Scottsdale Arizona, is internationally renowned as a major resort destination despite barely squeaking into the top 100 of U.S. cities in terms of population. No Virginia, size is not everything.

Although its nickname is "the West"s Most Western Town" I have to say that really is a misnomer. In fact, construction of new horse corrals was all but banned back in the 70's. Call me old fashioned but to be "Western" I think horses should factor into the equation somewhere. The only re-shoeing going on in Scottsdale today is a trophy-wife exchanging her Blahnicks for Jimmy Choos!

That being said, Scottsdale truly is a treasure. It has been written that in terms of entertainment and culture, Scottsdale ranks at #3 behind Los Angeles and New York. As someone who has lived, at length, in all three places, I have to say that Scottsdale is most definitely on the ascendancy; indeed it may already have surpassed L.A., in this humble scribe's opinion. Certainly, theatre, dining and entertainment are L.A.'s equal, but housing costs are much lower, and the traffic here in Scottsdale is a breeze compared to the grid-lock that L.A. has become.

It is also the reason that many wealthy people, and in fact several celebrities, have chose Scottsdale for their second home. Spectacular estate homes in Scottsdale are available for a fraction of the cost of comparable homes in LaLa land. Of course, many are of new construction with all the attendant modern conveniences that would be expensive retrofits in Los Angeles. Plus we still have abundant land available here in Scottsdale, a situation not available in L.A. for many years.

Scottsdale is also well served by its own airport as well as Phoenix International Sky Harbor Airport just minutes away. Of course, the northernmost boundary of Scottsdale abuts Carefree,(which also has its own airport) even so it is still a scant 30 minute drive to downtown Phoenix.

Believe it or not, when the town of Scottsdale was incorporated in 1951 it was just one square mile. Today, it covers around 184 square miles.

As testament to its status as one of the premier golf and tourist destinations in the world, Scottsdale is home to the annual FBR Open Golf Tour, the most attended PGA event on the tour.

It is also home to the world famous Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction, plus a host of lesser auctions staged at the same time, such as Russo and Steele and Kruse.

While it is true that it can be an expensive place to live, it should be remembered that the older parts are quite affordable and are enjoying something of a renaissance. One of the benefits of the cooling real estate market, is that for some who felt the ship had sailed forever in 2004 and 2005, there is a second chance to grab a piece of the dream.

Whether your interest is cars, horses, museums, art, theatre, entertainment, shopping, nightlife or golf, there is something for everyone in Scottsdale, Arizona.

After years of hyper appreciation, the last 18 months has seen a major cool down in the real estate market. Given this change in direction, will real estate prices rebound?

Well, of course they will. Real estate has always been viewed as a good long-term investment. Nothing has occurred that changes that basic assumption. The short-term situation is a bit rocky, but it is only because we are going through a correction after watching the real estate bubble expand and expand for six years. Predictably, the air is coming out of the bubble, but at least it did not burst.

The more relevant question for people in the real estate market is not whether prices will rebound, but when? Ah, here we enter the realm of the mystic. The Harry Potter of real estate if you will.

The bold faith truth is nobody has a clue when they will rebound. On the positive side, we are starting to see things even out a bit across much of the country. On the negative side, financing for real estate purchase is tightening up as lender begin to realize they probably should not be giving money out like candy on Halloween. In the case of subprime lenders, the game is up for many of them and bankruptcy court looms.

At its financial heart, the real estate market is just a product market. Many people fail to take this into account when sizing up real estate opportunities. A home is a place you live in and raise a family. When it comes time to buy or sell, however, it is really no different than buying or selling a car. Yes, you had some good times with it, but now it something to be moved.

If you can wrap you mind around the idea a home is a product, you have a better chance of predicting when prices will rebound. Why? Well, it all comes down to inventory. When there is more inventory than demand, prices drop. When demand out paces inventory, prices go up.

At the moment, there is an absolute ton of inventory on the market and only modest demand. During the booming real estate market, developers where building homes as fast as they could. As the market cooled off, developers kept building like there was no problem. This has resulted in a glut of properties in most cities and high population areas. Developers are now offering very attractive deals to move the homes, but the market will not rebound till most of these are gone.

It is important to understand that inventory is important, but the number of houses sold is less so. If you see reports that the number of homes being sold is picking up, it is good news. That being said, it may not be great news. Such reports can be misleading because they do not take into account the reason a home is sold. If more homes are being moved because sellers are cutting prices, it does not mean that prices are on the rise again.

Will home prices rise again? Of course. You just need to be patient and watch the inventory.

CREDIT AND ITS IMPACT ON INVESTMENT LOANS

The status of your credit plays a major role in helping you to obtain commercial real estate financing. It helps to determine how much financing for which you will qualify and what kind of an interest rate you will get on the loan. Unfortunately, most people do not pay attention to or monitor their credit files on a regular basis. If you are going to invest in real estate, this is an absolute “must.” What is good credit?

Good credit for a commercial real estate investor usually means about twelve to fifteen “trade lines” of seasoned credit in a credit report, with several real estate loans either showing as active or having been paid off successfully. For example, car loans, current mortgages, and charge cards which are at least two years old and show no late payments. Again, for real estate investors, successful maintenance of real estate loans is a “must.”

Now granted, not everyone is perfect (in fact, very few are!) and we all have our ups and downs, so don’t be worried if you have a few 30-day late payments or some old collection accounts on your credit report. Today, credit reporting systems use a complex method of evaluating credit patterns which is distilled into and issued as a “credit score.” The higher the number, the less risk there is that a borrower is likely to “default” on a loan.

While this process, called “credit scoring,” is in full use for residential loans, the commercial lenders are only now starting to adopt it. There is a trend to use them by certain non-bank lenders for loans less than $2,000,000 or so.

Most underwriters (the people who would approve your loan) and underwriting systems that review your track record are looking for trends. In other words, they’re looking for a history or recent pattern of good or bad credit. Isolated incidents should not affect your ability to get a loan.

How Can You Repair Your Credit?

In most cases, a simple letter or phone call to the credit card company or business that originally gave you the “credit” can put you on the right track to having that “scar” removed from your report. It may not even be necessary though, based upon your recent credit patterns!

Sometimes they’ll require you to pay-off the balance of your debt or send in a letter explaining why you were late with your payment. Don’t pay any creditor off without talking to a qualified professional financial advisor or mortgage consultant first!

However, if you have a history of recent late payments, you’re probably going to have to let time take its course (although there might be trick or two here you can use).

There are a million scenarios I could review, but I think it’s important you walk-away with two key thoughts from this: 1) Your credit can make or break your ability to acquire a loan; and 2) you must know what is on your credit report, your credit score, and begin to examine and, if necessary, repair any credit problems immediately.

What Role Does Your Investment History Play?

Your investment property loan history or “track record” will play an important role in whether or not a lender will want to finance your next property. Investment properties, and their respective loans, are often looked upon as a higher credit risk than if you were buying your own home. So, if you have a proven track record of successfully selling or managing investment properties loans, with no late payments, then you are more likely to get your loan approved.

The bottom line is that “credit” or, more accurately, “credit history” is a major determinant in your ability to finance commercial real estate. Pay close attention to this area of your finances if you intend to be an active investor and manage your credit as you would one of your properties: Actively.

Before you hold an open house, it is wise to discuss with your real estate agent what you should expect from an open house. Some agents feel that the purpose of a virtual tour is to give a potential buyer the opportunity to tour the home on line instead of visiting it in person. Clearly for any potential buyer visiting your home in person is much more helpful. I have seen more buyers either express their disappointment or their surprise when they find what the virtual tour didn’t expose.

In today’s market sellers often feel that every possible approach to gaining exposure for their home should be exhausted, including open houses. I believe that there are certain advantages to having a public open house.

If you decide to host an open house, here are some tips to make it worth your time:

If you are going to host an open house, advertise it during the week leading up to the day. There is an exception to this rule. If a buyer has visited your home on a Thursday with his agent and has decided it is one he may want to consider, a last minute decision to host open house that weekend may give him reason to make an offer on your home fearing that he could lose the opportunity should someone else come along. Even if the open house has not been advertised in the local paper, your agent can put it into the MLS and the interested buyer’s agent will surely let them know about it. As well, any interested buyer will likely drive through the neighborhood while they contemplate making an offer on your home.

Be flexible for the very likely possibility that a nosy neighbor will visit the home. While the chances are not great that they are looking on behalf of someone they know, it is possible. Having a sign-in sheet might keep those who are less bold from coming into your home. A sign-in sheet is a good idea anyway because any feedback is good and your agent can call the visitors to see what they thought, assuming they entered correct information on the sign-in sheet. Again, set your expectations accordingly.

Condensing your open house time to an hour and a half or two hours has its benefits. Obviously, you aren’t as inconvenienced. If a potential buyer has read the ad and is interested, they will make time to visit the home. There is also a better chance that more than one visitor will be there at the same time which could make the home appear more appealing and create a sense of urgency. There is nothing etched in stone that says an open house has to be from 1-4.

If you are looking to buy a home, there are hundreds of properties in the Plano Texas real estate listings. The problem is that there are almost as many real estate companies in Plano Texas as there are listings and choosing the right company can be difficult.

Whether you are buying or selling, choosing the right Realtor® can save you time and money. In fact, choosing a Realtor® rather than the average real estate agent can make all the difference in the world. The designation is further explained below. Looking at certifications and experience, as well as asking the right questions can help, as well.

Plano Texas real estate is in high demand. On a list compiled by Money magazine of the best places to live in the United States, Plano ranked number 11 in 2006. It has been designated as the most affluent city in the United States, with the lowest poverty rate for a city of its size, and the city enjoys a very low unemployment rate.

With more than 25 different major corporations headquartered in Plano, including Triad Hospitals, Texas Instruments, JC Penney and Frito-lay, most residents find that they can live and work in the same city. But, for those who work in Dallas, Plano offers the Red Line, part of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) public transportation system, with stations downtown and at Parker Road.

Appealing homes in the Plano Texas real estate listings cover a wide variety of architectural styles and price ranges. From multi-million dollar mansions to modest town homes, the Plano Texas real estate market caters to people in many different income brackets.

Easy commutes, major employers and beautiful homes are just some of the reasons for the large number of real estate companies in Plano Texas. Outdoor activities, public amenities, museums, petting zoos, good schools, a major University and an active night life round out the Plano experience and keep the Plano Texas real estate market popular.

The best real estate companies in Plano Texas should ask you about more than your price range. They should try to help you find your “dream home” if you are buying. If you are selling they should be able to help you get the best price in the shortest possible time, with the least amount of hassle.

They should be familiar with the neighborhoods, the schools and nearby activities. If you are selling, ask them how they will determine the asking price. A Comparative Market Analysis or CMA will show the market value of similar homes in your area and is one of the best tools for setting a price.

If you are buying Plano Texas real estate, find out what the agent knows about the area. You may want a home close to the world famous Southfork Ranch, which offers public tours of the property used as the setting for the Dallas TV series.

You might want to be near the Heritage Farmstead instead, where history “comes to life”. You might want to be near the Arts Center. You may want playgrounds and parks for the kids. You might want to be down the street from Billy Bob’s Texas, a country music honky-tonk, recognized by the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music as the best country music nightclub in the world.

Whatever your interests, if you want to find the best piece of Plano Texas real estate for you, then you want a Realtor® that is concerned about your interests and desires.

One way to filter through the real estate companies in Plano Texas, or the surrounding area, is to look for a Realtor®. You may think that all real estate agents are Realtors®, as the names have come to be used interchangeably, but those who display a sign designating them as a Realtor® are members of the National Association of Realtors®.

While both real estate agents and Realtors® are licensed to negotiate and transact a sale, Realtors® are experts in the real estate industry. They are well educated professionals with more experience and expertise than the average real estate agent. The designation separates and sets them above the rest.

Many of the agents who work for real estate companies in Plano Texas and the other Dallas suburbs work limited hours. You should know how easy it will be for you to get in touch with your agent, when to expect a phone call and when to expect results.

Look for a Web-savvy Realtor to get your home sold fast and for the best price! Virtual tours and videos are a MUST on the web! Did you know that 80% of the people start their home search on the Internet?

Internet presence is the main marketing tool to get your home sold fast and for the highest price. In the days before the Internet, most people used newspaper ads, Realtor caravans and open houses. But the Internet has changed product marketing, and real estate is no exception!

Did you know that only 5% of the homes for sale are advertised in the paper? Savvy home buyers don’t typically shop for homes this way anymore, and Realtor caravans are also a thing of the past. Why would a busy Realtor drive from home to home on caravan when they can see dozens of properties online in the same amount of time? If you see a group of Realtors munching on goodies at a caravan, chances are good that they don’t have much else to do. The Realtors that are hungry for business are out in the field working hard for their clients. Another type of marketing, the open house, has dropped drastically in effectiveness, too, since the advent of virtual tours and Internet marketing. Why would you leave the comfort of your home or office to drive from house to house, maybe in miserable weather, facing road construction, paying the high price of gas, when you can view listing on the Internet?

When you interview Realtors whose marketing plan is newspaper ads, Realtor caravans and open houses, take the time to shop around. Marketing that requires no cost and no particular skill, and very little effort other than sitting in your home, died with the dinosaurs. Any Realtor who takes the sale of your home seriously knows the effectiveness of using today’s technology to do the best possible job they can for you. Check out www.realtor.com to see this great technology at work. You have the option to see all listings, or only those with virtual tours and/or extra pictures. Most buyers click through those homes with no virtual tour or interior pictures. It’s interesting that even though statistics show 70% of home buyers search on realtor.com, less than 50% of homes on that site have virtual tours. The Realtors submitting those listings without virtual tours are not doing the best job marketing their seller’s homes!

Panama has increasingly become one of the talked about places to see in the international spectrum. With a plethora of opportunities, a gorgeous climate, and the ability to navigate throughout the entire country in one day, Panama has many unique attributes that bring many foreigners each year to look, work, and play.

Many people choose to enjoy Panama’s splendor on more of a permanent basis and decide to retire in Panama. With a multitude of activities to participate in, a Panama retirement appeals to a potpourri of different individuals. Also, there is a large variety of retirement real estate available to give potential retirees a place to call home.

Retirement real estate can range in a number of different ways. Homes can be custom built, or potential buyers may choose to live in an up and coming luxury condo complex in an area like Panama City.

Retirement real estate is dispersed throughout the country. The Caribbean and the Pacific alike both have many areas that are beginning to be inhabited by more and more foreign retirees. Areas like Panama City and or Bocas del Toro, a Caribbean city, are a few examples of areas with prominent collections of retirement real estate.

People choose Panama for various reasons. Some people just enjoy the incredible vistas, the moderate climate, or the many investment opportunities. Others move to Panama in an attempt to follow their passions. These passions can differ for many. Some may enjoy the incredible Panama surfing, whereas others may enjoy to scuba dive. There are certain realtors that specialize in finding retirement real estate to match the retirees’ interests in this regard.

One of the most prominent activities that draws thousands of people annually to Panama is Panama fishing. Panama fishing consistently ranks as the worlds best, similarly to Panama’s neighboring country of Costa Rica. A variety of sport fish can be caught, and charters can be customized to suit few to many. Many people move to Panama specifically for Panama fishing.

Some examples of the fish that may be caught while partaking in Panama fishing include black marlin, sailfish, tuna, grouper, and dorado, among others. Panama fishing in both seas as well as the various freshwater locations within Panama drives anglers wild.

There is even a large quantity of retirement real estate specifically designed for Panama fishing. Many who partake in Panama fishing find that charter prices can mount quickly into a small fortune, and often choose to purchase their own boat and other fishing equipment. Fishing real estate is common, with the option for docks on the water or near area marinas..

Retirement real estate in Panama comes in all shapes and sizes. The potential retiree living in the U.S., Canada, or Europe has quite a few options regarding where to live, and what to do. Whether Panama fishing is your interest, or you’d prefer to simply kick back and relax, Panama’s variety most certainly has something for you.

Let me tell you, Contractors are the BOMB! This statement can go either way. I love contractors because they make me lots of money. They also provide me with my free entertainment. However, you have to know how to control them. Not like their are a bunch of screaming kids or anything. You just need to let them know who is running the show. Who is the Chief in Command? You are and don't forget it!

You also want to be sure you do your homework on the front end before signing on the dotted line with them to be sure you have made the right choice. Trust me there are lots to choose from and you should always check references and go inspect at least 3 jobs they have completed in the past 120 days. If they don't have jobs for you to inspect pick up the shattered pieces in your life and move on to the next contractor. Don't even entertain the idea of hiring a contractor that just started in the business. Make sure they have at least 3-5 years experience in their trade. Hiring an electrician right out of school is bad news bears. Trust me I know you'll be tempted. I was and have paid dearly for it.

Learn from my mistakes. I usually call my Renovate Your Success (TM) educational training system a collection of my mistakes. Only because I will show you everything I did wrong when I first started in the rehabbing business and everything you need to try to avoid them. These types of mistakes cost me thousands and thousands of dollars. Rehabbing is so simple and very very rewarding. I have dedicated my Renovate Your Success system to those of you out there ready to begin your journey toward financial freedom. It's not just education on rehabbing - I will teach you and give you the tools on how to take the education and turn it into Your Success!

Mandy Sheckles is the founder and President of The Wealth Corp. Her company offers Property Rehabbing Education to students around the country. In just eight years, she went from flat broke to being a real estate millionaire.

She is the author of "Renovate Your Success" and the creator of The Rehab Manager, a web-based software application designed to streamline your rehabbing business.

Why save the sun, sand and surf for your vacation? Port Richey offers the best features of Florida’s vacation land in a small, comfortable community that’s perfect for your everyday life. Located on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Port Richey is home to about 4,000 lucky residents who enjoy 240 sunny days a year on white sand beaches that are convenient to popular attractions, excellent shopping, fine dining and cultural and sporting events.

Port Richey, best known as a bustling community for retirees, offers something for everyone, from young families to professionals. There are housing styles to suit any lifestyle including single family homes, condominium communities and townhouses. Many of the homes in the area feature waterfront access for boating, fishing and swimming. The Gulf view from Port Richey is a stunning backdrop for breakfast on your terrace or the view from your living room window.

Like most of the Florida Central Gulf Coast, the Port Richey real estate market has been affected by the recent slump in home sales. The slowdown in sales after five years of rising prices has combined with low interest rates and an abundance of properties on the market to turn Port Richey into a buyer’s market. Prices for newly listed homes in Port Richey are surprisingly affordable, especially when you consider Pasco County’s status as one of the nation’s fastest growing communities.

Whether your idea of a weekend in paradise includes a round of golf at the local club, a waterfront stroll along a quaint main street with craft shops and art galleries, or dinner at a world class restaurant, you’ll find it within an easy distance of Port Richey. Even sports enthusiasts will get their fill of professional sports with pro football, baseball and hockey teams competing throughout the year. If your sporting tends toward personal play, there’s scuba diving, hiking, parasailing, swimming and a wide variety of other activities to enjoy under the sun off the coast or on the canal leading to the Gulf. Now is the time to come home to Florida’s Gateway to the Tropics with a vacation or primary home in the friendliest town on the coast. Come home to Port Richey. The sun is waiting for you.

To buy a house, you make a small down payment (usually up to 20% of the value of the house), then you look for the rest of the money from a lender (a mortgage). If you are not careful, you could end up making costly mistakes. There are some things that you could do before even applying for a mortgage to ensure that the biggest debt of your life does not end up being the cause of your death.

The first tip is to fix your credit, if necessary, before applying for a mortgage. Obtain copies of your credit report from all three of the credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax, and Trans Union) long before ever applying for a mortgage loan. By law, each CRA has to give you a free copy of your credit report once a year if you ask for it. Look through your report and make sure that it does not have any erroneous entries. Sometimes similar names can get mixed up, such as John S. Smith's credit information getting put onto the credit report of his son, John S. Smith Jr. Other times there is really no concrete explanation for an error; it just simply happens. You should also obtain your FICO score, which is a three digit number that rates your credit worthiness and is used in more than 70% of mortgage-lending decisions. Obtaining your credit history and score at least six months before applying for a mortgage will give you enough time to challenge any erroneous entries, and also to work on improving the legitimate entries.

Once you've fixed your credit, you need to find out how much interest is being charged on mortgages for a people with similar credit ratings to yours. MyFico.com usually publishes this kind of information regularly. Armed with this knowledge, you'll be able to choose your mortgage lender wisely, so that you avoid being charged much more interest than you should.

When looking for your mortgage lender, look for first-time home buyers' programs, which normally offer better interest rates. If you do not qualify for these loans, you should make sure that the lender that you finally choose has a good reputation, is preferably an ‘A' lender, and does not have any prepayment penalties or any junk fees. Make sure that you discuss with your lender all the fees you should expect to pay, and ask them to clarify if there are any costs that you do not understand; these could very well be junk fees that you do not want to have thrown on you!

Closing costs can lower the amount of money you have at your disposal to make your down payment. Make sure that you therefore plan for the closing costs, which would usually be about 1 to 8% of the cost of the house. This way, you will not get shocked towards the end of the house buying process, when you realize that you will not have any money left over in your savings once you sign on the dotted line.

When establishing your budget, make sure that you will have some money left over in your savings to handle aspects like moving house, basic repairs, emergencies, and even your monthly mortgage payments for at least three months after finalizing your purchase. This will remarkably reduce the amount of stress that you will face after dealing with the closing costs.

Lenders will usually be willing to lend you up to 33% of your gross income towards your mortgage. However, you need to remember that home ownership is expensive. As a home owner, you have to make your mortgage payments regularly, together with property taxes, home owners insurance, bills and utility payments, and maintenance and repairs. Factor all these aspects into your budget when deciding on how much mortgage to get, so that you don't overextend yourself. Also remember that you will still have to deal with all your other obligations, as well as any emergencies that may come up. Don't allow the mortgage companies to ‘trick' you into accepting more than you can deal with!

Buying a house is more than making mortgage payments; it means taking up additional expenses that you would not have been bothered with as a renter. When planning to apply for a mortgage, make sure that you have taken all the costs of owning a home into consideration, so that you can get the most appropriate loan for you and your family.