Are you planning on moving to Wake County, NC? Well, in that case, you've come to the right place. In this article, you'll find a summary of some important information about Wake County.

Wake County Basics

Wake county is the second most densely populated county in the state, with about three quarters of a million residents. The county seat of Wake County is Raleigh, which is also the North Carolina state capital.

Wake County Politics

The voters in Wake County are Republican, but only by a very narrow margin. Of the last twelve presidential elections, Wake County voted Republican in nine of them. However, most of the election margins were only a few percent.

Business In Wake County

If you're looking for employment in the Wake County area, you have a large, healthy economy to find a job within. Wake county's largest employers are The State of North Carolina, North Carolina State University, The International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), the Wake County Public School System, Rex Healthcare (The hospital system), SAS Institute, Wake County Government, Progress Energy, and the City of Raleigh.

The median household income for Wake County is $54,988, and the median family income is $67,149. Both of those figures are from the 2000 census, so the figures may have changed slightly since then.

Wake County Real Estate

Real estate in the Wake County area can be expensive, depending on the area. The average value for owner occupied houses in the Raleigh Area was $113,560. That, of course, includes the luxury neighborhoods as well as the low income neighborhoods.

As with most localities, you can probably find a home in your price range by picking the right area. Wake county boasts everything from city living to more rural options, as you move away from Raleigh. Your Realtor can help you choose the best area of Wake County for you to buy a home in.

A home is probably the biggest investment you’re ever going to make. It’s not only a monetary investment; you’re trusting this home to hold up through the years, to be safe, and to be in a good neighborhood with good schools for your children. When buying your home, you should be working with someone you trust to meet your needs. That’s why it’s so important to find a good realtor. Here are a few steps to get you started.

The first step in choosing a good realtor is finding realtors in your area. The best way to find a realtor in your area is through referrals. Ask your friends, family, or colleagues who’ve bought or sold a home for good recommendations. If you can’t get any referrals, check with your local realtors association. You may also want to go to a few open houses. Even if you aren’t interested in that particular house, it gives you a chance to meet the realtor and decide if they might be right for you. If you’re still left with no options, you can always drive around neighborhoods you’re interested in and look at the names on signs. You could also flip through the local house listings. You may not know how good the realtor is, but you’ll still have names to work with. You could also get names from billboards and ads, but be wary of someone with ads everywhere. If a realtor is really good, they get a lot of return business and referrals. This means they shouldn’t need to advertise a lot.

Once you have a few options for realtors, you should set up interviews with each of them. If you don’t want to go to their office, set up a meeting in a coffee shop or somewhere else you’ll be comfortable. Before the interview, write down the questions you want to ask them so you know you don’t forget anything. While the questions asked depend on your preferences, it’s always good to find out if they are a licensed realtor, how much experience they have, and how familiar they are with the neighborhoods you want to live in. You should also find out their availability. If they have a lot of clients, they may take so much time getting to you about a house on the market that you lose the chance to bid on your dream home. If you have kids, make sure they’re knowledgeable about schools in the area. You should also make sure the price range your realtor specializes in matches your own.

Above all else, you want to find a realtor that you are comfortable with and who you feel understands your needs. You want someone who is working in your best interest. If you don’t feel someone understands your needs, move on to your next interview. It may take time to find someone you’re comfortable with, but if you keep looking you’re likely to find them. Good luck and happy house hunting.

Whether it’s a buyer’s market or a seller’s market, real estate is always a hot business. Sure, everyone likes a good deal, and many buyers choose to purchase a home when prices are low, but the fact is people always need places to live; that doesn’t change just because property prices are high at a particular time.

There are ways to save money when shopping for real estate that go beyond just shopping during a buyer’s market. Once you’ve figured your budget and have a general idea of what kind of home you’d like to buy, it’s time to go house hunting. This is where saving money comes into the picture.

In order to save money on real estate costs, many people opt to purchase “fixer upper” real estate. A “fixer upper” is a home that needs a lot of work; maybe new floors, new windows, even a new roof. Buyers choose a “fixer upper” not only because the price is less than that of a home that’s in move-in condition, but also because they see great potential in the home.

While it’s true that buyers can save money by purchasing “fixer upper” real estate, they can also lose money in the long run. Aside from the costs of repairs during the “fixing up,” homeowner’s insurance tends to run much higher for people whose homes aren’t in the best condition. Homeowner’s insurance isn’t usually mandatory, but if a buyer has to borrow money from a bank in order to purchase the real estate, the bank may just require the buyer to purchase homeowner’s insurance until the debt is paid off.

So, the next time you head out to purchase real estate, keep in mind that you may be required to purchase homeowner’s insurance, as well. A “fixer upper” might sound good when you’re making your offer, but it might not sound as good once you start looking for homeowner’s insurance.

When it comes to buying a house, the contract seems simple enough. It basically says that the house will be bought by certain terms, how much the seller will receive and who is paying for what.

However, there are many details that you shouldn't overlook.

When you Realtor writes your contract, it is very important that everything be correct, down to the last detail. A lot can happen if a box is checked that shouldn't be or one isn't checked that should be. If the contract isn't complete or the addendum is left out, there could be trouble in the future.

These little details could end up costing you a lot of money, or could completely ruin your contract. For example, a seller is looking for the money and the correct terms. What seems like a little item can get your offer rejected in a competitive situation.

You will want to go through the contract before it is presented to make sure that the written terms are what you are offering and agreeing to. Make sure that you pay attention to every little detail. Some of the most important items are:

1. The inspection.

There are many inspections that buyers can request. The most important is having the home go through a complete home inspection by a professional. This is usually as simple as a check in a box. Make sure that the box is checked. And if you are requesting a pest, termite or environmental inspection, make sure that you include it in the contract. Or you will probably be out of luck.

2. Various disclosures.

Many disclosures are required by law. The buyer and seller will have to sign plenty of disclosures, such as the property disclosure, lead based paint disclosure, RESPA disclosure, disclosure of brokersage relationship and many other disclosures. Make sure you understand what you are signing before you sign it.

3. Other terms of the agreement.

Some of the most common clauses added to a contract are escalation, home of choice and rent back agreements. You want to make sure that these are included. For example, if you are escalating your price, you need to put what your top price is. Don't just say that you will best any other offer by $2,500 without writing down the cap on your offer. Never assume anything.

If you aren't wanting to become homeless, you may want to stipulate in your listing agreement that you want to find a home of choice and wish to rent back from the buyer so that you have time to find your home of choice. Don't just make it an endless amount of time. Be smart, and polite, and stipulate to the buyer how much time you will need. Most purchasers are only allowed to get a mortgage and rent back for 60 days. You may be putting their loan at risk if you want to rent beyond that time period.

Don't simply read over the contract the hour before it is to be presented. Sit and read it completely. Know what it says and what it will require of you. Discuss with your Realtor exactly what you want so that you are prepared when it comes time to write that contract

There are many little lines drawn within the real estate business. Realtors understand these lines and often are the best way to contact a buyer or seller about a certain property.

Many homes sell without the buyer meeting the seller until the closing. But it isn't uncommon for buyers and sellerst ot meet each other. This is especially true in areas where there is a high volume of for sale by owners. They become acquaintances. It is often nice to know the person purchasing your beloved home.

The key to the meeting, whether you are a buyer or seller, is to keep everything flattering and lovely. Talk only about the things you adore about the property. If you are planning on remodeling, don't tell the current owner, it may offend him or her.

In fact, being personal can often get your offer accepted when mulitple offers are on the table. For example, one set of buyers wrote the sellers a letter about their love of the decor of the living room. They then sent flowers that matched the decor of the room perfectly. The sellers saw that the buyers wanted the house, appreciated the efforts made to the home and that the buyers demonstrated the desire to continue to make it a lovely home.

But being too open and friendly can blow a deal. For example, one couple went over to the home and introduced themselves to the owners about a week before the closing on the transaction. They chatted and spoke for a while about the area and the home. The sellers asked what the buyers were going to do when they moved in. The buyers answered that they were going to tear out the stair railing, fireplace surround and wainscotting from the house and replace it with something more modern.

Little did they know that the sellers had hand restored the home to its original condition using old photographs and research materials.

The buyers called their agent and backed out of the deal immediately.

The moral of the story -- if you meet the seller, keep the things you don't like to yourself. You should ask questions, but don't offer any answers. Talk about what you love about the house and don't try to offend the seller.

More than 250 homes in Michigan will be included in a mass auction, a testimony of hard times for the state and its residents.

Many Michigan homeowners have had a hard time keeping up with mortgage payments, partly due to devastating lay-offs in the auto industry. Michigan has seen a 25% increase in mortgage defaults in the last year, making it one of the hardest hit states in the country.

The homes up for auction are single-family bank-owned homes, condos and duplexes. The majority of the homes are located within 60 miles of Detroit. Prices are expected to be between $15,000 and $450,000.

Prospective bidders can go online to view the homes.

Across the country, defaults are currently on the rise. Industry experts say that the increases in interest rates, slowing appreciation and reversal of a formerly strong market has left many homeowners with little choice but to default.

Advisors have warned against many nontraditional loan options in the past few years. There are two main causes against low rate adjustable-rate mortgages and option ARMs. The first is that when the rate resets, the payment can often double in size. Many homeowners are stretching to get into the home in the first place. They find that they are unable to make the payment.

This is when the second factor comes into play. Due to the structuring of the mortgage -- where most, and with option ARMs all -- of the first years of payments go to the interest portion of the bill. Those who put little or no money down and haven't lived in the home for ten years are left with very little equity in the home. If the price hasn't had time to appreciate, they may be unable to sell the home for what they owe on it. With no money to bring to closing, they are forced to default on the mortgage.

There are many little lines drawn within the real estate business. Realtors understand these lines and often are the best way to contact a buyer or seller about a certain property.

Many homes sell without the buyer meeting the seller until the closing. But it isn't uncommon for buyers and sellerst ot meet each other. This is especially true in areas where there is a high volume of for sale by owners. They become acquaintances. It is often nice to know the person purchasing your beloved home.

The key to the meeting, whether you are a buyer or seller, is to keep everything flattering and lovely. Talk only about the things you adore about the property. If you are planning on remodeling, don't tell the current owner, it may offend him or her.

In fact, being personal can often get your offer accepted when mulitple offers are on the table. For example, one set of buyers wrote the sellers a letter about their love of the decor of the living room. They then sent flowers that matched the decor of the room perfectly. The sellers saw that the buyers wanted the house, appreciated the efforts made to the home and that the buyers demonstrated the desire to continue to make it a lovely home.

But being too open and friendly can blow a deal. For example, one couple went over to the home and introduced themselves to the owners about a week before the closing on the transaction. They chatted and spoke for a while about the area and the home. The sellers asked what the buyers were going to do when they moved in. The buyers answered that they were going to tear out the stair railing, fireplace surround and wainscotting from the house and replace it with something more modern.

Little did they know that the sellers had hand restored the home to its original condition using old photographs and research materials.

The buyers called their agent and backed out of the deal immediately.

The moral of the story -- if you meet the seller, keep the things you don't like to yourself. You should ask questions, but don't offer any answers. Talk about what you love about the house and don't try to offend the seller.

After all, there has to be a reason you are buying the house. Find it

According to the latest housing price forecasts from Fiserv Lending Solutions, a provider of mortgage and consumer lending services, prices in the Sarasota housing market will rise by 3.1% in 2006. The median price of Sarasota homes in the third quarter of 2005 was $222,000, and between the third quarter of 2004 and 2005, sales rose by 40.3%, top three in the rankings published by Fiserv. Sarasota housing market was only edged out by Phoenix and neighboring Naples in terms of the change in sales price within a one-year interval, between 2004 and 2005. Comparing this with the corresponding projection for 2005 to 2006, there is an indication of a dramatic deceleration of the market. The rates are slowing down and if conditions remain as they are at the moment, Sarasota housing market is bound to equilibrate in the years to come. Fiserv generally forecasts a significant stagnation in housing prices for the United States in 2006. Overall median home prices will only inch up by 1.5% this year. Many metropolitan areas in the United States will experience drops, including some of the largest, and most expensive, ones such as Los Angeles (down 3%), New York (down 2.43%), and Washington (down 1.9%).

Officially, the Florida Association of Realtors report that the statistics for the second quarter of 2006 showed “signs of a market adjusting to a better balance between buyers and sellers.” All over Florida, existing-home median sales price rose 9% to reach $254,800 in the second quarter; the corresponding number a year ago was $234,500. In a more recent account, Bradenton Herald reported on August 23, 2006 that existing home sales continued to tumble throughout Florida in July. Every market in the state showed a decrease in the number of homes sold as compared to last July but only Naples saw a bigger drop off in sales than the Sarasota housing market. More recent numbers released by the Florida Association of Realtors confirm that sales in Florida dropped by 49% and home prices are starting to follow suit. Housing prices fell 11% from where they had been in July 2005, where the median cost of an existing home was $338,100. The median price for July 2006 was $302,100.

In the Sarasota housing market, residential home sales were down by 39% compared to last year, with the median sales price barely moving up from $317,800 to $318,500. Condo conversions also dropped 20% in price. A most likely reason for the general decline of prices is the difficulty in selling overpriced homes in the Sarasota housing market. No amount of advertising has ever sold an overpriced property.

Derrick Barwick, senior vice president of de Morgan Communities, figures that it will take the better part of a year for inventory in the Sarasota housing market to balance with demand. But even then, the statistics will not return to the headstrong 2004-2005 levels. The National Association of Home Builders also indicated that the Sarasota housing market is likely to remain depressed for the remainder of 2006. Evidently, the Housing Market Index for August 2006 declined seven points to 32, the lowest level reached since February 1991 when the measure was at 27. Only Housing Market Index figures above 50 indicate that more builders view sales conditions as good than poor.

The National Association of Home Builders has been doing the survey for 21 years. It weighs the perception of builders with regards to sales expectations for the next six months as either “good,” “fair” or “poor.” Corresponding scores for each component are then utilized to extract the Housing Market Index. For the Sarasota housing market, all three components fell in August.

Rich in natural beauty, Austin is a popular tourist destination and a great place to live. It offers a wide selection of economical to expensive luxury apartments for rent, lease, and sale in a variety of neighborhoods.

Set against the backdrop of beautiful landscapes with hill views, the condominiums, town homes, and duplex luxury apartments are designed to meet varying lifestyles and tastes. Austin luxury apartments engage twenty-first century concepts, spacious floor plans, and an ecologically compatible environment to foster physical, mental, and spiritual well being. Every apartment has a fully equipped kitchen, unique living space, and spacious dining area. Some have Berber carpet, a Roman soaking tub, Texas-size walk-in closets, built-in bookshelves and desks, washer/dryer connections, a utility room, and French patio doors leading to a private garden or balcony.

Common facilities include a sports park and clubhouse with lighted tennis and volleyball courts; professional, multi-level putting greens, big-screen TV and billiards room; computer and Internet access; fitness center with aerobics classes; indoor and outdoor games; parking spaces; a swimming pool and spa. Celebrations such as birthdays or anniversaries, business meetings, and conferences may also be held.

Many Austin luxury apartments have a serene atmosphere, ideal for senior citizens. Independent living and assisted-living luxury apartments are also available. Independent gated villages are interconnected with a series of greenbelts, parks, and lit pathways as well as hike and bike trails.

Information about Austin luxury apartments may be obtained from professional apartment locators, realtors, or real estate agents. Many online sites also assist in buying, leasing, and renting apartments.

The Do Not Call List has changed the way real estate agents can and will do business forever. After all, 76% of US adults have added their name to the list. The dirty little secret...it does not matter! The Do Not Call List does not mean that you can't still get solid qualified leads. There are a lot of real estate trainers out there claiming to have the answers, a sure fire way to beat "The List" and the next be all, end all real estate marketing program to have people beating down your doors to do business with you. The ads for these programs usually include a lot of hype and testimonials by agents who have increased their business by 200% and then at the end hit you with the big price tag. But where are the real numbers and hard facts behind the hype? Who really knows if those programs are going to lead you to the path of success? I certainly don't. But here is what I do know.

The biggest obstacle to a real estate agents next commission, and their long term success, is finding qualified leads. You know that if you could just get the leads, you could close the deals. But most agents are at a loss once they exhaust their list of family, friends and sphere of influence. And with 3 out of 4 prospects off limits, cold calling becomes more like walking a mine field than trying to drum up business. That is why the turn-over rate for new agents in real estate is over 50% per year So how do the successful 50% find qualified leads? Well for one thing they do not passively look for leads, they actively generate them. Many successful agents have turned to toll free number call capture technology to generate leads without the risk of an $11,000 fine. When you look at the numbers, it is easy to see why it works.

83% Of Americans Want Recorded Information
According to a Gallup Poll, 83% of Americans would rather call for recorded information before speaking to a salesperson. Give the public what they want. A toll free number call capture system allows real estate agents to offer free recorded information about properties, free reports for buyers and sellers or any other information they would like to make available to their prospects. Once the potential clients call in, their name, address and phone number are captured for the agent to follow up on. Since the prospect called into the toll free number to request information, the agent is free to call them back for up to 3 months (unless the consumer requests not to be called.)

32.7% Will Buy or List Within 30-60 Days
A survey of over 25,000 prospects who called for recorded information showed 32.7% of them bought or listed a property within 30-60 days after calling. An additional 42.1% acted within twelve months. I have not heard of any other form of marketing that can tout those kinds of numbers of quality leads. A toll free number call capture system generates quality, actionable leads. And the best part? They called you. Agents who have these kinds of quality leads, calling them 24/7, could care less about the Do Not Call List.

74% Will Do Business With YOU.
According to NAR, 74% of the people that complete a real estate transaction do so with the FIRST agent they talked to. That being the case, it is in an agent's best interest to make sure they are the first ones to reach the prospect. A call capture system makes this easy to do. Once the potential client calls in, all the information is available to the agent; name, address, phone number, and in the better systems, even what information extension they called in on. With that kind of information at their fingertips, an agent is empowered with everything that they need to get back to the consumer in a timely fashion and with confidence.

Everyone in the real estate industry knows that the Do Not Call List has completely changed the way agents do business. But some have found that by using call capture technology, they can generate even more quality leads than they ever did with cold calling. The technology gives consumers what they want by allowing them to call in for free recorded information and generates quality, actionable leads that agents can follow up on quickly and with confidence. And in spite of the Do Not Call List, agents are finding it actually easier to do business using call capture. If you want to know how that is possible, just look at the numbers and then check out call capture technology for yourself.

Set amidst the backdrop of hills and rivers, Austin is rich in natural beauty and history. Austin, the capital city of Texas, is a popular destination for both business and education and is an ideal place to stay. The city offers a wide range of comfortable apartments including condos, town homes, and duplexes. Austin apartments are available for both rent and sale. One of the important factors that must be considered while selecting an apartment is its rating. Most apartment ratings are based on the experience of the renters who have lived in these apartments. Austin apartment ratings also help apartment owners to improve the quality of their properties.

Apartment management is a key factor in Austin apartment ratings, and proper management will keep an apartment fully functional. Apartment management has to look into factors such as cleaning, repair, and renovation, as well as the maintenance of swimming pools, gardens, and clubs. For a comfortable stay in an apartment, proper and effective management is a must. A high management rating gives confidence to a prospective buyer.

Some of the other basic factors that are considered by tenants when determining ratings are parking space, safety, appearance, maintenance, unit condition, and noise. An apartment with good unit condition rating will have safe and habitable units, and it will also have a good appearance. As the crime rate in the city has considerably increased, the security and safety of the residents are major problems. So, it becomes the responsibility of the apartment owner to provide proper security and safety to the people residing in the apartment.

Today, one of the main issues faced by the apartment dwellers is the maintenance problem. In most of the apartments, maintenances are included in the rent; it is the duty of the apartment owner to provide appropriate maintenance to each unit. Nowadays, there are many online sites that provide information about Austin apartment ratings. However, be cautious of the sites as some sites provide incorrect ratings.

London land for sale prices are set for quantum leap on the back of rising demand due to upcoming London Olympics.

Many land agents have suggested that the price of land in London could rise soon. According to Dan McLeod of estate agency Atkinson McLeod "Almost overnight any land that can be developed will go." "This is the best news for the property market in this area for years," he added.

This price rise in consonance with rise in land for sale prices during Olympics in cities which have hosted this game earlier.

According to BBC Barcelona, Sydney and Athens all saw house prices rise by more than 50% in the five years before the games but as UK property market is already suffering from severe housing shortage thus trend is expected to be more marked in London.

Investment in land for sale market in and around London is thus becoming an increasingly lucrative option for common investors.

Following types of plots of land for sale are available across London -

Brownfield Land: Brownfield Land is the common term used for previously developed land i.e. land that is or was occupied by a permanent structure. This land is often smaller, resulting in High Rise Development e.g. old petrol station and factories.

Greenfield Land: Greenfield Land simply refers to land that has never been used for development eg Farmland.

Greenbelt Land: Greenbelt Land is largely undeveloped or sparsely occupied land, which historically has been set aside to contain development, prevent towns merging and provide open space. Greenbelt boundaries can change in response to the requirements for additional housing in a controlled manner.

There are a number of companies serving smaller investors select plots of land to buy, and investments typically start at about $10,000.

While there is some opposition against moves to grant planning permission to builders on greenbelt and greenfield land but keeping in view the acute mismatch between expected demand for housing and the amount of land available for planned development these moves are unlikely to succeed. Government is implementing housing development programs which will effectively force local authorities to meet strict new housing targets.

Thus it is high time for any enterprising investors to start thinking about investing in property in and around London.

A mortgage is a mortgage is a mortgage. NOT! Not only do mortgages differ between lenders, but they also differ greatly by the lenders, themselves. There are two types of real estate originators — brokers and loan officers.

Brokers generally are self-employed professionals, who work to secure a real estate loan for you. They work through a variety of lenders and earn a fee for the transaction. Most of the mortgage lenders who advertise on the Internet are brokers.

Loan officers are employees of a bank, credit union, or other lending institution, such as a mortgage company. They sell and process mortgages and other loans only for their employers. They are usually local and in a physical location.

There are advantages and disadvantages in using both brokers and loan officers for your real estate purchase, so you need to shop for the one that is right for you and your particular circumstance.

Brokers

The advantages to using a mortgage broker for your real estate purchase are many. Usually, the better deal they get for you, the buyer, the more they are paid on the transaction — a big plus for you. If your local bank, mortgage company, or credit union has refused you a loan, a mortgage broker may be able to find a lender, even if you have bad credit — just expect to pay a higher interest rate. If your real estate is unique or commercial property, using a mortgage broker to secure a loan is at times easier and faster.

One downside of using a mortgage broker is that your mortgage loan will be sold to another lender immediately after closing. Another is that brokers choose to do either non-conforming loans, which are higher risk and usually higher interest rates, or conforming loans. This limits your loan options. Brokers do not have to disclose a “good faith” estimate on what closing costs will be, nor are they regulated by the Fair Credit Act. Additionally, they seldom have a physical office with employees offering you face-to-face customer service, and they generally are in another town or state than where your real estate is located. This means they may not understand the local market in which you purchased your real estate. Important issues may arise from the real estate classifications and terms used by your appraiser, for example.

Loan Officers

Though loan officers offer a variety in the types of loans available, you are limited to only those products offered by one institution. Usually a local institution, the loan officer will be familiar with all local regulations and issues will not arise over lack of knowledge in local market terminology.

Banks and Mortgage Companies

Bank and mortgage company loan officers will give you face-to-face customer services, at least before the closing. Like brokers, banks have the option of selling real estate loans on the secondary market. Some banks sell only low-end mortgages or those that require too much servicing with little return. Some sell the loan but keep the servicing portion, making it appear that your mortgage continues to be owned by the bank or mortgage company. They are required, however, to tell you during the initial paperwork if your mortgage may be sold. I suggest you ask before you ever get to that point, if this is a deal breaker for you.

Bank and mortgage company loan officers are licensed and must meet certain criteria. They have more criteria that you must meet, as well, in order to secure a loan (banks usually require the most). Many real estate buyers are refused mortgage loans by these institutions. Both banks and mortgage companies generally do offer better rates and terms. They also must disclose a good faith estimate on what closing costs will be, and they are regulated and audited under the Fair Credit Act.

Credit Unions

You must be a member of a credit union to apply for a loan with them. Many credit unions do not offer real estate loans. The major advantage of securing a loan from a credit union is that they pass on only actual costs of the loan to you — no broker fees or commissions. They also never sell their loans on the secondary market, they always are local, and give you continuing face-to-face customer service.

What to Do

The time to begin looking for a mortgage lender is before you begin looking at real estate. Ask family and friends for referrals, as well as their experience with the real estate lender. Ask your real estate agent for referrals. Then, contact each prospective lender and ask questions — lots of questions! Compare interest rates, terms, after the closing mortgage sale policies, and what criteria do they require that you meet in order to qualify for a real estate loan.

If you are a residential real estate buyer, consider getting pre-approved for a loan. You will know exactly what you can afford to buy, which usually turns out to be much more than you expect.

Spend as much time shopping for a mortgage lender as you will for your real estate. The deal you get can save or cost you thousands or even millions over the life of the mortgage. Get the best deal possible, as well as the right lender for your real estate purchase.

You've decided that you want to get your real estate license. You've heard of a broker license too. What is the difference between these two real estate professions? Unless you've been involved in a real estate transaction or are familiar with the careers, you might not know the exact differences.

If you want to pursue your real estate license, you should thoroughly understand the similarities and differences.

All states require that real estate sales professionals, including salespersons and brokers, be licensed by that state. Brokers will generally be required to complete more real estate education and experience than a salesperson.

A real estate agent is usually an independent contractor who provides his or her services to a licensed real estate broker on a contract basis. In return, the real estate broker pays the salesperson a portion of the commission earned from the agent's sale of the property.

Real Estate Salesperson - An individual who can show property for sale on behalf of a seller, but who may not have a license to transact the sale and collect the sales commission.

* Assist sellers in marketing their property and selling it for the highest price.
* Assist buyers in purchasing suitable property for the best possible price.
* Acts as an intermediary between the buyer and seller.

Real Estate Broker - A person licensed by his or her particular state to charge a fee for bringing a buyer and a seller together to purchase real estate.

* Assist sellers in marketing their property and selling it for the highest price.
* Assist buyers in purchasing suitable property for the best possible price.
* Acts as an intermediary between the buyer and seller.
* Buys and sells real estate for a company or individual on a commission basis.

Real estate salespersons and brokers perform many of the same duties including: obtaining listings, determining sales price; showing properties; assisting with financing; selling property; overseeing inspections, and more.

The state examination, which is more comprehensive for a real estate broker than an agent, includes questions on real estate transactions and laws affecting the sale of property. Most states require that a real estate salesperson complete between 30 and 90 hours of instruction. A real estate broker needs between 60 and 90 hours of real estate education and a specific amount of experience selling real estate (usually 1 to 3 years)

Real Estate prices have been galloping in India over the last few years.

Since 2003 prices in Bangalore have been steadily rising upwards. Property purchased at 400Rs per sq feet has risen to 1800-2000Rs per sq feet within a few years. This is a 400-500% increase in price. Similarly for Noida. A plot for constructing an independent house is not available in Noida today for less than a crore . Why does all this make Pune property attractive?

Pune has been in the Real Estate news for a little over a year. So it's essentially been overlooked vis-a-vis hot IT markets like Bangalore and Noida. Real estate prices are still realistic in Pune. In the Eastern suburbs, you can still buy plots in Kondhva for about 600 Rs. Builders like Nyati, Cloud 9, Clover Village are the major sellers for plots and row houses in this area.

In the Western Suburbs Hinjewadi is the place where all the Real Estate action is happening. This is mainly because of the IT Park situated here. IT majors Infosys, Wipro, Cognizant are already there. New players have been coming in every month. This has resulted in a boom for rental accommodation in this area and also surrounding areas like Aundh, Baner, Bhugaon, Pune University.

A definite lower cost of living, fantastic weather, a small insular city which makes travelling easy, an extremely young upbeat crowd all add to the Pune charm. Pune is just a 3 hours drive over the expressway to Bombay and is well connected by air, road and rail. IT companies are moving to Pune since it's being seen as an extremely 'livable' city. The best property all over India