PropertiesMagazine.com Real Estate Blog

Michael Miller




Investment in real estate is a craze today with people associated with Carlton Sheets program investing money on few courses to earn money by investing in real estate. This article informs you of five important principles which can assist you to earning high returns by investing in real estate.

Principle #1- The money is made in the purchase

Just as you invest in stocks, it is same with property investing where you want to buy out property during slump period. This is usually done so that when the property market shoots up you can go in for some big profits.

You may have to spend good deal of time in evaluating properties as this is essential. If you are unable to assure yourself of the math that it is indeed a good proposition, there is no chance that your investment in real estate would be successful in bearing any remarkable returns.

Principle #2- Monitor Cash flow

Investment in property has a monthly rental income which is normally utilized to repay the mortgage loan installments and to rectify faults and maintain the property. You may have to keep a sharp eye on interest rates as any abnormal hike can wipe out your anticipated returns on the investments you’ve made.

Principle #3- Leverage on other people’s time

You should keep in mind that no single person can perform every task, so you need to direct your focus on what you can do best. If you can well negotiate the property deals, utilize your time evaluating properties and then hire professionals or contractors to do the rest for you. By targeting what you do best, and allowing other people to do remaining work, you are leveraging on their expertise and time. This way you can expect to make more money from each of your deal.

Principle #4- Learn how to use leverage with a good rainy day cash balance

Are you aware that many good investors in real estate actually started with small amount of money? Big real estate developers like Donald Trump have successfully utilized the strength of leverage when they went on investing in properties. The advantage of leverage is that you can manage and control more property than what you own. You must however remember to keep away some fund for rainy day so as to hedge against during the period when there is low unit occupancy in your property.

Principle #5- Spend time networking with professionals

You may be interested in some latest property hot deals? The great way to know about the deals is to break into the property group of professionals. They would actually become your eyes and ears and can tell you the latest real estate information on ground. Many large and successful property investors have first player advantage and by networking with property brokers they usually close the gap.

So, in conclusion, you should utilize your time to learn about these five principles and how they can help you in your investments in real estate and soon you might see a quantum jump in your real estate gains.

Don Hill




Sales and rentals of real estate in the Czech Republic, and especially in the capital, Prague, are booming.

This boom is genuine. It does not flow from the kind of “irrational exuberance” that U.S. economist Alan Greenspan once warned his countrymen to avoid.

The robust health of the real property markets here covers every segment: middle- and high-end residential, hospitality, retail, office and industrial. And it is founded on the strongest economic growth in the country’s history.

The government numbers for last year are out. They show that the Czech Gross Domestic Product, or GDP, remained this year at 2005′s high of 6.1 percent.

Some leading analysts say that this is the peak and that annual economic growth will level off now at a sustainable 5 percent. Household spending remains strong, inflation moderate and long-term investors active.

Of the trio of CEE nations that entered the European Union in 2004 – the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland — the Czechs far-and-away have blossomed most in the free markets.
Boutique hotels & Serviced Apartments

Much of the strength of today’s Czech economy stems from tourism. Prague, the “city of a thousand spires,” has become also the city of 100 four- and five-star hotels. Leading the way in the last two years has been the march of a phenomenon known as boutique hotels. These are small, often expensive hostelries with individual personalities. A recent example: the Mandarin Oriental, housed in a former 14th century monastery in Mala Strana,

Gentrifying Zizkov

Residential development also is powering real estate action. The present king of this segment is Central Park Praha, part of 50 hectares of land where Zizkov meets Vinohrady, from near Hlavni Nadrazi to Olsanska hrzbitov (cemetery).

At a cost of 4 billion crowns, developer CPP Development is constructing 180 of what it calls “luxury residential apartments,” already virtually sold out at prices from 10 million crowns each to twice that.

CPP Development’s Managing Director Milan Ganik recently told The Prague Post that he is untroubled by the Zizkov neighborhood’s raffish reputation and history. Zizkov won’t tarnish CPP, he said in effect. CPP will gentrify Zizkov.

In the Beginning

After the communist regime fell in 1989, the new Czech government placed privatization of state properties near the top of its agenda. Despite privatization’s many stumbles and missteps, history has validated this strategy.

Privatization and its cousin, restitution, ignited the engines and the energy of private ownership. The result, in just a decade and a half, is evident in the cheery facades, the builders’ scaffolding, the merchandise-stuffed shops and the scurrying crowds that are ubiquitous in Prague, and to a lesser extent in other Czech cities.

Wade Robins




While the term “real estate” may have had its roots in medieval times, when all land was considered the property of the monarch, and therefore of the “royal estate”, today real estate refers to land, and its natural resources like water, minerals, and timber, and any improvements which have been made on it.

But the value of real estate in the 21st century is now seen as more than a parcel with resources and improvements; it is seen as a sound investment. Because people will always need shelter, and buildable real estate is a limited commodity, the value of real estate only appreciates over time as the world population increases. Real estate is one of the best inflation-proof investments in existence.

Real Estate Professions

There are numerous professions within the real estate industry, and they all center on the buying, selling, and maintaining of property. They include property appraisers, real estate brokers, land developers, property managers, and relocaters.

Property appraisers assess real estate and assign it a fair market value before it is placed on the market; real estate brokers act as go-between for buyers and sellers; land developers add improvements like roads and buildings to land; property managers will oversee the proper use of the land and its improvements; and relocators help those who are moving their families or businesses to another part of the world.

Real Estate Negotiations

Someone interested in purchasing a particular piece of real estate will eventually have to negotiate a selling price with its owner. Real estate price negotiation is as much of an art form as the ancient art of horse trading, and the approach which one takes to a real estate price negotiation will depend on the circumstances.

If you have not signed a contract with a real estate broker to negotiate for you, or you are buying a new property directly from the developer, you should first of all not appear overly anxious to get the property. First clarify the asking price with the seller or developer; and when you are sure exactly what is included, say that you need a few days to think it over.

If you are working with a real estate broker, indicate that you are looking at several properties, and then make an offer of below the quoted asking price, saying it is close to what you are willing to pay but there might be room for negotiation, depending on what you hear about your offers on other properties.

You should always make your offer twice the amount lower than the asking price that you are actually willing to pay, so that you and the seller can meet halfway. If you want the seller to come down 10%, make your offer 20% less than the asking price.

And always make sure to get in wiring that you are buying the property “as is, where is,” when you have settled on the price and are drawing up the selling agreement.

Joseph Kayode




A real estate appraisal also known as a property valuation surveyor or land valuer is the practice for evaluating the worth of the real property on ground, usually its market value, value-in-use, insurable value, investment value and liquidation value. These are to be done to know the right value of a property before decisions are made.

A real estate appraisal is highly important to investors. An appraisal is a third party that will come in and decide upon the worth of a property. He will oversee the interior and exterior of the property and other properties in the area and then will proceed to determine how much the property will worth. An appraisal is done for both the buyers and sellers because, while the buyer does not want to overpay for a property, the seller does not want to sell his property for less than its worth. It is highly advisable to buy or sell a property after it has been valued by an appraisal.

Property valuation is performed by an approved or qualified appraiser (also known as estate valuer or land valuer in most countries and in British English as a “valuation surveyor”).

The real estate appraisal is done using various methods such as: cost method, income method, and sales comparison method.

Cost method involves the estimated cost of improvements in the property, value of the land and deterioration factors.

Income method is used to value commercial and investment properties. This approach is generally considered the most applicable valuation technique for income-producing properties.

Sales comparison method compares the sale prices of similar properties that have been sold recently.

Doing a proper appraisal with various methods explained above will help you to know the right value of a property in order not to overpay for a property or sell property for less than it’s worth.

Jennifer Bailey




The United States real estate market is growing faster then ever before. Sarasota has become a pre-construction real estate hot spot. Pre-construction is the most profitable phase of investment in real estate. New construction offers a wider choice of location and layout, with the most desirable finance options. Pre-construction is considered a healthy investment, making investors wealthy beyond their wildest dreams. Investors in pre-construction real estate are willing to take bigger risks for a chance to make huge profits.

Sarasota has for long been an upper class vacation destination with its pristine white beaches, exciting nightlife, 5 star restaurants and hotels, and its interesting mix of cultures. The Sarasota pre-construction market has witnessed a boom in the last few years. There are downtown condos, beachfront high-rise condos, single-family residences and mansions under development. Sarasota is a sellers market and most properties remain on the market only for small period.

Prices of Sarasota real estate in its pre-construction stage are significantly lower and more affordable to the investor. Pre-construction sale has shown a significant increase over the years and continues to grow. Investors have the advantage of not having to pay any local and state taxes for many years.

Pre-construction deals are usually not advertised in the initial stages. Deals are mostly brokered via a network of estate agents who sell directly on behalf of the developers. Brokers reserve a number of units for their top clientele. The second stage of construction brings on a 10% increase in price. On selection of a property, an investor pays a deposit of around 10% of the purchase price. An additional 10% is usually paid within the next three months. Investors are able to sell their units within a year at a profit of 20% or more.

The increasing interest in Real Estate investment trusts shows that real estate investment return is becoming an important part of a Sarasota investor’s investment portfolio.

Barry Petersen




The world of real estate may be plain and ordinary to those who understand it, but for those who are about buy properties and have no significant idea about the industry, simple research will go a long way.

What is real estate and what is a real estate agent? Real Estate is a term, in countries such as the U.K., USA, Canada, and the Bahamas, which covers land, improvements and fixtures in a certain property. It can refer to the land itself, the air above it and what lies under. A real estate buyers agent is someone who helps other people who are selling or buying properties. An agent can help a person if he wants to sell a house through a third party and will also assist in decisions regarding the price of the house, finalize the sale and provide guidance all throughout the process.

An is one who is licensed to help people sell or to act on behalf of others who are trying to purchase a property. The agent is usually trained through courses and must pass examinations that allow him to obtain his license. Though a person can buy or sell a property by himself, there are so many laws to be observed that often, he gets in trouble when he has little knowledge of transactions of this nature. Thus, many buyers or sellers find hiring an agent a much easier for them. Plus, hiring an agent as a seller will also get your property advertised by the company where the realtor works.

What are the qualities of a good agent? Try to ask the people around you, your friend, neighbor and relatives to describe their previous experiences with someone who has helped them sell any properties. Good and trustworthy agents have customer satisfaction as their number one priority. And a good feedback from customers means that the agent is a good choice.

Look for agents on the Internet. Try to find the top real estate companies in your place, look into their site and look up the profiles of individual agents. Also, try to look for customer testimonials.

Search for advertisements. Real estate advertisements are run by agents for two major reasons. One is to sell real estate and the next is to promote their services. View the web sites of agents who are advertising. Contact them and ask them about their experience.

Agents help you save time. Instead of handling all the work yourself, leave it to a good and reliable agent. After agreeing on the terms and conditions, he will do all the necessary work.

Calum MacKenzie




Understanding the real estate tax laws in Florida can be tricky-there are several different factors that can affect the rate at which you’re taxed. The size of your property tax bill depends on two main factors-the assessed value of your property, and the tax rate (expressed as tax dollars paid per thousand dollars of assessed property value) for each local government body in your area which taxes property. For example, the property you purchase may be subject to taxes by the County, the School Board, the City, and various designated district organizations such as the Hospital District and the Water Management District. You will also be affected by whether or not you live in a Community Development District (CDDs)-these have extra tax regulations that will affect how much property tax you pay. There are other considerations, too, such as Homestead Exemptions and the “Save our Homes” amendment, which will limit the amount of property tax you pay.

If you are buying property in Florida, or considering relocating to Tampa, Florida, understanding property tax laws is particularly important, because the amount of property tax that is payable is subject to change once you make the purchase. Property values are reassessed each time a property changes hands, and the assessed value influences how much property tax you pay. As a rule, the assessed value of a property you buy will typically be around 83% of the sale price of the home. Note that with home prices in many areas of Tampa on the rise, it’s particularly important to get as accurate an estimate as possible before buying to avoid any unpleasant surprises in the future.

County Taxes

Your tax rate varies depending on which county you live in, and which part of the county you live in. This is because within a county, certain regions may be incorporated, and other regions may be unincorporated. Those regions which are unincorporated have slightly lower property taxes. For example, unincorporated Tampa regions such as areas within Lutz and New Tampa are subject to slightly lower property taxes than incorporated regions such as the City of Tampa and Temple Terrace.

Community Development District Tax

If you live in a Master Planned Community in Tampa or are considering relocating to one, your property will be subject to Community Development District Tax. Developers use this tax as a means of sharing the cost of land and community development among the individual lots and homes in that community. This tax enables the development of Tampa communities with additional amenities such as parks, community centers and other recreation areas that make these areas attractive and pleasant places to live. These taxes are usually payable for a fixed amount of time-up to twenty years-after which the tax no longer applies. Payment of this tax is tied to the property, not the owner. This means that if you purchase a property in a CDD, you as the new owner will be required to pay the CDD tax. The length of time the tax is payable does not change if the property changes hands. So if, for example, you purchase a ten-year-old property in a community with a twenty-year CDD tax, you’d be paying the bond portion of the tax for another ten years.

If you’re considering purchasing property in such a community, it’s important to find out how much the CCD tax is, and how many years of payment are remaining. Note that CDD taxes vary based on the amenities available in the community, and that there may be other fees associated with the property such as those required to maintain community common areas. If you are the owner of a CDD property you will likely be subject to paying annual fees for the maintenance of common areas even after the bond portion of the tax has been paid in full.

Homestead Exemption

Homestead Exemption allows all Florida homeowners who are legal residents of the state to deduct $25,000 from the assessed value of their primary residence, meaning that the taxable value of primary residences is reduced. There are other exemptions which apply to other groups of residents-these include disability exemptions, exemptions for senior citizens and veterans, and an exemption for those who are legally blind. To be eligible for an exemption in any given year, you must take possession of your home by December 31 and must apply for homestead exemption by March 31st the following year. Exemptions are not granted automatically-you must apply for any exemption you would like to receive, and you are subject to approval based on certain requirements, which depend on the type of exemption you are applying for. If you qualify for a Homestead Exemption, you may also qualify to defer part or all of your property taxes for any given year. For more information, see your tax assessor’s office.

The Florida “Save Our Homes” Amendment

If a homeowner qualifies and applies for Homestead Exemption this guarantees the property’s assessed value cannot rise more than three percent each year. This law is a result of the “Save our Homes” amendment, which states that annual property assessment figures cannot exceed the lower of 3% of the prior year’s assessment, or the percent increase in the Consumer Price Index. This amendment protects existing homeowners, but note that if you purchase property, it will not be protected by “Save our Homes” automatically-when the property changes hands, the assessed value cap is lifted, and you do not qualify for protection until you obtain a Homestead Exemption. However, once you have obtained a Homestead Exemption, you will automatically be protected by the “Save our Homes” amendment.

The “Save our Homes” amendment means it is particularly important that you not rely on existing property tax values if you are considering purchasing any home in Tampa or within all of Florida-a protected home has an artificially low assessed value, and depending on the region in which you purchase and the current real estate market, the assessed value may increase sharply once the property has changed hands.

Richard Romando




The real estate business in the Philippines has recently been gaining popularity with several real estate companies developing their own sites in several parts of the country, including the non-metropolitan areas. Prices of real estate properties are relatively low when compared to those located in the United States. This makes investments in the Philippines attractive because their values are expected to appreciate in years to come.

People who want to make an investment in the country or make profits by selling a real estate property can manually contact real estate brokers for the packages they offer. However, the easiest and most practical way to locate brokers or agents is by searching for them in the Internet. There are already several online real estate marketers available in the Philippines.

Online real estate Philippine marketers promote their sites that include real estate listings and brokerages to international search engines. This makes their coverage wider and as such, heightens the possibility of getting closed deals quickly.

If a person plans to sell real estate property located in the Philippines, online real estate marketers can act as their brokers. They will be the ones to look for potential buyers and explain to them the initial policies and terms of the offer. The investor can also use their site to promote additional real estate items they want to sell.

For people who want to buy real estate property in the Philippines, online marketers also provide real estate listings that come from brokers in several parts of the country. Because it may be very difficulty to scan through the available properties for sale, some marketers have developed a system to filter out the choices. A leading marketer has set up a buyer’s wizard that helps buyers narrow down the choices by their budget, preferred location and size. Once a selection has been made, the buyers submit the online form. The broker of the selected property will be contacted by the online marketer for a detailed discussion of the real estate package.

With the online marketing trend in place, real estate in the Philippines can be expected to register more profits in the coming years.

Sheila Malek




For decades the real estate world turned in a very predictable manner. The roles of the buyers, sellers and real estate professionals were well defined and the real estate transaction followed a distinctive pattern. It would be an understatement to say that the real estate market has gone through some changes in the last two years. Along with these changes – the dynamics of real estate have been redefined thanks in large part to the internet. With the help of the World Wide Web, buyers and sellers have become more empowered thus enabling them to buy and sell with more ease.

As technology advances, the real estate industry is transforming itself from agent centric transactions to consumer centric practices. With the help of the online industry, consumers now have more real estate knowledge, tools and resources at their fingertips than ever before. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), more than 72 percent of homebuyers now begin their home search online. Thanks to the Internet and other technological innovations, more real estate information is now freely available. As a result, consumers are demanding more choices, improved services, faster transactions and lower prices.

Buyers are not the only ones that are benefiting from the internet. With the downturn of the housing market the last thing sellers want to do is pay a hefty commission. More and more sellers are taking a stand by not wanting to pay the sales commission that an agent would command. This is understandable, as it will save you roughly 6% in commissions…which can easily be more than ten thousand dollars.

For example, if you sell a home for $250,000 you would traditionally pay your agent $15,000…the buyer’s agent gets 3% ($7500) and the seller’s agent (your agent) gets the other 3%. The buyer never pays any commission; that burden falls completely on the home seller. It’s no wonder that sellers are opting to sell their properties independently, without the help of an agent. This explains the increase in the number of For Sale by Owners. Sellers who are not affiliated with an agent make up a large part of our market today.

So what makes a seller think they can sell their home on their own? The answer is the internet. The internet allows sellers to market their homes to millions of people with just a few clicks of their keyboard. Pricing information, Comparative Market Analysis and Recently Solds can all be available on the web for the sellers who choose to list their own homes. Years ago – agents were the must haves for this kind of information, but this is no longer the case; simply put – the face of real estate has changed. Therefore, if you have the time to sell your own house and you are interested in saving thousands of dollars…then go ahead and take the plunge. You will be happy you did.

David Urmann




County Real Estate

Real estate is the legal term encompassing land with something attached to the land like buildings, particularly property. These are immobile or fixed properties. It is the common jargon used in several jurisdictions such as Australia, Canada, United Kingdom and the United States.

In the US, a county is the local level of government below the federal territory or state. In most Northeastern and Midwestern states, a county is subdivided into town or townships. It can consist of independent and self-governing municipalities. The place of a county’s court and administration is also known as the county seat. Orange County is famous for its tourism and home of attractions such as Knott’s Berry Farm and Disneyland.

Tips on Becoming a Real Estate Agent

Make sure that you are self-possessed individual, patient and hardworking. It is a good idea to have persuasion skills and good communication skills before you choose this filed of work. You may consider taking up personal development or a communication course to bring your skills up.

Collect information about sanctioned real estate institutions which offer various courses by interacting with the Real State Association functioning in your area or the Professional Licensing Commission of your state.

Enroll in a full-fledged or small course and take the written exam essential to evaluate your familiarity with the laws of trading real estate. You need to be a high school graduate and at least 18 years old.

Allow the Real Estate Licensing Commission of your area to conduct a background investigation procedure according to the law. It is essential because of the huge confidential information and the amount of money involved in the deal.

Work with a real estate broker for about 2 to 5 years and gain effectual experience before setting up individual practice. Learn and observe the tricks of the trade.

Citrus County, Florida Real Estate

Citrus County, Florida lies in the United States state of Florida. More than 90 percent of its inhabitants live outside of two incorporated cities such as Crystal River and Inverness. The state is the only site in the US where individuals can interact and swim with endangered West Indian manatees whose winter home is the spring-fed river in the country.

The county is a prime location because it is close to some attractions such as the John F. Kennedy Space Center, Universal Studios, Sea World and Walt Disney World. The state also offers cycling, canoeing, fishing and bird watching activities. You can also include snorkeling, diving, climbing and so much more.

The campus of Central Florida Community College is close to the Gulf’s sparkling waters, offering a wide variety of student services and academic programs. It also provides an excellent and exceptional Student Education Program for students whose potentials and abilities are ranked highly excellent.

The area appeals to many investors because it is lucrative. It has become the most wanted choice of real estate consumers because of its unique features. The state is known as the Nature Coast because it offers many activities for people who love nature.

A potential investor will find many suitable areas here where he can build his dream house or retirement fortress. This is along with all its facilities like golf clubs and swimming pools. The utilities featured by these single-family homes and residential colonies are competitive with several world-class communities.