Creative Real Estate Investing

Creative real estate investing is a different way of obtaining real estate than traditional methods. Most buyers will obtain a mortgage from a bank and provide a down payment. Some buyers will pay cash but most buyers don't have a lot of money laying around.

One method of creative real estate investing is an option. This is when the property is being sold to a buyer at a specified price or strike price during a certain period of time. The owner will sell the buyer an option before a determined date. On the determined date, the buyer can complete the purchase of the option or sell it to another buyer. This will depend on the value of the house. An option is used to buy a house with little cash.

The sandwich lease is a method of creative real estate investing that occurs when a tenant wants to leave their unit without having the option to leave written into their lease. To get out of their lease, the investor would find a replacement tenant who becomes their tenant and not the landlord's tenant. The replacement will pay the rent to the investor who pays the landlord and keeps the profit. The new tenant will contact the landlord if they have problems with the unit. At the end of the lease, they will notify the landlord and not the investor. Their next lease will make them a tenant of the landlord.

A wholesale is when an investor buys large quantities of real estate from the bank and sells them quickly for a small profit. Distressed buyers will make a deal with the bank who will sell to the wholesalers. After buying the house from the bank, the wholesaler can make a quick profit by selling the house at markup.

A tax lien or deed is when the state sells a property after the taxes have not been paid. The owners of the property are given a certain period of time to pay their taxes. If the taxes are not paid in this time, the state will sell the home. Some states sell the tax lien at an auction. Depending on the state, the investor can obtain the property for the amount that is owed. Some states will start the auction at that price. The investor will own the property free and clear. Other states will sell the deed at a public sale. The investor can still get a great price and many have the convenience of buying the properties online.

There are many ways for creative real estate investing that are within reach.

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Author: William Stone

Each year, thousands of interested people want to invest in property but don't have the money to do so. Even in a tough housing market, where homes are selling for thousands of dollars less than market value, purchasing property can still be expensive.

However, there is another option that many people fail to utilize and that is purchasing property through property tax sales. This is an excellent way to purchase property, sometime for literally pennies on the dollar, and purchasing the place of your dreams.

Where does this whole process start? Well, it is actually very simple. Someone purchase a piece of property. Sometimes they build a home on it or sometimes they use it for raising animals, or simply to appreciate in value. However, something happens and they cannot pay the taxes that they own on their property (there are property taxes in every state and anyone who owns property must pay those taxes). The local government then contacts those individuals and gives them the opportunity to pay.

All throughout the process, the local government gives the individuals plenty of opportunities to pay. The government wants their money so they will allow payments to be made while they put a lien on the property (so the owners can't sell it without paying off their debt first). Once the property enters into property tax sales, then that is a sure sign that the owner is extremely delinquent in their payments and the local government has no other option on how to reclaim the money owed.

Typically, but not always, these properties are put into property tax sales auctions. These auctions are open to the public; however, it is not always easy for a typical person to find these auctions, they have to know where to look. Additionally, the auction of the property will start at the amount owed on the property and then increase from their, so there is no guarantee that you are going to get a piece of property for pennies on the dollar, but there is a chance that you will.

Once you pay the taxes owed on the property (or the amount that the auction comes to), you receive the deed for the property and you owe it free and clear. Just don't forget that you too will have to pay taxes on the property you buy or your will end up in the same situation as the previous owners.

Learn more about property tax sales. Stop by No Risk Investor where you can find out all about government tax foreclosure properties and how you can profit by them.

For real estate investors, there are two things that are always in short supply regardless of the ups and downs in the economy: capital and quality inventory. Most investors that I have worked with not only need capital but strategies to go after capital that is not issued based solely on a credit score. Even if a real estate investor has good credit they still have the obstacle of too many inquires and too many open loans on their credit report and funding sources are spooked by these distractions and turn the applicant down even though all of their loans are current and they have a solid FICO.

If the above describes you or if you have limited or poor credit and you're a serious real estate investor, here is how to get all the capital you'll ever need. First put a solid strategy together. Start with your company infrastructure. Organize your company with a CEO, CFO, Board of Directors etc. After you've done this you want to set up your inter-industry strategic alliances which should be composed of other investors, bird dogs, electricians, roofers, general contractors etc. You want each of these alliances to have a purpose. They should be a portal for industry niche knowledge and consultation and also referral hubs. Let each of your alliances know exactly what type of investments you're looking for and as they are sending you referrals, reciprocate by issuing them work in whatever specialty they are in.

Next you want to have a solid business plan written for your company (don't write this yourself, have a professional do it for you) that spells out the intricacies of your company, your alliances, your accomplishments and goals. Paint a picture of success and strength.

Next you need a mechanism for accepting investment capital so you'll need a Private Placement Memorandum. This document package gives a technical breakdown of your investment opportunity and spells out the risks and advantages in detail to keep you from getting sued by investors down the road. This memorandum takes advantage of SEC Regulation D Rule Exemptions 504, 505 or 506. A PPM is the minimum requirement dictated by the SEC for accepting capital from accredited and non accredited investment sources. Real investors will demand an PPM anyway so it's good to have it done beforehand.

Now that your company is properly structured, you have a solid board of directors and alliances; your business plan is well written and to the point, you have a solid outlet for accepting capital from investors, you are now ready for capital. Your best bet is to go back to the company who wrote your business plan and private placement memorandum and use their 'investor finder' service. Legitimate corporate consultants who write technical documents will also stand behind their work by assisting their clients in finding investors. One solid strategy for getting access to capital quickly and easily is to have your Investor Finder forward go through their database and email individual and institutional funding sources.

When you are contacted by these investment sources, give them the option to invest in your company using the PPM (which will give you a fund in which you will be able to rehab real estate, buy at auctions etc). You will also want to give them the option of investing in a 'per deal' scenario. Allow them the option to also (or only) invest in particular transactions with you so when you get a deal, with a solid investor finder service, you'll eventually have 100+ solid investors to go to for quick capital on particular transactions that go above what your PPM fund can handle.

There you have it, a strategy that works 100% of the time for real estate investors globally. Your best bet, to make sure that you do this properly, is to hire a consultant that can set up this process for you. Cheers to your success!

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For real estate investors, buying homes in pre-foreclosure can be a great way to maximize their return on investment. A home facing foreclosure contains the three elements that make for a very lucrative investment if the buyer has the wherewithal to close the deal. When an owner of a potential investment property is in pre-foreclosure, they are extremely motivated to sell, are often willing to take an extremely low offer just to be rid of the property. This fact often points to a huge ROI for the real estate investor The biggest hurdle in the deal is getting the bank to agree to the terms of the sale instead of foreclosing on the home

Because the bank stands to lose money either way, they will be motivated by the deal that will best minimize their losses. Essentially they are in a lose lose situation and will evaluate sales offers based upon what will minimize their losses. If a property owner has stopped paying on a mortgage and the bank has put the home in pre foreclosure, then the burden is on the real estate investor to demonstrate that their purchase offer provides the most effective means for the bank to minimize their loss on the deal.

Due to this this fact, real estate investors often assemble complete packages to plead their case to the bank. They get to know the loss mitigation agent of the bank that owns the property, and learn what is needed by the bank to complete the transaction.

Many investors who have successfully purchased pre-foreclosure homes have worked with mentors to develop systems that streamline the process and make it easy.  Although not wholly necessary, recruiting a mentor does have some obvious benefits

Depending on your goals, investing in pre-foreclosure homes may be a great way to profit. Just know that there are a number of little details that will determine your overall level of success.

There are many other resources available to learn more about investing in short sales. BestShorSales.com is a learning service that I have found useful in the past.

To learn more about how to profit from pre foreclosure click on our Real Estate Investment Website today. Along with to investment tools, real estate investors receive our free real estate software, a ninety-nine dollar value.

In today's market, those investors who be able to successfully buy short sale dwellings stand to make a lot of money. Those buyers familiar with the short sale process comprehend that fortunes may be made purchasing dwellings at huge discounts. For investors looking to get into buying short sales, the return be able to be phenomenal.

What steps are needed to buy a short sale? To get started, you must understand that a short sell is only buying a property for less than the mortgage value. For an investor the obvious benefit of this type of investment property is understandable. However, you will be dealing with a bank that is trying to curtail their loss so there will be a lot of paperwork that will need to be completed. Because of this, there may be many requirements and restrictions that the lender will require as part of the process

Before trying to buy a short sale, you must be aware of the roles that each participant will play in the process as well as their motivation. Obviously the property owner is a big factor in the transaction and may be going through some financial turmoil which is leading to the need for a short sale. There are a number of motivations for a property owner to be in this position, but before performing any due diligence in purchasing a short sale, you must be sure that the owner of your target property is motivated.

If you have a willing property owner, get to also know the loss mitigation department of the mortgaging bank. As a financial institution, a bank will only agree to let an investment or mortgage go if the cost of owning it is going to be greater than the payoff. For home mortgages, this only happens if the cost of foreclosing on the home for non-payment of the mortgage is greater than keeping the existing financing in place, or going through the pre-foreclosure and foreclosure process. Because that is a guiding principle, you must create a circumstance where the lender sees the short sale as the best option.

Now that you understand these two players, the process of convincing each to short sale the investment property to you is a process of working with both parties to create a proposal that will satisfy the needs of both the property owner and the bank. To create a short sale package that you will use to plead your case to the bank, work with the owner to craft a letter and substantiation that shows an incapability to continue to pay the mortgage. Find and photograph and areas of the property that need repair, and get an appraiser to come out and give an appraisal based upon the lowest marketable value of the home.

The next step is only offering to purchase the property at a given price and submitting it to the lender for approval. Submit your purchase request along with the short sale package to the lender and gently push it through the approval process. It the proposal is approved, your purchase of the short sale goes through. If not, only modify your request and submit it again.

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Buying an investment property can be very satisfying financially. Most successful investors realize that the true way to riches is the one where tons of bargain properties are to be had. However, not all investors are sharp about things immediately and have lost cash as they learn about investing through trial and error. This text runs through some excellent ways to help you find the best bargains when dabbling in real estate investing.

First of all, you need to find properties at bargain prices to thrive in property investment in. However, great property deals entail more than just how much you need to pay the owners to acquire them. Skilled investors also know that it's about locating great properties that are predicted to step up in worth sooner or later. Keep in mind that if the first property purchase is rewarding, then this will boost your confidence to delve deeper into real estate investment. This method can be applied over and over again until an investor has enough properties that give him more pull in the property investment market.

Location is also crucial to successfully buying an investment property. Buying investment properties indicates that you must have a clear understanding of your target investment areas and any inclination for advancement. A positively geared property can be found in a burgeoning area, as long as there is a stable infrastructure is already in place. These developing regions are often the best areas to spot bargain properties that will step up in value soon.

Check out neighborhoods near primary capital cities too for great real estate deals. A great deal of communities is spot on for buying an investment property. However, don't give attention to too many areas all at the same time so you can concentrate and specialize on how much real estate is worth sooner.

investors new on the job are often uncertain if they should start buying houses or condo units or apartment units. You may get property investment advice that encourage you to go for units because they're a great source of rent, but you may also receive advice that claim houses are much better purchases. The underlying principle behind this recommendation is the land. Land is almost sure to raise in value, so the more grounds you procure, the more value you're building in the long-term. When you acquire a house, you also possess the land on which it is situated on. Units do not provide the same benefit, limiting renovations and income possibilities.

Many new investors hire coaches to teach them how to buy an investment property. These experts will give you the advice you need to make good investments. Many property investors try to learn the ropes by trial and error, but this approach can result in loss of time and money. Heeding the advice of others can make the investment process more lucrative from the beginning. Buying an investment property can be a great source of income and be the basis of a good retirement plan.

You may be looking for how to invest in property information, in which case you should visit that site. Gain a better understanding relating to property investment strategies.

An incredible opportunity for real estate investors is investing in foreclosure. Foreclosed homes repeatedly sell at deep discounts; which provides buyers a straightforward opportunity to profit. Because foreclosed homes are often highly discounted, they can be purchased and sold with a large return. Homes that are facing or have vanished by way of foreclosure often meet the investing goals of both the long term investor and the investor that plans to flip the property.

Profiting From Foreclosure.

Plainly stated, a foreclosed property is one that has been repossessed by the lender for non-disbursement of the mortgage. Since the majority mortgages are collateralized by the actual property, a dwelling that has gone through foreclosure has re-claimed by the bank. There are a lot of things that occur all through this progression, and depending on which status the residence is located, the procedure can actually take numerous months. As a consequence of the difficulty of the process as well as the length and the cost for both the bank and homeowner, there exists and chance for investors to arbitrate and help both parties in the circumstances.

Throughout the period previous to a home is officially repossessed by the bank, the real estate investor may have an opportunity to jump in. Throughout this pre-foreclosure time, the bank is actively taking steps to eject the property owner and take back the house. For the duration of this time, the homeowners are in the situation that they are no longer making payments to the bank and at jeopardy of losing their credit rating, their dwelling, and even their pride. Throughout these periods, an investor can choose to intervene and buy the habitat at a discounted rate from the homeowner. Depending on the situation, the investor could be able to purchase the house for less than is owed on it (short sale) which presents an important occasion.

As mentioned earlier, the pre-foreclosure route may last numerous months. Though, if a resolution is not met involving the bank and property title-holder or a likely investor, the process ends with the bank placing the habitat up for community auction.

The last step in a foreclosed habitat is when the regional sheriff comes to provide the eviction notice and paste the public sale notice on the front door. At that point forward, the dwelling is officially foreclosed.

Although it is much more competitive, when a dwelling is foreclosed upon, it can be bought at a discount at community public sale. During these auctions there are certainly deals to be had. However, it is important to realize that if the least amount bid is not met, the bank that owns the land may opt to get it back. Also, at municipal auction, you are competing with a number of added investors so you could not get as good quality of a deal as you would have previously. All in all though, investing in foreclosed homes can be a large way to profit.

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Bargain Properties ? How To Play This Game.

by Doc Schmyz

Home foreclosures and fixer-uppers have long been a focus of many real estate investors looking to make big profits. Of course, if the target property doesn't meet certain criteria, an investor can lose their investment as well as any profit that was to be gained.

A cautious and methodical approach is best in this decision making process. Keeping that in mind, here are some critical area's that must be considered when looking at real estate bargains for investing purposes.

Please Note: The following elements discussed are not listed in any particular order. Nor do they all hold the same value in relation to each other, but they must ALL must be considered in their entirety. The property should meet at least one of the criteria, and should have no unjustifiable issues in any one single area.

Here is the list to used:

KNOW WHY THE PRICE

Most investors focus on price first.

They search for properties they think are selling below market value. This makes sense buy low and sell high right?? However think about the reasons behind the sales price? What is their motivation? Are they relocating or in financial duress? The 3 D's come in to play here most of the time. (Death Divorce, Debt)

Are there problems with the property that will cost a small fortune to fix? Out dated plumbing? Poor electrical wiring? In older houses these problems are VERY common. Don't forget to consider holding costs.

Holding costs are one of the biggest profit killers to investors. Taxes, mortgage, commissions to agents (both selling and buying) gas, and electric...all these things add up...and FAST.

A poor understanding of the current market value is another major deal killer. Remember market value is an educated guess at best. No one really knows until the appraisal is complete.

Price other property in the area. Come as close to the size/style/lot size you are looking at buying.

PAY ATTENTION TO TERMS AND CONDITIONS

What areas can you leverage besides price and location? Financing?

In some cases a full price purchase can allow you to leverage the terms to mean a lower interest rate or smaller down payment.

STUDY THE LOCAL MARKET

Good investors get in the habit of understanding the lay of the land. What is the local community like? Where are the closest fire/police/EMS services? How good are the local schools? Don't rule out these questions. Make sure to look in to the last houses sold in the area as well as any selling trends you can find.

As the Man Said...It is All About Location.

If your shooting for a long term tenet or residence then location is the second most critical thing to look at...however if you have a chance to turn a good profit for a ugly house in a less than 4 star area...that profit might out shine a nice little bungalow on the beach.

FIXER UPPERS AND FORECLOSURES

In the case of a fix and flip and sometimes a foreclosure. It is the job of the investor to factor in the repair costs. A keen eye can save you lots of money in a very short time. (Not to mention a good understanding of home repair work)

Fixer upper properties are a treasure trove to a savvy investor. If you have a good eye for details and can spot maintenance problems you can make a nice return on your investment. Things like a bad roof, poor plumbing or a bad foundation can be very costly to repair. Once you have an idea of what you're looking at for repair cost, do yourself a favor and add a little buffer say 5%...just to be safe.

Know What it is ZONED For

Make sure you research the zoning for the property BEFORE you buy it. If you are thinking of adding a second floor or a granny flat...is the zoning available? Make sure you know before you commit to doing anything that will add or change the square footage of the property.

Think of it this way, what could make you more money...a single small house on the land you just invested in...Or a duplex on the same land? One tenet or two? Zoning is a gift or a curse depending on your plans with the property...makes sure you know before you buy it.

Classic zoning "no-no's" are garages converted to bedrooms. Non-permitted mother in-law apartment and detached garages.

About the Author:

Doc has been a investor since the early 1990's. In 2006 he started a real estate investing information website. He hopes to help other investors by giving them the information on real estate services that will help them

Recession Made Millionaires; Can They Be Someones Hero? Foreclosure Investing the Next Big Thing!

by Shane E. Bryan

There are several people saying there will be more millionaires made during a recession than ever before. So why during the worst time in the economy are more millionaires made? I'm going to reveal the secret!

So let me first ask the question that's on most peoples minds. What got us into this mess in the first place? While I cant answer that question with 100% certainty, I can say that I believe it is because the main stream way of thinking will not try to think outside of the box. Millionaires made during this recession will be out of the box thinkers.

Being different or out of the box thinkers has made some of the largest, most successful businesses today. The founders of these businesses knew that they had to do things differently to outperform the main stream.

So I bet you're thinking That's great but how do I become a millionaire in these times or I don't have any ideas like those. Let me ask you this, what is the largest market in today's economy? If you answered foreclosures you are right.

Foreclosures are one of the main reasons that the economy is in the shape it is in now. This gives out of the box thinkers a great opportunity to find a way to make their millions. I once saw a quote from a person on twitter that said Show me a business that helps the economy and makes millions in the process and Ill show you a business Id like to invest in (VCtips).

There are several people in any certain area who are going into foreclosure. They are looking for someone to help. They need to sell their house ASAP so they can get into a house they can afford. This gives you an opportunity to help and become wealthy at the same time, without taking advantage of anyone.

So do you see the opportunity to help your neighbors and become a recession made millionaire. You get to help someone save their credit and improve the economy in the process. Great way to think out of any boxes! The less foreclosures out there the better the markets will be and the more real estate sales the better.

If the people who are unable to afford these homes end up losing them to the banks, they will lose their credit and a lot of other things. Most people have a friend or family member who is looking at a foreclosure. I'm sure you have thought how great it would be to help them. I believe that there are people out there that will help these people and become a very well liked millionaire.

There will be more millionaires made in today's recession than ever before. We can all do our part to help change things but some will become millionaires in the process. These new millionaires will be very happy and will enjoy their new found fortune, helping people find a new beginning at the same time.

You can become one of these recession made millionaires who think outside the box. All you need to do is find out how to help these people in need. How to purchase these Pre-foreclosures before the banks take them.

About the Author:

Author Shane E. Bryan is a "out of the box thinker" who contributes to Foreclosure Cottage, a training website in the field offoreclosure investing. Shane has spent his life learning from the best "out of the box" thinkers.

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by Marty Chavez

Just turn on the TV or pick up a paper and it's nothing but gloom and doom. Rising unemployment, sinking property values, foreclosure rates skyrocketing, banks going bust, poor earnings by just about every company and the list goes on. Investors are scrambling to find a place to put their money that's safe and provides a decent return. Not an easy job in today's economy.

Real estate investing may be the the answer for investors are looking for. But what are the things needed to get started in this kind of investment opportunity? It's fairly simple but requires some work.

First, you need to be able to quantify the risk associated with a particular property. Real estate is an investment that doesn't only involve a small amount of money but the returns can be equally impressive! This is the reason why it pays to have substantial knowledge when it comes to real estate investment.

How to invest in real estate should also provide you a panoramic view and detail of your investment payments. After a careful perusal and background check of the type of investment you want to get on, it is best that you determine modes of payments such as, private financing, mortgage, loans and the like.

Always use contracts, no handshakes or word of mouth. A lot of people fail on a particular investment because they've fallen short on jotting down plans. When you plan for something especially if it's an investment that is as big as real estate, every step you carry out should be well conformed in your written plan.

How to invest in real estate likewise entails dealing with a trusted and reliable property developer. One that is mindful of the basic principles providing accessible home environments, high quality home and one that forges a legacy of providing families with cost efficient yet high standard shelters.

Make sure you do your homework before making a commitment to an investment. With so much money on the line there are a lot of crooks out there just waiting to sell you some Florida Swampland.

In conclusion, you need to consult legal assistance since you're dealing with a serious matter that greatly involves serious money. Asking a legal counsel to shed some light concerning real estate governing laws is deemed as one of the most excellent steps to formulate.

About the Author:

With rates low and prices rock bottom now may be the time to invest in real estate.. My new report "How to Invest in Real Estate" will have you on your way to purchasing your first investment property in no time! This real estate investing how to ebook is clearly written with easy to follow steps that any new investor can succeed with. Grab your copy of this report today!

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by Doc Schmyz

First let's establish a few ground rules for this article.

1) The market has had a down turn before and people still made money.

2) Not every deal will fall into a cookie cutter format.

3) Not every tactic or idea works in EVERY state/province. Check local laws pertaining to real estate transactions.

Ok..now that we understand the rules...lets move forward.

So home values have fallen in your market, this doesn't mean that you, as a real estate investor/professional, are out of luck. It only means you need to add new tools to your real estate investing tool box. (Be warned I use "tool box" a lot.)

Finding and Marketing property

Besides the normal channels of RE agents and brokers (still the best way to find good investments in my opinion) you have a huge amount or resources at your fingertip with the Internet.

You can join website communities for investors, follow blogs, get in on group discussion etc. All of these things can lead to new and interesting deals.

Several investments have come to me via the web. I also have gotten many tips from other investors on investments and financing issues. Never over look the value of belonging to an "investor community website."

I truly feel that in the future the majority of investing will shift to being web related. Not just in finding investment projects but in doing the research for them as well as the funding process and the marketing/exit strategy as well.

Finance

Everyday we are hearing about how the current market and credit crunch is making getting loans harder for everyone. This is currently a fact. No way around it. The loan process has changed. So what options are left?? The answer is several.

Lease options. Assumable loans. Seller financing.

The above mentioned will become the big trends in the next couple of years. I am waiting to see the lenders change the loan guidelines in the next few months to "re introduce" the assumable loan. We are already seeing a HUGE trend in short sales. (This was a practice that was used only in limited capacity in the last 10 years by most lenders now it seems like every other distressed listing is a short sale in some cities.)

Please do not let the current market conditions scare you in to sitting this investment period out. On the contrary use it to inspire you. Take the time to do the research on finance options, look into building a LLC perhaps. Find out about buying real estate with your IRA. Etc, etc.

Buy books. Read investment strategies of the big names in investing. Use the time to educate yourself and above all be creative.

Don't Let Panic Drive You Off with Everyone Else.

About the Author:

Doc Schmyz has worked with investors all over the U.S.. His website gives thousands of investors up to date real estate investing information Get more info from across the U.S. on Doc's real estate investing resources page.

by Alexandria P. Anderson

Do you have jitters about putting your money towards a real estate investment? After-all, the media LOVES to talk about what tumultuous times we're in right now. Home prices falling! Buyers beware! Protect yourself!

Never believe anyone that tells you an investment is 100% safe and smart. EVERYTHING that you do with your money has a certain amount of risk involved with it, even if it's just putting bills under your mattress; speaking of which, let's talk about what happens if you do NOTHING with the money you save (e.g., putting it under your mattress). That wouldn't be very smart--fire, flood, theft, etc. could make your money disappear very quickly with no hope for return.

But, you say, what if I put my money in a bank safety-deposit box, won't THAT keep my money safe? Yes, it will keep the physical paper currency safe, but remember that the bills are only worth what the current value of the currency is. Over time the buying power of currency goes down (inflation!).

The annual rate of inflation in the United States hovers around 3% ("things" cost about 3% more every year). That means after one year of sitting in the secure bank box doing nothing, your money is worth 3% less. This wouldn't be called "saving" in my opinion; you're constantly losing purchasing power!

What About a Savings Account?

These accounts are almost always protected by the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) so there's not much risk of your bank going under and you losing your money, but again you're swimming upstream against the current of inflation. Even the best savings accounts out there barely give you enough interest to counteract inflation and often times inflation is outpacing your savings account interest earnings; but at least you're not losing AS much!

How About Stocks?

I like to think of investing in stocks as investing in an "idea". You don't hold claim to any tangible item. You only "own" the fact that you have contributed funds to the "idea" that the entity you contributed your money to will somehow add value to itself and subsequently add a gain to the money you started out with.

The danger here is that you wouldn't surely know how much control you have over such an "idea". In real sense, you actually have almost none. Most people remedy this by doing extensive research on the company or entity's track record as well as the people around it (to predict if the "idea" will work for all of you). Unfortunately, it's hard to tell especially if you are unaware of all the factors involved. Unless you have the desired technical preparation (i.e. its your profession, or you devote your time on research), investing in stocks would save you from much greater risk. This leads us now to the best possible option, the real estate.

What primarily distinguishes real estate from the ones mentioned above is its being "tangible" (this presupposes that you can experience it with all your senses: you can see it, touch it, and even improve it.) Likewise, the risk involved as far as losing the physical asset is concerned seemed distant. If it does, there's a wonderful thing called insurance! Can you apply the same in the case of stocks? Your property's value also grows with inflation unlike paper currency so you do not have to worry about your investment losing its purchasing power every year.

Finally, the best thing in real estate is that the return of your investment is intensified! To name a few, you get huge tax breaks, gained equity through renter-paid debt reduction, equity gained through improvements, and many other surprising benefits. Can real estate investment protect your money? While it is true that no investment is a hundred percent safe, with forethought, I can definitely assure you that this is where you'll find the security you're looking for.

About the Author:

About the Author: Alexandria P. Anderson is a Golden Valley Minnesota Real Estate agent that helps people to find and purchase Golden Valley houses in Minnesota.

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by William Blake

A tax lien can be applied to a home by the federal or state government when a person has not been paying their taxes. The lien can later be used to take possession of the home or property if it seems that the owner is planning on evading taxes.

The owner of the home has to pay all the taxes within a set period of time or else the property in question can be auctioned off publicly by the government.

If you are thinking about purchasing a home that has been made available for sale by means of a government tax foreclosure it is important that you know that you are accepting any and all risks that are associated with the property; the government offers no warranties on properties sold in this way. This can create serious problems. At some times, individuals have purchased properties at auctions without ever actually seeing them and have wound up wanting to get out of the sale. Even though the government could choose to allow the buyer to bail out of the transaction, they will lose their 10% deposit from the auction no matter what.

Additionally, if the property is resold and the final bid is less than that of the original bid, the person backing out can be held responsible for the difference. Buying home through government tax foreclosures can provide a chance to buy houses considerably below their market value, but buyers must be aware of the dangers involved before bidding.

Tax Sales: Not Always Final Immediately

When a home is auctioned due to government tax foreclosures, many states give the original homeowner 10 days from the date of the sale to pay all taxed due and reclaim ownership of the home. When this happen, the bidder is refunded any deposit they made.

Follow-up bids are also permissible at government tax foreclosure auctions in some states. These bids are made after the auction has ended and must be for a price that is at least 10% higher than the original winning bid was.

For those with a federal income tax lien they should be able to avoid government tax foreclosures by making arrangements to pay off the debt. The Internal Revenue Service as well as many state governments offer programs where a compromise offer can be made in order to avoid drastic measures such as government tax foreclosures. However, ignoring the situation usually results in foreclosures without further notice.

About the Author:

Looking for the fastest way to pay off debt? Visit the Debt Reduction Academy website, where you can claim your free 5 day e-course "Operation Money-Find: How To Find Money To Start Paying Off Your Debt This Month". Grab your copy now at http://www.debtreductionacademy.com/minicourse.php

by William Blake

You may not realize it but banks aren't the only ones conducting foreclosures nowadays. The Federal Government, too, conducts foreclosures. Government foreclosures occur for several reasons. Most of the time it is because someone is receiving government help and fails to live up to their end of the bargain. For instance, if someone is living in government subsidized housing, and can no longer make the small payments required to stay in that home, the government will foreclose and will force that person to leave.

This is the perfect opportunity for a potential buyer to make a purchase. Even though you will not be able to get anything for free from the government, you could purchase a property for a very low price, especially if you make a good offer. The government is interested in making money, and they can do that better if the property in question is occupied.

Using Local Newspapers

The classified section of any local newspaper should contain information regarding government foreclosures that are scheduled to occur in the area. Properties such as apartments, homes, and farm land are all available. To make an offer, simply contact the government office that is handling the foreclosure process. In most cases the government will be willing to accept any reasonable offer. Again, their goal is to make money off an occupied property.

Government Run Websites

Certain government run websites also list information regarding local government foreclosures. For example, the official website of Housing and Urban Development, commonly referred to as HUD, contains useful information regarding foreclosure properties. Checking these websites frequently will help you be ready to take advantage of an opportunity whenever it presents itself.

Get Great Bargain Prices on Homes and Other Properties

When you purchase a home or other property that is a government foreclosure, you will be able to get a great low price that you would not be able to find anywhere else. You need to stay on top of emerging opportunities so that you can jump at any chance that appears. The property of your dreams could be on the market as a government foreclosure tomorrow, so you need to check the Internet, local papers, and any other sources you know of to find out when and where there are government foreclosures.

About the Author:

Would you like to find some extra cash to help wipe out credit card debt this month? Visit the Debt Reduction Academy website, where you can claim your free 5 day mini course "Operation Money-Find: How To Find Money To Start Paying Off Your Debt This Month". Grab your copy now at http://www.debtreductionacademy.com/minicourse.php

84,000 properties repossessed in October Alone

Foreclosures in October up by 25% over the same time last year with more than 270,000 homes getting a foreclosure notice in October.

Market Ripe for Real Estate Investing

With the new very strict lending standards bad economy and lower dropping home prices real estate investing has never offered a better time. With millions of properties filling the banks the time is now for beginning real estate investing. By beginning real estate investing you with some money will be able to scoop up deals on multiple properties in one scoop.

Real Estate Foreclosures

Real estate foreclosures are the collateral damage and are the result of the bust in the financial markets. The government’s $700 billion financial rescue plan is not going to do anything for all the properties in trouble.  Real estate foreclosure investment is like leaving the top off the cookie jar for the savvy real estate investment strategy. The time is now to plan your own real estate investment strategy.

One Strategy in a Real Estate Investment Program

Start a real estate investment program with the distressed home owner in mine. In some cases you may already have a tenant to pay rent for your property investment. With the deals of 40 to 75 cents on the dollars starting to pop up there has never been a better time to start a real estate investing business.

The government plans for housing solutions for the troubled home owners will not even fix 50% of the problems. But the door is wide open for the savvy real estate investors.

Where is the Best Property Investment Opportunity?

The states with the top real estate foreclosure rates are Arizona, Florida and Nevada are the places to find the best property investment opportunity. With the whole country in trouble distressed real estate properties are everywhere. Other states in the top foreclosure rates were California, Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, Illinois and Ohio.

Property Hotspot for Investing in Real Estate

In Florida it the metro areas Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Miami, Fort Lauderdale are the property hotspots. In California the property hotspots are Merced, Modesto, Riverside, San Bernardino and Stockton.  Also another city hotspot is Las Vegas because it had the highest foreclosure rate in October of all.

Pros and Cons of Rental Property.