My friends are contemplating buying a condo and are ambivalent. This is a big decision for most, and one should move slowly in this process. Many factors go into buying a primary home and a second home adds another level of risk and enjoyment. Let’s consider the pluses and minuses of owning vs. renting a second home and look at it objectively and not through Rose Colored glasses.

First and foremost is, money. Can you afford it? Let’s assume you have a significant amount of discretionary dollars that would enable you to buy for cash. Enjoyment in life is important, especially as we get older and have discretionary funds and grandchildren. It can give us many options and decisions on where to go for our enjoyment. Flexibility for many is an important variable if you want to see more of the world and the purchase will tie you down from doing that either financially or through the guilt of feeling that you must go to your mountain retreat.

Does the purchase inhibit other travel is a consideration. It is terrible to feel guilty about not using a place you should enjoy. It is also terrible to have a longing to go somewhere else and feel you don’t want to spend the money you would have had but now is tied up in the mountain condo.

Financially, should you put all your cookies in the condo cookie jar? What about financing. Sure, now you have monthly payments, and dues for golf etc. How about owning with friends or family to lower your cost basis. Could be good, or could be a good way to lose friends or family if things don’t work out. What about renting it out when you don’t use the place. Again, talk to those that did and you will hear good and bad stories. Maintenance issues, assessments, slow markets to resell are also factors to consider.

For me, flexibility is the key. Appreciation may not be realized and I don’t want the risk, and headaches, as well as having to worry about my second home. There is too much to see and too much to do. I would rather have the money I would invest to travel.

Joe Glad has been involved in real estate as a developer and working with agents for the past 10 years, primarily in the south. You can follow Joe on his website at http://www.columbiarealestatemlstoday.com

A good broker values both your must have list and the price range you set and doesn’t waste time showing you properties outside these parameters. Be clear in what you’re looking for in terms of square footage, price and amenities. Your agent should make sure that your basic list is realistic for your price point, and if so, that both are met in the properties you are shown.

Perhaps the number one factor for most home owners is property location. There are many variables that come into play when deciding where you want to live or buy. Most people do not want to travel far to work, or at least prefer easy travel. Most young professionals prefer to be close to a downtown location, within short distance to friends, work associates, and all the nightlife that young professionals desire in their busy social lives. Young parents might be much more concerned about the school district. Whatever is driving your location decision, a good broker should be well versed in the neighborhood, and able to suggest other neighborhoods that might equally fit the list of “must-haves,” should a property not be found in the number one choice.

If you’re shopping for a high-end, luxury home, some special considerations may exist. For example, in the Miami real estate market, buyers are often searching for ocean front homes or condos. An experienced agent in this area can provide a wide array of homes with beach views, a variety of amenities (above and beyond the ones they requested) and on both ends of a price point. This provides the buyer with many options they may have never considered.

When searching for an agent, ask friends, family members or colleagues for recommendations. If you’re new to the region, consult professional associates from the area for referrals and of course, check out ratings on line.

Interviewing agents is an important step. Buyers should look for a professional attitude and presentation, as well as trust and compatibility. This is someone with whom you will spend a great deal of time throughout the buying process.

Prepare questions for your prospective agent. An excellent candidate will stay attentive and take the time to answer thoughtfully, giving you realistic advice based on their knowledge of the current market. They should have comprehensive knowledge of the area in which you’re looking to buy a home, as well as insight into growing trends in residential and commercial markets.

Ask about the agent’s closing success and experience with homes in your price range. Make sure the agent has time to focus on your home search and responds to your calls and messages in a timely manner.

Purchasing prime real estate requires a serious commitment of time and financial resources. A professional real estate agent who values that commitment can help place you in the perfect home.

Stephen Daniels is an acclaimed http://bit.ly/a8x7RO researcher. If you are interested in Bal Harbour real estate, he highly recommends http://www.sunnyislesrealestatecondos.com. Their experienced agents specialize in oceanfront condos for sale or rent, home listings, investment properties and more.

In addition to this, you will be ahead of the pack if you can get people calling or coming to you with their specific problem first. That means you have to advertise the fact that you are in a position to help while being fair, trustworthy, and accurate in making quick decisions before the competition tries to persuade these people first.

For the above reason alone – competition – you will need to understand marketing. That means deciding on what you are going to specialize in, developing a method to define your target audience, and then attracting them with a well-written message using the different types of media to get the word out.

If you are interesting in finding good deals in real estate, here are some secrets which will help you to save money and become a professional real estate investor in this tricky ever-changing business. First, look at bulletin boards, local papers and small independent publications.

This goes for every publication you get. Make sure you get one of the first copies off the press-go to the facility that houses the presses and get your copy before the ink has a chance to dry.

Better yet, advertise yourself and get people who are thinking about selling to call you before they actually tell the world through an ad. Look at the legal section of the newspapers.

Contact heirs and attorneys, and sales in the garage or estate sale sections. Also, twenty percent of people who have garage sales are planning on moving soon.

Ask about their house or their neighbor’s homes. Your odds of success increase when you choose large population centers and remain in the market constantly on the lookout for your type of deal.

Look for vacant houses that are run down, fire damaged, or abandoned, with city notices evident. Talk to the neighbors of these homes-they usually know who owns it and what is going on.

They have an interest in seeing it restored to beauty. Walk up to a property and look in a window to confirm that it is indeed vacant-but don’t endanger yourself-always use common sense.

Watch the local paper for foreclosure auctions, tax sales, and HUD and VA listed properties. Auctions held in bad weather where the property absolutely must be sold are your best chance to limit competition and get property at rock-bottom prices.

Don’t be so selective. If the property is an absolute steal, lock it up and sell it to somebody who does like to work with that type of real estate.

Get the option and hand it off to another buyer. Look for distressed sellers in addition to distressed property.

Post fliers everywhere-colleges, Laundromats, shopping centers, bowling alleys, public bulletin boards, churches, local businesses, wherever large numbers of people congregate. Give them a chance to give you a lead on a hot deal.

Join organizations of all types. There are so many-just pick the ones that you would be interested in truly being a member in and let it be known you pay bounties for consummated (closed) deals.

When you use headhunters, leave out no one. Property managers, moving companies, relocation services, neighbors, landlords, tenants, the mailman, the paper boy, gardeners, landscapers, service technicians, pest control people, friends, acquaintances, relatives, and other investors.

Everyone should know they can make five hundred dollars if you end up buying a property they tell you about. Give each of your soldier’s stacks of your cards for exponential growth.

Another thing to note is that water, gas, and electric company personnel who shut off utility meters can be very good bird dogs when it comes to finding property that is in trouble or vacant. Make sure they have your cards.

Last, have at least ten thousand business cards printed with your offer of the five hundred dollar bounty and hand them out in stacks to everyone you can. As you grow, you might consider TV, radio, phone books, billboards, street benches, bumper stickers, and bigger commissions.

As you can see, there are so many tricks of the trade which you can learn and apply if you are looking to become more business savvy, and well known. Follow your instincts, and don’t be afraid to take risks and get yourself out there.

Tommy Greene has worked since 1991 in property investments. He loves all things financial. He recommends (http://www.stanjohnsonco.com) for your property investment needs.

Usually, when you scout for your prospective house, you consider a lot of factors. You ponder deeply on the location. Will the house be accessible to transportation? Will it be commutable from my office? Is it not too far from the school of my children? And what amenities are near this house? How much would I need for down payment and how much would my loan amortization be? You see – there are lots of questions in your mind. And more taxing decision-making will engulf you if you will physically inspect the property.

The most practical solution is for you to go to a real estate broker. This agent will save you time and effort. You will just tell him or her the exact location of your desired property, the kind of house and the budget. From there, you will just sit back and wait for the broker to find the property. Then tripings will ensue.

What are the qualities of the real estate broker searching the house?

*First, he or she must be knowledgeable in real estate properties. He must be updated on prevailing market prices – especially in the place chosen by the client.

*He must possess an integrity that will make the client give full trust to the agent.

*He must have contacts with banks and lending institutions so that when the purchase materializes, the financial assistance is ready. And also, he must be able to negotiate good loan deals with lenders such as lower interest rates and flexible payment amortizations. This will make the culmination of the transaction easier and faster.

*He will be on the side of the buyer and not on the seller. The home purchase must be more for the benefit of the buyer although the commission on the sale will come from the seller.

*The broker must listen to the buyer-client and be sensitive to what his client wants. He must be able to answer queries of the client. He must be sensitive to the needs of the buyer.

*The agent must be with the buyer from the initial step to the last, guiding the client in all aspects of the transaction, including the legal side. He does not need to be a lawyer but he must know the ins and outs of real estate statutes.

In the purchase of the house, a buyer must exercise prudence – in choosing the house to purchase and in choosing the real estate broker who will handle the search for the property and the purchase of the same.

The Real Estate In Tucson is your number one source for homes for sale Tucson, Tucson AZ homes for sale, Tucson real estate and more! http://therealestateintucson.com

What’s remarkable and these positive signs in june is that the numbers aren’t small increases – there were some MAJOR bumps particularly in the average listing and sales prices for Austin homes. And as far as the year over year numbers, they continue the trend of solid improvement from what can fairly be called a soft point in our market immediately following the economic downturn in late 2008.

The biggest changes to report as far as the June 2010 vs June 2009 numbers are as follows:

The average listing price of Austin homes jumped from about $255K to more than $338K over June 2009 – a remarkable improvement of more than 32%.

The average SOLD price of Austin homes jumped from about $244 to more than $327 over June 2009 – an improvement of more than 34%. This stat is all the more impressive in light of the recent economic news concerning real estate such as the rising number of foreclosures nationwide and the tightening of the credit market.

The listing and sold price when calculated on a per-square-foot basis jumped an incredible 45+% over June 2009.

The average number of days on the market dropped 13% from an average of 76 to just 67 days for Austin homes, condos, and town homes.

Overall these numbers reveal some irrefutable data in support of the claim that Austin is A) still on the upswing and B) probably bottomed out (to the extent that it actually happened in Austin) at some point last year and home prices show no sign of falling, at least by any significant margin, in the near future. Having weathered what can be fairly described as among the worst financial disruptions of the past half century, Austin home prices aren’t just holding – they’re improving.

The year-over-year figures also contribute some extremely positive information in terms of the overall Austin real estate market picture. The 2009 total number of sold listings as of June was 9460, whereas we’re already at 10883 for 2010. That’s a solid improvement of more than 15% over last year. The total volume shows and even bigger improvement – the June to June as wel as the year-over-year totals for the sold volume in Austin are both up more than 22%. This confirms that the June numbers are hardly an aberration.

Gus Rojo is the founder and CEO of Red Home Realty, a technology-focused residential Real Estate brokerage serving Austin, TX. Red Home Realty offers 20% cash back commission rebates to eligible buyers and provides a free MLS searching on its website, http://www.redhomerealty.com.

Luckily, there are trained professionals out there that can help you swim through all the fluff. They are called real estate agents.

Whether it is commercial or residential, they are trained to help you find the best plot of land or best home or apartment possible. Hopefully, they will help you find the absolute perfect piece of property for you!

There are literally thousands of real estate agents across the world that are here to help wherever you live. Unfortunately, with that many agents swirling around, it is easy to get a wide variety of professionals.

This means that it is possible to get a really bad real estate agent; one that really doesn’t care about their customers, but is only in it for the money.

These are the ones that you want to stay away from. They won’t show you every possible piece of land or property, but only the ones that will make them the most money off of their commission.

What we want to help you find is those real estate agents out there that are great. Those agents that will bend over backwards to make sure you get the best possible service.

So how exactly can you find an agent like this? Here is a list of some of the things that you can do so you don’t make a mistake and get a run for your money.

First, you need to make sure you pick a realtor that is a member of the National Association of Realtors. Why would this be important?

Realtors that are members of this organization need to abide by a strict code of ethics in order to be honored members. If they don’t follow them, they won’t be members anymore!

So finding an agent that is a member of this organization will usually give you one that is ethical and honest about your business. It will be a good thing for you to do!

After you narrow it down by this requirement, you can narrow it down even more by giving referrals. Finding a great agent isn’t as easy as looking at the yellow pages in the phone book.

Ask people that you trust to give you good referrals. This could be anybody from family, friends, or co-workers that have dealt with realtors in the past.

They can be truthful and tell you the agents to get, or better yet, the ones to stay away from. This will ensure that you get the best possible professional for your needs.

Once you find some good prospects, the next thing you need is to interview them! This may sound too intrusive, but if they want your business, you have every right to look into their personality and business style to see if you want to continue with them.

Make up a list of questions that you can ask the realtor to make sure you cover every base. These questions should focus on the realtor’s ability to do certain things.

Ask them how much experience they have. It would be good to find out if your agent is fresh out of training and doesn’t even have a sale yet!

In that case, you might be better off going with someone who has more experience. You also need to ask them how easy it is to get a hold of them.

If they only give you one way to contact them, that might be a warning sign. In that case, they can easily avoid you.

If they have many ways for you to contact them, such as work phone, cell phone, or e-mail, then you are on the right track. This shows that the realtor will be there for you at anytime and doesn’t mind helping you out.

Finally, it’s also a good idea to see how many resources the professional has at their disposal. In this rapidly changing world, there are so many ways for real estate listings to be posted.

They could give you access to real estate magazines, online postings, or they could even give you a virtual tour of a listing. These are resources that you will want on your side.

Tommy Greene has worked since 1991 in property investments. He loves all things financial. He recommends (http://www.stanjohnsonco.com) for your property investment needs.

Here are some sample questions to ask an agent about their background before engaging them. How long have you live in the area? What areas do you work? How many sales have you been involved in the past 3 years? What is the average price home you sell, and the price ranges you work with? Ask for documentation. How long have you had your license? Are you part-time or full-time? Do you work as a team with other agents? Are you a Broker? Do you have kids in school or had kids in public school here? Do you show all agents listings from other companies? What are your normal working hours and days?

Regarding selection of a listing agent, you need to ask specific questions about the market. What are the average days on the market? Are prices holding steady, declining, or rising. What is their marketing experience in your neighborhood? Ask them how they are different from their competition. Make sure you get their withdrawal policy if you chose to withdraw in writing. Do they negotiate on their commissions if they get the buyer, or if you do? Make sure you know what they are paying cooperating agents.

For buying agents, similar questions about backgrounds are appropriate. When showing houses ask them what negatives they see. Some examples would be exterior of the house, driveways, size of garages, landscaping, lot size and shape, style, size of rooms and layout, energy efficiency, taxes, insurance, utilities, age of systems, condition of the home, recommendations for inspections and warranties, neighborhood and area negatives. They will tell you the positives, so you may have to ask for the negatives. Information is power if you use it carefully in your decision-making.

Joe Glad has been involved in real estate as a developer and working with agents for the past 10 years, primarily in the south. He spends most his time focusing on Columbia Real Estate and you can see his website at http://www.columbiarealestatemlstoday.com

Built near the banks of the San Gabriel River, with fertile farmlands to the east and wide-ranging ranch lands to the west, Georgetown had no problem attracting settlers. The addition of a Southwestern University in 1873 brought more prosperity to the little agricultural community. It was a stop on the historic Chisholm Trail cattle drive and that was soon followed by a railroad. But as Georgetown grew, its small town charm remained the same. The Williamson County Sun has been publishing a weekly newspaper from its offices on the square since 1877.

In 1990, the population of Georgetown was around 16,000. The 2000 census put the population just over 28,000 and current city of Georgetown estimates has the population well over 50,000. Just 25 miles north of Austin, this not-so-little town has become known as a great place to raise a family. With highly rated schools, a brand new library and community center, Georgetown has a lot to offer families.

But it’s not just those raising families that have raised the town population. Sun City is a Del Webb retirement community with three golf courses and other amenities geared toward the active senior lifestyle that has grown on the west side of Georgetown over the last fifteen years. Sun City attracts new residents from all over the country.

There is plenty to do around Georgetown that keeps its tourism industry thriving, too. A day or two could be spent just poking around the shops, restaurants and coffee shops on the square alone. Just off the square is the historic Palace Theater, first opened in 1926 featuring silent movies. Over the decades, the theater lost some of its luster and even shut down for awhile. In the 1990s, local residents formed the Georgetown Palace Theater, Inc to raise money to restore the theater to its old splendor. No longer a movie theater, The Palace is now an integral part of Georgetown’s arts and culture as a live performance theater.

After loosening its civic ban on the size of business that could operate in Georgetown, the town has boomed. The Wolfe family, long time Georgetown residents, sold a large track of land that has become the shopping mecca called Wolfe Ranch right along I-35. Restaurant chains, movie theaters and well known stores abound all over Georgetown. Yet, the small town feel of Georgetown still remains. While the edges of the town spread south toward Round Rock and Austin and west toward Liberty Hill, the heart of Georgetown remains largely unchanged.

Ki’s site helps buyers search homes in the Austin MLS http://www.escapesomewhere.com/realestate_searchthemls.html along with providing information on Austin real estate http://www.escapesomewhere.com market and historical mortgage rates http://www.escapesomewhere.com/mortgageinterestrates.html

Perhaps the best known spot in Wimberley is Blue Hole. Shaded by Cypress trees, this spring-fed swimming hole is always inviting. Purchased by the city of Wimberley in 2005 with the help of the Texas Department of Wildlife and other public funding sources, Blue Hole will be enjoyed for generations to come. The grassy banks that surround the cool waters are perfect for sunbathing and picnicking. The rope swings hanging from the tall branches of the Cypress trees entice daredevils to leap into the deep water with splash.

Other outdoor activities include hiking the Cypress Creek Nature trails, which has 7.24 acres of trails crisscrossed by the babbling creek. There are great Hill Country views from the top of Mount Baldy. The stone steps carved along the path to Mount Baldy, also called Prayer Mountain, make this a pleasant hike.

Beautiful Hill Country views can be found along the drive to the Devil’s Backbone off of Ranch Road 12, where the whole valley can be seen and then grab a bite at one of the nearby taverns. The town of Wimberley goes to the banks of the Blanco River and another popular drive is River Road. The river may entice drivers to stop and fish, swim or drift down the river on a tube.

Visitors to Wimberley will want to meander over to the Driftwood Estate Winery, which has seven grape varieties on its 20 acre vineyard. Enjoy the views from the deck where the winery serves lunch and offers tastings year around. Another tasty Wimberley destination is the Bella Vista Ranch, an Italian style family farm. This home of the First Texas Olive Oil Company has over 1000 producing olive trees and an olive press. There are also seasonal fruits and vegetables, a winery, tasting room and gift shop, with tours and tastings daily.

Wimberley Market Days are on the first Saturday of the month, March through December. With over 400 booths, there is something for everyone at this historical market. It is the oldest continuous outdoor market in the Hill Country and the second oldest in Texas. Even just a stroll down Main Street is a unique Wimberley experience with its eclectic array of shops and eateries. This Hill Country town needs to be put on the to-do list.

Ki’s site helps buyers search homes in the Austin MLS http://www.escapesomewhere.com/realestate_searchthemls.html along with providing information on Austin real estate http://www.escapesomewhere.com market and historical mortgage rates http://www.escapesomewhere.com/mortgageinterestrates.html

This decision can be a hard one. Couples may want to live in a place as nice as their parents’ living arrangements.

Young couples tend to forget that their parents were not always so well-off financially. By missing this important factor, couples begin to wonder why they are living so meagerly and they begin to go in debt to have the things they want but cannot afford.

Instead, couples should save their money and only spend it on things that will be of worth to fulfill their needs first. Wants should come later.

This also applies to buying a house. Timing is pertinent and so is budgeting.

You may have to go in debt for a home, but make sure you go into debt for a home you need. There is definitely a major difference in going into debt over something you need versus something you want.

When you want something badly enough, like a nicer place to live, you may think that adding more financial strain to your relationship with your spouse and your children-if you have them, will not be a great burden. In fact, you may imagine that putting you and your family through this financial strain will be a small price to pay for the luxury, amenities, and niceties you will face with a bigger or better home.

While there may be some truth to this way of thinking, often times the financial pressure just overtakes any pleasures that may result from a more comfortable living arrangement. If you are in debt for something that you do not need, you may experience feelings of guilt or frustration knowing that you are not free from financial bondage.

You will be wondering why you spent the money on this expensive furniture or a house with rooms that are slightly bigger. Whenever you find yourself trying to relax or to enjoy the fancier amenities, you may feel so anxious, worried, and preoccupied about the price of the items that you no longer feel relaxed.

The point of buying the bigger and better items now becomes moot as you cannot feel the desired relaxation, comfort, and pleasure from living better. Financial stability ensures physical and mental comfort more so than a soft pillow or a spacious environment to live in.

So how can you make the decision of when it is time to upgrade from an apartment to a house, or from a smaller house to a bigger house, or any upgrade from one living arrangement to a house with a greater financial burden attached to it? Well, you can start by distinguishing between what is a want and what is a need.

A need is something you cannot survive without, for example: food, shelter, oxygen, clothes. You need to eat to survive and you need shelter to protect you from the weather or from danger.

Oxygen is important to for breathing which people need to live. Clothing keeps people warm and covered for social and security needs.

Now some people may be very extreme on what they consider a need. You don’t need to live so frugally that you are barely alive and comfortable, but you also don’t want to deceive yourself into thinking that one thing is a need when in actuality; it is nothing more than a want.

How does this relate to purchasing a house? Well, if your current home has rotting wood or is falling apart, this will of course constitute as a need that should be addressed.

Also, if your children do not have enough room to sleep and to grow and develop properly because their home is so small and cramped, then this would also constitute as a need. But on the other hand, if you simply want to invite many friends over for a party, and feel your home does not accommodate your entertainment pleasures, then this would constitute as a want and not as a need.

So in recap, when it comes to buying a home, you should remember that in order to minimize financial strain on you and your family, timing is crucial to this choice. This timing is largely based on when it now becomes a need instead of a want.

Jack R. Landry is a resident of California and has written hundreds of articles relating to tourism and real estate. He recommends (http://DiscoverDiscoveryBay.com) for your next home in California.