Flipping Houses & New Ways to Make Money

Hello,

I haven't posted on this blog in a long time. Since my husband passed on, I lost interest in flipping houses. However, today's market is very similar to the one my family and I started real estate investing in. Today's real estate investors are extremely active buying up forecloses and short sales. For the first time in many years, we have a positive cash flow position in California. Therefore, fluctuating sales price make little difference if you are investing long term.

After all, who wouldn't borrow money if some one else makes the payments?

I will be hosting more teleseminars for investors next year. You can email me and tell me what you want to know about and I will find the expert.

In the meantime, if you would like to make money in new ways, check out the website below:

http://budurl.com/777sh




Joy!

Jeanette Fisher

Follow me on Twitter
http://twitter.com/jeanettejoy

Special Conference Call for Home Sellers

Join me of Facebook for a great conference call. Facebook has a great call system that lets you participate so that everyone isn't talking over each other.

* You can type your questions in so I can see them.
* You can mute yourself by clicking on a microphone icon.
* You can "raise your hand" to speak.
* You can upload your pictures so I can see your house outside and inside.

How to participate: Join Facebook.

Join this group: Jeanette Fisher's Home Seller's Helpline .

Click on the Groups button on the left under applications.
Search for Jeanette Fisher's Home Seller's Helpline .

Also, join the Free Conference Calls Application

Click on the listing for:
Home Sellers Help from Home Staging Tips to Investor Traps

I know all this seems complicated, but the conference call will be unlike all the other teleseminars we've done. This is a hands on experience where you will get answers to YOUR home selling questions.

Joy in technology!

Jeanette

Flipping Houses Thirty Years Later

Today's Market Is Just Like the Golden Days of Real Estate Investing

Wealthy real estate investors who started thirty years ago love the
current market because it is so much better for those who know
how to buy low, low, low, and sell higher than purchase. It's
true flipping.

In fact, today in Pomaona California, my mother put an offer on a
house for a thousand more than asking. Someone else bid $10,000 more!

Many real estate investors enjoy "flipping houses," or buying
and selling houses quickly for profit. Not all flips are
fixers; however rehabbers make millions turning ugly houses
into dollhouses. On the other hand, some inexperienced
investors lose money buying houses that just don't turn a
profit.

If you're looking to get started investing in real estate by
fixing and flipping houses, you'll want to know what type of
property to buy.


Three Tips to Help You Find the Perfect Fixer

1. Understand Your Market

Your first task, exploring your market, helps you know a deal
when you spot it. Look at houses for sale in your area. Keep
track of sales and how long the houses take to sell. Ask the
selling real estate agent about the terms of these sales
because this helps you understand how sellers market their
property (some of this information is public record). For
instance, if a seller paid closing costs for the buyer, did
the price rise from the listed price accordingly? Or, did the
seller come down on the price and also pay the buyer's costs?
Examine the sales that sell quickly. What home features and
financing options prompted the fast sale?

Also, look at model homes. Buyers often buy resale homes
because they can't wait for a new home to be finished. But
these buyers like the special features new homes offer. Visit
model homes and take notes on how details like a water
fountain or a new state-of-the-art appliance makes a house
sell itself. When you remodel your fixer, you'll know what
turns buyers on and you'll make smart makeover choices.


2. Know When "Ugly" Means "Profit"

When you first start out in your real estate "flipping
fixers" business, you'll want to look for houses needing only
cosmetic work. Look for houses that just need cleaning up,
painting, and new flooring. Use your imagination when viewing
these homes. Try to visualize the finished dollhouse as you
look at structural features and the surrounding homes. We
like to buy the ugliest house in a decent neighborhood.

Don't be afraid of stinky houses that show horribly; look for
fixers with peeling paint, holes in the wall, stained
carpeting, and trash in the yard. Remember, these houses
won't look good to most buyers, but other investors see them
as gold mines.


3. Know When "Ugly" Means "Pass"

When you're new to real estate investing, always remember
your limitations. Use caution when considering houses that
need structural repairs. Some rehabbers replace walls,
plumbing, structural beams, sub-flooring, and electrical
systems, but they acquired those skills after years of
experience or they have the money to pay a professional.

If you find a house with structural problems, get estimates
from reliable contractors to do the work. If the walls have
too many cracks and bumps, you may need to hang new sheet
rock or hire a professional plaster refinisher. Look for
signs of plumbing problems such as water stains under sinks
and loose flooring, and get estimates for professional
repair. Take professional estimates into account before
deciding whether or not to purchase an investment property.
Any big expense decreases your eventual profit.


Turn Yucks into Bucks

Why would anyone want to do this hard work? How much does the
average investor make? In Philadelphia, real estate investors
buy houses expecting a profit of about $30,000. In Southern
California, many investors make $50,000 to $100,000 on each
house.

When you find a garbage-filled, flea-infested house in a
family neighborhood, take your bug spray, hold your nose, and
get ready to make a difference, in the neighborhood and in
your bank account.

You can make a fortune fixing nasty houses. Learn your
market. Know when "ugly" means profit in your pocket, and
when to keep looking for the house with the hidden gold mine.

Enjoy Flipping Houses!

Copyright 2007 Jeanette

The Market Died and I Can't Make Any Money Flipping Houses

I got an email: "The market died and I can't make any money flipping houses."

The funny thing about the real estate market is that it's just like it was when my family made the most money. HUD repos were rampant and there were even VA repos. We always bought fixers and turned them into dollhouses. People still need houses.

Don't get discouraged about the market. It will turn around and when it does, those buying today will be the next real estate millionaires cruising the Greek Isles.



Happy Thanksgiving,

Jeanette

P.S> Read The Truth about Making Money Flipping Houses

Flipping Houses Today with Decorative Paint

Now, more than ever, investors can pick up bargain fixers. In fact, some sellers are just giving away their homes. I know of several low, low, down homes in Lake Elsinore with owner financing. (951-678-8780) The way that you can make money is to buy low and sell high. The only way to sell high today is to have a product that people really want.

One of our fixers was a HUD repo. (Check government listings free: http://www.hud.gov/homes/homesforsale.cfm ) We used vibrant colors and decorative paint finishes to turn the disaster into a magical retreat.

I just love turning dumpy houses into buyer's dream homes. You can use decorative paint finishes for upscale results without paying a lot of money for the attraction. It's a little like making websites "sticky," you make your home memorable so buyers think about your home and not the others that they look at as possibilities.



You can get inspiration from museums and mansions, take a small detail, and copy it in your home.

Learn more about Design Psychology for Flipping Houses.

Have fun!

Jeanette

Thank you

Thank you for your kind emails about our show on Flip That House. I wish the producers had time to tell the story about the artists who rescued the house with love or at least told people about the book site to benefit Habitat for Humanity. However, we are so grateful that we did the show.


Flip That House TV show tells the family story and not the artists' story

Artistic Photo Captures Flip Spirit

This photo by Ed Crisostomo captures the spirit mural artist Kim Schaffer brings to the "House That Love Flipped."


The Press Enterprise featured our flip in today's newspaper.

Video:
http://www.pe.com/video/southwest-index.html?nvid=179302

Podcast and story:
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_D_mural29.3d55bdb.html#

(I was told the show will be on at 9:30 tonight.- Jeanette)

Fisher Family on Flip That House Saturday

This is how TLC promotes the show:

Saturday, September, 29, 2007 at 09:30 PM ET on TLC

Flip That House

Brian and Jeanette

The Fisher family and their 22 person crew are flipping a 3 bedroom 1 bath home in Lake Elsinore, California that they purchased for $340,000. They have a budget of $10,000 and a 1 month schedule. Will they be able to finish on time and under budget?

See before, during, and some after pictures of the special benefit Habitat for Humanity at Flip That House.

Flip That House Update

The Fisher family show on Flip That House premieres Saturday, September 29 in the evening.

The volunteer artists will join the family at a celebration of life and love to watch the show together. They will all sign their pictures in the book by Jeanette Fisher. Two books will be sent to the artists back East to sign. Since the bestselling artist Wyland and bestselling author Mark Victor Hansen are pictured with Jeanette and her mother, artist Jayne St John, Wyland and Mark will be asked to sign the two books to be auctioned for Habitat for Humanity.


Read more about the faux artists and preview their work on the Faux Flip.

Make more money flipping houses with faux "how to" articles:
Crackle Painting: An Easy Popular Faux Finishing Technique

Color Washing

Add Faux for Drama and Dollars

Faux Painting: A Simple but Effective Home Improvement Project Adds Dollars

Repainting walls has traditionally been the number one home improvement project among home sellers, and that's not likely to change. After all, a new splash of color can make a huge difference in the look and feel of a room--without breaking the bank in the process--and faux painting can add an even greater sense of drama to a room.

However, there are millions of colors out there, so how do you choose which ones are right for your particular remodeling project? That's not an easy question to answer, because it depends upon so many variables, including personal taste. Here are a few ideas to help you get started.

First, remember that the base color--the one you'll apply first--should end up being at least 50% visible when your project is complete. Then, depending upon how many other colors you decide to add, the secondary colors will cover correspondingly smaller percentages of the wall as you go through the process.

Another thing to take into consideration is the effect that light will have on your color choices. Darker colors will tend to absorb the light, which will make your room appear smaller. Darker colors also look even darker in rooms with a northern exposure, since they get less light than rooms at the other end of the house. If you're working on a room with north-facing windows, that's something to take into account when choosing your faux finish color scheme.

The opposite is true for south-facing windows. The sun will stream in those window much of the day, making light colors reflect even more light than they would in other rooms. That means that you may want to use somewhat darker colors to soften the look and feel of the space.

As for choosing the actual colors, you're free to use your imagination, but many experts suggest using colors that are only a few segments removed from each other on a traditional color wheel. Your local paint store professional can help you with that sort of thinking.

However, if you're hoping to make a bold statement in your newly decorated room, you can experiment with colors to your heart's delight. The only suggestion I would make is to do a sample on a practice board before you transfer your ideas into the room itself. You'll be able to get a pretty good feel for how it's going to look--and you won't end up having to repaint an entire wall to cover up a less-than-desirable result.

Faux painting takes time, but it's still one of the least expensive ways to bring a new life to a room--and it's visually and emotionally more interesting than simply covering a wall with a single color. Just take your time and you'll be amazed at the difference it can make!

To see faux painting projects, look at Christina Johnson's website: Faux Finishes
Faux Finish Above: Christina faux painted the bathroom of the Faux Flip for Habitat for Humanity seen on TV's popular show Flip That House.

Copyright © 2007 Jeanette Fisher

Top 5 Mistakes House Flippers Make

We've been flipping houses for many years, and we've learned some valuable (albeit sometimes painful) lessons along the way about what not to do if you want to succeed at buying and selling homes. Here are five of the biggest mistakes I've seen would-be flippers make--mistakes you must avoid in order to reach your own goals.

1. Paying too Much

First, uninformed investors overpay for the house in the first place. Remember, the biggest profits lie in turning a doghouse into a dollhouse, but that means you're going to need to sink some money (sometimes lots of it) into a house to make it shine--and to allow it to make you significant profits. Many pros will tell you that they need to get a house for at least 30% below true market value in order to make a rehab worthwhile. You must know your market and do your own research.


2. Nothing Down?

The second mistake, and one that you often won't hear about in most "nothing down" seminars, books, and tapes, is going into a transaction with a lack of ready cash. Regardless of what many of the so-called nothing down gurus, you're generally going to need to be able to come up with at least a couple mortgage payments during the process. That means you'll be shelling out that amount on top of your regular bills and any that you incur during the remodeling process. If you do spend thousands to go to the "Nothing Down" seminars, you'll find that they really mean "none of your money down" or using credit cards.

3. Under Estimating Repair Costs

The third mistake is underestimating repairs costs. This one can kill your bottom line and turn what you hoped would be dream profits into your worst nightmare.

4. No Cushion for Surprises

You should always include a cushion when estimating repairs, because you'll nearly always run into something you hadn't planned on as you begin your flipping endeavor. It wouldn't even hurt to double the amount of money you think you'll need when doing your initial estimates. That way, if you're way wrong and the repairs aren't nearly that high, you'll be pleasantly surprised by your increased profits.

5. No Exit Strategy

Finally, although it may seem strange, the most disastrous mistake you can make is not to have a realistic exit strategy in place before you even sign the purchase papers. No businessperson would consider buying a product without knowing how much that product will sell on the retail market, and flipping houses is no different. You have to know how much the property will be worth once the work has been done. If you don't know what your sales price will be, it's impossible to know what your potential profits could be. You also should be prepared with a marketing plan to sell and know your action steps.

Flipping houses can be a profitable business, but it's potentially disastrous, as well, if you don't avoid making costly mistakes. What is your business plan?

Learn how to fix with interior design psychology and faux art so you can sell for top dollar. See the Habitat for Humanity house featured on the Flip That House show: Jeanette Fisher's Flip That House with Faux

Pictures of faux flips: Flip That House Book pictures

Copyright © 2007 Jeanette Fisher

Faux Marble adds value to Flips

Adrienne van Dooren rented her Faux House out for $500 more per month than neighboring houses before she sold it for $50,000 more than comps last month.

You don't have to go completely "faux" to make your houses more desirable than the competition. If you have a boring, generic fireplace, take a look at faux options.

Select the finish that matches your house architecture or location.

Faux Marble Instructions
Faux Stone Fireplace Information

Fireplaces will be important during the upcoming cooler weather!

Copyright © 2007 Jeanette J. Fisher

Faux Flip Pictures at Flipping Houses Seminar

At the House Flipping seminar tomorrow, I will share the pictures of the house featured on Flip That House. Join the seminar at the Mt. San Jacinto college. Call before noon today or show up early to register. (951) 487-3711.

Ceiling mural by Arlene Murals

Professional Photographer Alana Lloyd took pictures of the Habitat for Humanity Faux Flip and the faux artists yesterday. You can see some of the pictures on a slide show on FauxFlip.com or on Alana's site Bellissima Photography.

Course details: Saturday September 8 from 9 AM to 1 PM at Mt San Jacinto College in Menifee *Optional: Materials may be purchased in class. # 9220 Room 1013A Fee: 60.00
Registration will be accepted with the use of MasterCard, Visa, or Discover at: (951) 487-3711.

Flip That House with Faux at Mt San Jacinto College: Is Flipping Houses for Profit Still Possible in Southern California?

No matter what the real estate market seems to be doing in Southern California, people still want to learn how to make money flipping houses. Last time Mt San Jacinto College offered "Flipping Houses for Profit: Still Possible in Southern California?" taught by Jeanette Fisher, the class was moved to the auditorium.

The only seminar to reveal interior design secrets to fixing houses helps first time home buyers and investors buy houses for less and sell for more. See slides of fixers before, during and after transformation, including the Fisher's Faux Flip to be featured on The Learning Channel's hit TV show "Flip That House" September 29, 2007.

Learn how to find, finance, fix and sell houses for profit in any market. See fresh ideas for fixing houses using interior design methods that make houses simply irresistible to buyers.

On Saturday, September 8, the college course at the Menifee Valley Campus explores the shifting real estate market in Riverside County. Fisher shares her interior design and home staging techniques that helped sell an investment house in Riverside. She said, "We received multiple offers within hours of listing and closed within 21 days."

Dr. Pam Wachholz, of Menifee, California recommends Fisher's course because, as she says, "Professional stagers cost over $2,500. You can take this class for almost nothing and make thousands."

Fisher has sold houses in as little as three hours in bidding wars after applying her Design Psychology methods to attract committed buyers. Betty Williams, a real estate investor from Canyon Lake, California says Fisher is "the ideal instructor to learn from. She has actually done what she is teaching and has been successful at it!"

Course details: Saturday September 8 from 9 AM to 1 PM at Mt San Jacinto College in Menifee *Optional: Materials may be purchased in class. # 9220 Room 1013A Fee: 60.00
Registration will be accepted with the use of MasterCard, Visa, or Discover at: (951) 487-3711.

The same seminar is also available by Teleseminar. Class size limited so each participant gets the same advantage as those taking the college course. To register for the teleclass, go to http://doghousetodollhouse.com

Fisher offers a free ebook: Flipping Houses



Fisher, who has sold over 35 houses, attributes her success to using Design Psychology, which appeals to buyers' emotions. Fisher discovered her unique brand of Design Psychology methods when her family renovated a Queen Anne Victorian home in Palatka, Florida. She has researched how people respond to interior design details for over 15 years, enhancing her own successful real estate investment career with research from the University of Florida, Harvard University, and the University of California.

Fisher is the author of university textbooks, Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars, Home Staging with Design Psychology, and other real estate investing books including Flip That House with Faux, to be released September29. Besides flipping houses, Jeanette teaches Design Psychology and real estate investing. She is a frequent TV and radio show guest.

Media Contact
Family Trust Publishing
http://familytrustpublishing.com
Ted Blake
(951) 678-3369 “

Imagine flipping luxury houses...

Imagine if 500 entrepreneurs came together, and started purchasing high-end luxury vacation homes around the world to use as a private group...

And what if you could use the vacation homes as much as you wanted...

And what if it only cost $97/month?

Sound Interesting? Then click here to learn more: EntrepreneursVacationClub.com

E.V.C. launches September 6th. That's when memberships go on sale. So YES -- you are on the *ground floor*.

IMPORTANT: The lower your member ID, the higher your priority when you try to reserve room in the vacation home.

So don't let someone else skip in front of you! Get the full story right now:
EntrepreneursVacationClub.com

NOTE: The $1,000 membership fee is waved LAUNCH DAY ONLY.

(They're doing a NO-OPT-IN launch, which means they're not collecting email addresses.)

Enjoy....

Should You List a Flip of Sell it Yourself?

I'm constantly asked whether a real estate investor should try to sell a home they've remodeled themselves or list it with an agent. My advice: always use an agent, especially if you've never sold a home before.

My main reason is that selling homes is what agents do. Your efforts should be pointed toward buying a home, remodeling it, flipping it, and then finding another property. You have to do what you do best, and hire an agent to do what they do best, which frees you up to concentrate on the core of your business--flipping houses.

As a former real estate agent myself, I know how hard agents work, but I also know how hard some agents don't work. That means that all agents aren't created equal. Your best bet is to shop around, find an agent you're comfortable with and who has a good track record of selling homes, and then use them as often as possible. The reason: Agents work on commission, so if you promise to keep bringing them business on each end of the process, from purchase to sale, you'll find that they will work harder for you. They'll learn the kinds of homes you want and point you toward them when they find them. They'll also know that your homes are nicely remodeled and reasonably priced when you go to sell them, so they'll be looking for buyers for you throughout the remodeling process, which will translate to quicker sales. You may even be able to negotiate a better commission percentage once you've done several transactions and have proved that you are committed to making money for the agent, too.

Agents have access to other agents, to lenders and mortgage brokers, to the MLS book, to advertising sources, and they can easily do many things that would take you extra time and energy to do on your own. Again, your time is valuable and should be spent on pursuing your core business--fixing up and flipping homes. Just having an agent's brokerage sign in the yard can mean the difference between a quick sale and having your home sit on the market for a long time.

You could even list the home before the work is done so people can see the work as it progresses. That way, you might even have the home already sold before you've finished the work, which will take a lot of the worry out of the process!

Check out our Faux Flip to be featured on Flip That House September 29.

Copyright © 2007 Jeanette Fisher

Las Vegas Real Estate Market

Tom after finishing a flip.




If you're interested in the Las Vegas real estate market, drop by our new site and join our newsletter. We're looking for investors to participate in a new reality documentary for Save This House.

Joy,

Jeanette

Abandoned Houses

Even when the real estate market is down, there are still properties that are perfect for flipping. Here's one great way to do it: buy abandoned houses. In fact, you might be noticing more abandoned houses as more house go into foreclosure.

Start by driving around your area, looking for houses surrounded by an overgrown lawn and a general feeling that no one has lived there for a long time. The more abandoned a home feels, the better prospect it is for making money--whether the market is up or down.

When you locate a prospective house, peek inside. If the inside looks just as abandoned as the outside, it's a prime candidate.

Next, talk to the neighbors on both sides. They can offer lots of information about the home, and they're often willing to help. After all, they live next door to a neighborhood eyesore, and they'd love to see you restore it.

You can peek in the mailbox for clues about previous occupants, but don't remove anything--that's illegal. You can often get a name from newspapers or junk mail on the front porch or in the yard.

You're looking for the name of a previous tenant and not the owner of the home in most cases. They're great resources for finding out what's wrong with the house, since they used to live there. You can try locating them through the phone book or on the Internet, and they're generally happy to say if the plumbing worked or the floors were saggy. Former tenants can help you locate the owner, too, since they'll often have that person's name and address.

Once you've learned as much as possible about the property, call the owner. Say that you're an investor who buys and rehabilitates properties in the area and that you might be interested in purchasing their home, assuming the price is fair and the repairs won't be too expensive.

Be friendly and listen carefully to what the owner says. If they sound open, and especially if they ask to hear what you have in mind, make your first offer and see what they say. They may jump on it. If they don't, you can always say that you've talked to a former tenant and heard about the various repairs that will be necessary. That may just close the deal.

Whether the market is up or down, there's money to be made flipping houses--if you're careful and take the time to do it right.

Free ebook, "The Truth about Making Money Flipping Houses"

Copyright © 2007 Jeanette J. Fisher
Also, read the new Flipping Houses Blog

Small Bathroom Remodeling

Big Problem for Flips?

"Six Ways to Create a More Spacious Look and Feel in Bathrooms, Without Bringing in the Sledge Hammers"

Read Small Bathroom Remodeling

Auction Preview Today for Historic Home

Check out this fabulous fifties Palm Desert Retreat built by William Boyd, affectionately known as "Hopalong Cassidy."

http://www.hoppyhouse.com

Learn how to make money flipping houses.
See the progress being made at Flip That House with FAUX
The Flipping Houses Blog (Hosted on its own domain because Google keeps taking down blogs.)

Flip That House
Habitat for Humanity project in Lake Elsinore, CA

Volunteers Chris Jackson, Alexandria Virginia, Robert Esch, and Tim from Illinois helped to design and plant the landscape.

Do You REALLY Want to Be a Real Estate Flipper?

by Jeanette Fisher

Real estate investment and flipping houses has become a hot topic on television and in the media these days, but before you get caught up in the investment fervor, you need to provide honest answers to some serious questions.

First, are you willing to start spending large portions of your life involved in the acquisition, repair, and then flipping of the properties you buy? Real estate, much more than passive investments like stocks and bonds, is a hands-on experience. You've got to look at potential properties, sometimes many of them, before you find the one you're looking for. Then you have to repair it, which will involve doing much of it yourself if you want to make the maximum amount of profit. Then you have to flip it, which involves showing the property and dealing with potential buyers.

Next, do you really enjoy the real estate game? That's important, because instead of just buying paper investments from Wall Street, you're going to be embarking on what’s essentially a second job when you start buying real estate. If you don't enjoy it, it will eventually be like working a job you hate, but you won't be able to just quit and walk away. Once you've begun the process, you have to complete it or face some potentially disastrous outcomes.

If you're married, are you absolutely certain that your spouse has bought into your real estate investment dreams? This is a crucial question, because if they haven't, flipping homes can be very hard on a relationship. Make sure your communication channels are strong, because there's going to be a lot to talk about during the flipping process--and no matter how well you think the two of you communicate, I can promise that disagreements are going to occur. You can avoid many of those problems by having a serious discussion about the strategy you're about to undertake--BEFORE you begin!

If you answered all of these difficult-but-essential questions with an honest yes, you can safely begin the process of becoming a home flipper. You'll have ups and downs, but there's also great satisfaction in making a profit from a project you had a personal hand in completing. It's certainly not for everyone, but flipping homes can be profitable, and one that's actually enjoyable--if you approach the process in the right spirit.

Pictures of house flipping projects
Flip That House

Four Things to Examine When Considering a Flipper Although each house will be different, the four main things to consider can be costly to replace or repair, and all of them require permits to fix.

Copyright © 2007 Jeanette J. Fisher
Lake Elsinore Real Estate

There’s Still Profit in Flipping Houses - Even in a Buyer’s Market

Even though the real estate market has entered a "correction cycle," there's no need to sit on the sidelines, waiting for the market to rebound. There's still money in flipping houses, even during an economic downturn. Here are a few suggestions: Flip That House

What does the current market mean for house flippers?

Even thought it has slowed, the U.S. 2007 housing market hasn't gone into the swoon predicted by many economists, which is good news for most Americans. The market is still flat and overall home sales haven't been this slow since back in 1991, but there are signs that lower financing costs and falling prices are beginning to lure buyers back.

Read more:
http://flipthathousewithfaux.com/flipping_market.html

Gold Real Estate Keys Teleseminar

Besides topics like Flipping Houses, what else do you want to know about real estate investing?

We're setting up a new teleseminar for investors and would appreciate your feedback.

If you would like to participate, please contact Jeanette Fisher or Elise.

For more information about the upcoming teleseminar, please visit Gold Real Estate Keys.

Press Release - Flipping Houses Seminar

Flipping Houses for Profit: Still Possible in Riverside County?

** Temecula, CA (PRWeb) January 27, 2007 - Jeanette Fisher, author of Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars and Home Staging with Design Psychology, will teach a low-cost real estate seminar Saturday, January 27, at Mt San Jacinto College, Menifee Valley Campus.

The only real estate investing seminar to reveal interior design secrets to fixing houses helps first-time home buyers and investors fix houses for less and sell for more.

Learn how to find, finance, fix and sell houses for profit in any market. Explore fresh ideas for fixing houses using interior design methods that make houses simply irresistible to buyers.

See slides of fixers before, during and after transformation, including the Fisher's home featured on this season's TLC's TV show Flip That House.

The author gives away a free ebook The Truth about Making Money Flipping Houses.

The Flipping Houses seminar time is from 9 AM to 1 PM in Fine Arts Room 600. Fee: $60.00. Parking: $1.00 Optional: Materials may be purchased in class. Call MSJC to register: (951) 487-3711 Class section #9348. Limited enrollment.

More information about Flipping Houses Seminar

###

Media Room: http://www.jeanettefisher.com

Tax Consequences of Flipping Houses

As prices soared and interest rates hovered near record lows, flipping houses became one of the hottest investments for many Americans. People from all walks of life began buying homes for the sole purpose of reselling them at a profit, and many of them did significantly better than if they'd put an equal amount of money in the stock market.

However, many investors also were in for a shock when they began telling the Internal Revenue Service about their house-flipping profits. Much of the confusion comes from a misconception that stems from the laws regarding the sale of a personal residence.

Read the full article: House Flipping and Tax

Tax Consequences of Flipping Houses

As prices soared and interest rates hovered near record lows, flipping houses became one of the hottest investments for many Americans. People from all walks of life began buying homes for the sole purpose of reselling them at a profit, and many of them did significantly better than if they'd put an equal amount of money in the stock market.

However, many investors also were in for a shock when they began telling the Internal Revenue Service about their house-flipping profits. Much of the confusion comes from a misconception that stems from the laws regarding the sale of a personal residence.

Read the full article: House Flipping and Tax

Flipping Houses Tips

Perhaps you've heard some horror stories about flipping houses. In most cases, these investors rushed into a deal without fully understanding what it takes to make money fixing and flipping. Here are a few tips for beginning house flippers: Flipping Houses for Profit

Flipping Houses: TV Shows and Reality
Judging by the number of television shows and books devoted to flipping houses, it would appear that transforming houses from ugly stepsisters to the belle of the ball has become the latest equivalent to the old-fashioned American Dream. However, it's not as easy as they make it appear on TV reality shows, but you CAN make money doing it. After decades of experience, If you're thinking about taking the plunge into house flipping, the first thing you need to know is that most of the time the project will take considerably... Flipping House Business

How to Get Started Flipping Houses with No Money, No Job, and No Credit

I get emails all the time like this: I want to make money flipping houses. I have no down payment, bad credit, and only make $10,000 a year. What would you say to a person like me who's only 20, makes 10k a year part time, and goes to school full time?

Sounds impossible, doesn't it?

How to Get Started Flipping Houses with No Money, No Job, and No Credit

Is Flipping in Trouble?

Six Reasons Why Flipping Houses Still Makes Money

1. Housing Prices

Median home price across the country dropped only 1.7 percent in 2006. That statistic certainly doesn't signify a bust in the real estate market. They way property values have been increasing over the past decade, that figure is more of a bump in the road than a major disaster. Most homeowners are still far ahead, even with the slight decline in home prices they experienced this year.

2. America's Supply and Demand

The number of new households being formed and an increasing population keeps pressure on building new homes.

3. Mortgage Interest Rates

Long-term mortgage rates are only about a percentage point above historic lows. The Fed has stopped raising interest rates, as well, which indicates that they are comfortable with the situation.

4. Gasoline Prices

The recent decline in gas prices encourages home shoppers to look for affordable housing in commuting distance.

5. Employment

The country's unemployment rate indicates that Americans are better positioned to make their house payments and will continue to qualify for new mortgages.

6. Consumer Shopping Trends

Last Halloween's consumer spending outdid previous years. Home improvement spending is also at an all time high. America's economy seems secure.

What does this mean for the house flipper? If you get in and out in the same market, you can still make money flipping houses. When you buy right, at a bargain price and calculate repair expenses correctly, your investment should be safe.

Free No Money Down Real Estate Investing MP3

Jeanette Fisher, author of real estate investing and interior design books, offers free ebook on Flipping Houses and before and after pictures of fixer at http://www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.com

Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

Flipping Ugly Houses Radio Show

Join us this Sunday November 5 for a fun radio show. I will be interviewed by the "Ugly House" experts of "We Buy Ugly Houses."

The HomeVestors Real Estate Radio Hour is a show targeted at novice and seasoned real estate investors.

The host this week is John Clemens, and Mike Blatney, a long-time real estate investor (and a huge advocate of home staging) will be the co-host.

The show can be heard on WBAP AM 820 a.m. in Dallas/Ft. Worth, and the show can be heard through their website at www.homevestors.com by clicking on the radio icon.

Free Flipping Houses ebook.

Jeanette Fisher
America's "Dream Home" Maker
Homes for glorious living and top-dollar sales
Lake Elsinore Real Estate

Media Twists Scare Away Flippers?

Are you afraid to flip a house because of all the media attention to the real estate bubble, falling prices, and too many houses on the market? I don't blame you. It's scary to invest your money and hard work. However, does the media twist facts for attention-grabbing headlines?

Flipping Houses and Media Headlines

Flipping Houses Author and Family to Be Featured on Tlc's Flip That House

Los Angeles, CA October 25, 2006 - Jeanette Fisher, author of best-seller real estate investing books Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars and Home Staging with Design Psychology, and her large family of expert house rehabbers will be featured on TLC's Flip That House. Filming begins on October 29, 2006 at their fixer in Lake Elsinore, California.

Read the press release Flip That House

See pictures of the fixer at real estate investing fixers

Flipping Houses, Rehabbing, and Landlording: Which Real Estate Investing System Makes the Most Money?

There are many ways to make money in real estate. Two popular and proven ways are flipping houses and landlording. Often, both of these methods sometimes involve fixing the property for higher profits.

Both flipping and landlording make money when you buy low, rent smart, and sell for top dollar.

Flippers, Rehabbers, and Landlords: Who Makes the Most Money?

Read the article: flippers rehabbers landlords

Why Would YOU Want to Be the Flipper on Flip That House?

When Lori with Flip That House called me to see if we have any working houses coming up to feature on TLC's reality show, as an investor, I thought "What's in it for us?" The network doesn't pay the investors who let the producers film the before, during, and after.

The problem for me is that I had to get permission from my family because ours is a family business. We all participate in the work and share the profits. My family is camera shy, but they finally agreed.

If you don't get paid, why would you want to put yourself in front of the camera for a Flip That House show?

Answer: FREE building materials. According to the show promoters, manufactures and companies like to get their products on the show. However, it's up to the investor to negotiate for all the freebies.

I'll let you know how this works. We start with the first walk-through and then the demolition next week.

You can see before pictures at Real Estate Investing Fixers.

Joy in real estate investing,

Jeanette Fisher

America's "Dream Home" Maker
Joy to the Home, Design Psychology
Homes for glorious living and top-dollar sales
Lake Elsinore Real Estate

Free ebook on Flipping Houses
###

Is there a difference between "flipping" and "fixing" houses for profit?

Flipping Houses for Profit

Some investors flip houses without fixing the property or doing any clean up at all. In fact, some investors don't even see the actual property. These investors just tie up the property with a contract to purchase and sell the contract to another investor or a new home buyer without taking title themselves. Many house flippers turn over several properties each month and make between $1,000 to $10,000 or more on each transaction.

Fixing Houses for Profit

On the other hand, some investors make a profit by fixing a house up, refinancing it, and then renting it to a tenant. These investors often purchase the property with rehab financing. This means they finance the purchase and the repairs. For instance, if you buy a starter home in the Midwest at a bargain price for $70,000 and the property will be worth $100,000 when its repaired, a rehab loan of $80,000 could cover the purchase costs and basic repairs. Because the rehab loan interest rates are high, you would refinance with a normal investment house mortgage. The rents should cover your mortgage and possibly give you a little cash flow. Some investors who practice this strategy end up with 100 houses paying them each month. Besides the cash flow, they end up with appreciation on houses that other people pay for.

Fixing and Flipping Houses for Profit

Another investment strategy is fixing and flipping. In this type of transaction, you buy a fixer and remodel it for a fast sale to a new home buyer. If you turn the house over quickly, you don't have to worry about the real estate market taking a downward spiral. The idea is to get in and out with a quick profit. This method makes different amounts (even losses) depending on the investor's expertise. You must know what you're doing to avoid disaster. However, this is the method that many investors use to make $20,000 to $100,000 or more on each transaction.

Read more about Flipping Houses at www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.com



See the pictures of before and after: Real Estate Investing with Fixers

Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

Flipping Houses: Bargains, Distressed Houses, and Fixer-Uppers

by Jeanette Joy Fisher

Real estate investors make money when they find a bargain property which they can purchase for less than market value and resell or rent for profit. The key may be a "distressed seller" who needs out right away because of overwhelming problems like financial difficulties, such as divorce, death, addictions, pending foreclosure, lack of money, job loss, or transfer. Sometimes a seller wants to use the money to purchase another property or start a different business and is willing to offer a bargain price to move on. Many investors who purchased at a deep discount can make a nice profit and turn the property to another investor for fast cash.

To buy a bargain property, uncover the seller's motivation and find a solution to their problem. Most often, the seller wants a fast escrow or closing. However, some home sellers want fast cash to solve money problems and want to stay in the house.

A "distressed property" is one that needs help to bring it up to saleable condition--a fixer-upper. Owners of fixers are not always distressed sellers. They might not be in foreclosure or facing financial problems. They may just lack motivation or know-how to fix up the property and haven't sold it because most home buyers want a house in good condition.

You can make money buying both bargains and fixers. It depends on whether you want to work with houses in good condition or fixer-uppers. Some investors only buy houses in prime condition from sellers who are willing to discount for a fast sale. In today's market, you must know how you're going to make a profit before you purchase a house. If you know the market is still active in your area and you have a strong change of reselling in a couple months for full price with the right marketing strategy, you can make an offer that gives you plenty of margin.

If you want to turn a fixer into a new owner's dream home or rental, you must know how much the house will cost to fix. Many investors buy fixers with rehab funding and don't risk their own money. After fixing the house, they refinance and rent, take some profit out, and have the tenants make the payments. House flippers fix and sell right away for fast cash.

Of course, if you want to fix houses, you want to find a fixer that is also a bargain house for the highest return on your money and time.

Learn how to fix and flip houses with the interior design edge for higher profits.

Free ebook on Flipping Houses

Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

Interested in Flipping Apartments?

Free Apartments and How to Find a Hot Market Teleseminar

Tuesday night, Oct. 3.

9:00 PM EST / 6:00 PST

There's so much competition these days among real estate investors. The good news is that great bargains still exist in most markets, because they're passed over by the vast majority of investors. Many of those bargains are in apartments.

Most investors think they must unclog toilets and deal with tenants in order to make apartment-sized profits. That suits our friend, Dave Lindahl, just fine. He buys apartments from burned-out landlords at great prices. Best of all, Dave's figured out ways to deal with no tenants.

Dave's going to tell us how to buy apartments with no down; how to manage them without ever dealing with tenants, and how to make it work in YOUR real estate market.

Dave's also an expert at market cycles. He'll talk to us about his secrets for finding the next hot markets, and how to quickly and easily "read" where a market is in the up/down cycle.

If you can make this call, and while there are a few telephone lines left, be sure to register!

Join Apartment and Market Teleseminar:
http://www.money4investors.com/newtele

Dave built his fortune from scratch, in tough neighborhoods. He's entertaining, knows his stuff, and you'll greatly benefit from this call.

Jeanette Fisher
Fix and Flip Houses with the interior design edge

Cash Flow and Business Credit Teleseminar Tonight

Monday September 11th
9:00pm EST/ 8:00 PM CST/ 7:00 Pm MST/ 6:00PM PST

How you can create cash flow out of thin air?

Money4Investors.com

Interested in Foreclosure Auctions?

Beginner's Guide to Foreclosure Auctions
Buying properties at foreclosure auctions can sometimes yield great buys, but you have to approach every auction with caution, because they can be disastrous if you don't do your homework well. Here are some tips for minimizing your chances of making a big mistake when looking at a property that's about to be auctioned off. Read the article: Foreclosure Auctions

Are House Flippers Guilty?

Flipping Laws: HUD Fights Inflated Housing Costs | Are investors guilty?

Flipping a house, or reselling a property quickly after purchasing, isn't illegal.

Because so many house flippers committed mortgage fraud or used predatory lending practices, HUD, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, is trying to protect home buyers. HUD also seeks to halt appraisals at inflated prices. The agency believes that house flippers artificially inflated prices.

I don't think real estate investors are to blame for the "pending housing crash."

Read about HUDs rules, what you can do to still make money flipping houses, and who might be guilty of "artificially inflating house prices."

House Flipping Laws

Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

Home Ownership Trends Can be a Windfall to Savvy Investors

With the housing market beginning to cool and interest rates on the rise, this may be an excellent time for investors to buy rental properties. The combination of those two market factors, along with an increase in the number of folks looking for new housing, could spell big profits for savvy real estate investors.

In the second quarter of 2006, home ownership actually rose somewhat, to 68.7 percent (although it was up less than a half percentage point), but that figure is down more than a percentage point from the high point, which occurred in the second quarter of 2004 (69.2 percent). Although that rise may be good for real estate sellers, recent interest rates, coupled with a large increase in property values during the housing boom many areas of the country experienced over the last several years, have made it much more difficult for buyers to get into homes of their own.

What does that mean to investors? It means that even at during the peak of home ownership in 2004, more than 3 out of every 10 Americans still rented the houses in which they lived, and it appears as if that figure may increase. In the last week of July 2006, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported that applications for home loans had reached a four-year low. As an investor, those figures should spark your interest, because they indicate that more people are being forced to rent, whether they want to or not, until market factors adjust to make home ownership more feasible.

That fact was borne out in a recent survey by the National Multi Housing Council, which discovered that some 75 percent of apartment executives reported lower vacancy rates, higher rents, or both. In fact, the survey found that the "Market Tightness Index," which is used to measure rental market conditions, increased to 85 in the second quarter of 2006, which was the highest number on record. Any number above 50 on that scale indicates improving market conditions for landlords, and it's been above 50 for 12 consecutive quarters. (The last time it was below 50 was July 2003.)

All of these factors offer a clear indication that owning rental properties makes more sense than it has in a long time, and that trend appears set to continue for some time to come. That conclusion was verified when a study by Harvard University identified a number of demographic forces that are combining to strengthen the rental housing market, especially echo boomers and second-generation Americans. The fact that investors are having to pay higher interest rates to buy rental properties has also translated into increased rents over the past few years.

With home buyers having more difficulty financing their dream homes, it appears as if the rental market will continue to strengthen for some time, at least until a market correction brings down home prices, which have been spiraling significantly over the past few years. As more and more people begin to look at renting as an option while they wait for that correction, savvy investors may be able to experience increased profits by adding more rentals to their inventory.

Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

Real Estate Investing Business Plan and free ebook, "The Truth about Making Money Flipping Houses"

Real Estate Teleseminar

Join our no cost home selling teleseminar August 23 at 6 PM Pacific. See the list of questions readers sent in at Home Staging Tips Blog.


Our next real estate investing teleseminar will be next week.

http://doghousetodollhouse.com/free_real_estate_teleseminars.htm

Joy,

Jeanette Fisher

My Favorite Strategies for Making Money in Real Estate Investing

by Jeanette Fisher

If you're like most real estate investment wannabes, you've taken seminars, read books, watched infomercials and DVDs, and have spent considerable amounts of money to learn about the ins and outs of the field. Well, if you're still struggling with how to get started, here are some of my favorite ways to make money in real estate, taken from personal experience.

The first has become popular with the advent of several television programs. It's popularly known as flipping, which just means buying, fixing up, and reselling a property for a profit. It sounds simple enough. Find a dog of a house, spend what can be a considerable amount of time and money to upgrade and repair it, and then recoup that investment, along with a sizable profit, when you resell the property.

However, I like to buy homes that are in need of the repairs and upgrades you see so often portrayed on television and sell them WITHOUT doing the repairs myself. It's not as crazy as it sounds. All it involves is buying a property by contract, structuring that contract so that you have the right to sell the underlying to a building contractor or other investor who will have the means to be able to subcontract out the work.

The process is sometimes called bird dogging, but I prefer to call it wholesaling. I don't make as much per transaction, but the turnaround time is much faster, and I don't have to deal with the 101 things that can and do go wrong, as you well know if you're a fan of the various television shows that follow the ups and downs of investors as they try to flip their homes.

Real estate investors have always looked for houses that have the potential to be fixed up and upgraded and then resold at a profit. That's partly because, depending upon how hot your local real estate may be, the potential profits can be in the five-digit range for each transaction.

There are dangers, of course, since I've never run across a single project that didn't have at least one hidden problem that threw a giant monkey wrench into the process, reducing our profit and lengthening the time we expected to finish. Therefore, it's important for you to know your market and how much things will cost to repair before you start working this popular process.

Lease options can also be a profitable way to get into a rundown house, bring it up to standard, and then either resell or rent it, depending upon your taste. This allows you to generally get into a house without the real estate agent's fees, which can be considerable. Once you've got the property up to standard, you can then sell the home on a lease option to someone else, which is generally good, because they'll have more incentive to keep it nice.

There are many other ways to make money in real estate, of course, but these are some of my very favorites. The main thing is to pick a strategy you're comfortable with and stick to it until you're an expert at it!

Free ebook: The Truth about Making Money Flipping Houses at Fixing and Flipping Houses.

Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

P.S. Join us in our "Sell this House Race."

A House to Flip Offered by Frantic Seller who Needs to Say "YES"

Investors, a bargain fixer for sale fast! Seller needs to say "YES!"

Ready to make some money?

Please help this frantic home seller.
(I can't believe you can actually buy a home in the US for only $35,000!)

Michigan home offered by desperate seller. Needs money by July 24.

Homes in the neighborhood sell for $40,000-$65,000.

Partially rehabbed and comes with new parts.

Next to beautiful Kearsly Park
(about 100 feet away from park)
1.5 miles to University of Michigan
.5 miles to Mott Community College

Family Neighborhood with many close schools.
2 miles to downtown Flint

Single Family Home
1.5 Story
2 bedrooms
1 bath
Hardwood floors
800 sq ft finished space
800 sq ft unfinished basement
500 sq ft unfinished half floor (upstairs)
1 car garage
New 2006 Plumbing
New 2006 Tankless Water Heater
New 2006 Gas Furnace (not installed)
2001 Washer & Dryer (electric)
New 2006 Windows (double pane, energy savers)
Updated Electric

Built 1920
Corner Lot (corner of Olive Ave and Illinois)
Aluminum Siding put up in the 1950s (wood siding underneath from 1920s is still in good shape if someone were to restore it; it would be beautiful!)

2 miles to downtown Flint (motor city, founding home of GM and many other motor companies)
.5 miles to I-475
2.5 miles to I-69
7.6 miles to I-75
7.6 miles to I-23

Seller purchased home in December 2005, with intent to fix up and flip, completed many updates; started working on walls and floors. Walls need to be sanded and painted.

Beautiful hardwood floors need sanding and finishing.

Coved ceilings.

New windows in Feb 2006,

New gas furnace for buyer to install.

New plumbing, faucets, and tankless water heater in 2006.

Kitchen needs some drawers replaced, and needs new flooring.

Quite street--lined with beautiful huge old trees, which provide shade in the summer and homes for many birds and squirrels that make drinking morning coffee on the closed in porch a pleasure.

1/2 story up stairs is unfinished, but would make 2 more bedrooms for kids if finished. Full unfinished basement would be great for a tool room, recreation room, or even to finish and add space.

Great home, with wonderful, friendly neighbors.

Sellers are sad to have to sell, but need money quick.

Great investment for someone who doesn't mind finishing up a little work to make money.

Hurry and contact the owner. Make an offer. Seller must say "YES!"

Call Phil
248 634 0693 home

List Your Property with the Right Agent

By Jeanette Joy Fisher

With more properties on the market and fewer buyers, it's more important than ever to make sure you select the right selling agent to help you sell your property. Here are a few tips for hiring the right person to help sell your property.

First, do some basic research. You want to know which companies specialize in your area, and among those companies, which agents make it a point to concentrate their efforts on selling properties in your part of town. Those agents will be the most knowledgeable, because your property falls within their "farm" or inventory area.

Visit company websites to see how user-friendly, attractive, and informative they are. More and more people turn to the Internet for their property searches every day, so an effective website can be a powerful sales tool. Some things to ask yourself as you view websites:

Do the listings include virtual tours of properties? This can be a great sales tool, allowing potential buyers a chance to get a feel for your home or business before spending time and gas money on a property tour. At the very least, there should be a number of good quality interior and exterior photos of the homes and buildings they have listed.

Next, check your local area for free publications. You'll find free real estate publications in supermarkets or gas stations around town. Pick up as many as you see and look at them. Which companies are prominently displayed, and which ones have the most effective ads?

Ask your friends, relatives, and neighbors about agents they have worked with. Which ones would they recommend and why? Which ones did they have a negative experience with? This can be a great tool, because the people you'll be speaking with have had actual dealings with the agents and companies, so they can give firsthand accounts of their experiences, good or bad.

Once you have a few agencies and agents in mind, schedule appointments to interview them. You can generally get a free market analysis at the same time. This will give you a chance to get a range of suggested selling prices, and it can also help you weed out those agents who are too far out of line one way or the other.

Ask each candidate to outline their proposed sales strategy, including advertising and presentation on the Internet. Make certain they're members of your local Multiple Listing Service (MLS), because it remains one of the most powerful sales tools available. It's important that as many agents know about your property as possible.

Ask about commission schedules and listing periods. You want to pay a fair price, but you don't want to tie your property up with an ineffective agent or company for an undue amount of time. Find out the average selling time for your property type in your area, and then ask about their particular company's average time. The two figures should be similar. Ask about open houses, lockboxes, and how showings will be handled, as well.

Keep an open mind when choosing your agent and company, and you will be setting yourself up for a quick and enjoyable sale of your home.

Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

P.S. If you are an agent, this article can be customised for your website. Please see the letter to agents on Free Content Real Estate Articles.

Jeanette Fisher helps home sellers with five ways to make more money.
Free Home Staging Information
For expert home selling advice please visit Sell Home Fast

Look Who Says America's Housing Market Won't Crash

Pressures on the national housing market like rising interest rates and speculative building may not have a severe backlash on the real estate market. In fact, according to Harvard University, house prices will keep climbing.

A recent study by Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies titled "State of the Nation's Housing," said that although the prices of homes won't increase at the giddy levels of the past few years, they shouldn't experience sharp declines. The main reason for that, according to the study, is that most cities have curbed excessive building and haven't seen severe job losses.

Approximately a million people bought homes last year, using a combination of low down payment loans and flexible financing options, in spite of higher home prices and rising interest rates. The majority of those buyers will have a fixed rate on their loans, even if they're adjustable loans, for the first three to five years. If their loans were interest-only, the principle will begin becoming due after a similar amount of time.

The good news for homeowners is that even though rates are going up, the study found that only 10 percent of homeowners with adjustable mortgages will be looking at higher house payments in 2006. The not-so-good news, especially if you happen to be someone who was counting on a continuation of the runaway housing trend, is that home prices will be slowing.

Part of the reason for the slow-down is that wages aren't keeping pace with housing prices. The study found that from 2001-2004, the number of American households that spent more than half their income on housing rose to 15.8 million, which represented a 14 percent increase.

The Harvard study suggests that if state and local governments don't find ways to encourage more affordable housing, U.S. homebuyers may be in for a difficult time in the future. With so much of a middle-income family's income being spent on housing, important things as IRAs and savings will begin to fall by the wayside just to keep a roof over their heads, which will put even more strain on the government as people seek financial help.

Interestingly, the study also found that each succeeding American generation has achieved a higher percentage of home ownership, in spite of price increases that haven't been paralleled by increased wages and the fact that each generation has a higher number foreign-born and minority heads of household with a lower average income than their native-born white counterparts. In that light, the study suggests a need for more low and moderate priced housing.

Perhaps most telling, the study showed that 20 percent of all mortgages in 2005 were interest-only for at least part of the term, another indication of how out-of-sync prices have become compared to incomes. In fact, the study compared the 149 largest cities in America and discovered that the number of cities where the median home price was at least four times the median income nearly quadrupled from 2001-2005 (from 13 to 49).

All in all, the Harvard study would seem to suggest that although the U.S. housing market may be slowing down, there doesn't appear to be a real estate crash on the horizon.

Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

Jeanette Fisher helps beginning real estate investors with free teleseminars, ebooks, and Free Real Estate Investing Information. For beginner's real estate books

Go Buy a House this Weekend!

While driving to the home improvement store Saturday before the 4th of July, we noticed that the usual "Open House" signs were missing. The real estate offices were closed. No real estate agent wants to work on the 4th of July holiday week. In fact, earlier in the week, I called two real estate agents about listing a property and another agent about a home we wanted to see. They all put me off until July 5th!

However, these are the conditions that mean real estate investors can pick up a deal. Home shoppers put off looking for a home because of holiday decorating, shopping, and parties. Plus, the hot weather makes home buyers prefer to stay home. Investors can take advantage with little competition from other buyers.

Other reasons why now is the time to buy real estate:

Motivated Sellers
Home sellers who didn't sell during the recent buying frenzy are worried that their home will not sell. Any seller offering their home for sale during the holiday season is motivated.

Affordability
Interest rates continue to creep up. Who knows what the rates will rise to next month?

Qualifying
Lenders threaten to tighten up qualifications. Last summer, loan officers were able to get through almost any loan. Today may be your best shot to buy real estate and get a decent rate with the easiest qualifications.

Easy Escrow or Closing
Title insurance agents, closing agents and appraisers are not as busy. Appraisers need work. Too many people became real estate appraisers when there was too much work. It used to take a week or more to schedule an appraisal. We just ordered an appraisal and the appraiser wanted to come out the same afternoon! Also, appraisal fees cost less today than last month.

Clear some time from your busy holiday schedule and go find a bargain house. Make many offers. You won't get this break until Labor Day Weekend.

Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

Jeanette Fisher teaches five ways to make money investing in real estate. Beginner's Real Estate Investing Guide

Real Estate Teleseminar

"The Millionaire Real Estate Investor" with Annette Bau*

June 29, 4 PM Pacific / 7 PM Eastern
You might be surprised at how easy it is to buy multiple houses and at the same time become a millionaire!

* Hear secrets of wealthy real estate investors
* Learn how to buy right
* Find out what type of property to buy
* Find out how to buy with little or no money down

What are two of the key reasons people do not become Millionaires or achieve their goal?
How can beliefs affect a person becoming a Millionaire?

*Annette M Bau is a Certified Financial Planner(TM) and has owned a financial planning practice of almost 20 years. She is the founder of MillionaireSeries.com and the author of the 7 Principles of Becoming a Millionaire for Life.

To join us, visit
http://doghousetodollhouse.com/free_real_estate_teleseminars.htm

Real Estate Investing Guide

How to Buy Fixers - Look for Triple Ds

It's been said many times before, but only because it's always been true: If you want to be a successful real estate investor, the best way to begin is by finding a "fixer-upper" house being offered for sale by a seller who really wants to get rid of the property.

Why would a seller sell a property at a low price or with great terms?

The reasons are as numerous as the number of sellers, but the most common situation has to do with money problems. Whether it's due to divorce, illness, or loss of employment, some sellers find themselves in need of a quick sale, especially if they're facing potential foreclosure on the property.

What IS a Triple D?

As a beginning investor, the most desirable type of investment house to look for is a "Triple D," which is a doghouse owned by a seller involved in a divorce who is close to defaulting on the loan.

The term doghouse describes a rundown home that's tired but not in need of much structural repair to bring it back to life and to make it sparkle. A great doghouse also has the potential to fit nicely into a neighborhood of well-maintained homes once again after the repairs have been done.

One advantage to investing in fixers is that your competition will be less than for homes in better condition. Ugly houses scare away home buyers who don't have the money to finance the repairs or upgrades necessary to turn a doghouse into a dollhouse. As you scan the classified ads, look for terms such as "handyman special" or "fixer-upper." They're clues that there's work to be done to bring a house back to an acceptable condition.

Once you've located a doghouse that can be converted to a dollhouse without a great deal of time or money, the next step is to find out what seller's problem is and then to offer a solution. Most sellers who've let their homes run down will be in need of a quick injection of cash, so if you're in a position to offer a speedy cash out, you'll be in a strong bargaining position. Establish a relationship with a lender and get pre-approved for a loan before you've found your property. You want to be able to show a seller that you can quickly alleviate their money problems.

Your object is to get into the home quickly, fix it up, and then sell it, so you can move on to the next property. Look for entry-level homes that are merely ugly and in need of mostly cosmetic upgrades such as paint or new carpet. Those are types the houses you can flip quickly and make the most money on, because there's always a strong demand for entry-level houses. I know it's true because my husband and I sold a little fixer in a great neighborhood within three hours!

Find a Triple D house in your area and you can be on your way to becoming a successful real estate investor, too.

Jeanette Fisher invites you to stop by DoghousetoDollhouse.com for
Free Real Estate Investing Information (free teleseminars and ebooks)

Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

Can You Still Make Money Investing in Real Estate by Fixing Houses?

Real estate investors have made money by buying unloved houses, fixing them up, and then selling them for years. It's not a new real estate investing method. But what if you live in an area where homes sit on the market and sell at less than full price? Can you still make money investing in real estate by fixing houses under such market conditions? The simple answer is yes, if you do your research, find the right seller, and follow proven strategies.

Research Your Local Market

It's been a sellers' market in America for a number of years, with more buyers than houses, which meant that sellers weren't as motivated as they were back in the 80s, when interest rates were sky high, inflation was running rampant, and mortgage lenders were more cautious. Today's market is shifting towards a buyer's market and real estate investors find home sellers more willing to bargain, because like in every age, people get into trouble for various reasons.

You must know what houses sell for, under what terms the property sells, the conditions of houses sold, and how long the average home sits on the market. Once you know your market, you will know how much to offer a motivated seller.

Find the Right Home Seller

You might think you're looking for a bargain house, but what you're really looking for is a motivated seller. Look for sellers that have found themselves in financial distress, for whatever reason, and who need to sell quickly. Sellers with difficult situations have motivation, and will be willing to work with you to overcome the difficulties they face. Those are the houses that will make you money, regardless of the overall market in that area.

If you look at houses on MLS, tell your agent to request that the seller be present. This way, you have the opportunity to talk to the home seller and see what problems prompted the home sale. You can also run ads that say "We Buy Houses."

Fix the House Right

To give yourself the edge when you go to sell your home, don't just paint everything white and have boring beige carpeting installed. Today's home buyers look for a home that makes them feel "at home." Learn how to profile your home buyer and make decorating choices to target that buyer. You don't need to spend extra money fixing up the house; just make wise design choices.

Sell Your House

Since most home buyers look for houses with real estate agents, don't waste your valuable time trying to sell on your own unless you have sold many houses and know exactly how to manage all the disclosures and paperwork. Find an agent who is willing to show the house, not just place a lock box and forget it. Every time the house is shown, it needs to be staged with lights on.

You can still make money investing in real estate in today's market. Do your homework, learn as much as you can and follow proven strategies.

Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

Jeanette Fisher teaches interior design secrets for fixing houses. For more Real Estate Investing Information for beginners, visit DoghousetoDollhouse.com -- the Internet's largest library of real estate investing tips and articles for beginners.
Free ebook and teleseminars: http://doghousetodollhouse.com/real_estate.htm

Thinking about Building Houses?

a note from Jeanette Joy Fisher

I'm getting ready to speak to a builder's group on interior design trends and thought you might be interested in some of my research findings.

If you're thinking about building new houses, check out the new section to our real estate investor's information website:

Home Builders: Know Your Target Market - First-Timers
The key to successful home building is to know your target market. Every market niche has specific lifestyle needs that must be met if you hope to succeed. Once you set your sights on a specific market segment, you must satisfy their needs and desires, because your clientele can make or break you. In this article, we'll focus on how to push the buttons of first-time home buyers.
Build Houses for First-Time Home Buyers

Home Builders: Know Your Target Market - Senior Baby Boomers
Although they're loathe to admit it, Baby Boomers are rapidly becoming senior citizens. However, just has been the case throughout their lives, the fact that Boomers are entering their golden years has made the senior market the fastest segment of the real estate market today. If you're a builder, this can mean more sales for you, but you'll have to do some target marketing to attract Boomers to your homes. Build Houses for Senior Baby Boomer Market

Home Builders: Amenities Baby Boomers Demand
Boomers are now entering what people used to call the Golden Years, and they're beginning to look for homes that offer amenities geared toward older people. If you can offer homes that fit their tastes and specific demands, Baby Boomers will seek you out--and they generally have the money to spend on the things they want. Amenities for Baby Boomers

Let me know if you give up fixers and build.

Enjoy!

Jeanette Joy Fisher

Vacation and Investment Property Sales

People are buying more getaway properties than ever before, according to a recent study by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). In 2005, in fact, four out of every ten home sales were bought either as vacation homes or investment properties. That represents a 16 percent jump from 2004, and amounted to 3.34 million homes.

Read about vacation and investment property sales: http://money4investors.com/newblog/

We love our vacation house. Is it time for you to visit yours?

Joy,

Jeanette Fisher
Real Estate Investing Information

Question: What is the difference between flipping houses and flipping houses?

Lingo Demystified

By Jeanette Joy Fisher

I received many questions about the term "Flipping Houses."

Read the answer:

Flipping Houses Lingo

How to buy houses with no money down MP3 - Free

Listen to Jeanette Fisher interview Joe Luckino, "How to buy houses with no money down." Find out how Joe got started real estate investing. He graduated from college in 2002, worked for a year a half, and now invests in real estate full time.

No Money Down Real Estate Podcast

While at the Money4Investors website, enter the password: fisher
for a free week to explore the 1.2 million listings of foreclousures, FSBOs, and hard-money lenders.