Good News From The Real Estate Bust! – End of Subruban Communities

December 20, 2009

The housing crush has had a range of side effects across the nation. However, with more and more new home developments struggling to fill the new properties, a new phenomenon has appeared. There are fewer and fewer new suburban developments showing up on the fringes of communities.

Expansion that was so rampant in the real estate boom has suddenly disappeared or stalled midproject, leaving empty houses gaping at passerbys.Some of these communities are filled with homes that are in foreclosure which makes it harder to sell a home next door. Home owners have vacant lots next to them and they need to stop foreclosure themselves.

What are the pros and cons to the recent disappearance of these suburban communities? Besides the obvious financial troubles with the construction companies associated with these areas, there is an impact for the local homeowners as well.

With fewer inhabitants and stalled increases in the homeowners to these commuter communities, morning commutes into the city are less than what might have been if these suburban areas had filled. Enticed by lower prices and more house available through these suburban communities, more and more homeowners looked to purchase these properties during the real estate boom years. However, as the real estate market has stopped, these homes are not being filled, making the commute to the city a little easier.

Areas like Prince William County have shown the impact of this suburban community disappearance. With a deflated real estate market and increasing gas prices, the foreclosures have pushed median home prices down 32 percent in just the last year alone. Fewer individuals are on the interstate and more are crushed into crowded buses headed to Washington D.C. This area of the county has seen the impact of tightened credit restrictions and fewer buyers. The bubble has popped here and the impact was swift and sudden.

Zillow recently performed an analysis of markets to determine what has happened to the inner and outer suburbs in major cities nationwide. What they found was very interesting. Essentially, the prices for inner suburbs, those within a ten mile radius from the center of the city had changed little. However, as the radius grew larger and larger as far as fifty miles from the center of the city, the prices dropped drastically.

Of course, if the city was close enough to another major metropolitan area such as the case with Washington D.C. and Baltimore, for example the prices would begin to rise again as proximity to the neighboring town increased. Other cities proved the opposite reaction. Some areas like Atlanta, Dallas and Detroit that often have rough and tumble downtown areas still saw improved prices in the suburbs far away from the center of the city. Detroit has a weak economy in the center of town, making homes here less desirable than the benefits offered in the surrounding communities. Atlanta, on the other hand, has had a number of premium condos built that has offset the nearby home values.

An oversupply of new homes in the suburbs is affecting the existing home communities nearby. As fewer and fewer new home developments are being purchased, these properties are drastically reducing their prices to get the homes sold. Oftentimes, these price drops ultimately cause the entire neighborhood to lower prices because the competition is all around.

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Foreclosure Rates – Have We Hit Bottom Yet?

June 29, 2009

One way to determine if the state of our economy is improving is by monitoring foreclosure rates. Foreclosure rates across the country vary in different regions.

Foreclosures can signal a huge change in the real estate market. While they can be hot deals for buyers looking to purchase large properties at a fraction of their valued cost, the impact foreclosures have on the market overall can be a highly negative one. Foreclosed homes are typically in disrepair and a crumbling mess long before the bank steps in to take over. In addition, selling a home that is highly undervalued will undercut overall price comparisons in the neighborhood, which devalues numerous homes in its wake.

As the economy continues to decline, the number of foreclosed homes continues to grow. While some analysts will tell you that the foreclosed homes and sluggish real estate market are signs that the real estate bubble is simply righting itself after years of a bubble inflated industry, homeowners with nearby foreclosed homes in their neighborhood and the victims themselves will often feel at a loss on how to control the negative spin.

Overall, 1.9 million homes have recently gone into foreclosure across the county. The average sale on these foreclosed homes is roughly $172,000. Of course, this number reflects both large and small properties alike, as well as homes whose owners had been paying their mortgages on time for years before the economic downturn made paying their mortgage payments more difficult.

What are the biggest markets for foreclosures across the nation? Is your state one of the areas experiencing the highest rates of foreclosure? Consult this list of states that experience high foreclosures to see if your state is one of the most affected areas:

Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Utah, Virginia

California tops the list at over 92,000 foreclosures. Meanwhile, Florida runs in second place with nearly 59,000 foreclosures. Nevada, Arizona and Michigan each have roughly 15,000 foreclosures, while Ohio, Illinois, Georgia and Texas has approximately 10,000 foreclosures. Virginia ends the list with just over 5,000 foreclosed homes.

Foreclosed homes aren’t limited to a specific economic bracket, either. Every neighborhood has become vulnerable, including high end homes in desirable neighborhoods. Many analysts blame adjustable rate mortgages or no doc loans as a major cause of the increased foreclosures. Since these  no doc loans don’t require verification of the borrowers’ income, they pose a much higher risk than other traditional forms of home loans.

The top five states California, Florida, Nevada, Arizona and Michigan constitute the greatest percentage of the nations foreclosures in June. As the market restructures and the economy continues to adjust to financial changes, expect the rate of foreclosed homes to decease slowly over time.

After all, foreclosed homes put pressure on financial institutions to stop lending to anyone with a potentially risky financial profile. For this reason, even secure homeowners cannot sell their homes as new buyers are unable to obtain the funds they need to purchase new property on the market.

If you need are in a situation where you are thinking how can I sell my house fast, I suggest contacting a local home buying expert in your area. Local home buying experts exist in every major city in the United States. Many times these home buyers can purchase homes quickly so you can move on with your life.


When Should I Buy My Next House

August 18, 2008

As if the home buying process isnt nerve wracking enough, an unstable market presents unique challenges to future home buyers. With the steady stream of bad news, increased foreclosures and tightened restrictions on mortgages, it can be more difficult to buy a new home now than it has been in the past. Lenders are getting picky and it can spell bad news for those individuals on the house market.

If you already qualify for a mortgage, however, and have a good income with strong credit, you can be in a prime spot to purchase a home. With declining home prices and an established mortgage, the house market is not as treacherous for established homeowners as it can be for first time buyers. There are some tips and tricks, however, to help you stay within a safe area for your future home purchase despite an unstable market scenario.

Do not over reach yourself with a large mortgage. It might be great that you can afford a certain price on paper, but you need to take the time to work out how much your mortgage payments will actually be each month. Can you afford to have this as a monthly expense while still saving for your retirement, college, increased portfolio, or a new car? What are the bills that will accompany a house that is that large? Can you afford those along with your mortgage? What are your annual taxes? Know this information before you get too caught up in a big number that will mean little to you until you break it down in monthly installments.

Real estate agent differences can affect home buying as well. All real estate agents are not the same. Some will call you regularly while others prefer to stay quiet until they have found the exact right house for you. Ask a number of questions to your potential real estate agent to find the one that is best suited to your personality. Do they experience with title searches? Can they help you spot potential problems with the property? Having a good real estate agent that fits your personality will make all the difference in your future home shopping experience.

Even the best real estate agent can miss some things. Look online to find crime statistics, school districts, home prices and comparables. You can find an array of quality information about your future potential neighborhood by taking the time to search online. If you are armed with this extensive knowledge, you can make better deals and know what you are getting into with your future home. Look for virtual house tours and extensive pictures. Check out the neighborhood, the annual taxes, and much more at the touch of your fingers.

Walk the Streets of your future neighborhood. No matter how much information you find online, you cant really know a neighborhood until you spend some time there. Look for open houses in the neighborhood that are not the property you are interested in to see other homes in the area, meet the neighbors. Drive through your future neighborhood at all hours of the day to see what kind of neighbors you would have. Are there a lot of kids, working parents, or older couples? You can find this out through your frequent drives.

Negotiate with the home sellers of your future home. You do not know what the sellers situation might be and it never hurts to try to negotiate a lower price. Although it might insult them and you could lose the house forever, some home buyers have found that asking for more in their offers has been very successful for them. If the seller is under a lot of pressure to sell or has had few offers, they might be more willing to listen to your demands.

Up front, foreclosed properties might seem like a steal. They are much less expensive and can be a great deal when it comes time to sell. However, if the homeowner has been unable to make their mortgage payments, it is highly likely that they have been able to keep up with the general maintenance of the home itself. You will have to purchase a foreclosed property as is many times and you could be stuck with a property that has larger issues than you are willing to deal with.

When you purchase your next house, get into a mortgage you can afford. Especially for first time buyers, getting a good mortgage and knowing which lenders are right for you can be tricky. There are unethical lenders out there offering deals that are literally too good to be true. Finding a good mortgage and lender can ensure the stability of your financial portfolio and home status. If you are caught with an unsavory lender and something bad happens in the future, the status of your home and ability to secure another mortgage will come into question. You could lose everything due to bad choices made now with your mortgage company.

Get a home inspection. You need an unbiased view of the property you are about to buy. In order to ensure that you know of all your propertys potential problems up front, it pays to get a great home inspector. You want to be able to trust the person and know that what he or she says is legitimate. If your home inspection finds problems that far exceed what you are willing to deal with, you have the opportunity to back out before it is too late. The home inspection is the smartest way to buy a home no matter what the economic situation is.

Finally, buy your home with a long term plan in mind. A home purchase is a huge investment and the savvy buyers look to find a house that will fit them now and years down the road. You can invest in your home and make any necessary upgrades to help you grow with the property, but staying with your home will help to increase your investment and make you more financially secure in the future.

If you have bad credit, consider purchasing a house through a lease purchase or rent to own. Now is a great time to purchase a house at a fixed purchase price, and rent the house until you can afford to get your own mortgage. This gives you time to raise your credit score which will lower your monthly payments by getting a better interest rate.


Harvard To Study The Real Estate Market – When Will It Be Easy To Sell My House

July 7, 2008

The fact that the real estate industry is at a low point right now is not a secret. However, even Harvard has taken on the real estate market to analyze what is currently influencing and affecting the industry.

Home prices and sales in the real estate market have plummeted. In addition, foreclosure statistics are increasing dramatically and rates to secure a new mortgage are rising. With the housing market looking so bleak, Harvard studies decided to see what factors impact future housing decisions. Most importantly, these Harvard studies want to see when the real estate market will improve as the industry has a strong impact on the overall economy.

The current real estate market has many home owners wondering, how can I sell my house, where are all the home buyers. When the real estate market takes a turn for the worst hundreds of thousands of home owners are stuck with a home they either can not afford or do not need. For this reason Harvard has decided to study the real estate market and decipher, what will bring the real estate market back to life.

According to the latest study from the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, the future is looking bright. The country is set to improve in the real estate sector in the next decade. Specifically, the demand for housing will help to offset the current problems in the industry.

The best news for the housing market is that the United States is growing. With an increase in population, the need for places to live will grow exponentially, helping to drive the need for more houses. In addition, there are a variety of social trends that will help fuel future housing increases. People are getting married later in life and getting divorced more and more frequently, making the number of single person households increase. In addition, there is a higher life expectancy for baby boomers and echo boomers.

Finally, immigration will play a large role in the increase in housing demand with an annual projection of 1.2 million each year. In other words, from 2010 to 2020, the number of households needing a home will increase on average by more than 1.4 million each year.

This increase in housing demand will play a critical role in improving the current real estate market. Once the effects of subprime mortgage rates and other housing impacts become steady again, the real estate market will see an increase in the industry due to these social factors and immigration.

However, before the good times in the real estate sector can begin, the number of unsold homes must decrease. The number of vacant homes currently available for sale rose 46 percent to a total of 2.12 million homes from 2005 to 2007. These vacant homes have terrorized the existing real estate market, lowering prices and halting new construction. As of earlier this year, there was an 11 month supply of unsold new homes.

If you need to sell your vacant home I suggest contacting your local home buyer in your area. Local home buyers are professional real estate investors who purchase houses quickly for cash. This service helps you sell your house quick so you can move on with your life. Besides, a vacant house could be a great home for another loving family.

To compare, a six month supply is considered a buyers market and the 11 month statistic shows the deep increase in unsold homes currently on the market. With a reduction in supply, prices will again rise, interest rates will go down, employment will increase from construction and other related industries and consumer confidence will once again climb.

The factors that impact the real estate market are set to change our current dip. All we need now is time to bring about the social changes and immigration in order to see the housing market back on its feet again. When this happens home owners will have a better change to sell their house fast for the price they need. Until then, if you are thinking how can I sell my house myself for a fair price, contact your local home buyer.


Banks are Freezing Home Equity Lines Of Credit – Do You Need Yours To Sell Your House?

July 4, 2008

What would you do if your bank called to tell you that your home equity line of credit had been frozen or even cancelled? For most homeowners, shock would be the first emotion followed quickly by confusion.

Why would banks be pulling the line of credit from homeowners who have had no trouble paying off the loan. Banks have recently been pulling home equity lines of credit from all applicants, even those homeowners who never tapped the line of financial credit.

The number of homeowners who have been affected have been in the tens of thousands, as more and more banks are trying to stem mortgage losses. As banks are dealing with heavy losses from their subprime mortgages and additional high risk loans, the viable home equity loans are also taking a hit as the bank pulls the money before this equity credit line also becomes a problem.

Essentially, banks are trying to save their money from being lost to homes that fall into foreclosure. There are many home owners who took out lines of credit on their house when the real estate market was high. Now these some home owners are needing to sell their house but are having obvious problems finding home buyers. The first thing home owners look to for money when they can no longer afford their mortgage is the equity in their house.

In late third period of 2007, the delinquencies on HELOC mortgages increased 47 percent from the previous year. Analysts have predicted higher numbers for 2008. For this reason, banks have been responded by pulling their Home Equity Lines of Credit, most of which were in high foreclosure cites like, Las Vegas Nevada, Stockton California, Boise Idaho, Miami Florida, Houston Texas, New Jersey, and Orlando Florida.

Where are you most vulnerable to have a frozen HELOC? If you live in a housing area where prices have fallen by 10 percent or more, your property might be the prime target for a HELOC freeze. There are new lending standards which means that your HELOC will be in danger of disappearing if you bought your home with little money down, especially if you purchased your new home within the last few years.

These factors will combine to see a higher rate of foreclosures and might make your financial institution feel that they need to pull the plug on the HELOC before real money troubles begin. Whereas lenders were able to borrow as much as 100 percent of the home value in previous years, most homeowners cannot see more than 90 percent or even as high as 60 percent in some areas that have been severely hit by declines in the housing market.

If you established your HELOC a few years ago, you might be in for a surprise. Current lenders are applying the same revised standards retroactively to current HELOC owners. In order to verify your loan cap, you should contact your bank to see if your loan is at risk. If you miss a payment or have a change in your credit score, your HELOC might also be flagged for a potential freeze.

What should you do? If you are using your HELOC to finish a renovation, you can potentially pull out a lump sum in order to finish the project. You will want to only take what you need so that you do not get into harder financial troubles.

If your HELOC has already been put on hold, you can fight the decision with your financial institution. Look to see why the line was suspended and what you can do to appeal the decision. As many banks automate the process to freezing the loans, you can appeal to a person for a reverse in the decision.

If you are thinking of using your home equity line of credit to pay your mortgage while you sell your house, you might want to pull money out quick. The banks are implementing this new freeze standard nation wide so save the money they have. Your best option to sell your house fast is to get an offer from a local home buyer. These professionals are in every major city in the nation and make their living from helping people sell their house fast.


The Fate Of The Real Estate Agent

June 21, 2008

It may have taken longer than with other industries, but realtors are starting to see the impact of the Internet on their incomes. While the Internet has provided easy access to much more information for realtors to do their job better, it has also given the same information to homeowners looking for ways to save while looking for a new home.

Specifically, sites like HomeGain and Zillow are showing realtors that their industry will need to change or they will be reduced in numbers. Since these websites are giving away precious real estate information for free, commissions are dropping for realtors.

What is the main motivating factor to sign on with a realtor? In one word, information is the key reason why most homeowners will choose a realtor for their home buying and home selling needs. After all, realtors have access to information the average person cannot obtain. However, with the appearance of HomeGain and Zillow on the marketplace, access to the information has now become public knowledge.

In the past, you simply could not buy or sell a home without the use of a realtor. Their access to the National Association of Realtors’ multiple listing services was essential to buying or selling your home in an appropriate amount of time at a price that suited the homeowners. Only real estate agents knew what homes in the area were being sold for and they were only willing to share that information for a commission, the standard 6 percent.

Now, however, real estate information has become available online and become available for free. Any average homeowner can get a estimate on their homes value through RealEstateABC, Zillow and HomeGain. Or they can get an offer on their house from sites like ExpertHomeOffers. Should a homeowner want to put their home out there for public access, they can easily place their property information on ForSaleByOwner and other sites.

Accuracy, however, is the drawback for these websites and currently, the saving point for realtors who might worry about the future of their careers in the face of these daunting information sites. Currently, Zillow can be slightly off on homes in neighborhoods where fewer properties sell. These sites will be more accurate in neighborhoods who have had a number of sales recently to better gauge comparables in the area.

However, a realtor will have a similar problem in a neighborhood that rarely sells properties and websites like Zillow have an advantage they are not biased. Whereas an overzealous realtor might inflate home estimates to win over prospective clients, Zillow and other similar websites tell it exactly like it is, for better or worse.

Another down side of not using a real estate agent in a new home purchase or to sell a home is that a real estate agent can protect your best interests. Home owners rarely buy or sell real estate and most need help through the process. It can be complicated and if you make a mistake it can cost you thousands.

However, if you need to sell your house fast you would be much better off selling to a local home buyer in your area. They exist in every major city in the nation and they buy multiple homes each month. They mostly deal with people who are facing foreclosure, moving out of state or recently inherited a home, but their service is free.

The change in the real estate market mirrors what happened with traditional stock brokers whose monopoly on trading information was threatened with the advent of investing websites. Just as these stock brokers had to change their offerings and lower their fees, so too will realtors have to change in order to be a viable and important part of the real estate market. Rather than fight these informational websites, realtors will have to find ways to make their services invaluable for the homeowners who will need their marketing skills and experience in the real estate market.


More Sell My House Tips For Sale With Owner

June 19, 2008

Clutter can be a house selling nightmare. Show off how large and beautiful your home is. Even if you dont have a lot of space, you dont want to send the signal to future buyers that you dont have enough storage by putting your clutter everywhere. If you need to, put boxes and things in the trunk of your car or ask a friend who has room if you can leave a few things at his/her house for a few months.

At the worst, you might need to rent a small storage space. Although most homeowners would balk at the idea of renting a storage unit while selling their home, removing the junk and clutter can have a huge impact on your home-selling possibilities. If your buyers cannot see the walls, they can’t appreciate the little things that helped to sell your house to you in the first place.

Another sharp tip to selling your home faster is by organizing your closets. Nothing distresses buyers more than opening a closet that is packed and messy. It sends the signal that you cannot find room for your own clothes so how will they? Try to put your clothes and things in boxes and hide in the attic or in another closet to make the closets appear larger. Buyers want storage space.

If you are really thinking how can I sell my house. The best option is to contact a local real estate professional online to recieve a free, no obligation offer. It takes one minute to complete the online form and you can expect to receive an offer within 24 hours. These are professional home buyers who buy houses quickly from all kinds of people in all kinds of home selling situations.

Put away knickknacks, family pictures and other sentimental things to avoid drawing your buyer away from the home to look at your pictures. You want them to picture themselves in your home so that they will buy it. Although it might seem harsh to put away family pictures for the entire time that your home is on the market, but it can help your buyers see what they want a new home for themselves to create memories.

Do your walls need a fresh coat of paint? Interior paint purchases can be a wise move for homes whose walls have dulled. You might not even realize how much your walls have faded over the years until you put a fresh coat of paint on. Grab some friends and towels to cover the furniture and floors and get to work on putting a fresh coat on. You’ll be amazed at the difference.

Now that you have tackled the walls, how are your floors? Do you need to replace cracked tiles or chipped floors? Take the time to make the changes now in order to sell the property faster in the future.

Bathrooms and kitchens are huge selling point and there is nothing worse than seeing someone elses grim in your future bathroom. Kitchens and bathrooms need to shine brilliantly if you want the home to sell, including grout cleaning, fresh paint, clean appliances and scrub the tub or shower floor until it gleans.

These little tricks can go a long way in renovating and improving your home. Best of all, they don’t cost a ton of money, but will make your house stand out from the competition. Implement some of all of these tips and you are on your way to a faster home sale.

However, if you do not have the money or do not want to put the effort into fixing up your home and putting it on the market you can always receive a free offer from a professional local home buyer. They exist in every major real estate town and you have no obligation to accept their offer. You can sell your house quick for sale with owner and have no real estate costs.


Tips To Sell My House Fast

June 18, 2008

Although the real estate market might be a bit slow right now, there are always things you can do to speed up the sale of your home and you dont have to spend a ton of cash to make it happen. You can find small amounts of well spent cash that will turn your property into a show stopper that everybody will want to buy. You need to improve your chances of selling and get the best price possible for your new home.

If tons of cash comes to mind when you think of the word home renovations, think again. Although the big home renovation projects will cost you, there are a number of small cost choices that can have a big impact on the sale of your home. Typically, some of the most effective fix up quick tips are also the cheapest and have the biggest impact on the future sale of your home.

Stand outside in the front yard of your house facing your property. What do you see? Now pretend youve never seen the house before. What stands out? Do you have weeds? Chipped paint? A messy looking landscape system? Are there cracks in your driveway? When a potential homebuyer pulls up to your front door, they are immediately making judgments in their mind. Control that first impression judging with some lively, fresh landscaping in the front yard. Buy bright flowers or trim the hedges. If you need to clean your gutters or declutter your front yard, this manual labor can add dollars to your sale price and make it more likely to sell. Real estate agents call it curb appeal, but any savvy homeowner will just call it making a great first impression.

How does the paint currently look on the outside of your home? If you cant afford to give your entire home a new, fresh look, start on the doors and window trim. A quick new paint job in these areas can go a long way to making your home look brighter and more inviting. While you are working on the windows, be sure to clean the panes to make them sparkle. Remove any torn or old screens and make sure that the exterior lights work. Potential homebuyers could drive by in the evening to see the neighborhood and you don’t want your property to be dark and dreary.

Move onto the inside of your home. Are there any persistent smells? If you are trying to sell your home, you will want to cover up any bad smells like greasy foods, cat litter box or other troublesome odors. Many real estate agents will suggest baking cookies or bread before a visit, lighting candles before you show your home and numerous other tricks to ensure a positive smell when you future buyers walk through the door. One rule of thumb, however, is that you dont want to overwhelm them with any overpowering smells good or bad. Remember that a little bit goes a long way here.

The trick to selling your home is that you want to have a great impression from start to finish. You want it to be clean, obviously, but you also want to remember that your future buyers are experiencing your home from a variety of different perspectives.

If you need to sell your home quickly and do not have any cash to fix up your house contact your professional home buyer. You do not have to pay any money to receive an offer on your house and you have no obligation to accept the offer.


Tips To Sell My House

June 18, 2008

Although the real estate market might be a bit slow right now, there are always things you can do to speed up the sale of your home and you dont have to spend a ton of cash to make it happen. You can find small amounts of well spent cash that will turn your property into a show stopper that everybody will want to buy. You need to improve your chances of selling and get the best price possible for your new home.

If tons of cash comes to mind when you think of the word home renovations, think again. Although the big home renovation projects will cost you, there are a number of small cost choices that can have a big impact on the sale of your home. Typically, some of the most effective fix up quick tips are also the cheapest and have the biggest impact on the future sale of your home.

Stand outside in the front yard of your house facing your property. What do you see? Now pretend youve never seen the house before. What stands out? Do you have weeds? Chipped paint? A messy looking landscape system? Are there cracks in your driveway? When a potential homebuyer pulls up to your front door, they are immediately making judgments in their mind. Control that first impression judging with some lively, fresh landscaping in the front yard. Buy bright flowers or trim the hedges. If you need to clean your gutters or declutter your front yard, this manual labor can add dollars to your sale price and make it more likely to sell. Real estate agents call it curb appeal, but any savvy homeowner will just call it making a great first impression.

How does the paint currently look on the outside of your home? If you cant afford to give your entire home a new, fresh look, start on the doors and window trim. A quick new paint job in these areas can go a long way to making your home look brighter and more inviting. While you are working on the windows, be sure to clean the panes to make them sparkle. Remove any torn or old screens and make sure that the exterior lights work. Potential homebuyers could drive by in the evening to see the neighborhood and you don’t want your property to be dark and dreary.

Move onto the inside of your home. Are there any persistent smells? If you are trying to sell your home, you will want to cover up any bad smells like greasy foods, cat litter box or other troublesome odors. Many real estate agents will suggest baking cookies or bread before a visit, lighting candles before you show your home and numerous other tricks to ensure a positive smell when you future buyers walk through the door. One rule of thumb, however, is that you dont want to overwhelm them with any overpowering smells good or bad. Remember that a little bit goes a long way here.

The trick to selling your home is that you want to have a great impression from start to finish. You want it to be clean, obviously, but you also want to remember that your future buyers are experiencing your home from a variety of different perspectives.

If you need to sell your home quickly and do not have any cash to fix up your house contact your professional home buyer. You do not have to pay any money to receive an offer on your house and you have no obligation to accept the offer.


How You Are Affected By The Foreclosure Next Door

June 11, 2008

Your neighbor is facing a foreclosure. Not your problem, right. Think again. If you have a foreclosure in your neighborhood even if you are not struggling to pay the mortgage in your own home, it can spell trouble for your property. If you think the foreclosure crisis spells bad news for a number of individuals, but will have no impact on you, you are wrong. There are a number of reasons you should help your neighbor avoid foreclosure is you can.

Millions of Americans are losing their homes, but the impact is that these neighborhoods are drastically changing. If you live in a neighborhood that has seen a number of foreclosures, your property values could be at a standstill or worse dropped significantly. In addition, neighborhoods with heavy foreclosure statistics have been proven to see more vagrants, drug dealers and prostitutes as these people take advantage of the empty buildings. As more and more homes are seen to be empty, their friends pass along the word and the neighborhood will go downhill. This is just another reason for you to help your neighbor stop foreclosure.

When your neighbor has a foreclosure and the house is vacant, it is a welcome mat for vandals. Thieves love to frequent foreclosed homes, stripping copper wires, plumbing, carpet and more valuable items from the home, leaving it even more of an eyesore. All neighbors can do is watch helplessly as their neighborhood becomes less desirable to live in. In addition, broken windows and overgrown lawns send a clear signal that the neighborhood has fallen on bad times and that message will include your home. Inner city problems like graffiti and drugs will enter the empty buildings and have a stronger influence than the rest of the well meaning neighbors.

As foreclosures spike, gang activity and crime accompanies the problem hand in hand. Studies have shown that for every 1 percent increase in foreclosures, there is an associated and accompanied 2.23 percent increase in violent crime and problems. There have been numerous examples of the impact of foreclosures on such cities as the hard hit Cleveland, whose Slavic Village had troubles with foreclosures over a decade ago. Las Vegas, Jacksonville Florida, Miami Florida, Orlando Florida, Stockton California and many other area will feel the same changes.

The foreclosures from high cost loans transformed the middle class neighborhood to a series of empty eyesores, encouraging crime, vagrants and drugs. As the quality of life disappears, so do the prices on the homes, trapping existing neighbors into a lower value home in a decreasing neighborhood. More and more homeowners feel the impact of the foreclosure tidal wave.

Roughly 3 percent of all homeowners are thought to go into foreclosures by the end of 2009. However, from this small 3 percent, 43.5 percent of all homeowners will feel the impact of foreclosure crisis. This means that nearly 40 million homeowners will see their home values plummet in the next two years due to foreclosures. For each home, that is an estimated loss of 8,771 dollars. This is a significant loss and provides a definite tangible effect on the economy as many homeowners have the majority of their portfolio in the equity of their home. If the neighborhood is in a state that is more likely to experience a foreclosure, the financial depression can be even worse, making the average loss drastically higher, no matter what the other homes are doing.

So what can you do to help stop the foreclosure crisis affecting your neighborhood. The first thing you can do it talk with your neighbor openly about the issue. Let them know that you are a helping friend and are willing to help with their financial crisis. I do not mean by paying their mortgage but by finding a home buyer for their property. After all if you find a buyer the home will not go vacant and your home value will not go down.

Help your neighbor or friend who is facing foreclosure and thinking how can I sell my house, by getting them in contact with a professional real estate investor who buys houses to stop foreclosure. The fastest way to contact them is by typing the words Local Home Buyer into Google and completing some online forms. You will be connect with a local home buyer in your neighborhood that will give you a free offer on your house at no cost or obligation, so you have nothing to loose.