But, you got into real estate to sell houses, not to try and be the next Hemingway. Sorry but, writing a great listing come with the territory of being a real estate agent. If you can’t write it, you’re going to be less marketable than a real estate agent who can. But, never fear, we’ve compiled a simple how-to guide for writing a great listing even if you’re not so great with words and stuff.

Don’t Be Afraid to Name Drop Brand Names

While it’s generally considered uncool to highlight or name drop any famous or important people you may know, if you have appliances or features from a well-known brand, mention it! If you have a kitchen designed by Gaggenau, or if you upgraded your house with smart-home technology, people are going to want to know about it!

Be Descriptive, But Not TOO Descriptive

Descriptors are an important part of the way we communicate with one another and should be apparent in your listing. However, you want to make sure actually adding value to the listing and not just filler. Often you will see a listing littered with phrases describing the “memories you’re sure to make in this home,” which is objective and does nothing to provide information relating to the specific features of the property. Tell people about the cobblestone path or the hand-crafted wooden deck that is perfect for barbecuing on during the summer months.

However, it’s important to remember that this is a property listing, and people want to read a list of features, not a novel. In fact, Zillow found that a 250 word-count listing is the sweet spot that is most effective in regards to selling homes. Make sure you’re effectively using language that is meaningful to your target audience.

Work with the Seller to Paint a Picture

Unless you’ve lived in the house you’re listing, you won’t know the intimate perks that come with having turned a house into a home. Work with the seller to find the personal details that will give life to your listing. For example, instead of writing about a back deck in flat terms, try saying something like, “Private back deck that is perfect to enjoy quiet mornings.”

Instead of imagining a basic wooden deck, you are evoking a comforting spot to sit and enjoy the beginning of your day with a cup of coffee and your iPad. You don’t have to do it for every room in the house, but maybe pick a few choice features and highlight them in a desirable way.

These little touches make your customized IDX website listings really come to life and take on a warmth that is inspiring. Remember to read your listing from the perspective of a buyer. If you wouldn’t be interested in living at the property based on your write-up, why would anyone else?

A Novice’s Guide to Writing a Great Real Estate Listing is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

Montreal condos for sale are on the rise once again and you can find luxury condos in many key locations in the city. They are excellent investments and if you play your cards right, you can really make a handsome profit.

High-rise living is something many people aspire to experience and it’s not really hard to understand why. First of all, condos are situated in prime locations, so there’s convenient access to offices, schools, restaurants and shopping establishments. They also have amenities like swimming pools, gyms, playgrounds and mini parks, so it’s like living in a resort.

If you want to make a profit by investing in a condo, here are some useful tips to remember:

1. Assess your finances

Be sure you have a stable income before looking at condos or at least you have enough to make the down payment and other expenses incurred in the sale of the property.

2. Treat it like a business

That means you have to really familiarize yourself with the property before you advertise it. You have to know its main selling points, find out how to overcome any objections from potential tenants, and so on.

It’s important that you manage your rental properties as professionally as possible. You can pay a consultant to guide you if you have no idea how to get started. It may be an added expense but you’ll learn a lot from the pros.

3. Know your market

Identify who your potential renters are so you can prepare for how you should communicate with them. If your market is mostly university students, then you need to be able to learn how best to interact with them. If you’re targeting corporate VIPs, then you need to know how to deal with them as well.

4. Stage your condo

Staging your condo will help you find a tenant quicker. Again, you need to take into consideration your target market. If you’re trying to attract students, then make your property conducive to them.

You don’t need to spend a fortune just to stage your condo but you do need to be a little creative. Here’s a guide on how to do it.

5. Market your property

You’ll need to spread the word around that you have a property for rent. You can list it in various website directories that cater to rental properties. You should also consider paying for advertising in the local paper or even to get an ad space in popular local websites. Giving out fliers has also proven effective.

Spend time looking at different condos for sale and have a checklist of requirements so you won’t be overwhelmed when it comes to making the final decision. Remember to look at it from a business standpoint and don’t let your emotions drive your decisions.

5 Tips for Investing in a Condo is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

Advice on how to invest can be found from a variety of sources, including online investment websites and financial advisors such as JP Morgan wealth management. Below are a few nuggets of advice on how to make the most of your foray into the housing market.

What kind of property do you want?

Do you want to buy a starter home? Are you looking for a condo? How about an investment property? Determining your goals is an essential first step.

If you are seeking your first home, the next step is to determine whether you are looking for a single-family home or an apartment. After this, you need to ask yourself how much of a risk you are willing to take. Do you want to pay lower prices for a fixer upper? Or do you want a property in a hot real estate market such as San Francisco or New York?

Is your credit good?

Whether applying for a personal loan or otherwise, your credit score is always one of the first things lenders will look at. Generally, in order to get a loan for investment property, you’ll need a strong credit score of over 740 and maintain low levels of debt in comparison to your income.

However, even if your credit score doesn’t measure up, you still may be able to obtain a low-interest loan by paying extra fees such as a bigger down payment. If you’re looking to buy a home as your personal residence, the standards will be lower, and there are federal programs which can help you out if your credit score isn’t up to par.

How much down payment can you afford?

If you’re buying your own home, a down payment of 20 percent is advisable to receive a standard loan. If you want a lower interest rate, it’s best to pay even more up front, even up to 25 percent.

However, if you’re looking to buy your own home and can’t afford 20 percent down, there are government programs which help out borrowers who can only afford minimal down payments. Your best bet though is to start saving as much as you can for your down payment when you first decide you want to become a homeowner.

Look out for the little things

When you’re looking to buy real estate, don’t discount how much it will cost. In addition to the down payment and monthly mortgage, you’ll have to pony up closing costs, property taxes, insurance fees, and costs for repairs. This is in addition to costs for water, lawyer fees, utilities, and various other expenses.

It’s wise to determine to factor these expenses into your total costs before you even start looking for specific properties.

Investing for the long haul

Real estate investments are a solid way to start building wealth. Financial advisors and wealth management companies such as JP Morgan wealth management can help you get there.

Planning and research go a long way to ensuring that you purchase the right property at the best rates and that you ultimately turn a profit from your real estate.

A Beginner’s Guide to Investing in Real Estate is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.