Over the last few years, the stock market has been on a see-saw ride and if you are like a majority of American’s, your 401k or stock portfolio is not impressing you.  But where else can you put your money that creates a safer or more reliable return?  How about real estate? Despite what your gut reaction might be, the return and stability on having real estate in your investment portfolio is very favorable, especially in the Chester County market.

In Chester County we enjoy a very good employment rate, along with a diverse amount of industries finding their homes here. This creates a very stable market for renters. The Chris & Caleb team are big proponents of investing in real estate and even teach seminars and classes on it. If this is of interest to you, we’d be happy to schedule a private appointment to discuss the various strategies with you.

I recently read an article on CNNMoney.com entitled “Cashing in on rental property”. It was a great article and I wanted to give a few local points to their article aimed at a national audience.

• Chester County is an amazing place to own rental units. Most of the rental options available are fairly expensive communities where renters pay a premium. There are many properties available that you can purchase that will cash flow positive and be great competition for these big game rental communities.
• Demand for rentals is going through the roof, as many people are either scared to buy or unable due to various factors. The rental market has been flooded with demand which means rental rates have headed up, but prices for purchasing real estate remain at amazing lows.
• If you are considering investing in real estate, we have a great program to plug you into, which helps you clarify your criteria and connects you with great financing options.
• I agree with the article 100% when it recommends you purchase properties in area’s that you can get to in 10 minutes and that you are familiar with. Do not buy a property just because it seems like it’s a “Good Deal.

You can read the entire article on CnnMoney.com

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This home will charm the socks off of you. Not only is the main house itself have a ton of charm and character, but there is a beautiful horse stable, made of stone, on the property as well. It sits on 6 acres in Uwchlan Twp, which is a rarity in and of itself, but it backs to about 8 acres of designated open space by the township so your privacy is ensured. We have never seen anything like it in Uwchlan township. In addition, the lot has the ability to be subdivided into 5 possible lots, which really boosts value.

410 Winding Way, 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bath, split level home with just over 1800 interior square feet, listed for $169,500

This is a great investment opportunity. This foreclosure is located in a neighborhood where homes sell for close to $300,000 and while this home needs a lot of work, for the right buyer, this home could be gold. This home is not a first time buyer home as it needs many improvements, as reflected in it’s price.

199 Spring Run Ln, Downingtown, 4 bedrooms 2.5 bath colonial, listed for $299,900

This well maintained Colonial sits in the established community of Taylors Mill. The current owners keep the home very clean and have made some great upgrades including, but not limited to Red Oak hardwood floors, remodeled kitchen with maple cabinetry and corian counters, high efficiency HVAC system and more. These will save any buyer a lot of money down the road. One of the best features is that it sits adjacent to a horse farm, ensuring privacy and great views.

Download the details on all three homes.

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Chris LaGarde, the Home Buyer Specialist for Chester County, gives you 5 tips to help you determine the best budget when looking for a home.

Submit a question of your own!

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Chris LaGarde, the Home Buyer Specialist for Chester County, gives you the 7 questions every home buyer needs to answer for themselves before they know they are ready to buy a home.

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Chris LaGarde, the Home Buyer Specialist for Chester County, discusses the pro’s and con’s of buying a short sale or foreclosure.

Receive our free list of foreclosures in the Chester County area.

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Learn how YOU can take advantage of this incredible Buyer’s Market!

FOR BOTH FIRST TIME & REPEAT BUYERS!

Next Date is Saturday February 12th, 2010 at 10:30 am at the Keller Williams office in Exton. (Map is below)

If this date does not work for you, we can set up a private seminar that fits your schedule.

You will learn the following:

• What tax advantages there are to Ownership
• Why now is the time to buy
• Overcoming major obstacles like “no money” or “bad credit”
• 10 deadly mistakes buyers make in this market and how to avoid them
• Why “MOVE UP” seller/buyers have a HUGE advantage in this market.

Taught By:

• Norm Miron, Wells Fargo Mortgage
• Chris LaGarde, Buyer Specialist, The Chris & Caleb Team, Keller Williams Real Estate
• John Benson, National Property Inspections

SEATING IS LIMITED!

To reserve your seat, please complete the registration below.

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Learn how YOU can take advantage of this incredible Buyer’s Market!

FOR BOTH FIRST TIME & REPEAT BUYERS!

Next Date is Thursday, January 20th, 2010 at 6 pm at the Keller Williams office in Exton. (Map is below)

If this date does not work for you, we can set up a private seminar that fits your schedule.

You will learn the following:

• What tax advantages there are to Ownership
• Why now is the time to buy
• Overcoming major obstacles like “no money” or “bad credit”
• 10 deadly mistakes buyers make in this market and how to avoid them
• Why “MOVE UP” seller/buyers have a HUGE advantage in this market.

Taught By:

• Norm Miron, Wells Fargo Mortgage
• Chris LaGarde, Buyer Specialist, The Chris & Caleb Team, Keller Williams Real Estate
• John Benson, National Property Inspections

SEATING IS LIMITED!

To reserve your seat, please complete the registration below.

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Fear is an indicator, that’s it. It tells us when we need to take account of what’s going on around us and either push forward or change course. It’s a tool of sorts. And when it comes to fear, there are generally two kinds – Fear that is an indicator we need to pay attention to something and fear over something that could kill us. Many times we mistake the first kind of fear for the second and stop moving all together. That would be a mistake.

In a market like this, if you have a goal of buying a home, don’t just let fear stop you. Push through it and gather information. Reach out to those who have accomplished what you are aiming to do, talk to the professionals that can help you – in short, gather information, get educated. Once you have gathered a reasonable amount of in, and gotten educated, you can then make an educated and sound decision.

I talk to many people that let fear stop them, where instead, if they sought education and knowledge, they would probably find out that they have a huge opportunity in front of them, that they are letting pass by and it is costing them a lot of money.

So, there’s my two cents on fear. To read the entire article, just click here.

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