On the Crossing of Continents
July 31, 2007
Cyprus is situated in the north-east Mediterranean on the crossing of three continents - Europe, Asia and Africa. This strategic location ensured development of the island as an international business center with high-quality service, vast infrastructures and great deal of entertainment facilities. Living and business conditions there are more than comfortable. Cyprus differs from most developed countries by its minimal crime rate, high living standards and relatively low prices. That’s why many tempted foreigners are buying real estate there.
For many years this island has been a second home for many people coming from all over the world. Those who’ve never been to Cyprus should really go and see what it’s like. During 320 days in a year the island is cherished by caressing sun. Cyprus is washed by waves of Mediterranean Sea that gave life to gorgeous Aphrodite, according to ancient Greek myths.
Foreigners can by properties or land lots for construction activities on the invariable property right basis. Long-term rent is hardly ever practiced in Cyprus. After setting the sale agreement the buyer will face a simple formal procedure with the lawyer. All that is necessary is to hand in an application to the Council of Ministers that will approve the purchase.
What Does It Take To Be A Donald Trump in Real Estate?
July 30, 2007
Since you are a business oriented person, you might be thinking: “oh, great, here it comes another fad that sounds to good to be true and I don’t have time for this now.” Well, the fact is, like gravity you do not have to believe in Feng Shui for it to work. Whether you believe in the law of gravity or not it exists, and it affects everything you do. As Donald Trump said: "I don’t have to believe in Feng Shui, but I use it because it makes me money.”
It is no surprise that famous people like Trump, Oprah and Spielberg and the largest companies of the world such as Coca-Cola, Sony, Shell, Procter & Gamble, and others actively embrace Feng Shui. These companies and people practice Feng Shui principles as a way to add value to their service, to increase their profitability, create harmonious relations among employees, and to reduce employee turnover. Not only that, Feng Shui differentiates them from their competitors while multiplying their earnings and free time.
StagingŪ Your Home for Sale: a Superior Real Estate Home Marketing Technique: Part 1
July 29, 2007
Every Realtor KNOWS that a home should be shown in its best light to help sell it faster and for more money! We also know that, properly done, it Is a lot more than putting fragrant pies, breads or cookies in the oven, opening the drapes and turning on all the lights; although even that helps greatly.
Setting the stage to obtain the highest value, fastest, for a home has recently evolved into a real estate specialty that can pay of grandly for the seller and help the buyer overcome the immense emotional strain of making a decision on which, of many similar properties, to purchase. For a few hundred or a few thousand dollars; a seller can increase the speed greatly and add several percentage points to the sales price, simultaneously!
For the buyer, purchasing a home is a daunting emotional progression. First the buyer determines price range, then probably a list of must haves, should haves, and hopefully included ? features, advantages, benefits and of course possible locations. However, when they preview a home that really knocks their socks off aesthetically, that list and the priorities can be instantly and dramatically reorganized in their minds! I call it the WOW factor! Few homes have it, those that do ? sell for greatly more money and much faster.
What to Look Out For When Buying Off Plan
July 29, 2007
Buying Off Plan
It can be difficult to decide when every deal seems to be not to be missed!
There are some key things I look for when buying off plan, whether it’s in the UK or abroad it makes no difference.
The property must be good value now ie it compares favourably with similar properties today, and is not based on properties going up in value 10% each of next 2-3 years.
Supply and demand ? this is vital. What is current supply and demand? What will it be when complete? If market is already looking saturated now, will it be any different in 2 years? What development is planned in area in the meantime?
Market forces ? will demand grow? Decline? Who is the market? Young professionals, holiday makers?
Interest rates ? what are current interest rates? Are they likely to go up/down?
Tax efficient/costs ? Tax can often be your biggest expense. What are property taxes like in the country looking to invest in? What is most tax efficient way to buy ie joint names, limited company? What are other taxes like? Eg Capital gains tax, wealth tax, inheritance tax, income tax.
Curb Appeal
July 28, 2007
First impressions do make a difference when selling your home. Oftentimes, before making the phone call to schedule an appointment, a homebuyer will drive by your home to determine if they may be further interested. If the house presents a good impression, then you receive the phone call for an appointment. Many homes are eliminated from a potential homebuyer’s list because they do not give a good first impression. The work you put into sprucing up the inside will be in vain if the exterior of your home does not draw people in. In the real estate world this is known as “curb appeal”, that is, your home should be appealing to potential buyers from their initial curbside or drive-by viewing.
Achieving curb appeal is not very difficult, nor does it have to be very costly. Assuming your roof, gutters, etc? are not in obvious need of repair, most of your efforts will be focused on cosmetics. Step back from your home or better yet, go to the curb and take a long objective look at your home. You may want to take a look from different angles. Compare your home to others on your block. You will be focusing on two main areas; the house itself and the landscaping surrounding your house.
What are the Elements in Real Estate?
July 27, 2007
Each element has a specific color associated with it. Because color (light) vibrates and is such a high frequency, it immediately lifts the “energy vibration” in our listings. When this happens, our listings act like magnets and attract buyers, sellers and referral business, effortlessly. This is called the Productive Cycle of Elements…when Fire creates Earth, Earth creates Metal, Metal produces Water, Water feeds Wood, and when Wood fuels Fire. Learning the “proper placement’” of these elements in your listings… to lift Ch’i..ENERGY..will exponentially increase buyer activity.
Conversely, when one or more of the elements are out of balance in a listing… buyers do not stay long in a property and RealtorsŪ do not write offers on them. For example..too much Fire in a listing burns Metal, too much Metal chops Wood, too much Wood sucks the nutrients from the Earth, too much Earth dams Water, and too much Water puts Fire out. We refer to this as the Destructive Cycle of Elements.
A Real Estate Primer
July 26, 2007
There are a great many books and web sites devoted to real estate investing out there, but most of them concentrate on one specific area of investing. It’s often hard to find a general description of real estate investing, one that lists the various real estate investing strategies and how to get started. That’s what this article will set out to do.
Before beginning, you must understand that real estate investing is not a get rich quick scheme. Real estate investing can, and will, make you wealthy, but it certainly won’t happen overnight and it will require work. As you perfect your technique and gain experience, the amount of work needed to gain a lot of money will reduce, but it will take effort and persistance to make it there.
If you’re completely new to real estate investing then the only sort of investing strategy you’re likely aware of is rental properties. Landlording has been around since there have been houses and people to rent them to, and it will continue to be a wealth builder. In fact, most of the ‘no money down’ real estate strategies you hear about still include rentals as part of their plan. Still, there are other ways to make money from real estate investing out there.
Selling Investment Houses: Psychology of Mirrors
July 25, 2007
Discover new interior Design Psychology strategies to increase your real estate profits. One technique, using mirrors as props for staging houses helps you sell your investment properties for more money, and fast.
Take advantage of a tried and true sales technique: World Book Encyclopedia sales people asked the prospective buyer where they would put their bookcase filled with the Encyclopedia. Once the buyers visualized the set in their home, they were ready to sign the contract.
Mirrors bring subtle psychological value to your home for sale. The prospective home buyers see themselves in the property and visualize themselves living in the home.
Plus, not only do mirrors make rooms seem larger, they make rooms brighter by reflecting light. People feel happier in spaces with abundant natural light. You want your buyers feeling happy in your home, so they make a quick offer — for top dollar!
Look for mirrors at warehouse, discount stores, and yard sales. We have many mirrors purchased for $2.00 to $25.00 that we use again and again in our fixers. One extra large full length mirror cost $75, but this investment returns extra dollars in higher sales.
Transforming Doghouses into Dollhouses
July 24, 2007
Successful real estate investing depends largely on a correct assessment of a property’s profit potential, but it also depends on your ability to transform a doghouse into a dollhouse. The renovation process involves physical work and choosing the best supplies, in order to create maximum positive emotional effect and profits, but if you make wise choices in your choice of colors, textures, and building materials, you’ll assure yourself a fast and cost-effective sale.
One of the most important things to remember is that our human senses and emotions are affected by decorating details and choices of materials. Potential buyers will look at your home with their eyes, but their brains will then interpret what they see and feel, according to subtle touches you’ve incorporated into your house. Your goal is to create a home that buyers won’t be able to live without.
After we’ve located and purchased a doghouse, my husband and I invite friends and family to a “Doghouse Open House Party.” We ask them to bring along any unwanted household fixtures they might have, and ask for any fix-up ideas that might occur to them while they spend time in the house. There have been many times when we’ve used those ideas when we were in need of inspiration. Having a party in the house also serves to divert our attention from what sometimes seems like an overwhelming amount of work ahead of us.
Selling Your House Fast!
July 24, 2007
The physical senses of buyers respond to a home’s design, and buyer base their purchase decisions on what the see, hear, smell, touch, and even taste. But what do buyers actually want?
All buyers what a home that most closely suits their needs and makes them feel a sense of happiness. Therefore, you’ll want to take those two factors into account when choosing your colors, patterns, and textures as you prepare your home for sale.
Don’t Paint Everything White
Buyers respond to color, and although white may look fresh, most people don’t look good in all-white rooms. If your home is meant to appeal to wealthy, well-educated buyers, use complex, muted colors. If your target buyer will be less educated, use primary or pastel colors. Also use warm color if you’ll be selling in fall or winter, and cool colors when selling in the spring or summer. If you want your buyers to feel good and look good in your home, avoid the temptation to paint the entire interior white.
Let Buyers SEE Themselves in Your Home
Some of the most important, though subtle, props you can add to your home are mirrors. They literally allow buyers to see themselves in your home, which psychologically helps them to envision themselves living there.
