If you are considering refinancing your mortgage loan it is important to examine your budget first to determine how much mortgage you can afford. Budgeting properly and doing your homework will help you avoid common mortgage mistakes that can cost you thousands of dollars. Here is what you need to know before applying to refinance your mortgage loan.

If you are in the process of refinancing and possibly taking cash back you need to determine how much your new payment will be and if that payment is in line with your budget. Planning before you apply will help you to avoid being turned down once you have found the perfect mortgage loan.

Know Your Debt to Income Ratio

It is important to understand debt to income ratio before you refinance your mortgage, especially if you plan on cashing equity out. This ratio is derived from your pre-tax income per month and how much you owe on your current mortgage. Simply divide your total monthly income by the amount of your bills and multiply by 100. Most mortgage lenders do not want to see a debt-to-income ratio greater than 38-40% of your income.

Plan Before You Apply

It is important to know how much mortgage you can afford before you apply. By preparing a budget and knowing exactly how much income you can document to the mortgage lender you will have a much easier time with the mortgage application process. The best way to do this is to collect at least two years of tax returns and your most recent pay stubs from employment.

Use a Mortgage Calculator

A good mortgage calculator can help you plan your budget around your new mortgage. Mortgage calculators take the principle amount you intend to borrow, your interest rate, your property taxes, and private mortgage insurance, and determine your monthly payment amount. To learn more about your mortgage refinancing options and how to avoid common mortgage mistakes, register for a free mortgage guidebook using the links below.

To get your free mortgage guidebook visit RefiAdvisor.com using the link below. Louie Latour specializes in showing homeowners how to avoid common mortgage mistakes and predatory lenders. For a free copy of “Mortgage Refinancing: What You Need to Know,” which teaches strategies to find the best mortgage and save thousands of dollars in the process, visit Refiadvisor.com. Claim your free guidebook today at: http://www.refiadvisor.com Baltimore Mortgage Refinance

There are several key factors you must consider in order to avoid overpaying for timeshare resales. In this article you’ll learn the steps necessary for you to learn how to minimize your costs – yet still buy a timeshare that has powerful exchange value through RCI and Interval Int’l.

1. Understand Resort Ratings.

If you want to get the most timeshare for the money do NOT insist that the resort be rated Gold Crown or 5-Star.

Contrary to popular opinion, a resort rating of Gold Crown or 5-Star has little to do with exchange power. Why pay more than you need? Non rated resorts in high demand areas will trade just fine into Gold Crown and 5-Star resorts.

There is a myth out there that you have to own Gold Crown or 5-Star to exchange for same. This is not true. In fact ownership in rated resorts can actually LIMIT your exchange!

2. Buy in a High Demand Area.

By far the single most important factor in determining trade power is location, location, location!

Remember that past demand for a particular resort is the key factor built into the exchange company software which determines what you will be offered in exchange.

Examples of high demand areas are Hawaii, California Coastal, Palm Springs Winter, Florida Coastal and Orlando, the Caribbean, Cancun, Cabo San Lucas, Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head Island, ski areas, – in short, any area that is short of timeshare space relative to a high number of people wanting to vacation in that area.

3. Buy Prime Season

If you buy prime season, you won’t be restricted as to what time of the year you can request to exchange – you can request any time of year for your destination resort.

4. Buy in a Resort That Has a Reasonable Maintenance Fee.

Since maintenance fees go on forever, don’t buy in a resort with an extra high maintenance fee. (Unless perhaps you can buy truly below bargain-basement price.)

5. Buy as Inexpensively as Possible.

Remember that your goal is to minimize your cost; It is easy to lose focus and start assigning importance to features that have nothing to do with how well the timeshare will exchange.

You may not even like the timeshare, but who cares?

If it is located in a hotly-demanded area and you buy inexpensively, it will serve well to trade you into the finest resorts. When you save thousands of dollars by buying it, you can trade for may decades before the exchange fees would equal what you saved by buying right in the first place!

6. Buy Through a Licensed Real Estate Broker.

It can hardly be imagined the number of problems and challenges that come up in performing what would seem to be a very simple transfer of ownership.

A licensed Broker has a lot to lose if dealing fraudulently with the public, unfortunately the same cannot be said if you deal with individual sellers or non-licensed companies, so why do it? Be sure all funds are held in a Trust Account until closing.

7. Receive Title Insurance, If it Is Available.

Title Insurance is available on most deeded timeshare purchases. It is your assurance that you are receiving clear title with no liens or judgements attached to the property.

8. Verify the Details of Your First Year’s Use.

Many misunderstandings in a timeshare purchase center around as to when the buyer can first use the timeshare, whether the week is banked, and many other details. Whatever your understanding is, have it verified in writing with the exchange company, the resort management company, and the seller.

9. After the Sale Closes, Verify That the Change of Ownership Gets Done on the Resort Computer.

This is a crucial step, because it is common for the resort to either take a long time, or forget entirely to make the ownership change on the computer.

A separate concept not addressed in this article, involves buying where the intention is to primarily use the timeshare in a very select upscale luxury system of resorts, which warrants paying far higher prices. These and other issues are covered in the Timeshare Resales blog. You’ll also learn what the Gold Crown rating means and how it affects your buying logic.

Here’s a test to see if you’ve got what it takes to be a rehabber. Just be honest and rest assured nobody’s going to rap you over the knuckles for your answers!

- Are you a problem solver?

- Do you relish a project…I mean one that can occupy your attention for more than a few days?

- Do you understand that sometime you’ve got to make a mess in order to make things right?

- Can you see value in things that may not be pretty now, but could be made so?

- Do you know your own limitations and know how to pass on a little too much rehab?

- Do you enjoy fixing things?

- Can you negotiate and work with contractors?

- Can you get used to making your money in tens-of-thousands instead of hundreds at a time?

- If your general philosophy one of seeking ease, or are you a go-getter?

Okay, that’s enough. Here’s some food for thought on these topics.

- Are you a problem solver?

Rehabbers are LOOKING for problems to solve. Now, not all problems have to be massive. Sometimes all a house needs is paint and carpet, but unless you do this routinely, and have the money and time to do it, it seems like a daunting task for most Americans. Not to a rehabber. The trick is spotting the problems we want to solve, which really isn’t all that hard.

- Do you relish a project…I mean one that can occupy your attention for more than a few days?

Even if you hire a contractor for a turn-key rehab, you need to stay engaged in the project. Your contractor needs to know you are minding the clock and intend to hold him to his word and price. Nobody’s more interested in your project than you…spread the wealth…make sure everyone involved knows how interested you are and it tends to make THEM interested. A rehabber doggedly stays with the project because he knows time is money! If you are the impatient type there are other types of real estate investment for you, like buying houses that are already rehabbed, or wholesaling.

- Do you understand that sometime you’ve got to make a mess in order to make things right?

A rehabber is okay with tearing up a wall to get at some bad plumbing, or rewiring a house because he’s got the big picture in mind. He know somebody’s going to live in his project eventually and knows when to make a mess, and when to patch and cover.

- Can you see value in things that may not be pretty now, but could be made so?

A rehabber can walk into a mess and see the diamond in the rough. A rehabber profits on most people’s reaction of revulsion to an ugly property. A rehabber sees a beat up property and his mental calculator starts working

“That’s $250 for a dumpster, new HVAC ($2500), paint inside and out ($3000)…”

A rehabber can get to a total (slowly or quickly with experience) that he or she thinks the rehab will cost instead of most people who will just let their emotions scare them out of big bucks. A rehabber knows where he or she is “safe” in a property.

- Do you know your own limitations and know how to pass on a little too much rehab?

A rehabber knows when to be Macho Man and when to be Chicken Little. A rehabber passes on HUGE RED FLAGS like cracked foundations and sagging roof lines…that is unless they know exactly how to fix them and what it’ll cost. If they know that, it makes these houses huge opportunities.

- Do you enjoy fixing things?

Big cost items involved with a rehab like a new roof, plumbing or wiring don’t bother a rehabber. A rehabber would have spotted these requirements and factored them in. Those items only scare away the weak of heart and give the rehabber a better deal!

- Can you negotiate and work with contractors?

A rehabber knows when he’s being played for more money. The rehabbers learns quickly what it costs to get things done and is not afraid to make someone justify a price. If you are new to rehabbing you are probably paying more than someone who’s been doing this awhile. That’s okay. You are still making money! Keep talking to fellow rehabbers and you will learn as you go. Don’t let a lack of knowledge in this area prevent you from making some great money.

- Can you get used to making your money in tens-of-thousands instead of hundreds at a time?

A rehabber isn’t content to work for 40 hours for a few hundred dollars. The rehabber is okay waiting for a few weeks or months for a bigger payday. Rehabbing is a business. Just like any other business, money flow in and out. There will be time where your working account will be a little flat, and other times it’s fat! Before you go on a spending spree in a fat time, look ahead at your projects and figure out what your outflow will be over the short term. A rehabber has to plan!

- Is your general philosophy one of seeking ease, or are you a go-getter?

Rehabbers usually aren’t very laid-back people. They are Alpha personalities, not content to sit around waiting for things to happen. They are the ones making it happen. If you are reading this and are interested in rehabbing, you’ve taken the first step by educating yourself.

Sometimes it’s actually WISE to not jump in with both feet. I feel strongly in this fact:

KNOWLEDGE ALWAY PRECEEDS THE MONEY!

But, don’t wait around for too much knowledge. Rehabbing IS one of those things that take knowledge of the basics to get started. BUT, for SOOOO many aspects of this work, it takes experience. It takes experience you can’t get on the couch or in front of a computer. So, stick around and read about the basics then GET STARTED!

If you’ve got an entrepreneurial spirit, have some time and
extra cash, why not think about investing in real estate as
you’ve got the potential to earn hundreds of thousands, if not
millions of dollars a year simply by turning “flipping”
homes over.

This is particularly true these days, which is still very much
a reality in this country even amidst all the talk about the
real estate bubble.

Investing in real estate has become a booming business for
people of all backgrounds and start-up capital. Why? Because
being a real estate investor is not only easy, but it’s
rewarding to see your hard work pay off so quickly when you make
a sale with little or no money down.

Just on September 30th, there was a special segment on ABC
News, 20/20 about the latest real estate boom in America.
Real estate boom really has people flipping
for Miami and all around the country, particularly in cities
like Chicago, Boston, New York and LA. HREF="http://abcnews.go.com/2020/" target="new" rel="nofollow">Click here to
read more on ABCNews.com

Some Important Tips In Getting The Most Out Of Your Real
Estate Investment Opportunity

• If you’re low on capital money to invest in
  real estate, form a partnership with friends, family or
  colleagues. File a business name with the State Corporation
  Commission and register with your local city to become a
  legitimate tax-paying entity. Once the group of you is able to
  pull funds together, put them into a bank account under your
  business name. You can then approach the bank for a bank loan
  for your business, increasing your chances of getting funding.

  Creating a legitimate business not only can act as a liability
  shelter for you, should your venture prove to be non-profitable,
  but it helps to create a friendly working relationship with your
  new colleagues into which everyone gets equal return on their
  own financial contributions.

• If you have capital to spend, invest in a tax lien. A
  tax lien is, essentially, purchasing someone’s foreclosed
  home, which the government retains control over until taxes are
  paid. As a real estate investor, you will most likely receive a
  substantial return on your money invested in a tax lien
  because most homes that have been seized by delinquent tax
  payers are eventually turned over to the individual or entity
  that has purchased the tax lien.

  To find out about target="new" rel="nofollow">tax liens in your area, contact your local
  government for a list of tax lien sales and foreclosed homes.
  Many states also have tax lien sale information available online
  through subscription-based companies or through government
  auction houses.

• You don’t have to go for a killing your first year of being
  a real estate investor. In fact, most people start small. Begin
  by using the available money that you have to make a down
  payment on a modest home in an up-and-coming area. Many people
  purchase homes that are “fixer-uppers” and they get
  started by doing all of the work on their own.

  When the economy is booming, as it has been for the past decade,
  then you can fix your home up and turn it around in a relatively
  short amount of time for a moderate profit. You can avoid
  paying capitol gains taxes on the cost of renovations and
  improvement, so keep all receipts for work done.

  If after your first purchase, you find that you are indeed
  serious about investing the time and money into becoming a real
  estate investor, then use the money from the sale of that first
  house into purchasing another home. From the time of the sale,
  you have 180 days to invest the money into a new home
  before you will have to pay capitol gains taxes in what’s known
  as Exchange 1031 Tax Deferred Benefits on the
  money you gained from the sale.

  There are many resources and lending agencies prepared to help
  individuals interested in establishing a career as a real estate
  investor, Furthermore, many cities incentive the revitalization
  of older neighborhoods by catering to the convenience of real
  estate investors. After all, everyone enjoys seeing property
  bought and sold quickly within a community, for it signifies the
  health of the area. Call your local government to find out if
  there are specific tax advantages in place to help real estate
  investors and home-based businesses alike to maximize the return
  on their money.

Obviously, Louisiana had a rough year in 2005 with Hurricane Katrina. The state will recover as will Louisiana real estate.

Louisiana

Louisiana has obviously been in the news because of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. To say the entire episode is a tragedy is to understate the obvious. Louisiana is a state that has overcome problems before and it will do it again. For the purposes of this article, I am going to discuss the state pre-hurricane because, frankly, the state will recover within a year or so. It has done it before.

Louisiana is a state with an absolute ton of character. In fact, you will find no other state in the country that can match it. There is a heavy French influence and the people, towns and cities are eclectic to say the least. From plantations to Mardi Gras to funky little towns to incredible food and music, Louisiana is state that can capture your imagination.

New Orleans

Yes, New Orleans took a beating in the hurricane and subsequent flooding. This was not the first hurricane to cause damage and the city will recover. If you base your opinion of the city on the things you saw on the television or heard in the media, you are making a mistake. This is a city with extremes in many areas, from food to music to lifestyles and so on.

New Orleans is like no other city in the country. Here you will find fire-eaters and street artists, old river steamboats, food to die for, old plantation homes and a music scene that can’t be beat. The French Quarter is beautiful and chaotic, particularly during Mardi Gras. Walking through the city, you’ll find little street markets, walk up eateries and eclectic little spots like the Voodoo Museum. The redeveloped River Walk area on the Mississippi River is a good spot to while away the hours as are the tours around the city. Keep in mind, New Orleans is the home of author Anne Rice and the location of her Vampire Chronicles book series. Words will never accurately describe New Orleans, it is just a place you have to investigate. You will either love the chaos or hate it.

Baton Rouge

The state capitol of Louisiana, Baton Rouge is New Orleans without the edge. An easygoing city with a heavy French influence, the city feels more like a place you could actually live in compared to New Orleans. Although the city was hit by Hurricane Katrina, it did not suffer the devastation seen in other locations. Home to Louisiana State University, the city has a college feel with college football being the name of the game.

Louisiana Real Estate

Obviously, figures for Louisiana real estate are irrelevant following the events of this year. Generally, single-family homes averaged $200,000 throughout the state prior to the hurricane. Appreciation rates were also a modest 6.5 percent.

If there is a silver lining to Hurricane Katrina, it is the redevelopment that will occur throughout the state. Hundreds of billions of dollars are flowing into the state, which will lead to a major makeover. New Orleans, in particular, is going to get a major face-lift with as many as 40,000 structures being replaced. As things settle down, real estate opportunities may be plentiful.

What if mortgage re-financing were simplified? What if there were not so many pages in the legal agreements? What if you did not need a paralegal to understand it all? What if you really understood all that stuff you were signing?

What if you had time to read it all before the next Federal Reserve Rate hike next quarter? What if mortgage brokers had and easier set of paperwork so they could help more people re-finance?

What if the closing costs, fees and interest rate issues were easy to calculate to compare for consumers? What if you did not need to take level II college classes to mathematically calculate these things?

What if the average citizen did not spend 40% of their income toward their house payments and could save more money for college and not have to use those credit cards so much?

What happens if they keep raising rates and too many people had variable rates because they did not understand the problems associated and actual costs when rates rise very high?

What happens when the foreclosure rates increase because too many people had variable re-finances? What happens when too many foreclosed houses are for sale and cause decreased prices in housing market?

What happens when all those people who took equity out of their homes during a recent re-finance to pay off short-term credit card debt and then find out that their houses are worth less than their loan obligation? Will this also cause a cascading effect of more walk-aways and forclosures?

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

When you need a mortgage — either because you are buying, refinancing, taking out equity or getting into investment real estate, you need a good mortgage professional. Now, you may be tempted to go to your local savings and loan, as they may promise lower fees or zero costs. Meanwhile, in virtually every case, banks can’t compete with mortgage professionals on the two most important things — interest rates and service.

Also, the banker who promises very low closing costs will probably be making his money on a higher rate, and he’ll likely try to sell you on discounting that higher rate, by paying a percentage of the loan amount. This is a common tactic bank loan officers use, and it is a very poor strategy in almost every case for you to buy a rate.

Finally, bank loan officers can’t come close to the service of a good, honest mortgage professional. When dealing with a bank, you have to go to them, you have to close your loan where they tell you to close, you can only get your interest rate locked in when you’ve jumped through all of their hoops (mortgage professionals can lock your rate the day you call, over the telephone).

Mortgage professionals are in the service business. Unlike bankers, mortgage professionals need you, because they work strictly on commission. So, they will do everything possible to make you happy, because they want your referrals, and they want you to come back every time you do a loan.
Good Mortgage professionals will treat you like you are their only customer. They give you their personal cell phone numbers and tell you to call them anytime of day. They meet you anywhere – home, work, your favorite coffee shop or restaurant, or any other place you designate. They go the extra yard to close your loan.

I once helped an elderly gentleman, on a fixed income, who needed to get cash from his house, in order to fix a dilapidated roof. He had 14 liens against his home, which made nearly impossible to refinance. I worked for a month, getting all of these items cleared. I even dealt with a bank collector, and got him to take thousands less for an old debt, just so we could close the loan and the man could stop the rain from coming into his home. Almost every bank loan officer would have sent this man away, because they don’t want to do this much work.

So, remember, you need a mortgage professional, when getting any kind of home or refinance loan. Be sure you get the best.

Mark Barnes is the author of the new novel, The League, the first work of fiction, based on fantasy football. He is also an investment real estate and home loan finance expert. Learn more about his suspense thriller at http://www.sportsnovels.com Get his free mortgage finance course at http://www.winningthemortgagegame.com

When examining the different asset classes, real estate is generally far less volatile than shares and real estate tends to be the haven that investors flock to when other asset classes are suffering.

It is true to say that investment properties can have many benefits in terms of building long-term wealth, but we must never forget that this wealth is not guaranteed!

Following the global real estate boom of the late 1980’s many investors learnt this hard lesson when they found their properties were worth far less than they had actually paid for them and the bottom seemingly fell out of the over-inflated market. The bottom did not truly fall out of the market however as all real estate retained value; the real estate market simply experienced an overdue rebalance and has gone on to build from this point of stability.

Since the booming 80’s ’sensible’ investments in real estate have still offered major attractions and advantages, and it is back to real estate that investors have turned in recent years.

With real estate prices in some countries soaring, and first time buyers struggling to get onto the first rung of the real estate ladder, many people are looking further a field for investment property opportunities.

A recent report in the UK highlighted a 130% rise in the value of farmland since the 1990’s for example – fuelled entirely by a new breed of non-farming buyers. With bricks and mortar real estate prices in the UK now so exorbitant, these non-farming buyers are looking for alternatives for their money.

They may be unable to afford real-estate investments and unwilling to risk their cash on the ever volatile stock market and so they are buying up fields and pastures to get in on the real estate investment game!

Others interested in property investment have been examining the real estate markets around the globe for value for money, return on investment, potential for growth and development, rental market opportunities and basic stability. With current research showing that up to one in eight Britons intend to purchase an overseas real estate within the next five years you can see that overseas real estate investment is very big business.

Relatively newly discovered property markets are opening up or expanding in countries such as North Cyprus, South Africa and Bulgaria for example – where potential buyers are afforded incredible value for money when it comes to real estate. The real estate market in countries such as these has been artificially restricted through the threat of war or political instability, and now with their recent history showing that they are stable countries with strong economies and populated and governed by those with a first world perspective, property investors are finding markets rich in diversity and potential.

Dubai is another country offering interesting real estate investment opportunities. Since May 2002 when the crown prince of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoom issued a decree allowing foreigners the right to buy freehold real estate there, the real estate market has exploded!

Properties available in Dubai range from modest one bedroom flats to freehold exclusive islands! And property there still offers very good value for money – furthermore the tax and business advantages in Dubai are very appealing and so real estate investment in Dubai is enjoying a buoyant upward trend.

And then there are the ‘old’ favourites – France, Florida and Spain for example are all countries with a long history of investment real estate appeal – especially for Britons and Northern European residents looking to escape the weather and invest in a home in the sun. Whether you are looking to secure a home for holidays, your retirement or you are looking for a long term investment opportunity these countries still offer the investor potential for real estate growth.

When it comes to considering real estate as an investment vehicle it is a tried and tested method used for attempting to secure long term gains – but as with any investment, gains, returns and security of investment are not guaranteed. Whether real estate investment is right for you and matches your circumstances and attitude to risk is something that you need to consider.

Rhiannon Williamson is an experienced publisher who has produced articles for leading travel and tourism guides and financial magazines. Her specialist knowledge about both travel and finance gives her site Shelter Offshore the unique ability to literally cover every single aspect of moving & living abroad – including the often less discussed offshore tax advantages that can be available when leaving our homeland.

I’ve taught the concepts of Design Psychology for many years, and I know how much it can empower a person, and allow them to create a fabulous home that sustains their emotions. Since it’s based on science, I know that Design Psychology is effective at turning plain spaces into happy places.

I discovered Design Psychology in 1985, when my husband and I purchased an 1878 Queen Anne Victorian and began a major renovation. After tearing everything out of the kitchen, we rebuilt the entire space, using concepts I’d learned while studying interior design. But when the project was complete, the feeling of the space was all wrong, so I began a fifteen-year search to learn about how design details influence our emotions.

Although I know a number of interior designers, Design Psychology differs from “traditional” interior design in that it acknowledges how our senses can profoundly react to many other factors besides those of basic interior design. The concepts of Design Psychology address elements of the human psyche that interior design doesn’t take into consideration.

Design Psychology also differs from the ancient practice of Feng Shui, although the two concepts are totally compatible. There’s no reason at all that homeowners can’t use both the techniques of Feng Shui and Design Psychology to enhance their homes. But after years of study, I have come to believe that Design Psychology is superior to Feng Shui, in large part because Feng Shui is based on superstition, while Design Psychology draws its concepts from science.

Through the use of Design Psychology, my husband and I have bought and sold 27 houses, to date. We begin by creating an overall design plan, based on our target market and selling season. Then, by using particular colors, patterns, props, and staging methods, we’re able to sell our homes quickly, and for thousands of dollars more than our competition.

Our senses react to the design choices we make, so choosing the wrong colors or patterns in wallpaper, fabric, or paint can negatively impact our senses. Design Psychology works, and if you’ll just take a little extra time to avoid making design mistakes, you’ll save MONEY and sell your home more quickly, both of which will have a significant effect on your bottom line when your sign the closing papers!

(c) Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

Professor Jeanette Fisher, author of Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars, Joy to the Home, and other books teaches Real Estate Investing and Design Psychology. For more articles, tips, reports, newsletters, and sales flyer template, see http://www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.com/pages/5/index.htm

Follow a few simple guidelines, and marketing your own home can be easy. And it will save you thousands.

The recent property boom has a lot of people thinking of selling. Unfortunately, the costs of selling can really eat into your profit. There’s nothing we can do about stamp duty, but one cost we can avoid is real estate agent fees. By selling your house yourself rather than paying a real estate agent, you can save you around $20,000 on a $500,000 sale.

So what’s involved in a do-it-yourself sale? The two main ingredients are time and advertising. A quality ad and a couple of hours each week fielding phone calls and managing inspections can mean the difference between a healthy profit and disappointment.

Many people are intimidated by the marketing aspect of selling their home. But there’s really not that much to it. You just need to write a description of your property, organise photography, and place an ad. Simple!

Perhaps the most important thing to remember when organising your own sale is you’re not selling a building – you’re selling a home and a lifestyle. Here are 10 Tricks of the trade to get you started…

1) Jot down your favourite spots in the house and what you like to do in them.

2) List your favourite local restaurants, cafes, and beaches – especially those in walking distance.

3) Note any pleasant fragrances – plants like jasmine and gardenia, or evening sea breezes.

4) Mention your favourite spot for a morning coffee, an afternoon snooze, or an evening wine.

5) Write about 150 words.

6) Don’t include cars, garbage bins, or the road in your photos.

7) Tidy your house and remove any clutter before taking inside shots.

Capture colour both inside and out, but keep it simple.

9) Take digital photos and save to CD so you won’t need a bureau for scanning and production.

10) Invest in a prominent newspaper ad and make use of the Internet.

Even if you don’t feel up to the challenge of creating a masterpiece ad, you can employ the services of a professional for far less than the cost of a real estate agent. A professional copywriter will write an engaging description for as little as $250. Professional photographers do real estate all the time. Neville Prosser (http://www.nevilleprosser.com.au) can give you all the captivating photos you need for just $330. You can get a glossy 1/8 page ad in the Central Coast Express Advocate for $628 or a page ad $2514. And to advertise online at Domain.com.au will only cost you $165 for a full month.

Whether you do all the creative work yourself or employ a professional, you’ll still save thousands. What’s more, with great advertising, you’ll interest more potential buyers and maybe even sell your house for more.

The most important thing to remember at every step along the way is… Average advertising conveys a building. Quality advertising conveys a home.

* Glenn Murray is a website copywriter, SEO copywriter, and article submission and article PR specialist. He is a director of article PR company Article PR and also of copywriting studio Divine Write. He can be contacted on Sydney +612 4334 6222 or at glenn@divinewrite.com. Visit www.DivineWrite.com or www.ArticlePR.com for further details, more FREE articles, or to download his FREE SEO e-book.