Many people who own condominiums are happy with the arrangements, but the trick is to do research before buying.
A well-located, well designed condo is probably as good an investment as any other real estate. The value of a condo should increase, remain fairly constant, or decrease with the overall market.
Some things you should know before buying a condo:
Maintenance cost or association fees.
All members want lower dues. But no member wants reduced services. Compare condo fees of other associations in the area that offer similar amenities and services.
Are there any special assessments on the horizon?
Special assessments are fees that condo associations sometimes charge owners to pay for emergency repairs, litigation, or to cover monthly dues in the event of multiple foreclosures.
What percentages of units are being rented out by their owner?
It's an established fact that owners take better care of their property than do tenants. Owners are more observant of rules, and they keep the place in better shape. If a development has a lot of tenants, you will find that overall it's a noisier place. Generally, swimming pool, spa and other amenities may be more heavily used.
Another reason for checking the tenant-to-owner ratio is that it can be difficult to resell. Any development with a ratio of 10% tenants or less should be considered good; 20% or more could be cause for alarm.
What are the condo rules?
In any shared ownership development there are going to be rules that you'll have to live by. You may not agree with all of them when you first buy the unit but find later on you want to change one or two, this may not be possible. You should get a copy of the bylaws and rules. Know the rules; you don't want any unpleasant surprises later on.
Location of the unit within the development.
Here are some areas you may want to avoid:
• Does the unit face a tree-lined street or will it be a view of the parking area?
• Does it face a busy street?
• Is the unit near a swimming pool or recreational center?
• Is the unit near noisy neighbors?
Are the any lawsuits pending?
The big problem with lawsuits is liability. If the association loses, the homeowners (who are the association) lose. That means that a judgment could be awarded against all the owners and each one could be required to pay a portion of it. Some states limit such loss, provided there is sufficient liability insurance.
If there's a lawsuit pending when you buy into a condo and the association loses the suit and must pay damages, you could be liable for your share of those damages. This could occur even if you bought in after the lawsuit was filed.
How much insurance does the board carry?
You need to know how much insurance the development carries. Is it enough and what does it cover? You should be particularly concerned that the development has liability coverage on:
• Accidents - if someone slips and falls next to a pool.
• Actions of the association - errors or omissions.
• Actions of employees - if someone is hurt through negligence or is wrongfully terminated.
• Actions of owners - if someone doesn't like a rule and goes to court to get it changed.
There are many other questions that you need to know, but if you have the answers to these questions you will be closer to making an informed and intelligent purchase decision.
Eday Cafe is my home away from home. A place I can visit to share anything I want about any topic, my passions, my interests, my life experiences but most of all - a place to have fun!
Stop by and have a look around, you'll find ideas, information, suggestions and quite possibly, you'll have fun too!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_Day
Monday, September 29, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
National Association of Realtors
Realtors, the members of the National Association of Realtors, are the largest trade association in North America. It represents over 1.2 million members plus all of their councils, institutes, societies and anything they are involved in regarding residential and commercial real estate. The National Association of Realtors grows each year and the association's president for 2008 is Richard F. Gaylord. The association operates as a Self Regulatory Organization.
The National Association of Realtors was founded in 1908 as the National Association of Real Estate Exchanges. The original group was located in Chicago, Illinois. The group then changed its name to the National Association of Real Estate Boards in 1916 and then acquired its current name in 1974. The current version of the group, the National Association of Realtors, is consisted of a variety of different members.
Those members are residential and commercial real estate brokers, salespeople, appraisers, counselors, immovable property managers and any other members that practice within the industry where a state license to practice is required. All members of the National Association of Realtors belong to over 1,600 different boards locally. All members are also required to honor a realtor code of ethics that includes their promises to their customers, clients, the public and to their fellow realtors. Each local group of the 1,600 is required to enforce the realtor code of ethics with a Professional Standards Council or Committee. If a realtor is found guilty of breaking the code of ethics they can be fined upwards to $5,000, be enrolled in an educational course, can have their membership suspended or expelled, be issued a letter of warning or can be placed on probation.
The following is a list of NAR (National Association of Realtors) sponsored members:
Accredited Buyer Representative
Accredited Land Consultant
Certified Commercial Investment Member
Certified Property Manager
Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager
Certified Residential Specialist
Certification for Internet Professionalism
Certified International Property Specialist
Counselor of Real Estate
Graduate of the Realtor's Institute
Real Estate Professional Assistant
Not only does the National Association of Realtors provide services to the public when looking to purchase property but they are also heavily involved with political campaigns. The National Association of Realtors had the largest PAC, or Political Action Committee, in the United States in 2005. The National Association of Realtors is the United States' third largest donor to political campaigns. They have donated an estimated $30 million to various political campaigns since 1990. Their donations have been split up almost evenly since 1990 between Democrats and Republicans. The group has donated 53 percent of their money to Republicans and 47 percent to Democrats.
The terms realtor and realtors were trademarked by the National Association of Realtors in 1949 so that no other commercial party could use the term and cause confusion as to what was being referenced. Only members or license holders of the National Association of Realtors can use the terms realtor or realtors as of 2008.
Green Building and Buyers Advantage Group Realty
Building a Green Home
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brenda_Williams
The National Association of Realtors was founded in 1908 as the National Association of Real Estate Exchanges. The original group was located in Chicago, Illinois. The group then changed its name to the National Association of Real Estate Boards in 1916 and then acquired its current name in 1974. The current version of the group, the National Association of Realtors, is consisted of a variety of different members.
Those members are residential and commercial real estate brokers, salespeople, appraisers, counselors, immovable property managers and any other members that practice within the industry where a state license to practice is required. All members of the National Association of Realtors belong to over 1,600 different boards locally. All members are also required to honor a realtor code of ethics that includes their promises to their customers, clients, the public and to their fellow realtors. Each local group of the 1,600 is required to enforce the realtor code of ethics with a Professional Standards Council or Committee. If a realtor is found guilty of breaking the code of ethics they can be fined upwards to $5,000, be enrolled in an educational course, can have their membership suspended or expelled, be issued a letter of warning or can be placed on probation.
The following is a list of NAR (National Association of Realtors) sponsored members:
Accredited Buyer Representative
Accredited Land Consultant
Certified Commercial Investment Member
Certified Property Manager
Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager
Certified Residential Specialist
Certification for Internet Professionalism
Certified International Property Specialist
Counselor of Real Estate
Graduate of the Realtor's Institute
Real Estate Professional Assistant
Not only does the National Association of Realtors provide services to the public when looking to purchase property but they are also heavily involved with political campaigns. The National Association of Realtors had the largest PAC, or Political Action Committee, in the United States in 2005. The National Association of Realtors is the United States' third largest donor to political campaigns. They have donated an estimated $30 million to various political campaigns since 1990. Their donations have been split up almost evenly since 1990 between Democrats and Republicans. The group has donated 53 percent of their money to Republicans and 47 percent to Democrats.
The terms realtor and realtors were trademarked by the National Association of Realtors in 1949 so that no other commercial party could use the term and cause confusion as to what was being referenced. Only members or license holders of the National Association of Realtors can use the terms realtor or realtors as of 2008.
Green Building and Buyers Advantage Group Realty
Building a Green Home
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brenda_Williams
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