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	<title>Realty Samurai &#187; Realtors</title>
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		<title>Twitter Marketing And Real Estate</title>
		<link>http://www.realtysamurai.com/2010/10/attracting-real-estate-leads-with-twitter/</link>
		<comments>http://www.realtysamurai.com/2010/10/attracting-real-estate-leads-with-twitter/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 05 Oct 2010 07:34:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>James Xillion</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Realtors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ekey]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ge supra]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[keysafe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lock box]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lockbox]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lockboxes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate Agent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[real estate sales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Realtor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[supra ekey]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.realtysamurai.com/2010/10/attracting-real-estate-leads-with-twitter/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Before I started toying with this technology I had my doubts. I have had access to my twitter account that I used to encourage the RedX Real Estate Lead generation system, however until recently I had not invested any time in using it. Because of this, I am just learning to implement the technology. However, now that I understand technology, I can understand how REALTORS online should be utilizing this tool to attract leads.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Before I started toying with this technology I had my doubts. I have had access to my twitter account that I used to encourage the RedX Real Estate Lead generation system, however until recently I had not invested any time in using it. Because of this, I am just learning to implement the technology. However, now that I understand technology, I can understand how REALTORS online should be utilizing this tool to attract leads.</p>
<p>So how do you use Twitter in a promotion campaign? Before we begin you need to understand that Twitter is only a single point of contact for your prospects and that numerous touches are usually desired to convert a lead into a client. Also, understand that Twitter etiquette is that when you follow a person&#8217;s tweets, they may in turn monitor you.</p>
<p>With that background, what are the steps? The principal step is to connect your twitter account to any web site where you have an online presence. If you have a site, blog or web presence, add a &#8220;Follow me&#8221; or Twitter logo with a hyperlink to your twitter site.</p>
<p>To begin utilizing Twitter as a promotion resource, create an auto-responder on your twitter account so that when anybody chooses to follow you, they will automatically receive a thank you with a call to action. I use TweetLater.Com for my auto-responders with a great deal of success. The message should thank the user for following, and incorporate a call to action. Your may choose to make your call to action an offer for a complimentary report, data, or some other offer that allows you to capture more information about your target lead. For example, my call to action is &#8220;Thanks for the Follow! Want a discount on listing leads from RedX? Visit me here for more info.&#8221;</p>
<p>The next step is to begin tweeting. You should routinely tweet, but additionally be aware that there is a shortcut that you may utilize when you cannot send a twitter post directly. If you control a blog that you bring up to date often, you may post the feed directly to your twitter account using TwitterFeed.</p>
<p>The subsequent step in your twitter promotion should be to attract local followers. You can find followers who reside in your area simply by doing a keyword search on the twitter user directory Twellow. Just search the twellow list for active tweeters that live in your area and follow those that fit the bill.</p>
<p>There are a number of other ways that you can incorporate twitter as part of your promotion, together with mobile messaging and even film. We won&#8217;t get into those details here, but may address them later.</p>
<p>Randy also oversees the <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.realtysamurai.com/goto/http://realtorleads.journalspot.com/" >REALTOR Leads</a> social marketing journal and has had numerous articles published in numerous real estate periodicals.</p>
<p>categories: Real estate,realtor,real estate marketing,marketing,lockboxes,lock box,lockbox,supra ekey,ge supra,ekey,keysafe,realtor,real estate agent,real estate sales</p>
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		<title>Flipping Houses: The Tricks You Need To Know</title>
		<link>http://www.realtysamurai.com/2010/08/flipping-houses-the-tricks-you-need-to-know/</link>
		<comments>http://www.realtysamurai.com/2010/08/flipping-houses-the-tricks-you-need-to-know/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:32:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michael Kowalski</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Realtors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[flipping houses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[selling houses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Selling Real Estate]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.realtysamurai.com/2010/08/flipping-houses-the-tricks-you-need-to-know/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We have all seen them, the late night infomercials that promise to make you a millionaire in a few short months by investing in real estate. Happy couples are thrilled to tell you in gushing terms how they turned their entire lives around in less than a year by following the secret formula that you can have for only $39.95, with a money-back guarantee! Require the secret formula without paying the $39.95? Read on.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We have all seen them, the late night infomercials that promise to make you a millionaire in a few short months by investing in real estate. Happy couples are thrilled to tell you in gushing terms how they turned their entire lives around in less than a year by following the secret formula that you can have for only $39.95, with a money-back guarantee! Require the secret formula without paying the $39.95? Read on.</p>
<p>On of the big secrets to making money in real estate is a technique called &#8216;flipping houses&#8217;. The principle is simple &#8211; buy a home that needs minor repairs at a low price; repair and fix it up and then sell it for a large profit. That is the secret &#8211; buy low, fix up, sell high. Want more information? Read on.</p>
<p>Always know what you can afford. Before you even look at a house, find a lender to pre-approve (not pre-qualify) your loan. Having your money in hand is a powerful bargaining chip when you are ready to buy.</p>
<p>Look in the right places. Read the newspapers for foreclosure sales &amp; the legal notices for tax foreclosure properties. Buy foreclosures, HUD, auctions directly from Governments &amp; banks (find the bargain homes here!). Look around for a real estate agent that knows the kind of house you are looking for; establish a relationship with them.</p>
<p>Choose the right house. Avoid houses that need cosmetic repairs. You want a neglected house that is structurally sound with no major plumbing, structural or electrical issues.</p>
<p>Make sure you read the ads right. In real estate listings, look for words like &#8216;Handyman&#8217;s Special&#8217; or &#8216;Fixer-upper&#8217;. Others tell that you&#8217;ll get a lovely bargain: &#8216;Motivated Buyer&#8217;, &#8216;Must Sell!&#8217;, &#8216;Quick Closing&#8217; all mean that the buyer is anxious to sell, and will likely lower the price.</p>
<p>Focus on the highest yield improvements. Kitchen &amp; bath spruce-ups will give you back the most for your time &amp; money. If you can only &#8216;do&#8217; six rooms, be sure to make one of them the kitchen.</p>
<p>Paint it, freshen it up. Start with the basics: paint, paper &amp; floors.</p>
<p>Stick with neutrals. You require a backdrop for the buyer&#8217;s imagination, the more neutral the canvas, the easier it is for them to see their own posessions against it.</p>
<p>Sell it yourself. Why pay a realtor&#8217;s commission fee now?</p>
<p>Have all the receipts &amp; materials warranties for any repairs &amp; work that you did ready to hand over. Knowing that their home is &#8216;protected&#8217; can help clinch a sale.</p>
<p>Know your market &amp; loan options. Lots of buyers won&#8217;t. If you can help steer them toward loan sources, it will help your sale.</p>
<p>Be ready to close. Have your inspection &amp; appraisal papers ready in order to keep away from delays.</p>
<p>Aren&#8217;t you glad that you didn&#8217;t pay for this &#8220;get-rich-quick&#8221; secret? Flipping houses is a viable way to invest &amp; become profitable, on the condition that you are truly willing to put time &amp; hard work into the technique.</p>
<p>Follow the link here to learn more about <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.realtysamurai.com/goto/http://www.realestatereport.info/specialreport.html?source=REReport_ArticleWizFlippingHouses" >Flipping Houses &amp; Real Estate Opportunities</a></p>
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		<title>Victoria, British Columbia Real Estate Professional Helps Locals Sell Homes Faster</title>
		<link>http://www.realtysamurai.com/2010/07/victoria-british-columbia-real-estate-professional-helps-locals-sell-homes-faster/</link>
		<comments>http://www.realtysamurai.com/2010/07/victoria-british-columbia-real-estate-professional-helps-locals-sell-homes-faster/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 08 Jul 2010 07:40:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jeanie Habib</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Realtors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[real estate agency]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate Agent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Realtor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Victoria BC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Victoria BC Realtor]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.realtysamurai.com/2010/07/victoria-british-columbia-real-estate-professional-helps-locals-sell-homes-faster/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you need to sell your home, it might be a good idea to use the help of a Victoria BC realtor. There are several reasons why this is smarter than trying to sell by yourself. You might get your property sold more quickly and at a higher price.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you need to sell your home, it might be a good idea to use the help of a Victoria BC realtor. There are several reasons why this is smarter than trying to sell by yourself. You might get your property sold more quickly and at a higher price.</p>
<p>Realtors make it their business to know what will sell in their markets. You might be crazy about your home just the way it is. A realtor, however, can give you advice on changes that will make your property be easier to market.</p>
<p>The needed changes do not necessarily need to cost a lot of money. But they should raise your home&#8217;s value, if not actually than at least in terms of how the buyer thinks. You may absolutely love the wallpaper in your kitchen but you need to let go of that and listen to what the professional advises you.</p>
<p>Once the adjustments are made that are necessary, your realtor will have an easier time marketing the property. There are new clients in the office constantly trying to find themselves a new home. By using a company, you will have the benefit of all of their resources instead of only yours.</p>
<p>Realty companies are always advertising their services. Most prospective home buyers will find it more convenient to work with a realtor rather than search through the paper or by driving around. They save a lot of time so more buyers will go through the office of a realtor than are likely to see your for sale sign or your ad.</p>
<p>Take advantage of the help a Victoria BC realtor can give you if you want to sell a piece of property. It can save you a lot of time and may even make you more money. And it will be a lot less stress on you as well.</p>
<p>Property in western Canada is becoming increasingly popular amongst home buyers. For a selection of listings, contact your <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.realtysamurai.com/goto/http://www.homesalesvictoria.com" >Victoria BC realtor</a> at http://www.homesalesvictoria.com today.</p>
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		<title>The Ease Of Realtor Internet Marketing</title>
		<link>http://www.realtysamurai.com/2010/06/the-ease-of-realtor-internet-marketing/</link>
		<comments>http://www.realtysamurai.com/2010/06/the-ease-of-realtor-internet-marketing/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jun 2010 07:53:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lance Thorington</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Realtors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Realtor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[realtor internet marketing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.realtysamurai.com/2010/06/the-ease-of-realtor-internet-marketing/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As a Realtor, you know the importance of marketing yourself. Realtor internet marketing may be as important and marketing your listings.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As a Realtor, you know the importance of marketing yourself. Realtor internet marketing may be as important and marketing your listings.</p>
<p>Some of the most successful Realtors have their pictures and contact information all over the internet, newspapers, local flyers, and magazines. The more you advertise yourself, the more you have a chance that someone will call you before another Realtor. This is important, as there are so many real estate agents in any given neighborhood that buyers, as well as sellers, are confused as to who to call.</p>
<p>Internet marketing is free. It is also worldwide. It is easy to advertise yourself here, and it can prove to be very effective.</p>
<p>Your local internet ads will show that you are available to your neighbors and friends. They will feel that you are aware of what is happening in their neighborhood, and they are likely to call you with questions, and eventually use you in the coming years when they are looking for property, or if they know of someone else who is looking. Word does get around, so advertising yourself constantly is a great idea to get your message out there.</p>
<p>This can mean lots of business, if you advertise regularly. Some sites only keep your ad up for one week. Others will display your ad for a month or more. And still others will keep your advertisement on their site until you remove it yourself. You should keep track of each of these types of ads, as you do not want them to get stale.</p>
<p>Your own website is also always a great idea. This way you can advertise yourself, your specialty, if you have one, and your listings. If you display a page of listings that is easy to navigate, with all the pertinent information on it, buyers will be appreciative, and so will other Realtors. They will have the information about your listings, and they can also sell them for you. And be sure to put your website address on your business card. Realtor internet marketing is available and free. You should take advantage of this special resource for your business.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.realtysamurai.com/goto/http://RealEstateCrusher.com" >Realtor internet marketing</a> is as important as finding the listings that make up your inventory. Learn more about marketing yourself as a realtor by visiting http://RealEstateCrusher.com .</p>
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		<title>10 Tips To Pricing Your Home Right</title>
		<link>http://www.realtysamurai.com/2010/05/10-tips-to-pricing-your-home-right/</link>
		<comments>http://www.realtysamurai.com/2010/05/10-tips-to-pricing-your-home-right/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 18 May 2010 10:37:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Marc Rasmussen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Realtors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[home]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[home seller]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[home selling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[house]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing home]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketomg home]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pricing home]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pricing home to sell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate Agent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Realtor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Selling Home]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.realtysamurai.com/2010/05/10-tips-to-pricing-your-home-right/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As a Realtor, one of our biggest frustrations is dealing with the unrealistic expectations of a seller. Sellers are notorious for overpricing their homes. The market is saturated with thousands of properties that will never sell without a price adjustment. Lack of comparable sales, poor or no Realtor representation, believing improvements are worth more than they really are, no knowledge of the real estate market, ignoring current competition, needing a certain sales price based on personal expenses and not staying on top of the current market conditions are a few reasons sellers overprice their homes.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As a Realtor, one of our biggest frustrations is dealing with the unrealistic expectations of a seller. Sellers are notorious for overpricing their homes. The market is saturated with thousands of properties that will never sell without a price adjustment. Lack of comparable sales, poor or no Realtor representation, believing improvements are worth more than they really are, no knowledge of the real estate market, ignoring current competition, needing a certain sales price based on personal expenses and not staying on top of the current market conditions are a few reasons sellers overprice their homes.</p>
<p>Market value is the dollar amount for which a property should sell for between an able buyer and seller in an arms length transaction after sufficient marketing where both parties acted knowledgeably, prudently and with no compulsion.</p>
<p>What market value is not:</p>
<p>* It is not what you paid for the home plus Realtor selling fees.</p>
<p>* It is not how much your friend, in-laws, attorney, accountant, sister with a real estate license, neighbor or anyone else thinks your house is worth unless they are willing to buy it at that price and you are willing to sell it at that price.</p>
<p>* It isn&#8217;t what you paid for the home plus a needed or historical rate of appreciation.</p>
<p>* It is not necessarily what your neighbors house sold for plus some simply because you like your home better.</p>
<p>Here are ten tips to pricing your home properly:</p>
<p>1. Objective &#8211; Most buyers look at quality, location, size, condition when evaluating a home. They are not really factoring in all of the great memories you have there. Keep those great memories out of the purchase price. A buyer won&#8217;t pay for them. Stay objective and know what interests buyers.</p>
<p>2. Forget about what your home used to be worth &#8211; Like the stock market, the real estate market changes daily. Homes sell, expire and new competition comes on the market. Real estate prices don&#8217;t move as quickly as stock prices but nonetheless the market does change. Concentrate on what your property is worth today and what it will be worth in the next six months, not last month or last year.</p>
<p>3. Don&#8217;t expect a sucker &#8211; This happens occasionally but you certainly cannot rely on it. If you truly want to sell your home expect to sell it for market or appraised value.</p>
<p>4. What will your home be worth in the future? &#8211; This is a very important question since we are in a down trending market. I have seen so many people reject offers on their home only to accept much lower offers later because the value of their property declined. I had a home listed for $1,200,000. We received an offer for $1,000,000 which I thought was market value and explained that to the seller. She rejected the offer and the buyers walked away. Roughly a year later she accepted an offer of $825,000. If you think home prices are going to fall further, price your home competitively from day one.</p>
<p>5. Learn the real estate market &#8211; A good Realtor can help you here. Many agents put no effort into valuing a home. Examine the properties currently on the market, under contract, recently sold homes as well as the listings that expired without selling. Compare your home objectively to these homes.</p>
<p>6. More marketing does not justify overpricing &#8211; I do believe that good marketing is important in a bad market. You have to differentiate yourself from the thousands of other properties for sale. However, that does not mean that tons of print advertising, an open house every Sunday and thousands of Just Listed cards are going to sell an overpriced home. Great marketing may get a buyer in the door but that same buyer will look at your competition as well. Heavily advertising an overpriced home may only help sell your properly priced competitor.</p>
<p>7. Remember appraisals &#8211; If someone buys your home there is a good chance that they will get an appraisal or have an appraisal contingency in the purchase agreement. Even cash buyers get appraisals. If your home will not appraise out you will not sell it. Find three recently sold homes that are similar to yours. Make adjustments based on size, quality, condition, lot size and anything else that affects value.</p>
<p>8. Get in front of the market &#8211; If prices are falling quickly then you need to get in front of the market, don&#8217;t chase it down. If three recent sales were $400,000, $390,000 and $380,000 then stay in this ball park. Don&#8217;t start out at $425,000 and then chase the market lower. This happens frequently. Start out at the right price and you will put more money in your pocket.</p>
<p>9. Be the best deal &#8211; Selling a home is very similar to selling anything else. Buyers look for the best deal. This is not brain surgery. Examine your competition thoroughly and be the best deal. It is almost that simple.</p>
<p>10. Lower your price when needed &#8211; When a seller establishes an asking price one of the first things they do is grab a calculator and find out how much money they will net (if any) when they sell. That is fine but sellers need to keep in mind that it may be necessary to lower their price to get it to sell. The real estate market changes daily and sellers need to change with it.</p>
<p>Buyers are driving the real estate market. Keep these tips in mind if you decide to sell your home. Remember, the market determines the value of your home. You just get to decide if you are willing to accept that price.</p>
<p>Marc Rasmussen is a Realtor who sells <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.realtysamurai.com/goto/http://www.luxurysarasotarealestate.com/sarasota-homes-for-sale.php" >Sarasota FL Homes For Sale</a></p>
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		<title>Sell Your Condos Homes Houses And Real Estate Quickly</title>
		<link>http://www.realtysamurai.com/2010/04/sell-your-condos-homes-houses-and-real-estate-quickly/</link>
		<comments>http://www.realtysamurai.com/2010/04/sell-your-condos-homes-houses-and-real-estate-quickly/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 20 Apr 2010 08:38:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Karen Delion</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Realtors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[condo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[condos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[condos in edmonton]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Edmonton condos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[edmonton real estate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[home improvement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[house]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[houses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Realtor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[selling a condo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Selling a house]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Selling Real Estate]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.realtysamurai.com/2010/04/sell-your-condos-homes-houses-and-real-estate-quickly/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Persons wanting to sell Condos homes houses and real estate quickly in Canada can do some things that will make the sale go more quickly. There are times that you will want the property to move quickly in order to free up funds for other very important business.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Persons wanting to sell Condos homes houses and real estate quickly in Canada can do some things that will make the sale go more quickly. There are times that you will want the property to move quickly in order to free up funds for other very important business.</p>
<p>For the quickest sale, you will want to make sure that your price is compatible with similar properties that are being offered. Unless there is a very good reason for a person to select your property and pay a higher price, most will choose the less expensive property. In addition, if your price is completely out of range of similar properties, you will probably not even get persons that are willing to view the property.</p>
<p>If the property is ready for a new occupant to move in, it will sell quicker. It is often inexpensive to paint walls. Choose neutral colors that will go with almost any decorating scheme. Make sure that floors are cleaned, but the expense of replacing carpets or other floor covering is often unnecessary. New owners would prefer to select their own floor coverings than pay you for the upgrade.</p>
<p>While it is nice to have basic furnishings in place as you show a home, you will want to remove many of your personal items and photographs from the walls. Once again, you are presenting a palate that needs to be pretty blank in order for the buyer to see their own possessions in place.</p>
<p>Since first impressions are important, you will want to be sure that sidewalks stay shoveled of snow and that grass is kept neatly trimmed. Lawns should be kept watered during the growing season and flowers in the beds can make the home more attractive.</p>
<p>While it may be more difficult to sell Condos homes houses and real estate currently that it was in the past, good presentation and a good price can speed your sale.</p>
<p>Article by <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.realtysamurai.com/goto/http://www.darlenestrang.ca" >Condos in Edmonton</a>. To find more about <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.realtysamurai.com/goto/http://www.condosforsaleinedmonton.com" >condo for sale in Edmonton</a> Check out our site.</p>
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		<title>Celebrity Homes in Los Angeles</title>
		<link>http://www.realtysamurai.com/2010/04/celebrity-homes-in-los-angeles/</link>
		<comments>http://www.realtysamurai.com/2010/04/celebrity-homes-in-los-angeles/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 16 Apr 2010 10:21:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Will Nironi</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Realtors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[celebrities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[celebrity homes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Los Angeles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Los Angeles real estate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[LA, the second largest city in America, is in many ways the symbol of the American Dream. A lot of people head to this city try to become famous and rich. The very few who succeed and turn into celebrities usually stay in Los Angeles and buy luxurious homes in one of its exclusive areas. They own hip mansions in places like Hollywood Hills or amazing properties in Beverly Hills.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>LA, the second largest city in America, is in many ways the symbol of the American Dream. A lot of people head to this city try to become famous and rich. The very few who succeed and turn into celebrities usually stay in Los Angeles and buy luxurious homes in one of its exclusive areas. They own hip mansions in places like Hollywood Hills or amazing properties in Beverly Hills.</p>
<p>Hollywood Hills is one of the neighborhoods with the most star homes. Superstars living there or having lived there include: Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Paris Hilton and others. Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria also recently bought an 8,500- square-foot mansion there. This incredible house features six bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a home theater, game room and also a gym.</p>
<p>Additional celebrity houses can be found in the well known area of Beverly Hills. This community is essentially a small town for the rich. It&#8217;s just six square miles in size and basically consists of shops and homes. Celebrities who live or have lived there include: Pamela Anderson, Jennifer Aniston, Warren Beatty and George Clooney.</p>
<p>If you can afford it, you have the chance to buy houses that were once owned by celebrities. By searching on the net you can easily find a number of them for sale. In case you are interested in purchasing a celeb home you should look for a reliable, experienced realtor to help you with the purchasing procedure. Because of the web locating one really should not be too hard. Be sure to select a real estate agent who has experience with these homes and knows the neighborhoods where they are located.</p>
<p>Celebrity houses are some of the most amazing properties out there. They&#8217;re the ultimate in luxury and come with the added prestige of having previously been owned by a world famous celeb. While these homes are high priced, if you&#8217;re able to afford them, they&#8217;re really worth it.</p>
<p>If you are interested in purchasing one of the <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.realtysamurai.com/goto/http://www.sunsetstriprealty.com" >celebrity homes in Los Angeles</a>, we recommend you visit SunsetStripRealty.com</p>
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		<title>Beverly Hills Condos</title>
		<link>http://www.realtysamurai.com/2010/03/beverly-hills-condos/</link>
		<comments>http://www.realtysamurai.com/2010/03/beverly-hills-condos/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:27:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Will Nironi</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Realtors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Beverly Hills]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Beverly Hills real estate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[condos for sale]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[The city of Bevely Hills is situated in the western part of Los Angeles county and is totally surrounded by Los Angeles. It is famous for its lush scenery full of palm trees and of course its affluent inhabitants. Beverly Hills provides a large choice of excellent restaurants, high-class hotels as well as shops and boutiques.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The city of Bevely Hills is situated in the western part of Los Angeles county and is totally surrounded by Los Angeles. It is famous for its lush scenery full of palm trees and of course its affluent inhabitants. Beverly Hills provides a large choice of excellent restaurants, high-class hotels as well as shops and boutiques.</p>
<p>Beverly Hills is known as one of the most costly property markets within the US, having typical home prices of more than $2 million and condominiums beginning at approximately $400.000. However, If you can afford them, Beverly Hills condominiums provide a fantastic way to experience all of the amazing things this famous place has to offer.</p>
<p>Purchasing a condominium provides a number of benefits. Aside from the appeal of living in a high-rise building with great views, many condo buildings, particularly in Beverly Hills, also have numerous great amenities including pools, fitness centers and many more. An additional benefit of condominiums is the maintenance services. By joining a condo association and paying a modest fee you obtain access to maintenance attendants who will repair plumbing or electrical issues when they arise.</p>
<p>Finding Beverly Hills condominiums for sale is not hard these days thanks to the internet. By looking online you&#8217;ll be able to easily find a reliable real estate agent who will help you with each and every part of the purchasing process. It&#8217;s best to contact a realtor who has experience with Beverly Hills and is familiar with the location. This way he should be able to answer the questions you may have and also offer you a lot of useful advice.</p>
<p>Beverly Hills truly is a magnificent place and very few people get to enjoy the privilege of having a condominium there. Even though this location is the most costly in the United States, it is also among the most desired. Who would not love to reside there?</p>
<p>If you are interested in finding the best <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.realtysamurai.com/goto/http://www.sunsetstriprealty.com" >Beverly Hills condos</a>, we recommend you visit SunsetStripRealty.com</p>
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		<title>How To Find the Perfect House to Buy</title>
		<link>http://www.realtysamurai.com/2010/02/how-to-find-the-perfect-house-to-buy/</link>
		<comments>http://www.realtysamurai.com/2010/02/how-to-find-the-perfect-house-to-buy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 21 Feb 2010 09:13:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Susanne Novak</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Realtors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Columbus OH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[home for sale]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[homes for sale]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUD home]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUD homes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ohio home]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ohio homes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[properties for sale]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate Agent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Realtor]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.realtysamurai.com/2010/02/how-to-find-the-perfect-house-to-buy/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Finding the "perfect" house for sale is a matter of knowing what you want. And the more specific you can be, the better your chance of success. Your real estate agent is a great resource to discuss the following points. Talking through them will help you focus your search for condos and homes.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Finding the &#8220;perfect&#8221; house for sale is a matter of knowing what you want. And the more specific you can be, the better your chance of success. Your real estate agent is a great resource to discuss the following points. Talking through them will help you focus your search for condos and homes.</p>
<p>Where do you want to live? Perhaps you wish to be close to your place of employment so your daily commute is quick. Maybe it&#8217;s important for you to be near your parents or in-laws, if you have young children. We have many choices: urban, suburban, rural, etc. Realtors traditionally say that there are three factors to finding the &#8220;right&#8221; home: &#8220;Location, location, and location!&#8221; The important point to remember, though, is that I want to help you find your &#8220;right location&#8221;.</p>
<p>Are there certain features in a home that you must have? For instance, if you&#8217;re a gourmet cook, you&#8217;ll need a large kitchen. If you have children, you&#8217;ll need extra bedrooms, and perhaps yard space. Perhaps there are features you would like in a home, but are not necessarily critical, like a fireplace or a finished basement. I&#8217;ve prepared a handy tool called a &#8220;Home Wish List&#8221; to help you sort through your preferences for home features.</p>
<p>Do you like the neighborhood you&#8217;re considering? How much do you know about it? A healthy, vibrant local industry is critical to maintaining property values, as are good schools. It&#8217;s a good idea to scan several month&#8217;s worth of headlines from the neighborhood&#8217;s local newspaper. You can also go online to check out the area&#8217;s demographics, crime rates, etc. The local Chamber of Commerce is also a great resource for useful information. They usually provide free resource packets for visitors. Make sure to learn the health of the area you&#8217;re considering.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s important to work with a local realtor who is very familiar with the area. This will save you hours of search time, as she will already know about all the properties for sale. Consider interviewing several realtors. You can find names online or in the local phone book. You&#8217;ll be sharing personal information with your realtor, so you&#8217;ll need to feel comfortable with her.</p>
<p>Can you visit the neighborhood? While it&#8217;s a good idea to search online for homes that are for sale in the neighborhood, it&#8217;s an even better idea to visit the neighborhood in person. There&#8217;s nothing like slowly driving by a house for sale and seeing it in the context of everything around it. It&#8217;ll give you a &#8220;feel&#8221; for the place that online pictures just can&#8217;t.</p>
<p>Have you spoken with a Loan Officer about pre-approval for a mortgage? The pre-approval process saves you a lot of time and helps you narrow your search. Your loan officer will give you a pre-approval letter that identifies the price range of homes you can afford. It&#8217;s also an important tool to have on-hand to show a seller that you&#8217;re a serious buyer.</p>
<p>Ready to find out what is the right house for you? Consider the points above as you start your search, and you&#8217;ll be sure to know it when you see it.</p>
<p>Author Susanne Novak is a full time <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.realtysamurai.com/goto/http://www.OhioPrettyHomes.com" >Columbus real estate agent</a> specializing in helping home owners buy properties at discounted prices. Her blog shows how to find and buy the best <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.realtysamurai.com/goto/http://www.ohioprettyhomes.com/articles/how-to-find-the-perfect-columbus-house-for-sale" >Columbus OH Homes for Sale</a>.</p>
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		<title>A Look At Canadian Real Estate And The Changes Which Are Currently Taking Place</title>
		<link>http://www.realtysamurai.com/2009/12/a-look-at-canadian-real-estate-and-the-changes-which-are-currently-taking-place/</link>
		<comments>http://www.realtysamurai.com/2009/12/a-look-at-canadian-real-estate-and-the-changes-which-are-currently-taking-place/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 20 Dec 2009 12:13:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Darlene Strang</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Realtors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[apartment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[buying a condo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[buying a home]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Canadian real estate market]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[home]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[home buyers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Housing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mortgages]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[real estate in Canada]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Realtor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[selling a condo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[selling a home]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[For people who are interested in Canadian real estate, some factors which affect the sale and purchase of property has changed radically in the last few years. There have been a number of changes that people need to be aware of whether they are looking at buying and selling a residence as an investment or on a straight residential basis. Changes have taken place or are taking place in lending practices and taxation methods. Learning what these changes are can prevent you from making costly mistakes.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>For people who are interested in Canadian real estate, some factors which affect the sale and purchase of property has changed radically in the last few years. There have been a number of changes that people need to be aware of whether they are looking at buying and selling a residence as an investment or on a straight residential basis. Changes have taken place or are taking place in lending practices and taxation methods. Learning what these changes are can prevent you from making costly mistakes.</p>
<p>Some of these changes have been brought about by the CMHC. The CMHC is the ruling body that basically sets lending practices for mortgages in Canada. They provide mortgage insurance and set housing related policies. Because they provide mortgage insurance for lending institutions, if they determine that lending practices have changed, many banks will go along with the decision. There are times that this has benefited people who want to invest in homes and commercial buildings as well.</p>
<p>One of the programs that was very popular was the no down payment mortgage. This allowed first time property buyers to avoid finding the five percent of a property&#8217;s purchase price that was originally required. In fact, it was this lack of a down payment that allowed many people to afford their first property. Because of this, many people jumped on the purchasing band wagon and managed to finance their first property.</p>
<p>The mortgages were similar in many ways to mortgages in the United States. When many of these homes were foreclosed on due to questionable lending practices, this threw the practice into question. Unfortunately for many home buyers, the ability to purchase a house with no down payment was canceled by the CMHC in October of 2008. It is worth mentioning still, since many people are unaware that it is no longer available as an option. Buyers must now generally put down five percent of the cost of the structure as a down payment. There are individual banks which may offer different terms but these may be hard to find.</p>
<p>The ability to amortize your mortgage over a longer time period has also ended. Typically, buyers will choose to finance their properties over a twenty or twenty five year period. For a time, it was possible to amortize your purchase over a forty year period but this is no longer an option. The CMHC canceled this program at the same time as it canceled zero down payment mortgages. This may end up causing problems for people who are trying to buy into markets where purchase prices are much higher. Cities such as Vancouver and Victoria on the West Coast have very high land prices. Many people cannot afford to purchase there with a standard twenty five or thirty year mortgage.</p>
<p>There is a change which is coming for residents of Ontario. The government will be introducing a new Harmonized Sales Tax in July of 2010. This will combine the GST (goods and services tax) and the PST (provincial sales tax). It will mean that items which are currently not being charged PST will suddenly increase in price by eight percent. This is not as big a deal on smaller purchases but will affect the cost of buying a new home significantly. Unfortunately, it will also affect the cost of other house related expenses such as utility bills as these will now suddenly be subject to an eight percent increase as well.</p>
<p>Changes to the real estate market are more profound than just a change in buying and selling conditions. Acts like the adoption of a harmonized tax and the loss of the no down mortgages are something that you need to be aware of and prepared for.</p>
<p>Visit the <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.realtysamurai.com/goto/http://www.darlenestrang.ca" >Condos Edmonton</a> website for more on real estate news, newlistings and buying and selling advice from Edmonton&#8217;s top Realtor.</p>
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