According to a recent radio trivia question, the most popular regret for people in their 20s and 30s is that they didn’t invest in real estate sooner or at all. Whether you’re in this age group, or you’re well past your 30s, it is never too late to invest in real estate. Don’t become one of these many Americans with this regret later in life!

Although real estate has always been a popular investment option, investing during an economic crisis creates new advantages. The prices are low, the options are high and the chance that the economy will turn around in the future brings high hopes for revenue. According to an article from InvestmentPropertiesInfo.com, though investing in real estate is ageless, your age does create certain factors that should decide how you go about with your investment.

For those of you in your 20s and 30s, time is on your side:

• While you search for an investment, you can take your time and wait until you find a house that fits your needs, and you can spend some of that time educating yourself and increasing your knowledge about real estate. (However, don’t wait too long, or the opportunity might slip by.)

• You can choose to move into your newly purchased home, or you have the option of making it a revenue-only investment. You’re still young enough to rent somewhere alone, with friends or with a significant other, or you could even still live with your parents.

• You can wait more than 30 years before cashing in on your investment, and hopefully, the price you sell the house for in the future will be higher than what you buy it for now.

• If your investment turns out to be a financial blow, you still have many working years ahead to help you pay off the debt and recover.

• As of right now, there are numerous loans and tax credits that first-time homebuyers can use toward the purchase of a home.

• For some young homebuyers, the process of purchasing now will be easier than later, because young people tend to have fewer financial obligations. You hopefully have low accumulated credit card and loan debt, and you don’t have an existing mortgage.

• As far as having fewer personal obligations, you have more time to spend on investing than someone who has already moved up the management ladder at work, or someone who has other people in a household to provide for.

• At a young age, most people are enjoying their best physical condition, and therefore can handle the work and time that home renovation needs.

Having time and fewer obligations to deal with at a young age definitely makes investing in real estate an easier chore. However, established men and women above the age of 40 can easily still make a real estate investment, and we’ll tell you how in Don’t Wait to Invest, Part 2, coming soon!

An overload of advice is offered to you, as a homebuyer, on what you should do before and while you deal with the process of purchasing a new home. Did anyone ever tell you what not to do? The most important advice, which is best laid out at realestateabc.com, is to keep your finances in order. What does this mean?

First, it means to deal with one life-changing purchase at a time. In the process of buying a new home, don’t feel the need to purchase anything else new. Now is not the time to purchase a new car, plan an expensive wedding, buy all-new décor, plan a vacation and the list goes on. Unless, of course, your finances are in good enough shape to handle more than one life-changing purchase at one time.

Secondly, don’t move your money around. The process of reviewing a potential homebuyer’s finances is more closely analyzed than ever before. While a loan lender or a mortgage underwriter is reviewing your finances, make the process as simple as possible. This means not moving large sums of money from one account to another, opening a new account or changing banks. The last few months of bank statements and liquid assets will need to be reviewed, so the more changes you make now, the longer the process will take and the more frustrated you’ll become.

Bottom line: keep your finances in order, and keep your funding decisions simple until the review process is complete.

The housing crisis is finally showing slow signs of improvement. Commercial and retail properties have suffered in all areas of the country, but according to an article from Realty Times, apartment rentals have remained the strongest sector.

Of all building rentals, multi-family apartment units have held up the best. Buildings have stayed full, and rent has remained stable or even increased. Particular cities with the lowest vacancy rates, around 5 percent, include Pittsburgh, San Diego, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., San Jose and Albuquerque. Areas where vacancy rates are higher, reaching up to 12 percent, include Tucson and Phoenix. Still, the average for the country is 7.4 percent, which is lower than it has been in past recessions.

What’s the reason for this? It could mean that people are afraid of the real estate meltdown and are resorting to renting instead of purchasing. It could mean that in order to find jobs, college graduates have moved to where the jobs are, forcing them to move into housing that they can afford. It could mean that people losing their homes through foreclosures are moving into apartment buildings. It could just mean that apartment living is always going to be needed, no matter what the economy or the real estate market is looking like.

Whatever the reason, it definitely means that if you’re looking for extra revenue, apartment buildings may be the smartest investment purchase you could make. To search for buildings available in your area, go to BuyOwner.com and search under Multi Unit or Apartment Building listings.

In a previous post, you read that it is still possible to sell your home after you have filed for Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. But once you have received an approval from the courts, closed the sale of your property and allocated the proceeds to your trustee/creditors, what do you do now? How do you go about buying a house when you have filed for Chapter 13?

First things first: you will most likely not be able to qualify for a home loan if you are still in debt, under an active Chapter 13 payment plan. Filing for bankruptcy puts a huge damper on your credit score for a few years. However, keep in mind that other factors go into acquiring home loans besides your credit score. This includes the amount of money you have for a down payment, your positive payment history on the active Chapter 13 and other credit cards, your income, etc.

If the proceeds from the sale of your home cover all of your debt, your case is discharged. And although your credit score has gone down, you may recover a little faster as opposed to if you were still active on the Chapter 13 payment plan. There could even be a chance that you will make enough money from the sale of your home to repay your debt and put a down payment on a house.

A common option for people under Chapter 13 is to rent a condo or an apartment for the time being, so they may get their finances in order. Watch out for those association dues, though, if you choose to go the condo route. By renting a property for a few years, you will have time to come out of Chapter 13, to improve your credit score and to ultimately prove to federal agencies that you are creditworthy of a mortgage loan for a new house.

As part of a special feature at the Buy Owner Blog, we’ll be highlighting cities throughout the nation, profiling their attractions and conveniences, as well as pointing out some currently for-sale homes in the area!

Today’s city: Clearwater, Florida!

A paradise peninsula on Florida’s west coast, Clearwater is more than a top vacation getaway with award-winning beaches; it’s a wonderful place to call home! White sandy shores stretch for 35 miles along the Gulf of Mexico. Fantastic sporting and recreational activities abound, and you can enjoy fresh seafood and great shopping all around you!

Play a few rounds of golf at local courses. Go for a boat ride on the ocean. Explore the cultural attractions of nearby Tarpon Springs or Dunedin. This thriving area is only 30 minutes from Busch Gardens in Tampa and 90 minutes from Orlando theme parks like Disney, Sea World and Universal Studios.

If you’re looking for Florida luxury amongst a collection of distinct and charming neighborhoods, Clearwater is the place for you!

Take a look at these Buy Owner properties currently for sale!

• $779K: 2 BR, 2 BA Beachfront Condo
• $589K: 5 BR, 4 BA Lakefront SFH
• $420K: 3 BR, 2.5 BA Condo
• $225K: 2 BR, 2.5 BA Townhome

Image Credit: Barefoot in Florida

If you’re not spending the day at Clearwater Beach, Busch Gardens or one of the other numerous year-round attractions found in the Tampa area, head to one of these unique festivals, sporting events or concerts! Whether you want to test your luck at animation, learn more about Ybor City’s history with cigars, taste new seafood favorites or celebrate Halloween with a worldwide crowd, you’re in luck!

Sports

National league and college teams are geared up to entertain and hopefully awe their fans this fall season, which marks the start to months of football and hockey in the Tampa area. Purchase tickets in advance for the best chance at seeing live action!

For Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL football tickets, visit buccaneers.com.

For Tampa Bay Lightning NHL hockey tickets, visit tampabaylightning.com.

For University of Southern Florida Bulls football tickets, visit gousfbulls.com.

Indoor Activities

Now through Dec. 23 at the Dunedin Fine Arts Center, explore how contemporary art ties into 18th century art at the Cabinet of Natural Curiosities exhibit. Admire a variety of sculptures, paintings, ceramics, jewelry and more.

At the Museum of Science and Industry, visitors can still view the special Animation Exhibit! Learn how animation was first created, explore the process it takes to create our favorite animated characters, and test your luck at creating animation! Tons of information is available for those who plan on making a career out of it.

Year-round, you can enjoy visits to the Florida Aquarium, Busch Gardens, Adventure Island, Channelside, Lowry Park Zoo, the Tampa Gallery of Photographic Arts, Tampa Theatre and so many more museums and parks! For more information on permanent attractions, visit islandtime.com.

Outdoor Activities

Between Oct. 15 and Oct. 18, head to Coachman Park for the annual Clearwater Jazz Holiday. Here, you can enjoy four free days of world-class jazz performances.

On Oct. 31, celebrate Halloween with a worldwide crowd by attending Guavaween, the annual Tampa celebration that attracts travelers to its parade, costume contest, and national and local concerts. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., bring your kids along for a scavenger hunt, candy, rides and more. After 4 p.m., dance away the night in costume at the adult festivities in Ybor City, full of restaurants and nightclubs!

On Nov. 1, plan on attending the Conga Caliente Festival for a taste of worldwide entertainment! Live performances include nationally and internationally talented stars. Aside from the entertainment, an assortment of foods and crafts are available for purchase.

Savor gourmet Florida favorites at the annual Ruskin Seafood and Arts Festival on Nov. 3 and 4. At Simmons Park, over 20 vendors will offer samples of seafood specialties, such as shellfish, oysters, alligator, clam chowder and so many more! A craft show and live entertainment are also provided.

View the historic Ybor City like you’ve never seen it before! On Nov. 20, after purchasing a “passport”, enjoy a guided tour of Ybor City, admission to the Ybor City Museum State Park, and tours of the J.C. Newman Cigar Factory, Oliva Tobacco Company and Tampa Sweethearts Cigar Company. Head home with a bag full of cigar treats and souvenirs.

On Nov. 21 in Ybor City, attend the Cigar Heritage Festival between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. for samples of cigars from around the world! Also enjoy cigar demonstrations, cigar rolling, live entertainment and a variety of ethnic food and drinks.

Concerts and Theatre

Brad Paisley, with Dierks Bentley and Jimmy Wayne, Oct. 16, Ford Amphitheatre

Walking With Dinosaurs, Oct. 17, St. Petersburg Times Forum (Ice Palace)

Robin Williams, Oct. 20, USF Sun Dome

All Time Low, Oct. 26, The Ritz Ybor

REO Speedwagon and Styx, Oct. 30, Ford Amphitheatre

Brand New, Nov. 5, The Ritz Ybor

Wonderland: Alice’s New Musical Adventure, Nov. 24 through Jan. 3, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center

Miley Cyrus, Dec. 1, St. Petersburg Times Forum (Ice Palace)

As part of a new special feature at the Buy Owner Blog, we’ll be highlighting cities throughout the nation, profiling their attractions and conveniences, as well as pointing out some currently for-sale homes in the area!

First up, Lawrenceville, Georgia!

Located about 40 minutes northeast of Atlanta, this Georgia suburb has a Southern hospitality all its own! As the second oldest city in the state, Lawrenceville features beautifully historic buildings that house shops, boutiques and eateries. Strolling through the quaint downtown, you can’t help but be charmed!

Known as the Crepe Myrtle City, Lawrenceville is as beautiful as it is convenient: this is where you’ll find one of the major hospitals of the region, Gwinnett Medical Center, as well as the nearby Gwinnet Center, a facility for a variety of events and special performances, including sports and entertainment.

Must-see destinations include the Aurora Theatre, showcasing musicals and plays; ghost tours that highlight this town’s rich history; the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse that’s open for tours; and the Veterans Memorial Museum with its interesting war artifacts.

If you’re looking for a neighborhood that benefits from Atlanta conveniences and its own brand of Southern style, you’ll want to check out Lawrenceville.

Take a look at these Buy Owner properties currently for sale!

• $500K: 4 BRS/3.5 BATHS/Estates at Knollwood Lakes
• $430K: 8 BRS/5 BATHS/Great River at Tribble Mill
• $350K: 5 BRS/3.5 BATHS/4-Sided Brick Ranch
• $298K: 5 BRS/3 BATHS/Autumn View
• $199,900: 4 BRS/2.5 BATHS/Birchwood
• $143,900: 3 BRS/2 BATHS/New Hope Estates
• $139K: 3 BRS/2.5 BATHS/Garrison Square

Or head over to BuyOwner.com now to check out other available listings!

Photo Credit: Lentini

If you have ever wanted to visit Atlanta, the fall season is the perfect time to do so! With temperatures averaging between the 60s and the 80s, you’ll be able to wear shorts and a t-shirt most days and layer up with a simple light jacket in the evenings. Unlike most other locations in the U.S., Atlanta gets the least amount of rain during the month of October. It really is a golden time in the Peach State, as you’ll find plenty of outdoor events going on in and around the city, including country fairs, rock concerts and Atlanta Falcons football.

• FALL EVENTS in Atlanta are all about enjoying the fresh air. So get off the couch and head outside to one of these spectacular affairs!

• Sugar Hill Fall Festival
  Located in the Atlanta metro area, Sugar Hill is a quaint community situated near Lake Lanier and the Georgia Mountains. Since 2000, this charming city has held an annual Fall Festival where you can enjoy tasty food, live music, fun games, a car show, a parade, a 5K race and a chili cook-off! You might even get to meet a celebrity or two. This year’s guest is former Harlem Globetrotter, Michael Douglas. The festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 17 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, visit this Web site.
• Trout Fishing
  The fall season is an ideal time to catch some trout. When you are directly in the city, the only place you can go to do your fishin’ is to the infamous Chattahoochee River. Beginning at Lake Sidney Lanier and running just below the Buford Dam, this river is an artificially created fishery that is better known as “The Hooch” to the locals. You can fish all year round; however, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources enforces a Fall through Spring fishery that is single hook (catch and release only), between the dates of November 1 and May 14. So if you’re looking to fry up your catch, it’s best to fish in the early months of the autumn season. For a map of wading areas and entry points, click here.
• FREE Events in Piedmont Park
  When you want to spend some time outside, there’s really no better place to do that than at a park! There are always FREE events going on inside Piedmont Park throughout the fall season. You could get a tour of the BeltLine, take a historic tour of the park, go for a bird walk, visit the conservatory, learn some new gardening tricks and more. The park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. For more information about Piedmont Park, and to check out a complete list of events, visit PiedmontPark.org.

Breaking News!! The Georgia State Fair will no longer be held during the third week of October. Although this festival will still take place in Macon, Georgia, it is now being held in the spring from April 29-May 9, 2010.

• ATLANTA SPORTING EVENTS are starting up again in the fall. You’ve got hockey and basketball coming back in October and sticking around all the way until spring!

• With football season in full swing, the NFL Atlanta Falcons are looking to make a better playoff run this year. After overcoming a dismal 4-12 record in 2007, the team shocked everyone by going 11-5 last year and making it to the post-season as the number five seed. Despite first-year coach Mike Smith being named NFL Coach of the Year and new quarterback Matt Ryan earning Offensive Rookie of the Year, the Falcons fell to the Arizona Cardinals (the future 2008 Super Bowl Champs) in the Wild Card round. The Falcons have some tough games coming up against Chicago, Dallas and New Orleans to name a few. For more info, visit Falcons.com.
• Things are looking up for the NBA Atlanta Hawks this year. In 2008, the team clinched a spot in the playoffs for the second year in a row. Unlike their run in 2007, which ended in the first round, last season, the Hawks defeated the Miami Heat in the first round after playing all seven games. Although they ended up getting swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, the Hawks performed the best they had ever played since 1997. If the team keeps up this pace year after year, they’ll have a championship ring in no time! For more information on game times and opponents, visit NBA.com/hawks.
• The NHL Atlanta Thrashers have only been around for 10 years, so it’s no wonder they haven’t come out on top just yet. They achieved a Southeast Division Title for the 2006-07 season, but the Thrashers have yet to make a good run for the Stanley Cup. Starting their 11th season this year, the team hopes to chase those dreams of winning the cup. After all, several notable teammates have been a part of bigger, better teams. For example, Vyacheslav Kozlov played for the Detroit Red Wings when they won two consecutive cups in the mid-90s. With a combination of knowledgeable veterans and skilled newcomers, the Thrashers have a lot of potential. For a complete schedule, visit Thrashers.nhl.com.

• CONCERTS in Atlanta are going on every single day… no joke! When you need an escape, you are sure to find a great musical event on any given night. Here are some cool acts to check out:

• Colbie Caillat: Monday, October 19, Variety Playhouse
• Marc Broussard: Friday, October 23, Center Stage Theatre
• Zac Brown Band: Friday, October 30, Fox Theatre Atlanta
• All That Remains, Saturday, November 7, Masquerade
• Ensiferum, Monday, November 9, Masquerade

For other acts, as well as scheduling and ticket info, visit Ticketmaster.com.

While some would view fall as merely the transitional period between summer and winter, in Southern Florida, it’s when some of the most popular festivals and activities occur! Whether you enjoy independent films, live music, gourmet food, German beer, expensive boats or Halloween candy, at least one event is available to match your interests!

Sports
Fall is the season that winds down summer sports and gets you pumped for winter ones. As the Florida Marlins take a break from hitting the bat, get in line for tickets to football, hockey and basketball!

For Florida Panthers hockey tickets, visit here.

For Miami Heat basketball tickets, visit here.

For University of Miami Hurricanes football tickets, visit here.

Inside Activities:

Between October 1 and November 12, Dine Out Lauderdale includes 35 restaurants that offer three-course meals for $35. Check to see if your favorite local restaurants are offering this deal!

Between October 23 and November 8, visit Cinema Paradiso for the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival! This fest combines outdoor family movies, documentaries, student film competitions, seminars, celebrities and more!

At the Fort Lauderdale History Center through February 7, 2010, you can view scale models and drawings of the home that Frank Lloyd Wright was supposed to build on the New River in 1939. Also on exhibit, learn more about other buildings that Wright did build, and his connections with Fort Lauderdale.

Learn more about contemporary art! At the Museum of Art, through January 10, 2010, three local individuals share their knowledge of contemporary art while displaying over 100 works in their exhibit.

At the Museum of Discovery & Science, through December 2, travel to all spectrums of the universe! Travel to space as the pilot of a spaceship in the realistic Aviation Station. Travel to the darkest, most exotic areas of the ocean in a 3D film. Travel around the earth’s ground while touching numerous natural minerals and making a volcano erupt! And travel to Hogwarts, the school for wizardry and magic, in the traveling Harry Potter Exhibit available through October 30.

Outdoor Activities:
Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday night, enjoy music and dancing under the stars! Head to Hollywood Beach Theatre between 7:30 and 9 p.m. for an array of live music, from country to rock. Every Friday, enjoy live jazz, blues and pop music while all of the boardwalk’s restaurants offer food and/or drink specials.

Every Sunday, wind down from the weekend at the Riverwalk in Downtown Fort Lauderdale. You can enjoy the sounds of jazz from four different stages between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

On October 10, head to Las Olas Boulevard for the first ever Glam-a-thon, which raises funds for the University of Miami’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., enjoy an array of activities, crafts and entertainment, also suitable for children. At 3 p.m., enjoy the Glam Doll Strut, showing off Florida’s most chic divas in their wardrobes. The night ends with cocktails, food and gambling under the stars.

On October 16 in Downtown Fort Lauderdale, celebrate your German heritage, or just show up for live entertainment and beer! Rocktoberfest combines German and American heritage by providing loads of beer samples and food for you to enjoy while listening to live rock bands.

For a more authentic Oktoberfest, visit Las Olas Boulevard on October 24-25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for art and beer! The Las Olas Art Fair with Oktoberfest Beer Garden features over 150 artists, while supplying European Microbrews in the Beer Garden.

Between October 29 and November 2, attend the 50th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, which is the largest boat show in the world! At six different sites, you can view over a billion dollars worth of boats and yachts from every marine manufacturer in the world!

On October 31, celebrate the holiday of Halloween while also helping local charities! Downtown Fort Lauderdale provides a Halloween Party for all ages, including a costume contest, food, drinks and candy! All proceeds go to local charities.

Through December 26, 2010, enjoy fresh produce and baked goods from Josh’s Organic Garden Green Market. One of the true pluses of living in the warm state of Florida!

Theatre, Shows and Concerts:

• Paula Cole, October 3, Broward Center for Performing Arts
• Fiddler on the Roof, October 6-18, Broward Center for the Performing Arts
• Stone Soup, October 6, Parker Playhouse
• David Garrett, October 8-9, Broward Center for the Performing Arts
• Laura Pausini, October 14, Hard Rock Live
• Super Scientific Circus, October 15, Parker Playhouse
• Celtic Crossroads, October 17, Parker Playhouse
• Robin Williams, October 21-22, Hard Rock Live
• Tanguera-The Tango Musical, October 21-25, Broward Center for the Performing Arts

Charlotte’s Web, November 6, Parker Playhouse

• Legally Blonde, November 12-22, Broward Center for the Performing Arts
• New Shanghai Circus, November 17, Parker Playhouse
• The Music of Led Zeppelin, November 24, Broward Center for the Performing Arts
• Roger Daltrey, November 29, Hard Rock Live

The fall season is a great time to call Orlando and Jacksonville home! Theme parks are usually packed throughout the summer. And during the winter, you’ll often find lots of people coming in from cold, snowy states to enjoy some warmer weather. But come September, October and November, temperatures begin to drop off into the 70s, and the humidity levels are almost non-existent. It’s the perfect time of year to step in out, perhaps in a light jacket, and enjoy the sights sans the crowds of tourists.

FALL EVENTS abound within the Central Florida. Whether it’s a holiday celebration or an entertainment festival, you’re sure to find something fun to do.

• Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios
  For a few days in September and throughout the month of October, Universal Studios is transformed into a “labyrinth of haunted houses” and other scary attractions ripped straight from the movies that have terrified people for years and years. The shows, exhibits and decorations are updated every year, as well, so the park always keeps your heart racing and your blood pumping. General admission is $69, but you could purchase a Frequent Fear Pass, giving you unlimited access Sundays through Thursdays, for the same price. For more info, visit HalloweenHorrorNights.com.
• Oktoberfest in Celebration, Florida
  Just outside of Orlando, the aptly named town of Celebration hosts a yearly Oktoberfest. This year marks only the second time that the town is putting on the event, which takes place Friday, October 9 and Saturday, October 10. There are hayrides, live music, tons of food and lots to drink… all boasting a German theme, of course. The best part of the event is that parking and admission is FREE!  For more info, visit CelebrationTownCenter.com.
• Jacksonville Light Parade
  If you’re in Jacksonville for Thanksgiving, there is more to the holiday than turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie. Because the city is close to the water, Jacksonville created an annual parade boats to dazzle crowds during Thanksgiving weekend. Bots are decked out in thousands of twinkle lights and sail through the riverbank near Metropolitan Park and Jacksonville Landing. A spectacular fireworks display follows the parade. For more info, visit COJ.net.

ORLANDO/JACKSONVILLE SPORTING EVENTS are starting up again in the fall. You’ve got hockey and basketball coming back in October and sticking around all the way until spring!

• Last year, the NBA Orlando Magic won the Eastern Conference title. And even though the team has been around for 20 years now, they have never won an NBA Championship. It’s been a long time since the days of Shaquille O’Neal and Anfernee ‘Penny’ Hardaway, but the Magic hopes to go all the way this year behind the support of former NBA star, and now Orlando Assistant Coach, Patrick Ewing. The Magic takes on the Detroit Pistons, the team who ended their quest for the ring last year, at home on Friday, November 6. For more info, visit NBA.com/magic.
• The NFL Jacksonville Jaguars began last season with high hopes, as they acquired some really good rookie players. However, the team finished 5-11, recording the worst record since 2003. Many of their key players suffered from injuries and were unable to compete throughout the season. This year, they hope to stay healthy and get a shot at playing in the coveted Super Bowl. The Jaguars open their season at home facing the 2008 Super Bowl Champion Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, September 20. For more info, visit Jaguars.com.

CONCERTS in Central Florida suit every music taste from adult contemporary to teen pop. Here is a little something for everyone, regardless of age or taste in music:

• Brad Paisley: Thursday, October 15, JAX Veterans Memorial Arena
• Shinedown: Wednesday, October 21, House of Blues Orlando
• Metalocalypse: Saturday, November 7, Hard Rock Live Orlando
• So You Think You Can Dance, Saturday, October 24, Leon County Civic Center

For other acts, as well as scheduling and ticket info, visit Ticketmaster.com.