Archive for November, 2009

The Global Property Guide – Relaunched!

The Global Property Guide asked:




The Global Property Guide today re-launched its web site to make its data more accessible. The home page has been simplified. Major categories have been spelled out. The new Home Page has been organized around an expanded menu, to help the reader navigate the site. Key data items are easier to find, more obvious.

The Global Property Guide

The Global Property Guide is the authoritative source of information on buying residential property. It covers every investible country in the world, from the perspective of income, tax, and capital gains. We provide research and information on 131 countries to residential property investors, with brief information on 85 countries.

Property, as an asset class, is highly susceptible to booms and busts. Across the Western world major countries have experienced a prolonged residential property boom.

Like stock prices (but with markedly different dynamics) residential property prices are now coming back down to earth. We help investors make sense of these swings by providing tools of analysis, and displaying data in a clear, comprehensive and accurate format.

Our fundamental residential property market data includes

• Price change 1 year

• Price change 5 year

• Price change 10 year

• Square metre price city centre

• Total round-trip transaction cost

• Gross yield

• Price to rent (P/R) ratio

• Price to Gross Domestic Product

• Change in interest rates

• Taxes on income (effective rates)

• Capital gains tax (effective)

• Inheritance taxes (effective)

• Buying process (graded by quality)

• Tenant legislation (graded as landlord-friendly)

• Residence (high tax / low tax)

• Economic growth

• Competitiveness

• GDP per capita

• Competitiveness rank, improvement over 5 years

• Stage of economic cycle

“Our aim is to be the Bloomberg of international residential property,” says publisher Matthew Montagu-Pollock, referring to the financial site on trading desks around the world (http://www.bloomberg.com/). “Bloomberg provides data – but also makes it easy to use.”

“It’s important for a residential investor be able to see what his likely return on investment will be. What his taxes will be. To be able quickly to check whether the laws are landlord-friendly. To survey the inheritance laws. All this is now available, for almost every country in the world, on our site, without any marketing material or any attempt to sell you anything – just the facts.”

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Description:

The Global Property Guide is an on-line property research house.

Publisher:

Matthew Montagu-Pollock Phone: (+632) 867 4220 Mobile: (+63) 917 321 7073

Email: editor@globalpropertyguide.com

Address:

Global Property Guide

http://www.globalpropertyguide.com

5F Electra House Building

115-117 Esteban Street

Legaspi Village, Makati City

Philippines 1229

info@globalpropertyguide.com

Bank Short Sale – a Great Way to Purchase Investment Property

DC Fawcett asked:




A bank short sale is a great way for investors to buy property at a fraction of the market price; however there are several steps that should be followed in order to guarantee a successful and profitable transaction. These tips include using a real estate agent experienced in the short sale process, doing research on the short sale specifics, identifying the correct owner of the property, file all associated paperwork in a timely and efficient manner, and completing a thorough inspection of the property before finalizing or signing any papers.

Not all real estate agents are familiar with the short sale process. Some professionals view the process as a last ditch effort by banks or other lending institutions to sell off debt accumulated through bad loans and therefore avoid such proceedings. However, this could not be farther from the truth. Many agents have discovered that a short sale is a great way to acquire property at greatly reduced prices and have begun to specialize in such dealings. These are agents you want to seek out, both for their experience and their connections. They will be able to guide you through the process step by step.

Another important tip is to fully research the short sale specifics. The best way to find out information on a particular property is to check the public records. In this manner you can discover who is on the title for the property. You can also find out how much money is owed to the bank through the property. This will help you determine a proper asking price to approach the mortgage holder with. The proper price should approximate the amount owed to the lending institution. You should also be able to discover if the property has been foreclosed upon. If these proceedings have been initiated, then a short sale is not possible. Bank short sales can only be completed during pre-foreclosure proceedings. You can also find out if the property in question has multiple loans against it. Avoid properties with multiple mortgages against it.

A short sale is a quick process that must be completed before the property moves into foreclosure. This means that time is usually of the essence. Paperwork must be filed out in a timely manner and documents must be completed according to strict deadlines. Make sure that you attain all the associated paperwork during your initial visit to the bank or loaning office. Not attaining all of the paperwork in the initial visit can lead to time consuming delays that may derail the short sale. Also make sure to ask the loan officer for a list of all required documentation needed for a successful short sale. Missing only one piece of paper or one simple omission of information can make a short sale unsuccessful.

Finally, once all of the paperwork has been completed, the proper documents filed, and the research has been done, it is a good idea to have the property in question inspected by a licensed home inspector. Many properties fall into disrepair when they fall back into the ownership of the bank. Therefore, it is wise to identify all the current issues associated with the assumption of ownership. After all, a house isn’t worth much if it needs a completely new foundation. Still, it is certain anyone looking for investment properties; a bank short sale is usually always profitable. 

Fayetteville, NC Apartments

Sam Huntington asked:




There are many things to consider when seeking to rent a Fayetteville NC apartment. The convenience of the location, how much you can afford to spend and, if you have children, the local school districts are all something you must consider. There are many different apartments for rent in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Prior to going apartment hunting, ask yourself how soon you wish to move in, how much you expect to pay and how long you wish to stay. Although most rentals require a one year lease, others have short term leasing available.

The Woodstream Apartments is an apartment complex located on Woodstream Trail in Fayetteville. Renters can lease the apartment for six months or one year and there is a $100 deposit required on new rentals. The Woodstream Apartments are close to Fort Bragg and Cape Fear Medical Center and many people who work in the medical center live here.

This Fayetteville NC apartment complex has a swimming pool and tennis court for the residents. Each unit includes a dishwasher, garbage disposal and refrigerator as well as air conditioning and ceiling fans. Prices are very reasonable for both one and two bedroom units. There are excellent laundry facilities in the building.

Another Fayetteville NC apartment complex that has one to three bedroom apartment is Tamarack on the Lake Apartments located on Pine Lake Drive. Tamarack on the Lake apartments offer a fireplace, vaulted ceilings, high speed Internet, air conditioning, ceiling fans, walk in closets, a dishwasher and garbage disposal as well as a microwave and refrigerator. One of the nicest things about this Fayetteville, NC apartment complex is that each unit has a washer and dryer hookup in the unit.

Tamarack on the Lake Apartments can be leased for short term leases starting at three months, making this the perfect Fayetteville NC apartment for those who are looking for a place to stay while shopping for a home in Fayetteville. You can even bring your dog and cat as this is a pet-friendly apartment complex. In addition to the many amenities, there is even a full tennis court, clubhouse and swimming pool for residents. You can even rent a fully furnished unit for a short term stay.

Crescent Commons is another Fayetteville, NC apartment complex that has many fine features. Crescent Commons apartments also offer short term leases and have one to three bedrooms. The spacious, air conditioned units have ceiling fans, high speed Internet, walk in closets, dishwashers, garbage disposals, microwaves, refrigerators, an in-unit laundry room and a private balcony. The Fayetteville, NC apartment complex also has a large swimming pool, club house, fitness center, playground and even a business center. Many people relocating to Fayetteville, NC make the Crescent Commons their temporary home.

The Crescent Commons apartments are pet friendly and the rent is very reasonable, especially when you consider the size of the units and all of the amenities that are included. They are an ideal place to live in this charming, southern city.

No matter what type of Fayetteville, NC apartment you seek, there is one to suit your needs. Whether you are looking to stay long term, or only a short while, Fayetteville has many different apartments available to rent. Fayetteville is a beautiful city and many people who relocate to the area stay in an apartment so they can spend time looking for the perfect home. Whether you plan to live in a house or rent an apartment, you will be glad to call Fayetteville, NC your home.

How To Succeed In The Online Real Estate Market

michaelrussell asked:




A strong online presence is now essential for real estate professionals. It does not matter if you are a realtor or an investor, a homeowner or homebuyer; the Internet is steadily growing into the world’s largest real estate resource, with thousands of pages of listings, community information, photographs and multimedia tours. The Internet must be utilized if a real estate group wants to succeed in today’s market.

Two things have happened recently. The real estate market crashed and realtors got Web savvy. These events are not mutually exclusive. An online presence is a relatively affordable way for realtors to share their products and information with countless potential clients. It also allows them to take a proactive approach to their work while the market struggles.

It is one thing to merely transfer your current listings from print outlets to online outlets. Being online allows you to easily update and share your listings, but the real estate market is already crowded, and if you do not employ savvy techniques and rich, unique content, chances are that your properties will not have much more success than they did in print. Think of it in terms of the newspaper industry. Many major papers are struggling because they are not doing more with their content. They are not doing more for their readers. They are merely shifting their information from print to the Web. Successful newspapers — and successful real estate Web sites — are using the Web as an advantage, as a platform from which numerous ideas can take shape and redefine what it means to be informed.

Young, innovative companies run the most popular Web sites and blogs. They recognize the advantages and challenges of working online. They engage their readers with community forums and visually stimulating photographs. They collect information from outside contributors. They give advice and notify the public of investment opportunities. Most of all, they provide up-to-the-minute information that is relevant and interesting, useful and entertaining.

One of the most popular is Curbed. The site focuses on all things real estate, in New York and San Francisco, and provides readers with pages and pages of insightful content. Curbed has transformed the way users view real estate. It has turned the buying and selling, the deals and steals into enjoyable, opinionated information that is quickly consumed by a hungry market.

Apartment Therapy is another popular site. It strives to provide users with tips; advice and user-generated comments that will help to maximize what can be done with the usually confined space of apartment living. This site is at it’s most popular now, as the economy and people are looking for ways to do more with less.

Trulia is an aggregate site. It works with real estate professionals to offer the most comprehensive look at the entire United States market. Trulia offers articles and blogs, Q&A forums and maps, listings and updates from experts around the country. It is a destination site, giving readers a truly rewarding experience.

These are the newer Web sites. But what about the companies that have been around for a while? What about the real estate groups that worked for years to succeed and become trusted as the most knowledgeable professionals in the field? Well, they have to work just as hard to succeed online, often times reshaping their approach and technique.

The Real Estate Book, which has one of the largest distributions of any real estate group, has for years been available to the public in countless retail stores across the country. The American public grew to trust and rely on the Real Estate Book for its listings and realtors. It became synonymous with the real estate industry and those looking for property. When the market turned its focus online, the Real Estate Book built a formidable Web presence. Now it is offering a new product, a way for realtors to harness the Real Estate Book’s massive amount of listing information.

The product is actually a widget. A widget is a tool for your Web site. The widget increases your Web site’s functionality. The widget the Real Estate Book has developed allows real estate professionals to work together. They can download the widget, customize it so if fits their site’s feel and size, and then access the Real Estate Book’s listings. This allows every realtor, no matter the size of their operation, to offer their clients an easy and informative way to browse the Web for real estate listings. It is an advantage to both the Real Estate Book and the realtors that use it. It brings together information, offers it to more people, and improves the way listings are explored online. As a successful company must, the Real Estate Book has developed a new way for people to use their resources.

Why Everyone Loves Beach Front Property

Geoff Amerson asked:




There are many people who are ready to plan a family vacation and are considering renting a beach front property to stay in while away. When you are on vacation and staying in a property that is located right on the beach you will find that it is hard to leave the home. The first step is locating the right property to rent out. This decision should be based on multiple factors.

After you have chosen the area or location that you want to go on vacation or invest in you can go online and search for the perfect beach rental or investment property. You can contact a beach rental business that will be able to provide you with a brochure prior to putting any money down for a deposit. You should do as much research on the area as you possibly can to make certain that you are investing in the right area, or taking your family to the right area for a fun vacation.

You can find rental properties and investment properties that are beach front or very close to the water. The closer you are to the beach the more expensive the property is going to be. There are many more properties that are located near the beach then right on the beach. Many of the properties that are located right on the beach may be out of most peoples price range but if you take your search ten to twenty miles inland you will find that there are many properties that are perfect for your budget.

There are many different types of rental properties that are right on the beach or near the beach. The one you choose to stay in for vacation or purchase for investment purposes will be dependant on the type of things that you find necessary for your home. Some people require a laundry room or for the property to be near airports or other important places.

Real