What is Real Estate

Writen by Mark Gardner Emerson

Property investment in Bulgaria can make you a whole lot of money if you do it right. Do it wrong and your money will be tied up in bricks and mortar that nobody wants. Here are the three major factors you must bear in mind to make yourself the maximum profit.

Location, location, location.

You have heard the phrase a million times before and it applies in Bulgaria the same as everywhere else. It is absolutely critical that you choose the right location for your investment to maximise your profit.

If you are buying on the coast, buy as near to the sea as you can. On a golf course, as near to the fairways as possible. In the mountains, on top of the ski lifts if possible. In the cities you need to be close to all transport links and in the 'hottest' districts.

Buy the best you can afford.

The whole point of property investment is to make a profit when you sell. The easier and quicker you can move the property on, the more profit you stand to make. For that reason you must stand in the shoes of the next buyer when you look at any property.

The properties with the best features and in the best condition nearly always sell first. Apartments with great onsite facilities like pools, gyms, restaurants, parking, stunning views and balconies always sell faster and for more, than those without. Country houses finished to Western standards and with all amenities perform much better than renovation projects.

Keep your costs to a minimum.

Buying anywhere abroad can be time consuming and frustrating. Be careful to buy through an established agent who will assist you in all aspects of the purchase.

The agent should not only find the ideal property for you but then deal with all communication with the developer or vendor. They will save you time and money by doing all the legwork for you and can even save you thousands on the currency exchange when it comes to actually paying.

Bulgaria is a surging market that is set to explode in 2007 when Bulgaria joins the EU. The profits to made in property are staggering as prices are going up by over 30% per year. You can maximise your returns by simply following the guidelines above.

Mark Emerson is the sales director for Intvestment Property BG Ltd. The company specialises in high return investment property in all areas of the Bulgaria Marketplace. http://investmentpropertybg.com

Writen by Glenn Keller

This story is true and not meant to hurt anyone, but the more that I think about what happened, the more it makes me laugh. I hope that you not only get a chuckle from it as I did, but take your time and look for a professional real estate agent.

Sometime back I was handling a tranaction for a client that was buying a home. A situation arose that was beyond anyone's control. I am a get involved and make it work type mortgage lender, so I jumped right into the problem looking for a remedy. I quickly thought of a way to make this real estate transaction work in the best interest of all parties. However, the closing date was going to be delayed a few days during the process. I informed all parties of the problem. My client of whom is most important to me, had no problem with the delay and was happy that I had found resolution to the problem. Well, I am feeling good about what I had done and moved quickly to get the tranaction toward the closing table.

The next day I spoke with this Realtor and they told me they would bring documents, amendments, etc. to me the next morning. When they arrived, they had nothing that I really needed, so we talked a little and I told this agent what I needed. They said they would have it later that day.

I went to a neighboring city on business after that. Early that afternoon, I received a call from an interested party saying this agent was angry with me and that I was a liar. Well, I considered that this agent was new in the business and didn't seem very bright, so I decided to call the agent and set the record straight. I called, no answer, so I left a message on the agents voice mail to call me>

The agent called back and this is what the agent said: I am typing the words just as they were pronounced: I said Hello, how are you? The agent said I aint doing wurf a krap, you done told me 3 or 4 lies and I am sick of it. I quickly said, calm down, I haven't lied to you, there is obviously a misunderstanding here. The agent didn't hear a word I said, as the agent was yelling the whole time.The agent said I am sick en tired of dis shit! I am going to come up er and kick yo ass! Then the agent said you aint nuttin but an ole drunk, Ima coming up er and whoop yor ass. Then they hung up on me!

Well, I was kind of angry at first. Then I thought about Hee Haw and it made me laugh. At the same time I was laughing I thought about how unprofessional this real estate agent was and how scary it is that someone obviously that ignorant could pass the real estate exam. Not to mention, who did the hiring here? You have to qustion their professionalism as well. I can't imagine anyone buying anything from this person that wasn't handed out the window of a drive-thru! Geez!

Well, it takes all kinds to make the world go round. But, if you are going to select a real estate agent to help you make the biggest monetary decision in your life, by all means interview them. HEE HAW!

Glenn Keller is a mortgage professional and decided to write this article so homebuyers to be will take the time and search for a professional real estate agent. I feel that it is good to find humor in everything. You can visit my website at http://www.bretlinfloridamortgage.com

Writen by Richard Carter

In the last few years, there's been a noticeable migration by homebuilders and developers to rapidly build-out our communities with more and more town homes and condominiums. In many cities, this trend has been on a massive scale. The reasons for this shift are obvious:

- To meet the needs for less expensive housing,

- To provide builders with a way to provide less expensive construction,

- To allow cities to better meet their required housing availabilities and allocations.

Part of what's fueling this new development is the costs and economics of construction. Being able to put many, more sellable houses on a small 'footprint' of land can greatly affect costs. In addition, the perceived price-points entry-level, first-time purchasers will be able to pay, also plays a very large part in deciding what models and types of dwellings builders choose to build. However, are those the only considerations that should be taken into account?

One of the most important issues of these styles of homes, and the one that is most likely to be overlooked, is the fact that town home and condominium living are considered to be 'high-density' living.

High-density living is commonly associated with apartment living. Put another way, it is another case of having a large number of people living in a smaller, more contained space. It is also known by such terms or phrases as multi-family housing, or close-proximity housing.

However you label it, it's always a case of putting a lot of people in a small area. When that happens, all the effects of each and every one of those people are more easily sensed by the others in that environment. In other words, your quality of living has just taken a comparative 'hit' before you even move in!

Now, this 'feature' – the social effects of high-density housing – is not new. As the attractive internal attributes of your individual space – the shiny fixtures and the new crystal-clear glass and the polished woodwork – become dull, fogged, and permanently nicked and scarred with time, the effects of how we live with each other will continue to grow in importance, and more importantly, how it influences our individual lives.

In the most recent and ubiquitous growth or these revived common-interest ownership homes, I seriously question whether many developers and city planners have taken into account the already existing and known problems that accompany high-density living. Having lived in such forms of accommodations decades ago and learning the lessons then, I am still seeing a number of occasions where the newly finished town home and condominium communities have not changed or improved in how they will resolve those issues of high-density living.

This issue is, in fact, an age-old issue. It is one we have faced for decades in the form of urban crowding, blighted neighborhoods, and the more crime-prone areas of our inner cities. From those historic lessons learned, we have already become knowledgeable that the more space a person or a family has in their living arrangements, the more privacy they can claim. The more privacy they can reserve, the more enjoyable their environment. Moreover, the more enjoyable their environment, the more value that property has become; especially over time, as that property and the neighborhood and community around it age.

Inversely, we have also discovered that high-density housing, without certain and specific management requirements and services, can create terrible results in housing alternatives. Questions as to:

- How much play or recreational space should be allotted for children? Should it be on a child-density basis, or a limited basis?

- What is provided for each age bracket of child?

- How are pet stations planned for; or are they?

- How are we dealing with being able to discover covert activities (such as meth-amphetamine making) BEFORE they ruin a building?

- How is safety addressed on internal (and therefore private) roads and streets?

- Are auxiliary owner parking areas provided (to allow for trailers, boats, snowmobiles, and the like); and how will they be enclosed so as to not detract from the appearance of the property, or the community?

With the growing numbers of these town home and condominium communities, what steps are being taken to make sure the needed care, management, ownership knowledge and community services are being provided for? Or, is it a matter of all these newly constructed projects simply sprouting up like weeds in a prairie field, with only the focus on marketing, sales, and taxation being considered important or worthwhile?

Specifically, are recreational facilities being planned and built in accompaniment to the homes? Are the needed schools being sponsored and built to keep up with the accelerated population that high-density brings with it? Who's going to keep peace in these condensed and tightly packed communities? And, by what specific rules? And what is to be considered timely enforcement? Most importantly, do the new homeowners know about all this BEFORE they spend their hard-earned money on a down payment?

It goes without saying, many town home and/or condominium complexes (or associations, as they are known), function quite well. They are marvelously managed, the residents understand the form of ownership and the lifestyle, and the price-points of the properties dictate well-educated, refined populations who appreciate the finer things in life. More so than not, these are complexes of the upper price-points, populated by those of accomplishment, and in urban environments. That said, there are a great many common-interest ownership properties that aren't doing so well; and the residents are paying the bill in the form of disruptive neighborhoods, unkempt properties, and non-responsive management agents and city officials. It is this portion of the town home and condominium market that is growing, and is of mounting importance to every municipality that has such within its city limits. For not only do the residents of these complexes face unnecessary and very negative effects of the inherent problems, but those cities, townships and even counties will be seeing increased costs due to the unaddressed issues which, with time, will be sure to manifest themselves in various social issues and higher costs. These issues are already showing up in the form of increased costs in law enforcement, non-compliant and non-complimentary zoning issues, and inadequate day-to-day services due the shear growth in numbers of citizenry due to the nature of high-density housing.

I strongly believe there is a second shoe ready to fall with regard to a number of these most recent and rapidly growing complexes. In those municipalities that have allowed the rabbit-like growth of town home and condominium construction within their communities, I fear that what originally looked like reasonable and acceptable housing development, will in experience, become the lesser-attractive parts of their communities; and therein, the more expensive to administrate. To wit, we are now beginning to see a few municipalities that are beginning to limit or redefine the conditions under which such construction can proceed.

For some of us, we have already had the opportunity to see what managed high-density housing can develop into. Those lessons where learned in places like Cabrini Green, Dearborn Homes, and other urban high-density, irresponsibly managed, yet well-intended experiences.

Don't think it can happen today? It already is in some places.

We can do better.

That is the goal we should have. We truly need to bring our experience and that gained knowledge forward; incorporating it into these new developments, as compared to simply allowing them to flourish with limit goals intended. Please join us in this responsibility to our communities, to ourselves.

Richard Carter is the author of Town Homes and Condominiums: Little Known Facts and Hidden Traps, a resource designed to enlighten and empower anyone who lives in – or is planning to live in – a town home or condominium community. For more information and to participate in a discussion forum, visit Mr. Carter's website at: http://www.thcbook.com

Writen by Brandon Cornett

The home buying process can be exciting and overwhelming at the same time. After all, it's one of the biggest financial decisions you'll ever make. So before you begin looking for a home, make sure you have a plan in place.

Here are some more tips to help you get the most out of your house hunting experience.

Take pictures of the home, inside and out.

When shopping for a home, bring your digital camera along. Or borrow one from a friend. Take pictures of all the houses you visit, and then group the pictures by house address for easy viewing later. This will help you remember the details of each house afterward. Then you can more easily decide which houses you'd like to follow-up on or revisit.

Bring a friend of family member along.

Buying a home can stir up a lot of different emotions, and that's perfectly normal. But emotion can sometimes overpower logic -- not something you want when making a financial decision.

You can counter this by bringing a friend or family member along on your house hunt. By bringing someone who's not so emotionally attached to the process, you'll have an objective ally to help you identify the pros and cons of each house.

This person can also help you recall details about a house after each visit. And chances are, they'll be able to point out aspects of a home you might not have noticed otherwise.

Compare the house to your budget.

Ever heard the expression "house poor"? This is what happens when people take on more of a mortgage than they can comfortably afford. Ask yourself this question. If you have to work longer hours and scrimp and save just to afford a house, is it really worth it?

While house hunting, you'll inevitably come across one or two houses that really knock your socks off, but would also knock a hole in your budget. But you have to keep your finances in mind, no matter how gorgeous a house might be.

Consider the commute.

Here's another area where it pays to be objective. If you find a house you like, and it's within your price range, the next thing to consider is the location. Is the house near or far from work? Does it have access to the highways you need? How long will your commute be each day?

It's easy to fall in love with a house and dismiss the drive time. But if you commute every day, drive time matters! Try driving to or from the house during rush hour to get a realistic picture of what you'll face every day.

Avoid spur-of-the-moment decisions.

Buying a home will probably be the biggest financial decision of your life. So it requires careful consideration. Know what you're looking for and how much you can afford. Remember to be objective. Then get out there and hunt!

* Copyright 2006, Brandon Cornett. You may republish this article in its entirety, provided you leave the byline, author's note and website hyperlink intact.

About the Author

Brandon Cornett is the editor of HomeBuyingInstitute.com, one of the Internet's largest and most respected libraries of home buying information -- more than 100 expert articles in 12 different home buying categories! Put this knowledge to use by visiting http://www.HomeBuyingInstitute.com

Writen by Barrett A Niehus

As many as 75% of real estate agents get their license and list between one and zero homes per year. In addition, most real estate agents end up earning less than $28,000 per year, even though they spend thousands of hours trying to generate business. If this is the case, then why is it that the other 25% of real estate agents go on to make hundreds of thousands of dollars per year and end up listing so many homes that they need to hire additional agents, just to manage the work load?

In this series, we will explore what these "super agents" do right, and how you can use their success as a guide to help you achieve their level of success. Now before we begin, I want to go over some very simple fundamentals of marketing. For many of you this will be rudimentary, but we always begin with a solid foundation and build from it. So to begin, anytime you are selling a product or service, you must identify the four P's. These are simply Product, Price, Placement and Promotion. To explain these concepts further, think of them in follow way:

Product: What are you selling? For you as a real estate agent, in most instances, you are selling yourself. You are selling guidance, advice, filing services, coordination services, marketing services, negotiation services, and many more intangible services. In almost all cases, you are the primary product. We will get into how to make that product unique in a moment, but for now know that in real estate transactions, YOU are the product.

Price: How much will the product cost? Most economists will use the term utility to describe the amount of intangible value that a client will put on a product. What is the price of your service? Is it competitive with your market and the services you offer?

Placement: How will clients find the product, and how will it be different from the competition? Where will they be able to learn about it? Will they read about it, hear about it from friends, see it on TV or hear it on radio? How will the product be placed so that the target market can find learn about it? As above, if you are the product, what will your placement be in order to receive maximum exposure? How will your offerings compare to your competition?

Promotion: What offerings and methods of communication will you use to get clients to buy your product? What specific services will you offer in order to garner the maximum value?

These are the fundamentals of marketing and should be included whenever you try to define exactly how you are going to make your real estate business successful.

Now moving on to how to make YOU the product unique and valuable to your target market, let's talk about a unique selling proposition. However, before we begin, I want you to lay out all of your current mailers, door hangers, flyers and promotional pieces in front of you. Now if you can, put yourself in the shoes of your prospective client. They have just received one of these pieces and know nothing else about you. In looking at the marketing piece, answer the question: What benefit does this agent provide me?

Now, in looking at the piece as the real estate agent, what benefit do you provide your target client that you can do better than any other agent in your area? Would this be seen as a major benefit by your target client? Would this be seen as a major benefit by as most of your target clients?

What we are trying to identify with this exercise is your unique selling proposition. The one selling advantage that will make a prospective client choose you over anybody else. This exercise is usually very difficult for most people and they initially come up with answers that are not unique or compelling. Many agent first responses with this exercise are to list their level of quality or service. Although these can be benefits, many other agents also list these and they are typically not unique or compelling. Instead of focusing on services that everybody offers, focus on specialization and unique knowledge to create your unique selling proposition. Below I have listed a three unique selling propositions and one ineffective selling proposition for you to review and to get an idea of what is needed. See if you can't spot the proposition that is neither unique nor effective.

• I guarantee that I can sell your home within 90 days.

• Providing great quality for the past six years.

• Comprehensive marketing services to make sure that you get top dollar for your home.

• The agent of choice for the Arrow Wood community; masters at providing you with a great buying experience.

To reiterate the points from above, identify the unique benefit that you can provide to your target clients. Make sure that the benefit is something that they will value that will answer the question, why should I list with you?

So now that you have identified your unique selling proposition, it is time to figure out exactly how you will communicate it to your target market. This is another area that separates the super agents from the rest. Many agents attempt to promote themselves to as many people as possible using one or two tools. This shotgun approach is typically very expensive, very inefficient, and results in very few sales.

Instead of trying to be all things to all people, take a look at your unique selling proposition and identify exactly what your ideal prospective client looks like. What do they ready, what do they watch; what do they listen to? How do they stay current on world events, what do they value? Identify as specifically as possible your ideal candidate so that you can understand exactly where to spend your marketing dollars to get the best response. Some groups will be more receptive to mail, others need to read about your offerings. Some respond to promotional giveaways, some need to meet you in person. Try to determine what will trigger the greatest response from your target audience and what specific variation or wording of your unique selling proposition will resonate most with them. In short, identify your target market, and target them as directly and specifically as possible. This type of specialization will result in significantly more listings sales and revenue than the traditional shotgun approach.

So far you should have identified how your product (YOU) fits in with the four P's of marketing; your unique selling proposition, and your target market. Now it is time to evaluate how best to teach that target market about your service offerings and how to convince that market they need to buy your product. This essentially results from periodicity of your communication, and the type and content of the pieces. The goal of this portion of the lesson is to teach you how to create a continual flow of qualified leads so that you will never need to cold call again. We are creating a prospecting engine that will continually feed you qualified clients so that you can spend your valuable time on projects that will actually make you money.

Let's begin first by commenting on periodicity, or the number of times you touch a client with your message. Before moving forward, answer the following questions:

Given 100 people in your neighborhood, how many want to sell their home right now? Of these 100 people, how many do you think will want to sell their home within the next four years? How many in ten years?

Statistically speaking, four want to sell now; 20 will want to sell within the next four years and 80 within the next ten. Instead of spending thousands of dollars to find that four, why not spend the same amount and line up the first 20%, and remaining 80%, and simultaneously get the first four ready to use your services?

It sounds like a great idea, doesn't it? Well that is exactly what a prospecting engine like 4MySales.com does. It leverages proven marketing tools to create a tangible relationship with your large prospective market. So how does a prospecting engine such as 4MySales.com work? It provides a complete target marketing system to continually promote your unique selling proposition to your target clients. The system works on the following principles:

1) Periodicity: It is a know fact that people will recognize a branded product (YOU) after being exposed to that message five times. They will be inclined to act on that message after around seven exposures if the selling advantage is compelling. This market will be able to associate specific traits with a branded product after between fifteen and twenty exposures. Essentially this means that you will need a system to make sure that those four clients that are ready to list right now receive your message at least seven times, and those that have a four or ten year sales horizon see your message consistently enough that they will know you and your unique selling advantage. Promoting yourself in this manner will guarantee that you will be one of the first choices when you target market decides that they need a real estate agent.

2) A single message across many mediums: When you think about Nike shoes, what comes to mind? How about BMW automobiles? What about when you hear the word Rolex? For each product, a specific message comes to mind. The reason is simply that those companies have spent a great deal of time and money making sure that every marketing piece that is released to the public has a specific and consistent message. For Nike, it is Sports, Just Do It; for BMW the message is the ultimate driving machine. Rolex is synonymous with opulence, even though it is actually one of the less expensive high-end watches. How can we incorporate this observation to increase our own business? Simply include your unique selling proposition in every marketing piece that you send out. The message should be consistent in your listing descriptions, direct mail pieces, email newsletters, email updates, promotional tools and sales presentations.

With regard to the mediums that you should use, utilize communication tools that accurately target your specific market. 4MySales provided direct mail and email marketing tools as well as drip marketing and client management resources. Utilize these in a consistent manner to make sure that your target market receives a consistent message on a consistent basis.

3) Unique promotional tools: How many door hangers have you distributed? What about postcards? How many flyers have you printed up? The 4MySales.com system provides these tools, but it also provides some unique promotional tools to help set you apart from your competition. What if instead of sending text and links in your email newsletters, you could also include an audio file so that prospective clients can hear your voice? Prospects are significantly more likely to respond to a marketing message if they hear it as well as read it, and 4MySales.com provides a simple tool to take advantage of this fact. In addition tools to help you build relationships with prospective clients and manage the expectations of existing clients help to increase your close rate.

Using a system such as 4MySales.com to automate the prospecting process allows you more time to focus on the primary revenue-generating aspects of your business. Use the system to automate your marketing endeavors to continually send your unique selling proposition to your target marketing using email, online tools, your website, your web blog, as well as through traditional direct mail, flyers and post cards.

As I indicated above, a prospecting engine is an automated system that continually feeds you with a stream of new clients. The system simply distributes your consistent unique selling proposition in as many different forms as possible to your target market so that those who are ready to act will do so, and those that are not yet ready will choose you first when they finally choose to take action. The system sends consistent messages often enough that prospective clients will recognize the value proposition and will associate that value proposition with you. Putting this type of system in place is the first step in moving you toward the ranks of the super agents that make millions of dollars per year.

Let us bring clients to you. 4MySales.com http://www.4mysales.com is a simple system to help real estate agents close more sales. This unique prospecting engine helps the real estate agent maximize every revenue-generating aspect of their business.

Writen by Sameer Panjwani

In almost all our business dealings, negotiating is a key process. In clichéd terms, its the art of making sure that you get the best deal in the best manner possible. Whether you are buying or selling a house, in the real estate business, negotiations are inevitable.

When you've finally found the right buyer or the right house you want to purchase, its time to get all your hidden tactics out to settle the deal on terms that are suitable for you.

However, there are some basic pointers you should keep in mind to ensure that the deal falls through smoothly.

Comparative market analysis of homes in the area- Get your agent to check the selling prices of the other houses in your area. Since location is one of the thumb rules of real estate, its important to check the value of your house with respect to those in your locality. While negotiating, this piece of information will prove to be beneficial to both the buyer and the seller. You can use your facts to justify the rate at which you're selling or to prove that you are actually offering a lesser rate. Or if you're the buyer, you can use the numbers to validate the lower price you are asking for.

Play poker - You don't have to actually bluff but you have to learn to keep your emotions in check while negotiating a deal. Displaying your extreme eagerness to settle quickly, may be the easiest way to have someone take advantage of you. It is essential to conduct yourself calmly during the negotiation process.

Mention your other options- Speaking of other prospective buyers or other houses you're looking at will play to your advantage. It always helps to let others know that you have other alternatives during negotiations.

Time factor- Proposing to settle as soon as possible will play a major role in clinching a deal. If you're willing to buy a house immediately and settle all formalities at the earliest, odds are that the owner may favor you over his other options. On the other hand, if you're the seller, offering to close the deal sooner may give you the advantage of negotiating on the price.

Including items - If there's a major hitch while trying to settle on the price, just include some movable items or appliances. This will help in settling for the price you want.

The above are all crucial and must be kept in mind. But it all boils down to your understanding of the other party and being creative in your negotiating style. Make sure you don't put the other party in an uncomfortable position and drive them away entirely. But once you've reached a settlement, make sure that all the terms and conditions are documented to prevent any misunderstanding later.

Sameer S Panjwani - ChoiceOfHomes.com - Online real estate portal helping with home selling and renting online.

Writen by Larry Hudson

1) What education I need to become a real estate agent?

The general opinion is that high school. Nobody ever went to university to become a realtor. Most realtors aren't that bright, either. But sales skills are very necessary for a good real estate agent, so take care to attend some courses in that profile.

2) What's the average starting salary, and what's the average salary of an experienced agent?

There is no general rule, as real estate agent's income is generate by commission. Some people say that 90% of the commissions are earned by 10% of the people.

3) What type of experience will be required before I have a chance at moving up after I enter the real estate field? Is there an average guess you can take? I understand that a lot of this work depends on the motivation and effort put in by the individual.

Anyone with a car, a clean suit, and an overall pleasant manner and appearance can be an agent. Nothing much else is required.

4) Can I work as a real estate agent part-time?

Yes, you can if you have not great expectations. There are already way too many agents chasing a limited amount of dollars. You'll never have an evening or weekend to yourself. It's a great occupation for someone who has no plans of ever having a family and for those who worship money and don't care what society thinks of money-worshippers.

Larry is a frelance writer intersted in items such as Italian real estate and Seattle real estate.