Real Estate

Why is it important to pursue Real Estate Marketing Online efforts? One very important reason is that with the adoption of the Internet by many people for both work and leisure purposes, the online world has become a veritable gold mine of information about prospects.

Thus, Real Estate Marketing Online campaigns by real estate sales specialists have become vital to the survival of the real estate industry and its players. What makes the situation more crucial is that real estate sales specialists claim that the previous Real Estate Marketing Online efforts they undertook (such as putting up websites about their business) have failed to deliver the results they wished for. This leaves such real estate professionals desperate to find Real Estate Marketing Online techniques that will really work for them.

Real Estate Marketing Online will work properly if you know who your target market is – and this means having a niche that you can compete in and where you are at your best. For instance, if you feel you have a knack for selling homes to newly-hired employees, then that is your niche market and you have to organize your Real Estate Marketing Online campaign in that direction to get the results you want.

Real Estate Marketing Online efforts that are based on adequate to superlative knowledge of your niche market are best for getting results out of the prospects out of your niche market. Real Estate Marketing Online then becomes more effective and efficient because you know who will be reading the content on your website so you can select the right photos and text content to address the niche market’s needs.

There are various ways of categorizing Real Estate Marketing Online niche markets. You can define them based on the location of the homes to be sold; their income levels or income range; the types of homes that you can sell to them based on location, income levels, and their personal preferences; the demographics of your niche market (such as what schools they attended and what languages they speak); and other things that make that niche market distinctive.

One very important thing you have to remember when designing websites as part of your Real Estate Marketing Online campaign is that you have to be careful to identify what your target visitors would probably be seeking when they come to take a look around. And presentation counts a lot in a Real Estate Marketing Online campaign. In the same way that people tend to be attracted to beautiful people more than plain-looking or even ugly people, your website should aim to appeal to the aesthetics of your niche market. For instance, if they are Hispanics, then you may want to include aesthetic elements that will remind them of their Hispanic roots. You could also sell homes that have a Hispanic appeal to them, such as homes made of adobe or stucco. Earth tones go well with the skin tones of Hispanics so homes that have predominantly autumn-inspired color hues and tones might appeal to these people more than modernistic houses that are all glass and steel.

Another of the Real Estate Marketing Online tips you may have to take into account is that some website templates you can get from some sources may actually hamper the ability of your visitors to access your website. So for a proper Real Estate Marketing Online campaign to function, you have to make a website that is glitch-free yet still user-friendly enough not to confuse non-techies. Try not to incorporate too many bells and whistles (meaning, try not to make your website too high-tech to the point that people no longer know how to use it.

Your Real Estate Marketing Online campaign will also go much more smoothly if you use a website background that speaks of professionalism. Teddy bears and candy canes may look cute on a personal blogsite but that is not what you will want on your real estate website if you want people to take your site seriously.

To make a long story short, you want Real Estate Marketing Online techniques that tell people that you are a credible real estate professional who has what it takes to meet their needs. That is the whole point behind embarking on a Real Estate Marketing Online campaign anyway.

Foreclosures continue to rise across America. According to the latest annual report of http://Foreclosures.com, the number of foreclosures filed nationwide in 2006 had increased by 51 percent from the previous year, with foreclosure filings nearly topping one million. When compared to 641,000 foreclosure filings made in 2005 nationwide, almost 971,000 foreclosure filings were reported last year.

Among the States, California reported the highest number of foreclosure filings in 2006 with 157,417 foreclosures filed, which is an increase by 94 percent from the year before. California is followed by Florida with 120,989 foreclosure filings. Nevada struggled with the largest percentage increase in foreclosures in 2006 of 175 percent.

The Northeast region reported 96,101 foreclosures in 2006, an increase of 64.6 percent from 58,394 foreclosures filed in 2005. Still, a few states in the region, such as Maryland and Delaware, saw a decrease in foreclosure filings.

Foreclosure filings in the Midwest region of the nation went up beyond 70 percent with many states including Illinois, Michigan, Missouri and Nebraska facing increases of 80 to 96 percent. Industrial layoffs and a tough economy have spurted the number of foreclosure filings in this region, with foreclosure figures in states such as Iowa and Kansas increasing beyond 100 percent.

The Southwest region was the most affected with one out of every 2.2 foreclosures in the country taking place there. The region closed the books for 2006 with an increase of 37 percent from 162,259 foreclosures in 2005 to 220,189 foreclosures. Foreclosure filings in Colorado increased by 55.4 percent, while foreclosures in Texas increased by 35.2 percent. Although the region struggled with the high foreclosure rates, the figures are not all bleak for the region with a few states showing a decrease in foreclosure filings. Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Oregon reported fewer foreclosure filings in 2006 when compared to 2005. These states have particularly reported a drop in foreclosure filings in the last quarter of 2006.

Although the foreclosure reports are not very cheerful, Alexis McGee, president of http://Foreclosures.com anticipates the housing market to improve soon. Overextended homeowners, who have been struggling to keep up with heavy debt loads, rising interest rates and property taxes, can soon look forward to some relief as home inventories come down and the market start looking up again. McGee also adds that the current housing market may be the best opportunity for home buyers in the next six years.

Are you in the market for a new home or piece of land in Oahu? If so, how to do intended to going about getting that new home or piece of land? While it is more than possible to find available Oahu real estate properties on your own, you may want to think about working with an Oahu real estate agent. However, when choosing an Oahu real estate agent, you won’t want just any ole real estate agent; you will want to work with one that comes highly rated and recommended.

When it comes to choosing an established Oahu real estate agent or one that comes highly rated and recommended, a large number of individuals wonder how they can tell the difference between a highly rated and recommended real estate agent and one that they may want to think about avoiding. While distinguishing between the two different types of Oahu real estate agents may seem like a long and potentially complicated process, it doesn’t have to be that way. There are a number of different ways that you can go about examining the reputation of an Oahu real estate agent without having to spend so much time doing so.

Perhaps, the easiest way to go about finding a real estate agent or company to research is by performing a standard internet search. Searching with keyword phrases, like “Oahu real estate agents,” should link you to the online websites of numerous Oahu real estate agents. When examining an Oahu real estate agent’s website, you will want to look for any important information. This information may include information on available real estate listings, the number of years in the real estate industry, and so on. While it is important to examine a real estate agent’s online website, you will want to be careful not to judge a book by its cover. A well designed website doesn’t necessarily make a real estate agent a good one.

You can also examine the reputation of Oahu real estate agents by using the internet once again. Oahu real estate agents and Oahu real estate companies appear in many online business directories. A large number of these online business directories allow internets, just like you, to rate or review a company, including a real estate company. Since a large number of internet users like rating and reviewing individuals or companies that they have had dealings with in the past, it is not uncommon for you to find a large number of Oahu real estate agents or companies that have feedback. This feedback may be able to give you an idea as to whether or not you should do business with the individual or company in question.

Although it is important to know exactly how you can go about determining whether or not a particular real estate agent is an established one, you may be wondering what the benefits of doing so are. Unfortunately, there are too many individuals who believe that all real estate agents are the same. Yes, real estate agents have the same goal; to help you buy a home, but that goal is accomplished different ways. The biggest benefit of doing business with an established Oahu real estate agent is the level of service that you should receive. To be considered highly rated and recommended, an Oahu real estate agent must provide their clients with the utmost level of service available. If poor service was regularly offered, it is almost certain that the agent in question wouldn’t be considered trustworthy or be recommended. By doing business with an established Oahu real estate agent, you are almost always guaranteed to be put first, as a top priority.

Another benefit of doing business with an established Oahu real estate agent is results. Established real estate agents are ones who have a large amount of experience in the real estate industry. This experience often makes it easier for them to offer you assistance, as they may have a good idea as to what you want or what you need. For instance, from numerous dealing in the past, many established real estate agents know that you want to spend less time talking about buying a home and more time working on the process. These types of real estate agents are the ones who are more likely to actually show you Oahu real estate listings, instead of just talking about them.

The above mentioned benefits, of doing business with an established real estate agent, are just a few of the many that exist. With it being relatively quick and easy to find highly rated and recommended Oahu real estate agents, like the agents that can be found at OahuRE.com, you are urged to do business with one of them.

Even in a plunging real estate market, you can profit from investing in real estate if you know where to invest your dollars.

So, do you know where you should be investing right now in this challenging real estate market?

The answer: Lake Tahoe real estate

Here’s why you should invest in Lake Tahoe real estate, especially in the South Lake Tahoe area.

Top 7 Reasons to Invest in Lake Tahoe Real Estate

Investing in Lake Tahoe Real Estate Reason #7: Ideal Weather Conditions & Year Round Recreation Attracts New Buyers

Summer tourists in nearby Sacramento and Reno experience temperatures in the 100’s. The Bay Area is socked with fog. Lake Tahoe generally enjoys highs in the low 80’s.

And, don’t let the fact that Lake Tahoe is known as a world-class ski destination fool you into thinking that the winters are uncomfortable. An average January day ranges from 15 – 41 degrees with brilliant sunshine compared to Vail (0 – 31,) Jackson Hole (5 – 28,) and Stow (1 – 25.)

When a storm comes it drops the snow and leaves us basking in sunlight. In fact, the sun shines approximately 275 days a year.

This allows Lake Tahoe to offer the complete selection of recreational activities all year round

Unlike most ski or golf resorts, Lake Tahoe has something for everyone. The pristine blue waters and sandy beaches provide swimming, fishing and sun bathing. Boating opportunities range from kayaks to sailing to motors. The forest and mountain trails draw hikers, bikers, rock-climbers, snow mobiles, snow shoes, cross country skiers and campers. Golf resorts range from lakeside to high desert. Photographers, painters and artists of all mediums flock to the area.

Investing in Lake Tahoe Real Estate Reason #6: Real Estate’s Rolling Boom Effect

When an area is experiencing high real estate activity, investors should look to the surrounding areas for the next wave of activity.

The Lake Tahoe real estate market benefits from the surrounding Reno, Sacramento, and overall San Francisco Bay communities. We are receiving reports that increased real estate activity in the area and values are stabilizing.

With today’s’ inventory surplus, low interest rates and the news blasting daily “doom and gloom” reports, sellers are more willing to negotiate now.

Investing in Lake Tahoe Real Estate #5: Baby Boomer Are Buying Lake Tahoe Real Estate Now

Baby Boomers are the driving force behind the resort market industry and they have only just begun to invest. Many baby boomers are now inheriting various levels of wealth from senior family members. At the same time, they are in their peak earning years and investing actively in second homes and retirement homes.

They are searching for second homes near beaches, lakes, ski resorts and golf courses. Lake Tahoe is one of the few second home destinations that can offer all three.

Investing in Lake Tahoe Real Estate Reason #4: It’s Affordable

Reasonable pricing is one of the key reasons to invest in Lake Tahoe real estate. According to the South Lake Tahoe Association the price for a single family home within Lake Tahoe’s South Shore is less than half than homes in Vail, Aspen and Jackson Hole.

Investing in Lake Tahoe Real Estate Reason #3: Opportunities for Supplemental Income

Lake Tahoe is a world-class vacation destination. Vacation rentals bring in subsidized income which can help cover the costs of your Lake Tahoe real estate investment. When a home offers the “Tahoe Look,” dwells within a desirable location (near outdoor recreation) and includes amenities such as a hot tub or pool table, demand automatically increases.

For example one of our current listings, a 6 bedroom contemporary home has averaged an income of over $125,000 for five years now.

Investing in Lake Tahoe Real Estate Reason # 2: High Demand and Strictly Limited Supply

In a nutshell, there is no chance of real estate over-development having a negative impact on the value of Lake Tahoe homes. Generally, supply is low and demand is high.

During the 2004-2005 “boom,” investors and developers were throwing up houses at break-neck speed in hopes of huge profits. When this market came to a screeching halt, these areas were the first to see foreclosures. In Lake Tahoe, supply will always be in the favor of the investor because Lake Tahoe real estate is an environmentally protected area. That means growth is strictly limited.

And, the # 1 Reason to Invest in Lake Tahoe Real Estate: Improve Your Quality of Life:

Would You Rather Watch Your Investments or Live Them?

Everyday, we hear those who have invested in Lake Tahoe real estate praise the benefits gained through living a less stressful and more joyful life. These benefits include better health, longer life, better relationships, and so forth.

How does this relate to investing?

Think about it.

Wouldn’t you rather watch it grow while relaxing on the beaches of Lake Tahoe rather than pulling your hair out in front of your computer?

You can watch arrows going up and down or you could ride the chair lift up and swish your way down. You can listen to computer chimes or you can listen to the wind in the pines.

What could be better than wrapping “quality of life” and long term investments into one “full benefits” package?

Robert Frost inspired us to unite vocation with avocation. Investing in Lake Tahoe real estate is just such a venture. The pay offs can be huge.

cle covers six dynamite real estate investing tips intended to help anyone just getting started in real estate investing to successfully launch and hit the ground running with real estate investment property.

1. Develop the Correct Attitude

To stand a chance of succeeding at real estate investing, foremost, you must understand that real estate investment is a business, and you will become the CEO of that business.

As your first order of business, then, it’s crucial to develop the correct mind-set about investment real estate and be able to make this distinction between buying a home and investing in real estate:

“You buy a home to live and raise a family; you buy real estate investment property to pay for the home, live comfortably, and raise your family in style”

As one very successful real estate investor said, “Only women are beautiful, what are the numbers?” In other words, you will not succeed at real estate investing until you acknowledge that it’s not curb appeal, amenities, floor plan, or neighborhood that should turn you on or off to the investment opportunity; what counts most is the property’s financial performance.

2. Develop Meaningful Objectives

A meaningful set of (realistic) objectives that frames your investment strategy is one of the most important elements of successful investing. Yes, we may all desire to make millions of dollars from real estate investing, but fantasy is not the same as expressing specific goals and a method on how to achieve it.

Here are some suggestions:

How much cash are you willing to invest comfortably? What rate of return are you hoping to achieve by making the investment in real estate? Are you expecting instant cash flow, looking to make your money when the property is resold, or merely looking to achieve tax shelter benefits? How long are you planning to hold the property before you dispose of it? What amount of your own effort can you afford to contribute to the day-to-day operation of running the property? What net worth are you hoping investing will help you to achieve, and by when would you like to achieve it? What type of income property do you feel most comfortable owning, residential or commercial, or does it matter?

3. Develop Market Research

If you’re new to real estate investing, you undoubtedly know little about investment real estate in your local market. So, do market research to learn as much as you can about income property values, rents, and occupancy rates in your area. The better prepared you are, the more likely you are to recognize a good (or bad) deal when you see it.

Here are some good resources:

(a) The local newspaper, (b) A local appraiser, (c) The county tax assessor, (d) A qualified local real estate professional, (e) A local property management company

4. Run the Numbers

I can’t stress enough the importance of running the property’s cash flow, rates of return, and profitability numbers. Remember, real estate investing is a business, and as the CEO of your investment enterprise, you’ve got to know what you’re buying, especially if you’re trying to determine which of several investment opportunities would be the most profitable.

You have two options:

(a) Invest in real estate investment software. This will enable you to discover for yourself the investment property’s cash flow and rates of return, and create your own analysis reports. Plus, by running the numbers yourself, you gain a broader understanding of real estate investing nuances, and in turn might be less likely to fall victim to the wiles of someone with little concern about how you spend your money.

(b) At the very least, work with a real estate professional that has invested in real estate investment software and can calculate, present, and discuss the property’s financial data with you.

5. Develop a Relationship with a Qualified Real Estate Professional

Working with a qualified real estate professional is a great way for beginners to get started with rental property investing because an astute professional can acquaint you with local market conditions, recommend a property that meets your investing objectives, and discuss strengths and weaknesses about specific property performance.

Here’s a warning, however: Work with a real estate person who understands investment real estate.

Be sure the agent has a firm grip on key financial measures inherent to real estate investing, knows how to measure profitability and rate of return, has the ability to present the data you need to make wise investment decisions, and, most importantly, shows a genuine interest in how you spend your money. The last thing you want to do is to get involved with a real estate agent that would throw you under the bus just to make a commission.

Here’s a good way to interview for an agent. Ask them for the property’s cap rate and then request an APOD. If their response (even to these basics) is to stand there looking at you like a deer into the headlights of a car, find another agent.

6. Start Investing

Hopefully, this has given you some insight into real estate investing, highlighted a few things to make you a more prudent real estate investor, and perhaps alerted you to a couple of things that should be avoided.

Okay, that does it for us, now it’s time for you to get started. Here’s to your success.

Central San Diego Real Estate Market – Mid Year Snapshot of Median Prices (2006) – Single Family Homes

As of this writing, the San Diego real estate markets appears to have shifted from one that favors sellers to one that favors buyers. However, this premise may not hold true for all communities within San Diego, as median prices for some communities continue to rise while others fall.

While there are many metrics to evaluate the real estate pricing trends of a community, one commonly used parameter is to evaluate the median price of homes from one point in time against a prior point of time. The median price reflects the point at which half the homes are above a particular price point, and half the homes are below a particular price point. The median price metric provides one method to analyze the direction of home prices, but should not be used as the sole source of data from which to form conclusions.

The data below is a comparison of median prices for various communities in central San Diego County, comparing data from June 2005 against data for June 2006. This information is only one metric at a particular point in time, and other metrics or data from future months may support or dispute the pricing trends noted below. For some of the San Diego communities presented below, very few homes sold during June 2006, which diminishes the usefulness of the median price metric.

COMMUNITIES WITH INCREASES IN MEDIAN PRICE – SINGLE FAMILY HOMES – JUNE 2006

The data below pertains only to the sales of single-family homes, and does not include condominiums or townhomes. The data is organized by the magnitude of change in median price, with the highest change in median price presented first.

For the Coronado real estate market, the median price was $1,775,000, which represents a 14.7% increase from the same time last year. Approximately 15 homes sold in June 2006 (21 homes sold in June 2005).

For the Point Loma real estate market, the median price was $1,024,068, which represents an 11.4% increase from the same time last year. Approximately 20 homes sold in June 2006 (14 homes sold in June 2005).

For the University City (UTC) real estate market, the median price was $780,000, which represents a 10.6% increase from the same time last year. Approximately 5 homes sold in June 2006 (19 homes sold in June 2005).

For the La Jolla real estate market, the median price was $1,692,500, which represents a 10.3% increase from the same time last year. Approximately 28 homes sold in June 2006 (38 homes sold in June 2005).

For the Logan Heights real estate market, the median price was $425,000, which represents a 7.6% increase from the same time last year. Approximately 13 homes sold in June 2006 (14 homes sold in June 2005).

For the Paradise Hills real estate market, the median price was $507,500, which represents a 5.7% increase from the same time last year. Approximately 8 homes sold in June 2006 (16 homes sold in June 2005).

For the Mission Hills real estate market, the median price was $927,500, which represents a 3.1% increase from the same time last year. Approximately 11 homes sold in June 2006 (12 homes sold in June 2005).

For the Scripps Ranch (Scripps Miramar) real estate market, the median price was $759,250, which represents a 2.8% increase from the same time last year. Approximately 34 homes sold this month (43 homes sold in June 2005).

For the San Carlos real estate market, the median price was $563,000, which represents a 2.4% increase from the same time last year. Approximately 12 homes sold in June 2006 (16 homes sold in June 2005).

For the Del Cerro real estate market, the median price was $557,500, which represents a 2.1% increase from the same time last year. Approximately 13 homes sold in June 2006 (30 homes sold in June 2005).

For the Normal Heights real estate market, the median price was $676,250, which represents a 1.7% increase from the same time last year. Approximately 20 homes sold in June 2006 (19 homes sold in June 2005).

COMMUNITIES WITH DECREASES IN MEDIAN PRICE – SINGLE FAMILY HOMES – JUNE 2006

The data below pertains only to the sales of single-family homes, and does not include condominiums or townhomes. The data is organized by the magnitude of change in median price, with the highest change in median price presented first.

For the Old Town real estate market, the median price was $580,000, which was a 19.1% decline from the same time last year. Approximately 5 homes sold in June 2006 (14 homes sold in June 2005).

For the Golden Hill real estate market, the median price was $451,000, which was a 16.4% decline from the same time last year. Approximately 10 homes sold in June 2006 (13 homes sold in June 2005).

For the Pacific Beach real estate market, the median price was $851,960, which represents a 14.8% decline from the same time last year. Approximately 15 homes sold in June 2006 (19 homes sold in June 2005).

For the Tierrasanta real estate market, the median price was $570,000, which represents a 12.6% decline from the same time last year. Approximately 9 homes sold in June 2006 (17 homes sold in June 2005).

For the North Park real estate market, the median price was $560,000, which represents a 9.7% decline from the same time last year. Approximately 31 homes sold in June 2006 (16 homes sold in June 2005).

For the College Grove real estate market, the median price was $475,000, which represents a 5.9% decline from the same time last year. Approximately 38 homes sold in June 2006 (40 homes sold in June 2005).

For the City Heights real estate market, the median price was $390,00, which represents a 5.3% decline from the same time last year. Approximately 17 homes sold in June 2006 (30 homes sold in June 2005).

For the Mira Mesa real estate market, the median price was $510,000, which represents a 4.7% decline from the same time last year. Approximately 45 homes sold in June 2006 (47 homes sold in June 2005).

For the Linda Vista real estate market, the median price was $510,000, which represents a 4.2% decline from the same time last year. Approximately 16 homes sold in June 2006 (17 homes sold in June 2005).

For the Mission Valley real estate market, the median price was $510,000, which represents a 3.8% decline from the same time last year. Approximately 7 homes sold in June 2006 (18 homes sold in June 2005).

For the Encanto real estate market, the median price was $435,000, which represents a 3.3% decline from the same time last year. Approximately 36 homes sold in June 2006 (47 homes sold in June 2005).

For the Clairemont real estate market, the median price was $555,000, which represents a 2.6% decline from the same time last year. Approximately 30 homes sold in June 2006 (34 homes sold in June 2005).

For the Sorrento Valley real estate market, the median price was $861,000, which represents a 1% decline from the same time last year. Approximately 6 homes sold in June 2006 (5 homes sold in June 2005).

ADVISORY

Homebuyers and home sellers should keep in mind that the data above is simply a snapshot in time, and is not conclusive of the pricing trends for any community. For some communities presented above, very few homes were sold during June 2006, which makes the use of the median price metric of limited value. The data must be evaluated over a longer duration, and involve multiple metrics to fully understand enduring market trends. Contact your Realtor to obtain information about enduring market trends for any given community.