Can You Really Make It Rich With Buying Off Plan?

This is where investors purchase a property that doesn't exist.

I'm not referring to buying a make-believe property! I mean one where you're relying on a development company to build the property.

How does the process work?

You may have seen eye-catching brochures for the development of a fancy new luxury resort.

You're invited to invest in this property and receive a discount if you do it early. You're told you can sell during construction or after project completion for a huge profit.

This sounds too good to be true!

Well, let's look at this from the developer's point of view.

The developer has enough money to draft the plans and print enticing advertisements for his proposed development. However, he needs a lot of money for the land, and his bank requires security.

What does he do?

He entices people like you to invest early in his property by offering you a discount. He uses the investors' money to obtain a bank loan for the land.

Administrative staff then begins collecting more money from additional investors. At this point, the developer should have sufficient funds to begin construction and pay the builders. He can start the project without having any money withdrawn from his account!

Now, let's look at the same investment from the investor's perspective.

You invest early in property for a hefty 15% discount. One year later, the price increases by 10%. You wait another year when the price increases by another 10%. If you sell your share in the property, you could end up doubling your money!

So you and the developer both win, right?

WRONG!

Before investing in buying off plan, consider the following:

• You must sell your apartment or property within a tight timeframe which requires many buyers and a liquid market

• You won't receive your money back or a deposit refund if the project fails

• Prices have to rise quickly for you to make a profit - you'll make nothing if they remain static or rise slowly

• The initial valuation of the property must be correct; if it's overvalued by even 10%, you'll lose money

• Investing in foreign tourist markets is risky because locals can't afford the resale property

Now, you have the true facts.

Unless you're a developer, stay away from buying off plans!

About the Author

Surrinder Ahitan offers free property investment advice and tips on how to invest in residential and commercial property for maximum returns.

Visit http://www.best-investment-property-tips.com where he reveals more valuable insider tips and property secrets.

Hinjewadi and Manesar: Promising New Locations For Real Estate Investors

Peripheral Towns such as Hinjewadi near Pune and Manesar on the outskirts of the National Capital Region (NCR) are the new havens for real estate investors, who are trying to strike a balance between creaking infrastructure and rising costs.

GRI(Global Real Estate Institute) India Real Estate Investment Report 2007: India Gaining Momentum declared that 17 new corridors have emerged as strong investment destinations for investors with differing risk appetites. And Hinjewadi and Pune are among the most prominent.These two locations would also receive a boost from the neighbouring mature markets, namely Pune and Gurgaon respectively.

In the words of Cushman and Wakefield- GRI Real Estate Investment Report, "Hinjewadi (near Pune) and Manesar (near Gurgaon) emerge as the highest rankers on all parameters and are poised to be prominent locations with promising prospects due to relatively strengthened real estate dynamicas and favourable policies."

C&W India Deputy Managing Directors Sanjay Dutt and Anurag Mathur said, "Overburdened infrastructure, rising real estate and operational costs, limited availability of large land parcels - all have driven corporates and developers to seek alternate locations within their periphery."

Sanjay Dutt, Deputy Managing Director of Cushman &Wakefield, said that overburdened infrastructure, rising operational costs and limited availability of large land parcels have driven corporates and developers to seek alternate locations. The emerging corridors are extensions of tier I and tier II cities that stand to gain from the existing pool and benefits from pre-planned infrastructure.

These corridors are rated as per three broad parameters - sustainability, momentum and economic environment on the basis of a multi-variable analysis.

Besides Hinjewadi and Manesar, some of the corridors that rank high on the parameters include Sriperumbudur (Tamil Nadu), Shamshabad (Hyderabad), Greater Noida (NCR), Panvel and Virar (in and around Mumbai), Rajarhat, Chakan, Khadadi (Pune), Kokapet (Hyderabad), Bidadi (Karnataka), Thane (Mumbai), Bantala and Tumkur Road. and Devanahalli (Bangalore).

The real estate industry had been pegged at $16 billion in 2006-07. It is likely to reach $60 billion by 2010, growing at a compounded annual growth rate of 30 per cent, according to a report from consultancy firm Ernst & Young. In the last one year, the real estate company has raised more than $4.4 billion through public equity offerings.

"The availability of greater financing options has seen an increase in the scale of development, consolidation of developer balance sheets, greater streaming of the industry and greater emphasis on corporate structure. This, in turn, would help the industry in raising fresh resources" Dutt said.

For more information on Real Estate Agents, MLS visit Propertiesmls.com

Source: IndiaRealEstateblog

Andorra Real Estate Beats 2007 Slow Down

Apartment and house prices in Andorra have risen by an average of ten per cent a year over the last decade, with the last two years showing particularly impressive gains of 19 and 16 per cent.

But 2007 was set to see a freeze in the rises as the traditional ski season sales failed to materialise.

The 2007 ski season was a catstrophe for Andorra, with tourists shunning the country as snow levels were so poor, the worst for twenty years.

But an influx of buyers in the spring months has seen property prices rise again.

Many of the buyers were looking to move to Andorra full time to become resident, and take advantage of Andorra's tax haven status.

Andorra is one of two of Europe's prime tax havens, second only to Monaco.

Fifty years ago Andorra was one of Europe's poorest countries, but now counts among the wealthiest, thanks mainly to her tax haven status, but also her ski industry, which has seen as many as ten millions visitors in a year - pretty impressive for a country with a 70,000 population.

Andorra has very similar fiscal benefits as Monaco, but property prices are around a quarter of Monaco's.

Commenting on the turnaround, an Andorra property specialist says he is not surprised at the turnaround.

'2007 started badly for Andorra. The lack of snow added up to a lack of visitors from companies like Crystal Ski and the Thomson ski holiday companies and this in turn meant less buyers than normal, as some visitors like Andorra enough to buy a ski apartment. The pool of buyers was very limited between January and March, and the traditional good start to the year just didn't happen'.

Andorra property prices are around a quarter of better known tax haven Monaco, attracting many high income earners from the UK and other European countries looking to reduce their tax bills.

Surprisingly perhaps for a tax haven, mortgages for a property are as available as many European countries, with rates around the same level. Up to eighty per cent of a property's value is often agreed by the banks in Andorra.

Buying a property in Andorra is often seen as a route to residency, which entitles people to live in Andorra and benefit from her tax haven status.

To obtain residency in Andorra, applications need to be submitted in Catalan. A notarised copy of the applicants passport, birth certificate and a certificate of good conduct from the home country are submitted at the same time. Residency normally takes between three and six months to be given the stamp of approval by the Andorra government.

About the Author

For real estate and Andorra property for sale visit PropertyAndorra.com

News and details about Andorra, including ski holidays, an Andorra map and a snow report are available at YourAndorra.com

How strong is the housing market?

Earlier this month the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) caused a bit of a stir by saying there was a one-in-ten chance of a 1990s-style crash in the {a href=" http://cape-verde.assetz.co.uk /"}UK housing market.It was an interesting response to signs that the market is slowing down, but received criticism in some quarters, not least from Peter Damesick, the head of {a href=" http://cape-verde.assetz.co.uk /"}UK property research at CB Richard Ellis.

Mr Damesick said the odds on such a crash were "pretty small" because the economic situation in the early 1990s, when a recession was combined with higher interest rates than at present, was so much less favourable than it is now. Indeed, one might further note that back then the straitjacket that was the Exchange Rate Mechanism, obliging Britain to prioritise the value of the pound against the German Mark above other considerations, is absent now.
Such a point is relevant given the hint this week by Andrew Sentence, a member of the Bank of England's monetary policy committee (MPC), that a rate cut may come soon in the light of the potential effects of the recent liquidity crisis, one effect of which was this month's NOP poll showing a fall in consumer confidence.
But how weak or strong is the market? The question is relevant, for as Ray Boulger of John Charcol said recently, there is a link to buy-to-let (although, as Paragon pointed out this week, there is also a boost to rental demand as would-be buyers duck out of the market).
The Nationwide house prices for September, published yesterday, showed a small increase in monthly price rises to 0.7 per cent from 0.6 per cent in August. Responding to this, Jim Ward, residential research director at property advisor Savills said: "What it shows, in our view, is that the market fundamentals are fairly robust, in that what we're seeing is slowing price growth overall rather than any price falls."
Mr Ward added that the company expected to see a slowdown continue over 2007 and 2008.
"We may see small price falls in some areas where the market's been weakest over the last six months, but nothing of any great import," he added.
That last point raises the issue of regional variation, a factor revealed as significant in the Land Registry figures for house prices in England and Wales in August, which were published today. The figures showed a small rise from 0.1 per cent inflation in July to 0.2 per cent in August. Commenting on the overall figures, the Land Registry commented that: "The 0.2 per cent rate of monthly increase is in line with the downward shift in growth rates that can be seen to have begun four months ago," 24dash reports.
But against these small numbers were larger variations; London saw a 1.5 per cent increase while the east Midlands saw a 1.1 per cent fall. Even in adjacent areas of similar character there have been major variations. For instance, in the Manchester area, the City of Manchester has seen annual house price growth of 10.9 per cent, compared with 3.9 per cent in Salford, which as a contiguous part of the same city region has shared in the apartment-building boom and the wider regeneration of the area.
There is also still a boom in the countryside, immune to the national trends as shortages of stock and high demand, particularly for second homes in commuting distance of London, which has kept the market "buoyant", according to a spokesman for chartered surveyors John Clegg.
Thus the situation of the overall UK property market, far from being the potential disaster that Rics suspected, may just be rather more complex and, as Jim Ward said, "robust" than some imagine, with significant regional variations meaning that those looking to invest could still see continued pockets of growth in some places even if things are much cooler elsewhere.

About the Author

Jim Barnaby is a real estate investment broker and successful property investment adviser delivering research and selected UK and overseas property investment solutions with experience in spanish properties, french property investment, German property, Cyprus holiday homes,{a href=" http://cape-verde.assetz.co.uk/"} Property in Cape Verde, German property investment, {a href=" http://cape-verde.assetz.co.uk "}cape ver

Austin Texas Real Estate: Two Exciting Projects

"Two Austin office buildings have been purchased by a California company. Triple Net Properties LLC bought both the 433,024-square-foot property on 816 Congress in the downtown area, and Avallon, a 318,217-square-foot set of office buildings in the northwest district of Austin. Both properties were purchased from Crescent Real Estate Equities Co for $82.5 million. Crescent itself was bought by Morgan Stanley Real Estate for $6.5 billion.

The office building at 816 Congress is a very distinct and prized office building in downtown Austin. Renovated in 1995 and originally constructed in 1983, this 20 story Class A office tower is very close to the historic Texas Capitol. Offices on top floors have excellent views of the Capitol, and everyone in the building enjoys the elegant lobby, with itslimestone flooring and walls, polished marble, stylized stainless steel planters, attractive lighting, comfortable seating areas, and much more. An outdoor area adds an elegant touch to those walking up to the building. Because of its closeness to the Capitol and because of its attractive interior, this office building has often attracted professional service businesses, lobbyists, as well as law firms. At the time of the sale, 76% of the property was leased to 44 tenants.

The Avallon began construction in 1986 and was completed in 2001. This Class A office building actually consists of 5 3-story buildings which encompass 16 acres and total almost 316000 ft.� in Austin. The five buildings that make up The Avallon are set on a hill, among oaks and fountains. This provides a very green environment and offers wonderful views to tenants. The elegant lobby of the buildings features granite flooring, inset lighting, decorative planters, suspended glass panels, marble flooring, and many other amenities. Tenants of the buildings have access to property management, on-site security, a top-flight workout facility, and many more amenities.

The Avallon is conveniently located right near Austin's high-tech district. Situated on Jollyville Road near U.S. Highway 183, Loop 360 and Mopac Expressway, the buildings are also close to the Arboretum District. Tenants enjoy nearby restaurants, shopping, financial institutions, and many more attractions within easy walking distance. The buildings also offer almost 1100 parking spaces in its parking garages. About 97% of the buildings were occupied at the time that The Avallon was purchased. Many tenants are entrepreneurs or businesses in the education, technology, and engineering sectors.

In Austin, it's not just purchasing that's being done. Building is also a major component of downtown development. Just recently, construction was begun on the third phase at Southpark Commerce Center. Endeavor Real Estate Group started work on building two, which is expected to boast 192,000-square-feet of space. The building is situated southeast of I-35 and Ben White Boulevard, right on Freidrich Lane. With Round Rock-based Chasco Constructors as the general contractor, and Endeavor as the landlord, the project is proceeding apace. The first tenant to sign on with the new project is Hill Country Electric. The company has already agreed to lease approximately 48,000 square feet from Endeavor. The new building is set to open in January."

About the Author

Kinan Beck is the Broker and co-owner of One Source Realty in Austin Texas. Visit Kinan's Austin Real Estate Guide, visit his Austin Texas Real Estate company's website, & his Austin Apartments website. He has seen considerable success in real estate, and looks forward to man

Austin Texas Real Estate: Green & Child-Proof

"A number of new projects in the state of Texas are worthy of note. In Bee Cave, a new project promises Tuscany-style homes with lots of green space. The project, undertaken by Tennessee-based Southern Land Co. will be a $160 million residential development near SH 71 and RM 620. The project, Cielo, will feature a number of residential options, including town homes, condos, and one and two bedroom homes. In addition, buyers will also be able to choose from 400 luxury flats. The designers hope to offer buyers unprecedented levels of choice. The homes alone have more than 20 floor plans. The homes will start in the high $300,000 and building is expected to be completed in 2013. At that time, homeowners will be able to enjoy the more than 28 acres of preserved green space on the 78-acre development and will have easy access to the nearby Balcones Canyonlands Preserve as well.

In Austin, the Avalon Palms apartment complex has been purchased by Los-Angeles-based Palms of Avalon Apartments Texas LLC. The 352-unit apartment complex situated just off US 183 in North Central Austin was constructed in the early 1970s and boasts 13 acres at 9001 and 9003 Northgate Blvd. According to Travis County tax records, the complex has a value of $10 million. In the sale, the buyer was represented by Los-Angeles-based Greg Salyers. The seller was represented by Hendricks & Partners.

Another new project in Austin promises to make a school more effective for children. About $110 million is being offered in state funds to The Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI). The money is earmarked for renovations. The 150-year-old campus will be modernized so that it is more child-friendly, according to TSBVI staff. TSBVI is considered one of the top schools in the nation for the visually impaired. Now, the campus will be top-flight as well, with renovations scheduled for the next four to eight years. Landscaping and security will be updated and some buildings will be demolished to make room for new construction. A new student activity center, a vocational building, eight dormitories, a new physical education and therapy building, an indoor pool, track-and-field facilities, and independent apartments will be added to the campus. New student housing will be designed by Dallas firm Halff Associates, a company that has offices in Austin. Staff and students at TSBVI are excited about the proposed renovations, which promise to make learning far more enjoyable in the future."

About the Author

Kinan Beck is the Broker and co-owner of One Source Realty in Austin Texas. Visit Kinan's Austin Real Estate Guide, visit his Lake Austin Real Estate company's website, & his Austin Apartments website. He has seen considerable success in real estate, and looks forward

Retirees and Businesses to Flock to Austin Texas

"Two news items suggest Austin, Texas might be a hot market for two very diverse types of residents: retirees and entrepreneurs. KBS Real Estate Investment Trust has recently acquired nine Class-A office, warehouse, and distribution properties totaling two million-square feet. One of the properties is in the Dallas-Fort Worth region, and one is in the Round Rock, Texas region. The rest of the properties are located outside of Texas.

Of these properties, the largest property that KBS Real Estate Investment Trust purchased is situated in Round Rock. The enormous Crystal Park II industrial building boasts over 240,000-square-foot of space in the 38-acre Crystal Park complex situated at Old Settlers Boulevard and Greenhill Drive, near I-35. The Corporate Express building is a Class B flex building, slightly more than 131,000-square-feet. Located at 2230 Avenue J in Arlington, the building is in the highly desirable Dallas-Fort Worth region. California-based KBS purchased the portfolio of properties from Minneapolis-based Opus Corp. for a reported $124.5 million. The seller was represented by CB Richard Ellis. So far, no official reports have been made about what may be done with the properties. However, KBS will likely continue to rent the highly desirable properties to business tenants. All the buildings in the portfolio -- including the Texas holdings -- have excellent occupancy rate. In fact, Crystal Park II was 73% leased out to various tenants at the time that the KBS deal was made. The Corporate Express building is completely leased by Corporate Express. KBS may be looking to attract more businesses to the Crystal Park II building.

In addition to the businesses and business tenants so obviously eager to rent in the Texas area, a new study by AARP The Magazine has found to that Austin is in the top four cities in the country to watch for being retirement-friendly. The magazine determined retirement-friendly cities by looking at expanded sidewalks, mixed-use housing, good quality health care, and quality mass transit systems. Using this criteria, the magazine found that the Texas capital city provided excellent quality of life to residents over the age of 50 and would in fact tend to attract those types of residents. The magazine reports that this age group will likely grow by 32% in the next decade and a half, so entrepreneurs in the area may wish to cater to retirees and boomers as well as to businesses. The magazine also reported that other top communities to watch for being retiree-friendly included Burlington in Vermont, Mankato in Minnesota, and Traverse City in Michigan. Retirees considering moving to the Austin area will be pleased to know that the constant building and expansion in Austin's downtown district creates more mixed-use properties and properties that are ideal for retirees. The fact that Austin's downtown residential area often includes easy access to clinics, stores, restaurants, and other attractions is surely an attraction as well. In addition, Austin's mild climate, natural beauty, and easy access to the facilities and continuing education classes at the University of Texas are sure to please those over 50."

About the Author

Kinan Beck is the Broker and co-owner of One Source Realty in Austin Texas. Visit Kinan's Lake Travis real estate website, visit his Austin Texas Real Estate company's website, & his Austin Condos website. He has seen considerable success in real esta

Austin Real Estate: Rents, New Construction, & Vacancies Rising

"Oxford Commercial is reporting that that both the vacancies and the rents for Class A office spaces in the Austin area have been rising. In the previous quarter of 2007, Class A office space vacancies reached their lowest level in nearly 6 years, however in the latest quarter of 2007, vacancies rose. Meanwhile, according to Oxford Commercial, rents for the top-flight office spaces in Austin are at prices not seen since early 2001. During 2007's second quarter, top tier office space rents were an average of $29.52 per square foot (psf). This represents an increase of 23% over a year ago. During the same period, Oxford Commercial reports that vacancies dropped from 15.9% to 11%.

It is not just Class A office spaces that are being affected, either. All types of office spaces are increasing in rent, and have been steadily increasing rents for the past two years. The average rent across all types of office space is $24.68 psf. The average vacancy rate across all types of office spaces is up from the previous quarter's 11.8% to the current 13.6%. However, this still represents a drop from the 17.4% rate seen in the middle of 2006. Current projects and developments are expected to add more than 1.3 million ft.� of various office space this year alone to the Austin area. It's a good thing, especially since the strong job growth in this region of Texas creates more hunger for office space. A Central Texas job growth of 4.1% in May, and the resulting booming economy, has created a real demand for business and offices spaces as new businesses are created and existing companies expand.

Metrostudy, a housing research group, is also reporting that new-home construction is on the rise. During the second quarter of 2007 alone, home builders in the Austin area started work on 4132 new homes. This represents an increase of more than 1100 additional homes over the number that was began in the first quarter of 2007. However, the latest numbers still represent an 8% decline over the number of new homes started in the second quarter of 2006.

The slight drop in the number of new homes begun may be due to the fact that there is a significant drop in the number of new homes being started which are priced below $200,000. In the past year, construction of new homes that are priced in the $400000-$750000 price range increased an astonishing 66%. However, there were far fewer homes under $200,000 being built. It is possible that new, stricter credits regulations from lenders and lenders' unwillingness to lend to poor credit risks may be responsible. After the bottom dropped out of the sub-prime mortgage market, lenders have been more wary of lending to poor credit risks, and this may account for the fewer numbers of low-priced homes being built.

According to Metrostudy, during the second quarter of the year, homebuyers closed on 3818 new properties. This represents a 13% dip from the second quarter of the previous year. However, the yearly closing rate has increased 7% to 16,125 units from the same time last year."

About the Author

Kinan Beck is the Broker and co-owner of One Source Realty in Austin Texas. Visit Kinan's Austin Texas Real Estate Guide, visit his Lakeway Real Estate company's website, & his Westlake real estate website. He has seen considerable success in real estate, and look

Austin Real Estate: Multi-Family Development at Mueller

"Construction on a new development, called Mosaic at Mueller, has begun. This development will be the first multifamily development to be located on the site of what was previously the Robert Mueller Municipal Airport. Mosaic at Mueller will boast 440,000 ft.� and 442 apartment units. The $45 million development is being handled by Simmons Vedder & Co. and Crow Holdings Realty Partners IV LP. The four-story building will feature one bedroom, two bedroom, and three-bedroom units. Units will range from 580 to 1750 ft.� and rent prices will range from $850 to $2500. Facilities such as a fitness center, two pools, a business center, a cyber caf�, a covered parking garage, and a club room will be available for tenants. Is expected that 10% of the units will be rented out to low income families and individuals. Leasing is expected to commence next summer. The 711 acre Airport is being redeveloped by Catellus Development Group, which is part of ProLogis. Catellus granted development rights for the Mosaic at Mueller site under a ground lease to Simmons Vedder.

The apartment community will also boast retail and live/work units, so that tenants can enjoy many amenities and services right on their doorstep. Developers also plan that the mixed-use development will mean that families can have access to employers right on their doorstep as well. The building's site on Aldrich Street at Airport Boulevard promises to be very convenient for families looking to have easy access to shopping, restaurants, and employers. In a city where luxury condominiums often seem to be the norm, it is somewhat refreshing to see news items about a company willing to offer affordable housing and even low-income housing while still maintaining good amenities.

And certainly, Mosaic at Mueller will boast a number of amenities. Each residential unit will offer 10 foot ceilings, as well as spacious living and bedroom areas. Granite countertops, garden tubs, kitchen islands, track lighting, ceiling fans, built-in computer desks, a washer and dryer, and stainless steel appliances will be standard in most residence units. Developers are claiming that the complex will have five courtyards, which will boast a smaller pool as well as a larger resort style pool. A gaming area and a screening room will also be included in the complex. Tenants will have access to a barbecue area, a catering kitchen, three conference rooms, beautiful common areas with wireless Internet access, and much more. Tenants will also have quick access to the Mueller Greenway right from their homes.

Mosaic at Mueller is being built with green building standards. This will ensure that the project will have minimum a two-star rating with Austin Energy's Commercial Green Building Program. The building is being designed so that tenants will use an average of 17% less water than tenants in similar buildings. Plus, the building is being built in a way that will use 15% less energy than is used in building similar projects. Nice environmentally-friendly features, such as Energy Star-rated roofing, drip irrigation, low omission paints and sealants, and much more ensure that the building is healthy and requires less energy consumption. The building is also connected to a recycled water system for outdoor irrigation. Once the community is open, tenants will be allowed to actively take part in Austin's recycling program. All in all, Mosaic at Mueller promises to offer reasonable, safe, and clean living.

In addition to this exciting residential opportunity, it looks as though some new Class A office buildings are being built in the city. Austin-based Stratus Properties Inc. is expected to commence building on two Class A office buildings at Lantana. In this 500 acre mixed-use development site, the three-story buildings will total 180,000 ft.�. The total project for the office buildings is expected to cost more than $36 million. Stratus expects that construction should be finished by the end of next year, and tenants should be able to move in shortly thereafter. It looks as though Austin has two exciting new developments look forward to in the next year."

About the Author

Kinan Beck is the Broker and co-owner of One Source Realty in Austin Texas. Visit Kinan's Austin Realtor Guide, visit his Austin Texas real estate website, & his Austin Apartments guide. He has seen considerable success in real estate, and looks forward to many more years in the business.

Is Now The Time To Rethink Your Real Estate Web Site?

As a real estate broker in this challenging market environment, you're likely promoting the idea that real estate is the best investment that one can make - and now is the time to buy. To help you realize your goal of increasing your firm's real estate transactions -- we feel that technology is the best and most timely investment one can make and that now is the ideal time to upgrade your website. As a business owner, you're likely familiar with the tech heavy investments of your competitors, who showcase their listings on an interactive Google Map, and how they enable users to perform dynamic property searches and send automatic email replies each time a user inquires on a property. But what exactly is your firm doing to bring its website up to par with current web technologies and become the envy of your competition?

Imagine your new results-oriented, customer-focused website becoming an indispensable tool for selective buyers -- local homeowners, investors and soon-to-arrive snowbirds -- when searching for a new property (or properties) to purchase. Also, your new website's professional quality and ease-of-use will ensure that sellers, too, feel confident in your firm's ability to effectively market their listings, resulting in increased sales for your firm!

If your organization is seeking a complete online business solution, consider the Pro Web Property Manager by Professional Web Designs. Designed to simplify property marketing on the Internet, it integrates Google Mapping to showcase your listings as well as the latest web 2.0 technologies to offer your prospects "a better customer experience." To inquire about a hands-on, full-access demo of the Pro Web Property Manager, or to sign up for a free 30-day, no-strings attached, business-level demo, contact Professional Web Designs at 941-966-9087 or visit www.prowebdesigns.us.

Professional Web Designs
5342 Clark Road, STE 114
Sarasota, FL 34233
941-966-9087

About the Author

Professional Web Designs is a Sarasota based web marketing firm and the creator of the Pro Web Property Manager. They seek to partner with real estate firms with the common goal of marketing their properties. http://prowebdesigns.us

Asia-Pacific leads house price boom

Europe's house price growth continues to moderate, whereas prices in Asia-Pacific are heating up, according to indices assembled by the Global Property Guide (www.globalpropertyguide.com) based on country sources, for the second quarter (Q2) of 2007.

House prices in the Baltics skyrocketed in 2005 and 2006. Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia experienced at least 25% annual increases during 2005-2006. House price growth peaked at 71% y-o-y to Q1 2006 in Estonia.

Despite the slowing of house prices in the Baltics in Q2 2007, over the past year the Baltic countries were still among the top five performers in the world.

In Latvia, house prices started dropping in June 2007, according to Latio, Latvia's leading research-oriented realtor. Over the year, house price growth slowed to 35.41% in Q2 2007, from 52.13% y-o-y to Q2 2006. Latvia's economy is the fastest-growing in Europe but signs of overheating have been observed.

Estonia's slowdown was in evidence early this year when a meager house price increase of 5% y-o-y to Q1 2007 was revealed. House prices rose by 18.98% y-o-y to Q2 2007, still inferior compared to the 54.29% increase y-o-y to Q2 2006. Higher interest rates and stricter mortgage policies contributed to the slowdown.

Lithuania's house price growth remained at 25% y-o-y to Q2 2007. Indicators suggest Lithuania is the most economically stable among Baltic countries.

The US housing crisis

In the US, house prices have increased by only 3.19% y-o-y to Q2 2007, down from 9.98% y-o-y to Q2 2006. This is the lowest annual growth recorded in almost ten years. Compared to Q1 2007, house prices were up by only 0.1% in Q2 2007.

According to OFHEO, house prices have dropped between Q2 2006 to Q2 2007 in five states, namely Nevada, Michigan, California, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. These states experienced dramatic house price increases during the housing boom.

Inflationary pressures from oil prices and other commodities have elevated interest rates. The US Federal Reserve has progressively pushed up rates, from a low of 1% in 2004 to 5.25% in June 2006. The most recent hikes caused many subprime borrowers to default on their payments, and consequently, file for foreclosure.

In an effort to control possible damage brought by the subprime crisis to the economy, on September 18, 2007, the Fed slashed interest rates by 50 basis points to 4.75%. The world has yet to see whether this cut will protect the US economy from recession.

Canada, on the other hand, has experienced a 7.82% house price increase y-o-y to Q2 2007, only a slight slowdown from 9.82% y-o-y to Q2 2006. Canada's solid economy and strict mortgage policy are expected to guard the country from the malaise experienced by the US. No further slowdown is expected in the next few quarters.

Higher interest rates slow Europe

Many European housing markets have continued to cool as higher interest rates bit in Q2 2007. The European Central Bank raised key interest rates to 4% in June 2007, the highest level for six years.

A notable slowdown was experienced in Ireland where house prices rose by only 0.89% y-o-y to Q2 2007, a dramatic decline from 15.15% growth y-o-y to Q2 2006. Ireland's monthly house price index has been dropping since March 2007 by an average of 0.6% per month.

Spain experienced its lowest house price increase in nine years. House prices rose by 5.80% y-o-y to Q2 2007, from a peak of 17% in 2003. Most house purchases in Spain are made with variable- rate mortgages, making the market vulnerable to interest rate changes.

Other European countries that so far this year experienced lower house price increases than in 2006 were Sweden, Finland, Italy and Switzerland.

Bulgaria experienced a remarkable house price increase of 27.07% y-o-y to Q2 2007, ranking second in the global house price growth list behind Latvia.

House prices in Norway and the UK registered double-digit growth. In Norway they rose by 14.20% y-o-y to Q2 2007.

UK house prices increased by 11.07% y-o-y to Q2 2007, up from 5.03% y-o-y to Q2 2006. They rose by an average of 19% per year from 2002-2004. At the end of 2004, growth started to slow in response to rising interest rates; up five times to 4.75% in August 2004, from a low of 3.5% in July 2003. At the end of 2005, the rise in house prices resumed despite continued interest rate hike.

Poland and Cyprus both experienced house price increases of 8% y-o-y to Q2 2007.

Asia-Pacific maintains momentum

Singapore led the charge in Asia with remarkable house price growth of 21.05% y-o-y to Q2 2007, up from 6.08% y-o-y to Q2 2006. Thanks to its booming economy, Singapore's housing market has recovered from an 8- year house price slump.

House prices in the Philippines rose by 14.29% y-o-y to Q2 2007, up from 8.45% y-o-y to Q2 2006. Strong economic growth and the continued inflow of remittances from Overseas Filipino Workers have been fueling the housing market in the Philippines.

Hong Kong is also well on the way to recovery from its recent house price downturn. House prices rose by 8.78% y-o-y to Q2 2007, after a decline of 0.65% y-o-y to Q2 2006, despite relatively high interest rates (HK$ interest rates follow US rates). The interest rate cut in the US is expected to push Hong Kong's house and apartment prices up further. In Japan's six major cities, land prices increased by 7.75% y-o-y to Q2 2007. This shows conclusively that Japan has recovered from its 15- year house price downturn.

Australia's house prices rose by 9.54% y-o-y to Q2 2007, after a rise of 6.97% y-o-y to Q2 2006, despite the higher interest rates set in November 2006.

New Zealand's house prices rose by 12.10% y-o-y to Q2 2007, despite the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's effort to moderate recent sharp house price increases. Interest rates on mortgages shot up to 10.54% last August, the highest rates seen since 1999.

Unlike most Asian countries, Thailand saw a drop of 3.47% y-o-y to Q2 2007, from a rise of 3.92% y-o-y to Q2 2006. As with Israel (whose house prices also declined), political turmoil has taken a toll on its housing markets. Israel's house prices fell by 6.09% y-o-y to Q2 2007, after a rise of 5.48% y-o-y to Q2 2006.

On the other side of the globe, South Africa's house prices continue to heat up. House prices rose by 15.36% y-o-y to Q2 2007. However, South Africa's house price growth is expected to moderate in the next few quarters because banks have increased their mortgage rates to 13.5% after the South African Reserve Bank's decision to raise the repo rate to tame inflation.

Full Report - http://www.globalpropertyguide.com/articleread.php?article_id=97&cid=

Global housing boom shifts focus - http://www.globalpropertyguide.com/articleread.php?article_id=94&cid=

Asian property: A decade after the crisis - http://www.globalpropertyguide.com/articleread.php?article_id=93&cid=

CHD Developers: Master Real Estate Developer in Delhi & NCR

Delhi & NCR has one of the world's largest and most diverse economies. Additionally, demographics in Delhi & NCR are changing rapidly with the demands for home reached a new height in present century. These changing demographics affect the economy - specifically regarding business and land use for the coming years. Changes in age, ethnicity and income patterns can impact the development of projects, investment ventures and local real estate communities. If you are looking for faithful hand to turn your property buying and selling dreams into reality in said region then put faith in CHD Real estate developer in Delhi & NCR, India.

In Delhi & NCR, the real estate investment market is in flux, creating opportunities for the swift real estate investors. While the traditional residential real estate market is in doldrums, there are sectors that will double and perhaps quadruple in the next ten years. Smart investors are taking advantage of the real estate market and accumulating properties in promising sectors. Real estate always poses a challenging aspect of investment. Smart investors have a substantial portion of their portfolios in real estate.

If the budget deficit is out of control; there is always a tendency for property taxes to rise.

The farmlands currently present tremendous opportunities. These lands enjoy lower property taxes. The debt on these holdings is far less. It is time to accumulate farmlands and adjoining properties. The year 2007 in Delhi & NCR has been a year of change. Property sales volume is at a satisfactory level with versatile promise of increase in near future, while in some areas prices continue to climb. If you are aiming to fulfill your aims and aspirations for sale and purchase of property then in delhi and NCR region then put your faith in services of sincere Real estate developer in Delhi & NCR, India in the form of CHD Developers. Now buyers and sellers in present century in context of real estate industry redefined the real estate boom dance, if you will. According to the latest survey 80% of home buyers started their home search online. Despite the consumer's choice to seek out initial information online, buyers and sellers still employ the services of real estate professionals, to execute transactional details and complete the process.

A Word about Real Estate Concept

Real estate is the modern term for land and anything that is permanently affixed to it. Fixtures include buildings, fences, and things attached to buildings, such as plumbing, heating, and light fixtures. Property that is not affixed is regarded as personal property. For example, furniture and draperies are items of personal property.

The sale and lease of real estate in the United States are major economic activities and are regulated by state and federal laws. The two major types of real estate are commercial and residential real estate. Commercial real estate involves the sale and lease of property for business purposes. Residential real estate involves the sale and rental of land and houses to individuals and families for daily living.

The sale of residential property is heavily regulated. All states require real estate agents and brokers, who earn a commission from the owner of real estate for selling the property, to be licensed. Just ender the world of CHD developers to get the best deals for Search related to Real Estate Developer in Delhi & NCR.

Resources: Residential Township Projects Delhi|Residential & Commercial Properties Delhi

Booming Property Destination CHD Developers Delhi, NCR, India

Booming Property Destination CHD Developers Delhi, NCR, India

Why is there cheap real estate? Is it just that some sellers don't know what their property is worth? Sometimes this is the case, but only rarely. More often a seller is willing to sell for less because it means selling faster or more easily. If you are facing any of the life problems and want to sell your property situated at booming property destinations in key Delhi, NCR areas then come to the place known for transparency in working style known as CHD developers Ltd. In simple words some times sellers go ahead to sell their property when face any of the below mentioned conditions. This action ensures for much awaited peace of mind in the below described situations.

Ten Cheap Real Estate Motivators

■ Income Problems - Whether due to a lost job or declining business, a seller may no longer have the income necessary to keep his home or other real estate. He may need to sell fast to avoid further financial problems.

■ Negative Cash Flow - It doesn't make sense to lose money on real estate every month, so sellers with negative cash flow may drop the price to sell fast. Just be sure that you have a plan to increase that cash flow once you own the property.

■ Damage - This is one of the most common reasons for cheap real estate. The walls have holes, the roof needs replacing, and the cats peed all over the carpets. Fixer-uppers always sell for less, and the scarier they are the cheaper they get. But be sure you know what you are getting into.

■ Sudden Cash Requirements - Sometimes a seller has a better investment or other reasons to need cash fast. For example, selling fast might prevent him from losing another property to foreclosure, or it might mean getting into an investment that will make him far more profit than the little bit of equity he loses selling cheap to you.

■ Death - After the death of a loved one, family members may want to sell any real estate cheap to be quickly done with the bad memories, or to get their inheritance faster.

■ New Job - A job transfer or new job can give a person a lot of motivation to sell fast, and therefore sell cheap. Often, the seller will end up with two payments, and you will be helping by taking one off his hands.

■ Divorce - When people divorce, sometimes they need to sell to settle things, and the faster the sale, the sooner they get to be done with it all. Also, sometimes neither one can afford a home that was being paid for with two incomes. A fast sale prevents late payments and credit problems.

■ Behind in Payments - If a seller is already behind in payments, he or she is facing possible foreclosure. Selling to you at a discount is preferable to losing a lot more equity in a foreclosure.

■ Back Taxes - In most places an owner has to be more than a year behind on property taxes before he faces losing the property. If he is close the the deadline, however, you may get a deal. Just be sure you take into account the taxes that have to be paid.

■ Absentee Owner - It is difficult to deal with a property from a long distance, especially rental units. These sellers often get to the point where selling fast and regaining peace of mind is more important than getting full market value.

Other reasons when people sell below market value include sickness, partnerships gone bad, bad tenants, excess debt, and any number of changes in people's lives. Remember, however, that the immediate reason for a lower price is to get a faster or easier sale. To get cheap real estate, then, make offers that close fast and easy. Come and enjoy world of satisfaction and tension free deals at CHD developers.

________________________________________________________________ Resources: Real estate developer in Delhi & NCR|Commercial Complexes

About the Author

i am a web master and this site is a genuine site. pls do visit it for further information

Dubai Real Estate - Dubai Property

We are known in Dubai as the Palm Island specialists, having dealt with these fantastic manmade islands since they were launched by Nakheel a few years ago. Therefore, if you’re looking to buy a nice little mansion by the sea with the height of luxury, then here’s some Dubai real estate that you should take notice of. Palm Jumeirah’s and Palm Jebel Ali signature villas, garden homes, garden villas, water homes and shoreline apartments are the fastest moving properties on the local market here at the moment, with many fantastic investments for the high net worth individual. They may not be what everyone wants, they probably aren’t what a lot of people can afford, but to all those investors that like the idea of living on an island in a really big house (I’m guessing most), then read on as we will give you a taster of what is out there. The Palm Jumeirah, phase one of the Palm trilogy is located just off the beach after the Burj Al Arab (large hotel that looks like a sail) in the up market Jumeirah area and is already home to the residents of fully completed sections, these are called “fronds”. If you have seen the pictures of the fronds, you would probably think its just rows upon rows of bland houses stuck together to maximize the numbers, however, upon closer inspection it’s not really so as all the properties have a unique look or theme to them. Sure, there are quite a few houses but it is a really big tree shaped island and a one of a kind top notch address. Remember though that each of the signature villas comes with a private swimming pool and, best of all, private beach for all you sea lovers. Also keep in mind that the land area for each villa is much larger than the area for the house which is called “built up area”, meaning looks can be deceiving and you actually get more space than you would think. So if you have a plot of 13,000 square feet, and your house takes up 8,000 square feet, you still have a good 5,000 square feet of garden to play around with as you wish with features such as barbeque area, kids play ground and the like. There is a huge gap between demand and supply of villas on the Dubai property market now, it’s no wonder that the signature villas on the palm have been so popular. They have the name ‘signature’ because owners can choose the fixtures and fittings of the house according to their tastes some of which we will list below to give you examples, and there are so many different exteriors to choose from too, your house is nothing like your next door neighbours’, which of course you would expect when you are paying top dollar like this. A variety of these different styles are available on our site, if you click here. Dubai Real Estate investment is a difficult decision no matter how much experience you have in the market, no matter where you buy and the best way to get the right property is to find out as much information as you can beforehand with research. Since these signature villas are, for the most part, finished, why not go take a look and judge for yourself with a drive out to the Palm, which can be arranged by us on a VIP tour. Any good real estate broker should always advise you to explore all your options before buying, especially in the Dubai property market because it is so new, and we certainly do! Dubai Real Estate and Dubai Property

Invest In Spanish Property and Get Big Return

Being in Spain means that you have access to unlimited enjoyment and tranquillity. From flamenco dance to bull fights, basking in beaches to paying golf in designer golf courses - everything is there within your reach, no matter what part of the country you live in. But the attractions that make the country ideal for as brief sojourn and permanent living has well put the commercial prospect of the place to the back seat.

The fact that Spanish property can be the right choice for making profitable investment is generally forgotten. With lots of resorts, developments, residential areas, some already in existence and some under construction, travellers and dwellers find no dearth of accommodation in Spain. Still, every new development in Spain receives a warm welcome. Flats, apartments, homes and every type of accommodations are bought or rented just like hot cakes.

Property market in Spain is never idle. There is a constant demand for property, both to buy and to sell. Hence, investment in Spanish properties opens a gateway to make huge money in a short period of time. Just buy a property in a place that has the potential to offer an ideal living condition, wait for a couple of years and you will be astonished to see the profit it comes with. Then you may realize why it is said that investing in Spanish property is the easiest way of doubling your money within no time.

You may be confused as to how to choose the right Spanish property that will give you a scope of making huge profit. Well, to help you out, there are agents who bridge the gap between property owners and buyers. So, no need to worry as to how to buy the best property and how to sell it at the best price. The agents have tie-ups with lots of property owners. You can vouch on them to take you to just the kind of property you are looking for.

About the Author

Brittney Jackeline is a well known professional writer. She has won appreciation especially for good writing about the Spanish Real Estate topic like properties in Spain.

The Business Prospect in Costa Blanca Property

Your dream of living in a two bedroom apartment that is only ten minutes away from the beaches of La Marina and equipped with double bathrooms, independent kitchen, a large lounge, spacious dining, terraces and a small garden will come true if you come to live in Costa Blanca. To guide you through and get you such developments in this intriguing place, there are Costa Blanca property agents. With them, you can buy, sell, rent or let a property in Spain in the most convenient way.

Much ink has been spilt on the beauty, bliss and blessings that Costa Blanca is endowed with. Its white sandy beaches, beautiful resorts, designer golf courses and above all, the luxurious accommodation offer a deluxe living; and that is also minus the price you have to pay, should you want this kind of lavishness somewhere else. The best thing is that you have the Costa Blanca property agents to make your task quite easy. They are large in number and easily accessible.

If the serenity and festivity of Costa Blanca beckons those who like to live in the lap of luxury, the prospect of profitable investment in property there intrigues others. Since the place is going under rapid change and new developments are coming into existence in regular intervals, the commercial value of the place is fast increasing. So, even a small investment in Costa Blanca property comes out with unexpected profit.

Some of the areas in Costa Blanca take different looks in different seasons. The place that looks dull and desolate in winter may be flamboyant in summer. So, only one visit is not enough to select a suitable property in this place of sand and sun. Take a trip to the place in summer that you have already visited in winter to see the actual picture. It will help you get the actual picture of the place. And finally, go through a reliable Costa Blanca property agent to buy or rent it.

About the Author

Brittney Jackeline is a well known professional writer. She has won appreciation especially for good writing about Spanish Real Estate topic like properties in Spain.

What to Remember When Your Home Isn't Selling

So you have decided to sell your home, the procedure is almost like going through that big test you have been nervous about all week. When you sell a home this would involve, which can be one of the main important factors that can decide the result of what is to come. This may come as something new to you but a presentation is everything in real estate from the appearance of the home to the appearance of the real estate agent that is just the way it is and has been -remember that. The home you are trying to sell, let's say for example that it comes standard with an attached garage you will need to go through your garage, and weed every thing out previous to you selling your residence. Here is a high likelihood that you keep old things in your garage, which over time can pile up and create one big fat mess. If your garage is dirty and un-kept this maybe something you would want to focus on, you will obviously want to clean it up. When some one is looking to buy a home they will be looking at each and every single thing and item that is in the home, when you give them something negative to look out like a messy garage it can play a world of difference. Many homes today come with great assets inside. You should always do your best to emphasize the best assets your home carries, while some people just wish their potential buyer sees that goods of the home the best thing to do would be to lighten those areas assets. The perfect way would be the lighting; this could do wonders for a home and bringing out the best. If your home is neat, you can use lighting to stand out the best assets in your residence, and guarantee that they reach out to the potential buyer. When a potential buyer first drives up to your residence; one of the first things that they will see would be the outside landscaping. If your lawn is cut and well taken care of, he/she will get a great first impression right from the gates. If your lawn is a mess and untamed, he/she may instantly drive away. To give a buyer a great first impression you should put some thought into how things appear. Little things such as maybe planting temporary flowers, this might add to make a great addition to your outside landscape that will give the buyer a great towards the rest of the home. You should also make certain that the entry into your home is just as good as the outside. The front door ought to be in wonderful condition, as well as the entrance area into the residence. If you wish you can add some small trees, wall fixtures, and perhaps add new carpet to guarantee that your buyer gets an everlasting first impression. When the buyer walks through the entrance of your home, your home should provide an eye catching appeal to the potential customer. Your main goal when presenting your home is to guarantee that the shopper is pleased. Also remember that when looking to sell your residence this could take time. Nowadays, with them way that the real estate market is homes can stay on the for sale lot for months at a time before they have any potential customers or people who are interested. If you are having difficulties selling your residence, you can always lower the starting price or just stay focused and go back to the fundamentals. Give it time and remember the steps that were given here today and you should be on your way to a great sale.

About the Author

Irfan Faruki runs a company which provides service to sellers who are having problems selling their property via normal estate agent route or for people who are after quick cash sale. They offer cash house buying service which will offer you a cash house sale.

Information on How to Invest In Real Estate

One of the fist things for starting out and investing in homes you should take into context is you should always seek out the homes that need TLC. By looking for these homes you will see that they are less expensive, even though they will require some reconditions and work. When starting out you should look for homes that need work such as new paint, new carpet, roofs and so on. If you are good with your hands and feel comfortable working on the homes your self then this would be advised as you will save yourself a lot of money. However, if you feel that you need to appoint someone, you should always be certain that the person or company that you appoint is capable to do the maintenance/construction and the work. If you are not able to do any of the repairs, you will need to do your research and hire a sub-contracture this is where the research will come into play you must look around and get price estimates upfront to get the best possible price. If the residence you are thinking to acquire and flip has any type of structural troubles, it would be highly advised that you seek a professional quote from a contractor beforehand. If you decide to stay in the business, you will learn a lot more over time, although you should always hire a contractor when you first start out. Once you get all of the estimates together, you can make that final verdict on how much of a bid you want to put down on the home. Once you are going and have developed a team and have bought fixed and sold a few homes this will make you much, much more comfortable in buying more homes that require more and more repairs. All it requires is time and practice - and soon enough you will be buying homes that the typical investor flipper would never consider buying. This can prove to be a huge upside when you are going through homes to buy, fix and resell, you will have much less competition to be concerned about. This will also result in you getting a lower price to start with being the homes need so much work. After you have learned you are capable to do repairs on homes, including structural troubles, you will have an enormous advantage in the whole real estate market. You will be able to purchase practically any residence, including those that other investors have chosen to over look. When doing this, it can be very profitable for you in the long run, particularly if the house is in a great and well desired neighborhood. After you have finished the repairs, then you can re-sell the home for a much higher price then what was originally obtained. As soon as you start seeking out homes that you can repair and resale, you should always take your time and buy the correct homes. When you just start out you will not have the time, energy, money, patience experience, or support to buy the much larger homes at first, which also means you will not have any room for mishaps and problems. Once you have bought and flipped a few less significant homes, you'll sooner or later be able to work your way up to the much larger nicer homes - which is were the much larger money and more revenue to come. Whenever you just start out always remember that you will need to take things slow and never to rush. You can not anticipate earnings to come overnight in a heart beat, as it will take you some time before things start to come into play. After you have been at it a few years and have acquired a few homes under you then you will be ready to take on anything.

About the Author

Irfan Faruki runs a property investment company specializing in {a href=" http://www.propertysaleforcash.com/"}Fast cash property sale. They have {a href=" http://www.propertysaleforcash.co.uk/"}cash buyers ready to buy your house within days and will make you an offer for your property in 48 hours. They also provide {a href=" http://www.sellrentbackuk.co.uk/"}sell and rent back service

Buying & Selling on Real Estate Virtually

Internet has a major role in pacing up our lives almost on every front. The emerging virtual world of the real estate is a good example of it. People prefer to search for a product online before they actually buy it and it applies to property search as well.

Online property search is catching up fast, be it a residential or a commercial plot, building, flat or office space. A customer can view all the options available on the internet and shortlist those which are relevant to his needs.

So for people, who want to sell or rent property, it's an advantage to be on the internet because-

* It's a cost effective medium as compared to other advertising mediums like the newspaper or the TV.

* Gives you more space to describe your property than a print media classified ad where you are being charged for each column centimeter.

* You ad has a longer life on the net and can be viewed for months unlike a newspaper ad, which fails to survive beyond one day.

* Buyers from any part of the country can view your ad thus increasing the reach of your ad exponentially.

One such website where you can advertise your property for selling and renting or want to search property for buying is http://www.99acres.com. It's the leading real estate website of India where you will find the latest news on Indian real estate, home finance and NRI services. Here are some tips on buying and selling property offered by the team of 99acres.com:

Tips on Selling-

* Decide a selling price for your home that would give you some profit but don't overprice it at the same time. Too much of overpricing will drive away prospective buyers and your property might remain unsold in the market for a long time, eventually losing it's appeal and people may not want to buy it later on.

* Make the entrance of your house tidy and attractive as it will create a good impression on the buyer's mind when he comes to visit your house.

* Involving a property dealer is a good thing to do as they have hands on experience in getting these deals done and they are aware of all the legal formalities involved.

* If you have time on your hands, put your home for sale at least 3-6 months before you want to move. This won't let you settle down for a hurried deal and won't let a buyer take undue advantage of your haste.

Tips on Buying-

* Before you begin searching for a house, you not only need to keep in mind your current needs but also consider your future prospects. How long do you plan to stay in that house? Will a need for more space generate in the future? And so on.

* Do a check for leakages, dampness of walls, drainage system, water and electricity supply, water logging etc. of the house you are planning to buy.

* Create a list of good and bad points along with the prices of all the houses you have visited and rate them accordingly before finalizing one home you will buy.

* It's good to involve a real estate professional when getting into property deals because they are aware of the risks involved and know how to handle property deals. But choose your home yourself as you'll be living in it, so even if it takes a little long to find the ideal home, let your word be the last word.

About 99acres .com:

99acres.com is the no.1, real estate portal in India. It was launched by Info Edge, in September 2005, as a gateway to the country's property bazaar, and an information 'exchange' for buying, leasing and selling of all types of residential and commercial properties anywhere in the country. The website enables easy access to a huge property bank for netizens and allows for direct connect with realtors in over 200 cities in urban and remote parts of India. With properties of almost 1500 builders, 20,000 brokers and 40,000 individuals, the portal lists over 200000 properties. The site has a registered database of over 150000 users.

For more information or to buy, sell or rent property in India, please log to http://www.99acres.com

About the Author

Asst. Mgr. Marketing, Info Edge India

Landlord Property Management Software - Analysis of Different Letting Software

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What is it property management software?

Property management software or as it is sometimes known, letting software is software that allows landlords to manage their rental business by enabling them to organise and store the data relating to a landlords letting business. There are a whole range of software companies that produce suites of property management software for landlords, often with various levels of functionality.

What functions can property management software be used for?

There are a whole range of functions that property management software can perform. The main things that property management software is used for in managing a landlords business is as follows:

• Recording rental payment from tenants
  
• Providing a financial overview of a landlord's portfolio in respect of the buy-to-let mortgages secured against the residential investment portfolio and the total value of the residential investments
  
• Enabling a landlord to record key dates such as the dates for the landlord safety certificates or renewal of the landlords buy-to-let insurance
  
• Most landlord software packages will provide the key lettings forms required by the landlord such as: tenancy agreement, section 8 notice, section 21 notice for possession, section 13 notice for increase of rent, inventory.
  
• The landlords and tenants contact details
  
• A means to calculate a landlord income tax liabilities

There is some property management software which offers much more than these basic functions. These 'high end' software suites are very much aimed at the professional full time landlord who probably has a portfolio of at least 10 residential investment properties and derives their main income from letting out residential property to tenants. The sort of additional functionality available in these property management software packages would be:

• Repair monitoring & maintenance schedules
  
• Invoice facility
  
• Preparation of advertising material relating to residential investment properties
  
• Account reconciliation
  
• Creation of a landlords own website to host their rental properties
  
• Financial report writing facility

For most landlords with several properties a basic property management software package is probably adequate to carry out their day to day landlord duties. In fact a more comprehensive property management software suite could be a disadvantage. This is because their complex nature featuring all the 'whistle & bells' means that for a landlord to learn how to operate the 'high end' property management software will take a landlord many hours if not days to understand and master. It will often mean a landlord having to go on courses and being instructed by the property management software company. This is both costly in terms of the landlord's time and the overall price of the property management software package.

How much will landlords need to pay?

For the basic property management software package landlords should budget about �100. This type of landlord property management software will enable the landlord to carry out the basic management functions relating to their portfolio. For the more advanced facilities a professional landlord would have to pay several thousands of pounds for a full property management software suite. This will of course include full support by the software company and will probably include training on how to use the property management software.

It is also effectively possible for landlords to obtain property management software for free. There is one UK website for landlord's called Property Hawk that provides within the website the basic functions of landlord software referred to earlier. Technically it isn't the same as property management software in that it does not sit on the individual landlord's computer. Instead the landlord's data is kept on the website's server. This means that the landlord can only access the data through an internet connection. It does have the advantage that the data relating to their residential investment portfolio is available to the landlord using any computer at home work or any where else they can get an internet connection, rather than only being available on their single chosen PC. It should also mean that should the landlord suffer a hardware failure or loss, that the landlord's critical property management data is not lost.

What software should a landlord choose?

Landlords should consider carefully the advantages and disadvantages of using specialist property management software. For those landlords with a single property the advantages of purchasing a specialist package of property management software is probably not going to be worth the �100 purchase price given that much of the data recording can be done using a simple spreadsheet. Those landlords with several properties may find the added facilities of property management software useful in organising their residential investment portfolio, particularly if they are unfamiliar with spreadsheets or are not naturally good at organising their lettings business. Those landlords that use the Internet regularly and have good internet access at home, work or even remotely through 3G or WiFi may consider that a web based application is preferable; particularly if it is free to use.

For professional landlords that may employ specialist staff an outlay on 'high end' property management software amounting to several thousand of pounds may be justified for their residential investment business. This is because the efficiency savings may allow a landlord to quickly recoup the initial expenditure of the property management software package.

About the Author

Property Hawk is a site aimed directly at UK Landlords. The site incorporates free property management software that enables landlords to track all their financial data relating to their portfolio. It allows users to print tenancy agreements and other forms FREE FOREVER. The

Information on How to Invest In Real Estate

One of the fist things for starting out and investing in homes you should take into context is you should always seek out the homes that need TLC. By looking for these homes you will see that they are less expensive, even though they will require some reconditions and work. When starting out you should look for homes that need work such as new paint, new carpet, roofs and so on. If you are good with your hands and feel comfortable working on the homes your self then this would be advised as you will save yourself a lot of money. However, if you feel that you need to appoint someone, you should always be certain that the person or company that you appoint is capable to do the maintenance/construction and the work.

If you are not able to do any of the repairs, you will need to do your research and hire a sub-contracture this is where the research will come into play you must look around and get price estimates upfront to get the best possible price. If the residence you are thinking to acquire and flip has any type of structural troubles, it would be highly advised that you seek a professional quote from a contractor beforehand. If you decide to stay in the business, you will learn a lot more over time, although you should always hire a contractor when you first start out. Once you get all of the estimates together, you can make that final verdict on how much of a bid you want to put down on the home.

Once you are going and have developed a team and have bought fixed and sold a few homes this will make you much, much more comfortable in buying more homes that require more and more repairs. All it requires is time and practice - and soon enough you will be buying homes that the typical investor flipper would never consider buying. This can prove to be a huge upside when you are going through homes to buy, fix and resell, you will have much less competition to be concerned about. This will also result in you getting a lower price to start with being the homes need so much work. After you have learned you are capable to do repairs on homes, including structural troubles, you will have an enormous advantage in the whole real estate market. You will be able to purchase practically any residence, including those that other investors have chosen to over look.

When doing this, it can be very profitable for you in the long run, particularly if the house is in a great and well desired neighborhood. After you have finished the repairs, then you can re-sell the home for a much higher price then what was originally obtained. As soon as you start seeking out homes that you can repair and resale, you should always take your time and buy the correct homes. When you just start out you will not have the time, energy, money, patience experience, or support to buy the much larger homes at first, which also means you will not have any room for mishaps and problems. Once you have bought and flipped a few less significant homes, you'll sooner or later be able to work your way up to the much larger nicer homes - which is were the much larger money and more revenue to come. Whenever you just start out always remember that you will need to take things slow and never to rush. You can not anticipate earnings to come overnight in a heart beat, as it will take you some time before things start to come into play. After you have been at it a few years and have acquired a few homes under you then you will be ready to take on anything.

About the Author
Irfan Faruki runs a property investment company specializing in http://www.propertysaleforcash.com/ Fast cash property sale. They have http://www.propertysaleforcash.co.uk/ cash buyers ready to buy your house within days and will make you an offer for your property in 48 hours. They also provide http://www.sellrentbackuk.co.uk/ sell and rent back service

Buying & Selling on Real Estate Virtually

(Wed Sep 26th, 2007, by Madhurima Sil)

-By Madhurima Sil, Asst. Mgr. Marketing, Info Edge India

The world is moving fast and technology has shrunk hours of works into minutes. We can withdraw cash, wash clothes, send messages and even cook food, all at the press of a button.

Internet has a major role in pacing up our lives almost on every front. The emerging virtual world of the real estate is a good example of it. People prefer to search for a product online before they actually buy it and it applies to property search as well.

Online property search is catching up fast, be it a residential or a commercial plot, building, flat or office space. A customer can view all the options available on the internet and shortlist those which are relevant to his needs.

So for people, who want to sell or rent property, it's an advantage to be on the internet because-

* It's a cost effective medium as compared to other advertising mediums like the newspaper or the TV.

* Gives you more space to describe your property than a print media classified ad where you are being charged for each column centimeter.

* You ad has a longer life on the net and can be viewed for months unlike a newspaper ad, which fails to survive beyond one day.

* Buyers from any part of the country can view your ad thus increasing the reach of your ad exponentially.

One such website where you can advertise your property for selling and renting or want to search property for buying is http://www.99acres.com. It's the leading real estate website of India where you will find the latest news on Indian real estate, home finance and NRI services. Here are some tips on buying and selling property offered by the team of 99acres.com:

Tips on Selling-

* Decide a selling price for your home that would give you some profit but don't overprice it at the same time. Too much of overpricing will drive away prospective buyers and your property might remain unsold in the market for a long time, eventually losing it's appeal and people may not want to buy it later on.

* Make the entrance of your house tidy and attractive as it will create a good impression on the buyer's mind when he comes to visit your house.

* Involving a property dealer is a good thing to do as they have hands on experience in getting these deals done and they are aware of all the legal formalities involved.

* If you have time on your hands, put your home for sale at least 3-6 months before you want to move. This won't let you settle down for a hurried deal and won't let a buyer take undue advantage of your haste.

Tips on Buying-

* Before you begin searching for a house, you not only need to keep in mind your current needs but also consider your future prospects. How long do you plan to stay in that house? Will a need for more space generate in the future? And so on.

* Do a check for leakages, dampness of walls, drainage system, water and electricity supply, water logging etc. of the house you are planning to buy.

* Create a list of good and bad points along with the prices of all the houses you have visited and rate them accordingly before finalizing one home you will buy.

* It's good to involve a real estate professional when getting into property deals because they are aware of the risks involved and know how to handle property deals. But choose your home yourself as you'll be living in it, so even if it takes a little long to find the ideal home, let your word be the last word.

About 99acres .com:

99acres.com is the no.1, real estate portal in India. It was launched by Info Edge, in September 2005, as a gateway to the country's property bazaar, and an information 'exchange' for buying, leasing and selling of all types of residential and commercial properties anywhere in the country. The website enables easy access to a huge property bank for netizens and allows for direct connect with realtors in over 200 cities in urban and remote parts of India. With properties of almost 1500 builders, 20,000 brokers and 40,000 individuals, the portal lists over 200000 properties. The site has a registered database of over 150000 users.

For more information or to buy, sell or rent property in India, please log to http://www.99acres.com

About the Author

Asst. Mgr. Marketing, Info Edge India

Swiss, US rental taxes highest in OECD

Switzerland imposes the highest taxes on rental income of non-resident landlords, according to a study on the tax situation in more than 90 countries around the world. The study has been conducted by Global Property Guide with contributions from leading accounting firms in each country.

The effective income tax rate in Geneva, Switzerland can be as high as 48.6% on a rental income of �1,500/month and 54.5% on income of �12,000/month.

Other OECD member countries that impose high effective tax rates, above 20%, include the US, Norway, Spain and Finland.

In Norway, the flat 28% rental income tax is combined with a progressive capital tax. Although deductions for operating costs and income-generating expenses are allowed, effective tax rates are still high, ranging from 27% to 31%.

Spain charges 24% withholding tax on the gross rental income of non-resident foreigners, no deductions are allowed. Finland, on the other hand, charges a flat 28% tax but all direct income-generating expenses are deductible. This leads to an effective rate of around 24% in Finland.

The importance of deductions is also highlighted in the case of France. The nominal income tax rate for non-residents is high at 25%. However, if the gross rental income on a furnished flat is less that �76,300 per annum, deductions of up to 72% can be made. Only the remaining 28% of gross income is taxed, amounting to an effective tax rate of only 7%.

In the UK, personal deductions combined with depreciation and costs are higher than the assumed gross income of �1,500 per month (�18,000 per year), leading to zero taxable income.

Effective rental income tax rates are generally below 10% in Luxembourg, France, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, New Zealand and the UK.

Gross or net taxation

In Canada and the US, non-resident landlords are given the option to choose between two options: 'gross' or 'net' income taxation. The gross income tax rate is high but the process is very simple; no deductions, no allowances, no accountants involved.

In the US, the gross rental income of non-resident aliens (NRA) that are "not effectively connected" is taxed at 30%, withheld by the tenant. In Canada, gross income is subject to a fixed 25% tax, also withheld by the tenant.

Landlords can alternatively opt to pay net income after allowed deductions, potentially lowering tax rates, but the rules are complicated. Maintenance, local taxes and depreciation are deductible subject to certain rules.

In Canada, by "electing under section 216" the net income is taxed at rates ranging from 15.5% to 29%. After deductions and allowance, the final effective tax rates range from 8.14% to 14.87%, much lower than the 25% gross rate.

Rental income tax assumptions

Global Property Guide's estimate of the "effective" tax rate includes adjustments for depreciation, and any other typical costs which a landlord pays such as management charges, buildings insurance, real estate agency fees, real estate taxes, etc. However, mortgage expense tax relief is not included.

To make the income tax situation easy to understand, the study adopts a standard case: 1. Gross rental income is US$1,500/month, or US$18,000 per year (�1,500 or �18,000 for Europe). 2. The property is directly jointly owned by husband and wife, who are both foreigners and non-residents. Many countries impose higher taxes on foreigners and/or non-residents, or allow them lower deductions. 3. The owners have no other local income aside from rent. 4. There is no mortgage, i.e., no loan was taken to buy the rental unit.

The result is an "effective income tax rate", which is typically different from the nominal tax rate. These effective rates represent what taxes are really payable, after all allowances and deductions. They provide a clearer and more realistic picture of a country's tax situation for potential investors.

Social effects

Higher marginal taxes on rental properties are argued to be pro-poor because of the perception that landlords and property owners are typically rich, thus should be taxed more. The perception is amplified when taxing non-resident foreigners.

However, excessive taxation of rental property affects the availability of affordable housing, as shown by much research. High taxes on rental income lead to low net rental yields, which discourage owners from renting out their properties.

And due to the filtering effect, any policy that makes it difficult or expensive to produce any type of housing restricts the available stock of low-cost housing. The filtering effect is a process by which poorer households move to occupy the void left by richer households as they move from renting to ownership or to better and newer housing.

Spain's high rental income tax rate of 24%, for instance, combined with restrictive tenancy laws, has led to the shrinking of the private rental market. Property owners prefer to keep their housing units empty rather than rent them out. In 2001, about 14% of the total housing stock was vacant, more than the entire rental stock (which was only 10% of the housing stock).

From an investor's point of view, the significant difference between nominal and effective tax rates in many countries highlights the importance of tax planning. Knowing all the legally allowable deductions and allowances can spell the difference between profits and losses, and separate gainers from losers.

**DISCLAIMER: The information contained here is not written tax advice directed at the particular facts and circumstances of any person and should not be relied upon. We encourage you to discuss your particular situation with the particular accounting firm or an independent tax advisor.

Economics Team:

Prince Christian Cruz, Senior Economist

Phone: (+632) 750 0560

Time Zone: UST+8.00

Email: prince@globalpropertyguide.com

Publisher and Strategist:

Matthew Montagu-Pollock

Phone: (+632) 867 4220

Cell: (+63) 917 321 7073

Time Zone: UST+8.00

Email: editor@globalpropertyguide.com

Address: Global Property Guide

http://www.globalpropertyguide.com

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About the Author

The Global Property Guide is an on-line property research house. On-line newspapers, magazines, etc which use material from this release MUST provide a clickable link to www.globalpropertyguide.com. Sites found not providing the link will be removed from our press list.

How Knowing Pro Forma Statements Helps In CRE

Maximizing the return on your investment in commercial real estate means taking the time to do "what if" projections. These "what if" projections are called Pro Forma statements in the world of commerce, and give you considerable leverage in exploring scenarios.

When looking at a rental property, either as one you're planning to buy, or one you already own, the general calculation of profitability is to make estimates on labor, maintenance and refurbishment (new carpeting every so often, and the like), and compare to the actual revenues generated by all tenants, to generate an actual income statement to work from.

A pro forma statement is, in a very real sense, an estimate used for comparing the expected cost of a property upgrade versus what you can charge for increased rent, assuming occupancy levels remain the same, and use this to justify the cost and return rate on upgrading the property. Pro forma statements can also be built for factoring in time, changes to cash flow, and variance in cap rate for a commercial property.

When structuring a pro-forma statement, you need to factor in labor costs, projected vacancy rates, and net income before debt services. You should be using this pro forma projection as a tool to determine viability of assorted projects and upgrades to properties, before spending the money and investing the time.

When looking to finance an upgrade to a property, or to finance an acquisition of a property, pro forma statements of expected revenue generation are sometimes required by lenders, and by HUD for qualified homes.

Another place to use pro formas are when you're trying interest a buyer in a property you've upgraded and improved; it's worth it to run the rents up a bit (which increases the value of the property in a commercial sense) and work out the pro formas to make your initial case for sale. Obviously, before the sale is completed, your buyer needs to see the actual income statements, just like you'd insist on seeing them if the roles were reversed. A pro forma allows you to give a nutshell summary not only of what value the property holds, but also of how its value will increase for an investor, or provide a stable, steady income for the buyer.

About the Author

Anthony Seruga and Yolly Bishop of Maverick Real Estate Investments, Inc. work with builders, developers and other players in the commercial real estate industry to acquire and develop properties. They use progressive investment strategies that have proved extremely profitable. In addition to their own deals, they teach both seasoned and inexperienced investors how to be big players in the game. Visit the website for more info.

Hard Rock Hotel San Diego now Available for Resale

Let the madness begin all over again! Resale activity for the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego is just starting to heat up. Most heard about the Hard Rock last year when the property shattered nearly every single real estate record in San Diego history. The Hard Rock sold all of their available suites in about 7 hours. Hundreds of persons who had put in a reservation to purchase had to be turned away. Making this even more shocking is the fact that this occurred at a time when the San Diego real estate market was in a downturn.

This spoke volumes about the strength of the Hard Rock brand and the intelligence behind the condo hotel concept.

Fortunately for many who got shut out last year, this amazing property is again available to the general public. The Hard Rock Hotel San Diego is ready for operation and the resale action is in full swing. A handful of the original purchasers who bought in the preconstruction phase are now making their suites available for purchase.

The Hard Rock Hotel is San Diego's only 4 star branded condo hotel. You can chill out in a cabana by the rooftop pool. Nosh on Asian fusion at Nobu. Skip the line into the newest of Rande Gerber's ultra lounges and bars. Sample LA's hottest gourmet yogurt at Pinkberry or choose Maryjane's for your favorite comfort foods. It's life behind the velvet ropes and you're invited.

Other amenities include:

� Landscaped rooftop pool deck � Outdoor music venue that can accommodate up to 2000 � Intimate indoor music venue that can accommodate up to 800 � World-class, full service Rock Spa � 40,000 sq ft. indoor and outdoor meeting space � 9000 sq ft main event room that accommodates up to 1000 guests � Fitness center

Suites range from studios to Rock Star suites. The studios are luxurious and spacious and come with rock and roll artwork and a wet bar filled with the finest liquors. It's the ultimate place to chill out, share a cocktail, and feel good about life. The rock star suites are on another level entirely. Some come with fireplaces and Jacuzzis. A handful of the Rock Star suites even come with outdoor patios that are larger than your average apartment.

So, if you are interested in getting in on the VIP list and would like to consider purchasing at the hottest spot in town, you can now do so. One site that allows you to view all of the available suites is PremiumCondoHotels.com To take a look at what's currently available, check out: http://www.premiumcondohotels.com/pages/hard-rock-hotel-san-diego.php

The properties will likely be snapped up quickly, considering that many people were not able to purchase in the preconstruction stage. And now that hundreds of guests will be spending the night and falling in love with the Hard Rock VIP experience, one can only imagine that the demand will grow even more.

About the Author

Todd Peterson is the President and founder of the popular real estate site, PremiumCondoHotels.com

Visit http://www.PremiumCondoHotels.com to learn more about the condo hotel industry.

ALTERNATIVE METHODS of HOME OWNERSHIP

In today’s busy world, the multitude of daily tasks we perform during the course of a day can become overwhelming. At work, at home, and everywhere in between lie countless chores and errands. We find ourselves harried from the stresses, and barely have time to spend with our own family members. But, when a few moments arise during which we can relax and take breather with one another, we want to kick back and enjoy the pleasures of our very own homes. At the same time those of us who desire to but have not yet purchased watch with consternation as housing prices soar. We aspire towards homeownership, but much to our dismay find ourselves financially blocked out of the housing market.

What and where are the housing alternatives that would fit into a future homeowner's budget? Many people in this concerned group have read about structures that are built offsite in factories. They harbor suspicions that the savings in site labor just might be able to turn their dreams of home ownership into realities. But they aren’t sure where to find more facts. Of course they could go online and wade through 50,000 alternative housing websites .... but most cannot afford to take on such a lengthy research project. These people seem to have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Directory of Offsite-built Homes USA. This guide takes the prospective homeowner right to the real thing.

http://www.offsite-built.com/index.php>Offsite-built.comreferences some 25,238 models which are assembled on, but not constructed on, the homeowner's land. These buildings are at the cutting edge of a wave that will keep cresting well into the future. Modular homes, manufactured, panelized, log, precut, steel-frame, timber-frame, cedar, geodesic and circular home packages: the full gamut of buildings which represent progress, higher precision, less environmental waste, better quality and which can save a person a very hefty sum when building a new home. This snappy site offers highly organized information about the fascinating world of pre-built structures. The person who is “googling”; for affordable housing - and who stumbles upon this free compilation of locality-based information without the need to search through thousands of websites - might find this site to be the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. By creating an environment which provides a safe way of communicating with suppliers, http://www.offsite-built.com/index.php>Offsite-built.com gives new home buyers a simple way to receive price quotes, floor plans, catalogs, and special offers - an easy head-start in finding suitable home packages.