Cash is King in Today's Housing Market

It now costs more to rent than to own a home in 98 of the top 100 U.S. metropolitan areas, says real estate website Trulia, which tracks rents and home prices. In some of those markets, however, the inventory of homes for sale has shrunk.

Home inventories have shrunk because fewer foreclosures are coming to market. Many homeowners don't want to sell, because they don't have enough equity in their homes. Others are waiting for higher prices.

While the bottom tier nationwide experienced an average 12 percent decline in housing inventory overall, Las Vegas, Colorado Springs and San Francisco saw more than a 50 percent drop. Inventories also shrank faster than the national average in Minneapolis; Charleston, S.C.; Seattle; Washington, D.C.; Miami; and parts of Southern California, according to Zillow.

In May, for example, the Seattle area had a 1.7-month supply of homes for sale, according to the Northwest Multiple Listing Service. 

Cash buyers accounted for almost a third of existing home sales this year. Before the housing crash, cash buyers accounted for less than 10 percent of sales, the National Association of Realtors says.

FHA loans have a minimum down payment of 3.5 percent and take weeks to close. Conventional loans have bigger down payments and can close faster, but cash deals close fastest. And cash deals don't involve an appraisal, which lenders require before they make loans. Sellers like cash offers because there's less risk that they'll fall through

As part of Home Land Seattle's December specials, Seattle homesellers may list their house FOR FREE on the NWMLS  and Seattle home buyers (using cash or financing!) will receive a $1000 cash rebate when closing on any offer they made during this month.

Contact HomeLandInvestment@gmail.com for more details, and Happy Holidays!

December Special: $1000 Rebate for Seattle House-Buyers!

I am offering a $1000 rebate to my VIP clients who make an offer on the purchase of a new home or investment property during the month of December! If you are thinking about buying a new house or rental property from a motivated seller this coming winter, I will rebate $1000 towards my client's closing costs if your offer is made and accepted during the month of December.

 

So while the rest of the buyers concentrate on shopping, cooking and gift-giving, you could be saving $1000 on your purchase from a motivated seller this coming month!

 

Please reply to this email for more details - to set up your own personalized automated house search - or to get out and look for that perfect home TODAY!

 

Happy Holidays!

Wendy

Wendy Ceccherelli

Designated Broker

Home Land Seattle

PO Box 221013

Seattle, WA 98122

www.HomeLandSeattle.com

Fax/Phone: 888-621-4999

 Follow me on FaceBook!

FREE Listings on the NWMLS in December!

I am offering FREE LISTINGS to my VIP clients for the month of December.

No long term contract, but a good way to test the market and test-drive our working relationship, with no long term commitments.

Most people decorate for the holidays, and housing inventory is down, so the houses that are listed in the month of December tend to get a lot more attention.

For a free home evaluation to get ready to list your house on the NW Multiple Listing Service in the month of December, please contact me at HomeLandInvestment@gmail.com or by calling 425-270-7292.

Quit Claim vs. Warranty Deed

A quit claim deed is the legal way that one person (the grantor) transfers real property, such as a house or land, to another person (the grantee). As an example, a divorcing husband may quit claim his interest in certain real estate to his ex-wife. While the concept is simple and straightforward — relinquishing all ownership claims to a particular property — it’s also important to note what a quit claim can’t do. 

In renouncing claim, the grantor makes no guarantee or promise that the property is free of debt. Another important distinction is that the grantor makes no promise that no one else claims to own the property. Tracing its origin to Anglo-Norma times, the quit claim deed says, in effect, that the grantor is signing over whatever ownership he or she may have in the property. It does not even guarantee that the grantor has any ownership interest at all. By accepting such a deed, the grantee assumes all the risks. 

Furthermore, many title companies are reluctant to insure title when a quit claim deed was used previously to transfer title, and therefore, recommend use of a warranty deed instead. A warranty deed conveys full title to the property and warrants that title against defects such as tax liens, legal judgments and unpaid debts. 

Please consult a real estate attorney or your limited practice officer at your title/escrow company for more details on the differences between these two types of deeds.

How to Get Bank Financing for Investment Deals

The Banking Decoder

(The 7 Step Process To Opening Up Your Funding Faucet for Purchasing Real Estate)

1- Block out 3 to 5 hours and look up 10 to 15 banks online in your area and call to speak to their residential/commercial loan department to let them know what you are looking to do. Time blocking is the best way to quickly work through who does what and who does not.

2- Turn off the e-mail and outside distractions to focus in on the bank interview process.

3- Build you bank cheat sheet.  Take good notes so you can refer back to your master banking list later.

4- Understand that you're just collecting information so you KNOW YOUR BANKING MARKET.  Some will, some might, some won't... so what! Knowing where you stand with your local market is VALUABLE information.

5- Don't stop when you find one that will (lend) because later on they may NOT!  You can't have enough funds lined up as a good business owner.

6- Be prepared.  Clearly define what you are looking to do when you talk to them.  Bankers will lend more easily if they know you have a purpose and are organized.

7- Ask the right questions. Be ready to take notes w/ your questions on paper with space to put the answers and refer to later.  And set an appointment!!!

Being Prepared: 

A. People buy into what they can see.  Come prepared on paper w/ typical deals that your are looking to do w/ sample numbers.

B. Have your taxes in order and asset statements.

C. Have your POWER TEAM on paper so they know you have the entire process covered when they lend to you and your business. (Title Co, Appraiser, Insurance Agent, Private/Hard Money, Inspector, Insured Contractor and so on...)

D. Show them prior deals if you have already done them.

E. Tell them about your active investor network that is ready to buy and sell.  This could lead to them telling you they have some properties to unload.  Hmmm... opportunity.  

You can help them market online w/ your marketing engine. 

F. Let them know you are also looking to grow your business with other partners.  (This lets them know that you may have other banking customers to bring if needed.)

G. Put your "Buyers Web Site" link on your sample deal scenario to encourage them to check out your business. (Credibility Boost)

H. Have a mission statement on what your company is business for and where you plan to take your business in 2,3,5 years.  (People can get on-board your business bandwagon easier if they can see the VISION.) Put your web site addresses at the bottom.

J. Have several copies of your "Prepared Package" in hand and ready to give to the lender so they can share w/ other decision makers at their bank.  (You want everyone in the bank to have their eyes on your stuff... the more the better.)

Banker Interview Questions to ask:

A. Who is the best person to speak to about lending on investment real estate at you bank? Can you put me through to them and do they have an extension and do they have an e-mail address?

B. Ask the lender what is their typical amount they will lend up to on an investment property deal or project? (60%, 70%, 80%)

C. Is that amount of the purchase price or does that include purchase price and rehab costs?

D. Do you lend on the After Repair Appraised Value?  If so, then ask what % of the ARV?

E. Do you require down payment if the deal is good enough to stand on its own from a ARV standpoint?  If yes, then how much %?

F. What are your typical costs and terms? Upfront costs? Loan terms (20 yr, 30 yr, Fixed or not fixed rates)?

G. What is the typical funding turn time for deals w/ a complete loan/funding package in hand?  (This shows you mean business.  Bankers LOVE to hear that you are implying you will be ready, organized and not a waste of their time.)

H. Are their loan (amount) minimums I need to meet on my investment deals I deliver? (Again... you are implying your are ready to give them good researched real estate deals that "fit" what they are looking for.)

J. Do you have good business banking accounts for my business to start a deposit relationship as well? (They look good to their superiors when they bring in NEW depositors and this can go miles towards getting them to open their money faucet to your investment business!!!)

K. Who would be my point of contact to get you what you need to get my investment deals/projects approved?  (Try to get name, number, extension and e-mail if possible.)

L. Is there a limit on the number of deals we can do with your bank or a lending limit that I need to be aware of, so I know what to bring you or not bring you? (Lets them know that you know that banks have these rules and you are an informed investor.)

K. Do you lend in personal names only or LLCs as well?  I'm willing to sign personal guarantees if you lend in the LLC.  Lets them know that you know they will want you to personally guarantee the loans. (Shows Knowledge and Professionalism over your competition.)

M. Do you have a preferred title/closing company that your office likes to use? (Shows, that if needed you are will to make the relationship user friendly.)

At this point... you want to find a spot in the conversation to transition into asking... 

N. What would be good time to set an appointment and talk about setting up accounts with you and going over my investment package to make sure you have what you need from me to be ready to close on deals?

Get the appointment and land the relationship!!!

--------------------------

Bonus Banking Tips: (Here are some other tips to help you land the lending relationships)

1- Ask other investors who they use and when you call in start by saying "I was talking to Joe Blow about banking and funding for my business and he told me to give you a call." The bank will already be way more inclined to listen to you since they will immediately put you in the other investor's category that they are already lending to.  MONSTER TIP!

2- If the lender/banker says "No" to what you are looking for then don't shut the book on them.  Just ask them what type of deals do you typically look for that are more in your lending sweet spot.  I have a large network of investors that I work with.

3- If they want money from you on deals, (what lenders call "Skin in the game") then get creative and ask them if they can "Cross Collateralize" or place a lien on other property you own to help cover the down payment.  Or ask them if you start a deposit relationship with them if they can place a hold on some CDs you start with them as some down payment or collateral.

4- In replacement of down payment the lender may sometimes take your pledge of assets (i.e. stocks, bonds, mutual funds and so on...) to get your deals to the closing table.  

5- If you use some of these tips also ask if they can look to release the collateral or pledged asset after you prove on a few deals that you perform.  Or ask if they can release the holds after you make on-time payments from 12 months or so.

Remember this should be a part of your "Real Estate Business Development" time.  If you are not working on your business development, then ask yourself "Who is?"  Be purposeful and systematic to your business and reap the business success benefits.

Above all else... he or she who comes prepared, asks the right questions and shows the bank that you want a "relationship" while being user friendly to deal with will win the "Funding Battle."  Now block out time on your calendar and crack the code because after all, your business deserves it!!! 

Tips provided by 

Jason Palliser

Co-Founder

REI BlackBook

How to Profit from Value-Added Real Estate

My business partner Bob Malecki and I just hosted a series of workshops this weekend on investing in "value-added real estate." Here's what we mean by that:

Predictable Revenue

A property’s revenue is derived from rents paid for the use of leased properties. A strong property management team will focus on attracting only the most suitable occupants to the properties and bind them to carefully structured lease agreements, contracted for long periods of time with staggered renewal dates. These practices in turn generate consistent cash flows for Investor Partners.

Capital Appreciation

By making improvements, the value of the properties held in our portfolio are increased through the repositioning process. By increasing rents or occupancy rates, higher levels of stable monthly distributions are generated. When properties are refinanced or sold, the proceeds can be used to acquire additional properties to further increase value and wealth preservation.

Steady Cash Flow

One of the greatest advantages of real estate investments is they generate steady, strong, partly tax-sheltered cash flow and provide distributions. With the other advantages real estate has to offer, few other forms of investments can be bought with the same kind of steady cash flow return combined with the appreciation of the investment over time.

Total Return

On rental properties, the combination of stable revenue (from rents), capital gains (resulting from increased property values), principal paydown (from renters paying down loans) and tax savings (thanks to the investment’s special flow-through structure) may provide substantial returns. on the loans.

Hedge Against Inflation

Not withstanding cyclical variations due to supply and demand imbalances, in the long run, rents, values, and the replacement cost of real estate improvements rise in line with inflation. Multifamily assets also tend to have shorter term leases that can adjust to current market conditions much faster than other investments.  This makes real estate investing a particularly effective hedge against inflation, and should be a key component in any well-diversified investment portfolio.

Real Estate Ownership

Investors desiring a regular income, with an optimal balance between risk and reward, generally will prefer real estate consisting of land, buildings and fixed equipment. Moreover, the supply of land is limited and of fairly stable (though generally increasing) value. Real estate, therefore, is widely considered the best ultimate security and a solid basis for building lasting wealth.

Diversification

Due to its wide range of asset classes and geographic diversity, real estate is an ideal platform to spread risk. The major advantage of pooled investments is that it allows an individual investor to join with others in acquiring a number of different properties in different markets. The combined strength of the properties in the pool provides a permanent stream of steady income that is virtually unaffected by variances in individual property vacancy rates or individual market fluctuations.

Operating Capital

It is well known that an investment’s staying power is the single most important factor to building wealth. Yet the need for operating cash is often overlooked when inexperienced investors buy real estate. Group investments assure that sufficient capital is available to give the investment the ability to withstand economic downturns or temporary shortfalls of individual properties.

Registered Retirement Savings Plan Eligibility

Private equity investments are 100% eligible to allow you to put the stabilizing, revenue-generating, and appreciating benefits of real estate ownership to work through a SELF-DIRECTED IRA. A self-directed IRA is no different from any other IRA. “Self-directed” means that you choose the investments thereby providing you with the benefit of more choices and more flexibility for your retirement savings.

Transparency

Any sound private equity fund or real estate syndication makes all due diligence, monthly and yearly financial statements and other documents available to investors during the course of the investment.  This may include investor conference calls, investor website access, management updates, site visit reports, monthly financial updates and an annual report for tax purposes to keep investors informed of what is happening with their investment dollars.

For more information on investing in value-added real estate, please contact info@reicapitalusa.com or call me at 425-270-7292.

Why We Should Abolish the Federal Reserve

Some shocking statistics from Creature from Jekyll Island:

•  In 2001, national debt consumed 19% of all federal revenue, or $5000 per American household
• By 1992, more than half of all federal outlays went for what are known as entitlements....Entitlements are expenses...(Social Security, Medicare) which are based on the promise of future payments.
• Federal taxes now take 40% of our private incomes. State, county and local taxes are on top of that...Real wages in America have declined.

Reasons to abolish the Federal Reserve:

• It is incapable of achieving its stated objectives.
• It is a cartel operating against the public interest.
• It is the supreme instrument of usury.
• It generates our most unfair tax.
• It encourages war.
• It destabilizes the economy.
• It is an instrument of totalitarianism.

What you can do to protect yourself from the next downturn:

• Get out of debt.
• Pick a sound bank.
• Diversify your investments....Study the fields in which you invest. Personal knowledge is indispensable....Stay with what you know
• Avoid the most recent "best performers...." They have no bearing on future performance....They may now be overpriced.
• Maintain a stash of cash...food and water....Hope for the best; prepare for the worst.

Start Your Home Improvement Project

Home improvement can be defined as modifying the existing structure of one’s home by making additions and making changes. Mostly a professional technician is recruited however, sometimes; the home improvements is done on a non-professional and an amateur basis by the homeowner.

As mentioned above, there are two ways of going about the process of home improvement. The first id the professional and the second is the do it your self (DIY) method. In the professional method you could hire a general contractor to be in charge of the whole home improvement project. On the other hand you could do away with the contractor and ‘do it yourself (DIY). You will need to hire the plumbers, electricians, roofers etc yourself. 

There are endless types of works in that you could do. To begin with the walls could be wall papered, or painted. Wood paneling can also be installed on it. New flooring, such as linoleum, hardwood flooring, and tiling can be installed. The kitchen and bathroom sink, cabinets, and pipes can be replaced with new ones. The electrical and plumbing systems could be upgraded. As also the heating and the air conditioning systems.

Similarly other home improvements projects that t could be undertaken are the tearing and replacement of the roof, repairing the foundation and the chimney if required, waterproofing the basements etc. these are only a few of the home improvements projects mentioned here. 

Home Improvement Products For The Kitchen And Bathroom

The kitchen and bathroom are considered the most valuable rooms in a home. Home improvement products that can create a better and more modern look for these rooms are good investments. They increase the value of a home, and they are items that will be used every day by everyone in the household. The products are available in every price range.

Kitchen and Bathroom Fixtures

In the kitchen and bathrooms, the fixtures are one of the most important home improvement products that can be purchased and installed. When a bathroom has a sink, faucet or shower that is outdated or in poor condition, the home’s value is severely affected. Installing the latest fixtures can be done by the homeowner, and they can often be purchased for a reasonable price.

In the kitchen, the sink, dishwasher and countertops are vital to the modernity of the room. Home improvement products that can update these features can add thousands to the value of the home. Home improvement websites can provide everything from the tools needed to install fixtures to the latest appliances.

Flooring for the Home

The flooring that you have in your kitchen and bathrooms speaks volumes about how up-to-date the home is. Updated homes often use tile or wood flooring in the wet rooms. Home improvement products available online can make it easier to lay tile or to install wood flooring. Some of the popular flooring styles are made to be easy to install for homeowners. With grooves built into each piece, they can simply be slid into place by anyone, regardless of their home improvement experience. Many brands of wood flooring come with a tongue-and-groove system that make it fast and easy to lay flooring.

Adding Personal Touches

In addition to the fixtures, appliances and practical items that every kitchen and bathroom needs, many people want those rooms to be personalized. Home improvement products like towel racks, wall shelves and even art work can be bought online and used to create exactly the room that moves you.

Paint, spackle and trim for the walls are all home improvement products that can transform the look of a room. A new paint job that keeps the room sporting the latest trendy color is an inexpensive way to update a room. Trim added to the baseboards or to the ceiling makes a room look completed. Often, these are the only items needed to take a plain, unmemorable bathroom and change it into a modern room that reflects the personality of those who live there. The rooms that you use every day should be attractive, useful and modern to make every day a little more enjoyable. 

Unexpected Home Improvement Projects

While the majority of home improvement projects are projects that homeowners are excited about there are those that homeowners dread or have forced upon them by way of damage to their home. Examples of involuntary home improvement projects include homes damaged by water and those damaged by fire. Both unfortunate incidences must be dealt with quickly and efficiently by a homeowner if they are to save their belongings, their home, and restore it to livable condition.

Individuals with homes damaged by water, more specifically floods, have an arduous and daunting task in front of them. Not only must they deal with the reality of damage and even potential loss of their home in some circumstances but they must also find and hire a reputable contractor that can help them return their home to its former condition and even restore damaged furniture and other items. Flooding in a home can occur as a result of an issue with the roof, troubled plumbing, and of course natural disasters. Should anyone ever find themselves in the midst of an emergency flood cleanup there are a few guidelines that, if followed, can help get their home up and running once again.

Anytime a home has been damaged by water safety assessing damage should be top priority for a homeowner. Before any phone calls are made or anything is thrown out or replaced a thorough evaluation of the damage should be taken by homeowners. Once a homeowner has a good idea of what has been damaged and to what extent it's, they can begin searching for a reliable specialist that can help them with their home. In some cases it might even be a good idea for homeowners to call in a professional assessor to evaluate the extent of damage done to their home. While homeowners can utilize their eyes and their hands to assess damage, a professional has tools and experience at their disposal which will help them evaluate the damage done to the internal structures and even electrical structures within a home.

Once the damage incurred within a home is been assessed homeowners should take great care to document everything. Documenting items that have been damaged and even those left undamaged can be of great benefit to homeowners when they go to file a claim with their insurance company. Not only should damage be documented on paper with written word but pictures and even video should be taken of the damage in order to provide professionals and even insurance personnel with physical evidence of the damage incurred. The more documentation a homeowner has for their flood/water damage incident the better off they will be moving forward and getting everything repaired.

With the essentials out-of-the-way homeowners should prepare themselves for some hard work. Homes will need to be dried and cleaned up as quickly as possible in order to avert further damage. Additionally houses with water damage that aren't cleaned and dried immediately run the risk of allowing mold and fungus to take root and grow rapidly. In most cases homeowners are best served by calling in a professional to help them clean and dry their home. Professionals can bring in commercial grade dehumidifiers and large fans that expedite the drying process. Additionally professionals will have other types of equipment and knowledge that homeowners don't which will help make drying out a home all the more quick.

Once a home has been dried out, with or without a professional, homeowners will need to begin the substantial undertaking of repairs. The nature and scale of repairs will depend greatly on the amount of and the type of damage incurred by water in their home. Some homes will need only minor cleaning while others will need new construction. Additionally homeowners with water damage may need to seek out temporary alternative housing while professionals repair their home and in worst case scenarios, rebuild it.

Any homeowner who has had water damage in their homes should at least speak with a contractor before moving forward with anything. This can provide them with invaluable insight into how to proceed and give them a number of different options on how to do so. Such professionals might also refer homeowners to other professionals who can help restore their homes and living order as well. 

Home Improvement Ideas: Fireplaces

Which is the best place in the world? To trace the answer, you need not to go out of your home as no other place can be compared with your own home. Surely, your home is always sweet for you and is always the best. Now don’t you want to make it look nice? Don’t you want to be envy of your nearest neighbor? If yes, online home improvement loan is here to help you. Featured with several beneficial aspects, this loan is a true choice to gain financial assistance for your home improvement.

Online home improvement loan can be accessed both in the form of secured and unsecured loan. To get online home improvement loan in the form of secured loan, you need to place any kind of security against the loaned amount. You can place your own home, jewellery, valuable papers as security. Now if you are a home owner and are not in the mood of risking your property, go for unsecured home improvement loan. Here the lender alone bears the risk and you remain free from the risk of repossession of property. 

With the new glass enclosures you can safely seal the fireplace opening and preventing the heat from disappearing. Using this method the damper will also remain open until de coal has dried and you won’t have to worry about smoke getting back in the room. Another factor that has great influence on the fireplaces and their efficiency is the outside temperatures, especially when we are speaking about masonry fireplaces. This is why experts recommend us to use these types of fireplaces only in the spring and in autumn. When the temperatures are low then the fire will draw in more cold air, replacing the warm air inside.

The prefabricated, heat circulating fireplace actually has a separate air space behind the firebox. The cool air enters in this box and then re-enters the room as warm air. This type of fireplace will heat the rooms properly and you will feel comfortable even when the temperatures are low.

When it comes to design, the open fireplaces are preferred by most consumers. Despite their wonderful design though, they are not very efficient when it comes to heating your home. Something that you might want to opt for instead are the gas and electric fireplaces. These types of fireplaces will offer you both the heat you need and the great design in order to transform your home. Such fireplaces are also great when it comes to mounting as they require little effort from your side. Asking professionals to help you with this is probably the best way to solve the problem. So, when you want to invest in a good fireplace you should think about the pros and cons of such an investment.

Home Improvement Loans, What Are They For And How Can They Help You

Home improvement loans as their names say, are home loans meant to finance home modifications. Doing a modification in our home can either be necessary or just because we want our homes to look better. Within modifications or improvements, we can count general repairs, adding a new room, a bathroom, or redecorating the kitchen, just to mention some examples.

In general, home improvements are done with the idea of maintaining or increasing a property's value. This is why landscape improvements or even constructing a swimming pool may be considered eligible for a home improvement loan, depending on the lender.

What Kinds Of Home Improvement Loans Exist?

There are many different options in home improvement loans, you should evaluate first what is that you want to do and compare then the options you got from your lender.

The most common options are: First mortgage loans, home mortgage refinancing, second loans and unsecured loans.

First mortgage loans are an option if you have purchased your home with a home mortgage loan. These loans are offered by your current lender, over you existent mortgage. In general, these kinds of loan are granted for the remaining period of your actual mortgage. The money can be given directly to the contractor or you can receive the total amount against presenting to your lender the proper proofs of monthly payment extended by your contractor.

Home mortgage refinancing are as first mortgage loans, a good option if you have purchased your home over a mortgage loan. By refinancing your actual mortgage loan, you will not borrowing extra money, but through lowering your home mortgage monthly payments, these kinds of loan may help you to release money to arrange monthly payments with your contractor.

Second loans are offered if you have a good equity in your property that justifies the loan. Before accepting any loan, try to search and compare as many different options as you can.

Unsecured loans are nothing but personal loans. If you do not look carefully for your lender, these kinds of loan may be a little more expensive than secured loans but it is worth to mention them. The best point they have, is that you will not need to have equity in your property or any other collateral.

Things To Have In Mind Before Considering A Home Improvement Loan

Before starting to search for a loan, you should have decided what sort of improvement you want for your home. Is it necessary or you just want it? Both options are valid but for those improvements that are not necessary but wanted, you may have more time to plan and evaluate the construction's details. Needed improvements may be urgent sometimes, so you should be extra careful on your decisions.

Other points to consider, that may be helpful are the costs, the contractors, and the consequences the improvements will have in your property's value.

Comparing how much are you willing to pay and the real costs of the improvements may not always match, this may sound as another silly advice, but before quitting your plans, or accepting to pay more than you can afford you should look for a second, a third and as many different contractor's opinions you can.

Contractors are other thing to care about, besides you agreed with the proposed improvement's cost, you have to feel comfortable with the contractor himself or with the team leader if you chose a big company. That person is going to be in charge of your home improvements and you are going to share some time before things get done.

I have also mentioned improvement's consequences, because you can be highly benefit if you plan your home improvements carefully, so your property's value will be increased over the loan that you are applying for. Other important thing to consider is that some home improvements can be tax deductible, so do not forget to check that with your tax advisor. 

Home Improvement - Small Tips That Make A Big Difference

If you are planning a big home improvement project, you can go one of two ways. You can hire a contractor or you can do it yourself. With some projects, the scope will be too large and involved for you to even think about doing it yourself. With others, you might have a lot of success making it a DIY procedure. If you do choose to forgo a contractor, here are some small tips that can make a big difference.

Kitchen Remodeling Works
If you're wondering which project to tackle first, kitchen remodeling is a great home improvement that can add quite a lot to the value of your home. It may come as a surprise to know that many buyers pick their house based on the kitchen. It's no wonder, really. A lot of time is spent in the kitchen. A lot of work is done there. It needs to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing. If yours is falling out of date, you might want to bring it up to snuff before you put your house on the market.

Shut Off the Water
If you plan to do any home improvement work in the bathroom, kitchen, or laundry area, make sure you shut off the water before you start getting your hands dirty. You never know when you're going to hit that pipe and send water gushing into your house. Once this happens, it can be difficult to get it under control. It's a far better idea to prevent it from happening in the first place.

Finding Supplies on a Budget
Hardware and lumber for home improvement can often be the most expensive aspects of the project. If you're on a budget, you need to find what you can for a reasonable price. One of the best places to do that is the thrift store in your area. Other homeowners often donate their old fixtures to these stores when they do their own upgrades. As they say, one man's trash is another man's treasure.

Take Out Those Top Cabinets
People often feel trapped in their furnishings, particularly in the kitchen. Don't be. Maybe you've been struggling with the fact that you simply don't need all of those cabinets. This would make for a good home improvement project. Take out the cabinets and give yourself some wall space for decorations. Just clearing out the clutter will do a lot for your perception of the space.

Prospering with Value Added Real Estate

A big thank you to those of you who showed up yesterday in Bremerton for the first power point presentation that my business partner Bob Malecki and I did on "Prospering with Value-Added Real Estate."
Bob and I have just launched a new private equity fund called REI Capital, and have begun the process of raising the five million dollars to establish it. A small group of friends, family and associates joined us yesterday to hear our educational presentation on why we think real estate is such a good investment right now, and different options for investing in real estate.

We are repeating our presentation for Seattle friends, family and associates today at 3pm at the Washington Hall at 14th and Fir in Seattle's central district. This is a fabulous cultural facility with a rich history, being renovated by Historic Seattle - a fitting setting for discussing the importance of investing in real estate.

Please come join us if you are in the neighborhood, or contact us at info@reicapitalusa.com to learn about other upcoming educational opportunities on real estate investing.

Investing in Real Estate Seminar

Want to know why Warren Buffett thinks investing in residential real estate is the way to go right now?

 
My business partner and I agree that the time to invest in real estate could not be better! And we are hosting some free educational seminars this weekend to share this information with other interested investors:

When/Where:

-- 10:30a – 12noon, Saturday, November 17, Better Properties Western Washington, 5700 Kitsap Way, Suite #202, Bremerton, WA

--3p – 4p, Sunday, November 18, 2012, Lodge Room, Washington Hall, 153 14th Avenue,
Seattle, WA

 

These seminars are designed to answer questions from people interested in exploring alternatives to current investments in the stock market, retirement accounts, and bank certificates of deposit. Seminars will also appeal to people interested in learning more about real estate investing.

Our speakers are key advisors in the Puget Sound area, providing educational and strategic advice to real estate investors. Bob Malecki is experienced in acquisition, rehabilitation, lease, finance, and resale of residential and commercial real estate, in addition to an entrepreneurial background in commercial advertising and marketing.

Wendy Ceccherelli is a full-time real estate investor and designated broker with Home Land Investment Properties, Inc. She is a published author on real estate investing, experienced in both residential and commercial real estate transactions and property management, and serves as volunteer membership coordinator for the Real Estate Association of Puget Sound.

Washington Hall, the site of the Seattle meeting on Sunday, November 18, is a Historic Seattle community development renovation project that will help revitalize the neighborhood and makes the building available for public use. There is plenty of free parking in the adjacent parking lot and on the street. It is also served by the #14 Metro bus line.

Space is limited at either presentation, so please RSVP to  bob@reicapitalusa.com  for the Kitsap meeting, or wendy@reicapitalusa.com for the Seattle meeting.

Visit www.reicapitalusa.com for more information and contact details.

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And check out just how bullish Warren Buffett is about real estate here.

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