Tips For Finding A Commercial Real Estate Agent

Posted by katie George | Real estate | Friday 9 January 2009 4:15 am
by katie George

When it comes to finding the right commercial real estate agent, it’s not easy. The right agent can mean the difference between saving literally thousands of dollars in commission as well as making you millions of dollars. The right agent can save you time, which is money.

Questions to ask an agent

When you are ready to hire a commercial real estate agent, ask some key questions. First, ask the agent to send you information about himself or herself. By looking at the agent’s promotional materials and brochures, you can get a good idea about whether the person will be successful in terms of helping you find the right commercial real estate property or sell one you already have.

Second, ask the commercial real estate about his or her credentials, certification and education in terms of selling commercial properties. If the agent is a Realtor who has worked primarily with residential listings, you might want to wait until he or she has more experience before being a test subject. Commercial real estate deals are not only bigger deals that carry a higher price tag, but they require more expertise and specialized training and knowledge.

Third, ask the agent the average length of time it has taken for him or her to sell a commercial real estate property from the time it was listed to sold. To keep the matter in perspective, ask how he or she compares with the average of other people working in the same city or town. Just because he or she has sold properties in a few weeks, does not mean you will get the most money out of your deal. It may just mean it’s a seller’s market.

Fourth, ask whether the commercial real estate agent or broker has a support staff handling any of the major details. You may think you are hiring one person only to discover all of the grunt work and showings are going to be carried out by another agent. If that’s the case, make sure you interview the support staff as well to make sure it meets your needs.

Finally, find out how the Realtor or broker will determine the best listing price for your commercial real estate property. Or, if you are interested in buying a piece of property, find out if the Realtor has any vested interest in the property. Ultimately you want to make sure your agent is exclusively working with you and has your best interest at heart.

Looking For No Money Down Mortgage Loans?

Posted by katie George | Real estate | Friday 9 January 2009 3:48 am
by katie George

If you are shopping for no money down mortgage loans, it’s a good idea to look at your credit report before you shop. No money down mortgage loans are available to those with good credit or other assets that can be put up as collateral or security against the loan. If you have consumer debt, you want to get it in order by getting rid of as much as possible. There are debt management tips and tools in various places on this web site.

No money down mortgage loans are generally for those who have high monthly income and no payment saved for their real estate purchase. There are usually some additional fees that increase the cost of home purchase but the benefit of increasing your asset base through the addition of real estate is often enough to counterbalance the additional costs involved. Be upfront about any credit problems you may have had, before the lender finds them. It’s always good to be proactive.

If you think you will have a problem qualifying for no money down mortgage loan, have a talk with you lender about pre-qualification or pre-approval, if you are serious about purchasing real estate.

Get your finances in shape before you shop for no money down mortgage loans. Have a good handle on what you can afford in a monthly payment before you look at real estate to save yourself disappointment when you find the home you want. No down payment mortgage loans are a viable option for those who have high monthly income and no down payment saved. If it’s important for you to buy, a home or you just want to invest in real estate talk to a lender about this money management tool to help you build your assets.

Get pre-qualified for your no down payment mortgage loans before you go shopping for real estate. When you are pre-qualified you know exactly what price range you can shop in, saving yourself time and frustration during the process of deciding which home suits your style and budget. Pre-approval is an even better way to go. With pre-approval, you not only know how much you can spend, you have gone thought the process of having the lender review your financial information and check your credit. Neither process guarantees your loan but don’t bother with pre-approval unless you are serious about buying.

Shop more than one lender for your no payment mortgage loans so you have a good idea of all of the options available to you. Be sure is disclose to each possible lender that you are shopping around. If you don’t, they will see you have been when they pull your credit report, and it’s always good to let them know upfront what’s going on.