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by Stefan Swanepoel

We all know that 2000 – 2005 comprised one of the hottest real estate markets on record in which the industry enjoyed tremendous growth. But are there any consequences to the industry?

“Definitely” says Stefan Swanepoel, author the annual Swanepoel Trends Report in his latest 2007 edition. “During this period of growth the country experienced a buying frenzy fed by low interest rates, a plate full of (more…)

CLEVELAND (CNNMoney.com) — All over Slavic Village, Cleveland, a neighborhood with the one of the highest foreclosure rates in the nation, empty houses have invaded once vibrant streets.

Many of the owners left behind live near abandoned houses that shelter squatters and worse. Crime has soared and owners would leave, if they could, but their homes have plunged in value. Leaving would mean starting from scratch.

“[The remaining residents] are hard working citizens who have seen the value of their most valuable assets, their homes, plummet,” said Jim Rokakis, treasurer of Cuyahoga County.

Some of them soldier on, fighting back to reclaim their neighborhood and restore some of the value to their homes.

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When talking about real estate and property ownership in the United States, there is a common fear among home owners and real estate investors that we are upon a real estate market crash within the next decades. Already proving that no market can continue to expand and increase in value forever, San Francisco and Las Vegas have seen recent dips in property values over the past two years. While many home owners and ’self-made’ investors are calling fowl by banks who were offering ‘too good to be true mortgages’ and selling off their properties at a loss, many savvy real estate investors know that in any type of market (either boom or crash), there is money to be made in the long run.

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Well, the news sounded good at the time, but it seems that movement seen last February might have been due to the massive inventories of homes being sold by banks who have managed to issue tons of bad loans to customers who wanted homes, for which they couldn’t have cared much for at the time due to the housing market boom that was well, booming. The word is fitting for the booming market quickly burst sending millions of homeowners without anything to pay for their home loans. (more…)

February home sales surged a bit, giving the worn out and beaten real estate industry that is managing to get by with whatever minimal sales they get. But will it last, that’s a totally different story for any gains in the economy are downplayed by other issues that continues to plague the whole economic picture. Jobless rates are at their highest and they continue to swell in spite of measures being put in place to augment the many faltering businesses. (more…)

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Do you know what happens if you die without a will? The courts will decide who will raise your children, manage your assets, inherit your possessions, and administer your estate. Heirs must usually agree on a court appointed administrator. If some of the heirs are mentally incapacitated, or under age, it gets unbelievably complicated. Add in children and spouses from previous marriages and it can become a seething pot of turmoil for your family.If your second spouse survives you, the children from your first marriage could end up with nothing. The courts may set aside assets to be given to the children when they come of age, that makes it impossible for your spouse to afford your current home or lifestyle.When there is no will and a couple dies together, the state may have to “decide” who died first. If one outlives the other, even by a few minutes, the relatives of the first to die can loose out completely.

Without proper organization your assets could go unnoticed or become lost and loved ones may not benefit from your years of hard work.

It isn’t that real estate hasn’t experienced new business models before, or that brokers are scared, but new models are multiplying like rabbits. The amount and assortment that have emerged during the last decade have proliferated into a full four-page menu of choice, enough to mystify even the savviest of broker. And while everyone slowly absorbs the abundance of alternatives, time is not standing still and a reshape of the industry is already visible.

MLM, Annuity, Residual, Auctioneering, Flat-Fee, No Fee…there are so many interesting and exciting new models, but then there are also so many brokers clinging to the traditional model. It’s not that the existing model is all that bad, but with outdated compensation plans, weak infrastructure and unnecessary physical locations it is going to become increasingly harder to compete. Many will likely see their market share eroded over the course of the next few years with the gainers coming from both successful new models as well as traditional companies willing to adjust.

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