Posts Tagged ‘Investment Property’
Posted on July 3, 2009 - by admin
Thailand property? There’s one for you!
The Thailand real estate market is very diverse. Whether you are looking for an investment property, or the perfect place to spend a vacation, there is a property to meet your needs in Thailand
Read the original here:
Thailand property? There’s one for you!
Posted on May 18, 2009 - by admin
Owning Retirement Property In Mexico: How To Finance The Dream
Just a few years ago, there was no solution for financing property in Mexico. Mexican banks don’t offer the kind of generous home loans that we enjoy in the United States. On the other hand, US lenders were hesitant to write loans for property located outside of the country that they had very little control over. However, with the huge surge of more adventurous retiring Baby Boomers and a US housing market that seems to have reached a plateau, people are finding more and more ways to buy investment property in Mexico.
The most popular way to purchase property in Mexico is to pay in cash. The cost of property is so much less than here in the United States that many homeowners can use a second mortgage or the profit from an investment sale and pay for a property in Mexico outright. The gem of the Mexican real estate market today is the Costa Maya, a 57 mile strip of white sandy beachfront located along the Caribbean Sea where entire lots are selling for as little as $60,000.
Paying in cash from the sale of investments is the least complicated way to buy property in Mexico and the most affordable. Interest rates on international loans are, not surprisingly, higher than a standard property loan. Additionally, there are fewer restrictions. Since the concept of an international property loan in the US is still in its infancy, lenders have a tendency to be ultra-cautious.
However, for those who need to or prefer to seek out an international property loan, the choice is a viable solution. Buying property in Mexico today can be an extremely lucrative investment. Those who invested in Cancun in its “early days” just 30 or so years ago have made incredible returns on their investment. The once quaint fishing village now has become one of the most popular tourist destinations and retirement hotspots, with property values in excess of $1 million.
With an international property loan, expect to put down at least 30% and a repayment term of 20 years. Normally, you’ll have to show that the property is a second home or vacation home, and will not be your primary residence. Lenders want to make sure that you still have ties to the US and so will still have an incentive to pay back the loan.
Another trend is international financing companies located in Mexico, that are partnered with US companies, looking to tap into the fast growing American interest in investment property in Mexico. Companies such as Houston based ConfiCasa Riviera Maya advertise cross-border loans with current rates between 7.99% and 11.98% depending on credit score, the amount borrowed, and the length of repayment. ConfiCasa offers interest rates as low as $50,000 as well as development loans, ideal for investors looking to get in on blossoming coastal development in its infancy.
Lack of financing is no longer a reason to put off buying investment property in Mexico. Of course there will be more work involved with buying international property, but with the housing market leveling off and predicted to drop, it’s time to look into real estate investment opportunities with more potential for big returns. Mexico and its booming real estate market is on the radar for serious real estate investors-the good news is that now just about anyone can get in early on the opportunity.
Posted on May 2, 2009 - by admin
Mexico Real Estate Investing
There are numerous reasons why you should seriously consider buying Mexico Real Estate, but it will ultimately boil down to both personal choice and circumstances. Everybody knows that investing in Mexico real estate is an intelligent decision.
One thing is for sure, however, before buying, you need to delve deep in to your reasons for looking at Mexico real estate. Are you planning to live in Mexico for a long time? A long term rental may not be a wise decision. This will mean that you will be paying for a long time and at the end of the stay you do not have any asset to speak of. You may consider buying the property in this case.
Since Mexico is a very well known tourist destination, it serves as a perfect vacation home. A condo hotel in Mexico or a villa can serve as an overseas investment property that will provide a handsome rental income while also providing you with a vacation home whenever you want. Nowadays, condo hotels in Mexico are equipped with all modern amenities to speak of. They mostly have pools, Jacuzzis, gym, spa etc. Since, they are managed by a property management company; you don’t have to worry about maintenance of the property and rentals.
Mexico is also an ideal location, if your company looking for a new location, second headquarters, warehouse or manufacturing facility.
Whatever your reasons for looking at buying Property in Mexico real estate, it is important to realize that it can the best investment decision you ever made. Property values in Mexico have been consistently appreciating every year, just like they do almost anywhere else in world. But, property values of Mexico real estate do not typically appreciate as phenomenally and quickly as they do in the North American countries like United States and Canada or Europe . This makes property buying in Mexico a value for buyers. In addition, as with any property, the true appeal and value of property in Mexico comes down to one thing only – location!
This brings us to another important thing to think about when you are looking at Mexico real estate is the state of development in the immediate vicinity as well as the surrounding governmental infrastructure of the whole entire area. Some areas are much more developed than others, while some are hardly developed at all. While property values will be cheaper in these areas on account of lack of development and infrastructure, be careful when you are looking at these sorts of locations in the purchase of Mexico real estate. Though rapid development is taking place all over Mexico , any development in that area may take time to catch up.
To summarize: Before purchasing Mexico real estate, you first need to conduct extensive research, choose your location and property with due diligence, and ensure that you then hire the right professionals and that the law is strictly followed. Scores of foreign investors have successfully purchased land and property in Mexico and with the right approach and plenty of research, there is no reason why you should not become one of them if you should decide to buy some Mexico real estate.
Author: Jason Keiller
Posted on April 29, 2009 - by admin
Buying Property in Puerto Vallarta
There are many reasons why you should seriously consider buying Puerto Vallarta real estate, but it will ultimately come down to both personal choice and individual circumstances. One thing’s for sure, however, before buying, you need to decide what your reasons are for looking at Puerto Vallarta real estate. Are you planning to live in Mexico for a long time and therefore you view a long term rental as a waste of possible equity? Are you looking for an overseas investment property that will provide a handsome rental income while also providing you with a vacation home whenever you can get away? Is your company looking for a new location, second headquarters, and warehouse or manufacturing facility?
Whatever your reasons for looking at Property in Puerto Vallarta, Playa del Carmen Real Estate or Cancun Real Estate, it is important to realize that it can be a very smart investment. For one thing, property values in Mexico have been consistently going up every year, just like they do almost anywhere else – as we know, one thing that is NOT being manufactured is more land. However, property values of Puerto Vallarta real estate do not typically appreciate as quickly as they do in the U.S. , Europe, Canada and other ‘developed’ countries, making it a value for buyers from these other nations at almost any given time. In addition, as with any property, the true appeal and value of Property in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico comes down to one thing only – location!
This brings us to another important thing to think about when you are looking at Puerto Vallarta real estate is the state of development in the immediate vicinity as well as the surrounding governmental infrastructure of the whole entire area. Some areas are much more developed than others, while some are hardly developed at all. While property values will be cheaper in underdeveloped areas, be careful when you are looking at these sorts of locations in the purchase of Real Estate in Puerto Vallarta.
Author: Tom Budniak
Posted on April 14, 2009 - by admin
Slovenia Property for Sale – Buy Investment Property for Huge Gains With Low Risk
Slovenia property for sale, if you choose the right locations can make you huge gains and is one of the top investment property destinations in the world today.
Discover Slovenia property and you may be glad you did, it could make great gains with low risk.
Let’s look at Slovenia in more detail and its potential.
With investment property available for around $40,000 and growth rates exceeding 30% in many areas and with more gains to come, savvy overseas property investors are snapping up bargains.
This is still a market in its infancy and buying cheap property for sale in Slovenia offers a market that is growing and will continue to grow.
Location
Slovenia is a small country (half the size of Switzerland) situated between Austria, Italy, Hungary and Croatia.
It a country of outstanding natural beauty. There is something for everyone and that includes, rugged mountains, huge forests, valleys dotted with vineyards and a stretch of beautiful coastline on the Adriatic.
Why is Slovenia booming?
Slovenia is one of the newest countries of the European Economic Union and has strong economic growth of the new member states.
With this economic growth has come a demand for housing, particularly in the capital, Ljubljana.
The city is cosmopolitan and has been liked to Prague and features beautiful Baroque architecture.
Quality housing is in short supply and land development laws which are stringent are restricting the amount of cheap property for sale in the Slovenian capital and prices are rising.
With growth rates above 30% and a booming rental market it is returning great gains for property investors.
If you want straight investment gains, a lucrative income from the buoyant buy to let market or simply a holiday home Slovenia offers a great deal for overseas investors.
Other popular destinations to buy cheap property for sale in Slovenia include:
Primorska located on the Adriatic coast.
This Venetian town with cobbled streets and beautiful church spires is a stunning and bustling town.
Gorenjska which is located in the mountains which is popular with the skiing community and there are many other areas to take advantage of buying investment property
Slovenia’s largest ski resort is in the Pohorje mountains and is the home of the popular Mariborsko Pohorje ski resort.
This resort is best known for its fantastic white ski slopes, cross-country trails, with huge forests, pristine streams and is an area of outstanding natural beauty.
Nearby, the city of Maribor is Slovenias second-largest and a popular place to buy investment property.
Another popular destination is the Kranjska Gora ski resort, which is located in the Zgornjesavska Valley, one of the most beautiful Alpine valleys.
Skiing is booming and buying property for sale in Slovenia in these specific areas can offer good returns and lucrative “buy to let rentals”
There are of course other locations to choose from to buy a Slovenian investment property and with any emerging market location is the key.
If you are looking a t investment property, Slovenia has relatively cheap property in a stable and growing country, (this market already rated as one of the top ten investment property destinations in the world) and could offer you great capital gains.
Discover what Slovenia property for sale could offer you and you may be glad you did.
Posted on April 13, 2009 - by admin
Europe Is Top Destination For Property Investment
A recent study has revealed that six out of the top 10 most popular property investment destinations are located within Europe. It seems as though the likes of Spain, France, Cyprus and Italy are still firm favourites amongst investors when it comes to deciding where to spend their hard earned money.
The study also noticed that there has been an increase in the number of people under 40 who are getting into property investment. Traditionally the market has been dominated by retirees who want a holiday home or to move abroad after giving up work. Although they will always make up a large segment of the market, it is now no longer unusual for someone under the age of 40 to own property abroad.
The reason for the increase in the number of younger investors is because people are wising up to the benefits of property investment as they realise this is a great way of securing their future. The top five destinations are all well - known cities where people are pretty much guaranteed a return on their investment.
Buying property in up and coming holiday hot spots is a sure fire way to make a large amount of profit when it comes to property investment. Chances are that house prices are currently still reasonably priced in the area but once more and more people buy homes and holiday there, house prices are going to shoot up. This means that those who were lucky enough to get in there before the prices increased are going to make a significant amount of money out of their investment.
It is not hard to see why Europe is such a popular destination for those looking into property investment. The most popular choices such as Cyprus, Italy and Spain all enjoy warm climates throughout the year, are significantly cheaper than the UK and offer plenty to do in the form of entertainment. This is further fuelled by the fact that flights within Europe seem to be getting cheaper and cheaper as more budget airlines fight to compete with each other. This means that anyone with property abroad doesn’t have to spend an absolute fortune in air travel going back and forth.
Property investment can also make a great second income for those who don’t choose to live in the apartment, house or villa. Renting the property out is the perfect way of getting your foot on the property ladder in a foreign country. The money made from doing this may even pay off the costs of the entire property which means when it comes to selling it on the money you get for it will be entirely profit.
Posted on April 4, 2009 - by admin
Overseas Investment Property - a Top 10 Investment Destination
Here we are going to look at a top 10 investment destination with forecast growth of up to 300% in the next ten years - the country is Slovenia, a recent member of the European Union and situated at the very heart of Europe.
So why is buying property in Slovenia such a good investment? Let’s take a look.
Slovenia is a small country about the size of Switzerland which has borders with: Austria, Croatia, Italy and Hungary. It has a highly skilled workforce and the country has an important strategic position at the crossroads of Europe.
It joined the EU in 2004 and has adopted the euro and has achieved the highest GDP of any new member state. Investment has come from the EU, as well as private investors and the economy is booming.
As with any economy that’s booming, higher disposable incomes means demand for quality housing is rising and demand cannot keep pace with supply. In the capital Ljubljana for example, price rises of 30% per annum are being achieved and there is the opportunity for good rental incomes as well. The boom is not just restricted to the capital and other areas are seeing strong rises. The demand for skiing property in Slovenia has seen the resorts near the Julian Alps see high demand.
Other areas with good potential for capital gains include:
The established holiday resorts of Lake Bled and Bohinj and The Soca Valley. In fact all over the country gains can be made and there are plenty of Slovenian estate agents that specialize in helping investors get the right property for their budget and investment aims.
As Slovenia actively promotes its tourist industry and cheap budget airlines make access cheaper than ever, the demand for high quality property in the popular tourist resorts will continue to see good rises in price.
Buying is easy and is designed to protect both buyers and sellers.
The process should take no more than a month to complete. You can also arrange mortgages on your Slovenian property which are secured on the property in Slovenia and not your principle residence so you can maximize cash flow.
As with all property booms, this one is set to last for decades, its in its infancy and the property market looks to remain strong for the foreseeable future.
It’s a safe, stable and beautiful country and it’s no wonder it has been voted one of the top ten overseas investment property investment locations in the world.
Take a look at what Slovenian property has to offer in terms of growth and you maybe glad you did.
Posted on March 3, 2009 - by admin
Florida Investment Real Estate - Preconstruction Investment Property
Investment in real estate has always been considered a solid and safe investment. While markets have experienced poorer times, over all, real estate prices continue to climb. While there are different ways to invest in property, it is always important to ensure you invest in the right areas. That’s why Florida is receiving a lot large of attention from investment professionals. Real Estate prices in Florida have continued to rise over the last 5 years. This trend should continue, especially considering that the population of the Florida area is rising so rapidly. Such large increases are drawing investors towards the Florida, but why are they particularly interested in PreConstruction property investment?
Preconstuction property is different from other forms of real estate as it involves buying properties before it developed or sold. This means that you are getting involved at a much earlier stage in the development life cycle, meaning that you chances for higher profits are increased substantially. Developers are renowned for making large margins. All that money can be absorbed and shared with you if you go for the PreConstruction option – that’s why so many people are doing it. With so much extra money kicking around, many investors are selling once their properties are built out. They are just selling them on and re-investing into the next preconstruction opportunity.
Because of the periods of time between initially investing and the property being fully ready, investors stand to make profits from the appreciation of the market during that time. However, you are probably thinking to yourself, what if it goes the other way? What if the market falls? Well in that instance you will only risk your deposit. That’s what makes Preconstuction investing so attractive. You either hit the ball out of the park or, in the worst case scenario, end up loosing your deposit money.
If you are interested in investing in Preconstuction property, then you should initially consider if you are sure it is the right choice for you. Evaluate your options and consider if there are other investment opportunities that you also feel could have similar returns. Once you have weighed up the option, and considered the risk/reward ratio of both, you will be able to come to a decision that is in your best interest. Remember, you will be hard pressed to find a better risk to reward proposition.
Posted on March 2, 2009 - by admin
10 Questions to Ask your Real Estate Investment Advisor - Part 1
Whether you are an experienced investor or just a beginner, you should always beware of the guru who read a couple of books and armed himself with some general information. I’m not talking about the book and tape salesperson here, but rather the realtor, wholesaler or self proclaimed real estate specialist who is trying to sell you an investment property. Whether you’re buying a property or going into business with someone, you should always do your homework.
In this article, the first of two parts, I’ll offer some of the questions you should ask anyone before working with them.
1) Are you, yourself, an investor and how many properties do you own in the local area? If they answer “none” or say they just rent an apartment, run!
Watch out for the slick book and tape sales people who don’t own any investment property and know nothing about the local market. They will take your money and run. I met a new investor last year who had paid over $5,000 to attend a two day seminar taught by a guy out of California who knew nothing about the Atlanta market. Nothing good can come of that. Deal with locals who not only know the concepts but can help you find the right properties to invest in.
2) Can you provide me with a list of bank owned and foreclosed properties in my area?
If they can’t provide this, run!
If they can provide you a list, pick a property on it and ask this next set of questions.
3) What’s the property’s tax value?
This is a “DUH” question - if the Realtor or Investment Specialist can not give you the assessed value of a property, they need change careers. You would be surprised by the numbers of “PROS” that don’t even know where to start to look for that information.
Generally, the tax value or the accessed value put on a property in Georgia is typically 10 to 20 percent below the market value. When I start my search for possible deals, the first thing I look for is properties priced below the accessed value of the property.
Example #1
List Price is $200,000
Accessed Value is $220,000
This might be a possibility because I estimate the Retail Value of the house to be 10% higher than the Accessed Value or $242,000.
Example #2
Just reverse #1 - list price is $220,000
Accessed Value is $200,000
I probably would not consider this house because I estimate the Retail Value of the house to be $220,000 - no deal here!
Remember tax value is only one of the factors you should consider before buying a house but I consider it a good starting point. If someone is trying to sell you a property and they can’t provide tax value, it could be they don’t want you to know.
4) Can you give me a list of comparables in the area?
Another “DUH” question. Most Realtors can pull a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) which will show the sales history for the past year to include the following categories: Sold, Expired, Under Contract, and Active Listing. Additionally, the Realtor should be able to provide a Area Market Analysis (AMS) which will provide the average Days On Market by category.
5) How many days has this property been on market (referred to as Days On Market, or DOM)?
If their reply is “I don’t have access to that information”: run. Any Realtor should know that information is available but finding it is the trick. Keep in mind the length of time the property has been on the market does not coincide with the foreclosure date. It could take 30 to 60 days after a property has foreclosed to get it listed with a Realtor and into the MLS.
Why are days on market important? The longer the property has been on the market - the more flexible the seller. Banks and other financial institutions are not in the property management business. Everyday expenses include loss of income, maintenance, insurance, and possible vandalism. I like to submit low offers on properties that have been on the banks books for over 4 months. Offer cash with a quick closing - you will be surprised how flexible the banks will become considering it may be the only offer they have received on the property.\
Visit the Hold That House Blog for more tips on real estate investing.
Posted on February 25, 2009 - by admin
under new Ohio law, is it okay to shoot someone trespassing on investment property?
I have a rental property that was broken into. If it happened again, and I happened to be there, would I be entitled to shoot, even if the burglar was unarmed or had just a hacksaw or wrench?
ps. I’d aim for the legs, I wouldn’t want to kill the b@stard
