If you are in the process of refinancing your home loan, there are steps you can take to improve the interest rate that you will qualify. Qualifying for a better interest rate is easier than you think. Here are three tips to help you find the best interest rate when refinancing your home loan.
I. Clean Up Your Credit History
Paying down your debts and making all of your payments on time will boost your credit score. Before you apply for a new home loan it is important to review your credit records for mistakes. There are three credit agencies that maintain your records and these records are prone to mistakes. If you find errors on your credit reports it is important to dispute the error with each credit agency and the creditor responsible for placing it there at least sixty days before applying for a home loan.
II. Put Money in the Bank
Any money you can put in the bank will help your cause when refinancing your home loan. Money you have in savings, stocks, mutual funds or other investments is counted as an asset when the lender evaluates your application. When you save money the lender views you as less of a risk which could help you qualify for a lower interest rate. In addition, you may want to pay points in exchange for a lower interest rate, having the cash on hand will make this easier for you.
III. Do Your Homework and Shop for Home Loans
You can save yourself a lot of money by shopping from a variety of mortgage lenders for the most competitive home loan. The Internet is an excellent tool for comparing loan offers from dozens of lenders. When you compare loan offers it is important to compare all aspects of the home loans, not just the interest rates. There is an easy way to make this comparison that will save you time and money. To learn more about comparing home loan offers, register for a free mortgage guidebook.
To get your free mortgage guidebook visit RefiAdvisor.com using the link below.
Louie Latour specializes in showing homeowners how to avoid common mortgage mistakes and predatory lenders. For a free copy of "Mortgage Refinancing: What You Need to Know," which teaches strategies to find the best mortgage and save thousands of dollars in the process, visit Refiadvisor.com.
Claim your free guidebook today at: http://www.refiadvisor.com/
Refinance Home Loan
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Louie_Latour
Monday, October 23, 2006
The Australian Real Estate Market in 2006
Australia has led the worldwide real estate boom and enjoyed record price increases over the past three years, but as 2006 gets underway many fear that the recent success of the Australian real estate market is not sustainable.
While the Australian housing market may well face a short period of economic adjustment, there are still ways to profit from the real estate sector in Australia. Real estate investors examining the market just need to look a little further afield than Sydney!
Perth in Western Australia is one city where real estate prices remain affordable and where demand for quality accommodation to buy and rent is increasing which is creating an exciting micro property investment market opportunity ripe for exploration in 2006.
The reason for Perth’s sudden popularity from a real estate perspective springs from the fact that the city is enjoying a period of economic advancement led by a vast improvement in employment prospects. Local residents in Perth are benefiting from better paying employment and an abundance of opportunity, and the city is attracting a steady flow of inward migration as job seekers move to the city to take up offers of employment.
Historically Perth’s real estate prices have lagged well behind those of Sydney and Melbourne for example, and the average home finance sought to purchase in Perth is around 30,000 Australian dollars less than the average mortgage taken out elsewhere in Australia. The lower priced accommodation is attracting more interest from investors from across Australia as well who are all seeking a housing market with legs left to run. Furthermore the real estate sector in and around Perth is enjoying interest from international real estate investors who can see the long term prospects available.
As demand for accommodation in Perth increases as the city welcomes new residents, so the prices being charged for rental housing are on the up as well. Anyone who purchases real estate to let out in Perth right now can cash in on this boom in rental rate rises and retain their property while the predicted period of property price growth develops.
Across the rest of Australia many first time home buyers have been temporarily priced out of the housing market as property prices have exceeded affordable levels. While the market readjusts over the short term there are fears that a rental accommodation crisis is looming in some of Australia’s most popular cities such as Brisbane and Sydney. This concern is of course leading to sharp increases in rental rates being charged by landlords who are well aware of how valuable a commodity they own.
While this is an unfortunate situation for those caught in the rental trap it is a perfect situation for an investor seeking immediate returns on real estate investments in Australia. Anyone who makes a real estate investment purchase in Australia with the intention to let out that property will not only make a strong income currently but they will continue to enjoy property price growth over the longer term as the market readjusts and begins to grow again in Australia in the medium term.
And finally, if you’re interested in the real estate market down under and are not an Australian citizen, overseas buyers are free to own real estate in Australia that has been granted permission for sale to foreign purchasers; and you can rest assured that the purchase process will be straightforward because it is so well regulated in Australia.
Rhiannon Williamson writes about overseas real estate investment and specialises in the analysis of property market trends and opportunities. To read more information about real estate investment in Australia click here.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rhiannon_Williamson
While the Australian housing market may well face a short period of economic adjustment, there are still ways to profit from the real estate sector in Australia. Real estate investors examining the market just need to look a little further afield than Sydney!
Perth in Western Australia is one city where real estate prices remain affordable and where demand for quality accommodation to buy and rent is increasing which is creating an exciting micro property investment market opportunity ripe for exploration in 2006.
The reason for Perth’s sudden popularity from a real estate perspective springs from the fact that the city is enjoying a period of economic advancement led by a vast improvement in employment prospects. Local residents in Perth are benefiting from better paying employment and an abundance of opportunity, and the city is attracting a steady flow of inward migration as job seekers move to the city to take up offers of employment.
Historically Perth’s real estate prices have lagged well behind those of Sydney and Melbourne for example, and the average home finance sought to purchase in Perth is around 30,000 Australian dollars less than the average mortgage taken out elsewhere in Australia. The lower priced accommodation is attracting more interest from investors from across Australia as well who are all seeking a housing market with legs left to run. Furthermore the real estate sector in and around Perth is enjoying interest from international real estate investors who can see the long term prospects available.
As demand for accommodation in Perth increases as the city welcomes new residents, so the prices being charged for rental housing are on the up as well. Anyone who purchases real estate to let out in Perth right now can cash in on this boom in rental rate rises and retain their property while the predicted period of property price growth develops.
Across the rest of Australia many first time home buyers have been temporarily priced out of the housing market as property prices have exceeded affordable levels. While the market readjusts over the short term there are fears that a rental accommodation crisis is looming in some of Australia’s most popular cities such as Brisbane and Sydney. This concern is of course leading to sharp increases in rental rates being charged by landlords who are well aware of how valuable a commodity they own.
While this is an unfortunate situation for those caught in the rental trap it is a perfect situation for an investor seeking immediate returns on real estate investments in Australia. Anyone who makes a real estate investment purchase in Australia with the intention to let out that property will not only make a strong income currently but they will continue to enjoy property price growth over the longer term as the market readjusts and begins to grow again in Australia in the medium term.
And finally, if you’re interested in the real estate market down under and are not an Australian citizen, overseas buyers are free to own real estate in Australia that has been granted permission for sale to foreign purchasers; and you can rest assured that the purchase process will be straightforward because it is so well regulated in Australia.
Rhiannon Williamson writes about overseas real estate investment and specialises in the analysis of property market trends and opportunities. To read more information about real estate investment in Australia click here.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rhiannon_Williamson
Why is China's Real Estate Sector so Popular?
The Chinese real estate sector has rapidly grown in popularity with international property investors who seek maximum diversification within their portfolios because the real estate market in China is in demand locally and internationally and demand spans both the commercial and residential real estate sectors.
This means that there is maximum room for profits, income and gains from Chinese real estate which makes it an intensely attractive commodity for investors.
The Chinese government are also keen to attract foreign investment into their country and began easing many restrictions to smooth the path for those interested in purchasing property in China back in 1998. Their efforts to boost their economy through the promotion of foreign direct investment proved almost too successful and resulted in the government fearing that speculators would strip the property market of stability. As a result the Chinese government have now made it more difficult for investors to realise short term gains from the property market. Because of this fact the market is now less popular with those real estate investors looking for short term gains and more popular with those looking for a stable market with massive potential for demand and expansion over the medium to long term.
In terms of foreigner’s rights when it comes to owning real estate in China, all overseas buyers are protected by Chinese law but actual real estate law and the property buying process in China are new concepts that are relatively immature and unsophisticated. This means that investors who wish to buy property directly in China need to secure the services of a reputable lawyer to assist with the intricacies of the real estate purchase process.
For those who wish to maximise the potential gains available in Chinese property but who wish to remain relatively hands off any investment made, there are a series of property investment funds specialising in Chinese real estate now available. Such funds issued by larger, well established financial institutions are proving increasingly popular with both local and international investors. Such real estate investment funds allow an investor to gain access to the potential of the property market in China without having to commit significant sums of money directly to the market. Furthermore, by investing in this way an investor’s underlying money is far easier to access than if it were used to directly purchase real estate in China.
Whichever way an investor decides to approach investing in the real estate sector in China one thing is for certain - never has the Chinese property market been so popular with so many international real estate investors.
Rhiannon Williamson writes about real estate investment in emerging markets worldwide. To read more about property investment in China click here.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rhiannon_Williamson
This means that there is maximum room for profits, income and gains from Chinese real estate which makes it an intensely attractive commodity for investors.
The Chinese government are also keen to attract foreign investment into their country and began easing many restrictions to smooth the path for those interested in purchasing property in China back in 1998. Their efforts to boost their economy through the promotion of foreign direct investment proved almost too successful and resulted in the government fearing that speculators would strip the property market of stability. As a result the Chinese government have now made it more difficult for investors to realise short term gains from the property market. Because of this fact the market is now less popular with those real estate investors looking for short term gains and more popular with those looking for a stable market with massive potential for demand and expansion over the medium to long term.
In terms of foreigner’s rights when it comes to owning real estate in China, all overseas buyers are protected by Chinese law but actual real estate law and the property buying process in China are new concepts that are relatively immature and unsophisticated. This means that investors who wish to buy property directly in China need to secure the services of a reputable lawyer to assist with the intricacies of the real estate purchase process.
For those who wish to maximise the potential gains available in Chinese property but who wish to remain relatively hands off any investment made, there are a series of property investment funds specialising in Chinese real estate now available. Such funds issued by larger, well established financial institutions are proving increasingly popular with both local and international investors. Such real estate investment funds allow an investor to gain access to the potential of the property market in China without having to commit significant sums of money directly to the market. Furthermore, by investing in this way an investor’s underlying money is far easier to access than if it were used to directly purchase real estate in China.
Whichever way an investor decides to approach investing in the real estate sector in China one thing is for certain - never has the Chinese property market been so popular with so many international real estate investors.
Rhiannon Williamson writes about real estate investment in emerging markets worldwide. To read more about property investment in China click here.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rhiannon_Williamson
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Classes In Real Estate - For Buyers or Realtors
If you’ve ever played the game of monopoly, you’ve had that great feeling of snatching up Park Place and Broadway at least once or twice, then waiting patiently to build hotels everywhere and put everyone else out of the game. Those of you, who like that feeling, may want to study real estate. Similar to monopoly, real estate professionals are masters of buying and building property all over the world. These professionals know how to make investments work for them, and once you take some real estate classes – you will as well.
If you’re ready to put value on property, real estate is where you need to be. You’ll also be closing deals, which can be very profitable. To get into real estate classes and succeed in real estate, you’ll need to be a persuasive team player who is really good with jumbling numbers. You’ll also need to be good at being aggressive, and sealing the deal when everything is finished. Real estate can be a great career if you like to make decisions and build things.
Among the several real estate classes available, you have international real estate, real estate appraisal, real estate commercial, finance, investments, law, principles and practices, and even residential. While all of them are very interesting and can take you far in your career, you should pick one of the majors as it best relates to your needs and interests. If you’re just looking to sell homes and land, residential real estate is everything you need.
Your career in real estate begins with real estate classes. There are several schools and colleges that teach real estate, all you have to do is find one in your state. The requirements and classes will vary from state to state, which would make it better to inquire ahead of time. Real estate is a career like no other, simply because you can invest in some property then sell it and make double the profit. If you’ve been looking for the perfect career to make a lot of money and challenge yourself – real estate can do it all for you and then some.
Articles may be reprinted but must link to Home Mortgage In China
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_Coleman
If you’re ready to put value on property, real estate is where you need to be. You’ll also be closing deals, which can be very profitable. To get into real estate classes and succeed in real estate, you’ll need to be a persuasive team player who is really good with jumbling numbers. You’ll also need to be good at being aggressive, and sealing the deal when everything is finished. Real estate can be a great career if you like to make decisions and build things.
Among the several real estate classes available, you have international real estate, real estate appraisal, real estate commercial, finance, investments, law, principles and practices, and even residential. While all of them are very interesting and can take you far in your career, you should pick one of the majors as it best relates to your needs and interests. If you’re just looking to sell homes and land, residential real estate is everything you need.
Your career in real estate begins with real estate classes. There are several schools and colleges that teach real estate, all you have to do is find one in your state. The requirements and classes will vary from state to state, which would make it better to inquire ahead of time. Real estate is a career like no other, simply because you can invest in some property then sell it and make double the profit. If you’ve been looking for the perfect career to make a lot of money and challenge yourself – real estate can do it all for you and then some.
Articles may be reprinted but must link to Home Mortgage In China
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_Coleman
Upscale Seasonal Rentals Offer Adventure, a Change of Scene
Imagine renting a villa in Cannes, a penthouse in Aspen, a beachfront property in the Caribbean. It's possible to rent beautiful homes in the most popular resort areas in the world, for prices ranging from a few thousand dollars a month up to six figures.
Picture spending the summer in a sunlit villa in the south of France, only a few minutes' walk from the bay of Cannes and the azure waters of the Mediterranean. This small resort town, with its restaurants, beaches, and stunning views, hosts the famed Cannes Film Festival every spring; even when the film festival is not running, the town draws many thousands of visitors a year. Rather than renting a hotel room for a hurried week-long vacation, why not spend a month and allow yourself to adapt to the slower, graceful rhythms of this cozy French town?
Or spend a season in the snow-covered Rocky Mountains, hitting the slopes of Aspen during the day and then cozying up après-ski to a great fire in a lavishly furnished penthouse. Choose one with several bedroom suites and invite your friends along for an extended vacation in one of the premier ski resorts in the world. These penthouse apartments routinely feature heated in-ground pools and hot tubs to add to the luxury, as well as superbly functional and modern kitchens so you'll truly feel at home during your stay.
Want to stick to warmer climates? Wintering in the Bahamas offers the warm waters of the Caribbean, easy living, and a friendly population. Rent a beachfront property on any of the islands and get to know the region on an intimate basis rather than as a hurried and harried tourist.
Can't afford a French villa, an Aspen penthouse, or a Bahamian cottage on your own? You may want to enlist a group of friends and divide the cost of the rental over the period of a month or two, and then work out a schedule for vacations; or, if there's room, try to accommodate everyone throughout the rental period. Of course, as the coordinator of this fantasy vacation you will want to wrangle as much time for yourself as possible.
If you're not sure where to find a great vacation rental half a world away, check with your travel agency, or with a real estate agency which specializes in seasonal rentals. Either a travel agent or an international real estate agent should be able to provide you with information, not only on the rental home and its amenities, but on the ins and outs of the local culture, availability of transportation and other necessities, and, in the instance of foreign locations, local and national regulations you need to know as you travel.
If you've got the time, forget that three-day cruise, or the five-countries-in-a-week package, and opt for a leisurely vacation which allows you to really connect with a region, makes friends with the locals, and make yourself at home.
Aldene Fredenburg is a freelance writer living in southwestern New Hampshire. She has written numerous articles for local and regional newspapers and for a number of Internet websites, including Tips and Topics. She expresses her opinions periodically on her blog, http://beyondagendas.blogspot.com/ She may be reached at amfredenburg@yahoo.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aldene_Fredenburg
Picture spending the summer in a sunlit villa in the south of France, only a few minutes' walk from the bay of Cannes and the azure waters of the Mediterranean. This small resort town, with its restaurants, beaches, and stunning views, hosts the famed Cannes Film Festival every spring; even when the film festival is not running, the town draws many thousands of visitors a year. Rather than renting a hotel room for a hurried week-long vacation, why not spend a month and allow yourself to adapt to the slower, graceful rhythms of this cozy French town?
Or spend a season in the snow-covered Rocky Mountains, hitting the slopes of Aspen during the day and then cozying up après-ski to a great fire in a lavishly furnished penthouse. Choose one with several bedroom suites and invite your friends along for an extended vacation in one of the premier ski resorts in the world. These penthouse apartments routinely feature heated in-ground pools and hot tubs to add to the luxury, as well as superbly functional and modern kitchens so you'll truly feel at home during your stay.
Want to stick to warmer climates? Wintering in the Bahamas offers the warm waters of the Caribbean, easy living, and a friendly population. Rent a beachfront property on any of the islands and get to know the region on an intimate basis rather than as a hurried and harried tourist.
Can't afford a French villa, an Aspen penthouse, or a Bahamian cottage on your own? You may want to enlist a group of friends and divide the cost of the rental over the period of a month or two, and then work out a schedule for vacations; or, if there's room, try to accommodate everyone throughout the rental period. Of course, as the coordinator of this fantasy vacation you will want to wrangle as much time for yourself as possible.
If you're not sure where to find a great vacation rental half a world away, check with your travel agency, or with a real estate agency which specializes in seasonal rentals. Either a travel agent or an international real estate agent should be able to provide you with information, not only on the rental home and its amenities, but on the ins and outs of the local culture, availability of transportation and other necessities, and, in the instance of foreign locations, local and national regulations you need to know as you travel.
If you've got the time, forget that three-day cruise, or the five-countries-in-a-week package, and opt for a leisurely vacation which allows you to really connect with a region, makes friends with the locals, and make yourself at home.
Aldene Fredenburg is a freelance writer living in southwestern New Hampshire. She has written numerous articles for local and regional newspapers and for a number of Internet websites, including Tips and Topics. She expresses her opinions periodically on her blog, http://beyondagendas.blogspot.com/ She may be reached at amfredenburg@yahoo.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aldene_Fredenburg
Foreign Real Estate - Speculative but Profitable
A would-be real estate investor at a conference in Puerto Vallarta in April said he'd researched the Costa Rican property market for five years, considering making a buy. Meantime, prices appreciated, maybe, 200% in that period. The market became too expensive for him and he never did act.
Another investor at a Real Estate Forum in Puerto Plata, explained that he'd been watching the market in the Caribbean island nation of the Dominican Republic, for more than two years but was still uncertain as to whether or where to buy. He lamented the rate of appreciation of property values during those 24 months.
Two pieces of advice: First, yes, do your homework. But, second, don't become paralyzed by the analysis. Nothing is guaranteed. You'll rarely identify a "perfect" time to buy. You'll never know you're making the right move. In any market, at any time, you could lose everything you invest.
If those things make you uneasy...you shouldn't be thinking about investing in international real estate. This is risky business...often speculative...in unregulated, Wild West markets. Dealing with people you wouldn't do business with if you had any choice (sometimes you don't). If something goes wrong, you'll likely have little or no recourse.
That's the game. Investing in foreign real estate is more risky and more complicated than investing in U.S. real estate. Recognize these truths. Choose your markets. Do your research and due diligence.
You must have the answers to the six primary factors to consider when making a real estate investment--and how each one affects your level of income: 1. Why you're making the investment. Do you intend to use and enjoy the property? Or, are you only looking at the investment potential? That's important to your initial outlay and your long-(or short-) term returns. 2. What's your tolerance for risk? Learn your Risk Comfort Level, is this investment within those parameters? 3. Your options for financing. Cash or credit? Your answer helps determine your investment. 4. What fits well in your existing portfolio? To be well-balanced, your portfolio should have a range of assets including real estate--and your portfolio should include a range of properties. 5. Your level of experience in the market. Experience is the roughest teacher--because it gives the test before it gives the lesson. 6. Your desired level of involvement. Your level of participation will help you determine your type of investment.
Then act. Take a first step. Don't invest money you can't afford to lose. Control the circumstances as much as possible. But don't wait for a sign from above that the timing and the opportunity are ideal. The sign won't come...and the market won't wait. For a first deal, you should probably invest no more than $50,000. Here are six buys you could make right now (May '06) with that budget:
1. A small apartment for short-term rental in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Three years ago, in the wake of the peso devaluation, you could have bought a big apartment in a prime neighborhood for less than $50,000. Values in this market, however, have more than doubled in that period. Still, you can buy a decent apartment in a neighborhood appealing for the short-term renter for about that amount today.
2. A colonial apartment for short-term rental in Montevideo, Uruguay. Our Roving Latin America Scout Lee Harrison reports that Uruguay's is the best buy real estate market in the Americas right now. Real estate costs about the same in Montevideo as it does in Buenos Aires, except in the Old Towns. Today, you can buy an apartment in Montevideo's Old Town--just beginning to be rediscovered--for as little as $540 per square meter. Compare this with $2,000 a meter or more for a similar buy in B.A.
3. A condo in Panama City, again rentable on the short-term market. Here, though, to stay within the budget, you'll have to finance...which is possible in Panama. Put $50,000 down on a $150,000 apartment...and your rental income could cover your monthly mortgage payments. At today's values, that $150,000 could buy you a one- or two-bedroom condo in a new building, which is a good product for this rental market.
4. A sea view apartment in Croatia, again for the short-term rental market. You can find a good buy on a renovation in some parts of this country for less than $50,000, but it'll likely require substantial further investment to make it what you need for rental...perhaps as much as another $100,000. Instead, look for new-build. Specifically, right now, there is an opportunity on the island of Ciovo (note that the locals don't consider it an island, as it is connected to the mainland by a bridge that you won't even notice driving over). This is a destination for middle-class Central Europeans who drive down easily from Hungary, Austria and Slovenia for vacation. It also boasts easy access to the Split airport, which offers flights each day connecting through Zagreb and a few direct flights from outside Croatia. There's a new-build studio apartment on this island available for $58,000. Yes, it's a little outside the parameters of the budget suggested above, but it'd potentially make a good rental.
5. Cyprus is struggling with reunification problems. But, with some of the remarkable real estate opportunities --and the EU about to impact--the rewards may well be worth the risks. In the popular resort town of Kyrenia, northern Cyprus , you can get a three-bedroom sea-view apartment-- for just $55,000! (To put that into perspective, a similar property would cost you $110,000 in southern Cyprus...$250,000 in Corsica...and $330,000 on the island of Mallorca.) Property taxes are almost non-existent. Inheritance taxes have been abolished. And capital gains taxes don't even kick in until your gains are in excess of $20,200.
6. Bulgaria is a quiet, picturesque country--once home to world-class European ski resorts-and it has become one of Europe's fastest developing nations. It could easily become one of your fastest growing investments. Bulgaria's mountainous countryside is studded with ancient farmhouses begging for restoration. Many compare it to Tuscany in the 1970s. And, if you act now, you can pick up an abandoned farmhouse nestled in the verdant hills-- for just $9,800!
Borovets is the oldest and largest ski resort in Bulgaria . It's also one of the hottest Alpine investment opportunities in the world. And right now, you can get a two-story, 1,200 sq. ft. house situated in a peaceful village minutes from Borovets...with a large garden and views of the slopes-- for under $30,000!
Good luck.
Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Real Estate
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
Another investor at a Real Estate Forum in Puerto Plata, explained that he'd been watching the market in the Caribbean island nation of the Dominican Republic, for more than two years but was still uncertain as to whether or where to buy. He lamented the rate of appreciation of property values during those 24 months.
Two pieces of advice: First, yes, do your homework. But, second, don't become paralyzed by the analysis. Nothing is guaranteed. You'll rarely identify a "perfect" time to buy. You'll never know you're making the right move. In any market, at any time, you could lose everything you invest.
If those things make you uneasy...you shouldn't be thinking about investing in international real estate. This is risky business...often speculative...in unregulated, Wild West markets. Dealing with people you wouldn't do business with if you had any choice (sometimes you don't). If something goes wrong, you'll likely have little or no recourse.
That's the game. Investing in foreign real estate is more risky and more complicated than investing in U.S. real estate. Recognize these truths. Choose your markets. Do your research and due diligence.
You must have the answers to the six primary factors to consider when making a real estate investment--and how each one affects your level of income: 1. Why you're making the investment. Do you intend to use and enjoy the property? Or, are you only looking at the investment potential? That's important to your initial outlay and your long-(or short-) term returns. 2. What's your tolerance for risk? Learn your Risk Comfort Level, is this investment within those parameters? 3. Your options for financing. Cash or credit? Your answer helps determine your investment. 4. What fits well in your existing portfolio? To be well-balanced, your portfolio should have a range of assets including real estate--and your portfolio should include a range of properties. 5. Your level of experience in the market. Experience is the roughest teacher--because it gives the test before it gives the lesson. 6. Your desired level of involvement. Your level of participation will help you determine your type of investment.
Then act. Take a first step. Don't invest money you can't afford to lose. Control the circumstances as much as possible. But don't wait for a sign from above that the timing and the opportunity are ideal. The sign won't come...and the market won't wait. For a first deal, you should probably invest no more than $50,000. Here are six buys you could make right now (May '06) with that budget:
1. A small apartment for short-term rental in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Three years ago, in the wake of the peso devaluation, you could have bought a big apartment in a prime neighborhood for less than $50,000. Values in this market, however, have more than doubled in that period. Still, you can buy a decent apartment in a neighborhood appealing for the short-term renter for about that amount today.
2. A colonial apartment for short-term rental in Montevideo, Uruguay. Our Roving Latin America Scout Lee Harrison reports that Uruguay's is the best buy real estate market in the Americas right now. Real estate costs about the same in Montevideo as it does in Buenos Aires, except in the Old Towns. Today, you can buy an apartment in Montevideo's Old Town--just beginning to be rediscovered--for as little as $540 per square meter. Compare this with $2,000 a meter or more for a similar buy in B.A.
3. A condo in Panama City, again rentable on the short-term market. Here, though, to stay within the budget, you'll have to finance...which is possible in Panama. Put $50,000 down on a $150,000 apartment...and your rental income could cover your monthly mortgage payments. At today's values, that $150,000 could buy you a one- or two-bedroom condo in a new building, which is a good product for this rental market.
4. A sea view apartment in Croatia, again for the short-term rental market. You can find a good buy on a renovation in some parts of this country for less than $50,000, but it'll likely require substantial further investment to make it what you need for rental...perhaps as much as another $100,000. Instead, look for new-build. Specifically, right now, there is an opportunity on the island of Ciovo (note that the locals don't consider it an island, as it is connected to the mainland by a bridge that you won't even notice driving over). This is a destination for middle-class Central Europeans who drive down easily from Hungary, Austria and Slovenia for vacation. It also boasts easy access to the Split airport, which offers flights each day connecting through Zagreb and a few direct flights from outside Croatia. There's a new-build studio apartment on this island available for $58,000. Yes, it's a little outside the parameters of the budget suggested above, but it'd potentially make a good rental.
5. Cyprus is struggling with reunification problems. But, with some of the remarkable real estate opportunities --and the EU about to impact--the rewards may well be worth the risks. In the popular resort town of Kyrenia, northern Cyprus , you can get a three-bedroom sea-view apartment-- for just $55,000! (To put that into perspective, a similar property would cost you $110,000 in southern Cyprus...$250,000 in Corsica...and $330,000 on the island of Mallorca.) Property taxes are almost non-existent. Inheritance taxes have been abolished. And capital gains taxes don't even kick in until your gains are in excess of $20,200.
6. Bulgaria is a quiet, picturesque country--once home to world-class European ski resorts-and it has become one of Europe's fastest developing nations. It could easily become one of your fastest growing investments. Bulgaria's mountainous countryside is studded with ancient farmhouses begging for restoration. Many compare it to Tuscany in the 1970s. And, if you act now, you can pick up an abandoned farmhouse nestled in the verdant hills-- for just $9,800!
Borovets is the oldest and largest ski resort in Bulgaria . It's also one of the hottest Alpine investment opportunities in the world. And right now, you can get a two-story, 1,200 sq. ft. house situated in a peaceful village minutes from Borovets...with a large garden and views of the slopes-- for under $30,000!
Good luck.
Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Real Estate
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Middle East Set to Be Third Largest Property Investor
Tony M Horrell, international director for Jones Lang LaSalle, told Gulf News record oil revenues of the Gulf countries and the diversification of regional economies is leading Middle East investors to make significant investments in property outside their home markets.
"After a few years of absence, Middle East funds are again investing heavily in the US, followed by Europe."
According to Jones Lang LaSalle's latest Global Real Estate Capital Report, Middle East investors spent nearly $6 billion in buying foreign commercial real estate in the first half of 2006, $4 billion in the US and $2 billion in Europe, mainly the UK.
"My estimate is that this figure for the Middle East will get to $15 billion by the end of the year on the basis of the transactions that are under way," Horrell said.
That would make the Middle East the world's third-largest buyer of commercial real estate in foreign markets after the US and Germany, he added.
Jones Lang LaSalle, which recently acquired Dubai's RSP Group, has identified the GCC region as a key source of global capital against a backdrop of the rising investment by Middle Eastern investors in international real estate markets. The main buyers include private equity funds and family offices.
The year 2006 is also on target to be another record year as total direct real estate investments approach $600 billion, up from some $480 billion in 2005, according to Jones Lang LaSalle.
http://www.estatesdubai.com/
"After a few years of absence, Middle East funds are again investing heavily in the US, followed by Europe."
According to Jones Lang LaSalle's latest Global Real Estate Capital Report, Middle East investors spent nearly $6 billion in buying foreign commercial real estate in the first half of 2006, $4 billion in the US and $2 billion in Europe, mainly the UK.
"My estimate is that this figure for the Middle East will get to $15 billion by the end of the year on the basis of the transactions that are under way," Horrell said.
That would make the Middle East the world's third-largest buyer of commercial real estate in foreign markets after the US and Germany, he added.
Jones Lang LaSalle, which recently acquired Dubai's RSP Group, has identified the GCC region as a key source of global capital against a backdrop of the rising investment by Middle Eastern investors in international real estate markets. The main buyers include private equity funds and family offices.
The year 2006 is also on target to be another record year as total direct real estate investments approach $600 billion, up from some $480 billion in 2005, according to Jones Lang LaSalle.
http://www.estatesdubai.com/
Purchasing International Real Estate
Interested in investing somewhere other than your back yard?
Management companies have made it as easy to have a revenue property across the world as it is to have it across the street. You don't want to be collecting rents and plunging the toilets no matter WHERE it is!
Different laws in different countries means some research is definitely in order. Some countries don't allow you to own the land, you have to lease it. Check on title insurance to make SURE you really own it.
And just as people have bought swamp land in the United States, you need to actually VISIT your property - look at it, make sure that it is in a good area, and looks to be a good investment.
Pictures can be VERY deceiving, and if your lot is next to the city dump, for example - it'll be hard to make a profit on it! Put at least as much effort into buying a $200,000 piece of real estate as you would into buying a $10,000 used car. You'd definitely want to see it, inspect it closely, go for a spin around the block and see how it performs on the highway. Okay, that's tough to do with a piece of land, but take a walk around, get in an inspector, ask the neighbours what they think.
Probably the most important aspect of buying a property in another country is the managment company. If it is rented out, and rents rise, over time, the property will pay for itself, and pay off the mortage. In other words, with rising rents, you basically get revenue properties for free, over time. The renters pay your mortgage.
BUT.....
If you have tenant troubles, people moving in and out and big costs for re-renting, repair and renovation on an ongoing basis, let alone outright destruction - you may never see that happy day when the mortgage is paid off and some appreciation has occurred. The management company is either really good, concerned about your investment, or it is careless. Over time, THIS is the most crucial part of your investment, and should be VERY closely looked at. Talking to other clients is a quick way to get a read on their performance, and you should ask for these types of references.
Any real estate investment needs to be held on a long term basis to allow rising rents and rising property values to almost automatically make you money. A short term hold goes against these trends, especially when you factor in realtor fees, and development company profits if it is new construction. Make sure that it will truly be a "hands off" investment, and hopefully it will yield some headache free profits!
Andrew Larder International Real Estate Investing, Investments
To receive free info on no or low money down real estate investing, send a blank email to: monopolyinvestments@getresponse.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Larder
Management companies have made it as easy to have a revenue property across the world as it is to have it across the street. You don't want to be collecting rents and plunging the toilets no matter WHERE it is!
Different laws in different countries means some research is definitely in order. Some countries don't allow you to own the land, you have to lease it. Check on title insurance to make SURE you really own it.
And just as people have bought swamp land in the United States, you need to actually VISIT your property - look at it, make sure that it is in a good area, and looks to be a good investment.
Pictures can be VERY deceiving, and if your lot is next to the city dump, for example - it'll be hard to make a profit on it! Put at least as much effort into buying a $200,000 piece of real estate as you would into buying a $10,000 used car. You'd definitely want to see it, inspect it closely, go for a spin around the block and see how it performs on the highway. Okay, that's tough to do with a piece of land, but take a walk around, get in an inspector, ask the neighbours what they think.
Probably the most important aspect of buying a property in another country is the managment company. If it is rented out, and rents rise, over time, the property will pay for itself, and pay off the mortage. In other words, with rising rents, you basically get revenue properties for free, over time. The renters pay your mortgage.
BUT.....
If you have tenant troubles, people moving in and out and big costs for re-renting, repair and renovation on an ongoing basis, let alone outright destruction - you may never see that happy day when the mortgage is paid off and some appreciation has occurred. The management company is either really good, concerned about your investment, or it is careless. Over time, THIS is the most crucial part of your investment, and should be VERY closely looked at. Talking to other clients is a quick way to get a read on their performance, and you should ask for these types of references.
Any real estate investment needs to be held on a long term basis to allow rising rents and rising property values to almost automatically make you money. A short term hold goes against these trends, especially when you factor in realtor fees, and development company profits if it is new construction. Make sure that it will truly be a "hands off" investment, and hopefully it will yield some headache free profits!
Andrew Larder International Real Estate Investing, Investments
To receive free info on no or low money down real estate investing, send a blank email to: monopolyinvestments@getresponse.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Larder
Real Estate Investing - An Alternative To Traditional Stock Market Investment
From a historical perspective, investing in real estate is almost as old as the construction of property itself. Indeed many business owners who created their wealth through companies then went on to diversify into real estate investments. In fact, over the years real estate investments have produced similar returns to those found in the stock market. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons:
First of all, and most obviously, the supply of building land around the world is limited, even when taking into account landfill opportunities. Since the world’s population is growing and the demand for housing ever increasing, then there would seem to be a never-ending and increasing requirement for real estate of all types.
Now let’s take a look at the mechanics of buying property. Here it can be seen that investing in real estate is quite different from most other traditional investments such as stocks. With real estate you can often borrow up to around 80 percent of the value of a property, sometimes even the full value and beyond under special circumstances. Thus a more modest investment of say 20 percent of the value can be used to buy and control the full value of the larger investment. Naturally, if the value of your investment increases, I.e. property prices rise, then the value of your real estate investment also increases. If so, then you are into profit, including that on the money you originally borrowed.
Naturally, there will be costs associated with real estate investing (such as legal fees and property maintenance, taxes, etc), but these are usually small in comparison with the potential gains.
Borrowing in order to invest in real estate makes real estate a type of leveraged investment. But if you know anything about leverage, you will realize that leveraged investments can also go against you. What, for example, if the property you purchased for $300,000 decreased in value to $240,000? Even though the value only dropped by 20 percent, you actually lose 100 percent of the original $60,000 investment. And if you have a mortgage on this property making up its full purchase price, you will actually need to pay money to the mortgage provider in order to cover the costs of selling the property. That’s in addition to the loss of the whole of your initial investment.
So, as you see, investing in real estate is something to be taken very seriously and should not be done with money which you might need for other things in the near future. Investment in property is more secure as a long-term investment. In the above example, if you could have held onto the property and not sold it, the loss would purely have been ‘on paper’. In all likelihood, over time the value of the property, unless grossly overpriced when you originally bought it, will rise and you will likely not only recover the full value of the initial investment, but also possibly make a nice profit when you do come to sell.
Another reason that real estate is a popular investment is that there are profits to be made from it whilst you are the owner. In addition to the tax-saving benefits (in that any tax due on the property’s increase in value doesn’t become due until it is eventually sold), you can also make additional money from renting out the property. This can often cover all your running costs of the property, plus providing a profit on top.
Unless you make a large down payment, early on during your ownership the monthly operating profit from your property business is likely to be small or non-existent. But over time this profit will increase as the amount of rent you can charge increases at a higher rate than the running costs. Naturally these profits will be subject to normal income tax rules.
A further benefit of investing in property is that you might be able to purchase cheaply a run-down or ‘distressed’ property and fix it up or develop it further. Properties like this can still be found if you look around carefully. Naturally, investing in this type of real estate can still produce large gains. This is something you certainly can’t do with traditional stock market investments.
However, returning to the initial question about whether real estate investing is still a viable option when current prices seem to be nearing their peak: yes, it can still be so, but you might need to be more creative and prepare to be in for the long haul. Property ‘flipping’ methods that worked extremely successfully yesterday, might not work at all well tomorrow.
You might also consider diversifying into overseas real estate markets. Whilst this will require greater study and analysis, and there are many more legal issues to consider, seeking out what appear to be undervalued international real estate opportunities has the potential to be highly profitable if handled correctly.
Naturally, you should always seek the advice of professionals, both financial and legal, before investing in properties of any description, particularly when considering investing overseas. There might be major implications to your overall taxation. Risks can also be substantially higher when you are not there to oversee your investment in person.
You can learn more about real estate investing and Bianca Tavares’ guide to Florida property at Florida Real Estate.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bianca_Tavares
First of all, and most obviously, the supply of building land around the world is limited, even when taking into account landfill opportunities. Since the world’s population is growing and the demand for housing ever increasing, then there would seem to be a never-ending and increasing requirement for real estate of all types.
Now let’s take a look at the mechanics of buying property. Here it can be seen that investing in real estate is quite different from most other traditional investments such as stocks. With real estate you can often borrow up to around 80 percent of the value of a property, sometimes even the full value and beyond under special circumstances. Thus a more modest investment of say 20 percent of the value can be used to buy and control the full value of the larger investment. Naturally, if the value of your investment increases, I.e. property prices rise, then the value of your real estate investment also increases. If so, then you are into profit, including that on the money you originally borrowed.
Naturally, there will be costs associated with real estate investing (such as legal fees and property maintenance, taxes, etc), but these are usually small in comparison with the potential gains.
Borrowing in order to invest in real estate makes real estate a type of leveraged investment. But if you know anything about leverage, you will realize that leveraged investments can also go against you. What, for example, if the property you purchased for $300,000 decreased in value to $240,000? Even though the value only dropped by 20 percent, you actually lose 100 percent of the original $60,000 investment. And if you have a mortgage on this property making up its full purchase price, you will actually need to pay money to the mortgage provider in order to cover the costs of selling the property. That’s in addition to the loss of the whole of your initial investment.
So, as you see, investing in real estate is something to be taken very seriously and should not be done with money which you might need for other things in the near future. Investment in property is more secure as a long-term investment. In the above example, if you could have held onto the property and not sold it, the loss would purely have been ‘on paper’. In all likelihood, over time the value of the property, unless grossly overpriced when you originally bought it, will rise and you will likely not only recover the full value of the initial investment, but also possibly make a nice profit when you do come to sell.
Another reason that real estate is a popular investment is that there are profits to be made from it whilst you are the owner. In addition to the tax-saving benefits (in that any tax due on the property’s increase in value doesn’t become due until it is eventually sold), you can also make additional money from renting out the property. This can often cover all your running costs of the property, plus providing a profit on top.
Unless you make a large down payment, early on during your ownership the monthly operating profit from your property business is likely to be small or non-existent. But over time this profit will increase as the amount of rent you can charge increases at a higher rate than the running costs. Naturally these profits will be subject to normal income tax rules.
A further benefit of investing in property is that you might be able to purchase cheaply a run-down or ‘distressed’ property and fix it up or develop it further. Properties like this can still be found if you look around carefully. Naturally, investing in this type of real estate can still produce large gains. This is something you certainly can’t do with traditional stock market investments.
However, returning to the initial question about whether real estate investing is still a viable option when current prices seem to be nearing their peak: yes, it can still be so, but you might need to be more creative and prepare to be in for the long haul. Property ‘flipping’ methods that worked extremely successfully yesterday, might not work at all well tomorrow.
You might also consider diversifying into overseas real estate markets. Whilst this will require greater study and analysis, and there are many more legal issues to consider, seeking out what appear to be undervalued international real estate opportunities has the potential to be highly profitable if handled correctly.
Naturally, you should always seek the advice of professionals, both financial and legal, before investing in properties of any description, particularly when considering investing overseas. There might be major implications to your overall taxation. Risks can also be substantially higher when you are not there to oversee your investment in person.
You can learn more about real estate investing and Bianca Tavares’ guide to Florida property at Florida Real Estate.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bianca_Tavares
Massive Potential to Profit from Real Estate Investment in Romania
According to a recent report released in the UK about which European property markets have the greatest potential for growth and profit over the coming decade, Romania topped the lot.
Romania, located in southeastern Europe, is a nation poised on the brink of full European Union membership and one benefiting from substantial foreign direct investment and economic advancement as a result. According to the report these facts mean that over the coming decade the housing market in Romania will likely go from strength to strength and anyone who invests before EU membership is cemented could net up to 400% profit on their investment in the next ten years.
The report was based on an economic assessment and overview of each country in Europe and included analysis of the room for growth within each country’s real estate sector. Because property prices in Romania start from as little as twenty thousand US dollars, the room for property price expansion is clear. The low starting prices for real estate in Romania also mean that its property sector is already attracting substantial international real estate investor interest.
Investors from all backgrounds are attracted to Romania – those with a small sum of money to invest are looking to make immediate gains from buying apartments in Bucharest pre-construction which can be purchased by stage payment and profited from upon completion when investors are flipping the real estate right back into the market. Those with more substantial sums of money to invest are generally drawn to either the commercial property sector in Bucharest or Romania’s burgeoning tourism market.
Opportunities in Romania’s tourism market exist along the country’s stunning and as yet undeveloped 225km of Black Sea coastline and also in Romania’s quality but as yet little known winter sport resorts. Accommodation in these locations is required to let out to tourists and a growing number of British, Russian and eastern European citizens are also seeking second homes in these areas of Romania as well, with most preferring to purchase established but well renovated properties.
Other opportunities exist in the form of fairytale properties for sale in Transylvania with castles, medieval houses and entire farms available for sale to overseas investors looking to diversify their property portfolios and buy real estate in one of the most stunningly beautiful, romantic and ancient European countries.
If the real estate and economic expert analysis of Romania’s property market potential is correct, those who buy in Romania today could be looking at the realization of 400% profit within the next ten years – this means that someone who invests as little as twenty thousand dollars today could potentially reap sixty thousand dollars profit within ten years…now that’s what I call potential!
Rhiannon Williamson writes about overseas real estate investment and specialises in the analysis of property market trends and opportunities in emerging markets. To read more information about property investment in Romania click here.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rhiannon_Williamson
Romania, located in southeastern Europe, is a nation poised on the brink of full European Union membership and one benefiting from substantial foreign direct investment and economic advancement as a result. According to the report these facts mean that over the coming decade the housing market in Romania will likely go from strength to strength and anyone who invests before EU membership is cemented could net up to 400% profit on their investment in the next ten years.
The report was based on an economic assessment and overview of each country in Europe and included analysis of the room for growth within each country’s real estate sector. Because property prices in Romania start from as little as twenty thousand US dollars, the room for property price expansion is clear. The low starting prices for real estate in Romania also mean that its property sector is already attracting substantial international real estate investor interest.
Investors from all backgrounds are attracted to Romania – those with a small sum of money to invest are looking to make immediate gains from buying apartments in Bucharest pre-construction which can be purchased by stage payment and profited from upon completion when investors are flipping the real estate right back into the market. Those with more substantial sums of money to invest are generally drawn to either the commercial property sector in Bucharest or Romania’s burgeoning tourism market.
Opportunities in Romania’s tourism market exist along the country’s stunning and as yet undeveloped 225km of Black Sea coastline and also in Romania’s quality but as yet little known winter sport resorts. Accommodation in these locations is required to let out to tourists and a growing number of British, Russian and eastern European citizens are also seeking second homes in these areas of Romania as well, with most preferring to purchase established but well renovated properties.
Other opportunities exist in the form of fairytale properties for sale in Transylvania with castles, medieval houses and entire farms available for sale to overseas investors looking to diversify their property portfolios and buy real estate in one of the most stunningly beautiful, romantic and ancient European countries.
If the real estate and economic expert analysis of Romania’s property market potential is correct, those who buy in Romania today could be looking at the realization of 400% profit within the next ten years – this means that someone who invests as little as twenty thousand dollars today could potentially reap sixty thousand dollars profit within ten years…now that’s what I call potential!
Rhiannon Williamson writes about overseas real estate investment and specialises in the analysis of property market trends and opportunities in emerging markets. To read more information about property investment in Romania click here.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rhiannon_Williamson
Vancouver, British Columbia – The New Target Of International Real Estate Investors
I am not going to deny it: after thirty-four years of living in this city I am still thoroughly in love with it. And mind you, I was born in and am coming from another beautiful city, renown throughout the world for its beauty and fine arts: Florence, Italy. And this is the thing with me. When you come from a pretty town like Florence, Italy it takes truly a lot to make you fall in love with another pretty town. In this respect, therefore, the judgment I render on Vancouver, BC is certainly more rigorous than the critiques other people might proffer.
There are indeed quite a few things that make Vancouver, BC one of a kind town. For starters, if you choose to make Canada your new home - or second home - this is the only one place where temperatures are ‘civilized’ pretty much all year round. Our 2 degrees Celsius (37 degrees Fahrenheit) minimum wintertime average does not sound that bad when you compare it to the minus XX for the rest of the country. Secondly, Vancouver is definitely not a working town. With a mean yearly income of CAD $84,000 per household, a fantastic scenery and the prettiest girls in Canada, Vancouverites are faithful followers of the West Coast lifestyle, originally imported from San Francisco – except that here we do it better. In fact, whereas in San Francisco people actually work for eight hours a day (or so they say), here we do absolutely nothing day and night – except pretending to go to work.
Like San Francisco, Vancouver is crowded with Chinese people (which include Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan in addition, of course, to Mainland China), except that ours are the wealthy Chinese – at least judging from the fact that they have snapped up all the real estate they could possibly buy, and then gotten into high-rises development and given the Vancouver skyline a much needed facelift. Which, by the way, brings up to mind the fact that when I bought my one bedroom plus den apartment here in Downtown – one of the five properties I own - where I am writing this Article right now, on the twenty-fourth floor of an ultra-modern skyscraper with all the facilities and amenities one could possibly imagine and a fabulous view, I paid CAD $155,000 for it in 2001 (about USD $124,000 back then), and now a good friend of mine has just sold her own apartment, which is pretty much like mine but on the twelfth floor of the same building for CAD $305,000 (I brought her an offer of CAD $295,000 and she did not even counter ...).
All of which brings me to the substance of this Article: what distinguishes Vancouver from the rest of North America is not the fact that property values have appreciated so much. In the past five years, real estate went through the roof just about anywhere. What does distinguish the Vancouver real estate market from all others is that in the wake of the 2010 Winter Olympics property values are forecasted to almost double within the next four years. And this is at a time when interest rates are on the rise and when north-american markets are poised to expand at an average rate of five to ten percent a year, depending on where you are.
To say that the economy of British Columbia is booming at this time already is probably an understatement. But if one is to believe the projections of the Urban Futures Institute, the British Columbia Economic Council, the City of Vancouver and, heck, even Statistics Canada, this is nothing compared to what it is going to happen to property values in this town. Here is why: the provincial and federal governments will be injecting CAD 1.7 billion (yeah, that’s billion with a ‘b’ … like ‘Bob’) in the final four-year stretch of building, fundraising and planning for the monumental event. World-class facilities have been promised for the 2010 games, including a new Speed Skating Oval and Winter Sports Centre, improvements on the 120 Km Sea-to-Sky highway connecting Vancouver to Whistler, construction of the Vancouver Olympic Village, construction of the Whistler Sliding Centre - host of the bobsleigh, skeleton and luge events. There will be a new ice Hockey Arena at the University of British Columbia (UBC), a new Curling Centre, a separate Figure Skating Centre, a Short-Track Speed Skating Arena, retrofitting of the General Motors Centre and of the BC Stadium, construction of a brand new express subway connecting the Vancouver Downtown core to the airport and a myriad improvements all over town, so as to make Vancouver ready when the olympic torch enters BC Stadium on February 12, 2010. All in all, if one takes into account increased security, installation of all sort of paraphernalia and electronic gizmos to make us all feel more secure, and any and all other ancillary costs, the provincial and federal government will be handling a budget close to CAD $2 billions.
All of which, then, translates into the creation of 228,000 jobs in British Columbia over the next four years, directly or indirectly generated by the resulting estimated CAD $12-billion volley of economic activity. And all this frenzy is expected to promote an influx of approximately 100,000 people per year into the Metropolitan Vancouver area so that its population will reach 2.2 million by 2010 – and that does not even take into account tourists and visitors which will be flocking in from the four corners of the world, but mostly from Ol’ Uncle Sam’s country of residency. Which, besides creating a gargantuan traffic jam, will push prices of condos in Downtown from the present CAD $500 per square foot to about $1,000 per square foot, thus catapulting Vancouver, BC from the present fifteenth most expensive place in the world to live in, to the seventh. And, considering that in Downtown we have just run out of space entirely … I believe it!
So, if you are one of those investors who likes to purchase real estate away from home, before you consider Timbuktu as your next investment destination you may be better off to take a closer look at what’s happening right here, in Vancouver B.C. And since I so happen to be involved, by grace of God, into real estate sales (boy, isn’t this your lucky day ...) and know this market like the back of my hand, if there are any questions, clarifications or merely additional info requested or required, just go to my blog - the Real Estate Chronicle - and send me an e-mail, which I will be more than thrilled to answer.
Luigi Frascati
Luigi Frascati is a Real Estate Agent based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Economics and maintains a weblog entitled the Real Estate Chronicle at http://wwwrealestatechronicle.blogspot.com/ where you can find the full collection of his articles. Luigi is associated with the Sutton Group, the largest real estate organization in Canada, and is based with Sutton-Centre Realty in Burnaby, BC.
Luigi is very proud to be an EzineArticles Platinum Expert Author. Your rating at the footer of this Article is very much appreciated. Thank you.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Luigi_Frascati
There are indeed quite a few things that make Vancouver, BC one of a kind town. For starters, if you choose to make Canada your new home - or second home - this is the only one place where temperatures are ‘civilized’ pretty much all year round. Our 2 degrees Celsius (37 degrees Fahrenheit) minimum wintertime average does not sound that bad when you compare it to the minus XX for the rest of the country. Secondly, Vancouver is definitely not a working town. With a mean yearly income of CAD $84,000 per household, a fantastic scenery and the prettiest girls in Canada, Vancouverites are faithful followers of the West Coast lifestyle, originally imported from San Francisco – except that here we do it better. In fact, whereas in San Francisco people actually work for eight hours a day (or so they say), here we do absolutely nothing day and night – except pretending to go to work.
Like San Francisco, Vancouver is crowded with Chinese people (which include Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan in addition, of course, to Mainland China), except that ours are the wealthy Chinese – at least judging from the fact that they have snapped up all the real estate they could possibly buy, and then gotten into high-rises development and given the Vancouver skyline a much needed facelift. Which, by the way, brings up to mind the fact that when I bought my one bedroom plus den apartment here in Downtown – one of the five properties I own - where I am writing this Article right now, on the twenty-fourth floor of an ultra-modern skyscraper with all the facilities and amenities one could possibly imagine and a fabulous view, I paid CAD $155,000 for it in 2001 (about USD $124,000 back then), and now a good friend of mine has just sold her own apartment, which is pretty much like mine but on the twelfth floor of the same building for CAD $305,000 (I brought her an offer of CAD $295,000 and she did not even counter ...).
All of which brings me to the substance of this Article: what distinguishes Vancouver from the rest of North America is not the fact that property values have appreciated so much. In the past five years, real estate went through the roof just about anywhere. What does distinguish the Vancouver real estate market from all others is that in the wake of the 2010 Winter Olympics property values are forecasted to almost double within the next four years. And this is at a time when interest rates are on the rise and when north-american markets are poised to expand at an average rate of five to ten percent a year, depending on where you are.
To say that the economy of British Columbia is booming at this time already is probably an understatement. But if one is to believe the projections of the Urban Futures Institute, the British Columbia Economic Council, the City of Vancouver and, heck, even Statistics Canada, this is nothing compared to what it is going to happen to property values in this town. Here is why: the provincial and federal governments will be injecting CAD 1.7 billion (yeah, that’s billion with a ‘b’ … like ‘Bob’) in the final four-year stretch of building, fundraising and planning for the monumental event. World-class facilities have been promised for the 2010 games, including a new Speed Skating Oval and Winter Sports Centre, improvements on the 120 Km Sea-to-Sky highway connecting Vancouver to Whistler, construction of the Vancouver Olympic Village, construction of the Whistler Sliding Centre - host of the bobsleigh, skeleton and luge events. There will be a new ice Hockey Arena at the University of British Columbia (UBC), a new Curling Centre, a separate Figure Skating Centre, a Short-Track Speed Skating Arena, retrofitting of the General Motors Centre and of the BC Stadium, construction of a brand new express subway connecting the Vancouver Downtown core to the airport and a myriad improvements all over town, so as to make Vancouver ready when the olympic torch enters BC Stadium on February 12, 2010. All in all, if one takes into account increased security, installation of all sort of paraphernalia and electronic gizmos to make us all feel more secure, and any and all other ancillary costs, the provincial and federal government will be handling a budget close to CAD $2 billions.
All of which, then, translates into the creation of 228,000 jobs in British Columbia over the next four years, directly or indirectly generated by the resulting estimated CAD $12-billion volley of economic activity. And all this frenzy is expected to promote an influx of approximately 100,000 people per year into the Metropolitan Vancouver area so that its population will reach 2.2 million by 2010 – and that does not even take into account tourists and visitors which will be flocking in from the four corners of the world, but mostly from Ol’ Uncle Sam’s country of residency. Which, besides creating a gargantuan traffic jam, will push prices of condos in Downtown from the present CAD $500 per square foot to about $1,000 per square foot, thus catapulting Vancouver, BC from the present fifteenth most expensive place in the world to live in, to the seventh. And, considering that in Downtown we have just run out of space entirely … I believe it!
So, if you are one of those investors who likes to purchase real estate away from home, before you consider Timbuktu as your next investment destination you may be better off to take a closer look at what’s happening right here, in Vancouver B.C. And since I so happen to be involved, by grace of God, into real estate sales (boy, isn’t this your lucky day ...) and know this market like the back of my hand, if there are any questions, clarifications or merely additional info requested or required, just go to my blog - the Real Estate Chronicle - and send me an e-mail, which I will be more than thrilled to answer.
Luigi Frascati
Luigi Frascati is a Real Estate Agent based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Economics and maintains a weblog entitled the Real Estate Chronicle at http://wwwrealestatechronicle.blogspot.com/ where you can find the full collection of his articles. Luigi is associated with the Sutton Group, the largest real estate organization in Canada, and is based with Sutton-Centre Realty in Burnaby, BC.
Luigi is very proud to be an EzineArticles Platinum Expert Author. Your rating at the footer of this Article is very much appreciated. Thank you.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Luigi_Frascati
International Real Estate
Real estate markets are in constant flux, moving up and down as the months and years progress. You've probably met some real estate investors who chase the "fast money." As a matter of fact, we guarantee you have. They talk about each deal as if it's the only deal, that it is the one that will make them fabulously rich. When you see them a year later, they're often no better off financially, and still talking about the next deal that will make them fabulously rich. You'll notice they often appear anxious and exhausted. They're really up-or really down.
Worse yet, they often bum the relationship bridges that are meant to sustain their investment systems; they use people until they are done with them and then move on. Recreating their investment systems and relationships as they go along, they never ride the momentum of market fundamentals. Instead, these get-rich-quick artists become very good salespeople, with great stories about how you can join them and become fabulously wealthy. Their stories can be very compelling, even hard to resist. But resist you must if you truly want to make a long-term financial difference in your life and your family's. These short-term investors give real estate a bad name.
At the other end of the spectrum are investors who learn to practise the art of patience. Focusing on fundamentals, not emotions, will soon lead to a much more enjoyable and profitable way of investing. Veteran real estate investors will tell you that it will take at least three years of real estate investing before you start to sec the real fruits of your labour. Make sure you are emotionally prepared for this investment timeline. Also, make sure your other partners, including your spouse, share your commitment to long-term wealth.
In an average market, it takes three years for a property to really start outperforming the market. In a hot market, your results will come more quickly. But the bottom line is simple: Don't quit your clay job thinking you'll be eating your real estate profits in the first few years.
During these first three years of owning a property, you are building a foundation for your investment business. As you build that foundation, based on systems, relationships and follow-through, you will learn what it really means to make real estate investment decisions based on emotion-free market fundamentals.
Hype sells. Your job as a sophisticated real estate investor is to pull back the curtain to see what's behind the hype. Sadly, the real estate market is often manipulated by two key emotions: hype and fear. These two emotions are commonly used to get investors to take action. Free seminars, late-night TV infomercials and syndicated shows that try to convince you a certain city or development is the place to buy into, are all good examples of bad real estate hype. The seminars are free only until the pitch is made to you to buy their products. The infomercials you see on television are typically based on the market realities in the United States.
In fairness, some of the pitches might be good investments. But you'll only know if you do your complete due diligence. Similarly, some of the packages sold at so-called free seminars may be helpfu1. Just don't get caught up in the "there are only nine packages available" baloney. There are always more where they came from, but the promoters are capitalizing on the fear of missing out.
Website owner.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mario_DErrico
Worse yet, they often bum the relationship bridges that are meant to sustain their investment systems; they use people until they are done with them and then move on. Recreating their investment systems and relationships as they go along, they never ride the momentum of market fundamentals. Instead, these get-rich-quick artists become very good salespeople, with great stories about how you can join them and become fabulously wealthy. Their stories can be very compelling, even hard to resist. But resist you must if you truly want to make a long-term financial difference in your life and your family's. These short-term investors give real estate a bad name.
At the other end of the spectrum are investors who learn to practise the art of patience. Focusing on fundamentals, not emotions, will soon lead to a much more enjoyable and profitable way of investing. Veteran real estate investors will tell you that it will take at least three years of real estate investing before you start to sec the real fruits of your labour. Make sure you are emotionally prepared for this investment timeline. Also, make sure your other partners, including your spouse, share your commitment to long-term wealth.
In an average market, it takes three years for a property to really start outperforming the market. In a hot market, your results will come more quickly. But the bottom line is simple: Don't quit your clay job thinking you'll be eating your real estate profits in the first few years.
During these first three years of owning a property, you are building a foundation for your investment business. As you build that foundation, based on systems, relationships and follow-through, you will learn what it really means to make real estate investment decisions based on emotion-free market fundamentals.
Hype sells. Your job as a sophisticated real estate investor is to pull back the curtain to see what's behind the hype. Sadly, the real estate market is often manipulated by two key emotions: hype and fear. These two emotions are commonly used to get investors to take action. Free seminars, late-night TV infomercials and syndicated shows that try to convince you a certain city or development is the place to buy into, are all good examples of bad real estate hype. The seminars are free only until the pitch is made to you to buy their products. The infomercials you see on television are typically based on the market realities in the United States.
In fairness, some of the pitches might be good investments. But you'll only know if you do your complete due diligence. Similarly, some of the packages sold at so-called free seminars may be helpfu1. Just don't get caught up in the "there are only nine packages available" baloney. There are always more where they came from, but the promoters are capitalizing on the fear of missing out.
Website owner.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mario_DErrico
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Costa Rica Beachfront Property
Many investors are looking for international real estate markets for reinvestment options because of changing domestic market conditions. This article looks at Costa Rica beachfront property and the opportunities it provides to investors looking for alternative real estate markets.
With a national trend of declining opportunity in the domestic investment real estate market, many are looking to redeploy their investments internationally. Many investors are wondering if Costa Rica beachfront property represents a practical option.
There are a large variety of beachfront properties for sale in Costa Rica, particularly along the southern Pacific coast. Costa Rica beachfront property can found on this coast at locations such as Puerto Viejo, Punta Uva, Manzanillo, Cocles and Cahuita. In all these areas the views and wildlife are spectacular. Playa Grande, in the heart of the “Gold Coast”, offers a luxurious option for Costa Rica beachfront property with plenty of amenities and high-end gated communities. This location was also awarded the "Ecological Blue Flag" for the high quality of its environmental protection. So, if you're looking for an environmentally-sensitive location, this may be the place to be.
If agriculture combined with a beachfront location is what tops your list of priorities, Costa Rica also offers great farmlands, many settled nicely along the coast. With sound agricultural techniques and access to equipment, locations such as Fortuna offer an interesting option. Also, coffee plantations, wild forests and volcanoes also dot the coastal strip to provide another interesting location for any of your investment fantasies.
In terms of the actual investment itself, you will definitely need to crunch the numbers. Costa Rica has been on the investment radar for a number of years and property prices have risen dramatically. But, if you find an investment that pencils out, the good news is Costa Rica is foreign-investment friendly. It has a generally open international trade and investment regime, with the exception of a few sectors that are reserved for state companies. The government has campaigned at many levels to attract high quality foreign investment to Costa Rica. The Costa Rican Investment and Development Board (CINDE) assist the government's efforts through its offices in Costa Rica, the United States, Europe, and the Far East. The judicial system upholds contracts, but special care must be taken in contracting with the state or making investments in sectors reserved or protected by the constitution or by laws for public operation.
Costa Rica beachfront property provides investors with a new market to explore. We'd advise taking a visit before deciding officially that Costa Rica is where you want to be. And be sure to send a few postcards our way when you get there.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rick_Halperin
With a national trend of declining opportunity in the domestic investment real estate market, many are looking to redeploy their investments internationally. Many investors are wondering if Costa Rica beachfront property represents a practical option.
There are a large variety of beachfront properties for sale in Costa Rica, particularly along the southern Pacific coast. Costa Rica beachfront property can found on this coast at locations such as Puerto Viejo, Punta Uva, Manzanillo, Cocles and Cahuita. In all these areas the views and wildlife are spectacular. Playa Grande, in the heart of the “Gold Coast”, offers a luxurious option for Costa Rica beachfront property with plenty of amenities and high-end gated communities. This location was also awarded the "Ecological Blue Flag" for the high quality of its environmental protection. So, if you're looking for an environmentally-sensitive location, this may be the place to be.
If agriculture combined with a beachfront location is what tops your list of priorities, Costa Rica also offers great farmlands, many settled nicely along the coast. With sound agricultural techniques and access to equipment, locations such as Fortuna offer an interesting option. Also, coffee plantations, wild forests and volcanoes also dot the coastal strip to provide another interesting location for any of your investment fantasies.
In terms of the actual investment itself, you will definitely need to crunch the numbers. Costa Rica has been on the investment radar for a number of years and property prices have risen dramatically. But, if you find an investment that pencils out, the good news is Costa Rica is foreign-investment friendly. It has a generally open international trade and investment regime, with the exception of a few sectors that are reserved for state companies. The government has campaigned at many levels to attract high quality foreign investment to Costa Rica. The Costa Rican Investment and Development Board (CINDE) assist the government's efforts through its offices in Costa Rica, the United States, Europe, and the Far East. The judicial system upholds contracts, but special care must be taken in contracting with the state or making investments in sectors reserved or protected by the constitution or by laws for public operation.
Costa Rica beachfront property provides investors with a new market to explore. We'd advise taking a visit before deciding officially that Costa Rica is where you want to be. And be sure to send a few postcards our way when you get there.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rick_Halperin
Monday, October 16, 2006
Planet Pads International Real Estate Investing Blog
Hello everyone and thank you for making Planetpads.com what it has become today in its short 6 months of operation so far. We have had numerous days with over 1000 unique visitors and we’ve help many of our property posters sell or rent their homes.
We are spending the next week or two updating the country profiles and adding much more valuable information for our site visitors. Our goal is to offer everything people need when they are looking to relocate or invest in another country. We will have demographic statistics, video tours of the country, embassy information, telephone information, entry requirements, residency and citizenship requirements, visa application information, business start up information and much more. We are spending the next two weeks making our site a one stop shop for all of your international real estate investment needs. This in turn will also help drive more traffic to our site giving our property posters more access to high quality real estate investor traffic!
So here we go with building our blog!
Fell free to email us if you have useful information you’d like to share about a specific country.
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