Earthbag building: Like other earth building methods, earthbag building is simple to learn and extremely low cost. It has evolved from the military’s use of building durable, blast and bullet resistant structures with sandbags for 100 years. Modern-day builders are using the same basic process of filling and stacking bags to build beautiful houses, offices, shops, schools and orphanages. Earthbag buildings are resistant to mold, fire, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, insects and rodents.

Since the main building material is earth, which is often free or very low cost if delivered, structures can be built literally dirt-cheap. No expensive equipment is needed. Most people already have the basic tools around their home – shovels, buckets, garden hose and ladder. The building process is so simple that unskilled workers can learn each step of construction just by watching for a minute. Earthbag building is extremely adaptable and can be used to build almost any shape imaginable, including domes, vaults, roundhouses, or more typical square or rectangular designs.

Small diameter wood: U.S. forests are currently overcrowded and prone to forest fires. Millions of acres are destroyed each year to fires and disease. Gleaning small trees from the forest in a sustainable manner actually improves the health of the forest and reduces forest fires. With an inexpensive firewood permit (about $20), anyone can obtain wood for building their home. Most of this wood usually goes up the chimney to heat homes, but it is much more valuable when turned into useful products with a long life. All the wood for a house can be obtained this way at much lower cost than buying dimension lumber from a building supply center.

One option is peeling the bark off and using them in the round for pole frames. Wood in the round is much stronger than sawn lumber and requires less processing. With a portable mill or chainsaw attachment, do-it-yourselfers can also mill their own wood for beams, joists, studs, trusses, purlins, window and door frames, trim, cabinets and furniture. Where I live, builders are culling standing dead trees (sound wood) from the forest so as to avoid the time and effort of seasoning the wood. In addition, using sustainably harvested wood as described here is more aesthetically pleasing than conventional stud walls covered with sheetrock. The beauty of the wood is left exposed, honoring the tree from which it came.

Tamped earth floors: Traditional poured earth floors can last for many centuries, thereby saving a small fortune on wood floor framing and replacement of carpet and linoleum every 15 years. Earth floors look like leather once finished and are extremely beautiful. (They’re being used in trendy, custom homes.) However, poured earth floors take a long time to dry, making them impractical in all but hot, dry climates.

Tamped earth floors use less water and dry much faster. These floors can typically be walked on one or two days after installing. The building process involves screening road base or other appropriate soil through 3/8″ mesh. This mix is spread out in 2″ layers and tamped level. The process is repeated until the desired height is reached. Material for the top coat is screened again through 1/8″ mesh. The top coat mixture is hand-troweled and burnished, using just enough water to bond well. After the floor has thoroughly dried, seal with several coats of linseed oil thinned with turpentine.

Earthen plaster: The most beautiful wall finish I’ve ever seen is earth plaster. If you’ve never seen earth plaster before, you may think of dreary brown walls. Do an Internet search for “earth plaster” and you’ll see the amazing results. Because there are many kinds of clay, there’s no limit to the range of colors, textures and special effects. One popular method uses mica in the plaster to create sparkling, brilliant walls.

Earthen plaster is the probably the most user-friendly wall finish. In many cultures women, children and the elderly have done the plaster work for centuries using just hands and basic tools. The key to durable earthen plaster is wide roof overhangs of about 36 inches. Keep rain and snow off the walls and it will last a long time, requiring only minor touchup.

These are just a few ideas to get you started thinking about using natural building materials. Thanks to the Internet, now it’s very easy to learn about these and other low-cost building methods. Additional articles on the above topics are available for free on the author’s websites.

Owen Geiger, Director of the Geiger Research Institute of Sustainable Building at http://www.GRISB.org has co-authored http://www.EarthbagBuilding.com to better focus and keep track of the rapid growth of this novel building method.

Author: Owen Geiger
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Here we are going to give you tips for overseas property investment that will help you enter the small minority who make the big profits and make your overseas property investment a success.

Here are your 4 tips for overseas property investment success

1. Look for best price in terms of risk – reward

Many people when trying overseas property investment simply look for the cheapest price they can find and assume that prices will go up in value and they make all sorts of projections but thats all they are projections and not based on reality.

In most instances the cheapest properties do have high profit potential if the market takes off, but in most instances they don’t.

Many investors find their overseas property investment was cheap when they bought it but gets cheaper!

The way to avoid this sceario is to buy property that may not be the cheapest but has the best potential for reward in relation to risk.

This means buying a market that has taken off is attracting investment and has a track record.

2. Buy a trend in motion

Investors in any market to do with money know that “a trend in motion should be bought” and this applies to overseas property investment.

Regardless, of whether you are buying a villa, a vacation home, or a condo, you want the location you buy to be rising in value.

It’s a fact that if you have a property trend in motion its likely to last for decades, as steady and rising investment attracts more investment.

For example, in Central America Costa Rica has been the leader for years and many investors have made 30 – 100% profits annually.

Many investors however have decided there is more potential in “newer markets” such as Honduras, Belize or Nicaragua, but the risk is higher and a long term trend is NOT Established.

Costa Rica has huge established expat community and record investment and the fact that a huge community exists means it’s popular and will grow.

Will potentially unstable and poorer countries come to rival it? Maybe, but you are buying potential and NOT a long established trend.

It’s for each investor to decide how much risk they want to take in their overseas property investments – A proven market with solid gains and an emerging market with higher risk reward.

Keep in mind that with most new overseas property investment hot spots they remain “hot” for a while and quietly die.

3. Be careful with location

No matter what country you make your overseas property investment in, don’t buy unless you are buying near developments or infrastructure that will see real estate values rise in price.

Don’t buy in an area you think will become popular. Buy in an area you know WILL become popular as it’s either near new infrastructure such as roads, marina’s etc, or near resorts that are likely to expand.

4. Make sure you know the country

Is it stable, how popular is it, what are your rights?

When buying you need to do a complete review and make sure it’s a safe and stable market for you to invest in.

Get a good realtor with solid track record to help you and don’t try and save by doing your own legal work!

Get an attorney who knows the law and make sure your overseas property investment is done correctly.

Tips to maximize rewards

The 4 tips above for overseas property investment will allow you maximise your rewards and minimize your risks.

You can make more by not following these tips!

The above tips in overseas property investment are ONLY for investors who want solid rewards with low risk – not pioneers who want to take chances.

Be a pioneer if you wish, many made huge gains but remember most took arrows!

FREE REAL ESTATE ADVICE NEWSLETTERS, PDF, DVD’s AND MORE

For more info on all aspects of investing in overseas real estate visit our website for a huge resource of articles, features and downloads and at http://www.net-planet.org/index.html

Author: Sacha Tarkovsky
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Having spoken with a number of estate agents and property buyers, including estate agents in London, here are the main points you want to consider when its time to sell your house:

1. Determine where you want to go. What’s you’re ultimate goal in selling the house? What will you achieve by selling the house? It always helps to write this down and have it in a prominent position in your home, so you are reminded of your goal. Determining what this goal is will also help you decide how much you need from the house sale to achieve your goal. “Sell my house for the highest price I can get ” is not really a goal because even if you get the highest price for the property, will that help you achieve your goal? How much do you really need from the sale of the house?

2. Get your house valued. This will help you determine How much you can reasonably expect from the sale of your house in the current climate. In this current “credit crunch” environment get 4 maybe even 5 estate agent valuations. This is because house values can fluctuate with each agent, so you want to get a good idea of the average price you can expect to sell at. Do your own research by talking to your neighours, either those who are selling, or those who have moved into your immediate area, and ask them what value was placed on their house.

3. Determine the right estate agent to work with. You need to work with an estate agent who is going to be proactive in selling your house. He or she will need to be looking for people who want to buy houses like yours, and this will mean you discussing your requirements with them. If the estate agent knows what you need to achieve, he can try to find buyers that meet that criteria.

4. Make your house presentable! First impressions are key to a succesful house sale. You may need to spend some money in making your house “look nice” for a potential buyer, but you should certainly make the effort in terms of “elbow grease”. This will include giving some areas a lick of paint to make areas more clean looking, decluttering flat surfaces like shelves and cupboards, and ensuring that each room has an air of spaciousness about it. Give high priority to your front garden or balcony, if you have one. Even before a prospective buyer sets foot over the threshold of you door, they will have made a buying decision based on the impression given at the front of your property. Probably the best way to prepare is to go around the house, making a list of all the things that would turn you off buying the house. Then plan for a seven to ten day clean up, dealing with all the areas that you can manage. This will make a significant improvement on your ability to sell your house, and the price that you will get for it.

5. No Offer is a silly Offer! Even if the offer is below market value, once it actually meets your own criteria in terms of what you need, then you’re a winner! Unfortunately, the market is shrinking all the time, and so are property prices with it. This means, If you know what you need from the sale of your house, and you achieve it, then you are in a better position than some who are holding out for as much as they can get, yet seeing that amount dwindle away on a daily basis.

Colin Baptiste has a keen interest in property investment in the UK. Many people in todays credit crunch are asking how do I sell my house in this current market? Visit his site and get a Free Report on selling your house

Author: Colin Baptiste
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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There are no restrictions on foreign nationals investing or buying real estate in South Africa. Indeed, for generations, foreign nationals have been very active in the real estate market in South Africa.

As will be discussed more fully later, real estate in South Africa actually is known as or termed immovable property

Investment Property in South Africa

The investment real estate market in South Africa has been profitable for foreign nationals for years. There were some tentative times directly after the end of Apartheid in that country. However, as time has marched on from the period of transition, foreign nationals have carried forth in their investment in South African real estate — immovable property — on many fronts.

By way of example, foreign nationals play a significant role in the ownership of real estate or immovable property in the commercial sector. Foreign nationals own everything from office buildings to hotels and resorts.

There are no restrictions on the types of real estate that a foreign national can invest in within South Africa

Residential Real Estate in South Africa – Single Family Properties

Many foreign nationals have taken to purchasing some fairly high cost properties in South Africa. These men and woman have purchased these costly residences to be used as second homes and for holiday or vacation purposes. Many people — including a significant number of Europeans — regularly take extended holidays in South Africa. Since the end of Apartheid, a greater number of people from across the globe are taking to spending extended holidays in South Africa. This includes an ever growing number of North Americans, Canadians and U.S. citizens alike.

The single family dwelling market is fast moving and brisk in many different areas of the country. Not only can foreign nationals be found investing in these types of residences in the more urban centers in the country, but they are making purchase of these types of property in rural areas as well. As will be discussed, many foreign nationals enjoy making an extended holiday stay in South Africa (and have done so for many years). Thus, many of these foreign nationals have been interested and continue to be interested in buying single family residences — and at times very substantial properties — in urban and in rural regions of the country where they can live for a portion of the year.

Residential Real Estate in South Africa – Apartments

Because of the high rate of foreign investment in all sectors of the South African economy, many foreign nationals regularly can be found purchasing apartments in the major urban centers in that country. These foreign nationals find themselves in country for more extended periods of time. These men and women find the purchase of apartments to be an economical manner in which they can provide themselves housing during their time in South Africa on business.

There has also been a brisk business in the buying of apartments in resort communities by foreign nationals. Many foreign nationals are taking a two-pronged approach to buying apartments in resort venues. First, they are using these properties for their own holiday purposes. Second, they are letting out these premises to other foreign nationals when they are not personally using the property. Many foreign nationals have found that they can make a tidy sum by renting or leasing an apartment in a resort locale during that part of the year when they are not personally in residence in the resort community apartment.

Holiday Property in South Africa

For generations, Europeans and men and women from other countries the world over have made South Africa a holiday destination. Indeed, the history of people from Europe and elsewhere around the world making long and extended holiday stays within South Africa is long and legendary. As a consequence, the market in vacation or holiday real estate in South Africa is well established.

For the foreign national interested in purchasing vacation or holiday property in South Africa, the options and opportunities in regard to such property is extensive and varied. A foreign national has the ability to purchase anything from a high priced villa in a trendy resort community to a snug and tidy apartment in a sprawling urban setting to a lovely chateau in a rural area in the country.

A number of foreign nationals have taken to investing in different holiday and resort properties. Indeed, foreign nationals have been active in the development of hotels, apartments and free standing dwellings that are leased or rented to people who have traveled to South Africa on holiday. Overall, this type of investment has proven to be very lucrative for many foreign nationals from different countries the world over.

Specific steps to buying real estate property in South Africa

In South Africa, the laws governing the buying and selling of real estate actually are called laws governing the buying and selling of immovable property or land. At the present time, there are no restrictions on a foreign national buying and owning real estate in South Africa. Indeed, foreign nationals have bought and owned real estate — immovable property — in South Africa for generations.

Generally speaking, the buying and selling of immovable property or real estate in South Africa is governed by decisions of the courts of that country. The one area in which statutory law does play a role when it comes to buying and selling real estate/immovable property in South Africa is in the area of the ownership of mineral rights. When it comes to mineral interests that might be underneath the surface of a particular piece of property, that interest as a general rule belongs to the “people of South Africa.” In other words, even though a foreign national may be able to buy real estate in that country, more often than not a foreign national will not be able to easily purchase a right to extract minerals from that real estate. (Of course, a contract can be entered into with the government that will grant an individual of business the right and the ability to withdraw minerals from underneath the surface of land.)

Because there are some tribes that exercise some degree of local autonomy in South Africa, some foreign nationals wonder what impact these more or less autonomous governing authorities might have on their ability to purchase real estate. Historically, local, tribal or customary law had little impact on the buying and selling of real estate in South Africa. However, in recent years, the national government has given some recognition to parallel lines of authority within the country. Therefore, if a foreign national is interested in buying immovable property in an area that is included within an autonomous, that foreign national will need to make certain that he or she understands the particular regulations in that area that might have an impact on the purchase of real estate in that area. Because there are so many different local variants that might come into play depending on what region of the country a person is considering investing in real estate in, it is impossible to detail them all in this limited space. Therefore, a foreign national who is interested in purchasing real estate in South Africa will want to make certain that he or she has access to very capable legal representation.

The underlying real estate purchasing process in South Africa is simple when all is said and done. A tentative or preliminary contract is entered into between the buyer and seller. As in many other countries around the world, a deposit is made upon the property by the purchaser. The amount of the deposit is negotiated between the parties. Additionally, the terms of under what conditions a deposit might be returned are also negotiated between the parties to the agreement.

Following the execution of this preliminary contract, the buyer will embark on his or her efforts to find appropriate financing for the real estate. There are many different mortgage lenders within South Africa that deal regularly with a foreign clientele. With that said, it is also perfectly permissible for a foreign national to obtain mortgage financing from a firm located in that person’s country of origin. The government of South Africa is flexible as to where a person obtains his or her financing to fund a real estate or immovable property purchase in that country.

Once all of the requirements of the initial agreement have been satisfied, a final agreement of sale and transfer of immovable property is executed between the parties. It is at this juncture, when this agreement is duly executed, that ownership of the immovable property is transferred from the seller to the buyer. With this conveyance, a new title to the real estate is registered immediately with governmental authorities.

Again, it is important to keep in mind that there might be some slight variances in this procedure in some of the more autonomous regions of the country. However, with the assistance of capable legal counsel, a foreign purchaser of immovable property or real estate in South Africa will be able to maneuver through the legal requirements.

Property Abroad always recommends using a Solicitor or Lawyer.

Les Calvert – the Director of http://www.property-abroad.com often writes articles and information on the overseas property market. Visit their site with useful information and properties for sale in South Africa http://www.property-abroad.com/south-africa.

Author: Les Calvert
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Commercial real estate investments require a large amount of patience, thorough planning, and determination. Entering into commercial real estate investment without a proper strategy can be suicidal. The success in this field is directly linked to the status of your personal finance. The type of commercial property you are planning to invest should be decided earlier. It is better to invest in a commercial property of which you have some basic knowledge. Next is the amount of money you plan to invest. Finally, you should decide on a proper location for your investment. National level investment opportunities in commercial real estate are rare; opportunities are mostly found in the local level. Keen observance of local real estate investment opportunities is a must for success.

Once you have zeroed in one a particular property for investment, value the property using traditional as well as modern methods. Look at the condition of the property, think on the lines like, will it be part of any future expansion? Next is to see whether it will satisfy your return requirements. Finally, see how the property will affect your borrowing powers. There is software available in the market which can be used to predict the end results using current market values. You can also discuss the matter in real estate investment clubs.

Triple-nets,” also known as “NNN” deals, are one of the favorite commercial real estate investment types with investors. This type of investment has no management responsibilities and if leased to a good tenant for long period, it can ensure steady cash flow. The advantage with this is that the tenant pays real estate taxes, maintenance and insurance. There are several other types of investment available in commercial real estate.¡The opportunities in commercial real estate investments are many so are the pitfalls, before deciding to invest, make sure that your fundamentals in this field are strong.

Real Estate Investments provides detailed information on Real Estate Investments, Real Estate Investment Trusts, Real Estate Investment Loans, Real Estate Investment Financing and more. Real Estate Investments is affiliated with Buying Investment Properties.

Author: Richard Romando
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Your actions and decisions related to selling of the house are influenced by your reasons of selling. You may have been pressed by the rate of your adjustable mortgage, or maybe you have gotten a job in another state or city. Times like this when the real estate market is depressed may not be the best time to sell your house. However, if it is done right, it is possible to get the right deal.

Selling in Fast Track Mode

o Set the stage for selling of the house before putting up the “For Sale” sign

You have to do the essential preliminary task of preparing the house before shifting to selling mode. This entails some low cost cosmetic jobs to add value to the property and highlight the strong points. The basic rule of the job is to project a property that is clean, tidy and well-maintained. This may involve simple tasks like cutting the grass, or repainting a dull wall panel and fixing the door hinges of your cabinet. You may also have to do garage sale to rid of the clutter which potential buyers might find annoying when inspecting your house for the first time.

o Establish the right price and sell the house fast

Determine the real value of your property and compare this with the other properties within the locality. Your price tag must reflect prevailing trends in the market. If you are in doubt about the real value of your house, it would be wise to hire a real estate appraiser to do the job for you.

o Sell The House through Effective Advertising

A common pitfall of most owners selling their homes is they fail to maximize the use of this most important tool in selling. Advertising, whether in traditional print media or on-line, is your single most effective link to your buyers. The advertisement material should be able to strike at a familiar need of your potential buyers. You must remember that effective advertising is all about giving answers for the needs of your target buyer. If your buyers do not see anything in your house that satisfies their needs, then they won’t budge to look at house even by a bit.

o Start with a Bang, Start with an open house

Make a grand announcement of the sale of the house. Invite your friends and neighbors to come and see your house by organizing a grand open house. Highlight during the activity the strong points of the property and the price at which you are selling the house. You may not know it but the word-of-mouth can be just what you need to get the good deal fast.

o Be an astute negotiator

Start off with the negotiation with a potential buyer immediately. Make the counter offer as soon as the buyer makes known his price offer. You may make some accommodation and meet in the middle ground. This may involve some non-monetary accommodations to settle issues on price variations. For instance, you may settle for a price offer a bit lower to your initial price in exchange for the buyer accepting the property without the minor repairs.

o Close the Deal

Once you agree with the terms, you have to close the deal by signing the contract. The seller should start-off immediately and finish the required documentation to finalize the transfer. The deal will only be consummated when you finally receive the net proceeds of the sale.

Learn more about the Anchorage Real Estate market or search the Anchorage Alaska Real Estate MLS on Ryan Tollefsen’s Alaska Real Estate web site.

Author: Ryan Tollefsen
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Let’s look at what goes on in the mind of a luxury home owner who wants/needs to sell their property. This may actually apply to a home in any price range but as you recall, we are going to focus on the luxury home market in particular today.

Typically, a savvy luxury home owner will go back to the real estate agent who helped purchase the home. Another common practice is to do a Google search of nearby realty firms and decide on the best realtor to sell their home using various criteria. Some reasons a person may choose a realtor is because that person has the most sold listings or they received a flyer in the mail or because they liked the realtor’s smile. Another way to choose a realtor is using personal connections, such as a relative, a classmate or a friend.

For whatever reason, when choosing ABC Company and XYZ real estate agent, the process is usually the same.

-Decide on a Real Estate Agent or Realty Company

-Sign a contract with the Real Estate Company to represent you

-The Agent suggests a price based on comparable homes in the area

-A listing price is negotiated and decided upon

-The Agent lists the property on the MLS

So what is “the MLS”?

MLS stands for Multiple Listing Service. Basically, it is the main listing source that pools all member real estate companies’ available inventory or list of luxury homes that are registered with them so that everyone can see what is available on the market at any given time.

What are the advantages of having an MLS listing?

-Ease in finding the majority of luxury homes that are for sale right now

-Comparing luxury homes presently on the market without difficulty

-Listings are contracted for a specified amount of time

-Accessible only through a certified member of the Board of Realtors who has a fiduciary

duty to represent you and protect your interests

Real Estate Companies Specialize in Selling Homes at Market Value.

With the centralized pool of listings on the MLS, real estate companies are able to establish and check on the value of a piece of real estate in any given area. Determining value is crucial to selling a property. Without a tool to measure its value, it becomes difficult to know the true worth of a luxury home.

Another thing to remember when determining the value of a luxury home is of course, the condition of the luxury home. A newly constructed luxury home is more desirable than a remodeled luxury home, which in turn is more saleable than a fixer upper. Keeping your luxury home well-maintained enables you to ask top dollar for the home.

There is only one catch to the retail market of luxury homes and that is you can list your luxury home for whatever price you want to but it is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it, in other words, market value.

The real estate professional uses many tools to sell your luxury home. Some are:

-informs his clients and fellow realtors of your listing to see if there may be a potential buyer

-puts a For Sale sign out in front of the property

-lists it on the MLS

-advertises it in newspapers or in magazines

-holds open house events

-more sophisticated companies have marketing campaigns in place to give more exposure to

their listings that the seller more often than not will have to pay upfront.

Real estate professionals more often than not, cater to owner-occupant buyers.

Once a realtor is decided on, an agreement is reached on length of listing and the luxury home is appraised, the luxury house is put on the market and the roller coaster ride of when-will-my-house-sell begins.

The 3 types of Buyers

From a business perspective, the luxury home is considered a commodity for which there are buyers. Identifying your end buyer will dramatically increase your chances of selling and/or selling quickly.

-Owner occupant’s 1st,2nd, 3rd + home

-Buy-and-hold investor’s rental unit

-entry level investor

-modest investor

-sophisticated investor

-Niche investors

-Short sales

-Foreclosures

-REO

-Rehabbing

-Wholesaling

Determining which end buyer you want to target will determine the price and how quickly you may be able to sell the home. As with anything else, there are those who are better than others in getting the job done.

The median home market has many more investors to turn to than the luxury home residential market. These investors may have ads or signs stating, “We buy homes.” “We take over payments.”

Real estate investors are, as a whole, people trying to help others out of a difficult situation and trying to make a profit in the process. These types of businesses are NOT non-profit companies so they expect to make some monetary gain from the transaction. After all, investors are not a charity operation and are not going to make your problem luxury home their problem luxury home. They make investments of their money and time to do transactions that they specialize in and expect to make a profit for their talents.

Investors are specialists in their field just as real estate agents, doctors or lawyers are specialists in their respective fields. They help people out of circumstances that could potentially become worse.

What about the Luxury Homes owners?

Waiting for an owner occupant is a great choice if you can afford to wait for the right buyer to come along for your luxury home. Listing it with a Real Estate professional is the most effective way in selling a luxury home “retail”. In the luxury home market, the average time it takes for the “right” buyer to come along is from 1 to 5 years. The more the luxury home costs, typically, the longer the wait. The 1-3 Million price point of luxury homes has heavy competition and there are better options when comparing what is available entirely and not just in a particular neighborhood.

Since investors who typically do business at the 2M-200M price points or at retail prices are few and far between, what problems would a typical luxury home owner-seller face?

-$12k or $50k monthly house payment are typical for a luxury home. Who can you turn to?

How do you solve your financial situation? A part time job at Wal-Mart will not cover this kind

of expense.

-Sometimes, when upgrading to a new home, you may have found the perfect house to

move into but you may still be stuck with the home that you grew out of. You still have to

keep up payments on that luxury house because 1031 exchanges aren’t always as smooth

as they could be. In addition, remember you have a limited amount of time to do that

exchange in.

-What if your key to financial stability is through the sale of your multi-million dollar home?

Who do you turn to for guidance and confidentiality?

-Do you need to relocate because of business or personal reasons and must sell your

property quickly?

-Divorce or health problems place an urgency to liquidate assests

So what is a luxury home owner to do in the event that holding costs are too high and keeping the property means essentially losing money with each day that goes by?

Luxury home investors

There are companies that specializes in the acquisition of luxury homes and commercial properties all over the world? A company that closes the transaction quickly and uses CASH in all transactions? No waiting for approvals from the bank, which may not even come through especially in today’s lending environment.

How can you meet investors who specialize in luxury homes and who purchase luxury homes at a fair price? Investors who have an established list of prequalified clients wanting to buy luxury homes at a fair price can re-sell those acquired luxury homes. That is a scenario which would work for all parties involved.

These investors are not in the business of stealing luxury homes. They solve problems and make their money on the sheer volume of luxury homes that are bought and sold. It is the investor that has his or her own buyers’ list that will get business done quickly and efficiently.

Business much easier and quicker

Investors typically have a database of buyers that do business with them exclusively due to the relationships that have been built and the value that is gained by buying through them exclusively. The clients entrust investors in this industry who do business honestly, ethically, with integrity and also guarantee good value. They have access to an unlimited amount of cash to complete transactions. Usually what ends up happening is the need to buy more houses to keep up with the demand.

As with any business, the cost of doing business prevents a wholesaler from buying at retail value of the luxury home. If a miscalculated purchase occurs the outcome is not being able to make any profit or worse yet paying money which would put one out of business rather quickly, and be the laughing stock of the industry. Here are some examples of the overhead and costs involved in running a real estate investment business:
- Cost of cash (8-18%)
- Closing costs on the buy and the sell
- Marketing costs
- Insurance
- Prepping a home
- Travel costs
- Inspectors
- Other miscellaneous costs

If an agreement of price is reached………

That is what you will get. Cash in your hands for your luxury home, the exact amount that is agreed upon in order to acquire your home at closing. Closing on the date of your choice is a relief to know and to use the title company of your choice. Wholesalers take the anxiety out of selling your home. This is an all around WIN-WIN-WIN situation and this is the only business we do. It is that simple.

If you want to sell your luxury home, wholesalers want to buy your luxury home…………….. NOW

DISCLAIMER:
This article is solely for education and information purposes only, not legal advice. RE Private Investments LLC is not a law firm and does not practice law. The general information provided by the RE Private Investments LLC – via their newsletter, emails, blogs, articles and other correspondence, or through their website at http://www.reprivateinvestments.com – is not intended as nor as implied to constitute a substitute for professional legal advice. The information given here is for informational and educational purposes only RE Private Investments LLC suggests that members/readers conduct their own due diligence and investigation of all information and opinions provided. RE Private Investments LLC suggests the use of competent professional persons where legal or other expert advice is required.

RE Private Investments specializes in acquiring luxury homes and commercial property around the world for our established client list. If you want to sell now, we can buy now as we use private funds to close transactions. We don’t have to wait for approvals and are able to do multiple transactions. We work directly with realtors or owners. Visit http://www.reprivateinvestments.com
or
consult a live representative 24/7 at: 1-800-775-7937

Author: Ryoko Hoyt
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Planning

You should study and monitor the market with utmost care as it will help you in understanding the position and direction of prices in the properties market. Understanding this is very crucial as the prices vary consistently. It will also help you to estimate the actual value of proposed property investment by monitoring the market. Apart from that, you also get an idea on the future of the investment and mortgage dealings.

Various Aspects of Investment

When you wish to invest in a property, there are certain peripheral expenses than the actual cost. Real estate investment gets taxed according to its value. This is over and above the money spent for the maintaining and repairing the property. You will have to take into account all these factors when you actually project the incomes and resale value for the proposed property. Positive or negative gearing means the profits or the loss incurred from the investment. The additional income also gets taxed while the deductions are from the surplus amount and not the bare minimum amount.

Multitask with Equity

You can arrange sufficient capital for your new investment from the real estate equity which you own already, which is advisable instead of going for a financial assistance from a bank. This method is an ideal way to start your new investment. But you have to allocate only certain percentage of the price for new investment if there is no problem in repayment.

Identify and Pool your resources

Quite often, it becomes difficult for a new investor to completely own a property with his money. It is not possible always to fund for the entire investment from your pocket as most are common investors. Hence, using the collective property deal is a better and wise idea. Identify likeminded friends, family, relatives or colleagues and pool your resources in order to fund the investment in a new property. But ensure to make an agreement among your partners regarding the method of sharing the benefits and losses, so that there would not be any hassles in the future. It is advisable to go for a legal agreement depicting the proportion of investment and sharing methodology to prevent problems. Sharing of benefits or liabilities is generally proportional to the investment ratio.

Help from Professionals

A professional counselor or a real estate agent can provide you the required Property investment advice to plan your investment methodology. They will also assist in assessing the scope and future value of your investment as they have more knowledge about the market.

Join Forces with Our Nationally Recognized Real Estate, Mortgage, investment Financing Experts to Navigate the Current Market to Earn Record Profits. Visit our advisers now at http://www.realestateadvicepros.com/

Author: Tom Wee Arnold
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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2) Identify the current value of your house. Here, you (or your local real estate agent) will research the most recent sales prices of comparable properties in your neighborhood, understanding that the price of a house depends on the interior and exterior conditions of the property thereby helping you identify how to value your house. You can get this information via different websites that offer online home values. A local real estate agent will also be able to gather updated information and determine the right price of your home from other comparable prices in your area.

3) Get it ready to market. Do all the necessary inspections before you put your house on the market. When selling a house, prepare your house to be visited frequently; sometimes investing in simple repairs could increase the value of your house by thousands. “If a car is worth $200 dirty, it will be worth $220 cleaned up,” Donald Trump once said.

4) Make your home price attractive. We all want to get as much as we can for our house. That is why getting a good, realistic valuation is of the utmost importance when selling a house. Once you know the real worth of your home, you can price it attractively enough to sell with the assistance of a local real estate agent. Set the price at an acceptable range, but a little lower than expected so that you can move it quickly. Overpricing a house (led by emotional pride and economic concerns) are easily the two main reasons why homes don’t sell well. You want to attract buyers and make them feel like they can’t pass up the deal. Remember, you have competition from other nearby home sellers. When selling a house, make your option the most attractive in price, reliability, and conditions.

5) Marketing your home. Reaching the buying public and getting the word out that you are selling your house is something that many can do for you, including a local real estate agent. The important part is making sure that the right form of marketing is being used to reach the targeted audience. Different tactics might be needed to make sure your home is seen in a positive way. Things that might seem small like good lighting, pictures, and landscaping go a long way in selling your house to the different types of buyer sets. A local real estate agent is always valuable in this instance for his or her industry expertise when a homeowner is selling a house.

Newspapers, flyers, real estate marketing online, bandit signs, open houses, and the assistance of a local real estate agent will help in the overall marketing plan to make sure the word gets out that you are selling your house and interested buyers stop in.

6) Negotiate and agree on price and terms. Be as clear as you can with the buyer when selling a house. Be specific on how much money you want for your property and try to work out a deal that makes sense for both you and the buyer. Write down all the terms when you accept the offer, including any improvements or repairs that you agree to make.

7) Get the home ready for closing (inspection, appraisal, perform fixes, etc). Once the terms and conditions have been agreed upon and the house is up for closing, make sure all improvements or repairs are complete and that your house is ready for a possible inspection. According to the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), a general inspection includes a thorough evaluation on the following aspects of the house:

• Structural elements: construction of walls, ceilings, floors, roof and foundation
• Exterior evaluation: wall covering, landscaping, grading, elevation, drainage, driveways, fences, sidewalks, fascia, trim, doors, windows, lights and exterior receptacles
• Roof and attic: framing, ventilation, type of roof construction, flashing and gutters
• Plumbing: identification of pipe materials used for potable, drain, waste and vent pipes, including condition
• Systems and components: water heaters, furnaces, air conditioning, duct work, chimney, fireplace and sprinklers
• Electrical: main panel, circuit breakers, types of wiring, grounding, exhaust fans, receptacles, ceiling fans and light fixtures
• Appliances: dishwasher, range and oven, built-in microwaves, garbage disposal and, yes, even smoke detectors

Closing, the last and most important step in this journey. This usually takes place in an attorney’s office where the required documents are signed in order to transfer your property to the new owner. Cash or financing is provided at this point of sale in exchange for a legal title and ownership of the property. Legal rights and responsibility are passed to the buyer at the moment, and hopefully, you will have had the chance to leave behind many great memories from your time there.

Please note that although there are many circumstances to consider when selling a house, using the services of a local real estate agent to make sure research, negotiation, and contract processing is done correctly is of the utmost importance.

Neil A. Terc is the president of YourKasa.com, a feature-rich, online real estate property listings service that offers listings from both realtors and owners. A successful salesman and self-taught real estate professional, Terc put his experience to work over the last seven years, successfully purchasing and selling or leasing a multitude of properties. He created YourKasa.com to help home buyers and sellers overcome some of the common challenges that are faced during the process. To learn more, please visit YourKasa.com.

Author: Neil Terc
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Well don’t worry, I can assure you that you are in good company.

Lets get a few of the basics out of the way and then we can move on to some of the specifics.

One of the first things you have to understand is that there are several components to the overall rental rate that you ultimately end up paying. There is the rent that you pay the Landlord for the use of their space, but also as a commercial Tenant you will also pay for the following items; the maintenance of the overall building, the property taxes, building insurance and management of the property. (I know, I know, it doesn’t seem fair to be paying for the management and maintenance of someone else’s property, but that’s the real world, so get used to it!)

There are basically two types of rents that you will be quoted when searching for commercial space.

They are Gross rents and Net rents. They are two separate ends of the spectrum of what is included in the rent. Gross rent is an all in rent. A true Gross rent includes all of the above mentioned expenses (Property taxes, insurance, maintenance, management, utilities etc. etc.) and any other expense that might be particular to a specific property.

Net rent is a type of rent that includes nothing extra. Net rent is simply the amount that you are paying the Landlord for the right to use their space for a specified period of time. In a single tenanted property the Tenant simply pays for all additional expenses themselves. In multi tenanted properties such as office buildings or multi tenant retail malls the Net rent is commonly accompanied by Additional rent (Also called CAM/Tax which stands for Common Area and Maintenance plus Property Taxes).

The Additional rent covers the expenses mentioned above. The Additional rent is usually an estimated amount based on the previous years operating expenses. The total expenses for the property are added up and then divided by the rentable square footage of the building. The expenses are then allocated to each tenant proportionally to the amount of space that they have of the building. So if a building has 10,000 Sq Ft of rentable space, and a tenant has 1,000 Sq Ft retail store, then they would pay 10% of the total expenses. The Additional rent is quoted on a per Sq Ft basis as well.

In different parts of the country the rents may be quoted differently. In Winnipeg the rents quoted are usually quoted as a price per square foot per year. In other parts of the country they may be quoted as price per square foot per month. When in doubt, ask.

About the Author:

Harry Logan is a Commercial Realtor with RE/MAX executives realty in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Harry represents Buyer’s & Seller’s and Landlord’s & Tenant’s in all aspects of Commercial Real Estate including the Leasing and Sales of Retail Shopping Centers, Apartment Blocks, Investment & Income Producing Property, Industrial & Warehouse Space, Office Leasing and the Sale of Businesses.

He can be reached at 204-667-SOLD (7653) or through his website at http://www.WinnipegCommercial.com

This is not intended to be Legal or Tax advice. Please discuss these ideas with a competent advisor.

Author: Harry Logan
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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