www.OwnACondo.com
8Jul/09Off

Condo Real Estate

Condo real estate can be one of the best buys right now.  In today’s market condos can be purchased at levels under market value like I’ve never seen before. There are condos for sale, that when purchased, can easily be less than rent. 

How can you own a condo when you do not have enough for the down payment? There are a several ways this can be done.  Have you ever thought of partnering with a friend who has the money?  There may be a friend that you’d like to live with that can come up with the down payment for the condominium and you can pay more of the monthly expenses.  This would be mutually beneficial for both parties.

Condo real estate is a good investment right now.  What if you were to go to someone that had money and suggest that you find a great deal, they put the down payment down and you will live in the condo and pay all the expenses.  They get half ownership interest in the condo and you get half ownership in the condo as well.

Do you really want to own condo real estate? There really is nothing that’s stopping you other than you.  There are a number of sellers that cannot sell their condominium right now because it’s a buyer’s market.  You can propose buying with nothing down and buying it twenty four months from now.  This is called a contract sale.  The seller would have you in as someone paying on his condo so it’s not vacant and you’ll have twenty four months to come up with the down payment, more than enough time to save if you really want to own a condo.

So many people wonder how to own condo real estate, they just have to want it bad enough.  Are you willing to do everything it takes to own real estate right now?  If so you can own your own condominium, or condominiums.  You can begin this process with an investor and start finding the deals for them.  As you find and do all the management, they put up the cash.  The split is fifty-fifty allowing you to begin the process of condo ownership and the investor reaps the rewards of you finding the deals.  It’s a win-win for both parties.

Condo real estate can be purchased right now.  If you want it bad enough, you can buy the condo you want today.

5Jul/09Off

A Chicago Condo Company

What is a Chicago Condo Company? How do they differ from a brand real estate agency we’ve all heard of?  A condo company is a real estate organization that focuses on condos only.  But why a condo only company?  What will they do different? A Chicago condo company functions exactly like a normal real estate organization except they sell condominiums versus selling any style real estate that comes through their doors.

Let’s take an example of having a sore shoulder.  What type of doctor are you going to see?  You’re not going to go see an eye doctor, that’s for sure.  That’s the idea here.  You would look up a doctor that specializes in this area.  It makes all the sense in the world. Sore shoulder, shoulder doctor, bad eyes, eye doctor, sell or buy a condo, condo company.

How do real estate companies exist generalizing and not focusing on one niche in the business?  It’s been this way for so long that the general public really doesn’t know any better.  The idea of having a company that does nothing but focus on condos doesn’t exist on a national scale.  The consumer goes on line or down the block to the neighborhood agency.  But times are changing.  A condo company is needed and needed badly.  This is a volatile market.  It’s important that real estate agents really understand all the facets of condo ownership, condo association law, condo financing and the condo market.  They have to be on their toes understanding if an association running the condominium complex is under budget or over budget or if the association is funded enough for a crisis situation or is possibly on the brink of bankruptcy.

Having a condo company real estate brokerage specializing in this is good for the consumer.  That’s who it benefits.  In the end, the condo company will be limited in that it onl sells condominiums, but just like KFC that sells chicken, when you specialize at something, you get really good at it.  A condo company sells condos.  A real estate company that doesn’t specialize is something to truly look at if you want to place your investment in their hands.  There are always real estate agents in an organization that may specialize in one area of a metropolitan area or one type of real estate.  This ultimately is good, but wouldn’t it be nice if the entire company did nothing but sold condos and you were selling a condo?

18Jun/09Off

A Condo Company

A condo company is important when buying or selling a condo.  The real estate industry is changing and people are specializing now. A condo company focuses in one thing; selling condos. Let’s break this down to fully understand the difference.

Think of a doctor one hundred years ago.  It went to him for just about everything.  If you had a battle with the flu or if you had an eye problem there was one person to turn to. As time went on, the specialists started to kick in.  There are now doctors for every part of the human body imaginable.

Think of a Realtor that does not work for a condo company.  He’s sitting at his desk and the phone rings with a seller of a one million dollar home in the city of Chicago.  They run out to meet the seller of the home, do all the due diligence investigating homes for the next three days and they finally list the house for sale. The next week this same real estate agent gets a call from a vacant land owner wanting to sell land in Hinsdale, Illinois.  The realtor goes through the same process but now with the piece of land in Hinsdale. 

When the year is up, this particular Realtor did twenty four presentations, two per month.  They did six condos, six homes, six apartment buildings and six vacant pieces of land.  They marketed all these properties and met four different types of buyers as well. This Realtor became the jack of all trades, learning about these four different arenas of real estate.

Let’s look at an real estate agent that worked for OwnACondo.com, a condo company dedicated to just condos.  The same real estate agent working for OwnACondo.com handled twenty four condo listings in the same twelve months.  They met the same amount of people but they have four times the amount of buyers for one product, versus twenty five percent for four categories.  They are not the jack of all trades but the master on one.

By being a master of one, you become better than anyone else.  That means more knowledge and more efficiency.  It means faster closing and sales.  It ends up separating yourself from the pack.

The time has come for a condo company and the one rising to the top of the heap right now is OwnACondo.com.  You can reach them 866.696.2266.

24May/09Off

Real Estate Companies in Chicago

As with all urban areas, real estate companies in Chicago are not all the same. If you are buying or selling property you want to find a company that you can rely upon. Many buyers that are moving from out of state might not have the opportunity to use companies that were personal referrals. Here are several stapes that you can take to make sure that you are doing business with a reliable real estate company.

First of all, do your research. Make sure that you thoroughly research any potential real estate companies in Chicago you are interested in. Make sure that they have a website that is informative and organized since it is the gateway to their business. The more information that a website has to offer about their company and its services, more business and conversion they do. Look for testimonials from previous clients that can give you an idea of the company’s level of professionalism and dedication. Compare and contrast several of these companies and look for the number of properties that they have listed, the number of closings that they have had recently, and the number of agents that they employ. This information will help you to figure out some of the more pertinent information about the company.

Next, make sure that the real estate companies in Chicago that you are interested in are in good business standing. Make sure that there are not a number of customers that have filed complaints about them being unprofessional or unethical. The last thing that you want to do is hire a company that will cause you unnecessary stress or give you any problems. As with any important business transaction, always make sure that the company that you are doing business with is respectable.

Finally, think about the specific real estate service you are looking for and find the company that will serve you best. Your real estate needs may vary greatly from another person. If you are looking for a condo but aren’t exactly sure of what you want, you might want to find an agent that does not have a large number of current listings so that they will have more time to take you out on showings. If you have an expensive piece of property to sell and you want to earn top dollar on your investment you will want to go with a company that can provide you with a realtor experienced in handling similar types of properties.

15May/09Off

Chicago Real Estate

Now is a great time to buy Chicago real estate. There are thousands of great properties for sale throughout the city. Many of the properties are listed for incredibly low prices in order to quickly attract buyers. Depending upon your personal needs, these properties can offer you top state of the art amenities, prime locations, or affordable living. If you have been considering purchasing property in Chicago, now is an opportune time to do so.

Chicago is a premium location to buy. Why just come and visit the city when you can live here for an affordable price? There are dozens of Chicagoland neighborhoods that can suit a variety of individual preferences. The city is home to a diverse group of people that each contributes something different. The Chicago real estate market is as diverse as the inhabitants of the city. Each neighborhood has something unique to offer prospective buyers. There is always something to do in the city. You can find thousands of stores and numerous other recreational activities. The city itself has a breathtaking lakefront with a number of attractions. You can also participate or just watch a number of sports as Chicago is home to several professional sporting teams. Chicago real estate has a lot to offer buyers.

Why not take advantage of the gorgeous view of the city by purchasing a condo that can provide you with a view of the city or the lakefront? These condos are more affordable than you may anticipate depending upon location. The city is home to brand new condominium developments but also to older architecturally dated condos. And the exterior of the condos can be as diverse as the interiors. There are condos that have several bedrooms, fireplaces, and whirlpool tubs. There are also condos that are located near public transportation. By expressing your requirements to a real estate agent, you can target your search for a condo and find one that has everything that you are looking for.

Regardless of what you are looking for from your real estate purchase, there will be a property in the Chicagoland area that will have everything that you are in search of. With the number of properties that are listed for sale in the area you are also guaranteed to get a great deal on any property that your purchase. And after you have settled upon a home or condo in Chicago you can also enjoy everything else that the city has to offer.

6May/09Off

The Condo Real Estate Market

The condo real estate market is improving. There are a number of beautiful condos that are on the market right now waiting for a buyer. And now, with the stimulus plan and the buyer’s tax incentive that is available, a number of people are in the market for a condo. Condos are priced low right now, giving buyers a tremendous advantage. There are also many condos available on the market right now, which is another advantage for the buyer. There are condos available that suit a variety of budgets and requirements. Now is an opportune time for anyone to get out of a rental situation and purchase a condo.

The real estate market has seen many ups and downs in the past decade. There was a point where new developments were constantly under construction and people were demanding top dollar for their properties. The condo real estate market was also the same; million dollar developments were popping up everywhere offering buyers luxury condominiums boasting the most high end amenities. These condos were selling at rapid rates as mortgage lenders eased up on their restrictions for lending.

Now, those very same condos can be had at a much more affordable price. There are a number of fantastic deals that are available right now for buyers. They can find short sale condos, foreclosed condos, or condos that have just been sitting on the market for way too long. The deals that are available on these condos are unbelievable. If you have ever considered investing in real estate before and you can afford to do so, now would be the perfect time. And, as the economy continues to take drastic steps towards recovery, these deals won’t be around for long. The homebuyer’s tax credit only applies to residential properties that are purchased this year. You may be eligible for an $8000 tax credit if your purchase a residential property.

The condo real estate market fluctuates over time. It is always in your best interest to take advantage of property ownership opportunities while they are available. It is a great time for people who have been considering taking the leap from renter to owner to purchase property if they are able to. With the low price of condos, the large selection of condos that are currently on the market and the number of incentives and tax breaks from the government now is the opportune moment to purchase a condo.

3May/09Off

How Condo Law Applies to you

Many condo residents are unaware of the condo law that presides over their condominium building. But these laws directly affect these residents and the amount of money that they pay in assessment fees. Your condo has a board of members that choose an association that takes care of the needs of the residents. The association is responsible for providing a number of services for the residents and they must always make sure that they are within the condo law in all of their dealings. In order to ensure that residents are satisfied with the performance of their association you must choose a reliable company to manage your condo. All condo association management companies are not equal in the quality of service that they can provide.

A lot of residents are often unhappy with the association representation that they currently have. Many of them complain of high association fees that garner them little attention from the association. When a condo owner has a concern, a question, or a complaint, they should be able to communicate it to the association immediately. Condo association management companies need to work with the condo owners to find solutions to any problems that they may have. Your condo association provides you with a service that you pay for, you have every right to expect that they treat you with courtesy and that they carefully listen to any problems that you may be having and that they rectify them in a timely manner.

The association is responsible for providing a number of services including collecting monthly association fees from residents and initiating collection proceedings if necessary, resolving disagreements between condo owners, organizing daily maintenance of the property, conducting board meetings with members, assessing potential improvements to the property, actively exploring and employing ways to guarantee that the property run efficiently, and performing general accounting duties. They are also responsible for handling developer and turnover issues and civil litigation.
Condo associations are charged with the responsibility of resolving disagreements with unit owners, contractors, management companies, and even local governments. They must follow all pre-described condo law that regulates these matters. Your condo association should always work with its residents and remain within the law. They must be prepared to file lawsuits against contractors that do not perform work in accordance with pre-established contracts. Whenever these disputes arise, your association should be ready and able to take the necessary steps required to negate the issue.

5Apr/09Off

Condo Real Estate

OwnACondo.com is the best place to buy and sell condos. We know condo real estate like the back of our hand. You won’t bring your Ferrari to a Buick dealer so why would you go anyplace else other then OwnACondo.com for all your condo resources. At OwnACondo.com, we monitor the changes in condo real estate as well as the other changes in the condo industry such as prices and financing. When condo real estate changed and more and more units were for sale, we began approaching owners who had properties that did not sell and explained the rent-to-own program to them. The rent-to-own program soon became a great tool in sparking excitement back into condo real estate.

The rent-to-own program offers income to the owner until the condo is purchased by the renter. It gives the renter time to save for a down payment and also time to repair blemishes in the credit report. We have recently added four lenders to our website that offer services above and beyond most lenders. Our preferred lenders, Cherry Creek Mortgage, Compass Mortgage, Open Mortgage and also Platinum Mortgage just do say “You don’t qualify at this time.” They all offer suggestion to make your dream of condo ownership a reality. It is up to the individual to stay focused and on the path to owning their dream.

Also, as soon as news breaks about a great benefit to potential buyers, we are all over it. We immediately get answers and share them with our clients. Educating our clients helps them understand the process of buying a condominium, and at OwnACondo.com we stay with you from Contract to Closing and beyond.

Today’s condo real estate market has three great and exciting things that make it a great time to purchase real estate. First, the low interest rates, they can’t last forever. Second, the $8000 first time home buyers tax credit, silly not to take advantage of this great offer…the government doesn’t give things away often enough! Third, it is a buyer’s market. There are currently more listings to sell in today’s condo real estate than ever before. When you add up these three great things, you will want to get started in owning your own piece of the American Dream.

So take the worry out of buying or selling your condominium. Let the Condominium Specialists begin working for you and learn first-hand why OwnACondo.com is the best place to buy and sell condos.