Real Estate USA Home Sales

So you’ve decided to invest in a new build in the Phoenix, Arizona Real Estate market. Congratulations on making a smart decision! New builds are a great investment. They are more energy efficient than older homes, built with safety and security in mind, are being marketed with unheard-of buying incentives, and have the key benefit of never having been lived in. It is essentially a blank canvass for you and your family to make your own.

While being the ideal choice for many home buyers, purchasing a new build can also be fraught with potential complications. In order to avoid the common mistakes that buyers make, consider hiring a buyer’s agent.

A buyer’s agent can make your home buying experience a lot smoother by doing a lot of the grunt work in terms of market research, setting up viewings, and dealing with many of the details that the buyer may not be aware of.

Contacts within the industry are a major advantage of hiring a buyer’s agent. They can assist you in finding a builder with a solid reputation and good references. Without this valuable inside information, you are taking a major risk with your investment. Buying from a disreputable builder can lead to expensive headaches later on. Don’t take that risk; hire an agent to protect your interests.

The buyer’s agent works for you, not the builder.

Another advantage to having a buyer’s agent on your side is the fact that they have up-to-the-minute market information. They can do a comparative market analysis to find out what homes in your purchase area are selling for. This research is imperative for a buyer because buyers who don’t do their homework can end up bidding above or below market value. They then either lose the sale or pay more than the house is currently worth. Again, an agent works with your best interests at heart, and will investigate the market thoroughly before submitting a bid.

Finding the right home for your needs can be an exhausting process. There is the stress of moving into a newly built home, coupled with the prospect of making the biggest purchase of your life. This is both an exciting and stressful time. The problem is that in the flurry of home viewings, you could end up buying something that isn’t really the best home for your needs. There are many details that need to be taken into account before purchasing a home. Will the yard be big enough for the kids? Is it a long commute to work and school? Is the layout of the house going to work for us? Does this house really meet our needs, or are we jumping the gun?

Placing a bid on a home because it hits you on an emotional level can be a costly mistake. A buyer’s agent can help by providing an objective opinion. They will know what your needs are, and can assess a home’s suitability with these requirements in mind. They can take a step back and consider all the details that in the heat of the moment you may not think of. Buyer’s agents aren’t emotionally invested like you are, so they can protect you from making impulse buys.

With this in mind, agents can save you valuable time and energy by only showing you homes that match your requirements. They have access to all local listings, and can pare down your search time considerably. Without an agent, you can end up wasting countless hours viewing new builds that just aren’t what you’re looking for.

Any time you consider buying a new home, and certainly when looking into new builds, you should always have a buyer’s agent on your team. Phoenix real estate agents guide you through all the technical details involved in buying a new build, and can make the process much easier by saving you time and money. They keep your information confidential, and are loyal to you alone. They are the best friend you can have when buying a new build.

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Anne Eliason is a world traveler and professional Southern Arizona real estate agent. Looking for a new build in the Arizona Real Estate market? We can help you today!

You have a family and want to relocate. You want warm weather, endless recreation opportunities, a low crime rate, and an excellent school system. You’re in luck because you can get all that and more in Orange County!

The weather in Orange County is one of the major draws for new residents. Summers are moderately hot, and winter temperatures are extremely mild. Little precipitation visits the area, making outdoor activities a possibility all year round.

Spending time outdoors is a favorite pastime of Orange County residents, with countless recreation choices.

The majestic beaches will charm you with their beauty and tranquility. A place to rest, build sand castles, or hop on a boat cruise, Orange County beaches are the perfect place to bring the family. Visit The Dana Point Harbor Youth and Group Facility, which teaches both young and old about being safe while having fun in the water. You can learn how to sail, go on educational tide pool walks, or enroll your kids in the summer camp program.

If you have an aspiring surfer in the family, this is the ideal location for you. To learn more about the history of the sport, and have a little fun at the same time, check out The International Surfing Museum. Several of the top-ranked surfers in the world have hailed from this region, and is the home to Huntington Beach, which is nicknamed "Surf City, U.S.A." Orange County beaches provide year-round opportunities to catch a wave.

If you’re looking for outdoor fun that is a little on the drier side, be sure to check out the many parks in the county. Regional parks provide families with a traditional park experience, with lakes, tennis courts, interpretive centers, equestrian trails, and rolling green landscapes.Wilderness parks are expansive areas of natural splendor. Escape into Eden with one of the many wilderness parks in the county.

If you’re moving to Orange County, be sure to bring your tent and hiking boots! A number of parks have easily accessible campgrounds, and there is an extensive selection of hiking and mountain biking trails.

Looking to see wildlife up close? Take your family to the Orange County Zoo to see some of this area’s native four-legged residents. Head to Dana Point to experience the thrill of whale and dolphin watching. Educational and fun, whale watching is a great activity for every member of the family.

Amusement parks are the classic family attraction in Orange County, with Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm being the most famous. Other sites of interest include the Movieland Wax Museum and the Discovery Science Center.

When your children aren’t splashing in the water or riding the roller coaster, they’ll be getting a solid education. The Orange County school system is producing a greater number of graduates than the California state average. After school programs and a system-wide focus on health and wellness means that your children will be taught a variety of valuable skills they can use throughout their lifetime.

When sending your children off to school every day, you can rest assured that they will be safe. Orange County has a low crime rate, and the community is focused on stopping crime before it happens.

Your family’s happiness means everything to you, and you want to live in a safe, clean area where your kids can get a quality education. You also want to live in a place where you can do things as a family. By entering the Orange County real est

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Drew Hartanov and his team are part of the Top 2% of Prudential Agents Nationwide. Contact Drew today to learn more about Dana Point Homes. Find your family’s dream home in the Orange County Real Estate market today!

There are a lot of people who are on the look out for interesting as well as lucrative careers. Most of them are looking for a career that requires minimum input as far as daily chores are concerned, will require minimum time and offer great returns. If this is what you have been looking for and you have been drawn to real estate then you need to rethink your strategy. For while each one of the above mentioned things are true, it is also true that you need to have a deep understanding of real estate. You simply cannot plunge into it without knowing what is expected of you if you wish to be a real estate investor. So what is it that is required of you?

Not an investment

The most important differentiating factor in real estate and any other form of investment, say equities is that real estate is not just about pure investment. It requires you to be adept at the daily acquisition, management of finances and the disposition chores that may be required on your part. If you are totally new to this field then it might be better to collect as much information or even get a job as a resident manager. You could also land a part time job as a property manager. This will give you a better idea about the financial management part of the career. Looking for articles that focus on the jobs of real estate agents is also recommended. This will give an insight into the dealings that go on as far as property is concerned. There are a lot of people that get into this job part time and learn the tricks of the trade before getting into it full time. But while you are on this job, you will only be paid on a commission basis. If you are looking for a full time job, then you’d rather take up the job of a salaried secretary of a top realtor.

In depth study

After you gather the necessary information about workings and dealings in the field, the next thing that you need to do is study the field as closely as possible. There are a lot of good books out there that will help you to get an in depth knowledge of the field. Remember, like any other field, real estate too has a lot of hype and it is not always goody goodies when you get into this field. If you are looking for rental income then you need to be prepared to face the hassles of being a landlord. This is not the easiest thing to do. There are certain courses available which might help you gain a lot of knowledge. But there is nothing like on the job training. Once again, seek information from a reputed source only. The exceeding demand for quality real estate information has led to an increase in the number of con men who have started many scams. Beware of these. Finally, give yourself some time. Set realistic goals and very soon you will be making the most of this new age career.

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William King is the director of UK Wholesalers & UK Suppliers Trade Directory, Pakistan Property & Pakistan Real Estate Portal, and Dubai Property & UAE Property & Dubai Real Estate Portal. He has 18 years of experience in the marketing and trading industries and has been helping retailers and startups with their product sourcing, promotion, marketing and supply chain requirements.

In a recent article I discussed your need to find and keep great contractors. But most landlords only rely on professional contractors for some maintenance and repair tasks. The reason, of course, is price. Why pay a contractor big money to do a job you could do yourself, or find an inexpensive handyman to take care of, or even leave to the tenants?

You must weigh at least three factors in deciding who will do a job. Those factors are cost, reliability, and quality. If you’re thinking about taking on the job yourself, consider time and something I’ll call “the fun factor” as well. The fun factor is the enjoyment you may get out of doing handyman jobs. In my next article, I’ll help you figure out where you should take these projects on.

Here’s how the different candidates to do work, other than yourself, typically grade on the performance factors:

Contractor Handyman Tenant
Cost Worst Medium Best
Reliability Best Medium Worst
Quality Best Medium Worst

Of course the actual results depend on your actual contractors, handymen, and tenants. For contractors in particular, however, quality and reliability should be absolutes. If your contractor isn’t the best in those areas, replace him.

Now it’s time to think about where you want the best quality. It is an absolute must on any jobs that directly affect the safety of the building, as well as any jobs that, if not done perfectly, may result in a more serious expense later. Keeping that in mind, you certainly want a real licensed plumber, electrician and HVAC contractor for all significant projects in those areas. Be very hesitant to employ a handyman here, and never use a tenant for such jobs (unless, of course, the tenant is a licensed professional contractor).

A significant job is one where there is potential for major damage if the job is not done right. For electrical jobs, you probably don’t need a pro to replace outlets or switches, install overhead lights, or replace circuit breakers. For plumbing jobs, you don’t need a pro to unclog most drains or replace washers in faucets, toilet parts, or showerheads. For HVAC, you don’t need a pro to replace filters, thermostats or zone valves, or purge forced water heating circuits. You can probably think of other similar projects.

You should also think about insurability when considering a contractor. Your property insurance will not cover damage caused by bad repair work, unless the repair is done by a licensed contractor.

A licensed contractor is often your best bet in emergency situations. This is because such a contractor is usually on call 24/7, has replacement parts in inventory, and has more than one pro on staff.

If your buildings are in a snowy part of the country, you also need a very good snowplow operator. Use one who has been in business for several years, lives locally, and will get the job done by the time you set.

Use your handyman for light carpentry jobs, painting, and the small electrical, plumbing and HVAC jobs where you don’t need a professional. A handyman can often also take on bigger jobs such as siding, building stairs or decks, or replacing windows. Many people who hire themselves out as handymen are actually licensed general contractors.

You’re much better off with a handyman who does have a contractor’s license, along with workers comp and liability insurance. This person will consider himself a professional and will probably be much more reliable as a result. However, you might have a hard time finding a handyman of this caliber.

A handyman who doesn’t have those credentials may still do very good work, and will probably charge less. However, he is much more likely to want payment in cash, to not be available when you really need him, or even to skip town with your money. You can avoid these problems by paying only a small part up front, by scheduling him in advance (‘I’ll see you at 9 a.m. Wednesday”), and by checking frequently to make sure the job is done.

How will you find a good handyman? Start by checking with the other members of your local landlords association, making sure that their criteria for a good handyman matches yours. If that doesn’t work out, check the Yellow Pages; then the classifieds in you local paper; then signs posted on community bulletin boards. A contractor hired off a bulletin board is much less likely to be reliable than one recommended by another landlord.

The primary reason to hire a tenant is cost. However, you should not hire tenants to do anything but the most basic jobs. Use tenants only for routine tasks like lawnmowing. Of course you can make an exception if you have a tenant who is a skilled handyman or professional contractor. In that case, however, the tenant will want to be paid his standard rates.

If you do hire a tenant, make sure it is someone who has lived in your building for many months, if not years, and who has proven to be reliable as a tenant. Don’t ever allow a tenant to “work off” unpaid rent – the job probably won’t be done well and the tenant will still expect credit.

The other danger in hiring a tenant to do work is that problems with one relationship may affect the other. For example, suppose you hire a tenant to plow and he does a bad job. Now you’ve got a problem with your tenant and a problem with your snowplower. You may have to replace both.

For that reason, if you do hire a tenant, try to keep the two relationships as separate as possible. Write up a separate agreement that spells out what the tenant has to do and how much he’ll be paid. Rather than accept a lower rent, insist on full rent payments and pay separately for the work the tenant does.

If you do use a tenant or handyman to do projects, set an ironclad rule that he or she can never enter another tenant’s unit to do work – even if the tenant is there – without you also being there. This will help protect you from liability.

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Brendan O’Brien is the developer of Property Master property management software. Our landlord software runs on any Web-connected computer with full accounting, alerts, nearly 50 reports, and many other great features. www.pcpropertymaster.com

Sometime you have to sell your property due to some inevitable causes like repossession, economical crisis and economic debts etc which force you to move towards property dealers or agents. Unfortunately it is not the best alternative because these property dealers demand the excessive cash in the form of their fee or commission. Contrasting to the aforesaid situation is cash property buyers wherein you don’t have to pay any surplus fee to sell your home. Cash property buyers purchase your property directly without involving any third party. Cash property buyers offer unique ways to avoid repossession curtail financial crunches, meet mortgage debts etc. The non-intervention of dealers or agents dramatically saves time, money and efforts in unison. So stretch your arms and rest in peace. There is nothing more beneficial than selling your property for cash.
Cash property buyers or real estate companies carry out the entire sale under the legal framework. In addition Cash property buyers wave off all kind of fees or commission. Under certain circumstances cash property buyers even reimburse all legal expenses without giving any financial glitch to the client. .

The advantages of selling property to a cash property buyer are numerous, to cite a few:

• Prompt delivery of cash: cash property buyers simplify the process of property sale. Clients get their money soon after the deal is finalized, in some cases within a day. In a typical scenario, the cash is delivered in a week at max. Most Cash property buyers offer unbeatable services in contrast to property dealers, who take ages to clear the dues. In a nutshell, if you are seeking quick cash from the sale of your property cash property buyers is the answer to all your dilemmas.

• Choice to sell and rent back : for those who just wish to release the equity stuck in their property, a few cash property buyers offer the option to sell and rent back. This enables you to stay at your home even after you sell it.

• No implicit or extra fees: Cash property buyers don’t rock you further in your already prevalent state of financial distress. They mutually fix a standard cost for your property and pay you the fixed amount. What more, cash property buyers also reimburse the cost incurred on legal formalities and surveys.

• Genuine property pricing: cash property buyers purchase your property on 70-80% of the market price.

• Flexible use of cash: Cash obtain from cash property buyers can be used according to your needs. You don’t need to give a description on where you are going to invest your money. You can either clear your mortgage arrears, buy another home etc. The moment you receive your cash, you can invest it the way you like.

• Stress free procedure: While selling property to cash property buyers you don’t have to worry at all. You just need to give the necessary documents and credentials. Cash property buyers also reduce deferment and speculations in the process.

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Therefore if you want to sell your property to cash property buyer, do it at the earliest to get the beat value for your property. To read more log on to acinvestments.co.uk/" target="_blank">www.acinvestments.co.uk.

Investment in Real Estate is indeed very profitable and the sooner you get to buy a property the better it is for in terms of investment point of view. Moreover, the price of Real Estate is quite favorable these days, which make Real Estate investment, be it residential or commercial, very tempting. One must however realize that there are significant risks involved in a Real Estate transaction and all the details pertaining to the property as well as the agent need to be thoroughly verified.

First of all, in this market there are agents who are neither licensed nor bonded, and there could be many who do not know the market well and do not even care to check if the property they are trying to sell is problem-free. A number of them are fakes; there have been many instances where the agent has fled with the down-payment cash he received from the buyer or the seller, whomever he is serving. Property buyers or sellers are therefore advised to use an escrow or third party services of similar nature. Stewart Title in Houston and Fidelity Title in New York offer escrow services. These agencies hold your money in one of the US accounts until funds are disbursed based on your offer terms and conditions.

Secondly, you must check the title of the property before finalizing a deal. Nowadays a large number of properties have title problems. You may also hire an attorney to get you title clearance of a particular property. Also check whether the seller has a US title clearance and a Fideicomiso. If he doesn’t, there are possibilities that the land or property has title issues. However, even if the seller has a Fideicomiso, it doesn’t guarantee clear title of the property. You need to therefore play safe and get title insurance. But then, even this is risky. You may have applied for the insurance and paid a lump some to your agent for the same purpose, but it may happen that you never receive those insurance papers. By dealing through the escrow agents, you can however avoid this problem. These escrow agents are recommended by the genuine Real Estate agents and enjoy attractive incentives to ensure that your cash is disbursed righteously and you deal hassle-free.

Third, the deal closure is both complicated and expensive. Foreigners buying properties near coastal regions or borders are required to obtain a permit for foreign investment and hold the land/property title through a bank trust (the earlier discussed Fideicomiso). These trusts for doing the necessary services charge about $300-500 annually. This amount is very well mentioned in your trust documents, therefore, ask your agent to shop around to get the best possible deal. Moreover, there is a huge transfer tax. You may be expected to pay nearly $7,000 as closing fees, which cannot be recovered while selling that property. There is no point underreporting the transfer values because that would be considered illegal and huge fines can be imposed if caught. If you do this or allow the seller to do this, then you will be yourself accountable for the seller’s capital gains. It is simple, if the seller doesn’t pay the stipulated capital gains, then you are liable to pay the same. You need to therefore mention in your contract that the seller doesn’t receive any money from your end until he has paid all his capital gains.

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William King is the director of Wholesale Products & Dropshipping Trade Supplies & Distributors Directory, Pakistan Property & Pakistan Real Estate Portal, and Dubai Property & UAE Property & Dubai Real Estate Portal.

There is more to real estate investing than the late night infomercials,books and programs tell you.I can see how people get sucked in they have a great sales pitch and tell you every thing you need to know is in their book or course but after reviewing many of these I have to tell that’s just not the truth.So if you were Thinking about buying a book or course don,t because I am going to tell you every thing you need to know In this article.

First off real estate investing is a business just any other business,This mean you will have to do your research to find out what you need to get started. I am going to save you a lot of time and tell you what those thing are. The first thing you need is money, contrary to the books out the no money down just dose not happen. You will also need money for expenses because first and for most you will need a real estate attorney before you ever think of buying a property.In many states all real estate transaction’s have to go through an attorney and in many other states you need to have an attorney to close any real estate transaction.However I do have to say having an attorney is the best investment you can make because you have protection he can tell you what is legal or not as well as handling your contracts,an attorney will also be able to help you with any disputes that come up and if you invest in real estate for any amount of time you will see they will.

The next thing you will need is a financial & estate planner this is also very important because there is a level of risk in real estate investing and you will want you assets protected and you will need someone to advise you about taxes and other matters.Like I said before real estate investing is a business like any other business.You can not have all of your money wrapped up in real estate all of the time so you will need a financial planer to tell you how to diversify your money and give you that all important plan so you can reach your goals.

Lets say you get all of that done and you think you are ready to go buy your first property.The question now is where to start? Well unless you have a huge amount of money to buy in cash the first thing you should do is find is good financing. This is where the rubber meets the road. First you will have to decide how much you are willing to spend on a property then you will need to have your down payment and closing cost this can be anywhere between 5% to 20% of the purchase price when its all said and done at the closing table.You may ask why such a big spread well that is because a down payment can be from 5% to 15% and you don,t know how much you are going to be charged for the loan. most mortgage brokers charge from 3% to 5% of the loan amount.Somethings to keep in mind you will need a credit score of at least 620 to buy investment property and you will have to have enough income to show you have the ability to pay back the loan. You will also have to be able to show 2 or more years on the job.

OK lets say for the sake of this article you can get a loan you have your down payment and you are ready to buy a house what next? Well lets look at what you know so far. You know what your long term financial goals are,You know what your monthly payments are.So now you have to find a property that you can rent for more than than your mortgage payment is as well as finding a property that will have a resale value high enough to keep up with your financial goals. You can go out and look for your self which is a lot of time and effort.you can search the web,You can even try a real estate agent.The list goes on and on and can be a big job the most important thing to remember is once you find a property you want, Do you home work. Make sure the property will sell for what you want. this means you have to find out the percentage of appreciation is on that property and don,t for get to add you taxes.insurance,maintenance and management fees to your payment, In some cases the rent will not cover all of your expenses and you will have to pay them out of pocket tell it time to sell the property. I do know that is not an ideal situation but is often a reality this dose not mean you got a bad deal you will make you money in the end,but I want you to be aware it could happen and it is better to know going in.

So now you have bought your first property. Are you going to manage it your self or hire a property manager. Well you can only manage it your self if the property is a reasonable distance away and if you want to deal with you tenets which has its challenges.Doing it your self takes up a lot of time you can use to find more deals so just trust me on this one find a good property manager.

OK time to sell. After a year of dealing with your renters and looking to see how much money you made or lost its time to make your real money and sell. You can do it your self and save a lot of money or find a Realtor to sell it for you. If you opt to sell your self its all up to you and how quick it sells is on your shoulders or you can have a Realtor sell it for you. some things to keep in mind if you use a Realtor. They will charge you 5% to 6% of the sales price In some cases if you shop around you can find cheaper but that is the standard also when you agree to let them sell it you are under contact with them for up to a year. This means no matter what happens if you sell your property in that time frame you have to pay them. This is where your at attorney pays dividends by making sure you don,t get roped into a contract that is an unreasonable amount of time.

Now That you truly know what your up against if you truly want to proceed with becoming a real estate investor. I do offer a service that provides everything you need and we do all of this work for you at a fraction of what it will cost you doing it all your self just click on my link

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http:www.instantinvestor.net

It’s been a few years now since Austin, Texas was declared - by those who know - America’s COOL Capital, the Headquarters of Hip. Those who are familiar with the "Live Music Capital of the World" know that Austin’s is not a contrived cool: not some sort of New York art school put-on. Neither is it a hired hipness: some Rodeo Drive princess wearing all the latest threads. No, Austin is naturally hip, filled with fun, friendly people who just want to have a great time - now that’s cool.

Now, the thing is, Austin has always been a cool place, and Austin isn’t cool because some magazine SAID it’s cool (although many have, and we thank you). Austin is America’s Cool Capital because Austinites believe in doing good - good music, good food, good theatre, good festivals, and good times. And Austin has no shortage of venues and events in which to partake in the city’s cool, relaxed atmosphere.

MUSIC

Austin has literally hundreds of live music venues. Back in 1991 blues musician Lillian Standfield petitioned the City Council, urging them to name Austin "Music Capital of the USA". The City’s Music Commission did a little research and discovered, lo and behold, that Austin had more live music venues per capita than well known "music capitals" including New York, Nashville, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas! A City Council Resolution dated August 29, 1991 proclaimed Austin to be the "Live Music Capital of the World". In addition to the hundreds of now legendary Austin music venues, Austinites can enjoy live music at such unusual locations as the City Hall Plaza (every Friday at noon), at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (3 venues just at the terminal!), throughout Austin’s city parks, and at the beginning of EVERY City Council meeting! The slogan "Live Music Capital of the World" is far more than just a slogan. And while music is perhaps the primary driver of Austin’s "creative economy" it is not the only one.

FOOD

One thing that Austinites cherish above all is the eclectic nature of their city. The unofficial slogan "Keep Austin Weird" reflects not only Austin’s cherished eclectic nature, but also the desire of many Austinites to nurture and maintain diversity by patronizing the smaller "Mom & Pop" businesses, and resisting the monoculture of big box/fast food chains. Austin’s cafes, restaurants, and eateries offer a huge variety of delicious foods, from Southwestern to vegan to Thai, from laid-back fair-trade diners to laid-back uptown gourmet, and because it’s Austin, chances are you’ll get music with your meal!

ALL THE REST

Austin’s world famous music scene is perhaps best represented in the various festivals to which the town plays host. These include Austin City Limits Music Festival, The Urban Music Festival, Eeyore’s Birthday Party, the Austin Reggae Festival, Carnaval, and Juneteenth. In addition to these annual celebrations, Austinites celebrate First Thursday on a weekly basis. On First Thursday, held the first Thursday of every month, the funky stores in SoCo stay open late, musicians jam in the streets, and vendors and artists display their wares on the sidewalks. The whole neighborhood has a street party type of atmosphere - and this happens every week! While much of what has been described here represents the funkier side of Austin, the city does celebrate more refined culture as well: live theatre is alive and well in Austin, and Ballet Austin is the fourth largest of its kind in the U.S. All in all, regardless of what your tastes, Austin is an amazing place to live, work, and PLAY!

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Lisa Gray is a professional Realtor® based in the exciting Austin Real Estate area. More than anything, Lisa enjoys matching people and families with the perfect home. For more information visit her website and search Austin real estate at your leisure.

Since 1456, when the first game was recorded in Edinburgh, golf has been creating some of world’s most loyal fans and devotees. But we’ve come a long way from that crude beginning where players spent their time hitting a rock around on the craggy moors with a well-shaped stick. The Journal of Sports Sciences reports that there are now 30,000 golf courses and 55 million people who play golf worldwide. Over the centuries, players traded in the well-shaped sticks for drivers, irons, wedges, hybrids, and putters. We now have professionally designed courses, state-of-the-art gear, international tournaments and celebrities. For those who really love the game however, perhaps the greatest modern golf invention is the golf community: a place to call home where the whole neighborhood celebrates the game as seriously as players do.

These communities offer the best professionally-designed courses all within a three iron/driver’s distance from your front lawn. Often attracting celebrities and professional golf players, the challenging courses will test even the most experienced golfers. Still, there’s enough variety in the courses to keep both avid and amateur golfers entertained. Residents don’t need to be semi-pro, nor do they have to dumb it down. A range of challenges will keep it interesting for everyone - so feel free to invite your favorite non-golfing friends and relatives over. They might catch the bug too and end up as your neighbors!

With expansive greens and manicured fairways, golf communities offer residents generous and peaceful landscapes, a chance to get out and get active and social opportunities not present in many modern communities. Let’s face it, getting out on the green is good for you. Whether you’re doing the whole 18 or you’re just out for a quick 9 holes before running an errand, walking the course is an excellent way to relieve stress, stay in shape and keep your mind sharp.

Fortunately for most, a huge portion of American golf real estate is found in locations where the weather’s good all year round giving golfers time on the links even in December. This is great news for most players who know that once you’ve caught the bug, love of the game persists in spite of calendars. Regardless of skill level, devoted golfers can make it out whenever the time is right for them, "hitting the greens" as much as possible without weather interference or long distances to travel.

With the enduring popularity of the sport, it’s not surprising that golf real estate is also popular. With no shortage of people to play with and all the amenities of a luxurious country club, homes in golf communities will remain a good investment for years to come. Gated security, spas, pools, pro-shops, and communal areas add to both the community spirit and luxury of the lifestyle. But make no mistake, bells and whistles aside, these communities will always hinge on the one thing residents never tire of - the love of the game.

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Cyndi Gerken is a Rancho Mirage realtor dealing exclusively in Thunderbird Golf Real Estate. Visit him at www.thunderbirdonly.com to search golf properties in Southern California.