tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52668725097329508362024-03-13T17:29:54.437-07:00Property InvestmentProperty Investment for Long TermUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266872509732950836.post-8918016867671937542009-01-08T17:31:00.000-08:002009-01-08T17:33:37.031-08:00Cheap Property Investment - Making Money Fast With Low Risk<span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#000080;">By: <a href="http://www.articlesnatch.com/profile/kelly-price/15238">kelly price</a></span></span><br /><br />If you want to invest in property then there are several methods of cheap property investment that are low risk and can offer high rewards and here we will look at one of these methods. Let’s look at this proven method of cheap property investment in more detail<br /><br />A Paradise and a Profit <br /><br />Rather than buy property in North America or Europe where property is expensive and gains un certain, its time to look at booming emerging countries with a track record.<br /><br />Here we are going to look at one that offers a track record of fantastic returns, low risk, cheap property and a secure investment market and its just a two hour direct flight from the USA:<br /><br />The country is Costa Rica. <br /><br />Consider this: <br /><br />A <a id="KonaLink0" target="undefined" class="kLink" style="text-decoration: underline ! important; position: static;" href="http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Cheap-Property-Investment---Making-Money-Fast-With-Low-Risk/178780#"><span style="color: blue ! important; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; font-size: 11px; position: static;color:blue;" ><span class="kLink" style="color: blue ! important; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; font-size: 11px; position: static;">house</span></span></a> bought just 15 years ago near the popular resort of Jaco for $30,000 is worth in excess of $750,000 today and this has been achieved with little downside risk. Not only could you have made great capital gains, you could have made a valuable rental <a id="KonaLink1" target="undefined" class="kLink" style="text-decoration: underline ! important; position: static;" href="http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Cheap-Property-Investment---Making-Money-Fast-With-Low-Risk/178780#"><span style="color: blue ! important; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; font-size: 11px; position: static;color:blue;" ><span class="kLink" style="color: blue ! important; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; font-size: 11px; position: static;">income</span></span></a>, or had a holiday <a id="KonaLink2" target="undefined" class="kLink" style="text-decoration: underline ! important; position: static;" href="http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Cheap-Property-Investment---Making-Money-Fast-With-Low-Risk/178780#"><span style="color: blue ! important; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; font-size: 11px; position: static;color:blue;" ><span class="kLink" style="color: blue ! important; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; font-size: 11px; position: static;">home</span></span></a> to enjoy as well. <br /><br />In excess of 100,000 foreign investors have bought property in Costa Rica and buying remains strong and will continue to do so.<br /><br />Why? <br /><br />Because, it offers beach front property at affordable prices - at up to 70% less than in Texas or Florida. <br /><br />This demand looks likely to remain strong as baby boomers continue to look for holiday homes and retirement properties. <br /><br />Other advantages.<br /><br />Costa Rica is a safe, stable democracy, that offers the same buying rights to overseas investors as residents. Furthermore, the buying process is easy, tax efficient and property taxes are low.<br /><br />As a country it’s beautiful with pristine beaches, rainforest, volcanoes and all the shopping and comforts of home and an affordable standard of living �" you can live well on $2,500 a month.<br /><br />Costa Rica therefore offers an affordable slice of paradise. <br /><br />Of course there are other destinations to look at but many are merging and don’t have the track record of gains Costa Rica does. As a general rule, property booms last for decades or longer and money attracts money as confidence in an investment grows and the expat population expands.<br /><br />The Risk to Return is Great! <br /><br />If you are looking at cheap property investment, you want a market that is growing, will continue to grow, that’s safe and stable and Costa Rica ticks all the boxes.<br /><br />Discover property investment in Costa Rica and you can enjoy long term capital growth, low risk great rental income and a holiday home in paradise.<br /><br />Look at the potential of Costa Rica and you may be glad you did.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.articlesnatch.com"><span style="font-size:85%;">Source</span></a><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266872509732950836.post-27250025399012678312008-11-23T05:31:00.000-08:002008-11-23T05:56:42.797-08:00Rental property income wrought with complexityQ. My husband and I are considering purchasing a house near the campus of the university our son attends. We would rent the house to college students. We have never managed property as landlords before, and we live about four hours from the university. We are wondering what special issues we should consider in this type of investment and what types of improvements might be required, such as sprinkler systems or fire escapes. The properties we are considering have rental income that should more than cover the mortgage and taxes.<br />A. The installation of a sprinkler system would likely be cost-prohibitive. You must pay close attention to the legal maximum number of tenants allowed, all zoning, housing, and building codes.<br />If your son is going to manage the property, I suggest that all of you attend a short course in residential property management. Courses like this are available at community colleges and landlord associations. Topics like tenant rights, leases, property management practices, taxation, tenant screening and maintenance practices are critical to understand. Managing a property will take time and create a good deal of headaches for your son. Is he ready for this?<br />Acquiring residential rental housing is complex. Knowledge of local real estate markets, financing, evaluating the physical condition of the property, building and housing codes are just a few of the critical areas. I would take time to evaluate the market and rental trends prior to buying a property. While this may prove to be a good investment and augment your son's education, renting to college students has many challenges. Have your son live in a dorm or near campus first so that he obtains an understanding of the area.<br />Dr. Thomas Musil is the director of the Shenehon Center for Real Estate in the Opus College of Business at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis. He has more than 25 years of experience in real estate as a broker, analyst, consultant and expert witness in real estate litigation and arbitration disputes. E-mail questions to: <a href="mailto:tamusil@stthomas.edu">tamusil@stthomas.edu</a>. Please include your name, city and state.<br /><br /><div align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://http//www.bnd.com/business/story/551496.html">Source</a></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266872509732950836.post-74549699425462235182008-11-13T14:06:00.000-08:002008-11-13T14:11:42.814-08:00IRA Real Estate Investing For the Savvy Investorby Darren Mitchell<br /><br />What is self directed IRA real estate investing for the socially conscious? What it is is a way to rebuild downtrodden neighborhoods across the country and double your return on investment. By involving the cities themselves along with investors with self directed IRA's, the potential for successful urban renewal is possible. In addition, it could be highly profitable for investors. It is a win-win situation. A company is doing just this. That company is City Capital Corporation and Ephren Taylor, a very young successful entrepreneur who has been on several talk shows in the last few years, runs it. Therefore, what you have is a program that addresses urban decay, provides investors with excellent profit opportunities and provides an opportunity for less fortunate people to own a home. This program is for real and should not be overlooked by any serious investor. Like any legitimate investment opportunity, there are rules that must be followed. One important aspect of self directed IRA real estate investing is that you cannot buy the property for yourself or your family to live in. It must be purchased strictly for profit. What Ephren's company provides is a turnkey opportunity for investors, they look after all the paperwork and legal issues and you the investor just sits back and collects the profits. Ephren's company approaches the city leaders with the capital of the investors and convinces them to sell the properties at a very low cost. Then the properties are renovated. While the renovations are under way, a list of buyers is prepared. These potential buyers are good, honest hard working people who are qualified for a mortgage. In most cases, these are people looking to move from renting to home ownership and they are anxious for this new opportunity in their lives. You have probably noticed that urban areas in this country are suffering. Many city leaders have wondered what could be done to save these areas. This is where Ephren's Company comes in. It is truly remarkable what is happening in some formerly downtrodden areas. IRA real estate investing is all about providing affordable housing for working class people. A savvy investor will see the opportunity for the tremendous wealth potential. The bottom line is this is a great opportunity to realize a high return on your investment and help re-build communities across the country. Ephren Taylor's vision is something any serious investor should look at.<br /><br /><div align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.goarticles.com/">Source</a></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266872509732950836.post-53855285466312782732008-10-27T00:50:00.000-07:002008-10-27T01:18:50.406-07:00Choosing the Right IRA Real Estate Investmentsby Darren Mitchell<br /><br />Choosing the right IRA real estate investments requires having a lot of knowledge. That is not the idea of this article though. Do you know how to use an IRA real estate investment to manage, purchase or sell in today's volatile market? Do you have any knowledge of the positive and negative aspects of lending your IRA vs. purchasing rental property turnkey or by completely looking after it by yourself?Our goal is to help identify which particular plan is the best option for you as a real estate investor, regardless of whether you have experience or not. Many people are not aware that either they can start a self-directed IRA to their advantage by collecting the rewards of tax-free or tax deferred IRA real estate investments. It is a great way to build wealth in the current economic climate. The advantage involves the ability to leverage the IRA by making cash offers to the bank. Therefore, the IRA owners are able to purchase properties at huge discounts. The difference between the property's fair market value and the purchase price is called equity wealth. In addition, your IRA real estate investment has the ability to produce rental income from these purchases. The reason this happens is that the homes that the IRA has purchased are offered for rent to people who cannot acquire financing due to credit issues or any issue for that matter.As you can see, this is a wonderful opportunity. You are using equity to secure property and rental income is paid to your IRA and thus your IRA is growing tax-free or tax deferred. The best part of this type of IRA real estate investment is the advantage of its turnkey nature.If you chose to lend to an investor using a promissory note for example, you would still be getting the rental income but you would not have the equity profit. Lending is still not a bad option but you will always be wondering when your money will be returned. The decision on which kind of IRA real estate investments is best suited to you is completely up to you. As mentioned before, lending the money is a good idea but you could always be worrying about when you will get it back.Purchasing your own IRA real estate investment gives you more control and gives you the opportunity for much higher profits. To do this with little or no effort you must find the right opportunity for it to be as turnkey an operation as possible. The idea is to give you a nice income for little effort along with the time to enjoy your profits.<br /><br /><div align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.goarticles.com/">Source</a></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266872509732950836.post-59607588226529050052008-10-21T20:00:00.000-07:002008-10-21T20:01:27.548-07:007 Ways to Evaluate Apartments Over the PhoneYou've looked up the information on thousands of apartments in catalogs and online. You've located the pictures, floor plans, maps, amenities, and details of the places you're interested in. You've compiled the data for 10 communities to finally narrow the field and now comes...The phone call.<br />The dreaded phone call to find out about specific rental rates and to address all of those "call for specials" that you've gathered.<br />The key to success is in the phone call. The amateur apartment shopper begins the call cold, unprepared, fidgety, and nervous. "Do you have a one bedroom?" or "How much is your two-bedroom?" Apartment Home Living is here to help you be successful at finding the right apartment home by knowing what to ask.<br />Question 1: What size and when? Begin the questioning any way you like, but your most important question is do they have the apartment you're interested in available at your target move-in date.<br />It's a common misconception that apartments are simply sitting empty, waiting on you to show up to lease them. This is frequently untrue. To work out for you, the community must have the apartment you want in the timeframe you need to move. If it isn't available, unless you have some move-in date flexibility, you should go on to your next call.<br />Question 2: Do they take Fluffy?If you have a pet, this question is as serious as a parent asking if this community will take their child. (By the way, all apartment communities will ALWAYS take actual children. Those little balls of energy are protected under the Fair Housing Act).<br />Unfortunately though, Fluffy isn't protected under any laws and it's completely up to the community if they'll accept your dog, cat, sugar glider, or monkey. They set the rules regarding pets.<br />They also set the price to pay for the opportunity to keep your child-pet. Don't choke if it's over $300 per pet plus monthly pet rent. That can be a starting point for some properties. So be sure to check and see if you'll be bringing Spot, then see if someone's going to have to "spot" you some cash to pay the fees.<br />Question 3: What's the #1 reason people love to live here?This is the best and most straight forward way to find out what makes a community special. Is it the walking trail behind the property? The social atmosphere? The famous pork roast every July?<br />This question can be a key in setting one apartment community apart from another. The answer may be something that really peaks your interest or may unlock hidden potential in a place you wouldn't be able to see from a picture or driving-by.<br />Question 4: How much?Initially, it's human nature to stop listening if we hear the price is remotely out of our budget. And yet, seeing an awesome apartment in person may actually sway us that it's worth the extra cost.<br />Think about this: Have you bought a car that was more than you set out to spend? Have you paid more for that purse you just had to have (but didn't know you had to have it until you saw it)? Gone on a vacation where you blew your budget?<br />Was it worth it? Nine times out of 10...Absolutely. So give cost an open mind before you say no to a place for breaking the bank. You might find it's perfect in the end and well worth it.<br />Question 5: Do I qualify?Asking the price question and overshooting your budget goals won't matter if you don't qualify for the apartment anyway.<br />What is the general qualifying criteria? Making about 3x the rent, having a clean criminal record (no felonies or crimes against persons), and no prior evictions.<br />What do you do if you don't meet their criteria? You could keep looking for a place with less strict qualification restrictions or take the gamble of losing your application fee and/or deposit just to see if you qualify anyway.<br />Question 6: Do you have any specials?Specials can change from day-to-day, so make sure to ask this question close to last. Remember to keep in mind that some of the best communities don't have the best specials because they don't need them. They're special just for being so awesome.<br />Question 7: Can I set an appointment to come in?Don't you still need to visit to make the final judgement call? Yes you do.At the end of all the other questions, if you're still interested, ask to set an appointment to come in and take a tour. Seeing your possible new digs in person more than likely will be the best way to make a decision.<br />Now you have a little guide of the right questions to ask a leasing professional over the phone, so what are you waiting for? Hop on Apartment Home Living , find a some places in your area, and get on that phone!<br /><br />Author: The Apartment Dude<br /><div align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">Source</a></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266872509732950836.post-51180644107415846372008-10-21T19:56:00.000-07:002008-10-21T19:57:35.757-07:00Vacation In Style In Costa Blanca Villas<div align="justify">Sometime one of the most stressful aspects of <a class="kLink" oncontextmenu="return false;" id="KonaLink0" onmouseover="adlinkMouseOver(event,this,0);" style="POSITION: static; TEXT-DECORATION: underline! important" onclick="adlinkMouseClick(event,this,0);" onmouseout="adlinkMouseOut(event,this,0);" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/vacation-in-style-in-costa-blanca-villas-133365.html#" target="_new">vacation planning</a> can be where to stay. How do you find the kind of accommodations that will suit all family members, meet budget constraints, and oh yes, be comfortable? There are online property managers or local agencies within the cities and towns of Costa Blanca that can assist you in finding and booking the right property for your <a class="kLink" oncontextmenu="return false;" id="KonaLink1" onmouseover="adlinkMouseOver(event,this,1);" style="POSITION: static; TEXT-DECORATION: underline! important" onclick="adlinkMouseClick(event,this,1);" onmouseout="adlinkMouseOut(event,this,1);" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/vacation-in-style-in-costa-blanca-villas-133365.html#" target="_new">vacation</a>.A Look at Costa Blanca TownsThe first decision to make in planning your villa vacation is about where to stay. All along the coast there are tourist towns and working cities that just happen to be strategically located along beautiful white beaches and scenic marinas. All of these cities enjoy plentiful sunshine all year long and a temperate climate. The mountains to the west create a barrier to harsh weather while the warm sea to the east brings its refreshing breezes gently to shore.Central to the Costa Blanca is Alicante. This is where the region's major airport lies, so getting to cities to the north or south is equally as convenient. To the North and on the coast are the cities of Calpe, Altea, and Benidorm. At northern most part of the region is Javea. South of Alicante is the resort town of Torrevieja. Here there is plenty of exciting nightlife and miles of inviting beaches.How to Find a Costa Blanca VillaYou can approach your search for a Costa Blanca villa in two ways. One is to look for properties in the region and see which you like, then make that the final destination. The other is to select a city in the region, knowing that you are just a short driving distance from most of the other sights and events, and then look for available villas in that city. Either way, online property management companies will be able to best assist you, especially if you are booking from abroad.One of the biggest benefits to online booking is that you can see photographs of the villa, learn about all the possible amenities and also see what dates are available and at what rates. This is all in front of you in one screen shot and with side-by-side comparisons to other properties.An example of the kind of <a class="kLink" oncontextmenu="return false;" id="KonaLink2" onmouseover="adlinkMouseOver(event,this,2);" style="POSITION: static; TEXT-DECORATION: underline! important" onclick="adlinkMouseClick(event,this,2);" onmouseout="adlinkMouseOut(event,this,2);" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/vacation-in-style-in-costa-blanca-villas-133365.html#" target="_new">holidays</a> you can book online, would be similar to the listing below. Here in this sample is the name of the property with a brief description. You can quickly see if it is to your liking before clicking over to see available dates:Moraira Villas: A fishing village turned family-friendly resort this property boasts exceptional water sports and summer entertainmentJavea Villas: Boutiques and bars line this costal villa property giving way to narrow streets filled with quaint cafes.La Nucia, Altea Villas: Here, nestled among citrus groves and pine trees, you can find peace and serenity and some of the world's best sausage.Las Ramblas, Torrevieja Villa: Known for its world-class golfing complex, this villa is a short drive from the city centre.Denia Villas: This ultra traditional Spanish town has been the resort spot of choice for the rich and famous for generations. The fast-paced port is overlooked by a 12th Century castle.Calpe Villas: The exciting place to be with restaurants, bars, shops, and nightlife, Calpe villas have a truly cosmopolitan feel.No matter what kind of villa you are looking for, there is something to be found along the Costa Blanca. Costa Blanca villas are not just perfectly situated, but have luxurious bedrooms, baths and private pools. It's the best way by far to enjoy the proximity of entertainment with the ultimate in luxury and privacy.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Author: Peter Wilson</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">Source</a></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266872509732950836.post-53677275952483181952008-10-21T19:47:00.000-07:002008-10-21T19:49:56.943-07:00Unwind in Style in a Cape Town Beach Villa<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRM4XmJHgcPMeu2JPs-4VnhKgD7k7HrGTwAgSoBZhPcsWeTvt-M1cEczEJq6y4td1CpHfnxSWS2yhJm50PoXkpKQy2TwOUqXx64gFOjH2cazx8kV_LW89puB-YzE5hhuOfQt5Azla796t/s1600-h/beach+villa.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259805035779259250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRM4XmJHgcPMeu2JPs-4VnhKgD7k7HrGTwAgSoBZhPcsWeTvt-M1cEczEJq6y4td1CpHfnxSWS2yhJm50PoXkpKQy2TwOUqXx64gFOjH2cazx8kV_LW89puB-YzE5hhuOfQt5Azla796t/s320/beach+villa.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>When everything gets too much and you need to break away from everyday life- come to South Africa! Organise everything from your computer while you sit back, kick your feet up and imagine the African sun welcoming you. Over the years Cape Town, South Africa’s Mother City, has attracted more and more visitors from all over. Cape Town is known as the relaxed city with the flat-topped Table Mountain, azure beaches, beautiful beach villas and of course the city with the most fun things to do.When planning your visit to Cape Town, be sure to plan ahead so that you can fit everything into your schedule. There’s nothing worse than leaving a beautiful city like Cape Town when you haven’t done and seen a quarter of what it has to offer. First things first. You need accommodation and not just any accommodation- you need the best and you need to experience the true beauty of the Cape. One thing that Cape Town is famous for is its beaches- and what better way to experience Cape Town- when you’re not busy enjoying all the activities, <a class="kLink" oncontextmenu="return false;" id="KonaLink0" onmouseover="adlinkMouseOver(event,this,0);" style="POSITION: static; TEXT-DECORATION: underline! important" onclick="adlinkMouseClick(event,this,0);" onmouseout="adlinkMouseOut(event,this,0);" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/unwind-in-style-in-a-cape-town-beach-villa-414372.html#" target="_new">tours</a> and cuisine- than on the balcony of a luxury beach villa. Step out onto the balcony of your stylish beach villa and be greeted by the rising sun, while you prepare your soul for the day. After a long day’s play, return to the welcoming luxury of the villa- where your body can relax and you can reminisce the wonders of Cape Town. Your <a class="kLink" oncontextmenu="return false;" id="KonaLink1" onmouseover="adlinkMouseOver(event,this,1);" style="POSITION: static; TEXT-DECORATION: underline! important" onclick="adlinkMouseClick(event,this,1);" onmouseout="adlinkMouseOut(event,this,1);" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/unwind-in-style-in-a-cape-town-beach-villa-414372.html#" target="_new">holiday</a> in Cape Town should be one of your fondest memories. Being greeted by beauty and sung a lullaby by waves is the perfect start and end to each day. Once you have decided on the perfect accommodation, whether it being a beach villa or a luxury <a class="kLink" oncontextmenu="return false;" id="KonaLink2" onmouseover="adlinkMouseOver(event,this,2);" style="POSITION: static; TEXT-DECORATION: underline! important" onclick="adlinkMouseClick(event,this,2);" onmouseout="adlinkMouseOut(event,this,2);" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/unwind-in-style-in-a-cape-town-beach-villa-414372.html#" target="_new">hotel</a>, browse the net and be sure to figure out exactly what Cape Town has on offer.Not only is there air, water and land activities, there’s also tours and safaris in and around Cape Town that will fill up your days! Whatever it is that will help sooth your soul and make you relax- this city has it on offer. If you’re an adrenalin junkie or a beach baby, whether you just want to relax or rather spend your time exploring- you still need a place to call ‘home’ for your duration. Camps Bay’s beach villas are your perfect match. Close to the city, but far enough from the buzz to unwind in one of the many luxury beach villas on offer. Expect to be spoiled rotten as the luxury beach villas in Camps Bay are among the most popular holiday accommodation options in the Cape. Look forward to lavish extras, stylish interiors and everything you need to make your Cape Town holiday that little bit more special.What are you waiting for? Buy your ticket! Book your beach villa and get ready for the time of your life!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Author: Robert</div><br /><div align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">Source</a></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266872509732950836.post-47116661124530271682008-10-19T19:27:00.000-07:002008-10-19T19:33:36.344-07:00During financial “tsunami" buying property a better bet<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfXELD4VnBGlsNX6HT8zhpyN3cJeYa1FkgOsSCZamnVOmsJFODHWYd1L2Ut3Uyk-dXVGqekpXiiXzvPP7g0XXPwgGEksD1fUzBSABQu4x377etXYNmR7kbXPFaWxpzz5Ds-MVeWp6IoSb/s1600-h/property.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259058598265696370" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfXELD4VnBGlsNX6HT8zhpyN3cJeYa1FkgOsSCZamnVOmsJFODHWYd1L2Ut3Uyk-dXVGqekpXiiXzvPP7g0XXPwgGEksD1fUzBSABQu4x377etXYNmR7kbXPFaWxpzz5Ds-MVeWp6IoSb/s320/property.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>CAN the financial “tsunami” currently drowning many banks in the United States and Europe hit our shores? And, if so, how will our property market be affected?<br />I believe we cannot run away from the contagion effects of the credit crunch in the West and like it or not when our economy is affected, so will the property market.<br />However, we will pull through especially given our conservative and well-regulated banking system.<br />The good thing is we are not faced with a property “bubble” as in the early 1990s and also, banks have reduced their construction loans since end of last year to avoid an over-supply situation.<br />Fear, uncertainty and even panic have gripped many investors who have dumped their shares in the local bourse.<br />We must remember that it’s not the global credit crunch that is worrying but soaring inflation caused mainly by spikes in crude oil prices. Although crude oil price has dropped recently, it may go up again.<br />Our property market has been affected by the high construction costs, inflation and a perceived over-built situation especially of high-end homes.<br />However, I am confident that if one has extra money and can afford to service a loan, investing in property especially in a good location is still a safer bet and will yield better returns in the long run.<br />This is not to say that one should not save money in fixed deposits. It is always prudent to have sufficient savings but with fixed deposit rates hovering around 3.7% to 4.2% for 12- and 60-month tenures respectively, it is still a negative return when compared with the current inflation rate of over 7% (for many people it is more like 30%).<br />What about the stock market? Punters have been nibbling at some bargains in the hope of making a tidy profit in the event of an upswing in price. Trouble is many of us are unsure of when it will hit bottom and how long it will take for it to recover, not to mention a bull-run which seems unlikely in the near future.<br />Unlike property, which is solid brick and mortar, share prices are often determined by sentiments and, currently sentiments are very weak. Many property counters have taken a beating.<br />My advice for those wishing to buy their first home is to do it now. Don’t fool yourself that prices of new launches will come down because developers cannot afford to reduce prices anymore as their profit margins are already cut to the bone.<br />In fact many developers I talked to said they were either withholding launches or increasing prices by 20% to 30%. This is also a good time to go bargain hunting in the secondary market and snap up unsold units of upmarket residential homes before developers are forced to increase their price.<br />Those who can afford homes priced above RM1mil may hold back on their purchase because of the prevailing global financial and local political uncertainties. There are already reports of some high-end projects having problems pushing off their units.<br />Times are indeed very challenging.<br />Even established companies such as Sunrise Bhd has seen a 50.6% drop in property sales from RM1.182bil in 2007 to RM583mil for its financial year ended June 30, 2008.<br />Sunrise executive chairman Tong Kooi Ong in the latest annual report said the current environment was extremely hostile to property developers in launching new properties, even if they could secure financing.<br />“We face many of the same challenges as other developers. The most critical currently is the sharp rise in construction costs. With a weaker demand condition, gross margins of future projects will likely fall.<br />“Projects launched earlier face shrinking profits due to higher costs now. Sales will also likely be slower in the months ahead affecting cash flows and profits negatively.<br />“With two major future projects on the basis of build-then-sell, our gearing is expected to rise substantially and our interest expenses is likely to be much higher,” he said.<br />Tong said the sudden and substantial rise in costs had severely damaged the construction industry’s capacity.<br />“This will affect timely completion of projects and will reduce the availability of suppliers and contractors. The industry is further challenged by the increasing shortage of professionals due to the attraction of overseas markets,” he added.<br />He warned that construction costs for new projects were expected to rise even further in the months ahead.<br />“The weaker demand means developers will not be able to adjust prices upwards, leaving little, if any, profit margins,” he said, adding that problems faced by contractors, with mounting costs and shrinking cash flow, would further burden developers.<br /><br /><br /><div align="right"><a href="http://www.news.google.com/"><span style="font-size:78%;">Source</span></a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266872509732950836.post-21987859675859408432008-10-15T17:52:00.000-07:002008-10-15T18:00:06.232-07:00Get your Stolen Property Back<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OjOXduDFLD910uqi8pQpTAxOqYStC2T8KTrC8YmSN6C46KIISX16zCVnz8DvEiAp3pAGxu95fOAwuLDrlBsvWhGXhq2StnREXH7MweBxfrIwTk-cQoyX78_o4gtXWDs8hKR-7mF1rs3M/s1600-h/property2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257550187177036050" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OjOXduDFLD910uqi8pQpTAxOqYStC2T8KTrC8YmSN6C46KIISX16zCVnz8DvEiAp3pAGxu95fOAwuLDrlBsvWhGXhq2StnREXH7MweBxfrIwTk-cQoyX78_o4gtXWDs8hKR-7mF1rs3M/s320/property2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Reported by: Stephanie Sobic<br />Wednesday, Oct 15, 2008 @06:34pm CST</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Good news for victim's of property theft. Now you have a chance to recover your stolen items. Even if you didn't report your property being stolen, MPD could have it. So, instead of wasting your time at a pawn shop, you might check in with the police first. "If anyone was a victim of theft or burglary or any other crime where their property was taken, then they can come out here and view it and if they can prove its theirs then we can release it to them," Sgt. David Garcia with MPD. If you come to recover your property it’s important you bring an id and information about your case, so MPD knows that the items belong to you. MPD really wants to get rid of these stolen items. Things like appliances, car parts. Even a bathtub. "It releases the flow of evidence that we have in our evidence that area that we can make room for," says Sgt. Garcia. But, more importantly, by locating the owners of these items it can help solve cases. "We can close out that case showing that we have a property recovery and later on if we could develop suspects we can reopen it and file that particular case on the suspects," comments Garcia. Even victims who were robbed a few months ago and never reported it, have a chance to recover their stolen items and press charges. "If you had something stolen we'll generate a report and if you can prove that it was yours we'll generate the report and release that property to them," says Sgt. Garcia. Naturally, not all of these things will get back where they belong. MPD is holding another property viewing tomorrow. It’s starts at 9 O'clock in the morning and runs until 5pm. Items will be on display at the Old National Armory on Lamesa. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.news.yahoo.com/">Source</a></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266872509732950836.post-29616408879690991802008-09-15T07:08:00.000-07:002008-09-15T07:09:46.032-07:00A Few Things to Consider When Buying Property in GreeceBuying property in Greece seems to have caught the fancy of numerous property investors across the globe. Many people, particularly those from the UK, have found investing in their own country’s property market a costly affair. Therefore, investing in foreign property has becoming an increasingly attractive option and is becoming a trend of sorts.<br /><br />Many countries that were, until now, avoided by oversea property investors seem to have sprung into prominence, which includes Greece. Greece now has a large number of foreign nationals who have already invested in property and this number seems to be growing by the day. The property market of Greece is one of the fastest moving in Europe because of so many overseas investors rushing to buy property in the country.<br /><br />As most people know, Greece is a popular tourist destination, and it is no wonder, with its sunny climate, stunning views and laid back approach to life. The cuisine is known throughout the world, for example: moussaka, feta cheese, and dolmades. And many homes have a bottle of Greece’s famous Ouzo in their drinks cabinet. The cost of living is 40% lower than the UK, and in today’s economic climate that is welcome news.<br /><br />Many people want to enjoy the delights of Greece on a regular basis and are purchasing a holiday home…or two…in the country. Some visionary people are taking the concept of purchasing holiday homes one-step further. They are buying property in Greece and then <a class="kLink" oncontextmenu="return false;" id="KonaLink0" onmouseover="adlinkMouseOver(event,this,0);" style="POSITION: static; TEXT-DECORATION: underline! important" onclick="adlinkMouseClick(event,this,0);" onmouseout="adlinkMouseOut(event,this,0);" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/a-few-things-to-consider-when-buying-property-in-greece-532211.html#" target="_new">leasing</a> them to enthusiastic travelers. A large number of people travel to Greece every year and renting a holiday home can often be cheaper that staying in a hotel over a period of time. Holiday homes also tend to be more personnel than a hotel room, which is another reason why they are popular with travelers.<br /><br />Greece is also popular with sporting enthusiasts, after all Greece is associated with the first Olympic games and the country has won many sporting laurels. Greece hosted the summer 2004 Olympic games and one of the many benefits to hosting the Olympics is the value of property increasing. Holiday homes are now being regarded as a valuable investment that promises good returns in the long-term.<br /><br />There are many types of properties available on the market and the average Greek property prices are: new 1 bedroom apartment from €50,000 to €150,000; new 2 bedroom apartment from €100,000 to €300,000; and renovated property from €50,000 to €300,000 plus.<br /><br />When buying property, Greece, has more to offer than just holiday homes. Many foreign nationals have invested in commercial properties in the country, especially in the more developed cities. Commercial properties include retail enterprises as well as office buildings, and since Greece became a member of the European Union, the demand for office buildings has increased.<br /><br />Whenever <a href="http://www.homesoverseas.co.uk/buying-property-in-greece" rel="nofollow" gmk6j="0" txcyj="0">buying property in Greece</a>, the investor must bear in mind that investing in any overseas property requires adequate planning, for example: looking at the market situation; the best location to invest in; when to buy; and what type of property to buy – for example: low-priced single-family homes are difficult to find in the well-developed city of Athens, but are easier to find in other cities such as Larissa. There is help at hand to assist investors: local real estate agents can acquaint foreigners to the realities of the property market; there are English-speaking lawyers specialising in property sales; and oversea holiday clubs.<br />In conclusion, when buying property, Greece has plenty to offer investors because the property choices are wide and varied, the country is popular with tourists, and property investors are already making excellent returns on their investments.<br /><br />Author: <a title="Annie Hewitt" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/annie-hewitt/76492.htm">Annie Hewitt</a><br /><br /><div align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">Source</a></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266872509732950836.post-13269315056154975562008-09-15T07:05:00.000-07:002008-09-15T07:07:27.762-07:00How to Buy a Property in PortugalThe Buyer´s Guide to Portugal<br /><br />Its richness from the age of discoveries, great climate and excellent food, make Portugal a great lifestyle choice!<br /><br />Good things come in small packages and, at only 560km by 220km, Portugal is a small country with a lot to offer. Portugal is situated on the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula, which it shares with Spain, and its 800km of coastline all face the Atlantic.<br /><br />Author: <a title="Buy Property Portugal" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/buy-property-portugal/64437.htm">Buy Property Portugal</a><br /><br /><div align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">Source</a></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266872509732950836.post-62546465100987571882008-09-15T07:01:00.000-07:002008-09-15T07:05:02.619-07:00Sizzling Summer Apartment SpecialsMy last apartment was fantastic…beautiful hill country views; a swimming pool that looked more like a resort in the Caribbean than an apartment community’s; awesome monthly parties where I actually made friends…in essence, the perfect apartment community.<br />Unfortunately, I rented this apartment at the height of a booming apartment market economy…so with a teeny, tiny special. Oh well. I often thought it was worth it when I lounged by that pool.<br />Times ChangeWell, times and markets change. In fact, each market, submarket, city, and neighborhood can yield totally different concessions and specials. So just asking a friend what special he got may not cut it.<br /><br />An apartment community’s special could be totally different from up north in a suburb to down south in the heart of the city. Pricing and specials depend on surrounding apartment construction, overall occupancy, floor plan occupancy, desirability of the area, and of course, that ever increasing interest rate pushing more and more people to stay in apartments. It can make it all quite confusing.<br /><br />Where can you find specials? So where can the average joe go to find out apartment communities’ specials? How about the web?<br />Websites like Apartment Home Living.com are proud to showcase apartment community’s starting rates on all floor plans offered, as well as their randomly changing specials, to help each renter determine the starting specials at communities. Just look on the left side of each of our ads, underneath the main photo. There are such a variety of specials out there. You’ll find things like $0 deposits, $300 off first months rent, and free application fees.<br /><br />Sometimes, these specials are on top of already great specials that individual communities offer when you call or walk-in. So you will always want to call each community that you’re most interested in to see if the floor plan you like features an individual special. You might get lucky.<br />Summer = specials big and smallAs summertime arrives, specials will become less frequent. It’s a great idea to hop online, complete an apartment search engine’s personality matching search, then check out your matches. Most sites will list specials, so you’ll know what you are looking at.<br />Many properties may list “call for specials.” Don’t be aggravated by this. Accept it as up-to-the minute consistency. Many specials do change day to day and week to week, as different floor plans change in availability.<br /><br />This is your best avenue to begin the discussion process as to what exactly sets this community apart and why you really may want to check it out before deciding completely on price alone. Check out our other article on what to ask when you call.<br />Then call. You never know—your favorite place may be priced right where you need it—and right when you need it<br /><br />For more tips on apartment hunting and living in apartments check out: Apartment Home Living.com<br /><br />Author: <a title="The Apartment Dude" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/the-apartment-dude/36094.htm">The Apartment Dude</a><br /><br /><div align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">Source</a></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266872509732950836.post-75101910056788231712008-09-15T06:51:00.000-07:002008-09-15T06:55:42.123-07:00Serious Real Estate Investors Need to Build Resource ListsYou may have heard that one of the best ways to make yourself truly wealthy is to become a private real estate investor. While it is true that the millionaire real estate investor does exist in every state in the nation, it can also be a difficult way to begin to build up your own personal fortune. There are more books written and sold each year, on how to become a real estate investor, than on many other topics in business and self-employment. The main reason that the real estate investors get singled out is because their money tends to come in either; large immediate chunks, or as passive income over a long period of time. And as investment strategies go, both of these options can be great.<br /><br />One of the most important parts of becoming a private real estate investor is the process of networking and building resource lists of professionals such as lenders, bankers, seller’s agents, buyer’s agents, real estate investor agents, carpenters, plumbers, etc... who you can call on to help make your transactions run more smoothly and who can answer any questions which you might have from time to time.<br /><br />Nothing is more important to your business than making good contacts in the lending industry. Whether you work with banks, direct lenders, or mortgage brokers, you need to have lenders available to work hassle-free with you to help finance your deals.<br /><br />One of the best things you can do if you will be looking to expand into other geographic areas with your real estate investment business, is to find other real estate investors already working in that particular area, generally those who simply rehabilitate the properties to flip or hold as rentals. Finding them is as simple as placing an ad in the local newspaper and screening out the callers who are looking to work with you rather than purchase a home from you.<br />Once you have some potential joint venture partners for your real estate investment business, then it is time to partner with some of those other investors when it is appropriate for both of you to do so. You can even ask your new partners to do much of the legwork there in their own area, and for their compensation they will be paid out of the escrow from the deal. If you are able to find other quality professionals to work with, then you really can have a win-win relationship working together.<br /><br />It is also always a good idea to network with all of the real estate agents in the areas which you will be investing in property. Every private real estate investor should have realtors out in the field who will let them know about available property – even those not yet listed in the MLS. Once a realtor knows what you are looking for, and what kind of deals you prefer, they will call you when they know about a property which you might be interested in.<br /><br />One of the most important tools for professional real estate investors is to build up lists of people you can partner with to help get the work you need done. By having lists of people you trust and can work with when you need to, you can be ahead of everyone else in your area.<br /><br />Author: Judson Voss<br /><br /><div align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">Source</a></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266872509732950836.post-43372914130508400912008-09-15T06:48:00.000-07:002008-09-15T06:51:08.770-07:00Top 7 Countries That Invest In U.S. Real EstateDespite a recent slowdown, the U.S. real estate market continues to be a popular investment destination for foreign investors. Attracted by a desirable return on investment, many foreign nations continue to invest heavily in the U.S. residential and commercial real estate markets. In fact, in 2005, foreign investment in U.S. real estate reached 1.83 trillion.<br /><br />To evaluate the impact of foreign investment on the U.S. real estate market, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) produced a 2006 report entitled 'Foreign Investment in U.S. Real Estate: Current Trends and Historical Perspective.' The report provides insights into the trends in foreign real estate investment, its impact on the U.S. economy, and the major countries that participate in U.S. real estate investment. Below are some highlights from the NAR report.<br />According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the top seven countries that had significant holdings in U.S. real estate as of 2005 were:<br /><br />Germany - 13 %<br />Latin America - 13 %<br />Australia - 11 %<br />Japan -10 %<br />United Kingdom - 10 %<br />Canada - 6 %<br />Netherlands - 6 %<br /><br />The U.S. economy is wide open to foreign investors. Both investors and Americans significantly benefit from all this foreign investment. The NAR study estimates that without foreign investments in the securities market, the long-term lending rates would be four percentage points higher than the current rate, which would adversely impact the U.S. real estate market.<br />Foreign direct investment into the U.S. not only creates more jobs but also contributes to the demand for U.S. real estate. In fact, foreign investment may be responsible for creating two million U.S. jobs by the end of 2006, which further bolsters the demand for U.S. real estate.<br />Permanent and temporary immigration of foreign-born workers into the U.S. further bolsters the demand for real estate. According to the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, 1.2 million net immigrants are expected to arrive in the United States annually. This immigration pattern is expected to offset the decrease in housing demand by post baby-boomer generations.<br /><br />In summary, the impact of foreign investment and immigration into the U.S. will continue to play a major role in the U.S. real estate market.<br /><br />Author: <a title="Real Estate Advisor" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/real-estate-advisor/8075.htm">Real Estate Advisor</a><br /><br /><div align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">Source</a></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266872509732950836.post-69255139640776559272008-09-15T06:40:00.000-07:002008-09-15T06:44:31.965-07:00Avoid Top 10 Mistakes Made By Real Estate InvestorsReal estate investment is perhaps one of the most lucrative forms of investment today. But it is also equally risk bound especially when one is not well versed with the trends and nuances of the real estate market. So if you are contemplating on investing in real estate, it is best to avoid costly mistakes in real estate investment especially when you invest your hard earned money into it. Knowing the most common mistakes made by real estate investors helps one steer away from making such mistakes in the future and ensures good return on investment.<br />Here are the top ten mistakes made by real estate investors, according to bankrate.com. Bankrate has put together the top ten mistakes after speaking to established, full-time real estate investors and other professionals involved in real estate investment such as bankers. Read on to know them and avoid them.<br />1. Not planning up ahead. Lack of a proper plan is the biggest mistake made by novice investors. Finding a house after forming a proper investment strategy is the right way instead of looking for a house to fit the plan. Many make the mistake of buying a house because it seems to be a good deal and then trying to see how they can fit it into their plan. Instead of buying a house and thinking one can plan in due course, investors should rather concentrate on the numbers and try to make offers on multiple properties. This will ensure a good property that not only matches their investment model but also works out well with the numbers they had planned for.<br />2. To believe you can make money quickly. The second major mistake that real estate investors make is to think it is very easy to get rich in real estate. This is only a myth and the reality is that investing in real estate is a long term project.<br />3. Doing it single-handedly. For becoming a successful real estate investor one needs to build a team of professionals who would assist the investor in his deals. This would ideally include a real estate agent, an appraiser, a home inspector, a closing attorney and a lender.<br />4. Making excess payment. One another reason that investors in real estate goof up in their investment is by paying too much for the properties they buy. Paying too much and locking up all the funds in the erred property deal will leave you with no money to redeem yourself.<br />5. Leaving out the groundwork. Not doing your homework could be a costly mistake if you were a real estate investor. Every field of business needs sufficient amount of homework to be done, and real estate investment is no exception. Learn the fundamentals and then venture into investing in properties.<br />6. Throwing caution to the winds. Investors have to exercise a certain degree of caution and take earnest efforts while making a deal. New investors often fail in this regard and sign a deal without doing adequate research on the property.<br />7. Miscalculating money flow. Investors whose strategy is to buy, hold and rent out properties need to ensure sufficient cash flow for maintenance. Property managers could be expensive and the owner has to incur more expenses such as mortgage, taxes, insurance, advertising costs etc. Investors have to allocate their budget such that all these expenses are taken care of, or end up having their asset turn into a liability.<br />8. Lowering the volume. A larger volume of deals or transactions helps in increasing the profits by reducing the impacts of marginal deals.<br />9. Getting trapped in your own deal. Having more number of options at hand for the property you buy is a wise strategy. This helps one to be prepared for fluctuations in the real estate market. Plans to rent out the house could go awry when the rental market slumps. Having alternative plans helps you cut down losses and tackle unexpected situations.<br />10. Making incorrect estimates. People who plan to rehab their house need to check if they will still reap the benefits at double the time that they had estimated. This ensures they do not miscalculate and lose money on the deal.<br /><br />Author: Real Estate Advisor<br /><br /><div align="right"><a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/"><span style="font-size:85%;">Source<br /></span></a> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1