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It may really be easier to trust Spiderman or even the Ghostbusters in your neighborhood – knowing and trusting your real estate agent is another thing. If you will be purchasing a home, know that there are good homes and bad homes, so as there are good agents, bad agents, and agents from hell.

The good agents are the ones that are interested in knowing you and the dream home you have in mind. The good agents will really look into the market and find a property that matches you perfectly. The good agent will also disclose all information you need to know and respects your decisions as well when it comes to selecting an attorney, apart from other things.

The bad agents are the ones who will also put your wants and needs at heart – well at least initially. Once they are not satisfied with the commission, they can easily drop you off or sell you short than what you paid for or what you deserve. They will insist on getting an attorney that they know – an attorney they can ‘work with’, though sometimes not illegally, but an attorney that can turn the favor towards them.

And then there are the agents from hell. They are the ones who can smell money from miles away and are just concerned about their commission. Seller-Buyer relationship is something they have never heard off. They are the ones selling purely for commission – not really the ones who have your best interest in their hearts.

The common thing these agents have though is that - they are all into sales. They are sales persons who are selling real estate. That’s all there is to it. They are sales persons who are getting big commissions because of the property you buy. They earn through their commission, so do not assume that they are ‘completely’ trustworthy. Still be wary and know they have their own vested interests as well.

You may want an agent who is professional and patient. This is about your investment, and you would probably want to deal with someone who knows how the industry works and how you can maximize the market with it. You want someone who is easy to talk to and where there is two-way conversion and not just hard-selling. If you know you have some trouble making up your mind, get yourself a patient agent – there are still some of them left. A global real estate guide can get you references, from real estate 101 and it can even get you a good agent in the location of your interest.

Finding the right property will require good teamwork – and that’s where your agent should come in. He should be your ally, not your enemy. He should be open, and not just into selling. Make your agent work for you, instead of the other way around. You’re getting an agent for a purpose – make sure your agent knows that so he can do the job well for you.

Source: Global Real Estate Guide - Local and International Properties

I’ve been thinking of venturing into the real estate business (agent now, Donald Trump-level tomorrow), I got to find time to know the ins and outs of the business. Because of recession, real estate plummeted but its pace is surely picking slowly but surely.

Buying the right property goes beyond the price tag and the external façade of the property. Buyers have to know how it is to gauge if the property is the right property, or just a property occupying a measurable amount of space.

Like any other things, don’t just go for looks – find substance and value for the property you will be spending a lot of time and effort on and living for the rest of your life with – sounds like marriage, doesn’t it?

Apart from getting stress and the headache of getting the wrong property, you may actually lose money with it. Should you decide to sell it, it is a challenge to get the market to be in favor of you. When you can no longer stand living in that house, your impulse to sell it and move to another place may cause you to sell it short.

More than knowing how to buy the right property for myself (that may come later when I have enough financial stability, translated ‘travel less’), I have to know how to help my buyers buy the right property and let me sell the right property of course.

The whole real estate industry is a tough market because every purchase is personalized. People buy property for a variety of reasons and purposes but what’s common among all of them is that all of them buy properties that would be just right for them. What is perfect for one, may not be perfect for another – and knowing the exact want and need of your buyer can help close the deal better and faster.

I did learn a trick or two from The Apprentice after all.

Source: Global Real Estate Guide - Local and International Properties

Just as many as there are people moving to California everyday, there are also equally the number of scammers ready to take on their prey. Just because I’m new here doesn’t mean I would have to fall for them. I am strongly campaigning against them and there are many ways on how to spot a bogus ad and protect yourself from financial risk and manipulation.

What you can do:

Scammers are really everywhere, and especially in real estate where transactions are dealt with in large amounts – and the risks are huge as well. It is always best to deal with legitimate service providers and sellers. With matters of money, it is always better not to rush things off. With this, you will be spared the headache and cost implications when legal matters set in.

Source: Global Real Estate Guide - Local and International Properties

In my quest to be the next Donald Trump – again, minus the hairpiece, the tabloid news and divorce settlement – I’d like to explore more on properties, and these are what I have learned so far (Yes, I’m doing my homework now, as any self-respecting billionaire-would be).

Once you get your hands on in real estate, investor meetings and networking can help point you to other good finds.

It’s good to note that if you are going to handle properties, read – “assets” – then you should get other ‘assets’ in good shape as well. Have your bank accounts and credit cards in good standing so you can get better deals on loans and property purchases. Foreclosure is that last you would want to hear from your bank. Let them know that you are able to manage your finances well that you acquiring assets can be profitable to them as well.

I know I still have to study a whole lot more, and make them work for me as hard as I can before I get close to the same level as The Donald (okay, maybe not that close).

Watching re-runs of the Celebrity Apprentice might help (hey, did I mention him again?), but I know ‘real life’ experience can teach me all I need to learn.

Source: Global Real Estate Guide - Local and International Properties

Finding a cheap property and getting it with the price you want is something you’d have to work on using your negotiation or haggling skills.

With agents and property managers on the lookout for sales commission, they are also keen on having closed deals. It is called a deal because that’s what basically it is – a deal, which means you are a part of a deal, you have a say on how the whole transaction will push through. And hopefully it favors the price and budget you are eyeing.

With a few handy tips, be confident that you’d be able to haggle for a more favorable price.

Remember that properties are investments, and as with other investments, you get them low, and they’ll be worth higher in the future. Getting to haggle is not just a means of saving dollars, but it also shows that you can be a pro in business dealings. And if you are a pro, or a good customer, lasting business relationship will soon follow - and the agent would probably show you other cheap properties you can use your effective haggling skills with.

At times, most sales agent are equipped to handle haggling customers but at the same time, even dealers themselves are willing to be haggled as long as a closed deal is reached. With today’s economic situation, businesses understand what customer wants, and sometimes, you just have to simply ask for it.

Source: Global Real Estate Guide - Local and International Properties

When it comes to sense of ownership, perhaps nothing beats the feeling of having your own home (hey, that Rolls Royce looks gorgeous… well, anyway…). Home ownership is indeed everyone’s dream. Save for the dreaded amortization, haunting repairs, and nasty tax collections, you can go past all that when everyday you know you can go home to a home sweet home that’s completely yours.

And now that you have decided to make that life-changing decision, how do you go about finding the perfect home? The answer is knowledge, my friend.

As you might expect, buying a property is not simply choosing one off the shelf, paying a hefty amount, getting the keys, and shopping your heart out to find those perfect decor.

Equally as important as pride of ownership and convenience of your own home, buying a property is also an investment (not just monetary-wise) that when done correctly, it can really pay-off big-time.

To help you out in choosing the right property, here are some need to know’s and want to know’s when buying properties:

Finding a property can be intimidating or downright scary but with the right tools, at the end of it all, you can really say that you’ve finally found your perfect home.

Source: Global Real Estate Guide - Local and International Properties