Landlord Investing -

Buying Holiday Homes In Greece

Greece doesn’t require any introduction, when it comes to speaking about its role in the worldwide tourism. The nation’s timeless ancient history and its unharmed natural landscape, provide with the needed pull for drawing in millions of visitors to its soil each year. But, the story doesn’t stop there, and the recent trends might say, even the Greece property market was about to experience a major boom due to the greater keenness being shown by the foreign buyers. Greece property provides the buyers with an option to buy holiday homes, villas and apartments over a wide range of tourist places. These places are scattered allover its mainland, the coastal area and several of its well-known islands. Least to say, these are well developed urban areas with the air links and sea routes arriving in from and leading out to the entire globe.

There is no definite answer as to why this latest upsurge may have taken place in the Greek property market, but the analysts attribute two major geopolitical events for this transformation. The first one was the admission of Greece into the European Union in 1981, and the second one, the return of Olympic games in Athens in 2004. Both events proved crucial in helping out the Greek tourism and its real estate market to resurrect themselves in the eyes of the global community. A whole lot of new construction was undertaken during the Olympics campaign, which subsequently became the selling ground for the Greek real estate.

From what we understand about today’s Grecian real estate, it is hard to buy a low-cost single family house in Athens, where the demand to supply ratio for such units is much higher compared to the other regions of the country. This leaves out the buyers with an option to buy apartments in Athens, which are easier to locate in the Greece property since the 2004 Olympic games ended here. At the same time, people can buy luxurious villas in the resort towns as an investment option or to have extended holidays there.

Buyers eye the hectic profits these days, when deciding to invest in the villas or farm lands across the Greek countryside. Villas can be sold to other buyers at a handsome premium later. On the other hand, many villa owners lend their properties to holidaymakers, who flock in huge numbers after each winter season. Thus, the market for Greece property provides with a great investment value to all those who might be willing to cash in from its buoyant trend.

Anybody who might be seeking to own a Greece property will have to fulfill certain conditions before doing so. These are, having a Greek bank account, being enrolled as a tax payer in Greece and getting a prior permission to buy properties in certain areas. The permission to buy properties can be obtained from the chief administrative or judicial officer in the area of concern. It should also be noted down that, those hailing from the European Union should easily be able to own properties in their names, as compared to those from the non-EU countries.

Hawaii Real Estate – Paying for Paradise

Where does one even begin to start when discussing the island paradise of Hawaii. Perhaps with an inflated Hawaii real estate market for those considering relocating.

Hawaii

Formed by volcanoes, Hawaii is a collection of islands that feel like paradise. In fact, the islands continue to grow with active volcanoes consistently producing new lava flows and adding to the land mass. Loihi is going to be the newest island, but is still underwater at this point. If you have a long-term view, however, you can start saving money for a deposit now!

Each island of Hawaii has unique features to satisfy the desires of anyone locating. You can get rain forest, soaring mountains, prairie like areas and, of course, beaches, beaches and more beaches. If you love the ocean, there is no better place to live than Hawaii.

Maui

Perhaps the most popular of the islands, Maui is a hot spot for travelers seeking fun in the sun. Ripe with beaches and golf courses, one can’t help just looking around and admiring the view from practically anywhere on the island. Lahaina is the main resort area in the north and Wailea is a surf mecca on the south end of the island.

Honolulu

Located on Oahu, Honolulu is the biggest city in Hawaii with a population of roughly 400,000 residents. With the major airport in Hawaii and beaches of Waikiki, Honolulu is the first designation of most travelers. The city is situated up against mountains and is about the only place you’ll find skyscrapers and traffic jams of freeways. With only 400,000 people, the city is not over populated. Still, it is a city and probably the least attractive location on the islands. In Hawaii, that is a very relative statement.

Hawaii Real Estate

Hawaii is a paradise and Hawaii real estate prices reflect it. Surprisingly, the prices are actually a little less than California. A single family home in Honolulu is going to set you back roughly $730,000, while the same home in Maui will average $20,000 more. On a positive note, real estate in Hawaii has appreciated at a rate of approximately 26 percent in 2005.

Hawaii is truly paradise on earth. Unfortunately, the real estate prices reflect it.

Flipping or Fixing Houses for Profit

What’s the difference between a fixer and a flip?

Many real estate investors make $5,000 to $10,000 or more by flipping houses. These investors buy a home from a distressed seller and resell it quickly for a profit. Just because a seller has serious problems like a pending foreclosure or divorce doesn’t mean the house is a fixer. Many distressed sellers offer prime houses in perfect condition discounted for a quick sale.

Distressed sellers jump at the chance to get out from under their overwhelming problems with an offer to close in ten days. To purchase a home quickly, you need to be prepared to offer cash or a have secure loan in place with a reliable mortgage lender.

Other real estate investors prefer to buy fixers from distressed sellers. Distressed fixers tender the best bargains to make the highest return on your money. For instance, if you put 5% down on a $200,000 home, spend $5,000 fixing the house up, and another $3,000 in payments, your cash investment totals $18,000. If you sell the home for a $70,000 profit like many rehabbers, you can see that your return on your investment of $18,000 for two months exceeds most other types of investments.

This investment plan assumes that you have the knowledge and skills, time to work on your fixer, and that you sell the house as soon as it’s finished to a qualified buyer. Home improvement centers help you with how-to classes, brochures, and advice. You need to give up your free time–TV, parties, leisure activities and work on your fixer. You could hire workers, but contractors and laborers work slowly and eat up your profits.

The last part of the equation, selling your house quickly to a qualified buyer means you need to do your homework. Many investors seek free help from a loan officer to price the house right and to qualify their buyers. These investors earn the sales commission by selling their houses by owner.

The most important issue, how you fix up your house, ensures that you quickly attract a buyer willing to pay top dollar for your transformed property. Investors using Design Psychology strategies for fixing houses sell their homes, for more than the asking price, three hours after putting the yard sign out.

Whether you want to make money investing in real estate by flipping or fixing houses, you need to understand your market. To get started in your real estate business, go house shopping. You’ll soon learn how to pick up a flip or a fixer and be on your way to making a high return on your money.

Good time for real estate Investment gains in Bulgaria

Bulgaria is a country blessed with great geographical atmosphere. Three mountain ranges run through the country (Stara Planina-The Balkans, The Pirin and the Rhodopes) offering wonderful conditions for skiing in the winter season. The Bulgarian Black sea coast offers a lot of picturesque spots for traveling and spending a nice holiday. You can also practice many outdoor activities like trekking and hiking, horse back riding, bird watching, swimming, skiing, climbing, hunting, fishing… Thinking of relaxing – amazing nature, sunny beaches, healing spas, monasteries and churches, hospitable towns and villages…

The Republic of Bulgaria covers an area of 110,910 square miles with a population of over 7 million. It boasts 354km of dramatic coastline along the non-tidal Black Sea. Its tourist industry is flourishing as people flock to the clear waters of the Black Sea and temperatures that beat the Mediterranean in the summer months.

Interest in beautiful Bulgaria has been growing rapidly as investors look this for the next ‘big thing’. The country is on course to enter the EU – European Union in 2007 and is predicted to see steady & fairly large increases in property prices over the coming years as a result money to develop its banks, telecommunications and transport is being splashed around. New Embassies, offices, conference centres, hotels and motorways are being built and international firms are moving to the Sofia, capital of Bulgaria. In short, these days Bulgaria offers an almost unrivalled quality of life and investment opportunity.

There are four international airports in Bulgaria – Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and Bourgas and as such is ready for the tourism explosion which is expected here.

The city of Varna is the biggest city at the Bulgarian Black sea coast, situated at the Bay of Varna and offers unlimited number of accommodation facilities, for rent and for sale. The city is surrounded by lots of gardens, vineyards and deciduous groves. museums, the Cathedral of the Holly Mother, the Dolphin show, the Aquarium deserve a very special attention.

Real Estate Equity: Your Ace In The Hole

Almost 15 years ago, you bought your first home. You’ve been diligent in working and paying on the mortgage, and finally have more equity than mortgage. Ah, the sweet smell of victory, and home ownership. But are you playing the financial investment game as well as you think? Are you missing out on tax savings, funding strategies, or just plain smart money options? How do you check your equity options versus your tax savings options, to comparative shop and make use of your smart options?

Today, the tax benefits of retaining a mortgage on your home far outweigh the benefits derived from complete home ownership. Mortgage interest is fully tax deductible, and so are some of the options that come with equity lines of credit, second mortgages, or equity mortgages.

Borrowing against the equity in your home in order to pay off credit card debt, fund college educations, fund additions or needed repairs to the home, or to provide startup capital for that dream of owning your own business, is a tax advantage. Interest on first and second mortgages in general is fully tax deductible, and if you’re borrowing to fund education related expenses, or start that new business, some or all of those expenses are going to be deductible. It’s a win-win situation.

How is the dollar value you have in your home established? Well, there a couple of different ways that lending institutions determine home equity. If you’re dealing with a local bank that has held your mortgage since inception, many will not require an appraisal of the home, they will simply use the original established value of the home. Now, if you believe your home to be worth quite a bit more than the original appraisal value, you might want to request a new appraisal, but appraisals aren’t cheap.

In general mortgage companies will always require a recent appraisal before lending money against residential property. Either way, the equity in your home is established based on the current dollar value of your home, less any monies already owed against the property (that would be your first mortgage). There is an additional piece of information worth noting here. Usually, a lending institution will only lend a certain percentage of the homes value. With the creation of 125 loans, or loans where up to 125 percent of the value of the home is loaned, you may be able to borrow up to that amount, even with a second mortgage. 125 Loans, jumbo loans, and interest only loans are a relatively new market for home mortgages, and not loans that I would recommend, simply because they put the homeowner in a precarious position if the mortgage should be called in, if the home should sell prior to paying the mortgage down, or if a forced sale should occur.

Your home’s equity is a trump card, if you will adhere to some common sense rules and continue to stay abreast of your individual financial needs.

Americans File Changes of Address Online-And Select Retail Catalogs

Here’s moving news: According to the National Association of Realtors, “home sales remain at historically high levels.” This means address changes filed with the United States Postal Service will likely also remain high: about 45 million a year, Postal Service officials report.

If you’ll be among those moving Americans anytime soon, you should know that many consider the fastest, easiest and most convenient way to file a change of address is with the Postal Service at usps.com. Other change-of-address options include Telephone Change of Address at 1-800-ASK-USPS and the Mover’s Guide found in Post Offices.

In addition to letters, statements and advertising mail, many movers want to make sure they keep getting their favorite catalogs at their new home. For them, there’s the optional Catalog Request Card Service that is available online with the Change of Address form.

After customers complete the Internet Change of Address form, they can select specific retail catalogs-current or new-or choose “No Thanks.”

Since the program’s inception last fall, participants have chosen to receive an average of six retail catalogs after they move. And most of these are catalogs they were not previously getting. Evidence, Postal Service officials say, that more and more people like to shop via the mail.

Indeed, the Direct Marketing Association expects print catalog sales to hit $158 billion in 2009, up from $152 billion in sales this year. The Association also says that nearly six out of 10 catalog shoppers keep a catalog they order from for at least three months.

“We’re providing this service so that people can have their favorite catalogs on hand when they’re needed most, to organize their homes quickly and easily when it’s convenient for them,” explained Charlie Bravo, senior vice president for Intelligent Mail and Address Quality.

The Postal Service, which gets no taxpayer dollars for routine operations, is an independent federal agency that delivers more than 44 percent of the world’s mail volume-some 212 billion letters, advertisements, periodicals and packages a year-and visits 145 million homes and businesses every day, six days a week. It’s the world’s leading provider of mailing and delivery services, offering some of the most affordable postage rates in the world.

Commercial Real Estate Definitions – From O to Z

Commercial real estate is distinctly different from residential real estate. The terminology is very different and here is a list of new terms from O to Z.

Commercial Terms

Operating Expenses: Just as it sounds, operating expenses are those costs associated with operating a commercial property. Contract and state law typically govern the exact nature of the operating expenses.

Partition Wall: A wall built in the internal area of a suite to divide the general space. For instance, offices built during a tenant improvement project with have partition walls separating them.

Punch List: A punch list runs part and parcel with a walk through of completed construction work. The construction company and client will walk through the area and complete a punch list of items that need to be fixed or modified. .

Shell Space: The interior of a commercial building that has been completed, but does not yet have any tenant build outs. The shell space generally refers to this gross square footage regardless of whether tenant improvements have occurred or not.

Substantial Completion: Notice given by a contractor to the client indicating the property has been completed to the point where a walk through and punch list review are appropriate.

Usable Square Feet: The square feet in a building, suite, warehouse and so on that can actually be used by tenants. Due to building regulations and design issues, certain amounts of a space in a tenant suite may not be usable and such footage is excluded from this calculation

Unlike residential real estate, commercial real estate is primarily considered a business transaction. Learn the terms and you’re well on your way to moving smoothly through the process.

First Time Buyers – Getting On The Property Ladder

Getting a foothold on the property ladder is not easy – particularly these days with property prices above the amount most people’s salaries can cover.

Reports from the property market show that the age of first time buyers has increased in recent years as younger people struggle to get a mortgage. Some first time buyers struggle to cover all the costs of buying, and often hadn’t anticipated all of the extra costs beforehand. There are some solutions to these problems, however.

The market is responding to the needs of first time buyers and can offer special types of mortgage and extra support. If you mention to your lender or advisor that you are a first time buyer, they will offer advice specifically for your situation.

No Deposit?

Finding 10% of your mortgage is no mean feat. Younger people often don’t have the savings to put down a deposit, and have to borrow the money. There are 100% mortgages available for those unable to find the cash deposit, or mortgages where you provide just 5% of the total amount. Unfortunately many of these mortgages apply charges (Higher Lending Charges) and have less flexible terms than other mortgages.

Salary Not High Enough?

If your salary doesn’t qualify you to take out a large enough mortgage, you may want to look at guarantor mortgages. Basically, someone who is more financially secure (often a parent) will undersign your mortgage agreement, promising to honour the debt should you fail to meet repayments. This type of mortgage is often chosen by students, who either then pay ‘rent’ to the guarantor, or pay the mortgage directly to the lender. The guarantor should be totally clear about the responsibility they are undertaking, and it’s a good idea to have a legal document written up laying out all terms of the agreement.

Share The Cost

You may want to consider taking out a joint mortgage. This doesn’t just apply to couples – two or more people can enter a partnership and apply for a mortgage together. Normally a bank will pay up to 3.75 times the largest salary plus the amount of the second salary. If you choose to undertake a joint mortgage you should have a legal agreement with the person you are going into partnership with. All the terms should be clearly understood by all parties, and the paperwork should be processed by a solicitor.

Georgia Real Estate – Southern Hospitality

Known as the Peach State, Georgia is the state of southern hospitality. If you prefer the traditional southern culture, Georgia real estate is certainly worth a look.

Georgia

The largest state east of the Mississippi, Georgia has a long and glorious history. Civil war monuments are rife throughout the state as are small towns with turn of the century homes. Notwithstanding this culture, Georgia is also a very modern state with growing cities such as Atlanta.

Atlanta

The most populous city in Georgia, Atlanta is a growing metropolis. From a sports perspective, the city has Michael Vick and the Atlanta Falcons, the Braves, basketball, hockey and has even hosted the Olympics. Raised in 1865 by General Sherman, the city has a newish feel and has grown to a population of over 3.5 million people. The city can be classified more as a modern city than a traditional southern one.

Savannah

If you’re looking for a true southern city in Georgia, Savannah is the place. Located on the border with South Carolina, Savannah is a step back into the past. With tree-lined streets, the city hosts a variety of architecture from the 18th and 19th century including Victorian homes and old manor. Streets are dwarfed by huge, ancient Oak Trees. To see Savannah, rent of buy “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” which was filmed in the city.

Athens

Roughly an hour north of Atlanta, Athens is a mix of southern culture and college town. Home to the University of Georgia, the town has a population of 30,000 plus students. This influx of students gives the city a liberal feel, which is unique for the south.

Georgia Real Estate

Georgia real estate prices vary by location with the metropolis of Atlanta dwarfing smaller town real estate. A single family home in Atlanta will set you back $300,000 on average, while $250,000 will do the trick in Savannah and $230,000 in Athens. The appreciation rate for Oregon real estate depends entirely on the location, but averages a moderate six percent for 2005.

If southern hospitality is your ideal, Georgia may be your destination. With reasonable real estate prices, you can pick up a good deal.

How to Buy a Holiday Home Abroad

The thought of owning a second home in the sun or a ski lodge or mountain retreat where we can escape whenever the mood takes us is of course a commonly held dream.

And with the simplification of re-mortgaging facilities, the affordability of home loans and the growth in underlying equity many of us have enjoyed on our principal residences, there couldn’t be a better time to turn that dream into a reality than today.

Here’s how to buy a holiday home abroad and avoid all the common traps and pitfalls that people can fall foul of.

First things first you need to decide whether it make sense for you to release the equity that has built up in your principal residence to buy a property overseas, to raise a mortgage on the overseas property or to pay for it in cash.

Unfortunately there is no straight answer to this dilemma! The answer will lie somewhere among your own personal circumstances, your ability to afford an extension on your home loan or an overseas mortgage, the country in which you’re buying abroad and whether or not it offers good investment potential. However, there are two simple facts that the majority of financial advisers and mortgage lenders agree upon and these may help you make your decision: –

1) taking the money that has built up in equity on one property and using it to buy another property is probably the most sensible thing to do when releasing equity

2) over the medium to long term real estate as an equity class is one of the most consistent returning investment mechanisms.

The next issue relates to which country you should buy your holiday home in. You may have a very positive idea of which country you would most like to spend your holiday time in – if you have a country in mind it’s probably a country you know well and have had enjoyable times in before.

If on the other hand you’re unsure and are looking abroad for a holiday home as an investment property in an emerging market or a market with strong room for growth, you should draw yourself a shortlist based upon what you’re looking for in a holiday home – i.e., if you want a European beach house with 300 days sunshine a year you’re more likely to look at the Mediterranean region rather than the Ukraine or the UK!

Whichever country you’re considering, do research into the laws relating to foreign freehold ownership of real estate in that country and on the projected prospects for the property sector over the medium term – all this sort of information is available on the internet.

Once you have a country in mind you need to set yourself a realistic budget – realistic in that it is an amount you can afford and also that it is an amount that will buy you a quality property abroad. Going back to the Mediterranean region in Europe for a moment, those with a large budget could acquire a decent property on the Spanish coast, those with a small budget could only acquire substandard or renovation property on the Spanish coast but could purchase something far more substantial in the interior of Spain. Think about the amount you can afford and then look at the country you’re interested in – where will you get the most for your money?

Always employ independent legal representation to assist you in any transactions you enter into abroad. You may not fully understand the language or legal system of the country you’re buying your holiday home in so you need a lawyer who does! Furthermore you need a lawyer who is working solely for you and not representing your interests together with those of the vendor or property constructor as well!

Get any contracts or papers you sign officially translated into English before signing, have any promises made or deals verbally brokered written into the contract, make a will that includes your new property purchase and don’t rush into a decision because pressure is being put upon you or because your time abroad to organise everything is short. The world will not run out of holiday homes for sale in our lifetime. If you keep your wits about you and remember the golden rule – i.e., if something seems too good to be true it probably is – you’ll be just fine!