While many people have very specific dreams of enjoying the bountiful profits that can be made from flipping houses very few people put too terribly much thought into the process or any formulas that might be pertinent to success when it comes to flipping houses as a real estate investment venture or for the sake of building a nice comfortable lifestyle or retirement. You will hear a lot about the things not to do when it comes to flipping houses but very few people take the time to mention the things you absolutely must do in order to successfully flip a house and thus begin your ride on the road to real estate investment riches.

1) Do put everything to pen and paper and plan it out carefully before you begin. If you are going to enter into this to make money you need to treat it like a business. This means you need to have a plan of action and make every effort to work towards carrying out that plan.
2) Do establish a budget for the entire project. You need to have a plan for how much money you are willing to invest in the property itself, how much for renovations, and how much money you need to make in order to be a worthy investment for your time and labor. A house flip is a lot of work in order to pull it off successfully. You want to have a good idea of how much homes in the neighborhood are worth, the value of your property as is and the estimated value of the property once improvements are made. In addition you should also have a pretty firm grasp of the costs involved in making the repairs in order to create a realistic budget for the entire project.
3) Do have an inspection. This is the single most important detail that can save you a great deal of time, money, and heartache when everything is said and done. Be prepared to walk away if the inspection determines that there is more work needing to be done than simple cosmetic repairs. You want to make changes that people can see because those are generally the changes that drive up the cost of the house. You want to avoid needing to make changes and improvements that aren’t visible but are very necessary. If you need to invest a lot of money and labor into the house you need to seriously consider the realistic profit potential the property offers. If it isn’t significant then you need to walk away before the property becomes a real estate investment money pit.
4) Do know the neighborhood and plan your flip according to the needs of the area rather than your personal tastes and needs in a home. This is another thing that many first time flippers forget. This is not a personal project it is a business project and you need to treat it as such. Keep costs down and feelings out.
5) Do remember that you are in the market to make money not waste money when it comes to establishing an asking price for the property. You’ve poured blood, sweat, and probably more than a few tears into your flip but you cannot set the value of the property by the effort you’ve placed into it. Have realistic expectations of how much you stand to earn from your efforts and how much you are willing to go down on the price in order to walk away with some profit in your pocket.

You should also take a moment to reflect upon the fact that many first time flippers actually lose money on their first flip. If you turn a profit at all, even a small profit you have learned many valuable lessons that you can carry with you into future flips and make more money. More importantly the lessons you learn from your first flip are lessons that money really cannot buy so it is worth a lower profit or even taking a slight hit if your experience makes you even more money in the future as you continue along your real estate investment path.

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When it comes to real estate investing a house flip is a great way to go. It’s also a rather bold move for many who are considering this as a first time real estate investment. At the same time you can minimize the risk while maximizing the profit potential by following a few guidelines.

1) Have an inspection. For whatever reason there are many people who enter into a property flip situation without ever having a valid and complete inspection of the property made. This means you could be doing work that will need to be undone at some later point in the process. You want to avoid this situation if at all possible and it is easily done (in most cases) by having a thorough inspection. There will almost always however be some unanticipated surprises along the way.
2) Establish a budget and stick with it. Most people flipping houses plan a budget. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, very few actually stick to the budget they originally established. It is a good idea to leave a little wiggle room in your budget for unexpected emergencies but be firm on the spending limits for specific projects. If you go over on those projects eliminate something elsewhere in order to save money.
3) Consider the target buyer when making adjustments. You must understand when purchasing a house to flip that you are buying the house for someone else and you need to make adjustments, changes, and improvements according to what your target market demands, expects, and can afford to absorb the costs of you adding. It doesn’t matter how beautiful you’ve made the house if no one that is willing to live in the neighborhood can afford your asking price when all is said and done.
4) Remember that this is a business situation and don’t refuse to consider offers that will net you a profit just because the profit isn’t as good as you’d like. A house sitting empty on the market accrues carrying costs and is ripe for all manner of disasters. You want to get in and out as quickly as possible so that you can free up your investment to move on to the next project. Entertain all offers seriously even if they aren’t what you were hoping for. You never know when one might be the best you’re going to get.
5) Don’t take it personally. Once again a home is a very personal thing to most people. While you may have worked very hard selecting colors, materials, flooring, etc. not everyone is going to share your tastes. Do not alienate potential buyers by attaching personal emotions into the mix and getting angry because they do not appreciate your hard work. I hate to add this but it happens a lot more than you might think when flipping houses.
6) Spend as little money as possible while making bold changes. This is the best way to maximize your profits. You want the changes to be visible and effective. Don’t overlook the value of curb appeal you need to put serious effort into improving the exterior of the home as well as the interior because this is what people will see first and the change that will invite them to take a look at what you’ve done inside.

Little changes make a big improvement in the value (especially the perceived value) of a home. Make the necessary changes and sell the house as quickly as possible in order to bring in the best possible profits.

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So just in case you have been living off the land in the middle of the Amazon these last couple of years, here in South Carolina it is definitely a buyer’s market and although this is great news for buyers, it is bad news for sellers. There is nothing worse than putting your house up for sale and watching it sit on the market with all the other bazillion pieces of real estate. This is a very common problem these days in this down real estate market. So, what should you do now? Should you give up your dreams of selling? Wait for the market to rebound? Well, here are a few tips to help you sell your house fast here in Charleston, Dorchester or Berkeley County.

The following tips may help you sell your house quickly, but we need to cover something first. If you have some type of defect with your house, it is going to have to be repaired to sell it to a retail (owner occupant) buyer. There is a difference between making small repairs that prevent a sale versus having a major problem like a cracked foundation or severe termite damage. These tips will only help if your home is in reasonably good shape when compared to those houses selling in your neighborhood. If you have major problems with your house, a buyer will not be able to get a loan and you will therefore be better off selling to a reputable cash buyer like Charleston Home Buyers, LLC that can buy your property quickly “as is” without any bank financing needed.

1. PRICE – Hands down, the number one thing involved in selling your house fast is the price. The price of your home should not be what you personally think it is worth or what that little voice inside your head tells you that you deserve since you “put all that money into improvements……like your new in ground pool”. Buyers simply don’t care about what you paid for your house a few years ago or that you put the best stain-resistant carpet you could buy throughout the house. If you’re asking how do I sell my house fast in this market, the bottom line is that you have to set a price that is very attractive to buyers. The best way to do this is to look for comparable houses in your neighborhood that sold fast. Note I said sold, not what they are currently listed for. Asking price is just that….an “asking” price. And all it means to you is that your price should be below theirs if you want a buyer to choose your home over theirs. Find out how much the homes sold for and compare your price to the prices the other houses sold for while taking into consideration their square footage vs. yours. If you are above those prices, you need to take a deep breath, bite the bullet and lower your price. When it comes to pricing your house for a fast sale, overpricing it in the beginning to just “test” the market will only bite you in the end when you have to chase the market prices downward, your house gets stale to the market and buyers wonder what’s wrong with it. Just follow the lead of others in your area and make sure your home is the best priced and if at all possible the nicest as well. Which leads us to tip number 2 (subscribe to our feed for tips 2 and 3 coming shortly).

Price is just one of the things you can do to try to get your house sold quickly. However, if you’re sick and tired of waiting for your house to sell, have a difficult situation or perhaps just don’t want to deal with the hassle of having to have your home in tip-top shape, and constantly clean in case of unexpected showings that never seem to happen, then selling your home to a professional home buyer like Charleston Home Buyers, LLC may be a great idea. There are many advantages to selling to a local real estate investor: There will only be one showing. They are cash buyers which means you won’t have any surprises the day of closing [after you have the moving truck packed] when your realtor calls to tell you the buyer’s financing fell through. You won’t have to clean or make any repairs. They buy real estate “as is” so you won’t have to worry about your buyer backing out because their home inspector says there are “problems” with the house. It also allows you to go shopping for a new home because you know that you have a solid buyer with very few contingencies ready to cash you out now or whenever is convenient. Another advantage is that they are very adept at handling many difficult situations such as: foreclosure, bankruptcy, divorce, probate and inherited property, vacant houses, tired landlords, short sales, multiple lien holders, lost job and behind on payments, needs repairs and updating, already moved and making two mortgage payments, listing is expired, no equity and you can’t afford to continue paying. These are common problems that can happen to anyone. Charleston Home Buyers specializes in finding creative win-win solutions to real estate problems that others won’t touch.

To find out more how you can sell your house “as-is” for a fair price on the date of your choice, get our FREE REPORT “How to Sell My House Fast”. If you are falling behind on payments or facing foreclosure make sure you get our FREE REPORT “How to Stop and Avoid Foreclosure“. If you need to sell your house quickly, please submit your property information via the “Sell My House” form at our website today for a Free, Confidential, No-obligation offer or call our toll free 24 hour recorded message at 888-52-BUYER (888-522-8937) for more information about selling your home to a professional house buyer. You can also always call us direct at 843-72-BUYER (843-722-8937), however we recommend that you take 5 minutes to fill out our property information form first so that we can save you time by having the information we need to get you an offer right away.

Copyright © 2009 Charleston Home Buyers, LLC. All rights reserved.

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When it comes to buying foreclosures, every investor needs to be aware of certain aspects that can either make or break their bargain. The appeal of a foreclosed property is often found in the hidden potential that a home is thought to possess, but the fact that it can be purchased at a price that is often far less than the current market value is an equally attractive incentive to most buyers. While foreclosed properties can and often do produce a profitable return for investors, it’s important to keep the following in mind when perusing properties:

- Not every foreclosure is open to inspection. This means that you may or may not be able to view or evaluate the property, and could be required to make a decision based on nothing more than a visual and any information provided in the foreclosure listing.

- If a foreclosed property is open to inspection, it will be up to potential buyers to hire an inspector for the purpose of evaluating any necessary repairs or improvements. This will aid investors in the decision as to how much money they wish to pay for a property by giving them an indication of the work and cash needed to restore it.

- If you plan on buying foreclosures while they are still inhabited, either by the previous owners or renters, you will be responsible for removing them. In some cases, eviction may even be necessary.

- Buying foreclosures means purchasing a property ‘as is’ with no guarantee as to its condition.

- Investors who plan on buying foreclosures from HUD are permitted to enter the bidding process if no person(s) wish to bid as an owner-occupant. The initial phase of a HUD foreclosure auction is open only to those who wish to live in the home.

- Each state handles the process of buying foreclosures differently, but nearly every one offers a redemption period that would allow the former owner to regain control of the property by catching up on payments and interest. Buying foreclosures means that you need to be aware of local laws and how they may affect the ownership of a property.

- If you require financing, it’s important to check with a lender to arrange for a mortgage before placing a bid on a foreclosure. In at least one respect, buying foreclosures is similar to the purchase of other real estate in that the failure to complete the transaction may result in the loss of any earnest money provided.

- Prior to buying foreclosures, or any other type of real estate investment, do your homework. Homes built before 1978 may contain lead paint, which is why it’s important to learn as much as possible about the home’s age and condition, along with other potentially concerning aspects of real estate before signing on the dotted line.

- Successfully buying foreclosures as an investor means knowing the current market value for comparable properties in the area. If you plan to restore the home, you will need to figure in the cost of repairs and calculate a reasonable selling price in order to determine a feasible profit.

- Investors considering buying foreclosures can find local listings through realtors, lenders, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and various other public auctions.

The information contained in this article is designed to be used for reference purposes only. It should not be used as, in place of or in conjunction with professional legal, financial and/or investment advice regarding buying foreclosures. For additional information, consult an attorney who specializes in real estate and/or financial matters.

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So just in case you have been living off the land in the middle of the Amazon these last couple of years, here in South Carolina it is definitely a buyer’s market and although this is great news for buyers, it is bad news for sellers. There is nothing worse than putting your house up for sale and watching it sit on the market with all the other bazillion pieces of real estate. This is a very common problem these days in this down real estate market. So, what should you do now? Should you give up your dreams of selling? Wait for the market to rebound? Well, here are a few tips to help you sell your house fast here in Charleston, Dorchester or Berkeley County.

The following tips may help you sell your house quickly, but we need to cover something first. If you have some type of defect with your house, it is going to have to be repaired to sell it to a retail (owner occupant) buyer. There is a difference between making small repairs that prevent a sale versus having a major problem like a cracked foundation or severe termite damage. These tips will only help if your home is in reasonably good shape when compared to those houses selling in your neighborhood. If you have major problems with your house, a buyer will not be able to get a loan and you will therefore be better off selling to a reputable cash buyer like Charleston Home Buyers, LLC that can buy your property quickly “as is” without any bank financing needed.

1. PRICE – Hands down, the number one thing involved in selling your house fast is the price. The price of your home should not be what you personally think it is worth or what that little voice inside your head tells you that you deserve since you “put all that money into improvements……like your new in ground pool”. Buyers simply don’t care about what you paid for your house a few years ago or that you put the best stain-resistant carpet you could buy throughout the house. If you’re asking how do I sell my house fast in this market, the bottom line is that you have to set a price that is very attractive to buyers. The best way to do this is to look for comparable houses in your neighborhood that sold fast. Note I said sold, not what they are currently listed for. Asking price is just that….an “asking” price. And all it means to you is that your price should be below theirs if you want a buyer to choose your home over theirs. Find out how much the homes sold for and compare your price to the prices the other houses sold for while taking into consideration their square footage vs. yours. If you are above those prices, you need to take a deep breath, bite the bullet and lower your price. When it comes to pricing your house for a fast sale, overpricing it in the beginning to just “test” the market will only bite you in the end when you have to chase the market prices downward, your house gets stale to the market and buyers wonder what’s wrong with it. Just follow the lead of others in your area and make sure your home is the best priced and if at all possible the nicest as well. Which leads us to tip number 2 (subscribe to our feed for tips 2 and 3 coming shortly).

Price is just one of the things you can do to try to get your house sold quickly. However, if you’re sick and tired of waiting for your house to sell, have a difficult situation or perhaps just don’t want to deal with the hassle of having to have your home in tip-top shape, and constantly clean in case of unexpected showings that never seem to happen, then selling your home to a professional home buyer like Charleston Home Buyers, LLC may be a great idea. There are many advantages to selling to a local real estate investor: There will only be one showing. They are cash buyers which means you won’t have any surprises the day of closing [after you have the moving truck packed] when your realtor calls to tell you the buyer’s financing fell through. You won’t have to clean or make any repairs. They buy real estate “as is” so you won’t have to worry about your buyer backing out because their home inspector says there are “problems” with the house. It also allows you to go shopping for a new home because you know that you have a solid buyer with very few contingencies ready to cash you out now or whenever is convenient. Another advantage is that they are very adept at handling many difficult situations such as: foreclosure, bankruptcy, divorce, probate and inherited property, vacant houses, tired landlords, short sales, multiple lien holders, lost job and behind on payments, needs repairs and updating, already moved and making two mortgage payments, listing is expired, no equity and you can’t afford to continue paying. These are common problems that can happen to anyone. Charleston Home Buyers specializes in finding creative win-win solutions to real estate problems that others won’t touch.

To find out more how you can sell your house “as-is” for a fair price on the date of your choice, get our FREE REPORT “How to Sell My House Fast”. If you are falling behind on payments or facing foreclosure make sure you get our FREE REPORT “How to Stop and Avoid Foreclosure“. If you need to sell your house quickly, please submit your property information via the “Sell My House” form at our website today for a Free, Confidential, No-obligation offer or call our toll free 24 hour recorded message at 888-52-BUYER (888-522-8937) for more information about selling your home to a professional house buyer. You can also always call us direct at 843-72-BUYER (843-722-8937), however we recommend that you take 5 minutes to fill out our property information form first so that we can save you time by having the information we need to get you an offer right away.

Copyright © 2009 Charleston Home Buyers, LLC. All rights reserved.

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