Realtor Referrals

Boomtown Nanaimo, British Columbia, is currently one of the hottest housing markets in Canada. Baby boomers all across the country are casting their aging eyes west in their quest for a retirement haven, and the many advantages of Nanaimo, BC, are becoming known.

First off, there’s the mild climate moderated by warm Pacific currents arriving from Japan. Nanaimo only gets a couple of weeks of snow a year, quite a contrast to central and eastern Canada which can be snowed in from December to April. There’s enough rain to keep the city’s gardens and parks lush and green, but plenty of clear, dry days for outdoor enthusiasts throughout the year.

Nanaimo isn’t a big city – under 100,000 – so traffic jams are the exception, and there’s still free parking downtown. As the main service center for the upper two-thirds of Vancouver Island, the City of Nanaimo has all the services you could ask for, from the big box stores of North Nanaimo to intimate boutiques and cafes downtown.

Nanaimo is well connected. BC Ferries runs large car ferries from Nanaimo to Vancouver every couple of hours, and seaplanes are constantly coming and going on their way to/from downtown Vancouver or Vancouver International Airport. Nanaimo also has a regular airport south of town and you can get a free extension to Nanaimo on many Air Canada tickets to Vancouver.

Another great attraction for snowbird retirees is the fact that Nanaimo real estate is still affordable. Housing prices have increased 50 percent in recent years, but you can still purchase real estate here for about half which comparable properties would cost in Vancouver. Nanaimo Realty, Remax Nanaimo, and Coast realty Nanaimo can tell you more.

However Nanaimo’s greatest attraction is its friendly, outgoing people. Nanaimo still has a certain “small town” air lost in go-go places like Toronto, and it’s easy for newcomers to plug into the local scene. There’s always something happening in the Harbour City. It’s paradise found.

David Stanley
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/go-nanaimo-british-columbia-89518.html

There are many incentives why homeowners long for an improved home exterior. Perhaps you want to sell your residence in the future, are bored stiff with the old look or wish to add equity to your home. Painting, landscaping and new window shutters will give your home fantastic results.

Exterior paint can chip because of dire weather conditions or abuse from the sun. Deciding on what paint you want for your residence is an exhilarating process. Remember that if your home is of a particular architectural design, you may want to choose paint that is authentic to the house’s historical context. Flip through books and magazines to find out colors that were traditionally used for your home’s architectural style. Have old paint chips analyzed to find the original color. There is no mandatory rule when picking a color. Nonetheless, if you want to sell your home in the future, stick to traditional colors or your home’s original paint color.

There are three different shades to choose when purchasing paint. You need a color for the siding. Then, you must choose one color for the eaves, moldings and trim. Lastly, you should opt for a color for doors, window sashes and railings. You may want to use complimentary colors or paint with contrasting trim to emphasize the fine craftsmanship of your home. Light colors will make your home look bigger and darker colors will give a home a rustic look.

When selecting how to landscape your home, first, go through books to find landscaping plans that harmonize with your personal taste and style. Then illustrate a plan of your yard and incorporate all constructed elements such as fences, swimming pools and gazebos. Decide what sort of lawn you would like to have. Do you want gravel or grass? Would your like your own vegetable garden or do want only ornate plants? Many yards mix herbs, vegetables and fruit trees with ornamental plants. Go to your neighborhood nursery and ask about the flowers of your region. A nursery will be able to tell how much work is required when taking care of specific plants. You may want an elegant look or an English garden. On your plan, draw flowerbeds, walkways and trees. Be inventive in this process because improving your yard can be amusing and the options are almost infinite.

Window shutters can become hideous when they start flaking, tearing and decaying. There are four types of shutters, which consist of louvered, raised panel, board and batten and Bahama. Shutters are made of either wood or polyvinyl. Various homeowners choose wood shutters over polyvinyl, because of polyvinyl has tendency to crack. Wood shutters come in a few types of woods including pine, western cedar, cypress, California redwood, which all have wonderful benefits and downfalls. Regardless of the fact that cypress and cedar will not rot, it is always important to guard the wood with a sealer.

Make a plan for how you want you house to appear. Then create a budget of how much you are willing to spend. There are loads of ways to spruce up a home’s appearance that are cost-effective and rewarding for both you and your home.

If you are looking for a new home, be sure to view the Sherman Oaks realty or the Simi Valley, CA realty. There is a wide variety available. Or look at the South Gated homes that are on the market. You are sure to find just what you’ve been looking for.

April Walters
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/improving-your-homes-exterior-690376.html

There is a big confusion among first time loan seekers that every time they take out some credit, they will necessarily have to put up some of their assets like home or other realty as collate. True, for a credit of a significantly large amount and for a considerably long period, banks and other financial institutions ask for a guarantee in the form of collateral. Such loans are called secured loans.

But the major disadvantage of a secured loan is that the collateral, which can be the debtors home or any other property, can be repossessed by the banks in case on non-payment of loan amount. Thus, most people have a mortal dread of being caught in the web of debt-collecting agency’s web.

However, there are other kinds of loans that help you meet your urgent and immediate financial need, without asking you to risk your beloved realty as a guarantee. Such loans are called as Unsecured Loans.

The best part about Unsecured Loans is that you do not run the risk of losing your hard earned property just because of a bad financial patch in your credit history. They do often carry higher APR than the secured loans, but they also do not carry any penalty, most of the times, in case of early or faster repayments. Thus, you can easily finish off loans early if your financial condition improves during the loan term.

Unsecured Loans are also much easier to get. Often, you get credit within 24 hours! You can even apply online and the company representatives will be more than willing to complete all the formalities and paperwork for you.

Unsecured Loans are especially helpful for people who have bad credit histories or CCJs against them. Because there is so much competition in the market amongst various financial companies, even if the top end “elite” banks refuse you credit, you can easily get credit from the lower end companies. Although these companies charge a higher interest, but they will definitely give you the credit that you demand.

Unsecured Loans are a great way to raise the capital for that all important project. They are safe, risk-free and are easy to get. If you need to get credit urgently, without running the risk of losing you home, apply for them online, today!

Henry Kruz
http://www.articlesbase.com/loans-articles/why-choose-unsecured-loans-109954.html

In China, the city of Shanghai has gained a lot of popularity in the past few years. The cosmopolitan city of Shanghai has more prominence than any other city or town in the entire country and a visit to the country is incomplete without coming to the popular city. This is why of Shanghai has aptly been termed as “Queen of the Orient.”

So, when we speak of investing in the real estate sector in China as a whole, we cannot rule out mentioning the illustrious town of Shanghai. Although the realty sector in China has recently seen a major slowdown, but this is fast receding now. In Shanghai also, one can see a huge surge in demand for purchase properties, especially in the residential property. Investing in property in the city is a favorable decision, as the property rates are expected to touch the roof in the coming few years, evident by urbanization, rising household income, low homeownership rate, etc.. So, from both, the investment as well as the residential use perspective, you can look at investing in the realty section in Shanghai.

If you also have decided on investing in the real estate sector in the city, then it is a good idea to seek professional assistance from a renowned real estate agent. This will ensure that the property you select in Shanghai will be backed by the right guidance from professionals in the real estate sector. However, before we proceed, it is important to get a clear understanding about the different types of property options available for purchase or renting in the city. Let us take a look on some of them:

New Villas in Shanghai- In Shanghai, you will come across a lot of luxurious villas as residential options. These are mainly located in the posh areas of Changning district, Minhang district and Pudong district. These villas can be found in different architectural styles, inspired from different countries across the world. They have their own clubhouses, post offices, swimming pools, golf courses, and a variety of other services in the vicinity.

Apartments in Shanghai- One can even go for apartment rentals or purchases in the city. There are a number of apartments conveniently located near commercial areas of the city. They are also equipped with most of the outdoor and recreation facilities in close vicinity, but are comparatively cheaper than independent villas.

Serviced apartments in Shanghai – Serviced apartments are meant for those who plan to stay in the city for a short time span. These are usually run by large hotel groups and are equipped with all luxury facilities such as 24 hour butlers, modern furniture, club hotel facilities and many more.
Depending upon your requirements, you can rent out or purchase any of properties or villas in Shanghai.  However, it is a good idea to avail the services of a renowned Shanghai Real Estate dealer. One such company that offers a wide range of Shanghai Properties is Newport Real Estate. For more details, log on to www.newportchina.com.

Dodo Wu
http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/investing-in-shanghai-real-estate-730406.html

NEW DELHI: Real Estate Television, India’s first 24×7 channel dedicated to real estate and infrastructure will be available on all the major direct-to-home (DTH) platforms of the country.

The channel has already signed with major cable operators in metros and major cities across the country.

Among the major distribution platforms, real estate Television has signed agreements with Hathway and Amogh in Bangalore, Hathway and SCV in Chennai, InCable and Seven Star in Mumbai and InCable in Delhi. It is also available across the leading cable networks in the Tier-2 cities.

A Rs.1 billion investment outlay has been made for running the channel by Alliance Broadcasting Pvt Ltd, the group company.

Manoj Namburu, chief managing director of Alliance Group, announced Tuesday “RETV will also be very shortly available on all the major DTH platforms of the country.”

“The English language, pan-India channel will be a virtual one-stop shop for any information on real estate and infrastructure,” he added.

“It has been designed to provide comprehensive, latest and authentic updates on all aspects of real estate, including infrastructure, to viewers all over the country, the south and south-east Asian region and Gulf states where there is a strong NRI presence”, Namburu said.

The Network’s studios in Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Chennai and Hyderabad continually feed news relating to real estate and infrastructure from their respective regions to its hourly realty Check bulletins.

RETV hosts a number of programmes related to Real estate and Infrastructure – ranging from a Game-show and Property and Realty stock prices to celebrity homes, architecture, interior design, furniture & furnishings, and from Indian Habitats to Vastu & Feng-shui and home makeovers.

Property

Unfortunately, the economic meltdown is going to create some far reaching side effects that will be primarily negative in nature. Consumer confidence is low, sales in every sector are down, and people have begun to place their money under their mattresses for safe keeping.

realty or Housing Sector

The economic meltdown is going to severely impact the realty sector in several ways. The tightening of the credit sector is going to make it more difficult for potential homebuyers to locate affordable mortgages. Plus, downsizing due to slower economic growth is going to lead to more unemployed or underemployed individuals, resulting in fewer potential homebuyers. In turn, both of these aforementioned conditions will create a reduction in the need for new housing and the housing market will continue to wind down rather than heat up. In fact, new construction and the issuance of building permits have already decreased to lower levels than have been seen in the last two decades.

Mortgage Sector

With fewer lenders offering even fewer loan vehicles, the mortgage sector is not in a prime spot for growth. Constraints have finally been put in place on who can obtain a mortgage these days along with how much they can qualify to get. As people foreclose on their homes, mortgage lenders stand to lose quite a bit of money further limiting their own spending power.

Labor Sector

As consumers become less willing to part with their hard earned cash, the need for manufacturing goods continues to slow down along with everything else. This scenario, out of necessity, leads to layoffs and fewer individuals obtaining employment. One can only speculate that the mad rush to hire employees for the holiday season will be negatively affected as well. In turn, fewer people will have money to spend and sales will continue to slump.

Credit Sector

The credit sector has already sustained a great deal of damage with constraints on the amount of credit being given out tightening ever so slowly yet firmly. More and more people are finding it difficult to secure credit, especially those with no credit history to offer or those with only fair or bad credit behind their name.

One of the resultant facets of the credit crunch is that lenders are initiating higher interest charges on all aspects of credit cards from the interest assessed on the daily balance to the interest assessed on overseas transaction fees to the interest charged on advanced cash fees. Late fees will surely be next to go up as credit card issuers begin to experience less profit as a direct result of fewer people having access to credit cards and the fees that they can generate for the credit card companies.

None of this is good for the consumer who is already in the throes of their own economic meltdown with freezes on income raises, a higher cost of living, and less affordable credit in all of its varied aspects. As people learn to cope without credit cards overstuffing their wallets, will they ever rush back to using them again once the floodgates to those slender slips of plastic reopens?

Joseph Shalaby
http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/economic-meltdowns-in-various-financial-sectors-671011.html

Y= a +bx , Y is realty market (dependent Factor) and rate of inflation is x which is fixed say 19%. What would be a (constant) here?

The average/median home price increases with time because they are bigger, have more amenities,and land values increases due to higher population densities as well as inflation.

home prices increases with the CPI , the change in CPI ( inflation) would correlate with the change in home prices. If you used change in price for Y then the constant would be the average increase due to the other factors.

When you decide on a new home purchase you are also buying into the community that it is situated in. With this in mind, choosing the most excellent community is important as it can influence the overall worth of your realty, the quality of life you experience and your home’s resale worth. If you’re one of those bright home buyers who likes to do plenty of research before you settle on a house, then read ahead to discover the elements needed to researching a community before you purchase your subsequent house.

In this day and age, just about any information you need can be discovered via the World Wide Web. A simple online search of “XYZ neighborhood statistics” is definitely going to return some clear answers. You’ll see such imperative information as school ratings and scores, crime statistics and neighborhood demographics. Frequently, communities that have a low crime rate and exceptional educational institutions make admirable homes that also retain a high resale value. Looking at these stats will give you a good idea of what the quality of life is like in your neighborhood(s) of choice and what type of demand may exist for your home when you’re ready to resell.

If you’re looking for a nice, calm place to buy realty that is a far cry away from the racket and busyness of city life, then the last thing you need is to purchase real estate in a community that is scheduled to be the site of the world’s biggest rollercoaster. To evade this from the start, check with your zoning and/or planning authorities for your chosen county or town. Large jobs involving major construction are regularly planned years ahead of time.

If you’re unable to adequately determine the quality of a neighborhood before making an offer, then you can include an inspection contingency into your contract. Be sure this contingency covers the residence as well as the neighborhood. For instance, you could include a general statement or something more specific that states your offer is contingent upon confirmation that a warehouse or superstore won’t be built next door.

The general quality of a neighborhood will significantly influence the resale value of your home regardless of the current purchase price. Research the employment rate and home appreciation trends for your neighborhood of choice. If industries are looking at your neighborhood and bringing new jobs to the area, then local builders and developers are likely to be very busy. This means more new and nearly new homes that should maintain an excellent resale price. In addition, you should look into how long the homes for sale in your specific neighborhood have been on the market. If sales seem to be slow, then you need to know if it’s due to a slow market or some specific issues with the neighborhood.

If you are in the market for a new home, be sure to check out the Forney, TX real estate and the Fort Worth, TX real estate. You are sure to find a great selection. Or view the Frisco, TX real estate that is available. The homes are beautiful and they come in a variety of styles.

April Walters
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/before-you-buy-do-your-research-695387.html

In China, the city of Shanghai has gained a lot of popularity in the past few years. The cosmopolitan city of Shanghai has more prominence than any other city or town in the entire country and a visit to the country is incomplete without coming to the popular city. This is why of Shanghai has aptly been termed as “Queen of the Orient.”

So, when we speak of investing in the real estate sector in China as a whole, we cannot rule out mentioning the illustrious town of Shanghai. Although the realty sector in China has recently seen a major slowdown, but this is fast receding now. In Shanghai also, one can see a huge surge in demand for purchase properties, especially in the residential property. Investing in property in the city is a favorable decision, as the property rates are expected to touch the roof in the coming few years, evident by urbanization, rising household income, low homeownership rate, etc.. So, from both, the investment as well as the residential use perspective, you can look at investing in the realty section in Shanghai.

If you also have decided on investing in the real estate sector in the city, then it is a good idea to seek professional assistance from a renowned real estate agent. This will ensure that the property you select in Shanghai will be backed by the right guidance from professionals in the real estate sector. However, before we proceed, it is important to get a clear understanding about the different types of property options available for purchase or renting in the city. Let us take a look on some of them:

New Villas in Shanghai- In Shanghai, you will come across a lot of luxurious villas as residential options. These are mainly located in the posh areas of Changning district, Minhang district and Pudong district. These villas can be found in different architectural styles, inspired from different countries across the world. They have their own clubhouses, post offices, swimming pools, golf courses, and a variety of other services in the vicinity.

Apartments in Shanghai- One can even go for apartment rentals or purchases in the city. There are a number of apartments conveniently located near commercial areas of the city. They are also equipped with most of the outdoor and recreation facilities in close vicinity, but are comparatively cheaper than independent villas.

Serviced apartments in Shanghai – Serviced apartments are meant for those who plan to stay in the city for a short time span. These are usually run by large hotel groups and are equipped with all luxury facilities such as 24 hour butlers, modern furniture, club hotel facilities and many more.
Depending upon your requirements, you can rent out or purchase any of properties or villas in Shanghai.  However, it is a good idea to avail the services of a renowned Shanghai Real Estate dealer. One such company that offers a wide range of Shanghai Properties is Newport Real Estate. For more details, log on to www.newportchina.com.

Dodo Wu
http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/investing-in-shanghai-real-estate-730406.html

Net Lease real estate Investments

Passive real estate for both the investor and the investor’s heirs

By David E. Sobelman, Vice President, Calkain realty Advisors and Benjamin R. Hanan, Shareholder, Abel Band, Chartered

Experienced, savvy and sophisticated real estate investors typically are inundated with decisions of what to do with their existing assets as they plan their estates.  In many cases, individuals holding various types of real property may want to simplify their portfolios for the next generation for ease of administration and enjoyment.  

Net lease investments (“NLIs”) are one of the most passive forms of real estate investment.  Under an NLI arrangement, the investor purchases the real property subject to a “triple net” lease.  In such case, the tenant is responsible for paying all of the taxes, insurance, and most importantly, the maintenance of the real property.  By divesting of current real estate holdings and purchasing an NLI, the investor can ultimately simplify the investor’s real estate portfolio and have the ability to transfer assets to the investor’s beneficiaries with the comfort of understanding that little to no real estate experience will be required in order to manage the NLI.  Additionally, depending on the type of asset purchased, the investor can assist in providing the investor’s heirs with (a) an income stream that extends into the future; and (b) an appreciating capital asset.

Investors concerned with the potential tax burdens associated with the sale of their existing real estate investments may consider taking advantage of the tax-deferred exchange provisions of Internal Revenue Code Section 1031 in order to effectuate their diversification into NLIs.  Through the implementation of a properly structured tax-deferred exchange, investors can sell maintenance-intensive real property investments, defer the taxable gains on such sales and reinvest the proceeds in an NLI.  Throughout the remainder of the investors’ lives, they can continue to enjoy the income stream and appreciation afforded by an NLI.  Should a particular investor continue to maintain their investment in the NLI until death, the investor’s estate will receive a step-up in basis in the NLI to its fair market value as of the date of the investor’s death, thereby eliminating all of the deferred income tax on such real estate investment.  Thereafter, the investor’s beneficiaries receive the following benefits: (a) a real estate investment; (b) an income stream subject to the terms of the NLI; and (c) an asset in which they possess a relatively high basis such that if they sell the NLI in the future, they can minimize the taxes paid in connection with such sale (or, if properly structured, such taxes can be deferred through a subsequent 1031 exchange).

Case Study:

Situation

For over 40 years a private investor had amassed a portfolio of New York real estate encompassing over 3,800 multifamily units.  Over the four decades, the investor had personally managed and operated the portfolio with a small team of staff and advisors.  Now in his late 60’s and with no heirs willing to undertake the management-intensive nature of the holdings, the investor was looking to gradually simplify his assets while maintaining a level of passive income that could be easier to pass on to heirs.

Problem

The size of the investor’s portfolio made it more challenging to find one single buyer since the assets are valued at approximately $420 million.  Additionally, the sale of the assets, if not properly timed, would have triggered a substantial capital gain that would have drastically affected the net proceeds for the investor.

Solution

Staggering the sale of the assets within the portfolio to allow for much smaller dispositions and encourage an ultimately higher sale price, due to increased competition, would allow the investor the opportunity to use the 1031 tax deferred exchange code in order to find like-kind assets to purchase.  The assets found for the exchange were real property occupied by tenants who signed long-term triple net leases, were priced in the $2 – 10 million range and had a large scope of geographic diversification.  Therefore, the passive income attained from the newly acquired assets coupled with the use of the 1031 tax code allowed the investor the comfort to plan for future generations’ passive income as well as eliminated the immediate capital gains taxes he would have realized.

Authors’ Biographical Information

Benjamin R. Hanan is a Shareholder in the Business & Corporate Counseling, Personal Services & Planning and Employment Law Practice Groups at Abel, Band, Russell, Collier, Pitchford & Gordon, Chartered. Also a Certified Public Accountant, Mr. Hanan focuses his law practice on corporate law and business transactions involving individuals, physician practices, and other entities, including entity formation, operation, business sales, mergers and acquisitions, employment arrangements, buy-sell arrangements, and equity owner agreements. Mr. Hanan also devotes a substantial portion of his practice to estate planning and family wealth transfers.

Mr. Hanan earned his Juris Doctorate degree, with highest honors, from The George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C. Mr. Hanan attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned an undergraduate degree in accounting, with highest honors, and a Masters degree in professional accounting.

David E. Sobelman is Vice President of Calkain Realty Advisors, the private markets division of Calkain Companies.  Mr. Sobelman focuses on single tenant retail, industrial, and office net leased investments. Mr. Sobelman is regularly sought out for his opinion on the national and regional commercial real estate trends and has been highlighted in prestigious periodicals including Retail Traffic, Commercial Property News, Northeast Real Estate Business, Globest.com, and many others.  

Mr. Sobelman earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Florida and is a former Presidential Appointee in The White House.

David Sobelman
http://www.articlesbase.com/investing-articles/net-lease-real-estate-investments-690185.html