Archive for the ‘Sales’ Category
Real Estate Investment Property
January 29th, 2010
Damian Qualter asked:
Land is a tangible investment – you can see what you are getting – but in addition you have the chance to enjoy it for its own sake, with the potential for considerable returns. Land as real estate investment property has risen in value by nearly 30% in the last 12 months and is up by 130% since the early 1990s.
Land compares favourably as an investment when compared with high risk stock market picks, making it an excellent real estate investment property opportunity.
Land which can be bought affordably can be turned into a real money-spinner if you get the right permissions subsequently. As an example, a plot of land in the South East, bought for £15,000, could gain planning permission for a four bedroom detached house. A builder could buy this land for £200,000 to sell a £600,000 house. This represents an excellent real estate investment property investment.
Land has some great advantages:
1. There is a finite amount of land
2. Land can increase in value in two ways
* By increasing property values, as demand outstrips supply
* By gaining planning permissions
3. There are strong possibilities of exceptional short to medium term returns
4. Any nationality can buy UK land
Recent government activity with regard to housing has made this a good time to own land. The government wants more green belt land to be built upon to increase the house-building programme over the next ten years. As other investment markets are feeling the squeeze, it is inevitable that land prices will continue to rise in the coming years. Real estate investment property such as land will shoot up in value.
The price of land has gone up by a multiple of eight in the last 20 years, with the most expensive land to be found in London and the South East. Prices here have been forced up by a shortage of residential land and an increased need for more housing.
In the medium to long term land can be a good investment, but you can make really big money if you buy land without planning permission and subsequently get permissions for that land.
So far, since it came to power, this Labour Government has approved 162 different schemes of development of green belt land. Still the shortage of housing continues to increase, with the shortfall predicted to be one million homes by 2022, unless there is a dramatic pick up in development. There is also a shortage of land suitable for development. A recent report said that an additional 70,000 to 120,000 houses per year would have to be built to keep pace with demands.
These facts make land an attractive investment, and prices for land are expected to keep rising as demand for new housing continues to increase.
The largest gains can be made when buying land without planning permission, as the land can be purchased at relatively low cost and if the land is later granted planning permission large profits can be made.
There are obviously some things to look out for when buying land and such things as access rights, road infrastructure and many other things need to be checked out.
Land as real estate investment property has the potential to make big money if you do you homework, and it is also recommended that you use a solicitor when investing in land, to ensure that everything is in order.
Interested in investing in buying property? Look for great opportunities at http://www.buyproperty4less.com/
Land is a tangible investment – you can see what you are getting – but in addition you have the chance to enjoy it for its own sake, with the potential for considerable returns. Land as real estate investment property has risen in value by nearly 30% in the last 12 months and is up by 130% since the early 1990s.
Land compares favourably as an investment when compared with high risk stock market picks, making it an excellent real estate investment property opportunity.
Land which can be bought affordably can be turned into a real money-spinner if you get the right permissions subsequently. As an example, a plot of land in the South East, bought for £15,000, could gain planning permission for a four bedroom detached house. A builder could buy this land for £200,000 to sell a £600,000 house. This represents an excellent real estate investment property investment.
Land has some great advantages:
1. There is a finite amount of land
2. Land can increase in value in two ways
* By increasing property values, as demand outstrips supply
* By gaining planning permissions
3. There are strong possibilities of exceptional short to medium term returns
4. Any nationality can buy UK land
Recent government activity with regard to housing has made this a good time to own land. The government wants more green belt land to be built upon to increase the house-building programme over the next ten years. As other investment markets are feeling the squeeze, it is inevitable that land prices will continue to rise in the coming years. Real estate investment property such as land will shoot up in value.
The price of land has gone up by a multiple of eight in the last 20 years, with the most expensive land to be found in London and the South East. Prices here have been forced up by a shortage of residential land and an increased need for more housing.
In the medium to long term land can be a good investment, but you can make really big money if you buy land without planning permission and subsequently get permissions for that land.
So far, since it came to power, this Labour Government has approved 162 different schemes of development of green belt land. Still the shortage of housing continues to increase, with the shortfall predicted to be one million homes by 2022, unless there is a dramatic pick up in development. There is also a shortage of land suitable for development. A recent report said that an additional 70,000 to 120,000 houses per year would have to be built to keep pace with demands.
These facts make land an attractive investment, and prices for land are expected to keep rising as demand for new housing continues to increase.
The largest gains can be made when buying land without planning permission, as the land can be purchased at relatively low cost and if the land is later granted planning permission large profits can be made.
There are obviously some things to look out for when buying land and such things as access rights, road infrastructure and many other things need to be checked out.
Land as real estate investment property has the potential to make big money if you do you homework, and it is also recommended that you use a solicitor when investing in land, to ensure that everything is in order.
Interested in investing in buying property? Look for great opportunities at http://www.buyproperty4less.com/
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Top 10 Tips for Investment in India
January 20th, 2010
Ramesh Menon asked:
I thought, I must compile my top 10 tips to the audience who seek to “think through, rather than jump-act.”
Tip # 01 THERE ARE NO TIPS !!!
Small investments into real estate SHOULD NOT be based on hearsay OR tips. I haven’t come across tips which have been accurately predicted the gains, unless somebody is manipulating it a la the stock markets. Remember – There are no sacrifices in real estate investments, and don’t expect any. Never be tempted by the “Once in a lifetime-limited period offer”. Ideally, create a portfolio rather than just accumulating property based on tips.
Tip # 02 DON’T TRUST THE SELLER
When have you come across a seller who says that his product is not the best, or really value-for-money? Rather than go by what is represented, go by what is evaluated. Ensure that the valuation of the said property is projected properly for three milestones – Short, Mid and long term. Remember, you are making an investment and unapologetically, evaluate the growth of your money. A thought – Don’t buy all cash down in one go, as this exposes, and dissolves the responsibility of the seller, be it the broker or the developer / owner.
Tip # 03 DON’T OVERESTIMATE / DON’T GET GULLIBLE / DON’T OVER-COMMITT
I come across many an investors who have sought abnormal returns from their small investments and have got caught between their initial investment and the commitments to further pay. To our prying senses, this predicament is the outcome of over-estimation of increase in valuation, committing more than what one can safely invest, without over stretching the available resources. Also, if your intent is to Dorent, never overestimate the returns, as your purchase price is going to be a function of the expected returns.
Tip # 04 NEVER EXPECT UNEXPECTED GAINS
The promise of the seller of small realty investment is mostly multifold returns over other instruments of investments available. This is not always correct. Please benchmark a reasonable minimum ROI on an annualized basis, and be concentrating your strategy around it, rather than speculative higher returns. Speculations seldom deliver. Informed decisions are closer to the expectations. Wishful thinking is only a masquerade for the ‘not so pretty’.
Tip # 05 DON’T KILL THE GOOSE BEFORE IT LAYS EGGS
For the returns to be delivered in small investments, it is but pertinent to take a mid to long term view. One has to be very clear on benchmarking and the time to exit. Do not exit on the expectation of better results in yet another project, based on tips from any source. Differentiate between the products and projects on offer.
Tip # 06 WHAT IT COULD BE, RATHER THAN WHAT IT IS
Like they say-the three golden indicators of sound real estate investment is – “1) LOCATION. 2 ) LOCATION.
3) LOCATION”. Make sure that you are able to visualize what would be developed, rather than what is promised to you by the seller. NEVER IGNORE THE RISKS, AND, LOOK JUST AT THE PROJECTED RETURNS.
Tip # 07 DON’T EXIT WINNERS AND BUY LOSERS
Though taking a critical view of your portfolio is very important, it should not so happen that on a promise of better return, one tends to exit a property which is towards the maturity of the appreciation. Please ensure that the value appreciation graph has plateaud on the existing investments, before deciding to withdraw from the same. The biggest mistake is not to admit one. Don’t repeat past mistakes.
Tip # 08 THE PEOPLE BEHIND
Be it the developer, the builder, the realtor or the canvassing consultant, be sure that they are presenting the GROUND-REALTY, rather than sell the dream. Ensure that they are backed by sound research on the subject, and have the ‘intent & ability’ to translate vision to reality. Do they have the motivation, the vision, the cash flow, right partners etc.? Also, for the managers amongst the buyers / investors, remember, it is the 5th P of marketing which drives the first four. Ideally, other than the seller, be sure of the ground realty of the project through a consultant, who can be unbiased in the analysis and recommendation.
Tip # 09 INNOVATION AND VALUE SELLS
As consumers for various products and services in our daily lives, we do notice and track the technological advances, the product innovations etc. Why not the same for real estate? As we understand, if you make an investment, even for the long term, your purchase would come up for sale in sometime in the future. And if the buyer then does not see any value, he won’t offer you the price you wish to command. Hence, be sure that what you are planning to buy today is innovative enough, to make a value proposition tomorrow. Remember, every property is created for occupation, not investment.
Tip # 10 DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK AND ACT
My colleague Harry’s favourite advice to client is – DON’T HAVE PERCEPTIONS ON THE VALUE, DEBATE IT. We strongly recommend that as a buyer, please pose all the questions that you have to the seller or recommending agency, so that you make an informed choice, rather than an impulsive one. Once convinced, ACT immediately. Having said some of the facts above, we also experience instances of a lot of prospective investors being afraid to take the first step.
The classical joke that we share amongst our colleagues is that a striped *** cannot ever run like a zebra. If you want to bet on winning derby, know the pedigree.
The same holds true for the developers, the consultants and the brokers. Make sure you bet on the winning one.
The author is the Director-strategic consulting of Trustbanq Realty Ltd, a real estate consulting organization based out of Gurgaon, India.
I thought, I must compile my top 10 tips to the audience who seek to “think through, rather than jump-act.”
Tip # 01 THERE ARE NO TIPS !!!
Small investments into real estate SHOULD NOT be based on hearsay OR tips. I haven’t come across tips which have been accurately predicted the gains, unless somebody is manipulating it a la the stock markets. Remember – There are no sacrifices in real estate investments, and don’t expect any. Never be tempted by the “Once in a lifetime-limited period offer”. Ideally, create a portfolio rather than just accumulating property based on tips.
Tip # 02 DON’T TRUST THE SELLER
When have you come across a seller who says that his product is not the best, or really value-for-money? Rather than go by what is represented, go by what is evaluated. Ensure that the valuation of the said property is projected properly for three milestones – Short, Mid and long term. Remember, you are making an investment and unapologetically, evaluate the growth of your money. A thought – Don’t buy all cash down in one go, as this exposes, and dissolves the responsibility of the seller, be it the broker or the developer / owner.
Tip # 03 DON’T OVERESTIMATE / DON’T GET GULLIBLE / DON’T OVER-COMMITT
I come across many an investors who have sought abnormal returns from their small investments and have got caught between their initial investment and the commitments to further pay. To our prying senses, this predicament is the outcome of over-estimation of increase in valuation, committing more than what one can safely invest, without over stretching the available resources. Also, if your intent is to Dorent, never overestimate the returns, as your purchase price is going to be a function of the expected returns.
Tip # 04 NEVER EXPECT UNEXPECTED GAINS
The promise of the seller of small realty investment is mostly multifold returns over other instruments of investments available. This is not always correct. Please benchmark a reasonable minimum ROI on an annualized basis, and be concentrating your strategy around it, rather than speculative higher returns. Speculations seldom deliver. Informed decisions are closer to the expectations. Wishful thinking is only a masquerade for the ‘not so pretty’.
Tip # 05 DON’T KILL THE GOOSE BEFORE IT LAYS EGGS
For the returns to be delivered in small investments, it is but pertinent to take a mid to long term view. One has to be very clear on benchmarking and the time to exit. Do not exit on the expectation of better results in yet another project, based on tips from any source. Differentiate between the products and projects on offer.
Tip # 06 WHAT IT COULD BE, RATHER THAN WHAT IT IS
Like they say-the three golden indicators of sound real estate investment is – “1) LOCATION. 2 ) LOCATION.
3) LOCATION”. Make sure that you are able to visualize what would be developed, rather than what is promised to you by the seller. NEVER IGNORE THE RISKS, AND, LOOK JUST AT THE PROJECTED RETURNS.
Tip # 07 DON’T EXIT WINNERS AND BUY LOSERS
Though taking a critical view of your portfolio is very important, it should not so happen that on a promise of better return, one tends to exit a property which is towards the maturity of the appreciation. Please ensure that the value appreciation graph has plateaud on the existing investments, before deciding to withdraw from the same. The biggest mistake is not to admit one. Don’t repeat past mistakes.
Tip # 08 THE PEOPLE BEHIND
Be it the developer, the builder, the realtor or the canvassing consultant, be sure that they are presenting the GROUND-REALTY, rather than sell the dream. Ensure that they are backed by sound research on the subject, and have the ‘intent & ability’ to translate vision to reality. Do they have the motivation, the vision, the cash flow, right partners etc.? Also, for the managers amongst the buyers / investors, remember, it is the 5th P of marketing which drives the first four. Ideally, other than the seller, be sure of the ground realty of the project through a consultant, who can be unbiased in the analysis and recommendation.
Tip # 09 INNOVATION AND VALUE SELLS
As consumers for various products and services in our daily lives, we do notice and track the technological advances, the product innovations etc. Why not the same for real estate? As we understand, if you make an investment, even for the long term, your purchase would come up for sale in sometime in the future. And if the buyer then does not see any value, he won’t offer you the price you wish to command. Hence, be sure that what you are planning to buy today is innovative enough, to make a value proposition tomorrow. Remember, every property is created for occupation, not investment.
Tip # 10 DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK AND ACT
My colleague Harry’s favourite advice to client is – DON’T HAVE PERCEPTIONS ON THE VALUE, DEBATE IT. We strongly recommend that as a buyer, please pose all the questions that you have to the seller or recommending agency, so that you make an informed choice, rather than an impulsive one. Once convinced, ACT immediately. Having said some of the facts above, we also experience instances of a lot of prospective investors being afraid to take the first step.
The classical joke that we share amongst our colleagues is that a striped *** cannot ever run like a zebra. If you want to bet on winning derby, know the pedigree.
The same holds true for the developers, the consultants and the brokers. Make sure you bet on the winning one.
The author is the Director-strategic consulting of Trustbanq Realty Ltd, a real estate consulting organization based out of Gurgaon, India.
10 Killer Lead Generation Ideas
January 1st, 2010
Bob Corcoran asked:
Picture in your mind a bucket—but not an ordinary bucket. Think of this bucket as one you must keep full—full of leads so that your real estate business doesn’t dry up.
The good news: directly above this bucket are 10 faucets. We can call them “lead faucets.” The bad news: many Realtors don’t use them.
That’s unfortunate, because each lead faucet has powerful potential. And just a little tinkering can mean a steady gush of leads that will keep your bucket filled to the brim.
Let’s look at these 10 ‘faucets’ and how to create a fire hose-strength flow.
1. Past clients—Vital because their referrals come with an implied endorsement of your services. Put past clients into two categories: A – Those who’ve given you referrals, and B – Those who haven’t given you referrals. Set a reminder system to stay in touch with each regularly with cards, calls, small gifts, etc.
2. Internet—A must if you plan to stay in business. Put your focus on responding to the site visitors. Can you respond in 15 minutes? If not, fix it so you can.
3. Interactive Voice Response (IVR)—The hotline numbers buyers can call to learn about properties. Again, ignore technology at your peril. (Incidentally, I have a client who landed 11,298 calls from his hotline number in 2005. His secret? An irresistible call to action.)
4. Sphere of Influence (SOI)—The more you think about your SOI (basically your family, friends and acquaintances) the larger it gets. That “acquaintances” category, for example, should include everyone you’ve met. Think how you interact with those you meet casually—develop the effective 10-second “elevator” speech for them.
5. Signs—Revisit your signs. How can you make them more effective with more eye-catching color and contrast? Do they include an IVR hotline number?
6. Direct mail—It can be expensive, so find out what’s already being sent in the area you’re considering. The two keys here are differentiation—will your mailer stand out and will the offer and the call to action actually produce desired results?
7. Broadcast radio and TV ads—Yes, some may be too expensive. But don’t rule it out completely. Both radio and TV have massive reach and there are deals out there. The key is, if you do go with these mediums, use them regularly. Frequency beats reach—so don’t buy for just a one-shot deal.
8. Print ads—Give them a fresh and thorough inspection. What’s keeping them from really grabbing your target audience by the collar? Often, they lack contrast and that prevents them from being noticed in the first place. Don’t forget to add muscle to your call to action.
9. Prospecting—Absolutely essential. It’s one of just four real dollar-producing activities a Realtor can do. The trick is to schedule time everyday to do it—usually in the morning because it’s the most controllable time of the day.
10. Networking—Choose where you network carefully. There are literally thousands and thousands of groups out there. Be strategic by examining what potential business they bring to the table.
Picture in your mind a bucket—but not an ordinary bucket. Think of this bucket as one you must keep full—full of leads so that your real estate business doesn’t dry up.
The good news: directly above this bucket are 10 faucets. We can call them “lead faucets.” The bad news: many Realtors don’t use them.
That’s unfortunate, because each lead faucet has powerful potential. And just a little tinkering can mean a steady gush of leads that will keep your bucket filled to the brim.
Let’s look at these 10 ‘faucets’ and how to create a fire hose-strength flow.
1. Past clients—Vital because their referrals come with an implied endorsement of your services. Put past clients into two categories: A – Those who’ve given you referrals, and B – Those who haven’t given you referrals. Set a reminder system to stay in touch with each regularly with cards, calls, small gifts, etc.
2. Internet—A must if you plan to stay in business. Put your focus on responding to the site visitors. Can you respond in 15 minutes? If not, fix it so you can.
3. Interactive Voice Response (IVR)—The hotline numbers buyers can call to learn about properties. Again, ignore technology at your peril. (Incidentally, I have a client who landed 11,298 calls from his hotline number in 2005. His secret? An irresistible call to action.)
4. Sphere of Influence (SOI)—The more you think about your SOI (basically your family, friends and acquaintances) the larger it gets. That “acquaintances” category, for example, should include everyone you’ve met. Think how you interact with those you meet casually—develop the effective 10-second “elevator” speech for them.
5. Signs—Revisit your signs. How can you make them more effective with more eye-catching color and contrast? Do they include an IVR hotline number?
6. Direct mail—It can be expensive, so find out what’s already being sent in the area you’re considering. The two keys here are differentiation—will your mailer stand out and will the offer and the call to action actually produce desired results?
7. Broadcast radio and TV ads—Yes, some may be too expensive. But don’t rule it out completely. Both radio and TV have massive reach and there are deals out there. The key is, if you do go with these mediums, use them regularly. Frequency beats reach—so don’t buy for just a one-shot deal.
8. Print ads—Give them a fresh and thorough inspection. What’s keeping them from really grabbing your target audience by the collar? Often, they lack contrast and that prevents them from being noticed in the first place. Don’t forget to add muscle to your call to action.
9. Prospecting—Absolutely essential. It’s one of just four real dollar-producing activities a Realtor can do. The trick is to schedule time everyday to do it—usually in the morning because it’s the most controllable time of the day.
10. Networking—Choose where you network carefully. There are literally thousands and thousands of groups out there. Be strategic by examining what potential business they bring to the table.