Using Shrubbery to Create a Natural Barrier for your Home

One of the key features that homeowners look to increase in their home is privacy. When at home it's important to feel as though you can fully unwind and by yourself, and that can be difficult when you've got a nosy neighbor with a bird's eye view of your outdoor entertaining areas.

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For those looking for an alternative to the expense of constructing a privacy fence, consider using shrubbery to create a natural barrier.

Before you spring for a landscaper and some expensive foliage there are a few things to consider, however. First you'll want to think about what height and width you'd like for your barrier plants to be. For instance if you live in close quarters with your neighbours and some of them have elevated decks that overlook your backyard you'll probably want some shrubbery that grows to be high enough to eliminate their view.

Second, consider what grows best in your climate. If you're using a professional landscaper to help you install the shrubbery they're sure to know what types of foliage do best in your climate and provide the best cover year round. If you live in a climate that allows for outdoor entertaining year round it would be best if you didn't choose a tree or shrub that loses most of it's foliage during the winter. On that note, if you'll only be utilizing your outdoor spaces (and therefore need your privacy) during specific seasons of the year you might choose some more aromatic or aesthetically pleasing shrubbery to add some décor to your outdoor space.

Finally you'll want to consider how much maintenance you want to put into your shrubs. Some bushes might require more pruning than others not only to help them grow but throughout their lives. If you're not looking to drastically increase your lawn workload you may want to choose shrubbery that requires little or no maintenance in order to thrive.

Naturally the best way to make these decisions would probably to consult with a professional landscaper. Any landscaper worth their salt should have a working knowledge of which plants will work best for your specific criteria. They'll also be able to handle planting the shrubbery in the appropriate distance from one another and in instances where you'll be installing more mature bushes they have the equipment and man power for the installation which you as a homeowner might lack. If you'd like to go it alone, however, check out the useful articles here and here.  Both contain a wealth of information regarding choosing and planting shrubbery for privacy purposes.

Using shrubbery to create a natural privacy barrier on your property is not only cheaper than installing a more traditional privacy fence or wall, it's better for the environment and more aesthetically pleasing. By choosing the right shrubbery for your needs you can enjoy increased privacy from your neighbors with little maintenance and minimal financial investment.

Ali's Childhood Home for Sale: Greatness Not

Everyone says that they'd like to change the world and help make it a better place, but how many people actually make the effort to do so?

We've all read or heard about the selfless acts of others; like Mother Teresa who founded the Missionaries of Charity and spent 45 years of her life ministering to the poor, sick, orphaned, and dying in Kolkata's slums. Most of us have heard tales of sacrifice too; such as the incredible story of the Mexican railroad engineer Jesús García Corona, who bravely drove a burning train loaded with dynamite away from the village of Nacozari de García, killing himself but saving the lives of everyone else.

Far too many people believe that they 'don't have it in themselves' to commit such selfless acts, or that the opportunity to play the hero simply never arises.  But we all know that in our heart of hearts, we're simply making excuses'

We can all do something to make a change, and it doesn't have to be nearly as dramatic as the examples listed above. The story 'I will be a Hummingbird', as told by the late Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai is a case in point.

 

'You are too small to make a difference to that mighty fire,' the other animals cried. 'But she kept flying. Back and forth. Back and forth. Picking up water. Dropping water. Doing the best she could do to make a difference.'

It was because of Muhammad Ali that I am remembering this beautiful tale now. Seeing the recent report of his childhood home being listed sale, it struck me that while this has caught the attention of so many people desperate to grab something for themselves, here we have a man who is far more interested in giving something, doing something for others.

Along with his Generation Ali foundation, a global movement that works to inspire young people to make a positive contribution to society, the legendary boxer has just launched a new 'social cause' via Generation Ali and his Ali Center, a YouTube video contest that invites fans to display their creativity whilst promoting positive change in the world.

Fans are invited to enter the contest by submitting an original video that shows them creatively GIVING something back to a cause of their own choice, which could range from the fight against hunger and poverty, to helping the environment, education others, preventing violence or some other noble cause.

There are several creative categories in the contest, including art, multimedia, poetry, song, dance and acting, with the main prize being a trip for two to go see the Muhammad Ai Center in Louisville, Kentucky. The runner-up prize will be $1,000 donation to the social cause promoted by whoever finishes in second place, while bonus prizes will see winners given the opportunity to showcase their videos during the Louisville Day of Compassion at the Muhammad Ali Center on November 10.

Often times, all that's needed is a little motivation for people to do something to help others ' we don't have to be famous to make a change, nor do we have to sacrifice our lives. Like the hummingbird in the story above, simply doing whatever you can is more than enough to make a difference.

This poster of Ali says it all ' courtesy The Ali Center

One really excellent way to save a little piece of the world is to do so with really excellent people beside us. It is with a sense of great pride that we run this series of stories across the web about The Greatest, Muhammad Ali. I leave you with a quote from Ali himself, it say a lot about what belief does.

'It's the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.'

I urge you to begin on your path to giving greatness, join in the Generation Ali movement. Watch the video below wherein Ali's greatest boxing foes speak for him.

Author's note: Special thanks to my friend and colleague Mike Wheatley for contributing to this post. Thanks also the the Ali Center and Generation Ali for the use of the B&W of Muhammad.

Title Problems That Can Kill Your Real Estate Closing

There is a poster I keep in my office entitled 'The real estate closing', and it's made up of three panels.  The first panel has all of the participants in the closing sitting straight up in an orderly fashion in a rowboat with oars ready to get started.  The appraiser, the lender, the real estate agents, the surveyor, etc are all there.

© Matthew Benoit ' Fotolia.com

The title closer is at the  front of the boat with a megaphone and says 'We're all ready now.  Start the closing.'  The next panel shows everyone in the boat paddling hard in all different directions.  The last panel shows them thrown all over the boat, hanging over the sides with the oars sticking up at all different angles and the title closer saying into the megaphone. 'What time is good to reschedule?'

Unfortunately this poster, while humorous, is all too often accurate.  There are so many things that have to line up just right to have a successful real estate closing.  One of the main things is getting clear title.  Here are two of the most common title problems that can kill your deal.

Breaks in the chain of title

This happens when there is not a continuous chain of deeds showing title transferring from party A to party B to party C, etc.  Somewhere along the line a deed is missing.  When this happens the title company has to research where the chain of title broke down and get the missing deed recorded.  It can also happen when a deed is recorded but the recording was not done properly or contains wrong information such as the legal description, names of the parties or the form of deed used or when a mortgage on the property has not been satisfied.

Many of these issues can be corrected with an affidavit from the people involved.  The problem worsens when the break in the chain happened many years ago and the parties needed to correct the title are either unavailable, unreachable or even deceased.

When this happens the title company and the parties wishing to close must bring a 'quiet title' action before the court.  The law on quiet title actions varies from state to state. Some states have quiet title statutes. Other states allow courts to determine the laws regarding quiet title actions. Under common law principles, a plaintiff must be in possession of the property to bring a quiet title action, but many state statutes do not require actual possession by the plaintiff.

In a quiet title action you are requesting the court to rule on who is the proper, current owner of the title based on all of the facts presented.  If the court rules that the seller on your deal is indeed vested in the title then the break in the chain of title is resolved and the closing can continue.

Encroachments onto the property

This is also a common problem.  It is normally discovered after a survey of the property has been completed.  The survey will show that a fence on the property overlaps one of the neighboring properties.  It can also show that a structure on the property such as a deck or even part of the house overlaps.  In this situation the encroaching property has in effect annexed a section of adjoining property it is not entitled to.

There are two main ways of fixing this issue.  You can tear down the structure that is encroaching and move it to match your legal border.  This is easy to do with a fence.  But what happens when a part of the structure overlaps?  It may be too costly or even impossible to remove the overlapping section without significantly compromising the integrity of the house.  In this situation the best chance of resolving the issue is for the property owner to bring a claim to the court of 'Adverse Possession.'

Adverse possession is a legal principle in which someone who has encroached onto the land of another for an extended period of time may be able to claim legal title to that land. The exact elements of an adverse possession claim may be different in each state. To prove adverse possession under a typical definition, the person claiming ownership must show that its possession is actual, open, notorious, exclusive, hostile, under cover of claim or right, and continuous and uninterrupted for the statutory period.

Basically this means you must prove that the encroachment was open and obvious for anyone to see  and the owner of the property being encroached did nothing to correct the situation.  The issue that can cause a court to deny a claim of adverse possession is the statutory time frame the possession must have been present.  This varies but is normally anywhere from 10 years or longer.  So if you are dealing with a relatively new house then the adverse possession has not been in place long enough and the motion will be denied.  In this situation the only option is to remove the encroaching structure and more often than not the seller will choose to kill the deal rather than pay for the expense of doing so.

There are other less severe title issues that can cause problems as well.  The best way to save your deal is to identify these problems as early as possible in your due diligence on the property.  Have a title search done immediately.  The last thing you want to happen is to be sitting at the closing table and end up with an oar smacking you in the face that you didn't see coming.

 

Daniel Doran is a 20+ year veteran in the real estate industry. He is a previous owner of a law firm, mortgage and title company. Daniel has also written several books on mortgage modification, short sales and real estate investing. He currently specializes in Commercial Finance and Real Estate Development and is a graduate of Manhattanville College and Brooklyn Law School. You can contact Dan at Buildings By Owner.

 

DIY Weekend Projects for Labor Day Weekend

Long holiday weekends are great for cooking out, entertaining and spending extra time with family. They're also a great opportunity to catch up on projects around the house that you simply don't have time for on a normal basis. The extra time allows you to finish projects and maintenance and still have time to enjoy some down time with loved ones.

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Consider the following DIY projects that can be completed in 1-2 days, leaving that third day for rest.

Tile

Adding tile to a bathroom or kitchen can completely change the feel of the space and often has a positive impact on your home's value. Updating with tile is one improvement that can easily be completed by even the slightest of handymen and it's a great project for a weekend renewal. For areas such as kitchen backsplashes you can often purchase a kit, which makes the project optimally manageable and DIY-capable.

Backyard Revitalization 

In some climates Labor Day weekend is one of the last opportunities to enjoy your backyard and outdoor spaces. So a quick backyard revitalization could offer you the chance to transform your space on Saturday and Sunday and entertain by Monday.

Larger projects such as installing a deck or pouring a patio are probably not the best suited for enjoying the fruits of your labor in the same long weekend, especially if you're not utilizing professional help. Fortunately there are plenty of smaller items that can make a big impact in a short amount of time. Some of those projects include building a permanent firepit, flagstone patio, building a gazebo from a kit, installing some new landscaping or lighting, etc.

You can make big changes to your home in a small time period with just a little know-how and the right tools. With proper planning and motivation you can update on Saturday and Sunday and enjoy some quiet time in your new space on Monday!

How To Find Quality Tenants ' Fast!

As a property owner, you've got a lot on your plate when renting out your place ' the last worry you need is a poor tenant. Even if you're the best judge of character and typically have a great rapport with your tenants, it's possible for a 'bad egg' to slip in every now and then.

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The Rent Rite Directory is a great tool to help you weed out the so-called 'wheat from the chaff'.

According to the company, the nationwide Rent Rite Directory (RRD) is 'an easy and fast way to confirm whether or not someone is going to be a quality tenant.

'When you join the Rent Rite Directory's FREE Incident Reporting community, you are joining a network of like-minded Property Owners, Managers, and Landlords who understand the value in saving time and money while preserving their peace-of-mind, and improving their local neighborhoods.'

Information that is provided to users is drawn from credit reports, criminal background checks and of course the incident reporting database and provides information on things such as:

• Skips
• Evictions
• Criminal Activities
• Non-Payment of Rent
• Proxy Renters
• Damages
• Other lease violations

Other services provided include:

• Tenant screening
• Fast results ' Information is compiled electronically, and delivered within just a few seconds of submitting the application.
• Detailed reports ' More detailed information than other tenant screening services, and you can customize your report ' paying only for the information you want.

Select from the following options when putting together the report you need:

• FICO score
• Bankruptcy report
• Equifax credit report
• TransUnion credit report
• Sex offender search
• Evictions/liens/judgments
• Criminal background check
• SSN validation
• OFAX Patriot Act search
• ID mismatch alert

Neighborhood/Community Email Alert System

Receive email alerts when on-property crime is reported and/or suspicious activity in the area has taken place. In some states it's possible to receive Amber and Silver Alerts as well.

DocuSign

Electronic signing of leases possible through DocuSign technology

Auto Approved Tenant Screening

Available to individual owners, landlords and even real estate agents (1-20 units), it's possible to obtain a lease recommendation on prospective tenants in an easy 'PASS', 'FAIL' or 'PASS with Conditions' format, saving property managers time and money.

RRD recommends that the tenant be present when being screened. All information is retrieved in a manner compliant with the Fair Credit Reporting Act and does not violate a tenant's rights as spelled out in current law.

For more information, check out RRD's website at therrd.com

Mentor Your Way to 'Expert Status'

All of us were new at our chosen professions at one time; we were the 'new kid on the block'. Over time, that changed as we gained experience and built a name for ourselves in our industry. But there are also things that you can do that will help set you apart from the other real estate investors.

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Think back to when you were brand new. Do you remember just how confusing all of this 'real estate stuff' was? I know I can. As a matter of fact, I didn't know quite where to begin.

When I attended my first few REIA meetings, I almost felt like I had been dropped into a foreign country where I didn't know the language. Those folks talked about double closings, escrows, cap rates and a whole bunch of other things I had no knowledge about. What I can remember most about this period of time, is one particular person that took me under her wing and helped me to learn.

This woman became a good friend of mine over the years. She was a licensed real estate agent that didn't invest in real estate herself, but she worked with a lot of investors in our REIA group. She introduced me to people that were seasoned investors; people who helped me learn the 'ins and outs' of how to invest in real estate.

Over time, I networked with these experienced investors, and they were quite willing to mentor me and other 'newbies'. They were always giving back; they were also known as 'the experts' in the group.

Help Others and Mentor Your Way to 'Expert Status'

One of the best ways to become known as an expert in your field is to mentor other real estate investors that are just starting out. Be generous with your time and share your knowledge.

If you see someone at your local REIA meeting standing by themselves they are most likely brand new and don't know anyone. Go over and introduce yourself. Ask them if they would like to sit with you. They will be so grateful. It makes it a lot easier for them to come back a second time if someone went out of their way to make them feel welcome at their first meeting. Introduce them to a few people and offer 'show them the ropes'. The new member will really appreciate these tips.

For instance, at our monthly meeting we have a table set up for members to leave fliers for anything from a property they have to sell, to information about their plumbing business. For those members that sell flooring and other related items, they can also leave information on that table. You can explain to the guest or new member that this is one of the benefits of membership. This is also a good way to meet the other members those first few months. Just introduce yourself to them and inquire about their services.

Over time you will build relationships, and eventually have opportunities to give back and mentor others.

What Else Can I Do?

There are so many other things you can do to increase your 'expert status' in your field.

One of the best ways is to participate in online forums for real estate investors like BiggerPockets. You can ask questions about any facet of real estate investing, and someone will know the answer. As you gain experience, you will find that you are the one offering answers to questions.

Real Estate Blogs are another great place to learn and network with like-minded folks. A lot of blogs like mine have 'Getting Started' sections that are geared for those real estate investors that are just starting out, and the writers of those blogs love to interact with the people that stop by and leave comments.

Writing articles for online sites like this one is a great way to share information and be seen as a knowledgeable real estate professional. And, don't under estimate the power of facebook. Facebook has a wealth of real estate investors that share their knowledge on their own pages as well as in organized groups. Jump in and get involved, and you will get your name out there. I have built many lasting business relationships that began online at these types of sites.

No matter how you choose to get involved, just do it. Mentoring other folks doesn't have to take a lot of time, but it will absolutely set you apart from other people and build your expert status at the same time.

No Real Risk of a German Real Estate Bubble

Apparently there is no real risk of a real estate bubble forming in Germany, in spite of recent fears. According to Fitch Ratings there is no real risk within commercial or residential real estate sectors, as rents and property prices have generally kept pace with the economy.

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The report by Reuters goes on to point out that only large metropolitan areas such as Munich and Berlin have seen large price increases that aren't in line with other fundamentals such as limited construction, economic stability and net migration figures. Fitch is predicting residential property prices will continue to increase across Germany, and could rise quite sharply in core markets at least in the short and medium term. This is because the agency expects strong investor demand to continue. However net rental yields are expected to continue to fall due to growth slowing down within the German economy.

Fitch also pointed out that although some moderately priced, high loan to value mortgages are available from certain German banks, most residential mortgage lenders are sufficiently protected. Since the beginning of the financial crisis the standards for commercial loans have improved.

Germany is remarkable in having one of the lowest home ownership rates in Europe as it currently stands around 46%, and a number of outstanding residential mortgage loans have been increasing by just 1% annually since 2003. Buyers in Germany cannot obtain 100% mortgages, and most need to deposit of around 30% which is something that can explain why prices have remained stable.

Although the debt crisis continues to be a problem, most real estate investors expect the Eurozone to remain intact, and a recent poll by Union Investment showed just 12% thought a breakup is likely. However the percentage of those who think a Europe wide recession is likely currently stands at 42%. But 56% of investors, which is 7% more than just six months ago, believe the German real estate market will emerge more strongly from the current crisis, and Germany is still one of the most popular real estate markets for investors in the world.

This optimism may prove to be well founded, as figures recently released show the German economy enjoyed better than expected growth during the second quarter, albeit modest, and is still ahead of other Eurozone countries that are currently seeing their economies contract or stagnate. despite the recession, Germany has seen average economic growth of around 2% annually. Property prices in Germany fell by around 10% between 2000 and 2005, stagnating until 2009. Since then they have risen steadily at two or 3% per year.

Midwest Real Estate Data, LLC Launches New & Improved Website

Midwest Real Estate Data, LLC (MRED) recently launched a new and improved website that aims to be easier to navigate and provide a better experience for clients and real estate professionals investing in the real estate data company's many services.

Midwest Real Estate Data, LLC is perhaps most known as the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) provider for the Chicagoland region, as well as many surrounding counties in Northwest Indiana, Northern Illinois, and Southern Wisconsin. But one thing MRED  also offers a variety of other real estate information services to agents, brokers and other industry professionals.

Midwest Real Estate's newly designed home page

Another goal for the new website is to show clients and people in the real estate business that MRED is 'more than an MLS', with a number of advanced services such as Enhanced Property Info, Transaction Assistance & Marketing, Real Estate Statistics & Analysis, Public Service Apps, Data Licensing, plus all the latest area Real Estate News & Views. All of this added info does much to boost their reputation as a top producer in their local market. Once users click on such pages, the site will redirect them to an information-page about the products as well as a way to sign-up or login should you already be an existing MRED client.

Overall, the new website's appearance is much cleaner and the top menu acts as the site's main navigation tool. Along with all of MRED's products, it's here that users can also access market statistics, training sessions, a help desk, rules and photos from the company, and an engaging communication section that includes the Midwest Real Estate Data blog and e-newsletters.

The goal moving forward for Midwest Real Estate Data is to embrace an up-to-date, cutting edge approach in web technology and set the standard for all MLS-related websites. And with the launch of the new and improved MREDLLC.com, there's no doubt Midwest Real Estate Data has taken a great first step.

 

Joe Heath is a graduate of Indiana University and also holds a Graduate Certificate in Real Estate Development from Drexel University. After working market research and authoring published Market Snapshots for Hanley Wood Market Intelligence, Joe now works as a Web Marketing Specialist and is a managing partner at  Real Estate Web Creation, LLC.

Which Documents are Required for Securing a Mortgage?

Ready to scout over various home sales to find out the one that best fits your idea of 'dream home'? Great! But don't forget that the surest way to heartbreak is to find your dream home and make plans to move in, only to find a lack of sufficient documents means you can't secure the mortgage you need to finance it.

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If you haven't put got your paperwork in line by now, it is highly recommended that you take care of it before you venture outside looking for your dream home. Here is your document checklist to ensure you secure mortgage approval if you really are determined to buy your dream home:

Credit Report

You should get a copy of the credit report and carefully go through it.  In case of a mistake, get it fixed before filing the papers. Try to avoid late payments as that reduces your FICO score and looks bad on your credit report for future lenders.

Credit Score

Yes, you can surely get a loan even with a low FICO score. In this case you can apply for an FHA loan which doesn't depend on your FICO score. The FHA loan comes with the benefit of also having a lower down payment rate. The lender will do a back ground check of your employment credentials, and will also require some other paperwork to finalize the loan.

Other Miscellaneous Documents

Other documents you'll need to obtain a mortgage include:

1. Pay slips ' You have to hand over the photocopies of the last two months' pay slips. Do not give the originals.
2. Tax Statement ' You'll also need your salary and tax statements of the last two years.
3. Tax Returns of The Last Two Years - The lender will want to see photocopies of the last two year's tax returns. Make sure that all the schedules are included and you have signed the tax return before submitting it.
4. Bank Statements ' Bank statements for the last two months, or in some cases, the last three months will be required. Submit copies of every single page from all the bank accounts you hold.
5. Accounts, Bonds And Mutual Funds - You are required to submit a detailed report of all your mutual funds, bonds and accounts. Submit photocopies of the statements.
6. Copy Of Driving License/Photo ID - Essentially this is just to verify that you are who you say you are, but the deal won't be able to go ahead without it! You can show your ID in person if you are meeting the lender face-to-face, or else send a scanned copy of it with the rest of your documents.

Be sure to keep all these documents ready beforehand, as that will prevent you from making last minute mistakes and ensure that your mortgage application process goes much more smoothly.

Financing Your Next Home Purchase Without Credit or Qualifying ' Part 3

Part Three: Lease With An Option To Buy

This financing strategy combines a regular rental lease agreement with an option to buy the property at a set price, with specific terms, for a fixed period of time.

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The lease covers the terms of the rental agreement, along with how much of the rental payment may be credited towards the purchase price if the tenant / buyer decides to exercise the option to buy.

The Option to buy is what is known as a 'unilateral agreement', meaning that only one party to the agreement ' the buyer, has the right to buy or not to buy the property. It is the buyers choice. The seller cannot force a buyer to exercise the option to buy. This is why it is called an option. It is simply an opportunity to purchase, without the obligation to do so. A purchase and sale agreement creates the obligation to perform, whereas an option is the right to perform, but without any obligation to do so.

From the buyers perspective, I like options because they give me a chance to try out a property or a business idea before I have to come up with the money to actually finance the deal. And if done with a flexible seller, an option can give a buyer time to gather the money to do the deal without the pressure to get it done in a short time frame.

Options may be for any period of time. A typical time frame is one to two years. Anything much longer than that may be ruled an installment sale by the IRS, creating tax consequences, so it's advisable to use options in increments of one or two years at a time. But you can extend a one year option each year for 5 years if the seller and buyer agree to do that.

In my own case, I used a lease with an option to buy for a commercial property that I wanted to use to start a storage business. I found a property that was available, but I did not want to have to get a new loan or pay a lump sum of cash up front, until after I got the business up and running. I went to the property owner, who happened to be a savvy real estate developer, made a pitch for a lease with an option to buy, with the right to renew the option yearly for several years. I told the seller that I'd close on the property after I got the business up and running, but I did not know exactly how long that would take.

He agreed to my offer, and I started my little storage business on that property, while paying only $800 a month in rent. After several years I had grown my little storage business and was completely full. At that point I was able to take on an equity partner who funded the deal for a share of the ownership. I closed on the property with all cash and never had to get a new mortgage or make a mortgage payment.

I've also been willing to sell houses to tenant buyers using a lease with an option to buy. I collect $1000 up front for each option year. This money is non-refundable option 'consideration'. It's my fee as a seller for being willing to give the buyer the right to an option. The 'consideration' can be any number that a seller and potential buyer agree to, and often depends on the value of the property involved. If the tenant / buyer never does exercise their option, and the option either expires, or they move out, I've got the option money to help me cover the expense of getting the property ready for a new tenant. If there is damage or unpaid rent, the option money is a handy way to avoid losing money on a bad tenant.

I also advise some real estate investors, especially newbies, to consider using an option to buy when they are planning to flip a property for a quick profit, and do not have the funds to actually close a purchase contract. Purchase contracts create a legal obligation to perform, and if the investor-buyer fails to find a new buyer to flip the property to, the seller could sue for 'specific performance'. This does not happen often, but it can happen. I advise the use of an option to buy in order to avoid any legal issues with an irate seller.

You can also record your valid option agreement on a property, and the seller cannot sell the property to another buyer as long as your option is valid. It puts a cloud on the title. This is how you protect yourself as a buyer.

Once the investor finds a new buyer, they notify the seller that they will exercise their option to buy. The idea is to sell to a buyer at a price higher than your option agreement says you have to pay. Then the investor pockets the difference. It's nice and clean and no pressure to close if you can't find another buyer. You simply withdraw your option.

Generally the option agreement contains the terms of the option. For example the option may specify that Donna Robinson has the right to purchase from Bob Smith, the property at 123 Main St. for $50,000 for a period of one year, beginning on January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. The option should be attached to a filled out purchase and sale agreement which spells out the terms under which the purchase will take place if the buyer chooses to exercise the option. This agreement can then be used by you as a tenant/buyer or you may choose to assign the entire agreement to another buyer if that is not excluded in the agreement.

Options can offer buyers a lot of flexibility while helping avoid the pressure of creating a legal obligation to purchase immediately. And they can be a point of additional income or cash flow for savvy sellers as well.
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Donna S. Robinson is a real estate investor, author, speaker and investing coach located in Atlanta, GA. Follow her on twitter at donnaconsults or join her email list on her website, www.RealtyBizConsulting.com

First-Time Buyers Account for More than Half of Purchases in Northern Ireland

New figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders show first-time buyers in Northern Ireland accounted for 58% of purchase loans during the second quarter of this year. This is much higher than the UK average, and is up 1% on the first quarter.

First time buyers have every reason to celebrate in Northern Ireland © stockshoppe ' Fotolia.com

In comparison, first-time buyers in the rest of the UK accounted for just 38% of the market during the second quarter of this year. First-time buyers in Northern Ireland now have the largest proportion of the market since 2001. The amount of income spent on initial mortgage repayments for first-time buyers has also dropped, and borrowers spent just 19.1% of their income on their mortgage payments during the second quarter, compared to 19.5% in the previous quarter. This is the lowest percentage since these statistics were first recorded in 2005.

The number of loans advanced to first-time buyers dropped slightly compared to the first quarter, but these figures are the same as for the second quarter of 2011 even though the overall value fell by £10 million. During the second quarter 1,100 loans worth around £80 million were advanced to first-time buyers, compared to 1,200 loans worth £100 million that were advanced during the first quarter of this year. The number of loans advanced for home movers was unchanged compared to the previous quarter, with the average advance being just £92,000 which is the lowest since the third quarter of 2005.

Derek Wilson, chair of the CML in Northern Ireland commented on these figures saying 'The proportion of first-time buyers continued to rise compared to the rest of the market in Northern Ireland and is likely to be linked to the movement in house prices and affordability. It's conceivable that the combination of a rapid deterioration in affordability and the subsequent improvement t as house prices fell, has released a pent-up demand from first-time buyers unable to buy when prices were higher.'

In comparison the UK as a whole saw 6% increase in the number of home loans compared to the previous quarter, and numbers rose by 4% when compared to the same quarter in 2011.

New Report Says UK Private Rental Sector Needs to Grow

In a report for the government, Sir Adrian Montague has stated the need for the UK private rental sector to grow in order to reduce the current housing shortage. According to the article on the BBC website, he was asked to look at ways of addressing this shortage, and feels houses built for rent within the private sector could be funded by institutional investors.

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This idea has already been criticized by Labour who are concerned such housing may not take into account the needs of low income households. However housing minister Grant Shapps thinks the idea is an interesting one, especially as the UK is somewhat unusual in not already having housing funded by institutional investors looking to gain long-term rental income.

The Montague report includes several recommendations designed to speed up the building of privately rented homes. Some of the suggestions include asking councils to review stalled development sites to see whether any of the homes that were originally planned could be rented out rather than sold. Other ideas include making available buildings and public sector land for housing development, and targeting areas where housing demand is high through making land available to developers, provided a certain proportion of rental homes are built.

In addition the Montague report is asking local councils to look at relaxing existing requirements in order to enable developers to build affordable social homes as well as private housing. However this particular suggestion hasn't found favor with the Labour Party who doesn't want to see requirements for affordable housing watered down. Homeless charity Shelter also feels the report could have done more to address the needs of those people already living in privately rented homes, and who are paying high rents without being protected against further rises or the risk of eviction.

The British Property Federation is hopeful these recommendations in the Montague report could lead to extra investment into the housing industry from REITs, pension funds and insurance companies. They see this as being the way forward for developing a long-term private rental sector specifically designed to give renters something a little different compared to current rental property.

One Man's Trash' Repurposing Pallets

You've probably heard the phrase 'One man's trash is another man's treasure'. The most creative of minds can pick what most of us would consider a completely useless item from a thrift store pile and create a haute (and often expensive!) piece of decor from it.

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There are many commonly picked items for repurposing as the trend catches steam ranging from milk jugs to antique windows. One of the most popular trash items for repurposing circulating the channels of Pinterest and DIY blogs alike is shipping pallets.

Functional Storage Uses

I don't know about you, but a shipping pallet would be the last item that I could ever envision creating a useful household fixture from. Despite it's useless appearance, however, the shipping pallet has been modified by various DIY aficionados to serve a number of useful purposes around the house and garden. Some storage uses for repurposed pallets include garden tool storage, wine rack, china display, hanging shelving unit, and many others.

Furnishings

Of all of the potential uses of a shipping pallet furniture seems to be the most varied and common. Due to the sturdy and flat nature of the pallet it can easily be cut and manipulated to form a variety of basic furniture shapes, including but certainly not limited to coffee tables, daybeds, lounge chairs, bed frames, porch swings, kitchen islands, window seating, mud room benches, etc. With just a few hinges, nails, some paint and depending on your chosen function some cushions you can take a worthless and inexpensive piece of trash and create a rustic and functional home furnishing.

Repurposing offers a way for you to not only create unique and beautiful pieces for very little expense but also to help the environment by recycling items that would otherwise necessitate cutting down more trees or using other resources to supply the same result.

Get Your Red Hot Market Leader Online Leads

Lead generation is one of the topics any journalist can bring up that will tweak the ears of real estate agents, and used car salesmen for the matter. Leads are to sales people as ink is to newspapers. 'Well, sort of. Market Leader Inc., a company heavy into making things that can help brokers, has entered into the 'software as a service' (SAAS) realm. Check it.

Is there only one, or more than one solution?

This latest news from Market Leader speaks of linking Internet Data Exchange (IDX) feeds that list some 1.6 million properties with selected agents within the company's matrix (network) to take advantage of exclusive leads and customer relationship features. At least this is the report from Inman News we read. That article goes on to reflect however, a much bigger story, one of territorial end-fighting and splitting of hairs even.

The company that bought RealEstate.com versus the other side of the Internet sales aisle, and all those accustomed to MLS listings and the current online listing model on the other. At issue is basically the what the National Association of Realtors allows as far as these feeds are concerned. RealEstate.com basically forces the issue of 'how' IDX listings get listed, with ads or without, with lead generation forms or without, and so on. More critically though, the fact that brokers cannot 'opt out' of being listed on RealEstate.com as is the case with Trulia and Zillow, this is the real rub.

To break this all down, an agency that has listings in a particular MLS, Multiple Listing Service Property Information Network Inc. (MLSPIN) is the Inman use case, is forced to show their listing via RealEstate.com by virtue of being in the MLS basically. In a very real way what Market Leader accomplishes here is a sort of game changing control dynamic, one that actually polarizes the real estate pro market too.

It all boils down to a somewhat controversial bout between real estate franchisers, who won a bid to the NAR to display the IDX listings of affiliated brokerages that was later rescinded when complaints flourished, and brokerages like HomeServices of America Inc.  When all is said and done Market Leader, or any online real estate player, is in the game to push product. In the case of Market Leader, services like their websites for brokers, positioning and feedback from and on key sites like RealEstate.com, PPC campaigns, and other marketing offerings. Ian Morris's (video above) company has just about every end covered when it comes to sales leads.

Whether or not agents, buyers, and sellers find Market Leader's tactics with favor or not is not at issue for the moment, what seems more important is the pulling at straws that takes place within the industry. A technicality here, an uncrossed 't' there, when the housing market is still suffering its most crippling blow ever. One has to marvel at the big game being played for position. But then, that's what business is about, right? One thing you have to give Market Leader a lot of credit for is bringing RealEstate.com down to the local level. Not many big time players have done this well.

More on real visibility as the story grows. Oh, and Market Leader, if you really want more solutions for leads' mail me.

RealEstate.com Atlanta site ' Market Leader has done this right

Oh. One hint too, don't profess Pinterest, G+, Twitter, Facebook or any expertise you are not entrenched in. Now Inman News? They have Pinterest down.

Financing Your Next Home Purchase Without Credit Or Qualifying ' Part 2

Part Two ' 'Subject-to the existing mortgage'

A typical purchase and sale agreement for a home often includes items upon which the entire agreement is 'subject to' some particular circumstance. For example, most typical offers made by a buyer include a clause that says that the buyers offer is 'subject-to the buyer obtaining adequate financing', or the buyer does not have to purchase the home.

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Another one is the property inspection. Purchase agreements often say that the buyers purchase is 'subject-to a satisfactory property inspection report'. This is done to insure that systems and appliances are in good working order. There is also a commonly used clause for 'subject-to an insect infestation report', to insure that there is no existing termite damage or active termite activity.

When it comes to financing a home purchase without having to go through the hassles and expense of qualifying for a new mortgage, a common practice, well known to real estate investors, is buying a home 'subject to the existing mortgage'. This means that the seller will allow the buyer to take over the payments on the sellers existing mortgage, and the buyer will usually make the payments directly to the mortgage lender. In either case, the mortgage remains in the name of the seller, but the buyer goes on the deed as the property owner. (subject to the security deed that says that the property is collateral for the loan.)

Why would a seller be willing to leave their name on a mortgage?

Home owners often find themselves in a situation where they need to sell rather quickly due to a job transfer, loss of income, or life change such as a marriage or a death. Allowing a buyer to buy the property without having to obtain a new mortgage can open up opportunities for sellers to sell quickly when needed, and avoid having to pay two mortgage payments in a case where the seller has another home they want to purchase.

I once purchased a home subject-to the existing mortgage from a seller who was due to move out of state and get married in just a few weeks. Her property had failed to sell after being listed with an agent for 6 months and the seller was running out of time. She actually called our office and asked us to come out to her home. We made a deal to pay her $5000 at closing, which allowed her to pay some expenses and get a few bucks out of the property, and we took over her existing mortgage payments for a term of 18 months. We essentially planned to update the property and resell it to a buyer who could qualify for a new mortgage.

After some much needed, but relatively inexpensive updating of paint and carpet, we sold the home for a profit in less than 6 months, and paid the seller's original mortgage off at the closing. The original seller was able to move and get married, we made a profit of about $18,000 cash after expenses, and paid off the seller's mortgage in only 4 months. Plus the new buyer got a nice, up to date home at a very good price that was a bit below the appraised value. Everyone was happy.

Here are some quick tips for finding and using 'subject-to' deals to buy your next home or investment property:

1. Look for sellers who have a need to move quickly. While any seller may consider your offer, those sellers who are motivated by circumstances such as a need to move quickly will be more likely to seriously consider this type of offer.

2. Properties listed on the MLS may be a candidate for this buying strategy, but the listing agent may not be aware that the seller is motivated, and may advise the seller to reject this type of offer. It's best to work directly with the seller and usually that means looking at properties which are 'For Sale By Owner' (a.k.a. FSBO or Fizz-Bo)

3. Look for sellers who are not underwater on their mortgage. Be careful to note how much a seller owes on their mortgage, versus how much the property is worth. You don't want to saddle yourself with an upside-down mortgage.

4. When making your offer, show a seller how this offer will benefit them ' 'you can move quickly', 'get out from under your debt problem' etc. Find out what the sellers problem is, and take over their mortgage as a way to help them solve their problem.

5. Make sure you can afford the existing mortgage payments. The loan is still in the sellers name, so it's their credit that is at risk. Be responsible and don't leave a seller hanging by not making the payments as agreed. If you're planning to rent the property, make sure the rent will be adequate to pay the mortgage, as well as other expenses such as maintenance.

6. If you are interested in real estate investing, you can buy as many houses as you wish without having to qualify for new loans. But make sure your numbers will work for an investment.

7. Finally, whether you are a buyer or a seller, use an experienced real estate attorney to insure that everything is written up and set up clearly and correctly.

As I noted in part one ' this type of strategy does trigger the 'due on sale' clause found in the mortgage, but in the present climate with millions of foreclosures, banks are not going to call the loan due as long as the mortgage payments are current.
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Donna S. Robinson has 17 years experience in the real estate industry. She is a real estate investing coach, real estate investor and real estate agent located in Atlanta, GA. Follow her on twitter at donnaconsults or you may read more articles on her blog at www.realtybizconsulting.com

How To Save Thousands on Your Home Loan

Harris Interactive, on behalf of LendingTree recently conducted an online survey of 1,380 homeowners concluded that only 51% of mortgaged homeowners actually comparison shopped for their loans.

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This is amazing when you consider that when shopping for big ticket items, 89% of Americans comparison shop. What's bigger than your home?

Given the fact that variations between lenders can be as much as 1.5% for a 30 year fixed, these homeowners missed out on some potential savings.

Doug Lebda, founder and CEO of LendingTree note:

'Deciding on a mortgage is likely the most important financial decision consumers will ever make, yet borrowers are more often than not taking the first offer that comes their way, failing to fully capitalize on low rates. It is important for borrowers to understand that they have the power to choose which loan and which lender to use. It is acceptable to negotiate with lenders and to walk away if you are not fully satisfied. Consumers need to be engaged in the mortgage process to secure the best deal.'

The survey revealed that during the first week of August, 2012, quotes for a consumer with a 759 credit score ranged from 3.25% to 4.625% ' that's a huge variance. On a moderate loan amount of $260,000, the cost savings to a borrower would be $214 per month, $2,568 annually and over the life of the loan'? $74,000 dollars!

'Many people approach the process of getting a mortgage with apprehension, thinking they have very little control of the end result. But rushing through the process without comparing loan offers could be a costly mistake,' Lebda continued.  'LendingTree provides borrowers with an easy-to-use, educational tool to help consumers compare multiple mortgage loan offers and to choose the loan and the lender that best suits their needs and financial situation. Our goal is to ensure every borrower is confident they have received the best possible value on their mortgage.'

Perhaps some of this trend can be attributed to the current atmosphere of doubt and uncertainty when it comes to financing home purchases. Lenders have been tight with the purse strings since the GFC (global financial crisis) so perhaps many of these individuals who are not comparing loans are simply relieved that they can obtain a loan.

Perhaps a restructuring of the mortgage broker industry is in order ' for example, changing incentives to finding consumers the best deals. What do you think?

UK Building Societies Give Better Rates than Banks

According to an article in Propertywire, UK building societies are offering better rates on mortgage deals than banks. The research from MoneySupermarket, shows that low rates don't necessarily indicate the very best deals, and it's well worth checking not only the interest rates but also the fees.

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They compared a range of mortgages from both banks and building societies and found people could be paying more than they need. A typical example was a two-year fixed rate mortgage which is offered at a similar rate from both banks and building societies at 4.22% and 4.15% respectively. At first glance there seems little difference between the two until you take a closer look at the fees. Building societies tend to have much lower arrangement and booking fees, and could save the borrower an average of £700 over the total term of the mortgage deal. It's a similar situation with five-year fixed mortgages, as even though the banks offer a slightly lower interest rate, their fees to make up the difference. On average consumers could save more than £200 by choosing to borrow from a building society.

However if you're a first-time buyer then it's worth choosing a bank that offers products specifically designed for this sector. Savings for a two-year 90% loan to value fixed rate mortgage can be as much as £1,000, while savings on a five-year fixed rate could be more than £3,000 over the term of the deal.

Experts at Money Supermarket are advising people to look at deals offered by smaller lenders as well as the big banks. They point out the savings could add up to thousands of pounds, especially when the setup fees are taken into account. Borrowers should calculate the total amount they'll pay over the term of the deal, including the fees before deciding on a particular product.

World Real Estate Portals: Part I

In the United States relying on Trulia, Zillow, Realtor.com, or a maze of cookie cutter agency sites like Coldwell Banker or Century 21, the search for online property is pretty much a pat operation. At least for now, that is. Looking around the world for property is a whole different ballgame though.

Below you will find some of the online players in the International real estate market. These are the good, bad, and even ugly of world property portals. Part I of the series will be European sites ranked high in the various search engine rankings.

Europe Real Estate finders

World Properties EU

If you search for international property online chances are one of the first real estate portals you'll come across will be World Properties. And if you look for Europe homes etc. the EU contingent will certainly appear.

Not the pretties website ever launced, World Properties is however complete and loaded with listings. Five language versions, a lot of decent video and images, and property search powered by Proxio that is adequate, we found some good listings right here in Rhineland Pfalz in Germany where are offices are located. The company has some social media engagement, fair at best, but better than most US local agents. Ease of use and no frills, we rate this site 5 of 10.

There's room for improvement.

A World Properties listing in Germany.

PlanetPads.com

The name kind of says it all, even if the design says Web 1.0. Planet Pads is an International property portal. Sort of. A visitor can actually find a place to buy here, but as to the accuracy of the listings, or the quality of the data, this aspect is anyone's guess. This is the problem with really bad websites, the credibility of the information is suspect no matter how accurate the info is. Planet Pads offers two listings with 3 beds and 2 baths in Germany. One, it so happens, is in Crete.

For the record Elounda is a town on the extreme Eastern coast of this Mediterranean Island. No social media effort at all, not optimized for the most recent browsers (Chrome in my case), a slow server (site loads like molassis), and just down home ugliness equals' This portal scored 2 of 10.

This domain deserves a complete site revamp.

Planet Pads property search is all but worthless.

Immobilmente.com

Only in Italian, and only for Italians we guess, this real estate portal is none the less superb compared to many competitors. Not cutting edge, so to speak, the site does allow for easy search and discover of a vast number of properties. We elected to look for some Rome villas and homes. A meta-search portal in reality, house hunts end up at places like www.idealista.it and etc. The point is though, users can get what they are looking for, and pretty fast and accurately too.

Despite numerous flaws, the Italian Immobilmente portal works nicely. No social buttons or engagement is apparent on the search aspect, but a visit to the news segment reveals connectivity. I suggest those looking for property here hit the city tag cloud and go. As for their rating, it is taken down by not being multilingual and for a sluggish UI. Rating is 6 of 10.

A bit of refinement and this would be Europe's best property site.

An effective property search mechanism

It's Funda

In the absence of any real European niche competitor to Zillow etc. Netherlands property portal Funda is a sure bet to help peeps looking for houses in Holland and there about. If simple and minimalism is your bag, for only '289,000 euro you too can own a bit of Amsterdam lushness. Search is quick, painless, and meaningful here. Funda, run by the biggest Dutch broker organization NVM, is on a par with almost any US organization portal.

Hook up with Funda's Twitter feed here, Facebook too, map search, all the simplicity and function you need, Funda has it. As for depth and advise? Well, the site is not multilingual that we can tell, so. Rating is 6.5 of 10.

Expand to France and Germany, French and German, and make more friends.

Dutch real estate portal Funda home search Amsterdam.

The Move Channel

This is the best European property portal we have found thus far. Big images, quick and slick UI, and best of all properties to get all fuzzy about, The Move Channel does a good job where others fail miserably. Sharing of properties via vitrually any sane social network shows the company knows its business. So do a lot of other features too. While the design could be prettier, to each his own is a good way to look at that aspect.

I particularly like the use of Pinterest and video via their own channel on YouTube. Embedding of the property videos could be made easier, but in total these guys make property hunting Italy or anywhere in Europe a breeze. Easy filtering produces just what any looker is looking for. The image below shows most elements plus a nice penthouse we might even afford. These guys would be a 9.5 but their social presence is hidden. Their rating is 8 of 10, for obvious reasons.

Catch these guys if you can world.

The Move Channel Italy property.

Next up we'll bring you online property portals of Latin America, but for now if you can think of any European ones we missed, please let us know.

Image credit: Europe real estate via © samott ' Fotolia.com

Buying Home Insurance: What You Need to Know

What is Home Insurance?

House insurance, or which is sometimes recognized as property insurance, offers disbursement to the homeowner in the occasion of loss because of fire, theft, or damage in the course of certain natural elements for instance hail, flooding, lightning and tornado. In accordance with the kind of policy, house insurance will reimburse the loss according to the fair market price at the time of the loss of the house, or completely substitute the loss based upon the existing rebuilding costs.

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The policy of homeowner shall not merely cover the cost of repairs; however, the cost of the home contents (including clothing, jewelry, electronics, furniture, appliances, and so on), in addition to incidentals, for example the cost of an interchange residence for the period of the process of repair.

Mortgage lenders and House insurance

Several lenders shall demand a borrower to procure insurance for the house, and furthermore, enable the lender organization to gain advantage over the policy. In view of the fact that the holder of the mortgage has a lien concern regarding the home and the damage loss of the possessions shall have an effect on the fair market price of the property except well repaired.Proof of insurance of house is desired by the lender at some stage in closing and is forwarded to your solicitor using a folder letter from the organization of house insurance, with which you agreed.

Particulars of home insurance

House insurance is an obligation for any homeowner. Seeing that, the home is most individual's biggest investment, it makes an immense economic sense to underwrite it is guarded from loss. Nevertheless, not all policies are generated equally. The following are some important points one ought to think about when buying house insurance

Replacement Policy

When buying house insurance, one is supposed to gravely consider a replacement policy, why not at an elevated premium. When buying any assets, the building materials decrease in value, or lose price, as the age of the property goes on. Additionally, inflation has an effect on building costs as it does the whole thing in your financial plan.

A roof of a house, which claims an installation cost approximately four thousand dollars, might cost approximately seven thousand dollars to put back if it comes under the damage of frozen rain. A replacement policy shall cover the whole cost of substitution of the roof, not only its fair market price during the loss.

Contents

Ensure that the policy covers the whole cost of contents based on their replacement price. Furnishings, for instance clothing, electronics and appliances decrease in value quickly from the time of acquisition. The policy of replacement for furnishings shall replace the above mentioned items of a similar type and quality.

In the case of contents, it is a good thought to undertake an inventory of your furnishings and bring up to date it from through time. Some shall take photographs of the rooms in the house, together with storage areas, to make available evidence of the furnishings in the occasion of fire or other forms of natural disasters that cause loss. Moreover, having the photographs of your house contents in places that are safest from each and every possible risk of damage is also recommended.

 

About the author: Sharon Green's articles are very informative and impressive. She writes about house insurance to cater to the needs of her readers. If you want to know more visit Houseinsurance.com

Chelmsford, England: A Great Place to Live for History Enthusiasts

It's no surprise that the UK is a great place to live if you like the idea of being surrounded by centuries of history. One town that's well worth considering in particular is Chelmsford in Essex.

 

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There are many advantages to living within the Chelmsford city limits; it's just 35 minutes away from the heart of London by rail, has many family-friendly spaces and amenities, and harbours some great shops and bars. Add to this its rich heritage, and you have the ideal location for your new home.

Here are my picks of Chelmsford's best historical attractions:

Chelmsford Cathedral

I don't know about you, but I always have to check out the local cathedral whenever I visit a historic city. There's something truly fascinating about these spectacular buildings and their centuries of religious heritage.

Chelmsford Cathedral is a definite highlight of the city's various attractions. Dating back to the 15th century, it's the country's second smallest cathedral, but that doesn't make it any less impressive than its larger counterparts.

It officially became a cathedral in 1914 and was renovated in the 1980s, with the floor, pews, altar, font and cathedra all being replaced in the process.

Image by M@R©K via flickr.com

Hylands House and Estate

A well-preserved historic house can offer a fantastic insight into what life used to be like for its inhabitants. The 18th century Hylands House is a countryside property with some splendidly decorated rooms and has seen nine different owners over the years.

You can visit on Sundays ' as well as on Mondays during the summer ' to see the extravagantly decorated Banqueting Room and an impressively grand staircase, as well as the Social History Room and the first-floor Repton Room, from where you can take in some great views of the surrounding estate.

It's worth noting that Hylands Park plays host to the southern leg of the V Festival every August, so if you buy a new home in Chelmsford and want to attend the event, you can do away with the need to pay extra for camping!

Image by chelmsfordblue via flickr

Chelmsford Museum

What better way to learn about your new hometown than by visiting a museum that will tell you all about its history? Chelmsford Museum maps out developments in the city from the Ice Age onwards, with lots of permanent and temporary exhibitions to choose from.

The museum was extended a couple of years ago to fit in even more exhibits, and you can now see displays relating to specific disciplines like pottery and glass, as well as a rather unique live beehive.

This is a great place to take the kids if you're moving to Chelmsford with your family, so bear the museum in mind as a potential weekend destination, especially when one of its regular events is held.

Moulsham Mill

Now this is my kind of attraction ' a building that combines centuries of history with the opportunity to indulge in some retail therapy! Moulsham Mill is located on a site that has harboured some kind of mill for more than 1,000 years (it's even in the Domesday Book).

The building you see today has stood there since 1819, although it has been renovated and repaired several times since then. You can appreciate the original features of the structure as you wander around and visit the craft outlets located within it.

These shops sell everything from furniture, clothing and gifts to jewellery and artworks. You can even get your hair done, have lunch or get your picture taken by a professional photographer.

Do you live in Chelmsford? If so, what are your favourite historical sights?