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Buying Properties And House Hunting in France

Filed Under : buy house by admin
Aug.27,2010

When you decide to buy a property in France you may have many reasons for doing such a purchase. It could be a dream home to move the whole family to or maybe a holiday home for personal use or even for renting out for holidays there are lots of things to take into consideration.How to find the property you really dream of! They often say there’s no harm in dreaming especially when your dreams have the possibility of coming true. You can find many good English speaking estate agents on the internet who have many properties for sale. But I would like to tell you that there is an interesting way out, which will allow you not to pay any agents fees. You can for example go straight into the local Notaire`s office and you will normally find that there is a property sale board which offers properties for sale directly from the owners. Moreover you may find as we did that the same property is on sale in an estate agents window for a much higher price that in the Notaries` office, hence well worth a look.

Agencies do charge much for their work but frankly speaking we don`t think they do a lot of the paperwork etc. on your behalf. It is up to you to decide what kind of service to use. You can use an agent if you are a first time buyer, the choice is yours, we did just that for our first property purchase in Brittany.

Important advice and tips on choosing the right property in the right area

If you have made the decision to either move to France or at least buy a holiday home, it is wise to think about the right area for your future “castle” Should you look for an area which will gives you easy access to the UK, this might be very convenient if you have to return on a regular basis. So for people in this category it is advisable to look at the Airport and Ferry port distances from the place you want to buy.

You can still find many bargains in France and it is possible that you look for and find a great renovation project with a few acres of land and this could be ideal for you. But keep in mind that sometimes the first impressions unfortunately, are often hiding something, so research is a must.

A few acres of land, that sounds great, and brings to mind ideas of getting a few animals, horses, sheep, and chickens. Who knows you could even dig your own lake and fill it with fish and offer fishing holidays or if you have barns to convert to gites or holiday homes, maybe even a part of your home could be used as bed and breakfast.

So what`s it really like to take on a building or refurbishment project in France

We have been there and done it all and although it sounds fantastic it is not all plain sailing by any means. A property can be advertised as “livable with fishing lake”but frankly speaking it can be far from this, but you learn from your mistakes. When we were searching for a property to buy in Brittany we viewed properties all day with a property agent (not an estate agent). That day we didn` choose anything so we looked and kept looking and on the second day of house hunting in Brittany. At last fortune smiled upon us and we saw the last property of the day. That was it we saw it and said we wanted it, a bit rash you may think but we had made up our minds. A Bretagne Longere with out-buildings and a large unused part of the house and to top it off seven hectares of land all around the property.

Many different ideas occur and all sorts of thoughts start racing through your heads. You want to remake almost everything, this you will put here, and that thing should be moved there and on that place your wish is to create your own fishing lake and with over 10 acres what could be easier.

You buy the property and move there to do some work to create your dream. Now you have to find a well known registered builder or tradesman who can provide good references. When we bought the desired property found a great French registered English builder and a French electrician who speaks perfect English after getting several quotes for the work to be done we eventually chose and the works started.

Remember that employing anyone in France who is not registered is actually illegal and you do it would be liable to fines or worse if you get caught employing people on “the black”. In addition it is always best advice to check the persons or companies insurance certificate; we did and never looked back as the work was finished to a high quality and on time.

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Buying Properties – Great Tips For You When Choosing Your First Home To Live In

Filed Under : buy house by admin
Aug.7,2010

To choose your first home which you will feel comfortable living in, you need to do the necessary research on your side. You should always search for your home early so that you will not be rushed into any impulse buying decision by any agent. Let me share with you some tips when you are looking to buy your first home.


One very important that you need to take note of is the market rate of the type of house that you intend to buy. Without knowing the market rate, you are just inviting people to give you ridiculous pricing. Therefore, it is wise to conduct a research to find out what is the going rate in the market now. With this information, you are better equipped to negotiate with the sellers and prevent yourself from paying too much.


Other than the market rate of the house, there are also other things that you should consider such as your credit rating and pay check. Do not get into a huge debt which you cannot afford to pay off just to buy a luxury house to live in. Buy something that is within your means and confident to pay the mortgage every month.


Once you have plan out your budget for buying your new home, it is time to network and find the right people to assist you in finding your dream house. One very important person that you absolutely must have in your team is a real estate agent. A good real estate agent will be able to get you a better mortgage, as well as a more desirable type of house. He or she will conduct a research and locate the house that is best for your needs. Other important people that you might want to get them on your team are home inspectors, lawyers, and right lenders. With the right people in your team, you will be able to leverage on the expertise of each of them to get the best deal for your new home.


After you have found your ideal home, before you sign any contract, make sure that you understand the terms and conditions that are presented to you. Things such as loan and mortgage terms and other real estate jargons are important for you to understand first before you sign anything on the dotted line. If you are unsure about anything, do not be shy to ask. It is better to be safe than sorry.


The process of looking for your first home is always exciting and fun. It marks the beginning of another chapter of your life. By following these tips, you can be sure to enjoy this process and get the best deal for your home as well.

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Buying Properties at Auction in Alabama

Filed Under : buy house by admin
Jul.6,2010

Foreclosed homes and repossessed or repos properties are one of the quickest ways to make a profit in the real estate investment market. Properties can be purchased at auction for well below market value, then rented or resold for substantial returns. If you’re interested in buying properties at auction in Alabama, read on for valuable information to help you succeed in this lucrative market.

How Do Properties Get to Auction?

Most properties sold at auction in Alabama are there for one of two reasons: either the former owner was unable to keep up on mortgage or loan payments, forcing the bank to foreclose on the property to make up their losses, or the home was repossessed by the government due to a backlog of unpaid taxes.

In either case, the bank or the government is motivated to sell off the real estate as quickly as possible so they can retrieve the money they are owed. Repossessed properties often end up at an Alabama auction, where they can be sold at up to 50% less than their actual market value.

How to Turn Auction Properties into Real Estate Successes

Alabama real estate properties that have been foreclosed by banks or repossessed by the government are often sold at auctions, for bargain prices. But it takes some knowledge and preparation to succeed at buying and selling auction properties. Here are some quick tips:

- Come prepared. Most auctions require immediate payment in cash, so make sure you’re carrying enough money to purchase your real estate investment.

- Get all the information you can. If possible, drive by any properties you’re interested in and try to get a feel for the area, the condition of the house, and anything else you can learn. Neighbors, and sometimes even the previous owner of the home, can be a valuable source of information. Make sure to attend any scheduled open houses.

- Know the market. Before you arrive at the auction and begin perusing the listed properties, it’s a good idea to know the relative value of homes in different parts of the city, making it easier to recognize the best bargains.

- Know the laws. Familiarize yourself with Alabama foreclosure laws so you understand the legal implications of buying and selling these properties. An Alabama real estate lawyer can provide guidance.

There is a huge potential to make a significant return on investment in foreclosed property. With the proper preparation and careful examination of the property you plan to purchase, you’ll be more likely to achieve success and higher profit margins.

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Tips on Buying Properties in the South of France

Filed Under : buy house by admin
Jun.24,2010

Wouldn’t it be nice to buy properties in the south of France, particularly in St. Tropez?  Some people are inclined to believe that investing in St. Tropez real estate would cost an arm and a leg, but you would be surprised to see that some properties actually go for a lot less than you might expect.

Aside from the price, another incentive that can pull you into buying a St. Tropez property is the fact that the weather is always mild there.  The mild Mediterranean climate attracts people from the colder parts of Europe all year round, but more so during the summer months.  You can treat the property as an income generator by renting it out to these holiday-goers who regularly flock to St. Tropez and the other tourist destinations in the south of France.

Buying properties in the south of France, however, is no simple matter.  If you do not do it carefully, you may end up wasting a good chunk of money on a non-performing asset.  You should always weigh in the factors for and against buying a St. Tropez property before you actually make the purchase.

Here are a few tips on buying property in St. Tropez:

Set a budget.  The first thing you need to do before you buy property in St. Tropez is to set your budget.  Know how much you can afford to spend and stick to that amount when shopping for the property that you want.

Browse listings of reputable brokers.  When shopping for real estate, you should only make transactions with reputable real estate brokers.  View their listings and verify the information that you get from them if you have to.  Dealing with only reputable real estate brokers will save you a huge amount of trouble in the long run.

Visit the property.  As much as possible, go and fly to the south of France so you can view the property you are about to buy with your own eyes.  Do not put your trust in another person’s judgment of the property, no matter how much you trust that person.  In visiting the property yourself, you will be able to assess whether or not you like the property and what improvements you may need to make after buying it.

Hire a solicitor.  Another important move that you need to make when buying properties in the south of France is hiring a solicitor.  A solicitor would be able to attend to legal details that you may lack the understanding, or the ability, to deal with.  Your solicitor will act as your liaison officer in completing the paperwork involved with buying a property.  However, make sure that you know all the details of whatever your solicitor is doing with regards to the property so that you understand what is going on.

Buying properties in the south of France is not a simple task to undertake.  You should do your homework and prepare yourself for the eventuality that you may become a property owner in St. Tropez or anywhere in the south of France.

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Tips before buying properties in the Philippines

Filed Under : buy house by admin
May.25,2010

Tips  before buying properties in the Philippines


If you buy a property from individual owners
Ensure that the Certificate of Title is genuine. You can check this by securing a certified true copy of the title from the Register of Deeds. Request a photocopy of the title from the seller and submit this to the Register of Deeds with your application for processing of the certified true copy.
Inspect the title if it is clean.  A clean title is free from any encumbrances such as mortgage from a bank or lending companies. Whatever transactions or legal matters that transpire on the land, as a rule, these should be annotated in the title. Check for these annotations. If the page is empty, it is clean.
Ensure that the land your are buying is what is truly described in the title. This can be validated at the Register of Deeds. It is advisable to hire a professional surveyor to ensure that the actual property you are buying will match the technical description in the title. Generally, this will not cost much and as the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Make sure that yearly real estate taxes are paid and updated. The government imposes at least quarterly payment of taxes and when a property is sold, the government requires payment of the entire year, so negotiation as to what period buyers pay and what period sellers pay their tax dues should come into play in the sales transaction. It is very important that real estate taxes are paid because of stiff penalties imposed by government on delayed payments and eventually  the government can impose a lien on the property which can extinguish the owners right of the property until taxes are paid including penalties.
Make sure that the sellers are true owners of the property. Valid IDs should match the name in the title. Always inspect the original title, not a photocopy. Check with some authority figures within the locality like the Barangay captain  as they also have valuable information about the property and can attest their true owners.
If the property you are buying is not a residential subdivision such as raw land, or beach lot, check with the DENR (Department of Energy and Natural Resources) with regards to the regulated use of the land. Lands have classifications such as farm land, industrial, commercial, residential and therefore, these should be used according to their classification , though diversion may be applied but requires government approval and usually undergoes a tedious process.

B   If you buy from a developer:

     1. Check for the availability of the mother title. Usually developers offer pre-selling of properties. This means that the houses or condominiums will have to be constructed based on contract over a period of time. The individual title may not be available as this takes time like three years to have the title individualized.

     2. Trust  a reputable developer who has a track record of completed developments. It’s ideal if you can personally check these completed developments to have an idea what it would look like in their pre-selling projects that you might be interested  to invest.

     3. Check every provision of the Contract to Sell that you are going to sign including the annexes. A licensed real estate broker should be able to explain to you in common language all the legal terms expressed in all documents that you are going to sign. You may hire at your option a lawyer for this purpose but this is not customary in large project developments as the documents are standardized. All the signed documents will be notarized and you should have a copy of one original notarized document.

     4. Choose or negotiate for the least cash out, least monthly installments, and if possible no interest for properties that are yet to be built or on-going in construction. Retention can be negotiated to be paid upon delivery of the unit.

     5. If you plan to make some modifications on the inside of the unit whether a house and lot or a condo, make sure that this is allowed by the developer and up to what extent if allowed. There are developers who would not allow any changes in their plans but there are those who entertain changes and can be negotiated or discussed before the construction begins.

     6. Whether you buy from individual owners or from a developer, it’s best to choose a Licensed Real Estate Broker or Agent you can trust with proven records of good and honest service and has extensive knowledge of the local area. Check for loyalty on previous work experiences. Only choose licensed professionals as the colorum or unlicensed are now strictly monitored by government authorities and prohibited to practice real estate profession in the Philippines. Even if licensed, have preference over independed brokers/agents compared to in-house agents. The in-house agents of developers are strictly not allowed to sell the projects of  their competitors and therefore can be expected to be biased on their own projects.

 Author:  Engr. Manuel Arengo Jr.

Real Estate Broker  License No. 1185(N)

Website: http://www.cebubesthomes.com

About Engr. Manuel Arengo Jr.

 

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Tips for Buying Properties in Mumbai

Filed Under : buy house by admin
May.17,2010

In the last decade or so India has made and still continue to make a swift growth on the turf of Information Technology. This massive expansion in IT Sector has resulted in domestic industrial growth as more and more multinational companies and services industries started to invest in India. They had their share of profit with this IT boom in India. But there is one industry that has benefited the most by this growth and that industry is the property market of India as demand for more and more office space and other real estate property has been on climb in the country.

To fulfill the demand, property developers in India are developing residential, commercial and retail space in the major metropolitan cities of the country. This demand for property has made cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, and Jaipur the most coveted hot spots for commercial and residential activities. More and more people are coming to these cities in search of better employment, which has resulted in high demand for residential property in these cities.

The demand for property in Mumbai is even higher as it is the business capital of country and world’s largest film industry is also situated here. Every one in India wants to be in this city of dreams. Many people want to settle in here in hope of good career and some want to spend a few days here. This has made the job very difficult for those who are looking to rent or buy residential or commercial properties in Mumbai. But many real estate agencies are helping people in buying property in Mumbai. These agencies offer a wide range of services to their customers together with buying, selling, renting-in and renting-out. In order to expand their business few property agencies offer some services through internet. So if you are looking to buy residential properties in Mumbai or buy commercial properties in Mumbai then simply visit to the website of any of such real estate agencies like Better Homes India and you can find the best deal for you.

But there are some points that should be kept in mind while buying or renting a property for you.

1. Take a seat with your family and come up with an amount that you are ready to pay out.

2. Keeping in view the amount at your disposal, agree on some grounds with your family. For example, if you looking to buy residential property in Mumbai, you must agree on some basic things with your family like; how many bedrooms you want, in which area of the city the apartment should located, etc.

3. Be realistic in your decision. Always keep an eye on your budget and limitations.

4. Be very clear with your property dealer about your requirements and budget. Many online property agencies have detailed search form on their website that can help you in locating desired property for rent or buy in Mumbai.

5. Be ready to compromise. It is not always that you can rent or buy a property that has every thing you want. It could have your desired no of bedrooms in the amount in your hands but could be half a kilometer away from your preferred location.

6. Last but not the least; always beware of fraud real estate agencies. Always look for trusted and well established property agencies.

So it is becoming easier and easier today, for both foreign & domestic investors as well as common man, to find residential or commercial property in Mumbai that best suited to their requirements. All you have to do is be clear about your budget and requirements and acquire the services of good property agency and Better Homes India is definitely one of them.

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