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Real Estate Business: Most Popular Articles

These articles are the most popular over the last month.
The Real Estate Short Sale
Real estate investors can frequently make very profitable purchases of real estate through a short sale. Many short sales do not get approved or fall through for a variety of reasons. Learn here the step-by-step process to initiate a short sale, starting with the homeowner-borrower and moving through lender negotiations to the closing.
Calculate Capitalization Rate
To calculate capitaliztion rate (cap rate) for an income property that sold recently, you would divide the net operating income by the sold price to determine the capitalization rate. This percentage number could then be used to determine the value of another property if you know it's net income.
Real Estate Calculations
A spreadsheet real estate financial calculator solution. Set up to quickly calculate gross potential income, gross operating income, gross rent multiplier, net operating income, cash flow before taxes, cash flow after taxes, break-even ratio and return on equity.
Calculate Compound Interest
Compound interest is interest on principal plus interest on the accumulated interest. Real estate investing requires a knowledge of how to calculate compound interest.
BPO, the Broker Price Opinion
The BPO, or Broker Price Opinion, is a tool used by lenders and mortgage companies to value properties in situations where they believe the expense and delay of an appraisal is not necessary. Learn here when a BPO might be used, the types of BPOs and more.
Calculate Simple Interest
The formula and method for simple interest calculation, using principal amount, rate and time is presented here. Used frequently by those in real estate investing.
Gross Rental Multiplier (GRM)
Gross Rent Multiplier or GRM is a tool used to assess the approximate value of a rental property by comparing its rental income with other like properties.
Calculate Net Operating Income
Net operating income or NOI is the monetary result of subtracting operating expenses from Gross Operating Income. Gross operating income is that income after deductions for vacancy and credit loss for a rental real estate investment property.
Value from Capitalization Rate
If the net operating income of a property is known, and it is divided by the capitalization rate for similar properties, the approximate current value of the property will be determined.
Capitalization Rate
The capitalization rate, or cap rate, of a property is a percentage number applied to future income to determine current value. This formula is written as Cap Rate = Net Operating Income / Value.
Calculating Net Rental Yield
Many believe that consistently better returns on investment can be realized in real estate investment rental property than can be gained in stocks or bonds investments. The start of the process is an accurate estimate of rental yield for a property. See how to calculate it here.
Short Sale Lender Negotiations
Lenders turn down a lot of short sales, wasting time and money for investors, sellers and real estate professionals. Learn how to get the deal closed.
Rental Property Depreciation
One of the advantages of owning rental real estate is tax deductions that can offset income from operations of that property as well as others in some cases. Here's how depreciation works on a rental property.
New Agent Business Plan
Beginning a new real estate agent career is exciting, but it is a business. Since it's a business, you need a new real estate agent business plan. What you do early on can make the difference between success and failure. Find out the most important first things to do. They involve education, marketing, budgeting, determining costs, prospecting, your sphere of influence and more.
Short Sale Evaluation Process
The first step in the successful short sale transaction is to evaluate the situation of the homeowner, which includes the home's current value, as well as the mortgage information.
When to Use a BPO
Lenders, banks and loss mitigation companies use real estate brokers to provide a BPO, or broker price opinion, in certain situations where an appraisal isn't necessary or desired. Learn more.
Real Estate Agent Activity
Far from just driving buyers around or placing for sale signs in yards, the daily routine of a real estate agent involves a great many interactions with title companies, other agents, brokers, attorneys, home inspectors, appraisers and more. Then there's the marketing and paperwork activity to top it off.
HUD-1 Settlement Statement
One of the first things every new real estate agent should learn is the HUD-1 Settlement Statement inside and out. After all, you'll be going over it with clients and frequently be asked to explain items or how they're calculated. Here's a completed example HUD-1 on a .pdf with live links to instructional quick tips for the items.
Real Estate Courses Online
Free online real estate courses for new and experienced agents, brokers and real estate investors. Real estate math, expenses, income, investing, risk management and much more.
Commercial Real Estate Start
A common question is whether a person new to real estate should start out as a commercial real estate agent, or work into it from residential or another area of real estate. The decision requires an assessment of finances and abilities. A different skill set is required, and the first commission can be a long way in the future.
Rental Property Returns
Using an example fourplex rental property, we analyze how it cash flows and the tax advantages of ownership.
Real Estate Types of Deeds
Types of deeds used to convey real estate. Learn types of deeds and what each conveys from grantor to grantee.
Special Warranty Deeds
A special warranty deed provides less protection for real estate buyer than a general warranty deed. The grantor warrants that they have legal title, and have not encumbered the property during the time they've held title.
Gross Potential Income
Gross Potential Real Estate Income - This is an easy calculation of the expected gross revenues from an income property. For rentals, the monthly or annual rents for all the units is totaled. No losses for vacancy or non-payment are considered. In other words, the property is considered fully occupied with all payments collected.
Rental Property Cash Flow
Many a wealthy person got that way with real estate. A smart buy on a rental property and good management can provide cash flow for other uses or investments. Here's a fourplex example.
Rental Mortgage Interest
In our series examining a fourplex rental property's income and taxes, we're now looking at the mortgage interest deduction. This is frequently one of the largest write-offs for the owner.
Commercial Lease Calculations
Commercial Lease Calculations - Tools for Commercial Lease Calculations About>Business & Finance>Real Estate Business Essentials Investor Valuation Tools Real Estate Success Classes Annual Budgeting Plans A Day in the Life of a Listing Agent Outlook for Your Business
Quitclaim Deeds
The Quitclaim deed is the least protective for the buyer. Types of deeds. Real estate deed types.
Property Management Responsibi
Real estate property management is an area of specialization that involves four basic areas of responsibility. Marketing/Financial, Tenant and Occupancy, Facility, and Administrative are those four areas. Get more detail here on these four areas of real estate property management responsibility.
Cap Rate Calcs for Clients
Capitalization rate is a common method used in the process of arriving at the value of an income property, such as rental units, commercial rental space, etc. Learn the calculations you'll need as a real estate agent to work with your investor clients.
Real Estate Agent Expenses
Successful business people know their costs as well as their projected income. To remain in your real estate business, you must cover your real estate agent expenses as well as personal costs.
Tips for the Real Estate Exam
Prioritizing your study subjects, and getting reliable resources and information are key to successfully passing the real estate license test. Real estate license exam tips are outlined here.
Lender Process for Short Sale
Once the short sale package is submitted to the lender, there are a number of actions the lender takes before making a decision as to whether to approve the short sale or not.
Calculate Loan to Value Ratio
When working with real estate clients, agents and brokers are frequently tasked to help buyers to determine what they can afford in a home. One of the factors is the size of the mortgage they can get. The loan to value ratio is the percentage of a property's value that is mortgaged. Lenders will make mortgages based on maximum loan to value for different types of properties.
Triple Net Commercial Lease
The triple net lease in commercial real estate is used extensively in industrial and retail multi-tenant properties. In this type of lease the tenant pays certain expenses directly in addition to their rent.
Short Sale Lender Contact
Once you've identified a potential short sale purchase candidate, you need to get permission from the borrower and contact the lender to get the process started.
Real Estate Income Method
Appraisers and real estate investors use the income method to value properties that produce rental income in some form. The net income a property generates is used to determine its fair market value. Primarily, capitalization rate and gross rent multiplier are calculations used in this method.
Why Real Estate Agents Fail
Assure your success in a real estate career by knowing the reasons others fail and taking action to overcome them. Competition, variable income commissions, burn-out, and unrealistic expectations are all important contributors to failure in the business.
Real Estate Domain Names
Many wonder if they should use their own Name as their real estate web site domain name. Though it can be one of the names that point to your site, it shouldn't be the primary. It doesn't have to include "real estate" but there are those who believe it helps with the search engines.
Fee Simple Estates
A fee simple estate in land is the highest form of ownership recognized by law. The property owner is entitled to the full enjoyment and use of the property subject only to limitations such as deed restrictions or zoning.
General Warranty Deed
A General warranty deed legally binds the grantor with certain covenants or warranties. Covenant of seisin, covenant against encumbrances, covenant of quiet enjoyment, covenant of further assurance, covenant of warranty forever.
Starting as a Part Time Agent
Find out the pros and cons of starting your career as a part time real estate agent. See what it takes to make the part-time strategy successful.
Commercial Real Estate Leases
Commercial leases for real estate are quite varied in types and terms. Learn about Gross, Triple Net and Modified Net leases here.
Real Estate Business Cards
Don't forget the purpose of your real estate business card when doing the design for a custom card. Though the world is going digital, there is still a use for business cards, and one of your most important design considerations should be how well it will convert to digital with a business card scanner. Don't get too graphic, but if you do use images, be sure to make the text clear and prominent.
Major Property Types
Basic description of the major types of real property as marketed by real estate agents and brokers. Vacant land, residential, commercial, and multi-family are included.
Compensation in Real Estate
Traditionally, agents are sponsored by brokers and receive certain services from their broker. Commissions coming into the brokerage are split on a percentage basis between the broker and the agent. Learn more about how that split works here.
Short Sale Purchase Agrmt.
If a short sale is a possibility, and the price looks like a good investment, then a purchase agreement is the next step. Make sure that you know what to use and more important, what not to use.
Short Sale Hardship Letter
Lenders resist short sales, so one of the first things the borrower needs to do is to convince them that it's really their best chance to recoup the most of their investment.
Gross Commercial Lease
The commercial gross lease is sometimes also called a full service lease. The landlord generally agrees to pay all expenses in this type of lease, including taxes, insurance and maintenance.
Real Estate Investing Analysis
There are some key elements to keep in mind when you’re evaluating a potential real estate investment. Some are quantitative (What sort of cashflow should you expect? What kind of rate of return are you shooting for?) Some are qualitative (What kind of investor are you? How much can you take on at once? What’s your risk tolerance?) All of them are important. Here’s some things I think investors should consider.
A Career in Real Estate
Real estate career benefits are many, and include the ability to be your own boss, set your working hours, build your own independent contractor business, create financial security and more. Pursuing a career in real estate has created many successful business people.
Cash Flow Before Taxes
Cash flow is all the in and out flows of cash through a business, without regard to tax considerations. All money in or out is considered. This is Cash Flow Before Taxes or CFBT. The cash flow of a real estate investment is an important part of its viability as an investment. Rental properties are expected to cash flow more than mortgage payments and expenses to generate a profit.
Calculate the Break-Even Ratio
The break-even ratio of a real estate investment is the total of the debt service and operating expenses divided by the gross operating income. It is expressed as a percentage, the lower the better when lenders are looking at a deal.
Real Estate Policy Manual
From this article, you are linked to detailed explanations of the sections in an example real estate brokerage office policy manual.
Gross Operating Income
In real estate investment, we want to estimate the income of a property with a realistic estimate of losses due to vacancy and bad credit. This is called gross operating income or GOI. We subtract those estimated amounts from Gross Projected Income to arrive at Gross Operating Income.
Addendum or Amendment
Real estate agents need to be sure that they know the difference between an amendment and an addendum to a real estate contract or purchase agreement. In real estate contract law, using the wrong document could lead to more than just a red face. An amendment changes an already-executed agreement, while an addendum is an additional document included in the original agreement.
Comparative Market Analysis
A good comparative market analysis, or CMA, is simply defined as one that helps to yield an accurate and reasonable listing price for a property. However, easily defined and easily produced are not the same. A good CMA requires attention to detail, mathematical skills, experience and a bit of creative thinking.
Real Estate Career For You?
Choosing a real estate career is a big step. Find out if you are suited to work independently and without a fixed salary, as well as if you're up to the task of building your own real estate business.
Real Estate Lease Purchase
Using a least purchase agreement can be beneficial to both buyers and sellers of real estate. Learn why and how here.
Real Estate Easements
Easements are the right of someone to utilize the real estate owned by another. Real estate easements can be created by written agreement of the parties, a deed conveying a property, condemnation, court order, prescription or by necessity.
Bundle of Legal Rights
The bundle of rights that the owner of real property has are those legal rights of ownership including, enjoyment, exclusion, disposition, possession and control.
Brokerage Office Management
Learn the basics of real estate brokerage office management. An introduction to insurance, risk management, marketing, purchasing, sales and lead management, office and staff considerations.
Drive By Broker Price Opinion
A drive by BPO, or broker price opinion, seems like it could be as simple as driving by and shooting a picture or two from the car. Learn here what else can be involved.
Investment Property Returns
Real estate investment property provides numerous advantages over other types of investments. This is primarily due to the different ways in which the real estate investor can realize returns on their property investments. These include mortgage payoff, appreciation, tax advantages, gains from inflation, and more.
Real Estate Marketing Plan
A step-by-step plan for any agent, but really great for new agents. Learn how to spend very little to realize a lot of real estate marketing clout.
Cash Flow After Taxes
After Tax Cash Flow CFAT - Real Estate Investment After Tax Cash Flow CFAT About>Business & Finance>Real Estate Business> Real Estate Investment> Know the Math> After Tax Cash Flow CFAT - Real Estate Investment After Tax Cash Flow CFAT Most Popular Articles
Aggregate Adjustment on HUD-1
When setting up the "escrows", "impounds" or "reserve" items on the HUD-1 Settlement Statement in the 1000 series, the last line, usually line 1011, is an adjustment made based on calculating with two different accounting methods. This is something few of us will ever need to know, but the text of 3500.17(d) is presented here for reference.
Jumpstart Your Real Estate SOI
Every real estate agent has a sphere of influence, a group of people upon which they have some influence, if for no other reason than they know you. This group will be a future source of business. Increasing the size of your sphere of influence will bring you much business over time.
Addendum in Real Estate
An addendum should not be confused with an amendment. While an amendment modifies a previously accepted contract, an addendum is part of the original contract. It adds necessary information, requirements or explantory documents to the original contract or purchase agreement. Once an agreement is reached and the contract accepted, additional documents are not added as addendums.
Calculate Return on Equity
Return on equity, as calculated in the first year of a real estate investment, is the cash return after taxes divided by the cash invested in the property.
Vacancy and Credit Loss Calc
Rental vacancy and credit loss is the estimated dollar amount of lost rental income due to vacant units and non-payment of rent.
Zoho for Real Estate Tasks
I've tried just about every free or low cost real estate transaction and listing management solution out there. I'm currently using Zoho Projects, and I just might stay with this one. Read this article for the high points.
Loan to Value (LTV) Ratio
The amount of the outstanding mortgage divided by the property's value is the LTV or loan to value ratio. The value is normally either the appraised value or the selling price, whichever is less. This is used in regular owner occupied mortages as well as properties purchased as real estate investments.
New Real Estate Agents Plan
Getting your license soon, or a new real estate agent? Here's a detailed plan for start-up success. Learn what you have to do for income and expense budgeting, choosing a broker, new agent marketing and more.
New Agent Marketing Budget
Get experienced advice and specific plans for setting a real estate agent marketing budget for your new real estate agent business the first year or so.
Agent License Exam Tips
Best practice tips for studying for the real estate agent licensing exam. Helpful advice for taking and passing the test.
Why Invest in Real Estate?
With a major portion of the 1990's Standard & Poors Earnings running at 5% to 6%, with dividend earnings running 2% or less, an astute real estate investor would have done much better. With a strategy of only purchasing properties with expected rental yields above 6%, the added return potential of amortization, leverage, appreciation, tax advantages and more make real estate a sound alternative to other investment vehicles.
Listing Presentation Prep
Before you get in front of that listing prospect, be sure you have your ducks in a row. You're presenting your experience, expertise, marketing and transactions services.
BPO or Broker Price Opinion
A BPO, or broker price opinion, is a broker's opinion of the value of a property in the current market. This term, and the product, are used mostly by lenders and banks that have properties facing foreclosure.
Short Sale Documents
Lenders are all about numbers, so give them plenty of them. When the short sale package is prepared, there is a long list of possible documents to back up the request.
Buyer Agent Responsibilities
Buyer agency or buyer representation has been increasing in importance and use for a number of years. Even if a real estate agent works with both buyers and sellers, this description of some of the responsibilities of the real estate buyer agent will apply to how they work with real estate buyers.
BPOs and Legality by State
BPOs are a major source of revenue for many real estate agents and brokers. They are legal in most states, but you'll want to be sure about yours. Here's how I wasted time and money.
Real Estate Budget Planning
As a real estate agent or broker, you're an independent contractor. Expenses and income for your business should be estimated carefully and a plan put in place to create the income to surpass expenses. With spreadsheets and the sales funnel process, it's not difficult and well worth a couple of hours of your time.
Terminate Real Estate Easement
Easements generally pass along with ownership changes in real estate. However, there are ways to terminate a real estate easement. Generally, this is not an automatic event, but will require some legal action. Learn about release, merger, non-use, adverse possession, destruction and quiet title action.
Real Estate Franchises
Learn about some of the largest real estate franchises, their business models, how agents are compensated, costs to agents and brokers, franchise fees, agent splits, profit sharing, revenue sharing, residuals and more. Look at profiles of Prudential Real Estate, Exit Realty, Keller Williams Real Estate, RE/MAX, Coldwell Banker and Century 21.
Un-licensed Assistant Duties
Take care in assigning duties to an unlicensed real estate assistant, or if you are one, make sure you know what you are allowed to do according to your state's regulations. In most states, an un-licensed assistant cannot discuss property specifics, advise clients, or draft documents.
Online Office
Learn through a step-by-step process how to set up a free set of online collaboration tools to manage your real estate business email, contacts, calendar and more.
The Funnel Approach to Income
Planning real estate income is accomplished by determining your needed income, planning behaviors and activities, knowing the approximate results of these activities and behaviors, and developing a plan. You can determine precisely what you need to do each day to fill your sales funnel. A lot goes in the top and the sales dribble out the bottom. Knowing the ratio of what goes into the top of the funnel to what comes out the bottom tells you what you need to do.
Types of Broker Price Opinions
The two major groupings of BPO, or broker price opinions, are the drive by and the internal BPO. Learn more about them here.
Real Estate Referral Agent
The real estate referral agent is one of the highest paid non-entertainment jobs on the planet. Where's the value in this antiquated procedure that pays thousands of dollars an hour for actual effort or performance?
Drip Email for Real Estate
Effective real estate drip email is not that difficult, and it's very important if you are planning on realizing business from the internet. Learn the steps to set up an effective and profitable real estate drip email system here.
Fiduciary Duties - Real Estate
Real estate agency law says that a real estate agent who takes on the capacity of "agent" for her client then takes on the duties developed over many years in common law. These include Obedience, Loyalty, Disclosure, Confidentiality, Accounting, Reasonable Care.
Board of Realtors - State Realtor Associations
Links to the state Realtor Association web sites. Contact information.
Cap Rate and Investors
Capitalization Rate, or Cap Rate is used by real estate investors to either determine if an asking price is justified or to value a property using the income the property generates.
Commercial Property Types
Top commercial real estate property types as handled by real estate agents and brokers. From multi-family apartments to office, retail, industrial, and institutional properties, this is a large segment of total real estate ownership transfers each year.
A Day in a Listing Agents Life
A real estate listing agent will be involved in a myriad of details and activities. From checking the morning hot sheet, to doing comparative market analysis and making listing presentations, the listing agent is kept quite busy.
Contingency in Real Estate
A contingency, or condition, is written into a real estate contract to specify an event that, if it happens, the contract would cease to exist. An example would be a purchase contingent upon the buyer obtaining a loan at a specified interest rate or lower. Should the buyer be unable to do this, the contract would end.
US Housing Market Stats
US housing market statistics are quoted in a lot of places. One reliable index isn't widely publicized. The Standard and Poors Case-Shiller Home Price Indices are considered very accurate due to their methodology. Learn how they're constructed and why they're an excellent tool to understand the real estate market.
Encumbrances on Real Estate
Learn the types of encumbrances on real estate properties, including liens, deed restrictions, easements, encroachments and licenses. Real estate encumbrances can adversely impact the sale of a property.
Email to Cell Phone as Text
Sending email to sms real estate text messaging to a cell phone is quite simple for most of the cell services. Adding the cell phone number before the @ symbol and the appropriate domain after will get the job done.
Licensed Assistant Duties
A licensed real estate assistant will add additional abilities, as most real estate licensing boards limit what an un-licensed assistant can do. These include document preparation, advice and interpretation, delivery of financial and title documents. attending closings and telephone marketing.
Real Estate Earnest Money
Buyers frequently deposit earnest money in a real estate transaction. Learn how real estate earnest money is accounted for, handled, and refunded in the real estate purchase transaction.
Choose a Real Estate Broker
Too many new real estate agents think that to choose a real estate broker is primarily based on commission splits. It's not all about the split, as the final in-your-pocket income has to do with many variable services provided by brokers. What training and education do you need and they offer? Do you need lots of floor time and leads provided by the broker?
Cap Rate to Justify Price
Using the asking price of an income producing property and the capitalization rates of other similar properties in the area, one can calculate the income necessary to justify the asking price.
Net Operating Income (NOI)
Net operating income, or NOI, is rental income of a property after operating expenses. These expenses would include all operating expenses, including maintenance, insurance, janitorial, supplies, management, accounting, etc.
Real Estate Listing Agreements
There are three basic types of real estate listing agreements, Open, Exclusive Agency, and Exclusive Right to Sell. You should know the difference in order to know who is and is not entitled to a commission on sale.
Keller Williams Real Estate
Keller Williams Real Estate, founded in 1983, has experienced steady growth in franchises and now has more than 600 offices and more than 80,000 agents. Using innovative profit sharing for agents who bring in agent recruits for up to seven down levels, this company has experienced excellent agent retention. The Keller Williams University provides extensive training and the technology resources provided to agents are highly valued.
Townhouse
A townhouse is one of a row of homes sharing common walls. Differing from condominiums, townhouse ownership does include individual ownership of the land.
Real Estate Flood Cert
In most real estate deals involving a lender, the lender has their own source for getting a flood certification on a property before making the loan. A third party provider produces a report certifying the flood zone status of the property based on the most current FEMA flood maps. If your client is doing a cash deal, you might want to get them to do their own flood cert, or you can get it for them inexpensively.
How to Hold an Open House
When an open house is appropriate for a residential property, learn the steps to properly plan, market and hold it.
Commercial Real Estate?
There is an allure to commercial real estate. Many a residential real estate agent has considered the switch. However, know what's required first, and try to plan for your success.
Modified Net Lease
The modified net lease is so-named because it is a modified version of the triple net lease. Rather than paying all expenses, the tenant may pay taxes and insurance but share maintenance expenses with the landlord.
Landlord Guide for Investors
Taking the step from buying and selling real estate properties to buy-and-hold strategies and landlord status is a large one. Be sure that you examine your capabilities and desires, plan for management, and that you're capable of dealing with tenants, managing rents, repairs and vendors. This landlord guide will help.
Median
Median is a mathematical result that indicates that one half of a group is higher and one half lower than the median. Median price of 101 sold homes would be that price which is lower than 50 of the prices and also higher than 50 of them.
Business Model
A business model is the theory and basic plan, as well as the structure, for operating a business. There are usually many business models in an industry. A model is chosen as a preference of how the owners want to operate, and as a response to their market and customer requirements. Real Estate business models include independent brokers, franchises, associate brokers, flat fee, commission, fee-for-service, and buyer agency.
Top Ten Real Estate Tech Tools
I spend a great deal of time researching and testing online services, software and other technology tools for real estate. Here are my top ten favorite free tools.
Replacement Cost Method
Real estate appraisers also estimate the value of a property by the appraisal replacement cost, or estimating what it would cost to replace or re-construct the property, disregarding the value of the land. This method considers location, age, construction type, roof type, square footage and other structure related items into account.
Bargain and Sale Deed
A bargain and sale deed does not warrant against encumbrances. It only implies that the grantor holds title and possession of the property. Real estate deeds. Types of real estate deeds.
Independent Contractor Status
The vast majority of independent real estate agents are statutory independent contractors. This is a statutory status rather than common-law. The right of control and the 20 tests of the Internal Revenue Service to determine if one is an employee or independent contractor do not apply.
Task Management with Outlook
With Outlook Task Management, you can set up a system that will allow the fast import into Outlook of a list of tasks related to a particular transaction and closing. The sheet can even calculate the task due dates for you based on days from contract date and days before closing. Real estate transaction coordinators are learning the power of MS Outlook for transaction management.
Real Estate Email Newsletter
With real estate email newsletters getting more popular every day, how do you develop one that is interesting, timely and not too time consuming or expensive to produce? Using blogging and RSS feeds, a fantastic email newsletter program can be developed at little or no cost.
Types of Commercial Realty
Commercial real estate agents and brokers can choose from several specialty types of properties to work with. These include office, business brokerage, industrial, retail and investment.
California Board of Realtors - California Association of Realtors
Contact information and link to the web site of the California Board of Realtors.
Agent Business Plan Creator
We're looking at the usefulness and value of the CreateAPlan.com service for real estate agent and broker budgets and to determine their expenses, budget and project commission and business revenues and profitability.
Property Transfer Taxes
The calculation methods and tax rates for property transfer taxes vary significantly by state. However, some basic methods prevail. Learn here how rates are calculated, whether full selling price is used, cash at closing or assumed mortgage deducted.
Internal Broker Price Opinion
The name Internal BPO would imply going into the home. This is definitely the case, however there could be much more involved. Learn the general requirements of an internal BPO.
C.L.U.E. Report in Real Estate
C.L.U.E. (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) Reports give the insurance claim and loss history for a residential property. Insurers regularly report property losses to a company that compiles the C.L.U.E. Report to a homeowner. Only the homeowner or a prospective insurer can order it.
Search Engine
A search engine is a web site that collects and organizes content from all over the internet. Those wishing to locate something would enter a query about what they'd like to find and the engine provides links to content that matches what they want.
Supply & Demand in Real Estate
Real estate supply and demand are different than in many fields or markets. That's because each real estate parcel is unique and real estate cannot be moved. In many fields or markets, if there is a shortage, more of the same product can be manufactured. The unique nature of real estate makes this impossible. You also cannot move more real estate into an area that has a short supply.
Home Repair Estimating
Real estate investing, and especially the flipping of properties, frequently involves the purchase of a property in poor condition and repairing and remodeling it to result in a profit when it's sold. Obviously, great risk is assumed if the real estate investor isn't able to accurately estimate repair costs. Here are resources to help.
Real Estate Contact Manage
Real estate contact and prospect management is at the heart of building a successful real estate business. Keeping track of your many professional contacts is critical to smooth transactions, while prospect management keeps you in the minds of your prospects until and after a transaction.
Referral Fees
Definition - Referral fees in real estate are fees charged by one agent or broker to another for a client referred. They are most common when a seller client is leaving the area and their agent refers them to an agent or broker in the new area to which they're moving. Generally this fee is a percentage of the final commission received by the agent who accepts the referral.
Florida Board of Realtors - Florida Association of Realtors
Contact information and link to the web site of the Florida Board of Realtors.
Real Estate Software Outlook
Real Estate Software - Outlook. Properly configured and customized, MS Outlook can do just about everything a real estate agent or broker needs in the areas of prospect management, contact management, listings and transactions management, tasking and more.
Calculate Return on Equity 2
After the first year, or as a projection for future years, a real estate investor might want to calculate the return on equity formula for years after the first. This could be to determine if the return still justifies holding the property when it has appreciated in value and the mortgage has been paid down significantly.
New Jersey Board of Realtors - New Jersey Association of Realtors
Contact information and link to the web site of the New Jersey Board of Realtors.
Commission Split
The commission split in real estate is a multi-level sharing of the gross commission as charged to the buyer or seller of real estate. Two brokerages can split the commission and then it can be split again between the broker and the agent(s).
Start Investing in Real Estate
Before you start investing in real estate, know the math to identify good opportunities and manage them for profit. Understand the issues landlords face. Understand leverage, mortgage options, property suitability evaluation, and repairs and maintenance issues.
Real Estate Time Management
Real estate agents and brokers are self-employed independent contractors in most cases. Effective real estate time management is critical to financial success. Learn the top time-wasting activities and how to avoid them. Not having a plan, effective transaction management systems, task management, or allowing interruptions can all damage productivity.
Easements & Encumbrances
When one owns real property, this ownership can be limited or "encumbered" by various easements, liens or encroachments to the property. Learn the basics of easements, liens and encumbrances in real estate.
Title Insurance Binder
During the real estate purchase process, the title company will search the public records, and issue what is called a title insurance commitment or a title insurance binder. This document binds the title company to issue the insurance policy subject to the requirements being met. The list of exceptions are those items that will not be covered by the insurance policy.
NABPOP for BPO Professionals
NABPOP, or the National Association of Broker Price Opinion Professionals, is an organization that brings together the consumers of BPOs with the agents and brokers who provide them. Learn about it here.
Buyer Agents - Stay Informed
When working with buyers, knowing the market is critical. Market changes are reflected in the "hot sheet", or recent activity report provided to real estate agents by their MLS software. It should be a daily activity for agents to check expired, withdrawn, sold, and new listings, as well as price changes. Real estate buyer agents have a duty to stay informed.
Voicemail to Email w/Youmail
Getting a voicemail to your email inbox has never been easier. YouMail, a free service, offers voicemail that takes the place of your cell provider's service and some cool services.
Meet Experienced Agents
So you've got your license and you're settling into your new office space. You need to make sure that you meet the experienced agents and listen more than you talk. Whether they're bragging or complaining, things that might help you slip out in conversations.
License Reciprocity
Information on how to obtain a real estate license in another state without testing and with minimal courses. This is called license reciprocity, or broker reciprocity.
Yahoo Keyword Selection Tool
Yahoo has a tool that allows you to enter a keyword phrase and see all the searched variations on that phrase for the last full month. The results tell you the number of searches for each phrase variation. Use it to locate opportunities in phrases with smaller search volumes that might be less expensive to bid for, as well as those that might be overlooked by the competition.
Subagency in Real Estate
Subagency refers to a relationship between the listing and the selling agents in a real estate transaction.
Associate Broker
A real estate person holding a broker license that chooses to associate or affiliate with another sponsoring broker rather than opening their own brokerage office. They want the added knowledge and status of a broker, but do not desire to operate an independent office.
Real Estate Consulting
Real estate consulting combines some of the practices of fee for service with an hourly fee delivery for services. The consumer, buyer or seller, can select services individually at flat rates, services in pre-packaged bundles at flat rates, or elect to have their needs met via an hourly rate.
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