Real Estate Investing in Probate Properties Can Yield Savings and Profits

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Real estate investing in probate properties can be a profitable niche for investors. While there is no special training involved, investors need to learn the process of researching public records and become educated about probate laws.

Real estate investing in probate provides investors with the opportunity to buy discounted properties in good condition while alleviating financial burdens of decedent estates. Probate is required for all estates that are not protected by a trust. The average duration of probate is 7 to 8 months.

When probated properties are secured by a mortgage note, the decedent’s estate is responsible for paying costs associated with the property. This includes mortgage payments, property taxes and insurance, homeowner’s association dues, and required maintenance. If the estate is financially incapable of paying expenses, the property could fall into foreclosure.

If the house is owned outright, the estate is responsible for remitting property taxes and insurance premiums throughout the probate process. The home must be maintained and properly secured. This can be challenging for estate administrators who live out of town and can add additional costs to the estate. Common expenses include lawn and pool care, or hiring subcontractors to perform maintenance.

Estate administrators can elect to sell the property if it is causing financial harm to the estate. If the estate does not have sufficient funds to cover outstanding debts, the probate judge can order the property sold.

The process for selling probate homes depends on the type of probate used. The most common is known as ‘court confirmation’ and all aspects of estate management must be approved by a judge. The second is governed under the Independent Administration of Estate’s Act (IAEA) which allows estate executors to engage in estate management duties without court supervision.

In order to buy probated properties investors must determine which probate process is being used. Properties can be purchased directly through the estate executor when IAEA is effective. Bids must be presented through the court when court confirmation is required.

To locate probate real estate investors must research public records. When a person dies their last will and testament is recorded through probate court. The Will contains information about estate assets, beneficiaries, and contact information for the estate administrator.

Once investors locate estates with real estate holdings they make note of the property address, than search property records to determine if the house is secured by a mortgage note or owned outright.

Property records reveal the appraised property value, along with year built, lot size, and square footage. The lien holder’s name is included if a mortgage is attached. Investors can also determine if creditor or tax liens are attached to the property.

Real estate investing in probate homes can be a lengthy process, but can yield substantial savings. As when buying any investment property, investors must engage in due diligence to ensure the property is worth the purchase price. It is recommended to work with a probate lawyer to ensure real estate documents are properly recorded and to ensure the buying process adheres to state probate laws.

Women’s Fitness Tips – How to Make the Scale Your Friend (Really)

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For many of us ladies women’s fitness does not come easily. In a culture that is saturated with photos and images of women who are 5’10″ and a size 2, it is hard to know what our bodies should look like and how to keep fit in the first place. Our scales can easily become our enemies and we can end up feeling ugly, when we should be celebrating our beauty.

But I propose that you can actually make the scale your friend – as I have, and let it help you stay (or become) fit and healthy.

The first step is to find out what you actually should weigh and to accept it. Take a look online at a reputable site like WebMD.com and find out what the correct weight is for a woman of your height and build. Be honest with yourself and don’t try and fudge the numbers. Remember that there is tremendous pressure on all of us to look like Paris Hilton or Twiggy, but that should not be your goal. What you want is a real body with real curves that is healthy and fit.

Once you have determined a goal weight that is realistic and healthy, then it is time to start making friends with your body and your scale. Weigh yourself every morning at about the same time. I like to do this right after I get out of the shower. I know many people say that you should only weigh yourself once a week, and that can work, but I have personally found that I can keep my body more under control when I weigh myself every day.

The reason that I have moved to weighing myself every day is simple. It gives me instant feedback on what I did the day before. If I eat healthy foods and exercise than I maintain my weight (and can lose weight if I need to). If I eat junky foods and gorge, then I don’t. It really is that simple. The key to this method is that you can’t let that number on the scale dictate your mood. It is there to inform you of how to improve your behavior and nothing else.

Also you need to keep in mind that your weight will naturally fluctuate about 5 pounds so give yourself a target range rather than a hard and fast number. Having a range that I am aiming for helps to keep me from getting too emotionally involved in the number on the scale, and gives me permission to be a little heavier at “that time of the month”.

Women’s fitness is a tough issue for many of us, but if you can learn to admire your curves instead of hating them, and realize that unless you are a model you will never look like one (and be OK with that fact), it will get much, much easier for you – as it has for me. You are beautiful and you deserve to not only be fit and attractive, but healthy too.