Vacation-home sales recovered in 2009 while investment sales fell sharply, according to the National Association of Realtors®.



NAR’s 2010 Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey, covering existing- and new-home transactions… Continue

If you're looking for real estate bargains, consider buying foreclosed property. A foreclosure takes place when a homeowner or property owner cannot pay the mortgage fees on the property and is forced to give up the land to pay back what is owed.



Here's an overview of what you'll need to do if you want to buy a foreclosed property:



Step 1: Locate properties scheduled… Continue

The plan is one of the boldest moves yet to address the plight of millions of U.S. homeowners who are "under water," owing more on their homes than they're worth.



Bank of America Corp. said it would reduce mortgage-loan balances as much as 30% for thousands of troubled borrowers, in what could presage a wider government effort to encourage banks to offer debt reduction to ease the mortgage crisis.



So far, most… Continue

Make your day a little brighter! Visit the Backyard Wealth Funnies collection for more smiles.





Share the wealth:… Continue

Homeowners who are underwater in their mortgage loans will have another option to home foreclosure beginning April 5. In this case, they can get cash for their keys.





On April 5, the U.S. Treasury Department will launch the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program… Continue

Wells Fargo & Co. has joined Bank of America Corp. as the first two banks to sign onto the federal government’s program to modify second mortgages.



Under the government’s plan, borrowers who have been extended loan modifications on first mortgages can now apply to reduce their second mortgages.



Analysts say banks have been reluctant to adopt this part of the government’s loan modification program… Continue

Click the cartoon for a larger view.





Smile More...It's good for you. Visit the Backyard Funnies Collection.







Share the wealth:… Continue

Going green is the single greatest advantage for any real estate investor in any real estate market.



According to Jim Simcoe, Green Business Strategist of Simcoe Consulting, there are 4 Main Reasons:



Bigger Pockets- Put simply, green properties sell (or rent) faster and for more money. Green properties cost less to operate (usually 30-60% less) and are more… Continue

Going green is the single greatest advantage for any real estate investor in any real estate market.



According to Jim Simcoe, Green Business Strategist of Simcoe Consulting, there are 4 Main Reasons:



Bigger Pockets- Put simply, green properties sell (or rent) faster and for more money. Green properties cost less to operate (usually 30-60% less) and are more… Continue

Legislative changes in November 2009 expanded and extended the credit and also added documentation requirements for claiming the credit. Due to increased compliance checks by the IRS, failure to submit documentation will slow down the issuance of any applicable refund.



2009 Tax Return



Because of the documentation requirements for claiming the credit, taxpayers who claim the credit on their 2009 tax return must… Continue

Embrace failure.

“With a positive mental attitude failure is a learning experience, a rung on the ladder, a plateau at which to get your thoughts in order and prepare to try again.”

- W. Clement Stone…

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The real-estate bust has stripped all the smoke and mirrors from the housing market. In the starkest way possible, it is revealing which homes hold value in a recession, and why.



Certain upgrades can help recession-proof your house, but your home's price resilience mostly depends on choices you made when you purchased. Since most homeowners buy and sell several times in their lives, you're likely to have a chance to use these bulletproof principles the next time… Continue

Real Estate leverage is the use of borrowed money to increase your profits in an investment. Building wealth via real estate requires the use of leverage.



Let's assume you have $100,000 to invest and you purchase a small income property for $100,000. Let's assume that income properties have been appreciating at an average of 7% per year. At the end of the… Continue

"The first step is to fill your life with positive faith that will help you through anything. The second is to begin where you are."

- Dr. Norman Vincent Peale…

Continue

Click the screen above to watch this quick video.



Tonja Demoff, founder of Backyard Wealth shares the real meanings of the Market Value vs. the Appraised Value of a home.



Many people believe them to be the same. Find out the truth.





Visit the… Continue

President Obama recently announced an additional $1.5 billion in homeowner aid for the areas of the country hardest-hit by declining home values. Florida, Michigan, Arizona, California and Nevada are the five states that will receive funds.



Speaking from Henderson, Nev., Obama spoke about the nation’s fiscal difficulties, and the many homeowners who have been hit by unemployment and foreclosure. According to the White House, the… Continue

Many people have been asking if they can fix their credit score themselves. There are steps, which are outlined below, that people can follow to repair their credit. However, we have found, that it is not the actual steps that are difficult, but the time and running around it takes to see any results. Most people do not have the time, patience and stamina to do what it takes.



If you would like to take on the challenge… Continue

So many people have repeatedly asked if they should get a real estate license as investors.



First, there is no "right" answer to this question. Below is a list of Pros and Cons gathered from a combination from our experiences and other opinions from real estate professionals. Based on your experience and business model as a real estate investor, it may benefit a particular group of people more than… Continue