Gavin Saint Louis

Let's clear up something right off the bat; BUYER'S DO NOT PAY COMMISSIONS. The brokers fee (i.e., commission) that is paid to the selling broker and buying broker is a pre-arranged amount (usually a percentage of the sales price) that the seller has agreed to pay at closing for their services via the terms listed in the exclusive right-to-sell listing agreement. The for sale signs i.e. the sign in the yard is a way, brokers advertise their services to potential sellers and does not affect buyers.

It is a pretty smart idea when you think about it, because a buyers first response will be to call on the sign. Leading to an opportunity for the listing agent to capture a buyer for the home and get paid double. "Okay," many buyers say, "so the Listing Agent represents the seller and not me. Is that a big deal?" YES IT IS, it is important to understand that if the Agent represents the seller, they cannot reveal certain things to you, as the buyer:

• The reason for selling (unless the seller specifiaclly authorizes it)
• Any concesssions, in price or otherwise, that the seller may be willing to give up.
• Any conversations that the seller and Agent may have had.
• Any information that could be detrimental to the seller, or give you, the buyer, an advantage.
• This would include a CMA (Comparable Market Analysis) that could put the seller at a disadvantage.

Here is a breakdown of the commissions:

Sales Price $650,000
Traditional Commission if based on *6% = $39,000 seller pays
Traditional Listing Agent Commission *3% = $19,500
Traditional Buyers Agent Commission *3% = $19,500

Traditional Buyer Client = $0

Buyers House Realty Buyers Agent = $4875
Your Buyers House Realty Rebate = $14,625

There are plenty of things throughout the buying process a buyer will need to be concerned about, paying the commission is not one of them. For more tips on home buying, please visit us at http://www.BuyersHouseRealty.com.

Austin TX One Of Nation's Best Cities For Building Wealth

It seems like every time we open a newspaper or magazine, Austin is being ranked among the "best" of something. This time, Salary.com has named Austin the 13th out of 69 cities in America for building wealth. Texas was well-represented in the survey, with Plano earning the #1 spot!

Are you a savvy Real Estate investor who knows what a good deal looks like? Well we have a deal for you! Since you can do a lot of the work yourself, shouldn't you receive something in return? You will when you use Buyers House Realty to assist you with your investment property. Within 2 weeks of closing on your property, we'll send you a rebate check for a full 75% of our commission paid to us by the seller. On a $600,000 home with a 6% commission, paid half to buyer's broker, that's a $13500 rebate check to the buyer.

Tips on Investing:

1) Determine your strategy early: flip, renovation, or long-term rental. Do you want to hunt for something undervalued, hold it, and then flip it in the coming months? Are you a skilled carpenter, or do you know what's involved in a renovation? Are you willing to deal with a renter? If so, the renter will pay your mortgage and give you some immediate profit.

2) Use Buyers House Realty Register online and utilize our tools and resources in order to learn more and find your next investment. Complete a buyers representation agreement and take advantage of the 75% rebate of our commission we receive from the seller.

3) Interview mortgage brokers Once you start the process compare three mortgage lenders and check out what your local bank or credit union offers. You'll want to know what each offers in terms of interest rates and closing costs. Bring a copy of your three credit reports to your meetings, along with a sample property (in the same price range), so they can run hard numbers.

4) Put contracts on the cheapest house in the best neighborhood These contracts will put you in control of that market. Example: let's say the cheapest three-bedroom house in the best neighborhood in Austin costs $160,000 and the next cheapest, comparable home goes for $200,000. You can buy the home at $160,000 and raise your price to $190,000 the next day and still make a profit.

5) Contract to Close You'll sign a contract, show the seller a pre-approval letter from your lender, and get your home and termite inspections. Next, your lender will do an appraisal of the home. If you want to renovate the house, a Purchase and Renovate loan may appeal to you - this wraps the cost of construction up in the loan so you have few out-of-pocket costs - and this may require an estimate from a general contractor and plans from an architect. Once your lender approves the loan, you will close on the house. In general, this process takes about 30-45 days.

6) Execute your investment strategy

Flip: Just sit and wait until the market allows you to sell at your target price. You don't even need to turn on the utilities until you go to resell it.

Renovate: In general, your lender doesn't care if you use the general contractor who provided them with an estimate, so make sure you're working with a solid crew who will get the project completed on time. You can burn up a lot of money if they're inattentive to your house. Once the project is done, determine how much property in the neighborhood is selling per square foot, and you'll know your new sales price.

Rental: Contact your realtor and have them rent your property. They will be able to get comps for rentals in the area. Your realtor should be able to handle all the paperwork, from application to signing the lease agreement.

7) Do you have an Exit Strategy? A saavy real investor will not be left holding the bag. A veteran will think a deal through and so should you. If you can not squeeze the value out of your investment, is it a good buy? Plans for your exit:

• Flip
• Sell
• Rental
• Lease Option
• Seller Financing
• Wholesale

An investor should keep current on market conditions and depending on which strategy that best fits their investment, be prepared. Some strategies will work better in different markets. Consider these options prior to purchasing any property and you may minimize your loss and maximize your gain. A good investment starts with a good exit strategy. These are just the basics, but they demonstrate that the buying and selling process isn't too complicated. Keep in mind that if you have good credit, you may be able to get loans of up to 100% of the home cost. Also, typical closing costs are about 3% of the sales price, and this can either be paid for by the seller or wrapped into the loan. Don't wait! The market is strong and there are endless options. If you've got the right motivation and use Buyers House Realty, it may just be the best investment you ever make.

Visit us on the web at www.BuyersHouseRealty.com