Saturday, August 30, 2008

Of Course, These Incredible Islands Are Not Available In Every Home

Category: Finance, Real Estate.

How many people can honestly look at their home and determine that their house could be considered functional art? The new home builders in Houston have been very busy as they land a multitude of contracts for planned communities, and state of, new luxury homes the art private custom homes.



If you are lucky enough to own one of the houses created by the new home builders in Houston, chances are your house is right up there with some of the most exquisite artwork. And the new owners have reported being very happy indeed. After all, the new home builders have managed to deliver some out of this world design features that can leave one breathless, or at least speechless. And who wouldn t be? One home was fortunate enough, despite the ample kitchen space, to have an entire hide away island placed into the floor plan. Regardless, with the press of a button the chef of the evening can bring forth and upward from the wall and floor a full size kitchenette island complete with a rotating top.


It is more of a peninsula, but I don, really t think we call additional counter tops anything other than islands. Can you imagine how convenient this is going to be at every holiday party from here on out? If the party hosts wish to turn the island into a secondary mini bar, a simple rotation of the island counter top by 90 degrees and they have a whole new counter space. For preparing food, the island comes out, gives the chef ample time and more than enough space to create party masterpieces and then, if more kitchen space is required, the island sinks back down into the floor and the wall with a simple press of another button. And to top it all off, it is beautiful. The new home builders in Houston know how to bring a luxury home to life by combining the best of technology with the beauty and grace of tradition.


The counter top is created from marble and the deep cherry accents create once again, functional art. Of course, these incredible islands are not available in every home. However, stair cases that conjure up images of Scarlet O Hara come in many of these powerhouse homes, and you don t have to request a custom home to get one. That s the point of having a custom home, so that yours is different from everyone else s. Additionally, sliding glass doors that are voice activated behind tapestries that appear so fragile you re afraid to sneeze. Now that is the type of brilliant design feature( granted designed by a decorator and not a builder) that one would expect to find in one of Houston s luxury homes. That is until you watch Rover plow through them and realize their appearance is an illusion.


The craftsmanship throughout the homes built by new home builders in Houston is impeccable. Not to mention, the attention to every detail throughout these homes speaks of some of the finest basic skill knowledge, a simplicity that makes all the difference when looking into a luxury home. Natural woods combined with beautiful brass or silver create tremendous accents in many of the bathrooms. The custom homes have the same attention to detail as the luxury homes. These homes are not just for living, they are for admiring from afar, and from inside, from up close. Each of these homes has every specific minute detail from the corners of the molding to the curve of the basement stairs taken into consideration.


Many people from various places throughout the country have actually come to see the homes that have been built in the last two or three years, as the new home builders in Houston have developed quite a reputation in the luxury home and custom home industry. Perhaps it s nothing more extraordinary than paying attention to every single detail and creating the absolute best with what is in front of them. In reality, they are quickly becoming the ultimate leaders in home building. Perhaps it is a function of extraordinary talent. Whatever it is, these homes are extraordinary and are drawing national attention as functional works of art.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Whatever May The Case, Barring The Exception Of A Few Months, Price Curve Of Property In Spain Always Moves Upward

Category: Finance, Real Estate.

Observers are not unanimous about the growth in the price of Spanish properties. On the other hand, facts from Ministry of Housing on Spain show that price of property there have increased tremendously.



Figures from one company shows that the growth is slow, sometimes even lower that the previous years. While commenting on the difference, market analysts explain that the figures from the agencies are correct. Otherwise, both the agencies are right in their own place. The reason why the facts differ is that they have approached different methodology while researching the market. Whatever may the case, barring the exception of a few months, price curve of property in Spain always moves upward. Even if the market is sometimes slow, it is always steady. This means that the investors from all over Europe who shows a deep interest in Spanish property are in right move.


May be a little small, but profit is always there in making investment in Spanish properties. And there is proper reason behind it. As tradition shows, may be sometimes it is low, but it will be steadily move upward. Spain has more than one solid attraction that draw the attention of visitors from almost all countries of Europe in general, and Germany and Britain in particular. So, there is a constant demand for accommodation in Spain, particularly in the coastal regions. The weather, beaches, resorts, villas, golf courses- everything enchant them so much that most of the visitors want to have a second home there.


Keeping this fact in mind, it can rightly be concluded that investing money in Spanish properties will be always an ideal choice for generating better profit. They have properties to sell that you can buy or you can use them as a means to reach to the owners of various properties in Spain. Prospective investors can simplify their process of getting out a suitable property to invest in by approaching the Spanish property developers.

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The Exterior Style Of Your Home Is The Fun Part - Finance and Real Estate:

The exterior style of your home is the fun part.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

There Is Large Number Of Such Buyers That Are Less Selective And Eager To Buy

Category: Finance, Real Estate.

The latest events on the real estate investing, regarding the major lenders like CountryWide and Thornburg Mortgage and the change in liquidity for mortgages have created new opportunities for savvy investors. It is a fact that sellers are starting to lower prices and thus, bargains are showing up.



There is a lot of talking about all the bargains to be found because of the rising number of foreclosure home and properties that excess inventory. It is believed that larger discounts are to be expected within the next 12 to 24 months. This great opportunity is on the backend when you sell the foreclosure home or property. However, here we will talk about another opportunity. As all the lenders are putting their activity on hold, it is time for you to step up and offer financing to qualified buyers. There are also buyers that have great credit scores and are getting turned down just because the underwriters are drying up. Don t make the mistake and think I m talking about those with" C" and" D" credit ratings.


Also, the remaining lenders are asking for hefty down payments of at least twenty percent. Of course, you need to factor in the credit score and do your best to adjust the rates accordingly. The new real estate investing opportunity today is to attract the buyers with great credit scores and get at least ten percent down payments, take back a note of eighty percent at seven percent or higher and then take back a second of ten percent at a higher interest rate like nine percent or higher. Thus, buyers will be much easier to find and you will be able to upload your foreclosure home and properties a little quicker. AS the sub- prime lenders are gone, if you want to fund the" C" and" D" credit buyers, you can. find an even larger pool that is seeking for financing. Don t be surprised if you find buyers with decent credit scores who were refused credit.


While you are buying the bargain as foreclosure home on the front tend you also need to develop a system in order to start funding your buyers and generate large amounts of cash. A common mistake a lot of new investors make is that they choose the wrong price range for foreclosure home to retail. This is one of the greatest opportunities in real estate investing and you will end up with selling properties faster and creating some excellent returns. If you buy homes at the wrong price range, you end up holding them a lot longer or you won t be able to sell them at all. There is large number of such buyers that are less selective and eager to buy. A retail buyer is someone who can get approval for a new loan and buy your property for full price.


In most real estate investing markets, the best deal is the blue- collar price range that has homes from 15 to 35 years of age and most fixtures and features are outdated. These so called blue- collar homes usually start selling at 50% of the market s median price. If you update these older foreclosure homes and buyers compare your homes to standard homes in the same price range, there is no competition as buyers are getting similar or the same amenities at higher prices with the new homes. Thus, if the market median price is$ 140, 000 the blue- collar homes would start at$ 70, 00If you want to sell your homes, you are recommended to stay above$ 70, 00Anything below the 50% of median price is a rental or you will need to look for owners who are willing to finance the property. If investors make this critical mistake of renovating a home in the wrong area to retail, the home will eventually be rented out, sold with owner financing, sold to a landlord or will be lost to foreclosure. This happens as the buyer cannot obtain financing or they do not have income to support the blue- collar homes.

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Know Your Budget Before You Even Begin To Look For Property - Finance and Real Estate Blog:

Finding property to buy in Lake Tahoe is alternately easy and hard. Deciding where you want to be with all your choices is the hard part.

Ask Anyone Who Knows Anything About Real Estates And They Will Tell You That Spain Is A Good Real Estate Market - Finance and Real Estate Articles:

Ask anyone who knows anything about real estates and they will tell you that Spain is a good real estate market. However, if you consider buying a property in Spain you should first contact a well known real estate agent in Spain, and consider having a Title Insurance done.

You May Have Heard Some Stories Of Individuals Who Have Made Money Through Real Estate Flipping - Imogene Wilde's Finance and Real Estate blog:

If you have spent any time online in recent years or if you read newspapers or watch television with any degree of regularity you likely have heard of flipping properties. With all of this said, you may have heard at least something about flipping, but you may not know what real estate flipping is all about.

Monday, August 25, 2008

The Primary Reason To Hire A Tenant Is Cost

Category: Finance, Real Estate.

In a recent article I discussed your need to find and keep great contractors.



The reason, is price, of course. But most landlords only rely on professional contractors for some maintenance and repair tasks. Why pay a contractor big money to do a job you could do yourself, or find an inexpensive handyman to take care of, or even leave to the tenants? Those factors are cost, and quality, reliability. You must weigh at least three factors in deciding who will do a job. If you re thinking about taking on the job yourself, consider time and something I ll call" the fun factor" as well.


In my next article, I ll help you figure out where you should take these projects on. The fun factor is the enjoyment you may get out of doing handyman jobs. Here s how the different candidates to do work, typically grade on, other than yourself the performance factors: Contractor Handyman Tenant. Reliability Best Medium Worst. Cost Worst Medium Best. Quality Best Medium Worst.


For contractors in particular, quality and reliability, however should be absolutes. Of course the actual results depend on your actual contractors, and tenants, handymen. If your contractor isn t the best in those areas, replace him. It is an absolute must on any jobs that directly affect the safety of the building, as well as any jobs that, if not done perfectly, may result in a more serious expense later. Now it s time to think about where you want the best quality. Keeping that in mind, you certainly want a real licensed plumber, electrician and HVAC contractor for all significant projects in those areas.


A significant job is one where there is potential for major damage if the job is not done right. Be very hesitant to employ a handyman here, and never use a tenant for such jobs( unless, the tenant is, of course a licensed professional contractor) . For electrical jobs, you probably don t need a pro to replace outlets or switches, or replace circuit, install overhead lights breakers. For HVAC, you don t need a pro to replace filters, thermostats or zone valves, or purge forced water heating circuits. For plumbing jobs, you don t need a pro to unclog most drains or replace washers in faucets, or showerheads, toilet parts. You can probably think of other similar projects. Your property insurance will not cover damage caused by bad repair work, unless the repair is done by a licensed contractor.


You should also think about insurability when considering a contractor. A licensed contractor is often your best bet in emergency situations. If your buildings are in a snowy part of the country, you also need a very good snowplow operator. This is because such a contractor is usually on call 24/ 7, has replacement parts in inventory, and has more than one pro on staff. Use one who has been in business for several years, and will get, lives locally the job done by the time you set. A handyman can often also take on bigger jobs such as siding, building stairs or decks, or replacing windows. Use your handyman for light carpentry jobs, and the small, painting electrical, plumbing and HVAC jobs where you don t need a professional.


Many people who hire themselves out as handymen are actually licensed general contractors. This person will consider himself a professional and will probably be much more reliable as a result. You re much better off with a handyman who does have a contractor s license, along with workers comp and liability insurance. However, you might have a hard time finding a handyman of this caliber. However, he is much more likely to want payment in cash, to not be available when you really need him, or even to skip town with your money. A handyman who doesn t have those credentials may still do very good work, and will probably charge less.


You can avoid these problems by paying only a small part up front, by scheduling him in advance( I ll see you at 9 a. m. How will you find a good handyman? Wednesday" ), and by checking frequently to make sure the job is done. Start by checking with the other members of your local landlords association, making sure that their criteria for a good handyman matches yours. Then the classifieds in you local paper. If that doesn t work out, check the Yellow Pages.


Then signs posted on community bulletin boards. The primary reason to hire a tenant is cost. A contractor hired off a bulletin board is much less likely to be reliable than one recommended by another landlord. However, you should not hire tenants to do anything but the most basic jobs. Of course you can make an exception if you have a tenant who is a skilled handyman or professional contractor. Use tenants only for routine tasks like lawnmowing.


In that case, the tenant will, however want to be paid his standard rates. Don t ever allow a tenant to" work off" unpaid rent- the job probably won t be done well and the tenant will still expect credit. If you do hire a tenant, make sure it is someone who has lived in your building for many months, and who has, if not years proven to be reliable as a tenant. The other danger in hiring a tenant to do work is that problems with one relationship may affect the other. Now you ve got a problem with your tenant and a problem with your snowplower. For example, suppose you hire a tenant to plow and he does a bad job. You may have to replace both.


Write up a separate agreement that spells out what the tenant has to do and how much he ll be paid. For that reason, if you do hire a tenant, try to keep the two relationships as separate as possible. Rather than accept a lower rent, insist on full rent payments and pay separately for the work the tenant does. This will help protect you from liability. If you do use a tenant or handyman to do projects, set an ironclad rule that he or she can never enter another tenant s unit to do work- even if the tenant is there- without you also being there.

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I Would Highly Recommend Investing In Property In Mexico - Finance and Real Estate Articles:

I recently visited Mexico, and being so impressed with the people, culture and lifestyle of the country, ended up purchasing property, in Mexico, as a foreigner.

When You Get A Real Estate Agent Involved, He Or She Will Often End Up Taking A Hefty Cut - Finance and Real Estate Articles:

If you are looking to sell your home, you will find that there are many options open to you.

French Place Is A Great Austin Neighborhood Without - Finance and Real Estate:

Nestled in central Austin between Airport Boulevard and Manor Road lies the quiet yet vibrant neighborhood of French Place. While French Place s houses are generally no more than two to three bedrooms, many houses have interesting add- ons to enhance functionality without resorting to cookie- cutter remodels.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Life In Polaris World Is As Good As Putting The Ball

Category: Finance, Real Estate.

Life in Polaris World is as good as putting the ball.



It is as comfortable and relaxing as the ball that rolls along the lush green golf courses and snugly settles in the hole. You can enjoy a smooth and carefree life here, without worrying about the mad hustle and bustle of the outside world. Yes, Polaris World offers its tourists and inhabitants a wonderful time and a laid back lifestyle. There are numerous golf resorts and sprawling golf courses in Polaris World where you can play your favourite game every day of the week. It is like a putting green for those who worship golf. You can tee up your life here with the various Spanish properties that Polaris World can offer you. Apart from this wonderful game, there is more to Polaris World that you can enjoy.


There are many properties which are developed and ready for you, and then there are resorts and residential properties that are under construction and would be ready in a short time. You can go sailing, surfing or swimming in the lovely water bodies dotting the region. Or you can simply relax and watch the sun set sipping some wonderful drink. You can take part in the various festivities and have a rocking and rollicking time. There are many property agents and dealers who specialise in Polaris World properties. You can choose villas or apartments in Polaris World or any other kind of property.


But to hole in one, you can always take the expert assistance of one of the few good online agents dealing and specialising in Polaris World properties. However, it is suggested that you take a short trip to this place and check it out for yourself. Play with online Spanish property dealers and start enjoying a wonderful time here in just a few days. This would give you a better idea on what you want and what you can expect.

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A" Cool" Market Will Heat Up - Finance and Real Estate Articles:

People always ask me if this is a good time to buy real estate. I have the same answer for both questions: I don t know.

The East Valley Is Where You Ll Find Everything You Want In A Home - Anna Trisler's Finance and Real Estate blog:

You may have been reading about or even experienced first hand the great migration to the Phoenix East Valley area. We ve long thought of Arizona as a retirement state, but nowadays people of every age are attracted to the brilliant sunshine and extraordinary desert environment.

It Is Sounds A Real Daunting Task, But Houston Foreclosure Homes Can Help You Out - Finance and Real Estate Articles:

Buying a home in Houston could be a confusing process especially if it is your first Houston home. It is sounds a real daunting task, but Houston foreclosure homes can help you out.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Lastly, Never Ever Give Your Broker Money Up Front

Category: Finance, Real Estate.

The value of hiring a real estate broker lies in the fact that they can assist you in the process of either buying or selling a house.



Just make sure your broker represents your best interest as there are brokers who represent both the buyer and seller in a transaction. A good broker would know how to get proper financing, prepare your home for inspection and help you until the closing date. The best sources of information on where to find a good real estate broker are your friends and family who recently bought or sold a home. A good indication of a dedicated broker is the one who returns your calls immediately. Ask them to refer you to a broker who is easy to contact. Do steer away from those who can t seem to find the time to call you back, no matter how good their referrals are.


Try to visit open houses in your neighborhoods, as this is also a converging place for agents and brokers. Other sources of information are newspaper ads and the internet. Before establishing any formal business relationship, determine just how much your broker asks for commission. Always make sure that the broker s personality fits your own, as you ll expect to spend a lot of time with him during the whole buying or selling process. This is important as some brokers ask for fees when handling closing documents, apart from the agreed commission. If you can establish faith and trust with your broker, then you know you have found a good one.


Logically, a full- time broker or agent is much preferable to one who just works part- time. A good broker should also make you feel important and treat your transaction as urgent. Scrutinize the training your broker had and whether he s familiar with current trends, especially in using the internet. If you are selling, determine how your broker will market your house and ask for written marketing plan. A technology- savvy broker indicates the willingness to stay on top of his profession. See to it that your broker will get your property featured in several listings. Needless to say, this would facilitate your transaction.


Also, ask your broker if he s willing to offer a commission to the buyer s agent, as there are buyer s agent who only deal with seller s agent willing to give them a commission. Avoid brokers who ask you to sign exclusivity contract for several months. The downside, is when you, of course find a broker who gives less- than- respectable performance. This is only beneficial if manage to find a dedicated broker. Try to ensure that you protect your interests at all times. These professionals earn when your property gets sold, and not a minute less. Lastly, never ever give your broker money up front.


When a broker tries to ask for any remuneration before any work gets done, it s time for you to seek another one.

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Buying A House Is A Basic Human Desire - Finance and Real Estate Articles:

Buying a house is a basic human desire.

Your First Offer Is Usually Your Best Offer - Finance and Real Estate Blog:

An old rule of thumb in real estate is that your first offer it usually your best offer. Several times I have had clients send stiff counteroffers back to prospective buyers only to never hear from them again.

The Results Reflect The Potential Gross Profit In The Property - Toni Deshazer about Finance and Real Estate:

Now that you know the default amount.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

You Do This By Having Them Fill Out A Detailed Rental Application

Category: Finance, Real Estate.

Real estate investing is in your blood. But you want to make sure that all of your hard work doesn t go to waste by putting a tenant in your property that will ruin all of your hard work in less than a week.



You love the challenge of finding a great property and fixing it up. Not only did you spend a lot of time fixing your property up, but you more than likely spent quite a bit of money to get it to where it is today. Well, you re about to learn. So, how do you find good tenants? To get good tenants you have to treat your real estate investing like a business. For example, you may not want to rent to anyone having a felony in the last 3 years- -make this a minimum requirement.


You must first set up minimum guidelines for renting to individuals. Or you may not want to rent to someone with a judgement on their credit report from a past landlord. Understand there are certain things you cannot make as guidelines like race, age, religion, etc. Again, make this a minimum guideline. Check with your attorney to help you establish your guidelines. Let us just start by saying, you have to get to know your prospective tenants.


Do this first and it will make your life a lot easier. You do this by having them fill out a detailed rental application. This should be enough to get you going. In this application you ask them to supply you with work references, personal references( although, chances are they are not going to put anyone down who is going to speak badly of them) , family names and phone numbers, past rental history with past landlord contact information, the type of vehicle they drive along with license plate and driver s license numbers, their birthdate and their social security number. Make sure you are also charging them for the privledge of filling out your rental application. Because if you are wanting to ensure great tenants then you will definately want to run criminal and credit checks on each prospective tenant( that means anyone over 18 living in the property) .


Why would you charge them, you ask? In addition, your time is worth something and again, if you are going to be checking references and running the credit and the criminal checks it is going to take up some of your time. You also want them to have an investment in the process. One other thing, if they cannot seem to come up with the application fee, you should run the other way! Just remember, the guidlines you set up in your application process must apply to everyone who puts in a rental application with you. Once you have found a qualified tenant, conduct your due diligence and don t cut corners!


Now that you have your minimum guidelines established, you ve set a price for the application fee, found out where you are going to run your credit and criminal checks( there are many places online that are accurate, and inexpensive, quick) , and you have developed a good rental application, now it is time to rent your property. Once you are satisfied and the prospective tenant has met your minimum guidelines, then offer them the property. If they are having trouble with coming up with those you might want to reconsider renting to them. Make sure that they have the first month s rent and the security deposit. If they don t have the security deposit, chances are next month they won t have the rent. It will undoubtedly save you endless hours with evictions, repairs and ultimately lost revenue. Following these suggestions should ensure that you are only placing quality tenants in your properties.

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An Increasing Number Of Graduates Are Unable To Afford To Take The First Steps On The Property Ladder, New Figures Report - Finance and Real Estate Articles:

An increasing number of graduates are unable to afford to take the first steps on the property ladder, new figures report.

The Seller Can Sell His House Property Without Any Fear - Finance and Real Estate Articles:

Buying and selling houses in the house property market becomes the trend and everybody started purchasing and selling the houses which have been brought.

Does A House Appreciate Faster Than A Condo - Finance and Real Estate:

When you are looking at buying a residence, one of your considerations is whether to buy a home or a condo.