In real estate investing teleseminars, people ask this question more than any other.

For decades, California has been known as a land of lots of cars and long commutes--commutes that turn freeways into endless parking lots. But with the price of gas heading above $3.00 a gallon, even Californians are beginning to look into the possibility of living closer to downtown areas.

By Jeanette Joy Fisher
   
Across the country, many people are buying second homes in America today. Although a sizable number of vacation home buyers plan to retire in those homes someday, another segment hopes their second home will do double duty--as a vacation getaway and an investment property. If you fit into the latter category, here are five areas of the country where you might want to begin your search.

There are trade-offs to buying a second home in an area that's going to become one of THE hot places of the future, because you won't be the only one looking in that area, and it's going to grow quickly, bringing in more and more people. However, if those factors don't deter you, here are a few tips on how to look for a vacation property that will also prove to be a good investment over the long haul.

Of course, a beautiful setting and decent weather are first and foremost, but the property must also meet a number of other criteria, as well. You'll want to begin your search in smaller towns that are still within a two or three-hour drive from a growing urban area with a large airport.

There should be plenty of recreational opportunities. And that means things to do other than just shopping. Depending upon your personal taste, that typically means near a ski area, a beach, or in the mountains.

It’s also nice to have some cultural amenities nearby, since you won't always be in the mood to do strenuous physical activities. So make sure there are both stage and movie theatres, and it’s also advantageous to have art galleries and museums within easy reach.

Take a look around and see if there’s commercial development going on in the area. Long-time residents may complain about how much the area is changing, but seeing new motels, malls, and other business investments moving into town is a good indicator that you're not the only one who thinks this section of the country is going to continue to grow.

With some diligent searching and a keen eye for what's going on in the area, you can find properties that will provide the best of both worlds. A wonderful getaway in a delightful vacation area AND a great investment that will continue to increase significantly in value while you make use of it.

Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

Jeanette Fisher offers free real estate investing information and teleseminars.

Vacation Home in Wrightwood, California

Besides your credit score and the other five qualifications you must meet to finance a real estate mortgage loan, you need to gather papers and documents. Speed up your financing and make your life easier.

In the 1980s, Robert Allen hit the big time with a bestseller called Nothing Down, a real estate investment book telling people how to buy properties for little or no up front investment. It was a landmark book, offering dozens of ideas on what was called "creative financing," and thousands of people made millions of dollars using Allen's techniques. But are Allen's ideas still viable in today's marketplace?

It's not well known, but if you have recently applied for mortgage credit, the information you shared was probably sold within twenty-four hours of your mortgage application. Credit reporting agencies commonly sell what they term "trigger lists" of folks who have recently contacted mortgage lenders for rates or loan preapproval and have given loan officers permission to check into their credit.

If you're looking for a home in LA, it may cost you twice as much as it would have four years ago, there are fewer homes to choose from, and you'd better have a good family income if you hope to continue to live in your home once you find it.

Many home buyers rush into a home purchase without getting enough information. A home purchase, probably the one of the biggest investments of your life, needs informed and cautious consideration. Don't let impulsiveness or ignorance ruin your enjoyable home search and purchase.

Many beginning real estate investors get started by flipping real estate to make quick cash. If you would like to make more money by investing in real estate, you need to know a few essentials.

Judging by the number of folks who claim to call themselves "Home Stagers" today, you'd think it was the world's largest growing industry.

Many sellers list and sell their properties in haste. To get the most from your sale--in profits, protection, and yes--enjoyment, avoid these mistakes that can lose you money.

It doesn't really matter whether or not you believe that Feng Shui methods are important to home decorating. When you get ready to sell a house, you'll find that employing Feng Shui practices can add perceived value to your property in a buyer's mind.

Join our FREE real estate investing teleseminar.

April 18 at 6 PM Pacific (8pm Central/9pm Eastern)

"Are You Serious About Wanting to Make Money Investing in Real Estate?"

I will interview Joe Luckino and grill him about his five flips he's doing--this month!

Find out how to finance with no money down!

Topics:
How to flip two houses a month
How to start out--buying and selling
How to obtain financing for fix & flips and rentals
How to find the "Good Deals"
What to do to these houses to move them quickly
How to advertise houses
How to do commercial deals and how to finance them without 25% down
How to quickly find good, reliable contractors who will not nickel & dime you to bankruptcy

Register:
http://doghousetodollhouse.com/free_real_estate_teleseminars.htm

Joy,

Jeanette Fisher

Joy to the Home, Design Psychology
Homes for glorious living and top-dollar sales
http://doghousetodollhouse.com

Green building isn't just the wave of the future. Green building is also the hottest "new" thing in current construction.

Avoid last minute cleaning frenzies when you get a call from an agent wanting to show your home. Here are a few secrets you use to make your home look its best when you know agents are bringing clients by for a tour.

Many real estate investors make $5,000 to $10,000 or more by flipping houses. These investors buy a home from a distressed seller and resell it quickly for a profit. Just because a seller has serious problems like a pending foreclosure or divorce doesn't mean the house is a fixer. Many distressed sellers offer prime houses in perfect condition discounted for a quick sale.

It's not easy for most people to do, but the moment you decide to sell your home, it becomes something else -- it becomes a product, to be sold like any other product. It can be a sobering thought, but it's a necessary mental step to take if you're going to sell your home quickly, and for as much money as possible. The first step in that process is to look at your home with a new set of eyes: the eyes of a buyer. They don't have the emotional attachment to all of your knickknacks and family photos that you do. To them, a shelf filled with various trinkets and souvenirs is merely a collection of clutter; something that prevents them from seeing the real house underneath all your stuff.

By Jeanette Joy Fisher

One mistake beginning real estate investors make is spending too much time looking at ONE home. They get friendly with the seller and want to help the home owner. Spending too much time in a home makes you feel connected to the house. You start to envision all the changes you could make to improve the home. It becomes a challenge to take an ugly house and turn it into a dream home instead of just a money-making venture.

Don't be tempted to buy just any house. Remember your first question: "How much can you sell the home for compared to all of your costs?" 

Select from the many fixers waiting for your magic touch. Select the one you know contains a hidden pot of gold.

Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

Jeanette Fisher offers FREE "How to Start Real Estate Investing Teleseminar;" free ebook, "The Truth about Making Money Flipping Houses."

Ever wonder how those multimillionaire real estate investors got started? You might be surprised at how easy it is to buy your first investment property! Are you willing to follow four proven steps to make money investing in real estate?Fixing and Flipping Houses   ( http://www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.com  )

It's every homeowner's fantasy: to own their home free and clear. There are lots of legitimate ways to pay off your mortgage loan faster, but here's the latest scam for folks hoping to eliminate their entire 30-year mortgage--in less than a year.

If you're selling a fixer for a rock-bottom price, investors love ugly houses. However, if you want to get top-dollar for your home, you must make home shoppers get out of their car and see what's inside. Every home seller wants two things: a quick sale at the highest possible price. Neither of those desires is unreasonable, but in order to achieve those goals, you'll need to do a few things to make you home more saleable and different from your competition--all the other homes for sale in your neighborhood and price range.

You can do an amazing amount of cleaning without having to spend a huge amount of money--by simply combining various easily-available and inexpensive ingredients.

Applied for a mortgage lately? It's not well known, but if you have recently applied for mortgage credit, the information you shared was probably sold within twenty-four hours of your mortgage application.

Although it's not a new concept, staging your home is an important part of getting it sold--and for top dollar. Traditionally, homeowners themselves have been responsible for making their homes presentable for showing, but with homes costing more and competition getting stiffer as the real estate market softens, that trend is changing.