Real Estate Hyderabad-India

How to Maximize Profits in Today's Shaky Real Estate Market

2009-07-30T05:20:00.000-07:00

The real estate market is tougher now than it has been in the last 20 years. Buyers are harder to please and sellers don't want to lose money selling a property short of where they bought it. Selling a single property is the short term way of making a commission. Many home buyers will purchase 4 -6 homes in their lifetime. That's 8-12 transactions from that client alone!

What today's agent should focus on is building a client base that will come back to them and recommend them to their friends again and again.

People in general choose to deal with agents or salespeople that they know, like and trust. This is where focus should be concentrated. Once you meet a client or get their name from a referral, you as an agent need to start generating and increasing the "know, like and trust" factor. There are many successful ways to increase how a client, either buyer or seller, perceives you. But they all have to do with creating a personal relationship.

Recently we had a local Realtor send out postcards with her contact information and a recipe for a pasta dish along with a picture of her and the plated pasta. It was a nicely done 4 x 6 color glossy postcard. After reading the recipe it seemed like something to our taste so we bought the ingredients just as stated on the card and made the recipe. The results weren't pretty. The recipe was a disaster.

Now, from a marketing position, that wasn't all bad as we will link her name with bad pasta but it would have been better had the recipe been a great recipe. The results were mixed in this case because she increased the Know part of the equation but decreased the trust variable. So if this is a marketing strategy you adopt please check the recipe out before you put your name beside it.

You should use open houses to build your list of clients/contacts as much as trying to sell the house where you are holding the open house. Follow up sometime in the next week with the people that came to your open house on Sunday whether they were just looking or were sincerely interested in buying a house. Give them a call and if they are not ready to buy or list, see if they may be able to refer you to someone who is. Continuing follow up will eventually lead to more referrals and more sales. But at the same time your follow ups should be in the form of something usable to the potential client. Send out a newsletter or flyer indicating that you've listed or sold a house in their neighborhood along with the price of the property.

Another way is to offer tips for increased curb appeal which will increase the value of the house they are in now. Maybe partner with a local nursery for coupons offering a free plant. This would be good business for you and the nursery. The client comes in for 1 free plant but goes home with several more purchased ones.

How about offering to have 2 rooms of painting done for free when listing a house. Again a great deal for you and the painter. You get the listing and he gets some work. Many times the client now sees how bad the other rooms look compared to the freshly painted ones and gets the painter to do more work which will increase the selling potential of the house.

Another way to say thank you is a dinner coupon for referrals. Local restaurants many times have particularly slow nights during the week and would be happy to offer discounts or maybe even free meals on those nights to help fill their tables.

Once you seal the deal for your client make sure to follow up on how you did as a service provider and ask for a referral. If you aren't getting referrals from clients it's because of one or two one of things. Either you are not serving your customers needs well or your product/service may need some fine tuning.

Another avenue of approach could be creating a presence on the internet and having people come looking for your services if you've established yourself as an expert in either your geographic area or in your niche market. A niche market could be specific help for first time buyers, lake property, retirement property or income property. Creating a presence online and getting people to search you out as an expert is a topic for another paper.

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Maximize-Profits-in-Todays-Shaky-Real-Estate-Market&id=2645408

Jones Lang LaSalle tops in corporate real estate services provider

2009-07-16T18:52:00.000-07:00

Jones Lang LaSalle has been recognised as the best overall provider of corporate real estate services by the Watkins 2009 Survey of Corporate Real Estate Service Providers.

Of the 19 providers evaluated by the largest users of commercial real estate services, Jones Lang LaSalle was rated No 1 in every category, including delivery of results, adaptability of services, pricing, reputation and financial strength.

“Real estate is often the third largest cost for many companies. Many are seeking to outsource these functions to reduce costs whilst maintaining similar or higher levels of service delivery. The Watkins survey is a clear indicator of what companies require and value,” said John Forrest, CEO of Jones Lang LaSalle’s Corporate Solutions business in Asia Pacific.

“It is a combination of these things that enable us to maintain our position as a market leader in Asia Pacific. In fact, we are continuing to grow and in the first six months of 2009, we have expanded our portfolio under management by over 30 million sq ft with clients from the banking, technology, industrial and consumer goods industries,” said Forrest.

The survey, conducted every two years by the Watkins Research Group Inc., in a joint project with Flaspöhler Research Group, interviewed 204 corporate real estate (CRE) decision-makers from 182 companies, representing North America’s largest users of CRE services—including 59 Fortune 500 companies, 37 Financial Times Global 500 companies and eight government agencies.

Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj is the Indian operations of Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE: JLL), the only real estate money management and services firm named to FORTUNE magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" and Forbes magazine's "400 Best Big Companies".

It is the premiere and largest real estate services company in India, with an extensive geographic footprint across ten cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Kochi, Chandigarh and Coimbatore) and staff strength of over 3800.

The company provides investors, developers, local corporates and multinational companies with a comprehensive range of services including research, consultancy, transactions, project and development services, integrated facility management, property management, capital markets, residential, hotels and retail advisory.

With 2007 global revenue of USD2.7 billion, Jones Lang LaSalle has approximately 180 offices worldwide and operates in more than 700 cities in 60 countries. The firm is an industry leader in property and corporate facility management services, with a portfolio of approximately 1.2 billion square feet worldwide. LaSalle Investment Management, the company’s investment management business, is one of the worlds largest and most diverse in real estate with more than $54 billion of assets under management.

Jones Lang LaSalle has over 50 years of experience in Asia Pacific, with over 16,000 employees operating in more than 70 offices in 13 countries across the region.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/jones-lang-lasalle-tops-in-corporate-real-estate-services-provider/66399/on

Real Estate: Buyers willing to come forward at the right price

2009-06-06T22:52:00.000-07:00

“Land monopoly is not only monopoly, but it is by far the greatest of monopolies; it is a perpetual monopoly, and it is the mother of all other
forms of monopoly.”

Said former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and that’s the sense of power felt by those who hold land. The thinking of Indian developers is no different. They went on a drive to amass huge land banks, only to see themselves in deep trouble when the real estate market slowed. Nonetheless, amidst all the gloom and doom surrounding the sector, they have managed to survive the slowdown. With the successful closure of a number of qualified institutional placements (QIPs), a number of builders have managed to tide over cash flow problems for now. This has turned the tide in favour of the industry.

Besides, the developers have resorted to measures such as selling non-core assets, cutting down prices, reducing apartment sizes, borrowing from banks, and pledging of shares to keep themselves afloat. Thus it seems that there is light at the end of the tunnel for sector, though the length of the tunnel is still not known.

Industry scenario

With a stable government in place, the sector may be in for some pleasant surprises.

Affordable housing and rural housing are part of the agenda of the new government at the Centre. Leading builders were the first ones to react to this need and launch new projects with prices ranging from Rs 4 lakh (depending on location) to Rs 50 lakh (though not really affordable).

Both listed as well as unlisted developers such as Lodha Developers , HDIL, Unitech, Puravankara, Omaxe, BPTP and DLF made a foray into affordable and midsegment housing. A recent entrant in the affordable housing segment is the house of Tatas, under the brand name ‘Shubh Griha’. Though it is difficult to arrive at a price point for defining affordability , some of these projects have seen good response from the customers. In fact now a number of private equity players are also keen on the affordable housing segment. HDFC Realty, Red Fort Capital and Kotak PE are believed to be eyeing this segment.

The story so far

In the last two months the BSE Realty Index has gained 20% (since 9th March) whereas the benchmark index, Sensex rose by 54%. This surge in the equity market coupled with increased buyer interest has had a positive impact on stock prices of realty companies. The beaten down stocks are again finding favour with investors. Though one still cannot directly say that this will ensure increased sale of units, it reflects the change in investor sentiment about the sector.

However, it is only the developers with proven track record and construction capabilities that are benefiting from this change in sentiment.

Sales offices and under construction project sites that bore a deserted look till a few months back are now buzzing with walk-in customers. With a manifold increase in the number of inquiries, it just shows that buyers are willing to come forward and buy as long as the prices are reasonable. This will help them to avoid over leveraged position.

Since it still continues to be a buyers market, customers are not willing to pay a premium for any under construction property. In fact it is for this reason that ready flats are finding more takers. Builders are thus offering easy payment schemes to instill confidence in the minds of people. For e.g., in some projects buyer needs to pay only 20% of the value of the flat and the rest 80% (through EMI) would start only after the property is delivered . Data shows that new launches with reduced prices and smaller size apartments are seeing higher sales now. Bangalore and Hyderabad registered a low absorption rate (ratio of units sold to units launched) compared with Mumbai, Chennai and Gurgaon because the number of new launches in the affordable segment was low in these regions.

Financials

With over 195 million sq. ft of ready and under-construction property in the market and hardly any takers, residential sales are the saving grace. DLF’s quarterly revenue for March’ 09 reported a whopping 73% decline. Following closely were HDIL and Puravankara, with a 63% and 56% drop in revenues. Similar was the trend in net profit margins (NPM). Puravankara’s NPM halved to 21.5% compared to the same quarter in the previous year. For DLF and HDIL it was much worse. Almost three-fourth of their profits have been wiped out. Higher sales of low margin mid housing segment were a cause of this drop in margins.

Had it nor been for Reserve Bank of India directing banks and financial institutions to help them restructure their loans, most of them would have defaulted on their loan payments. Cumulatively, DLF, Unitech, HDIL and xx have managed to restructure close to Rs 4,100 crore of debt through commercial banks and mutual funds. DLF has repaid 1,700 crore of debt while Unitech managed to reduce its debt Rs 2,000 crore. This has helped them to not only reduce their debt equity ratio but also interest outflow.

Going ahead

Given the current scenario, the response to various newly launched projects shows that ‘right price’ has played a key role in their success. Realty prices have been rising since the last three-four years. Places like NCR, Bangalore and Mumbai where prices had gone up by 300%, have seen the maximum correction. Still there are few locations where builders have been maintaining absurd prices because of their improved liquidity position. But this would only lead to piling up of inventory, which will further tighten the cash flow position of the builders. With the approaching rainy season, sales would anyway be subdued. If the industry has to come out of this slowdown, dussehra would be an important time.

In the six metros, 53 per cent of the 930-million sq.ft (as per Liases Foras) available realty stock is unsold; putting downward pressure on prices and lease rentals. We could thus expect a further 10-15 % correction in prices till Diwali, depending on the location.

However, it is advisable for buyers to select the property of their choice and budget so that they do not waste useful time in doing the groundwork during the festive season.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Features/Investors-Guide/Property-market-on-a-high-rise/articleshow/4601877.cms

Original Booking in Mantri Celestia Hyderabad By Affinity Solutions

2009-05-03T06:52:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad Property/Hyderabad Apartments/ Hyderabad Flats/Mantri Celestia Hyderabad/Hyderabad Real Estate Property Dealer/Hyderabad Properties/ Hyderabad Bangalore/ Hyderabad Apartment/ House for Sale Hyderabad/ Mantri Celestia Gachibawli Hyderabad

Mantri Celestia Gachibowli Hyderabad
Mantri Celestia is for those who are looking for homes that combine elegance with functionality, superior design with quality construction, and luxury with economy. Celeste by Mantri is spread over 11.5 Acres of land in Gachibowli, 7.5 acres for residential and 3.5 acres for commercial. Spread over7 towers, G+23 floors, premium locality of Gachibowli Hyderabad.

Location of Centrum Park Gurgaon
Mantri Celestia Wipro Junction, Gachibowli Hyderabad.

Common Amenities of Centrum Park Gurgaon
Gymnasium, Health club,Steam Room, Sauna, Table Tennis Room, Indoor games, Aerobics hall, Super market, Ladies & gents Parlour, T V Room, Squash court, Space for Crèche, Multi purpose hall/Party hall, Billiards room, Outdoor Amenities, Swimming Pool, Landscaped Garden, Children play area, Senior citizen’s area, Jogging / Walking Trail, Tennis courts, Basket Ball post, Outdoor Exercise Area.

Type Size & Price
Types-------Size(sq.ft)----Price INR(sq.ft)
3 BHK----------1198-----------2590
2 BHK----------960------------2725
2 BHK----------965------------2725
2 BHK----------970------------2690
2 BHK----------980------------2725
3 BHK----------1198-----------2725

About Mantri Developer
The speed, at which Mantri Group have journeyed in this industry and the incredible volume that they have built, is a sign of the deep passion and expertise that they have in Real Estate. With a track record of delivering 1.4 homes everyday since inception on time. Mantri Group has further diversified into Retail, Hotels, IT and premium housing townships all over South India. Industry leaders state this is the fastest growth achieved by any developer in the field of Real Estate in India.

About Affinity Solutions (P) Ltd
Affinity Consultant is a Real Estate Consultant in India operating since last 10 years. A.K. Jain heads a team of dedicated professionals with more than 10 yrs of experience in real estate services handling the entire project in India. Affinity Solutions (P) Ltd. is a paramount name among Indian real estate consultants and service providers with all leading brands likes DLF, Parsvnath, Ansal, Omaxe, TDI, Unitech, Emaar MGF etc.

For More Information Contact
AFFINITY SOLUTIONS (P) LTD
Mr. Dependra Nath - 9603649027
Mr. A.K.Jain – 9811159064
16469150050 (US), 442030516831 (UK)
http://www.affinityconsultant.com
affinitycredit@yahoo.co.in

Retail real estate struggles to survive

2009-04-10T21:35:00.000-07:00

Pune retailers are unable to expand due to liquidity crunch and subdued demand, hampering development of malls

Retail real estate in Pune, which was hitherto a hot property, has started losing its fizz. Cash crunch, falling growth numbers and subdued demand are taking their toll on thesectors. It’s the ripple effect at its worst. Retailers are not able to expand their presence, which, in turn affects mall development.
“Owing to volatile market conditions, insecurity of jobs, there has been a decrease in the number of footfalls in the malls in Pune. The footfalls also vary from location to location and depend on the new schemes introduced from time to time to attract customers,” Kishen Milaney, property consultant, Kaypee Shelters, told FC Estate. Also, during the present uncertain times, even those who do visit the malls do not necessarily end up buying things, he added.
The city, according to him has about 60 business locations in the heart of the city, as well as in the newly developed residential zones and IT parks.
“About 20 to 30 malls of various sizes are in the making. It is not clear how many will be completed as some are looking for better brands. Some may even change hands,” Milaney said.
Big Bazaar, which has six stores of various sizes spread across Pune, says luxury items like furniture and electronic goods had taken a hit.
“Today, there are many malls being planned — however, due to the economic slowdown, we expect many of these to see only partial occupancy until things improve,” said Anand Dutta, head (retail) Pune, Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj.
However, the real estate developers are pinning their hopes on the IT sector and believe that the fact that Pune, as a traditional automobile manufacturing hub, will continue to provide impetus to the city's retail realty sector.
Over the past 3-4 years, Pune has seen considerable growth in the IT sector, placing it close behind Bangalore and on par with Hyderabad. In the same period, the retail sector has ramped up to introduce a number of malls in response to the increased spending power and demographic changes.
There are about six under-construction malls, each measuring over 5 lakh sq ft. At present, Pune's retail-scape accounts for approximately 5 million sq ft.
There are about four-five townships of over 100 acres each planned in the city, and retail would be an inherent component of each of these. The scheduled townships will open up new frontiers, as will the proposed international airport.
Manoj Singh, store manager of Big Bazaar in Fatimanagar, is upbeat. “The footfalls have increased by 20 to 25 per cent in March 2009 compared with March last year. For example, on March 27, Maharashtra’s New Year’s day, we had a full house and did good business. On weekends and the first week of every month, we still attract good clientele,” he said.
http://www.mydigitalfc.com/real-estate/retail-real-estate-struggles-survive-293

Foreign investors in real estate locked for 3 years

2009-03-25T00:55:00.000-07:00

NEW DELHI: Foreign investors
in Indian real estate cannot sell their stakes to another foreign investor before three years,With this, FIPB has overruled a provision in FDI policy that exempts foreign players from the rule in cases where fund
transfer is from one non-resident to another. Till now, this three-year lock-in was applicable only on foreign investment in real estate and not on investors.

The FIPB view is contrary to the stand taken by the department of industrial policy and promotion (Dipp), the nodal agency that formulates FDI rules in the country. Dipp’s view is that a foreign investor can repatriate funds if it offloads its stake to another foreign investor as the actual investment in a project would remain intact and only its ownership would change.

"Though Press Note 2 of 2005 has an enabling clause to permit sale of investment between two non-residents before the end of lock in, it has not been allowed so far,” an official in the commerce & industry ministry said.

The issue came up in the last FIPB meeting, when the board took up private equity fund 2I Capital’s request to sell its investment in Delhi-based real estate firm Uppal Housing to Mauritius-based fund ICP Investments.

The company had sought approval for transferring 1.9 crore shares in the Indian real estate company to the Mauritian company. According to the company’s proposal, the fund transfer involved no repatriation of funds but physical transfer of shares from one investor to another.

Though Dipp had recommended giving permission for sale of 2I Capital’s shares to ICP Investments, FIPB rejected it. Dipp argued the sale of shares was permissible between two non-residents within the lock-in period , but FIPB rejected it.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Markets/Real-Estate/Foreign-investors-in-real-estate-locked-for-3-years
/articleshow/4312054.cms

India Developers Face Risk of Cancellations, Credit Suisse Says

2009-02-27T23:42:00.000-08:00

-- DLF Ltd. and other Indian developers are cutting prices on increasing risks that buyers will back out of purchases made at the market’s “peak,” forcing developers to write off earlier profits, Credit Suisse Group said.

DLF, along with Parsvnath Developers Ltd. and Orbit Corp., have more than 20 percent of their revenue booked since 2006 as outstanding, Mumbai-based analyst Anand Agarwal wrote in a report today. The company, India’s largest real-estate company, has lowered prices for a project in Chennai by as much as 14 percent, the report said.

“Wherever possible, customers are looking to walk out of transactions entered at the peak of the real-estate market,” Agarwal wrote. “Many real-estate companies have recognized revenue on percentage completion against future cash inflows on contracted sales. Some of these transactions could be canceled, leading to write-offs.”

The Bombay Stock Exchange Realty Index has dropped 36 percent this year, compared with an 8.6 percent slump on the benchmark Sensitive Index. Home sales in India have tapered as the global financial crisis and slowing economic growth reduced the availability of home loans and hurt spending.

DLF will cut prices in new projects over the next three months to revive a slump in home sales, Vice Chairman Rajiv Singh told reporters on Feb. 2. The developer reduced prices at a project in Bangalore and Hyderabad, according to reports in the Business Standard this month.

Outstanding debts at DLF amount to about 38 percent of its total revenues between the 2006 and 2009 fiscal years, while Parsvnath and Orbit have ratios of 29 percent and 20 percent, respectively, Credit Suisse estimated.

Worst Performer

DLF has dropped 44 percent this year, the worst performer among the 30 companies making up the Sensex. Parsvnath has retreated 26 percent during the same period, while Orbit has lost 32 percent.

A rebound in Indian developers may only take place in six months’ time, when signs emerge that asset prices are halting their slump and as liquidity recovers, Macquarie Group Ltd. said in a report today. The Reserve Bank of India reduced interest rates to an unprecedented low on Jan. 2 and Governor Duvvuri Subbarao said on Feb. 18 there’s “certainly room” to lower rates further.

“This is a tough time for the real-estate sector because of tight liquidity and slowing sales,” Macquarie analysts Unmesh Sharma and Gautam Duggad wrote. “Stocks remain under pressure due to the lack of visible triggers in the near term.”
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=awM55fELjLxY&refer=india

A futures contract on real-estate?

2009-02-02T07:49:00.000-08:00

Nupur Pavan Bang

“Why don’t we have a futures contract on real-estate to hedge the risk of land prices going down?” asked Rahul, a quiet but sharp student. Professor Nicky was taken aback by his question. Where most of the students in her class had difficulty understanding the basic concepts of hedging, this young boy was asking about an instrument which was, well, not so simple, to say the least.

Professor Nicky turned the question to the class to test how much the class knew. And she was in for a pleasant surprise. There were a few hands in the air.

Rachna: “It will be difficult to introduce real-estate futures because the valuation of the underlying product would be difficult. The real-estate market in India is highly fragmented. The prices of land differ widely based on factors such as location and usability, that is commercial, industrial, residential or agricultural”

Praveen added: “Besides, such a market would be very illiquid in India as only prime commercial and residential properties would probably be traded.”

Index of prices

“But, what is the problem here?” interposed Rajshree. “Can’t we create an index of real-estate prices? Just like we have stock indices? We can club the properties belonging to a particular city according to property types”.

Professor Nicky saw a few perplexed looking faces and decided to intervene even though she was happy with the way the discussion was proceeding. She took over from where Rajshree had left.

“See, just like we have an index for FMCG companies or IT companies or banks, similarly, we can create an index of real-estate Prices. Of course these indices will be city or region-wise indices. We would need to determine a base year”.

“Since it would be very tiresome to include all residential property transactions in the index, we take transactions that are above a minimum amount of, let’s say, Rs 25 lakh. Now we can take a weighted average of all the transactions on a weekly or a fortnightly or monthly basis to find the changes in the index.

“However, the index may not give a true and fair picture as the recorded value of these transactions with the government is generally very low to save taxes. But then, it will still be better than having nothing. And slowly, as we move ahead and learn, the issues of heterogeneity and pricing will be sorted out”.

“Ah! If I recall correctly, Chicago Mercantile Exchange and Chicago Board of Trade have such futures traded on such contracts for cities such as New York and Los Angeles. In fact, they also have futures contracts on Real Estate Investment Trusts” exclaimed Richa.

“The students have really started reading,” thought Professor Nicky. “With the job scenario being bleak, many students have become serious and are trying to read more so that they can have an edge over their batch mates in an interview”!

Benefits of futures

“Yes, both the US and the UK have real-estate futures traded on their commodity exchanges for most of the major cities in the country. But can somebody tell me what the benefits of real-estate futures are?” asked Nicky.

Before Nicky could point towards a raised hand, Rohit rattled off, “Hedging for investors and builders, diversification, price discovery, increased information availability and flow, investment tool…”.

“Okay…okay…enough…so all of you are aware of the benefits of real-estate futures. But who has heard of the London Fox?” Thankfully no hands went up this time. Nicky was almost beginning to feel that she was not required in the classroom at all as the students had answers to all her questions.

Keeping them at bay

“London Futures and Options Exchange (FOX) started trading in four property futures contracts in May 1991 and had to suspend trading in October 1991. The reasons were mainly that these contracts were not economically viable. Arbitrage was not possible as short-selling is not allowed in the underlying spot market, which is true in India also.

“Also, the housing indices for various cities would be highly dependent on each other, albeit with lagged effect, due to the cascading effect in the real-estate markets. The transaction costs were also huge, which kept the investors and hedgers at bay.

“Hence, before introducing these futures, the government will have to do a lot of ground work to ensure that they work efficiently and provide the desired benefits to investors and hedgers”.

The class looked satisfied. Everyone had contributed something and everyone had learnt something new. Nicky looked proudly at her students and called it a day.

(Praveen, Rachna, Rahul, Rajshree, Richa and Rohit are students of IBS Hyderabad, class of 2009. Nupur is an Assistant Professor of Finance at IBS Hyderabad.)
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/iw/2009/02/01/stories/2009020150471400.htm

UTVi presents the Real Estate show - about property investment

2009-01-24T19:14:00.000-08:00

With the economic meltdown, there has been a debilitating effect on property in many major cities. Keeping in mind the instability and the depreciating value of what was once thought of as the best source of investment.

Does property as a means of investment loose its value?? These debates throw up questions like HOW does one search and invest in residential property and how does one guard himself from defaulting real estate dealers.To answer all the above, in the first segment of this week's episode of REAL ESTATE, UTVi's experts will guide Feroz Shaikh in his search for property in the IT city, Hyderabad followed by a session on quick investment tips for residential property by Shobit Aggarwal from Jones Lang La Salle - Mumbai, a Global Real Estates services firm.Moving on, the real estate experts of our channel will give details on the best and most affordable options in Bangalore while our expert property lawyer Sujoy Kumar will analyse the case of Anjali Bhardwaj and suggest ways of getting 100% money back from the defaulting builder of the Zirakhpur project.Further on, the show will also focus on 'budget homes' and will do a reality check on the Vasai-Virar stretch in Mumbai. And lastly, our Architect Sonali Rastogi will show practical yet easy ways of revamping small basement space into an efficient office area.

A must watch for all the people who have been struggling for space and looking for accommodation around the country. To get your update on the essential know-how before you think of investing your precious time and money in buying a house, tune in this Saturday 24th January at 9 am only on UTVi!http://www.maaproperties.com/Pages/ModuleContent.aspx?Module=News

At Maa Properties, we have in-depth knowledge of property markets, extensive experience, specialized skills and resources necessary to provide an entire range of reliable and responsive property management services. No matter how far away you are currently located, our online services enable you to take charge of things and efficiently handle all property-related transactions back home.

We would like to take the opportunity to welcome all the community members living world wide to our real estate portal.(NRI)For More Information about Real Estate Hyderabad, India visit: http://www.maaproperties.com/
http://www.newdesignworld.com/press/story/7517

Indian real estate buyers tempted by dream home opportunity

2009-01-18T06:16:00.000-08:00

Indian buyers are now starting to see the slowing housing market as an opportunity to “buy a dream home” a survey has suggested.

MagicBricks said its poll showed about 87 per cent of potential real estate buyers now see the proliferation of discounts as a temptation.

The firm conducted the research to assess what impact lower home loan rates were having on the country’s struggling housing market.

Responses were sought from the Bangalore, Kolkata, Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai real estate markets, along with housing markets in some smaller cities.

Executives said those polled

“welcomed measures such as differential home loan interest rates for budget homes”.

Experts also said the results suggest government moves to kick-start the real estate market could finally be having an effect.

Ms E Jayashree Kurup, the company’s head of content and research, said buyers from all social groups and age ranges were now looking to enter the housing market.

The survey also showed how much people expect to spend on a home, with about 52 per cent saying they could spend between Rs 10 and 30 lakh.

MagicBricks is one of India’s leading real estate research firms, regularly polling opinion on housing trends and values.
http://www.offplanpropertyexchange.com/news/2009/01/indian-real-estate-buyers-tempted-dream-home-opportunity/624

Shareef announces NRI housing project in Hyderabad

2009-01-10T07:29:00.000-08:00

CHICAGO: A big real estate melt down in India and USA notwithstanding, a Chicagoland businessman, Iftekhar Shareef , has decided to build a most modern multi million dollar value residential complex in Shamshadabad ( near Hyderabad) to enable NRIs re-establish their roots with the motherland .The Shamshadabad project being developed under the aegis of IGS inc, a company registered in Chicago as well as in Andhra Pradesh, will be under two to three phases. Its first phase construction will have 64 units of two and three bed-room luxurious flats to start with.

And they would be just three kms away from the newly built state of the art International Airport of Hyderabad.Shareef hails from Shamshadabad, which is now known as the International Village. His love of India and his native Hyderabad, he admits, has attracted him to invest in construction and other ventures in India. It also, he muses, brings him back to India more often to pursue his commercial activities. He is operating his diverse business activities under the umbrella of IGS Group, USA.The IGS plans to build over 500 units on this 40 acre site.

The complex will include apartments, hotel, commercial office center and many other amenities. He lays stress on environmental protection and indicated that all his real estate developments will have pollution free atmosphere. The prices are quite competitive and attractive for overseas investors. "They can bring in their hard earned money for relative safe investment in this project and reap handsome returns over a period of time," he said.

"The future of this project is good for investors who are looking to live there during their visit to Hyderabad and rent it out the other months. IGS will, upon request, maintain the units for absentee owners for a nominal charge," he added."Units are spacious with good views of salubrious surroundings as well as landings and take-offs of air-planes," Shareef said and added that all existing and future real estate developments will be ultramodern with an accent on western comforts and eastern life-styles. He proposes to bring state of the art designs and concepts for modern living. He said that India was ready to have these amenities and people are anxious to find them.

The first dual citizen of India, Shareef is a person of multi-dimensional character. His involvement, both in his native country and adopted country, is equal. "I keep perfect balance in my political and social affiliations both with India and US. Whether Congress or BJP, Communists or Socialists, I keep balanced relationship without any regard to race, religion, political persuasions.

"Iftekhar Shareef divides his time between India and the United States as he oversees many of his successful organizations, such as the National Bank Card Corporation, Secure Check USA, and Skin Care Systems specializing in anti-aging technology.

This entrepreneurial undertaking, he says, has the potential to go big in view of the recognition some of these cosmetology products received in US and India. His products are already marketed in 51 countries. Nine of his revolutionary products to create beautiful skin have been so successful that he admitted there were no complaints for the last six years.

However, his real estate project in Hyderabad, has become the center of his primary interest. He is upbeat about the potential of this project that he says is good for investors, who are looking to stay there during their visit to Hyderabad and rent it out during the other months.

He immigrated to US in 1980. By dint of hard work and innovative mind he has built a solid portfolio of highly successful companies under the IGS Group as founder and CEO. Married to Gazalla, he has four children, two boys, Azfar and Ashar and two girls, Iram and Simra. They live in Lincolnwood, a suburb of Chicago.
http://indiapost.com/article/communitypost/5108/

The Indian Real Estate Developer Giant Targets NRI Buyers

2008-12-21T05:58:00.000-08:00

The recent depreciation of the rupees against the dollar has been diverted Indian real estate. This may also be the ideal time to invest in property in India because the recent slowdown may become 20 percent benefit for the NRIs.

With the rupee depreciation with the dollar, Omaxe and other property developers in India plan to target the NRI buyers. NRIs can get a good deal now because of the recent depreciation of the rupees against the dollar. This would benefit NRI purchase around 20 percent. Property investment in India at this time could be a good deal. Prices have declined by 15 to 20 percent in last few weeks.

The Omaxe Real Estate Developer, one of the leading companies in this field is offering NRI property investment like multiplex, shopping complex to 2BHK apartments in Bangalore, Pune, Calcutta, Chennai, Hyderabad and already sky high Mumbai and Delhi. It is one of the top real estate developers which has a lot of experience and is committed to achieving excellence. They also have a separate interface for Non resident Indians (NRIs). Other features the company offers are: email-based subscription for newly launched projects. This keeps the readers up-to-date with the latest news regarding the real estate infrastructure and current sales in their specified city based on their budget-based selection and choice of accommodation/housing.

Omaxe India Ltd claims to be the first ISO 9001 certified company in northern India, which develops real estate in Northern, Central and Southern India. As their line says, ‘Turning dreams to reality’, the company does the same with their state of art designs which are similar to the international standards. The company hosts experts in the field who give their best to all their projects. Over a period of time Omaxe have executed a number of high profile projects for multinational clients. NRIs have played a very important role in transforming the Indian real estate market. Opening-up of the Indian economy provided them with new opportunities and they have shown a great deal of confidence in the changed set up.

This is the time when people recognize the importance of selecting the right place to invest. According to Mr. Girish Garg, Head of Marketing, "our site has always been at the forefront for the way our projects have been dealt with. Each one of them has a unique feature about it, which best describes its utility. We use the best materials in construction, which ensures safety and longevity to the buildings. And a lot of research and planning goes into each of our projects, so as to guarantee client satisfaction..........
For Latest Real Estate News and Articles: http://www.maaproperties.com/Pages/ModuleContent.aspx?Module=Articles

At Maa Properties, we have in-depth knowledge of property markets, extensive experience, specialized skills and resources necessary to provide an entire range of reliable and responsive property management services. No matter how far away you are currently located, our online services enable you to take charge of things and efficiently handle all property-related transactions back home.

We would like to take the opportunity to welcome all the community members living world wide to our real estate portal.(NRI)For More Information about Real Estate Hyderabad, India visit: http://www.maaproperties.com/

Hyderabad Real Estate-KattaTrump Realtors Pvt Ltd

2008-11-29T01:23:00.000-08:00

Kokapet is the new realty hub of Hyderabad

2008-11-14T03:03:00.000-08:00

Kokapet is now being touted as the city’s most attractive real estate location. It is situated in the epicentre of prestigious IT corridor and is also strategically located between Gachibowli and the Greater Hyderabad zone. The realty sector in the city is still vibrant despite the shake-up of economy and many national players are zeroing in on Kokapet. Also, real estate has become the best investment option with the stock market acting erratically and the global economy going for a spin. Dozens of residential and commercial projects are under various stages of construction in Kokapet.

It is virtually raining SEZs in the area and big names such as Google, PCS, Cognizant, Tech Mahindra, Cbay, Qualcomm, Sonata, DQ and others have already pitched camp. In the vicinity is Gachibowli and Madhapur where over 200 major corporates are together employing more than 5,00,000 persons. All these factors have spurred construction in Kokapet, which can provide living space to many of these people. The Outer Ring Road is 1.5 km from Kokapet and the metro is around 10 km away. The Shamshabad International Airport is also close enough at 17 km and the Secunderabad Railway station is only 30 km away.

There are many good schools and colleges in the region and the Hyderabad University is 8 km away. For entertainment, one can go to Treasure Island (3 km), Ocean Park (2 km ) and the Golconda Resort. Malls and hospitals are also close by. “Kokapet has already been giving rich dividends to investors who came in early,” said Mr Somayajulu, a property analyst. “Investments of Rs 1 lakh have yielded 1,000 per cent returns in a year. But the boom is just about to start.” Land, which was valued at Rs 10,000 per square yard in Kokapet two years ago is now selling at Rs 22,000.

Prominent residential projects coming up near Kokapet include Lanco Hills, Aparna Sarovar, Aparna Cyber Commune, Ramky Towers, NCC Urban, Meenakshi Trident Towers, Jain Carlton Creek, Manjeera Diamond Towers, SMR Symphony and Emmaar Boulders Hills. Mantri Developers and Ramky are developing commercial projects, and Ashoka Builders and Meenakshi Infrastructure are developing IT Parks. IT SEZs are being planned by Matyas Properties as also Lanco and Emmaar while Dynamic Constructions, Salarpuria Properties and Jayabheri Properties are developing IT Parks. “Kokapet has emerged as one of the focal points of the area,” said Mr Srinivas, facility manager of Qualcomm India Pvt. Ltd, a leading CDMA technology company. “The demand for residential property will grow further since the staff strength of companies is expected to increase further within five years.”.........

For Latest Real Estate News and Articles: http://www.maaproperties.com/Pages/ModuleContent.aspx?Module=Articles

At Maa Properties, we have in-depth knowledge of property markets, extensive experience, specialized skills and resources necessary to provide an entire range of reliable and responsive property management services. No matter how far away you are currently located, our online services enable you to take charge of things and efficiently handle all property-related transactions back home.

We would like to take the opportunity to welcome all the community members living world wide to our real estate portal.(NRI)

For More Information about Real Estate Hyderabad, India visit: http://www.maaproperties.com/
http://www.newdesignworld.com/press/story/5490

Research and Markets: Residential Real Estate in Hyderabad Understand the Factors Which Influence Investments in Real Estate

2008-08-10T06:54:00.000-07:00

DUBLIN, Ireland, Jul 28, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Research and Markets ( http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/3fcdfb/residential_real_e) has announced the addition of the "Residential Real Estate in Hyderabad" report to their offering.
Introduction
The Indian economy has registered growth of 8.7% for FY08 and is expected to grow at the same level in next decade. Hyderabad contributes 15% to the State's GDP and 78% of its revenue is generated through services sector. Services include IT, hospitality and tourism, public and private transportation and banking and financial services.
Key Highlights of Report
-Younger population with higher income improves the affordability of property
- Greater connectivity to major destinations
- Efficient infrastructure in place
- Real Estate flourishes in all corners in Hyderabad
- Hyderabad offers value for investments
- Invest in gated community of 5 acres with long term investment horizon
Reasons to Buy
- Spot Investment opportunities
- Understand the factors which influence investments in real estate
- Reveals major competitors and their strategies
- Assess the various segments in Hyderabad Real estate market
- Analyses the factors influenced in making Hyderabad as fastest growing IT destination
The report covers the current status of Gross State Domestic Product and projected GSDP. It also talks about city economic information containing the contribution of the city in GSDP, prominent businesses and industries in the city, professional, educational institutes and expected employment levels, and affordability of residents of the city in terms of purchasing new assets. The report also states the infrastructure of the city and development of the same. The report analyses zone-wise development and growth prospects of the same. The report analyses the competitive scenario of Hyderabad to other growing cities both in commercial and residential space. It also talks about the regulatory requirement for investment in the Hyderabad residential real estate. At the end it talks about major players (builders) in the Hyderabad residential real estate industry.
Targeted Audience
Analysts
consultants
real estate companies
infrastructure companies
banks and financial institutions
investors
students
Key Topics Covered:
1 GROSS STATE DOMESTIC PRODUCT OF ANDHRA PRADESH
2 HYDERABAD - THE FASTEST GROWING IT DESTINATION
3 HYDERABAD REAL ESTATE MARKET
4 MAJOR COMPETITORS OF HYDERABAD
5 MAJOR PLAYERS
6 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
7 REFERENCES
LIST OF TABLES
LIST OF FIGURES
Companies Mentioned:
Aditya Constructions
Amsri Builders
Aliens Group
Aparna Constructions & Estates Pvt. Ltd
Indu Projects
IVR Prime Urban Developers Ltd
Janapriya Engineers Syndicate (Pvt) Ltd
Jayabheri Group
L & T Infocity
Lanco Infratech Limited
Legend Estate Pvt Ltd
Maytas Infra Ltd
Modi properties & Investment Pvt. Ltd
My Home Constructions (P) Ltd
NCC Urban Infrastructure Ltd
Prajay Engineers Syndicate Ltd
Ramky Estates
Saket Engineers Pvt. Ltd
Vertex Homes
For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/3fcdfb/residential_real_e
http://www.marketwatch.com

How to Choose a Land Investment Company?

2008-08-01T18:51:00.000-07:00

When a person is looking for land to invest in, there are a number of ways that they can get that done. They can try to go looking for investments themselves, which is usually what most people initially try to do. However, the main problem with this method is that the average person knows next to nothing about land investment and that can become a big problem quickly if they try to go looking for good investments themselves.

Another option for people is go look for land investments through real estate agents. While this is a better option than going it alone, once again real estate agents are not really that great an option because they are not interested in land investments. Real estate agents, by definition, are people that deal in property rather than land and for that reason are not the ideal in this situation.

With those two options off the table, it becomes quite clear that the best option is to go with a land investment company. These land investment companies are specifically interested in finding land commodities, something that you are interested in as well. Now that you have made the decision to go with a land investment company, here are some basic points you can use to narrow the list down.

Experience

The first thing that you should look for in a land investment company is experience. This experience can either be inherent to the company or it can be people that work for the company that have it instead. It ultimately doesn't matter where the land investment experience comes from, so long as someone that you are working with has it. Experience is important because only an experienced land investor will have the knack for finding you good land to invest in. While qualifications are important, they are ultimately less important than experience.

Results

Once you have found the land investment companies with the appropriate amount of experience to make it past your narrowing down process, the next criterion that you should use to evaluate these companies is results. Experience is a good thing, but it is only good when it is positive experience. A company with just as many bad results as good results is not really a company with worthwhile experience. You want an experienced company with a good track record to be working for you, because only a company like that will give you the best chance possible at tracking down land investments that will be good to you over time.

Other Criteria

Once you have a list of land investment companies that are both experienced and have a proven track record of results, the main part of your job is pretty much over. From that list, you can use criteria that are important to you (i.e. cost, service, location etc.) to narrow that list down to a handful of companies, at which point you can start to get in touch with those land investment companies and see what they offer. Never narrow the list down to just one land investment company without first getting a chance to talk directly with multiple land investment companies involved in land investment.

For Discounted Land For Sale, Visit Discount Land For Sale.com. List your land for free or search through our discounted land for sale!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gregory_Akerman

Real Estate - Investment Property In Hyderabad

2008-07-27T04:50:00.000-07:00

The recently-inaugurated world-class international airport in Hyderabad is seen as a mascot that will boost the image of this Indian software hub as a future mega city of the world. The investment scenario in the city promises growth and returns to the stakeholders.

Nevertheless, in the past couple of quarters two multi-billion dollar deals have taken place in the real estate sector of Hyderabad between Maytas Properties and JM Financial and Golden Gate Properties and Deutche Bank.

These investment bankers, after their exhaustive studies, found Hyderabad as a dynamic real estate market that has potential to attract investors from across the world.

Infrastructure Support

The Shamshabad airport is undoubtedly a major growth driver for Hyderabad's investment property segment, but since it is located at the suburban area, connectivity is a major issue that can affect investors' mindset.

The Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA), however, have come up with an action plan. Five major infrastructure plans have been laid down to suitably connect the airport with all major parts of the city and reduce the travel time as well. The authority is in the process of constructing a 4-lane, 11.50 km long PVNR Elevated Expressway, between Aramghar and Mehdipatnam. This will be India's longest elevated highway.

A slip road has also been planned at Aramghar to divert heavy traffic and de-congest the junction. According to sources, an 8-lane 22 km section of Outer Ring Road (ORR) would also be extended to enhance the connectivity of airport across the eastern and western part of the city. The 11 km Inner Ring Road (IRR) will be improved between Mailadevpall and Khairatabad, covering the inner central and eastern parts of the city. A P7 road will be developed to provide connectivity with the IRR.

The ORR will provide direct connectivity to the airport while the IRR will link north-eastern parts of the city like Begumpet, Tarnaka, Champapet and Chandrayangutta through P7 road.

According to real estate experts of Hyderabad, the property values in the vicinity of these roads will escalate in the near future and returns from 25 to 200 per cent on residential plots can be expected in the next 8-12 months.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Real-Estate---Investment-Property-In-Hyderabad&id=1057627

Achutananda Real estates........... Hyderabad....... India

2008-07-19T03:41:00.000-07:00

Realty PEs to execute real estate projects on their own

2008-07-13T01:02:00.000-07:00

NEW DELHI: Private equity (PE) funds in the real estate space are starting to don the developers’ hat. Funds such as Trikona Capital, South Asian Real Estate (SARE) and Yatra Capital have started to create in-house teams that can execute real estate projects on their own.

For some, the opportunity has already arrived. For the funds, the idea is to have better control over their development partners while others are clear that they also want to make the kind of margins that construction offers (25-35%). Apart from the cost advantage, this would also mean a lower dependence on construction companies in a scenario where execution capability bottlenecks are threatening to derail projects.

Trikona Capital, which has over $1-billion investments committed in India, is setting up a development group, which will be headed by the ex-chairman of HUDCO, Dr PS Rana. “There is very little scalability in India. My best development partner has at best developed 5 million sq ft of space,” says Trikona MD Aashish Kalra. Execution is the most important thing, he says.

It is this search for execution that is driving them on to setting up a full-fledged development group within Trikona Capital, which, says Mr Kalra, will oversee all developments, even by their development partners and enhance value. Kalra also sees this is an insurance against partner default too. “If your development partner defaults in any case, you could take control of the project. You can do that only if you know the business yourself,” explains Mr Kalra.

At Saffron Group, which advises Yatra Capital on their real estate investments in India, there is an existing project management team which, says their MD Ajoy Vir Kapoor is being expanded significantly to a 13-15 member team. “This team will add value to the construction partner. There may be an opportunity in doing projects on our own, but not yet,” he adds.

At Trikona though, Mr Kalra does not deny that “we will do our own developments if we are not able to find an appropriate partner for a particular project.” Kotak Realty Fund had recently made an enterprise level investment in Lalith Ganga Constructions. Kotak’s stake in the company has not been disclosed. Lalith Ganga Constructions is a start-up promoted by Kotak Realty Fund along with Girish Puravankara, the erstwhile deputy managing director of Puravankara Projects.

Kotak Realty Fund’s website says: “The said start-up company will be identifying land where Kotak Realty Fund would invest directly and manage the same on behalf of the Fund. The company will be entitled to a project management fee and share in profits over a specified hurdle rate. Kotak Realty Group has an opportunity to create its own real estate company with a highly reputed entrepreneur, who has in the past built a large real estate business and has relationships in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Coimbatore and Pune.”

Though the relationship between the two is not very clear at the moment, a company spokesperson said “that the decision to partner with companies for development depends on location to location. The startup though will be executing some of Kotak Realty Fund’s projects.”

“The funds have realised that there are good margins to be made in real estate development,” explains DTZ investment advisory director Ambar Maheshwari. The margins in development in India are in the range of 25-35%. In its investments, SARE wants to have the flexibility to either invest in a project of a developer (and mostly take a majority stake) or execute the project themselves. The fund has developed suitable development capability and is already executing a project on its own in India.

“There needs to be a degree of control over your projects. We also believe that there is a development margin to be made here and that will now come to us,” says Sunil Agarwal, chief development & acquisition officer at SARE. SARE has $200 million committed across several projects in India.

Angel Broking real estate analyst Shailesh Kanani says that if these funds are able to execute and manage these projects, it is a good move. “Over the years with even subcontractors becoming big and their order books swelling, execution is a huge hurdle for large and small real estate companies alike,” he adds.

This might be the reason funds are looking for execution capabilities apart from the fact that they can save costs and boost their margins. Infinite India Investment Management is also doing a project on its own but they are not looking at getting into full-fledged development.

“In one of our projects where we own 100% we are doing the development on our own because we have the capability and also because the asset is very prime,” says the fund’s director, Jagdeep Pahwa.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Realty_Trends/Realty_PEs_to_execute_real_estate_projects_on_their_own/articleshow/3224923.cms

Letting Property Made Easy

2008-06-29T06:17:00.000-07:00

Once a landlord has made the decision to let their rental property there are a number of factors that should be taken into account when presenting their rental property to potential tenants. The first and most important decision to make when letting property is at what rental price the property should be offered to potential tenants. The outcome of this important decision is vital to the success or failure of the landlord's rental property investment.

There are many other decisions that a landlord will need to make at the start, finish, and during the property letting process, but none are as important as the rental price of the property that the landlord will present to potential tenants. If the rental property is pitched too high then it is likely that the tenant enquiries will be few and far between, which may present future problems such as prolonged void periods. If the rental price is pitched too low then it may mean the failure of the rental property as an investment, due to the lack of rental income equating to poor cash flow for the landlord. In an ideal world adequate rental research would have been carried out before starting the property letting process. Rental research search such as rental prices, rental property supply, and rental property demand in the area of interest, are a great source of information to gather and utilise when coming to the decision of what is a realistic rental price to offer potential tenants.

As the rental price is such an important decision to make it is essential that the correct and appropriate data is collected when making this important decision. Any landlord has the ability carry out their own market research for any type of property anywhere in the UK in less than half an hour. The time spent on researching a realistic rental valuation at the start of the marketing process may save £100's in void periods throughout the property letting process, so it is time very well spent.

Correct and appropriate data can be compiled to create a market research report by visiting the following websites:

1. rightmove.co.uk

2. findaproperty.co.uk

To start the market research for any rental property wherever situated in the UK, the first half of the landlord's rental postcode will be required within the rental search facility when using both of the above property portals. When selecting the rental property criteria to be used within the rental search the information should be kept as close to the rental property detail that you are researching, with the exception of the rental price. To research the market rental prices for your chosen area and property type, it is good to put in a range of rental values, starting £300 below your anticipated rental to £300 above your anticipated rental value.

The search results generated will give an indication of what similar properties are available within the market in a particular area of the UK. The information offered will be a good guide as to;

1. The supply of rental property in the area of interest.

2. The average asking price of a particular property type within the area of interest.

3. The quality of the rental property available.

4. The rental price of similar available and let properties.

5. The way that other properties are presented.

From the rental research carried out a good judgment can be made as to a realistic rental price for a particular type of property located anywhere within the UK. Providing a landlord's rental research is carried out in a thorough manor, a landlord will not only be able to ascertain a realistic rental price but also exactly what should be put in place to present the landlords property within a good position within the market to achieve an ideal tenant in a short period of time.

This type of rental research will take no more than half an hour to complete, but has the potential to save £100's throughout the property letting process.

If you would like to speak to an advisor about your rental property please call 020 8 697 0984. Alternatively you can visit http://www.discountletting.co.uk to view a full list of benefits available to landlords.

Buying Real Estate in the USA

2008-06-14T04:51:00.000-07:00

Residential Property Management In Spain

2008-05-30T23:57:00.000-07:00

Residential Property Management in Spain is aimed at part-time residents wishing for a greater degree of freedom. Even if you do not wish to commercially rent out your property, it still makes sense to use a Property Management company. It is always advisable to employ an organization by personal recommendations and word-of-mouth.

Prices of services can vary and may include:-

Regular security checks check (alarms, close any open windows or unlocked doors, roller-shutters or security grills)

Checking for dampness or mold

Flushing toilets and running water to prevent drain smells

Checking for pest infestation

Isolating electricity and water supply (if required)

Organizing cleaning prior to occupancy

laundry collection and delivery

A good Spanish Property Management company will have lots of local knowledge and may be able to organize things for you such as:-

Marble floor polishing

Installation of mosquito nets

Air-conditioning/heating installation

TV engineers & installation of satellite dishes

Carpet, curtain and upholstery cleaning

Installation of glass curtains

Contacting locksmiths (if required)

Arranging sub-contractors for services such as painting, decorating, electrics, plumbing and general maintenance

Arranging furniture delivery

Overseeing garden projects including installation of decking and lighting

If you do happen to want to rent out your property, the Property Management company usually handles most of the marketing and will advertise via various websites. They will organize all the paperwork and collection of deposits and balances of payment. They will normally ask rental clients for a damage deposit on each booking. They will organize key collection and give out directions to your property and offer a call-out service should there be any problems. They will organize any cleaning and laundry before and after each rental.
http://www.ezinearticles.com

IRA Real Estate Investing

2008-05-10T07:10:00.000-07:00

You can obtain real estate with funds from a self-directed IRA. Income generated from the real estate is able to be TAX DEFERRED and in a few cases TAX FREE! Real estate has in history proven itself to be a great vehicle for both income as well as appreciation. One tool that is accessible to real estate investors are government sponsored retirement plans. You might not be aware that you have the alternative to direct your IRA into real estate.

Tax deferred - These are the "tax deductible" type of IRA's that allow yearly contributions to a tax-deferred account with pretax dollars. This means that the money you deposit in your IRA is not taxed as well as you will not be taxed until you withdraw the money as soon as you retire.

Tax free - These are tax-free retirement accounts. As well known as the Roth IRA, yearly donations are made with after-tax dollars. These offer no tax advantage in the year

The contribution is made since the Roth IRA contribution is not deductible. The benefit of the Roth IRA is that the growth of the retirement account is tax-free as well as the income disbursements made as of it as soon as you retire.

Both IRA types are used to invest in real estate. For clear reasons, the majority people would wish to have the Roth IRA as the vehicle for real estate investment since all income plus gains resulting from real estate transactions would be tax free. The fact of the matter is that the majority people have the traditional IRA. Even though the income from the traditional IRA isn't "tax-free", it is "tax-deferred".

First-Time Homeowner's IRA Break

If you are a first time homebuyer plus you have a usual IRA, you can withdraw up to $10,000 from your IRA to assist pay for qualifying "first-time" home buyer expenses. The $10,000 boundary is a lifetime cap per IRA owner, not a yearly limitation.

The expenses meet the criteria if they are used within 120 days of the distribution to pay the acquisition costs intended for your new principal residence.

The rule states that the tax break is only available for "first-time" dwelling buyer expenses, but it doesn't mean that it must be your first residence. A qualifying first time home buyer is someone who does not have an ownership interest in a principal residence in the two year period before the possession of the new home. If you are married, you and your other half must convince the two year test. Note that the IRA inflicts a 10% penalty if you obtain a distribution from a conventional IRA before age 59 1/2. You are exempt, as explained above, if you use the distribution for skilled first-time home buying expenses. If the money is from a ROTH IRA though, the money should have been in the IRA for as a minimum 5 years.

Self-Directed IRA

The IRA's above normally don't offer a way to utilize the funds in the IRA to invest in real estate. The independent IRA does. With the autonomous IRA the investor has superior control over how his or else else her IRA funds are invested. They present the investor with the means to invest in real estate. There are hundreds of companies, or "administrators" that offer self-directed IRAs. You require making sure that the company you look at allows the IRA to invest in real estate prior to you give your money to them.
http://www.ezinearticles.com

Tips To Prepare For An Open House

2008-04-26T23:39:00.000-07:00

To gain maximum exposure, your real estate professional may recommend you hold one or two types of open houses. The first type is an open house for Real Estate Agents only. If your home is well priced and attractive, some of the Real Estate Agents may bring clients to see it immediately. The second type if an open house for the general public. This type of open house often attracts a lot of "browsers" if your house looks great and is well priced, it could turn a "browser" into a buyer.

The majority of public open houses are held on the weekend, in the afternoon. This is when potential buyers often have more time to drive through neighborhoods. Your Real Estate Agent will most likely suggest that you and your family leave the home for the duration of the open house. Prospective buyers may feel uncomfortable viewing your home and may rush their visit to avoid disturbing you. You want to make sure that potential buyers feel relaxed and welcome and take their time to really visit your property.

Here are some general tips to help you prepare for your open house:

Address potential hazards such as exposed wires, slippery stairs, fragile items, etc.

Lock away money, jewelry, cameras and other valuables.

Avoid cooking strong smelling foods just before the open house.

You can also use this check list to address what needs to be cleaned, repaired of changed before potential buyers walk through your door.

Kitchen and bathrooms

Make sure all surfaces are clean, including the floor.

Organize and de-clutter countertops.

Ensure all sinks and faucets are in good working order.

Other rooms

Vacuum and dust.

Remove all clutter, including excess furniture that may make your room look smaller.

Put away books, toys and clothes.

Clean mirrors.

Open drapes to let the light in.

Windows

Ensure they open easily and do not squeak.

Clean.

Doors

Fix squeaks and any weather stripping damage.

Make sure handles work properly.

Address any stains.

Floor coverings

Try to remove all dirt and stains.

Address any damaged areas.

Walls, ceilings, baseboards

Clean away fingerprints or stains.

Repair holes, cracks, water damage.

If possible, repaint in fresh neutral colors.

Lighting

Verify that there is sufficient light and no burnt bulbs.

Fix any broken switches or exposed wires.

Pet areas

Make sure they are clean and odor free. You should also try to remove your pet from your home for the duration of the open house.

You would also want to ensure that all exterior areas are clean and tidy and that gates open easily. The lawn should be mowed, leaves removed and in winter, snow removed from driveway and walkway.

An open house can be a very powerful marketing tool in selling your home. It allows you access to potential buyers who may not be working with a Real Estate Agent. It also offer you the advantage of having a number of prospective buyers visit your home in a short period of time. Often times, an offer will be presented shortly after the open house.
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Are FSBOs Really Motivated Sellers?

2008-04-13T07:32:00.000-07:00

FSBO sellers have chosen to sell their properties themselves. This will save them the Real Estate Agent's commission fee. This is money they prefer to keep in their pockets. However, it is not as easy as it sounds, that's why many FSBOs end up as motivated sellers.

Some of your Investors may not be interested in properties that are listed with Real Estate Agents. However there are Investors who have built very profitable relations with Real Estate Agents. There is plenty of room for Investors and Agents. Most people listing with Agents are not Motivated Sellers. However, if their agent is unable to move the property during the course of the contract, they may soon become Motivated Sellers.

Licensed Real Estate Agents have access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). This is a powerful database that contains a wealth of information on properties all over town. The agent can easily run a database query that provides recent sales information for any given neighborhood, and makes the calculation of the FMV very accurate. A Real Estate Agent that understands and works with Investors is worth his weight in gold. Keep your eyes open for a savvy Real Estate agent to add to your team.

But at this stage if you see a Real Estate Agent's sign in the yard just keep driving. Investors that work with Real Estate Agents probably will not need your help, as they will work with the Agents directly. I encourage you to learn how to establish a relationship with a Real Estate Agent. You both can benefit from the relationship.
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