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Copyright © 2006 by Bob Schwartz San Diego real estate broker Certified Residential Specialist
Promotions Unlimited All rights reserved. You may reproduce materials available at this site for your own personal use and for non-commercial distribution. All copies must include this copyright statement. | | Investing In Real Estate Through A RecessionWe all have these images in our heads from the days of the great depression. Grave hungry faces on once filthy rich families, tired worn out elderly without homes. One might think investing during a recession is very risky. But, we have to remember that real estate is far from any other regular old investment.
Real estate is one of the few investments that we truly need. This is simply because everyone needs a place to live. And real estate has systematically proven to have risen in value over the past several decades. Yes, you are paying interest in a mortgage for your home, but you are also getting a tax write off for the interest as well as a write off for any property taxes that are paid.
The mortgage rates have not been as low as they are now ever since the 1960s. This is the ultimate time to purchase real estate and take advantage not only of the low interest rates, but also the low prices on homes. Because there are so many more homes on the market than buyers, the price of homes in most areas has fallen considerably. On top of that, people who overextended themselves in the early part of the century are finding themselves in foreclosure.
Right now is the time to buy and buy cheap. Do not feel scared by a real estate agent who tells you that you are going to “insult” someone if you offer a low price for a home. The real estate agent wants you to spend as much as possible because they get a commission off of the sale. Use your head and take a look at the market. When you are buying a home in a real estate recession, consider the following:
Is The Home In Foreclosure?
If the home is owned by the bank, you should be all set to propose a lot less than the asking price. Do not allow a real estate agent to sway you when it comes to making an offer. If they use any tricks such as “I do not want to present such a low offer,” tell them that you will find someone else who will. Real estate agents are a dime a dozen, especially in the market today. If the home is in foreclosure, offer at least 20 percent less than the asking price. At least.
How Long Has The Home Been On The Market?
A while ago, a home that was on the market for a few months was either priced too high or there was something significantly wrong with the home. Nowadays, homes stay on the market for 90 days as a matter of routine. Never make a really low offer on a home that is fresh on the market unless you know the home is in foreclosure or about to become foreclosed upon. Feel free to make low offers on those homes that have been on the market for a month or so. Those that have been on the market for a year are owned by people who are willing to wait out the storm and will most likely not be sold for a low price.
Why Is The Owner Selling?
You can find this out by directly asking or asking around. If the home is in a condition of disrepair, chances are that there are financial problems. You can offer a significant amount less. If the owner has another home that they are buying, you can also offer less.
Make sure you do your homework and do not be worried to invest during a real estate recession. Contrary to what you may have heard, this is the best time to buy a home. 
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