Phil Hartog

Author: Tony Smithston

You may have heard mixed feelings recently about investing in the real estate market. Maybe you think that it is too late for you to venture out in to the world of real estate. Fact of the matter is that the market is constantly fluctuating, and there are always great investment properties to be found. To increase your chances of being successful in real estate you need to follow a few important tips.

You may have heard before that there are perfect investment property markets in different countries around the world. The great thing about many of these areas is that they require much lower initial investments in a shorter turn around time. It is known that in general the real estate markets in America, UK, Europe, and Australia have been slowing down, but there have been emerging property markets that are highly profitable.

If ever you are in doubt you can always turn to an expert for the right answers. There are very few people in the world are a master at all trades. There are certain things that simply must be done by a professional such as checking the structural soundness of an investment property, as well as understanding all of the legal aspects of purchasing and renting out your properties. If you are every in doubt about anything, don’t hesitate to call a professional to clear things up for you.

A common mistake people make is with their budget, whether it be overspending or not setting aside enough money. When you are purchasing a piece of real estate with plans on renovation you need to make sure that ever single area of this project fits in with your budget. Don’t forget about extra fees that are associated such as legal fees, accounting fees, real estate agency fees, insurance costs, taxation, utilities and so on.

By: Kamyar Shah
There are many ways to build your fortune in the world today. One of the most common, and often the easiest to begin, even for the common entrepreneur, is purchasing investment property . In fact, you will often hear many rags to riches stories about the unemployed worker down on his luck that became a millionaire by investing in the realty market in one form or another.

There are many different types of methods for investing in this risky yet profitable venue. Realty is a great line of attack for anyone who is willing to take the time to learn the risks, options, and possible rewards for this type of investment process. Some of the more common ways of obtaining investment property are following.

The first way is called the Pre-construction investment. This is a highly speculative and very risky sort of investment that booms or busts with the times. The risks involved in this type of investment should not cover up the fact that many millionaires have been fashioned through this type of investing. And many more will be created in the future. Pre-construction investing is a type of investment where the investor purchases options on the property before any ground is broken for building. This type is more popular in high demand areas that experience housing shortages. These shortages often cause prices to rise quickly and the units are quickly sold before they are completed or any actual money changes hands.

The second type of purchasing investment property is through rental property. Property normally gains value over time. One problem investors have is the ability to hold onto and afford to maintain multiple properties over an indefinite period of time while waiting for house values to rise. One way to overcome this is by renting the properties to tenants while the property values are increasing. The tenant covers the cost of the note on the property making the venture less risky. There will still be the risks of dealing with tenants, such as property damage, failure to pay the rent, and possible legal problems of poor tenants.

Another option is the lease options. There are few people who never experience financial rough spots. Often these people are denied traditional home loans because of their poor management of debts in the past. For this reason they may be willing to pay for the opportunity of rebuilding their credit while working towards home ownership. For these people, a lease option presents a workable and often valued solution. Those investors who are willing to take the risks often find the rewards are well worth those risks.

We have all heard the stories of the investors who make millions by flipping houses. This type of purchasing of investment property has grown tremendously in the last few years due to the popularity of home improvement and house flipping shows on television in the last several years. More and more people have decided to pursue this sort of investment hoping to create big profits in a short period of time and with a small investment. The problem, of course, is that it looks much easier on television than actually doing it. Add to that the fact many people have unrealistic expectations when it comes to costs and their abilities. There are plenty of risks involved with this type of investment too. Successful flippers however see potential for great profit in a relatively short amount of time.

The final type of investment property is the buy and hold. As mentioned above, realty normally gains value over time. Even buildings in total disrepair are worth something just for the land they sit on. Purchasing several houses or large lots of land and holding on to them for as long as necessary before selling can often lead to financial gains. The longer these properties are held the better, providing a greater opportunity for the value property to increase.

These are only some of the investment property opportunities that exist for those who are interested in investing in realty. Other options include commercial and development properties. Needless to say realty investing offers many opportunities to the confident investor.

Author: Jim Johnson
Vacation homes are popular with people for lots of reasons, one of which is to be able to enjoy a favorite vacation getaway spot in style. But increasingly, vacation homes are also being seen as possible real estate investment opportunities. But before rushing out to invest in a vacation home, here are some important considerations to keep in mind.

First of all, not all vacation homes are equal. Some will be located in more popular areas of the country than others, and this will have a direct impact on their property value as well. So just as with most other kinds of real estate, location will be one of the most important ingredients for success in choosing a vacation home as an investment vehicle.

Some areas of the country are extremely popular as vacation getaways, and a vacation home bought in one of these areas can often be expected to increase in value steadily as time goes on. But oftentimes, a very useful strategy is to buy a vacation home in a smaller city or town in that same general area, but not in the major city itself. Usually, vacation homes will be less expensive in these outlying areas, and there will also be less competition to have to deal with as well.

One of the most important characteristics of the popularity of a vacation home is the weather and general surroundings. If you take into consideration these factors, some of the most popular vacation spots in the US these days can be found in the southwestern and southeastern parts of the country. For instance, Las Vegas has proved to be a popular vacation destination almost year-round now, while Arizona is extremely popular because of its pleasant climate in the wintertime. Florida is another area where the growth of vacation homes has been steadily on the increase in recent decades as well.

For those who enjoy winter activities, there are several popular destinations in Colorado, the western states and the northeastern part of the US.

In addition to weather, another point for consideration in buying a vacation home is what kind of recreational activities are available in that general area. This could be anything from major theme parks to sunny beaches, or even ski resorts. The more there is to do, the better.

Cultural activities are also popular with vacationers, so look around the surrounding towns and areas to see what museums and attractions of local interest are available that could be useful to vacationers.

If the area seems to be in a constant state of growth, there is a very good likelihood that property values will continue to rise for the foreseeable future. So look around to see how much new construction is going on, including both commercial and residential in nature. This will often give you a good clue to the kind of overall growth that the area is experiencing.

If you use the suggestions given above to help identify the most popular vacation home locations, you can usually buy a vacation home that will turn out to be an excellent real estate investment.

Author:Phil Hartog
Investing is all about obtaining a maximum Return On Investment whilst maintaining a feeling that that your money is secure enough not to have to worry about it every night!
Financial independence is all about having enough ‘passive income’ (income from investments as opposed to a 9-5 job) to pay for your living expenses (including holidays, travel etc)
The business concept details a plan that will allow a person with approximately $100,000 in available equity to own 10 properties in 10 years which may (depending on their required passive income) also provide them with financial independence.
Please note that this model is based on a 8% average capital growth rate. Given that our focus is on high growth areas we see great potential for exceeding this rate which would accelerate the whole process or deliver a higher return at the end. For demonstration purposes, however, we would rather base our estimates on conservative figures.
‘Many years ago, when I first discovered property investment – I was shown some historical statistics that demonstrated average residential property doubling in value every 8-10 years. I thought to myself, “ Why not just bye 10 properties that don’t cost too much to hold, hang onto them for 10 years, sell 5 to pay off the other 5 and retire on the rental income from 5 debt free properties.”
Naturally there are interest payments, financial leverage strategies, property market cycles, tax and cash flow implications and a few other things to manage –which I trust our strategies will simplify for you - but essentially this is the plan. Simple, straightforward, conservative yet very exciting. I hope you too can see the benefits and I look forward to meeting you one day soon to discuss.’

Author: William King
When it comes to investing in property there is no right time or wrong time, anytime is good when investing in property. The market is so wide and high that it is always possible to find some value in there. It can be easier or harder to find value depending on the state of the market but it is always there. There is always some sort of property that has been in neglect, disrepair, or simply has motivated sellers that must make a sale. Properties such as these make for a great buy at any time no matter the state of the market. Another thing to remember is that the Real Estate market moves in cycles. It never stays low or high for too long. Eventually things reverse and go back to the way they were in the previous half of the cycle. With a little bit of knowledge you can come close to predicting the cycles and making a killing in the market. The market is also unpredictable with the leading experts unable to always buy low and sell high. Most of the time it is just educated guesswork that may or may not work so you there is no point in waiting for the ideal time to invest in the market.

The Real Estate investor that always makes money is the one who makes it a habit of buy and hold. While it is true that their money is tied up it is equally true that a sluggish market or slow economy does not do them any harm. They simply have to hold on to the property and eventually when the upside of the cycle comes around they can sell it off. In the meantime they can continue to make money by renting or leasing such property. �Buy and hold” investors are very patient and they usually have more experience watching the market than short term investors. This means they are that much better at predicting the cycles. They know when they can expect peaks and valleys and they can plan their actions accordingly. They are much better at reading the signs and making the right buy or sell decision. Being active in the market for a long time also means that they have a thorough knowledge of what is available where, and they can move in and get working.

The Real Estate market is currently going through a sluggish period all over the world, apart from a few spots like Dubai and some locations in China. This turned out to be bad news for those investors who thought that the market will continue to go up indefinitely. The good news here is that since the prices are falling down it is the right time to buy. You cannot wait too long or the cycle may reverse again by the time you are done deciding and you will pay more than you ought to.

If you are looking to buy ownership property instead of investment property then there is no point in looking at the market condition. Just go ahead and buy.

William King is the director of Dubai Property & UAE Property & Dubai Real Estate Portal, Pakistan Property & Pakistan Real Estate Properties Portal , Australia Wholesalers - Australian Wholesale Dropshippers & Suppliers Directory and France Wholesalers - French Wholesale Dropshippers & Suppliers Directory . He has 18 years of experience in the marketing and trading industries and has been helping retailers and startups with their product sourcing, promotion, marketing and supply chain requirements.

Author: Jacqui Smith
If any individual or corporate wants to carry out any kind of property transactions; whether to sell or to buy any property; he has to prepare a master plan for his deal and then only take further action. As we know, buying or selling a property needs a dilligent approach to achieve the desired results. To meet this goal for one and all, many companies have started online real estate portals which make real estate planning much easier and cost effective than the traditional methods.

With the upsurge in the real estate segment, Australia has already planned a massive investment event. The world leading Real Estate Investment World 2007 is scheduled in Sydney in 2007 where over 155 institutional investors, property financers and real estate developers from Asia Pacific region are participating. This event will represent a great business opportunity in a time of exciting development in the marketplace. It also provides an unrivalled and cost effective sales and marketing solution that will work in the ensuing changing face of real estate developments in Australia.

When it comes to making a deal in this market, you have to look at the main aspect i.e. to get better value for money. Of late the trends followed are tying up the finance angle first and then look out for a property at a preferred location to suit the budget. No doubt there are number of agencies that are trying to fight for your business, but with the Information Technology at work, you have all the details at your finger tips and only thing you need is zeal of patient surfing of the various websites and select the best one offering better options.

As real estate investment is not an everyday activity for most of us, patient approach is advisable in looking for the ads, locations, finance options and of course the resale value in the times of need. It is a general phenomenon that the new home always has an edge over the resale homes.

For tying up the finance needed, one has two major options. Either surf the net to find out the details, as many portals do offer such services, they also have the needed documents download facilities. If you don’t want to follow this method, then you have to call the bank and setup a meeting to discuss your plans. Once both parties agrees to terms and conditions then the listing of property is checked to suit the budget.

While doing any deal in real estate you have to set the goal of success. For meeting goals you need to set up your team of advisors for finance, property and the taxation matters. For this either you start selecting the professional of your choice from the pool of list or take help of online portals specialized for such process. For prudent association, you must have the win-win partnership concept that not only minimizes the cost of operation, but also strengthens business relationship of longer tenure.

Improper planning or goal can derail your dream of owning your home and making money out of it. If you can plan properly, you can double your income without any substantial rise on expenses.

Author: Parag Sheth
About Australia
Australia is a country of so many extremes, being the sixth largest country in the world (50% larger than Europe) but having the lowest population density in the world, some 2 people per square kilometre. The country has historically strong links to Britain, with the Queen still the official monarchy of the country, although the history of Australia is very colourful. Initially populated by the aborigines, the country was used as a place to ship prisoners many years ago. Slowly but surely the aborigine influence in the country was reduced, and western style values introduced.

The country was originally made up of six separate states, although they formed a union in 1901 to create Australia. It was not until Captain James Cook arrived in 1770, that the country was actually discovered by the Europeans. A place of immense beauty, stifling hot weather conditions and one of the most laid back social attitudes in the western world. Australia really is a special place.

Many of the worlds main mineral companies have originated from Australia, as the land of �Oz” continues to supply a large majority of the worlds precious metals, etc. The economy has been fairly strong for some time, although historically there have been large peaks and troughs in line with the swing in commodity prices. This dependence has since been diluted with the country now offering a broader more diverse business scene.

While the mass media portray Australia as a vast and varied land, it is difficult to actually appreciate the size and beauty of the land. Golden white beaches give way to golden white desert land, with many towns and settlements hundreds of miles away from the hustle and bustle of main stream Australia. The famous flying doctor is still in existence, and many of the families rely on the internet and other modern day technology to actually educate their children. A vast and prosperous land, with many investment opportunities.

Property Market

As the business base of Australia has moved away from the dominance of natural resources, the economy has become much more balanced. Still growing and adjusting to the changes, the economy has been one of the better performing worldwide, since 1990. Relatively stronger than most of their European counterparts in the worldwide down turn in early 2000, the economy has thrown up a number of interesting opportunities for foreign capital.

Due to the sheer size of the country, and the extreme difference in population per kilometre, the market for property in Australia is very diverse. Historically it is the main inland cities of Melbourne and Sydney which have pushed the Australian property market ahead, although the coastal areas with strong popular tourist attractions also performing well. Quality Australian property will always hold an attraction to the foreign investor as the infrastructure in many parts of the country is weak, and sometimes nearly non-existent.

While the vast majority of Australians own their own homes, there is a strong rental market which now represents 29% of all dwellings in the country. There are very many similarities with the UK and Australian economies and style of government, although the fundamental difference is that Australia will never run out of land to develop, although the quality of local services may well diminish the further away you move from the main cities and coastal towns.

The Australian property market has been relatively strong for some time, but due to the high concentration of attractive properties in a limited number of areas, the market can show large short term fluctuations. These tend to flatten out as the slow but sure expansion of the larger cities continues, and investors also look for cheaper alternative areas in the less populated parts of the country. To spot Australia’s next growth city could throw up a very lucrative investment.

Why Invest in Australia

Australia offers a unique investment opportunity for those looking at the longer term picture, due in the main to the strong economy, increase in gross domestic product, buoyant labour market and a western style attitude to attracting outside investment.

As the business and employment markets continue to develop with opportunities in all areas of the country, we are seeing a slow shift from owner buyers to long term rental agreements. This market is expected to grow further in the coming years, and offers would be investors a quality long term income stream, together with the potential for long term capital growth.

While air travel from Britain and other parts of Europe is lengthy, there are a number of commercial routes from Europe to Australia as the country continues to retain strong ties with European counter-parts. The free market culture is proving very successful, producing a number of larger Australian corporations who have diversified all over the world - media being one of the main exports.

Add in the ease with which finance is available - often on a short term agreements, allowing maximum tax relief on loans (usually 5 - 10 years, rather than in excess of 20 years in the UK) - not to mention the attractive landscapes and scorching hot weather, it is easy to see why tourism is playing a larger and larger part in the economy of Australia.

Outlook

Historically the Australian economy has seen a number of volatile phases, although over recent years there are signs of a more gradual increase which looks set to continue. The forecast is underpinned by a stable interest rate outlook, proactive government policies to resist the threat of over heating, a thriving employment sector and stable inflation. These all add up to a great scenario for long term property value appreciation, although there will always be �hot spots” in the country, due to the vast difference in population density.

The buy to let market has been showing particular strength, and is currently offering rental returns in the region of 8% - 9%, while properties in Australia a showing capital appreciation averaging approximately 10% per annum. The government are also increasing expenditure outside of the major cities and tourist areas, which is encouraging property investors to consider looking further afield than just the high population density areas. The country has a lot to offer both the tourism industry and the overseas investor, with the Australian property market particularly attractive.