Property in Bulgaria - Huge Investment Potential
September 30, 2007
Bulgaria is a truly magnificent country, located in Eastern Europe with an amazing coastline that stretches over 340km along the Black Sea, with a backdrop of one of the world’s most magnificent mountain ranges and the beautiful and historic capital city of Sofia.
Today Bulgaria not only offers one of Europe’s most attractive and unspoilt holiday destinations it is also host to what will be one of the most dynamic and as of yet relatively untapped property and real estate markets.
Bulgaria has been invited into the EU and it is almost certain that full membership will start in 2007 creating yet another huge surge in the Bulgarian property market. If you’re looking for an excellent investment or a home in the sun then Bulgaria may be a perfect choice for you.
Getting to Bulgaria
If you live in the UK travel to Bulgaria over the past few years has become ever easier. Currently there are a range of direct flights from UK airports flying directly to Sofia in 2.5 hrs. The flights are run by the low cost operators and are priced extremely competitively.
Foreign Ownership of Bulgarian Property
How to Build Your Dream Home
September 29, 2007
Building your dream home is a process that takes some individuals a lifetime. Hardly anyone knows early in life what exactly constitutes “dream home” in her eyes. Pinning down the details that you want may take years of “starter” homes and building mistakes to learn what truly works for you. It is helpful to keep a list of likes and dislikes about each house that you live in. Consider everything from major aspects like size and layout to minor details like cabinet space and tile coloring. It is hard to remember everything that you have learned from previous living situations when faced with the stress and endless choices involved with building a new home. Keeping detailed records is a good way to stay level headed under pressure.
One good way to get good ideas for your dream home is to do active research. Any time you see a house for sale, stop and take a walk through to add to your likes and dislikes list. Steal ideas- it is allowed! Model homes are another great way to check out floor plans and housing designers. Home shows are one of the best ways to get ideas. These homes are fully decorated, and decorating the house well is almost more important in creating a dream home that the actual layout. Often these homes provide great inspiration for wall coloring, wood color, counter tops and furniture ideas. Be open minded, and home shows may provide a whole new perspective.
How to Attract Clients in Residential Real Estate
September 28, 2007
Doesn’t it seem like everyone you know has a friend, relative, or acquaintance that is a realtor? How could anyone, especially someone new to the industry, possibly achieve success when faced with this much competition?
The answer begins to appear when you consider the following questions:
- How many licensed real estate agents have the talents required for success in sales?
- How many have been trained in effective selling techniques?
- How many know how to prospect effectively?
- How many know which questions to ask to determine the factors that are most important to each prospect’s buying decision?
- How many take their profession seriously and are willing to put in the effort and hours that are required to build a successful business?
- How many of them regularly sell multiple houses per month?
The 80/20 rule definitely applies to residential real estate. In fact, some statistics suggest the ratio is more like 90/10 (where 90% of home sales are made by just 10% of realtors), with the vast majority of home sales by the top 1%!
So, how can a novice realtor attract clients? By building his or her credibility and relationships. Let’s explore these two topics separately.
How to Build Credibility
Atlanta Georgia Real Estate - Marietta - East Cobb, Roswell, and Alpharetta
September 27, 2007
Whether you’re a "move up" home buyer, downsizing, or relocating to the metro Atlanta area, you’ll find a diverse range of home styles and price ranges just north of downtown in the Marietta ? East Cobb, Roswell, Alpharetta corridor. Featuring affordable single family homes, condominiums, townhouses, and luxury real estate, these communities also offer great schools and unbeatable location.
East Cobb is truly the hidden gem of the local real estate market. Without a large highway, neighborhoods and homes in this part of Marietta offer a peace not often found in metropolitan areas. As such, families often choose East Cobb for its kid friendliness and reputation for having top public schools. The hallmark of east Cobb real estate is its exclusivity and low Cobb county taxes. New construction homes in east Cobb differs from the rest of Marietta ? it has become difficult to find a new home for under $500,000 in this area. Resale homes can be found in almost any price range in the east Cobb. Real estate values have done very well in the last few years and show no signs of slowing down. While unique restaurants and nightlife are not abundant, many are within driving distance of most any East Cobb neighborhood.
Investment Real Estate Done Right — Your Quickest and Safest Path to Wealth
September 27, 2007
In investment real estate the quickest way to wealth is through owner financing, or lease optioning. So, let’s take a look at one model transaction, involving the purchase and sale of two properties on lease-option contracts so you an apply it to your own investment real estate system.
Assume you buy an investment property for $50,000 to $60,000, and you sell it on a lease-option contract for $80,000. You receive $4,000 as a down payment from the buyer, and you will get the remainder of the balance in 12 months. You’ve created a note for the remaining $76,000 that pays you $570 monthly (interest-only payments of 9%). This gives you nearly $7,000 more in interest payments, if you keep this property for a year. You then find a rehab property in an inexpensive neighborhood that you can get for $35,000. You offer a 10% down payment of $3,500, promising to pay of the loan in 13 months or less.
A Singles Game of Real Estate
September 26, 2007
This discussion leans toward answering questions asked most often by our youthful men and women in there early twenties. They often begin to ask themselves the question, "Should I consider buying a home, condo/town-home or some other type of real estate that I can call my own?" Due to the fact that housing has up to this point always been provided for or lived in on a rented basis we tend to find that our newest contributing members of society find themselves at a loss for the most beneficial and advantageous way to enter this next phase of self-sufficiency.
Due to the fact that most of us grow up in either a rented apartment or our parent’s single family home, it stands to reason that most people, when beginning to ask themselves the question of purchasing their own dwelling, will come to the conclusion that a condo or small house is probably the way to go. That’s a result of conditioning and it’s a hard mindset to break! After taking the time to talk to or personally guide a respectable number of people in their twenties, I have come to find that firm, direct and accurate information can really adjust the reality of how real estate can be acquired and used to their best advantage starting with property that sets the tone for a much more profitable and rewarding future.
Dont Sell Your House–Ever!
September 25, 2007
Keeping your existing house when you buy a new one could be THE most profitable financial decision you could make. Consider the following:
1. Second stream of income: When you move to another place and keep your current house as a rental, this gives you an extra stream of income.
2. Pay less tax: Your rental property produces business income. When you have a business, you are entitled to tax write-offs. This could save you a lot of money that you would normally pay to CCRA (Revenue Canada).
3. Fast wealth: Tenants will pay off your mortgage in a rental property. Your net-worth will grow without you having to save out of your own income. When you have one or more tenants there is a team effort in building your wealth, fast!
4. Bargain priced: You will never again be able to buy the same type of property for the amount you paid for it originally. The value of all the other houses have gone up along with yours. You already own what an investor would consider a bargain in the current market.
Buying New Construction…How Do I Begin?
September 24, 2007
The prospect of shopping for a new construction residence can be quite daunting, but the rewards of owning a brand new home out-weight the disadvantages if you know the potential pitfalls. The following are important considerations: Overall Dollar Budget, Location, Cost Per Square Foot, Finishes, Upgrades, Parking and Delivery Date.
Overall Dollar Budget
To establish a budget for purchasing a home, you should speak with a mortgage professional prior to looking for property. In terms of your budget, keep in mind that parking is usually not included in the purchase price that is quoted by the developer. In addition, in today’s market the list price of the unit is typically not negotiable.
The best way to establish a budget is to determine how much money you will need as a down payment and how much money you will need as a down payment and how much you feel comfortable spending, based on your gross income, for monthly payments. Remember that the real estate taxes are generally included in your monthly mortgage payment and should be calculated at a minimum of 2% of the purchase price.
How Can I Stop Foreclosure on My House?
September 23, 2007
We understand the being in foreclosure is a scary thing. You are probably wondering how can I stop foreclosure on my house. There are many options available when facing foreclosure. They may include reinstating the loan, forbearance, loan modification, mortgage refinancing, sale of the property, deed in lieu of foreclosure, or bankruptcy filing.
There are also many services that will work with your to help with your situation. These companies are able to tailor a plan specific to your needs. It is most important to know that time is your worst enemy when facing foreclosure. Even if you are just one payment behind, you should do something rather than wait until you are even more behind. This may sound like common sense but many people fail to do something, and just pretend like nothing it wrong. Seeking help before you are 90 days or more behind on your payments can greatly increase your chances of success.
A Possible Bargain: Foreclosed Properties
September 22, 2007
In the superheated San Francisco Bay Area property market, foreclosed properties are available at as much as 40% below market value, writes Srini Saripalli.The last few months of a calendar year are considered sluggish for transacting real estate, but Silicon Valley seems to be an exception to this. Properties are appreciating rapidly at this time of the year and this year has been one of the best years for selling real estate.
Understanding the marketplace and rationalizing the escalating prices has become difficult for investors and homebuyers . At a time when real estate prices are soaring there are still many opportunities to buy properties that are 30 percent to 40 percent below market value. Foreclosures are one of the best ways to find great bargains.
So what is a foreclosure?
A foreclosure is a legal process that a lender initiates after the borrower fails to repay the loan as per the terms of the contract. The lender initiates the foreclosure process to reclaim the possession and ownership of the property. For example, let’s say a borrower has a mortgage of $1 million on his property that is worth $1.5 million. Let’s assume monthly payments on a $1million mortgage are about $9,000. If the borrower misses three consecutive monthly payments, then at the end of the 90th day or third month the lender will file a “Notice of Default” at the county recorder’s office. This is the notice that indicates pending foreclosure proceedings. It also indicates the auction date. At this time the borrower will have the following options:
