Costa Rica Real Estate: March 2006

Thursday

Real Estate Websites: A Technology Guide for Real Estate Agents

By Brandon Cornett

You know a real estate website will help you market your services, educate your clients and prospects, and build business relationships. You're ready to get your site up and running. You even have a picture in your head of what it should look like. There's one question...

How Do You Get Started?

My advice at this point is to slow down - just a little bit. The initial setup stage is where most folks make their biggest and costliest mistakes. In their excitement, they skip the necessary research and sign on with a designer who can't deliver exactly what they're after.

Or they shell out $300 dollars or more for a real estate website template, only to realize later that the design can't support their content plans.

Elements of a Website

To have a website live on the Internet, you'll need three primary things:

A web host (like Dotster, GoDaddy, or hundreds of others)

A domain name (like www.mysite.com)

Web pages (HTML files to structure the pages and style sheets to format them)

The Web Host

A web host is a company that provides web hosting services. These companies own servers (extremely powerful computers) that host and "serve" the files that make up their clients' web pages.

You can create a website on your computer. But you have to put the files onto a web server before anybody can access them over the Internet.

A Hosting Example

When you visit Amazon.com, your computer requests files (via the Internet) from a server. In this case, it's Amazon's own server. Your computer will request HTML files, graphics, scripts and other items needed to view and use the home page at Amazon.com.

Hosting Providers

Web hosts are a dime a dozen. The trick is to find one that's reliable, easy to use, and with decent customer service. In web host standards, "decent customer service" means you can actually get somebody on the phone when you have a problem.

Web Host Recommendations

I use and recommend GoDaddy (www.GoDaddy.com). I've also had good luck with Dotster (www.Dotster.com). A medium-sized hosting plan at one of these providers runs about $9 a month. You get a little more for the money at GoDaddy though, at least in my experience.

The Domain Name

A domain name is simply the name and address of a website. My domain, for example, is www.ArmingYourFarming.com.

Getting a domain name is easy. You just go to any domain registrar (like Register.com or GoDaddy) to first see what's available. The registrar will tell you if a particular domain is taken or available. When you find an available domain name that you want, you register it. The cost to register a domain is about $10 per year. More than that, and you're overpaying.

Conclusion

Before spending any money on your real estate website, educate yourself. Read as much as you can on the subject, and comparison-shop between different vendors. Determine your web goals, and make a list of features you'll need to support those goals. Start small with only a basic plan - you can always add features later as you find the need for them.

Copyright 2006, Brandon Cornett. You may republish this article in its entirety, provided you leave the byline, author's note and website hyperlink intact.

About the Author

Brandon Cornett has worked as a web writer and marketing manager for a direct mail company serving real estate agents since 1986. His "Agent's Guide to Web Marketing" and his free newsletter are available at: http://www.ArmingYourFarming.com
Brandon's Blog

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brandon_Cornett

Friday

Make Your Real Estate Website Visible!

By Al Kernek

So, you've created a Website to highlight your realty services and listings. Now all you have to do is wait for the customers to roll in - right? Wrong. Putting up a Website is only the first step. Now you have to fine tune your site's descriptors to boost its search engine ranking when prospective clients explore the Internet hunting for a REALTOR. It does you little good to have a Website if no one can find it. Fortunately, there are a few simple steps you can take that increase your odds of being noticed when buyers or sellers turn to the Web to find a real estate agent.

Ideally, it pays to have a meaningful Website address (also known as a Universal Resource Locator, or "URL"). Instead of your own or a realty name, your Website address should reflect the geographic area where your services are targeted or any specialties on which you focus. For instance, if you farm housing tracts in north Austin, then good choices for a URL might be www.northaustinhomes.com, www.homes-northaustin.com, or www.real-estate-north-austin.com. Using these, search engines are more likely to give you a higher placement when someone searches for "homes (or real estate) in north austin" than a competitive realty which services the same area but does not include the term "north austin" in their Website address. The key to achieving a higher ranking among search-engine returns is to be as specific as possible when casting your Internet "fishing net."

There is more you can do to enhance your search engine ranking. While the following discussion may sound technical, only new terminology is involved. The actual steps themselves are easy to implement.

"Tags" are descriptors in the underlying HyperText Markup Language (HTML) code which format Webpages. They contain important information that Internet search engines use to index your Website. This data is then compared to search information entered by engine users. Your Web authoring tool may allow you to enter Tag information without having to bother with HTML code. If not, don't panic! You don't have to become a Website programmer to manually insert critical data into your HTML code. Adding or modifying Tag information is surprisingly simple.

Whether or not your Web authoring tool allows you to enter Tag information, simply follow the advice given below to enhance your Website's visibility to search engines. If necessary, download a shareware HTML editor and use it to open your main Webpage, choosing the function that makes the HTML code appear. Selida and EditPlus are two good HTML editors which are offered free for thirty days.

On your PC or Web hosting site, open your main Webpage (usually "index.htm" or "index.html"). Maneuver to the Meta Tag entry functions within your authoring software or else bring up your Webpage within an editor so that the HTML code is visible.

To achieve higher search engine placing, it is important to have meaningful page Titles, especially for your main (i.e., home) page. The "Title" Tag for each Webpage is embedded in the HTML code. Look near the top of the page to find a line that reads TITLE; TITLE; where "xxxxx" is the current name assigned to your Webpage. In some cases, you may not even have a Title. If so, enter it directly into the HTML code immediately below the Tag HEAD using the above format.

Make the Webpage Title something meaningful, using words that a person searching for homes in North Austin, for example, would likely type in the Google or Yahoo search engine (e.g., "North Austin Homes").

Following the Title Tag, you should see a Meta Tag: META NAME="Author" CONTENT="xxx"; where the data between the quotation marks is your name (or the name of the company that prepared your Website). It is a good idea to have this data consist of your name and the name of your realty. For example: META NAME="Author" CONTENT="Jane Doe - Quality Realty"; That way, if someone is searching for you or your realty on the Web, there is a better chance they will find your Website.

Now, carefully choose the Keywords that describe your Website offerings. These should also be words or phrases that a potential buyer or seller would use in conducting an Internet search. Again, the more specific you can be the better. In our example, you would might include "north austin homes" as one keyword phrase. Perhaps "real estate agents in north austin" would be another good choice. Don't worry about being case sensitive. Ask your family, friends and fellow REALTORS for ideas. You can even see what Keywords high-ranking competitors are using by going to their Website and selecting View/Source on your browser.

Enter your new keywords and phrases using your Web authoring tool or an HTML editor. When using the latter, look near the top of the page and you will find another Meta Tag that reads META NAME="Keywords" CONTENT="xxxx"; The words in-between the quotation marks following CONTENT are your Keywords. Erase the old ones if you wish and enter your new words or phrases, separating each by a comma. It is best to keep the number of entries under a dozen, and be sure to place the most important ones first.

Looking at the HTML code, you should see META NAME="Description" CONTENT="xxxxx"; directly below the Keywords Meta Tag. This is where you enter the text that a person using a search engine will see in the returned results, so make it descriptive and enticing. In our example, perhaps you would enter "Find your dream home by working with the number one realty in North Austin. Special programs for first-time buyers." Keep it concise but make it a marketing message. After all, your objective is to get a prospective client to visit your Website.

A final piece of advice - try to use your Keywords in the text on your main (i.e., Home) Webpage, as this reinforces your focus to Internet search engines. When finished making revisions, remember to save your changes and upload modified Webpages to your hosting vendor. Then be sure to re-submit changed Webpages to the major search engines - Google, Yahoo, and MSN for sure - and directories (e.g., Google, Yahoo and the Open Directory). After submitting, it can sometimes take weeks or months for a search engine to categorize your changes. Be patient. Periodic checks using your important Keywords in each search engine will alert you to when the changes begin to take effect.

Al Kernek is a real estate broker and author of "Creating E-Mail Newsletters - A Practical Guide for the Real Estate Community." To learn more about how to increase real estate sales using low-cost Internet marketing techniques, visit http://www.renewsletter.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Al_Kernek

Sunday

Commercial Real Estate Investing

By Adrian Skiles

Investing in commercial property may open a whole new area of financial ventures for the savvy real estate investor. Opportunities abound in multi-family units, office buildings, warehouses, retail shops, car washes, laundromats, mobile home parks, hotels, apartments, strip malls and more.

The obtaining of commercial property financing is usually more extensive and time consuming than for a residential loan. Guidelines for underwriting a commercial loan put more emphasis on the income that the property produces than on the borrower's ability to repay the loan. Lenders rely on the income history and stability of the property to determine future income. Also considered, although less important, is the credit history, assets and financial strength of the borrower.

When applying for a commercial loan the previous two years and year-to-date financial information concerning the property need to be considered. This data is put into a format commonly known as a Pro Forma Operating Statement. This is probably to most important single document in the application process. A Pro Forma Operating Statement is the operating budget for the property which lists the rents and any other income such as laundry, parking, etc. and also all expenses from advertising to management fees to utilities. Your lender can supply you with this standard form and help you or the seller complete it correctly.

Also of importance to the lender is the Loan to Value Ratio and the Debt Service Coverage Ratio, (DSCR). The DSCR is how much of the proposed monthly payment will be covered by the net operating income as calculated on the Pro Forma Operating Statement. Lenders prefer to see 100% coverage and on some properties a 120% coverage is required. On purchases this determines the amount of down payment required and the terms of the proposed loan and for refinancing, the loan-to-value allowed and how much "cash-out" may be received, if any.

Commercial lending is not regulated or overseen by HUD so RESPA does not apply. Don't expect to see your typical forms such as a standard residential loan application, Good Faith Estimate or Truth in Lending disclosures. Also be aware that closing costs may be much higher than residential loans because of specialized appraisals, environmental reports, attorney's fees and other costs for special services rendered.

There are also loans for borrowers or properties that may fall outside of the traditional commercial lending guidelines. They typically require 30% down (seller carry backs are allowed up to a 95% combined loan-to-value or a 70% loan-to-value if refinancing. Some lenders even offer commercial "Stated Income-Stated Asset" programs. These usually have loan limits of $600,000. With a reduced loan-to-value, credit scores as low as 550 may even be allowed. No IRS 4506 form is required to be signed. You can close in the name of a corporation, trust or LLC and "cash-out" is allowed on refinancing. Fixed rates and ARM's are available.

Commercial real estate may be worth exploring and it just may be one more way to expand your investment and real estate portfolio.

Adrian Skiles, GML

Mr. Skiles, GML has over 20 years experience in the mortgage and real estate industry. He is currently President/Broker of Florida MortgageGroup, Atlanta Mortgage Group and The Mortgage Group of North Carolina. On the web at http://www.efloridamortgagegroup.com/, http://www.atlantamortgagegroup.com/ and http://www.mortgages-northcarolina.com/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adrian_Skiles

Costa Rica Real Estate

Thursday

Real Estate Websites: A Technology Guide for Real Estate Agents

Friday

Make Your Real Estate Website Visible!

Sunday

Commercial Real Estate Investing

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