Is it Vegas? Who knows, but Nevada once again ranks as the fastest-growing state in the country.

But people shouldn’t be too envious of the owners of these lavish homes. Selling a high-end home is a real struggle in today’s down residential market. How many buyers can there be for a house that retails for $135 million?

Most people when asked why they want to buy their own place, they reply back that it is a form of security for them.  In a way it is, because it provides a roof over their heads.  It is also a place where you store your belongings and your most prized possessions.
This same idea makes your home very attractive to intruders or burglars.  They go to your house to loot some of your prized possessions. Thus, it is necessary to secure your home.  Your home may be covered by an insurance company, but some things are simply irreplaceable.  
Here …read more

Being a landlord is one of the best ways to profit from the real estate industry.  You don’t only profit from the rental income, but also from the appreciation of the property over time.
Here are 5 things to consider when your planning to invest in a rental property:

Rental Income:  Does the property have a good rental yield?  Is it enough to cover the on-going expenses and out-of-pocket costs for the property, including mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, maintenance, repairs and a vacancy rate of around 5%.
Capital Growth:  Even if you just break even, you can still profit from the capital growth …read more

Selling your home is not just about finding an agent to sell it for you.  More than anyone else, you’re the one who has the most vested interest in selling your home.  Thus, you should do your share in making sure that your home is in tip top shape during inspections and open houses.  Hiring a professional home stager can make things easier for you.
However, if it’s not within your budget, here are 10 things you can do to help sell your home faster:
1) Be Objective:  Oftentimes, we have this "love-your-own" view of our home.   We usually have a …read more

Here are some good and practical tips from HGTV.com to maximize the profit potential of your residential real estate investment:

Do know your market
Do look for cosmetic-only repairs
Do be prepared to do the work yourself
Do know the features that will sell a home quickly
Don’t ignore curb appeal
Don’t procrastinate-if quick revenue is your real aim
Do have budget, timeline and strategy in place before making the purchase
Do get a professional inspection
Do know your financing options
Don’t start-out with a high-risk property

Extra Tip: Do consider the services of a realtor
Don’t get stung by the "housing bubble" bug and totally stay away from real estate investment.  …read more

Do check out the links in each item for references from my past articles. 

Find an inspiration; a person, a property, a lifestyle that can  motivate you.
Set a goal or a project .
Find a good source of stable income
Set a budget
Have a game plan.
Take action on your game plan!
Learn, Learn, Learn…specially from other’s mistakes and achievements. The best lessons you will get are from yours and other people’s experience.
Have the mind set of a real estate  millionaire.
Don’t lose the momentum.  Stay focused.
Don’t sit back…live your dream! Embrace life. If you’re happy with what you’re doing, it will be easier to achieve …read more

Janice O’leary of the Boston Globe wrote an informative article about the 10 Mistakes  Buyers Make.  Actually, the 10 items she mentioned are some of the most common mistakes I’ve observed most property buyers make.  She explained each item in detail and gave some real life examples (including hers) for some of the items. 
Here are the 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Real Estate:

Buying a New Home Before Selling the One You Already Owned
Looking Even When I’ts Time to Stop
Trying to Save Money by Negotiating Without a Lawyer
Waiting for Prices to Drop
Visiting Only Once and Not Knowing What’s Next Door
Rushing …read more

Bubble or No bubble, Real Estate from the time of the Baby Boomers has totally changed now.  Some are even saying that with today’s prices, the present generation will mostly be renters. The inflated real estate prices are way too difficult for most people to pay off. 
However for many young families, a house is still the best form of security they can give to their children. Having a family does not come cheap nowadays.  But, having your own house for your family is a privilege that only a few can comfortably afford.  
An article in the Active Rain Blog,"California …read more

In the Zillow Blog article "Buying Agent = 4%"  Diane Tuman wrote about a motivated seller offering 4% commission to a buying agent.  In a normal scenario where the commission ranges from 5% to 7% the buying agent/broker and the selling agent/broker equally divides the commission.  Thus, the buying agent/broker at a 5% commission would only get 2.5%.
However, two weeks from the time the seller posted the signs on electric posts, he did not receive any inquiries.  Diane Tuman approached an agent regarding the house.  She was advised that agents are not really interested in this kind of promo. To …read more