Real estate

Top 58. Dec 2, 2000 10:44 PM

» Happy - Points or no ponts also depends on tax treatment

Regarding a new mortgage,one thought is the deductibility of the points. If it is a new loan fully deductible in the year of the loan. If, a refinace, points must be amortized over length of loan. Can take what is left if refinace.

Because of above, I would be inclined to pay points for a new loan, but might go for zero cost on a refinance.

-- posted by Happy

Top 59. Jan 8, 2001 10:53 AM

» ampsinc - *FREE* Home Sales Prices, Market Values, Foreclosure Listings...

ONLINE REAL ESTATE RESOURCE GUIDE - 2001 EDITION
http://www.amps-inc.com
Now Available!

Free Home Sales Prices, Market Values, Foreclosure Listings and ANSWERS TO ALL YOUR REAL ESTATE QUESTIONS!

Ever wonder how much your new neighbor paid for their house? How about the owner of the home you’re considering purchasing? Maybe you’re trying to determine the market value of your own home through a sales price analysis. Whatever the reason, finding sales prices on real estate can be challenging.

Several states are non-disclosure states, which means that sales prices are not a matter of public record. Non-disclosure states include Kansas, Mississippi, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. Still, there are ways to get the information you’re after WITHOUT A REAL ESTATE AGENT! You never have to leave your home! This book will show you how.

Other topics discussed in the book include how to obtain FREE foreclosure listings, real estate sales contracts and ANSWERS TO ALL YOUR REAL ESTATE QUESTIONS!

Here are some interesting market values I found in my local area:

Rudy Tomjanovich, Houston Rockets Coach - $2,390,400
Joel Osteen, Lakewood Church Pastor - $1,265,500
Ken Bentsen, U.S. Congressman, Texas - $476,100
My Boss, IT Manager - $128,700
My Neighbor, Engineer - $110,500
My Friend, Programmer - $171,190

-- posted by ampsinc

Top 60. Apr 15, 2001 11:06 AM

» tele - Re: Down, Down in the Valley

In response to message posted by Kirk:

Sounds like the average working stiff in SF Bay Area can forget about owning a home unless they inherit it or win the lottery big. Funny thing is for me personally you'd almost have to pay me to live in either San Mateo or Santa Clara counties. Maybe that's my Marin bias showing, although I wouldn't buy a house in Marin either at current prices. Come to think of it I wouldn't do so here right now after looking at this morning's paper. Four bedroom two bath house (2000 square feet) across the street from beach just sold for 3.2 million. That sure has me scratching my head. There seem to be a lot of people with money, and many here are wealthy Europeans and South Americans. All the real estate magazines are advertising agents that speak German, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, as well as advertising in European newspapers.

-- posted by tele

Top 61. Apr 22, 2001 4:35 AM

» Q_out - Picking a city for business

Picking a City for Business -- Three Most Important Factors in the New Economy

Ask a Realtor what the three most important factors are in real estate today, and she'll tell you, "Location, location and location." Ask an internet visionary about real estate, and he'll tell you, "As long as you've got bandwidth, location doesn't matter." Neither of these cliches is a good answer. I'll give you my assessment of the three most important factors in real estate today, but first a quick look at five major U.S. cities.

New York grew early because of its deep water port and access to the interior. As the chief port of entry from Europe, it quickly grew to be the largest city in the western hemisphere. While New York City's population has now been surpassed by Mexico City, it will continue to attract business because of its status as the largest city in the U.S.

San Francisco grew because of its sheltered port on the west coast and became the chief port of entry from Asia. The bay area will continue to prosper as a trading center between the U.S. and Asia.

Miami is now our current major port of entry for the Caribbean, and by extension, Latin America. This city will continue to benefit as out trade with Latin America increases.

Chicago grew as a rail hub between eastern and western rail lines. It continued to prosper as an airline hub for United and American Airlines. American's headquarters is now in Dallas; United is moving many operations to Denver. Boeing's search for a new headquarters between Chicago, Dallas and Denver will probably be telling about Chicago's future.

Los Angeles grew up with the movie industry due to sunshine, warm weather and a proximity to a number of natural settings including ocean, beach, desert, mountain and forest environments.

The New Economy

The success of Wal-Mart as America's largest retailer headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas is an indicator of the flexibility offered by the new economy. Bentonville's only geographic advantages seem to be that it is centrally located and has access to good fishing holes. Its not even on a major interstate highway. However, despite Wal-Mart's success, there are still three important geographic factors that I expect to drive growth now and in the future.

1. Airports

While Federal Express and UPS may be able to deliver a package anywhere overnight, and meetings can be handled by teleconference rather than face-to-face, its still nice to be close to an airport. I expect most successful businesses will want to be within 45 miles of an airport with jet service to at least 4 other cities. Turboprop service to one or two locations is just not enough. Some of the fastest growing cities in the country right now, Atlanta, Kansas City, Denver and Las Vegas, all have excellent airports.

2. Interstate Highways

While the wireless internet is bringing the information superhighway anytime anywhere, the cell towers are popping up mostly along the old-fashioned superhighways. Nextel is the first to admit that it doesn't pay to try to cover all of South Dakota with digital cellular service. Plus, most goods in the new economy will continue to be shipped by truck, so it's handy to be by a regular truck route. I expect most successful businesses will want to be within 7 miles of an interstate highway interchange.

3. An Educated Workforce

The information economy requires people who are able to manipulate the information. If they can work accurately at low wages, even better. A number of credit card and insurance companies have followed Warren Buffett's lead and moved operations from New York, Wilmington and Hartford to places like Des Moines, Omaha, Minneapolis and Fargo. Why? Because high school graduates there can read, write and figure accurately for just over minimum wage. (Actually wages are climbing now that job growth has outpaced growth in the available workforce.) For more complicated jobs than credit card billing or assembling PCs, access to good colleges is important. For companies trading internationally, workers fluent in foreign languages are important.

These are the basics. Individual companies may have specific needs related to their type of business; i.e. paper companies need to be located near forests, casinos need to be in locations where gambling is legal, etc. Once these basic requirements are met, the company should look at other factors such as the cost of land, utility costs, regulatory environment, tax laws, union rules, crime rates, traffic patterns, visibility, climate and recreation.

How does your hometown rank? Are there other important factors that you think I've missed? I invite your comments.

<img src="http://www.suite101.com/files/mysites/qo..." height=24 width=24> Q_out

-- posted by Q_out

Top 62. May 7, 2001 7:28 PM

» R_Lewis - Re: Let home prices fall

In response to message posted by Kirk:
The solution to the housing problem is the San Fernando Valley solution, where single family units have become multi-family and extended-family units. The CA population will increase 25 million in 20 years according to the census bureau. Most of those people will be middle and low income. The only way they can be sheltered without destroying the environment is by increasing housing density the way most of the third world lives. Extended family living was the norm throughout most of human history. CA will be the leader in returning the US population to a normal way of living. The biggest problem will be parking spaces.

-- posted by R_Lewis

Top 63. May 9, 2001 7:48 PM

» Q_out - Boeing's Pick

In my earlier message I wrote:

Boeing's search for a new headquarters between Chicago, Dallas and Denver will probably be telling about Chicago's future.

Indications are now that Chicago leads Boeing's list of choices and an announcement may be made as early as tomorrow. Crain's Chicago Business notes in an exclusive scoop, "the aerospace giant has reserved more than a dozen hotel rooms and space at an exclusive restaurant here for Thursday evening."

Chicago office leasing agents were up until 5 am this morning with Boeing representatives working out details on a possible lease of 250,000 square feet of office space.

<img src="http://www.suite101.com/files/mysites/qo..." height=24 width=24> Q_out
DISCLAIMER: My words and observations are general in nature, and are not meant as specific investment advice. Individuals should consult with their own advisors for specific investment advice.

-- posted by Q_out

Top 64. May 10, 2001 2:04 PM

» tele - Re: Let home prices fall

In response to message posted by Kirk:

Where in Ohio is the average price for a 6700 square foot house on three acres 119K? Or was it in his hometown in Ohio the average home cost 119K and was 6700 square feet on three acres? Sounds a little suspect.

Hope home prices in CA do fall, and that the state income tax is repealed. Maybe more people would retire to CA instead of FL.

-- posted by tele

Top 65. May 10, 2001 2:35 PM

» tele - Re: Re: Re: Let home prices fall

In response to message posted by Kirk:

Ah, but they wouldn't be Floridians if they moved to California instead. And what's an extra 1500 miles? Actually true New Yorkers never leave. And why should they? New York is far and away the most interesting city in the country. I always enjoy my visits there.

-- posted by tele

Top 66. Jul 29, 2001 1:33 PM

» tele - Real Estate Still Going Strong

Brinker had a caller yesterday who sold her home in SF above the list price without a bidding war ie the person who made the first bid offered about 10 pct above list price. I just shake my head in disbelief when I see what some people get for their homes around here, and the median price continues to go up where I used to live. A friend of mine sold his parents home in Greenwich CT for 5.5 million the day it was put on the market. So real estate is still going strong in spite of the fall in the stock market averages and weaker economic performance. Are things the same all around the country, or is real estate still strong only in selected areas? Is the real estate market predicting better times ahead for the economy, or is it behind the stock market in terms of economic reality?

-- posted by tele