Do you know how much your real estate is worth in this market? How do you know it's worth what you think it is?

There are many free opportunities to get a real handle on how much your real estate is worth, as many brokers and agents will do a free evaluation. Other tactics to figure out worth include:

• Solds. Use information about the solds that surround your property and those similar to yours to find your value.
• Expireds. These are listings that have not sold within the usual 30- to 90-day period, sometimes due to overpricing. They can also give you insight about what works and what doesn't work for marketing your property.
• Currents. How does your property compare to those currently on the market?
• Value Boosters. Renovations, recent repairs and other improvements to a property can boost its value.

Read more at Realty Times.

photo credit: TheTruthAbout...

Posted in Real Estate Investing, Real Estate Market Conditions, Real Estate Industry

More and more consumers are looking for "green" features in homes today. They contribute to a healthier environment as well as reduce long-term costs, while the upfront costs may be a little trickier with which to deal.

The government reports that Energy Star-qualified homes in 2009 made differences to the equivalent of:

• eliminating emissions from 51,645 vehicles,
• saving 312,399,672 lbs of coal,
• planting 85,372 acres of trees, and
• saving 612,678,574 pounds of carbon dioxide from going into the atmosphere

In this post by Carla L. Davis at Realty Times, she offers some simple ways to start going green.

photo credit: mattymatt

Posted in Real Estate Investing, Real Estate Industry Trends, Technology And YOU

The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) has launched a new, comprehensive consumer Web site called HouseLogic, designed to help homeowners make smart decisions and take responsible actions to maintain, protect and increase the value of their homes.

HouseLogic is a free site that can be customized for homeowners. Registered users can save relevant information, create to-do lists and set project reminders.

"Unlike other homeownership Web sites, HouseLogic helps consumers view their home through a financial lens and make smart, informed home improvement investment decisions," said NAR President, Vicki Cox Golder. "Families can set goals for saving money on their home or increasing its value, and easily track the progress they are making on those goals."

Read more in the NAR press release.

Visit the HouseLogic Web site.

Posted in Real Estate Investing, National Association Of Realtors, National News

ZipRealty, the nation's largest online-based real estate brokerage, has partnered with eRealInvestor, creator of a real-time, web-based analytics solution for real estate investors, to become the first national brokerage providing the industry's premier research tool aimed specifically at buyers searching for investment properties on its site.

The "Investors' Info" tab, powered by eRealAnalyzer and embedded within each listing on ZipRealty.com, provides investors and homebuyers with detailed information to help determine a property's short and long-term investment potential, in addition to the traditional insight previously provided on the site, such as a property's estimated value, comparable sales data and neighborhood details.

"The combination of low home prices nationally and historically low interest rates provides attractive investment opportunities for many of our clients," said ZipRealty President and CEO Patrick Lashinsky. "For the past decade, ZipRealty has been at the forefront of providing clients full, transparent information, and we are happy to partner with a similarly innovative company, eRealInvestor, to bring this level of information to our investor clients."

Read more from the ZipRealty press release.

Posted in Real Estate Investing, Technology And YOU, National News

The average return on value for an upgrade declined from 87% in 2005 to 64% in 2009, according to a study from Remodeling magazine.

Money magazine offers six ways to help you maximize your return on your remodeling investment, including eco-friendly upgrades and tech-savvy home electronics.

Read more on CNNMoney.com.

Posted in Real Estate Investing, Real Estate Industry Trends