By Reg Gustin Platinum Quality Author
Generating leads through the Internet is an excellent tool for expanding your business, eliminating geographical barriers and increasing sales.
But how do we create leads from cyber space? After all, the information highway is infinite with no boundaries. How can a small business owner, you the real estate agent, create qualified traffic?
Imagine your web site is a small store on a busy street and you are surrounded by large corporate department stores. Outside your store window are pedestrians, bicyclists and automobiles passing by. This is traffic. And, in this traffic are people interested in your product. These are prospects. Of these prospects, some will come in the store and make inquiries. These are contacts. Some of these contacts will start to shop. These are leads. Some of these shoppers will make a purchase. These are clients.
Your web site is no different. The keys to successful Internet marketing are the THREE C’s:
* Create - create traffic
* Capture - capture prospects, thus creating contacts
* Cultivate - cultivate contacts into leads, then into clients
Create - the first step in generating leads through your web site is to CREATE traffic. Creating traffic for your web site is done using three primary approaches:
* Search Engine Site Rankings - the search engines (Google, Yahoo, MSN etc.) rank your web site based on a number of factors including age, popularity, content, link-ins, etc., and list your site accordingly in the directory. This can be a long process, as a couple of major contributing factors are age and traffic. Thus, if you have a new site or a rarely used site, your ranking remains low, and because your ranking remains low, your traffic remains low. Because your traffic remains low, your ranking remains low, and so on. You can see the cycle.
* Keywords Pay-Per-Clicks - you, the web site owner, bid on keywords with the search engines, and the search engines list your site in the Sponsored Links section of the directory. This can be an efficient way to drive traffic to your site, but it does come with a cost.
* Owner Driven Traffic - you, the web site owner, drive traffic to your web site via electronic articles, emails, signs, print media etc. This can be very costly, as it is difficult to generate enough traffic to capture leads.
So how do you Create enough traffic to generate quality prospects? Well it's not as difficult as it seems. First create a quality keyword driven web site, and then use all three methods until your site is ranked high enough to maintain an adequate stream of prospects through the search engine directories.
Capture - the second step in generating leads through your web site is to CAPTURE the traffic. Capturing traffic for your web site is done using tools such as guest books or registration forms with bait. Capture the user's information; do not give away free information.
* Example: a user is searching the Internet for the MESA MLS. Now, the user has found our site, so do not give the information away for free. Searching the MLS is our bait, and a registration form is our capture tool. More often than not, an agent will allow the user to use the MLS without registering, and the rationalization is that users do not want to provide the info or the info is faulty. No problem, this is the first filter. We are trying to find out who is serious and who isn't. Utilize the registration form as a filter. If you don't, they won't be back... what do you have to lose?
Cultivate - the final step in generating prospects through your web site is to Cultivate the leads. Cultivate leads with DRIP CAMPAIGNS. A Drip Campaign is a series of content driven messages sent over time. Preferably this system is automated:
* In our example: the keyword was Mesa MLS, and a user found our site and signed up on our registration form. Now what? Implement “The Drip Campaign” - an automated series of messages delivering content that differentiates you the agent. Cultivate the prospect and convert them into a lead, then into a sale.
A great drip campaign is the MLS search provided by ARMLS. On your registration form, request information relating to their home search, then set up an automated search on the MLS that sends them listings.
Be careful, don’t send the user into information overload, and only send a couple of listings at a time.
Many real estate agents have decided to concentrate their efforts on cultivation. Therefore, a quality lead generating company may be an effective way of advertising.
Reg Gustin is owner operator of the website http://www.pro-online-agent.com and http://www.proonlineagent.com
Go to Pro Online Agent to find out if internet real estate leads can enhance your business http://www.pro-online-agent.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Reg_Gustin
Friday, September 28, 2007
Historical or Retro-Active Real Estate Appraisal Valuation
By Clifford Diamond
If you need to know the value of a piece of real estate anywhere from a month ago to a decade ago, it can be done. I’ll show you how it can be done. How it can benefit you or your clients. How an appraiser arrives at value even long after you have sold and moved away. As an experienced appraiser in Southern California with over 20 years experience I would like to share my real estate experience with you.
What is a historical appraisal? Really all appraisals are just a snap-shot of time. Most appraisals are for current market value. So the very day the appraiser comes out and inspects the property the value is valid on that date only and could become no longer valid the very next day. There could be an economic or natural disaster that could change the value overnight. With a historical appraisal the effective date is what the property was worth on that required date, anywhere from last month to 10 or more years ago.
What is the purpose of a historical appraisal? Many and varied reasons. Many accountants and financial planners need to determine the value of property held in estate when the owner dies. This is known as a “Date of Death” appraisal. The IRS will want a professional appraisal in the file to document the value as of that date. Attorneys use the historical appraisal to determine what assets belong to which party. For example let’s say a single person bought a home in 1985 but met and married current spouse in 1995 and separated in 2005. It would be important to know the fair market value on those dates for fair and equitable dissolution. The same would be true of business partners in a property or even family members that pooled financial resources but need to move on.
Are there limitations to what can be done? You would think if you had sold the property years ago and moved away that it could not be done. That’s not true. I recently appraised a property 10 years back, that at the time it was only 1/2 the size, was before the swimming pool, and the owner sold and moved out long ago. In this case an exterior “drive-by” appraisal was called for and the house was valued based on the previous size, minus the pool and without bothering the new owner. In this case both opposing appraisals came in very close to each other and settlement was that much easier.
A historical appraisal sometimes involves similar principles of New Construction Appraisals where only specifications on paper exist and the appraiser determines the value as if completed to your plans and specs. This is sometimes referred to as a Feasibility Study and used to determine if what you plan on building is worth what you expect it to be worth and what adjustments in the build will increase or decrease value.
In these more complicated retro-active or historical appraisals it is important to find an appraiser with years of experience in that market area. An appraiser with sufficient experience may have insight in this area before, during and after changes that have occurred over the last 20 years in that target market. Additionally there are certain appraisal formats that are acceptable for use and others that are in direct OREA violation.
Lastly in historic appraisals, the use of comparable data must all fall before the effective date of the appraisal. If your effective date is 1-17-94 all sales comparables must fall before that date, none after. If for example you needed to know the value of a property sometime around the Northridge earthquake, using sale comps before or after would have tremendous impact on that value.
If the appraisal is for court work we may be called on the witness stand to testify to our report and defend it against the opposing attorney and his witness. There are additional fees for this type of testimony. As a professional appraiser it’s my responsibility to be the best possible resource for my client.
If I can be of help to you I can be reached at activerain.com/cdiamond .
Appraiser/Author
Clifford Diamond, CREA
http://www.activerain.com/cdiamond
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Clifford_Diamond
If you need to know the value of a piece of real estate anywhere from a month ago to a decade ago, it can be done. I’ll show you how it can be done. How it can benefit you or your clients. How an appraiser arrives at value even long after you have sold and moved away. As an experienced appraiser in Southern California with over 20 years experience I would like to share my real estate experience with you.
What is a historical appraisal? Really all appraisals are just a snap-shot of time. Most appraisals are for current market value. So the very day the appraiser comes out and inspects the property the value is valid on that date only and could become no longer valid the very next day. There could be an economic or natural disaster that could change the value overnight. With a historical appraisal the effective date is what the property was worth on that required date, anywhere from last month to 10 or more years ago.
What is the purpose of a historical appraisal? Many and varied reasons. Many accountants and financial planners need to determine the value of property held in estate when the owner dies. This is known as a “Date of Death” appraisal. The IRS will want a professional appraisal in the file to document the value as of that date. Attorneys use the historical appraisal to determine what assets belong to which party. For example let’s say a single person bought a home in 1985 but met and married current spouse in 1995 and separated in 2005. It would be important to know the fair market value on those dates for fair and equitable dissolution. The same would be true of business partners in a property or even family members that pooled financial resources but need to move on.
Are there limitations to what can be done? You would think if you had sold the property years ago and moved away that it could not be done. That’s not true. I recently appraised a property 10 years back, that at the time it was only 1/2 the size, was before the swimming pool, and the owner sold and moved out long ago. In this case an exterior “drive-by” appraisal was called for and the house was valued based on the previous size, minus the pool and without bothering the new owner. In this case both opposing appraisals came in very close to each other and settlement was that much easier.
A historical appraisal sometimes involves similar principles of New Construction Appraisals where only specifications on paper exist and the appraiser determines the value as if completed to your plans and specs. This is sometimes referred to as a Feasibility Study and used to determine if what you plan on building is worth what you expect it to be worth and what adjustments in the build will increase or decrease value.
In these more complicated retro-active or historical appraisals it is important to find an appraiser with years of experience in that market area. An appraiser with sufficient experience may have insight in this area before, during and after changes that have occurred over the last 20 years in that target market. Additionally there are certain appraisal formats that are acceptable for use and others that are in direct OREA violation.
Lastly in historic appraisals, the use of comparable data must all fall before the effective date of the appraisal. If your effective date is 1-17-94 all sales comparables must fall before that date, none after. If for example you needed to know the value of a property sometime around the Northridge earthquake, using sale comps before or after would have tremendous impact on that value.
If the appraisal is for court work we may be called on the witness stand to testify to our report and defend it against the opposing attorney and his witness. There are additional fees for this type of testimony. As a professional appraiser it’s my responsibility to be the best possible resource for my client.
If I can be of help to you I can be reached at activerain.com/cdiamond .
Appraiser/Author
Clifford Diamond, CREA
http://www.activerain.com/cdiamond
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Clifford_Diamond
How to Succeed With Online Real Estate Video
By Nick Viale
While almost everyone uses online video, many marketing professionals have left this resource untapped in favor of more traditional, time consuming methods. For tech-savvy Realtors it can be a huge opportunity to advertise home listings and services prominently where other marketers have been unsuccessful. With so little competition for a huge viewing audience, Realtors who do produce videos can quickly generate attention, and rank highly in search engines for keywords in their market.
Online real estate video can generally be separated into two categories: podcast content, and promotional content. These categories typically attract different audiences, and can play off one another to produce a well-rounded video marketing campaign.
Podcast content should cover subjects that can regularly updated for viewers who want to stay current on their market. Such material might include new home listings, market trend reports, neighborhood reports, and mobile phone-ready home tours. Podcast videos are usually more dialogue-oriented and longer than promotional videos.
Promotional content is the more common form of real estate video production, and typically includes company descriptions, website introductions, and traditional home tours. These videos are generally shorter in running time, but more visual and eye catching than podcasts.
Quality control can go a long way in both podcast and promotional content. As real estate video has evolved, successful producers have learned to avoid things like static shots that simply pan from side to side or zoom in (a photo is more practical for this because it provides higher resolution and allows the view to focus on the area of interest), cheesy background music, and vague, overly emotional language. Realtors need to keep in mind that people watch videos for entertainment as well as information, and produce accordingly.
Video's popularity has not gone unnoticed by software developers and search engines. Google's high-priced acquisition of YouTube was a clear indication of this, and a green light for the future of online video, prompting huge demand for video-related tools, services and hosting sites. Some of the more interesting developments in this area include video search engines that can parse dialogue and imagery, real estate video production companies and tools, and marketplaces which bring real estate agents and video producers together. Video mashups with other tools have also opened up new avenues for real estate buyers and sellers - one popular example is an application that combines home video tours and online mapping, allowing home tours to be searched on the map - but again, competition among Realtors is low here.
Coming up with an effective real estate video campaign may be a little harder than simply creating another webpage, but it's worth every effort.
Nicholas Viale is an experienced Costa Rica real estate professional. Visit his website for extensive area information, a guide to finding homes, seller's tips, and investment advice for buyers entering the Costa Rica real estate market.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Viale
While almost everyone uses online video, many marketing professionals have left this resource untapped in favor of more traditional, time consuming methods. For tech-savvy Realtors it can be a huge opportunity to advertise home listings and services prominently where other marketers have been unsuccessful. With so little competition for a huge viewing audience, Realtors who do produce videos can quickly generate attention, and rank highly in search engines for keywords in their market.
Online real estate video can generally be separated into two categories: podcast content, and promotional content. These categories typically attract different audiences, and can play off one another to produce a well-rounded video marketing campaign.
Podcast content should cover subjects that can regularly updated for viewers who want to stay current on their market. Such material might include new home listings, market trend reports, neighborhood reports, and mobile phone-ready home tours. Podcast videos are usually more dialogue-oriented and longer than promotional videos.
Promotional content is the more common form of real estate video production, and typically includes company descriptions, website introductions, and traditional home tours. These videos are generally shorter in running time, but more visual and eye catching than podcasts.
Quality control can go a long way in both podcast and promotional content. As real estate video has evolved, successful producers have learned to avoid things like static shots that simply pan from side to side or zoom in (a photo is more practical for this because it provides higher resolution and allows the view to focus on the area of interest), cheesy background music, and vague, overly emotional language. Realtors need to keep in mind that people watch videos for entertainment as well as information, and produce accordingly.
Video's popularity has not gone unnoticed by software developers and search engines. Google's high-priced acquisition of YouTube was a clear indication of this, and a green light for the future of online video, prompting huge demand for video-related tools, services and hosting sites. Some of the more interesting developments in this area include video search engines that can parse dialogue and imagery, real estate video production companies and tools, and marketplaces which bring real estate agents and video producers together. Video mashups with other tools have also opened up new avenues for real estate buyers and sellers - one popular example is an application that combines home video tours and online mapping, allowing home tours to be searched on the map - but again, competition among Realtors is low here.
Coming up with an effective real estate video campaign may be a little harder than simply creating another webpage, but it's worth every effort.
Nicholas Viale is an experienced Costa Rica real estate professional. Visit his website for extensive area information, a guide to finding homes, seller's tips, and investment advice for buyers entering the Costa Rica real estate market.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Viale
Buying & Selling on Real Estate Virtually
By Madhurima Sil
The world is moving fast and technology has shrunk hours of works into minutes. We can withdraw cash, wash clothes, send messages and even cook food, all at the press of a button.
Internet has a major role in pacing up our lives almost on every front. The emerging virtual world of the real estate is a good example of it. People prefer to search for a product online before they actually buy it and it applies to property search as well. Online property search is catching up fast, be it a residential or a commercial plot, building, flat or office space. A customer can view all the options available on the internet and shortlist those which are relevant to his needs.
So for people, who want to sell or rent property, it’s an advantage to be on the internet because-
• It’s a cost effective medium as compared to other advertising mediums like the newspaper or the TV.
• Gives you more space to describe your property than a print media classified ad where you are being charged for each column centimeter.
• You ad has a longer life on the net and can be viewed for months unlike a newspaper ad, which fails to survive beyond one day.
• Buyers from any part of the country can view your ad thus increasing the reach of your ad exponentially.
Tips on Selling-
• Decide a selling price for your home that would give you some profit but don’t overprice it at the same time. Too much of overpricing will drive away prospective buyers and your property might remain unsold in the market for a long time, eventually losing it’s appeal and people may not want to buy it later on.
• Make the entrance of your house tidy and attractive as it will create a good impression on the buyer’s mind when he comes to visit your house.
• Involving a property dealer is a good thing to do as they have hands on experience in getting these deals done and they are aware of all the legal formalities involved.
• If you have time on your hands, put your home for sale at least 3-6 months before you want to move. This won’t let you settle down for a hurried deal and won’t let a buyer take undue advantage of your haste.
Tips on Buying-
• Before you begin searching for a house, you not only need to keep in mind your current needs but also consider your future prospects. How long do you plan to stay in that house? Will a need for more space generate in the future? And so on.
• Do a check for leakages, dampness of walls, drainage system, water and electricity supply, water logging etc. of the house you are planning to buy.
• Create a list of good and bad points along with the prices of all the houses you have visited and rate them accordingly before finalizing one home you will buy.
• It’s good to involve a real estate professional when getting into property deals because they are aware of the risks involved and know how to handle property deals. But choose your home yourself as you’ll be living in it, so even if it takes a little long to find the ideal home, let your word be the last word.
For more information or to buy, sell or rent property in India, please log to http://www.99acres.com
Madhurima Sil, Asst. Mgr. Marketing, Info Edge India,
http://www.99acres.com
99acres.com is the no.1, real estate portal in India. It was launched by Info Edge, in September 2005, as a gateway to the country’s property bazaar, and an information ‘exchange’ for buying, leasing and selling of all types of residential and commercial properties anywhere in the country. The website enables easy access to a huge property bank for netizens and allows for direct connect with realtors in over 200 cities in urban and remote parts of India. With properties of almost 1500 builders, 20,000 brokers and 40,000 individuals, the portal lists over 200000 properties. The site has a registered database of over 150000 users.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Madhurima_Sil
The world is moving fast and technology has shrunk hours of works into minutes. We can withdraw cash, wash clothes, send messages and even cook food, all at the press of a button.
Internet has a major role in pacing up our lives almost on every front. The emerging virtual world of the real estate is a good example of it. People prefer to search for a product online before they actually buy it and it applies to property search as well. Online property search is catching up fast, be it a residential or a commercial plot, building, flat or office space. A customer can view all the options available on the internet and shortlist those which are relevant to his needs.
So for people, who want to sell or rent property, it’s an advantage to be on the internet because-
• It’s a cost effective medium as compared to other advertising mediums like the newspaper or the TV.
• Gives you more space to describe your property than a print media classified ad where you are being charged for each column centimeter.
• You ad has a longer life on the net and can be viewed for months unlike a newspaper ad, which fails to survive beyond one day.
• Buyers from any part of the country can view your ad thus increasing the reach of your ad exponentially.
Tips on Selling-
• Decide a selling price for your home that would give you some profit but don’t overprice it at the same time. Too much of overpricing will drive away prospective buyers and your property might remain unsold in the market for a long time, eventually losing it’s appeal and people may not want to buy it later on.
• Make the entrance of your house tidy and attractive as it will create a good impression on the buyer’s mind when he comes to visit your house.
• Involving a property dealer is a good thing to do as they have hands on experience in getting these deals done and they are aware of all the legal formalities involved.
• If you have time on your hands, put your home for sale at least 3-6 months before you want to move. This won’t let you settle down for a hurried deal and won’t let a buyer take undue advantage of your haste.
Tips on Buying-
• Before you begin searching for a house, you not only need to keep in mind your current needs but also consider your future prospects. How long do you plan to stay in that house? Will a need for more space generate in the future? And so on.
• Do a check for leakages, dampness of walls, drainage system, water and electricity supply, water logging etc. of the house you are planning to buy.
• Create a list of good and bad points along with the prices of all the houses you have visited and rate them accordingly before finalizing one home you will buy.
• It’s good to involve a real estate professional when getting into property deals because they are aware of the risks involved and know how to handle property deals. But choose your home yourself as you’ll be living in it, so even if it takes a little long to find the ideal home, let your word be the last word.
For more information or to buy, sell or rent property in India, please log to http://www.99acres.com
Madhurima Sil, Asst. Mgr. Marketing, Info Edge India,
http://www.99acres.com
99acres.com is the no.1, real estate portal in India. It was launched by Info Edge, in September 2005, as a gateway to the country’s property bazaar, and an information ‘exchange’ for buying, leasing and selling of all types of residential and commercial properties anywhere in the country. The website enables easy access to a huge property bank for netizens and allows for direct connect with realtors in over 200 cities in urban and remote parts of India. With properties of almost 1500 builders, 20,000 brokers and 40,000 individuals, the portal lists over 200000 properties. The site has a registered database of over 150000 users.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Madhurima_Sil
Builders Suffer Due to Mortgage Crisis
By Martin Lukac Platinum Quality Author
During last month the existing home sales fell down again and it is reported that a large number of homebuilders are facing the worst ever quarterly earning. These homebuilders believe that the main reason behind this mess in the stressed housing sector is the continuous sub prime mortgage crisis.
The National Association of Realtors mentioned that during the month of August it was noted that the purchases of the previously owned homes fell down by 4.3 percent from what is was in the month of July, i.e. sending sales slipping to five years low. In the month of July, the annual sales rate was 5.75 million that dropped down to 5.50 million. Statistic says that the existing home sales have fallen almost 13 percent over the period of last 12 months.
On the other hand, the Lennar Corporation declared their biggest quarterly loss in its history after it wrote down $848 million in the value of real estate. The company's net loss was $513.9 million, or we can say $3.25 per share, compared to the profit of $206.7 million, or $1.30 per share, during the same time of the previous year. The shares of Lennar Corporation were down by 4 percent in midday trading, at $23.20.
The shocking news in the housing sector was joined with a disappointing report on customer confidence from the Conference Board, whose index dropped down to 99.8 during September from 105.6 in the month of August. This fall was much more than what was forecasted. Its index is now at its lowest level in the past two years. A group of analyst believes that the reason behind the concern among the consumers is the weak job market and stagnant salary that has probably created declines in the consumer spending and job creation during the period of coming months.
Joshua Shapiro, the chief United States economist of a New York research firm believes that fall in the housing sector is just because of the negative environment over the residential real estate, affects and creates the changes in the consumer's attitude and consumer's spending ability.
Lennar has reported a drop of 44 percent in its revenue during the last quarter and has reduced 35 percent of its work force. It turned out to be another sufferer of the high inventory levels and credit market disorder that have created many troubles for the home builders in the period of last few months. The company's chief executive, Stuart Miller, said in a statement today that due to the continuous decline of our net margin and for that reason, higher injuries to our inventory. He also added that the staff reductions were in store for the fourth quarter.
On the other hand the Darlene Williams, assistant secretary of US Housing and Urban Development hopes that even though the current crisis in the credit market the sub prime mortgages must stay as they play a very important role in increasing home ownership in United States. She hoped that the US congress would pass Federal Housing Administration, reforms to expand federal backing of mortgages.
Martin Lukac represents RateEmpire Refinance Loan and Home Equity Loan financial marketplace which connects consumers with multiple mortgage companies that compete for their business. For more information please visit Builders Suffer due to Mortgage Crisis
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Martin_Lukac
During last month the existing home sales fell down again and it is reported that a large number of homebuilders are facing the worst ever quarterly earning. These homebuilders believe that the main reason behind this mess in the stressed housing sector is the continuous sub prime mortgage crisis.
The National Association of Realtors mentioned that during the month of August it was noted that the purchases of the previously owned homes fell down by 4.3 percent from what is was in the month of July, i.e. sending sales slipping to five years low. In the month of July, the annual sales rate was 5.75 million that dropped down to 5.50 million. Statistic says that the existing home sales have fallen almost 13 percent over the period of last 12 months.
On the other hand, the Lennar Corporation declared their biggest quarterly loss in its history after it wrote down $848 million in the value of real estate. The company's net loss was $513.9 million, or we can say $3.25 per share, compared to the profit of $206.7 million, or $1.30 per share, during the same time of the previous year. The shares of Lennar Corporation were down by 4 percent in midday trading, at $23.20.
The shocking news in the housing sector was joined with a disappointing report on customer confidence from the Conference Board, whose index dropped down to 99.8 during September from 105.6 in the month of August. This fall was much more than what was forecasted. Its index is now at its lowest level in the past two years. A group of analyst believes that the reason behind the concern among the consumers is the weak job market and stagnant salary that has probably created declines in the consumer spending and job creation during the period of coming months.
Joshua Shapiro, the chief United States economist of a New York research firm believes that fall in the housing sector is just because of the negative environment over the residential real estate, affects and creates the changes in the consumer's attitude and consumer's spending ability.
Lennar has reported a drop of 44 percent in its revenue during the last quarter and has reduced 35 percent of its work force. It turned out to be another sufferer of the high inventory levels and credit market disorder that have created many troubles for the home builders in the period of last few months. The company's chief executive, Stuart Miller, said in a statement today that due to the continuous decline of our net margin and for that reason, higher injuries to our inventory. He also added that the staff reductions were in store for the fourth quarter.
On the other hand the Darlene Williams, assistant secretary of US Housing and Urban Development hopes that even though the current crisis in the credit market the sub prime mortgages must stay as they play a very important role in increasing home ownership in United States. She hoped that the US congress would pass Federal Housing Administration, reforms to expand federal backing of mortgages.
Martin Lukac represents RateEmpire Refinance Loan and Home Equity Loan financial marketplace which connects consumers with multiple mortgage companies that compete for their business. For more information please visit Builders Suffer due to Mortgage Crisis
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Martin_Lukac
Living Hollywood Style - Why Celebrities Love Miami Beach
By Vanessa A. Doctor Platinum Quality Author
The City of Miami Beach is considered as one of the most glamorous urban destinations in America and worldwide as well. The city has districts which abound with a vibrant array of famous resorts, restaurants, hotels and luxurious condominiums and waterfront homes and estates.
This is in large part due to the fact that Miami Beach has been voted several times as having one of the top 10 beaches in the world, and its designation as "America's Playground" has made it appealing for celebrities, investors, and tourists as well. Miami Beach exemplifies the sunny, active South Florida lifestyle.
Sun, sand, lovely people, partying, and a complete array of water sports. Located across sparkling Biscayne Bay from Miami, Miami Beach is an independent island city complete with local government, police and fire services, hospitals, shopping, parks, and marinas. Most of the housing stock on Miami Beach consists of expensive single family homes on the west side of the island and condominiums and apartments farther east.
South Beach District
The famous South Beach district is a section of Miami Beach that includes the southernmost 23 blocks of an island separating the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay. Today, it is a major entertainment destination with hundreds of nightclubs, restaurants and oceanfront hotels. The area is popular with both American and international tourists, with German being the third most spoken language after English and Spanish.
The large number of European tourists explains why topless sunbathing is tolerated here, despite being a public beach. Another unique artistic attribute of South Beach is the presence of several colorful and unique lifeguard stands, which are still used today by South Beach's lifeguards. It's usually common for tourists to spot celebrities on E! and Access Hollywood, casually sipping drinks and looking really chic at one South Beach club or another.
Ocean Drive is the easternmost street in South Beach. Ocean Drive is responsible for the South Beach aesthetic that most out-of-town visitors expect. This area is a popular Spring Break and tourist area, which includes the famous, yet predominantly local, Pearl and Nikki Beach night spots. It is also home to several prominent restaurants, among them "News Cafe," "Mango's," and the MTV-popularized "Clevelander", and is also the site of Gianni Versace's former ocean front mansion. Because of its value as a great spot for people watching, where beautiful women rollerblade in bikini's and such, it is heavily cruised and parking is hard to find.
World-Class Property Developments
As of 2005, South Beach, as well as Miami Beach, registered one of the highest property values nationwide. Although generally residential, the area is also home to several large scale development projects and large buildings such as Portofino Tower and sister buildings such as ICON (spearheaded by designer Philippe Starck), Continuum, and Murano at Portofino. This area has several notable nightlife destinations, including Opium Garden, Privé, Nikki Beach Club, and Pearl. It also has several smaller, upscale bars and restaurants, including the world-renowned Joe's Stone Crabs, Smith & Wollensky's steak house, and China Grill.
Luxury Living Realty - http://luxurylivingrealty.net
Vanessa A. Doctor from Jump2Top - SEO Company
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vanessa_A._Doctor
The City of Miami Beach is considered as one of the most glamorous urban destinations in America and worldwide as well. The city has districts which abound with a vibrant array of famous resorts, restaurants, hotels and luxurious condominiums and waterfront homes and estates.
This is in large part due to the fact that Miami Beach has been voted several times as having one of the top 10 beaches in the world, and its designation as "America's Playground" has made it appealing for celebrities, investors, and tourists as well. Miami Beach exemplifies the sunny, active South Florida lifestyle.
Sun, sand, lovely people, partying, and a complete array of water sports. Located across sparkling Biscayne Bay from Miami, Miami Beach is an independent island city complete with local government, police and fire services, hospitals, shopping, parks, and marinas. Most of the housing stock on Miami Beach consists of expensive single family homes on the west side of the island and condominiums and apartments farther east.
South Beach District
The famous South Beach district is a section of Miami Beach that includes the southernmost 23 blocks of an island separating the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay. Today, it is a major entertainment destination with hundreds of nightclubs, restaurants and oceanfront hotels. The area is popular with both American and international tourists, with German being the third most spoken language after English and Spanish.
The large number of European tourists explains why topless sunbathing is tolerated here, despite being a public beach. Another unique artistic attribute of South Beach is the presence of several colorful and unique lifeguard stands, which are still used today by South Beach's lifeguards. It's usually common for tourists to spot celebrities on E! and Access Hollywood, casually sipping drinks and looking really chic at one South Beach club or another.
Ocean Drive is the easternmost street in South Beach. Ocean Drive is responsible for the South Beach aesthetic that most out-of-town visitors expect. This area is a popular Spring Break and tourist area, which includes the famous, yet predominantly local, Pearl and Nikki Beach night spots. It is also home to several prominent restaurants, among them "News Cafe," "Mango's," and the MTV-popularized "Clevelander", and is also the site of Gianni Versace's former ocean front mansion. Because of its value as a great spot for people watching, where beautiful women rollerblade in bikini's and such, it is heavily cruised and parking is hard to find.
World-Class Property Developments
As of 2005, South Beach, as well as Miami Beach, registered one of the highest property values nationwide. Although generally residential, the area is also home to several large scale development projects and large buildings such as Portofino Tower and sister buildings such as ICON (spearheaded by designer Philippe Starck), Continuum, and Murano at Portofino. This area has several notable nightlife destinations, including Opium Garden, Privé, Nikki Beach Club, and Pearl. It also has several smaller, upscale bars and restaurants, including the world-renowned Joe's Stone Crabs, Smith & Wollensky's steak house, and China Grill.
Luxury Living Realty - http://luxurylivingrealty.net
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vanessa_A._Doctor
Making Sense of Real Estate Lingo
By Jennifer Burroughs
As with all industries, real estate professionals have developed a lingo and acronyms to help them communicate with each other more easily. For the first-time home buyer (and even some veterans), making sense of property listings can sometimes leave you feeling like you’re deciphering the DaVinci Code. Let’s take a look at a sample real estate listing: 2,500 sf on a c-d-s, 2BR, 2.5BA, CA, spac grt rm w/ wbfp, grmet kit, det gar Looks a lot like alphabet soup. However, using this type of abbreviated property description saves valuable advertising space. Some abbreviations you’ll probably encounter are:
• AC or A/C: air conditioning
• BA: bathroom
• BR: bedroom
• CA: central air
• C-D-S: cul de sac
• DET: detached
• DK: deck
• EIK: eat-in kitchen
• F/FIN BSMT: finished basement
• FDR: formal dining room
• FP, frplc: fireplace
• GAR: garage
• GRMT KIT: gourmet kitchen
• GRT RM: great room
• HDW, HWF, Hdwd: hardwood floors
• HOA: home owners association
• LR: living room
• KIT: kitchen
• OFC: office
• PVT: private
• SF: square feet
• SPAC: spacious
• VW, VU: view
• WBFP: wood-burning fireplace
In addition to the abbreviations in property listings, here are a few other common terms you should become familiar with.
FSBO—For Sale By Owner. This term refers to a property which the homeowner is trying to sell independent of a real estate professional.
MLS—Multiple Listing Service. MLSs are comprised of a group of real estate brokers who have agreed to share their property listings. This listing is then provided to the group through a database or directory. If you are buying your home, this is the service that your sales professional will use to search for potential homes for you to purchase. If you are selling your property, your real estate professional can list your home through the MLS. For-Sale-By-Owner (FSBO) properties are typically not listed through the MLS.
CMA—Comparative Marketing Analysis. This analysis is an informal assessment of a property’s market value. This is one of the tools your real estate professional can use to help you determine a reasonable listing price. Usually, the CMA compares your property with similar properties that have sold in your area within a certain time frame. Besides purchase price, some of the information typically listed is the number of bedrooms and baths, approximate square footage, size of major rooms, amenities such as fireplaces and pools, age of the home, and property taxes.
During the real estate process, you’ll more than likely come across more acronyms and lingo. Make sure you ask your real estate professional to explain any terms you are unfamiliar with so that you are not in for any surprises.
By the way, the listing above was a 2,500 square-feet home on a cul-de-sac, with two bedrooms and two and a half baths, central air, a spacious great room with a wood-burning fireplace, and a gourmet kitchen and detached garage.
If you are considering a move and want to speak with an agent who is experienced in the process you can reach Jennifer Teti-Burroughs, at (858) 618-5677, located in San Diego, California.Email: Jennifer@JenniferTeti.com http://www.SanDiegoOnTheMove.com Prudential (Prudential California Realty) is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential Financial company. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Jennifer is a successful Realtor in the San Diego market. She has lived and worked in the San Diego area for over 30 years. She specializes in the area of relocation and has many resources available to assist families and individual who are relocating.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Burroughs
As with all industries, real estate professionals have developed a lingo and acronyms to help them communicate with each other more easily. For the first-time home buyer (and even some veterans), making sense of property listings can sometimes leave you feeling like you’re deciphering the DaVinci Code. Let’s take a look at a sample real estate listing: 2,500 sf on a c-d-s, 2BR, 2.5BA, CA, spac grt rm w/ wbfp, grmet kit, det gar Looks a lot like alphabet soup. However, using this type of abbreviated property description saves valuable advertising space. Some abbreviations you’ll probably encounter are:
• AC or A/C: air conditioning
• BA: bathroom
• BR: bedroom
• CA: central air
• C-D-S: cul de sac
• DET: detached
• DK: deck
• EIK: eat-in kitchen
• F/FIN BSMT: finished basement
• FDR: formal dining room
• FP, frplc: fireplace
• GAR: garage
• GRMT KIT: gourmet kitchen
• GRT RM: great room
• HDW, HWF, Hdwd: hardwood floors
• HOA: home owners association
• LR: living room
• KIT: kitchen
• OFC: office
• PVT: private
• SF: square feet
• SPAC: spacious
• VW, VU: view
• WBFP: wood-burning fireplace
In addition to the abbreviations in property listings, here are a few other common terms you should become familiar with.
FSBO—For Sale By Owner. This term refers to a property which the homeowner is trying to sell independent of a real estate professional.
MLS—Multiple Listing Service. MLSs are comprised of a group of real estate brokers who have agreed to share their property listings. This listing is then provided to the group through a database or directory. If you are buying your home, this is the service that your sales professional will use to search for potential homes for you to purchase. If you are selling your property, your real estate professional can list your home through the MLS. For-Sale-By-Owner (FSBO) properties are typically not listed through the MLS.
CMA—Comparative Marketing Analysis. This analysis is an informal assessment of a property’s market value. This is one of the tools your real estate professional can use to help you determine a reasonable listing price. Usually, the CMA compares your property with similar properties that have sold in your area within a certain time frame. Besides purchase price, some of the information typically listed is the number of bedrooms and baths, approximate square footage, size of major rooms, amenities such as fireplaces and pools, age of the home, and property taxes.
During the real estate process, you’ll more than likely come across more acronyms and lingo. Make sure you ask your real estate professional to explain any terms you are unfamiliar with so that you are not in for any surprises.
By the way, the listing above was a 2,500 square-feet home on a cul-de-sac, with two bedrooms and two and a half baths, central air, a spacious great room with a wood-burning fireplace, and a gourmet kitchen and detached garage.
If you are considering a move and want to speak with an agent who is experienced in the process you can reach Jennifer Teti-Burroughs, at (858) 618-5677, located in San Diego, California.Email: Jennifer@JenniferTeti.com http://www.SanDiegoOnTheMove.com Prudential (Prudential California Realty) is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential Financial company. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Jennifer is a successful Realtor in the San Diego market. She has lived and worked in the San Diego area for over 30 years. She specializes in the area of relocation and has many resources available to assist families and individual who are relocating.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Burroughs
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