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Cheap Property for Sale – if Want to Make Big Gains Don’t Make These Mistakes

March 12th, 2010 CheapFlatsLondon No comments

Buying cheap property for sale seems easy, but for the bulk of investors who do it they end up losing money. Why?

Because, they make basic errors.

If you want to make big gains by buying cheap property for sale then avoid these common errors and you can make some big profits.

1. Buying The Cheapest

Many investors simply buy the cheapest property they can find and assume it MUST increase in value.

Keep in kind its cheap for a reason!

Basically no one wants it.

Unless there are solid reasons why the property should increase (not just your opinion) then avoid these properties.

You should not buy the cheapest but simply buy competitively priced property that offers good risk to reward.

2. Look for solid reasons

This means looking at the facts and seeing if the cheap property for sale you have targeted is set to increase in value.

A good way of doing this is to look for cheap property for sale near to areas that are increasing in value.

People will then look to overspill into adjacent areas pulling prices up.

Or

Buy in areas where infrastructure and amenities are starting to be built, that will increase the properties value in the near future as people move in to take advantage of the new facilities.

3. Wait for prices to start to rise

This may mean you miss the bottom, but you have the trend on your side.

Once cheap property for sale starts to increase its like a vacuum cleaner, more people want to get on board and push prices up further.

If there are solid reasons to buy the property, then keep in mind property trends can last for many years and there is going to be good upside for a considerable period of time.

4. Decide what you want and get out

You need to decide a realistic target figure and then take your profit and look for the next opportunity.

Say you target a 100% and prices hit your target don’t hang round you have what you want get out and look for the next one.

5. Getting more bang for your buck

If you want to make the really big gains with minimal outlay, buy cheap property for sale overseas in emerging economies.

Why?

Quite simply because it’s cheaper in many destinations and upside returns and risk are lower.

The established economies don’t normally offer the dynamic growth you get from emerging ones.

What is a good destination?

Try looking at Costa Rica.

Its just a 3 hour flight form the USA, its stable encourages foreign investment and cheap property for sale here offers a fantastic opportunity:

Beach front property here is up to 70% less than in the USA.

This has led to a huge influx of baby boomers looking for ocean view property and a great lifestyle.

Therefore, buying near existing resorts and expanding infrastructure, can give tremendous gains.

Consider this:

A property costing just $30,000 15 years ago near the popular resort of Jaco, is worth as much as 800,000 today!

Is this boom slowing?

No, as baby boomer’s seek to maintain their standard of living they will continue to flock to Costa Rica and prices will continue in their upward trend.

So if you want to get more bang for your buck look 3 hours south of the US To Costa Rica and you may be glad you did.

Properties for Sale in Bulgaria – Get the Home You Have Always Dreamed of

March 12th, 2010 CheapFlatsLondon No comments

Bulgaria is becoming a state that attracts tourists from all over the Balkan area because of its incredible beauty. A Bulgarian property for sale will always be what the investors are looking for. But why let the investors buy all the properties? Bulgaria is a country that is worth living in and investing in it.

The Bulgarian real estate market is a blooming business which has been growing in value a lot in the past few years. Lots of investors are starting to notice this fact and are taking advantage in buying a property for sale in Bulgaria that they think will be rentable. Ski resort, Black Sea beach resorts, Bulgaria’s got them all inside a fantastic array of mountains.

If you wish to buy a property for sale in Bulgaria, you can buy from a foreign country directly or through a local company, but only residents can buy land, people from foreign countries can only buy buildings. If you desire to buy a residential flat in Bulgaria, then you can expect the best quality and absolutely everything you paid for will be ready when we promised. Maybe you’re thinking that turn key apartments like these are some kind of dream, but I can firmly guarantee that you definitely will receive what you paid for.

When you see a property for sale in Bulgaria, just take a moment to think about it and you will surely realize that Bulgaria is a country worthy of investing in, especially in places with tourist attractions. This kind of land is guaranteed to bring you some profit, but it all depends after all of what you have in mind to do with it. In Bulgaria there is a large demand for new houses and apartments, so if you somewhere find a Bulgarian property for sale, you should think twice about how much profit it can bring you as the time passes.

Bulgaria is a very civilized country that is a member of the European Union, and also a member of NATO. Due to the integration in the European Union, Bulgaria has seen a huge economy growth in the past couple of years and all figures seem to indicate that this is the best time for a property investment. Properties for sale in Bulgaria have a high rate of appreciation and they get more and more expensive each year with about 15%, so everyone should take a risk and invest in a Bulgarian property for sale and the results will soon appear.

I consider Bulgaria a family-friendly environment because of all the surrounding nature and the simply stunning landscape that are dominating. Like in any other country, the Bulgarian property for sale that has the most impressive landscape is also the most expensive, but as I said before, the properties appreciate really fast, so the more you invest, the more you can win out of your investment.

Most people won’t agree to move somewhere far from home, but I can assure them Bulgaria is all worth it and it will make your kids really happy because there are lots of places where they can have unlimited amounts of fun. Almost all of these advantages are noticeable just by looking at a property for sale in Bulgaria. Just try to imagine yourself inside a wonderful old-style house surrounded by forest and mountains. This is the moment to buy a property in Bulgaria and I hope as many people as possible will agree with me and will take a look at this alternative.

Turkish Property Investment FAQs

March 6th, 2010 CheapFlatsLondon No comments

As Turkey continues to progress as one of the most sought after emerging markets for property investing, several questions repeatedly arise from potential buyers considering the location. Below is a compilation of ten of the most frequently asked questions about Turkey as a property investment location.

1. What makes Turkey an interesting investment market?

Currently Turkish real estate is one of the strongest emerging international market growth sectors, showing excellent potential for continued demand and expansion. Capital growth for mid to long term investments, along with good rental yield potential are attracting investors to the country’s property sector.

Coupled with the country’s domestic market, demand for property currently exceeds supply, resulting in fast increasing real estate prices. Growth within the tourism sector and interest to re-locate are also areas creating further demand and a strong growth market.

The country features a youthful demographic with a highly skilled workforce with intentions to enter the real estate market, placing demands on supply and improvements to the mortgage financing sector. This market represents strength in the future re-sale and letting markets.

Turkey’s steadily expanding economy and government integration for bringing the country in line with EU accession requirements allow for strong future growth prospects.

Along with the excellent investment opportunities presented in the Turkish real estate sector, the possibility of gaining admission to the EU in the coming years is further fuelling demand. The pre-EU entry prices offer a competitive position within the European market.

2. Are there any restrictions for foreign buyers?

Most nationalities are freely able to purchase real estate in Turkey, although restrictions apply to some nationalities. Those who fall into a restricted category will require a legal ‘Letter of Invitation to Purchase’ prior to entering the country. If unsure, details can be obtained from an embassy or consulate.

Other restrictions relating to all foreign buyers are real estate purchases within restricted areas, such as military zones, along with restrictions relating to property over 30,000m2 without obtaining a special permit.

3. What are the associated purchasing costs?

Purchasing costs will amount to approximately 5% of the property sale price. Registration and Notary fees are between 0.1% and 1%, while Stamp Duty fees are 0.75%. Title Deed fees have temporarily been reduced from 1.5% to 1% to assist the housing market during the current economic climate.

4. What are the legal fees?

Legal fees are around 2% of the purchase price, with prices varying between different legal firms. Half of the legal fees may be required when signing the purchasing contract and the remainder on completion.

5. What are the taxes I can expect?

If opting to sell the property prior to completing 5 years ownership, capital gains taxes will be charged at 20%. Following 5 years ownership the property is free from capital gains. VAT at 1% is required on real estate with a surface area greater than 150m2. Other taxes include residential real estate tax is 0.1% of the property value, and rental income tax where different payment method options are available to suit the owner’s preferences.

Rental income is charged at between 15.6% and 24.8% payable by a ‘deduction method’ exempting expenses such as utilities, insurance and administrative costs, or the ‘lump sum method’ deducting 25% of the gross income.

6. Will I be able to arrange a mortgage?

The growth of the real estate market has opened up mortgage financing on Turkish property to foreign buyers in recent years. Both fixed and variable rates can be arranged, with financing available for both re-sale and off-plan properties.

7. What is the military clearance requirement?

Military clearance is arranged by the buyer’s solicitor prior to completing the property purchase. The documents are required to ensure the property is not located within a restricted zone including military land, or other land protected for cultural, historical or ecological purposes.

8. What is a typical payment schedule?

While payment schedules may vary between different developments or agent’s requirements, a typical payment schedule will require a holding deposit, reservation payment and reminder on completion. Holding deposits are often approximately €3,000 or £3,000, while reservation payments may vary between approximately 10% and 40% of the purchase price.

It is also possible that a development may have staged payment requirements throughout the construction process. Re-sale properties are likely to have different payment procedures to off-plan investments, with the full price payable on transfer of the title, minus the holding deposit.

9. What is the time zone and currency conversion rate?

The time zone of Turkey is GMT +2. The local currency is the Turkish Lira (TRY). As the currency rate changes, the following conversions should only be used as a general guide:

1 EUR = 2 TRY / 1 GBP = 2.4 TRY / 1 USD = 2.5 TRY

10. Do I need a visa to visit Turkey?

Depending upon nationality and intended duration of the visit to Turkey, a visa may be required. Contacting an embassy or consulate prior to arranging travel plans is advisable for details of full requirements. This will ensure complete and up to date information to avoid unpleasant surprises.

London and Monaco are Europe’s Most Expensive Cities for Residential Property Buyers

January 23rd, 2010 CheapFlatsLondon No comments

London and Monaco are Europe’s most expensive cities for residential property buyers. Prices in the Baltics have risen to the same level as capitals such as Copenhagen, Berlin, Munich, Stockholm, Vienna, and Frankfurt.

High rewards await property investors in some parts of Europe, according to the Global Property Guide, a residential real estate research organization (www.globalpropertyguide.com). Rental yields for apartments in several Eastern European capitals are above 10%.

Rental apartments in Moldova’s capital city Chisinau can be expected to yield annual rental returns of around 14.13%; in Poland’s capital Warsaw, 13.28%; in Bulgaria’s capital Sofia, 10.56%; and in Slovakia’s capital Bratislava, 10.06%. The higher risks of Eastern Europe may be a factor in these returns (corruption, political instability, etc).

But risks are not the only factor. The Global Property Guide believes that the relatively recent arrival of the market economy, high interest rates, and relatively undeveloped mortgage markets, largely explain the low prices in the east. To illustrate, it would surely be hard to label the historic city of Bratislava, Slovakia, as a high-risk location, yet the rental income returns are excellent.

Western Europe generally suffers from another, different disadvantage: High taxation. There are high rental income returns to be earned in Amsterdam and Paris (8.25% in both), in Munich (7.80%) and Brussels (7.53%). But all four cities are high tax environments (but so too is Poland).

Property in Prime Central London returns surprisingly high rental yields, at 7.13%. Note that this “Prime” category encompasses relatively a narrow group of super-luxury apartments in absolutely prime areas (Belgravia, Chelsea, and Knightsbridge). The high returns in these select super-central locations contrast with the significantly lower rental yields (5.79%) available in Central London’s other luxury areas (Kensington, Bayswater, Notting Hill Gate, St Johns Wood, Highgate, Islington, Highbury, and Primrose Hill). Europe’s most expensive cities

The tiny principality of Monaco is the most expensive location to buy an apartment in Europe at around €24,900 per square metre (sq. m.).

Closely on its tail is Prime Central London, where 120 sq. m. super-luxury apartments can cost £1,170,000 (€1,742,656) or £9,750 (€14,522) per sq. m. Apartments of 120 sq. m. in other luxury areas of Central London are likely to cost £580,000 or £4,833 per sq. m. (€863,880 or €7,199). The large difference is explained by London’s highly segmented top-end market, with super-luxury apartments in absolutely prime areas commanding considerable premiums.

Paris and Amsterdam follow London. A 120 sq. m. apartment in either of these cities has an average purchase price of €800,000 (€6,667 per sq. m.).

Moscow is Europe’s sixth most expensive capital for buyers of residential property. And though apartments in Moscow can be rather rewarding for buyers in terms of rental income returns, investors should be aware of the high risks (purchases are cash-based, and the authorities can suddenly turn hostile).

Dublin makes an appearance among Europe’s most expensive cities in 10th place, with a high end 120 sq. m. apartment on average costing around €600,000.

The Baltics, till recently Europe’s hottest residential investment destination, are now expensive. A high-end apartment in Central Vilnius, Lithuania will cost on average around €3,792 per sq. m (€455,000 for 120 sq. m.).

Latvia follows closely with high-end apartments in Central Riga costing an average of €3,020 pr sq. m. Rental yields in the Baltics have also dropped to very low levels.

There are still some very inexpensive capitals in Europe. Berlin, in particular (€3,167 per sq. m.), is now experiencing inflows of foreign money in response to its relatively low prices.

Even less expensive are:

Slovakia’s Bratislava (€1,292 per sq. m.)

Poland’s Warsaw (€1,175 per sq. m.)

Macedonia’s Skopje (€1,125 per sq. m.)

Moldova’s Chisinau (€917 per sq. m.) Rental returns cannot fall forever

As 2007 dawns, rental returns are lower in most locations than they have been for 20 or more years.

Nowhere in Europe are rents keeping pace with the continued strong rise in property prices. Residential real estate prices are at historical peaks in almost all countries in Europe, except Germany and Switzerland.

This is cause for concern. At the Global Property Guide, we informally consider a danger signal to be rental returns of around 4% or below.

Several European capitals offer rental income yields around or below this 4% level. In example is Madrid, where rental returns are now at only 3.15%. Rental yields in Monaco are the lowest in Europe at around 2.43%. See tables at:http://globalpropertyguide.com//articleread.php?article_id=82&cid=

Yes, You Really Can Invest In Real Estate Without

December 2nd, 2009 CheapFlatsLondon No comments

Do you want to get involved in investing in real estate but don’t seem to have any extra money in the bank? This is a common problem, but what you may not realize, is that you can start investing with little or nothing in your bank account. Basically, if you own your own home, you can leverage this asset and find yourself investing in no time flat.
As long as you own your own home, pay your mortgage and have fairly descent credit, it will actually be easy to get started in real estate investing. There is most likely a pretty good amount of equality in your house. Even if you have only owned your house for a short time, you have been paying it off and it is most likely has been increasing in value. Just take a look at the balance of your mortgage and subtract it from its current value. Of course you may need to include a second mortgage or and other liens that may be on your property, but you should still have equality to work with. This is your green light to move forward into investing.
Here three ways to use the equity in your home to raise the capital for real estate investing.
1. Refinancing Your Home – You can refinance your house, get a better interest rate and also get some cash out from a refinance mortgage. You can use the cash to purchase an investment property outright, or you should at least have least enough money for a down payment of a property. Be sure to check with your lender or mortgage broker for any of the rules about cash-out refinancing. Keep in mind, a cash-out refinance mortgage may have higher interest rates than other types of mortgages.
2. Using a Home Equity Loan – A home equity loan uses the equity in your home as collateral, this would be a second mortgage to the one you already have. The mortgage amount is based on a percentage of the equity in your house. You may be able to borrow up to 100% of your homes value, but if you are getting a home equity loan on a second property, you may not be able to borrow as much. This type of loan allows you the option to pay the loan back early without penalty, just a nice little bonus.
3. Open a Home Equity Line of Credit – A home equity line of credit has a credit limit similar to a credit card. This is not much different from a home equity loan, the amount that you can borrow is based on your credit score and the amount of equity in your home. You can transfer funds from your home equity line of credit, or even write checks directly from the account. Interest rates are generally lower than cash-out refinance mortgages, and there are tax advantages as well. Another advantage is that you are only paying interest and making payments on the amount you owe at the time, not the entire amount of the loan. In the future, you may also be able to renegotiate for a higher credit line when the equity in your house increases, especially if you have made improvements to your house.
Real Estate Investing is not only for the rich. The average homeowner can get started in real estate investing even if you don’t have a lot of money in the bank. You can use cash-out refinance mortgages, home equity loans, and home equity lines of credit to begin your journey as a real estate investor, and continue to build more investments into the future.

Real Investment In Real Estate Market

November 16th, 2009 CheapFlatsLondon No comments

As any one of us knows, the real estate market is in a path of recession.
The national economy is in doldrums, same is the case of real estate. The residential real estate market has reached a rock bottom and many experts tell that there can be a collapse of the market and economy!
But, with all these uncertainties, real estate market is the one field where you can safely invest your hard earned money.
You can be worried! But the recession in the market will help you to buy low and hold it until the real estate market rebounds. Believe it, this is not the first time that the real estate market has undergone recession and each time it has rebounded with much prospects.
This is a great time to have low interest mortgage rates and also low asking prices for the properties. So do not miss great time of a buyer’s market.
There are many reasons, why one should invest in real estate market.
- Like stock exchange markets, bears and bulls play the real estate market as well. Presently it is bear’s market and tomorrow it will be bull’s market. You can buy in this market and can patiently wait for a bull’s market to sell it off for high price.
- Holding a property is always good. Property prices will always increase. Think about Beverly Hills and the people who own that. Suppose they would have sold out that early, what a huge loss they would have breasted?
- It is a tangible real asset. It is not like a paper or a document. It is materialistic. Either you can stay there or can rent it out, which will gain you good income.
- The bear real estate market has another reason to cheer. The mortgage interest rates are low and so as the property prices. Both ways you are getting benefited now in this buyer’s market. This is a rare occasion, cash it on.
Many are out there flipping the properties. Some will be claiming great success, but many are their in the failed track. This is like a gambling. Surely you can try it out, but best is to have safe investment.
While investing in real estate market, you have to invest in diverse properties. You can divide your investments and please be assured of investing half in safe and secure properties. You can take chances with other half, investing in blighted areas which have a chance to flourish.
Real Estate Property is the Most Wanted Commodity as all of us need a home to live in.
I will agree that we want to make good returns out of the real estate market investments. You can get the properties now at low and hold it for a while to sell it off for a fair price.

Why Should You Buy Investment Real Estate In College Towns?

October 12th, 2009 CheapFlatsLondon No comments

Now seems to be the best time to invest in properties in college towns where housing demand is high due to a soaring rental market according to the New rules of real estate by Business 2.0 Magazine. With home prices still out of home buyer’s range, and homeowners selling their homes due to rising interest rates, rents are expected to increase nationwide. This makes buying investment property in rental markets such as college towns an attractive option, one that is already being pursued by investors. Rents are expected to rise by 5 % by the end of this year according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), and investors are looking at college towns with increased interest.
There are two major reasons why it is prudent to buy investment property in college towns now. When compared with other rental markets, the rentals in apartment buildings in college towns are much stronger and hence more profitable. This has been augmented by the fact that apartment buildings in college towns are fewer in number. This demand for apartment buildings has also increased due to the rising admissions in colleges mostly from the Gen Y or the echo boomers, which has further increased the asking rates in the college town rental markets. These properties have a low vacancy rate, especially in buildings located near the campuses. Investors in commercial apartment buildings also get to increase their rent with the mounting demand making such investment a highly profitable venture.
So if you are a prospective landlord who has decided to encash this favorable situation, then you can start with choosing the college town that has the lowest ratio of university-owned beds to the student population. As Michael Zaransky, co-founder of Prime Property Investors in Chicago says, prospective investors would do well to pick the college towns that have the ratio of university-owned beds to students at 30 % or lower. One should also look into colleges that propose to expand their student ranks by 2 or 3 % every year.
Investors should also need to take into consideration the disadvantages involved in owning commercial apartment buildings in college towns. The business could be trying sometimes, and involves risks with college policies liable to changes and the difficulty involved in predicting volatile student demand. However, considering the high rate of returns that the investment has to offer, the pros seem to far outnumber the cons making buying investment property in college towns a smart option.

U.S. Real Estate Markets With Consistent Price Appreciation

October 8th, 2009 CheapFlatsLondon No comments

Buying home, condo or any other real estate in a market that is protected from a bursting bubble is every investor’s dream. Knowing where to look for these bubble-proof markets and how to identify them is crucial.
There are some important factors that investors should consider when searching for stable investments such as single-family homes, condos or any other type of real estate. Some of these factors include a fast growing population (which positively impacts the demand for housing), a solid and diverse economy (which impacts employment rates and subsequent demand for housing), rising incomes (which impacts buyers’ ability to purchase real estate), a developing infrastructure (which contributes to the appeal of a city or community), and restrictions on future real estate development (which limits future supply of real estate). Investing in real estate within communities that meet these criteria may prove to be more profitable than communities that are missing one or more of these factors.
A recent report by Business 2.0 Magazine identified U.S. cities that have consistently demonstrated price appreciation in the real estate market. The October 2006 issue of the Magazine identified the top 5 real estate markets that demonstrated an upward price trend over a long period time. The top-ranking cities were:
1. San Francisco, California
2. Los Angeles, California
3. Seattle, Washington
4. Boston, Massachusetts
5. New York City, New York
San Francisco topped the list with an average annual home price appreciation of 4.2% from 1949 to 2006. In contrast, the national average was 2.3%. Strong restrictions on real estate development and a limited geography helped push San Francisco to the top slot.
Los Angeles ranked second in the report. The average annual home price appreciation in Los Angeles was 3.7% from 1949 to 2006. Reductions in available land and increasing restrictions on further development helped pushed Los Angeles to the number 2 slot.
Home prices in Seattle, which was third on the list, demonstrated an average appreciation rate of 3.2% from 1949 to 2006. While Seattle made the top 5 list, recent easing of building restrictions may cause Seattle to fall out of the top 5 over the next few years.
Boston was fourth in the rankings. The city has seen annual home prices appreciate by 3% over the period from 1949 to 2006. A strong increase in per capita income contributed to Boston’s high ranking.
New York City follows close behind with an average annual home price appreciation of 3% from 1949 to 2006. A limited geography, large population, and finite number of properties contributed to New York’s high ranking.
While there is no guarantee that any of the real estate markets listed previously are truly “bubble proof,” the factors described above may help investors find the profitable markets and avoid “bubble” markets. Since the real estate market is constantly changing, be sure to seek out the services of a skillful real estate agent to help you navigate your next real estate purchase.