Feb
15
2009
0

Five Us Cities Where Real Estate Has Been Hardest Hit

Five Us Cities Where Real Estate Has Been Hardest Hit

The upside to this down market is that investors now have a plethora of investments to choose from. From sea to shining sea, you see For Sale signs popping up on front lawns everywhere. It is, most definitely, a buyer’s market and will be for some time to come.

The very best deals are typically in the markets that are hardest hit. If you want to know where to investigate for investments, you should check out the following five U.S. cities for the best real estate deals:

#1 – Detroit, MI – The city hardest hit by the economy, Detroit, experienced 4.8 times the national average for foreclosures last year. Homes in this city start from as low as $1,400.00. No, that’s not a typo. They literally start from as low as one-thousand four-hundred dollars. That’s about $1.22 per square foot. It would cost you more to build one of these houses. So, how could you not invest in rental property in this city with prices this low? Detroit, however, is not known for its safety. No, on the contrary, it’s actually the second most dangerous city in which to live in the whole U.S. of A. Regardless, you have to admit, that is some pretty tempting pricing on that Detroit real estate. Keep in mind, you don’t have to live there to invest, and there are property management companies that you can hire to manage the property for you.

#2 – Stockton, CA – This city has 4.8% of its households in some form of foreclosure action. Homes in Stockton start from as low as $20,000, and rent for as low as $390 per month. That’s a record low for even the Stockton area. Speaking of records, there a record number of homes being auctioned off in this area, too. It’s unfathomable. Who would not want to invest in this area? Unfortunately, this city is not known for being safe, either. Stockton ranked number eight on the list of the most dangerous metropolitan areas in which to live. There are some very good deals here, though, so you may want to pencil one of these auctions into your busy investing schedule.

#3 – Las Vegas – No, it’s not true. Au contraire, everything that happens in Vegas does not stay in Vegas where a 4.2% foreclosure rate has been noted. This once very booming city that sprawled with new growth is now somewhat stigmatized. Due to exceptionally rapid growth, home values became over-inflated over such a short period of time that when the real estate crash abruptly occurred there, it left many home owners holding the bag on homes that won’t be worth their purchase price for years to come. In spite of this, there are still lots of good deals in this market. Home prices start from as low as $126,000. Las Vegas is also ranked fourth on the list of most dangerous metropolitan cities.

#4 – Riverside-San Bernardino – California has been one of the states hit hardest by the down economy in regards to real estate. Average home prices still beat out the national average, but individual home prices have plummeted. Homes start as low as $25,000 in these markets, record lows for both. San Bernardino is the twenty-fourth most dangerous city and eighth most dangerous metropolitan city, although, Riverside did not fall within the top cities for crime.

#5 – Sacramento – Ranked fifth in the list of best cities to buy real estate is Sacramento. Midtown Sacramento, a.k.a. The Grid, has hip bistros and shops that cover the twenty-four square blocks at its center. Even this area of Sacramento holds exceptional real estate investment opportunities, including commercial properties. Home prices start at an incredible low of $15,000 in this market. This city did not fall within the top cities for crime.

By: real estate articles

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Inside real estate operates sites that cover Dallas real estate and San Antonio real estate. They also have a site covering the El Paso real estate market.

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Feb
12
2009
0

Real Estate Valuation Guide

Real Estate Valuation

Real estate valuation for single family homes is typically done by using comparable sales. With income properties this just doesn’t work well. Imagine if you are looking at a 24-unit building. It would be difficult to find similar ones nearby that have recently sold.

It’s also not ideal to use replacement costs for income property appraisal. How do you figure replacement cost if there is no land for sale nearby with proper zoning? This is used as a secondary method, though, and can tell you if maybe you should be building instead of buying.

Real Estate Valuation By Cap Rate

Income properties are bought for the income. Income, then, is what is used to determine value. The rate of return investors in a given area expect gives you the capitalization rate, or "cap rate" for the area. This is what you use to accurately appraise an income property. Below is a somewhat simplified explanation.

The process begins with the gross income of a property. You then subtract all expenses, but not loan payments. For example, if a building’s gross income is $82,000 per year, and the expenses $30,000, you have a net (before debt-service) of $52,000. You then apply the capitalization rate to this figure.

Suppose the acceptable cap rate in the area is .10, for example (ask a real estate agent), meaning investors expect a return of 10% on the value of the property. You simply divide the income of $52,000 by .10. $520,000, then, is the indicated value of the building. Suppose the usual rate is .08, meaning investors in the area expect an 8% return. Then the value would be $650,000.

Easy Real Estate Valuation?

Take net income before debt-service, and divide by the "cap rate:" It’s a simple formula. However, the tough part is getting accurate income figures. Did the seller show you ALL the normal expenses? Did he and exagerate the income? Suppose he stopped repairs for a year, and also showed you the "projected" rents. In that case, the income figure could be $15,000 too high. The building would be worth $187,000 less (.08 cap rate) than your appraisal shows.

One thing smart investors do when buying, is to separate out income from vending machines and laundry machines. If these provided $6,000 of the income, that income would add $75,000 to the appraised value (.08 cap rate). Instead, do the appraisal without this income included, then add back the replacement cost of the machines (probably much less than $75,000) to arrive at a valuation.

Of course, you should be careful with any real estate appraisal method. There is no perfect appraisal method, and all are only as good as the figures you plug into them. If used wisely, though, appraisal by capitalization rates is one of the most accurate methods of real estate valuation.

By: Steve Gillman

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Steve Gillman has invested in real estate for years. To learn more, get a free real estate investing course, and see a photo of a beautiful house he and his wife bought for $17,500, visit www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com

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Feb
10
2009
0

How To Increase The Value Of Your Real Estate Property

How To Increase The Real Estate Value Of Your Property?

If you invest in real estate you can earn good enough cash and equity. It can be good prospect in terms of short and long-term investments. This mainly includes of investments like real estate investment trusts, real estate mutual funds and homebuilder stocks. The appraisal of real estate property today is a very expensive proposition. This can however prove handy when you sell your real estate investment. This can also add value to your investment when you remodel your dwelling. These renovations give that added impetus for selling your property.

But are real estate appraisals worth it? The answer to this is yes. Since a good analysis of your real estate can fetch you good profit in the near future. This whole procedure can be divided into three distinct parts. The first stage involves purchasing of the property below the current market rate. Then comes the part when you consult an expert in property management for renovation. At this juncture you have to think in terms of capitalization value that should be more than the purchase value. This is an effective plan during selling the real estate property. This evaluation procedure includes the ratio involving the difference between the buying price and the total operating income.

But the increase in the value of real estate investment has its own positive and negative aspects. While on the positive front it is beneficial for people like you who may be from a non-business background, the easy selling of such properties can be useful for purchasing a single family estate. It can also offer tax benefits and act as a long-term break tool. Yet there are some negative factors that can depreciate the value of your property. This investment usually requires hands-on involvement at a good rate. So, when you go for such long-term plans you will face a lot of difficulties in this regard. Well, moreover, time and huge amount of money are two other things that require careful planning with regards to repairs and maintenance.

Go ahead for an immediate real estate appraisal, for the proper evaluation of your property. This will help you quote the right price for your real estate. So, any structural changes implemented in the form of bathroom or kitchen re-modeling will definitely ensure value addition to your existing property.

By: Jason Sands

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Jason Sands is an experienced property investor and over the years he has gained good insight and valuable information the ins and outs of real estate wholesaling. Some buying ideas are the Tea Gardens properties for sale and the Port Stephens land for sale in NSW, Australia.

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Jan
26
2009
0

About Us

landforsaleinsanantonio.com is dedicated to providing quality information on the subject of Land for Sale in the San Antonio and surrounding areas.

Here you will find helpful reviews, informative information and tips and much more. This site is in the format of a ‘weblog’ so that each time I post new information, it will come to the top of the front page. This means that you can check back here frequently to see new updates to the information found here.

You can navigate through the site by using the menus on the sides of the page. Also don’t hesitate to follow the links you see in bold throughout each post to learn more about the product being spoken about.

I hope you find the information I provide valuable and helpful.

All the best,

Nelson

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Jan
26
2009
0

Contact Us

If you have any questions regarding the content in this website, about the products that are mentioned, or just any questions at all don’t hesitate to contact me at the following address. I’d also love to hear any feedback on the site if you’ve found it helpful or have some ideas about how I can improve the site in some way.

Please contact me at  info@landforsaleinsanantonio.com!

I will reply to all messages as soon as possible.

Nelson

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Jan
26
2009
0

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Land for Sale in San Antonio Texas (TX)