How to Choose A Denver Real Estate Agent

A lot of property buyers, as they decide to go in for a purchase, decide consciously to exclude a Denver real estate agent from the entire process, so as to save on precious money, which has to be paid by way of commission. This sometimes backfires as they end up dealing with unscrupulous people who take advantage of their naivety and cheat them of their hard earned money. Real estate agents or brokers as a valuable part of the entire process provided you use them judiciously.

It will be wise to recall incidents in the past of people who have taken the help of agents to finalize a deal. They shall tell you that the money paid as brokerage fees has been worth it, as they have got good deals and been able to live a peaceful life afterwards, as they have faced no issues regards that purchase. Need less to say, not all agents are sincere and honest. There are cheats among these too, those who resort to unfair means to earn a fast buck. It is therefore advisable to have a screening process for a Denver real estate agent as well, before you decide to choose one.

A few factors that can be help you in finalizing a real estate agent are:

1. Reputation of the agent: The goodwill earned by a Denver real estate agent and his reputation in the open market carries a lot of weight. You can gauge his honesty by asking for a list of his clients and then proceeding to cross verify with them about his work ethics. This gives you valuable insight into his business.
2. Status: The status of an agent can be measured by the location of his office or by the type of staff employed. A well organized set up indicates that he has worked favorable deals and has been fairly successful. Such people can help you as they have contacts to clinch good and fair deals.
3. Contacts: As you personally meet an agent, it will be wise to check with him about the availability of a legal back up for your transactions. A competent legal team will help you finish all formalities without any mistakes.
4. Deals Offered: Ensure that the agent is offering you commission rates which are on par with the market rates. Some agents offer lower rates to lure customers, in which case, it is always a good option to scrutiny the workings of such a broker.

Like in every other aspect of Denver property purchase, this is also an important point which needs to be scrutinized to the maximum. A simple tactic is to do your homework well in advance and keep your facts ready, so as to speed up the process.

Choosing an Aurora Realtor for your Commercial Property Acquisition

Setting up a business in Colorado is never easy. Aside from checking out the various locations that will maximize your business potential, you have to take care of all the permits, licenses, legalities, business operations, and so on to ensure a smooth run. To add to the details, you need to purchase a commercial property that will serve as the foundation and location of your venture in the Denver area.

In truth, you don't necessarily have to do everything on your own if you really want to avoid the hassles in purchasing a commercial property in Denver. In fact, you can hire the services of a real estate agent, or a realtor, to help you out.

Realtor For Commercial Property Acquisition

Now if you think that an Aurora real estate agent is an additional expense for setting up a business in Denver, then you are terribly wrong. A realtor is worth every penny you dish out. Here are just some of the details that a real estate can do for you.

1. Since a realtor is connected with one or more real estate companies or other realtors in Florida, you can be sure that they can provide you with different commercial properties that will fit perfectly with your building specification. In fact, they can find one for you in a shorter period of time.

2. Considering that budget is a paramount concern in any budding business around the world, it's safe to say that you will be purchasing a commercial property that will fit perfectly with your accounting numbers. When you consult with a real estate agent, give your budget range so that they can narrow down their search.

3. Real estate agents are knowledgeable about the legal processes that come with a commercial property. They will be able process all the legal requirements, such as paper works, permits and licenses, purchase agreements, and so on. Also, they will give you frequent updates regarding the property acquisition and informing you if you need to produce other requirements necessary for its completion.

Selecting Your Real Estate Agent

When selecting a real estate agent for your Colorado commercial real estate acquisition, it's always best to settle for quality services and nothing less. Make sure they are licensed realtors from the state. Also, you might want to do a little bit of background check, in regards to their experiences in the real estate market, buying and selling real estate achievements, and more to guarantee that they will be giving you only quality results.

Finding a Reliable Aurora Real Estate Agent

Finding you the right Aurora real estate agent can be a very tedious task. As tedious as it is it has to be done with great care. You have to choose an agent who you can trust to lead you into the best deal.

Before you choose an Aurora real estate agent find out about his or her reputation in the market. You can do this by asking people or checking for yourself online. Speak to your agent and check if he is a good communicator and how accessible he is, and make sure you know his mode of communication and find it comfortable. Is he available at any time when you need him? Ask him for his educational background and also for details of his past dealings.

Check to see if he is a dual agent i.e. an agent who accepts the commission from both the buyer and the seller. If you are the buyer you end up paying more and if you are the seller you end up making a less profit.

When you choose an real estate agent make sure that he has enough of time to give to you. If you find him involved in too many dealings at one time it's a indication that he won't be able to pay much attention to you. Make a smart choice and get an agent, who has a good knowledge about the market, he will be able to get you the best deal. If you find an Aurora real estate agent who is also an investor in the market you got yourself the best.

Whether its about buying Thornton real estate or about selling your house the choice of the agent is yours. Be sure that you make a smart choice. Question till you are satisfied. A good Aurora realtor is well aware of his importance and he will not hesitate in answering your questions.

Is Your Real Estate Agent Right For You?

Your real estate agent will play an important role in helping you, the buyer, find and get into your dream home. Many agents hold themselves out to be "Buyer's Agents" but they may not be. Here, you will find some tips and information on how to tell whether your realtor is really right for you.

A good agent will be clear. This means you will know clearly and concisely what services he/she will be providing you, what his/her relationship is to you and he/she will be getting paid.

A good agent is unbiased. This means that you will never feel pressured into approving or disapproving any one specific property you are shown, especially because it may affect your agent's compensation. If your Denver real estate agent is thinking about their checkbook while helping make suggestions, chances are you are not getting what you want. The homes they show you will not be in your price range and ultimately not be your perfect home.

A good agent is meticulous. This means that your agent will spend time and effort determining a fair and reasonable price on the property you are considering. Your agent should review comparable sales in light of inventory levels and the economic environment as well as considering your individual property's attributes. This also means that all your documents (whether being submitted or received by you) will be proofread and reviewed to insure against errors and omissions.

A good agent is a good negotiator. This means that you will not feel alone and abandoned when it comes time to negotiate with the seller and his/her agent. They should listen to your suggestions and should fight for the price you are willing to offer.

And finally,

A good agent uses his/her resources. This means that your agent, who is more knowledgeable about the real estate industry than you are, will use his/her resources to help you get the best value in home inspectors, appraisers, repairmen, decorators or any other "expert" advice and opinions you may need.

5 Steps to Choosing the Best Denver Realtor

Excluding some professional Denver real estate agents buying a house is a lifetime decision for most people. Whenever a person is decided about purchasing a house he is ready to invest a hefty amount of his lifetime savings for acquiring the house. In various cases where the buyer has planned to take assistance from financial services for housing loan this also means that the purchaser has invested even his future income.

So a very prudential decision regarding house buying is essential. Hence proper guidance from a knowledgeable person is crucial. Only genuine Denver realtors can provide proper assistance while purchasing house. Choosing a Denver realtor who would highly influence the decision of which house and in how much to buy is very significant. Certain guidelines rule the decision of finding authentic realtors.

Going through the local brands of Denver realtors whose performance has been proved by their previous deals gives the credibility estimate of any realtor. Previous customers who have dealt with the specific realtor would provide best knowledge about the real estate agent. Comparing the commission charged by different realtors for any specific area also provides an impression about the average fees of realtors in that locale. Any realtor who charges much higher than the average commission of that particular vicinity may probably be avoided to save unnecessary liability of extra cash.

Ability of the Denver realtor to assist in providing guidance about home loan facilities should also be considered. A realtor plays the role of supporter for the time being. The realtor must definitely attend catering towards different types of common problems related to purchasing a house that arise in the due course. A realtor should be well versed with entire legal formalities related to ownership transfer of the property in that region. Even ensuring the authenticity of the ownership of pervious owner of the house also lies on the heads of the realtor. It must be ensured that the Denver realtor had enough sources to make sure that the person selling the property had bona fide authority to sell it. Even after the deal is finalized the responsibility of the realtor does not end. He must be there till the end ensuring that every legal procedures and entire paper work formalities are absolutely adhered. The property transfer papers are of vital significance and the realtor must check the execution of all lawful policies that relate to transfer of property.

The realtor must be able to present the buyer with enough options to choose the property that best matches with his criteria’s and preferences. A realtor must be considerate during the meetings for discussions before the finalization of the deal. He is also expected to attend to almost all phone calls made by the clients at most times. Attending to all queries by buyers with patience and diligence is a key quality that must be present in any realtor.

Even after the property is bought and sold the realtor is also expected to give some after sales service lest any discrepancies arise in some dealings or incase the buyer is not satisfied after he bought the property. A genuine realtor would satisfy the client or present him with some other option to solve his dilemma.

5 tips to Staging Your House

When you are selling your home there are some easy, inexpensive things you can do to help speed along the process. Home staging is commonly known is anything that helps a home seller make their home more attractive and appealing to potential buyers. While it's tough to be objective about your own home, here are some tips you can use to start to get your house ready to sell.

Create an Entrance
It is very important for someone selling their home to give a great first impression. We've all heard the term "curb appeal" which begins instantly as a potential home buyer approaches your home from the street. A warm entry can help set the tone for the showing of your house.

Think about adding a fresh coat of paint, new hardware, a new porch light, nice looking house numbers and a new door mat. Potted plants on the steps or along the entry also makes for a more welcoming entrance. This small investment can create excitement among a home buyer before they even enter your home and hopefully should increase your chances of selling.

Overcome Clutter
There is not a home owner anywhere that can honestly say they do not have too much stuff. The reality of it is the longer you live at a place the more you acquire. A potential home buyer does not want to see how much you have acquired over the years so the most important thing a seller can do to help the process of selling their home is clean up the clutter! Counter tops, floors, closets and shelves all need to look clean so every room looks and feels more spacious. When a home buyer walks through your house, they need to be able to imagine their own things in your space. If the room looks small and cluttered, this will simply not happen.

Take a box into every room and fill it with unnecessary objects. A good rule to go follow: if you haven't used it in three months, put it in the box.

Remove Odors - Let in Air
Walking into a stuffy house with smells of smoke or pet odors is a huge turn off! Open your windows for 15 minutes before you show your house to freshen up the air. If your home does have a permanent smell, try to remove some of the odors with cleaning supplies, odor removers and wall plug-ins. This important thing here is to remove the wall plug-ins before you show your house so it is not obvious to the home buyer you are covering up a smell.

Create a Purpose for Each Room
You may have a room or two in your house that is either empty because of a move or labeled just as a "junk room". The important thing to remember with these rooms is to create a purpose so a picture can be put in the minds of home buyers who come view your home. Not only will they be able to see the space as a functioning room, they will be able to envision their own workout equipment, bedroom set or office setup in each room. Space is difficult to judged in an empty room, help the buyer understand how much space the room offers by staging a room with a purpose.

Let Your Light In
It is important to let natural lighting into your rooms to help show off your space. There is nothing more displeasing than to walk into a dark, dull room. A potential home buyer will not be given the chance to explore the room fully if the room is dark. If you have heavy drapery, replace it with something light and airy to let your light in. If you are looking to do this inexpensively, use sheers and a tension rod to achieve this look.

If you are working in a more private room such as a bedroom or bathroom, I recommend using the bottom-up Roman shades to strain views from your neighbors but still allowing the light to fill the room.

Hopefully by following these tips you will find yourself packing up because you sold your home. In all of my experience in real estate, every time we have staged a home we have had great results. These are all quick, easy and inexpensive ways to help improve the look of your home when selling.

If you are interested in more tips like these, visit Denver Real Estate Tips or email Kim Olson directly at kim.olson23@gmail.com. Kim Olson have been a real estate agent in the Denver metro for over 5 years. She specializes in creative ways to market your property. Check out The Denver Source for more information on Kim Olson and Denver properties

(Source: Kim Olson)

New Home Buying Tips

Purchasing a home in the Denver area can prove to be quite the difficult task, especially if you're a first time buyer and even more especially during these tough economic times. A huge part of the process of purchasing a new home will be securing financing for it, and this means finding a mortgage loan with a rate that will work well for you.

The first thing you need to do when you're looking to purchase a home is to look for an experienced real estate agent. The whole thing is a rather complicated process it's not as easy as a layman might think; there are massive amounts of paperwork involved, taxes and other more or less important details that the average person just isn't able to handle properly, at least not from their first try. You need to find an experienced and professional real estate agent that will help you with the entire process of finding a home, and ideally you'd find a Denver real estate agent with some knowledge of the mortgage procedures as well so that they can help you with that as well.

Even with a good Denver realtor you'd be well served to learn some things about the Denver real estate market so that you can become somewhat familiar with the various prices in the various areas, communities and neighborhoods. This is important because you won't want to buy a property that is overpriced, and while you're at it you should inform yourself about the amenities, any extra maintenance costs and other factors that may prove of importance before you sign on the dotted line of your mortgage contract.

After you become familiar with the real estate market you should get a personal inspection of the house, apartment or whatever you're purchasing. Don't take anyone's word for it, not even your real estate agent's because you may have different standards than he or she does, what would be fine to them just won't do in your book. You should also pay close attention to the surrounding area, the neighborhood, check if the utilities are working properly and if your neighbors have nice houses that look kept up. When you're inspecting your home make sure that you check the pluming as much as you can, check for leaks, dry rot, and don't forget to check the roof. Missing a bad roof will cause you to spend a whole lot of money that you never planned to spend in the first time.

Now we come to the financing issue. Even if this is your first home, and whether you find yourself in Denver or some other city, don't just accept the first mortgage loan offer that you receive. Mortgage loans are products like any other, this means that when you're looking for one you should do some shopping around and find a loan that works great for you. It's important to keep in mind that when it comes to the huge sums that one talks about home loans even a .05% difference in your interest rate will mean a great deal in the long run, especially if things take a turn for the worse. When looking for a mortgage loan, you also need to take into consideration that the loan contract will come with closing costs and other adjacent fees and charges that will hike up the price. These types of fees may include things like appraisal costs, escrow account fees, mortgage insurance, so make sure that you ask about these extra added costs when you start talking to your lender so that you don't get slapped with things that you're not willing to pay for.

(Source: Greg Garner)

Welcome 2009. Good riddance 2008.

The Denver real estate market trailed off quietly into the new year, burdened by poor economic news and low pending sales from the past couple months, then ending with a 40-year-high snowfall that shut the city down in the week prior to Christmas. Not a strong ending.
Hope springs anew for 2009, but the Denver housing market will be looking further into the year for good news. December ended with a 36% decline year-over-year decline in home sales. While November sold a little over 1,000 homes, December could only muster results in the mid-900’s. The average units sold for this time of ye ar has been easily twice that over the past six years.

The median price is down 8% and the average down 15% from the marks set 1 year ago. You should expect to see final accounts showing the median price around $254,000. At the peak of the market, the median topped $302,000.

January isn’t shaping up to be much better, due to slow December performance. Only a little over 600 homes went sale pending for the month. Two to three times that number is the December tradition. Complete results will be out around the 15th and some of these numbers could shift some. We must keep in mind however, the Denver real estate market is not nearly as bad as other areas in the U.S.

Nevertheless, I’m looking forward to 2009 and will be making some changes and announcements at re:PDX this year.

15 Things I Observe About Today’s Real Estate Market

Author: Marc Rasmussen

1. Big Discount - Home buyers want a big discount from list price. If the market value of a home is $400,000 and you price it at $375,000 to sell it quickly, buyers still want a large discount from list price.
2. Sellers Pain - If the home seller does not appear to be in pain many buyers won’t feel like they are getting a good enough deal. Even, if they are getting a heck of a price for the home.
3. Foreclosures - Buyers tend to think that all foreclosures are a sweet deal. That is not always the case.
4. Short Sales - Many banks still stink at getting a short sale approved quickly. A friend of mine recently had a short sale close and said the bank had 17 different people touch the file. No wonder the banks are in trouble.
5. Bad News - Sellers are quick to ignore the bad real estate news but very quick to latch on to the good news.
6. Good News - Buyers are quick to ignore the good real estate news but very quick to latch on to the bad news.
7. Time to spare - Many home buyers feel like they have all of the time in the world.
8. Lost opportunity - Recently, one of my listings went under contract. I had three Realtors contact me to let me know that their buyer was about to put in an offer. All three buyers had ample time to put in an offer. People want what they cannot have.
9. Wholesale - I get contacted several times a week by people who want to buy property at a wholesale price. Finding buyers for a property selling at wholesale is not difficult. Finding a property selling at wholesale is another story.
10. Acceptance - More and more sellers have accepted the fact that their property is worth less than what it was worth two and three years ago.
11. Crazy sales - The real estate news is bad, there are lots of foreclosures, the buyers are skiddish and home prices are dropping but every now and then a home sells for way more than it should.
12. Oversupply? - I have a list of buyers wanting to buy homes in Sarasota, Florida. Yet, with all of the properties out there for sale I have a hard time finding them a viable property. When you discard the junk and overpriced properties there isn’t as much to choose from as everyone thinks.
13. Exit - We have been in a declining real estate market for four years now. Fewer Realtors got out of the business than I expected.
14. Money Can Be Made - Realtors can make money when the market is declining. People still want to own homes. Those people are just harder to find today than three years ago.
15. Wisdom - Times are tough. Not too many people can deny that. When the country pulls out of this mess we will all be a little wiser from it. The next time you see back to back years of 25%+ increases in home prices start selling your real estate.

HOW GOOD ARE YOUR SALES SKILLS?

Do you have the skills that will make you massively successful? The people who are compensated the best in life are highly skilled and highly specialized. They perform few functions, but those few are performed exceedingly well, and they are paid handsomely for performing them.

Let me share an example. My father had open-heart surgery. He was blessed to have an excellent heart surgeon. That was exactly what this doctor did – heart surgery and only heart surgery. There was an anesthesiologist who put my father to sleep. There was another surgeon who retrieved a vein out of my father’s leg and prepared it for by-pass. There was another surgeon who opened the chest cavity and readied the heart. After all those functions were complete, the heart surgeon stepped in for his part. He completed his bypass section of the surgery and left the others to complete the operation. Do you have the skills and the systems to run your business that way? What would your production look like if you did? How balanced would your life be with this type of a business?

If you had that level of sales skills and consultation skills, you would be paid better than that heart surgeon is paid. There are more people who truly need your services than there are who need a heart surgeon. You have a bigger market to sell your service in today than the heart surgeon has. The question is whether you are truly taking advantage of it and preparing yourself to win.

Abe Lincoln said, “If I had six hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend the first four hours sharpening the axe.” He would spend two thirds of his time improving the tools that make him effective at work. What would your business look like if you spent time sharpening your axe?

What do we normally do? We start right in trying to chop down the tree. We don’t evaluate how best to do it. We just start chopping and hope that the tree will eventually fall. We keep swinging the axe until the sweat is pouring down before we evaluate if this is the best approach.

Most of us work to make progress in our life. By working hard, we make good time. But we are often making good time in the opposite direction of our desires in life. The problem is we don’t know where we are going. Many of us have not clearly defined what we want. We also haven’t spent the time to sharpen our skills, so our efforts can produce much fruit.

Many speakers talk about being efficient. When your efficiency increases, they say, you have won the game. It is true that there is value in increasing your efficiency. Efficiency is great, as long as we are effective as well. But being highly effective is more important than being highly efficient. Let me give you an example. Being efficient is having the skills to drive at 70 mph versus being able to control a car only up to 55 mph. Being effective is taking the most direct route to drive from Denver to Chicago. If you are not focused on effectiveness, you may drive from Denver to Dallas to get to Chicago. The goal is Chicago; even if you can drive at 70 mph the whole way, going to Dallas first wipes out all of your efficiency gains. Take the time to ensure that you are heading directly in the direction you desire; that you are not taking a wrong turn; that you are not stuck on the turnpike of life with no exit for hundreds of miles.

You must spend time to focus on being effective; to “sharpen the axe”. What is your axe in the real estate business? Which tools do you need to spend time sharpening in order to be more effective? Most of us have quite a few things that we need to sharpen in our business. Select one thing that really needs your attention today. Don’t wait until tomorrow – do it now. Then work on, focus on, and improve that one area (even if only for 30 minutes a day) to sharpen your axe. You will be amazed at the ease with which you can fell the big trees of life.

If you need help to really sharpen your skills, give us a call at 1-877-732-4676, or check out our web site at www.RealEstateChampions.com. We have quite a few sharpening stones to get your axe razor sharp.

Real Estate Outlook: Encouraging Signs

by Kenneth R. Harney

Could the tide be turning for real estate?

It's probably premature to make that call, but you can't ignore the encouraging signs -- especially when they come in multiples.

First we saw a surprising 6.5 percent jump in home sales for December. Now we've just gotten the latest Pending Home Sales Index, and it's up 6.3 percent, thanks to double digit gains of 13 percent in the Midwest and the South.

The index is based on signed contracts for home sales that haven't gone to closing, but that are scheduled to settle in the coming two or three months.

The National Association of Realtors collects the data from Multiple Listing Services around the country, and most economists accept the index as a reliable gauge of where we're headed in housing activity.

Dr. Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, attributed the upward movement to "buyers responding to lower home prices and interest rates" that have improved the affordability equation to its most favorable level in 39 years.

Sales in the coming months might also be powered by something no index can measure: Congress is likely to improve last year's $7,500 home buyer tax credit by turning it into a nonrepayable incentive for new sales this year -- all as part of the stimulus package on Capitol Hill.

Though it's impossible to predict how many more home sales a true credit might stimulate -- one that doesn't have to be paid back to the government like the 2008 version -- industry estimates range anywhere from several hundred thousand upward, provided the expiration date runs through this coming December.

On other economic fronts last week, reports of tens of thousands of industry layoffs definitely won't help housing, but new numbers on inventories of unsold homes just might be a plus. Total homes for sale on the market nationwide dropped nearly 18 percent last month to the lowest level since May of 2007.

Mortgage rates inched up slightly last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, with thirty year fixed rate loans averaging 5.3 percent compared to 5.2 percent the week before. That's up a notch, but it's still close to 40 year historic lows.

As we've said before on this program: Keep your eyes open for the little statistical improvements in the market that often get ignored by the media: Once they start mounting up, month after month, you'll know we're in turnaround mode.

We're not there yet, but we're headed in a promising direction in the real estate market.

Back to Denver Homes

Emerging Real Estate and Development Trends

by Peter L. Mosca

Giffels-Webster Engineers (GWE), a civil engineering firm with a 50-year industry reputation for its vision for today’s market and beyond, revealed its annual list of Top Five Real Estate and Development Trends. According to GWE, the hottest market-growth areas are:

• Infrastructure Rehabilitation
• Energy Generation
• Urban Redevelopment
• Life Sciences
• Healthcare Expansion

Healthcare Expansion/Renovation
Intrinsic to each of the following trends is sustainable design and LEED-certified construction. Green elements will continue to be incorporated into projects as energy efficient, healthy spaces remain a top priority.

Infrastructure Rehabilitation

There has long been a need for public investment in the nation's aging infrastructure - roads, bridges and utilities. The new presidential administration has expressed a substantial commitment to this investment, which will generate significant work for public agencies, private design consultants and contractors.

Energy Generation

Government and private investment in energy generation, particularly of renewable sources, will provide opportunities for developers, construction managers and civil engineers as demand for clean energy grows. Many states, especially in the Midwest, are mandating that higher percentages of electricity come from renewable sources like wind energy, which will require site planning and manufacturing for thousands of new turbines.

Urban Redevelopment

Retail and residential re-development opportunities exist in urban areas, where the population and infrastructure foundation is already in place. This year, expect to see an increase in repurposing manufacturing plants and industrial buildings into new mixed-use developments. In addition, public investment to create connected, urban living spaces with walkable and bike-friendly communities are gaining popularity. Creating and improving light rail connections from cities to suburbs will also see investment.

Life Sciences

The life sciences industry is positioned for growth as a result of the aging baby-boomer population, increases in prescription drug spending and steady investment trends. Many companies are building or expanding research-and-development facilities, labs and office space for biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. It’s an opportunity to provide facilities that meet these companies’ needs now and can easily be scaled up for future expansion.

Healthcare Expansion/Renovation

Healthcare facilities must stay on top of technology developments and treatment needs to remain competitive; new advancements can quickly outdate existing facilities. An aging baby-boomer generation, coupled with a trend toward single-occupancy rooms, will drive many hospitals, nursing homes and hospice centers to undergo substantial renovations and expansions in 2009.

More Real Estate News

Looking for a Denver Real Estate Agent? Check out The Denver Source!

Business Real Estate Tips for the Recession

(Source: Sean Mize)

This is a golden opportunity that definitely shouldn't be allowed to pass you by, but there are a few things you should watch out for when buying real estate in a recession.

1) First and foremost, when you're choosing a company to invest in it's essential that you choose one that's going to weather the storm of the recession and bounce back when the time comes. If you sink your savings into a company and it goes under as a result of the recession you're going to be no better off than you were before. To determine whether or not a company will survive to see a bright new future rather than being culled out when the recession separates the wheat from the chaff, answer the following questions:

• How long have they been in business? Companies that have been in business for many years are unlikely to go under because of a simple recession-in fact, they've likely weathered many of them in their time. A company that's already proven their staying power is an excellent choice of investment, and should definitely be given first consideration.

• What do they do? Although companies that specialize tend to be movers and shakers when the economy is normal, if they are unable to expand and "macro" themselves (a topic we'll talk about in greater detail in just a bit) to adjust to the changing economy they're going to go under. If a company has not been able to expand and diversify, and if it doesn't offer a product that people are guaranteed to need day after day and therefore are pretty much guaranteed to keep coming back for, it's at a high risk for going under during the recession and should be given a wide berth.

• Is their industry stable? Historically, there are certain industries that tend to fare better in a recession than others, and these should be given firm consideration when you're expanding your portfolio. Utility stocks (telephone, electric, gas), food and "escapes" such as cigarettes, alcohol and gambling have a history of tremendous success when it comes to riding out a recession because these are the industries that most consumers deem necessities and will continue pumping their money into.

• Is it a necessity? The industries listed above are stable choices during a recession because they are deemed to be necessities; however, if there is one industry that you can be sure is not going to go anywhere in the face of any kind of recession, it is the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry. Regardless of what the economy looks like, people are going to get sick and they're going to need their medication to recover. This is a strong, stable choice for your portfolio, and it's one that you can count on to bring in a steady, if not always remarkable, return.

• What about gold? Gold isn't going anywhere. If you're looking for a safe, solid and low risk investment during a recession period, gold is an excellent choice. There is very little chance that the value of gold is going to depreciate rapidly, and it's definitely not going anywhere.

• Successful investing isn't always just a matter of knowing what to invest in. Many times, it's also a matter of knowing what not to invest in. There are certain industries that often bring about good returns when the stock market is high, but who are extremely risky during times of recession. Can you guess which industries those are? Right. Any industry that specializes in luxury services is going to take a hit when conscientious investors start counting their pennies, and as a result so are their stockholders. Good industries to avoid include airlines, luxury resorts, restaurants (unless they have been around for a while) and, of course, financial and lending institutions (who are likely to go under as their borrowers slip further and further into debt).

• If you aren't familiar with the process of investing the best thing you could do for yourself to ensure the continued growth and success of your investments is find a skilled financial counselor and/or investment broker to work with. Ideally, they'll be able to look at a company's past history and their current place on the market and let you know whether or not they are a good choice for investment. Choose your broker with care, however; the last thing you want is to see your hard work and cautious planning fall apart because your broker was overly ambitious and pushed you into an investment that was doomed to failure from the very beginning.

2) Diversify. Regardless of how established a company is, there's no way to positively predict how they are going to react in the event of a recession. Your mother always told you not to put all of your eggs in a single basket, and she was absolutely right. If you can spread your investments around a bit through several companies in a variety of industries you will stand a better chance of being able to profit from this recession. Even if the bottom falls out of one and it goes under as a result of the poor economy you will have the others to fall back on and ensure that you are never left holding absolutely nothing at the end of the day.

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Flipping Real Estate Tips

For the street smart real estate investors, flipping houses has become even more lucrative, even in the current market conditions.There are many ways a person can make a living when it comes to real estate investing. Real estate investing certainly sounds scary and is, if you plunge into it without knowing what you are doing.

Flipping homes successfully as full time business revolves around three steps.

Diverse Portfolio

If you have different stock portfolio managed by your accountant or broker. Then, you have done some real estate investment. Flipping property to make a profit, can sometime be a bit confusing, there are people that specialize in locating the "bargain real estate", get a signed purchase agreement and then sell just the contract before they take ownership;

Be Patient

Just like with any skill worth learning, you need to take time and patience in order to have any chance of making a profit in real estate investing. There are a few things you should consider when purchasing a rental property in order to make a wise and long lasting choice for your real estate investment. pay attention to the types of people in the area and buy rentals accordingly. It is quite possible to turn large homes into several smaller apartment units that are ideal for college students. pay attention to the types of people in the area and buy rentals accordingly. It is quite possible to turn large homes into several smaller apartment units (according to local zoning laws) that are ideal for college students.

Sell the deal.

You plan to sell it fast to another investor that will fix then flip the property to a homeowner Do you have any established relationship with any other investors that would be interested in the deal? Times are much harder now for real estate investors because of the mortgage crisis. This is a good time to learn the mistakes that people did with their money in the past.

More Real Estate Tips

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Tips for Finding Real Estate

(Source: Billings Farnsworth)

Are you in the market for Aurora real estate? Maybe you're on the buying end, or maybe you're on the selling end. Either way, there are right ways to go about the process that will end up in immense cost and time savings. One of the better ways to go about delving into the real estate market is to use the Internet to expand your reach and possibilities.

If you're a buyer, beginning the process can be as simple as going your preferred Internet search engine and typing "real estate Aurora". This should bring up many listings, as well as Realtors and agents in the Aurora area that can assist you in your real estate search. An Internet search is a good way to kick things off, as it'll give you a better sense of the available market, and you'll be able to identify areas that fit your needs and budget. Then, you can enlist the help of a trusted Aurora agent that can handle the nitty-gritty of the search process.

A good tip when looking for a real estate agent is to look at the reviews of local Aurora realtors online as well. Often times if someone is really satisfied with the service they received from an agent, they will go onto Google or Yahoo and rate their services. Same goes with an unsatisfied customer. IF the service is bad, they often times want to tell others about it!

If you're a seller of real estate in Denver, you'll similarly want to look at your options online. If you're selling through an agent, your listing will most likely be posted online as a service. If you're selling without the help of an agent, it will pay dividends to post your property online, as this will open the market to a much larger market of potential buyers.

There are any number of good listing services that can do this for a nominal fee-- some may even do it for free. It doesn't take much computer knowledge to do this, and it doesn't take long to post, so this should be one of the first steps you take in the selling process.

If you are searching for an Aurora real estate agent, Kim Olson is a great agent servicing the entire Denver metro. She specializes in Aurora Real Estate and has a very successful track record for selling homes fast. You can find her information at TheDenverSource.com

Contracts and your Aurora Real Estate Agent

You've done the research, searched for real estate everywhere from Douglas County to Jefferson County, and have finally found your perfect home. Don't wait! Get it under contract as soon as possible. The contract is your tool to get the home temporarily off the market, and will give you a bit of time to work out your loan with the lender.

If you are working with a real estate agent, the first thing you will want to do is to read over the contract with your agent. He or she has been trained to understand all aspects of the contract and will be able to tell you if anything is amiss. Your Aurora real estate agent will also be able to add any specific clauses that you need and will be able to make any necessary adjustments. These adjustments may include a time period for you to get your loan in order, or it may include clauses on the overall condition of the home. Whatever you and your real estate agent choose to put in the contract will need to be very specific and carefully worded. The contract is protection against possible litigation for both the buyer and the seller.

Contracts can seem intimidating, but they don't have to be. A professional Aurora real estate agent will be able to answer any questions you may have, and when the contract is written and ready he will pitch it for you. A real estate contract, like any other contract, can be lengthy and confusing, but they can work to the advantage of both the buyer and/or the seller when handled professionally.