Housing | Real Estate

Peaceful and Enjoyable Living

Archive for July, 2010

I am sure everybody knows now just how bad the economy is. So many of those people are having such a hard time in selling their home. Foreclosures are happening right and left and people are panicking because they do not know what to do.

Even the realtors are not happy with their jobs at this point. Selling your home and getting the price that you want is almost impossible in this economy unless you know exactly what you are doing.

One thing that you need to know is that the buyer is at the advantage. Before attempting to sell your home, you need to have a positive mindset. Even if you are not positive, just pretend as if you are.

When you go to make a tour with a prospective buyer, always wear a smile on your face and hold your head up high. Do not let them see the desperation in your face. You have to make them believe that you have had other offers and you are about to sell any day now.

Before doing tours, you need to sit down and make up an awesome ad to run in the newspaper. This is another place in which you need a positive attitude before you start writing. Buyers are looking for ads in which the sellers are desperate and need to get rid of their house fast.

For heavens sake do not make your ad sound gloomy. Every 30 days you need to redo your ad so buyers will not know that you cannot sell your house. Always have a positive attitude.

Beginners look at property auctions as a way of snagging a bargain, or finally getting that farm they’ve had their eye on for twenty years. To the seasoned pro, it’s just another day at the office; a handy way of adding to their portfolio. To get the best out of them, you need to prepare in advance. Here are a few tips to help you on your way:

1. Look at newspaper classifieds, the Yellow Pages and internet search engines. Call nearby real estate agents. Add your name to local auctioneer’s mailing lists.

2. Get a list of properties. Get as much information as possible beforehand from the auctioneer. Visit the properties; auctioneers generally have a preview date. Have any property you’re interested in inspected by a qualified surveyor, if you can afford it. If you can’t, take your most knowledgeable friend with you to have to take a gander at it.

3. Choose your desired property. Get its specifics: size, amenities, how much is owed on it, if anything, and what the opening bid is. Get pre-approved for a mortgage, if needed. Have your financing set up before you bid.

4. Compare the sales prices of similar properties in the area so you have a good idea of what it’s worth. Prices for similar properties within three miles of the site are the most reliable.

5. A deposit may be due on the day of the auction. Some auctions may require bank letters of guarantee, banker’s draft or a cashier’s cheque in order to bid. Upon a successful bid, a deposit may be payable in cash, by certified or cashier’s cheque, or by a personal or business cheque accompanied by a bank’s letter of guarantee. You can’t just turn up, bid and walk away; you’ve got to have cash to hand!

The remaining balance of the winning bid price is due X number days after the auction has closed. No purchase can be contingent upon financing. All purchases are based on the ability to close.

6. Check terms and conditions carefully before bidding. Not all terms are the same for every auction. There is no limit to the number of lots you can buy.

7. Check the auction time, date and venue. Go to the venue one hour before the auction time. You can meet on-site staff, confirm your registration and get any questions answered.

8. Mentally set your maximum bid. Don’t get swept up in the excitement. Stay quiet if there are several people bidding on the same property; your bid will only escalate matters. When most have dropped out and the bidding has slowed down, you step in. You can avoid bidding up your own fee.

9. The first and second properties on the list go for the cheapest price. People are waiting to see what the other fella is doing. A couple of good deals go by before they realise they’d better get cracking. Their timidity could be your chance!

10. Penalties for backing out of a winning bid can be steep, so be sure of what you’re getting into. Contact your lender as soon as possible after the auction to finalise your mortgage.

11. Property bought at auction is ’sold as seen’, with no warranties, guarantees or disclosures. It’s up to you to check it out beforehand.

12. Listen to the auctioneer before the auction begins. The bidding process should be be explained in detail.

13. Consider the additional costs of buying at auction; the auctioneer’s fee, any liens or taxes owed against the property.

14. Realize that you’re not obliged to buy anything. Walk away and be glad if the deal isn’t right for you.

Auctions are a quick way to expand your real estate portfolio, or get your first house. Many people bidding will be professional. With a bit of research and preparation, you can be too!

5 Work From Home Tips

Doing work from home will not give you the goals you aimed for just as quick. It’s a smooth, careful, progressive flow that will take you to the level that you want to achieve and eventually, to the profits that you’re longing to earn. The process requires a lot of learning and growing experience on one’s part in order to be able to understand every corner and ever angle of the online business there is.

This is why many consider indulging into some tips that may give them bits of helpful information or remind them of what they have to consider and think of in their work from home. Just like the following:

1.Consider the investments you have to put in on your work from home, time, money, effort, resources, whatever it is. There are certain kinds of online business that require you more time and effort to invest than money. Others are vice versa. Taking into account which investment you think you can offer more or depending on what online career you are more comfortable and productive with may determine that decision.

2.Treat your products as yourself. You and your products are one. Remember that you chose the niche and the products according to your knowledge, skills, expertise, interests and at times, personality. You do this because it would be relatively easy to sell products that you already know of or interested into. All the works, the efforts, the initiative, the tactics, they could come naturally.

3.Maximize your resources and what you can do. The Internet is a free zone and almost everything you need is there for the taking and using. If you need to come up with a site for your products, you could. If you need to develop a landing page or sales page to convince more your potential buyers and convert them, then you can do so. If you need to do blogging to pull in more traffic to your site, why not? All one needs is some exploration and a little more research and everything will come through.

4.There’s no harm in trying to have an autoresponder. Visitors of your site are likely to have some message they want to leave behind. This is where autoresponders come in handy. What you want here is to roll up as many names as you can. You could also build an email marketing list through your autoresponder. This is just another way of maximizing your resources that can surely benefit you in the long run.

5.For work from home that involves more in the affiliate marketing side or auction selling or product promotion or such, planning an advertising campaign is one major consideration. You can research for some marketing strategies and choose what suits you and your business best or you can devise your own tactics and techniques you believe fits the online career at hand. Either way, you’ll have to put in a fair amount of time, thinking, effort and skills especially when it comes to planning.

This quick checklist is just a few things any Internet marketer out there should put into mind. You’ll be amazed how these tips, no matter how simple or basic, can take you somewhere in your work from home.

With house auction clearance figures increasing and agents reporting strong numbers at open inspections, we are in an upward moving market.

The advice for buyers out there at the moment would be to make sure that you are ready to move, and exchange a contract should you find your dream home. Real Estate companies are frequently exchanging several properties this year, 2009, where it is literally a race to the finish line with another buyer or buyers as one turned out.

First step is obtaining finance; you should have pre approval in place before you start looking at purchasing. It is also a good idea to have a solicitor / conveyancer selected and it is always a good idea to touch base with them before you find your property to run through the process.

When buying a home first evaluate your wants and needs through a detailed property brief. Then proceed to search for your desired property by liaising with all selling agents in your chosen localities. Source property on the market and most importantly, choose a network of contacts that allow us to source property that is not on the market also known as “Silent Sales”.

Silent Sales:
Many selling vendors are not prepared to put their property to the public market due to confidentiality concerns and expensive real estate marketing campaigns. Working with someone who has a interaction with selling agents the availability of silent sale properties is reported directly to then, and in turn delivered to you. This presents a huge advantage to you – eliminating both competition in the marketplace, and expensive marketing campaigns, therefore allowing you to negotiate a lower purchase price in most cases.

Consider hiring a property buyers agent to find and acquire a property that suits your specific needs, requirements and budget. They usually work and solely on your behalf, and in your best interests only. In practical terms, that means they do not receive fees from the seller, therefore leaving them completely free to negotiate the lowest possible purchase price on any given property.

The Word on the Street: Curb Appeal Sells Homes

Have you ever judged a book by its cover? Or, have you, in a frenzied state at the movie store, with no time to kill, grabbed what turned out to be a very bad movie because the cover was, well, pretty. Although many of us might like to think we are above such biased judgment calls, in all likelihood, most all of us have judged something according to what has been presented on the outside. This phenomenon, holds true for prospective buyers looking at houses, as well. A large percentage of home buyers will decide whether or not they want to view a home, based on its curb appeal- the outside attractiveness that can hook a buyers attention.

Consider that with the advent and now prolific use of the internet everywhere and within the world of real estate, buyers are presented with a wide scope of choice and information. The information that they put the bulk of their faith in, statistically, are photos. So, as well as having good quality photos of your house, consider the importance of curb appeal as one of the first elements that will peak interest in your property. Secondly, consider that if interest is not peaked a first time, there is little, to no chance, that the buyer in question will choose to view your property at all. Like a shopper bombarded with a million product choices in the super market, something with an appealing package may catch their eye, over the product that has superior quality. We do make judgments based on packaging, especially under stress.

So, after that little diatribe, you are hopefully convinced of the value of curb appeal when selling your home. Now, we can get into the nitty gritty details on how you can create an appealing curb. There are some questions to ask yourself. Better yet, ask yourself, and then ask a friend to give you their opinion. Of course, don’t let their answer disturb your friendship-an honest response may help you sell and perhaps fetch top dollar for your property.

1. What is the first impression of your house and yard?

2. Look at specific features and make a list of the good ones.

3. Look again, and make a list of the worst exterior features.

Enhancing curb appeal, without a major overhaul is based on the enhancement of the good stuff and the minimization or improvement of what is not-so-good.

Begin first with what is challenging- in this case those features that are not so attractive. But, before jumping into elements that may involve some project work, start first with anything that needs a good-old-fashioned clean up. Perhaps some of those negative features, just need a coat of paint or a pressure wash. Here are some ideas.

– Clean gutters and windows.

– Kill mold and mildew on the roof, house, sidewalks and driveway.

– Paint the exterior of your house an attractive color. Consult your surrounding neighborhood to see what works.

– Pressure wash dirty siding and dingy decks.

– Edge sidewalks.

– Remove vegetation growing between concrete or bricks.

– Trim trees or plant limbs that are touching or near your home. Greenery should showcase your home, not hide it.

– Attend to all sides of your house, including the rear. Buyers do look everywhere!

Once you have generally cleaned up, look again and consider some landscaping decisions. As with interior home staging, the attractiveness of an un-cluttered interior holds true for the exterior of a home as well. Begin first with removing what landscaping elements seem to be cluttering others that needs to shine. Most buyers, have a hard time visualizing changes. But take note that buyers who can visualize necessary changes may well come to you with an undesirably low offer.Your own foresight and curb appeal work will attract buyers, and fend off low offers.

Here are some tips to consider for appealing landscaping:

– Shrubs generally work best when they anchor the corners of a house.

– A tree should function for protection or as an accent. Trees are most appealing when they to not disturb the line of sight.

– Frame the greeting area or front door with flowering plants and low shrubs.

– Stone and rock and can be used cosmetically to add a look of durability to your home.

In creating curb appeal, always consider the importance of the entranceway. Visual attractiveness is based on creating a focal point, and that point is usually the entranceway of a house. Door color should match the accent color of your home. A door that is colorful can be friendly and inviting, but make sure it is not shockingly bright. A second focal point is good, when it serves to lead the eye along a path to the entranceway. A garden bench or arbor are good secondary focal points.

What we have outlined in this article are smaller, more manageable projects you can do yourself to enhance the curb appeal of your home. If it seems like your home requires more than you can manage yourself, hire a professional who can write up a detailed. plan. Either way, do not neglect the power of packaging as you prepare your house for a competitive market.

Are you in the wonderful position of being able to afford to buy a holiday home abroad? Or are you simply thinking of moving to a country with a more temperate climate and a more relaxed way of life? Whichever is the case, Spain could be the country of your choice, and if this proves to be the destination of your dreams you will need a little help and guidance along the way. Below I have outlined a few hints and tips that will make the buying process a little easier and hopefully, less stressful. If you follow these guidelines purchasing a property in Spain should be an exciting and pleasurable experience – avoiding some of the more common pitfalls is all that it takes.

1. Set Your Budget – I think that this is the most important decision that you will make. Look at your finances and decide exactly what spare cash you have available to you. Be honest with yourself and be realistic, emergencies happen and in the future you may need to raise finance for something more important – don’t stretch yourself. Having set your budget stick to it and be very wary of viewing any property that is above your budget – chances are you will fall in love with something you cannot afford and it will be extremely difficult to put that property out of your mind and settle for something more realistic.

2. Choosing the Area – Location, location, location. It is an old cliché but an important one. You may already know the area where you would like to settle, but otherwise visit a few different locations to make yourself aware of the various possibilities. In choosing the location you may also have to consider point one – your budget.

3. Type of Property – A couple of options to start with – new or resale? Many estate agents will try to point you in the direction of new property, mostly because this is the area where they get the least hassle and the most commission. Fine, if you want to purchase a new property, then go ahead, there are many advantages to taking this route but also be aware that there is a huge choice of resale property available in Spain and there are plenty of bargains to be found. Most resale properties are sold fully-furnished and equipped – this can save you a lot of hassle and a lot of money. Most new property is sold off-plan, so you may have to wait up to 2 years before you get your keys. Knowing what is going to be built around you is also important – it can be hard to visualize when you are staring at an empty field! Also that large apartment block may be blocking the sea view of your new villa, be careful!

The next consideration is the property type – house, villa, apartment, bungalow, the choice is endless. This will mostly be determined by personal choice and, of course, once again – budget. You may also at this stage wish to consider if you want to be on an urbanization or have some solitude in the countryside. There are advantages to both, urbanizations can be noisy during the summer months but they are generally safe and child friendly. The countryside can be peaceful but how far is it to the nearest shop? What about when the family visit – is it the type of holiday they would be looking for? Also, you may want some kind of social life, there are lots of things to consider before making your final choice.

4. Choosing Your Property – Now is the exciting time, going out and viewing possible properties. Take your time and look at as many as you can – if you are looking at new properties, don’t be rushed into a decision “this is the last one available” is the selling point of many an estate agent. Don’t be fooled, there are always plenty of properties available. Take lots of photographs and if possible a video, this is very useful when reviewing later, it can get very confusing when you are looking at lots of properties. Make a short list and go back to look again. This is an important decision – take your time.

5. Paying a Deposit – You have made you choice, now is the time to put your money where your mouth is! The usual in Spain is a 3,000 euros deposit to take the property off the market. The next step will vary depending on whether your choice is new or resale. With new property the next step will probably be payment of something in the region of 30% of the final purchasing price, payable within one month. There may also be stage payments during construction though the norm is balance on completion. Different builders have different rules so be aware of these before you decide to put down your 3,000 euros deposit. With resale property the whole process can be completed within 1 month (if this suits both seller and buyer), so normally it is 3,000 euros deposit and the balance on signing at the notary.

6. Appointing a Solicitor – It is important to appoint a Spanish solicitor who is well versed in Spanish property law and with a good grasp of the English language. He (or she) will be your friend and ally throughout the buying process and will make sure that there are no outstanding debts on the property. Also after the signing he will help with such things as changing electricity and water contracts into your name. You can usually also retain him to deal with your future tax returns in Spain.

7. Taxes and Costs – You will need to be aware of the various taxes and costs that will need to be paid both during and after the purchase.

Taxes on purchase , transfer tax (IVA), 6% of the purchase price on new property, 7% on resale. plusvalia tax, calculated on the appreciative value of the land the property is on (normally paid by the purchaser). Land registry charges – around 300 euros to change the property into your name. Notary charges, can vary depending on location but generally around 500 euros.

The guideline for extra taxes and costs is 10% of the purchase price although this can be nearer to 12% if you are obtaining a mortgage to purchase the property.

Taxes after purchase – SUMA, local council tax payable every year. Community fees, if you are on an urbanization there will be fees for the upkeep of common areas such as gardens, swimming pools, lifts etc. This may be payable monthly, quarterly or half-yearly.

8. Signing the Deeds – The property deed is known as the Escritura in Spain and the signing of this and the final payment for the property is done at the notary office (the notary is an official government representative). You may be present along with your solicitor for the signing or your solicitor can do this in your absence if you have previously given him power of attorney (a common practice in Spain). Before you can sign the deeds you will need to obtain an N.I.E number (foreigners identification number), this can be obtained at any national police station but make sure you ask your solicitor about this long before the signing and he will advise you how to obtain one. Also make sure that you have your original passport with you before going to the notary, also the passport of anyone who is to appear on the deeds.

9. Taking Possession of the Property – When the deeds are signed and the final monies paid you will receive the keys to your property. You will then need to make sure that electricity, water and SUMA contracts are changed over into your name. Don’t forget to organize property and contents insurance. If the property is new, you will want to check it through and write a snag list of any problems.

10. Congratulations – You are now the proud owner of a property in Spain, may the sun shine on you and the value of your property rise, that tiny one bedroom apartment may one day turn into a seafront villa! – Relax and enjoy.


Selling Your Home, Tips to Speed the Process Up

There is a lot of talk these days of how expensive the cost of living is, even more so on the subject of house prices. Recent years have seen house prices rise exponentially, with small two bedroom terrace houses being as expensive as country homes used to cost back twenty years or so.

Whilst it’s not exactly good news for new buyers it is clearly a seller’s market with people who selling property standing to make an attractive sum by selling their house. The only hassle some people have when it comes to selling property is how long and drawn out a house sale can be if you don’t do everything right.

What follows is a brief list of points that you should consider when considering how to sell your home and hopefully can help make your property sale as smooth and quick as possible for all parties involved.

Preparing the house for sale

When you’ve decided it’s time to move on then there are a number of options on how you are going to handle it. You could of course sell privately, while you stand to make most profits from this approach it also means you will need to handle every aspect of the sale, this added hassle is often why people opt for the second option; through an estate agent. If you use an estate agent you will be able to take a back seat with most of the sale and is often the choice most working home owners make due to not having your life revolve around the sale. The third option is a more radical and recent trend, selling your home via an auction, TV shows have shown us that housing auctions are becoming more popular especially with the price of housing being so high.

Putting a price tag on your home

The first thing you will need to do when selling your home is to get it valued, when an assessor comes a knocking you’d best make sure the house is tidy and clean to ensure you make a good impression and really sell your house. You may find that giving the walls a fresh coating of paint will help rejuvenate your house and when in doubt to neutralise the colours and decorations, not everyone shares your taste for crimson red living room walls unfortunately!

If you are selling privately then you will have to organize the viewings yourself and also take on the role of a salesperson. Make sure you have plenty to say about each room in your house when prospective buyers come round, make sure all clutter is out of the way and don’t be afraid to sell seemingly mundane features such as storage space and heating, they’re all factors that buyers will be looking for and may make or break your sale.

Signing your house away

When you’ve started getting prospective buyers viewing your home you’re bound to start getting offers, it’s typical for buyers to find faults with the property and try and drag your asking price down, stick to your guns! This is common practice by buyers, they may even commission a valuation of their own, make sure they get someone officially recognized and not a friend who’s been told to nit pick little details.

Once you get a buyer who has accepted your asking price (or a price very close to it) it’ll come time for you to start getting ready to leave, you’ll have to organize conveyancy, the legal handing over of the ownership, this can be done by yourself or instruct your solicitor.

Hopefully these tips will help you when selling property. Remember to check over every detail especially if you aren’t using an estate agent, you may end up forgetting minor details such as mortgages and forwarding mail and bills. Overall, good luck with selling your home and moving on to pastures new!

Buying your first property is definitely a great experience for you, and you will most likely wish to get involved in the process as much as possible. The DIY feeling will make you feel great once you have secured your ideal first property. However, searching for your first property might be a tedious process for you. Let me share with you some tips that you can take note of when you are looking for your property:


The first thing that you need to do is to find out the market rate of the type of property that you wish to buy. Price differs depending on the location that you are targeting. Therefore, you need to conduct your own investigation and find the going rates, what other buyers are bidding and how much can you afford and not afford. After you have find out the going rate for the different types of property, you can work out your budget and your offer price. Before you set out and offer to buy a property, make sure that you do not buy a house that you are not confident to pay off. Plan out your finance and choose a house that is affordable for you.


Next, you need to set up connections with the right people to assist you in the buying process. Sometimes, DIY does not mean doing it all by yourself. If there are people that you can leverage on, you should. The first person that you should look out for is a real estate agent. A professional agent is well-versed in the real estate market, and he or she will be able to find something that is best for your needs. Other connections that you should also set up are home inspectors and lenders. With the right people in your team, you will be able to secure your first property much faster.


Before you sign any contract with the seller, make sure that you understand the terms and conditions that are presented to you. Do not be afraid to ask for clarification if there is anything that you do not understand. If there are real estate jargons on the contract that you do not understand, find out from the seller. Do not sign anything that you do not understand. It is very important for you to understand what you are getting into before putting your signature on the dotted line.


Buying your first property can be an exciting and memorable process. Stay firm during negotiations and get the best deal out of everything.

Work At Home Tips To Boost Your Holiday Income

Work at home holiday sales will soon by brimming for many home business owners with Christmas and the new year. What better time to end a busy prosperous year and start thinking about an even more prosperous one? That’s right! This is the ideal time to start thinking and planning ahead for all the exciting possibilities for holiday sales, the upcoming year, and the overall growth of your business.

What do you have planned to grow your business?

What can you do to boost your income for the holidays?

What are your plans for your customers?

What are your business goals for the coming year?

Yes, a lot of questions, and ones that are so easy to procrastinate until another day. Well, this is another day. These are things you currently need to carefully consider. Your success essentially depends on your future plans. So, what will you be doing for your business?

Below are some simple tips to think about

* Send out holiday greeting cards graced with your logo. I think it adds more of a personal touch if you add a handwritten message inside your card along with your signature instead of a typed one. Also, always include a business card inside the holiday greeting card.

* Send out a special holiday newsletter to your customer base. Include your best tips along with specific holiday sales. This is the time of year to show your customers you really care by offering generous discounts on special products and/or services.

* Have a holiday contest and offer real prizes to draw in targeted traffic. The contest could entail many things depending on what your business is about. I’ve seen many forum contests that have been successful and they range from various types . Another idea that works well is creative writing contests, these could involve articles, blog posts, poetry, and the like. Perhaps a fun trivia contest would be a hit with your audience.

* If you have products available online, offer free shipping for a limited time throughout the holiday season. This sale booster always gets the interest of online shoppers. Always include your business card along with the shipped product.

* If you own a website and offer advertising space, have a discount sale on a select few of your ad options. Everyone is looking for reasonable advertising around the holidays. Extend the sale into the new year as well. I have found people are looking for new target places to advertise in January.

* Include a freebie with your holiday sales. This could be a gift card, an ebook, or anything you can offer for free that benefits your business.

* If you’re involved with article marketing and are consistently writing for your business, incorporate your articles into an ebook. You can either sell the ebook or offer it as a freebie to your customers.

* Provide extra special customer service! This in itself is the most important aspect of your online presence. This should be practiced all year round. Good customer service is crucial to your business. If you don’t show your customers good service, then you may as well not have a business in the first place.

Here are some suggested business goal tips to consider for the new year

* Make your goals realistic. However, you should set goals that give you the initiative to surpass what you actually think you can easily achieve.

* Put your goals in writing and post them where you can easily see them daily.

* Join at least one new social network in the new year

* Make it a point to stay more in contact with your customers

* Try and incorporate more creativity into your marketing plans

For the new year, I will be spending more time in consistently adding more content to my website and blogs and more time on article marketing.

If you really want the best deals in investment properties, you have to increase your odds by finding more deals. Who is more likely to get a cheap apartment building, an investor that looks through the MLS listings and calls it a day, or the one that uses ten resources? Here are the ten:

1. Talk. Let people know you are looking and sometimes the properties will come to you. There are a lot of owners out there who want to sell, but haven’t yet listed their property.

2. Use the internet. Go to a search engine and enter the type of real estate you are looking for, along with the city you want to invest in. You never know what you might find.

3. Drive around looking for “For Sale By Owner” signs. Owners often don’t want to pay to keep the ad in the paper every week, so you won’t see all properties there.

4. Find abandoned properties. That’s a pretty clear sign that the owner doesn’t want to deal with the property. He might sell cheap.

5. Find old “For Rent” ads. Call if they are a few weeks old. Landlords are often ready to sell, especially if the haven’t yet rented the units out.

6. Talk to bankers. You might get a foreclosed-on investment property cheaper if you buy it before they list it with a real estate agent.

7. Offer someone a finder’s fee. There are people that always seem to hear about the good deals. Have such people coming to you.

8. Eviction notices. If your local papers publish eviction notices, or if you can get the information at the courthouse, it can be useful. A landlord who just went through the procees of evicting tenants is a likely seller.

9. Old FSBO ads. If you call on two-month-old “For sale By Owner” ads, and they haven’t sold, they may be ready to deal. Owners often give up the effort, but still would love to sell. Help them out!

10. Put an ad in the paper. “Looking for investment properties to buy,” might be sufficient to generate a few calls.