Property Management In Atlanta - Carla Barnes

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2009: A Year In Review and 2010: A Real Estate Forecast

After enduring three years of a declining real estate market, 2009 brought a much needed break for the hard hit real estate sector. Driven largely in part by the economic stimulus that helped the housing market emerge from the recession, it leaves many of us wondering what is next for real estate. Will housing prices rebound? Will the new extended and expanded tax credit be just what the doctor ordered? Will the luxury market recover similarly to the entry level?
EOTM Real Estate Group brings to you a discussion of the 2009 housing market and what we may expect in 2010.



Question from Jamie in Texas

How would you say the housing market faired in 2009? Did it live up to your expectations or falter?“


Although it was a challenging year, I believe it was a year of transition in many of our markets. We bounced along a rough bottom but at the same time, we are really prepared for a modest and consistent improvement. The second half of 2009 was when we finally saw a jumpstart. I think that really stems from consumer confidence. Does a buyer feel confident in his/her employment and finances? If so, then buying a home is typically a good option. Another way that the government is reinforcing the viability of buying a home is by offering the tax credit. First time home buyers should really take advantage of this great incentive.


Question from Tangi in Atlanta

Do you feel the tax credit was an important factor in the market turnaround?

Undoubtedly, the tax credit was an important factor in our market’s turnaround. We didn’t really know this for sure until we started looking at the number of closed escrows in September, October and November. The number of properties that went under contract increased as we grew closer to the November 30th, the original expiration date for that tax credit. It was a very clear indication that once potential buyers realized they might miss out on the $8,000, tax credit if they did not move quickly; many buyers got off the fence and began to act. The number of property showings was up. The number of properties that were sold was up. Then, we saw the extension of the tax credit and we saw yet another market adjustment. I wouldn’t say that the market has been slowing, but there has been a softening of the frenzy. I think as buyers near the new expiration date of April 30, 2010 that they will once again begin to act.



Question from Tanya Blake in Atlanta

Do you think the extended and expanded tax credit will solidify our market recovery?

Certainly the increased activity that we’ve had in the lower end market has been good; but in and of itself it probably will not create a market-wide recovery. To have a market- wide recovery, we have to be able to engage the move-up buyer. We have to remind the move-up buyer that now may be the best time in our history to step up to the higher priced homes. The fact is you probably have never gotten as much value, thanks to interest rates current affordability. Six months to a year from now, we probably won’t be able to say the same. We are certainly recognizing that the tax credit is compelling if a potential buyer is confident in his/her finances or future employment.




Question from Mark in Atlanta

Why is it such a great time to move-up?

It’s all about the power of leverage. The fact is that in most markets, inventory is very low in the entry priced home range. So buyers in that market are often competing against other buyers for the same home making it more of a seller’s market. However, it is a buyer’s market in the mid-level and upper end markets so you truly get the best of both worlds when you choose to move-up.



Question from Stephan in Atlanta

There is a lot of talk about the impact of inflation. Do you think people should be concerned about it?

Certainly people need to be aware that inflation is very likely. The government has devoted a great deal of money to stimulate our economy and in order to strengthen our dollar over time, more than likely we will see higher interest rates which will mean less buying power for a home buyer. But it all goes back to maximizing your opportunities now, in today’s market. For those who have been successful in their lifetime, they were always looking at the opportunity, today. In real estate, in order to do so, you must sell where the market segment is strong and buy where the market segment is weak. Today that opportunity resides with the move-up buyer.

Another important fact to note is how advantageous interest rates are right now. Some buyers are able to qualify for 30-year fixed mortgages at under 5%.




Question from Michael in Los Angeles

Do you think we’ve hit bottom?

I think in many communities we probably have hit bottom. We are seeing statistical evidence of it in the average sale price and in the number of homes sold. Interestingly (and I think this may be contrary to what most people believe), the communities that may have hit bottom are not necessarily those that were hardest hit by foreclosures. The communities that are strongest today are those that are clearly most desirable. When the market gets soft, the people who in previous markets couldn’t afford their first choice market had to settle for their second or third choices. But thanks to the opportunities in today’s market, they are better able to buy into their first choice communities and neighborhoods. It goes back to supply and demand. Those communities that have good schools, good local economies, diverse activities and, overall, are just considered more desirable places to live, are once again driving demand.



Question from Tony in Charlotte

What do you recommend to today’s home buyer?

Buyers need to understand right now that the market is a little schizophrenic. You know it is probably the time to buy and you also know that the market has been challenged. But you may see that in certain markets, we’ve had lower prices and decreasing numbers of available homes for sale. In that type of area, you might expect to get a lower price than a year ago. But you also need to realize that the market is picking up and that in many markets, we’ve probably hit bottom. For example, if you want to be where the best schools, best hiking trails and best parks are, that will probably be where the best recoveries are likely to occur. To properly ride the wave, you should find the houses where people want to be. The problem is that if you wait a year, you’re probably going to run up against a lot of challenges: increased interest rates, increased buyer demand, and lower available housing inventory. The combination of those factors is what is creating more urgency in the more desirable markets today.



Question from Tabitha in Macon

What do you anticipate for real estate in 2010?

What we’re going to see in 2010 is probably the more desirable neighborhoods seeing a modest increase in sales price and a decrease in the number of homes on the market. I predict that we are going to see an overall stabilization in the marketplace. We are probably going to see on the whole a slight increase of the average sales price of homes. We’re probably going to see a stabilization of the market. We probably won’t ever return to the sales levels of 2005 and 2006 because so many of those sales were artificially created. Fortunately, I believe that we are now on the right path toward modest, sustainable growth.



Fans of Atlanta Real Estate please feel free to continue to send in all of your real estate/mortgage questions to carla@eotmrealestategroup.

Investment property management is fast emerging as one of the vital aspects of a successful realty investment. In spite of the currently dull phase of the housing market, investing in properties is still considered one of the most profitable and stable activities. To keep all realty investments profitable, it is important to ensure efficient assets management.

Managing a property that includes managing of any type of tenants can be a daunting task. While purchasing realty is one thing, effective management is another. This is especially true if the owner or the investor does not possess management skills like the management professionals have. These experts can help to maintain the investments in the apartments or homes efficiently and also to manage good tenant relationships.

While management of properties such as apartments, single family homes and commercial properties does include screening prospective tenants and handpicking the suitable ones, it does not necessarily stop there. The property has to be well maintained and there has to be an impeccable system of accountability related to all financial transactions of its equity growth as well as the cash flow generated by renting it out to tenants.

What Makes Management Professionals Indispensable

Most property owners who stress on saving money usually end up hiring a single professional for investment management. Whether it is a house or a small apartment community, it is not possible for a single individual even a qualified one to attend to all the responsibilities associated with management or apartments and commercial investsments, supervise its maintenance and turn it into a profitable investment. This is why the primary concern of an owner or an investor must be to hire an established company that can offer outstanding services to keep all kinds of properties functioning at the highest possible levels.

A good management company will connect the investor with an experienced manager who will handle all matters related to the property. The professional responsible for investment property management will also act as the intermediary between the investor, tenants and the management company. The manager will also make sure that the investor receives accurate financial statements regarding the income generated from the property regularly.

A person who has invested in an single family home, duplexes or something on a more larger scale would definitely require a professional who is an expert is in his field and is aware of the financial goals of the investor. Since all properties are able to generate profits, a property manager must treat all properties as serious business. Therefore, before actually hiring an agency for investment management, the investor must create a great business plan with the management company. If the company seems to treat each investment as real business, they are likely to handle properties efficiently by enhancing their value and lowering potential risks.

Obviously, there is a lot at stake while choosing a company to manage realty investments and keep it running profitably. Therefore, it is important that the company and their overall business ethics inspire confidence and trust in the investor so that he is completely comfortable in assigning the property to the company handling investment property management.

Making the right decision regarding the company selected for managing properties and evaluating the experience of this company can directly influence the success of a realty investment. As long as owners or investors choose the best management professionals, they can create a profitable realty business.

Our goal is to help maximize your most prized investments. Contact Carla Barnes of EOTM Properties today to receive a free rental analysis of your most prized investment(s).

Direct line – 678-548-9466

Email – carla@eotmrealestategroup.com

Website – www.eotmrealestategroup.com

Real Estate Blog - http://activerain.com/blogs/mortgage_diva

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49wt3MS04zk

The Celebrating The Queens of our Communities Awards Ceremony will host a fundraising dinner and entertainment gala on Sunday, March 7, 2010 from 5 PM – 11 PM at the Historic Highland Inn & Ball Room in Atlanta, Georgia. Proceeds from the event will benefit programs to develop a supportive networking system for women entrepreneurs in America and abroad.

"These women we will honor have an above average entrepreneurial spirit, high ethics and community spirit, financial and management skill coupled with creativity and out of the box thinking," stated program director Carla Barnes. "The event is designed to ignite the fire and inspire a whole new generation of empowered woman across the country. This collaborative effort makes possible a unique informative Award Ceremony/Conference to the future of Women in Atlanta and beyond as we celebrate Women History’s Month."

"Celebrating the Queen’s in our Communities" includes a special tribute to top nominees. This will be followed by the awards ceremony. Celebrity guests are scheduled to perform in honor of the women. Additionally, two, dynamic motivational speakers that will host a skit which features women entrepreneurs from 1975 to the present time.

The program promises thought-provoking insights from prominent women leaders, as well as interactive dialogue with relevant subject matter, experts, and exhibitors.

"The public is invited to join us in supporting this important program with a sponsorship, or by purchasing tickets to this provocative event," stated Barnes. "The sponsorship opportunities are an excellent way to gain visibility for companies. 150 participants expected at our event. There will also be ample networking opportunities," she concluded.

Tickets are $20 - $50 each, and may be purchased online at http://queensofinternetradio.com/Events.aspx or by calling 678-548-9466.


ABOUT EOTM RADIO & MEDIA:

The Queen’s of Internet Radio and their partners are committed to offering Educational Programs, Executive Coaching and Mentorship, Resource and Referral Services, Professional Development Services, Special Events of Interest to audiences including business executives, entrepreneurs, women In the work force, educators, legislators, activists and government officials. Their mission is to combine collective talents and resources to develop a supportive networking system for entrepreneurs throughout the U.S. and abroad.


Company Contact Information
EOTM Radio & Media
Carla Barnes
289 Jonesboro Road
Suite 413
30253
Phone : 678-548-9466

email: event@queensofinternetradio.com

Tips and strategies for women who are beginners in real estate investing

There are women all over the country who would like to become real estate investors but many don't know how to start. Some lack knowledge; some, aware that they lack the necessary knowledge, in turn lack confidence. Where should women who want to get started investing in real estate begin?

The internet is a good place for them to turn.

Women who want to begin investing in real estate can learn some of the basics of investing in real estate by reading educational materials online, and they can develop a familiarity with the topic by reading about current events and trends in the real estate market.

Lack of knowledge is not the only thing that keeps some women from becoming real estate investors; fear is also a contributing factor. Many are afraid of losing money, they're afraid of not making the right decisions...and credit issues are also involved. In addition they don't know how to get started.

Real Estate Investment Clubs

Providing women with industry contacts and education, real estate investment clubs are a good place to start. I recommend that women interested in investing in real estate do a simple internet search for "real estate investing" to find local investment groups to start attending. EOTM just recently launched their new Investment Club geared towards providing newbie investors with resources and key skill sets with success as the end result.

Finding other women to network with can be very beneficial.

In addition to investment clubs specifically pertaining to real estate, I would strongly recommend looking for support from a general business perspective at NAPW, the National Association of Professional Women. They'll get a lot of support from a business owner's perspective and from women in their own area.

Networking

No matter what type of real estate or general investment clubs women seeking to become real estate investors choose to join, such groups can provide them with crucial opportunities for networking, education and support.

The greatest key is knowledge, and women new to real estate investing can benefit from being around other people who do invest to learn the process from those people.

Learning from and working with other women who are experienced real estate investors can also be a good way to gain confidence. Beginning investors should work with someone with experience in real estate investing—get your feet wet a little bit before you go out on your own.

At real estate investment clubs, there are real estate agents and other investors there for them to network with, there are lenders, there are contractors.

Everybody who's related to the real estate industry can be found right there...so they can form their own network there to get them ready for real estate investing. After joining a group, women should put a business plan, or a marketing plan, or a road map together—their checklist of things that they need to do in order to become successful.

Putting together a team of experts to work with when investing is smart. You have your financial team: your accountant, your attorney, a property manager if you're buying to hold property for the long term...people that can assist you and be part of your team so that when you go out to identify and find a deal, nothing is going to stand in the way if the deal makes sense. You've got your people, your money—all your ducks in a row.

If a woman does that, she's going to be very successful in real estate.

Strategies for Women

Considering the credit crunch underway across the country, combined with the potential recession, many women who are interested in becoming real estate investors hesitate because they are nervous about money. More precisely, they are worried about not having enough money to be able to invest in real estate.

I think some women feel that they need to have a lot of capital up front, or their credit may be bad and they don't think they can get started because of that, either.

Let's talk Money

Realistically, investors will need some money up front. It's going to take a little money to get started. One year ago an investor could buy a property with no money down and get it financed for 100 percent. With all the foreclosures going on across the country, that kind of put a thorn in that, and so now [real estate investors need] to come up with some money. Whether that's 10 percent or 20 percent, a lot of them just don't have it.

Fortunately, for women just starting out, there's a lot of different creative strategies, like lease options, that they could do to acquire a property.

Buying pre-foreclosures or foreclosures is another strategy that may suit women in particular well for a variety of reasons. While foreclosure properties tend to be more affordable, they typically must be purchased with cash up front. Pre-foreclosures would be a better option for people without a lot of cash on hand.

Another reason is that, because in many cases women are more nurturing than men, a woman may be able to talk with homeowners who are in pre-foreclosure and get them to let her purchase a house below market price compared to a man approaching them to do that.

The foreclosure market is a place in which many women investing in real estate could find their niche. I think women will play a major role in their commitment to revitalize areas hardest hit by foreclosures. Members of my group, have made a commitment to buying and rehabbing houses in these areas and then sharing equity with properties that they sell. And by doing this, homes become more affordable....We take a little less profit for it, but something has got to stimulate home sales again, particularly in these areas.

Such a strategy allows the investors to profit not just from the revitalization of a particular property, but from the revitalization of a particular area. Such dedication to a community can improve an area's economic outlook. This type of investment is well suited to women because a great advantage that women hold over men is compassion, and empathy.

Outlook

Women are relationship people, we're good at establishing a relationship, we're good at earning trust, and so people want to do business with us. It becomes a lot easier for us to develop a good reputation for delivering a quality product. This is a tremendous advantage for women, particularly when it comes to rehabbing property.

I would also recommend that women who lack experience with do-it-yourself home projects attend classes, such as those offered by hardware and home improvement stores, to learn the basics. Then, if someday they are looking at investing in a property that may require some work, they can make the right decisions about the deal. Do-it-yourself skills could be particularly useful for women who want to rehab properties.

Negotiating can be another important skill for women to concentrate on learning. Women should also learn better negotiation skills and take control.

I don’t think that women are at any inherent disadvantage when it comes to investing in real estate. I think the major disadvantage is probably internal. Women only feel that they lack the power and authority. They feel like they can't do it because investing is a male-dominated field.

Women investing in real estate are not less likely to be successful solely because they are women. It’s not that it's difficult; it's that women tend not to have the confidence, in my opinion. Somebody who's persistent and somebody who believes in themselves, whether male or female, will do just fine.

If you are seriously looking to tap into the Real Estate Investment arena don’t hesitate in contacting Carla Barnes of EOTM Real Estate Group today. 678-548-9466. Also feel free to visit our new Real Estate Investment Club.

Listen live to EOTM Real Estate Hot Talk - Call in & Share Knowledge with US! Because "WE is Greater than "I".

Carla Barnes of EOTM Properties explains how homeowners can turn their unsold properties into rental income. The nation's painful housing bust has put sellers in a serious lurch. To get their properties sold, many sellers will have to make sharp reductions to their asking prices --- a necessary evil that can rob the investment of its return. But Carla Barnes has a different idea. In her new infomercial, Can’t Sell Your Home, Rent it!

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Carla describes how homeowners can ride out the turbulent market by converting their homes into rental properties. Barnes outlined the benefits of renting, explained how homeowners can determine if it's right for them, and even offered advice on how to avoid lousy tenants.

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Watch the infomercial live now >>>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAdGxgGF_wI

What are the benefits of renting out your home if you can't sell it?....

There are many benefits, including the ability to ride out the market and potentially not lose money on a home. It generally isn't in a homeowner's best interest to sell at the bottom of a market—unless they have an unusual financial circumstance, such as immediate retirement or illness. Secondly, renting offers the ability to take a tax deduction if there is any rental loss. Moreover, renters have the ability to move back into the home. In other words, if you're not sure that you will like ..Texas.. and want to move there, you can always move back to your ....Georgia.... home if you don't like it.

When would it make the most sense for a homeowner who is unable to sell his home to rent it out?

If you are in the military, renting is a great option. Military personnel often have to move rapidly for deployment, but they cannot sell the home with 10 months' inventory on the books for any reasonable price. Secondly, if you need to move quickly to take a job but don't want to sell your home in a down market, renting is a great alternative. If your home isn't worth what you owe, you might be able to modify the loan to change the principle balance and rent it out to ride out the market.

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Feel free to contact Carla Barnes of EOTM Properties today for a free rental analysis of your most prized investment @ 678-548-9466

and visit and bookmark our website today >> www.eotmrealestategroup.com