Q:i have to choose a college by may 1st and ive narrowed it down to early childhood education and real property administration.with ECE i could become a nanny or an au pair(basically an underpaid nanny in another country; which in my opinion is good, you get paid to live in another country)or with APR i could do 2 years of schooling then go for my real estate test.i need opinions. I want a career that is future family friendly, something that can benefit me in the future s and cons for each career would be greatly appreciated.

I think real estate property administration is kind of a joke certificate/degree. I worked in property management, made about $33k with benefits, and had no background in it. I had some office experience. You certainly don't need 2 years of schooling to go for a real estate test! Requirements vary by state, but in Mass we had only to take a short course (usually offered in the continuing education branch of a community college) for like $250, to be eligible to take the real estate agent test. Real estate agents, at the entry level, are basically glorified door-openers. You drive around and unlock houses for people, and they look around. The broker does all the heavy lifting as far as legal stuff is concerned. Being a real estate agent is a tough business, most people don't make it a year, because you spend so much time and money in hopes of getting a paycheck, which is actually pretty paltry once a sale is made. To work in a property management office, they don't usually expect you to know everything, just be able to work a computer, fax, etc. Working in a property management office usually entails dealing with a lot of crazy, unreasonable, angry tenants. If it's something you want to explore, taking the basic course and real estate license would allow you to work as an agent, and it would also look good on a resume when applying to property management companies. This all sounds kind of dismal, but knowledge about real estate does really come in handy, and of course there are many avenues to pursue besides agent or office... like owning your own rental properties (which is tough but potentially lucrative, if you have gained the knowledge.) Can't really help you with the childhood education thing, cause I can't stand kids.

Q:I'm new to all this. How can you make something out of nothing in real estate? I'm looking to buy some investment property within the next year. I have the credit (784 FICO).. but my income is less than 50k a year. What's the best thing for me to do to get started? Any advice would be appreciated.

Investment property Lender will give you money for sure. Probably charge you a higher interests rate and extra insurance on the loan for not having the down payment. Would you consider delaying your plan? Professional investors are careful in choosing each investment that would be near or immediately cash flow positive. With overpriced housing market, that is not possbile. For example, it costs $500,000 to $550,000 to buy a two bedroom units in Sunnyvale California. Mortgage monthly payment with nothing down is $3500 to $4000 a month with 7% APR. The rent one can collect from such unit would be $2000 a month. Therefore, for each unit you buy, you would lose $1500 a month. * We assume tax benefits would cancel out with tax and maintenance fee. Please consult your CPA. **If you have large down payement, the rate may be lowered.

Q:I am a real estate investors in california. How self directed IRA helps me?? Also I know 2 companies, PENSCO TRUST, AND Equity Trust Company in OHIO, which is better?? Any experiences?

There's also IRA Services in California. I understand that they are reputable.

Q:I would like to know to expect as a finders fe for aa real estate sale?

What are you doing to get this real estate finders fee? If you are finding real estate for investors or clients for real estate agents those are two different items are paid differently depending on the service you provide. In finding real estate for a real estate investor depending on how much information you provide as well as the agreement you have with the investor. In a real estate sales transaction for a real estate agent a fee could be as small as a dinner out to an expensive restaurant or as much as half of the commission a real estate agent earn, again this would depend on the information you provide as well as the agreement you have with the real estate agent. Some real estate professionals will tell you that it would be illegal to give a finders fee to someone, however, this is not the real world. This is being done everyday. Some of your top producers have set up such a network that they have clients on a daily ore weekly basis based on these finders. Real estate investors build their business on these real estate finders also, therefore they are the first to know about a foreclosure, a divorce and other things that would cause a property to become a foreclosure or distressed property. Some go so far as to train their finders so the investor would do less work while the finder know exactly what the investor is seeking in the purchase of investment properties. These finders would sometimes go on to become investors themselves after learning for their mentor. I hope this has been of some benefit to you, good luck. FIGHT ON

Q:Can anyone suggest a website or inform me of how I can find a list of Real Estate Investing seminars in my area?-Liz

they are usually listed in the classified section of the newspaper. look under investment properties. there are groups that advertise there.

Q:Realtor Real Estate Agent

A good broker can help you make sound decisions and guide you through what might easily be the most expensive and emotionally charged transaction of your life. Whether you’re buying or selling, interviewing an agent is the best way to figure all of that out and to determine whether you would get along over the course of an intense several months. The interview can be as informal as a quick conversation at an open house and a follow-up phone call.

Q:anybody know a ballpark amount that a real estate agent charges in general, not based on region/area?

Usually five or six percent of the selling price.

Q:Im 17 (18 in 3months) and want to know how to get started in the real estate industry?

Becoming a licensed sales agent doesn't help. Depending on your location, that may or may not be possible at your age. Usually it's a 40 or 75 hour pre-licensing course, followed by a state exam and fee. You need to be at least 18 in most states. Most larger brokerages have a difficult time finding and keeping agents, so they will take on as many as they can on the off-chance that the individual will bring in additional clients.

Q:What is the first and best source to find out how your own local real estate market is doing? or what is the best sategy to conduct research?

If a homeowner recieved a loan in the last 3 years - chances are it is impaired to some extent. The most severe situations are considered Predatory Loans (to some lesser or greater degree). Notice the number of foreclosures escalating... Now, what is someone owns a home that free and The homeowner is still a victim of negligent lending practices. If a home is foreclosed and taken back by the bank because of lender negligence (deceptive practices against consumers) - everyone in that neighborhood suffers . . . even the homes that did not participate in the madness over the last 3 years! To understand local market's wil require you to first understand how bad the market is and the horrific effects of volatility and consumer anxiety (believe me I do this for a living). For example, excessive foreclosures and vulture REO buying at near grand zero prices, and sales and reselling while Realtors and lenders are lost. My point is this - to capitalize on the current market understand how lender negligence has created a mass mutli trillion problem - study the vultures buyers moves and do as they do and not say! Carl Ichan - still my hero! The local and broader market has a long way to go before it tanks and flattens out. So study and don’t RUSH IN!!! There are no rules of fundamentals to rely on here. Actually, email me and I will share one secret guaranteed to CYA down the road ...assuming a further weakening in the market and you’re considering making an offer)

Q:When tenants in common cannot agree on the future of the shared property, a court must decide. If the court decides said property should be sold, who pays the real estate agent? In the current state of this market, this property is worth not much more than what it was purchased for. In, this situation, there are 2 names on the title but only one of them is the mortgager. Are both required as homeowners to foot the bill for sale?

Whoever is on title would be considered the seller.