So you have your real estate license.  Did anyone tell you how difficult it can be?  I bet not! At least it is if your really looking to make a career out of it. I know when I first started that I thought homebuyers and sellers would be there. I didn’t think of how they would get there, I just assumed they would be there, ready willing and able!  I didn’t know when I first got into the field back into 2001 that prospecting for leads was part of this career. My broker told me to start with my Sphere of Influence, that would of been great, but believe it or not I am not one for socializing an awlful lot, which puts me in quite a predictament. Well I am pretty sure I am not alone on this.  There are many agents out there doing no business at all because they don’t know where to start. I believe in the world that we live in now, cold call, prospectings, and knocking on doors is a action of the past.  The time is well over due to bring your career to the level that society has allowed.  Yes I am talking about being virtual.  You need a website today for your real estate career to flourish. Here are some key features to look for in a real estate website

• Listing management where you can add listing details and photos
• Virtual Tour Links-A picture says a thousand word-virtual tours makes the phones ring
• Google Maps-Now days this is a feature that is expected-Be able to print directions to a home
• Single Property Sites-Be able to present to home sellers their own web page with a sub-domain ex. 133mainst.yourrealtor.com
• Pod Casting-Be able to present audio with your listings.
• Email Property Listings to your clients
• IDX Integration This is a must.  Buyers will spend time researching homes, every agent/broker site should have IDX
• Lead Capture Form
• Contact management system-Today’s internet buyers could be over 6 months way from buying.  You need a way to stay in touch.
• Listing syndication-You need to know your listings are put out on the internet using Google, Yahoo,Trulia or Zillow just to name a few. The company you choose should offer this feature.
• Web Hosting should be part of the package
• Web site statistics-You will want to see where your visitors coming from, what keywords were used, the search engine that brought the traffic.

Most importantly folks internet buyers seriously need time to incubate.  If you think that having a website out there with a perfect lead capture form is all you need, I would beg to differ.  Being a top producer for a real estate company that specializes in real estate leads I am here to tell you that buyers that come to your site could be 6 months -1 year away from home purchasing.  Don’t let them fall through the cracks, make sure you have a system set up to contact these buyers every single month.  I guarantee most agents don’t do this.  It’s a mistake not to.

Agent BizzUp  offers great website solutions for the new as well as seasoned agents and brokers.

When it comes to commercial property listings, there are many ways you can find a list of properties that are available. Some will offer a more personal touch than others. Depending on what your goals for property investing are, you might find that some offer a few impressive benefits over the others. There are three main types of listings for commercial properties utilized these days that you might want to explore if you plan to invest in real estate.Â

Investment Forums and Online Message Boards

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The world of real estate investing has gone modern and is easily managed through the wonders of the World Wide Web. You can find many excellent resources, groups, and sites that are dedicated to outlining available properties in regions around the world. You will find that many also offer advice, tips, and guidance for getting started. Remember, though, to always double check any information you find online to verify its accuracy before putting it to work for you in your property investing efforts.

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Real Estate Classifieds

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These are a little less wide reaching because you do not have access to every newspaper in the country or around the world. More importantly, you really donâ??t have time to sift through all that information in order to find the perfect properties for your investment needs.

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Commercial Property Realtors

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This is by far the best choice for you if you are serious about finding the best commercial property listings quickly. A qualified realtor who specializes in commercial properties is a simple solution for your real estate needs. The right realtor will help you identify potential winners among properties available in your area and connect you with resources far and wide to help handle transactions elsewhere.

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Only you can decide what the best solution for you is, but when it is your future on the line, it is worth taking a little time to find a qualified realtor to help you seal the deal.

Reason for Foreclosures is simple. Home owners are not able to make mortgage payments. The reasons could be various- Job loss, divorce, ill health – in short, a change in financial situation. Further to the above reasons, it is the booming real estate market in prior years and global financial down turn and crisis. People have refinanced their homes by pulling out available cash for increased mortgage payments from their equity and are unable to make those payments for various reasons.

Foreclosed homes in Canada are sold in two ways:

• Courthouse Auction sale: Check with the Courthouse assistant to verify available sales and dates. If the bids do not cover the mortgage balance, usually the bank or any other mortgage lender will buy out the property. But one cannot buy such a property as the balance of the mortgage payment has to be made on the date of the sale. House inspection is not possible prior to the purchase. You have to take it as it is. The highest bidder wins and gets to buy the property.
• Realtor or MLS Listings: Most of the foreclosed homes in Canada are sold by realtor even before the houses are listed on any foreclosure listings. The procedure is just like buying a regular property, the house can be financed, and you can do prior house inspection but need not pay any commission to anyone. To buy a home that is going into foreclosure, you make an offer to the home owner. If the offer does not cover the mortgage the bank has to approve the offer. If the house is already in foreclosure, you have to deal with only the bank. Check with the court house clerk/assistant to know if the house you want to purchase is already in the Courthouse Auction list

Buying a foreclosed property is now a Smart Investment. It has become the fastest evolving trend in Canada now. It is important that the buyer considers every pros and cons before buying a foreclosure home.

Before starting on research on the foreclosure homes, the buyer should work on the plan. You must work out on the finances first- how much money you have and how much are you going to borrow. It is very important to understand and learn the buying and selling procedure of the foreclosed properties. You must decide on the best mode of purchase

It can be through bidding, through auctions or through negotiations. Once all the research is completed you can start the procedure with utmost care and caution. After the research, you have to understand what your needs and requirements are; start looking for a dependable source of property listing. It should be within your budget but should not end up in a compromising state. You can choose a local agent because they are the best as they know all about the location. You can then start looking for the foreclosure home listing. Apart from the above you need to locate a house where you can get necessary amenities and basic facilities of life. Choose a place where property rates will go up in the near future. This is an important point to consider if you are looking for a better resale value.

After you have short listed the foreclosure home, it is time to get on to the next step.

The next step is inspecting and viewing your future home. A thorough examination of every minute detail can show up things like utility dysfunction or structural weakness or damage. This validation inspection can cost you some but it is worth spending as it saves you from expensive repairs later.

Last but not the least- you must complete all the legal formalities and issues to save yourself from any unexpected future problems.

You have to have a realtor who is experienced and familiar with the area and location.

It is always easier to buy a foreclosed home from the bank direct than to buy at the courthouse auction. If you go in for a courthouse auction house, you have to deal with the unpleasant task of evicting occupants, house inspection and competitions from other eager buyers.