Gayle Balaban/E. Tn Waterfront Real Estate

The vast majority of investors are running around trying to scrape together great deals on mediocre properties. I compare that to buying an expensive and more popular device such as the Wii or buying an inexpensive and obsolete device like a VCR and then attempting to resell it on Ebay. Sure, you can probably get a VCR cheap, maybe even free on www.Freecyle.com but then you probably will either not sell it or maybe break even. Worse yet you might incur selling fees without a sale. Now, on the other hand if you were to purchase a used or refurbished Wii game and you spent say $250 on it, chances are you would be able to sell it at very handsome profit on Ebay even though the initial investment was much greater. Of course you will have to look a little harder to find a used Wii but when you do it will be worth it.

Well, I say I would rather have one Wii to sell than ten VCRs and I compare that to having ten rehab properties or one waterfront property. Yes, good waterfront is harder to locate and buy for a good price, but, it is out there., I know first hand. I am closing on a beautiful lot that I suspect would sell for $75,000 more in season than it is now, but, the bottom line is that the owner needs Cash NOW and the buyer wants a good waterfront for investment. Waterfront will always be in demand so he chose the more expensive Wii and in my opinion he made a very wise choice!

SO, INVESTORS, THINK ABOUT PUTTING ALL OF YOUR EGGS IN ONE WATERFRONT BASKET RATHER THAN IN TEN DOWNTOWN NIGHTMARES.

There is a new trend in housing that has been showing up in Collegedale, Tennessee for a while and I see it beginning to trend elsewhere. Like the name implies, Collegedale is a college town; home to Southern Adventist University, a large religous university.

University housing is spread out throughout the town of Collegedale including dormitories, graduate student housing and faculty rental units. A lot of real estate is owned by the university. Students are required to live in supervised housing until they reach a certain age, however, most of them flee immediately, upon making the cut off, to independent housing.

Due to the continual influx of students and faculty, Collegedale is a terrific rental market, and many long term residents invest in real estate in the area and use it as rental property. There are a wide variety of housing opportunities. Duplexes are prevalent as well as converted single family homes. Apartment buildings with sixteen to eighteen units are also scattered around town.

What I have seen for a while is a growing trend for parents of college age students coming to the university, to purchase local real estate, a house, a condo or perhaps a duplex, and have their child reside in the property and then rent part of it out to other students.

It makes good sense. Often the mortgage payments are not nearly what the university charges for housing and then the student gains extra income from renting out rooms. This is a win-win for parent and stuudent. After the student graduates the parent will either sell the property or continue to keep it on the rental market as an investment.

I see this happening in downtown Chattanooga now and also in Knoxville, Tennessee, home of the University of Tennessee and the Tennessee Vols. It is good strategy to consider to offset the cost of college housing.

If you are interested in exploring this type of opportunity anywhere in East Tennessee or specifically Collegedale or Ooltewah Tennessee; please call me. I'd love to help!

I don't know about you, but, that sentiment expressed in the 40's by F.D.R. sure has been circling around my thoughts lately. I mean I see otherwise rational and business minded people running around talking to me about the collapse of our monetary system, the death of real estate as a viable profession; the unending national debt, and I get thinking--no, REACTING. Internally I feel myself start to become angry. Why? Well, for a variety of reasons.

• That thinking presses in on my otherwise resilient outlook and starts to form like a grey cloud.
• I dislike those that stir up others into a survivalist mentality that closes off any room for discussion.
• It is reminiscent of many cult like mantras that often lead good people down a dark path.
• I just get very resentful that someone else is dictating my customer's landscape.
• I hate untruths.

There, that's it. I am getting angry now.

There are many good arguments to refute this type of thinking and these are rooted in history not trend or philosophy.

• Business, especially real estate has ALWAYS been cyclical.
• There are many excellent opportunities right now for a wise consumer.
• Realtors that are experienced have knowledge and knowledge always trumps trends. Would you want to be your own dentist?
• In my area of the country there has been some slippage, some correction, but, not wholesale anarchy and homes are still selling for a fair price.
• Many have come to accept the abnormal (spike in house prices and rapid sales) as normal and therefore reject a return to more moderate business.
• Just as a good storm churns the waters and clears the beaches, this financial storm is clearing the business landscape of many unscrupulous and/or unrealistic practices.
• Most importantly, I see anecdotally, a return to a value based society instead of a high speed, high powered "ME" society. Reason is returning.
• I see appreciation and gratitude for things more basic is returning. The principle of parsimony, "less is more" seems to be emerging.

So, peers, consumers, and the public in general need to stop and think and ask themselves; "Is this really as exaggerated as the media is broadcasting or are these times perhaps just a correction back to a more grounded way of doing business?"

I firmly believe that it is the latter.

I know that this time of year is still somewhat harried for most people, but, if you are starting to plan your campaigns and marketing for this year, please consider expanding your reach with social media. I know, probably a foreign term to half of you and old news for the rest. I guess that I am in the middle on this. I am new, but, learn fast. I have gained a wealth of information from using it since just before Christmas. Sites such as Twitter, Digg, Fcebook and Linkedin are examples, but, there are many more.

I have made many new associations on Twitter and Linkedin and people have been very gracious. I'd like to invite you to join me on any of these networks. For your convenience there are buttons for Twitter and Linkedin on the side of this blog and I am known as Marinabroker all over.

I look forwrd to seeing you in Twitterville or as an associate on Linkedin.

It seems that no matter how hard the times are there is always someone who cannot resist the lure of a waterfront piece of property. There is something seductive about being on the water's edge and that is exactly why the price of very nice lots keeps going up and up despite the down trend in real estate in general. This has been my experience anyway.

Could it be like the peek of crocuses through the winter snow? I have seen a noticeable increase in buyers moving about like little ants looking for their "spot" on the water before the season starts. I actually sold a very desireable lot in a great gated community on New Year's Day. Imagine that. Well, it is not exactly sold yet, it is under contract, but, with both parties enthusiastic for the sale I imagine it will have the desired outcome.
People go out and look for your "crocuses". They ar estarting to peek and I believe that this is a good omen for the rest of the year!