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Real Estate Investment Articles | Austin Institute of Real Estate

Throughout the United States, decades of poor lending practices have recently contributed to the  cause of the highest government bailouts in history. In an effort to prevent this disaster from repeating, the federal government passed laws that restrict certain lending practices. 
Officially, the new laws are designed to protect individual consumers from unfair and abusive lending practices. They are also in place to ensure that the mortgage borrower has access to necessary information in order to fully understand the costs and terms of a loan.
Here are the ten most important things you need to know about the new mortgage laws regulating this turbulent field of borrowing and lending:
1.    Mortgage lenders and brokers are prohibited from encouraging or threatening appraisers to misrepresent the value of a home.

2.    Payments must be credited on the date they are received and must inform the borrower of any late-payment fees.

3.    For those applicants considered a subprime credit risk, a lender is not permitted to raise the price of the loan without regard to the borrower’s ability to repay the loan from any income or assets apart the home’s value. 

4.    All income and assets used to qualify for loan approval must be verified.

5.    Wage earners without sufficient income are required to borrow within their means.  This leaves low income families unable to borrow nearly as much money as before for a home, if any at all.

6.    There are also new rules that require a minimum waiting period of seven days between disclosure and closing. Disclosures must be resent if the APR changes, and no fees can be charged prior to the client receiving the loan disclosure documents.

7.    Deceptive or misleading advertising regarding payments or teaser rates is prohibited.

8.    All loan officers at financial institutions and mortgage brokers will be required to register with the government and disclose information about their background and disciplinary history. 

9.    The background information of your lender will be in a database available to consumers. 

10.    State governments are obligated to set licensing and minimum educational requirements for loan originators.

If you want to know more about the new licensing and educational requirements for lending in Texas, then check out the Texas Institute of Real Estate (TIRE). They have one of the best commercial real estate education programs in the state. TIRE has all the latest information about licensing in Texas. With the constant changes in the mortgage industry, ongoing, up-to-date education is of upmost importance.
The Texas Institute of Real Estate offers three convenient ways to get a commercial real estate education: live, online, or by correspondence. So, no matter what learning method works best for you, they’ve got you covered.

Not just a licensing school, TIRE is home to the 3 Step Success System which teaches professional business, marketing and investing education to people of all experience levels in real estate. TIRE also provides MCE and Salesperson Annual Education renewal courses as well as the education required for real estate brokers. You can register for a course online or call the Texas Institute of Real Estate toll free at (800) 487-1757.

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Author: John Haines. 5-4-10. Commercial Real Estate Education A commercial real estate license from The Texas Institute of Real Estate will take your real estate career to new levels.

Summary: This article covers the ten most important things you need to know about the new mortgage laws regulating this turbulent field of borrowing and lending. If you want to know more about the new licensing and educational requirements for lending in Texas, then check out the Texas Institute of Real Estate (TIRE).

Edited By: Ethan Luke

Date: 5.6.10

Source: http://mortgagedfuture.com/long-overdue-mortgage-regulations-to-curb-lending-abuses/ 

Austin Energy Audits Required by New City Ordinance

A new city ordinance requires homeowners to have an Austin energy audit performed on their property by a certified auditor before they can sell their home. For the ordinance to apply, the property has to be 10 years or older, receiving services from the Austin Electric Utility, and within the Austin city limits.

The City of Austin’s Energy Efficiency Ordinance will require many properties who want to enter the market to undergo a mandatory energy audit. Only Building Performance Institute’s certified Building Analyst Professionals or RESNET certified “Raters” will be recognized to perform them for single family homes and multifamily properties.

The demand for Austin energy audits is going up, as is the demand for the professionals that perform them. Careers in energy efficiency are highly sought after, and you can be part of the demand with help from Green Energy Audit Certification. 

GEAC Instructors are BPI-certified as Proctors and Field Examiners and have approximately 400 hours of teaching experience behind them. GEAC even offers tutoring for students outside of class to give you hands-on experience in the field so you can use your newfound skills.

GEAC has all the materials you need to successfully get your Austin energy audit license. The cost of courses includes everything necessary for certification: classroom instruction, field training, books, materials, the use of equipment, the online exam, and a field test. Students can review class for free if they feel they need to get a better grasp of the material.
There are just four simple steps to get Austin Energy Audit-Certified:

Step 1. Enroll in The Building Performance Advantage Curriculum, about 45 hours of combined classroom and field training towards becoming a Building Analyst Professional.
Step 2. Pass a 100-question, online final examination in two hours or less. The exam is proctored and conducted during the final 2 hours of the class, and results are obtained immediately.
Step 3. Schedule and pass a one-on-one field examination with an approved field examiner and "test" house. During the exam you will use equipment and tools that test the energy efficiency of the house. This is to show the examiner your proficiency in using the equipment. Results are given 2-4 weeks after completion of the field exam.
Step 4.  Attend a City of Austin Auditor Orientation Session. There will be a form that the auditor must submit to Austin Energy providing their BPI/RESNET identification number, a copy of the certificate, and other similar information. Austin Energy will review and record the information of those who are accepted, then post their name and contact information in the registered auditor’s directory on the website.
Green Energy Audit Certification provides the latest in green education, training and testing to qualified individuals who want to obtain the Building Performance Institute Certification and become Building Analyst Professionals. Energy efficiency professionals will be at the forefront of the coming energy efficiency wave. Join a class today, and be on your way to Energy Auditing Certification. If you’re looking to join the growing green market, call Green Energy Audit Certification at (512)452-4461 or go to  www.txgreenenergyaudits.com and start your future in a growing field today.

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Author: John Haines. 4-19-10. <a href=http://www.txgreenenergyaudits.com/> Austin Energy Efficiency</a> Looking to earn your license in Austin energy audits? Contact TXgreenenergyaudits.com for more information!

Summary: A new Austin City Ordinance will make energy audits mandatory for homes on the market that are at least 10 years-old. This will increase the demand for BPI certified energy auditors. 

Edited By: Ethan Luke

Date: 4.21.10

Sources: http://www.txgreenenergyaudits.com/content/why-geac-obvious-choice-your-green-education , http://www.txgreenenergyaudits.com/content/how-become-energy-auditor

How to Get a Texas Real Estate License for $599

There are two things everyone wants in a career: plenty of time and money. A job that earns a surplus of money is tempting, but if it takes up all your time you can’t enjoy it. For less pay you may be able to free up a lot of time but not get anywhere financially. That’s no fun either. A Texas real estate license can get you a career that allows you to make your own schedule, and offers unlimited income potential, granting you time and money. 

Take advantage of the market here and enter a new career field by getting a Texas real estate license. All you need is an education that follows Texas Real Estate Commission guidelines.

This is where the Texas Institute of Real Estate comes in. They can put you on the path to getting Texas real estate license for just $599. Some of their leading competitors charge up to $799 for real estate classes. The program at TIRE not only offers an affordable option to transition into a new career, the classes at take a holistic approach, preparing students for success with marketing, investment, and business education.

All classes in the package are now offered online. The content is the same as the live courses, but can be taken from home at your own schedule and pace. Getting online real estate courses is a great way to begin working on your Texas real estate license immediately, and all courses at TIRE are industry approved. You can register for a course online or call the Texas Institute of Real Estate toll free at (800) 487-1757.

The courses for obtaining your Texas real estate license in the promotional package for $599 are:

1. Principles of Real Estate I & II

• Covers ownership, transfer, licensing, finance and fair housing.

2.    Law of Agency

• Overview of agency concepts, agreements with buyers and sellers, fiduciary duties, intermediaries, agency termination, and employment issues

3. Law of Contracts

• Contract law, contract forms, breaches, provisions and other required topics

4.    How to Get Rich in Real Estate and Have a Life

This exposé, written by two top industry insiders operating one of the most successful training programs in America today, reveals the myths, takes away the mystery and explains in three simple steps how to become a highly successful entrepreneur in the nation's largest professional trade organization.

The Texas Institute of Real Estate provides online real estate classes, correspondence real estate classes, and live real estate classes for credit towards a Texas real estate license. Not just a licensing school, TIRE is home to the 3 Step Success System, which teaches professional business, marketing and investing education to people of all experience levels in real estate. TIRE also provides MCE and SAE renewal courses as well as the education required for real estate brokers. Looking for a high quality Austin Real Estate School? At The Texas Institute of Real Estate you can take online correspondence courses to prepare you for every aspect of your real estate career.
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Author: John Haines. 4-19-10 <a href=”http://www.thetexasinstituteofrealestate.com/”> Texas Real Estate License </a> Texas real estate license At The Texas Institute of Real Estate you can take online correspondence courses to prepare you for every aspect of your real estate career.

Summary: The Texas Institute of Real Estate is offering a way to get Real Estate Licensed for $599.

Edited By: Ethan Luke

Date: 4.20.10

Sources: http://www.thetexasinstituteofrealestate.com/license-promo.php , http://recenter.tamu.edu/news/

Is Your Home Going as Green as Austin?

In an effort to promote energy efficiency, the City of Austin provided one of the largest solar rebates in the nation to help residents pay for solar roof top installations. Austin Energy paid out more than $18 million in solar rebates, which led to a total of 900 rooftop solar installations that generate three megawatts of solar capacity. The improvements to Austin energy efficiency were so dramatic that the number of solar installers in Austin grew from four to 24.

Just as the City used rebates to increase Austin energy efficiency, the federal government is offering tax credits making your home more efficient. Not only does the tax credit apply toward solar and wind installations, but also to weatherizing your home. The tax credit applies to 30 percent of total costs for solar, wind or geothermal installation, and weatherization.
Solar Sales Boom Nationwide
The amount of installed solar capacity in the U.S. grew 37 percent last year to 2,108 megawatts (MW), according to the Solar Energies Industry Association.
Solar Industry Revenue grew 36 percent to $4 billion, driven by strong demand in residential sectors similar to Austin’s, by state and federal incentives, and by declining solar panel prices. The report also stated that the sector had a strong start in 2010 with more than 46MW of solar capacity having come online by early February as a result of new grants released as part of the U.S. stimulus package.
 
Weatherizing Your Home
Weatherizing your house involves insulating in order to keep heat from leaking outside or into non-living areas. Not only does this save $20 to $30 of every $100 you spend on energy to heat your house, it also saves you money on repairs in the long run. Tax breaks are provided for more energy efficient roofing, water heaters, doors, and windows as well. Before deciding whether or not to make changes to your home, seek an expert opinion from Building Science and Systems.
Find out exactly what improvements your home or business needs to become more efficient by getting an energy audit from Building Science and Systems. Their certified experts perform detailed tests that determine exactly what home systems need to be upgraded or replaced in order to reduce your carbon footprint and electric bill. By making a few adjustments suggested by a certified energy auditor, you can join the rest of the country in becoming more energy efficient.
There are many different companies that can perform an energy audit, but Building Science and Systems improves Austin energy efficiency with a green touch. They apply a 21st century approach utilizing state-of-the-art equipment and cutting edge technology to treat your home as a system. They provide education and skilled professionals to show homeowners how to maintain, improve, repair, and protect the value of their home. Building Science and Systems is a total home care service with a green touch that takes the hassle out of maintaining your home. They provide custom, hassle-free, Energy Audits and Green Home maintenance programs.


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Author: John Haines. 4-21-10. <a href=”http://www.buildingscienceandsystems.com”> Austin energy efficiency</a> Building Science and Systems is a total home care service with a Green touch that takes the hassle out of maintaining your home. We provide custom, hassle free, Energy Audits and Green Home maintenance programs.

Summary: Federal and city government tax breaks are producing great results with solar power. These tax breaks extend to weatherizing your home, which residents can take advantage of with Building Science and Systems energy audit.

Edited By: Ethan Luke

Date:  4.27.10

Sources:
http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2261492/sun-shines-renewable-energy , http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index ,

Austin Real Estate School Offers Cutting Edge MCE Classes

With the cost of electricity on the rise, homeowners are looking for new ways to cut down on the amount they currently use. In-home heating, cooling and lighting account for 67 percent of electrical usage, and there are a variety of ways these systems can be made more efficient. Before buying or selling a home, more and more residents are paying for a certified professional to perform an energy audit to determine exactly what home systems need to be upgraded or replaced to reduce output and, ultimately, the electric bill.

If you are an Austin Realtor and need to find an Austin real estate school for classroom hours of Mandatory Continuing Education (MCE), why not learn about the cutting edge methods that make homes more energy efficient? Knowing what makes a home efficient will make your presentations more convincing and your comments more perceptive. Oftentimes a broker’s choice to hire a salesperson is based on these qualities. The Austin Institute of Real Estate has nine hours worth of live classes that will tell you everything you need to know about this rapidly growing industry. 

The Classes include:

Principles of Energy and a Home's Energy Consumption

The course will discuss the basics of a home's building shell, its energy usage, and the fundamental principles of energy, in order to give the student a better understanding of the entire energy cycle and how it affects the homeowner.

Residential Energy: The Importance of Insulation, Reduction of Air Leakage, and Safety

The course will highlight the importance of insulation and its many different types in detail. It will inform students why air leakage is detrimental to a home's energy usage, and how to be safe, specifically around combustion gas producing systems.

Residential Energy: The Impact of the Energy Audit

This course exposes students the difference an energy audit can make, and discusses the certification required in Austin. Students will learn about the Building Performance Institute, what Austin Energy's ECAD Audit requires, and how compliance is important. There will be specific examples for potential energy efficiency improvements, keeping in mind cost efficiency and energy savings. Lastly, students take a look at the entire energy audit process and what different equipment is used.

This Austin real estate school also has online correspondence classes to satisfy the six required hours for legal and ethics updates. You can do the coursework on your own time and test at your convenience.

The Austin Institute of Real Estate (AIRE) provides online, correspondence, and live real estate classes for credit towards a Texas real estate license. Not just a licensing school, AIRE is home to the “3 Step Success System”, which teaches professional business, marketing and investing education to people of all experience levels in real estate. AIRE also provides MCE and SAE renewal courses as well as the education required for real estate brokers. Looking for a high quality Austin Real Estate School? At The Austin Institute of Real Estate you can take online correspondence courses to prepare you for every aspect of your real estate career.


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Author: John Haines. 4-22-10 <a href=”http://www.thetexasinstituteofrealestate.com/”> Austin Real Estate School </a> Looking for a high quality Austin Real Estate School? At The Texas Institute of Real Estate you can take online correspondence courses to prepare you for every aspect of your real estate career.

Summary: The Austin Institute of Real Estate is offering new MCE courses that focus on making homes more energy efficient.

Edited By: Ethan Luke

Date: 4.27.10

Sources: www.austininstitute.com

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