Gazing into our crystal ball, this is a list of likely overseas property investment markets that should do well in 2008, assuming that the current financial disaster in process in the US does not spread like a disease across the world – which does look like a strong possibility.
Real estate has historically been viewed as a local phenomenon. Builders and investors for decades prided themselves in their ability to find the best “location, location, location” based on their local knowledge. It is among the least “tradable” of products, in the sense of being physically unmovable, even though it can be bought and sold both domestically and internationally. This combination of local knowledge and predominantly local tradeability was the primary reason why discussions of globalization in the 1990s and earlier, overlooked the real estate industry as a possible participant in the ongoing phenomenon of increasing global economic integration. Although an occasional headline would be grabbed by a foreign purchase of a local landmark (New York’s Rockefeller Center, Arco Plaza in Los Angeles, and even the Pebble Beach resort), the business itself remained largely local, with US firms dominating in US markets, and foreign firms in foreign markets.More on Globalization and the Real Estate Industry: Issues, Implications, Opportunities
More on Globalization and the Real Estate Industry: Issues, Implications, Opportunities
You are probably wondering what Feng Shui has to do with selling your home! Well, Feng Shui is the 3,000-year-old ancient art of creating peace and harmony within your home. A balanced environment supports your ability to prosper by improving your well-being for greater happiness. When used accurately it can assist you in your home selling journey to a successful end. Feng Shui is a tool at your disposal to invoke positive, impulse buying emotions within potential buyers. To get your home sold swiftly it is imperative that your home immediately provoke a connection with any potential buyers that enter. That connection lends to potential buyers ability to envision themselves living within your home. Peace and harmony are two such feelings that drive buyers to write and make offers. Let’s face it; if they are not feeling it, they are not buying it!
To create peace and harmony within your home you must consider the impact of your home’s color choices and furniture placement. Choose buttery yellows for your living room and kitchen. Yellow is a very emotional color that science has determined drives people to make buying decisions. Stay with soft hues of blues and greens for your home’s bedrooms. Keep to soft natural hues for all your home’s walls and floors and you cannot go wrong. Less is more when it comes to the amount of furniture taking up space within your home. A room packed full of furniture will not allow buyers to see the potential a space has. Remove excess pieces of furniture to allow the positive energy to flow freely throughout the space. Let me drive this point home, excess furniture will suck up your home’s equity. Is that extra chair worth more than any full price offers a potential buyer may provide you with if they could only see the space?
Feng Shui is really about harnessing and re-directing the positive energy called, “Chi.” While dispelling the negative energy residing within your home. Listen, whether you like it or not your home is continually sending out “vibes.” Potential buyers are brilliant at noticing the vibes your home is sending out. Good or Bad! Just think about it for a moment. Have you ever walked into a house and immediately felt a wash of uneasy feelings come over you? Where all you wanted was to immediately turn around and leave. This my friend is exactly what I am speaking to! If your home is throwing off even the slightest bit of negative energy, you can kiss off any realistic offers. Basically, if you need to sell your house fast get busy and start increasing the Chi, baby. And here is how:
1. The number one way to increase the positive energy flowing through your home is to open the drapes and let the sunshine in. Besides, sunshine is free! Never show your home to potential buyers without the drapes open.
2. Bring nature in by adding healthy houseplants. Sprinkle your home with cut flowers to cultivate your home’s good luck and happiness.
3. Chi loves to enter your house through the front door. Assist Chi to take a soft, meandering path through furniture placement. If Chi is allowed to travel swiftly through your home, so will potential buyers. You need buyers to linger like the Chi. Lingering buyers stay and write offers.
4. Get rid of your homes negative energy! First and foremost, de-clutter every space within your home’s walls. Clutter stops Chi in its tracks. Not to mention clutter sends a message to potential buyers that you are not ready to sell and move on. Is that the message you want to send to buyers?
5. Avoid bold or vibrant wall or floor colors. These types of colors are over stimulating for potential buyers. An over stimulating environment will push buyers right out that same door they just came in.
6. Enough already with the baking cookies before open houses. How many people do you know bought a house because it smelled like cookies? Yeah, me neither! Instead, look to essential oils for inspiration. Aromatherapy can be used to insight buying decisions because it lends to the peace and serenity of your home. All you need is just a hint of aromatherapy. Besides, artificial fragrances can provoke allergic reactions within some buyers or their children. Now there’s a sight, you calling 911 because a buyer got one whiff of your home and couldn’t catch their breath.
In summary, just let me say I am no expert in the field of Feng Shui. However, I do know the energies of your home speak loudly to any potential buyers that may enter. Anything you can do to increase your home’s positive energy to assist you in getting it sold is worth you taking a serious look. You may even consider enlisting the professional service of a Feng Shui Master to get your home in balance.
As a bird-dog your Real Estate Investor action plan is just part of your long-term goals, short-term goals and monthly action plan. Your goals (will probably) also include your personal aspirations, which may include weight loss, exercise, spirituality and other personal goals.
More on Real Estate Investor for Newbies – Strategic Action Plan for Bird-Dogs
The radical simplification of capital gains tax (CGT) announced in this week’s pre-Budget report means owners of buy-to-let properties and second homes are set to be big winners.
The introduction of a single 18 per cent CGT rate from April 6 could means savings in tax of thousands of pounds when these property owners come to sell and in some cases could cut their bills in half. But employee shareholders and long-term owners of farmland and other assets are alokely to be hit by the overhaul of tax on profits.
More on Buy to let market bouyed up by Capital Gains Tax Reforms
According to the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, London is the only region in their monthly survey of house prices and listings around the UK to experience an increase in the amount of listings. The largest price falls were in East Anglia, Wales and the Midlands. Smaller falls were seen in the South East, South West , Yorkshire & Humberside and the North West.
The following are the costs you should include on top of the purchase price when buying property in Spain.
Lawyers/Solicitor’s Fee:
Although it is not compulsory to engage a solicitor, if you are not familiar with the procedure you can appoint your own solicitor. It is important to seek professional advice from a local solicitor (Abogado). Their standard fee for the purchase of a property is 1% of the purchase price plus VAT. Using a non-local solicitor will be more expensive. The Spanish legal system is very different from other European countries and, to avoid misunderstandings, disappointments and possible fraud, it is essential to seek expert professional advice from the beginning.
Notary Fee:
These are collected by the Notary after preparing the deed and presiding over it’s signing. This fee is fixed by law, on a set scale according to the property value, but is not usually more then 1% of the purchase price including VAT.
