The SMART Way To Make an Offer Lower Than The List Price

Every real estate transaction is a dance between buyers and sellers that can go on for months. Both parties want to be profitable from the transaction; and to achieve this, they may have to go through several bouts of negotiations.

However, not everyone is a master negotiator. So to help buyers get the most bang for their buck, we've devised this list of elements that provide a smart way for buyers to make an offer lower than the list price.

Know the stats
You need to do your research here. You can't just offer a lower price for a property and expect the seller to jump without a second guess. You need to work with your Realtor to get specific stats like what the fair market value would be for the property you're interested in. Ways they would get this information would be by evaluating the list price of that specific home versus those of similar homes. Your Realtor would also compare the list price versus the selling price of the home as well as the number of days the home has been on the market.

Follow a set communication process
Its always better to convey any communication to the seller in writing via your Realtor. When presenting your offer, your Realtor will draft the letter, including some statistics mentioned above, and present it to the seller for consideration. If you wish to further explain your lowered offer to the seller or tell them about your feelings about their home, you may write a personal letter to them which is often times a nice touch. Personal letters may also touch the emotions of the seller and make them more inclined to take a lower offer on the home.

The seller must be motivated to sell
This is the main reason any seller will accept a lower offer on their property. A seller may be motivated to sell if they have already closed the deal on a new home and are scheduled to move soon. There are many other reason for seller motivation. Any reason it is, you need to do your research to ensure that the seller will even be inclined to budge given a lower offer before presenting one to them.

Make your lower offer attractive
If the seller doesn't seem to have a clear cut motivation to sell quickly, you may need to entice them to accept your lower offer with some offers from you. You'll need to be able to offer some compensation for the loss in profit from a lower offer like flexible closing dates or accepting all closing costs. Another thing that may make a lower offer more attractive would be having a mortgage pre-approval letter to show the seller that your funds are secure. Make sure you present ample benefits the seller will enjoy by accepting your offer.

Get the most out of the list price
Conversely if the seller refuses your offer, you can still benefit by ensuring you're getting all you could out of the cost of the home. You can request that the home be sold with the existing furniture or appliances which will save you those costs after moving in. You could also ask the seller to cover all closing costs, allowing you to use that money in upgrading your home. Get help from your Realtor in finding different ways you can get all you can out of the list price of the home if the seller won't budge on price.

This process may seem like a long journey to acquiring the right home, but in the end it will be worth it. Take your time and plan out your offer strategically. Present it with the right facts and make it work for both your seller and you. In the end, you'll walk away with a profitable investment and the home of your dreams.

5 Places You Should ALWAYS Clean Before An Open House

An open house is the main deciding factor in whether you'll get list price for your property or not. If you cannot convince your buyers that your property is worth what you're asking for there's no way you'll get what you're asking for it.

When buyers go to an open house, they want to see the home in its most pristine form to help them envision their lives in it. The only thing dirt and clutter does is make buyers see the home as dysfunctional and too small to accommodate them.

Avoid making the wrong impression with your property by ensuring these 5 places are always clean before an open house.

1. Garage - The garage is much more to buyers than a safe place to keep their cars. Its a gargantuan of extra storage space they can use for just about anything. So when preparing your home for prospective buyers, ensure that all your tools and equipment are placed neatly on the shelves and keep as much of the ground space free so the buyers can get an idea of the amount of additional space they can get from the garage. Also, make sure all the counter tops and shelves are dusted off and the floors are swept clean.

2. Backyard - Buyers love yard space. What they love even more is having it well landscaped. Ensure the lawn is cut low and all the leaves are raked away. They patio also needs to be cleared of any dirt and the BBQ and lawn furniture needs to be properly cleaned. All these details add to the appeal of your backyard and gives the buyers a great idea of what they can do with it if it were theirs.

3. Indoor Storage - this means all closets, drawers and cupboards. You would be fooling yourself if you thought prospective buyers wouldn't open every door of your home during an open house. They will look! Make sure all these storage areas are kept neat and organized. When buyers see how well-kept these areas are it helps to emphasize how useful these storage spaces will be for them. Along with keeping the storage spaces organized, you need to ensure that there's nothing out in the open that you don't want seen, namely anything that may be offensive to guests.

4. Laundry Room - Aside from the kitchen, the laundry room is one of the most used areas of the home. Its expected to be dirty. But no one wants to use an untidy laundry room, or picture themselves in one anyways. This is a particularly important room for moms who are constantly burdened by laundry duties week in and week out. As the seller, you need to ensure the laundry room is as pristine as possible to spark excitement in the buyers to actually have a functional and attractive laundry area. Make sure there's no dirty clothes in the hampers or dryer sheets on the floor. Put everything in its place and make the room spotless.

5. Appliances - This is a biggy, especially if your selling them with the home. Most people will ensure the outside of their appliances are clean but neglect the insides keeping spoiled foods in the fridge or letting the stove build up gunk inside. This is a HUGE no-no! Buyers don't want to see their future appliances being mistreated by previous owners. They want to know that, although they're buying used appliance, they were handled with the utmost care guaranteeing them additional years of use.

After cleaning your home and getting everything ready for your open house, be sure to go over our list and ensure all these items are clean. Once you have all these areas covered, you're guaranteed to be a hit with home buyers at your next open house.

Get detailed one-on-one advice from a certified Belize real estate agent today!

Great Deal! Two Homes for Sale in Belize on Sittee River

The Sittee River in Southern Belize lines the banks of the Sittee River Village that neighbors Hopkins. Sittee River Village is a shaded community filled with lush vegetation on its banks, and small wooden houses, small grocery stores and friendly residents.

CPC Real Estate is giving you the chance to experience life in this quaint oasis with a package deal of two homes for sale on 5.45 acres of land in southern Sittee River Village. This Belize property for sale is comprised of 4 parcels (lots numbers 3,4,5 and 6) which are ideally located near Hopkins and its developing hotel zone.

The main living quarters are on lots #4 and #5 which consists of 1.78 acres. There is a home on each lot with 350 feet of river frontage. The main home is turnkey and sits on lot #5. It is a 2000 sq. ft. 2 story concrete home with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.

The second home is on lot #4. This home is 900 square feet with 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. It is a 2 story wooden home that is currently being used by the property's caretakers.

This property is home to a host of amenities including a 60 foot boat dock, large two-car garage, two-car carport, and ample space for storage under the main home for additional vehicles and other equipment.

Community amenities include a marina just south of the property, a newly constructed marina in nearby Sittee Point Estates, municipal power, water, internet and cable TV, immediate access to the sea and proximity to Hopkins Village.

Here are some images of the property and homes.

Main Turnkey Home

Second Home used by Caretakers

Garage for Main Home

Living Room of Main Home

Kitchen of Main Home

Enclosed Sun Room of Main Home

To get more information on this property and see more pictures, visit the listing page here.

The Beginner's Guide to Owning your First Home

Ready, set, BUY!

If only it were so easy. You will never be without worry when in the market for purchasing a home. This is a huge investment that deserves an equally huge, well thought out plan of action. Here's a concise beginner's guide to owning your first home to help form a steady path on your house-hunting endeavor.

Know what you can afford
The most important factor in determining your success when buying a new home is knowing what you can afford and staying within those limits. As a general rule of thumb, you can afford a mortgage 3 times your annual income. Your monthly payments on your mortgage should not exceed 28% of your monthly income, while your monthly bills should not exceed 36% of your monthly income.

For example, if you make $36,000 a year, you will be able to afford a home worth $108,000 with your monthly mortgage payment being no more than $840 and your monthly expenses being no more than $1,080.

Have your down payment on hand
Depending on the type of loan you're getting, your down payment can be anywhere from 3% to 20%. Having a larger down payment readily available can reduce the amount you have to pay back on the loan monthly. Some other factors that may lower your monthly mortgage payments are having a lower interest rate or a longer loan length.

Other payments you'll need to have on hand are about 1 to 8% of your purchase price for closing costs and anywhere from $250 to $800 for other miscellaneous fees that may pop up.

Get Pre-approved
Being pre-approved for your mortgage is a must in order for you to know exactly how much you have on hand to spend on your new home. Without a pre-approved loan, you may miss out on homes you're interested in because you cannot act as quickly as possible in closing the deal. If you already got the loan approved, you then have the flexibility to make an offer as a home peaks your interest.

Find the right realtor
Realtors are the most knowledgeable people about property on the market for sale. They're familiar with the neighborhood, traffic trends and the prices homes are going for in the area. Real estate agents already know what homes are on sale and which ones meet your criteria, saving you tons of time and providing vital insights into which home will be the best fit for you. Visit CPC for great advice from Belize real estate agents and homes for sale in Belize.

Know what you want
Its easy to get thrown off track of what you really want and need in a home when you see what all some homes have to offer. To stay on track, you should create a list of all your must-haves in a home before you start looking. Then, split that list into two-- wants & needs. Take those lists with you on your house tours and ensure that the home you choose has all your needs in it so you're not looking back with regret for not buying a home with everything you need. If the home checks off all your needs and includes some wants too within your budget, then you've hit the jackpot!

Do your research
Although you'll have the help of your Realtor, its still important for you to know where you stand in your house-hunting journey. It's important to know your budget, but you also need to do your research on the desired location you wish to live in and have some knowledge of the prices homes are selling for in the area so that you can know if the house you're interested in is a realistic option or not.

Make an offer
After you've decided on the home of your dreams, its now time to make an offer to the sellers. This offer is your proposed price for purchasing the home. Your Realtor will normally craft an agreement with your offer and present it to the sellers for them to sign if they are in agreement. If they are, then you've got a new home. If not, you'll have to create a counter offer or find another home that will be sold for the amount you're offering.

Get a home appraisal and inspection
Once your offer is accepted, you will need to get it appraised to know its true value. Also, you'd need a thorough home inspection in order to identify any problems with the home. Both are crucial in knowing if the home is a good investment or not.

Close the deal
In closing the deal on your new home purchase, you sit down and finalize all the legalities and ownership transfer. You'll also make the down payment now and pay closing costs if necessary. Finally, you'll also be given the keys to your new home!

5 Tips Every First Time Buyer Needs to Know

Buying your first home is a HUGE deal. Its probably the biggest investment you'll ever make so the pressure that comes along with being a first-time home buyer is sure to be monumental. Don't let your emotions get caught up and hinder your good decision-making skills. Follow these 5 tips every first time buyer needs to know, and you're sure to have a clear path in finding the home of your dreams.

1. Get approved
In order to come out of this investment successfully, you need to know the right amount to invest. The only way to find this out is by consulting with your lending institution to find out exactly how much you're approved for. This amount will then be your guide in your house hunt.

2. Budget smart
Just because you've been pre-approved for a certain amount doesn't necessarily mean you'll be able to comfortably afford it.  You need to take things like renovations, new appliances and furniture, bills and incidentals into account as well with your budget. Ensure that the amount you set to spend on purchasing your new home leaves you with enough change in the budget to cover other expenses so you're not stretching yourself too thin.

3. Research location
More times than not, the location of your new address is even more important than the home itself. A home is something you can always customize to meet your personal taste and style; but there's no changing a location. Do your research and make sure the neighborhood of your potential home is right for you in terms of its proximity to stores, activities, work and school; as well as its crime rate and traffic. Once you have the desired location set out, you can then venture freely into finding a home on the market or land where you can break ground on building your own home.

4. Keep your options open
People tend to get stuck into their pattern of thinking and block out amazing opportunities that lie outside what they've ever imagined possible. Don't let this happen to you. Just because you've decided on an existing home in your neighborhood to be yours, doesn't mean its the best possible option out there. Spend a couple weeks exploring other locations where the  homes may be cheaper, sort through foreclosures or maybe even building your own home from the ground up. Take the time to weed through all the options available to you instead of just latching onto one option immediately based solely on your emotions.

5. Save, save, save
When you're in the market for a huge investment like a home, its certainly not the time to make large purchases or any major career changes that can negatively impact your budget. You never know what emergencies may happen while you're in the process of buying your home. As a basic rule of thumb, you should have at least 3 months' mortgage payments set aside in your account in case of any unforeseen emergency that may arise.

Bonus: Don't get hung up on the decor and furniture in homes that you tour. Remember all these things can be changed to your liking. Keep your focus on the space the home provides and the flow, to see if it would suite your needs.

You can get more insight into buying your home from the experienced agents at CPC Real Estate Solutions Ltd.

2 Bedroom Beach Villa For Sale in Placencia Belize

Placencia, Belize is on the rise as one of the top places in the country to live. Thanks in large part to recent structural developments in the area with newly updated roads, an increase in businesses, as well as its scenic ocean front location on the edge of the Caribbean.

There are a lot of newly built condo complexes and beach front homes on the market right now that make living in Placencia, Belize an easy process. With competitive prices, you’re sure to find something that meets your taste and budget.

Here is a deeper look into one such property – a two bedroom beach villa that comes fully furnished with a pool.

Enjoy Style and Comfort

This home is located in the Cocoplum Residential Community. This is a master planned resort community that boasts a large beach and lagoon front homes for sale in Placencia, Belize with luxurious finishes.

This newly built home is two bedrooms with two baths sitting on a 96’ x 200’ lot with a 66’ Reserve. It has a very open floor plan with folding glass doors in the living area that provides unparalleled views of the beach and nearby islands in the distance. Just beyond these doors is a large deck surrounding the pool, which will be great for soaking up the sun in Belize!

Modern amenities in the Caribbean

Belize is still considered to be a third world country, but there is no lack in innovation here. You can still enjoy all the technological comforts from larger, more modernized countries here. This beautiful home comes with underground power, cable TV, 24-hour security, a water supply system, granite 

counter tops and tiled floors.

Income Property

One main benefit to living in the Cocoplum Residential Community is that the principals live on the property and provide property management services for buyers who choose to use their homes for only parts of the year. With this property, you’re able to enjoy the best Placencia has to offer as well as earn an attractive extra income while you’re away.

Don’t miss out on this beautiful beach villa in Placencia Belize! Contact the brokers for more information on the property and owner financing, today!

7 Benefits of Investing in Belize Real Estate

Offshore investments are one of the most effective ways to get a good return on your dollar. Investing in Belize real estate provides all these benefits and more.

Belize is a small Central American country that is packed with an abundance of natural resources, beauty and attractions. Belize is home to some of the best scuba diving and fishing spots in the world, thanks to having the largest barrier reef in the western hemisphere within its boundaries. With tourism as one of the biggest growing industries in Belize, the country has been able to branch out in various specializations of the Tourism umbrella.

One such area of specialty is Medical Tourism. Because of the quality and affordable health care provided in Belize (ranging from dentistry to medicine to dermatology and more), many people are anxious to visit and those that permanently reside here enjoy such benefits.

Belize has much to offer its residents. Here are some benefits you’ll get to enjoy by investing in Belize real estate.

1. Easily own a second home

It’s easy to own a second home in Belize, specifically because of their affordable price tags. A nice home on the beach in Belize will cost you about $100,000 whereas a similar home in Miami Beach could easily cost almost $1,000,000. If you invest early, you can enjoy the vacation home of your dreams during your working years that will easily convert to your retirement home. Belize is popular with expats and retirees, who are looking for an escape from the years of hustle and bustle of urban living, because of its laid back lifestyle and “easy going” people.

2. Currency diversity

By investing in Belize real estate, you’ll be diversifying your wealth profile and stabilizing your net worth. Have you ever heard the phrase “never put all your eggs in one basket”? Well, you’re doing precisely that by only saving and investing in your home country. By investing in another country, you’ll be benefiting from added security for your money should one economy suffer a decrease in value.

3. Low cost of living

Belize is a retirement hot spot with expats because of its affordability. You can maximize your retirement savings in Belize and live on as little as $1000 per month without sacrificing much. The Government of Belize has also provided expats with a great retirement package, called the QRP, which provides immigrants with tax exemptions when retiring in Belize.

4. Privacy and tax benefits

When you own foreign real estate for personal use, and it is in your name, it is not mandatory to report it. Additionally, you can enjoy tax deductions for the cost of searching for and purchasing the property as well as some maintenance expenses on the property once it is for personal use. As always, it is best to consult a tax professional to get all the details of how you can enjoy tax deductions from your offshore investments.

5. Location

Owning real estate in Belize is very convenient to those who don’t plan on living in Belize year round. Belize is located a short plane ride from major airports in the US and is easily accessible to other major countries around the globe.

Because of its ideal location, Belize enjoys a sub-tropical climate all the time. This means that the average yearly temperature is in the mid 80’s with lots of sunny days, prefect for exploring the abundance of wildlife and relaxing on the many beaches.

6. Earn income abroad

Investing in Belize real estate can also provide property owners with an extra income stream. You can generate income by using the property as a rental when you’re not there, which will generate income in another currency denomination adding to your wealth’s currency diversification (see #2).

7. International asset protection

When you invest internationally, your investments are protected by the jurisdiction in which the assets are in. Investing in Belize provides added security for your investments. Although possible, it is highly unlikely that your assets will be easily accessed by a foreign government.

If you decide Belize real estate is the right investment for you, below are some helpful links to get the most of your investment.

• Asset Protection Lawyers
• Belize shipping and freight services
• Belize IBC (International Business Companies), trust & foundations formations