Real Estate Kingdom

If you're from Oakland or anywhere in the the East Bay Area, then when the ground starts moving you don't get "too" surprised because it happens so often! We're pretty safe from floods, hurricanes and snow, but we are known for earthquakes and this means extra measures need to be taken in most cases to help a home stay in one piece and on its foundation in the even of a large quake.

Seismic retrofitting is the process of reinforcing your home against the forces of earthquakes. In general, it includes "sheer walling" your foundation walls to help prevent them from twisting during an earthquake, and bolting your home to it's foundation to help prevent it from sliding off the foundation during a seismic event. There also metal braces that are used in certain types of foundations that are used. Depending on the type of construction it is, there may be other things that can be done as well.

To help homeowners in Oakland get their homes upgraded, the City of Oakland is now offering a partial rebate of the city transfer tax on your real estate transaction to be used to pay for seismic retrofitting. The program works like this: Within 60 days of closing escrow on your new home, you must complete and submit your application to the city. Once your application is accepted, you have one year to complete the seismic retrofit work. The incentive is that you can get a rebate for a portion of the city transfer tax that you paid when you bought your home. The rebate can be up to half of one percent of the purchase price of the home. So on a $400,000 home, you could receive $2000 back towards the cost of the retrofit work. This work isn't usually too expensive, so $2000 can go a long way to help protect your home. Unfortunately, this program only applies to purchasers of Oakland real estate, so if you are currently a homeowner already then you would not be able to take advantage of it.

Most homes in Oakland do not have seismic reinforcement, and considering the age of most of the homes in Oakland, it's great that the city of Oakland has created a way to get some (or all) of this work done at no cost to a buyer. We in the Bay Area do live in an active seismic zone, and this type of work has been proven to help protect homes from damage during an earthquake.

Whether you prefer the quiet life or the extravagant life, Tampa is definitely the place to be. This city combines modern urban themes with the simple suburban feel. You'll be living in both worlds when you opt to live in Tampa.

If extravagant is what you are, then the Tampa waterfront area is the property for you. The unique mansions in this area offer you great views of the shore from every angle. Unique views to gaze upon and vast landscapes to stroll on; extravagance is described to the core in the Tampa waterfront area.

If tranquility is your preferred lifestyle, then living in the unique villas on the outskirts of the city or the quaint ranches in the southern parts of Tampa is probably the choice for you. These areas offer you serenity and a chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. You can take in the peacefulness of the man-made lakes or enjoy the sounds of the rushing waves. Though such a young city, it also has great areas that give you the peace you can't find in a busy city elsewhere.

If it isn't the house that you're looking for but rather the type of community, then you are in luck when you come looking for one in Tampa. Tampa's luxurious communities give justice to the description it is given. There are numerous activities geared towards attracting high end residents. Golf courses are vast and its landscape plush and well-suited for those who are willing to practice their winning strokes. There are fitness facilities that are top-notch in caliber that can keep you trim and healthy while on your vacation. Don't forget the glorious beach resorts that are a haven for vacationers and perma-vacationers alike.

If you are looking to stay at a much modest community, the southern parts of Tampa might just be for you. You will enjoy the humility the houses of these communities portray and the serenity that you can enjoy from their pristine lakes and parks. You can take a stroll by yourself or with your family at the county parks where families and neighbors take more importance than anything else.

You will find that when you go to Tampa, it is not made specifically for a group of people either the humble or the extravagant. Rather it is the mixture of these very different lifestyles that make Tampa what it is now. Its culture is diverse as well as the people living in the area. You can discover that when you opt to stay in Tampa, you feel accepted rather than out of place in the communities that define the city. This is what makes Tampa a great place to stay for different people whatever the lifestyle they may be acquainted to.

No matter where you come from, when you are in Tampa, you will explore its diverseness and its history together with the other people in the area. It is Tampa that binds the people together and what better place can do that other than Tampa?

Beechworth real estate and property is tightly held by local and regional investors who have taken long term positions in Beechworth freehold and land holdings. But a number of properties are now coming onto the market as demand from new residents seeking as escape from the major cities of Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra heats up.

Beechworth is a popular and picturesque town located amongst the North East Victoria hills and lays claim to being Victoria's best preserved gold rush town, significant Ned Kelly history, its own lake, excellent local water supply and stunning and picturesque views. It is 224 km's from Melbourne, 249 km's from Canberra and 495 km's from Sydney making it the ideal 'mid point' between the major cities. It is a popular commuter town for those to working in the nearby rural cities of Albury - Wodonga and Wangaratta but wishing to fully enjoy the benefits of living in regional Victoria.

The town's focal point is the historic Post Office at the intersection of Camp and Ford Street which is now owned privately. There are a number of other significant buildings in the centre of town dating back to the mid 1800's and most of these are protected by heritage overlays. When looking to buy one of these properties be sure to check the vendors' statement and liaise with the local authorities to understand what can, or cannot, be done to the buildings.

Outside of the central business district there are few heritage overlays but be sure to check. Residential properties are keenly sort after with both period style properties and modern developments keenly sort after. There are a number of new subdivisions now being undertaken but be aware that many of the blocks are around 600 - 700 sqm in size. Many of the older properties in Beechworth still boast 1000 sqm + allotments.

Beechworth real estate purchasers; and Victorian purchasers for that matter, may benefit from January 2007 as the State Government has amended the amount of stamp duty payable of Victorian Property sales. The changes affect primary residence purchases under $500,000.

The first home buyer's bonus has also been extended and provides an additional $2,000 for first home owners building their home, taking it to a total of $12,000. First home buyers are entitled to only one of either the first home buyer's bonus or the concession stamp duty rate. The State Government subsidy of $10,000 will also remain in effect until June 2009.

Those buyers of principal places of residence but not eligible for the first home buyers bonus will benefit in a cut in the rate of stamp duty from 6% to 5% for purchase amounts in the $115,000 to $400,000 bracket. A fixed reduction of $2,850 for amounts in the $400,000 - $500,000 bracket also applies.

At the time of writing the following stamp duty rates are applicable for real estate on property purchases in Victoria

$0 - $20,000 = 1.4 %
$20,001 - $115,000 = 2.4%
$115,001 - $400,000 = 5%
$400,001 - $500,000 = 6%
$500,001 - $870,000 = 6%
$870,000 and up = 5.5%

Gurgaon residential real estate markets are perhaps the one that actually reflects the nationwide trends. The overall transaction volume in real estate might have declined but good residential properties in a city are able to manage some appreciation in value, thus fetching some returns to the investors.

Take, for instance, the Eros-Grand Mansion that was launched in year 2004 with its apartments priced at Rs 3,400 per sq. ft jumped to Rs 5,300 per sq. ft in year 2006, generating returns of 26 per cent a year, settled at Rs 6,300 per sq. ft in 2007, recording 16.67 per cent return over the property value in the preceding year. Definitely, the appreciation in value was not as high as earlier but decent enough to keep the ball rolling, from the investor point of view.

Property values in Gurgaon have already gone up by several folds due to its booming local economies driven by IT and ITeS sector. According to Rajendra Parashar, a property dealer from Gurgaon, "Demand for commercial and residential properties is likely to spike up in the next couple of years and the big real estate developers are launching several residential projects in the city because they are of a view that the property values in Gurgaon are going to increase sooner or later".

The rental segment will be especially benefited as a large number of corporate executives, who would come to the city, would search for residential properties on rent. According to real estate experts, with such positive trends in Gurgaon Real Estate markets, the residential property markets of Gurgaon are seen as vibrant one in the long term.

The volume of construction activities has remained in flow for the past several years and the slowdown in markets has not cast impact on market sentiments too heavily. Gurgaon city is the front runner as far as India's booming services sector is concerned, and therefore there is no reason we should look down for it, said a senior official of a Delhi-based real estate company.

U.S. real estate prices, particularly Southern California, have adjusted much lower than global real estate prices. I had the opportunity to travel to Australia for the Holidays and - wow, what a great experience. The plane ride was, well let's just say long but hey 15 hours non-stop San Francisco to Sydney was fun? The best part of any long trip is the fact that the destination feels exotic and far from home. Landing in Sydney was no exception and definitely worth the effort.

Southern California has some of the highest priced real estate in the U.S., and I was looking forward to comparing values in a foreign market. Although flying through Sydney, it was not my destination, Port Douglas, Queensland was. The arrival airport for Port Douglas is Cairns - and the landing, scenery, weather, and small town feeling was wonderful. I had a great time exploring and enjoying the tropical location. For anyone who loves the desert like I do, this type of getaway is really appreciated, and the grass really is greener in the rain forest than in the Colorado Desert (Palm Springs). In addition to being the jumping off point for the Northern Great Barrier Reef, Port Douglas was clean, beautiful, and oh what a surprise - expensive!

The real estate prices all over Australia (for the most part) are currently experiencing large amounts of appreciation. Some of the Real Estate in Port Douglas was more expensive than here in beautiful Southern California. Palm Springs real estate is on average $350/ sq ft - with the range being $100 to $1,000 sq ft. Port Douglas seemed to be a bit more expensive than this - I was very surprised, but on the other hand, what a beautiful spot. My experience tells me that there might be an adjustment for our Australian friends, based on the global credit contraction. I would recommend anyone interested in weather, fitness, food, exotic locales and real estate - visit Australia, Port Douglas in particular. My choice as a sister city to the beautiful desert here in Palm Springs - oh and don't forget to buy Real Estate.

The look of many high-end homes and building campuses is informed by International architecture. It's a style few builders use to its full extent today, but one that still influences a variety of building movements, from art-deco to post-modern, and is preserved in many cities throughout the world.

International architecture has been widely studied and celebrated for introducing many innovative design aspects. Architects who developed the style also brought about new ways of thinking about design that re-shaped the building world, and modern art in general. The movement was founded on three defining principles: the expression of volume rather than mass, balance rather than preconceived symmetry, and the expulsion of applied ornament. These principles show up in features like exterior heating ducts, irregular but balanced building shapes, and architecture that takes its shape from the inside of the building, as opposed to the outside. Internationally-styled buildings are also generally more functional than other types, although new and avant building methods tend to make them seem more form-oriented. International architect Le Courbusier famously described these functional houses as "machines for living."

Other characteristics of the International style include transparency (called the honest expression of structure), whether through glass or portals between sections of the building, adoption of steel and concrete as supplementary building materials, and use of mass-production building techniques.

Unlike other building movements that gained momentum over time, the International style has a definite and well-documented origin: the International Exhibition of Modern Architecture in New York City in 1932, which showcased only works done in the new International style. A book titled The International Style: Architecture Since 1922 by Henry Russell Hitchcock and Philip Johnson recorded the exhibition, and identified the new movement's three founding principles. While many architects had been working with various aspects of the style for decades, the 1932 exhibition and its accompanying book provided the outline and principles that identified the new architectural style.

International architecture was so-named because it was defined by such a broad base of architects from around the world. The style became more worldly as it grew, particularly in the late 1930s when many high-profile German International architects left their country for Turkey, France, Venezuela, Kenya, and India. International architecture's lack of a central national or historic reference is also one of its strengths.

Considerable uncertainty is the phrase that best sums up the 2008 property market outlook. There's no doubt that the rippling effect of the lending crisis that started in the U.S. is now being felt in the U.K. property market and with it, the uncertainty.

When asked about the 2008 market outlook, expert opinions vary. Trying to predict the housing market has always been tricky and most economists tend to err on the side of conservatism. Having said that, here's what is forecast for the property market during 2008.

House Price Growth

Slow to flat growth in housing prices is expected and in fact some experts foresee price growth declining as homeowners already have begun lowering prices in an effort to sell. Of course, the direction prices head is very much dependent upon the region. However, one aspect everyone agrees on is that the days of double-digit property price growth are over.

Monetary Policy

The general consensus is that by year's end, the interest rate will be down to 5%. While lower interest rates have traditionally been good news for the property market, lenders are weary and will continue to limit their exposure to risk. And that means more prospective homebuyers and homeowners looking to renew their mortgages will have their applications turned down than approved.

Increased Costs of Other Goods

The continued cost increase of other goods such as food, petrol, energy, council tax bills and more will play a significant role in property market during 2008. These higher costs combined with salaries that aren't rising nearly as fast and higher personal debt will make it increasingly difficult for home buyers to afford their monthly mortgages. Higher costs will also make it difficult for first time buyers to save the 20% deposit and associated buying costs most lenders now require.

Repossessions

Repossessions are expected to continue increasing, perhaps as high at 45,000 at year's end as the average mortgage increases ?200/month; an increase many homeowners won't be able to afford.

The Sub-prime Market

There is one aspect of the 2008 property market that all the experts agree on and it has to do with the individuals who make up the "sub-prime" sector. With lending standards continually tightening, those within this category will find it extremely difficult to renew their mortgages into more favourable terms. And those with less that stellar credit not currently holding mortgages may find fewer mortgage options than had been available previously due to the tightening of lending standards.

Now for the Good News!

First time property buyers with adequate savings and excellent credit will be in a position to take maximum advantage of the housing market changes anticipated during 2008. These buyers will be able to negotiate some excellent deals, especially with property owners who need to sell their homes quickly.

As we enter into the slowest time of the year for real estate sales it is important to keep a closer eye on the market. This is why we are providing this vital report that gives consumers an in-depth look at the real estate market. There are several different ways this information can be utilized. For buyers, declining home prices may be an indication to wait until the market bottoms out before purchasing. The flip side of that philosophy is that the only way to know when the market has hit rock bottom is when it starts to come back up. Hence, you run the risk of missing out on great deals by trying to perfectly time the market. My advice, buy today with the intent to hold. Many investors forget that real estate is a long term investment due to the unprecedented property value appreciation that was the theme of the early twenty first century. Now it is time to get back to basics.

As a seller, attempting to sell in a declining market this time of year is a daunting task. Plain and simple, it can be down right demoralizing. But even in the midst of these tough circumstances, there are options. The first and most obvious option, don't sell. If you can afford to make your mortgage payments it is probably best to hold until the Spring. The longer a property is listed on MLS the less the "perceived" value. I use the word perceived because nothing about your home changes to decrease the value but when a home lingers on the market buyers see it as additional leverage for negotiating a better price. In the winter there are less buyers looking to purchase real estate and as a result homes tend to sit longer on the market. So hold through the winter and list in the spring.

This strategy will typically get you the optimal sales price for your home. It all goes back to supply and demand. Although the amount of homes on the market greatly increases, so does the amount of buyers, thus increased sales volume drives home prices up. If you absolutely must sell in a declining market and in the winter, the most effective strategy is to reduce the sales price. So how do you go about a price reduction? The first step is to talk to a real estate professional that understands the local market. Ask them to provide a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) to determine the market value as well as a month to month market trend report. If the market is declining at a month to month rate of 2% you would want to get ahead of the trend and reduce your price by at least 3% - 4%. This enables you to price your home at a competitive price and attract more of the buyers that are currently in the market for real estate.

For Example:

Boston Single Family Home Sales Data:
Single Home Sales:
December 07: Single Family Median Home Values: $332,500 Volume: 60 Homes Sold

This represents a -4.3% Decline in value from November 07 and a -9.6% Decline from December 2006. Volume is also down -25% and -38% respectively.

Change is the only constant in the universe. And this one relative fact is true in the real estate business. With the rise of inflation and the fluctuating interest rates, it is not difficult to understand the drastic effects it can have on us.

And in some markets it is worse than others. It has even happened where the values have just gone up just exorbitantly and then somewhat plateau out some, and then come back down. And with the recent changes in the interest rates, it appears that these circumstances are becoming more common. If you get a deed for a house and get someone in it, a year from now, that house might not be worth what it is now. So how does one handle this type of situation?

First, the best thing you can do is to not worry about it. It is for these reasons why you don't want your name on the loan for one thing. It is very likely that the value of these houses is not going to come down so much that it's going to destroy the equity that's in it. This is because the value initially went up fast. And even if the equity is affected, a worst case scenario would be you getting the seller back involved with it.

It is true in some areas values of homes have fallen by up to fifty percent. But this happened over twenty years ago and the property value rose back up only after a few years. And keep in mind that, in the meantime, people still needed and had a place to live. This is one need that never changes.

The truth is you just about can't buy houses out there today that do not already have some equity in them as soon as you buy it. Because of this, there is not much chance that it's going to drop down where you're going to lose all of the equity that you just acquired. Because of the rapid inflation rate, the prices have steadily been going up. And if the owner has financed the house to a hundred percent of its value, you probably don't want it anyway.

But suppose you do run into a situation where the value of the property does drop to below the equity or below what is owed. At that point, you first would probably see if you are able to sell it to someone who wants to buy it for cash. Then you could call the lender and explain the situation to them and tell them they've got a problem and you're here to fix it for them if they are willing discount the loan.

As you go about the process of shopping for a home, you likely are finding yourself looking at newer developments. Depending on where you live in the Tampa area, you likely have found yourself considering residential Tampa real estate in new developments. When it comes to considering purchasing residential Tampa real estate in a new development, there are some considerations that you need to keep in mind.

If you are looking at making the purchase of a home in a new development in the Tampa Bay area, it is crucial that you take the time to find out everything you can about the financial stability of the developer itself. You need to make certain that you only consider making a home purchase in a Tampa real estate development that is being created and developed by a reputable developer that is on a sound financial footing.

The underlying reason that you need to make certain that you only consider making a purchase of a residence in a development being built by a financially sound developer rests in the fact that doing otherwise can have dire consequences. As referenced previously, some financially unsound developments actually are becoming 21st century ghost towns.

What happens when a developer goes belly up during course of development is that the development itself ends up being incomplete. For example, if you make the purchase of a home in such an unstable and financially insecure development, you can end up having partially built homes on your block and in your neighborhood ... forever. You can end up with unfinished streets, holes where swimming pools were to be constructed. In short, you can end up living in a development that has ever decreasing property values because of the unfinished nature of the neighborhoods and so forth. Your residential real estate purchase can start dropping in value causing a real disaster for you even beyond the cosmetic appearance of your neighborhood.

At the present time, these financially unstable developments are not widespread in the Tampa Bay area. However, they do exist and they are more common today than they were even a few years ago. Moreover, this is a trend that is spreading across some of the Sunshine State at this point in time. Additionally, in many major U.S. cities, the contemporary ghost town effect is becoming more prevalent all of the time.

One step that you can take to ensure that you are only seeking to purchase a home in a financially stable development is to retain the services of a qualified and reputable Tampa Realtor. You will find that by hiring a Tampa Realtor you will have access to all of the information you will need in regard to which developments are financially stable and which developments are ones in which you seriously consider making the purchase of your home.

It would be easy to write another article about the property boom in Panama, 30,000 units built between July 2006 and July 2007, another 40,000 announced and/or being built, rental yields going through the roof, as is the tourism, the latter attracting global corporations like Hilton to build sky scraping hotel complexes and giving Panama City a skyline to rival any of the world's greatest cities -- which may go some of the way to explain the influx of American retirees chasing cheap living in the sun. But where has it all came from, and why now?

With the property market booms in the Eastern European States (1), it was easy to see where they came from, break up of the Soviet Union and entrance into the European Union, but in the case of Panama, it is really more to do with what Panama hasn't done and what the U.S. wants to try and stop them doing: joining forces with Hugo Chavez's Venezuela in his socialist war of rhetoric with the U.S. and the west.

The closest thing to a trigger for the boom to arise from this U.S. policy track is the handing over of control of Panama's canal. The Panama Canal is one of the most important in the history of international freighting, because it runs right through Panama to connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. This meant ships no longer had to take the treacherous routes of Drake Passage around Cape Horn at the southernmost tip of South America.

Handing over the Canal has been a massive boost to the Panamanian economy. But more than that, the U.S. is putting money into the Panamanian economy in the hope that the boom will set an example for other states that either already are, or are considering joining or forming an alliance against Western interests.

Like so many economic factors today influenced by U.S. global realpolitik but with one difference: this U.S. policy actually seems to be working. More U.S. retirees are buying their retirement homes in Panama than anywhere else, and the country that has secured its place as the fastest growing Latin American economy is lining up to take its place as one of the hottest property investment destinations of 2008, here's why:

A very conservative estimate on capital appreciation is 15-20%, rental yields in the big cities are an astonishing 11.23% on a property of 190 sq.m, amazing for a property of such a size, another plus is the pro-landlord rental laws. The buying process for foreign investors is also incredibly simple, with only 7 stages that can be completed in around 44 days.

There are no restrictions on foreign ownership - according to the sales people I have spoken to those are two of the key issues people look for when buying an overseas property: an easy buying process and freehold rights. Other reasons are the low roundtrip transaction costs of around 7-9% including agent's fees of 3-5% and no inheritance tax, all things buyers look for in overseas purchases. Another plus point for a property investment in Panama is the low Capital Gains tax. Foreign owners can choose to be taxed on their gain in two ways:

5% of the sum of the following: 10% of the property's cadastral value for every year the property has been held, plus the cost of any improvements, plus the property's cadastral value at time of sale. This option consolidates transfer tax and capital gains tax, and means the final sum of the above calculation is all that a foreigner pays upon selling a Panama property.

The second option is: 2% of the higher value between: the sales price, and the sum of the property's cadastral value at time of acquisition, improvement costs during ownership, and 5% of the property's cadastral value, (including improvement costs) for each year the property has been held. The second option incurs a further taxation on the selling or transfer price, less transfer costs, the acquisition cost or cadastral value, and 10% of acquisition costs for each year the property has been held, the sum of which is then taxed at standard income tax rates.

In my humble opinion the first option is best, but advice from a financial advisor and solicitor should go hand in hand with any property transaction, buying and selling, their advice on which option is best for you is far more valuable than mine. Before that though you have to actually buy a property, the volume of new properties coming onto the Panama market will have you spoilt for choice.

BYRON BAY HOUSE SALES CYCLE
The highest house sales (140) were in March 2002, the height of the surge, and then followed by much lower turnover, average of 80 house sales per month. The latest sales (100) were in March 2007 and are now showing what I believe to be the beginning of an upswing. The median house price has reached now $600,000. We have had single digit price increase for four or five years with a downturn in 2005. The median price of around $150,000 was in March 1997 and - can that be true? Byron prices have quadrupled in 10 years?

BEACH FRONT
This one is interesting for a couple of reasons. Thanks to First National. It shows the median average price increase over the five years from 2002 to now on a few of Australia's beach front suburbs. And the winner is, yes little old Suffolk Park with an average 20% increase over the last 5 years, which means the median has doubled in a relatively flat period. The other interesting point is look at the median price of Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast. Yes, most of us would expect the highest average house price to be Sydney Harbour, Wategoes or somewhere in Perth where the mining magnates hang out. But, no, the most expensive real estate enclave in Australia is a beachside suburb just over the border at Mermaid Beach - not called the "Gold Coast" for nothing!

Suburb - Median 02 - Median 07 - Avg Annual change

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Suffolk Park - $234,256.05 - $595,000.00 - 20.5%

Lennox Head - $228,422.75 - $540,000.00 - 18.8%

Kingscliff - $283,727.47 - $576,000.00 - 15.2%

Mermaid Beach - $580,411.77 - $1,145,000.00 - 14.6%

Byron Bay - $346,981.48 - $672,500.00 - 14.2%

Palm Cove - $309,585.56 - $488,750.00 - 9.6%

Port Douglas - $365,405.52 - $552,500.00 - 8.6%

Noosa Heads - $426,923.44 - $624,500.00 - 7.9%

A BIT OF BALANCE
In times of market exuberance it is great to increase an asset but also a bit of balance is called for. Over the years I have overhead conversations as in: "I bought this property only three years ago for $500,000 and just sold it for $750,000". A casual listener may just do the sums and guess that this loud mouth has made $250,000 for sitting around but that is not looking at all the facts. Purchase costs of stamp duty and legal fees for a $500,000 property is going to be around $25,000 not including time spent and expenses actually doing the search. Then there will be holding costs above and beyond living costs or negative gearing. If it is an investment property with a debt of $400,000 the mortgage will be around $30,000 PA - offset by a rental of around $400 a week which is a shortfall of around $10,000 a year plus rates and maintenance. Lets say $70,000 for getting in and holding over three years and then to sell with an agent paying, say $30,000, to a selling agent. So roughly $100,000 or half that amount could be shaved off that boast if they took the time to go into details.

All of these scenarios are different and some can do better or worse. My point is that it is lazy thinking in just subtracting the purchase price from the sell price in estimating the profit on a property transaction. Many people do it and it is misleading and inaccurate. I could even go further and include the interest on the deposit money, Capital Gains Tax or lost opportunity costs of being in the deal as well. Of course in my business as a buyers agent I am an advocate of property as an investment and as an interesting past time, I just felt the need to take off some of the easy, gung-ho chatter that can infect this industry.

AND THERE'S MORE
and while I am having a bit of a rant there are two things going down in Byron right now that is of interest enough to me to comment on:

1. HOLIDAY LETTING
I know there are some complicated issues in the background but how complicated can it be for council to get this one together. People have a right to holiday let their property but neighbours have a right to shut them down if they create a disturbance. This is a popular holiday town, visitors want to come here, some people operate a business letting holiday houses and some people subsidise their holiday by sub letting their homes. How complicated or anti social is that? Why can't council sell permits to people wanting to holiday let, this can create some badly needed revenue and if they let to noisy, disruptive people their permit is revoked. How complicated is that?

2. LOW COST HOUSING
In my business of being a buyers agent most of my clients are relatively well off people wanting to make a home here. I must say that the majority by far are great people - sensitive, aware and ready to embrace this town values, community and lifestyle. The only thing that worries me is the number of them and I do worry for the diversity in our community. This problem is a lot harder to fix than holiday letting outlined above but it needs to be tackled. There is only a little bit of developable land left in the shire and Council needs to find a way to accommodate and house low income residents so we can maintain the cultural mix we currently enjoy.

In Holland and other European countries they encourage a mix of properties in the same development so that top end apartments are built alongside smaller compact units. Sometimes a whole mini suburb is built, complete with environmentally sound practices of grey water recycling, solar power, on site waste disposal and internet interactivity. The developer contributions are relaxed for the smaller units and sometimes subsidised so they can be built cheaply. This encourages a mix of residents instead of the current trend towards homogenisation and conformity. The numbers of places that have made this mistake are legion, Florida, Gold Coast, etc that soon become a "Blandland" of uniform development. The other negative is becoming an isolated wealthy enclave like Lake Como in Italy or Silicon Valley in California. Services suffer as people like teachers and service workers have to commute long distances to work there.

Sellers and real estate agents are struggling to get their properties noticed. It's not surprising that more sellers are turning to creative ways to market their properties. One such creative strategy nowadays is online real estate auctions have become more popular than traditional real estate auctions. Online real estate auctions can certainly help you locate a great property, particularly in an area far from where you live. It helps a property stand out and that's the goal in any marketing strategy. Another reason for Online Real Estate Auctions' popularity is that it's easier to bid than to write up a sales contract. All negotiation is automated and done online.

Online Real Estate Auctions have many advantages; they provide a great platform for you to sell your property. It minimizes the hassles of prospects visiting the house frequently at untimely hours as well as attracts only qualified buyers who are actually looking to buy a property. They get a better price for the property owner with minimal effort as they attract buyers from across the world. You decide the date and time of auction. The prospects can look at the details of the real estate like photographs etc. and can participate in the auction. Other option for purchasing real estate online is through bank auctions. Bank auctions are usually on foreclosed properties and can give you the opportunity to purchase real estate at a dramatically reduced price.

A live auction is still a great way to sell, an online auction is much easier to coordinate and less expensive, however, you have to be very careful and do your research before bidding on a property and definitely before executing a contract. A property you have never seen could be a potential nightmare, and there are several reasons for this. If you're considering buying a property you can't visit, it may be worth hiring someone in the local area, who's familiar with real estate to check it out for you. Your representative needs to make sure the property is accessible, check the record of any leans, foreclosures, or title problems.

Online real estate auctions are not legally binding. A real estate transaction must be formally executed under the laws of the state where the property is located. An online auction can hook a buyer up with a seller, but they must still get together and work out a contract before the sale is final.

Be sure to use a reputable and well-known auction site. Before bidding in a real estate auction, read the auction site's Terms of Service and any additional information they may have about real estate "auctions" on their site. This information can usually be found in the help or rules sections of the sites.

Finally, whether you have a property and are looking to sell of the property, but were scared about the hassles involved in it, or looking for a real estate to buy especially if you are seeking a real estate in an area far from where you live, Online Real Estate Auctions are the way out for you.

Sometimes it can be difficult working in the real estate business because you find yourself profiting off the misfortunes of others. It is not uncommon to find yourself in the middle of a real estate venture where there is a divorce involved. The reasons are of no concern. The fact remains: either you can take over the property or someone else can.

It is also not uncommon to find yourself in a business situation where one spouse sells you their half of the property but the other spouse, for whatever reason, does not wish to do the same. Perhaps that spouse even begins to make repairs on the property and catch up any back payments. If he/she is doing this, just let them continue to do so. After all, they're paying for your home. And sooner or later, they have to come back and deal with you.

If there is a decent amount of equity in the home, this can be very good. However, this may also cause some difficulties with the bank, especially if they know that the other person is having problems with getting the needed financing. If he or she is several months behind in payments, they may see it as easier to repossess the property and get the equity out of it.

Under these circumstances, you have three options. You can either make some type of deal with him. You can buy him out or he buys you out. Or you can force him out by a lawsuit. Those are the only three options... the best, of course, is to make some type of deal with him. Again, he will have to come back to you at some point.

Another very important thing to do is to make sure your interests get recorded. It wouldn't hurt for your attorney to serve him notice to this effect. By doing so, nobody can come along and say that you weren't trying to protect your interest and so forth. It is also recommended that you have some kind of a trail or a track record which proves you made him aware you own half the house.

Keep in mind that it is not enough that you have conversation with him and that he knows you own half the house. You want to make sure that you have letters proving what he knows. These should be sent certified mail to him. You should keep copies of the letters, and proof showing they were received by him.

Above all, be sure you should get some legal advice on what all your options are.

It's officially 2008, and you know what that means. It means we'll probably mess up a bunch of checks by writing 2007 until we remember it's 2008, right? Did 2007 go fast or what? I'm still wondering what happened to November.

The new year also means planning, as the saying goes those who fail to plan - are planning to fail. That saying is especially true if you're a homeowner in 2008. With new housing and banking laws, rules and policies changing by the month, or even day - the best time to create a plan is sooner rather than later.

Here are 5 resolutions every smart homeowner should make and work to keep in 2008.

1. Find Fixed Rate Loan

With the mortgage loan meltdown because of the sub-prime lending mess, fixed rate loans is the best deal in town - if you want to stay safe.

Knowing what future payments you'll have has it's advantages. Are you in an adjustable rate, interest only or worse an option ARM mortgage? Then this is the best time to look for a good fixed rate loan, especially if you've made your payments on time.

Many lenders of fixed rate mortgages will be happy to speak to you. But make sure you shop smart. Believe it or not even in this turbulent real estate market, you're in the drivers seat.

The only way lenders make money is by loaning money to borrowers who pay on time - if that's you ... make them earn your business.

2. Invest in Making Your Home More Energy Efficient.

Depending on what happens in the middle east, Venezuela, Nigeria and other unstable oil producing countries, take heed.

With the price of heating oil expected to go above $100 in 2008 your heating cost could go up 10% or more this year.

Although the tax credits on home improvements expired December 31, 2007 - It's still smart to invest in making your home more energy efficient.

The theme for 2008 is conserve, save and avoid waste. The cost of energy will rise this year, and of course as always the cost will pass on to us. So, whatever you can do to make your home more energy efficient will give you an immediate savings.

3. Plant More Drought Resistant Landscaping.

Another focus smart homeowners will have is finding ways to save water, especially if you live in the southeast, south, southwest or western states.

Low rainfall totals predicted in 2008 could mean water rationing in many states and higher water cost. Planting drought resistant landscaping is quickly growing in popularity in many of these states as homeowners prepare for higher water costs.

4. Learn and Do Routine Maintenance.

Prevention is the best cure. This is an old saying that still rings true today, especially if you're a homeowner in 2008. Despite a construction slowdown in most areas of the country.

Building cost and building supplies continue to skyrocket in cost. Therefore, when something breaks down or you need something repaired around your home it will cost more in 2008 than it did in 2007.

So, the best way to avoid unexpected repairs (the worst kind to have) is by paying attention to routine maintenance around your home.

5. Improve and Preserve a Good FICO Score.

This may seem like an odd subject to place in a newsletter about home management. But having a good FICO score will play an even larger role in your ability to manage your home as well as your other finances.

Did you know all your creditors, including your auto and home insurance companies plus your utility companies check your FICO score each month? Did you know your credit card company can raise your interest rate if you're late on your mortgage payment or car loan?

If you ever have to refinance for a home improvement or repair your FICO score will be one of the first items they look at. So, keeping your FICO score healthy is of primary importance. If your FICO score needs work start doing what you have to do to build it back up as soon as possible.

With the new challenges for 2008 looking at us, it's to your advantage to do as many of these 5 actions as you can. They will help start your new year on the right footing for a prosperous year of homeownership.

As always, with rapid changes predicted for the housing market, the most informed will survive and thrive and the least informed suffer the most. I'll do my best to keep you informed, alerted and aware.

May this new year bring you and your family new opportunities, new joys and new blessings.

When you are in the business of real estate, then you should really brush up on your knowledge on property metrics. This is because such knowledge will extensively help you in the determination of the investments you will be making in real estate. Thus, there is indeed a need to keep certain KPIs, or key performance indicators, in mind.

These key performance indicators are actually very important when you are keeping tabs on the investments you make in real estate. These indicators do so much in showing you the proper courses of action you should take for a certain day, and even up to three months or so! In fact, these predictions are quite accurate when it comes to using key performance indicators! Thus, by keeping a close eye on these KPIs, you will actually have an idea on how a certain investment would fare out. Needless to say, you will also be given a glimpse of how the whole business would possibly turn out.

But what is really great about these key performance indicators in property metrics is that you are actually forewarned of the problems that would arise in the near or far future. Let us face it: land and properties are just about the only assets ever that would not suffer depreciation, in terms of price. In fact, these assets would be bought at higher prices as time goes by. Nevertheless, the land and the properties themselves would still undergo depreciation in terms of appearance and such. And these are just some of the problems that can be foretold by key performance indicators in property metrics.

When it comes to planning for the future, you should actually look at certain facets for this. Infrastructure, customer service, as well as marketing plan are just some of these facets. If you want to plan out a better future for your real estate business, then you have to keep an eye on certain key performance indicators. These include purchase contracts by the month, contracts that have been closed by the month, and listings that have been taken and sold by the month. By looking at these different facets, you can then determine existing trends and implement appropriate changes so that your real estate business can indeed take off.

But how do you interpret these key performance indicators in determining these trends? This does not really demand the knowledge of an expert on property metrics, you know, although these can be helpful in the long run as well. Still, interpretation is actually pretty easy. For starters, looking at the property listings that have been taken and sold for a particular month, you notice that the trend is pretty strong in a certain area. It is then safe to assume that that area is appealing to people for a lot of reasons. Delving deeper into the figures, you then see that the properties that have been taken are mostly residential. Thus, you can then further assume that people are interested in purchasing houses in this particular area.

When dealing with property metrics, you should also take note of marketing activities. Marketing, which inevitably includes advertising, is one of the facets in real estate that can cost much in terms of funds. Thus, if you pay attention to marketing activities and trends, savings can then be generated for your real estate business. And this is just one of the many uses of property metrics!

A real estate agent will guide you to - and through - the most important decision of your life. How do you know, for sure, that he will act in your best interests?

How do you know if he will really work for you? Is he too busy for you? What of his personal integrity? How much effort will he expend for you?

You will want to feel very comfortable with the real estate agent that you choose, comfortable enough to be able to say 'no' to the bargain of the month and 'no' to the almost perfect house.

He must not be intimidating to you, yet a business-like attitude and assertiveness are qualities you will want in a professional acting for you.

Often when you are choosing a business professional, the outcome is not so critical, but who wants to lose their dream property? Choosing a real estate agent falls into the same bracket as choosing a medical doctor or a lawyer.

The interview and short listing process is really all about finding one that you feel comfortable with. Real estate agents usually have a 'presentation'. This is usually a very business-like procedure and if they are having an off day, the presentation may click in automatically.

However, you will need to get past the 'rehearsed' person and get to know the real one. Mostagents will have integrity, they have their reputations to think about, but you need to feel that you also have one that understands you and your wants.

Some agents have amazing sales records, so ask about sales history. Ask if he would mind giving you some recent sales to choose references from. Gather up at least half a dozen and then choose your own references to phone. Before you phone, ask the real estate agent a few questions.

For instance: How long was each house on the market? How many were reduced and why? How many times and by how much?

Some other questions could be: Will there be a marketing plan drawn up for the sale of your house? Will it be carried out? What guarantees do you have? To see if the agent is keen and enthusiastic, ask him if he has taken any extra real estate courses.

See if you find his voice or tone very monotone; if so, do you find it relaxing, or would you prefer a lively voice generating a more energetic feeling?

Finally you must try and gauge the quality of his negotiating skills. Ask about commissions; in a house sale it will be necessary for you both to be able to discuss money amicably.

Observe the way the agent explains things when you try and negotiate a lower rate. If he can convince you that his fee is fair and that he will have to work hard to earn it, then he can convince others to listen to his viewpoint when he is working for you!

All this discussion will give you enough time and a good basis on which to judge the personality of the agent. Then the bottom line is that you have to pick someone that you feel you can trust.

Many Realtors claim that they have done everything right to help market themselves and their business, but still each day they drive up to the office in a dirty car, with mud on the side and papers, wrappers and debris inside. Lord help them if a client shows up or a buyer wants to see one of their listings, a buyer who is real, not some Looky Lou, wanting to take a tour of the city on the Realtors dime. These Realtors have an abundance of excuses as to why they did not clean their car.

Some complain the car wash takes too long or it is a hassle; yes, car washes are like that, no one can deny. But, their real reason for not cleaning their car is a much more unfortunate one. They are broke and worried about losing their own homes to foreclosure, not to mention all those short sales they are working on to help make ends meet for their clientele. Well, I have previously indicated that maybe if they had washed their car and kept it at least a little spiffy, then they just might have made more sales, and not be in this position.

Of course, no one wants to here that reality, so then I have a better suggestion, rather than making excuses for driving a dirt bomb online on real estate blogs, why not try driving thru a little Rain Activity to wash off your car for free? That's right, you have been busy driving thru the mud alright in your little "Realtor Mud Mobile" so, why not drive thru the next rain storm and let the God of Rain get active cleaning your car with a little fresh water rinse?

Think about it, might help you business a little, and with half the job done, maybe you can find time to vacuum that mess of yours on the interior of your little dirt bomb too.

If you are looking for the right real estate expert, then you need to do little home work and ask some questions. First of all you need to know a lot about the selling procedures involved in real estate investing. So here goes some question; what kind of advertising will be done? What are the marketing strategies? Can a realtor effectively present and sell all the least-noticeable properties in the real estate market? Will the realtor be capable and willing to communicate with clients effectively? Real estate experts or professionals should also need to be knowledgeable about the community or the society they live in. They need to know about the history of the particular area and also the approximate value or the price the people from that locality willing to spend. Real estate agents should also need to know what the competition now in his state, and how much will he be able to perform and sell the properties profitably.

You need to know one important thing, never choose a real estate realtor by the price alone. Remember that a realtor is not a magician or a wizard to increase the selling price of the property all of a sudden! So it is better to consider the buyer. The purchaser which you make won't be willingly to pay you too much; it's very much likely that he or she needs to do a research on the real estate market and try to uncover the best and honest price for the properties. You need to know that, the facts simply just can not be changed! No matter which real estate investor or realtor you choose. In spite of these unalterable facts, the real estate realtor you choose must still be knowledgeable, hard-working, sincere and trustworthy.

In case your properties do not obtain or attract attention from the buyers even after several weeks or months, then the reason for this is most possible due to three reasons: It can be due to the location of your property. If you're property is located in a deserted place, then you will have less opportunity to sell that house. Condition of your house or property is also essential, as damaged houses are little tricky to sell and finally the price value of the property plays the key role. You should always think about examining the conditioning of the property and evaluating the marketing strategies again and again. Do ask your realtor to provide an explanation of the pricing strategy and for the competition.

Modular homes have gone through many transitions in the last few years, and most have been for the good. Originally known as mobile homes these modular homes have become even more of a mainstay is American than ever before. Should you buy one? Let's look deeper into that question and come up with the answers so you can make an informed decision.

The first thing we need to do is define what modular homes are. They are factory built homes that are usually built in sections so they can match the state, local and regional building codes. Areas of the country have different codes on the books so usually they have to be built to that specification if they are going there. These sections are transported to where the site is being built and then they are put together onto a foundation where they will permanently stay. This makes construction much quicker than building from the ground up.

There are many advantages to a modular home that you will want to consider. First these homes are every durable. They sometimes have to travel great distances to be built so the manufacturers make sure they are well constructed. Secondly, many times these companies will actually let you choose what and how you want the home to look. This is a big advantage over buying an existing home where you get what you see. If health is an issue with your family than modular homes for the most part are always mold and mildew free. Since these are climate controlled that chance for mold and mildew to grow is virtually nonexistent. This is really important to people who have health issues and can't deal with mold or mildew at all.

The biggest factor why modular homes have seen, a rapid growth is for two main reasons price and time. Most modular homes are cheaper to build and the savings means a lower payment for the consumer. This means less of a down payment and out of pocket expense for them. Construction time is usually a lot less too as these for the most part are already in sections. No waiting on a certain skilled craftsman to do his part. It's already done all you need is to have it assembled with limited outside contractors need. This cuts down on the time for you to be in your new home.

Modular homes are designed for the consumer and saving them money. Energy efficient homes are what more people throughout the world are requesting and modular homes are one way to give it to them. Many countries are turning to this type of home and building communities around them as they prove to be cost effect alternatives to other options they have tried. Nothing can replace home ownership and this type of home gives them the best chance to do that.

The future of modular homes looks very bright as the housing crunch takes a toll on everyone everywhere. Getting the best deal possible is where consumers are heading and that looks like it will be toward the modular home. Top quality construction with a very favorable price let's these homes be one of the hottest new trends in the housing industry to come in a very long time. I don't look for this to end anytime soon as look as they continue to produce a quality product at an affordable price.