2012/04/23

How Living at a Condo can save you Money

Filed under: Real Estate — Tags: , , , — Penelope Jimmerson @ 1:37 pm

Some people may not realize it, but living at a condo can save you a lot of money, time, and resources.  With all of the benefits afforded to you, there are several different ways that money can be saved.  Before you move out of your condo or stray away from the possibility of moving into one, take into consideration the many ways you can save money.

 

Condo Maintenance:

This is the first way that money can be saved a condo. Austin condos usually offer the benefit of taking care of your yard work and repairs. With landscapers to mow the lawn you are able to cut down on costs by not owning a lawn mower or paying for the gas that goes in it. Not having to put out your own money for repairs such as replacing the hot water heater or furnace is a huge plus of condo living!

 

Condo Amenities:

You can skip out on having a gym membership as most of the condos Austin has to offer provide gyms with state of the art equipment. You save money here not only by not having a gym membership but also by not having to commute back and forth to the gym every day.  In addition to gyms, most condos offer pools as well. Being able to take a nightly swim and not have to worry about buying chlorine or putting out money for any other pool maintenance is a freeing feeling!

 condo austin

Condo Locations:

Condo owners know they will draw people in by offering the benefit of being located within close proximity to important places of interest. If you live at condo, chances are you won’t have to travel very far to get to work or the grocery store. Having a short commute to these places saves you money on gas. 

A Rent-to-Own Home Could be the Right Option for You

Filed under: Real Estate — Tags: , , , , — Guy Garibaldi @ 5:49 am
Do you want to leave renting behind forever and own your own home? For many, a rent-to-own home could be the best alternative to the endless stream of monthly rental payments. In many ways a rent-to-own home is similar to leasing a car. The concept is simple; you agree to pay a specific amount each month for the house and at the end of a set term (usually 2-3 years) the renter agrees to buy the house. Every month, the rent you pay will go to the seller. A fraction of the monthly rent goes toward the down payment of the house. A rent-to-own home can be a great situation for both buyer and seller. 

Ultimately, what this means is that when the deal is signed everyone knows what the house will be sold for at the end of the rental period. This way everyone knows up front what the buyer will be paying and what the seller will be getting for the property. Before the papers are signed the rent-to-own tenant and the seller can and should negotiate on both the monthly rental amount and the actual sale price. This needs to be set before the papers are signed. 

However, once the deal is signed the price of the house will be sold at will be agreed on. Once the deal is signed the final price of the house is locked in. It doesn’t matter what happens in the housing market during the rental term. At the end, the price of the property is the same as when the deal was first signed.

This is a great option for potential buyers who would not otherwise have a credit score that would qualify them for a loan or have the necessary down payment for their own home.There are a few places you can go to get help with the entire process. Check out Ownerwiz, one of the more popular agencies, as well as a few others as you make your decision. These services can help make the process easier and more transparent to minimize any confusion along the way. Ownerwiz has a support site as well if you have questions at any time.

 
With renting to own, there are some advantages and disadvantages for both the buyer and seller so, be careful and get good advice from your real estate agent and property attorney. If you are willing to deal with some risk this could be an option for you. So, if you are tired of renting and want your own piece of property then look at a rent-to-own home today.
 
 Lease to Own Home

2012/03/31

How To Get A Good And Fair Price For A Piece Of Real Estate

Filed under: Real Estate — Tags: , , , — Mallory Tinch @ 7:55 pm

For many people, searching for real estate is something that is one of the most important things that an individual can do in his or her lifetime. It is because it is through real estate hunting that an individual is able to get a good house which he or she can live in with his or her family.

People searching for real estate have pretty much the same goal. This goal is to be able to find a good piece of real estate and to be able to get a good and most of all, fair price for it. After all, buying a piece of real estate is no small thing. Most usually, good pieces of real estate can add up to a couple of thousands of your hard earned money. 

As a home owner who has had 3 different homes in the past, I feel like I am in a good position to be able to give some tips on how you can get a good price for that piece of real estate that you want to buy. Do you want to know how I was able to get my previous St George homes for a fair price? Well, aside from having a look at the various st george real estate trends in the area, I also kept in mind these things:

  1. Have a look at similar properties which are being sold or have been recently sold to get a feel of the general price.
  2. Make sure to look at the market conditions in the area, as well as the rates of appreciation.
  3. Try to look for a For Sale By Owner or FBO property since they tend to be cheaper because of the lack of an agent with a commission.
  4. Remember to consult with your real estate agent for any advice on the matter.

2012/03/01

Buying In A Real Estate Development In Costa Rica

Filed under: Real Estate — Tags: , — Hugh Hoefle @ 8:42 pm

There are hundreds of real estate developments catering to the international property investor in Costa Rica (see details).  Although they vary considerably in terms of scale, style and location, there are some common denominators.  Most can be classified as “gated communities” and many will offer community facilities and services (such as a club house or swimming pool).  Practically all have a home owners association to which the management of the community facilities turns when most of the inventory has been sold.

There are certainly quite a few advantages to purchasing in a real estate development when compared to an independent property listing.  For starters you generally won’t have to worry about infrascturure provision (e.g. water and electricity) as these will be supplied with the purchase.  You probably also won’t have to deal with planning permissions for building work as most real estate developers will have made sure they had all necessary approvals before starting to sell in the development.  And although it always makes sense to carry out a full legal check on any property you purchase in Costa Rica, you are likely to encounter fewer legal issues when purchasing in a ready real estate project.

But don’t throw caution to the wind.  Unfortunately there are examples of unscrupulous real estate developers in the Costa Rican real estate market so it make sense to gather all the information you need to convince yourself that you are making a wise investment decision before you close on the property.  

Here are a list of questions you should ask the developer.

  • Ask to see a copy of relevant approvals for the master plan.  For example if a golf course is planned, ask to see a specific permit for this.
  • Make sure you understand how water is being supplied to your property.  Has the developer ensured they have access to enough water for the entire development.  
  • Check on electricity provision.  Is the developer responsible to bring this to your property or will it be the utility company.  
  • Many real estate developments in Costa Rica will have a master title insurance policy.  Ask to see a copy of this.
  • If the developer will be carrying out a building project for you, make sure they have the experience and capacity to do this.  Ask to see existing construction that they have completed.

Top purchasing areas for real estate in Costa Rica include Jaco, Tamarindo and Flamingo so check out those areas first.

 

2011/12/17

Orlando’s Real Estate Market Is Ripe With Opportunities

Filed under: Real Estate — Tags: , , , — Mallory Tinch @ 7:03 am

I have relatives in Orlando and I visit them about twice a year. It’s a nice city, although on the surface you would never guess that it is one of America’s cities with the highest crime rates. Not too long ago, it was in the top 25, and I don’t know how things have evolved since then.

One of the things that strikes me every time I go is the relative low prices of houses that are up for sale. I mean I’m talking about a 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom house in a decent neighborhood for less that $150,000 dollars. In a city like New York, you don’t even start looking unless you’re considering spending at least twice as much.

Maybe the reason why houses are so cheap there is that there have been so many foreclosures. Almost everywhere you go, you see signs up for houses that are on the market. Locals say that the foreclosure situation has been really bad. But I see the other side of the coin: that means that houses can be picked up on the cheap! Depending on your time horizon and what you’re interested in if you want to invest in real estate, you can rent them out and enjoy the rental income, or you can buy them, fix them up, and turn them around for a quick profit.

Well about that last tidbit, judging by the number of houses currently on the market, you’d have to find a very special deal to come out with a healthy profit by fixing it up and selling it. But when it comes to rental opportunities, there is a lot of potential, if only because your time horizon is so much longer, and you still stand to benefit from the appreciation that is bound to show its head eventually.

Florida doesn’t have a great reputation right now, real estate-wise, because prices have plunged during the recession. But it now offers plenty of opportunities for anyone willing to step in and make things happen.

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