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When it comes time to move to the San Diego foreclosures and REO's that you just invested in, you have a lot of things you need to get done before you can head out on the road. Maybe you are planning on renovating your San Diego foreclosures and REO's, but need a place to store some of the larger appliances and materials during construction. One of the major considerations is how you are going to transport or store your belongings. Will you use a rental truck, like U-Haul, Ryder or Budget; or to rent a moving container, like Pods? Here are some things you might want to think about before moving to, or beginning renovations on your San Diego foreclosures and REO's.

Pros of using a rental truck

One advantage of using a rental truck is that you have control of what you are moving, and how it is moved. You can pack it like you want, which is great to be able to do. Another advantage is, compared to using a moving company that packs everything for you, it is fairly cheap. You can take your time moving if you need to as you drive across town or across country. You also know exactly where your stuff is all the time. That can give some peace of mind compared to putting it in a container and saying so long.

Cons of using a rental truck

You usually have a shorter time frame to pack a truck than you would a self-service container. Loading a tuck is harder because you usually have to take your stuff up a ramp to get it into the truck. As fun as it may sound, driving a big truck across the country can be difficult, and unless you have someone following in another vehicle, you are limited on space for passengers. Having a second vehicle can free you somewhat as you travel to a point on your trip, but paying for gas on two vehicles can be pretty spendy. Usually the truck needs to be filled far more often than the follow vehicle. Towing a vehicle sucks even more gas, and in our experience can mess up the alignment on your car.

You also will need to decide who is going to drive the truck, and how the driving will be split, if it will be. Finding a place to park a truck is also a pain, and you run the risk of annoying the other patrons at the local McDonald's when you take up three or more spaces with your U-Haul and a possibly a car in tow.

Pros of a self-service storage container

One major advantage of a self-service storage container, like moving PODS, is that they sit on the ground and are pretty easy to load. You usually have up to a month to pack the thing, and once you are done, you just have it picked up and you don't have to deal with it until you reach your destination. You also can have the container stored indefinitely so you can take more time traveling and even sight see more easily. You don't have to worry that something will happen to your stuff while you are driving. You don't have to unpack a truck and then repack your stuff into storage if you don't need it immediately. You save money on fuel because trucks are gas guzzlers. If you are moving with more than about three people, such as a family of five, a regular car or truck or whatever is much more comfortable than a big 20 foot tuck.

Cons of a self-service storage container

You may not be able to have a container sitting in your apartment parking lot or, for business use, outside your business for a month as you pack. You can't just move the container if the landlord or another tenant doesn't like it or needs to access the parking spaces. If you own your own home, there may be a Home Owner's Association and they may not allow a container to sit on your lot, even if it is your own driveway. For short distance moves, a truck may be a better bet since you may end up paying less than you would for a container rental. Once the container is picked up, you have a harder time getting to your possessions.

Basically, to decide whether to get a U-Haul or a moving PODS container, do your homework. Check prices for the size of the truck or container you need, the distance of your move, and the cost of other things, like gas, and how fast you need to move, vs. how much freedom you need if you want to explore as you move to your new home.

Additional Real Estate Foreclosure Articles of Interest:

• Buying Foreclosures and REO's In As Is Condition: San Diego Foreclosures and REO's
• Bathroom Renovation Tips: San Diego Foreclosures and REO's
• How To Renovate Your Investment Property and Have Fun Doing It: San Diego Foreclosures and REO's
• Kitchen Renovation and Design: San Diego Foreclosures and REO's
• Five Easy Tricks That Will Help You Flip Your House: San Diego Foreclosures and REO's
• What Is HELOC?: San Diego foreclosures and REO's

REO Simplified What does REO mean anyway?

How is this different from the typical buying process of a San Diego home or condo? When considering a San Diego REO property - as with all San Diego properties - it is important to be well informed so you're well aware of the process from the first handshake through the closing.

Q. What does REO mean?

A. REO is an acronym for Real Estate Owned. REO is a financial industry term referring to properties that an institution has foreclosed upon and now owns.

Q. If I submit my offer directly to you rather than through the listing agent, will the Lender accept a lower price?

A. We only accept offers that have been submitted through the listing agent. We price our properties in accordance with the local market and expect to sell at market value. As with any property listing, our asking price takes into account its condition as compared with the local market.

Q. After submitting my offer, how long should it take to receive a response?

A. We will provide either an offer acceptance or counter offer to our listing agent within 48 hours of receiving the offer from our listing agent. The listing agent will inform your buyer's agent of our response if you are working with a separate agent, or you directly. If an offer is submitted during the weekend, it will be reviewed on the next business day.

Q. What if the property requires repairs, either minor or substantial?

A. Make sure that you speak with the listing agent to ensure that you understand the terms of our listing clearly. In most cases, the property will be offered in an "as-is" condition, with the list price reflecting its condition. When purchasing a property "as-is," ensure you've done your homework to clearly understand the structural and mechanical condition of the building, HVAC, internal plumbing, the well and septic system. Depending upon the condition of these components of the home, the types of financing available may be impacted. However, there are special loan products available that will lend on the "after improved" value of the home thereby making it possible to purchase even the most neglected property and to make it the home of your dreams.

Additional Reading of Interest:

• The Lure of the San Diego Foreclosure Auction!

• Get Rich In Real Estate: San Diego Foreclosures and REO's

• Avoid This Mistake When Flipping San Diego Foreclosure and Investment Properties

• What Is An Acceleration Clause?: San Diego Foreclosures and REO's

San Diego Lease Options and Subject To's (aka "Getting the Deed") are two very popular ways to purchase San Diego real estate with little or no money down. Acquiring San Diego investment real estate can be handled with many different approaches, but these two techniques can be implemented with little or no money down in most incidences.

A lease option is a technique which involves gaining 'control' of a San Diego property, but not owning it. It is the right to possess a property now and purchase that property at some future date with terms you define when you buy it.

A "Subject To" is getting the deed to a property without getting a mortgage for the home. Instead, the seller signs over the deed to his home 'subject to' the existing mortgage. The buyer in this case makes the mortgage payments on the old loan, but does not need to get a new mortgage (or ask for approval through an assumption of existing mortgages) to acquire this home.

Both of these techniques usually require little or no money down. In both of these techniques it is possible for the buyer to get money from the seller or the purchaser (or both!) in the beginning of the transaction. These techniques, when used properly, will provide for huge profits. They are both awesome, and when used hand-in-hand by investors are almost an unbeatable pair!

Why Knowing Both Techniques Means More Great Deals For You!

I can't tell you how many times I have heard, "If I don't get the deed, I don't do the deal". With over 20 year's of experience (since 1985) doing both types of deals, I have to disagree with that statement. The more tools and techniques and ways you have to purchase property or to structure a deal, the more likely you will be able to work with a motivated seller to come to a potential solution. If you only buy "Subject To", you'll walk away from a LOT of great deals in your real estate career, but you must know when each technique is appropriate to use. Finding a motivated seller is the first step to any good real estate deal.

There are many types of motivated sellers, but we tend to think of motivated sellers as the ones that are financially distressed. I like to look at motivation from a much wider range. Let me explain. I like to divide motivated sellers into two groups: Situation Sellers that have Bad Debt Solution Get the Deed NO Lease Option! VS. Situation Sellers that have Good Debt Solution Lease Option or Get the Deed!

Sellers that have "Bad Debt" are those in financial trouble. They might be behind on a mortgage (in foreclosure), have lost their job, acquired an illness, going through a divorce, etc. In these situations, you need to get the deed either with a Subject To or an outright purchase. Your main concern is that this type of seller will continue to have financial problems that could affect the title to "your" property if the deed is still in their name. For example, if this seller gets judgments from creditors, they can attach to any real estate the seller owns - they will have to be paid off before you can exercise your option to buy. That's why you want to get this type of seller off of the title. Sellers that have "Good Debt" are those NOT "in trouble" in the traditional sense, but they do have a reason motivating them to sell. Their problem is not one of financial desperation.

Empty San Diego Foreclosures and REOS Need to Be Protected

If you have unoccupied San Diego Foreclosures and REOS that you are fixing up, they are probably left unoccupied. For most investors, there always seems to be the 'What If' factor when leaving your San Diego Foreclosures and REOs unoccupied.

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Could Planting a Sustainable Garden Help You Flip Your San Diego Foreclosures and REO'S?

The answer is yes. Buyers are looking to create a new lifestyle. Sustainable gardening is gardening with environmental sensitivity, and with the "Green Movement" is all the rage right now. Even if you don't have a green thumb, sustainable gardening is something that you can achieve at your San Diego foreclosures and REO's. Sustainable gardening enables the garden to thrive naturally for years to come.  And the steps are easy and fun to implement into the daily routine of fixing and maintaining your San Diego foreclosures and REO'S. Sustainable gardening practices include:

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