The next generation of Canadians is snapping up land, houses and condos once again in Blaine, Semiahmoo and Birch Bay.

(PRWEB) October 26, 2006 — In the 1960’s, at a time when the Canadian dollar exceeded the U.S. dollar by 10 cents, Canadians held more than half the residential properties in Birch Bay and the surrounding neighborhoods.

The next generation of Canadians is snapping up land, houses and condos once again in Blaine, Semiahmoo and Birch Bay as the Loonie pushes above 91 cents U.S. and is expected by many economists to catch or perhaps pass the U.S dollar.

Real estate agents report that nearly half their business now involves Canadian buyers eager to find affordable weekend retreats relatively close to home and that will double as strong investments.

The last time there was this much cross border real estate activity was when Vancouver hosted the World’s Fair in 1986. Expo ‘86 created strong growth across the border for a period of roughly 4 years following.

With the 2010 Winter Olympics fast approaching, savvy buyers are shopping early to avoid the anticipated price run ups that widespread regional exposure could create. Add the fact that there are more homes listed for sale today under $300,000 in Whatcom County, than in all of the Lower Mainland and it’s no wonder you’re as likely to run into your neighbor strolling the beaches of Birch Bay than you would running into a neighbor in Victoria or Kelowna.

Recent Buyers like Duke and Carol Carpenter of Burnaby sum it up best, “We were looking for a weekend retreat that was easily accessible, affordable and that had good upside investment potential.” They bought their golf course home in a gated community in June of this year.

The weekend migration to second homes just across the border has become so popular that a group of leading developers, builders, bankers and real estate experts have joined together to form the “Rising Tide Marketing Group.” Their newly launched Website www.UndiscoveredWaterfront.com is intended to help introduce Canadians to the region as well as showcase properties and attractions in Blaine, Semiahmoo and Birch Bay. In addition they have focused on assisting international buyers with everything from financing options to tax benefits.

By joining together, they have helped take the mystery out of cross border real estate purchasing and have introduced many more Canadians to the benefits and pleasures of owning a second home just a few miles away from White Rock. According to the group’s spokesperson Mike Kent, “We love having Canadians as our neighbors and have appreciated the contributions they have made to our local economy for decades. We are very excited to see the next generation following in their parents footsteps in increasing numbers.”

Many merchants are already accepting Canadian dollars at par and every real estate dollar will buy about twice as much home in Whatcom County. Un-crowded beaches, fantastic weather (think White Rock) along with the prices of Crescent Beach 20 years ago, all add up to more and more B.C and even Alberta license plates cruising through downtown Blaine or along Birch Bay Drive on any given weekend.

To learn more visit www.UndiscoveredWaterfront.com

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Press Contact: Mike Kent
Company Name: Rising Tide Marketing Group
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 360-527-8901
Website: www.UndiscoveredWaterfront.com

More Information: http://www.prweb.com//releases/2006/10/prweb462780.htm

Tallahousee.com strives to be the Ebay of real estate in Tallahassee. Tallahousee.com is a new local internet site for rental home seekers and home buyers in the Tallahassee area. It is not a traditional real estate agency or property management company. It is instead an information portal connecting home buyers with home sellers– whether the seller is a “For Sale by Owner” or a local real estate agent, and renters with local landlords and property management companies.

Tallahassee, FL (PRWEB) July 11, 2006 — After one month of being live, Tallahousee.com received over 5000 page views from potential home buyers and renters in the Tallahassee area, primarily from word of mouth advertising and national search engines such as Google and Yahoo. “The power of the internet is an amazing thing” says Thomas McCall, owner and operator of Tallahousee.com. “Each individual property for rent or sale on Tallahousee.com provides comprehensive information like a full-length description, amenities, and up to seven photos of each home, which traditional advertising alone simply cannot provide and cannot provide as cost-effectively. All of this can be done on a budget of less than 50 cents per day to the person(s) posting the property for rent or sale.”

McCall goes on to tell why he thinks Tallahousee.com works. “With demanding schedules these days, potential home buyers and renters do not have the time to physically see all the properties they may be interested in. Tallahousee.com simply allows those seekers to ’see houses for sale or rent in Tallahassee’ in advance, thus the name of the site.” McCall also tells of a recent success story which occurred as a result of a local landlord advertising a property for rent on Tallahousee.com. “A local rental home owner posted his property on Tallahousee.com and ran a classified ad in the Tallahassee Democrat with the unique Tallahousee.com web address pointing to his listing. Within two days he had two rental applications on the property for full asking price, one from an out of country prospect who did an internet search on homes for rent in Tallahassee and was relocating to Tallahassee in July, and the other from a couple who saw the ad and customized website address in the Democrat. It does not matter to whom th
e property owner ended up renting the home to. What does matter is that the seeker and the property owner both got what they wanted and got it in as quick of a manner as possible. Just like Ebay connects sellers and buyers across the globe, Tallahousee.com essentially does the same thing for real estate in Tallahassee.”

For more information, please visit http://www.tallahousee.com or call locally 850-321-6638.

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Press Contact: Thomas Mccall
Company Name: Tallahousee.com
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 850-321-6638
Website: http://www.tallahousee.com

More Information: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/7/prweb409395.htm

Katz Mortgage Team has announced they are now offering 100% financing to real estate investors as a single mortgage with no mortgage insurance. Traditionally, the only way to get 100% financing on a residential investment property was to do an 80% first mortgage and a high-rate 20% second.

ATLANTA, GA (PRWEB) October 18, 2006 — Katz Mortgage Team, www.KatzMortgateTeam.net, of Amtrust Mortgage Corporation, has announced they are now offering 100% financing to real estate investors as a single mortgage with no mortgage insurance.

Traditionally, the only way to get 100% financing on a residential investment property was to do an 80% first mortgage and a high-rate 20% second. Now through Katz Mortgage Team, real estate investors can get one low rate loan with no mortgage insurance. This program is offered for borrowers who can fully document their income as well as borrowers who need “no-income verification.”

Stephen Katz, of Katz Mortgage Team states, “We find that the lower payments improve cash flow and profitability. Our property investors also like the convenience of making one payment per property instead of two.”

“This program was something that was clearly missing for the market place,” Katz states. “We listened to our customers and took the idea to our parent company Amtrust Mortgage. Within 30 days they developed the Single Loan, 100% Investor program for our borrowers and it has been a tremendous success.”

About Katz Mortgage Team
Katz Mortgage Team, backed by Amtrust Mortgage Corporation and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is a high-performance team of top mortgage professionals with a commitment to providing the highest level of personal service to customers in 24 states across the nation.
As a full-service residential mortgage lender, Katz Mortgage Team specializes in residential mortgages, mortgage refinancing, adjustable rate mortgages (ARMS), fixed rate mortgages, and a wide variety of Interest-Only loans attractive to real estate investors seeking investment properties.

About Amtrust Mortgage Corporation
A leader in mortgage banking, Amtrust Mortgage Corporation specializes in retail mortgage lending and is one of the largest independently owned mortgage companies in the nation.

Constantly expanding coverage, Amtrust currently operates in the following states: Alaska, Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

For more information, contact:
Stephen Katz – Senior Loan Officer
866 742-8400 (toll free)
www.KatzMortgageTeam.net

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Press Contact: Pamela Katz
Company Name: Katz Mortgage Team
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 404-202-7389
Website: www.katzmortgageteam.com

More Information: http://www.prweb.com//releases/2006/10/prweb451550.htm

People who understand the top mistakes home sellers make can avoid the problems and move their own homes more rapidly, which becomes more important as the trend of declining home sales continues, according to top-selling Realtor Heidi Hines - http://www.heidihines.com.

Charlotte, NC (PRWEB) October 17, 2006 — People who understand the top mistakes home sellers make can avoid the problems and move their own homes more rapidly, which becomes more important as the trend of declining home sales continues, according to top-selling Realtor Heidi Hines.

“I find that more than half of the mistakes home sellers make revolve around pricing. This is particularly true in the luxury market,” says Hines, leader of TeamHeidi. “And it is not always setting the price too high. The mistakes come when the seller wants to base the price on the original price of the home, the cost of added improvements, or replacement cost.”

Additionally, says Hines, sellers often hire a Realtor based on the highest listing price rather than on the agent’s qualifications. Typically, the inflated listing price has to be reduced to sell the house.

Condition of the home becomes the key factor for the next two mistakes, according to Hines. She says people often neglect to perform minor repairs and touch-ups that greatly improve a home’s value to buyers, and they don’t increase the home’s appeal by replacing dated carpet, wallpaper or brightly painted walls.

Finally, she says, sellers have misconceptions about what it takes to sell a home based on advice from family or friends.

“Obviously, I believe having a professional perform a comparative market analysis – not taking a shot in the dark based on what Uncle Frank suggests - is the key to pricing the home correctly,” Hines says. “Otherwise, it is more likely that prospects will not make offers and the house won’t sell.”

Charlotte, NC metro customers may call 704-458-4636 to take advantage of a free comparative market analysis.

TeamHeidi – which works for RE/MAX Executive Realty - is an organization of 12 Realtors, one Accredited Staging Professional and five support staff members who help Charlotte area home owners stage and market their homes for rapid sale at premium prices, as well as assisting prospective buyers in finding their new homes. Find TeamHeidi on the web at http://www.heidihines.com, or call 704-458-4636.

The RE/MAX franchise network is a global real estate system with more than 6,300 independently owned offices engaging 118,500 member sales associates who lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production while providing real estate services in residential, commercial, referral, relocation, and asset management.

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Press Contact: Harry Hoover
Company Name: TeamHeidi
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 704-953-3406
Website: www.heidihines.com

More Information: http://www.prweb.com//releases/lakenorman/homes/prweb451277.htm

Foreign buyers are taking advantage of the soft US real estate market and weak US dollar to snap up holiday homes and investment properties in some of America’s premier resort areas, including Florida and New Hampshire’s White Mountains.

NORTH CONWAY, NH (PRWEB) October 17, 2006 -— Foreign buyers are taking advantage of the soft US real estate market and weak US dollar to snap up holiday homes and investment properties in some of America’s premier resort areas, including Florida and New Hampshire’s White Mountains.

According to Pete Pietz, a US real estate agent with Badger Realty in North Conway, New Hampshire, who specializes in working with international clients, “My phone has been very busy with buyers from the UK, Bermuda and Scotland interested in purchasing investment properties and holiday homes here. A lot of this interest is being driven by the soft market and weak dollar, but there are other factors, too. Like their American counterparts, foreign baby-boomers are looking for ways to maximize their return on investments as they approach retirement, and so are purchasing second homes.”

A National Association of REALTORS® survey of home purchases in Florida has shown that 15 percent of all home sales in that state were to international clients. While such a level of foreign-purchasing activity is not as high in New Hampshire, the White Mountains has seen a sharp increase in real estate purchases by international buyers in the past several years.

Pietz explains why: “These international buyers know it’s a buyer’s market in the US right now—there are a lot of properties available and fewer US buyers. I’m working with clients who are purchasing their second property with me. We also have referrals from prior customers and new clients who have found us through our website, www.badgerrealty.com, which includes a special section for international buyers.”

While Florida, particularly the Orlando area, is a popular choice with international buyers, Pietz says his clients tell him that it makes more sense to buy in a year-round vacation destination. The Mt. Washington Valley and western Maine—the area around North Conway where his firm is located—offers skiing in winter, family theme parks and mountain recreation in spring, summer and fall, some of the most beautiful fall foliage in New England, and tax-free shopping at over 200 stores and outlets. With all it offers, the area still has a small town feel.

“I think every international buyer I’ve worked with has commented on how friendly and upbeat everyone is here—and how uncrowded the area is, especially given its popularity. Skiers in particular tell me the lift lines here are so much shorter than any other resort they’ve ever skied,” says Pietz. Accessibility is also a factor. Pietz continues: “London to Boston flights, for example, average just 6 1/2 hours whereas flights to Orlando are usually a minimum of 11 hours. Add to that the many airline specials and it’s easy to see why this area is becoming an international community.”

Unlike Florida, where the rental market is largely seasonal and driven by ’snowbirds’ who flock to the state in winter, in New Hampshire’s White Mountains there is a strong market for rental properties year round. This gives buyers greater flexibility in choosing when to use and when to rent their property. The strong rental/second home market also has resulted in a proliferation of professional property managers and rental agents, making property ownership and rental easy.

FINANCING OPTIONS OPEN UP US REAL ESTATE MARKET TO INTERNATIONAL BUYERS
Previously a stumbling block for some international buyers was the perception that it is difficult—if not impossible—to obtain financing. As a result, many purchases in the past were cash sales.

Badger Realty’s managing partner, Brenda Leavitt, says her agency has worked hard to develop relationships with mortgage lenders who are experienced in working with foreign nationals. “For instance, we’re working closely with the local office of Simons & Leoni Home Loans. A Florida-based firm, they have special financing for foreign national buyers that offer up to 75% of the purchase price, with or without income verification. Their streamlined underwriting process focuses on finding the right package for the borrower with the level of documentation that the buyer is comfortable with.”

Leavitt highlights the importance of working with those experienced in this type of transaction. “Buying property in the US is significantly different from buying in the UK and other European countries, for example. The purchase process is more direct, with less stress and more accountability; and we work collaboratively with the client’s solicitor. Our goal—and that of financing specialists like Simons & Leoni—is to make the whole process as easy as possible. Prospective buyers can view properties online on our website and save listings they’re interested in in an online portfolio.”

Communication is key to the process, according to Leavitt. “We spend a lot of time communicating with buyers before they visit, so that we all have a clear picture of the type of property that’s right for them. We also provide them with information in advance of their visit so they understand the process and their options. That way they can make the best use of their time here—and we can ensure they have time to get to know and enjoy the area.”

In many cases, buyers arrive for a three to five-day visit and sign a sales agreement before heading home. Leavitt, Pietz and the Badger Realty staff then handle every detail of the closing so that on their next visit, the buyers can enjoy their new home or investment property.

ABOUT BADGER REALTY
Since 1965, Badger Realty has been a leader in residential and commercial real estate in the Mt. Washington Valley, including North Conway, Jackson, Bartlett, Glen and Conway, New Hampshire, and in western Maine. www.badgerrealty.com. 1-603-356-5757.

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Press Contact: Brenda Leavitt
Company Name: BADGER REALTY
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 603-356-5757
Website: www.badgerrealty.com

More Information: http://www.prweb.com//releases/2006/10/prweb450194.htm