real estate infos

Archive for December, 2009

Why Pre-construction Sales Are A Go

Today Panama is in the heart of globalization. If you are planning to invest in the real estate market then it is extremely beneficial to invest in Real estate in Panama. The Panama real estate market is more than ever increasing itself in value. If you are investing in Panama property then you are sure to expect to wield good returns. This is because of the increase in number of people who are investing in the country. For European buyers this country is even more advantageous to invest in Panama property because of the weak dollar which increases the affordability of the property in the country. The already low cost of living and the peaceful lifestyle attracts many people from across the world including retirees and people who are looking for somewhere to settle down. There is an influx of multi cultural people as people from all over the world are looking to invest in Panama property. Therefore the Panama real estate market is a definite profit earning industry in the country. It is estimated that tourists spend of over a billion every year in the country. Some of these tourists are most likely to settle down in the country. There is a shortage of private accommodation as properties are getting fast sold out. This would mean that to buy Panama property you are sure of a good resale value. Also it would do you good to engage in a pre construction sales. The advantages of pre construction sales in Panama are many.

Pre construction sales are the process of joining a group of investors in developing a financial property. This is a common term in Panama real estate because of the increasing development that is happening in the country today. The opportunity for making a good profit Panama real estate is attracting people from all over the world. There are many benefits available for those who invest in preconstruction sales. The lack of mortgage payments can be considered as a part of the profit. While the building is under construction the mortgage is not charged on the building. Also the rate of appreciation as the building is under construction is sure to bring handsome profits. The property might itself go under appreciation. This increases the net worth and thereby constitutes in large profits. Therefore investing in a pre construction sale in a country like Panama whose real estate is booming right now is a very wise decision. The simple reservation can be done with the help of a signed letter. The rate of credit will be about 15 to 20. Cash payment is generally substituted for a letter of credit. The money that you are investing is mostly held by an escrow agent that is reliable and trustworthy. This money is only released once all rights that are promised to you are given and you are satisfied with the deal. The construction of the Panama property starts as soon as the developer of the property has sold a set amount of units of the building which is generally 70 to 80.

About the writer:  Real Estate in Panama is the market you are interested in? Check the offer of Cpanama Real Estate Corp. Laurie Cooper will help you to choose right Panama property for you.

Why Own A Loft?

From Montreal to Minneapolis lofts are a the hottest thing in city housing right now. What makes them so great? Well for starters not everyone thinks there great. There are definitely pros and cons to loft living and you should be aware of this to decide what type of home is right for you.

One of the things people love about lofts is the open space. The large windows offer amazing views and soulfulfilling natural light. You could never get claustrophobic in a loft as the ceilings are high and the space is open. You can work in one part of the house and not feel cut off from any of the other areas.

Also they have an artsy feel to them. The walls can easily fit huge paintings. The large space begs you have an art studio in one corner or maybe a small dance floor. They are great for parties as none of that cliquing away in another room can happen. You can see and enjoy all your guests at once and the music in one corner reaches the entire party.

However that open space can have its drawbacks especially if you like privacy. While room dividers create affective visual privacy sound can travel easily in such open spaces. If you have children or often have house guests you might want to look for a loft with a separate bedroom. Some people have chosen to hang things from their ceilings to create baffling a way to disperse sound and prevent it from echoing across the house. Rugs on the floors have a similar soundcalming affect and can also help to add warmth which brings me to another downfall of the loft concept.

In colder climates the open space can be a bit hard to keep warm. Because heat rises and the ceilings are so high this can be a challenge for loftdwellers. space heaters help directing heat exactly where you want it instead of baseboard heaters where the heat just goes up the wall. I recently saw an innovative and arty way to keep warm if the form of stone sculptures that fit a small tealight candle within them. The candle warmed up the stone which could then be placed at ones feet under a desk or on a low shelf near a chair. I think this is a classy way to add extra warmth where you need it. Also as I mentioned having area rugs keeps your feet from getting cold in a home that typically has wood or cement flooring.

One more way to keep the cold from bother you is to look for a loft with a mezzanine a sort of loft within a loft. Usually a mezzanine is a way of having a private bedroom in a loft offering a second floor to your open space. Because it is higher up and therefore closer to the ceiling heat won’t be lost as easily as it will on the lower floor. If you live in a really cold city perhaps your mezzanine could be your living room and bedroom in the winter months. Convenient maybe not but there’s lots of reasons a loft is worth it if you value them.

One loft resident says he still feels great after a whole day spent inside because he’s got the high ceiling and floor to ceiling windows to help get that outside feel. Another bonus is the passive solar heating created by the large windows. Look for a loft facing south to maximize this. Warning you’ll need blinds for the summer months but in winter the sun’s warmth will be lovely. And all the sun’s light means you’re turning electric lights on less. That could well make up for any extra heating costs.

Also consider this: getting a projector and watching your favorite movies on the ultimate big screen your huge white wall.

The opportunities for doing custom interior decorating abound in a loft because they are usually sold with very little finishing detail. So you have the chance to finish the place just how you want it or leaving it raw to appreciate the true loftyness about it. Either way if loft living is something you think you’d enjoy there are a lot to choose from in any city in the world.

About the writer:   Brian Enright is a representative of Highrises.com your first stop for Dallas Condos. Highrises.com provides customers with all the information they could ever need to find the perfect condo in Dallas. For more information contact Brian or visit the website at www.highrises.com

Why Is Self Storage Suddenly So Hot!

INVESTORS in selfstorage stocks finally have some gains to stow away.

The four real estate investment trusts that together own and operate about 12 percent of the facilities nationwide most of the other properties are momandpop operations has soared about 31 percent on average this year through Thursday after finishing 2007 with a nearly 25 percent loss.

This years returns far surpass those of all other property REIT categories as well as the broader stock market. Equity REITs are up around 10 percent so far on average while the Standard amp; Poors 500stock index is off about 5 percent.

Why is selfstorage suddenly in favor?

Some investors believe that these dividendpaying companies will benefit from the housing crisis. They expect that the ranks of renters will swell as more people leave foreclosed homes or postpone buying their first homes because of tighter credit and falling values and that those people will need repositories for their excess bricabrac.

Industry analysts agree that the sector is likely to hold up well through these economic woes. It is recession resistant said Michael Knott a senior analyst at Green Street Advisors the investment research firm. More economic distress causes people to rent more and in fact one of the storage companies said recently that Detroit was one of the best markets.

Indeed Detroit had the highest foreclosure rate among the nations 100 largest metropolitan areas last year with nearly 5 percent of its households in some stage of foreclosure according to RealtyTrac.com the online foreclosure listing service. RealtyTrac put the average nationwide rate at 1.03 percent as of Dec. 31 up from 0.58 percent at the end of 2006. Also high on the list were Las Vegas Miami and Denver along with several boomandbust cities in California.

But housing is only part of the story in selfstorage analysts point out. It correlates to transition said Michael J. Salinsky a REIT analyst at RBC Capital Markets.

Demand for storage space is often precipitated by lifes passages marriage divorce retirement enlistment in the military. In addition use by small businesses has been growing particularly by those that operate online. Small businesses need offsite storage for upsizing and downsizing Mr. Salinsky said and so do people working from their homes.

In the last decade he said selfstorage revenues have grown 4.4 percent a year on average compared with average growth of 3 percent a year for most other commercial real estate sectors.

This steady cash flow which seems to transcend both good and bad economic times is attractive to investors. During economic downturns many investors look for such reliable income engaging in a flight to safety.

This is a cashflowdriven business that has a low breakeven point expenses are low even if occupancy rates are not high said R. Christian Sonne the managing director of the selfstorage industry group at Cushman amp; Wakefield which provides various consulting services for the sector.

A concreteandsteel storage facility is typically far less expensive to build and to operate than say an office building or shopping center. There are of course the standard expenses associated with real estate like utility costs property taxes insurance and payroll but not too much more.

And after a huge building boom in the early 2000s Mr. Sonne said the development pipeline has been slowing of late which is also reflected in the newfound resilience of the selfstorage sector.

The barriers to entry are becoming more difficult Mr. Sonne explained.

For one thing financing for new structures is harder to get he said while zoning is stricter in many communities which seem to prefer property types that might generate more jobs and tax revenue.

Still plenty of storage space already exists. By the Self Storage Associations estimate there are around 51500 primary facilities nationwide as well as another 8400 ministorage places or as the association broke it down almost seven square feet of rentable space for every person in the United States. A vast majority of this 220 billion industry however is made up of small businesses making it the most fragmented among commercial property types.

Perhaps because of that fragmentation this is probably one of the sectors that is least understood said David Harris a REIT analyst at Lehman Brothers.

Mr. Salinsky agreed though he added that in storage you have to be a very dynamic operation to get the returns out of the property. And that might include offering customer incentives like 1 rents for the first month and ancillary services like moving supplies and truck rentals. A 10by10foot space rents for less than 100 a month on average according to Mr. Sonne.

*Excerpts found in The New York Times on April 27 2008

For more information about Scott Meyers or join us at one of the Connecticut Real Estate Investors Association monthly meetings visit http://www.ctreia.com

About the writer:  Austin is a serial entrepreneur and personal finance expert author. One of the passions he enjoys is showing people how to obtain free grant money for personal use their small business or to help pay off debt. The availability of women business grants and debt grants alone has allowed him to help thousands of American people fulfill their dreams.