How to Finalize a Stress-Free Mortgage Deal?

There are a lot of words that people have used when describing mortgages, but “stress-free” isn’t one of the more common ones. Much of the time, every aspect of getting a mortgage is loaded with stress and causes a good deal of anxiety for the borrower.

Not only do you have to go through the approval process, which can be stressful all on its own; you also have to finalize the deal and close everything so its all legal and ready to go. There’s no magic formula that’s designed to take all the stress or unforeseen obstacles out of getting a mortgage, but if you know some of the potential issues ahead of time, you may be able to move through the process with little or no stress.

Make a List

One of the more annoying things about a process like this, is that it’s easy to think of a ton of pertinent questions when you are sitting in traffic or out grocery shopping, but you draw a blank when it’s time to ask. Make it easy on yourself and carry around a small notebook and pen, or use your mobile device to type questions as they pop into your head.

Whether the question is for the real estate agent or your lender, you’ll have it there in front of you so you can ask when you speak with them. Sometimes, the questions you ask ahead of time will provide information that will make finalizing the mortgage deal easier than if you’d kept the question to yourself.

Take One Last Look

You may have gone through the new house multiple times and had a home inspector do his thing, but it’s not a bad idea to walk through the house one last time a couple days before the closing date. This is more of a “better safe than sorry” kind of approach, but it’s not completely unheard of for people to change things that were supposed to remain the same or take things they were supposed to leave before the deal closes.

It’s also a good time to see if any new damage has occurred, especially if there has been bad weather since the last time you were there. Check to ensure the electricity is working well and the plumbing seems good. If the present homeowner was supposed to make any fixes or do renovations before you moved in, you should check for those improvements too. If things aren’t as they should be in any part of the property, contact your real estate agent right away to have the issue rectified before the deal is closed.

Check the Document Preparation

All of the documents prepared as part of your real estate deal were drawn up by professionals, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look them over a handful of times before closing. In all likelihood the information will be just as it should be, but no one is perfect and you certainly won’t have a stress-free closing if something is wrong.

Check over the wording, all the names for spelling and all the digits for accuracy. The interest rate is also important to check. Don’t just assume that any mistakes will be fixed later and everything will be fine. That may well be the case, but give your lender a call immediately if you notice any issues or even if certain information doesn’t make sense to you. Also, keep a copy of every page of every document you sign.

Call the Utilities

If you want to move into your new home right after the mortgage closes, or even within a few days you should call the utilities ahead of time. If you’re moving to a new area and aren’t sure about which utility companies are used, ask the seller for the names and then get them transferred into your name so there’s a smooth, stress-free transition when you move in. This way, if there will be any delays or issues they can be dealt with before you get there.

Keeping Up with Costs

If you have ever purchased a home before, you know there can be a laundry list of closing costs that the buyer never saw coming. Inspection fees, attorney fees, deposits, etc, they all add up and they can be quite stressful when you think you’re home free and the deal is done. Make a point of finding out what the closing costs will be ahead of time, so you’re ready when they spring them on you. The number you get might not be 100 percent accurate, but it will be close and you’ll be prepared.

Author Bio:
Jonathan Baker is an active blogger who writes about business and finance. He lives in Toronto with his family and also works as a financial adviser to The Butler Mortgage team. He keeps himself about the latest trends in finance and business world and passes on these information to others through his blogs. He can be followed on twitter @Jonatha97039368Image 

Source: www.shutterstock.com

Use Your Property To Fund Your Old Age

photo: cbc.ca

This is a guest post written by Sarah Stark an authority in the home sector.

Old age brings with it a whole bundle of worries, some inevitable but some alleviative. Health conditions, for example, may deteriorate in many a case which, again in many a case, can be treated to an acceptable level. Not so is the most dreaded of it all: Paucity of money and the adverse consequence of the wretched condition on one’s well-being and on high-spirits. Unless you had planned and saved your retirement funds, the only way out you can hope is to get your hands on your property.

The scheme as outlined in the following few paragraphs can help you get sustenance and also leave enough money for unexpected expenditures. Central to the idea is the property you may own. You can get cash in hand, an amount equal to the value of your property. The condition that you should agree to involves a payment of the money equivalent to your property after your death.

Your property can be called frozen money that you can thaw at any time you chose. The fluid cash thus got can be utilized to meet your day-to-day expenditure as well as purchases of essential materials or services. All this without your having to worry about repayment when you are still alive. That, anyone will agree, is the best part of the whole scheme. Equity release, as the plan is called, spares you the hassles you might otherwise face. You can leave shortage of funds far behind to enjoy your life peacefully in your old age. The custom-designed equity release is the way to go forward.

There are various plans within the concept the best of which can be chosen by you. 

Home Reversion

Firstly, this is not a loan. You can sell a part of your house for a lump sum amount. Upon your death or if you take residence in a home, you or your estate will be paid a share of the sales proceeds after the sum for fees for services like a solicitor’s charges are deducted. For instance, if you had sold 50% of your property, 50% of the sale amount plus the growth value will go to the reversion company. 

Home Income Plan

A percentage of your property value is converted into cash and awarded to you. You can use this money to buy an Annuity from which you can get a monthly sum. The interest can be paid from part of this money. The rest of the sum will constitute your monthly income. As and when the property is sold (usually on your death) or when you move into a home, the original loan will be paid back in full

Lifetime Mortgage

This plan envisages a loan paid to someone with a property. The loan does not have to be repaid by the borrower at any time during his existence. It will be repaid only after his death or after he has entered into long time care. The advantage is he does not have to move from his house at all on getting the loan

Written By:
Sarah Stark is an authority in the home affiliate sector which can yield a high cash offer for your property. Her forte is writing but she can also design info-graphics. She also has a fair amount of knowledge on media buying for campaigns.

The First Steps to Sell Your Home

Most people who put their home on the market are hoping to sell their home in a timely fashion, in order to move on to another property or benefit from the generate revenue. It’s important that when you make the decision you must fully become committed in order to best present your home to potential buyers. 

A realtor can help you along the journey to help you place your property on the market the right way, to get it sold fast. You need to visit www.remax-tennessee.com to find the best real estate agent in the area and to have a partner in the home-selling process.

Evaluate

If you’ve lived in your home for more than a few years, it’s likely that it will need some remodeling. One of the most valuable resources in selling a home is having your home inspected before you place it on the market. This will provide you with insight to the changes that need to be made to improve the actual value of the home, while getting you ready for the bank home inspection that comes after you find the right buyer.

Remodel

Take what you have learned from the home inspection and apply it to your property. You can save money by doing simple projects on your own, if you are handy with tools. But larger renovations will require professional assistance. Keep in mind that for electrical and plumbing jobs, you’ll need a certification from the town office for approval. 

After you have made the suggested changes from the inspection, you need to begin making your home look its best. Fresh paint on both the interior and exterior of the property, decluttering, downsizing items in the room and updating the hardware and light fixtures can really make a difference in your home’s appearance.

Should you Invest in Property, Gold or Stocks this 2014

Once all the new year celebrations are done with, it is time to deal with the more intricate and complex things that are bound to shape the rest of your 2014, at least in financial terms. Investing has always been an important aspect for every salaried man as it increases their chances at a better life and a slightly higher income. However, these investments always tag along with their own set of risks, which also need to be addressed so as to not lose all your savings in the same. Therefore, before you even consider investing, you need to measure the pros and cons of the same. Ideally, there are three markets which seem intensely attractive to an investor and can help give you good returns depending on the situation. However, the question is, where should you invest? Given below is a detailed account of what you can possibly expect and where you are likely to achieve more positive results.

1.) Real estate:

Essentially, price and the corresponding affordability have a huge impact on the decisions that you make. In any ideal situation, the gap between price and affordability should be lower. However, with the year 2013 rounding up and even after the beginning of 2014, the real estate market has not shown any real improvement. The gap between these two fators continues to widen, with the property rates shooting up every passing day and the corresponding affordability staying constant or sinking down due to the inability of employers to raise income. Therefore, the negative growth in income and the continuous growth in property rates make it extremely volatile for you to invest in real estate. It is being predicted that this scenario is likely to change with the advent of General Elections; however, it is very unlikely that this will have any effect on the benefits that you may enjoy from investing in real estate this 2014.

2.) Stock market:

In Jan 2008, Sensex achieved a commendable feat of reaching 21000 level points. But instead of things improving from that point on, there has been a nearly 50% downfall. Therefore, many people are flustered as to whether or not this is the right area for invetsing in 2014.

Ideally, predicting how a stock market will do is not in the hands of people. Even the best investor or employee may be unable to answer that for you. The fact if the stock market will climb at least 24000 points and upwards remains a mystery. However, the sustainable bull market plays the deciding role for this and since the two factors that define this phenomenon– inflation and interest rates are not exactly in the country’s favour, it may be difficult to predict.

3.) Gold:

Gold has not just been the jewellery of choice but also a popular choice among investors. However, with the prices of gold falling to an all time low, with nearly 40% the past year, this trend continues to see the lower grounds even in 2014 and therefore, would not be very advisable. Not much progress in prices was made past 2013, and the situation is likely to remain the same or fall even further.

4.) So, where should you invest?

Ideally, it would be most rewarding to have your investments in products that are also known as debt products.This includes a vast range of fixed deposits and bonds. It is important that the places in which you invest will give you a redeemable offer and help save money at the very same time. As a rule of thumb, investing in Mutual funds, especially the short term bond funds will do your finances and savings a world of good this 2014.

Author’s bio:
Cher Keel is a finance analyst and works with a well known financial company. She enjoys learning nd reading extensively on investments. She is also a guest lecturer at a renowned finance institute and also writes a finance blog giving out investment advice.

London: Property Heaven or Property Hell

London is a fabulous city, there is no doubting that. As the capital of our great country it has more to offer than any other of our city locations with cultural, historical, entertainment and sporting attractions all packed alongside the riverside. Sprawling out to the suburbs there is a richness of diversity and quality of character in the neighbourhoods that is not replicated anywhere in Britain; local produce markets bursting with colour line the high streets and crowded makers fairs make the covered market halls lively and bustling.

And yet many are choosing to move away from London instead of flocking to this vibrant and shimmering city. If you are thinking about making this move, then who do you turn to so you can be sure that you get what your property is really worth on today’s inclimate market? 

What’s Out There for Buyers?

Part of the problem with living in London is that it can be very hard to find the right kind of property in the right kind of area at the right kind of price. This may sound like house hunts all over the country and to some extent this is true. However, the London property market has a mind of its own and as such it is rather important to have an inside man, an expert to guide you through the minefield.

Therefore more and more buyers are turning to specialist estate agents or those with local branches, situated in the area where they are seeking to live. Trust in more generic estate agents seems to be slipping as the housing market dips and dives and properties can sit on the market for months or be scooped up within a matter of minutes. The only people who can know what is likely to happen are those based locally who know the complex market inside out. 

And For Owners?

If you currently own a property in London and are seeking that idyllic countryside dream so are looking to sell, be sure to seek out a company that is local to your area and specialises only in the sale and/or letting of London properties. Choosing to go with a generic estate agent or a large scale online corporation will not get you the price that your property deserves so always shop around locally for the best estate agent for you.

Bear in mind the trend for buyers to stick with these specialist services and place your marketing in just the right location for the best response. Make sure that you have dressed to impress at viewings and see the results in a swift sale at the right price for you.

How to Grow Your Real Estate Portfolio After 50

Folks over the age of 50 have a lot of options as it relates to retirement savings. After the age of 50, you are allowed to contribute more to a 401k or IRA account. Investing in real estate is another option that will help those looking to retire accelerate the growth of their overall portfolio. How can you use real estate properly to help you save for retirement and live comfortably after you retire?

Understand How a Property Generates Revenue

The first thing that you need to understand is how a property generates revenue. The first way that a property can generate revenue is to provide a monthly rent check that will go straight into your retirement account.

Another way for a property to generate revenue is to be flipped soon after it is purchased. Flipping refers to the process of buying a property at below market value, fixing it up and selling it for a profit as soon as possible.

Which Properties Should You Rent?

Properties in college towns, areas where large companies are present and areas where home ownership is low are all ideal places to buy properties with the intent to rent them. This is because college students, executives and those who don't have the resources to buy a home are always on the lookout for reasonably priced housing.

Before you buy a properties with the intent to rent them, make sure that you do pre purchase inspections. Building inspections prior to purchase allow you to ensure that any property that you rent is going to be up to code. If a tenant is not provided with a clean and safe place to live, that tenant may not have to pay rent until all issues are corrected.

Which Properties Should You Flip?

Foreclosed properties are prime targets to be flipped. However, you should make sure that you understand the potential pitfalls of buying a foreclosed property. First, you may not be able to do pre purchase inspections. This is because you buy the property as is. Second, you need to have the money upfront before you buy a foreclosed property to put inside of a retirement account. If you don't have sufficient funds to buy a home, find an investor who will be able to help you.

Investment Income Is Tax-Deferred

Feel free to buy as many properties as you would like inside of your retirement account. This is because the money in your account is not taxed until it is taken out of the account. In addition, you don't have to worry about paying capital gains taxes on your properties.

For example, if you sell a home to someone else, you don't have to pay capital gains taxes on the profit that you make from selling the house. Otherwise, you could be charged as much as 15 percent or more in taxes each time you realized any type of capital gain on your investment. 

Enjoy Compounding Returns

Rental income and profits realized from the sale of property all flow to your retirement account as soon as your receive them. The money is then reinvested wherever you want it to be reinvested. This allows you to use a rent check to buy shares in a mutual fund or investment that will offer compounding returns over time.

Anyone looking to buy real estate should understand how real estate generates income and how to take advantage of that money. Remember, building inspections should be done on any property that you buy whenever possible. Doing so allows you to avoid buying properties that will eat away at your profits because you have to spend money on repairs and maintenance.

Role of Solicitor in Quick Property Sales

Selling a property is a very simple process nowadays. The use of internet has made the process very quick. All that a seller needs to do is list his property on some site and the buyers will visit poster’s website to check his property, and the rest follows from there. In such quick and simple steps of selling property, solicitors or conveyancers have a very important role to play. 

Role of the Solicitor:

A solicitor can help in understanding the property reports and market data, to determine the price of the property. Although this is the job of an agent, but, most people who choose to opt for quick property sale options online, do not like to hire an agent. Such people may be unable to compare the market data. But the real work of the solicitor starts once a negotiation has been done between the buyer and the seller. 

Once they have had an oral agreement, it is then time to set it all in writing. For the conveyancing process to begin, the solicitor of both the parties needs to be informed. The seller’s solicitor obtains the title deeds and all necessary documents from the seller, or the mortgage company if the situation so requires. Once that is done, the exchange of contract is the next step. 

In case the person is selling and buying a property at the same time, the solicitor has to make sure that the exchanges of contracts take place at the same time. The solicitor is responsible for drawing up the contracts and all legal documents, and the authentication of all papers. Once the deposit amount is paid to the seller at the time of exchange of contracts, the date within which the completion of the entire process of sale is to be completed is decided by the parties via their solicitors. 

To complete the process, the remaining amount is to be paid, and stamp duty that is due to the Inland Revenue is to be sent, for the transfer of the key. The solicitor can then register this sale at the Land Registry to complete the process. 

Finding the right solicitor:

In order for the smooth and successful completion of the process of sale of a property, it is important to find the right solicitor. Not all solicitors have the expertise in matters of real estate, and that should be kept I mind. It is best to avoid the solicitor suggested by the agent, if any, as the agent will possibly suggest someone with a general skill and no special expertise in respect to property related matters, and may even look for his own commission from the solicitor, which will naturally lead to a high fee to the solicitor. 

It is a good idea to go down personally to pay visits to law forms and talk to them in this regard. It is best to visit at least three firms to get a fair idea about the whole situation. There are particular firms that concentrate only on the providing conveyancing solicitors. Sometimes, solicitors may charge very high for their service. The average fee for the general services of a conveyancing solicitor should be around 500 pounds, with the Value Added Tax included in this amount. This may vary by a little. 

However, additional cost is charged based on the extra services provided by the solicitor. It is important to understand the services of a solicitor and the services being provided, to understand whether the fee being charged is appropriate or not.

While the process of selling property is a fairly simple one where buyers visit poster’s website and proceed with the process of buying the property, conveyancing solicitors are very important in the process of completion of quick property sales. But, it is important to do some background research before hiring a solicitor.

How To Get The Highest Price When Selling My Home?

Picture of the "Gingerbread House" in Essex, Connecticut, USA (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Many people are looking around for ways to sell a house while ensuring that they make the maximum amount of profit from the sale. The problem is that most people who ask themselves, “How do I sell my house?” are only aware of the most common method for selling a house, and that is to go through a real estate agent. The problem with real estate agents is that they typically charge very high commission fees, which will take a big chunk out of the profit, you would otherwise be making from the sale of your home.

However, there are other ways to sell your home, and by following the steps listed below, you will be able to sell your house yourself and ensure that you keep all of the proceeds.

Renovate Property

If you are looking to sell your home for the highest possible price, the first thing you need to consider is the shape your home is in. If your home is rundown or not in the best possible shape, then this will significantly affect how much you are able to sell it for. Therefore, the first step before you even consider listing your home for sale is to renovate your property.

Now this doesn’t mean that you need to completely remodel the entire house, and the actual amount of renovation you will need to do depends on just what shape your home is in. If the home itself is fairly modern and in good shape, you may want to just think about doing some work to the property itself. Make sure the yard and garden are in good shape, as well as any other buildings such as a garage or shed. If the paint on your walls is faded or stained, you should think about repainting, as well as fixing any cracks or holes in your walls. Even doing a little bit of work to make the home more presentable will go a long way towards increasing the value of your home.

List Online

Once you have your home in the best possible shape, then you can finally start thinking about listing it for sale. Most people simply choose a real estate agent to sell their home for them, but if you are serious about getting the most money from the sale, then you need to consider listing your home for sale online on one of the many for sale by owner real estate websites and portals, such as ForSaleForLease.com.au. These sites charge very small fees for listing your property, and they could end up saving you thousands of dollars by avoiding the high commission fees charged by real estate agents.

Setting up a listing on these sites is also incredibly easy. Just make sure that you spend some time writing a high quality, accurate description of the property. You should also have good quality pictures of the different rooms in the house to let people see exactly how your home looks. By listing your home on one of the most popular for sale by owner websites, you should be able to quickly sell your home and make a large profit from it.

Sell Privately

After listing your property online, you can sit back and wait for people to show interest. If you have interested buyers, you will then need to invite them over to inspect the property. At this point you will probably start receiving offers for your home, and then you can negotiate the sale directly with the potential buyers. This will allow you to have total control over the final sale price, so you can ensure that you sell your house for the highest price possible.

To sell your home privately, all you need to do is find a buyer online, negotiate the sale with them, and then have a lawyer draw up the contracts and paperwork for you to ensure the sale is done completely in line with the law. Overall, selling your home privately through an online real estate portal or website is definitely the best way to ensure that your house sells for the highest price, and also to ensure that you see the highest percentage of profit from the sale.

Contributor Profile: Written in behalf of ForSaleForLease.com.au – a Sell My House Real Estate Agency that services the greater part of Australia.

What to Keep in Mind before Becoming a Landlord

Becoming a property owner can sound like an exciting venture, as well as a way to make extra money. Being a landlord has been considered a passive investment. That is you do not need to do anything extra for the money to come in aside from letting the property. Being a landlord can actually be a very involved experience. Here are some things that you should keep in mind if you are looking to become a landlord. 

Letting can take time

Some landlords believe that if they just advertise their property someone will be interested and they will have someone letting the property within the next week. In fact, sometimes properties can remain on market and it takes a while to find a suitable tenant. Depending on the rental market, your property may or may not be considered desirable. It is important to look at the current rental market in your town as well as the average market rent for a place such as yours. Though this may take time, finding the right person and the right prices is a process that needs to happen. 

You will need to keep up the property

Though you will be letting the property to someone else, it is the responsibility of the landlord to keep up the property. If something inside of the home or flat breaks or malfunctions, it will be up to you to get it fixed. Fixing issues on the property on time is one of the requirements of being a good landlord. Not performing house maintenance or leaving the homes appliances broken down may give your tenant a reason to get out of their lease and leave the home. Make sure that you fix maintenance issues within a reasonable time frame. 

You will need insurance

Though landlords may require that their tenants have insurance, the landlord will need to have insurance as well. If you intend on letting a property, you will need to protect yourself by having insurance. Citylandlord has a number of insurance policies offered to those who are interested in letting properties. These insurance policies can cover everything from interior decorations of the home, to rental coverage if your tenant skips out, to emergency assistants for issues related to the property. You can craft your insurance policy to meet your need and make sure you are completely covered.

Before you embark on your journey to become a landlord, make sure to learn the ins and outs of becoming a landlord. By equipment yourself with the right knowledge and the right products you can be a successful landlord and form relationships with good tenants. Make sure that your property and your ability to rent is solid before you place the home on the market. Be sure to get landlord insurance as soon as you decide to become a landlord. Once you have everything settled, you will have much less to worry about once you begin to let your property to tenants.

Brits Keen to Make Home Improvements

Those most likely to get stuck into projects to revamp their homes were consumers aged 35 to 44. Among this demographic, nearly four in five consumers (79 per cent) had enhanced their properties.

Commenting on the findings, Avant Homes marketing director Rob Slocombe, said: “The housing market conditions of the last few years has meant that many homeowners have not had the necessary deposit to secure a mortgage and so therefore have opted to stay in their current property and make improvements to it until they can afford to move.

“This research reveals the considerable investment that is required for such improvements and tells us a lot about what today’s buyers are looking for in a home to make it suitable for their current lifestyle needs.”

By researching the log book loans available now, consumers may be able to realise their ambitions of improving their properties. Meanwhile, taking this approach could have positive long-term financial repercussions. Although they will have to spend money in order to achieve the results they are after, people could succeed in boosting the value of their homes, meaning that if and when they come to sell their abodes, they stand to make money.

For the best results, it is vital that consumers choose reliable and competitive logbook loan providers. By researching companies before making any commitments, individuals can provide themselves with added peace of mind.

Meanwhile, it is also important that homeowners are savvy when deciding which projects to undertake. Certain alterations make particularly good investments. For example, adding space to homes tends to be an effective way to boost their value. There is plenty of advice available over the web if individuals are unsure.

Author Bio: 

Anna Longdin is a freelance blogger who keeps up with the latest trends in personal finance. She contributes to a range of websites, including Varooma.

Large Demand for Realtors

Picture of a residential block in South Barrie. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Purchasing or selling propriety is one of the greatest financial transactions that people make. Therefore, before anything else, you will need to assure that you find a reputable real estate agent to supervise the sale or the acquisition, and get you a fabulous deal.

Many individuals tend to select an agent simply by considering the recommendations that they receive from their relatives and friends, or just after reading an ad in the local newspaper. However, things are not that easy, and if you really want to hire a professional agent, you will need to invest some time and effort. But, it will all pay off, and you will be very satisfied with your decision. Barrie is one of Canada’s fastest residential towns with a plethora of homes on the market. Therefore, because the demand is so high, the number of realtors is constantly growing as well.

Over the past few years, there has been a large demand for realtors in Barrie because people want to know. Nevertheless, real estate jobs in Barrie are not for everyone, and in spite of the market boom, experience is required to achieve success. Here’s how to find a good contractor:

1. Ask your acquaintances for recommendations. Your friends and relatives can make a few suggestions; still you cannot hire somebody just because one of your buddies said it’s alright. Plus, you should not hire an agent simply because you like his personality. The Barrie real estate market may be on the rise, but this doesn’t mean everyone is competent enough to get you a good deal

2. Select a reputable real estate agency in Barrie, and then ask them to recommend someone. This is one of the best things that you could do to find a trustworthy real estate agent. Providing that the agency is professional, and has a certain reputation, then all the realtors working with it will be qualified, and they will do their best to help you get a terrific deal.

3. Stay away from “dual agencies”. These agencies represent the seller and the buyer, at the same time. However, it’s very hard to be unbiased in these situations, thus one of the parties will be disadvantaged.

4. Select an agent who handles proprieties in your price range. This is very important, because if you hire an agent specialized in high-end proprieties, while you need to stick to a certain budget, he will not do his best to find you a great offer.

5. Opt for an agent who cares. It is vital to collaborate with a realtor who will listen to you, your concerns and desires, and who is willing to try to help you find what you need. Plus, the real estate transactions can be quite intricate, and confusing, thus your agent has to be patient, and explain you all the terms calmly, before signing the deal.

6. Hire an agent who works on your schedule. If you can visit houses only during the weekend, and your agent does not work in those days, then you should start looking somewhere else. It is essential to select a real estate agents whose program will match yours, as this way he will be available to help you, and answer your questions whenever you need, and your collaboration will be more profitable.

7. And finally, it is advisable to hire a realtor who can provide other types of services too. For instance, it would be useful if your agent could also arrange a house inspection, carry on a comprehensive study of your propriety’s worth, and refer you to specialized real estate attorneys, and lending experts.

Yes, the demand for realtors in Barrie is off the roof, and a real estate career in Barrie might sound extremely promising. Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean you can confide in everyone.

Author Bio
RE/MAX Chay is a local real estate brokerage in Barrie Ontario, They are looking for new agents and offer training and education for people to have a successful real estate career.

3 Common Options to Spend Retirement Money And Gain Profit

retirement (Photo credit: 401(K) 2013)

A lot of people are looking forward to retirement. There is so much freedom when you reach your retirement years. No more worries about performing responsibilities in the office, going home late, waking up early, and the list goes on. And probably, the best part of retiring is getting hold of your retirement money. Yes! It means you will have a budget to finance your needs and wants. But, retirees should be careful in spending their hard-earned money. In an instant, it can disappear. 

For those who want to secure their future, investing your money is a clever option. However, you cannot just jump into any decision and put your money in any investment opportunity. Investment requires you to analyze, study and foresee the possible outcome. If you have not decided yet where to invest your retirement money, here are three options you can take into account. 

Stock Market

Taking part in the stock market offers remarkable return of investment (ROI). In other words, it involves great profit generating opportunity. If you are interested in this kind of investment option, you need to fully understand the risk associated to it. Being a stock investor is not easy. It is either you can gain big bucks or lose big amount of money. However, it does not mean that it is impossible to become a good stock investor. Seek out the help of stock consultants to educate and guide you all the way. Make sure you work with a reliable consultant to truly learn the ins and outs investing in the stock market. 

Start a Small Business

After spending half of your life working in a company, retirement is a perfect time to start your very own business. Are you into handicrafts and home decoration pieces? You can open up a handicraft store in your local area. If your interest revolves around car and automobile, a mechanical store is suitable for you. You can sell spare parts of the vehicles and even, mechanical services. For those who enjoy cooking, you can start a small restaurant (which you can grow bigger later on). There are so many types of business you can consider. All you have to do is think of your interest to help you decide. 

Buy Properties

Real estate is a booming industry these days. Might as well take advantage of this trend. Look for properties with remarkable opportunity to make money. There are real estate companies out there that can help you find a suitable property. Buy a vacation house in an area close to the nature or beach. You can offer this property for rent during summer holiday break or anytime of the year. Make sure the location is promising to attract vacationers. During off-season, you can spend your vacation in your property to relax.


If you have an eye for city-based properties, there are many land developers constructing apartments in Atlanta GA, Houston TX, Boston MA and other major cities in different states. Of course, you need to take into account your location. Check out property developments in your area. Later on, you can venture into nearby areas for another profit opportunity. Remember, properties are good investment as their value goes up as year passes by.


Retirees can double or even triple their retirement money if they spend it wisely. All it takes is great determination (strong will to succeed) and a lot of patience.

Simple Ways to Invest In Real Estate

Real estate is one sector where you can expect your hard earned money to multiply. There are several ways you can do so. Experts are of the opinion that instead of locking your cash in bonds and stocks or keeping in banks, investing in real estate is always a wise decision as it gives you good returns. Let us see how and what your options are. 

• Getting a property at a lower price - Let us say it has come to your knowledge that a family in your neighborhood is trying to sell off their house as they are in dire need of cash. As such they are looking for buyers and they are also ready to dispose it off at a price which is way below the market value. In other words, the homeowner is planning to release the trapped equity in his house by selling it off. If you can approach the homeowner and offer to buy his house, you can be benefited in the long run. Also find out for how much the homeowner is planning to sell it off. 
• Buying property to let out - It has also been observed that there are many investors that buy property only to let it out so that they can get good returns every month. There is a common trend among homeowner and that is if they have a house for which they are paying mortgage, they prefer to put the property on rent so that the rent they earn can service the mortgage payments. In this way the financial burden is also reduced to a considerable extent. 
• Wait for property appreciation - There are many investors in real estate that buy property and wait for a certain period so that they can get good returns once the property appreciates. But in this case, you as an investor have to wait for the property appreciation. The trick to get the maximum return from this property is to wait for as long as you can. The longer you wait the better are your returns. Investing in property for a short time span and waiting for it to appreciate will put you at a loss. 
• Enhance the look of property - Let us say you have invested in property but there are few drawbacks of the same. You can make modification of the same and make it inhabitable. 

So, by following the above guidelines your real estate investment is sure to give you good returns as these are all tested methods.

ImageCredit:http://www.flickr.com/photos/realestateinvestinggurureview/6259652837/in/photostream/

Boost your Pension with Property Investment

Property market (Photo credit: Alan Cleaver)

Twenty years ago, a carefully cultivated pension plan was your ticket to a comfortable retirement. Sadly things have now changed and with interest rates on savings accounts dismal and pensions performing at an all-time low, it is a good idea to look into alternative ways of generating some extra income if you want to enjoy your twilight years. So is property investment a good idea, or is becoming a buy to let landlord more trouble than it’s worth? 

The State Of The Rental Market

The UK rental market is currently booming. First time buyers are unable to gain a foothold on the property ladder and millions are being forced into rental accommodation as the recession continues to bite. As a result, demand for rental accommodation is far outstripping supply in many areas, which makes property investment a smart move for anyone with some cash to spare. 

How Easy Is It To Get A Mortgage?

Lenders have tightened up their lending criteria considerably since the property market crashed in a spectacular fashion a few years ago. Most now expect borrowers to have at least a 25% deposit, so unless you have the cash, you will struggle to obtain a buy to let mortgage. Lenders will also expect your anticipated rental income to be higher than interest on the loan. 

Will Buy To Let Properties Generate A Good Income?

The average savings account pays less than 1% these days, so even if you have tens of thousands stashed away, you will be lucky if you can generate much income from it. The alternative is to invest in some high-risk schemes, but if this is your retirement pot, you might not want to play Russian roulette with your savings. Buy to let yields are a much better bet in the current market - rental yields do vary, but on average you can expect to see a good 5-6% return on your investment, even taking into account expenses incurred. 

Things To Consider Before Investing In Buy To Let

Buy to let property investment is an excellent solution for a lot of people, but it is not all plain sailing, so before you jump in feet first, you need to think about a few things.

• Location – not all locations are equal. London and the south east generates a far higher rental income than some other parts of the UK, so do your homework before you invest in property in your area. 
• Choose your target market carefully – decide in advance what type of tenant you want to attract. Young professionals, students, families or social tenants: they all have different requirements. 
• Void periods – you will need to factor in periods of time when your property is empty. No tenant means zero income, so bear this in mind. 
• Self-manage or letting agent – managing rental properties requires a time commitment, which might not be convenient, but if you use a letting agent, the service comes at a price. 
• Legal responsibilities – landlords are subject to all kinds of legal requirements, so make sure you are aware of your legal responsibilities before you invest in a buy to let property and advertise for tenants. If you fall foul of the law, you could end up being prosecuted. 

Bio

John is approaching retirement, so he has been looking into ways of maximizing his pension income. He used the compensation he received from www.hardwickmissoldmortgages.co.uk and invested it in a small terrace property in his local area. Now he enjoys a steady income rental from a young professional couple.

The ABCs of Property Buying

Property market (Photo credit: Alan Cleaver)

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to invest in your dream home and then about the whole process of making it from an unfurnished flat to a living space of your dreams? Ever calculated the hours of sweat that would go into making your apartment into a space that reflects who you are? Or have you probably wondered about the most basic questions as to what is the most basic step into entering the field of property buying? Or what are the steps that lead you to transform your mental image of the perfect house into concrete reality? These are the questions that probably are the most popular on online real estate sites and construction blogs. 

Firstly, to buy any good property, be it residential or commercial, it is fundamentally important that you span through every option available in your budget. The estate market has become so vast that it can cater to any kind of property whims and fancies that its customers harbor in their hearts. So you could choose from a luscious apartment, to a grand flooring duplex that could be the perfect medium to share those beautiful life time memories with your loved ones. If you are a simple bee that go for the ultra modern and chic homes that are made up of the warm feel of teak wood under the soles of your feet. If you are in the mood to splurge look at those wonders that are termed as indoor swimming pools, on a less grand scale, maybe a Jacuzzi might suffice.

Secondly, after deciding on the most ideal space according to your convenience, make sure you are surrounded by a locale that has the most basic features in it. These include hospitals, grocery marts, libraries, the police stations, subways or bus stops. Make sure that your surroundings are as favorable to you as the space that you have picked up to compose into the house of your dreams. It is very essential that all these basic amenities are now located in your area of residency since they form a very important part and parcel of your day-to-day living.

Some of the best leading real estate companies are now focusing on advancing the options available on the residential market. They want to make living a one of a kind experience and they want to do with style. Their clientele has become much more choosy and individualistic in their preferences, demanding for spaces that reflect their own perspectives of modern life. This group of consumers is the one that have transformed the living space from a mere four wall phenomena to a much more complex notion of luxury and style, also of personalized reflections of memories that are converted into state-of- the art pieces which are timeless in their creations.

Whatever you need to make that space your dream home, at every step there is too much that is offered as help. Sift through your options wisely. Make the most of whatever is laid before you as your eyes feast through the perfection combinations of interiors that will match that ideal mental image of a home. The property world is no longer a short walk down the lane, rather it has become one those long strolls into the woods that is made up of so much variety. Invest your capital very carefully and if you are indulgent, indulge in some of the best. Your dream home will occur every two years, so this once in a lifetime opportunity should not slip by without its festive commemoration.

Bio: Roy is a free lancer writer of http://www.thewadhwagroup.com/ and currently he is doing online research on the projects in Mumbai.

Pros and Cons of Using the Internet to Sell or Rent Your Property

Anybody who is looking to sell or rent a real estate property, wants to sell it quickly, and that too at good price, but a layman might not even be aware of exactly what’s the good price for his/her property, let alone managing to get that price. This is why majority of people goes for real estate agents for buying, selling, or renting their properties.

A real estate agent or broker can assess your property and give you an idea of the right price according to neighboring communities and the overall situation of the real estate market. They can also help you with marketing, home staging, and closing a deal, except that they will charge a hefty fee or commission for their services, precisely the reason why many people prefer to avail one of those online property portals or classified websites for finding a buyer or tenant for their homes or offices.

But just like any other option, selling or renting a property via internet, without getting any help from a real estate agent might save you some bucks, but it has its fair share of disadvantages as well. So, while I am all for making the most of Internet, you must have an idea of the downsides, so that you can do something to deal with these shortcomings. 

Let’s have a look at some pros and cons …

Advantages:                                                         

        I.            

          1. Save on the Commission Fee:

As earlier suggested, real estate agents will be charging hefty amounts for their services. If all you are looking for a buyer or tenant for your property, which is located in a big city, you can easily catch the attention of many interested parties by simply putting an ad on property portals or classified ads, and that too for free. You can also upload some pictures and floor plan, and you will be getting calls from interested buyers or people looking for rental property, in next to no time.

      II.      2. More Control:

Using Internet to sell or rent your property means that you will be free to make your own decisions. Not that dealing with a real estate agent will bound you to listen to their advice, still some of them might talk you into a deal that you will regret later on. Remember that they will be looking to get the deal done ASAP because that is when they will be getting the commission, and sometimes your might miss a good prospect in hurriedness.

    III.       3.Clash of Interest:

If your real estate agent has many properties on hand, and they are expecting bigger commissions from other properties, they will be keener to sell or rent those properties sooner than yours, while making you wait. Turning towards the Internet and doing it yourself means that you can make a wholehearted effort and attract the potential buyers without wasting any time.

    IV.     4. Learning:

Property portals are not just used for selling or renting properties, they can help you in more than one ways. For example, you can compare property prices in your neighborhood and decide the right price, you can also get some handy tips from their knowledgebase, or you can initiate discussion or post queries at their communities.

Disadvantages:

        I.           

         1. Time Consuming:

Remember that not only you will have to take all calls from interested parties (including some at odd timings), asking all sorts of questions and making weird offers. That is quite time consuming, as well as annoying, not to forget that even if you have uploaded pictures of your property, many people will be interested in visiting the home, so you will have to take out time and arrange a visit for many interested buyers or tenants.

      II.     2. Negotiation:

Real estate agents are usually quite good at persuading and price negotiations. That’s part of their job and something that they are doing day in and day out. You might not be as good as a professional agent or broker at communicating or convincing when it comes to persuading buyers or renters to go for the property.

    III.      3. Documentation

All real estate transactions, doesn't matter if it is renting out a property or selling it; need to have some well documented agreements. A real estate agent will be able to help you with the legalities and nitty-gritty of a transaction; you’ll have to be extra careful and vigilant while handling it yourself.

Farah is a contributing writer for a London loft conversion company, that specialize in planning and carrying out high quality loft conversions in London, Hertfordshire, and Essex.

Related articles

• Does Your House Need a Professional Stager to Sell? (50plusfinance.com)
• When To Use a Real Estate Agent (50plusfinance.com)
• Property Investment in Today's Economy (50plusfinance.com)
• Maximizing Renovation Bucks: Where to Invest (50plusfinance.com)

Does Your House Need a Professional Stager to Sell?

 You love your home and your decor is just perfect. So, why is your real estate agent telling you that you need to hire a professional stager? Do not be insulted. See this as an opportunity to launch your home into the welcoming arms of a buyer. Who needs a stager? Some people need these professionals more than others.

It's Been Sitting and Sitting

As you follow the real estate news and information available online, you know something is wrong when your home is not moving. If your home has sat on the market without selling for six months or longer, now is the time to consider staging. It can help to paint the picture for potential buyers of what the home could be and how it would suit their needs. If you need a new tactic to get people back into the home to see what it has to offer, staging can help. It may help you to avoid a price reduction initially, too.

The Guy Next Door Is New

Another common problem home sellers have is selling their older home, which is sitting in a newer neighborhood. If your neighbors have newer homes, potential buyers may see your property as the least desirable in the neighborhood. Even if you know that is not the case, you may have to show potential buyers what this property can really do for their bottom line. Staging can help to convince them that buying your home means they are getting a well-loved, cared for and excellent investment. Even better, it will be clear that your property can rank just as high as the other guy's.

It's an Empty, Blank Slate

Perhaps you have already moved on, but you cannot truly move on until you sell this property. The problem is, your home's vacant, empty, and without so much as a kitchen table in it. This could be a reason why it is not selling as fast as you like. People cannot see how the home will look much less work for their needs. With some well-placed furniture on the other hand, you will have a stellar looking property that people can see themselves living in for years to come. Empty rooms may not be as welcoming.

It is a Cluttered Mess

Let's face it. Sometimes we have too many dust collectors to keep a home organized. Perhaps you have a picture of each of your children from each school year and activity covering every inch of wall space. On the other hand, you may have so much stuffed in closets that if anyone dares open the door, they risk things falling on them. When you realize that you have too much, call a stager. The stager can help you to pack up what is not needed so buyers can see the real bonuses of the house.

Do you need a professional stager? If you are unsure, ask your real estate agent for some guidance. Do not be afraid to commit to the hiring of one. After all, they could end up helping you to make your move easier, not to mention sooner.

Images Via Flickr by fragileheart, Via Flickr by livinginacity, Via Flickr by dorsia, Via Flickr by puuikibeach

Related articles

• When To Use a Real Estate Agent (50plusfinance.com)
• Maximizing Renovation Bucks: Where to Invest (50plusfinance.com)
• Property Investment in Today's Economy (50plusfinance.com)
• 10 Ways To Increase The Value of Your Home (50plusfinance.com)