There's no way you've missed that foreclosures are up, up, up & mortgage lending rules are getting tighter while mortgage lenders have been shutting down.  Houses are sitting on the market waiting to sell, while their owners are straining to meet the bills each month, becoming progressively more desperate.  Does that mean its time to run from real estate investing?  Yes and no.  Yes, if you are banking on appreciation to make your deal "work itself out" and HOPING that someone will take your marginal deal and not notice all the work you didn't complete on your rehab while paying top dollar - run from real esate investing.  No, if you have looked at the situation carefully as to where you invest, where your investing dollars come from & how to be correctly positioned for a quick, top-dollar sale - stick with real estate investing. 

What should smart real estate investors do to make sure that they can and are getting top dollar in today's market?  Here are 4 things to help you make a quicker, more profitable sale:

First, be sure that you are clear on what today's market will pay.  Last year's appraised value may be fine or it may be "off".  The real estate market changed, don't fight it, roll with it, make it work for you by knowing what realistic numbers for today are.

Second, be the best house.  Make your home outstanding in some way.  Of course, you will have to figure this into your budget when you are making the purchase decision, but it will pay off in a quicker sale, for a higher price.  Whether you put accent walls, garden tub, marble counters, something that other homes in your price range & neighborhood don't have, make it help yours be THE HOUSE.

Third, stage your home.  Figure this into your costs & just do it.  If you are using a real estate agent, they can probably recommend someone their clients have used with success.  As a real esate investor you probably have a great imagination and can picture the home with furniture and pictures, the whole nine yards - the person looking to buy probably can't.  

Fourth, know the competition.  Do you know what, if any, perks are currently being offered on similarly priced homes?  If everyone else is offering a big screen T.V. & no closing costs - what are you doing?  Remember, you make more the quicker you sell.  So, it may mean you have to compete by using perks - fine!  Would you rather own it an additional 6-8 months longer than you have to just to avoid "giving in" to paying for a bit of persuasion?  

Go for it - sell it fast - be happy - get to the next deal!

Jennifer Dintelmann