HomeRun Homes Rent to Own Homes Blog

My photo

HomeRun Homes is a centralized marketplace which helps people Find or Sell a Rent to Own Home, both Nationwide and Globally to the thriving Rent to Own Market. http://www.lease2buy.com

April 29, 2011

The Bearer of Good Economic News?

Hi Folks,

   Glad to have you with us, and even happier to report some positive news in Housing Market !

   This week, the National Association of Realtors released their Pending Home Sales Index, and with these numbers, we see that March had another increase in pending home sales ("The data reflects contracts but not closings, which normally occur with a lag time of one or two months.", says the National Association of Realtors). Overall the indicator rose 5.1% from February, but was down 11.4% from March of 2010.

   Keep up the good work. Real Estate is still an incredible investment, and when done properly and ethically, it stokes the progress and expansion of our towns, neighborhoods, and affects all of our lives.

Comments? Suggestions? Please share with us.

Have a Great Weekend, and Happy Rent-to-Owning !
Regards,
Rob Eisenstein
HomeRun Homes Blog http://blogging.lease2buy.com
HomeRun Homes Website http://www.lease2buy.com

April 27, 2011

Confusion Stemming From New Residential Sales Figures

Good Morning,

   Happy mid-week to everyone.

   This past Monday, the figures were released for New Residential Sales for March, and the numbers showed us better than an 11% surge from February, but almost a 22% drop from March of 2010.

   Do these numbers confuse you? If so, you're not alone.

   Katie Severance of RE/MAX Village Square, thinks that the sales figures are, "confusing to both buyers and sellers who are trying to gauge where the market is.". She adds that, "on the one hand, they reflect that home prices have continued to fall. But, on the other hand, they show that the "pace' of home sales is actually up."

   Severance says that, "What they actually reflect are two things", which she says, "All sales figures are spotty depending on the region. Whether numbers are slightly up or down, we continue to "skip along the bottom and if we are not yet at the bottom, we're not too far off." The second item piece is that, as she says, "The pace of sales are up because sellers are pricing more realistically and motivated buyers know that mortgage interest rates will climb and that waiting for prices to fall lower may just offset the rise in interest rates - making the timing of their purchase a 'wash'. If they wait too long, interest rates will climb high enough where - at a certain point - they can actually afford less house than they can today."

   "While the increase in March, from February, is nice, it is still well below last year", says L Lane Bailey of Diamond Dwellings Realty, and adds that, "Last year was somewhat of a bump because of tax incentives in the market, but the real bump in closed sales wasn't until closer to the May/June time frame last year. Before we can call an end to the housing slump, we need to see a few months of strong sales strung together."

   Bailey says that their market area, which is Gwinnett County, Georgia, is, "seeing some pockets and price ranges that are reasonably strong, but others are still lagging." Bailey says that, "Luxury housing is still quite weak, with most of the sales prices considerably lower than a couple of years ago, and down 25% from what they might have fetched even a year ago."

   Alexis A. Moore, Vice President of Town Center Realty Group, says that, "Borrowers still find it difficult to obtain loans and sellers are still faced with difficult times when selling their homes. Those of us in the real estate industry know that working in this climate and closing a deal is no piece of cake", and adds that, ""The market is still very soft at least here in Northern California"

   "With the low rates, first time home-buyers can have a heyday in the market. Investors are also snapping up rental properties at very favorable prices. Some homes are selling at a 40% discount compared to recent tax appraisals.", says Bailey. Moore says that, "Any positive change is a good one and I always try to stay positive finding new ways to work with my buyers and sellers."

   What are your thoughts on the New Residential Sales figures?

Have a Great Week, and Happy Rent-to-Owning !
Regards,
Rob Eisenstein
HomeRun Homes Blog http://blogging.lease2buy.com
HomeRun Homes Website http://www.lease2buy.com

April 25, 2011

Number 200

Hi Folks,
   I hope Easter, Passover, and the holidays were special for you.

   Today, we are proud to announce that this post is #200. There will be no pomp. There will be no circumstance. Just a hearty, "Thank you", for making it a pleasure writing for you.

   I can promise you more informative posts with expert opinions and outlooks that will help you in all of your Real Estate Investing endeavors, including Rent to Own.

   Once again, thank you, and we'll be back on Wednesday with #201 !

Have a Great Week, and Happy Rent-to-Owning !
Regards,
Rob Eisenstein
HomeRun Homes Blog http://blogging.lease2buy.com
HomeRun Homes Website http://www.lease2buy.com

TAGS: #realestateinvesting #renttoown

April 22, 2011

Surprises in New Residential vs. Existing Homes?

Hi Everyone,
   All is well in your world, I hope!

   Well, this week, the numbers were posted for both New Residential Construction and Existing Home Sales.

   For New Residential Construction, Building Permits and Housing Starts were up, but Housing Completions were down for the period of Feb 2011 - Mar 2011, however, from Mar 2010 - Mar 2011, all 3 components were down dramatically

   In terms of Existing Home Sales, the numbers trended up from February to March, but down from March 2010 through March 2011.

   "I wasn't surprised by the recent the recent increase in new home construction, and existing home sales for three reasons", says Derek Morton, of Mountain View Title and Escrow. The first reason Morton gives is that, "People that lost their home to short-sale at the beginning of the downturn, are able to begin jump back into the market place if their credit is sufficient.". Morton names the second reason in relation to "fear", saying that, "As the economy begins to improve there is less fear about losing your job, so people are more willing to purchase a home." The third reason that Morton cites is that, "The price of land has dropped to a point that builders can now begin to compete with the price of foreclosures and shortsales.

   Jared Martin, who is the CEO of Keystone Funding, a mortgage company helping providing pre-approvals so potential buyers can begin the home shopping process, says he was not surprised, and that they began, "seeing an enormous number of requests starting in January. So a lot of people starting the process, just not yet pulled the trigger. I think well see an even bigger increase in April....and again in May."Similar to what Morton mentioned above, Martin says that, "Were also not seeing the same worries we saw last year about employment. Most people seem more confident now in the stability of their job"

   Steven, of Sophic, Inc., is also, "not surprised" by these figures, and he says that, "More and more people are taking a serious look at traditional homes and rethinking what their home should be.

   What are your thoughts...were you surprised?


REMINDER - I'm on the Radio Again !
Tomorrow (Saturday Morning), April 23rd, at 8:30AM ET


I will be interviewed live on a local Cleveland (Ohio) radio station (1330 AM WELW), and the interview will also be streamed live at http://www.welw.com/programming/webcast.html. The broadcast is on this Saturday Morning (tomorrow), April 23rd, at 8:30AM ET. I'll be discussing Rent to Own Homes, along with the pro's and con's for both the Buyer and the Seller. The program is titled, "The Home Tool Box", and I am slated for some point during the broadcast (close to the beginning), I believe. As always, be sure to listen in for some great tips, and thanks for your support !

   A Safe and Happy Easter and Happy Passover to those of you observing these Holidays

Have a Great Weekend, and Happy Rent-to-Owning !
Regards,
Rob Eisenstein
HomeRun Homes Blog http://blogging.lease2buy.com
HomeRun Homes Website http://www.lease2buy.com

April 20, 2011

On The Radio Saturday - Cleveland Station WELW 1330 AM

Hi Folks,

   I will be interviewed live on a local Cleveland (Ohio) radio station (1330 AM WELW), and the interview will also be streamed live at http://www.welw.com/programming/webcast.html. The broadcast is on this Saturday Morning, April 23rd, at 8:30AM ET. I'll be discussing Rent to Own Homes, along with the pro's and con's for both the Buyer and the Seller. The program is titled, "The Home Tool Box", and I am slated for some point during the broadcast (close to the beginning), I believe.

As always, be sure to listen in for some great tips, and thanks for your support !

Have a Great Weekend, and Happy Rent-to-Owning !
Regards,
Rob Eisenstein
HomeRun Homes Blog http://blogging.lease2buy.com
HomeRun Homes Website http://www.lease2buy.com

And Then There Was a Podcast...

Hi Folks,

   Glad to have you back here today.

   We live in a world that is constantly on the go. We live on our mobile phones, Blackberries, Droids, IPhones, IPads, laptops, etc. While some people enjoy finding time to read through their favorite Blogs and Feeds, the vast majority of people do tend to have a hard time nowadays.

   Podcasts have become immensely popular, since you can listen to them on any device that can play MP3 (Sound) files. Basically, for those who are not familiar with this, a Podcast is a portable broadcast, and as it applies to the world of Blogs, it is the spoken version of a Blog post that you can listen to while on the go.

   For almost a year, I have been personally recording Podcasts of the most popular and most heavily-trafficked posts on my Blog. The negative is that is takes such a long time to record, edit, upload, link, etc, for each Podcast. This huge amount of time makes it virtually impossible to have a Podcast for every single on of my Blog Posts, of which some of you had E-mailed me about since I began Podcasting last year.

   We recently have been evaluating a number of different products to automate this and meet the requests mentioned above. We have decided on one of these products called, Odiogo, which automatically generates a Podcast shortly after I have made the Post. This is now an active feature, and you can begin using it right away with the "listen now" button that is directly under the Title of each Blog Post.

   Now, the one "drawback" for you is that it is a computer-generated voice (and if you don't like my voice, this might actually be an improvement for you). However, we look at it as a trade-off; In order to have a constant stream of portable content for you, we had to take this route with the computer-generated voice. Going forward, we will evaluate some more natural-sounding voices, but for now, we wanted to make you aware of this new feature that is "live" right now.

   Feel free to hop onto the Blog and listen or download the Podcasts (remember, as I mentioned above, there is a short lag of a few hours from when the Post is made and when the Podcast for that Post is generated). We would absolutely love your feedback on this.

Have a Great Week, and Happy Rent-to-Owning !
Regards,
Rob Eisenstein
HomeRun Homes Blog http://blogging.lease2buy.com
HomeRun Homes Website http://www.lease2buy.com

April 18, 2011

HomeRun Homes Purchases HomeRunHomes.com Domain Name

Good Morning All,

   We are glad to announce that after a long and drawn-out bidding war, we have purchased the HomeRunHomes.com Domain Name, and basically, this means that both Lease2Buy.com and HomeRunHomes.com can be used interchangeably to access our website.

   For all of those of you that have yelled at us for not buying it when we first started 9 years ago, the Press Release that has been circulated should explain why !

Please Read Below:

For Immediate Release:

Robert Eisenstein
HomeRun Homes
(631) 676-3609
(631) 574-2420
http://www.Lease2Buy.com

HomeRun Homes Purchases HomeRunHomes.com Domain Name

Lake Ronkonkoma, New York, April 18, 2011 - HomeRun Homes (www.Lease2Buy.com), one of the largest online marketplaces for Rent to Own Homes, has announced that they have won the long bidding process for, and were cleared to purchase, the domain name HomeRunHomes.com.

Clearing up Confusion - Disparity Between Company Name and Domain Name

HomeRun Homes was incorporated in New York State in 2002, by it's CEO & Founder, Robert Eisenstein. Eisenstein purchased the domain name of Lease2Buy.com when they first opened their doors, because, as Eisenstein says, "the keyword terms of rent and own were not available, so we reserved the name with the alternate keywords of lease and buy, thus, lease2buy".

Eisenstein says that one major issue that emerged over time was that fact that when people "hear" the name "HomeRun Homes" they usually just, "add a .com to then end of it and assume that is our website". He says that, "95% of the time, that is the case, but it's that 5% that we also need to accommodate."

The domain name of HomeRunHomes.com was owned by an investment firm and was "parked", which means that it was basically sitting and waiting for offers. Eisenstein says that after a long-bidding war against a few other investors (different investors that were trying to outbid him), the firm paid a, "substantial amount in the after-market for the domain name", which now auto-forwards to Lease2Buy.com, and thus, both Lease2Buy.com and HomeRunHomes.com can be used interchangeably to access the services of HomeRun Homes.

HomeRun Homes, which is approaching their 9th anniversary, if often billed as "The" Rent to Own Homes Marketplace", and the website unites both buyers and sellers of Rent to Own Homes via their classified ads.

For additional information on the topic, "HomeRun Homes Purchases HomeRunHomes.com Domain Name", please visit http://www.Lease2Buy.com

ABOUT HOMERUN HOMES

Founded in 2002, HomeRun Homes is a Centralized Marketplace which helps people Buy or Sell a Rent to Own Home, a Commercial Property, or to offer Home Services nationwide and globally to the thriving Rent to Own market

- END -

Have a Great Week, and Happy Rent-to-Owning !
Regards,
Rob Eisenstein
HomeRun Homes Blog http://blogging.lease2buy.com
HomeRun Homes Website http://www.lease2buy.com

April 15, 2011

The Big List of Do's and Dont's for Real Estate Investing

Happy Friday !
   We have made it through another week.

   Well...it's here ! "The Big List of Do's and Dont's for Real Estate Investing". Shall we proceed?

   The biggest caveat we have heard from almost everyone that we have been speaking with is to not let your emotions get in the way of investing. "I would say the number one don't would be to not let your emotions get involved with a property. It's not like a car, you don't have to drive it on a daily basis, it's an investment.", says Jamie McKeehan, a Professional Mortgage Planner, who provides the following example; "Just because it's a lake front property with a super cool dock that reminds you of your grandfathers lake house when you were a kid...doesn't make it an investment." Ankit Duggal, Founder and Investment Director of RER, LLC, a real estate investment firm that specializes in the acquisition, renovation, and sale of distressed assets agrees, and says that some investors tend to, "get attached to a property" and are therefore, "not able to see past a bad transaction."

   A variation on this, per Duggal, is that others just become, "emotionally fixated on "winning," and become so intent on acquiring the property that they lose focus on the numbers." Oscar Zamudio, a Commercial Executive with Coldwell Banker Commercial NRT, says that some investors are, "willing to add their money to the monthly mortgage simply because they fell in love with the property." Duggal adds the following tip: "Don't personalize an investment home. Keep the rehab neutral so you leave room for the personal taste of all buyers."

   "Don't be attached to investing in your local market.", says Brian Sparr of Sparr Properties, who adds that, "If you feel the need to be able to drive past your investment property at any given time, you are very likely stunting your investment growth.". Sparr advises that you should be, "open to taking advantage of the opportunities other markets are currently providing (even when you factor in the added expense for hiring a property manager to oversee the unit)."

   Obviously, a huge factor in Real Estate Investing is funding. Zamudio speaks about a "basic rule" in investing; "If you can borrow money at a low cost why not maximize it by buying the most amount of money that the investment can cover through its income." Sparr suggests that you have a "long-term plan that you can execute against", and that, "Simply owning a rental property doesn't make you an investor. The purchase or sale of a property needs to clearly fit into your overall plan and help you get closer to realizing your ultimate goals.

   David M. Rice of New Home Star Corp, says that there is, "one overriding piece of advice that I would give to anyone I advised today", which is, "The investment has to make sense.", and continues to say that you need to, "Forget buying it because it is "so much lower priced than it was before" or because "this area is sure to boom"." Rice says that successful real estate investing, "in my opinion, should be based on making investments that make financial sense. One shouldn't count on appreciation, even if it seems "certain". Of course, if the purchase can be appraised a higher number than the purchase price, that's substantiated (relatively) equity. If the property needs work and you do comparisons to find out what the property would be worth when the work is completed, that too is a different story. Look at real estate investments at this point in time. Consider all of the known factors and make a decision that makes sense.

   The Big "Do's" here, are, "Identify what your goals are; Cashflow? Rate of return? Percentage of return overtime? Tax strategy? Appreciation only?", per Glenn Bill of The Glenn Bill Group, and ultimately, per Duggal, "find your buyers needs and fill it. You'll be successful if you can provide what others demand."

   Barb Getty, a Real Estate Investor, Landlord, and an Author, provides some operational tips, for example, to, "Protect yourself by operating under an LLC or other corp., and if you do your own management, tell your tenants you’re the property manager – not the owner. This makes them feel you’re in their corner, a go-between, and when things get rough you can say, “Let me talk to the owner and I’ll get back with you.”. Getty also says that you need to have an, "airtight lease", and "do enforce it", because, "The best lease in the world is worthless if you can’t, or won’t, enforce it's terms. Landlords quit this business because they’re frustrated, overwhelmed and burned out. The reason? Tenant management issues. If you have a great lease and follow it, burnout won’t be an issue."

   "Don't rely solely on the information you find on the Internet.", says Sparr, who adds that, "there is no substitute for the facts obtained by getting your hands dirty in the local market." Bill suggests that you, "hire an agent to help you. An agent who has owned rental property in the past. Preferably an agent who has lost investing money in the past." McKeehan takes this further, and says that, "A must do, is to speak with multiple Realtors about the property, even if you are loyal to one. It never hurts to hear multiple opinions from professionals, this will save loads of cash.

   OK, so once you have your goals, funding, structure, and your team in place, where to invest? "Location, Location, Location", say Dina Goldentayer of the DS Team in Florida, ..."When buying for investment, the future upside of a neighborhood is the most important factor. What makes people want to live there? Good schools, new restaurants, proximity to highways. These are all factors that will attract a renter and a future buyer when it's re-sale time."

   Christine Michaels, an investor of condos in one of the hottest markets in Florida, suggests that you check the crime grid for the neighborhood. Additionally, Michaels says that if you're building condo high-rises, you need to, "Find out if empty lots are zoned for high-rise". If you are investing in a condo, She also suggests that you, "attend a homeowner's meeting", and also, ask if there is upcoming special maintenance", which is, "critical as it will affect your budget."

   Once you find a property that meets your investing criteria, says Bill, "Inspect the property". Michaels suggests that you, "Kick the Tires", some of which she has done, such as, "talked to residents, flushed the toilets, observe the management office". Duggal adds that you need to, "Do your homework: Perform the market research and the neighborhood comparables, and inquire upon multiple contractors, electricians, plumbers, and other people who will be doing work on the house for you. This way you know that you're well informed, well prepared, and that you're getting the best deal possible.

   When it comes to tenants, Bill recommends that you, "Don't purchase unless you have a tenant history, verify taxes and financial viability of the seller. i.e: check the title close(ly) with a title company". Bill advises that you do not, "get involved with a tenant with out a lease and proper disclosures being signed, especially for lead based paint and mold", and also suggests that you should not, "agree to pay for tenant's utilities this can cost you big time". Getty says that you should not be, "overly trusting !", and, "When your tenant is behind in the rent payment and promises it will be there next week, make them put it in writing, signed by both of you, with the threat of an eviction being filed if the rent isn’t paid by then. I learned – the hard way – that “next week” never comes. Choose to think the best, but by all means, have a backup plan!"

   Some additional tips, says Goldentayer, are to, "Read the Fine Print. It is crucial, especially in a condominium, to evaluate the building's rules on leasing, pets, and re-sales. As an investor who is unlikely to occupy the property, it's vital to make sure it can be easily rented to produce steady income." She also says that, "The Numbers Must Work. For an investment property, buyers are much more focused on the balance sheet versus how pretty the kitchen cabinetry is. So, run the numbers carefully and always assume a worst case scenario, such as a period of vacancy and deferred maintenance issues."

   Sparr advises that you should, "have a sizable amount of money set aside as an emergency reserve.", and says that, "The unexpected is going to happen - appliances going out, the roof needing a repair, missed payments from a tenant - but by setting aside enough money to cover many of these types of issues, you will protect your interest in the property and allow yourself to sleep soundly each night".

   For rehabs, Getty suggests that you, "Don’t overdo it on the rehab.", and says, "...That middle income home is only going to bring middle income rent, like the other homes around it. Make the rental attractive in less expensive ways – nice landscaping (good curb appeal), pleasing paint/carpet colors, nice window coverings, faux countertops that imitate the expensive stuff."

   In closing, Bill says that you should not be, "hurried or pushed into making a decision without understanding all the risks.", "Don't think you will get rich quick. The only people getting rich quick are people selling get rich quick schemes!", and finally, "Have the guts to go ahead with the purchase once it all makes sense."

   Hopefully, these Do's and Dont's can be incorporated into your Real Estate Investing endeavors. If you have anything to add, there are a lot of people reading this post, and would love to read your helpful comments.

Have a Great Weekend, and Happy Rent-to-Owning !
Regards,
Rob Eisenstein
HomeRun Homes Blog http://blogging.lease2buy.com
HomeRun Homes Website http://www.lease2buy.com

TAGS: #realestateinvesting #realestateagent #rental

April 13, 2011

Why Should Baby Boomers Move To Your Town?

Hi Everyone,

   We're glad you're here with us today.

   OK, so our goal was to open the floor and have you give us some top reasons why Baby Boomers should move to your town. The response that we received via multiple channels was great, however, we received a large amount of people just pitching their areas, along with some international recommendations, but the focus was on Baby Boomers. With that being said, we bring to you the input that was actually of use for this post.

   "Baby boomers want to buy in Los Angeles because they have a choice of city or suburb", says Chantay Bridges, a Senior Real Estate Specialist with Clear Choice Realty & Associates. Bridges says that there are "tremendous deals", "bang for your buck, tons of inventory, and more "choices for you and your family." She states that, "Even multi-million dollar properties are on sale in LA. A few years back certain neighborhoods were unattainable, not anymore."

   Another city in California that was mentioned is Petaluma. Martha O'Hayer, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker, says that she loves Petaluma, and she has, "relocated several 'retired' folks" there. O'Hayers says that they go there to "be close to their kids without being in the hustle (or the expense) of Marin County."

   O'Hayer says that they, "just don't stay retired very long. There's tons to do and the pace of this incredibly beautiful area gets creative juices flowing again.", and she gives the following examples: "One client wrote her 2nd book, another retired client is so involved in his bike club he's gone many hours each day. Another retiree is a docent for the 3rd grade outdoor wetlands program."

   O' Hayer points to the fact that "Compared to Marin county and San Francisco county, your home dollars will go much further in Sonoma County and Petaluma specifically.", and says, "Travel and Leisure Magazine named Petaluma "one of the Nation's Top Ten Getaways near a major city, and that, "Sunset Magazine just named Petaluma "perfect small town". She adds that Petaluma has, "music, arts, Michelin rated restaurants", and that it is, "less than an hour from San Francisco." In terms of confidence in their respective areas, Bridges says that, "LA has the resources for everyone's hobbies, clubs and activities, including yours.".

   Did we miss your town? Is your town, "Baby-Boomer" friendly? Thing of the demographic and then think of the weather, proximity to stores, etc. What do you think?

Have a Great Week, and Happy Rent-to-Owning !
Regards,
Rob Eisenstein
HomeRun Homes Blog http://blogging.lease2buy.com
HomeRun Homes Website http://www.lease2buy.com

April 11, 2011

Property Taxes, Up or Down?

Hi Folks,

   Hope you had a great weekend. As always, honored to have you back with me today.

   Property Taxes - up or down? That is the question that we will be examining today.

   "Property taxes must head up. States are running huge deficits and they need to be funded somehow.", says Howard M. Rosen, a CPA with Conner Ash P.C.. Rosen goes on to say that since property taxes are, "generally the greatest revenue source for a state this is the only way a state can make a dent in its deficit", and adds that, "the federal stimulus payments to the states are about to end so this lack of federal funding must also be made up", and therefore, "In short, property taxes will rise and will rise sharply."

   David Nykanen, a real estate attorney, says that a majority of his practice is representing owners in property tax appeals, and he says that, "Many communities in Michigan, frankly, are running out of money to process refunds when I am successful in lowering a property taxes. So, you would think the natural response would be to seek a higher millage rate, to increase taxes overall. However, given the economy, many of those communities that have attempted to raise millage rates through elections (which are required) have been unsuccessful". The forecast from Nykanen is as follows; "in the short term, I see property tax rates holding steady, with perhaps some communities slightly raising rates. And for those who challenge their assessments, I see the property tax assessments going down, lowering those owners overall tax obligations."

   As we all know, the issue of taxes, and especially property taxes, is always a hotbed for debate. Mike Arman, a Florida resident and "property tax payer", says that, "Taxes are like crack cocaine for governments - the more they get the more they want", and that even though, "the assessment goes down the millage (and net tax) goes up". Arman sees taxes going Up ("Way Up"), and uses an old Chinese expression: "The government grew fat, the peasants grew lean".

   What are your thoughts on this? Do you see property taxes going up or down in your state? We'd love to hear from you.

Have a Great Week, and Happy Rent-to-Owning !
Regards,
Rob Eisenstein
HomeRun Homes Blog http://blogging.lease2buy.com
HomeRun Homes Website http://www.lease2buy.com

TAGS: #propertytaxes #assessment

April 8, 2011

The Appraisal Industry In The Post-Housing Meltdown Period

Good Morning,
   Glad you can make it with us on this Friday, and I hope your week has been outstanding.

   In the tumult of the Housing Crisis (or "meltdown", if you prefer to call it that), the Government has taken a stern look at all of the moving pieces of the Real Estate and Banking industry(ies). One vital piece included in this is the Appraisal Sector.

   "Appraisal companies must do more for less in today's market. In today's market they must be highly competitive and with foreclosures distorting comps, they are both rushed and pressured to bring in business.", says Robert Shemin, a NY Times Best Selling Real Estate Author-Expert. Shemin says that for example, "you'll find one block in a neighborhood where 3 home-buyers have paid $200, then 2 foreclosures happen at $110, and its a difficult business"

   Another professional, James Manning, says that "The banks & ABCs still control the appraiser by means of Appraisal Management Companies who distribute the appraisal orders and take a huge slice of the fee." He says that, "If you don't play ball, you are off the roster. I don't see how the industry can survive."

   Despite the market upheaval, Melinda Crump with Sageworks, Inc, has pointed to some private sector data for industries related to real estate, and said that, "sales in a number of industries trended downward alongside the housing market as expected. Sales, though, have increased now for the appraisers".

   Are you an Appraiser? How have recent changes and trends effected your business?

Have a Great Weekend, and Happy Rent-to-Owning !
Regards,
Rob Eisenstein
HomeRun Homes Blog http://blogging.lease2buy.com
HomeRun Homes Website http://www.lease2buy.com

April 6, 2011

Survival Tips for Moving with Children

Hi Folks,
   Welcome back. Today, we will be discussing a topic that, for those of you who have children, may cause and increase in your anxiety level. That topic is moving when you have children, and how to survive the process, and we have checked in with quite a few people who have gone through this for their perspective and tips.

   Nikole Gipps, who has moved from California to Oregon when her children were young (her son was 2 months old and her daughter was 3 years old), suggests that you, "Pack as if you're going on a vacation to someone else's house for 7-10 days.", as she says, "You never know if your moving containers will get delayed, so you don't want to be stressing about your child's blankie or clothing for the family." Gipps suggests that you get your kids excited about the move and all of the things that await them, as if it were "an adventure, not a burden."

   Diane Easley, of Easley Real Estate, reminds us that children are also stressed about the move, and as she says, "Even more so if there is a bad reason for the move, like divorce or foreclosure", and that it is important to talk with them and let them express their feelings. Cynthia A. Myer, President of Ridgewood Moving Services, similarly states that you should, "Be Positive!", since children are tuned into the emotions of their parents. Myer says that, "If Parents view the move in a positive fashion, those around you will feel optimistic about their moving experience.". She also says that the child's age makes a difference; Infants are least affected, but pre-schoolers may have a difficult time, and Myers suggests that you, "get them involved in the process. Let them pack some of their special possessions. Never dispose of any of these items, no matter how old or tattered they may be."

   As Helena Alkhas, a Personal Organizer, says, "Let’s face it; most of us aren’t comfortable with changes. So, imagine how scary it can be for our little ones to leave the place, friends and school they have known for their whole life as home."

   Alkhas says that you should, "Wear kids’ glasses", and that before talking to them, "take a look of what your new location has to offer to children, which would attract your kids’ attention. I personally like to put a “tourist” package together with all the parks, museums, hiking spots and nature related activities. Also, whats the history of the place, look for books, sticker books and your local library!"

   Another help along the way, as suggested by Sandra Gall, is to, "let some of your higher nutritional standards go for a little while.", and looking back at her move with children, she says, "Did we eat more junk than we would have liked. Yes. Did it help us to preserve our own sanity. Yes."

   Alkhas continues this thought and says it is important to cater to your children's interests, such as if your child is a boy scout (she suggests that you, "contact their chapter in your new town, introduce yourself and get their information."). Alkhas also says that you should notify your children's teachers, coaches and caregivers, since, "Making sure they know about your move will help create a net of supporting people for you and the children."

   On a final note, both Gall and Alkhas discuss the inevitable; Tears. Gall says that you should, "Let them cry, call their friends, take pictures of every rock in the drive way, or cut a jar full of grass with scissors just to take along." She adds that you need to, "Listen to them and ask them about their fears. Really listen. Don't dismiss anything as "silly." This is stressful for grown-ups but really just Earth-moving for a child." Alkhas says that you need to, "Allow room for tears", as it's part of the change. She recommends that you, "Keep your cool, trust your heart and always move forward!", and that kids pick up on our anxieties so, "make an effort to embrace the change and they will follow."

   Are you making a move with children, or have you done so in the past? We'd love to hear what helped you survive the process.

Have a Great Week, and Happy Rent-to-Owning !
Regards,
Rob Eisenstein
HomeRun Homes Blog http://blogging.lease2buy.com
HomeRun Homes Website http://www.lease2buy.com

April 4, 2011

Real Estate Radio Philadelphia Interview on Rent to Own Homes

Good Morning,

   On March 26th, we were interviewed on a Real Estate Radio program that was broadcast live in the Philadelphia Metro Area, and was simultaneously available on the Internet (www.1180wfyl.com).

   The program, hosted by Doug Andraka, who is also a Mortgage Banker with Superior Home Mortgage Corp., focused on what a Rent to Own entails, along with some positives for both the Sellers and the Buyers. During the interview, I even included a few tips that could help you prevent headaches in the future.

   To listen to our segment on the show, the direct link for the Interview is Available Here.

Have a Great Week, and Happy Rent-to-Owning !
Regards,
Rob Eisenstein
HomeRun Homes Blog http://blogging.lease2buy.com
HomeRun Homes Website http://www.lease2buy.com

April 1, 2011

An Offer for Those Selling a Home via Rent to Own

Hi All,
   Happy April Fool's Day. What we are going to discuss today is not a joke, and there is no fooling.

   We want to make this Blog Post as non-pitchy and "non-salesy" as possible, since I feel that the following can certainly be construed as sales-pitch material by most, however, if you read it thoroughly, you will see that it is certainly not.

   As most of you know, our business consists of buyers, sellers, and service providers listing their homes, requests for a home, or their services, on our website, for a highly-competitive price (which pales in comparison to the volume of people that see their Ad and the quality/qualifications of these visitors.

   We have very recently experienced perhaps a temporarily disproportionate amount of Ads from Buyers ("Homes Wanted") vs Ads from Sellers ("Homes Available"), and we are looking to close this gap. In order to beef up our inventory of Homes/Sellers, we are offering free 3-Month Ads to anyone looking to Rent to Own/LeaseOption/Lease Purchase their home (or homes, if you have more than one).

   We are looking to run this for a little while, until we close the gap. I'm trying to be as honest and up-front about this, and if you like our website, then tell a friend (we like that!).

   I made the Two-Step process pretty simple, and if you want to list your Home for free with no strings attached (except a referral, perhaps?), here is what you need to do:

STEP 1:
E-mail us at homebuyer@lease2buy.com and use the Subject Line "BLOG - MY HOME FOR RENT TO OWN"

STEP 2:
Next, we will reply to you with a Username and Password - and then you can log in and create your Ad, upload photos, etc.

   We are trying to make it as simple as possible for you. I look forward to seeing your homes on our website, and we appreciate your time.

Have a Great Weekend, and Happy Rent-to-Owning !
Regards,
Rob Eisenstein
HomeRun Homes Blog http://blogging.lease2buy.com
HomeRun Homes Website http://www.lease2buy.com