Month: March 2018

The Origins Of The Six Percent Real Estate Agent Commission

The commission paid to the Real Estate agent is a serious amount of money and a concern in any transaction involving the sell of Real Estate. Where did this six percent commission come from?

The idea of a 6% Real Estate commission being paid to the agent originated during the 1940s when local Real Estate Boards openly engaged in price fixing to establish a standard rate. This process was an out and out case of an unfair practice, but the 1940s was a time when the attention of the country was directed to some serious external matters and the idea took hold and spread quickly through the industry.

In the early 1950s, the Supreme Court ruled that an established 6% commission was illegal. Rather than open up commissions to a more competitive and free market system, the Real Estate Boards merely shifted gears with a bit of fancy linguistic footwork and began to call the 6% commission the suggested amount. During the 1950s and 1960s, they managed to get away with this practice without much trouble as the majority of real estate agents complied with the suggestion.

In the 1970s lawsuits brought against the Real Estate Boards effectively put the skids on this practice. The Real Estate agents commissions were opened up to competition without the Boards either being able to mandate or even suggest 6% as the carved into stone rate. However, the rate did not alter very much in the years following these court cases. Although the rate may not have been carved into stone, it was pretty much established in the Real Estate market as a standard.

Generally, competitive markets benefit consumers. As long as someone is willing to offer a discounted rate, it would seem that the consumer stood to save money. However, the proponents of a standard 6% rate commission point to such things as health care to argue that the standard rate may actually be helping the consumer by holding the commission down to 6% rather than propping it up to that level. Although the cost of health care is not regulated, the general trend has been straight up off the charts.

Real Estate agents would be quick to point out that if you were to take a close look at just about any service or product being offered or sold in the 1940s, you would find a very serious increase in cost to the consumer. Except for Real Estate commissions which are still right around 6%. The amount being paid to the agents has increased greatly merely because the value of the property being sold has increased. Today, the internet has been responsible for a few chips in the rock of the 6% commission by offering some straight fee or reduced rate services that allow the sellers to list their own properties. The results are still mixed and the 6% commission is still the standard.

Window Cleaning and Property Maintenance

Window Cleaning & Property Maintenance Advice

Keeping your home or investment property well maintained through all four seasons is important to any homeowner. Regular upkeep of your investment can help to maintain or even increase your investments value and save you a lot of frustration.

If you have ever walked by a property who’s owners or tenants are not keeping it well maintained then you will know how quickly they can become an eyesore and cause the owners time, money and grief: over grown gardens, mould & mildew, filthy glass, out of control hedges and more. This can be a real challenge for owners and an eyesore for neighbours.

At Partners In Grime (www.partnersingrime.co.nz) we have learned the key to property maintenance is to do it early and often.

Here are a few critical areas for owners to pay attention to when it comes to the maintenance of your home or investment property.

Windows: Keeping your windows clean of dirt, grime and hard water spots is key, if you fail to do so not only will you not be able to see out of them but they could also harbour germs. Your window frames also need special care and attention, mould can build up quickly and spell disaster for you window frames and the hygiene of you house.

At Partners In Grime we are equipped with all the professional window cleaning tools needed to create crystal clear windows at your residence or place of business. We work quickly and efficiently and can incorporate this service within our daily clean included in our flat rate.

At Partners in Grime we have years of experience getting the most difficult windows sparkling clean. When your windows need a good once over to get them back to an original state it’s always better to call in the professionals who have the expertise and knowledge to carry out the job quickly & safely.

A professional window cleaner will also have the knowledge, tools & best array of products to get your windows sparkling. If you have particularly high windows then Partners In Grime have water fed poles which can clean windows up to 7m.

When looking for a window cleaner reputation is key. Please have a look at our website and in particular our guest testimonials which will give you piece of mind in know your home or investment is in good hands.

Thank you,

Aaron Murphy www.partnersingrime.co.nz

Condominium Ownership Document And Address Registration Tabien Baan

Foreigners buying a condominium in Thailand will receive 2 official government issued documents related to the condominium.

1 the condominium ownership title deed
2 the condominium house registration book

Each condominium unit has a unit title deed issued by the Provincial Land Department or its branch office and a Tabien Baan or House Registration Book issued by the local municipality.

The condominium unit title deed is the official ownership document and its use id proof of ownership. The apartment’s house book primary use is registration of the unit and it’s address and verification and registration of a Thai person’s address living in the condominium.

The normal house book issued for each address in Thailand is the blue version of the Tabien Baan. Foreigners owning a property are usually not registered in the blue book as owner or resident. Opposite Thai nationals foreigners often have an empty blue house book.

There is a separate version of the Tabien Baan for foreigners, the ‘yellow book’. It is possible for foreigners to exchange the blue book for a yellow book if the foreigner meets the requirements for the application. The required documents for a yellow book vary per location but usually require a non-immigrant visa and an ownership document such as the condominium unit title deed, but could also include a work permit or marriage certificate.

A yellow book is unusual in Thailand and it is not necessary for foreigners to exchange the blue book for a yellow book. The majority of foreigners have the blue book together with the ownership unit title deed.

Even though the foreigner is not registered in the house book foreigners usually proof their address through the Tabien Baan and the condominium title deed, or obtain a separate ‘letter of residence’ from the local immigration.

Overall compared to the ownership title deed the house book is not an important document and there is no need for foreigners to exchange a blue for a yellow book.

How To Become A Mortgage Broker1

How to Become a Mortgage Broker is a question many people ask. For knowing How to Become a Mortgage Broker one should be clear about the work of a Mortgage broker. A Mortgage Broker is a mediator between a mortgage buyer and a seller. How to Become a Mortgage Broker is simple as one’s work is to bridge the gap between the mortgage buyer and seller.
For knowing How to Become a Mortgage Broker one has to know what is the work of a loan officer. A Mortgage Broker gathers and processes all sorts of work related to mortgage real estate. So by knowing this one can know How to Become a Mortgage Broker. For knowing How to Become a Mortgage Broker one also has to do marketing to attract the clients, gathers all necessary documents, shops around for a loan product that fits the clients and processes the loan and submits all important materials to lender or company
If you are efficient in terms of your resullts then your question of How to Become a Mortgage Broker that also good one can be answered easily. How to Become a Mortgage Broker can be answered by referring to various Mortgage books or to Internet. There are some institutes, which offer information and course about How to Become a Mortgage Broker!
How to Become a Mortgage Broker is a question many people ask. For knowing How to Become a Mortgage Broker one should be clear about the work of a Mortgage broker. A Mortgage Broker is a mediator between a mortgage buyer and a seller. How to Become a Mortgage Broker is simple as one’s work is to bridge the gap between the mortgage buyer and seller.
For knowing How to Become a Mortgage Broker one has to know what is the work of a loan officer. A Mortgage Broker gathers and processes all sorts of work related to mortgage real estate. So by knowing this one can know How to Become a Mortgage Broker. For knowing How to Become a Mortgage Broker one also has to do marketing to attract the clients, gathers all necessary documents, shops around for a loan product that fits the clients and processes the loan and submits all important materials to lender or company
If you are efficient in terms of your resullts then your question of How to Become a Mortgage Broker that also good one can be answered easily. How to Become a Mortgage Broker can be answered by referring to various Mortgage books or to Internet. There are some institutes, which offer information and course about How to Become a Mortgage Broker!

Good Mortgage For Brilliant Shoppers

I am sure that there would be more complext deals that one could come across. You are in the market for procuring a house. There will be a lender. You will return that money over a period of time along with some reward, called interest, for loaning you that money.

If it were indeed so, I would not join the ranks of authors who write about this topic. Real estate financing options are getting quite complicated. Naturally, you are likely to avail of only one or two or few, so the complexity should not cause you anxiety. If I were in your shoes, the only thing I would be worried about would be ignorance of better opportunities.

So, let us divide our approach into three parts.

First: Do you know what it is that you want? Are you a new buyer, home-upgrader, home improvement customer, or some other Is it that your existing home is in impending danger of being snatched away because of a loan that you defaulted on? Or are you happy with where you reside, but you are trying to get a loan to improve your loan.

Certainly we can be in one of many camps. In fact, here is one that you may not have thought of: Is your objective to make your old age peaceful by borrowing money that does not have to be returned in your lifetime?

Second: Evaluate All Alternatives Compare! Compare! Compare! The other way of looking at alternatives is by seeking specific proposals from different lenders. In other words you could say that I am recommending that you consider your options and then get lenders into a little bit of a competition to get your valuable business.

Third: The God Is In The Details If things go fine and dandy, cool. But what if they do not? There are sites that will present you will calculators and online forms that can help you with these. But details also include stuff like: Do you want a fixed rate mortgage? Or would you like the rate of interested to float? How would you decide on something like this?

I hope that a beginner’s article of the type that you are reading is not causing you stress. But, I have also come across people who have gone through the process only once and are now walking encyclopedias on this entire industry. Sure we live in a world where programming the video recorder is supposed to be a challenge. But I am still sure that you can easily master this game of real estate credit.

Think of it this way. If you blindly chose the first option that came your way, it is extremely unlikely that you will ever get a good deal. And there are loan providers who would line up to get your business. And if the concept of “lines” is abhorable, you can always go ahead and get the details online.

Online providers want your business as bad as that big bank downtown. There is no difference for all practical purposes. All in all, remember that an informed and empowered customer is a smart customer.

If I have managed to stir up your interest in home related financing, you should consider reading some of my favorites resources for Mortgage Companies, Home Mortgage Refinancing, and Adjustable Rate Mortgage.

Factors to Consider When Building a New Home

There is nothing more fulfilling that building your dream home. However, the process isn’t an easy one. It requires a lot of work from the planning period to the actual building process using all those wholesale building supplies. There are numerous decisions to be made in order, from approving blueprints to choosing a builders hardware supply store. Only then will get you exactly what you want.

A custom home can reasonably take up to six months depending on several factors. These include the size and complexity of your home, weather conditions, the availability of discount contractor supplies and the competence of your contractor. This is often the reason why it is so impossible to estimate a completion date until well into the construction project.

The very first thing you want to do is plan out a budget. You should be thinking about what you can afford to spend and how much things like discount home improvement supplies are likely to cost. Try to get an approximate amount of building costs including discount home building supplies to make it a little easier to meet your budget if you have to change your building plans in any way. Most people take out construction loans or another mortgage to make the numbers add up in their budget.

Think about the Style and Size of Home You Want – One thing to take into consideration early on is the style of home you would like. This step involves everything else such as number of rooms, your builders hardware supply, and aesthetic appeal. Think about the type of home you want. For example, do you want a modern home, ranch style or Cape Cod? You’ll also need to make as decision as to how many square feet you want, how bedrooms and bathrooms, the size of each room, and any additions you would like such as a garage to keep your discount home improvement supplies.

Lot Considerations – Your next big decision involves the lot you plan on building upon. You’ll have to weight factors such as size, location such as urban, rural, near an ocean and the lots proximity to local attractions. How close is the lot to amenities, schools, work, parks and discount home remodeling supplies. Try to find information on important aspects like drainage, zoning laws, building regulations, weather conditions, and soil conditions.

Pick Out a Plan – There are plenty of designs and architects out there who can help you. Most homes have specific plans, but builders tend to make modifications depending on factors such as available wholesale building supplies or discount contractor supplies.

In general, it is important to be fully prepared during every step. Building a home is a long and sometimes complicated process. A plan can make sure everything goes smoothly. You’ll have something to refer to every time a problem arises from finding the cheapest builders hardware supply and discount home building supplies to finding who to contact over needed building permit.

Its Important For Your Condominium Community To Be Hudfha Approved

The Feds changed the game.

You now need to be HUD and FHA approved before your condominium community can offer FHA loans to your buyers. Once your complex is approved you must be recertified every 2 years.

If your condo community is not HUD/FHA approved you are missing out on a lot of buyers.

For people who can’t qualify for conventional loans the FHA loan program is the answer.

According to DQ News in April 2011 – 33.4% of the purchase mortgages used in 20 of the largest metro areas were FHA-Insured and the November 2010 Realtors Confidence Index reported that Nationally 39 percent of recent buyers purchased a home with FHA-insured loans.

If your condominium community is not FHA approved you are missing out on a lot of potential buyers. This will also affect current homeowners when they go to sell their unit.

For many first time home buyers qualifying for a conventional loan isnt possible. Through the FHA there are programs that make it feasible for these people to get affordable financing.

The Benefits of the FHA Loan Program

– A low down payment

The FHA program lets buyers put as little as 3.5% of the purchase price down. As you can imagine this opens many doors for people that wouldnt otherwise be able to come up with a conventional down payment.

– Help with closing costs

Qualified applicants can also receive up to 6% towards closing costs. This further reduces the loan and down payment amount.

– Co-Signer requirements

Another part of the program allows for a blood relative to co-sign. What makes this program different is that if the home-buyers dont have enough credit to qualify on their own a blood relative can co-sign without needing to reside in the home that is being purchased.

With the help of those benefits people with little credit, low and moderate incomes and first time home buyers have more opportunities to find affordable housing.

These types of people make up a large part of those buying homes. First time home buyers are usually those that are less qualified for conventional loans. Without being HUD approved your condo community will not be able to provide affordable financing from the FHA.

Recently HUD made drastic changes to their condo approval program. These changes jeopardize the availability of FHA loans for condominiums.

HUD Changes:

– Elimination of spot approvals
– Mandatory recertification for projects approved prior to October 2009
– Re-certification every 2 years

The elimination of spot approval can cause major concern and problems for your condominium community. Spot approvals gave every condo community a way to assist people requiring FHA programs. Loans were decided on an as needed basis.

If you were relying on spot approvals to obtain financing for those homebuyers that need FHA assistance that option is no longer available. You will not be able to get FHA help to purchase a home within your community.

Now full HUD approval is required for anyone wanting to use the FHA loan program.

If your condominiums need to be certified or recertified now is the time to do it. It is anticipated that there will be a boatload of applications to HUD for FHA approval over the next few months so get yours in now. First come – first served.

To see if your condominium complex is HUD/FHA approved go to https://entp.hud.gov/idapp/html/condlook.cfm

To view HUD Mortgagee Letter 2009-46 B regarding condos approval go here http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/hudclips/letters/mortgagee/files/09-46bml.pdf

For a Condominium Project Approval and Processing Guide go here http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=11-22mlguide.pdf