Andre's Blog

By TIM JOHNSON

BEIJING -- Amid a downturn in real estate prices, some wealthy Chinese are signing up for home-buying tours to the U.S., and Chinese media tout the trend as another sign of the strength of what's now the world's third-largest economy behind the U.S. and Japan.

"The real estate prices in America have gone down drastically," said Yin Guohua, a partner in a law firm who recently returned from an 11-day U.S. tour with a group of Chinese elite. "It's a good option for Chinese people who want to buy for investment."

In prime time last week, China Central Television's popular Oriental Horizon program dedicated half an hour to the topic of house-hunting tours to the U.S. The tours also have been the subject of numerous newspaper articles, some of them suggesting that the buying power of newly rich Chinese might help salvage U.S. real estate woes.

"We'll probably take more than 10 groups this year," said Vincent Mo, chairman of SouFun Holdings, one of two companies known to be organizing the house-buying trips. "There are more than 500 people applying to go with the SouFun team to look at property in the U.S."

Mo acknowledged that he doesn't know if anyone among the first group of 40 Chinese investors, who traveled in February, bought U.S. property.

"When we asked them, no one said they had made a deal, or bought something. It's a privacy thing," Mo said.

Yin, the lawyer, demurred when asked whether he'd bid on a house: "Chinese people like to keep private about whether they've brought property and how much they've paid for it."

The U.S. real estate slump has made property in major U.S. cities seem cheaper than in China's larger cities, real estate professionals said.

"If you take a brand new apartment in a first tier city, like Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou, you can buy a lot more equivalent in the United States," said Anna Kalifa, a vice president of business development at GTC Real Estate China, a development arm of the Kardan Group, based in the Netherlands. In a city such as Washington, she said, "you can get more bang for your buck, square meter per square meter."

Luo Jie, a tour organizer for those wanting to buy U.S. property, concurred: "You can buy a much better home in America for $400,000 or $500,000 than you can buy here."

Luo pulled out a promotional folder written in Mandarin with numerous listings of foreclosed U.S. properties in several major U.S. cities.

"There are more and more foreclosed properties on the market," Luo said, adding that his company, China Swan International Tours, will take an initial tour group within a few weeks.

"Some of these businessmen already have links to America and want to get property. Others are simply looking for a good investment," Luo said.

The Oriental Horizon program said 7.5 percent of U.S. residential property sold to foreigners last year went to investors from mainland China, Taiwan or Hong Kong.



When it comes to choosing professionals to assist you with your real estate needs...Experience is Priceless! Andre'Shambley&Miami's Best REALTOR® Team, The Keyes Company, 305-788-6643. AndreShambley@AOL.com,
http://www.OnePlaceOpenHouse.com


Ready to refinance or looking for a better rate? For your complimentary rate quote visit Jacinta Shambley, APEX Lending, Inc. JShambley@APEXLending.com . http://www.JShambley.ApexLending.com

Ingredients:

1 pound boneless pork loin cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 tablespoon Cajun-style seasoning
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 ounce quick cooking spicy Cajun-style beans and rice

1 1/4 cups water
1/4 cup dry white wine (or chicken broth)
1 8-oz. bottle clam juice (or chicken broth)
1 6 1/2-oz. jar marinated artichoke hearts drained
1 cup thawed frozen green peas
1 2-oz. jar diced pimientos undrained


Instructions:

Toss cubes with seasoning; heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork cubes; cook and stir until pork is nicely browned. Remove pork from skillet and keep warm. Add rice and beans mix and seasoning packets to skillet, along with water, wine and clam juice, stirring to mix. Bring to boil and cover tightly; reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 6 minutes, stirring several times. Top rice mixture with pork, artichoke hearts, peas and pimientos and cover, cooking for about 4 minutes longer or until most liquid has been absorbed. Serve hot from skillet

When it comes to choosing professionals to assist you with your real estate needs...Experience is Priceless! Andre'Shambley&Miami's Best REALTOR® Team, The Keyes Company, 305-788-6643. AndreShambley@AOL.com,
http://www.OnePlaceOpenHouse.com

Ready to refinance or looking for a better rate? For your complimentary rate quote visit Jacinta Shambley, APEX Lending, Inc. JShambley@APEXLending.com . http://www.JShambley.ApexLending.com

The importance of finding motivated sellers is stressed by almost every real estate guru out there. Of course it is ideal if you can find that seller who just wants to get rid of his property no matter what - and fast! All sellers have their own motivations, though, and you can make a better deal out of any property if you learn what those motivations are and use them in your negotiating.

In a sense, a seller is a motivated seller the moment he puts that "for sale" sign out. You know then that he is motivated to sell, but the important question is why he is selling. Beyond that, you want to try to learn the seller's motivations for every other aspect of the process too. Why does he want to sell a particular way, for example, why does he want the price he is asking, and what's important to him when making decisions.

Watch for personal motivators that are a part of his or her personality, too. Note whether the seller is more motivated by what she reads or by what she hears. Does he seem more motivated by the promise of a fast sale, or a high price? Listen to what sellers say for clues.

Making More Motivated Sellers

Normally, when a seller continually says, "I see," he is more visually oriented and motivated. In that case you want to show such a seller the advantages of your offer. You don't want to just explain your offer. With this seller you would point out on paper why it can work for you both.

Suppose you hear statements like "I just don't want any problems," or "I just want to be done with this." Of course this indicates a classic motivated seller, but more specifically it indicates the seller is more motivated to avoid stress than by positive goals. This means you would want to make the process as easy as you can for the seller. You might also drop hints that this is her chance to "be done" with selling.

Start gathering information on the seller's motivations early in your real estate negotiations, then decide how to use this information. How do you use it. Follow the examples above, and think about each factor. Suppose the seller likes to see himself as a shrewd negotiator. Let him "win" a lot of small concessions during negotiations, in order to get what you need most.

When you tap into a seller's own motivators, you make him into a more motivated seller. You should even use their own words. If a seller says "I understand" quite often, then start a statement with "I think you understand why..." Their words mean more to them than yours.

Search for any specific motivations involved. For example, if you learn that a buyer of your house wants to be able to tell his friends what a great price he got, maybe you can let him have it, and push hard on every other area. You could get the terms you want, have him pay all the closing costs, etc. Have the attitude that if he'll give you what you want, he'll get what he wants.

You have certainly heard of win-win negotiating. It is one of the most important principles of real estate investing. To let the seller "win," though, you have to learn what winning means to him. Then you have to use what you learn. that's how you make all sellers into more motivated sellers.

When it comes to choosing professionals to assist you with your real estate needs...Experience is Priceless! Andre'Shambley & Miami's Best REALTOR® Team, The Keyes Company, 305-788-6643. AndreShambley@AOL.com,
http://www.OnePlaceOpenHouse.com

Ready to refinance or looking for a better rate? For your complimentary rate quote visit Jacinta Shambley, APEX Lending, Inc. JShambley@APEXLending.com . http://www.JShambley.ApexLending.com

My favorite real estate appraiser once gave me a VERY GOOD tip for buying a home. He said the very best house to buy in terms of value was one a few years old (3 to 10). The floor plan would be fairly up to date. The house is likely to be in decent shape for systems (heat and air, plumbing, electrical and roof) and only in need of a little paint and cosmetic repairs to be a nice home and a good value.

Let's face it. Paint is a lot cheaper than a big remodel or a roof or new kitchens and baths.

BUT, people rarely paint when they put houses up for sale and they also don't bother to clean up. Many think, "Anyone can see that it only needs a little paint and cleanup."

So what happens?

The house just sits on the market for a long time even though it's a good house that will appraise well and sell well if nicely packaged.

If it's been on the market for a long time it's also getting cheaper.

Then you start to see signs like "MOTIVATED SELLER".

But if you're willing to change that outdated wallpaper and worn paint you can reap the extra equity the seller has passed up. Better still, it goes directly toward improving your personal net worth.

But you don't want to paint. I know, I know. Stop whining! It's easy.

Even I can do it. In fact with all the practice I've had over the years I can do it better than many professionals. Think of this straight forward task as a job where you are being paid (in equity) hundreds if not thousands of dollars per hour!

You can do it, too. Get a good angled, 2-inch sash brush, some primer, some good drop cloths, and some good rollers and get started. You want to do a neat, professional job. If you don't feel confident about trimming out perfectly, just get some painter's tape. I don't bother with it now, but it's great for beginners. Forget fancy paint treatments on walls. They take too long, go out of fashion quickly and they don't do well at resale. Wallpaper is also something you may want to avoid.

Paint your new home with any colors you want. Then before you resale, paint again in neutrals so your home doesn't sit on the market for too long...like it did the last time. What you, unlike the previous owner want is a home where prospective buyers will say. This is nice and my stuff will look good in here.

Fresh paint can do wonders for the look of a house, both inside and out, and make you fall in love with a house that you didn't love before.

Look past the old colors and look at the attributes of the house itself. If the only thing you don't like is paint colors...BUY IT, PAINT and REAP the REWARDS!

When it comes to choosing professionals to assist you with your real estate needs...Experience is Priceless! Andre' Shambley&Miami's Best REALTOR®. Team, The Keyes Company, 305-788-6643. AndreShambley@Keyes.com,
http://www.OnePlaceOpenHouse.com

Ready to refinance or looking for a better rate? For your complimentary rate quote visit Jacinta Shambley, APEX Lending, Inc. JShambley@APEXLending.com . http://www.JShambley.ApexLending.com

"Although renting a home can give you plenty of freedom to travel and move frequently, most people eventually opt to buy property. Further, most financial advisors approve of real estate purchases as solid investments and good choices. That is because purchasing real estate can give you:

1) An asset. When you buy, the money you put into your property becomes money that you are investing in your own future. The value of your home becomes part of your net worth. When you own property, lenders may see you as a better risk since your overall financial situation is stronger. Paying off your mortgage on time each month can go a long way towards keeping your credit rating healthy too.

2) Equity. The amount of your home's worth not tied up in home loans is your equity and this alone can be a valuable asset. Every time you improve your home and every time property values in your area rise, your equity may grow. In case of financial need, you can borrow against the equity of your home, often at great rates and with tax breaks as well. In case of a financial emergency, your home equity can be a financial lifeline that can save you from disaster.

3) Tax breaks. In most cases, owning a home can offer you tax advantages. For example, real estate taxes are tax-deductible. If you decide to sell your home, you could enjoy even more tax savings. If you make a profit in selling your primary residence, you can enjoy tax free profits of up to $250 000 or even $500 000, depending on your circumstances. This can make your home a much better investment than stocks, shares, or other taxable entities.

4) Higher quality of living. While there are many beautiful rentals, most homes offer you more space than rentals for a smaller price. Ownership also means freedom. When you own your own home, you can decorate it as you like and live the way you wish. You do not have to worry about following a landlord's rules.

There are many advantages to owning your own home. If you have been renting for a while and now find yourself in the position of being able to afford your own home, you may want to reevaluate whether ownership isn't right for you. For many people, it is a smart long-term financial decision."

When it comes to choosing professionals to assist you with your real estate needs...Experience is Priceless! Andre' Shambley & Miami's Best REALTOR®. Team, The Keyes Company, 305-788-6643. AndreShambley@Keyes.com,
http://www.OnePlaceOpenHouse.com

Ready to refinance or looking for a better rate? For your complimentary rate quote visit Jacinta Shambley, APEX Lending, Inc. JShambley@APEXLending.com . http://www.JShambley.ApexLending.com

In short, the reason is to get you a better deal than you would have gotten without one. It's really as simple as that! This means money, such as finding undervalued homes and negotiating them several percent lower, but it also means having the services of an expert who can find you what you want, come to agreement with the seller at terms favorable to you, and see that the sale actually closes. Just like a movie star's agent is paid to put the best possible shine on his client, the seller's agent is paid to put the best possible shine on the house he is selling - so you need to cut through "sellerese" and have it translated into "buyerese" for you. This means is that if you aren't in the real estate business, you won't be familiar with the ins and outs of buying a home, putting you at a serious disadvantage. You ought to have someone who is always looking out for your best interest instead of leaving it for you to realize six months after it's too late to do anything about it. Is the agent you are working with doing this for you?

A buyer agent is trained in real estate and probably works in it every day, so the agent can make sure everything works for the home buyer, such as:


Finding a "pool" of homes for sale that have the features the homebuyer wants using the sources of information the Realtor has developed

Ablity to identify which of these homes are also sweet deals, so you don't overpay

Getting a good idea of a house's condition and any defects it might have just by looking at it, which will save the homebuyer a lot of trouble

Many agents preview homes for sale, so they have seen many of them in person (not just on a computer screen), know their condition, and can save you time

Knowing what is normal and negotiating the most favorable price and terms for the home buyer, which can obviously save you thousands of dollars on your purchase

Making sure all of the numerous necessary real estate forms and disclosures are handled and written to your advantage

Knowledge of various companies who will work best for different situations such as title, inspections, appraisals, surveys, insurance, flood insurance, and other matters handled from acceptance to close

Knowing a few mortgage officers who have shown themselves to be competent, hardworking, and able to do what they say up front

Handling all the many day-to-day problems that need to be done to get the transaction completed and that most people don't have the time, willingness, or knowledge to handle. Some of these problems will delay or even derail a closing and disrupt your plans to move - obviously causing you many problems and costing you money - and your moving van can't unload until all i's are dotted and t's are crossed.


What are common reservations to hiring a Buyer Agent?

1. You want to do it all yourself

2. You don't want to pay for an agent

3. You don't want the hassle of dealing with an agent

Consider:

1. Are you sure you know everything you need to know to get the home you want, get a good price on it, and write the papers so things work your way? Are you "in the know" when it comes to current real estate information? Do you have the pulse of the market? Do you know about real estate procedures and which forms to use? Do you have the desire to be a martyr, or the desire to buy a home? The Realtor has already learned all this, both out of the book and through experience.

2. There is usually no additional charge for a Buyer Agent to work for you - the listing agent will split his fee with the Buyer agent. As a side note, if an agent works for the seller, they get paid EXACTLY the same thing, and he didn't even negotiate a better deal for you!

3. A buyer agent reduces your hassle: without one, you will spend long hours looking through ads or online listings, making calls for showings, not getting callbacks, driving out to see houses that turn out to be not what you want, feeling awkward in other people's houses, spending time on papers, making multiple calls every day to keep things on track, dealing with lenders who need a daily 'nudge', requests for information (and knowing what information they are talking about), coordinating closing, running across town for documents, and doing everything at odd hours on weekends. (Ahhh, the pleasures of buying a home!) The buyer agent does all this and just reports the highlights to you.
The simple reality is that you will be working with an agent no matter which home you buy, whether from a private owner selling his/her house through a real estate agent who represents THEM (not you), or from a builder's representative (the agent who is in the sales office on the new home lot), who represents the BUILDER (not you). Or, you can work with an agent who looks out for YOU. Which do you prefer?

When it comes to choosing professionals to assist you with your real estate needs...Experience is Priceless! Andre' Shambley&Miami's Best REALTOR®. Team, The Keyes Company, 305-788-6643. AndreShambley@Keyes.com,
http://www.OnePlaceOpenHouse.com

Ready to refinance or looking for a better rate? For your complimentary rate quote visit Jacinta Shambley, APEX Lending, Inc. JShambley@APEXLending.com . http://www.JShambley.ApexLending.com