If you already own your home, you will probably make money in real estate without ever buying another property.

The home you are currently buying with a mortgage is probably one of the most valuable appreciating assets you will ever own.

You are making money by living in your own home, even if you never buy any additional property. This, within itself, makes you a successful real estate investor.

I have been fascinated with real estate investing for many years, but it all began with a startling discovery 35 years ago.

In 1970 I had bought a little house for my family in the Green Hills area of Nashville. It wasn’t much, but it was adequate and it was home.

In 1978, we decided to sell.

We sold that little house for $67,000.

That’s when the light bulb went off in my head.

I was shocked with a discovery that led me to fall in love with real estate investing.

I suddenly realized that we had made $40,000 profit in 8 years JUST LIVING IN THAT HOUSE!

We had not painted it. We didn’t add any rooms. We built no patio.

We just lived in it!!!

We had made $5000 a year simply living in that house.

I began to think to myself: what if I had two similar houses that generated $10,000 a year profit? Or, five houses that generated $25,000 a year profit? I began to fantasize the possibilities. This awareness launched my real estate investing career.

Soon I was buying millions of dollars in real estate.

But the real challenge was buying real estate without any capital. I had just experienced a serious business failure, and had no cash reserves and no credit. I learned how to buy a house with only a $10 bill. I never walked into a bank to ask for a loan, and I never applied for a mortgage. But conquering the challenge led to buying $10 million in real estate in only four years.

That whopping $40,000 profit that went into my pocket from simply living in that house I sold in 1978 was just the tip of the iceberg.

I still live in the Green Hills area of Nashville. I pass that same house every day that we owned in the 1970s. It recently went on the market again, and it quickly sold.

This time that same house sold for $200,000.

I don’t know what’s been done to improve the interior, if anything, but no exterior changes have been made to that house. It’s still about 2000 sq.ft. The lot is the same size. But the value has increased significantly.

Discovering this concept has made real estate investing very exciting to me.

Phil Speer, Ph.D., started his real estate investing career 25 years ago. With no credit and using only a $10 bill, he purchased $1 million in properties his first year, and accumulated $10 million in properties within 4 years. http://www.CashinHouses.com/

He was featured in a Wall St.Journal editorial as most successful investor in the Nothing Down Real Estate Movement. He won a Caribbean cruise as top investor of the year. In his hometown of Nashville, he has been a businessman and Human Resources Consultant for 30 years. He is an author, speaker and seminar director. Anyone can profit in real estate investing, even without cash or credit. http://www.CashinHouses.com/ Subscription is free to his Fix-up Ezine. He and other contributing authors provide free articles and resources on real estate investing at his online “Academy of Advanced Real Estate Investing Techniques” at http://www.AAREIT.com/

Choose From A Wide Variety Of Lake Havasu Vacation Properties And Find The One That Is Just Right For You!

A vacation getaway to Lake Havasu, Arizona is like a dream come true - particularly if you enjoy spending time in the great outdoors. Whether you come during the winter or the summer, there is plenty to do in the Lake Havasu area.

Indoors or out, for the lover of sports, outdoor activities or relaxation, you’ll find the Lake Havasu area to offer something ideal for everyone. And the best way to enjoy it all is with the many fine Lake Havasu vacation properties available.

Of course, when you come for a visit to the Lake Havasu area, you will want to find a nice place to stay. Thankfully, there are plenty of Lake Havasu vacation properties available for vacationers.

In fact, you can find Lake Havasu, AZ rental properties such as…

* Resorts
* Condos
* Homes
* Short Term Rentals

Determining which of these types of Lake Havasu vacation properties is right for you depend upon your individual needs and your vacation plans. Your budget will also factor into this decision, so be sure you shop wisely and compare the many features and benefits of each of the Lake Havasu vacation properties you’re considering.

If you are bringing a large family or group of people to the Lake Havasu, Arizona area, you might want to rent a home that will give you plenty of space. If you are interested in an all-inclusive vacation, on the other hand, a resort might be a better option for you. There are a number of very nice all-inclusive resort options waiting for you in the Lake Havasu area.

Regardless of your vacation needs, there are certain to be several available Lake Havasu, AZ rental properties that will be just right for you!

Since the late 1960’s we have been enjoying the pristine beauty of the Colorado River where it runs through Arizona and California. Today we offer the finest privately-owned homes, condos, and mobile homes, rented directly by the owners. Enhance your stay with the convenience of a private residence and the luxuries of home. Learn more by visiting our site at http://www.havasuvacationliving.com

I am a realtor in Las Vegas. With the increase of short sales, foreclosures, oil prices, unemployment and the decreasing of the US dollar; when will we start to see a turn in this slumping economy?

New-home sales in Las Vegas have been consistently low over the past six months and appear to have possibly reached the bottom of this dreaded bear market.

There were 922 recorded escrow closings for new homes in June, bringing the total for the first half of the year to 5,747, a 45.1 percent decrease from a year ago.

Taking out 114 high-rise and mid-rise condos and 31 apartment conversions, sales of traditional single-family detached homes totaled 777, the sixth straight month under 1,000. The high mark of 3,233 came in June 2006.

Is this flat trend in new-home closing going to continue through 2009?

The median price of all new-home products sold in June was $269,900, a decline of $54,000, or 16.7 percent, from the same month a year ago. “.

New-home permits increased for the fourth straight month to 884 in June, but the year-to-date total is down 61 percent to 5,653.

Resale activity is picking up, topping 2,000 for the third consecutive month and increasing for the sixth straight month to 2,731 in June. The 12,500 existing-home sales through the first six months is down 15.9 percent from a year ago.

About 65 percent of resale closings in June were real estate-owned or bank-owned homes, according to data from the Multiple Listing Service.

About 26 percent of available inventory in Las Vegas, or 5,800 units, are listed as short sales. Short sales must be approved by the bank; they can take up to six months to close escrow. Sellers must prove financial hardship from unforeseen circumstances such as divorce, illness or loss of employment.

The median resale price in June was $218,000, a decline of $62,000, or 22.2 percent, from a year ago.

With 15 stalled or canceled commercial projects littering the Vegas valley, this takes a lot of unnecessary inventory off the market. Can this help our slumping market?

Stuart Sheinfeld - http://www.elitevegasrealestate.com

House shopping can be incredibly stressful for everyone involved. Some ways to limit the stress involved are important to consider since this is one of the most important decisions of one’s life and stress can adversely affect one’s judgment of the entire experience.

1. Write a list of everything the house should have and that you want the house to have. This need/want list is vital to making sure that everything you want, you get. This list can be shared with friends and family who are also interested in helping you find the perfect house. Also make sure to include the price and location of the desired house. There is no sense in finding the perfect house at a price you simply cannot afford. There is also no sense in finding a great house in a wrong location.

2. Make the shopping trips an experience. Start off with a good meal and a good mood. Your mood and personal feels can affect how you view the house and the perfect house can be passed up if you are in a bad mood or distracted by being hungry or tired. Make sure you are well rested and are feeling good.

3. Visit other homes that you are not necessarily interested in just for the experience and the fun. Open houses can be a lot of fun and can make for great experiences. Visit as many open houses as you want, the more the better. This will give you a feel as to what to expect from an open house as well as provide you with a lot of fun and excitement.

4. Bring friends and family on the open house runs. Friends and family are major supports for your life. These people are those people who can view the whole thing from an outside standpoint and point out problems with a home that you might not normally notice. These people also can help you sort out how you feel about each house and provide you with great advice.

5. Keep notes about the entire experience. A journal is a great thing to start out with while house hunting. Not only do journals help you keep your thoughts in order but they also help you to remember the great times that you had while house hunting. They are even fun to share with your children or grandchildren later in life while they are beginning to start to house shop.

Julia Vakulenko is a licensed broker associate with Tampa4U.com Realty. She has one of the hardest working Tampa Real Estate team in Florida specializing in Tampa Condos and also in2Va Team for Northern Virginia Real Estate

It is anticipated that more than 35,000 town convention-goers will descend on Denver this August for the 2008 Democratic National Convention (DNC). The demand for temporary housing in the Denver Real Estate market is high, already surpassing the 17,000 hotel rooms the convention committee has blocked.

The numbers include 12,000 Colorado Democratic Party convention volunteers needing Denver housing and a base for operation. Multitudes of media are coming and need a place to stay. A large group of students who are part of the Campaign 2008 Democratic National Convention seminar will be staying on the campus of Regis University in Denver, Colorado. The rest of the housing hungry convention-goers and -supporters are pressing other real estate markets around Denver and surrounding suburbs into housing action.

If you don’t have a best friend or relative living in the Denver area, then you’re going to be in need of accommodations. Real estate companies in the area can be a real help when the housing gets tight. With the slowdown in the real estate market, many homes are standing furnished and empty. Owners and real estate brokers are eager to rent out that space for not only a little extra income, but on the off chance one of the renters will fall in love with Denver and the property and make plans to move here! What’s more the homes are in top condition for showing, so they can make for delightful accommodations. These agents often rent homes for their clients, and have experience in the professional side of renting.

Local residents, especially those close to the event’s main venue the Pepsi Center, are trying to rent out their condos, homes and apartments on their own. Independent listings by owners have popped up on Craig’s List Denver (Denver.craigslist.org). A quick search during May, 2008 revealed 265 offerings with “DNC” in the heading. Prices ranged everywhere from $400 to $50,000 per week.

While demand for accommodations in the 80202 ZIP code may be high, renting out a home isn’t as simple as it sounds. Essentially, someone without any rental experience has to realize they are turning their home into a business. Owners will be responsible for paying the city’s lodging tax, providing maid service, sheets and towels, phone, cable and high-speed Internet access. All closets and dressers should be cleared out and the kitchen fully equipped.

Another option is corporate housing groups. Often, they will hold your advance payment in escrow and disburse the rent due to the property owner only at the end of your stay. If a problem arises, they will be on call to help solve it. The property may be inspected prior to the lease signing to assure it is as advertised and again just prior to the move-in date to assure move-in ready conditions. With a corporate service, as well as with a real estate broker, renters have the advantage of an agent who will facilitate requirements and requests to ensure the rental experience is pleasant for both property owners and renters.

If you haven’t started your search yet, here are some helpful websites for finding housing: www.rentdnc.com, and www.dnchaus.com.

The Colorado House Finders’ Real Estate Consulting team are experienced, professional real estate agents with certifications in Real Estate, Lending and Appraising, who specialize in Denver Colorado real estate.

Denver MLS listings, contact Colorado House Finders or ColoradoHouseFinders.com.

There was once a time in real estate when the open house was a real ta-DOO! The events were marketed heavily, catered and the home was pristine, often selling within hours. As time passed and the Internet boomed, the marketing prowess of the open house faded, but realtors continued to use this tactic in order to “SHOW” the home owners they were really trying to land a deal on the house.

While it is more than likely that the open house will not disappear out of sight just quite yet, once must ask who is really benefiting from this played down version of a once glamorous affair?

The Home Seller and the Open House

The home seller wants to ultimately sell the home. The open house seems like the logical choice and the seller often feels excited about the chance of hundreds of people storming through their home and just falling to pieces over the low asking price. In all reality, the realtor is the one who uses the open house to list prospective buyers.

The Real Estate Agent and the Open House

The agent used to be able to market an open house and see floods of people storm through the doors hoping to buy. But, that was when the market had fewer homes for sale and more people looking to buy. Today, with inventories through the roof, homebuyers are more savvy than ever with their money and often take their time looking through hundreds of homes before choosing one to underbid on. The real estate agent may get a few leads from the open house, but nothing that will pan out to much in the future.

The Home Buyer and the Open House

Buyers are looking to save money and frugally choose open houses as a means to cut the agent costs out of the equation. When they find a home they like, they feel if they haggle with the selling agent they will lower their commission and become the buying agent as well. This is simply not the case all the time. AND, how is the buyer to really know if the home is a good deal. If the home buyer enters the home with an agent of their own, the game is on. The selling agent will show this perk and the buying agent will point out that flaw.

All-in-all the open house is a deflating marketing tool. When home buyers have tens of thousands of homes to choose from in some markets, they are not in the mood nor do they feel the need to roam from house to house. They want to hit the ground running and see many homes before choosing one to look into further. Real estate agents need to look deep in their hearts and decide why they are still planning those open houses. Are the home owners apt to feel better if the open house exists or is the real estate agent really trying to produce a sale?

Julia Vakulenko is a licensed broker associate with Tampa4U.com Realty. She has one of the hardest working Tampa Real Estate team in Florida specializing in Tampa Condos.

Your home is likely to be one of the largest investments you make in your life and you’ll want to protect it accordingly. But home insurance can be a confusing subject—figuring out what it covers and which policy is best for you isn’t always easy. But by learning the basics, you can choose the best policy to protect your treasured abode for years to come!

The Basics

Homeowner’s insurance provides protection against calamities that affect the structure of your home and your possessions.

A standard policy has two main functions:

1. Protects your home and its contents from damage or loss
2. Protects you and your family members from legal damages that may arise from someone who’s been injured on your property

Your policy will also provide you with additional living expenses if you are temporarily unable to stay in your home after a damage or loss. Without these protections, you leave your home and your most valuable possessions at risk for loss—a risk most homeowners can’t afford to take.

Policy Types

There are different types of home insurance available to you, with varying protections and premium amounts. Knowing what you need from a policy before you buy will help you select the right policy and help you to avoid purchasing more than what you need.

The three main types of home insurance policies are HO-1, HO-2 and HO-3:

HO-1: A bare-bones policy that covers basic perils like fire and smoke; wind and hail damage; and theft and vandalism. Because of its limited coverage, however, many states are discontinuing the HO-1 policy, and your agent will almost certainly encourage you to purchase a policy that covers more perils.

HO-2: A basic policy that protects against the same perils covered under an HO-1 policy, plus six more. Additional coverages include water damage from plumbing and home appliances; falling objects; and damage from the weight of snow or ice.

HO-3: A broad policy that covers against all perils except for exclusions such as damage from earthquake, flood, war or landslides. Its extensive coverage makes the HO-3 coverage the most commonly purchased policy.

Other homeowner’s policies are available for condos, mobile homes and older homes. Your homeowner’s insurance agent will discuss special types of policies with you if they apply to you.

Level of Coverage

After you’ve chose a policy type, you’ll need to determine the level of coverage you want.

Generally speaking, you have three options:

Actual Cash Value: This level of coverage pays to replace your home and possessions minus the cost of depreciation. This means you may receive less for your home or items than you originally paid for them.

Replacement Cost: This level of coverage pays whatever it costs to repair or replace your home and possessions without a deduction for depreciation.

Guaranteed Replacement Cost: This level of coverage pays whatever it costs to rebuild your home and replace possessions before the damage took place, even if it exceeds your policy limit. This can protect you from increases in construction costs and other such variables.

While replacement cost policies often cost more money, the level of protection will be well worth it if you ever experience a significant loss or damage to your home.

A Word about Additional Coverage

Flood and earthquake coverage is not covered under standard home insurance policies, much to the surprise of many homeowners. Additional coverage can be purchased through your home insurance agent, as well as through federal programs like the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

While homeowners living in high-risk areas may be required to purchase these types of additional coverage, you may want to purchase some level of additional coverage to boost your protection. Be sure to ask your agent about extra coverages and how you can adequately protect your home from calamities not covered in a standard policy.

Protect Your Home Today.

Living without home insurance is living on the edge. Protect your home and your wallet and use these tips to find the affordable homeowner’s insurance protection you need for years to come!

About InsureMe

Megan L. Mahan is a copywriter and insurance information expert with InsureMe in Englewood, Colorado. InsureMe links agents nationwide with consumers shopping for insurance. Specializing in auto, health, life, long-term care and home insurance quotes, the InsureMe network provides thousands of agents with insurance leads every year. For more information, visit InsureMe.com.

There are many condominiums and vacation rentals available in the Myrtle Beach area, which is the central portion of the greater Grand Strand. Myrtle beach condos for sale - Oceanfront Condominiums… a fun way to retire, an affordable 2nd home and an unbelievable investment.

Condos in Myrtle Beach vary greatly and range from discounted bargain oceanfront condos to super fancy luxury condos and golf course resorts. Condos in Myrtle Beach are the hottest selling real estate properties, and vacationers are flocking to the newest oceanfront condos even more than the older established resorts. golf packages are designed to offer the best Myrtle Beach golf vacations for any budget; whether it’s a twosome of husband and wife, or a large group of 48 men and women who require larger homes or multiple condos.

North Myrtle Beach can offer some of the best and most affordable Myrtle Beach golf packages on the Grand Strand. Reasonably priced and graciously appointed, our 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom Ocean Front Condos and resort vacation rentals offer a choice selection of exceptional amenities; which include indoor & outdoor swimming pools, spacious sun-decks, saunas, Jacuzzis or hot tubs, private ocean-front balconies, and game rooms furnished with the latest in indoor recreation and exercise equipment.

Myrtle Beach condos provide the easiest access to the festivities and relaxation of the Myrtle Beach world, whether it’s fishing, golf, shopping, beaching, or just living day-to-day and getting your groceries bought. Visitors to some of our Myrtle Beach condos can enjoy the ocean & beach by their rental, and also the fishing off the multiple public piers, playing the many miniature golf courses, or choosing from over 1700 restaurants, dining on fresh seafood, or just taking a relaxing walk on the beach.

For more information about Myrtle Beach or about Myrtle Beach Condos visit us at condolux.net

Owning your own home can be one of the biggest steps that you will take in your life. There are many types of homes that one can choose from that will allow them different advantages and disadvantages. Many people still live in apartments because they don’t think that they can afford a home or do not want to deal with all of the yard work. For these people, a Corpus Christi condo can be a better option.

A Corpus Christi condo allows owners to experience the best of both worlds. With a house, the owner completely owns the property and is free to do what they wish. They can remodel the bathroom or finish the basement. Likewise, a condo owner owns their living space and has access to the community spaces and they are free to make changes within their living space. However, the owner does not own a yard and is not allowed to make any changes outside of their home such as with a garden or with the outside of the building.

A Corpus Christi condo is also similar to apartment living. You will not have a yard to take care of. This is the perfect option for those who do not like to do yard work or who have no need for a yard. This includes the elderly and those who are just starting out with a home and do not want to buy a lot of outdoor equipment from the start. Since you can make changes indoors, though, a condo allows owners a bit more freedom than an apartment.

Just like all other decisions that are important to make, there are advantages and disadvantages to owning a http://corpuschristi-real-estate.com Corpus Christi condo rather than a house. It is important for every family to weigh out these pros and cons and decide what is best for their family. Size of the home can be one of the biggest determining factors as well as the yard aspect. There is no right and wrong answer that fits everyone and each person must decide for themselves.

Andre Zayas is a professionally syndicated author. Corpus Christi Condo

Buying a condominium can be different from buying a home because of the different costs that are involved in the monthly upkeep of your condo. There are many added expenses that you need to take care of while you own a condo that you might not have while owning a home and vice versa.

The first thing that you should consider when buying a condo is the resale value that you will be able to get for your condominium. When choosing what area that you want to buy your condo in, you need to look at the surrounding area of the property. If the surrounding area isn’t very well kept up then you might consider looking at somewhere else to buy your condo. Another factor you should consider when choosing the area to buy your condo is the foreclosure rate. If the foreclosure rate in your area is very high, it is not a good sign for the economy of that area and I would reconsider buying your condo there. You want to buy a condominium in an area that is growing and will only increase in property value.

Another factor to consider is the association fees that will go along with owning or living in a condo. Often times, the condos will have some sort of maintenance and upkeep fees that you will be required to pay monthly. These fees will usually go towards the pool, sauna, security, and any other repairs that the building may require. You will have to find a renter for your condo that is willing to pay all of these monthly fees.

Something else to consider would be the reputation of the building and property. Before buying your condo, you should consider visiting some of the other residents there to see what they think of the property, management, and overall area that the condo is in. The residents of the building itself would be the best people to speak with because they are there 24 hours a day and know a lot that goes on that management might not tell you about.

Once you have decided on the condominium that you would like to purchase, you need to begin looking for a mortgage. Choose carefully because you will need to find a renter that will pay the amount that your monthly payment will be if you want to recoup the closing costs that you will get when you originally buy the condo.

For more information, contact the Texas Mortgage and Home Loans at http://texasmortgagerefinanceloans.com/

Joseph Devine