Investing in real estate? Work with a professional.

Today’s marketplace is full of investment opportunities. It's possible that this is the best time in a generation to invest in real estate.

If you have investing in mind - no matter how serious or modest your goals are - you need an experienced real estate agent on your side.

The Right Agent for You

RE/MAX, with offices in more than 80 countries, has thousands of agents experienced in working with investors, and specialists in all types of investment properties, from foreclosures to luxury homes.

Get the Facts

- With low prices, favorable interest rates and strong demand, most rental properties these days are generating positive cash flow.

- Homeownership rates are dipping in the U.S. This tends to drive rental rates up and keep vacancies down.

As we’ve all seen in recent years, housing values can rise and fall. But even when values are static or worse, those rent checks keep coming in.

Investing Can Be for You!

By the way, you don’t have to be wealthy to invest in real estate. In 2009, half of all residential real estate investors earned $75,000 or less.

Interested in seeing what's out there in the Bahamas real estate market? Search RE/MAX Bahamas Paradise Realty for current listings throughout the Bahamas and contact us for further information on the property. Questions about finances? Call us. We will be happy to assist.

RE/MAX CEO Honored Among Top Women in Banking and Real Estate

This week, RE/MAX CEO Margaret Kelly accepted an award on behalf of all the outstanding women named Top 10 Women in Mortgage Banking and Real Estate Services at the 'Five Star MPact' event in Dallas. In her acceptance speech, Kelly spoke about the difficulties the real estate industry has faced in recent years and how women leaders have made a difference.

For every distressed property there is a distressed family, she noted. Women leaders had the compassion and understanding to assist these families.

"I’d like to think that because of the many dedicated women working in our industry, we’ve somehow managed to make a real difference in peoples’ lives," Kelly said. "Through compassion and understanding we’ve actually lessened some of the human suffering in our communities.

The Top 10 award recognizes exceptional professional achievements of industry leaders who are shaping the future of the mortgage banking industry. The honorees were chosen for "big picture" thinking, growing and maintaining brand equity and reputation, and a record of accomplishment in their organizations.

"While I thank MPact and Five Star for recognizing these outstanding women and their contributions, I also salute them myself for a job well done in very trying times. I know each one of them has made a huge difference. And I know there are many lives that have been changed for the better as a result of their thoughtful work. We all owe them our gratitude for their unwavering commitment."

The awards were presented during a ceremony featuring former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as the keynote speaker.

RE/MAX International Launches a truly Global Real Estate Listing Website

global.remax.com Offers Customized Search of More Than 60 Countries

(Denver, CO) – RE/MAX, LLC, the recognized real estate leader, has launched a new website, global.remax.com, the first truly global resource for consumers, with hundreds of thousands of home listings in countries around the world. The site features customized search tools that allow buyers to search for properties in 30 languages, translate currencies and find the latest international real estate news. At launch, the site will contain listings from Brazil, France, Italy, India, Portugal, the United States, Canada, Italy and New Zealand - a total of more than 60 countries and territories around the world.

“We make our customers our priority, and they told us they needed a comprehensive resource for international properties,” said William E. Soteroff, RE/MAX Executive Vice President, U.S. and International Regional Development. “We’re seeing an increasing number of foreign buyers looking for property in the U.S. and American buyers looking overseas. global.remax.com is essentially a one-stop source for residential and commercial real estate, no matter where you live.”

Real estate trends differ from country to country, city to city and even neighborhood to neighborhood. Buyers and sellers who visit global.remax.com can stay on top of the latest real estate news and events through an in-depth and detailed news feed. The site will also feature a rotating spotlight on a specific country or region, offering visitors insight into that market and any new developments.

In countries like India, Brazil and China, as the population grows and incomes rise, families are searching for homes of their own and investment properties.

RE/MAX is also growing, adding offices around the globe. Franchise sales were up nearly 15% in the first half of 2011, a mark that looks to outpace last year’s total franchise sales, which recorded an impressive 30% increase over 2009. In Brazil alone, RE/MAX has seen 133% growth over 2010.

“We’re growing because there’s a need for experienced and professional agents,” said Soteroff. “In some countries, RE/MAX has been the first real estate brand to go in and open for business. It’s exciting to be a part of that.”

RE/MAX has a presence in more than 80 countries, a reach far greater than any competitor. With more than 6,300 offices around the world and a sales force of nearly 90,000 agents, buyers and sellers can take advantage of the experience and knowledge of the most productive professionals in the real estate industry.

For more information about RE/MAX global listings, please visit: www.global.remax.com.

Watch a video about global.remax.com.

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About the RE/MAX Network: RE/MAX was founded in 1973 by Dave and Gail Liniger, real estate industry visionaries who still lead the Denver-based global franchisor today. RE/MAX is recognized as a leading real estate franchise company with the most productive sales force in the industry and a global reach of more than 80 countries. With a passion for the communities in which its agents live and work, RE/MAX is proud to have raised more than $100 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and other charities. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX.

To Handle Low-ball Offer, Minimize Emotion

It's a common scenario in today's real estate market: Sellers have their eyes on getting a certain amount for their home. Buyers make a low-ball offer that insults and offends the sellers and they refuse to even consider it. No sale.

How do you, as a seller, turn such a situation around in your favor to achieve a successful sale closer to your asking price? Your motivation plays a major role in your response, says Julie McCoy, a real estate agent with RE/MAX Accord in Lafayette, California.

If you want to sell a home quickly and a buyer is offering less but can close quickly, it's worth considering, McCoy says. When lower-than-expected offers come in, ask for an explanation from the buyer's agent and compare home sales to see how things stack up.

"The emotion has to be removed from the transactions," McCoy says. "Regardless of what kind of offers you receive, you can't take it personally. When someone writes a low-ball offer, it's not an indication of what your house is worth - but rather what they can afford."

Try to find wiggle room by negotiating the terms, such as the moving timeline, closing costs and repairs. You can gain back some money that way, McCoy says. If you're reluctant to touch the price but you're not having a lot of showings, seriously consider your motivations.

"When a seller says no to low offers, that means he or she will be carrying more payments on the house for a longer period of time," McCoy says. "If a seller can afford the daily cost of staying in the home and wants to get the best bang for the buck at closing, then there's not an urgent need to move. "

If you leave your gut reaction out of the equation, it's easier to make an informed decision on whether or not to consider a low offer.

"Motivated sellers will work with their agent, who then works with the buyer's agent, to negotiate - even if that involves countering," McCoy says. "It takes teamwork to arrive at a conclusion that everyone's happy with."

RE/MAX Bahamas Agent Spotlight - Zack Bonczek

After nearly 18 years of sales, and over 10 as a licensed agent/broker, Zack Bonczek is at the top of his game! He is the Sales Manager here at RE/MAX Paradise Realty and he is also on The Board of Directors for The Bahamas Real Estate Association and currently is The Chairman of The Education Committee.

Zack’s biggest focus in 2011 has been to become a great listing agent. Realizing there is an emotional attachment to property, his goals are to explain to seller’s the dynamics of the market, show them where their property fits into the market and to design a specific and tailored marketing plan to ensure success. Pricing properties right and executing the marketing plan has produced excellent results!

Zack takes pride in all of his endeavors and is especially keen on helping agents, both at RE/MAX Paradise Realty and in other companies, grow personally and professionally. It is a rare day when Zack doesn’t have some helpful advice to share with his colleagues. If you’ve never had the opportunity to work with Zack, give him a call or send him an email! You will not be disappointed!

RE/MAX Bahamas Agent welcomes new baby!

Proud parents, Sarah and Kurt Munro recently had a new addition to their family. Xavi Lee was born on the 20th day of September 2011 and weighed 8 lbs 1 oz - A Healthy baby boy!

Congratulations on your new miracle!

Xavi Lee will have a lot of fun growing up with his big brother Zane who is 4 years older.

RE/MAX Bahamas Office Social

This quarter’s event took us to The Harbour Lounge at The Green Parrot, where we dined on succulent starters, such as Lobster Guacamole and Jalapeno Calamari, and divine thin crust pizzas including Frutti di Mare and the traditional Margherita! A meal like this wouldn’t be complete without a couple of tasty libations to wash it all down!

“At RE/MAX Paradise Realty, our quarterly office social has become an important part of our team building! Social interaction outside of the normal business environment allows our team to become a stronger, more cohesive unit”, explains Craig Pinder, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Paradise Realty. “We are already looking forward to the next event in a couple of months!”

At the Wine Lounge: Pictured left to right - Craig, Sarah, Zack, Lorraine and Michelle