professionals.

Dallas Real Estate

With a little over a million residents, Dallas ranks as the second-most populated city in the state of Texas, which is the second-largest state, by area, in the United States. Dallas has a lot of interesting real estate options to offer, ranging from ranches to gated communities. Though ranches that go with the usual Texas image are still available in the Dallas county area, the city has a lot of impressive houses, apartments, and commercial property for any prospective resident.

Six districts make up the city of Dallas, which comes under the Dallas-Plano-Irving metropolitan division of the Dallas-Forth Worth-Arlington greater metropolitan area. The prominent suburbs of Dallas are Allen, Flower Mound, Colleyville, Frisco, Keller, McKinney, Plano, Southlake, and Irving, to name a few. These areas offer gated communities, golf course communities, lakefront homes, homes with acreage, horse properties, retirement communities, and commercial property. Within Dallas, the popular areas are Oak Hill, North Dallas, Casa Linda, Knox/Henderson, and downtown Dallas.

As per the U.S. Census Bureau data for 2005, the average home price in the city of Dallas is $179,920, which is only marginally higher than the national average of $173,585. However, the Dallas county area, which includes the suburbs, has a much lower average, at $125,922. The median rental price in Dallas is $328, which is considerably lower than the national median of $471. There is almost an equal share of owner-occupied and rental units in Dallas, with the former accounting for 42%, the latter 52%, and approximately 6% remaining vacant. This looks quite different from the national picture, where owner occupied, at 60%, is twice that of rental units.

Dallas area real estate comes with easy access to the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, which is the world's second-busiest airport. There are many schools and universities, like the University of Texas at Dallas, University of Dallas, and Southern Methodist University. These important aspects of this area have helped create a very vibrant real estate market in Dallas.

Dallas Real Estate provides detailed information on Dallas Real Estate, Dallas Lake Front Real Estate, Dallas Real Estate Agencies, Dallas Commercial Real Estate and more. Dallas Real Estate is affiliated with Austin Commercial Real Estates.

Pune Property : India's Best Buy

Real Estate prices have been galloping in India over the last few years.

Since 2003 prices in Bangalore have been steadily rising upwards. Property purchased at 400Rs per sq feet has risen to 1800-2000Rs per sq feet within a few years. This is a 400-500% increase in price. Similarly for Noida. A plot for constructing an independent house is not available in Noida today for less than a crore . Why does all this make Pune property attractive?

Pune has been in the Real Estate news for a little over a year. So it's essentially been overlooked vis-a-vis hot IT markets like Bangalore and Noida. Real estate prices are still realistic in Pune. In the Eastern suburbs, you can still buy plots in Kondhva for about 600 Rs. Builders like Nyati, Cloud 9, Clover Village are the major sellers for plots and row houses in this area.

In the Western Suburbs Hinjewadi is the place where all the Real Estate action is happening. This is mainly because of the IT Park situated here. IT majors Infosys, Wipro, Cognizant are already there. New players have been coming in every month. This has resulted in a boom for rental accommodation in this area and also surrounding areas like Aundh, Baner, Bhugaon, Pune University.

A definite lower cost of living, fantastic weather, a small insular city which makes travelling easy, an extremely young upbeat crowd all add to the Pune charm. Pune is just a 3 hours drive over the expressway to Bombay and is well connected by air, road and rail. IT companies are moving to Pune since it's being seen as an extremely 'livable' city. The best property all over India

David Thomoson, an associated editor to pune360.com , is a contributing author to the www.pune360.com for distinct article sites/journals. Please feel free to visit www.pune360.com for more information on Real Estate, property and classified issues Or write to him AT pune360@hotmail.com. Any comments and /or suggestions will be highly appreciated.

Furnished Apartments in Atlanta

Atlanta, comprised of numerous distinct neighborhoods, cities, and counties, has a good choice of furnished apartments - garden-style apartments, lofts, town homes, studios, and many others. Center city apartments and more suburban apartments come with features such as ample parking and swimming pools.

Furnished apartments are ideal for corporate housing and extended-stay rentals. These are available in any size, and equipped with kitchens, fully furnished bedrooms, air conditioning, fireplaces, dining and living rooms with or without bathrooms, hardwood floors, backyards, and parking areas. Some apartments in Atlanta are particularly designed to cater to the needs of short-term contractors or European business personnel. Almost all private apartments are located close to Atlanta's business areas, shopping malls, and restaurants.

Extended stay apartments are available on monthly invoice payments and are perfect for business travelers, those on temporary assignments, consultants, and visiting family and friends. Furnished short-term apartments feature the most comprehensive short-term and temporary housing facilities. These are available in all price ranges and sizes, and on one-month to twelve-month leases. Furnished apartments are popularly marketed to businesses like movie studios and film production companies that frequently employ visiting, temporary workers.

The town home in Atlanta is one of the popular styles of apartment buildings. Town homes are generally built on more than one level with living areas on the first and/or second levels, and bedrooms on the levels above living areas. Town homes are perfect for those who are willing to live on multiple levels and are able to maneuver stairs.

The rapid growth of this metropolitan area and its economic development have both contributed to the increase in the number of new apartments. Although Atlanta is one of the world-famous industrial centers, Atlanta apartments are affordable and the average monthly rent is below the national average. If you are looking for a living space, Atlanta has a number of well-established property management companies offering furnished apartments. They assist you with computerized apartment searching and apartment rental services to search for a fully furnished apartment, whether it is traditional or modern, according to your taste.

Atlanta Apartments provides detailed information on Atlanta Apartments, Loft Atlanta Apartments, Atlanta Apartment Rentals, Cheap Atlanta Apartments and more. Atlanta Apartments is affiliated with Apartments for Rent in Chicago.

9 Real Estate Website Must Haves

1. MLS Search Capabilities

Confessions of a Real Estate Agent

So You Want to Be a Real Estate Agent?

There's the persistent myth that the real estate business is an instant money-generating, easy treasure trove. Well, it is, but with hard work, patience, and best of luck.

For the newbie in the business, though, real estate can be a thorny, if not downright frustrating venture. It's basically a gamble; profits will come rushing in only after one or two years down the road. After all, you are just establishing yourself and building your name and credentials. Add to this the fact that you're up against more cutthroat veterans.

In the meantime, there's always the temptation to regret the day you traded your regular and stable job at the office for the more unpredictable, often heartbreaking real estate bubble. Times like this, you have to focus on the future benefits, not the present drawbacks.

Lose some, lose some.

As everything changes along with technology, so does real estate. You'll still need your pen and paper of course, but it would be heaps easier if you armed yourself with a PC or a laptop and a fast internet connection. Now, more than ever, information on current real estate trends and marketplace behavior is available, so take advantage of all that. Knowledge is power, so goes the clich?.

Real estate is all about making connections. Not necessarily the right connections; any connection is good and will come in handy in the future. Any tip, juicy scoops, or new finds in the business is always appreciated, and that?s what connections are for. The point is, in the real estate business, people skills is a virtue always worth honing.

Win some, lose some.

Partnering with someone is a good way to get started especially if you don't have enough money to lay on the table. Your partner will be the one to worry about the finances, while you do the legwork (scouting properties, looking for buyers, touring them around, etc). And then you split the profits between yourselves depending on the agreed percentage. A commission of twenty percent may not exactly be top-notch cash, but what you're really after?since you're just starting?is learning the ropes of the trade.

Win some. Then win more.

You make new contacts everyday, know who the key players in the business, and earn their trust regarding future team-ups. Overall, you?ll be growing comfortable in a business best characterized by constant ups and downs.

Whatever the case, in the real estate business, you are your own boss and you own your time. There are no routines, no office chair restraining you. What replaces these are sweet victories with every successful deal made.

Before long, you?ll be glad you made the switch.

Neoli write articles and press releases for http://www.ozfreeonline.com. This piece he made served as an article exclusive for http://realestate.ozfreeonline.com - which offers a comprehensive list of office & commercial real estates, homes for rent or sell and an apartment finder to thousands of properties in Australia.

Closing Costs Explained for the Buyer and Seller

The fees associated with buying and selling a home documented in a sales contract are called closing costs. They are split between the buyer and the seller and often involve negotiation. Buyers apply for a loan and receive a good faith estimate that may not include all of the closing costs.

Buyer's closing costs include: the actual down payment, loan fees, points, appreciation and credit report, along with any pre-paid interest, inspection fees, appraisal, mortgage insurance, title insurance, and documentary stamps or note. Escrow fees, homeowners insurance, and legal fees can be included. These fees vary depending on the lender and the details of the sales agreement.

It is advisable to carefully review the estimated costs presented by the lender. If there are any questions before the actual closing, have the loan or title company officer clarify anything before making a final decision. As Americans borrow more than $110 billion a year to buy homes, these added costs and charges can add significantly to the purchase price of the home.

Sellers' costs as part of the closing include: the broker's commission, tax transfers, documentary stamp on deeds, and insurance and property taxes. Before the sale closes, the escrow officer will verify with the lender to ensure sure the existing balance for the loan has been paid. If the proceeds from the loan do not completely pay for the seller will need to pay for the remaining balance. Any additional deductions for the sale of the home (including buyer credits and concessions) are subtracted before the seller receives their share of the sale proceeds.

Negotiations for deductions can occur with minor or major costs. Property taxes are often prorated. They are usually paid at the end of the tax year. If the buyer has questions regarding some structural aspect of the home, including the plumbing, windows or electrical work, the buyer may request the owner to credit for the repairs. At this stage, even the price of the house could even become negotiable. A buyer could offer to pay the full asking price or more for a house in exchange for the owner covering the closing costs. The seller may offer to ?carry paper? or finance a portion of the sale for the buyer to ensure that the sale goes through. There is really no restriction for what can be covered by the buyer or seller, just as long as both parties involved are happy with the eventual outcome and the terms of the deal is written down.

It is a good idea to carefully review the good faith estimate well in advance of your closing date. You'll be better prepared to protect yourself from padded, inflated or abusive costs. If questions are raised during the earliest stage of escrow, you'll have ample opportunity to speak with the preparer about your concerns and have them explained.

Make sure that you are aware of basic closing terms. Loan origination fees are fees that cover the lender's processing fees for the loan, a percentage of the loan that varies from lender to lender. Points. A point is a one time charge for a lower interest rate. A point usually costs one percent of the amount loaned. A buyer can save money over the life of the loan by paying down one or more of these points, and the points may be tax-deductible.

Property Appraisal: A property appraisal is done for the lender to determine fair market value of the home. Inspection fees: are charged for homes under construction. A lender requires routine inspection for construction and release of funds as work progresses and concludes. Buyers are also responsible for prepaid interest that covers the mortgage from the first day of the loan until the due date of the first monthly payment. Hazard and flood insurance are paid a year in advance to cover the home and lender from natural disaster: fire, loss, windstorm and flooding.

Miscellaneous mortgage fees can include more inspections and an assumption costs. Inspection fees are generally handled before the closing date and can include an inspection of the home, radon tests, and pest or other specialized inspection fees. Assumption costs are for transferring the owner's mortgage into the hands of the new buyer. This is where reviewing closing costs are important because they can vary from state to state. Charges for home warranties are common. An attorney can handle a title search, apply for title insurance for you and a lender and complete the closing in some states. In other states specialty companies handle title work and closings are completed elsewhere. As this process can be cumbersome, it is important that you work with your REALTOR?, title officer and/or legal professional to handle ensure that all aspects of the closing are handled with the utmost of care.

Current technology has allowed the closing process to become easier, quicker. There are a plethora of fees a lender may charge depending on your location and the technology employed in the process. Notary and record fees would apply to have documents notarized and filed with public records. Overnight fees would result to send or receive documents and transfer fees for wiring incoming and outgoing funds.

Regardless of where and when you are buying a home you're closing costs will take a significant jump before they're finalized. The more educated you are about the process the better you'll be able to discern between valid or inflated costs. You'll be better prepared for that possibility. The awareness you've gained from familiarizing yourself with the process and establishing a relationship with your lending officer, REALTOR?, and closing agent will better prepare you for a predictable rise in closing costs and enough knowledge to point out inflated costs or at least ask questions to determine exactly where you stand.

Alex Peterson writes for ZipRealty. ZipRealty provides home buyers and sellers with an innovative real estate solution. By using the efficiencies of the Internet, ZipRealty has streamlined the real estate process and is able to pass significant savings on to home buyers and sellers.

Benefits of Using a Los Angeles Real Estate Broker

Are you a Los Angeles resident who is interested in selling your home? If you are, have you made a decision as to how you want to sell your home? Homeowners who are interested in selling their homes have a number of different options. One of those options includes the use of a Los Angeles real estate broker.

Many homeowners wonder why they should use the services of a Los Angeles real estate broker. There are a number of benefits to using one. If you are about to sell your home, you should familiarize yourself with the benefits of using a Los Angeles real estate broker. Doing so will enable you to make an informed decision as to whether or not you want to sell your own home or seek assistance.

Perhaps, the most important benefit of using a Los Angeles real estate broker is the assistance that you will receive. Real estate brokers are often referred to as real estate agents. Each person, no matter which name they choose to go by, should be trained and experienced in customer service. This training will allow a real estate broker to offer you the utmost service, as well as potential buyers.

A knowledgeable and helpful real estate broker is important to the successful sale of a house. In addition to being trained in customer service, real estate brokers will assist you all the way through the selling of your home. This means that they will not only deal with potential buyers, but advertise the sale of your home, and work with lawyers or accountants. Basically, they will stay with you until the sale is officially completed. All of these features are beneficial to homeowners.

The proper advertising of your home is important because it enables potential buyers to visit your home or even know that it is for sale. Many homeowners are inexperienced when it comes to advertising and marketing. This is why many for sale by owner homes sell for less than they actually should. The knowledge and marketing experience that most real estate brokers receive will not only help your home sell, but it may also drive up the value.

If and when your home receives a buyer, that individual will likely escrow the money for the home. Arranging and managing an escrow payment is a difficult task. Many home buyers have accountants or lawyers on hand. Dealing with these professionals may be overwhelming. If you use the services of a Los Angeles real estate broker, you may not even have to have contact with these individuals. Many real estate brokers in the Los Angeles area will process and monitor all payment methods used by potential buyers.

As a homeowner, you have the final say in whether or not you want assistance with selling your home. If you offer your home as a for sale by owner home and the process is not going well, you can always seek assistance from a professional if you need it.

Brad Horn is a writer for 1 percent realtor where you can find a great resource for information regarding a Los Angeles Real Estate Broker

Real Estate Agents

When one uses the words ?real estate ?it brings to mind a person whose business is selling land or property. To go a step further, it includes buying, selling or leasing of residential homes, apartments and houses, or office premises, retail outlets?. the list goes on. He finds buyers for sellers and vice versa and in order to conduct this line of business must be in possession of the necessary license or licenses. Once he gains the required experience, he can go on to being a real estate broker or a full service agent. A real estate agent must, as a matter of routine, be one who is presentable in attire, attitude and knowledge of his profession.

When a person decides to sell his property through a particular broker, he gets himself listed with them. A contract is then signed under which the broker represents the listed party, though that does not necessarily mean that he gets the power of attorney. The broker?s job is then to effectively advertise for the said property, ensure that people are aware that such a place is up for sale, and show the prospective buyers around. Many times one broker can represent both buyer and seller. The broker must have sound negotiation and financing skills to ensure that everyone concerned is satisfied with the deal.

Most agents earn a commission on their deals and they can make anywhere from

$10,000 and above depending on the size, location and the selling price of the property. Most real estate agents double up as insurance, securities, commodities, financial and travel agents to boost their income.

A good broker would be one who has a keen eye for securing deals, a valid license holder and one who evokes a feeling of trust in the person interested in contracting him for the job.

Real Estate Agents provides detailed information on Real Estate Agents, Find A Real Estate Agent, Las Vegas Real Estate Agents, Commercial Real Estate Agents and more. Real Estate Agents is affiliated with How To Get A Real Estate License.

Choose the Right Realtor

For most people, their home is the biggest investment of their life. Whether you're buying or selling a home, you want to be sure you're maximizing that investment. Choosing the right Realtor can make a big difference in how fast you find or sell a house, the price you pay or receive and the smooth completion of the transaction.

You'll need to do some research to find the one that's right for you. It's not hard, but it will take a little time; however, finding the right match will pay off in the long run. Here are some tips from AHA:

Go with a Pro

The terms agent, broker and Realtor are often used interchangeably. But not all agents or brokers are Realtors. The term Realtor identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of Realtors and subscribes to its strict code of ethics, which in some cases goes beyond state law.

Experience Counts

Whether you're looking for a Realtor to help you buy or sell a house, you don't want to be part of someone's learning curve. One of the first questions you should ask a potential Realtor is how long they've been licensed and how long they've worked in the area, says Richard Roll, president of AHA.

Get Referrals

Friends, neighbors and co-workers are often good sources for referrals. Get as many details as possible about their buying or selling experience with a particular agent. Were they happy with the service they received? Would they use the Realtor again? You can also check the local yellow pages or search the Internet to scope out your options and find leads . If you're selling, look for sold signs in your neighborhood.

Think Locally

Both buyers and sellers should look for a Realtor who is familiar with the area, notes Roll. Ask what they have sold or listed in the neighborhood recently. If you're buying, a Realtor should be able to provide you with information on the community, the schools, taxes and other facts. If you're selling, you want your agent to be able to talk to prospective buyers about these details.

Use the Right Type of Realtor

Should you use a conventional Realtor or a buyer's broker? Many home buyers don't realize that Realtors legally work for the seller. They're making their commission from the purchase price, so they want to sell a house quickly and for the most money possible.

A buyer's broker, on the other hand, represents the best interests of the buyer, and is an option that's growing in popularity. Buyer agents are bound to keep anything you say to them confidential. Since they are not working for the seller, they are less likely to try to gloss over any problems with a particular home and do their best to make sure you find a home that is right for you. However, you will have to pay the fee for a buyer agent, either an hourly fee or a commission based on the purchase price. The key is to make a better deal on the home that you buy to cover the cost of the assistance the agent provides.

Dual Agents work out of a traditional real estate office both as a traditional agent and a buyer agent. They can take on buyers directly as clients, but since they work in a traditional real estate office, they can also represent the seller. In this situation you need to remember to keep your comments spare and look for the best deal. A dual agent cannot negotiate on the buyer's behalf and cannot recommend specific terms, including a purchase price. If you want a true buyer broker without dual agency, be sure to look for an Exclusive Buyer Broker. Split Agents do the same type of work as a dual agent, in that they can represent the buyer or seller. The main difference is that they never represent both in a transaction. If you hire a split agent as your buyer broker, they are bound to the same rules as an exclusive buyer broker. Everything you say is held in confidence and they work solely and completely in your best interest.

Discount and e-brokers provide even more choices to home buyers and sellers. Both charge less than the typical 6 percent commission for their services. Discount brokers function much like a conventional agent. However, they may not provide the full range of marketing services you would get from a convention agent. Most e-brokers do not have a brick and mortar office, which cuts down their overhead costs, a saving which they pass on to consumers. When using an e-broker, you'll typically do most of the work yourself: checking the MLS listings, making a list of properties you'd like to view, weeding out the houses that aren't a good fit for you. The transaction takes place mostly online; when you have some houses you want to see, you contact the e-broker and they put you in touch with a local agent.

Another option as a buyer is to try to go it alone, searching through the papers and looking for listing signs as you drive through different neighborhoods. This is not recommended for first time buyers, but if you are a hardy soul and want to take on the task, make sure you do your homework on each property before signing anything. Be sure to go through the remaining sections of AHA's Home University 1st Time Buyers course, so you will know how to protect yourself and make a good deal.

Stay in your range

Whether you're buying or selling, choose a Realtor who concentrates on your price range. For example, if you're looking to buy a house in the range of $250,000 to $300,000, you should check the real estate listings in the local paper to see which Realtors are listing houses in that range. A Realtor who focuses on more expensive homes won't be as knowledgeable about what's available in your price range.

Interview a Few Candidates

Once you've done some background work, set up interviews with three or four Realtors you're considering. You might also want to visit open houses to observe the agent in action. Are they familiar with the property, the area, the real estate transaction? Did they show the home in a professional manager? Did they seem enthusiastic and were they easy to communicate with?

Don't Let an Agent Buy Your Listing

If one agent says he or she can sell your house for substantially more money than the other agents quoted you, they're probably telling you what they think you want to hear in order to get your listing. Or, they may not be familiar with the market in your town or neighborhood. Statistics show that properties which are over-priced when they are listed stay on the market longer and sell for less than if they had been properly priced from the start, says AHA's Roll.

Agree on Expectations

If you're selling a house, ask your agent to put together a written marketing plan detailing the steps they will take to sell your home. The agent should offer advice on how to prepare your home for the market and who has enthusiasm for your property. If you're buying a home, make sure you know how often your agent will supply you with listings, how many houses you can expect to see in a week, etc.

Look for a Personality Match

Once you know you've narrowed your search down to qualified professionals with the right expertise, make sure you choose someone you trust and who you like. Regardless of whether you're a buyer or a seller, you'll be spending a lot of time with your Realtor and it should be someone you feel compatible and comfortable with, says Roll.

American Homeowners Association (AHA)?

Richard J. Roll, American Homeowners Association (AHA)? Founder and President, created the AHA in 1994 after speaking to thousands of homeowners and discovering that they were facing similar problems ? high costs, no clout, little knowledge. The AHA helps homeowners and first-time homebuyers obtain the most value for their homes, build equity, avoid common pitfalls, and save $1000s on home improvements and home maintenance. Now the world?s leading homeowner?s savings, benefits and advocacy membership group, since its inception, AHA has served over 1 million homeowners and first-time home buyers and helps them to capture the most value in their homes, and make wiser decisions regarding home buying, selling, financing, maintenance and home improvements.

Housing Bubble Cool Not Popped

Has the housing bubble finally burst? Or has it cooled down?

According to DataQuick Information Systems ?A total of 27,286 new and resale homes were sold in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Ventura, San Bernardino and Orange counties last month. That was up 10.3 percent from 24,748 for the month before, and down 11.7 percent from 30,886 for May a year ago.? Statistics like these may support that the real estate market?s bubble hasn?t necessarily popped, but has slowed down.

Other facts that DataQuick published, the move-up category of home sales, when homeowners literally move up from a 2 bedroom home to a 3 bedroom home, have slowed down. But the entry-level homes and mid-range home sales have not slowed down and those prices are still rising, but at a slower pace.

Foreclosures are showing a moderate increase in numbers which means this market could be easily tapped by home buyers and investors. There are a number of sites on the Internet which make it easy to access information on foreclosure properties, including PoliceAuctions.com , a site that allows it?s subscribing members to access over 2653 government auctions in its database which include residential and commercial properties. The site will also allow its members to access listings for thousands of foreclosure properties.

Trends culled from DataQuick support the idea that the real estate bubble hasn?t popped, but has cooled down. This cooling trend maybe more apparent in some areas, but otherwise the real estate market overall is still healthy.

What Is Foreclosure?

Foreclosure ensues when the owner of the home or property is in default of making regular repayments of a loan. The borrower would not only lose the home or property in question as he/she is in breach of the mortgage agreement, but also credit-worthiness.

The loss occurs as the lender, who would be a bank or other creditor, would repossess the home or property by due process. The process could be judicial when it is called judicial foreclosure or direct take-over by the mortgagee or his agent.

Both processes involve auction, by which the lender gets his full settlement of the loan given to the original borrower. In the judicial foreclosure process, the sheriff notifies the auction as applied for by the lender. The auction takes place in the court hall, which is a matter of formality.

When the bank repossesses the property, it would be put up for sale to settle the debt. If there is any extra amount available, it would go back to the original owner.

In the direct foreclosure, the lender or his counselor gives notice to the mortgager and subsequently auctions the property. Sometimes, the owner of the home or property has to be evicted.

The buyer of the property in question would have to get a decree for possession.

The priority of the borrower, who fails to pay off the installments regularly and gets notice of foreclosure, should be to somehow stop foreclosure by banks or secured creditors with whom he/she had a mortgage or deed of trust.

In the event of foreclosure, it would be difficult for the borrower to get further loans. Numerous firms, lawyers, and counselors are available to offer assistance to the defaulter to suggest ways to ward off foreclosure.

Sometimes, the lender would be prepared to amend the mortgage deed, enabling the borrower to continue to possess the property, with changed terms of repayment.

Foreclosure is the ultimate weapon in the hands of the lender, which takes away the property and reputation of the lender.

Stop Foreclosure provides detailed information on Stop Bank Foreclosure, Stop Foreclosure, Stop Foreclosure Assistance, Stop Foreclosure Loans and more. Stop Foreclosure is affiliated with Foreclosure Listings.