Real Estate Agents - A Lesson In Reality

By Adriana Noton

In a bustling economy, it seemed everyone wanted to become real estate agents. Some individuals even quit their regular jobs to get into a marketplace they had an opportunity to take full advantage of.

Of course, before being able to work the business, you need to go to real estate school. Different states have different requirements but in general all you need is a high school diploma. Schools average about 40 hours of coursework and this can be broken down into perhaps a few weekends, or other schools advocated one night a week for a few months, giving students a better opportunity to understand and remember the coursework.

After school is over you are then required to take your state's licensing exam. Once you pass you are typically recruited by every real estate agency in your town because they have access to all the new licensee names.

As you go to interview with these agencies, you are rarely told how much money it's going to cost you to get into the business. These agencies will do and say anything to get you to work for them because of course the more people they have, the better chance they have to increase sales.

As you see dollar signs in front of your eyes, you don't realize that you are truly working for yourself. Period. And as any independent contractor, because that's what you are, it costs money to be in business. Typically you will need to come up with over $1,000 just to start working at most agencies. You will be charged for MLS fees, office administrative fees which include use of phone, space, etc., along with business cards, general advertising expenses, liability insurance, and a host of other possibilities.

Once you are shown to your new desk, you're pretty much on your own. This is where you realize that what you learned in real estate school isn't helping you much at all. Real estate school teaches you about tax stamps and deed rights, but it doesn't teach you a thing about how to sell property. Most agencies don't provide much on the job training and you'd better find a mentor quick before you quit.

To help you get some customers you will probably be given the opportunity to answer phones for specific periods of time. You're probably saying you didn't sign up for this, but in reality this is how you will get your first customers. People see for sale signs with your company name, and they call in for information. This is your chance to try to schedule an appointment with them and sell them the home.

With a little experience you might be lucky to get your own listings, meaning you are being hired by sellers to put their home on the market. Of course, you are also responsible for spending your own money to advertise the house, and you need to spend money on gas driving customers around to see all your houses for sale.

For anyone thinking about getting into real estate, be aware that there are heavy expenses associated with the business where some commission splits are very low. - 31864

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Tips For Selling Condos Homes Houses And Real Estate In Canada

By Karen Delion

If you are trying to sell Condos homes houses and real estate in Canada there are some things that you can do that will help your property to sell quicker. The sooner your properties sell, the sooner you can move your funds to another investment or have them free for other obligations.

Price is one consideration that can help a property to move quickly. If the price you are asking is in the range of most other similar properties, you will at least have a chance to sell the property. If the price is too high you may scare off some customers; however, if it is too low, people are going to think something is wrong with the property. For the quickest sale, you should set the price at the bottom of the range but not necessarily the cheapest price.

Your property will sell quicker if it is ready for the next person to move in without much additional work. Walls may need new paint and floor coverings should be cleaned before the property is shown. If you have a room that has been painted in a bright color, you may want to paint over those walls with a more neutral color so that the potential buyer can picture their possessions in the room.

While it is nice to have basic furnishings in place as you show a home, you will want to remove many of your personal items and photographs from the walls. Once again, you are presenting a palate that needs to be pretty blank in order for the buyer to see their own possessions in place.

Since first impressions are important, you will want to be sure that sidewalks stay shoveled of snow and that grass is kept neatly trimmed. Lawns should be kept watered during the growing season and flowers in the beds can make the home more attractive.

Even though it is more difficult to sell Condos homes houses and real estate now than at other times, a good presentation can help to speed the sale. - 31864

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Learn How To Make A Success Of Real Estate Investing

By Josh Bickerstaff

You may be happy to find out that it seems the recession is officially over. Most segments of the economy are now seeing signs of growth and development. This means that it is the perfect time to think about real estate investing. The last few years of economic woe resulted in many homes being repossessed by banks so the market is still not as costly as it once was.

Be aware that the real estate sector is evolving constantly. If you are going to reap the benefits of a property portfolio then you will need to understand some basic tips and pointers that are necessary with this form of investment.

The first step will involve identifying your main targets and goals. When we come to invest potentially huge amounts of money then we would not do so without already having a desired result in mind. This could be that you plan to rent the properties and receive a healthy income from the tenants or maybe you are looking at the future resale value of the buildings. Identify your goals and then build a plan then can take you towards them. Make sure any property that you consider meets the targets you have set out.

Real estate is a very big industry. There is a wide selection of properties to go for. Some will cost more to maintain than others, this is an important consideration. It is possible that for some buildings, by investing ten thousand bucks you can increase their value by as much as fifty or a hundred thousand.

Another important aspect when choosing any real estate is the actual location. By understanding certain market trends you may be able to identify regions and neighborhoods in which the will be an above average increase in value; perhaps down to redevelopment or similar schemes. Remember there are not just private homes that can be bought as an investment; you may also want to consider commercial buildings.

When it comes to selling on the properties you have then it is useful to know as much about marketing as possible. Today this should include the techniques used to advertise and sell real estate over the internet. If you can master internet marketing then you will have a greater reach.

There will always be certain factors relating to property investment that you have no control over such as certain government rules and the latest interest rates. But, as long as you take time to arm yourself with knowledge and are determined, then you stand every chance of being successful. - 31864

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How To Make Money Flipping Real Estate

By Josh Bickerstaff

Over the past five years or so, flipping real estate has gone to the forefront of real estate money making opportunities. However, flipping real estate is not for the weak, weary, broke, or inexperienced. It takes knowledge, time, dedication, an array of contacts and resources, and of course, money.

Not every home can be flipped. Don't think you can just buy a home you got 'a good deal' on and then resell it. It doesn't work like that. The only way you can actually make money doing a flip is to learn how to find and purchase the right type of property. This includes knowing the advantages of different locations, and what to expect to pay for the home and the necessary renovations.

The perfect flip is a home that actually is in need of many repairs. This is the reason you will be able to buy it for really cheap. However, to make this work, you also need to know how to do this for a minimum. Either do it yourself, call in some favors, or find contractors you have worked with before who will charge you reasonable rates and do a good job. This is the only way you'll make any money.

If you are someone who knows nothing about construction, this is probably not the money making opportunity you had hoped. It's fine to hire professionals, but without knowing what a good bid is, and without being able to assess the work being done, you could be wasting lots of money.

Before deciding to buy a property, it's vital that you actually see it. Too many first timers find a property online and actually buy it sight unseen. Big mistake! What happens? When you finally pass papers and go see it for the first time, you are guaranteed to find problems that were never disclosed. Serious cracks in the foundation, a completely flooded basement, old leaky plumbing, and outdated wiring can force you into bankruptcy before even lifting a paint brush.

It's always a good idea to bring an experienced contractor or at least a home inspector with you as you look at properties you are considering. Real estate agents are not trained and are not experienced in how to find properties for you to flip! They will sell you anything you want to buy; don't use their 'expertise' to base this type of decision on.

Assemble a list of contractors way in advance. No matter how much you think you want to do on your own, plan for problems way ahead of time. - 31864

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