The Truths about Buyers that Home Sellers Must Know

You might wonder why your house is not selling despite your marketing efforts. As a seller, it is important that you view your property as a buyer. There is no better way to counter every prospect’s demands and criticisms than to put yourself “in his shoes.”

Let’s examine the most common things that prospecting buyers hate about listings they see. By doing so, you will be equipped with knowledge on how to respond to or sidestep those issues.

Overpricing

Buyers shop around before deciding which property they will purchase in the future. And when they do, they are comparing your house to the others in the market. Overpriced properties tend to have a negative effect on buyers. Either they will go to the next listing with similar features as yours but priced competitively, or they will wait for price reduction because they like your house but think it too expensive.

Little Malfunctions

Before you advertise your home in the market, you have made preparations such as make sure the vents are working, have the floors refinished or the walls repainted, fix the plumbing system, etc. This is all good however; prospects won’t be checking these things at least until inspections.

On their first visit, what they will do is:

•  Flick light switches
• Open/close closet or cupboards
•  Smell non-existent odors
• Hold the hand rails as they walk up the stairs

When you think that these items are less important and less expensive to fix, they are more noticeable to buyers. And when they see these things, they are incline to think that the whole house is rickety.

Clutters and Personal Belongings

Dirt, messes, and array of personal belongings are as distracting as the little malfunctions. Few messes are enough to distract a buyer which he will fail to see what is so good about your home.

Staging your home or lack thereof can make or break the sale. No time for all of these? Fortunately, you can sell your home as is to private investors. Lucas Properties, a private investor, buys lands, apartments, houses, and commercial complex with cash. They offer competitive market price in a quick and hassle-free transaction.

Selling Your Land By Owner

It can be a tough decision, whether or not to enlist the services of realtor when you want to sell your land. Whether you have inherited some land, just want to downsize your number of investment properties or even when you just need to have some extra cash on hand, do you always need a realtor and the MLS or is it possible to sell your land by owner? The simple answer is yes.
Selling your land by owner can be a time consuming and bit arduous task, but it is far more profitable than paying out commissions to realtors, dealing with the long wait times to see that the property doesn’t move at all being listed on the MLS and in the end actually losing even more money on the property with extra maintenance while it is available for showing.
When you sell your land by owner, you will need to take steps to ensure that the property is cleanup. It is well worth you initial effort to remove all debris and to do some mowing and weeding. A really great selling trick on large wooded or even open properties is to keep a clear path that follows the property’s boundaries. This makes it easy for perspective buyers to walk the property in a carefree and relaxing fashion. A horrible rustle with brambles is not going to leave the best impression. Make paths accessible to the lands best features.
One of the great things about selling your land by owner is the flexibility you will have with pricing the property. While it is more than worthwhile to conduct market research to determine the value of your land for sale, you will also not have to worry about upping your price to cover the costs associated with realtors. Depending on your selling situation, you may not have the time or energy to price competitively and decide to put your property on the market below value. This is great for a fast sale, as long as it is what works best for your pocketbook. Many realtors however would frown on such an approach and encourage you to ask more and wait for the lowball offer. When you sell your land by owner, you are the person behind the decisions, but you should always leave room for negotiations.
When it comes time to advertise your land for sale, you will want to be sure to include details about the properties location, but not its exact address. This will keep squatters at bay. You should include the properties dimensions, size, zoning and any other outstanding selling features it may have like lake views or mature trees. Include photos of the property whenever possible. You can sell your land by owner online, in newspapers, with signs on the property and in a variety of other mediums.
If you need to sell your land by owner super fast and can’t afford to spend the time advertising, signing and surveying the property, then your best alternative is to seek out investors who are willing to buy land for cash. There are many of these organizations, but it is important to review their website and make sure they are legitimate businesses. They should never charge for a quote, but you should also note that investors do not pay top dollar for properties. Most investors pay 10% to 20% of market value for a property, but with investors, you get hassle-free quick closing.

Tired of Making No Interest? Sell Your Land for Cash!

There were once safe places called banks for investing your hard earned dollars where you could earn a reputable amount of interest. With most interest bearing accounts maxing out, a lot of people dependent on their interest income are having a harder time making ends meet. While they may still have cash in the bank, that cash is earning them less each day and they are looking for new ways to earn more.
While banks have been slow to recover from the economic drop of 2007 through 2011, there is hope on the horizon for things to look up. It has been a couple of months since the headlines were showered with news of crashing stock markets. A lot of people turned to investing in land as a means to earn more than what the banks could offer. A smart choice, but if that was a choice made in 2007, the time to sell your land for cash may be at hand.
Holding onto land would obviously be the smarter choice if you have the financial ability to do so, but if you need to recover some of the interest income you have lost over the last few years selling your land for cash is a great hassle free way to recover some losses.
As you likely learned when you were buying your land, investors that pay cash for land won’t be offering you top dollar for your parcel. However those investors are about the only people buying land for sale right now and are the smartest option available. Most will pay around 60% of market value and you should be able to make a profit on your land sale if you bought low originally.
If you are at the other end of the spectrum and have money that you need to invest, then buying land for cash is still an excellent investment option. The value of land will continue to rise due to the simple laws of supply and demand. If you purchase land from investors you will likely get a great deal enabling you to make more when it comes time to sell down the road.

"Buy Land. They've stopped making anymore." – Mark Twain

These famous words of Mark Twain are even truer today. There is no more land being made, created or built. It is that simple fact that makes this statement equally true. If you are looking for a good investment, raw, vacant land is a great place to start. It is the opinion of many seasoned investors that farm values probably will rise as much as 10 percent over the next five years. The land market is strong and will likely remain strong for years.
By comparison the U.S. home market is expected to only increase by around 1 percent by the end of 2010. Over 50% of baby boomers have let it be known they want to retire to a small town or open spaces. Many of them believe that by buying into real estate they will build and protect their nest eggs instead of putting all their eggs into a 401k.
For many other Americans, the dream of owning a second home still thrives. However, many can’t afford an extra mortgage, so they choose to buy vacant land instead. By investing in raw land, families change their future growth as they can build on the parcel, hold onto it for future generations or sell it later should economics demand it.
If you consider the amount of sub-developing that is happening across the nation and how in many communities people are no longer allowed to sell parcels larger than a certain acreage, if you can find a decent sized property, it is well worth it to purchase it at a reasonable price and hold onto it for at least five years if not more.
Even though the real estate market has cooled, except in the foreclosure and short sale realm, land values continue to hold. This means that the time is now to start looking. As the economy recovers more and the housing market stabilizes in the next few years, the value of land will continue to rise.
There is a lot of wisdom in Twain’s words. "Buy Land. They've stopped making anymore." Investing in land is a choice you can be confident in.

Buying Land As An Investment

Some of the highest returns in the real estate investment market come from buying vacant land. Purchasing vacant land is a speculation and comes with risk. Buying vacant land can be compared to buying small cap stocks in terms of the stock market. Compared to large cap companies, small cap companies fail more frequently. However, the ones small cap stocks have consequently shown better overall returns. Not only are they taking a risk, by buying vacant land, but they need cash and plenty of time to wait for the return. If cash and time are plenty, and the investor knows the risks, then buying vacant land as an investment may be right for them.

However, just as with stock portfolios, if an investor is looking to buy vacant land as an investment needs to diversify by not buying in only one area or one city. Any real estate investments, location is critical when buying vacant land. An investor should buy vacant land that indicates it will have future development. Investors look for long term value, but they also want property that produces cash flow. While fortunes have been made from buying vacant land, many investors have made little to nothing on their vacant land purchases too.

Investors should evaluate early on the development potential of any vacant land they are considering such as the soil, terrain and access. They need to determine if it will be suitable for building once any expansion reaches it. The fewer challenges land has the better for investment. Ready to build land will be more valuable further down the road

Areas that are better located for future infrastructure expansion and near major employment centers are areas that investors should consider first. Any barriers such as mountains and rivers that may impede development can be cost prohibitive. If development has already reached the river bank, or mountain side, then the development may start elsewhere.

Investors always keep in mind that is possible for vacant land to produce income. The new investor shouldn’t listen to those who say this can’t be done. Recreational purpose is always in need of vacant land and could produce income while the investor is waiting for the future development to take place. Renting the vacant land to hunters or fishermen or even turn it into a camp ground or off-road vehicle track are possibilities for income. By look at what activities that are in demand and a good fit for the property an investor has possibility of income. Investors who can think outside of the box are limited only by their imagination.

Need Investment Dollar?!

Some people like to invest in stocks or even play the stock market as a hobby; a hobby that can land some cash. But your hobby also takes money too and when cash flow is tight you may need to focus your investing dollars somewhere else. Finding safe investments with any kind of return is next to impossible in the current economy except when you look into the world of real estate.

Hey! Remember that land that your grandparents left you and your brother? Granddad was a farmer and with all the summers you two spent there, he just knew you two would follow in his footsteps. Ends up though that neither one of you have any desire to put on boots and overalls again. Just not your thing anymore, or at least not for now that it is.

So why hang on to it? There are real estate investors out there looking for land just like that and will pay you cash. That is cash that you can call up your stockbroker and make that buy! The stock market is something you know and you have a strong feeling on this one. Selling that land would get you the cash you need to make that investment. Maybe have some left over for your wife to buy something for the house too!

Oh, you are thinking that your brother won’t want to sell though huh? Have you asked him about it, ever? He may need the cash for something else but was afraid to ask you. If he hasn’t been thinking about it, you may put the thought in his head. He may even want to invest in that stock you want to buy!

What Good Is Raw Land?

When you own raw land, you have the opportunity for many benefits. If you don’t want or need to build on it, you can rent it out. Or, depending on the location, use it for personal recreation even. With that being said, where you buy the land and what you want to do with it are two things that need to work together.

Rural land is the easiest to buy. Buying a city parcel is much more complicated. However, there are still precautions you need to take and research to be done. The zoning should be your first concern. If you want to purchase land for residential you need to know what building restrictions are in place.

Rural land has more opportunities for an investor. Buy the land and wait for it to appreciate is a common move. When an investor knows of a development being planned in the area, he will be able to cash in by reselling when that development happens. Or build his own development to compliment and feed off the success of the first development, such as with recreational purpose.

If you are looking for land to raise cattle, you want to make sure you are getting a good quality of land. Land that is flat, drains well with good soil is important. Land being purchased for equestrian use should have gentle slopes, lots of woods as well as flat ground. Land with intents of ranching you will need many conveniences close by such as water, power and road access. You will need to be sure you can gain access even in heavy rains..

If flooding is a concern, getting an agricultural report would be worth your time and money before you sign any documents. Land that floods and holds water is not suitable for horses, cattle and most crops. A visit to the local agricultural office can be worth a lot of knowledge.

Keep in mind there are legalities you need to consider too. Such as if there is a passage through another person’s land to gain access to your property. Find out what easement issues there may be, you don’t need any surprises by local law enforcement after you have made your purchase!

Land is one investment that will always hold its value. It has a history of appreciating all the time. With an investment in land, you won’t have the worries and concerns that you will with stocks and other type of investments. Land is dependable and they aren’t making any more of it!

Buying Raw Land Is a Great Investment

First, let us make sure we understand what raw land is exactly. Any property that is unimproved has no utilities; sewer, streets or any structure on it is considered raw land. It may be wooded and have underbrush, but nothing placed on it by man, it is still in its natural form.

While raw land can be a great investment, getting it financed can be more difficult than getting improved land financed. Raw land does not generate immediate income. The expense of getting the land up to standards so that it will generate income can be astounding. The potential income of raw land is completely speculation.

So you need to ask yourself, is your reason to buy this raw land? What are you looking for in return? If you know exactly what your goal is in purchasing this property, and you know that it will in fact serve that purpose, you can then move forward in getting financing. When you have a defined purpose and a plan of action, getting raw land financed will be easier.

There is so much to know about buying raw land than one may realize at first. The chances of getting duped, conned or misled are highly possible. Being ill-advised and uniformed it may be too late before you realize it. Doing your homework by investigating the land and evaluating the situation is always recommended.

Depending on what your plans are for the land, there are many factors to consider. Are you planning to build your home on the land? Is this home for the present or your future retirement? Perhaps you plan to develop it for resale, such as a housing development or retail purpose.

Keeping your goal and purpose in mind, some key factors to know are as follows:

Clean air: What are the regulations and stipulations of the area for industrial use if you are looking a commercial development? Or if a residential plan is the goal, what is the surrounding area like?

Water: A daily necessity for either commercial or residential use. If a residential use is planned, does the water meet government standards for drinking?

Sewage and waste disposal: Knowing if the property you are looking at is on city water and sewer or if a septic system is required will be key information needed in getting financing. Regardless for residential or commercial purpose, the need for garbage collection will be necessary.

Electricity: A daily need regardless if a property is commercial or residential. Is there electricity to the property? How far will you need the electrical line ran to have power? What licenses and requirements are needed to run electricity to the land? Not only will there be the cost running the power to property, but there most likely will be fees as well.

Answers to these questions can be answered by local officials. Start your homework and research by inquiring with the planning and zoning offices. Phone calls or visits to the utility offices will answer many questions that you will have after knowing the zoning requirements.

A raw land investment can be a good investment if you do your homework. Have a clear goal set and a plan of action before going forward in finding funding. Once you have all this in place, you can sit back and enjoy the profits from your investment. Or take those profits and start your next investment!

Retirement Funds and Raw Land

You must diversify your investment portfolio to lessen your risk, we all know that. Did you know though, that you can invest in real estate using your IRA? Within certain guidelines and following certain rules, the IRS allows you to use retirement money for real estate investing. This is can be condos, office buildings or even raw land. Use your IRA funds to buy the property then turn around and sell it to a developer for a profit! You’ll be using money that is yours without touching your household income!

You may have some money in stocks, bonds and even a savings account already. However the interest earned is very small unless you have a bulk of money in those for at least 15 years or more. However, raw land investing can increase your retirement funds quicker and maybe allow you to retire sooner than originally planned! Stocks will go up and down, bonds can lose their value and savings accounts have slow growth. There is no more land being made though! You will be investing in something that is limited!

If you aren’t familiar with raw land investment it is when you buy land for the purpose of developing then resell for profit. You may want to make it a long-term investment or a quick turn-around. Raw land can increase as much as 300% on the average. Financial advisors and fund managers don’t offer raw land investment even though they are a favorite of the very rich because they won’t make a commission on that purchase.

In fact, banks, mutual funds and insurance companies prefer to be the middle man by only offering IRA accounts that are lucrative for them such as stocks, bonds and other ‘paper financial’ investments. Therefore, you are on your own when it comes to investing in real estate and using your IRA funds to do so.

So if your retirement is coming up soon or still a few years out and the government’s recent announcement that the Social Security plan is in the red, won’t it be a good feeling to know you have your financial future secured yourself?

Invest In Land for Your Retirement Fund

The old fashion way of saving for your retirement is not giving out the high returns any more. The stock market method isn’t safe either in today’s economy. So what is the best way to build up your retirement account? Invest in real estate! Yes, even better, invest in raw and vacant land!
There is no bad reason that should keep you from investing in land. If you are looking for a way to build your retirement account, land investing is the fastest way to make money in real estate. You want to buy land in markets that is selling fast. However, you must do your homework to make sure you will get the maximum from your investment. So the trick here is to know how and when to act with land investments.
Yes, the economy is still suffering, but now is the time to really start looking at investing in real estate, most especially in land deals. Certain areas of the country are hot markets right now such as the South. This is an area you can expect to get a significant size return on your investment in just a few short years.
In these economic times, you want to get the best investment strategy that will offer you high returns and low risks. Land investment is one that will offer you just that. You may have the idea that only the independent wealthy can afford this type of investments, but you are wrong. By doing your homework and playing your cards right, you can invest in land with a small amount.
Property that is not developed offers the greatest return. Experts will agree that land property investments offer higher returns on a more consistent basis. Land investments are safer than other investments and the value will only appreciate. Making a land investment you will know going in that you will get a higher return, as much as up to 200 percent even. With a stock market investment, the average return is as low as 4 percent.
While retirement is a hot subject these days for just about anyone that is in the work force. We are all worried about our retirement funds and social security isn’t looking strong right now either. Many Americans are looking for a new way to investment their money and find a strategy that will ensure they are protected financially when it comes to the retirement years.
For many would-be retirees the stock market, 401 K, insurance, and savings are not giving them the peace of mind for their financial freedom they had hoped for all these years. So what many of us are now realizing is that there are other investment strategies that many other have been very successful to secure their financial freedom when they retirement. Land investing is one of the smartest things you can do to increase your net worth and secure your financial freedom. For land investments, you can expect is a significant return on your investment as land will always appreciate in value.

Sell That Property!

Maybe you’re going through an ugly divorce, somebody in the house has medical issues or you are just relocating for a new job, it doesn’t matter. You need to get some cash together and quick. The two or three yard sales got rid of some stuff but didn’t create the cash you were hoping for, so now what? You need to do something quick, but you’re not sure what.

Remember that acreage that was left to you in an inheritance? You’ve paid the taxes and you’ve paid to keep it maintained. Do you have any plans to use it though? While that tract of property isn’t doing you any good, there are real estate investors out there that are looking to buy property just like that. What’s even better, they are willing to pay cash!

When you sell to a real estate investor, you will avoid the realtor fees and commissions that come from selling the standard way. When you sell to a real estate investor, you get a cash offer right away and a quick closing. There are no property tours by prospective buyers, no dog-n-pony show.

Regardless what type of land you have sitting around unused by you, there are real estate investors out there with cash that want that type of property. Is it hundreds of farming land or just a tract in the city? Maybe you have a suburban plot of property or a lake lot in a development area. These real estate investors won’t care what you have or why you’re selling it.

We are all aware of the economy right now, but believe it or not, there are people out there with cash and they want to spend it. They may be looking to invest their retirement funds in something that will eventually increase in value. Land certainly won’t disappear, so it is a solid investment in the long run.

So sell that property now! Then enjoy the cash that sale generates as well as the ongoing increase of cash by not paying taxes and upkeep anymore! Pack those boxes or pay those bills and start enjoying this new chapter in your life!

Start a Retirement Account by Investing in Land and Real Estate

We all feel and know too well the state of the economy right now. For many of us the money we invested into the stock market for our retirement has seen the stock market sink to historic lows. As many of us have discovered, we may have lost most, if not all our retirement monies and will now have to work a few years longer than planned, just to maintain a minimum standard of living when we do retire.

While the economy is definitely weak including the housing market, there is a part of the real estate market that has actually maintained its value and in some areas of the country, skyrocketed. Vacant land, empty lots, farm and ranch acreage, land of any type has held its value and even increased in some parts of the country. Unfortunately for those with 401k accounts, there aren’t any options to put your money into real estate stocks.

However, since the early 1970’s, Americans have been allowed to use their IRA assets for buying investment property. Even to this day though, this is still the least known and unadvertised investment in the financial market. Part of this is because many people don’t understand what a self-directed IRA actually means. What we’re saying is it is possible to make real estate investments with your retirement plan!

It’s all over the news in print, internet, TV and radio that foreclosed homes are at an all time high and selling for a small fraction of their original prices. Still though, raw and vacant land is a bargain for those investing in real estate. Land will hold its cash value and gain growth again before the housing market. There are specialty lenders that are willing to provide IRA investors the leverage needed with their retirement savings for a real estate mortgage as an investment.

Those of us with retirement accounts are unsure of our nest eggs right now and having all our eggs in one basket makes us nervous. If you are considering real estate investment, remember real estate runs in cycles. So what has hit bottom today will come back up later. A real estate investment can bring rental income for the present and then be the nest egg you cash in after retirement. For hard assets, there is nothing that can be of greater value than land.

Why Should You Buy Vacant Land?

While the housing part of the real estate market slowed down the past few years, the raw land part of real estate has not only maintained, but it has heated up. If you have thought about buying raw, vacant land now is the time. Many experts say that they haven’t seen this much movement in the market in years.
The question many are asking is why? What good is raw, vacant land when the economy is as tight as it is right now? With job losses at an all time high along with foreclosures, why on earth is vacant, raw land such an attraction? Why would anyone buy something such as vacant land that they can’t use today?
The questions above are the answers too. Because of the high unemployment rate, many people that have been sitting on vacant land and need to sell it quick. They are willing to sell it below market for a boost to their cash flow. This is a last ditch effort for many to get the cash they need to catch up their payments on their primary residence as well as their monthly bills.
Another reason land is selling as good is because there isn’t any more land being made. What we have today is all we are going to have. So those people with money in the bank and jobs going good today are looking for someplace to invest that money that is safe.
This is one reason the generation referred to as Baby Boomers are buying raw land. They have seen the economy as it is now and as it was in the 80’s when the stock market crashed. They want to put their money in something that won’t disappear and as we said, land is here to stay, its limited resource and there won’t be any more made.
There are people that want to buy a second home for either retirement or vacations and maybe don’t have the money to do so right now. So they are buying vacant lots with plans to build in the future. They can start getting things done little by little such as septic, electric and water as they can afford it. Then perhaps buy a travel trailer or mobile home to sit on it while they build behind it.
Real estate experts believe that farm values are going to rise at a rate of 6 percent to 10 percent over the next five years. It is also expect that the median U.S. home is going to increase by 1.2 percent by the end of 2010. The economy is weak, but it is expected to turn around. Those people that have lost their jobs and home and have struggled these last few years will become employed again. Many are going to look for ways to get themselves in better position for the future and put their money where it will be safe. Again, they aren’t making land anymore!
Some people are even considering timberland as an investment purchase. This land has beaten the stock market for as far back as data is available to track both. While stocks have increased each year by nearly 12%, the total return on timberland was almost at 14%. Timberland is not familiar with activities on the on the stock market.
So expect the demand for land to remain strong for the next few years over any other forms of real estate. Polls taken lately show that at least 73% of those asked and responded expect to purchase land within the next 12 months. So buy yours today before they run out of stock! Because we all know, they aren’t making it anymore!