Real Estate Investors -- Avoid Jail Time!

Real Estate Investors: Listen up. Especially if you are considering or are actively investing in foreclosures or preforeclosures.

Very informative webinar here. Goes into great detail about how Maryland law has been changed to make this type of investing tricky, if you don't know what you're doing.

Second one coming up soon, if you want to participate (ask questions, get answers.)

Thanks Barbara and Jeff!

Cass

An awesome Real Estate Investment Company business plan

Are you really a real estate investment company if you don't have a business plan? No, it's not essential, but it may help you focus your efforts.

I know, who has time to write one!? Never fear, I just found one online that's free to anyone interested, courtesy of ReferenceforBusines.com. Check it out here.

Toodles.

Green is good

I'm currently learning a lot about building green. It is fascinating to me that we could be living in houses that essentially pay for themselves, so called "Net-Zero Energy" buildings...but we don't. Could it be the vast right-wing conspiracy to keep us all dependent on oil as long as humanly possible? Even to the detriment of the planet we live on?

Check this tidbit, from the NAHB:

When 800 registered voters were asked how important
certain items would be in their decision to either purchase a new green
home or remodel their current home to be more green, nearly two-thirds
(64 percent) of consumers polled said that “reduced energy costs” would
be the most important. The second-highest scoring reason, at 55
percent, was “because it would be healthier.” And 49 percent of those
surveyed say it’s “the right thing to do for the environment.”

And yet, from the BBJ, this:

According to a Calvert report released Tuesday, the nation's leading
home builders have been slow to embrace green building techniques such
as energy efficiency.

What is wrong with us?!

Cheers!

Zillow Mortgage Marketplace

While we're on the topic of mortgages, I heard on the radio that Zillow had added a mortgage quote tool. Cool thing is, unlike most mortgage sites (LendingTree, Ditech), you don't have to identify yourself. You can enter some basic info about yourself and get a quote anonymously. If you like what you get back, you can then provide your contact info. If not, no salesmen will call.

Please give it a try and come back here to comment on its utility.

Cass

With apologies to all my friends in the mortgage business

If you're looking to buy property and take out a mortgage, you must read this great piece by the Wonk on Mortgage Fees. I don't understand why they make them so hard to understand...oh, wait, yes I do. ;)

Cass

Oh, yeah, I have a blog!

Wow, time files...

Been too long since I've felt I had anything interesting to say, or even link to. But I'm feeling verbose again. Stay toond...

Cass